Bistro Shabby Chíc — Restaurant in Altea

We were wandering around the Old Town looking at the many options for lunch. While atmospheric, the main square was a little hectic and we fancied somewhere with a view. We found ourselves admiring the pretty tables outside Bistro Shabby Chic and while I was taking a few photos my husband was checking out the menu on the boards. You know what it is like, reading it all, looking at the seating options, wondering what is round the next corner... Seeing my slight hesitance one of the waiters, whom I now think might be one of the owners, said: "We can offer you the romantic balcony..." Who could resist? It felt similar to sitting up on one of the little restaurant balconies in New Orleans, waiting for a parade to float past. There was a lovely breeze and we were pleased me had been enticed upstairs. We both had the menu de dia (19.95) and it was much better than expected. My husband had calamares in batter, which he said were 'excellent'. I didn't take a photo, but they were golden and crispy outside and succulent inside. I had a blue cheese salad, which was finished with watermelon and loganberries. My husband declared his solomillo 'superb', served with a bed of delicious mixed vegetables, not a ratatouille, but similar without the tomatoes, and small, crispy potatoes. It was far superior to most menu del dias we have had in various parts of Spain. I asked for truffle ravioli, which I was told had been taken off the menu, but miraculously a plate was rustled up! It was also delicious. We both chose ice cream instead of coffee, which was perfectly fine, except it would have been a nice touch if it had been better than ordinary supermarket ice cream. But there were some berries and chocolate sauce and it was a pleasant postre. As many other diners have said, what sets this place (in addition to the well above-average food) apart is the exceptional service, the charming and friendly waiters and European-fusion vibe. Yes, it feels Spanish and we know we are in Spain, but it was refreshing to be offered something a...

We wandered in Altea's Old Town looking for a nice place to eat for my son's birthday. "Bistro Shabby Chíc" caught our attention without even stepping inside – table setting was stylish (artistic plates, fresh flowers and cosy lighting). We were immediately greeted by the friendly staff. They maintained their attentiveness throughout the whole evening without being too pushy. The same could be seen towards other customers. Especially a big shout out to the main front of the house man (smartly dressed dark-haired guy) – his professionalism and attention to detail was outstanding. We shared a calamari starter – it was really fresh and delightful. For main my daughter ordered pan-fried sea bass with vegetables, and me and my son had two medium-rare steaks (which were done to our liking). Another success! We finished our evening with 3 splendid desserts – éclair, cherry cake and cheesecake. If you're looking for a cosy stylish place, nice food and attentive service – "Bistro Shabby Chíc" is the restaurant for you. We highly recommend this place and we definitely will be coming back. Thanks for a...

We went to Sabby Chic with two friends as it was one of the restaurants taking part in Altea's Ruta de Las Tapas. We arrived, were seated,and gave our orders. Our drinks arrived promptly and then we waited an hour for our tapas. On three occasions we asked different waiters why was there such a delay or if we had been forgotten. One replied that they were busy serving dinners. When the tapas finally arrived we asked for the bill, ate and prepared to leave immediately. While we were paying the waiter commented that they make no profit on a drink and a tapa. My reply was that if that was their priority why were they bothering to participate in the event. From the restaurant's previous self publicity I had expected them to be experienced enough and professional enough to cater for both those ordering a full meal and those ordering tapas. It is unlikely that we...