Ca l'Isidre — Restaurant in Barcelona

Upon entering the warmly lit entrance, I was greeted with lovely decor that set the tone for what was to come. The server was not only warm and welcoming, but knew the best dishes to recommend to someone who has never tried authentic Catalan cuisine. From its price, I was half expecting a mediocre tourist trap “restaurant”, so imagine my shock when the server placed such beautifully plated dishes in front of me. You would find that servers, even in typical fine dining establishments — regardless of its Michelin star status — rarely has servers who can truly convince you of his knowledge for the art of his craft; The server, Pepe’s, passion for the craft of Catalan cuisine, undivided attention and care had truly elevated the meal. This was my first meal after touching down in Barcelona, and i’m pleasantly impressed with the restaurant that was chosen and booked for me. Definitely a pleasant surprise for joint at this price point to serve food akin to fine dining and executing it so perfectly. They also have a lovely wine cellar. Hats off to the wonderful server I had today and how lovely the...

From the moment I called to make a reservation to celebrate my wife’s 60th birthday with 10 of our friends visiting Barcelona for the first time, I knew this place would be special. I spoke to Pep, who told me weeks before our dinner reservation that he would be our waiter. We arrived on our night and found one of the most charming restaurants I’ve ever been to. From the get go, Pep guided us every step of the way, accommodating all of us, including special food needs and allergies. He recommended traditional Catalan dishes that were all out of this world. We were late diners but did not feel rushed at all. Pep and the rest of the staff were so patient and made this one of our most special dinners, if not the most special, in Barcelona. Even after the dinner, when taxis were not readily available, Pep advised don’t worry, then quickly disappeared (as we later learned) three times around the corner to return with 3 taxis for our party. We highly recommend the food, experience, and service, which all exceeded what I...

The service was excellent together with the environment. The waiter suggested an incredible wine called “l’home peix” which exactly meets my personal taste, dry but fruity but not overwhelmingly sweet.

I had the sausage and duck liver ravioli which were truly incredible. To say it simply, a very surprising dish.

The second plate I had was their famous baby goat which I was told has been on the menu for 52 years. The goat itself was so tender the meat came off the bone with incredible ease and the sauce was rich but not overwhelming at the same time. I just would do something more interesting with the turnips which accompany the goat.

I didn’t order a dessert since it was lunch and wanted to stay light. However with an espresso they bring you a very decent orange madeleine. But after having madeleines at “Daniel” in NYC it is very hard to...