Desde 1911

Fortunate to get a call just before their August break that they have a lunch seating for us after their return. Lived up to the high expectations. True to their roots as fish mongers, the seafood remains the star. Rivals Le Bernardin for our favorite fish forward experience and hands down the best we enjoyed in Madrid. Additionally, they were so gracious to our young yet well-behaved and adventurous boys for whom they offered an abbreviated menu and fun mementos as we enjoyed our courses. Can’t wait to return.

For a restaurant boasting a Michelin star and a €265 set menu (their least expensive is €180), the experience was shockingly uninspired. The ever-changing menu—based on fish from their own market—should be a chef’s playground, yet each dish felt basic, lacking the creativity or finesse you’d expect at this level. Portions were smaller than usual, supposedly to make room for cheese and petit fours. But for the price, I came for culinary brilliance—not a trip to a cheese shop. Desserts were no redemption either; my filloa was cold and rubbery, and the rest just forgettable. I always say these type of restaurants should offer an experience that is hard to re create at home, but truly here, I felt half of the food (grilled fish, grilled lobster, Caesar salad, filloa, brioche crab sandwich), anyone with minimal culinary skills can make it at home. Not worth the hype, the price, or the wait.

My favorite restaurante in Madrid, a Michelin-starred restaurant with a Sol rating. The ambiance, decor, and service were exceptional. They made my birthday extra special by preparing a beautiful cake. Highlights from the menu include the Ecugis Smoked Salmon, Viarigan Anchovy in Tempura, Classic Seafood Salad, Grilled Palamos Red Prawn, and the Baby White Bean Stew with Squid. Each dish was crafted with care, showcasing the freshest ingredients and expert preparation. The restaurant offers a great selection of cheeses and desserts included in all menus, providing plenty of options to satisfy any palate. They also have a beautiful terrace.

Desde 1911 is the best seafood experience I’ve had in the past few years, bar none. It somehow manages to be expensive, yet an exceptionally good value. From the moment you step in, and a cart rolls by with freshly carved smoked salmon (top notch stuff, with so much flavour in the oils), you’ll be laden with so much food that it’s impossible to walk out standing straight. But in a good way. The simplest dishes were the most outstanding: the palamos prawns with exceptional tomalley, and the humble kokotxas with an ethereal batter, or the sweet shrimp with fresh peas. The sauces were sometimes too heavy to complement the taste of the seafood, such as in the lobster salpicon, but even those dishes were pretty decent. Then the fish main comes, a beautiful slab of grouper, sized like an entree for a 3 course meal. Just when you think no more food can fit in, the largest cheese cart I’ve ever seen rolls around. The staff will encourage you to take more, but one’s stomach protests. Then an equally dramatic dessert cart rolls around, with an offer you can’t refuse. I’d never been this happy while my stomach protested this much 😆. Will definitely be back, hopefully before the inevitable price hikes after word gets out.