Spaniards traveling abroad at lunch time often miss a great Spanish lunch concept: Los restaurantes de menú (lit., menu restaurants) that serve el menú del día (the menu of the day) for lunch. This consists of a two-course lunch, plus dessert, plus coffee, plus beverages for 7 to 10 euros. Let’s go over the basics of reading and ordering from the menu del día.
The menu is usually advertised on a blackboard outside the restaurant. It changes everyday, and offers several primeros or primer plato (first courses) and several segundos or segundo plato. Among los primeros, there is usually una ensalada mixta or de la casa (a green salad with a variety of ingredients), un plato de pasta (a pasta dish) and un arroz (a rice dish). It is also common to have a regional dish such as cocido madrileño (stew from Madrid) or paella valenciana (Valencian paella). In the summer some delicious cold soups like salmorejo (a thicker, creamier version of gazpacho) or gazpacho can also be enjoyed. Carnes (meats), pescados (fish) and verduras a la plancha (grilled vegetables) appear as a second course. Pollo (chicken), conejo (rabbit), cordero (lamb) and cerdo (pork) are the most popular offerings. Emperador (swordfish) and merluza (hake) are the king and queen of the fish plates. El postre (the dessert) will be recited out loud to you by el camarero (the waiter). Don´t worry, this is a tricky moment even for the natives. A nice coffee option will be un cortado (a small espresso with milk), if you smoke and you are en la terraza (meaning in the sidewalk), now will be the moment to do it, nobody will look at you accusingly. When it’s time to leave, ask for the check: ¡La cuenta, por favor! where taxes (IVA) are included. If you leave 1 euro de propina (as a tip), on your next visit, you’ll be treated like a prince!
