La Casa del Abuelo

Prawns, standing up and no reservation

The first Casa del Abuelo opened in 1906 at number 12, Calle de la Victoria, between Puerta del Sol and Carrera de San Jerónimo, and is still run by the same family. It is a narrow tavern, with a bar and little else, with tiles and a mirror on which the menu is painted. You come here for one thing: garlic prawns, which arrive in a clay dish with the oil still boiling.

The double portion of garlic prawns costs €20, and the dozen grilled prawns €27. To go with them, langostinos in batter (€12 for seven) or red-prawn croquettes. The house chato of sweet wine is €2.50, a tall draught beer €3.40 and vermouth on tap €3.10. Ask for rustic bread, because the oil from the prawns demands it.

If you are a group, change street

This tavern does not take reservations: it serves in order of arrival, every day from 12:00 to 23:00. If there are several of you and you want a guaranteed table, the house itself refers you to its venues at Calle de la Cruz, 11, and Núñez de Arce, 5, a few metres away, which do accept reservations on their website. Opposite, at Victoria, 9, they have another venue with its own menu.

As there are no reservations, the wait depends on the hour: for an easy round before dinner, on weekdays you have more leeway than on a Saturday.

Where it is

From Sol station (L1, L2 and L3) it is three or four minutes: you come out onto Puerta del Sol, take Carrera de San Jerónimo and turn right into Calle de la Victoria. Plaza de Santa Ana and the Barrio de las Letras are just behind.