Bodegón El Primero
Somewhere to take eight people without ringing round for a table.
Churrasco, octopus and cannelloni in a plain dining room
El Primero calls itself a bodegón guachinche, which places it in the northern tradition of family kitchens serving what the household cooks rather than a printe…El Primero calls itself a bodegón guachinche, which places it in the northern tradition of family kitchens serving what the household cooks rather than a printed list of regional greatest hits. It sits in Santa Úrsula, on the green side of the island above the Orotava valley.
Features
Type
Traditional
Price
$$ Mid-range
Schedule
Daily
Atmosphere
Traditional
Payment
Cards accepted
FAQ
What is a bodegón in Tenerife?
A step up from a guachinche: still a family kitchen serving Canarian food at local prices, but usually with a fuller menu and proper premises rather than a room in a grower's house. The two words overlap and are often used together.
What is churrasco?
Grilled beef, served in slabs and usually shared. It arrives with papas arrugadas, the small salted potatoes boiled in their skins, and mojo, the garlic or coriander sauce that comes with almost everything on this island.
Is there parking at El Primero?
Yes, private parking, which is worth more than it sounds. The northern villages were laid out long before cars and finding a space in Santa Úrsula on a Sunday is otherwise a real obstacle.
Can it take a large group?
The premises are divided into several separate spaces, so a table of eight or more is workable rather than something to negotiate. Worth telephoning ahead all the same at weekends.
Where is Santa Úrsula?
On the northern coast between La Orotava and Tacoronte, up on the slope above the valley. It is around forty minutes from Puerto de la Cruz and rather longer from the southern resorts.
Is the food expensive?
No. This is a kitchen priced for people who live nearby, which is the whole appeal of eating in the north. Expect to pay considerably less than for the equivalent meal on the southern coast.
