Restaurant Casa de los Obreros - Better than McDonald’s

Walking down Calle Caballeros into the Plaza de la Virgen, you can’t help but notice a nondescript sign pasted the door of a prominent building. “Menú del Dia, €5″, with a decent array of choices.

Since our first day in the city, we’ve been equally curious and terrified by this offer — the price is half of what other restaurants charge, and suggests that it’s either the greatest deal in Valencia, or the worst food. Today, we took the plunge.

I almost turned around after ascending the stairs into the dining room. We were the only souls there, save an eagerly friendly waitress, which is a terrible sign. And the decor and atmosphere reminds one of nothing more than an old folk’s home, hastily rearranged to accommodate a budget wedding reception.

But we sat down, and are glad we did. The food isn’t going to win any awards, but was definitely worth the price. We both started with paella valenciana, which was simple and competently done. Then, I had a Spanish tortilla and Juergen had tenderloin smothered in blood and entrails ketchup and potatoes.

The wait staff was truly friendly and the place did eventually begin to fill up. A lot of older people eat there — many seemed to be regulars, and a couple brave groups of tourists sat down, too. The atmosphere improved considerably once it was full.

Overall, we can recommend Casa de los Obreros, if you want a filling meal on the cheap. Just think: an extra-value meal at the nearby McDonald’s costs more, and would be far less satisfying.

Location on Our Valencia Restaurant Map