Restaurante Las Gitanillas — Restaurant in Estepona

We just finished (almost) a fabulous dinner at this absolutely quaint little old-world style seafood restaurant "Las Gitanillas - which as I understood is name for a local flower - known as the "flower of the sea"- this originally being - and is to this day - a fishing village) which sits on a quite side street in the "old-town" section of Estepona. We are so glad that we did not go with the "Michelin-rated" restaurant which was actually closer to our flat - looking at some of its reviews that rating may need to be re-evaluated. We did not eat there so not our place to say.

Las Gitanillas was our son's choice as he had apparently seen their special dish (meant for two - but could be easily shared by three) called "Mariscapa" (I think) - which could have also been called "Everything but the kitchen sink". He insisted we absolutely "HAD" to go there for dinner.

Presentation was excellent as were the flavours. We also had the seafood paella, "pil-pil" shrimp, and grilled shrimp that were the size of small lobsters! Service was equally outstanding by both the staff and owner - who made it a point to greet and exchange banter with every dinner party. An appreciated touch.

The measure of a good (vs average) establishment in our opinion, is not how they perform when all goes smoothly, but how they handle themselves when thrown a curve. The first dish to arrive was one of the most beautiful presentations of scallops I've ever seen - unfortunately we did not order it. After an awkward moment the owner, noticing the perplexed look on our waiter's face, quickly came to our table and politely apologized for the misunderstanding and had the dish returned to the kitchen (where it likely met an untimely death).

The remainder of your al-fresco dining experience was picture-perfect. The last bit has nothing to do with this review (so you may cut-off here if you like) - but we felt it necessary to add it here as we wind down our holiday.

The one pet-peeve we had, and this is not just here but at every European dining establishment we've patronized, is the lack of "smoke-free" regulations. We have gotten so used to those in the states, that it is a bit jarring to deal with as you are trying to enjoy what is otherwise a lovely meal. Any regulators reading this post - please take note. If you are worried about establishments losing business - don't - smokers are not staying home in the states simply because they can't light-up at dinner. It works fine there and should translate here just as well. The impact of second-hand smoke is not a piece of fiction, and it is high time that legislators take action on this issue. "Thank...

Restaurante Las Gitanillas is a hidden gem in Estepona that deserves more recognition. Despite the negative reviews, I have to say that this might be the best seafood restaurant in the area. It's hard for me to understand why this place is so underrated, and I suspect there might be a review war going on. But after visiting twice in one week, I can assure you that this is a fantastic restaurant that shouldn't be missed.

The restaurant is family-run, and it's heartwarming to see the father and kids working together to provide excellent service. They even made a special kids' dish for my little one – a shrimp skewer with broccoli that he loved. They also have classic pasta options on the standard kids menu.

The paella is a must-try here. It's perfectly made, with a light burn on the side of the pan that adds a smoky flavor to the dish. The seafood and fish selection is super fresh and of high quality, and you can taste the difference.

The restaurant's design is beautiful, both inside and out. It's located on a picturesque pedestrian street that adds to the charm of the place. The wine selection is also impressive, with around 45 bottles available by the glass. The staff is knowledgeable and provides excellent information about each bottle.

Restaurante Las Gitanillas prides itself on using locally sourced produce as much as possible, including ingredients from their own farm. The octopus with mashed potatoes was incredibly tender, and the baked avocado salad was a standout dish with its superb taste. And if you're a fan of Jamón, you won't be disappointed with their good cut and quality.

The restaurant also brings you freshly baked bread, which is a nice touch. We tried only one dessert – the cheesecake, which was well balanced and not too sweet. Overall, the experience at Restaurante Las Gitanillas was incredibly good, and we can't wait...

Limited fish choice.No flat fish or salmon on the menu which would be acceptable if alternatives were cooked with care & attention. A starter of Avocado & Prawns @14.50 was truly disappointing wirh only ONE prawn within! Clams were not purged properly, so were very gritty & inedible. When this was brought to the waitress attention she was very much in defensive mode stating it was the salt & garlic...this it most definitely was not. Grilled Pollack came dry with COLD 'roast' potatoes..& vegetables. The latter was duly microwaved & returned to the table with the initial bite from the potato still visible.- A pretentious restaurant with bland tasteless food was not shy in charging a little less than €100 for such poor quality & service. Am glad that there are plenty other good restaurants about..but unfortunately close on a...