After arriving at the Alicante airport in the winter, my older brother and I,both students studying agriculture,health and botany headed for the famous Restaurante Los Balcones situated approximately 4 kilometers away from Villena,a town in the province of Alicante and on the countryside.We were taking our mother to celebrate her 50th birthday there.After searching for the top,classic,countryside restaurants located in the Communidad Valenciana on the internet,we saw this restaurant with a nice logo and that it was a buffet restaurant which we knew our mother would like so we jotted it down.We analyzed it;at first I thought it was too expensive since they were charging 22 euros per person but I didn't realize that everything was included.Luckily my brother convinced me that we should risk it going there even if they charged that much.We arrived in front of the restaurant at 8:00 pm,one hour before the opening time.Then it was dusk so the lights were beautifully lit up.The view from the highway was one that was spectacular.Our first impression was that it might actually be worth it after driving over 60 km to come to this restaurant on the countryside.To our surprise we were allowed in and were given a quick tour to their stables to see the animals.Our mum had never seen a horse in her life so she was delighted to have to seen them. My brother and I were therefore happy for her and we wished that more luck would fall upon us that evening.As we were going back to wait in the car till the restaurant opened,my eye caught the big and beautiful garden in which many fruits,vegetables and other plants were grown in.I was very impressed to see such a big garden for a restaurant, because never in my life had I seen any restaurant which grew their own stuff.I therefore jotted every single plant down to do further research on.20 minutes before the restaurant opened we went into the kitchen to look at how they made the different dishes.According to my calculations,over 80 per cent of the fruits and vegetables used in making the dishes served in the restaurant were from their garden.They used absolutely no chemicals and they did not buy ready made foods to serve in the restaurant.Finally when the restaurant opened,we were ushered to the seats reserved for us and the restaurant was getting full of people.We were offAered drinks first and then we started filling our plates at the buffet table.I managed to try a bit of every single dish and they were all good.The only thing I found strange speaking about food, was that this Indonesian dish of rice and vegetables was not peppery or should I say "picante" enough for a label, written on it "picante" ,to have been placed on the dish it was served in,however it was my favorite dish! The floors had heating under them so it made the place nice and warm.The bathrooms had hot water so it made the temperature situation even better.After the meal we were offered wines that were worth over 8 euros available for each person and it was included in the price of the buffet.Before it was time for desserts we were once again invited to see how the dessert dishes were served.The home-made cakes which were kept in the deep freezer were sliced carefully so they would keep a nice and presentable shape.There were over 20 different kinds of cakes,many of chocolate,to be served in the restaurant along with ice cream and fruit too.I was told the secret to slicing cakes the right way was to do them frozen and there was proof so when people complained that the inside of a cake was frozen,there was no point for it because there was a reason.After trying many cakes, some fruit and ice cream,I was so full that I knew I had to sit down for the food to settle before I could pay.To my surprise I was brought the bill so I could pay while I was sitting.You might think this is normal but for a buffet restaurant it is quality service to be brought the bill.Another thing I found strange about the restaurant was that at the counter you could see a section of the kitchen even though the kitchen was nice and tidy.Also you will see that from the counter that there are too many papers stuck on the display board,but all the same it was not that bad because the information on them was quite useful.You would notice that a previous person who commented said many things that were not true.Viewers please do not listen to the words of this man who's title was "Decepcion campestre".I think from my analysis I can conclude that any person who takes his words seriously shall mistaken the quality services the restaurant provides and miss a great opportunity to pay a visit to the restaurant.I have been to many restaurants but none of them have been that good. In total,out of 10 I will give the restaurant 9.Thank you Los Balcones.You made my mum her best birthday.

Agradable casa de campo situada entre Almansa y Villena, buena opción para ir con los niños y disfrutar de un día soleado, una pena que la comida no este a la altura del lugar.

El interior del local es acogedor sin más, con distintos salones que dan cierta intimidad, aunque el trasiego constante de clientes con platos de un sitio a otro es algo molesto, a la vez que habitual por el tipo de servicio.

El menú consiste en buffet libre, a base de platos “internacionales”, como por ejemplo, pates, ensaladas variadas de verduras y de pasta, preparaciones frias de carne, platos con pasta, el único pescado que ví era un salmon con una especie de salsa, preparaciones varias con arroz………., unos 20 o 25 platos distintos, nada de producto. Todo ello lo van reponiendo según se agota.

En general todo bastante decepcionante, la pasta pasada de punto, y con un tomate realmente malo, las verduras de baja calidad y mal cocinadas, las salsas con regustillo a artificial, el pan de distintos tipos precocinado, el arroz salteado con un punto picante excesivo, todos los platos de bajo nivel y sin alma. Se salvan algo los pates, había uno de carne que no estaba mal y otro de berenjena pasable. Los postres siguen la misma línea, tartas de ración secas y más que empalagosas, la mayoría de chocolate, y una de confitura de naranja totalmente congelada por dentro.

Por lo que respecta al servicio, aunque amable, brillaba por su ausencia, nos teníamos que levantar para buscar algún camarero y pedirle una cerveza, la carta de vinos escueta 10 o 12 referencias, pedimos un Casa La Hermita de Jumilla, buen vino que se vio enturbiado por la nefasta calidad de las copas.

En definitiva, ganaría bastante si procediera con lo que es consonante por local y ubicación; chuletas, embutidos, huevos fritos……..etc, todo cocinado con unas buenas brasas, algo sencillo, apetecible, facil de hacer, recurrido cuando no se sabe cocinar y rico siempre que se disponga de un buen producto.

El precio es sin bebida.