The Melty Pan Cometh*
Pro Splendid food, in an atmosphere that's - entirely accurately - as twee as you could ask for.
Con Not Swiss prices, but not a cheap date night. Shortish menu.
Practicalities
Website https://www.lafonduedetell.com/
Access Small step from street into eating area.
Pro Splendid food, in an atmosphere that's - entirely accurately - as twee as you could ask for.
Con Not Swiss prices, but not a cheap date night. Shortish menu.
Per Person €€€ | €37pp for shared fondue, 2 desserts, bottle of wine.
Food ★★★★☆ Service ★★★★★ VFM ★★★★
Website https://www.lafonduedetell.com/
Access Small step from street into eating area.
Dietary You'll need to check. There's a lot of lactose and gluten inherent to these dishes.
In Pictures
On Google Images
In Pictures
On Google Images
The Story? Do Tell...
Hopes? Will we be high on a hill? Or will we feel let down like a lonely goatherd?
Reality? A pretty terrific celebration of Switzerland's finest food export.
First Impressions? It's a wooden-panelled alpine dining room. In Malasaña. Heidi high, indeed. Emblems of the cantons on the walls, a traditional coat cupbooard by the door. The furniture's entirely authentic. And, yes, there's an alpine horn suspended from the ceiling. It's not just that it's themed, it's that Madrid just doesn't do restaurant decór like this any more (and we were here in the era of the legendary CityVIPS). La Fondue de Tell is also a time machine powered by melted cheese instead of antimatter.
USP? There are other fondue places around, but it's central Madrid's only Swiss restaurant, with the bonus of that decór taking you into the local past as well as the distant alps.
The offer in three words? Fondue? Fun do!
Service? Excellent. Decades of experience means La Fondue de Tell's a perfectly oiled machine with staff knowing exactly what they're about.
First Impressions? It's a wooden-panelled alpine dining room. In Malasaña. Heidi high, indeed. Emblems of the cantons on the walls, a traditional coat cupbooard by the door. The furniture's entirely authentic. And, yes, there's an alpine horn suspended from the ceiling. It's not just that it's themed, it's that Madrid just doesn't do restaurant decór like this any more (and we were here in the era of the legendary CityVIPS). La Fondue de Tell is also a time machine powered by melted cheese instead of antimatter.
USP? There are other fondue places around, but it's central Madrid's only Swiss restaurant, with the bonus of that decór taking you into the local past as well as the distant alps.
The offer in three words? Fondue? Fun do!
Service? Excellent. Decades of experience means La Fondue de Tell's a perfectly oiled machine with staff knowing exactly what they're about.
Eat me! Classic Fondue Tell So, three elements to comment on here. First up, a very generous basket of bread cubes, Second the cauldron of quesos. Perfectly proportioned Gruyere, Emmental, and Appenzell (going west too east, there) seasoned with white wine and, although you'd not realise it, a splash of kirsch. It's properly moreish and acidic. Entirely authentic in taste. As this dish is the fondue Tell, as well as that bread there's a slightly bonkers-looking plate of other dippables. Smoked cocktail sausages are excellent. Pineapple's a surprise, but a very effective one - fruit and cheese, sweet and sour. Tomato and pickled onion do more or less as you'd expect. It's a fun way to try random combinations, and it's also evidently very family friendly, There are kids at almost every table.
So to dessert. Apple Strudel Basically this is what Frau Meier would knock up for you on a Sunday afternoon halfway up the Jungfrau. Warmed just right. Cinnamony apple. Some juiced-up dried fruits. Delicious. Would merit a scoop more ice cream, though. Cheesecake is, simply, an expertly-made creamy classic with some decent acidic raspberry sauce for added interest.
We accompanied this with a bottle of Godello, by the way. Whites are definitely recommended with these dishes.
Friend friendly? Vegetarians will be fine. Vegans aren''t necessarily going to do too well here, unless you can arrange a vegetable-only fondue bourguignonne, which is oil rather than cheese-based,
Rating for dating? Yes. La Fondue de Tell's fun. You try things and share stuff. There's lots to talk about.
Tip? Book well in advance. A couple of weeks for weekends.
Change one thing? Minor sustainability point. I'd have served less bread upfront and offered a refill if needed. I don't know what happened to the half-basket we didn't need.
Revisitability? Absolutely. Although La Fondue de Tell's cuisine, and it's not alone in this, is best enjoyed in Madrid in the months when the clocks, cuckoo-enabled or otherwise, have gone back.
Change one thing? Minor sustainability point. I'd have served less bread upfront and offered a refill if needed. I don't know what happened to the half-basket we didn't need.
Revisitability? Absolutely. Although La Fondue de Tell's cuisine, and it's not alone in this, is best enjoyed in Madrid in the months when the clocks, cuckoo-enabled or otherwise, have gone back.
*Yes. Coupling!