MADRID - MESÓN TXISTU TRADITIONAL BASQUE RESTAURANT

Oct 13

2 min read

MESÓN TXISTU

We returned to Mesón Txistu Madrid, a traditional Basque restaurant a little off the beaten track. Pedro Abrego Velasco, a Navarrese restaurateur who grew up in San Sebastián, founded it in 1972. After spending ten years in Venezuela, Abrego returned to Spain and eventually settled in Madrid. Following the success of his first restaurant, El Caserío, he opened Mesón Txistu, bringing traditional Basque cooking to the capital. More than 50 years later, it remains resolutely traditional, specialising in excellent grilled meats, fish and classic Basque dishes.

The main room has a fabulous old-school setting.

There’s plenty of space between the tables.

Once settled in, we had Jamón Ibérico de Bellota.

Tomate, aguacate y anchoa (tomato, avocado and anchovy).

Almejas a la marinera (fisherman’s clams).

You can also try:

Tortilla de bacalao (cod omelette)

Rape a la plancha (grilled monkfish)

Solomillo (sirloin steak)

Chuleta de ternera a la parrilla (grilled veal chop)

Followed by some of the best pierna de cordero (leg of lamb) I have eaten.

We then had their most popular dish, the famous Chuletón Txistu.

The famous Chuletón Txistu (beef chop) is served sliced, with hot plates brought to the table so diners can cook the beef to their liking. It’s a wonderfully traditional experience, though the sizzling meat can make the dining room quite smoky. The beef is excellent.

Desserts include:

Postre especial de la casa (house dessert)

Sorbete de limón (lemon sorbet)

The wine list is excellent and extensive.

This traditional Basque restaurant offers fast, friendly, and highly professional service. The spacious interior is tastefully decorated in classic wood, creating a pleasant ambience. The atmosphere is lively, and the large tables make it ideal for groups.