If you’re looking for a quick and healthy salad in Madrid, I have the place for you!  Petit Appetit is a great spot for fast salads or grain bowls, and they’re all made to order, so you get to be in charge.  It’s Salad Works meets Whole Foods hot bar.  Luis and I went there earlier this week for a quick and healthy bite together and we both loved the concept, the atmosphere, and (I thought) the food was decent, but could be better.  

Basically, this is a great spot to go for a quick lunch where you know exactly what’s going into the meal and for just 8.95 Euro/ bowl, you aren’t going to break the bank.  Head over, get in line, and tell the employees exactly how you want them to design your bowl.  You’re able to choose two “bases” (pasta, rice, lettuce mix, spinach, etc), then 5 toppings (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, etc), and then 1-2 sauces.  It’s a simple concept that allows everyone to have exactly what they want, which I really liked.  What I didn’t like is that nothing actually has an FLAVOR except the sauces, and I didn’t think they were wonderful.  I would like to see more roasted vegetables, herby grains, and homemade dressings.

Petit Appetit: Monte Esquinza 1

• Address: Calle del Monte Esquinza, 1, 28010 Madrid (Metro Colon or Alonzo Martinez)
• Atmosphere:  Casual, quick-food style, with a slightly modern feel.  Lots of light and enough seating since people tend to eat and leave.  This is the type of place you stand in line to order, pay, then sit down.
• Type of Food:  Build-your-own salad bowls, soups, quiche, fresh-squeezed juices.  They also do wraps.
• What I ordered:  Luis and I each ordered a different bowl. He ordered a base of double rice and a bunch of toppings and I ordered half rice, half spinach, 5 toppings and a vinaigrette dressing.
• My date: Perfect, as always.
• Recommendation:  If you go between 2:30 and 4, it will be busy but that line tends to move quickly and you should be able to find a seat.  They also do take-away orders, so that’s an option.  The 8.95 Euro build-your-own price is only available Monday- Friday.

Rating: 7.5/10 for food (love that it’s fresh, but like I said, it lacks flavor and it’s not technically anything “special”) and 9.5/10 for atmosphere (very bright, sufficient seating.  Could be a bit more comfortable, but you can’t win them all)

Would I go back?:  Yes, for a quick lunch with Luis, but I wouldn’t go completely out of my way.