In Bocca al Lupo Calpe — Restaurant in Calp

We went for as a special occasion to this restaurant. I’d eaten at one of their other outlets before and had a good experience, so expectations were decent.

Situated on the beachfront with a nice terrace under some trees, we timed our arrival for supper just after the rush, hoping the kitchen wouldn't be under pressure.

An ideal setting which is undermined by a waiters that are continually trying to avoid eye contact and rushing around without any apparent reason. We where sat at a table that was wedged so close to the next table, that we could participate in one another's conversation and even share the food. Music was in the background, or maybe should I say foreground because it was like we where at a concert, albeit in South America. One would expect some soft Italian music to accompany not a loud blaring yelling ding from the other continent.

After about ten minutes one of the waitress graciously decided we could be offered the menu, and after perusing we had to a really nice time waiting and exercising patience. You do have to understand that it is summer, that they are not exactly taking orders from other tables as they are all trying to pay and get away as fast as they can.

It was probably at this moment I should have insisted on getting up and walking out, however it was a special occasion so I just smiled and enjoyed the company.

When the waitress decided it was time to see what we where doing there, we finally managed to order.

Nothing complicated was requested. Well, I will admit the food came out fairly quickly. But, what a disappointment: the vitello tonnato lacking its tonno (tuna) It did have these blobs of white oily stuff piped around, though if it had tuna it was in microscopic proportions.

Next up was a pizza, which was a sad white under cooked pizza. There must have been at one time an Italian at this kitchen, but he must have left so long ago that they have forgotten what a pizza looks like, even less what it tastes like.

Dessert wasn't better. Nowadays it is all rather standard and you can't go too wrong, but they managed to present a cannolo as a tube full of an over-sweet and dried ricotta filling. Well, by this time waiters where just clearing tables and just disappearing to chat around the corner. Do you think we could get the bill? Absolutely.... not. Had to insist, and insist. I must admit it did cross my mind to let them get along with their very interesting conversations without our presence.

As far as an Italian restaurant goes, it doesn't get any worse and that's really saying that its as as...

Service: We had a reservation and tried to request a nice table for a special occasion. This did not matter, as they just let us pick between some random available tables when we arrived. Young, but nice and friendly staff. However, they did not seem to be in control of the tables, as we were greeted by four different waiters after we had already made our order. We received a cardboard tab with a QR-code from the waiter who seated us, but the online ordering system did not have drink options and we were unable to proceed from there. The next waiter who came, took our order and removed the QR tab. We are not sure why we got the QR-code in the first place.

Food: We ordered Risotto al Tartufo and Maccheroncini Piemontesi. The risotto was a little watery and also had undercooked mushrooms in it, but the taste overall was quite good. The maccheroncini (which was the most expensive pasta dish, 18,5€) was nearly tasteless (no salt, no savory taste). That dish should be taken off the menu or changed, as we had to return it and get a ragu dish instead (we've only returned a dish once before). The ragu with tender veal was very tasty, but it was a bit disappointing that we were not able to enjoy our dishes at the same time.

All in all: The Google reviews made this place seem like quite a professional and good Italian restaurant experience, but our experience was unfortunately not like that. The pizzas people were receiving around us looked amazing, so maybe that's what we should have gone for instead. The wine and cocktail we ordered were both excellent, but the choices were a bit few. Maybe they just had a bad night, I don't know. I don't think I will visit this...

Its very pretty inside with a lovely tree outside to sit under the warmer weather. Staff are very nice. We were there to catch up with old friends and it was a nice place.to be but don't go hungry or like us who'd missed a meal for this. Personally I think the portions are ridiculously small. most of us know that ravioli or tortellini is usually small but my husband ordered some tortelli.and got 7 pieces about the size if a 2p piece. I ordered carbonara and it is authentic. No cream.

if you're hungry go for the burger. The lasagne wasn't too bad either. But everything else we ordered was tiny. We ordered garlic pizza bread and it was nice but like another reviewer said it came out quite black from the oven. Maybe it's their style and way of doing things. Pizzas are very puffy by the way. Sour dough.

Even the kids left hungry. Desserts were good but pricey. One of us ordered the.mouse and it looked spectacular.( First picture) Tiramisu was nice but didn't have strong tiramisu flavours....