Eating times in Spain

Lunch: Restaurants open earlier in the North than the South, but don't expect much earlier than 2pm most places, 3pm in the South. Dinner is served after 9pm. You can go to a bar serving tapas or pinchos earlier in the evening to stave off residual hunger.

 

Cooks Dictionary of Food

An English Spanish cooks dictionary of food that is invaluable when shopping for groceries, vegetables, meat and fish in the Spanish shops, supermarkets and open air markets. Find out what to look for and also understand what is on the shelves. A full section of this booklet is devoted to fish.The Forgotten Punch in the Army's Fist

 

 

Restaurants...

Each of the restaurants listed below has been tried and tested by ourselves. Our personal favourites are marked with a red asterisk *. The number of €s indicate the cost of meals.

We will be updating this page shortly so if you can tell us of your favourite or one you recommend then please let us know by completing this form. We hope to start adding some photo's and interactive maps as well.

* Simo €€€€

Probably the best restauarant in Peñíscola. It can be found situated at the top end of the North Beach under the Castle. Simo is one of our favourites for that special night out with its excellent service and a tantalising menu it's well worth a visit. One can sit by the waters edge and enjoy somes of Peñíscolas best food and wine.

* El Porton €€€

El Porton is situated in Calvo Sotelo in the town centre. This is one of the side streets that run parallel with Avenida Espana (the high street). The restaurant is run by its Morocan host Salim and has been given a facelift this year in line with the refurbishment of the streets. There is a good menu but the menu del dia has to be asked for - make sure you do so as it is excellent value for money. Salim offers a house speciality of braised lamb, onion & chick pea on a bed of safron & cinnamon couscous with grated almond sprinkled on top. However this need to be ordered three days in advance of your meal.

* Freduridia Maria  €€€

Situated around the corner from El Porton on edge of a small plaze Maria is now run by Santos and his wife who used to have Meson de Abuello. They have brough the same degree of friendliness, service and good food that they provided before. They offer an excellent menu and a menu del dia with 18 starters, 18 main courses and puddings. Obviously one of our favourites.

* Pataleta - Gaby's Bar €€

Cees and Gaby who used to have La Carabella now have a friendly bar and restaurant at Avenida Espana 47 in the centre of Peniscola. This is fifty metres down form the old Police Station and opposite the childrens park. Pataleta is a small cosy bar with a friendly homely atmosphere. It offers a good and extensive a la carte menu as well as a menu del dia that is always worth a look at and offering good value for money. The bar is open from 11am to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm each day Tuesdays. For those wanting to dine it is highly recommended that you book a table with Gaby prior to eating, as the restaurant is very popular. One is a wlays a guaranteed a warm welcome here.

* Meson de Abuello €€€

Under new ownership this year but as always the food and service here is excellent. Menu del Dia during the day but not at night. Very friendly staff with a warm welcome for all including familes with children.
Situated in the Avenida España (the high street) opposite the always open bag shop.

* La Marsela €€

La Marsela is a bakers and cafe situated on the front, Avenida del Mar, opposite the plaza where the Information Centre is. It is ideal for breakfast or that morning coffee. The range of breads and pastries is excellant with all of them freshly baked on the premises.

* El Cisne €€

A very pleasant bar and cafe. Gislane, the french lady owner provides a friendly atmosphere. Thier snacks are very attractively priced and it is well worth a visit for just a coffee or beer. Situated on Avenida Estacion opposite the newsagent and farmacia.

Out of Town - But worth the Journey

Restaurante Indonesio - Manise  €€€

Manise is an Indonesian restaurant located in the port at Las Fuentes, Alcossebre. Run by an Indonesian chef and his Dutch wife they offer an interesting and tasty menu of typical Indonesian food. They offer a very friendly welcome and speak English, French, German, Spanish and of course Dutch. It is well worth while making the journey over to Alcossebre to enjoy their fare.

Taj Mahal Indian Restauarant €€

There is now an Indian Restaurant in Peniscola. It is located in Avenida Espanaol (the High Street) opposite the small supermarket. Perhaps worth an initial visit!

Bodega Aragonés €€

Bodega Aragonés is to be found just 100 metres from the marketplace in Benicarlo in Herman Cortés. This is typical tapas bar and restaurant serving an excellent 3 course with drinks menu del dia from around 1.30pm for under 9€. If a glass of wine and some tapas is all you need then there is an excellent selction available. At night time a full a la carte menu is available. This is a most popular Bodega and you are advised to book during fiestas and the fallas.

WOK €€

On trhe N340 outside Vinaros the WOK is a self service Chinese Restaurant. Eat as much as you can..

San Raphael €

Restaurante San Raphael is in Benicarló and can be found in Mossen Lajunta (take the 3rd exit right of the N340 afterpassing the Guardia Civil headquarters and then turn left at the samll roundabout). This is really a working mens restaurant serving excellent food and drinks. The menu del dia is 8.70€ and provides three course plus wine/beer and coffee. Listen carefully to the waiter or waitress as there is no written mneu - it's given to you verbally and in Spanish! San Raphael is one of our favourites.

 

Tapas Bars

A common question from visitors and newcomers is how to go about finding Tapas Bars and what to order. Part of the problem is that the word tapas rarely appear on menus or billboards, and many bars don't adhere to the real tradition of tapas. The word tapas derives from the Spanish verb 'tapar' (which means to cover). A tapa was meant as a free snack to be placed on top of a drink to keep flies and other unspeakable out. While many bars in the Costa Azahar provide a tapa with a glass of beer or wine (which in some cases is delicious and in others hardly worth eating), it is by no means the norm. More typically, going out for tapas implies ordering a plate of food called a ración (large cold platters of meat, rather like a large version of a tapa) if it is to be shared among a few people, or a perhaps a canapé, which is something on a small piece of bread. Also common in tapas bars are bocadillos that are sandwiches made with a bread roll or baguette. Just about any manner of Spanish food comes in the form of tapas, and as such it's a very good way to go about trying the huge variety of Spanish dishes. Don't worry if you don't understand the menu, most tapas bars have their goods on display at the bar so you can simply point at what looks appealing to you.
So where are the tapas bars? The simple answer is simply to explore the side and back streets in Peniscola, Benicarlo and Vinaros for most of the bars you’ll find there are the tapas bars you looking for. Finally the secret of enjoying tapas is to go from bar to bar having just one drink and tapa in each one!