Vega Bar: Appetizing Activism in Madrid

A short walk from the city center (address below) is the unassuming entrance of VEGA, a trendy tapas bar and restaurant serving creative and delicious vegan dishes to as many people as the space can hold.

The menu offers Spanish as well as international wines and several non-alcoholic drinks. I ordered a local wine and a Jamaica water (a hibiscus infused drink) and Maddy chose a lemonade.

There are many appetizers to choose from, and three come on a tray so we went with guacamole and corn chips, smoked pepper and onion strips, and baba ganoush.

Maddy is always a sucker for potatoes, so he went with the herbed potato wedges served with a side of their house-made barbecue sauce. They came out piping hot, perfectly salted, and disappeared just as fast as they arrived.

When I saw mushroom croquettes on the menu, there was no question about it — I had to try them. Croquettas are a staple in Spanish cuisine, but it’s nearly impossible to find croquettes made without cheese of some sort, so this was striking culinary gold. And no doubt about it, they lived up to their reputation — of course, how can one go wrong with giant fried filled breadcrumbs?

I chose another winner when I opted for the spaghetti with meatballs. This Greek twist on a traditional dish comes drenched in a tzatziki-like sauce sprinkled with pistachios. Yes, it’s as delicious and unique as it sounds and looks! The portions are generous and we saw many diners eyeing my plate once this was served… can’t blame them though — the rich and inviting smells were a temptation for us all.

The star of the evening, though, was the roasted seitan steak with a smoky barbecue sauce and sides of roasted veg: eggplant, sweet potato, mushroom, and asparagus. I’d read about it on HappyCow but didn’t imagine just how incredible it could be. This dish would be at home in any 5-star restaurant — vegan or not!

I topped the evening off with espresso and a deconstructed black forest cake served in a martini glass with fresh whipped (vegan) cream and sorbet. This, too, makes my “must-do” list in Madrid when it comes to dining.

Maddy finished with a slice of homemade warm apple cobbler with slivered almonds, cashew cream, and cinnamon. Simple, handmade, and delicious.

Don’t leave Madrid without trying the BBQ Seitan or Black Forest Cake at VEGA, both are rich, decadent, and 100% cruelty-free. Find them at Calle de la Luna 9 or call 910704969 for reservations. You can also message them via Facebook, here.