Tapas in Spain
Tapas is the most fun way to eat lunch in Spain. Click on the above link for more details.'Menú del Día' in Spain
A menú del día is effectively a three course meal, but it is a little different to what you will be used to from other countries. The Spanish concept of a meal is not a 'meat and two veg' affair like it is for the 'anglosajones'. Instead, they split them up into 'primer plato' (first dish) and 'segundo plato' (second dish). The menu will be split into into two and you choose one from each section (it is sometimes possible to get two 'primer platos' instead of one of each).Broadly speaking, your first plate will be predominantly vegetables and your second plate will be predominantly meat, but this is by no means always the case. I think the idea is that you savor each part of your meal, giving it the attention it deserves, but it can certainly be frustrating if it isn't what you are used to.
A menu will usually come with these two dishes, bread (pan), a drink (bebida) and a dessert (postre), though occasionally this is not the case - check on the menu. If they are being really sneaky, the tax (IVA) won't be included - check if it says 'IVA incluido' or 'IVA NO incluido'.
'Platos Combinados' in Spain
If you like all your food to come at once, you're going to have to lower your standards a little. Platos combinados are closer to what you are used to, but is always a very basic meal - a slab of meat or sausage, fries and egg or salad is the typical 'plato combinado'.
