Casa Paco, La Latina, Madrid
A traditional Spanish Restaurant where the House Speciality is Steak cooked on a hot plate at your table!
I took Dan to Casa Paco for Date Night on our last trip to Madrid as it’s his Dad’s favourite restaurant and he’s been raving about its steak for a long time. It’s a traditional-looking restaurant in La Latina, on Plaza Puerta Cerrada, 11 not far from Plaza Mayor or Calle Cava Baja. The outside is painted red and green with big yellow writing so it’s pretty hard to miss!
We ate late, as they do in Spain, having had some drinks and tapas before so we were pretty hungry when we wandered in at 10 pm. Walking into Casa Paco, there are locals drinking at the bar and it feels like a pretty authentic place. We were shown straight to our table and we sat down and ordered a bottle of wine – the Muga Reserva 2011, which luckily we both love, because the wine list wasn’t very extensive and actually, that was the best and most expensive bottle on the menu, priced at €35!
Plenty of old bullfighting pictures and the tiled walls made this feel like a traditional restaurant and it actually seemed like there were a lot of Spanish eating there and not too many tourists.
We were offered the menu which was pretty extensive. I’ve found that in traditional Spanish restaurants like this it’s usually best to order the House Speciality – it will definitely be what they’re famous for and they will have the cooking of it down to a T! For example, if you go to Restaurant Sobrino de Botin, (read about my visit here) I would recommend ordering the suckling pig (so famous that Hemingway mentioned it in his novel ‘The Sun Also Rises’) or the sopa de ago (an egg, poached in chicken broth, and laced with sherry and garlic). In Casa Lucio you just have to order their famous Huevos Rotos (Fried Potatoes topped with a runny fried egg) – they’re the House Specialities for a reason as it’s what they do best! And obviously at Casa Paco, it’s the steak!
We ordered some starters, Dan was desperate for croquetas so he got one filled with ham and cheese while I really wanted some chorizo so we ordered a plate of that too. We also decided to share the Pork, Manchego and Roquefort skewer as it sounded intriguing…
Your guess is as good as mine, we were pretty confused when it came out. Not a skewer in sight but just some rather large lumps of meat and cheese on a plate. At least it tasted good, and the produce was really good quality, if somewhat lacking in presentation. The plate of chorizo was enormous, definitely too much for one person as a starter so I was glad we were sharing it. The quality too was amazing and it went beautifully with the Muga which was oaky and spicy with dark fruit flavours, plenty of body and a hint of cinnamon.
For mains, obviously, we ordered the steak, but not just any steak. We ordered the House Speciality Solomillo for two which I believe translates to a Sirloin cut. It was a sight to behold – It was enormous and came out perfectly charred on one side and completely rare on the other. We were given a hot plate in the middle of the table and the idea was that we were to sear the steak ourselves, to just how we like it.
Well, you can probably guess that mine barely touched the plate before I whipped it off for a bite – I like it very rare. Honestly, it was the best steak I’ve ever had, super rare in the middle with just the right amount of crispy charring on the outside and with so much flavour! It was obviously well aged and I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a tastier steak. Absolutely delicious. The pisto that I’d ordered to go with it (not being able to eat the chips) was another House Speciality and actually went really well with the steak. Almost like a ratatouille but less tomatoey, (full of onions, peppers and courgettes) it was fresh and you could taste all the individual vegetables and it added a lovely sweetness to the dish.
The portions were huge, so big in fact that as amazing as the steak was, I couldn’t finish it all and we definitely didn’t have any room for dessert. A couple of coffees was enough to finish with and we left just after midnight – I think we might even have been the last ones in the restaurant! Casa Paco certainly lived up to our expectations…and Dan’s Dad’s recommendation!
Pin Casa Paco for later
My husband studied abroad and Spain and said the food was incredible!!!
Looks like an amazing place to visit. I’ll definitely have it on my list for the next time i visit Madrid!
What a lovely place, the food looks just delicious. Lovely review. Kaz x
Oh wow! The steak sounds amazing! There’s nothing more I love than a good steak. The chorizo looks pretty good, too!
I love it when they cook the steak at your table. this does look very tasty I might have to visit here when I’m next in Madrid
Love your description of the presentation of the “rather large lumps of meat and cheese on a plate’. This cracks me up and makes me wonder what the chef had in mind…probably something very artistic sounding like, “The food is displayed using negative space and a minimalist feel so the strength and passion of the food alone stands out for the ultimate experience for the diner.” LOL!!
LOL indeed! Well it definitely wasn’t a skewer – maybe something was lost in translation…
Three of my favourite things in one meal – Rioja (I am a BIG fan!), chorizo and steak. Food heaven!!
Hoping to visit Madrid this year so I will definitely bookmark your post.
Aaah Madrid – place of our first trip ever. Isn’t it a beautiful jewel? I still cannot decide if Madrid or Barcelona is more charming but it doesn’t even matter, since both are amazing. I think we have even been in quite a similar restaurant in Madrid – the food in these places is truly fantastic.
I’ve been to both and I definitely prefer Madrid – I just don’t love Barcelona, not really sure why but I go back to Madrid a couple of times a year – I just fell in love with the city!
Madrid all the way, I fell in love with the place and go there twice a year now – I just didn’t love Barcelona at all, maybe I should give it another go!
From your description this looks like a fine restaurant with well-made food. Prices seem okay as well. How did you think about the staff and service overall?
The staff were great, really friendly and I think it helped that it was full of locals so it’s not a touristy place where sometimes the staff can seem a bit arrogant.
I remember when I was in Barcelona, my friend and I were usually starving because Spaniards eat so late or we would be the only ones in the restaurant from arriving too early! Looks like you all got to stuff your faces with excellent food and wine – those always make for a great time.
I know, I’m used to having my dinner at 6.30, luckily the tapas fills you up between then and dinner! And the food is definitely worth waiting for!
Absolutely love Spain and the food! I just read your Segovia post too. Love that historic little town.
Thanks for that – I had such a great time in Madrid. I love that city and try to go back at least twice a year!
Those foods look so MMM. i feel so hungry right now
wow. Nice Restaurant, Lovely dishes. Its really amazing and its a nice place to visit. Thanks 4 sharing
Ooh yum, that steak looks amazing! Sounds like you really enjoyed it!
This sounds like such a lovely restaurant. I’ll have keep your tip of ordering the specialty next time I’m in a Spanish restaurant.
That steak looks so delicious! I always love trying authentic local cuisines, and Casa Paco sounds pretty authentic. I do like ordering the restaurant specialty usually though, partly because I’m too lazy to decide for myself what I want to eat, but also because I want to try what the restaurant is best at! I don’t think I’ve ever had a house specialty that wasn’t tasty. Definitely want to give this a visit next time I’m in Spain!
I love Spanish food! This made me so hungry! Love how your review is off a nice little independent place rather than a big chain 🙂 eating local❤️
The restaurant looks lovely! I’m going to Madrid in February, so I’ll definitely write down the name of this place. The photos of the food and wine makes me long for Spanish gastronomy!
The steak looks yummy but im with you about presentation and those lumps of meat and cheese lol
It sound like a great restaurant, the food looks yummy .
OMG! First, that looks like a TON of food. I’d try to eat it all because you know, clean plate club and all, but I would be STUFFED after that meal.
It’s always so fun when a restaurant comes with a little twist like cooking things at your table.
I love that you do restaurant reviews! It makes me want to travel abroad more.
Isaly Holland |
My mouth was watering as I read this, what a lovely restaurant and what amazing looking food!
The restaurant does look like a house. And the food also looks delicious.
I would love to visit Madrid, will keep it in mind for when we eventually do
If I ever find myself in Spain, I will no doubt, be trying this place!
You always share the most delicious looking photos! 🙂
This looks like a great place to visit.
It’s always a joy to read your blog, Emma, as you write about two passions of mine; namely travel and food. I love how you’ve included the menu and an extensive photo collection into this post. Spanish cuisine could be one of the best. Paella is probably one of my favourites!
Thanks for the lovely comment George. I wish I could eat Paella but unfortunately rice is not my friend – but you have just given me an idea for a Paleo Paella! Great to meet another foodie traveller:)
This restaurant seems awesome. Hopefully I will be able to travel to Madrid someday to enjoy it.
Okay, a vegan here, so I can’t comment about how amazing the steak looks but it looks like you had great food, so that’s all that matters!
xoxo
Radhika
I would love to visit one day. This place look amazing and i love Spanish foods. xx
I don’t eat meat but my partner does and he would absolutely love the steak being cooked at the table!!! I love Spanish food though – so fresh and tasty. Great review
Laura x
ooh yummy the steak looks amazing