La Crispeta

La Crispeta is a friendly tapas and market-cooking restaurant on Calle Jorge Juan, just off the main old-town drag in central Alicante, and it's a reliable pick for a good-value dinner with proper service. It's a little away from the busiest pedestrian streets, which keeps it relaxed. Fish and seafood lead the way. Reviewers talk about the sepia, prawns, tuna tartare and the salmon, plus burrata salad, meatballs, Padrón peppers, bravas and tortilla. If you're more of a meat person, there's chuletón and pork tenderloin. White sangría gets a few shout-outs too. The staff and manager get a lot of love for explaining dishes and looking after tables. It's popular, so book ahead. Reviews aren't flawless: a few people found desserts underwhelming or a dish undercooked, but most leave happy and feel the prices are fair for the quality. It's a good shout for families as well as couples.