When you think of a classic tourist trap, Casa Lucio is the perfect definition. Don't be fooled by…read morethe pictures of presidents and celebrities on the walls. We came expecting the very best of Spanish cuisine, and instead got a major disappointment. The potato salad was drenched in mayonnaise, completely overpowering the other ingredients. The entrecôte with fries was even worse--the meat was full of greasy strings, nothing like the clean, tender cut it's supposed to be. The fries were poorly cut, oily, and limp instead of crisp. Even the padrón peppers, which are usually impossible to get wrong, were flavorless. The bread was stiff and hard to bite. Service was just okay, but the atmosphere felt rushed and uncomfortable, as the place is overcrowded with tourists chasing the restaurant's reputation. In short: overrated, overpriced, and absolutely not worth the hype.

I was on a search for restaurants loved by the locals. Casa Lucio was bursting with people waiting…read morefor a table so of course, I knew I wanted to try it. They said reservations only but we were able to snag 2 seats at the bar. The food was good. Not the best during my trip but good nonetheless. I think I did not order what they're known for however I still enjoyed my meal.

Went here twice! Was EXCELLENT !…read moreAnd the service was so sweet. This is one of my favs !

Everything about our dining experience was excellent from the very warm welcome we received to the…read moregreat service and wonderful food, the atmosphere was intimate and cozy! It appeared to be a destination for the locals.

Very nice ambiance. Great wait servers that spoke English well. We had a great lamb shoulder and…read moregood Asturiana bean soup. Topped off by a couple of Spanish beers, it was a very enjoyable experience.

Outstanding service and delicious late afternoon lunch only blocks away from our hotel in Madrid,…read moreSpain - very near Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, and Museo del Prado. Must try the Vino Albariño. Arroz con Mariscos y Verdes Mixtos pictured:

I'd had Casa Macareno on my list to try for a few years. I waited patiently as the staff seated…read moreothers who'd arrived after me, before being told I would have to sit on a stool at the narrow bar against the wall since I was solo. Service was slow; I ordered a tinto de verano and a water, and was approached again and had to ask several times. Then, staff were pushy about my ordering plates of food; no media ración or tapa-sized offerings. While trying to decide, I noticed lots of English speakers and direct asks for tips from adjacent guests. Only after I shared that I'd changed my mind about ordering lunch was I offered a complimentary dish of boiled potatoes with mayo (neither I nor any of the surrounding guests finished them)?! I couldn't pay and leave fast enough, though not before being shocked by the price: €8 (!). And yes, the tarjeta machine was set to ask for a tip (nope)! Too bad, as I'd heard good things about this spot and had excellent experiences elsewhere in the neighborhood/city during my month-long stay.

Very good food in a vibrant atmosphere. The staff is brusque but helpful (telling us not to order…read moremore because it would be too much food) (we listened, and they were right). The "false risotto" (orzo) with seafood is a particular highlight.

After spending several hours at the Reina Sofia, Jamie W and I were feeling quite peckish and…read morerather indecisive about where to have lunch. We guessed many options around the Prado area might be tourist traps. Fortunately, this didn't appear to be one of them as it's a taberna that attracts local regulars as well as tourists like us. The manager/owner looked to know quite a few customers. It was pretty busy, so we were seated at a hi-top table in the bar area next to other non-Spanish, English-speaking customers. There were many small-to-medium tapa plates to consider in their menu. We weren't looking to stuff ourselves, so we ordered the 6,9€ half-order of Chiporones à la Plancha, which was grilled baby squids nestled on a mixed salad drizzled with balsamic (Photo 10). Our second dish was the 6,1€ half-order of Parrillada Verdu. It was a simple but satisfying grilled vegetable platter of sliced tomato,, onion, and root veggies (Photo 9). The last dish we ordered was an unexpected taste of home, the 9,9€ Ensalada Cesar. The reason for the higher price point was the addition of chicken and bacon to the lettuce, tomato, cheese, croutons, and Caesar dressing (Photo 8). The combination was pretty hearty and familiar-tasting. Even though we probably ate enough for a mid-afternoon meal, I couldn't help but inquire about the availability of grilled octopus (pulpo) because we saw it look quite tempting on a neighboring table. It was just as well that they were out because we didn't have room in our bellies for that. Our tapas selection was just fine all on its own. FOOD - 4 stars...skilled execution of familiar tapas, pretty tasty AMBIANCE - 4 stars...compact but cozy taberna, crowds quickly at lunch SERVICE - 3.5 stars..,efficient though a tad brusque because it was busy TOTAL - 4 stars...a serious dining option close to the museums RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/WCRoD4CVJE

Just mas please!!! Best sangria we have ever had! Outstanding seafood. So fresh and ample fruit,…read moregreat amount and flavor. Ample inside dining and some outdoor patio dining. About 15 minutes to Atocha station. Helpful service. Pluses A. Best sangria we have had 1. Scallops on the shell were amazing so light and fresh 2. Grilled cuttlefish were nicely charred 3. Octopus was large amount and with potato / he loved it, I thought it was too spicy for me. 4. Grilled shrimp with the heads so juicy in the head 5. Caramel dessert was good 6. We got free shots, twice and yes very good 7. Great value food Areas to improve 1. Bathrooms Highly recommended for sangria and seafood!! Happy faces on the diners.

Stumbled upon this place wandering the streets of plaza mayor and ea sin a the mood for some…read morepaella. El rincón de ati did not disappoint. My group shared the croquetas de jamón for appetizer and we shared a seafood paella and a chicken paella and there was enough left over to feed a 5th person. The service was great, fast and attentive. They even messed up are chicken paella order and since it takes a while to come out they comped it off the check which was extremely nice. All in all a perfect spot for casual group style food sharing experience

We stopped by here for a quick lunch. Food is decent. Service is relatively quick and the waiter is…read morefriendly. We had the Arroz Negro and it was delicious. My favorite was the pepper.

The ONLY bad thing I can say is that this place is sooo busy, you have to be a SHARK about getting…read morea table. It is PACKED, so stealth mode must be in effect! Once seated, you are treated like a local who is well loved. Excellent appetizers that are fresh and mind-blowing (you seriously cannot choose a bad one), and fabulous love, attention and drink service. You'll leave with a smile on your face and feeling like a local. Excellent fresh food, excellent generous beverages.

One more star on the Instagram trail and I'd agree--it's our fault for not being more discerning or…read morefor staying on the beaten path. But Juana La Loca has an aseos issue. We sat at the bar, and all we could smell was the semi-clean bathroom--and I say that not from visiting it, but from the sheer odor. Things went south when a burly German Messerschmitt sat next to us and compounded the smell. I'm not being Teutonophobic--I'm just telling it like it was ( said every xenophobic ) The tortilla that lured us here was fine, but too sweet for my taste--like the rest of the pintxos. Or maybe it was the side of Clorox.

What a gem! Don't event bother selecting a free items of the menu... hand it back to the waiter and…read moreask for the tasting menu, you went be disappointed. Through my food tour of Madrid, this place was top notch. The food and the incredible service put a genuine smile on my face as each course arrived perfectly plated. Perfect ambiance for a special night, or if you're just in the mood for a really good meal.

…read more Will return. While waiting for an item at a shop nearby, we decided to have lunch. We've - Fish soup - Eggplant Both are delicious and have wonderful presentation. The three skinny eggplants, at first, I thought, are kind of what I normally buy from Chinese grocers. But when I touched the butts, I was surprised by the thorns - so they're a different kind. So I went to the kitchen, asking if I could see the elongated veggie, but I was told all were prepared. Hmmm... why would they prepare the veggies in advance? And the staff did say it's a special kind of eggplant they use: "Yes, we're the only ones who use it." The Victila (?) stem is nice. To the restaurant: if you see this, please leave the name in the reply - thank you. The restaurant is quite large. The entrance wall is adorned with utensils, which I find unique and refreshing, not to mention so appropriate. The overall decor is understated and warm.