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Bar Plata, Calle Resolana 2 Seville, Spain

Bar Plata, Calle Resolana 2 Seville, Spain

Calle Resolana 2 Seville

+34 954371030

This was recommended by a local as "a bit touristy, but good" At 10pm it was still too hot to sit outside, and we fancied a bit of air conditioning (So London is sweltering at 36c ? We´ve just hit 49c in Seville, 50 predicted this weekend) I fancied a cool marble table by the window, but El Patron, tubby and waistcoated, had other ideas - he wanted us to sit over in a corner, behind a screen. I would like to point out that we are both clean, well dressed and incredibly attractive, and we have no idea why we were to be hidden away, nor why we consented to it.

Everything on the menu was about double the price if its equivalent elsewhere in Seville. The Patron set about his job of patronising us, by translating the easy words for us. He told us that "pan" was "bread"; "cerveza" was "beer" and "alubias" were "beans" Eventually I persuaded him that my Spanish was up to ordering a meal, and did so. But he´d spotted us as tourists and was determined to get us to order something expensive. He had some wonderful lamb chops, not on the menu, special for you "How much ?" 26 euros ! That´s over 20 quid and it didn´t include vegetables. We declined, and ordered two simple dishes: Hake and potatoes and Vegetales Hortelano.

A basket of bread with a plate of pate and cream cheese on the side arrived - it´s the first time I´ve seen that old trick in Seville. You know this trick - seems like a generous touch and you tuck in while waiting, only to find you´ve been charged for it - so we left it alone. El Patron attempted to steer another couple behind the screen, but sensibly they weren´t having any and sat by the window. In "my" table!

Our food arrived and it was fine. The cooking is good, no question. But when we got the bill (25.25 euros) and saw we´d been charged for the pate and cheese we´d not touched, we pocketed the pate and cheese, put down 25.30 euros and left.

We were about 200 yards away when we heard footsteps running up behind us. Not a mugger, but El Patron, puffing and panting - he wanted the bill. I said I wanted it (was already planning to share this joyous evening with spy) He said well could he see it then ? Apparently his "system" only generates one copy. We stood silently while he peered at the bill under the yellow street lamp, nodded and returned it. I felt sorry for him, not just because he lacked all dignity at that moment, but because he really could have a good bar/restaurant there. He´s got a decent cook and the room is nice, but pouncing on tourists like that is not the way to get a good reputation. DM. July 2006

By Daisy Middleton at 27/07/2006 - 19:52 | 2006 | Mediterranean | Rejected | Review | Spain | £££/$$$ | add new comment | 195 reads