Mas Al Sur — Restaurant in Madrid

This is a classic example of how Madrid is changing for the worse, specially in the central area. Walked by on a mid Sunday afternoon into a literally half empty place. Not a single Spaniard customer on it either. Since it was a weird time I asked if we could have a beer at the bar or some of the top tables, not the terraza, as a frequent Madrid visitor I understand they come at a premium. Answer was a rotund NO. Only to eat. Mind you no one really eat at that time, but I guess this is what they do for tourists. I walked 50m to the corner and was welcomed in a different place where there was literally not a single open space and business was booming. Ended up eating tapas and drinking beers for all afternoon, but to each, its own. Can’t talk about the food as never had a chance.

The other thing interesting about this place is that the reviews are sky high… but all of them are from people form somewhere else, so, they don’t really have a clue of what true Spanish things are. There was a review stating that they ate there the 3 nights they stayed in Madrid…. Can’t even figure that one out. But read the reviews of places and not the stars so you get...

It turns out Madrid in August is a ghost town. And so we went to the only place open around — Más al Sur. I don’t think I have had such a horrible culinary experience since my childhood.

Never mind the waiters, who were decent: the food was at a level (or shall I say, un-level) which we have never seen the likes of. We ordered spinach and cheese ravioli, which was recommended by the staff. We received a pile of reheated frozen half-baked dough pieces covered with a mysterious sauce, later dubbed “tomato sauce” by the waiter but more akin to decade-old ketchup.

The next dish was the ham risotto, which looked less like risotto than the puke pile of a recently deceased farm animal. The taste I shall not even begin to describe. What else can I say: the margarita yellow-colored water filled to the diabetic brim with sugar—the vermouth a bad variant on maple syrup.

It seemed more like limbo than an eatery. I am now eternally distrustful of Google reviews, and the human condition. Do...

I went there for dinner in February 14th. That was My first meal in Madrid and it did not disappoint! I started with the grilled octopus with potatoes. It came with 2 big tentacles - one was perfect and very soft - the other a little less soft (I thought it could have cooked a bit more) but the flavor was all there! Truly delicious- hence why I clear my bowl … and so good that I ordered a second dish: the paella - I wasn’t sure I was gonna finish it - but I did because of how flavorful it was!! Truly delicious ( I wouldn’t go as far as saying that it’s the best paella I’ve had) but it was definitely satisfying 👌🏾

Full transparency, I did feel some kind of way, when I noticed that the bartender was “offering” free pink shot to other guests (since it was Valentine’s Day) and did not offer me any :/ … but he came and ask how I liked the food and was apparently nice to me … just that I wondered why I wasn’t offered a complimentary pink shot like the...