Top Eats: San Sebastian - Bar Nestor

Brothers Nestor(left) and Tito(right) serve up great food in a welcoming environment at Bar Nestor

After traveling a month now, I am pleasantly surprised that we have not had a bad meal yet.

We went to Arzak, a top 10 restaurant in the world, a couple days ago for lunch.  I will post about that shortly.  Arzak lived up to all the good things I have seen about it.  The place I can't wait any longer to write about is my favorite restaurant to date on this trip, Bar Nestor.

Bar Nestor is currently ranked #3 out of 395 restaurants in San Sebastian on tripadvisor.  It was mentioned by Lonely Planet in 2010.  Many periodicals have written favorably about Bar Nestor as evidenced by its wall of clippings.  It is NOT in the most recent version of Rick Steves' Spain guide as far as I can tell.  I am glad more guides haven't mentioned Bar Nestor because otherwise it would be even more ridiculously busy with tourists in addition to the locals.

Why it is great: 
1. Friendly service from Tito, Nestor, and staff
2. Simply prepared, great quality dishes,
3. Some claim, and I agree, Bar Nestor has the best tortilla.  It is the best because the outside is both fluffy and slightly crispy.  The middle is cooked to perfection by leaving it still soft and runny.

What to eat there:
We loved everything we had: tomato salad, tortilla, steak.  They also serve fried green peppers and cheese/sausage plates.  That is their whole menu!

They serve up their tortilla(Spanish omelette with potato and onions) twice daily at 1PM and 8PM.  You can get there a few minutes early to put your name on the list to reserve yourself a piece.  If you aren't there before serving time, you will probably miss out.

The tomato salad is tomatoes, salt, olive oil, and a touch of balsamic vinegar.  Laura and I are not sure why it is so good or addictive.  We have had it 3 times in our 4 days in San Sebastian.

The steak was perfectly charred and cooked to a medium rare.  They didn't even ask what doneness was desired.  It seems to just be seasoned with salt.  It was one of the top 5 steaks I have ever had.

Bar Nestor
Pescaderia 11, San Sebastian - Donostia, Spain