Bar Mandri — Restaurant in Barcelona

During my recent visit to Barcelona, I made a point to return to Bar Mandri at Carrer de Mandri, 60 in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district. This place holds a special place in my heart as it was a regular hangout during my teenage years, and I was curious to see how it had held up over time. Walking in, I was immediately transported back to those carefree days of my adolescence. The familiar atmosphere brought back a flood of memories, especially knowing that some of my old friends from that era still gather here faithfully every week. There's something comforting about establishments that maintain their character through the years. We ordered several tapas to share, including their famous patatas bravas, which have unfortunately lost some of their former glory. While still good, they've definitely slipped from the top 5 in Barcelona's unofficial "best bravas" competition that locals take so seriously. The sauce lacked that perfect balance of spice and creaminess that once made them legendary. The ceps (porcini mushroom) croquetas, however, were absolutely delicious – crispy on the outside with a wonderfully creamy mushroom filling that showcased the earthy flavor of the ceps beautifully. We also tried the chicken nuggets, which were surprisingly good for such a simple dish, crispy and juicy in all the right ways. For dessert, the cheesecake was impressively creamy with that perfect balance between sweetness and tanginess that makes for an exceptional cheesecake. It was a fitting end to a nostalgia-filled meal. While some dishes may not quite live up to their former reputation, Bar Mandri still delivers a solid experience with good food in a space that, for me at least, is filled with cherished memories. Sometimes the emotional connection to a place enhances the dining experience beyond just the food itself. If you're in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and looking for a genuine neighborhood bar with decent tapas and a local atmosphere, Bar Mandri is worth a visit – just don't go exclusively...

I finally managed to come to Mandri and test their famous Bravas: kind reminder they are currently the winners of the last edition of the Barcelona bravas contest. They got directly in my top 5. To be honest, I was expecting much more based on their legend. The garlic sauce is awesome, yet they fail in the potato texture: it was soft and almost cold, while it shall be recently fried, hot and crispy. Nevertheless, they are very good anyway, so I'm just being picky ;-)

Keeping on my honesty, the fried skid was far more good, actually it was exceptional! Fried artichokes were also very good.

Prices are a bit in the high end considering this is just a bar and rations are quite small.

A mustGo anyway.

It is quite small inside, yet they do have a covered terrace on the street (where they welcome pets by the way).

Illustration: half bravas for 5,2€

Labels: #2eat, #drink, #tapas, #terrace,...

The authentic Spanish experience If you are looking for an authentic Spanish tapas experience this is your place: this tapas place is classic in Barcelona and a go-to bar for locals. The food is tasty and their “patatas bravas” are amongst the best ones in Barcelona. They are also famous for their “tapa de pollo” (fried chicken) served with a mustard sauce. However, keep in mind service is definitely NOT friendly. That’s particularly shocking if you are not from Barcelona and sometimes it feels like they are angry at you for...