Mapa Verde — Restaurant in San Sebastián

We had high hopes for this place and drove all the way to San Sebastián to try it. The food did not disappoint — the Mapa Verde plate was absolutely delicious and a highlight of our visit. However, the experience as a whole was sadly overshadowed by how we were treated upon arrival.

Despite the restaurant being half empty, my fiancé was turned away at the door simply because we had a pram. The reason given was that there wasn’t enough space, yet no effort was made to find a solution. I decided to go in myself and ask the waitress if we could work something out. Unfortunately, she was very dismissive and insisted that all the tables with space for a pram were reserved, making no effort to accommodate us or offer alternatives.

I eventually spotted a table next to another with just one guest and asked him if he’d mind the pram being next to him — he kindly said not at all. So we seated ourselves. No one else was inconvenienced during the entire hour we were there, which makes the initial refusal even more disappointing.

Adding to the discomfort, we had our dog with us and there was no water offered — the only bowl outside was in the direct sun, and the water was too hot for any animal to safely drink.

As a vegan restaurant, I had expected a welcoming and compassionate atmosphere, not only in the food but in the service and general treatment of all beings — people, children, and animals included. Sadly, that was not our experience.

Please, be more thoughtful in the future. Good food should be paired with...

Second edit: I truly appreciate the updated response to my review. I wish we were able to experience the food here.

Edit: I anticipated an angry response to my low review, and I understand your right to do so. Unfortunately this was our first excursion in San Sebastian after a 26 hour journey. I guess we learned the hard way that many places require reservations (I mean, you could have just told us this nicely and we'd go on our way), and that there are certain times in the day that are not customary for eating here (again, we could have been told this kindly and we would have thanked you, no hard feelings). Maybe it was a language barrier, but we didn't hear that the burgers were out initially. We would have still eaten here but my goodness the tone and demeanor of this lady towards us I've never experienced anywhere before. We were incredibly uncomfortable and hurt and though we were excited to visit a vegan spot, we don't want others to experience this same condescension and beratement. It felt personal, but I noticed several other low reviews on this location afterwards that are telling the same...

Fui hace un tiempo por el día de mi cumpleaños, ya que es un restaurante vegano y la comida está muy rica. La camarera que nos atendió, que tenía pelo negro recuerdo, fue bastante borde desde el principio y sobre todo cuando le pregunté si los vinos que tienen en la carta son veganos, (Quise asegurarme, ya que hay vinos que no lo son) a lo que ella me contestó que son ecológicos, y que eso era todo. Que un vino sea ecológico no significa que sea automáticamente vegano. Aparte de que no me parece muy normal que no sepa si las bebidas que sirven en el restaurante vegano donde trabaja son veganas, fue bastante cortante y tampoco se molestó en preguntar a sus compañeras para poder responder un "sí" o "no", o de simplemente mirar la etiqueta del vino para ver si llevaba el sello vegano aunque sea y poder responderme a la pregunta. Yo no le pedí que lo hiciera porque me dejó bastante cortada y porque no creo que tenga que decirle que lo haga. No dije nada. No sabes si es vegano el vino que tienes? ok, se aprende, pero no molestarte en responder a una pregunta, y cuando además supuestamente estás promoviendo un modo de alimentación ético siendo restaurante vegano, es irónico y no tiene mucho sentido, y tampoco entiendo esa actitud pasivo-agresiva. Parecía como que era demasiado esfuerzo y que con responderme que era ecológico ya me estaba haciendo un favor. Me hizo sentir super incómoda y después de ese día no he querido volver. La otra chica sin embargo, la que era más joven (creo recordar que nos trajo la comida) fue muy simpática y agradable. Hago flaco favor a los animales poniendo una estrella a un restaurante vegano, con los pocos que hay, pero prefiero ir a un no vegano con opciones veganas que me traten mejor y me contesten normal, y no con ese pasotismo y mal agüero que te quitan las ganas de todo.

Edit: Hola chicas de la cocina! Gracias por vuestra respuesta. Lo primero decir que la comida está riquísima y muchas gracias por abrir un restaurante vegano que tanta falta hace. He modificado y escrito algún pequeño detalle más en la reseña. Si algún día vuelvo, os diré los detalles que hagan falta personalmente a...