LA FLAUTA

LA FLAUTA - Carrer d'Aribau, 23, 08011 Barcelona, Spain

Just one block from where La Rambla meets with Diagonal in Barcelona we found a very nice restaurants for locals. It was recommended by the owner of the very nice B&B around the corner. When we came there around 9 it was quite empty but just a little after it started to fill up an was soon full of people of all ages.

In Spain we often start the meal with their fantastic ham and “pan con tomate”. It was a generous plate that was enough for us both. We had decided to have a good piece of meat and ordered the tournedos. We had however some language problems ordering so when we got the main dish it was just one portion for us both to share. It was a generous piece of meat, so we said we could start with that and come back later. It was well enough for us both. It came with a innovative style of French fries that looked like band pasta and was delicious and very crispy. I think the meat was one of the most tender and tasty pieces we have got for a long time.

We asked the waiter if he could recommend a good wine with the meal and surprisingly, he recommended the least expensive on the menu and it was excellent. The good thing in Span is that they mostly only add 100% on the wine in restaurants so this bottle was only 12 euros.

If you like a place where locals go and do not mind a little crowded atmosphere later in the evening – this is the place. Fantastic food and nice service. But – be in time if you have not reserved a table.

Telefon: +34 933 23 70 38
Latest visit: December 2018
Number of visits: 1

FANALS PLATJA Ca L’ADOLFO

FANALS PLATJA Ca L’ADOLFO – Passeig del Mar 92, Platja d’Aro, Spain

We were actually looking for another restaurant that we had visited before, but could not find. As we were looking for grilled fish we decided this one would be a choice as good - and it was. We asked what fish they had for the day and we could have Dorade, Loup de Mère and they had one St. Pierre. We settled for Dorade. The fishes were big, perfectly grilled and very tasty. We had a nice white wine to drink with it. After that we could not have anything but coffee. We have however no idea how the other dishes were as we had the simplest and basic one can have in a restaurant 10 meters from the sea.

The restaurant was a family restaurant and the owner as well as the father came down to “inspect” the business and sat down to speak a few words with old friends.

WEB: http://www.torredealtamar.com/en/ 
Latest visit: June 2016
Number of visits: 1

Le Bistrot la Nautique

LE BISTROT LA NAUTIQUE - 12 rue des Nauticards, Port la Nautique, 11100 Narbonne

We visited a new restaurant today. It was Bistrot la Nautique which is situated next to the camping site La Nautique on the inside of Etang de Bages outside Narbonne. The environment is pleasant next to the boat harbor and we sat outside with a sea-view. The place is very simple, quite rustic, but on purpose. The food is mainly sea-food and it was good, but not exceptional. They have a quite large wine list for a place like this.

On the negative side however is the prize. It is far too expensive taken the food and the venue into account. For a starter and a main and coffee plus a small carafe of rosé we paid almost the same as we do for a fantastic multi-course lunch at one of our favorite Michelin restaurants and the difference is enormous in everything - including the view.

WEB: https://lanautiquenarbonne.com/
LATEST VISIT: July 2018
NUMBER OF VISITS: 1

CAFÈ DU PORT

CAFÈ DU PORT – Borne 436, Canal du Midi, Paraza

You can’t miss it when you come to Paraza. It is a small restaurant just at the Canal du Midi. The food is really good and the service friendly. We had nice salads and gazpacho for starters and the confit de canard for main was fantastic as the entrecote was. One of the best French fries we have had in the area.
For you who has a problem with French. The owner is English so you will get what you think you have ordered.


WEB: http://www.cafeduport.com
LATEST VISIT: July 2017
NUMBER OF VISITS: 1

RESTAURANT LA PLAÇA

RESTAURANT LA PLAÇA – Plaça Promotori 2, Llafranc, Catalonia, 17211 Spain

The restaurant is a part of Hotel Llafranc in the center of Llafranc. The hotel also has a more casual alternative with outside service. Both places have really good food and the service is perfect.

After arriving at the hotel, we had a fantastic turbot in the outside restaurant with a good local white wine. In the evening, we visited the main restaurant and had one of the best tenderloin we have had. An interesting thing is that at both places we asked about a good local wine from the wine list, but the waiter instead suggested a less expensive house wine.

Llafranc is a very pleasant place, especially in off-season. The place is beautiful and one can take long walks, be on the beach, do diving or other water-sports and a lot of things.

By the way – the hotel is really nice and we can recommend you staying there.

WEB: http://www.hllafranch.com/
LATEST VISIT: May 2017
NUMBER OF VISITS: 1

O'SOLEIL LA BRASSERIE du SOLEIL

O'SOLEIL LA BRASSERIE du SOLEIL - 34 Quai Antonin Gros, 34340 Marseillan

Marseillan is in itself a very nice place on Bassin de Thau and to visit any of the restaurants along the port is very pleasant. If the food is nice and the price is right it is even better. La brasserie du Soleil is one of those places. We have been there quite a few times but I have not reviewed it before.
We were four people and three of us had filled and grilled mussels and myself I had their home made foie gras. We were all very happy. For main, three of us had back of cod and one of us had a skewer on beef.

My cod was absolutely perfectly cooked and served in Japanese style in a vegetable broth with lemon grass. It was beautiful. Even if this is a typical fish restaurant the meat was tender and perfectly cooked I was told. For desert I had the classic Illes flottantes, two of us had gazpacho on pineapple and one a cheese platter. I do not know if it has improved enormously or if my memory from earlier visits has faded. Now it is really good and – the full menu is 29 euros.

The service is professional and nice and we talked to the chef when we left and he gave an impression of proficiency and ambition.

After you leave you have to visit the home of the famous Noilly Prat whose plant is just across the port. They have come up with a new Extra Dry version which is even more perfect for a dry martini than the Original Dry.

WEB: https://www.facebook.com/osoleilmarseillan/
LATEST VISIT: April 2017
NUMBER OF VISITS: 4

LE GRAND CAP ♥

LE GRAND CAP - Chemin du Phare, 11370 LEUCATE
Michelin 

The restaurant in the same building used to be the one Michelin star restaurant Klim & Ko. Now it has new owners and is totally redecorated. It was good before, but it is far better now. We had a birthday lunch on a Monday with friends and it was fantastic.

The new owners are Pamela and Ewan Houssin. He has worked for Franck Putelat in Carcassonne and at the remarkable Meurice in Paris. Pamela is making all the fantastic sweets and desserts.

We tried the normal lunch of the day which starts with a “pouce bouche” followed by a really delicious starter on sea-food. The main course was very tender pork. We also had some cheese from the trolley, which was extra and after that we were served a pre-desert, followed by one of the most ambitious deserts I ever seen on a lunch menu. We were full, but still there were tons of sweets served – all hand made in the restaurant. All this, except the cheese, for 32 euros per person. Everything was absolutely delicious.

As I mentioned the restaurant is totally redecorated and the new chairs are comfortable. The table setting is really nice in all aspects and every little piece is chosen to remind you of the sea that is dominating the view entirely wherever you sit in the restaurant.

As positive as everything was I have a couple of small complaints: 14 euros for those tiny small pieces of cheese that were served is a theft and it did not get better when a piece of cheese dropped on the serving table was picked up and put on my friend’s plate. Also – the background music is terrible. It is a very irritating loop of new-age spa-music that just got us crazy after a while.

I am sure this will be the next Michelin star restaurant in the area and we will certainly go back many times.

Revisited November 2016: It was really good this time also. The today's lunch was a dream, so I expect the other menus offered to be a real experience for the taste as well as for the eyes. For those with a sweet tooth this place is also like coming to heaven. The desserts are endless also on the set lunch menu.

Revisited April 2017: Fantastic as always and the weather was splendid, which is an extra at this place.

WEB: http://www.restaurant-grand-cap.fr/

LATEST VISIT: Decembre 2018
NUMBER OF VISITS: 7

Reasons for the ♥ :
First of all the food, which is of highest gourmet class, but it does not hurt to look out over the infinite view of the Mediterranean Sea from a very tastefully designed restaurant there every detail is chosen with care. And - the sweets of course.

LE VIEUX COQ

LE VIEUX COQ - 1 rue Albert Paul Allies, 34120, Pezenas

This is a small restaurant located in one corner of the little square Gambetta. The location is very nice and the food is good and at a good price. One of the reasons that we go there is that there are many chances in Pezenas to get really bad food – especially if you go to one of the “restaurants” along Place du 14 Juilliet. Take a few extra steps and go into the old town – it will pay off.

WEB:
Latest visit: September 2016
Number of visits: 2

LA GUINGUETTE

LA GUINGUETTE – Rue de la Fontaine Fraîche, 11200 Argens Minervois

This restaurant on the banks of Canal du Midi is very rustic and charming. It is the first time we visited it, but we have got good recommendations from many friends to go there. We were not disappointed. The food is traditional and well-made and the atmosphere is very pleasant. You sit outside under large parasols. It is nice to see the canal boats passing by while listening to old French chansons in the background. For the first time we had grilled Camembert cheese on toast with tomatoes and garlic. It sounds weird, but is really delicious. Try it for starter or as a small dish – it is quite filling.
They have a good selection of local wines at a good price and in the summer they have concerts in the evening.

WEB: http://www.laguinguette-restaurant.com/
Latest visit: June 2017
Number of visits: 2

LA RÔTISSERIE – Restaurant Médiéval

LA RÔTISSERIE – Château de Villerouge-Terménès, 11330, Villerouge-Terménès

This is a special place. The venue is the old castle and they try to take you back to the 13^th century. They have four set menus and everything is well made and very generous. Aperitif and wine is included and generously served. You eat with a sharp knife, a wooden spoon and your fingers and use a bread-cake as plate. The personnel are dressed in 13^th century outfit and are very pleasant. Yes - it is special made for us tourists, but the price is right, the food is good and it is an adventure to visit the restaurant. Menus start from 35 euros and we were very happy with that.

WEB: http://restaurant-medieval.com/
Latest visit: September 2016
Number of visits: 1

LA MAISON DE PETIT PIERRE

LA MAISONDE PETIT PIERRE - 22, Avenue Pierre Verdier 34500 Béziers

Pierre Augé won the prestigious French Top Chef 2014 and has now won over the winners the following two years. We visited his restaurant in the summer when one can sit in the lovely garden. The food is very creative and delicious. It is an experience to go there, but still not too expensive. The atmosphere is very homey and pleasant and Little Pierre himself moves around among the guests, says a few words, shakes a few hands and is happy to pose on a picture together with the guests.

It is really an experience to visit this restaurant – but you have to reserve a table in advance.


WEB: http://www.lamaisondepetitpierre.fr/index.html
Latest visit: May 2015
Number of visits: 1

RESTAURANTE CASA HIDALGO

RESTAURANTE CASA HIDALGO – Calle san Pablo 12, Sitges, Spain

We found this restaurant through Via Michelin who had recommended it. The interior is fairly simple, but the service is pleasant and the food is really good. We had a three course dinner starting with two different variations of foie-gras. Both were very good. It was so generous that we could have shared one starter. My wife had a nice piece of veal entrecote and I had one of my favourites – a leg of baby goat. Both dishes Were tasty and the meat very tender.

The desserts were however a disappointment. My wife’s manchego cheese was dry, ice cold and had almost no taste and also my traditional crème caramel was quite tasteless. It was a pity to ruin such a fantastic meal with a bad finish. They however did not charge for the cheese even if they argued that it was the best manchego that was to find. Maybe so but we have had this kind of cheese many times in good restaurants and it is a favourite of my wife.

WEB: http://casahidalgo.es/
Latest visit: June 2016
Number of visits: 1

EL BALCÓ de CALELLA

EL BALCÓ de CALELLA – Pl. Atlàntic 2, Calella de Parafugell, Spain

This restaurant belongs to Hotel Sant Roc and one can sit either outside, on the veranda or in the dining-room. The view from either place in fantastic over the sea, the beach and the village. We settled for their gourmet menu which was a tasting menu so everything mentioned was included. Normally these tasting menus have small dishes, but here they were quite large. It was hard for me to reach the finish even if everything was really delicious.

The first starter was a very good Foie Gras and the second one was an oyster soup that was an absolute dream. The first main was a perfectly cooked fish and the second very tender veal. We also got two very tasty desserts, but at this time we were quite full.

Included in the prize 44 euros per person was white and red wine and they served as much as you felt like. Especially the first white wine impressed on me. It was a mixture of Chardonnay, Sauvignan blanc, Picpoul and Macabeau – which gave the wine a nice balance of fruitiness, freshness and body – perfect with both the Foie Gras, the soup and the fish.

The service was absolutely perfect as it was in the whole hotel. This is a place we will return to as it is just a couple of hours from home and the whole setting I almost perfect.


WEB: http://www.santroc.com/en/gastronomy-hotel-calella-costa-brava/#
Latest visit: June 2016
Number of visits: 1

BAR EL GALLO

BAR EL GALLO – Calle Especiers 13, St. Feliu de Guíxols, Spain

We were looking for a place to eat some tappas and sat down in this little place for just a drink. As the guy who served us was very friendly and helpful we asked if they had food as well. We got some very nice tappas – nothing fancy, but just what we were looking for. We were sitting outside in the street and watching people passing. It was a nice experience in a little bar that we normally would just pass.


WEB:
Latest visit: June 2016
Number of visits: 1

TORRE D’ALTA MAR ♥

TORRE D’ALTA MAR - Passeig Joan de Borbo 88 | Torre de Sant Sebastia, 08023 Barcelona, Spanien

This is really a fantastic experience that does not seem to be that well known. From Barcelona to Barcelonnette, there is a cable car. In the station-tower at the sea-side you find this restaurant. It is situated just one floor above the cable-car-station. The only sign of it from the outside is the door to the elevator. The design of the place is very modern and the view from up there is breath-taking of the whole of Barcelona.
The food is fantastic and to a fabulous price. We had the lunch menu that was a three course meal of the best gourmet class including a glass of cava and a glass of wine. If I remember right the price was 30 euros+ per person. The service was really pleasant and we can really recommend this to anybody visiting Barcelona.

WEB: http://www.torredealtamar.com/en/
Latest visit: February 2016
Number of visits: 1

LOS CARACOLES

LOS CARACOLES - Carrer dels Escudellers, 14, Barcelona, España

You must visit this place. Many people say it is a tourist trap, and maybe so. But – if it has been around for 180 years and my wife was here 1958 and it still looks the same it must have its virtues – and it has. You still have to reserve a table to get in. The atmosphere is fantastic and the service friendly but no nonsense. It is not a gourmet-restaurant, but the food is rustic, nice and generous.

The only problem is that you have to be sober to find you way out after your visit. You enter the restaurant through the kitchen which basically is an enormous stove where they prepare the food. They take you through a labyrinth of rooms, up the stairs and around bends and soon you are lost. Enjoy!

WEB: http://www.loscaracoles.es/index.php?lang=en
Latest visit: February 2016
Number of visits: 1