It’s very hot and humid these days and let’s be honest we don’t want to be stuck in front of a fire for very long, especially on a Friday night, so when a friend says “let’s eat out” you jump at the opportunity, which is why last Friday we ended up at one of the local restaurants in Gibraltar.
Quite well known, Cafe Solo in Casemates Square is usually a social hive, buzzing with tourist enjoying long lunches. However, this evening the restaurant was enjoyably quiet, a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy with friends, allowing you to dine, chat and enjoy your food without interruptions.
As ever, the menu at Solo comprised of fresh pasta dishes, salads, pizzas and meats with prices ranging from £9 to £21.50. Cafe Solo’s flagship store offers daily specials, and tonight they were serving up some treats.
To start, we ordered two of their specials, Beef Pinchitos on Cous-Cous & Chimichurri Sauce (£5.75) and, what turned out to be my favourite, Deep Fried Provolone Cheese Coated in Breadcrumbs, Walnuts, Chilli and Parsley served with tomato & Chilli Jam. (£5.75)
The provolone was a first for me but I can say I was impressed and will be trying to recreate it myself. Soft and light with a slight crunch, the chilli jam balanced out the nutty flavour of the coating well, and considering it was deep fried there was no excess oil or greasy sensation.
Continuing the evening light and fresh, next up was the Penne – With roasted aubergine, oven-dried tomatoes, balsamic roasted red onions, mixed peppers, fresh spinach leaves & crumbled goats cheese. (£9.75)
Goats cheese is always a favourite of mine no matter the dish and tied in with the soft roasted vegetables served alongside al dente pasta just added to the fresh, warm and satisfying experience of the dish. I found there was a sharp tang to it towards the end, which I could only assume was the balsamic vinegar from the onions but this did not dissuade me from finishing the plate. A dish I would recommend to both vegetarians and meat lovers alike.
Finish the evening off with one of Cafe Solo’s desserts, and as a big fan of coconut, their coconut ice cream was a winner in my books, and you have a satisfying evening that does not leave you feeling sickly or bloated but rather relaxed and content, happy to return to try the next meal.
What’s you experience?
Want to dine there yourself? Find their contact details here.