Truly exceptional. But this is not merely a restaurant--it is a mythological opera, enacted in the form of a tasting menu. The story begins not with a dish, but with a timeline you can eat, charting the ascent of three siblings from humble familial duty to culinary transcendence. You do not "dine" here. You witness a narrative of obsession, transformation, and fate--the kind that only arises when blood ties are mixed with butter, fire, and an unbearable drive for excellence. The youngest of the three, a pastry chef, emerges like a trickster figure from folklore, sweetening the end of the journey with a sense of mischief and melancholy. His takeover of the narrative is not declared; it is felt, as a shift in temperature, in tone, in destiny. The food--what can I say? Each course is like a quiet revelation, as if the universe momentarily aligned to allow perfection, then moved on, uncaring. There is no comfort here, only beauty that leaves you slightly devastated. The architecture of the space is austere but luminous, a kind of sacred geometry. The ceramics and silverware are ritualistic tools, not mere vessels. They suggest a world in which aesthetics are a moral responsibility--as if to serve food without beauty would be a sin against nature itself. To eat here is to be reminded that all creation is fleeting, that excellence is a burden, and that even in triumph, there is solitude. read more

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For those not interested in the details, the quick summary of this place is: mediocre food and service for a 3 starred Michelin restaurant, served one member of our party a piece of ceramic (choking hazard) and did not adequately remediate the issue, and gave 3 of 6 of our party members stomach problems after dinner. Save your money and a trip to Girona if you're going from Barcelona and go to Cocina Hermanos Torres, a restaurant that truly lives up to the 3 Michelin star reputation. Here is the detailed account of our experience at El Celler: I dined at this restaurant with a party of 6 on the 20th of May. One of the people in my party had the misfortune of finding shards of what appeared to be ceramic from one of the plates as she was eating. She found them while eating the food and had to spit them out and place the pieces on the side. She notified the waiter that picked up the plates about the pieces of ceramic, and unfortunately, only received a "sorry for that" as a reply, with no other gesture of apology provided by anyone else the rest of the night. Given their reputation as a 3 Michelin starred restaurant, not only is the presence of the ceramic pieces in the food appalling, but the nonchalant attitude towards the incident afterward was extremely disappointing. While we certainly did not expect the restaurant to compensate her meal, a small token or gesture in the form of a small discount, free beverage, replacement plate, anything, would have been greatly appreciated. This is far from what we expect from a Michelin establishment given our experience at a variety of other restaurants of similar caliber we have dined at, and cannot overstate how alarming it is that a choking hazard can make it past quality control and nothing is done to repair the situation even after politely bringing it to the staff's attention. The most impressive part of the night was the cheap taxi we took back to Barcelona. Okay, fine, the dessert part of the meal was fun and delicious, so maybe that was the most impressive, but followed closely by the taxi. Below are other details where El Celler completely missed: - Bread taken away from one of our party members without asking if they were done - No folding or replacement of napkins when someone left their seat - Being rushed at the end of dinner for seemingly no reason as there were other patrons eating that we could see and working through dessert courses we had already finished - Not asked to check in a coat, and instead given a random chair next to our table to throw our stuff on it - Uncomfortably warm temperature - Not everyone having their chair pulled out and pushed in - Seeing other people just standing around and not escorting our party to the bathroom or being helpful in other ways - Gave 3 of 6 members of our party stomach aches and loose bowels after dinner Admittedly, some of the above can sound nitpicky, however, this meal stands in a stark contrast to a meal we had the very next day at another 3 Michelin star restaurant, Cocina Hermanos Torres. Better in every way, they outclassed El Celler and provided food and service above and beyond what I've come to expect. Every single issue I had with El Celler was not present at Hermanos Torres, and did the opposite of what El Celler did to make our experience comfortable and exceptional. I am not sure El Celler is worthy of a single Michelin star, and definitely not three. And if it seems like I'm repeating the same point, this is still less repetitive than the number of times they told us one of their dishes contained a sauce made with the head of a langostino. You might also be wondering if I tried providing feedback to El Celler on this. I did, and not because they requested it via an email follow up like I have seen other restaurants do, rather, through the contact email on their website that same night. No response from them yet, which doesn't surprise me considering the apathy demonstrated throughout the ordeal. read more

A pain to book, but a wonderful experience at el celler and in girona. The setting is beautiful, the service is great, the wine list is extensive, the tasting is well paced. The food is creative and interesting, there wasn't a weak dish but at the same time most of the food is very good but only a few real standouts for me. But we thoroughly enjoyed the meal even after waiting 11 months from booking to experience. The meal begins with generous servings of the house cava, then straight into canapes (about 15 of them, a mini tasting before the real menu ha). The wine pairing was pretty good, also had a bottle for the meal. favorite courses were the tomatoes, eel and figs, eggplant, the duck set, and the air dessert! also highly recommend staying at the roca brothers' hotel (hotel casa cacao) read more

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An awesome experience! Over 20 courses and so many of them were not only delicious but works of art! The best had to be the 'cloud' dessert where a cloud literally is floating and placed on a wire hanger, where it then turns to liquid that represents rain. What was also amazing was that this was a big dining room but the quality of the food and service didn't seem to suffer at all. Definitely worth a trip, particularly if you're already in Barcelona read more

Wish I could give this restaurant a higher rating! A thoroughly wonderful experience from start to finish. The restaurant is modern and open and formed in large triangular shape with an inner triangular courtyard that allows you to see across to other dining spaces. We were pleasantly greeted and seated. I don't think that there is any seat that doesn't have a view of the action, yet the dining room is broken up in such a way there's only 2 to 3 tables nearby and remains quiet and intimate. There are several tasting menus and recognizing limited opportunities to return in the foreseeable future we went all in and enjoyed the more extensive menu with the wine option. We were presented 15 different appetizers, representing significant milestones of the restaurants history. Very special, very creative, and each better than the last! We were then treated to a variety of vegetable and protein courses, unique and fantastic. The service was impeccable with wonderful wine pairings and wonderful food timed arrival was a wonderful ballet. Their wine list is extensive; and the pairings we experienced were wonderful. Interestingly, the Sommelier did not limit selections to Spain. Our dining experience lasted four hours and was thoroughly enjoyable. Another one of the most memorable culinary experiences I can recall. A must if you ever in the Girona, Spain region! Reservations are required in advance to get your spot! read more

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I had the privilege to come here and embark a culinary journey at one of the best restaurants in the world. I also don't think 5 star on Yelp is enough to describe what has been presented here. We went with the feast menu and wine pairing. I wouldn't recount all the courses we've had here, because that'd be a 100 page essay. The whole meal was well structured, and there was a clear progression and purpose throughout. The "appetizer" courses showcased the history behind El Celler and each course represented some significant time/invention of the restaurant. The main courses started with vegetable focused dishes first, progressed to fish/shellfish dishes, and ended with meat. For us the ending main course was the suckling lamb stew, presented in eight different bites, it's the climax of our meal and a perfect ending before desserts. Service here was impeccable, wine pairing perfectly complemented each of the courses. The highlight of our night was that we ran into Joan Roca in the courtyard and I obnoxiously asked him for a photo. read more

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Incredible dining experience. From the moment we walked in we knew we were in for an incredible experience. The location is mostly unassuming, until you walk in. From bubbles in the courtyard to the dessert cart to finish the night, not a single detail was overlooked. The entire service team was professional, yet personable. Every dish had its place and told a story, the wine pairing was even more impressive. Grateful that a cancellation got us in, truly a highlight of our trip! read more

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I've waited for years to come here, getting my first trip cancelled due to covid. What a mailed in, travesty that meal was. Location is great, service is strong as well. However, the meal was boring, redundant, uninspired garbage. If this was the meal in 1986 cool, it was great. 2023 its a joke. Did they stop caring after being named number 1? Not one memorable. Not one memorable plating. I am stunned at how average this was. And pissed. Very very pissed. read more

Unfortunately I expected better. Azurmendi in the Basque region or Tickets and Disfrutar in Barcelona impressed me and my husband more. They also had better service. I was actually surprised that for how fancy and formal El Celler was, their service did not match at all. Our main server wasn't very warm or friendly (huge shock for fine dining), and we never felt fully doted upon, which you expect for the price tag. We've eaten at 90% of the World's Best 50 restaurants, so I have a lot to compare to! With the food, the opening dishes of small bites were delightful. The famous globes didn't disappoint, as well as the olive trees. I was very happy to find a few dishes had Asian fusion flavors. But where things stopped wowing us were the mains. There was too much seafood, and the prawns particularly were hard to eat. We had a group of 9, and most couldn't eat either the prawns or langoustine simply due to flavor/taste. And they didn't even have a non-alcoholic pairing option?? That's unusual. They did, however, have a woman who can whip up whatever delicious custom cocktail you'd like, but we were surprised not to find a non-alcoholic pairing since many other fine dining restaurants offer one. Fortunately, just as it opened, the menu finished strong with pleasing desserts, especially the big ball that looks like a pearl! We booked this restaurant an entire year in advance, as people have to do. Maybe it's because we travel the world monthly to eat the most top ranked restaurants out there, so our standards are higher and pickier than the average diner, but sadly, though El Celler de can Roca is no doubt a great restaurant, it's not exactly the best, and not really worth a year wait. (For reference, we felt let down by Osteria Francescana as well). read more

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I feel unworthy to rate this place. I'm a normal woman from the US who happened to see the Chef's Table episode and got on a wait list and nabbed a rare reservation 11 months in advance of my birthday. Here's what I can say to those who may not frequent Michelin Star Alley: it's a true experience. One you must be mentally prepared for. We enjoyed about 26 courses of food, flavors and pure edible art for about 4 hours and 15 minutes. The whole table must agree on a menu experience, there were 2 to choose from. They accommodated my vegetarian mother with the most incredible flair, a course for every one of ours. Wine pairing was available and highly recommended (with some other gorgeous libations depending on the cuisine-you don't have to pressure yourself to finish every glass, but they will indeed present and leave every type of glassware under the rainbow until you're sitting at a chandelier). The service was both attentive and not overbearing, perfectly professional and balanced. It made me feel like I was sitting in an episode of Downton Abbey. We enjoyed cava and our first courses in the courtyard, this place is a secret garden tucked away from the outside world. A dream really. This experience is pricy, but very reasonable for what you're actually getting and even compared to other restaurants of its caliber. We even epically saw Jordi and Josep Roca and they graciously allowed us to take pictures with them. read more

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Late post of photos from 5 years ago. I posted a review 5 years ago. Once in a lifetime experience to dine at the #1 restaurant in the world during that time. read more

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I think this was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences...from start to finish, you are in a constant state of awe and wonder. We experienced the tasting menu with the wine pairings- definitely a must and made the experience that much more enjoyable. I'm not going to list the menu because it's extensive- just known it's well worth the splurge. The staff were exceptional and Josep was nice enough to take a picture with my friend. The amazing food combined with the warmest, nicest staff makes puts this on my must return list- I will probably plan my next vacation around this reservation! If you're in Spain, visit Girona, book this restaurant! read more

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Going to El Celler de Can Roca was an absolute dream. We caught a train to Girona from Barcelona Sants (to Cerbere - though there are many that have Girona in their route). We went for lunch on a Friday. The restaurant is a walk's away from the old town in a non-descript really, very suburban neighbourhood. You walk up to a beautiful patio that leads down a long hallway eventually to the dining area itself. The decor and the ambience of the restaurant is very subtle - plays on the magic of a quiet woods. We ordered the feast menu for 225 euros per person, a bit more substantial versus the other menu especially in the area of desserts, and we know the brothers are known for their pastry. Every guest receives a welcome glass of cava. Each course was elegant and refined up until the petit fours - a large whimsical cart with a number of bon bons and cakes - were served. There was classicism and innovation, and everything tasted really fresh and thought out. There was especially some playfulness in their amuse Bouche courses. Only thing we would pick on is that they did the bread sweep really into the end of the courses even though we had finished with bread for awhile. The crowning surprise was a lovely cotton candy and papaya dessert for our wedding anniversary. That was our favourite. Loved the whole meal - it was perfect. read more

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We arrived at El Celler promptly at 9pm and found ourselves to be one of the early patrons so we took our sweet time taking photos of the venue. Our expectations were extremely high for this restaurant knowing that it was the 2nd World's Best restaurant. El Celler did not disappoint. If this is your first molecular gastronomy experience, prepare to be blown out of your mind. This was actually my 3rd experience (having been to Alinea and Colborne Lane) but I was still wow'ed by the creativity of some of the dishes. It really like a Disney World for your taste buds and other senses. My favorite was the king prawn dish and also the amuse-bouches that just explode with strong flavours in your mouth. The downside for me was dessert. I didn't find any of the desserts particularly memorable especially compared to other fine-dining restaurants. The menu is pricey since the tasting involves 13+ dishes (including the amuse-bouche). However, if you compare the price to tasting menus at other restaurants, this is an absolute steal considering the calibre and status of this restaurant. I've heard from friends that reservations here are extremely hard to come by so be sure you reserve early! For our trip, we lucked out since it was winter so it was a low season. I reserved just a month and a half in advance and was able to secure a spot with no problem. For more pictures and details: http://monkeyseemonkeyfeast.blogspot.ca/2012/05/tasting-dinner-at-el-celler-de-can-roca.html read more

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Looove this restaurant! The staff is really friendly and the whole atmosphere was very nice. I really enjoyed how they are willing to substitute the menu if you don't eat something on the menu. We didn't change anything because we wanted to experience the 3 Michelin Star experience but I lived how we had a option. The food was very creative and I enjoyed the interactive appetizer (the globe) and the olive tree. The personal touches in scene (in print) of the brothers in one of the dishes and it makes you feel like you're a part of their world - loved it! While we were leaving we were admiring the awards and the family pictures and we started talking to the waiter about how we loved the meal and we came all the way to Girona just to dine there. He asked if we would like a picture with the brothers. My husbands jaw dropped. He is a huge fan. Unfortunately he wasn't able to find all the brothers but Jordi was available. OMG... we love JORDI. His creativity is mind blowing and I wish I can be in the kitchen with him designing and coming up with new desserts. read more

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We made this dinner reservation online 11-months in advanced. Our trip to Spain was basically planned around this meal at El Celler de Can Roca and it was TOTALLY WORTH IT! It was an amazing dining experience. The restaurant was back at No. 1 for the Best Restaurant Award just a few days prior to our dinning date and this made us feel even better. We chose the Festival Menu with wine paring. It was over 19 courses with 17 different wine. Every dish was so well prepared and the presentation was so artsy. The whole dinner was flawless. Every dish tasted so good and the wine chosen enhanced the flavor. Very impressive! It took fine dinning to a whole new level! We spent 4 hours having the dinner and we felt so happy and satisfied after the meal. I would highly recommended anyone who love food to try this restaurant! My GOD! It was unbelievably good!!!!!! read more

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...Part 2: Expressing a lot of confidence in the staff and high hopes that diners are willing to try everything but true allergens, the use of ingredients indigenous to the area making much of the menu pescetarian, it is after an impressive Bread service that individual plates begin to roll out of the kitchen at intervals of fifteen to twenty minutes, the first of these a clear gelatin of Red Mullet topped with textures including crispy Skin and dots of Vegetables and Herbs all on the backdrop of Saffron while a follow-up of one Oyster divided into five parts focuses the diner on different aspects of the Bivalve's flavor with the most impressive found in Apple-sweetened Seaweed and the salt-magnifying flavor of Sea Anemone. Felt to be a little too aggressively 'fishy' by the other person at the table, a matter of taste to be sure though the Roca Brothers' embrace of Iodine and fermented flavors is definitely more prominent than many, course three lightened things up with a plump Langoustine served in browned Butter, Vanilla and foam of Sagebrush while both the Mackerel and Prawn again went bold with the former actually quite enjoyable to everyone thanks to the zig-zagged Bean Paste that grew milder from top to bottom. Continuing to play with textures throughout the meal, occasionally in the unnecessary ways that have given "molecular cuisine" a bad name but usually to good effect, it was in a plate of Cuttlefish stuffed with Vegetables next to a starchy Sauce reportedly made from nothing but Black Rice allowed to break down that one of El Celler de Can Roca's best courses was found immediately before its biggest failure, a nicely cooked cut of Turbot that was unfortunately completely lost in what can only be described as pickled Cream. Taking a step back with heavier proteins, the texture modifications still at play but flavors of Wild Game and farm-raised Animals allowed to shine with accoutrements playing a supporting role, fans of Fowl will no doubt be impressed by both the Duck with Creamed Corn and a fresh Fig as well as the elegantly plated Squab with decorative details made from Offal Terrine while those not shy about nose-to-tail butchery will find both the fatty Pig with crisp Skin and the study of Lamb delicious with the latter gamey in a good way and no two bites of either dish even remotely the same. Transitioning savory to sweet in levels, "The Plant from Roots to Flowers" moving from top to bottom with a perfume of Sand and Licorice progressing to the flavor of Fruits and Flowers, it was with intentionally unbalanced utensils that guests were challenged to eat Honey Ice Cream with Herbs from a cast iron Tree Stump, Jordi Roca's new-classic entitled "Old Book" finishing things off in a marvelous Mille-Feuille on its side featuring the distillate of a Book boiled for 48 hours in Oil and Butter Cookie Crisps plus Cream perfumed with Tea. Now well past midnight, a double Espresso served without the requested Ice fortifying spirits for an hour-long ride back to the hotel, it was with greetings from two of the brothers that guests were sent off after a visit from the Pastry Cart, well over a dozen items offered but staff taking liberties to decide and gifting the table booked a year prior the flavors of Apples, Yuzu, Chocolate and Whiskey Ganache. read more

5.2017 Food was definitely a hit and miss and a solid 3.0 on a 5 scale. Hate to break the news but these other reviewers may have limited experience or fell into the hype. Found a fish bone, one dish in particular was not right whatsoever and one desert being absolutely incredible/memorable another wasn't and was so far out in left field. Keep in mind I wanted to order both Feast (larger tasting) and the other tasting menu to get a true grasp of the food. They were very kind to incorporate 3 main items from the other menu for a reasonable up charge. Given the difficulty to land reservations it was made up by a wonderful one on one kitchen, cellar tour and conversation. Disappointed as I found out casual dress is completely accepted. While I made a strong effort to pack/bring/wear a coat traveling from CA. If you plan to dine here, I highly recommend spending a half/full day to explore Girona. A wonderful town, excellent old town and a Jewish Quarter worth visiting too. Also, the families original restaurant is 100 meters away and caters to the neighborhood providing local dishes at a very reasonable pricepoint. Chef's Table at a Brooklyn Fare Eleven Madison Park Pujol The French Laundry Benu Lazy Bear (2M notable mention) Arzak All spots I've dined and can use to provide my input. read more

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It's impossible to sum up my experience at El Celler de Can Roca in a simple Yelp review. My boyfriend and I dined here in May, and it is certainly the highlight of our trip and an absolutely amazing memory. The moment you walk through the hedges and enter their space, immediately you are greeted with the utmost respect and service. Glasses of champagne were offered to us, and my boyfriend and I sat outside on their stunning patio as we waiting for dinner. Upon being led to our table, our champagne was topped off and the wine list of all wine lists was rolled over to us. As we knew the price of dinner, we didn't want to break the bank on our wine selection and decided that 60 euros was our budget. After selecting a few bottles that we thought we might like, the sommelier offered her opinions on the bottles that we selected. What I really appreciated was that she was extremely honest and ended up saying that the least expensive bottle (around 30 euros) would be the best pairing. The fact that she wasn't up-selling the more expensive bottles was comforting and shows that they truly do accommodate to every price point. The "snacks" were simply delightful and so intricately made. I loved the ones that featured five different countries that the brothers had recently visited. How clever to sum up an entire country in a single bite! The olive tree "ice cream" as well was one of the most fantastic things that we saw that evening. I wished I had taken a photo of everything that we ate this evening, however I just wanted to be in the moment and take in every flavor and morsel that we were trying. Lamb four ways, pigeon, mackerel, "starfish" prawns, the chocolate cigar box...we loved it all. Our evening at El Celler de Can Roca was unbelievably wonderful. We cannot thank the Roca Brothers and their staff for a more memorable evening. read more

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As a chef, dining at El Cellar is a once in a lifetime opportunity that cannot be ignored. The quaint little town is a perfect setting for this visually stunning restaurant. The interior is just as beautiful as the food and the stories behind it. The interactive part of the dining experience adds to the fun and uniqueness of each dish. We opted for the tasting menu paired with wine. Some dishes and wine pairings were better than others. While every dish wasn't necessarily a winner in my book, the experience in its totality was well worth it. read more

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Wow! Yesterday I was lucky enough to join a friend of mine for a 14-course tasting lunch at Celler Can Roca, and can say, without a doubt, that its recent designation as "The Best Restaurant in the World" is absolutely deserved! Everything--every little detail--about this restaurant is so carefully planned, so wonderfully considered, that you can't help but marvel in delight. The exterior of the restaurant hides a tranquil, pristine, brilliant dining room of glass. The space is clean and open while intimate at the same time. Service is spectacular: the staff is present just enough to ensure that you receive all the attention you deserve, and their kind, relaxed, and sympathetic approach to fine dining helps you feel right at home. In so many nice restaurants, service can be pretentious, the atmosphere stuffy. This was definitely not the case at Celler de Can Roca. The Can Roca team proves that you can serve world-class dishes while at the same time making every guest feel as if they were in the Roca brothers' own dining room. A true delight. Of course, the food is the star of the show at Can Roca. I could write pages and pages about my experience: the carmelized olives hung from a bonsai tree, the explosive, tantalizing bombons that give you a hint of flavors from across the globe, the langostines smoked at the table in sherry. The pigeon so perfectly prepared and presented that I almost felt like asking for more. Wow wow wow! All of it was a delight for the senses: a true, true pleasure. Experiences like Celler de Can Roca are once in a lifetime. It's part of the cultural patrimony of Girona, Catalonia, Spain, Europe, all of humanity. If you have the opportunity, resources, and luck to make it to this diamond, go: you won't be disappointed. read more

El Celler de Can Roca - Sourdough icrecream with cocoa pulp, fried lychee and sherry vinegar maracó (adapted from the Shalimar fragrance by Guerlain) - Spanish Near Me - Girona, GI

The service was extremely professional to the point where I'm used to talking more with the server but that doesn't seem how they really conduct themselves. Everything was perfect and the wine pairings were unique and astounding. The four star reviews for the restaurant are from from people who have died, come back to earth as ghosts and find this menu slightly less pleasant that the infinite joys of heaven. read more

El Celler is back at #1 restaurant in the world! I booked this place a year ago for a reservation in January of this year. It worked out perfectly because that's when our wedding food tasting was going to be scheduled for. We took the AVE train from Barcelona just to eat here. Was it worth it and live up to all the hype? Not for us. It was definitely one of the most creative food experience we've had but taste wise not so much. We had a lot of mackerel and pork that day. I wish they changed it up more. I appreciated the story that went with the meal and the extreme creative genius of true molecular gastronomy (which is why I gave it 4 stars), but we just didn't enjoy some of the courses. My sister and her husband were lucky enough to get reservations in April and thought it was superb! Then again they don't eat out much after kids and my husband and I are a bit more spoiled. I guess we could say we ate at the #1 restaurant in the world :-) It just wasn't as memorable as I expected it to be. I'm still crossing my fingers that El Bulli re-opens one of these days! read more

Truly deserving of the title "the best restaurant in the world". Lived up to all the hype. Outstanding in every way. Wow and more Wow with every dish. read more

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What is there to say that hasn't been said already. I went to another three star Michelin restaurant in the US a few weeks before and this one blew it out of the water. How the Roca brothers have been able to create such a great atmosphere and food is incredible. It might be because at least one of them is always at the restaurant during service. I know everyone has their own tastes and preferences, but I think that El Celler de Can Roca does the region proud - featuring dishes that are truly regional for the international palate. Pro tip: If you don't want to wait on the 9 month waiting list, put yourself on call and hope for the best! read more

This place certainly doesn't even need a review, but I want to brag about going! This was easily the best all around high end tasting menu I've ever had. There were a few areas they could do better; no cocktails (or we never got the menu), and a lack of creative non-alcoholic options in particular. But the food itself is what counts, and oh my god it was amazing from start to finish. 22 courses served in a perfectly timed 4 hour performance. Every last detail was perfect, down to the Panama Geisha coffee at the end of the meal. I'm already looking forward to snagging a table next year! read more

I will just say that you have never had a dining experience such as at Celler de Can Roca. This place is considered by many as the Best Restaurant In The WORLD (no joke) and it really lives up to its reputation. We had a 17 course meal (SEVENTEEN)! That was with bite-size food that was created with meticulous attention to detail. Every dish was something new, something different, and unusual that was more like a work of art than a piece of food. The ambiance was sophisticated, we were invited to tour the kitchen, we took a photo with the owners, and yes, we got our reservation WAY in advance. The wine list alone is a wine BOOK: One for whites, one for reds. Heavy, sturdy books, that have to be displayed on a bookstand, they are so intricate. Our servers were very friendly and accommodating, and the food was simply spectacular. It's something that you just have to experience. I've been to many restaurants, and had many a fancy meal, but this really takes you to another place. Less like a diner, more like a culinary adventure! read more

"Ranked the #1 Best Restaurant in the World? That has to be pure hype right? I mean it can't really be that good." Yes. It is not. It is. Reservations open up 11 months in advance, and if you will be in the area you absolutely should book if possible. If you don't tend to plan your vacations almost a year ahead, then you should immediately sign up for the waitlist and cajole and plead with your credit card concierge and do whatever else it takes to snag a table at this highly lauded restaurant. Served inside an architecturally magnificent venue, El Cellar de Can Roca delivers culinary perfection and impeccable service. It is every bit the high end experience all other restaurants should aspire to achieve. The food is of course masterful, whimsical, and impeccable, but it is more than that. By now I've dined at quite a few Michelin-starred restaurants and while each boasted a couple of dishes forever imprinted on my memory, very few manage to stand out so much I can recall multiple courses from the meal. Not so with El Cellar de Can Roca. The smells, the textures, the aromas, are all vividly imprinted on my memory as so many courses were so completely different from anything I'd experienced before. Unlike so many ephemeral meals that came before it, I found myself intoxicated by the perfume in the Turkish inspired dessert, seduced by the levity of the candied olives plucked off the miniature tree, and inspired by the candy orange-colourology ball that broke open to reveal hidden wonders. It was the kind of experience I know I could never manage to achieve on my own, even if I spent years trying. Simply put, El Cellar de Can Roca is on another level. I won't delve into each and every item we enjoyed, as the menu will likely be completely different and it would require well over my character limit, but just know it is impressive. Yes we were full. Yes it is worth it. read more

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Unbelievable creativity in every dish! Made with care and delivered with excellence. There is a reason this is the top restaurant of the world! We had a wonderful time dining in this atmospherically beautiful and sophisticated restaurant. read more

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Had the pleasure to dine here in November with my wife and 2 very dear friends. The food and service were exquisite. As it was Thanksgiving back in the US we decided to celebrate with the Grande Tasting Menu and it was a culinary extravaganza. Their wine "list" was actually an exhaustive encyclopedia which Josep Roca expertly navigates to pair with the meals imagined by his Brother Joan and desserts engineered by his Brother Jordi. The service here is unhurried, but efficient. There was never a wait between the numerous courses, and often there were small surprise courses and palate cleansers between courses. Wine glasses were always kept at proper levels. After dinner we were treated to a tour of the kitchen and a personal greeting and photo with all three brothers, as well as signed menus from the evening and an autographed cook book. Our reservation at El Celler de Can Roca was made for us by Xavier, the owner of Hotel Historic in Girona. Stay at Hotel Historic and dine at Roca for the night of a lifetime! read more

The restaurant itself is wonderful, modern, airy, with very generous space. We got a very nice table almost private, since it was in a corner. Staff is quite young, and very enthusiastic, but everyone seems to trade tables, and we got a number of different staff attending to us. Meal starts with an extended set of molecular/modernist cuisine. Have to say, didn't match that of 41 degrees, in Barcelona, which we had a couple of days before. After that, more traditional courses. Beautiful presentations, and very nice sole (fish) dish with multiple sauces. Dessert was a wonderful mixture of textures and tastes. All in all, a very fine experience, but for me, not quite matching the top tops. We were there for lunch. The restaurant is on the north side of town, not really walkable from the center; we took a taxi, and the restaurant called one for us to return to town. read more

Life-changing. It is hard to put in words what Celler de Can Roca contributes to culinary world and to quantify an experience that begins 11 months in advance. From the moment you walk up the ramp to what is a house submerged into a hill, you hope its all been worth it...and let me tell you, it is! To our amazement, as we walked in Joan Roca was standing there meeting some of that nights guests and we were shocked to learn that all three brothers are there most every night. As we were led to our table, we looked around the refined space that held maybe 30/40 people and at no moment felt crowded. If anything you felt in your own space. We did the long food and wine pairing, and it was a journey. There was no bad course, rarely any one dish we had had before, and an innovative spin on each piece that worked. The service was top-notch, and presentation, pairings and transitions all exquisite. Josep Roca also came by to chat about how things were going. If you have the opportunity to eat here, do it! It is pricey, but no where close to many places in the United States. Yes, the meal took 3.5 hours and you may have to stay the night in Girona, but the Gothic city is gorgeous. We will always remember 11/23/2018 and thank the Roca's for their hospitality and the best meal and culinary experience we have ever had. read more

El Celler de Can Roca hardly needs any introduction. Three Michelin stars, three brothers, truly a terrific trio. The Roca brothers--one an executive chef, one a pastry chef, and one a sommelier--work together to produce a fantastically harmonious, balanced meal. Compared to other restaurants which have received similar accolades, El Celler's food is actually quite subdued--it focuses on perfectly executing flavor combinations with high quality ingredients and stunning presentations. Some of my favorites were the Prawn (sweetest prawn ever balanced out nicely), White Truffle Brioche (what an explosion of truffle), and the first two desserts: a play on Miracle by Lancome (perfect balance of flavors) and Orange Colorology (an orange sphere made for a stunning presentation). Almost all the dishes were fantastic, maybe a couple were not to my liking (an "old book" for dessert lol). The service and ambience were just on another level. Although the English of the staff may not have been 100%, they really did all they could for a seamless experience. The dining room is so cool! Presentations are also other worldly--a globe that opens up to reveal caviar? Check. an olive tree with olive ice cream shaped like olives? Check. Overall, this is probably one of my top 2 fine dining meals of all time, tied with Benu. Benu had more wow moments in dishes but El Celler had a higher consistency of dishes overall, with seamless service and ambience. read more

This place is absolutely stunning. Quiet, chic, and full of fantastic staff that give you stories behind the each meal they present to you. The brother chefs at this place have studied the art of cooking since they were very young and the flavor of each bite is sheer proof! This restaurant gives such a wonderful experience. read more

Undoubtedly Worth the flight over, This deserves to take to crown as one of the best restaurants in the world. Thanks to the Fortune 500 Meet Up, Me and others flew over for a delicious dinner reservation. Exquisite read more

As of 2013, this is the top rated restaurant in the world and it lives up to the hype. As we arrived, the receptionist remembered our email exchange for the reservation we made 5 months ago. We were in early (12:45) and Josep Roca, one of the brothers, personally showed us his wine cellar. It was an exquisite experience: a visual and sensory tour showing their wines and associating them with stories and music. The 14 course menu (190€ per person + 90€ for wine pairing) was elegantly presented: every single dish was surprisingly original and the execution was flawless. The choices ranged from seafood to seasonal vegetable concoctions to a few meat dishes, although the focus was mainly around seafood and fish. I loved how each dish had some sort of story behind it. Josep remained attentive, and the maîtres were knowledgeable about wines and food. The service was A+ as well as the menu, in an "anything you need" kind of way. Without doubt, this has been my best restaurant experience so far! The staff was nice enough to send pics of the plates and hand us copies of the menu as souvenirs. read more

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El Celler de Can Roca was this year's highest climber in the San Pellegrino Awards (Restaurant Magazine), to 5th position in the world rankings. I have known about this restaurant for a few years, and, from first-hand reports, have been convinced this place was a major contender. Its third Michelin star is surely imminent. El Celler is run by the three Roca brothers. It is a venture born of passion and poetry. Passion for the land and sea, and poetry to express its beauty. The food is unmistakeably Catalan in essence and inspiration, and has a distinctly nostalgic and sometimes childlike and playful dimension. We had the Festival Menu, which is the restaurant's most extensive tasting menu (there are three tasting menus), consisting of the restaurant's latest creations. We had the good fortune afterwards to be taken on a tour of the cellar, in which wine regions are presented through music (seriously) and bowls with different contents to feel represent the aromas and sensations typical of the wines of those regions. The chef also asked us what we thought of the menu and we had a very pleasant discussion about its high points and its less accomplished or more uncertain moments. We were looked after extremely well. There is no doubt that El Celler de Can Roca deserves all the media attention it is getting. However, one of its finest virtues is its humility and simplicity, and one hopes that its growing fame will not compromise those values. High point(s): the Herring Caviar Omelette (one of the most accomplished, amusing and interesting dishes I have had in my entire life); the wine list (the most extensive and mind-boggling I have ever seen); the service (kind, graceful, discreet, affectionate) Low point(s): practically none - the sea bass was not much of a dish at all and therefore a little disappointing Here is the Festival Menu in its entirety in English: Snacks Black sesame cracker with cocoa grué Carrot with truffle Caramelised olives Pigeon bon-bon with Bristol Cream Cucumber skin soup with smoked eel Morels with foie gras cream Anchovy bone Menu Cuttlefish broth with cuttlefish and pea dim sum Charcoal-grilled oysters with citrus marinade King prawn, king prawn sand and essence of king prawn Smoked herring caviar omelette Catalan cod pot-au-feu Sea bass with olives and savory Spring lamb with pa amb tomàquet Goose royale with peach Wild mushroom consommé with charcoal-grilled wild mushroom ice-cream Desserts Chromatism of orange Lactic dessert We had the following wines (deep breath) Nun 2005 D.O. Penedès Ferrer Bobet Selecció 2006 D.O.Q. Priorat Westhofener Morstein Spätlese Trocken 2004 Rheinhessen Oloroso Abocado Lustau 1990 D.O. Jerez Oremus Late Harvest 2006 Tokaji La Bota PX D.O. Jerez read more

I feel like a place like this doesn't need a review, but why not. We stayed in Barcelona and took the train to come here. In case people are wondering, no jacket required. Smart casual to business casual. The service was excellent. Food was wonderful. Presentation and everything was cute and enjoyable. They brought out the amuse bouche before you decided on two diff tasting portions (one is the lighter version). My favorite dish was the suckling pig. The bathroom has everything you need, toothbrush, toothpaste, and feminine products for emergencies. I love how the chef brothers are all still there and you can meet them, take a picture, and take a short tour of the kitchen. read more

An experience of a lifetime. From the ambience, to the service, to the massive wine selection, and, of course, to the food - WOW! From familiar flavors but unfamiliar ingredients to familiar ingredients and unfamiliar flavors, everything was a delight. I was actually surprised that we were able to get a table after the San Pellegrino list came out. The beautiful amuse bouche were delightful introductions for the 4-course tasting menu we embarked upon. Olives stuffed with anchovies, covered with delicate spun sugar, hanging from a bonsai was a sight to behold. The olive oil caviar on powdered greens and tomato seeds was both familiar and foreign. The chicken cracker was a satisfying mouthful of savory chicken flavor. Lobster medallions with trumpet mushrooms, pork belly, and the rest were dishes I won't soon forget. I only hope I can return for another wonderful experience! read more

Four of us had the great pleasure of dining at "El Celler" in October 2013. The restaurant combines the finest of dining experience with sensationally conceptualized and constructed plates - each one with its own unique (but not silly) combination of taste, texture and aromatic. The table service is efficient and relaxed - just right. Can Roca comes with the added bonus of offering some affordable wines - though the impressive wine selection goes very, very deep for those who can spend the money. Reserve on the 1st of the month for the following year.... read more