Bodega Joan — Restaurant in Barcelona

Everything was great about the food, drink and service here and we just wish we had tried this place on our first night in Barcelona! Just ate a fantastic meal with another couple and our kids on one of the sidewalk tables at Bodega Joan. Everything about this place exceeded our expectations and we consider ourselves to be foodies that worked our way through college as waiters in the service industry. Not sure what the negative service comments in these reviews were about; other than the commentors may not be grasping how restaurants work in this city (and Europe in general). We've been in line for a table at other restaurants in Barcelona (not here because we chose a less crowded hour to eat as indicated by Google map location tools and instantly sat down) and other major European destinations, and have learned that the restaurant matches the number of guests to the size of their available tables. So, if you are a party of 3 and they have an opening table for 5-6, you will get skipped in the line for the group that more closely matches the number of chairs; and vice-versa. It's maybe not how more uptight places operate, but different isn't wrong; it's just different. Try using the Google map tool like we did about when is the least busy time to just walk-in and adjust dinner time accordingly. Or try that new-fangled thing known as "making a reservation." If the waiter doesn't rush over to take your order when you're ready, try putting down your menu and looking like you are ready to order and not still studying the menu. Use a smile, remember who your waiter is and try making eye contact with them or hand gestures as a last resort. Realize that it might work a little differently here and has nothing to do with "racism" or being "non-white" or "non-Catalan" or some of the other comments in these reviews. I am European descent and my wife is Asian and we were shocked by some of the review comments here. Stay friendly, ask questions and learn about how other cultures work rather than rushing towards ill-conceived, ethnocentric conclusions. Anyway, sorry for the lecture but come on people... can't we all just get along and try a little inquisitive friendliness first? Bodega Joan is great for us and is really trying to be the best at what they do. It's a wonderful experience with great food served by great staff! But don't take my word for it, stop by around the 8pm rush on any night and see how many people are waiting for their own superlative Barcelona bodega...

Would give negative stars if it were possible! If the owner of Bodega Joan cares he will address the appalling and rude, discriminatory attitude of one of his staff members (either East Indian or Arabic 30 something man) night of 17th November, 2018. There was an empty table of three visible to my family of three so we began to sit down. This rude waiter from across the room literally shouted in English to us across the room in full view of everybody there that the table is reserved, that we needed to wait '5 minutes'. Firstly it is strange he chose to speak in English. And why? Because we appear to not know either Castilian Spanish or Catalan? Because my son, who was present, is fluent in both. Worse is that he embarrassed our family in front of the entire crowd. Anyway, we were so taken aback and not wishing to offend this establishment's reservations policy, we got up. As soon as we did so, two local women (in their 60's), who also were just queuing behind my family and myself to wait for an empty table, proceeded to sit at the very same table that we just vacated. Then the same waiter went to their table, greeted them politely with a smile, and took away the third place setting. Unbelievable! The latter confirmed our initial thoughts that he was lying to us and the table definitely was never reserved! Let me tell the owner this: We were looking for a simple place (apparently a bodega isn't a simple type of dining establishment?) to have a last night in Barcelona meal. Instead we were left with unpleasant memories where a dining establishment member of staff actually was more than impolite to all of us. Never before has this happened. We now realize after coming home that this establishment is listed in at least one guidebook about Barcelona so perhaps some staff members have taken it upon themselves to be ultra arrogant and rude. It doesn't work let me state so right now. All it does is to not only preserve bad memories for some visitors like us but also it gives zero goodwill towards this establishment as this experience will be shared with others. And what we also came away with? The thought that it was a good thing we didn't dine at this establishment anyway as from what many reviews both here and elsewhere state the food is just mediocre, service is hit or miss with rudeness included many times, and it's basically just another tourist trap. Just resting on the laurels of the original owner for which the 'bodega' is...

I recently visited Bodega Joan in Barcelona, and despite the glowing reviews, I have absolutely no idea why this place could be scored so high. We ordered six dishes, and the experience was nothing short of a terrible.

Firstly, the tomato bread was clearly handled by someone who had been touching seafood, contaminating the flavour. This was just the beginning. The calamari were virtually rubber – clearly not cooked properly and obviously not fresh, more likely out of a packet. As for the meat dishes, none of the fat was rendered properly, making the dishes either excessively chewy or so fatty that it was hard to eat at all.

The service was extremely impersonal. The shorter waiter with a darker complexion was extremely rude and uninterested. The taller waiter was a bit more professional and nice, but it hardly mattered since there was no real table service. You were asked to scan a QR code to order and pay. While the idea is great, the app is so poorly organised that you are forever scrolling to find items. There is no search bar, and even basic sides like fries are impossible to find on the digital menu, though you can see them in other dishes.

Then there is the whole paying process. While the marketing material on their tables suggest that you can use 'Apple Pay' the option isn't there in the check out. So you have a 50/50 chance of your card working through the app at all. Thankfully I was carrying multiple cards with me.

To top it all off, there were little bugs flying around everywhere.

All in all, it was an extremely poor experience. The glowing reviews do not match the experience at all. If there is one review you should take with caution, it is this one where my rating is a very accurate reflection of what is offered at this...