De Tapa Madre — Restaurant in Barcelona

Fantastic Catalan-style bites, a must-try for tapas lovers

I popped in for lunch and left very pleased. This place does a nice job with straightforward, well-executed dishes that make for a satisfying casual meal. The portions are generous and the plating is attractive, great for sharing or a hearty solo lunch.

The potatoes with sausage and cheese were the standout for me. The potato cubes arrive crisp on the outside and fluffy inside, generously topped with slices of sausage (chorizo-style) and a creamy, smoky cheese/sauce. The combination of textures, crunchy potato, snappy sausage and gooey cheese, works really well, and the dish has a comforting, homey flavor without being heavy-handed. Perfect as a starter or to share.

The “Catalan kebab” (as listed) is also worth ordering. It’s served on toasted bread layered with tomato sauce, then piled with tender lamb, strips of sweet red peppers, and dollops of garlicky mayo. I can really see the vision here, it feels like a true fusion of kebab flavors with a distinctly Catalan palate. The tomato base adds brightness, the lamb brings depth, and the garlic sauce ties it all together. It’s bold but balanced, and something a little different from the usual tapas.

Service was friendly and the atmosphere relaxed, a good spot for an easy lunch or a casual evening bite. If I had one minor suggestion it would be to add a touch of acidity (like a wedge of lemon or pickled garnish) to balance the richness, but that’s a small quibble.

All in all, highly...

Visited in October 2013 - Two blocks off Passeig de Sant Joan, De Tapa Madre doesn’t shout, but it’s always full of locals with a spillover of tourists from the Sagrada Família. Inside it’s small tables and chatter, outside parasols on the pavement. The bread with tomato came billed as “the best in Barcelona” - a bold claim, but the coca de vidre was as it should be: crisp, lacy, olive oil for succulence, sweet tomato rubbed in. Almost perfect, only the tomato held it back (9.5/10). Croquettes of Jabugo ham were crisp, balanced, and very good - another grind of pepper would have made them great (9/10). Then the pop a la gallega: tender octopus, potatoes with a dusting of paprika, garlic dressing - simple, precise, and unforgettable (10/10). We dragged things out with crema catalana and Gaudí’s truffle stones; both well-made, but patisserie isn’t the kitchen’s strongest suit (9/10). Honest, generous, and the sort of place you only leave because...

I was excited to give this place a try with the 4 stars on other sites however was super disappointed in the quality of service and food. Food has no flavor from what we ordered. Fish fritters were more or less dough with a tiny piece of fish in the middle. Ham in eggs with the French fries (not normal potatoes) were rock hard. Sangria was overdosed with too much pulp. Shrimp was the most decent part but not worth the price at all. The most disappointing part were the waiters. They hardly came by and had to be called on when they were found as they were hiding on the other side of the restaurant.

Maybe we ordered the wrong foods from this place but these are Spanish essentials and we were truly...