Kay B.
Yelp
The setting is far from unpleasant at Maria de la O - it's clearly been renovated and redecorated relatively recently, it's comfortable enough, and has a small terrace at the front.
Unfortunately that's pretty much the only good thing I can say about this restaurant.
We arrived for lunch, and were greeted by a sullen and unsmiling waitress who pointed us vaguely to a nearby table where we could sit. We were presented with the menu of the day (seemingly good value for money at 15 euro's per person for two dishes of our choice each) and we ordered: a goat's cheese salad for my companion, and a house salad for myself to start, and a bacalao (cod) en papillotte for my companion and a Paella Valenciana for myself for main.
First up the salads - both were unbelievably stingy in terms of either tuna (on mine, which was a piece of about 1 inch squared plopped onto the plate) and goat's cheese (two slivers in total) on my companion's. His came already dressed, mine however was accompanied by tetra pack vinegar and olive oil to pour over the salad.
At about this point we wondered if we had stumbled into an airport cafeteria instead of a city center restaurant.
The more than disappointing salads over, but still willing to give the place a chance, we waited for our mains. The bacalo was tiny, overcooked, wrapped in foil and served with limp and somewhat greasy potatoes. The paella was flavorless, with a couple of small pieces of dried out meat, and completely lacked any punch or interest - little better than a plate of rice boiled in a slight tomato-y sauce.
The service was lackluster, with none of the service staff bothering to even crack a smile when they came to the table, and probably for only the second or third time in my life, I left without leaving a tip. The atmosphere was non existent.
It makes me wonder why someone would bother opening a restaurant, investing money in its decor and operation, to then treat their customers (and their food) in this manner.
Never again.
