On the website of the La Mary restaurant franchise they promise “excellent value for money”. Will they deliver?
The Andilana group, the group responsible for the restaurant franchise La Mary, has more than 50 years of experience in the sector. This group began its journey in the Hostal Llar de Palamos on the Costa Brava. Today the Andilana group has restaurants and hotels located in different countries and a great professional success. They themselves detail the keys to their success: food based on Mediterranean cuisine, exclusive locations in the best places in the city, classy interiors and excellent value for money.
La mary currently has two restaurants in Bilbao, one in the old part of the city, and the other in the Plaza Arriquibar, next to the alhóndiga. Today we will focus on the one in Plaza Arriquibar 3, to which without hesitation we send our food critic Gus:
The location and the place la Mary: The restaurant is located 5 minutes walk from the metro stop moyúa. In front of the restaurant there are several bars where you can have a drink after lunch / dinner, with terraces outside always full of people that give the area a lot of atmosphere. The place is newly built, the decor is very neat, modern touches in a ‘classic’ atmosphere, with a predominance of white and gray splashed with color, which make the stay comfortable. Perhaps the only point to improve is the situation of some tables, very close to each other, which undoubtedly can subtract privacy.
Interior of La Mary restaurant
Attention and service: Immediately a person attends you when you enter the restaurant, takes you to a table, and hands you the menus (including the wine list). In an appropriate time, a waiter takes note, not having ordered wine, we do not know if he offers any preference on the choice of wine. The service is correct, with a smile on the face that is always appreciated. The service times were perfect, and the temperature of the food was just right.
Lunch: We started with a “Coca de ventresca de atún con tomate y piquillos confitados” (6,95€).
Tuna belly tuna with tomato and candied piquillo peppers (La Mary)
Of generous dimensions, it was to the liking of the diners. The ventresca in large loins, and the coca with the right point of hardness. The dressing was very well chosen. We ventured to try the “patatas bravas with chorizo” (4,90€), and we were pleasantly surprised, they have an aioli touch that leaves a good aftertaste on the palate, the portion is generous, with potatoes at its point of hardness, a very successful combination.
patatas bravas with chorizo (La Mary)
We also tried the assortment of croquettes (12) (8,95€), which included ham, ham and cheese, idiazábal cheese and baby squid. They were a bit small, and we expected much more flavor. In their favor, a creamy finish and no excess oil. To finish with dessert, we decided to order “Cup for chocolate fanatics (chocolate fondant, white chocolate ice cream, browine, choco krispies and cream) (4,50 €). A delight for those with a sweet tooth, perhaps it would have been better to replace the choco krispies with walnuts, even so, a very successful combination, far from thinking of a cloying dessert, thanks to the ice cream we got a delicious bite.
Cup for chocolate fans (La Mary)
Adding the price of the drinks (2 bottles of Mondariz, in a glass container, 50cl, at 1.5€ each), the cost of the meal was 32 euros.
In short: A place to repeat, with many things to try from its extensive menu.
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