Ken S.

KenScale: 8.25/10 Visit: August 2024 On our second day in Barcelona this past summer, my wife Jun and I were joined by a long-time friend who came to attend the wedding of our mutual friend. I had always wanted to show the magnificent Sagrada Familia of the famed architect Antoni Gaudi so we headed over mid-morning to beat the tourist traffic. It was another scorching hot day in August, and after walking around the church and fighting for photo spots for an hour or so, we were ready to head out for a relaxing lunch at Suculent in the Raval district. This restaurant had been on my radar since it was featured in New York Times' Barcelona guide a couple of years ago, and I'm glad I chose this spot for a very satisfying lunch. At Suculent, led by chef Toni Romero (who once worked at the venerable elBulli), you could opt for either tasting menus (both options at less than €100 per person) or a la carte during lunch time. As all three of us only arrived in Barcelona the day before and weren't as hungry as we would've been due to time difference, we decided to share a number of dishes. I was quite pleasantly surprised how delicious all the dishes were. The modern Catalan cooking from Suculent was exciting with ingenious touches here and there and, more importantly, the fresh ingredients were prepared with high level of precision. After a scoop of cuttlefish and Iberian pork jowls tartare in almond milk sauce underneath, you would instantly realize that this place is no ordinary restaurant. I probably could've finished the dish all on my own without sharing with my beloved wife and our friend. The refreshing red prawn ceviche with avocado was a perfect antidote to the punishing heat we were just experiencing, and the beet root with smoked eel in beurre blanc sauce was another highlight of our meal. The larger dishes were no less delicious, like the lamb neck with ras el hanout spice mix from North Africa and the lovely crispy suckling pig that we had to give a try since we were in Spain. Even for simple desserts, the kitchen at Suculent was masterful. After taking a bite of cheesecake, our friend immediately asked our server if he could later come back to the restaurant for take-outs; it was that memorable, with ethereal texture that I struggled to remember having experienced elsewhere from hundreds of cheesecakes that I had tasted before. Jun was also very fond of the flan with its immaculately smooth and creamy texture, and I agree that it probably ruined flan for us at other restaurants in the foreseeable future. Getting a reservation at Suculent was not overly challenging, and the dining room was nearly empty until people started showing up around 2 p.m. (people in Spain do eat pretty late, we have observed in our trip). We really liked the cozy décor of the restaurant that makes you feel like you are dining at someone's house. The service was warn and friendly with everyone on the staff speaking fluent English. The wine list exploring diverse regions of Spain is another highlight from the restaurant. Suculent is the kind of restaurant that you want to visit over and over again. It's by no means the type of haute cuisine from multiple Michelin-starred restaurants in Barcelona and in other parts of Spain, but the high level of sophistication and precise cooking from the restaurant will leave a fond memory for anyone living in or visiting Barcelona.

Elisa K.

DONT LET THE LOOKS FOOL YOU. The aesthetics and plating was great. However, the food was not. Everything was heavy, heavily salted, and lacked flavor profiles. We had the pri fix menu, suculent. 85 euros per person. We had high expectations and left very disappointed. I took about 1 bite per dish and could not bother to take another. You would think if I didn't eat any of the dishes, they would ask if everything was okay. But no checks in how it tasted. No consideration for timing. The dishes came all at once and some took very long to come. We've had many fine dining experiences and it had to top being one of the worst ones yet.

Angelica L.

It's a Michelin star restaurant. 1. Make reservations 2. Arrive on time 3. Note that they don't serve fancy cocktails. Wine only 4. Enjoy! It was a great experience. Service was attentive, food was amazing. I've done another set menu elsewhere at a similar price and this was significantly better. I ordered the classic menu. Highlights: duck croquettes, bone marrow, desserts. Why have 1 when you can have two? The strawberries were very fresh and the Brie cheesecake was so unique and tasty

Ellen H.

Super delicious!!!! Get the tester it have everything good!!! Check out the 12 course tester picture below They give you two desserts The only thing is each dish is like a bit. Making you wanting more after your bite. Or it might just only be me cause I eat a lot lmao!!! Really enjoy this place. Reservations only place. And try to be on time cause even we haven't finish the guy was already telling us the there a time crunch due to next group waiting for the table lol.

Toni C.

I had such a delightful dining experience at Suculent. Per the recommendation of a friend of a friend, I made reservations after hearing them promise that I wouldn't be disappointed. Long story short: they were 100% right. I ordered from the Suculent tasting menu (€80) and enjoyed a robust selection of small plates. While I won't list each dish, I will say, with unshaken conviction, that this is one of the best meals I've had in a while. The cherry on top? I didn't leave hungry!! A must-go if you're in Barcelona!

Inventive & delicious food, attentive & friendly service, and comfortable ambiance. We ordered the classic tasting menu - high quality and value. Duck croquettes, prawn, maitake, steak tartare on bone marrow, stingray, and rabbit cannolini. Reserve in advance!

Lizzie V.

I had an amazing culinary experience dining at Suculent. The atmosphere is relaxed but trendy. I got to walk through to kitchen to get to my table which was nifty! We both got the menu suculent and everything from start to finish was amazing. The chefs personally shone through each dish. The flavors all flowed together so well, I was impressed dish after dish. We added the caviar to the beetroot, amazing. I feel lucky to have been able to snag a table on our last day on my trip to Barcelona. It's a must if you're in the area!

Lea C.

We were on an organized tour thru Curate trips and Paladar y tomar - a luxury travel tour operator. This is 'dinner one' on our first night and it was amazing! We had a selection of tapas and desserts that were paired perfectly with our wine. We were seated in a back room behind the kitchen (by the fresh herb garden) so while it was a tight fit, the ambiance was perfect. We had selections such as anchovy, orange /olive creation, beef tartare, and a fantastic strawberry/vanilla creamer dessert that I wish I knew how to make!! I've take a selection of pictures. If you'd like to see more of our trip, follow us at GoTravelLife on instagram, Facebook or our blog at www.gotravellife.com and we will post full review soon.

Ed U.

Jamie W. and I have been looking forward to our return to Barcelona ever since we came together nine years ago. I had been to this artfully unique city once before and just fell in love with it ever since. Let me just say this was a transcendent dining experience that matched our fond recollections of Barcelona, and yet we were so close to not patronizing the restaurant as their website almost lost me in translation. I had actually meant to make a reservation at the vegetable-focused 4amb5, but it kept forcing me to accept a reservation here. I didn't realize until we arrived that Suculent is indeed 4amb5's sister restaurant. In fact, they are right next to each other on the Rambla del Raval and offer dishes from each other's menu. I didn't know anything about Suculent until I took another look at the Barcelona episode of "I'll Have What Phil's Having". I saw Phil enjoy some appetizing tapas with a couple of locals at La Taverna del Suculent, a neighboring bar which turned out to be under the same owner as Suculent. I figured the same kitchen serviced both, so I kept the reservation. So glad I did as it turned out to be a most memorable first meal in Barcelona consisting of a wonderfully sublime series of artfully appetizing tapas in quite a compact space that would struggle to accommodate more than twenty guests at a time. As luck would have it, Jamie and I were seated nearest the front door, so we saw several young couples get turned down for tables. In other words, make a reservation as this is not your typical drop-by gathering spot. There were four set menus offered including one from 4amb5, but since I convinced my hotel to make a later reservation at 4amb5, Jamie and I decided to go for the 75€ Menu SucuXLent. It consisted of a welcome cocktail, three appetizers, four starters (not sure how that would be different from an appetizer), six dishes, and three desserts. The high notes came right away with the cocktail which was an inviting mix of Sherry, Orange Bitters, and Vermouth (photo: http://bit.ly/2gGoxc5). It was ridiculously smooth and luxuriant and the perfect match for the intimate setting as well as the salty-tasty complimentary olives (photo: http://bit.ly/2yQecCC) and freshly baked rustic bread (photo: http://bit.ly/2xrSzY4). Then the first plate arrived, a pair of Lobster and Salted Cod Croquettes that amounted to a couple of crispy bites of lushly seaworthy joy (photo: http://bit.ly/2gI2YrU). A delightful Waldorf Salad was then presented on a celery stick (photo: http://bit.ly/2yU6hXc) followed by a pair of luscious Grilled Oysters in Pistachio Cream and Citric Acid with Capers (photo: http://bit.ly/2zU7USH). Fresh San Marzano Tomatoes were sprinkled with Spring Flowers and Capers mixed in Tomato Jelly to dazzling effect (photo: http://bit.ly/2yOLHry). Three astonishing seafood dishes came in quick succession - Prawn Ceviche with Avocado & Citrus (photo: http://bit.ly/2iD3Gef), Grilled Crayfish with pieces of Rabbit on top (photo: http://bit.ly/2i7qwGJ), and a chopped Smoked Sardine alternating with spoonfuls of Trout Roe swimming in an Andalucian cold soup called Ajoblanco (photo: http://bit.ly/2i86xYu). A uniquely flavorful tapa came next, a Chicken's Comb served on a piece of crunchy Chicken Skin (photo: http://bit.ly/2yQfTTg) followed by the bit more generic Grilled Wild Mushrooms in another local cold soup (photo: http://bit.ly/2gENaGi). The showpiece of the dinner arrived, Steak Tartare over Grilled Marrowbone. It came decadently with a sweep of fresh tobiko for texture and a series of lighter-than-air potato pillows (photo: http://bit.ly/2hdsNAL). Decadent, delicious and entirely original in execution. Two more seafood tapas followed - a saucy platter of Steel Eel pieces mixed with similar size Potato Crisps (photo: http://bit.ly/2zSe5GQ) and the truly wonderful Grilled Tuna Belly and Cherry Tomatoes in a Pine Nut Emulsion (photo: http://bit.ly/2y78eAx). An indulgently rich Foie Gras Cannelloni arrived to our delight with pieces of Rabbit and ended the savory portion of our feast (photo: http://bit.ly/2i9mfm7). The trio of desserts started on a fresh note with Figs in Yogurt Mousse and Pistachio Cream (photo: http://bit.ly/2i9mqOj). This was followed by a dazzling plate of Strawberry Vanilla Cream Puffs showered with Rose Petals (photo: http://bit.ly/2zTJ4Ta) and ended with the sweetness of the Brie and Mascarpone Cheesecake topped with Moscatel Jelly (photo: http://bit.ly/2yUaM3T). Wow. Espressos needed (photo: http://bit.ly/2yPwjZE). Mic drop. The end. FOOD - 5 stars...extraordinary, a standing ovation to chef Antonio Romero who worked the line at Ferran Adrià's legendary El Bulli AMBIANCE - 5 stars...intimate but not stiff or remote SERVICE - 5 stars...thoroughly attentive TOTAL - 5 stars...the name says it all...one of the top dinners we've had in this world, bar none...and not all that expensive considering

Zou Y.

In terms of food, I would say this restaurant was the best in our 32 days trip in Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. We ordered four dishes and each was awesome! There was a taste of Asian in their cuisine, such as the miso in the eel.

Amanda P.

Suculent is a great restaurant, me and my boyfriend went here a Saturday night and we were not dissapointed. The dishes were small, but not to small. We had three courses and a cheese platter, it was enough to share for us. I would really recommend the prawn ceviche with avocado and lemongrass. The restaurant was quite small and the tables were close to each other but it seemed charming and not to tight. If we return to Barcelona again we will definitely go back and try more food!! :)

Michael U.

Toqued by Antonio Romero, a graduate of the School of Hospitality Costa Azahar with subsequent stage at elBulli as well as Akelarre and Maison Pic it is surprising to many that Suculent has managed to fly underneath the Michelin radar for so long, but if dinner on the last night in Barcelona is any indication this may actually be a good thing for diners as the €75 Menu SucuXLent proved to be an unequivocal bargain for a party of two seated at the counter where they were treated to sixteen courses of innovative market-fresh cuisine paired to excellent service. Well regarded by his peers and several well-traveled gourmands for creating a simple and honest Restaurant not far from Las Ramblas, several tourists mistakenly stopping in during service expecting another Tapas Bar kindly directed next door to Romero's more casual La Taverna, those making reservations at Suculent are welcomed by a staff of three servers including one bilingual bartender and with the menu divided into four individual tastings tailored to the guests' liking the decision is simply one of appetite. Long and narrow with less than two-dozen seats, the walls of the former Cellar dark green and wood with little adornment, it is shortly after sitting down that guests are presented with a bowl of Olives alongside a stiff Cocktail of Vermouth and Fruit, the choice of a menu quickly seeing the first of several appetizers offered in the form of "Our Waldorf" featuring a crisp stalk of Celery topped with sliced Apples, Blue Cheese and Grapes. Choosing to sip Cava along with dinner, the Chef's description of his Food as "Produce based and focused on the pure flavor of each product" making anything dry particularly well suited to more than half of the night's plates, it was after a brief delay during which housemade Sourdough was served that two plump Oysters draped in Pork Jowl and blanketed with Pistachio Cream were presented, the flavor fresh with tempered minerality and a smooth finish while the Croquetta was gold and crispy around a center of Cheese, Lobster and Cuttlefish. Stepping back and forth between Spanish and Mediterranean flavors, modern technique frequently used to intensify Sauces or Stocks, it was with a refreshing Ceviche of Market Tomatoes in cryoconcentrated Water Lilly Tea that the first of four 'Starters' was served next, the ingredient quality readily evident just as it was in the following Salad of Beets in spicy Mandarin Broth. Growing heavier with subsequent plates, but quick to scale back with a lighter dish after particularly intense flavors in the manner of his teachers, it was here at the third intermediate plate that Chef Romero sent out his famous whole Lobster made into Tartare and served with Chicken Skins, everything about this dish comforting yet elegant with each bite a little smaller in hopes of making it last. Next focusing diners' attention on Garlic, first as a fragrant Soup with Apples and Trout Roe and then with a whole Clove intended to be squeezed and smeared on flaky Vegetable Flatbread, it was after these two plates that eight squares of Tuna Belly were served between dehydrated Cherry Tomatoes with Smoked Cream, the latter not particularly necessary given the quality of the Fish but nice for adding a little dimension just the same. Playing off the idea of Mexican Street Corn next, the apparent "char" actually a smear of Black Olive that was messy but worthwhile in adding salinity to the otherwise sweet Kernels, it was once again here that Suculent chose to show off their sourcing with several styles of foraged Mushrooms cooked tender atop Black Pepper and Cheese with grated Parmesan, the beautiful Zucchini Blossom "Samosa" to follow far lighter than one might expect for something stuffed with Lamb Sausage. Rounding out the savories with a "Steak" of Cabbage served next to thinly sliced Fries slicked in spicy Egg Yolk, the slab of Herb Butter adding a both flavor and succulence to the tender Crucifer, it was after wiping up all the residual sauce with another slice of Bread that Dessert commenced, plates one and two focusing on the simple sweetness of Figs and Strawberries next to textural condiments while the Cheesecake was intended to be eaten by hand with the flavor of Wine and Maria Cookies making for a elegant, lingering finale.

Mary C.

Went for dinner at Suculent and it was fantastic. We ordered among other things a smoked sardine and tobiko soup, a pickled foie, ox tongue stew, grilled octopus, grilled squid with foie, and to finish a brie ice cream. I enjoyed every dish especially the squid with foie and brie ice cream. The ox tongue was nothing special for me, but everything else was delicious. The service was very friendly especially since we dont speak spanish. The only reason for not giving 5 stars is because the meal cost 70 euros per couple including drinks, which is not too too expensive given the meal, but im cheap :) Note: they have outdoor seating across the street which is really nice