Gran Sol - Alicante

The views are fabulous. You can see Santa Barbara, the beaches, the marina, etc. from the balcony that you can step out on. We were there during sunset. The service was so bad, we left before we could actually order. One person after another came and left and we had to go to the bar to pay our drink bill, because we asked for it 4 times and asked for a menu 3 times with NO RESULTS!!

The Gran Sol is a little out of town and therefore it has no passing trade. It is perfect for a couples relaxed lunch. The food is beautifully cooked and well presented and good value compared the the centre of Calpe. Starters and mains are well worth the detour.

Really enjoyed our meal here. The food and service was great. Kid friendly and lovely pool to take a dip in too.

Our friends had been to this restaurant before and wanted to surprise us by its great position and food. We were not disappointed. The view from the restaurant is wonderful and the staff extremely helpful and inviting. There is a seating area where you can sit and have a drink while choosing your meal. They have a different way of pricing your meal than we usually see but it was a nice change. The price shown is written against each main meal, there is a large choice, but includes your starter, there are about 10 to chose from, and also your dessert, again a large choice. Also included was a half bottle person of wine. I chose prawn cocktail to start followed by duck in orange sauce (one of the best I ever had) and raspberry and mango cheesecake to finish. With the wine included of course. This was one of the dearer choices but still only 16 euros for all of it! There was also a plate of fresh vegetables and sliced potatoes to accompany the meal. The service was excellent and a super ambience invaded the whole place. I now know it is also an hotel with wonderful pool and views from the terraces so maybe we will stay next time. It is a little difficult to find especially if you don't know Calpe that well but it is so worth the effort to discover it.

A party of my friends gathered there for two reasons, firstly to belatedly celebrate a friend 's birthday and secondly to visit one of the best loved chefs in the area Neil. The surroundings were pleasant, the staff polite, but the two younger ones lazy and avoided eye contact, which is not a good attribute for a waitress, particularly when diners wish to get their attention. Nonetheless, we received superb food, albeit somewhat tardily and the wines were more than acceptable. Should we have wished, there was a nice bar outside by the beautiful (new? pool from where drinks could be ordered from the Spanish barman who spoke excellent English. The Norwegian(?? owner was drinking by the bar as I smoked interlude cigarettes and was interesting, though I did think he should have better spent some of his time in the restaurant and at least welcoming his clients, checking that their food was satisfactory, and saying goodbye. Another strange thing and therefore reflects on the owner 's lack of attention to detail in a restaurant with a 'new ' and acclaimed chef, was that there was no pepper mill (as Spanish restaurants often don 't , which although no real hardship, smacks of indifference. I was assured that one was being bought the following day, which was exceedingly helpful as I left to go home the following day and I am hardly likely to drive back from Malaga to check if they bought one perhaps I 'll buy one for them as a present for the next time I visit in a few weeks?! Overall fine, but maybe some teething problems, but he food was top class.