November, 2005

Rating : 8 out of 10

Tariff : Dinner for 2

• 1 pitcher house sangria ($24)
• 3 orders Tapas
• tip ($12)
• $75

Ole Madrid is a popular Gaslamp district restaurant and nightclub serving both a regular menu with salads and entrees and a tapas menu. The restaurant has a European feel with outdoor sidewalk dining in a patio area. Heat lamps keep it comfortable outside year round. Inside there are two floors; the upstairs seating is on balconies with unusual wrought iron railings. The color scheme is dark brick with cream and black, modern Spanish and Picasso-esque art adorns the walls, and the nonuniform curvaceous banquette backs hark to the architecture of Barcelona's Antoni Gaudi.

Food

Since we were dining late--keeping Spanish hours as my mother used to say--we chose three tapas dishes, beginning with the tapas plate of meat, cheese, and fruit ($14). There was pancetta, pepperoni, smoked gouda, olives in mustard sauce, several types of melon slices, and berries over greens. The selections were tasty, however it was disappointing that the young waitress couldn't describe them when we inquired what would be on the plate. Our second choice crab cakes with tangy bits of red onion were served with mixed greens ($10)--they were moist and nicely seasoned. Our third choice was calamari ($11). The chef takes tenderized pieces of the squid body, dips it in a perfectly spiced batter, fries it, and serves it with two sauces--one of the best versions we've tasted. The portions were good sized, so these three were all we could hope to sample!

Wine

There were two bars, so I'm sure there was a full selection of libations, but we wanted something Spanish to go with our tapas. We were very happy with the light, fruity pitcher of Sangria. Their house sangria has a taste of cinnamon from the schnapps and the large pitcher is full of real fruit slices. We should have had friends along to share it!

Ole Madrid
751 Fifth Ave
San Diego, CA  92101