Rosendo - Albacete

Driving from Madrid to Almeria or Murcia can be challenging, as you find yourself crossing Cuenca and Albacete, easily the most boring and arid placed on Earth. We stopped for a quick bit here, and nearly die due to the almost 45 degrees outside. The place is a typical roadside bar from the many you find in Spain national road system, kinda old, good sandwiches, hearty food, some flies, and loads of machete for sale. If nothing is stopping you and there´s gas in the tank, keep driving. If not, get the higado con asadura or the barrita energetica . It will give you the pumps until you reach civilization.

The restaurant is situated in a small town just off the motorway. It is a five minute drive from the junction but well worth the extra couple of minutes as the food is much better than the service stattions nearby. The set menu costs 11 Euros and consists of a hearty three course meal with BBQ meats as the main course. Fantastic value and a definite for our next journey through the area.

Occupying a corner position Restaurante Rosendo is a fairly spacious bar/restaurant with a semi circular façade. The tables chairs are well spaced, green tablecloths with white paper disposable cloths there over white crockery. No menú 's Waiting staff attend table inform what is on offer. Menú del Dia (meal of the day), mixed salad, starter, main course, dessert, drinks coffee €11. This is basic food but nicely prepared reasonably presented. Represents good value for money. Spanish spoken. Rudimentary grasp of Spanish is beneficial. Staff pleasant, polite, efficient. Well stocked bar. Also counter displays of cheese, wine, various salami 's sausages, preserves, cakes biscuits etc all of which are for sale. Large display of various knives, machetes etc which again are also for sale. Toilets clean, tidy fresh smelling, liquid soap a choice of hot air hand dryer or cloth towels. Wall mounted flat screen TV. Disabled/wheelchair friendly. Ample car parking. Small outside seating area suited to smokers. I will use this venue again when in the area.

I was traveling through this town around lunchtime and I saw many Spanish enjoying their lunch. I stop and found a free seat here. Staff was very helpful and friendly. They brought a plato combinado and it was massive. The food was excellent and almost to much to eat it all. I will came back here.

3 generous courses of traditional home cooked food including drinks, salad, and bread. Plenty of parking and really friendly service. Frequented by locals, discerning truck drivers, and the odd lucky holiday-maker.