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Ecocentro: A Vegetarian Restaurant
Melina Glynn
One option for vegetarians travelling through Madrid is a small but worth while restaurant called Ecocentro. Located on Calle Esquilache near Metro Ríos Rosas, Ecocentro is in actuality a Heath center, with a book store, herb and medicine shop attached to a vegetarian restaurant.
The Restaurant
First let's talk about the restaurant itself, which is situated below the rest of the shop. After walking through the shop that smells like candle and incense, you find yourself in the restaurant that smells more like spices and lovely fresh food aromas. The décor of the room is very earthy and conducive to dining on biological or organic cuisine.
The menu is filled with a wide range of selections, all fully vegetarian or even vegan. It is broken down into various sections that allow you to choose from any classic to a chef's original creation. Options include starters, main course, salads, desserts, organic wines and beers, warm drinks like teas, and several blended fruit juices and yogurt drinks. In addition there are several menus for each day of the week that appear very nice and reasonable.
The Meal
 To start both my dinner mate and I had fresh fruit drinks. I tried a Malaga, with yogurt and several blended fruits, while she had a simple but classic orange juice which was also great and very fresh. Next, I opted for the Ensalada Tabuleh as a starter, a couscous (semolina grain) salad with lots of veggies and a great pesto and olive oil dressing. My dinner partner tried the crema de verduras, a blended creamy soup full of flavor and very tasty. Sharing and savoring a bit of both between us was a great option.
 Next came our main course, which between the two of us ranged from very standard and simple, and more innovative. The dinner mate had pesto ravioli, a cheese and spinach ravioli with a pesto (olive oil and basil) sauce, which is very good and perfect for a less adventurous palate. Feeling more brave I tried the Buñuelos de Tofu (beniets of tofu).This is essentially small portions of a tofu, carrot and zucchini batter lightly cooked in olive oil beniet style. These were served on a plate with a small cabbage salad that complements the many incorporated flavors and spices used very nicely.
Finally, for dessert we chose from many options, and enjoyed a light and fresh crema de límon, with plain yogurt, and pieces of lemon rind. It's healthy and perfect for the end of a meal.
The Shop
 As mentioned before Ecocentro is much more than just a restaurant. Whatever your interest in "alternative products and services" (as they call them) from herbal remedies, incense, scented candles, books on health or spirituality, natural cosmetics, health foods, or even information on classes and conferences for anything health or spirituality related.
 The philosophy of Ecocentro is to offer not only typical vegetarian food, but imaginative and international food in a good atmosphere, that also preserves health. By combining the restaurant and shop in one store Ecocentro maintains an atmosphere of health at every end of the spectrum.
| What? |
Ecocentro: Vegetarian Restaurant and Health Store |
| Where? |
Calle Esquilache, 4 (joined also with Avenida Pablo Iglesias) |
| When? |
Lunch and Dinner. Advisable to make reservations by calling: Tel. 915 535 502, Or for more information: Fax. 915 333 107
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| E-Mail: |
eco@ecocentro.es |
| Transport |
Metro: Rios Rosas, L1 |
| Cost |
Between € 8 and € 12 a plate |
Melina Glynn
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