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If you are in Barcelona, near the Sagrada Familia and looking for a quiet, peaceful dining experience…stop reading…STOP READING…this is not the place for you!
A good friend of mine started a great Facebook page, Restaurants and Hotels Around The Globe…helpful to those of us who travel and are looking for fabulous places to eat and stay. The day before I was to be in Barcelona, she was there on a layover and posted about La Paradeta, a seafood restaurant near Sagreda Familia that she had dined in that evening. Since I had planned to visit Sagrada Familia on this particular trip, I decided that I would book my ticket in the latter part of the afternoon. The dinner hour starts very late in Barcelona with many restaurants not opening until 8:00 pm…it would put me in that location at the right time.
Locating Passage Simó on my map, I headed that way around 7:45 pm, thinking that I would be a bit early but would be first in line. This way, I would be able to finish dinner a bit early. After being up all night, I was quite tired and wanted to get back to my hotel to get some rest! Hmmm…everyone must have had the same idea!
When I approached the restaurant’s location, I noticed that a line had already formed. As I took my place at the end (I was number 15), I realized that this place must be quite popular! A very good sign indeed!
As the door was unlocked and raised at 8:00 pm, we entered and was confronted with a large, iced counter containing many different types of fresh seafood…lobsters, razor clams, squid, tuna, oysters, cuttlefish, crabs, scallops, crayfish… and each type was priced by the piece, pack or kilo. It was wonderful to be able to see everything that was offered and to be able to select the exact pieces and amounts that you would like.
After giving my order to the attendant, I was given a number and proceeded to the register where I gave my numbered slip and drink order. While I paid for my order (€30 for 4 raw oysters, 10 razor clams, tuna steak, salad and a large beer), I was instructed to take a seat and to listen for my number to be called from the adjacent window.
Enjoying my raw oysters while listening for my number, I decided that if you were dining with others and trying to carry on a conversation, it would be quite difficult. The woman at the window was yelling out table numbers in both Spanish and English, continually, in addition to the loud chatter of the other diners.
“MESA NUMERO SIETE! Table number seven”. Oh, good, I could quit concentrating on her heavily accented announcements…my food was ready!
Walking up to the counter, I discovered that only my salad was ready at this time. She check off the salad from my ticket, gave it back to me along with a huge plate, loaded with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives…definitely enough for two people.
Relishing my salad and beer, I tried to relax, all the while, training my ear for numero siete. Finally, my number was called and I returned to my table with a plate filled with razor clams and tuna. I have to admit, I have never had razor clams, but they were extremely tasty. The tuna was cooked a bit more than I like but was juicy, tender and delicious.
Finally, sensing that my table would soon be needed, I carried my tray and plates to the other window as I was instructed to earlier. Filled and happy, I headed back to my hotel for a much needed night of rest.
If you are looking for a place to relax and have a nice dinner with great conversation, you should look to another of the many fabulous places in Barcelona. But…if you are looking for freshly prepared and delicious seafood in a busy, raucous environment, this is the place for you! Affordable and easy to order and pay, the system’s method does help when in a group as everyone can pay for their own bill. There are six other locations throughout the city…Meridiana, Passeig de Gracia, Paral-lel, Born, Sants and Sitges for your convenience with the Sagrada Familia location being the largest.
Definitely enjoying my meal enough to return on another occasion, my only question left unanswered was, “With so many people constantly in line and at the register, how do you get another beer???”
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La Paradeta Sagrada Familia
- http://www.laparadeta.com/en/
- Address: Passatge Simó 18, 08025 Barcelona
- Hours: Monday, closed. Tuesday-Sunday, 1300-1600, Tuesday-Thursday, 2000-2230, Friday-Sunday, 2000-0000
- How To Get There: Metro, L2 or L5 lines, Sagrada Familia station
