La Concha

Located right next to the railway station in a 1930s period building with loads of history, this little gem of a restaurant offers a great selection of beautifully presented tapas dishes. Absolutely everything here is homemade using the freshest ingredients, and the proof is in the eating – they’re delicious. Alongside well-known favourites like tortilla and patatas bravas, you’ll find some ingenious innovations in the traditional Spanish style.

We started with an excellent selection of charcuterie and continued with an exciting array of hot and cold tapas, each one the result of a clever blend of ingredients and complementary flavours. My personal favourites were the wild mushroom and spinach gratin with truffle Manchego breadcrumbs and the scallops with samphire, crispy serrano ham and vanilla cream. The albondigas de carne – beef and pork meatballs in a tomato and wine sauce – were rich and flavoursome and went perfectly with a dish of baked figs stuffed with Murcia al vino cheese. As the plates kept coming, our friendly waitress explained the chef’s passion for his creations and the expertise that goes into each one. Our feast was completed by truly delectable pistachio and rum and raisin ice creams – homemade, of course.

A visit to La Concha is a highly sociable way to enjoy a meal, sharing dishes and putting the world to rights over a sherry or a glass of Spanish wine in a relaxed and welcoming setting.