Masta — Restaurant in Zarautz

First of all, I was extremely surprised by the fact that I booked 6 weeks in advance for a special occasion (our 3 years anniversary) and you got back to me to cancel 3 days before. You barely proposed another solution and I had to ask for it. That was the first impression. Then, arriving at the restaurant at 19:54, your waitress came quickly outside as we were entering to close the restaurant for 3 minutes, not explaining why, being extra rude and telling us it’s closed with no explanation : this was a first time and honestly it’s absolutely not possible for an establishment presented in the Michelin Guide to treat guest like this. It’s easy and free to explain gently that you need to clean and clear table, and that you’d be happy that we wait maybe at the bar 5 minutes ; not closing the door in front of our face. Then, about ordering, you have a small menu, which is awesome ; you should take the time to explain what is what so people don’t order things that were not really clear in the menu, it’s also free and easy, and should be basic when it comes to hospitality. Food was great. Service was bad ; between throwing the plates on the table without saying what meal it was (I’m talking about the waiter - the waitress was doing a better job) , not stopping by the table to poor the wine when you bring a meal, or the water… that’s bad. Also : would be nice to open the bottle of water when you put them on the table… it’s almost as if I was going to open my wine… I think service wise you truly have a lot of job to do, with the hospitality as well and honestly this is the free part to work on. As I could see from my few experience in the area, people are just rude and I might have to deal with it but honestly it’s not a great feeling. Also, you should have a coat hanger and propose people who come with a coat if they need it… the waiter told an old lady to deal with her coat herself in a very rude way, I was a bit shocked that she was treated that way. You also have to work on the acoustic of the room : it’s almost unbearable. There are solution to make it better and that should be a priority too. I think the food is Michelin level, but all the rest is way far from anything, and probably amongst one of the most unwelcoming...

If you choose to spend one night in this town and can only have one bite, this is definitely the restaurant for you. It offers an authentic Basque country flavor and a small but impressive selection of local dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients - well beyond the usual basic tapas.

The service was also top-notch. Our waitress was not only incredibly friendly but also took the time to patiently guide us through the menu, offering insightful...

We spent two weeks in the Basque Country recently and this was the best meal. This is saying a lot given how great the food is in this part of Spain. Very creative and seasonal creations without pretensions. Many of the plates require some explanation as these are not your typical local dishes that you find on a lot of the regional menus.

Casual atmosphere with an interesting wine list. Highly...