La Escollera — Restaurant in Sant Josep de sa Talaia

A culinary experience woven with breathtaking views and impeccable service -

(Setting the scene: Dining in Ibiza, in winter, with a vegan, gluten free guest, who occasionally indulges in fish and seafood - and who, until now, had been thoroughly disappointed in her paella adventures ... How would we fare, at an old favorite of mine, La Escollera?...)

Perched at the northern head of Es Cavellet in Ibiza, La Escollera commands a breathtaking landscape with a rustic design that harmonizes beautifully with its surroundings. This low-slung structure greets guests with an extensive, valet-attended carpark, setting the stage for an extraordinary dining experience.

Upon entering, the hospitality begins immediately with a welcoming glass of cava and an amuse-bouche, hinting at the culinary delights to follow. The restaurant offers a variety of seating options, each with its unique appeal. The sandy terrace, closest to the DJ decks, invites diners to enjoy their meal with their feet in the sand, offering the best views of the beach and the Mediterranean. In contrast, the raised wooden dining terrace provides a more secluded setting, away from the DJ.

The service at La Escollera is outstanding, highlighted by our section waitress, Erika, whose flawless attention to detail ensured a tailored and memorable dining experience. The meal began with a house salad adorned with beautifully presented (off-menu, requested) avocado for my guest and padron peppers for myself, setting the tone for a journey through Spanish cuisine.

Our main course, a paella intended to be a blend of fish and vegetables, leaned more towards seafood, missing the expected vegetables but still delighting us with its flavors. This was paired with a generous glass of red house Crianza wine, enhancing the meal further.

Desserts brought a refreshing lemon sorbet for my guest and a decadent, multi-layered three-chocolate cake for me, rounding off the meal perfectly. The repeated offers of a post-lunch chupito, along with the initial welcome, highlighted La Escollera's emphasis on customer satisfaction and hospitality.

La Escollera's ability to draw a full house, even on a seemingly ordinary day in early February, reflects its stature and the high regard in which it is held on the island. With its prime location, exemplary service, and culinary excellence, La Escollera stands as a distinguished destination for those seeking to savor the essence of the Mediterranean, whether they're drawn to the vibrant atmosphere near the DJ decks or the serene retreat of the wooden terrace, and the ever-stunning view of this island...

Booked the table over a week in advance . Turned up on time ( 5 minutes early ) Totally ignored at the reception area for 5 minutes . Went and found a member of staff who showed us to our table and we were then promptly ignored for another 25 minutes . The restaurant was not busy , have been numerous times and compared to other visits it was slack if anything . After finding another member of staff, to arrange drinks , which arrived promptly , we were left without glasses to drink the jug of sangria we had ordered . Fast forward another 10 minutes and seeking out glasses and food menus we were promptly informed 60% of the menu was off limits as they wanted the table back in 30 minutes! I was appalled as were my two daughters . I asked to speak to a member of the management team to raise and share my concerns over the poor service . The waiting on staff returned to say we could have the drinks free and could they have the table back . The standard of service was woeful . The arrogance of the management team was appalling . I will never return .I hope the owners / investors of this establishment read this review ( which would have been zero if I could give it ) and take action as they do not deserve to be in business if...

Nice view, that's it on the positive side.

When you get seated at your table, prepare yourself for two choices: to wait forever or to ask a server 15x if you can order your food. However, you will find the servers very fast bringing a glass of cava and plate with bread and aioli "from the house", which you will retrieve on the top of your bill in the end. Had a beer and 4 grilled schrimps for €50 together. I will let you decide if that is worth the price for four schrimps that are not cleaned and you will have to gut yourself. They come with a beautifull brown leaves salad as dry as the sand in front of you, guessing straight out of a plastic bag. Girlfriend had an amazing warm glass of white wine for €13 and 8 pieces of sushi that tastes more like the oil they were fried in than the fish that is on the inside - don't know why you would fry sushi in the first place.

Not sure why exactly you would want to come here - can recommend other places like es torrent and ses boques which are 10x times better in quality of the food and value for money. They provide you with similar or...