Naomi Grill

Arabic — By admin on March 19, 2007 12:00 am

A trip to Naomi Grill, one of Madrid’s two Sephardic kosher restaurants, gives one pause for thought. Entering the white, crisply decorated space and seeing the yarmulke-clad clientele snaps Spanish history into sharp focus.

Ironically, if one weren’t reading the menu carefully, one might assume Naomi was a Moroccan restaurant…which just happens to serve kosher Spring rolls. What, did a portion of the diaspora make it as far as China? Giuseppe Gavizon, the owner, simply smiles and replies, “It’s the only place some people can eat spring rolls.”

Amid a wide range of North African-related dishes, Naomi prides itself on its assortment of Tajin, a stew-like dish cooked in a special earthenware vessel. The chicken tajin, for example, is a sweet, saffron-spiced dish simmered with prunes and almonds. They also specialize in couscous dishes including the traditional lamb option.

The wine list, or course, is fully kosher and the desserts are the traditional baklava.

If you like North African cuisine, you’ll love Naomi Grill. Any historical epiphanies you may have while eating are free of charge.

Naomi Grill
C/ Pensamiento, 25
Metro: Tetuan
91 570 69 23
Hours: 13:00 to16:00, 20:30 to 23:00 Sunday to mid-day Friday
Closed Friday evening and Saturday