You should be hearing a fanfare as you read this week’s review. I’m possibly living dangerously here because I have only eaten at this restaurant once and yet I’m awarding it five stars! This is only the second time I have awarded a restaurant five stars, it is a real pleasure to welcome di Stefano Palace to this very select club.

di Stefano’s is a lounge bar and restaurant, very modern and tastefully decorated. This is the third restaurant Swedish owner and head chef Stefan Boberg has masterminded in the area. He and his team certainly know how it should be done.

 

Seated with our pre-dinner drinks Pam and I were left to peruse the menu. This is an international menu with a little Swedish influence here and there. Pam chose the Greek salad to start with whilst I went for the honey baked chèvre cheese on crisp salad. Now I’ve had goats cheese with salad before but this was a new experience. The addition of honey, which had become treacle like during the baking was inspirational. The reduced balsamic vinegar added that final touch of genius. Two very good starters, we were already beginning to fall under the spell of Di Stefano’s.

 

I selected a Sauvignon Blanc from La Mancha (Finca Los Azares) this wine is a brilliant straw colour with greenish tinges. It has an intense aroma, with hints of exotic fruits. Very refreshing, an excellent wine. The menu here is what you might call international with little surprises such as Thai chicken curry although I don’t recall there being much choice of mains for any of our vegetarian friends. I expect Stefano could rustle something up though if asked.

 

Pam chose the fillet of pork stuffed with mozzarella cheese, Parma ham, tomatoes and fresh herbs served with red wine sauce, I liked the sound of poached fillet of turbot, in a cream of apple cider sauce. We both decided to have the gratinated potatoes… Mmmm! We sat back on the terrace and waited with anticipation. Our pictures do not do justice to what we were presented with. These were picture perfect, appealing firstly to the eyes and then the nose, I couldn’t wait to tuck-in! It was obvious that there was an artist at work here with a deft hand at balancing flavours and colours. My turbot was perfect, I had to steel myself not to eat this meal too quickly, I wanted to savour every mouthful... Divine. Pam was having a similar experience with the pork. The combination of the pork and mozzarella laced with herbs was wonderful. Each mouthful an explosion of tastes. I did mention the potatoes didn’t I? Wow! At this point we made a promise to each other to return here without delay.

 

All the while the service from the waiting staff was as it should be, polite, efficient and all carried out with smiles and plenty of bonhomie. We met a party of four that were out on a holiday from Berkshire, they said this was their third visit to Stefano’s. Each time they had enjoyed their meal and were looking forward to the next visit.

 

We settled in to consulting the menu again with a view to selecting out desserts. Pam almost immediately settled on ‘white chocolate gratinated fresh fruit with ice cream’ this turned out to be layers of banana, kiwi and strawberry covered in white chocolate shavings together with a scoop of ice cream on top. There were no complaints from my good lady just murmurs of contentment. I had the lemon cheesecake with raspberry coulis, superb! The portion sizes are not huge here but definitely adequate, they allow you to indulge in all three courses without feeling as though you have over done things. The guilt trip about what you have consumed is safely kept at bay.

 

This really had been an exceptional meal, this is not a bargain basement establishment our evening had cost €85, but unlike some expensive establishments we have been to, it was worth every penny. You can’t deliver service and food of this quality for less, well not if you want to remain in business and actually have a little over for yourselves. Chef Stefan and his team are to be commended, simply brilliant! Do make sure you pay them a visit.

Avda. Diamante, 4  La Zenia Alta 03189 Orihuela Costa. Tel. No. 966 761 917

 

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