Leña Madrid. Las brasas x Dani García — Restaurant in Madrid

Impressive experience in this restaurant; excellent product but service totally opposite.

As a summary I would say, that the quality of the products and the way they cook them is very high. You are going to enjoy a lot the food. But the service is not in line.

To be sincere, as I perceive, if you pay what you pay in a restaurant like this, it is not for the product quality only, same product quality you can buy in a top market. If you go to a restaurant that want to be over the average, they have to deliver service. That you feel you are paying for the environment, attention, innovation, etc.

It is true that there were quality details; as the hamburgers prepared in front of you, or the knives choice for the meat you ordered; but it is not acceptable that you cannot finish the dinner because they have another reservation for the same table. Moreover, when the restaurant service speed is the cause that it wasn’t faster.

I travel quite a lot, mainly in Europe, I find google reviews an valuable help to choose a restaurant or somewhere to have a fast meal or a super dinner with customers. So evaluations are an interesting input at any moment.

What I recommend about this restaurant, for the cost/quality of what you get, is, please, try another different, in Madrid there are many others that sure can service better at same product quality.

More in detail:

We were 3 of us and decided to have a diner at Leña.

Make a reservation for 8:00pm by phone and no problem, we proceeded punctually at the restaurant.

Strange entrance for a restaurant, it looks more a disco pub than a restaurant. It also look different the lighting of the local, but light at the tables is enough for dinning. The sensation is privacy.

We ordered 3 starters, with different luck for the quality received, “morcilla de Burgos” quite average, foie and steak tartare prepared in front of the table with the spice level you can choose. The fact is that the starters came one after the other but not at the same time.

As main courses we ordered Rib eye, “pluma iberica” and “presa iberica”. These 2 parts of the iberico porc are quite appreciated. The 3 choices were a success, not only for the high quality of the meat, really good, I could try the 3 and they all were perfectly cooked, I would say one of the best meats I had tried.

But when we finished the meat, and tried to order the desserts, the waiter told, that we only could take in standing in front of the bar.

We disagree and they started to explain that they advice everyone about the fact that you have a limit on time and that it was almost 22:00 and we had to go.

After asking for someone responsible of the service in the restaurant, thinking that it would make this an anecdotic bad trained waiter, the supposed responsible came and not only confirmed we had to finish, but also that they always advice this fact while someone reserves the dinner, he even suggested we were informed and in this moment we were lying….

Suddenly appear another one, that was realizing that half of the restaurant was witnessing such disaster, tried to solve it by inviting us to the dessert, but not in the table, in the bar.

We decided to go and let others know, if someone think on risking in this Leña restaurant.

Main conclusion is such experience is not expected in a restaurant at all. I cannot believe that someone could think that an arrogant behavior in the service could be assimilated as sign that they are so successful that they decide to mistreat they customers.

So what I pity that such a quality in the product and preparation is wasted, thrown away in such a way. If you decide to go there, beware about the arrogant service, although I am sure you can receive a good product...

The Lena Madrid is a world class restaurant located immediately next to the Hyatt Regency Hesperia Hotel (underground). The entrance is dark, grand, and cave-like as you descend the stairs. Once you enter the restaurant you are greeted with the murmur of happy guests and the smells of grilled meats. My wife and I had (early) reservations at 9PM and we were seated immediately at a large comfortable booth. The table was set beautifully with a very nice tablecloth. Our waitress, Andrea, spoke perfect English and took great care of us and we had a night to remember. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a large wine room, visible through a glass wall. The kitchen is also visible from the dining room and part of the dining experience. I particularly liked watching the grill team work! They made magic happen with their charcoal. For starters we had the SMOKED BURRATA AND ROASTED PEPPERS SALAD and the VEAL SWEETBREAD. The burrata was plated beautifully, but it was not for me. I am sure it was delicious if you know what to expect. The veal on the other hand was spectacular and I recommend that you don't let the thoughts of sweetbread hold you back. For our main my wife had the CHARCOAL-GRILLED SALMON LOIN with a side of GREEN ASPARAGUS AU GRATIN and I had the CHARCOAL-GRILLED TENDERLOIN (medium rare) with a side of ONION AU GRATIN WITH TRUFFLE. The salmon had a beautiful crispy skin, and was well seasoned. My wife liked the salmon and finished all of her asparagus. But, for me, I found the fish itself to be a bit dry. It is probably impossible to have crispy skin and moist fish cooked on a grill. My steak had a gorgeous char, was properly rested, and was well seasoned. The onion au gratin was delicious and paired nicely with the steak. The only other thing I will say about the steak is that my medium rare was closer to rare. That was not a problem, but if you like your steak less red I suggest you order it medium. Regardless, I would order it again - and my wife and I would definitely dine here again. If you are staying at the Hyatt the Lena is a...

If there is a possibility to give them negative points, I will do. It wasn't our first time in this restaurant, and overall we like it normally. But the last experience it was the worst ever, and definitely I'm not going to go there again and will not recommend to any of my friends. We had our anniversary and decided to go for brunch since we had kids invited. One of our guest didn't report, so we end up five instead of six persons. The food was not bad, unfortunately no kids menu, but its not a big problem, we knew it before coming there. For brunch they have an offer to order unlimited champagne for 20 euro per person (if I remember the price correct). So we were 3 adults and we asked for this offer. The waiter got one bottle of champagne, pour for us little in our glasses and dissappeared. ( interesting meaning of unlimited champagne, probably the best way for the restaurant to sell a bottle of an avarage champagne for a high price, the one who created this idea is just genius in cheating people). In the end we received a tiny portion of a desert, which one for me was also unbelievable, since the waiter he could see we have two kids with us and they didn't touch the other food, so for the dessert they could get some extra portions for the kids, since definitely they will eat it. Anyway, after the brunch my husband asked for the bill and paid it with adding good tips, since it's his habit, even the waiters didn't deserve it at all he always leave tips. Once he swipe the card I see the bill and was shocked. They counted for us one extra guest and six bottles of water( the situation with the water was exactlythe same, after the waiter opened a bottle and pour for us a bit we never see it again). After I told them about it they didn't even bother to apologize and just void extra guest and I believe four bottles of water. It's shame of the Michelin restaurant to cheat people this way, about hospitality and staff attitudes and attendance I even keep quiet. I believe in street food place you can get...