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More on restaurants in Girona, Girona Bars and Clubs in Girona.
Chinese food.
The Restaurant Yang Fu Buffet, next to the Mercadona supermarket on C/ Del Riu Guell is a large, bright, spacious place popular among locals especially at the weekend and offers a good buffet selction of hot dishes for one price, so eat as much as you want for 8.50 € per person during the week, 9.95€ at the weekends, including Friday nights and Festival days. Kids under 8 pay half-price, your 1st drink and coffee is included. Also does take-away, verdict: Not bad, it's not quite the same as a UK 'chinky' meal, or that spicy as thats how the locals like it!
Xines Jardin, Offers a range of set menu's, a lunch menu from 6.95€ and take away service. C/ Migdia, 77, Girona.
Hao Li, C/Dr. Ferran 20, Salt (take-away available).
Japanese food.
Osaka, Migdia 93, Girona 872 081 745. Just opposite the O2 Wellness Fitness centre. Large modern interior with a conveyor-belt on which the food dishes go round, just help yourself. Lunchtimes, 8.25€, evenings and weekends 12.75€ for all you can eat, drinks extra. We tried it one Saturday afternoon and got in there at 1.30 which was good timing, as it soon filled up and a line of people was forming inside, waiting for a free table. We sat right by the conveyor and just took what we fancied. All the dishes are on small plates and just enough for an individual portion. We had some very good prawn toasts, dim-sums and spare-ribs. Very tasty and all swallowed down with some nice Sapporo Japanese beers. Price for 2 set price lunches and 4 beers was 37€. Highly recommended.
Wok Fuji San Another eat-all-you-can place near to Lidl in C/Barcelona, 48.Does sushi, tempura, seafood and loads more. Weekdays lunchtime is 8.50€ adults, 5.50 € for kids under 9.This goes up to 12.95 € and 6.95€ at weekends. It's quite common to pay more at the weekends at most of these buffet type places.
There's also a more upmarket sushi restaurant in Placa Independencia calle Cafe La Riba (see my review of this place below).
Mexican / Tex-Mex
Taco Taco, C/Nord 22 (Jaume1) nr. the main Girona Post Office (Correos) building. Having been past it a number of times and wondering what it was like, we were invited here by some Catalan friends and ordered a variety of dishes which included Nachos, Fajitas and a salad. The portions were somewhat meagre and whilst being generally OK it's not one I would rush back to on my own account.
Update late 2009. no longer serving Mexican and the name has changed to Nord 22.
Taco Bravo C/Figuerola 41, Tel.972 416 692 We ate here once on a Saturday night and were pleased with what we had. A welcoming margarita is served, albeit in a shots-type glass, and the menu has a fair selection of typical mexican dishes. Long and narrow, I felt the table we had could have been a bit bigger, expect to pay about 50 euros for 2 with drinks. Also offers a lunchtime menu for 9.5 euros, Monday to Friday.
Escondido. Down from the pati blau restaurant. Will be reviewed in the future!
Steak Houses
El Rancho, C/ Figuerola.
Tapa's. Tapa's seem to be available all over Spain these days and they're not really a Catalan tradition, but if you feel inclined to try them then these following places are good.
Txalaka
Bonastruc de Porta 4,
(Eixample Nord) Girona Tel: 972 225 975
Next to The City Arms Pub, and below a residential apartment block, and a firm favourite of ours. Basque cuisine at its best with a good selection of tapas on the counter that you just pick from as you please and take back to your table, just pay for however many 'sticks' are on your plate. Nice interior, busy most times and also has outdoor tables which we prefer in the summer. I've always been very satisfied with the food, try the strawberries dipped in chocolate, and I prefer this one to Zanpanzar, but expect to pay a bit more here. You can still eat here late-ish, about 11pm and it also offers a set-lunch menu. Meal for 2 with drinks will average around 20€ ea.
Zanpanzar (Girona old town)-Basque cuisine, Cort Reial 10-12, Girona 17004 Tel: 972 212 843
Just walk in, order a drink, pick up a small plate and choose from the tapas selection on the bar. You can also ask the waiter for other, hot tapas dishes like patatas bravas (diced potatoes in spicy sauce). Stand at the bar, sit down inside or at a table in the side-alley, I particularly liked the sweet morcilla (black sausage). Busy at the weekends, open till late.
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Restaurants in Placa Independienca.
If you want a wide variety of restaurants with different cuisine at all price levels, including tapas, pizza and even sushi all in one small area then head for the Placa de Independència which has plenty to choose from, many with outdoor seating (which some places put away during the winter months). It's a popular place even with Girona people at the weekends especially on a Sunday, and a good bet if you want to eat late, say at 10pm. I've mentioned some below:
Taverna Catalana
Traditional Catalan fare at reasonable prices, with plentiful outdoor and indoor seating. We've eaten here and I found the menu quite interesting with a variety of local meats, hams, cured sausages and tapas, eg. scrambled eggs with asparagus, shrimps and garlic! Also offers a daily set menu of 2 dishes at only 6.95 €, 3 dishes at 9.95€ or from the usual menu. Good service with good food.
Boira
Catalan for fog! We sat outside and enjoyed a meal of well cooked veal. The interior looked comfortable and maybe next time we'll try the tapas which I've heard are good here. However, I have to add that recent visits here by my good wife to sample the daily menu have not impressed her.
Cafe de la Riba, Placa Independència 12, Girona Tel:872 081 490. We tried this sushi-bar on one, cold, April, Monday night and were surprised to find it quite busy. I must say I found the seating a bit hard but we had a good meal washed down with a bottle of Petit Cals, a local Penedes white wine. Go for the paper menu that has a small box next to each dish and just tick the one's you fancy, with a free pencil. Meal for 2, three courses and coffee came to 65€, non smoking and very clean toilets!
Cafe Royal. A corner bar best for a quick drink before dining or for a coffee & cake stop. Rustic interior (smoking allowed) with uncomfortable benches inside but also has outdoor seating. Friendly staff and they make a rather good G & T!
Konigs. A smaller version, inside looks small but I'd recommend sitting outside as there are many tables. We sat outside in December! Good place for a quick, cheap snack even with the kids, with prompt service and a decent but basic menu ranging from salads, sandwiches and burgers.
La Dolce Vita
The entrance belies its large interior which is pleasant and welcoming. We had good Pizza's here, strangely much of the pizza menu is only available at lunchtimes which limits the choice for evening diners. Also Pasta and Salads. Outdoor seating available.
Volta i Volta
We sat outside and had pizza, other offerings include roast chicken, and salads. Not bad, pizzas were around 7.50 €.
Can Tapas
This place offers a variety of tapa's, some of the set price options may be worth trying if you can't decide on what to have. We've eaten here and considered it about average and a touch pricey, seeing as it probably catches some tourist trade.
Can Tapas
Casa Marieta Tel 972 20 10 16 www.casamarieta.com
Vegetarian restaurants in Girona.
La Til.la (see below)
Amaranta, C/Del Riu Guell 33, Girona. Opposite the Mercadona supermarket. We've eaten here as it's just around the corner from where we live. The menu is in Catalan but we managed to order some nice vegi-dishes. Modern interior, candlelight tables and busy on Fridays and Saturdays. It offers a set menu lunchtimes for 10.50€, closed on Monday and Sunday.
Amaranta
Cafe B-12, C/Rutla 147-155, Opened in 2008, organic and vegetarian cafe, plus organic beers & drinks. Stopped here once and tried a few of the locally produced Catalan organic beers, which were quite good. Quite a few to choose from and worth a visit if you're a real ale fan. Closes around. 11.30 pm.
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More Restaurants in Girona. A to Z listing. Probably not the complete and exhaustive list of every place to eat in Girona, as new restaurants open and old ones close, or change names all the time but it's a start!
1900 C/de l'Obra 2, More of a cafe, but well worth finding, down a narrow walkway to the right of the church in Placa Susana, if your'e coming from Placa Constitucio. Good for a coffee, tea's and chocolate drinks and pastries, it has an ornate ceiling with colourful, plasterwork flowers, stone walls and a small rear patio area.
Abereda, Albereda 7, Girona http://www.restaurantalbereda.com
Alhambra, C. Riu Guell 18. A recent, new place offering Catalan and moroccan cuisine. It's near to where we live and looks quite cosy with comfy seating.
L'Spagettheria, dels Alemanys 3, Girona Tel: 972 213 551 http://www.cocolino.cat
Bambalina, C/Nou del Teatre,1 Has an outdoor terrace in the summer, and offers an 11€ daily, weekday menu, 15€ weekends.
Bo de Bo, C/Adri 15 (Domeny) Girona Tel: 972 081 395
Boira, Placa Independència 18, Girona Tel: 972 219 605 (see the review above).
Cal Ros, Cort Reial 9, Girona Tel: 972 219 176. Traditional dishes like Pig's trotters, Fish and Rice dishes. www.calros-restaurant.com
El Cafe de la Devesa, C/Cerveri 9, Girona Tel 972 208 616. Opened in the summer of 2007 with a 'new look' and an interesting food menu, yet to be sampled by us! Outdoor tables during the summer months.
Cafe Parc Migdia, inside the park Migdia and looks out onto the artificial lake with plentiful outdoor tables. It can get busy here on a sunny, Sunday afternoon with families eating out on its large terrace or just enjoying a drink. A nice, safe spot for kids to run around as there's also a playground next to it. Its large open layout inside can mean it gets a bit cold in winter months. Offers a daily buffet-based menu at around 10€.
Cafe Parc Migdia
Can Marc, Figuerola 34, Girona Tel: 972 224 929. Looked cosy and intimate, just the thing as I was with my wife but, we stood around too long waiting to be seated so we walked out!
Can Marques, Pca. Calvet i Rubalcaba 3, 17002 Tel 972 201 001 near the daily municipal market building.
Cynara, Travessera de la Creu 5, Girona Tel 972 485 109.
Al Da'Vinci. I like this Pasta and Pizza restaurant near the Placa de Independencia (Anselm Clave, 9) with a tasteful, contemporary and modern interior, we ate our pizza outside one Sunday night but could'nt order food until after 8.30pm! The starters of ribs were OK, but the pizza's were very good. Update Nov.07 had another nice pizza meal inside this time. www.aldavinci.com Tel 872 080 981.
Divinum, C/ General Fournas 2, baixos, Girona Tel 972 080 218
Draps restaurant
Draps, Cort Reial 2, Girona Tel 872 080 430 http://www.restaurantdrapsgirona.com (site has a nice video)
Inside the Old Quarter, get's booked up at the weekends, but also offers a lunchtime set menu well worth trying. Small and cosy.
El Celler de Can Roca, Crta. de Taiala 40, Girona 17007 Tel: 972 222 157 http://www.cellercanroca.com
Someone voted this michelin-star restaurant as the 5th best in the world! Can Roca run by head chef Joan Rica has a reputation for excellent Catalan food and wines from this region. I've heard from many Catalan friends that this is the place for fine dining. But, it helps to book several days in advance and at around 150€ per head with wine it's too rich for me! It's about a 5 minute drive from Girona centre in a non-descript residential area called Germans-Sabat. As it's just near to the school that my kids attended I often saw the chef's sitting outside in their white aprons having a break. Closed Sundays and Mondays (presumably to count the takings!).
L'Ap. Small, cosy family run restaurant with bright orange walls, on the edge of the old town, near the Archeological museum.The waitress spoke some English, her husband's the chef, we liked the food and service. The evening menu with some wine will cost you about 50-70 € for 2. Good Catalan cuisine with a lunchtime set menu at 13€.
Update: February 2008, seems like they have re-named it El Burg, and now also offers a set lunch menu.
La Creperie Bretonne.C/Ballesteries in the old town, has its kitchen designed as a mini-bus! Inside it has a couple of bar areas and feels a bit labyrinth-like but plenty of original Breton artifacts adorn the walls. We sat outside facing the street but it also has a side alley with tables. The Menu has a wide choice of crepes (7-8 €) with various fillings and salads (7-9€). We tried both and the crepes were large and tasty, they use buckwheat flour which I'm told is the custom in France. The salads were ample and the coconut ice cream desert was a perfect ending to the meal. Remember to try a bottle of the dry Bretton cider (bit expensive I thought, at about 9€).
Update Dec.08. We ate inside this time and I felt the table for four that we had was a bit too small and being December it could have been a bit warmer inside. The food was adequate and the salads are big, our bill for 2 adults and 2 kids came to 60€.
El mas de la Creu, Pujada Creu de Palau-Cantnada C/ Albi, Girona Tel: 972 218 868
La Bistro
El Apti del Rabi In the old town former Jewish area www.elpatidelrabi.com
El Museu del Vi (Girona old town), Cort Reial 4, Girona Tel: 972 213 485. We sat outside on a balmy August evening and had an average meal, the tables are perhaps a bit too near the road! www.elmuseu.com
Els Jardins de la Merce Pujada de la Merce, 10 tel.972 226 845. I've had a look inside here and the large interior is tastefully decorated with small dining tables, and seating areas for just drinks with a central square bar. This area leads out onto a larger patio garden with more tables interspersed between the planted areas, for tranquil dining. It offers a daily lunch menu at 10 euros every day, including the weekends. At the time of writing this I still haven't sampled the food here.
Enoteca Gastaldi, Placa Sant Pere 5, Girona Tel 972 003 538 www.enotecagastaldi.com
FrescCo., Juli Garreta, 6, Girona, near to the train station. At lunchtimes during the week pay just 8.30€ and you can help yourself to salads, pizzas, hot dishes, deserts, coffee and your first drink is all included. All freshly prepared, good value and very nice indeed ! Just go back to the food bar as many times as you want, and only pay if you want more drinks. The price per head rises to 9.95€ in the evenings, weekends and festival days. It gets busy at lunchtimes with locals and office workers. Verdict: We've been here and its good value and fresh! www.frescco.com
Garbi, Placa Pompeu Fabra, num.13 tel 972 20 30 36
Il Viaggio, C/Migdia 80-82 Girona Tel: 972 226 969
Konigs. There's four in Girona by my reckoning and one more in the Espai Girones shopping mall, but the one we prefer is next to St Feliu church steps, in the old town which also has outdoor seating. Perfect for an inexpensive snack it has a good, plain menu (even does egg, bacon and chips!) and nice beer's like 'Bitburger'. Oh, and the one in Pl. Independencia is also a good spot, but sit outside as the interior is quite small. Does get busy at peak times so expect to wait.
Konigs, Placa St.
Feliu
L'amfora, Forca 15, tel 972 20 50 10
L'Argada, Av. Ramon Folch 7, Girona Tel: 972 218 405
La Catedral, Carrer Lluis Batlle 4, Girona Tel: 972 218 388
La Churraskita, Pedret 101, Girona Tel: 972 209 514. A short walk along the river Ter (to your left) going north out of Girona towards Pont Major. Argentinian food, mainly grilled meat dishes which were a bit tough for my liking when we ate there. Large interior with some interesting decor on the walls, like an almost life-size Cow! Lunchtime menu of 9€. Update 03/2009 Now closed.
La Forca Vella, Forca 4, 17004 Tel 972 227 202.
La Llarga, Avda. Sant Francesc 11, Girona Tel: 972 201 018 http://www.lallarga.com/cat/index.asp
La Taverna de L'Abat, Placa de Santa Llucia 6, Girona Tel:972 219 704
La Til.la (vegetarian), Avda. Sant Narcis 65, Girona Tel:972 234 545 www.til-la.cat
Mar Placa, Placa Independència 3, Girona Tel:972 205 962
Massana, Bonastruc de Port 10, Girona Tel: 972 213 820. I've read about this place as it boasts a Michelin star. www.restaurantmassana.com
Mimolet, Pou Rodo 12, Girona Tel:972 202 124 www.mimolet.net
This small, cosy place is down a narrow path near the St. Feliu church and well worth finding if you like fine dining. We booked several days ahead which was wise, as we saw people getting turned away as we arrived. We chose the 10 pm Saturday sitting and while there's a normal menu, we tried the 'menu degustacio' at 45€ each, excluding wine, which consists of 5 small courses and 2 deserts, spread over about an hours eating.
While each portion is small, it's a nice way to spend an evening and even the house white wine was only around 10€ a bottle. The only gripe was waiting a bit too long between some of the courses.
Mozart, Pl. Independencia, Tel 972 207 542. Pizza's mostly.
Occi, C/ Mercaders 5, Girona 17001 tel 972 22 71 54. It's in a narrow back alley (car free) in the old town area and we tried it one Friday night, choosing one of the few outdoor tables. We could look straight into the kitchen area and watched the chefs at work. The interior looked pleasant and modern, and the menu interesting. We chose a tasty starter of grilled, large prawns wrapped in ham and asparagus tips. Portions were on the small side. I might feel a tad cheated if I came here starving, but the food was well presented by friendly staff, who did speak a little English. The meal for 2 with wine came to nearly 70€.
Raco del Pernil, Pl. Poeta Marquina,5. I've often passed this place on the way to Bar Nuria and it always has plenty of diners inside.
Pati Blau. Near the Hotel Carlamany with a small shop front so be careful or you'll miss it! Offers a daily lunch menu at 11€ which we've tried. Inside (is non-smoking) the decor is pastels and peaches with a pretty, rear conservatory which allows smoking. We had a nice pumpkin soup followed by fresh sardines, all good and it included wine, bread and a desert. We've since been back here and enjoyed the set lunch menu,
Sant Ponc, Avda de Franca 36, Girona Tel: 972 214 201. If you're staying at the Costabella hotel nearby you'll bound to walk past here. Near to the Carrefour supmkt. and also Girona's main hospital, Trueta. We've been here and it's more of a place just for a quick coffee or snack with a limited food menu. Smoking allowed.
Tastapans, Ctra. Barcelona 48, Tel 872 080 544. Pizza and pasta restaurant with a menu offering that just seemed too large when we ate there one Saturday night. It's big inside, with a modern, pleasing decor and by 10pm the place was busy with a largely young crowd. We thought it was OK food-wise and the bill was almost 100€ for 3 adults and 2 kids, so not one we're likely to re-visit in a hurry!
Update, Spring 09: It has now changed into an all-you-can-eat Chinese/Japanese food buffet restaurant.
Vinil, C/Cort Reial 17 Girona old town) Trendy looking interior, also offers a daily menu at 10.40€.
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Other cuisine.
Kebab take-aways seem to be springing-up all over the place lately, with at least 2 in C/Rutla.
Can Kebab (Old Town)-Take away only. A bit on the small side but nice, it's more of a 'wrap' than the usual pitta-bread UK style one, so order two if your'e hungry! Easily the best kebabs I've tried so far.
Tanger, C/ Sit down or take away. Iv'e tried it once and have to say I won't be repeating the visit.
I've also tried a kebab restaurant inside the Espai Girones shopping mall, but it wasn't that good either and the portions were a bit small.
En Siset Placa Miquel de Palol nr.6. Local to where we live, the kebabs are served wrapped in a large flour tortilla rather than a pitta bread. We've tried it a couple of times and its not bad.
Turkish: El Bosforo, C/del Carme, 147 tel 972 203 972 www.elbosforo.com
Late night 'drinking holes'. Fancy a late drink? I've been told about these following places:
Cafe Lux,
C/ Figuerola
50, sometimes has live music acts, opens late till
early (5am) which last time I looked was only
Thursday, Friday and Saturdays.
Girona Bars & Nightlife. These are a few that I've heard about:
Sunset Jazz club Near the old town and facing the river, this small venue has a cosy, dark interior with a small stage (live music on most Fridays and Saturdays), but does'nt open till late. Admission charges apply when they have live acts. When I tried it one night it had a group of musicians just jamming (1st Sunday every month) so entry was free, but as a non-smoker I found it was far too smoky for me! Check their web site for future players and dates.
www.sunsetjazz-club.com (n.b I've also heard that the City Arms pub in nearby Banyoles also has Jazz nights).
Cafe el Cercle, C/ Cort Reial (old town, nr. the city hall) I liked its long, narrow layout which led to larger, side rooms. Quite interesting, with cosy lighting, good sounds, a youngish crowd and English bitter! Snack menu available. Closes around 2a.m
La Llibreria cafe, C/ Cort Reial (old town) Set inside a bookshop. Nice, quiet place with tables outside in the narrow alley.
Lateral
L'Arc
La Terra
Nummulit (House music on Thursdays)
La Sala de Cel
Blau http://www.blauclub.com, and Mas de Nit (now called Sauvage) are nightclubs slightly outside Girona. www.sauvage.cat
Lola Cafe, C/ De la Forca 7, (old town). Hit it on a busy night and you may have to wait to get in.
La Platea. I've heard it's good for the likes of me (young, middle aged!) on Saturdays and a younger crowd on other nights. Also has comedy nights, usually on a Sunday. www.localplatea.com
La Mirona is a popular venue for bands located in Salt, look at their website for current listings www.casadelamusica.cat/ca/mirona/
Millennium is a club venue outside Girona www.cosmicclubmillennium.com/
Many Girona bars combine both drink and food and personally I've found these to be nice places.
Gneis Lounge Club Placa Joan Brossa, baixos. Very near Girona station and opposite the La Farinera building. This new bar opened in September 2008 and we went to its opening night, which featured an easy listening, jazz type band. The street-level bar cum-dining area is large and the clear glass means you get to check how busy it is before entering. Inside, a passage leads down to another dining area with a small bar and a stage plus an upstairs lounge/dining/bar area. It promises a regular music line up and the food menu looked reasonably priced. I liked it as it offers something that's a bit different from what's available, especially in this area.
Update June 09. Now closed.
The River Cafe, (Girona Old Town). Just beside the steps of St Feliu church, friendly atmosphere, it gets very busy with a young crowd on Fridays and at weekends. It has a side room with comfy sofas and nice, easy listening music, a few outdoor tables and a food menu is also available. Open till late.
Boheme. Overlooking the open plaza near the Girona main justice (Jujats) building, it has a rather garish red-velvet interior and serves a nice range of Cocktails. Plentiful outdoor seating is available if you can't stand the colour scheme inside!
\Bar Nuria
(left), faces the busy
C/Barcelona but the outdoor seating is set away from
the road and it''s next to a fenced-off kids
playground so we find it's a good place for an outdoor
drink and you can watch the kids playing next door. It
offers a daily lunch menu at around 9€ or a
selection of Tapas. The surrounding trees, now pruned
used to attract huge flocks of birds at dusk.
Las Carpas, Parc de la Devesa (early May to late Sept.) You should really get along here and experience this place if you are in Girona during the summer months. Devesa park plays host to a handful of outdoor temporary bars with floodlights that illuminate the tree canopy above. Sit amongst the tall plane trees, walk or stumble from one bar to another and listen to cool music till the early hours. Walk into the park from anywhere along the Passeig Devesa and you'll see the bars or hear the music, it's a great way to finish-off the night. Weekly live music (Wednesday's mostly) in at least one of the bars.
English and Irish Pubs in Girona. Not that many to choose from really.
The City Arms, C/ Del Riu Guell. This chain of 'English' themed pubs is Catalan owned and has City Arms pubs in other towns like Banyoles (this one has jazz nights) and Olot. Looks OK inside but not a great selection of English beers, more German and Belgian to my mind, and not exactly cheap at around 4€ a beer. Outside the summer months it gets busy at the weekends (which start on a Thursday here) with a young student crowd, so gets a bit smokey and loud. Often has comedy nights (in Spanish tho'). Opens about 6pm and closes about 2am.
Excalibur
Placa de
l'Oli, 1 (Girona Old Town). A bit more 'puby' and
advertised as a 'Celtic Ale house' but with an
over-done wooden interior and Sports on the TV. Prices
are about the same (4€/pint) as the City Arms
pub and it stays open till late.
Cafe Irlandes, C/ Ciutadans 20, 17004 Girona (Girona Old Town) Tel. 972 426 300. Just around the corner from the Excalibur. This Irish Bar and Cafe has the usual Guinness offering, food menu and gaelic sports TV. Open 5pm-1am Mon.-Fri, Sat.noon-1am, Sun. 4pm-1am.
Mckiernans
(Taverna
Irlandesa), Rambla de la Libertat 30-32 (Girona Old
Town) tel 972 220 141. This opened in the Summer of
2007, it's an authentic recreation of an Irish pub and
not just a clone of one of these 'chains' of Irish
bars. I've tried it a few times, the Guinness
(5€/pint) is good and the owner Linda is very
welcoming and offers a reasonably varied food menu
which includes soup, sandwiches, nachos, burgers,
curry, salads and an all-day-breakfast, available till
late. Outdoor seating on the Rambla, open until about
2am.
Restaurants and Bars outside Girona. For the time being this section covers just those that we've eaten at so far, more reviews will be added over time so, enjoy your meal or 'bon profit' as the Catalans say.
We tried it on a week-day, without booking and had a very good lunch for a modest 36€ (for 2) for two courses with wine and coffee. I had the Escalivada which is grilled vegetables, followed by home-made sausage called butifarra. It's a pretty, well kept, large, stone house with a big interior dining space with smoking and non-smoking areas, plus a terraced area outdoors.
Traditional Catalan fare at its best, notably its meat dishes like wild boar stew, which I had on a subsequent visit.
If your'e traveling from Girona towards St. Gregori you'll see the yellow Can Xifra sign on the last roundabout before you enter St.Gregori. www.canxifra.com
We've been back here a couple more times, and it's now one of our firm favourites.
El Restaurant Can Roquet, Romanya de la Selva (nr. Sta. Cristina D'Aro) Tel. 972 833 081 www.canroquet.com
We were here one hot, July, Saturday afternoon and sat outside, it had several tables some under the shade of trees, with pleasant vistas and a clutch of healthy-looking chickens running around its courtyard. Strangely, when I tried to order roast chicken for the kids I was told there wasn't any? The food was fantastic and the service friendly and efficient. Each dish was delicious and well presented, a real onslaught on our tastebuds. The desert menu should be totally re-written, the descriptions didn't do justice to what you got, pure creations on a plate. Our young waiter spoke good English, as did the maitre-d, and the chef was Belgian. We were told the restaurant's location is a popular spot for tourists to stop and take good pictures of the sunsets.
Simply one of the best meals we've had, but not cheap at around 150€ (2 adults, 2 kids) as we all had three courses each, a bottle of wine, coffee and kids drinks, but we truly had a memorable few hours here ! Top-notch and one to re-visit or bring friends to.
From Girona take the road towards St. Feliu de Guixols (C-66) towards the coast and after about 25 mins. take the turn-off for Santa Cristina then lookout for the Romanya sign and turn left. This small Catalan village is about 6 kms up a hill. Can Roquet has an exquisite interior with views out onto the rolling, verdant Catalan countryside below and the surounding hills.
We were here one hot, July, Saturday afternoon and sat outside, it had several tables some under the shade of trees, with pleasant vistas and a clutch of healthy-looking chickens running around its courtyard. Strangely, when I tried to order roast chicken for the kids I was told there wasn't any? The food was fantastic and the service friendly and efficient. Each dish was delicious and well presented, a real onslaught on our tastebuds. The desert menu should be totally re-written, the descriptions didn't do justice to what you got, pure creations on a plate.
Our young waiter spoke good English, as did the maitre-d, and the chef was Belgian. We were told the restaurant's location is a popular spot for tourists to stop and take good pictures of the sunsets.
Simply one of the best meals we've had, but not cheap at around 150€ (2 adults, 2 kids) as we all had three courses each, a bottle of wine, coffee and kids drinks, but we truly had a memorable few hours here ! Top-notch and one to re-visit or bring friends to.
I've also tried it's next door neighbour Les Gavarres a couple of times, also run by the same owners as Can Roquet. It's long, wide dining area also has a re-furbished terrace now enclosed with views out onto the pine forests below. Interesting menu with a 'daily suggestions' sheet which I chose from when I had lunch here eg, Bacalao Ratatouille (cod) 18€, and my wife had a steak (solomillo) 25€ which was 'superb'. Good, quality food in a pleasant setting with attentive service. Tel. 972 833 060 www.lesgavarres.es
La Barca de Bescano (signposted as you enter Bescano) C/ La Barca de Bescano Tel: 972 440 131
Bescano is a pleasant, small satellite village just a few kms. west of Girona. La Barca (the Boat) is down a long side street off the main road that runs through Bescano and you'll see La Barca next to the river. This large restaurant was recommended to us by a Catalan friend, and we had the Calcots which is a traditional dish around February and March when the Calcots are in full-season (I have seen them for sale in December). Here's an interesting and more detailed article I found about Calcots http://eatwords.blogspot.com/2007/02/not-just-bunch-of-old-onions.html
They're like very large spring onions, about 60cms in length and when cooked over hot ashes they're served in a large upturned 'roof tile' and you're given plastic gloves and a bib because it's quite messy work, pulling off the blackened outer leaves and then dipping the Calcots in a special home-made sauce. Very nice, with pleasant service (he spoke a little English- btw a Sherlock Holmes fan) with smoking and non-smoking dining rooms. Well worth a return visit. Update, June 07. We had another great meal here with some friends. eg. Cod with mushrooms (bacalao amb bolets).
Restaurant Monells, C/ Vilanova, Monells Tel.972 630900 www.restaurantmonells.com
The village of Monells itself is worthy of a visit if your'e in Girona and you have a car, as it's about a 25 minute drive. The restaurant is next to the Arcs hotel but seperate. We sat outside with a large round table, as we always prefer this option in the summer and the place was busy. The food was good but could have been better cooked especially my wife's monkfish and, the sevice bordered on slow. A bit pricey but then it was the tourist season and out-of-season many of these places simply close-up for the winter.
Can Po, Rocabruna Tel 972 741 045
This place is a bit off the beaten track but we were invited there by some good Catalan friends who know the area. Head out of Girona towards Banyoles, following the signs for Olot, and up towards the pretty mountain town of Camprodon and continue along the C-38 following signs for Beget. The road past Camprodon narrows but the views are stunning out across the hills. We eventually arrived (3pm) at what looked like someone's private house from the outside. Our friends booked as it was a Sunday and the place was packed. It's quaint with buckets of rustic charm and low wooden beams, a log fire and intimate dining areas.
Ours was a private, seperate room with a large round table, its walls adorned with signed photo's of famous past diners. A place noted for its meat dishes the meal was very good. The home-made starters of humous were exquisite.
El Cincuanta Cinc C/Riera 4, Peratallada tel/fax 972 63 42 92 about 30 minutes by car from Girona.
We stumbled upon this place as a result of a recommendation by a Catalan friend. We found ourselves in the lovely, stone village of Peretallada on a sunny afternoon thinking of having lunch somewhere. This little village has quite a few restaurants, some with outdoor tables but we found Cincquanta cinc (55) just on the edge. We sat outside as it has a shaded, terrace area next to a small, grassy area which our kids enjoyed playing on. We both had the set menu of 20€ each and thought it OK with plentiful helpings, but if we found ourselves here again we'd try somewhere else.
Mas Sorrer Jazz Bar.
Situated on the road from Parlava to Torroella de Montgri as if you were going to Estartit from Girona, and opposite the pitch n' put golf course. There is a small yellow sign, and it's well worth a late night drink here. The place doesn't get going till late and is open till the early hours., we still saw people coming in at 3am as we were leaving! Also has a cocktail bar (10€), pool tables, a crepe van and a restaurant area. The bar areas are all outdoors, many with small fires, and to enter Mas Sorrer you walk through an illuminated avenue of tall sunflowers. I visited one late, Thursday night and it was quiet, apparently Friday's and Saturday's get very busy. Nice jazz music in an ambient setting making it a nice 'cool-down' zone. It also hosts concerts with well known Jazz musicians during the summer. Not sure of whether it closes during the winter period or just the restaurant is open.
Cotton Club, Castell de Peralada.
A late night place for drinks set inside the castle in Peralada, opens from the 23rd June 09, Thursdays to Sundays from 10pm.
Catalan Food Recipes.
The Catalan kitchen is very much a distinct cuisine of its own and was once described as " looking outward towards Europe and the Mediterranean rather than back into the Iberian interior".
Some say its heritage lies in its history, dominated first by the Romans and later by immigrants from France and Italy but Catalans are proud of their cuisine.
Ingredients in the main include the following: aubergines, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, olive oil, onions, fresh fish and shellfish, wild game, pasta and wild mushrooms, red and white beans, broad beans, chick peas and nuts like almonds, hazelnuts and pine nuts, bread and wine...of course! The region has its fair share of red and white wines and the famous sparkling Cava wines. The Catalans love to eat and take their food seriously!
Some Catalan recipe's will feature soon!