Viva la Pepa, Restaurante en Menorca — Restaurant in es Mercadal

I’m being fair here on our experience I think.

This is an idyllic setting. Lovely furnishings, sunset views - the making of a blissful evening and dining experience.

We had enjoyed drinks on a previous night - gin & tonic at 7.50 euro, very reasonable and we were content with the views.

Based on this, we thought we’d try dining here. On arrival it took 5 minutes for someone to acknowledge us. Once seated we ordered a bottle of Rose Cava and water. After about 10 minutes a bottle of standard white cava arrived, which we didn’t realise until the waiter poured was not Rose. We said immediately this wasn’t right. There was a bit of huffing and puffing and conversation amongst colleagues then they brought the bottle we ordered.

We ordered food ‘homemade’ bread, ‘homemade’ chips, cuttlefish croquettes & fried chicken - asked for the water again!

‘Homemade Chips’ arrived. Asked for water again! No offer of dips or anything. We’d asked for the bread first so it was a haphazard delivery. The croquettes arrived, still no sign of bread or water! To be frank, we’d seen enough. Make your own mind up from the pics, if you think the ‘homemade’ chips were worth 6 euro and the croquettes 12 euros - even if nicely presented.

By this point, enough was enough, and I went to speak to the manager and said this night just wasn’t working out and we’d like to leave. She was apologetic, almost unsurprised, so off we went, and I made it clear we would not be paying.

We also witnessed a rather sad situation. There were a number of tables in clearly staying at the all inclusive hotel close by. - which wasn’t by no means an issue. One table were trying to get a few pics of the sunset with their baby, which was perfectly acceptable. The couple who were at the front table (who’s kid were running riot too!) kicked off with them for trying to get pics (spoiling their entitled view) and it was all very awkward and tense to be around.

Finally, there was a saxophonist on as we arrived before sunset. It would make much more sense to have this on over sunset.

I can see what is trying to be achieved here. Classy, sophisticated, Ibiza style, sunset vibes. But from our experience it fell vastly short. The menu is overpriced for the standard delivered and the service terribly shoddy. The concept does not work for what the owners are trying to achieve, without big improvement.

We went along the shore to Arena Beach Club where we had a delicious burger, pizza, two drinks and water for probably half the price we would have paid at...

We have dined as a family of 5 (with children aged 14, 12 and 6) at Viva La Pepa three times now on our week long holiday in Menorca. It is a lovely beach facing restaurant looking onto Arenal De Castell beach. The food each time has been wonderful. From the home made seeded bread with garlic butter and olives, sardines on toast, and various fresh tomato and green salads, (the latter accompanied by gorgeous dressings) for starters, to the amazing sea bass (loved by myself and both older children), minorcan sirloin with porcini sauce, and chicken (pequepollo) and chips (which my youngest loved) for mains. The Mahon cheesecake with cherry jam for dessert was to die for, and even the cappuccino felt extravagant, topped with beautifully whipped cream. The staff themselves have been consistently lovely, attentive and understanding of our lack of Spanish. Moreover, as is the case in general in Spain, where children are always doted upon, here they were well catered for with follow up lollies or ice-creams, which you can pick from the fridges at the bar. The atmosphere at Viva La Pepa is relaxed and rustic, with lovely faded wood tables under an awning blending in well with the sand dunes, beach and jetty beyond. You can happily have drinks and watch the world go by from the couches and smaller tables placed around the sides. Without a doubt the highlight of our visits was the most recent shortly before sunset (8.45pm). We took pictures from our table of a lazy yellow menorcan sun dipping into the bay whilst we finished food, the kids messed about on the sand below and we sipped Xoriguer La Pepa (a brilliant gin drink with lime, brown sugar lemon and mint leaves). We would really highly recommend this place as one to visit whilst in Arenal de Castell, and you will not be...

Excellent food. My wife had Sea Bass and I tried the Sirlion, we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals, they were very tasty,well presented and arrived in a good time frame, possibly one of the best places I've eaten in 10 years of coming to Menorca. However, the service is very lacklustre and let's down the high standard of food. One waiter carried himself and behaved with a table that were clearly friends the same age like he worked in a bar- not much effort, didn't really seem that interested in customers and was pretty light on manners,the young lady who was also serving that day seemed to have a fair old grumpy attitude that you were bothering her being in her airspace.. it was quite disappointing really,based on the standard of food. Cocktails were also a massive disappointment too, Pina colada was pre mixed carton rubbish and my wife's espresso martini was unbelievably bitter, both were very small too, especially the martini. Price wise I think for the food we were served the value was good, no issue paying a lityle above standard when the quality is so high. I wouldn't let the negatives here dissuade me from recommending Viva Pepes as the food was genuinely very good, clearly well made with fresh ingredients by a talented kitchen., but as can be seen from this and plenty of other reviews here the service standard really does have some fundamental flaws that should be acknowledged and addressed, after which Viva La Pepes would...