Casa Marcelo

Thanks for the recommendation. I am lucky enough to be able to enjoy the occasional splurge, and I have to agree with Falcon that for me the meal is a more satisfying way to spend the euros than on a fancy hotel. (I've done that a few times, too, but never found it to provide quite the level of enjoyment I anticipated -- my walking partner suspects that it's because after weeks in albergues, the contrast between albergue and a simple pension with sheets and bath is so huge that piling luxury on top of that is just wasted because you're already in heaven when you put your head on a clean piillowcase).

Anyway, I've put Casa Marcelo on my list, but wonder if anyone has been to El Mercadito, http://www.nove.biz/en/el-mercadito. A friend of mine who goes to Santiago frequently says he thinks it's hard to choose one of these over the other. (He also suggests Ana as a great choice for a special meal).

If you're wondering why the websites for these two places look so similar, I've discovered that they are both part of a Gallego "grupo gastronomico" and their home page lists what look like a terrific bunch of restaurants. Kind of hip and upscale: http://www.nove.biz/en -- and it looks like there are other high cuisine spots along the Camino Portugues, the Ingles, and Vdlp. If you've tried any of these places, let us know what you thought.
Thanks, Laurie
Laurie