646352 Fri Aug 21 06:23:29 -0700 2009 9 50 Spain/Portugal 0 4964930 So...after searching this board and reading lots of posts about delicious meals in this region, I am still torn about our choice for one special meal. We will be in San Sebastian for a weekend in Sept. I tend to enjoy really simple, fresh local ingredients in a casual, relaxed environment...so plan to have lots of tapas and pintxos in the evenings. But I know that visiting San Sebastian provides me w/an exceptional opportunity to experience this cutting-edge 2 and 3 star cooking of the region --so I think we'd like to take advantage of this for at least one meal. I'm thinking lunch --and leave the pintxos and tapas spots for dinner....I like the idea of Akelarre for lunch --b/c of the beautiful view and atmosphere. Arzak also is a classic, i know, though I'm wondering if it's a bit faded after years of shining. Extebarri sounds fabulous, but we won't have a car so I'm not quite sure how we'd swing that. That may be a similar issue for Mugaritz, though I believe that is a bit closer to town and so we could take a taxi. A few questions: do all of these places offer tasting menus and/or prix fixe as well as a la carte? It looks like Mugaritz is strictly a multi-course affair, is that right? I also read about Urepel which looks good.Supposed to be very charming yet casual, though 2 stars. Don't see much feedback from hounds though and curious about the menu. I guess what I'm looking for is an exceptional experience (food, atmosphere, environment), emblematic of basque cooking --that won't run 2 people more than $200 for lunch --and isn't overly formal and stuffy.I'm working on a more adventurous palate, but I'm still not a huge meat eater so a place where I've got some options would be nice. A place where the chef is clearly passionate about food but isn't necessarily caught up in the pretention that sometimes follows. I know I'll find these sort of spots at the tapas/pintxos places --but hoping I'll find something similar for this one special meal. Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? Open to all. Thanks in advance. Fri Aug 21 06:23:30 -0700 2009 11805 twentyoystahs 1 4965599 I think your criteria of wide choices of meat/poultry/seafood options, passionate about food and not being caught up in pretension and fades apply to just about top restaurants around the San Sebastian area. Except for Arzak, you will need a taxi to get to get to all the other places, which might cost you anywhere from 60 to 80E round trip. As to ordering: except for Mugaritz and maybe Extebarri, a la carte is not a problem except that a three course a la carte is rarely much cheaper than their tasting menu. For all the top restaurants, a three course will run to about 100E and the tasting menu around 120 to 140E, therefore, it will be difficult to eat for your budget of $200 for two. None of these restaurants have a less expensive lunch menu. A recent thread have some opinions on choosing, etc. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/630644 Another recent tread on good moderate places: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/640211 Fri Aug 21 09:44:41 -0700 2009 4964930 10756 PBSF 1 4965630 It is a really tricky choice because all will repay a visit with good interesting food and PBSF is right they all have similar qualities although different styles and executions. I like Mugaritz because I find it modern and challenging, others don't like it for that reason (return taxi is probably €50 to €60). It is a tricky call, but the good news is that each will be great. But do approach them with an open mind. Each restaurant has its fans and detractors, but few have eaten in all of them in a short space of time. I took about three years and I am certain Arzak has changed in that time. You strategy of lunch followed by a tapas bar crawl is perfect. Fri Aug 21 09:52:52 -0700 2009 4964930 64584 PhilD 2 4967728 Thanks guys, I was under the impression that Akelarre wasn't THAT far from San Sebastian. Not true? Sat Aug 22 06:12:30 -0700 2009 4965630 11805 twentyoystahs 3 4968901 Akelarre is about 20km from San Sebastian. The only top restaurant closer is probably Martin Berasategui. Sat Aug 22 18:07:37 -0700 2009 4967728 10756 PBSF 4 5048595 Akelarre is not that far...it's just past the village of Igueldo. Definitely my pick for SS...both for the food and the view/ambience. If memory serves me, you can order dishes in half portions - which you can also do at Martin Berasategui. Akelarre only had 1 star when I went in 2006 and now it's a full-blown 3-star restaurant... Tue Sep 22 07:10:30 -0700 2009 4968901 132103 Peech 1 4980464 Out of Extebarri, Arzak, and Mugaritz (went went in early July), I loved the food at Extebarri the most. But it's not really cutting edge in terms of molecular gastronomy. Arzak's food spoke to me more than Mugaritz's but Mugaritz has far better service and atmosphere (and is non-smoking throughout). Wed Aug 26 14:17:16 -0700 2009 4964930 10936 kathryn 1 4993053 Extebarri, no question. Hands down the best meal I had in Spain and i'd eat there at any chance I could get. Perfect scenery, superb food. Rent a car or get a cab to take you. Its worth the hassle. We had a poor meal at Mugaritz, but it is an easy cab ride from SS. I'd personally skip it. Mon Aug 31 11:06:34 -0700 2009 4964930 13083 Adam23 2 5014551 Agree completely with Adam23. Extebarri was absolutely worth the trip though the cab was a steep 150 euros roundtrip. Renting a car would've been a better idea. Also agree on the Mugaritz experience. Just came back from there..very subpar meal and I'd definitely skip it as well. Tue Sep 08 16:13:44 -0700 2009 4993053 65709 h0wie201 1 5040001 Just spent a few days in San Sebastian. Ate at Akellare, Extebarri (which is about an hour away, much closer to Bilbao), and Láuberge Basque about 45 minutes away in France. And that was the order I would rank the three meals, all excellent in very different ways. Láuberge Basque is the only one that would fit your price criteria by the way - they have a stellar 25 euro menu and a 38 euro menu that are tremendous bargains. The chef is young and talented, the service is young and not as talented! Pintxos is an incredible bargain in San Sebastian compared to the likes of Akellare - try Fuego Negro in particular for modern and inventive and fun food. Crab with avocoda and licorice ice cream was to die for. Fri Sep 18 11:16:48 -0700 2009 4964930 12431 biskuit