La Casa del Abuelo

Great restaurant in the heart of Madrid, amazing prawn Al ajillo. Really really nice food, quite expensive, for 3 of us it was around €120. Don’t expect 5 star service, it’s old fashioned and simple, the staff bring you nice food, you just eat it, it’s 5/5 in its own way. The pork belly is amazing but very filling, the garlic prawns is unbelievable, with lovely bread. The potatoes and bread are also amazing

Had quite a disappointing experience here in spite of all the accolades and recommendations. The famous gambas al ajillo was not very fragrant from garlic or olive oil, there were lots of shells still on the shrimp, and also a lot of sand in the shrimp and oil/sauce. The huevos rotos also had unevenly cooked and greasy potatoes, overcooked eggs, and very salty. The mushrooms were overcooked too. Very expensive for very poorly executed food. Not worth even a one time visit for a traveller in Madrid.

It was just below average, a typical tourist spot. The best part was the white wine and the friendly service. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing, which was a letdown since it came recommended. The shrimps lacked flavor, likely overcooked and made with low-quality oil. The mushroom croquettes were overly greasy, and the squid had no taste at all. Overall, not worth it for the food.

A must go to if in Madrid. We were introduced to this gem of a place during a wine and tapas tour and had to come back on our own. It is a great spot for a quick pop in and will leave you dreaming about the garlic shrimp and wine. Please note that there are multiple locations but this is the best.

I ordered a beer and the famous shrimp. They are served hot with bread and delicious— the shrimp were super high quality. I ate one portion myself and it felt like a lot. It did cost 18 euro (feels like a tourist price but honestly was still worth it). Friendly staff too!

This meal completely ruined my impression of Madrid! It made me feel that the restaurant staff were discriminating against Asians and overcharging customers. I arrived around 10 PM, excited to try this local restaurant recommended by Spain’s official tourism website. First, when I was looking for a seat, no one spoke English to me—I wasn’t sure if they genuinely couldn’t or were deliberately avoiding it. While I waited at the entrance, a staff member rudely stuck out their tongue at me. at least I don’t know in which culture this manner has friendly means) Eventually, I was seated across the street. Moreover, the waitress serving us seemingly understood English but only spoke Spanish to us, while a nearby table of English-speaking guests had a dedicated waiter who spoke English to them. After ordering, a dish I hadn’t requested was brought to our table. I assumed it came with the bread, but when we got the bill, I realized it was charged as a separate dish—at double the price. To make things worse, there was a dead fly inside a tomato dish. The most infuriating part was the final bill. EVERY dish had been DOUBLED in quantity, and even the bread and sangria were charged for FOUR servings. We asked the waitress to correct it three times, but she only reduced the total from €90 to around €80 without fixing the double charges. Since we had a train to catch, we had no choice but to leave without arguing further. Is this reasonable? Two gals ordering three dishes and two drinks at a restaurant with a price range of €10-30 per dish, and somehow ending up paying over €40 per person!

We took friends here and they said the prawns were the best they’ve ever had, big call from Australians, pretty sure they meant shrimp. We also had the fried pork belly that was crispy and juicy and another hit. The waiters here are energetic, engaging and entertaining. This is a definite recommendation. Make sure you come to this location not the one near Plaza Mayor.

Ordered the famous "Gambas al ajillo" (garlic shrimp) with a cerveza. The waitress didn't bring bread (why?). She left the plate as if there was no one at the table. She also selected euro without asking whether I would pay in euros or dollars by credit card (why?). Hey, it's my credit card, not yours. How do you decide this one without asking? Try La Casa del Abuelo, but not here. It was the first and last.