Rausell

With over 70 years of history, Rausell is a lovely traditional place that is on the top of the list of many local foodies. Situated just outside of the center of the busy Old Town, it’s visited mostly by locals ― it’s not a place for passers-by. The setting is a little more formal than most places, with tables covered with white linen (and no music), but the enjoyment of the guests makes up for that. Also, you can also try to find a more energetic spot at one of the few bar seats overlooking the kitchen. With mostly men above 40 running the service, English is not a language many of the waiters possess. However service is professional and very friendly and with a bit of French and some hand and feet signaling, you’ll surely get what you would like. The food is classic and very well executed, being pure and honest, but with some refinement as well. Some of the highlights of our visit were the anchovy fillets, baby squid, and deep-fried anemone.

The wine at Rausell is excellent, with a wine list that is diverse and well-sourced. They mention 150 different labels on their website, but I counted many more. You’ll find the classics from Champagne, Cava and Rioja, Priorat and Ribera del Duero as well as some exciting local wines and ― very important for seafood ― a nice selection of Galician whites and reds. Stemware is some of the best in Valencia with mouth-blown ultra-thin Spiegelau when you order a decent bottle of wine. Even Heineken is served in Zwiesel. Waiters can surely guide you to an interesting choice if you feel like giving someone else control of your wines election. The wines are all excellent value ― and they do takeaway, too!