El Forcat — Restaurant in Valencia

We felt very lucky visiting El Forcat. It made our already amazing time in Valencia even better. Not only was the food wonderful, our server made the visit very special. He helped us choose what to order, and his recommendations were spot on. We ordered the set menu, and it was very reasonably priced for a three course meal. The squid-ink paella was out of this world, and the rabbit and seafood one was also amazing. While the paella was the star, the biggest surprise hit for me was the zucchini soup; I'll be old, gray & losing my memory, before I forget that wonderful dish. The soup was so amazing that I wanted to try my hand at it when I got home, so the server explained to me in very specific detail the secrets behind the dish. He was happy to share the techniques, and I was happy to bring the wonderful recipe back to Canada; it is one of my favorite souvenirs from Spain. I finished off with the chocolate cake, and while I could hardly move after the first two courses, I found space for the dessert. The waiter told us where the cake came from (a local bakery), and didn't try to hide the fact that it wasn't made in-house. The meal was more than enough to share with our daughter, so we only ordered two set menus, and once again the waiter was happy to oblige. Our waiter told us many stories about the city which he was happy to call home. Even though we came to the restaurant late, our man had no problem chatting with us and helping us despite the late hour; he never rushed. We ate many paella in Spain, but this was our favorite by far. Even though we were leaving early the next day, we tried to figure out how we could get back for another lunch. Unfortunately it didn't work out, but because we loved the city, and El Forcat, I already want to return to Valencia. If you are in a similar situation to us, looking at Google or Tripadvisor for ideas on where to have a special paella lunch while in Valencia, this is your place; it's delicious, affordable and has wonderful staff to walk you through...

Let me start by saying if I could give ten stars, I would: five for the food and five more for the way they went above and beyond in their service. My wife has been wanting to have paella for the longest time and wanted to get it in Valencia, because of the history of it. Narrowing it down from the hundreds of restaurants was really difficult but somehow, she found this place. She was NOT disappointed. We ordered from the "Tasting Menu" which was 25 euros each. This got us 3 choices from their sharing menu (appetizers), followed by the main course of paella, and then dessert. They started with a tray of olives and some bread, then the first of the three appetizers (which for us was Venetian salad). Then, the second (garlic grilled prawns). Finally, the third (spicy potatoes). By this point, we were realizing we still had the main course to come and wondering just how we would manage. Somehow, we managed! The seafood paella was EVERYTHING she hoped it would be! It does take a while to prepare it but the steps in bringing each of the previous items eases that wait down to almost unnoticeable. We then chose dessert (instead of coffee) for our finale and both of those were spectacular. I had what was called a "nougat ice cream", which would compare to a refined butter pecan. She had a multi-layered chocolate cake of some type, which was also delicious. Our server gets noted for special praise. Noel was on his day off but he was the only one there who spoke English and he jumped in to take care of us like it was nothing! Bravo, Noel!!! If you have any question, send them an email. They are VERY responsive and hopefully they will help you with any special requests as they did for us! (Tip: don't trust the "send a message" page on their website; instead, send them an email directly with the address found on their website. I am not allowed to post that here,...

Whether you're a seafood enthusiast, a fan of Spanish flavors, or just in the mood for a fantastic meal, you’ve got to check this place out. My family and I (six of us) had the joy of dining at “El Forca”. The star of the show was the family-style paella – they brought the best of Spain to our table with every bite. This dish wasn't just food; it was a beautifully crafted symphony of flavors. The fun didn't end there – the tapas were just amazing. We started with some croquettes and calamari, and oh my, were they good! The croquettes were this perfect blend of crispy on the outside and deliciously savory ham on the inside, while the fried calamari was just the right kind of tender and gentle fried. I personally went for the swordfish instead of paella, and boy, was I pleased with my choice. It was cooked to perfection – juicy, flavorful, and just divine. Then there was the aioli butter – an absolute dream with our meal. It’s hard to describe how perfectly the garlic and butter danced together in every bite. And the wine? Simply heavenly. But you know what made the night even more special? The service (thank you Manal) We arrived pretty late, around 10:30 PM, but the staff made us feel so welcome. They didn’t rush us at all, even letting us stay past their closing time at 11:30 PM. Their kindness really added that extra sprinkle of joy to our meal. And let’s talk about value – amazing food, fantastic service, all in this cozy and inviting place, and the prices? They’re the cherry on top of an already delightful evening.So, in a nutshell, “El Forca” is more than just a restaurant – it’s an experience. That’s my 2¢...