EATING OUT
Most restaurants will provide "raciones" (tapas as they are known in UK) most of the time. Occasionally the kitchen is closed between 5 - 9, but they will still provide some food on request, often that displayed on the bar. They usually serve a "menu del dia" and "a la carta" between 1.30/2 pm and 4/5pm, and dinner a la carta from 9pm. Bar JJ (jota jota) has the kitchen open all day until 10pm.
Menu del dia (this is what you will get if you ask for the menu) - a daily menu of 3 courses with restricted choice for 7 - 14 euros including wine, gaseosa (lemonade), water or beer. The choices are often displayed outside the restaurant otherwise you can ask what there is and you will either be presented with the list or they will read it out to you. Sometimes you can select "postre or café" (desert or coffee) but ususally café is extra. The menu is usually very good value.
A la carta - this is like choosing from the menu in UK.
Some possible choices and terms that may not appear in your phrase book or dictionary.
Starters
| Sopa castellano |
Local soup of delicious stock, garlic, bread and egg |
| Sopa manchego | Local soup with asparagus tips |
| Pisto | Ratatouille |
| Migas | Fried bread crunmbs with chorizo and paprika |
| Menestra | Mixed vegetables |
| Patatas revolcanas | Mashed potatoes flavoured with paprika, usually served with a fried egg |
| Potaje | Soup made with a wide variety of ingredients |
| Caldo Gallego | Similar to Potaje |
Main courses
| Lomo | Fillet - usually refers to pork but can also be beef |
| Albondigas | Pork meatballs |
| Cocido | Complete meal of chicken noodle soup, chickpeas, potatoes, veg and meat |
Various
| Ensalada mixta | Mixed salad, normally contains tuna and possibly egg |
| Ensalada normal | Mixed salad but without the tuna |
| Café con leche | Milky coffee |
| Cortado | Coffee with a dash of milk |
| Solo | Black coffee |
| Cola cao | Chocolate drink - either hot or cold |
| Chocolate | Thick hot chocolate - great for dunking! |
Terms
| Bien pasada | Well done |
| Al punto | Done to a T |
| Empanada | Breaded |
| A la romana | Battered |
| Jardinería | Stewed with vegetables |
| A la plancha | Griddled |
| Asado/a | Roasted |
| Rehogado/a | Baked |