Restaurante Pepe y Estrella — Restaurant in Xàbia / Jávea

It was our first night in Javea and this family restaurant was recommended by a friend. First off, the view from the restaurant is breathtaking. We were seated in the terrace overlooking the beach, definitely the best spot to enjoy sunset views with your dinner. We got a warm welcome from the staff, as if we were regulars already, making effort to make us feel at home with their recommendations and great sense of humor.

For the food, instead of choosing ourselves, we let them surprise us and indeed we were! We didn’t opt for a menu but it was simply tapas served after another (with some mains for sharing). We started with the russian salad, which had a very nice aioli dip, to prepare us for the star(s) of the show. Afterwards came the grilled calamari and grilled cuttlefish, both so soft and with the same salsa verde which was just enough not to overpower the fresh flavor of the seafood! Then they served the clams, mussels, and gambas which are classics we enjoyed, while the clams and mussels didn’t leave much of an impression, the gambas however were so big and juicy! We couldn’t resist dipping our bread in the ‘sauce’ afterwards because it’s so good. The real show stealer was the grilled octopus served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. We loved everything about this dish, how perfectly grilled it was, tender, lightly seasoned not to overpower its taste and just the right amount of char! I still dream about this to this day. To end the meal, we got what seemed like a tasting platter of all their desserts. I love how they elevated the so called ‘basics’. My personal favorite was the white chocolate pannacotta with just the right amount of sweetness. The fig pudding was also delicious, specially the sauce!

We will definitely come back here again when we’re in the area and I will recommend this to everyone who’s visiting Javea! Such a great...

As a preface to my comment below in the 1980’s I was the head chef of an award-winning restaurant so I speak from a perspective of understanding on how a kitchen performs.

We booked here for our wedding anniversary (15/10/23).

We selected our meals and my wife’s, and my wife’s friend’s starter came out it was obvious to us that the two men had been forgotten about as our starter s came out ten minutes later, by this time my wife and her friend were given their main meals my wife ordered Duck and was given Shoulder of Lamb so that had to go back

The main course came out whilst my friend and I were still eating our starters and instead of taking the meals back they stood around waiting for us to finish our starter by which time my Dover sole was lukewarm.

After all, three of us had finished our meals my wife’s main meal came out and we watched her eat it.

The desserts were fine.

My wife always tells me off for being generous with my tipping but being a chef for over 30 years I know the importance of showing your appreciation to the staff by tipping.

Being this was my treat for my wife and our friends and the absolutely shambolic way this restaurant is ran I did not tip, and I would not recommend this place for a...

We went here last year and had Paella, i don't remember which one (i think the Vallencia) but it was very nice. Plus the reviews are always good.

This time we asked which Paella they recommended. They recommended the seashell one, really nice according to the waiter and everything peeled. When it came it looked really sad tiny pieces. Mussels looked like raisins. I am convinced we got frozen seafood. Everything was boiled to rubber. It looked like there was surimi in it (the cubes) which is a tell tale.

We were with our two year old so we did not want to stretch the night too long. Asked what we could order on the side quite quickly as it was lacking any filling. Got the mini fried calamari. It tastes like old fry oil and nothing else.

They comped the calamari and two beers. It is not about the money though. This was our first night in Spain and we are just very...