Restaurant Andrea – Batzoki in Balmaseda, a safe bet.

Restaurant Andrea a winning bet in Balmaseda.

How gratifying it is to leave satisfied after having eaten in a restaurant, especially if that feeling is accompanied by a good portion of happiness and a reasonable price. All this can be found in the weekend menu of the Restaurant Andrea-Batzoki Balmaseda. After a walk through the old town and visiting the church of San Severino in the center of Balmaseda, we found the Restaurant Andrea – Batzoki Balmaseda.

Balmaseda logo with the bridge in the background

We arrived on a Saturday without prior reservation, two adults with a baby stroller, when we opened the door and asked if there was availability, the friendly waiter, after indicating that we could go in to eat without any problem, opened a side door through which you can access an elevator to save the stairs that separate the lower part (cafeteria / bar) from the upper part (restaurant).

We loved the dining room, spacious, very bright and with a wide separation between tables that many restaurants do not take care of. Immediately, a very friendly waitress “sings” to us the dishes available on the menu of the day. The price of the menu is 12 euros, 5 starters and 5 main courses, all of them varied and including seasonal food that can be seen on a lectern placed outside the restaurant.

The first of the Andrea restaurant, Batzoki de Balmaseda were ventresca salad with piquillo peppers and pesto tagliatelle. The pesto noodles were just right, without skimping on the accompaniment, generous portions and very neat presentation (for the possibilities of such a dish). The ventresca salad deserves a separate opinion, exquisite, large and with a real presence of ventresca. The piquillos (other places call salad to 3/4 parts of lettuce with some other complement).

For the second course, baked ham knuckle on a baked potato base, just right, a more than sufficient portion. The large crockery accompanied the dish. Entrecotte of veal, a good piece, with potatoes on the side, salt flakes in the right measure and the point indicated to the waitress.

Baked ham knuckle, Restaurant Andrea

Still surprised by such a good choice came the dessert, we agreed on almond tart. A portion well accompanied by icing sugar and caramel put the finishing touch to an outstanding meal.

Almond cake from Andrea’s restaurant

Summarizing the Restaurant Andrea offered us good personal attention, added to an exquisite food to which is added a contained price, all this can only give as note a winning bet for those who approach this ricón in Balmaseda.