We aim to make our reviews as impartial as possible. Whether the experience was good or bad, we want our reviews to be an honest critique of each venue. We want to take into account the location of the venue as well as the ambiance. Service is just as important to the success of a venue as the menu. And ultimately, in thes tough economic times, many people want to know if they will receive value for money. We hope that owners and managers might even address any issues that may have been highlighted in their review.

LOCATION
We look at the location of the venue in terms of ease of access, taking into consideration nearby parking, whether it has a stunning panorama of the sea and/or mountains or a drab view of a brick wall, and if there is an open comfortable terrace or a few plastic chairs on the pavement.

AMBIANCE
What's the mood of the venue? Does the background music complement the character of the venue or is it obstrusive enough to make you want to pay up and leave? Many venues have televisions to show sporting events and special occasions, but is the volume often left on after the event, battling for supremacy with the background music? How comfortable are the surroundings? How friendly is the clientele?

SERVICE
In many, if not all cases it is the service that makes or breaks a venue. Consider this from the moment you enter the venue to the moment you leave. Is the welcome genuinely warm and welcoming? How long did you have to wait to get served, taking into account the popularity of the venue? Were you served with a smile or a tired frown? Was your order presented with finesse or with a clumsy crunch? Were any problems addressed with sympathy or offence? And did you feel happy to leave a decent tip or compelled to leave nothing?

FOOD
When looking for a suitable benchmark to measure each venue, we opted for the standard 'menu del dia' or, if not available, an three-course meal from the menu which particularly appealed. Describe your experience. Was the salad crisp and fresh or damp and tasteless? Was the steak cooked to your liking (were you even asked?) and presented well or just dumped unceremoniously on the plate? Was the fish clean and prepared properly? Also take the time to look through the rest of the menu; if you liked the place, what might you try next time you visit?

VALUE-FOR-MONEY
At the end of a fine meal, you should feel happy to hand over your hard-earned cash. But was it worth it? Taking into account the quality of the food, the service and the ambiance, did you receive value-for-money? Indicate the 'price-per-person' and, if possible, add a price for the benchmarks of the cost of a caņa and a simple glass of house wine.

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