Cafe Barcelona
As with all the “new kids on the block” we try to visit as many new restuarants as possible to help our visitors, and residents alike, sift through all the great culinary experiences there are in Naples. We are blessed to have so many fine restuarants, bistros and cafes in a small area compared to larger, metro areas that ache for more than a step above purveyor food. Sorry to say folks, but this isn’t one that has risen to the top. We visited Cafe Barcelona two weeks ago with another couple from Los Angeles, who were anxious to experience authentic Spanish fare and compare it to what they’ve grown accustomed to in LA. As we often do on their visits to Naples, we plan for at least one new restaurant visit but can sometimes get two in. You can order off the traditional menu which offers about half a dozen selections that range from beef to lamb, or you can select Tapas, the small traditional Spanish offerings that range from vegetarian to sausage to shrimp. We decided for 4 people we should make 6 selections. After making our selections, our server told us that at least three of our choices were unavailable. Two of the wine selections they didn’t have and one of the desert selections they didn’t have. I don’t think it was from having an overwhelming amount of patrons because on a Friday evening at 7:30 we were the only people in the dining room with one couple sitting outside enjoying their wine. So, we tried their sliced sausage, 2 orders of garlic shrimp, a fresh spinach salad, a plate of anchovies and another totally unforgettable item. The shrimp was tasty and hot and the spinach was a nice side item. The sausage and anchovies were really quite standard. Our desert brownie was pretty tasty but the flan wasn’t. So, our disappointment came in our favorite choices not being available and having to chose something we really didn’t want, such as the sausage and anchovies. I’m not sure if this cafe will survive Naples‘ high standards, I guess time will tell. I can make one guarantee though, we won’t be revisiting it now or any time in the future. But, with that, I encourage you to wonder through and form your own opinion, you may just enjoy it.