La Ciudadela Restaurant — Restaurant in Barcelona

We've been traveling for over a week (from Portugal to Spain) and we set ourselves on the journey of trying as much paella as possible. We are on a good streak and we came to this restaurant in the late evening, with a lot of expectations since this is the first time we try paella with lobsters.

However, I must say that the paella (which cost us over 40 euros because it says on the menu that paellas must be ordered for at least 2 portions) is not at all as impressive as we hoped it would be. It reminds us of the paella we had at a local place in Lisbon, only much less tasty. Somehow the seafoods do not add any flavor to the soup. As far as I can tell, the lobster and the scampi are not so fresh because the texture of the lobster is too mushy and the scampi tastes sandy. The shells of the lobster are scattered in the soup, which is also quite unpleasant. They do add some squid in the soup, but the soup is still so mediocre. I simply cannot imagine what went wrong.

The atmosphere is very nice though. The decorations look simple and welcoming. The lights in the restaurant is also very appealing, which might explain why so many people bring their family and dates here.

The current score of the restaurant is ridiculously high and misleading. I would not recommend this restaurant if you expect a great experience...

Do not come here to dine unless you can put up with such disappointment. The information on opening hours on the website are not accurate. We saw it stated 7pm and so we arrived early. We walked 600m to discover the sign saying 7.30pm when we arrived at 7pm. We did not mind the additional half an hour. The reviews were good and the local guide strongly recommended it. We waited. At 7.30pm. the website announced the restaurant was open My wife and I walked up to open the door when a voice, that of the owner-manager said "we open at 8pm". No offer of apology. Just a bland statement that they had a busy day. They are still cleaning up from the last party. We came all the way from Asia to taste your cuisine and this is what we got as a response. Consternation!!! We had patiently waited for the opening time as stated on the restaurant website, and the altered timing on their sign. Indignation at such a cavalier attitude. Not having tasted of the food we cannot comment. Of the service, we can only offer our opinion based on this incident. We will never know how the...

La Ciudadela Restaurant – Traditional Spanish Dining

We went to La Ciudadela for lunch and ordered the menú del día on a Saturday, which costs around €29. I had the eggplants with cheese as a starter and the paella del senyoret as the main dish. For paella, a minimum of two people is required, and the paella del senyoret is great because the seafood comes already peeled. Food was good and nicely prepared.

The menú del día includes a starter, a main dish, and dessert. With drinks, our final bill came to about €35 per person.

The restaurant has a traditional atmosphere with nice decoration, making it feel very authentic. Service was good, and they run two shifts (1 pm and 3 pm). We went at 1 pm, and it filled up quickly, so I recommend booking a table in advance.

There is both indoor and outdoor seating. Payment can be made by cash or card.

A good spot if you’re looking for a traditional Spanish dining experience in a...