El Portal Alicante - Krug Ambassade — Restaurant in Alicante

EDIT We would like to address some comments from the management We were very excited to dine in your restaurant as it was our first night out in Spain and have no intention to hurt your business, we wanted to feedback management and let other customers have a better picture before dining there as we spent over 260Euros and were dismissed when we expressed our opinions.

We were never offered any meal/ dishes to be changed after expressing our disappointment in the food. Instead we were told “the seafood smell is strong, that is how it is, and it is fresh from today”

Yes we finished the shrimp, it was very small and was finished in one bite. However, we did not finish the rice as there were bad pieces of seafood which we did express to the waiter but he replied with the above comment.

We are open to have a discussion with the management and you have our emails in our review and would like to halt any further finger pointing. Thank you for your reply and we look forward to hearing from you

END

Disappointing Experience Despite Michelin Guide

We recently dined at El Portal, and it was a very disappointing experience, especially considering the Michelin Guide recommendation.

First, the seafood was far from fresh. We ordered two prawns that cost €40, which was outrageous given that they were soggy, smelled off, and clearly not of high quality. The staff heavily pushed us to order the seabass and turbot, both priced at an astronomical €75 per kg, but we opted for the prawns instead—regrettably.

The rice/paella dish lacked any complexity and was overwhelmingly salty, with no real depth of flavor. The lamb shoulder was mediocre at best—something that could easily be reproduced at a less expensive restaurant or even at home.

The only redeeming factor was the wine, which, to be fair, was excellent and showcased the true treasures of Alicante. However, a good wine list doesn't make up for the lackluster food and inflated prices. Overall, this restaurant did not live up to its reputation, and we left feeling...

I first visited this place the year they opened, I've been there many times, celebrated events (different birthdays, even my own Bachelorette party back in 2013). I've been in Gran Sol for 5-years anniversary, and also in that big party in october 2019. But the last time I've visited El Portal (May 2024), I understood I'm not longer feeling special there. Too many people, there's always a queue. The beautiful ladies in the entrance are there to make sure you don't move until called. The waiters kindly explain when you should leave (because of "2 turnos!"). The Studio 54 design is not comparable to the old ones (like the one with the skulls). I don't longer see "cool people" there. "El monedero del mendigo" is just an attempt to replicate the success of "el arenque del portal", but the central theme here is the luxury. And, in the end, "the luxury" is kind of a feeling. I don't feel luxurios there, but I also don't feel casual. I just feel nervious. I don't want to defend myself with the hostess, neither with the waiters. I don't want to hear: "please wait here" like if I was trespassing a dangerous zone or "Your turn ends in 30 minutes, too late, we won't give you the dessert". And I, certainly, don't want to pay 450€ for 4 people to be treated like that. My friends told us their bill was 550€ for 4, and they said they won't come back again. And it's sad to say, but me neither. Portal's era is finished for me, but I'll keep my old good memories of what...

I have been to many Michelin restaurants. However, due to rac* and mis**, this Restaurant El Portal Alicante – Krug Ambassade in Alicante should be stripped of its Michelin name. This restaurant also tarnished Spain's name. I had such a terrible experience at this restaurant while on vacation. Around 23:20 on July 19, 2023, my friend and I ordered a glass of wine and were drinking it. My friend went out to smoke her cigarette. When she came back, waiter pushed her out of the restaurant. Seeing it, I asked why. Then he pushed us both out. Immediately, the police came and handcuffed us behind our backs and took us to the police station. Because the employee of restaurant falsely reported to police that we walked around naked and threw wine glasses. It never happened. I have pictures to prove it. Of course, the restaurant must have had surveillance cameras. Our complaint was not accepted and the police treated us as criminals without even checking restaurants false report. We were held in a filthy jail for 36 hours, after which the magistrate released us as groundless. After canceling all remaining vacation schedules and returning home, I am currently receiving consultations from a pain specialist and a trauma specialist due to injuries sustained during the violent police detention. I am so sad...