Friends, I hope you are having a great week! Last week, you heard from my friend Marti Buckley, an amazing cook and cookbook author who wrote Basque Country and, recently, The Book of Pintxos. Originally from Alabama, she adopted San Sebastián as her home, and I think she gave us some amazing recommendations for some serious Basque Country eating and drinking! If you’re not eating many things off of toothpicks yet, now is as good a time as ever.
Summer is an amazing time to try Marti’s book!
You also came together as the amazing community I already knew you are, and you shared a lot of your Chicago favorites, so I want to share a few of those here. Remember, the more you share, the bigger our community map gets!
A couple of you mentioned Purple Pig, North Pond and of course Alinea. Listona J. also loves Alinea and has a few other suggestions as well—Giant, the Girl and theGoat, Honey Butter Fried Chicken, Publican Quality Meats, Longman & Eagle, Mako, Momtaro, and the Green Mill!
Sara N. also mentioned North Pond, but has offered a few other Chicago classics, including Obélix, Le Bouchon, Frontera, and Gage.
Pamela C. is looking out for the Spanish food in Chicago:
“Go to Geja’s for the great wine selection, fantastic (live!) flamenco guitar, and consistently delicious food. Romantic date night restaurant.”
T. Barber loves Meli Cafe, Spanglish, Lou Mitchell’s, and Amarit Thai.
Michelle S. recommends an Armenian place:
“Sayat Nova is an Armenian restaurant on East Ohio street. An authentic, 100% Armenian restaurant is hard to come by in the midwest and this one is awesome! The Armeni Tini cocktail is a must-have.”
Alex W. has a great steakhouse:
“My all-time favorite is Gene & Georgetti, the best steakhouse in Chicago.”
And because it’s Chicago, we can’t forget about pizza! You can trust Jason K. with this one:
“Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder. Been going there since I was a kid and it’s still just as amazing today.”
Turning back towards Spain, now that you’ve seen Marti Buckley’s recommendations, do you have more to add to the map? Where do you go in San Sebastián and the País Vasco, the Basque Country?
Was in San Sebastián just a few weeks ago...ate at El Kbzón, Iriarte Enea, had Basque cheesecake at La Viña, shopped for groceries at Carrefours and cooked at home, Casa Urola (maybe our best meal), Baztan, Ganbara (amazing), Taberna AIA, Ikili, Cafe de la Concha for cocktails and the view, Lanperna for percebes, Petritegi cider house for cider from the barrel and family style lunch, Bodegon Alejandro for our farewell dinner...tasting menu is a must. Wonder if I forgot anything?? Comimos mucho!
Had the most unreal lunch at Asador Etxebarri when I was in San Sebastian. I didn't realize it'd last 5 hours that by the time it ended we had a reservation at Arzak we had to get to. It was a full day of eating!
Mirador de Ulia in Donastia is worth the trip up the hill... fantastic views, impeccable service (even on a night when the weather was horrendous) and a monumental wine list... In Vitoria - Gasteiz try Zaldarian - Michelin starred and a marvelous tasting menu. If you are in Vitoria make sure to find the walking man! HE's near many great pintxos... probably why he is walking!
Was in San Sebastián just a few weeks ago...ate at El Kbzón, Iriarte Enea, had Basque cheesecake at La Viña, shopped for groceries at Carrefours and cooked at home, Casa Urola (maybe our best meal), Baztan, Ganbara (amazing), Taberna AIA, Ikili, Cafe de la Concha for cocktails and the view, Lanperna for percebes, Petritegi cider house for cider from the barrel and family style lunch, Bodegon Alejandro for our farewell dinner...tasting menu is a must. Wonder if I forgot anything?? Comimos mucho!
Had the most unreal lunch at Asador Etxebarri when I was in San Sebastian. I didn't realize it'd last 5 hours that by the time it ended we had a reservation at Arzak we had to get to. It was a full day of eating!
Loved Zárate in Bilbao for a fun and more relaxed Michelin star, Ochenta Grados for modern pintxos in Bilbao as well.
We very much enjoyed the food, the txacolina, and the experience at Cafe Gandarias.
Mirador de Ulia in Donastia is worth the trip up the hill... fantastic views, impeccable service (even on a night when the weather was horrendous) and a monumental wine list... In Vitoria - Gasteiz try Zaldarian - Michelin starred and a marvelous tasting menu. If you are in Vitoria make sure to find the walking man! HE's near many great pintxos... probably why he is walking!
Aitana Donostia was a lovely i
ntro to our first Pintxos. Friendly staff and enthusiastic locals helped us select their favourites. Go. Enjoy. Drink. Eat.
Ganbara, for sure! And a little far afield but Casa Julian in Tolosa still stands out as one of the best meals I’ve had.