Chiringuito El Merlo – Espetos y Pescado en Pedregalejo | Grupo La Revuelo — Restaurant in Málaga

The service was HORRIBLE. We had to flag somebody to get a table while the staff stood around and talked and prepped for the dinner rush. We had to then wave somebody down to take our order. The waiter took our order. 20 minutes later, somebody else brings our food, no drinks. We wave at our waiter ask for drinks, and the rest of our food order. No drinks still, but they bring other food. Ask again for drinks. This is the fourth time asking for water and drinks. Note this is not a busy time. The staff is talking. We finally get our drinks after the fourth time asking. We ask for a second round of drinks, we encounter the same problem. We have to ask again and again. The same with our bill and we were charged for food we did not order. So, the service was horrible.

The food, that was amazing! We loved the food. Everything was delicious. We ordered the fried octopus, fried anchovies, and grilled sardines. Delicious. Loved the food.

We would go back but for...

Along the strip of the coast there are many seafood restaurants selling the specialty of the region: r de sardinas. The grill section is mostly located in front of the restaurants so you can see your order being grilled.

At the restaurant one portion of grilled sardines consists of 5 pieces. It is perfectly grilled with the right amount of sea salt flakes on top. Langostinos al pil pil not pictured) are garlicky as it should and spicy. Scrap the sauce with bread for a max experience.

The grilled scallop with cheese and béchamel is creamy and a bit too heavy for lunch. Served with fries the cuttlefish meatballs are juicy and taste good. Lastly the calamaritos are well-fried and not rubbery.

The guests in this restaurant are a mix of locals and tourists. The atmosphere is pleasant with fisher village in my mind. Staff works fast en correct despite the big surface of the restaurant. I...

If it was only for the food, i'd have to rate this place 6 stars out of 5. Absolutely STUNNING food. Really, one of the best paellas in my life, superfresh and moist fish, perfectly cooked and seasoned mussels. And the prices are really good - expect to pay no more than 20 euro per person (unless you eat like Brendan Fraser in Academy Award Nominated movie "The Whale"). However, the service is EXTREMELY bad. I go there quite often, and there's a serious issue EVERY TIME. They forget about your orders, serve ppl before you, who came way later, some of them are simply unfriendly (to be fair - some of them are very nice). With this chaotic service, I have to deduct one star. But well, I'll keep coming anyway. The food is worth it. You just have to be prepared, come with lots of free time, and chill about it. And...