Madrid, Spain
Villa Capri
CUISINE
This iteration of Big Mamma’s Italian restaurants brings the Amalfi Coast to the heart of Madrid. They offer a vast array of dishes, covering every aspect of Italian food, with their ‘Menu of the Month’ leaving you with a difficult decision to make, such was the quality of options available.
MY SCRAN CHOICE
It felt appropriate to order a staple food in Italian culture, burrata, before witnessing Big Mamma’s classic wheel.
STARTER
‘Burrata Caprese’
Juicy Burrata Pugliese Stuffed with Pesto, Accompanied with Arugula, Basil, Parmesan and Walnuts
The pesto-infused burrata made this one of my favourite burrata’s to date. The crunchy walnuts and soft giant tomatoes offered a lovely texture change from the burrata. A great start to the meal!
MAIN COURSE
‘Carbomamma’
Homemade Spaghetti Served Directly on a Wheel of Pecorino Brought by our Producer Castagna with the Authentic Tuscan Guanciale. A Plate Show! With a Supplement of Truffle.
It was impressive seeing the pasta being delivered in front of our eyes in the wheel of pecorino - a nice touch. The pasta was very rich, so I would recommend a light starter! However, the sauce was intensely creamy and the truffle supplement was divine. A must-have at any Mia Mamma restaurant!
REFRESHMENTS
These cocktails were the stars of the show. The eye-catching glasses lured us in to ordering a variety of different selections. They were all fresh and delicious, perfect for a summer day in Madrid.
‘BIG MAMMA’
Sky Vodka, Lime Cordial, Ginger Fever Tree Ale, Fresh Fruit. Light and Fruity.
‘MOJITO ROSSO’
Aged Brugal Rum, Strawberry Purée, Bitter Vanilla, Lime Juice, Sugar Syrup & Soda. Fresh, Light, Citrusy and Smooth
‘COLADA POR TI’
Brugal Extra Old Rum, Fresh Pineapple, Coconut Cream, Lime. Fruity, Fresh and Sweet.
‘SUMMER TONIC’
Bulldog Gin, Raspberry, Hibiscus, Blueberry Juice, Mediterranean Fever Tree Tonic. Fresh and Blooming, the Match for the Appetizer.
THE FEE
It was a pricy affair partly due to the number of cocktails purchased. The food was reasonably priced as with other Mia Mamma restaurants.
THE REVIEW
I have visited a brace of Mia Mamma’s restaurants in London and their continental counterpart did not disappoint. As a brand, although the menus are almost indistinguishable, it is for a reason. The food is always consistent and the decor of the restaurants really makes you feel like you are relaxing in Italy. I enjoyed the terrace atmosphere, but I would have perhaps preferred the inside setting, as it looked so impressive, and it felt like we were lacking in service at times. Their repertoire of cocktails is fun and I would strongly recommend Villa Capri for group dinners.
Room for Improvement?
More cohesion in relation to the service for customers sitting outside would have added to the experience. A further minor detail could also have improved the restaurant’s experience and that was the lighting in the toilets, as it was too dark and difficult to orientate oneself around.
THE EYE TEST
THE TASTE TEST
SERVICE
ATMOSPHERE
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
- THE REFRESHMENTS -
FINAL MATCH RATING
LOCATION
Address: C. de Hortaleza, 118, 28004 Madrid, Spain
Website: https://www.bigmammagroup.com/en/trattorias/villa-capri
Taberna La Carmela
CUISINE
Set in a bustling side-street off Plaza de Canalejas, Taberna la Carmela offers traditional Spanish food and tapas. The old-style feel evolves into a modern Flamenco show at nighttime.
MY SCRAN CHOICE
We opted for some croquettes as a light start, before sharing two king-sized paellas.
STARTER
‘Jamón Ibérico Croquettes’
Creamy Croquettes with Ibérico Ham.
In light of trying out croquettes at Cambio de Tercio, I wanted to test the quality of the homegrown talent in Madrid. These were tasty in flavour, but lacked sufficient warmth and the presentation left a lot to be desired. I was slightly disappointed with their performance, especially as it is a local speciality, but maybe a different team could have met my expectations.
MAIN COURSES
‘Seafood Paella’
‘Chicken & Rabbit Valencian Paella’
I was particularly excited to tuck in to a hearty portion of paella, seeing as it was a Spanish delicacy. They were both very nice, although the Chicken & Rabbit Paella was a little burnt. You can see by my reaction to the seafood paella, we were happy as clams - it stood out above the rest.
THE REFRESHMENTS
‘The Oktoberfest’ & ‘Sangria’
The Oktoberfest was a hefty portion of beer, and perhaps too much to consume whilst managing the king-sized paella. It was better value for money, but perhaps a normal pint would have sufficed.
As for the sangria, it’s very refreshing and we all enjoyed sharing a glass each. It came out pricey though.
THE FEE
Standard pricing for a tasty paella in a busy area of Madrid.
THE REVIEW
Fresh from Real Madrid’s Champions League victory, I was excited to see whether their cuisine also had the winning formula. It felt appropriate to check out a restaurant with a real traditional Spanish feel, and the vibe was spot-on. It was perfect for people-watching and we could really soak in the atmosphere, but the food was, on the whole, tasty but lacking any real oomph. I would certainly recommend a visit if passing through Madrid’s centre but expectations should be tempered to not expect Luka Modric styled elegance. It certainly does the job…
Room for improvement?
Although the taste of the food was good, some more attention to detail on the presentation could have left the fans more satisfied. We did not visit the Flamenco show, which from the reviews, looks excellent, so perhaps the food is a side-show to the impressive dancing.
