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At a loss for where to eat tonight? Here's our pick of the top ten restaurants in the Spanish capital.AMERICAN
Gumbo
Calle Pez 15
Tel: 91-532-6361
Metro: Noviciado
Opening times: 14.00-15.30 and 20.00 to 02.30. Closed on Sunday night and Mondays all day.
Menu at EUR 10.50

Forget the chain burger and rib joints, this is the real American meal deal with N’Awlins native Matthew Scott sporting his trademark bandana do-rag and turning out Big Easy eats like seafood gumbo, shrimp and grouper creole, and spicy, free-range chicken.
A recommended evening meal here might begin with one of the classic cocktails on offer, then fried green tomatoes, a stuffed pork chop with caramelised onions and bodelaise sauce as the main course and a big slice of pecan or peanut butter pie for dessert.
As they say in those parts: “Laissez les bon temps roulez!”
BASQUE
La Alacena de Serrano
Calle Infanta Maria Teresa 19
Tel: 912207009
www.laalacenadeserrano.com
Metro: Concha Espina or Colombia
Opening times: 13.30-16.00 and 20.30 to 24.00. Closed on Sunday night and Mondays all day.
Menu - Menu degustación at EUR 25
A nice elegant venue that has an air of distinction. It is highly-recommended for business meals due to its relaxed and quiet atmosphere. The eye for detail is what sets the décor of the restaurant apart from all others.
The high quality of food is also shown in presentation of the dishes and the food itself. Specialities are basque cuisine and Spanish alike, where you can try delicious callos, rabo de toro or cochinillo.
À la carte dishes are offered in full or half versions, medias raciones, allowing you to enjoy the same great taste for half the price.
CATALAN
Can Punyetes
Calle San Agustin 9
Tel: 91-429-94-83
www.canpunyetes.com
Metro: Anton Martin
Opening times: 13.00-16.00 and 20.00 to 24.00. Fridays and Saturdays opened till 01.00. Closed on Sundays.
Menu at EUR 11.50
Cheap and cheerful, this bistro boasts a barbeque pit in the main dining room where butifarra sausages, rabbit, chops and other prime meats are done to a turn over the open fire. It is also where they grill the chewy country bread for the extensive range of tostadas topped with pisto con ventresca, jamón serrano, patés and other goodies. There are seasonal specialities such as escudella (Catalonia’s version of minestrone soup) in the winter, grilled baby asparagus in the spring and grilled vegetables in the summer served with romescu and alioli (garlic) sauce. A crema catalana (a sweet creamy pudding) is the perfect finish.
I must say, this is a HIGHLY dubious list. I think it's impossible to make a definitive 'Top 10' in a city as large and as densely populated with restaurants as Madrid. You could easily do a 'Top 10 curry houses' or even an more specific 'Top 10 cheap tapas places in Malasaña'. And Gumbo's food and service are terrible!
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