376022 Wed Feb 28 16:04:15 -0800 2007 20 50 Spain/Portugal 0 2339258 My husband and I are taking our 15 year old daughter to Madrid (with side trips to Segovia and Toledo) for spring break. None of us has ever been to Spain before. Here's my list of restaurants thus far - I would appreciate comments/suggestions/additions: Restaurante Botin Viridiana Casa Patas Dassa Bassa Casa Lucio thanks in advance! Wed Feb 28 16:04:15 -0800 2007 39405 jmk38 1 2340604 I am also going to Spain, though not until the fall, and have been doing a lot of research on restaurants. I have plans to go to Viridiana and have heard only excellent things about it. Botin seems like a decent place but has the potential to be very touristy. I don't know anything about the other three places. Richard Thu Mar 01 05:19:42 -0800 2007 2339258 39783 RichardA 1 2350618 Does anyone have any suggestions or guidance? thanks! Sun Mar 04 05:44:10 -0800 2007 2339258 39405 jmk38 1 2354725 Sorry I haven't done much fooding at those places - waiting for the parents to come and fund some of the chow - but what I hear is that Botin, while admittedly popular with tourists, does have really great food (and is the one of the oldest restaurants in Madrid); Casa Patas is supposed to be a great place for drinks and (authentic) flamenco. Good luck, and please report back! Mon Mar 05 13:06:23 -0800 2007 2339258 14388 theannerska 1 2356126 We will be there next week and plan a total report when we return. We have reservations at Casa Patas with our 11 year old. I've heard it touristy but probably the best Madrid has to offer. Also, what's so wrong about being a tourist. We will save the "fancy schmancy" places for our next trip. Our apartment is just around the corner from Viridiana so we might stop in for a glass of wine or maybe lunch. We're on the lookout for great local chow. We were there a few years ago for Christmas and got a good feel for the place. More later. . . Brian Mon Mar 05 18:54:56 -0800 2007 2339258 45539 BDM1 2 2356751 Nothing's wrong with being a tourist; I am one too (though living here for a few months, since I'm studying at one of the universities for a semester). My comment about places being popular with tourists was just to note that it may not be completely full of madrileños, which is the kind of scene that some look for when visiting. Have a great trip - looking forward to your report! Tue Mar 06 02:31:15 -0800 2007 2356126 14388 theannerska 1 2356759 We loved Dassa Bassa. The tasting menu was great. See my short review here. http://www.chowhound.com/topics/360594 Tue Mar 06 02:43:43 -0800 2007 2339258 45745 wittlejosh 1 2372713 Hi - I live and study in Madrid. I cannot recommend any place higher than Casa Patas. It's in a good location (Anton Martin) and the food is very good. It is also one of the best places to find flamenco in all of Madrid. The quality is worth the price. Also, whenever in doubt, wander around the side streets of Sol (particularly on the side closer to Plaza Mayor - but stay away from Plaza Mayor, totally overpriced food). You'll find a lot of great tapas places around there. Enjoy your trip! Sat Mar 10 10:32:59 -0800 2007 2339258 81591 alisonchi 2 2445083 "Botín" is very touristy. "Dassa Bassa" is OK,though there are better restaurants in Madrid. I'd strongly recommend you to visit; 1-Sacha (My personal favourite- That's where Ferran Adrià eats when he comes to Madrid.Fantastic food quality,nice service and a cosy atmosphere for only 50-55 € per person) 2-Viridiana 3-El Chaflán ( considered by local culinary critics to be the best restaurant in the city) 4-Bokado @ "Museo del Traje" ( Costume Museum) - Beautiful gardens,terrasse and surroundings at a very beautiful and interesting Museum. 5-"Casa Lucio"- For a taste of "traditional Madrid". 6-A personal recommendation:"Genoveva de Barri"- A small,modern and beautifully decorated bistrot near the Opera.Fantastic food quality,great service and orignal cuisine for only 30-35 € per person ( wine included). 7-"Sant Celoni" @ "Hotel Hesperia"- Delicious catalan cuisine,though you pay good for your visit ( around 150 € per person).Owned by Santi Santamaría ( from the famous "El racò de Can Fabes",in the near from Barcelona) Greetings from Madrid! E. Mon Apr 02 22:54:08 -0700 2007 2372713 87563 vioredum 3 2449530 Im just back from Madrid we had an excellent meal at Zaranda I really recommend it. A young up and coming chef, the food and wine were execellent and it was very good value for a michelin starred restaurant. www.zaranda.es Wed Apr 04 09:20:42 -0700 2007 2445083 88496 zacy 4 2452663 I'm glad you liked Zaranda;I think it's a great a very promising restaurant. Surprinsingly,it's not that well-known.Being hidden right in the middle of one of Madrid's immigrant quarters ( where Thai,Indian,Morrocan and South American restaurants abound),many locals have no idea of its existence.If it were situated in the "Barrio de Salamanca",I'm sure it would be literally impossible to make a reservation there! Thu Apr 05 03:10:01 -0700 2007 2449530 87563 vioredum 3 2693462 HI there: do you have contact information for Sacha Restaurant. I am intrigued. Thanks. A Mon Jun 25 17:46:04 -0700 2007 2445083 107939 ermoloff 4 2693859 Sacha Juan Hurtado de Mendoza, 11 (in the back) 913 455 952 http://www.elmundo.es/metropoli/restaurantes/fichas/cc/1228_ficha.html Mon Jun 25 19:40:36 -0700 2007 2693462 10661 butterfly 5 3542239 Sacha,Sacha,Sacha! :) Sun Mar 30 02:31:23 -0700 2008 2693859 87563 vioredum 1 3485105 If you want dinner and a flamenco show i highly recommend Corral de la Morería. great food and wine and the performance is spectacular! you need reservations, the website is corraldelamoreria.com. Dont miss it, i had a great time! Wed Mar 12 08:58:00 -0700 2008 2339258 172073 Lizzerson 1 3487533 Viridiana is awesome. Botin is good for suckling pig, yes its touristy but the pig is good there Casa Lucio is a must, very traditional and you might run into some celebrities there Haven´t been to the others... As far as additions: la farmacia in barrio salamanca is pretty good asador aranda is to lamb what botin is to suckling pig el cantabrico for seafood Wed Mar 12 20:58:19 -0700 2008 2339258 13010 cleveland park 2 3512875 Possada de la Villa has the best roast lamb my wife and I have ever tasted. Their wood fired "horno" oven was rescued from the Madrid jail over 100 years ago.Traditional, but less of a tourist trap than Botin. For high end, try LaBroche. Thu Mar 20 17:58:57 -0700 2008 3487533 176509 CorkDorkWithFork 3 3513784 Sergi Arola of La Broche quit his restaurant earlier this month (or maybe last month, can't remember exactly), so it might not necessarily be the best option right now. Fri Mar 21 06:11:46 -0700 2008 3512875 37267 SillyDisciple 4 3513978 Well now that he's the prestigiuous executive chef of Iberia wouldn't you do the same Fri Mar 21 07:25:11 -0700 2008 3513784 13010 cleveland park 5 3518003 Working for Iberia is just a sponsorship gig, he's not involved in the day to day operations of the airline. Rumor has it he didn't depart in good terms from the hotel, and as a matter of fact he has setup a new restaurant, called Gastro (c/Zurbano 31, Madrid,+34 91 308 7240). Sat Mar 22 15:44:54 -0700 2008 3513978 37267 SillyDisciple 6 3548401 I live in Madrid, have been here for 6 yrs, here are suggestions for top restaurants: -Zaranda (havent been yet but everyone has raved about it) -Lua (menu changes daily, very nice tasting menu wine paired with each course is included in 65 eur price) -Memento (owned by an American, and listed as californian cuisine butis really very creative mediterranean inspired menu with top quality ingredients) -Amparo, pricey but delicious basque-inspired food. -Asador Donostiarra- wonderful steaks -Viridiana is a classic choice, cozy surroundings and delicious food -sant celoni is unbelievable, not only in terms of the outstanding attention to detail and flavor in every dish and the unparalleled service but dinner will definitely set you back 150eur a head, not including wine.... Tue Apr 01 02:59:49 -0700 2008 3518003 179737 internationalfoodie