| rev:text
| - Being a fan of Grant Van Gameren's cuisine, I've been meaning to check this place out since it opened, and I'm pleased to say that I was not disappointed.
Before I outlined all the things I love about Bar Raval, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- No, they do not take reservations
- Yes, you are most likely to stand up throughout the meal!
- No, this would not be a cheap meal.
Having said that, the rest of my experience at Bar Raval was a delight. For starters, the space is gorgeous. The walls and ceiling are adorned with amazing woodwork in the style of Art Nouveau, or Gaudi. They apparently spent over $200,000 on the woodwork alone and the result is spectacular. So, in terms of the space and the ambiance, this place is super hip, attractive and romantic, perfectly suited for that special second date.
The service is very good. Numerous staff members, from bartenders to waitresses attend to your every need, and are ready to be accommodating and to offer recommendations.
At Bar Raval they are serious about their drinks, and offer some exceptional cocktails. You are looking at $15 on a cocktail, but they are so unique and flavorful, they are part and parcel of the dining experience, so I do recommend you splurge on a cocktail. Besides, you get 2-2.5 oz for that price. I asked one of the helpful staff to recommend a drink based on my preferences, and he suggested a cocktail with a mix of tequila, mezcal, peach schnapps and bitters. It was intense and smoky and beautiful.
The food all around was most delicious. Keep in mind that many of the dishes are heavy, with big bold flavors of savoury, salty, oily and smoky. So try to balance things out by ordering some lighter fresher dishes. Here is a recap of what we ordered (in order of most to least favorite)
Tuna Belly and Melon
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Rating: 5/5
Beautiful, light and refreshing dish. The morsels of tuna belly melt in your mouth, while the melon, cucumber and mint are the perfect accompaniment of refreshing sweetness and crunchiness. This was my favorite dish of the evening.
Sweetbreads (Special)
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Rating: 5/5
Exceptionally tasty battered and deep fried sweetbread. Served with root vegetables, prosciutto and (slightly overly heavy-handed) cream sauce. This was my second favorite dish of the evening.
Smoked Mackerel
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Rating: 5/5
A generous portion of perfectly smoked mackerel.
Choricitos
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Rating: 5/5
Beautiful sausage. Fatty, smoky and spicy in all the right ways.
Octopus
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Rating: 4/5
Very tasty and tender octopus. They could have been a little more playful with the flavor.
Pork Cheeks
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Rating: 3/5
This was not my favorite dish. The meat was a little too porky. Still a decent dish.
I would like to revisit Bar Raval with a larger group of people so we could order almost everything off the menu so I could try it all ;-) In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger... I'll be back...
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