Enxebre

After being convinced by the food and the service in the more formal of the two restaurants in the Parador, we were curious about the more casual companion restaurant and showed up for a late lunch (served until 4 as is customary in Spain). There was still one table available in the very front of the place near the kitchen, a bit away from the packed tables in the main part.
As part of our initiation into Galician cuisine we of course had the pulpo a feira (octopus and potatoes drizzled with olive oil and with a paprika spicing), the empanada gallega (a savory pie), our first of many servings of berberechos (cockles), mejillones (mussels), and tried for the first time the delicious navajas (razor clams). Needless to say after our first late lunch feast we had no room for dinner.
During the next two weeks we usually came late for lunch after 3 to a room packed with pilgrims — evidently August crowds are the rule — but were also astonished by the efficiency and speed of the staff. We remember being amazed too as Tania, a petite and very friendly attendant, seemed to carry her weight in dishes and cups beautifully balanced into the kitchen.
On one evening when we chose to eat dinner in Enxebre instead of in the more formal Dos Reis (we had room and one daily meal as part of our parador arrangement), we enjoyed romantic live Spanish guitar music as the perfect accompaniment to our late night dinner.
In the course of our dozen meals (mostly lunch, a few dinners too) we got to know the very friendly and competent maître Mario, who found time to share his tips for the surrounding areas and some local gossip. Alberto and Tania were two of the wonderful attendants we were to see again and again — always friendly and always very efficient even on the busiest of afternoons or evenings.
And we learned the meaning of Enxebre, a Galician word for «local, typical» — and if you add «delicious, friendly, cozy,» then Enxebre is the perfect name for a place that we’ll always remember — both for the delicious regional meals and especially for the wonderfully warm welcome we received upon each visit.

Búscalo dentro del Parador de Los Reyes Católicos. Atrévete a cruzar la puerta… No te arrepentirás.
Cocina tradicional y también de vanguardia, en tapas — bocados y en raciones.
Servicio ágil y agradable…