What a delight!…read more While spending a day in Vilanova i la Geltru with friends, a local recommended this place to us. It is, without reservation, the best waterside restaurant I've had the pleasure to visit since moving to Spain more than two years ago. While many of the dishes are traditional, they *do* have a wonderful twist on many recipes... from tapas (like patatas bravas - what a sauce!) to their casera (homemade) dishes, like their various paellas. Our group opted for a half dozen different tapas (the calamares a la roman were my favorite), and then we shared the "arroz pulpito" paella. Truly outstanding! (...and if you know me, you know I don't use that word lightly.) So - if you're anywhere near here, come check this place out. You won't be sorry!

I fully recommend it! This restaurant has very original and good different types of paellas (we…read moretried 7 of them and the best one in our opinion was the truffle and mushrooms one) but the best were the Tapas... we had the chicken croquetas that were perfectly made, not too saucy not too dry. The chipirones that are little fried squid, my favorite tapa in the whole world and they made it very very good!! And the calamares a la Romana that are the classic squid hoops not oily and very well battered. If you'd like to go during usual Spanish lunch time (2-3) I'd call them and make reservations, they are usually pretty busy.

From the owner: Ofrece cocina tradicional innovada. Ideal para grupos y comidas familiares en un ambiente moderno.read more

This is a very good example of the Lizarran franchise of tapas bars, serving authentic Northern…read moreSpanish cuisine, situated close to Vilanova's palm-lined 19th century town square. The interior is typical of Lizarran elsewhere in Spain, with lots of stone and wood, a long bar replete with tapas and pintxos (small tapas), and large, sturdy tables. Customers are asked to refrain from smoking at the bar counter (ie not over the tapas). The choice of tapas here differs slightly from the Basque norm for this franchise, incorporating many Catalan dishes: clearly, they know their market. But this makes it very popular with both locals and visitors alike. There are instructions posted in English on how to order and pay for the tapas at the bar - tapas and pintxos come on 3 different types of cocktail stick, which determines how much they cost. You help yourself and pay on the basis of the sticks left when you've finished. More substantial offerings from the menu are ordered from the waiters at the table and paid for as normal. The staff are very friendly and helpful - essential, as one of the oddities is that the main menu is written up on a single blackboard, in only Catalan, so it can take a while (and occasionally some help) to navigate. But it's worth the effort, as the food is both good and reasonably cheap. There are, surprisingly, plenty of vegetarian options - the wild mushrooms, cooked in a skillet, are both generous in quantity and amazingly tasty. Add to this a good choice of beers, and it makes for an enjoyable and good value supper. **************************** Addendum: 07-01-2008 I've downgraded this to three stars after a change in management and bar staff: the food is still as good, but the service (including the cleanliness of the gents' toilets) has gone down-hill a bit, so no longer deserving of 4 stars in my view.

Lizarran…read more This franchise chain of Basque tabernas is popular and widespread in Spain and each one is characterised by its pinxos - bite sized tapas morsels skewered to a piece of bread with a cocktail stick. The variety changes with what the chef is doing but ranges from classics like a cheesy croquette to improvised creations like morcilla (black pudding) and poached quail's egg. The end price is a tally of the discarded sticks. While they have long had a selection of main dishes available - hearty basque stews, chicken, rice dishes et al, the chain has more recently begun offering a 3 course menu del dia (at €10.90 - €14.90 depending on whether it's weekend). The menu varies daily and like most 'menus' in Spain follows the local taste where the restaurant is based. On this occasion we has starters of a cold Andalusian soup of tomato, garlic, bread with shavings of Iberian ham and chopped boiled egg and a summer 'stew' of cold whites beans with tuna and onions. Incredibly fresh and refreshing. Our second plates were a breaded beef escalope and a tuna steak with a garlic and parsley butter sauce. The choices were great but as so often with the menu del dia (piled high to sell cheap and heated to serve), the quality reflects the price, but non the less, great value for money. Add the profiteroles and the carafe of wine and at a tenner you can't go wrong. If Spain is not on your travel itinerary any time soon, Lizarran has now opened branches in London and Milton Keynes so who knows, maybe coming your way soon.