Cattleman

[fmm]

Visited on the recommendation of others - always walked past it before as the name didn't do anything for me and the signage made the place look more like a fast food place.

Pleasantly surprised by the lovely little round building (perhaps it should be called the Round House? - I really do hate the name at the moment!!!) and the swimming pool setting. Lovely shrubbery around the outside of the area and you really could forget you were only a few yards from the busy road.

We were the only ones there and were shown to an outside table at our request (although I then had to shoot up to the apartment to get a cardigan as it was that very cold evening!) Whilst there, a family of 11 or so were having a problem finding somewhere to eat as they had not pre booked, so I sent them down to the restaurant as well as there was plenty of space.

Previous reviews had said that there was no cover. EIther they were unlucky or CM has been reading the site and taking action! Nice cover of bread, prawn pate, homemade garlic butter and cheese.

We both had steak (thanks to the member who said that the pork sauces were available for the steaks). Mine was meant to be rare and was a little over cooked and more medium, but fairly tasty. My companion was happy with his and said it was a very good steak. Came with sautee potatos and chopped onion which I enjoyed.

We then decided that we had to eat inside at it was too cold! So desserts - I had the apple strudel with icecream (again very good) and my companion had pancakes. He preferred my dessert to his.

Plus points - friendly service and reasonable food, excellent setting both inside and out, love the shrubbery surroundings making it a little oasis of calm!
Negatives - name (sorry), limited menu (it could be presented so that it looked larger and more exciting!), signage (which is poor and does not reflect the restaurant well), odd music choices (not keen on house type music when I am eating!), more care taken over ensuring the steaks are cooked as requested. And no, I didn't complain - the steak was edible and therefore I ate it.

Overall I would be happy to recommend it for family meals with the cheerful service. They ought to be able to make it a romantic setting but it misses the mark at the moment - lighting inside, can't really hear the music indoors and with the high ceilings people speaking can sound a bit odd!

[tricky]

Good review, lots of detail. We know now wether to try it.
Thanks

[GeeBe]

I also tried it after reading about it on this site.

As already stated the menu is limited but the food on offer was good. Frank has only had the restaurant for 6 months he told me so I guess he may be easing himself in.

He has ribs and sausage as main dishes but he was more then happy to supply us with starter portions when we asked, we also had the cover of cheese, pate and olives. My wife had (by his recomdation) his Ragu-fin a chichen and mushroom dish to start that was fantastic and made me regret my choise of ribs!

We all ate steak of various cuts and they were all cooked to perfection, well mine was! The strudle was also excellent!

We got talking to Frank, he is the son of a butcher from New Jersey so thats probably where the name originates. The setting is indeed lovely but agree that the signage could be better, we would not have gone if I had not read about it here.

I the bill was a little more than I expected even after eating at the fish restaurant on Caneiros, but I put that down to going off piste with the menu.

I will go back, dont be shy, give it a try!!

GB

[sam]

We got talking to Frank, he is the son of a butcher from New Jersey so thats probably where the name originates.
GB

It used to be called O Flamingo. When this changed hands it was renamed Cattleman, and when it changed to current owner the name was retained. I always loved O Flamingos, and will be paying a visit to Cattleman when next out. Being tucked away from the main street and with the pool and garden gives it a great setting, but most people walk straight past. O Flamingo had the same problem despite a large sign with a pink flamingo and a large menu board.

[Gary/Gaynor]

well as mentioned in other posts Gary and I decided to try this restaurant. Greeted by Frank, explained menu, shared a Ragu Fin which I wish I´d had all to myself as it was gorgeous. Sort of dish on a cold rainy night tucked up with a big lump of homemade bread watching you fav DVD, but even with temperatures hight this dish was scrumptious. Had the steak, mine was fillet, Gary had Rib Eye. Very tasty done just as I liked served with onions and potatoes. Frank was very attentive, knows his meat , lovely host. Had the rasberry pancakes to finish served with warm rasberry sauce and a little cream LUSH!!!!!!
Needs to get rid of patio type tables, which I´´m sure he will in time but will be back for sure....Different to the local Stone Steak which I hate, why pay to cook it yourself ??????.
Gaynor
NB apparently he is not allowed to change the name of the restaurant for some bloomin reason......

[roy4eyes]

Following the earlier reviews we decided to try Cattleman.
Phoned to book a table only to get a message that the phone was no longer connected
Decided to go anyway - concerned at the very cheap-looking and amateurish handwritten menu - but having found an adjacent parking space continued up the slope into the grounds.
At this point things improved with a warm shouted welcome from Frank who offered us a poolside table and produced the short 3 language menu. The waitress took our drinks order of a beer and a tonic water but recommended their sangria enhanced with fruits from the garden - good suggestion and only €9.
We both had the Ragu Fin - Carol's with cheese and mine without (by choice) - mine OK, Carol's very tasty.
My wiener schnitzel was the best I have had outside of Germany/Austria and Carol's filet steak excellent if on the small side and both with tasty saute potatoes and salad.
Apfelstrudel and two coffees - OK but not sensational - and a total bill of € 49.

Would we eat there again? Yes but not on a regular basis with such a small menu and the lack of ambience.

He has to get customers up the slope from the main drag and will not with the present signage.

He also needs to promote his telephone number which I found to be 925 869 285.

[Victor Meldrew]

Whereabouts is Cattleman?

[e-richard]

Whereabouts is Cattleman?

That indeed is its biggest problem - exacerbated, as Roy says, by the unwelcoming signage.

Its up a side road right next door to Brady's Irish bar, less than 20 meters from the main drag, so hardly off the beaten track, and actually quite a pleasant location.

[fmm]

It is on the same side of the road as the Mirachor hotel, little side road about half way down/up the hill. There is signage but you have to look for it!

[superbocker]

We had a meal there on my birthday... It was a very pleasant evening in what can only be described as an oasis amongst the clutter. A few things didn't quite reach perfection but we found Frank to be charming and honest in what he had achieved and what he hoped to achieve in the near future. We'll be going back.

[joanne]

Went in Sat night was very nice, shame more people not in, we were table of 7, then table 4 and table 2, I think people like to go where there are lots of people, maybe I am wrong?

Food was good and the owner was very nice, House Rose nicest we have had in a long time.

[jonfromdon]

Just returned from a 2 week stay in cvo and I cannot recommend the Cattleman enough - the friendliness of Frank and his charming Chef (didn't catch her name), the first class quality of the steaks and the Ragout Fin was to die for - try it with a splash of Worcestershire sauce!! We celebrated the wife's birthday here and, at extremely short notice, the Chef prepared her speciality Biscuit Cake, complete with sparklers which, in all, made for a perfect night out - not to mention the House Rose. In total we visited the Cattleman 3 times and hope that Frank and his team are still there when we come back in May 2011.

[Michael Crane]

We went there Sunday night with Roy4eyes and had a very good meal. The starter of Ragout Fin was excellent and, given a big enough portion would have served as a main course. For the Main, Sharen and I shared an 'Octoberfest' [sp] dish of pork thigh and dumplings and we were stuffed. However, not too stuffed not to have a pudding - Apple Strudel [sp].

The owner? was a very pleasant man and made us all very welcome; and I am sure I saw the pupils in Sharen's eyes dilate upon hearing he was single!

The only 'problem' I came across, was its location. It's off the main drag and is easily missed . . . . which is a pity. For those of you that make the small climb to the Cattleman, a treat awaits.

[Sharen Crane]

Will definitely be making the effort to eat here again! Frank (single and not currently in a relationship ) and Mila (Chef) work their socks off! Food was terrific and the price for three starters, three mains, two desserts and drinks, was very reasonable. Ok the menu is not extensive, but to be honest I hate having way too many choices!

[laserblazer]

We went there Sunday night with Roy4eyes and had a very good meal.

We went there the following Sunday but without Roy. We had the lamb special with sauerkraut and dumplins. The kids had the steak and cleaned their plates. Very friendly but they don't take credit cards so I had to do a runner! Up the hill to the Barclays' ATM.