Restaurante El Roble — Restaurant in Madrid

One of our favorite neighborhood restos, frequented by many fabulous local seniors who seem to all know each other. That’s how you know it’s good. Go early by Spanish standards at 1pm so you can get a table or else it gets full.

The waitstaff have obviously worked there forever and we even have a favorite who speaks Spanish, English and French. But the rest speak mostly Spanish so it is a big help that my husband speaks Spanish.

We usually go during lunch time because the Menu del Dia is only 20 euros per person for bread, 1 drink, 2 plates & dessert. The servings are generous. I’ll be placing the name of each item we ordered in the photos, but the stand outs were:

Gambas al ajillo - This is a must everytime we go here. It’s a separate starter but the best in our opinion, even better than the one featured in the Madrid episode of Somebody Feed Phil. Comes super hot, and you need to move it around to evenly cook it. Be sure to dip into the oil & pile on the garlic bits! Lentejas con Chorizo - my husband enjoyed this Patatas Revolconas - hearty and yummy for chorizo lovers Filete de Ternera a la Plancha - my steak loving son was happy Salmon a la Plancha - for me the best thing on the menu during the day we went. Perfectly cooked and super fresh! Even the salad was yummy. Tarta de Zanahoria con Helado - moist carrot cake with ice cream YUM Tarta helada contessa - my son’s loved this chocolate and vanilla ice cream cake Fresas con Nata - sweet strawberries with delicious whipped cream. Definitely not from a can. We paired desserts with a cortado (Spanish espresso basically). The perfect end to a generous meal.

As a plus, the paintings in the restaurant are absolutely beautiful. I’m not much of a fan of still life but the ones they have and the landscape paintings are so vivid...

A Memorable Dining Experience in Madrid – Thank You, Jose and Marcial!

During our recent trip to Madrid, we had the pleasure of dining at this incredible restaurant, and it quickly became one of the highlights of our visit. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was welcoming and full of charm, blending traditional Spanish character with modern comfort.

The food was outstanding — every dish was crafted with care, bursting with flavor, and beautifully presented. From the tapas to the main courses and desserts, everything exceeded our expectations.

What truly made our experience unforgettable, however, was the exceptional service. A heartfelt thank you to Jose and Marcial, who went above and beyond to make us feel like honored guests. Their attentiveness, genuine warmth, and expert recommendations added a personal touch that made all the difference. They truly embody the spirit of Spanish hospitality.

If you’re in Madrid and looking for a place where the food is superb and the service even better, don’t miss this gem. We will definitely...

We were staying in the area and decided to try it out based on the great reviews. The place definitely had a very comfortable local feel and the staff was very friendly. We didn't speak Spanish and they didn't have an English menu but our waitress did her best to help us and got us everything we wanted. We were given some croquettes and sausage as an amuse bouche which was delicious. We ordered the garlic shrimp, a grilled pork sandwich, the braised ox tail and grilled lamb chops and all our food were fantastic. I had the ox tail and the meat was just ready to fall off the bone and coated in a rich thick sauce and I really enjoyed it. We finished the meal with some shots to celebrate as it was near the end of our trip and we couldn't have asked for a better way to wrap up...