The Lobster Restaurant Den Engel, Playa Flamenca, Orihuela Costa, Spain
Well, this restaurant was rated as one of the best by Tripadvisor, and it got the qualification THE BEST PLACE FOR LOBSTER. We do love lobster, and have eaten some excellent ones all over the world. And now, in Spain, there would be again such a wonderful place? We decided it was worth the long trip. Lobsters were calling us! We visited the restaurant in june 2014.
But if it's too good to be true, it is usually too good to be true. Unfortunately.
And besides our negative experience, the fact that our opinion was not published, is unprofessional and makes Tripadvisor unreliable. It is not the first time, we have to conclude, that the overall positive ratings do not reflect the reality of the quality of a bar, restaurant or hotel.
We think, that (future) customers deserve our opinion and to decide then, if they want to try this restaurant out.
First of all, it is expensive. However, if the food is excellent, we happily pay a higher price. But here, the balance was way off.
You can only choose lobster menu's, and each one of them has the same starter. Lobster soup. Flavourless, poorly executed.
Then we had the lobster with curry and parmesan, If well done, this could be a wonderful combination of the sweetness of the lobster, a hint of curry and a touch of salty cheese. A challenge for a real chef and worth a try, we thought.
The lobster was smothered with an overpowering, far too strong curry sauce. Unable to taste parmesan and worse, the lobster. The french fries tasted of old frying oil. The side salad had a poor dressing. What a shame, to waste such a good product in such a way.
When asked if everything was ok - plates hardly touched - we said no. We complained especially about the far too strong curry sauce, which ruined the lobster completely.
Well, they had a lot of British clients, who loved it, was her comment. Sorry, but we are neither British, nor do we like such an unbalanced dish. She advised, the next time we should make individually a different choice so that we had two menus. Pardon?
Since we have experience on cooking too, we tried to give a constructive opinion and some tips. Such as offering various levels of this curry-sauce, or serve it separately. And offer more than just a bland tasteless soup as 1st course - or make it a real wow-experience. Creativity and fresh food is all it takes.
Unfortunately, the restaurant has missed a change; not listening to the client, not deciding if it finds some of the remarks worthwile to follow up or to say thanks at least for our effort to comment.
The location, so close to the sea, is great. A pity it didn't work out for us, we won't return.
Thursday, 25 September 2014
Blumen Doris Hugi, Switzerland
Blumen Doris Hugi,
Könizstrasse 296, Liebefeld, Bern, Switzerland (see webpage)
Looking for a flower shop, to deliver some flowers on short notice to an address in Switzerland, I selected this shop in september 2014, because the one, I used to contact, stopped after 30 years of service.
I was pleasantly surprised by their accurate, friendly and professional service.
And the excellent executed job, exactly according to my wishes.
Payment via Master Card (I sent a confirmation email for the flower arrangement and address and contacted them by phone to supply the dates of the credit card) is uncomplicated, and without risk.
Excellent shop, if you are looking for some, to send flowers to family/friends in Bern, Switzerland!
Albir Colonial. Albir Altea
Albir Colonial synthetic fiber Terrace furniture, Albir, Spain
...if it looks good, it is not necessarily better and deserving a higher price...
In 2009, we bought a nice terrace set of loungechairs/sofa's and loungetable for our porch. 2010, we bought a small table and 2 chairs for one of our terraces. The quality looked attractive - synthetic fiber - and the information about the material mentioned exceptional quality, resistant to sun - which is quite extraordinary here - and the pricing seemed to match the higher quality.
Well, the set which is on the porch, not being affected by rain, sun or strong winds, looks still great. But the small set, being outside all year round, is starting to desintegrate.
So in august 2014, we went to the store. Wanted to know, how much guarantee this quality is supposed to have, because after only 4 years, this should not already starting to wear out/break up on the edges. No kids fussing around or other ''damaging items'' present; we always treat the furniture with care.
We were unpleasantly surprised when they told us, that the guarantee period - as standard in Spain - is 2 years. Two years only?
We told them about our complaint and mentioned, that given the advertisement they make for this ''high quality syntetic fibre'' the suggestion of life cycle is certainly more than just 2 years.
The products are produced in/and exported from Indonesia.
After agreeing to send some pic's, we got a reply after a couple of weeks and reminders. Nothing could be done, the guarantee is 2 years. No offer to try to repare, as initially suggested. But since they had at the moment an offer, we could buy a new table with a 5% discount.
We thanked them for their effort to make an inquiry in Indonesia. Sorry to notice that the quality is so poor, that it deteriorates like the cheaper stuff, available here too. So we kindly declined their generous offer of a 5% discount; not wanting to look for another table in a couple of years.
This company is pretending to sell higher quality. Indeed, they have a different variety of goods than many other stores. And some items are really of better quality. But this synthetic fiber terrace furniture? Beware! Only 2 years of guarantee. And excellent service? Well, we can think of some better examples. A pity.
Some friendly advice: when there is no timing for the guarantee on the label of the product, make sure to ask for it. And then decide, if the high(er) price is compatible with the guarantee.
We've learned from this mistake, assuming and mistaking ''high quality announcement'' for longer life cycle.
...if it looks good, it is not necessarily better and deserving a higher price...
In 2009, we bought a nice terrace set of loungechairs/sofa's and loungetable for our porch. 2010, we bought a small table and 2 chairs for one of our terraces. The quality looked attractive - synthetic fiber - and the information about the material mentioned exceptional quality, resistant to sun - which is quite extraordinary here - and the pricing seemed to match the higher quality.
Well, the set which is on the porch, not being affected by rain, sun or strong winds, looks still great. But the small set, being outside all year round, is starting to desintegrate.
So in august 2014, we went to the store. Wanted to know, how much guarantee this quality is supposed to have, because after only 4 years, this should not already starting to wear out/break up on the edges. No kids fussing around or other ''damaging items'' present; we always treat the furniture with care.
We were unpleasantly surprised when they told us, that the guarantee period - as standard in Spain - is 2 years. Two years only?
We told them about our complaint and mentioned, that given the advertisement they make for this ''high quality syntetic fibre'' the suggestion of life cycle is certainly more than just 2 years.
The products are produced in/and exported from Indonesia.
After agreeing to send some pic's, we got a reply after a couple of weeks and reminders. Nothing could be done, the guarantee is 2 years. No offer to try to repare, as initially suggested. But since they had at the moment an offer, we could buy a new table with a 5% discount.
We thanked them for their effort to make an inquiry in Indonesia. Sorry to notice that the quality is so poor, that it deteriorates like the cheaper stuff, available here too. So we kindly declined their generous offer of a 5% discount; not wanting to look for another table in a couple of years.
This company is pretending to sell higher quality. Indeed, they have a different variety of goods than many other stores. And some items are really of better quality. But this synthetic fiber terrace furniture? Beware! Only 2 years of guarantee. And excellent service? Well, we can think of some better examples. A pity.
Some friendly advice: when there is no timing for the guarantee on the label of the product, make sure to ask for it. And then decide, if the high(er) price is compatible with the guarantee.
We've learned from this mistake, assuming and mistaking ''high quality announcement'' for longer life cycle.
Il Girasole Toscano, Elche
Italian Restaurant Il Girasole Toscano, C/Daoiz 17, Elche, prov. Alicante, Spain
When you think about Italian, you are looking for some authentic food; amongst some pizza and pasta, but also meat/fish and other dishes. Not to forget starters like bruschetta or antipasti platters.
Well, coming to this restaurant in sept. 2014, rated as one of the top Italian Restaurants in this area, we had high expectations. When you enter, it looks pleasantly clean, open and nice.
But looking at the menu, we had trouble to find ''real Italian food''...
We ordered a focaccia; authentic bread, usually with olive oil, rosemary, occasionally sundried tomatoes and olive oil. What we got was a thin pizza with some greenish-undefined cream (cheese? saucy like stuff, which was called ''focaccio agglio queso''. It did not even resemble focaccio.
For main, my partner ordered solomillo de cerdo (pork fillet) in port sauce. Italian cuisine would rather cook with wine, marsala or vin santo. Not with port. The sauce was loaded with thickeners and artificial flavours; not pleasant in the mouth and certainly not pleasant to eat the lot. It was accompanied with fries and pimientos (spanish fried small bitter peppers). Nothing italian to it.
My dish was their favourite pasta dish with porcini. A little bit like ravioli, but in a different shape. It was disappointing; the first bite tasted ok, but was immediately followed by an aftertaste: again, here no fresh stuff, but food factory prefab non-italian quality. The so called directly imported real porcini? Guess, they came out of a pot. Dried, and maybe of chinese origin. Strange taste.
Looking at the menu, you would expect on soups a minestrone; they had (spanish) gazpacho. Or take the bomba (classic spanish tapa); why not arancini? Or bruschetta? Ciabatta instead of spanish bread? Ok, they did had mortadela and parmesan as an (expensive) starter. But why only meats with pepper/port/roquefort/mushroom sauce and no classic dish like Chicken cacciatore or scallopine or involtini? No risotto? Real italian food? Fish dishes spanish - not italian style. For desserts? I only heard fruits, flans etc. Where are the tiramisu's and panna cottas?
If this is the best rated Italian around this area, then stay out of it.
99% of the guests who frequented the restaurant that same day for lunch, took the daily menu, for 11,00. Cheap, filling but not italian. Well, some pizza's looked that way. But that is about all to say.
We keep on looking for an authentic italian restaurant; sometimes I like to go out myself, want to be pampered and enjoying good food, the rare occasions, I'm not cooking it at home myself.
When you think about Italian, you are looking for some authentic food; amongst some pizza and pasta, but also meat/fish and other dishes. Not to forget starters like bruschetta or antipasti platters.
Well, coming to this restaurant in sept. 2014, rated as one of the top Italian Restaurants in this area, we had high expectations. When you enter, it looks pleasantly clean, open and nice.
But looking at the menu, we had trouble to find ''real Italian food''...
We ordered a focaccia; authentic bread, usually with olive oil, rosemary, occasionally sundried tomatoes and olive oil. What we got was a thin pizza with some greenish-undefined cream (cheese? saucy like stuff, which was called ''focaccio agglio queso''. It did not even resemble focaccio.
For main, my partner ordered solomillo de cerdo (pork fillet) in port sauce. Italian cuisine would rather cook with wine, marsala or vin santo. Not with port. The sauce was loaded with thickeners and artificial flavours; not pleasant in the mouth and certainly not pleasant to eat the lot. It was accompanied with fries and pimientos (spanish fried small bitter peppers). Nothing italian to it.
My dish was their favourite pasta dish with porcini. A little bit like ravioli, but in a different shape. It was disappointing; the first bite tasted ok, but was immediately followed by an aftertaste: again, here no fresh stuff, but food factory prefab non-italian quality. The so called directly imported real porcini? Guess, they came out of a pot. Dried, and maybe of chinese origin. Strange taste.
Looking at the menu, you would expect on soups a minestrone; they had (spanish) gazpacho. Or take the bomba (classic spanish tapa); why not arancini? Or bruschetta? Ciabatta instead of spanish bread? Ok, they did had mortadela and parmesan as an (expensive) starter. But why only meats with pepper/port/roquefort/mushroom sauce and no classic dish like Chicken cacciatore or scallopine or involtini? No risotto? Real italian food? Fish dishes spanish - not italian style. For desserts? I only heard fruits, flans etc. Where are the tiramisu's and panna cottas?
If this is the best rated Italian around this area, then stay out of it.
99% of the guests who frequented the restaurant that same day for lunch, took the daily menu, for 11,00. Cheap, filling but not italian. Well, some pizza's looked that way. But that is about all to say.
We keep on looking for an authentic italian restaurant; sometimes I like to go out myself, want to be pampered and enjoying good food, the rare occasions, I'm not cooking it at home myself.
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