I know more than anyone that walking into a restaurant like Barcelona Wine Bar can be intimidating due to its massive menu. In hopes of helping put overwhelmed orderers at ease, I have come up with a list of some dishes that I highly recommend and others I would pass on.
Must Get: Patatas Bravas
Barcelona has some of the crispiest Patatas Bravas out of all of the tapas restaurants in Atlanta (and we all know there are a lot). The potatoes are perfectly crunchy on the outside and smooth and soft on the inside. To top it all off, there is a copious amount of their spicy and creamy sauces, creating a perfect balance of flavor in every bite.
Can Skip: Mediterranean Hummus
If you know me, you know I love a good hummus, but Barcelona's hummus just didn't live up to my expectations. It was a solid hummus with pita on the side but was nothing that exciting in terms of flavor. Barcelona has so many classic Spanish tapas dishes, so I would recommend you save space in your bellies for those over the hummus.
Must Get: Gambas al Aljillo
Many people have heard me say shrimp is my number one protein, so it is not a shock that this delicious garlic shrimp dish made it onto my must-have list from Barcelona. The garlic sauce that the shrimp bathe in has so much flavor without being too overpowering like some garlic dishes can be. The sauce is so good that I would even recommend not giving up the plate when you finish all the shrimp and getting extra bread to dip into it for the perfect bite to snack on throughout the meal.
Can Skip: Whipped Sheep's Cheese
Let me preface this pick by saying some friends at my dinner did really like this dish, but it just wasn't for me. I found the cheese and its accompaniment of honey to be just too sweet, especially when surrounded by savory dishes. To me, the sweetness was way too overpowering, making it so I could not really eat the dish in large amounts; given there was a hefty amount of cheese provided in the serving, we, unfortunately, left quite a bit left over.
Must Get: Roasted Carrots
If you are looking for something slightly sweet, these carrots are what I would recommend instead of the Whipped Sheep's Cheese. They have a super tasty flavor of light sweetness and tang, which balances out the heavier dishes perfectly. These carrots are also served cold, making them feel refreshing and healthy, something that is necessary when getting lots of dishes in one meal.
Can Skip: Brussels Sprouts
While these Brussels Sprouts were nice and crispy, the flavor for them was found in the balsamic reduction sauce, but unfortunately, it did not act as a glaze over all of the sprouts. I found that the sauce sunk to the bottom of the dish, leaving most of the veggies flavorless minus the few on the bottom that had soaked up too much sauce and became a bit too bitter.
Must Get: Crispy Calamari
I don't usually love calamari, but this might be the best calamari dish I have ever had. It was absolutely fried to perfection, making the meat on the inside no longer tough or chewy and the exterior super crunchy. The dish was even further elevated by the delicious dipping sauce that had a bit of a spicy kick for extra flavor. My only warning is that if this dish is placed in front of you, then you will be unable to stop snacking on it for the whole meal because it's truly addicting.
Can Skip: Grilled Chicken Thigh
We ordered this dish as a safe protein option that anyone could enjoy, but I was personally a little let down when I tried it. I found the chicken thigh pretty dry, with its only saving grace being the sauce to provide some relieving moisture. I will admit the sauce was tasty, but I did not find it good enough to lift this dish into the must-have category.
Overall, I promise there are no bad dishes at Barcelona Wine Bar. However, if you are looking for some guidance in order to avoid confusion when staring at this restaurant's huge tapas menu, I hope my list can offer some assistance.