El Celler de Can Roca — Restaurant in Girona

For those not interested in the details, the quick summary of this place is: mediocre food and service for a 3 starred Michelin restaurant, served one member of our party a piece of ceramic (choking hazard) and did not adequately remediate the issue, and gave 3 of 6 of our party members stomach problems after dinner. Save your money and a trip to Girona if you're going from Barcelona and go to Cocina Hermanos Torres, a restaurant that truly lives up to the 3 Michelin star reputation.

Here is the detailed account of our experience at El Celler:

I dined at this restaurant with a party of 6 on the 20th of May. One of the people in my party had the misfortune of finding shards of what appeared to be ceramic from one of the plates as she was eating. She found them while eating the food and had to spit them out and place the pieces on the side. She notified the waiter that picked up the plates about the pieces of ceramic, and unfortunately, only received a "sorry for that" as a reply, with no other gesture of apology provided by anyone else the rest of the night.

Given their reputation as a 3 Michelin starred restaurant, not only is the presence of the ceramic pieces in the food appalling, but the nonchalant attitude towards the incident afterward was extremely disappointing. While we certainly did not expect the restaurant to compensate her meal, a small token or gesture in the form of a small discount, free beverage, replacement plate, anything, would have been greatly appreciated. This is far from what we expect from a Michelin establishment given our experience at a variety of other restaurants of similar caliber we have dined at, and cannot overstate how alarming it is that a choking hazard can make it past quality control and nothing is done to repair the situation even after politely bringing it to the staff's attention.

The most impressive part of the night was the cheap taxi we took back to Barcelona.

Okay, fine, the dessert part of the meal was fun and delicious, so maybe that was the most impressive, but followed closely by the taxi.

Below are other details where El Celler completely missed:

Bread taken away from one of our party members without asking if they were done No folding or replacement of napkins when someone left their seat Being rushed at the end of dinner for seemingly no reason as there were other patrons eating that we could see and working through dessert courses we had already finished Not asked to check in a coat, and instead given a random chair next to our table to throw our stuff on it Uncomfortably warm temperature Not everyone having their chair pulled out and pushed in Seeing other people just standing around and not escorting our party to the bathroom or being helpful in other ways Gave 3 of 6 members of our party stomach aches and loose bowels after dinner

Admittedly, some of the above can sound nitpicky, however, this meal stands in a stark contrast to a meal we had the very next day at another 3 Michelin star restaurant, Cocina Hermanos Torres. Better in every way, they outclassed El Celler and provided food and service above and beyond what I've come to expect. Every single issue I had with El Celler was not present at Hermanos Torres, and did the opposite of what El Celler did to make our experience comfortable and exceptional.

I am not sure El Celler is worthy of a single Michelin star, and definitely not three. And if it seems like I'm repeating the same point, this is still less repetitive than the number of times they told us one of their dishes contained a sauce made with the head of a langostino.

You might also be wondering if I tried providing feedback to El Celler on this. I did, and not because they requested it via an email follow up like I have seen other restaurants do, rather, through the contact email on their website that same night. No response from them yet, which doesn't surprise me considering the apathy demonstrated...

An exquisite three Michelin-starred restaurant nestled in Girona, Catalonia, was founded in 1986 by the visionary Roca brothers—Joan, Josep, and Jordi. In 2007, the restaurant was relocated to its current, more expansive site, where its reputation for culinary excellence only grew. Recognized as the best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in both 2013 and 2015, and securing the second spot in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2018, El Celler de Can Roca continues to enchant the palates of those fortunate enough to dine there. With no expectations, I braced myself for an unparalleled gastronomic experience. Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted by the attentive staff, and after a brief wait, Danny, our guide for the evening, introduced himself. He graciously took us on a tour through the kitchen, explaining the various culinary stations before leading us to an intimate private room. One side of the room resembled a wine cellar, while the other mirrored a library adorned with cookbooks, creating a unique ambiance that set the tone for the evening. Throughout our meal, we were visited by various staff members, including wine specialists—one guiding us through the white wine selections, the other presenting an array of reds. The beauty of a set menu lies in the artistry of the chefs, as no decisions need to be made; the seasonal menu is crafted to perfection. The phrase “nothing ordinary” best describes our dining experience. Each plate was a masterpiece—meticulously arranged with distinctive shapes and compositions, bursting with innovative flavours and textures that delighted the senses. Our culinary journey began with a bottle of cava, followed by an exquisite array of nine sets of appetizers, including consommé, olives, seafood, and foie gras. This was succeeded by eleven main courses, showcasing the finest seafood and pigeon, all complemented by a basket of impeccably baked bread. As we savoured a bottle of white wine and then a bottle of red, the evening culminated in a grand finale of four desserts, accompanied by a whimsical Ferris wheel of chocolates and candies, and a delightful tray of popsicles. The experience was nothing short of extraordinary—one that will be etched in my...

Michelin guide from 1983 states that a 3 Michelin star restaurant can boast of “Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey. Superb food, fine wines, faultless service, elegant surroundings... One will pay accordingly!”. We did that special journey to Can Roca almost one year ago - and all this time I had mixed feelings about writing the review of 3 out of 5 for a Michelin 3* restaurant. The truth is - superb food was there. The chefs still do have something to say. The signatures (like the olive tree) are awesome. As well as fine wines (please please if you decide to visit, spare those extra €€ for a wine pairing - you will be surprised how well thought is the interplay of food and wines). The desserts by Jordi Roca are very playful and you will feel his vibe of an “enfant terrible” - on top of that, petits four are being served from a lovely dessert trolley (our portions of chocolate were really generous and the kid even got some to take away). So why 3 out of 5? The service and the attention to special asks. One of us called well in advance before the visit asking if there are dishes with fresh vegetables and if those could be changed for something else. When we arrived, the ask was repeated. We had a long profound conversation on if that person really, but really can’t eat the very wonderful fresh veggies the chef was preparing. We reconfirmed that definitely not and asked again if he could get some alternative. A lady said that she would do her best and disappeared - later on we were served by other people. To our surprise our friend got absolutely the same dishes as everyone else. With no disclaimer, no excuse. C’mon, we all know that some chefs are very sensitive in terms of customization - I respect that, but if it’s the case, it would be great to let clients know in advance. As a result, our friend had to miss 3 dishes. Obviously, when it’s a 17 items course, 3 is not a big deal and we didn’t say anything, I’m very well aware how stressful the service might be even without complaining clients. But when we were asked if we would come back - we said yes only out of politeness. If 3* stars are considered “the Mount Everest of fine dining”, maybe we’ll climb...