restaurants
In
a country where eating out is a way of life, the quality of restaurant food
has to be good, but Spanish cuisine is rarely pretentious. Spain is full
of excellent restaurants. You won’t need a guide to find the right
restaurant. Just look for the one that’s bursting with Spanish people
and you can’t go wrong. Until the Moorish occupation of Iberia, Spanish
food was, like early Eastern Mediterranean counterparts, a very basic mix
of local ingredients limited in variety and simple in preparation. The Moors
brought the art of irrigation farming which enabled the cultivation of rice
and with easily obtained local produce added, this became the famous paella.
They also introduced a number of new plants, notably the almond, planting
vast groves that one can still find in the Algarve and Levante to this day.
Figs, citrus fruits and Eastern spices like aniseed and cumin also came
with the Moors. And when they finally departed after their 700 year stay,
these foods were firmly entrenched in the Spanish diet. Using seafood along
the coast, and all kinds of local produce inland, the food of Spain has
comprised, like its Italian, Greek and Turkish counterparts, whatever could
be grown and freshly harvested in the region. Accompanied by bread or rice
it was washed down with wines that were better known for their quantity
than quality.
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!
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.
ratings
Quality/Value for money:
lowest 
-
highest
Cost/Price:
lowest € - €€€€€
highest
the more knives & forks the higher the
quality, the less euros the lower the cost
featured restaurant
Each month we choose and review a local restaurant offering excellent food and wines with good value for money. Each review is based upon our own based experiences.
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.
recommended restaurants
Each one of the restaurants listed below has been tried and tested by ourselves.
La Carabela
€€
La Carabela is to be found on Avenida Estaction some 600 metres before entering
the town of Peñíscola. The restaurant, run by husband and
wife team Case and Gaby, offers a good and extensive menu with a most friendly
welcome and service. For that special occasion book a table and discuss
any menu requirements with Gaby. The menu del dia is always worth
a look as it offers good value for money.
Pizzeria & Restaurante El Porton
€€€
El Porton is situated in Calvo Sotelo in the town centre. This is one of
the sdie streets that run parallel with Avenida Jose Antonoia (the high
street). The restaurant is run by its Morocan host Simba. There is a good
menu but the menu del dia has to be asked for - make sure you so
as it is excellent value for money. Simba 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 advanc eof your meal.
La Masia
€€€€
La Masia is some 2Km on the main road out of Peñíscola. Our
experience is of a rather clinical atmosphere with rather high prices. La
Masia finds favour with a rather elite clique of those owning homes but
not living in Peñíscola. The hostess Monserrat is a very pleasant
lady and it may be worth your while trying the restaurant to try it for
yourselves.
Le Pub Teatro
Pub Teatro is a lively venue regularly providing good live music.
It is run by french couple Thierry and Isabelle who will always provide
you with a warm welcome. It is to be found at 17 Avenida Rumania just off
Plaza Felipe.
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.
