SPAIN - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1492

and value—for me, a very special meal in Barcelona. They have three zones: the classic
main room, a more forgettable adjacent room, and a few outdoor tables. I like the classic
room. Reservations are smart (€12-16 plates, creative €20 six-plate degustation lunch—also
available during dinner Mon-Thu, open Mon-Sat 13:00-15:45 & 20:30-23:15, closed Sun,
Carrer d'Enric Granados 57, at the corner with Carrer Mallorca, Metro: Provença, tel.
934-532-338).
La Flauta fills two floors with enthusiastic eaters (I prefer the ground floor). It's fresh
and modern, with a fun, no-stress menu featuring €5 small plates, creative €4 flauta sand-
wiches,anda€12.50three-courselunchdealincludingadrink.Considerthelistof tapasdel
día .Good€2.30wines bythe glass are listed onthe blackboard. This isaplace toorderhigh
onthemenuforasatisfying,moderatelypricedmeal(Mon-Sat13:00-24:00,closedSun,up-
beat and helpful staff recommends the fried vegetables, no reservations, just off Carrer de la
Diputació at Carrer d'Aribau 23, Metro: Universitat, tel. [phone]).
Cinc Sentits (“Five Senses”), with only about 30 seats, is my gourmet recommendation.
At this chic, minimalist, but slightly snooty place, all the attention goes to the fine service
and beautifully presented dishes. The €59 essència menu and the €79 sensacions menu are
unforgettable extravaganzas. Expect menus only—no à la carte. It's run by Catalans who
lived in Canada (so there's absolutely no language barrier) and serve avant-garde cuisine in-
spiredbyCatalantraditionsandingredients.Reservationsarerequired(Tue-Sat13:30-15:00
& 20:30-22:30, closed Sun-Mon, near Carrer d'Aragó at Carrer d'Aribau 58, between Met-
ros: Universitat and Provença, tel. [phone], maître d' Amelia).
Tapas Bars in the Eixample
(See “Hotels & Restaurants in Barcelona's Eixample” map, here .)
Many trendy and touristic tapas bars in the Eixample offer a cheery welcome and slam out
the appetizers. These four are particularly handy to Plaça de Catalunya and the Passeig de
Gràcia artery (for all of them, the closest Metro stops are Catalunya and Passeig de Gràcia).
Tapas24 makes eating fun.This local favorite, with afewstreet tables, fills aspotafew
steps below street level with happy energy, funky decor (white counters and mirrors), and
absolutelyexcellenttapas.Themenuhasallthetypicalstandbysandquirkyinventions(such
astheMcFoieburger),plusdailyspecials.Serviceisfriendly,andtheowner,CarlesAbellan,
is one of Barcelona's hot chefs. This is a chance to eat his food at reasonable prices, which
are the same whether you dine at the bar, a table, or outside. Figure about €40 for lunch for
two with wine (€4-10 tapas, €12-14 plates, Mon-Sat 9:00-24:00, closed Sun, just off Passeig
de Gràcia at Carrer de la Diputació 269, tel. [phone]).
Quasi Queviures ( “Qu Qu” for short) offers upscale tapas, sandwiches, or the whole
nine yards—classic food served fast from a fun menu with modern decor and a high-energy
ambience. It's bright, clean, and not too crowded. Walk through their enticing kitchen to get