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"Excellent tapas. If you are hungry 3 each great but beware some dishes quite filling, especially white beans. Nice choice of wines."
Teléfono: (+44)1436268518
Dirección: 33 West Clyde Street, G84 8AW, Argyll Bute, United Kingdom
Ciudad: Argyll Bute
Sitio Web: http://www.labarcahelensburgh.co.uk/
Platos: 8
Comodidades: 15
Categorías: 5
Reseñas: 2667
On entering the restaurant it appeared to have a chic authentic Spanish interior and seemed promising. We were impressed by the deal of 3 tapas for 13.99 and thought we could do with a treat. We were seated fast enough in a nice enough corner behind the reception desk. To be honest we were full of excitement and optimism after having our drinks ordered. It became apparent though quite quickly that the 3 tapas was not a good deal as almost every single dish had a supplement charge which we considered a bit ridiculous. The food although it arrived very fast it was clear the time and effort had not been put in to it and on tasting it things went from bad to worse. We had king prawns which were barely cooked swimming in a sea of water or oil or both it wasn’t a sauce it was more like a bath for the prawns and when questioned about the mystery liquid the waiter said it was an oil and asked if I liked it to which point I said I hadn’t tasted it yet as it looked so unappealing and just bad really. I took a prawn and cut it up but I wasn’t able to even eat it it was quite obviously a second away from being completely raw. So this dish was left.I then took a meatball which was as hard as a golfball and managed to cut this open to find it was raw at the bottom inside. Another dish I couldn’t eat. I tried the potatas Bravas which had never seen an authentic Spanish chef near them as I could taste a packet sauce in it and again nothing like the way it should have been. Three haggis Bon bons were rock solid and freezing and just a horrible experience to eat. The chicken and chorizo stew swimming in a creamy substance a dish I make a lot myself at home ‘Authentically’ was not meant to be served in cream so whoever came up with that idea would be better to stick to the way the Spanish serve it as that’s what people are paying the money for, not for the chef to experiment with dreadful ideas along with the water or oil he threw the uncooked prawns into. The garlic bread was more like a focaccia gone wrong but I had to eat something so I ate that and the chips which they did get right and the fish was alright although rather soggy inside but again it was was far more edible than some other monstrosities that we were served. At the end of the meal I felt it had to be said that it was horrible but the waitresses response really summed up our decision never to return. She asked how it was and I politely told her the positives and negatives and instead of offering any form of an apology or even an acknowledgement she simply asked my husband to put his card in the card reader. We didn’t expect anything off of the Bill but to actually not care about someone’s dining experience when it’s your living seems very nonchalant. Helensburgh is a place that does rely on local custom too not just tourists and I’m sure if word hasn’t already spread it will fast that this place is a sham and doesn’t have the faintest idea how to serve authentic Spanish cuisine. The concept will not be sustainable with the poor approach from wait staff and the lack of knowledge about the cultures food. It’s not good enough to serve someone prawns swimming in a substance or raw meatballs and the other things. Money has been paid with the expectation of what it says in the tin and this restaurant can’t deliver what it promises and ultimately cannot live up to the idea. Very very poor show which could have been salvaged even slightly at the end with a more compassionate approach and a genuine apology but as such it’s left a very realistically bitter taste in our mouths.
Visited this establishment on the recommendation of a former work colleague what a top notch recommendation it turned out to be. Wel worth the train journey from Airdrie. Brilliant lunch, superb service: Alex was very friendly as were all the staff who all provided great advice on our tapas selections. Quite a few Glutens Free options available on the menus which my wife was delighted with as she is coeliac. The food was amazing it was hard to decide on my fav, but I choose the Albondigas en Salsa Espanola. My wife could not choose as she felt all were equally good. This is a highly recommended tastefully decorated eatery and well worth visiting when in Helensburgh. Will be back.
