Alright, this time, I’ve left the rain-soaked streets of England for the sun-drenched shores of Barcelona. A city of surreal Gaudi architecture, late-night tapas, and a seafood scene that will make your taste buds do a little Flamenco dance. Spain, a country bordered by the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, knows a thing or two about pulling delicious creatures from the deep blue. So naturally, my first mission was a pilgrimage to the city's best seafood joints.
Lluritu: The Unpretentious Seafood Sorcerer
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| Good decor and vibe |
Now, I'm not one for frills and fancy tablecloths. Give me a place that lets the food do the talking, and I'm a happy Bao. Lluritu is exactly that kind of place. Tucked away in what feels like a local's secret spot, this restaurant serves seafood that is so fresh, it practically winks at you from the plate. The cooking method? A glorious ode to simplicity. A whisper of olive oil, a gentle caress of garlic, a sprinkle of salt. It's so basic it's brilliant, a true testament to the exceptional quality of their produce.
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| Mind blowing tuna leaf, a must try |
Let's talk about the stars of the show. Their scallops, while tiny, packed a punch so powerful it made me question everything I thought I knew about shellfish. Forget those watery, flavourless ones you get elsewhere; these had a concentrated, sweet essence that lingered long after the last bite. Also a definite win from a typical Hokkaido one. The "tuna leaf" was a revelation. Thin, fatty slices of tuna that melted in my mouth like a meaty snowflake. I've had tuna in Japan, but this Spanish version was a jaw-dropper, a fatty, flavour-bomb that left me speechless. And the red prawns! Juicy, bursting with flavour, they were a messy, glorious joy to devour.
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| Small but flavourful scallop |
The restaurant itself is compact but not claustrophobic. The vibe is relaxed, perfect for a good chat and a leisurely meal. The service was mostly spot-on—friendly and professional. I’ll give them a slight side-eye for making us chase one dish twice, but hey, even seafood wizards have an off-day. All in all, this place felt like a hidden gem, and the bill confirmed it. Simple cooking, no fancy decor, just pure, unadulterated deliciousness at a price that won't make your wallet weep. A refreshing change from some of the more eye-wateringly expensive places I’ve been in
Madrid.
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| Tasty red prawn |
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| I did enjoy every single dish |
Ratings:
Food: 5/5 - The simple cooking allowed the exceptional produce to sing a delicious Spanish ballad. Service: 3.5/5 - Mostly friendly and professional, but chasing a dish twice knocked them down a peg. Decor: 4.5/5 - Simple and clean, it’s a perfect backdrop for the food without being distracting. Value: 5/5 - The quality-to-price ratio here is simply unbeatable.
Overall: 4.75/5 - A truly exceptional, honest, and unforgettable seafood experience.
Estimated Cost per person (without drinks): €30-€40
Puertecillo: The Discount Dilemma
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| Avoid it if I am honest - Google Image |
Next up on the Barcelona seafood hit list was Puertecillo. We stumbled upon this place via "The Fork" website, which offered a attrative 50% discount. Now, I'm all for a bargain, but let's be real—when a restaurant offers 50% off all the time, it's a flashing red light screaming "DANGER, BARGAIN HUNTER!" But my inner cheapskate took the wheel, and off we went.
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| Average oyster, baby squid and anchovy. Terrible tasteless soup |
The concept is "self-service"—you queue up, point at the seafood on a giant display counter, choose your cooking method, and then wait for your name to be shouted out. It's a bit like a seafood canteen. The food itself? It was... fine. A significant downgrade from the seafood symphony at Lluritu. The quality was noticeably lower, and a few of the deep-fried baby squid and pan fried clams tasted suspiciously un-fresh. The cooking was inconsistent—some things were bland, some were over-seasoned. The soup, described as "tasteless orange water," was a particular low point.
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| Again average seafood except the clams |
We ordered a king's ransom of seafood, including lobster and oysters, and the final bill was still surprisingly low. The price is, unequivocally, the only upside to this place. The decor is simple and functional, like a no-frills fish market.
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| Slightly undercook lobster and I expect more char flavour |
If I had paid the full price, I would have thrown a fit. Even with the 50% off, I'm questioning my life choices. It's not a bargain; it's a fair price for mediocre food. You're not getting a great deal; you're just not being ripped off at the advertised price. The cheap price is a reflection of the quality, not a generous offer.
Ratings:
Food: 3.5/5 - Some dishes were just okay, while others were a bit of a gamble.
Service: 3/5 - The canteen-style service was efficient but impersonal.
Decor: 3.5/5 - Functional and basic, it's what you'd expect from a seafood self-service spot.
Value: 3.5/5 - The discount makes it cheap, but the quality reflects the price.
Overall: 3.5/5 - A very average experience, proving that a discount isn't always a good deal.
Estimated Cost per person (without drinks & 50% discount): €30-€50
Verdict: Lluritu is a seafood superstar where quality reigns supreme. Puestecillo is a cautionary tale of chasing a bargain.
Lluritu (there are 3 branches)
Address: Carrer del Torrent de les Flors, 71, 08024 Barcelona, Spain
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