High on my list of favourite eateries, the cosmopolitan Fuegos restaurant in Oliva is one I just cannot keep away from, or not for long, anyway. We will find any available excuse to go there and our ambition is to try every single dish on the menu at least once - which will take some doing, not only because there is so much choice but also because there are certain dishes that we cannot help but order time and again. We have celebrated special events such as birthdays and anniversaries in Fuegos’ expert hands, but at the same time have strolled in on weekend afternoons when we couldn’t be bothered to cook. It is one of these unique places that seems to serve every purpose - classy enough for landmark dates and yet relaxed and comfortable enough for all those ordinary Saturday nights in between.
One of Fuegos’ most striking qualities is the sheer variety on offer. The first time we went there - shortly after it opened in November 2003, I had an Indonesian starter, a Mexican main course and washed down my dessert with a French coffee whilst my companion had an Indian starter, a Thai main course and couldn’t decide between an Italian or a Jamaican coffee (and probably had both - we have been there so often, it is hard to remember exactly). In addition to the main menu, a range of ‘specials’ are published daily on the board, so diners cannot fail to find something to their taste. It may be difficult to believe that a restaurant could offer a range of dishes from all five continents that are not only delicious and well-presented, but also authentic. However, one visit to Fuegos will convince you.  Regularly packed with Spanish diners from Oliva and beyond who are big fans of the barbecued meat and fish (the staff and assistant chef are Spanish), it is also a destination of choice for Swiss, Dutch, German, French, south American and British residents and visitors to the area.
The last time we went to Fuegos - barely a week after the time before -  we were unable to decide which starter to have as they were all too tempting, so we ordered them all (well, nearly). We had recently tried the Malaysian crab and coconut cakes and the nachos, which were to die for, and this time we opted for crispy camembert filo pastry parcels, which came with a generous serving of warm cranberry sauce and crispy mushrooms with a garlic and herb dip, followed by toasted pitta bread with hummus. I was sorely tempted by the grilled goat’s cheese topped with cracked black pepper and honey, but the ‘specials’ board featured Indonesian chicken satay skewers which I just could not resist - particularly as the genuine article is hard to find in this part of the world, and I knew that Fuegos’ version would be just that. The camembert was creamy and nutty, the pastry cooked to a crisp and complemented perfectly by the sweet, tangy cranberry sauce. The satay chicken was one of the most authentic I have ever tried, just as I had suspected. The mushrooms and pitta with hummus were delicious too, giving us a pleasurable anticipation of what was still to come. In addition to these tempting starters, diners can choose a mixed tapas platter (for at least two people) of Asian-style firecracker prawns, deep-fried mozzarella sticks, buffalo wings, barbecued ribs, cheese-stuffed jalapeño peppers and the garlic and herb mushrooms, or a choice of four generous-sized, exotic-looking salads - the house version, which uses a huge variety of ingredients, or a choice of Greek, crunchy Thai or warm Cajun chicken salads.
This is all on the first page of the menu, and if you make it to the second without ordering everything in sight and stuffing yourself full, the choice is endless, not counting the daily specials advertised. I can highly recommend the fajitas, having tried the chicken and prawn version and the vegetarian ones with nuts and apples, and also the herb-crusted organic salmon with lemon butter sauce, sesame-salted roast sea bass and prawn, pea and mint risotto. On this occasion I decided to try the spinach and parmesan risotto, which was rich and creamy with generous amounts of spinach and plenty of ‘bite’ from the strong, nutty cheese. My companion enjoyed a thick, tender tuna steak, one of the day’s specials, with steamed vegetables and herb-roasted potatoes.
Despite being well and truly stuffed by this time, it would be a crime to pass on the delectable desserts Fuegos offers. Having already tried the tiramisu and ‘lumpy bumpy toffee cheesecake’, I can confirm that they are sincerely decadent, but this time I plumped for another of our tried-and-tested favourites - the Bailey’s delight. Vanilla ice-cream swimming in Baileys and topped with oodles of whipped cream and masses of cracked maltesers, it is pure sin. My companion opted for the rum and raisin sponge in creamy rum sauce, one of the day’s specials and mouth-wateringly irresistible. We washed down our truly delightful meal with a bottle of white Monjardin Chardonnay, which came served on ice.
Owners Matt and Bree Barnes are passionate about their work, and their main concern is total customer satisfaction - the hospitality provided is excellent and the service efficient and friendly - nothing is too much trouble. Meals can be customised for dietary needs (as long as you telephone in advance) and communions, anniversaries and birthday parties can be catered for with artistically-designed cakes made to order, ranging from 10 to 35 euros. Long-stemmed champagne flutes are a nice touch - each in a different colour and at least a foot long. For less momentous occasions, menú del día is served from Tuesday to Friday, costing just 6.95 euros (this amazingly-low price is no indication whatsoever of the superior quality, and includes a half-bottle of wine) and a selection of fresh hot and cold sandwiches and bocadillos are made to order. For kids, especially fussy ones, the 6.50-euro children’s menu features many of their favourites and includes dessert.
Another unmissable feature of Fuegos is its themed buffet nights, which take place every Wednesday from 20.00hrs - diners can eat as much as they like for a mere 12.75 euros. Matt, an accomplished chef with years of experience in the Forté chain, and his wife Bree, lived in Hong Kong for many years before settling in Oliva, a fact that has a strong influence on the cosmopolitan variety of cuisine that their buffet nights feature. Not limiting themselves to Mexican, Italian and all the others that we are familiar with, they have also presented Polish, Swiss, Japanese and African menus, plus those of various South American countries. The next, on Wednesday, April 6, is Portuguese and the following is expected to be Swedish.
‘‘We are always seeking out new ideas, and researching new styles of cuisine,’’ explains Bree, ‘‘and we always welcome feedback, so that we can improve.’’ Our feedback? Keep doing what you are doing - it would be hard to improve on it.
Sadly for die-hard fans like us, Fuegos has recently been closed due to staff holidays, but regulars were delighted to hear that it reopens today (Friday, April 1), so they can now return for their fix.