El Morabito — Restaurant in Ronda

We visited El Morabito for lunch, drawn by the beautiful terrace and stunning view. Unfortunately, the food and the handling of our feedback left us very disappointed.

We ordered the Strip Steak (medium-rare) and the Beef Sirloin. Both dishes looked appealing, but the steak was served rare, and both cuts were extremely chewy. We were unable to finish them and left a significant amount on the plate.

No one came by during the meal to ask if everything was okay. When I went inside to pay, I mentioned – calmly and politely – that we were dissatisfied with the meat. Instead of responding constructively, the situation became increasingly uncomfortable: one waiter went back to our table to inspect the plates, another insisted I pay immediately, and then a third person – presumably the owner – joined the conversation.

He stated they hadn’t received any complaints about the meat in 20 years and pointed out that I could have returned the steak to have it cooked further. However, he was only referring to the doneness of the steak, not the main issue – the overall toughness of the meat.

We were ready to settle the bill and leave, when another waiter returned with pieces of meat from our plates, ate them in front of us, and said, “That’s delicious, this is how it must taste,” followed by, “Seems like this is your first time having Spanish food.” This felt dismissive and quite disrespectful.

In the end, we paid the full price and left with a very poor impression. This was not a matter of personal taste, but of quality and how feedback was handled. A more thoughtful, customer-friendly response – even a simple acknowledgment – would have gone a long way. Especially for families or guests with children, a calm and respectful approach would have made the experience much more pleasant.

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[Update 09 April 2025 | based on owner’s reaction]

Thank you for your response.

It’s telling that instead of taking feedback seriously, you chose to respond with sarcasm, personal insinuations, and a distorted version of events.

We had finished our meals before briefly stepping away. No staff member approached us at any point - and, as mentioned, the issue wasn’t temperature, but the texture and doneness of the meat, which was simply not acceptable.

I initially left a balanced review. However, your response has led me to revise it to one star which I now feel more accurately reflects my experience considering both the food and the way how...

I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Ronda. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the staff were incredibly attentive and friendly. The prices are very reasonable and affordable, offering excellent value for the quality of food and service.

The food was delicious, bursting with flavor, fresh ingredients, and a wonderful combination of traditional Spanish cuisine with a modern twist. When I saw my plate dished with Fleur de Sel, it was like a poetic touch to the meal.

The view from the restaurant is simply breathtaking. Dining with such a stunning backdrop added a magical touch to the entire day.

I simply can't understand how someone can give a bad review. But as the old saying goes, "There's no way to please everyone." I was so impressed because they are staying in harmony with their surroundings. Someone has mentioned in a review that it's worn down. For goodness' sake, can't you feel and see the history and the expression of power in the old, classy, and durable as well as not ruining nature but staying in sync with it?

Thank you to the entire team at El Morabito for making our dining experience...

Immensely rude. We came to ask if we can check the terrace and decide if we want to eat there, but we were told that it is not possible, no viewing. The disinterested looking guy told us with great “grandeur” that he hung photos of the restaurant at the gate, we should look at those! When I continued asking for an explanation, as I was puzzled by his answer, he turned even more rude and his body language was showing we are not welcome. When I asked for the manager, he called a lady (polite) who tried to explain. That explanation was interrupted by an “ogre” (I suspect the owner) holding a baby in his arms who came to tell us that this is how it is, take it or leave it. What followed was a heated argument during which he aggressively (while holding a baby) shouted that they like nice, polite people, not people like us. Wow, I have never experienced such a thing in my life. I would say: avoid this place! They value themselves higher than the customer and have no idea how to treat a...