One of the famous signature dishes of the UK is fish and chips but, sadly, the quality of the product served up can be extremely variable, including down to almost inedible. Bar Las Canteras, a beachside restaurant in the Spanish holiday resort of Chipiona, does...not actually offer it on the menu but diners can create their own by combining pavia, white fish deep fried in what seems very akin to beer batter, with patatas fritas. There may be no mushy peas available but this fish and chip combo is far superior to many I have eaten in England – and it is cheap.
Las Canteras is a neat and tidy place in an atmospheric setting, particularly at high tide when those sitting on some tables can get showered with spray from waves breaking on its terrace! The menu is straightforward enough but portions are extremely generous and the food tasty to boot. For those not motivated by the dish above the barbecue-grilled fresh fish is an attractive option, particularly if it comes paired with grilled vegetables to die for – tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms liberally dosed with olive oil, garlic and maybe some balsamic vinegar. You won’t have to worry too much about vampire attacks after consuming it… The downside of the fish is that though you go and pick your own from a range laid out on ice, before it is prepared and cooked, the mark up on the local supermarket price per kilo is considerable. Having said that the fish is brilliant, and well-cooked, and was probably landed at the nearby fishing port and holiday resort of Sanlucar the same day.
If you go for lunch bear in mind that it does not open until 1.30pm and even then you may find the staff still eating their own lunch and therefore not providing service. There is an almost adjacent car park (about 40 yards away) which is paid for in the month or two of high season (July and August) but otherwise free. The location beneath the lighthouse is ideal for a post-meal stroll along the town’s southern beach where there are a number of ice cream outlets for those looking for more calories.
I have eaten here maybe a dozen times and never been disappointed.More