Go Old! Find the Caves! and other Madrid, Spain Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Botin

Botin is uniquely Madrid. Although I found it in a tourist book and was seated near tourists, two from Argentina and two from the US, it was an expereince I will not soon forget. It si also the oldest known restaurant in the world according to Guinness. We were eating very early by Madrid statndards, but were cold and hungry for wandering through the packed Plaza mayor full of Christmas decoration vendors, a nativity scene viewers. It was only about 9pm when we were seated down in a room with three tables, where an old stone oven was used. The charred stone, was cover by wall tapestery and small lights were added with shades made of labels from the "house wine". We dined on the specialty of roast lamb and pig. The whole thing is cooked large earthen ware cooking pans in an oven not disimilar to the one we where seaten in. The house wine was very nice, and we made good friends of our close neighbors.

Favorite Dish: The lamb was delightful. Its was as good, if not better than any rack of lamb disk I have tasted at a "wfite glove" restaurant in the US. the presentation is very rustic, but the food quality is top notched. I also recomend the garlic soup, except for vampires, of course.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Cuchilleros 17, off Plaza Mayor
Directions: A little hard to find. Go to the very Southwest corner of Plaza Mayor, go down the steps and Botin is 2 blocks up on the left.