Ministry of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Spanish
Average price per person: 35€
Environment: 8/10
Food: 8/10
Service: 8.5/10
Other: Gluten-free
Website: https://www.garelos.es/
Garelos is a tavern that specializes in dishes from the Galicia region of Spain, including several seafood dishes and the national Spanish dish, tortilla de patatas. They currently have 3 locations in Madrid and we visited their original in Chamberi for lunch.
Location/Environment
Garelos in Blanca de Navara, Chamberi is a casual spot with a tavern vibe. Wooden tables, chairs and benches make up the seating space. I should also note that there are some pretty smart and funny wall posters scattered around the restaurant.
Garelos – Menu
The menu includes several appetizers/tapas options as well as different seafood and a few meat dishes. There are also some desserts. The wine list has some inexpensive but value-for-money options to choose from.
The menu is available through Garelos’ website and there is a QR code to scan at the restaurant for the customers.
Service
The service was fast and efficient. Like other restaurants that are similarly casual, the service is not overly attentive but overall the staff ensured we had everything we needed.
Garelos – Food
We started with anchovies and Galician cheese. A combination I hadn’t entertained before, but the rich creamy Galician cheese was almost like butter and worked great with the anchovies.
The tortilla de patatas had the right texture inside leaving the eggs almost runny while the potatoes were perfectly cooked.
The croquetas were also nice and crispy on the outside and creamy inside.
The ensaladilla russa was served with tuna belly. I liked the combination with the fish and although this is not among the best ones I have tried, it was still an ok execution.
We also good the octopus with potatoes. Great aroma from the paprika and a well-executed dish overall.
The squid was served in a garlic sauce with potatoes. The squid was tender and the sauce was not too garlicky, making it appealing even to those who are not big garlic fans.
For dessert, we got the cheesecake. This was one of the best cheesecakes I have ever tried. The taste is sweet when you first take a bite and then you taste the savory cream cheese ending with a perfect balance of savory and sweet. Do not miss it if you visit Garelos.
Lastly, we got the caramelized filloas which are a type of Galician pancakes that were filled with a sweet cream cheese mix. They were not bad but I did not find they had anything special.
Conclusion
Overal Garelos’ cuisine is relatively simple with not very intricate techniques and dishes. Nevertheless, the products are fresh and well-cooked and it is a value-for-money option in terms of seafood. Definitely worth a visit.
Visit: September 2024