"If you are in Santa Cruz, anywhere near the Hotel Mencey, Occidental, Taburiente or anywhere near the Ramblas and the Parque García Sanabria, you MUST try the Tasca El Portón. It is on a perpendicular side street, half block from Las Ramblas. El Portón is an unpretentious family-run most typical Spanish restaurant with local dishes and Spanish favorites like their homemade Ibérico Ham Croquettes. Let me share a secret: For 8€ you get 8 HUGE freshly made croquettes with 2 small scoops of Russian Salad (VERY SpaNish but the name will fool you), a warm fresh crispy roll and a couple pieces of Manchego cheese. IT was so much for one person (but I ate them all) that I had no room to order a main dish or a dessert. Their house fruity crisp cool white wine from the Canaries accompanies the dish perfectly. I was surprised that I liked this place so so much that I had to write it up immediately (those croquettes are just beginning to digest…yum). The main waitress is the owner’s daughter, Carmen, and she is kind, friendly and honest. When I was about to order a main dish AND dessert, she suggested I stick with only the croquettes because there were EIGHT in one order, plus salad, plus cheese, plus bread. She was right and I thanked her. Honesty wins good reviews. I rarely write a review this good and this fast but having had so many misses in what are supposed to be some of the best places in Santa Cruz, I wanted to share this unexpected surprise. I am retired American diplomat who has gone everywhere, tried everything and seen it all; El Portón in Santa Cruz is not to be missed, If you go, please share your thoughts. Did I guide you right? I’m sure you’ll be delighted. I’m returning tomorrow and the day after to sample some of the other dishes, including the local rock fish grilled with a light oil and garlic sauce and their pork dishes which sound equally delicious. I did try to get the recipe for the croquettes’ béchamel sauce, but failed miserably. If you get it, share it."
