Madrid is no stranger to fine marine life, but the staggering, still-twitching shellfish counter in the nautical-themed El Pescador has created a new wave in crustacean crazy.
More Scandi than Spanny in vibe with a washed-out palette, white kitchen lamps and pretty checked tablecloths, the space is divided into laid-back diner and busy bar area, where you can perch like a local and ‘picar’ on refined renditions of anchovies on toast, cuttlefish croquetas and cod tortilla.
Get your knobblies under a table for larger share plates like bonito escabeche, mussels in white wine, and pan de cristal topped with garlicky fresh tomatoes. Or if a menu in Spanish proves a little too taxing, press your nose against the magnificent glass case at the front, displaying jewels of the sea like Galician velvet swimcrab, king prawns from Sanlucar, and crayfish from Marin. And for those who are allergic to shells, there’s plenty of jet-fresh fish, cooked to perfection whichever way you like, Mike. Marisc-oooh!
El Pescador, Jose Ortega y Gasset, 75, Madrid, +34 91 402 1290, marisqueriaelpescador.net
