A note on the words: marmitako is a Basque fish stew traditionally simmered with potatoes and peppers, while paella is the classic Spanish rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan. Gazpacho is a chilled raw vegetable soup, and Iberico refers to pork from the prized black Iberian pig. Ervido is the menu’s own transliteration for one of the chicken dishes; the Spanish spelling, and what the preparation is, are not given. In this article, the Menu B lunch delivers a seafood paella with a little octopus perched on top.
Table of Contents hide
MESON CERVANTES on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
Hello, this is Hangover Meshi. The place I visited this time is “MESON CERVANTES,” a Spanish restaurant on the 7th floor of the Spanish Cultural Center, located just off Nittele-dori (the street by the Nippon TV building) in Kojimachi. I had no idea there was a Spanish Cultural Center in a spot like this! You always feel that restaurants tucked inside national cultural centers or friendship halls must surely be proper and delicious, don’t you? Expectations were running high.
At the entrance and in the elevator up to the 7th floor, there wasn’t the slightest atmosphere of an eatery, ha.
There’s a reception desk too, and having to tell them I was heading to the restaurant gave it a somewhat tense air, ha.
Once you arrive in front of the restaurant, though, the Spanish dining vibe suddenly kicks into full gear!
Menu A — 1,200 yen
Menu B — 1,200 yen
The Iberico lunch — 1,900 yen
Menu D — 3,000 yen
There is Lunch A with yellowtail marmitako or chicken breast “ervido,” B with paella, the Iberico lunch with pork shoulder loin steak, and D with a full lunch course.
Hmm, it’s hard to choose. Being at a Spanish restaurant, and especially on my first visit, I really wanted to try the paella.
I picked the paella! Before long, the accompanying salad and soup were brought over.
Yes, the salad has a decent portion to it, and the soup is piping hot.
It was a consomme containing cabbage, onion, bacon and the like.
Apparently you could upgrade to gazpacho for +350 yen, so maybe that would have been a nice upgrade.
And then, the paella arrived!
Oh! Looks delicious.
The little octopus perched on top is utterly adorable!
First off, a squeeze of lemon and a taste.
I see, I see. Overall, the seasoning is light on salt, giving it a clean, refined taste.
You get the savoriness of the seafood direct. In fact, this might be the authentic flavor from back home, ha.
So, this time I came to “MESON CERVANTES” inside the Spanish Cultural Center, and I feel like I proved once again that dining spots inside national cultural institutions never miss, ha. The flavors were proper and very delicious. If you’re looking to eat proper Spanish cooking, I can definitely recommend this place!
MESON CERVANTES (Spanish / Kojimachi Station, Ichigaya Station, Yotsuya Station)
Tabelog lunch rating ★★★☆☆ 3.4
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
One more for the road?
