A great place to try the local speciality “arroz a banda”: Restaurant La Taberna del Gourmet (13. April 2024)
The La Taberna del Gourmet is located in a side street, and you would not necessarily end up in that side street, but it’s worth going there as the place is actually quite worth visiting. Once seated and attended by a friendly and very efficient waitress, I had ordered the “fried potatoes with aioli and spicy sauce” (EUR 8.80) and while they were tasty, I forgot that a plate of patatas bravas was a bit of another size for EUR 8.80 than in Switzerland. This serves a family. It serves a hungry family with tasty food, but it’s definitely too much.
Since I always love to try things I don’t try too often, I went for the “sea urchin” (EUR 4.50), which I like in its cooked form, but frankly, not as much in its cold form, as the taste was rather the one of salty seawater than anything else.
The same applied when I saw the “grilled kidneys of suckling lamb” (EUR 4.50) on the menu, but they, in turn, were actually quite enjoyable! Nothing you would need to eat tons of, but a few bites were actually quite nice.
The “fried anchovies” (EUR 13.20) were great again. Sure, again, crispy fish, but frankly, I like that crispy fish a lot. And with some fresh lemon on top, it’s just a great starter. Well, one too many, but a great starter for sure!
Ultimately, it was time to go for the ‘national dish of Alicante’, an “arroz a banda with prawns & squid (dry)” (EUR 22.95). Apparently, the ‘dry’ version is the typical one, and the ‘creamy’ is the one for tourists, so I went for the dry version. And I must admit, it was a great bite. Definitely too much food in the end, but with a bit of the aioli, the arroz was absolutely mindblowing!
The inside is rather simple, but it has its own appeal and makes you feel comfortable and relaxed when you sit down.
So, to sum it up, definitely a can do when you’re in Alicante.
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Contact Details:
Restaurant La Taberna del Gourmet
C. San Fernando 10
03002 Alicante (E)
Tel.: +34 96 52 04 233
Homepage: http://www.latabernadelgourmet.com
About the Author: Sven
I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org.
Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City. 
