Zarate jatetxea — Restaurant in Bilbao

From a guest who has dined at restaurants with over 1000 Michelin stars,

The worst restaurant ever. Shameless service and stubborn self-persistence.

Poor cooking skills can be forgiven, but your attitude is so lousy; this is a problem with your conduct as a person

Two of us went to dine, and the restaurant recommended the fresh seafood of the day, including clams and king prawns.

For the clam dishes, they used a lot of spices that completely masked the taste of the supposedly fresh seafood. As for the prawns, they were neither fresh nor properly cooked; they claimed it was grilled, but it was just pan-frying and be pressed on a hotplate. I could do a much better job myself.

Next, we ordered a crab, but it was loaded with excessive seasonings that completely masked the freshness of the crab. Overall, we came for the seafood, but none of the dishes were up to par.

When the meal was over, the restaurant asked us about our dining experience, and we gave them honest feedback. Their response was that this is their traditional way of cooking, and they were very stubborn about it. Instead of valuing our feedback, they showed no respect for their customers.

If you're so committed to your own way of doing things, why even bother to ask us for feedback for 10 minutes? Did you just want to hear exaggerated praise?

Poor cooking skills can be forgiven, but your attitude is so lousy; this is a problem with your conduct as a person.

As we were leaving, we told them that this was our worst experience in Bilbao, and the server just said, 'Thank you,' without any shame.

Please, do not come here. Do not come here to waste your money，time and ruin...

As I stepped into this unassuming Basque restaurant, the aromas hit me like a punch in the face. This was clearly a place that took its food seriously.

The first thing that caught my eye was the pintxos bar, a sight that would make any food lover's heart skip a beat. The colorful array of bite-sized delights, stacked high on the counter, was a feast for the eyes.

I was seated at a small table by the window, and as I perused the menu, I couldn't help but notice the emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients. The chef clearly had a deep respect for the traditions of Basque cuisine, but was not afraid to put his own spin on things.

I started with the classic Gilda pintxo, a skewer of salty anchovy, spicy guindilla pepper, and briny olive. The flavors were explosive, and I knew I was in for a treat.

Next up was the txangurro gratin, a dish that showcases the local spider crab. The crabmeat was rich and buttery, mixed with béchamel and topped with a crispy bread crumb crust. It was indulgent, but not overly heavy.

For my main course, I ordered the kokotxas al pil pil, a dish of hake cheeks cooked in garlic and olive oil until they were meltingly tender. The sauce was a rich emulsion of fish stock and the natural gelatin from the kokotxas, with a slight kick from the chili.

I finished off the meal with a slice of tarta de queso, a Basque-style cheesecake that was light and fluffy, with a touch of citrus.

Overall, this restaurant was a true gem. The food was expertly prepared, and the flavors were bold and unforgettable. I left feeling like I had experienced a true taste of Basque country, and I couldn't wait to come...

Sadly, I had a really poor experience. I visited on a Saturday evening and had the 15 course tasting menu. I left unsure how the restaurant had earned a Michelin star. Some dishes were completely flavourless, I found myself re-tasting and re-testing the dishes to check I hadn’t missed a component on the plate, I never had. On other dishes, beautiful ingredients were completely overpowered by sauces or accompaniments that were too salty or just confused the dish. Whilst the waiters were friendly and pleasant, the service was incredibly rushed. I had barely swallowed the final savoury dish before my plate was removed and replaced by the first of the sweet dishes. Plates were delivered and removed in a haphazard fashion throughout the meal. Twice they were removed before I had finished eating one of the plates (as the courses were delivered in pairs) and one was delivered when my partner was in the bathroom (not the level of service I would expect in a Michelin starred restaurant at all). Despite the speed, a number of the dishes also arrived luke warm, including the main meat dish which was a shame as this was the only dish I left thinking was well-balanced and tasty. On a short trip and when surrounded by some of the best food and best restaurants in the world, I left feeling upset to have wasted an evening (and money) on this meal...