The location of ABaC is reminiscent of an oasis - it's tucked away behind tall hedges towards the hills in Barça off a busy street. After planning out of trip to Spain, this was the first restaurant we went to. As far as our experience here goes, the presentation and the tastes were all really good, and I really enjoyed some of the dishes we had like the Amuse and the table side presentation of the fried smores and liquid nitrogen ice cream. That said, unlike some of the other three star restaurants we've been to, I found the experience here very "traditional" and missing a little bit of that creative flair that I know other standout restaurants have. Service was good, with an English explanation of our dishes throughout dinner. Definitely a beautiful restaurant space with good food, but hard to put this into the same category as some of the other three star restaurants we've been to. read more

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Mind. Blown. One of, if not the, greatest meal of my life. My wife and I ate there on June 4, 2013, and I will never forget that date. We also stayed at the hotel that evening, and it was worth the cost. They have very few rooms, and very many staff. You can do that math. We saw one other couple that was staying there during breakfast, but that was it. But I digress. Let's get back to the best meal of my life, yes? We opted for the first of two tasting menus. There are individual courses on the menu, but please do that right thing and just choose one of the tastings. I'll copy and paste ours here, if only so that every time I see my review, I will be reminded of how great it was. - Nitro cocktail - Mediterranean mussel curry with kaffir lime - Shellfish Bloody Mary snow and cured meats - Liquid Parmesan gnocchi with summer truffle with raw and roasted Mushrooms, cep water infusion with lemongrass - Foie-gras with figs, fig tree leaves ice cream and balsamic vinegar - Smoked steak tartare, seasoned snow-like beef, cooked egg yolk, veil of mustard and pepper bread brittle - Palamós prawn, Iberian pork tail and cutlet, coral consommé and curry bread - Casarecce Pasta with sea cucumbers, squid's water, "Comté" cheese and lemon basil - Salt-baked black grouper with a veil of glass, spicy roots purée and halophytes - Beef cooked in three ways, lemon thyme consommé, beef tendons and stir-fried mushrooms - Yuzu sorbet with yoghurt, basil and citrus zests - On a bed of smoked bread brittle, roast biscuit, banana, coffee, vanilla and bourbon The Sommelier (totally deserves to be capitalized) recommended the Nun 2011 for our first bottle, and it was a terrifically clean and zesty white that played off of the multiple seafood plates perfectly. He recommended a second local wine, the Els Bassots 2010 Chenin Blanc that had a light mineral flavor (very good), though by this point in the meal I was too punch drunk by the food and wine to give it much thought. As for the plates, there was not a single low-light. The mussel curry tasted mainly of lemongrass until the curry sacks (I don't know how else to describe them) would burst in your mouth, and then the curry, mussels, lime and lemongrass combined into the most amazing flavor. The smoked steak tartare was covered in glass, so that we could see the smoke as it was placed on the table. Then, the waiters would lift off the lid and the smell of the smoke would waft around the table, so that the taste of the smoke in the tartare was amplified by the smell. Look, I could go over these dishes one by one, but it will just make me sad that I already had this meal, and won't be able to return there for some time. The serving plates were all stone, from quartz to slate, and there was also a ceramic plate in there somewhere. The plating was perfection. The service was perfection. The ambiance was perfection. The food was perfection. There was not a single flaw in this entire meal. I would argue that it deserves a third star, but that's for the Michelin guys to decide. read more

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Had such high hopes especially with the price point of $225 Euro for tasting menus. But was very disapointed with the food. While service and presentation are good, the taste is just not there to back up the 3 star rating. Clam was very fishy and wakame salad was tasteless. The tbone steak has no meat taste and it was overpower by the curry taste. The red shrimp head was smelly and probably better better eaten cooked than raw. All of the dessert dishes were not up to par with a lack of refine taste. A typicaly tapas bar is way better than this place. read more

My family and I were there Easter weekend (Monday 4/2) and I've only now had the time to sit down to our feedback regarding our experience from ABaC. As a 3 Michelin starred restaurant, we expected the food and service to be at a certain caliber. We've dined at enough Michelin starred restaurants to understand what to expect: Some items we may love, some will be more experimental due to the techniques the chef is using, but overall we should have a great experience and be immersed in the scene. Unfortunately, our experience at your restaurant was not like this. The 4 of us were not happy or impressed with most of the dishes to he honest. The few courses we enjoyed were the initial amuse bouches and the table side ice cream. But overall, there was a lack of flavor or depth in many of the dishes and at the end of the meal, none of us felt satisfied. For an $1000+ meal, I had hoped that we would have had a memorable experience and at least feel satiated, but I ended up apologizing to my parents for having them go through a disappointing meal. (Because, I'm sorry, one of the desserts even tasted like cough syrup.) There were a few things I was surprised about with the meal service as well because for a 3 starred restaurant, we expected excellence. A somewhat small but noticeable issue was that the butter was so cold and hard that we could not use or spread it onto the bread for most of the meal. At most Michelin restaurants, butter ends up being a subtle and thoughtful addition, but the fact that we couldn't even dig into the butter was a reflection of the restaurant's lack of attention to detail that evening. We also had to request refills of both our water and our wine from servers more consistently than I would have thought needed, and there was no follow up from the Sommelier towards the end of the meal. The sediment from the wine bottle was ultimately poured into our glasses making it very difficult to enjoy the last portion of our wine. I do want to note that individually, the staff members were friendly, but there were elements missing and there was a lack of attentiveness that usually accompanies a meal of this level. The portion sizes and flavors of the dishes themselves were mediocre and fell way below our expectations. I emailed this to the restaurant with no response. Poor customer service too. Sad. read more

Excellent meal, but a few misses on service leading to the 4 star rating. This was our third Michelin star dinner in as many weeks in Spain (others were to Lasarte also here in Barcelona and to Terazza del Casino in Madrid), and unfortunately it did not cut the mustard of the other 2. Food: 10/10 Service: 9/10 Decor: 10/10 To caveat this, general service was near flawless. It is just that in these situations, it is supposed to be 100% flawless. Service misses were: 1- not giving us napkins initially (we had to request them) 2- simply taking too long between courses (with an 18 course tasting menu, I understand this was likely by design and could be a matter of preference, but for me personally, taking 4 hours for a meal (as this one did) is simply too long) 3- Taxi called at end of meal, sat us to wait in lounge area, after a few minutes we left (deciding hailing one would be faster) and discovered 2 taxis waiting outside front gate...not very good coordination there. Decor was delightful and food was delicious though! All else was superb and well worth the 2 Michelin star distinction. read more

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Wow! What a great culinary experience. We chose the traditional menu and enjoyed all the dishes. You can tell much thought was given into how the textures and flavors interacted with each other. However the reason why I didn't give 5 stars was because of the service. One of our dishes had an ant on it, and during another course, a knife had a very large red food spot from previous customers. It's not a huge deal for us- we've both worked in the restaurant industry and know these things can happen even to the most meticulous. We did point it out and the manager apologized and promised a discount. But when we got the check, it was full price. Not wanting to bother anyone, we got ready to leave in the lobby. The manager walked by a few times and seemed to actively ignore us when we tried to make eye contact. Again, not the biggest deal but was disappointing for a Michelin star restaurant. For gastronomy nerds and foodies, this place is a great destination. I would recommend to anyone interested! read more

Came here for my wife's birthday dinner and I have to say that I am disappointed in the outrageous prices that's being charged for what is served. The food overall was not that great. It started out great with a tour of the kitchen and being served 3 items while in there. We then got seated and decided to go with their regular menu which I believe cost 155 euros. If you want the wine pairing, it's an additional 85 euros I think. Expect to spend over 2 hours when eating here. You are served 15 items and that includes the 3 that you have already consumed while in the kitchen. I don't think the taste of the food merits that price. I would have been ok paying 100 euros. I was not even full because the servings are small and they take a lot of time in between before the next one item comes out. The wine pairing actually was pretty good though. Our server could have been better at being personable. He did not smile or try to engage us. He just explained the dish and then would leave until the next one came out. I also had a hard time understanding his English when he was talking about the dishes. The sommelier and other server on the other hand did engage with us and would smile every time they came around. I don't know if our server is new or just having an off night, but he did not have any personality and if he had half the personality of the sommelier, our meal would have been more enjoyable. read more

Absolutely amazing experience. Best tasting food I have ever tasted. Felt like I was eating pieces of heaven. No words can explain how amazing this restaurant is. Wow. Service was impeccable. No complaints, best restaurant in Barcelona. read more

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I cannot properly articulate my disappointment on my recent visit to ABaC. I was very much looking forward to my first 3 Michelin star restaurant having been to several 1 stars and 2 star restaurants in the past in different countries I felt like I knew what to expect, and this being a 3 star establishment it would throw out all my past experiences and I'd have a new appreciation for food. I definitely had a new appreciation for all the OTHER meals I had at the lower star restaurants, and how their food was bursting with flavor. Upon arriving to ABaC we were seated in the patio as our table was being prepared. Then we were led into the kitchen and given a tour of the area as well as being served our first 3 appetizer courses. They were all mediocre, the fish smell of the kitchen overpowering our nasal passages and we were unsure of what we had gotten ourselves into. Once seated at our table, we were served a complimentary glass of cava and perused the menu. Deciding it had potential we became optimistic for the courses to come. We chose to do the "Our Tradition" menu which includes all the most popular/favorite dishes by Chef Jodi Cruz. I can honestly say out of the 18 courses we consumed only 1-3 were actually impressive. My favorite dishes were the flat bread with hazelnut butter and caviar (the caviar/butter balanced out very well with the crispness of the bread); the Chinese box which was a brioche bun with eel meat and the chocolate cake dessert which was good (but I've had better chocolate cake elsewhere). All of the fish dishes (except the clams) seemed like they absorbed the fishy smell from the kitchen and that was all I could taste. A lot of the dishes were overly salted, not sure if they were trying to cater to Umami or just think salt is the only spice that adds to a dish. However, the presentation of the plates was beautiful. Definitely what I would expect from this caliber restaurant, and the service was good too. But comparing the price of the meal to the flavor and rating of the restaurant it was a very big disappointment. read more

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I loved my dining experience at ABac. Yes, it was a tasting menu so the plates were beautiful and small bites. Some dishes I wished I had more to eat. It was magically in terms of innovative tastes and I cannot get over how awesome that the chef came out to greet everyone at the end of the meal. Two thumbs way up! If you are in Barcelona, definitely worth the visit! read more

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I was looking forward to being blown away by this 3 star Michelin restaurant. The evening started out great, with us ordering the Avant Garde tasting menu with wine pairing. Service was excellent - shout out to Aitor, our server who was very attentive and knowledgeable about explaining every dish that was served. The presentation was great but the food wasn't as good as I'd hoped from such an expensive restaurant. It was a great experience overall. read more

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Three star Michelin, a perfect meal in a perfect setting, it does not get better than that . Upscale setting, where you eat a few hors d'oeuvres in the kitchen before your meal. read more

This is not a 3 star restaurant​. *check-in had us sitting there doing nothing for 10+ min *the cactus dish was tasty but the presentation was overly gimmicky​ *there was nothing really that memorable about the food; honestly the most interesting​ thing was trying to figure out​ what they were doing; is this Asian​, Catalan​, ​Basque​e, or some random thing? The eel dish on a bun bordered​ on gross; the sauce was so strong and there was so much of it that it made the bread soggy. The pillow dish was really, I am not sure of the word, it looked like they were putting a dirty pillow down in front of us. The lamb was covered in a goo and tough. *there are no flowers, nothing living, and no real decor - there is some​ odd sculpture​ of a vine on the table, which reappears in the closing set of dishes - it is pure ugly. *the entire evening lacked elegance - it was clear they were trying to be gimmicky​ without any real​ cohesion. *I have written this before, while EMP might be in a class mostly alone, it is unreasonable​ for this place to be 3 stars. Michelin must be really reaching. Skip it and go to one of the many other fine places in BCN. read more

Incredible & one-of-a-kind experience! Chef Jordi Cruz and his 3-Star Michelin team swept us off our feet. We enjoyed the presentation, food was exceptional and so unique. We had a 4-hour dining experience over lunch, and had made a reservation over a month in advance. So glad we could do it. This experience made the trip to Barcelona! Thank you read more

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Highly underwhelming. I would not return and not recommend. We were looking forward to this meal so much. As a qualifier - we have eaten at a few other top Michelin restaurants and tasting menus. We live in NYC. This was supposed to be the highlight meal of our honeymoon. As first timers, we were recommended the Abac tasting. This is the smaller of the two menus, but covers the highlight dishes over the past 9 years. It is 190 euros + a service charge. Drinks or wine pairings extra. For a 3 star, this is a fantastic price point globally, but note that Barcelona is an inexpensive food city. The experience itself was unique in that we experienced a few different settings - the patio, kitchen, dining room, and back to the patio. However, it never really made sense why we were moving or how the items we had connected to the space. We felt rushed in the kitchen in what felt like a factory of us waiting for others to leave, then serving, then being ushered out for others to come in. Overall, the food was quite good, but we both felt there weren't many memorable dishes - surprising for the menu which was supposedly the highlights of 9 years. The only exception was The Bloody Mary which was incredible - truly a memorable dish worthy of high praise, but the rest were very "meh". Unfortunately, we felt that the menu didn't really tell a story or connect dish to dish. It didn't build to new highs or new experiences. There was no sense of wonder, excitement, or novelty. And the taste, while good, was not "best I ever ate". Of the 5 "main course" items, there were 2 tuna then 2 crab dishes each back to back. There was a Bloody Mary and a Gazpacho - It just felt repetitive and boring and not prepared differently enough to make an interesting contrast. There were also 4 different courses of desserts that felt like they were the same style executed slightly differently (2 yogurts, and 2 chocolates), and not particularly memorable. So it's not that the food was bad - it just felt lazy. The service was fine, but nothing stellar. For instance, when we were outside and it started raining, the staff couldn't seem to figure out where to put us despite numerous open tables. While friendly and coordinated, it was not 11 Madison Park perfection or the warmth of Le Bernardin. Overall, If you had told me it was a 1 star, maybe 2, I'd agree. While 190++ is a good value for a 3 star, the meal wasn't a 3 star, and it is significantly more expensive than anything else in Barcelona which is a really inexpensive food city. I would have expected the quantity, quality, and dishes to come in closer to 120 in Barcelona. It is just a meal to be skipped. read more

Great food, polite and quick, would highly recommend to a casual or seasoned pro. Prices are very reasonable for a Michelin Star restaurant. No reason why this couldn't be a three star. We ate at the Enoteca two nights previous. And it was also a 2 star. Difference is night and day. Abac should be on your list. This restaurant/hotel sits in a secluded environment. Walled and gated. Couldn't even tell you were in Spain once inside. Beautiful to say the least. Even after our dinner. My wife wanted the executive chef to sign our dinner menu, we got one better and was taken to the kitchen again for a picture with him. Made her night. And happy wife means happy life. read more

An experience dining They will tease you in the kitchen w a few appetizers which are palette opener and makes u hunger for wat next We got seated and den the food will be amazing Chef dont smile much But its OK Food is excellent read more

ABaC is a truly wondrous place to eat. Everything about the dining experience is thoughtfully planned out and it truly marries together what is interesting, creative, and thought-provoking and what is just simply delicious. ABaC offers two menus - a traditional menu and an extended, more complex menu (210 euros) that has more courses. We went with the traditional menu (190 euros) and were stuffed to the gills, so I'm not sure how I could have managed the larger menu. Everything we ate was interesting but there were a few standouts: - the "bloody mary" made from clarified tomato juice and spicy tomato juice ice cubes was fresh and salty, and left me wondering where had fresh bloody marys been my entire life - the shaved foie gras appetizer was sweet and salty and fatty, just a complex explosion of unexpected flavors. - the blue oyster on Japanese snow was really lovely and refreshing - briney and chilled from the sweet shaved ice, it tasted (to me, pretentiously) like the winter ocean on the first day of spring - the onion soup with pullet egg and the Chinese cheese donut was a wonderful play on French onion soup or even a Chinese fried dough and egg breakfast - the frosted tile with flowers and yoghurt was super refreshing - one of the rare times I found flowers used well to enhance flavors rather than merely as decoration As for the dining process itself, it was also very interesting and well thought out. You start in the terrace area with a few starters, then tour the kitchen for the remaining appetizers, before getting your mains starting with the bloody mary drink in the main dining area. Then, you get your last desserts back on the terrace. I found the movement a nice change of pace to help digest (a little!) between courses, and the tour of the kitchen (efficient, calm, collected) fascinating and professional. read more

Very fun and creative food. The meal started off a bit slow at the terrace section of the meal. No one even took our coats which was a bit surprising. The first few bites were mediocre, but they more than made up for it in the kitchen portion of the meal. The rest was pretty standard fine dining and very enjoyable. read more

No complaints, the food and wine are the top. The front door is lock, need to ring the bell, then walk through the garden and reach to the hostess. Dinning room is nice, comfy but chic. The servers uniforms are in dark grey and fashionable. Total 5 servers - 4 male 1 felmale. 2 males are wearing 2 button down classic suiting. The felmale who waited on me is wearing scoop neck top with blazer over, pant suit. The whole time she didn't smile at all. Other 2 servers wearing blazer with no collar and hidden button front jacket. I ordered 16 courses from their tasting menu with wine pairing. Started with Cava grand reserva 1 Piña colada in pomegranate - add dry ice into liquid then stir immediately. The dried smoke came off from the bowl and cover the table- I think it's about over the top. 2 Foie gras shave thing in top, thin chip at bottom 3 Mexican something with butter like under. 4 Roasted white asparagus with veggi icecream. The asparagus is a bit chewy 5 Razor clam with shiitake broth 6 Qual egg inside of cheese 7 Oyster with mango and sour fruit 8 Squid risotto with caviar without the rice - delicious! A glass of beautiful white wine - floral aroma with light and airy taste, pair with 9 unagi and fresh wasabi sandwich - delicious. 10 baby lobster in coconut sauce 11 cooked pine nut, quail egg and truffle in a warm marble cup 12 steak tartar - doesn't taste like regular tartar, it tastes like pate but lighter. Pair with a glass of fleurie Beaujolais 13 Mini red snapper with cherry tomato, not only meat cooked they fried the bone and actually I like the bone more, cus it's more tasty. 14 Pork 15 cup cake ice-cream 16 ice-cream with cheese and creme fraiche 17 almond ice-cream read more

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Beautiful restaurant, great service, food was beautifully presented. The food ? There was not one dish out of 12 that I liked or I think anyone would ever want to have again. Took a super...... long time 3.5 hours. So in summary if you like to eat beautiful food that doesn't taste great in a beautiful restaurant with great service and you have nothing to do, come here. Otherwise Stay away. read more

This was my first Michelin restaurant experience. Visiting from LA, and I am so happy that I picked ABaC. I'm not going to dive into all of the details, but I opted for the 22 course tasting menu. There was one small appetizer dish I wasn't a fan of, but besides that every dish was really incredible, original, and packed a different punch. My spanish isn't great so it was great to see every server working there speaks very good english. Service was absolutely impeccable - - from start to finish. The tour of the wine cellar and kitchen were mind blowing as well. HIGHLIGHT : Table side liquid nitrogen ice cream made from the vanilla and infused bark and wood boiling on my table .... doesn't get much better than that! 5 Stars - easy. Excited to see this place get their *** next year. Thank you Chef & crew. read more

Amazing restaurant and experience. It was my first Michelin star restaurant experience and the entire dining experience was orchestrated beautifully. We ordered the larger tasting menu with over 20 courses with the wine pairing (additional 95 euros). The staff is attentive and explained each dish and wine served. The courses were all so unique and some contained exotic ingredients. The plates were aesthetically beautiful. The meal lasted over four hours and worth the splurge! read more

The best dining experience we had in Barcelona, hands down. Would highly recommend doing wine flight with dinner (so worth it). The desserts were absurdly good and the wines were lovely. If you can get your hands on the foie gras ice cream dish, you're in luck. It was so complex and delicious I still think about it occasionally. read more

We'd gotten restaurant reservations for El Bulli and decided to make of week of it...dining in the Barcelona region of Spain. One place we booked we'd heard little about other than some glowing on-line reviews. Chef Jordi Cruz has brought a Michelin stars to this gorgeous restaurant. The service was spectacular. Outside of El Bulli, this was the best meal I've enjoyed this year. Highest possible recommendation. read more

Wow. What a meal. Definitely in my top 3 meals ever eaten, if not the best. Definitely worthy of the 2 Michelin stars! And compared to many other Michelin starred restaurants, very affordable as well. We enjoyed every course we tasted. The foie gras taco was unbelievably clever. The mushroom broth made tableside, a burst of flavor. Perfect dinner, you will not be disappointed. read more

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Definitely make the trip to the outskirts of town to this 2 Michelin star gem. Set in the swanky modern hotel Abac you definitely feel like a VIP as soon as you enter. The grand tasting is rather daunting and the wine pairing is Herculean but it was the best meal of my life (sorry EMP!). The meal started with melon mojjitos made table side with liquid nitrogen and picked up from there. Other highlights included the best tomato I've ever tasted, smoked steak tartar, lobster, and something called "smoked earths" for dessert. We opted for a more conservative pairing than their recommended "glass per course" and it was still excellent. Finally, we got a tour of the kitchen and menus of our meal. Is it worth the flight back just for this meal? I have a hard time saying no. read more

Best things I ever ate in Spain were had here. Forget paella, I will gladly take one portion of that shaved foie gras and truffle with onion soup for the rest of my days. If there is an option for a la carte or tasting menu, I beg you... Please do the tasting menu. Service, surroundings... Perfection. Didn't stay at the hotel ( too out of the way for us tourists on a tight schedule) but it looked swanky. Look forward to returning one day. read more

CANCELLED our booking!!-we had booked Abac 2-3 months early for a 40th birthday dinner to end a 72 hr trip to Barcelona from the U.S. On the day of the meal, we received confirmatory emails from tripadvisor and thefork.com only to learn from the restaurant that they had cancelled our reservation because we had not responded to an email request to confirm. We have no such email from Abac. Not an email warning us that we would later have to confirm our booking. Nothing at all. When presented with this, Abac mgmt did not even apologize nor try to make it right it any way. Just stunning and tone-deaf on their part. Had customers cancelled at the last moment, their credit cards would have been charged. Disappointing way to end an otherwise lovely trip. Probably needed the table for a VIP and shamelessly floated a lie to make room. read more

The experience was horrible. We found glass in one of the dishes. They didn't even apologize. They just took the plate away. They messed up allergies - including a shellfish allergy. We had to remind them 5 times that we were allergic! read more

Great food, great staff! Would definitely visit this restaurant again on our next trip to Barcelona. Really enjoyed the first course in the kitchen part. Also, this restaurant is very accommodating on food allergies, my husband is allergic to both corn and gluten. read more

Quite probably the best meal of my life. You will definitely pay for it, but so unreal. I believe we had 7 different waiters throughout the night, 1 for each dish / drink. They brought out lots of very small plates to try things. The food was out of this world good. That's all I can really say.... read more

3.5 stars, not quite 4 stars. This is the first time I felt very disconnected with a Michelin starred restaurant. I felt that 5 out of the first 6 dishes had some sort of ice-cream sorbet on the dish, which was kinda repetitive. I had high expectation of this newly crowned 2 star Michelin restaurant but the whole meal was quite a let down. As another yelper mentioned, food was by no means bad. But the flavor was a solid 3.5, it was a lower energy kinda environment, hotel is super neat and hip, everything else is good but not great. Again, I felt disconnected and lost. After the first 5-6 courses of smaller plates, the portion did get more substantial and the meal picked up with more substance, less monotone and complexity. But I still expected more from ABaC. read more

This was not our first (nor second, nor third) choice restaurant to eat at while SC and I were on vacation in Barcelona but we were able to get reservations and were looking forward to our visit. The restaurant is right off the subway line. We weren't quite sure how to get in but found a button to press that let us into the fenced off area surrounding the restaurant. We were greeted promptly and escorted to a table outside. We waited at least 20 minutes and weren't acknowledged at all. We didn't know what we were waiting for and other customers who were seated down after us were already given water or wine. After waiting for a while, we were escorted inside the kitchen where we had our first few courses. The staff member explained the dishes to us and we got to enjoy them while watching the staff work in the kitchen. One of my favorite dishes the whole night was the lime cactus/ tequila/ green leaves cold tapa we had in the kitchen because it was so refreshing. The staff member noted I was taking pictures of our food and even offered to take a picture of us in the kitchen (we said yes). After this, we were escorted to our seats. We ended up ordering the Gran ABaC Our Avant Garde menu which was 210euros per person. Some of the food was really good (I enjoyed the duck entree, Mediterranean red mullet entree and coconut different ways dessert) but most of it was just okay- the blue oyster was unappealing visually and some of the textures or flavors of the other dishes were off-putting (slimy, sour, or too salty). Some of the plating was a little sloppy and not consistent. We were also very unimpressed by the service. The servers (of which there were many) seem confused and unorganized- they brought out wrong dishes to tables near us, set down equipment to prepare for a future meal at the wrong table or gave us the wrong eating utensils for our meal. The setting of the silverware was also very sloppy (basically being tossed down, crooked and all). They seemed stressed/ or busy from their movements but it didn't translate to good, attentive service. I will say whenever I returned from the restroom (which was multiple times), they pulled out the chair for me and gave me a new napkin. They also offered to call us a cab at the end of our dinner which was nice. Things were very beautiful and visually entertaining- the ambiance, how some of the food was presented, the ABaC branded "lipstick." A lot of it was creative but the food was hit-or-miss and the service was the worse we've gotten at a Michelin star restaurant. read more

What an experience. Multi room ventures and various ways to enjoy the excellent food selection. From the buzz in gate to the beautiful courtyard I was excited to start the journey. We went to the patio to start the night with cocktails then we were led to the kitchen for wonderful samples straight from the chefs stoves. Then we went to the dining area for quite the feast. Finished on the terrace for great desserts. A place you shouldn't miss. read more

A huge dissapointment. Working in the industry a I expected alot heading to this two star. Unforetunately it did not deliver. Setting is lovely and service good. Unforetunately the food lacked. Too many gimicks at the table. Alot of money spent on plates and chemicals. I even found a 2cm live parasite worm on my plate during fish course. Hightlighting the cold plate and undercooked fish. Wait staff and manager were very apologetic and then too attentive for the remainder of our meal. Comping us two glasses of cava as an apology didnt cut it for me. Wine pairing was terrible and the same wines served for 2/3 course that were very different. I wont be back or reccomending to anyone. read more

partial review see my blog for more Food: -Chef Cruz's cuisine is best described as a satisfying balance of creativity and Spanish tradition. With his delicate plating, and moments of deconstructed textures, there is an element of modernist cuisine, but it's definitely understated. -The restaurant gives the option of a la carte (with items ranging in price from 15-72 €), the 13 course ABaC menu for 135 € or the 16 course grand tasting menu for 165 €. -We were already on our third tasting menu in a row, and knew that the day following would be a big one at El Celler de Can Roca, so we "just" opted to go with the 13 course spread. It was more than enough. Bread [11] Delicious poppy-seed brioche was some the best I've had since Paris last year. Iced Bloody Mary with Cherries [6] If an appetizer is supposed to rev up your appetite, then consider this putting peddle to the medal. The granita had all of the distinct flavours of the popular drink- the acidic tomatoes, the aromatic celery salt, the solid hit of heat- and while it seemed strange at the time, the addition of the sweet ripe cherries really helped balance everything out. Foie Gras: Shaved with Pigeon Royales on Frico and Pigeon Consomme; Duck Broth with Cream of Foie Gras; Foie Gras Foccacia with Seared Foie [10] A decadent foie gras course felt a bit early in the meal, but it was delicious nonetheless. The delicately shaved foie gras melted like butter on the light ethereal crisp, pairing beautifully with the salty deeply flavoured consommé. [9] With a texture smoother than freshly whipped cream, the cream of foie was even more luxurious, while the tiny little "slider" turned out to be my favourite bite. [8] Don't judge me but we both felt it tasted a bit like McDonalds fries in the best way imaginable- addictive and unapologetically tasty. Oysters with Cured Mackerel Tartar with White Garlic Ice Cream and Watercress [12] I would have never thought to make a garlic ice cream, but it surprisingly wasn't offensive in the least. Rather the combination of sweet, meaty tartar with the aromatic cold cream made for a satisfying first fish course. Canarian Black Potatoes with Roasted Octopus, Curry Mojo Sauce, Lemon Brine and Acidified Broth [13] While admittedly I did find the octopus a touch overcooked and rubbery, the combination of the tangy curry mayo, lemon, and bright broth made up for any shortcomings in technique. Light, yet deeply comforting. Baby Lobster with Young Leeks with Coral Juice and Thai Coconut [14] One of my favourite dishes of the night. I absolutely loved the delicate sweet shellfish and leeks against the fragrant coconut sauce. I scraped that coconut clean with such gusto, I was actually worried it may break. Parmesan Egg with Chicken Stock, Truffle and Walnuts [15] A very delicious and comforting dish- the "egg" was made up of a runny egg yolk with a cheesy creamy bubble holding it all in. When broken, it engulfed the tiny matchsticks of aromatic truffles and walnuts, moistening them in luscious moisture and fat. I am not sure why, but both of us thought it reminded us of a bowl of shredded wheat cereal in the absolute best way possible. Squid Treated like Black Rice with Padron Sedes [16] I wasn't crazy about this dish- partially because it stained our mouths black (so naturally we took silly pictures of it), but mainly because it was just a bit overwhelmingly fishy for my tastes. A smaller portion of the ilk and squid would have been much more appropriate, while the dish could have used another component (other than the crunchy pepper seeds) to temper the overwhelming fish-flavour down. Prawn "Suquet" with Potato Gnocchi, Candied Tomatoes and Hazelnuts [17] I quite liked the rich suquet (traditional fish stew) with the delicate hit of sweet hazelnuts, but found the gnocchi soggy, and the tomatoes underwhelmingly bland. Mediterranean Red Mullet with Seaweed Foam, Fried Seaweed and Aioli [18] I am a big fan of mullet, which we don't see much at home, and enjoyed the crispy yet light preparation here. Again, a clearly fish-forward flavor profile, but here the seaweed was mild enough to not overwhelm. Guinea Fowl with Foie Gras, Aubergine, Black Garlic and Kumquat [19] I loved the tender guinea fowl against the sweetness of the black garlic and caramelized aubergine. An already rich dish, I could have done without the added foie, but who really complains about foie? Kobe Beef with Foie Gras, Aubergine, Black Garlic and Kumquat [20] This was a supplemental charge to try the Kobe beef, which was so flavourful and unctuous it merely dissolved on the tongue- there one second and gone the next. Again, here more even so than with the fowl, the foie gras was surely overkill as it made for a bit of an overwhelmingly rich plate. Tonic Water Bubbles with Mango, Candied Lemon and Juniper [21] After tucking into this, I decided that in my opinion, desserts are where ABaC really shines. This de read more

We were super excited to go here. Way up in the hills in Barcelona. Great service, beautiful place, nice decor and ambiance. We don't like fish and had pre-asked not to served fish, but still managed to be given several dishes with fish. Not a huge deal. Wines were great too. I would say, having been to many 1-3 starred Michelin restaurants, this one to us was just ok when it came to the food. Good food, creativity was there but sadly nothing on the tasting menu was mind blowing. read more

This is the second Michelin three star I've tried here and I honestly don't think it comes close to Les Artes in service, ambiance, location, quality and presentation of the menu. I know it's about 50 euro cheaper but it's not even in the same league. If you have one Michelin three star in your plans for Barcelona, go to Les Artes. I actually prefer Disfrutar over this. read more

Where to start!? You are first welcomed and taken to a lounge area where you are greeted with a few fantastic appetizers. They then offer you the menu - you get to pick between having the 10 course or the 15 course meal with or without wine pairings. I went with my husband and we were told we both had to pick the same menu. We went with the 10 course meal and my husband got the wine pairings. They then showed us their wine cellar and their kitchen where you get to see their chefs in action. One you are seated, the creative courses start coming your way. Some of them are assembled in front of you. All of them are described for you. It's like going to a science lab. Possibly the most memorable meal of my life. The restaurant is a 15 minute cab right from the city center. Excellent service, delicious food and worthy of its Michelin stars. read more