Restaurant of the Week: Miyama Castellana, Madrid, Spain

If you are a Japanese food addict like me, Miyama Castellana is a mandatory stop in Madrid. Considered one of the best Japanese restaurants in Spanish capital, this is our main destination when we go out to eat some sushi... The raw material and respective preparation are top quality, reason why despite it is not the cheapest, for me, this has the best price-quality relation among the japanese restaurants of Madrid.

The service is on the same level of the food, very gentle, professional and fast!
The only but of this restaurant, is the noise when it is full... so deeple recomend you to try to get a table closest to the entrance door as possible.

Where?
Paseo de la Castellana 45
Madrid
Spain
Metro: Gregorio Marañón 7 10
www.restaurantemiyama.com/miyama_castellana.html

How Much?

Aprox 40€/pax

Tree excellent wheels to travel... a lot!

One of the conversation topics that usually arise after the opening of a new space is the future you see for it, well, the title of this post is how to summarize my opinion: a team of three excellent cookers who, day by day bring the haute cuisine closer to their custumers.
Located in Barrio de las Letras in Madrid this restaurant brings us a mix of feelings, as if it was a book ... 
You will find a space and a team relaxed and informal, that practically makes you feel at home ... The Menu, divided into three parts, takes us traveling from flavors and freshness of the products on the market in the first part specially dedicated to extreme high quality raw material, with simple but exquisit dishes, to  second part with more complex and creative dishes and then a trip through the flavors of the world ...
We started by a green tomatoes Gazpacho with oysters and herb salad, ceviche, the tuna tataki salad with green beans and ... although everything was great the best came at the end with an awsome portion of cannelloni and the potatoes filled with oxtail. All irrigated by the wine we published this week. To end up at the top a marvellous dessert of peaches with mint cream and lemon ice cream ...
Oh, and the most important before leaving the contacts, to come back again, and a again...

Where?

Calle Santa María 28

28014 Madrid
Metro: Antón Martín / Sevilla
Tel:910244798

 How much?

25-35€

Maye's Bistró, unique burgers in Madrid!

Last week I had a special request at home! We should go to a burger restaurant for dinner, so I started to look for new places to go outside "our 10 minutes public transport area" as August is perfect to use the car in Madrid. Although I thought that in August there would be no need to make reservation, we called to book a table in the terrace. What a wise decision, because when we arrived all the tables were booked, the first positive indicator of the quality of this restaurant...

As we went on a normal weekday dinner we only asked for two burgers: Mark Twain and Orson Wells, both with delicious home-made French fries...

The delicious food, excellent service in a terrace in a wonderfull summer night...could we ask for anything else?

An excellent surprise that entered directly for our top burger restaurants in Madrid...

Where?

Paseo Tierra Melide 13 Madrid, España 

Tube: Las Tablas 10

Tel: +34912 87 62 72

www.mayesbistro.es

Moratín, an hymn to Gastronomy!

Last week, I watched a video of a Chef Andoni Aduriz lesson where he spoke about cooking with love ... "What is it to cook with love? I

n practice, attention, care, to put all our effort in what we are preparing." We could use these words to describe and say that in this restaurant everything but everything is made with love ... We also felt this love in on how the eyes of the chef were shining and in the passion of his words when he was describing his recommendations from the menu.

Last friday, I was looking for a place I could make a last minute reservation for dinner, when without any recommendation, I found this restaurant and I was lucky to get the last available table in this intimate atmosphere illuminated by candlelight restaurant...

The two main reasons of our visit were to discover new wines, and to taste its Steak tartar, (if you read the previous posts will understand why ...). So in the rest we've just followed the recommendations: we started with started by a confit leeks with romesco sauce, after a marinated salmon in the house with vinaigrette and finally a delicious steak tartar. Regarding the wine, please visit wine of this week post where I talk about it.

One of the highlights of the meal was the explanation of the difference between the effect of tabasco and red pepper ... The red pepper has a retro effect which prevents the loss of sensitivity and  flavour, so you can enjoy all the condiments of your meal with a hot touch, without loosing anything!. Finally we had a half plank of cheeses to finish this wonderful gastronomic experience.

I think the best way to describe our experience was when we left saying goodbye to a friend that you don't see frequently: We have to see us more often

How Much?
Aprox. 20-30€

Where?
Calle Moratín 36 Madrid,
Spain 

Metro: Antón Martín 1

Beacoup! A bit of France in Madrid...

About two weeks ago I was looking for a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, and honestly, the recommendation of my friend Patri could not be better!

When we entered the first impression was that we could be entering a typical Portuguese or Spanish tavern, as space is composed of a long L-shaped bar along the whole left side and the back of the restaurant and the tables are placed in front of it. And when we opened the menu we found a whole world of fantastic dishes to try...

we only had clear that we would start with a couple of oysters and a flute of Champagne to celebrate, and at some point the meal would have to taste the steak tartar, a dish that simply love... So the rest of the meal we've just followed the recommendations: grilled octopus and, in a French restaurant it would be a sin to have a non French wine so we had Fleur la Chapelle.

I confess that after eating at the beach in Brazil those wonderful Oysters, it is difficult to reach the same level, but the oysters were a good start.

Then we had the desired steak tartar with an excellent meat extremely well chopped with knife, (which gives you a totally different texture when serving this dish with minced meat) and very well seasoned. Clearly one of the best I ever eaten. Finally a magnificent grilled octopus.

To finish the wine we ordered an excellent cheese table , which meant we finished already thinking about the return ...

I couldn't finishing this review without mentioning the service. In two words: Just Perfect!!! careful, relaxed, informal, they made us feel like we were at home with long-time friends ...

Definitely, a place to return ...

How much?

Average price: 30-35 €

Menu, wine list and its price: http://www.beaucoup.es/

Where?

Calle Doctor Fleming 54

Madrid, Spain

Tel: +34 913 59 19 28

Metro: Cuzco Line 10

Flavours experience in Plaza de Perú, Madrid

Yesterday I understood why a Peruvian colleague recommended me this restaurant, everything we eat was great, especially the ceviche and the Starters...

We stayed in an area of ​​high tables in the hallway that connects the kitchen to the two dining rooms, which allowed us to enjoy this in a more informal way and away from the noisy dinning room...

We were a group of 4 friends, all rookies in Peruvian food, so we opted to let us be guided by the kindly waiter... we started by sharing a ceviche, a Piqueo Criolo and a Piqueo Chifero as starters and shared a Lomo saltado another and Aji de Gallina as main dishes

If the main dishes were quite normal, starters were amazing, awsome, spectacular... So I recommend you to going to this restaurant with your friends and order several starters (piqueos or causas) to share ... For the next visit I will write about the desserts as this time  there was only room for a Pisco sour a "must have" in a Peruvian restaurant!

How much?

25-40 €, depending on what and how much you have to drink , wine, imported beer (Cusqueña) or Pisco Sours ...

Where?
Restaurante Tanta
Plaza de Perú, 1
Madrid
España
Metro: Pio XII / Colombia
phone: 913 50 26 26

Alcaravea Lounge Bar

Opened in 2011, the restaurant Alcaravea Gaztambide was the last to open of three restaurants with the same name. With a modern but at the same casual environment this restaurant was thought to earn its space and become one of today's gastronomic references Madrid.

Personally I define Alcaravea as a space designed to share ... Following the precious advices of the staff we decided to share several dishes, which proved to be a very wise decision as it were very well served

The other keyword that would utilize diversity of flavours and dishes, the extensive list in and out of the menu... We started with a symphony of mushrooms and a variety of croquettes and as "second", as they say here in Spain fresh squid grilled and duck magret with onion confit and cranberry sauce.

Don't leave without trying the grilled octopus, I tried it last weekend and it is just fabulous...

As the starter of mushrooms, this experience ran as if it was a perfect symphony ... good food, good atmosphere and good service, the three essential elements of a meal!

Have you tried? Give us your opinion ...

Where?

C/ Gaztambide 56

Madrid, Spain

+34 91 283 80 05

How much?

Aprox. 30€/pax.

I Gin Tonic route in Triball District, Madrid

There is no doubt it is the most trendy cocktail in Spain by the moment, reason why Spain is in the podium of Gin consumption around the world...

Where?
Triball District, Madrid

When?
27 to 29 of November

How much ?
The prices are attractive for premium Gins (5-10€)

More Info:
Triball Madrid

MEATing, A temple of good meat

MEATing is one of these restaurants which the name tells you perfectly what you can expect from it! It's a perfect place for a meat lovers group to meet...

Despite I went there after reading metropoli guide and 11870.com recommendations, I still went out surprised and thinking about our next visit.

As it was the first time we went there we asked the waiter for some help, and the truth is that It couldn't be a better option. An expert on his restaurant raw material and so nice that also seemed to be part of our group.

We started with an a fresh tuna belly with tomato to share and then the star of the restaurant and if not the best it is surely on the podium of the best meat I've tasted in Madrid.

The room very pleasant, with space enough from the other tables and the perfect extraction avoids you to leave with the unpleasant smell of food...

Definitely a place to return...

Where?

Calle Villalar, 4

Madrid, Spain

phone: +34 914 31 69 97

www.restaurantemeating.com 

How Much?
About 30€
(depending on the wine you order we had two nice bottles of Ramon Bilbao edición limitada...)

The Best Toasts in Madrid

El Enfriador is like our second home in Madrid. There are two places, both in Chamartin, one in Plaza de Perú and a larger one in Calle Alberto Alcocer.

It is a very nice place to meet your friends with a nice glass of wine or now in summer to have a beer or a “Tinto de verano”. As you should never drink without eating J, I suggest you to try very nice toasts like Iberian ham, guacamole with salmon... or also try some portions to share like Tuna with soya sauce or vinagrette

The last but not the least the service, that like Spanish usually say is “inmejorable”.

Where?
Calle del Príncipe de Vergara 291
Pio XII
Metro Colombia / Pio XII 9
Alberto Alcocer,47
Madrid
Metro Colombia 8 9

How Much?
Toasts - 5€

Delicatessen Burgers to eat... at home!

I've discovered "Hamburguesa Nostra" a couple of years ago, on the first time that I went to Mercado de Charmartin, It was curious as I was looking for something different to cook on a very lazy day, (my intention was to go running from home but in reality I just went walking all the way...). I didn't think twice: different kinds of burgers and flavours and all I needed to do was grill and eat it...

In Hamburguesa Nostra, you can find about 30 different types of burgers, all made of excellent quality meat, and also mini-burgers that can be perfect if you want to invite your friends to have a snack.

Due to the great success it is having, there are now several places where you can buy it Madrid and very recently also in Marbella.

If want to try it, but don't want to cook it, no problem! There are three places, (by now...) where you can try it in Madrid: Las Rosas (Európolis), Gourmet Experience (El Corte Ingles de la Castellana) & in Mercado de San Miguel (next to Plaza Mayor).

Where to find it:

www.hamburguesanostra.com   

http://www.facebook.com/hamburguesanostra 

C/ Bolivia, 9, 28016 Madrid, Spain (and some other places...)

C.C. Hipercor Marbella, C/Ramón Aceres S/N

How much?

The most expensive are 3€...

An interesting option in the middle of the "Guiri Zone"

Kaixo is a really interesting option in the middle of the "Guiri Zone" in Madrid. An area where if you are not the tipical tourist that lets himself to be hunted by any restaurant employee would never stop to eat...
Kaixo is a Basque style tavern where you can have good salads or pintxos to share with your friends. 

It has a nice terrace although in summer you may prefer to eat inside to protect yourself from Madrid's hot weather...


It's a pity the service that not always is at the food level...

Where to find it?

Taberna Kaixo

Calle de Barcelona 12

Madrid, Madrid provincia, España

+34 915 23 21 33

Metro: Sol 1 2 3

www.tabernakaixo.com

How much?
Average price 15€

For meat lovers...

La Cabaña Argentina is a must go for Argentine cuisine lovers of  in the city of Madrid.

Clearly one of my favorite places to eat meat in Madrid.  Yesterday we returned with a group of friends, as starters we ordered three classics: Chorizo ​​Criollo, empanadas and provolone that were excellent as always, and then the inevitable steak La Cabaña of 500 gr! that simply fell apart when cutting ... 

The only non positive comment, the service could be better ...

Where to find it:

Restaurante la Cabaña Argentina
C/ Ventura de la Vega, 10
Madrid, Spain
+34 913 69 72 02
Metro: Sevilla 2
www.lacabanaargentina.es

How Much?
Average Price  30-35€

My Favourite Steak Tartar

There is a reason why Jota 5 is frequently in the Michelin and Metropoli Guides, all the products are first quality!
If you are in Madrid I recommend you to try it!

The restaurant has two separate parts, a dinner room or the bar area where you can have the same meal much more informal and cheaper...

Depending on the season

As starter we usually have a Iberian Ham, as here you can find one of the my favourite Spanish brands - Joselito


Depending on the season You can try partridge salad which is completely delicious, and if you are out of the season I recommend you to try a typical Spanish dish, called "rabo de toro" which can be roughly traduced as oxtail


And as always the best for the end... The best steak tartar I've ever eaten... Delitious, exquisite, certainly the best I've eaten today, and they always make it exactly as you like it! more or less spicy and tasty...

Where to Find it:
Restaurante Jota 5

C/ Alcalá 423 
Madrid, Spain

+34 917 42 93 85

Metro: Ciudad Lineal 5

www.restaurantejotacinco.com

How Much?
This meal cost us aroud 30€/person, you may take this as the average price
In the restaurant it may cost around 50 €/person