El Ramallar - Montesa

The view from this restaurant is beautiful. Love the old olive tree in the middles of the terrace. Very pretty Local restaurant with perfect service and great food. The atmosphere is wonderful , especially when the lights come on. Can’t wait to go back.

Even in Spain it is difficult to find restuarants located in elevated spots where you can enjoy your food and drink looking out over the valley and mountains beyond. This is one of those very few locations in the Xativa area. Perched beside the ruined castle above the small village of Montesa. It is a bit difficult to access and you need to keep you eyes open for the restuarant signs (or the castillo) as you circumnavigate the village. Going straight up through the village is not recommended for the faint at heart. On our recent visit, we left in the dark, took a wrong turning and quickly were in the centre of the village where the streets were no wider than the car. Be aware that the return trip to the main road is poorly signed. Booking was recommended, so we did, but on a Thursday, our party was only joined by one other table during the whole evening. Typical Mediterranean evening couple of grandchildren playing quietly, cook at her work and the owner looking after us and his family! We ate on the large patio, sheltered by a lovely spreading olive tree and flanked by pink hibiscus. The menu consists of a selection of some 30 or so tapas dishes but includes e,g, patatas pobre which is a substantial dish of thinly sliced potatoes with chorizo and garlic topped by a fried egg .Cannot really be described as a tapas. Even the tapas are substantial 12 croquettes in a serving, big roundel of deep fried Camembert etc. Worthwhile checking or taking things slowly. We ordered seven dishes for four people and it was more than sufficient. There are also options of hamburger, chicken and ribs cooked on an open grill. Quality of the food is not exceptional, neither is it poor. Recommended as a place for relaxed dining on a warm summer's evening. Note that the restuarant is not open at lunchtime during the week and only Fri/Sat/Sun in the winter months. Worth calling to check their opening times.

This restaurant is only open from Thursday to Sunday, but the food is excellent. It is situated close to a most impressive castle ruin above the small village of Montesa which is in the A35 between Valencia and Albacete. It is apparently close to some rock climbing areas as well. I have often admired this castle from the motorway, but earlier this month, I got the opportunity actually to visit the castle which was built in the 14th century when the area was on the frontier between the Christians and the Moors. The restaurant is situated around 200 metres from the castle and one can sit outside under the shade of some trees to admire a view of the castle as well as views over the valley towards Xativa. Though dogs are banned from the actual restaurant, they are allowed outside. The toilets are adequate. There is no wifi. Two of us called in for lunch in May. We shared a bottle of wine and for a tapas some calamari rings. For starters we shared a barbecued camenbert (really! the wooden box was burned! in fact I recommend it as a starter as it was delicious with the crusty bread supplied. We then had a steak and a barbecued piece of chicken with chips, a pudding each and I had a coffee. The total bill came to €50 which is more than I am used to paying for lunch; however the food was excellent quality and the site amazing, so I considered it good value.

Family food, good service and good treatment, friendly and with great human sense, fed by wood, potatoes to the very poor, in good place, friendly stratum and expectative surroundings of the castle of mt sa, we will return

An enriching personal experience. cuisine like many years ago, wood. aututana cuisine with brutal touches of tradition. The people who created it, and who are part of it, are magical.