A TASTE OF: La Torre del Mirador

“To give service, food, ambience and atmosphere and remember that the most important thing here is the client”

Cristobal has been providing all of the above and more at this fantastic, stylish restaurant in Fañabe for the past three years. “When I first told my friends what I was going to do they all told me I was crazy, but I believe that if you work very hard you can make things come true. You cannot run a good restaurant simply for the money; you have to really enjoy people. I wake up every morning and think about what is going to happen today, I enjoy going to work and so do my staff, some of those, like Ged, have been working with me for years, they like coming to work too. I like to think of my guests as friends and I try to make everyone feel welcome at my restaurant. I am very well treated when I go to, say, England or Germany so I like to look after people when they come and see me”.

The décor in this beautiful restaurant is gorgeous, all twinkling fairy lights and, because of its fabulous location, amazing sea views. This really is a restaurant to die for. Many of us have been less than impressed with some of the waiter service supplied on our Islands, but not here, they actually look as if they are having a really good time, when they ask if there is anything you need, they really do mean it! Wow, other restaurants, take note!

Ann and Jo from La Caletta ate in the downstairs restaurant and were guests of Cristobal for the evening and extremely impressed with what he and his staff had to offer. “It is so different, what with all the little dining rooms, you would never know from the outside, it is incredible, really different from any other restaurant here” clearly Jo was impressed. “It is warm and inviting and totally relaxed but still has a wonderful feeling of opulence. It is a place you can feel you can relax in but where you can dress up, it is not a shorts and t-shirt restaurant, but other than that, anything goes”, was Ann’s first impression.

The first courses arrived very quickly and it was a good job they were hungry as a veritable feast arrived comprising of Tomato Bread, Pulpo (Octopus) with potato, Deep Fried Squid, Jamon, Garlic Prawns and Peppers Padron (Deep fried Chilli Peppers). “Jo makes his own garlic prawns and is very good so I know when they are good and these are Very Good, the jamon was the best I have ever tasted, really melts in your mouth and the Pulpo was beautiful”.

“The Squid was cooked to perfection, the Peppers were lovely, absolutely spot on, and just a little bit hot which was good because when they are hot, they are really hot”! Jo clearly a happy bunny with his first course then!

For their main courses Ann chose fish, Lubina, and Jo opted for Solomillo. “The fish was beautifully presented, partially filleted which made it ridiculously easy to eat, the vegetables served were amazing, we had potatoes cooked with a light cheese sauce, carrots, broccoli, red peppers and mushrooms, again all served beautifully”. Jo, usually a hard man to please when it comes to food declared “The steak was so nice you didn’t want to eat it, you just wanted to chew it for ages”! A compliment, I think, though it doesn’t bear thinking about too much! Also served was a Leg of Lamb which was probably the best I have ever tasted, cooked to perfection, succulent and full of flavour. It will be a while before I cook lamb in my kitchen again, it will never taste that good!

Now deserts are always a problem. You know you shouldn’t really have any, but most places have something that you really can’t resist, not that you would want to. Cristobal served up a wicked and evil selection of cakes and ice cream, probably about a million calories per mouthful! This is not a place to go if you are on a diet, Jo declared desert as “Unexplainable, a tutti-frutti plate to die for” Ann doesn’t usually like Spanish cakes but… “That was a party on a plate”! Ok, so desert was obviously quite good then!!

Coffee and Brandy ended the very successful meal, but then the fun really started. Throughout the meal Ged Roberts provides really, really good music. Not your usual bland background white noise, but songs that you really want to listen too. And guess what, he can sing, properly, not your usual pub singer nonsense we all know and, er, love. Not. This is a place to come and celebrate. Anything. Whilst we were there, one couple was celebrating their joint 80th birthday, as was another gentleman who took it upon himself to sing to as all Karaoke style. And he could sing as well!! Result!! Although there is no actual dance floor, there is plenty of space to dance, as demonstrated by four sisters doing line dancing with style. A number of couples took to the floor during smoochy numbers as well as a good few who were bopping with the best of them. The things men get up to with their wives when their mates aren’t watching!!

As Ann says “It was like being at a family wedding, everyone talking to each other and dancing, it was brilliant”. Jo thought “The service was brilliant, I feel so relaxed, usually when you go to a restaurant all they do is serve you. Here the staff are having a laugh and enjoying your company, I would definitely come here again, it is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to in over sixteen years on Tenerife. I would bring a group and eat downstairs ‘cos the atmosphere is brilliant”. Praise indeed from a Sunderland lad!!

It is also nice that Cristobal doesn’t consider himself so exclusive that you have to eat. You can just come here for a drink and enjoy the atmosphere, although it would be a crime not to try his menu out. It really is a place to dine, not just to eat and run. Whatever you decide to do, Cristobal will serve you exactly the same be you a Prince or a Pauper- as a valued friend.

CC El Mirador

Playa del Duque

Costa Adeje

922 73 22 09

Open from 11am ‘til midnight

Menus in English, Spanish, German, French and Russian.

Childrens menu available

Main meals from €15

Private Dining Rooms available for 3 to 30 people

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