If you want to experience what it would be like to eat in your Catalan grandmother's kitchen (assuming you have a Catalan grandmother), then this longtime family-run lunch room would surely meet your needs. I first caught wind of it on a YouTube video by a local travel vlogger, and I decided Jamie W. and I needed to head over to the colorful Sant Antoni area and give it a try.
Since all the sidewalk tables were occupied, we sat in the back dining area and perused a most unusual menu (photo). I decided to start with the 6€ Satdines de la Costa amb Torrades, which was two slices of grilled, buttered toast each topped with a grilled sardine, red pepper, and Spanish olives (photo: https://yelp.to/7SJEuuKuv4). Loved it even though the tiny bones were a bit daunting.
Jamie started more conservatively with the 5€ Amanida Verde, a fresh green salad with tomatoes and a spear of white asparagus (photo: https://yelp.to/Khq4vEseai). He took advantage of the complimentary basket of crusty bread. For his main dish, he ordered the 9€ Bacalla a la Llauna, a nice size filet of fried baked cod with butter beans (photo: https://yelp.to/G8-01_OOFr). Very homey goodness but mine was the star of the table.
It was the 8.50€ Mix de Cap i Pota i Tripa, which was a plate of tripe mixed with slices of calf's head and feet (photo: https://yelp.to/oVy3K4pASm). As a menudo lover, I was in heaven, and the sauce was the perfect excuse to finish off the bread. The cheery server convinced us to enjoy their housemade desserts which we did immensely. I had the 3.50€ Arros amb Liet, a chilled jar of creamy rice pudding (photo: https://yelp.to/nanFCQhCOi).
Jamie tried a 4€ slice of the Tarta de Santiago, Spanish almond cake which you pour over with a sweet port wine (photo: https://yelp.to/fyaxVQT9ga). The wine soaked right through the crumbly cake, and it was a pure delight. Our meal ended with a couple of rich 3€ Cappuccinos (photo: https://yelp.to/ZjcGOiaJ8b). If my grandmama was Catalan, she might have a high bar to reach.
FOOD - 5 stars...delicious comfort food the Catalan way
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...simple, homey space filled with regulars
SERVICE - 5 stars...sunny and attentive
TOTAL - 5 stars..genuine find for authentic homestyle food
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