La Mestressa — Restaurant in Barcelona

I visited this restaurant at the end of June 2025 with a friend, in the beautiful Plaza Óscar, which has been around for nearly three centuries. Out of all the restaurants in the area, this one truly stood out and became a very special memory for us.

What made it so memorable—aside from the great food—was the warmth and hospitality of our waiter. He greeted us with a genuine smile, and the moment he realized we were a group of Japanese guests, he said “Sugoi!” in Japanese.

Curious, I asked in Spanish if he liked Japanese anime. In response, he proudly showed us the tattoos on his arms—One Piece and Tokyo Ghoul characters—proof of his deep love for Japanese culture.

The patatas bravas were also handled with care; instead of automatically pouring the sauce on top, he kindly asked if we preferred it on the side. That small gesture showed just how thoughtful and hospitable he was.

In places like restaurants and bars, giving guests a choice like that really matters. It reflects true hospitality, and this place had it in abundance. From start to finish, we were made to feel welcome and cared for.

The food was genuinely delicious, but for me, a great restaurant shines brightest when its hospitality matches the quality of its dishes. If you ever have the chance to visit, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy both the food and the...

The rating for this place is understandable. It has plenty of varied vegetarian options and the service is excellent!

The fried green tomatoes were truly unique. At the time of ordering it I was skeptical, but the oat quoted chop that turned up surpassed expectations. It has mild herby flavours with juicy tomato and white onions in the centre.

The potatoes with the fondue cheese too were great. The cheese remained molten for a longish time and it made for great comfort food. This is not for weight watchers though.

The chips and the guacamole dish was a bit of a let down, especially since that seems to be the signature dish in all of Barcelona.

The place can get a little packed and a little loud, so if you are unwinding after a day's work, or touristing, then it is perfect. Not ideal for a quiet evening...

Me and my partner called off here for dinner on a random Monday evening in the week before Christmas. I’ll expand on why in a moment, but we both unanimously agreed this was the best meal we had in December.

We were welcomed with a short wait for a table (I’m not surprised there’s a wait: It’s fabulous!) and happily waited with an exceptionally good glass of red wine.

When we got in, the service was wonderfully warm. We ordered croquetes, beautiful gambes from Palamos, and 500g of txuletó de vedella de Girona, with many glasses of very drinkable red wine. The atmosphere was uplifting and the food was absolutely delicious. You just get the vibe that the kitchen love serving something that’ll make you happy, and the front-of-house want to be there and also want you there too.

When next in BCN:...