El Comercio San Pedro de Alcantara

by Morris Bishop
(San Pedro de Alcantara)

This was one of those restaurants that was on the ‘yet to try’ list, indeed it had been there for over a year, but eventually we reccy it out and make a booking, as it happens on a blustery night that precluded alfresco dining. We were a quartet of diners that having repeatedly observed a full house and listened to grape vine chatter about how good this eatery is, we were full of anticipation. The owners nephew, Juanmar greeted us but has little English and we were seated at a window table with Spanish upright chairs (that I am sure were designed to dissuade one from lingering!) The eclectic dining room is dominated by a glass fronted bodega (wine store) and decorated with many farm and forestry tools, knick-knacks, and light fittings made out of bottles and corks!

From the extensive but manageable menu we chose starters of fried cheese in a raspberry sauce with apple, peach, and raspberries Pate de foie gras on a goats cheese and bread base with apricots - and, whitebait with an aioli sauce – all were delicious and plentiful
For mains one opted for the Pil Pil el comercio (prawns, cockles, Rosada, in a Garlic, chilli, paprika oil and vinegar dressing) - two had the grilled Sole, and for me one of my favourites Rabo de Toro (oxtail) in a thick Beefy sauce with a rice accompaniment.
There are two version that are the benchmark for this dish, one is the from the venter El Caserio at Paque Antena and the other is my wife’s. Sadly the meat was not ‘falling of the bone’ and was quite fatty and the sauce, although good wasn’t quite as flavoursome as it should be, but all the others were happy with their mains. We share a Pair of tart tatins for dessert.

Pepe our waiter had virtually no English, so Spanish was the language to use, but considering that there appeared to be about a third of the diners who were English speaking, I think that, as in the owner Michael’s other restaurant on the |San pedro Paseo, Marabierto, where about a third of the staff are English speaking, To have at least one here would be sensible. Never the less they tried their best and service was acceptable.

The V.S. El Comercio can be found at the junction between C/Linda vista and C/Andalucía in San Pedro De Alcantara. Street parking or as a last resort the central underground car park 300 m. to the east. Their day of rest is Tuesday and they open 6 days a week for lunch and dinner. Reservations on 952853644 or restelcomercio@hotmail.com No web site address that I can find.

Bishlin Guide marks out of 5
Ambience:3.5
Food:4
Menu:4.5
Service:4.5
Value:4
O/A:4

Please mention to the restaurateur that the restaurant was recommended in the "MarbellaFamilyFun.com" Newsletter. To see even more reviews on the best restaurants in Marbella, check out The Bishlin Guide.