So when in Barcelona... why not treat yourself to a Michelin-star tasting menu?! And Prodigi…read moreturned out to be such a fun experience!
I arrived a little earlier than my reservation and was given the option of sitting at one of the two tables in the front or being shown to my table and enjoying a drink while I waited for my actual dining time. Of course I chose the drink. I learned that the tasting menu runs on specific seating times, so several tables basically begin their experience together and the courses are brought out around the same time.
The restaurant itself is very simple and unassuming--clean lines, round tables and nothing overly fancy or stuffy. There are just a handful of tables in the main dining area with a few more tucked into an alcove, so it feels intimate without feeling cramped.
Now let's get to the FOOD! I opted for the tasting menu, which included 10 different items/courses plus petit fours at the end. And listen, these are obviously tasting portions, so everything is cute and little, but by the time you make your way through ALL of it, you've definitely had a full meal!
Here's how my tasting menu went:
- The opening trio: Duck à l'orange, marinated mackerel with smoked beurre blanc, mini corn cob and sea grapes, and chicken liver parfait with crispy skin, pear, and pickled mustard. I added the optional caviar to the mackerel because... well... CAVIAR. This is also where I immediately noticed the attention to detail. Each dish was explained as it was presented, right down to suggestions for how to eat it. One bite was meant to be eaten all at once, while the chicken liver parfait was meant to be enjoyed in three. I loved that! The parfait was smooth and flavorful, but that crispy skin?! Sooooo good! Thin, crisp, and almost biscuit-like.
- Bread service: Slightly warmed bread with some of the softest, perfectly spreadable butter and olive oil. Simple, but SO good.
- Cherry salmorejo: Three different types of seasonal tomatoes, marinated bonito, panko, and basil oil. Those tomatoes were SO sweet, and the combination with the salmorejo and basil oil was absolutely delicious.
- Creamy dry-aged beef rice: Served with gribiche sauce and thin slices of beef laid across the top. The rice was cooked perfectly, and everything had such a good flavor without being overly rich or heavy.
- Sea bass: Another winner for me! The skin had that perfect crisp, while the fish underneath was soft, moist, and flaky, accompanied by a tangy coffee sauce, smoked emulsion, and crispy zucchini flower.
- Crispy suckling pig: Served with black cardamom sauce, and apple and celeriac salad, and black tea foam. I don't really eat pork, but of course I had to at least TRY it! Again, perfectly crispy on the outside and incredibly tender inside.
One thing I noticed throughout the meal: everything that was supposed to be hot came out HOT. The service was also on point the entire evening. Drinks were replenished, finished plates disappeared almost immediately, and fresh silverware appeared before the next course. Attentive without somebody hovering over you every five seconds.
And then... DESSERT!
- Wild garlic sorbet: Served with yuzu cream and eucalyptus. Now, I'm already not a huge sorbet person, so while I thought the flavor was good and certainly different, this one wasn't my personal favorite.
- Chocolate mousse: Served with fresh pomegranate, tonka bean ganache, and raspberry sorbet. Again, I could've done without the sorbet, but that chocolate mousse? YES! Delicious!
- Petit fours: And just when you think you're finished, out come three adorable little bites, including a gelified olive oil, which was definitely a first for me! Such a cute and unexpected way to finish the meal.
Overall, I really enjoyed Prodigi. The food was creative without feeling like it was trying too hard, the presentation was beautiful, the service was attentive, and I especially loved all the little details throughout the experience. Even when a particular flavor wasn't necessarily my thing, I could still appreciate what they were doing with it.
If you're in Barcelona and want to do a Michelin-star tasting experience that feels special without feeling overly formal or intimidating, this is definitely one to put on your list!