Northern Spain is known for its amazing cuisine; in particular the cities of Bilbao and San Sebastián. Every restaurant, every meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) I've had in these two cities on this trip astonished me, and I'm pretty unastonishable [sic]! The pastries, seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables produce overwhelmed me in a very good way. This was the case with Casa Rufo. This 80 year old butcher shop / sundry store surprises you until you start heading to the back of this dwelling and this old school, nothing fancy area restaurant appears that's divided into different rooms - it's a jaw-dropper that takes you back to a completely different era of time and space - I LOVED IT!!!! The staff working (especially the steak griller) here were masters at their given functions. I was dying to take a million pictures of what was going on inside this old world restaurant, but just the quietness of the environment here told me not to. That said, we had so many things on their menu that I couldn't possibly translate into English, let me just say everything was jolted me it was so good. My ten days in "The Bilbao" area was a culinary revelation that I will NEVER forget, Casa Rufo being at the head of my list read more

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This is more like a 3.5 star review. Casa Rufo was recommended by multiple people so I had high hopes coming here but it may sometimes backfire on you. Casa Rufo is a quirky little restaurant tucked inside a market giving you nostalgic vibe. It's sectioned off in multiple rooms and each room has its own charm. We ordered their smoked salmon, croquettes, white asparagus, cod fish, ox tail stew and t bone steak. The smoked salmon was fresh and nicely marinated. The citrus marinate helped open up our palate and we definitely were looking forward to our next dishes to come. The croquettes were nicely fried, without being too oily but it's nothing special and just like where we can get them in any other places. The white asparagus was a disappointment. Although the asparagus itself was fresh, it was way overcooked to the point you can mash it with your knife. The cod fish, although the texture was ok (not too dry but not moist and flaky either), I didn't like the pepper sauce as I think the flavors are too strong and overpowering for the fish. But this is just my personal preference and others may be fine with it. The ox tail stew was our favorite. The meat was tender and falls off the bone easily. It's hearty, flavorful and I particularly loved the sauce. It also came with fries which was so good after soaking up all the sauce. The And last but not least, the T-bone steak. It was cooked just like Peter Luger style, a big piece of t-bone, basically came rare on a hot plate and you need to flip and let it sit on the plate more to cook it a little more. You have to also make sure to flip all pieces at once before the plate cools down or else you're left with rare steaks at the end. It is evident that the steak was dry aged for weeks as it gave off an intense nutty flavor. It is a very good piece of meat. However, I found it a little dry so I ended up eating it with the ox tail stew sauce. Yes this meat is nice but it's nothing we can't get in the US so it wasn't a wow factor for me. Our server was nice but it was also minimal, maybe because we don't speak basque or Spanish. It did not stand out and was pretty standard. The AC was also minimal so it wasn't very comfortable in the middle of summer but this is common in Europe. Overall, I would say the food was good but no wow factor and not memorable at all. It's pretty standard to other restaurants around the country. read more

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The best T-bone steak!!! Wine selection were extensive but just ask the server he's the best( sorry can't remember his name). Tomato salad with Tuna white asparagus went so great with the steak. Don't forget to order the stewed oxtail (rabo). Call for reservation, we were just lucky it was a weekday and was able to get in even for 7 people. The place has the tables at the back of " grocery store" but is well known in the area. Most of all service was great!!! read more

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The hype is real. Really really good meal here! I was looking for a good steak after days of seafood and Casa Rufo delivered. Really nice staff as well and loved the decor. read more

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We found Casa Rosa on a travel blog as we searched for things we wanted to do in Bilboa. The review from the blog was amazing and made us want to visit. Let me just say, it was better than advertised. The staff was sweet and gracious to my new bride and I, visiting from the United States and limited in Spanish. We wanted Rioja, but didn't know what to pick. The older gentleman offered us his opinion and it was seriously the best wine we have had in country since we arrived. He was so kind and patient with us. Our first order arrived, smoked salmon. The pepper relish and the sauce on the side were simply tantalizing. They paired so well with the wine we offered and the blend of flavors was unique and desirable. Next; we got an appetizer of mushrooms. They were sweet, but so tasty, again accented by the amazing wine pair. Soaking the bread given to us with the wine, in the mushroom sauce... truly exceptional. My new Bride ordered their Hake and I ordered the sirloin. There is nothing in the world like what we tasted. The fish was light; flavorful; and flaky. The steaK melted in our mouths and was seasoned perfectly. The beef flavor was immaculate and accented the best of what we have had in Spain as well as our home country. THE BEST STEAK I have ever tasted. Finally; we ended with dessert and another bottle of wine. The desserts were good and accented with the espresso we got with it. Not as amazing as dinner but a good compliment. We highly recommend and are grateful the blog we were read recommend. This is a must stop anytime you're in Bilboa. You will not be disappointed. Great staff and food. We love the older man who helped us. Thank you so much staff of Casa Rufo! You've helped make our honeymoon in Spain amazing and memorably. read more

I read a few "foodie" reviews before coming to Bilbao, and this restaurant was highly recommended. We reserved a table, as suggested, for dinner and (given the limited seating,) I would recommend anyone wanting to dine, do the same. Trust that it is worth the trouble to bypass anything else in the area to eat here!! My husband and I spoke limited Castellano, but the staff that took care of us (one of which I believe was the owner) was amazing, and patient, and kind; and, despite their limited English, was able to communicate with us, and even make recommendations regarding wine and food...and since wine and food is why you are reading this review, trust that the food is AMAZING! I had the hake and my husband had the sirloin, and both were beyond superb. I have read that this restaurant has been family owned for over a 100 years, and I can absolutely see why they have continued to thrive. The food is SUPERB, the service is EXCELLENT, and the wine was AWESOME. This restaurant should be a "can not miss" locale if you're coming to Bilbao. read more

Absolutely fabulous meal! The owner greeted us himself and although he could speak limited English he made us feel welcomed and made sure we were taken care of the entire night. The wine, steak, and fries were incredible, the fries were a surprising portion of the meal we didn't specifically order but were maybe the best we've ever had. The steak came out on a sizzling platter with flaked sea salt on top- to die for. We stayed for about 2 hours and never felt rushed or as if we were imposing on another persons' reservation. We would come back every week if we lived here. Don't miss the coffee flan! read more