El Mosqui Restaurant

The Caldero of 1952

El Mosqui is on the road that climbs to the Cabo de Palos lighthouse, a minute from the beach. It has been open for seventy years: it began with traditional cooking and local produce and has gradually brought new textures and techniques into the menu, with a Solete from the Repsol Guide. What has not changed is the caldero. The menu says the recipe has passed from one generation to the next since 1952: Calasparra rice cooked slowly, over a low heat, in the iron pot that gives the dish its name, with ñora peppers and Mar Menor fish such as rockfish or gilthead bream, and served with alioli. Here they make it loose, not soupy. It costs €22 a portion.

From the Sea to the Grill

To start there are individual bites, from the marinera murciana, at €4 each, to the stuffed scallop, at €12, and dishes to share such as mullet roe with almonds, at €18, the sardine Russian salad or the line-caught squid, at €23.50. Besides the caldero there are a dozen rice dishes, with a minimum of two portions: the seafood paella at €24, the red prawn and foie rice at €36 or the lobster rice with fried eggs at €65, per portion. From the grill come the fish of the day, at market price, a fish roast and an entrecôte, at €28. The table service is charged separately, at €2.50 per person.

In the evening they make only caldero: if you want another rice dish, come at lunchtime.

Two Long Menus

The Punta Seca menu costs €90 and €40 more with wine pairing: appetisers, starters such as scallop with its coral or tuna with foie, sirloin, caldero and desserts. The Naranjito, which the house calls a crossing of Cabo de Palos, includes mullet roe with honey, moray eel tripe and caldero with skate; its price does not appear on the menu, so ask when you book. Both must be booked and, because of their length, are served only until 15:30.

Booking and When It Closes

It opens every day from 13:00 to 16:00 and from 20:00 to 23:00, except Tuesday evening. Booking is done on its website, which has a waiting list if the day is full, on 968 56 45 63 or at [email protected]. In summer and at weekends Cabo de Palos fills up: do not come without a table. They also do weddings, communions and company lunches, and sell a concentrated stock for making the caldero at home.

For somewhere to sleep nearby, the Camping Caravaning La Manga is at the entrance to La Manga, and the Calblanque beaches are a short drive away via Los Belones: a morning on the beach and the caldero afterwards.