TAPAS TRAIL UPDATE

Well, we went down on Sunday to try the Tapas Trail (in the interests of keeping you informed of course!) And what a superb idea, loved it. Unfortunatly it was Sunday and some of the bars were closed. See my blog earlier for more info running from 20th August to 29th August, alongside the Audi Med Cup Regatta.
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/08/audi-med-cup-and-tapas-route.html
You can print off the trail below by clicking one of the pics which will take you to the page.



As you can see each bar and tapa is numbered and this correlates to the map. Once you go into the first bar, you can pick up a proper smaller version.

We started at Number 18 - El Barril del Tapeo. And I must say this was my favourite, due to the food, ambience, and decor.

Located just down from the roman ampitheatre, this is a picture taken from the door to the ampitheatre (above)
A Place I would have never have found, had I not gone on the trail.
Busy with local people and service was great. The bar was laden with Tapas.
An amazing looking coffee machine!
These were the best Tapas we had, aubergine slices which were sandwiched with a tuna mayo filling and gratine on top! And a couple of beers to wash it down! all for 5 euros (2.50 each! I couldn´t reccomend this place highly enough. And will go back again and again.

Our next stop was number 16 which is "La Vieja Taberna"

Where we had a Meat and vegetable croquette on top of a carrot puree with cherry toms.

We did gobble this one down too quickly that I had forgotten to foto it! So asked lady next door and she kindly held hers up to foto!

Just along from this was the number 17 - restaurante Casino. But we decided not to have one in here, as needed a walk first.

So we continued on and ended up in Restaurante La Marquesita, which was just simply gorgeous,
Here we had a cannelloni filled with duck confit and mushrooms in an almost sweet and sour sauce.

This was a restuarant and not a tapas place, but very very nice and quaint, the food coming out to the diners looked sublime and extremely well presented. I will definatly go back and try their restaurant menu next time I am in Cartagena, service was great and friendly.

We continued on, but by now were actually not that hungry, so spent a while walking the streets staring upwards at Cartagena bulidings because they are incredible
Churches and the most fascinating buildings!
We walked by number 4 "Cerveceria Azafran" which unfortunatly was closed on a sunday.

Other wise I reckon we could have been tempted into another! As each participating place has a Poster in the door with the Tapa on it and check this one out!

Yummy looking or what!

I Have also been reccomended EL PINCHO DEL CASTILLO (number 34) and BARRIO DE SAN ROQUE (number 6) but unfortunatly both were closed on Sunday. So I will have to go back and try them.

This trail runs alongside the Audi Med Cup Regatta where there are also loads of concerts, parades, kids entertainment on, I have added pictures of the Village area to the Earlier blog post

http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/08/audi-med-cup-and-tapas-route.html

ROLDAN AND AROUND BARS AND RESTAURANTS

The town of Roldan is so close to La Torre Golf Resort and offers an alternative to eating onsite.

There are a variety of places to eat, drink and dance.

If you exit La Torre Golf at the bottom entrance near the school and turn right and then take a left at the next roundabout.

As you come into Roldan on the right you have
TOSCANA Italian Restaurant. They serve Pizza, Pasta, meats ect.. Very reasonable and usually very busy, especially with spanish people. A Pizza, a Caprese Salad and a beer and a wine came to circa 14 euros for us. Its not fancy food, but good value and they do a great breakfast for 2 euros.

Opposite you have
GATEWAY TO INDIA which is an Indian Restaurant.

A little further down on the same side is AMIGOS, which serves good old English food, is child friendly and shows the football .


As you approach the Traffic lights you will see infront of you
CAFE DEL TIEMPO Which serves Tapas, different coffees, teas, infusions and beers.

If you turn left at the traffic lights, this is one of the main streets in Roldan and on here, there is:


GENTI DI PASTA- Which is often difficult to find but its 3 doors down from the cajamurcia bank, this is a Spanish run Italian and is a lovely little place, again, great value and good service, well worth a visit.


Then next door is a Kebab place and a Tapas bar TAPICA, opposite is the LA CERVECERIA which serves tapas and burgers and beers and have a beer garden 

As you continue down this road you will find the CIVIC BAR RESTAURANT and then further along in the park is the PARK BAR a great spot for sitting on hot summer evenings with a cold beer (they serve them in ice cold glasses) serves tapas, baguettes and burgers.


Close to the Genti di Pasta restaurant, if you turn down the road next to Cajamurcia Bank, this takes you onto the next main street, which has the disco bars on it, Atrium, Cum Laude ect... but if you keep going until you see the Sports Pavilion on your left and a waste peice of ground on the right, there is a superb little spanish bar restaurant called:
ESPIGARES they serve simple home cooked spanish food, at very reasonable prices and great service. They also do a menu of the day for 9 euros. I have just found this and think its great. See my blog  post for pictures, prices ect (update...have now been back 4 times and had exceptional service and food, couldnt reccomend this place highly enough)http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/10/bar-restaurante-espigares-roldan.html




Outside of Roldan you have the industrial estate on the C3319 road, where you will find:


Jaipur Palace -Indian restaurant
Alambra palace - Indian and grillhouse - with bangra dancers on saturday nights
The Wok - Chinese restaurant - with a buffet wok
Tipsy´s sports bar - Serves food, great pizzas
123 bowling alley

As you exit the resort (top entrance) and turn left, on that roundabout you will find:


Valle del sol venta and another little venta Navarro, both are very good, the little venta serves a menu del dia which is very good.

 

SUCINA BARS AND RESTAURANTS

I will keep updating this Post as information becomes available.

Peraleja Golf has its superb Clubhouse where prices are not what you would expect (in a good way) they do a lunchtime menu of the day for 15 euros and reports are that it is superb. They also have their Piano Bar, open at weekends. But most noteworthy is the new Spanish Tasca near the stables, they have kindly renovated an 18th centruy farmhouse and its really quaint, with interior sitting areas and a fireplace, but outside is a huge pergola with seating and views down to the mar menor, serves tapas and drinks and it is really reasonable, they also serve paella but you need to book if you are going to eat. I couldnt reccomend this place highly enough.



For opening times and more pictures, click here: http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/07/horseriding-and-superb-food.html
In Sucina there are a variety of bars and restaurants:
The below reviews I have taken from one of the forums, so the reviews are by people not myself

"ROSARIOS had a fantastic tapas selection, 7 large plates between three and drinks for €10 each. Opening times Mon-Fri 7.30am to 4pm, 8pm to 11pm, closed Saturdays.
The PIZZA PLACE was quite busy, friendly staff, but the door dosent close properly so its a bit chilly! Food was fine. Decor reminds me of the Indian restaurant (which we avoid if possible).
FRANC LOUISE good atmosphere as ever, and as busy as I have seen it on Saturday. Saw people sitting in that strange glass fronted section to F&L.
PLAZA BAR was packed on Friday for the Barcelona match on TV. Basic food is ok too. Still has odd opening times as yet undiscovered.
EL MESON DEL VINO , very nice meal in good surroundings. Also there is a bar area and some came in just for a drink.
DONDE AYER is still the venue for the younger people here, and again the place for late night drinking and musiC.
EMs was very busy when we walked past which is good to see.
ARCO BAR have also changed their menu and are offering good cheap food. Drink a wee bit dearer than other places but staff do have good understanding of English.
THE INDIAN has changed hands (one of the workers has taken it over). He will be doing a 3 course meal on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for £10.95. I tried it out last week and it was excellent. You can also phone ahead for a take-away meal for the night you arrive to be ready for collection.

The ex owner of the Indian rest. is opening a new restaurant in the Dress Shop which closed down and it will be an International Restaurant.. He is still running the Pizza restaurant too.

I don't think the pedestrianisation of the centre will be done till after the summer. From Calle Mayor (Cam Bank) up to past Rosarios there are plans to pedestrianise the roads.

Meantime the open area between Bodega and Urbanisation has been cleared of ALL rubbish. Abel (who works for F & L and speaks a little English) is going to run the outside bar of the Bodega there from June to September. If its opening hours are the same as last summer, you will be able to drink until very late in the night.

Plaza Bar is now doing cheap Spanish specialities, good tapas, barbacued grilled plates of lovely meat (a la parilla), sizzling prawns in garlic, oven baked octopus. He does gazpacho, and paella on Wednesday lunchtimes (3 course meal for 8 euros including drink). Note staff do not speak English but menus done by in english so you can just point to what you want. His drink prices and coffee very cheap too.

Finally, don't forget our Cultural Centre where you get home made food, cheap drink, local banter and a smile from Teresa who does her best to speak slowly in Spanish, though at the top of her voice. Take your earplugs with you, but you will have a really truly Spanish experience there. It's my 2nd home (along with Plaza Bar) where all the characters of the Spanish people here hang out "

La Vereda has now opened serving food and drinks and has a sprung disco floor! Click here for more info and a video http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/09/la-vereda-bar-restaurant.html

Plus the old Hacienda at Hacienda Riquelme is now open serving food and drinks, and there is also the terrace bar in the dovecote, click here for pictures and more info.
http://polarisworldandbeyond.blogspot.com/2010/09/hacienda-riquelme-facilities-open.html
1