Cornucopia

Description:

• Set on a narrow side street adjacent to the medieval Plaza de Descalzas Reales, this restaurant occupies the mezzanine level of what was originally a 19th-century private palace. Its glamour and allure derive from its ownership by four partners, two of whom (Jennifer Cole and her cohort, Kimberly Manning) are American; the others are French-born François and Spanish-born Fernando. Set inside a pair of elegant and airy dining rooms whose gleaming parquet floors remain from the original decor, the restaurant displays frequently changing paintings, all available for sale. Menu items include mussels with fennel and a roasted red pepper sauce over black fettuccine, grilled baby hen with mushrooms and sherry sauce, and grilled pork tenderloin stuffed with brie and bacon and served with a pomegranate-apple compote and a red wine reduction sauce. Desserts are sumptuous and might include a dollop of such original homemade ice creams as mojito. Named after the classic Cuban cocktail, it's flavored with mint, lemon, and rum. The food is well prepared, the ingredients are fresh, and the staff is among the most welcoming in Madrid.

• © Frommer's 2013