Mexican food in Barcelona? Pues, claro ¡a Casa Mexicana!

As I've written before, Barcelona's cosmopolitan nature is reflected in the menus on offer in the city's many and diverse restaurants. In addition to dining establishments serving the richly varied cuisine of Spain (Andalusian, Basque, Catalan, Galician, Valencian, etc.), there are many places offering food from other parts of the world; this includes more than a few Mexican restaurants. My favorite of these by far is Casa Mexicana.

Located in the Porto Olimpico, Casa Mexicana is right next door to the Chinese restaurant I wrote about in July 2007. Like that place, there is a comfortable interior dining room filled with lots of natural light, as well as open air terrace where diners can enjoy a harbor view while eating.

The reasonably priced menu includes a wide range of items such as nachos, tacos, quesadillas, flautas, tamales, chilaquiles, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, chimichangas, chicken mole, BBQ chicken, grilled steak and even Tex-Mex lasagna. Vegetarian varieties of many dishes are also available. For dessert choose from buñelos with whipped-cream and/or chocolate sauce, a slice of the cake of the day, or fresh fruit.

Interestingly, Casa Mexicana is the only Mexican restaurant in Barcelona that serves breakfast. Every weekday morning diners can enjoy either huevos rancheros with bacon, huevos a la Mexicana, huevos con papas, huevos con chorizo or a Mexican omelet. And serving sizes are very generous, whether its a breakfast, lunch or dinner dish.

From Monday through Friday Casa Mexicana offers excellent lunch specials for only 8.95 euros, plus tax. As an example of these mid-day specials, let me tell you about what I frequently order -- creature of habit that I am. Usually I begin with a tasty starter of nachos with cheese and guacamole. For the main plate I typically choose one of their huge beef burritos, which bulge with meat, veggies, cheese and sour cream. This comes with a fresh green salad, half of a baked potato and pico de gallo. For a follow up to this hearty and scrumptious meal I almost always go with a helping of their delicious buñelos, which I prefer with whipped-cream, but sans chocolate sauce. Of course, like most "menus del día" in Spain, the price of the lunch includes a choice of wine, beer, water or soft drink. It all amounts to a delectable deal, indeed.

The owners of Casa Mexicana are a friendly couple named Michael and Carina. If you ever visit the restaurant, ask for one of them and mention to him or her that you learned about their restaurant from Carloz's blog and you may just get a free tequila!

Buen provecho amig@s,

Carloz

Casa Mexicana

C/ Marina 16-18

08005 Barcelona

Hours:

Breakfast Weekday Mornings 8h - 12h

Lunch Weekdays and Weekends 12h - 17h

Dinner Weekdays and Weekends 19h - 24h

Reservations accepted:
Email: casa.mexicana.bcn@gmail.com
Phone (+34) 932 215 645
Web: http://www.casa-mexicana-bcn.eu/
Menu in English and Spanish.

WOKImarket - another economical eatery in Barceloneta - and vegetarians will like this one!

WOKImarket hasn't even been open a year yet, but has become one of my favorite places to get a delicious, low cost meal on the go. This Argentine-owned establishment specializes in wok-prepared food. Located just across from Barceloneta beach, the space is nice, modern and Ikea-like with Asian cooks busily stir-frying meals right in the middle of the place, for all to see.
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"Menus" in English, Spanish, Catalan and French are printed on brown slips of paper. Patrons grab one, write a name at the top, check boxes to choose the make-up of their dish (a base for 4.50, additional ingredients for either 1 euro or 1.50 and a sauce for free) and then hand the completed slip over the counter to one of the cooks.
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The 4.50 euro base is made up of vegetables stir-fried with an egg plus one of the following choices: rice noodles, egg noodles, white rice or mixed vegetables. (Vegans note: the egg can be withheld.)
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Additional ingredients to choose from for 1 euro each are: chicken, tofu, spinach, broccoli, green beans, peanuts, sesame, banana, mushrooms and eggplant. For 1.50 each one can choose from beef, shrimp and codfish.
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As I mentioned, sauces are free. The choices as they appear on English version of the menu are:

Thai (coconut milk with herbs), China (sweet and sour sauce), Casa ("house secret" reads the description), Japo (teriyaki sauce -- by the way, that's not a typo of mine on "Japo" -- that's how it spelled on the menu), Spacy (hot sauce -- hmm, could they have meant "Spicy"?) Ho Sin (black sweet "beens" sauce) and Malaya (coconut milk and palm oil).
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During the meal's preparation, customers can either watch the cooks while they "wok" or browse the market part of the establishment. The market contains imported items from Asian, Latin American and European countries, including a variety of drinks, sauces, noodles, seaweed, seasoning, rice, cookies, candies, jams, jellies, etc. Note: unlike the meals, market items are expensive.
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Dishes are served in stereotypical Chinese take-out containers, which are convenient for carrying to the beach to enjoy a meal in the sand or on a bench.
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Oh, and it's all very tasty!
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Enjoy your meal amig@s,
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Carloz
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WOKImarket
Paeso Maritimo 1 / Passeig Maritim 1
Playa Barceloneta / Platja Barceloneta
08003 Barcelona
Tel: 93 224 12 51
Email: Wokimarket@yahoo.com

Pollo asado / Rotisserie grilled chicken

I've written previously about buying a few samosas from one of my neighborhood Pakistani grocer's when I am not in the mood for cooking dinner. Well, that's when I am not hungry. When I am hungry, but too lazy to cook, I sometimes go to Churri's, a little take away place near my apartment. While its fare is very simple, I think it makes a good addition to the other low cost eating establishments I've written about. (For all posts on this subject, click here. For all FOOD related posts click here.)
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Churri is a term of endearment in Spanish, similar to dear, hun, sweetie... And the two motherly ladies who work there may say something along those lines when serving you.
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Not much bigger than a walk-in closet, Churri's selection ranges from lasagna to bocadillos, from buñelos de bacalo (codfish fritters) to hamburgers, but I've never tried anything other than their pollo asado con patatas. (Rotisserie grilled chicken with potatoes.) For only 4.50 you get half a grilled chicken with a generous portion of potato wedges cooked in the same grill. (A whole chicken costs double.) I either take it home or head the two blocks or so to the beach to eat al fresco y al lado del mar.
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Another good place for pollo asado is a restaurant named O Pollo. At 8.50 a plate, this place is pricier not only due to the fact that you get a drink with your meal, but also because you can eat inside the large glass walled dining room or out on the beach front terrace. And when I say beach front, I mean directly in front of the beach. Step off the terrace and you are standing in sand.
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Here the plates are real plates, not plastic, and there are a variety of "menus" to choose from for the same price. For example: rotisserie grilled chicken, potatoes and drink; rotisserie grilled chicken, green salad and drink; chicken curry, salad and drink; chicken burritos, salad and drink.
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The chicken at O Pollo is good, but not quite as tasty as Churri's. Ditto for the potatos, which are the the frozen type at O Pollo, but freshly cut ones at Churri's.
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O Pollo also offers gazpacho, appetizers (Japanese Style Chicken Wings, Yokitari Skewer, Patatas Bravas), a children's menu, items a la carte and dessert. The atmosphere is usually lively, with lots of people enjoying the view of the sea as well as the upbeat music that often pumps through the place.
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Every year the prices at O Pollo go up 1 euro or more. This past year the combination plate prices have gone up 1.5o, while at the same time the place began offering less: drink sizes have decreased; instead of ordering at the counter, taking a seat and waiting for staff to bring your meal to your table, now you must move from the an ordering line to a food pick-up line; no more full sized, thick paper napkins, but small, thin ones instead. Also, for some reason all of the former staff were let go. The previous employees were mainly Argentines and Brazilians and were soooo nice and friendly. The new staff seem OK, but are not nearly as friendly -- so far. Consequently, I find that this year I have been going there less frequently than in years past.
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Anyway, there you are - two more low cost places to eat in Barcelona. Neither as nice or delicious as the other places I've written about, but both satisfactory.
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Check the comments section for any updates.
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Chao amig@s,
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Carloz
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Locations:
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Churri's
C/ Almirall Cervera 21
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O Pollo
Paseo Maritimo 1, bajo (under the paseo, on the beach)
932 240 353

Why I call it Paella Row

Take a walk from the Barceloneta metro station down Passeig de Joan de Borbo / Paseo de Juan de Borbon to the sea and you will find the following places serving food and/or drink:
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First block:
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None (Don't get disappointed!)
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Second block:
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Charleston's - Don't let the name put you off, because this place specializes in Andalusian tapas. (Maybe Charleston sounds exotic to Spaniards.) They also offer combination platters and sandwiches. No paella, though.
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Bella Istanbul - a Turkish restaurant.
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Costa Brava - a tapas cafe and bar.
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Third Block:
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Pita Hut - a middle eastern fast food joint. (Hold on, hold on! Paella's on the way.)
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Can Tipa - OK, it starts here. This seafood and paella restaurant has been here since 1886 and is a great place.
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Simpre Viva - This upstart has only been around since 1913. Serves very good seafood and paella at good prices.
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Arlequino (Harlequin) - A nice little ice cream/sandwich shop and cafe.
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Restaurante Peru - Despite the name, not a Peruvian restaurant, but, guess what, a seafood and paella restaurant.
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Fourth Block:
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L'arros - the real upstart, this trendy looking place has only been around for a few months. Oh, they specialize in rice dishes, such as PAELLA!
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Bar Martistany - a little tapas and sandwich joint.
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La Xurreria del Port - a little doorway counter that serves freshly made churros, the sweet Spanish pastry. Yummy!
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Noroeste Marisqueria - seafood and paella
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Gelato Fratello - Italian ice cream parlor.
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Port Vell - seafood and paella.
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Hispano - delicious seafood and paella since 1917. There are some lovely old photographs on the walls that offer a pictorial history.
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Fifth Block:
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The Fastnet Irish Cafe and Bar - serves Irish and British food. Very popular with expats and tourists from Britain and Ireland. Duh.
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El Dique - seafood and paella.
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Granja Eugenio - a bit of a greasy spoon, serving breakfast, lunch dinner and tapas.
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La Oficina - seafood and paella.
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Toc de Mar - this place is under new management. I have not been since the change but, apparently they still specialize in seafood and paella.
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Sixth Block:
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Deportivo - seafood and paella.
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Pans i Mes - bread and pastry shop that also sells good little sandwiches.
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Dinos - Italian ice cream parlor. (Perhaps after paella and seafood, Italian ice cream is the next most popular food item in Barceloneta.)
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Seventh Block:
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Ancora - a really ugly place serving seafood and paella.
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El Rey de la Gamba - stretching over 4 addresses in a row, this seafood and paella restaurant is definitely the king in size, if not in quality. Not bad, though.
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Las Purras - sandwiches, tapas, combination plates, seafood and pre-cooked paella. :-(
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El Rey de la Gamba - if there isn't room at the other four locations, here are two more!
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Eighth Block:
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Hotel 54's Raco del Pinotxo - overpriced hotel food. No paella.
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Can Emili - seafood and paella.
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La Mar Salada - excellent seafood and paella at a great price.
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Ninth Block:
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Puda Can Manel - after 137 years, this is the "abuela" of them all. This place has been serving excellent seafood and paella since 1870!
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El suquet de L'Almirall - seafood and paella.
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Focyou - seafood but no paella.
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La Marisqueria del Port - seafood and paella.
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Zahara Coctail Club - trendy bar.
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Can Costa - seafood and paella.
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Marti Villoro - seafood and paella.
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Tenth Block:
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Buenas Migas - foccacia, pannini and salads.
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OK, that's it, we're finally at the sea. Twenty two restaurants serving paella over a 10 block stretch! Now do you see what I mean by Paella Row? (And I haven't even mentioned the 4 seafood and paella restaurants on the other side of the Paseo in the Palau del Mar building, because technically they are not located directly on the Paseo.)

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Of course, just walk onto the beach or into the neighborhood if you want more seafood, paella and other types of restaurants to choose from!
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My top 5 recommendations for paella or seafood on Paella Row:
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Can Tipa
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Siempre Viva
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Hispano
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La Mar Salada
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Puda Can Manel

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I hope you get to enjoy them someday.

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Chao amig@s,

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Carloz

Chinese food in Barcelona? ¡Claro que sí!

Barcelona is blessed when it comes to food! Not only are there great Catalan, Spanish and Mediterranean dishes to be had at restaurants throughout the city, but international gastronomy abounds, too. Asian food is particularly popular here and that, of course, includes Chinese cuisine.
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About once a week or so I get a craving for good Chinese food. When this happens, I usually head for a place that has tasty dishes, friendly staff, an excellent view and great prices -- the Pato Pekin Puerto Olímpico.
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Located in the Port Olímpic area just beyond Barceloneta Beaches, the restaurant actually overlooks the marina. You can either enjoy your meal in the large dining room with a glass wall facing the sea or outside on the balcony, pictured in the photo to the right, which is one floor up from the paseo below. (By the way, "Port Olímpic" is the name as it is written in Catalan and, therefore, how it appears on local maps, signs, etc. "Puerto Olímpico" is Spanish and how many people refer to the area as well as the way the restaurant spells it.)
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On weekdays Pato Pekin has two set lunch menus to choose from, one priced 7.95, the other 10.95. For dinner and weekends, the special menus are priced 10.65 and 12.79 respectively. Each menu offers a choice of first plate, main plate, side dish, drink and dessert or coffee. You can also order a la carte from their dim sum menu or from their regular menu, which is quite varied.
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The set menus are too lengthy to list in their entireties, so just to give you an idea, here are a few samples of what's on offer from the dinner/weekend menus:
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For 12.79 you can choose items such as a house salad, seafood soup or sauteed mixed vegetables for a first plate; followed by a main dish of cuttlefish and green pepper, king prawn with vegetables or sweet and sour duck; along with a side dish of white rice, rice "especial" or Chinese bread.

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On the 10.65 menu, among the choices for starters are egg rolls, fried wan-tons and chicken noodle soup. A few examples of main plates are lemon chicken, beef with vegetables and steamed whole fish. Some of the side dishes available include white rice, rice "tres delicias" and noodles with vegetables.
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All menus include a choice of wine, beer, soft drink or bottled water. After your meal you can choose coffee, tea or one of the following desserts: a scoop of ice cream, flan, mango, lemon mousse, fruit salad, fried apple with honey, fried banana with honey or a "comtessa." Comtessa is simple but sinfully delicious -- a deep crystal dish filled with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.
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Those are only a few examples from the weekend and night-time set menus. The weekday lunch menus are not only cheaper, at 7.95 and 10.95, but have even wider selections!
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Being a creature of habit, I most often go to the Pato Pekin on sunny Sunday's to enjoy the view from the balcony, a leisurely newspaper read and, of course, a delicious meal. I typically order fried wan-tons to begin with, which are always served fresh, warm and crisp. For the main plate and side dish I usually go with beef in oyster sauce and white rice. I ask for this to be prepared "un poco picante" (a little spicy) and it is always perfect -- a generous serving of beef sauteed with mushrooms, onion, garlic, green pepper and bamboo shoots. All of this, plus drink and dessert, costs only 10.95!

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Good food in a stylish, relaxing setting -- there's nothing much better.

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Pato Pekin Puerto Olímpico

C/ de la Marina, 16-18 (take the escalator or stair up one floor)

08005 Barcelona

Tel: 93 225 41 41

Buenas Migas = Good Crumbs

Yesterday I went to my neighborhood beach with a friend. I made my own sandwich to eat there but my friend picked up a pasta salad and a focaccia from one of my favorite seaside eating establishments, Buenas Migas Focacceria.

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According to the folks at Buenas Migas, the pizza-like focaccia is Genoan in origin and derives its name from the Latin word 'focus', meaning hearth or fire place. It differs from everyday bread in that the dough is stretched for several hours and because it is topped with olive oil and salt. Historically in the city of Genoa, focaccia was cooked in communal ovens.

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They say that for centuries focaccia has been enjoyed by Genoan fishermen, along with a glass of white wine, before setting off onto the sea. Its simple Mediterranean recipe has made focaccia a popular dish and nowadays it is eaten all over the world with a wide range of toppings -- and I doubt there is any place that offers more delicious, economical and generous servings than Barcelona's Buenas Migas.

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Yesterday my friend got an approximately 20cm x 15cm rectangle of Focaccia Margharita (tomato, cheese, olives and oregano) along with about 200 grams of Pasta con il tonno (bow tie pasta tossed with tuna, baked vegetables, mozzarella and, of course, olive oil) as a side dish. I haven't tried the Focaccia Margharita myself, but I have had the Pasta con il tonno and found it a superb fusion of flavors -- and quite filling, too.

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How much did this cost her? Only 3.70 for the focaccia and 3.90 for the pasta. She also bought a tiny bottle of water for 1.20. However, since she was getting "take away" she just as easily could have gone a few steps around the corner to the convenience store to get a bottle two or three times as big for half the price.

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As I said, I didn't buy food from there personally yesterday, but I have in the past and have never been disappointed. My personal favorite of the carious focaccias Buneas Migas offers is the Campagnola, a mix of tomato, cheese and spicy sausage. The runner-up for my affections is the Salsiccia e cipolle, a simple combination of butifarra (Catalan sausage) and onion.

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What else do they have on offer? An assortment of focaccias, made with regular or whole flour, with a wide variety of toppings: olives, goat cheese, bacon, gorgonzala, pepperoni, red pepper, onion, eggplant, and/or tomato as well as the special "Focaccia of the season" which varies accordingly. Focaccias are priced from 3.50 to 4.70.

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Aside from the Pasta con il tonno that my friend thoroughly enjoyed, there are Pasta al pesto and Pasta con la mozzarella. All pasta dishes cost 3.90.

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Want to eat light? In the salad department, offerings include green salad, Greek salad, tuna salad, mozzarella salad, salmon salad and a raisin, cheese and nut salad. Salad prices range from 2.90 to 5.95 and come in small or large.

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Want to eat heavy? Try a Torte de Verdura (Vegetable Pie) for 4.20. All the torte's include ricotta and Parmesan cheese along with either spinach; seasonal vegetables; potato and leeks; or salmon and broccoli.

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Then there are the focaccettes and paninis. Focaccettes (a flat bread made with wheat flour mixed with corn meal) cost between 3.95 and 4.90 and come covered with combinations of topping such as brie and leeks; brie, onion and zucchini; zucchini, onion and Serrano ham; mozarrella, onion and zucchini; Serrano ham and Cresenza cheese; and salmon and cream cheese. Panini sandwiches are priced from 2.40 to 2.50 and include selections such as Manchego cheese and Serrano ham on olive bread, mozzarella and ham on walnut bread, mozzarella and tomato on focaccia and mixed vegetables on whole wheat focaccia bread.

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Drinks? Water (in really small bottles for 1.20 or 1.50), soft drinks (1.95), wine by the glass (2.10), wine in bottles (from 6.40 to 8.30), beer (2.10 to 2.20), a variety of bottled fruit drinks (1.95 - 2.20) natural orange juice (2.40) and a variety of coffees, teas and chocolates (from 1.20 to 2.30).

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Of course they've got deserts, too: cakes, pies, crumbles etc. from 2.90 to 3.30.

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Although I almost always take the food I buy there to the beach to eat, sitting inside can be pleasant, too. The location in Barceloneta has a rustic design and is on a corner facing the sea, so the view is nice. As a matter of fact, the walls literally roll up during opening hours, so it is almost like sitting outside. Diners may also sit at one of the tables on the terrace, but at a 10% surcharge for doing so. Why not just get take away and sit directly on the beach?

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Buenas Migas

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Pl. del Mar (also known as C/ de la Drassana), 1
Tel:93 221 63 16
Metro Yellow Line, Barceloneta Station then walk to the sea or take buses 17, 39, or 64 to the sea. Click here for a map.

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Other locations:

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Passeig de Gràcia, 120
Tel: 93 238 55 49
Metro Green Line or Blue Line, Diagonal station

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Pl. Bonsuccés, 6
Tel: 93 318 37 08
Metro Green Line or Red line, Pl. Catalunya station

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Baixada de Santa Clara, 2
Tel: 93 319 13 80
Metro Yellow Line, Jaume I station

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Maremagnum
Pl. de l'Odissea
Tel: 93 225 81 15
Metro L3 Drassanes

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Illa Diagonal Shopping Center
Av. Diagonal 557
Tel: 93 444 29 89
Metro Green Line, Maria Cristina station

QUE BO! Great food -- there or on the go!!

Another of my favorite places to eat is Que Bo, a little eatery specializing in bocadillo (baguette) sandwiches and mid-eastern style platters. Located on the edge of the Barri Gotic. (Barrio Gotico in Spanish, Gothic Quarter in English.), it's a cozy, comfortable corner venue with lots of natural light and friendly, helpful staff.

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Sometimes I enjoy eating inside, but it can get crowded, especially since it is a WiFi Hot Zone and often has sports playing on the flat screen TV. Therefore, at other times I take my food outside to sit on a bench in the Barri Gotic or to the yacht basin nearby to watch the boats and people.

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You can choose from a variety of items that are displayed behind glass. For example, yesterday I got a huge chicken bocadillo stuffed with lettuce, onion, tomatoes and mayo. I could have had much more on the sandwich, as customers go up to the deli-like display case to point out to the cook what to put on the sandwich. Other garnish items available include green peppers, olives, carrots, pasta, basmati rice, mint leaves, cucumber, etc. Other spreads and sauces include yogurt, chili, satay and a special green sauce which I believe is made of cilantro and chilies.

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As a side dish I ordered patatas bravas, crispy potato cubes served with a spicy tomato sauce. I then picked up a soft drink and headed out to enjoy the food while sitting on a bench looking out at the yacht basin.

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How much did all of this cost? Bocadillo - 3.50; patatas bravas - 2.50.

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The sandwich was so filling and the patatas bravas serving so large that I could not eat all of the potatoes! So, if you are hungry but really cost conscious, a sandwich alone should be quite filling. If you are getting your food to go and want to save even more money, after buying your sandwich go to the little convenience store a few doors down and buy a soft drink for about 50 cents.

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Here is a sample of menu items and prices:

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For 1.50 - Soft drinks, fruit drinks, aromatic teas

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For 2.50 - Veggie Bocadillo, Gouda Bocadillo, Manchego Bocadillo, Tuna Bocadillo, Tortilla Bocadillo (not a Mexican tortilla but a Spanish one, which we English speakers call a Spanish Omelettte), Patatas Bravas

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For 3.50 - Chicken Bocadillo, Salmon Bocadillo, Grilled Meat Bocadillo, Salad al Gusto

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For 6 euros - Salad and Beef Platter; Salad and Chicken Platter; Salad and Beef/Chicken Platter

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For dessert they offer crepes made right before your eyes for 3 euros.

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So, delight in a freshly made meal there or take it with you to enjoy al fresco in Barcelona's oldest neighborhood, near the yacht basin or even on the beach, which is only about a 15-20 minute walk. And it's all possible for anywhere from 4 euros (a take away sandwich with a drink from next door) to 10.50 (a salad and meat platter with a drink and desert).

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Que Bo!

On the corner of C/ de la Fusteria and C/ de la Merce

Just beside the main post office at Pl. Antonio Lopez

Delicious budget dining in Barcelona: La Mar Salada (The Savory Sea)

A good friend treated me to a delicious lunch yesterday. This particular friend and I have a habit of seeking out good places to eat economically, and the place we visited is certainly one of the best we have found.

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While we were enjoying our meal I was reminded of an article from the New York Times that someone recently emailed me. It was written by a young man who had visited Barcelona and complained that it was not a good place to visit for a person on a limited budget. My response to the person who emailed me the article was, "That guy just didn't know where to go!"

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As someone who lives here I can say that Barcelona offers opportunities for all sorts of budgets, from luxury to mid-range to back-packer. For example, yesterday's spot is a place I believe most visitors in the backpacker range could afford and diners on any budget would enjoy.

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La Mar Salada (The Savory Sea) is a lovely little restaurant in my neighborhood, Barceloneta. It is situated on Passeig Joan de Borbo (which I have nicknamed "Paella Row" because it is dotted with restaurants offering varieties of this delicious rice dish) and has a bright, comfortable dining room as well as a clean canopy covered terrace.

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We sat on the terrace and ordered from the "menu of the day" ("menu del día"), which is the selection of specially priced set menus that most Spanish restaurants have each day. In Spanish these offerings are often simply referred to as "el menu." (What we English speakers refer to as "the menu" is "la carta" in Spanish.) Spanish "menus" typically include bread, a starter dish, a main dish, a desert, a drink (bottled water, wine, beer or a soft drink) and a choice of desert or coffee.

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Yesterday's "menu" offerings were varied. Catalan Salad (which included the local 'butifara' sausage), Steamed Mussels, Swiss Chard Au Gratin and Lasagna were some of the choices for the first dish. Options for the second included Paella Mixta, Baked Gilthead Bream, Fillet Steak and Roast Sirloin.

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I opted for the Swiss Chard Au Gratin to start with while my friend selected the Mussels. Not too long after placing the order, two large steaming dishes were delivered to our table. My companion's plate was piled high with beautiful black shells offering up the almost golden meat inside. My dish was about as big as a loaf of bread and as warm and tasty as a freshly made dish should be. It had a light brown crust covering layers of greens baked in a tangy cheese sauce.

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Neither of us could pass up the Paella Mixta, so soon after we finished our "starters" we were served two hot platters full of saffron colored rice doused with shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops, sausage, chicken, sweet pepper, onion, garlic... It had just the right mix of a smoky saffron taste balanced by the spicy blend of seafood and meat flavors. Talk about good!!

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It was hard to believe, but, we still had dessert to come! We bypassed the fresh melon and the Neapolitan ice cream for items made in the kitchen. My friend chose a cake that had a cheese base and a strawberry sauce topping. (I took a bite and it was very tasty.) I had the homemade yogurt, which was exquisite: a goblet shaped dish filled with a cloud of rich, creamy, white yogurt that was perfectly sweet. A scrumptious end to a delicious meal.

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The price for this superbly satisfying meal? Only 9 euros a piece! And that's the price of the "menu del día" at La Mar Salada each weekday at lunch time. So, there you have it -- good value and excellent quality in a great location.

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La Mar Salada
Passeig Joan de Borbo, 58-59
93 221 21 27
Lunch: 1pm - 4:30pm; Dinner: 8pm - 11pm; Closed Tuesdays