We returned yet again to the El Parque Catral for a menu del dia. For those who have not been here yet, this is a nice, quiet location within the park in Catral. If you have young kids or grandchildren, they have plenty to keep them amused while you enjoy a leisurely lunch; a perfect combination!
Sitting in the shade of the trees, enjoying the aroma of the wood BBQ wafting from the kitchen, this was another idyllic visit. You might have missed it if you’re not from Catral as it’s a little off the main street Catral, but it really is just a minute or so from Consum so this shouldn’t put you off going.
We hadn’t booked a table, which is recommended in the busy summer months, so we grabbed a table and were reading the menu on the chalkboard when one of the guys came out and greeted us. We ordered drinks; Soph had her coke, and I went for a pint of draught beer.
There was a basket of bread brought out, and the waiter had the menu written down on a pad of paper as well as on the blackboard. Keep in mind that this is a Spanish bar, the staff are all Spanish, and English is not their first language. However, saying that we have never had any issues ordering.
What We Had At El Parque Catral
We both went for the paella as our first course, we were advised this would take a while as we were early, but this was ok to have as the main course, meaning we’d have our main course first. This was totally fine, as several places do this, especially if you are dining the moment they have opened the doors.
The paella was tasty, hot, and fresh. These are generous portions, so save room for dessert if you have a sweet tooth!
For my main, Soph went for the fish in a tomato-based sauce, and I went for the pork in a peppercorn sauce. Both these dishes came with fries. They were both decent-sized portions, and my pork was ever so tender. In fact, we left some of the bread and paella not because it wasn’t delicious but because we really were approaching feeling very full and wanted to save space for dessert!
Desserts were offered, and there must have been a dozen options reeled off, from memory, by the guy who was serving us. First on the list was whiskey tarte, so I said yes straight away to that; Soph opted for a chocolate cake. Again, these were decent-sized portions; there was a tiny hint of whiskey with mine and Soph’s chocolate cake got a definite thumbs up as being one of the best she’s had in Spain.
I had a cafe con leche to finish; Soph ordered another Coke for herself.
What We Liked
The guys here work well as a team, the service is very friendly, and the food is really nice. They are hard-working staff who really do take good care of clientele.
What Could Be Improved
Once again, there are no negatives; this place is what it says on the can, a rustic, realistic, traditional Spanish eating place.
How Much Did It Cost?
This was a relaxing lunch experience at a very affordable price. Our bill at El Parque Catral came to €22.00 in total. Considering I had a pint of beer with my meal, this is great for the price.
This is for two large bottles of Coke, a pint of draught beer, two three-course lunches, and a coffee.
Would We Return To El Parque Catral
Yes, we would do, as we have been here before, both just for drinks but also to eat. This time, we decided to do the write-up. This is a popular choice with the Spanish and gets busy quite quickly, so you might be best advised to book a table or get there quite early. There were 12 tables in use when we were there and we were leaving around 2 pm, which was when 2 other cars pulled up, as people arrived on their lunch break.
How To Find El Parque Catral
There is plenty of on street parking on both sides of the park, which is free.
Their address is: C. Ramon y Cajal, 29, 03158 Catral, Alicante, Spain
Find them using Google Maps is one option
One thing to note is that the local council has now put up ‘no dogs allowed’ signs at the entrance to the park, so when we have seen people enjoying a drink with their dog, this is now not the case. However, this lovely chap didn’t read the sign and decided to join us for lunch, and when decided that we had nothing else to offer, he moved on to the next table!
