Area: Gràcia. MAP IT
Booking tel.: 934 589 624
Price: From 30-45 Euros. (Precio medio 43 €)
Open: Monday to Saturday 13-16 hr and 21-23 hr.
Closed: Sunday and bank holidays. August.
TripAdvisor : 4/5 rank 332 / 4217 63 reviews
Yelp : 4.5/5 3 reviews Qype : 5/5 1 review
VipGourmet : 7/10 2 opinions
Bcn RestaurantesLocated in Gracia for some fifty years, Bilbao is a landmark in the city of Barcelona. All those who think of eating as an art know this unpretentious restaurant that aims for us to enjoy with their food.
In Bilbao we won't be in a romantic, modern or elegant place, for it still keeps the atmosphere and air of the old days. The point is that we don't need anything else to enjoy the real popular high quality food from Barcelona, with classic and traditional homemade recipes elaborated with excellent products.
It is not a cheap restaurant, but is very good value for money, if we take into consideration that there is fresh fish every day and that portions are very generous. The whole thing is the reason why a lot of famous people, businessmen, couples and groups of all sorts of people find in Bilbao the perfect place to have a perfect lunch or dinner.
The rain was so torrential that we arrived half an hour before their 2pm opening for Saturday lunch as the waiters were having their staff meal. But they happily waved us in. Jordi Olivet, the chef here for two decades, took us through to our table and we dried ourselves off.
I have never seen a restaurant fill up so quickly. Just before 2pm we four were alone. Five minutes later, every table was taken, the waiters in their blue shirts hurtling around to be joined 15 minutes later by Bilbao’s jolly owner, Pere Valls Isart. Wearing a cardigan that just about hid a considerable girth, he first toured the rooms, kissing his female customers and the children, but quite soon he was hard at work, too (...).
Olivet and his team certainly cook well enough for us to want to invite our friends back. Cannelloni with truffles; diced ham again but this time on top of artichokes; a plate of unadorned, glistening plump girolles, just in season; a delicious rendition of grilled octopus with pimento and sliced potatoes; and a thoughtfully modest serving of oxtail with a cube of membrillo whose sweetness cut the otherwise fatty meat.
“You’ll eat extremely well” at this Gràcia longtimer serving “terrific typical Catalan” food and wine in a traditional setting occupying two floors of a 19th-century townhouse; though it may not be “luxurious”, it’s just right for sampling some “unparalleled” specialties without an exorbitant bill.
We went to have lunch and had a set meal for 11€, with more food than you can eat. We started with a plate with different types of ham and a salad and then a butifarra (sausage) served with mashed potatoes, all of this served with wine and then dessert.
It is one of these old restaurants that does not care about the fact that the neighborhood has become trendy. They still serve the same thing as decades ago, the waiters are all 50 and seem to work there since the place opened.
In short: it is a traditional place, at noon it is full of locals and workers and at night it is more of an exclusive place, it is more expensive. For example, there is a set meal for 35€ and out of the menu it also costs between 30€ and 50€ each.
A cheery bistro near the bottom of Gràcia, this place is always packed with hungry epicureans having a festive time. Unpretentious, straightforward Mediterranean market cuisine is well prepared and sold at reasonable prices here, but the best feature is the generally gleeful din—a good sign. Try the fried egg with black truffles and look for the Montsant red wines, always great values.
Nile Guide
One of the most popular restaurants in the Gràcia district, it serves simple and tasty dishes from a tempting menu that includes specials like Sautéed Artichokes with Cured Ham and an unbeatably tender steak. The desserts are homemade and the wine cellar is stocked with the best labels. Try the lunchtime set menu of the day for great value. It has been in business for around half a decade and boasts of a loyal clientele that includes celebrities and artists.
Time Out
A Barcelona classic, the Bilbao represents one of the finest examples of traditional cuisine in the city. Mouthwatering dishes, with fresh fish every day. It’s not cheap, but it’s good value for money. You’ll often see big names and public figures eating here.
Cette photo de Bilbao est fournie gracieusement par TripAdvisor
