Best World Restaurants Guide
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ARZAK |
Alto de Miracruz, 21; tel.: 943 27 8465; fax: 943 27 2753
The Basque part of Spain is home to some of the finest chefs in the country. San Sebastian and the surrounding area is where four of them can be found, all reviewed in this guide. The best known and the only one right in San Sebastian itself is Arzak, away from the port and in the high part of the town. Opened in 1897 this comfortably furnished family inn has a lot of ambience. There is no chef more famous in Spain then Juan-Mari Arzak. Nowadays, assisted by his attractive daughter Elena, he produces some exquisite dishes such as sauteed langoustines with spider crab meat and roast pigeon with coriander and cumin served in its juice. For dessert I can mention an orange croquante with a tarragon flavoured pear sorbet — a surprising but excellent dish. We drove to San Sebastian specifically to visit Arzak and received a warm welcome. The cuisine is predominately Basque with Spanish variations.
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AKELARE |
Paseo del Padre Orcolaga, 56; tel.: 943 21 2052; fax: 943 21 9268
A few kilometres outside San Sebastian, on the slopes of Monte Igueldo, this restaurant offers you a spectacular view of both the sea and the town of San Sebastian below. Owner/chef Pedro Subijana grows his own vegetables and aromatic herbs for his guests to enjoy. The food is spectacular too as Subijana is one of the pioneers of modern Basque cuisine. Looking at the menu we find: filet of salmon with risotto, langoustines with fresh pasta, sea bass with green pepper and squid in a sauce of its own ink. For dessert try chocolate & rhubarb ganache.
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