Maralba - Almansa

What can I say. Thank you Fran, Christina and team, you managed once again to astound me. The Grand Menu was awesome on Friday 20 May 2023. It is impossible to... read more What can I say. Thank you Fran, Christina and team, you managed once again to astound me. The Grand Menu was awesome on Friday 20 May 2023. It is impossible to adequately convey in words the experience, so I won’t try to. Suffice to say if you like excellent style, taste, wine and service, the you “have” to go to Maralba. I have been 4/5 times , I hope in my heart to go again one day, but I am no longer in Spain, so it may be a wait.

Excellent service, charming dining room and very good presentation. However, there are no breaks each course individually is worth the two stars, but the compos... read more Excellent service, charming dining room and very good presentation. However, there are no breaks each course individually is worth the two stars, but the composition of the menu confounds me. The intensity level is at 100% all the time and there are rarely any breaks, either from eating or for the palate. A break, cleanser, granita or something is needed. All the staff were class A but an extra shoutout to the sommelier.

I have to admit I love occasionally having a multi-course meal cooked to Michelin-grade standards, and when you have absolutely no idea what you are going to ea... read more I have to admit I love occasionally having a multi-course meal cooked to Michelin-grade standards, and when you have absolutely no idea what you are going to eat (they do of course enquire beforehand if you have any allergies, etc). We were really full by the end: several 'snacks ' appeared first, including their really gorgeous version of the local warm liver pâté, called 'ajo matadero ' or 'ajo pringue ', I think. Especially delicious was a snack of boned pig 's trotter, boned, tender, toasted on the outside. Wonderful. A small loaf of excellent home-made bread appeared. Six exquisitely presented seafood or meat dishes followed, with little or no waiting time between them, all of them explained in detail by the staff. Flavours were intense and often intriguing. The cheese course looks like four different chocolate truffles (they aren 't, of course) served on chunks of wood, the one made from local blue cheese being the only disappointment. Two puds next, then some petits fours. You feel really spoiled, and I 'm glad they 've made such a go of it, because the town suffered a great deal in the last financial crisis, and I don 't think it 's been easy. Congratulations to them, the meal was memorable.

Large main room with no too much tables, that make a quiet atmosphere inviting you to enjoy the food. Every meal was excellent but the cheese meal is just incre... read more Large main room with no too much tables, that make a quiet atmosphere inviting you to enjoy the food. Every meal was excellent but the cheese meal is just incredible. A mix of cheeses with different texture each one. Professional and friendly service, explaining well each meal. I recommend it 100%.

Having just read back through some recent reviews I just can’t believe them! Everything about this restaurant is top class, wonderful service and adventurous fa... read more Having just read back through some recent reviews I just can’t believe them! Everything about this restaurant is top class, wonderful service and adventurous fabulously prepared, presented and served food! We were there to celebrate the Golden Wedding anniversary of my brother and his wife and were all delighted by the choice of venue! We chose the Maralba menu from their Degustación offerings. At 50€ we were knocked out by the value. We also took advantage of the Maridaje offer at 18€ each which added to the occasion. Our first visit to Maralba, it definitely won’t be the last!