On our second evening in Valencia, we set our sights on a restaurant we’d spotted on our daytime stroll, which caught my eye as customers queued outside to get in. And only Spanish is heard on the horizon: so a reservation is made for that very evening.

As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:

The concept

Tago Mago is actually part of a restaurant chain, offering high-quality dishes at affordable prices. This is indeed the case.

The setting

Unlike most restaurants of this type, the setting is carefully designed, the furniture is designer and the decor is totally up to date.

The menu

The menu is quite long. This is a single set menu for everyone, with a choice of ten or so starters, main courses and desserts, for under €20. Almost unbeatable for the type of food served here.

The meal and the dishes

We have opted for the following starters:

• Foie gras nigiri with caramelized pear: an excellent, well-balanced combination of sweet and salty.
• Andalusian-style cuttlefish with basil/lime mayonnaise: Special mention for the mayonnaise, as the cuttlefish was slightly overcooked.
• Octopus and potatoes with aioli, chilli oil and crispy ham: Perfectly cooked and flavourfully seasoned.
• Homemade croquetas with duck, ham and parmesan: a little heavy but good.

For the main course, we chose :

• Beef cheek cannelloni: a little too much cheese for my taste
• Iberian-style ribs, low-temperature cooking: well, just ribs…

Dessert:

• Banoffee cake with dulce de leche: too sweet but good
• Mango cheesecake: excellent in every way

The service

The service was just perfect, fast and attentive. Don’t expect the fuss of a gourmet restaurant – that’s not what this is about.

The atmosphere

The atmosphere is friendly, relaxed but not too noisy. We had a great time.

Bottom line

A great experience and unbeatable value for money. Nevertheless, more attention to the care of the dishes would have been welcome.

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