Al-rruz is a wine bar style restaurant, situation in the busy main square of Almerimar with a large terrace overlooking the gardens and part of the marina. Specialities include over 10 rice dishes, but also steaks, fresh seafood and some interesting racionnes (plates for sharing). Prices vary depending on whether you want a full meal or to share racionnes with a number of friends. Expect to pay 30€ for a 3 course meal with wine.

Normally I don’t eat a lot of meat but last Saturday night, I really fancied a steak so it seemed a great opportunity to check out Al-rruz. When we arrived the terrace was fairly busy, but as it was fairly windy and we fancied a quiet meal for two, we decided to sit inside the restaurant. The atmosphere inside was very pleasant and relaxed, and definitely has a wine-bar feel to it. The lighting is subdued, the tables are small with blue cloths and candles, and there is a large bar all down one side.

We like to fit in with more Spanish times for eating, particularly if we are going to a Spanish restaurant as they tend to be quiet early evening. We therefore arrived around 9.30 pm for a pre dinner drink. This was still fairly early, but another couple had just arrived and a family of four had just started their paella. There were also a number of people having a drink at the bar, and as we knew one of them we decided to have our first drink with him while we checked out the menu.

Ines was very welcoming and brought us the menus right away, pointing out the fresh fish of the day and the specials which included a lobster paella, Empanada (a traditional pastry dish from Madrid ) and some clams in garlic sauce. For drinks, Chris went for his customary cerveza, and although I have become very fond of Spanish red wine with everything, I decided to start with a glass of white Rioja which was very dry and crisp and a good choice. Along with our drinks, Ines served us some very good home-made tortilla while we made our choices.

I was tempted by the fresh sea bass, but in the end decided to order steak which was what I had come out for. It was just a question of which one. Although Al-rruz is a speciality rice restaurant, I knew from a fantastic solomillo I had had before that the steaks are delicious. In the end we decided to share the house speciality which is 1 kg of T-Bone fillet, sliced thinly and presented with a hot stone plate for cooking at the table. What to have as a starter was an easy choice as soon as Ines showed us the clams which looked really fresh. We also ordered a mixed salad as Spanish main courses don’t tend to come with many vegetables, and two Tortillitas de Cameron (little crispy prawn pancakes). Racionnes tend to come as five portions, and in Spain it is very common to eat out as a family and share a number of plates, but Ines was happy to give us a smaller portion.

The clams didn’t disappoint and the garlic and wine sauce was fantastic for dipping our bread in! The salad we kept simple, just dressing it with some oil and vinegar. It is customary in Spain to also add salt but as I find the food quite salty to my taste anyway, I tend to pass on that. Overall with the little pancakes we had a good variety of tastes without filling ourselves up too much before the main course, which was a good thing as the meat looked fantastic when it arrived and there was a lot of it! 1 kg is definitely enough for 3-4 people with other bits if you are not big eaters and it comes with potatoes and grilled peppers. Great fun, although I had to keep stopping Chris from putting too much steak onto the hot stone at once as I like my meat pretty rare!

While we were eating, I enjoyed the Spanish and other music playing quietly in the background but it was easy to talk and there was plenty of space. Half way through our meal a bigger Spanish party came in celebrating a birthday which added to the atmosphere. They did have racionnes, which was interesting, including seafood, pealla, some pork, a fish and I think some empanada, all of which looked and smelt wonderful.

Ines and the waiter were very friendly and attentive to us throughout the meal and didn’t rush us at all, which is usual and something I love about Spanish restaurants. The meal moved at our pace and after our steak we took nearly an hour to finish our wine and chat before even thinking about whether we wanted a desert.

Of course we got tempted and ordered one Creme catalan and one speciality coffee mouse desert. Both came with extra spoons for sharing, even deserts being racionnes in Spain! Both were delicious and definitely tasted home made. We then had coffee and finished off with the customery spanish hospitality of a complimentary chipito or liquor. At that point as it was late and the kitchen had closed Juan Carlos joined us for a quick drink so we got the chance to give our compliments to the chef!

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The food was simple and very good quality with some interesting touches. Al-rruz is not where I would go for a wilder noisy evening, but to enjoy great Spanish food in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, it would be hard to better it.