2 minute read
Universal Lounge Bar - Let no man thirst for good beer!
THE Universal Lounge Bar in Albir is celebrating an anniversary this year. It is 15 years since proprietor Alain Vanden Bossche left his native Belgium and moved to Spain to open this restaurant and bar, and he hasn’t looked back! Universal by name and universal by nature, all the 96 nationalities who have made their home in Albir, one of the most cosmopolitan towns on the coast, are welcome.
With a bright, comfortable interior and a spacious, colourful terrace with a lively atmosphere, we visited on a Friday afternoon. We were impressed by the smiling, friendly staff, the range of food and drink and the appearance of the deliciouslooking dishes emerging from the kitchen. You would have to travel a long way to find a bar with a beer menu like Alain’s. Even in nearby Benidorm, you’d be lucky to find 40 or 50. Alain stocks a massive selection of 150 beers, many of them Belgian, making this the best place to discover all kinds of ales, lambics, red ales, brown ales, strong ales and stouts. Belgian beers have a unique taste thanks to the yeast, which has a floral, sweet edge to it that tastes different from anything else. There is also an endless choice of beers from other countries to try, and 10 draught beers, so make sure you take a designated driver!
But there is more than just beer to drink, with all the cocktails and mixed drinks you can imagine. So much choice and so little time… we had an Aperol Spritzer in the sunshine.
With coffee by Illy, the coffee connoisseur’s dream, the list of speciality coffees makes me wish that Univer sal was just around the corner so that I could go for a coffee and a delicious breakfast every morning. The breakfast options are impressive and offer excellent value for money, ranging from a full British (sausages, bacon and fried eggs, Heinz beans, toast and butter, and tomatoes and cheese for €6.50) to a vegetarian option (Panache of vegetables with melted cheddar and Havarti cheese with a touch of spinach pesto for €4.60). Not so hungry? Toast with different toppings, pastries or omelettes is what you need.
As the day passes, the kitchen turns out freshly cooked, great value dishes. Sandwiches, wraps and tapas are always a hit, but the menu is long and there is something to please anyone. We spotted some rather tempting fish and chips emerging from the kitchen… mmm. This is not one of those restaurants where you can’t see anything you fancy, rather, you’ll see so many things you won’t know which dish to choose.
Don’t miss Alain’s Belgian specialities. There are delicious slowcooked ribs, Belgian stew and chicken volauvent, and the iconic fillet Americaine, a traditional spread made with premium beef from Brussels and a close cousin of steak tartare. Naturally, this being a Belgian establishment, there are mussels when in season, however, unfortunately, the season is over until September, so you will have to wait.
You will also have to wait for the next big thing to come to the Universal Lounge Bar, but not for long! Within the next couple of weeks, there will be Ben and Jerry’s ice cream by the scoop in cones and tubs. You won’t find this premium ice cream in this format anywhere in the area, so it is somewhat of a coup for Alain.
As Alain says, the emphasis is on quality and value for money, so go along to the Universal Lounge Bar on weekdays (closed on Thursdays, Saturdays and public holidays from 9.30 to 10pm and Sundays from 09.30 to 4pm. The Universal Lounge Bar is at Av de l’Albir, 68, 03581 Alicante (Tel. 966 865 910).
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