Restaurante BAYDAL. — Restaurant in Calp

Summary: disappointing food for a place that had such a good reputation, but has declined in recent years.

My family has been coming to Baydal on and off for decades, and for a long time, it was a favourite of ours. In particular, we loved their swordfish steak (the Emperador), which was always grilled to juicy perfection and came with this delectable olive oil and herb dressing. The rest of the menu was decent too, but oh how things have changed.

Recently, we'd noticed that the level of service had declined and the portion sizes of many of the dishes had shrunk. Perhaps the impacts of the pandemic, right?

Well, in my visit in May 2023, we called to make a reservation for 7 pm, which the person who answered the phone agreed to. To our surprise, we arrived on time at 7 pm to find that the restaurant didn't open until 7:30 pm. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it is a sign of rudeness and indifference from the staff.

The appetizers (Boquerones and Chopitos) were solid, if unspectacular, but to our great disappointment, we discovered that the Emperador, a staple on the menu for as long as I can remember, was no longer there. Disappointed but still eager to enjoy Baydal once more, we shared a meat and vegetable paella instead. That paella was, honestly, woeful. It was bland overall, but the worst aspects of it were the meat and the veg. The meat was chicken and pork on the bone: chewy, tough, flavourless and fatty. It honestly seemed like the meat was boiled. And the veg consisted of four or five small chunks of red pepper and an abundance of flavourless, textureless green beans. We were hungry so we did end up eating most of it, but left a lot of the meat untouched. And that was a 42 euro (!) paella. What a waste. You know that feeling where you've eaten but you still feel unsatisfied? We all left with that feeling.

As we paid the bill, we realized by then that we sadly wouldn't be returning to Baydal. Perhaps ever again. There's a much better place a short walk up the road called El Cantal. You're...

The food was quite literally inedible. We ordered various types of fish, both fried and grilled, and nothing tasted good, quality of the fish was very questionable. The aperol spritz tasted like cheap prosecco with a hint of orange. I would not recommend going there even if your only other option were bar snacks in the nearby chiringuito. P.S. the personnel are nice

P.P.S. in response to the owner. That you took time to respond shows that you care about your business, so allow me to offer further details which, if you actually take on board, could help improve the experience, at least for me:

The fried fish was extremely dry, clearly overcooked, there was no meat left on the fish. I would enjoy the fish if it was cooked correctly.

The accompanying potatoes were very clearly cooked the day before, stored overnight in the fridge and re-heated before serving. You cannot mistake the taste and texture of cooked refrigerated potatoes. If served freshly cooked, they would probably taste better and not have the soapy texture that they did.

Had we been told upon ordering our aperol spritz - a drink with a highly recognizable taste profile - that it would be made with an extremely dry cava, thus changing the flavours completely- I assure you we would have thanked the waiter, asked for beer instead and likely enjoy our drinks very much.

My partner offered me a bite of the octopus tentacle and I had to chew it 85 times before I could swallow the food. And the reason I know that is because we actually had a little competition on who could chew through it quicker. I lost - he only had to chew 76 times. Now, I may not know the exact recipe your chefs use for their pulpo a la gallega but I do know that if you have to chew it like gum, it's not the right recipe.

I hoep this helps and wish you...

La Baydal: Calpe Harbour . The food of Calpe has a distinct flavour that of the sea. The sea food and fresh fish from the days catch are the main dishes prepared by the kitchens. The best idea, is to walk along the harbour seeing all the fresh fish displayed in cold cabinets along with the prices. Look for the fish with the brightest eyes. The prices are very similar at the different restaurants. ( Though Baydal is the best of the lot). So just look for what you want to eat. The choice is yours from a single large sole or fresh tuna steak to a mixture of Prawns, Langoustines, Mussels, whitebait, Oysters & Razor clams a big mixed plate, for up to 6 to 8 people. If you’re really hungry, do try as a starter (Sopa Pescado). Spain’s, answer to French Bouillabaisse. Absolutely delicious. Or try the Arroz de Senoret. Which is rice cooked with seafood paella style. You will be offered a free glass of Sangria. While, you are deciding, which restaurant to choose. That is, one from each restaurant. Don’t take to many before you make your decision. To ensure a good appetite. Before your meal, maybe take a walk around the left side of the harbour past the fishing boats and along the walkway, underneath the Penon de Ifach. The Big Mountain. For any good walkers. You can walk to the top (3 Hrs there and back). Thru a hand carved tunnel. But best save it for another day. Prices. Well it depends on what you eat. From Benidorm. Go North on the N332 to Altea then Calpe. Drive into the town until you are near the big mountain. Follow the signs for the harbour/Porte. Calpe has some of the best and safest beaches in the Costa. Worth going another time, just for a swim and bronzing in the sun. (About 20 Km...