El Crank — Restaurant in Tarragona

El Crank is a must-visit in Tarragona, blending Peruvian and Mediterranean flavors in a way that feels both refined and approachable. Located in the heart of Serrallo, Tarragona’s historic fishing district, the restaurant offers a fresh, youthful atmosphere while staying true to its surroundings.

I visited for lunch and was impressed by every aspect—from the food quality and presentation to the well-curated menu and inviting ambiance. The lobster salad with tobiko roe was a standout, offering fresh seafood with a touch of indulgence. The Fideuà with shrimp and squid was equally excellent, cooked to perfection with rich, balanced flavors. The house red wine paired beautifully with the meal, elevating the entire experience.

Service was exceptional—my server, Mary, was attentive, professional, and spoke English quite well. There is also an English menu available for English speakers. My dietary restrictions were accommodated seamlessly, without any fuss, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The restaurant has an upscale feel, but remains friendly and welcoming, striking the perfect balance between elegance and comfort.

The service was impeccable—thoughtful and efficient without being overbearing. The food presentation was visually appealing, but portions were also well-sized, leaving me completely satisfied.

For visitors to Tarragona, El Crank is highly recommended, especially for those looking to explore Serrallo’s vibrant dining scene. Reservations are strongly recommended—my online booking process was smooth, and I received a prompt email confirmation.

A fantastic dining experience. Will return next time I'm in the area. Also, for those who find it helpful, here is a translation of the menu on the day I visited:

Translation of "La Carta del Crank"

TO SHARE Brioche toast with anchovies from Santoña and spiced butter (2 pcs) Porcini mushroom croquette Our bravas with Hungarian sauce "Torreznos de Soria" (crispy pork belly) with guacamole and Peruvian sauce Lobster salad and tobiko roe Steamed mussels Crunchy langoustine salad with sherry and tartar sauce Mussels with green sauce "Pachamanquera" Eggplant tempura with miso, salmon sashimi, and kimchi Tuna tartare with foie shavings and fried egg yolk Peruvian seabass ceviche Beef tenderloin with chimichurri and yellow chili aioli Squid tempura with "Criolla" sauce

RICE DISHES (Minimum 2 people, price per person) Fideuà with shrimp and squid Baked rice with ribs and squid Dry rice with tuna and red shrimp Creamy octopus rice Blue crab rice with mussels and cuttlefish

MAIN DISHES Blue crab "Chupe" (Peruvian seafood stew) Tuna tataki with wok vegetables Wok of monkfish medallions and vegetables Grilled octopus with blood sausage toast Tempura-style monkfish with anchovy sauce Slow-cooked Iberian pork ribs with barbecue sauce

VEGAN OPTIONS Vegan eggplant tempura with wok vegetables Vegan fried rice with seasonal vegetables

DESSERTS Lemon sorbet with ginger and mint Cheesecake with dulce de leche Chocolate brownie with iced tea meringue Pineapple stuffed with sorbet and...

Ordinarily I would have given three stars based on the food, however the waiter was so nice I couldn’t mark it as low. Hopefully, my feedback will see improvements. We live in Cap Salou and wanted to get away from the tourists of La Pineda and Salou, so given we always wanted to check out Serrallo (TGN Port) it was a perfect location to take the new puppy for a walk and have a casual bite to eat (tapas). All the restaurants on ‘the front’ were very busy so we wandered into the back streets to find something quieter (so the puppy wasn’t too freaked out). Fortunately there was a spare table and the waiter said it was ok for the puppy to be at the outside table with us - he even gave the puppy a bowl of water, thank you. Between my wife and I we ordered, pan con tomate, croquettes, bravas, and the bbq pork ribs ( see photos). Pan con tomate - was a bit too soggy Croquetas - the best of our selection Bravas - too dry and only had alioli (no spicy sauce) Ribs - they were good but the ‘stringy fries’ were soggy. Also overpriced.

Hopefully the food issues can be resolved because the restaurant had a great ambience...

La cuina del Crank és una fusió de la cuina peruana amb la cuina mediterrània. El restaurant està ubicat al Serrallo de Tarragona.

El local és molt bonic, modern i lluminós.

La cambrera que ens va atendre és molt atenta, es nota que gaudeix la feina. Està pendent de tot i cuida tots els detalls. Fins i tot la vam pillar buscant informació a internet per poder millorar l'atenció a uns altres clients. Molts altres restaurants voldrien treballadores amb tanta iniciativa i ganes d'aprendre i de satisfer els clients!!

Si passem a descriure el menjar, nosaltres érem dos i vam compartir 4 entrants, 2 principals i 2 postres. Amb menys hagués sigut suficient de quantitat però ens haguéssim deixat molts sabors per descobrir.

D'entrants vam provar: -Croqueta de rostit -Causa de tonyina i maionesa d'ají groc -Cecivhe tradicional peruà de peix -Musclos en salsa de romesco

Les croquetes es nota que són casolanes, són molt gustoses. La causa de tonyina recorda als ous farcits. El ceviche és molt bo i no escatimen amb els talls de peix. Els musclos són molt bons, la salsa de romesco li dona un toc molt curiós. Llegint la carta pensàvem que la salsa seria més espessa però és tipus suc.

De principals vam provar: -Calamar en tempura i salsa criolla -Pany de costella de porc ibèric a baixa temperatura i salsa mensi

El calamar està molt ben arrebossat i la salsa combina molt bé. La costella és molt gustosa i tendra i la guarnició és molt curiosa i diferent, és una espècie d'amanida calenta amb salsa de soja.

De postres: -Brownie de xocolata i gelat -Pastís de formatge

El pastís de formatge el serveixen amb nata i gelat de vainilla. Bo però sense ser especialment bo, molt espès pel nostre gust. El brownie era bo però tampoc el destacaríem.

En resum, vam sopar molt i molt bé. No només per la cuina, sinó...