In Focus - Discover Spain: Experience the Best of Spain - page 610

Eating Like a Local
Spanish cuisine is one of Europe's most accessible. But sometimes the first-time
visitor can feel like Alain de Botton in The Art of Travel when he ends up eating
from the minibar in his Madrid hotel room, so eager was he to avoid entering a bar
and becoming the object of pity and curiosity. It can be like this, at least at first, but
there's no reason why it should be.
Practical Information
Throughout this guidebook, the order of restaurant listings follows the author's preferen-
ce, and each place to eat is accompanied by one of the following pricing symbols.
• » € <€20 per meal per person
• » €€ €20 to €50 per meal per person
• » €€€ >€50 per meal per person
We define a meal as three courses (including dessert) and house wine. Restaurant hours
in Spain are lunch from 1pm to 4pm, and dinner from 8.30pm to midnight or later.
Spaniards are usually so utterly absorbed in having a good time that you're un-
likely to stand out if you're unsure what to do. And knowing what to do is easy. For
a start, take your time to look around at what other people are eating, and don't
hesitate to point to someone else's plate when ordering - Spaniards do this all the
time. Another important weapon in your armoury is to repeat that well-worn Spanish
mantra when entering a bar: ' ¿Cuál es la especialidad de la casa? ' ('What's the
house speciality?'). Most bars do most things well, but the chances are that locals
come here for one or two dishes in particular. Even if you don't understand what the
dish is, just go ahead and order it.