Restaurante Viña del Ensanche — Restaurant in Bilbao

Absolutely loved this place. For dinner or for a quick tapa and drink. We went here twice, once on our first night and again on our last night in Bilbao. We went the second time because on our first night, we sat down and ordered from the menu. While we were eating and drinking and people watching, we noticed that everyone seemed to be getting a couple of different tapas that were not on the sit down menu (there is a big screen behind the bar with the tapa menu - which you can order when seated, no problem). The meals were not expensive, bottles of wine are totally reasonable. Good vermouth and their house made sweet wine (if that is your thing with dessert) was also excellent. The prices were the same at the bar or seated, so you can do what you want. To get a table, especially if it is busy, you need to ask the waiter who you will see running around busily. On our first night we saw people try to swoop in and take a table right when it opened up - typical bar rules - but the waiter would wave them off or ask them to get up. He had a running list of who was waiting for a table in his head (along with everyone's food and drink orders - I honestly don't know how they do it). When we came in our last night at a very not busy time - 5:30pm ish - we saw people just grab tables and the waiter didn't mind, so I think that must be just when it is busy, so it doesn't turn into a free-for-all in there. I highly recommend from the tapas menu: the foie with egg and mushroom, the beef cheeks, their fish and chips with aioli. And from the sit down menu (keep in mind, everything we tried was good): the octopus, the croquettes with aioli, their cheesecake. Ask for a recommendation for a bottle of wine if that is your thing - the one our waiter recommended...

On our last day in Bilbao, we decided to go for a restaurant meal as we had already visited one of the busy casual bars the night before. This restaurant has good reviews thars not always any form of guarantee of quality though but we had visited it in the morning and liked the look of it. The menu like most was relatively small but there was something to please everyone. I have come to the conclusion that they prefer to offer a small menu but focus on creating great dishes, so quality over quantity. Our meal was exceptional we all ordered individually but decided to share our meals so we could enjoy all the flavours. We were served by charming Monica who turned out to be the granddaughter of the founder of the restaurant. She proudly gave us a postcard with the photo of her grandad and staff when he started the business. You have to give it to this nation they have a passion and dedication for the hospitality industry. In Spain it is not a cinderella industry but a profession and in some cases like this a life's dedication. If you want to sample some of Bilbaos best food put it top of your list. The cost was also very reasonable considering the quality and creativity of the dishes. We finished of with cheesecake and although the restaurants name is the same as its more famous namesake cheesecake bar in San Sebastian there is no connection. Having tried both I would say that they are as good as each other. However this restaurant was a better experience to enjoy your meal at a table instead of standing in the street in...

This is a great little place just off La Gran Via de Diego in the central area of Bilbao city. The Chef is incredible and the "cooking workshop" is truly outstanding. We had the Iberian pork lion (ask for medium or rare to savor the flavors) and the Iberial pork cheeks. Both are good but the pork loin with mango chutney is just delightful. I have yet to enjoy such a combination of flavors in any of the highly touted restaurants in the DC area!! We had for starters red peppers stuffed and in a mushroom sauce , cod croquettes, both of which were good. Washed it all down with a pleasing light but full bodied Rioja. The service is spotty, as the wait staff is also spread really thin by the demands of the many people who get a drink and a Pinxto and stand around in the plaza talking.....YES talking as in human to human conversation !! Makes for a great vibe though the din can be overwhelming on weekends. Isabella and Emily are great handling competing demands between the people inside and the many drinkers and noshers outside. Avoid going at peak time between 2 pm to 3:30 pm and after 8 pm as the wait can be over an hour.

I understand the place has 30 workers and perhaps the wait staff could be better focused on either the patrons drinking outside and the ones inside the restaurant. Might make for a better inside experience.

All in all a great place to enjoy outstanding preparations in a no frills...