Gastrobar Bitoque, birthday pintxos

Second outing of Bitoque in Bilbao, loving it so far. Have a lot of the menu to get through.

Price: Individual pintxos made to order: 3-3.5 each (as in the photos below)
Shared pintxos/plates: 6- 11 euros .
There's also pintxos on the counter, cheaper I guess.

Menu del día: 12.50 Very good value, excellent quality food , good wine and home-made desserts included.

Must have: Duck risotto

Recommended: Fish and chips, Tempura sushi

Shredded duck risotto with mushrooms, hoisin and fried wonton: amazing

Maize ravioli, prawns, vanilla and onion (I think). Very fine dish indeed

Restaurante Solana, return visit

Traditional cooking turned into a Michelin star by present generation

Open: Tuesday to Sunday lunch time

Price: 7-course half portions tasting menu: 60 euros + VAT and drinks

A la carte: available. 

Must have: Many things, including Artichokes!

Recommended: Their tasting menu is exceptional value for money. Anything seasonal as well.

Bread was brilliant. Olive oil torte, country-style, and seeded

First aperitivo: crunchy foie with hazelnut mousse, the flavours went so well together

Second aperitivo: best Croqueta ever

Artichokes from another dimension

Home-style beans: yummy, we asked for one portion to share, but there was enough in the pot for 2 helpings each. 

Green peppers, traditional accompaniment to red beans, were exceptional

J chose the wine, our good wine at home is tasting ordinary now

Pichón, cooked two ways.

Pichón: close up. Legs were braised and breast was roasted. Liked both.

Apple cake, re interpreted beautifully

This menta poleo was something else. Loved the sugar adding stick

petit fours were substatial: gin tonic jelly babies, pistacho cakes, strawberry mousse

This meal came to 50 euros per head incl VAT, including coffees and the dessert wine- a Tokapji 5*- but not including the main wine. That one was exceptional for us, and so the price would not reflect the restaurant truly.