This was a truly fortunate find for Jamie W and me on our last evening in Madrid, a stark contrast…read moreto the disappointing meal we had on our first evening at Superchulo just a brief stroll away. We wee again looking for a place with vegetarian options, and as it turned out, Artemisa offers an exclusively vegetarian and vegan menu. As hopeless non-Europeans who don't eat dinner at midnight, it should come as no surprise that we were their first customers.
For 1,3€ per person, we received their artisan gluten-free bread made with chickpea flour (Photo 6) and slices of their Leek & Mushroom Quiche, a browned and flaky savory confection (Photo 9). Both items signaled the satisfaction that lay ahead. Jamie and I decided to start our order by sharing the 13,6€ Antilla Salad, a colorful melange of shredded lettuce, pineapple, mango, papaya, avocado, corn, and carrot (Photo 5). It was a refreshing variety of produce.
For his entree, Jamie surprised me with his order, the 13,95€ Lebanese Burger made of lentil, quinoa, and spinach and layered with chickpea hummus, arugula, cheese, and tomato. It came with a side of thickly cut French fries which Americans would describe as steak fries (Photo 4). Quite a tender burger with umami. I went with the 15€ Eggplant & Shiitake Moussaka, a delicious eggplant lasagna with quinoa and vegetable ratatouille.
It was ladled with a 'cream' sauce made with shiitake mushrooms and and feta 'cheese' cubes (Photo 8). The ingredients used in this dish were surprisingly delicate, and the cumulative impact lent quite a flavor punch given its vegan profile. This was a meal we didn't quite expect to have in Madrid because Spanish tapas were not involved. Rather, it was a Middle Eastern vegetarian delight in a tranquil setting amid the cacophony of the Gran Via.
FOOD - 5 stars...stellar vegetarian fare
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very low-key
SERVICE - 4.5 stars...quite attentive
TOTAL - 5 stars..,you can eat healthy in Madrid and feel satisfied
RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/iL-DuEuZIa