Pablo A.
Google
Rating: 7/10
My girlfriend and I visited this restaurant to celebrate her birthday. The ambiance was lovely—rustic and warm, with a beautiful open kitchen that gave the space a lively and inviting feel.
The food was the highlight. We started with the tarte tatin-style appetizer made with onion and cheese, and it was absolutely to die for—flaky, rich, and deeply flavorful. The arroz caldoso followed, packed with umami and very satisfying. Our final dish was a smoked fish, which, while tasty, was overly salty and had a rubbery texture that didn’t justify its €40 price tag.
Unfortunately, the service didn't match the quality of the food. While the backwaiters were polite, they clearly lacked training. The menus were just wrinkled sheets of paper, and most of the service fell to the back staff, while the captain server only appeared once to take our order. Rather than offering guidance or insight into the menu, she seemed more focused on upselling. At one point, she even sat at a neighboring table to speak to us—likely meant to feel casual, but to us, it came off as overly familiar and unprofessional, especially since it was our first visit and a special occasion.
I had mentioned it was my girlfriend’s birthday, so I expected a little more effort to make the occasion feel special. We ordered a glass of Godello and a rosé. Not only did the backwaiter serve me (the guy) first, ignoring traditional wine service etiquette, but the rosé he poured was rancid. When I brought it to the captain server’s attention, she showed no urgency and questioned my judgment. She later returned with a dismissive explanation that the wine was “slightly fermented” and sent someone else to replace it. That was the last we saw of her.
Small things—like being charged for filtered tap water and bread—stood out more because the service lacked polish and care.
Overall, this place has a lot going for it: solid food, great atmosphere, and potential. But the service experience felt unrefined and, at times, self-serving. As someone who has worked in the industry for over a decade, including under chefs like Mario Carbone, I tend to be more critical—but even for the average guest, the gaps in service would be noticeable. For the price point, there are definitely better-rounded options in Madrid.