Madrid can be an intimidating city for veggies, given the mass of ham, fish and seafood on display in bar and restaurant windows and on counters. However, from the past decade the traditional dominance of carnivore-oriented establishments has been challenged by a small but growing number of vegetarian restaurants.

There are many dishes made specially for veggies:; for instance the "tortilla" (made with eggs Spanish-style), pimientos fritos (fried peppers), berengenas al horno (eggplant baked in the oven), calabaza guisada (stewed pumpkin), setas al jerez (mushrooms cooked in sherry) and pisto (with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant courgettes, and onions all cooked in oil and garlic). In the same way, in several restaurants in Madrid, you can order vegetables separately.

� Al Natural
Address: C./ Zorrilla, 11, Central Madrid (at near metro: Banco de Espana, close to Parliament Buildingg) - Phone: 913694709 Price: Around 20�. Metro: Banco de Espa�a.

Just behind the Congress, their most popular dishes are stuffed aubergines and leeks with brie.

� Artemisia
Address: Ventura de la Vega, 4 (at Metro: Sevilla, off Carrera de San Jeronimo) Phone: 914295092 Price: Around 25�. Metro: Sevilla Run by �scar Castro since 1990.

Their most popular dish is Farah Diba, made from mushrooms stuffed with pat�, asparagus, aubergines and gouda cheese.

� Ecocentro.
Adress: 4 Near Rio Rosas and Cuatro Caminos metro Phone: 9188535502 Website: www.ecocentro.es Price: Around 20�. Metro: Rios Rosas/Cuatro Caminos.

At this restaurant you can enjoy tabuleh with pesto seasoning or baked tofus - they also have a shop where you can buy vegetarian products. The Ecocentro Website for this establishment details all the menus for each day of the week.

� El Estrag�n.
Address: Plaza de la Paja 10 (at metro La Latina/off a quiet square by the Palacio Real). Phone: +34-913658982 Prices: Around 30�. Metro: La latina.

A tavern-restaurant which offers, amongst other things, soya meatballs, whole and paella of brown rice and gluten escalopes.

� La Galette.
Address: Barbara de Braganza, 10 (at Metro: Colon, near Plaza de Colon) Phone: 913193148 Prices: From 20 �. Metro: Col�n.

El Mundo says that it is "perfect for romantic, candlelit dinners". The apple croquets sound interesting at this venue.

� La Isla del Tesoro
Address: Manuela Malasa�a, 3 Phone: 91 593 14 40 Prices: Around 20�. Metro: Bilbao.

Given the name of the place, Treasure Island in English, customers feel like they're in a pirate movie! Boletus (mushroom) ravioli and sorbet of mojito (apparently a Cuban drink) are on offer.

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� Eating in Madrid