Fellow Travellers
Pay
€€
Per Person Three shared mains. Couple of large beers each. €16
Basics
Location
On the net
In Short
Hopes? Decent lunchtime eats.
Reality? Worked out as hoped, with a terrific location.
First Impressions? Post industrial boho-posh.
A USP? Location, destination, reputation.
The food in three words? Consistently good quality.
Can they get the staff? From what we saw, not a shortage.
Service with a smile? Very impressed with the customer radar and awareness of our server.
Would you take your friends? At the right time of day, yes.
Rating for a dating? Absolutely made for it in theory, but where are the tables for two?
Tip? We rounded up fairly generously.
Change one thing? We weren't fussed over it today, but the dessert list does look underpopulated.
Going back? No reason not to.
Compare & Contrast
In Pictures
Slightly old photos on Google Images
In Depth
Over 20 years on its corner in La Latina, El Viajero had a reputation for long lunches and barbecues on its terrace. How does it stack up these days?
Spot the refurbed 1970s urban chic. We were, as, it turned out, lucky to arrive too late for the packed terrace. As a result, we didn't get fried in the unseasonal October sun outside, but got to enjoy a terrific view from a big window table on the first floor. Almost all the tables in the large open space are big enough for four or six. The ground floor's rather more industrial, filled with stools and high bench tables and as a result is a denser, noisier atmosphere. Head down to the basement for some entertainingly industrial comfort facilities.
Flushed with success at acquiring a great spot then, lunch, we did.
There once was a little sausage...
No desserts or add-ons today. Service was excellent, with a dedicated server keeping an eye on us at regular intervals and, even from 10 metres away, spotting us at will. Very impressive and not to be taken for granted.
By this time, with a nice wooden bill box all too visible on our table, eager eyes were coveting our huge eating space. There wasn't a spare one in the room, although most were only half-occupied. Perhaps so many large and therefore inflexible arrangements is a bit counterproductive, although the amount of space it give the lucky ones is very welcome.
Pay
€€
Per Person Three shared mains. Couple of large beers each. €16
Basics
Location
On the net
In Short
Hopes? Decent lunchtime eats.
Reality? Worked out as hoped, with a terrific location.
First Impressions? Post industrial boho-posh.
A USP? Location, destination, reputation.
The food in three words? Consistently good quality.
Can they get the staff? From what we saw, not a shortage.
Service with a smile? Very impressed with the customer radar and awareness of our server.
Would you take your friends? At the right time of day, yes.
Rating for a dating? Absolutely made for it in theory, but where are the tables for two?
Tip? We rounded up fairly generously.
Change one thing? We weren't fussed over it today, but the dessert list does look underpopulated.
Going back? No reason not to.
Compare & Contrast
Decor on a par, but food in a lower league at Perrachica.
Similar sensibilities in the food dept in Malasaña at Albur.
Similar sensibilities in the food dept in Malasaña at Albur.
Slightly old photos on Google Images
In Depth
Over 20 years on its corner in La Latina, El Viajero had a reputation for long lunches and barbecues on its terrace. How does it stack up these days?
Spot the refurbed 1970s urban chic. We were, as, it turned out, lucky to arrive too late for the packed terrace. As a result, we didn't get fried in the unseasonal October sun outside, but got to enjoy a terrific view from a big window table on the first floor. Almost all the tables in the large open space are big enough for four or six. The ground floor's rather more industrial, filled with stools and high bench tables and as a result is a denser, noisier atmosphere. Head down to the basement for some entertainingly industrial comfort facilities.
Flushed with success at acquiring a great spot then, lunch, we did.
A chip off the old block
You can haveOur first course that tasty shredded fish and chip job, which turned up in a copy of the sort of paper cone my dad bought me at the Martello Chippy in Dymchurch in the 1980s. No Sarsons or Saxa, although a bottle of ketchup sneaked its way onto a table nearby. The twist of lemon was very welcome. Surprisingly full-flavoured for such seemingly small slivers.
Fresh fried fish,
Fish fresh fried,
Fried fresh fish,
or
Fish fried fresh. Anon
There once was a little sausage...
The pig, if I am not mistaken, Supplies us sausage, ham and bacon, Let others say his heart is big I call it stupid of the pig. Ogden NashSecond up, came a plate of Basque chistorra, cut into four 10cm chunks and skewered onto some excellent flat bread quarters. Meat-eaters need to try this. A proper chistorra nothing like the processed - if tasty - stuff you can buy for €1 in your friendly (ha!) supermarket of choice. About twice as thick, too. This was halfway to a cooking chiorizo. Bread was delicious, too. Excellent dish, all in all. For the attention of all steakholders
A cow is of the bovine ilk, One end is moo, the other milk. Ogden NashAnd finally, a solomillo/sirloin, served as we asked for it - al punto/rare. In fact, nearer medium rare we thought. Our less red please red-meat-ready co-diner wasn't discouraged by it. Delicious, excellently seasoned. Some delicious chips, full-size this time and skin on were an great accompaniment. Very strongly flavoured - and well seasoned - a little voice in my head thinks they could perhaps have been cooked in animal fat rather than oil (the V-minded take note). Served on a hotplate embedded in a wooden base kept things fresh. Good attention to detail. On another occasion this would make a very good - and very traditional main course for one.
No desserts or add-ons today. Service was excellent, with a dedicated server keeping an eye on us at regular intervals and, even from 10 metres away, spotting us at will. Very impressive and not to be taken for granted.
By this time, with a nice wooden bill box all too visible on our table, eager eyes were coveting our huge eating space. There wasn't a spare one in the room, although most were only half-occupied. Perhaps so many large and therefore inflexible arrangements is a bit counterproductive, although the amount of space it give the lucky ones is very welcome.
Don't let your schedule unravel,
Be sure.
Make a plan to travel.
We want you to know,
It's worth a go.
Lunch at El Viajero.
h:m