Restaurante El Faro — Restaurant in Cartagena

I don't particularly enjoy leaving negative reviews but, sometimes, you have to - if only to make the owners aware that they need to consider changing things. We booked a table for a large family and were greeted with big smiles by the staff. Everybody ordered a varied selection of meals (starters and mains) which were all delivered promptly.

Positives: Excellent service throughout - the staff are delightful. 'Fried fish' was very good and excellent value. Steak was very good.

Negatives: Paella was extremely bland - absolutely no flavour whatsoever. I've tasted better frozen paella! The 'mixed salad' was very disappointing: quarter of a tin of tuna and half an egg (what happened to the rest of the egg?!) placed on top of a very bland assortment of salad. A little more imagination needed, perhaps. Desserts....oh dear! Why do so many Spanish restaurants offer the same mass produced rubbish? Some restaurants make a real effort to produce homemade desserts and cakes and others just don't seem to care.

Overall, it's not bad - the service helps to make it a fairly enjoyable experience - but I fail to understand how they managed to make such a disappointing paella. It should be a Spanish restaurant's signature dish. There are lots of restaurants around the corner with better views of the harbour - yes, they are slightly more expensive but they far exceed the quality of food offered here. With a little bit of rethinking this restaurant could raise its standards significantly. I...

The best seafood soup bar none. The staff go over and above the call of duty to guarantee your stay is enjoyable. Food always first class. Love it and after visiting Lamanga for 30 years now El Faro is still our and our friends favourite restaurant. Update: Just got back from yet another two weeks holiday in Lamanga. I'm about 10 km from El Faro, yet, I spent most of our money eating at El Faro. The Fish Soup is without doubt the best I have tasted anywhere in the world. The owner and his staff are superb and you end up feeling more like a friend than a customer. I have been eating there since it first opened in 1987 and miss it so much when I have to...

Enjoyed a lovely lunch overlooking the port. Several tables had been reserved but luck was on our side and were given a lovely table. Fried Calamari, Fried Vegetables to start followed by a Paella Mixta all washed down with a jug of Sangria and some white wine. In general everything was lovely and the service super efficient. I had the impression they make the paella in large batches because ours was a little loose and none of the lovely charred bits on the bottom of the dish you normally get although lots of assorted shell fish, chicken and vegetables. I would certainly recommend if you are...