Tapeo — Restaurant in Barcelona

Service here is super unfriendly, almost like they're actively making a statement about how bad their attitudes and indifference to your presence are, worst I've experienced in a while, anywhere in the world. That said, they are fast and efficient at prepping and delivering food to the table, so +1 star for that.

Restaurant is narrow with small tables, awkward and uncomfortable really, didn't expect how cramped it felt, as for the food:

Quinoa Avocado Salad, too much mashed avocado, barely anything else and hardly felt like a salad - 3/5

Fried mackerel with lemon, no taste but well cooked - 3/5

Beef foie gras slider, juicy, succulent, delicious - 5/5

Ribs with honey glaze, excellent if you like sweet ribs, exactly as they sound but not for those who don't appreciate the unique flavor profile- 4/5

Beef cheeks, taste like tender beef pot roast with a fairly one dimensional sauce that got tiresome quickly - 3/5

Squid - 2/5, too much oil, dripping in it

Beef skirt steak, same issue squid had, big pool of oil - 3/5

Overall, not sure I get the hype, it's way overrated. My wife wasn't impressed at all, I asked her what her favorite dish was and she said nothing was all that great. I think I'd try another more traditional Tapas place if you were limited on time in Barcelona.

Edit: Ended up getting food poisoning afterwards, downgraded from 3 to 1 star. Wrecked me for two days,...

This little swanky bar is always packed - and for good reason. This is one of the finest culinary experiences I've ever had. The tastes and textures and extreme detail in how everything is cooked all combine to create something you must experience. I've been to Barcelona multiple times, but this is the first I've run across this establishment. But I will be coming back here every time I return.

For specifics, the Iberian ham croquettes are cooked perfectly - crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside - without too much oil or overpowering batter taste, allowing the Iberian taste to shine through. The pork ribs are succulent with a to-die-for sweet glaze. The beef burger with foie gras is probably the best burger I've ever eaten - juicy, bold, and yet somehow delicate. Beef sweetbreads are a must try - it's combination of sweet glaze and strawberries balance the beef elegantly. The veggies stuff squid isn't what I usually go for, but the presentation is worth it, and the taste is spot on. The squid itself is a little chewy for my taste, but still worth trying. To finish it off, the bread butter pudding nods to it's Irish origins, but is something to experience in it's own right: crispy, runny, and delicately sweet.

Lastly, the Cava sangria. It somehow pairs with everything on the menu - shomewhere between red wine sangria and a mimosa. Simply delicious.

Have any doubts about Tapeo?...

I visited this restaurant today and I am absolutely furious with the appalling service we received. From the moment we sat down, the waiter treated us with clear disrespect and zero professionalism. I asked a simple question about the menu, and not only was I completely ignored, but the waiter also kept questioning our order in a rude, condescending tone.

While he was laughing and being overly friendly with the American guests at the next table, he completely neglected us. He never checked on us once during the meal, never asked if we needed anything, and when we asked for water, he stared at us for several seconds before coldly telling us to leave the bottle on the table. Then he cleared our plates without a single word, as if we were invisible.

To make things worse, we ordered a dish that’s supposed to be mixed at the table. Every other table around us got help — but not us. The difference in treatment was obvious and disgusting. It felt like we were being discriminated against because of our background.

After the meal, we told the manager what happened. He claimed he would deal with it, but minutes later we saw him laughing and chatting with the same waiter like nothing ever happened. So much for taking our complaint seriously.

This experience was insulting, humiliating, and infuriating. I’ve never felt so disrespected in a restaurant. I would never recommend this...