Worst Dining Experience in Madrid – A Complete Scam

I booked a table for two at Brutal Inclán Bar in Madrid for New Year’s Eve, expecting a nice, intimate dinner with my girlfriend. Instead, we were met with a bizarre, insulting setup. Upon arrival, the staff attempted to seat us at a communal table with 14 strangers, claiming we had reserved “spots at a table” rather than a private table. This critical detail was never mentioned in the booking. It’s an absurd concept and completely unheard of for such an expensive dinner.

What made it even worse? Every couple at the table had paid an outrageous €350 for what we all assumed would be a exclusive dining experience. Naturally, we and the other guests were shocked and outraged. Nobody wanted to pay so much to share an overpriced dinner with complete strangers on New Year’s Eve.

After voicing our complaints, the staff reluctantly dragged out a table for two, dumped it awkwardly in the middle of the restaurant, and provided some cheap, uncomfortable chairs. It felt more like an insult than a solution, and there wasn’t even an apology from the staff.

The food added another layer to the disappointment. The steak was dumped on the table without anyone asking how we wanted it cooked. The rest of the dishes were equally mediocre and completely unworthy of the price.

As if all that wasn’t bad enough, a woman with an iPhone and a bright LED reflector constantly walked around the restaurant, flashing the reflector directly into guests’ eyes with no respect for anyone’s comfort. She seemed to be recording content to make the night look amazing on social media—a complete farce considering the actual disaster happening in the room.

Brutal Inclán Bar is a poorly executed scam. For €350 per couple, we expected an extraordinary evening. Instead, we got a chaotic, unprofessional, and uncomfortable mess. The staff didn’t care at all, and the manager was present yet completely useless. I even felt sorry for the other couples who were stuck at the communal table and clearly not enjoying themselves.

At midnight, the national TV New Year’s countdown program aired, but there was no music. The DJ was talking on the phone and ignoring a lady who politely requested music. When he finished his phone call he continued with music.

PS: Whoever thought it was a good idea to seat strangers together at the same table on New Year’s Eve is a real mastermind.

Do yourself a favor and avoid this place-it’s the worst dining experience we’ve ever had.