The classics are callos, caracoles a la madrileña, manitas de cordero, rabo estofado, carrillada de ternera, bacalao a la madrileña and albóndigas de ternera. Against those the house runs a set of newer plates: pulpo with sweetbreads, confit artichokes under a veil of ibérico, a vegetable menestra with egg yolk, and escabeched partridge. All of it can be eaten at the bar.

Casa Alberto counts down to its bicentenary: founded in 1827, it has one year to go. For most of its history it was run by families from northern Segovia, the Sanz, Pesquera and de Dios, who passed it between relatives and acquaintances. In the late nineteenth century, as cafés and theatres boomed and Madrileños walked over from the Prado for a drink, the barrio filled with street musicians, rag-and-bone men and flower sellers. From 1924 the taberna had a golden run, with smart customers, strollers and office workers coming for new tapas such as herring and dried cod, vermouth taking its place as the aperitif, Valdepeñas wine arriving in cowhide skins, and, once the railway brought fresh seafood to Madrid, clams, oysters, crab, anchovies and quisquillas. Through it all, each generation of taverners has tried to keep the flavour and a certain castizo spirit.

The house makes its own vermouth, Vermut Casa Alberto, poured from the tap at the old counter and sold by the bottle, including a version aged 12 months; it has won medals including gold at the EVA awards in 2022. The bar carta runs to tapas such as a grilled artichoke with Iberian 'veil', a pepper stuffed with cod and prawns, a calamari bocadillo, battered cod and a black-pudding brownie with goat's cheese, alongside raciones of croquetas, ensaladilla and fresh calamari and the classics, rabo estofado, callos a la madrileña, a pig's trotter stuffed with oxtail, meatballs, snails and 'huevos cervantinos'. Desserts include torrija with ice cream and a castizo dessert with violet ice cream.

The walls record a long list of honours: a diploma of merit as a traditional Madrid establishment in 1980, recognition from the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Madrid, and the City of Madrid's medal in 2025.