"Just returned from having lunch at Chiringuito Mascarat, and can’t believe it’s the same place as the restaurant described in the previous reviews? Saved this place for the last day of our trip after reading the good reviews. On arrival we walked in, the place was fairly empty, but all the tables seemed to have reserved signs on them, rather than sitting at any table, we hovered by the entrance expecting to be greeted and shown where to sit, after an awkward couple of minutes loitering no one came over, despite there being 5-6 staff sat at a table at the end of the bar smoking. I walked over to the bar to get someone’s attention, but the guy behind the bar looked at me, finished pouring his drink then walked from behind the bar and joined his colleagues at the table without acknowledging I was there? Another couple of minutes past trying to get someone’s attention before he came back and said something in Spanish, I enquire did they had any tables free for 4 of us. After looking through his bookings he pointed across the room, not escort us over to a table as you’d expect, unsure which table he was pointing at we hovered around the general direction he seemed to be directing to, still just pointing we gathered he was directing us to the table directly behind 3 women sat smoking, great for my 2 kids. We ordered drinks, then food from their very limited menu, I ordered Swordfish, the wife had the Caprese salad, my eldest son ordered Potatas Bravas, and my young son wasn’t hungry, so we asked if they could do just a bowl of chips as it wasn’t on the menu, it took some explain, but we thought he’d understood us. Very soon after he brought over a bowl of fried cubed potatoes with what tasted like a spicy ketchup, we assumed this was the bowl of chips we ordered, so my youngest started eating them, five minutes later a bowl of chips arrived, filled by the salad and swordfish. At this point we realised the fried cubed potatoes with a little sauce was their poor excuse for Potatas Bravas, I couldn’t belly eve they were charging us 8 Euro for a bowl of deep fried cubed potatoes with a little sauce on. Sword fish was very average, the wife said the salad was okay. Finished our meals, then sat with empty plates and glasses for over 20 minuets, the staff numbers had now increased and out numbered the guests, still sitting, laughing extremely loudly and smoking. No sign of anyone coming over, taking plates, offering us desserts or another drink. We waited another 5 minutes, looking over trying to get the attention of anyone for the bill, still nothing. In the end I walked to the bar, requested the bill and left. I’d like to say they just didn’t like us, but I saw the same awkward hovering when an elderly Spanish couple walked in, not sure where to sit, and no sign of any service? Despite every table having a reserved sign, there was only us and the elderly couple that came in during our visit? Such a shame, the owner should sell up and let someone else that gives a damn do justice to this perfect location! Worst experience dining in Spain so far!"
Altea
