ANDALUCÍA - VEJER DE LA FRONTERA - SANTA LUCÍA - VENTA EL TORO

Venta El Toro

This is a small, discreet, countryside Venta without any pretensions.

There are a few tables with a bar inside,

and two outdoor terraces where most of the action takes place.

The inside tables are used in more inclement weather.

The terrace across the road runs over the stream that runs through Santa Lucía. Some of these tables had already been reserved so I would suggest arriving early or making a reservation.

The traditional inside area is wall to wall with their bullfighting photo and memorabilia collection.

Bull figting posters.

The venta opened in 1945 and is now run by Antonio Esquivel Aragón and his nephew Antonio (Tiki).

There is only a small menu, where the homemade dishes stand out.

You must try their famous, super fresh, free-range, fried eggs with fried potatoes, which is the go-to meal.

They have particularly yellow yokes, due to being fresh and locally grown.

They are often, accompanied by Jamón, cheese, onion, etc.

Morcilla and chorizo.

The restaurant is always very busy with locals, which is always a good sign. You will get good food with quality ingredients in a lovely ambiance.

The long-term owner, Antonio Esquivel Aragón, is now 80 years old.

They open for breakfast at 9.30 am followed by lunch. They are not open for dinner. The restaurant is extremely popular at weekends and it's not unusual to see a queue for tables on a Saturday & Sunday. Arrive early or make a reservation. It's amazing that the tiny village of Santa Lucia actually has three excellent restaurants! This is fun, local dining. It helps if you speak a little Spanish.

If you're lucky, you can catch locals playing flamenco guitar on a Friday evening. It's also worth taking a stroll up the hill to see the Roman aqueduct and watermills.