Top Restaurant Valencia Old Town Spain

Sagardi Good Spanish Food Traditional Basque Cuisine & Fun Tapas Bar

Oct 9, 2009

A wonderful eatery with a lively atmosphere. Munch on scrumptious snacks in the trendy tapas bar or feast on finest Basque cooking upstairs.

There are so many good restaurants in Valencia that hungry tourists are spoilt for choice. After a hard days sight-seeing taking a stroll down one of the main streets in the historic city they might chance upon Sagardi Valencia Centro. The huge picture windows in the beautiful corner building show the hustle and bustle of one of the liveliest and best tapas bars in this fascinating city.

Sagardi Fun & Trendy Tapas Bar Valencia

Inside the dazzling display of eighty different types of pintxo (snacks) are irresistable. It's self-service with style as you take your pick of tuna, serrano ham, goats cheese, baby chorizo and other combinations freshly prepared on delicate slices of crusted bread. Perching on a high stools with a glass of tinto or a beer conversation flows with complete strangers. Unobtrusively a cheery young waiter counts the cocktail sticks and at a euro a pinxto it would be hard to spend more than seven. Still hungry? A delicious little apple tart will sweeten the night!

Sagardi Restaurant Fine Dining and Best Cider

Up the winding staircase is Sagardi's gourmet restaurant; formal dining serving traditional Basque cuisine in a rustic ambience. Diners are seated at large wooden tables in a spacious rectangular room. Along one side are high circular windows which at night offer guests romanic views of the Bel Epoque street lighting. Dominating the central area are two vast barrels of Zapiain 08 natural cider. A pretty waitress holding two large broad rimmed glasses beneath a tap with a delicate twist squirts a fountain of the golden nectar into the the tumblers the clean healthy taste not at all acidic bodes well for the meal to come.

Best Menu & Speciality Grilled Steak

The Astigarraga menu (48 Euros) is a good choice for diners affording a varied and delicious selection of the traditonal style Spanish food of the Basque cider bar. After a glass of fine Cava diners can share plates of cured and delicately spicey fried chorizo sausage followed by an unusual moist cod omelette Roxario ; fine flakes of fish melted in a the moist and fluffly creamed egg.

The attentive waiter speaking very good English suggests the beans and peas from Tolosa with Iberian ham - a Sagardi speciality and an appealing idea. However hopes are dashed when on his return he regrettably announces that this popular dish has sold out.

The Sagardi speciality –T Bone steak is ordered to share. The arrival of a refreshing lettuce and spring onion salad from Tolosa and cool sweet slivers of Piquillo red peppers with a light olive oil and cider dressing more than makes up for the disappointment of the lost beans, peas and ham.

Diners watch their steaks grilled by the chef on a holm oak charcoal burner.The meat cooked to perfection is served on a ceramic platter at table. A Rioja Etxeita 08 from Sagardi's own winery its refreshing vitality gives brings a subtle substance to the meal.

Red berries soup with chantilly ice cream is a pleasant ending to this superb meal.

Both for casual and formal dining Sagardi delivers a spirited experience of true Basque hospitality.

The copyright of the article Top Restaurant Valencia Old Town Spain in European Culinary Travel is owned by Nina Saville. Permission to republish Top Restaurant Valencia Old Town Spain in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.