My hubby and I had lunch here. The main restaurant was full so we were whisked to the building in…read morethe back area. This area with white linen table cloths seems more private with limited seating. It felt very exclusive. We ordered their traditionally prepared cuchinillo, grilled vege platter, tiramisu with toffee, coffee ice cream with amaretto jelly and the traditional layered cake with vanilla cream and ice cream, capuccino and a glass of red wine. The service was impeccably attentive. When it was time to cut the roast pig, the owner, Jose Maria appeared. We were gathered around to watch him deftly cut the pig with a plate into several servings. The cuchinillo was perfectly seasoned. The skin was thin and crispy and the flesh was moist and melt in your mouth tender. Everything we ordered was delicious! Later on, Jose Maria came to our table for a short chat and to indulge us with a few picture with him. This was a really special experience.

What an experience! This is the most Spanish feeling restaurant I've been to surprisingly enough…read moregiven the ambience. The tradition of the cochinillo holds strong, cutting with the plates. The lamb looked amazing too. We enjoyed our cochinillo - the skin an amazing crunch in flavorful broth and delicious fries we ordered it with. Our waiter was friendly and funny as well as informative.

Amazing food place , the menu of the day ( my favorite Spanish food thing ever) was sooooo good!…read more The waiter told us the meal for two was good for the three of us - and he was right ! We split a bottle of wine and we were so happy !!

I had a just okay experience. I ordered a soup and the fried eggplant with honey. I received the…read morewrong soup, and it was a bit bland. The eggplant had no honey. I was never offered water or a second drink, and after the salty eggplant I was so thirsty. Service was pretty typical for Madrid. There are so many restaurant options in the area, I probably would not return to this one. Nothing terrible, but also nothing special.

Excellent seafood at very reasonable prices. Javier was an outstanding waiter. We ordered way too…read moremuch food thinking that the plates would be small. We had the Ensalada Cazorla, Fritura de la casa (mixed fried shellfish and small fish), Ensalada marinera, and Revuelto de trigueros, setas, and gambas. We also enjoyed vino tinto and café descafeinado. The restaurant opened at 8:30. Luckily we arrived by 8:45 as it was packed by 9AM.

BEST PULPO IN THE CITY (and yes, I've tried quite a few). This swanky locale has a great ambiance -…read morelow lighting, gente maja, and personality to boot. Seating can be a little tricky as the restaurant seems to have its share of loyal customers, so see if you can call beforehand to get a reservation and make your life easier. We didn't have one when we visited the other night, but the staff did its absolute best to accommodate us. Props to the owner, by the way; he was incredibly personable and made dining there a pleasure. The star of the show, undoubtedly, was the pulpo a la brasa. It was a sizeable portion and just plain melted in your mouth. Pair it with some bread and oil/spices, and we had ourselves a winner. Definitely worth your troubles to try it out when you're in the area. Actually when you're in Madrid in general. Pulpo like this is worth the trip!

My wife and I were in Madrid for only one night and wanted to have a nice dinner. Unfortunately…read moreour siesta lasted a little bit too long and we weren't ready to go eat until 10:30 PM. We called Alcaravea to get a reservation and they fit us right in at 10:45 on a Tuesday night (kitchen closed at 11 PM). We didn't have too much time to peruse the menu so we simply asked the waiter to bring us his favorite dishes (telling him to steer clear of lamb and goat cheese as the wife doesn't like these). All we could say was "Wow!"...every dish that came out was amazing (fried asparagus, a veggie plate, tuna, and the toblerone dessert). It was also pretty exciting to not know what else was coming until the food came out to our table. We've been in Spain for 10 days and this has been our favorite dining experience so far!

Outstanding tapas. I let the wait staff choose as I could not make out one from another. Must try…read morethe croquette, Spanish ham and a fish pâté. Try the house Robles wine. Outstanding!

Very friendly and casual. Quick service. Nice wine selection at reasonable prices and excellent…read moretapas. A great place to unwind after a busy day of sightseeing. Loved the tapa quesos parrill.

This was the first dinner meal my mom and I had in Madrid and let's just say it completely exceeded…read moremy expectations. When we walked in we were welcomed by such warm service! I truly have to highlight Pepe, Franco, and Grace for taking the time to speak to us and get to know us. The food was FANTASTIC. We ordered the seafood paella, jamon iberico, garlic shrimp, and sangria. The paella was filled with a ton of flavor which was DELICIOUS. Everything was fantastic, but the Sangria was spectacular, (probably one of the best sangrias I've ever had). At the end of our meal, Pepe brought us two liquor de Limon shots, which made our whole night!! Definitely recommend this place in the La Latina neighborhood. You won't regret it!

El Sur is a charming little spot in Madrid, tucked right into the wall of a narrow street. The…read morespace is very small and they manage to fit a surprising number of people inside, so you immediately notice how tight the squeeze is. It has that classic bustling tapas bar energy where everyone is close enough to feel like part of one big conversation. The food was the highlight. The clams were flavorful and fresh, the octopus was cooked beautifully and the paella was delicious. It is a great place to stop in for a drink and a quick bite, especially if you want something authentic and lively. When we visited, it was packed to the point where you were shoulder to shoulder with other guests and close enough to easily hear the party next to you. It adds to the charm if you enjoy that classic crowded European dining atmosphere, but it is something to keep in mind if you prefer more space.

We were visiting the valley of the fallen, and needed some lunch. The cafe at the valley is so…read moreoverpriced and filthy, and we found this place about a 3 mile drive away. This place is about 8 mins walk from El Escorial Monastery. It is definitely a hidden gem of the neighborhood. For 10 Euros, you can have a two course meal and desert + wine/beer/water till 4pm. The food is so fresh and homey. There is a little terrace in front, and you can appreciate the charm of a small quaint town. Everyone seem to know each other. Food selection gets smaller as the day go, because they just prepare enough fresh food for the day. So go earlier. The server is so friendly, but he speaks little (to no) English. Menu is on the board, use your google translate and you will be just fine:) Please go and support this neighborhood joint!

Wow. We are so happy we found El Olivo on our way to Escorial. The food was delicious, location is…read moreperfect, but maybe the best part is the amazing service. If you are visiting Escorial or the Valle de los Caídos, stop at Olivo for lunch.