Eating is a pleasure, but increasingly a very expensive pleasure. The great chefs, the most famous cooks, enter our homes, on our mobile phones through cooking shows, through social networks, and we want to taste those edible works of art that enter our eyes. And we really want it, but going to Casa Marcial, Diverxo, Celler de Can Roca, Atrio, Coque or Ricard Camarena and getting a ‘three star’ can leave a big hole in the monthly budget.
Luckily, the tops The kitchens also seek to get closer to the general public, reach more diners, conquer younger palates, and develop alternatives to haute cuisine. Practically all of them start other hospitality businesses that benefit from the well-deserved fame of the stars and the suns where they offer more affordable cuisine, almost always more casual and with nods to their best-known creations.
Let’s not forget that tasting menus in a restaurant in the highest Michelin positions can cost 300 euros per diner and these options low cost They allow us to eat for a third of this amount and even less depending on the place chosen.
There are many options ‘junior’, Almost all the big ones have some more affordable ones, some chefs even have two or three. Here we propose some where you can treat yourself to tasting the cuisine of the greats at lower prices.
Origin, by David Yárnoz
At the bottom of the Urdániz Mill (two Michelin stars), the old stone house houses the other restaurant of David Yárnoz, the chef who cooks the essence of the product of his land. At Origen it preserves the family cuisine and traditional stews to which it knows how to give a twist without losing the essence.
The diner who chooses to stay at the bottom of the mill and does not go up to the two stars will not regret it because the Navarrese offers delicacies such as a tripe stew that is to dip the good bread that this house also offers, roast trout, local vegetables such as leeks in terrine or cod ajoarriero. All with the same philosophy of sustainability and product worship with which it operates in the mother company.
Ctra. Nacional 135, km.16.5 – 31698 Urdániz, Navarra
Tragatá, by Benito Gómez
Tragatá is the most sparkling space of chef Benito Gómez, creator of Bardal where he has two Michelin stars. In both they offer a trip to the depths of Ronda and there is no shortage of local products. But in Tragatá, among nods to Asian cuisine, the stews of morro, the marrow, the salad or the juicy omelet, the Iberian presa and the lamb shoulder sneak in. And to drink, a very good selection of Ronda wines.
This proposal, with two locations in Malaga and Ronda, has many successes to its credit: second best Iberian ham croquette in Madrid Fusión 2021, best Russian salad in Spain at Gastronomika in San Sebastián and best tripe at the 2023 World Tripe Championship .
Tragatá Ronda: C/Nueva, 4, 29400 Ronda, Málaga
Tragatá Málaga: Alameda Principal, 3, Málaga
The Cala de Buenavista, by Iván Cerdeño
Iván Cerdeño, brand new with two Michelin stars from his cigarral overlooking the Tagus in Toledo, has also launched a more affordable alternative. In this case, Cala de Buenavista is an urban beach bar that tries to transmit the freshness of these casual beach places. With a great view, you can taste the chef’s famous concretes that have been awarded at Madrid Fusión and other typical beach bar dishes: calamari, skewers, marinated fish, omelettes or hamburgers, but with the touch of the Toledo chef.
Parque Belgium, 1, 45005 Toledo
House of the Mermaid, by Jesús Segura
Casa de la Sirena is the little brother of Casas Colgadas, an emblematic restaurant in Cuenca with a Michelin star. In charge of the kitchens of both is Jesús Segura from Cuenca, and in both he develops the philosophy of his dryland cuisine attached to his land.
In this place, more affordable than the mother house, with a modern, elegant decoration – although without the views of the other place -, the chef offers simpler cuisine, with the same philosophy of renovation based on traditional recipes and products. from Cuenca.
C/ Obispo Valero, 16001 Cuenca
Gloria, by Esther and Nacho Manzano
Gloria is the proposal that has brought Esther and Nacho Manzano’s cuisine closer to the urban public. This restaurant with two locations in Gijón and Oviedo participates in the philosophy of the renowned Casa Marcial in Arriondas, a cuisine devoted to the product, with deep roots in the traditional recipe – although in the case of Gloria more casual and approachable.
On the menu, memorable dishes from the mother house such as their ham croquettes, rice with pitu from Calella or fabada share the spotlight without complexities, with tapas from the usual bars such as the Russian salad and with proposals with oriental touches such as the cheek. thai.
The important thing is that these young children of Casa Marcial maintain the quality of the native proposal and the public responds by filling their tables every day.
Gloria Oviedo: C/Cervantes, 24, 33004 Oviedo, Asturias
Gloria Gijón: Plaza Florencio Rodríguez, 3, Centro, 33206 Gijón, Asturias
Llisa Negra, by Quique Dacosta
Mediterranean chef Quique Dacosta, who runs the three-star restaurant that bears his name in Denia, also offers more casual and affordable cuisine at his Llisa Negra.
Located in the capital of Valencia, this white and clean place like houses on the seashore, proposes both in the tasting and in the menu the cult of the foods of its land and the simple preparations, with prominence of the grill, the salted , vegetables from the Valencian garden and rice.
Little artifice and a lot of product with a much more bearable price than its main restaurant.
C/ de Pascual i Genís, 10, Ciutat Vella, 46002, Valencia
Coquetto Bar, by the Sandoval brothers
In the heart of Madrid’s Chamberí neighborhood, Coquetto Bar is another proposal from the Sandoval brothers who have already made Coque (two Michelin stars) their flagship. The creators say that they want to “connect the human being with the environment, without ornaments, without pretensions, in the most natural and honest way possible.”
And for this they propose a 360º place, from breakfast to the cocktail, passing through the brunch, lunch and dinner.
The menu seems to be a tribute to traditional cuisine, where cod fritters, migas with egg, their famous roast suckling pig, torreznos, ratatouille and blood sausage have their place. A casual cuisine, with half portions that are appreciated.
C/ de Fortuny, 2, Chamberí, 28010 Madrid
Torre de Sande, by Toño Pérez
Torre de Sande is the proposal of Toño Pérez and José Polo, souls of Atrio (three Michelin stars) in Cáceres.
If there is anything to start with, it is the beauty of the site, a 15th century tower house in the center of Cáceres that invites you to relax.
They define this proposal as a food house, which aims to enhance the richness of Extremaduran cuisine. As it could not be otherwise, Iberian pork is the protagonist on the menu, as are local cheeses, tripe stews, ham croquettes or classic flan.
C/ Condes, 3, Centro-Casco Antiguo, 10003 Cáceres
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