Address - 1-22-18, Higashi Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Opening hours - 5:00 pm to 12 AM. Closed on Wednesdays Map - Yes Telephone - 5389-6002.6040 Fax 5389-6045 Menu - In Japanese and Spanish on a blackboard CC - No

Meson Madrid is an excellent place to go to if you need to relax, a piece of Southern Europe that magically appears as soon as you open the door. I know that it sounds trite, but in this case it happens to be the best description of the interior I can find. The decor isn't contrived at all and made me feel right at home. The place is staffed by a mother and (cute) daughter team who never seem to be in a hurry. The former, who used to be married to a Spaniard, when the phone rings picks the mouthpiece up and starts yelling in really fast Spanish while washing the dishes or turning omelets. The restaurant is the Mecca to many Spaniards who live in this sector of Tokyo, hosts many cultural events, especially music, and sells Spanish products of various kinds.

We ordered many Tapas and all turned out to be very good. I enjoyed immensely eating sliced "choriso" (Spanish coarse-grained salami) with Jamon (Spanish raw ham, harder and less sweet than the Italian one) and hot, home-baked bread. The rest of the stuff, that is Pulpo Alioli, Calamares en su Tinta, Tortilla Espanola, Empanadillas and Acetunas, is probably tastier at Tio Danjo (see above), but you can't beat the atmosphere and the Cherry wine you get here.

The wine list contains, as usual, only Spanish wines, among them twelve reds from all over the country.