Bar Santurce — Restaurant in Madrid

This bad review is for the camarero at the bar whose ill will made me sick of their food. When I was ordering, I had to point at the sardines someone was having at the bar table in front of me just because he didn’t hear me (it was crowded and noisy, at first I was talking to him from a distance because, out of “politeness” I didn’t want to get in the way of ppl enjoying their food at the bar table and for that I had to repeat myself twice already) and amazingly, this camarero told me in English “you have to be polite” in my face with a hostile and condescending look that was made to be unmissable, and all I did was pointing at the sardines someone was having. I was shocked but still I said sorry, and the next second the waiter turned to the person who was having the sardines and complained in Spanish which he obviously thought I would not understand but unfortunately I did. Didn’t want to make a scene of it so I left with the sardines. Honestly I was thinking so hard about what I did that made him so aggressive with me? I’ve been living on and off in Madrid for five years, been to numerous local bars in different parts of the city, and I never had to be told by a camarero to “be polite” before (like so in the face??? As if I had puked in their food??) I’m pretty sure I’m not a tourist here anymore even though to him I’m exactly that and even worse maybe, for being anyone who doesn’t seem to speak their language.. After going through all of it I had to say what I did certainly does not deserve such an imperative mood and I feel necessary to leave this comment for this camarero (for the record, the bald guy serving near the entrance). What is it that makes him feel so rightful in accusing his client whom he is meant to serve, in the presence of other clients whom he obviously favoured, in a way that only reflects his own ill will and lack of “politeness” as a camarero, when in fact it wasn’t meant like that at all? Even if pointing at food is really unacceptable here, what is this bossy tone about? Could he not find other ways to bring it to my attention? Was it really that serious for making such a comment?

With all that said, to do justice to the bar food I’d say their sardines are inexpensive for their quantity and taste and I’d recommend it to anyone who would like to try, even though an experience like this has totally ruined its flavour for me. This comment is for the camarero and isn’t meant for the bar, as I had only spent a brief moment there waiting for...

Indicar que somos madrileños. Hemos estado el domingo 18 de junio de 2023. Ya habíamos estado en otras ocasiones, por lo que sabemos de antemano lo que nos vamos a encontrar. La valoración realmente debería ser peor, pero bueno...todo el mundo puede tener un mal momento, un mal día. Antes de comentar lo sucedido, como atenuante comentar, que era domingo y el bar estaba lleno de gente. Si no has ido nunca, la primera impresión sobre el sitio impacta. Si no tienes referencias o no lo estás buscando no entrarías por el aspecto general. Por ser domingo, por afluencia de gente, por la grasa que debe de generar la comida que sirven, por....el local estaba en peores condiciones que en anteriores ocasiones. Pero esto realmente lo das por asumido cuando conoces el establecimiento de anteriores ocasiones. Nosotros tomamos sardinas y pimientos de padrón, con 2 cervezas. Lo mejor que tienen son las sardinas. Por eso repetimos por lo menos una vez al año. Están muy buenas. En esta ocasión, por el exceso de trabajo, las primeras sardinas estaban un poco crudas, por lo que no terminamos de comerlas. El resto si, y como indicamos, muy ricas. Queremos dejar claro que en ningún momento hicimos saber que algunas no estaban hechas. En cuanto a los pimientos, todo perfecto. Estábamos en la barra, y nos atendió el jefe. Debería tener un mal día. Se dirigía de mala manera a sus empleados; una clienta acercó a la barra unos platos y la indicó, dándole las gracias, que eso no tenia que hacerlo ella, que para eso paga a un empleado. (Todo esto con una mala cara). Para rematar la situación, les deja de funcionar el TPV. Durante 10 minutos, que no duró más, el jefe echaba espuma por la boca por todo. Y lo mejor ya nos tocó a nosotros al final. Le pedimos la cuenta, y cuando vio que las sardinas no estaban comidas en su totalidad, o como el considera oportuno, nos mira y nos dice que que manera de comer es esa?, y para rematar, nos dice: ¡¡¡Qué falta de vergüenza!!!. Nos miramos entre nosotros y nos sonreímos. Quizás en ese momento teníamos que haberle indicado el motivo. No lo hicimos. Pagamos y nos fuimos. En resumen, que volveremos porque nos gustan las sardinas. Y al que vaya, pues que sepa que todo es un poco peculiar. Si vas al rastro, asómate y si tienes ganas de sardinas, no lo...

Completely manic energising rastro chaos on a Sunday morning. Everyone crammed in trying to get the attention of the two shorter guys running around taking orders and delivering food. Push through the hum of conversation, stepping on strangers feet, discarded serviettes and terrazzo, and elbow yourself a spot to eat off an old chest freezer or a beer keg. Order a bunch of fried foods. Toreznos are crispy fried lardons. Sardines are the speciality. Media raciones are half portions so you can try everything. Next you can tackle the market for a couple of hours, spill down the hill and end up at el capricho extrameño...