28008 Madrid

Very much a "hole in the wall", but very inviting, and a family atmosphere inside. Gentle chatter of multi-generational group at one table, older (50's? 60's Let's just say grey haired!) couple at the bar, several other dyads and triads at the 8-10 tables neatly arranged over the tiled floor. Brick and massive granite stones frame the old oak and glass door at the entry. I could see this being a neighborhood hang-out. The food was very fresh and tasty, and the beer was cold and served with a few slices of sausage and crispy bits. I wish I had walked over from the park earlier, in order to get a second caño, but I still have to hunt for the metro station. I have the strength now, though! ¡Gracias!

A better bar than restaurant. We had the steak in a gorgonzola tomato sauce that was the best of our dishes. Also had a foie gras with a mango chutney that was solid. A mushroom special was a disaster. Mushrooms with zucchini and potatoes and eggs sunny side up. The potatoes were undercooked. The entire dish was under seasoned. Strangely, it cost more than the steak dish. The scrambler at a Denny's in America is better and 1/3 the price. Still, this place had a great atmosphere and I would return for drinks. But they could not pull off their menu.

Entrevinos deserves a lot of praise. It's an informal place which to all appearances has little to offer, in a slightly out-of-the way location, but it has what must be one of the finest, most extensive and thoughtful wine lists in Madrid. And what's more, the mark-ups are very modest, so you can taste and learn about a large number of Spanish wines without breaking the bank. The food is great - based on traditional tapas, but mostly raciones, you can have a serious feast here on inventive, delicious, creative food, and drink loads of superb wine. I'm a huge fan of Entrevinos. One major flaw: SMOKING. It's very, very smoky. But you have to accept that in Spain, you just can't get away from it. It's infuriating and deeply unpleasant, but it's part of the live-and-let live (or in this case, die-and-force-others-to-die-with-you) culture. Still, if you've only got one night in Madrid and you want to eat great food with friends and try some top Spanish wines, this is the place to go. Take away the smoke and I give it five stars.