We sat outside and asked our server for recommendations. He pointed out three items: battered…read morecamembert cubes; assortment of croquettes (oxtail, hame, chicken and prawn); and potato omelette. After fussing over the menu and sipping our beers, we agreed with his recommendations and loved them. Each was simple and flavorful and nicely presented. The service was attentive and professional, the busy pedestrian corner a great spot to enjoy the energy, and the food was good and a good value.

Loved the food, the atmosphere and Jose, Belen and Carlos…read morewere wonderful. We ordered the ensaladilla clasica and Tostà with solomillo and caramelized brie.

Wow. Just wow. Prior…read moreto our visit here, we thought tapas (in the cities we visited in Spain) was relatively the same: here, there, and everywhere. Ham this. Chorizo that. Anchovy the other. Surely our purview was limited, but the evidence was overwhelming: Most restaurants' idea of tapas seemed largely one-dimensional and, thus, to us, unappetizing and uninteresting. Enter Calendula, which was recommended to us by the owner of Boomerang (a great little bar a stone's throw from Calendula) and, voila, we were back on the tapas wagon. Yes, this restaurant includes many of the "I've seen that elsewhere" options, but it makes each dish its very own. The starter was a mini-plate of simosas that we proceed to order eight more of. We had chicken strips, a bit o' fish, some veggie things...I can't really remember the specifics, but I do remember scarfing everything in sight. My partner shared my enthusiasm and we cleaned every plate. Granted, these are tapas (so the portions are relatively small), but you can order larger plates if you so desire. It's also important to know that the menu is relatively limited, but it's in no way lacking. If two uber-picky eaters like us can find and enjoy numerous dishes, surely so can you! The setting is relatively sparse (we at outside), but we visited around 9:30PM and the evening, the lighting, and the surrounds (not to mention the food!) were perfectly charming. BOTTOM LINE: This is a relatively new tapas restaurant that takes an inventive approach to the tapas it creates. We thought everything was delicious and you likely will as well! I highly recommend it.

For those people who go to Spain and actually want to eat Spanish food, Benalmádena Costa can be…read moredisappointing. Reminiscent of Virginia Beach or the Jersey Shore (for those from the US), the paseo is filled with one restaurant after another, only each one is the same as the next with a different name and logo slapped on the generic menu. The food leaves a lot to be desired and the prices are double what they should be. Erase Una Vez (Once Upon a Time), however, is one of very few exceptions to this rule. Set back in a tiny plaza between the paseo and Avda Antonio Machado this restaurant also comes with an ambiance upgrade- quiet and casual compared to the street performers, passerby's, and heckling salesman all over the paseo. The owners are a young couple, a man from Italy and woman from Russia, and both speak English and Spanish perfectly. They are both extremely friendly and remembered us on our second and third return visits, offering tips about nearby cities to visit and tourist attractions. The menu is not enormous, but was varied enough to keep us happy and trying new items in each of our three visits. All of the food was fresh, prepared perfectly, and full of interesting and delicious flavors. Each meal, we were able to share a bottle of wine, ordered waters, and ate until we could eat no more and our bill was never more than €35 ($40-45, depending on the exchange rate). The meal also came with a complementary small bowl of olives, peppers, and garlic to get the taste buds going. If you want overpriced, watered-down pseudo-Spanish food then feel free to stay on the paseo. Anyone who feels like this area of Spain owes them a bit of wining and dining should check this place out!

My wife and I shared a selection of 5 expertly prepared tapas for €10. Oomay provided excellent…read moreservice and made great recommendations for hard ciders. The menu has a wide variety of Yorkshire puddings, pizza, and sandwiches. It is just a half block from the beach. A little bit of Britain with plenty of local flair.

Cheap prices, but food not good. Ordered a "tender loin", well nothing "tender" about it. Was like…read morerubber. The starter nachos was ok, but warmed up in the microwave. When they would put it in the oven, the taste would have been better. Baruta exactly the same. Pizza was a nightmare. Waiters were nice

The service was fast despite how busy it was. It's located just by the old Alcazabra fortress and…read moreis perfect if you're thirsty/hungry after trekking through the entire thing. The smoked sardine on focaccia was quite delicious with the perfect blend of saltiness and sweetness from the potato to provide a well balanced bite. The swordfish ceviche was done very well with well balanced cuts of fish, red onion, and acidity.

Fantastic food and service. Everything we ordered was amazing and beyond expectations. Will…read moredefinitely be back

This restaurant is a sister restaurant to Tapeo de Cervantes. They have the same menu and the same…read morefriendly staf. We went to Tapeo but it was full and one of the waitresses was so kind to walk us to this place. We had a great meal, good service and a nice price.

Very good small plates the Argentine beef is very excellent and House wine is inexpensive but taste…read moreexpensive.

A very nice choice and surprise in an otherwise poor culinary town. Nice service, despite business,…read moreand no one was in a hurry to get us out of the watch. One thing would be to up the sizes a little bit. I understand the concept of tapas, but I still think it should be more than a taste. But yes, definitely a fan, from here :)

Simply sublime. Although Matahambre offer your normal tapas, they have some of the most creative…read moretapas around. The price is great. That plus the house wine. Ribera del Duero, can't go wrong with that!

This was our first trip to Spain. We wanted a good steak and tried this place. Mmmmm mmmm mmmm, the…read moresteak and shrimp dish was delicious. Feels like they gave us the best seat in the house, it looked out unto the water, just beautiful. Our waitress was very attentive. We had no issues. Thank you, Happy Travelers

Food was AMAZING. Drinks were def generously poured. The view? STUNNING. We went right between…read morelunch and dinner (Spanish time), around 4:30 or so and had the place almost to ourselves. Our waiter was funny and around when needed, but definitely not overbearing.