Chez Madrid — Restaurant in Madrid

It's hard to believe that this the same restaurant described by other reviewers. We went to this restaurant for an early dinner with friends and family. We chose it on the basis that it was close to Retiro Park and that the Google reviews indicated we would get good quality food.. However on this occasion we left the restaurant very disappointed. The prices for the dishes were on the high side for Madrid but we felt acceptable if it had delivered what was promised. We ordered a variety of dishes two were fine ( the steak and Linguini) but the others were poor. The first indicator that something was not right was when the patatas fritas were brought to the table and they were tepid/ cold. I pointed this out to the waitress who took two of the plates but left the rest. The main courses came out quickly afterwards and the duck was at best lukewarm. The mussels were pretty small portions but one of them had lots of shells but very few mussels in it. I sent my duck back which reappeared warmer but by that time overcooked . I went up to the head waiter who tried to tell me that everything was freshly prepared and brought to the table.....At this point I hadn't received an apology or attempted explanation as to why the food was as it was. As the meal was being cleared by another waiter it was clear that he had a good understanding of English. I explained to him in detail the parts of the meal we were unhappy about and I asked him to explain to the head waiter which he did. After a while we were offered a free dessert or a coffee which we didn't want. Eventually the head waiter came back and apologised and took the two dishes and two chips off the price and offered us the bottle of wine we had on the house as an apology. I very rarely complain about meals in restaurants and tend to only leave good reviews for restaurants that go beyond expectations. Overall the food was poor and initially there was no attempt to apologise or resolve the situation properly. I have not given a 1 star for the service as in the end there was an attempt to put things right. I have no idea why the food came out tepid. One...

Three days ago, following a guided tour of Madrid’s tourist attractions, my family and I stopped at a nearby restaurant—the first and most convenient option we encountered—as we were quite hungry. My father, who recently underwent a small spinal surgery, requires the use of a walking cane, which makes accessibility and minimal walking especially important for us.

Upon seating ourselves at one of the outdoor tables, we noticed there was only one waitress or hostess attending the exterior area. Despite making several efforts to gain her attention—including direct eye contact and verbal attempts to speak with her—we were completely disregarded. At one point, she attended to the table behind us to deliver their bill but continued to ignore us entirely, even as we attempted to engage with her directly.

We remained seated for approximately 20 minutes, during which time no menus were provided, nor were we acknowledged in any way. While I cannot confirm the reasons for this neglect, I cannot help but question whether our appearance—dressed for comfort while touring—or perhaps the fact that we did not appear American or European, played a role in this poor treatment.

Regardless of the cause, the waitress’s behavior was unacceptable. If the tables were reserved, the kitchen was closed, or a reservation was required, she should have communicated this clearly. Instead, we were left feeling invisible and unwelcome.

Eventually, we chose to leave and dined instead at the VIPS restaurant directly across the street, where we were served without issue. Unfortunately, this incident cast a negative shadow over what was our last...

When we first arrived shortly after 12pm, we sat at a vacant outdoor table but were quickly informed it was reserved and that only indoor seating was available. At the time, only bar or high tables were offered due to limited staff and later reservations. It would be more efficient if reserved tables were clearly marked to avoid customers repeatedly seating themselves and staff having to step in to ask them to move—something we saw happen more than once during our visit. This would allow staff more time to attend to customers being served.

We were also told that the steak dish we were hoping to try wasn’t available until after 1pm, which was a bit disappointing. Despite that, we still had an enjoyable experience.

The sangria was excellent—flavourful and served in a generous jarra. We also enjoyed the potato omelette, chipirones, and mussels—all very tasty. The bread was also warm, fresh and among the best I’ve had.

You can tell that staff do their best to accommodate everyone, though service can be slower at busy times due to the number of tables both indoors and out. Sabina stood out with her friendliness and made sure we were comfortable and happy throughout the meal.

Overall, a lively and enjoyable spot with great food. A few small changes could make the service...