Now then, we had lunch out and if you want to try an authentic menu from Spain, then look no further than the menu del dia at Cerveceria El Pantanico. If this name rings a bell, it’s because not only have we eaten there several times, including their Thursday BBQ breakfasts, but we have suggested this quaint location to friends.
If you want your Fray Bentos pie and mash followed by jam roly poly, then this isn’t the place for you. The staff don’t speak English, probably 99% of the customers each time we have visited, are Spanish but you are still made to feel welcome.
Word of warning: this place gets busy, especially in the peak periods such as summer. They tend to put out their daily lunch menu out on social media between 11.30 am and 12 on the same day, so it’s worth checking their Facebook page and if you like what you see, book a table there and then. You can turn up as a walk-in, possibly there will still be a table or two not reserved.
Their lunch menu starts at 1.30 pm! I’ll mention further down why we know this!
What We Had At For Our Menu From Spain At Cerveceria El Pantanico
Drink I chose a large draught beer, Soph had her coke, and this was a large bottle. I actually had a second beer, too.
We were brought out a salad to share and a bread basket. The salad was quite basic, but with the olive oil and balsamic, it was fine.
For our first course, Soph ordered the paella, while I went for the Gazpacho Manchego. If you are used to a cold tomato-based soup, well, this is gazpacho, but not as we know it. The gazpacho manchego is a very soupy stew, with bits of rabbit, hare, and chicken, and with the torta cenceña ( which looks like a single piece of ravioli, without the filling, is the best way to describe this ) added into the dish too.
Our plates were cleared, and we were brought another basket of bread.
For our mains, we both ordered different dishes. Soph went for the Combnado De Lomo Adobado, which is a marinated pork dish, which came with chips and a fried egg. If you are used to grilled lomo or lomo on the BBQ, this was not quite the same. This had more of an artificial texture, which could be described as similar to Pek tinned meat. It wasn’t unpleasant at all, but just not quite what was expected. One that was lost in translation!
I’d already decided on the Combinado De Embutido, which is a combo plate of sausage-style meats. In this case it was 2 different thin sausages, both of which were tasty, a piece of black pudding, but the star of the plate was the chorizo.
For desserts, we both chose the flan. I also had a coffee, a nice cafe con leche.
What We Liked at Cerveceria El Pantanico
The feel of the place, it is rustic, it is authentic and it is genuine. It’s not been adapted to suit the tourists; here you get the real feeling of the hospitality and menu from Spain.
What Could Have Been Improved
Not a lot, truth be told. The food was good, service was prompt. It would be nice to see the lunch times on the menu pages, as we turned up at 1 pm, thinking their lunch started at 1 and we hadn’t booked a table. I would be tempted to say in the summer when we had been for lunch, it might have been 1, but then again, it was probably the same 1.30 start time. So, as I said above, get there at 1.30, and you should be fine!
How Much Did It Cost?
Our lunch came to €28.00. The lunch menu is €11.00 per person, and includes the 2 courses, plus bread, plus salad, plus a drink and also a coffee. This is great value for money, and no wonder it gets busy for those looking for a traditional menu from SPain.
Would We Return To Cerveceria El Pantanico?
Yes, either for breakfast on Thursday or for lunch, depending on the menu that day.
How To Find Cerveceria El Pantanico
From the AP7 and leave at exit 740, almost double back on yourself under the AP7 on the CV91. At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto CV-905. Stay on this road into Formentera, and the restaurant is on your right, almost next door to the Sabadall Bank ATM.
Their actual address is Avenida de la Constitución, Formentera del Segura
