RESTAURANTE ALGO ASI (CAÑAMERO-CC)

A special, surprising, exclusive restaurant, where two Swiss people (Frank and Susanna) delight their guests (and surprise them), through their style of service, the dishes they prepare and the kindness they radiate from every angle.

There is no menu. There is only one set menu for everyone, and they don’t say what it is. Only when you make a reservation do they ask whether there is anything you can’t eat so they can substitute it, but in any case the dishes remain a surprise. You must book (essential) 24 hours in advance, and it only opens from Friday to Sunday. But the wait is well worth it.

Since there are no order tickets, no wide variety of dishes, etc., they serve very quickly, but everything is freshly made. They also have their own vegetable garden (Frank says it’s from my land), from which they source most of their ingredients. They also have their own farm (hens).

As soon as you arrive, you sit down and they bring a bottle of red wine, a jug of water, a jug of a mix of juices, and the bread. Almost immediately they serve the first course. In our case, a vegetable pie with marinated cherries. First course, first surprise, first thought: “this is going well.”

The pace is just right, without pressure, with short pauses between courses, and whenever they serve a dish, they explain the seasonings it contains and their origin. For the second course there were Galician mussels in the house’s special sauce, with a skewer of sturgeon from Riofrío (Granada).

We continue past the halfway point. For the third course they serve roast suckling pig (boned and cut into pieces), with courgette from their own garden and a curry sauce. All of it baked and freshly made. These are dishes that, at least for us, we had never eaten before.

To “cleanse” the palate, they bring a mango sorbet, with no fancy presentation, served with a cocktail stick and made in ice cube trays. All natural, and the sorbet was fantastic.

That led to the next course, cooked over charcoal on the spot: lamb skewers, a piece of loin, served with mushrooms and a plate of potatoes. While we were eating this course, they asked whether we wanted more meat. At some tables we saw that people did ask for more, but they had no idea what awaited them…

A large cheese board, with six specialities, but with pieces large enough to satisfy every guest, even the very “mouse-like” ones. Organic cheeses, selected from different regions of Spain (Ávila, León, Zamora, Los Ibores, etc.). They also include a Swiss Gruyère.

Nothing is ordered; they keep bringing and bringing. When you think everything is over, they serve you two liqueurs (50º chilli liqueur and 60º aguardiente). They also serve other liqueurs prepared in-house, at 30, 20 and 15 degrees, which are not “heavy” and can be drunk easily, as they are very digestive. They also bring a jug of coffee with chocolate and orange, as well as a jug of other digestive juices.

It seems to be over, but no, there is still the fruit. A varied selection, highlighting the cherries (at their peak season). Organic cherries, glossy, freshly picked, which were the favourite at our table. We asked whether they could serve more, and they immediately brought a huge bowl of extra cherries. What kindness, what willingness to make a good impression on customers; you feel welcome, at home, wanting to stay!!!

Did you think it was over? Well, no. There is still the “sweet” dessert, from the pastry kitchen. A tasting plate with chocolate ice cream, cheesecake and a delicious crocanti, all made by them. What a pleasure!

The menu, everything mentioned above, plus wine if you want, more juice if you want, more meat if you want, more cherries if you want, costs 31 euros. So when you ask for the bill, they bring a plate with the house cards and nothing else. There is no invoice, no receipts, no credit cards. Just kindness and a good atmosphere, along with surprising dishes.

Important: It is in the middle of nowhere. To get there, if you come from Guadalupe, cross all of Cañamero; at the end there is a petrol station on the left, and 400 metres past it, on the right, there is a narrow but paved road. Continue along it for about 1 km, and the restaurant will be on your left. If you come from Villanueva, it is just before the petrol station, on the left.

• Average price: 31 euros fixed price. They give you a token for each menu. With ten tokens you get one menu free.
• Recommendation: You must book at least 24 hours in advance. Only open from Friday to Sunday. Does not accept credit cards.
• Favourite dish: All of them, but to highlight a couple, the mussels and the sturgeon.
• Address:
  Restaurante Algo así
  10136 Cañamero (Cáceres).
  Tel.: 927.36.93.22 and 608.70.36.73

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