La Maruca - Velázquez — Restaurant in Madrid

When I stumbled upon La Maruca in the Michelin Guide, I must admit that I was a bit hesitant at first due to the 4-star rating on Trip Advisor. However, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to give this restaurant a chance during my recent visit to Madrid. I am so glad I did, as La Maruca exceeded all of my expectations and left me with an unforgettable dining experience.

Firstly, let me address the time limit imposed on tables. While some might find it restrictive, I appreciated the fact that La Maruca limits each table to 90 minutes. This ensured that the meal flowed smoothly, without the Spanish dinners that can stretch on for hours. It was refreshing to enjoy a leisurely yet efficient dining experience, giving me ample time to savor the flavors without feeling rushed.

Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately charmed by its cozy and welcoming ambiance. The rustic decor and warm lighting set the stage for a memorable evening. Despite the language barrier with our waiter, it did not hinder our experience in the slightest. The staff's genuine warmth and attentiveness made up for any communication challenges, and they went above and beyond to ensure we felt comfortable throughout the evening.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show—the food. La Maruca's menu is a testament to culinary excellence. The dishes we ordered were nothing short of magnificent. Each plate was thoughtfully crafted with fresh ingredients, bursting with flavors that delighted the palate. From the moment the first dish arrived at our table, I knew we were in for a gastronomic adventure.

The menu showcased a delightful array of traditional Spanish cuisine with a modern twist. From the light but highly delicious cod croquettes to the tender lamb, every bite was a revelation. Each dish was expertly prepared and beautifully presented, showcasing the chef's dedication to quality and innovation. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the attention to detail was evident in every mouthwatering morsel.

To complement our meal, we indulged in a beautiful Rioja. It was the perfect pairing with each course annd enhanced the overall dining experience and elevated the flavors of the food even further. I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND the cheesecake… I would have taken some home in my suitcase if allowed.

One aspect that truly impressed me about La Maruca was the reasonable cost of the entire experience. Given the quality of the food, the impeccable service, and the charming ambiance, I expected the bill to be much higher. It was a pleasant surprise to find that La Maruca offered such an exceptional dining experience at a very respectable cost.

In conclusion, La Maruca is a hidden gem in the heart of Madrid. Despite the initial reservations prompted by the Trip Advisor rating, the restaurant far surpassed my expectations. The time limit on tables, the language barrier, and any minor concerns quickly faded away as we indulged in the extraordinary culinary journey that unfolded before us.

If you are a true food lover seeking an authentic dining experience, do not hesitate to pay a visit to La Maruca. Let yourself be enchanted by the cozy atmosphere, tantalizing flavors, and impeccable service. You won't regret it. La Maruca has secured its place as one of my favorite culinary destinations in Madrid, and I eagerly look forward to returning for another extraordinary...

We were looking forward to eating at this place after reading about it in the Michelin guide - we arrived on time at 20:15 and were promptly reminded that we had to vacate the table by 21:45 (which we already knew) - we were then escorted down to the lower level and shown our table - we were then given a menu each (in Spanish even though we were speaking English) by a waitress - we then ordered a bottle of wine from a male waiter and asked him a couple of questions to which he responded by asking us if we wanted an English menu - we said yes of course - a few minutes later one of the two female waitresses came to take our food order - we were advised that one of our starters (fried anchovies) wasn’t available so we chose another starter to share (grilled chicken) and two mains (roast lamb and stewed meatballs) - the chicken came at record speed about 2 minutes later and we started eating - after about 10 minutes when my partner had barely finished her portion of the starter one of the waitresses grabbed the plate and took it away despite the fact that I was still eating - as if that wasn’t bad enough after a minute or so the waitress then brought my partner’s main dish even though I was still on my starter - I complained about this and pointed to my still unfinished starter but received a glaring disinterested look and she walked away - her solution was to bring my main course to me before I finished my starter - I complained again so she took my main course away with no comment and certainly no apology on her part - I then quickly finished my starter as my partner started to eat her main course which was by then lukewarm - the other waitress then brought my main course back - an inauspicious start to this restaurant - now onto the food - the grilled chicken starter was pretty ordinary and had obviously been pre prepared and plated with a sauce that could have been out of a bottle - the mains were similarly uninspiring - given the timing of delivery to our table both were clearly pre prepared and completed with only heating required- the lamb was quite fatty and had little flavour - my main course of stewed meatballs was equally tasteless and overcooked - the meatballs fell apart - the whole night was a moving disaster starting with the two waitresses who were unprofessional, unhelpful and totally disinterested in the work that they were being paid to do - the final insult came with the bill - she asked if I we could leave a tip !!! We’ve been to many restaurants mentioned in the Michelin guide and they have always been as good as described - until this very ordinary restaurant with appalling service and ordinary food - avoid it if you want to have anything resembling a good...

In short, good food, horrible service.

The food arrived really fast in a packed restaurant, it was well prepared and well thought of. Refined without being overly complicated. The food would deserve maybe four stars, but I wasn't really able to concentrate on it because of all the other activities going on. The service, to put it plain, was complete shambles, and not in a good endearing sort of way. Dining as a couple we ordered two glasses of wine with the starters, but got only one. When I asked for my wine, they swiftly took away the one they had brought for my partner, and after a long wait brought what I had ordered. With considerable hassle and more waiting the first wine also got returned. But at least they compensated by trying to charge that one wine twice. The white wine I finally got was served in a nice warm glass straight from the dishwasher, but at least they compensated by serving the red wine rather cold. Overall getting drinks consistently took ages, I guess the wine cellars are in a different county, and each order is individually delivered by scooter or something. So overall they were not in a hurry to deliver wine, we could have easily finished each course in the time it took for the wines to finally appear. But at least they compensated by rushing through everything else after making us wait. I was literally in the process of mopping up sauce with a piece of bread and putting it in my mouth, when the waitress came in and took the plate away. This happened twice. I could go on, but can’t be bothered.

I only speak a few words of Spanish at best, but communication breakdown doesn't cover the issues by a long shot. I've gone through a language barrier or two in my time, and I know communication is not a problem if you don't make it one. These people just didn't seem to want us there. This was made all the more plain by the fact that they did actually have at least one person on staff who spoke good English, they just decided we weren't...