This is what I wrote here about Lumbreras when I first visited back in October 2011…”The food was good, the place was pleasant enough… but I felt like I’d spent too much and left unsatisfied (except for the grilled presa, which was to die for!). Lumbreras is next to the new Espacio Santa Clara, just off the Alameda. It has a lot of potential but perhaps needs to settle on an identity. I’m willing to give it another chance.“

Yesterday I gave it another chance because I’d been hearing some glowing reports about the place lately. All I can say is that I wish I hadn’t bothered. The one dish I recall enjoying last time (the grilled presa) was no longer on the menu, but no matter, I’m always willing to try new things. And the tempura veg seemed like a promising start, arriving hot and crispy with a light soy sauce for dipping. But then came the fried bacalao “with a creamy hot sauce”. Actually it was smothered in a super-salty not-spicy-at-all mayonnaise sauce, rendering the bacalao limp and soggy. When I mentioned this to our unsmiling waiter he said he’d be sure to tell the chef. Huh? The presa tataky was okay but we decided to cut our losses and not have anything else, until my friend’s penchant for dessert got the better of him and he ordered the warm apple tart with ice cream. Which was also okay. It was also 4.80€. Are you getting the picture? Yes, that’s right – it was just like my last visit! Paid too much, left feeling unsatisfied. As my friend pointed out, “it felt like nobody there cared”. And I couldn’t agree more. Just another typical “gastrobar”.

Bread Charge: 0.90€ / Table Charge: 0.90€

Santa Clara, 65
Tel. 617 12 92 07
€ € € €

boletus croquettes (now on menu – puchero croquetas)

tempura veg with soy sauce

fried bacalao smothered in thick non-spicy sauce

presa tataky with whisky sauce

warm apple tart with vanilla ice cream

extra charges

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Updated: January 2013