La Boqueria — Restaurant in Antwerp

We were not so sure about dining here at first - the place was tiny and crowded, all tables close to each other barely with space to walk; a somewhat messy kitchen was in the same room, so we would exit smelling like food; there were three people preparing the food, and also waiting the tables; all tables full, so we should expect long waiting time, etc. Well, we were hungry and didn't want to find another place, so we went in. All above hypotheses were accurate, but we actually did enjoy our time there. We ordered paella, and they made it clear in the menu that it would take 30 mins waiting time (and it did) so we happy for the heads up. The bread and garlic butter was really tasty (or were we just really hungry?). We had the jamon and the anchovies for appetizers, and both were very tasty. The paella was finally served, generous portion of seafood that you almost can't find the rice and chicken! Flavors really good, and we left very satisfied. We'd return to try the...

Very bad experience and I'm a local: the calamaris was barely edible (burned metal taste) and way overpriced (7 shrunk pieces for 7 euros), the potatoes and vegetables that came with the main dish (lamb for 22 euros) also had a burned metal taste but the lamb meat was okay. Zarzuela (26 euros) was clearly frozen. Unmotivated waiter tipped over our glass of gin without apology or a refill, glasses were greasy, the lemon that came with my dish had clearly seen other places....

Went there with spanish friends because I used to go here some years ago. New owners have no idea how to make good tapas. Everything tasted the same. Bland, tasteless. The albondigas, one of the iconic tapas, were a disaster. Everything was covered with the same boring, uninspired tomatosauce. In the end we had to wait 30 minutes the pay our (expensive) check. When I went inside to demand the bill, I could witness the total chaos. No structure, no idea how to run a...