" Freshest fish on the planet, great service, good atmosphere and real local people "
25 September 2023
Anynomous
" Great little restaurant which specialises in seafood, everything was really fresh and tasted great. Service was friendly, fast and typically Spanish. Don't expect gourmet dishes with 20 ingredients, simply fresh seafood which speaks for itself. Seems to be really popular with the locals which is always a good sign. Highly recommended. "
08 August 2023
Anynomous
" Delightful family run fish restaurant with great atmosphere and food at the right price. Very casual. Get there early or be prepared to queue. "
28 June 2023
Anynomous
" .
Just had yet another superb meal at La Escollera, and noticed quite a few foreign couples there, some of them looking rather bemused.
Thought it might be helpful to explain some of the normal practices here, to help you out when you go.
TIP 1 It is closed Sunday evenings, all day Monday (there’s no fish landed as no boats go out Sunday evening), and probably for a couple of weeks in Jan-Feb.
TIP 2 You cannot book. So if you are a biggish group, you need to get there early – by Spanish standards that is. 2 o'clock at the latest
TIP 3 Best way to get there is to walk all the way along the Estepona Paseo Marítimo in the direction of Gibraltar, cut through the rows of fishermen’s work cabins, and it’s on the left at the end
Do not be put off by appearances. Yes, it looks from the outside like a workman's bar.
TIP 4 You can drive there. Go to the big roundabout by the Marina, the one with the clock, turn around and go back towards Estepona centre, then after two hundred yards take the road to the right parked Puerto Pesquero.
You'll need to tell the man at the barrier you are going to La Escollera
TIP 5 So that he understands you, it’s pronounced La Ess Co Zhe Ra. Or write the full name on a piece of paper. :-)
TIP 6 Go into the bar and then stand by the door at the RH back, for someone to tell you if there's a table. The people in the bar may all be waiting to be seated.
TIP 7 Don’t ask for the menu. Menú in Spanish means fixed-price menu with limited choice. They don’t have that in La Escollera. You can instead ask for the Carta, which gives a list of fish.
TIP 7 The Carta is not terribly useful, actually, for several reasons.
Firstly, it’s a list of the things that they might have, but again they might not if they haven’t been caught last night.
Secondly, the translations into English are pretty laughable (although you may be lucky and discover that they have actually photocopied the accurate translation that I did for them yonks ago).
Thirdly, some of the things cannot be translated into anything that means anything to you anyway, Urta? What’s Urta? It’s a big expensive fish that is caught in this area.
Finally, many of the items either don’t have a price (it just says SM, which means “depends what we paid in the fish auction”), or the prices aren’t very accurate because there was a different price today . . .
TIP 8 Spaniards usually don’t bother with the Carta, they just ask the waiter what they have today. They don’t bother with the prices either, as they know which are the expensive and which the cheaper options, so even if they don’t know the actual price they have a rough idea.
TIP 9 It’s fish. Fresh fish from the Wholesale Fish Market opposite. Don’t ask for eggs, or meat, or trout or salmon. Local fish. And apart from salad or chips (which you have to ask for), don’t expect any vegetables.
TIP 10. If you have children, don’t order a separate meal for them. Order them a plate of chips and let one child eat off your plate, or for two children, order something for them to share. Or all of you share, which is a very common thing here.
TIP 10 For a group of 4 adults, I suggest that you have a range of things to share “Para compartir”.
You could order this as a fairly economical meal, and typically Andalucian:
Una ensalada mixta, un tomate aliñado. (1 mixed salad, 1 tomato salad)
Una de boquerones fritos, una de calamares fritos, unas gambas a la plancha, unas almejas y una de gallo rebozado.
One helping of fried anchovies, one of fried squid rings, grilled prawns, baby clams and fish in batter. I cannot helpfully translate the fish known here as “gallo”. Just trust me and order it.
That should cost about 70 euros in all. Add your drinks and icecreams.
TIP 11 Tip them at the end. Add between 5% and 8% to your bill, plus leave any coins under an euro from the change. And as you leave, say “Hasta pronto” – See you soon, meaning you’ll be back.
. "
20 August 2023
Anynomous
" Great friendly and helpful service. Selection was fresh and diverse and absolutely flavorful. Best calamari I've had. We loved eating here on our vacation. "
Anynomous
" Freshest fish on the planet, great service, good atmosphere and real local people "
25 September 2023Anynomous
" Great little restaurant which specialises in seafood, everything was really fresh and tasted great. Service was friendly, fast and typically Spanish. Don't expect gourmet dishes with 20 ingredients, simply fresh seafood which speaks for itself. Seems to be really popular with the locals which is always a good sign. Highly recommended. "
08 August 2023Anynomous
" Delightful family run fish restaurant with great atmosphere and food at the right price. Very casual. Get there early or be prepared to queue. "
28 June 2023Anynomous
" .
20 August 2023Just had yet another superb meal at La Escollera, and noticed quite a few foreign couples there, some of them looking rather bemused.
Thought it might be helpful to explain some of the normal practices here, to help you out when you go.
TIP 1 It is closed Sunday evenings, all day Monday (there’s no fish landed as no boats go out Sunday evening), and probably for a couple of weeks in Jan-Feb.
TIP 2 You cannot book. So if you are a biggish group, you need to get there early – by Spanish standards that is. 2 o'clock at the latest
TIP 3 Best way to get there is to walk all the way along the Estepona Paseo Marítimo in the direction of Gibraltar, cut through the rows of fishermen’s work cabins, and it’s on the left at the end
Do not be put off by appearances. Yes, it looks from the outside like a workman's bar.
TIP 4 You can drive there. Go to the big roundabout by the Marina, the one with the clock, turn around and go back towards Estepona centre, then after two hundred yards take the road to the right parked Puerto Pesquero.
You'll need to tell the man at the barrier you are going to La Escollera
TIP 5 So that he understands you, it’s pronounced La Ess Co Zhe Ra. Or write the full name on a piece of paper. :-)
TIP 6 Go into the bar and then stand by the door at the RH back, for someone to tell you if there's a table. The people in the bar may all be waiting to be seated.
TIP 7 Don’t ask for the menu. Menú in Spanish means fixed-price menu with limited choice. They don’t have that in La Escollera. You can instead ask for the Carta, which gives a list of fish.
TIP 7 The Carta is not terribly useful, actually, for several reasons.
Firstly, it’s a list of the things that they might have, but again they might not if they haven’t been caught last night.
Secondly, the translations into English are pretty laughable (although you may be lucky and discover that they have actually photocopied the accurate translation that I did for them yonks ago).
Thirdly, some of the things cannot be translated into anything that means anything to you anyway, Urta? What’s Urta? It’s a big expensive fish that is caught in this area.
Finally, many of the items either don’t have a price (it just says SM, which means “depends what we paid in the fish auction”), or the prices aren’t very accurate because there was a different price today . . .
TIP 8 Spaniards usually don’t bother with the Carta, they just ask the waiter what they have today. They don’t bother with the prices either, as they know which are the expensive and which the cheaper options, so even if they don’t know the actual price they have a rough idea.
TIP 9 It’s fish. Fresh fish from the Wholesale Fish Market opposite. Don’t ask for eggs, or meat, or trout or salmon. Local fish. And apart from salad or chips (which you have to ask for), don’t expect any vegetables.
TIP 10. If you have children, don’t order a separate meal for them. Order them a plate of chips and let one child eat off your plate, or for two children, order something for them to share. Or all of you share, which is a very common thing here.
TIP 10 For a group of 4 adults, I suggest that you have a range of things to share “Para compartir”.
You could order this as a fairly economical meal, and typically Andalucian:
Una ensalada mixta, un tomate aliñado. (1 mixed salad, 1 tomato salad)
Una de boquerones fritos, una de calamares fritos, unas gambas a la plancha, unas almejas y una de gallo rebozado.
One helping of fried anchovies, one of fried squid rings, grilled prawns, baby clams and fish in batter. I cannot helpfully translate the fish known here as “gallo”. Just trust me and order it.
That should cost about 70 euros in all. Add your drinks and icecreams.
TIP 11 Tip them at the end. Add between 5% and 8% to your bill, plus leave any coins under an euro from the change. And as you leave, say “Hasta pronto” – See you soon, meaning you’ll be back.
. "
Anynomous
" Great friendly and helpful service. Selection was fresh and diverse and absolutely flavorful. Best calamari I've had. We loved eating here on our vacation. "
20 June 2023