El Vuit Gastronòmic — Restaurant in Barcelona

In the bustling heart of the city, one expects to find culinary gems that shine with the promise of a delightful dining experience. Unfortunately, not all that glitters is gold, as my recent visit to a local eatery proved.

Upon entering the establishment, one is greeted by, a small and cozy retreat seemingly perfect for a quiet dinner. However, the charm is quickly overshadowed by the incessant soundtrack of Jamiroquai tunes emanating from the kitchen radio, a repetitive beat that soon grates on the nerves.

The menu, a parade of potential palate pleasers, starts its descent with the shrimps tempura. A dish that should sing with the crispness of the sea instead brought a dissonant note with the unwelcome inclusion of the shrimp's intestine, complete with its unappetizing contents. A careless oversight or a misguided nod to authenticity? The diner is left to ponder.

Moving on to the beef tartare, one expects a symphony of flavors, each condiment playing its part in harmony. Alas, the dish arrived incomplete, missing the very elements that give it zest and character. The result was a bland performance that failed to evoke the senses.

The culinary ballet continued with the beef fillet, a piece that should have been the crescendo of the meal. Ordered medium, it arrived with a raw, cold and bloody core, an undercooked misstep in the dance of temperatures. A request for a reprise resulted in an overcorrection, the once promising fillet returned well-done, its succulence sacrificed at the altar of the grill.

The final act, the chocolate coulant, promised a molten heart of decadence. Instead, it presented itself as a dry, microwaved muffin, devoid of any moist richness that its name would suggest. A disappointing finale to an evening of culinary missteps.

In a city where the gastronomic bar is set high, it is perplexing to find such an establishment lauded with grades above 9. One must question the criteria of such ratings, for they seem to be as absent as the condiments on my tartare. In this critic's opinion, the search for culinary excellence continues, as this restaurant fails to...

Extremely disappointed. I was expecting good food. I decided to go for the Caesar Salad. It looked OK but was, in fact, extremely dull. It didn't even contain the croutons (described in the menu), nor any replacement for them. No bread or replacement was served or offered separately either. Nobody asked during the meal how things were - until I came to pay. I expressed my disappointment at the salad and the lady apologised, offering me a coffee! I declined and paid. Then I realised they had overcharged 3 euros! I asked to see the menu to check and they had, indeed, overcharged. She called the manager/ head chef and explained to him, showing him the menu and how the till had charged more than the advertised price. He told her to refund me the 3 euros overcharged on my card. He didn't even look at me. He made no apology. I said that this was very poor of him. I made the point that the customers pay their wages. Very disappointed. Don't eat here - but by all means let them know why. Two major errors with one customer! Given the reviews of other people I am astounded. Are we talking about...

This is a little gem in the heart of Barcelona, and rest assured, you are in the best hands. The owner welcomed us and immediately recommended us the house specials. And trust me we weren't disappointed. The paella is one of the best in Barcelona. You can taste the freshness. The salmon ceviche? Perfection. The octopus melted in our mouths and didn't even have that chewy texture. The wine selection is good, the deserts could be more diverse, but by the time you finish your meal you won't have place for desert. I highly recommend this place and I hope I'll be able to...