Braseria La Selva | Sagrada Familia — Restaurant in Barcelona

We went into this place with such high hopes. The decor was nice and pretty much the same as the other place: cool and relaxing jungle vibes. Swing seats, plates enameled with animal portraits, warm mood lighting. We first visited La Selva at the other location in Barcelona. It was out-of-the-way with not much of a touristy appeal. The food was great--expensive but well worth it, with two people costing €130. But this La Selva, near La Sagrada Familia, was way different in a bad way. To start with, the appetizers were deceiving. The ceviche was supposed to be langostino, but it was shrimp when they served it. It was tasty--but it needed salt. The other appetizer was in desperate need of some seasoning as well, as well as being not-as-listed on the menu: the mushrooms were baby bella, NOT portabello, as per the menu. With some salt and pepper, which we had to ask for, the flavor was better. The main dishes weren't very good either: the octopus was dry, tough, and bland. It was supposed to be grilled--but, it look boiled. There were no grill marks. My original order was a medium cooked burger patty, but the wagyu burger was served well-done. I made the server aware, and she brought back a different burger that was basically rare. Also, when I got the burger again, the bun was cold. I made another mention, and they took it away and brought it back practically unchanged. I was better off with the first incarnation of this burger. That very last time, I should have sent it back--AGAIN--but I was already embarrassed about the previous TWO times--and simply ate it. The 60-day aged steak tasted funky: it was tough and had a distinctive flavor that was unsettling rather than appetizing. This is the location closest to La Sagrada Familia--we had gone to a different "La Selva" last time and the whole experience was like night and day different to this one. The server at the other place was a bit stuck-up--but the food was altogether much better. I wish we had gone there again, because this place was mostly awful. The only thing that was hands-down good was the Sangria Tinto. Even my fries tasted a bit too...

Writing restaurant reviews is challenging because tastes vary widely, and the rating system can feel unforgiving—especially when I personally tend to skip places rated below a 4.5. However, I find myself in an interesting predicament reviewing this unique steakhouse experience.

First, let's clarify: this isn't your traditional steakhouse. At this spot, your steak arrives already sliced into strips and intentionally undercooked—medium rare arrives rare, medium arrives medium rare—because each meal includes a personal cooking stone to finish searing your steak exactly how you prefer it. This concept isn't for everyone, and if you're expecting the classic steakhouse experience with a perfectly seasoned steak cooked precisely to order, this might not be your ideal restaurant.

Yet, here's why rating this restaurant a 4 would be unfair: the service was truly outstanding—attentive, knowledgeable, proactive, and incredibly swift. Our drinks and wine arrived within minutes, and the kitchen’s efficiency was impressive. While the food itself wasn't mind-blowing, it was undeniably tasty and satisfying.

But what truly sets this place apart is the experience itself. The meal is designed for sharing, with friends or family gathered around the sizzling stone, cooking and savoring various cuts of meat together, complemented by a thoughtful selection of salts and sauces to elevate each bite. It's more than a meal; it's an interactive, memorable event best enjoyed in good company and accompanied by a bottle of wine.

So, to anyone reading this, please understand: my five-star rating isn't saying this is the best steak I've ever had. Instead, it's recognizing that this steakhouse delivers exactly what it promises—an engaging, communal dining experience that’s perfect for trying something new. If you're open to a fun, unique night out that's less about culinary perfection and more about enjoying great company, this place deserves your consideration and my highest...

This was quite literally one of the strangest dining experiences I’ve ever had. First, the atmosphere is horrific. Between the lighting, the blasting air conditioning, and the decor, it was hard not to feel like I had been teleported to a terrible alternate reality.

For appetizers, we got the tuna tostadas and cow croquettes. The tuna was fine at best, but the cow croquettes were rancid. We placed our unfinished croquettes back on the serving plate, and instead of just taking the plate, our waiter said, “You don’t like it?!!!!?” In an exasperated way. It felt very unnecessary to draw that attention to our table when we’re TRYING to enjoy a meal.

For our mains we got the Spanish wagyu and the slow cooked cow rib. After specifying that we want to wagyu cooked medium, it was brought out next to raw. It was our responsibility to cook it how we like it on a pathetic little grill they give you. I’m sorry but if I’m paying for a steak of that caliber, I expect THE CHEF to cook it. Every other table also had essentially raw steak given to them. This establishment should do a better job advertising that the patron will be cooking their own steak. The rib was okay, it was super salty. Upon completion of our food, the waiter once again looked at me and pointed at my food and said “you didn’t like it?!?!!” I ate as much as I could, there’s no reason to ask me again. It just felt weird and unnecessary. I feel like I was cheated out of a good meal I could’ve gotten at one of the hundreds of small tapas restaurants.

People rating this five stars have no taste. It is akin to a rainforest cafe and is a sub...