Hi Dawn and Mike
Here are some places to think about when looking for some thing to eat. Prices quoted are a couple of years ago, but the value for money is still good.
Jane and Mark
La Barbacoa
A bistro style restaurant with a wide classic menu of typical French cuisine. All main courses are served with baked potatoes topped with garlic cream. Waiter service, with a small bar area. Cosy open fireplace in the winter months. Advisable to book a table at weekends.
Directions: Head towards Puerto de Mazarron but do not go into the port. As you get near you will see signs for Isla Plana – follow these. Go through Isla Plana and take the right hand turn signposted for La Azohia. You will see a yellow and red building, it is the La Azohia Hotel. There is a turning just before this signposted “Barbacoa”. There is ample car parking outside the restaurant. Telephone - 968 150 200.
Casa Nono
Cosy restaurant with a small cocktail bar, excellent menu and good selection of starters, meat and fish dishes. Speciality of the house is strips of steak cooked on hot stones at your table. There is a good wine list and waiter service. Best to book at weekends.
Directions: Take the same route as for La Barbacoa towards La Azohia. The restaurant is a red one-storey building on the left hand side of the main road before the La Azohia turning.
Arco Mediterraneo
A Spanish restaurant in Puerto de Mazarron, with seating both inside and outside. A large menu including lobster paella (for two persons). Speciality fish menu but also good steaks. The menu is in English with an extensive wine list and waiter service. We have heard both good and not so good things about this one and have not tried it ourselves so cannot comment!
Directions: Head towards the Port and bear right towards Bolneuvo. Take a right turn just before El Arbol Supermarket, the restaurant is on your right with yellow tablecloths outside in the summer.
El Saladillo
Reasonably priced food and they specialise in rabbit paella. Fairly basic inside but it does get very busy at lunchtimes.
Directions: Turn right at the main road as you leave Country Club. The restaurant is only a few kilometres up the road just before you reach Camposol and almost opposite the white church.
Mariana’s
Look out for the Menu del Dia at just 10 euros per head (changes daily and good variety to choose from) which is very popular at lunchtimes (particularly with the Spanish workers). In the evening they have an Al a Carte and Menu of the Evening which has a good selection of courses. Don’t be tempted if they offer you the Mazarron prawns - although they are very nice they don't publish a price for them. If you can’t resist, ask how much first! Drinks and wines can be expensive.
Directions: Take the same route as for El Saladillo but actually turn off into Camposol and you will see the restaurant at the entrance.
Pizzarron 2
Italian pizza restaurant, serves a large variety of pizzas cooked to order, fresh salads, steaks, burgers, pasta dishes and garlic bread. A popular eating place all year round with the Spanish and English – menus are in English. Tables outside and inside, waiter service, very casual ambience.
Directions: Into the Port, past El Arbol Supermarket and the Hong Kong Restaurant, you will see three pizza restaurants on the right hand side with tables outside on the forecourt area. Pizzarron 2 is just around the corner, the last of the three.
Costa Costa Hotel
The hotel has a café/bar and an a la carte restaurant with a wide variety of choice, especially good fish and steaks. Both the food and wine are very reasonably priced.
Directions: Situated in Mazarron town itself, turn right at the town centre traffic lights, then it’s either first or second left (there is a sign for the hotel at the turning but it is quite small and easy to miss). You will then be in a square where the hotel is situated. You can normally find a parking space around the square.
Amaro’s at El Pareton
Around 20 euros a head for a really good meal. The house wine, “Vino Tinto de Casa”, comes by the jug full at just 3 euros.
Directions: Go past Camposol and take the road for Totana. Pass through Cantereros until you reach the sign that says Cantereros is ending and El Pareton is starting (the two villages merge together). Not far now and after the traffic lights you will see Amaro’s sign on the right. You can park next to the sign, or go up the road beside the restaurant across the road, and park there or in the square behind. Enter the restaurant through the bar which is on the main road.
Chinese
There are so many, here are a couple of our favourites:-
Europa
Very reasonably priced and good quality food. A wide selection of cheap ‘Menu del Dia’ if you’re hungry at lunchtime. Menu is in English and staff are very friendly.
Directions: Head to Bolnuevo. Over the roundabout heading towards the beach, you will see a campsite on your left hand side – the restaurant is on the right hand side opposite the campsite.
Pekin 5
Slightly more expensive than Europa, but a very nice modern restaurant, with good food and friendly staff.
Directions: Head towards the Port. As you take the exit for the Port you will see the sign for Pekin 5 – it’s part of a retail centre on the right hand side, next to CAM Bank and Mercadona Supermarket. There is also a restaurant called Pekin 2, run by the same people, which is nearer to the port itself.
Indian
There are two Indian restaurants in the Port, but we have heard that they are over-priced at about twice the cost of a Chinese. One is just past Mercadona on the left, and the other up one of the side roads close to there.
The Market Tavern
English run and English menu. Giant breakfasts, cod and chips (huge), steak pies, treacle puds, that sort of thing. Best to book if you want the cod, and say you want the cod at the time you make the booking. Great Sunday lunches too. Telephone 968 154 588.
Casa del Mar
Very Spanish fish restaurant. If you like fish – go here - the Turbot is excellent.
Directions: Head into the Port. The restaurant is at the end of the Harbour car park.
Café Colonia
Serves interesting freshly baked bread such as 'seven seeds' etc, plus tasty croissants, pain au chocolat etc. You can sit outside on the terrace, usually with a mixture of Brits and Germans. Good tapas at lunchtime – go to the counter at the back of the café and point to what you would like! Friendly staff.
Directions: Head to Bolnuevo. Over the roundabout and take the turning on the right where the Grupo Fim office is on the corner (may be the first right after the roundabout – just before the Europa Chinese) and it’s on the right hand side.