Venta El Horno Cancelada

by morris Bishop
(San Pedro de Alcantara)

A friend of ours, who’s judgement I rate, said you must try El Horno at Cancelada, they have a 15€ 3 course menu with tea or Coffee included. So Post haste that very day we lunch there, and am pleased to report she was right!

Opened for just 5 months, there are 2 dining room and 2 bar areas as well as a private room for 8, all together they have about 100 covers inside and a further 30 or so on 2 terraces. Very oldie worldly with 4 seater tables so heavily constructed that it would take 4 people to lift them Plus traditional Spanish upright chairs to match, well spaced and dressed with pleasant table ware and paper serviette. Well lit, with vaulted ceiling and exposed beams make this a spacious room to dine in.

As this was our first visit, we thought to try the 3 course meal that our friend had experienced some days ago, which consisted of starters of Prawns Pil-Pil, Vegetable soup, or Mixed Salad, and mains of Grilled Entrecôte with sautéed Vegetables and French Fries,Grilled Sword Fish with salad and French Fries or Grilled chicken thighs with sautéed Vegetables and French Fries. The house desserts were a home made biscuit with ice-cream or Flan with Raspberries. Both the starters were acceptable, but the Entrecôte was exceptional. Tender Tasty Tenera cooked exactly to our order - rare for Madam and medium rare for me, and accompanied with chips that rival Peggottys (that we consider the bench mark) and delightful mixed sautéed vegetables. OK there is no pretence at presentation but with food like this, ‘at a price like that’ I will forgive them.

Just one suggestion: As an option I would willingly pay extra for some sort of sauce to accompany the meat, either a Peppercorn (my favourite) or Béarnaise (thick and creamy) Chimichurri (with a kick) or Blue cheese (a coupling made in heaven)
Bottom line: we will return

The VS.
Not the easiest place to find, but if you keep heading up hill in a northerly direction through the village you will eventually find it. Set your sat-nav to a post code of 29688. Our waiter Naufel was attentive and friendly, Jose Maria the Maitra‘D from the Phillipines was knowledgeable and helpful, and his Wife Nannette is the Chef. They have a full a’La Carte menu and half a dozen salads. Other than the Swordfish and Squid, all the main are meat based. Presently they open for Lunch & Dinner every day except Saturday, but from October their day of rest becomes Mondays. Average 3 course A’La carte with wine 35€ They have their own car park. There is a children’s play ground at the rear.

Bishlin marks out of 5 (for the category of Venta’s) Ambience:4.5
Food:4.5
Service: 4.5
Menu: 4
Value:4.5
O/A 4.5


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.

DATE: September 2016