The meal of a lifetime in Deba
The best food of all time. Ever.
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Have you ever had a meal that makes you feel as though you are in some sort of alternate universe because everything about it is so perfect?
If you are lucky enough to visit Uberu in the town of Deba (just outside of San Sebastián), you will immediately understand what a special place this restaurant is.
It is very much a local’s joint and has an interesting history. We met up with Jaimé’s friend and her young, foodie son for a late lunch. Jaimé filled us in on the history of the restaurant and I was immediately in love.
Uberu used to be a place back in the day that ran contraband and its front was food service! So as I mentioned before, it’s VERY local.
The restaurant is a classic sagardotegia… (cider house) and is filled with long tables which diners share and you can view the open kitchen grill from most tables in the seating area. The environment is energetic, social and fun. Dining here as a tourist makes you feel as though you’ve been let in on a wonderful secret.
Uberu Sagardotegia
Let’s eat!
You will fall in love with the food in the Basque Country! I recommend picking up these books so you familiarize yourself with its rich history and can create some dishes once you’ve returned home!
*please note: I have a few affiliate links in this article. When you click on the link and book or purchase through the affilate company, I get a tiny little commission. Teeny tiny … like Tea-Cup Chihuahua tiny but I sure do appreciate your support! There is no extra cost for you! Affiliate links help to keep this blog up and running! I ONLY include links to products or services that I believe in.
The Cider!
Perhaps one of the most endearing aspects of dining here is the unique tradition of cider pouring. They have 4 LARGE barrels at the front of the restaurant and when you order cider, the server brings you an empty glass.
You march up to the barrels and stand at an unbelievably lengthy distance from the spigot to catch the cider while someone opens the spigot for you. The proper way to is to hold your glass at an angle so the cider hits the rim which creates txinparta (foam… ). This distance from spigot to glass allows for aeration and, well, it’s fun!
The buckets are moved farther back when it’s time to pour
It is a really unique experience and there are cider house tours you can take in this region of Spain. Read out this NYT article for more on this traditional beverage.