CombatCritic's TravelValue™: Cadiz

Showing posts with label Cadiz. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Rota (Cadiz), Spain: 'Utopia' Might Be A Bit Of An Exaggeration

Utopía Tapas y Copas

Avenida de San Fernando 8

11520 Rota Spain

+34 698 97 01 12

Facebook: UtopiaTapas

Prices: €€€€

We had been here before and enjoyed our eclectic array of tapas, but the prices have gone up significantly.

The service was friendly and good this time and the wine, a dark red Rioja - 'LAN D12', was excellent considering the price (€3.40/glass), smooth, robust, and oakey, just the way I like it. It was the best value on the menu.

Not all that hungry, I ordered the BarBQ Ribs Tacos (€6.90/two) and Chicken and Vegetable Gyozas (six for €6.50). The tacos were okay, a bit flavorless, they could have been much better. The gyozas were crispy and tasty, and the sweet chili sauce was a nice addition, but they were rather small and gone in just six bites.

Even though I was not famished, I left feeling unsatiated and a bit disappointed. Having paid almost €24, including tip, it did not seem like a €24 meal even though the wine was an added value. Not bad overall, but not quite a TravelValue in my book.

CombatCritic Gives Utopia 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Five Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Continue Mission"

Friday, August 12, 2022

Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz, Spain: Mehbe I Walked Too Far For The Mexican Food At El Villano

El Villano

Calle de las Magnolias, 37 11500

El Puerto de Santa María, Spain

Phone: +34 956 853 845

Wesbite: N/A

Prices: €€€€

I walked one kilometer to eat here because, first, parking was impossible to find near my hotel and did not want to give up my space, and, second, the menu and photos made it appear that the food was nearly authentic Mexican.

The server spoke a little English, so I ordered a small pitcher of margarita, a half-order of nachos (€4.75) , and the Tacos Tijuana (€11.00).

The margarita was too sweet and had little alcohol. Meh!

The server told me that I could not order just chips and salsa and I thought he said that I could order a 'half' order of nachos, but when the nachos arrived, it was a full order (€9.50), obviously a miscommunication, so I let it slide. The chili was not bad and it came with a small cup of green salsa, guacamole, and pico de gallo, but the chips were not house-made as appearing in the photos I saw, they were Tostitos. Had I known, I would not have bothered. Meh #2!

The tacos arrived looking pretty good, four corn tortillas with a decent portion of carne asada and a liquified guacamole with small cups of green salsa and pico de gallo. They were pretty tasty, but four small tacos for €11.00 was not exactly a TravelValue.

Overall, the food was decent, not great, and the service good, so I will go easy on them even though I was told the chef was from Tijuana.

Meh...be I should not have walked so far for what I got.

CombatCritic Gives El Villano 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Five Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Continue Mission"

MENU

Monday, September 27, 2021

Rota (Cadiz), Spain: Good Chow ... Toscania, Toscana, No Matter How You Spell It, The Food Is Pretty Darn Good

Ristorante Toscania

Plaza Barroso 6

11520 Rota, Cadiz, Spain

956 846 310

hostalsixto.com

€€€€

The hostel associated with this restaurant is in the middle of the old town in an old villa with a large central courtyard with lots of plants and open air.

The restaurant is 100 meters away on the plaza which is also where we checked-in. Ristorante Italiano Tuscana has an extensive menu of antipasti, pastas, meat dishes, desserts, and a full bar. They have an indoor, air-conditioned dining room and tables outdoors on the plaza. The food was very good, the portions appropriate, and the prices fair. We ate there twice and enjoyed our meals along with their resident dog, Rocco, who was very sweet, lingering near outdoor diners, but not begging or being a nuisance at all.

The first night we had l'insalata caprese €8 and tortelli 4 formaggi ai burro e salvia €15 for my wife and the lasagna bolognese €10 for me along with a bottle of water with gas and a liter of sangria €12. My lasagna was delicious and HUGE, but my wife's tortelli had not been properly drained, watering down the rich butter and sage sauce, but my wife still enjoyed it.

On the subsequent evening, we forewent the starter, my wife ordering the tagliatelli con funghi €10, me the spaghetti carbonara, and sharing the cotoletta alla milanese €12, a bottle of water and two glasses of house red wine. All were very tasty, especially the carbonara which was prepared in the traditional way by adding egg yokes just before serving with plenty o' pepper ... HOOAH!

Our dinners, a starter, main and wine/water ran around €50, not bad for good meal for two, so Ristorante Toscania was a definite Travelvalue and worth a return visit the next time we go to Naval Air Station Rota.

CombatCritic Gives Hostal Sixto and Ristorante Toscana 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: 'What-The-Fuck ... Over!'

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