No Expert …but I know what I like – Food Blog, Restaurant reviews
Reviews, Guides & Maps
The Bar in the Chop House in Butlers Wharf is a really civilised venue for breakfast, it is especially lovely on a sunny day when you can sit outside and watch the boats on the river, taking in the stunning views of Tower bridge. The menu is excellent, I would especially recommend the Gloucester Old Spot sausages. It is best to reserve a table for breakfast as this is a very popular venue.
Marks out of 10
Food 6.5
Service 5
Location 7
The S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list rates El Celler De Can Roca as number 5, not that the place is bad, far from it. It is just that I haven’t been to all the best restaurants in the world yet, and this one already is not in my top 5. Actually I should have know better than trust this list, as last year I visited number 11 L’Astrance in Paris, again not bad – but not really worth in my view the acolades it receives. Plus this year Restaurant Gordon Ramsay – Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea did not even make the top 100, and that is most definately in my top 10.
El Celler De Can Roca is out in the suburbs of Girona, so about 1 hour on the train from Barcelona, then a 10-15 minute taxi ride. It is a very stylish venue, and they had some nice touches, the one I especially approved off, was the complimentary Cava and water (not that we did not really pay for it in the bill – as El Celler De Can Roca is not cheap). This is a much nicer approach than staff pushing you to buy a glass of overpriced Champagne before your meal (one of my pet hates).
An easier alternative in the Roca Brothers empire, is to just stay in Barcelona and go to their restaurant at Hotel Omm , Moo.
UPDATE: March 2010 – El Celler De Can Roca, was awarded its third Michelin star this year.
UPDATE: April 2010 – El Celler De Can Roca is now at number 4 on the S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list.
UPDATE: April 2013 – El Celler De Can Roca is now number 1 on the S.Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list.
Silenus was always one of the better restaurants in the Ravel area. We have had some really good dishes there, but on a more recent visit the food was quite ordinary. It had shifted its direction from fusion to more traditional. However it may be on the way back to fusion as recent research shows it being described now as doing International/Japanese cuisine (Japanese food is very trendy in Barcelona at the moment), so who knows. On the plus side it is a fairly laid back place to eat, so we may give it another try on our next visit to Barcelona.
Marks out of 10
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 5.5
Moo is the 1 star Michelin restaurant (part of the Roca brothers empire) situated in the Hotel Omm in Barcelona, (part of the Grupo Tragaluz).
It is very fashionable, very much a place to be seen. Normally in this sort of venue the food disappoints, but here for once the food is actually good enough to match the atmosphere. Advanced booking is essential.
Marks out of 10 – Moo
Food 7
Service 7
Ambience 7.5
Moovida is the informal bar/dinning area. This venue is an especially useful recommendation as you can normally do a walk in. Its also a great place for food and people watching (unless you are facing the wall that might as well be an NCP car park. Etiquette apparently dictates that the woman sits looking into the room, getting the interesting view. While the man has to stare at a wall. I’ve lost count of the number of tables I’ve sat at looking at a fire exit sign…rant over).
Short video showing Hotel Omm, finishes with some images of that wall in Moovida:-
Marks out of 10 – Moovida
Food 7
Service 7
Ambience 7
Neichels is a venue for special occasions, it’s a little of the beaten track, but well worth making the effort to get there.
Its style is classical rather than cutting edge. It provides a stunning desert trolley and a large range of PX sherries (something of an acquired taste – almost a dessert in themselves).
Marks out of 10
Food 7
Service 7
Ambience 7
I would not go out of my way to try out OT, but if you are in the area (it’s near the Sagrada Família), then it’s a viable option for an interesting lunch. (This restaurant by the way is now known as Libentia, I guess they did not like the pun!).
It is fairly casual and a bit experimental. The best part of my meal was the dessert which incorporated Mango Sorbet and popping candy.
Marks out of 10
Food 5.7
Service 6
Ambience 5.5