A-Gale 2007

[Bruce Wallis]

Im glad to read that.

We will be back in April, and of course will go to A-Gale.

We really like Carla, and hope that our experiences back in November, were just a function of her being away, and end of season lethargy.

[Barry]

Agree with the end of season problem, Bruce. We were over in October and November, and visited a couple of our regular restaurants just before they closed. They were very quiet, and the staff looked bored and were inattentive. In one where we know all the staff very well, we remarked on the atmosphere, and they admitted it had been so quiet that they were fed up and waiting to close. Not very professional maybe, but I guess they do have a long season.

[Robbie]

Bruce,
We were down for Christmas and everything was as good as normal. Spoke to Carla but she was very busy so didn't want to mention the observations from October. If the food was to be judged by people voting with their feet then they are back on song. There were a lot of places open during our two week stay but A Gale was packed every night. Great to see.

[lincdoc]

Visited A Gale last week and thought it was excellent value for money. Will definitely go back.

[White Rabbit 2]

I have always had good food and service in Gale and at a reasonable price , seems a shame that people have been dissapointed as we are always satisfied. lets hope that the staff see this site and take note of what is needed to make everybody really happy.

[moodybo]

went to a gale in november not impressed went back in february and it was really good

[Bruce Wallis]

I get the impression that it depends upon whether Carla and her husband are there, or not.

Hopefully they will be there at the end of April.

[Robbie]

I think at this stage after reading all the comments Bruce that you just got one bad meal in Agale which happens us all at some stage in a restaurant which we regularly frequent. I was back down in Carvoeiro again last week and although Carla was off the meal was as good as ever. I have read a lot about restaurant reviews in the village over the last few weeks and have made a few postings myself but I think it all boils down to what measures are being used to evaluate. If you are measuring against surroundings then Agale loses out due to lack of space versus some of the bigger establishments. They may not even have the very best meal in the village (although they couldn't be far off) but this is very much a personal thing but if you measure a restaurant against various measures such as surroundings, service, taste, value for money etc and view as an overall package then Agale wins out every time. You might have noticed a posting I made on the general discussion forum about a fabulous meal I had in Ela and Ela where it could not be faulted but the only problem in my mind is that even with the great food it just felt a little stuffy If you know what I mean. It always makes me feel like an 18 year old visiting my future parents in law for the first time and therefore am not fully at ease which is not nice when on holiday. When I enter the door of Agale I feel totally at ease and our family are made to feel very very welcome. The village was very quiet when I was down but I still had to book Agale which is a great sign I think we are all spoilt for choice when it comes to such a fabulous village and long may it last T

[Bruce Wallis]

Robbie........

We visit A-Gale 2 or 3 times evey time we go to Carvoeiro. We have done so for the last 5 years.
We will make it our first port of call when we arrive next Monday, we always do.

We had a couple of negative reports last November, and when we were there, admittadly when Carla was on holiday, our meal was not up to standard, and we were disappointed.

We big A-Gale up to every friend or client we send to Carvoeiro. We consider it "Our Restaurant"....and are delighted to hear that November was but a brief blip!

[Robbie]

Bruce,
I travel down 4-5 times a year and always make my way to Carla so I bet we have sat beside each other at least once over the last 5 years having a meal I'm the irish guy with the two well behaved children and one 4 (birthday yesterday) year old lunatic who keeps wanting to get lifted up to the singing fish and generally making a nuisance of herself. If you recognise us from before can I take this opportunity to apologise for the inconvenience caused Have a great time in heaven and only wish I was there too.

[Bruce Wallis]

Like the prodigal son, we were welcomed back by a beaming Carla.
We chatted about what happened in November. Big hugs and kisses, and then had a really good meal. Leaving several hours later dined, and very well wined and liquered.

We went a 2nd time last week, food was just as good....but OH MY GOD....the centre table was taken up by a group of 14 raucous loud 40 or 50 something American women with the sort of accents that I thought only appeared in bad American sit-coms.

One table of customers de-camped to a table outside between courses.
The waiters were cringing with embarrassment, and apologising.
As far as I could see, the rest of the diners, including us, hastily finished their main courses, declined dessert, and even turned down the free after dinner drinks, and bailed out!

As always, in adversity, we Brits actually started TALKING to each other....a sort of bonding.
A table of Canadians made it very clear that THEY were Canadian!

We all wondered where Carla was.....apparantly it was her night off. We all thought that very funny!

Nobody there blamed or dissed A-Gale, or Carla.

It just confirmed all the worst European predudices against brash Americans with no class!

Actually in hindsight....it was quiet an amuseing evening.

GOD!!....Will I wind Carla up next time I see her