One day it's fine, the next it's black
Basics
Location
Website ? We think so, but aren't completely sure.
Per Person
Sandwiches €1.60
Cakes €3.50
In not so many words
B and H have both paid visits recently. How did it go?
Hopes?
B A fine Argentine sandwich. A competent breakfast.
H A sneaky mid-week cake.
Reality?
B Like the national football team. They score plenty of goals, but lack organisation.
H An overly sweet, small chocolate cake posing as a mini sachertorte.
First Impressions?
B Smart shabby chic.
H Busy.
A USP?
B Classy chicken sandwich.
A The pastries looked very good.
The food in three words?
B Consistent good quality.
H Nice looking bread.
Can they get the staff?
B They can't organise themselves for toffee. OK, dulce de leche.
H The guy serving salads was doing a stellar job.
Service with a smile?
B Yes, but they're under pressure, so it doesn't always last.
H Too busy for smiles but I was served promptly.
Would you take your friends?
B Pop in if passing. Don't make a trip out of it.
H I might pick up bread for a friend.
Rating for a dating?
B Morning after the night before, probably. Should we assess take-up for a break-up?
H Too busy to be cosy.
Tip?
B Not as such.
H Not there long enough .
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
B Appoint a head waiter/duty manager/multi-syllable job title of choice.
H Apricot jam, not over-sugared rapsberry something, in the imitation sachertorte.
Going back?
B I want to. But might walk right back out.
H I'll try the croissants if I'm passing.
In not so few words
I quite like Miga. The decor looks like Maisons du Monde furnish cafes. Maybe they do. The breakfasts are fine. The usual Madrid suspects, including classic/trad Cafe con Leche are the order of the day, but quality is good and prices are OK. H found that pseudo-Sacher wanting, but the sandwiches - although only two of the eight or so on offer are OK for the V-mnded - are a highlight for me. Delicious Argentine style thin slivers of ham or cheese or tomato amongst others in that amazing finely cut bread Argentina is famous for and which La Franco Argentine, for instance, sells in bulk. Tomato and spinach versions are available, and the chicken sandwich, for those that way inclined, is a delight. Absolutely delicious, and one of the best fresh sandwiches I've had in Madrid.
So, food and drink - good. But my experience is the place is often about as organised as six cats in a sack. This can make eating, ordering or taking away needlessly complicated. Food to go? The counter has three seperate sections and there's no hint how many queues the staff expect to deal with. Eating in? Ordering at the counter or at-seat are both encouraged so well-meaning waiters frequently dash off, leaving other customers hanging on. A single till - and CC swipe machine - slows things further, with staff having to queue to use it. Now, some may enjoy this sort of lark, it's a matter of preference - and patience. But it's also a question of business savvy, and shows a lack of it.
H went in for cake and found things went pretty smoothly. I walked in for sandwiches and saw half a dozen people waiting in two seperate queues to be served by one game waiter. Along the bar, several other staff were forced to wait - maybe for the till, or for milk to steam or croissants to toast. And so the queues got longer. So?
The end of time? Sod that for a game of soldiers. I needed lunch, pronto.
I went to Rodilla next door. They got my €4.20 instead. A shame, as we must credit the staff, who are helpful, friendly and very willing. This isn't the purgatory known as Viena Capillanes. They just need someone to take a look at the bigger picture and make sure things are under control.
Basics
Location
Website ? We think so, but aren't completely sure.
Per Person
Sandwiches €1.60
Cakes €3.50
In not so many words
B and H have both paid visits recently. How did it go?
Hopes?
B A fine Argentine sandwich. A competent breakfast.
H A sneaky mid-week cake.
Reality?
B Like the national football team. They score plenty of goals, but lack organisation.
H An overly sweet, small chocolate cake posing as a mini sachertorte.
First Impressions?
B Smart shabby chic.
H Busy.
A USP?
B Classy chicken sandwich.
A The pastries looked very good.
The food in three words?
B Consistent good quality.
H Nice looking bread.
Can they get the staff?
B They can't organise themselves for toffee. OK, dulce de leche.
H The guy serving salads was doing a stellar job.
Service with a smile?
B Yes, but they're under pressure, so it doesn't always last.
H Too busy for smiles but I was served promptly.
Would you take your friends?
B Pop in if passing. Don't make a trip out of it.
H I might pick up bread for a friend.
Rating for a dating?
B Morning after the night before, probably. Should we assess take-up for a break-up?
H Too busy to be cosy.
Tip?
B Not as such.
H Not there long enough .
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
B Appoint a head waiter/duty manager/multi-syllable job title of choice.
H Apricot jam, not over-sugared rapsberry something, in the imitation sachertorte.
Going back?
B I want to. But might walk right back out.
H I'll try the croissants if I'm passing.
In not so few words
I quite like Miga. The decor looks like Maisons du Monde furnish cafes. Maybe they do. The breakfasts are fine. The usual Madrid suspects, including classic/trad Cafe con Leche are the order of the day, but quality is good and prices are OK. H found that pseudo-Sacher wanting, but the sandwiches - although only two of the eight or so on offer are OK for the V-mnded - are a highlight for me. Delicious Argentine style thin slivers of ham or cheese or tomato amongst others in that amazing finely cut bread Argentina is famous for and which La Franco Argentine, for instance, sells in bulk. Tomato and spinach versions are available, and the chicken sandwich, for those that way inclined, is a delight. Absolutely delicious, and one of the best fresh sandwiches I've had in Madrid.
So, food and drink - good. But my experience is the place is often about as organised as six cats in a sack. This can make eating, ordering or taking away needlessly complicated. Food to go? The counter has three seperate sections and there's no hint how many queues the staff expect to deal with. Eating in? Ordering at the counter or at-seat are both encouraged so well-meaning waiters frequently dash off, leaving other customers hanging on. A single till - and CC swipe machine - slows things further, with staff having to queue to use it. Now, some may enjoy this sort of lark, it's a matter of preference - and patience. But it's also a question of business savvy, and shows a lack of it.
H went in for cake and found things went pretty smoothly. I walked in for sandwiches and saw half a dozen people waiting in two seperate queues to be served by one game waiter. Along the bar, several other staff were forced to wait - maybe for the till, or for milk to steam or croissants to toast. And so the queues got longer. So?
The end of time? Sod that for a game of soldiers. I needed lunch, pronto.
I went to Rodilla next door. They got my €4.20 instead. A shame, as we must credit the staff, who are helpful, friendly and very willing. This isn't the purgatory known as Viena Capillanes. They just need someone to take a look at the bigger picture and make sure things are under control.
