ronp_sf's Profile
5 days in Barcelona
My wife and I just got back from 6 days in Barcelona. I went off recommendations from here, blogs, articles and guidebooks.
Whatever you do, do not plan to get "in and out" for lunch anywhere. Plan a before lunch activity and an after/after lunch activity - meaning don't "schedule" after lunch, just have something loose on the agenda.
Highlights: Can Ravell and Comerc 24. We had lunch at both places.
At Ravell, there is a 30E menu of the day that was 5/6 apps and 6/7 mains, 4 desserts. It was an insane amount of food, but totally enjoyable. Great to sample everything they have and it seemed just about everyone there ordered it. Everyone but us was speaking Catalan, but if you voiced over English, you could've easily been at a bistro on the upper east side. Everything was good, although I'd say the albondigas were amazing as was the foie/lentils.
Comerc 24. We did 4 dishes and 1 dessert. They tried to convince us to do the 7 course chefs menu but it seemed a bit much. Glad we didn't do it because we were stuffed. I just think food of this caliber is so filling. Highlight was the farmers chicken - so rich and gelatinous. The Sea Infusion, way good. Definitely worth it. We just walked in, no reservation and sat at the bar, but we were the last people they sat as they turned away 2 couples who came in after us. Oddly, we were some of the first to leave. Im very jealous of the lifestyle...
Bar Pinoxto. I not only grew up eating tripe but actually loved helping my Mom clean it for menudo around New Years Eve. Simply, the best tripe I've ever had and could ever imagine. It's called Callos or Tripas del Vendrell. It has just the right amount of sweet pepper flavor and dried herbs. I asked a chef at a later restaurant for his favorite Callos. He said Bar Pinotxo at Boqueria. It was so good that at 10 am the day we checked out (at 11), we "ran" about 3/4 of a mile so I could have one more dish before I left. 5 days later, I am still thinking about.
One tourist place that was pretty good was Cal Pep. Oddly a slight majority of people inside were English speakers. Pep himself ordered for us. Overall it was ok, the highlight FOR SURE were his version of baby clams. Great herb flavor with just the right amount of jamon bits floating.
Cuines Sta. Caterina was a bit disappointing other than the suckling pig. Yum.
Nou Celler was a great little place that I went to solo on the latish side as my wife was done for the night and I was still hungry. I read about it on StarChefs.org (like to go to places chefs recommend). The albondigas and botfiarra were just right. Exactly what you'd expect.
The 2 places we ate at the beach (Barceloneta) were Can Majo and La Mar Salada. Neither place blew us away, honestly. Serviceable, for sure and great locations.
We had great tapas at Santa Maria - across from Comerc 24.
If you plan to stay in the Born or Barri Goti, read the book Cathedral of the Sea before or while you are there. Then, make sure you grab a glass of wine in the late afternoon in the plaza in front of the Catedral Sta. Mar del Mar at Vinya del Senor.
Oh yea, if you are staying in an aparment, don't mess with buying meat from anywhere but Botifaria Sta. Maria. I kinda went crazy the night we cooked at home and was most impressed with what I got from that store.
