Casa Labra
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One of my favorite tapas stop in Madrid. Popular place for a quick grab of cod fish fritters, croquetas and to accompany with a beer. The vermouth is my favorite, so I stuck to the vermouth. Place is behind an old building few steps away from the puerta del sol. This place is popular for the locals and it right across the entrance to the basement grocery department or el Corte inglés. This is a must stop every time we are in Madrid. Check it out!!
Casa Labra carries the weight of history, where every corner hums with stories from the past and the city's energy feels alive. We arrived just before their midday closing (3:30PM) and were lucky to get the last batch of croquetas, fried cod. And oh my; crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and absolutely unforgettable. Simple eats, but amazing. The restaurant's historic ties and its location near Puerta del Sol add to the charm, and the building itself creates a warm, inviting ambience. We had to take out since we came so close to closing, but if I'm ever back, I'd love to dine in and savor it properly.
The perfect greasy snack or compliment to a drink. The atmosphere is informal, the food is fast and the drinks are plentiful. If the weather holds out, grab a drink from the bar and your fishy snack from the other bar and park yourself at the many silver tables outside. If not, you will have to wait for a table in the back. The fried cod and croquettes go quick, so they are always fresh when you pick them up. Downside is that you have to wait for the next batch if they all get snapped up by the guy ahead of you. I just pointed and paid, seemed to get by on sign language alone.
There was a small wait, and we were seated in a packed room. "Packed" is a good sign. The elegantly dressed waiter showed up as we were settling in with a pad of paper, ready to write down our order. Except...we had no idea what was on the menu. He quickly figured out we didn't know the game here, so he grabbed a menu. He hurried us through the order, which should have bothered me, but somehow it didn't. I took that as more the personality of the restaurant than an insulting interaction. The fried cod and cod croquettes arrived a minute after we ordered. Seriously. The cod croquettes were a silky dream inside, and crispy outside. The fried cod was perfectly sweet, and nicely crispy. How do they do this when the food Is clearly pre made? Shortly after that, the Spanish omelet arrived. I've been used to the American Spanish omelette, with cheese, chopped green peppers , and tomatoes. The traditional Spanish omelette is loaded with potatoes and onions, and no cheese, tomato, or pepper. Salt would have helped, but it was still hearty. The waiter missed our meat pie order, but he brought it out immediately (and I do mean immediately) when we reminded him. The pies were crispy and a bit lacking in depth, but still hearty. The "large" beer was 340 ml (less than 12 oz)...it's in the spirit of tapas that way, since it was cheap (2.6€). Wine was similarly small and cheap. The objective seems to be hurrying customers through so the next customers can get a seat. And, it felt more like I was in a situation comedy than having rude service at a restaurant. We ordered another round of the fish, and eventually we were defeated by the sheer volume of food. Everything is cheap here, with most of what we ordered under 2€. The whole bill for 3 of us, with some to take back to the hotel, was under 50€. Come here for a quick (and I do mean *quick*) meal, stay for the personality of the waitstaff.
First food stop on my tapas tour, this place was super busy at 7pm on a weeknight. There is no seating, only a few hightop tables outside and some low shelves where you can balance your beverage while you eat your tapas, or where you balance your tapas while you enjoy your beverage. Absolutely a cool vibe here, but definitely crowded. Founded in 1879 which is amazingly awesome. Get a croquetta and a glass of their Spanish red wine. It was fabulous! [Review 12520 overall, 2310 of 2019.]
Casa Labra was a historic place located close to Puerta del Sol and you won't miss it since there is always a line there since they open everyday. The wait wasn't bad but watch out there were 2 different lines for dine in with service and dine outside of their restaurant with cheaper price. We ordered their top 3 sellers from the menu which were Tajada de bacalao (fried cod), Croquetas de bacalao (cod croquette) and Atun con Tomate (Tuna steak with tomato). The Fried cod was our favorite and it was juicy inside, the fried layer wasn't crispy but not bad. The cod croquette was creamy like clam chowdor. We didn't like the tuna steak which we thought was not really fresh and hard. All of these you could order by piece and tried the variety. People also recommended their beer which was super cheap.
Casa Labra, since 1860, has been famous with locals long before the touristas invaded...so be prepared for a line even on a Monday night. The bar and outside areas: Only €1.50 for their famous deep fried cod tapas, and they are tasty indeed! Only €1 for a small beer or wine to wash it down. Win and win! Except for that wait... Or just get lucky and waltz in like my wife and I did at 9:40pm and score a table at small fancy restaurant area where prices are a bit higher, but you get full sit down service with a friendly waiter, and air conditioning. Casa Labra's menu has a good variety of dinners, but they specialize in hearty Cod entrees: Bacalao a la vizcaína: Cod cooked in a sauce made to the traditional recipe: Serrano ham, onion, paprika, olive oil and garlic (17,50 €)...GOOD! Bacalao con setas y alcaparras: A large piece of cod served in a sauce made of olive oil, leeks, wild mushrooms, capers, tomato purée and orange juice (17,50 €)...GOOD! Gazpacho was light and tasty too, but a bit pricey for 6,50 €. Bottles wine start at only €7 for the house wine...why can't we have nice things like this in America?
One if the best tapas spots in Madrid. Just off Calle Mayor don't let the long lines and large crowds scare you. It moves quickly and once you get to the counter it's fairly easy to order. Get the potato croquettes and cod fritters with a small light beer una caña. Absolutely delicious and plenty of standing height tables inside and outside for a delicious snack before you move on to the next stop.
A traditional spanish tapas bar. Stopped by during a food tour and devoured this place. We had their cod fritters (amazing), manchego cheese (creamy goodness) and their famous vermut on tap (nice chilled red vermut). The vermut was very refreshing and paired beautifully with the deep fried cod fritters. It is a traditional bar and there is usually a huge line to get in and its popular in the evenings. Top notch bar food and even better Vermut. Highly recommend. read more
tl;dr don't let the touristy location fool you; crowds have flocked to this tapas bar for fried cod for over a century Casa Labra may know a thing or two about tapas; that's how they have stayed in business since 1860. In fact, this tapas bar has even earned an official "comercio centenario" designation by the City of Madrid (recognizing a historic shop that has remained open in the same location with the same purpose for over 100 years). What's more, Labra was also an early clandestine meetinghouse for the Spanish Socialist Party (the current ruling party in Spain). Nowadays, Labra continues to draw crowds for its signature Tajada de Bacalao (fried cod). The bar maintains its traditional decor, from the marble walls to dark-wood bar shelves to the ornate lighting structures hanging from the soaring ceiling. A shoulder-high ledge runs the perimeter of the room to precariously perch glasses and tapas plates. The dedicated dining room in the back is austere at best. The menus are scribbled onto chalkboards next to their respective ordering stations (as is customary for traditional tapas bars, tapas are ordered separately from drinks). Chatter and clinking glasses echo around the room. Outside, bar-height stainless steel tables are peppered across the sidewalk. Even on a rainy day, expect a queue to trail from the right entrance down the block. I visited Labra for a guided food tour, and I returned because I was so impressed. Of the tapas, the best was, unsurprisingly, the fried cod. The small portion was more than made up for by the crispy texture and rich flavor. Also excellent for the draught vermouth, which balanced sweet with spice and was my favorite across Madrid. The vermouth paired perfectly with the Queso Manchego (Labra's generous "raciones" portion of cheese stacked two layers across a frisbee-sized plate). Less exciting to eat was the Croqueta de Bacaloa (cod croquette). The skin reminded me of a fish stick, while the filling erred on dense. Further, the Banderilla de Atun (tuna skewer) was an unweildy dud. The tough texture and inconvenient preparation overshadowed the modest flavor. The staff were unspoken pros -- they efficiently managed the crowd and discreetly bussed dirty dishes. The queue moved moderately quickly, as Labra prepared tapas by the platter for maximum efficiency. The prices felt reasonable; just 2 euros for the must-try cod, and 2.50 for a small glass of vermouth. Casa Labra perfectly pairs a convenient location with excellent fried fish; that being said, you will need to hit up other spots to find other above-average versions of more standard tapas. read more
2 years ago
Casa Labra came up on many of my lists for a must try tapas spot. Clearly, I wasn't the only one who saw these lists, since the place was swarmed with locals, but mostly tourists alike. They have indoor seating and outdoor tables. The outdoor tables are just up for grabs, while there's a separate line for indoor seating. If you just want to grab a bite outside, you get in the line and pick up your food at the counter to the right. There were servers around taking drink orders if you wanted to add something from the bar (a must). We had the croquetas and fried fish with two tintos. I like that each of the items is available by the piece so you can order as many or as little as you want. Prices are definitely reasonable and I thought everything was delicious! The fish does have some bones in it, so be careful! read more
One of my favorite tapas stop in Madrid. Popular place for a quick grab of cod fish fritters, croquetas and to accompany with a beer. The vermouth is my favorite, so I stuck to the vermouth. Place is behind an old building few steps away from the puerta del sol. This place is popular for the locals and it right across the entrance to the basement grocery department or el Corte inglés. This is a must stop every time we are in Madrid. Check it out!! read more
8 months ago
It's a small place, but it's worth to try the croquetas de bacalao and tajada de bacalao (fried cod). I personally liked the fry cod, it was very smooth and tasty. Also try their vermouth read more
9 months ago
Casa Labra carries the weight of history, where every corner hums with stories from the past and the city's energy feels alive. We arrived just before their midday closing (3:30PM) and were lucky to get the last batch of croquetas, fried cod. And oh my; crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and absolutely unforgettable. Simple eats, but amazing. The restaurant's historic ties and its location near Puerta del Sol add to the charm, and the building itself creates a warm, inviting ambience. We had to take out since we came so close to closing, but if I'm ever back, I'd love to dine in and savor it properly. read more
The perfect greasy snack or compliment to a drink. The atmosphere is informal, the food is fast and the drinks are plentiful. If the weather holds out, grab a drink from the bar and your fishy snack from the other bar and park yourself at the many silver tables outside. If not, you will have to wait for a table in the back. The fried cod and croquettes go quick, so they are always fresh when you pick them up. Downside is that you have to wait for the next batch if they all get snapped up by the guy ahead of you. I just pointed and paid, seemed to get by on sign language alone. read more
There was a small wait, and we were seated in a packed room. "Packed" is a good sign. The elegantly dressed waiter showed up as we were settling in with a pad of paper, ready to write down our order. Except...we had no idea what was on the menu. He quickly figured out we didn't know the game here, so he grabbed a menu. He hurried us through the order, which should have bothered me, but somehow it didn't. I took that as more the personality of the restaurant than an insulting interaction. The fried cod and cod croquettes arrived a minute after we ordered. Seriously. The cod croquettes were a silky dream inside, and crispy outside. The fried cod was perfectly sweet, and nicely crispy. How do they do this when the food Is clearly pre made? Shortly after that, the Spanish omelet arrived. I've been used to the American Spanish omelette, with cheese, chopped green peppers , and tomatoes. The traditional Spanish omelette is loaded with potatoes and onions, and no cheese, tomato, or pepper. Salt would have helped, but it was still hearty. The waiter missed our meat pie order, but he brought it out immediately (and I do mean immediately) when we reminded him. The pies were crispy and a bit lacking in depth, but still hearty. The "large" beer was 340 ml (less than 12 oz)...it's in the spirit of tapas that way, since it was cheap (2.6€). Wine was similarly small and cheap. The objective seems to be hurrying customers through so the next customers can get a seat. And, it felt more like I was in a situation comedy than having rude service at a restaurant. We ordered another round of the fish, and eventually we were defeated by the sheer volume of food. Everything is cheap here, with most of what we ordered under 2€. The whole bill for 3 of us, with some to take back to the hotel, was under 50€. Come here for a quick (and I do mean *quick*) meal, stay for the personality of the waitstaff. read more
2 years ago
Fry cod is good but the service is not friendly. Very rush. That day outside is windy, we seat inside. We only try fish with beer and wine. read more
First food stop on my tapas tour, this place was super busy at 7pm on a weeknight. There is no seating, only a few hightop tables outside and some low shelves where you can balance your beverage while you eat your tapas, or where you balance your tapas while you enjoy your beverage. Absolutely a cool vibe here, but definitely crowded. Founded in 1879 which is amazingly awesome. Get a croquetta and a glass of their Spanish red wine. It was fabulous! [Review 12520 overall, 2310 of 2019.] read more
1 year ago
7 years ago
Casa Labra was a historic place located close to Puerta del Sol and you won't miss it since there is always a line there since they open everyday. The wait wasn't bad but watch out there were 2 different lines for dine in with service and dine outside of their restaurant with cheaper price. We ordered their top 3 sellers from the menu which were Tajada de bacalao (fried cod), Croquetas de bacalao (cod croquette) and Atun con Tomate (Tuna steak with tomato). The Fried cod was our favorite and it was juicy inside, the fried layer wasn't crispy but not bad. The cod croquette was creamy like clam chowdor. We didn't like the tuna steak which we thought was not really fresh and hard. All of these you could order by piece and tried the variety. People also recommended their beer which was super cheap. read more
7 years ago
Learnt about this place through a Travel Show.. and loved the fritters and the croquettes! The cod fritters...were the best. We also tried the Vermouth martini.. (red) Went twice in our stay.. so yes it's worth a visit! read more
Casa Labra, since 1860, has been famous with locals long before the touristas invaded...so be prepared for a line even on a Monday night. The bar and outside areas: Only €1.50 for their famous deep fried cod tapas, and they are tasty indeed! Only €1 for a small beer or wine to wash it down. Win and win! Except for that wait... Or just get lucky and waltz in like my wife and I did at 9:40pm and score a table at small fancy restaurant area where prices are a bit higher, but you get full sit down service with a friendly waiter, and air conditioning. Casa Labra's menu has a good variety of dinners, but they specialize in hearty Cod entrees: Bacalao a la vizcaína: Cod cooked in a sauce made to the traditional recipe: Serrano ham, onion, paprika, olive oil and garlic (17,50 €)...GOOD! Bacalao con setas y alcaparras: A large piece of cod served in a sauce made of olive oil, leeks, wild mushrooms, capers, tomato purée and orange juice (17,50 €)...GOOD! Gazpacho was light and tasty too, but a bit pricey for 6,50 €. Bottles wine start at only €7 for the house wine...why can't we have nice things like this in America? read more
One if the best tapas spots in Madrid. Just off Calle Mayor don't let the long lines and large crowds scare you. It moves quickly and once you get to the counter it's fairly easy to order. Get the potato croquettes and cod fritters with a small light beer una caña. Absolutely delicious and plenty of standing height tables inside and outside for a delicious snack before you move on to the next stop. read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Casa Labra is a 150 yr old restaurant and bar near Puerta del Sol and the birthplace of the Spanish Socialist party. Up front is a small bar area with outside seating (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/_LGLUZQBxB9GT1CNUn2bBg?select=YMiCvz-gnba-Pm7-yZR-yA) and table seating in back. In the bar they have a short list of food items (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/_LGLUZQBxB9GT1CNUn2bBg?select=7F0TBZroNaBv6hzS5CDGew) and are famous for their cod dishes. They have fancier dishes in the restaurant and in the bar serve fried cod (1.25 Euros) and cod croquettes (0.80 Euros), the first two items listed on the chalkboard. Order drinks from the bar and tapas from the counter to the right and pay for each separately. Their reputation is well deserved with both fried cod items perfectly seasoned and cooked (not my pic http://simplespanishfood.typepad.com/.a/6a013487d45991970c0154328889c2970c-800wi). I did prefer the sliced and fried piece over the croquette. I thought this place would be more touristy being just off Puerta del Sol, but appeared to be mostly locals enjoying the fried treasures. read more
4 years ago
10 years ago
3 years ago
This place is right there at Plaza del Sol and easy to get to from the metro. When you approach it, don't get scared as I did - you'll soon realize all those people outside are standing around with their food they already ordered. It does look like a haphazard line from afar but it's an organized chaos as they say. There are two lines. One to sit inside and another for carry out / to get your food and then stand at a table outside. The takeaway line moves quickly and they do take credit cards! I made the mistake of not paying attention and pointed to what I thought was the fried cod - I actually got the cod croquette. Of course, I polished off the croquette (ok, not out of this world) and got right back on line for the fried cod. Lucky me, b/c I was the first to get some from a fresh batch and they were quite good! Reviews are on point - pretty good! After the first one, I started to pull the fried batter off and just ate the cod - I probably wouldn't have except I already polished off the croquettes. A must visit when in Sol! read more
7 years ago
This place is ridiculously good. It's not far off from the busy plaza area, so at first I was cautious it could be a tourist trap, but no, the prices are extremely reasonable and the food, namely the fried cod pieces, are exceptional. My hard-to-please father was also impressed by the freshness of the fish. Not too much seating area in the back, but most people seem to enjoy standing at the bar or the outdoor standing tables to have a quick bite and drink. read more
7 years ago
I love Cod and this is one of the best! They serve it in two forms; Meaty-flaky and fry breaded. And then puréed and fry breaded. Both are great tasting. It all depends are your texture preference. Check for times because they do close for "siesta" and it is busy when it's is on. One line is for the food and the other for the drinks at the bar. It is great to stand outside at their high tables (no chairs) because you get to share tables with other customers, which many are locals. I'll be back for sure!!! read more
If you're strolling around Puerta del Sol, you should make an effort to stop by! Grab some beer and cod tapas, and you've got yourself a very satisfying and delicious meal or snack (depending on how many pieces you get). The cod croquettes and fried cod are so good. The cod croquettes were my favorite. They were perfectly crispy on the outside and very creamy with the bechamel and cod on the inside. The fried cod was pretty salty, but I have to admit I still loved that fried, salty goodness. Both of these options are super inexpensive. The bar area is very small, but there's more seating in the back if you prefer to sit down. Overall, a great spot for tasty and reasonable food. read more
8 years ago
10 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
9 years ago
Skip-less taberna in the heart of Madrid. This place is a classical opened since 1860 and packed every single day. Their speciality is the Croquetas de Bacalao for an Euro, having it with a glass of Bermú is a must. Highly recommended! read more
11 years ago
18 years ago
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