Las Maravillas - Almuñécar

We last dined here a few years ago and, sadly, the service has not improved any. Perhaps the management is complacent as it is one of the most popular beachfront restaurants in La Herradura. We both had the filet steak in stroganoff sauce which was a generous and tasty affair. But it was marred by the lacklustre service which was capped by the failure of the card payment machine. We were left for 15 minutes before a working machine emerged. No acknowledgement of our inconvenience which match the off-hand nature of service throughout.

It is our final day together as a group of friends and the unanimous choice for the last lunch is a third visit to Las Maravillas. One friend recommended it for the first meal, having visited last year, and no one has been disappointed. Menu del Dias for €12.95 and €21.95 offer a wide variety of choices to suit all tastes. Highlights have been the aubergine in cheese sauce, mussels in seafood sauce and prawn and avocado to start. Steak and lamb were nice but bettered by the fish, be it the dorado (sea bream) and the sole. Desserts included a cheese mousse, a sort of creamy cheesecake topping, tiramisu and chocolate mousse. If the menus don’t appeal there is a plenty to enjoy a la carte. A drink is included in the cheaper menu, dessert in the other. Wine, red and white, was reasonably priced and the host gave excellent recommendations. Lunching at local time of 3pm meant being last to leave, on the second occasion with complementary coffee or nicely warmed brandy. Low season it was packed with locals, especially Sunday afternoon, and they and the staff were all friendly. Family run for many years it has a real family feel. We will be back in future years.

We must have got a bad day as the reviews are usually good, very surly male waiter, who seemed to take an instant dislike to our group much as we chatted to him to ask if it was okay to move a table which he said it was. Is it normally €2.80 for a small bottle of Coke? Not where I come from or was it special prices as he thought we were tourists. No tapa for those who bought beer but the locals got a tapa. You vote with your feet so we won’t be back, don’t assume people are only in La Herradura for a holiday so you can treat them poorly. Got to say the younger female member of staff was very pleasant, the male had left she said for two minutes but 10 minutes later he still wasn’t back, he had not left any details of our order so she didn’t know what to charge but I still think €2.80 was a “special” price!

Fue la primera vez que visité la Herradura y nos hicieron lugar para comer mientras todo iba a estallar. Honestamente, es lo que usted espera de una costa, precio insuperable de calidad, platos caseros, productos frescos y locales y un trato personal inmejorable (Jessica un encanto). Muy recomendable y volveré

Excellent lunch on the promenade opposite the beach. Recommended fish and seafood. The set menus are excellent. Beautiful lively atmosphere at around 2 with all locals eating and is worth visiting at this time. Super efficient service and home kitchen. We had a tapa of Paella, then shells marinera, gambas con aguacate, swordfish and sole with real chips and vegetables. Arroz con leche to end. Good wine too.