Taberna - Restaurante El Mentidero Málaga — Restaurant in Málaga

A Solid and Authentic Choice in Downtown Málaga

My partner and I had a lovely dinner at Clásicos del Mentidero and were impressed by both the quality of the food and the exceptional service. Food & Drinks: We started with a jar of the house sangria. While not the best we've ever had, it was certainly refreshing on a warm evening. For our appetizer, we chose the Setas con camarones a la parrilla (grilled mushrooms with shrimp). The flavors were fantastic and it was a great way to start the meal. The main course was the Secreto Ibérico, a delicious and tender cut of Iberian pork that was cooked perfectly and was very flavorful. Ambiance & Service: We sat at an outdoor table on what was a very hot Málaga evening. The terrace was bustling, with most tables full, while the inside seating was about half-occupied. A special mention must go to our waiter, Daniel. He was incredibly attentive and professional throughout our entire meal, truly elevating our dining experience. The restaurant has a pleasant ambiance with good lighting, and the tables and chairs, while not from a 5-star restaurant, were perfectly comfortable for a busy downtown spot. Practical Details: Prospective diners should be aware that the restaurant is located in a pedestrian-only zone, so there is no parking nearby. On the night we visited, it was hot outside and we noticed the inside didn't feel particularly cool, suggesting the air conditioning wasn't very strong. It's also worth noting that there were no fans, and the WiFi signal did not reach our corner table. Value: For a jar of sangria, one appetizer, and one main course, our bill came to €53.00 for two people. We felt this was very reasonable value for the quality of the food, the service, and the central location. Overall: Clásicos del Mentidero offers a fantastic dining experience in the heart of Málaga. If you're looking for delicious Spanish food and outstanding service, this is an excellent choice. We would...

Terrible experience — awful food, worse service

We had a truly disappointing meal here. The service was extremely unprofessional. The waiter didn’t take notes while we ordered, so he got the orders wrong — not once, but twice. Even the drinks came out wrong. There were four of us, but only three meals arrived. We had to remind them several times about the last dish, and when we finally gave up and said we didn’t want it anymore (after everyone else had already finished eating), they refused to cancel it. Another waiter later showed up with the same dish, looking confused about which table it was for — a clear sign of how disorganized they are. The manager’s attitude was absolutely unacceptable. He showed no respect for us — four women — and yelled loudly instead of calmly speaking. He slammed the dish on the table and ordered us to eat it, saying “this is your seabass, now you eat,” like he was giving a command. When we insisted on returning the dish, he refused and even threatened to call the police. We told him he was welcome to, and only then did he go ask his superior — who agreed to remove the item from the bill. But even then, they brought us the wrong bill — it belonged to a completely different table. 🙄

I honestly wonder: does this restaurant employ anyone with basic professionalism or manners? I will never come back, and I recommend others to stay away too.

On top of the terrible service, the food was bland, uninspired, and completely forgettable — it’s honestly baffling how a place like this manages to survive in such a competitive and noisy...

Now, where shall we begin? A pleasant looking restaurant offering a selection of fish and local specialities, promising. We are shown to our table by someone possibly identifiable as the owner. 2 menus appear on the table with a resounding thump and the delicacy of a charging rhino. We select 2 dishes - Calamares nationale and Grilled Sea Bass. Sadly the Sea Bass didn't turn up for work and we are offered a revolting looking flat, bottom dwelling alternative. Declinned and 2 orders of Calamares are sent to the kitchen. Drinks? A Sprite and a white wine. Served with the panache of a man cleaning toilets, we sup the fabulous liquid. From the wines perspective its friends salt and chips were sadly missing. And then the food arrives, what a masterpiece of presentation. A plate with some brown deep fried, or possibly oven ready, circular rubberbands. The garnish? A lemon slice. Luckily last weeks bread put in an appearence giving us some dust to wash the rubberbands down with. Having feasted on the least delicious meal served since the Irish Potato Famine we ask for the bill, and again, and again. Finally the bill arrives connected to an out stretched hand which we think might have been connected to the owner..can't be sure. To sum up - if this was the last restaurant in Malaga and we hadn't eaten for a week, starving to death would be a better...