A while ago a colleague recommended El Inca (C/ Ruiz). The food was acceptable but expensive, and as I seem to recall, slightly overcooked. So Peruvian cuisine wasn’t on my radar when I stumbled across El Inti de Oro. Which was an entirely different matter.

My friend and I opted for the 20€ dinner menu, which kicks off with a non-negotiable platter of national delicacies. We were immediately transported by the ample bowl of ceviche – a kind of sushi in a lemon and onion dressing – and had to force ourselves to leave space for our mains.

We weren’t disappointed. The chicken in walnut sauce and hake with king prawns were both cooked to perfection; and the homemade desserts that followed deserved much more attention than our strained stomachs could offer them.

The service was impeccable, and the menu includes a Peruvian cocktail, half a bottle of decent wine, and a generous chupito of dulce de leche (shot of toffee liquor!) All in all, one of the best bargains to be found in Madrid.

Good for: groups, or a casual date. Bad for: dieters.
Reservations: 914 29 19 58; www.intideoro.com.
Address: C/ Amor de Dios, 9. Metro Antón Martín. See map below:

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