Jardines de Villanueva Restaurant

Jardines de Villanueva is a family restaurant that opened in 2022 on the plaza de la Fábrica in Villanueva del Río Segura, among apricot and lemon trees. It cooks almost everything over embers, with wood from the fruit trees of its own orchard, and combines this with the traditional tapas of the Ricote Valley. It runs at a slow pace and with limited numbers: about 80 people inside and up to 120 with the terrace.

Sopaícas, the valley's nibbles

On the menu, the valley's tapas are called sopaícas and are ordered by the piece (€2) or as a portion (€6): zarangollo of courgette and onion with egg, pipirrana and pisto. The sopaícas board of the Ricote Valley, to share, costs €15. Around them there are Murcian nibbles (mojama, roe, Cieza olives, marineras and bicicletas), seasonal orchard migas (€6 for the small pot, €10 for a portion), bread grilled over the embers with oil and Moorish sauce (€7) and toasts from €4.50 to €5.

Apricot and lemon wood

The main dishes come off the grill, with potatoes al montón or vegetables on the side:

• Chuletón or entrecôte, €25; Iberian presa, €20; lamb, €16; lamb ribs, €19; chicken, €11.
• Mixed grill of chicken, lamb, chorizo and sausage: €18 for one or €34 for two.
• Gilt-head bream or sea bass on the grill, €15.

For dessert, grilled peach with ice cream and walnuts, torrijas with ice cream, grandmother's tart or pan de calatrava, from €4.50 to €6.50. There are vegetarian options, such as huevos rotos with vegetables or the grilled vegetable platter (€12 each), and according to its listing on Soy Ecoturista also vegan ones and gluten-free beer.

The terrace and the winter braziers

The website presents the terrace, with views, as the place for lingering over coffee and drinks after the meal. In winter they put charcoal embers under the tables, an old custom of the valley for keeping diners warm. The restaurant has access ramps and spacious toilets. The chef often comes out to the dining room to explain the dishes, and service is in Spanish, English, French, German and Italian.

No published hours: call ahead

Neither the website nor its Soy Ecoturista listing publishes opening hours or closing days. According to that listing it is open all year, recommends booking and does not serve without a reservation. Call 666 50 05 94 or use the booking form on the website. Bear in mind that it hosts weddings, baptisms and communions of up to 150 guests, so a spring Saturday or Sunday may be taken by a celebration.

Near the spa

Villanueva is the village in the valley closest to the Balneario de Archena: a morning at the thermal pools followed by lunch here fits well. If you are staying in the orchards, the apartments of La Joya del Valle de Ricote are in the same municipality.