Rincon De Paco - Caravaca de la Cruz

Happened across this restaurant many years ago, ended up spending seven fabulous hours in there. The food was stupendous. One day I hope to return.

Our party of eight,arrived early afternoon,during the must see horse race event, Initially the place was very packed ,with beautiful tapas and beer . Being served to the large crowd. We looked into a restaurant area, Saw table place settings,however after talking with a waiter,he said we could eat informally, Our table has a mix of dishes,lamb, pork,fish,steak,eggs all served quickly with patatoes fried,,beer,delicious white wine and lovely bottles of excellent red wine, First time to taste a 15% red.Great experience.

The reason for my above title is very simple, dear foreign visitor: speaking Spanish is essential if you are going to enter this restaurant as no one speaks any foreign language and the menu is not translated. This restaurant, and indeed the whole of Caravaca de la Cruz reminded me of my first trips to this country 25 years ago, when all activity in the streets ceased at lunch time, and the only place to take refuge from the intense midday heat was in a restaurant or a café full of the locals with whom back then I just could not communicate. Our experience here began in a great manner: two of our Spanish speaking party asked twice for the menu (written version), but this was given to us verbally by the waiter Francisco, who quickly, quietly and efficiently named the all the dishes available that day, twice over. We started off with a dish of very tender Jamon de Bellota, a dish of local cheese, and a salad, all shared between us and washed down with a bottle of Castillo Luzon from the local Jumilla wine region. Our main course consisted of the local specialty lamb, and fish dishes. All produce was fresh not a single frozen chip to be seen. For deserts we went for the excellent house “Tarta de tres chocolates” or local fruit. The three course meal with wine, water and rounded off with properly prepared espressos came to 30 euros per person. Fantastic value. The restaurant décor is intensely Spanish, decorated with signed pictures of bull fighters (there is a beautiful bull ring in Caravaca), a picture of the Athletico de Madrid football team and other Hispanic mementos. A great Spanish backdrop for a great Spanish meal.

La comida estaba muy buena. Mucha cantidad a buen precio. Y el bar está muy bien y arriba tiene una terraza con unas vistas preciosas.

Tapas muy buenas y buen servicio. Recomiendo las empanadillas de queso.