Calnegre - Lorca

When I read the most recent 3 reviews before mine, I was a bit concerned about whether to go or not. All our previous experiences of Bar Calnegre have been good, but they do predate the Covid situation. Anyway, I was very pleased that we ignored the most recent reviews, because we had a very nice lunch there. Nothing much has changed since our last visit in 2018, except for the addition of a permanent sunshade structure over the tables on the beach. We were delighted to see this as it presumably means that the Ley de Costas people have now accepted that the bar can legitimately have tables on the beach. (There was at least one occasion in the past when we were sitting eating on the beach and were hurried off and inside when the owner was tipped off by telephone that a Ley de Costas inspector was on the way! When we arrived this time, it was still quite early for lunch and there was only one other table occupied. By the time that we left, though, it was shown to be as popular as ever, with pretty much all tables occupied. The Menu del Dia is still really good value with a nice salad to start, which we followed with vegetable tortilla for my wife and lentejas for me. The tortilla portions were huge and filled with potato and vegetables. My lentejas turned out to be a stew of not only lentils, but beef and potatoes too. Both first plates were really tasty and my only criticism is that I would have liked mine to have been a little warmer. We both followed with Magra, tasty pieces of pork in a nice tomato based sauce served with potatoes and peppers. We both really enjoyed it. No longer do you get a whisky bottle filled with wine put on the table like in the old days, just a glass but, hey, times is hard and everyone is having to cut back somewhere! Service was fine and I still think that this is a great place to come and have lunch actually sitting on a beach. Just watch out for the cats though!

Having visited with some friends who has previously had a good experience, the same could not be said for our visit. To keep a very long story short, half the food turned up, for the other half to be told at that point there was none of theirs left. The food which came out was cold to a point at which it was inedible. They did go an warm it up, which still came sooner than the other dishes. Unfortunately, it appears the technique used to warm the food up involved large amounts of olive oil which created a decent size pool all over the plate. To add to this, the pork served was raw. When the remaining dishes came out, they came at fifteen intervals after already waiting an hour and a quarter for the first round of food; totalling time from ordering to last plate was two hours. One never arrived anyway... the restaurant wasn’t busy either; even more confusing as to why drinks took over thirty minutes (twice) to be served. Upon complaining, we attempted to be reasonable but was given aggression and xenophobia. The ‘manager’ said that the service is acceptable in every European country and would call the police if we didn’t pay in full. He repeatedly asked us where we from, even though we were talking in Spanish to him... we didn’t understand the relevance. After he continued his aggression towards the women in our group, we were left with no choice but to pay in full. The bill equating to €15 or so per head for an inedible/non existent meal and a handful of drinks. The manager may as well be wearing a stripy jumper and mask... But I will say something positive about the place, the weather was nice and the sea looked pretty.

We visited this bar with friends following their previously good experience. Both they and we were disgusted at our experience this time. There were 9 of us in total and we reserved our table in advance. We ordered a variety of meals and received around 4 meals first. All of these had undercooked, cold chips and freezing cold meat/fish which we sent back to be recooked . I had tuna which was SWIMMING in oil, so much so that I had to use a napkin to soak the food before eating. Around an hour after ordering, after the first 4 plates had been received, we were told that salmon (ordered by two of us) was not available. This is not acceptable to be told 1 hour after ordering and after other party members have received their food! Two of us shared our meal due to not wanting to wait any longer. The second lot of meals we received were also undercooked, and 1 party member NEVER received her meal. It arrived once all of us had finished the meal, with no apology from the waiting staff! We received the bill and were charged in full, we asked to speak to the manager to request a off the bill, in reflection of the poor service. I was met with an aggressive, ignorant response that “this service is acceptable in Spain” basically, you’re English and we don’t care! After telling him what we were willing to pay, we were met with threats of the police what happened to restaurants having respect for the views of the customer? The owner even accused us of LYING when we said it took over an hour for our food to arrive and that it was late. It is worth mentioning that the Spanish guests in the restaurant seemed to attract a much more attentive service than us. Please note that we did make all of this complaint in Spanish so it cannot be said that we are rude English expecting everything to be done our way, as the manager tried to say! All in all, we had no choice but to pay in full for a disgusting meal, with awful customer service. We will never be going back.

What better than to sit at a table actually on a beach and enjoy good, reasonably priced food, served by friendly efficient people. If it wasn't a little out of the way for us, I would be eating here every week!

Certainly no service with a smile, more a scowl. The ham and cheese starter was had to chew and fatty. My husbands main course was mixed grill from the a la carte menu. Pretty much all of the meat was fatty, only just cooked and inedible and does not come with any side dishes ie chips or veg. My main was grilled sea bream which was served in a bath of oil with a few sliced potatoes and over cooked aubergine slices. Both dishes were completely over salted. The best part was a decent bottle Of wine. We did complain but the complaint was completely ignored. All in all a very disappointing birthday lunch and not cheap at 49€ for two. We will not be returning.