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Read reviews of other restaurants on the island |
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Cafe Central Cafe Central is located on the sea front at the end of Calle Ballena. It has a lovely sheltered terrace from which you can watch the ferries come and go from Lanzarote. I decided to review this restaurant because our Hairbrain had been raving about it and I had also heard good reports from holidaymakers coming into the bar. On the night I went, Hairbrain turned up together with a bevvy of blondes! I had to tell her to keep it quiet that I was doing a review - no easy feat for Elaine!
The restaurant is tastefully decorated with crisp white tablecloths and black chairs. A scattering of plants and a bamboo screen give it warmth and a natural feel. The staff are elegantly dressed all in black and were attentive but no overly so. The menu is not extensive, but has sufficient choice to satisfy most tastes. It includes some very interesting dishes and combinations of flavours such as Veal in Tuna sauce. I opted for the sauteed cepes and mushrooms with slices of liver as a starter, which arrives accompanied by lightly grilled bread. The flavour was rich and deliciously earthy.
My friend had the langoustines flambéed in brandy which were perfectly cooked and had that lovely hint of sweetness that brandy adds to a dish.
When we had finished, we looked around for a water bowl to clean our fingers - of course I had had to try my friends starter too - but none was to be seen. Shortly afterwards it arrived, and it was hot, which was a bit of a surprise but a welcome one. My hands did feel a lot cleaner than using cold water. For her main course, my friend chose the Spaghetti al Cartoccio - a combination of mussels, prawns and squid - and a feast for anyone who likes sea food. I couldn't try this, as I am allergic to mussels, but I was assured that it had a tangy, fresh flavour of the sea and she didn't leave any! All the pastas here are freshly made on the premises and this really shows, they are lovely.
My choice was the Ravioli with cream, ham and mushrooms. The sauce was lovely and creamy but the ravioli had a sweetness to it, which I hadn't expected and maybe because of this, was not altogether happy with. I called the waitress over and explained my problem and she told me that this dish is made to a traditional recipe where the ravioli is stuffed with pumpkin and it was supposed to be sweet. She then offered to get me a replacement dish, without me having to ask her, so I decided to try the tagiatelle with spinach and gorgonzola.
This was stunning. Too many times the gorgonzola overrides all the other flavours and can be quite difficult to stomach. There was none of this in this dish. The quantities were perfect. The intense green flavour of the spinach and the creaminess of the sauce came through and left you with a delicate finish of the cheese in your mouth. I could have eaten this all night! I was also impressed by the fact that when the bill came, it did not include both dishes on it, just the spinach and gorgonzola one.
As usual, I didn't have room for a dessert, but the list included Italian favourites such as Tiramisu as well as chocolate brownies with vanilla ice cream. I did see these in the display cabinet and they looked wonderful. Cafe Central has a short wine list but it includes all the favourites amongst tourists and residents here, such as Vina Sol and Sangre de Torro. We had a litre of the house white, which was clean and fresh and very good value for money. Cafe Central is owned by Massimo from Bari in the South West of Italy which is where many of his recipes come from. He has had five other restaurants in Corralejo, including the very popular Meditteraneo opposite Norty Sur. The chef is Mauro from Milan and the waitress is the lovely Rocio from Santiago de Compestela in Spain. They will only use fresh ingredients in their food and this shows. Prices are reasonable for the quality of food that you get for your money. Starters are from 6.50e to 9e, pastas around 8-10e and entrees from 9e up to 24e for the biggest T bone steak you can get on the island! The restaurant is open every day apart from Tuesdays, from 8am to around midnight. The menu is served between 1pm and 3pm and 7pm to midnight. In between those times you can choose from a mouth watering range of sandwiches, cakes and pastries - all made on the premises. Overall, although I had a couple of criticisms about this restaurant, I was impressed by the food, the ambience, the staff and in particular the way that they handled my complaint. As regular readers will know, I have been to other places here where my complaints have been treated with indifference and I have ended up being charged for dishes I have sent back. One suggestion I have for them would be to add a one liner under each menu item to describe the dish in more detail so that diners know what to expect. So well done Cafe Central you will definitely be seeing me again! Cafe Central, Calle Ballena 5, Corralejo. Reservations 928 535 828 or 628 100 564. Corinne Sellens |
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