I know there are lots of Madrid restaurant recommendations, but I need help, I'm overwhelmed...
We'll be in Madrid for a week in May. DH is not a big fan of tapas, so to compromise we'll generally have tapas for lunch and "full meals" for dinner. We like relatively quiet settings, where we can carry a conversation with good food (of course), so no bars. Not Michelin level, but nice. We might do a tasting menu once, but we generally prefer a la carte menus, because we usually share the appetizer and dessert, and have our own entrees.
We'll be staying at the Catalonia Las Cortes, so walking distance would be nice, but we can take an Uber to anywhere in the city. Thank you.

Update to add: I think outdoor seating would be nice in early May, hopefully not too hot yet.

Recommendations nearby the Catalonia Las Cortes:
* Moratin Vinoteca Bistrot at Calle Moratin 36 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...ot-Madrid.html
* Casa Mortero at Calle Zorrilla 9 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...ro-Madrid.html
* Ocafú at Calle del Prado 10 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...do-Madrid.html
* Marina Ventura at Calle Ventura de la Vega 13 for paella https://arroceriaventura.com/

xyz99:
Ditto to Revulgo's first two

For paella, my very best version has been lately at Restaurante Berlanga at Menéndez Pelayo, the street that runs east of Retiro Park, walkable from Las Cortes through the park. The self-trained owner/chef is the Valencian born son of Spain's famous filmmaker, Luis García Berlanga.
Beautiful, relaxing, upscale dining with a lovely presentation. Go hungry as the paella is very, very ample for two!
https://restauranteberlanga.com/en/.

For another fine rice dish, owners from Catalunya, on the same street there's Can Bonet.
https://www.restaurantecanbonet.com

Other favorites within walking distance of the Las Cortes:

Casa Mortero, for updated, traditional Madrid fare, just a quick walk from the Thyssen on Zorrilla. (Wonderful dishes, especially croquetas)
https://casamortero.com/en/
Triciclo in Letras on Calle Santa Maria (hugely popular, so must reserve)
https://www.restaurantetriciclo.com
Alabaster for fine seafood and wines from Galicia (with 1 Repsol sun)--a bit of a splurge in the d.r., so we sit at the more informal bar at lunch
https://restaurantealabaster.com
Cervecería Cervantes at Calle Cervantes behind the Westin Palace for delicious canapés, draft beer and salads (complimentary "aperitivo" served with drink order).
https://www.fodors.com/world/europe/...rvantes-589331
Askuabarra for the finest grilled meats, steak tartare, easy walk from the Las Cortes building
https://askuabarra.com

I did choose Marina Ventura for paella because of its proximity to the hotel.

I know, Revulgo. And I would have certainly seconded your suggestion, but I've just never been.

I also haven't tried the paella by the chef of Casa Elías at the Mar Mia in the Hotel Ocean Drive facing the Teatro Real. But I won't go when there's DJ music and when it gets too "night clubby"
https://www.marmia.es

I haven't yet tried the paella at the St.James outpost in the Galería Canalejas of the Four Seasons. I used to go to the old St. James on Juan Bravo with my mother waaaay back in the day.
https://galeriacanalejas.com/en/rest...-james-madrid/

Revulgo, Maribel,
Thank you so much, these all sound wonderful. Maybe we need to extend our trip so we can try them all? Sooo tempting...
One thing I know for sure, we will not starve in Spain 😉

One more question: I read about vermut (vermouth?) in Madrid, and I know of it as an ingredient in some cocktails. But the person writing about it seems to talk about it as a "stand alone" drink, so please tell me more about it. Is this a before or after dinner drink?

Always before lunch for me, and especially on Sundays, after the Rastro flea market, "la hora del vermú"
A drink of red vermouth (Spain makes exceptional vermouth) with an orange and an olive.

The Devour Tours make their tapas tour/vermouth stop at the century-old Casa Alberto on Huertas, in the Barrio de las Letras.
I've seen their groups there.

We go to Taberna Elisa on Santa Maria in the Barrio de las Letras, the casual tavern of the Triciclo group.

There are great vermouth bars in Old Madrid, such as these, especially La Ardosa in Chueca
https://www.madridcoolblog.com/en/20...uth-in-madrid/.

In the Basque Country & Navarra we call it a "marianito", add they sometimes add a bit of gin.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017602-marianito

https://www.foodandwine.com/cocktail...th-renaissance

Yes, vermut is red vermouth. Here in Spain, we drink vermouth neat. In Madrid the best vermuts typically come 'de grifo' – from the tap – and not from a bottle. Tradtionally, 'la hora de vermut' (vermouth time) was just before lunch. These days, though, you can drink vermouth whenever you feel like it – not just before lunch. More info:
https://www.urbandaddy.com/articles/...our-of-the-day

I love to sip a vermut paired with a 'gilda' (pepper, olive, and anchovy skewer). Near the Catalonia Las Cortes you can have vermut (say bermoo, stressed on 'oo') at Viva Madrid and Casa Alberto. Map gor guests of the Catalonia Las Cortes hotel.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/vi...5-TybE34&hl=en

Viva Madrid is also great, and absolutely beautiful decor with amazing, huge mirrors and gargoyles. Don´t miss it! For me, it's one of Madrid's great cocktail bars, along with sister Salmón Guru (but no reservations at the latter). Viva Madrid also makes killer gin tonics. As Revulgo says, in Madrid many classic bars serve in on tap.

This sounds intriguing, and we'll definitely try it. New dishes, new drinks, new sites and customs, this is why we travel. Viva Madrid is only a few minutes from our hotel (neat map, Revulgo, thank you!). We discovered the port in Portugal last year, I'm so ready for new experiences.

And while we discuss new foods, please tell me about churros and chocolate. Everybody talks about Chocolatería San Ginés, but I've read comments about it being always crowded and opposite opinions about the churros being good or not good. Your opinion? Should we go there and face the crowds or are there other better places to go? Thank you.