Club Allard, Madrid, Spain

El Club Allard, a 2 Michelin star private hideaway in the centre of Madrid, stands within “Casa Gallardo”, a splendid building with a Modernist Style, designed by Federico Arias Rey and built in 1908, situated on Calle Ferraz nº 2 at the corner of Plaza de España.  The Egyptian Debod Temple is opposite it in a huge park and we walked from there to the restaurant, only to encounter a huge amount of construction and a need to not just cross a street but rather to make a 20 minute, several block detour.  It was our over the top meal for the trip and it did not disappoint.

We had the Gourmet tasting menu and shared one wine pairing between the two of us.  Unlike some restaurants of this quality and service, the lunch menu is no different--and no cheaper--than the dinner menu.  Come very hungry because it is a large meal.  I could barely eat the following day.

A couple of things.  This was a seafood forward tasting menu, which is my favorite, living in a landlocked neighborhood as I do.  If there are things that you don't eat, they will substitute for you.  And the place is very elegant, so a sumptuous dining experience that you do not have to dress up for (there were guests in t-shirts).  The wine pairing is excellent (and pricey) and the whole experience was spectacular.