Restaurant San Antonio

Description:

• Behind a pale pink facade that overlooks Cádiz's biggest plaza, this stylish and appealing restaurant specializes in local recipes, many of whose origins go back at least a century. Nothing about the place evokes the kind of woodsy-looking taverns that proliferate in the Old Town: In fact, you'll get the definite sense that you're in a somewhat ambitious restaurant here, with uniformed waiters, a small zinc-covered bar near the entrance, and tables that are just a bit too close together. A well-intentioned and hardworking staff will recommend dishes that include a parrillada (mixed grill) of fish; house-style codfish; octopus prepared any way you like it (we prefer it either stuffed or deep-fried); Cádiz-style fried fish; cauliflower or shellfish soup; rice with shellfish; arroz a la marinera (rice with lobster, prawns, and shellfish); and a dish that was exported to Cuba and popularized almost instantly: ropa vieja -- that is, braised skirt steak in brown sauce.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010