Elche Restaurant

I rarely write a negative review even when we’re disappointed with our dining experience. However, this place needs to get their act together. The service was atrocious. Barely a hello. First words were ‘are you ready’. We were recommended to Elche from a local contact as the best place for paella. The paella was good but it didn’t outweigh the terrible service and lack of care from staff. I’m not sure if our wait staff were owners but it was clear they didn’t give a damn about us. Absolutely no communication with us other than taking our order and delivering our food. The €21 for 4 tiny scallops with a hint of raw garlic and butter on it was quite frankly an embarassment. So sad. I always wish the best for restaurant owners but this was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever experienced. What a shame.

Nice restaurant with good Spanish food with a touch. Good paellas, both de marisco (seafood) or vegetarian, good tapas, and desserts. Very nice curated service in a pleasant well cured ambiance. The crema catalana was served in a plate, good taste tough less burnt part

The paella and tatin carmelizada de higos (carmalized figs) was delicious. Came right at opening with no reservation but the staff was able to accommodate us. They were very attentive and answered any questions we had.

Went in for Lunch had fried baby squids tapas, the Galician Style Octopus and the lightly floured and fried cod steak topped with mild aioli tapas. The food was good but the cod was excellent. The smell and the taste was exceptional.

We came here hoping for a great paella experience, but unfortunately, it fell short — especially for the €31 per person price tag. We were specifically told that the paella did not contain fish, yet when it arrived, it clearly had cheap fish filler mixed in. This wasn’t just a small misunderstanding — it felt deceptive, especially when we had asked about ingredients upfront. Even more concerning, the mussels tasted off and weren’t fresh. That really took away from the meal. On the upside, the ambience was genuinely pleasant, and the space itself had a nice vibe. Unfortunately, the service didn’t match it. Our waiter seemed grumpy on entry , only becoming marginally more attentive after we raised concerns. Overall, the setting was nice, but the food quality and lack of honesty left us disappointed. Wouldn’t return based on this experience

I recently dined at Elche Restaurant with a group of friends and family, arriving at 10:15 PM with the understanding that they close at midnight according to their Google profile. We were a party of four adults and three children, and we were excited to enjoy some delicious food, which did not disappoint, food was great. However, our experience was marred by unprofessional service from the head waiter. Despite being informed that the restaurant closes at midnight, he insisted that we hurry as the kitchen was closing at 11 PM. He even took the menu while my friend was still reading it, which felt rather rude. The situation escalated when we requested another bottle of wine at 10:55 PM. The waiter informed us that we had only ten minutes to drink it, which seemed absurd. When I asked for clarification due to his poor English, he reluctantly extended the time to twenty minutes. This felt more like a rule enforced on children rather than patrons in a dining setting. Ultimately, I decided to forgo the wine, requested the bill, and left the restaurant. While the food was enjoyable, the poor service left a sour note on our evening. I hope the management addresses these issues to improve the overall dining experience.

Very good experience, their chocolate cake with ice cream is wow. Mixed seafood/chicken Paella was also tasty. Would expect a bit more from homemade seafood soup - tasted a bit more like a sauce, but in the end entire experience was worthy! Wine, beer, cola, cheese cake, a shot of whisky and dishes described above were in total around 72 euros. Mixed paella,

The food was great. The seafood was incredible and the servers were friendly and patient in explain things to us. I really struggled on between a 4-5 star, but I came for the paella and it was incredible but did not have any Socarrat which I was really hoping for. Otherwise this was still an awesome meal and would come back.

I was recommended to check out this restaurant from a guide for paella, and I was sadly disappointed. The wait staff and restaurant were great, they say me without a reservation and it is centrally located but not crowded nor loud. I ordered the classic pan con tomate and a seafood paella, I was initially surprised that they graciously offered to serve me a 1 person portion. However the portions for both dishes were sad. The bread was literally to cold pieces with barely any tomato on top, almost broke my teeth trying to crunch into them. The paella rice was well flavored but with only 3 clams and 1 shrimp it barely made it into the seafood category. I understand they may have paired down the portions for 1 person but for the price it was very disappointing. I won't be returning sadly.

Great traditional paella and fiedo with meat options or seafood. The garlic aioli cut through it perfectly. Made to order and you can select the portion size per person. The fried baby squid was the true star of the show, crispy and tender.

Delicious & staff is so courteou! the black ink paella is absolutely amazing! We visited twice while in Barcelona.

I saw this place in some videos and reviews and I was a little disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high but the paella was a little bland. Lots of meat in it though. They offered us bread, we kept saying no, but finally caved when she said I'll bring you a little piece to try. It was sub par and she charged us for two orders of bread. The scallops were decent.

I thought the food was great! I had the garlic shrimp (with bread), cod fritters, and seafood paella. Everything was excellent. I loved the garlic chunks and hint of spice in the gambas. The paella had all sorts of yummy seafood and the rice was perfectly al dente. Really yummy meal. The service was fine and ambiance was very nice. Would have loved it if outdoor seating was available. Overall recommend!

This place is amazing. It's a beautiful restaurant with amazing food, and the staff are really warm and friendly. My hotel recommended them but I arrived as they were stopping serving and said I'd had a long flight and if they had any recommendations for other good places still open. They insisted on staying open long enough for me to have an incredible steak. It totally made my day.

After travelling through Spain and Portugal for five weeks we ended our Road Trip in Barcelona. Stayed here for four nights. It's been a while since our last time in the city. All we wanted to end our trip on a high note was some good Paella. On quite some guides this place here came up. Just a turn away from the Paral-lel. Had a look....looked a bit upscale, but the prices - for Barcelona - are very fair. We are travelling with our Bulldog, so luckily they had some tables outside where our dog was very welcome. The staff here was fantastic, really friendly with a smile. Good for a chat as well. Some only talked spanish, but we always got the orders right (we should prepare a bit of basic spanish for the next time in Spain I guess). After the first night here we were so impressed that we returned for the following three. First time around of course we've had the Seafood Paella. And it was a very very good one. Rice cooked to perfection, with some bite left. A great seafood stock as a base. Mussels, clams, shrimp and Langostines. Some red peppers (added some spice) as well. Great ingredients of very good quality. Not overly spiced, so you can really enjoy the taste of the sea with the wonderful seafood stock. Second night we went for some small plates: Salad (fresh and crunchy), Anchovies (the only average dish), Fried Artichokes (hot, crispy and tender inside, a great item), Mussels (a fresh, big load for little money), Tomato Bread (great side) and Lamb. And boy, that lamb was tender! And then the flavour. Hands down the best lamb and most tender lamb we've ever had. I wonder where they get them. The other two nights we went back to our Seafood Paella. As great as the first time. They really keep the standard high and the same. But both times some lamb on the side. Since not all pieces were the same size, some were grilled a bit too long. But still great. Every time we had some wine with (red Muga is always a safe and great choice). Again very fair prices. We really enjoyed dining here. Felt very welcome and we were'nt rushed. Really had time to fully enjoy our dinners and enjoy every last bite of the divine Paella. If you have space for some dessert, try the hot chocolate cake. Good stuff! We will definitely be back.

The food was salty and the portion was small for such an expensive price! We were disappointed

My airbnb host recommended this restaurant for authentic food. I ordered the small grilled squid as my appetizer, seafood paella for the entree, and the apple filled with catalan custard over chocolate sauce. Ambiance inside feels more upscale and it's a wonderful atmosphere for a date. Everything was delicious. The seafood was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. The paella had such a nice strong ocean flavors. The dessert was a great balance of warm apple with the peel having a harder different texture and the custard was cold. The sweet chocolate sauce pulled everything together. Food was great but don't expect good service if you're a foreigner or don't speak Spanish or Catalan. They weren't rude but just didn't seem to care or pay as much attention.

The maitre'd unlocked the restaurant and told us to leave saying they were full. It was 5-minutes before opening. Empty restaurant, no line and no people gathering. We were disappointed. We will not make another effort to visit.

Elegant ambiance. Food and service was great. I ordered the garlic rice paella with prawns. They are more formal here bringing the paella pan to me before serving it to me on a white plate. The clientele here looks professional. I inquired before entering if our attire was ok and the hostess said yes! Although I was wearing a dress, hubs and son were in shorts. The place is small but I did see a large group go upstairs. I recommend if you are on a date, want a quiet dinner after several hours of travelling or dining alone.

Eh. There are better places to drop 60 euros on dinner (before wine). Maybe I'm just not a paella guy. Too much rice, too bland. Roasted pepper with eggplant and artichoke appetizers were good.

The food and service made this the Best all around restaurant that we went to in the two months we were in Barcelona. We went several times. Sat upstairs and downstairs at different times. Our server was an absolute delight. We were lucky enough to get her every time we were there. We had seafood at every meal, and it was expertly prepared. Restaurant interior is beautiful. Quiet and cozy. Loved it!

This is an upscale restaurant we found near the hotel. The food was fresh and tasty. The paellas were a little too salty for my American taste buds. The waiter was able to make a nice wine selection recommendation. The desserts were good. Especially loved the baked apple. The custard dessert was not my favorite. It tasted ok but it lacked in presentation

We had had buñuelos de bacalao, and pulpo con pimentón as appetizers they were delicious. We got a complimentary basket of bread and we were full already when the wonderful Paella Mixta came out. The rice was flavorful and it had plenty of seafood and chicken. To top it off we ordered Tatín Caramelizada de Higos (Caramelized Figs Tart) ala dessert. The figs were warm, on top of a thin tart or cookie with a cream sauce (watch out if you have any type of dairy allergies), it was absolutely incredible. The service was outstanding from beginning to end. Not only were they attentive but very nice and funny. There are so many options of restaurants in Barcelona, but we are coming back to Elche before we leave.

We decided to visit this restaurant because it was our last night in Barcelona and we wanted good paella. My boyfriend love the paella, I thought it's was okay and we had better in the trip. There was also a a two serving minimum. I think the serving was $18 so about $36 for two. The garlic shrimp and bread are delicious; so good I forgot to take a picture:( Wine was excellent, most came in a large or petite bottle option. The service was great. Our waitress did not speak English and our Spanish is terrible but somehow she got exactly what we wanted, there was no mistakes! I suggest you go here for the garlic shrimp and wine, don't not waste your money on the paella, you can get way better for cheaper!

Very kind staff, cozy and clean, had the cod and mushroom paella which was fantastic. High quality, simple ingredients, and absolutely delicious. Highly recommend!

In a bit of a quiet area, with outdoor seating unfortunately right by the dumpsters, but nice food and an elegant vibe. We came specifically for the black rice paella, and it was delicious. A little salty, but a unique flavor. The muscles were hands down my favorite dish we ordered. Bright and full of flavor, salty, spicy, and zesty. The cockles with artichokes fell flat for me, and I probably wouldn't order them again. I thought it tasted too strong of white wine, and too many bread crumbs. Our waiter also messed up an order (wrongfully giving us and still charging us for a larger portion of cockles), and didn't correct the error on the tab, which cost us $15 extra dollars.

My family and I dined at Elche after reading a raving blog post review on this restaurant. Despite coming across some not so promising reviews on Yelp and on Google, we decided to give it a try. WHAT A MISTAKE! We have dined in two other restaurants in Barcelona prior to coming to Elche and the foods in the other two places, especially the paella, were very satisfactory. Having had those pleasant experiences, the food at Elche was extremely disappointing. The squid ink paella was very bland and tasteless. The dish also looked unappetizing, as the rice had a strange dark green hue. In contract, the anchovies starter we ordered was way too salty, almost uneatable. On top of that, the waiter charged us for bread basket that we didn't even order! The least they can do is inform us that the bread is extra. The food at Elche was VERY BAD, but at that price range (a solid $$$ range restaurant) it's just embarrassing.

We visited Elche late one night while in BCN, probably around 10pm. When you first walk in, it seems like a very fancy upscale restaurant. I assure you that the amount of effort put into the ambiance is not the same effort that is put forth in the dishes. We were served luke warm water, which okay, that's annoying but not the meh part of the visit. The waiter seemed to be put off a little, or maybe just all inattentive. The food took 30 or so minutes to come out. We ordered two of their 2 person serving paella's to share amongst three people. The seafood paella had a nice flavor, but certainly wasn't as seasoned as other paella's I've had. Both the noodle and seafood paellas only had very VERY limited amounts of meat in them, which is weird for the price that you're paying. I ordered a bottle...BOTTLE of wine, that the waiter never brought to the table, but made sure to include on the bill. After reminding him he never brought the wine, he simply took the check and brought a new receipt-- easy enough right? It was overall one of those dining experiences that just all around was slightly awkward and just not pleasant.

ElChe Restaurant After leaving Plaza España, we walked all the way down the Paralello towards the port and the main tourist haunts. We decided to stop inside this place for a nice lunch after so much walking. What lured is in was the clad of the joint. White linens, well dressed waiters in white coats. Fancy. But the menu on the door showed low prices. Good combo. Elvis (his real name) was our waiter and attended to us very nicely. Very much a professional. If you're in Barcelona, I recommend this as a place to eat and have great food. I had the seafood paella and cannot say enough about how tasty it was. Hubby and our friend both had the seabass and loved it. The only issue, which wasn't really a downside, was the lack of wifi. It made us talk & enjoy the food. Come check the place out and ask for Elvis.

Yum! Came here for dinner with my sister after reading a review in our guide book. We ordered the pate to start, got paella for our entree, and a weird Spanish version of creme brulee for dessert. The pate was decent. The paella was really salty. Granted, my whole family has a low tolerance for salt, but this was insanely salty. We drank a few bottles of water to keep from shriveling up and dying. Okay, okay, I exaggerate, but the deliciousness of the seafood was definitely overshadowed by how salty the rice was. The dessert was interesting. It reminded me of flan because the custard was so thick. I definitely appreciated the bruleed sugar on top of the custard. The staff was friendly and helpful and we enjoyed our meal.

We were thoroughly disappointed by this place. First of all, our waiter was inattentive, unfriendly, and patronizing. Unless you like stuffy atmospheres, rude waiters in white jackets, white tablecloths, small/mediocre portions, and lots of elevator music, choose one of the other 43,000 restaurants in Barcelona. We ordered the asparagus tapas....this was literally canned asparagus. Exact taste and texture as canned asparagus. Roasted red pepper tapas....served cold with beans and an onion. Lacking of flavor...all around difficult to get down. Fried artichoke tapas....these were reheated..not fresh. Scallops...tiny, fishy, gross...not what you think of scallops as. Cannelloni...this was subpar and the plate was completely hot yet the dish was barely warm...telltale sign that this was microwaved and not fresh in the least. Bad food and bad environment...no thanks.

Four of us had dinner last evening. The service was exceptional especially due to our lack of speaking Catalonia. The food was great - the grilled squid was outstanding. The waiter recommended some Catalonian wines that were a perfect match with our dinner and were priced very reasonable. Recommend you visit when in the El Ravel section of Barcelona.

The venue is very nice, environment overall is very comfortable. Service is ok, food is alright but very very overpriced. They charged us for the bread they brought to our table as soon as we sat down... we didn't even touch it! Sangria is good, paella is ok... there are so many options in this city, go somewhere else! I wouldn't pick this one again!

Good paella you can find in Barcelona. It's a little annoying that you have to pay for bread and toasted bread with pâté you didn't order but the rice dish was yummy. Wish I ordered it with no shell as it was hard to crack open langoustine.

Soooo bad! How this restaurant has received 3,5 stars is beyond me. I cannot believe that we paid 50 Euros for a meal that didn't meet our standards nor make us full. We actually needed to eat something coming home! My friend ordered Seafood Paella, which tasted bland and the word "Sea" was nowhere to be found in the broth at all. The dish even lacked salt. There was only a few shellfish and one prawn. I had the Sea bass which was ok but it was just two pieces of sea bass with a handful boring haricots verts. I longed for a tasty or fresh salad or acidic side dish. They even had the nerve of charging us for the bread that we neither ordered, nor ate. When the waitress came to ask how it was, we told her that we did not much care for it. She was very snobbish after our remarks and did not really understand us, or want to hear us explain as to why. Visit Palo Cortao instead. It is nearby (Nou de la Rambla) a 4-5 star restaurant - plus cheaper!

Skip this place. I'm writing this as we are waiting for 20+ minutes for the waiter to bring us our bill. Paella was very bland in my opinion. They charge you for bread they place on your table as soon as you sit down. . I told the waiter we didn't order that so I'm sure we'll be waiting another 20 minutes. Horrible service.

We went to Elche based on online recommendations for great paella. The atmosphere was upscale but still comfortable. Our tapas starters were tasty, we got fried artichokes which we really enjoyed. We got the cod and mushroom paella, and the (no shells) seafood paella. The cod/mushroom had a better flavor in my opinion. However, as other reviews have said the paella was very salty. On top of that, it took 30+ minutes and multiple requests to get the bill... which left a bad taste in our mouth.

Ok so not just 3 stars but 3.5. Overall solid. Good ambiance. Prompt and friendly service. Bread and pate given right off the bat and drinks served asap. Drawbacks: A bit pricey for some of the dishes. The paella is good, but too salty. Also in my opinion it could have used a fee more peppers and peas ( i do paella at home; grew up with latin mum who has Spanish ancestry and i learned her recipe). Ok so whats the deal then? Go here for a fancy time if you don't mind splurging on a fancy/classy atmosphere with friendly, accommodating prompt staff and a clean, classy decorum in Barcelona. Definitely worth a try. The cheapest wine is good and a decent amount for the price. Thurr tis yo!

Despite its popularity, i was very disappointed from the visit to Elche. My friend and I were the only customers at the restaurant. We first assumed we might have arrived early - 7:30PM. However, by the time we left, there were two more tables being served. I had a glass of house wine which was decent, not amazing, and the squid and artichokes black paella was a total disappointment. Very salty and barely any squid or artichokes were added. There was no host, just one waiter multitasking. He was not friendly nor helpful. And last of all, they charged us for the bread that he served us at the beginning... Wtf? If you are looking for a good paella experience, I recommend going to a place called Xiringuito Escriba by the Xiringuito beach.

Located in El Poble Sec, a few minutes off Parallel, Elche is a great little restaurant with amazing Paellas and great wine. It's a bit on the higher end of the scale and altough you don't have to dress up to eat here, you'll feel better if you do make an effort cause this place is just nice. We had paprika and garlic Paella with crayfish and langoustines to share for 21Euro each. All Paellas are freshly made from scratch and take about 20mins. Whether you want it or not, they serve two appetizer options: one basket woth different breads and a small plate with paté and crispy bread. Both are charged at 1.60Euro per person so if you nibble on both that'll set you back an additional 3.20Euro per person. As dessert we shared a cheesecake with mango coulos which was too cold when it was served and very cheesy altogether. I wouldnt recommend it but I'd recommend the main course without a shadow of a doubt.

The place is very warm and inviting, and the service excellent. Delicious breads and a light pate are quickly brought to the table and drink orders taken. But the Paella is unbelievably bad. To start with it's too salty. The saffron, garlic, parsley, and pepper should not be covered up with salt! But worse, the seafood elements are truly sub-par in quality, size, and number. For about $18 Euro you get 1) two medium shrimp with heads on, but they have big heads so if you are not one to suck their brains out, you're left with two medium tails, 2) two calamari rings with virtually no flavor and as chewy as your shoe might be, 3) one small mussel which would be okay for a bird's dinner, 4) three small clams that were tasty enough, and 5) one crab leg that was so skinny you could barely open it, then only to find a tiny sliver of meat inside. Must have been intended as decoration.

Hotel recommended and when I got back to the hotel I told them it was bad. Skip it. Touristy food. I've had better paella in NY. Paella (soupy and bland) came out in less than 20 minutes which should never occur in a place that isn't busy unless it's a rush job. Appetizers were equally bad. The only thing that was good was the Pate they gave with bread when you sat down.

4 people looking for a nice sit down. 2 dinners were WRONG- it was incredibly awkward when half of us had our food waiting for the rest which we had to reorder - the paella was a little flavourless but ok - my husband ordered medium veal it came less than rare with no apology as they forgot his meal - they brought me the wrong dinner but I liked mine when it did arrive, cod but it was a long tasteless meal for 75% of us with classical music Ill fitted and if you are in the area.... Skip it

An intimate but friendly place. Looks quite exclusive, however, Rioja is just EUR10 a bottle. Had a paella wich was with chicken, chorizo & black pudding, topped with an omlette and it was excellent value at EUR11 per person. Most diners had some sort of paella dish. The place has been there since 1959 and is situated just below the Montjuic Park. There is a sister restaurant in the touristy Maremagnum area.

My partner and I came to Elche for lunch. The food and service were both excellent. We has two delicious appetizers (a very tasty salad made of a variety of Mediterranean vegetables, eggs and fish a bit like a Salade Niçoise and some very tasty cheese and ham coquettes) and we shared a typical rice, chicken and sausage dish (a bit like a paella). The lunch was not cheap but was amazing and quite filling. We go the sense that the place used to be less fancy than it is now, but that it has gone more upscale sometime recently.

The food was pretty good but that's about as much as I could say about it. If the price was much lower the rating would be significantly higher. However given the price I think there are better restaurants.

To be honest, go somewhere else. Nice dining environment but that is pretty much where it ends. Service polite and got the job done but not to extent you would expect from an expensive restaurant. Unfortunately, the highly recommended Paella (from online) was very underwhelming. I have had better rice risotto from the box. I also don't usually spend the next day staying close to a bathroom. Saving grace was a delightful custard apple desert. As other reviews have pointed out, Elche is overpriced and over rated for the quality received at present.

Warning # 1: All the customers spoke English, French, Russian. Not a word of Spanish or Catalan. Warning #2: The waiter dropped the bread basket on the table in a rush and left even though the restaurant wasn't overly busy. (turns out we were charged for it even though we didn't eat it - nor asked for it) Warning #3: The Artichoke Tapas was salty and had hard parts of the artichoke. It was plain with no sauce or flavour. Warning #4: The scallops were small and salty. Warning #5: The neighbourhood was a bit "colourful" (definitely not unsafe). The paella was passable, but definitely not a wow. A bit greasy and salty, but passable. I think you can do better elsewhere. Decor was good. My advice: This restaurant may have had its day, but it's time to try something new. Definitely, give this one a pass.

This place has changed so much! i am a absolute fan! best rice paella dishes ever, they have changed the deco, looks fab!

Food is decent but not a very friendly place. Ate there 4 times because it was close to my hotel but for the money they are pretty damn unfriendly. I have seen three sets of people walk out over 4 visits.