Menu decisions
How to order a menú del día for the first time
Read primero, segundo and postre on a Spanish menú del día. Choose a balanced lunch, check what the set includes and clarify any supplement before ordering.
Reviewed by SeEat editorial ·
Start here
Check the restaurant’s set-menu rules, then choose one dish from each included course. On a typical menú del día, primero is the first course and segundo is the second; ask what dessert or coffee, bread and drink options are included rather than assuming the headline price covers all of them.
Choices to compare
Primero: begin your choice here
Spanish Sabores explains primero as a first course and segundo as a second course on daily lunch menus.[1] Read the options separately rather than ordering everything listed as one platter.
Segundo: balance the first course
If your first choice is substantial, pick a second course with a different texture or main ingredient. Ask what garnish or side comes with it before adding another plate. Choose from the actual options available today.
Postre and inclusions
Confirm whether dessert and coffee are both included or alternatives. Ask which drink is covered, whether bread is included, and whether a marked option has an extra charge. The menu’s stated conditions decide the total.
Read a sample set without guessing the rules
Imagine a board listing lentils or salad under primeros, fish or chicken under segundos, and fruit or cake under postres. If staff confirm one choice from each section, you choose three dishes—not all six. This is a hypothetical reading exercise, not a current restaurant offer.
If you prefer a lighter lunch, ask whether a smaller set is offered. Do not silently skip a course and assume the price changes. If two people want to share, check whether the restaurant permits sharing a set or requires a separate set for each diner.
Ask about unfamiliar descriptions before choosing
A broad word such as salad, soup or vegetables does not disclose every ingredient. Ask about toppings, stock and sauces if they affect your preference. Compare both courses together so a surprising ingredient does not leave you with no suitable main.
Check the daily availability and any suplemento beside a dish. If a favourite option has sold out, ask which remaining choice suits the flavour or texture you wanted. Do not rely on an old online photo to determine today’s set.
Build your order
Suggested starting plan; adjust to the restaurant’s portions and your appetite.
- Ask which courses and extras the set includes today.
- Choose one confirmed option from each included course.
- Clarify supplements, drink choices and dessert/coffee before confirming.
Ask your server
- What exactly is included in the menú del día today?
- Do we choose one primero and one segundo each?
- Is coffee instead of dessert, and does this dish have a suplemento?
Before you order
Does menú del día mean any dish on the full menu?
No. Read the specific set choices and conditions. À la carte dishes may be priced separately.
Does every menú del día include wine and coffee?
No. Confirm the stated drink allowance and whether coffee replaces dessert or is extra.
Sources
Choose from the menu in front of you
SeEat reads menus and helps you compare dishes with your taste. Confirm undisclosed ingredients and portions with restaurant staff.