I cannot express how great the food is here. Great sangrias and beer as well. The chef came to our table to explain the menu and recommendations, we went with multiple dishes but the paella, tortilla espanola, fresh ham and cheese were incredible. Dessert was great to. Service was quick and felt personable, great food and a comfy ambiance. Highly recommend. read more

Some of the best food I've ever had! The chef is incredibly kind and cares about his food. The crème brûlée is worth it all by itself, a subtle but remarkable flavor. read more

What a little gem. Had the best meal here that Ive had in years, food and service were outstanding. Plus there is some special about the way it's run, very personalize experience. Will be back for sure. read more

By far the best culinary experience I've had during my weekend in NOLA. From the ordering system to the detailed menu, this restaurant is amazing. Chef Laurentino's constant interaction with customers makes you feel at home. Barcelona is definitely a hidden gem that EVERYONE needs to visit. Would come back anytime!! read more

Barcelona Tapas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Went on a quiet Sunday evening and had one of the most memorable meals of my life. Four of us shared a couple of salads, a few tapas items and a couple of entrees. We were given the best flan in creation to cap the experience off. Every single item was brilliant. Lamb chops were perfectly grilled, rib eye was life-changing. Xavier is passionate about his food and it shows. Do not miss this charming Spanish place amidst the mountain of choices in the city. read more

Barcelona Tapas - Ribeye glory - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Flavor wise Barcelona Tapas is probably one of the best Spanish restaurant I visited. The paella is well worth the wait, rice soaked in the flavor to perfection. In terms of tapas, I would say the only let down was ceviche, it's just not that special. But I highly recommend the calamari, it's so tender and juicy I was almost speechless. Lamb chop with fries was also great, the lamb was no doubt cooked to true tenderness. Just beware the so called one serving size paella is actually pretty decently sized, I would recommend only ordering one entree for party of 2 and enjoy more tapas. read more

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Paella Valencian is scrumptious at Barcelona Tapas. The Sangria is delightful! The service is great! A favorite!

What an amazing find! So glad to find this super cute restaurant hidden away in the Riverbend area. Chef Xavier is super friendly and gave us the best recommendations depending on what you like. Great service, good food, clean restaurant! read more

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Love!!!! (I mean, ¡Me encanta!) I'm a tapas fanatic, it seems. My favorite types of dinners involve a table covered with small plates. Order up a bunch and then wait for them to arrive at the table at any point, a new surprise. More ordering. More drinking. Next thing you know, you're at a three hour dinner. As it should be. Barcelona Tapas is such a sweet spot to spend your evening with date and/or friends. This cozy house is warm and welcoming and you feel like you just happened upon a secret locals joint somewhere off the beaten path of Barri Gòtic in Barcelona (possibly my favorite European city). We started off with that superb sangria. Believe the hype. My fear with sangria is that it will be too sweet. Not the case here, as it's just... perfect. Not too sweet, nor, heaven forbid, too sour. Slightly fruity, definitely alcoholic... and two pitchers later, we were feeling it! Better order more food? My favorite small plate here the other night was easily the patatas bravas. The *best* version of this dish I've ever had! Was the peppery aioli liberally drizzled on top? In fact, I believe my dinner date did not get to even try them because I gobbled it all up like whoa. The asparagus (also comes with aioli, vegans take note) is simple and delightful. Similarly, the lentil soup is a healthy, hearty option if you're trying to avoid all the mayo-tastic treats. Oh and the pesto dip... don't skip it. Ah, the memories... they make me hungry. Be sure to bring people who can share in the fun and so that you can try as much as possible. One other happy-making note: prepared for garlic galore on just about anything, but especially the crimini mushrooms (as it should be). The tomato bread with cheese allows for you to put a half clove on top. Daaaaang. In short, I'll be back at Barcelona Tapas in no time, I suspect. ¡Bring on the platos! read more

I've been wanting to try this restaurant since it opened and it finally happened on Friday night. Best dishes? Mixed ceviche of drum & shrimp and the shrimp tropicale. The other delicious dishes we sampled? Sangria, asparagus, the potatoes, creme brulee valencia, vanilla flan, and the bread & aioli. Only dish I was meh on was the fried salmon nuggets...although others in my group really liked them. Our server was sweet, but didn't know the menu too well. Luckily the other server jumped in with assistance. The location is intimate and comfortable. Three people left very sated and the bill was only about $100. Well worth it. If you're dining alone and prefer bar dining...they have that too. I would go back in a heart beat. read more

went to this little place last night for dinner. Oooh, it was SO. DELICIOUS! The owner is the sweeeeetest man, and he sat and chatted with us. It took him 2.5 years to build and open this restaurant, and you can taste the love in his food. We had (a lot): Sangria Garlic shrimp Toast w/fresh mozzarella Garlic crimini mushrooms Salmon nuggets garlic chicken casserole Chocolate flan Paella. 1. Garlic shrimp was great - i am not a big salt-eater, which sucks bc i live in the south. but this was fabulous. 2. Toast w/fresh mozz - OUT OF THIS WORLD! I wanted to order 50 more! 3. garlic mushrooms - yummmmm 4. salmon nuggets - cooked to perfection. golden crispy, with perfectly cooked salmon ... omigad, i want it now. 6. garlic chicken casserole - delicious 7. chocolate flan - OMG - not too sweet, not to bitter. PERFECT. 8. Paella - I still want to eat this all day every day. The flavors ... the ingredients. The leftovers were just as fantastic today as they were last night at dinner. I am moving to New Orleans next week and look forward to having many enjoyable evenings there. *The ambiance in the restaurant is so relaxing. Great place to go if you had a bad day - it is very zen-like. read more

Barcelona Tapas - Paella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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The food was so amazing. Everything from the delicious lamb chops, garlic shrimp, garlic soup, best ceviche we've had in years, mushrooms, and flan... Taste buds are singing. Go with plenty of time, especially if you order their paella, but honestly the tapas won the night. We will be back soon. read more

So in love with this place. From the unique decorations on the walls. To the great service and the AMAZING tapas. EVERYTHING was so delicious. Perfectly seasoned .Everything was a perfect bite! The atmosphere is quaint and relaxing. You almost feel as though you're in someones home. The two young ladies who served us were so incredibly nice and helpful ( I forgot their names) if you're looking for a quiet relaxing place with Amazing food this is the place for you. I can't wait to go back to try the paella! read more

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Found this place on a walk in uptown, and returned later for a dinner, and (spoiler) it was superb. I've traveled Spain and the rest of Europe, and my spawn has spent a significant time in Spain, and we both loved the Barcelona. In fact, up to this point, the best tapas I have consumed were not actually in Spain, but Amsterdam at Joselito, where we were so enthused we ordered the entire menu. With most small plates at Barcelona costing $5-$6, you can order a whole bunch of food to share and enjoy; the also offer cooked to order paella, with the traditional rice base, and a variation featuring angel hair pasta. They also have some entrees, and the whole menu is online. We tried a variety of hot and cold tapas and loved them all. My favorites were the ones featuring Jamon Serrano, and I liked his version of Patatas with aioli drizzle. If you live in New Orleans, you'll find Barcelona a nice change. You can linger and sample a variety of dishes. Great date nite place. It's right behind the Walgreens on Carrolton. Tourists can find the restaurant with a half block walk off the St. Charles streetcar, so when you get tired of deep fried seafood at high prices in the Quarter, hop on the street car and transport yourself temporarily to an evening in Spain. He has an "order slip" at the table similar to the ones in sushi bars - just read the descriptions on the menu and check off your choices on the paper slip. read more

Unbelievable. Came to Barcelona after a recommendation from Instagram. I was thoroughly impressed! The atmosphere makes it feel as though you are not in uptown New Orleans. I felt as though I was transported to actual Spain. The food was absolutely incredible. Served as a typical tapas restaurant, the portions were small but full of flavor. The garlic shrimp diablo was out of this world. Other favorites were the tomato mozzarella bread, brussel sprouts, and the paella. Topped it off with a unique and delicious creme brulle and espresso. The entire meal was made better by the chef delivering our food and checking in throughout the meal. Will definitely be back and recommend! read more

Run, don't walk to this restaurant! The interior of the restaurant is beautifully decorated, with arched doorways and vaulted ceilings. The restaurant is divided into a couple small rooms, which makes it feel more intimate and homey. For a moment I forgot entirely that I was in New Orleans because it felt as if I was in a close friend's Barcelona home. The owner seated us and told us ahead of time that it was just him and the chef in the back so it might take a little longer than usual to get our food. But this man had it down to a science, and we didn't have to wait as long as we were expecting to order and receive our food. When explaining certain items on the menu, you can immediately see how passionate he is about the food and items on his menu, which made me want to order everything I saw. I got the calamari, chorizo with Gouda cheese, Brussels sprouts, garlic tomato bread with Gouda cheese, chef's shrimp pasta, and crème brûlée and every single item of food was absolutely delicious. I'm not joking when I say that I am already booking another trip to New Orleans just to eat here again. Each piece of food is not only presented beautifully but also tastes so good that it makes you want to eat extra slow just so that you can really enjoy it to the fullest. The combination of delicious food, warm and intimate ambiance and excellent customer service made for one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. read more

This is truly a hidden gem in the river bend. The tapas and paella are outstanding! I recommend the garlic shrimp, bean soup and flan and creme brûlée as well as the calamari. read more

Everything here is to die for!!! Chef Laurentino takes you to Barcelona through his dishes. He cooks with love which is the secret to great food & he is so personable & sweet he makes you feel right at home! read more

The absolute WORST meal I have ever had. ZERO stars. I used to love this place. It was one of my favorites. I specifically requested to go here on my birthday expecting it to be great. It took ONE HOUR for us to get olives. Let me say that again. OLIVES. That they pour from a jar into a bowl for the table. The Brussels sprouts were soggy and everything was disgusting. Both my husband and I got food poisoning from the meal. The blonde middle aged waitress flirted with a table of young men and ignored our large table of doctors and lawyers who spend big money when we eat. DO NOT EAT HERE. read more

The food is really very good--but it is pricey for the portions served. And for God sakes, if you don't have a drink fountain--make sure you have drinks available in the usual flavors--diet, regular, etc. read more

This place was pleasantly intimate. My husband and I sat at the bar and ordered a variety of tapas. The sangria was crisp and Chef was rocking it (food was coming out in waves so fresh and hot). We stayed several hours (it was Friday night date night so no rush to leave with the flowing sangria). Service was good but not for someone who's rushed--just like in Europe. We loved how close the chef attempts to make you feel like you're dining in Spain. We will definitely be returning to try more of the jewels from Chef. read more

Atmosphere of this place was nice, waitress was nice. However the food was verrrrryyy hit or miss...we tried 9 different dishes and the Diablo shrimp, mushrooms, and chorizo where pretty good since they where sizzling in a very tasty sauce. The paella was decent, as was the ceviche. The other dishes we had unfortunately where not so good... this included things like the asparagus... which was straight-up boiled asparagus with mayo drizzled on it... the avocado shrimp dish... yup, just an avocado tiny pieces of unseasoned shrimp and drizzled with more mayo... the patatas bravas?You guessed it "home fries" with Mayo on them. The garlic tomato bread was similar, nothing more than the sum of its parts... toast, raw garlic,sliced tomatoes... that's it. Maybe we just ordered badly for those things? But it really felt like we were eating a bunch of food from a 1950's suburban housewife cook book. Felt like a restaurant for old people, and these very plain small dishes certainty add up on the bill so it's not cheap either... I don't think we will be coming back since the few little dishes that were "pretty good" don't really make it worth it. read more

Went there for Valentines day with a party of 6. Our reservation was for 5:30. We arrived on time and we were seated on time. We have been going to this restaurant for years and have never had a bad experience until yesterday. Started with waitress taking 20-30 minutes to take our drink order, and this is only because we asked when she was passing our table, otherwise she would have probably taken longer. Secondly we ordered 6 different tapas , 3 of each, as they started to come out we asked for the bread to be brought out 1st with our tapas and she rudely said to us that she is bringing out what the kitchen is putting out , she has no control over that and we have to be patient. I understand that but the way she explained it to us was rude. When our paella came out it tasted ok , compared to other times we have been there . We asked for more of the butter that comes with the bread and the waitress told us we had reached our limit, like we were children, mind you she had only brought out 3. We told her we wanted more and it did not matter if we had to pay for it, she brought us one. In between all of this happening, us eating and waiting she would only bring us drinks when we asked for some more. When it came time to pay our bill I think she realized we were not happy and decided to turn on her "nice" switch . As she is handing us the bill , she said I appreciate you all coming tonight and I hope you can understand we were busy tonight. As I sat there and listened to her yap, I was waiting for any type of apology, unfortunately we did not get one. After we finished paying someone in our party realized that she had not asked us if We wanted coffee or dessert, so my friend asked her if they had run out of coffee and or dessert and she specifically said to us, "I figured you all ordered alot,& and you didn't want any." At this point I could not even look at this person in the face because if I would have I would have said something to her out of my character. Overall and unfortunately our experience this time was horrible, and we will not be returning!!!! read more

What a hidden gem. Javier the chef is an amazing and wonderful person. His food is fresh tasty and Spanish. Love this place. read more

Barcelona Tapas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

My husband is from Spain, so having recently moved to New Orleans, we were very excited to have dinner at Barcelona. It was cozy inside, and had a great time deciding what plates to order. We order bread alongside the 6 plates that that we intended to enjoy while we waited for the paella. Unfortunately the bread came after the tapas. As a Spanish family, it was just unsatisfactory. The tapas was delicious. Our paella finally arrived and looked and smelled beautiful. As my husband began to serve us, I very long hair came out of the paella with rice clumps stuck to it. The waitress watched this happen and went to get the chef. He came back looking very upset, a grabbed the hair and left the table. It just seemed kind of weird to us. He eventually came back to the table and held the hair over our food saying that no one in the kitchen had that color hair. I had to ask him to please stop waving the rice covered hair over our other food. He kept wanting us to look at it. It took me a few minutes to realize that he was insinuating that it was our hair? His voice was very load and I was a bit modified that he angry at us. Truth is we simply would of ordered something else. We enjoyed everything else. But this mans behavior freaked the heck out of us. My family left to find food somewhere else and I offered to wait for the check. It took almost 40 minutes to receive it. And the chef kept giving me the look of death. There were even people around this whole event and they couldn't believe what was happening. Just friggin sad. I don't believe that this review will prevent folks from dinning There. He's a wonderfully talented chef. I just wish he hadn't have been so abusive. read more

Tapas seems to be hot right now in town, but all the other places I'd hit (Salu, Baru, Vega, and another) were serving over-sweet, nonsensical fusion food in tiny portions and slapping a Spanish name on their dishes - Salu in particular has little but fried food slathered in what tastes like catsup. Barcelona made for a nice change. The place is small and was quiet almost to a fault at 7 on a Friday night, but the staff was very friendly, chatty, and warm. Extensive menu of veg and non-veg traditional Spanish tapas dishes plus damn fine Barcelonian-style canoes. My girl (who's traveled in the area much more than I have) and I kept saying how the dishes tasted EXACTLY like they would have in Spain. Subtle garlic-wine soaked cremini mushrooms, aged serrano ham, etc. We had maybe 7 plates and four drinks between the two of us and the check came to around $60, which seemed fair for the quality. The chef and owner, an excitable, slightly desperate-seeming guy, was out schmoozing towards the end with his waiters. Would return, and would recommend it over the nonsense at the other "tapas" places Uptown. read more

As my dinner companion noted, I rarely say "wow" at a meal. I'm trying to learn the art of writing a review and being objective. This place made me as giddy as a metrosexual at a Saks sale (that comparison will likely get me banned for life). My meal: Patats bravas, tortilla espanola, ceviche, gambas ajillos, paella, flan...all washed down with Sangria My thoughts: This was truly an authentic spanish meal. All wonderfully prepared and served. The dining space is intimate and quite mediterranean. The sangria was the only low moment. It was good, but not quite up to par. I guess it's like scoring the hot, corporate lawyer...but she can't shag. Alas, one can't have it all. Bottom line: A wonderful space whose owner/chef is from Barcelona. The food and service were both exceptional. Why are you still reading...vaya! read more

You can't go wrong with Barcelona Tapas. The small plate options are all fantastic, but the chicken casserole, crimini mushrooms and the potato dish stand out. My dining partner swears by the grilled calamari and the lamb chop. For some small plates you get the option of upgrading to a spicier version. Do it. You won't regret the extra flavor. I recommend starting with the roasted garlic soup. It is amazingly flavorful, yet still light. If you aren't in the mood for small plates, the pasta is divine. The chef is super friendly and hands on about all of the food. And he lets me substitute chicken for shrimp in the pasta which is much appreciated. The sangria is a nice addition to any meal. read more

The only reason I don't have pictures from here is because the food went so fast!! We came across it late at night and the staff was still incredibly gracious and inviting. We ordered lamb chops, assorted olives, cerrano ham, spanish tortilla, and a house salad. Oh and never forget the wine. All the dishes were seriously amazing. The lamb and Spanish tortilla were hot and freshly prepared. There aren't words to describe how amazing the cerrano ham was...you just need to go try it. Even the house salad was outstanding with a very unique dressing and thinly sliced veggies. It was all such good food and service. Left feeling super satisfied but not like I overate. Definitely reccomend for authentic tapas and some larger spanish dishes!! read more

BLUF: Really cute place with amazing staff and great tapas. The owner and the waiter may or may not be related. Both are really really friendly and awesome. People love the sangria. It was fine but not crazy amazing. Something different though and you can get a glass, half a pitcher or a full pitcher. Place is really interesting and cozy. Lots of tapas to choose from; hot, cold, meat, veggie, olives, cheese etc. We got a whole lot: chicken casserol (over-rated), lamb chop with fries (crazy good), cheese (standard), olives (standard but good), grilled calamari (best thing on the menu and insanely good), ceviche (very fresh and very good), mushrooms (pretty dang good). I would go again just to have someone else try to calamari. Amazing. Everything was good though. No complaints. The waiter was way over worked and was running around like a mad man but you couldnt tell by our service. Nice and prompt. Great place. Great date place. read more

Without question the best tapas in town. Wonderful, authentic atmosphere with delicious food & sangria by the pitcher. We always make a point to bring out of town guests here and it is a consistent crowd pleaser. read more

I can't believe I have never written a review at this place although I've been going here for a few years. I even hide my engagement party here. Chef Javier is a pleasure. He is always willing to work with you and will even tell you if he thinks you are ordering too much food. The quality of the food is excellent and always tastes perfect. The sangria is great and the staff here are very amenable. I love the patatas bravas, the mussels and the ceviche. Definitely my favorite tapas restaurant in New Orleans. read more

Barcelona Tapas - Ceviche , avocado shrimp and garlic tomato bread with manchego - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We love Barcelona Tapas! Every time we come here the food is excellent, the service is great, and the chef comes out and makes sure we are enjoying his food. I think that says a lot about a place, he really wants to make sure that you approve of his food and are having a good experience here. The paella delicious! That's by far our favorite dish. The sangria is good too! Overall, I would definitely recommend this place to any of my friends. It's worth the trek to uptown! read more

Absolutely amazing food and service. Always a wonderful treat! The tapas are to die for and the sangria is my favorite. I also love to finish my meal with the créeme brûlée. read more

Absolutely love this joint in the heart of Nola. Chef Laurentino was super personable he stopped by to chat and made sure we were aware of his style and how he likes the restaurant to run. Basically if you want a microwave dinner this is not the place! LOVED THAT! He takes his time to prepare a meal as though you are at home! I can definitely appreciate that in a restaurant and will definitely return! Amazing food, super service, hit location! Will be back for more delicious food! read more

A delicious meal was had among three friends!! We started with tapas of ceviche, manchego and olives, shrimp diablo, lamb lollipops, fresh mozzarella and tomato bread, and Brussels sprouts which were all very flavorful. Next, we enjoyed the Valencia Paella, which was exquisite! We followed that with a chocolate flan and Catalonian creme brûlée which were also exquisite! The sangria had a very nice balance and was very drinkable. The wait staff were very attentive and chef Xavier even came to our table a couple times. Overall, a wonderful meal! We'll definitely return! read more

I don't give 5 stars lightly. This place was absolutely amazing! I'm a HUGE tapas fan but this place really takes the cake. The Sangria is good and the food is SO well cooked I was blown away - garlic chicken melts in your mouth and is amazingly flavorful. The chicken bomba is spicy and fantastic! Garlic Mushrooms were so good we finished the sauce with bread. And the garlic-tomatoe bread is amazingly fresh - rub the garlic on the crustini's yourself! We were on the edge about coming here and I'm SO glad we did :) read more

Barcelona Tapas is my go-to tapas place. I always sit outside on their front porch -- which by the way is dog friendly! Its location -- tucked away behind Carrolton Ave. is often overlooked. There's just so many great things about this restaurant. We have always had amazing service. It's never crowded (although I do hope that business is good for them). The prices are so reasonable. The food, of course, is the best part. We always get certain things: - a large pitcher of sangria -- easily 4-6 glasses of sangry for less than $20 - Mixed Ceviche -- very tangy, large pieces of fish and shrimp cooked in citrus juice, well worth the $10 - Potatas Bravas -- wow these are always hot, CRISPY, and the sauce is fantastic! I think it's worth it to get double portions - grilled squid -- an upgrade to fried calamari - it's fork tender and flavorful - the various toppings on toasted bruschetta (we do the roasted peppers -- OMG GOOD and only $2, serrano ham and manchego, the fig preserve one) - the lamb chop and fries -- another thing worth double servings I recommend the place for a romantic date or for a group. It definitely seems like business is picking up here. The first time we were here, over a year ago, it was very slow and we were one of a handful of patrons. Last time we were here, two weekends ago, the restaurant was packed. I really hope that they do succeed because the place fills a much needed niche in the New Orleans food scene. read more

3 stars for the service. Our waitress was so on point, I mean she was so friendly and actually cared about whatever we need. Now on to the weak sauce. Holy crap, this place was weak as hell. Capital W, weak. Had the garlic chicken and the Brussel sprouts. I mean who boils Brussel spouts and brings it out in boiling water. So bland. On to the garlic chicken. Here's the ingredients to the dish: garlic, hot sauce, chicken.... WEAK SAUCE. The sangria was so fire . I'm actually still drinking it right now as I type. Pause for sip. Okay moving on, also had the lamb chop and French fries aioli. Literally 4 fries on a plate with a bone that came from a lamb the size of a lizard.. Once again. Weak Sauce Listen now, I'm all for small portion of foods... That is, if they actually taste good. This want the case. This is how I leave you: Bland, small and most importantly, Weak Sauce. read more

We had a small group attend dinner here and I left less than impressed. The Sangria was exceptional but the overall approach to service was pretty disappointing. I don't expect 5 star service, but I do expect attention to detail. The decor and location are nice near Tulane on Dublin street and street parking is plentiful which is nice. The food itself was ok and I felt honestly, a bit overpriced. The lamb was tasty (but only 1 per serving, really?) as well as the Chicken Bomba, however the rest of the dishes (shrimp, chorizo, and calimari) were not all that impressive and innovative to me. The service was also very slow and not very attentive. bummer because i really wanted to like this place. Overall the meal was ok and service was lacking. I'd go back for the sangria and that's about it. read more