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With the current Covid-19 restrictions it can be hard to get a decent meal. However, if you are prepared to have your main meal of the day at lunchtime, there are still plenty of places to go and eat in the northern part of the Serranía de Ronda. In addition, many establishments are offering a take-away service or even home delivery in the evenings. Paul Whitelock has been investigating.
I am not allowed to leave my municipio, Ronda, but I’ve had some great food within the boundaries of the town in the last month of this new lockdown. Several municipalities have restaurants which offer a takeaway and/or home delivery service and these enterprising establishments are allowed to make deliveries across municipal borders.
I’ve had outstanding meals at the following places recently:
Restaurante Venta el Puente, La Indiana, Ronda
This is one of my favourite places to eat. Whether it’s for the best breakfast in the area, or for super-tasty tapas or full meals, Carmen Luisa the chef and owner offers the best quality imaginable. As yet she has been unable to offer a takeaway or home delivery service, but she has extended her hours within the allowed period and is now open every day from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm.
These are three meals I have enjoyed there recently:
Sancocho dominicano
Sancocho dominicano
In the Dominican Republic there are different versions of sancocho, which will depend on the taste of each family and of each cook. Some rules, though, seem to be almost universal: never add potatoes, noodles, or tomato sauce. The traditional sancocho is made with beef (usually flank, or a similarly inexpensive cut), and sometimes chicken or a gallina vieja (an old hen) is also added. Sancocho de Siete Carnes is the deluxe version, and it has seven types of meat from four different animals.
Calamar con verduras salteadas y papas fritas
Calamar con verduras salteadas y papas fritas
This is a whole calamar which is presented as shown in the photograph, with freshly sautéed vegetables and French fries. Perfect with a wine from the Cádiz area, such as Barbadillo.
Chipirones rellenos de verduras con arroz negro, arepitas de yuca y ensalada
Chipirones rellenos de verduras con arroz negro, arepitas de yuca y ensalada
Very tasty baby squids stuffed with vegetables, together with yucca patties, black rice and a green salad. Also well suited to a wine from the Cádiz area.
We had a great takeaway from:
Wok Ronda Restaurante, Calle San José, Ronda
I am not a great fan of Chinese cuisine, but we had a banquet for two people and it was great. Not expensive and there was plenty to tuck into. I even got a free beer while I waited for our meal to be cooked!
The following places offer home deliveries:
Bar Allioli, Estación de Jimera de Líbar
Curry mix, Bar Allioli, Jimera de Líbar
Paul offers home deliveries within Jimera itself, but also to Benaoján, Cortes de la Frontera, Montejaque and Ronda. Visit his Facebook page for more details. Two friends had a delivery of burgers to Montejaque last week and were delighted. We had a curry with all the trimmings delivered to Ronda this very afternoon and it was sensational. Enough left over for tomorrow’s lunch. A true contender against my Vegetable Curry Secret Serranía style.
Bar Restaurante La Terraza, Montejaque
This recently opened bar and restaurant has been badly hit by the Covid-19 restrictions, but the young team of owners, Borja, Cayetano and Rubén have taken the initiative and are offering their delicious food in the form of takeaways and home deliveries.
Restaurante El Muelle de Arriate
Over the last few years Dutch owner Frank has built a strong reputation for this stylish restaurant. His Mediterranean cuisine deservedly puts El Muelle at number one on Trip Advisor. Located in an old railway shed, the place oozes relaxed class. Polyglot Frank likes to explain his menu to diners in every language under the sun (or so it seems!). Since the latest restrictions were introduced he has not been able to open for dinner, but he offers a takeaway service for Arriate residents.
El Muelle de Arriate
Restaurante Entre Ascuas, Montejaque
When Álvaro re-opened after a short closure caused by a sudden outbreak of positive cases in Montejaque, he straightaway offered a takeaway service. This has now been extended to home delivery. This is normally one of my favourite restaurants, but I haven’t been allowed to go for over a month, because of the current lockdown. The paellas are very good and so are his gourmet tapas. He also offers a full range of main courses with meat, fish and vegetarian options too.
Restaurant Entre Ascuas, Montejaque
Restaurante Las Maravillas, Ronda
Located on Calle La Bola (Carrer Espinel), this restaurant was always full at lunchtimes and in the evenings before Covid-19 came along. Now they have adjusted their hours so they are open from 8.30 am right through to compulsory closure at 6.00 pm every single day of the week. They offer a takeaway service but no home delivery.
Other favourites of mine are currently closed, unfortunately. These include:
De Locos Tapas, Barrio San Francisco, Ronda
Guillermo, the Basque owner, offers a great range of stylish, modern tapas in a tranquil setting just inside the ancient city wall. In normal times you need to book days in advance to make sure of a table.
Restaurante Almocábar, Ruedo Alameda, Barrio San Francisco, Ronda
Manolo, the owner, prides himself on the quality of his food, which is expensive but very good. The dining room is tiny, but the terrace outside on the square is lovely. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Restaurante La Cascada, Hotel Molino del Puente, Fuente de la Higuera
Ian and Elaine, the owners, who met in Spain in their 20s, were successful restaurateurs on the coast before moving up here to Ronda 15 years ago and restoring an old flour mill into this delightful boutique hotel and restaurant. Ian cooks delicious meals which are well-presented and generous in size. In normal times we dine here more often than anywhere else.
Restaurante Molino del Santo, Estación de Benaoján
Andy and Pauline discovered their molino when they were on holiday in the area in the mid-80s. They abandoned their careers in teaching to develop the abandoned mill into a delightful boutique hotel which opened in 1987. Their restaurant has become a highly acclaimed place to eat, popular with both Spaniards and foreigners. They did not open at all in 2020, but hope to get going again in 2021. We hope so too.
Now, we’re all wondering what the Junta de Andalucía will decide regarding Christmas. We hope they relax the restrictions so that families and friends can at least enjoy a Christmas meal or two together.
