Our lunch at Alabaster was not as planned so here’s an important word of warning. When you make your reservation and confirm it, have someone who is fluent in Spanish make sure they have you in the main dining room.  We thought we were but they showed us reserving a seat in the bar where they assured us the same menu was served.  It is not!  The menu is not the same nor is the service but you get to share a bathroom if that’s any consolation. There is a menu for the bar, as shown, as well as some chalkboard items, but there was very little explanation or help from the waiter. Most items seemed to be available in half-portions that are suitable for 2 people to share. We ordered small portions when possible.

We saw some of the dishes from the back come out to one table but it didn’t appear to be available to all.  It was a strange and uncomfortable place with lots of white painted brick and little character. The service was not good – plates were left for multiple courses, serving plates were ripped from the tables whether you were finished with your dish or not,  our wine was sold as a 2009 but a 2014 was brought to the table. But more importantly the food was too gloppy and tasteless. The high top tables and counter seating in the bar area are not conducive to a relaxed meal whereas the back room looked lovely. Unfortunately I have little desire to venture back there and try it.

 

We started with the croquettes, suggested by the waiter, but they did not taste like the croquettes listed in the  menu. They were filled with a gooey substance with a fried exterior.  They were okay.

 

The fried artichokes were served with an olive cream sauce. They were tasty and nice but an artichoke and cockle dish we saw looked much better but when we asked what they had with artichokes this is what he offered.

 

They did bring wheat bread to the table which was reasonably good.

 

The lasagna was made with foie gras and mushrooms. The pasta layers were more like sheets of wonton wrappers and the taste was nice but the dish was lukewarm.

 

The hake was a delicious fish and the cream mixed with it nicely but covered up too much of the taste for me.  The spinach was nicely cooked with a little chew left in the leaves.  This plate was really good.

 

The meatballs were made from chicken and covered in gravy and macadamia nuts. They were served in a cute little pot with a nice holder but their taste was mostly bland.

 

The waiter recommended the cheese mousse for dessert. It was topped with some kind of bitter berries that were full of seeds.  There was a bit of fig jelly that was very subtle and mostly added sweetness.  It was nothing to order again.