Hotel Tikar and Restaurante Azul

THERE seems to be three types of restaurants.  Many that are so bad you tell everyone about them.  Some that are good and you tell everyone about those.  And then there are a few restaurants that are so nice you want to keep them to yourself.  

They are the secret places that you save and share only with friends and family on special evenings.  

Restaurante Azul in Hotel Tikar is one of these places.  With its comfortable ambience, friendly service and superb menu it is not surprising this is the place locals have been celebrating their special occasions, birthdays and anniversaries for over 15 years now.

Well known for their traditional three course €24.50 evening menu, they are now offering a lunch time €12.50 menu del dia.  The menu changes throughout the year seasonally.  Some of the dishes include fresh spinach salad with roasted red peppers, walnuts and feta cheese or smoked salmon and avocado scrambled eggs.  

Amongst the main courses are halibut fillets baked with tomatoes and capers and grilled chicken breast in a creamy vermouth-orange sauce.  The desserts are genuinely home-made, such as their Almeria lemon tart and bananas marinated in golden rum and cinnamon being two of the most favoured.  Extremely reasonable considering the variety and impressive quality.

Besides their fine dining room, Hotel Tikar also has a beautiful private garden in the back where one may dine al fresco.  Every other Saturday night during the summer they have local musicians play for the garden diners. “Our garden is open to everyone and a great place to relax and have a pleasant meal or pre-dinner drink.”  

Just as somethings change, others remain the same, Sean assures the silver-surfers out there (Californian for pensioners) will continue to receive a 15 per cent discount on Friday nights on their dinners.

Hotel Tikar is located at the entrance of Garrucha on the road from Vera.

Restaurante Azul is open for dinner Monday-Saturday and serving lunch from 1:30-3:30 Tuesday-Saturday.  

For reservations telephone 950 61 71 31 or e-mail hoteltikar@hoteltikar.com