Seeking a spicy and curried respite from the myriad of ham and chorizo-wielding restaurants which line Madrid’s steets, my friends and I decided to sample the city’s Indian fare this past Friday night. We ambled along Calle de Lavapiés, where we were soon submerged in a sea of prix fixe menus and endearingly zealous restaurant doormen attempting to lure customers with their trilingual charm. (Quite reminiscent of New York City’s E. 6th St.) It seems that the colorful, sometimes hokey experience which accompanies dining at an Indian restaurant is not geographically-dependent.

Keeping in mind the unfortunate combination of our current unemployment and the plummeting value of the U.S. dollar, we chose the location that touted the cheapest and most extensive menu. The restaurant’s terracotta-tiled walls and ample lighting were more characteristic of a small family-style restaurant than an ethnic hole-in-the-wall. A variety of typical Indian dishes were available, from matar paneer to chicken vindaloo. I chose chicken tikka along with nan and basmati rice. Poppadoms were placed before us, yet they were studded with fennel rather than spicy lentils. The flatbreads were crispy, yet I prefer the lentils over fennel.

My dish’s entrance was quite theatrical — it sizzled and popped ominously from what constituted the stomach of a cow-shaped, cast-iron plate. The carrots, caramelized onions, cilantro, and lemon provided flavor that was somewhat lacking from the dry pieces of chicken. Overall, I’d say the dish’s visual debut had outshone its gustatory performance.

The rest of my group loved their dishes; chicken vindaloo, lamb saag, and palak paneer. Everyone equally enjoyed the price — the tab totaled a whopping 32 euros for four people. For a price that reasonable, I would definitely return with another group of hungry students and order a different dish.

Last night, my friends and I wanted to find a cheap meal before scoping out the bar scene in Madrid’s East Village, Malasaña. We chose Bar Casa do Compañeiro, a bar and family-style restaurant with a large selection of bocadillos (sandwiches), tapas, and raciones (larger portions of tapas) at impossibly cheap prices.

Unlike the States, in Spain one should not judge a restaurant by its crowd — or in this case, a lack there of. The joint was empty, except for the seemingly infinite number of family members who continued to emerge from the kitchen. At first, this struck me as something quite peculiar. The restaurant looked more like the family’s living room than a dining establishment. However, as the night progressed, my perception regarding the atmosphere changed as I realized that the family’s (at times) chaotic presence complimented the restaurant’s unpretentious food and decor.

I ordered a tortilla española, a cake-like wedge of eggs stuffed with potatoes. My friends ordered croquetas and a bocadillo de calamares. Croquetas are a cardiologist’s nightmare — a rich concoction of creamy bechamel, cheese, and diced pieces of ham encased by a crispy breaded coating. The bocadillo de calamares, or fried calamari sandwich, was enormous and simple. It consisted of lightly fried rings of chewy squid between what seemed like an entire loaf of bread. Since the food was definitely on the heavier side, the small-to-medium portion size was more than enough. Each meal was equally delicious and inexpensive — my meal, which also included bread and a caña, or a small beer, tallied a mere 5,40 euros.

Bar Casa do Compañeiro
Calle de San Vicente Ferrer 44
Madrid, Spain
91.521.57.02

Price Rating: $