One of the most famous sidrerias in Asturias is a small chain of places called Tierra Astur. There's two along Calle Gascona (one at the top with an attached small shop, and one in the middle) and also one I saw from outside near the beach in Gijon. There may be others also but these are the ones people are most likely to come across.
Even being a small chain, it does have a reputation for being good. And I must admit it is probably an essential experience in Oviedo. I went to the one in the middle of Calle Gascona, a pure sidreria that is supposed to be decorated like the inside of a cider barrel. Empty cider bottles adorn the walls and the mixed smell of grilled parrilla food and spilt cider fill the air. The atmosphere is alive.
Waiters pour cider (€2.7 per bottle) from a great height and toss out the small remnants in cups, splashing the sticky floor with cider and small droplets on your back. It's a hive of activity.
Luckily the food is good too and reasonably priced. I was so tempted by the beautiful looking Tablon Parrilla Tierra Astur platter with seafood, meat, vegetables all rolled together, but couldn't get unanimous consensus from the group. Next time.
- Bread €1pp - excellent, as in all of Asturias.
- Morcilla Fresca Matachana €3.5 - a lovely flavour with the Asturian morcilla type of very smooth, almost creamy spreadable insides in a taut coating;
- Chipirones a la Plancha €12.5 - baby squids grilled and served, very soft and strongly seasoned;
- Mejillones Bravos Sidra €8.5 - nicely cleaned and debearded mussels in a cider and tomato (I think) sauce. Perfect for the bread.
I also sampled the entrecot de carne roja €25, which was a beautifully rare (even though they asked for medium), tender and flavoursome piece of beef. Really excellent.
- Rueda de Frisuelos €11.5 - a dessert wheel of spelt pancakes with different fillings of creams and jams and chocolate. It was nice but nothing I'd need to have again.
I left smelling gently of cider and meats, with a little bit of sticky cider on the back of my t-shirt. But it was such a great experience here. Highly recommended.