The old Sporting Tennis restaurant in Portals was always popular enjoying that privileged position overlooking the sea.
The food was good but the place was looking a bit tired.
Now it has been taken over by new owners who have refurbished it and it has certainly been taken up a few notches. It is now called the Sporting Mediterraneo.
With a navy blue and white theme of table linen and window dressing plus stylish wicker basket chairs it offer dining inside with air-conditioning or al fresco on the terrace with the fantastic sea view.
Blue and white screens separate the terrace restaurant area from the swimming pool.
The a la carte menu offers 7 starters from between 4.80 Euros for a Mediterranean salad to 11.40 Euros for prawn carpaccio. There are 4 fish dishes ranging between 10.80 and 14.45 with 5 meat courses from between 12.20 and 14.40 Euros.
The food is described as fusion, the chef, although Spanish, has worked in a number of other countries including Japan, which is reflected in his use of oriental touches to traditional Mediterranean dishes.
Whilst we studied the menu we were served with fresh bread and a delicious puree of black olives with pink peppercorns.
We chose Gazpacho. Not your ordinary cold soup; it was served over a delicate mound of diced prawn and peppers giving a decidedly oriental flavour.
Our other starter was terrine of foie. This came with a raspberry puree which worked well with the richness of the foie counterbalanced by the sharpness of the fruit.
The main courses chosen were rape (monkfish) in a Pernod sauce and fillet of venison.
The rape was served with a few clams and mussels on a bed of thinly sliced sautéed potatoes, the Pernod sauce served separately in a glass. This was very good indeed.
The venison was served with glazed onion and avocado (guacamole style) again with sautéed potatoes and a fruit de bosque sauce. It was tender and perfectly cooked.
We just managed to share a home made lemon sorbet with basil between us for desert.
All the dished are beautifully presented served on large plates with various sauces drizzled around the food, looking like works of art.
They also offer a menu del dia which changes every day; three courses for 15 Euros. On the day we were there it was prawn bisque or tuna salad followed by sole in red peppers or pork loin with curry sauce then with a choice of fruit or ice-cream.
The service was sharp and the waiters very smartly dressed in crisp white shirts black trousers and navy blue aprons.
With a bottle of Rosado and a couple of hierbas our total bill came to 73 Euros.
I’m told that unless you like eating in a racetrack of drunken dwarfs a.k.a. Spanish children avoid Sundays!
Next to marineland in Costa d´en Blanes, Portals Tel: 971 676456
I’ve mentioned Sindi´s before but now it is well up and running. It’s fully refitted to a very high standard and with air-conditioning, a pool table and two big plasma screen televisions. If you’re in the Terreno area this watering-hole is well worth a visit. Frederico Garcia Lorca, 22 Tel: 971 284 635
El Paisa
Whilst you’re up in Terreno and if you’re a lover of meat you’ve got to try the new Argentinian/Columbian grill directly opposite Sindi’s.
They have best cuts of meat with all the spicy sauces you would expect.
The meat is grilled in front of you on a charcoal grill.
Fredrico Garcia Lorca, 21 Tel: 971 289 254
Bon Apetit, Luncher