Gloria Bendita — Restaurant in Madrid

We were spending one day in Madrid and we wanted to have something light for lunch (like trying tapas.) I saw the reviews and decided to go to this restaurant. We sat outside as the weather was nice. The waiter came straight after we sat, and I didn’t have the time to look at the menu, which was online. He was polite and we’ve told him we would like to have something light for lunch. We asked for some advice. He talk us nicely about some choices vegetarian and non vegetarian and stupidly we agreed. We didn’t realise that this guy was suggesting us everything of the most expensive in the lunch menu. He recommended we should start with a cheese plater and we said yes. It came and I thought “this could feed 4-6 people (and not 2)” cost 18 Euros. The vegetarian option was Artichokes for 16Euros that could also definitely feed 4 people. We asked for some bread and he brought us two warm bread rolls (3 Euros). Without realising the size of the portions that he kept telling us were small (we had in mind something traditional like tapas) we asked also for some chips and he brought us the patatas bravioli for 8 Euros. Couldn’t he easily say “guys this is too much?” Of course, when we asked for sea food he recommended fish tartar de atun 24 Euros, and for meat carrilleras de cerdo 18 Euros. Again we stupidly agreed and said “yes”.

When they brought them to us we thought it was a mistake and sent them back only for him to come and say this was what we had ordered.

Of course after the first plates we couldn’t touch the two huge mains and sent them back untouched.

We were already full.

The bill.

With two drinks (one beer and one soft drink) the bill was 94,50 euros for two. (For a light meal that we wanted)

Of course he sent one other guy to get the payment. He was hiding himself.

Tbh I confronted him and told him this wasn’t right.

Anyway Lesson 1. Don’t listen to nice talking waiters and look at the menu and the prices first before ordering.

Lesson 2. A good waiter should advise according to the wishes of the customers and do not try to rob good...

Never again! I rarely give 2-3 stars to a restaurant. This time—I felt like doing it as a service to the society of google culinary foodies folks : — yes, we came to the restaurant with no reservation at -~20:00. We were shown a table with a stern warning “we only have 1 hour”. Not a great start; but hey…ok, eating worldwide in various restaurants…this was not that weird; — the servant showed the menu. Only available on your smartphone. Ok. Not very accommodating for others?! But ok…let’s go forward; — wine ordering: the wine we have selected was not available…as “we are out of this one” the waiter informed. So as the next on the list of wines - “was not available”. Normally, as encountering that phenomenon in other places in Spain and elsewhere, the next phrase one would expect it — “we have another wine; it is similar to the one we DON’T have, and at the same price “ . Instead, it was more expensive wine offered with no recourse! At this point, things went really down for the service and food quality. my wife was relatively ok with her guanciale variation on mash potatoes; my dish—-and OF NOTE——I ate polpo Pugliese & Liguria di …allegedly the star-of-the-chef-and-the-kitchen…was wrongfully recorded by the service as something completely different [although ordered as half polpo in Granada salsa]. But ok again! Except, when the plate finally arrived, 15 min later, the squid was slimy, the sauce was overstated , the veggies on a side were like “ a 1950 tv dinner plate” type. — we finished our inglorious consumption of food and service in the allotted 55 min. Our price for finishing earlier was the 3€add on to the bread bill, for 2 kind of ciabatta buns? Really!??

The message To the restaurant managers—if you are in the ‘fast walking tourist corridor of Madrid’ , it does not / should not allow you to lower your guard wrt to service & FOOD QUALITY! You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar! Hope...

We recently visited the place and had a delightful dining experience. The restaurant's ambiance is unique and inviting, creating a great atmosphere that sets it apart from the usual spots. The décor and setting make it a fantastic place to enjoy a meal with friends or family.

The food at is both different and delicious. They offer a variety of options, including vegan dishes, which was a pleasant surprise. The warm bread served with delicious olive oil at the beginning of the meal was a wonderful touch.

We tried a few dishes, and here’s a quick rundown:

Pumpkin Dish: It was a bit flat in flavor, but still enjoyable.

Pan Bao con Costilla de Cerdo Ibérico Desmechado: This dish was absolutely delicious, full of rich and savory flavors.

Dados de Brie Crujientes: These were very nice, with a perfect balance of crispiness and creaminess.

The customer service was excellent. The staff was attentive and genuinely wanted us to have a great time. The service was quick, but one minor downside was that the plates arrived at different times, making it a bit challenging to start eating together.

Another great feature is that the restaurant is pet-friendly, which is always a plus for animal lovers. The menu is well-explained in Spanish, with some English dishes also described in Spanish. It's important to note that the menu is available online, so be sure to have a device handy to access it.

Overall, It's offers a unique dining experience with great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're vegan, a meat lover, or just looking for something new, this place is definitely...