Sabor Canario Extra — Restaurant in Arona

Sabor Canario Extra should definitely be on your culinary agenda while visiting Tenerife. You will need a car & good GPS/navigation, and when you arrive it will seem like an unusual residential neighborhood for a restaurant but the sign outside is quite large. From the first welcome smile we received to the last on-the-house taste of Canary Island liqueur specialty, we felt respected and appreciated. But our appreciation for the impeccable service was also in the forefront: we were served with a passion for food, regularly checking our table without being too invasive. The tables are placed well enough apart that enough privacy at each table is assured. There are two rooms: one indoors and the other is outdoors, but covered above with windows and open space in the back towards the direction of the sea. There is quiet, piano lounge-type music playing that is relaxing and chic. The food presentation is artful yet practical, using beautiful ceramics and elegant flatware. The menu is a spectrum of Canary Island as well as Tenerife specialties, all of which can be described in detail by the knowledgeable staff. We tried the Gofio and filo pastry wrapped goat cheese with honey as starters, rabbit stew and grilled octopus mains (probably the best grilled octopus I’ve ever tasted), and a lovely sweet potato ice cream dessert, just one of at least five homemade desserts. The wine list really grabbed my attention: many international wines but you can also order wines from each of the seven Canary Islands, which is indeed a highlight. The house wine is from Tenerife and quite delicious. Our table service was not only savvy regarding the inspired dishes but she also was the restaurant sommelier and wine specialist for the restaurant - what luck! And she spoke fluent Spanish, English & Italian - and who knows how many other languages. I only hope to be able to return to this wonderful establishment again someday. I forgot to take photos of the other...

Bitterly disappointing. And that's putting it politely!

My first ever visit. I was invited to a birthday meal for a lady who was this time last year on the brink of passing. She was written off by the hospital and sent home to die. She is currently thriving and I decided last minute to buy her a birthday cake as a surprise. In doing so I was late arriving. The waiter immediately knew which table I was to join when he saw the cake. He took it off me for later without any problem. The idea would be to surprise her after dinner.

Just as I sat down joining the table a woman came to speak to us. It took me a moment to figure out what she was saying .... "Erm Spanish or English?", "I'm the owner and we have a rule that you cannot bring in food from outside, you cannot have the cake here"!!

Well, thanks for spoiling the ladies surprise! I was furious! I immediately said to her to tell me at the entrance and got up and ushered her towards the entrance. I was livid. She had zero personality, zero manners and frankly was downright rude.

When I returned to the table, trying to keep my cool, the others asked what happened so I had to tell them. I was so disappointed for the lady.

What has happened in the world today that this is a problem? The lady chose to go there for her birthday meal. It didn't occur to me that it would be an issue! They made zero, zilch, nada effort to commemorate her 82nd birthday in any way!

Food was well presented. The chips were lush. The food did lack a little more flavour. The restaurant has so much going for it. They are trying so hard to reach a higher standard and do achieve it very well. It sadly lacks some personality and humanity.

Very...

This is one of those restaurants that is SO close to being amazing but is just sliding in at decent.

I was close to giving the food a 3 out of 5 but there is significant good technique on show and a genuine effort to provide good food.

All of our dishes were well prepared and cooked, presentation was excellent too.

Like so many similar restaurants though I felt like the flavours were the last thing anyone thought about.

The starters were croquetas and garlic mushrooms, the texture of both was lovely, a crunch to the croquetas and silky smooth sauce with the mushrooms but the flavours were quite faint.

With the main courses it was the same, duck bao buns…

The duck was cooked well but really needed finishing in a good sweet and hot sauce.

A wasabi and avocado foam should have assaulted the sinuses but was just green foam.

The waiter advised an excellent local wine.

It was one of those “so close” experiences that make you more frustrated than when you have really bad food!

A handful of extra touches flavour wise and this would be a great restaurant.

Be more bold with your...