unforgettable basque cuisine. i have eaten at casa vasca for many years, and it remains among my very favorite restaurants. the atmosphere is great, from the barroom filled with friendly locals enjoying drinks and plates of appetizers at the bar to the dining room buzzing with conversations of happy diners. the menu represents the diversity of the spanish basque region itself, from fresh and rich seafood dishes that originate from the region's many coastal towns and cities, to hearty meat dishes from the pyrenees mountains. there is also a pretty expansive list of regularly changing specials to try. as an appetizer, i recommend the chorizo a la parilla (grilled spanish sausage), which tastes delicious and the oil in the dish isgreatfor dipping bread. for fans of seafood, try the merluza a la vasca, which is whiting served in green sauce with shrimp and clams -- this is a staple basque seafood dish that cannot be missed. for the more carnivorous (and adventurous) diner, try the cabrito asado (roast goat) which is often a special. i would prefer the flavor and tenderness of this dish to a filet mignon anyday. all meals come with the soup of the day, which is usually a delicious caldo gallego, a galician recipe that is prepared with white beans, chopped greens, and bits of chorizo. a couple of times the soup was a little on the salty side, but those were exceptions. the portions are quite generous, and you will likely have somegreatleftovers for the next day. basque cuisine is considered by many chefs to be among the finest in the world. don't miss the opportunity to try it for yourself at casa vasca.