Max Beach, Riviera del Sol – Part II

After reading some positive feedback about Max Beach in response to the first post, I decided to give this restaurant another chance and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. For one, Max Beach changed its menu since the last time I was there. What a difference, so much better! The menu really has ample choice for everyone and it was offered in various languages (not just in English).  The setting was also much more relaxed and elegant.  I tried their mussels and garlic shrimps (gambas pil-pil) and both were absolutely delicious. I definitely give Max Beach two thumbs up for the changes it has made and I look forward to the next time!

Riviera del Sol, KM 198, Tel: 952 932 780

Clubhouse Restaurant, La Quinta Golf & Country Club

La Quinta Golf Club… beautiful setting, beautiful location, beautiful decor, very friendly staff but terrible food. What a shame! Seriously people, as far as I’m concerned if a chef isn’t even capable of creating a decent plate of pasta then he or she does not belong in a kitchen. The food at la Quinta Golf club is made with no passion what so ever and a chef without passion is a recipe for bad food! What a disappointment!

La Quinta Golf Club, Crta. de Ronda, km. 3.5, Nueva Andalucia, Tel.: 952 762 323

La Taberna Del Pintxo

Tapas… a fun and casual way to eat out! Have you tried La Taberna Del Pintxo yet? This tapas restaurant is a little different to other tapas restaurants. Here, instead of ordering what you want you get offered tapas by a waiter who goes around the restaurant with a tray of tapas. The tapas are served on a slice of bread or on a stick and can vary from fried fish to grilled chicken or even fried camembert. This restaurant can be a lot of fun, unless you are very hungry (sometimes you have to wait a while before the waiters come to your table). Also, if you’re a vegetarian then I suggest you eat before going to Taberna Del Pintxo… it might take a while before you get to eat anything in this restaurant. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

La Taberna Del Pintxo, Av. Miguel Cano, 7, Marbella, Tel: 952 829 321

Metro Pizza & Pasta

In the marina of Benalmádena you’ll find Metro… you know, the pizza and pasta restaurant belonging to the Metro group. Now, I must say that normally I’m not such a fan of chain restaurants but this particular Metro is really nice. However, you have to sit outside. Inside as far as I’m concerned is nothing special. It’s quite modern with an open plan design but it does give you the feeling that you are in a chain restaurant. But outside is a completely different story. They have a large terrace which overlooks the marina and has some great views. You could just sit there for hours simply watching the people go by. Even if you live on the coast, just sitting there for an hour or two gives you the feeling that you’re on vacation. So what about the actual food? Well, I can certainly vouch for their pizzas. The truth is that I have come to worship the pizza at Metro, with its fresh ingredients and crispy thin crust! I like it so much that I’ve never even tried any of their pastas dishes, which I must say look really good. So for those of you in the mood for a nice pizza or pasta, I can highly recommend Metro in Benalmadena marina. Now for dessert I suggest you head over to the Australian Ice-cream parlor in Fuengirola. I know Metro serves some great desserts, including Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream but the truth is, that even Ben & Jerry’s can’t top Fuengirola’s ice-cream!

Metro Pizza & Pasta, La Dársena, Local A20-21, Benalmádena, Málaga, Tel: 952 446 460

Passion Café, San Pedro

Passion Café is one of those restaurants which is always open whether it’ s for breakfast, lunch, dinner or any other time for that matter . It’s trendy, hip and definitely a place where you can just relax, grab a magazine or two and enjoy a healthy, delicious meal. I haven’t had the opportunity to have breakfast there yet but I’ve heard it’s really good. They serve American style pancakes, full Irish breakfast and smoked salmon bagel, just to name a few… I would love to try their pancakes! As far as their lunch and dinner menu goes, I can definitely vouch for how good it is as I have tried many of their dishes on several occasions. Their lunch and dinner menu includes a selection of tasty dishes such as a variety of wraps and salads, lovely creamy soups, quesadillas, hamburgers, and fish & chips, which by the way, I can highly recommend. Each day Passion café also creates a separate small menu with specialties of the day which are definitely worth trying! And for those of you with a sweet tooth, well then Passion Café is definitely the place for you. They have a large variety of home-made desserts including, brownies, chocolate fudge cake, apple crumble, banoffi pie and cheesecake. In addition to all that, you can now also buy some of their pastries and bread to take home including, scones, bagels, homemade brown bread and some other goodies. Mmmm it all sounds very good. Last but not least, I must mention and give credit to Passion Cafe's friendly staff. After all what is a restaurant without friendly staff? They truely are fabulous (well, all except one… you know who you are… grumpy!).

Passion Café, Centro Comercial La Colonia, San Pedro, Málaga, Tel. 952 781 538

Rosmarino della Piazza, Elvira

Heeellooo everybody! I know I haven’t posted anything for quite some time. But it’s been a busy summer, what can I say? Just working off those kilos I gained while trying out all those new restaurants… but some were definitely worth the calories. The men reading this post are probably thinking “what on earth is she talking about?” but you ladies know what I mean. The point is if you’re going to “sin” then the calories better be worth it! So today’s post is all about the Italian restaurant, “Rosmarino della Piazza” in Elviria. And I am happy to say that the food at this restaurant is spectacular! It’s located in the shopping centre of “Pinares de Elvira”, next to the highway. Now I must confess that when we first sat down outside on their terrace, I thought to myself, “ugg I can hear the highway… I don’t think I’ll come back here again”. But oh boy was I wrong. Not only did the presentation of the food leave me speechless (which believe me doesn’t happen often) but the taste was so fabulous that I forgot all about the highway. With every bite, the noise just faded away. So let me tell you what I had. For starters, a mixed green salad with avocado and crunchy salmon, which I’m not sure how to describe, perhaps tempura salmon can give you an idea of what it was like. Then as a main course I had lasagna with courgette and aubergine, gratinated and aromatized with a touch of pesto… simply delicious. And for dessert, I had a thin layer of crispy biscuit with mascarpone and poached pear… sweet, light and yummy. So how much do you think this meal cost including a glass of wine and bread? Did I hear someone say €45? WRONG. This three course menu was just €16.50! It’s hard to believe but it’s true! They offer a different daily fixed menu but only for lunch. For dinner you can choose some really amazing looking dishes from their a la carte menu. I haven’t had the chance to try their a la carte menu yet but I’m really looking forward to it. Ah my husband just walked through the door… “Honey, I’m afraid I couldn’t prepare dinner tonight… the stove is ehh… broken… go out for dinner? … Well if you insist!”

Restaurant Rosmarino della Paizza, Centro Comercial Pinares de Elviria s/n, Malaga, Tel. 952 85 01 48

La Finca, Hotel La Bobadilla

I know this blog is all about restaurants on the Costa del Sol but today I feel I must let you all know about a fabulous restaurant which, as you might have guest already, is not on the Costa del Sol. The restaurant is called La Finca and is part of La Bobadilla Hotel, a stunning, luxurious, rural hotel, located near “Villa Nueva de Tapia” (Granada province). During the summer you can enjoy dinner outside on their picturesque courtyard and throughout the winter months you can sit inside their warm, cozy restaurant. If you want to be romantic ask for a table next to the fireplace. Their menu is international with a Spanish touch and it’s spectacular to say the least. For starters, I suggest you definitely try one of their pasta dishes, ravioli with wild mushrooms and black truffle sauce or homemade cannelloni filled with spinach and “Taracon” cheese and dressed with a white truffle sauce. As a main course their lobster gratin with spinach and a sparkling cava sauce is a must. And for those of you who like meat, beef tenderloin with a black truffle sauce which my meat-eating husband described as “meat lover’s paradise”… I think that means he loved it. For dessert I recommend their chocolate cake with white chocolate ice-cream or their chocolate soufflé, perfect for any chocoholic. La Finca is stunning in every sense of the word. As far as price is concerned, well it’s a luxurious, elegant restaurant so be prepared. La Bobadilla Hotel (La Finca) is only one hour from Malaga, so whether you live on the coast or simply spend your vacation days there, take some time out and spoil yourself to a magnificent dinner at La Finca and a romantic weekend at La Bobadilla.

La Finca, Hotel La Bobadilla, Carretera Salinas-Villanueva de Tapia (A-333), Km. 65,5. 18300.
Loja - Granada, Tel.: 958 321 861