Review of El Refugio in Benaocaz
I dined at El Refugio on Monday August 29,2016 while visiting family in Cadiz. It's a rustic looking restaurant located in Plaza San Anton in the town of Benaocaz, Province of Cadiz, Spain. Benaocaz is up in the mountains in what is known as Sierra of Grazalema or Sierra de Cadiz. The restaurant also occupies the space around the plaza. Their specialty is charbroiled meats and Iberian Pork and all meats are charbroiled in wood stoves/ovens.
We were welcomed by Santiago (Santi) who immediately gave an excellent explanation of the menu, methods of cooking, different types of meat cuts and even wines! We dined four different cuts of Bellota fed Iberian Pork from Valle de Pedroches which is best known for raising the Bellota fed Iberian Pork. Santi is very knowledgeable about what he offers at his restaurant, from each one of the Spanish wines and regions he offers to his customers; to the quality of the meat, vegetables and local grocers/farmers in the local area and Spain. This was a real "Farm to table" experience. We dined different cuts of Iberico Pork cuts: "Lagarto", "Secreto Iberico", "Churrasco Iberico" and "presa Iberica" a complained by home made and hand cut it potatoes and freshly made vegetables. Nerveless to say, these were all different cuts and were cooked beautifully, tastefully and to perfection by Veronica, head chef and wife! Desserts are homemade- we had locally made Payoyo cheese with freshly made mermelades. Santiago emphasized all their desserts are made at the restaurant and the cheeses are from local farmers.
El Refugio is a small family owned restaurant, a dining gem up in the mountains ( Sierra Andaluza) that is worth a trip and a visit. It has beautiful views of the Sierra/mountains. I give his place a five! read more
