Sunday. Time for a longer lunch and a good wine.
This Rioja I was served ( not a Sunday though ) at Casa Barqueiro in Negreira.
I already posted a picture of the delicious food ( oh those grilled vegetables ) earlier.
Casa Barqueiro is listed in the Michelin guide ( and many Spanish ones too ) and I know that Juan Maria Arzak ( distinguished chef from San Sebastian ) visits the place regularly.
When I passed by the place I saw the red Michelin resto sticker. I hesitantly entered ( you know the weary pilgrim look after you have finished walking for the day
). I saw an area that looked like a bar and got seated there, meanwhile watching dressed up businessmen going to the fancy comedor part of the restaurant.
Well, staff could not have been friendlier to this tired and shabby pilgrim.
14 € for the loveliest menu del dia I have ever had on any Camino.
Exquisite grilled vegetables as a starter ( fresher than fresh ) and as a main Chipirones a la plancha. Dessert was homemade cheesecake.
Combined with this lovely Rioja! And this one was uncorked in front of my eyes.
I later did a search on the internet what the price was when I would buy it at home. The same as the price of the whole menu.
Anyway..when I was drinking my cortado ( 0.90 € ! ) I remember two people ( one of the posh people ) patting on my back and wishing me a heartfelt Buen Camino.
So do not be shy to walk into a place that on the first hand seems a bit upmarket.They will most probably have a decent menu del dia that is only one or two euro more expensive than the sometimes dull menu del peregrino.
I sometimes forget this important lesson : people are people. I should have been more openminded and not think so quickly people would judge me for my appearance...
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Casa Barqueiro – a Bib Gourmand: good quality, good value cooking restaurant in the 2024 MICHELIN Guide España. The MICHELIN inspectors’ point of view, information on prices, types of cuisine and opening hours on the MICHELIN Guide's official website
guide.michelin.com
I recommend you to visit the restaurant Restaurante Casa Barqueiro. Find more about this place with Restaurant Guru App.
restaurantguru.com