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The Restaurant Loma Blanca is a recently opened restaurant on the main road between Garrucha and Los Gallardos. We entered the restaurant via the flight of steps from the large car park and into the main reception lobby. Here we found the restaurant and bar/cafeteria where a selection of tapas are available. We introduced ourselves in the restaurant and were asked if we would like a drink in the bar before eating, which we did. The bar has a couple of nice sofas where we sat for a while enjoying a pre dinner drink. Some 30 minutes later we went to our table and were handed the menus and offered another drink which we declined and went straight for the wine list. The wine list is huge and has lots of wines which we were not familiar with however, we were told by the very pleasant wine waiter that not all the wines were available. With this in mind we ordered a bottle of house red, which turned out to be a very nice Rioja priced at €16.50. Not the sort of price you would normally pay for a house wine but the restaurant, price wise, would not be in the normal everyday price range of some people.
We were asked if we would like the menu in English which was quite a relief as there were some dishes with which we were not familiar. The menu is not huge and it is very Spanish which suited us both. Although a fairly small menu I would think there is something for everyone′s taste, with a selection of cooked meats, soups and salads (some of which are big enough for two to share). After some thought I ordered for a starter of Croquetas de Ibérico at €10 and for a main course the Andalucian Mixed Fish at €19.50. My partner chose the smoked fish for a starter at €10 and the Solomillo de Ternera for the main course at €26. At the back of the menu there is also a page of daily suggestions, prices from €6 for a starter, all the items on this menu are individually priced and can be co-ordinated with the main menu.
The starters arrived and everything was beautifully presented by a very pleasant waitress. My croquetas were excellent and my partner’s smoked fish was equally so, and both washed down by the excellent Rioja. Portions are not massive and the size and presentation gives the impression that is quite nuveau cuisine, which suited us both and was a nice change from the huge piles of food sometimes served up. My main course was presented in a large soup plate, just a plate of mixed fish including monkfish and prawns in a light sauce, no chips (thank goodness) and it was the nicest fish I have had in a long time. The steak arrived accompanied by a few freshly cooked french fries, very plain and simple and my partner said it was the best steak he has had since living here. Then came the problem of whether we had enough room for desert but after much pondering we decided to have the Surtido de Postres, which was an assortment of five miniature deserts at €6. All of them delicious. The meal was rounded of by me having a liquor and my partner a café con leche. The bill was €109.80 and as said before, quite expensive but to my mind worth it for an excellent meal in nice surroundings with very pleasant and efficient staff.
The restaurant also has an upstairs Gourmet Restaurant which should open at the beginning of next year. It will be more expensive than downstairs but with more unusual dishes and I can’t wait to sample it.
Features
Restaurant for up to 150 people with an open kitchen area
Gourmet restaurant (opening at the beginning of 2007)
Wooden oven
Outside Eating area open all year round
Outdoor Children´s house and play area
Chill out/Disco (summer months)
Delicatessen shop (opening soon)
Vegetable garden that they use for their own cooking
All their food is DO (regionally certified), meaning that all their food comes from a designated area
Weekly menu priced at €21 with 2 courses and dessert or coffee |
