[Wilfrid1]

It's not news that this a knockout seafood restaurant. Pim did a great job on it last summer, one of the reasons it was on my essential list for this Barcelona trip. (Re-reading Pim's piece today, we ordered quite differently - she seems to have stayed with appetizers, and found the meal light; we went on to the mixed grills and were painfully stuffed. Managed to spend much the same, though.)

Not what I expected as far as ambience goes - in British terms, it reminded me of Wilton's or even Rules. Old-style, white tablecloth, serene. But it's hard to imagine better produce; just as Rules raises game on its own estate, R de G has its own proprietary seafood beds.

Appropriately expensive in euros, it is of course ruinous in dollars - suffice to say that I don't regret a penny.

Goose barnacles, gambas, rice 'n' clams, cod mousse, parilladas of everything, at the Pink Pig.


(eta - fixed the link)

[rohandaft]

It's not news that this a knockout seafood restaurant. Pim did a great job on it last summer, one of the reasons it was on my essential list for this Barcelona trip. (Re-reading Pim's piece today, we ordered quite differently - she seems to have stayed with appetizers, and found the meal light; we went on to the mixed grills and were painfully stuffed. Managed to spend much the same, though.)

Not what I expected as far as ambience goes - in British terms, it reminded me of Wilton's or even Rules. Old-style, white tablecloth, serene. But it's hard to imagine better produce; just as Rules raises game on its own estate, R de G has its own proprietary seafood beds.

Appropriately expensive in euros, it is of course ruinous in dollars - suffice to say that I don't regret a penny.

Goose barnacles, gambas, rice 'n' clams, cod mousse, parilladas of everything, at the Pink Pig.


(eta - fixed the link)

The best seafood in Barcelona, but - yes - not a place to find people dancing on tables. Infinitely better than Botafumeiro (spelling), which I think is absurdly overrated. Did they have lamprey?

[Wilfrid1]

They didn't. I've only eaten lamprey in Lisbon and would be pleased to eat it again.

I am glad I found out about R de G, really from online sources, or I surely would have gone to Botafumeiro.

[mongo_jones]

how expensive is ruinously expensive?

[Wilfrid1]

$550 for three. This is with a 28 euro bottle of wine (only two people drinking). For anyone earning and spending euros, I think 120 euros a head was a good price for this kind of food.

The 72 euro price on the percebes appetizer was a big factor, of course.

[mongo_jones]

so, without the percebes it would be about $400 for 3, and still a very good meal. (i assume the munchkin eats like a full-grown human.) that's not so terribly high for what you describe as one of the best seafood restaurants in the world.

[Wilfrid1]

Good, you are cheering me up. It's cheaper than New York's Kuruma Zushi, anyway.

The Munchkin eats like a plague of locusts. It's quite scary.

[mongo_jones]

even with your percebes it was $180 per head; without it $130. that seems to be the range in which most high-end nyc meals are reported on this site.

and you said you were painfully stuffed. which means i could probably get it down to $100 a head if i ever made it to barcelona. that's the point of my questions.

[Wilfrid1]

You are convincing me. I overstated it - maybe I still have the notion in my bones that Spain ought to be a cheap destination.

[LML]

You are convincing me. I overstated it - maybe I still have the notion in my bones that Spain ought to be a cheap destination.

Spain is probably still a relatively cheap destination. Of course, eating Galician seafood in Barcelona is going to cost a lot more than eating Galician seafood in Galicia.

[LML]

Also you were shafted on the Percebes, the best of which are currently going for about 90€ a kilo anywhere in Spain.

[Orik]

$550 for three. This is with a 28 euro bottle of wine (only two people drinking). For anyone earning and spending euros, I think 120 euros a head was a good price for this kind of food.

The 72 euro price on the percebes appetizer was a big factor, of course.

Yeah, but at those prices you can get percebes, espardenyas, carabineros... in Paris I've paid more for some oysters and crab.

[rohandaft]

It's not news that this a knockout seafood restaurant. Pim did a great job on it last summer, one of the reasons it was on my essential list for this Barcelona trip. (Re-reading Pim's piece today, we ordered quite differently - she seems to have stayed with appetizers, and found the meal light; we went on to the mixed grills and were painfully stuffed. Managed to spend much the same, though.)

Not what I expected as far as ambience goes - in British terms, it reminded me of Wilton's or even Rules. Old-style, white tablecloth, serene. But it's hard to imagine better produce; just as Rules raises game on its own estate, R de G has its own proprietary seafood beds.

Appropriately expensive in euros, it is of course ruinous in dollars - suffice to say that I don't regret a penny.

Goose barnacles, gambas, rice 'n' clams, cod mousse, parilladas of everything, at the Pink Pig.


(eta - fixed the link)

Poble Sec is worth further investigation. If you're facing Rias de Galicia, turn right and walk up the hill. Take the first left (on the corner there's a good, if unexciting 'brasserie' that's owned by the Rias de G people) and continue until you reach a square. Cross the square - on the left hand side of it there's a bank, chemist and then, on the corner, a fishmonger - and turn left. Two (three?) doors down there's a simple, very brightly lit bar/restaurant called Funicular. Here you'll find good razor clams, oysters, clams, cockles, prawns, percebes etc Also, one of the best Russian salads in Barcelona and a very good crayfish salad with a hazelnut dressing. And all for about 20-25% of the price of Rias de Galicia. Avoid sauces and go for plain steamed and 'a la plancha' stuff.

[Wilfrid1]

That neighborhood is completely unknown to me, and it does look interesting. I used to go to Bar Mundial for inexpensive seafood, but that seemed to be closed for vacation.

[rohandaft]

That neighborhood is completely unknown to me, and it does look interesting. I used to go to Bar Mundial for inexpensive seafood, but that seemed to be closed for vacation.

I used to live near Bar Mundial. Escopinyas (spelling?) clams/cockles from Mallorca were my favourite. I think it might have closed - I'll check. And I'll post some more details of good places in Poble Sec sometime - there are enough to tapear.