Restaurante La Palma — Restaurant in Bilbao

We were staying at the Bilder Boutique Hotel and needed to get on the road early, so even though expensive the 18 euro breakfast was logical. We went in and were greeted by a nice server who seated us and quickly brought coffee and water and juice.

The menu gives a choice of a couple of egg dishes. My wife ordered eggs Benedict, I ordered eggs Benedict with salmon. Wife asked for a side of bacon to go with hers. That’s where things went sideways. Our waitress took the order up, I could clearly see the chef rudely gesturing, questioning what she meant, with a very angry look on his face. She came back questioning what my wife wanted, bacon on top or where.

We explained in our limited Spanish just a ration of bacon on the side. She went back to the cook, they talked, she shrugged her shoulders, and the cook started banging around getting food out, all while looking like he’d sucked on a lemon.

He cooked everything up, set the plates on the serving counter, came around and slapped them in front of us and stalked off.

I cut into mine to find the eggs absolutely uncooked. Just an unappetizing glob of goo on top of toast with paper thin slices of of salmon. Inedible. My wife’s was no better. She ate what she could, I pushed mine away.

Wife told me to send them back, honestly I wouldn’t want this miserable chef cooking anything for me. Lost my appetite. We walked out, went to check out and told the desk clerk that after a month of traveling in Spain we finally got a bad meal. The worst. She did not offer any credit, just said sorry.

Bilder Hotel was great, La Palma was a...

Tried to get coffee and deserts here after walking in the city in the afternoon on 9/29/23. Had to seat ourselves and clear our own table. Approached several of the wait staff, asking that when they had a chance, please come to our table and take our order. After exchanging looks to one another, we were told they were too busy with other customers, and we would have to wait "til everyone else was served." As restaurant owners ourselves, we have come to expect a certain level of professionalism, especially when "in the weeds." A level clearly absent from this establishment. Be busy...fine, we can wait... but be positive. And if you don't like what you do for a living... by all means, find something you do like. We know all too well the dangers of poor attitudes among staff and what it can do to a business. We hope management cares enough to address the problem... but probably not. It's likely busy enough not to care about the...

Simplemente espléndido. El maridaje entre la comida, la atención del personal y el ambiente y decoración del local, sobre todo si uno es de Bilbao y es conocedor de la significación de la antigua zapatería La Palma, es insuperable.

La carta es atractiva y variada, con platos de espléndida elaboración y productos de primera. Entre los entrantes uno se encuentra gozosamente con un jamón ibérico 5 jotas sin competencia, unas gambas de Huelva celestiales, unas croquetas muy bien rematadas, y un carpaccio de pulpo con emulsión De la Vera pleno de sabor y textura. En nuestro caso nos quedamos con las ganas de haber probado también los buñuelos de bacalao con gel de pimientos asados y los mejillones en escabeche casero, pero conviene eludir los excesos para poder disfrutar con mesura.

De los platos principales, todos pedimos pescado y desde luego nadie se arrepintió de la elección. La lubina asada con berenjena al miso y trompetas de la muerte se presenta sin disfraz o ropaje alguno, desnuda en todo su esplendor y con un perfecto punto de cocinado. La berenjena, las setas y el caldo corto de verduras son las gotas de perfume que "visten" el pescado. Y del bacalao, qué decir. Agradecidísimos de encontrarlo sin pil pil o vizcaína, desnudo y firme como la lubina, con una crema de porrusalda, espinacas y espárragos trigueros elaborada, sin duda, con ánimo seductor.

Y los postres... Aquí la relación calidad-precio no está bien ponderada, porque la primera está muy por encima del segundo. Cobrar 7 € por una sublime torrija de brioche acompañada de un helado de caramelo salado de elaboración propia, es un obsequio de la casa, como invitar a los cafés. ¿Cómo mejorar eso? Solo viendo la Vie en Rose y oliendo el aroma a lichis y rosas que el camarero rocía en nuestra mano al depositar el plato.

No quiero dejar de referirme a la carta de vinos en la que encontramos denominaciones y referencias suficientes (nacionales e internacionales), tanto para ir sobre seguro como para experimentar un poco más, pero siempre con precios muy contenidos que en ningún caso superan los 50 €. Y siempre servidos con corrección y a la temperatura idónea.

Por último, y como único punto negativo, se echa de menos la opción de un menú infantil o alguna opción fuera de carta acorde a los gustos de los más pequeños.

En definitiva, una experiencia excelente en una línea de precio (50 € - 60 € por persona a la carta) con muy poca competencia...