Restaurante la Cova — Restaurant in el Campello

We have been living in Spain for over 20 years, La Cova has been our favourite restaurant, we have been too many times to remember as a couple and with friends and family.

Not the last time we went the time before, we were very disappointed with the food, we almost always have menu del dia mainly because the portions are smaller which suits us. I had to send my starter back as the base of the quiche was burnt and the brown had seeped into the quiche.

Main was okay, desert dreadful choice.

We went again 2 weeks later with our friends. Starter was okay, main course a choice of 2 mains used to be 4 or 5, choices were Moussaka or Dorado fish. Our Husband's were on A la Carte menu, my friend chose Moussaka and l choice the fish, the Moussaka was very bland the fish was not good and covered in a strange flavoured sauce. The desert choice was so basic and boring. That's the food covered.

Years ago there was always white linen table cloths and napkins now all paper.

The chairs are artificial leather and peeling, l had a light coloured jacket and hung it on the back of my chair, when l picked it up the inside was covered in black bit's, the chairs look terrible.

The staff have always been good, except one he has been there a very long time, we know he must recognise us. He is a late middle aged short older man, he never greets you and never smiles, at the end of the day l know we are classed as customers, actually we are...

Came down from Alcoy to eat at La Cova and spend an afternoon on the beach. Definitely worth the trip.

We booked a table for five the night before. We arrived early but were shown straight to our table, we were advised that it would be drinks only until they were ready for us at our reserved time. This was absolutely no problem. We were served our drinks within a couple of minutes and we had a nice pre-meal chat.

Every dish that we had was fantastic. We shared starters of the classic “gamba’s al ajillo” and also “habitas con jamón y sepia” (beans with jamón and cuttle fish; both were absolutely superb and not a single morsel was left!

All of our main courses were also superb. We all had fish and the langostines and grouper fish served in puff pastry was simply spectacular.

The desserts were also excellent and very well presented.

The staff were all attentive and gave good advice on choices. They were attentive to just the right level.

Glad we finally made it!

When you combine this with the spectacular views over the marina, it definitely makes for a great special...

Dinner: Garlic prawns were up to standard so good for starters. The other starter dish with mushrooms, ham and pastry with a sauce lacked in taste. Solomillo steaks: Very dry (!) even when medium was asked for. On another day at lunchtime the starters and desserts worked fairly ok. But main courses at La Cova - there is something missing here so 2 stars max. We decided to skip desserts and coffee and head elsewhere. Unfortunately. Even if they did refund one of the steaks, only after coming back to us with some raw meat samples... as if to say that the mistake was ours. Not acceptable, I cook much better and juicier steaks myself. No offence but true. Prices not exactly cheap either so one would expect more... luckily there are several restaurants to choose from in the area and these views can be enjoyed over drinks or some simple dish as well. The house red wine was decent though (Ribera del Duero, Tinto Roa Roble 2020). Overall price/quality...