Barcelona Restaurant Tips by Roadquill

Taverna de Bisbe: by the Gotic Cathedral

We stopped at Taverna des Bisbe for a lunch time meal and break after morning full of visiting monuments and walking down Passage de Gracia. Just on the corner of the placa of the Gothic Cathedral by metro St.Jaume 1, it is clearly a tourist supported venue. I was not expecting much, and the food was just OK as expected. However, the beers were cold and large and we enjoyed our company.

Favorite Dish: We had a selection of olives, chorizo, mushrooms and grilled vegetables. It was OK...

Address: Av. Catedral, nº.: 6-8, 08002 Barcelona

Comparison: about average

Directions: Next to the Old Cathedral...in Bari Gotic

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.tavernadelbisbe.com/eng/menu.htm

Puda can Manel: Seafood in Barceloneta

Located across from the old port in Barceloneta Puda can Manel features both a paella (rice) and fideua (noodles) washed down my a great deal of beer and sangria. We sat outside and enjoyed the evening. The food was pretty good, but I was expecting more based upon the reputation. The fideau should have had a little more seafood.. too much sugar in the sangria.

Address: Passeig Joan de Borbó, 60-61

Comparison: about average

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.pudacanmanel.com/

Cappuccino: Cafe in Bari Gotic - Metro Jaume 1

AT the corner of Laeitana and Carrer de Jaume 1 is a large, spacious cafe with many goodies, but most importantly I was able to get a cafe latte later in the evening. It is a busy area, right across the street from the Jaume 1 metro stop.

Address: 23 Via laietana

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Coffeehouse

Restaurante Electricidad en Barcelona: Old Fisherman neighborhood

This is a genuine, old school, the way it was eating experience as one will find in Barcelona. Casks of wines and sherry on the wall, specials noted on the blackboard on the wall. Not a fancy place, but everyone in the place was having a great time. The wine/sherry charge is based upon an estimate of the amount you drank by the proprieter. When a couple of guys came in singing Catalan flamenco, the proprieter danced as much as anyone else in the place.

Favorite Dish: We enjoyed a tasting of various tapas and sherry to wash it down.

Address: calle Saint Carles 15, Barceloneta

Comparison: less expensive than average

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

La Vinya del Seynor: Wine Bar in Born Ribera area

Located in the small square facing the entrance to the church of Santa Maria del Mar, the Vineyard of the Lord is a nice place to sit and enjoy the crowd while enjoying an excellent Priorat and pretty good food. There are only a few tables available in front, and we were fortunate to be asked to join a couple from England as they were just finishing up. We enjoyed a healthy dose of Iberian jamon and tried for interesting tapas such as the meat cannelonies with mushrooms.

Favorite Dish: The Camins de Priorat was excellent as well as the cannelonies.

Address: Place de Santa Maria 5, Born Ribera

Comparison: about average

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Wine Bar/Wine Tasting

Orio Euskal Taberna: Basque Style Tapas

Orio Eudkal Taberna is on one of the main pedestrian streets in Bari Gotic, just a few minute walk West from the Jaume I metro stop. The prices are reasonable, the food excellent and you can either do tapas (you can pick your pleasure off the counter) or they regularly walk by with plates of freshly made orders. One can also order from a menu if you want a more conventional plate or a salad. Our server Ernesto made sure our party of 8 was well taken care off. They charged old style, 1.95e by the stick or oyster shell) From the simple choriso sausages to the seafood salad lathered in white cheese, the food was great and all had a fun time.

Address: C/ Ferran 38, Barcelona

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Bari Gotic

Phone: 9052 520 522

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Local