Review – Akelare restaurant San Sebastian, Spain

Introduction

San Sebastian has the most Michelin stars per capita or whatnot.  We decided to go with the Michelin 3 star restaurant Akelare because a) we couldn’t get reservations at Arzak and b) my friend had gone recently and enjoyed it.  AMEX concierge had no problems booking us a lunch reservation.  We took the bus (yes the bus) to the restaurant from the Hotel Maria Cristina (the concierge had no idea which bus to take, so we used Google Maps.)  Luckily the bus route begins about 2 blocks away from the hotel, so it was very easy walking to the bus.  I believe it took about 40 minutes by bus to get there and cost around 5 EUR one way for my wife and I.  My friend told me a taxi would have run about 40 EUR or so one way.  The restaurant is about a 5-10 minute walk off the bus stop (you can’t miss it.)  I’m pretty sure we were the only ones taking the bus to the restaurant.

 

 

Experience

Once you enter the dining are, you get this GORGEOUS view of the water.  Probably one of the best views I’ve ever had from a Michelin star restaurant (reminded me a bit of Santorini.)  We decided to go with the Aranori tasting menu because the wife thought the Bekarki menu didn’t look too special.  Dish after dish came out and the food was good; I don’t think any one dish was memorable though.  I think once you’ve eaten at so many Michelin star restaurants, it begins to all taste the same.  C’mon, a perfectly cooked piece of halibut is going to be the same no matter where you go.  I realize all you food snobs will roll your eyes at that, but that’s how I feel at this point.  I think for me at this point, I need that 4D experience – I want the waiter to spray a mist of sea water on my table right before serving an oyster so I can feel like I’m eating it at the sea.  I realize that sounds ridiculous, but that’s kinda what Alinea does.  All in all though, for $780 USD all in for 2 people with wine pairings is a pretty good deal for a Michelin 3 star restaurant.  Would I go back?  NO WAY.  Do I recommend it to you?  Yes, if you can’t get reservations at Arzak.

 

Pictures