Bambi Gourmet — Restaurant in Puerto de la Cruz

Fantastic food and wine, but not without some flaws

My dinner at Bambi Gourmet was a fantastic culinary experience, but considering the €140 price tag for one person (including tip), I feel it's fair to be a bit critical.

Starter:

I started with the hand-cut Bellota Iberian ham, which was excellent—intensely flavorful, nutty, and perfectly cured. A highlight was the delicious herb-infused olive oil on the table, perfect for dipping bread. A great and authentic way to start the meal.

Main Course:

The absolute highlight was the dry-aged entrecote. A nice touch was that I got to choose my own cut of meat (575 grams in my case). The steak was fantastic in flavor, well-grilled, and rich thanks to the dry-aging process.

Minor issue: There was a tendon in the meat, which some guests might find tough.

Personal preference: A sauce was added without prior notice, which I personally found unnecessary, as the steak was flavorful enough on its own.

Wine Pairing:

The Majuelo de Callejo 2020 (Ribera del Duero) was an excellent choice. Its deep fruit notes, well-balanced oak, and structured tannins complemented the entrecote perfectly. A spot-on pairing.

Ambiance & Service:

The interior has a premium feel, but the atmosphere felt a bit cold and lacking warmth.

The service was handled by one person, who was very knowledgeable but somewhat distant and slightly arrogant. That being said, he was working hard, managing all tables on his own.

Fun detail: They have a robot assisting with food service, which was a unique and modern touch.

Price & Conclusion:

At €140 (for one person, including tip), you expect not just great food but an overall premium experience. The entrecote and wine were absolutely fantastic, but the ambiance and service could have been a bit more inviting and personal.

Final rating: 4/5 stars – Excellent food and wine, but for the price, a few things could be improved to create a truly...

We (3 people) basically stumbled in here for a very lovely dinner. The owner was serving us and really took time and care with his recommendations, wine and food alike.

The starters (Salmon Mango and the stuffed mushrooms) were really tasty and especially the salmon mousse was very playful and creative.

The mains (duck confit risotto, lamb mousakka and the entrecote) were really good as well. The risotto was cooked a point and very rich with mushroom and duck flavour while the lamb mousakka was baked in philo pastry with pickles and a creamy egg on top which made for a playful and fun eating experience. The entrecote was quality beef, grilled medium to perfection over a wood fire with a tasty potato side.

The desert was very artisticly shaped to look like a fruit made of sweet mousse, apple ragout and white chocolate with a side of caramelly, crunchy ice cream.

The wine recommendation was on point as well, we told the owner we liked heavier reds which is exactly what we got. We would have loved to drink a second bottle as well, unfortunately when the restaurant filled up the staff was getting very busy so we didnt have a chance to order until we were finished with food. Also the overhead lights vere a touch too bright for us, a little more indirect lighting would do wonders here.

Overall we had a lovely time here, great food for a reasonable price, great service, great wine....

There is an old Romanian saying, "omul sfințește locul", i.e. "the man sanctifies the place" ... This is what first came to mind during our most enjoyable dinner at Bambi Gourmet last night. It seems to us that the owners, a Romanian couple, do what they do out of passion - they created an inviting, sofisticated restaurant that delights customers with great food, drawing somewhat from the traditions of their homeland, but surpassing those with creative, masterful use of fresh, local produce. The desserts are masterpieces of taste and design, definitely worth saving some space for. Ours was a return visit, after many years and we were satisfied to find same great quality we learned of, and same warm hospitality. Everything on the menu tastes great! We encourage everyone in the area, looking for a pleasant experience to pay a visit. May be a good idea to get a reservation, as it is...