I plan to spend two nights in Cuenca in November, arriving by IRYO train from Madrid. I’ve booked RAFF based on what I’ve read here and elsewhere. CASAS COLGADAS is closed on the two nights we are there, Monday and Tuesday. I am thinking about booking ASADOR DE ANTONIO and just wanted to check with Maribel and others who know Cuenca. A de A has roast baby lamb, which I love, and the menu sounds good, It has a Repsol SOL, I believe. Good choice for second dinner?
At RAFF, we will probably choose a la carte. Any dishes I should not miss? Any preferred seating area(s)?
We are staying at the Parador. Hope their breakfast is good!
At the Parador you’ll want to order your eggs freshly made in the kitchen, any style. They won’t have them on the buffet, or at least they haven’t at any of the Paradors where we’ve stayed in the past year.
Another “institution” for asados (cordero, etc) is MESÓN NAZARENO Y ORO. But they only have a Facebook page.
OLEA COMEDOR, a Bib Gourmand (dinners Wed-Sat only) and ROMERA BISTRO (dinners Thurs-Sat only) serve fusion cuisine, and you won’t be there to try them.
EL FIGÓN DEL HUÉCAR for us was more impressive for the views than the food.
Thanks, Maribel, once again, the old Monday problem!
Exactly the same in Sicily (just returned).
MESON NAZARENO Y ORO looks fantastic! And only 3 reviews in English while 251 in Spanish on TA. There is no way to decide between those two as asadores without flipping a coin, I don’t think! NAZARENO only open for lunch on Tuesday, not dinner.
I’m not surprised that there are only 3 reviews in English.
Cuenca actually doesn’t get that many English-speaking tourists compared to other places because it’s somewhat off the beaten path. Although thanks to the AVE & IRYO Cuenca now sees more foreign visitors.
Many visitors who overnight at the Parador just take their dinners there (and you know how I feel about Parador dining, breakfast being the exception). And for lunch they tend to visit the restaurants in the upper historic quarter that have those impressive views, like El Figón del Huécar with its views of the Huécar River gorge. Actually you might enjoy it, and lamb is on the menu there as well. It is indeed Repsol recommended.
Actually, thinking about it, you may want to ignore completely my comment about El Figón, as it was quite a while ago that we had lunch there. Peruse the menu and the reviews and see what you think.
If you have a hankering for tasting one of the typical Manchegan dishes such as morteruelo, ajoarriero or migas del pastor, this is your place, plus they serve cordero and chuletillas.
It has received a nod at one point (not a star or Bib Gourmand) from Michelin, and there have been lots of reviews there on ViaMichelin.
We were attracted to it for the views and also because it was the former home of the singer (cantautor) José Luis Perales (“Me llamas”–that’s his hit that ages me!)
And El Figón is mentioned in the Elle article that you posted on the other travel forum.
Good grief, Maribel! Of course I want to try the Manchegan dishes!!!
I imagine I could be very happy spending a week in Cuenca now that I’ve been reading about all those places to eat, and reading your comments!!! Truth be told, I am now taking a medication that suppresses my appetite (you will know what I mean)…I may have to cut back for this trip!! But now that I learn how easy it is to get to Cuenca, it may not be my last visit…
Speaking of side trips from Madrid…is Pedraza one that I/everyone should think of visiting? Or Sepulveda? Interesting that STILL there is very little mention in the foreign (English-speaking) press about that area…I have such great memories and I think that I "met’ you when planning that trip; in 2006!
A happy diner after devouring lechazo at the late El Yantar in Pedraza:
Never for get those “storkies” viewed from our room at the rural hotel you recommended, in Pedraza: Hospederia de Santo Domingo. Excellent!
Yes, this was the first time my path crossed with yours! How fortuitous for me…how you have had such an incredibly positive impact on so many trips to Spain since then!
