Eat Local: Restaurante Fabio Santana, Vegueta, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands (Spain)

Restaurants line a street in Vegueta (Old Town), Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria in the Canary Island

We embarked on this journey (heading down the west coast of Africa) in Las Palmas, Gran Cararia, Canary Islands (part of Spain) – our second visit there on the Ship in 2018. The capital of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Las Palmas is a major warm weather and beach tourist destination from Europe, especially in the winter months as visitors escape the colder weather on the Continent. Narrow cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and multiple architectural styles reflect centuries-old Atlantic and Latin American ties in Las Palmas’ oldest neighborhood, Vegueta (Old Town). The old quarter offers much to visitors walking the streets — historic squares; Catedral de Santa Ana (Santa Ana Cathedral), the first church in the Canary Islands; tapas from outdoor cafés; shopping for fresh fish, meats, fruits and vegetables at Mercado de Vegueta; and dining and nightlife along Calle Mendizábal and Calle Pelota.

 The restored entry-way to Restaurante Fabio Santana, Vegueta (Old Town), Las Palmas, Gran Cararia, Canary Islands

While we were perusing the menus, we were served the fixings for “bruschetta” – the garlic was rubbed onto the toasted bread, then some olive oil was poured on, then slices of tomato topped with sea salt and olive oil (delicious!)

We took advantage of our short time in port to visit a well-stocked HiperDino superpmercado (supermarket) and the local central produce and meat and fish market, Mercado de Vegueta in the old quarter (Vegueta). With good friends from the Ship, we ventured back to the narrow streets of Vegueta to have our main meal of the day mid-afternoon at Restaurante Fabio Santana on Calle Montesdeoca. Since the time we enjoyed a wonderful luncheon there several years ago (the restaurant then was named Casa Montesdeoca), the restaurant has new ownership and a talented new chef and we very much enjoyed the new menu and Spanish-fusion cuisine reflecting influences from France, Italy, and Japan. Note that the four of us dined family style, sharing all the courses pictured below. We highly recommend a luncheon or dinner there! 

An appetizer of croquettes (left-to-right: ham, spinach, and fish)

An appetizer of a goat taco

An appetizer of octopus terrine with potato salad, to be eaten with a touch of the olive oil sorbet

An appetizer of warm prawn salad

An appetizer of crab raviolis with basil-lime sorbet

A main course of pureed potatoes, several kinds of fresh mushrooms, soft eggs and crumbles and chips of dried mushrooms – surprisingly the tastiest dish of the meal!

A main course of smoked wreckfish on a bed of black (squid ink) noodles and slivered leeks with the sauce being poured on after the dome lid was removed releasing the smoke

A main course of Iberian pork stuffed with Iberian ham and smoked cheese

The chocolate lover’s dessert

A Spanish rendition of the Italian Tiramisu with coffee sorbet