Little Barcelona — Restaurant in Ontario

We stopped for gas nearby and looked up local restaurants — this place came up first with great reviews, so we decided to check it out. The menu offered mostly appetizers/snacks and lunch sandwiches. When the waiter came over, he asked if we were hungry or just looking to try something. I said we were just stopping by to explore, and he enthusiastically recommended “a little of everything.” I specifically asked if that meant a little bit of everything on the menu and what the total price would be. He said yes, and that it would be $35. Sounded reasonable, plus we had zero experiences of Spanish food, so we went with it.

The waiter was very passionate and friendly, clearly proud of the food, and gave a full explanation of each dish. The food was okay — not bad, but not particularly memorable. We got five small courses including 2 with 2 pieces of cheese, which didn’t really match our expectation of “a little of everything.” Then the bill came — $86 before tax, not the $70 we expected based on $35 per person. I asked about it, and he said the extra was for the dessert. I’d assumed that was part of the experience, but he removed the charge quickly, and the bill dropped to around $74. After tax and tip, we paid close to $100 — which felt steep for what was essentially a light lunch stop during a road trip, in the middle of CornWall.

At that point we’d already eaten, so we moved on, but the lack of pricing clarity definitely made us feel a bit uncomfortable. On top of that, while we were waiting for the bill, we overheard the same waiter telling another table, “I’ll bring you water and cheese” — and we joked, “Where was our cheese?”

Later, I read another low-star review and noticed the owner had responded with a detailed rebuttal, accusing the customer of not being honest about how they felt during the meal. That rubbed me the wrong way. Sometimes people just don’t feel comfortable giving critical feedback face-to-face, especially when the server is warm and enthusiastic. That kind of response felt a bit aggressive and dismissive of legitimate concerns.

In summary: not a terrible experience, but we left with mixed feelings. Transparency and communication matter, especially when travelers are just looking for a quick, easy stop. That being said — if you want to explore, just stick...

After eating on the patio of this delightful little restaurant, a wonderful find, I should emphasize that Little Barcelona in Prescott ON (off the 416 and 401) should be a destination and not an after-thought or an en route stop for a meal. We selected the assortment of croquetas, the pan con tomate, the charcuterie board and the seafood paella. The ingredients were high quality, several imported from Spain. Pan con tomate (tomato bread) was simple and tasty, and is made by rubbing fresh garlic and ripe tomatoes directly over warmed rustic bread. A little more of the grated tomato mixture would have improved the resulting flavor, in my view. The charcuterie board offered exceptional quality meats and cheeses from Spain, paired with excellent service Fortunately items on the dinner menu were served for lunch too, notably the paella, which was the pièce de résistance. After all, locals in Barcelona rarely have paella at night. If you don’t like seafood don’t worry, they have options here. Also with a good paella the toppings are a bonus, not the main show, so don’t expect the mussels, shrimp, octopus or other ingredients depending on your choice to cover the paella. The secret is in the broth and the quality of the rice. This was cooked outside right next to us and was a full-on statement of ...

You have to love it when a restauranteur has a big vision and goes to great lengths to execute that vision! We stopped by on our way to Quebec - not because we love Spanish food but because it had a great rating and we love quality food. We were not disappointed! The food was delicious. Marc went to great lengths to explain the exceptional ingredients they use in their dishes and make available for sale in their shop. My 12 year-old son was a little off-put by the menu choices, because they weren't familiar to him. In the end, he ordered a Spanish-style ham sandwich. His words were: "I don't really like ham, but this is an 8 out of 10. I think if I liked ham, it would be a 9 or 10." 😅 My only negative feedback is that I didn't understand that a certain part of the menu was all sandwiches because it used a Spanish name. I thought I was ordering a Spanish omelette that came with bread, so I just ordered it "without the bread". They served it with the bread on the side and a lot of the tasty bits (tomato sauce, salt and olive oil) were on the bread on the side so the omelette tasted a bit bland. I think if I understood I was in the sandwich section of the menu, I could have either ordered something else or given clearer instructions. On a positive note: my husband had the regular version and...