De Bello — Restaurant in Arona

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I write this review. De Bello has, since the first time I went in several years ago, been my very favourite restaurant. I've always visited on several occasions each time I've visited Tenerife - usually three times a year.

However, last night, I went in to find it unusually quiet, so I asked for a table on the balcony. The waiter checked, then said yes, I could sit wherever I liked. There was only one table occupied outside, with a 'reserved' sign on one other - so I was just about to sit down when a different waiter came out and asked how many would be seating, and I replied that it was just me. I was then rudely told that these tables were for four people, and they were all reserved - no sign of the reserved notices, don't forget. If the tables had, indeed, been reserved, I would gladly have sat inside - as I have done on many, many occasions. So I said no, I was told I could sit outside, I would not sit inside so I proceeded to leave. Then I said that I would never be returning, whereupon the waiter started shouting at me and waving the reservations book at me, and generally behaving in a manner that I would not expect from the staff at De Bello.

Not only has De Bello been my favourite restaurant, I've also recommended the place to several friends over the years, and I've always been greeted like an old friend.

I'll eat my fillet steak elsewhere in future....

Don't go here. In short:

1. the meat is bad.
2. it's a scam: they will charge you a lot more then is advertised.
3. they will try to sell you a piece that's much too big. Maximal tourist rip off.

Long version:

1. the meat is expensive and not very good. Very sinewy. You can find better quality anywhere else. (There's another steak place just 2 min walk up the hill for example.)
2. they scam you. The price that is advertised is NOT the real price. They will charge you 50% extra! For example the meat on the picture is advertised at 22.40 euro per kilo. However on your bill you'll see that they charge 32 euro per kilo. The reason? The advertised price is when you take away the raw meat. The extra cost is for cooking it and eating in. This extra cost is not mentioned anywhere! Honestly who takes away raw meat in a restaurant anyway? Especially one full of tourists with no kitchen??
3. don't trust them to choose the size of your cut. They'll oversell...

After seeing all the good reviews and bad reviews online we still decided to give this place a try and give a honest review. Me and the better half both picked a piece of rib eye , when your ready you go up to the meat counter chose the cut you want tell them how thick you would like it and how you like it cooking, yes it's as simple as that. The chips we had with it was home made and very nice . The steaks we both had were good , not the best we've ever had but they was far better than ok . Everything that comes out is already seasoned so you don't need to salt anything so be careful there . I'd recommend trying here and yes we would go back . Two steaks , chips onion rings , two beers and a bottle of wine for roughly sixty quid , we was...