Mesón Cervantes

Nobody likes to write all but stellar reviews but sometimes it is necessary. This experience started well and ended not so. We get there early, get a table and choose the ‘menu’. The ham and melon was delicious. Second was the ‘chuletta’ also good. Then, a large group arrived. Another waiter asked us to move so he could assemble a large table. We did and he said he was going to send us a treat. The treat was more water and coffee (we were moving for free anyway!). Then, we waited… our server was nowhere in sight (learned later he was in charge of changing the beer barrels). After a while he remembered us and came asking of our choice for ‘postre’. My wife’s came totally wrong. After so much time there we asked for the bill. They charged for that water and coffee and for the wrong dessert…

Great atmosphere, staff is friendly, and food is great. I recommend you do the lunch special. It included 1st plate, 2nd plate, dessert and a drink for 18-20 euros. I also recommend the dessert mousse de limón.

Like a diamond in the heart of Plaza Mayor, Meson Cervantes is an excellent find. Fantastic tapas con beber! You won’t regret visiting this place!

The menu del día was so worth it, one of the best I’ve had in Spain. 1st plate was Paella mixta with chicken and shrimps, hard boiled egg and it was flavourful. The serving was very generous. The second plate was cochifrito, or cochinillo fried/ how can anything be better than this? Thin crispy skin, meat so tender and full of flavour. The most delicious cochinillo I’ve had, the flavour permeated throughout the meat. It went with fried potatoes, and a simple salad that went perfectly with the meat. Dessert was a choice of natilla, fruits, lemon mousse and a flat apple tart. Wine and bread were included in the very reasonable price of 19.50 euro.

Nice atmosphere, maybe we ordered the wrong food but we didn’t like it, especially the shrimps with the intestinal tract

We loved this restaurant. The food was excellent! We had the calamari, the goat cheese, iberico ham, and the grilled vegetables plate. All was absolutely delicious but the grilled vegetables was super tasty. Their wine was exceptional as well. Customer service was good and the restaurant with their antiques decors felt like they have been around since the Conquistador days. Definitely recommend this restaurant.

Amazing view to the square, great Cervantes old style deco, relaxing music, lively place with quiet areas too. Had 2 rich salads for dinner and a great house rioja!

No vegetarian or vegan options, the waiter (on the terrace) doesn't smile and rushes you to order something. The dishes are too expensive and not tasty: a lot of fat and mayonnaise. Wouldn’t recommend.

The BEST black pasta w/gulas & shrimp ever! The best meal I've had in 2 week here all over Spain. The lamb chops were great with potato slices. Good sangria. Amazing view of plaza mayor at night.

Two great meals here. On the main square so great views too. Finally, service was fantastic. These made it four star. I had the eggs and ham. They serve it on the fries. It was a really good meal. I had a friend who ordered it too, later, and agreed it was quite good. I had a bite of both the steak and lamb chops. Both were incredibly good. The seasoning on both and tenderness made it. Way better than my meal :) I really wouldn't mind going back for either. The eggplant vegetable plate was so good. I'm not a big eggplant fan but wow! Also came with a tomato, peppers, and onion. The seasoning was mouth-watering. Definitely give them a try.

This place just never gets old--ok, that's stupid since it's older than dirt! But my goodness, the best views in Salamanca and amazing pinchos. Just drop everything and find a way to get to Cervantes--and then do your best to relax and enjoy. I tend to do pinchos American style--eat drink hurry, next! Slow down, turn left and go to the adjoining room since the one overlooking the plaza is a dining room during the dining hours. And just soak it in!

I was a bit hesitant because it is centrally located (in plaza mayor) and I was worried it would be a tourist trap. However, that wasn't the case. The service, food, and wine were wonderful. Our waiter was Moises and he was kind, attentive and gave us great suggestions. The olives that they bring to the table were the best I've had! The goat cheese was divine! The local Salamanca wine was excellent and the steak was perfectly seasoned. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to both tourists and locals. It was a great experience.

Mesón Cervantes is one of many restaurants that offer terrace dining on the Plaza Mayor. When you dine outside, as with many restaurants here, there is an added charge for al fresco service. We came here on our first night in Salamanca. The weather had turned and the heaters were in full force but still not enough to take the chill out of the air. Even with the blankets they provided, it was still quite cold. The waiter worked hard to suggest dishes for us. However, the tapas was wayyyyy expensive. My husband noticed that he was chatting people up and trying to get them to sit down for dinner. If he were my employee, I would give him a raise for the extra work he was putting in. If we blindly went with his suggestions, we would have spent close to 100€ on tapas alone. (Pro tip: take time to read the menu and don't just say "yes" to suggestions unless you know exactly what they are and what you want.) This is a late review but I do remember that I had the "roast pork grandma's way with salad and homemade potatoes." Unfortunately I didn't read the Spanish until after I ordered, otherwise I would have known the pork was actually fried. The potatoes and salad were delicious--the crunchy chunks of pork, not so much. However, the tapas were flavorful and the cañas were great. Later, I went upstairs to use the restroom and was completely surprised to see the second floor full of locals. This restaurant is actually a very popular place all the way around, and I suggest sitting upstairs for a more authentic local experience. We went back on our last night in Salamanca and the waiter remembered us and treated us well. I miss Salamanca, the Plaza Mayor, and all of the wonderful places to eat there. For the most part, Mesón Cervantes is one of those places I would return to for a special occasion, but if you want a less touristy experience for less money, I suggest going off the beaten path to a restaurant outside of the Plaza Mayor. Otherwise, Mesón Cervantes is a good option for a warm night, people watching, and a caña or two.

Excellent Spanish restaurant in Salamanca's Pkaza Mayor. The food is delicious and the staff are very attentive and helpful! I have been there twice, enjoying entrecot once and the cochinillo the next time. The cerveza is cold and the staff ensure you are comfortable by either bringing a blanket out if it is cold or moving you to another shaded area if the sun encroaches!

Solomillo de ternera con pimientos padrone, tomate and roasted garlic bits on top. Authenticity, hospitality, amabilidad what you find when you get away from bigger cities in Spain. This jewel of a restaurant is located in Salamanca's plaza mayor. You would think in such a tourist intense place you would not find such a good food and authenticity. Mistaken! The portion looked too much of a food to have for lunch. I asked for media ration. The waiter said we don't normally do it but we will fulfill your wish :-). What a happy ending it was. I also ordered a glass of tinto de verano. With a happy stomach and a buzzed cabeza, ready to walk on the old capital of Spain "El imperio donde nunca se pone el sol". Must visit a place when in Salamanca!

Amazing customer service experience. Was sat down quickly and served quickly. Excellent place to eat if your looking for something a little different en el plaza mayor.

Amazing service! Attentive and friendly but not pushy or in your face. Prices are a only bit higher than the rest of Salamanca but you are paying for the amazing view and people watching of Plaza Mayor. We had the cheese croquettas paired with a glass of Ribero (red) and it was amazing. We had a traditional late dinner and watched the lights turn on in the Plaza. Highly recommend!

Im going to keep it real, the food in Spain for this Miami girl has not been exactly delicious. Salamanca was our 5th stop in our Spain tour. I was desperate for some good croquetas and simple yummy traditional Spanish food without the intense flavors of seafood that were just TOO MUCH for me (and I loveeee seafood, Im from Miami). We went to the Plaza Mayor and decided to have lunch here. As I was going up the stairs to the restaurant I was crossing my fingers I would like this food. I am happy to announce that I LOVED EVERYTHINGGGGGGG! Even the pork solomillo my boyfriend ordered (and I dong eat pork). This were also the best croquetas of my life. Please please please do not leave Salamanca without having these croquetas! Everything else we ordered was just good legit delicious Spanish food. Big portions too!

Very nice surprise to have such a nice late lunch in a very busy Plaza Mayor in Salamanca. Seasonal gazpacho was delicious, and my husband enjoyed Castilian soup even on a hot day :-) A large plate with selected cold cuts and cheese was sufficiently tasty . Naim was our server and he was great! What's also cool about this place is that it is open during the hours when most of other restaurants close down in the afternoon, so if you are up for a later lunch in Salamanca-look no further.

Well. It started off great. Food is made fresh and are large portions. My problem with them was the service. I understand the pace is a lot slower in Europe, but there was a span of over 30 minutes where the waiter didn't show up. We had to call for him and then he disappeared again for another five minutes.

This was the worst food we've had since we've been in Spain. The staff was great but the entrees were mediocre. There are far too many better places to eat near the plaza. And shame on Rick Steve's for recommending it.

After enjoying this place in 2013, we wanted to be sure to go back. Surly and decidedly unpleasant service from bartender who deliberately misunderstood our order (we ordered in Spanish and I have been going to Spain for 25 years and do not have trouble ordering in bars) and didn't offer us tapas. We will not be back.

Friendly staff/service. Good food. A bit pricey. We enjoyed a chorizo appetizer, and steak and a chuleta combinations for entrees. Also had a so-so red sangria.

Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. Everything about this place screams Spain. Eating out in the plaza is a once in a lifetime experience.

Really great service and good food. The staff only understand limited English but tries really hard to accommodate you such as brings you wifi password without asking and very patient. I would recommend the ham sandwich and fried green peppers. Our local guide also states this place is the most affordable with great food at plaza mayor.

Exceptional setting on Plaza Mayor. The raciones we ordered were generous platters of superb food. We ordered a dish of pork steaks with potatoes and roast vegetables that was cooked brilliantly, with a crisp sear to the thin slices of tender meat. We went there twice on our short trip. The waiters didn't speak much English and our Spanish is less than ideal but the waiters were very kind and helpful.

We arrived late to Salamanca so we wanted quickly to find a good and cheap restaurant to eat. As usually I checked the yelp listing and decided to go to Meson Cervantes. Although the food was ok, the service average what disappointed me the most is that the restaurant was listed in a cheap category (€). The price range was anything but - after the meal we had a stroll and checked the prices in other restaurants - Meson Cervantes was very very expensive. I would describe it as a tourist trap.

Great prices, great service and great views. We order some "platos conbinados" and they were all great!

Good quality-price rate as well as fast. Perhaps a bit noisy.