No Expert …but I know what I like – Food Blog, Restaurant reviews – Page 50

Silenus – Losing its Midas touch?

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

Return to top page

Moo and Moovida – Hotel Omm

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

Return to top page

Neichel – a classic

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

Return to top page

OT or maybe nOT!

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

Return to top page

Comerç 24 – restoring faith in Molecular gastronomy

This 1 star Michelin is something of a Barcelona gem. Its much more experimental and adventurous in its cooking than most. At the beginning of the meal we were presented with a rack of 4 olive oil bottles to try with the bread. Gold leaf coated Macadamia nuts inside a Sardine tin prepare you for a meal that is not traditional by any measure. One particularly memorable course was the soup. Six tiny flavoured egg yokes suspended in the soup. When eaten they pop and melt over your tongue. A wonderful effect.

I was going off the idea of going to elBulli in this life time, considering it seems impossible to get a reservation, thinking that perhaps its a bit too out there, but my experience at Comerç 24 made me think there might be something to this Molecular gastronomy after all, so if you can not get to elBulli, Comerç 24 might be a more acceptable alternative.

Marks out of 10

Food 8.5

Service 6 – ( Sommelier 8 )

Ambience 5

Return to top page