Asador El Rancho de la Aldegüela
Tucked into the countryside just outside Colmenar Viejo, El Rancho de la Aldegüela has been roasting milk-fed lamb (lechazo) and suckling pig (cochinillo) in wood-fired stone ovens since 1972, earning a loyal following that stretches well beyond the Madrid region. This is the kind of place where lunch stretches happily into the late afternoon.
What to order
The lechazo asado is the undisputed star — a quarter of milk-fed lamb so tender it falls off the bone at the touch of a fork, served with nothing more than its own juices and a wedge of bread to mop the clay dish.
Start with the house cured meats and a plate of migas a la pastor (fried breadcrumbs with chorizo and peppers) to set the tone before the main event arrives.
The setting
The restaurant occupies a rambling stone farmhouse with exposed beams, terracotta floors and a garden terrace that fills with Madrid families on Sunday afternoons.
Service is unhurried and generous in the old Castilian tradition — do not plan anything for the two hours after you finish eating.
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