la cerveseria
I cycled up to Gràcia (once a village in it’s own right, but now a suburb of Barcelona) today, in search of Mercat de l’Abaceria, the oldest market in the barrio, but sadly it was closed. It’s possible that it’s closed for August (as are many businesses in Barcelona), but it is also due to be refurbished soon. Looking to turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse and as I was up in Gracia, I thought I ought to look for a suitable place for lunch.
bar
I found La Cerveseria in Plaça de la Revolució, which reminded me somewhat of a German bierkeller by name and on the inside.
interior
I had been looking for a shaded table outside, however, the menú del día looked good and was served indoors only. It’s also worth noting that there were 20 or so locals, eating food downstairs – I took that to be a positive sign.
menú
It was a hot day and as I’d cycled up hill and walked around for 45 minutes, the idea of cold air conditioning with a cheap lunch won me over.
vermut
I promptly ordered a refreshing vermut de la casa before the menú del día arrived.
aceitunas
My friendly waiter brought over a dish of little olives to go with the drink. I was beginning to like this place and forgot about the large wall TV (blissfully silent), showing the latest news.
fideuà
I ordered Fideuà a la Marinera amb Allioli (seafood fideuà) as my starter. Fideuà is a very popular paella like dish, made with short pasta instead of rice – as with paella, fideuà should never contain chorizo! This fideuà was a good one, with, clams, squid, mussels and langostinos (prawns).
tonyina
For my main course I ordered Tonyina a la Planxta amb Vinagreta de Soja i Llimona (tuna steak cooked on the griddle with a soya and lemon vinagrette dressing), served with fried potatoes in their skins. This was excellent!
iogurt
For pudding I had iogurt – yogurt with cherries and fruit syrup on top.
vi rosat
Included in the price of my lunch was a 500ml garrafa (carafe) of very good vi rosat – that’s two thirds of a bottle!
factura
I was astonished, when I got my bill – the lunch, including 3 courses, wine, olives, bread and a vermut was €10.50!
I suspect it may get a little noisy here at night, but there are always tables outside. Nevertheless, the lunch and service were excellent and I will go back!
La Cerveseria is at: Plaça de la Revolució 3, 08012, Gracia, Barcelona.
Mad Dog TV Dinners 
That does it 🙂 ! After hospitalization and living on sandwiches as down with the flu at present at home . . . I’m moving to Barcelona ! Saw a foodie segment on the place last night on Food Network to boot: I could actually afford to live there ! Methinks the appetizing seafood starter and yogurt to follow would have sufficed . . . well, would not have knocked your wine back either . . . thanks . . .
Amazingly, it’s not just Barcelona – the whole of Spain does a menú del día on weekday lunchtimes.
You need some chicken soup for flu – I hope you get better soon!
Ah yes, Mad, but methinks the cultural aspects of your fair city would add to the package . . . actually am not ‘that’ fond of much of the country 🙂 ! . . . . too ill to make the chicken soup: wouldn’t it be nice . . . ?
Wow, great menú! You chose exactly what I would have chosen too 😀
Thanks Tanya – it was like an oasis!
Yet another fine lunch you shared with us today. Your tuna steak looks delicious and perfectly cooked. I
Thanks Ron – it was a good find!
The thought of you cycling brought more sweat to my brows. We are hearing temps are crazy in Spain/Portugal/S Europe. A great menú del día – i would have made same choices especially the fideuà. I’ve been cooking up Mexican food these last few days – fajitas/chicken/guacomole/tomato relish/sour cream.
Believe it or not, Barcelona has been cooler than London for about a month! Regardless, if you cycle up to Gracia, you get to freewheel back down again, though there is a lot to be said for the air conditioned Metro!
Mexican sounds good.
Another bargain!
Thanks Michelle – it’s amazing what you can find.
I’m always amazed at the price of lunch in Spain. We are taking a cruise from London to Barcelona in two weeks…I hope that I’ll find something as good as your menú del día during our travels in Spain.
How brilliant!
My advice is avoid the restaurants and bars on the Ramblas like the plague – they are only interested in fleecing tourists. There are lots of restaurants that do a cheap menú del día on a weekday lunchtime – look for the hand written black boards outside and local people eating.
I particularly recommend you go to La Mar Salada and Llamber for lunch.
Tickets and Disfrutar are the places to go for extraordinary food, though they are not cheap.
Do email me if you’d like any other tips or info.
My fried Oli has a good restaurant list here:
http://olipix.com/extreme-lunching-barcelona/
Thank you Mad Dog for the advice and your offer…it is much appreciated. 😀
You are very welcome!