Ministry of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Meat
Average price per person: 70€
Environment: 8/10
Food: 8.5/10
Service: 8/10
Other: Gluten-free options, Pet-friendly
Website: https://los33.net/
A reservation at Los 33 is one of the most difficult to get in Madrid at the moment. A steakhouse that has been open for approximately 2 years and is steadily becoming one of the most famous restaurants in Madrid.
Naturally, I was very curious to see if it’s worth the hype. I visited with friends for lunch on a Saturday. We had to book approximately 2 months in advance, as Los 33 allows you to book up to 2 months ahead.
Location/Environment
Los 33 has a front room with a bar, a few tables, and huge shelves with a vinyl collection.
On the back, there is an open-fire kitchen with a few tables and a barra in front of the grill.
Los 33 – Menu
The menu at Los 33 includes various appetizers, salads, and main courses. They specialize in steaks so the majority of the main courses are meat, although there are a couple of fish options.
There is also an interesting wine list and a list of cocktails.
Service
We had a reservation at 15:45 and we arrived approximately 10 minutes earlier. There was already a line at the door and it took approximately 10 minutes to show us to our table. I did not find the person checking the reservations and guiding guests to the table particularly friendly or pleasant so I did not start the experience on a very positive note.
The staff was overall very efficient but at certain points I felt stressed with the fast pace, bringing the dishes, taking others back and asking if we need anything else. I understand that it’s a matter of ensuring that the guest has everything they need, but to me felt like pressure some times and did not allow me to fully relax and enjoy my meal. I also recognize that it might have been the particular server assigned to our table and the way they managed the pace and the communication with us.
Los 33 – Food
We started with some appetizers, first an anchovy with smoked butter and brioche toast. Very nice bite and I found the smoked butter a great addition in this classic combination.
The Txistorra sausage was flavrouful although it was slightly dry on the outside, a bit overcooked.
The Bikini with havarti cheese, prosciutto and butter is one of Los 33’ specialties. Very rich and buttery, this is indeed a decadent bite. That being said this is not really a complex dish, essentially it’s a fancy toastie.
The croqueta de jamon was crispy and nice texture, but not really the best I had, I would say a solid version.
The empanadilla had a tasty filling but the pastry was not particularly crispy. Nevertheless it was served with some slightly spicy type of vegetable relish. This was really delicious.
The choripan with sausage, the relish and brioche bun was one of my favorite dishes. Great flavor combinations and really nice contrast between the different elements.
We also got the Nini salad with avocado, seeds, sundried tomatoes and parmesan. It was served with a sweet and sour vinaigrette that fit the dish really well.
The last appetizer we got was the huevos rellenos. It is a type of devilled eggs, filled with tuna and topped with a mayo and capers sauce. A really tasty bite and a great appetizer.
For the mains we opted for the wagyu skirt steak. The meat was really flavorful despite the fact that we asked for medium and it was medium rare. We enjoyed this dish a lot but I should note that they did not take into account our instructions about the cooking nor did the staff suggest medium rare at the time of the order or after for better results.
On the side, we got a grilled leek which was sweet and soft, although slightly bland.
We also opted for the Angus strip steak, which is part of the ribs. The meat was well cooked (although naturally very fatty) and it was served with a thick gravy, some very tasty baby potatoes, french grilled onions and shaved fennel. Another very good dish.
Finally we got the apple pie served with cream. The phyllo pastry was very well cooked and rich, same as the apples. However the apples were slightly bitter and I am unsure if it was because of the variety or the execution of the dish. The cream was light, it had olive oil incorporated and was absolutely delicious.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that Los 33 serves some great quality food in a nice environment. Does it worth waiting 1-2 months to book a reservation there? For me it’s worth visiting once to live the experience. However I believe that you can find similar quality meat dishes at the same pricing in other places in Madrid, such as Raza that they are not so “trendy” or with so much hype.
Visit: October 2024