Casa Isabel — Restaurant in Alcalà de Xivert

The food was very good and reasonably priced. However, the staff made me and my family feel very uncomfortable and unwelcome and because of that, would not return. I always spoke in Spanish so as not to appear rude and the staff understood everything I said but their attitude was awful. They were off-hand and it was obvious that they did not want us there. We are an older couple with an adult family. I wish we had left after our first drink but we were hoping that their attitude would improve. We do not drink alcohol, are not at all rowdy being a more mature couple and all of us were polite and friendly (making more effort than usual just trying to get a positive response from the staff). The attitude we received however, from staff was unfriendly, actually hostile at times, negative and just generally rude - it was obvious to us that they did not want us there but we could not understand why. I politely asked for the bill 3 times (la cuenta por favor) and it was almost an hour before they finally brought it to us. In the meantime, several Spanish families finished their meals after us, asked for their bills, were given them promptly and left before we even received our bill. A few staff walked past our table several times to take other customers their bills and actively ignored attempts from us to get their attention, turning away when we managed to catch their eye - we were just trying to ask for the bill again as it was taking so long to get it. Finally, after almost an hour they brought the bill to us but again the waitress was off-hand and impolite despite me continuing to be polite saying 'gracias' etc. The restaurant was less than half-full the whole time we were there with only a few customers remaining when we eventually left - plenty of staff were on shift so it does not seem that their rudeness and hostility was because they were overwhelmed with customers. They appeared polite, smiling and chatty with other Spanish customers and we did not understand where their attitude towards us was coming from and why. It is a shame because we in Alcossebre for several more weeks and would have returned based on the value and quality of the food but we will not return due to not feeling valued as customers, but also feeling that they did not want us there at all. We even left a fair cash tip so as not to reinforce their negative stereotype they may have had towards us for whatever reason they had - we would however, have left more had we felt welcomed and valued. Before and since, my family has visited other restaurants in Alcossebre and been made to feel welcome and valued as customers. Sadly, we went out that evening in memory of our son who we suddenly and tragically lost 2 years ago - we wanted to respectfully remember and celebrate him. The staff made what was always going to be a difficult family occasion, but we were hoping would be a pleasurable family meal together, into a very unpleasant experience. Manners, pleasantries and a smile cost nothing, none of which we received that evening. We definitely do not recommend Casa Isabel based on a very unpleasant and...

I had the mixed Paella, when I order the food I was told it was recommended to be for 2 people, I said that was fine. The food was unbelievable, cooked to perfection and the flavour was amazing, I finished all of it except a couple of prawns and a tiny bit of rice. When it came to the bill, I was charged for two paella’s. There’s nothing in the menu about being charged for two meals and the waitress was adamant she told me I’d be charged twice, so there was clear miscommunication. I didn’t argue it, the food was fantastic and I had a lovely evening so I just paid it but they should be more clear about this, especially as it’s €14 for one so I ended up paying €28 just...

We ordered the meat paella the waiter wrongly bought the mixed seafood paella. The waiter then said he would instead bring us a new meat paella. 10 mins later he returned with the supposed new paella which was not new it was the old seafood paella minus the seafood on the top but still had the prawns and a few old bits of chicken! The rude waiter did not apologise and we asked to speak to the manager who was apologetic and upset. Lying about a dish saying it had no seafood is potentially fatal ! And that waiter...