Alabardero Beach Club Marbella — Restaurant in Marbella

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The Friday special

This restaurant is extremely well sited. Its situation is in fact the best bit about it.

It's on the seafront promenade in San Pedro, at the very end, the Puerto Banus end.

The dining room is all glass, with an outside terrace (with those plastic shields when it's chilly or windy), and direct access both to the beach and their own swimming pool.

Food wise, it's fine. No better than fine. But still well worth going to if you are on the beach, or on a long seafront hike.

The pricing is a bit weird though.

For several days each month (they say it's a fortnight, but some months it's a week, and for July 2016 it's all month) the "carta" - the a la carte menu has a one-off price: everything is one price only. I think it's something like $7.50 per dish. The days that the prices are slashed are painted for the whole year on the side of the building as you approach.

My questions are: is it the same food? is it the same-sized portion? Whoever would go there on the days when they are paying not €7.50 but, say, €12.95 for something?

But we didn't go on a €7.50 day but on a Friday, and on Fridays only, they have a "menu" - a set-price menu.

Two things about the menu price. Firstly, although up in San Pedro town you can get a great menu for €10 or 11, and in Estepona for €9, and in Benalmadena for €8, here it is €20. Well, €19.95.

And secondly, unlike the other menu prices, it doesn't include drinks, nor bread. . . which already knocks up the price even more.€2.50 a small bottle of water, €2 the bread (which came with olives and a few shrimp, but even so . . .) So already without wine or beer you are at €24.50 each . . . Add a bit of wine and a coffee at the end and you're looking at €30, which is a lot for what you get.

The set menu is very set.

First course, assorted bits. Tomato salad, shrimp fritters, stuffed fried mushrooms. No choice.

Dessert was sorbets. Lemon, mango or mandarine, in a bottle, sort of slush puppy really, with a straw. Cheap.

The main course was a help-yourself buffet. If you are a big eater, this is where you get your money's worth, because it was eat-and-come-again.

The buffet is always 8 different paellas. Well,one was a a fideua, which is a paella made with vermicelli instead of rice. You could have as much as you wanted.

The trick is to keep an eye open, and rush up to serve yourself as soon as the giant pans come out, so that you get it piping hot.

So that's the Friday special. Eat as much as you can paella. But even so...

A lovely location and the restaurant is buzzing. Unfortunately from the get go, none of the waiters were wearing their masks properly. This is very uncomfortable, especially as they are handling all of the food and cutlery, going around, speaking, etc. This really needs to change! We ordered the vegetarian paella, which was nice. There was 1 waiter who seemed like the one who was doing all of the work. The poor guy was running up and down, apologising for the lack of work from his other colleagues. It is expensive.

Edit: I am adding to this review because we went back within a week and found out that the waiter who is doing all of the work is Alfonso. He is a fantastic worker, literally running around, attending to so many guests!

Unfortunately the second time there, we encountered staff members that really couldn't care at all about their job. Firstly, the hostess wasn't at the front of the restaurant and there were a few of us waiting to go inside the restaurant. When it was my turn to be seated, the hostess just turned around and walked away, which is when I said loudly "Perdona, I have a reservation". When she seated me, I shared with her that I had a surprise birthday cake that I would like stored in the fridge. She didn't say anything and walked away, without taking the cake. I then noticed that the table was set for 4 and not 6 people. So I shared this with a passing waiter, who came and fixed this. As I was decorating the table, the hostess returned and took my cake and left. No words! She just took it without asking or saying anything.

Secondly, when we wanted the cake after dinner, the hostess had left for the evening. So I went to who we assume was the manager, who was wearing a long blue collared shirt. After I shared with him that we wanted the surprise birthday cake, he told me to just ask the waiter. Okay... so I stood there, waiting for the waiter to pass me. After a few minutes, he told me that he would tell him. So I returned to my seat. A few moments later, the waiter returned with a selection of desserts from the restaurant, not the cake. A very awkward moment, as we were all confused with what was happening. Another guest went inside to speak with the same manager, who then informed him that he didn't know anything about a cake or where it was! Thankfully, it was found and brought out. But my goodness, what a disaster!

Hostess and manager need some serious costumer service training! Thank you Alfonso for your...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Restaurant Alabardero in Marbella, and I must say it was a delightful experience. From the moment I stepped inside, I was greeted with a warm and inviting ambiance that set the tone for a memorable evening.

The restaurant's interior is tastefully decorated, creating a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere. Soft lighting, comfortable seating, and elegant décor elements added to the overall charm. It was the perfect setting for a relaxing and enjoyable meal.

As for the food, I started with the Buratto as an appetizer, and it was simply delicious. The combination of flavors and textures was spot-on, leaving me wanting more. The attention to detail in the presentation was evident, showcasing the chef's skill and creativity.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the seafood paella. It was a true masterpiece. The rice was cooked to perfection, with just the right amount of tenderness and a delectable hint of saffron. The generous assortment of fresh seafood, including succulent prawns, mussels, and tender calamari, made each bite a delightful journey for the taste buds. The portion size was ample, ensuring that every seafood lover's craving would be satisfied.

The service at Alabardero was attentive and friendly throughout the evening. The staff members were knowledgeable about the menu and provided excellent recommendations. They were prompt in their service, ensuring that our dining experience was seamless and enjoyable.

My only minor observation was that the dessert options seemed limited. However, the quality of the main courses more than made up for it, and it didn't detract from the overall experience.

In conclusion, I highly recommend Restaurant Alabardero in Marbella for its fantastic ambiance, delectable Buratto appetizer, and outstanding seafood paella. Whether you're seeking a romantic dinner or a memorable culinary adventure, Alabardero delivers on all fronts. I look forward to my next visit to savor more of their...