Restaurante Mamacita — Restaurant in La Oliva

Decided to visit based on the high review score. It’s a small venue with approx 20 covers, family run, it seems, with a young guy doing front of house. The menu is fairly limited, which I often find a positive as it means the chef can focus on the quality. So far so good.

The waiter was incredibly disorganised and interrupted taking our order about 5 times to run off and put some glasses on another table, serve a dish at another table, or put out cutlery on yet another table. All the while we were wondering how and when we would actually be able to complete our order. When we eventually did, we found out the meat pasta dish was not available. Rather disappointing that out of a total of 5 mains, the only one with meat was not available.

Anyway, Starters came and they were rather bland and disappointing, especially the vegetable medley (courgette not cooked properly, aubergine filling a mess, and stuffed mushroom not cooked at all).

On to the main course. We were by then rather distraught and three of our group of 4 did not enjoy their mains, one because the gnocchi was very bland, the other one because it was by now so late, and the third one because the roasted potatoes that came with the sea bream were soggy. I have to admit I enjoyed my main, which was the seafood pasta. When we asked for the bill they asked if we had enjoyed our evening, so to be totally honest and fair, we told them we hadn’t, and explained why, to be met with a rather aggressive and defensive response saying it was very busy and he was the only one having to manage the front of house.

Now, first of all, feedback is a gift and should be taken on board. Secondly, how is it our fault that he was the only waiter and that it was too busy? I left feeling very intimidated by that response and will...

Sometimes a single experience is not representative, so take my review with a grain of salt.

Long story short, we expected some good pasta, because that's what the place specialises on. We were made aware that everything is prepared freshly alas some longer waiting time should be expected.

Thing is, we waited almost an hour even tho the place was not even half full for pasta that was good but averagely complicated.

Unfortunately the portions were also quite small and priced above average so our experience wasn't really satisfactory.

Still the pasta tasted good and I would say give the place a shot and make up your own mind, if you are really looking for...

Little Italian gem. Fabulous, authentic Italian restaurant, very select menu but something for every taste, fish, meat, cheese etc. We were served this evening by Charlie who was very welcoming and attentive without being overbearing. We expected to wait a while after ordering but our food arrived very quickly (it was quiet this evening). Starter - 03 Mushroom bundle (we shared) Mains - 05 Seafood spaghetti & 10 Beef stew The flavours are so intense, every mouthful was rich & delicious and we left feeling very satisfied,...