autodidact

We're looking for a top-end restaurant for a night out during our 4-day stay. We will have had our fill of tapas at that stage, so we need a great meal in a real restaurant, and not a touristy one. Also any comment on whether Andalusia has any special wines to offer, or should one stick to places like Rioja or Ribero del Duro?

mikelg

Andalucía produces some of the finest wines in Spain, but focused mainly on sherries and sweet ones. "Fino" and "Manzanilla" are great to have with tapas, and for the dessert I highly recommend a Pedro Ximenez wine, made of sweet, dried grapes. Or an "amontillado".

It also produces some excellent white wines, a good choice would be Barbadillo.

In Spain there are dozens of wine regions, close to Andalucía you may try any of the Yecla region (Señorío de Barahonda), or Alicante (Enrique Mendoza, for instance).

kimhe

Abantal gets raving reviews and recieved its first Michelin star in 2009.

http://www.abantalrestaurante.es/SIT...ncipal_en.html

Revulgo

IMO there are two restaurants on the top: "Tribeca" and "Abantal".
http://www.restaurantetribeca.com/cartas.htm
http://www.abantalrestaurante.es/SIT...ncipal_en.html

autodidact

Thanks for the recommendations. I have booked two resturants:- Becerrita and Abandal.

Also in Granada we will be trying Restaurante Ruta del Azafran, plus the Parador.

Looking forward to them all .....

kimhe

The prestigious Spanish gastronomical guide Guia Repsol has voted these wines the ten best in Andalucía (2009). As mikelg said, focused mainly on sherries and sweet ones:

Amontillado Tradición V.O.R.S. (96 puntos) Bodega Tradición
La Cilla (96 puntos) Bodegas Barbadillo
Matusalem (96 puntos) González Byass
Noé (96 puntos) González Byass
Palo Cortado Tradición V.O.R.S. (96 puntos) Bodega Tradición
Selección Robles 1927 (96 puntos) Bodegas Robles S.A.
Imperial (95 puntos) Federico Paternina. División Jeréz
Obispo Gascón (95 puntos) Bodegas Barbadillo
Oloroso V.O.R. (95 puntos) Bodegas Barbadillo
Pedro Ximénez Tradición (95 puntos) Bodega Tradición
http://www.cea.es/portal/noticias/?id=22367
http://www.guiarepsol.com/es_es/gast...a/default.aspx

bardo1

autodidact (Otto?),

Not a top-end suggestion but...

Cross off one of your earlier tapas options and/or squeeze this one in:

http://www.vineriasantelmo.com/

Amazing food, no tourists, and likely to have many of the wines suggeted by kim above. Great value to boot.

autodidact

Bardo1,
Vineria San Telmo was on my list of possible places in which to eat tapas, so you have strengthened my resolve in that respect. It sounds good. Although I am doubtful it will have no tourists.... The menu is at http://www.vineriasantelmo.com/recursos/carta.pdf

josele

Ruta del Azafran in Granada? Do you mean Ruta del Veleta?

bardo1

re. San Telmo: forget the menu (though I'm sure it's fine) - go with what's on the blackboard that day (there is usually an English speaker on wait staff)...

Egbert

Make sure to check out Enrique Becerra in the Arenal near the bullring if just for tapas. Very Andalucian, not nouvelle cuisine. Lamb meatballs in mint sauce and the foie gras are amazing. Is it related to Becerrita?

autodidact

Egbert: it appears that Becerrita is run by Enrique Becerra's son. See http://www.exploreseville.com/restaurants.htm

Josele: No it's Ruta del Azafran; see http://www.rutadelazafran.es/index.p...n&seccion=home

Egbert

Thanks I had a feeling. It must be good, can't wait to try Becerrita, Abantal and Tribeca.

autodidact

Just back from Seville/Granada.

Best meal was certainly in Abantal in Seville. The location is a little bit dull (but not in any sense difficult or remote). However food and wine were of highest order. Had a very good 2006 Verdejo plus a glass of Pedro Ximenez with dessert.

Also had good dinner experiences at Becerrita in Seville (their ecological menu!) and Ruta del Azafran in Granada. Very enjoyable lunch at Modesto in Seville (try their zamburinas). Abades Triana in Seville gave us a reasonably good dinner, but in their case the experience is more to do with the terrific location on, and view across, the river.

In Granada, when looking for good tapas, be aware of the possible confusion between two establishments: Bodegas Castenada and (right beside/behind it) Antigua Bodegas Castenada. The former seems to be the real deal, with better value too.

Stayed at the Parador in Granada, which was pleasant. The dinner we had there was good but not great.

Egbert

Thanks for the report!