Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni
Bardeni El Meatbar is the kind of charming restaurant that is wholly infused with the values and the personality of its owner and head chef Dani Lechuga. Places like this are few and far between, and translates into an experience that is impossible to forget.
Chef Dani Lechuga. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Booking a table beforehand is a must, and there’s even a sign on the door indicating that there’s no use ringing the doorbell if you haven’t (but in a nice way). And that’s a good thing: once you’re in, you’re in, and there won’t be any traffic in and out of the place until you’re done. The interior has an air of a butcher’s shop, but with plenty of small details with a nod to its owner.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Bardeni El Meatbar is true to its name: this is a temple for carnivores. But not the kind you’d think - you won’t find a list of cuts and sides to pick. This is not a steakhouse. Chef Dani Lechuga is an artist; a creative mind with endless talent and a vision of what he wants to serve. The restaurant has been around for already 20 years, and has earned a mention in the Michelin guide.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Here the menu is a creative take on everything you can do with meat, and your mind will be blown when you’ve tried a range of dishes and you realize they were all different, surprising ways of preparing meat. Cured, slow-cooked, raw, seared… with unique forms of presenting but without ever being too fussy, too pretty, or in any other way removing you from the indulgence.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The menu is perfectly to the point. You have a couple of non-meat items among the starters, but don’t be afraid to go straight to the point. Start with the cured Picanha: Angus beef cured in-house. It’s wonderfully soft in flavor, not too sharp, with a perfect texture.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The foie mi-cuit is a dream - it comes served with apple and a touch of vanilla, and complements perfectly any of the meat dishes. The Taco-Mex is a delightful surprise on the menu, it consists of two wheat tortillas with smoked eggplant (trust me, even those who are not a fan of vegetables will love this one), lettuce, and the most tender, delicate beef tenderloin carpaccio. Beautiful.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The fricandó sandwich is a fun play on a traditional meat stew. The soft, braised meat comes served on equally soft bread, with a mushroom and cheese cream. The meat melts in your mouth.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Any fan of a good steak tartare will not be disappointed here. It’s prepared with a mix of beef tenderloin and Angus beef picanha, and it is of course hand-chopped, with a wonderful, slightly sharp touch to it.
El Denito is an option you cannot miss. Chef Lechuga came up with this sandwich during the pandemic, and it’s an incredibly addictive creation with beef tenderloin, Café de Paris sauce, cheddar, and onions. The dry-aged meatballs are also a worthwhile choice.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The two big final stars of the show are the Angus tenderloin, very unique in its texture and subtle flavor, and the onglet with a more intense flavor. Both are absolutely incredible, and might just induce some goosebumps.
Bardeni el Meatbar is hands down a must visit in Barcelona: a box that you need to check. And once you’ve visited you’ll be hooked and want to return. It’s impossible not to love, and chef Lechuga is one-of-a-kind: in all the best ways. Long live Bardeni, and chef Lechuga.
Bardeni El Meatbar - Caldeni. Carrer de València, 454 Barcelona (Eixample Dreta).
