Barcelona Bistro Bar — Restaurant in Jeffersontown

We've been trying to eat at Barcelona for a very long time, but every time we decided to try it...well, in order to try it you need to be able to get to it. After finally driving through the 3rd Level Difficulty parking lot we managed to find a parking space.

For all the waiting and anticipation, we found it amazingly average and, to be honest, slightly disappointing.

Ok, first thing's first. That parking lot. It's small. It's awkward. It's not easy to navigate.

Once seated it took a few minutes for our server to greet us. She never told us her name. When we asked for menus she pointed to a QR code. QR codes for menus were great during the Lockdown and nobody wanted to touch anything. We're past that now. No One wants to scroll on their phone to look at a menu any more, especially dining in a restaurant for the first time. I want to be able to see the entire menu, not about 14 lines of text at a time.

When asked what we wanted to drink we asked for iced tea. They don't have iced tea. They have cold water in very nice bottles (a plus), but...no iced tea?

Not having been to Barcelona before we asked our server (whom, you may recall, did not provide us her name) what was good. Of course, she answered "everything", but didn't really put across what made the restaurant great. I settled for the crepe and my wife got the cheese ravioli. Nothing else looked remotely appetizing to me (then again, I was viewing the menu on my phone with pictures about as large as a my thumbnail). We had the fried zucchini sticks for an appetizer.

The appetizer was server VERY hot and they were very good. The bleu cheese dip that came with it was a bit watery for our taste. Our entrees followed a few minutes later.

Temperature-wise, the food was hot. I mean H.O.T. After my food cooled down I could start to enjoy it. Being 100% honest, it was....average. While the menu said it was broiled chicken, pork and beef over a tomato sauce, it was largely flavorless. No flavor came though. No defining characteristic. I expected something awesome. I got mediocre.

This restaurant is very nicely furnished. There's not an abundance of décor, but what is there is subtle and well executed. The open rafter ceiling gives it a homey feel and, I don't recall if there was background music playing or not.

I was hoping to be WOWed by our first visit to Barcelona. That didn't happen. I know it's highly regarded by reputation but hardly any part of this visit...

Waited to be seated or seen. Was given water and had to wait to order drinks. One server in the entire establishment during our visit. She was nice, but having my husband served in advance of myself, his side salad half done, and lasagna tested, before I received my pasta, is not an enjoyable dining experience.

No complimentary bread, soda are priced per glass (no refills). Still not clear on why tea is $2.89 and soda $1.75

My husband and I both agree it felt nickle and dime there, meaning they want every penny they can get. At the end of the day I don't mind paying though the experience has to be good. This wasn't. The prices weren't bad but the overall platings weren't good. Who orders eggplant parm and only expects a few slices of eggplant, no pasta, side, or bread? This wasn't that kind of restaurant... ala cart? No! lol

Parking felt back alley as we had to park around the alley in back and walk to the front.

Food taste was good, nothing special, very high calorie as potatoes were drenched in butter, pasta had blue cheese crumble over kill.

Menu is via mobile app. We were going to try desserts, but the $2.89 up charge for a second glass of mostly ice tea had me changing my mind.

I would not recommend or return. They play at being too cheap and skimpy for me. This restaurant needs to decide its target audience. If they want to offer small plates, high end, then the food needs to be improved, menu changed, prices raised. They are trying to straddle and failing. Pick a direction and stay in that lane.

This restaurant ranks 1 dollar but its comparable to Spirit airlines vs Delta.. the cheap comes out expensive. Can you do basic? Sure...will you love basic? Not a chance. Will you spend more than this restaurant ranks? Absolutely! Don't bank on $ on this rating!

Lastly, the chairs are not comfortable! If you are above average size you will not like these seats! See picture! This is casual and low cost seating not meant...

We decided to try this place for the 1st time for our date night after a long week. We chose this place since women owned and great reviews. We, two women, put our name in since they don’t take reservations and were 2 on list. A call came in right before stating they would be there at 7:10. We were sat and then waited and waited and waited. The 7:10 4 top with 1 man and his family sat next to us. The server went to their table almost immediately to get drinks. We asked where our server was and she apologized stating she didn’t realize we were sat first. She proceeded to take our drink orders. The drinks came out at the same time for both tables. She chose to take their food order 1st then came to our table to get our order. The food came out staggering the food times at both tables since a tapas place. All except the ribs, which both tables ordered. They received their ribs. We then waited and waited and waited and finally asked what was going on. Again, the server apologized and checked on our order and came back to state the ribs would be out in a few minutes. We then waited and waited. Finally my wife went to the host stand. The host stated she would get the chef/owner, but she (my wife) would not like it. We decided to just pay and leave. Very disappointing experience for our 1st time and unfortunately won’t be back. We work too hard to go to an establishment that does not care about the guest’s experience. The food was great, but I’m not sure why the 4 top with the male and his family were served first, received service promptly and ALL of their food promptly and we were continually forgotten. Not to mention the host responding in a threatening way when asking what was going on. Disheartening. Village Anchor, Louvino, The Exchange, Cask, and many others have both great food and service that’s treats Everyone with respect...