Gelateria Italiana, Placa Revolució de Setembre 1868
I had gelato in Barcelona a week before I found the place pictured above. Although it was a yummy treat, it was meh, not worth mentioning. But this place is a true gem. The gelato was so good, I ate it before even snapping a picture. To those foodies out there who always Instagram your meals, you know that’s a good indicator that the dish in question was damn good. After sampling the dark chocolate and the hazelnut (which tasted like Nutella), I had to go with the dark chocolate. It basically tasted like brownie batter for me. I’m not sure if that’s as appetizing to anyone as it is to me, but the point is it was creamy, smooth, and rich. If I could, I’d go back right now for two more scoops.
Tapadu, Carrer de la Princes, 29
Near the Picasso Museum, this franchise can be found in a rather small spot.
I immediately ordered a red wine sangria. It was very sweet but in a tasty, non-overpowering way. However, the grapes and pieces of pear in it reminded me of those mixed fruit cocktail cups I used to snack on as a kid (not super fresh or natural). Other than that, no complaints. It was cool, refreshing, and left me feeling a-okay about waiting in line for an hour to enter the museum.
Next, I ordered two tapas.
Their Spanish Tortilla comes on a piece of bread. On top, there’s a piece of chorizo. It was delicious. But if you like salt on your foods, you may need to ask for an extra sprinkle as it was almost too bland for me and I usually don’t cook with salt.
The second tapa I ordered was the trio of tuna empanadas. The only downside of this dish is that they’re too small. These were incredibly good; I wished I had one of those “futuristic” devices that can enlarge or duplicate…Seriously, shouldn’t we have these by now? In addition, there’s a light cream sauce that comes on the side that gives it a nice zest, but they’re just as good alone. Again, the size might leave you disappointed as they were about as big as my thumb.
Euromania, Rambla de Raval, 41
Okay, think dollar menu but expanded and with better quality meat. Everything is a euro in this restaurant. For me and my wallet, this was a dream. I’m not a professional chef nor food critic, so I may be easier to please than most. I had this lunch with a guy who cooks for a living, and he was not as impressed. He mostly critiqued the quality of the bread. Personally, I went into the restaurant knowing that you usually get what you paid for. And to pay just 3.50 euros for my meal, I was more than happy with what I got.
I ordered three bocadillos, which are sandwiches. One had a fried calamari. The second was the Caprese which included tomatoes slices, mozzarella cheese, and basil with olive oil. The last one was considered a burger but was just a small patty topped with ham. All three were simple but satisfying. My favorite being the Caprese.
We also split this shareable plate of cheese fries with ham. Great for your taste buds, not your arteries.
If there’s something I would warn y’all about, it’s the “batidos.” I asked for one thinking I would get a nice, thick, creamy chocolate milkshake. All I got though was chocolate milk with ice. Order a beer like my acquaintance did. It was much tastier and a better deal. Or order a water, but note it’s usually in a bottle and not free.