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.
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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.