Hey Hi again,
My husband and I would like to know everyone's favorite restaurant in Madrid, any price range and cuisine. My eyes are having an over whelming experience reading (Maribel's, magazines, and New York Times) and wish to narrow the search to Fordoites' personal tastebuds. Usually we meander and enjoy the search, this time we only have 5 nights and would like to be prepared with your choices from which to pick.
We leave for our month in Spain in 63 days (not that we are eager) and are salivating already.
Thank you in advance for your contributions.

uuufff… I'll try to process it.
1st round: DiverXo, Goizeko Kabi, Piñera, Ramón Freixa, Viridiana.
2nd round: DiverXo, Goizeko Kabi, Ramón Freixa, Viridiana.
3rd round: DiverXo, Goizeko Kabi, Viridiana.
4th round: DiverXo vs Viridiana.
Last round: it's really a difficult job… Viridiana.

Bazaar - for price, quality of food, friendly service and guaranteed atmosphere.

http://www.posadadelavilla.es/

Very traditional restaurant, near Plaza Mayor. Specialty is roasted lamb.

It's been a long time since we were there. But the two nicest experiences I remember were:
(1) Asiana - Basically this was a place that a young chef set up at his mothers Asian antique shop. You walked to the antique shop down an alley and all the lights were off. But when you knocked someone came, checked your reservation (which was required) and took you downstairs to the dining room they set up each night.
It was a multi-course progressive spanish tasting menu with asian influence. Very good food. If he still runs it or has a new place now. I have not heard.
(2) Salvador - this was very old-school madrid. A lot of bullfight memorabilia and a lot of history. Very good comfort food. Specialty is braised bulls tail. It was featured on Bourdains "No Reservations" last season I think.
We felt proud that we beat him to it.

One of the best things I ate during a recent week in the city was the bocadillo de calamari at the no frills El Brillante, near Atocha. This is a signature Madrid snack, widely available. but I cannot imagine that anyplace else makes one as good as this because it was just outstanding! if you go there, this is the dish you must order.


http://www.directoalpaladar.com/turi...d-el-brillante


I am partly jesting by saying that this was my best meal, but on a price/value ratio, it ranked pretty high on my list.

Having eaten only once at various places, I do not feel that I can call any of them my favorite restaurant in the city.

What I can tell you is that we enjoyed several outstanding meals; you will find the list buried within this food-centric report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...k-in-spain.cfm

Yummy, I'll have to try it there next time! We had one at La Campana , Calle Botoneras , by Plaza Mayor, and it was also pretty good.

Casa Lucas on Cava Baja is great for the low prices on gourmet food. Not my favorite restaurant in Madrid but a hidden gem.

Posada de la Villa, hands down. Not only is the food delicious (as noted, the lamb is a specialty there and it is out of this world delicious!!!) but the service is impeccable.

Thank you for the suggestions. I am certain we will come home with menus and tales to share.

Although we have our trip buttoned up, I am still "a fish out of water" when it comes to both Madrid and Barcelona. Weird! I had absolutely NO mental blind spots designing four separate 4 or 5 week long fluid adventures in France or Italy .. I cannot get a grip on the heart of Madrid nor Barcelona..

Walking around the bend to discover the hidden treasures of a city is our norm, how Madrid has gotten me frozen I cannot imagine. Maybe it is the language yet I do speak Los Angeles Spanish therefore I can somewhat be self expressed. I feel foolish since throughout this forum there has been a plethora of information and still I have no "feel" for Madrid nor Barcelona. Yipes!

We are seasoned travelers and whining, truth must be told.

spanish tapas restaurant : spanish people enjoying the tapas and the best tapas I ate in Madrid were at El Doblao with flamenco music
http://www.eldoblao.es/

Agree that Casa Lucas is great for tapas.

But no longer a hidden gem, although still a gem.

Best get there when they open, at 8pm, for any hope of a space at the bar. I wrote about it in the report I linked above.

http://www.casalucas.es/

This thread, that I began before a recent visit, might help; it certainly helped me:


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ase-advise.cfm

I´d say Diverxo or La Gorda, both good experiences ...

Cova

curiousaboutit-so glad I read your post about a hard time figuring it all out. I feel exactly the same way. We're leaving in a month and still trying to a handle. Been all over and first time it's happene4d. Thank God for all the travel sites! Have fun.

Revulgo and Cova thank you for the choices. My husband and I eat at Nobu's in Los Angeles weekly for 3 years partaking in his experimental growth which is now World renowned. The chef at DiverXo David Muñoz spent time in the one in London..this looks great.

Revulgo, since we are in Lekeitio 3 nights and San Sebastian 4 nights would Goizeko Kabi best be skipped? From a Frommer's review I had to wipe my lips...yum.
Piñera description and food photos..Oh yes good.
I wonder did you slate that Viridiana is your most favorite and we should pick from the other oh so wonderful others?

Patricia_Cooke, I am surprised at myself for being stymied by Madrid and possibly Barcelona. I had zero mind-mist planning our other long trips..nothing like the dense mind-fog sorting out the essence of Madrid..foolish.

What has me blocked about Madrid could be my lack of "affiliation" as I have had with all others in France and Italy. I aim to soak up all factors about Madrid and Barcelona.

I've previously posted these suggestions for Madrid:

Have breakfast or lunch at Café del Círculo de Bellas Artes in down town Calle Alcalá, 42. One of the city's most emblematic cafés. Grab a window table and watch Madrid life on bustling Calle Alcalá. Take the lift up to the roof topp terrace (the azotea) for the most spectacular views of the city. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/cargarApl...ntificador=179

Watch the sunset over the Guadarrama mountains from the terrace at El Ventorrillo in the Vistillas park. Great pollo al ajillo, some say the best in town. Map, video and some pictures: http://11870.com/pro/restaurante-ventorrillo

Have lunch or some tapas at Casa Granada, on the 6th floor of an apartment building just off Plaza Tirso de Molina. Hard to find and a great terrace. http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Vide...ada-Video.html

Experience world class flamenco at one of the best tablaos. Madrid is arguably the flamenco capital of the world. Although the art form comes from the South (Andalucía), everybody has to conquer Madrid to get to the top. On their way there, or as an opportunity to try out new things and get an up close audience, many of them work the top tablaos. I recommend Casa Patas and Cardamomo, both close to Plaza Santa Ana.
http://www.casapatas.com/
http://www.cardamomo.es/

A stroll in the beautiful Retiro Park. http://www.aviewoncities.com/madrid/parquedelretiro.htm

Asturian Casa Mingo for the best grilled chicken and cider: http://www.casamingo.es/
Watch the video, and you're sold:
http://11870.com/pro/casa-mingo/videos/bc313f19

Txirimiri in Calle del Humilladero, 6 gives you an idea of why the Basque kitchen is considered among the best in the world. In the midst of one of the best tapas/restaurant districts in town, in and around Calle Cava Baja in La Latina.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...ri-Madrid.html

I never leave Madrid without having had the squid in its own ink and the famous cod at Casa Revuelta, also in the same district.
http://11870.com/pro/casa-revuelta

You should also try the excellent salmorejo, a somewhat thicker variant of the tomato/vegetable soup gazpacho, in Según Emma just behind the newly reopened gourmet-oriented San Miguel food market. http://11870.com/pro/segun-emma
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...ma-Madrid.html

First class dining at El Mentidero de la Villa:
http://www.mentiderodelavilla.es/
http://11870.com/pro/el-mentidero-la-villa

This site is great about Madrid. http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do

Kimhe, thank you for your generosity. I have taken note of all your suggestions.

My husband and I will look at your links with enthusiasm since most of your ideas are well taken by other Foderites.

WOW..Monday the 4 of April..50 days until we leave..

More ideas for Madrid and Barcelonia regarding hidden treasures and favorites..welcomed

Curiousaboutit,
Don't forget these clues to drag through Madrid…
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ing-madrid.cfm

Revulgo2 , thank you..yes I have these printed in order not to miss the actual life experience.