Nearly every restaurant, bar and café in Spain offers a Menu del dia or Meal of the day. This is a lunchtime offering that is usually excellent value for money. Menu del dia makes it very easy to start making lunch the main meal of the day, as it is for most Spaniards.
Depending on where you are in Spain and where you are in a city, Menu del dia prices will range from 8 to 18 euros. As with anywhere in the world, prices near the tourist spots are going to be higher than where the locals eat. But wherever you are, generally speaking, Menu del dia represents excellent value for money.
Every restaurant will have a sign displaying their Menu del dia. Keep a few things in mind when reading a sign. First, it has probably been written by someone who is very busy. Second, they will often presume you know what they are writing about. Third, loads of people may have touched and smudged the sign. Add all these things together and you may have to ask a couple of questions to get clarification. Better to ask in advance than have hassles later.
I won’t try to explain each and every dish, that’s a whole other series of articles. But here is an explanation of what menu del dia is all about.
99% of the time what is on offer is:
You will be offered a selection of dishes for each of the first and second courses. Usually, the higher the price, the greater the choices. This makes sense as fewer options is easier to organise and more options makes things harder and harder.
Dishes offered in the first course aren’t always smaller entree or starter sized dishes. They could just as easily be the same size as the second. Just don’t imagine that a little starter will be followed by the main event. It’s more likely to be a main followed by another main. Just remember to take your time, there is no rush.
By the way, if the thought of a main followed by a main gets you thinking “we´ll share one meal of the day between two of us”, don´t. This is a no-no.
Some menus may not have the headings for the first and second courses. They may just have a line separating two groups of dishes but that’s what you are looking at. First course and second course.
The drink on offer is usually a glass of wine (vino) but could be beer or a soft drink or water. In Spain, the house wine is usually fairly good. If you want something to drink other than wine, it is best to check before ordering.
Typically, bread is a small basket of traditionally baked bread. Sounds simple but this type of bread is one of my favourite things in Spain.
Dessert (postre) options are not usually listed on the Menu del dia sign. You will be told what is on offer when you are ready to order. Dessert options will usually include at least a couple of actual dessert dishes but may also include a simple tub of yogurt or pieces of fruit. Depending on the size of your first two dishes, coffee might seem like a better option.
Unlike many countries, Spanish waiters aren’t under pressure to move you along quickly so that the restaurant can sit a new set of diners. Take your time and enjoy your food. Enjoy the conversation and discover why lunch is one of the best parts of the day in Spain.