Cuisine: Spanish with choices of French and Italian

Hours: Lunch and Dinner Daily

Monday - Thursday noon to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday - noon to 11:30 p.m. Sunday - 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Reservations suggested on weekends

Credit Cards: All major cards accepted

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Spanish cuisine with touches of French and Italian selections in an intimate, yet casual setting are found at El Prado, where wood paneled walls lined with old world art, and continental music make for a memorable dining experience.

Owner and restaurateur at the long-established location, Diego Franch escorted me to a cozy corner table dressed in white cloth with a greeting of warm bread and crudities.

While the menu offered a full variety of appetizers, fish, poultry, meats and pasta dishes to suit the family crowd that gathers there on a regular basis, I left the choices up to Franch.

Soon there were tastings of ham and Spanish imported Manchego cheese, recently popularized by gourmets at chic eateries, in addition to mussels cooked in white wine with garlic, butter, sprinkled with parsley, giving the “must dunk” sauce a slightly sweet flavor. ($5.95 appetizer)

Franch boasted of seafood specialties and suggested a 20-30 minute wait for the “made from scratch” Paella selections.  Traditional Mariscada in Green Sauce is made with a variety of shellfish and plump chunks of lobster, and all dishes are served with salad, vegetable du jour, and oven baked browned potato slices.

But I feasted on the special of the day, Broiled Trout, also cooked  in white wine, lightly seasoned, moist and soft. ($14.95)

Now Franch insisted I taste a chop from rack of lamb, still popular among his diners. 

Cooked in its natural flavors, the chop was medium rare, just the way I like it, juicy and tender. Quite a treat and a bargain at $17.95.

Was there room for dessert? 

You bet.

From the tempting list, I chose the house specialty Peach Melba —a refreshing finale to an enjoyable evening.

A full bar and specialty coffees, including Spanish coffee with liqueur are available.