La Galería La Mirada

La Galería de la Mirada is a smart seafront restaurant on Paseo del Mar in La Zenia, on the Orihuela Costa, and it's the one to book for a special lunch with the Mediterranean right in front of you. You can sit on the terrace or in the modern, spotless dining room, and either way the sea view does a lot of the work. The cooking is upmarket Mediterranean built around good produce, with a menu that shifts with the seasons. Recent menus have featured ember-grilled red tuna parpatana, slow-cooked beef short rib, ceviche, and a rich rice with Iberian presa, foie and mushrooms. Diners also rave about the oysters, the paella and a lobster stew. It's not the cheapest spot on the coast, but reviewers reckon the quality justifies it for a celebration. The kitchen does lunch from 1pm to 4pm and dinner from 7pm to 10pm every day. Book ahead at weekends and in summer by phone, WhatsApp or the website; they ring back to confirm.