La Taberna de Isla Plana — Restaurant in Cartagena

I am very sad to have to write this review because I had heard such good things about La Chara but I didn't realise that I had gone to the La Chara Taverna instead of the restaurant so please don't get them mixed up. I stopped for an unplanned light lunch as I had walked further than intended and needed to refuel on the way back home. I spend time holidaying for part of the year in Isla Plana. The menu of the day was the usual three courses plus a drink and salad at €10. I only wanted a light meal I explained, and in Spanish, I was able to ask the manager/owner at the counter, if it was possible just to have a tortilla with mushrooms. The waitress joined the manager/owner and she nodded and I asked how much that would cost, she replied cinco and held up her hand to confirm five euros. She then asked if I wanted chips or salad. I asked if it was included and she said yes. I repeated in Spanish the whole meal for €5, again she put up her hand to show cinco meant five and I had the side-salad. This happens all the time when ordering in Spain or they write it down or print out a list from their till. I also ordered a mint tea, menta poleo which is ususlly just €1. The manager/owner was attending us all the time.The waitress was delightful and the food was well presented and sufficient. It tasted good and I was pleased. I had ordered the same from the very popular Bodega Molina restaurant in La Azohía the day before, for breakfast, the tortilla was bigger and cost €4, by the way. I enjoyed the setting, the food and the service however I think they must have got a little busy as no waitress came past my table. I had to go back to the counter indoors to ask for the bill. I was given a ticket for €11. €10 for - tortilla and €1 for mint tea. I told the manager it was incorrect. He put up both hands to show ten - diez. I told him that we agreed €5. He shook his head and the hands went up again. He behaved in a passive aggressive manner. I looked dismayed and there was no sign of the waitress to support me. I asked if he accepted my currency card and he took my card and ticket, he then charged me an extra 30cents (fist time ever charged as it's a cash only card). I said you've charged me for my card? He then printed another ticket to show my drink now cost €1.30. So you can understand why I feel 'ripped off' and unable to address the issue with him. On top of that he retained his passive aggressive stance and offered me no opportunity to check with the waitress in fact no common courtesies at all. Of course it's holiday season! Am shocked though because everyone I have had dealings with in our lovely village has been honest, upright and fair. What a disgrace this man is to his family and to our...

La Taverna has wonderful friendly staff. I had the menu del dia which started with a nice salad and bread. The home made cream of mushroom soup was really tasty. I chose the salmon as a main which was served with chips. The salmon was grilled but still moist and tasty. Couldn't fault it at all. Four stars for atmosphere is because of its location close to the main road but the place itself more than...

Siempre me ha gustado escribir reseñas de los sitios a los que he ido y que verdaderamente destacan sobre el resto. Pero no hay palabras que describan mi experiencia tan gratificante y placentera de este maravilloso lugar. No hace falta ser un crítico culinario de alto nivel para darse cuenta de lo deliciosa que está la comida; pese a que es mi primera vez aquí, y no puedo probar todos los platos, creo que el resto de clientes que vuelven cada año al mismo sitio no lo hacen precisamente por casualidad 😆. Con respecto al personal podría decir muchas cosas, todas excepcionales, aunque tal vez, sus bromas, su actitud y las ganas con las que trabajan sean algunas de las cualidades que merzcan ser nombradas. Enhorabuena por mantener ese trato para con el cliente, que sabemos que en la hostelería a veces lo ponemos, los clientes, un poco difícil 😅,sin embargo, aquí serás tratado excepcionalmente. Pd: no voy a comisión 🤣.

Un besico muy grande para Ariadna, aunque mi padre se empeñe en llamarte María 😅🤣, y un fuerte, que no abrazo, sino achuchón al resto vosotros, y muchas gracias por ser así. Volveré a...