Cervecería José Luis (Serrano)

Review for José Luis Cervecería I had an amazing experience at José Luis Cervecería! The service was outstanding—everyone was incredibly polite, funny, and attentive, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. The food was absolutely delicious, especially the croquetas, ensaladilla rusa, and the pincho—each dish was perfectly made, flavorful, and felt authentically Spanish. And the best part? Everything was reasonably priced, offering great value for such high-quality food. The ambiance was elegant and classy, making it the perfect spot for a relaxed yet sophisticated dining experience. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick bite or a long meal with friends, José Luis Cervecería is definitely worth a visit. Highly recommended!

A great option. Not cheap for the portions, but the menu is great and the execution is great. The ensalada rusa is one of the best.

Extremely Disappointing – Poor Quality Food and Overpriced We visited *José Luis Serrano* with high expectations, trusting a concierge tecommandation from our hotel Barcelo Emperatriz We are frequent travelers who genuinely enjoy good food and authentic local experiences — but this was a complete letdown. The food was shockingly bad: * The calamari were clearly frozen and rubbery * The meat had a strange aftertaste * The fried chicken tasted like it came from a cheap supermarket * Our children had stomach aches after the meal To top it all off, the bill came to over €285 for a meal that was barely edible. After checking reviews online (too late, unfortunately), we realized many others had similar experiences. This place is a **tourist trap** — overpriced, low-quality, and undeserving of any recommendation. Avoid at all costs.

Ordered several items including chicken strips and steak ..... the chicken strip was not cooked well including the ones on the salad. The steak tasted weird. We returned all items hardley touched. The restaurant manager came and acted defensive. The two waiters were professional and very friendly, it's only that food was not good and restaurant manager was rude.

We had a truly disappointing experience during our recent visit. We ordered a variety of tapas to try, but things went downhill quickly. First, the chicken fingers arrived undercooked and had an odd taste. Then came the beef lomo de vaca trinchado, which also tasted off. When we politely asked about the meat, the restaurant manager, Abdol, came to our table and addressed my daughter — the only Spanish speaker among us — in an unacceptably rude and confrontational manner. Despite returning the dish, it was still included in the bill. We paid the full amount without dispute, but I later approached the manager to express concern about his behavior toward my daughter. Instead of apologizing or showing understanding, he doubled down, claiming the meat “didn’t taste bad” and dismissing our experience entirely. The issue wasn’t only the food, but the complete lack of professionalism and respect shown by management. Needless to say, we will not be returning, and I hope this feedback is taken seriously to improve the treatment of future guests.

Solid service, tasty tapas. The Chupitos and Piemento de Padron were very good, the tortilla espanola well balanced between softness and flavour.

a place to avoid - while the waiters are friendly, the food is mediocre - especially the merluza was horrible, a shame for a tapas bar claiming Basque roots

Used this place for years - but twice in a week found the service awful. Four waiters and just a dozen clients. The only way to get attention was to whistle or jump up and down. Eye contact from the staff was just between themselves and clearly had important chat as a priority. Customers just part of the furnishings. Shame. Nice place and recently reformed. .

Tapas bar where you don't get a tapa with your drink more expensive than other places. Definitely to avoid.

First time in Madrid had some really good tapas! Definitely suggest the albondigas, they were really good! Had some red table wine that was pretty solid.

Upon receiving a recommendation from the ever-helpful concierge of the Hesperia Hotel, my wife and I visited Jose Luis. Not wanting to brave Madrid's metro system at 10pm, we figured that there would be worse ways to spend the first night of our honeymoon than to walk a few blocks while enjoying the evening weather. We quickly realized, however, that there wasn't much to see where we were. The waiter recognized immediately that we were sent by the concierge, and he had two English-language menus prepared for us. The restaurant itself was decent, but really nothing special. In fact, I'd shy away from recommending this place in light of the abundant options closer to the city center. The octopus was too salty, and the garlic shrimp was a bit plain. The croquet, sirloin and Brie, and the Spanish omelette were all less than stellar as tapas plates. Not much to see here. If you're anything close to a foodie, keep looking!

Always one of my favorites for tapas in Madrid, on Calle Serrano near the Embajada de los Estados Unidos de America (there is more than one). Good place to catch up on the latest news and happenings. If you're visiting I suggest you eat, sit/stand, at the bar, ease your way in, and those around you will soon warm up. Bit of a warning, the place can be a bit overwhelming after a Real Madrid game; the stadium is not far away.

Arrived as a result of Intercontinenal Hotel concierge. Several block walk. Only patron at 8 pm, although concierge insisted on reservation. Think they get a kickback. Food was ok. Padron peppers to start. Excellent but hard to mess up. Ham and chicken croquettes- still looking for ham or chicken. Maybe that is normal, but for an American, I want to see the meat. House Wine was good. Service was good. I would only recommend if you are staying close. Better places available.