Chill out grill? Really?

[gaveteran]

Hi all. Mrs Veteran and I are tentatively thinking about emerging from our shells. I was checking which restaurants have survived. Honestly I think it might be more than usual? How did that happen? Either way, number one on Tripadvisor is the Chill Out Grill. They must have opened since we were both sealed up in carbonite. They are apparently an Indian Mexican Steakhouse (really). But don't worry about a lack of options. They also serve Pizza. They have rave reviews:

"My wife says the pizza was better than the Italian in the same square. My son and I shared a seafood paella which was cooked beautifully. Nice touch with complimentary baileys at the end" - says Anthony from Lancashire. - That registered with me, since I assume the Italian is run by a family from Naples and would be tough to beat.

Sarcasm aside, where should we go in Gran Alacant for home made, decent food worth paying for? Frankly I have always decamped to Alicante for a proper dinner, but I did try La Paletta once, and thought it very pleasant, and would prefer to spend locally right now. So... La Paletta, or another suggestion? (Not Get Fresh.... tried it twice and waited so long the second time I nearly ordered breakfast)

Thanks all.

[Blue and white stripes]

(Not Get Fresh.... tried it twice and waited so long the second time I nearly ordered breakfast)

 

[Alicante Holiday Villas]

La Paletta is fabulous, but we have had many meals at Chill Out Grill with friends and have never been disappointed!

[loser]

Ohana gastrobar, tres besos, Il capezollo and la paletta used to be our go to places for a decent meal in GA.

[sunseekers]

La Piedra, always reliable and Hemingways right next door. If you like pizza, my favourites for takeaway ( there is a seating area but its not great) are from the little Kebab shop further up on the main road before you get to Sol Y Luna ( not keen on sol y Luna pizzas although other things have been good) and for amazing views over the bay and Alicante there is  Il Sapore (views from the rooftop terrace and also the interior whose entire front wall is a huge window), the pizzas and pastas (home made ) are made fresh by the lovely  Italian owner, Il Sapore you have to enter around the back of the block as their first level is upper level if you're looking from the front

[sunseekers]

Ah yes forgot Il Appezolo which is just over on the other corner from Sueño Azul is providing some very nice choices and getting very popular, the owner used to be in La Paletta

[wilson]

We’ve been here a while now and have revisited many old haunts, as I’ve said many times over the years the best eateries for quality and value are outside GA in Alicante and Santa Pola but I will comment on the GA ones we have recently been to.
Chill out grill, excellent service and food probably best curry in GA.
Azafran still good all rounder, good value and service.
Ohana still in my opinion the best, small menu but excellent service and great food.
London Tavern(aka Rogers) excellent lunchtime meals good value with Rogers brilliant service.
Maritaos still a firm favourite with us never had a bad meal always quality Asian food with excellent service and very good value.
Get Fresh service was awful despite only 4/5 tables with diners it was like Mr Bean was running the place, sadly the food was pretty poor in quality and presentation the only efficient part was the bill which incidentally was the highest so far.
La Palleta good food and attentive service fortunately the lady whose normally quite arrogant was t about so a good night was had.
Desari new Indian replacing Gallery, service pretty poor again only 3 tables occupied so can’t work out why constantly waiting for everything, food was mediocre and average so sadly hasn’t made the will go again list.
Quite unusually Mandalay in the GA centre has now doubled in size with some Gastro part, they will now need to share the 4 customers per day over both. How a business with no customers expands is quite ingenious.

[gaveteran]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, will let you know how I get on. Yes, expanding businesses with no customers haha, we have a few of those. I have wondered whether having a mostly empty hotel stacked on top of a row of businesses might also "thrive" in a similarly useful way for its owners. Perhaps the operating costs of cleaning all those empty rooms a couple of times a day will leave the poor owner almost no taxable income after KFC have paid their rent, but who am I to speculate.

[Derek]

Why would you clean an empty room twice a day I wonder. I assume that a breakeven point is based on the proportion of rooms that are occupied. I think GA is a sad place for business generally with far too many businesses chasing far too few customers. It must be difficult for businesses that actually know what they are doing but in GA there are many that in my view would fail to make the grade in a booming environment.

The dream of an easy life and owning a bar must quickly turn into a nightmare with money disappearing down the pan quicker than water down a WC.

I have always found Eat Fresh to be good on all fronts but then I don't like mushy peas or black pudding!

Derek