IBIZA - SANT LLORENC DE BALAFIA - RESTAURANT CAMI DE BALAFIA

RESTAURANT CAMI DE BALAFIA

If you fancy something big and meaty in the evening (sorry, vegetarians, but this is probably not for you!), drive up Restaurant Road, officially known as Carretera San Joan de Labritja (it's the second to last Restaurant on the left, on the stretch of road going to the village of San Joan de Labritja from Eivissa (Ibiza Town). If you count down the kilometre of roadside posts, it is at 15.4km.

Here, you will find Camí de Balàfia, which is set back off the main road opposite Ca Na Pepeta, which is also good.

This Restaurant represents the real Ibicencan (even hippy) spirit of Ibiza. You eat under the stars in a beautiful hacienda courtyard covered by orange and lemon trees.

There is indoor seating in the unlikely event of a freak thunderstorm. This place is frequented by the famous (Mick & Jade Jagger, Kate Moss et al.) and the not-so-famous faces of Ibiza.

Start with fantastic aioli, gorgeous, pungent, virtually raw garlic!

With olives and homemade bread

Next is a side dish of sensationally sweet and locally produced tomato and onion salad.

They have no menu, as this is the place for big chunks of meat, particularly steak.

Great big succulent slabs of steak are cooked on a giant outdoor grill,

combining three kinds of wood from almond, carob, and olive trees.

They also grill :

Chorizos (Spanish sausages)

Pollo de corral (free-range chicken)

Conejo (rabbit)

Chuletas de cerdo (pork chops)

Chuletas de cordero (lamb chops)

Entrecôte (sirloin steak)

You can try all these meats in a mixed grill if you wish.

They come with the most delicious chips, they say, they are expertly hand peeled by the grandfather.

Desserts include

Crema Catalana

Flaó (homemade cheesecake with mint)

Graixonera (a local cinnamon-based bread pudding)

There is also a decent wine list, including Rioja and Ribera del Duero, and many local wines, such as Tinto de Pais from North West Ibiza. This is a good option if you like big, unfiltered reds.

Finish on the house with a capital of homemade hierbas (a local liqueur made with herbs from the island herbs); the family runs this place and offers friendly service. Do not expect a sophisticated ambience with live shows or fashion catwalks; this is a traditional, long-standing Ibicencan Restaurant.