Ten Con Ten

Ten Con Ten, is currently one of Madrid's most talked about restaurants.  Nestled in the city's exclusive Barrio Salamanca, this chic location is perfect for that special occasion.  The different zones of the restaurant have different themes, some more rustic and some more luxurious.  There are also exclusive private dining areas towards the back. The vibrant and expansive front bar fills up quickly and offers a slice of the Ten Con Ten experience to those who couldn't get a table, the dilemma facing many of Madrid's yuppies.

I took my parents on my Dad's birthday and we certainly weren't disappointed.  The aperativo of pumpkin soup and a selection of homemade breads set the tone for the evening before we moved on to a sharing starter of "Panko Prawns". The flaky crispy breadcrumbs combined with the sweet curry sauce made for a simple but delicious dish and there was plenty for two or even three people.

For my main course, I went for the "Suckling Pig with Braised Caramelised Apple".  The tender pork, the simultaneous sourness and sweetness of the apple and the rich reduction underneath the meat came together into a truly spectacular plate of food.  Mum went for the "Lobster Tagliatelle" which was tasty albeit a bit stingy on the lobster.  Dad opted for the "Fillet Steak with Truffle Sauce" and was not disappointed.

Dessert however, was where trendy Ten Con Ten fell down.  As an ice cream connoisseur, I went for the "Pistachio ice cream" which lacked any nuttiness or texture and actually tasted quite artificial.  We asked a more senior waiter if it was homemade and he replied that it was homemade by a supplier, which had me giggling.  Rather than accepting my dissatisfaction gracefully he was somewhat gruff and it was disappointing that the service didn't match up to the quality of the food we had enjoyed throughout the evening.  

I'm no wine expert, but the wine list was extensive and the in-house sommelier was knowledgable and charming and recommended a 2007 Ribera del Duero which complimented our choices to perfection.  The wines are also very reasonably priced (well, compared to the UK anyway).

After my evening at Ten Con Ten I fully understand why everyone thinks it's the place to be seen at.  The food is sumptuous, the atmosphere is second to none and given the quality of the food we ate (apart from the ice cream) it's not over the top price-wise.


Price: 50-60€ per person.

Service: ☆☆☆
Food: ☆☆☆☆☆
Decor: ☆☆☆☆☆

www.restaurantetenconten.com