IBIZA - SANT JOSEP - RESTAURANT ES XARCU

RESTAURANT ES XARCU Michelin Plate IIO

With plenty of money to spend and maybe a boat to moor, head past Cala Jondal, down a precarious dusty path (make sure you are in someone else's car!) to Cala es Xarcu and Restaurant Es Xarcu.

If you come by boat or private yacht, you can anchor just in front of the restaurant and be brought aboard by the restaurant's complimentary boat service.

It is fantastic to sit in this wonderfully tranquil rustic spot, overlooking the bay, enjoying a wonderful meal.

This beautiful little restaurant is in the same bay as the noisy euro trash Blue Marlin club but is separated by a small headland and it's another world.

It's a grown-up sort of place, with lots of atmosphere, without the disco beat. The accent is on the food, and where, obviously fish dominates.

Start with

Jamón Ibérico de Bellota (100% Ibérico pig)

Pimentos de Padrón (small green peppers, one in ten can be hot, beware !!)

Almejas (clams)

Espardenyas (sea cucumber)

Gambas (prawns)

Then go for langosta (lobster),

or share a large fresh fish like

San Pedro (John Dory)

Mero (grouper)

Rotja (sea scorpion)

They are all baked in the oven or baked in a sea salt crust. They come served with peppers and potatoes.

In August you can have a local speciality, exquisite fried little red Raó (Ibicenco), Raor (Spanish) Razorfish (English), these small bright pink fish are found in the Mediterranean Sea and only have a short season.

All this food should be washed down with a fantastic bottle of Albariño (Galicia), Verdejo (Rueda) both from North-West Spain or a bottle of Cava. All are great with fish and shellfish.

There is also a large selection of cigars available, for those that enjoy them.

After your meal, go to the small beach next to the restaurant, which has a few sunbeds, to relax and take in the sun. The restaurant is best suited to couples, friends or family.