The Green Banana Guide is an interesting concept for visitors to Lanzarote.

For a single fee (currently £14.99) you receive a Green Banana Discount Card, giving you between 5% and 20% discount at a variety of outlets on the island.  These can be viewed on an interactive map and are also listed in the printed guide to the island.

At Double Six Fish and Chips in Puerto del Carmen, for example, you receive 10% off your bill.

If used often, the card is likely to cover its own cost fairly soon, as it can be used multiple times at the same establishment and the discount is applied to the bill for the entire party, not just the card owner.

For those who visit the island more than once a year, there is even an annual offer available.

However, even though it sounds like it could be good value for money, there are some discrepancies on the website that unsettle me. (more…)

One of the disappointments during our last visit to Lanzarote was finding that the restaurant “La Rueda II” had closed, as we had not only enjoyed the food there but also the view from the balcony overlooking the harbour in Puerto del Carmen.

Whilst we were able to eat Mexican food at the equally delicious  “Emma’s Cantina”, just a short walk away in Calle Teide, our vote for a restaurant overlooking the harbour this time went to “Puerto Viejo”, which is located almost directly below Rueda II.

We liked the fact that it was one of the few restaurants on that corner, where you did not get asked if you wanted to eat there every time you walked past.  That, the choice on the menu and the general good condition of the restaurant tempted us in.

But we also liked the fact that once seated we were still not hurried into making decisions.  The food was very well cooked and with the restaurant half-open towards the harbour, the view was good as well!

In fact, the kitchen is located next to a passage-way on one side of the restaurant, where anyone passing can see the food being prepared.  This is surely a good way of keeping up the high standard!

We can recommend the Puerto Viejo to anyone looking for good food in the harbour area of Puerto del Carmen.

After passing by Emma’s Cantina several times on our last visit to Lanzarote, we finally made it there this time round.

Emma's Cantina Mexicana in Calle Teide

The food is of a very good standard and the menu includes both spicy and non-spicy Mexican dishes. Even the children’s menu has Mexican items on it!

The fajitas are worth a special mention – tortillas that you fill yourself with either beef, chicken or prawns and a selection of sauces – as is the home-made “chili rojo”.

As we left we were given a voucher for 15% off our next meal if we went back on a Sunday or a Thursday – something we did make use of.

On the downside, we felt that most of the desserts were overpriced, with the worst being the „brownies“ which turned out to be three small brownie wedges for 6 Euros (plus I.G.I.C.).

A special mention should be given to the German translation of the menu, which is one of the best that we have seen on the island!

Our recommendation: go there and enjoy the atmosphere and the excellent Mexican food, but maybe consider an ice cream on the way home as an alternative to the desserts.

Link
Emma’s Cantina Mexicana