We had our promised tapas on Tuesday, a place we'd never tried before a couple of streets down from the Guardia Civil in Torrevieja. I've forgotten the name, but the owners are from northern Spain.

The tapas were freshly cooked and I could see the wife in the kitchen with at least four red-hot frying pans on the go. A helper was chopping onions and peppers and the wife was pouring olive oil into the pans as though it was going out of fashion.

The result was a selection of tasty tapas dishes served in delicious grease. We had to order more bread to soak it all up.

My weigh-in the following day was a total disaster. Three months of dieting down the pan.

Thanks pixieve, that's just the type of recommendation I was hoping for.

No problem! Honestly, best tapas you will ever have!! I go there pretty much every week since I live right beside it

Oh forgot to say, make sure you dont mix this place up with it's sister restaurant "El Buen Comer" right across from it! "La Barra" is MUCH nicer!

Oooh good tip pixieve, ,thanks again, we will definitely look it out. We are picking up the youngest daughter from the airport and going straight to the city with my other daughter for a family reunion for the evening so don't have much time to search out good ones, which is why I wanted a recommendation or two.

Sounds like fun!! Enjoy...though i know you will!!

I often stay in Alhama de Murcia and they frequently have what's called a tour de tapas, basically all of 36 bars compete for a week to see who serves the best tapas, in each one you get a choice of tapas with a beer or cocktail for 2 euros and then you hand in your little book which shows where you've been and what you've had and the boss stamps it, at some point you leave your vote as to which bar was your favourite, (with the chance of you winning one thousand euros) and the outright winning bar obviously wins some sort of prize.... I can't remember what it was, come to think of it, can't remember much about the week lolol but I do know it was great fun... I think they do it three or four times a year...

On the tapas subject, a recent article on tapas in Madrid

http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/03/23/...52_152249.html

Seems as though "tapas" means different things to different people.
In Euzkadi, they're called "pintxos", almost never tapas. Yes, most bars here do not serve "freebies", but then bars that do will probably have calculated for them in the price of the drink, even if it's €0.10-15 extra.
Some of the best variety I've seen are in Donosti & Logroño, & you have to have them on display.
Not all are based on bread either, which someone mentioned in one of the posts.

I'm going to Bilbao for a few days in June - do you have any recommendations for bars which serve good pintxos (and are there likely to be any suitable for my vegetarian OH who eats neither meat nor fish)?

I like a challenge! Will do some homework & get back to you!
There are a couple whose Spanish omelettes are to be recommended, but will be in touch.

Thank you, that's very kind - although if it's a challenge that sounds a bit ominous! Not for the first time, I almost wish he'd stay at home - I'll eat most things but never get to try a lot of places as they don't cater for him.

I'm a veggie too, and I find that most tapas bars will cater for us, sometimes I have had to make do with tortilla but I don't mind that. Although I notice that a few of the chefs seem to think that a vegetarian doesn't mind eating fish as they tend to put either tuna or anchovies on, but are happy not to if you explain. x

I have a veggie daughter and they are fond of putting ham in things like a tortilla even if it's only scraps.

A challenge is no problem when you're "retired".
I don't know how long you're staying in Bilbao, but below are some recommendations.
1 A must is the area known as "Siete Calles" (casco viejo) & in particular "Plaza Nueva". The plaza is surrounded by bars mostly. Any can be recommended, such as Zuga, Victor Montes.
2 For some of the best Spanish omelette, Cafeteria Concha in Calle General Concha. Don't be put off by the gaming machines at the back of it! Also there's a very small bar in calle Alameda Urquijo very near Plaza Indautxu which often wins "best tortilla" competitions. I think it may be called bar Alameda. Almost sure it begins with "A" at least!!
3 My sister-in-law says bars in calle Perro, again in the casco viejo area.
4 La viña de Henao in the street called Henao apparently is worth seeing for its pintxos, tho' I haven't yet been. It seems the 'Royals' popped in recently.
5 Café Iruña in calle Berastegui (opposite Corte Ingles) is worth seeing for its tiles & ceiling decoration.

Go to a Tourist information place to get a map. Also, they should have a copy of "the best gastronomy map" of Bilbao. There's one near the Guggenheim & a big one in Plaza Ensanche.

Hope you have a good time & leave with a good impression.
A couple of Basque words to try out:
eskarrik asko = thank you
mesedez = please
bai = yes
ez = no