This is our experience of Cosmo Restaurant, and just a small reminder, we are ourselves restaurateurs of twelve Restaurants in Ireland. We understand the business.
We visited Cosmo in Rojales in August. It came recommended to us—with a small caveat: “It’s expensive.” But there’s a world of difference between expensive and overpriced. Expensive should mean excellent quality, exceptional ambiance, thoughtful décor, and a memorable dining experience. Sadly, Cosmo delivered none of these.
The Illusion
The lovely images on the Google review and on their site are not current.
We booked midweek and arrived on time. Stepping inside, we were met not with the elegance of a fine restaurant, but with what looked like a tired, dated bar—quiet, empty, and lacking atmosphere. After a short wait, a polite waiter appeared and led us to the terrace, where just three other tables were occupied. By then, I already felt overdressed and underwhelmed.
Set along the river, could have been beautiful with a little care. Instead, the floor was dirty, the furniture was basic outdoor bar stock, the cutlery ordinary, the napkins cheap. Later, a few table lanterns were added, which helped only slightly.
The terrace
To their credit, the waiter and waitress were pleasant and attentive. Drinks came quickly—a Bombay Sapphire and tonic, a mineral water, and a Coke—along with menus and the day’s specials. We started with the Russian Salad with a Thai twist (€10.95), Garlic Prawns (€15.50), and Beef Tataki (€15.95). The flavours were good, but the portions were disappointingly small.
For mains, we ordered the Ribeye (€37.95) and the Beef Fillet (€30.95). The steaks were served with only a garnish, so we added a side of fries (€5.50) and pepper sauce (€5.60). While the sauce was excellent, the meat itself was of average quality—far from what you would expect at those prices.
In the end, the food was mediocre and overpriced. The only redeeming feature was the service. Unfortunately, that was undone by what happened next. The owner sat at the table beside us with a member of staff, holding a loud conversation across the terrace with other diners. Meanwhile, the chef appeared, still in black latex kitchen gloves, lit a cigarette, and smoked at the end table.
At these prices, the last thing anyone expects is to watch the staff eating, smoking, and chatting with guests. By 9:15, all three occupied tables had left, leaving us alone on the terrace with the owner in conversation with another colleague. It felt unprofessional, uncomfortable, and entirely out of place for a restaurant charging fine-dining prices
THIS WAS THE MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSE TO OUR GOOGLE REVIEW
Good afternoon, David! Next time, I suggest you go to the fish and chips place, as it’s cheaper and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the atmosphere. Since you have a fake profile, we understand that’s enough.
Best regards!