Monday, 12 November 2012

Review: Café Yanx — 'An American in Marbella', since 1997

Their website reads, "Here at Yanx, we like to think of ourselves as a smooth quality vintage with a successful pedigree going back some thirteen years." And it really shows with their incredibly tasty, all-American food, served here in Spain.

The writer had a birthday last week, and it was one of those "milestone" birthdays, if you get the drift. So, her son wanted to take her somewhere different for a good meal. 

Having seen some incredible images of cheesecake being bandied back and forth on Facebook, the writer did some investigation and found the Facebook page of Café Yanx. Naturally, being totally opposed to good old GMOs, and knowing that the restaurant is American-owned, said writer checked with them that their food content is all locally sourced, and it is (except the Irish beef). Great!

As it turns out the girlfriend of the writer's son has been to Café Yanx on several occasions - it is apparently her ideal birthday destination too!
Café Yanx - Homemade frozen peanut butter pie with caramel sauce.
Café Yanx
Café Yanx - Homemade frozen peanut butter pie with caramel sauce.
Located in Nueva Andalucia on the Costa del Sol, the restaurant overlooks the very upmarket and expensive Puerto Banus - the poshest area of Marbella. Puerto Banus is where the very rich flaunt themselves, and often the not-so-very-rich also flaunt themselves, to try and get themselves a bit of the very rich - you know, pose, pose, is everyone looking, type of thing.
Café Yanx - Asian sticky ribs  hot wings  and bacon and cheese skins.
Café Yanx
Café Yanx - Asian sticky ribs, hot wings, and bacon and cheese skins.
 
 
But I digress. Because the restaurant only overlooks Puerto Banus, it is a slightly quieter place in great surroundings, in the Centro Plaza mall (as it says in the introduction on their home page, [cue Mexican accent] it's behind the bull ring).
 
Have to admit my only complaint was that I didn't see one American, as the owner, David Fisher, was not around. However, the Spanish staff are impeccably efficient and very friendly, speak excellent English, are speedy to serve, but unobtrusive while you enjoy your meal.
 
We ate on the terrace in the warm sunshine (no ways were we sitting indoors after what feels like weeks of endless rain!). However, the inside of the restaurant had loads of charm and character, with walls covered in fascinating photos and images, and a cozy bar. 
 
Oh, what to choose from that menu! Very hard decisions were made. We decided to start by sharing a plate of quesadillas. 
 
 The "Quesadilla Classic" was delicious Mexican hot bread stuffed with melted cheese, peppers and onions and served with sour cream, guacamole and salsa. Very yummy.
Café Yanx - Marbella  Spain.  Cajun Chicken Quesadillas.
Café Yanx
Café Yanx - Marbella, Spain. Cajun Chicken Quesadillas.
OK, yes, I went to an American restaurant and ended up eating Mexican. Or is it Tex-Mex? 
 
Next course was "The Butcher Boy" - a great big burger for son, served with some wonderful chips (French fries). Sounds boring, as you can get burgers anywhere? But not like these burgers! Personally, one of those would have fed me for three days! Absolutely delicious, pure beef and all the trimmings.
Café Yanx - Marbella  Spain - Arizona Blue Burger with Crispy Bacon.
Café Yanx
Café Yanx - Marbella, Spain - Arizona Blue Burger with Crispy Bacon.
And for mother, the "Fabulous Fajitas". Tender marinated strips of chicken served with onions and peppers, warmed tortillas and Mexi rice, with guacamole, sour cream and salsa on the side. Amazing, delicious and way too much food! Thank heavens for "doggie bags" (as if the dog will ever get a look in there! In his dreams maybe.) 
 
We finalized the deal with a "Double Chocolate Cheesecake", which we shared, along with coffee.
Café Yanx - Marbella  Spain.  Double Chocolate Cheesecake.
Café Yanx
Café Yanx - Marbella, Spain. Double Chocolate Cheesecake.
All the time we were eating this delicious fare, other dishes were wafting past us to other tables. I really must have some of those wraps next time, and Mark's mouth was watering for the Smoked Baby Back Ribs that were still sizzling as they passed us, or for a good steak from well hung Grade A Irish Beef!
Café Yanx - Marbella  Spain.  Smoked Baby Back Ribs -
Café Yanx
Café Yanx - Marbella, Spain. Smoked Baby Back Ribs.
There will, of course, be a next time. All in all, highly recommended for a great location, friendly and efficient service, and some of the best food on the Costa del Sol. 
 
Admittedly we shared the starter and dessert, but son had a beer and mother a glass of wine, and the total bill was a reasonably affordable 50 euros.
 
On a more serious side, the owner and operator, David Fisher, has had "more than 22 years of finely-honed catering and hospitality experience." Fisher classes their cuisine as "Ameriteranean", taking classic, no frills American cuisine and giving it a sunny Mediterranean twist. Nearly all their product is sourced locally, except the beef, which comes all the way from "the green fields of Ireland, carefully aged and delicious."
Café Yanx - Sizzling  well hung Grade A Irish Beef.
Café Yanx
Café Yanx - Sizzling, well hung Grade A Irish Beef.
Open all day, every day, for breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/336694#ixzz2C29CfqmH

No comments:

Post a Comment