206 / 344
200
strike lucky on spec if you’re prepared to
eat early or late. The open kitchen and the
bustling staff are half the show, while the
food – sushi to udon noodles – is really
good. You can eat for around €30. Tues–Fri
1.30–3.30pm & 8.30–11.30pm, Sat & Sun
2–4pm & 8.30–11.30pm; closed two weeks
in Aug.
El Raval
For locations, see map, pp.66–67.
Inexpensive
Elisabets
c/d’Elisabets 2
T
933 175 826;
M
Catalunya.
Reliable Catalan home cooking
served at cramped tables in a jovial brick-
walled dining room. Chain-smoking locals
breakfast on a sandwich and a glass of
wine, the hearty lunchtime
menú del dia
is
hard to beat for price, or you can just have
tapas, sandwiches and drinks at the bar. No
credit cards. Meals Mon–Sat 1–4pm, bar
open Mon–Sat 8am–11pm; closed Aug.
Mesón David
c/de les Carretes 63
T
934
415 934;
M
Paral.lel.
This down-to-
earth Galician bar-restaurant is a firm
favourite with neighbourhood families who
bring their kids before they can even walk.
The weekday
menú
is a steal – maybe
some lentil broth followed by a grilled,
butterflied trout and home-made
flan
–
though it’s the octopus and the
combinado
Gallego
(“ham, salami, ear”) that has the
locals purring. There’s a bang on the clog-
gong for anyone who tips. Daily except Mon
1–4pm & 8pm–midnight.
Pollo Rico
c/de Sant Pau 31
T
934 413 184;
M
Liceu.
Barcelona’s original “greasy spoon”
has been here forever and, while it’s not to
everyone’s taste, if you’re in the mood for
good spit-roast chicken and a glass of rot-
gut wine, served in double-quick time, this
is the place. The upstairs dining room is a
tad more sophisticated (only a tad) – either
way, you’ll be hard pushed to spend €15
from a long menu of Spanish and Catalan
staples. No credit cards. Daily 10am–
midnight; closed Wed.
Romesco
c/de l’Arc de Sant Agustí s/n
T
934 189 381;
M
Liceu.
Old Barcelona
hands talk lovingly of the
Romesco
– and as
long as you accept its limitations (dining in a
strip-lit corridor, Billy Goat Gruff waiters) you
can hardly go wrong, as the most expensive
thing on the menu is a grilled sirloin at €8
and most dishes go for €5 or less. It’s basic
but good, with big salads, country broths
and grilled veg to start, followed by things
like tuna steak, lamb chops or grilled
prawns from the market, scattered with
parsley and chopped garlic. If you spend
more than €15 each you’ve probably eaten
someone else’s dinner as well. No credit
cards. Mon–Sat 1–11.30pm; closed Aug.
Moderate
Ànima
c/dels Angels 6 t933 424 912;
M
Liceu.
Sleek and arty, but also
informal, this attracts a youngish crowd who
come for the immaculately presented,
seasonally influenced fusion cooking –
courgette flowers and mussels tempura,
followed by monkfish with a garlic and
pistachio crust are typical summer dishes,
with most mains costing around €14. It’s an
especially good deal at lunchtime, and the
staff are unfailingly charming. Mon–Sat
1–4pm & 9pm–midnight.
Bar Ra
Pl. de la Garduña 3
T
615 959 872,
W
www.ratown.com;
M
Liceu.
Extremely hip
place behind the Boqueria market, with a
groove-ridden music policy, a funky feel and
a sunny
terrassa
. “It’s not a restaurant”, they
proclaim, but who are they kidding?
Breakfast runs from 10am, there’s a
menú
del dia
served every day (weekends as well)
from 1–4pm, with dinner from 9pm until
Bar Ra
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