JFSGRM

We'll be in Madrid on my wife's 60th birthday in early June and I would like to take her and the couple we are travelling with to a very nice restaurant for dinner that evening. While fabulous food is always nice, it's much more important for the restaurant to have the proper atmosphere - traditional rather than contemporary and elegant rather than austere. I'm open to suggestions! Thanks in advance.

Neopolitan

Well, it sounds like you are describing Botin.
It also happens to be the traditional place for many Madrid residents to celebrate birthdays.

kenderina

Yes, Botin or Casa Lucio will do the trick very well

laclaire

another vote for Botín. And eat caramel ice cream for dessert, it is insanely good, particularly following their cochinillo.

Bjorn

Botin, no doubt.
But - be aware that there are a lot of dining rooms to choose among in the restaurant. Reservation might be clever. Also visit Botin's homepage. It is magnificent!
http://www.botin.es/

Bjorn, Oslo

lincasanova

i was disappointed in the service the last time i was at botin.
the food is no better than most good places in madrid IMHO.

to knock your shoes off at the entrance.. check out..
excellent food. you pay for it, but this will be memorable. trust me. el bullí does the catering. we have been to unforgetable weddings here, also.

http://www.casinodemadrid.com/

this is not a gambling CASINO. this is an old world select aristocratic social club, with a restauant open to the public.
worth a visit. we love this place.

go to botin for lunch.
the most fun at botin is actually SEEING the cool atmosphere and walking up narrow staircase, imo.

blackduff

Another vote for Botin. Try to order the Souflé for desert. You have to tell them when you give your normal food selections, since the souflé will take twenty minutes. It's lovely, and there's ice cream inside.

I love their clams and use this instead of having pork or lamb. Get them to fix the green beans with jamon bits-ask them to include tomato sauce too. Yummmy!

The Tunas will visit the tables with guitar music during the meal.

Overall, this is a great place to have a meal.

Blackduff

monicapileggi

El Cuchi in Plaza Mayor, two doors down from Botin, is also a good choice.

Monica

JFSGRM

Thanks for the suggestions. Botin was certainly on my list but maybe is a bit too touristy? What about El Amparo, Las Quatro Estaciones or Zalacaín?

blackduff

Botin has as many Spanish as tourists. This is a serious restaurant. It used to be cheap too but like elsewhere, it goes more costly.

Remember, this is a real Spanish restuarant. It has warts and moles, like most restaurants but the ambivance is great.

The tourists go for the age and the history but the Spanish go for the great food.

You will certainly be happy with Botin as a choice.

Blackduff

Midnightsun

We loved the attention and the atmosphere at Casa Benigno. There are only eight tables or so, and the chef/owner tries to interact with all the customers. The food was also quite good, but it was the service and cozy nature of the restaurant that made it a memorable evening.

cova

After having read the places you were thinking of, I am going with Lincasanova in this. The restaurant at the Casino, "La terraza del Casino", would be a great idea. It has a Michelin star, and although part of El Bulli group, it is not so in-your-face modern. Also, it seems that Paco Roncero has been developing more traditional dishes, so it would cover all corners.

I have only been there once, but I think it would be a great place for a birthday.

Botin and Casa Lucio are a bit different, more on the traditional (or should I say "expected&quot spanish way ...

Rgds, Cova

blackduff

Despite which choice of restuarant is made, there's a very fun visit up the street from Botin. There are many bars which are built under the Plaza Major. These bars are very long but kind of narrow. Each bar is a bit different and stopping for a few places it's great. Many bars have music-guitar playing. It sure has atmosphere for a late taste before heading to the hotel.

Blackduff

Neopolitan

While of course the decision is up to the original poster, I'd think the original post cries out a lot more for Botin than for the Casino restaurant. I got the impression is IS the expected they're looking for:

"While fabulous food is always nice, it's much more important for the restaurant to have the proper atmosphere - traditional rather than contemporary and elegant rather than austere."

cova

Neopolitan, to me, when someone mentions having considered Zalacain and El Amparo, they are not certainly looking for Botin ...

I would even think about Lhardy, Horcher or even La Fueya, but certainly not Botin ...

Kind regards,
Cova

Neopolitan

Ooops. Sorry, you're right. I missed that those places were mentioned in a later post by the original poster. I was thinking those were from someone else.

ekscrunchy

Is Botin really en elegant restaurant? I ate there many,many years ago and do not remember it as such. We are eating at their branch in Toledo soon and I am really looking forward to it.

Neopolitan

Depends on your interpretation of formal. If it's lots of crystal and silk draperies, then no it isn't. But if having tuxedoed waiters hovering around you fits your interpretation of formal, then yes it is.
We loved the one in Toledo -- not as atmospheric as the one in Madric, but very nice.

Neopolitan

Sorry for using the terms formal and elegant as if they were interchangeable. I guess they aren't always, but for these purposes, I think they mean pretty much the same thing.

laclaire

I would describe Botin as dignified.