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We’re in the middle of the spring onion season, as you’ll have seen on social networks, where every weekend hundreds of stories are shared about tasting Catalonia’s most representative vegetable. And you don’t need to be in that region to try them. In Madrid there are more and more restaurants offering delicious Calçots menus. We have compiled some of the best places to eat a good calçotada in the capital as if you were in Catalonia. Bon profit!
Can Punyetes
Can Punyetes is already a classic in Barcelona, but also in Madrid. In the capital they have been open for 35 years and even have two restaurants in the heart of the city: the first near Plaza Mayor and the second in the Las Letras district. Focusing on a particular charcoal-grilled cuisine with a Mediterranean accent, you will taste typical Catalan dishes along with others based on seasonal and local produce. Of course, their menu offers grilled calçots with romescu sauce (for €9.90) and they often have a special calçot menu for you to try in Madrid.
Calsot
The name of this restaurant located in Hoyo de Manzanares leaves no room for doubt: its speciality is calçots. They offer a calçot menu for 26 euros per person all year round. The menu includes salad, toast with tomato, Catalan sausages (white and black sausage and fuet), a portion of calçots (12 units) and a combination of grilled meats (white sausage, black sausage, grilled rabbit, lamb chops and chicken Calsot). You can also order online to make your calçotada at home.
Candeli
This restaurant located on Calle Ponzano offers charcoal-grilled and market cuisine. Of course, during these dates they also include their characteristic grilled calçots, off the menu, and you can enjoy them with a special menu for around €40 per person.
El Economato
They have two locations in Madrid: one in calle Belén, in the heart of the Justicia neighbourhood, and the other in the Las Letras neighbourhood. In this traditional tavern you can have anything from a vermouth to classic tapas or traditional seasonal stews. During these weeks there is no shortage of the typical calçots de Valls with romescu sauce on the menu, which more and more diners are asking for when February arrives.
Belbo Piropo
They have six more restaurants in Barcelona, but in Madrid for the moment only this restaurant in an unbeatable location: Plaza Santa Ana. You can enjoy delicious tapas, such as the cod churros with romesco sauce, the marinades and fried food or the beef oxtail rice dish. But at this time of year they don’t forget their Catalan tradition and also include seasonal calçots on their menu.
Lakasa
This restaurant, run by César Martí and located in the Ríos Rosas area, has a cuisine that adapts to the seasons and seasonal produce. For this reason, during this time of year it usually includes Catalan calçots on its menu. In fact, as they say on their website, they have a trusted Catalan market gardener, Pau Santamaría, who supplies them with this onion from the town of Vic. In the restaurant they usually roast them whole in the charcoal oven, and accompany them with the typical romesco sauce (original from Pau’s father, the legendary Santi Santamaría), but also with a hollandaise sauce.
Casa Jorge
They have been offering their calçotada menu for over 10 years. For 39 € per person, you have starters to share such as pa amb tomaca, Catalan sausages, cod esqueixada and escalivada from the garden. Afterwards, their famous calçots accompanied by Romesco sauce, an original recipe, and the essential bib is a must. There is also a great parrilada of rabbit with ali-oli, suckling pig chops and Alpicat sausage with “mongetes”. For dessert, Catalan custard and lemon sorbet. And paired with wine in a porrón or Cava. Casa Jorge is in the Prosperidad neighbourhood, but the Casa Jorge Group has two other restaurants in the capital: La Divina de Goya (where you can also eat calçots) and La Divina de Castellana (P.º de la Castellana, 134).
Changó
In Leganés you can also enjoy an authentic Catalan calçotada. A menu for €38,00 per person, which includes an appetizer of mini fuet, homemade croquette and tumaca bread; a first course of calçots cooked over a vine shoot flame accompanied by romescu sauce; a cod exqueixada and a varied barbecue; and with bread, glass of wine (red, white, rosé or cava sangria) and Catalan cream or coffee. Finger-licking good!
And if instead of tasting calçots in Madrid, you want to go straight to Catalonia, here we have compiled 8 of the best restaurants you can visit.
