Salamanca — Restaurant in Barcelona

WARNING to first time visitors – Be careful what you are ordering at Salamanca so you are not stuck with enormous bill.   I debated writing a review on our meal because the meal was really excellent in terms of taste and meal preparation however afterward I still felt like I was a little taken advantage of and delivered food without knowing the price.  Perhaps it is partially my own fault but I read a few other reviews that said similar things so I thought I would relay my experience so others could be aware.

We are a family of 4 and stopped hungry for dinner before many people had arrived yet on March 25.  Our daughter saw the lobster and expressed interest, so we told the waiter.  He brought my wife over to the seafood counter and showed her the seafood presentation table and she mentioned a few things that we like.  He promptly came back and took our menus and said he would prepare something for us.  My wife mentioned she wasn’t sure exactly what they planned to cook but said it might cost a bit because of the seafood.  I was fine with a little more expensive of a meal and therefore not having to think ponder over the menu.  I didn’t really get a chance to look at the menu much as I was attending to the kids, but I did notice some of the prices were on the high end so I thought it could wind up in the $250 range.  That would be on the very expensive side for our family, but I thought it would be a fun experience, so being a little too trusting I went with it (oops!).

My son is 10 and pretty picky eater so he only ate a bowl of spaghetti and some of the dessert pieces.  My daughter is only 7 and ate a portion of an enormous lobster they cooked for her.  They brought a huge seafood plater for my wife and I that was filled with several lobsters, shrimp, clams and a large octopus appetizer prior to that.  As I said everything was really delicious but we struggled to eat it all left some things uneaten.  It was all a long a bit vague and unclear what pricing would be and whether even the little things that were delivered to our table without request, were on the house or not (like the bread, dessert,  little aperitif, etc.).  At one point I noticed the neighbor table make a bit of a stink about the waiter bringing appetizer things they didn’t order.  At first I thought “what’s the big deal” but later realized they were maybe keen to this practice and didn’t want to be charged for things they didn’t order or couldn’t finish because they were full.

As you probably guessed the meal price was really crazy. (€ 650 ).  With tip and conversion it was nearly $800.    I have never spent that much for a meal before in my life, and certainly wouldn’t desire to.   The waiter stood there carefully pointing out gratuity was not included and watched me closely…clearly expecting a tip.  I did add a tip to the bill but looking back on it I wished I hadn’t because it felt like we were not given a good opportunity to understand what was being brought and how much it would cost us.  The big lobster for my 7 year old was € 200 just itself.  (who would expect to deliver that as a meal for a 7 yr old and that she would eat it all?).  Embarrassingly, the 4 of us know Spanish so we can’t reasonably say it was a language issue either.  After thinking about it the next day I felt a bit embarrassed and taken advantage that I should have pushed back more clearly up front what the prices of the items were and what was actually being ordered and cooked for our family.  I do therefore take some responsibility in the expense for not giving the waiter more boundaries.

I do think you will enjoy the food at Salamanca however my suggestion if you eat here is to make it very clear what you do and do not want for your meal and reject anything that was brought without you asking.   I also suggest you ask the cost of everything up front, and  I hope you can avoid the exorbitant bill we...

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Salamanca this week. It was chilly outside, so we hesitated to sit in the outdoor tent. But once inside, we realized it was perfectly heated and evenly warm throughout. This gala tent venue would be suitable for large wedding receptions or other outdoor gala events. The only downside is that the tent walls are opaque, so you can not enjoy a view of the beautiful Barceloneta beach just a few steps away.

Once we were seated, the waiter, Gul, greeted us warmly and delivered a dish of tomato toast to our table as he asked for our drink orders. If you are fussy about a small charge (2E) and don´t want the toast, you can tell them to remove it. We enjoyed it along with our delicious cocktails: a light and perfectly balanced mojito with plenty of muddled fresh mint, lime, and white rum and a Hendricks Gin and Tonic.

While we were still deciding among the many choices on their extended menu, another small appetizer plate arrived. Again, you can decline the offering if you want, but we were quite famished, both of us having skipped lunch, so we enjoyed the thinly sliced Iberian sausage and olives.

We ordered the Seafood Soup from Grandma´s Recipe, Red Prawns with Garlic, Grilled Fresh Prawns from Vinaros, Grilled Sole a la Meuniere, Galician-style Octopus, and a plate of fresh grilled vegetables. What a feast!

The Sopa de Marisco Receta de la Abuela was the best fish soup I have had in Barcelona. The broth was rich and full of a variety of seafood. The seasoning perfectly harmonized with the fish, subtly enhancing its flavors. The serving of soup was so large that I enjoyed only half of it and took half home to enjoy for lunch the next day.

My dining companion was thrilled with her octopus. It was fresh, tender, and crunchy, and its coating was crunchy.

Next, we dived into the Gambas Rojos de Playa al Ajillo. Again, the freshness of the seafood was apparent. They were bathed in a mouth-watering garlic, herbs, and butter reduction—a perfect delight!

We then shared the Sole Meuniere, Langoustines, and vegetables. The sole was fresh and flavorfully matched with its Meuniere sauce, which used the light flavors of butter, parsley, and lemon juice to enhance its mild and delicate flavor. The Langoustines were perfectly cooked and were mild and sweet with nice large chunks of seafood to pry from the soft shells. The veggie plate abounded with savory mushrooms, a potato, cherry tomatoes, and a bit of red pepper.

After this feast, fully half of which we took home to enjoy the next day, we had no room for dessert, even though their dessert menu looked large, varied, and tempting. Our serviable waiter brought a couple of mango shots, which were the perfect digestif. Gul´s service throughout the meal was attentive and genial without being overly present. I never like to have wait service that hovers. Gul always appeared at just the right moment to bring the next dish or clear away the remains. We were very happy with his service and factored that into our tip. Considering everything we ordered, and including our tip, the total was about 150 euros, which, although alot, was appropriate for the amazing spread, the quality of the food served, and the excellent service. We will go back again, especially when we have visitors we...

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Rating: Food: Excellent Quality: Excellent Cleanliness: Excellent Ambiance: Very good Prices: Excellent

Seating Arrangements: This renowned restaurant is conveniently located near the beautiful Barceloneta Beach, offering the perfect setting for a delightful meal. It's widely celebrated for its incredible selection of Spanish dishes, especially the famous paella, which is a must-try for anyone visiting the area. The atmosphere is lively, with the beach view adding a touch of serenity that enhances the overall experience. Whether you're dining inside or on the terrace, you'll find it hard to resist the charm of this place.

Orders: 🍽️ My Experience for Dinner for two:

Paella especial "Salamanca" Special Salamanco Paella (Lobster, crayfish, Montish, Clams, and prawns) Excellent | ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ We kicked off our meal with the Paella Especial "Salamanca", a signature dish that includes a rich variety of seafood such as lobster, crayfish, mussels, clams, and prawns. The combination of fresh, perfectly cooked seafood made each bite a delightful experience. The paella itself had an outstanding depth of flavor, and the rice was cooked to perfection-absorbing just the right amount of seafood broth. I can confidently say this was the best dish I tried during my entire trip to Barcelona

Pica-Pica (a compartir) fried sardines, calamar bebé, Calamares a la Andaluza Pimientos del padrón Excellent | ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ Next, we shared the Pica-Pica (a compartir), a platter filled with fried sardines, baby calamari, Calamares a la Andaluza, and Pimientos del Padrón. The variety was a great way to start the meal, offering crispy, tender bites that were bursting with flavor. The Pimientos del Padrón, in particular, were a crowd favorite, with their slight smokiness and mild heat providing a perfect contrast to the seafood. This appetizer was the ideal complement to the paella, and it truly set the tone for an exceptional meal.

My Recommendation: Without a doubt, this restaurant is the best place to enjoy paella in Barcelona. The food quality is unmatched, the ambiance is welcoming, and the service is top-notch. If you're in the area and want to indulge in the authentic flavors of Spain, this spot should be at the top of your list. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to experience traditional Spanish cuisine at its finest. You won't be disappointed! highly...