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Hours
Sun
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Wed
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Thu
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Sat
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
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CUISINES
Mediterranean, European, Spanish, Basque
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks
features
Is this restaurant a hidden gem or off-the-beaten path?
Details
CUISINES
Mediterranean, European, Spanish, Basque
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
446 reviews
Excellent
287
Very good
80
Average
40
Poor
23
Terrible
16
mikezoeclem
76 contributions
Aug 2020 • family
This was our first visit although we live locally. We were a party of 3 using a £50 gift card from last Christmas and included a visitor to the island. We had booked and indicated our wish to try paella - the seafood and chicken version but without chorizo.
We sat in the courtyard where at lunchtime it was very warm c 30 degrees but bearable. We drank the Albariño c£26 and waited about 25 minutes for the paella which was enjoyed by each of us (£14pp) represented good value and tasted very well. The seafood (small clams, mussels and calamari) was acceptably tender and the rice well seasoned. The stock used was surely home-made and infused the saffron rice with a lovely fishy flavour. None of us had previously tasted authentic paella but the dish did not disappoint. We probably could have wished for slightly larger portions but overall greatly enjoyed the experience. Service was excellent. We will return - hopefully with another gift card!
Written 9 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sillybillyiow
15 contributions
Aug 2020 • friends
Some of recent criticism in reviews are quite unwarranted if you read the ill-informed comments.
Why complain about small portions when you orders tapas or moan when you try and book a table for 20 in a small restaurant during a pandemic and what that must mean for the restaurant.
We had a meal on Friday lunch for two people. Service friendly and attentive without being fussy and tapas dishes all very tasty - salmon on specials board especially yummy.
Not a flash or pretentious place and tapas never the cheapest meal anywhere if you’re feeling hungry but decent value for money and a very enjoyable lunch. Would recommend
Written 16 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ClarkyB1977
Shefford25 contributions
Aug 2020 • friends
This is an absolute gem and a must visit if ever in Cowes.
We decided that the adults would have the Chefs tapas menu and preselected dishes for the children, so that they weren’t disappointed. There is no children’s menu available, so be warned if your little ones aren’t that adventurous. Thankfully our’s do and they enjoyed the meal as much as the adults. There was a good choice of specials and the general menu was also very good. We received 2 lots of 7 dishes per pair of adults, which was all very fresh and very tasty.
We all enjoyed the meal and the venue is typically decorated. The staff were all very knowledgeable and helped wherever they could. Just out of town, it’s worth a wander AND you must have the calamari.
Written 20 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Freedom58899
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • none
Was very much looking forward to our meal at this restaurant as there were many great reviews and the food was simply amazing. However the service was some of the worst that we have ever received. Ordered the bread with oil to start, bread eventually came but no oil asked for that when the mains turned up but it never appeared. Then the mains was missing the pork belly so had to ask for that which turned up when we had finished most of the main course. After waiting for about 30 mins we eventually caught hold of a server to get the dessert menu but they never came back to ask if we wanted anything. After another 30 mins and as it was now closing we paid the bill and left.
Would not recommend this restaurant to anyone if they wish to actually get their entire order delivered to them.
Written 12 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kumar Arjunan
5 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
We went in hungry for our dinner and came out still feeling hungry and robbed. Food potions are minuscule but the overwhelming theme of the evening was trying to get the attention of our waiter. Any waiter. We were in there for nearly 3 hours and the whole exercise of eating lasted 20 minutes. We even had to wait an awful long time to get the our Bill. The waiter then disappeared. We eventually threw cash at the bill to get away as they did not even come to take the card payment.
I care about good food but service should be paramount. As a tourist with only 2 evenings in town, I felt this evening was ruined for us. I also wonder -as the only brown skinned people for the evening -if we were treated specially.
Avoid this place!
Written 14 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Hungry Islander
Isle of Wight27 contributions
Apr 2021 • friends
Visited with friends having previously eaten here quite a few times and always enjoyed it.
On booking we were under the impression there would be heaters in the garden which there didn’t seem to be, though nice blankets were provided for everyone.
We all ordered chefs selections (£22 PP), some veggie some meat & some fish. This was advertised as coming with bread and olives to start. The bread that arrived were cold part baked rolls which were tough and crusty and 100% not homemade, with a tiny oil vinaigrette dip with each basket.
When the food started to arrive it looked good but unfortunately the staff seemed to have very little idea of what they were delivering to the table which isn’t ideal for a tapas restaurant. All the staff seemed very new and nervous, which can obviously be forgiven, but it just seemed a massive lack of training and communication that when asked what was what on more than one occasion they didn’t know. This included one dish we asked for clarification on whether it was veggie or meat, which they didn’t know.
The food itself was nice but for £22 PH it felt we’d been short changed and we ordered more. We’d have been happy with the amount of food we received if we’d ordered one between two, but we hadn’t.
We ordered Camembert for the table and a couple of other bits, again all nice but the Camembert came with again part baked rolls, though this time warm there were 2 small rolls with each cheese, meaning we we had half a roll each to each 2 full cheeses. Again, felt short changed.
Overall the food was nice enough if a little expensive and on previous experiences here I’d be inclined to forgive but the take away for us was the poor, disinterested and nervous service. There didn’t seem to be anyone in charge of the restaurant floor, just nervous teenagers who probably, in their defence, haven’t been given enough training.
We all remarked before leaving that had the service been more attentive with would’ve spent more money, no one checked back to see if we wanted more wine or drinks, of which we almost definitely would’ve ordered more and stayed longer.
Food is still good but without some staff training I think I’d struggle to convince people to come back here with me for a while :( As we left the restaurant and walked past the bar/kitchen pass none of the staff looked up or said goodbye, which is just another nice touch you would expect of experienced service staff.
Written 23 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
L12W
Vouliagmeni31 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
After reading good reviews we booked a week ahead. Turned up this evening for a 630 table and despite there being very few other customers were told we couldn’t have a table outside. We were placed on a table (by the toilets) that was filthy. The waitress came over and said she would clean it explaining they had had a busy lunch service. She came back, gave it a cursory clean and handed us menus that were not single use. At that point we decided to leave! Seriously unimpressed with the hygiene. Just not acceptable at the current time.
Written 12 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline P
Thurlton38 contributions
Sept 2020 • couples
We waited over an hour (about 70 mins) for a portion of garlic bread to come out, followed by everything else. Clearly overworked staff were doing their best, but all the tables around us who arrived after us were served, and it was difficult to get any attention. They were friendly, but either they need more staff or a better system. Food was good but not exceptional. We left feeling it wasn’t really up to the hype.
Written 17 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie S
Camberley11 contributions
Jul 2021 • family
Nice little restaurant, the food over all was very tasty, but... It was rather expensive for what we got. We were recommended to get the chef's selection between myself and my partner and our two young children. However I left the restaurant a bit on the hungry side, even though I ordered an extra portion of bread o mop up the sauces and fill need up a bit more! Now I'm no massive eater and am quite slim so for me to leave hungry is quite a feat! The lamb breast tasted nice, but the actual amount of edible lamb we got after taking off the fat was very little. The waiter, although quite attentive and friendly, left a fair amount of dirty dishes after the appetiser of bread and olives was finished, and only half cleared the table after our main course . We ordered I've cream for our children and honestly the first time it was delivered, the portion size was laughable. We sent it back telling him that what he was serving was rather on the mean side. The second was marginally better but they scoops looked like they had been done with a melon baller or teaspoon. Not very good value for money at all. On a more positive note, the olives we were served tasted amazing. Just wish the portion had been a bit more generous than the seven or eight olives we got!
Written 22 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sean_newton
Isle of Wight14 contributions
Sept 2020 • friends
After hearing great things four of us booked a table for Saturday night @ 7pm; not that busy when we arrived. We had bread and olives to start - the bread was part baked rolls, not a good start. The wine was put on the table; we weren’t asked if we would like like to try it and we’re left to open and pour it ourselves. We ordered the chef’s tapas selection for three of us; with the fourth person ordering several vegetarian dishes. The tapas arrived and was extremely underwhelming..... given the small portion size it would have been more effective to have bought individual dishes. The staff did not come back to ask if everything was ok or see if we wanted anything else. One of the individual dishes did not arrive and despite asking it never appeared. All staff were wearing masks but in terms of social distancing the tables were too close together. We did get a reduction on the bill but it was too little too late. All in all very disappointing and we won’t be going back.
Written 20 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adam B
2 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
Having read the reviews on here, we had high hopes.
Arrived for prebooked table and no track and trace details were taken at all. Every other bar or restaurant we’ve been to on the island took the details on arrival, but it was never mentioned here.
We were shown to a table with no social distancing possibility at all. Opposite the kitchen hatch, next to the bar, and right where other customers needed to walk through to get to their table at the rear of the restaurant. All of the staff were within a couple of feet from us for considerable amounts of time, and several customers walked past us on the way to their tables.
We ordered some drinks when we were seated and they arrived ok, but shortly after that we asked for some water but it didn’t arrive and we had to ask again after 10 minutes.
Visited the toilets to wash my hands and there was no soap. When I went at the end of the meal nearly 2 hours later, there was still no soap. My wife also visited the ladies and there was no soap there either. Not good right now when hygiene is paramount.
We asked if we could move to one of the free tables as we were uncomfortable being so close to the walkway and staff standing by the kitchen hatch. We were told “they’re all booked”, turns out it hadn’t been checked and that was just a lie. Eventually at the 2nd time of asking, we were allowed to move to one of the free tables that was more out of the way.
We had to flag down a waitress for another drink, nobody ever asked us if we wanted another the whole time we were here. 15 minutes later, it hadn’t arrived so we had to ask again.
We had the 1kg steak to share. It took more than an hour to arrive. We were asked if we wanted any sauces, asked for ketchup but that never arrived. By this time I was fed up of trying to flag staff to do their job so gave up and went without. In fairness the steak was good.
We saw they had a dessert menu but by this time we’d been here 1:30 and couldn’t face a further wait/more errors.
Overall, food good but service terrible and safety extremely questionable. Would advise to go somewhere else.
Written 11 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Looneyboy
Colchester11 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
Let’s get this right. Food .. when it came was great. Unfortunately though service let them down massively..
Arrived for a pre book seating to be told our table wasn’t ready. Asks to sit outside in the rain until someone left.. when eventually seated inside the food was fairly prompt, but had to remind the sever of the items that were missing.
The staff just kept saying it was a mad night.. but to be honest they just appeared totally out of their depth.. It really needed someone front of house to get a grip and not just leave it to a load of young (inexperienced) staff trying to do their best.
Again food great.. but really need to sort out front of house.
Loads of potential and think we were unlucky!
Written 5 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna
Dorking42 contributions
Aug 2021 • family
We went to The Basque Kitchen on a friend’s recommendation and we honestly were not disappointed at all.
The staff were incredibly friendly and even though it was what seemed like an extremely busy evening they were very attentive.
The food was gorgeous, cooked so well and just the right portion sizes for what you want from a tapas. We had a selection of the tapas including the pork belly, boneless chicken wings, garlic prawns, calamari, patatas bravas along with a few of the specials of the night. I have to say we were really impressed with the presentation and how nice the food was throughout the evening.
We also really didn’t have to wait that long considering how many large groups of people there were and how many tables were full.
I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the Isle of Wight as it is a place with gorgeous food and a lovely atmosphere.
Written 18 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SuperHarryB
Brockenhurst3 contributions
Jul 2021 • couples
What a fantastic experience. We were fit in on short notice, enjoying a laid-back meal on the sofas outdoors on a warm summer evening. The staff were very welcoming, the food was superb, and the atmosphere was like being on a seafront in the Mediterranean.
The chef's selection tapas is definitely the way to go - fresh, delicious, and creative plates all beautifully served and explained. That said, next time (and there will be a next time!) the 1kg steak is definitely on the list!
Everything washed down with a pitcher of zingy sangria, and a couple of cocktails to finish - genuinely a fantastic evening that will be remembered!
Written 18 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ellie
Cowes19 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
The staff were super friendly and amazing with my allergy (which is very rare and hard to cater for). The food was made to perfection and I loved it, would definitely recommend, service was a little slow but it allowed food to settle. Atmosphere great as well just amazing day! Also great covid-19 sanitation and masks
Written 26 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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