Stopped in for lunch on my last day in Barcelona and so happy I did. While I may not be a fan or supporter of bullfighting, I can appreciate the history and culture part as well as the amazing food of this longstanding establishment. It was clear from my time here that the staff is dedicated to their patrons and a good number of them are regulars. I especially enjoyed their clear soup, scrambled eggs with wild asparagus, and house bread with olive oil. Pros: Historical feel, delicious food, no frills atmosphere. Cons: n/a Bottom line: Delicious and comfort food with an authentic experience. read more

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The secret of Madrid. From Anthony Bourdain no reservations to Hemingway and so many matadors... join the history and dine upstairs. The food is fabulous. The wine is amazing. I highly recommend Viejas de Izan- smooth and yet filling in the mouth. Absolutely a delight The garbanzos with spinach Was a big hit as was the hake. Lunch was with the locals in the know read more

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Ok I'm giving 4 stars because everything we experienced was moderate to great but a few things I want to level set on. Casa Salvador came up on MANY lists of recommended restaurants in Madrid, and while I really enjoyed the decor of the restaurant and the food was good, I don't know if I would consider it a must-do if you're only in the city for a few days. Casa Salvador was on Bourdains famous show "No Reservations" and as Bourdain said himself, featuring amazing restaurants on his shows inevitably made many of them tourist traps that didn't match up to their former glory. (Ironically Bourdain also hated Yelp but I choose to ignore that lol). All the other parties at the restaurant were also tourists, and the waiters immediately spoke in English to us. We enjoyed the chorizo sausage a ton, the consommé was delicious, and the oxtail stew was awesome. Wouldn't recommend the croquettes as they were severely under salted, and the fried milk while yummy is not a must-do in my opinion. Overall, if you want a laid back atmospheric sit down dinner in Madrid where you can get a reservation this isn't a bad option, but it shouldn't be at the very top of your list. read more

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The owner must have the passion for bull fights. There are lot of photos about the sports inside the restaurant. Hmm, maybe it's not my taste as I find the cuisine a bit flat. The garlic chicken is not bad but I feel the one from Chinese cuisine tastes much better. Beefsteak, hmm, I'm sure even after I completed it if it was pork or beef? Overall the atmosphere is great! Atmosphere: 10/10 Cuisine: 7/10 Value: 7/10 read more

Casa Salvador - Interior, very nice with all the stories about the restaurant. - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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If it's good enough for Bourdain, it's good enough for Claire. I'd recommend making a reservation, which you can easily do it online. If you go at 7pm, it's likely the restaurant will be empty. So if you want the whole experience, I'd recommend eating around 9pm for dinner. I was worried this place would be touristic, and while there were non Spaniards dining there, I'd say there were equal amount of locals eating there also. What you have to get here: the Jamon, morcilla, and oxtail stew. Really any of the tapas. Desserts are fine but definitely not a must-have. Just load up on tapas and red wine and you'll be very happy. Prices very reasonable for the quality of food and excellent service. read more

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The food was very mediocre, not bad, but certainly nothing to talk about. The bread was dry/hard, and you do get charged 4 Euro. They bring it to the table, so if you don't want to be charged, be sure and tell them you don't want the bread. And I also feel that the restaurant is a little overpriced in comparison to other restaurants like this. I'm not sure why this was a favorite of Anthony Bourdain's. Maybe in the past, but no more. The service was very good. I have no complaints at all about that. The ambience of the restaurant was normal for a small simple restaurant. There was a large party upstairs, so there was a lot of traffic and noise from that. Overall, a mediocre experience that I wouldn't recommend or repeat. I was very disappointed. read more

I made reservations at Casa Salvador based on a list of resto to try in Madrid. It was also rumored that Anthony Bourdain are here as well. My reservations were at 8:30p, and I left within an hour. During this time I was the only one at the resto. I would like to say that the food was good, but I wasn't a fan of the service. I felt the sever hovered until I had made a selection. I asked for advice on wine and the server suggested a wine that the lowest quantity was 1/2 bottle. I was by myself and informed him that I wasn't able to finish that much wine. He did offer to pour me a glass instead and charge me a fair price for the wine. The server brought me bread without me asking for it. I don't know if that is standard or if he assumed because I was American that I would want bread. I didn't, but had to pay for something I didn't ask for. If you ask for water it typically costs, but that's normal in Spain (Unlike in France where you can ask for an krafe of water and it's free). I had essentially the resto's version of fish & chips. It was good. I like the salt and acid flavors of the batter. I wouldn't return or recommend this resto for how I felt as an American and the service I received. And an American who will at least attempt saying small words in Spanish. read more

Took my family there and we enjoyed every dish that we ordered.Specially the Callos.. read more

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A bit higher end for Madrid, but well worth it even if it's only for the chick pea stew. Had the oxtail, manchego cheese, and chick pea stew. Also had the bread. The chick pea stew was legitimately the best dish I had in Madrid! So flavorful, so good! Bread is homemade and warm, worth it. Oxtail was good, nothing to write home about. Huge portion on the cheese! read more

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The service is mind blowing. The staff sincerely wants their patrons to have the best dining experience possible. The Pescado Soup was my favorite, with their fresh baked bread. I also had the half serving of their breaded fish, which was what I would've expected from a full serving. The portions are very, very generous and the food is great. The restaurant is still bull fighter themed - as Anthony Bourdain said. read more

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We made reservations weeks in advance (yes, fairly ness here in Madrid if you want to ensure seating at popular spots during meal times lunch or dinner). As is customary in Spain, you pay per bottle of water at the table (1 liter given at a time usually into small tumblers), and there is a non optional "bread" fee that ranges 2-3 euro per person thats sorta of like a tax here in Madrid. Tax and water per person is usually already around $5 just FYI, before even considering cost of food. Casa Salvador is a wonderful family owned restaurant that has preserved the recipes of 3 generations into perfect home style cooking that will have you feeling like you just got the best meal ever from grandma's. The atmosphere is comfortable and homey. The walls are decorated with the original owner's bull fighting friends and they were common customers at the restaurant. The three sisters who now own and run the restaurant love what they do. My brother who had visited now on 3 separate trips loves her and she even remembered him as a repeat customer. She took the time to stop and talk to us a while even though they were crazy busy and were turning away people left and right. The things to order here: artichokes and ham, consomme (clear broth), oxtails, veal entrecot (which is actually a steak), and the hake fish. Really really great food. I think Anthony Bourdain also visited this restaurant and pushed it from edge of closing to it's height of popularity. Can't wait to return. read more

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The restaurant itself is delicious and also the pastries are good the Leche frita (fried milk) very friendly menu is very good. read more

Casa Salvador - Hours - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Thought already tried the best gambas in Lisbon but Casa Salvador's was the crème de la crème. First-rate! Probably why Ernest Hemingway & Anthony Bourdain loved this restaurant. read more

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5 star food and service. Where Hemingway goes, so do we. These parts unknown are so tasty that you must try them! The cod fritters were like pillows of scrumptious-ness unlike any other. The fried chorizo came bubbling and hot in fresh spices and olive oil. The hake in the basque style and the fried steak also hit the mark. As if we had room for dessert, we went for the apple strudel (surprisingly good) and had an impromptu sherry tasting. Tio Pepe does not disappoint, nor does Casa Salvador. read more

I really enjoyed eating here. We ordered classics.... asparagus, chorizo, oxtail, meatballs. Everything was very good and out waiter was great. The decor of the restaurant is wonderful, and it was a great place to cap off a great trip to spain. read more

Casa Salvador - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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Thank goodness for yelp or I wouldn't have come to this gem of a spot since the area was a bit further from where we were staying. We happened upon it after I googled the Anthony Bourdain list from his trip to Madrid. Food: we got squid ink, hake fish, cod in tomato sauce, and the famed oxtail stew. Dessert was nougat ice cream and fried milk. One of the best meals in Spain yet. Waiter checked in on us constantly and was probably wondering why we silly Americans were still eating...we were savoring every bite! One downside - bread is 1.50E a roll. It was warm but certainly not worth that price point. We've been carb loading here as it is and didn't eat all of it. I keep forgetting we're not in America where bread is free but it's hard to remember when they don't ask if you want it and just put it on your table. On my way out I was on a quest to find pictures of Ernest Hemingway, one of the known patrons here. There's a few scattered between the two floors and the waiters, despite speaking little English, happily showed me when I said "Hemingway?". A lovely couple who had pointed me in the right direction to start, told me how they used to live in Madrid, were celebrating their 50th anniversary here, and that the restaurant hadn't changed (aside from the waiters). I just wanted to talk to them all night. read more

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Massively, massively unimpressed. First of all let me say that I have been living in Madrid for more than 7 years and know the cuisine and the service intimately. I work in the food tourism industry. Casa Salvador was my visitor's choice for our last dinner together in Madrid. I had never been - and never heard of it - but the reviews seemed good and I liked the look of the menu. First problems: foreigners are seated on the ground floor. Locals all get a table one floor up. What's that about? Secondly: the waiter's recommendations for my set menu choices were terrible. I was very disappointed with both the pisto and the stuffed peppers. Finally: laughing at me when I ask for the (almost obligatory) free digestive shot after dinner just makes me think you are rude, tacky, and cheap. I will never be back and I will never recommnd this place. read more

Delicious Diner (5 stars) So glad to find this place Got there early and got a table upstairs Ordered house wine and water Got the beans with chorizo Ordered stuffed squid in ink and a side of rice Ordered the bacalao with garlic Everything was delicious Would definitely return, but only 2 nights in Madrid. Friendly service They offered after dinner drinks, and seconds. read more

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We spend a couple of months a year in Madrid. This place is tried and proven. Professional service - old fashion Institution style - with excellent traditional food. The ambiance and decor is torero themed Authentic In the middle of Justicia/Chueca historic district. read more

Traditional old world preparation of classic dishes and incredible art work/pictures on the wall made this place worth the visit. I ordered the oxtail with a side of white rice, it was really tasty.the only reason it didn't get 5 stars was because I thought the portion was a little small compared to other places that serve oxtail. But the wine and the atmosphere made it worthwhile. Check this place out read more

Casa Salvador - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

Unique dining experience if you want more Spanish food than the typical tapas. Standouts: oxtail stew, entrecote Also worth trying: veal tripe and cheek (make sure you actual have cheek in your dish, we had 90% tripe and 10% cheek and believe me you want that cheek, it's like butter) Hake meatballs are good and monkfish entree is interesting, but tastes very starchy (reminded us of the lobster sauce in the Chinese dish - shrimp in lobster sauce). White asparagus is amazing if you've never had it before, but theirs comes from Peru. Great ambiance and wine recommendations were spot on. read more

This place is so overrated! I was expecting it to be amazing based on reviews I had read and after seeing it on Anthony Bourdain. The steak I had was below average and overpriced. I am far from cheap, I love splurging in general and on vacation I spend like the world is ending a week later. That being said, I hate overpaying for mediocre crap. One of the people we dined with ordered fried hake with French fries which was 25 euros. If it was delicious I wouldn't have a problem with it but the batter was so overbearingly eggy(is that a word?) that it basically tasted like a omelette. Ive had the same dish elsewhere for 9-10 euros and it was better. The décor was very old which is fine in some establishments but this didn't have a classic look, it just looked old and in need of an upgrade. Service was good and attentive. The two other people I dined with had no expectations going into the place as they had never heard of it so they based it solely on the experience and they were extremely disappointed as well. I don't regret going but I certainly wouldn't go back and don't recommend it. There are plenty of excellent restaurants in Madrid, this one is not worth it, the foods just not that good. read more

So apparently Anthony Bourdain came here...and I don't get why? The food was fine, but nothing to write home about...or worth filming a tv show segment about IMO. Oxtail was their specialty and that's what I had. It was alright. I've had better. read more

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Beautiful place with lots of bullfighting pictures, history and memorabilia. The food is amazing, I had the oxtail (rabo de toro) and fried milk (leche frita). It was easily one of the best meals I've ever had. The service too was incredible and very attentive. I would go back on a heart beat. read more

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I loved this place. Enjoy it before it's gone. It's where the locals eat and it's flawless in every way. My favorite in Madrid. read more

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This place is awesome, every time we come to Madrid we eat here. They have a pretty decent menu, but we end up ordering the "Rabo Estofado" every time (which is oxtail stew). **BEWARE** you will only find this on the Spanish Menu, it's not on the English translation of the menu. Very sneaky... Anyway, the stew is so good, slow cooked for hours, the meat just falls off the bone, and comes out from the kitchen almost immediately after ordering. Ask for a wine recommendation and the servers give you an honest choice without just picking the most expensive option. The servers are a bunch of old guys who are super nice, and the walls are adorned with images of the glory years of bull fighting. We will continue to go to this place on every subsequent visit to this fine city. read more

The walls of this checkered tablecloth eatery are adorned with bullfighters of past and present, which is nice. The veal meatballs were succulent. A sixth grade spanish level is reccomend if you highly value communication. Deligtfully priced. read more

I had heard about this restaurant and there are quite a few stories. Since opening in the 40's, Ava Gardner, who apparently had a thing for bullfighters, spent quite a bit of time here. The walls are covered in pictures documenting the history of this sport. I believe Hemingway himself said that bullfighting, auto racing and mountain climbing were the only true sports and everything else was simply a game, but I digress. So my wife and I were in the Chueca neighborhood and stumbled into Casa Salvador. It was lunchtime and this place was packed. There was only one table on the lower level by the door and one of the male waiters just was going to put us there. A couple of minutes later, one of the female members of the staff looked mortified and moved us upstairs into the depths of this Madrid home of many 2 hour plus lunches. First of all you need to be dressed decently. Collared shirts, perhaps a sweater, even a tie and jacket are pretty standard it seems, since many of the patrons are taking lunch during the workday. One of the specialties of the house is the rabo del toro, which is of course the tail of the bull who may or may not have met his end with a matador. The dish was pretty good, with peas and a good mushroom based sauce. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, I recommend a nice leisurely meal soaking up the history, cuisine, and local flavor of this institution. read more

Casa Salvador - one of the many toro related paintings. - Spanish Near Me - Madrid, M

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If you truly want an authentic experience in Madrid you must go here. My boyfriend and I went for dinner and everything was perfect. The food was amazing, and despite speaking no Spanish, and the waiters speaking very little English, we received amazing service. The waiters seemed happy to help, excited to provide us a wonderful meal, and were legitimately proud of what they were serving. The portions were large and everything was excellent, from starters to desserts. We started with croquettes of chicken and ham, then had the oxtail (perfect!) and fish (also amazing!), and finally finished with the flan and Leche de Frido (or something similar... basically fried milk covered in sugar and cinnamon). It is so good we are considering going again tomorrow. Def recommend!! read more

After seeing this place on Anthony Bourdain and also coming across it in a travel magazine, I wanted to try this place. It was a small place with a strange layout. There were little rooms at each corner. Our waiter spoke little English, but he used pictures on his phone to explain the menu. He was very helpful. They are known for their oxtail soup, so that's what I had. The meat was tender and the sauce was savory. It paired well with their house wine. One of my friends had the chicken that was crispy and delicious. My other friend had the beef which was flavorful and juicy. I couldn't eat the bread, but they did say it was nice and warm. read more

Really enjoyed everything about Casa Salvador. Very welcoming waiters, hosts and bus staff. Comfortable unrushed atmosphere. Unlike many Madrid restaurants, they seem to enjoy themselves and their customers. Every item was flavorful, interesting, and portions.more than satisfying. Food was served hot also. Reserve bottle of wine was recommended by our waiter and was fantastic and such a great value. Bull Fighting decor throughout upstairs. Was truly a great experience. read more

Meat filled piquillo peppers are a treat. The stuffed sweet red peppers are dipped in egg batter, fried, and served in a tomato based sauce. Eat these with some bread and finish with some leche frita and you will not be disappointed. read more

Todos was excellent and authentic Madrid topped by the braised oxtail. Other great dishes were shrimp au garlic, fish soup, croquetas and pate. Flan was terrific, not the overly sweet americanized version. Well cared for by wait-staff. Charming local color. read more

The food is great and the service is great as will, the steak is the tits

Really good food in old town! Different from common tapas all around, good Spanish food. Nice ambiance for a semi-formal yet casual sit down dinner. read more