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Café Barcelona
336 13th Avenue South
(239) 261-7498
www.cafebarcelona.webs.com
$$
Authentic Spanish tapas restaurant
Café Barcelona is a quiet member of the 3rd Street South
neighborhood of sophisticated, big-time restaurants and bars.
Café Barcelona sits off the bustle of the main street amongst a
simple strip of stores, gently minding its own business. An
authentic Spanish bistro or tapas bar with just a handful of tables
inside and out, if you want to get away from the madding crowd of
Third Street but still stay in the neighborhood this is your place.
I must admit that before I visited Spain I didn’t quite get Spanish
food or tapas in particular, but now I love it. And visiting Café
Barcelona makes me feel like I’ve just been to Barcelona.
A major part of the Café Barcelona menu is tapas – small plates
of pretty much anything – meats, cheese, breads, and seafood.
You can make a meal of different plates of tapas – order them all
at once or just keep ordering as you go along until you fill up. The
cured meats are a major part of Spanish food, and I like to order a
mixed plate of the greatest Spanish meats –Jamon Serrano (ham)
plus spicy Chorizo sausage (the red pork sausage with paprika),
and salami, served with chewy Manchego Cheese and toasted
bread scraped with Goat Cheese and drizzled with honey. And
that’s just for starters. The Pa amb Tomaquet is a Spanish
version of bruschetta where the fresh tomatoes are rubbed directly
into the toasted bread and drizzled with olive oil. The result is
savory and simple.
My other favorite tapas are Patatas Bravas –simply fried potatoes
drizzled with spicy aioli sauce and more of that red paprika, and of
course Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp with Garlic) either shelled or
whole. The lamb kebabs (Pinchos Morunos) make me dream of
Barcelona.
There are lots of other Spanish seafood or lamb or even duck
dishes on the menu but the Paella is what tempts me away from
just having a meal of tapas. The Spanish rice and saffron dish is
offered with Lobster, seafood, meat, or vegetarian. They
recommend a minimum of two people for the Paella and at 30
minutes to wait. Be patient. It’s worth it.
Open every day for lunch and dinner, there are some sandwiches
and omelettes available at lunch. There’s also a simple wine list
but order the cold Sangria with the fresh chopped fruit. When they
place the pitcher of ice-cold Sangria on the table give me a call
and I’ll be right over.
WHAT THEY SERVE
Tortilla de Patatas – Spanish Potato and Onion omelette
Champinones al Ajillo – fresh Mushrooms sautéed in Garlic and
white wine
Mixed Cold Cuts and Cheeses – Serrano Ham, Chorizo, Salami,
Manchego Cheese and toasted bread with Goat Cheese
Vieiras con Salsa de Romesco – seared Scallops with roasted
Catalan sauce
Cocido – white Bean stew with Chorizo
Anec amb Peres – Catalan-style Duck braised with Pears in a
caramelized sauce
Mixed Paella – Shrimp, Fish, Clams, Mussels, Chicken and
Sausage
336 13th Avenue South
(239) 261-7498
www.cafebarcelona.webs.com
$$
Authentic Spanish tapas restaurant
Café Barcelona is a quiet member of the 3rd Street South
neighborhood of sophisticated, big-time restaurants and bars.
Café Barcelona sits off the bustle of the main street amongst a
simple strip of stores, gently minding its own business. An
authentic Spanish bistro or tapas bar with just a handful of tables
inside and out, if you want to get away from the madding crowd of
Third Street but still stay in the neighborhood this is your place.
I must admit that before I visited Spain I didn’t quite get Spanish
food or tapas in particular, but now I love it. And visiting Café
Barcelona makes me feel like I’ve just been to Barcelona.
A major part of the Café Barcelona menu is tapas – small plates
of pretty much anything – meats, cheese, breads, and seafood.
You can make a meal of different plates of tapas – order them all
at once or just keep ordering as you go along until you fill up. The
cured meats are a major part of Spanish food, and I like to order a
mixed plate of the greatest Spanish meats –Jamon Serrano (ham)
plus spicy Chorizo sausage (the red pork sausage with paprika),
and salami, served with chewy Manchego Cheese and toasted
bread scraped with Goat Cheese and drizzled with honey. And
that’s just for starters. The Pa amb Tomaquet is a Spanish
version of bruschetta where the fresh tomatoes are rubbed directly
into the toasted bread and drizzled with olive oil. The result is
savory and simple.
My other favorite tapas are Patatas Bravas –simply fried potatoes
drizzled with spicy aioli sauce and more of that red paprika, and of
course Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp with Garlic) either shelled or
whole. The lamb kebabs (Pinchos Morunos) make me dream of
Barcelona.
There are lots of other Spanish seafood or lamb or even duck
dishes on the menu but the Paella is what tempts me away from
just having a meal of tapas. The Spanish rice and saffron dish is
offered with Lobster, seafood, meat, or vegetarian. They
recommend a minimum of two people for the Paella and at 30
minutes to wait. Be patient. It’s worth it.
Open every day for lunch and dinner, there are some sandwiches
and omelettes available at lunch. There’s also a simple wine list
but order the cold Sangria with the fresh chopped fruit. When they
place the pitcher of ice-cold Sangria on the table give me a call
and I’ll be right over.
WHAT THEY SERVE
Tortilla de Patatas – Spanish Potato and Onion omelette
Champinones al Ajillo – fresh Mushrooms sautéed in Garlic and
white wine
Mixed Cold Cuts and Cheeses – Serrano Ham, Chorizo, Salami,
Manchego Cheese and toasted bread with Goat Cheese
Vieiras con Salsa de Romesco – seared Scallops with roasted
Catalan sauce
Cocido – white Bean stew with Chorizo
Anec amb Peres – Catalan-style Duck braised with Pears in a
caramelized sauce
Mixed Paella – Shrimp, Fish, Clams, Mussels, Chicken and
Sausage
Where Should We Eat?
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