Paco — Restaurant in Céret

There were so many good reviews of this place but our experience was different. There were no tables free outside (our fault – we hadn’t booked) but it looked cosy and interesting inside so were happy to try it, even though it was the first meal we had eaten inside any restaurant since the start of the pandemic. However, we were so busy looking at the menu that we didn’t really notice that all the staff were wearing their masks under their chins. Only one had her mouth covered (but not her nose). And this was indoors! Unfortunately, we’d already ordered by this time. We later saw one of them (who I think might have been the manager), wipe his hand across his nose and later cough into his hand! Yes, I know we all absent-mindedly do this from time to time but they were serving food and drinks to people and Collioure was in the area of strictest measures at the time. Every other bar and restaurant we had been to during our stay had followed the rules, even serving outside. I’m not going to say anything about the off-hand waitress or the disappointingly mediocre menu as that pales into insignificance compared with the blatant disregard of the hygiene rules and respect of the health of their...

The food was lazy. No inspiration and no creativity. A tapas staple like chorizo was just chopped up bits, fried and thrown on a plate. I’m all for simple cooking but this was just flavourless and unappetising. Same with the other staple, garlic prawns. Whatever they were cooked in had caramelised and they just tasted burnt and had zero hint of garlic off them and the prawns themselves were small and again unappetising in presentation. We also had a goats cheese dish and a breaded chicken dish and really the same comments are applicable. Very basic, with no creativity in cooking or presentation. The staff were friendly but the service was painfully slow.

Edit - after restaurant response: Perhaps some dish names were lost in translation but it was definitely your restaurant and I standby my experience. I include a photo I took of...

some very good food spoiled by inattentive service. The restaurant has a no booking policy so we turned up at opening time and were about the third party sat down. Menus were handed out to tables all around but not to us. When finally presented with a menu most tables were already receiving food. When choosing two of our choices were already sold out. Finally whilst other tables and larger groups received their choices on mass our chosen tapas arrived singly in an extended service. Three of our chosen plates were excellent, but the service left us cold. As unfortunately did the glasses of red wine which were...