In each proposal that springs from the ideas of José Félix Rodríguez, you can glimpse touches of someone who has a passion for creative cuisine and art. Hence, when it was necessary to think of a name for the restaurant, La Galería came to combine … his two hobbies.
Almost two decades ago, Saturnino Ulargui Street welcomed this new tenant, a project that had begun to show muscle for five years and with another name – Marón restaurant, in what had previously been the old Doblón, then Machado and now Calenda – in Portales Street.
The galery
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Where is? Saturnino Ulargui Street, 5 (Logroño).
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Schedule
From Monday to Saturday, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 8:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sundays, closed, except on designated dates. -
Bookings
Via email [email protected] or by phone 941 20 73 66.
Of the five partners who started in Marón, two – Raúl Martínez and José Félix Rodríguez himself – decided in 2005 to create La Galería. For six years, the latter has continued alone and has guided his restaurant in a direction faithful to cooking with seasonal and fresh products. In this establishment, the quality of a raw material that they have known how to make the most of and with which they have managed to not only strengthen a demanding clientele, but also attract a younger audience, thanks to an evolution in keeping with the times and very conditioned by the change of season.
Thus, from Monday to Saturday, in their restaurant with capacity for 55 guests, they offer several tasting and à la carte menus where vegetables – an exaltation of the Riojan garden – play a crucial role. «We are committed to seasonal and quality products; Now we have artichokes, asparagus, and also mushrooms,” says Rodríguez. “We live in a very privileged region and we always have very good vegetables.” Fish also play a leading role and turbot, hake, sea bass, monkfish and snapper cannot be missing from your cuisine.
The Gallery is the result of his concern for art, wine and gastronomy. He has extensive experience in hospitality and a training in which his time at El Bulli, Arzak, Martín Berasategui, Aitor Basabe or Echaurren stands out, all of them with Michelin stars.
At La Galería «we focus on traditional cuisine where we touch the product as little as possible, and where we work with new techniques, especially sous vide, low-temperature cooking or tempura frying. “They give our dishes a different touch.”
This proposal evolves, although maintaining a base that makes this central establishment recognizable, such as its potato and chorizo appetizer. «Although we usually vary the dishes quite a bit, this is our flagship; a cream of potatoes with special spicy chorizo from La Rioja, a proposal that we do modify in summer,” explains its owner.
Its offer includes tasting menus and a la carte menu where vegetables play an important role.
It has a mention in the Michelin Guide and since 2016 can boast a Sol Repsol
For this period, they will promote the terrace – the pedestrianization of the street has contributed to encouraging its use –, where it is also possible to enjoy its gastronomic offer. “We can boast of having a loyal clientele, mainly from Logroño, and that thanks to word of mouth we have managed to maintain since we started our previous project 25 years ago,” he highlights.
Great vintages
In addition, La Galería has an exclusive wine list, with almost 700 references, not only from Rioja, but also from other national and international denominations. «Here we differ a little. “We have historic vintages and great vintages from other countries.”
José Félix Rodríguez announces that they are going to develop a new concept, with a more street-oriented gastronomic proposal that will also serve to highlight the wine proposal that is part of the identity of La Galería. It will be with the arrival of good weather when they undertake a small renovation to open up more to the street and give meaning to this new concept.
The commitment to quality raw materials combined with good cooking skills has been rewarded with a mention in the Michelin Guide, in addition to being able to boast a Sol Repsol since 2016.
