Spanish restaurants

By Anthony Pemberton

Spanish restaurants Anyone who loves good food and wine is guaranteed a happy life in Spain. One of the greatest pleasures of living in Spain is that there is an abundance of inexpensive eateries. Dining out in Spain is a social occasion and very popular amongst families often represented by a few generations. Spain in general boasts an array of different restaurants ranging from typical Spanish restaurants, specialising in a certain cuisine and regional alike, to luxury international restaurants to appease anyone´s pallet. Traditional eating and drinking places include mesones in urban areas, ventas in the countryside, and merenderos, chiringuitos and chamboas (specialising in sea-food) at the beach. Paradores and refugios specialise in regional cooking. A marisquería is an up-market fish restaurant, cocederos and freidurías de pescado are places to indulge in fresh fried fish, while an asador specialises in roast meats, poultry or fish. Generally each region has its own specialties (platos típicos) based on local produce, meats and fish, and every province and most large towns boast their own culinary delights, even if it’s just a local sausage or cheese. Spanish cooking largely consists of simple, wholesome fare and is noted for its high-quality fresh ingredients.

Wine (vino) is inexpensive in a Spanish restaurant by northern European standards. However, the price increases rapidly as you go up market, although a good bottle can be purchased in most quality restaurants.

Some restaurants serve a selection of tapas before the first course as part of a set menu. However it has to be borne in mind that the quality and the choice of dishes on a set menu vary enormously. In many resort areas and major cities, many establishments offer tourist menus (menú turístico), with a choice of set meals, including a quarter to half a litre of wine or a beer, service and other charges.

Spanish cuisine is heavily influenced by the seafood available from the waters surrounding the Peninsula, and reflects the country´s deep maritime roots. In coastal areas, there are numerous seafood restaurants (marisquerías) serving fish and other seafood, and unpretentious open-air, beach restaurants such as merenderos or chiringuitos serving inexpensive fried fish dishes. A typical thing to try when in Spain is the ´calamari´, particularly the offerings in southern Spain which are served as large rings. In eastern Spain, you might consider ordering suquet, a tomato stew of fish, shellfish, potatoes, and wine, spiced with saffron. Around Madrid and central Spain, variations on regional Spanish dishes abound. It is also a region known for its meals based on wild game, pheasant, partridge, and wild boar.

Spain´s extensive history with many cultural influences has led to an array of unique cuisines with thousands of recipes and flavours. It is also renowned for its health benefits and fresh ingredients. Particularly in Southern Spain cooking was strongly influenced by the Moorish kingdoms and Arabs introduced a number of food types to the Iberian Peninsula, among them olives, lemons, oranges and nuts, which are often added to food.

The restaurant norms in Spain are very similar to those in many countries within and outside of Europe. On entering a Spanish restaurant generally the server will seat you at a table. Once menus are brought to the table, you will likely be asked what you would like to drink or if you would like white wine (vino blanco) or red wine (vino tinto). As a general rule bread is brought to the table with a dish of olive oil and some vinegar or slivers of butter will come with the bread in some regions of Spain. Usually, the waiter will ask for your order when bringing your drinks or if an attendant brings you drinks, the waiter will take your order when he or she is available. At the end of the meal, you will need to ask for your bill. Generally in Spain no tip is left and if there is it is a small percentage of the total bill.

Spanish restaurants open earlier in the North than the South, but do not expect much earlier than 1 pm for most places in the North and 2 pm in the South. Dinner is usually served after 9pm. You can go to a bar serving tapas or pinchos earlier in the evening to put off nagging hunger.

Phrases to use in Spanish restaurants

Una mesa para una persona/dos personas, por favor. - A table for one person/two people, please.

¿Me trae la carta de menús, por favor? - May I have a menu, please?

¿Cuál es la especialidad del día? - What is the special today?

¿Qué lleva este plato? - What is in this dish?

¿Cuál es el plato del día? - What is the dish of the day?

¿Tiene algún plato vegetariano? - Do you have a vegetarian dish?

¿Qué me recomienda? - What do you recommend?

Para mí... - For me …

Quisiera… - I´d like…

¿Me trae otro vaso? - May I have another glass?

¿Me trae otra servilleta? - May I have another napkin?