Nelson

Nelson is what we'd call a restaurant for the workers. Close to Girona's train and bus stations, it opens early to serve breakfasts to Girona residents who want to start their day with a sandwich, coffee and newspaper. The sandwiches feature cured meats, cheese and bread from Casa Moner, a bakery with shops across Girona that makes bread using organic flour. Once the first meal of the day is done, staff start to prepare the set lunch menus. They focus on Mediterranean cooking and the dishes change on a daily basis, with eight starters and eight main courses to choose from - they include a lot of vegetables and fresh grilled fish. In fact, the restaurant forms part of the AMED programme, a stamp awarded by the Generalitat for the promotion of the Mediterranean diet. They also have more elaborate dishes such as 'fideuà' (Catalan noodle dish), rice varieties and traditional stews, such as pig trotters with salsify, and rabbit either hunter-style or in the oven with 'broken' garlic mayo. And, if you happen to be in Girona on a Saturday, it's worth bearing in mind that the Nelson also does a set menu that day.