El Árbol - Aribau — Restaurant in Barcelona

Overall Rating: (8/10) Came here when we saw a long line for Brunch & Cake.

1. Cute, modern, chill vibe without that ibstagramy vibe. They also have a table with four swing-chairs. Friendly service even throughout the entire rush hour(s) and they didn't make you feel rushed. Played a mix of American soft rock and 80s music which was 👌. (10/10).
2. Eggs Benedict with Iberian Ham - overall, a generously large dish that was very filling. It was good but not great. For an eggs benedict, the hollandaise can either make or break the dish and this hollandaise sauce was a little weird. But the ham was a generous amount and very tasty. Egg yolks were runny. Tomato was slightly cooked but still had its juices - really liked this different prepping method of the tomatoes - complimented well with the ham! Potato-wedges were your average potatoes - boiled, soft, well seasoned. Good amount of spinach underneath the ham and muffin slices were perfectly toasted & crunchy. Rating: (8/10).
3. Lemon Meringue - lovely presentation but tasted okay. Could be more lemony and the meringue could be a little sweeter. But the crust was good! Rating: (8/10).
4. Large Cafe Latte - a little bitter. (I never add sugar to any of my cafe lattes though). But still tastes good. (8/10).
5. Strawberry, Banana, Orange, and Almond Milk - thick and fresh. Could really taste the almond milk. Wasn't a huge fan of it but it was...

In short: terrible service. Explained: We used to come here a lot for brunch because the food is good, the portions are large. (Which is why the 2-stars) Unfortunately the last time we were here for a family brunch (table of 8 people), the service was extremely rude and therefore we won’t be back. There has been a miscommunication while ordering food. While ordering, someone at the table said 2 eggs benedict (referring to the total number because the person before her had ordered the same) while the waiter understood it as 2 more. Simple miscommunication. However, when the waiter was serving the plates and there was an extra eggs benedict, he came to the table twice, visibly frustrated, interrupted the conversation and kept arguing that it was the client’s fault, ‘sin parar’. Ruining the mood. After the argument, he never came to the table again to see if anything is missing etc. Can you chill?? It’s a simple miscommunication, worst case we can share the extra plate, we’re 8 people and we’ll pay. Just go away don’t be rude and ruin the mood. Terrible.. I don’t know his name, short hair on sides, blond hair on top. Are you happy Mr. Blond-hair-on-top, you’re right, and we were wrong. You lost 8 customers, won the argument and this review. Hope you won’t continue with...

I am deeply disappointed by my experience at "El Arbol". At first glance, the restaurant seemed enticing with its appealing design and diverse menu. However, that was the only positive aspect of our visit.

First, we were startled by the evident presence of pests - several cockroaches freely crawling around under our table. Not only was this extremely unsanitary, but it also completely ruined the dining atmosphere.

Secondly, the service was highly disappointing. The staff seemed tired and uninterested in their work, rather than professional and committed. Our cutlery was not immediately provided - we had to wait a solid 10 minutes, which is unacceptable.

As for the food, I was even more disillusioned. The pancakes we ordered appeared to be straight out of the freezer, not fresh. They were hard and tasteless, further alienating us from this restaurant. Moreover, the portion size did not match the pictures on the menu - it was significantly less than expected.

In summary, I believe "El Arbol" is nothing more than a tourist trap. I would strongly recommend avoiding wasting your time...