This post has been updated in 2026 from its original 2019 version.
This trip was our second time in Spain as a couple. Our first was back in October 2017, when we started in Bilbao and ended with three days in Madrid. This time we wanted to get outside the city. We had just settled into our new house — one with a Spanish villa theme — and decided we wanted to source tile for a kitchen remodel.
Our plans for that kitchen shifted not long after because of Covid, though we still ended up doing a DIY remodel of our own, which you can read about here.
We happened upon this restaurant out of necessity, really. The story behind the discovery of the food is better than the story of the food.
Danny and Mauricio in La Taberna de Mi Abuelo
Jet-lagged and suffering from altitude sickness, we wandered into La Taberna de Mi Abuelo in Madrid near Rastro. We struck up a conversation with the very amicable owner Daniel (Danny).
During this conversation we asked where would a Spaniard go to buy tile if he wanted to tile his kitchen nicely. His answer was Talavera de la Reina. Therefore, we drove west an hour and a half the next morning and landed in Talavera de la Reina in search of tile.
The tile search is more a story for my review travel blog, so I'll save it for that. However, I did have a steak while in the tiny town and no steak goes unnoticed.
Talavera de la Reina is famous for hand-painted ceramics
We spent the morning visiting various ceramic factories and showrooms.
After meeting with a very interesting lady who creates and paints the tiles by hand, we ventured out to find lunch and discuss our options. Talavera de la Reina is mostly an agricultural town full of locals and the odd tourist.
Talavera de la Reina from the Be Live hotel
Downtown is packed during the lunch time and it took a while to find a place to park. We finally did and decided to try out Restaurante Antonio.
Bar with tapas at Restaurante Antonio
The front room is a typical tapas bar. We ordered a beer and were somewhat disappointed to only find tapas. After all, it was our third day living on tapas and were ready for a full meal. We found there was a large, full service restaurante in the back of the establishment and decided to try it out for lunch. Ladies and gentlemen, that was the best decision we made in Talavera!
Appetizer of white asparagus and roasted pepper
The place was packed full of locals on their lunch hours — yes, hours. Two to be exact.
Therefore, we knew were in the right place. For 10 euro each, we each had a drink (yes, that carafe is one drink), an appetizer, a main course, bread, and dessert.
I wanted a steak because I had not had one so far on the trip. I knew what was coming because we were in an agricultural area and I've been exposed to Spain's "steak" before. The steak was the thinnest of the thin. Maybe 6oz.
Now, after living in Southern Spain for over two years, I've become familiar with the cuts. You can read my post on Barón de Cútar Taberna in Torre del Mar for an explanation of how the cuts here differ from what we know in the US.
The steak · thin but cooked perfectly medium rare
I was extremely impressed by the fact that they cooked it to perfection — medium rare. I have never, ever, had a flank, skirt or any other thin steak cooked accurately when I ordered medium rare. It even had some char! I do not know how they did it but that is no small feat! The flavor wasn't bad and for 10 euro, there will be no complaining out of me.
Braised pork knuckle · honorable mention
Mauricio ordered the special of the day, which was a braised pork knuckle. I know this is a steak blog but that thing was exquisite and deserves an honorable mention. I took a bite and it was the perfect blend of smoke, salt, just enough fat and melt-in-your-mouth goodness to be amazing.
Restaurante Antonio has a website now — they didn't back in 2019 — and in 2026 their fixed Menú Especial de la Casa runs 15 euro, with bread, a drink, dessert, and coffee included. The primeros (starters) stretch from simple classics like ensalada mixta (mixed salad) and gazpacho to heartier options like sopa de mariscos (seafood soup) and revuelto de setas con gambas (scrambled eggs with wild mushrooms and prawns), plus paella. Segundos (mains) range from emperador a la plancha (grilled swordfish) and calamares to ternera asada en su jugo (roast veal in its own juices) and solomillo de cerdo en salsa (pork tenderloin in sauce), with daily specials like codillo al horno (roasted pork knuckle) on Mondays and secreto ibérico (a marbled Iberian pork cut) on Wednesdays.
Flan, the quintessential Spanish dessert
My final thoughts are — if you are in Talavera de la Reina (there are several Talavera so and so's in Spain), go to Restaurante Antonio for lunch. Maybe don't order the steak, unless you have a real addiction like me, but eat something and you won't be disappointed!
The website lists Restaurante Antonio as open daily from 6:30am to midnight, but as with most restaurants in small Spanish towns, that doesn't mean food is served all day — expect tapas only through the afternoon lull, with the kitchen's dinner service typically starting around 8pm.
Back to the Spain overview — or read about Kalma in Madrid