PHOTO: MORRIS BISHOP

We were only going to check it out this eatery on the way back from Marbella, but on looking around the restaurant and seeing what was on offer for their lunch time service we decided to find out if it lived up to the hype. Open for just a year now, the building from the outside can only be described as a beautiful constructed box, the interior dining room is furnished to the very highest standards. it is comfortable, spacious with an inside bar along one side. On entering you are greeted by the Receptionist and alongside is the hands-on general manager Victor. Their terrace is equally sumptuous with a series of semi-circular banquettes and an alfresco bar area, trees and shrubs abound, and even the background music was pleasant and quiet. In total they can serve 150 split between the dining room and the terrace. All the well-schooled staff that we came onto contact with were exemplary, as was to be proved when we were partially though our meal!

They change the manageable sized menus daily for both lunch and dinner and there is a good description of the makings and an indicator for Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten free dishes. From the seven starters and a dozen mains we shared a Caramelised Goat’s Salad with wine poached Pear and Grapes, and to follow a Thai style Sea Bass with a Cream of Leek and Coconut Sauce with  grilled Vegetables, and a 40 days aged slow cooked Top Rib of Beef in a Teriyaki sauce with grilled Aubergine and Cherry Tomatoes.

Whilst my better half’s Fish was superb, my Steak was impossibly tough. I asked Erlaitz, our waiter to try and cut the meat, and as a result he immediately returned the dish to the kitchen for chef Fonsi to remedy the situation. With apologies he replaced the dish with a superb Fillet of Beef that somehow he had induced a flavour beyond the norm for this cut of meat and it was cooked to perfection. This sort of thing can, and does, happen – but it is the manner of how the occurrence is dealt with that is of importance, and in this instance it was resolved with ‘good grace’. So the meal did live up to Hype and It was a pleasure to dine here.

The V.S.
Breathe is on the roundabout after exiting from Puerto Bonus under the N340 into Nueva Andalucía. They have their own car park under the Restaurant which is free for 2 hours (collect a barcoded slip to activate the free period) They open for Lunch and dinner every day and have a Sunday Brunch menu; Average bill for a three course meal with wine 60€. The menu is on their website, where you can also make a reservation. www.breathelife.com  Tel: 952 036494

Bishlin Guide marks out of 5  Ambience:5 Food:5 Menu:5 Service:5 Value:4.5 O/A:4.8