We had a very disturbing development while eating our takeout order of Paella Salvage. We haven’t had issues like this, that we know of, before at this restaurant. But this was frustrating enough to leave a review. We found a 1-inch long metal stick in the paella. For a $50 meal this wasn’t what we had in mind.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas
The NONCHALANT1
If customer service was a restaurant, Barcelona is it! We were visiting a friend in the city and he recommended doing tapas to try different things. He suggested Barcelona and talked proudly about their brussel sprouts. However, when we got their our waitress said they no longer had them. She could have stopped there. Instead, she said she'd asked the kitchen what other vegetables could they prepare like the brussel sprouts. Then, she brought out a complimentary order of leeks for us to taste. THEY WERE AMAZING. My friend asked if they still did half bottles of wine on Sunday. They no longer do but she brought a sample of a wine she recommended. Meanwhile, a female manager came out to apologize for not having the brussel sprouts and wanted to know if we'd enjoyed the leeks. The waitress came back to check on us several times and was so super sweet. My friend was simply asking if they still did the drink chips for completing the survey. She was like, we are 3 for 3 on not being able to fulfill your request; let me get you a free dessert. She left to get the dessert and another manager, Kenneth came over. He'd found some tokens and gave them to my friend. He not only brought the chips over, he took the time to talk with us about some of the changes they've made. He also talked about life, kindness, and customer service. When the waitress returned with the cake, thanked us again for coming and kept the most polite disposition. They didn't have to do ANYTHING, and we weren't looking for them to. But they went SO above and beyond, and it was all proactive. This was by far one of THE BEST experiences I've had and I can't say enough about how great Barcelona is. I'll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tapas
Jake Tantorski
While I'm not typically a fan of dining out in New Haven, my recent experience at Barcelona provided a delightful evening for catching up with friends. The tapas-style food was a hit, allowing us to savor small bites and order more as the night unfolded. Notably, the patatas bravas and albondigas dishes stood out. Barcelona's menu caters to various preferences, ensuring everyone finds something to enjoy. The attentive service added a pleasant touch, and it turned into a fun coincidence when we discovered our server shared the same name as me. All in all, Barcelona successfully created a relaxed atmosphere on a Tuesday night, offering a wide array of options to suit our preferences.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas
Gloria Ama Aidoo-Frimpong
Good food, excellent service, just a nice, wonderful environment. Relaxing and calm. Music wasn't too loud, so you can still speak without shouting.
I came to Barcelona for Valentine's Day Dinner with my husband. Being that it was Valentine's Day evening, it was very packed. They had more tables than usual, so it was very tight and people standing in line to be seated. Staff was running around and managers were helping them. Both my husband and I were both very happy with our dinner. We had the white sangria and it was delicious. Unfortunately food was coming out at random times. The main course came out before tapas. My husband ordered the scallop tapas which were very delicious but expensive. We were told that the fish was served whole as that's what my husband likes but when it came, it was filleted. They quickly took it back and Replaced it. he thoroughly enjoyed the fish when it came back. My favorite is the Papas Fritas and totally forgot to take a picture of it. I did order the mushrooms which I did not eat because I dislike them. They were very garlicky . The vegetable paella was very good. I ordered the half portion and it was gigantic. Both my husband and I ate it and it was very delicious and flavorful. I typically do not get vegetable paella because I've had it other restaurants and it has no flavor, but I was pleasantly surprised. I definitely would go back for dinner again. The staff really did a great job as they were so busy.
Steven Quesinberry
My son and I arrived a little after 10 pm after driving all day...we were exhausted, thirsty, and hungry. The kitchen was closed, but Kenny, the manager, still managed to fix some tapas for us. The olives, steak, albondigas, gambas, charcuterie, and mushrooms were so tasty. Olivier, the bartender, kept our glasses full of an excellent tempranillo. I had been wearing my Barcelona sweatshirt throughout the day, so sating ourselves in Barcelona was the perfect end of our sojourn.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gambas Al Ajillo, Albondigas, Steak Pillard
JennyLee Malpica
If I could give this restaurant 0 stars I would. My friend had made a reservation for 9:15 pm. Upon arriving and calling in before coming in, the restaurant said they didn’t see a reservation under his name or that time frame on their end, okay. But they said we can come in and get seated within the next few minutes. Upon arrival, my friend explains to the host that he had made and confirmed the reservation for 9:15, and the guy talking to us (didn’t get his name but assumed he was the manager) looked at my friends phone and then down at his watch and rudely said “that is for the 17th not the 16th that’s why it didn’t show up” (as if that’s not an honest mistake). He then looks at my friend with this shameful look as if he was trying to argue and right then and there we could have left, but we still decided to try the place out. Drinks took over 15 minutes to get to the table (2 simple cocktails). We had ordered 2 appetizers and only got one. After asking why we hadn’t got the other one after waiting for 25+ minutes, that is when our server finally decides to tell us that it isn’t available. We ordered the paella mariscos which took a while to come out as well, and it was so bland. It needed so much more seasoning and it almost felt like a joke. But regardless I could have looked over the food and forgiven it on it just being a busy weekend (valentines day weekend) but I just had to write a review to let other patrons of color to beware! Me and my friend were definitely not treated like other patrons, while the manager or whoever this man was was trying to argue with my friend over his honest mistake, he was saying goodbye to other patrons as they left. But when we left he didn’t say a word, that was the final nail in the coffin for me. Take your money to somewhere else that is way more committed to better customer service and genuine commitment to client’s experience, this place was a joke and I will tell everybody I know not to come here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Steven P.
For starters - I rarely give negative reviews. During the Christmas holidays my wife and sister in-law decided to dine at Barcelona in New Haven. We sat by the bar at started with cocktails and then ordered several tapas that were just okay. However, the cocktails were made with passion and were solid. While we were eating a large roach crawled on the bar counter and was smashed and killed by the bartender with his bare hand. Immediately after the bartender kills the roach, he tells us customers should expect roaches and mice encounters in New Haven. I told him I've been living in NYC and never have experienced an encounter with roach while dinning at a restaurant. It was a horrific experience to say the least.
Rolando Castro Melendez
Long live to España.
Abhinit S.
Kenny's the manager. Here on a Thursday night. Kitchens almost closed. Have had this crazy tapas dish with toast and chorizo. It's not currently on the menu, but Kenny's figures it's out it's Chorizo pintxo. Fires up the grill and makes it for me. Makes my night. And then, whoever hasn't had the olive oil cake is missing out in life. I'm not missing out in life. I ask if it's okay to order it, and I'm obliged. This is really a good place to have a nice night! Shoutout to Kenny!
We were seated in a separate room where it looked like vacant, felt like left out, they said they were gonna start seating people there but we were the only table in there whole time, and they sat every other table on the main room. service was very good, and that's the only reason I'm giving 3 stars, because food didn't taste good, I heard I lot of good comments about this place however it didn't meet my expectations
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas
Ethan Seidenberg
Horrible experience. We had a 7:00 reservation, checked in right at 7:00, and stood there waiting for our table until 8:00. Completely unacceptable. Dozens more people likewise had to wait at minimum half an hour past their reservation to be seated. It's just ridiculous to run a restaurant this way. Even after our name was called, it was another ten minutes because they had so few staff members wiping down and resetting tables. The food is fine--nothing that special. But if you're looking for tapas in New Haven, just go to Olea up the street and save yourself from wasting your time.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Dang L.
Drinks: 4.5/5 Food: 4.8/5 Services: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5//5 Pricing: higher end Overall: 4.8/5 What we ordered: - tapas: potatoes, duck breast, mussels, venison - cheesecake - sangria 10/10 would recommend. A perfect date night spot. The foods are amazing. Our favorite was the duck breast tapas. I have never had duck prepared this way. It is super flavorful and tender and blends so well with the sauce. Vanessa was out waitresses and she was super helpful. She recommended the potatoes to us, which I would say is a perfect choice. The tapas are small dishes so I recommend order at least 3 dishes for a party of 2. Will definitely come back and try other dishes!
Mary A.
What a fun & classy scene to spend a chilly night! I was here for work, and my friend introduced me to one of his favorite locations in New Haven. I can't believe I've never had Spanish cuisine until that night! Despite being known for their tapas, I ordered a paella dish because I've never had paella before. Absolute yum! The rice base was soft, yet flavorful. There was plenty of seafood throughout too! The half dish is plenty for 1 person and costs $28 - pretty reasonable for a seafood heavy dish! The place was quite busy for a Wed night, but service was quick and attentive during our dining experience there. Our server made the experience all the more memorable given my very short visit to New Haven!
Lea F.
Came in here for a drink and sat at the bar. It was around 10pm so it wasn't busy. The door is almost hidden which i thought was cool. Inside had romantic lighting. The Alebrijes cocktail was so enjoyable. I'll come back for tapas and a wine flight!
We had a very disturbing development while eating our takeout order of Paella Salvage. We haven’t had issues like this, that we know of, before at this restaurant. But this was frustrating enough to leave a review. We found a 1-inch long metal stick in the paella. For a $50 meal this wasn’t what we had in mind.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas
If customer service was a restaurant, Barcelona is it! We were visiting a friend in the city and he recommended doing tapas to try different things. He suggested Barcelona and talked proudly about their brussel sprouts. However, when we got their our waitress said they no longer had them. She could have stopped there. Instead, she said she'd asked the kitchen what other vegetables could they prepare like the brussel sprouts. Then, she brought out a complimentary order of leeks for us to taste. THEY WERE AMAZING. My friend asked if they still did half bottles of wine on Sunday. They no longer do but she brought a sample of a wine she recommended. Meanwhile, a female manager came out to apologize for not having the brussel sprouts and wanted to know if we'd enjoyed the leeks. The waitress came back to check on us several times and was so super sweet. My friend was simply asking if they still did the drink chips for completing the survey. She was like, we are 3 for 3 on not being able to fulfill your request; let me get you a free dessert. She left to get the dessert and another manager, Kenneth came over. He'd found some tokens and gave them to my friend. He not only brought the chips over, he took the time to talk with us about some of the changes they've made. He also talked about life, kindness, and customer service. When the waitress returned with the cake, thanked us again for coming and kept the most polite disposition. They didn't have to do ANYTHING, and we weren't looking for them to. But they went SO above and beyond, and it was all proactive. This was by far one of THE BEST experiences I've had and I can't say enough about how great Barcelona is. I'll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tapas
While I'm not typically a fan of dining out in New Haven, my recent experience at Barcelona provided a delightful evening for catching up with friends. The tapas-style food was a hit, allowing us to savor small bites and order more as the night unfolded. Notably, the patatas bravas and albondigas dishes stood out. Barcelona's menu caters to various preferences, ensuring everyone finds something to enjoy. The attentive service added a pleasant touch, and it turned into a fun coincidence when we discovered our server shared the same name as me. All in all, Barcelona successfully created a relaxed atmosphere on a Tuesday night, offering a wide array of options to suit our preferences.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas
Good food, excellent service, just a nice, wonderful environment. Relaxing and calm. Music wasn't too loud, so you can still speak without shouting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas, Pancakes, Spiced Beef Empanadas, Tapas, Steak Pillard, Meatballs
I came to Barcelona for Valentine's Day Dinner with my husband. Being that it was Valentine's Day evening, it was very packed. They had more tables than usual, so it was very tight and people standing in line to be seated. Staff was running around and managers were helping them. Both my husband and I were both very happy with our dinner. We had the white sangria and it was delicious. Unfortunately food was coming out at random times. The main course came out before tapas. My husband ordered the scallop tapas which were very delicious but expensive. We were told that the fish was served whole as that's what my husband likes but when it came, it was filleted. They quickly took it back and Replaced it. he thoroughly enjoyed the fish when it came back. My favorite is the Papas Fritas and totally forgot to take a picture of it. I did order the mushrooms which I did not eat because I dislike them. They were very garlicky . The vegetable paella was very good. I ordered the half portion and it was gigantic. Both my husband and I ate it and it was very delicious and flavorful. I typically do not get vegetable paella because I've had it other restaurants and it has no flavor, but I was pleasantly surprised. I definitely would go back for dinner again. The staff really did a great job as they were so busy.
My son and I arrived a little after 10 pm after driving all day...we were exhausted, thirsty, and hungry. The kitchen was closed, but Kenny, the manager, still managed to fix some tapas for us. The olives, steak, albondigas, gambas, charcuterie, and mushrooms were so tasty. Olivier, the bartender, kept our glasses full of an excellent tempranillo. I had been wearing my Barcelona sweatshirt throughout the day, so sating ourselves in Barcelona was the perfect end of our sojourn.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gambas Al Ajillo, Albondigas, Steak Pillard
If I could give this restaurant 0 stars I would. My friend had made a reservation for 9:15 pm. Upon arriving and calling in before coming in, the restaurant said they didn’t see a reservation under his name or that time frame on their end, okay. But they said we can come in and get seated within the next few minutes. Upon arrival, my friend explains to the host that he had made and confirmed the reservation for 9:15, and the guy talking to us (didn’t get his name but assumed he was the manager) looked at my friends phone and then down at his watch and rudely said “that is for the 17th not the 16th that’s why it didn’t show up” (as if that’s not an honest mistake). He then looks at my friend with this shameful look as if he was trying to argue and right then and there we could have left, but we still decided to try the place out. Drinks took over 15 minutes to get to the table (2 simple cocktails). We had ordered 2 appetizers and only got one. After asking why we hadn’t got the other one after waiting for 25+ minutes, that is when our server finally decides to tell us that it isn’t available. We ordered the paella mariscos which took a while to come out as well, and it was so bland. It needed so much more seasoning and it almost felt like a joke. But regardless I could have looked over the food and forgiven it on it just being a busy weekend (valentines day weekend) but I just had to write a review to let other patrons of color to beware! Me and my friend were definitely not treated like other patrons, while the manager or whoever this man was was trying to argue with my friend over his honest mistake, he was saying goodbye to other patrons as they left. But when we left he didn’t say a word, that was the final nail in the coffin for me. Take your money to somewhere else that is way more committed to better customer service and genuine commitment to client’s experience, this place was a joke and I will tell everybody I know not to come here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
For starters - I rarely give negative reviews. During the Christmas holidays my wife and sister in-law decided to dine at Barcelona in New Haven. We sat by the bar at started with cocktails and then ordered several tapas that were just okay. However, the cocktails were made with passion and were solid. While we were eating a large roach crawled on the bar counter and was smashed and killed by the bartender with his bare hand. Immediately after the bartender kills the roach, he tells us customers should expect roaches and mice encounters in New Haven. I told him I've been living in NYC and never have experienced an encounter with roach while dinning at a restaurant. It was a horrific experience to say the least.
Long live to España.
Kenny's the manager. Here on a Thursday night. Kitchens almost closed. Have had this crazy tapas dish with toast and chorizo. It's not currently on the menu, but Kenny's figures it's out it's Chorizo pintxo. Fires up the grill and makes it for me. Makes my night. And then, whoever hasn't had the olive oil cake is missing out in life. I'm not missing out in life. I ask if it's okay to order it, and I'm obliged. This is really a good place to have a nice night! Shoutout to Kenny!
Restaurantji Recommends
We were seated in a separate room where it looked like vacant, felt like left out, they said they were gonna start seating people there but we were the only table in there whole time, and they sat every other table on the main room. service was very good, and that's the only reason I'm giving 3 stars, because food didn't taste good, I heard I lot of good comments about this place however it didn't meet my expectations
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas
Horrible experience. We had a 7:00 reservation, checked in right at 7:00, and stood there waiting for our table until 8:00. Completely unacceptable. Dozens more people likewise had to wait at minimum half an hour past their reservation to be seated. It's just ridiculous to run a restaurant this way. Even after our name was called, it was another ten minutes because they had so few staff members wiping down and resetting tables. The food is fine--nothing that special. But if you're looking for tapas in New Haven, just go to Olea up the street and save yourself from wasting your time.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Drinks: 4.5/5 Food: 4.8/5 Services: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5//5 Pricing: higher end Overall: 4.8/5 What we ordered: - tapas: potatoes, duck breast, mussels, venison - cheesecake - sangria 10/10 would recommend. A perfect date night spot. The foods are amazing. Our favorite was the duck breast tapas. I have never had duck prepared this way. It is super flavorful and tender and blends so well with the sauce. Vanessa was out waitresses and she was super helpful. She recommended the potatoes to us, which I would say is a perfect choice. The tapas are small dishes so I recommend order at least 3 dishes for a party of 2. Will definitely come back and try other dishes!
What a fun & classy scene to spend a chilly night! I was here for work, and my friend introduced me to one of his favorite locations in New Haven. I can't believe I've never had Spanish cuisine until that night! Despite being known for their tapas, I ordered a paella dish because I've never had paella before. Absolute yum! The rice base was soft, yet flavorful. There was plenty of seafood throughout too! The half dish is plenty for 1 person and costs $28 - pretty reasonable for a seafood heavy dish! The place was quite busy for a Wed night, but service was quick and attentive during our dining experience there. Our server made the experience all the more memorable given my very short visit to New Haven!
Came in here for a drink and sat at the bar. It was around 10pm so it wasn't busy. The door is almost hidden which i thought was cool. Inside had romantic lighting. The Alebrijes cocktail was so enjoyable. I'll come back for tapas and a wine flight!