Capitan Torres Spanish Restaurant

This Spanish restaurant is excellent! Even though I haven't been to any other Spanish restaurants, I still really enjoy dining here. The meatballs are juicy and flavorful!

I stopped in because it was handy where I had to go next, and they had outdoor tables and I felt like people-watching. The waiter, a genuine Spanish bloke, made me feel comfortable, and immediately suggested some dishes and drinks. Some people may hate being told what to order, but from my time in Europe I quite like it when a server at least puts on the pretense of suggesting things I might like. I declined some of this pricier options, but took his suggestion of the grilled flounder; the Spanish know seafood. And it was very good: lightly battered, grilled just right, flaky and tasty and moist. The side salad was big and crunchy, the bread was plentiful (though a bit stale), and the red wine he said he'd bring me was quite fine. A long-term regular set next to me and started to chat. He's been going there since 1976; I figure that says something. He said that although the place has Chinese owners now they still know how to make a proper Spanish meal because of some of the long-term staff. They maintain a European feel and obviously don't want to mess with that success.

I was extremely disappointed with this restaurant. Everything from the staff, the layout, the food, and the atmosphere left much to be desired. The layout of the restaurant is particularly bad, with tables and chairs placed so closely together that it is difficult to move around and the waitstaff struggle to serve customers efficiently. Removing a few tables would greatly improve the comfort of diners and make the staff's job easier. The food was mediocre at best. I ordered a steak with mushroom sauce, vegetables, and onion rings, but it looked like something hastily thrown together. The mushroom sauce was watery, the potatoes were boiled, and the steak was tough to chew. My friends enjoyed the tapas dishes they ordered, which may have been a better choice. The prices are high considering the quality of the food, and I would recommend going to Encasa on Campbell Street for a better dining experience.

I paid $40 for a meal that was absolutely terrible. The prawns were overcooked, and the garlic bread tasted like something I could have purchased at KMart. The service was extremely slow, and the host only seemed interested in speaking to Spanish-speaking customers. The restaurant was empty, yet the service remained incredibly slow. This was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. The staff could have been more friendly, especially considering it was a slow Saturday night. It was a joke!

Well this place has a lot to learn about customer service. We turned up to this place and stood in a line as workers buzzed past. We finally got to the front and we seems to be ignored. Once we where acknowledged we had been pointed at the rear of the restaurant to tables that had not been cleared. When we tried to approach the person who pointed to this location they went about their business with little interest in us. I would not recommend this place to anyone....