Page 579 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

WHERE T O EA T AND DRINK  577

Cheques are never used in
Spain. The major credit cards
and international direct debit
cards are accepted in most
restaurants, but sometimes
not in smaller places like tapas
bars, cafés or bodegas.

Smoking
Smoking is banned inside
all bars and restaurants.
However, it is permitted
on outside terraces.
Dining alfresco at tables on a café terrace
Wheelchair Access
del día. A plato combinado is only Rioja, Navarra or Penedès. A
offered by cheaper establish- bar might serve wines from New restaurants are designed
ments. Most restaurants offer Valdepeñas or the local vine- for wheelchairs, but phone in
an inexpensive, fixed-price menú yards. Oloroso wines (see p581) advance to check on access
del día at lunchtime, normally are often ordered as a digestif. to tables and toilets.
of three courses, but with little
choice. Some restaurants offer a
menú de degustación consisting Prices and Paying Recommended
Restaurants
of a choice of six or seven of the If you order from la carta in a
head chef’s special dishes. restaurant, your bill can soar The restaurants in this guide
The Spanish word for menu way above the price of the have been selected for a variety
is la carta. It starts with sopas menú del día, especially if you of criteria including good food,
(soups), ensaladas (salads), order pricey items such as fresh service and location. They range
entremeses (hors d’oeuvres), seafood, fish or jamon ibérico from down-to-earth tapas bars
huevos y tortillas (eggs and (see p422). If there is an expensive to coastal places specializing
omelettes) and verduras y fish such as sole or swordfish on in seafood and inland locales
legumbres (vegetable dishes). the menu at a bargain price, featuring country fare, to
Main courses are pescados y it will be frozen. Sea bass and sophisticated establishments
mariscos (fish and shellfish) and shellfish such as large prawns, with tasting menus prepared
carnes y aves (meat and poultry). lobster and crab, are priced by leading chefs. Places serving
Daily specials are chalked on by weight as a rule. The price Modern Spanish food offer
a board or clipped to menus. ranges given in this guide apply contemporary versions of
Paella and other rice dishes may to the regular menu, but if you traditional classics, whereas
be served as the first course. have tapas it is usually cheaper. places we have decribed as
A useful rule is to follow rice La cuenta (the bill) includes Traditional Spanish serve
with meat, or start with serrano service and perhaps a small more conventional fare, such
ham or salad and then follow cover charge. Prices on menus as stews and fish dishes.
with a paella. do not always include VAT (IVA), Any entry highlighted as
Desserts are called postres in so 10 per cent may be added to DK Choice offers something
Spanish. These can include fruit, the total bill. The Spanish hardly that distinguishes it from the
natillas (custard) and flan (crème ever tip restaurant waiters more masses, be it a celebrity chef,
caramel). Gourmet restaurants than 5 per cent, often just sensational food, unusual
have more creative choices. rounding up the bill. location or unique menu.
In big cities such as Madrid
there’s an increasing number
of good vegetarian restaurants.
Most menus have at least
one vegetable or egg dish.
A good number of places
welcome children.

Wine Choices
Dry fino wines go with shellfish,
serrano ham, olives, soups and
most first courses. Main courses
are usually accompanied by
wines from Ribera del Duero, Extensive choice of wine on show at a restaurant in Santander

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