Several times now, Soph and I have been into town here, often stopping off for a quick coffee or a beer and never got around to doing a write up. So today we visited several Algorfa restaurants that we’d not been to previously.
I have to say it was quite a bit of a mixed bag though. Basically a real good, the bad and the ugly type of day. This probably needs repeating that I have no ” skin in the game” in any reviews that we do, I do not own a restaurant or tapas bar.
Anyway, in time order of the places we did visit today:
Los Dulces De Elya
This was the first place we stopped off at. There was one person sitting outside having a drink, no customers inside. I took a seat outside, while Soph went in to order. She asked for a tostada and two drinks, to be very abruptly told no tostada, breakfast finished at 11.30.
What We Had And The Cost
Nothing thus the cost was nothing.
What We Liked & Was It Enough For Us To Go Back
We didn’t bother having a drink and left, but one thing is we will not be returning there.
Had we asked for a full English breakfast each, one with poached eggs, the other with scrambled and the place was heaving, then I could understand their decision to say no. But this was for a couple of tostadas with tomato and olive oil, a Spanish staple dish, that most bars serve all day.
So, this accounted for both the bad and the ugly, part of our visit today. Now, onto the good, aspects.
La Parada Bocatería
In the words of the song ‘ things can only get better’, I’m pleased to report that they did here. A friendly welcome was given by both the dog and the owner. We took a table indoors and ordered.
What We Had And The Cost
A cafe con leche for me, a black tea for Soph. We both had a tostada, con tomate for Soph while I pushed the boat out having tomate and cheese. The bill here was €8.70.
What We Liked & Was It Enough For Us To Go Back
Friendly service, and we liked the fact we were offered a choice of white or brown bread as well as different types of cheeses for mine. As you can see there was plenty of cheese on mine!
The bill came to €8.70 and this is quirky enough for us to return to.
La Mesa
A lovely little bar up the side street, across from the chemist. Plenty of notice boards outside advertising their food including set menus etc.
What We Had And The Cost
Soph had a Coke and crumpets, I once again went for cafe con leche and a tostada with tomate and queso. The price was a very affordable €7.65 and looking at their menus, they do look to offer some very good value meals and sharing platters.
What We Liked & Was It Enough For Us To Go Back
Good food, fast and friendly service and very affordable. The server brought out extra condiments and pointed out the olive oil, if I needed more. Yes we’d return here.
Bar Centro Social
Located just a few steps up further up the street, this bar was busy with several tables already taken. This was the first of the four bars, thus far that was Spanish.
What We Had And The Cost
We were originally just going for a drink, so I ordered a bottle of beer, Soph went for a Coke Zero. We then say people enjoying tapas, so we ordered a dish of beef cheeks to share, which came with bread.
Wow these were ever so tender and also very tasty. The total here was €7.50.
What We Liked & Was It Enough For Us To Go Back
Nice tapas, service was fine and there’s plenty of seating available here. Yes we’d be back here, the tapas menu looks really good. The server brought us the bill, then realised she’d put down two beers so rushed inside to bring out a 50c coin to rectify her mistake.
Plaza
We then popped the 30 metres to the Plaza, which has several tables out in the sun. We ordered drinks and were asked if we’d be eating, so the menu was brought out.
What We Had And The Cost
Soph ordered a Coke Zero, I asked for a bottle of beer, to be advised they only had alcohol free in bottles, so I asked for a small draught.
What We Liked & Was It Enough For Us To Go Back
The menu is more of a restaurant than a bar doing food, the prices reflected this. My draught beer was a third missing, the image was after the head had settled and I hadn’t even had a drink.
To be honest, it’s not one of the first choices to return to.
Cafe Bar Badulake
All I can say is wow, this was like being back in Cuevas Del Campo at the Hunters bar. Nicely decorated, but still traditional Spanish atmosphere. We were the only non Spanish in there and it was great.
What We Had And The Cost
I had a Radler cana, Soph went for a Coke Zero and as everyone else seemed to be eating, we ordered tapas also. Chorizo and Magra, which when brought out came with a large basket of bread.
The food was good, it was filling and it came to just 12.00€ in total.
What We Liked & Was It Enough For Us To Go Back
Superb value for money, good service and a really nice atmosphere. This is definitely one we are returning to.
Final Thoughts On Our Visit To These Algorfa Restaurants And Bars.
Depending on what you’re looking for, there’s something for everyone. We’ve lived in the proper whitewashed village in the Granada region, where all the bars were Spanish, hence even up here we eat Spanish 90% of the time, when we are out.
The Spanish places we visited we’d return to at the drop of a hat, these being Cafe Bar Badulake and also Bar Centro Social. This would be for more tapas or even a lunch.
A tostada and a drink then it would be La Parada Bocatería or La Mesa. The breakfast menu at La Mesa also looked tempting, if on the rare occasion I fancied a full English, and was in the area.
The area around the square is relaxing, there’s the kids play area too. But please do give these bars a try, next time you’re in town. We’ll be back to visit some of the other bars, next time we’re across in the area.
