Sunday, June 15, 2014

Hellmann's Burguer-lovers Route

From past June 2nd to July 6th, Hellmann's is sponsoring a new idea in Madrid and Barcelona: a route of 20 restaurants in each city, that have created a new burger specialty that includes some Hellmann's sauce in the recipe. There are very original creations, from one that includes grilled peach, to other made of bison meat.
Users are invited to vote the best of them in the web, and a motorcycle will be raffled among the participants.
The restaurants in Madrid are scattered in the following districts: Centro, Retiro, Salamanca, Arganzuela, Chamberí, Moncloa-Aravaca and Chamartín.
There are traditional restaurants as the well known Alfredo's and the "Pecado Carnal" ("Carnal Sin"), and some newer ones, as The Mad Cafe.   Here's the list of all 20 participating restaurants in Madrid:



Sunday, June 8, 2014

Antigua Casa Narcisa (Former Narcisa House)

In a tweet: Amazing cozy terrace, that invites to have a long and pleasent table talk. Ambience is the most remarkable quality; some dishes are good; above average, but not reaching the A.

Summary
Concept Comment
Overall Score 8.0
Price per Person 42€. Including a bottle of water (2,60€ -they don't have jars of tap water, which is bad, as Madrid water is great), 3 beers (2,70€ each), 2 bottles of wine (Campillo 2010, 21€ each), 5 desserts (5€ average) and a Gintonic (9€).
Food Type Traditional
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Seven&Six

In a tweet: Posh, modern and fashioned "cocktails and food gastrobar", where you can ask for "gastrotapas" (60% of the whole dish), so to try more dishes. A bit better than average, but not exceptional. A wannabe...

Summary
Concept Comment
Overall Score 7.2
Price per Person 44€. With 5 gastrotapas, 5 beers (3.5€ each) and a Mojito (5€ offer, not too good) and one more cocktail (Strawberry bellini- 10€).
Food Type Modern
Pictures

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

What are "Entresijos" and "Gallinejas"?

We've recently had in Madrid the festivities in honor of its patron saint "San Isidro" (which official day is May 15th). They're celebrated in the "pradera de San Isidro" (medow), where you can find many food stalls and fairground rides. Two of the most traditional foods in Madrid are "Entresijos" and "Gallinejas", and they can be found almost in every stall there these days.
But what are they? Find it below!

Madrid - Fiestas de San Isidro - Entresijos - 20070515-61

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Shikku Izakaya

In a tweet: Some people say it's the third best Japanese restaurant in Madrid. Very elegant; expensive. Can be good for business meetings or celebrations. It has a bar downstairs to have cocktails. They have more restaurants in Madrid.

Summary
Concept Comment
Overall Score 7.9.
Price per Person 50 €. With one bottle of Albariño (white wine from Rias Baixas, Galicia: "Mar de Frades", 22€) and no desserts. We had 2 cocktails later in the bar, for another 10€each.
Food Type Japanese

Saturday, April 19, 2014

La Chimenea (The Fireplace)

In a tweet: GREAT. Best grilled steak I've tried in Madrid so far (and I've tried many). The cook is in a holm oak fired grill by the door where you can see the meat. Cheap for its great quality. When crowded you need to make a reservation, and there are two shifts; you have to choose, and they warn you that they may ask you to leave when time for the next has come.

Summary
Concept Comment
Overall Score 9.2. I would recommend it for business meetings but it's away from Madrid, and in the weekends it's noisy.
Price per Person 30-35€.. Great value for money!
Food Type Traditional

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Bolivar

In a tweet: Modern restaurant of extremely high quality in all of their dishes. A bit expensive, overall taking into account the amount of the dishes, but you can find offers (for example in El Tenedor. Worth a try... or two

Summary
Concept Comment
Overall Score 9
Price per Person 35€. with 40% discount (off the price before taxes; in the prices below, the discount hasn't been applied) except in drinks. We ate 6, had 2 bottles of wine (21€ each).
Food Type Modern
Picture

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Arrocería St. James (St. James Rice Restaurant)

In a tweet: Best rices I've tried in Madrid (and maybe in Spain), in a distinguished and pleasant restaurant in the heart of Madrid.

Summary
Concept Comment
Overall Score 9.1
Price per Person 65€. Including 2 beers (3.20€ each), white wine (a nice easy to drink Viñas del Vero Chardonnay -17€, score 9), 2 desserts and 2 peach liquors -to which we were not invited, despite the common tradition, 4€ each). Expensive for being rice (usually cheap), but worth the price.
Food Type Rices
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