Spain 2012 Guidebook
Best and worst restaurants:
Worst: Pizza Hut
Why: How does Pizza Hut qualify as the "tasty and healthy treat"?
Aaron in Edmond, OK USA 01/16/2012
Best: Bodega Castenada - Granada
Why: This is hard. We used a lot of the recommended restaurants and none disappointed us. Thanks again.
Tim Evans in Iowa City, IA USA 12/26/2011
Best: Bodegas Castaneda
Why: Good food, good prices, free tapas and friendly staff.
Jamie in Eagleville, PA USA 12/11/2011
Best: Bodegas Castaneda
Why: Good food, good prices, free tapas and friendly staff.
Jamie in Eagleville, PA USA 12/11/2011
Worst: Ginger Restaurante in Madrid (p. 425 of 2012 book)
Why: Not worth the trouble because the food was so bland and mediocre, and didn't seem representative of spanish cuisine in any way. (Restaurant has an asian vibe, and is run by asians).
Christine in San Jose, CA USA 12/01/2011
Best:
Why: Did not visit too many
matthew bonini in chesterfield, mo USA 11/25/2011
Worst: El Faro de Triana restaurant in Sevilla
Why: Had lunch there Nov 2011, restrooms were filthy, one of us got horrible food poisoning. I'd suggest removing it from the guide!
Alex Parker in Boston, MA USA 11/24/2011
Best: Ciudad Condal Cerveceria
Why: The BEST Tapas of the whole trip by far.
Worst: Taberna del Alabardero
Why: Not the worst but the seven course is now a five course chefs' choice & quite expensive. In our opinion not worth the hype or price.
Barbara Pearce in Freeport , NY USA 10/17/2011
Best: Ciudad Condal Cerveceria
Why: The BEST Tapas of the whole trip by far.
Worst: Taberna del Alabardero
Why: Not the worst but the seven course is now a five course chefs' choice & quite expensive. In our opinion not worth the hype or price.
Barbara Pearce in Freeport , NY USA 10/17/2011
Best: I'm a foodie and didn't have enough time to taste all of the recommendations and we found some that we would go back to.
Why: Granada- Los Italianos-the ice cream was very good quality. I liked the crema tostada (caramel). We ate and rested in this air-conditioned shop while we were waiting for the Cathedral to open in the afternoon.
Barcelona-Boqueria-Kiosko Universal-the razor clams were to die for. 15 euros for a plate.
Barcelona-El Xampanyet-down the street from the Picasso Museum was delicious and reasonably priced.
Worst: Madrid- Casa Rua
Why: the bocadillos de calamares were not that fresh or tasty and the bread was hard. Yes, it was cheap but it didn't taste good
Maria P. Chan in SF Bay Area, CA USA 09/29/2011
Best: taller de tapas, Barelona
Why: great food, friendly staff
Leslie Kreithen in Huntingdon Valley, PA USA 09/27/2011
Worst: Restaurante Arrayanes
Why: Start with the good--the wait staff speaks English. The restaurant was clean, including the bathrooms. It is convenient, close to the main strip. Now for the bad--service was not very attentive. Waiter took our order, delivered our food and that was it until we asked for a check. No asking if we wanted more to drink or if everything was ok. There is no liquor license and no outdoor seating (shame on us for even going there, but this restaurant is well reviewed and we figured this was a good region to eat middle eastern. The appetizer for four for ten Euros was a fair deal, but the pita was somewhat stale and not warm. Three of us went with the chicken with couscous for 14 Euros. We had to specifically ask for white meat. It was ok, not bad, but nothing special and not for that price. We've had meals in Barcelona and earlier that day in Granada for 10 Euros or less that included several courses, better food and in some cases, a glass of wine. Here, it was 1.50 Eu to 3 Eu for water, soda, juice or non-alcohol beer. A glass, no refill. The fourth entree was beef on a skewer. It was ground beef and the rice and white sauce that came with it were awful--mayonaise? This entree was 8 or 9 Euros and just really not very good. We didn't get dessert, which I'm sure wouldn't have merited the cost. The Arabic coffee was watered down and mediocre. I have to wonder about the people, including the famous Rick Steves, that gave this restaurant a good review. Rick claims it was inexpensive. 38 Euros per couple without alcohol or dessert is not inexpensive, even in Spain (we've had a number of good meals for $20-30 Euros per couple with wine and dessert included). We've eaten at a number of Middle Eastern restaurants in the US, France, and elsewhere. This would be a mediocre meal at half the cost in Stuart, Florida. This would be a medicore meal at half the cost in Granada. Very disappointing, overrated and overpriced and, besides, why eat indoors on a beautiful evening and no alcohol when you're on vacation? Go elsewhere!
Diana in Palm City, FL USA 09/21/2011
Best: San Marco Restaurant Seville, Spain
Why: Food was delicious and priced as the book said. Ambience was outstanding with excellent service.
Worst: Traga Tapas Ronda, Spain
Why: The meal was okay but we couldn't help but notice the power of a Rick Steve's recommendation, all of the adjacent businesses were vacant. But that is not my issue, the prices were outrageous! They charged 5 ethos for beer and 16.50 for a plate of tomatoes with mozzarella and basil. I thought they were kidding. The book talked about a list of 2 euro tapas and there were very few, maybe five. I would not recommend this place. They may have been a good deal at one time but clearly went crazy with the prices when business picked up. It was a big disappointment, 58 euros for a meager meal.
Janet Drake in Bellevue, Wa USA 08/05/2011
Best: Cafe Bar Carmela in Seville
Why: First of all the food was very good, and the location was just right. Mostly, however, I love the fact that we muddled through the first night's order ENTIRELY in our broken Spanish, and then the second night entirely in flawless English with the same waiter -- never once did he smirk at our struggling Spanish!
Worst:
Why: We went more on hoteliers' recommendations this time as I was having a heard time getting a good read on Guidebook's recommendations sometimes.
Mary Byrne in Victoria, BC Canada 07/24/2011
Best: Tapas tour on the Cava Baja
Why: Lots of fun and most places were pretty reasonable if you got small plates. Gets very crowded by 9pm though.
Elizabeth in Pittsburg, CA USA 07/15/2011
Best: Arrayanes (Granada)
Why: The food was over the top excellent- we had fish and lamb tagine. The service was excellent, as well.
Sharon in Sharon, MA USA 07/15/2011
Best: Las Teresas, Seville
Why: Delightful little neighbourhood bar with divine prawns on skewers and friendly helpful staff. We dined there 3 evenings and strolled back to our hotel in the warm evening.
Worst: Hotel Don Miguel, Ronda
Why: Very ordinary food, overpriced and under flavoured, very touristy. Saved only by the view
June in Auckland, New Zealand 07/07/2011
Best: Casa del Abuelo, Madrid
Why: The gambas al ajillo were amazing, and the staff was very friendly, even on a late/busy Friday night. Their sweet house red wine is pretty good, too. The "famously rude" staff at the Museo del Jamon was not rude at all, at least to me, and I enjoyed the first stop of a tapas crawl there very much.
Worst: El Madrono, Madrid
Why: Did not, as the guidebook suggests, offer good raciones at the outdoor tables, and instead pushed me toward an overpriced and not that good dinner of roasted ox - and the small side salad the waiter offered turned out to be the 10 euro equivalent of a Cobb salad, suitable on its own for dinner. With rude service to top it all, I was very disappointed.
John Barcus in Fort Worth, TX USA 07/05/2011
Best: El Xampanet,Barcelona
Why: Great food and great people
Worst: Casa Ladras, Madrid
Why: We ate in the back room while the service was good the food was not. Few choices, dry bread
Della Schnell in Fresno, CA USA 07/01/2011
Best: Star Bar
Why: English breakfast was affordable and delicious!
Travis in Puyallup, WA USA 05/21/2011
Best: La Mallorquina in Madrid
Why: Fun place for a "Madrid-style" breakfast.
Greg in Ventura, CA USA 05/17/2011
Best: Madrid: Oriental Cafe, Barcelona: La Rita Restaurant
Why: Both had an awesome prix-fixe lunch menu, which I love. Classy, quiet, reasonably priced, and filled with locals. The best meals we had.
Worst: Madrid: Puerto Rico Restaurant, Valor (Churros)
Why: PR Restaurant: Pushy, rude servers. Food was cold, uninspired, and over-priced. Charged me for bread! Just unpleasant. They were lucky I was hungry and just too exhausted to put up a fight. Valor: Churros are soooo over-rated. Was expecting what we make in Mexico (sugar and cinnamon crunchy delights). Cold, bland, flavorless flour dipped in strong and syrupy chocolate glue. Disgusting and over-priced.
Susana Galvan in Atlanta, GA USA 05/08/2011
Best: Arrayanes in Granada
Why: Excellent service,wonderful food,very reasonably priced.
Rich Zayatz in Asheville, NC USA 05/03/2011
Best: Casa Santa Pola
Why: Besides the wonderful cliff vistas, Casa Santa Pola in Ronda, Spain, provides exquisite traditional food with a modern twist and stunning presentation. With its outstanding decor and ambiance, excellent service with attention to detail, Ignacio and Felisa (the owners) will personally guarantee your experience is one to remember. (http://www.ronda.net/usuar/santapola/index.php)
Rafael Soto in Idaho Falls, ID USA 04/10/2011
Best: Restaurant Elisabets
Why: A great little restaurant packed with locals and serving great food! Try the Tio Pedro on the menu: A grilled dark butifarra sausage with onions on a large baguette for only an astounding 3.45 Euros! Service was also fast and friendly.
Worst: Sagardi and Taverna Basca Irati
Why: Service was great and so was the food. But what needs to be pointed out in the future Snapshot Barcelona is that these two restaurants serve the EXACT same tapas! So if you visit one restaurant, you've essentially visited the other one!
Thomas Elliot in Nom de Plume, TX USA 03/09/2011
Best: Toni's tapas in Madrid
Why: our first, friendly and delicious encounter with the tapas scene
Karin McCullough in Seattle, WA USA 03/07/2011
Best: FrescCo
Why: I love FrescCo and eat there every time I'm in Spain. There's one on Gran Via in Granada just a few blocks from Hotel Inglaterra.
Kyla Gurganus in Ypsilanti, MI USA 03/04/2011
Worst: Sagardi in Barcelona
Why: Not a bad place at all, but it is the exact same as Basca Irati. The book needs to point this out. I visited both and found the same tapas at both.
Dale in Fairfield, OH USA 03/03/2011
Worst: El Caldero restaurant in Madrid
Why: Too brightly lit; too noisy (including the loud toddler of the owner); poor paella
Claudia in Ann Arbor, MI USA 02/26/2011
Best: Taller de Tapas, Rambla de Catalunya
Why: Great food and incredible people watching. Good wine, moderate prices. An evening's entertainment in itself. And Woody Allen once was there.
Worst: El faro di Tirana, Sevilla
Why: See above
Joan in Maurertown, VA USA 01/29/2011
Best: Restaurant Elisabets
Why: I almost hate to do this, because it fees like telling a secret--this place is fantastic! Partly because in spite of being in the guidebook and located close to the Rambla, it's not packed with tourists, but mostly because they just serve really good food at a more than reasonable price. I ate there when I first arrived 4 months ago and just took some visiting friends there last week. It still has great ambiance and serves a fantastic, simple meal spiced with a little friendly sass from the servers. Go and enjoy, but please don't tell!!
Elaine Newton-Bruzza in Portland, OR USA 12/26/2010
Best: Restaurante San Marco in Seville
Why: Wonderful Italian place with good food, service, atmosphere. Our best meal in Spain
Worst: Food was a disappointment in Spain
Why: Somewhat our fault as we didn't want to eat our big meal at 9:00 or later. Some good tapas, but many were not as expected. Too many fatty hams and salamis. Bread was not good. Places were smoky and loud. Guess we're too used to France!!
Judy in Alexandria, MN USA 11/20/2010
Best: Biocenter, Barcelona
Why: I had a really wonderful lunch at Biocenter, following you suggestion. They were very nice, and attentive, and as I stated above I am used to getting the worst tables and service since I travel alone. They were great, showed me around, explained everything on the fixed price menu, showed me the salad bar (that was extensive and fabulous) and I had a wonderful lunch. I would hightly recommend this restuarant to everyone. The food was very very good, and it was nice to have a selection that was not based on Iberico Ham.
kg in Denver, CO USA 11/03/2010
Best: Madrino restaurant in Madrid
Why: Excellent service, experience and price! It was our last night in Spain, and it was such a great and affordable send off.
Hilda Fernandez in Los Angeles, CA USA 10/28/2010
Best: La Abadia Tapas Restaurant
Why: The selection plate was so fresh and offered a bit of just about every taste you would like on a selection plate.
Worst: El Trebol
Why: Terrible service and we never got all of our order. Waiter never came back to our table to see if we wanted anything else.
Carmelita Stone in Plattsburg, MO USA 10/13/2010
Best: Ronda: Bar Lechuguita
Why: Tapas and atmosphere at the Bar Lechuguita (2010, page 610) were fantastic! They now have a dozen or so bar stools.
Bob in Alameda, CA USA 10/09/2010
Best: Cal Pep
Why: Best for tapas but no reservations accepted and long lines every night. Seating at the bar is worth the wait, fresh seafood and a must for foodies.
Kim in Chicago, IL USA 10/04/2010
Best: La Rita, Ciudad Condal Ceveceria, la Gardunya
Why: All were just as Rick had said, as were the recommended others where we ate in Barcelona. Fresh, delicious food, helpful, attentive service, and economical prices as well as ambience were the attractions. We ate at 10 of Rick's recommendations and used the Snapshot for attractions and other tips all the time.
Worst: Restaurants Elisabets
Why: Not really bad, but not worth mentioning, I thought. Such ordinary food. Price was fine though. Better food and service at places next to it on the Placa Bonsucces, in the neighborhood of our hotel.
Elizabeth G. Harris in Los Angeles, CA USA 09/19/2010
Best: La Rita, Ciudad Condal Ceveceria, la Gardunya
Why: All were just as Rick had said, as were the recommended others where we ate in Barcelona. Fresh, delicious food, helpful, attentive service, and economical prices as well as ambience were the attractions. We ate at 10 of Rick's recommendations and used the Snapshot for attractions and other tips all the time.
Worst: Restaurants Elisabets
Why: Not really bad, but not worth mentioning, I thought. Such ordinary food. Price was fine though. Better food and service at places next to it on the Placa Bonsucces, in the neighborhood of our hotel.
Elizabeth G. Harris in Los Angeles, CA USA 09/19/2010
Best: Ciudad Condal Cerveceria
Why: Great service, delicious tapas, wonderful ambiance outside on the Rambla de Catalunya. Come at 20:00 and a table is likely available.
Ron Benton in Spring, TX USA 08/14/2010
Worst: El Racó (Barcelona, Spain)
Why: We waited for 20 minutes to be seated and once we were it took forever for anyone just to take our order. Once they took it no one brought us our drinks or our appetizer. After asking a different waiter our appetizer and drinks our drinks were brought to our table. But, after 45 minutes of waiting for our appitizer and food we left. Would not recommend this place to anyone. A table of 6 that was there at the same time as us had to send back most of there food because it was not right and they ended up leaving before the meal was over as well.
Chris Wollan in Monticello, MN USA 08/05/2010
Best: La Torre del Oro, Madrid
Why: A funky bar serving stand up overpriced food, but full of bull memorobelia and a great staff! Fun.
Ann Heft in Gainesville, Fl USA 08/04/2010
Best: Sagardi--Barcelona
Why: So fun to try all the different sandwich concoctions -- all delicious and artistic in their own way! --and at 1.80 Euros a pop, not expensive for a fun, memorable meal. We went late (10:00 PM-ish) and felt like locals. :)
Worst: Mercado del Arenal--Seville
Why: We arrived, starving, at around lunch-time to this marketplace hoping to get some picnic fixings and sit outside on the riverfront. The market was largely closed that late in the day, with only a few fruit stands and seafood stalls still open. We grabbed a bocadillo at a corner deli instead, but were disappointed we went out of our way for nothing. Also, the riverfront was a bust -- no benches in the shade meant a brutal walk in the mid-day sun in an unsuccessful attempt to find a spot to eat our bocadillo.
Lindsay in New York, NY USA 08/03/2010
Best: Restaurant La Gardunya
Why: Salad was especially fresh. Fish dinner was ho-hum and the view was just okay. My friends and I were divided on this one.
Jason in Heil, OH USA 07/25/2010
Best: Cuidad Condal Cerveceria
Why: The wait staff was very patient with me as I ordered small amounts of food at a time. Everything I ordered was wonderful, and it was obvious the tapas were not pre-made. Sangria was great.
Worst: El Raco
Why: Service was the problem at this restaurant. I went to eat at 2200. Food was great, but they never brought the starter, and my husband finished his entree before mine ever appeared.
Sharron Stevens in Oberstaufenbach, Germany 07/10/2010
Best: Bar la Carcel, Arcos de la Frontera
Why: As the book says, this family has bragging rights to the BEST tapas we had anywhere in Spain. It helps that the town was charming and the bar had a great atmosphere to match that.
Worst: Oreja de Oro
Why: poor service and pigs ears are just gross!
Lora Rozzi in Granger, IN USA 07/06/2010
Worst: La Crema Canela in Barcelona
Why: The food and the service is truly unimpressive and not worth your time. Try Les Quinze Nits right around the corner where it seemed much more dynamic and the food looked scrumptious.
Amanda in Montreal, Qc CANADA 06/22/2010
Best: Pizza Marzano in Barcelona just outside the Sagrada Familia
Why: The waiters were friendly and helpful, attempting to help us with deciphering the Spanish menu. They tried valiantly to give us the English translations, which is more effort than most other restaurants. The lunch set at 12.90 including taxes is an amazing value, considering that the quality of the ingredients used and the cooking were of a high standard. I would say it was comparable to what you could get in a better Italian restaurant in Italy. The vegetable soup was very tasty and went well with their homemade mini breadballs. The pizza bolognaise was very well done as well. Both our dessert options(also in the set lunch) tiramisu and cheesecake were delicious, unlike some other places that give you a lousy dessert just because you ordered the set menu. Excellent value for money at a very good quality.
Diane in Singapore, Singapore 06/20/2010
Best: Madrid--Museo de Vino
Why: This restaurant was not in the RS book but was very good for Paella and the atmosphere--entire ceiling is decorated with wine bottles. Casa Toni was closed when we attempted to dine there and Museo de Vino is located just down the block on the same side of the street. The Paella was wonderful and the staff very attentive.
Susan Jennings in Atlanta, ga USA 06/16/2010
Worst: Restaurant Modesto (Sevilla), Bodegas Castaneda (Granada)
Why: Both had TERRIBLE service and very rude waitstaff, and the food was not good either. The only redeeming thing about Bodegas Castaneda was the bartender - he was nice.
Jen Guinan in Chicago, IL USA 06/13/2010
Best: Sagardi in Barcelona
Why: Delicious tapas, excellent house wine, and having fun feeling like a true Barcelonan!
Shannon Gardiner Collins in Alexandria, VA USA 06/09/2010
Worst: Carmen Mirador
Why: This restaurant in the Albayzin area (hard to get to) is very over rated. Staff had bad attitudes and food was mediocre. Setting was nice with view of the Alhambra at sunset but that is the only positive thing that comes to mind. The classic guitar music was nonexistent--no music period. The Clintons must have been treated far better than we were. Not a friendly place at all and table service very poor--wine was never poured for us, etc. Dessert menu never offered and by that time we were ready to leave and skip it.
Susan Jennings in Atlanta, Ga USA 06/09/2010
Best: La Rita for meal; Sagardi for tapas (both in Barcelona)
Why: La Rita (p. 106): Fixed-price lunch was delicious and a great value. Sagardi (p. 104): Best tapas I had during 3-week trip.
Worst: Casa Torcuato in Granada's Albayzin
Why: (p. 501) I ordered small tropical salad, but waiter brought me small regular salad and insisted it was what I ordered. I'm positive it wasn't tropical because it had no fruit as described in book but did have asparagus and other non-tropical things.
Nicole in Bayonne, NJ USA 05/31/2010
Best: Taverna Basca Irati - Barcelona
Why: Delicious! Loved the pay by the toothpick system. So fun! Lots to discover. Cheap and yummy!
Anika in Longmont, CO USA 05/19/2010
Worst: Oreja de Oro
Why: Grease dripping off the vent hood onto the bar. The pig ears were nasty.
D Kronus in Bradenton, FL USA 05/19/2010
Worst: Posada de la Villa
Why: We dined here on your recommendation. While the food was good, the staff was downright rude., unhelpful (no one attempted to understand our English or Spanish) and our 35th anniversary was all but ruined.
Carmela Infanti in Philadelphia, PA USA 05/11/2010
Worst: Restaurants in Spain's Madrid & Barcelona
Why: I am 70 and my wife is 61 and we basically travel per you suggestions, bus, rail and public transportation. Your reccommendation on tapas I disagree with, this is usually deep fried, artery clogging, junk food. Also I have taken a oath that I will not eat a pizza for a year, and never eat a ham & cheese sandwich ever. Also, I made about 5 requests for just one cup of coffee americano, got quotes of $3 to $7. Starbucks will give you watered down coffee for about $4. They have heard about this. Further more, I really don't like being served my food by a robot inpersonator with the personality of a vending machine, not cute or amusing.
James E. Turner in Twain Harte, CA USA 04/28/2010
Best: San Marco in Sevilla
Why: The prices are great for a fine restaurant. The waiters and staff worked very hard, and the owner had a good sense of humor. There was a guitar player too, a great value.
Ryan MacDicken in Auburn, WA USA 04/23/2010
Worst: Taberna Torre de la Plata, Seville
Why: Seems to have shut down. A local suggested the restaurant has moved to a new location but there was no sign on the door to redirect us.
Dave Fisher in Calgary, AB Canada 04/12/2010
Best: Teller de Tapas in Barcelona
Why: The mountain lamb tapa was to-die-for good!
Jodie Padgett in Carlinville, IL USA 04/06/2010
Best: Bodegas Castaneda, Granada
Why: Very local feel with excellent tapas. Low cost and high quality. Location is steps away from Plaza Nueva
Worst: Restaurante San Marco, Sevilla
Why: Page 556 in 2010 guidebook. The food at this restaurant is terrible. I have had much better frozen pizzas. The pasta tastes like it came straight out of a can. Too bad the food is so bad since the setting is beautiful in the former Moorish bath.
John Osgood in New York, NY USA 03/31/2010
Best: Tempranillo, Madrid
Why: Wonderful wine and delicious tapas. No tourists to be found.
Worst: Restaurant Botin, Madrid
Why: The house specialty lamb was a bit dry and underwhelming. The fact that it is overrun by American tourists is no exageration.
John Osgood in New York, NY USA 03/23/2010
Best: Bar La Carcel in Arcos
Why: spectacular service for Spain, no frills, delicious food, cheap prices on everything, understandable menu
Lara in Denver, CO USA 03/14/2010
Best: Taberna Salinas, Cordoba
Why: Excellant food, good prices, menu in English, great wait staff
Worst: Bodega Compos, Cordoba
Why: Good food & service but absolutely no help for those of us that don't speak Spanish. They acted as if they didn't want us in the restaurant.
William Kinsey in Las Cruces, NM USA 02/27/2010
Best: Pizzeria Pastucci, Toledo
Why: We thought we would try to find our own place for dinner, so we walked until we came upon Pizzeria Pastucci, and it was the perfect simple dinner for us (also my 49th birthday). Come to find out that this place is a recommended restaurant! We agreed with what the guidebook said, but Rick found it first!
Julie Langill in Danville, CA USA 02/15/2010
Best: Pizzeria La apricciosa, Tarifa
Why: Good food and friendly service at a great price. The salads and pizzas are huge, and you could easily split one with others.
NJ in Seattle, WA USA 02/08/2010
Best: Madrid....Cafe Toni tapas bar
Why: great local flavor, fast,cheap and easy for tapas and canas(small beers)...really fun!
Pete Hall in Haddonfield, NJ USA 01/03/2010
Best: Restaurante Enrique Becerra
Why: They were patient with our elementary Spanish and the food was very good. We had tapas as well as a sit down dinner on various occasions and always left pleased.
Virginia in Boston, MA USA 12/17/2009
Best: The Tapas Restaurant/Bar
Why: OMG, toothpicks, food and fun .... standing was okay for a while!
Catherine in Edmonds, WA USA 12/15/2009
Best: Restaurant Bar Terraza in Arcos
Why: It was difficult to find a place to eat during the day in November, when many places are closed. The Terraza did not look like much, but it had a good daily menu selection at a reasonable price. There were many locals eating and drinking there so you know they are doing something right.
Jim Perschbacher in Mableton, GA USA 12/06/2009
Best: Museo de Jamon
Why: It's nothing fancy, but it's very cheap -- an essential quality now that the Euro is expensive and Spanish food is pricey (and probably not worth it, in general, to splurge on -- this ain't Paris). In the back, you can get a cerveza and a plate of meet for less than 4 euros. The food is even cheaper at the carryout "deli" in the front. Buy a bagette and some sliced jamon and you have a great breakfast for less than 2 euros a person.
Dave in Philadelphia, PA USA 12/01/2009
Best: Ciudad Condal in Barcelona
Why: Excellent sangria; a wide variety of delectable tapas displayed along the wooden bar; and friendly, lighthearted waiters (particularly the Filipinos). Ate dinner there three nights in a row. We also loved the tapas at El Carcel in Arcos de la Frontera.
Nancy Zeilig in Denver, CO USA 11/14/2009
Best: 1) Zulema in Grazalema; 2) Artemisia II in Madrid
Why: 1) Fresh food and large portions and the salads really are big; 2) A welcome oasis for vegetarians. My meat-eating travel companion also found many options. I ate there several times since it was near our hotel and felt comfortable dining alone for dinner one night. They staff spoke some English.
Wendy in Washington , DC USA 11/04/2009
Best: Taller de Tapas
Why: We thought the waitstaff was attentive. Prices were reasonable for the area. The tapas were excellent as well!
Jennifer in New York, NY USA 11/01/2009
Best: Barcelona: La Dolce Hermina
Why: I did not see a 9-euro lunch but did not ask about it. We ordered a la carte and though it was much more than 9 euros, it was worth it. I felt very civilized and was glad to get such a nice meal after all the jamon we'd been eating.
Sharon in Anaheim, CA United States 10/28/2009
Best: Barcelona, Danzarama, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 604
Why: This restaurant, about 2 blocks off the Placa de Catalunya, was just wonderful. Service was excellent. The owner made sure all was well and personally served our seafood paella. The Cava Sangria was a wonderful accompaniment. Went there twice. Highly recommended.
Len Duffy in Towson, MD USA 10/17/2009
Best: LaGloria de Montera, Madrid (Gran Via metro)
Why: White table cloths, friendly but non intrusive wait staff, two wonderful fish entrees, a dessert list to die for and a wine list that was so inexpensive yet good, that a couple from Holland joined us in asking if the prices were for bottles or a glass? No reservations but well worth waiting out front for the 8:30 opening. San Marco in Sevilla also worth a special visit.
George in Pittsburgh, PA USA 10/10/2009
Best: Cotijo Las Piletas, Ronda, La Rita, Barcelona,
Why: If you stay at the hotel in Ronda spend at least one night eating in the hotel,Pablo fixes great dishes of the region and many are his mother's favorites.
Worst: None
Why: As usuaul we rarerly stray from Rick's suggestions and are not dissapointed.
Hank Smalling in Aiken, SC USA 10/09/2009
Best: Bodega Santa Cruz
Why: Probably the best tapas I had while I was in Spain. Great wine and they were very sweet about my horrible Spanish.
Jean Brubeck in Santa Cruz, CA USA 10/06/2009
Best: Bar Ra, Barcelona
Why: Delicious dinner and great atmostphere for reasonable prices. We also had a great dinner chat w/ our table neighbors, two gals from Buenos Aires who moved to Barcelona to work. This place must be recommended by everyone because we also ended up waiting for a table with two gals from Tanzania that we met earlier that day at the laundromat.
Cheryl Collins in Seattle, WA USA 10/04/2009
Worst: Museo de Jamon
Why: Prior to my trip I had read in guidebooks and online that the Museo de Jamon would try to screw you by getting you to order jamon iberico (ham that costs 10 x more than regular ham). A pretty experienced traveler, I assumed this would be by employed on the more naive who didn't know the differences between the classes of hams.
We tried this restaurant because it was next door to our hotel. I was VERY clear when I ordered that we wanted a racione of regular ham (about 2.50 EURO) and a small croissant sandwich of jamon iberico (about 4.50 EURO). I ensured this by pointing to it on the menu. When our food arrived it was two huge plates, one of each kind of ham. I called the server back over and told him we did not order this, we ordered the croissant iberico and pointed to it on the menu. He reapeatedly and hurriedly assured me that it was. I asked the obvious question, "then where's the croissant?" He got upset with me and walked off.
I told my boyfriend not to touch the dishes and asked for the bill. When it arrived it was about 25 Euros (instead of the 7 it should have been). I told him we did not order the racione or iberico but the croissant. The waiter proceeded to try and intimidate me by making a scene and yelling at me that I did in fact order the huge plate of iberico ham.
At this point I turned to the crowd of Spanish people next to me and asked if anyone spoke English. A girl finally said she did. I asked her loudly and point blank to please share with everyone what they heard me order (as everyone has previously overheard me call the waiter back 3 x to ensure it was the croissant jamon as I was pretty sure I was being screwed). The girl rather uncomfortably attested that she heard me order the cheaper croissant iberico. In a too-sweet -to-be-genuine voice I explained to the waiter that luckily we did not even touch his ham so he could just take it away and bring us what we ordered - which he did with such hostility I won't attempt to paint it with words.
As soon as it came we asked for the bill which was thrown at us. We immediately left, leaving the untouched entrees on the counter.
Walking into this restaurant is like asking to be scammed by the people who put bracelets on your outside the Eiffel tower, making a scene and demanding that you pay. I could not BELIEVE that a restaurant recommended in a guidebook would behave that way - or adversely that a guidebook would recommend such an establishment. The situation was EXTREMELY uncomfortable. I am going to rip them a new one all over the Internet and feel compelled to make sure people know just how far out of their way this establishment will go to screw you out of $30.
Jenny in Jackson, WA USA 10/01/2009
Worst: Restaurante Botin in Madrid
Why: The suckling pig was extremely fatty, salty and mostly inedible (E22.50. Our meals included one small potato each, and a quarter of a salad that was not big enough for two, much less four people. The salad alone was E13.25. We had 3 suckling pigs, one chicken, the salad, the cheapest bottle of wine (E18.35), 3 desserts and expresso...the bill was E146.15 and we went home hungry. They even charge extra for bread. The place is gorgeous, but go there as part of a walking tour, not to eat. It was full of tourists, as we expected, but we felt rushed and ripped off.
D. Davidson in Long Beach, CA USA 09/28/2009
Best: La Pescadaria in Tarifa
Why: great service and food, nice plaza ambience
Worst: Pizzeria La Capricciosa
Why: poor food, even worse service; by far the worst of our two weeks in Spain.
Steve Richards, M.D. in Spokane, WA USA 08/17/2009
Best: La Pescadaria in Tarifa
Why: great service and food, nice plaza ambience
Worst: Pizzeria La Capricciosa
Why: poor food, even worse service; by far the worst of our two weeks in Spain.
Steve Richards, M.D. in Spokane, WA USA 08/17/2009
Best: Botin-Madrid
Why: oldest restaurant in the world. Great atmossphere and wonderful food..the suckling pig was really good.
Daphne Weaver in Bremerton, WA USA 08/03/2009
Best: Sevilla ( El Arenal)
Why: Show was great and dancers were very enthusiatic.
Worst: Sevilla ( El Arenal)
Why: The food was only palitable. I had the dinner show and the salad had wilted dry out greens, and the dessert was mousse that was frozen in the middle with no taste to it. Recommend just drinks sitting that close was just too loud.
Carmen in Los Angeles, CA USA 07/15/2009
Best: Cafe de l'Academia
Why: Best restaurant we visited in Barcelona for dinner. Great wine, starter, entree, dessert. Great service-friendly, helpful! And had fabulous atmosphere. But small...either get there early (1/2hr before open) or call for a reservation. Tables were gone soon after opening.
Amy Teague in Fishers, IN USA 06/08/2009
Best: Casa Toni's
Why: terrific tapa experience, made it easy for a few Americans who spoke just enough Spanish, and a great representation of the standards. Rick's suggestion for sauteed chili tapa was also a big winner.
Russ Lorber in Westminster, MD USA 06/06/2009
Best: Cochran's - Nerja also Mezzanine - Sitges
Why: Cochran's - Fantastic view from outdoor patio bar. Dining was unfortunately indoors so we moved on for dinner. Mezzanine in Sitges -Fabulous food and presentation. French chef. Great dining experience.
Worst: The Clipper Pub - Gibraltar
Why: Please do not recommend. We received very poor, extremely rude service for no apparent reason. We were pleasant and patient. The servers ignored our table and chatted aamongst themselves as they were not busy. I asked the time and the server ignored me and walked away. We had to ask for a menu and ask for the bill. The server took our money, left our change on the bar by the cash register and went off to clear a table. The food and drinks were fine, the service abysmal!
Joan McKey in North Vancouver, BC Canada 05/14/2009
Best: Taverna Basca Irati in Barcelona
Why: Great place for tapas. The staff was very nice, good location and easy to get tapas.
spainfan in Washington, DC USA 05/08/2009
Best: 1)Julian de Tolosa; 2)Casa Rua; 3)Corral del Agua Restaurante, 4)Carmen de las Tomasas, 5)Arraynes
Why: 1) We'd go back any time we could for the food and atmosphere. 2) Not for a real meal of course, but a "heckofadeal!" 3) Peaceful with good food and freedom from smokers. 4) As a light rain fell and darkness fell the view was a fine compliment to the food. 5) GREAT food and hosted by Mostafa made our evening. Give this place a better position in the book.
Gerald L. Rose in Iowa City, IA USA 04/30/2009
Best: Restaurante la Palmera, Barcelona
Why: My wife and I lunched here using the degustation lunch, about 15 Euros each. We got to try 12 different "tapas." And then we split their dessert sampler (another 5 choices) for 4 more Euros. All 17 selections were excellent! The main room is definitely the way to go, and we didn't find it smoky. A resevation would be a good idea. The only bad thing I can say is it's not cheap. With a house wine, our lunch at this fairly casual restaurant still cost almost $65.
Dave in Philadelphia, PA USA 03/31/2009
Worst: Taberna Casa Salinas, Cordoba
Why: We were disappointed by the tapas, including the salmorejo recommended in the book, but maybe it's a matter of taste and what one orders.
Steve in Princeton, NJ USA 03/24/2009
Best: Ciudad Condal Cerveceria, Barcelona (page 97)
Why: Great tapas and atmosphere. Two other wonderful tapas restaurants are Celler de Tapas near Universitat Metro in Barcelona and La Abadia in Toledo. We met a couple from Canada in Toledo when we noticed they had Rick's book. Thankfully they told us about La Abadia where we had one of our best meals ever. Ask the TI or a local for directions at Plaza Zocodover. avadiatoledo.com
ED ERWIN in CORSICANA, TX USA 03/23/2009
Best: Fres Co in Madrid
Why: The price was 9.50 euros at lunch. It included a good salad bar (the place was so busy, they were having a hard time keeping it stocked), pizza, hot vegetables (broccoli!), great pasta, soups (which I didn't try), other hot dishes, fresh fruit, desserts, one drink, and an ice cream machine (good chocolate ice milk, very strange-tasting lemon "yogurt"). We ate at the one just of Calle de Arenal and loved it.
Kyla Gurganus in Ypsilanti, MI USA 03/06/2009
Best: Jose Maria Restaurant, Segovia
Why: Absolutely wonderful atmosphere and delicious food. My husband loved their roast lamb and the suckling pig was tender and flavorful. Our desserts were out of this world, especially the oranges in oil and paprika and the special house cake. They were most solicitous with my daughter who suffers from celiac disease.
Worst: Meson de Candido, Segovia
Why: This can not POSSIBLY be one of the top restaurants in Castile, or even close! We were so disappointed. The place is old-fashioned, tired, and well past its prime. Its location next to the aqueduct is indeed fantastic, but the food is just not very good. My husband found the roast lamb he ordered to be far inferior to the same dish he had ordered at Jose Maria's. I ordered duck on a pear puree and what came was overcooked meat on a thick pile of I don't know what, but it seemed to be mayonnaise, with a tiny bit of pear puree underneath the pile of "mayo". My husband ordered rice pudding for dessert and received what we can only describe as soupy gruel. My chocolate cake was a hot, heavy, and tasteless lump drenched in chocolate sauce. Awful.
Ava Nackman in Chapel Hill, NC USA 01/26/2009
Best: Chocolateria San Gines, Barcelona
Why: VERY local and totally packed. Great prices and delicious churros!
Jennifer Chen in Fremont, CA USA 01/03/2009
Best: La Bodeguilla de San Roque - Santiago, El Faro de Triana - Sevilla
Why: La Bodeguilla was a true gem and gave us our best meal in Spain. Just as described, the place was packed so we squeezed up to the bar, had a few albarinos with free tapas, and then shortly were seated and enjoyed a wonderful dinner. At El Faro, we had great tapas and wine one night, and a great breakfast the next morning. Great bartenders there.
Worst: Bodega Santa Cruz - Sevilla
Why: Actually, we never ate there. Every time it was just SO crowded, you couldn't even fight your way up to the bar to order. No place is worth that kind of grief.
Jon Strebler in Chula Vista, CA USA 01/03/2009