Chalito | Rambla Catalunya — Restaurant in Barcelona

A catastrophic experience, we were treated with disdain by all but one of the waitresses who attended us. Thankfully, the food was fine.

I wanted to book something simple yet good for a birthday celebration. Having been to other Chalito establishments in Barcelona, I expected this one to match the standards of the others I had visited. I didn’t have great expectations at all, but my gosh did the waiting staff do a great job at lowering those expectations even further.

I arrived first and on time for the reservation as I wanted the other guests to arrive comfortably. I was shocked by the first hostess’s piss-poor reception and impolite approach to her explanation of not allowing me to be seated at the table without the rest of my party. That policy is fine and I can respect it as I could wait for 5 minutes for other people to show up but her tone was out of line.

When the rest of my party arrived only a few minutes later, we were passed off to an even worse waitress/hostess who treated us like we were her mortal enemies. Not becoming of the reception one would ideally like to receive for a birthday event. After all, we were not a difficult group of young teenagers, or a busload of tourists for instance, but a manageable group of adults. This lady proceeded to tell us that as soon as we went in, we had 1 hour and 30 minutes to eat and get out. Once again that restaurant policy is fine, but it was the way she was telling us and talking to me as if I was stupid, as if she genuinely hated our very being. This animosity continued as any time she would see us or interact with our party, she would carry herself with absolutely no elegance or intention to at least disguise her distaste for us.

She was quite clearly flustered by the busyness of that particular Friday night. I understand this as it was particularly busy likely due to Black Friday. However, if you struggle to cope with such business then you might be in the wrong job. It was, after all, not really our fault or cause for her to be in such a terrible mood with us from minute 0. This attitude entailed slamming the bill down, signaling the time on her watch as honourable mentions. She also got one of the other waitresses involved in her shenanigans. Just to reiterate I understand the need to turn tables and perhaps management pressure to do so but this was not the way to go in my opinion.

Thankfully, we did have one waitress who was able to muster a smile and professional attitude and the food was not bad, thank goodness! Naturally, the delivery was pretty slow—again, that can be expected on such a busy night so no real issue there.

The overall calamity of the situation became almost funny. I don’t think they could have treated us worse if they had been...

If you’re in Barcelona and craving a meal that strikes the perfect balance between comfort food and culinary finesse, Chalito is an absolute gem. My recent visit left me genuinely impressed from start to finish.

I ordered the Nueva York and the Carbonara, paired with a cold beer, and every single bite was a treat for the senses.

The Nueva York was a revelation — perfectly cooked, juicy, and packed with flavor. The meat was tender yet rich, and every element on the plate felt thoughtfully crafted. The Carbonara was equally stunning: creamy, indulgent, and balanced without being heavy, with just the right hint of smokiness that elevated the dish.

Paired with an ice-cold beer, the meal came together beautifully. The freshness of the drink cut through the richness of the food, making it a perfect complement.

Beyond the dishes themselves, the atmosphere at Chalito deserves a mention. It’s lively without being overwhelming, modern yet cozy, and has a warmth that makes you want to linger. The service was friendly, attentive, and efficient, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

Overall, Chalito exceeded expectations. The food is bold, flavorful, and satisfying, the ambiance inviting, and the quality undeniable. If you’re in Barcelona and looking for a spot where every bite feels like a celebration, Chalito should absolutely be...

My fiancé and I love Chalito’s and this was the first time we had an issue. (We come here all the time) His sister and I both ordered the Vacío. We asked for our steaks to be cooked Medium and they came out more towards Medium rare/rare. They took the steaks back and basically they came back the same. We couldn’t eat it. They were also less than warm and not hot. By this time we had eaten our cold fries and salad and my fiancé shared his food with me. My fiancé ended up eating my steak because he likes it Rare; it was cold at this point. Our server seemed new and tried to offer something else but by this time it was too late. He also said they couldn’t take back the food. We ended up putting one in a carry out box to fix at home (since they were unable to fix it) No sign of a manager or management and we ended up paying for food we couldn’t eat. So I guess don’t order the steak. I understand this happens in restaurants but there’s ways to fix the issue. We wanted to have an enjoyable dinner but we were unable to. Was a...