Review: Restaurante Carmen

by David | Barcelona restaurants

Before I moved to Barcelona in 2001 I used to pass a restaurant close to Sants Station, which in January always used to have a sign outside announcing “calçotada”.

I have long been a lover of this speciality from Valls, down in the south of Catalonia close to Tarragona, and so one day we tried Carmen’s calçotada for the first time.

Calçots are a specially grown spring onion, which are removed from the ground and replanted in bunches to provide this tender, sweet delicacy that provides Valls with much of its tourism. This delicacy is elevated to a feast the calçotada – by serving with pa amb tomaquet and a selection of grilled meats.

The calcots are cooked over an open fire and served with a sauce similar to romesco – pick up a calçot, strip of the blackened outer skin, dunk in the sauce and eat!

Carmen’s is a small family run restaurant, which has had a massive refurbishment since the last time I’d been, perhaps two or three years ago. Where there was once a long bar, there are now more tables and the restaurant is comfortably decorated without having lost any of its character and the service is as good as ever.

C/ Valladolid 44, tel 93 330 36 88
http://www.restaurantcarmen.com
Near Sants Station