Just outside the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, on the west side, you’ll find Restaurante Botín. This place was founded in 1725 and has the honor or being the world’s oldest restaurant, at least according to the Guinness Book of World Records. While this place does a fair amount of business in the tourist trade, there are plenty of local Spaniards at the table. Furthermore, the food is very good. During my visit, I enjoyed a great lunch that began with a nice salad and a bottle of house white wine, which turned out to be a tasty verdejo. Then we moved on to a roast chicken, which was truly slow roasted to delicious perfection. No kidding it was about the best one I’ve had, and I’ve had them all over the world. Here’s a photo to prove it.
Dipping those little potatoes into the juices was an added treat. Then there was dessert, an apple tart and a slice of chocolate cake as seen below.
Okay, that apple tart was also the real deal and deserves a solo shot in the name of food eye-candy. So here it is:
On top of the great food and service, may I mention the classy blue china? The simple pattern and name follows the understated comfort of this restaurant. By the way, we sat on the upper floor, waited on by multi-lingual staff, and surrounded by interesting memorabilia including a letter of thanks from Nancy Reagan. On the way out, we happened upon one of those famous roast pigs, fresh out of the oven and just arrived table-side. Again, the photo proof:
Poor piggy, but darn good eating! That guy shared the meal with his whole family. If you’re in Madrid, I would put Restaurante Botín on your places for a fine lunch. You won’t be disappointed. At least I wasn’t.
Parking is a little tight, so be mindful of where you leave your vehicle. This place is worth a stop for lunch or dinner. It’s a meat on the grill type of place with cole slaw, potato salad, french fries, rice and other sides available. You can watch the man cooking your food before your very eyes. Check it out.
That guy stands over that hot grill all day long. He does a great job, too, constantly brushing on the seasonings and sauces. Sometimes there are stacks of takeout orders that he has to prepare and hungry people are standing by. But he doesn’t surrender to the pressure. He keeps his hands moving, rotating ribs, tossing on more chicken, or slicing up the steak. Let’s take a closer look at some ribs.
Those racks just hit the iron. In no time they were roasted to perfection, ready for your gnawing pleasure. Here’s a look at the menu so you can think about your selection prior to arrival.
Those prices are in Aruban Florins. If you divide by 1.75 you’ll have the cost in US dollars. The place is a great value when you consider the volume of food. A mixed grill is plenty for two people, maybe three, all for the equivalent of about $17-18. Not bad, my friends. Flavor is good, too. The ribs are more the “dry” style and all the steak is sliced thin. Sauces are provided on the side for you to customize your meal.
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