La Botillería de Maxi

Description:

• A source of endless bad puns from "offally good" to the "offal truth," this genial old-style spit-and-sawdust establishment, located in the quieter lane parallel to Cava Baja, specializes in just that. Offal, or -- to be more precise -- dishes like callos (tripe in a rich sauce) or entresijos and gallinejas (the latter two are deep-fried lamb's gizzards, gallinejas generally being of a slightly higher quality). Acquired tastes or not, there are many who find these essentially madrileño dishes delicious from the word go, especially at Maxi's, where you can be sure they're as good as it gets. If the thought of munching internal organs makes you squeamish -- however well cooked and presented they may be -- then there are the old standby raciones of aromatic jamón Serrano or pungent cabrales cheese to fall back on. And whatever you have you must accompany it with the hearty house red wine.

• © Frommer's 2013