One aspect of Spanish dining that almost never ceases to pleasantly surprise visitors is the concept of the men\u00fa del d\u00eda,<\/em> or menu of the day.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ubiquitous, affordable, and traditional, it is a great way for any visitor to Spain to see how Spaniards dine on weekdays when lunches are shorter (read as: when lunch has to last about an hour).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is the men\u00fa del d\u00eda<\/em> in Madrid, anyway, and where can you find the best ones in town?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here in Spain, weekends and holidays are all about big lunches<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family gatherings and long lunches on the weekends begin with a pre-meal vermouth with some small nibbles before transforming into a proper sit-down, two-course-minimum lunch paired with beer and wine. Following that is dessert, coffee, a digestif, and finally gin and tonics to keep the post-meal chatter rolling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as you might expect, these long meals aren\u2019t exactly favorable when you have to put in a few more hours in the office afterwards. And so how does your average Spaniard dine during the week? The answer here is the marvelously economical men\u00fa del d\u00eda<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is a Men\u00fa del D\u00eda?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The men\u00fa del d\u00eda<\/em> is a lovely tradition of bringing homemade classics to working-class people at reasonable prices. It comes with the bonus of valuing that sacred time in the middle of the day when we break from work and feed ourselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea is brilliant, and an astonishing feat for any restaurant owner. Offer a minimum of three first course options and three second course options for diners to choose from. Add on a drink, dessert and bread for an average price of \u20ac11.64 (or \u20ac12.50 in Madrid, according to a 2016 report)<\/a> and you can manage to draw in all those who can\u2019t manage to bring their lunch to work and want a simple sit-down meal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what kind of food are we talking about? All the classics, and in most cases they will be homemade. Many staples of the Spanish kitchen are also regular fixtures on the common weekday lunch menu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first course is usually light on the protein and heavier on veggies and legumes. Think lentils with sausage, vegetable puree, or a simple paella. The second course is where most of the meat comes in; lamb chops, roasted chicken, or grilled fish are common options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n