http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20137
The Meson de la Tortilla only has four things on the menu (tortilla, garlic mushrooms, cheese and ham) - order one of each and enjoy, occasionally with live music.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20137 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19689 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19689 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18175 (Basque) region of northern Spain.

Brilliant food, and that's why I am taken here by my hosts in Madrid who seek a change from the usual.
The most popular delicacies are patatas con bacalao, cocochas de merluza y centollo, zortziko de almejas, solomillo dantxari -al vapor, bacalao al pil-pil, con aceite de oliva virgen y pimiento, and tarta fina de manzana.

You could avoid these and try the more innovative dishes. I appreciated the excellent use of seasonal products and dishes such as 'pil pil' and their cod croquetas.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18175 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17855 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17855 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12271
Wash them down with glasses of house wine if you can get to the bar. A Madrid institution.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12271 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12119
A local neighbourhood restaurant, sandwiched between the traditional madrileno working class district of Lavapies and Plaza Santa Ana.

Don't be put off by the long menu translated into English and German as I initially was. If you arrive on a Monday or Thursday lunchtime the queues of Madrilenos, business men in suits to builders in boilersuits, waiting for their cocido and paella specials will convince you it's not a tourist trap.

The service is at times brusque. I ate here at least once a week for a year and only during my last week in Madrid did the waiters show me any familiarity - and I lived next door.

The food is simple but good. There are a selection of menus at various prices to suit any budget.

The atmosphere is pure Madrid. TV blaring in the corner, twice as many tables crammed in as should really fit and shouted conversations echoing off the tiled walls and wooden floor. You do not come here for a relaxing lunch. But all the same don't come here if you are pushed for time. You can be out the door in 40mins having eaten a 3 course meal or waiting for your dessert 2 hours later.

Try the pollo al ajillo. Or the grilled asparagus. or the fried aubergines. or just about anything!

Enjoy.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12119 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3507 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3507 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2209 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2209 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2158 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2158 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2064 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2064 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9086 The restaurant is a pure white space like an art gallery (altho' it is funny to leave temporarily to go to the loos which are in the actual hotel and are all ostentatious ruching and brass signs.)
Food is served either a la carte or in degustacion menus of up to 12 (or maybe more) courses- €125!!!

The food is aspiring to be techno gastronomy. Not sure that all the dishes worked, but the theatre with which they were served was fab.
It's not an every day restaurant, but it feels pretty special.

Altho' alot of customers seemed to be anglophone the waiters did struggle a little as some ingredients were unusual and neither their English, nor our Spanish could fully cope. So if you have a Spanish gourmet dictionary that might be useful.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9086 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7607 restaurant one needs in Madrid to restore energies after exhausting sightseeing. A three minute walk from the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, half way up narrow street leading from Paseo del Prado to
Plaza Sta Anna and the old town.

Dining room is cool minimal Scandinavian and there's a comfortable bar to relax in downstairs.
Food is excellent: fresh ingredients, cooked with unusual flair, generous portions. Service friendly, attentive, English-speaking.
Good lunchttime set menus. 80 different vodkas.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7607 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2184 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2184 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2172 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2172