Overrated and not worth the wait. If you can get in without much of a wait (good luck) then I think it's worth a go. However, if you find yourself standing towards the end of the line up against the wall (or heaven forbid, OUTSIDE the door), there are many other good (and superior) options nearby. Cal Pep opens at 7:30 pm and we arrived at 7:15 pm, which put us squarely at the end of the sorry queue perched along the back wall, watching everyone who had come in ahead of us sitting at the counter and enjoying a delightful meal. Sometimes coming as a larger group does pay off, as they would take in parties of 4 ahead of smaller parties to sit at tables outside in the back. But singles, pairs, and trios were otherwise fated to wait for a seat at the counter. Thankfully, each service took only about 45-50 minutes, but during that time we noticed that this place probably gets a lot of positive foreign press. We felt surrounded by many English (or non-Spanish speaking) diners, and even one couple brandishing a Delta Airline Inflight magazine article featuring the restaurant and its owner, seeking an autograph from the man himself. So what about the food? Our waiter simply recommended a series of tapas to which we willingly obliged, although they seemed pretty happy to accommodate requests (one diner next to us said, "I don't really like seafood" - seriously?!?!). My favourite of the bunch was the deep fried collection of squid, sardines, and shrimp - nothing fancy and nothing I haven't had elsewhere, but I simply have a soft spot in my heart for deep fried piles of goodness. The omelet and tuna tartare dishes seemed to be both typical standards, but they did serve us a squid and chickpea dish that I could have done without. We eyed another couple eating a wonderful squid dish, lightly dressed with olive oil that looked absolutely scrumptious, and were I to do this again, I would have asked for something like that. We did get a plate of razor clams and clams that were both simply cooked and delicious, so I think that anything that they can pull off with less is certainly more. If they ask about dessert, skip their Creme Catalan. It can be found anywhere, and they manage to Disney-ize their dish by having the restaurant's name emblazoned on top of the dessert without adding much more to the dish. But if asked whether I would come back again, I would not if I had to line up. But if the evening was drawing to an end and I saw a few empty seats at the counter, there's very little that would keep me from coming back to that plate of deep fried deliciousness calling out my name. read more

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I can't say enough about Cal Pep other than it was by far the best meal we had in Barcelona, and that is saying a lot! We got there about 15 min before it opened knowing it gets crowded. As soon as we sat at the bar the waiter took our drink order and asked if we wanted him to make a selection of tapas for us. We agreed and he proceeded to ask us a number of questions about our food preferences and restrictions. Soon a fantastic array of dishes began to arrive beginning with Pa amb Tomàquet, and a plate of tiny clams that were phenomenal. We then had tender Calamari with "Bait fish" that was also amazing. This was followed by a Tuna Tartare served with toast and finally Cuttlefish and Chickpeas. The cuttlefish tasted like tender lobster claw meat! We drank Cava and wine and left very happy, sure to return. read more

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Oh boy. Another solid, under the radar tapas spot. Another small bistro where it's best to grab a counter seat and let them do the ordering for you. We got clams, tomato bread, fish, meat and potatoes, and a simply amazing spanish omelet. The food... so good. Paired with some breakfast cava and a overly friendly waitstaff, this is how your first meal is supposed to be when abroad (if you go just to eat, like me). Top three spots for all the meals we had in españa. If you're in the area, stop in (for more than a bite)! read more

While Cal Pep was one of the more surprisingly expensive meals of my trip, I enjoyed it immensely. After standing to eat most of the week at 100-year old tapas restaurants, it was nice to sit down and relax while eating some pretty stellar food. Given the language barrier, we let our server run wild sending items to our table, and that turned out to be a good strategy. Lots of items made their way that we probably wouldn't have ordered ourselves. The standouts included the whole white fish, fried artichokes, steamed clams, and who doesn't love a copious amount of pan con tomate? Paired with lots of cava and house vermout, and it was a nice midday snack. Our friendly server was an aspiring showman and had one trick he really enjoyed pulling on our group. This slight of hand involved pretending every wine glass was about to fall off the counter before he poured it. It was funny the first 3-4 times he did it, but by the 9th time, it was tough to muster a laugh. If any magicians read this review, pop in and teach him a card trick or the disappearing thumb maneuver. He needs a few new gags in his arsenal. read more

Kind of overrated overall, especially for vegetarians. We went here on our final day in Barcelona because we had heard about the experience, but it is not as great as it seems. They only ask you about your allergies and dietary preferences but it pretty much seems like they have a fixed menu every night and just force whatever available dishes to you even if you may like it or not. For vegetarian tapas, we got to try the bread with tomato, cheese platter, fried artichokes, Spanish omelet, and Spinach with Garbanzo Beans. The bread with tomato was above average - very crispy and not hard to eat at all and a good amount of tomato sauce, but not too much. The cheese platter was also quite good - cheese smelled great and tasted great of course as well - make sure to save some of the bread because it pairs well with that. The fried artichokes were easily the best part of the meal. They were extremely crispy but were a little bland. We asked for some sort of side sauce and the waiter gave us a spicy mayo and it absolutely made the fried artichokes taste even better. He also gave us sriracha and they were really good with that as well. So if you are a person that likes the flavor, definitely feel free to ask. The Spanish omelet was pretty bad - it was bland and had extremely poor texture. I couldn't even bother finishing my last piece. The worst dish of all was saved for last - the spinach and garbanzo beans. I was thinking there would be some sort of flavoring, but it was so so bland. It was literally a plate of freshly cooked beans and spinach. I took two bites and was done. Overall, this is not a great place for vegetarians because the menu is already so limited per day and will only be even more limited for vegetarians. The service is a little slow and the experience is not really what is advertised to be. read more

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Warning: Make sure you come here before they open at 7:30PM otherwise the wait will be long. We came here at 7:25PM and there were a bunch of people in front of us already. We had to wait till first round of people to finish up before we could sit down to eat. The energy is definitely there with chefs cooking up the dishes right in front of the bar stools and master chef Pep yelling and ordering. There is a dining room with tables in the back but is only reserved for groups and people who make reservations. Walk-ins only get bar stools but most people seem to be doing that anyway. We ordered 5 dishes of tapas to try and we enjoyed every single of them. 1. Fried Green Pepper: I mean it is fried so it has to be good; I think it is pretty hard to screw this one up. 2. Fried baby shrimp: Fresh shrimp with crispy edible shells. Yum. 3. Tuna Tartare: This is definitely a must. Fresh and tasty. 4. Catalanian Bread: Baked baguette spread with tomato and olive oil. It is pretty damn good. 5. Fried artichoke: Pretty good but greasy We also got a bottle of house white wine for only $9. That is a steal. We ended our dinner with two desserts: One is the Creme de Catalunya, which is basically creme Brulee and it is very good and two people can share. We were greedy so we got another burnt caramel top rum soaked cake (I don't know what it is called) but it is so damn good. I would definitely come back next time. I saw a lot of people order the sauteed clams and fried triple fish and that looks like a winner. read more

Sooo I don't really get the fuss about this place. Yea, I guess it's kinda cool that you just go to the counter and sit down and they just bring you out tapas that they think you'll like. The food wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination....it was just way too expensive for food that you are literally eating on a bar stool. We paid almost 100 euros for a essentially 5 tapas and a bottle of cheap cava, when in most other places that meal would have been 50 euros at the most. Tuna tartare: 3/5. it was fine, nothing special Mini clams: 4/5, good flavor, but just tiny little nibbles Regular clams: 2/5 bland flavor Fried seafood: 5/5 this was the best thing they day. The various fishes and calamari were fried to perfection. Deep fried Artichokes: 4/5 the texture was good, but it was just way too salty. Also, I guess this was technically our mistake, but the waiter was about to put away a bottle of wine and asked my friend if she wanted a taste. We thought he was just being nice, but then he ended up charging us 4 euros for a measly glass of rather terrible wine. read more

Cal Pep - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

Great restaurant for tapas and small plates. The restaurant is tiny with mostly bar seating facing the small kitchen. There's no menu, so we were served four daily specials--all were delicious! We had tiny clams, fried squid, grilled octopus and a fantastic filet of sole. The plates are perfect for sharing. If you're looking for a bargain meal this is not the place. But, if you want a unique experience in a restaurant with great energy, this is the place to go!! read more

An old favorite of mine - not to be missed on a trip to Barcelona. Be sure to order the Pulpo (octopus) - it's very tender and flavorful. In 3 visits across 11 years never had a dish that disappointed me. Be adventurous and dive in - the friendly staff will guide you!!! read more

Cal Pep - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

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I've rarely eaten better food than at Cal Pep. It takes a while to be seated, but while waiting you're given an unique look into the kitchen and how all the food is prepared. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere amazing. The food, really, as good as it gets. Definitely recommended! read more

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So amazing! Incredible, fresh seafood. They just keep serving until you tap out! #TapasTapOut Thx to Brian R. for recommending this place while I was still in Barcelona. They're are serving everyone at the diner counter (no tables) different tapas based upon their intuition of what is going to do it for you (their years of experience). read more

Cal Pep - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

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Patience is key. There is always a line at Cal Pep. I heard of this place from another foodie friend that visited Barcelona, so I decided to check it out. Cal Pep is located in the old gothic area section of the city. Narrow streets and stone buildings. Love it. So Cal Pep is known for the chef choosing what you eat. Yes, you can order off the menu, but trust Chef Pep. I did and I was not disappointed. Lots of seafood! Delicious. Can't wait to return when I go back to Barcelona. read more

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Horrible service if you're a tourist. The table next to us got fresh seafood and we got fried food. When we tried to tell them we wanted authentic food they got upset and offered us the check after two appetizers. Beware. It's good but make sure you get Catalan food. Very disappointed read more

Cal Pep - Calamari. Had to beg for a locale dish - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

My boyfriend and I were on vacation in Barcelona and someone recommended this restaurant so we went. We asked the waiter what he recommended and the tapas that are most popular, so we ordered several of the tapas he recommended. We were highly disappointed in the quality of the food. The food was bland. It tasted just like any regular tourist spot/trap. Even the bread was bad. Not sure of all these good reviews on yelp. From my experience I would not recommend it. read more

I don't understand the 5 star reviews and recommendations from friends. This is the definition of a tourist trap. So, so disappointed. The food was generic - nothing to write home about. The portions were tiny. The "no menu" concept sounds like you're getting some plate of the day specials and fresh/interesting things, but you literally have no idea what kind of seafood, fish, vegetables, etc is even available. Everyone sitting there is a tourist. The waiter asks each tourist what they'd like to eat, and nobody knows what's even available, so he lists the most expensive things in his list of "options." Tiny portion of salty clams, sitting at a bar, in a stuffy, casual restaurant end up around 20 euros (you find out when it's time to pay...). On the "sample" menu posted outside, everything costs about 50% less. I don't mind paying for good food, but everything about this place was misleading and the food was boring. read more

Fun place to experience authentic Catalan food. When you enter, the long pintxos bar is an option, but was filled 5 minutes after they opened. We had to wait for the back seating room, but it was fun to watch from the rear bar--and the servers can get you wine while you wait. When we were sat our server assertively suggested that he take care of the ordering--we were confused about this process, but went along. And yes, we were happy with each course of traditional Catalan food. The sole was prepped table-side and was wonderful. Our waiter was a hoot. He had a trick of almost knocking over glasses and bottles. We could tell that each server is a little pugnacious, but definitely in good fun. Oh and the pastrami sandwich-speakeasy down the street has maybe the best cocktails in Spain. read more

This place is definitely worth a detour. Definitely a tourist hot spot, but the food is delicious and decor is authentic. The servers are warm and inviting but they are kind of pushy by trying to get you to order more food which is NOT cheap. From my observation, the wait is long if you are a party of two. Come early with an empty stomach and some moolah. See pictures. See for yourself. read more

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We were recommended Cal Pep by a chef we know back in Cincinnati and figured we had to check it out on our trip in Barcelona. We arrived a few minutes after opening and there was already a full bar and line of at least 5 couples. We waited it out which took a solid 45 mins but it really was worth it! The waiting system is rather organized, the waiters pay attention to it and make sure its all fair, and its such close quarters that you can see what everyone is eating while you drool and wait your turn. Since we waited so long we pretty much saw all the dishes come out and knew which ones we wanted to try once we sat down. We also asked the waiter for recommendations. We ended up with the steak, the sausage, the omelet aka tortilla, the monkfish and some jamon y queso. The only thing I would skip is the ham and queso, they gave us a ton and we were really too full to eat it all, we definitely should have done a dessert instead. The rest were SOOO delicious. Like still dreaming about them, craving them delicious. I would not recommend going to Cal Pep if you have a party bigger than 2, since you have to sit at the bar and the wait could be much longer if you have to wait for a larger group of seats together, maaaaybe 3 would be ok. They do have a back room for larger parties that they take reservations for. However I can imagine its a completely different experience. Be prepared to wait, but don't miss Cal Pep in Barcelona! read more

Cal Pep - Sausage - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

Absolute rip-off! Food is OK but be prepared to go in with an open wallet, especially if you do not speak Spanish. They do not have a menu so you have no idea what the prices are until your bill arrives. They also rattle off items that sound like they are part of a single dish but are, in fact, separate dishes that are charged separately. While we enjoyed the food, we had a very rude surprise at the end of the meal. Most items are more than 2x what other restaurants would charge for comparable food quality and seated table dining (Cal Pep is barstool dining). If you don't mind being ripped off for the cause of OK (not outstanding) food, you can go here. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and eat somewhere that has transparent menu pricing. read more

Just came back from Barcelona, and here are my top 5 picks (not in order of preference -- all were great!) Quimet & Quimet Pinotxo Bar Canete Cal Pep - come here first La Xampaneria For a quick cheese tasting, Formatgeria La Seu is a must! REVIEW FOR CAL PEP I had my last meal in Barcelona at Cal Pep, thanks to my friend's recommendation. Since I was traveling solo, I was able to get seated right away. Other couples had to wait c30-40 minutes to get seated. It's walk-in only and only seats at the bar. When I went, Cal Pep was full of tourists. The servers seem to know that they attract out of towners and spoke English well, plus they were full of tips on what to order. I got the tapas platter, which was comprised of a few dishes -- pan con tomate, small clams, fried calamari. I also had some kind of egg omelette dish that I didn't love I ended the night with a plate of spinach. After a week of mostly eating meat, my body was craving greens. Overall, a delicious meal (albiet on the oily side). The group next to me ordered a couple of white fish entrees and ended with dessert. I recommend forgoing the calamari and egg dish in order to follow their lead; the fish and dessert looked good. I would also come here first and not end the trip here. I read another Yelp review which said it best: "Cal Pep is tapas with training wheels." By the end of the week, I had a good idea of what I liked and wanted to try more variety, but I thought Cal Pep was doing a "best hits" list that most tourists like. read more

We had the host serve us his favorite plates. We had 14 plates that were each incredible. The host is also a ton of fun. By far our favorite eating experience in Spain after 2 weeks. read more

Good food, good service. We had the mushrooms, which were my favorite. We also ordered the tuna, grilled artichokes, and potato tortilla. We sat at a table instead of the bar. A local recommended it and it didn't disappoint, but not cheap. read more

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I've been to Barcelona 4 times in this last year and have been lucky to eat at a ton of restaurants in the city. This place seems like more of a starter place to come eat tapas if you haven't eaten at a ton of places here before. The tapas here are good but not quite as inventive or adventurous as some other places you'll find in Barcelona. This place has quite a wait, so you have to be patient and/or come with a small group (2 is probably best). We came here once at 10 pm and were told the wait was an hour, so we went somewhere else. The next time we came with a group of 4, we got lucky and got a table in the back area that is mostly for reservations. The way the food works here is they ask you for allergies, and then bring you whatever they feel like bringing your table. If you see something in reviews and/or photos that strike your fancy, make sure you ask your server for that. I thought the tapas were pretty traditional - the quality of the food was good, but nothing mind-blowing or really unique or with a lot of gastronomy. If you like seafood and meat, this place is good, but it's more of a starter/intro to Spanish tapas so it's a better place to start your eating adventure in Barcelona than ending with this place. Here's what we ended up having: - Bread with roasted red pepper and meatballs - This was just okay, was nothing to write home about. I've had other pintxos at other places that were better. - Jamon Serrano with pan con tomate - We had a lot of jamon serrano the rest of the weekend, so this was our third time eating this - it was good quality, but I would have preferred something different only because I had had it so many times during the week. I know, first world problems. - Fried Sardines & Fried Calamari - Both were fresh, but I'm not really a fan of fried sardines so I could have passed on half this dish. I liked the fried calamari - the texture was good and it was fresh, but I could have done without the sardines. - Tuna Tartare - I really liked the tuna tartare - it was a generous amount, the tuna was fresh and was mixed with a soy sauce that paired well and was not too salty. I was a big fan of this. - Clams - The clams were fresh and tasty - I was a fan of this. - Fried Artichokes - This was one of my favorite dishes of the night - it was lightly battered and flash-fried so you could actually taste more of the artichoke vs. mostly batter. - Milhojas (dessert) - Fresh, flaky, and filled with custard - I loved this! All in all, standard tapas but I think I prefer more inventive and unique tapas, and I also like selecting what tapas I want. It was nice not to have to think and order, but I think it works better if you've never had tapas before in Barcelona and want a good sampling of what traditional tapas are like. The standouts were the fried artichokes, tuna tartare, and the dessert. read more

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By far the best Tapas we've had our entire stay in Barcelona. We ended up sitting in the back room to get a table faster, which was still an excellent experience. Very small space with only a couple tables, which was intimate. Our waiter was wonderful, and he had great suggestions. We let him bring us some things and told him what we wanted as well. The tuna tar tar was incredible, as well as the clams. We plan to go back before we leave for Barcelona as well! A foodie's dream place for sure! read more

Came back two years later and it is still as awesome as the first times. Love this restaurant, the fact that coming in the menu is a surprised, and you are greeted by friendly faces, a packed bar full of happy people waiting for their food and a kitchen cooking beautiful meals Just in front of your eyes. read more

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We went to this restaurant after seeing many positive reviews on Yelp. When we arrived we were asked to wait about 15 minutes, and were served by a cheerful man at the bar. The atmosphere was lively. Most of the people there were American tourists. We were first given four pieces of bread smeared with tomato. They were bland and mediocre at best. We were then given tasty, well-seasoned clams. Next came the fried artichokes, which were really lacking in flavor, followed by an omelet, which was only slightly better. Finally (after we said that we needed to leave for a flight early the next morning) we were given an additional serving of good monkfish. During this time my husband ordered a beer on tap while I requested a taste of wine. I received an entire glass. I noticed that the waiters were refilling others' glasses as they finished, so I intentionally did not finish and told the waiter that I did not want another glass. He accidentally dropped food in the almost-empty glass, apologized, and poured me another glass. I thought he was just being friendly, but when we got the bill I saw that he charged me for both glasses of wine. Overall the food was pretty good, but there were a few issues that will cause us not to return to this bar: - Most of the waiters' attention was spent on two girls he flirted with the entire night. - The food was very overpriced. We ended up spending €65 on all of this so-so food, just to have two people be half-full. That money would have been much better spent elsewhere in this beautiful city. - My requests were not considered, and we had to pay for the glass of wine and the fish after explaining that we did not want more. If money is not an issue, this bar may be a decent choice. If it is, spend your money elsewhere. read more

Great lunch time tapas butbe prepared to queue - 15 minutes. Tell them what you dont eat and let them suprise you. We had Coca bread brushed with tomato, garlic and olive oil, clams in a buttery herby sauce, crispy fried mini artichokes, a sumptious tortilla trampera, tuna tartare, monkfish with baked slice potatoes and tomato, and langustines, two beers and two fizzy water. 84 euros. But all very good and very friendly service. A fun time at the bar watching all the food being cooked. The restaurant area at the back had a very different atmosphere. More subdeued. read more

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As many of the reviewers mentioned, this is one of the highly recommended places to visit in Barcelona by many. We follow the instruction to get there 30 minutes before the opening in order to avoid the longer line of waiting, we were glad we did. The waiting turn out to be the most exciting 30 minutes for me, since you could imagine my anticipation for an awesome meal at this time was quite high. After two of us finished 6 course meal and 120 something euro poorer later, I can't help but develop a mixed feeling towards Cal Pep. First of all, let's see what we got: -- a bottle of house white (can't go wrong with that) -- pan con tomate (good, but I haven't had any pan con tomate that were not good in Barcelona) -- clams cooked in chicken broth (delicious but nothing to wow for) -- tortilla de patatas (decent and huge) -- fried calamari (huge portion as well, and I thought this must be a joke) -- tuna tartare (huge portion, good but not great) -- grilled monk-fish with grilled veggies (the only awesome dish that reminded me why I were there to begin with - the Mediterranean specials) The good news was we were absolutely stuffed and all dishes were nothing but good. The bad news? Half way through the course, we realized that we went into this place without a strategy for taking advantage of the culinary skills offer by the Cal Pep. Mind you, you will not get a menu when you come in (at least for the bar line front-room dinning), and you will be asked briefly about what you like to eat, and then just leave it all to the staff/chef to decide what to bring to you. So if you were tourists, who were seeking for culinary adventures, but unfortunately answered like we did: "oh, we love everything and are open to the idea to try whatever...". Well, you will be treated as the typical tourists (rightfully so in someway), who will be fed with massive amount of crowd-pleaser but mediocre dishes in a very fast pace, and probably expected to make spaces for more tourists quickly after. It was funny that we waited 30 minutes in line for eating breads, potato pancake, fried calamari and clams, which we could pretty much find those delicious but common dishes everywhere in Spain. Will I come back here again in the future? Maybe, but only if I could build up my courage and assertion to tell the chef/staff up front that I DO NOT want any starches, no potato, no bread, no fried dishes, one meat dish would be okay, and please stay with raw and cooked seasonal seafood, which were what the guests sat next to us did exactly. And boy, as the witness, I can tell you that the dishes they received were absolutely mouth-watering... 3.5 star for being a tricky place. read more

Food here was very good. We didn't see a menu if there was one, they just brought out dishes and we ate them. Everything was good; most of the dishes were seafood, but we had a steak entree. The Padron peppers were the highlight, they were better here than anywhere else we had them. Seafood was all fresh. Food was generally saltier than I expected but I liked that. My group of 4 did not have a very long wait. We got there at about 7:30PM on a weeknight, and there was a line to the door, but a bunch of groups at the bar left right after we arrived and we were soon at the front of the line. Then, we asked if there was space in the back. At first they said no, but then Mr. Pep said there was one table but that it was reserved for 9:20pm. At this point it was only about 7:45, so we were happy to take the table under the condition that we would leave when they needed it. It never became a problem as the dishes came out fast, and a much larger group they were obviously waiting out took much longer than us. So, we got lucky. I'm not sure how I would feel about the meal if I had waited an hour or more for it, but in my experience the wait was overblown. Meal came out to just over 50 euro each, with one bottle of wine. Well worth it in my book. read more

This may the best restaurant in Barcelona. Worth the wait. I can taste the clams 24hours later! Nice atmosphere, friendly staff.

This was one of my favorite meals in Spain. The freshness and flavors of all the dishes blew me away. Some tips: Pay attention to what day and time it is. When we were there a few days ago, they were only open Monday dinner, Saturday lunch, and Tues-Fri L&D, and closed Sundays. Many restaurants in Barcelona in particular are closed Saturday evenings and all day Sunday, so don't learn the hard way! There will be a line regardless of when you show up, so be prepared to wait. However, once you order, the food comes out fairly quickly. While you're waiting in line, look at what the other patrons are ordering and keep those dishes in mind. When you sit down, you won't be given a menu and instead you'll be asked what you like and don't like. Some stuff like the scallops are seasonal. (there's a menu outside to peruse while you're waiting) Now onto my favorites (which was everything!) The prawns were ridiculously expensive (6€ for 1 shrimp) but divine. They were large, succulent, and sweet. If you're in the mood to splurge, go for it! The clams are simply presented in a garlic/white wine broth but again very well done. Definitely get an order of tomato pan (basically bread schmeared with tomato) to sop up the juices. The tuna tartare was the best version I ever had. Go for it if you're a tartare fan. Finally, we made the best mistake ever. I asked for mussels and instead we got mushrooms. It was literally a dish of sauteed mushrooms, but holy cow, it was the best mushrooms that I've ever had. So glad he misheard us! We left completely satisfied and happy! Definitely make room in your schedule for Cal Pep, you won't regret it. read more

My husband & I saved Cal Pep as our last honeymoon meal in Spain as we had heard so many good things. Unfortunately, we couldn't have been more disappointed. We are from Chicago & know what good food is, & had experienced incredible tapas all week long. The food here wasn't bad, but is was nothing special. What was awful about this place was the service. WARNING, if you are a tourist & do not speak Catalán, don't go here. They will treat you differently by paying little attention to you & give you mostly fried food despite asking for other things. Look around you... all the tourist will be served the same thing. I wish we would have spent our $117 somewhere else as this was completely not worth it or the wait in line. read more

Tips: 1. Don't go, it's now overrated and over priced. 2. If you do go, wait for a table at the bar don't book a table in the room behind. 3. Don't let the waiter create the menu & serve you below average "crowd pleaser" tapas. Order fresh seafood a la plancha. After my visit this week, it's slid from one of my favourite restaurants in the world (I had been 3 times previously) to never again.  As we were travelling with a child, we booked a table 2 months in advance so we wouldn't have to queue.  What a disappointment.   The idea is that the waiter creates a tasting menu for you. We had the most average of tapas: chicken croquetas, pimentos, fried calamari, fried fish bait with soft boiled egg. The pimentos were just average. The calamari wasn't crispy.  Our tomato bread was soggy & cold, some burnt, and I couldn't taste any olive oil. The razor clams had sat on the pass too long so were cold by the time they got to us. The sauce of steamed clams, an old favourite was so salty we didn't want to mop up the sauce with our bread.  The other tables were served with scallops and when we asked about them the waiter said they might have run out, but when we looked unhappy about that they miraculously appeared.  Even another dish that I remembered so foldly - the tuna tartare - was served with slightly burnt toasts. We had to request the monkfish separately else they would ended there. When we asked about the gambas (prawns) that we had seen on other tables they said it was too expensive, 6-8 euros each. I would have paid for that except they had stuffed us with pedestrian tapas by that stage and I was a little too pissed to want to spend more money there. Perhaps I should have kicked up a fuss early on in the meal but I was still living on the memory of my previous meal. The only good dish from the evening was the tortilla with chorizo. We paid 50 euros per person for this meal, with two glasses of house wine in total (not per person). So, sadly I've now crossed off this restaurant on my lists, there are much much better tapas joints in the city. I'm now wondering if the previous visits I had enjoyed the food so much because I had been drunk on cava as we had to wait 45 mins in line. Ah well - never again. read more

Cal Pep - Burnt toasts with our tuna tartare (this used to be one of my favourite dishes here). - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

Welp, this was an overpriced disappointment. I have lived in BCN for a few years and finally decided to go with a friend. There is no menu? Well, how can you choose what to eat? The waiter "suggests" things so you have no idea what you're really getting or what you will pay - so there's a surprise when the pricey bill arrives. It was ok food, but you can get the same in another place for half the price. read more

This place reminds me of the soup Nazi in Seinfeld. The restaurant (more like a hole in the wall) has no more than 20 seats total. The restaurant opens at 5:30, but knowing that this place is VERY popular and will have a queue, we got there at 5. We were the first in line, but then some other crazies arrived soon after us. By the time it opened, there were at least 20 in line. I'm not sure if there is a menu, and if there is, then I sure as heck didn't' see it. The chef asked us what type of food we like, and we told him seafood, so he cooked us an assortment of seafood right in front of us. The food was very nicely seasoned and tasted fresh. We paired the seafood with a few bottles of white wine and socialized with other customers who were visiting from other countries. The atmosphere is lively and from their faces, it is obvious that everyone thought the food is superb. Two hours or so later, we were finally done and our stomachs completely satisfied. By the time we were ready to leave, the queue was long and people were probably giving us the evil eye as we were the first ones in, but not the first ones to leave. I highly recommend that you check this restaurant out if you are in Barcelona. Just expect not to find out how much everything is until you get your bill. We didn't care since we were on holiday and enjoying this exceptional meal, but the damage was pretty bad. read more

I don't know what happened to this place but it's now a complete tourist trap. They push the chefs choice on you and get upset off you want to order your own. Three quality of the go to dishes have also gone down. I used to think the Price and the cringe worthy service was worth tolerating for the quality of the food but no more. A really bad experience that has permanently soured me on this read more

How can I judge Cal Pep. It's my first time in Barcelona and what do I know of Catalan style seafood. I heard of Cal Pep being the food junkie (a term I prefer to foodie, as I've admitted that those of us as obessed with food are total junkies) but I didn't even know it specialized in seafood and I literally was walking down the street, entered a plaza and there it was. I went for lunch at around 1pm. It wasn't busy at all and I got a seat right away. Parties of two had to wait about 10 minutes. Want to avoid the dinner rush, come at lunch. The server quickly realized I had no clue and almost no Spanish and there is no menu. I knew I wanted anchovies and I knew I wanted garbanzo beans and he suggested fried seafood. In hindsight I could have skipped the anchoivies but I am so glad I got the garbanzo beans served with spinanch and beautiful crisp bits of blood sausage (i have always had a weakness for blood sausage but never had it cooked like lardons). The fried seafood was just the way it should be, crisp not greasy, you can taste all the flavours and the prawn were tiny and crisp meant to be eaten heads and all and they were! The service was quick but not pushy and it was far cheaper than I thought it would be. My entire meal was 21 euro and would have been less if I was sharing with another person. read more

Really good and quite expensive. Anyway I ate the best entrecôte of my life at Cal Pep. read more

Cal Pep - Mediterranean Near Me - Barcelona, B

While the food was good, it certainly wasn't worth the price- especially considering my friend and I were charged €6 for aperitivos of tostadas con butifarra catalana, which were presented to us as complimentary. Furthermore, an extra glass of wine also appeared on our tab, which we had to have taken off. Given the abundance of good food in Barcelona, we won't go back. read more

This was the only nicer restaurant w/ edible food I visited last month in BCN. Despite raving praises galore, finding good food here is tricky and rare. But this place quickly became a mainstay during my last trip to spain. concierges will point eager foodies to the area near the cathedral/gothic quarter(generally awful tapas there, save for maybe hole-in-wall pubs somewhat far away from the Ramblas or cathedral) or the port near Barcelona Beach(so-so food, but great ambience). I'll 2nd that the seafood here is amazing(in general, Barcelona's food-tapas scene is depressingly overrated, I learned), both the bar and menu selections. Try the (upscale) meatballs, octopus and huge prawns(somehow, this is the only place of many I tried during 2 wks in Barcelona that can cook shrimp!). Cal Pep is close enough to the beach bars and clubs that make Barcelona so great.. so I highly recommend dropping by Cal's then hitting the beach bars, (underground) clubs, casinos etc. Drink a few cap.'s, then splurge on a taxi, lol. read more