One cool thing about the Cantina, is that the owners strive to support local farmers. When building their menus, they pay attention which ingredients are in season and try to reduce food waste as much as they can. They even have a small garden in the inner courtyard of their restaurant, where they grow some of their own ingredients.
We arrived late on a Friday afternoon; normally we aim to sit down between 1:30 and 2pm, but today it was about an hour later and the place was already buzzing with happy chatting and people enjoying their meals. There weren’t any tables available, but the waiter was happy to rearrange some things so that we could sit down. We were excited!
There’s a definite farm-vibe to the interior of La Cantina, with fresh vegetables, herbs, and bread on display everywhere you look. There’s also a lot of ceramics, which underlines the idea of bringing the huertas (fields) of Valencia into the city center. And the layout of the semi-open kitchen allows you to watch your food being made. It all kind of reminded me of visiting my grandma, who lived on a farm. I loved the scents and sounds of fresh cooking, while I watched her prepare a big family feast.
But now let’s get to the food! On this particular day we ordered:
Mike
- Clóchinas Valencianas
- Arróz de Jabalí con Setas
- Panna Cotta with Berries
Juergen
- Tortilla Española
- Guiso de Ternera
- Tiramisu
The first round of plates were incredible, Mike devoured a plate of Clóchinas Valencianas, the local mussels. They’re in season from late April to early September, when they develop their best flavor. Juergen’s tortilla (not the Mexican kind) was a rich disc of potatoes with the addition of onions. Perfectly cooked, with the inside just slightly moist.
It often happens that the second plates of a menú del día are not as good as the first plates. While Mike’s rice with wild boar and mushrooms (Arroz de Jabali con Setas) was excellent, Juergen’s portion beef stew (Guiso de Ternera) was quite a small portion, and the meat could have used another hour or two in the pot. But neither of us could complain about the desserts! And the coffee gave us the extra boost we needed to make it back home for our siesta.
We love this place, although we did prefer their almuerzo to their menú del día. Still, the lunch menu is very affordable at just €11 per person, an incredible bargain in a neighborhood which has seen prices shoot up. And the boisterous, local atmosphere inside this lovely cantina is just about worth the price itself.
From our Valencia Lunch Blog.