AMAYA GARCIA

Updated Friday, March 29, 2024-02:19

When the holidays arrive, the capital regains a certain calm. Just enough to enjoy it at another pace and with another perspective. Here is a selection of proposals for these festive days: a Chinese 'brunch' based on din sum and tea; a terrace to have tapas and cocktails with the most spectacular views of Gran Vía; an Italian to go with the family and try the delicacies of the Emilia Romagna region; places where Nikkei cuisine shines with ceviches and nigiris; a temple of meat to get out of the city, a charming grocery store in Malasaña and a climbing space with a proposal in its canteen based on local and 'eco' products. Staying in the city has never been so appealing.

Onno lomo saltado.

ONNO: A MENU OF SENSATIONS

Here the protagonists are the Nikkei snacks - a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese cuisines -. These days they have launched a menu called

Viaje Onno

, where citrus fruits, spices, powerful flavors and colors fill the dishes. Among the most notable passes, the akami toast with red tuna loin marinated in ponzu and sesame oil; tenyaki mushrooms (tempura mushroom mix) and shrimp sautéed in sake over creamy carrot and coconut milk. There is no shortage of nigiris: scallop, sea bass, tuna belly and crispy, steak tartare and flamed Iberian bacon. Sagasta, 23. Menu price: €50

THE PRINCIPAL: WITH THE BEST VIEWS

If you have to stay on the asphalt, you have to look for height plans. The Hotel The Principal opens the La Pérgola terrace with a proposal based on delicious snacks, cocktails and dreamlike views of the Gran Vía. The Iberian ham salad and bikini are essential on the menu, as is the hamburger, a hit that never fails. The liquid part, signed by bartender Daniel Cruz, is presented with drinks such as the Chulapo (vermouth infused with Pedro Ximénez and tonic foam) and La Movida (a version of a Paloma with tequila, roasted red pepper cordial and grapefruit). Marqués de Valdeiglesias, 1. Average price: 30 euros.

Dim sum from Lelong Asian Club's Yum Cha.

LELONG ASIAN CLUB: THE MOST ORIGINAL BRUNCH

We already have the first Yum Cha in the capital, a Cantonese celebration enjoyed on weekends when families gather to eat dim sums and drink Chinese tea. This original brunch starts with a cart that offers pieces such as xiao long bao of Iberian beef in its juice, xiao long bao of beef cheek, ha gau of prawns and ginger, bao stuffed with Sichuan-style broth, chicken legs with abalone sauce or rice cannelloni with shrimp, among others. Main dishes include crispy Hong Kong-style bacon and caramelized Iberian secret sheets. Carrera de San Jerónimo, 9. Average price: €40-45

Fresh Settebello pasta.

SETTEBELLO

This restaurant catches the eye - due to its size and decoration - but it conquers, above all, with its cuisine, which is transported to the Italian region of Emilia Romagna. It offers an extensive menu with good proposals for fresh pasta (rigatoni with smoked Roman pancetta, egg tagliolini with tomato sauce and typical Bologna onion...) and pizzas with sourdough fermented for 72 hours (the carpaciosa and carbonara of pumpkin). In the antipasti you have to try the vitello tonnato with mango and curry, the melanzane and the Emilian gnoccos. For dessert, the pistachio tiramisu and cheesecake are highly recommended. Our Lady of Valverde, 191.4. Average price: €30-35.

Robata's room.

STEAL

In this restaurant in the Salamanca neighborhood everything revolves around robota, the famous Japanese charcoal grill. Chef Fabiola Lairet is behind the gastronomic proposal, which has just incorporated a tasting menu with some of her dishes most appreciated by diners. The miso soup starts the experience, which has a selection of varied cuts of sashimi, tuna tataki, hamachi tiradito, sirloin skewer, wagyu gunkan and, of course, nigiris (aburi salmon and toro and foie). In this space, those with a sweet tooth are tempted by their cakes, which never disappoint. Callejón de Puigcerdá, 4. Menu price: 80 euros.

Meat is Essentia's specialty.

ESSENTIA: TEMPLE OF THE MEAT 40 MINUTES AWAY

For those who want to leave the city for a while, Tarancón has the perfect excuse. There is this dining room specialized in meat. Their carved beef entrecôte, mature old cow chop and Galician blonde beef tenderloin stand out, among other options. They also offer fish daily, which varies according to the market offering. The menu is loaded with exquisite bites, such as their candied artichokes, their famous torreznos and the seasonal tomato carpaccio. In addition to the restaurant, they have a gastrobar to enjoy a more informal snack and a hotel if you want to spend the night. Adolfo Suárez Avenue, 30. km 79 of the A-3. Average price: 70 euros.

Pucara prawn anticucho.

PUCARA: A TRIP TO PERU

The gastronomic proposal of this space focuses on dishes and flavors of Peru. And with a concept designed to share at the table. Subbocados are rich in nuances, with Asian seasonings and Mediterranean ingredients. Their croquettes are essential, with chicken chili and ossobuco and marrow; the typical anticucho, which here is prepared with prawn and octopus and, above all, their ceviches (with Nikkei tuna, Thai seafood and corvina and crispy squid with a citrus background). There are pleasant surprises on the menu, such as Amazonian chaufa rice with smoked notes or quinotto. Príncipe de Vergara, 200. Average price: 30-40 euros.

Nikkei Lima Pig.

NIKKEI LIMA: A CEVICHE OF HIGH HIGHNESS

This place located near Castellana prepares a really good ceviche (the traditional corvina) and in its nigiri offering there are original and delicious ones (tuna and foie, smoked chili tuna, braised anticuchero sirloin...). His Nikkei proposal has found a place among fans of Japanese-Peruvian fusion. For main dishes, two good options are the Nikkei lomo saltado (juicy pieces of wok-fried beef tenderloin, accompanied by French fries and rice with Peruvian corn) and the Nikkei chanchito (crispy pork with potato mulsion). The cocktail offering is great. Rosario Pino, 8. Average price: 35-40 euros.

The rib of Ultramerines del Coso.

ULTRAMARINES DEL COSO: THREE SPACES IN ONE

This space in Malasaña has a small winery or food store reminiscent of traditional grocery stores or grocery stores, a tasting bar and a restaurant with the soul of a 21st century tavern. Chef Andy Boman's proposal mixes a crispy Thai ear ssam with nam prik and some lamb skewers with tahini, sumac and flaky bread, with some funky tripe and a smoked sea bass tiradito with yellow chili, sweet potato and avocado. Smoked foods have a lot of prominence, both in the gilda, the smoked bacon and the salmon salad. The wine references offer pleasant surprises. San Joaquín, 16. Average price: 40-50 euros.

Arkose Burger.

ARKOSE: CLIMBING WITH 'ECO' CANTINE

Children and vacations always mean looking for interesting plans. At Arkose, a space located in Cuatro Caminos, the idea is to enjoy some time climbing (with options for all levels) and also a delicious meal in its canteen, where local and organic products set the tone. On the menu there is everything from gourmet burgers (also with alternatives for vegans) to Russian salad or potato omelet. There is no shortage of Asian-influenced proposals such as karage (crispy marinated chicken). They have a children's menu and delicious desserts, with their cheesecake being their favorite. Lumberjacks, 4. Average price: 25-30 euros.