Spain is known for many things, from flamenco to bull fighting to sunny skies. However, the best part of this region is undeniably the tapas- Spanish small plates ranging from seafood, spicy fried potatoes, fried cheese balls, and more. For those who can't make it to Spain to experience their amazing food, Cafe Madrid is a little pocket of Spain in Dallas, Texas.
Cafe Madrid
Cafe Madrid offers a cozy, welcoming atmosphere inspired by the tapas cafes one can find along the streets of Madrid, Barcelona or in Southern Spain. Although they specialize in tapas, they also have other Spanish delicacies like paella, grilled quail and fried calamari, which is calamares fritos on the menu. Some of these can be served as full entrees rather than the small tapas size. Plus, they have a list of delicious Spanish wines and sherries.
For a full Spanish experience, come on the first Friday of the month, when the Spanish restaurant has a flamenco show, involving tapas, wine, sangria and flamenco dancing! Although most days Cafe Madrid is only open for dinner, they open at noon on Saturdays for a Spanish, tapas-filled brunch.
The dinner menu is full of options to meet any food preferences. A good choice for those first dipping their toes into the world of tapas is Tortilla española, a classic Spanish dish made of potatoes, eggs and onions. Some other classic tapas are croquetas (croquettes), aceitunas mixtas (mixed olives), patatas braves (spicy fried potatoes), and queso frito con cebolla y miel (fried goat cheese with caramelized onions and honey).
A Range of Tapas
Spain is also known for its cheeses and meat, so the Plato Ibérico, containing cured meat, manchego cheese, olives and almonds is a good way to go to try a few things. For other tasty meat options, you can't go wrong with the Carne ajo (beef tenderloin in garlic sauce), Pollo morroquí (Morrocan chicken skewer), and Anlbondigas andaluzas (Andalucian meatballs in almond-piquillo sauce).
Seafood is often a central part of any tapas meal, so Cafe Madrid has a fair share of yummy seafood options as well. The Gambas al ajillo are shrimp sautéed in olive oil, garlic and pepper, or you can try the mussels in saffron sauce.
For veggie tapas, the Ensalada especial has burrata cheese, pear, and Serrano ham, and the Espinacas pirineos is a dish of sautéed spinach with pine nuts and garlic. To really dive into the Spanish tapas experience, try the Piquillo relleno con queso de cabra are imported piquillo peppers filled with goat cheese, tasty with a side of saffron rice or fried calamari.
No matter which tapas you choose, Cafe Madrid is the place to go in Dallas to experience all the deliciousness of Spain from this side of the pond!
