CLOSED–
I visited La Cuina d’en Garriga twice before I finally decided to give it a try with my new friend Anjalina of the Barcelona food blog – Rainbow Spoon. Mostly because this neighborhood has a tendency for well-designed shops with mediocre but expensive food. Garriga has some promising visual cues; they use and sell bread from Baluard, stock tea from Mariage Frères and sauces from Wilkins & Sons. Meanwhile, their chiller cabinet is groaning and perspiring with all manner of delicious things.
My original plan had been to order some buffalo mozzarella with organic rocket but then I thought it better to test the kitchen and ordered the quinoa salad (€11.30) and the Arroz ala Cubana (€11.50). Anjalina ordered the lentils with foie gras (€11.40). Portion sizes were on the small side and prices on the other end of the scale but it was all delicious, unexpectedly so. The lentils were boiled so that they were tender and not a moment too long. The quinoa was light and fluffy with the surprising addition of candied lemon peel. All dressed well. The lone fried egg atop my rice a la Cubana could have used a friend, my stomach certainly thought so. But overall good and a nice change from all the Tapas and such.
I was thinking I would enjoy a slice of the lemon tart (5.80), which I was assured by the waiter was made that day in their kitchen. That the lemon tart came with the outlandish English description of “Such a (Lemon) tart” was disconcerting but then the description that accompanied the chocolate tart -recipe of “my dark chocolate sweet Mother’s” gave me the notion that this was a case of Google translate gone wrong. Disappointingly, the lemon tart was more like a lemon cheesecake with a soggy bottom.
Overall, I like this place, I think the quality is certainly there but I find the prices are on the high side. I suppose, there is a surcharge for this postcode and if I am feeling pinched for cash, I can go out a bit further to Gracia to Les Tres a la Cuina for what remains the best-priced menu of seasonal fresh food in town.
La Cuina d’en Garriga
Carrer Consell de Cent, 308
Dreta de l’Eixample
New Location:
Enric Granados 58
08008 Eixample
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