Restaurante Hogar del Pescador — Restaurant in la Vila Joiosa / Villajoyosa

One of the worstest experiences ever in my life and restaurant experiences as well. We take a lunch in the restaurant. We were waiting 30 mins to get a table. Its was full, but its ok. Restaurant looking very fine and posh. Anyway, we come to try paella. They have different varieties of paella with seafood and separate with meat. They do not have menu in English. Stuff do not speak any English. Only one waiter speaks some English. So, most of the guests were spanish speaking. And stuff were very friendly and polite with them. After we were places at the table. Everyone forget about us for around 20 minutes. Everytime we catch someone, they just say - One moment! And disappear. Terrible service and terribly slow. Maybe because, we were not spanish speaking. Well, we ordered mixed seafood paella; Soup of the day - was a seafood soup; and Sangria. We cannot understand how much was a cost for Sangria. And they serve it only in Glasses. We do not want to drink a wine, because waiter and restaurant manager do not understand what we want, and to chose any wine from unfamiliar for us wine list, was even more waist of time. They brought a two sangrias. It was the most sour sangria in my life. I have no idea from what they done it. So, it took another 10-15 minutes to tell them about it. And they prepared the better one, closer to what its suppose to be, with less ice. First two glasses were served with so much ice that it was no space for any Sangria. With Sangria waiter bring us the bread, later we were charged for the bread as well, almost 5 euro for 4 pieces. We chose this restaurant, because it was in many guides as best restaurant in Villa Joyosa, I have no idea who and why decide it. The bread was not accompined with any butter, olive oil, vinegar or any souce. Later we asked about it and waited another 10-15 minutes to have it. Soup was already cold. However, soup was ok. Not the best what I have tried for 15 euro, and how its suppose to be, but just ok. Amount of seafood for that price in the soup shall be at least 3 times more. Not 2 small shrimps. So, another 10-15 minutes and our paella has arrived. Probably from Valencia, considering how long I have waited it. The rise was just so litle what it was not enough for 2 plates to fill them even for qourter. The seafood was also, so little ammount, 4 small shrimps and some small pieces of fish, squids, callamaries.. no mussles, nothing else... it was not paella, but huge disapointment. For the price of 21 euro per person, that we found out from our bill, it was the worstest paella experience in my life. Average prices along the Costa Blanca 10-14 euro per person and you have paella full of seafood or meat or mixed, really well cooked, in most places. In Hogar del Pescador Paella is something different. Its missing seafood, its oversalted, the portions is very small, rise very wet. Its not dried anough, its not well cooked, its not obsorbe all water and jouice of seafood. By the way, Sangria not worth at all for 12 euro per glass? Are you kidding me? For 20 euro or even less it was possible to take botle of good wine in the same restaurant. I think the restaurant just were laughing on us after we paid a bill. Cannot reccomend it to anyone, try to avoid it. There are much better places with better value per euro. With better food, better service and better prices. Our total bill was 89 euro per 2 paellas, 1 soup, 2 glasses of Sangria, bread, and bottle of water. Very overpriced restaurant with kitchen even worst than most restaurants on the Costa Blanca, with slow service and not friendly personel. And finally, I have stomach upset at the end, the whole evening, after visiting this restaurant. So, it was ruined day, evening and...

Disrespectful Service and Unhygienic Experience – A Major Disappointment

My girlfriend and I were excited to try this so-called “upscale” restaurant, which brands itself as a classy destination for traditional cuisine. Unfortunately, what we encountered was a textbook example of how not to run a professional establishment.

My girlfriend was especially looking forward to trying their traditional paella. But when the dish arrived, her plate had a long human hair in it—completely unacceptable in any restaurant, let alone one that pretends to be high-end. We called for assistance, and instead of an apology or any sense of professionalism, the owner himself came over. He didn’t express a shred of concern. He simply took our plates away without telling us if they would be replaced, remade, or even if we could expect a discount.

Trying not to let this ruin our evening, we decided to order dessert—hoping it might redeem the experience. It didn’t. The desserts were forgettable at best, but what shocked us even more was the passive-aggressive behavior of the staff. It was clear the owner had spoken to the waitresses, because when they served our desserts, they literally slammed the plates down on the table. Unbelievably unprofessional.

To top it all off, the owner returned—not to apologize, but to inform us, in a smug tone, that we wouldn’t be charged for the paella we didn’t eat. As if he was doing us a favor by not making us pay for a dish that came with hair in it.

This was not just bad service—it was a complete lack of respect for guests. A place that can’t maintain basic hygiene, can’t handle a complaint with grace, and thinks passive-aggressive behavior is acceptable has no business calling itself a quality restaurant. We left deeply disappointed and uncomfortable, and we’ll never return. Be warned—there’s nothing classy...

Lovely place right by harbor. Pretty bad service. No one speaks English. When you see a dish on the card, no extra explanation what comes with it. "Verduras" . Which ones? Don't know. Have to ask. They automatically give you bread and charge 2.20 per person weather you ordered or not. Had to wait 7 minutes to get water. The house salad comes with a 1/4 raw onion, some not so nice olives and with tuna right out of the can. They did never bring the second glass of wine we ordered. And three waiters were asked for the bill. Took way too long. Waiters not attentive. Mussles were small and we're cooked in just water. I cannot...