Dinner at Arzak

After having one of the finest meals at Etxebarri a few hours earlier, we were all excited to have dinner at Michelin 3-star rated Arzak. Naturally our expectations were very high since CNN named the restaurant a top 5 place worth flying for and Anthony Bourdain rated it one of his favorite restaurants. Maybe it was the high expectations or because it followed Etxebarri, but this was certainly one of the most disappointing meals I have ever had. We were served an 8-course chef's tasting menu that included a selection of fried seafood, white asparagus, 2 foie gras courses, prawn, poached egg w/ peas, a sole or red mullet, pigeon, and 2 desserts. The food was entirely too heavy, with a lot of rich sauces and heavy seasonings. The meats were also overcooked. It also seemed like not a lot of thought went into the chef's tasting menu. Two foie gras courses are too much to handle in one sitting. The overall experience, including the service, ambiance, food, and decor was mediocre at best. Below are some photos. The meal was so forgettable I can't even remember the contents of the dishes to caption properly.

The restaurant from the outside.

White asparagus.

The first of the two foie gras dishes.

Poached egg w/ peas in broth. This was my favorite course and one of the better dishes I have eaten this trip.

Prawn.

Sole.

Pigeon.

One of the desserts.