It was like saying hello to an old friend when we enjoyed a lunch-time outing to La Sirena in Torviscas.

After having lived in Fañabé for some years, this delightful little restaurant is a regular haunt and we have fond memories of some lovely evenings out and celebration parties here.

So it was nice to see that nothing had changed when we renewed acquaintances with the staff and owner Jose who is celebrating 22 years at La Sirena. Jose comes from La Gomera (he gave us an impromptu demonstration of the whistling language Silbo which he can still vaguely remember!) and is helped in the family business by son Yeray.

Not surprisingly, Jose is proud of the restaurant’s longevity and you will find La Sirena decorated in typical Canary style and colours and exceptionally clean and shiny.

The first thing we noticed is that a small supermarket had been built next to it, a bonus rather than a loss of some outdoor seating space. It means you can pop in and buy a paper or some provisions at the same time. There is still a big terrace at the front, under cover, so you can choose sunshine or shade or you can opt to sit inside. There is also a big TV screen, another new arrival.

La Sirena doesn’t have a sea or mountain view but it doesn’t matter. It is just by the entrance to Sunset Bay (if you walk past the Santa María hotel on your right, take the first turn right, walk along a few hundred yards and it is on your left by a small roundabout). You come here to enjoy the atmosphere and good food and a very reasonable price ie. not hiked up because it is not on the sea front.

Jose has kept the menu as comprehensive as possible in today’s climate and serves international dishes, as well as Canary and Spanish specialities such as paella (by order), squid rings, fresh fish etc. There are about 60 choices, ranging from grilled sole at 7.95 euros, grilled sirloin steak (7.95 euros) and Chateaubriand for two for 32 euros (again by order).

For starters, we choose a simple bowl of steaming hot tomato soup (2.50 euros) and mouth-watering garlic mushrooms (5.50 euros). My dining partner chose battered hake (7.95 euros) whilst I fancied the La Sirena speciality pizza which came with cheese, tomato, ham, mushrooms, onions and peppers with a softly boiled diced egg at the centre (8.50 euros). All the dishes were hot, very pleasant, tasty and the service was swift. A glass of wine here will cost you two euros and a bottle of house wine 9.75 euros so La Sirena does not break the bank.

For pudding, there is the usual range of frozen ice-creams but if you are full, we can certainly recommend a barraquito which is best described as the Spanish equivalent of an Irish coffee.

This restaurant has become a firm favourite with many local people of all nationalities and holiday-makers since 1989 because you get what you see and the standards never drop.

La Sirena is open from around 9am in the morning until end of lunch service (usually 3pm'ish or until diners leave) and then reopens at 6pm to about 11pm. At the moment, it is closed on a Sunday.