You’d think finding a decent lunch in the heart of Marbella for less than €15 would now be impossible.

But how about three generous courses, plenty of bread and properly grilled meat for the same very price?

Enter Hacienda Patagonica, situated just a stone’s throw from Marbella port, which delivers exactly that with its €14.50 lunchtime menu.

The Argentine-inspired restaurant sits on Calle Acera de la Marina, one street back from the seafront and only a short walk from Avenida del Mar.

It has a large shaded terrace as well as an informal interior, making it a convenient stop after shopping, visiting the Old Town or spending the morning on the beach.

The restaurant has specialised in grilled meats since opening in 2002, describing itself as an informal ‘parrilla al paso’ where Argentine barbecue is served in a relaxed tapas-style format.

Three generous courses

The lunchtime deal begins with a freshly prepared salad containing tuna, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, sliced onion and sweetcorn.

It is simple, refreshing and large enough to prepare you for the far richer courses that follow.

Next comes a choice between an entire grilled chorizo or morcilla sausage, served with half a baked potato.

A large basket of fresh bread also arrives at the table, accompanied by a flavourful chimichurri dressing.

Then comes either steak or grilled chicken, again served with baked potato.

We opted for the chicken, which arrived in a surprisingly large portion. It was beautifully grilled on the outside while remaining tender and juicy inside.

There was no sense that the restaurant had reduced the quality or quantity simply because we were eating from a discounted lunch menu.

By the end, we were thoroughly full, and slightly bewildered by the bargain.

Hacienda Patagonica can be found at Calle Acera de la Marina 2, Marbella, close to the port, and is definitely Spanish Eye approved.