Why I'll go back: An outstanding range of flavors in a four course meal at a price that is insanely affordable.
You MUST order: It's a tasting menu, but the wine and beer selection is excellent, so pick your poison or ask them to pair.
Tony's Tip: This spot can compete with any foodie restaurant in Valencia, but it feels like a better place for a low key lunch (vs. trendy dinner). But honestly, you can't go wrong either way.
This was one of those fortuitous discoveries that almost didn't happen. The wife and I were on our way to another highly regarded Valencian restaurant known for its paella prowess to make a reservation in person for that night. As we navigated our way through the maze of streets downtown, a waft of heavenly aroma hit us simultaneously. We exclaimed, "where is that smell coming from?" to each other, and we realized we were standing in front of Forastera - a cute, minimalist space with no guests (1:30 p.m.) and the hostess/owner rushing around placing the table settings. The menu looked intriguing, so we decided to head back after making the dinner reservation. Fast forward 15 minutes and we found ourselves seated at a comfortable table in a bright room just funky enough to be interesting, but not distracting.
The meal was offered in "long" and "short" versions, with the short being a choice between two different first, main, and dessert courses (no choice on the second course) and the long being all of the courses, but in slightly smaller portions. We did a double-take when we saw the price: just E15 for the short, E20 for the long. If you consider the routine tip for a much pricier meal at a similar restaurant in the US, it's almost like they were paying us to eat there! Given the late lunch and our pending dinner about six hours later, we each went with the short course and chose alternative dishes.
I'll let the pictures do most of the talking, but suffice it to say that from beginning to end, the meal was bursting with flavor and color. I particularly loved the appetizer of fresh, sweet onions accented with mackerel. The alternative ordered by my wife, a gently fried egg with a garlic paste, was equally flavorful. Following a second course of tender Spanish rice with broccoli, I was served what were some of the most succulent - and rich - meatballs I've ever had, topped with a subtly sweet beef gravy and surrounded by a mashed potato puree. My wife's sea bass, the lighter option, also hit the mark. Finally, we split the two dessert options, both of which melded complimentary flavors - hers being fresh peach slices in a bed of whipped cream, while mine was a trio of coffee ice cream, light honey sorbet, and a beer flavored foam. Apologies - we were so carried away with the meal by that point that I forgot to snap pics of the desserts! As for musical ambience, the playlist was a mixture of American throwback (70's and 80's) and some alternative European rock, all of it audible enough to create a backdrop, but not so loud as to draw from your culinary focus.
All in all, a fabulous find! The restaurant has been open for two years and yet I'm the first Yelper to write it up??? Show 'em some love and stop by here for lunch or dinner, whether you're a local or visitor. Forastera deserves to be discovered, if not by foodie reviewers, at least by you! read more