Baeza & Rufete
Alicante
Lyhyesti
Arvostelut
If you are ever in Alicante, and there are a lot of Norwegians, treat yourself to a meal at chef Joaquin Baeza's at baezarufete. Absolutely exceptional, real culinary art. Michelin gives 1 star, I give more. Gracias!
We dined here today and were thoroughly impressed by the culinary offering. The kitchen delivers a masterclass in Alicante cuisine; each dish on the tasting menu was carefully prepared and beautifully presented. The chef’s creativity and playfulness were evident throughout, resulting in a meal that felt like a genuine ode to the Mediterranean- you could taste the admiration for the sea in every mouthful! We would have easily awarded five stars based on the food alone. However, the service and management did not match the caliber of the kitchen. First, the beverage service lacked transparency. We were not presented with a drinks menu but were simply asked to choose between Champagne, wine, or beer. When I requested wine(implying I wished to see a wine list) the manager(front of house) immediately poured me a vintage glass without consultation. While the wine was excellent for sure, discovering later that it was €20 per glass felt a bit presumptive. Second, the water service felt over-zealous. We requested a single bottle of still water, yet our glasses were continuously topped up without consent. We were charged for "2.6 bottles” at the end leaving us feeling somewhat forced into paying for the water consumption we hadn't asked for. Finally, despite notifying the restaurant in advance that we were celebrating my birthday, there was no acknowledgement whatsoever. As frequent diners at Michelin-starred establishments, we are very blessed to have been accustomed to a certain level of hospitality for special occasions, so this total lack of gesture was a disheartening anomaly to us. So overall, we’d say: a delightful gastronomic journey, but the management and customer care require significant refinement to meet the high standards set by the food.
An incredible experience 😯 A true theatre on the plate, yet with outstanding flavor. The restaurant is located about four kilometers from the city center and feels wonderfully intimate inside. There are only four tables, served directly by Chef Joaquin Baeza and the dining room manager — boutique, refined, and highly professional. The menu was unexpected and beautiful, with flavors that were surprisingly delicious. Each dish felt like a small gift, thoughtfully crafted to delight and surprise. Having experienced many Michelin-starred restaurants, this one will stay with us for a long time. In our opinion, two stars would not be an exaggeration. ⭐⭐
