La Lorenza, a Lavapiés tavern lady for those who are homesick from Galicia
footbath boasts of multiculturalism not only in its streets, where you can hear cumbias that sound from analog radios also in meetings in squares , where children play while their parents and other neighbors hang out…. All of this melting pot translates into the bars and restaurants that crowd the main streets of the neighborhood: Italian food begs for Indian food (halal or not), and the Mexican coexists with the Greek or the Senegalese.
Still it's not easy find such authentic proposals like the one they have developed since the lorenza , a tavern lady -as they have nicknamed her- with pedigree , and that we would baptize as a temple to go to every time the day has left us exhausted or we need to revive after a week of worries.
It is no coincidence that this place - which during 50 years hosted an old bar and that now its new owners have reformed- is right in in front of one of the most hidden churches in Lavapiés, San Lorenzo.
Facade of La Lorenza
Because, as we said, both have a function purely spiritual , and in times of lack of references, it is appreciated that we can find shelters like La Lorenza, a place that follows keeping its old spirit (they still serve curly potatoes with mojo picón that its former owner prepared) but that is also spacious (a virtue and even more so now that the square meter is paid for at the price of gold), and is divided into two rooms: one with an infinite and metallic bar , and another in which the cellar and tables, allow us to enjoy more relaxed and intimate dinner.
Their owners, Claudia and Xan , they decided to open this new place (they own Skirt , also in Lavapiés) realizing that despite the endless culinary options in the neighborhood , there was no eating house that it was in the intermediate point between the table with cloth tablecloth and the too informal tavern.
Letter from La Lorenza: ancient but modern
In La Lorenza they will attend you with closeness and although you will never feel that they are watching you, everything will always be in its place , without you realizing it.
Here the genre is essential: Xan, who is from Santiago de Compostela, surprises his customers with fresh products from the Rias Altas What razor clams, cockles or mussels with sea urchin sauce . The most interesting thing is that they are not on the menu; it is the market and availability that dictate the suggestions of the day . So it is possible to go for a wine and end up having some wonton cannelloni for dinner with turnip top potato foam , accompanied by a bowl of broth.
La Lorenza croquettes
Among the usual the potato omelette (served on a Sargadelos plate) with Mos chicken eggs (a farm that the owners regularly visit), the burrata salad or croquettes (ham or spinach) .
But also the gyozas of octopus, cuttlefish empanadillas in their ink or butter skate with Pedro Ximénez reduction . Also, Every Friday they serve Galician stew . The wine list also offers a great variety, in which the presence of the Albariños and the Ribeiros is evident.
In short, a menu that is not too extensive (this is always a good sign) in which each dish makes sense. Enlivened, all this, with The Kinks or Jefferson Airplane.
Welcome to heaven on earth.
La Lorenza cheese cakes
Address: Calle del Dr. Piga, 3, 28012 Madrid See map
Telephone: 911 82 69 28
Schedule: From Tuesday to Friday, from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.; Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.; closed Monday
Half price: €20