Very plain and simple is Casa Maria opposite the church, excellent BBQ restaurant is El Jinete on the road to La Cala Golf, decent old spanish grill restaurant is El Butibamba near the main road, more upmarket is El Patio in parade opposite the Irish pub and Mijas Playa by the beach at the Fuengirola end of town is supposed to be the dogs wotsits but I have never eaten there.

Hello Alan,
read your comments with interest as we are intending to embark on a similar journey as yourself, during 2005. We will be looking to fulfill the same criteria.

Would appreciate further comments resulting from your January 2005 trip.
Hope you find what you are looking for.

Regards
Bob & Margaret

Mijas playa - dont know whot " dogs wotsits " means , does not sound very complimentary . IMHO this is an absolutely top-notch place , food , service , wine , music ........everything . Highly recommended .

Mijas Playa is an excellent restaurant but rather up market (hence the dogs' bollecks ephitet). We like Jose's which is on the beach down by the Tower. All the Chinese restaurants are nice (though not very Spanish) and the Rotal Thai is excellent (but more expensive). For breakfast or snacks try the Salon de Juego (Games Room) which is opposite the Supersol Supermarket.

Mijas Playa is an excellent restaurant but rather up market

Roughly how much per head, with wine?

I presume they take credit cards.

Alan

I haven't eaten at Mijas Playa, I just know it by reputation and the fact that we very much like Alberts at Capopino which is run by the same set up. Basically the prices at those sort of restuarants are similar to Uk restaurants of the same standard but in Euros (so a meal which would cost £25 here would cost 25 Euros over there). There are plenty of other nice, less expensive restaurants around.

Mijas Playa is a very good restaurant. Monday - Thursday they do a set menu at a good price with good choice. Fridays /Saturdays you must book. If in summer ask for an outside table as it is very hot inside! The last meal I had in there was 3 people, 3 courses + wine and drinks after dinner, approx 180 euro, not bad compared with UK and we didn't have the cheapest courses! Also there is a pianist weekends.
For a meal with a beautiful view go to El Oceano Hotel restaurant. Also live music on weekends, and very popular for Sunday lunch.
Another very good restaurant in La Cala is El Porton, good for steaks.
But there are numerous excellent restaurants within a 10 minute drive either way, if you want any details ask me.

Where is El Oceano hotel ? From memory , another top-notch place is Valparaiso but this is some way from the town on the road to Mijas .
Also very good is Da Bruno on outskirts of Calahonda ........yes I know I am getting off topic .....

Stanley, El Oceano is on the beach side right at Torrenueva you can almost miss the exit, though they have taken down some trees so that you can now see their sign from the road. It is a Hotel but has a beautiful restaurant overlooking the ocean, with outside dining also in the summer months. Ah Da Bruno another of my favourites just on the roundabout off the Cabopino exit. They have two in Marbella just as good.
Yes Val Paraiso is a good night out for a crowd in summer.
They have a sister resatuarnt in Marbella on the Golden Mile Villa Tiberia (or something like that) same sort of theme.
I'm hungry now

El Oceano is an excellent Restaurant very very nice food. As is El Patio, havent been there for a couple of years though, does anyone know if it is still there? The Rancho Grill is another lovely place to eat ~ Meat on a Stone ~ yum yum.
Sorry should have said, Rancho Grill isnt in La Cala.

Sorry Elliebee, but El Patio shut down recently.

Some other restaurants we have tried lately that were good are El Gusto, next to Biddy's, nice decor with the kitchen within view of where your sitting. Music some nights. Nice Rioja. (Darrian. I think)
Jose's on the beach right next to the Torreon. Food good, but service a bit slow. (but whats the rush).
Streets of London, just the other side of the n340 in Urb Alcantara. Vast menu, and all good. Good if youv'e had enough of Spanish food.
For lunch / breafast, try Snackattack, in Urb Jardin Botanico. Tapas, bagels, lots of specials and a good fry up.
Just down form there is a place called Monica de Sardinia, in Torrenueva. Classy Italian with nice staff.

This is making me hungry, so I'm off.

Buena suerte.