Review on El Puerto
Occupying the ground floor of the handsome old Customs House (circa 1865) by Penarth Marina, El Puerto is in a prime spot to attract the crowds. The idea here is to order your food direct from the display counters of meat and fish and enjoy the convivial buzz.
Lobster, halibut, lemon sole, red snapper and sea bass – plus steaks and the like for meat eaters – are generally served with chips; there are also a few more intricate ideas such as roast guinea fowl with confit of garlic and wild mushrooms. Begin with – say – gravlax, fish soup or warm goats' cheese and finish simply with crème brûlée, sticky toffee pudding or raspberry Pavlova. The food is backed by a better-than-expected selection of wines, including plenty from Spain.
La Marine (on the first floor) offers something a bit more formal, with fine views across the marina towards Cardiff Bay and a menu that leans towards more sophisticated dishes such as crawfish with lemon butter sauce.
Cuisine
European
Restaurant Opening Times
Lunch: 12.00 - 2.30pm (3.00pm Sat) (4.30pm Sun)
Dinner: 7.00 - 11.00pm (6.30 - 11.00pm Sat) (6.30 - 9.00pm Sun)
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card, American Express