Barcelona – New Haven

We visited today, on Father’s Day. Food was awesome, great atmosphere. Staff was exceptional. Our server Dylan was great and was on point! The hostess and other staff were attentive. Would definitely return and order the red sangria again.

Even though the place was packed on Sunday night (Yale graduation weekend), the service was excellent. We loved everything we ordered. Our waitress was extremely helpful and attentive. We started with a cheese plate and the bib salad (light and tasty). The Chorizo and fig, Potato tortilla, chicken croquetas, and chicken empanadas were all wonderful.
The first few tapas came out quickly and the tapas just kept coming with perfect timing. It was very reasonably priced for the amount of tapas we tried. Everything was delicious and I would definitely return.
Parking was not a problem. You can park in the Omni parking garage right next door. They do need a better sign on the door, we walked right past the restaurant.

Just as delicious as I remember it from 5 years ago, and most of my old favorites remain on the menu, including the fried calamari and the seafood paella. We also got the chorizo and figs, meatballs, empanadas, chickpeas and spinach, a delicious homemade burrata special, and a handful of other dishes. The eggplant dish was the only one I didn’t like.
The prices are extremely reasonable (I guess compared to SF and NY, and the ambiance is lovely.

Went for a drink with a co-​worker. Had a mojito. Bartender took his time and really made a good drink. Atmosphere is friendly and fast reminds me of being in NYC. Will be a repeat customer and will recommend.

A New Haven gem for a great lunch and classy wine bar. So many pluses here. There’s the amazing variety of wine and a full tapas menu. Waitstaff is educated in wine selections and what pairs best. Great atmosphere and the bar staff is always superb!

This was my third time here. This time I’ve found that this place isn’t just great for tapas, but also for meals. We tried the following tapas: Grilled Hanger Steak and Chorizo and Figs. The steak has truffle oil drizzled over it, which adds a smooth texture to the steak. The chorizo was interesting as the outside was very sweet from the figs while the inside was slightly salty and hot from the spices and meat. We also got the nicoise salad, which had a very nice vinaigrette for sauce.
We got a seafood paella for two (they charge per person), which was more than enough for four people. There’s a wealth of seafood in this dish ranging from shrimp and mussels to baby octopi. Reminded me of Korean seafood fried rice dish when it came out on a black stone pan.
The service was quick as the waiters hover near a wall behind a group of tables. It’s a bit pricey, but would definitely would visit again when I have the occasion.

Made reservations for 3 at 7:30 on a Friday night and we were seated right away — we even had our choice of which side of the restaurant we’d prefer. It was a pretty noisy place with lots of large groups so we opted for the right side, away from the kitchen area.
The waitstaff was very attentive and put our drink order in right away. I selected the Bourbon Spice rack and highly recommend it. It was refreshing, and the large ice cubes kept it from getting watered down quickly… although I’ll add that I didn’t let it stick around for them to melt either. Seriously such a great cocktail.
Some of the small plates we ordered: whipped Sheeps milk cheese, chorizo and figs, hanger steak, fiddleheads, grilled asparagus, mushrooms, gambas, swordfish, spring pea soup, and the lamb chops.
The pea soup was a surprisingly delicious course. I’m not all that hot for peas and I would DEFINITELY order that again next time.
Whipped Sheeps milk cheese was a crowd favorite for its delicate taste. But the grilled bread it was served with was straight up burnt. The black char marks took over and when you dipped it in the cheese all you tasted was that awful burnt taste. I should’ve asked for different toast, but we dipped into our bread bowl and used that for serving instead.
Hanger steak — just as good as everyone says. Same goes for the chorizo and gambas.
Fiddleheads were awesome, loved the sauce they were served with. Would order again for sure.
Mushrooms were good to break up he heavier meat plates, but otherwise nothing overly special.
I liked the swordfish with the salsa verde, but the other two diners did not. The salsa tasted a little minty and I think that’s what threw them off.
Lamb chops were cooked perfectly, but I’d likely try a more adventurous plate next time. I had my eye on the pulpo but couldn’t talk my partners into it.
We split two plates for dessert — hazelnut cake with almond joy ice cream and a raspberry sauce and caramel cookie sandwiches. The hazelnut cake was too rich for my liking, but the ice cream it was paired with was a win. The cookie sandwiches were more up my alley.
Overall — great service, awesome drankz, really good food. Will definitely be coming back to try again.

Food is just utterly amazing. Great ambience and probably perfect for celebratory occasions. Any tapas (chicken&jamon croquette and hanger steak are my favorite) and seafood paella are just so good. Sangria and chocolate cake are good too. Service is great! The servers comes just enough times and are all very nice. It is always packed so make sure to make a reservation in advance. It’s a little noisy, which makes sense considering a vibrant bar scene, but it’s enough for you to have a conversation with your friends.

My absolute favorite restaurant in New Haven. They have a rotating selection of tapas (in both flavor and price) based on season and whatever the chef is in the mood for, INSANE entrees (try the paella), a few solid draught beer choices, and a very well-​stocked bar which they use to make a number of exclusive cocktails (try the Whiskey Root or the India Orange Trade, they’ll hook you up even if it’s not on the menu). The bartenders are the most knowledgeable, friendliest bunch I’ve ever run across. These guys are good — it’s like each one of them is a sommelier that’s ready and willing to help you with your drink selection. As a matter of fact, I only ever eat at the bar.
I’ve been to the New Haven Barcelona, the one in West Hartford, and the one in Stamford and the New Haven location is by far my favorite.
I could go on, but I’m getting tired of typing right now, but, to wrap things up – you should definitely check Barcelona out.

I went here for dinner last night, and I very much like this place. No, it’s not exactly like tapas you get in Spain, but it’s good for what it is. The ambiance is great for a date, but also accommodates parties. It’s dark and sultry in there, and I have never had a bad meal there. The wine list is very extensive, and I’d opt for a bottle over the sangria, which I found to be a bit weak.
Last night, I ended up with the chorizo and figs (my go-​to) and roasted Brussels sprouts, but the patatas bravas are great. The sweet potato tapas look very good and come on a bed of goat cheese, and my other favorite which isn’t always on the menu is the mushrooms with goat cheese (they say it’s a winter thing). I’ve also had the tortilla there, and while it’s not like a homemade one, it runs a close second.
Tapas run you anywhere from $ 6-​$ 11 per dish, and a bottle of wine can be $ 23 and up. I know they now serve Sunday brunch, which I’ve yet to try, but I can’t imagine it’s anything short of awesome. It’s a nice place to take it slow and snack all night, and I definitely enjoy it there.
UPDATE: I went to brunch there this past weekend, and it was totally worth it. The breakfast tapas are inventive, and if you ask nicely, they miiiiiiiiight make you something off the dinner menu (thank you for doing that!). The half-​priced wine is applicable to nearly every bottle, which makes it easier to try new things. It’s a good thing it’s a 1.6mi walk from me, or else I’d go broke eating brunch here every weekend.

Hands down my all time FAVORITE restaurant in New Haven. From drinks to food to ambiance, Barcelona’s got your back. First of all, it’s a beautiful venue. The inside is modern chic, fairly dim with a bar in the middle and small seats scattered throughout. As you go further in, there’s another section that is often used for group events. There’s always a crowd which makes the vibe fun and social but at the same time they manage to make sure it’s not too loud.
The tapas though. They are to die for. There are several staples that you can never go wrong with-​mahi mahi, chicken empanadas, and gambas just to name the ones I get the most often. They also have lots of specials. I’ve also tried their paella and larger entrees for two-​everything is always delicious. On top of this, they also have THE best sangria. It’s super light but also somehow alcoholic at the same time and doesn’t have the oversweetness that some sangria makes the mistake of being. They also have a great selection of wines and cocktails.
I’ve been here for fun, special occasions, with groups, for interviews-​basically just about every excuse I can get. Staff is always super friendly and willing to explain to you what they have. Don’t miss this gem when you’re in New Haven!

5– for happy hour deals!
5– tapas
5– ambience
So all around…5 stars! Service was super friendly, their homemade bread is to die for! Definitely keep asking for more, you’ll need it with these super strong wines! Also the Barcelona gin and tonic is rather interesting as well, it has Rosemary muddled in it!

I absolutely LOVED this restaurant and I can’t wait to go back. Our waiters, whose names were Ray and Dorothy if I remember correctly, where amazing and gave us great advice on what to order. They cleared and replaced dishes beautifully, and we’re both very fun to chat with. We got about 7 dishes, which were all delicious, although I can’t remember the names of them (I’ll have to write a new review the next time I go back). We sipped on smooth red sangria which I adored. Every dish we chose was recommended by our waiters so I would definitely say to ask for advice on what to get because the waitstaff knows what they are talking about! We finished off with churro’s and flan for dessert, both were again delicious.
I can’t wait to return. This restaurant has a great ambience perfect for a date, a birthday, or really any occasion!

Had an excellent tapas dinner here a couple of weeks ago. Highly recommend the patatas, the beets, and the chorizo with figs; hard to go wrong here, we really enjoyed every dish. Great service as well.

Barcelona somehow managed to escape me as it is cleverly hidden next to a winery and has wine bottles displayed in its windows. After my friend explained that it was really a restaurant did I decide to book a reservation for my fiancé and myself. He did warn me to only order tapas as the larger portions tend to be a bit pricey.
My fiancé and I ordered a fair amount of food including the following: drunken goat cheese charcuterie board, steamed mussels, hanger steak, wild mushroom flatbread, lamb, potato tortilla, spiced chicken empanadas, fried pork, and warm chocolate hazelnut indulgence. While we were waiting for our tapas, the waitress brought us warm bread with a plate of olive oil. It was a great way to calm our stomachs as we were patiently waiting for our meals.
The goat cheese charcuterie board arrived first and it was two slices of cheese served with a side of red grapes. Thinking that it was a charcuterie board, we were expecting either a bigger portion or for it to be served with meat of some kind, but it was still a nice starter. A few bites into the goat cheese, the rest of our orders came flying out the kitchen at a ridiculous pace – we had to eat faster!
My favorite of the night had to be the hanger steak as it was perfectly seasoned with the raw, juicy medium. My fiancé’s favorite was surprisingly the wild mushroom flatbread. She thought that the mushrooms were hearty and meaty and was balanced well with arugula and cheese.
The only reason why we didn’t give Barcelona a full five stars is that some of the dishes didn’t seem to have the balance to achieve umami. For instance, the lamb was paired with a parsnip mash which added another layer of heaviness on top of the already filling lamb. Something lighter such as a warm spinach salad or a butternut squash purée would have been a better choice. The potato tortilla was also a bit bland because it was layers of potato formed into a pie with each layer lacking salt.
All in all, I probably would return for the meat dishes.

Está tarde pude disfrutar junto a mi pareja. Un buen servicio. Todo estuvo tan delicioso. Aunque el unico pero es que me gustaria mas tapas calientes. Una carrillada, montadito serrano, etc. De todos modos Volvere sin duda :)

I came back on a Friday night at 7.30 when Darryl had generously offered a do-​over after my previous review. I had a really nice evening out with my partner, and we ordered mostly the same thing as I did the last time I was here with my friend. We were seated promptly at 7.30 and were attended to with water and bread.
— The chorizo and figs and hanger steak are still inarguably the best tapas dishes on the menu, but the rest still left something to be desired. While the sauteed mushrooms and patatas bravas were decent, the pork belly and calamari were a little too salty, and the brussel sprouts had a flat flavour profile. It was a bit off-​putting having really salty things contrasted with the sweetness of the chorizo and fig dish. These were disappointing as I was looking forward to it.
However, the crepes were great! It had chocolate drizzled on top, and the insides were filled with cream and dulche de leche. Definitely the highlight of the meal.
Thanks, Darryl, for the opportunity to dine at Barcelona again.

This place is awesome! You know it’s awesome because if you don’t have a reservation then you may not be able to get a table. Yes, it is busy like that.
The ambience is great!
We had a reservation and still had to wait 20 – 30 minutes to get seated.
They have a huge wine selection to go along with tapas. We ordered 15 different tapas and got to experience everything from seafood to dessert. I wasn’t sure what to expect but very pleased. They were sold out the broccoli tapas that I wanted which means it must be good. I’ll definitely be looking for that on my next visit.
If you haven’t been, then I suggest you try it and don’t forget to make a reservation.

I’ve come to Barcelona on numerous occasions – once for a birthday party, twice for Valentine’s days, and most recently, with my parents. This restaurant is a favorite of mine and for good reason – the portions are the perfect size and not too expensive. The wine menu is expansive, and the wait staff knowledgeable. Tapas are the best for sharing – you get to try a bunch of different things, as opposed to eating just one dish for dinner.
My favorites:
Grilled Hanger; the meat is tender and the truffle vinaigrette is amazing.
Gambas al Ajillo; the shrimp has just a hint of spiciness
Spinach-​Chickpea Cazuela; the chickpeas practically melt in your mouth
Chorizo & Sweet + Sour Figs; great balance of sweet and salty
Also – stop counting calories and get their flan for desert.
What made the largest difference, this time around, was our waiter Taivarr (I’m almost certain I’ve botched the spelling, but it’s the thought that counts). When one of our dishes didn’t arrive in time, he took it off the tab, and at the end of dinner brought it to us to go.

I don’t think I’d ever really had tapas, but I had a good idea of what to expect. Like many, we dined family style within a group of eight, sharing sangria and around… 20 tapas dishes (which was maybe a little bit too much food for us).
The highlights:
–the meatballs were something I hadn’t considered getting, but they had a unique flavor and were excellent.
–there was another dish which was potatoes with this spicy sauce on them. I would order it again for sure.
–wasn’t a big fan of the hot peppers– they weren’t really hot to me– but I will say everyone else in the group was thoroughly pleased by this
–there was another mushroom focused dish that was also very amazing.
In short, my descriptions are vague because my Spanish is horrible, it was dark in the room, and the sangria was just that yummy.
Still, a night to remember with amazing ambiance and a nice box of matches as a souvenir at the door.

Came here on Monday night and it was pretty crowded, but we got seats at the bar right away. We were served promptly, but then the waitress never asked us anything else. Not if our drinks were okay, how we were doing, if we wanted food, nothing. We had to flag her down for the check and to even take the check so we could pay.
This has happened to me twice in a week in different New Haven resturants, Idk if my friend and I look like we are in an intense conversation that the waitresses doesn’t want to interput us… but at a resturant I expect to be interrupted by a waitress or waiter, whatever wasnt super impressed.