What a delight!…read more While spending a day in Vilanova i la Geltru with friends, a local recommended this place to us. It is, without reservation, the best waterside restaurant I've had the pleasure to visit since moving to Spain more than two years ago. While many of the dishes are traditional, they *do* have a wonderful twist on many recipes... from tapas (like patatas bravas - what a sauce!) to their casera (homemade) dishes, like their various paellas. Our group opted for a half dozen different tapas (the calamares a la roman were my favorite), and then we shared the "arroz pulpito" paella. Truly outstanding! (...and if you know me, you know I don't use that word lightly.) So - if you're anywhere near here, come check this place out. You won't be sorry!

I fully recommend it! This restaurant has very original and good different types of paellas (we…read moretried 7 of them and the best one in our opinion was the truffle and mushrooms one) but the best were the Tapas... we had the chicken croquetas that were perfectly made, not too saucy not too dry. The chipirones that are little fried squid, my favorite tapa in the whole world and they made it very very good!! And the calamares a la Romana that are the classic squid hoops not oily and very well battered. If you'd like to go during usual Spanish lunch time (2-3) I'd call them and make reservations, they are usually pretty busy.

This is a very good example of the Lizarran franchise of tapas bars, serving authentic Northern…read moreSpanish cuisine, situated close to Vilanova's palm-lined 19th century town square. The interior is typical of Lizarran elsewhere in Spain, with lots of stone and wood, a long bar replete with tapas and pintxos (small tapas), and large, sturdy tables. Customers are asked to refrain from smoking at the bar counter (ie not over the tapas). The choice of tapas here differs slightly from the Basque norm for this franchise, incorporating many Catalan dishes: clearly, they know their market. But this makes it very popular with both locals and visitors alike. There are instructions posted in English on how to order and pay for the tapas at the bar - tapas and pintxos come on 3 different types of cocktail stick, which determines how much they cost. You help yourself and pay on the basis of the sticks left when you've finished. More substantial offerings from the menu are ordered from the waiters at the table and paid for as normal. The staff are very friendly and helpful - essential, as one of the oddities is that the main menu is written up on a single blackboard, in only Catalan, so it can take a while (and occasionally some help) to navigate. But it's worth the effort, as the food is both good and reasonably cheap. There are, surprisingly, plenty of vegetarian options - the wild mushrooms, cooked in a skillet, are both generous in quantity and amazingly tasty. Add to this a good choice of beers, and it makes for an enjoyable and good value supper. **************************** Addendum: 07-01-2008 I've downgraded this to three stars after a change in management and bar staff: the food is still as good, but the service (including the cleanliness of the gents' toilets) has gone down-hill a bit, so no longer deserving of 4 stars in my view.

Lizarran…read more This franchise chain of Basque tabernas is popular and widespread in Spain and each one is characterised by its pinxos - bite sized tapas morsels skewered to a piece of bread with a cocktail stick. The variety changes with what the chef is doing but ranges from classics like a cheesy croquette to improvised creations like morcilla (black pudding) and poached quail's egg. The end price is a tally of the discarded sticks. While they have long had a selection of main dishes available - hearty basque stews, chicken, rice dishes et al, the chain has more recently begun offering a 3 course menu del dia (at €10.90 - €14.90 depending on whether it's weekend). The menu varies daily and like most 'menus' in Spain follows the local taste where the restaurant is based. On this occasion we has starters of a cold Andalusian soup of tomato, garlic, bread with shavings of Iberian ham and chopped boiled egg and a summer 'stew' of cold whites beans with tuna and onions. Incredibly fresh and refreshing. Our second plates were a breaded beef escalope and a tuna steak with a garlic and parsley butter sauce. The choices were great but as so often with the menu del dia (piled high to sell cheap and heated to serve), the quality reflects the price, but non the less, great value for money. Add the profiteroles and the carafe of wine and at a tenner you can't go wrong. If Spain is not on your travel itinerary any time soon, Lizarran has now opened branches in London and Milton Keynes so who knows, maybe coming your way soon.

Last day in Spain and we started the day late (3pm) so most places were closed. We pass this place…read moreeveryday and since they're open we decided to check it out. Since it's raining we are inside, but on nice days you'll see people at the outside tables standing around drinking and having a good time. There's a menu to order from and there's also 13 different Tapas to try. We opted for Tapas today and the local Catalonia red wine. Food was delicious and wine was perfect.

Up-to-today, it used to be a regular stop when we were in Sitges. However, the waitress demanded a…read moretip when we were paying; she said service was not included. We naturally did not oblige as tipping is not expected in Spain. I wonder how often this happens to tourists (very surprising for Sitges). The food is typical tapas fare - nothing extraordinary - so next time, we will frequent one of many others on the same street.

Sitges Bon Estar is one of the most popular restaurants in town. It's a traditional fine dining…read moreexperience with an upscale ambiance, so don't come in beachwear. Also, reservations for lunch and dinner are basically a requirement especially daily in the high season and on low season weekends. The best way is to stop by in person a few days in advance. Where's the best paella in Sitges? Quite possibly right here at Bon Estar. Whenever we come to Sitges we almost make a pilgrimage to Bon Estar to partake in their famous and fabulous Paella Marinera, Seafood Paella. Also unique and delicious is Arroz negro con Sépia y Almejas, Black Rice with Cuttlefish and Clams. This trip we went to Bon Estar twice. I tried the Prensado de Cochinillo "Bon Estar 50" which is Roasted Suckling Pig. I'm not sure what the 50 meant and the dish was not what I was expecting, thinking it would be more like a Lechon with crispy skin. Instead it came in a pastry puff shell. Paletina de Codero Asada a Baja Tempuratura, Roast Shoulder of Lamb was nice and tender. As always, the Tiramisu dessert is a highlight. It comes in a jar, and so rich and creamy! Pair it with a Cortado!

Love this place! Always smart to get a reservation so you can eat inside. The flies were out today…read more(outside) but happy to eat delicious food!! Love their special lunch menu.

As the saying goes, when in Spain,…read more..... On my recent trip to Sitges, I was looking to have some authentic local food. Philippe, the manager of my hotel, straightaway recommended Komokieras and rang to make me a reservation - I'm glad he did because it did get really busy in the restaurant. I betrayed my lack of knowledge about local cultural customs by asking for a table at 7. Philippe gave me a sad look and told me that that's very early for dinner in Spain and that the authentic restaurants opened much later. So, I settled for a table at 8.30. Komokieras serves Catalan food and as promised, the clientele were locals rather than the international throngs surrounding the 'international restaurants. However, I was relieved to see menus printed in 4 languages - it was also interesting to learn new words by comparing the Spanisg to English and French. I was offered a free aperitif of cava. Although I don't drink, I didn't want to offend my hosts and politely sipped on it all evening alongside my freshly squeezed orange juice. I also got some lovely mild olives and warm bread as freebies. I was sitted in the nice covered verandah part of the restaurant, lovely with a cool evening breeze though the only slight problem was that some of the diners were smoking in that area. One thing I did pick up in Spain was how many people smoke. As my review started, when in Spain,...... So I went for 3 Catalan specialities - veal sweetbreads, suckling pig and apple bunyols (fritters) I do enjoy sweetbreads and I think I've eaten a whole host of different glands. However, this was the real thing - testicles! They were given a wonderful charred crust and served with a line of blasamic vinegar and bread with a tomato topping. I loved the creamy texture of the sweetbreads. The suckling pig was a little more boney than expected - I had to dig into some of my latent surgical skills to dissect some of the meat but it was plentiful. The pork was succulent but still falvoursome despite the young age of the pig. It came with mash that was a little dry buty lovely grilled courgette. The apple bunyols were quite light and served with coconut ice cream. Good end to the meal. I left, happily fed and satisfied that I'd tried some Catalan food on my travels.

Absolutely phenomenal meal and generous portions. Started with oysters and scallops. Main course…read morewas the best steak I have ever eaten. Had the apple fritters for desert, they were amazing. Everyone with us had great food as well.