Telephone: 00 34 971 710550
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| Internal courtyard |
I had been trying to go here for well over a year and every time something jinxed the plan, the most important being that, without a reservation, it was unlikely to get in on spec. So to be sure of a table I booked 4 days ahead for lunch with my husband and another couple.
It has a good reputation with both locals and visitors alike and I was very much looking forward to the dining experience after such a long wait.
It is actually quite difficult to find as there is no sign outside to indicate its entrance located inside an old covered courtyard. The easiest way to find it is to look for the "Blue Pilates" signs (a Pilates studio which is located above the restaurant) and go in through the large arched doorway and Tast Club is directly ahead.
It was a cool day outside and as we entered the bar area it was lovely and warm and welcoming. The ambience, as the name suggests, is rather like a club with
subdued colours and lighting. As you pass through the bar to the restaurant there are 2 beautiful chandeliers hanging from the arched ceiling and a long wooden bar with tables placed along the length of the room. There are a couple of rooms off this area as well as an internal courtyard with interesting sculptures and plants.
We were quickly shown to our table and ordered drinks which came quickly and enabled us to peruse the menu whilst sipping our aperitifs. Two of us had G&T's and a bottle of Somontano was ordered as well. Both were excellent. There was a large menu as well as a small one and we were not sure which dishes were tapas style and which intended as a main course. The waiter explained it all very clearly and explained the size of dishes and how many they might feed. Having placed our orders an "amuse bouche" of large green olives stuffed with a vermouth gel. These were tasty but not exceptional.
We decided to share 2 caprese salads between us and they were very tasty and good sized. These were accompanied by crystal bread with tomato and olive rubbed on top. This dish and accompaniment whetted the appetite for the mains.
The 2 men had rabo de buey (boned oxtail) which was moist and tender with mashed potato and caramelised apple as an accompaniment/garnish and both gave it the thumbs up. I had Salpicon de Rape y Langoustines which was a cold dish of monkfish and large prawns with vegetables in a clear sauce with the consistency of water. This dish was a little disappointing as it was not as tasty as I had hoped and the sauce was unimpressive - and probably not a good choice on a cold day. I also ordered artichokes with parmesan shavings. The artichokes were deep fried and still warm and combined with the parmesan were extremely tasty and the dish was large enough for us all to share. The fourth member of our party had cod on a bed of tomato. This was a good-sized dish with 4 pieces of medium-sized cod. It was declared delicious. Every dish was creatively presented with the exception of the salpicon - which was just a dish of mixed fish/seafood and vegetables.
I decided to try the coolant de chocolate for dessert and it was absolutely perfect with warm thick chocolate oozing out of the little chocolate sponge round as you cut into it. I was in chocolate heaven. Our female friend had an ice cream which was also enjoyable.
To finish two of us had cortados (espresso with a shot of hot milk).
This was a very enjoyable dining experience with engaging and helpful service paced at the right level. in spite of the salpicon not being very inspiring I would definitely return here and try some of the other dishes on the menu.
At a cost of €87 per couple we felt it was a fair price for what we had.
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