El Pescador — Restaurant in Madrid

Title: Great Food and Friendly Staff, but Rude Manager Ruins the Experience

I recently dined at ELPAESCADOR and have very mixed feelings about the experience. The food was delicious, and the general staff were friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, the evening was spoiled by the behavior of the head waiter/manager, which overshadowed the otherwise pleasant aspects of our visit.

We had made a reservation for 8 pm, but upon arrival, we were forced to wait for the manager, who didn’t appear to be ready or even bothered by the delay. The staff looked helpless and uncomfortable, seemingly hesitant to step in due to the manager’s overbearing presence. When he finally arrived, his attitude was dismissive and condescending from the start.

One of the most frustrating parts was his insistence on only speaking Spanish, refusing any attempt to use another language, even when it was clear that some in our party were not fluent. When one of the servers kindly attempted to help translate, the manager cut them off abruptly, as if he needed to exert complete control over the conversation. This made it incredibly difficult to communicate effectively and made us feel entirely unwelcome.

On top of that, he seemed very intent on upselling the most expensive dishes, almost as if he assumed we wouldn’t notice or care about the pricing as tourists. The whole thing felt uncomfortable and unnecessary. We were left feeling more like we were part of a transaction than guests at a nice restaurant.

It’s surprising to me that the owners would keep someone like this in such a prominent position when there are multiple reviews online highlighting similar experiences. The staff are clearly hardworking and dedicated, and the kitchen delivers wonderful dishes. However, the manager’s behavior bordered on harassment and left a sour taste in our mouths.

Overall, it’s hard to recommend El PESCADORdespite the great food and friendly staff. I would love to return, but only if this individual’s attitude and behavior are addressed by the management. Until then, I would caution others, especially non-Spanish-speaking visitors, about...

If you DO NOT speak Spanish, steer clear of this restaurant.

We chose this restaurant for our final evening in Madrid, drawn in by its reputation for excellent seafood. While the food was undeniably high quality and reasonably priced by London standards, the service was nothing short of appalling.

From the moment we arrived, the manager’s attitude was outright hostile. Despite knowing we didn’t speak Spanish, he continued addressing us in Spanish, completely ignoring our situation. To make matters worse, an English-speaking waiter stood nearby but was forbidden from assisting us. This led to a humiliating scene, as the manager barked at us in a silent restaurant, making sure every patron could witness the spectacle.

I repeatedly apologized, explaining we didn’t speak Spanish, yet the manager responded with nothing but impatience and disdain. The discomfort in the room was palpable, and it was only when the waiter, clearly frustrated, finally stepped in to help that we received any semblance of assistance. By then, the damage was done, and our evening was ruined.

While the seafood may be commendable, the disgraceful treatment we endured overshadowed everything. If I could give this restaurant zero stars, I would. If you, like us, don’t speak Spanish, I strongly urge you to spend your €200 per head elsewhere—somewhere that values basic respect and hospitality.

A deeply infuriating and disappointing end to an otherwise...

I went to this restaurant on a recommendation of a friend . I went alone b/c I’m living here in Madrid alone. When I arrived I immediately felt awkward. I am in Madrid studying intensive Spanish, so I am capable of speaking enough to order at a restaurant however, I felt so uncomfortable that my Spanish went out the door. That did not help the situation. As soon as I started speaking English, they became even ruder. They put bread on the table and I have celiac so I told them I was not able to eat the bread. The manager stared at me the entire time and from start to finish it took me 22 minutes to order get my drink, my fish and my tomato salad. I wanted to cry that’s how awkward I felt. I travel alone internationally , half of the year I’ve never in my life felt so uncomfortable at a restaurant . The entire menu is for two people. It is not a place to go alone and they probably should’ve told me when I arrived that their menu serves two or more. The food tasted delicious but everything else ensured that I would never go back and that I had to write a review so other people knew not to go there alone. I’m sure locals do love this place bc the food is good but a single woman I would highly advise against going there. My 22 mins dinner cost €60 . The money isnt an issue for me but the...