Elsa y Fred — Restaurant in Barcelona

You lost one star because of the young lady at the door that does not have good manners.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, I found myself running a bit behind schedule, arriving approximately 20 minutes late fror which I was apologetic. Despite observing my table sitting empty and no line forming, the host at the door seemed to play a game of pretense, insisting on checking the situation before reluctantly allowing us in, accompanied by a passive-aggressive comment about my tardiness. This initial encounter left a sour taste in my mouth, as her attitude implied I needed to present a note from the principal for my lateness.

Fortunately, the damage caused by the host's demeanor was swiftly rectified by the exceptional service provided by our server for the evening. Although I regrettably failed to recall her name, she left an indelible impression with her warm demeanor, welcoming smile, and attentive service. She wears glasses and has a tasteful tattoo below her neck, she effortlessly guided us through our dining experience, offering valuable recommendations and ensuring our every need was met.

As the evening progressed, her genuine hospitality shone through, culminating in a delightful surprise as she presented me with the key to Club 61 as a token of appreciation. This thoughtful gesture truly exemplified her commitment to ensuring our experience was nothing short of exceptional.

The culinary delights she recommended were equally impressive. The octopus and gyozas were particularly outstanding, delighting our taste buds with their exquisite flavors and perfect execution. Each bite was a testament to the chef's skill and dedication to their craft.

While her name may have slipped my mind, her impact on our evening was unmistakable. She single-handedly transformed what began as a disappointing encounter into a truly memorable dining experience. To this server, whose kindness and professionalism turned the tide of our evening, I offer my sincerest gratitude and a resounding Bravo! She undoubtedly deserves recognition for her...

I have been here for lunch and had a quite interesting experience. We started our order with two Cappuccinos and weirdly we were served two Latte Macchiatos. It was not a bother but it certainly struck a cord on attention. The food was tasty and certainly deserved a try. We had a genius gazpacho with a porchetta sandwich (as I recall). Also the bravas were great but a little bit too salty for my taste. The ambiance is a bit of a struggle between a comfy lounge and a pub, having the place a bit cramped with the table layout. The only issue that i had with the place was the cramped layout and the fact that when i received the bill, the waiter expressly underlined with a pen that the prices do not contain tips. Having in mind that the place is medium to high priced and we had ordered a few dishes (and one of them was mistook for another) it was at my decision if i should leave a tip. I was a bit insulted by this since tips usually reflect my appreciation towards the service, food, and whole feel of my experience, and no body should be forced or influenced to tip, moreover if mistakes were made during the service. Just to be clear, i am writing this review as i did partly enjoyed my lunch and i would like the place to improve on...

This may go down as one of the best dining experiences I've had. It's big praise for small restaurant. It just happened to be about 60 seconds walk from our hotel in Barcelona ( Hotel Rec- also highly recommend). Reviews of Elsa y Fred were already good but I was late making a reservation via Google and when we arrived we were greeted but there wasn't any tables ( for two) available. We waited probably close to 20 mins or more and getting concerned we'd been forgotten. But they were just very busy and our patience payed off. Warmly welcomed we were sat at a small table with 2 low lounge chairs, the place is very intimate but cozy and stylish. The two main servers were awesome but literally running the entire dining room. It's like a high end tapas bar. We had the kimchi croquettes, iberico Jamon slices, crystal bread, tomato bomb, (with stratchiatella cheese and pistachio pesto it was fantastic, save bread to scoop it up) and the salmon tartar. We had sangria to drink. Everything was memorable, each dish slightly unique, great flavors and just a great all around experience. Highly highly recommend. But definitely make a reservation early. There are only two small tables outside so go with flexible seating...