Restaurant Llenaire
 

Restaurant Llenaire, well what can I say, to say it has changed a little is an understatement !

From the outside the building has all been painted white, the tables are very modern, white wooden block type. Inside again has all been changed to white. Quite a modern, minimalist look.

Luis is now front of house and is doing very well, Davide is now the chef and Massimo hoping to start again in a couple of weeks.

The guy who is running it (Miguel?) seemed a very nice guy. He lives locally to the restaurant. He has employed a barman who is apparently good at cocktails – did not get chance to try any as only on a short visit !

The new full menu only came out the day before we left so only had a quick look. They are doing lots of paellas, creamy rice dishes and meat/fish dishes. They are doing ciabattas, salads etc on a snack menu. There is also a breakfast menu.

We tried a vegetable paella and it was delicious, Davide cooked it beautifully.

We have been going to Restaurant Llenaire for years and were quite taken aback by the changes, as it is so different. It does seem strange that Davide is not out front and will take some getting used to but think it is somewhere I will still enjoy going to and that the new guy seems to have some good ideas. So good luck to him and roll on June so I can try it again properly !

A shock indeed! And I'm not too sure if I can get over it! It is SO white!

The rice dishes are definately Davides speciality - he created all the menu himself - and there are more of these than anything else. His home made orange cake is to die for.

Now, Davide is not a chef, but boy, can he cook some interesting dishes.
We did have a couple of complaints though; the actual restaurant was very cold - definately a summer one unless they light the fire, and unfortunately, our food was served on cold plates, which as I had chosen the chicken and banana curry, almost ruined the dish. But I ate it very fast. Hubby had lamb stuffed with apricots which was delicious and a very generous portion, but again got cold very quickly. The amuse bouche is always a lovely touch and becoming very common in good restaurants now.

Davide will pop out for a quick chat - ok, a longish one in some cases ;) and he is more than happy with the changes and the fact that Pepe is running the restaurant next door much more in the old rustic way.
Two totally different restaurants next to each other.
I think Llenaire has a bistro menu for the day time for those popping in off of the beach, but I feel that the Tapas restaurant will take most of that trade now.

The interior needs a bit more colour really, the eye is drawn to the colour of the fire extinguisher - just the same as restaurant 365 at Son Brull!
The table is laid similar to Can Joseps, with the same brand of cuttlery. I would have liked something like a flower or a candle on the table to give interest. Perhaps some subtle art work on a wall, although I appreciate what they are trying to do re the minimilistic look, sometimes it is just plain boring!
I didn't like the tables being a solid block rather than legs, as there is no where to stretch your legs other than around the block (now, that's come out sounding wrong, but you get my meaning!)

They have only been open a couple of weeks, so I'm sure improvements will be made. We will definately carry on supporting Davide and look forward to seeing a couple of improvements.:)
For us - its roll on September!

As you say Bella minimalistic looks cool but can just be plain cold and boring in the Winter. Perhaps they haven't managed to get to Ikea for the art work yet!!!

Oh and Bella you really shouldn't mention an amuse bouche, Davide and stretching you legs round the block in the same post ;) :p

Ladie's, Steady on, we're british you know.

Bella,

Chicken and banana curry????!!!!

Maybe it eats a lot better than it sounds!

LOL! It did actually! It was fried banana slices - and there may have been a couple of slices of chirizo in there as well if I remember rightly, perhaps not the best to eat on top of a seafood starter and followed by an orange tart desert on the night before you travel home home though! :o

is Llenaire next to the Galeon?

Is it the one at the front or the back (if you know what i mean)?

Thanks

Yes, next to Galleon, and its the front one - sparkling white!

Yes at the front. The back one really needs to get its act together now, even its MDd has gone down hill

RAY! I replied to that yesterday!! LOL! The one next door is run by Davide's father in law. Both are separate businesses though and will obviously be competing with each other although completely different markets. A very interesting conflict me thinks!

Is Maite still involved in restaurant Llenaire?

We saw her in 2008 and they had changed the business cards to show that it was her and Davide running it, but we didn't go to PP last year.

Pepe is lovely and I am glad he is still involved, albeit in the restaurant at the back.

I dont think so, but not 100% sure. Basically the owner of the building decided that he wanted his son to run the restaurant now, and have Davide working as chef rather than front of house. I dont about Maite I'm afraid.

Thanks for that. Pepe is the owner and Maite is his wife. They split up a few years ago but got back together and she was front of house with Davide.

Havn´t been myself yet but friends of mine had a meal there last week. Their comments were - The place is cold and completely lacking in atmosphere. The food is good and reasonably priced but beware of the extras. They were shocked at being charges 7 euros for a small bowl of lettuce.
Prearmed is prewarned.
Deanscroft

Oh dear, thats really what has been said in our previous posts unfortunately. I'm hoping that these comments may filter through and be improved upon, it would be a shame to miss out on Davides good food. Perhaps it will come into its own when the sun is shining and the sun streams in whilst we are all kept cool with the ceiling fans.:)

Never tried Restaurant Llenaire before but another day being up that end of the bay we wandered in and we choose a lovely table (with tablecloth!) not realising we were actually then in the back restaurant..Siurell (??).
Well, it was absolutely delightful ....just a light lunch with a few glasses of wine which we couldn't fault and very reasonable, two really charming girls served us, the view over the bay (see the puppy on the mountains so clear from there!!) made it a perfect afternoon but think sitting at this one is what made it!! One of the girls came out with what looked like a little musical box and presented it too hubby...I thought where is mine! On opening it he discoverd the bill!! She then came back with it but this time I got it.....all the change and some lovely little sweets. :) Inside is really lovely too very Spanish feel to it compared to the "all white" one next door! Will certainly return to this one!

We had a lovely lunch here at Easter - their tapas are great :)

Wish they didn't have to change things, had some great nights there in Oct half term. Will have to try the tapas in the back restaurant

GG or anyone.....do you know the name of it....don't think I have the correct spelling, it does deserve a thread of it's own I think. While there this year I tried a few new places and of course my favourites but this was my find of the holiday for a real good afternoon lunch in the sun sort of place....mmmm wish I was there now!!

Realise I might be rocking the boat here but I have to say we ate here for the first time in April and I was really disappointed... I actually thought the interior was quite stylish if a bit lacking in atmosphere - but admittedly we were there on a very cold, grey day and only one other table was taken. I can imagine in brilliant sunlight it would have a quite different feel. Service was good, with the very eager waiter bringing a heater to our table specially, without being asked. But the food was a letdown. It is billing itself as an 'Arroceria' (think I have that right!) with a big selection of interesting paellas and being a big paella fan we just had to try them. I had one with chicken and prawns and OH had a fishy one, but frankly they weren't as good as Ca'n Ferra - or to be honest most of the other places we have eaten paella. I don't know, maybe my expectations were too high or maybe there is just only so much you can do with rice... although I did think they were being decidedly stingy with the chicken and seafood. Neither of us wanted another helping from our paella pans, which says it all really. As far as I can remember we had mixed croquettes to start and these were OK but not as good as those at O'Lume. It didn't have a children's menu either and while we usually prefer for them to eat half portions of adult food rather than something and chips, there didn't seem to be a lot on the menu that children would actually like. However, a Mallorcan family were the only other diners and they had obviously been there before - they all ordered pasta and I have to say it looked great - we were quite jealous!

What a shame. My husband used to love the Paella at Llenaire - he said that Pepe used to do one of the best.

Fingers crossed that things will pick up and get better.

Kate - were you dining in the front restaurant? The white one on the seafront because we were talking about the one behind it

Whoops - yes, sorry! It was the front restaurant - the white one which is called Llenaire, not the back one. Have to say I wished we had gone to the back one after our meal as it always seemed much more popular!

"The Restaurant at The Back"
 

i liked the old Llenaire Restaurant, but the re-decoration and refurbishment has done nothing for it.
I understand that there has been some form of family break-up and the man who owned/ran Restauant Llenaire now owns/runs "The Restaurant At The Back"( "Siuriell"?)

I have been to the restaurant at the back a lot over the last few weeks. The food is excellent, and not too expensive. The service is the best in the Port.

The other lunchtime the little place at the back was full, but they kindly sqeezed me in. Restaurant Llenaire had one table occupied.
Friends took me for my birthday. We had a great time. They had all eaten at much more expensive places in the Port and said that the food here was as good if not better!

I know it's a bit of a walk out of town, but it is worth a visit.
They deserve to do well.

Give it a try.

Zapper

The Restaurant at the Back
 

So glad you were as enamoured with the place as I was Zapper :).
As I said it was a great find for me this year....and well worth the very pleasant walk. So glad I stumbled across it!! As you said, food, price and staff all perfect!!

we loved it too, nearest eatery to the excellent Strawberry Fields Forever, fantastic service & value, only downside a slightly dodgy spag bol which my youngest couldn't eat - it did taste a bit 'off' - but seemed very popular with locals, & always fuller than 'Llenaire' next door

Llenaires
 

Hi
Have known Pepe and his family for probably around 15 years or so. Standard of food at times has fluctuated but the welcome and warmth as well as the fantastic location has always been terrific.
Pepe's wife Maite ran Siurell (at the back), impeccably for some years, but there were family problems and she opened a bar in the Port whilst Davide became front of house in the main restaurant.
We didn't go there too often for a time as myself and a couple of other family members did not take to Davide's particular way of managing the restaurant.
But I wish them well in their new venture - whilst we will certainly support Pepe in his.

We use and enjoy both restaurants, I have to say that over the years we have always found David to be wonderful and are delighted to see he is now back running the restaurant, rather then being in the kitchen as he had been for the last few months.
PP76

So things have changed yet again from when they first opened back in Easter? Personally I am thrilled that Davide is back "front of shop" again. His personality is what made Llenaire what it was last time and it looks as if they have now realised that. Its also good to have two different types of restaurant in Llenaire to choose from.

Bit confused here, guys. :confused:

Would I be correct in assuming that there are two seperate restaurants (one at front, one at back) and the one at the back (i.e. the one that is not called Llenaire) is now considered to be the best option out of the two?

Do they have similar menus? If not, then what is the main difference? Is Davide in the front or the back restaurant?

Yes Paul, two restaurants side by side. Actually there always has been, but it tended to look like just one as they were very similar in style.
Now the front restaurant has had a complete make over, due to family reasons, and is now a far more modern restaurant, serving a menu similar to, but not the same as, Can Josep's.
Davide was the front man of the old Llenaire (front) restaurant, but was made head chef when the changeover happened. It now appears that he has been asked to return to front of house again, which in my opinion is a better place for him ;). As both restaurants have totally different menus ( "back" restaurant, Siurell, serves a lot more traditional style of food) it is entirely personal taste as to what you consider the "best". I cant wait to try them both!
Hope this clears things up a bit more for you.:)

Thanks, Bella. Brilliantly explained. It's all clear to me now. :)

How far are these two restaurants from Olot apartments ....anyone know please?:)

Both these restaurants are opposite the beach, about a four to five minute walk from your apartment.

PP76

Thank you PP76 that really helps....(not booked as yet) but as I know where the restaurants are this gives me a great indication as to where the apartments are situated :)

Tried both last week, both fantastic. First time we tried around 9.30 not tables to be had. Llienaire for Paella great as usual didn't seem to get as much as in the past but good thing really! lots of spanish eating when we were in. Took us 3 attempts to find table at Siurell but well worth it first time we've been and am sure will be back many times next year. Much more relaxed in Siurell staff seemed to enjoy themselves food fantastic tried pork in cabbage for first time yum.

Ok - bit an update on these. These restaurants are no longer related. Pepe gave up Llenaire's due to increased rates and opened (or re-opened really) Siurell at the back, in the building that he has owned for years. Llenaire's was taken over by someone else and David was asked to stay on.

I am going to post about Siurell separately so that other members can search for it by name but needless to say, the food was excellent. Staff are brilliant and Pepe was his usual cheerful self - it was great to see him back at his best. The restaurant was constantly busy and on some nights the lack of custom at Llenaire's was made even more obvious by the full tables as Siurell.