What to order at a Cádiz gastrobar: a friendly first-timer's guide

You arrive in Cádiz, find a terrace by the sea, and suddenly you are faced with a menu full of names you do not recognise. Don't worry: ordering at an Andalusian gastrobar is easier than it looks, and far more relaxed. At La Rúcula Gastrobar, right on the seafront promenade of La Barrosa, we want your first time to be simple, delicious and unhurried. Here is a short guide to ordering as if you had been coming for years.

The first thing to know is that here we eat by sharing. The table fills up with small plates that come and go, everyone tries a bit of everything, and the conversation sets the pace. There is no dish that is "yours" and another that is "mine": there is one shared table. And because we open during the day, Thursday to Tuesday, 09:30 to 19:30, there is no need to wait for the evening. Here you enjoy it all in the sunshine, with the Atlantic breeze and the sea views.

Start with a few tapas to share

The best way to begin is with two or three tapas in the middle of the table. Order some papas aliñadas, a gently dressed potato salad with onion, parsley and good olive oil: fresh, mild and a perfect warm-up. Pair it with tortillitas de camarón, wonderfully thin shrimp fritters, lacy and crisp, a true classic of the bay of Cádiz.

If you fancy something with more punch, try the boquerones: fresh anchovies that we serve either fried or in vinegar (marinated, mild and refreshing). And for cheese lovers, our grilled provolone melts in the middle and crisps up on the outside. You don't have to order it all at once: start small and keep adding as you go.

Something from the sea: Andalusian pescaíto

Cádiz is the sea, and its cooking celebrates that with what locals call pescaíto frito (little fried fish). If you only try one dish from the sea, make it the cazón en adobo: chunks of fish marinated in a gentle blend of vinegar, garlic and spices, then fried until golden. It is juicy, fragrant and not at all overpowering; almost everyone loves it.

Other local gems are choco (cuttlefish), which we serve as fried strips or as little meatballs; puntillitas, tiny crisp baby squid; and the tortillita de camarón itself if you want another round. Everything is eaten with your hands, without ceremony. A tip: a squeeze of lemon lifts the fish nicely, but do taste it as it is first.

Something from the grill: our Argentine soul

This is the twist that sets us apart. Alongside the pescaíto, at La Rúcula you will find a genuine Argentine grill. The star is the flame-grilled beef: the vacío (flank steak, tender and full of flavour) or the entraña (skirt steak, juicy, thin and with real character). We also serve lagarto and presa ibérica, prized cuts of Iberian pork that melt in the mouth.

Pair the meat with chimichurri, a fresh sauce of herbs, garlic and oil that changes everything here. If you are with children or want something casual, the choripán (a grilled chorizo sandwich) and the meat-filled empanadas criollas are always a safe bet. A single sharing board of meat is usually enough to sit alongside the tapas from the sea.

A salad, a sweet treat and a good toast

Among all that frying and grilling, a seasonal salad with goat's cheese balances the table beautifully: fresh, light and with a sweet note. And to finish, let yourself be tempted by our homemade desserts. The chocolate coulant opens with a spoon to reveal its molten centre; the pancake with dulce de leche is pure Argentine comfort, soft and reassuring.

And to drink? In Cádiz, the natural choice is a glass of manzanilla or fino, dry, fresh Andalusian wines that pair wonderfully with the pescaíto. If you prefer something alcohol-free, a fruit smoothie is a lovely mid-afternoon treat. And when the sun begins to dip over the Atlantic, a cocktail on the terrace turns an early dinner into the best memory of the day.

You don't need to know the menu by heart. Just arrive, sit down facing the sea, scan the QR code at your table and order little by little. If in doubt, ask us: we are here to guide you. You can book by WhatsApp or on the website, and you are very welcome to come as a family. A first time at a Cádiz gastrobar only happens once, so make it calm, with a view and in good company.