Best restaurant for fish and seafood

[athinaeos]

what is your opinion about "casa d'a troya" in madrid?

[Rogelio]

Casa da Troya is a very good product driven galician restaurant that I have always enjoyed, but I've heard mixed opinions lately.

[Silly Disciple]

I had an awful experience at Casa D'a Troya last week (bad service, wrong dishes, wrong meat points, etc), but then Victor (vserna) mentioned he had a superb one the preceeding week, so your mileage may vary.

[vserna]

As is quite apparent in a different thread, we should add Kabuki for those who don't think necessarily of 'Spanish-style fish'. By now, we all know that Kabuki is neither really Spanish nor really Japanese, but... outstanding in its own personal way in fusing the traditions of two of the most rabid seafood-loving nations on Earth.

[Revallo]

Go to Rafa's, it will change your life

RAFA

972 25 40 03

[athinaeos]

Go to Rafa's,  it will change your life

RAFA

972 25 40 03

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thank you for the recommendation

could you kindly provide some description of the forthcoming change so that i am partially prepared and do not collapse under the pressure?

[pedro]

Athinaeos, among other threads, you can take a look at:

Docsconz at Rafa 2005 (with pics)

Rafa, which acceded to world known fame when mentioned by Ferrán Adrià in his Los Secretos de El Bulli back in 1997, is one of the places where you can see what a good artisan with a plancha and wonderful product can do.

[vserna]

But Rafa has achieved quasi-legendary status just in one place in the world - eGullet...

[pedro]

Halfly tongue in cheek, Víctor, I would say that that's enough.

I agree that Rafa is one of the places that, IMHO, is overrated among members of the eGullet Society (we have our fair share of those not only in Spain). In fact, this is what I wrote some time ago:

Is there such a thing as too much publicity being bad publicity? I mean, people should be aware of what they're going to find when they go to Rafa. Good seafood, some of it being excellent, in a non-descript setting like many other bares around, and a skilfull man with the plancha, reasonable but not cheap prices.

Is it the best seafood you can have in the country? Hardly. Is it a nice place where you  can enjoy with a good and simple meal? Definitely. In fact, I preferred to go there instead of to the more sophisticated Golondrinas (at least from a cooking point of view) to give my palate a rest of creativity some weeks ago.

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Albeit, Rafa's earned a reputation in the foodie community which goes well beyond eGullet. A number of blogs and food forums feature him along with mentions here and there in mainstream media (a good example, also associated with Adria, can be found at the end of this article of The Observer). Places like Rafa exist all over the country -- FM in Granada comes immediately to my mind -- but they hardly have the exposure Rafa enjoys thanks to Adria. The first excerpt of a series of four published at the Daily Gullet (Reflections on the product) of El Bulli 1994-1997, which also mentions Rafa, is a good example of the notoriety that Rafa is achieving thanks to Adria and they guys from El Bulli.

[Bux]

Rafa may well be over exposed. Tony Bourdain has been an outsoken fan, and Tony himself has fans in and out of eGullet. Tony's also a fan of Adrià. The Roses gourmet Mafia may be a small tightly knit group. The night we were there for dinner, we asked Rafa where else one might eat in Roses besides elBulli and Rafa's. He nodded to the next table where the owners of La Llar were eating. Soon afterwards, the chef and waiter from Las Golondrinas across the street, came in to say hello.

It's difficult to compare Golondrinas to Rafa, or to elBulli for that matter. We had lunch there the same day, but we only had a few tapas, while we rather stuffed ourselves at Rafa's sampling most of what he had on hand. When it comes to seafood, my impression was that Golondrinas only has what's fresh and I very much enjoyed their food. Presentation at Golondrinas is more interesting and imaginative than at Rafa's, but unlike elBullli. An ideal visit to Roses would hit all three and I suspect La Llar would make a fourth. The pity is that I'm not much for beach resorts.

[athinaeos]

many thanks to all for such an enlightening exchange of views and ideas!

rafa's seems to be quite a natural place where you can have natural food!

i have one question though: Rafa's seems to be in Roses only; or is there also a branch in madrid?

[Rogelio]

There is a very good seafood restaurant in Madrid called Casa Rafa. Nothing to do with it's eponymous at Roses but the quality of the seafood and simple preparations.

And is one of the few good restaurants opened on Sundays in Madrid.

[athinaeos]

There is a very good seafood restaurant in Madrid called Casa Rafa. Nothing to do with it's eponymous at Roses but the quality of the seafood and simple preparations.

And is one of the few good restaurants opened on Sundays in Madrid.

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thank you very much, this clarifies the matter

if we were to summarize the top 5 (five) seafood restaurants in madrid, which of the following (and others)would we include?

- casa rafa

- casa d'a troya

- O' Pazo

- Combarro

- Kabuki

kindly help

[Rogelio]

The five mentioned above could be the top five.

Another adition are any of the Oter Group seafood restaurants like El Telégrafo, La Taberna del Puerto and El Gran Barril.

[athinaeos]

The five mentioned above could be the top five.

Another adition are any of the Oter Group seafood restaurants like El Telégrafo, La Taberna del Puerto and El Gran Barril.

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thanks again, you have been most helpful!

[vserna]

Let me give an Andalusian pitch for Alborán and La Giralda I - different strokes for different folk.

[GastroChick]

I recently returned from a trip to San Sebastian - on the way on home we stopped in a town called Getaria and had lunch at a fish restaurant called Kaia. The wild turbot was amazing as were the baby eels - it is definately one of the best fish restaurants I have ever eaten at.

I've heard tha El Kano is also good too

[butterfly]

Are baby eels in season right now? Is there anywhere where I can try them in Madrid?

[Champagne Sadie]

The chef from Rafa frequently pop's into Las Golondrinas during service to have a cigarette.

I've heard good things about Garbet further up the coast.

[pedro]

I recently returned from a trip to San Sebastian - on the way on home we stopped in a town called Getaria and had lunch at a fish restaurant called Kaia.  The wild turbot was amazing as were the baby eels - it is definately one of the best fish restaurants I have ever eaten at.

I've heard tha El Kano is also good too

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Welcome to eGullet, GastroChick! If it wasn't planned, your stopping at Getaria and lunch at Kaia lead you to one of the finest treats in Spain when it comes to seafood. The turbot that it's cooked at Elkano and Kaia is worth the trip to Getaria no matter where you come from.

[Alvaro]

Butterfly, I guess that baby eels are still in season (season runs from November to March aprox.) In former times, it wasn't difficult to find them in many Madrid's restaurants. Nowadays, it is becoming increasingly difficult

[Rogelio]

Are baby eels in season right now? Is there anywhere where I can try them in Madrid?

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Ther's a place called Kulixka in Santa Engracia from the same owners of the next door La Casa de las Angulas shop where you can eat or buy them.

Time ago they use to serve them at Marisquería El Cantábrico that you already know.

[Revallo]

thank you for the recommendation

Could you kindly provide some description of the forthcoming change so that i am partially prepared and do not collapse under the pressure?

The secret to Rafa's is simple. He only buys the best fish he can find, normally line caught. If he can't find what he likes he won't open. While I was living in Roses I ate there once a month, to see the variety in the season of the sea.

After you eat at Rafa's fish will not be the same. You will always find defects in the fish you will eat in the future, whether if it was overcooked, a little old, maybe the fish drown in the net and even though its the same sea bass you ate at Rafa's its a world apart.

By only having four tables he can ensure that what you eat is of the best quality possible.

Here are a few photos of Rafa's in the summer of 2005

Start with an anchovie from roses y pan con tomate and a white wine from Penedes

These are tallerinas, he cooks them on the flattop with olive oil and sea salt. When we go, normally we get two plates of these.

For me, the calamari is the single best plate at Rafa's. They are hand caught and are not cleaned.

You eat them as they come out of the sea, with its ink, its eyes and brain. The most incredible thing I have ever tasted.

Tuna. The first and only time I have eaten fish with butter here. Normally he uses only olive oil and sea salt.

[docsconz]

Nice photos, Dana. They certainly brought back some wonderful memories for me - especially the calamari!

[Corinna Dunne]

I've heard good things about Garbet further up the coast.

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Where exactly is it, and is it casual or formal? Thanks.