Aioli con pan is one of the tapas served at Casa Andalusia in Weiden, Germany. It features two slices of homemade bread. (Michael Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
You can’t take the Germans out of Mallorca, but you can bring back a Mallorca-trained chef to his restaurant in Weiden.
That would be Casa Andalusia, and if you don’t pay attention when driving past this small Spanish eatery you may mistake it for a regular Bavarian home.
Established in 1983, Casa Andalusia is the dream of chef Enrique Cantudo, who is known for his fish and tapas dishes. His wife and children assist in both the kitchen and the serving.
The interior of Casa Andalusia in Weiden, Germany, is warm and intimate. Outdoor seating is available in the summer months. (Michael Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
Even though the restaurant’s mainstay is Spanish fare, the menu does include some pasta and pizza dishes. But the real draw at Casa Andalusia is its tapas.
For two people, three to four small plates is a great way to start. The menu also offers a broad beverage selection.
Jamon serrano, a typical Spanish ham dish, as served at Casa Andalusia in Weiden, Germany. Serrano is from the Spanish word for a range of mountains, which is where the ham originally air-dried. (Michael Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
I began with the air-dried Spanish ham, or jamon serrano, which was simple yet delicious. The lamb skewers that followed were perfectly medium-rare and topped with peppers, a delicious pairing for the drops of aioli on the plate.
Rounding out my tapas order was the aioli con pan, a delightful garlic mayo with homemade bread. However, the lamb skewers were still my runaway favorite.
The paella at Casa Andalusia in Weiden comes with two large shrimp, other assorted seafood and chicken. (Michael Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
For the main course, I ordered paella. The Valencian rice dish is often viewed as the country’s signature meal and therefore a barometer for the bona fides of a restaurant serving Spanish cuisine.
Casa Andalusia’s paella measured up to my standards. Although the large prawns were a little tough to dismantle, the plate was jam-packed with an assortment of seafood and chicken.
With a full page of the menu for wines and other drinks, there are more than enough pairings for whatever dish you order. Keeping it simple, I stuck with the house red wine.
After the generous serving of paella and the tapas, I had no room for dessert. For those with larger appetites, there is a mousse, homemade ice cream or a dessert plate of pastries.
Pinchos carne at Casa Andalusia in Weiden, Germany, are made from lamb and served with a tasty garlic mayo. (Michael Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
The staff was friendly and welcoming. They let me pick a place to sit and provided me with an English menu.
Visitors should be aware that for a meal at Casa Andalusia, they will likely shell out a little more than is typical at area restaurants. However, in my experience, the cuisine and the setting make the higher bill worth it.
Casa Andalusia, a Spanish restaurant in Weiden, Germany, is easy to miss because it blends into the surrounding neighborhood. (Michael Slavin/Stars and Stripes)
Casa Andalusia
Address: Edeldorfer Weg 34, Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Germany
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 5-11 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. Closed Monday.
Prices: Between seven and 13 euros for tapas; main courses range from 26 to 34 euros
Menu: Available in English and German
Phone: +49 961 33529
