Trying each of the tapas restaurants in Torreguardiaro, so as per the Yelp listing, arrived at La Verandah at 7:30pm. We were told the kitchen opened at 8pm, but we could have drinks. If you want to sit in the air conditioned area with nice tables with cloths, no tapas. That is reserved for those having dinners. Those wanting tapas are confined to the bar area or the verandas. Fortunately, when the temp is 95° outside, the bar area has ac.
A server came to take our order at 8pm sharp. The tapas menu is in English and Spanish. My boyfriend and I ordered 6 different tapas: 1/2 portion Boquerones, Russian potato salad, sesame ahi tuna, fried Camembert, chicken Pate, melon & mint gezspacho soup. We drank sparkling water and 0,0 beer. The obligatory bread basket with 2 rolls was brought to the table and contained the utensils, too.
The tapas were being served "assembly line" as in everyone who ordered a specific tapa got it at the same time. My boyfriend got his Russian potato salad & Boquerones, while I sat and watched him eat. Then my Pate came. There were 3 tiny toasts with it and not nearly sufficient for the amount of pate. My boyfriend's ahi tuna arrived and was a huge portion. Last to be served was my gezspacho. I had really wanted to start with it. It was excellent. Empty bottles were removed from the table. My glass sat empty for a good 20 minutes and no one asked if I wanted another sparkling water.
The atmosphere was hectic with the servers rushing outside to attend to those sitting on the veranda. We asked for the bill and paid leaving it on the table. No one collected it or said "thank you" or "bye bye." Another couple was waiting for our table. The bill was 29€, which included 1,20€ "complementos." I felt like the atmosphere was to turn table as fast as possible - assembly line.
Tapas were generous and good - 4
Service was not attentive and impersonal -3
Atmosphere was hectic and impersonal - 3 read more