Zhou W.
Yelp
El Rinconcillo, tucked away in the lovely alleys of Seville, has stood the test of time and practically reeks of longstanding tradition. One walk into the restaurant and it's as if you're transported back into time where service matters, drinks are served with interesting conversation, and knowing the owners of the restaurant is like having a family connection. And despite its renown, the place is surprisingly really casual - it's the antithesis of "trendy", "touristy" spots and really must feel like home to a lot of citizens of Seville. A casual glance into the restaurant pans from the ceilings laden with Iberico jamon, to the busy bar where many people eat tapas standing up while laughing with friends at night, towards the walls laden with inscriptions and traditional Moorish-influenced tiles.
We had a slight issue with our reservation, probably because of the language barrier. Many people have previously complained that the servers are rude to people who don't speak Spanish, and unfortunately I had to say that was my experience here. But you know what, I get it - it's not fair to expect that every establishment will cater to your native language and they had translated menus that helped. However, there is something to say for trying - after I said "muchas gracias" to the waiter, he mocked me and make a joke out of it. I didn't take too much offense to it, but it definitely discouraged me from speaking Spanish for the rest of the meal, and the entire time we felt really out of place.
So why a 5 star review? Well, simply because the food was just...so damn good. I've gotten the feel of a lot of places in Seville during our trip, and like a lot of other places, this restaurant runs like a well-oiled machine despite the many patrons and small square footage. We got food within minutes and timing with plates were perfect - this is such a rare thing, but the waiter never hovered over us, and we never felt like we had to flag down service, and appetizers got cleared before entrees, etc. Definitely get the Espanaca con garbanzos - it was a delicious fusion of Middle Eastern and Spanish preparation, a nod to Spain's roots. We also got a light salad with pickled red peppers and fish, which was lightly dressed. I got the rack of lamb with potatoes and blistered green peppers, which was perfection. Despite its light preparation, the lamb was jam packed with flavor - it was like being transported to a whole new level of meat. And with only kosher salt to round out the seasoning! I was floored. the peppers lent a really sweet and maillard-y taste, and the potatoes were spot on - creamy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. My friend got a similar dish with the pork chops, and wow. I have never had pork chops so tender, so well seasoned, and so perfectly prepared. My other friend got the cod and also liked her dish.
To round out, we got dessert - the flan and chocolate cake. The cake was like a brick of fudge - but unraveled cinnamon and floral notes. The flan was also pretty good too. I would probably skip dessert the next round though.
Overall, as a summary, this establishment is not to be missed - but definitely come with respect for the culture. This place isn't meant to be catered towards tourists, but try your best by dressing slightly more than casual, calling ahead to make a reservation, and arriving on time. Or if you want the more casual route, come by the bar and eat tapas standing up. My only tip is that make sure you arrive early (in Spain that pretty much means like...8:30 PM) to find seating, as the place get really, really packed. My experience in Seville was lovely, but was only enriched by this place - it really does feel like it's steeped in Spanish culture. How many places could say that about themselves?
