There seems to be a seismic shift from cheap and cheerful to expensive taste. No doubt there are widespread hardships endured by Spaniards and other Europeans. However, any casual visitor could be excused for wondering if the downturn is as extensive as the media claims.
Intriguingly the most expensive venues, restaurants and retailers are clearly doing well. On the flip side of the coin tin-table cafés, for that is what they are, fall like ninepins. How often we are waited upon by the maître d’hôtel dressed much like a plumber with worn tee shirt and baggy jeans, trainers on his feet.
It is far better and cheaper to eat at home. There is no way that my cooking abilities count for much. However, friends and family say my cooking is far superior to what we find on a ‘restaurant’ plate. Are diners waking up? Are they becoming more discerning?
Expensive restaurants like Torrevieja’s Barlovento and Villa Martin’s Restaurant Rasputin are so busy that booking is certainly recommended. Their menu prices are not for the squeamish. Commonplace is meals set at €50 per diner.
My wife and I called in to book a table at La Herradura in Los Montesinos. At 8.30 pm the restaurant was packed to the doors. There was not a table to be had. The budget menu is €19 but €40 per person is average. Much the same can be said of Restaurant Rebate and Restaurant La Encarnacion in Los Alcazares where booking is advisable, at weekends essential.
On two occasions this week, we visited La Zenia Boulevard. It is one of Europe’s most modern shopping malls. Packed with expensive designer label stores - and heaving with well-dressed shoppers there were no apparent boarded up shops.
There is one noticeable difference - service. Staff at the most expensive restaurants (and shops) offer excellent service. The staff take the credit. Dressed and trained as waiters they are attentive from the moment you walk through the door. Fellow diners are well dressed, good humoured and good company.
Courteous and professional they know their job. Interestingly you get the same quality of service even if on occasion you just order a few beers or a bottle of wine. There is invariably superb empathy with their guests. The food is refreshingly imaginative. Definitely not pie and chips, whatever the menu price you cannot say the meal and service was not good value for money. There is the rub.
Very often there is real entertainment. This does not mean kara-croaky, someone who gets up, a keyboard player drearily warbling the hits of 1955 or second-rate tribute acts. We are talking professional talented entertainers.
Is there a revolution in customer expectations? Have diners who once frequented €9.95 menu del dia cafés going out less often but pushing the boat out when they do? If it is then it is certainly a welcome change. For too long the Costas have been synonymous with tackiness.
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