Santiago Del Calvario Restaurante, or simply "Santiago's" as regulars refer to it, is a real gem. Tucked away in Alhaurin el Grande's old town, the restaurant combines superb cuisine, friendly, professional yet informal service with really great prices. 
Natalie & Allen have worked exceptionally hard to build a great reputation, which attracts clients locally, and from the coast ( 30 mins away) as well as from further afield. For the past few years a new institution has started at the restaurant – the wednesday curry night! Well, this is no "spit-n-sawdust" curry night in a local pub, but a exploration of international cuisine, each week a different nation or region is explored. The other week, we enjoyed the Lombok Menu – the romantic Indonesian island, east of Bali. Wow, what a night! Not only is the fixed menu great value, but the courses just kept coming! Take a look at the menu below…
As well as something "piquante" on a wednesday night, you can enjoy a classy traditional Sunday Roast and flamenco in the evening, or why not just go al a carte during the week.
Santiagos in Alhaurin has very much been part of my life here in Southern Spain. I was seduced by the romantic yet understated Moroccan interior design that Natalie has created. In fact Santiago's was the place that inspired me to decorate my country place in the same style – Natalie's dad & I caught a ferry to Morocco 6 years ago and filled a rental car with furniture and accessories for the same store that Natalie used – but there's a whole story there I don't have room to cover here!
I've been a customer ever since and unlike so many restaurants where standards decline over time or experiences can be unpredicatable, each time I've had a great time and eaten exceptionally well at Santiago Del Calvario, Alhaurin el Grande. In fact Rafa is now convinced that its not true that Brits can't cook – he says it's some of the best food he's had and without all the pomp and ceremony and crazy prices that seems to sadly go hand in hand with fine dining here in Malaga province.
There is a charming Andalucian patio open in summer, with fountain, subtle evening lightening amongst the fruit trees and a beautiful al fresco bar,
So, there's my plug for the restaurant. So, go and try Santiagos yourself.
Santiago Del Calvario Restaurante,
C/ Calvario 40
29120 Alhaurin El Grande
Tel: 952 499 057
Follow the signs when you enter the town. There is street parking and a car park near by.
P.S. Since writing this entry, the restaurant was sold by Natalie and Allen a year later, but I am pleased to say the restaurant continues to go from strength to strength under the new owners, friends of N & A. In fact we went back form traditional sunday lunch in Oct 2011 and it was superb – enjoying eating al fresco in the charming Morrish style patio terrace.
They also have a new website http://www.santiagorestaurant.es/
Coin & Alhaurin el Grande – from the gloriously kitch and dramatic cinematic shorts, "Andalucia es de cine" – now available on DVD in English and Spanish.
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