KRESALA — Restaurant in Barcelona

This is the third restaurant tried at the renovated olimpic port, and what a surprise. After Cangrejo loco and El Tribut, we had very high expectations of what looked like a decent setup for a good restaurant. We were welcomed and taken to a very nice table, with a decent view (there are some works outside the windows still in progress), to some comfortable chairs and sturdy table. The decoration are quite all right, has a bit of a feeling of upper level restaurant, although the wooden part of the counter is painted instead of being actual wood.

After that, we waited around 10-15 mins to get the menu and some water, it wasn't because of the amount of customers because we were one of the few at that time, it seemed like waiters went left and right without really doing much. But we got it in the end. We also got a glass of cava on the house.

The prices were quite high for the place, and so were our expectations accordingly. We asked for recommendations for the fish, which is priced between 11 and 16€ per 100gr, and the average weight is 1.2-1.5 kg. The waiter couldn't answer, and offered to show the fish instead. Not sure why, because seeing the fish wouldn't give any clue on the taste. I assume that could be part of a bit of a show, to give the impression of high standard.

We got some bread with butter, that was by far the tastiest food we had in Kresala. We had then some tuna that tasted mostly of mayonaise, and then some really nice squid that was completely overwhelmed by the taste of the ink and the extra salty caramelised onion.

A bit disappointed, we weren't ready for the fish. We ordered Scorpion fish, that is considered high quality and often compared to lobster, to get a plate of fish that was dry and tasteless. Or better, tasting just of white wine, oil and maybe butter. The price for just the fish, was of 158€, for 1.44kg of fish, of which we ate probably around 170-200 gr maximum each (2 people). We complained, and the waitress mentioned that she was going to tell the chef, she never came back with an answer or any other action.

We paid a total of 215€, after we pointed out they incorrectly charged us with an extra glass of wine. We left with hunger and disappointment.

The food was really mediocre, which is a shame considering the rich food tradition of the basque country, and if you want something that really embodies that passion and taste I highly recommend Urretxu instead, where you can have considerably more and better quality food, for a third of the price or less. Or, nearby El tribut and El Cangrejo Loco are by far better investement for your money where you can have a nice meal, superb treatment, and you can tell that they care about what they do. Or, in theme of expensive restaurant, you can easily find michelin star chefs in Barcellona where you'd have for same price or less probably an unforgettable meal.

Avoid, this is a trap for rich turists that like to show off money and don't know anything about good food and hospitality. Like the ones that probably left the...

Beautiful view, painful bill.

Kresala was recommended by our hotel concierge, and to be fair, it looks like the kind of place you’d want to spend an evening: right by Port Olímpic, elegant design, lovely sea breeze, and genuinely professional staff who know their menu well and treat you kindly. So far, so good.

But then came the check. Two people. One drinker. One shared dessert. Total damage: 407.40 €. No, this is not a typo, and no, Kresala is not a Michelin-starred fine dining temple. It’s a nice seaside restaurant – with prices that seem to assume the fish was personally serenaded by Beyoncé before being served.

The sole for 2 (and apparently the sole reason for the restaurant’s financial success) cost 219.20 € alone. Impressive, in a tragic kind of way.

The food itself? Solid. The view? Gorgeous. The service? Polished. The pricing? Astronomical. Half the tables were empty, and honestly, that might explain itself.

In a city overflowing with great restaurants that don’t require a small mortgage to enjoy dinner, this feels like a missed opportunity. Unless money truly has no meaning for you, I’d say: enjoy the walk by the marina – and eat...

This place is amazing!! It’s Michelin star food and service without actually having a Michelin star. The service and attention you get from the second you walk in is second to none. A warm, very friendly atmosphere, nothing pompous, making you feel welcome and special. The staff absolutely make the place and I can’t praise them enough for the quality of service they provided. Each staff member just as polite, courteous and attentive as the next. This restaurant has absolutely hit the nail on the head when it comes to understanding the needs of a customer. The food was absolutely amazing. Our party of three all had three courses and left the restaurant beyond satisfied. For me, this is a 10 out of 10 restaurant and I couldn’t think of anything they could improve on. Unfortunately, we were so wrapped up in the experience we didn’t take many photos but trust me when I say the food looked as amazing as it tasted. The staff were extremely caring towards dietary needs and allergies. Thank you for a wonderful...