The standard fare in many of Madrid’s restaurants consists of racks of ham, hearty tortilla, and plates of patatas bravas. These things are all great, but you can only eat so much of it. I was in the mood to shake things up and try something different.
Madrid, and Spain in general, is home to some fabulous seafood restaurants. While they will likely cost you a bit more, a nice treat is in order sometimes! There are many seafood restaurants and raw bars in Madrid, many located in the Salamanca/Goya neighborhood. A couple months back I covered a new raw bar, Ostradivarius, which is on Calle Goya. Now I have another treat for you, and it’s right across the street from Ostradivarius: El Gran Barril.
El Gran Barril is an elegant and modern restaurant featuring excellent quality seafood. It’s also a restaurant with actual service in terms of your waiter. My husband and I dined here a few weeks ago when some family came into town, and everyone loved it. We enjoyed fresh bacalao, tasty pulpo, and other traditional dishes. El Gran Barril has two dining options: a more formal dining area and a raw bar. So whatever your taste, time, and wallet allows, you can enjoy some delicious seafood. I think a perfect night is stopping by Ostradivarius first for their 3Euro wine and oyster special, then heading to El Gran Barril for the main course. Yum, YUM!
Seafood vocabulary, like meat vocabulary, can be a bit daunting here in Spain. Here is a crash course:
Heart Clam – Berberecho
Mussel – Mejillon
Clam – Almeja
Razor Clam – Navaja
Oyster – Ostra
Goose Barnacle – Percebe
Squid – Calamar
Octopus – Pulpo
Shrimp – Gambas, Langostinos, Camarones
Blue Crab – Nécora
Snow Crab – Centollo
Langostine – Cigala
Lobster – Bogavante
C/Goya, 107
28009 Madrid, Spain
Tel: 914 312 210
Metro: Goya
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