Great grilled food and other Barcelona, Spain Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: El Mussol

There are 4 Mussol restaurants around Barcelona, each specialising in flame grilled meat and vegetables.
The three restaurants I visited where large with some out door seating and seperate smoking areas. Service in all three was fast and friendly.

On my first vist, I opted to start with a huge pan of snails (well you have to try them at least once!) For the less adventurous they do some nice pasta

Unsure as to what meat I fancied for main course I went for the lot!! The mixed grill came with sausage, steak, rabbit, lamb chops and chicken. It was served with a baked potato.
As if this wasn't enough I also ordered mixed veg (grilled mushrooms, asparagus, globe artichoke, aubergine and courgette)
You can watch your food being prepared in the open kitchens usually located in the middle of the restaurant.

Food came with toasted bread with tomatoes and 2 dips - one seemed to be a basil pesto the other a garlic/cheese sauce.

All this washed down with a couple of glasses of Rioja

Needless to say, no room for desert - just coffee(although Im told their ice cream is delicious)

Favorite Dish: All the main courses are grilled - just pick you favourite meat and/or veg!
Each restaurant also has a bar serving a good selection of tapas.

I revisited two more restaurants in the Mussol chain in June. Food was still as good. The steaks are recommened.
I have noticed now, however, that you now have to order bread which is included in the final bill.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: +34.93.416.1553
Address: Avinguda Diagonal 488, 08006 Barcelona
Directions: There are four restaurants in the Mussol chain all around the Diagonal and Pasig de Gracia area. Diagonal 611-613 (Pedralbes Centre), Diagonal 488 (near Via Agusta), Casp 19 (just off asseig Gracia) and Arago 21 (again, just off Gracia)
Website: http://www.mussol.angrup.com/english/index.htm

Restaurant Name: Anima

Anima is odd, its difficult to find something you might like on the menu - it all sounds a bit strange such as 'Cold almond soup with strawberry foam' as a starter

As with most restaurants in Barcelona, you are given bread to eat whist reading the menu (here is bread is served with olive oil and balsamic vinger dips)
Feeling unadventurous I gave the almond soup a miss and instead went for king prawn salad - very nice
Main course was beef steak in a liquid cashew and cognac sauce - again very nice

Portions are not that large so I decided to throw caution to the wind and order kiwi ice cream with bail leaves and pineapple - enjoyable but not sure if I would make a point of trying it again.

The restuarant itself has a modern feel with camaflauge and fairy lights covering the aircon units. The big red bench seats are comfy and food is served by waiters who would look more at home on a surf board.
Far from traditional but worth a try

Favorite Dish: The chocolate and salt crystal truffles - strange but tasty!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Carrer dels Angels

Restaurant Name: Paraguayo

Very much a locals place, it is tucked down a side street and, to be honest, not much to look at from the outside.
Its small, the staff dont speak much English and the menu is mostly beef but dont let that put you off.
The moment you get your seat, you are offered a plate of mussels and bread with a lovely, hot chilli dip
I then went for chargrilled peppers, 2 inch sirloin steak and potatos in a roqefort sauce
Naturally, a girl has to order a Rioja with this sort of food!

Favorite Dish: You will not be disappointed with any thing you order here!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: about average

Address: c/del Parc 1
Directions: Head down to the bottom of Las Ramblas (Port Vell end) Before you hit the very end there is a road to the left C. de Josep Anselm Clave. Turn down this road then the first road on your right

Restaurant Name: Santa Ana

Great unpretensious little cafe/restaurant on Santa Ana, just off Las Ramblas.
I imagine it would be an ideal place for families with children.

I went for the paella but they also do good pasta dishes. and there is a good range of food to choose from.

One warning - if you are given bread this will go on your bill at the end. If you don't want it send it back, however, it costs less then 1 Euro and does give you something to munch on whilst waiting for your meal.

Our waiter was very friendly and the food and wine were very good and reasonably priced

Favorite Dish: I had mixed paella for one, it is quite difficult being a lone paella eater!
Very tasty and worth the wait. I was warned when I ordered it would take 20 minutes to prepare.
Sorry about the poor quality of the picture which really doesn't do the meal justice.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 93 / 3186336
Address: Santa Ana 8
Directions: Just off Las Ramblas

Restaurant Name: Pi Antic

Nice, old fashioned looking, popular restaurant in Placa Sant Josep in the Gothic area.
Range of tasty Catalan dishes and quite reasonably priced (although by no means the cheapest place you can eat)
Various people here; couples, families and groups of friends.

Favorite Dish: I had the rabbit with chips, green beans and garlic sauce.
Main meals cost around 10 Euros with bread costing extra (watch out for this if bread is given to you with out you ordering it)
We also shared a small bottle of white wine and finished with a cup of coffee.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 933017191
Address: Plaça Sant Josep Oriol, 4
Directions: Placa Sant Josep in the Gothic area not far from Las Ramblas

Restaurant Name: Trobador

Ok, in best Monty Python style...'the comfy chair'..
There is, of course, a lot more to this restaurant than some nice sofas but they do help!!

This brasserie is located is very close to the Placa Catalunya and right on Rambla Catalunya and is one of a group of restuaruants.
A very striking décor lots of black, white, red and blue with modern art work on the walls.
The menu is Mediterranean with emphasis on dishes from the grill.
I think this ranks among the best restaurants I have visited in Barcelona in terms of value, service and, needless to say, quality of food
Service was very good with our waitress willing to spend time explaining the menu to us and making recommendations. As with most places we visited, their English was fantastic.

Visit the website (see below) to book online

Favorite Dish: Started with tomato and olive oil and olives.
Main course was black and white puddings and chorizo sausage servered with white beans. Also had a side order char grilled vegetables.
Ordered a small bottle of rioja of red wine and finished with a cup of black coffee.
Very good sized portions!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 93 3184041
Address: Rambla De Catalyuna
Directions: Rambla De Catalyuna, short walk from Placa Catalyuna not far from the El Corte Inglés department store
Website: http://www.grupcacheiro.com/

Restaurant Name: Internacionale (?)

It was a Sunday and a bank holiday and lots of shops and restaurants were closed so dinner was at a Chinese restaurant. One of the few that were open and had room!
Not entirely sure of the name, something like Internacionale on Carrer de Ferran just off Las Ramblas.
Good priced Chinese food, around 25 Euros where most meals for two are around 35 Euros.
It appeared to be a small restaurant, just a few tables which filled very quickly – certainly the most popular restaurant we visited, however there were also tables upstairs. Staff very friendly and helpful.

Favorite Dish: I had a very nice Pork Chow Mein washed down with sangria. An unusual combination but it worked!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Carrer de Ferran
Directions: On corner of Las Ramblas