San Marco, Seville

We ate at the Moorish Baths restaurant and had pizza with side salads. The pizza was average; mass produced base and so-so topping. Staff were friendly and the wine recommendation was good but the pizza was like any pizza chain, think Pizza Hut and you may not be disappointed. I'm mystified as to why this place gets such good write-ups. It's ok and reasonably inexpensive but I wouldn't go again.

I am a teacher and I have eagerly led kids and adults to San Marco, in Sevilla, for 15 years in a row. When I went to make reservations this year, however, I knew something was amiss. I was handed from one manager to the next until I reached the top. " ¿What would you like to spend?" I was asked in Spanish, "¿40 or just 30 euros?" Shocked, because it has always been a very reasonable place, I said we just wanted to see the menu. As I read it I realized that all the many good and reasonable dishes were consolidated to just a few and hidden at the back of the menu. But I did see a few reasonable pizza/pasta dishes for around 8 euros, so I made a reservation for that evening. That evening they sat us comfortably but I noticed that the usually busy restaurant was not busy at all. I also noticed plastic-wrapped breadsticks at each plate (something new at San Marco) and warned the kids about eating them and how in some countries, but not often in Spain, they will add the price to your bill at the end for opened bread packages. In the end, the taste of the pastas was very good but less than the size of a small tapa. Fetuccini with 12-15 noodles (we counted) in the middle of a large bowl for $14. They encouraged us to order more but we thought we had better cut our losses and leave. When we got the bill, however, we noticed an extra 15 euro charge for breadsticks which only 3 kids had opened. I was about to leave a 25 euro tip (generous in Spain) but then asked a manager about the charges. He said, in Italian-Spanish, the bread charge (pan cmsl) was actually a charge for the napkins and table cloths. I could not believe it. I thought I misunderstood his broken Spanish. I asked again to make sure. He repeated his answer while carressing the cotton napkin by my dish. I said, "Oh, you mean the charge is for the service!" He said yes. I took 20 euros off the tip, left 5 euros and walked out with my students. I don't know if a new company bought out the old San Marco restaurant or it is just a new money-hungry manager, but for those have been in the past it truly was a fine place to eat well in a great ambience at a reasonable price. If the old San Marcos comes back I will return, but for now I say stay far away. It was really a huge disappointment!

Restaurante San Marco was a huge disappointment. The atmosphere seemed nice, and the restaurant was housed in an attractive old turkish bath building. The wait staff were polite, yet seemed to know that 25 Euros was too much to pay for a leg of lamb in plain brown sauce with french fries. The food arrived a little too quickly (i.e., under 5 minutes), and the "breadsticks" (Seville's substitute for fresh baked bread with a meal), which usually come in a basket, were individually wrapped in wax paper packages, and cost almost a euro each (which you found out AFTER the meal, on your bill). If you want Spanish food, try some of the smaller restaurants in the old town, and for the love of God, read your guide book before you choose a restaurant: upon returning to our hotel, we read about San Marco, and found out too late that it was pretty much watered-down plain cuisine, favored by families with small children. My favorite restaurant in Seville was a place in Barrio Santa Cruz, called "Ay Maricru." Beautiful tapas, great atmosphere. Go there between 7-8 to get a seat.

This place had great tasting food and attentive service, especially for Spain where you have to flag down a waiter if you want anything. I can't rave enough about the taste. Great expierence!! Portions are smaller than most Italian Resturants, so I'd reccommend getting a salad, Tapas and bread. They charge for bread and the breadsticks like most places in Seville. Don't get there before 9pm, no one will be there. Best time would be 9:45 or later. My only negative comment would be that the house wine tastes a little watered down, but the prices are EXCELLENT for food and wine, so spring for a bottle between a few people. I will being going back frequently!