Mesón El Centro Restaurant

There aren’t many places that make you feel like you’ve been going there your whole life despite never having been there before. And on top of that, ones that surprise you — from beginning to end — with delicious and original dishes that pay a perfect tribute to the flavors of the sea and the hospitality of Asturias.

Mesón El Centro, located in the small and enchanting Port of Vega in Navia (Asturias), is among these places that are impossible to forget. You feel so at ease at this restaurant that, if you could, you’d travel every weekend to sit on their terrace, order a glass of wine, enjoy their incredible recipes and spend a carefree afternoon in good company.

In summer, you can enjoy their refreshing and pleasant patio, which takes up a good part of the Plaza Cupido. And if the weather doesn’t cooperate, it’s not a problem because their interior — modern and simple — is just as welcoming.

The restaurant is looked after by its owners, Mary and Mon, who have such a warm demeanor with all their clients that the clients sometimes don’t realize they’re the ones who are actually in charge of making sure everything runs perfectly. Together they have more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality world, which becomes clear the moment you walk in.

The specialty at Mesón el Centro are the Cantabrian fish and seafood. On the menu, we find a carefully chosen selection of dishes, all prepared using fresh, high-quality products that result in delicious dishes. The portion sizes are large and perfect to share (this way, you can try a little of everything).

We started with some langoustine croquettes and albariño, a Galician wine, so soft and creamy that they seemed to fall apart in our mouths. We continued with some tasty and fresh variegated scallops and a false carpaccio of octopus, dishes in which the quality of the product and perfect cooking are noticeable in every bite.

Next to the table is one of the star preparations of the afternoon: the exceptional meat pie, with sweetened tomato, guacamole, and marine sardines. The presentation is a perfect 10 for a dish that, as its name suggests, couldn’t be better. To continue, some crispy and tasty fried calamari with lime aioli arrives to our table.

Mary appears between dishes to ask us how everything is going and talk to us not only about the food, but also about her ideas, worries, and plans. She uses of one of these occasions to tell us, with a smile, about the large number of customers who visited during the summer.

The final touch is the eclipse of bonito, soft in texture and cooked just right that goes very well with squid ink and cream of leek.

To finish with a sweet taste in our mouths, we decide to share two desserts, a chocolate lava cake with mandarin orange sorbet and cheesecake — perfect to close out an unforgettable meal.

Gourmet Asturian food prepared with emotion and passion, personal attention, and nearby in the most welcoming place … what more can you ask for?