- This Monio Group restaurant has become a gastronomic benchmark in Alcalá de Henares thanks to its carefully prepared cuisine, which is based on traditional recipes but with a modern twist. The star dish is its Alcalá torreznos (fried pork rinds), made using a recipe that is the restaurant’s best-kept secret.
- Alberto Sánchez, founding partner of Fino Bar, has chosen his hometown to lead his most personal project after training at the city’s Hospitality School and working at restaurants such as Azurmendi and Santceloni, where he gained the experience to manage the dining room and wine cellar and offer impeccable service.
- With ten establishments and six own brands, Monio Group has not only transformed the culinary scene in Alcalá de Henares, but has also established itself as a leading hospitality provider in the Corredor del Henares region, with a presence in Madrid city centre as well.
Alcalá de Henares is a city steeped in history, home to a university, with cultural attractions and lots of tourism. Not to mention that it is one of the gastronomic destinations of the Community of Madrid. Its centre, full of life and visitors, offers a wide variety of cuisine. In this context, Fino Bar stands out, a restaurant that has become a meeting point for locals and tourists alike thanks to its carefully prepared cuisine, impeccable service and a wide selection of wines that can be enjoyed by the glass. At the helm of this benchmark for leisure and gastronomy in Alcalá is Alberto Sánchez, maître d’ and co-founder alongside Fran Rodríguez, manager of the Monio Group.
Fino Bar offers a versatile menu that adapts to different occasions and customer profiles. Its majestic bar invites guests to enjoy its culinary offerings in a more informal setting: tapas and pizza with a glass of wine, a vermouth—made for the restaurant at the Bocamanga winery—or a beer from its Mahou kegs, which produce 3,500 litres of beer per month. Meanwhile, its elegant and comfortable dining room offers a more relaxed atmosphere, designed for meals with family, friends, celebrations or even business meetings. Added to all this is a carefully prepared daily menu, which brings the cuisine closer to everyday life and has made Fino Bar a regular stop for both locals and visitors. This coexistence between proximity and gastronomy, between bar and table, is part of what has established it as one of the city’s essential landmarks.
Traditional cuisine with a modern twist
Raúl Álvarez, who previously worked in the kitchens of Casino de Alcalá and Francesco’s, is in charge of the kitchen and prepares traditional cuisine with a twist. He adds his personal touch to traditional recipes to set himself apart. His signature dish is Alcalá torreznos, made using a recipe that is the restaurant’s best-kept secret. But you can also try other dishes such as creamy cecina croquettes, veal shank boissant with green tomatillo ketchup, peppers stuffed with cod brandade with prawn tartare, or some of the main courses on the menu such as veal sweetbreads and hummus or the fish of the day. In addition, they offer four signature pizzas as a reference to the origins of the Monio Group, Francesco’s Pizza.
Alberto Sánchez, the heart and soul of Fino Bar
Founding partner and restaurant manager, Alberto Sánchez is the heart and soul of Fino Bar. After training at the Alcalá de Henares School of Hospitality and the Chamber of Commerce as a sommelier, and working at Michelin-starred restaurants such as Azurmendi and the now defunct Santceloni, he returned to his hometown to launch Fino Bar, his most personal project. Sánchez was already part of the Monio Group for four years at Casino de Alcalá, where he managed the dining room and put his knowledge to use in the wine cellar. Now, he is at the helm of this restaurant, where he puts his heart and soul into offering a personal, welcoming service that makes customers feel at home. ‘I love what I do, and diners may come back for the food, but also for the way we treat them,’ explains Alberto Sánchez. He is also in charge of the restaurant’s wine selection. The Fino Bar wine cellar houses some 115 wines, almost all of them Spanish. Sánchez, who also works as a sommelier, guides diners through the wine list, asking questions, listening and understanding what they want at any given moment in order to recommend the right wine.
FINO BAR
Address: C. Carmen Calzado, 15, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid
Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1:30 p.m. to midnight; Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Telephone: 918 328 564
Average price: €30-35
Source: ACCIÓN Y COMUNICACIÓN
