Never really been that familiar with " canteens" . We had 'em, of course, at school but they were always referred to as " refectories". So it wasn't until I went out into the great wide world that I encountered them first hand. Great places, full of good humoured folk in factory attire , devouring bacon butties, slopping great mugs of sugared tea and always fish and chips on Fridays. Furniture not built for comfort but you were'nt allowed to loiter, production targets to be met, things to be made.
Fast forward a few years and you drive into a poncy,overpriced Californian restaurant called " Rick's Canteen" where an effeminate Rick begins his spiel
"Bountiful Mother Nature has blessed us tonight with ...... ". Goddamned liar cos he knows and you know it's straight from some Chicago food processing plant.
and finally in some " Corporate Headquarters" where " canteens" are now designated " The Deli" or " The Coffee House " and you just about have time to gulp a vending machine coffee in the thirty seconds that constitutes your lunchbreak.
So point of story, take yourself to
La Cantina del Moll Neu. It's at the end of the Marina, past
Stay, just before the gates of the boat fuelling station. Wonderful spot, nice director's chairs, it's the perfect place to while away an hour over a coffee, drink and snacks. Clients are predominantly maintenance guys for the boats and the odd yachty. Maybe, occasionally joined by the more inquisitive tourist who's ventured off the main drag.
It must be the best " canteen" in the world. Lucky guys ( why are they such handsome dudes ?? ) . Great job splashing a lick of paint on the boats, chance encounters with yachty totty and a work venue to die for.
It's where I go for a quiet quality hour over a drink and where I recall, every time, why I love this place so much.
BonysLad