Saltxipi

This beautiful rustic restaurant with big wood beams overhead and terra cotta tiles underfoot is run by the charming Ortega Añorga family. Talented chef Jon Ortega runs the kitchen, while his brother Gorka looks after the dining room. The house specialty is locally caught spider crab, which arestored live in tanks in the basement, explaining why the crab salad here is so stunningly fresh and good. The croquetas—breaded deep-fried beignets of béchamel and crabmeat—are homemade, and like many Basque chefs, Jon Ortega is a talented grill chef. Splurge on dishes like Galician lobster a la plancha or grilled just-out-of-the-water turbot for two.