Occasionally an unexpected invitation arrives for dinner, or a party, and you have no idea how the evening is going to turn out, but life is an adventure so my philosophy is “Go for it”. I was not too sure if I was going to be up to par because I had been to a late night party the night before and parties in Spain tend to last until the next day as a matter of course. However, the ambiance, service, menu and good friends were all delightful and I was able to quickly get into the ‘enjoy myself ‘ mode.
Unfortunately, I had forgotten my glasses so I was dependent upon my friends to read the menu to me so that I could choose the dishes that I wanted. Of course this was easier in the telling than in the doing. The menu was so extensive that I experienced great difficulty in remembering all the dishes that were available, and we were just at the starters part of the menu. All the items sounded mouth-watering but I managed to be decisive, although the decision was not an easy one because of the competing alternatives.
My friend had originally ordered a table on the garden terrace overlooking the sea, but as it had decided it would rain we were quickly assigned to the garden room part of the restaurant, overlooking the swimming pool. Good, but not quite as stunning as the Mediterranean.
The weather had a change of heart and it decided to stop raining and my friends decided that they preferred Plan A, i.e. dining on the garden terrace. The transition was conducted smoothly without fuss. Our drinks, etc. were brought to us as though this was an everyday occurrence and we continued with our conversations and awaited our main courses.
I had the same experience with the main dishes. There was a plethora of choices, all very tempting but I eventually chose Sea Bass. My friends chose a richly flavoured lamb dish and commented on how good it tasted, so have no fear if you decide to eat there. All of the dishes are cooked to order so sit back and enjoy yourself between dishes.
What I particularly enjoyed in addition to the lovely food was the delightful service which was unobtrusive, but excellent. We were never kept waiting, it was courteous without undue formality and above all else, it was friendly.
I cannot comment on the price because I was a guest, but I can thoroughly recommend this restaurant if you want to treat yourself or a loved one – or even special friends to a night out. We eventually left just after one o’clock in the morning, and still were not rushed nor lights turned out as some sort of hint. I would not hesitate to recommend this reataurant for a social and gastronomic experience worth remembering. Long may such restaurants flourish.
Restaurant interior
Garden terrace
Hotel Carabeo & Restaurant 34
Calle Carabeo 34
Nerja
Reservations advisable, phone (00 34) 952 525 444
For those with a GPS you will find the restaurant at 36 44’46.63″ N 3 52’27.52 W
Posted under Restaurant Reviews
