I absolutely adore this restaurant! I have visited it twice, and definitely next time I go to…read moreMadrid, I will visit it again. The restaurant is located in the heart of Madrid on a very cute street, and it is easy to find and walk there if you stay in the city center. The place is not very big - both times I went there for lunch, there were no tables available, so I had to sit at the bar; once I even had to wait about 7 minutes until one bar spot became free. The restaurant's design is simple, but pretty and lovely. Overall, the restaurant is in very good condition and was perfectly clean both times I visited. The only small downside is that the place is quite noisy, but it did not bother me. One of the best things about this place is the people who work there - both a guy and a lady at the bar were extremely nice and friendly to me; plus, both spoke very good English. They gave me recommendations on what to try, and I followed their advice. The restaurant's menu is not big, but it has all the most popular traditional Spanish dishes. Both times I ordered Rabo de Toro (a traditional Spanish stew), Fardos (squid rolls with bacon and squid ink mousse); and once I also tried croquetas de jamón (ham croquettes). The croquettes were tasty - I loved their flavor and soft texture. One portion includes 6 pieces, and they are quite big and filling. It was my first time trying Fardos (I ordered a 1/3 portion), and it was a great experience - the dish turned very delicious after the bartender mixed it for me. The squid was cooked very nicely, and combined with the fresh bacon and ink mousse, it tasted fantastic. Rabo de Toro (I ordered a 1/2 portion) was also my first time trying this dish, and I loved it - the stew was perfectly cooked, very soft and moist, with rich flavors, and it melted in my mouth. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of drinks, especially wines. I do not drink alcohol, so I was recommended to try grape juice - Mosto, which was extremely flavorful and tasted like fresh pressed grape juice, even though it came from a glass bottle. I loved that drink! Price-wise, all items on the menu seemed reasonable. I paid €8 for 6 ham croquettes, €12 for a half portion of Rabo de Toro, €8 for a 1/3 portion of Fardos, and €3 for one glass of grape juice. It is possible to have a nice full lunch here for around €22, which is reasonable for a restaurant in the heart of Madrid. The place accepts all major credit cards and Apple Pay, which is a big plus. If you visit this restaurant, I strongly recommend trying 1/3 or 2/3 portion of Fardos, a half portion of Rabo de Toro, and their grape juice Mosto - it's enough food to feel full and experience traditional Spanish flavors.

Casa Lucas is a MUST on the La Latina tapas tour! Casa Lucas serves tapas with a creative twist,…read moreand if I'd had more time (and wasn't a party of one), I would've tried so much more! I ordered the Oxtail (Rabo de Toro) and wooooow... easily one of the most tender and delicate pieces of meat I've EVER had. They serve it boneless, but I'm pretty sure if they would have provided a bone, it would've fallen right off. The whole place gives cozy tavern vibes with a rustic interior that feels perfectly Madrid. NOTE: the portions are a bit heavier than most spots. I hate to waste food, especially when it's as immaculate as the Oxtail, but if you're a party of one, you got to do what you go to do.

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.

Need a quick fix of the good ole' USA??…read more Mad Cafe is the only medicine you need. American classics croon over the loud speakers as you read a menu full of burgers, chicken sandwiches, (real) salads, milkshakes, root beer floats, craft beer, etc. Yeah, you're welcome. The space is cute and intimate and the kitchen re-opens for dinner at 8:30pm.

This place seems to be closed and gone. New restaurant in its place. The place that replaced it is…read moregone

This was our first meal experience after landing in Madrid at the end of March! Our taxi driver…read morerecommended it as it was walking distance from our hotel in Gran Via...well I hope I'm reviewing the right one! My friends and I loved it! Luckily, we got there when it first opened so we were pretty much the first ones it, but it quickly got full. You order at the counter and they bring the items to your table. I am now a big fan of the Spanish tortilla (egg pancake type of dish)! We were served quickly and since on our friends is gluten free they were good at guiding her to what would work best for her. I highly recommend going to a Pez Tortilla when you are in Madrid!

A local recommended Pez for tortillas. They were very good; their style is not firm like most. We…read moregot there right when the kitchen opened at 5:30 and they were very fresh. The chicken curry croquettes were good too; more flavor than the jabmon. They have a good selection of tap beers. The website does not say, but the kitchen does close for a bit in the afternoon

my son and I came here for dinner on a Thursday night. The restaurant is very cute and quaint…read more Service is very good, food is amazing, and the value for the money is really great.

If you're in Madrid for a week and need a break from tapas and the Spanish main stays this little…read moreGreek spot is definitely worth searching out. Grape leaves , spanakopita, mousaka , Greek sausage, lamb meatballs , chicken skewers, beef skewers , gyros , potatoes frita all simply wonderful and super tasty. The portions are shareable and the value exceptional The service is so friendly and personal With a casual jazz vibe that creates the perfect atmosphere for Greek street food A true gem that I highly recommend

My fav vermut bar in Madrid. Love the vibe. We stopped by on a weeknight and the place was packed…read morewith friendly locals. We wasted no time and ordered their white vermut and red vermut and then tried their spanish wine.. their wine was great but their house vermut - undeniably the best I had in Madrid (trust me I had plenty). They give free tapas with their drinks - mushrooms (wow) and also ham and mini breadsticks. This was perfect to pair with our vermut and wine. We loved their house vermut so much that we ordered 2 bottles to take back home with us. Staff was friendly and loved the vibe of this bar. I will miss this place for sure! Highly recommend.

Next on the La Latina tapas tour -- Taberna la Concha. Taberna la Concha is a quaint tapas-bar that…read moreis best known for their vermouth. Unfortunately, I opted out of the experience, but from what I saw and heard, patrons were raving about this drink! Instead, I stuck to my vacation Spanish drink-- Sangria. Solid, strong, refreshing & delicious! There are tons of tapas options and true to how tapas are meant to be, portions are small -- perfect for those who want to try more on the menu or explore other delicious options in La Latina. I ordered #20) the meatballs in tomato sauce (albóndigas caseras en salsa de tomate) and was SO disappointed -- they arrived cold and tasted pretty basic. There are definitely stronger contenders on the menu -- I just happened to choose the wrong one... If I could do it over, maybeee the 14) White Prawn Carpaccio or the 3) Smoked Cod on Toast

Really enjoyed Mercado de San Miguel, even if it's the more touristy food market in Madrid. Came…read morelater in the evening. Must gets include - jamón ibérico from Puesto Carrasco Ibéricos - olives and vermut from The Hour of the Vermouth - wine from Pinkleton & Wine - codfish from La Casa del Bacalao There's also a Spanish omelet vendor but it was okay. Great energy in the market. Can be difficult to find a seat at a table but there's plenty of standing counters along the perimeter.

Gee, how do I put this diplomatically? OK, I can't. I hated it from the moment Jamie W and I tried…read moreto walk through the front door. We had just strolled from Plaza Mayor on a Monday afternoon at 4:30PM. It was completely packed like an indoor version of The Great Migration in really slow motion. We could hardly see any of the food much less be able to order anything or even less, find any place to eat it. Through the masses, I could tell it was a high-end gourmet hall, and apparently over thirty vendors do business here. I saw maybe two. Come at 10AM if you have any interest in trying the food here. The cacophonous late afternoon anarchy made us lose our appetites. If you think my assessment is unfair, I suggest you march off the cliff with the rest of the Instagram lemmings. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/Q4Qey2-qmW

Herded a group of 14 cats to Botin while on a tour of Madrid. The restaurant did not disappoint…read more Impeccable service, very nice Spanish wines, a wide array (and quantity) of appetizers, and the tastiest suckling pig I've ever had - even better, said to say, than what I've made at home. I guess they've perfected their recipe over the past 300 years! Price for the Menu 1725 was 90€, very reasonable for the quantity and quality of food. I was afraid it would be a tourist trap (it was #1 on our tour's list) but was very happy to see local families dining. And a bachelor party from Australia that we out-rowdied. Yay USA! If you get a chance, go!

Dining at Botín in Madrid was a wonderful experience and one that I would highly recommend to…read moreanyone visiting the city. Founded in 1725, Botín is recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest operating restaurant in the world, making a meal here feel like a genuine journey through Madrid's history. The restaurant was completely full when we arrived and we did not have a reservation, but the staff went out of their way to accommodate us. That was an especially nice surprise given how busy the restaurant was. We were fortunate to be seated at an outdoor table, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The atmosphere was lively and quintessentially Madrid, and the service throughout the meal was excellent. The staff deserves special recognition--professional, attentive, friendly, and clearly experienced in handling a very busy restaurant while still making guests feel welcome. Of course, part of the magic of Botín is the history. Walking into a restaurant that has been serving guests for nearly three centuries is remarkable, and the traditional atmosphere complements the experience perfectly. Botín is particularly famous for its traditional Castilian cuisine and its wood-fired roasts. Overall, this was much more than simply having a meal--it was experiencing a piece of Madrid's history. Excellent staff, great service, a wonderful outdoor table, and an unforgettable setting. If you are visiting Madrid, Botín is absolutely worth experiencing, especially for the history and atmosphere. Highly recommended...

Popped in for a quick standing tapas lunch at around noon. It happened to be Spanish mother's day…read moreand they hooked me up with a red carnation, swoon. A nice sized bar and plenty of tables in the front and back area. Tapas all are 2.5 euro. We sampled a bunch and they were all great. Pretty simple, but fresh and delicious. A high five to the thinly pounded, breaded and fried mushroom that was delectable. Their spanish tortilla was mainly egg based vs potato and was a little runny, I was into it. Small beers happened to be 2.5 euros as well, so it was a cheap, filling, delicious and quick lunch! I'd 100% come again and def recommend!

Spectacular food and service! Will return! This was a nice surprise after having walked for hors…read moretrying to find a place that was on my list to try.

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.