Restaurante Costa Beach — Restaurant in Pájara

The setting? Beautiful. Made me feel like I’d somehow ended up in a beachside spot in Australia 🇦🇺 those palm trees aren’t even trying to grow straight, just casually bowing toward the sand like they’ve had a long day. We came for lunch, the place was buzzing, and most people had the right idea: skip the food, enjoy a cold beer, and soak up the view.

We went for the food anyway. The paella? Well… it definitely looked better in the video ad. It wasn’t terrible - not overcooked or anything - but also not much more than rice with some seafood floating in it. The flavour was just… shy. Like it wanted to be paella but didn’t want to commit. Same with the noodles - they were just… noodles. Nothing wrong, just nothing memorable either.

Service? Friendly, relaxed, very Fuerteventura - which means polite and chill but not in any rush. The ocean view is absolutely the star of the show. If you’re here to enjoy a drink and gaze into the Atlantic, you’re in the right place. If you’re here for a food revelation… maybe not.

Would I come back? For the vibe, yes. For the food, probably not. But I’m still not...

This was without doubt the worse paella I've ever eaten, and I have eaten a lot. Despite all the prawns and seafood you can see on top, it was completely flavourless and insipid. The rice was also watery. Paella rice should 100% not be watery. How come can it be so insipid with so much seafood??? It felt as if they had boiled the rice on its own, and then at the end they just stuck the seafood on top of it. I challenge the chef to look himself in the mirror and say to himself he is proud serving these paellas to his clients.

I also went an earlier day and ordered the mixed platter of fish. The taste of the fish was good, no complains this time, but if you look at the picture it appears as if someone in the kitchen had a go at my main fish, as it is missing a quarter! (the pic is just as it arrived) Seriously guys? Even if you decided the fish was too big for the portion, it is awful presenting this plate to a...

The service was pretty awful. I asked three times for wine glasses (as the bottle was on the table but with nothing to drink from). Eventually I got up and went to the bar to retrieve some. Meanwhile the waiters I'd asked - one was playing the electric piano and the other was dancing with other guests! I had to laugh.

The food however was not amusing in any way. The gazpacho tasted as if it was from a can. A can of what, I don't know.

My wife and I had 'the fish of the day'. All I can say is that 'day' was probably a month ago. I think it was meant to be sole, but its dry texture was more akin of a sandy plimsole. Grilled.

We will not be back in a rush back. On the positive side, the waiters threw some good shapes out on the dance floor.

It gives me no joy to write this review. I like to praise good food, wine and service. This establishment at least...