AL FRESCO DINING IN SPAIN IS ONE OF THE GREAT PLEASURES ON OFFER IN SPAIN FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR
Throughout Spain around lunch time, you cannot fail to notice the numerous blackboards outside of restaurants boasting various renditions of the ‘Menu Del Dia’ or Daily Menu. For those not familiar with the concept, this is a set menu in Spain providing anywhere from two to eight or more choices of ‘primero plato’, (first plate), ‘segundo plato’ (second plate) and dessert. More often than not the set price also includes wine, water, bread and coffee and is notable for serving the traditional food of Spain. The price for a set menu in Spain at lunchtime varies from around eight Euros to up to thirty in higher quality food establishments, with a marked price hike on the weekends.
Now this may sound like excellent value for money and it usually is, but there are some definite tricks to watch out for before settling in to satisfy your hunger. Firstly, it’s wise to make sure you have a healthy appetite before dining out in Spain at lunchtime, as generally the quantity of food provided for a set menu in Spain will defeat even the most dedicated eater. It is also recommended that you choose a slightly lighter first dish, such as a salad or vegetable based dish in order to leave room for the second, which is inevitably a hefty portion of meat or fish, usually accompanied by chips or potatoes. This is also a way to guarantee some vegetables in your meal, as the Spanish don’t really go in for accompanying vegetables or salads – with the main course, you will just get a plate of meat! Go easy on the bread too, it might all be included but is not usually the best part of the meal.
It is also best not to have too many high expectations about wine quality when eating out in Spain at lunchtime. While more expensive menus del dia will often provide a nice bottle of Rioja, cheaper versions may require diluting the vino with casera (lemonade type drink), to make it drinkable. The amount of wine provided is also a grey area. Whilst some establishments serving set menu in Spain will keep the vino coming until you are slipping under the table, others will whack on an extra charge after the first bottle.
Unfortunately, food quality in Spain for a menu del dia varies greatly and is not always dependent on price, so it’s a good idea to go on a recommendation or look for places that are packed with diners. It sometimes feels as if Menus Del Dia are simply a way to use up left over produce or to bump up the price on poor quality or cheap food ingredients by increasing quantity to mammoth proportions. To illustrate this point in the past two weeks I have had two menu del dias, that showed the very different food quality in Spain available when eating out.
The first was a very high quality, modern menu del dia at the Kursaal in San Sebastian, which included unlimited (and very drinkable) wine, bottled water, crunchy fresh bread, three courses and petit fours. All for twenty five Euros a head. The service was impeccable and the food outstanding featuring all the fashionable hits like foams, bubbles and soils.
The second menu del dia came in at fifteen Euros, for which we got a small first course of traditional staples such as mixed salad and Cocido Montanes (bean stew), none of which was particularly tasty. This was followed by an even smaller main course made up of various pieces of fish, meat or eggs all of which appeared to have been dunked in the deep fryer, accompanied by either a few chips or a bit of salad. Dessert wasn’t really worth the bother with commercial tubs of ice-cream or a piece of fruit on offer. To top it all off, the wine wasn’t drinkable without dilution with lemonade, coffee wasn’t included and the waitress was distinctly grumpy. For an extra ten Euros the first experience of dining out in Spain was light years ahead of the second, for which I wouldn’t have paid eight Euros!
To be on the safe side, before committing yourself to a set menu in Spain, always confirm that the price includes drinks and coffees, as this can come as an unexpected surprise when the bill arrives. Hidden IVA can also be a shock and really bump up prices, so always read the small print of the menu to see if it’s included. Eating out in Spain and having a menu del dia can be a fantastic dining experience, and a great way to try a variety of traditional food in Spain, but it’s always best to ask around for a good recommendation and be clear on what is included before settling in for your long lunch…
Make sure you’re hungry before starting a Menu Del Dia!
Naomi Tupper – Culture Spain
Naomi Tupper is a freelance journalist, English language teacher and specialist on northern Spain with a particular interest in the food and wines of Spain. Naomi‘s Blog can be seen at: scramtucker.wordpress.com