When traveling, it's often the people you meet who can make or break your trip. In this case,…read moreBamboral will always have a special place in my heart when I think of Barcelona. Even though we did not have reservations, we were welcomed and treated like family instead of American tourists. The staff, particularly Victor, patiently explained the menu and we chatted with him as acquaintances. We dined here two out of the three nights we were in Barcelona because we had such a great dining experience. When we came back for the second time, every staff member remembered us and joked with us. Victor even remembered our order!
Bamboral means poppy, and it's named after the city where the owners are from. One of the owners even came over to chat with us and told us about how the food was made.
Here's what we had:
-Ensaladilla Rusa & bonito tuna (4 euros): I'm not a potato salad fan, but this is a pretty classic tapa so we had to try it. It was just okay to me, but my husband loved it.
-Burrata salad (8 euros): The burrata was a good size for sharing, while the asparagus and tomato added a nice contrast to the creaminess of the burrata.
-Rice special (7 euros): Oh my gosh, whatever the rice special is, just order it! I ordered it both times, so I had two eye-rolling bowls of rice goodness. If you like the umami flavor of mushrooms, then you will love their rice special.
-Scallop with pork jowl & asparagus (13 euros): The scallops were perfectly cooked, and don't be scared of the pork jowl; it's really more like pork belly.
-Sweet potato bravas (3.50 euros): I would go back just for this simple, yet fantastic dish. The owner told us that their aioli is special because it's made with roasted garlic and tomatoes that have been braised for hours along with peppers from their garden. You can taste the quality in their aioli because it tasted much more complex than ones from the other tapas bars we went to.
-Pork mask (8 euros): Okay, I know the name is rather strange, but this was amazing! Think of bacon that is topped with bits of garlic and vinegar to add some acidity to an otherwise heavy dish.
It is a smaller establishment, so make reservations or be okay with sitting at the bar, which is what we did both nights. The atmosphere is friendly with lots of locals dining here.
If you're looking for a fine dining experience with white table cloths and room temperature Evian, this is not for you. If you want to have great tapas at a reasonable price with great people, then come here!