Casa Delapio

Beside the bullring

Casa Delapio opened in 2003 on Avenida de la Plaza de Toros, south of the centre of Aranjuez. It is now run by Gonzalo and Roberto, and describes itself as market cooking with a touch of the avant-garde. The base is the produce: vegetables from the Aranjuez kitchen gardens, fish and shellfish of the day and meats with designation of origin. Besides the menu, each day they write a board of suggestions with what they have found at the market: fresh vegetables, Roberto's stews, fish and shellfish and meat from free-range animals. Ask about it before ordering.

It has two dining rooms, for 20 and 30 people, which can be booked for celebrations, and a bar for tapas with wine or craft beer.

What to order

The menu is organised in blocks. In the vegetable section, which is not necessarily vegan, there are dishes with Aranjuez produce, such as spring onions with egg-yolk and pancetta carbonara or kitchen-garden cruciferous vegetables with romesco sauce, pomegranate and almonds. To start, Iberian shoulder croquette (€2.50 each), Soria torrezno (€7), Santoña anchovy with butter and puff pastry (€4) and pringá empanadilla with hummus.

Among the fish, cod loin with black garlic and honey alioli (€24), fresh squid with trotters Biscay-style (€20) or sea bream from the Barbate salt marshes for two (€35). Among the meats, Galician beef entrecôte (€26), sirloin with Café de Paris butter (€28) and Galician beef txuleta at €65 a kilo; in season game and stews appear, such as stewed La Mancha partridge, wild boar or venison loin. Prices from the menu published on its website; they may change.

At the bar, the tourist office highlights elaborate tapas: Iberian ham and cured meats, cheeses with designation of origin, anchovies, mojama or croquettes.

The cellar

It is one of the house's strong points. They look for wines from small producers, little-known plots and rare grapes, with labels from every denomination of origin in the country. On the website they publish a selection of rosés, whites, reds and sparkling wines; in the restaurant there are more.

Before you go

It publishes no opening hours: call 91 892 09 82 to book and confirm it is open. If there is no table, the house itself refers you to A Terra Delapio, its Galician tapas tavern, opened in 2012. They also sell gift vouchers for the tasting menu with wine pairing.

It is a walk from the centre. Before lunch you can see the Royal Palace or stroll through the Island Garden. If you arrive by train, the Cercanías C-3 stops at Aranjuez station.