IBIZA - SANT CARLES - EL BIGOTES

EL BIGOTES

Known as "The Fish Shack at Cala Mastella" or El Bigotes (The Moustache), this refers to the proprietor's whiskers!) El Bigotes still sits at his table for lunch whilst devouring a flagon of red wine. Unfortunately, he is 96 years old and does not come to the restaurant much anymore.

There are two sittings, noon for fried fish (€25pp) or 2 pm for Bullit de Peix (€34pp).

For the Bullit de Peix, everyone must have arrived at this stunning little bay for the 2 pm sitting, a set meal. You will start with the ubiquitous olives, bread and alioli, and white house wine.

You can see the huge pot of fish stew being prepared freshly before you. The owner's son now goes out fishing in the morning, and whatever local sustainable fish he catches goes in the pot.

The first serving is a large plate of fish (dorada (bream), burrida (skate), escorpión (scorpion fish), and the like) with potatoes cooked in a delicious saffron broth. The whole fish goes in.

After this serving, they bring some paella rice with added baby squid, cooked in the remaining saffron broth.

The dessert typically consists of a few ice creams or the traditional Ibicenco desserts of flaó and greixonera.

To book, you can phone, but only between 11 am and 1 pm, or go in person the day before between 12 and 2 pm.

DON'T BE LATE.... The meal is served at 2 pm, all at once, to the entire restaurant.

Try a local Ibicencan white wine like Can Rich.

To get there, you must drive past Cala Mastella and follow the signs to the restaurant. Cala Mastella is a good small family beach, as is Cala Llenya around the cove.