Truly one of the most bizarre and aggressively unpleasant dining experiences I've ever had. If you…read morehaven't been verbally abused in a while, look no further! My family and I came here during our trip to Bilbao. My sister and I ordered the meat medallions and simply did not enjoy them. Instead of forcing ourselves to continue eating meat that tasted like it came out of a prison cafeteria, we politely asked if we could order something else instead. The server or manager, still unclear which, although the ego strongly suggested management, immediately became defensive and hostile. He started lecturing us about how the meat is "supposed" to taste, as if informing us about pre slaughter cattle nutrition was going to magically improve this metal tasting dish. My sister continued patiently repeating that we did not enjoy this meat and asked if we could replace it with something else. At that point this fully grown man, who appeared to be well over 60 years old, aggressively grabbed the plates, slammed them together, and said, "Well I don't like the meat in your country, you Fu***** bi***." My sister is a minor, which makes the entire interaction even more disturbing. After his dramatic exit, loud enough to make the whole room uncomfortable, he shuffled back a minute later to continue explaining the meat to us as though we were lacking the intellectual capacity to understand the flavor profile of tenderloin beef. By then our appetite was gone, the atmosphere was ruined, and we decided not to order anything else. The medallions started it, but he finished the job, completely killing our appetite. The most concerning part is that he appeared to be in a leadership position. If this is how customers are treated for politely sending back a dish, it raises serious questions about basic professionalism in this restaurant. Bilbao has far too many incredible restaurants to waste your money being insulted by a man whose emotional stability clearly isn't suitable for the hospitality business PS: After reading other reviews, it appears there is a recurring pattern of defensiveness and hostility toward criticism rather than any effort to resolve issues professionally. How surprising. Shame on you sir. And shame on the restaurant for being represented by such an unprofessional individual.

This is the best restaurant we have eaten at in Bilbao. When you first enter it looks like a…read morenormal Pintxos bar, but they have a very elegant dining room in back. They open for dinner at 9pm, and you will need reservations. We had our hotel arrange the reservation. They specialize in Ribeye and fresh fish, both grilled. We ordered the Ox Chop Ribeye for two. It weighed over a Kilogram and was prepared to our request of medium-rare. It came with a fantastic amuse bouche of puréed squash soup and a bite of a seafood salad. We split a fresh lettuce, tomato, grated cheese, and olive oil salad. The tomatoes were perfectly ripe and tasty. The steak was the best we have had in Spain. In my younger days I could have finished it all, but no more. The service was very attentive and the staff was very helpful and friendly. We considered ordering grilled octopus as a starter and they said it would be to much. They were right. It was not inexpensive (€171) but worth every euro. Can't recommend it enough.

We got screwed big time! They offered us the fish of the day and were charged €80…read more We do not recommend this place at all.

Best calamares fritos I have ever had.. perfectly cooked and the batter was not overly greasy…read more Service is also outstanding!

Wonderful tapas bar right in the heart of town. The vino kept on flowing and the atmosphere was…read morefabulous. The pimientos were perfectly salted and wine selection was excellent. But let's face it, you'll get fabulous wine all over Spain, right? That said, this spot was perfect for a snack and great company.

We came here late night, on our last evening in Bilbao…read more Most kitchens close quite early in this area, and Ad Hoc was open at least an hour later than anyplace around. The place is clean and modern looking with a beautiful chalkboard and a friendly waiter who was happy to accommodate our late-night drunken and broken Spanish. We had delicious and piping hot croquettes with a creamy interior spiked with salty ham. Their anchovies were standard but really delicious. Finally, at the bartender's recommendation, we had some Morcilla (blood sausage) with a lovely creamy puree. There is so much amazing food in Bilbao, it's sometimes hard to choose where to go to get your fix. In this case, Ad Hoc's unusually extended hours made the decision for us and i'm really happy they did!!

We landed at Bilbao airport and it was raining and felt nice and cool. Quite different than all the…read moreother temperatures we've experienced so far in Spain. The rental car rejected our reservation due to a technical issue but were very kind to help us find another booking via another company with less stringent rules. The ordeal took over 2 hours and cost double than our original reservation. We took a shuttle to our new car rental place and ended up here. Our rental was not ready and we had 45 minutes to kill. We were stranded in the rain with luggages and no where to go. So of course, you eat. Thank goodness Urbe was right around the corner to save us. There was an English speaking staff that was extremely kind and let us store our luggages in a corner to the right of the restaurant. We ordered tricolore pasta salad which had no veggies. It had tuna, rotini pasta, tomatoes, boiled eggs and dressing. The grilled sirloin steak was actually pretty good. It was cooked medium rare as requested and was tender and great tasting. It came with potatoes and salad. Got the frutti di mare pasta which had seafood, rigatoni in butter topped with some seaweed salad. Overall food was decent and we were grateful this place was open and available. Decor is simple and clean.

As in all of the restaurants that I have eaten at since I got to Spain, the service was…read moreexcruciatingly slow. They make an art of ignoring you. Glad you don't tip in this country, or they would owe me money. The food was typical, and of course it was served with French fries. I think that is the only way they know how to prepare potatoes in this country. The highlight of the meal was the entire bottle of Rioja house wine that I drank. That added one star to this review.

There is not one thing I don't like about this place. I…read morewent 2 nights in a row and will probably figure a way to go back. The 1st night there were 4 of us. We each had our own plates and I had the Pork Cheeks in a stew. My dish I could not stop eating it, the sauce was perfect and the meat melted in my mouth. We shared the stuffed peppers, which brilliant and zesty. Both nights there were sautéed mushrooms that had a kick that left my mouth with a peppery palette for a moment that I loved. So I got an order again the second night and I was not disappointed. The 1st night my friend got the filet which was flawless so I got that the 2nd night and I was so happy with it. I sat there in the front at a low table the 2nd night for 2 hours and had the same waiter both nights. The 1st night we were in the back. Both nights our waiter was a kind of Svengali mesmerizing me with his movements throughout the restaurant. I kept trying to pay and would say wait wait. I got an amazing custard for dessert and I left feeling full and entertained

I'd say it's a solid bar, that the locals still enjoy. I appreciate that a lot. I had to order on…read moremy limited Spanish but I knew what I wanted- the clams! I got the last order in and everyone was wishing they had done the same. They were meaty and good. A couple next to me recommended the squid, the local on the other side of me also recommended the squid. I just didn't feel like it- probably should have, when I realized you could order it with rice,. It was a good time had by all and I was sure glad to have experienced it. If the bar tenders seem to ignore you (and they probably will given how busy they are) just try some Spanish or show them a picture and it'll be okay. They are doing their best.

After exploring Bilbao's charming Casco Viejo, we made our way to Gure Toki in Plaza Nueva, and it…read moreended up being one of the highlights of our trip. The pintxos counter alone is worth the visit. Every bite looked like a miniature work of art, making it almost impossible to choose. We started with the Gilda, the iconic Basque pintxo of olives, Cantabrian anchovies, and pickled guindilla peppers. It was bright, salty, and the perfect way to wake up our appetites. The Idiazabal cheese soup with quail egg was one of the most memorable dishes we had in Bilbao. Creamy, silky, and comforting, it was topped with crispy potato sticks, crunchy corn, herbs, edible flowers, and a perfectly cooked quail egg that made every spoonful rich without feeling heavy. Another favorite was the tuna served in a vintage-style sardine tin, topped with roasted red peppers. The presentation was clever, but the quality of the tuna really stood out. It was incredibly fresh, tender, and paired beautifully with the sweet peppers. We also couldn't resist the jamón Ibérico on toasted bread with grated tomato (pan con tomate). Sometimes the simplest pintxos are the best, and this one showcased just how exceptional good Iberian ham can be. Everything was beautifully presented without sacrificing flavor. Even though the bar was busy, service was efficient, and the lively atmosphere made it feel like a place where both locals and visitors come for outstanding pintxos. If you're visiting Bilbao, Gure Toki is a must. It's the perfect place to experience traditional Basque flavors with a modern, creative twist.

Definitely a must visit for pintxos. Presentation, service, and quality were tops. A perfect place…read moreto experience pintxos for the first time.

Try everything. From the fish and chips, to the jamón, to the caldo. Don't miss out on the revuelto…read morecon jamón. The eggs are perfect. It's an institution for a reason.

Really excellent spot for pintxos but also super upscale dinner in Bilbao. Had foie gras and also…read morethe cod which both were incredible. Excellent service and a super fun vibe even late on a Wednesday night.

One of the most colorful layouts of pintxos awaits at Zurekin, a tapas bar in the new city of…read moreBilbao! The classic tortilla made with egg, sliced potatoes, and lots of olive oil was juicy and succulent. The taco bonito was a rather dry but meaty chunk of tuna topped with chopped onions, tomatoes, and peppers, and plenty of olive oil. But the most unique pintxo I had came with two thick slices of creamy, melty brie cheese topped with a compote of mixed berries, and skewered with a mint leaf and a raspberry. Such a colorful melange of ingredients, and the sweetness of the berries had a nice contrast to the unctuous cheese!

We ordered the 'boletos salteados, huevo a baja temperatura y jamón' but they forgot the ham...It…read morewas a dish of mushrooms with a loose egg in the middle. We then ordered the entrecot which was pretty good. Bread was great, there seemed to only be one waiter around so no ordering extra drinks. Would've been easier to just get pintxos and drinks at El Globo next door.