We came across the Punto Caliente Restaurante by pure chance. There is a group of us who meet up on a Thursday morning for a coffee, and a get-together for an hour or two, and this week, I was just about to close down my laptop when this menu del dia popped up on Facebook. So out of the window went our lunch plans as we decided we’d have a drive out to Benejúzar to try this place instead. We had already visited and enjoyed La Esquina so we had a rough idea of how to get to Benejúzar.
One thing I’d suggest is to book and reserve a table. We did a walk-in and were, luckily, a couple of tables for two available, but everyone else who was arriving had already reserved.
What We Had at Punto Caliente Restaurante
I had a bottle of Alhambra beer as part of my meal, Soph had a Pepsi. I did have a second beer later on.
We began with a lovely Chicken Cesar Salad, which was a generous portion to share, a bread roll was also served to each of us. The chicken was fresh, it was flavoursome and this was a really good salad entre.
Starters
Starters we opted for different dishes, Soph went for the paella while I was going to go with the onion, mayo and sriracha, however at the last moment decided on the tuna tartar. My tuna was really nicely presented, tasty, and very enjoyable. Soph’s arroz on Secreto was very good, and a good sized portion.
Mains
Mains again we went for different choices.
Soph had the Bacalao al horno, and I have to say it was a really lovely, fresh piece of fish. When I say piece, it was a steak and excellent quality produce with a delicate garlic sauce that didn’t overpower the fish.
My selection this time was the churrasco de ternera, which is basically translated as grilled veal meat with potatoes. The potatoes were wonderfully seasoned, and the meat was nice, but I could have done with a steak knife. The chimichurri sauce was not too overpowering but gave an additional flavour to the dish.
To Finish
This is a really nice offering for desserts too. Soph went for the baked cheese cake, with the toffee crumble and as you can see it was very good. I chose the profiteroles and these came with a really nice, dark chocolate sauce, which was rich but not too over indulgent.
I also had a coffee, a cafe con leche. Again, this was really nice, in a large cup, and very enjoyable.
What We Liked at Punto Caliente Restaurante Benejúzar
I don’t know where to start here as it was all very, very good. The ambience was very nice, there was upbeat background music which added to the atmosphere but didn’t impede on conversations. The service was very attentive throughout, and the food was great. There was nothing to dislike and this could quite possibly rate as one of the best menu del dias we’ve had.
What Could Have Been Improved at Punto Caliente Restaurant
From the food and service aspect, nothing at all. If it was possible through planning, a roadside sign would be a great help, as we almost drove past on the road up and as it is a one way road, it would have been interesting trying to navigate back. That being the case, maybe a sudden influx of visitors might not be the best option, as this is another hidden gem, off the beaten track.
How Much Did It Cost?
This wonderful lunch came in at just €32.50.
The menu del dia is €15.00 per head ( a drink, bread, salad, 2 courses then a dessert plus a coffee )
Would We Return To Punto Caliente Restaurante?
Yes, for sure. We had a great lunch experience there, the staff are hard working, the service really good and this is a really good menu. This is great restaurant food at menu del dia prices
How To Find The Punto Caliente Restaurante in Benezujar
This is the interesting part. We headed towards Benejúzar, but instead of heading into the town centre, our Sat nav took us away to the right, then we headed up left on the outskirts, heading towards the big school/sports centre. It is a one-way country road, so you are fine knowing you’re not going to meet oncoming traffic coming down the hill.
Drive slowly, though, as it’s easy to miss the entrance. You’re there once you see the big swimming pool on your right. There are two pairs of gates, one showing the way in, leading to the huge outdoor picnic area, and then a second set to turn in, meaning the pool is once again on your right. There are a few parking bays outside the restaurant, but there is ample on-street parking near the picnic areas, too.
The address for your Satnav is: Arrabal Zval 10 Dotacional, 4, Benejúzar, Spain and their phone number is 672 09 34 63. Their Facebook page shows the daily menu, which is a great idea.
