Barcelona Tapas Bar Y Restaurante (Botolph St)

Hadn't been into this corner of the city for a while but ended up meeting a client around the corner and they suggested we eat locally afterwards. They recommended this restaurant so we duly went there and was I ever so glad that he recommended this place.

Place was pretty full but they made a table available for us almost immediately, all made ready while we enjoyed a cold beer at the bar. Once we were seated we chose a selection of Tapas. Selected the Tabla de Ibericos, with the Albondigas and some Habas Catalanas, croquettas, gambas Ali-Oli and some Padron Peppers. On the recommendation of the manager we ordered a lovely bottle of Muga Rosada, and it was just perfect.

Staff were very helpful in making us feel comfortable and at home, and the wine choice complimented the meal so well. All in all, I can't wait to get back up to the City to have another cheance to sample their food and ambiance.
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William Timmons
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, November 21, 2008

Walk past here every day and finally tried it recently and wished I had not.

Poor produce not well looked after in not very nice surrondings.

Dishes came out cold or not at all or to other tables before being picked up and then brought to our table.

Staff all looked a bit depressed and the whole experience was poor.

On a positive note they had a great choice of Spanish wines.
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Chris - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Monday, October 20, 2008

I had to write a review for this place to warn people – if you are considering eating here, don’t do it.

I went for lunch a few days ago with a colleague and both of us were so disappointed- the food is so bad that not even the friendly service can save it.

We ordered a selection of tapas and I really I’m not fussy about food, but there was something unappetizing about each one- the chicken in garlic and white wine was in fact 2 chicken wings with no meat on them and the 3rd bit was a shade of grey with soft white skin (!), the potatoes were soggy with oil and cold, the salad (which cost nearly £5) was just iceberg lettuce with shredded carrots and the meat balls looked and tasted like they came from a tin.

And top it off we had to hand over £32 (we didn’t even drink anything alcoholic!) for the pleasure of finding out ‘never again’.

There are so many great restaurants just round the corner in the city; this really is not one of them.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 0
Thursday, July 19, 2007

I recently visited Barcelona Tapas Bar Y Restaurante and was somewhat disappointed. While the atmosphere was good, nice decor and reasonably good seating, I felt that the food let down the restaurant. The selection was great, can't fault that, but the quality was poorer than I had hoped for. So, if you're looking for a nice place to bring a group of friends, this is one to go for, but when concentrating on food, it might be better to try a different place.
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Liz
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Thursday, March 01, 2007

No complaints about the wide choice of tapas dishes available. Food was all served freshly cooked. Our lamb kidneys were still bubbling away in their sauce when they arrived.

However be aware when ordering house wine. We ordered a house red presuming that is was the £10.95 bottle at the top of the wine menu. Turned out that there were 4 house wines! The waitress didn't ask which one we wanted and brought us the dearest (a £15.95 Rioja). As the bottle was labelled Barcelona Tapas Bar we presumed it was the £10.95 house red we thought we ordered.

When we received the bill and queried it the manageress was very rude saying that as we drunk the wine we had to pay for it and that most people ordered the £15.95 bottle anyway. Eventually she said that she would charge us the price of the cheaper bottle but that the difference in price would come out of the waitresses salary!

Needless to say nobody said goodbye to us as we left.
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J & K
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Thursday, January 18, 2007

Went there for our work Christmas lunch and there were obviously many work parties happening there. A good amount of food including a range of Tapas and a whopping Paella to share, not too bad for around £15 a head

A good atmosphere with fairly good service, would recommend it.
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Pop - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Friday, December 15, 2006

I was very surprised to read a few negative comments as i went here for dinner last night, taking a "tapas virgin" and had a truly wonderful evening. The service was brilliant, the chef came out and chatted to people, the order was delivered 100% correct and all piping hot.

I don't doubt the other reviewers had problems as even the best places can have blips but I cannot stress enough how good our evening was.

The service was very good and all in all my only gripe was they don't do sangria in small portions.

I enjoyed the food and that's the main thing. Will go again and hopefully it will be as spot on.
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Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 6
Friday, August 25, 2006

Got an invite from a couple of work associates to meet up in the City and they suggested this restaurant as they had been there before. Having had other 'anglicised' Tapas offerings I went there with a little trepidation, but how much more wrong could I have been. I ordered the Jamon serrano, Albondigas (Meatballs), Croquetas de pollo, chorizo al vino, pincho diablo and the toasted bread rubbed with tomato, garlic and Olive oil. The Jamon was excelent,and as for the rest of the food, it was almost like being served in Spain itself it was so authentic. Started with some traditional Spanish beer, and then selected a Miguel Merino Reserva, with the help of the knowledgable waiter, which was thankfully in stock, as it was like nectar and complimented the food perfectly! My compliments to the staff and this restaurant for making me a believer again that it is possible to take cuisine and transport it across the miles, if you use the correct ingredients and create the right athmosphere.
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WT
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Friday, July 21, 2006