Restaurante Beira Mar | Madeira Island — Restaurant in Calheta

Just outstanding all round. We had first tried a couple of restaurants adjacent to the harbour that were both reasonable but Biera Mar is on another level. First night we started with limpets and the local garlic bread. I’d never had limpets before. They reminded me a bit of whelks, only flatter. My wife had steak with pepper sauce and she said it was perfectly on the rare side of medium rare and accompanied by easily the best fries she had so far on the holiday. My first dinner here was octopus with rice and salad. Octopus can be tricky to cook but this was well judged; tender but with bite. We shared a home made tiramisu because the portions of the main courses were so filling. It was very tasty and had a nice firm mousse. With five beers and a liqueur the bill for two was just €48! So we went back the next evening. We had decided to skip the starters to leave room for dessert but then we remembered how good the garlic bread was. My wife had the steak again and it was just as good. I had the filet of dourada(sea bream) which was perfectly grilled then basted with garlic butter. We both had the home made caramel pudding for dessert. With three beers, a glass of wine and a liqueur this time the bill was only €42. Service by the charming Miralia is exemplary. Two nights left of this holiday and there’s no doubt at all where we will be going for dinner because it is...

worst experience ever. as regular clients coming here at least once a week I was denied a cup of bbq sauce next to my sirloin steak what I usualy always get. chef said it didn't belong to the dish. confronting the owner was even worse. as if he didn't believe me. apparently they don't care about their customers. they will never see us again and for sure I will never recommend the place again to anybody.

EDIT (as reply to owners reply) We arrived early in the evening when there were only 3 tables on the terrace and 1 inside. so that excuse of being overcrowded does not match. If you would have tried to solve this situation like a restaurant manager should have done (over a cup of bbq sauce, which stand equal to requesting for ketchup or mayonaise!!!!) I would have not been so upset. Your reaction after me confronting you is what made me the most upset. You said; "that is what you say. I am not in the kitchen and dont know what happened" and after that you didn´t return...

I feel bad for giving them such a low point. However, I didn't like the meals at all! They probably have changed the cook or something, because seen them having such a good points on google and me having bad meals makes me think of that. I had squid as a starter which was complet disappointment as it was like a rubber and definitely far from fresh, for a starter that cost 11 euros I sure did expect a better taste. As a main dish we ordered green pepper steak and fish, fish was relatively good but the steak was again very bad! We ordered medium and they brought a totally dryed over cooked steak. I have told about my complain to waiter and he just wanted to better avoid my complaint and just said okay and he left. At the end a different waitress brought the bill to us and she was absolutely sweetheart and listened my complaint and offer to make it better some other day. She was the only positive side of the dinner only because of her I am giving 3 star...