Vivo Tapas — Restaurant in Barcelona

We (a group of 5 adults asians) were excited to head there for our dinner because of the good review but unfortunately this restaurant has to be the worst we dined in our 8 days Spain trip. Firstly we were greeted by half a dozen of not so pleasant looking oysters (No.3) and they tasted so salty. We took our 1st oyster and realised that it tasted bad but we tried again to give it a chance but it was so bad that we had to spit it out. So we only ate 3 out of the six. We decided to inform the waiter about it, however someone who seems to be likely the manager came over and asked what happened, i briefly told him the oysters doesnt seems too fresh. He started to become defensive and said "the oysters just arrived in the morning and are very fresh, and they are still watery means they are fresh." I told him "there is a bad smell and tasted really bad". He replied "of course the oysters smells". I was like come on, and told him "that we have been eating oysters for every meal for the past 7 days in Spain and at least 20 years of our lives, we exactly know how oysters taste like". He replied "they are confirmed fresh so what do you want? I cannot refund them to u." We went "its fine, we dont need a refund, its just a feedback to you". Unfortunately we didnt take photo of the oysters. Next was the one of most expensive item on the menu Wagyu A5 Steak 100g which cost 50euro per serving. We ordered 2 servings to share. What arrived at our table literally swept us off our feet, a plate of 3 thinly slices of beef rested on top of mushrooms, looking super oily and super salty. We were disappointed, because this is not what we know of wagyu, we just went Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido, Kyoto, Kobe) in 2023 and this is way far from what is known as Wagyu beef steak. This was what we could buy at the supermarket for shabu shabu or you know it better as steamboat or hot pot. We also ordered tenderloin, seabass fillet, black ink paella which tasted decently fine. Probably this restaurants good reviews are for their drinks and their live band perfomance. Definitely NOT a place recommended for food. We would like to give thanks to the young male waiter who serviced us with great smile. Because the rest totally had zero smile...

[ I was wondering why this restaurant's rating is so high, and it seems like they are manipulating the reviews. My posted reviews keep getting removed. ] For a traveler, a restaurant is not merely a place to eat; it is an extension of the city experience itself. In this regard, our dinner at Vivo Tapas left a bitter taste, becoming the worst dining experience of our trip to Barcelona (every other restaurant we visited was friendly and wonderful). The issue began with our order of Black Paella. We ordered around 8:15 PM, and our initial tapas were served promptly. We finished our last appetizer around 8:35 PM and were enjoying ourselves. However, after waiting another 30 minutes for the paella, we inquired about the delay. We were told it was coming soon. What followed was the realization that our paella had been mistakenly given to another table. We finally received our correct dish at 9:25 PM—a full 45 minutes after finishing our previous course. When we questioned the long delay, the staff’s attitude was not apologetic. Instead, it felt dismissive, along the lines of, “It’s late, but the food is here and it’s warm. Are you going to eat it or not?” A simple, sincere apology for their mistake would have been enough for us to move on. We are on vacation and did not want any conflict. However, their poor handling of the situation completely ruined our evening. To make matters worse, the paella was not prepared “less salty” as we had specifically requested. We left more than half of it uneaten. At the end, a perfunctory “sorry” was offered with a 10% discount, a sum that didn’t even cover half the cost of the paella. As travelers, our time and experiences are precious. A restaurant that truly values its customers should have understood this and shown genuine remorse for their error. A truly disappointing establishment. "Don’t fake kindness for tips—learn to treat guests with...

After a memorable tapas dinner on our first night in Barcelona, we were eager to explore another great tapas spot. Our initial choices, Cal Pep and Maleducat, unfortunately, were fully booked on a Thursday night. Seeking alternatives, our concierge recommended Vivo Tapas.

Excitedly, we made our way there, strolling through streets lined with luxury stores that heightened our anticipation. However, upon arrival, our experience fell short of the high expectations set by the glowing reviews we had seen online.

While the food was decent, it didn’t quite match the exceptional quality we had enjoyed the previous evening. We indulged in local wines, hoping to enhance our meal, but the overall culinary experience felt lackluster in comparison.

Initially, our server was friendly and welcoming, which added to our optimism. However, as the evening progressed, we noticed a stark change in his demeanor, particularly towards us. It was disheartening to witness him engaging warmly with two American ladies seated beside us while our requests seemed to irritate him, culminating in a dirty look when we inquired about the cognac menu.

This shift in attitude left us feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable, leading us to question whether our treatment was influenced by factors beyond our control. We believe that all customers deserve equal respect and attention, regardless of their background.

Leaving Vivo Tapas, we felt a sense of disappointment that lingered, overshadowing our memories of the vibrant Barcelona dining scene. It’s unfortunate that this experience tainted what could have been another highlight of our trip. We hope that the establishment can work on providing a more consistent and inclusive service to...