Gran Viana — Restaurant in Barcelona

My family and I made reservations at this restaurant the day before from 6:15 pm to 8:15pm. After making the reservation online, I received an email stating I had to provide credit card information so that they could charge 50euros in case I cancelled or didn't show up for my reservation. We saw great reviews for this place so I accepted the risk and provided the information. This was not part of the reservation process initially and was not mentioned when you make the initial reservation online. Also, if you make reservations at their smaller location at Viana you will get an email stating your reservation is around the corner to a bigger location at gran viana. When we arrived, it was just after they had opened at 6pm. We were the only customers. Upon being seated, our waiter told us that we had to leave by 7:45 pm because they had a huge reservation of 26 customers. The waiter insisted that our reservation was to end at 7:45 and so I HAD to show my reservation to the waiter for them to finally acknowledge our reservation. This was our first interaction with the waiter upon being seated and so first impressions weren't great. Because we saw great reviews for this place and many people had asked their waiters for their recommendations, we did the same but the response was not what we were expecting and was less than enthusiastic. "This is good this good too" was what we got. The octopus, croquettes, tuna and potatoes were all good and so was the mojitos. There was some confusion about an order... we ordered the linguine but got the paella. I guess there could be misunderstanding. Owner rectified it and didn't charge us for the paella and did offer to quickly make the linguine but for us it was too late as our appetite had left. The owner asked us if everything was okay at this point. And my response was yes. Then the 3 steaks we ordered came out. We ordered two medium well and one medium rare. What we got was two medium rare and 1 medium well. At this point we just felt disappointed and didn't want to complain about the steaks and were just ready to leave. However the waiter asked us if everything was okay and we said "honestly?" And the waiter insisted so we asked if our interpretation of the way the steaks were cooked was wrong and he confirmed that the steaks were cooked incorrectly. The steaks were cut, bite was taken and none of it was finished. We didn't not finish the steaks and then complained. We had lost confidence so we just wanted to leave. We never saw the owner/manager again and didn't have the opportunity to address our concerns or our overall experience. I can see how other people's experience can be good. If there wasn't a misunderstanding I think it could have been a very different experience. However, I can't ignore the feeling that the staff felt more annoyed of the misunderstanding and that we were a lost cause at a certain point that we started to feel like a burden especially when we were the only customers up until about 7pm. Owner stated conflicting things stating our reservation was at 6 and didn't accept accountability for what happened when I put up my initial review. This is the dangers customers face when some establishments gain popularity, you become one of the few and become expendable. This was simply my experience and I hope others that go here have a better experience but I would not be going back and would not recommend to my best of friends. My wife not lady grabbed me because she didn't want to stay there any longer. *Oh, and they tried to lie saying that we made reservations when we showed up, nope, made it the day before as shown in the picture. Again, accountability, ppl will say anything to cover up.

• Update*owner replies reservation was at 6 then he contradicts saying my reservation was indeed at 6:15. This guy can't make up his mind on what is going on. Im not saying the Customer is always right but I guess in this situation the owner believes we were wrong from the beginning to end. 0...

Where taste meets pleasure!!! Nestled in the heart of Las Ramblas and just a stone's throw from the popular Plaza Real, there is no way to miss the neon red sign welcoming you to the wonderful Gran Viana. As you step foot into the beautiful space, you are welcomed by the warmest smiles and upbeat energy of this restaurant. The energy is palpitating as foreigners and locals alike engage in conversation, sample the food with delight and it made me want to try everything on the menu. So, I did. (Almost everything!) While every plate I tried was delicious, there were a few that stood out to me. To start, the pork carpaccio is magical. With its appealing design on the plate, every dish is aesthetically pleasing to the eye with little touches like edible flowers, this plate immeditately put a smile on my face. The taste was an explosion in my mouth with its little subtleties of radish, a sprinkle of toasted pine nuts and a delightful sauce, as an accompaniment, it was a perfect starter. The next day I decided to return to try some other items on the menu and tried the tuna, avocado and apple starter. This was a show stopper for me. I indulged in every bite and highly recommend both dishes as a starter. If you are a cheese lover, the buffala mozzarella is beyond creamy with its velvety texture, it will surely have you coming back for more. As for the mains, I had the opportunity to try both the slow roasted chicken as well as what I like to call 'lechon' crispy pork. First off, both of these dishes are accompanied by this magic sauce! I don't know what it is exactly but it's a mix between sweet, savoury and wonderful. The chicken has a crispy texture on the outside with flavors that penetrate throughout the whole meal. There is no lacking of any flavour with this dish! If you're a chicken lover, this is your dish. Accompanied by Padron Peppers slightly charred with crispy potatoes, a wonderful dish. And then there's the 'lechon'. On first view, it's a beautiful plate. Nestled beside a beautiful display of creamy mashed potatoes, 3 crispy pieces of pork sit inside a warm, colorful sauce and accompanied by a few sprinkles of caramelized pear bits to bring out the sweetness of the meat. It's a perfect balance. You can tell they put a lot of love in these dishes. On first bite, you break through the crispy skin and with your fork, the meat falls apart. So tender and juicy. Trust me, I can go on and on. And then for dessert. I mean what's better than sex? Chocolate! And this dessert made my night. 3 types of chocolate on the plate teasing your tastebuds by the difference in temperature. The mousse is soft and not too sweet and as you make your perfect bite, it's a marriage between the creamy mousse, warm chocolate brownie and cold icecream~your mouth literally feels like fireworks! And how can I forget the array of different cocktails and drinks available all made with the customer in mind. This place truly has my heart and to me what makes Gran Viana even more special are the amazing people who work there. From the owners who welcomed me as if I was a friend from years past, to the warm staff who paid attention to detail and constantly made sure I was taken care of...this is a place you want to visit over and over. The energy is warm, welcoming and vibrant and you can tell they love what they do. Big love to a few people who made my experience amazing: Paul, Clara, Miguel, Carlos and the incredible wait staff, cooks and head chef, thank you for doing what you love and creating from the heart. Trust me, you haven't been to Barcelona, if you...

A hidden gem in BCN 💎✨🍀💫

We found this restaurant while randomly scrolling through Google Maps, looking for where a party of 13 people could have dinner for the night with short notice. It ended up being the highlight of our Barcelona trip when it comes to dining!

If you were drawn in by their high rating, you won't regret booking here as their food, atmosphere, and especially, their service, is top tier. Genuinely the nicest people, they were so accommodating, attentive, and friendly.

The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxing, with moody lighting. Even with a party of 13, the restaurant didn't feel cramped so you'll surely get enough space to enjoy your meal in peace if you were with a smaller group or a date. It's quite a simple interior but the food more than makes up for it.

They were accommodating of allergies as we had young kids with us and they had choices for kids that weren't on their menu.

They used top quality fresh ingredients which is essential for seafood dishes. From what we've ordered, what stood out as our favourite were the scallops. We would've come back just for them but unfortunately, we were flying out the next day! We also ordered the octopus & squid croquettes, and of course, their paella, which were both our 2nd favourite dishes. Additionally, we also had the marinated salmon tataki and fish & prawn ceviche which made it an all-in-all great seafood dinner.

Don't forget to try their drinks! We ordered their Sangria which was the perfect amount of sweetness. We also tried shots of lemon orujo for the first time and it was life changing lol, the smoothest shots we've had.

Thank you again to Niko and the rest of the staff (whose name we didn’t get, sorry!). If we’re ever back in the area, we’ll be sure to drop by again for good food and a chat. 😊

Hopefully, this convinces you to dine at Gran Viana if you’re reading reviews because you’re in the same position of randomly looking for restaurants to try in Barcelona too. We hope you can also create some core memories here like...