Food. Service. Ambiance. Yes. Yes. Yes…read more The first night we went without a reservation but they managed to accommodate us in a lovely private room. That was a great start to a delicious meal that everyone enjoyed. I wish I could have tried all the appetizers. In hindsight, this might be the way to go! The food and service were so on point that our group went back a second time (with a reservation) in our four days in Barcelona. This time we ordered the epic Chocolate Bonsai dessert to cap the meal. It had a satisfying amount of chocolate with textures and tastes that leave you wanting more. I shared this dessert... and wish I didn't The noise level was high but otherwise this one scores high on every aspect of the dining experience!

My last visit was in 2022, but as of 2024, they've still got it!…read more Excellent food and service with classic dishes as well as many more adventurous options. Everything is beautifully presented and they handled our large group with ease. Definitely make a reservation, especially if you've got a large group. They may not have a Michelin star, but they're as good as or better than any place I've been that has one. If you're in the main part of Barcelona, it can be a trek out here (it is SO worth it), but if you're staying by the convention center and its nearby shopping mall, it is an easy walk and I haven't found anything else in the area that comes close.

May '17: Loved this little restaurant. Lovely food, the service by Mario was outstanding. It is…read morenoticeable in the employees that they love what they do and enjoy to serve people and share their culinary skills with the world.

From the owner: Bacalao a la llaunaread more

Delicious! We were looking for a local place near our airbnb. Everything we ordered was delicious…read more It is a busy spot. The service was very good.

We were told Spaniards don't drink so much Sangria -- they drink Vermouth! So, that's what we…read moresought during our first few days in Barcelona. This place came up on a Google Maps search in a neat neighborhood away from the touristy La Rambla, so we decided to check it out. We were made aware that in Spain, one simply has to stand around and wait for a table to vacate in order to sit -- the host doesn't really facilitate, and there is not written waiting list or anything like that. We waited for about 15 mins. Our host maybe didn't speak a ton of English, and generously agreed to translate the Catalan menu into simple Castellano that my partner and I could understand. His first question was essentially, "How hungry are you?", and then he proceeded to suggest some dishes. The Vermouth was definitely great. The pan con tomate went well. The patatas bravas went well with the drinks. The chicken tenders aren't something we'd get again (albeit we liked the 2 different sauces).

La Mestressa is such a great vibe and one of the defining experiences from my trip to Barcelona!…read moreHere are a few highlights: 1. The neighborhood - I stayed at the AC Hotel Sants while visiting Barcelona. The Barcelona Sants train station was adjacent to the hotel, and the property was in a walkable neighborhood surrounded by restaurants, convenience stores, and other businesses. There was also a deceptively nondescript alley right next to the hotel that I didn't explore right away. Turns out, that alley leads to a vibrant, hidden plaza (Plaça d'Osca) with restaurants and shops, where locals in the Sants neighborhood hang out. This is also where La Mestressa is located. 2. The food and drinks - I got dinner with two friends at La Mestressa one evening. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, a bottle of wine, and a wide selection of tapas, croquettes, and a couple main dishes. My personal favorites from the meal were the sangria, patatas bravas (crispy potatoes with sauce), octopus, and the salmon salad (not pictured). Each of those dishes were well-seasoned, had great textural contrast, and provided either familiar comfort (patatas bravas and octopus) or a completely new flavor experience (salmon salad). The sangria was light and refreshing. 3. The service - Our server was bilingual and provided satisfactory service. She was warm. The service was well-paced, and she attended to all of our needs as a group. 4. The ambience - As I previously mentioned, both Plaça d'Osca and La Mestressa were a whole vibe. If the terms "off the beaten path," "honeycomb hideout," "in the cut," or "rural retreat" mean anything to you, this area similarly provides a nice place to "retreat" and immerse yourself in a local neighborhood right in the heart of Spain's second largest city. It's the perfect place to drink wine and sangria and while away your evening. :)

We were in the neighborhood on vacation, and were looking for someplace to eat. They had room so…read morewe stepped in. Honestly the rest of Barcelona has been ruined for us now. We ate other places, but none of them compare. Not the market, none of the other small tapas places we tried. It's as if the others aren't even trying. If you are near Plaça de Sants, you will not be disappointed.

De les millors carns que he provat mai. Molt recomanable les carxofes a la brasa i el mitg mitg.read more

Everything here is excellent. Super traditional food, simple and delicious. Apparently some famous…read morepeople come here regularly as well.

I first had the opportunity to try Basque cuisine about 5-6 years ago during a work trip to Boise,…read moreIdaho (home to one of the largest Basque communities outside of the Basque Country in France and Spain). That meal turned out to be one of the highlights of that trip, so I was ecstatic to find a Basque restaurant near my hotel in Barcelona. I quickly beelined over to the restaurant for a solo dinner that delivered in spades. While both the service and ambience was satisfactory, the food is what truly mesmerized me and singlehandedly salvaged an otherwise dull day that I had spent resting and recuperating from Barcelona's stealth attack on my sinuses. Le sigh. In terms of the food, the tomato and tuna belly salad was refreshing and delightful. The octopus and pig's feet carpaccio was hands down the single best dish I ate in Spain. The richness of the dish along with the texture and exquisite flavor was akin to eating a gourmet version of souse (or hog's head cheese), which I grew up eating in the US Deep South. I ended the meal on a high note with Basque cheesecake. In summary, here are my final thoughts on this remarkable three course meal: Perfecto! Me gusta mucho Cocina del País Vasco!

Everything was top shelf! Reviews are on point.the food, beverages, atmosphere, and service is top…read morenotch. You leave full and still light on your toes.

Just a great restaurant with tasty food and and super friendly and helpful people- I have been here…read moremultiple times on my every trip to BCN - fantastic experience Every Single Time. Thank you Garlana

I loved their seafood paella (and I don't usually even like paella)! The patatas bravas was good,…read morebut not the best I had (the mayo was too heavy). The Spanish broken eggs were delightful. The coca bread was delicious, with crispy bread and fresh tomatoes. Everything from the fruits to the seafood tasted super fresh.