As one enters El Cotillo from the east going straight into the ocean, Mare Alta is on the right just past the ATM and by the open park.
Atmosphere - enjoyable and interesting. Half of the eating area is covered and the other half is open to the air. The music was soft, amusing and added to the experience rather than overwhelming it. A TV screen played video of multi colored fish and later a documentary on Southern California surfing. No sound. And the chairs did not force one into a stiff upright posture. Very relaxing.
Food - fine, nothing outstanding. I tried a spectrum of tapas: olives, sardines, fried shrimp, some bread and chili con carne. I liked the olives and the chili con carne was the most interesting in flavor, texture and odor. However, Torino's serves much better sardines. The sauces with the bread were amusing. The lighter one was bland while the tomato one tasted like a store based bolognese sauce, which I actually like.
Service - very fast and pleasant. Granted there only a couple other large tables present, yet I felt the single server attended me very quickly. Cash only.
So if you are looking for interesting and unique flavors, this is probably not the place for you. However, if you want to sit around with friends, drink sangria, nibble on some fish or olives, and relax, Mare Alta might appeal to you. I plan to visit again when I or my friends are looking for only a light meal.
Heard a rumour that Marea Alta has been sold. Anyone have any info?
Sign on the door today says closed until the end of September. Doesn't look any different inside......so who knows.
Notice has changed to just ........CLOSED/CERRADO
Still closed
Peered through the window. Still stocked, chairs lifted, left clean and tidy as if they expected to open. Doesn't look like a moonlight. Handwritten card Closed Cerrado. Mail has been picked up and put on a table, so someone has been in. No other clues.
And no apparent change to report
Anything happening?
Still closed, and getting deeper in bougainvillea flower heads!! Seems a great shame as we have frequented it quite a few times.
Yes, and the Accorolado was also shut for the whole of our recent 10 day holiday!!!
Heard that Mare Alta will reopen in Dec but don't know any detail.
New sign on the door reads "Opening 1st January 2015"
New owner??
Several people cleaning the place up yesterday. Looks like it will be reopening very soon.
Can anyone confirm if it has re-opened.
To add to Mark07s question, If it has opened up then what has it opened up as?
the bar is open at the min why they have to wait for all of the necessary Spanish paperwork to get the kitchen signed off. The menu is a secret at the moment but will hopefully be good.!!
Any idea who has bought it?
any news on Mare Alta? Used to love this place
hi TripleH
As far as we know Luca still has it but it is been run by Pascal ,he has worked in Swiss bar and Concha, tall, friendly chap and Andy who also used to work in the Swiss bar-top bloke too.They have a new young chef from Madrid and were hoping to have a new menu but also keep some of the favourite tapas on too. Hope somebody posts who has been there in the last couple of weeks!!
It was firmly closed on Thursday evening.
Open this evening. (Sunday)
Just wondering, again, how Marealta was shaping up
TripleH - Looks like Forum members have evacuated Cotillo. We will just have to find out for ourselves!!
Due out late March, so will report back then, unless you get there first.
😜😜
Cheers Mark07, we are out end of April. So keep us informed. Cheers
hi-we can happily say it is open for business but closed on Saturdays, still some good tapas on but also a specials menu board
For Triple H
Just back from Cotillo. Happy to report that, broadly speaking, not enormously different to previous set up. As Warriors said, JP & Andy are in there. They are serving tapas but offerings are a bit different, and you can now get a steak. There is no dessert menu. Aim seems to be to keep things simple. We found the food good & the rustic feel remains. 4 tapas & 2 large beers = 21 euros. Would probably have visited again but it was pretty cool in there due to the weather. They have added a sofa & easy chairs to the open roof part. They had to scramble to save the cushions as it poured down for about 10 mins, fortunately we were in the covered bit.
Definitely will visit again when we are back in June - and it is warmer!
Have a good trip in April.
Sounds good. Cheers Mark07. Will definitely give it a try and report back. thanks
Tried it last night, the place has been cleaned up quite a bit. Tapas was every bit as good as before, slightly less choice, but not a problem
just got back to Blighty and can happily report its fully open (closed on Saturdays except first one of the month when they have a cocktail etc) tried most of the tapas and also had an excellent steak, Finest G&T in Cotillo-try one of Pascals Hendricks gins with cucumber!
Marea Alta used to be one of our favourite restaurants in Cotillo, how things change :( We visited the newly opened MA last week hoping to re-visit the simple but delicious offerings that they used to offer. We walked in & noted several empty tables, but were warned by the waitress that there would be a 30min wait for food, not a problem, we're on holiday after all. We parked ourselves at a table & ordered drinks. The menu arrived & has changed somewhat from it's previous incarnation, most of the offerings appeared to be fried. We ordered & sat back. An hour & 2 rounds later the first food appeared. The garlic mushrooms were thinly sliced (tinned?) slimy & tasteless. The baby squid were fried to a crisp & tasted of burnt oil. The cauliflower gratin was a lump of soft cauli with congealed white sauce, I could go on, but you get the picture. Overall the food was, late, bland, un-interesting, poorly cooked.
Avoid.
This place appears to be closed down now. There's no name displayed, nothing on the menu board.
Disappointed to hear that. Due to be in Cotillo soon & usually pop in for a drink. Does anyone have any additional info?
Just back from 8 days in Cotillo. As Duncolm posted, place was closed up for whole of our stay. Only activity spotted was someone watering the indoor plants. Mrs Mark07 reckons it was Luca the former proprietor but her eyesight isn't what it was!!
Hopefully it won't stay shut for too long.
Any developments?
Seen Luca coming and going a few times, but no signs of re-opening. Motor cycle parts on tables have not moved for a month or so. Will let you know if anything changes.
Thanks for the reply. Shame there's no sign of a re-launch. Won't be out until June, so fingers crossed you might have some good news by then!!
Hot news ;-) word on the street was that there is going to be an Indian Restaurant.....can confirm this because we have just walked past and were acknowledged by the new management. When it opens will try it and let you know. All we can say at this point in time is that the chairs are in the process of being painted blue!
Also new pizza eaterie opened between the Seahorse and El Toston (fortification not the bar) but not tried this as we are well happy with our own favourite pizzeria El Takun
When we walked past last week we spoke with a couple of guys who we took to be the new proprietors. They told us they would be open in about a week, sadly not in time for us to try this holiday. There seems to have been quite a refit taking place with new floor tiles rather than the bare concrete. They said they were still going to keep part of it roofless. Will look forward to your report once open.
Any news?
Now open as Royal Indian....smells good as we walked past, but in our view a little pricey i.e. 12.50 euro for a curry not including rice...(perhaps we are spoilt by the delights of West Yorkshire). We have had a few varied opinions but we will get round to giving it a try ourselves.
Those sort of prices wouldn't go down too well in West Mids either, but depends on the quality, service etc. Look forward to your report in due course. We are not out until late Sept but will give it a go then.
Think I`ll stick to Fazz`s early bird in Correlejo, seeing those prices above..With Fazz you get 6 courses and a free drink at the end for e8.75
8.75 euros, 6 courses and a free drink sounds great as long as it doesn't also include a bout of dysentery paully. ;)
Fair enough, but if you're staying in Cotillo then this place could be an option, if you don't fancy the bus, taxi or driving yourself. Will depend on the overall quality of the product on offer.
Quote from: Holierthanthou on July 23, 2016, 17:20:24 PM
8.75 euros, 6 courses and a free drink sounds great as long as it doesn't also include a bout of dysentery paully. ;)
;D ;D..one of those open kitchens and very unusually the head chef is female ;D...well worth a visit
In corrie at the mo. Might take a peak ;)
LAshire - have you managed to try the Royal Indian yet? Had an indication from friends last month that it was spicy & pricey!
We walked past last week, priced up a meal and kept going.....to Marisma as it happens.
Although we haven't seen the portion size, assuming standard 'UK Indian' sizes then the prices are, as one estate agent described an overpriced villa to us this week, 'thirsty'!
Be interesting to see what happens now the Spanish have gone and the Brits/etc. come and whether they pickup trade. Back in a month so we'll spin past then.
Hi Mark ashamed to say we haven't tried it yet, but know a couple who were not impressed. But the thing about curries is that everyone has their own opinions. We are here again in December and January so may appreciate a hot dish then!! ;D ;D
Not to worry. We will recce the place for ourselves when we are out at the end of the month.
The place has been rebranded again. Now advertised as a pizzeria and grill. There are still curries on the menu though.
It's still the same proprietor. We haven't been in as my partner gets annoyed every time he comes out and tries to talk us in.