After living in Madrid for over three years, I recently joined a local food review team and wanted to share this interesting experience with everyone. This team is mainly composed of a group of food-loving locals and expatriates who explore restaurants in different areas of Madrid together every weekend.
How the Team Operates
Our review team has about 15 regular members who stay in touch through a Madrid food and wine bars WhatsApp group. Before each activity, the organizer posts information about the restaurant we’ll be visiting that week in the group, and everyone signs up voluntarily. Usually 4-6 people go each time, which allows us to order more dishes from Madrid food alley to taste. We split the bill equally, and occasionally give advance notice when encountering particularly expensive restaurants.
The Specific Review Process
Upon arriving at the restaurant, we first take photos to document the environment and dishes. Everyone records their evaluation of the dishes in their notebook or phone, including aspects like taste, portion size, and value for money. After the meal, everyone shares their ratings and comments in the group. We use a 10-point rating system, and the average score becomes the overall rating for Madrid Spanish paella that restaurant.
| Rating Category | Weight | Description |
|---|
| Food Taste | 40% | Flavor, freshness, cooking technique |
| Service Quality | 25% | Service attitude, serving speed |
| Ambiance | 20% | Decor, cleanliness, comfort |
| Value for Money | 15% | Balance between price and quality |
Recommended High-Rated Restaurants
After more than six months of reviews, we’ve discovered some truly recommendable places. Casa Julio in the Malasaña district has amazing fried squid - although the environment is modest, the taste is first-rate, averaging around 15 euros per person. Restaurante Carpe Diem in the Chamberí district serves authentic seafood paella, not the kind prepared for tourists, and requires advance booking on weekends. The tapas bar Juana La Loca in the La Latina district is also worth trying - their croquetas are the best I’ve ever had.
If you’re also interested in food reviewing, you can search for similar teams on Facebook or Meetup - Madrid has several such groups. Before joining, I suggest attending one or two activities first to see if the atmosphere suits you. By the way, most teams welcome newcomers and don’t require any professional background - you just need to love food and be willing to share.
