La Matandeta

La Matandeta Review

With its white garden walls and rustic interior, this restaurant is a culinary island in the rice paddies. Valencian families come here on Sunday, when many of the city's restaurants are closed. Host-owners Maria Dolores Baixauli and Rafael Gálvez preside over evening meals on the terrace, even as the next generation (Rubén Ruiz Vilanova in the kitchen and Helena Gálvez Baixauli as maître d') begins to contribute new energy. Fish fresh off the boats is grilled over an open fire, and the traditional main dish is the paella de pato, pollo, y conejo (rice with duck, chicken, and rabbit). Choose from 50 types of olive oil on the sideboard for your bread or salad.