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Senyor Parellada
Click here to view map Click here to launch website You could be forgiven for thinking, peeking in at the elegant entrance hall, that Senyor Parellada would be out of most people’s price range. Or at least, I hope you can be forgiven as this was the misconception I held for several months living only a few minutes away from the restaurant until I actually bothered to look at the prices on the menu. Just like its neighbouring hotel, the Banys Orientals, Parellada offers something rather special for an incredibly reasonable price. Housed in a beautifully converted (formerly outdoor) internal patio, the dining is spread over two levels, with the upper floor arranged around the original balconies of the courtyard. The décor drips with drops, as chandeliers hang from every ceiling rose and cornice. There is an interesting mix of antique and modern features but the different styles complement one another well, providing an overall impression of eclectic luxury. The food is equally impressive. A vast menu without a division between starters and main courses offers a large selection of mainly traditional Catalan dishes priced between €6 and €12. The dishes are not only well made and delicious, they also come in gigantic portions. The fish dishes are particularly tasty but then there’s nothing that Parellada do particularly badly to compare it against. I personally chose to split my dinner up into courses all the same, trying a selection of the smaller dishes, salad, chiperones and battered vegetables as a starter. Though the mixed Paella is talked of as a house speciality and it is undoubtedly good value, I found it to be a little too dry but then I’m not generally a paella fan (can’t really remember why I chose to have it now!) The lamb in red wine sauce on the other hand is so tasty and without doubt the best value dish I have seen on sale in BCN. It’s under €10 and it’s pretty big; in fact it’s the whole bloody leg and almost too much for one person to eat. On repeat visits I have found the smaller dishes to be particularly appetising and have sometimes opted for a number to share as opposed to one main dish, delicious as they are. I feel the deserts should have a paragraph all to themselves as I would quite like to eat them for the rest of time. In fact, death by desert sounds like the perfect way to shuffle off your mortal coil. Sorbets, custards, meringues, chocolate cups, cakes, flans and you know that if a dish is called simply “the three chocolates” someone is doing something right. Parellada tends to be pretty busy, as it is already extremely well known amongst locals, and it would be wise to book ahead. At quieter times however I have been able to walk in without a reservation but in such a well received and good value restaurant off-peak times are short and irregular. From the first time I visited, Senyor Parellada felt like a place I would be happy to eat at regularly. The service is quick and friendly, the décor stunning and the atmosphere great. Oh and the foods pretty good too.

Address:

Carrer de l'Argenteria, 37, 08003

Area:

Born

Nearest Metro:

Jaume I

Opening times:

Daily: 1-4pm 8.30pm-12am

Price range:

€10-€20 pp

Food types:

Catalan
Tapas