Casa Barcelona — Restaurant in Toronto

I recently had the opportunity to dine at this restaurant. Being from Spain myself, while I appreciated the effort put into creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, I must express my disappointment with the overall culinary experience. Regrettably, the food failed to capture the essence of authentic Spanish cuisine.

One of the main reasons I was drawn to this establishment was my love for Spanish food. I had hoped to indulge in classic dishes bursting with vibrant flavors and rich cultural heritage. However, I was sorely let down. The dishes I ordered simply did not resemble the traditional Spanish flavors I had come to expect.

To begin with, the paella I ordered lacked the distinctive blend of saffron-infused rice and succulent seafood that characterizes a genuine Spanish paella. Instead, it tasted like a generic rice dish with an indistinguishable mishmash of ingredients. The absence of the signature flavors and textures left me longing for the real thing.

Furthermore, I decided to sample the tapas selection, hoping to savor a variety of small plates that epitomize the Spanish dining experience. Alas, the tapas served were a far cry from the tantalizing array of flavors I had hoped for. They lacked the authenticity and attention to detail that would transport me to the lively streets of Spain.

It is regrettable to write such a negative review, as I truly appreciate the effort put into creating a welcoming ambiance. However, the disparity between the restaurant's reputation and the actual execution of the cuisine was too stark to ignore. If you're seeking a true taste of Spanish gastronomy, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

I hope this review serves as constructive feedback for the restaurant, as I believe there is potential for improvement. With a more meticulous focus on capturing the essence of Spanish cuisine and a greater attention to detail, this establishment could truly provide an authentic culinary experience that lives up to its reputation.

Please note that tastes and experiences can vary, and this review reflects my personal opinion based on my visit to...

The closest thing to authentic Spanish food (mainly Castellano to me) in Toronto I ever had in 7 yrs. Their Paella are truly cooked in the Spanish way. They actually have many types of paella. Read the menu first, the owner has been changing and accumulating dishes to adjust to the taste of general Canadian customers. If they explicitly name it as spicy paella , and you still take it, don't say it is too spicy. Octopus was great. I was a bit disappointed that they do not sell cold tomato soup, a traditional Spanish appetizer anymore just because it doesn't suit the taste of general Canadian customers. But the altered version with mango was great. Customers are entitled to post both negative and positive comments. But the comments have to be fair. To those who said this restaurant isn't authentic enough or it is outdated , do your research about Spanish food culture and tradition first. Authenticity does imply a high degree of following tradition. You can't just keep the food "authentic " but change everything else. It is the whole package: the foods and the environment. Serving green tea in Starbucks or McDonald's doesn't make the drink "authentic" even if the tea powder was imported from Japan. I listened to the story of the owner about how to keep altering the traditional dishes just to survive the business while looking at my Spanish tortilla that was supposed to be egg and potato cake being reduced into another western omelet........ I felt his frustration and realized why it took me 7 yrs to look for Spanish restaurant. Because the demands of some unreasonable customers killed many authentic Spanish restaurants over the years. But if it is what the market like, we can't do anything. But at least be fair. You said you wanted authenticity, they delivered it then you said you don't like it. They tried to change the way you prefer, then you say it isn't authentic.......... You can post and say what you like but...

I had a horrible experience at this restaurant when I ordered take-away to pick up and it totally ruined my anniversary evening with my husband. When I arrived to pick up our food order at the pre-arranged time we had booked through the restaurant's website, the restaurant was closed and locked. When I knocked on the window, the owner and chef named Eduardo opened the door and said that he got the dates wrong for my order. Not only was Eduardo not apologetic about this (he never said that he was sorry once), he was extremely rude and dismissive to me. He actually blamed me for ordering on a Thursday night because he was used to getting orders on the weekend. He also said that it was no big deal that he didn't make my order. When I explained that I had talked my husband into driving 45 minutes that evening to pick up this food to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, Eduardo basically said that he didn't care and that everyone has problems. We then had to wait quite awhile as Eduardo made the food. Then, when he gave it to us, Eduardo admonished me several times for being upset about his mistake and told that WE WERE NEVER ALLOWED BACK IN HIS RESTAURANT! This used to be my favourite restaurant and I have come to it for every special occasion for over 20 years so I can't believe I was treated like this. In the past, I have recommended this restaurant to several friends but after they went there, they told me that they would never go back again because Eduardo (who also works the floor) was so rude to them. He is a very moody man who picks and choses who he is pleasant to and he can ruin your dinner and evening with his moods. The quality of his food has also really gone down hill - the chorizo that he is now using is horrible and lacks flavour and the paella also lacks flavour. I guess I am glad that I was "banned" from...