While looking for tapas in Calgary on a whim, I happened upon Barcelona Tavern; a Spanish-inspired restaurant that serves Paella and other Mediterranean meals.
Located on Stephen Avenue, its prominent sign and bull logo draws you in. Inside is a large space with many televisions showing sports events and modern bar/restaurant decor.
I didn’t end up having any tapas, but I had some of the Seafood Paella ($29) which has mussels, clams, prawns, calamari, and of course “bomba” rice (a type of short-grain Spanish rice generally used for Paella).
The paella was quite delicious, and both the seafood and rice were nicely cooked. I can’t speak to the authenticity as it’s been years since I had paella in Spain, but it certainly didn’t feel inauthentic to me. The rice was crispy on the bottom (my favourite!), and I only wish it had more seafood.
Next was the steelhead trout with cauliflower purée, blistered tomatoes, rapini, and a great and interesting sweet-and-sour sauce for a similar price.
The trout was cooked to a perfect tenderness and tasted similar to a very good salmon. Surprisingly, the cauliflower purée was very flavourable and enjoyable (who would’ve thunk? It sounds so boring). The tomatoes and rapini were a pleasant (and needed) addition. Similarly to the paella, everything was delicious but I would’ve liked more trout and veggies in my plate.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience with very delicious food. I would recommend it to those wanting to enjoy some Spanish dishes not often found in other restaurants, at least in my limited experience.
Thanks for reading!
Ana 🙂
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