Casa Rufo

Lovely little authentic basque restaurant. Skip the starters and go straight to the steak & wine. The tuna salad was a let down for the price. We suspected the tuna from a can despite asking if it was fresh :(. Some music in the restaurant would have made for a better atmosphere and slightly better service but couldn’t fault the steak.

We read about this place on Culture Trip, usually a bit of a go-to when stuck for choice particularly with eating out in a new place. We’d had our pintxos fill and fancied something special for our final night. This place really didn’t disappoint. The space itself is wonderfully charming and kooky, with tables placed in different rooms surrounded by walls adorned with deli products, olive oils, all kinds of alcohol, trinkets and basque memorabilia. We immediately felt comfortable despite it being a quiet Tuesday evening. And away from the busy tourist hotspots of the Old Town we got the feeling we were dining amongst locals as the place filled up, the Maître d explaining he found our booking easily as we were the only non Spanish name on the system. We opted for a few of the 1/2 portions to share and of course that famous ribeye. The smoked duck was seriously incredible, as were the Bay of Biscay anchovies in a pool of amazing olive oil with simple roasted pepper and a few olives. We didn’t have time to consider bread before it was offered and brought out - 2 individual crusty rolls, warmed through. The bonito tuna salad was fantastic too, in a delicious vinaigrette and frankly enormous for a 1/2 portion! No complaints there. Then came to steak, sizzling on a cast iron skillet and cooked perfectly with that amazing aged taste you get with matured on the bone cuts. It was washed down with a few glasses of txakoli for myself and for my partner what we assumed to be a house red. We glanced the wine list but what was quickly poured into my partners glass was big, bold, oaky and just perfect. We honestly felt like we were at the mercy of staff that just knew how to get the job done. No stuffiness, no pretence, just amazing produce and hardworking staff. As I mentioned it was quiet and we were admittedly thankful for a large party popping in after us to liven up the atmosphere a bit but that shouldn’t put anyone off booking. I can imagine it’s absolutely electric during a busy lunch rush or at the weekend. Final bill was astoundingly reasonable for the amount we ate and how we were treated. Really a perfect and special end to our time in Bilbao.

Casa Rufo was a major disappointment. After an excellent experience at La Gavilla the day before, we were up for another day of gastronomy - but Casa Rufo turned out to be our worst meal in the Bilbao. Some lowlights: Despite being promised a table inside when reserving, we were seated directly at the door, exposed to a cold draft. My cod dish was extremely salty and the sirloin steak was on par with what I’d expect at a generic German autobahn restaurant. The fries were bland and far from homemade. Service was lackluster, bordering on rude, and the prices were unjustifiably high. Most strikingly, there wasn’t a single local visitor in sight, a telling sign. Based on my experience, I would recommend choosing another place. La Gavilla, for instance.

Wow just wow. Highlight of my visit to Bilbao. Their home smoked margret duck is divine

Stunning place and food to match. Everything we tried was delicious. The service was excellent.

We had an amazing lunch at Casa Rufo . The intimate comfortable atmosphere and amazing food was highlighted by a chat with the owner José Luis. It was a memorable dining experience and we are so happy we ordered the most delicious foods and wine. I highly recommended this dining experience. Muchas gracias José Luis.

Great restaurant. Everything superb

We had a delicious meal here and we're accommodated despite not having reservations. For starters we ordered the asparagus which just melted in your mouth and the mushrooms. The mushrooms were incredible! The sauce was so yummy and it came with foie served on top. Some thing to watch out for of you're vegetarian. We shared the T-bone steak between the two of us and it was delicious. Served with french fries on the side. We were too stuffed for dessert.

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.

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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!