I absolutely love Olde Madrid. They are easily one of the best restaurants in all of southeastern Wisconsin. I forgot to take a photo of the Argentinian steak with chimichurri sauce because when it hit the table, it went straight into my mouth lol. Mama Chuey's Bistec is also beyond delicious. They don't take reservations but they have fabulous staff, everyone is friendly. If you order paella, make sure you get that order in right away because it takes 40ish minutes because it's made to order individually. The paella is phenomenal too! I haven't had anything that wasn't good! Just remember that these tapas are meant for sharing. And you'll most likely order too much. read more

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No need much to say is a small place very crowded , why because they serve Amazing food Guys keep it up I'll be back soon read more

Food was good. Service was horrible. We had to track our server down every time we needed anything. read more

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Second time coming & it is again an amazing restaurant. Went with my wife & another couple. A massive paella, beef stew, & mussels all for just $70. Food was delicious. Everything with broth we almost wanted to drink just the broth. read more

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What a wonderful dining experience we had at Olde Madrid. What we look for when we dine is unique food, excellent presentation, and knowledgeable and friendly waitstaff. Olde Madrid had all of this. The Tapas we ordered were fire grilled vegetable salad, roasted chicken and cherries, and creamed salmon and capers. Each was well prepared and tasty. For dessert we had crème brûlée cheesecake and raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake. Delicious. Our waitress was relational and professional. I would suggest getting to this restaurant at 4:30 when it opens. We did, and it was full by 5 pm on Saturday night. We will be back. So many more tapas to try. read more

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As a food and beverage director for Hyatt hotels years ago, I've had a desire to find restaurants that provided exceptional service, and incredible quality. I have found that just because some restaurants charge a lot of money that it doesn't necessarily translate into food that surprise me and delighted me. I am pleased to write an old Madrid blew me away with their presentation of Spanish food. The appetizers salads and entrées that we shared were exceptional. The Waitstaff was hospitable and very knowledgeable of old Madrid's offerings. Our Waitress has work there since they opened almost 2 decades ago. There's a reason why she is still happily working there. I was told by a friend to go there before 4:30 when they open because it's usually a line out the door waiting to get in. That happened to be true there's a reason for that. You will not be disappointed. My sincere appreciation to the chef and owner who has put his heart and passion into delivering for the most exceptional restaurants I've ever been to. read more

The best food and service. We go there regularly, and have tried almost everything on the menu. We are never disappointed.

Even if the service and atmosphere sucked (which they don't) the food is enough!!!! Holy cow!! The flavors and textures blew me away. I ordered the Carne Empanadas (Good) Mama Chuy's Bistec (Amazing!) and Stuffed portobello Cap (So good). The only knock I could possibly have is the tomato sauce that came with the carne empanadas could have been better. I would have perfected something lighter like maybe a cilantro lime sauce or something else to add a hint of freshness. The service and atmosphere are good by the way. read more

Updating review and now providing only 3 stars. Reasoning below. Carry Out Orders: I haven't dined inside the restaurant in a while, but I've ordered carry out at least 3 times and each time there has been an issue. 1st time: my husband and I ordered a salmon paella (which includes shrimp per menu). We also ordered double portion of salmon. When my husband arrived with the food, there was only a single piece of salmon on top of tons of rice and no shrimp. With the double portion of salmon, our order was almost $50 so I was really upset to receive the order like that. I contacted the restaurant and they offered 2 extra pieces of salmon and a few shrimp but my husband had to go back out and pick it up. 2nd time: Restaurant was scheduled to be open so I called to place a carry out order and no one answered. I waited a few minutes and called again, then the person that answered stated that he had to go ask if he could accept my order because they were thinking of closing early. 3rd time: I placed a carry out order and when I arrived to pick it up, the restaurant still had an hour to be open. While paying for my food, the phone rang and one of the servers asked if he should answer it to which someone replied 'no, don't answer that- we're closed (mind you there was an hour left of business and they didn't even have the courtesy to answer and inform the patron.) Each time I order a paella. Have you seen the size of those things at this restaurant?! The protein to rice ratio is absolutely ridiculous. If you don't order extra protein (which comes with a surge in price), you will basically receive a $35 pan of rice with 3 pieces of meat. Not cool. read more

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I would say the food is pretty good here. There is a wide selection of tapas to choose from. The service was great and the environment is good for families. The place is not big so the tables are very close. I wouldn't consider it perfect for a special ocassion like an anniversary for example. Overall, my wife and I liked the restaurant and would definitely come back. read more

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Amazing food, the wings and paella were absolutely delicious as was the other food we ot read more

Olde Madrid - Spanish Near Me - Racine, Wisconsin

Service was good. Restaurant was not busy in the evening for dinner. Love the seafood bisque soup a definite must to get!! Catfish was very good very flaky and you receive three pieces. The tapas plates were bigger than usual. The bullfighter skewers were very, very good very tender. Parking was street parking only with pay meters. Would assume this restaurant gets busy since dining area was small.. read more

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This place is a Racine treasure! Friendly staff and amazing food! My favorite is the Seafood Gumbo! read more

Food is beyond excellent. This place has served me some of the best meals I've ever had. It's truly authentic Spanish fare, and rivals many legit places I sampled in various cities in Spain. 5+ stars Service is fast and efficient. That being said, the food you are ordering is made to order for you and this place gets busy. Be prepared to wait for your meal. This is common in Spain...order some sangria and enjoy the vibe and chat with one another! 5 stars Ambiance is close and plain but also clean and friendly. Some outside lighting but otherwise mellow warm and lots of wood and hardwood floors. 4.5 stars read more

It has been four long years since we'd last had paella from Olde Madrid. The restaurant is still relaxing, warm and has good service. For apps we ordered the Bullfighter Beef Skewers and the Champinones a La Espanola. The skewers came out quickly and we LOVED them; they were so flavorful and the beef was really tender and juicy. We thought it was pretty weird that the mushrooms came out next with the marisco traditional paella, especially when the menu says it will take at least 25 minutes for the paella to simmer. The mushrooms were as tasty as we remembered them. The paella, not so much. Because it didn't simmer long enough, there wasn't much depth of flavor and it had liquid at the bottom so it definitely didn't have the yummy soccarat that every paella fiend adores. The shrimp and cod were good, the scallops hadn't been seared at all, the calamari was fishy, two of the mussels did not open and therefore shouldn't have even been placed on top of the paella, and there wasn't one ounce of octopus in the entire dish. If this were my first visit I would give it three stars, due to the myriad of issues listed above, plus there were only three other tables with patrons at them when we ordered so there was no reason for the kitchen to feel in a rush. Perhaps it was just an off day for the chef, or a new chef?? read more

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We waited over an hour and still had taken a table. The place is totally disorganized, the hostess looked completely lost and other customers were frustrated and left as well. What happened to this place? It was great the last time we was here. INVEST IN A RESERVATION SYSTEM!!!! read more

Olde Madrid - Food, glorious food! - Spanish Near Me - Racine, Wisconsin

Natalie is always a wonderful host and the waiter, Chipis, was dope. The food was 10/10. We ordered the Valencia wrap and they were cool with me asking for add ons on the wrap as well. Great place for lunch and dinner! read more

Great family run business. Good Sangria (white or red). I love Marias Beef Stew (make sure you get a spoon full and get the rice from the bottom). read more

Our server Lucy was very attentive, nice, and funny. From the moment you walk into the restaurant it smells so good. The drinks are very tasty with the perfect amount of alcohol. The empanadas were homemade and the best I have ever had! The paella and potatoes were very flavorful with a perfect spice read more

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Amazing place, Amazing ‍ Get appetizers, few dishes and drinks All is perfect there In the time , tasted good read more

First time here and it was phenomenal! I was seated right away and didn't have any issues with parking. As I got there a little before my friend, I was able to watch them take delicious food to tables and turn them over pretty quickly. We ordered the garlic chili shrimp, goat cheese marinara dip and the matador paella. The food comes out when it's ready so we weren't really waiting long for anything. Everything was great and I was excited to have leftovers. They even packed them up for us. Great service and lovely time. Can't wait togo back and try more!! read more

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We were greeted and seated immediately. It has a dark, fancy atmosphere. It's a bit loud and hard to converse but the food and service was AMAZING! We were there for lunch. Two of us ordered off the lunch menu. One of us ordered a dinner entree. Maria gave us bread and delicious hummus. I ordered a chicken salad w fresh grapes, almonds, and grilled chicken. My husband ordered chef Manny's Iberian chicken sandwich. He loved it. The homemade chips that came with it were the best I've ever had!!! Our son ordered the cornflake, breaded scallops on a bed of rice. It included soup. He rated his meal a 10/10. The soup had a seafood spicy flavor. I would highly recommend going here for lunch or dinner! Lunch is easier to get seated and to find parking. read more

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Excellent food and great service at reasonable prices. Plenty to share on every small plate. Bravo!

The food is always incredible. Delicious, plentiful, and uniquely authentic. The ambience is warm and inviting, and service is friendly and attentive! One of our favorite spots. read more

Empanadas were delicious!! Goat cheese tapas was amazingly delicious and filling. Paella was superb! Plenty to share and take home. Service was super friendly! Cozy atmosphere!! read more

Old world Spain meets midwestern hospitality at this Racine, Wi family owned gem. My wife and I loved this restaurant so much the first time that I am taking her back for Valentine's Day. The beef stew and seafood gumbo are super tasty. Large menu and everything is made from scratch by chef/owner Manny Salinas. read more

Olde Madrid is one of my favorite restaurants in Racine. The ambience is very warm and welcoming. The staff and service have always been top notch, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality and portion size. The service and ambience is great, but it's the food that keeps me coming back. Every time I'm here I have to get the Diablo Wings. They are creamy, crunchy, a little spicy, and packed full of textures and flavors. This time I opted for the brisket baguettes instead of the bullfighter skewers that I normally get (both recommended). My wife and I also tried the duck croquettes and the sweet goat cheese plate. The duck croquettes were fried to perfection and filled with rich, soft, and flavorful duck meat. The sweet goat cheese plate was a perfect desert plate but would also be a great appetizer. I am on a mission to try everything on their menu, so I will be back. If you're looking for big flavor in this little city, then I highly recommend trying Olde Madrid. read more

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We met some friends here at a suggestion from new friends, and it was a great suggestion. They don't take reservations, but it was worth the hour wait. We didn't order tapas this time, but our friend tried the artichoke dip (which looked totally different from what you're used to), chicken with cherries, pine nuts, and olives, and steak, potatoes, and pico. Those were delicious. The steak was tender, and the chicken was moist and flavorful. Our waiter said the red wine we picked was his favorite, and I agree it was very good. We went ahead and got a bottle. We ordered the Matador paella. I love paella, and this was very good with extra lemons. My one criticism is the chicken in the paella was a little bland. The chorizo and shrimp were tasty, but chicken needed extra salt. I definitely want to try more from them! read more

Olde Madrid - Delicious red - Spanish Near Me - Racine, Wisconsin

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The absolute friendliest owners I've ever met. The owner/chef Manny gives me a slap on the back and a big hug every time I come in and his wife and front of house manger Natalie is always engaging. Their staff definitely takes the lead of the owners and is always extremely accommodating. Large portions for TAPAS though. (Not that im complaining) Hot tip for lunch: Other their Valencia Wrap and add Shrimp!!!! Life changing ;-) read more

I don't even know what to say. Bit my tongue the entire time I sat there...hope someone at least finds this humorous. I kept going back and forth personally...Food was great, had high hopes and they were met. However, I didn't expect my server to ask my ethnicity, only to then be told that (anonymous) employees are saying I look like Ted Bundy...uh, okay. Out of towner, psychopathic serial killer, noted...maybe it's me but it didn't land well. Tipped over 20%, Decided to finish my meal and then headed elsewhere for another drink and dessert. Stick to the food, it was 'killer'...no pun intended. Xoxo, Ted. read more

Great food, great service, great vibe. Arguably the best restaurant in Racine. It's one of our go to places in town. We have tried everything on the menu over the years, and it has always been fresh and delicious. I wish they would take reservations. read more

Wow! The flavors here are unmatched! A great selection of tapas - there is something for everyone! This place gets busy so plan to wait some time. Once you are seated, wait staff is more than attentive and food comes out fairly quickly. Paella, sea food gumbo, bull fighter skewers, spicy potatoes, all were phenomenal! The only complaint is the red sangria was very sweet for my party's liking. Will be back! read more

My first visit to Olde Madrid for a bowl of their seafood bisque left much to be desired, to say the least. My anticipation for a warm, creamy bisque was met with a disappointingly cold and thin cup of broth. To add insult to injury, the server clumsily handed me the bisque spilling it onto the floor and on my shoe. When the server returned to the table I jokingly asked if the bisque was supposed to be served cold and reminded him that I ordered a bowl, not a cup. The server apologized and returned with a bowl of the bisque, which was again, cold. I told the server it was still cold (not knowing how long the bisque had been sitting out unheated) and sent it back. Thoroughly disappointed. read more

went to Madrid recently, very nice... but the food at Olde Madrid...Wow! Tiny place and a great getaway in the frost of winter for authentic cusine! read more

The food was wonderful. The service was on point. Our server was attentive and provided recommendations that fit what we were looking for. The paella is a must try the ambience brought me back to a trip I had taken to Spain many years ago. I plan on returning if you haven't been there it is a must try. read more

Olde Madrid is one of those very rare restaurants I've encountered that appeal to both the foodie and the glutton. No comment on which category our party of six fit into tonight! But, hey, there were leftovers from the ten (10!!!) dishes we shared, so we couldn't have been that gluttonous... right? Right...? Seriously, this is a place where the more people in your party, the better. You can try more of the (huge) selection of dishes and even if one of your choices is less than stellar, more than likely the rest will not disappoint. In the interest of full disclosure, here is the tally of dishes we tried, in the (approximate - because I did have a cocktail) order in which they appeared at our table: Duck Croquetas - Crispy and tasty, with a chutney accompaniment that made the dish. Mama Chuy's Bistec - Our waiter will remember my wife's cries of "Mama Chuy", "Mama Chuy" for a long time, I'm sure! These were perfectly cooked little nuggets of steak, topped with crispy potatoes. Terrific! Seville Crab Cakes - Didn't try these myself (see, I'm NOT a total glutton!) but the table's reviews seemed mostly unimpressed. Huge size, but not the best crab cakes ever. Avocado Crab Salad - This was a hit! Had a ceviche-like taste. Really good. Maria's Beef Stew - Thanks to my coworker Raquel for this recommendation! It's not something I would ever see myself ordering, based on the description: "Sliced beef tenderloin with potatoes, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, and a hint of spice in a garlicy cream sauce. Served over saffron rice." Okay... beef stew. I can make a pretty good beef stew. Why would I order it on a night out? Once again... thanks Raquel! This felt like the hit of the night. It was incredible! I've never had beef stew with charred and smoky pieces of beef - and the way the sauce soaked into the bed of rice... wow! As I was getting fuller and fuller, I was thinking wistfully about taking the leftovers of this dish home for lunch next week... until somebody finished it off! (That's okay, Taylor, I won't hold it against you. ) Tangerine Olives - Tried one each of the black and green olives. I thought they were both okay. Consensus of the table was that the black olives were better... I guess it really isn't easy being green! Pulpo a la Gallega (octopus) - This I really liked. Which was fortunate, since our group was filled with anti-octopites! Amy helped me out with a couple of pieces, but the rest of the (huge) portion was mine to enjoy. A really nice spice level and very tender - really good. Catalan Scallops - Another dish I never tried. Amy is a huge seared scallop fan and also loves pasta (which was a big part of this dish). She liked the pasta more than the scallops - said they were very well cooked, but just missed the sear. Los Quesos Frescos (mixed cheese platter) - Loved this, but hey, who in Wisconsin isn't going to love an enormous platter of cheese! Brisket Baguettes - There were leftovers of this dish for Sammie to take home. She was lucky that this happened to be the last dish served - it was so good that if it were served earlier (when we weren't all stuffed), it would have been long gone by the end of the meal! The pesto mayo that these came with was a real standout. Whew... I'm still a little surprised by the amount of food we were just served. Honestly, I was astounded by the size of these dishes - especially when I was expecting tapas. When I think of "tapas", I think of appetizer-sized portions where each person can order two (or maybe three). These portions could have been half the size they were and I wouldn't have thought twice. Thus my comment about the place appealing to both foodies and gluttons! The food was fantastic and portions were prodigious! Five stars in either case! read more

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It took too long to wait for a seat and we left... :( went across the street to Toad Hall - better choice!!!

Other than that this place is a bit on the expensive side and that the paellas take forever to prepare, Olde Madrid rocks it. Just went for a group dinner and we ordered a whole bunch of tapas to share: bread with hummus: came out first. This is the free bread that comes out with all orders almond meatballs: meatballs in a cream sauce - not your spaghetti and meatballs meatballs! really popping with flavor baked goat cheese - goat cheese like a dip comes with more bread. we had a lot of bread seafood gumbo - my absolute favorite dish here! though sometimes it will be a little undercooked, especially earlier on busy nights. It does take a while to prepare. But you can't go wrong with this dish. Even when the rice seems a little undercooked, it's still good. Yes, that good. almond crusted cod - my friends really like this dish, but it's a ok for me. it's cod. I think I'm just spoiled with all the other strong flavors in other dishes. salmon a la plancha (salmon with shrimp) - this one also was a meh for me. The salmon felt a little dry, especially after the cod. But the shrimp was really, really good. Just the right pop in your mouth. cheese platter - Manchego Membrillo: the quince jelly that comes with the platter really whets the appetite for the rest of the cheese. It was good but only had 4 slices of brie, and heavier on the cheaper cheese. we had a lot of this dish left over. Don't think it's worth it for next time. Champiñones a La Española (sautéed mushrooms): Oh wow. I had this dish for the first time here, and this is absolutely amazing. Mushroom was so tender and flavorful. It was crusty on some sides. I'm not sure how they cooked it, but a little seared, and overall soft. And the oil sauce it was sitting on was delicious. Absolute must get! Our server was super efficient, fast with all orders, right there when we needed her, and gave us all the more bang for the bucks tips. Absolute treasure. Downtown Racine is not your usual place to check out around Wisconsin, I know, but Olde Madrid is worth it. Oh yea, remember the it's closed on Sundays and Mondays. Had a few very sad moments bummed at finding the place closed. read more

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Wow! Now I get why there was a wait. The food was amazing. The prices were great too, we were pleasantly surprised. We'll be back!

Lots of folks tend to look past the restaurant scene in downtown Racine, but it is one of the better scenes for a small city. Olde Madrid is one of those pillars of this restaurant scene. It truly creates authentic Spanish dishes when most folks will not discern from Mexican food despite the tastes being half a world away. The service is always great, but can be slow when things are busy. And yet, I never get the feeling people are upset if they have to stay a bit longer at this establishment. Worth the trip up from Illinois, or down from Milwaukee. read more