Mo Gastrotapas by Cynthia — Restaurant in Nerja

Delicious food to spark the palette.

Our meal began with an amuse boche as we were choosing our dishes. This was chorizo en crema de rábano picante, the warm chorizo set off the spicy cream very effectively.

My partner opted to start with carpaccio de presa ibérica con vinagreta de piñones y escamas de Parmesano, so he was able to tell the ‘it is slightly undercooked’ joke. He loved it, the pine vinaigrette was highly intense and provided an excellent sharpness with the meat.

I went with Pato tibio larninado can rúcula y aliño de manzana y pomelo, only Mo, with her careful eye, would have gone through the bother of cutting a cross at the top of a cherry tomato and standing the rucola up in it. It looked pretty. The duck was rich and pink, so much flavour being provided so effectively. The mazana came in two forms, one as a puree under the duck, which was very sharp, perfect. The other as slices with slices of pomelo on top. If I had a dream where unexpected flavours were combined effectively, I don’t think I could dream better than this dish – yum, yum, yummy.

For mains my partner went with the Magret de Pato a la miel de romero con arroz y espárragos salteados. It is an effective strategy to make sure I don’t take too much of his meat, by choosing a recipe with honey on it. He was really pleased with his duck, the fat was rendered perfectly, the sweet red pepper sauce was great with the honey and rosemary, and neither sauce was overpowering the duck flavour. The rice was el dente and the flavour of the asparagus came through it. A wonderful combination.

I did equally well with my Costillar de Cordero con patatas panaderas y timbal de berenjena. The rack of lamb was in a rich, lamby sauce, a bowl of that with some bread would have been enough flavour for most people, but in this dish it was caught by mashed potato below the rack and accompanied by a layered potato and aubergine roll held together by a stick of rosemary, this had been roasted so the rosemary flavour had penetrated the vegetables, making a wonderful combination. I know I like the tapas here, but the main tonight, excelled itself – it was superb.

We had two espressos and two pastillas came as petit four with this they were sweet and sticky and perfect end...

This is one of those COMPLETELY surprising dining experiences that simply blows you away.

We were out for a walk in the evening and saw the sign directing you to Mo's. Deciding to walk by and just check out what we thought would once again be the typical tourist trap bar with uninspiring tapas that seem far too plentiful in this region.

Okay. We were wrong. And I might add...we were both VERY HAPPY to be wrong!

I am vegan and my husband is pesca-vegetarian or pescatarian so it's hard to find menus we can work with. We have lived in Valencia Spain part-time the last two years and we do find it's getting easier to eat out but most the time I just cook at home. You never know what you will encounter when you seek out a vegan or vegetarian menu! Some will work with you. Some won't.

But...

No problems at Mo Gastrotapas!! They will work with you.

Comfy and nicely decorated dining area. Outside seating is available.

The food was simply INCREDIBLE, presentation was spot on. We are talking 5-stars type here!!!

But the best part was the staff. The men that served us treated us like we were VIP guests. They were so friendly, fun, attentive and both of their smiles lasted the entire time we were there. What an exceptional meal out, all the way around.

My husband had a salad with large shrimps and roasted veggies. I had a mixed salad with the most tasty selection of bell peppers and for my main, a veggie crepe (shared with hubby) which is listed as the vegetarian 'surprise'. The chef will work with you so simply ask for changes to fit your dietary needs.

They gave us an appetizer of a tomato paste with anchovy and finished the meal with a dessert wine with whipped creme. Yes my hubby got to indulge in the items I do not eat.

The prices were UNBELIEVABLE! We expected the meal to be much more for the quality you receive.

Luckily we are in Nerja for one week so we get a chance to go to Mo Gastrotapas once again...or twice again, if I'm lucky!!

Note hours: Closed on Tuesdays (I know, bummer as you can't eat here 7 days in a row!!) and on other days they serve lunch from 13:00 to 16:00 then dinner from...

If I could give it 1/2 a star for the food I would.

I’ve eaten in quite a few restaurants in Nerja. This was the worst food and the most expensive.

Unfortunately I read the 5 star reviews and believed them.

From split sauces, to burnt chicken lollipops with very little actual meat on, to a fish course wrapped in courgette that was hardly cooked and had some weird filling in.

2 king prawns and a garlic baguette for €16.

King prawns in a banana and curry sauce that apparently has been on the menu since 1974. Well, it felt like it was cooked in 1974 and reheated. The rice nearly broke my teeth.

The mussels mariniere was a mix of a gloopy ragu sauce and some strange garlic cream that when mixed together just curdled.

The mussels special had some sort of green sauce and rosemary in it. Rosemary and mussels!

The mini spicy burgers were just a mush of mince beef that was hardly formed and hardly cooked with cumin running through.

To finish the whole sordid experience off, they didn’t accept card so I had to walk down to the cash machine to get cash out to pay for the experience.

I was given a ‘treat’ at the end which consisted of some sort of liqueur at the bottom with cream on top and was told to eat it with a toothpick that had a raisin on the end. You just couldn’t write it.

I was waiting for Basil Faulty to come around the corner.

Unfortunately a restaurant that is trying to be something that it isn’t.

Poorly conceived and executed dishes. Certainly the worst meal so far in my 2 week holiday.

…. and yes, the waiter/owner serving was very friendly and helpful (hence 3 stars) but we were just too embarrassed to even mention any this to them. I just wouldn’t know where to start.

I just...