"Saddle is a tasting menu spot in Salamanca that’s versatile enough for any important event, from a romantic proposal to a 40th birthday extravaganza—just expect to spend at least a few hundred euros per person (high by Madrid standards). The bar area is sleek and sexy, but the dining room is the highlight, with geometric light fixtures hanging over the tables from wall-to-wall skylights. The dishes, like the garlic-topped Mediterranean red prawns, Caspian pearl caviar with blinis and crème fraîche, spider crab marinated in sherry, and aged beef shank deliver and let the flavor of the high-quality ingredients shine without excessive sauces and seasonings. Every course on this tasting menu is so phenomenal you’ll already be planning a return visit over the after-dinner coffee, where you can select your preferred beans." - lori zaino
