@PedroPero
I really enjoy Fismuler. I could eat there once a week.
Also there’s the veal scallop, escalope San Román with egg and truffle which is a great dish, but it’s too big for one, but you could always take half of it back to your room.
At the other places owned by the Grupo La Ancha the dish is called the Armando and it’s one of their biggest sellers for take-away. When I eat at their Las Tortillas de Gabino, I see many patrons taking the Armando bag home.
Just piggybacking on this thread to ask for suggestions for Sunday evening in Madrid.
We are visiting with a couple of ‘newbies’ and are taking them to our previous favourites. They leave on the Sunday (a day before us) so we want to try something new (to us). We’ve tried some of the Dani Garcia places but find them more ‘continental’ than Spanish (although enjoyable).
Thought of StreetXO – but they don’t take reservations and your comments on packed places imply we could have a very long wait to get in!
I just finished my list of Madrid restaurants, chow worthy, open on Sunday nights, and it’s a small list!
Sunday lunch is much easier than Sunday night!
I agree with your Dani García restaurant group assessment. We do go to his seafood centric Lobito de Mar on Calle Jorge Juan on a Sunday (actually we were just there at the bar), but you can expect a bit of upselling from the wait staff, especially of those very pricey crustaceans, so the final bill can soar.
We dined recently at his new Tragabuches, very Andalusian in look and feel and not bad at all, so not “continental”. Nice two floor space, our service was fine, and again, very andaluz.
Yes, you will have a long wait to get into StreetXO.
What I usually recommend for a Sunday night:
La Bien Aparecida on Jorge Juan, the most “gourmet” of the Cañadío of Santander group. Chef, José Manuel de Dios is very talented. It has1 Repsol sun.
Asturianos, a classic, hyper-traditional place where the chefs and sommeliers hang out on their Sunday evenings off. Doña Julia Bombín is famous for her stews, especially her fabada, and her son is the very talented somm.
El Paraguas, another Asturian but very high end, on Jorge Juan, if you want to go that route, and it’s great for people watching, where the movers and shakers hang out.
La Máquina, another Asturian, on Jorge Juan, also drawing in a fashionable, well-heeled crowd but with lower prices.
If you’re up for a chuleta, there’s Rocacho Plaza Brasas y Bar, the newer branch in the Salamanca district on the Plaza Marqués de Salamanca, near Tragabuches. They serve beef, oxen and cecina from the grilled meat temple, Bodega El Capricho in León. They also serve nice rice dishes, and at the bar at their high top tables, one can even order an individual rice dish. It has a stylish dining room.
Maribel,
Thank you so much.
We are on the waiting list for Desde 1911 on the Friday (with Rafa as our backup - that was formerly our Sunday evening go-to, until it changed opening hours) so will probably skip Lobita de Mar on the Sunday (although we haven’t tried it yet).
Your other suggestions are all new to me - will research (and, of course, report back).
Edited to add:
ALL of the suggestions look great - thank you again.
Early favourite is la Bien Aparecida - because of their excellent winelist (which includes the Do Ferreiro Cepas Velhas - almost unobtainable in North America - that’s the one I usually buy and return with).
Yes, 7 days in Madrid,5 on the way in, 2 on the way out, with 6 days in Malaga in between. The escalope San Román with egg and truffle looks amazing, but you’re right about the massive size Plenty of other great dishes to chose from I’m sure
@Estufarian
La Bien Aparecida would be my number 1 choice by far. And it’s the most elegant of those on my list and the one most likely to impress your friends.
Rafa used to be my ace-in-the-hole for Sun. night until they stopped opening on Sun eve.
@Hungryhungryhippos
I don’t know of any pastelerías off hand just serving a slice of cheesecake, but some that have tea salons or back rooms with seating may serve just a slice. You can try at Mallorca. All Mallorca branches have sit down dining. We go sometimes for a late breakfast.
La Maruca, the restaurant from the Cañadío of Santander group, on Velázquez 54. serves a very nice, yummy cheesecake. We’ve shared a slice at the bar. A slice costs 8.50.
This is exactly what I’m looking for on my last night(Sunday) in Madrid, do they accept reservations or are walk-ins ok? Doesn’t look like they have a website.
Yes, they accept reservations but one needs to call. Your hotel desk staff can do this for you. The dining room is quite small.
This very modest looking tavern/tasca, Asturianos, has somewhat of a “cult” following among major food critics, famous chefs, wine lovers, as does the lovely 80-year old chef, doña Julia Bombín, whose fabada is widely praised as one of the best in Madrid. She’s been cooking here for over 55 years and says that she’ll never retire.
She learned to cook from her Asturian husband who had been a cook and waiter at the Ritz and the Palace.
Other classic dishes here: pote asturiano, verdinas con almejas, sardinas marinadas en vinagre de sidra, estofado de morcillo con patatas y pimientos
For dessert: flan de queso (her secret recipe)
Her sons, Alberto and Belarmino Fernández Bombín, are in charge of the wine selection, which is very impressive. Belarmino has his own winery, Canopy, in Toledo.
For a Sunday night, I wouldn’t wait until you arrive, just in case. There are so few great places to dine on Sunday nights, and it’s very popular with an in-the-know crowd and also small.
@Estufarian,
It just occurred to me that if you want a Dabiz Muñoz UniverXO member, you might want to try RavioXO, his noodle/pasta centric place in the El Corte Inglés Castellana Gourmet Experience, with separate entrance. it´s open on Sunday nights. And you wouldn’t be committed to a tasting menu as you can order a la carte. And it’s bookable online…no waiting.
But I don´t see a wine list online. It´s more of a cocktail place.
Just another thought…
Thank you.
I’d forgotten about that - wonder why it seems available most days when his others are very difficult to visit.
A good back up - although the wines at La Bien Aparecida will probably tip the balance - that’s a significant factor for me.
StreetXO was on my radar on my last visit but didn’t make it, it’s very close to my hotel so I might wander over and try and snag a seat to see what all the fuss is about. But a 2 hour wait is def out of the question.
So glad you had great meals in the Retiro district! I’d love to hear about them…absolutely no pressure of course!
We’re having dinner at La Montería on Tuesday night, can’t wait.
Plenty of other great dishes to chose from I’m sure 
of course!
