Txakoli de El Paladar — Restaurant in Portugalete

We were guests of the hotel and were looking forward to the Michelin star restaurant for dinner. We advised we were vegetarians and asked if there was something suitable on the menu, we were assured by the front desk that the chef was capable of making something for us, so we made a reservation.

During the day, we popped into the restaurant to be advised that only the bar was open that evening, not the restaurant. We went back to the reception and they said they had made our reservation at the bar as the restaurant was closed, even though they didn't tell us that's where our reservation was. We asked again about the food as we didn't see anything on the menu. We were assured it was the same chef and the front desk had left a note on the reservation that we were vegetarian.

You can guess what happened when we got there - no note on the reservation, no vegetarian options and the waiter basically scoffed as us when we asked about vegetarian options. He gave us the very unenthusiastic suggestions of bread or salad with ingredients being taken out then later advised they could make some rice and "pasta". There are no words to describe the food we received. The "pasta" was tiny macaroni with the worst red sauce that tasted worse than out of a can and had no a spec of spices in it. I can't even call it tomato sauce as there wasn't anything fresh or vegetable in it. The rice was just as bad. It was beyond disappointing to see that any restaurant would be comfortable serving this quality of food let alone and actual Michelin chef. No chef would serve that. The table beside us was also vegetarian and I send my sincerest condolences for whatever "food"...

Es común que los restaurantes estrellas Michelin tengan una segunda casa donde no consta la condecoración. Son lugares más baratos donde la firma del gran cocinero suele estar presente, comida mas informal, o mas "casera", a veces homenaje a la base y los fundamentos de lo que es la cocina mas "elevada" del chef. He comido en muchos de ellos, algunos muy buenos y dignos de mención y otros...En el Txacolí del Paladar no se come mal, pero tampoco bien, resumiendo, no es un lugar del que salgas diciendo, es diferente, tiene personalidad, o, también, que buena mano para los platos de siempre, o quizás, como se nota que detrás esta la dirección y el ojo de un gran cocinero. No, aquí nada de eso se piensa. En mi caso, además, el servicio fue bastante desastroso. Primero lento, muy lento, a la hora de servirnos, a la hora de llegar el segundo plato, de que apareciera el pan en la mesa. Y, así mismo, cuando llegamos, no se nos atendió, tardaron, y tardaron en adjudicarnos mesa. El lugar si es agradable y no es ruidoso (algo común en muchos nuevos locales). El mantel es de tela, cosa de agradecer. Volvamos a la comida. Lo dicho, platos típicos correctos...pero, ninguno de ellos y, alguno... Me tomé un bacalao al pil pil, cuya salsa, no es aquella ligada que hace que ha uno se le peguen los labios, por ejemplo. Lo mejor, la Goxua de postre. Acabo, salí del restaurante preguntándome cual era la firma, la distinción, aquello que caracterizaba a Zuriñe como cocinera, pues su firma figura en todos lados y, si es así, esperaba encontrarme algo,...

Unfriendly treatment, no food service (lunch) outside. This is not the way to treat people visiting the place. I would never do business like that. As a Costa Rican tourist, I cannot recommend this place. They treat you as dumb when you do not understand their system, which is very different from other...