Barcelona Idler

If you’re looking for a classic Catalan dining experience, and you don’t mind paying top whack, I certainly recommend Ca L’Isidre, on the edge of the El Raval district. It has a well-deserved reputation (even the King dines here occassionally!), and is worth the money. Without going mad on the winelist, expect to pay about €150 to €200 for 2 persons.

I opted for the raviolis stuffed with langustinos, lima, and ginger, and have to say it was one of the best starters I’ve ever had. The main, seared tuna steak with sea salt and tomato coulis, was super fresh. And I had to go for the famous chocolate mousse, and my conclusion was the fame is well-deserved - mouth-wateringly delicious.

My dining partner went for a mushroom-based starter with poached egg and deliciously creamy salsa, again a fantastic starter. Being a carnivor, ribs of a young goat followed, and were reportedly delicious. To finish, a fruit tart, and once again like you’ve never tasted.

Edit: And how could I forget the cherry-based Gazpacho aperitivo?!? If anyone told me that the combination of cherry, garlic and tomato was worthy trying, I’d laugh, but no, it was fantastic, truly original and delicious!

Go easy on the wine list - it’s extensive, and expensive - if you feel the urge to splurge a grand on a bottle, this is the place to do it! My dining partner and I shared a Priorat, Les Terrasses 2003, for a modest €40, and agreed that it was “buenísimo”!

Isidre Gironés, the owner, goes to the nearby Mercat de la Boqueria every morning to scrupulously follow the seasons and get the best of the catch of the day. The cooking style here has nothing to do with the more modern styles practiced elsewhere in town; what’s served is superb and subtly modernized traditional Catalan cooking. The Gironés’s daughter Nuria, who now runs the kitchen, is responsible for the sumptuous desserts.

Definitely one of the best restaurants in town - classic Catalan cooking at it’s very best.
Ca L’Isidre C Flors 12, Barcelona, 93 441 11 39

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 21st, 2006 at 3:24 pm and is filed under Catalan, El Raval. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.