Food was 3 stars ... atmosphere was 5 stars. It is a place run by a hardworking family, so I am…read moregoing to go with 4 stars. This place is always crowded ... partly because of the over the top decor ... and partly because it is known as Salvador Dali's 'favourite restaurant'. This might be a bit of a stretch as SD was quite a bon vivant. Just like every tour to every Caribbean island lists Oprah and Brad Pitt as having a home there, Dali was a prolific eater-outer. So much so, that in almost every city in Spain, a restaurant has a 'Dali ate here' plaque or story. While Dali probably did pass some time here, it is notable that Dali designed the logo, which the restaurant uses to this day.
Dali, in addition to loving dining out, loved a free meal even more. He did not often pay for meals ... and when he did, it is said that he would often draw a quick sketch on the check he used to pay for the meal knowing full well that the owners would most likely not cash the check, knowing that the eventual value of Dali's signature and doodle would outweigh the $100 cost of the meal. Perhaps that is what happened here?
In any case, one could argue that this would be considered a Dali museum as much as a restaurant. While the courtyard is the preferred area to dine ... and is stunningly beautiful with potted plants and greenery hanging everywhere. It looks very unique and artistic, right down to the uncomfortable but brightly coloured chairs and tables. The other rooms are FILLED with bric a braq from the 1920's ... some of which relates to Dali and some which does not. Lots of creepy doll heads, dusty Victorian antiques and glass cases with strange things inside. It is like dining in a somewhat disheveled museum, if you eat outside.
The ower is a bit prickly in a man of few words sort of way ... one might even say eccentric. Turn your chair the wrong way to be closer to your date and he will swoop by and scold you, even if it causes no spatial issue, other than the fact it is not how it was placed initially. The more he interacts with you, the nicer he becomes. It appears that his daughters and sons and other family members are the servers, chefs, etc. and this is a cute family dynamic in action, working together. That's why it is hard to knock the flaws too much ... they work hard together!
The food here was pretty mediocre. Maybe not as expensive as one would expect in a town like Cadequez, which is filled with scenery, restaurants and local tourists from France and Spain. Out of any Costa Brava tourist town we visited, this one felt the most European and stylish in terms of whom we encountered. We opted to split the appetizer platter which was a giant mix of eggplant dips, tahini, hummus, pita bread, olives and tabbouleh. There were also a couple small fried falafals, etc. We wished there were more ... these were the best part of the meal.
For entrees, we had a chicken dish (meh) and a shrimp dish (double meh). The shrimp had the shells on ... they took forever to peel and eat and they were pretty small and puny. The chicken was kind of bland and really lacked any 'wow. We left very underwhelmed with the main courses, as other diners also mentioned. The appetizer platter was the star of the show. Wines were nice ... served in tiny glasses. Overall, the atmosphere was what saved the night.
Would I return here? No. Am I glad we tried it? Yes. You won't find a place like this anywhere else ... it is a one of a kind. Sure, there are more picturesque places in town nearer to the harbour. This is tucked away on a back street. But there is a buzz/excitement about it. Several people popped in just to take a picture of the restaurant while we were dining ... and during prime dinner hours, we watched many walk-ins get turned away. (Luckily we arrived about 2 hours before closing, so we were seated without a reservation.) Bottom line ... call in advance to make a reservation here, it's always crowded. And ask to sit in the courtyard because eating in the creepy dining rooms surrounded by doll heads is sort of offputting.
