La Tegala, Lanzarote 01-2013

La Tegala is seemingly regarded as the best restaurant in Lanzarote by almost every available list. It has a location closest to Tias and Puerto del Carmen, but located far enough away from the towns that you wouldn't want to walk there. It is actually on the major highway connecting the airport to any of Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Timanfaya making it relatively easy to find and plan a time suitable to go, especially given the unrestricted opening hours (Monday-Saturday 1330-2300).

I went for a very late lunch at 4pm on a Friday and a Spanish group of 4 were finishing up leaving the place empty. I picked the best seat in the house next to the front corner window which gave a perfect sky of the evening sun. The south view is over PDC and ocean and the north-west is the mountains. I imagine sunset would be the ideal time to come here.

The menu is supposedly a "twist" on traditional Canarian cuisine with quality ingredients, skillful cooking and modern presentation.

- Chorizo Pate with Bread (bread starter) - an unusual and very nice mince of chorizo;
- Spanish Omelette (complimentary) - the smoothest potato omelette served piping hot but with a tasteless drizzle of Mojo Verde;
- “Ropa Vieja” (stew of cuttlefish & chickpeas) - typically a stew made with beef or pork in tomato base, but La Tegala does it with a flavoursome seafood stock, cuttlefish chunks (which I mistook for potato on first inspection), red peppers and two prawns to garnish;
- Lanzarote-Style Fried Kid (with potatoes and vegetables) - they describe this dish as lamb rather than actually being true kid (ie. goat). What they serve is boneless lamb meat pressed together and pan-fried. The meat is tender and mildly flavoured, the skin not particularly crispy but still nice, and the fiery-looking Mojo Rojo sauce is rich with red pepper flavour and no chilli heat;
- 70% Dark Chocolate Soufflé - a molten dark chocolate souffle served with a small piece of brownie and what tasted like refreshing apricot sorbet.

Overall the meal was great and certainly different to the standard similar dishes served everywhere else in Lanzarote. The prices are equivalent also and you get the advantage of a beautiful view and a convenient location to plan for. Would certainly recommend.

Next time I would order any of my 3 dishes again - all were good and unique for Lanzarote without any being essential. Other delicious-sounding options include Fried Goat Cheese, Seafood Cazuela, Stone-Bass Loin Steak and rabbit/lamb/beef/pork dishes,