RESTAURANT BAR PEDRO’S - ALGAIDAS

Sometimes it’s good to know a place where you can go with friends for an unpretentious but reliably good meal in pleasant surroundings and at a reasonable cost. It does not have to be great cuisine but somewhere where you know that you can choose anything from the menu and it will be good.

Such a place can be found in Algaidas. Restaurant Bar Pedro’s is on the main road through the village. It has a lively bar area where you can eat if you wish and also a quieter restaurant at the back. The menu is in both Spanish and English, with some of the English translations being a delight, such as ‘fish sword to the iron’ and ‘custard, bacon of sky and curd’.

We last visited on a Saturday night and were one of only two tables occupied in the restaurant area, but there was an important football match being televised in the bar so a good number of people were eating there. This meant that it was rather quiet for us but on other occasions there has been a lively atmosphere. It seems strange to mention toilet facilities and I only do so because they are particularly clean and smart, with disabled access.

Our starters were generous and beautifully presented: jumbled of asparaguses (Revuelto de esparragos) - a tasty interesting mix; peppers of the padded piquillo (Pimientos del Piquillo Rellenos) – interesting but a bit bland; salad with smoky salmon – just delicious; and tropical salad – containing a good selection of fruit but no mayonnaise which made it very fresh-tasting. All our starters were priced between 4 and 9 euros.

We were two meat and two fish for our main courses. The chicken fillet (Filete de Pollo Empanado) was opened up and cooked rather like a schnitzel in egg and breadcrumb and was much enjoyed; the pork steak (solomillo) was requested to be well done and came perfectly so; the grilled rosada was set out on the plate like a row of soldiers and was judged to be succulent; and the monkfish and prawn kebabs were cooked just enough but not at all dry. Our main courses were accompanied by chips and green pepper. It was good to see something green with the meal. But nothing lasted very long and we sent back completely empty plates! Our main courses were all priced at 8 euros or less.

At Pedro’s they are more than usually interested in the sweet course and, as well as the usual arroz con leche, natillas etc., they have the aforementioned custard, bacon of sky and curd which I had to try. It turned out to be three delicately flavoured layers of custard and lemon sauce and was light and interesting. The others went for much more substantial sweets of Tarta de chocolate, Tarta de Caramelo and Tiramisu which were all enjoyed and finished to the last speck.

There is not an extensive wine list but it contains an interesting selection. They have Ribero del Duero Crianzas at 12 to 18 euros; Rioja Tinto Crianzas at 9 to 19 euros; Rioja Tinto Reservas at 18 to 24 euros; and a white Castillo de San Diego at 12 euros. We chose a Rioja Bordon Crianza 2001 at 15 euros and found it smooth and mellow.

Our meal ended with excellent coffee and a complimentary glass of a herb liquor. Altogether the bill came to under 25 euros per person. We went with friends who had not visited this restaurant before and they were pleasantly surprised with both the standard of food and the price. I am sure that Pedro’s has now gained some more regular customers!

Until next time,

Keri and Gordon Vincent

Rating: (out of 5*)

Food ****
Service ****
Value for money ****
Vegetarian options none
Ambience ***
Entertainment n/a
Toilets *****
Recommendation ****