Yana L.
Google
I have some mixed feelings about this restaurant which has a Michelin star on the door. I understand that the only star there - is a Chef, and I must admit his talent, though not all the dishes I liked 100%, but this is the matter of tastes.
Also, the interior was wonderful, mainly this was the only thing which attracted me, not the Michelin star. But unfortunately, the service itself ruined my mood of the evening and let me explain why:
1) I would never ask my guests a question about water like this, at the first second a person has sat down at the table: "what kind of water would you like: still or sparkle?" This is a manipulation and for people who are intellectually developed this causes rejection. You start their acquaintance with a new place from the manipulation which does not give a choice to refuse your water.
The question must be: "Would you like some water?" and then - "Sparkle or still?" (IF a person really wants your water). Please tell your Manager to NOT teach your waiters to ask guests in such a manner. I understand that this was not their idea.
2) The next question was: "Would you like Cava or Champaign?" - this is the same thing as in point 1, so I will not explain it again. In that evening I wanted red wine! So, this manipulation #2 made me upset even before the dinner started. :(
3) The water was not tasty, and this is not a surprise for me in the Spanish restaurants, but let me ask a question: WHY do the waitress changed the bottle every ~15 min? I understand the idea (to keep the water cold), but this activity caused only an irritation. I think that the bottle was taken from our table, refilled from the tap, put into the fridge, and another bottle with the tap water was put on the table silently when NOBODY ASKED THIS. This is a kind of violence, in my humble opinion. Do not do what you were not asked, please instead ASK your guests what they would like, what they prefer - this is a good service. But when you do this so obsessively, this looks like: "You WILL drink our water anyway, we will come to your table and remind you that we keep your water cool, so you WILL HAVE to PAY for it at the end of the evening". You will never keep the clients with such a service. The clients repeat their visit when you gift them something, but not force to pay them for the things they did not ask.
4) About the dishes: everything was almost perfect, but I did not like the bread (while my husband liked it) and the "butter" was too salty; the steak tartar had one interesting and very delicious thing: the caviar. But I don't know why the waiter called micogreen - the "rucula". Okay, never mind. The goose pate was not tasty to me and I gave it to my husband. The oysters (digustacion set) were very tasty.
5) Now, about the prices: the water cost us 6 euro (I drank 1 glass, theoretically - I can't say for sure, maybe less, because the bottle was constantly changed). A glass of red whine (very good, btw) cost 7.5 euro (overpriced, the normal price for the wine is 5 euro maximum in the good restaurants in Alicante). The other dishes cost their price because they were from Chef with Micheline (it's fair enough). But in general, the cheque of 160euro for 2 people with such a service - I don't think it's normal.
6) The cloth napkins were like they were bought in the China shop on the next street around the corner, and then - cut in half. This was a little bit humiliating, they looked dirty and old. If you want to make your cheque big, take care about such details as good napkins, too.
7) Toilet was clean and had everything necessary, but the idea with small towels will ruin you - most of the people do not like using the towels because it is not hygienic (I don't know how thoroughly they were washed). Better put the paper towels and a hand cream for women (Mercadona creme with AloeVera - 1euro). Everything else in the women toilet was okay. 👍
Sorry, guys, but I will not return to you. There are a lot of good places, we're in the city with crazy competition in the restaurant sphere. Good luck!
