Old Bilbao
The Amboto Restaurant is located in the emblematic old downtown of Bilbao, surrounded by many bars and restored places.
In my last visit to Bilbao I had agreed to meet friends for dinner; we were having something to drink in the area and we decided to go inside this restaurant since it was the only one with a free table.
The place has two floors; the first floor has the bar and the second one the restaurant. The dining room is quite big and fits 110 people. I was surprised that it was practically empty, especially when the other restaurants of the area were so full.
It is decorated with wood and paintings, one of them featuring the Dama de Amboto of the popular legend. It specializes in traditional Basque cuisine, like codfish and other fish and grilled meat. They have a special house menu (26€) and they make special group menus.
We were three people and we ordered to entrees (an assortment of cold meats and a smoked plate) and then each one of us had a main dish (turbot with shrimp and eel, grilled monkfish with shrimp and clams, sirloin with Idiazabal cheese), all of it from the “recommended dishes” section of the menu. We paid 30€, wine bottle included, which I believe is an average price in Bilbao.
They were good sized servings and with a great presentation. We had a great dinner. The service was excellent, quick, attentive and kind. When they saw that we couldn’t stop taking pictures, the owner herself came to say hello, talked to us and turned on all the lights in the place and told us the history behind the paintings in the wall.
I definitely recommend this place, both for the service and the dishes.
