IBIZA - SANTA EULÁRIA DES RIU - CA'S PAGES

RESTAURANTE CA'S PAGES

This is one of the most historic restaurants in the north of Ibiza. It is run by two sisters, Carmen and Lucia, whose family started offering their traditional Ibiçencan cooking in 1972.

It is located in the basement of the family home and in the shaded planted back garden.

The outdoor, partly covered seating is beautiful, full of green plants and subtle lighting.

If you come early, you have a great choice of seating. You will find big, long tables for families or a romantic small table set up in one of the hidden corners.

On colder days, you'll find a cosy spot inside the restaurant itself, which has a great log fire off-season. The food concept is simple: You order whatever you would like to have grilled and it will be freshly cut and prepared in front of you.

You can even walk up to the grill master and pick out your piece of steak, lamb, rabbit, or whatever you would like to be cooked on the open grill, accompanied by the best of Ibiçencan side dishes.

To start, we had, Pimientos de Padrón. Sometimes, they have very little spice; these were extremely hot!

Jamón Ibérico de bellota.

Followed by,

Chuletas de cordero (lamb chops)

Solomillo (fillet steak).

Chuletón (t-bone steak).

They were served with patatas fritas, patatas asada and calabacin (courgettes).

We had a bottle of Bodegas Protos Roble 2020 (D.O.Ribera del Duero) to drink with the meat.

Desserts were coco helado (coconut ice cream), sorbete Límon (lemon sorbet) and

Crema Catalana (a custard flan)

The local pudding is called greixonera. This traditional dessert from Ibiza and Formentera is usually made with leftover ensaimada (a spiral-shaped sweet pastry). Like bread pudding, greixonera consists of pieces of ensaimada that are combined with milk and eggs; the whole combination is baked until firm and golden brown. The cake is often typically flavoured with cinnamon. Vegetarians be awear, ensaimadas are made with lard.

Like many restaurants in the rural area of the island, they have their own recipe for aioli and hierbas (local liqueur), which you always get as a free copa at the end of your meal.

There is always a good mixture of people (locals and a few tourists), although this is definitely not one for veggies. Come with the whole family and friends or for a romantic dinner, you won't be disappointed.

There are no reservations, so arrive before 9.30 pm (early for Ibiza) to be sure of a table. Also, make sure you have cash. No credit cards are accepted.