Casa Nicasio

The food itself was decent — I chose from the menu del dia. The canneloni was a bit soft and flavor was so/​so. The fish was fresh and well prepared. The downside was the service. This is a mix of tourists and locals, and it was very apparent that the locals are treated much better than the tourists. When I arrived I was one of three patrons; the place filled up while I was there. A table of locals seated after me received drinks and meals before I did. I asked for either butter or oil for my bread and was ignored. The tables of locals had both brought out with the bread. My café sat so long to be delivered to me that it was cold, and I had to ask for my check 3 times before I actually got it. Given the other restaurants in the area, as a tourist I would suggest going elsewhere. Toro Tapas is very close and I had a much better meal and service there.

Love this place. Ordered the chorizo and papa Fritas and it was so good. The service was awesome and the wine was wonderful. This was the perfect place to stop after visiting the Palace of Madrid.

Having spent the morning visiting the Thyssen museum, the kids were tired while the parents insisted on a second stop before siesta. We found this fantastic gem near Palacio Real, around the corner from the opera & plaza Isabel II.
We hoped to duplicate last night’s luck at El Diario, and were not disappointed. Round 1 brought us a liver & papas fritas dish, which baby dude & his father loved – I was lucky enough to get a bite. We ordered the cabrales-​morcilla tapas, which looked like a tiny ship. The half– round brought us a potato-​tuna-​pea salad, which our son, of course, demanded. Monka has become a potato chip & bread fiend, but that’s another story. A plate of hot, mini chorizos was presented, as well as a bladder of wine with a cloth to protect our shirts (and Baby Dude’s head, as he was in the carrier, happily munching and spilling food on me).
I know we were given more food. Olives & pickles? Another goat-​cheese or anchovy or sardine dish? Either way, we were happily full & ready to visit the palace.
Damage? 18EC

When I write a review I first consider the fact that reviews can impact someone’s livelihood and I write with the public’s interest in mind. That said…
Café Nicasio is a cool, quaint, well located restaurant with great service and an interesting décor. I really liked the granite walls, the small bar and the mix of low and high tables. I ordered the Sopa De Ajo (typical garlic soup), Carpaccio de Solomillo (sirloin carpaccio) and sangria. I would stay away from the Sopa De Ajo which I thought tasted like unseasoned bacon grease with croutons on top but the carpaccio and sangria were terrific.