Casablanca Restaurante - Paseo Del Medterraneo (opp. Neptuno)
Phone - 950 472 474
Note - booking essential, open evenings only from 20.30.
Ah! memories of 'Humph' and Ingrid, 'play it again Sam', - did he really say that? I think not! the souks, the spicy and sweet tagines ... Whoa! stop right there! this is a REAL Spanish restaurant run by two very nice Madrilenos, Juan and Bea who set the place up in 1992and still run it today. The restaurant is tiny - just five tables the night we went 1x6, 1x4, 1x3 and 3x2 - the configuration changes according to the bookings - there is also a large outdoor terrace set under lots of trees for a cool drink or three. The interior is very Spanish with the walls covered in object d'art and the whole place has a refined relaxing atmosphere about it. Being Spanish it doesn't open until 20.30 and the night we were there they still came in after 22.00!
The food ... a small menu consisting of mainly Spanish dishes - pigs cheeks and trotters featured, desserts are all homemade.
I started with 'Ajo blanco con huevas' a cold garlic soup with orange caviar - simply divine - best garlic soup I have had in Spain! The other starters were a 'rissotto de Trigo' a wheat risotto with mushrooms and prawns, very unusual and very tasty. Lastly the 'berenjenas y tomate confida' - an aubergine and tomato confit served cold - very delicious.
For the main I had the 'Jarrete de Cordero' - roast lamb served in its own juices with mash and roasted mixed peppers - more a small side than a large veggie portion. The meat fell off the bone and the mash mopped up the superb 'gravy' well. The other two both had 'cochonillo confitado' - suckling pig with saute style potatoes and the mixed peppers. The pig skin was soft and not crispy like British crackling - a resounding success. Desserts were 'sorbete de fresa' homemade strawberry sorbet, delicious and fruity (brain freeze, Argh! eat slower!). The other two had 'crema Casablanca' a to die for dessert consisting of ground almonds and cream, sort of smooth yet slightly course - we want more! never had anything like it anywhere before.
The drinks - 2 x cerveza - Heinekin (Spanish?) coffees and a fine bottle of Miguel Merino 2007.
Total cost of the meal was 150.00 euros for three which included 30.00 euros for drinks. This is an excellent restaurant, it is not cheap, in fact the dearest we have been too - but it is worthy of a visit and we will return.
Make sure you visit and make sure you book!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment