The Weird and The Wacky Meet

Where YouBetIAm comes to write….

Flavor Without Commitment

Barcelona Gives You The Choice Of Not Choosing

                 Off the Merritt Parkway, below the Hi-Ho Motel in Fairfield, lies a little Spanish gem called Barcelona.  A restaurant and wine bar, featuring an extensive menu of tapas, it offers an overall experience that makes it very much worth trying.

                 The menu is broad, with interesting daily specials priced in the range of the regular items.  While there are full entrees available, and they look enticing, it seems like most people come for the tapas, which are Spanish hors d'oeuvres.  The joy is that, rather than fill up on a single delicious item, you can sample a half dozen uniquely wonderful treats.  You can try all the flavors that suit your mood without committing to just one, savoring each without becoming overwhelmed or jaded.

                 What makes it so hard to choose is that each tapa is delicious.  By all accounts, there are no tapas that you can really go wrong with, but some do tend to stand out more than others, depending on your taste.  The best one I tried was the Pintxo de Chorizo, which is a quartet of skewers loaded with roasted spicy sausage and manchego cheese, served in a paprika sauce over flavorful cooked spinach.  It sounds almost too simple to be as exquisitely complex and delectable as it turns out to be, but the only disappointment to this dish is that it does not come in a larger serving size.

                 Another standout dish was the confit, which offers a substantial amount of tender, shredded duck meat cooked as a casserole with oyster mushrooms and port wine.  If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try the stranger meats on the menu, like the extremely delicious ostrich fillet in a veal reduction with roasted garlic on top.  Speaking of roasted garlic, this item is offered as one of the cheaper tapas, providing a pair of bulbs baked until its cloves are reduced nearly to the consistency of butter, keeping all the flavor of garlic without the bite.  Like butter, it tastes delicious when spread over some of their crusty bread.

I could go on listing tapas, but this would only cover a handful of their broad selection, which ranges from just really good all the way up to mouth-wateringly transcendent.  Part of the appeal is that each visit allows you to try out new items while enjoying some of your favorites, so I encourage you to go and find your own.   Even the entrees look exciting and different.

This is an excellent place for friends who are willing to eat family style and do not mind a little garlic breath.  While Chef Tim Armstrong does favor the pungent bulb, it works well with the menu’s tendency towards seafood and is never excessive.  It doesn’t hurt that the ambiance is very conducive to coziness.  There is plenty of comfortable seating, and quiet little candlelit booths, as well as a good-sized bar and outdoor seating.

Upbeat ethnic music plays just loudly enough that you don’t hear the diners at the next table, but softly enough that you can speak with your dining companions across the table.  The waiters are friendly, knowledgeable and unobtrusive, offering helpful advice without being overbearing.  This is particularly useful when it comes to the dauntingly vast wine menu, which is one place where you might want to ask for a suggestion to match your meal.

                 If wine is not your thing, Barcelona has other drinks.  In addition to red and white sangria, it has a very creative cocktail list.  I highly recommend the Blood Orange Margarita, which is one of the best margarita’s I’ve ever tasted.  It’s sweet, but not too sweet, sour, but not too sour and just very well balanced.  They can be ordered by the pitcher or the glass, so it’s possible to share the tastiness.

                 Dessert at Barcelona is also a hit.  There is a lovely warm carrot cake that is exquisitely spiced, then raised to the next level of culinary excellent by the delicious homemade cinnamon ice cream that accompanies it.  Also memorable is a caramel-filled crepe topped with chocolate sauce and more ice cream.

                 Food this good does not come cheap.  Tapas start at $3.50 a piece and can run up to $13.50.  If you are dining on tapas alone, it’s recommended that you have two to three per person.  Entrees are $19 to $25.  Drinks, desserts and coffee are all in the $5 to $6 range.  There is also a cheaper lunch menu or a late night menu available.  Most nights, Barcelona is open until 1:00 a.m.,, and on Fridays and Saturdays until 2:00 a.m..  Because of the price, this is not a restaurant to visit frequently, but it’s a wonderful choice when you have a date to impress or a special occasion to celebrate.

 

4.5 out of 5.

Copyright 2005

Barcelona, Comfy and Tasty

By Amanda Evans

Date: 04/19/05