Zoooom! Like an Indy car off the third turn there goes our waitress!!!! Unfortunately I was mid sentence a couple of times as I was speaking to our waitress and she would take off. I love this place as it is one of the only tapas places in town however this past visit was uninspiring. The food was pretty good...though I thought that the patas bravas could have been spicier. Sadly the pitcher of sangria was horrible...it tasted like flavored water....maybe it was sitting on ice too long? We ll be back because we love tapas and have had fantastic experiences before but we ll try a new small plates restaurant before we give barcelona another go.
(2)
Amanda F.
I love BARcelona! We had so many tapas that I can't even remember them all, however per the recommendation of Yelp, we got the goat cheese tomato thing. EXCELLENT! The sangria was watered down, so next time, we're going to ask for a pitcher without ice. Sure, it will be less full, but will taste good the whole way through! Also ordered the dulce de leche. That was great as well, however I hate to say that I've had better from Taco Cabana in San Antonio. I will be back, though!
(4)
Kyle K.
Came here for devour. The pace has a neat atmosphere. We enjoyed every course l. I especially liked the tenderloin in the wine sauce. So sweet! And the churros really rocked. They may have even been better than Sam's Club ;)
We went on a Tuesday and were surprised with a special, 6 tapas for 2 people for $35. Great deal! Everything we had was great. The goat cheese with spicy sauce was hot and good. The paella was delicious.
(5)
Stacy J.
Had the Devour menu = 2 for $35 Chose: 1. Ensalada de Pollo con Curri - Curried Spanish chicken salad = pretty tasty 2. Queso de Cabra al Horno - Baked goat cheese in a spicy tomato sauce, with garlic bread = delicious!!!!!!!!!!!! 3. Pincho de Pollo Y Chorizo - Chicken and chorizo skewer with cumin aioli = meh, not so good, chicken was pretty dry 4. Espinaca con Garbanzo - Sauteed spinach and chick peas with Manchego cheese = good 5. Solomillo con Cabrales - Grilled tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and Rioja reduction = MOUTH WATERING, JUICY, TENDER, YUM-O!! Wish they were a little bit bigger because they were fantastic!! 6. Cajeta Churros - Strawberry and caramel-stuffed pastries, served with chocolate sauce = Yum!!! Very good!! Was worried we wouldn't get enough to eat with how small the tapas were, but all in all we left feeling filled just enough! But I didn't like how we felt rushed to eat each item as the next one was already on our table... and that unsettled/unrelaxed feeling probably also came from the high noise level due to many patrons and tile floors. Service was slow to approach us, but then was fairly good for the remainder of the dinner - like I mentioned, food came quickly! Interesting concept... not sure how I feel about it... guess I am just partial to a nice relaxing, quiet, well-attentive service... and this is loud and fast paced. Overall the food and service were really good! (have also heard that the Sunday brunch is amazing... will try this soon!)
(4)
Swatee G.
Went here for a lunch buffet today. Had NO CLUE Spanish Tapas could be done buffet style! :p Not a fan of the cold gazpacho, was too grainy for me :( Their pasta was decent, I basically filled my plate with a lot of veggies. The bread was good, the dessert was pretty ok too. Hostess was nice and polite, our glasses were always refilled appropriately. Might come back for the cheap buffet and the kinda nice vibe this place has.. Nothing extraodinary though
(3)
Suzan H.
Food was good but waiter had no personality or charm. Guy in ponytail and beard, if you don't like people then don't be a waiter!
(3)
Lourdes R.
The food is good and authentic. The atmosphere is a bit loud but fun. The service was horrible. We asked for brea to go with the tres quesos (3cheeses) & they looked at us like we were from Mars. It took twice asking to get it.
(3)
Carrie G.
Food was alright. Nothing rave about, but I'm not that big on that kind of food anyway. The tres leche was good as was the flan. :) server was very nice
(3)
Danielle P.
Love this place! They have all the tapas favorites. The goat cheese dish is always my favorite, and the garlic shrimp was fantastic. I also love the broccolini and the meatballs. Great decor and great service!
(5)
Shannnon C.
We really enjoyed our dinner. We are from out of town and found the food very flavorful and interesting. We had the calamari, the garlic shrimp, a cheese/ham plate, a cauliflower dish, and a broccolini dish. All superb! And the waitress (Ally) was knowledgable, helpful and pleasant! I have a couple of food allergy issue and had no problem maneuvering the choices. I recommend this stop.
(5)
Aubrey A.
This place was exactly what I'd hoped it'd be when I decided to take my girl friends out for dinner for tapas! Surprisingly they started on a wait at 5:30pm when I called to see if reservations were needed, but we decided to go anyway. We arrived and ordered drinks from the bar, and although we were given estimated 1-1.5 hour wait time, we were seated in less than 45 minutes. While we were waiting, the manager even came up to us to let us know that there were two seats in the bar that we could have until our table was ready. The decor was very traditional and welcoming. I was dressed up, but did not feel overdressed or underdressed. There were families and even older couples throughout the dining area. The food was great! I didn't particularly like that the food came out one dish at a time. You see, there were four girls and 2 of us shared, and the other 2 shared. The girl I was sharing with and I received all of our dishes before the other 2 did. I felt rude eating before they got their food, so I waited and my food got less than hot. I got over it though and chowed down with an, "mmm!" smile on my face. The host, manager and bar staff were all extremely friendly and welcoming. But the friendliness stopped there. Our server had probably never been called friendly in her whole life. She seemed bored and eager to get out of there on that busy Friday night. On top of dull, she was very slow. Thankfully, there were food runners and bussers to help us out, or else I would've complained to the manager. I've been a server before and let me just say that she should probably find another industry to work in. She is not good; not good at all. I left a 20% tip because I am not a meany, and the horrible service will not deter me from coming back. I just hope that I don't get the same service next time, or I won't be so nice!
I work right down the street from BARCelona Tapas and have gotten takeout from there for dinner about ten times in all. I've not sat down for a meal in the place, but the bar and dining areas seem very inviting and clean. The personnel are also pretty friendly. As for the food, it's very good. I usually like to pick up the mixed greens salad along with two or three tapas to take home for dinner. It makes for a not-too-heavy but very tasty meal with a nice variety of tastes, even more so with some nice cold Sangria to go with it. The alioli that's provided with most of the meat-based tapas also adds a nice touch of extra flavor as a dipping sauce. At this point, I've probably had well over half of what's on the menu and have never gone wrong. Highly recommended, especially now that the kinks with the online ordering have been worked out. Come to think of it, I think I'll be getting some dinner from BARCelona Tapas tomorrow night -- just writing this review has stoked my appetite for those tapas! Enjoy!
(5)
DeAnna P.
Why WOULDN'T you go here. The sangria is dry but fruity, just like I like it. The sherry braised mushrooms are the best I've ever had. I love the tapas format, you can have a small meal or a huge one, just keep adding! The Sunday brunch is a bit pricey at $16.95, but the quality is really good. And it doesn't have that gross stuff yourself silly atmosphere like some buffets. It also comes with a glass of sangria -- hooray!
(4)
Amber B.
I have eaten here a handful of times and I love their food and atmosphere. The staff has always been pleasant and my kids enjoyed eating here as well. There is nothing here as of now that I do not like. A great date spot if your down town Indy.
(5)
Allie S.
I went here for Devour Downtown on Superbowl Sunday. I called at 7 to make sure there were open for a couple more hours, as I was driving an hour to get there. They said they were open till 9. I got there at 8, tried opening the door, and it was locked. I called them and they said "because of Superbowl" they were closing early. After explaining I had called ahead, they unlocked the door. There were at least 6 other tables full and 2 more parties tried coming in after us (to no avail, as they locked the doors after us). I don't understand why they tried closing early when there were plenty of people in there. Very unprofessional. The food was ok. The fried artichoke was like fair food. The paella was bland. The brownie was cold and hard. The tortilla espanola, black bean soup, and goat cheese dish were decent. This place is just ok. I've been to much better tapas restaurants and this one is bland in comparison.
(3)
Dia D.
We had their $9.95 lunch buffet which has a very nice selection of tapas. The server was good about refilling our drinks. This is a little off the beaten path in downtown Indy but it's worth the extra block or two.
(4)
Angie F.
Holy salt buckets! This place has awesome potential, but the food is so salty!! I might have ordered additional small plates and beverages, but I abandoned all my plans to down at least a liter of water. The apps would be quite tasty if they'd lessen up on the sodium. Maybe I can request no salt next time??.
(2)
Jessica H.
I am in love. Plenty of vegetarian options - we came as a large group with prix fixe pre-arranged. I'm guessing we probably got a really good deal and were able to taste more than the average person would. So, of the vegetarian things I sampled the consensus was: Potato cake/pie - delicious... eggy, cheesy, flavorful and served with a great accompanying dipper. - TORTILLA ESPAÑOLA - Potato and onion omelette cake with spinach. $5.25 Goat cheese and spicy sundried tomato sauce - delicious and more than a little spice QUESO DE CABRA AL HORNO - Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread. - $7.50 FANTASTIC spinach empanadas - warning - there's a lot of spinach, but offset by the same aioli/sauce as on the potato cake. My fave. EMPANADAS DE ESPINACA Y CHAMPIÑÓN - Spinach and mushroom pastries with cumin garlic alioli. $5.95 Broccoli Rabe - served with red wind reduction/sauce and roasted garlic cloves. Delicious! BRÉCOL RIOJA - Sauteed broccolini with sundried tomatoes and garlic. $6.25 Meat stuffs: wings - ALAS DE POLLO Garlic pepper chicken wings with sherry mayonnaise $6.75 chorizo and b chicken skewers - PINCHO DE POLLO Y CHORIZO - Chicken and chorizo skewer with cumin alioli. $6.95 shrimp - GAMBAS AL ALIOLI - Garlic shrimp with chili oil and fresh lemon. $8.95 calamari - CALAMARI FRITO - Crispy calamari with Romesco sauce. $6.50 And beef tips -- I think it was: SOLOMILLO CON CABRALES - Grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and a Rioja reduction sauce. $10.50 A very fun place, delicious food. Totally worth every cent.
(5)
Brian B.
I have been to the location in St. Louis many times mainly for drinks and lunches. I did not know there was an Indianapolis location and we accidentally stumbled on it while visiting on business and looking for a place to get a late dinner downtown on a Sunday night. I was excited to see this location had a vegetarian paella so of course I had that. (Why does the St. Louis location not have this?) It was very good--a decent size portion with the rice cooked nicely, the right amount of garlic and tasty asparagus on top. Their Sangria was of course very good as well. Relaxing atmosphere and glad they are open late on Sunday night.
(3)
Jawad A.
Went there on two occasions. Lunch and Dinner. For lunch my wife and I had the buffet. I think it was about $9.50/person. For what the buffet offered the price wasn't too bad. I really liked the Ensalada de Pollo con Curri, Salmón and Tres Leches. Dinner can get expensive because each dish is~$8 and for two people you need atleast 4 dishes. If its your first time going I would recommend to try the Lunch buffet.
(3)
Pawel P.
enjoyed the food and drinks here very much. the beef tenderloin was awesome, but the goat cheese came after it and was alright, would of wanted to end on that beef
(4)
Nicolette M.
I've been coming to this place for years and love it for its ability to offer a fun setting for a group of people to share great food. I also am a big fan of the buffet lunch although I save it for moments I want to splurge. There's so many items I love here. First off, I never leave without having had the queso de cabra al horno. It's deceptively simple, crusty bread with a dipping sauce made of marinara with a dollop of goat cheese in the center. I often can talk the servers into giving us additional bread, albeit plain rather than the crunchy, crispy kind that comes with the dish. Many of the classic Spanish tapas are here including tortilla and patatas bravas. The versions here aren't as marvelous as you can get at some places in Barcelona, Spain, but they do beat some of the places along Las Ramblas in Barcelona, which tend to sell more to the tourists anyway. The first time I visited this restaurant a few years ago, I swear the tortilla used to be a bit better, but it seems to have declined a little bit in quality over the years. The other tapas are hard to choose from as so many of them are amazing. You can make your meal as healthy as you want it. If you aren't in the mood for tapas, the paella here is pretty amazing as is the gazpacho. A trip here is not complete without sangria. In fact, sometimes its worth a trip in itself. The pitchers aren't as cheap as they used to be, sadly, but they are still definitely worth their cost. This place will always be a great go-to place, for the food, for the sangria, and for the cheerful atmosphere.
(4)
Kevin S.
Well, we got three courses. Two sucked. 1 was good. This equates to a 33.3% satisfaction rate.
(2)
Jennifer S.
This is such a fun place to go. I love family style dining, where you have a bunch of things to share, and this place is perfect for that. Two of my favorites are the Almendras (Paprika-roasted Spanish almonds) & Queso de Cabra al Horno (Baked‌ goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread).Two of the three times I've been here have been during Devour Downtown - great way to try a bunch of things! The drinks are very good as well.
(5)
Chinasa N.
Great location to try veggies on tapas :) I had black bean soup, grilled cauliflower, broccolini & asparagus was delightful. Generous amounts and flavorful.
(5)
Anna O.
Glad BARcelona could satisfy our craving for Spanish fare after our trip there, although in a slightly "watered down" manner. The service was great, the waitress very attentive and checking on us every 5-7 minutes or so, paying attention to small things, such as utensils dropped by kids and follow-up "food envy" orders. Recommend: goat cheese with tomato sauce, lamb, beef tenderloin, cheese with quince jelly, fideos (came out as angel hair pasta vs. the short black noodles we enjoyed in Barcelona, but the sauce was spicy and delicious). Try cava instead of Sangria, which was not sweet enough and too watered down. Lovely experience overall, we will be back
(4)
Nathan O.
It doesn't taste like spain, and the dishes are pretty off. Yet it's really tasty anyway. So if you're looking for authentic spainish food, you'll be disappointed. If you're looking for a good meal at reasonable prices, it's a lovely place to eat.
(4)
Ryan D.
It was our first time visiting the restaurant, and we visited in the middle of the week, a Tuesday I believe. The menu has alot to offer, some quite special, others mediocre. I strongly recommend the Queso de Cabra al horno ,baked goat cheese in tomatoe sauce- it's awesome. They give you enought garlic bread and ti is quite a large app, you could split it between two people. I also really liked the lamb- flavorful and well cooked. The salmon tapa and mushroom with spinach empanada were mediocre. The quality fo the salmon seemed to be lower then what one gets a standard fish restaurant- and it was noticable. The empanada just was too salty and not well done. We also had the Pincho de Chorizo and Pollo- which was pretty decent, but not spectacular-quite basic. The margaritas were tasty, but the mix didn't make my top ten, but also didn't stop me from ordering a second! I will go back as there aren't alot of restaurants that offer this fare. I think wise ordering is needed and you could have pretty great night. Service was decent, what you would expect- pretty average. Atmosphere- we ate outside which was quite nice, just watch out for those smokers!! Summary:Decent food, some really great dishes, some just-ok, even fair. Unique little joint, you aren't going to find elsewhere in Indy. I've eaten in number of Tapas bars across the country I found better, but this is the best one I've found here. Would go back.
(3)
Jonathan M.
What a great place. Went here with a group of 6 friends and had a wonderful experience. We each ordered 2 items and shared everything family style. Filet, fish cakes, goat cheese dip, broccolini, sausages, mussels, and on and on and on! We were so full when we were done. Tapas are small plates that are meant for sharing but easily a few plates could fill you up. They have a great cocktail, wine and beer menu as well. This is really a great place to meet friends and have an evening where they can roll you out at the end. We went on Moto GP weekend and the staff was still very attentive even though the place was packed. I have been here sveral times and have never been disapponted.
(5)
Holly G.
We made our second trip to BARcelona Tapas a week ago on Friday. It was date night and my fiance and I decided to stop in for dinner before going to First Friday at Stutz. Neither time have we been disappointed. The offerings were brought quickly at the appropriate temperatures and they were always delicious. While reading the menu on this visit, it mentioned something about the tapas experience being centered on a conversational eating atmosphere - a place to get to know the people with whom you're dining. I think that is right on the money. It's easy to talk and eat when you don't have a daunting plate in front of you. Your food doesn't get cold and there's time in between dishes to talk about what you're eating, how your day went, etc. It is NOT cheap to eat here. But, for me anyway, dining out is not about the quantity of food - it's more about the quality, as well as the quality time spent with your friends and loved ones. I love the atmosphere and the experience of eating here! We will most definitely be back!
(5)
Julie C.
Yet another of my favorite Indianapolis restaurants. My friends and I make it a point to eat here every year when we are in town for GenCon. It is about 10 blocks away from the convention center, so it is not as packed as the restaurants that are closer, but it is still walkable. I have tried many of their dishes and liked most of them. One thing I would recommend is when you order the patatas bravas, ask for the sauce from the croquetas, which is more like the sauce you get in Barcelona. Otherwise, they come with chopped tomatoes on top, which is just weird. I have also enjoyed their tortilla española, olives, and ham/cheese plate, although it is a bit skimpy. Very good options for gluten-free diners.
(5)
Kate K.
Stupid name, or rather, stupid emphasis on the "BAR" portion of the name. Other than that, this was the best tapas experience I've ever had...in the US, at least. Without a reservation on a Saturday night, we expected a major wait, but luckily a large party had cancelled last minute, so we got seated literally in seconds. Prices were phenomenal - not sure why every other tapas place I've ever been charges 2x as much for the same food quality/portion sized?? I also appreciated how they actually serve Spanish tapas and aren't using "tapas" as an excuse to serve a random collection of small places as lots of places seem to be doing as of late. I'm not going to go dish-by-dish here since my party of two ordered a ton of different stuff (my boyfriend had never had tapas before - for shame!), however, I do recommend getting the bread basket, if for no other reason than to soak up some of the really flavorful juices you will encounter (from the mushrooms, meats, soups, etc)
(4)
Jack J.
Okay so you know how they (people that have visited or lived in Europe) say that the food tastes different because of the water or just because it's Europe and not the States?.....Well this place has overcome that hurdle. If you like, start with the rich and hearty Spanish olives to get the salivary glands soaked then rinse with the Gazpacho soup. As you sip your beverage (it could be water as good as this place is) scan the menu and choose your favorite Tapas. I promise you won't go wrong. I sat here and tried 5 of the 17 and found no faults. And guess what? I am in downtown Freak'n Indianapolis....unbelievable! Back to D.C. and the poser Tapas Joints compared to this place! No 5- star because it is not pretentious!
(4)
Marcie M.
BARcelona was a great place for my 30th birthday dinner....my girlfriends hosted a fabulous night out starting with this as our meeting place for food/drinks. They had $10 wine bottle specials and a bourbon lemonade drink option for the evening along with their regular full bar. We had a reservation for 7 p.m. and we were not alone. The place was BEYOND packed. For all the negative nelly reviews on here, you would think it would be dead, but.....it's not and for good reason....it's delicious! We had a very nice sized table for our group and when we asked for extra seating when a few non-RSVPers showed up last minute, they were happy to accommodate despite being super full! There was a big party behind us and two smaller groups next to us. My biggest complaint was how loud it was. I had to practically yell to the person sitting six inches away from me and don't even get me started on the guests at the end of the table. It was impossible to share a decent conversation, so this was disappointing since many of my friends had to leave after dinner... What was not disappointing was the food. It was off the chain. I loved almost everything. I am still dreaming about the beef brochette in horseradish sauce. My garlic shrimp in a lemon zest sauce was absolutely mouth-watering. The goat cheese spread was plentiful to share with 4-6 others and absolutely fatten you up delish! I also tried the chicken wings, Spanish meatballs and garden salad, all of which was absolutely amazing. I thought the food came out super fast too, despite it being very crowded and we had zero service issues. Our server also was more than willing and happy to split the checks for our 15 person group, which I found to be overly acommodating and something MANY downtown venues will not do. Overall, I don't quite understand the complaints about BARcelona....Maybe it is the chainy vibe...but with NOTHING else competing in this arena, I'm not exactly sure what the expectation is. It's not Chicago and no one really said it was. It is definitely different for Indy, though....there are not a lot of comparable "tapas" options to choose from and for a group, it is wonderful! I recommend for birthday dinners and a group out to celebrate fun times...I do not recommend going on a saturday night for a first date. It will be nearly impossible to hear your dining mate. But it's great for conversation over food and I love the idea of sharing with your dining partners in crime. It just makes the whole meal that much more fun, interactive and interesting.
(4)
Veronica V.
This has been by far the best brunch location I found since moving here from Texas where brunch is king. The tres leches french toast is to die for as is their eggs benedict!! The brunch buffet changes but has great staples. Love the spanish style brunch! Don't forget your free glass of sangria!
(4)
Rob A.
BARcelona Tapas is one of my favorite spots around Mass Ave. There aren't many options for tapas in Indy but this place does it right. I lived in Spain for some time and the food here really takes me back. Tortilla Espanola is my all time favorite, and the version offered here really hits the spot. They add some extras beyond the traditional ingredients but it works. The Espinaca con garbanzo is a good one too -- very fresh and simple with good favors. Other favorites of mine are the albondigas (Spanish meatballs) and patatas bravas. Paella is decent and the portion size is pretty good for the price. My only complaint is that the sangria tends to be watery. I also avoid the pinchos de pollo just because I think the price is a little high for two small skewers. For dessert the flan is a hit, although I've never seen them have anything besides the traditional caramel variety. The strawberry and caramel stuffed churros are good too and are a fun twist on the classic Spanish snack of churros con chocolate. Check it out!
(4)
Stella C.
The food was great! The asparagus is a must. The restaurant had a fun eclectic vibe but, was a bit too loud. The waiter was very friendly but, seemed a little rushed. All in all I was very please and will return if the opportunity presents itself.
(4)
Brittany R.
I enjoyed the tapas style dining and our waitress was incredibly friendly, however if you're looking for a filling meal without breaking the bank, tapas might not be the way to go for you. Speaking of the food, it was delicious! We loved everything we ordered. Having dined in Spain before, I can't go as far as saying it tasted authentic, but it was still good.
(3)
Daniel L.
4 stars? Too many? Maybe, but I'm grading for business innovation. In a downtown area saturated with Steakhouses and the standard American Bar, BARcelona Tapas explores different territory. Recommendations: Sangria, and the Friday Lunch Buffet for $10.
(4)
Robbie R.
I went there with a group last night for the first time. Waitress was very friendly and on top of her game. The baked goat cheese was good, the crispy artichokes were great and the Beef brochette was awesome!! The Empanadas were the only thing that I did not care for. I will give it another shot and try a few other items next time :)
(4)
A M.
I never thought I would find good Spanish food in Indianapolis. Great service, delicious food, great atmosphere. No attitude. I enjoyed dinner got to see a great soccer match. Parking is a bit of a pain. You can park on the street. You can use coins or credit card. Big parking lot (paid) on the empty lot opposite to the restaurant.
(4)
Mr And Mrs G.
MR says ... awesome TAPAS! MRS says ... one of those diamond in the rough find restaurants downtown indianapolis. we walked blocks after blocks looking for a not so busy place to eat since at fogo de chao we phoned in a 7o'clock reservation and still we were asked to wait for at least 30-45min. we couldn't be more satisfied to see a variety of spanish tapas on the menu. we had some mussels, sausages, goat cheese, paella, and marengo cheese with prosciutto. servings enough to share and reasonable price for a downtown restaurant. great service too!
(4)
Donna B.
Yummy. Great service!
(4)
David B.
Favorite places DT. great food, atmosphere, good $$
(5)
Tony J.
the wife really likes their gazpacho and the goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread. we did not enjoy the paella at all. we've eaten there twice already but so far i have not had any dish that i really enjoyed. next time i will try the other dishes.their selection of tapas is quite lengthy. UPDATE April 17,2011: We tried their Sunday Sangria Brunch buffet early today and it was awesome. Huge selection including some of their dinner tapas menu. A few dishes can also be ordered from the kitchen. For $16 per person, its a very good deal.
(3)
Michael S.
Had been here a number of times and in fact was there for a preview to the opening. Every time I have been it has slipped a little, but tonight was hands down the worst. I went with my wife and 6 of my family members and was really looking forward to good service and good wine, even if the food is always just okay (not ever been all that excited about their food - maybe because I have had the real dishes in Spain, but I really think that the cooks do not taste their food) It started out all right the waitress seemed excited to be there and started to tell us a little about the menu, then talked to my brother, his friend and my niece then left without taking anyone elses orders or asking if anyone wanted drinks. She just vanished. Then the food that my brother and niece ordered ( she had not finished) My wife mentioned to the guy that was setting food on our table that we would like to place our order and he rudely replied that he was not our server (what a jerk) He points out our waitress as he stalks away and we tell her that we would like to place our order (which we did at that time along with drinks) I ordered a bottle of wine, someone else ordered a beer and sangria. 15 minutes go by and a beer appears, another 10 and some sangria (did I mention that they were not all that busy?) 30 minutes still no wine and I cancelled and just wanted to leave but my family was still there. Finally the food arrives and the tortilla is stale tasting and the spinacha con garbonzos is cold and undercooked. All this time no apology from the waitress for any of the screwed up things that have happened. I could go on... I talked to the manager who seemed genuinely embarrassed ( I really didn't want to have to talk to her myself) She made herr apologies for the waitress and said she would try to do something for our bill. Ended up comping one iterm on everyones ticket (still no I'm sorry form our waitress) I had planned on desert, but really was simply glad to say goodbye to Barcelona. While I appreciate the effort of the manager, I will not be going back
(1)
Richard H.
Have been here several times, and although it has never been bad, I can't say that it has ever been especially memorable. On one visit, fellow diners had the paella, and it was really gorgeous looking, and they said very good. They have a number of creative things on the menu to try. Once when I was there, they did not have the item on the menu that we requested, but then discovered the chef was prepping it at that very time so delivered it to us at no charge, which was a terrific touch! Visited there most recently for their Sunday brunch. The sangria that come with it is OK. The brunch itself is OK -- delicious sliced beef, great small assortment of cheeses, but some of the offerings looks a little tired (typical green salads, uninspired charcuterie). But you also can order three items made to order, and the eggs Benedict with chorizo is awesome! I may have found at last my memorable food from BARcelon tapas. The interior is a little tired-looking -- the definitely need to reupholser those booths -- but the food seems reasonably priced, and they do have a selection of large plates as well.
(3)
nick d.
This place could be good and the paella is fair but there is no excuse for not changing the oil in the fryer. Our first dish smelled of rancid oil so badly we didn't touch it. The paella rescued the situation otherwise I would have had issues giving this place one star. Many better places such as Tastings or Saffron. Give this place a miss.
(2)
H R.
Barcelona, the city, is a very special place for my boyfriend and I so I decided to take him here for his birthday. He lives in Indy and I though it would be awesome to treat him to a taste of Barcelona in his home town. I really, really wanted this place to be good. It would be such a treat to have great tapas available in Indy and a new place for us to frequent regularly. Our service was great but unfortunately the food was mediocre. We decided to order the six course meal and share all the tapas. Our first course, the gazpacho could definitely use more seasoning and left you yearning for more. The second course, the goat cheese in tomato sauce appetizer was a little better but the tomato sauce tasted like it came out of a jar of marinara sauce from the grocery store. The third course, empenadas, were also good but nothing to brag about. The same with the paella. Our last course, the flan was actually pretty good but not enough to save the entire meal. This restaurant would not be one of my first choices to go to again in Indy.
(3)
Jennifer B.
Sopa de Alubias (Black bean soup with sherry cream) was easily the most flavorful simple black bean soup I've ever had the pleasure of spooning into my mouth. Setas Salteadas con Amontillado (Sauteed mushrooms in sweet sherry sauce) so decadent I drained my bowl dry of the sauce. Queso de Cabra al Horno (Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread) covered in crushed red pepper and well loved by us. Tortilla Española (Potato and onion omelette cake with spinach) was quite breakfast worthy and pleased my roommate. Atún con Pimienta (Pepper encrusted tuna with Rioja sauce) thoroughly enjoyed by him. He had rave reviews of their hot chocolate too. The food descriptions were taken directly from the menu. It's not very often that you order so many varied items off a menu and aren't the least bit disappointed in a single one. Perhaps I should go to Spain. Nom nom nom.
(5)
Honey S.
The baked goat cheese was to die for :) :) loves it! The Solomillo Con Cabrales was delish! Everything from the sangria to each tapa was fantastic. I will be back next time I'm in Indy
(4)
Minna A.
This place gets busy fast! I love tapas, I love that they come out in small portions so you can try everything, that you share them with everyone at your table, etc. etc. So, I'm not from around Indy (Chicago.. woot woot!), so I'm not sure what the food scene in Indy is like. However, I couldn't believe all the food you can order for the price you pay! We had the goat cheese, the lamb, I-can't-even-remember-we-ordered-so-much-food, and the paella. The paella is awesome, don't miss out. ps. the mirror on the back of the girls bathroom door is slimming (my whole group noticed!).
(4)
Silly H.
Was in Indianapolis for a business trip and was pleasantly surprised that Indianapolis could offer such a great tapas experience. The mix of tapas we ordered were solid, the sangria went down smooth (directly from a cute little pitcher). The atmosphere was nothing too exciting. All in all a good tapas experience in Indianapolis.
(4)
Sarah S.
Went back to Barcelona last night with a group of friends, we reserved a table via OpenTable for six. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, and I ordered a class of Cava. The sangria arrived quickly, and I had to flag down the waiter because he forgot about my cocktail. It took a few minutes, but, I got my drink. We decided to order off of the Devour Downtown menu, which, for $30, a couple could get five rounds of food and they can chose one item for each round (between two items). With six of us, we couldn't pass it up, so, we ordered a great amount of vegetarian and non-veggie food. Things came out quick and our table filled up. The staff was attentive and cleared things as needed, gave us extra plates and we feasted! It was quite fun and most of the food was great. The tomato sauce + goat cheese = the bomb. The waiter brought us extra bread to finish off the third order of it we had (total debauchery!). Other highlights - the fried artichokes, the asparagus (though the portions were very small and the asparagus was rather wimpy and small), chick peas, and the beef tenderloin (perfectly cooked!). The paella was a total fail and was so freaking lemony that I couldn't even eat it. However, the dessert..oh god...I would walk a mile barefoot in the cold for churros. They are cut up into bite size pieces, served with chocolate sauce (the serving of chocolate was too small though!). Mmmm! We all went crazy about them. We also had a chocolate goo filled brownie, which was small, but rich and decadent. Around 9:30 the server came over declaring that he wanted to get our payment situated but he "wasn't trying to rush us." Which usually means he is. He took care of us and we left with full bellies. Overall, another fun experience, and it was nice to be able to try a wider variety of items on the menu thanks to Devour Downtown.
(4)
Shruti K.
My boyfriend and I went to BARcelona Tapas on a Saturday night when we were visiting Indianapolis and the place was about 40% full. Since we're from Chicago, we were surprised since it's hard to get a reservation at a tapas restaurant let alone be seated immediately at a table of your choice. However, once we were ordered the food and were done eating it, we didn't understand why this place wasn't full. Although the sangrias weren't the best I've had, they were ok. The goat cheese and spicy tomato sauce, served with lightly toasted and seasoned bread and recommended by our server was absolutely DELiCIOUS!! I've had better Patatas Bravas but the fried calamari was Fantastic!! Crispy yet tender, the meat wasn't chewy at all which is always tricky with calamari. We also ordered the Paella which was delicious too and had chunks of chicken and all kinds of seafood. A LOT OF SEAFOOD. We were stuffed to the point where we had to pack some of the paella to go, so the portions are pretty good too. If I'm ever in Indy again, I'll make sure I visit this place!
(4)
Jarrod R.
Being parents, it's sometimes a challenge to get a "date night," so when we do, we try to choose wisely. BARcelona provided us with one great date night. For a couple, we found the atmosphere to be warm, while providing some fun people watching, too. Everything we tried was outstanding and our server was very helpful by providing suggestions. I must apologize for not remembering the exact dishes we enjoyed, which might have been caused a little bit by the mojitos. I can also see that this would be a fun place for a larger group with different tapas zipping by the table and everyone getting a chance to sample their wares. All in all, a wonderful experience. We look forward to another trip downtown in the near future.
(4)
Deborah B.
Walked past BARcelona Tapas a lot since we moved here from Chicago, when we are on our way from our place downtown to Mass Ave for some libations on the weekends.(Yet another plus of living downtown-walking everywhere!!) Attempted to walk in once, with no luck on a Friday, envious of all the people sitting outside sipping their sangrias and enjoying the spanish fare. So I made a reservation for the following Friday, which couldn't arrive soon enough. Sat outside, despite being warm out, the shade made it comfortable. Promptly,a very friendly waitress arrived and explained the specials. We ordered the requisite Sangria (red)-they also have white. Ordered a cheese plate with some charcuterie and olives that was on special. Delicious and low carb, if you avoid the toast points that come with. We then ordered an assortment of tapas. Everything was delicious! My ONLY issue was that the waitress never asked how we wanted our steak cooked, and we ended up with well-cooked grey steak. Of course we would have preferred it medium rare! besides that, we really enjoyed our dinner and will absolutely be returning again soon!
(4)
Mary Beth A.
One of the best places to go in downtown Indy for a fun - and relatively inexpensive - night with friends. I have been to Barcelona a number of times since they opened, but visited last weekend with a group of 7 friends for a late dinner. Despite there being seven of us - who all ordered different sets and varieties of small plates - the service was extremely efficient, prompt, and polite. Our water glasses stayed full, as did the pitchers of sangria (which is fruity and delicious) that we went through. ($17/pitcher - each pitcher produced a small glass of sangria for all 7 of us!) The food is good - if I had to specify, I would say that the food might be closer to a 3, with the drinks at about a 4, while the service is a 5. Those average out to my 4 star overall rating. Definitely order the baked goat cheese with marinara sauce - it is a standout favorite. it is simple, but delicious and comforting. The asparagus was not my favorite - very grilled and smoky tasting, with many hard and un-chewable pieces. Meatballs are very good and above average. The potato omelette-like pancake was quite tasty and surprising, and came with a spicy mayonnaise of sorts. The garlic shrimp were not as flavorful as I had hoped, but tasty. For two of us, splitting about 5 or 6 small plates and paying for one of the pitchers of sangria that our table shared, our bill was just over $50. I didn't have dessert this time, but the tres leches cake is TO DIE FOR. I have heard they have a fantastic lunch buffet during the week that, including a drink, is only nine bucks. I have also been meaning to check out their Sunday brunch which apparently includes lots of meats AND sangria - for only sixteen bucks! Would highly recommend as a gathering place for middle-sized to larger-sized groups. Our waitress was extremely efficient in keeping track of who ordered what, which couples were together, and what items needed to be on each bill. This is sometimes difficult when you are with a group, and I was highly impressed. Don't forget to make a reservation - they can get packed, and it can be hard to get a table if you do decide to go with a group.
(4)
Benjamin R.
Fun place, like their sangria, and about 70% of the tapas
For a group of fifteen the kitchen completed every order without mix up, however my tuna and salmon was extremely over cooked, salmon=gray= gross! Server was attentive and we never had dry glasses. Great place to accommodate larger crowd.
(3)
Rachel L.
In a word: Yuck! If it wasn't for the fact that I had just finished a three-and-a-half hour drive from Evansville, it was nearly 10 o'clock at night with a forthcoming 3 a.m. wake-up call and I was STARVING, I wouldn't have eaten anything. But, that wasn't the case so... My colleague and I ordered the asparagus, shared the paella and tried a chickpea dish. Everything was awful. Not even the rice in the paella was good. How do you mess up rice? We ate outside on the street patio, which is better than eating inside which smells of a chlorox mixture. I visited the restroom to wash my hands. Let's just say I wish I didn't. I don't know if work will ever take me back to Indianapolis (goodness knows that leisure won't), but if I do make it back to the Midwest, I definitely won't be checking out BARcelona again. Yuck yuck yucky!
(1)
Kris P.
This should probably be a 3 star review but the Yelp 2 star criteria clearly states "meh Ive had better" And that really sums up my Barcelona experience. The food is good but it always makes me think about my tapas experiences in Chicago where the food is fresher/the service is friendlier/and the prices are surprisingly cheaper. Is it the best tapas Indy has to offer? Yes. Did I enjoy myself? Yeah it was a jolly good time. Was the service prompt and polite? Yeah she even divided the check into a proportional payout. That kind of irked me actually. So in the end I kinda screwed over Barcelona on this one. They deserved a better rating. Nostalgia is the the knife that strikes in the back of todays memories.
(2)
Catherine W.
Enjoyed this restaurant for a quick bite. Ordered 7 dishes for 2 people, which was probably 1 too many. Standouts were the bacalao, the fried artichokes, and the chicken wings. Did not like the croquettes. Not the most authentic tapas I've ever had (many of the dishes we ordered were drizzled with mayonnaise or featured prominently with a side of sauce), but it suited my craving and enjoyed the pleasant service, and laid-back atmosphere. Bar area was a fun place to hang out.
(3)
Tristan S.
BARcelona's a decent stop to have a drink on the patio on a nice day and get a snack, but not a "must" destination. Went on a Friday night for drinks and appetizers and were promptly checked in to our requested spot (no reservations) on the patio. The server was polite and helpful when it came to the drink menu. The mixed drinks were unique and tasty. The food, not so much. The seared tuna was well done: tough and dry. The asparagus with a bit of cheese and tomato sauce was okay - fresh, but lacking in terms of the accoutrements. I don't need my veggies to be flooded with cheese and sauce, but it's nice to have enough to be able to taste them. This wasn't my first time at BARcelona. I went several times after they first opened with people who LOVED the place, but I never grew to love it and prefer to go to other nearby places. (We dined at India Garden next door after the snack I've reviewed.)
(3)
T-Rock T.
Love this place! It is such a great place to try new things and not be upset if it isn't your favorite since it is all small portions. Great place to take a group and share lots of plates!!
(4)
Jessica S.
Fun selection of Spanish-style tapas, great-tasting sangria, and wonderful decoration makes Barcelona Tapas a fun place to visit with a group.
(4)
N H.
Is this place rather expensive? Yes Is it worth it if you have the money? YES I highly recommend the mussels, melted goat cheese in marinara, the tortilla espanola...and honestly, everything. The decor is full of warm colors and they have great happy hour deals at the bar. Service is prompt and kind. I highly recommend.
(4)
Kim K.
The perfect tour of Spain. I am a "a-no-option share-r." I often can't decide on one dish, so to make it easy on myself, I find out what my companion is getting-and convince him to let me sample his dish -- whether he wants to or not. BARcelona's solves this problem. All dishes are made to share and are small portions, so get 1, 2, 3, 4 dishes to try. Their Alcahofas fritas (Crispy artichokes with lemon-garlic aioli and shaved Manchego cheese) and their baked goat cheese and tomato sauce is DYNAMITE. Some of their dishes feel greasy to me, but the atmosphere and experience is one not to be missed. They also take reservations; which is super helpful on a weekend night.
(4)
Kavitha D.
I went here again recently for their Sunday brunch with some friends, and all I can say is: TRES LECHES FRENCH TOAST. OH MY GOODNESS. It will blow your mind!!!! Other than that you get a tonnnnnnnnnnn of food for the sunday brunch, which is the reason why their brunch is so dang expensive. I bumped this place up to 3 stars only because their french toast is the best I've ever had in my life. However, to charge that much for brunch because you are giving your customers THAT much food is just obscene. You're just aiding our existing obesity problem in the US.
(3)
Rebecca H.
My fiancee and I went here on a whim one weeknight. We had meant to go to Chef Joseph's for fancy date night, but they were closed so we just walked across the street to BARcelona. I'm glad we did! We happened to walk in on a night when they were doing the Devour Downtown menu just for fun. So we of course had to do that. It was nice to get a chance to try multiple things. We got the goat cheese in marinara and it was pretty good. Just like everyone suggested. My favorite were the tiny lamb chops! So good! It was a little pricy though, but definitely worth a fun night out.
(4)
Justin L.
I was in Indianapolis on a business trip and I came here with some coworkers. I had the lamb chops, goat cheese dip, and another dish, however since I cannot remember it, it was not that memorable. The ambiance was not bad, and the beer was cold. I enjoyed a couple glasses of a beer called "The Preachers Daughter" which was very good. The lamb chops were not bad, but I definitely have had better. I was able to try the Albondigas, and I must say that they were pretty good. If I return here, I do not think I will come back to this restaurant. I was quite shocked to see that the seafood paella was made with salmon (which is definitely NOT served in Barcelona).
(3)
Melissa S.
I cannot begin to tell you how fantastic the food is here. Order as many different plates as you can...sharing is the only way to go here. Enjoy and then try the amazing one in St. Louis too
(5)
Shane M.
I have heard so much about this place and finally went tonight at the end of a drunken bike ride with my girlfriend. The bartender was nice and helpful so no complaints there the tapas however I have a mixed reaction to. You must try the hot goat cheese and tomato sauce because it the thing to do. You also must try the cordero because its really damn good. Avoid the croquettes. There just not worth it. I will be back to try more and I hear that they have a DIY bloody marry bar which souds awesome.
(3)
Damie A.
We've been here many times, and I have to say it's very good! We've tried so many different things, and ithey have been amazing. The only thing I got and did not like was their salmon. It was overcooked... Barring that, go! On Sundays they have a breakfast buffet that is awesome and they even make amazing french toast.
(4)
Sarah N.
I am an out of tower to Indy and in town for the race. Barcelona was a suggestion provided by a bell person at a hotel. Walkable to "Mass Ave" which was a great option to park and then walk over the block or two to get there, but I would say Barcelona was just OK. Not that anything was bad, but nothing really standout. We had a drink at the bar and then a couple tapas. Meatballs, olives and a steak thing. Again, all just ok. Something about the ambiance might need a touch updating and maybe that is why I give them only a 3. They have TV's and the staff seemed nice, but again nothing really stood out so much. So go and decide for yourself I suppose. If you love tapas, you might be more qualified to evaluate.
(3)
Jason O.
I really like the variety of choices on their lunch buffet. Lots of veggie, meat, salad choices. Neat building with a cool feel inside! I haven't tried the outdoor seating but that looks nice also. I've been here a couple of times and I've been impressed with both the food and service!
(4)
Ruchi S.
One of the few places to get paella in this city! They recently revamped their paella and it so flavorful and delicious! I got the vegetable paella and it was hard not to eat the whole bowl! I also loved the roasted cauliflower and the tortilla Española. I do wish they would put aioli on the patatas braves like they do in many Spanish tapas restaurants in other cities- that dish is lacking. Overall a great place- yummy small plates and great for sharing!
(4)
Mansi N.
I'm giving this restaurant 4 stars for the dessert, ambiance, and vegetarian options. I've never been to Barcelona, but I imagine the city to be a colorful and vibrant place, which is reflected in this restaurant. I'm not a huge fan of tapas to begin with since they tend to be pricey and sometimes the small bites don't blow me away in flavor. There were a few tapas I would've liked to try but I'm currently not eating goat cheese. I got the omelette and roasted red peppers. Both were tasty, with the omelette being a decent portion. I just wasn't amazed as I have been by a couple other tapas restaurants. My husband got a paella. He ate it all and it was a decently large portion considering the price. It didn't have the crust that paella is known for, but even he acknowledged that true paella can take several hours and most restaurants don't make it that way. The tres leches dessert was the highlight. It was quite a large slice of cake and was moist and spongey. I believe it had a caramel flavor as well, but regardless, if not for the tres leches, I would've been giving this restaurant 3 stars.
(4)
Cara B.
We tried it as part of Devour Downtown for our anniversary. Everything was excellent! The only thing stopping this being a five star rating is that they mistakenly brought out our dessert before our last course!
(4)
William Aaron K.
So it was a Thursday afternoon and my friend and I were just looking for something to do. I went over to her apartment and then we decided to partake in some fun activity that left us feeling pretty goofy and hungry and just got us real pumped up to eat something delicious and just lose ourselves to a delicious experience. We chose to go to Barcelona to experience a new culture and really just to get some food in our bellies. Our waiter was obviously having a go at us when he first saw us, but it was understandable and he ended up being a pretty nice guy! We first started out by getting the Isla cocktail and some water. Our cocktail came, but the water oddly took a long time to get to us, which was awful because I was so thirsty. However, it finally came and I could have given our waiter the biggest in the world. So then we decided order the goat cheese, alas de pollo (super SUCCULENT chicken wings) and calamari frito. The goat cheese with the tomato and garlic bread was almost to die for. At first, it's kind of strange but then you notice yourself not being able to stop dipping the bread in the cheese and just continuously munching on it. Calamari frito really wasn't my favorite. I usually like calamari, but this was just a little dry. It wasn't bad, but it was just a bit underwhelming. Like I said though, those chicken wings were super delicious, succulent, juicy and just everything you need in a chicken wing with a wild cultural twist. I would be lying if I said this was my favorite restaurant in the world, but it's a pretty good place to at least try out at least once.
(4)
Linda L.
I'm a fan of Barcelona Tapas. They have a yummy lunch buffet on weekdays, and have a happy hour at the bar till 6. $3 plate for calamari, empanadas, wings, goat cheese, croquettes... You walk away with a full happy belly and hopefully some good friend time. The service at the bar is also wonderful. There is a window directly from kitchen to bar so everything came out quickly.
(4)
Cathy X.
Loved it! Everything from the warm and cheerful decor, to the solid drinks selection at the bar, to the DELICIOUS TAPAS. Definitely order ALLLL the meat off the tapas menu. If you're intimidated from the exhaustive menu, some highlights to definitely include are: the tenderloin steak, lamb shanks (small portion, but so worth it for the rich butter sauce), meatballs (huge portion), and tuna. Fried calamari was also delish. And because a balanced diet includes earth-things, I also recommend the roasted cauliflower and spinach empanadas. The paella was impressive, but order early because they take forever to come out. If you're around for lunch, their lunch buffet is $10 and similarly yummy. My friend from Spain remarked Barcelona Tapas wasn't authentic, but agreed to come here again a week later. So it's safe to say that these are pretty good for this side of the Atlantic :)
(4)
Samantha O.
Nice place to go on a weeknight, especially during happy hour. Service can be s bit dicey when they get busy. Very good tapas for the price.
(4)
Jessica C.
This place is freaking amazing! Stopped in for lunch in a Saturday afternoon. Everything comes in small portions, which is great bc I wanted to try every item on the menu!!! We ordered: alas de pollo, bacalao, pan con alioli, and Cordero. It was ALL PHENOMINAL. Our server wasn't really the greatest, but she was pleasant. Food was off the chain though so it made up for anything else.
(5)
Sigrid F.
I highly recommend checking out the Sunday Brunch buffet. Not only do you get an extensive buffett, which has all sorts of lunch items, from salads to rice ishes, various chicken or pork, chesses, salami, French bread, quiches, and dessert. Also present salmon on a plank and a carved meat station. Sangria is also included in the price, coffee is not... but alas there is a Bloody Mary bar for just a slight upcharge. I am partial to the made to order items, which are also included and you can eat as many of those as you want. The French toast is to die for, light and fluffy, served with a vanilla sauce, berries and a dollop of whip cream. There are omelet made to your liking and Eggs Benedict. Always interesting is the Chef Special, which in my case was Ham and cheese pancakes... sounded very odd, but turned out to be quite delicious.
(5)
Allison F.
WAIT A SECOND. There's one of these in St. Louis too? Fun fact! BARcelona produces good food, but a little bit greasier and less flavorful than I would like it to be. I've had my share of tapas in Spain (I know that just made me look like a big food snob, but it's hard trying the good shit over there and then coming back to find something less than that), so I want more flavor from my small plates. The ingredients are there (manchego, peppers, sherry, seafood), but my palette feels underwhelmed...maybe some more smoked paprika? Less ice in the sangria? At least the food comes out hot (they bring out a dish whenever it's ready).
(3)
Olivia P.
We were seated immediately at approximately 8:00 pm on a Friday night. The server was extremely pleasant and full of great menu suggestions. My colleague and I split the following while traveling for business: 1 pitcher of Sangria: $19 Tres Quesos: $7.50 Jamon Serrano con Manchego: $8.50 Plato de Embutidos: $8.25 Queso de Cabra al Horno: $8.25 Andaluzian Creme Brulee: $5.75 Total: $57.25 for two, pre tip & tax The quality of the food was excellent. Each of the suggestions from the server were spot on. The ambiance and vibe was so laid back and enjoyable that we were really able to have great conversations and never felt rushed. The family style serving was great. The portions were slightly small for the price point, but I believe the service and location made up for it. We really enjoyed dining here and I would definitely dine here again if I return to Indianapolis.
(4)
Amy V.
I was on the fence whether to give Barcelona a 4 or a 5. Because we really enjoyed our dinner, our server, and the experience - I am going to go with a 5. (Plus the Holidays just passed, and I am still in the giving spirit. ;-)) So in the matter of .2 seconds - my boyfriend and I decided we were "starving" driving back from a shopping trip on a Friday night. We stopped at a couple restaurants which were on the way, and they were both packed full so we ended up skipping them and decided we should go somewhere closer to home *downtown* - but then we were wondering where can we eat on a Friday without a reservation? Well, I love OpenTable! Like a lot!... So using the app, I saw that there was immediate openings at Barcelona. We were reluctant to try it yet due to the mixed reviews we had got from friends/ read. But, we are very glad we did! Me: Vegetarian. Boyfriend: Meat lover galore. - We were both fully satisfied here!! We ordered tons of food, I really enjoyed the onion & potato casserole (that had an amazing Spanish dip to go with it) and he really enjoyed the mussels, shrimp, and Spanish sausage. I did order a cauliflower dish - which I wasn't crazy for - so I wouldn't recommend it. But we did share a dish of goat cheese with tomato sauce, which was AMAZING. We topped our dinner off with bread pupping! Yum, yum, yum! It was an expensive last minute Friday date ($75 for two people, no alcohol, one dessert, after tip) - but we would go there again in the future if the craving arose. I would say if you are on the fence - go visit! You will probably walk away happy you did!
(5)
Mark J.
Great atmosphere and excellent Happy Hour specials from 3-6. Meatballs were tender and juicy, wings were crispy and staff was friendly.
(4)
Kristian P.
Barcelona is solid. Not the greatest restaurant ever, but one of my favorites. Tapas is a natural fit in the new 'small plates' move on the Indy culinary scene. The food is always hot or cold appropriately. In general the food is well seasoned and approachable. The Devour Downtown menu this year was very good and showcased some of the best the restaurant has to offer. The lunch buffet is a good way to check out a variety. If you order plates make sure to try the baked goat cheese with tomato sauce, roasted cauliflower and cod cakes. The paella is good too, but don't expect a crusty bottom. In addition to good food the service is always excellent and the drink selection is decent.
(4)
Leah R.
The tapas are good, and the price is fair for what you get. The highlights were the bacalao, coliflor, patatas bravas, croquetas de pollo y jamon, albondigas, tres mariscos toro. The absolute hands down favorite by the table was the Tres Leches dessert. Some drawbacks were that the white sangria was watered down and there wasn't any fruit in the pitcher, and the paella, which didn't have that crusted goodness on it that I always look for. But overall, it was a great meal. I'd be curious to try out their brunch since it looks like a great deal.
(4)
Ronak S.
I forgot how much I like this place. Barcelona is that perfect crowd-pleaser, a place with something everyone in a large group can like. Vegetarian or meat-lover, carbo-loader or gluten-hater, spice-tongue or sweet-tooth, there's a dish on the menu to match. Coupled with a decent selection of drinks, Barcelona is a pretty unique in downtown Indy, let alone Mass Ave. Still, for some reason, I usually forget about Barcelona when I'm looking for a place to eat. I think it's because, while so many new places are popping up in downtown, Barcelona has largely maintained the same formula and menu for many years -- a lot of good food but nothing so surprising and exciting that it keeps me coming back. It will be interesting to see if Barcelona is able to maintain as strengthy of a customer base as the downtown restaurant scene grows more and more saturated. The fare is solid enough, though, that I imagine they will have no trouble holding their ground.
(4)
Ashley S.
We stopped in BARcelona during Indy's Devour Downtown special. They offered a $30 meal for two which was plenty of food and delicious to say the least. First we dined on cod and potato cakes with a lemon zest aioli, then goat cheese with tomato sauce, and spinach empanadas. Next we had fresh garlic chicken wings and fried rice with chorizo and shrimp ( the rice was my least favorite as it was a little dry and flavorless). Finally we had churros filled with strawberry and caramel dipped in warm chocolate sauce. The service was fast and friendly and the overall environment was pleasant as tapas dining allows diners to share food and converse more freely than being served a large meal portion all at once. We will for sure be back as the menu was affordable and there seemed to be plenty of other tasty options I can't wait to try!
(4)
Kaela V.
This restaurant is fun for groups as you can order sangria pitchers and small plate tapas to share. Some of our favorite items on the menu include the paprika almonds, Spanish meatballs, and beef/spinach/blue cheese dish. We have also been for the Sunday brunch which was unique. The buffet had a lot of the traditional menu items as well as some traditional Spanish deserts. There is also a Bloody Mary bar where you mix your own drink!
(4)
Jeff P.
Great food as always, service was a bit slow and it wasn't extremely busy. However I fully recommend BARcelona Tapas-Indy! Great Food!
(4)
Patricia N.
If not for the food, come for the service! We sat at a high-top table in the bar and had great service all night from Amy? If it wasn't for her, my rating would've been a 2. 1) Pitcher of Red Sangria - ehhh...not all that impressive 2) Fried Calamari - under seasoned and it's a small portion for the price 3) Baked Goat Cheese w/ Garlic - best dish they've got! 4) Paella Valencia - it was ok...not all that authentic and it more a "fishy" taste to it All of this was a hefty $80 for two of us with tax. So is it a little overrated? I'd say so.
(3)
Angela N.
As a flight attendant, I eat all over the world.. This place has it!! Loved the location, service, decor, food & drinks! Hit happy hour & was so well greeted.. Bartender took our orders for happy hour tapas. Everything was awesome!! The happy hour (flavored margarita) was Delish! I highly recommend a visit to this little local feel place.
(5)
Kati F.
I love BARcelona! Monday's are margarita specials, and Wednesday's you can get a pitcher of sangria for $10! For 2 people I usually get 3-4 tapas. Literally everything is good, and reasonably priced!
(5)
Silje S.
Me and my roommate (both in college) drove by this place sometime ago, on Tuesday night we finally got to it and went here. We decided to order a table the day before since we did not know whether this would be a busy night or not. When we arrived it seemed to be a quite night, so the reservation would not have been necessary on a weekday. We thought the 6 dishes for $32 for two people sounded like a good deal, and a way for us to try a few of the different tapas. We enjoyed almost all of the food we received, our favorites were; the baked goat cheese with the tomato sauce and bread, the chorizo with a sort of dipping sauce and our dessert which was the flan. This was probably the best flan I have tried, though I have only tried this three times. Two of these three times was in Spain, but they were from a store pre-made. Also neither of us have been fan of goat cheese in the past, but our baked goat cheese dish changed our minds. I am looking forward to going back here in the future, my roommate said the same thing. We will be taking our friends here in the future, this is because of the food and the service here.
(4)
Shawn D.
Sunday Lunch. Best deal in town - especially if you plan on drinking. Unlimited Sangrias, what??!?!!!!! I also saw they had a bloody mary bar but didnt check out the details. Buffet was nice and clean - (traditionally im grossed out by buffets). Favorites included goat cheese marinara, charcuterie, mac and cheese, salads, paella. Very nice. Flavorful. Plenty to choose from. Desserts were fantastic as well - was some sort of dulche leche. I cant wait to go back for my next visit.
(4)
Bob J.
Try grilling to specified temperatures people request and reducing or thickening the sauces so they have some flavor. All the sauces were like a pool of red wine with yellow mustard (they call aioli) drizzled in the red wine. Not very authentic or interesting. We commented to the server and he thought we were crazy. Very inexpensive, and just OK food, but missed the mark.
(1)
Kami M.
Barcelona was everything I needed it to be when I was starving and wanted a wealth of small plate options. Was it the best tapas I've ever had? No, but there were decent options and the service was attentive and fast. Probably a three-star experience but added a star for an excellent strawberry margarita.
(4)
Kendall M.
Yum. This restaurant brings me back to the time I lived in Spain. Every day I miss it, and I have wondered what my gluten intolerance would affect my love for Spanish food - it didn't. At Barcelona, they have allergy menus, including a gluten free one behind the hostess stand - just ask. Sangria is good, and so were tapas. Server told me an order of Paella would be too big for me (could feed me twice over), so opted for 3 tapas instead and ate a bit of each. Tapas servings are very generous compared to the tapas restaurants I have been to recently, so would recommend 4-5 to share between 2 guests. For 1, when traveling alone, I would say 2-3... But I love tapas so much, I went with 3. After ordering and enjoying the Jamon con Manchego, Gambas al Alioli and Tortilla. For GF, just ask for the ham & cheese w/o picos (bread). Only average part was the service, the bartender was very slow. Would definitely recommend dining here!
(4)
Nancy H.
My husband and I took three people with us for their first tapas experience and they were not disappointed. One in our group said the salmon tapas she ordered was the best salmon dish she ever had anywhere! We had calamari, tuna, pork and chicken skewers, mussels, garlic shrimp, cauliflower, asparagus, meatballs with machengo cheese and a couple of other dishes washed down with a pitcher of sangria. It was a great experience for our friends! The food is fantastic.
(5)
Dan S.
Love this place. Great decor, helpful staff, and decent pricing. And the food is excellent. The best: salmon, shrimp, goat cheese and tenderloin. Skip the Calamari, which is average or below. Add the empanadas and the meatballs to the above best list and you will not be disappointed in any of it. My GF and I went about 4x in 3 months, and now that we've broken up, going with her to BT's might be one of the things I miss most. 8*(
(5)
Jennifer R.
I had lunch here on 2/20 with some work friends. I have to be honest here - this place is just not good. I've been here probably 10 times in the last two years for lunch with work people and it is just never good. I don't mean it's even just ok - it's bad. The food is greasy and lacks seasoning. Since this place is pretty popular, I've tried several items and nothing has really stood out as anything better than the low side of mediocre. The restaurant is also kind of dirty (not the dishes or silverware or anything but the restaurant itself) Now on the positive side - I have NEVER had bad service here. Never. The servers are always prompt and friendly. Also - the presentation of the food is usually very nice. Also - in the interest of fairness - I have never been here for dinner or the Sunday brunch. It make be better than lunch. I also do not drink and no one in my group drinks at lunch because we have to go back to work - so they could have outstanding cocktails.
(2)
Mark W.
Wow, don't plan on one thing, variety is key to this place. The Mejillones is spicy and goes with several other Tapas. My picky 10 year old loved the Croquetas de Pollo y Jamin (chicken & ham) and we also got her garlic bread with Queso de Cabral al Horno. The Sangria's are good, but the margarita was better. We will be back again.
(4)
Melissa B.
If you plan on coming here for dinner, it might be wise to make a reservation. This place is always packed, and for good reason. I adore tapas to begin with, and this place does them so, so well. My absolute favorite is the baked goat cheese. The peppers, macaroni, empanadas, EVERYTHING. Pitchers of sangria are $19 (big pitchers). If you haven't had tapas before, it's not your traditional one-plate meal. They are a bunch of small plates that come to you as they're made to share with the whole table. So, the more people you bring, the better it's going to be. The first time I came here was the first time I've had tapas, and I was very grateful that the staff explained certain plates to me patiently. I've come back several times and have loved every second of it. The nights that I came without a reservation, I sat at the bar and ate. The bartender, both times, was absolutely fantastic. He took his time to make our drinks and was very friendly as we ordered our food. This is a larger restaurant right downtown with a great, Spanish ambiance. Not that I've ever been to Spain--but this place lets me pretend. I especially love this place, because everything isn't crammed together. You actually have room to breathe and not have to overhear the next table. I highly, highly recommend it.
(5)
Brad A.
The Sunday brunch is amazing! For less than $20 you get unlimited food and sangria. Excellent quality buffet style authentic Catalonia (Barcelona area) food in Downtown Indy. The eggs Benedict, red sangria, and French toast were my favorites. I also hear that they have a lunch buffet which I will be returning to check out!
(5)
Emily B.
Came in for the Tuesday tapas special and basically tried the whole menu. The goat cheese marinara was to die for! Also incredible vegetarian paella and moderately priced bottles of cava. The whole bill came to 80 dollars and we ate off the food for three days - much larger than normal tapas style portions. Service was spotty, but the food was incredible.
(5)
Heather H.
How have I missed reviewing Barcelona? I've been coming here since we moved to Indy, it has always been a solid downtown choice for dinner, and a place I'm happy to recommend to friends from out of town. They have a wide variety of hot and cold tapas, and a great selection of vegetarian options. My favorites include the sherry marinated mushrooms, the crispy artichokes, the goat cheese in marinara, and the flan. Mmmm flan. Sit a the bar on M-F from 3-6pm for a short list of $3 tapas and save some money! Also, they have some great cocktails and sangria (good price by the pitcher)! Bring some friends and try out a bunch of stuff!
(4)
Michelle S.
I have been here for Sunday brunch and the food was great! However, today I was very disappointed. The service was ok but the food was terrible. No taste for being a spanish tapas restaurant. Don't look pass the salads. It's a good place for a drink or two... 2 stars for the ambience...
(2)
Nancy K.
Again with the "I really wanted to love it!" The good - immediate seating for two without a reservation on a Saturday night. And the menu looked really interesting. *keyword: looked EMPANADAS DE ESPINACA Y CHAMPIÑÓN - good, but a bit greasy; the dip was great TRIGUEROS CON ROMESCO - some flavor, but a little too limp (i.e. I like crisp-ish asparagus) QUESO DE CABRA AL HORNO - okay, but I had a "Meh, I could have made this at home moment." The bread served with it was pretty fantastic Pitcher of red sangria was not good. Tasted watered down, not enough fruit or flavor or alcohol to justify the $20 price tag. And my friend, who lives out of town but loves this place, no longer loves this place. She thought the sangria was the highlight. Server was new, but did a decent job and gave us lots of attention. So, 2 stars for service.
(2)
Elle A.
I must say I was pretty disappointed with this place. The reviews made it sound so great and I love Spanish food so I was really excited to try it out. Our waitress was fine but a little scatterbrained. When I asked if they served mojitos she wasn't sure what it was and when I got it, it looked like a sad little cocktail. It was the WORST mojito I've ever had. If they didn't regularly serve them that would've been fine and nice to know and I just would've ordered the sangria but instead I had a sad cocktail to go with the small plates. I know tapas means small plates and I know the portion sizes are smaller and shareable but their sizes were ridiculous on some of the plates. The chicken skewers, which took an extra 10 min than anything else, was literally one skewer with four little chunks of chicken for $7!! I could buy 2 pounds of chicken for that price! The garlic wings were good as was the lamb. The manchego plate was a joke. It had four tiny pieces of cheese with what looked and tasted like a fruit roll up on top. I will say the tres leches did live up to the hype and was worth every penny. Simply delicious and, finally, a generous portion. Overall my husband and I spent $90 on 4 small plates, a cocktail, 2 beers, and a dessert and that would've been fine if we felt full and satisfied but alas we felt neither. Maybe I've just been spoiled with other tapas places but this place was a real let down.
(2)
Peter P.
I love tapas as much as the next hombre, but I truly love the buffet they do here (weekday lunch and Sunday brunch). It's a great deal on weekdays as they have a great spread of salads, olives, figs, dates as well as some hot foods and gazpacho. All for about $10. The Sunday brunch costs a little bit more (about $16), but you also receive a glass of sangria (white or red) and you can get made-to-order omelets, french toast, and eggs benedict from the kitchen. My favorite item: the mushrooms The vibe is casual European and when the weather is nice, they open the giant doors so you really feel like you're on the Mediterranean. If you're a soccer (or as they say in Barcelona, futbol) fan, this is the place to get your Spanish La Liga "kicks" (pun intended). Especially if you're a FC Barcelona fan.
(4)
Waleska P.
We are tapas lovers, and have eaten at many tapas restaurants worldwide. We had 5 tapas and the paella valenciana at Barcelona. The food was really good. However, the sangria - both the white and red - was terrible. On the other hand, the tres leches dessert was the best 3 leches I've had in my life! We recommend eating here, but ordering wine or beer.
(4)
Holly S.
Decided to give this restaurant a second chance after not being impressed with the skimpy, undercooked, over-priced small plates we sampled about three years ago. Went in the evening of 5/8/15 on a double date. We waited 5 minutes for menus/a server to show up even though there were several open tables, the hostess was extremely rude and we decided to leave. She harassed us as we left the restaurant.
(1)
Kacy G.
I've been here a few times, and I'm generally pretty underwhelmed with the food with one exception: the goat cheese marinara. It's awesome. But how can you really go wrong with cheese & bread? The service is always excellent and food comes out fast. It's a great place to go with a crowd or a diverse group of eaters. The atmosphere/tapas sharing make up for the OK food. Tip: the pitcher of sangria, while it seems like a good deal, is a waste. It's about 3/4 full of ice and not that tasty.
(3)
Tarun G.
Nice dish ideas but all of them had too much oil, salt, and aioli. Very disappointing. Service was nice and the location is OK, but I would steer clear and try Punch burger instead.
(2)
John M.
My daughter graduated from Marian andcask us to ho here for dinner. It was so good. Try everything and share with the group! The lamb chops were great. The Saffron rice, amazing. Save room for dessert!
(5)
Annette W.
Great authentic Spanish food. Sangria pitcher is a bargain. Service was excellent. Decor interesting. Small plate foods are great for sharing at the table.
(4)
Marty G.
My first experience with tapas food, and I really enjoyed it! I didn't have an idea of what I would like, but I ordered 3 things: The curried chicken salad, Tortilla Espanola, and the baked goat cheese. I love curried chicken salad, and their rendition was no exception. The chicken was well cooked, the dish was well seasoned, and the flavor balance was exceptional. A nice starter to my meal. The Tortilla Espanola was my favorite dish - a nice quiche-like dish with potatoes and onions. I might ditch the other two dishes to try something new on a return visit, but this one's a keeper. The baked goat cheese was great, but it was a bit rich for me to finish. Just goes to show I should have shared! All in all, I'd make a return trip to Barcelona.
(4)
Aaron W.
This tapas joint has a very pleasing and welcoming exterior. It is a cheery red and yellow beacon amidst the city gray. Within the confines, a seriously cozy vibe is to be had. Burnt orange and other shades of red and yellow abound. Tastefully placed FC Barcelona flags/scarves are to be found in the nice bar area. A nice touch, even for this FC Bayern Munich fan! Beyond the Spanish soaked decor, the menu is pretty cool. A lot of tasty tapas, of course, and some mean paella. The lunch buffet is Monday through Friday and, while not huge, has some good choices. It is a good option to get a feel for the rest of the menu with such things as: Chicken and shrimp paella, pasta rioja, baked goat cheese in marinara, gazpacho shots, dates, figs, Spanish olives, beef and chick peas. Just a few examples. Each day may be a bit different than the last. The price for the buffet at the time of this review is a very reasonable $9.95. Try the chocolate flan or tres leches cake if possible. They could have refreshed the buffet on one visit a bit more, the next was better.
(4)
Buddy N.
Just finished eating here and severely disappointed. The Mar Y Tierra Toro (filet, shrimp and cauliflower skewer was not good at all. Fillet tasted old. Service was poor. Finally brought a veggie dish (asparagus) and it was cold. I love chorizo but the chicken chorizo skewer was very dry. The only dish we liked was the fried artichoke hearts and the meat balls. 1 star is generous. Sorry. I am usually a good rater. The worst tapas I have ever had. :(
(1)
David N.
A recent lunch at BARcelona covered all of the bases; from lucky base hits to out-of-the-park home runs, we hit for the cycle. Tried as much as we could; hard to believe but we barely scratched the surface of their tapas menu. Quick insight as to what we liked, and what we could've done without... Home Runs: Albondigas (Meatballs) - Perfectly crafted, well seasoned, cooked perfectly, tender, excellent accompanying sauce and cheese. Queso de Cabra al horno (Baked goat cheese in red sauce) - Again, a match made in heaven. Paired with crispy garlic bread, it's a must have. Triples: Solomillo con Cabrales (Beef Tenderloin) - A tad chewy, but well-seasoned, cooked to order, and paired well with bleu cheese and spinach Patatas Bravas (Spicy Potatoes) - Better than most we've tried, nice spice, could've used a bit more seasoning, plenty of bang for your buck. Double: Gambas al Alioli (Garlic Shrimp) - Cooked well, married well with the chili oil and lemon, but seemed to be missing an ingredient or two. Single: Calamari Frito (Fried Calamari) - Very basic. Little taste, luke warm, wouldn't try again. Nothing separating it from your basic greasy Mediterranean/gyros joint. That's the food.... Service was great, hopefully not just because of the lack of clientele. Interior did what it was supposed to do; it felt like a Spanish tapas bar. Soccer (futbol) on every TV, flags, jerseys, the whole nine yards. I did notice some lacking in the cleaning department. Fairly dusty inside, floors needed some cleaning. Gave of an almost "under construction" feel. Long and the short, solid tapas, plenty of well paired libations available, and all the futbol you can handle. Worth a visit, but not topping any of my lists.
(3)
Jen Y.
Place is cute... good for drinking. Food ok nothing memorable for vegetarians. Chickpeas, something with greens, and so so cheese. Great atmosphere to hang out and grab a drink though.
(3)
bampf S.
Went to BARcelona with a large group of friends while staying in downtown Indy. We each ordered several tapas and shared everything family style. We sampled at least 15 different dishes and they were amazing. We were blown away by several dishes. A few were "merely" great. The cod fishcakes, tenderloin, lamb chops and calamari all stood out as particularly amazing. Our group of 7, with dramatically different tastes and culinary backgrounds, were universally impressed. Finished it all with one of the most velvety flans I have ever had. The wait staff was extremely friendly and attentive. First rate all around and very reasonably priced! Highly recommended!
(5)
Lindsay R.
First time with the tapas setup. It seemed like the first three dishes came at us at the same time. There was always new dishes coming to the table. Definitely try the Devour Downtown menu. The The Plato de Embutidos and Tortilla Española was not my thing, but good; the Queso de Cabra al Horno was fantastic. My favorite dishes were the Gambas al Alioli and Setas Salteadas con Amontillado.. delicious! The Paella Vegetariana had good flavor but again not really my thing. The Cajeta Churros were phenomenal! Fresh and delicious with the chocolate sauce.. couldn't have been better! Definately go with a group of people so you can all share dishes and try everything because there's a lot of different options.
(4)
Juancarlo R.
The food was not authentic at all. The Paella was simply a yellow rice, the gambas al ajillo were just big shrimp with some lime on them and the sangria was tasteless. The only good thing was the tortilla which was pretty good. The place look like a chessy mexican restaurant instead of an authentic spanish restaurant. If you are looking for a real spanish place this is not it.
(2)
Annie V.
I recently tried BARcelona Tapas to prepare myself for an upcoming trip to Spain. LOVED it! Everything I had was bursting with flavor. You have to order about 4-5 for two people so you get to try a bunch ofsmall plates. If you like something I suggest getting two. The Albondtgas and the Colifor Al Azafran were my favorite tapas. The Tres Leches is to die for so make sure you save room for dessert. I would come back just for the dessert. I would 100% recommend this as a fun date night. The food here is very similar to that of the food I experienced while I was in Spain. Items I've tried: Jamon Serrano Con Manchego, Aceitunas Alinadas, Coliflor Al Azafran, Plato De Embutidos, Gambas al Alioli, Albondtgas, Espinacas Con Garbanzos, Tres Leches. Tip: the price can be on the higher end depending on how many you order. also make a reservation online as they get busy! they take reservations on parties as small as two on the same day.
(4)
Rick G.
Looked for some good Latin food while visiting Indy. Place is very dirty with an odor I didn't recognize. The food was barely warm and tasted like it came out of the freezer. Hope this helps.
(1)
James C.
If you're going on a Friday or Saturday night, make a reservation. Other nights of the week you can probably walk in with a short wait time. I made the mistake of skipping the easy to use reservation feature and waited 20 of the said 30 minute wait. Thankfully two spots opened up at the bar and we sat there. Our service at the bar was prompt and very friendly, we were made at ease and paid attention to. Kudos to both bartenders that night, I can't remember their names (big red head guy, smaller bearded guy), both thanks! We go the Paella Valencia and the Mar Y Tierra Toro. Both were delicious. My only concern was with the portion size of the Mar Y Tierra, it was quite small for the price, so the value here takes a hit. Also, the rice of the Paella was at the cusp of being over cooked, and too much water, not quite, but close so that the rice was a bit sticky and globbed in places. Outside of these two issues, I'm a fan, it's a cool place with lots of cool people. They serve Weemac and a few other local beers. Cocktails are average to high priced but they have an interesting selection. Try the Barcelona!
(4)
Lauren R.
This review is long over due, but better late than never, right.... I was able to try this place out during the Dine about Downtown event. It was awesome! There was more than enough food and I even took some home! Some of the fare included chicken wings and goat cheese with tomato. Both were superb! My dining buddy had a few glasses of the Sangria as well The location is easy to get to. I can't really comment on the parking situation since I walked to the restaurant. The staff is friendly and helpful. Great place to hang out with some buddies and talk.
(4)
Brittney H.
Barcelona has a little bit for everyone in my opinion. It is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Indy. Try out the goat cheese with tomato sauce first and work your way into the more savory meat-based tapas (the chicken wings, a.k.a. Alas de Pollo is a delicious one) . This is an ideal place to go for a large group or just as a couple. I like that Barcelona also has the buffet option for lunch. I've only done it once, but I felt that it was a very good price for the variety of tastings that were offered. One other thing to do if you have not tried this place is to wait for Devour Downtown to happen. It is typically 2 for $30 which is a decent chunk off your bill if you don't get a lot of drinks. The service here is great, the atmosphere is eclectic and the food is wonderful, what's not to like?
(5)
Billy V.
As with all tapas style restaurants it quickly becomes a game of hunting for what dishes you like, what dishes you love, and what dishes you won't ever be ordering again. Personal favorites of mine include the Maracon y Queso (the second best mac and cheese in Indy), the Patatas Bravas (potato chunks in a spicy marinara style sauce) and the Chicken Skewers. Their wine selection and sangria are spot on and they always have a few unusual (even rare) beers on tap. The only downside is they seem to hold tables for reservations that don't ever appear. The easy way around that is to make your own reservation or simply sit at the bar. Their bartenders blend the perfect mix of small talk and food/drink recommendations without interrupting or becoming overbearing. Word to the wise, most of the plates are small dishes. There are, however, some larger entree sized portions. One of those is the aforementioned Mac and Cheese. Trust me, you can easily split that one between 2-4 people.
(4)
Megan S.
Great portion sizes, varying menu offerings. They were packed and couldn't seat us without a reservation, but we were lucky to find 2 spots at the bar. The churros were crazy good!
(4)
Andrea J.
What can I say about this place besides it being the only tapas place in town true to form?! Tapas only. The food here is impeccably good. The vibe energetic . The seating a little cramped. The service always on par. The drinks not too shabby.
(4)
Sonya A.
I had avoided rating BARcelona because I wanted to love it and really the tapas are never spot-on enough to seduce me so in my book it was a 2-3 / 5 stars. Dinner tapas menu includes typical tapas which is exciting but the execution is so spotty sometimes its fantastic and others its a bit off. But it all changed when we stopped for brunch. They have a made to order brunch menu that includes french toast, eggs benedict, an omelet and the chef was sweet to send out a small stack of blueberry pancakes that weren't on the menu! And then of course a choice of red or white sangria. But that's not all! They also have the lunch buffet out for you to get your fill. Amazing. Every dish was spot on. I can't wait to go back for lunch. Food: 4/5 - Average of dinner (3/5) and brunch (5/5) Service: 4/5 - Spotty like the food, but Amy was so cool that I bumped it up to 4/5 from 3/5 Location: 4/5 - I like their outdoor seating, the bar is a great place to sit as well.
(4)
Jon C.
Sunday brunch is important to me, and I look forward to it all week long. Finding the right location is important, and I much rather wake up and enjoy brunch with friends at the table rather than waiting on one with other people who haven't had their morning coffee yet. Last Sunday I got together with a group of 10 of my friends to Barcelona Tapas for Sunday brunch. Barcelona Tapas uses OpenTable for online reservations, so getting in is quick and easy, and after you see the brunch buffet, you'll want a table as quickly as possible. Unlike dinner, most of the food is served on a buffet, with various salads, egg dishes, meat and cheese trays, cedar planked salmon and pasta. On this particular visit, they also had curried pork loin on the buffet, but the meat dish rotates. In addition to the 20 or so items on the buffet, you can all order small plates off the menu, like Spanish omlettes, tres leches French Toast, Eggs Benedict Spanish style (chorizo instead of ham). They usually feature a specialty dish too;this visit it was biscuits and gravy. The price of your brunch includes a glass of their sangria, either red or white. Most people I go with tend to prefer the white over the red, but both are excellent. For an additional charge you can make use of their Bloody Mary bar, which features a great bloody Mary mix by Hoosier Mama. Even if you've been here for dinner before and didn't have a great experience, you owe it to yourself to give it another try. I'm glad I did; it's quickly become one of my favorite brunch places in Indy.
(3)
Isabelle L.
This is a good place to relax and grab a few drinks in a low key atmosphere but the food could be better. The tapas were OK but nothing exceptional or outstanding and they tasted more like highly banalized Americanized dishes. The highlights were the goat cheese with tomato sauce and a couple of desserts: bread pudding and tres leches All our other dishes (salmon, meat balls, calamari, roasted peppers...) were filling but lacking in authenticity and flavor. I would associate more this place with a bar than a restaurant. If you are looking for a few drinks to unwind Tapas Barcelona will fit the bill. If looking for good tapas, just skip.
(3)
Melissa R.
My husband and I went here looking for something different. It was amazing. I liked the way we ordered smaller amounts and just ordered continuously throughout the evening. The food was delicious. We loved the Coliflor (Roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisin and pine nuts). So delicious. I would definitely go back. Will start with dessert next time. Was in a hurry and didn't get to that.
(5)
Nic J.
I really like the atmosphere here. The wife and I stopped in and had a meatball tapas, which was delicious, and a spicy pasta dish, which was mediocre. I'm only giving 3 stars, but I feel like I need to try some more things here to give a full evaluation.
(3)
Matthew B.
Devour downtown is a great deal here. Service is good, not great, but the food is fantastic at a good price. For those who like Emilio's Tapas in Chicagoland, I would definitely recommend this place over that.
(4)
Tania B.
I was there a few years ago and remember liking it... Enough that I decided to go again during a short visit to Indy... What a disappointment! Food was mediocre and not fresh. Had their famous goat cheese dish... It was served lukewarm at best. The calamari were really soggy. The meatballs were definitely not homemade. Everything was covered in store bought marinara sauce. The only saving grace of our meal were the lamb chops... However they were on the expensive side... $12+ for 3 little chops. Will be going somewhere else next time I'm in Indy.
(1)
Mak J.
Full disclosure: I used to work here. But I have not worked here for awhile, and it is my honest opinion that Barca does brunch better than just about any place I could think of in Indy. I don't feel that I am being biased at all in giving the brunch five stars because it is my honest opinion as an avid consumer of brunch in the Circle City. I love brunch, and I specifically love this brunch. Also for that reason, I will keep this review strictly about Sangria Brunch, although I do have favorable opinions regarding the tapas menu as well. So it's $16.95 a person, which includes an all-you-can-eat buffet of epic proportions (American and Spanish fare, a carving station with salmon and prime rib, and multiple desert options) AND an unlimited menu of four made to order tapas style desert options that consist of Spanish style Eggs Benedict with chorizo sausage links or asparagus stalks, made to order omelets with multiple ingredient choices, a french toast dish that incorporates their popular Tres Leches cake toppings, and a revolving special that more often than not includes sausage gravy. And one glass of your choice of red or white sangria. All for $17. I mean, come on. I can barely keep myself away on Sunday am. But the thing is, and I don't even know how that is possible, but that is not even the best part. There are $3 mimosas (which is an almost unheard of low price among the other brunch places I frequent) and A TWO DOLLAR BLOODY MARY BAR. An entire bar of tasty accouterments with which to enhance your Bloody Mary drinking experience. Now, the $2 vodka choice is well (they offer upgrades for pretty reasonable prices) but a Bloody Mary is the only way I can find well vodka palatable and therefore it is fine. Literally my only complaint about Sangria Brunch is that it is only on Sundays and not Saturdays as well, because I feel that brunching is a weekend activity (or all week activity for some of us) that get unfairly regulated to just Sundays, but that is really a cultural issue I guess. Other than that I am pleased and continue to patronize this brunch spot in all of its brunch-y wonderfulness.
(5)
Beth D.
Whatever you do, don't sign up for their promotional emails! They have recently started texting specials and they won't stop texting you even if you follow their directions to unsubscribe. I never signed up to receive text messages - such a horrible marketing & business strategy.
(1)
Douglas H.
Our waiter, Bryce, knows what he is talking about. Great suggestions, friendly, and most helpful. Must try's: CALAMARI FRITO - Lightly-fried crispy calamari with Romesco sauce. ALCACHOFAS FRITAS - Crispy artichokes with lemon-garlic aioli and shaved Manchego cheese PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO - Beef‌ brochette with red onion and horseradish alioli COLIFLOR - Roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisins and pine nuts. TRIGUEROS CON ROMESCO - Grilled asparagus with Romesco sauce and Manchego. SETAS SALTEADAS CON AMONTILLADO - Sauteed mushrooms in sweet sherry sauce. ATUN - Pepper-encrusted seared tuna with Rioja sauce SOLOMILLO CON CABRALES - Grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and a Rioja reduction sauce. Great atmosphere that is conducive to entertaining, conversation, and good memories. $9.99 lunch buffer M-F. Large craft beer selections on tap. #The317Live #Indy
(5)
Jessica S.
Lets start with this was my first time eating Tapas, let alone the 3 other people who went with me. For starters I went with 2 cheap a$$ men, and I recommending leaving the cheap-o's at home next time. My sister in law and I enjoyed the meal immensely and would have enjoyed it more if they hadn't been there commenting on the size of the food and the price. It is Expensive that is for sure, and if you are not ok paying $14 for half a portion of meat, don't go. Ok, on to the meal and such, just forget the men :) My SIL and I decided to just get what we wanted and split it and ignore them. We started with the ALCACHOFAS FRITAS - Crispy artichokes with lemon-garlic aioli and shaved Manchego cheese, and let me tell you this is the most wonderful fried food I have ever eaten (both men liked it too who are not artichoke fans otherwise). we then got the COLIFLOR - Roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisins and pine nuts, which is very nice serving size, easily shareable, and so good, the sauce is worth drinking, flavors are strong but not over whelming. We then for the Corder a La Parilla Grilled lamb chops with sherry alioli and rioja reduction (at our servers recommendation), we both worried it would be over cooked, and it was. The sauce was good, but the poor lamb was tough,we ate it off the bone like a dog,because we didn't want to waste it. My husband got the Solomillo Con Cabrales Grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and a rioja reduction sauce, which was very tasty and cooked perfectly, but very very small, about the size of a slider burger, he liked it but it really was not shareable. My BIL got the Bacalao Crispy codfish and potato cakes with lemon garlic alioli, as his choice, and it was only ok, small and bland (he said Gordon's fish like), and very late to the table, we had received all our orders plus bread before it came. We did get a side of garlic bread,because the sauces from the food was worth sopping up. For dessert my BIL got the Tres Leches Spanish three milk cake topped with cream and caramel, which WAS HUGE, and the best milk cake We have ever had! Would go back for a coffee and the cake. Side note, we got a 20$ pitcher of sangria and were disappointed in it, it was 80% ice and chopped up green apple and a small amount of liquid,gave us tiny glasses to drink from to make up for it? PASS.. The boys had draft local beer( I can't name) and they LOVED it ! They spent a lot on sinks for the bathrooms and do not have proper handicap stalls, speaking of the handicap stall the seat is barley attached to the bowl, so be careful. Ladies room also had a large amount of air-fresheners in it, noticeably and tacky. Overall, I would go again with a girlfriend and pay cash (hehe) but it will not be on the regular rotation just for the cost and the fact that 3 hours later we had to hit S/S because we were all starving.
(3)
Julia N.
Perfect perfect perfect. The food was delicious, each dish better than the last. The mushrooms In sherry sauce were close your eyes and groan incredible. As was the beef tenderloin. And the broccolini. The service was great too. Attentive but not annoying with a good pace to the meal. Bring lots of people so you can try everything.
(5)
Tara F.
Devour Downtown Time! First stop- Barcelona Tapas!!! I've been soooo excited to try this restaurant ever since I joined Yelp, and finally my dreams came true. Let's begin- there's going to be a ton of food coming your way... Especially if you chose the 6 course sampler from the Devour menu. I tried everything with my vegetarian roommate, except when it came to the Paella course. Now, ladies and gentleman, if there's seafood on the menu, you better move outta the way for little ol me to come and pillage the table for its delightfulness. When I saw that they served traditional Paella (a dish made with glorious seafood), I was giddy with anticipation. However, when you're splitting with an anti-meat person, chaos will ensue. Thankfully, our waiter and cooks graciously provided us a portion of Paella suitable for vegetarians, as well as a separate plate of the meat for myself to mix into my portion. The fact that a restaurant was kind enough to do this for me, (and it's not even a real dietary request or preference really), they received the ultimate rating. After this trip, I'm gladly going to come here again. Let's not forget the FOOD- I left full.... I was full the next day.... And I even had a day dream about the flan that I consumed... It was THAT GOOD! **Note- $10 Sangria pitchers on Wine Wednesdays... *holla*! :D
(5)
Kjirsten K.
I'm on the fence about Barcelona Tapas. On the one hand it's fun to order the small plates and try several items on the menu, but on the other hand the food is usually mediocre. My last visit was really cool because, 1) we got a free bottle of wine for our anniversary, and 2) the chef came to our table to explain the cheeses featured on their cheese special. Basically, what it comes down to is this, I love the experience of Barcelona Tapas, but not necessarily the food.
(3)
Winston F.
Had lunch there today, party of five. We all had the buffet. I thought the spread was generous, varietal, tasty, and at $10/person, affordable. I do just want to give a heads up about the espresso drinks. All of us got espressos after the meal, including singles, doubles, regular, and decaf, and every last one came out severely watered down. This outcome was particularly peculiar because our waitress boasted that she "knew her coffee" before we ordered the drinks, so it's odd that she didn't warn us that their espresso machine was so miscalibrated. We ended up redeeming our coffee experience at a local coffeeshop in Broadripple after lunch ;)
(4)
Phoebe R.
I admit it's been over a year since I've been to BARcelona but we had such a good experience we went twice over a three day visit. This was my first tapas experience and it still makes me laugh when I remember telling my parents where we'd been and my mom said "why are you eating at a topless bar" but I digress. It was one of those places that made me glad I'd drug my boyfriend to Indy (along with the art museum!).
(4)
Krissy C.
On a recent trip to Indy we were looking for a good place to eat that wouldn't be super heavy or a big steakhouse (we had reservations at a steak house the next everning). Indy seems to be very big on steak houses, and this was the alternative we were looking for. I really enjoy tapas style eating since I tend to want to try everyone else's food anyway, so small plates get a big plus from the start from me. Our service here was great, the waiter was very friendly and helpful with drink selections. the food is decently priced and about as to be expected for tapas. We had no issues with waiting too long for food even though we got one of the steak kabob dishes. Actually, we had to be careful to not order more plates too soon or else we were ending up with a table full of food! Tha goat cheese was good. Better than similar dishes like this that I've had. the bread was crusty, but not hard, and you get a generous portion of cheese. The sause also has a very nice amount of spices added to it which took it to a higher level. The garlic shrimp were very good if you like garlic, shrimp, and spice, which I do. the empenadas were so-so. A previous review was right when they said it tasted like boiled frozen spinach. I thought the dough was very tasty though. The horseradish steak kabob was tasty and very well cooked (be wary of this dish if you like your meat well done. Ours came out med-rare which is what we like, but I didn't remember the waiter asking). We had a great experience on a casual night out for two people. I could see where it could be too loud for larger groups, but on a Thursday night it was perfect. The interior is also a bit similar to a Chilis-type interior or a lot of mexican places, but it seems to work for them and did not put me off at all. It is very brightly colored and festive, which makes a great casual night out.
(4)
Jeffrey J.
Lots of rich food, but it was just OK. Service was fine.
(2)
Jay C.
Went for the lunch buffet - everything on it was good and kept well stocked. Service was also good; however.... since there were six of us they automatically added gratuity to our bills ($1.95 tip on a $9.95 buffet). That comes to approx 20% -- seems a little steep for a buffet.
(3)
Ryan M.
There's sort of a Spanish mood set by the decor and the menu here, but don't forget you're in the middle of Indiana. Just as the tapas come and go. your experience will probably go from good to meh and back again. The margaritas on the rocks are tasty but on par with what you can get elsewhere. Adobo definitely has better. On our first visit, they were getting the drinks out a bit slow, but they realized it so we go them on the house. Good on BARcelona for making the effort. On each trip the servers have been personable and helpful, but brought the courses out either far too quickly, or took far too long. If the restaurant is busy, you'll probably see the tapas inconveniently served in groups. Chicken wings are one of the tastiest items items on the menu, and possibly the least Spanish. The wing sauce is delicious and a bit spicy. Overall, the food is pretty great. Also recommended is the paella and definitely a course of warm, chocolatey churros. Tip: BARcelona offers "Two for Tuesdays," with five courses for two people for $30. This is the same menu they offer for Devour Downtown. A pretty good deal.
(4)
Katrina V.
Eh, this place is OK. It has the atmosphere of a Chevys...for real. I read about this place on yelp, and when I got there I was surprised to see how big it is. When I think tapas, I think small spot featuring small plates made with care...not big restaurant on the corner. It took forever for a waitress to come take our order, but once she finally got there she was really cheerful and cool. Our food all came quickly, but that may have been because we didn't order any meat items. Black bean soup was good and flavorful; thick Baked goat cheese was tasty and a generous portion Fried artichoke was kind of like breaded artichoke calimari? so-so Empanadas tasted like bread with flavorless boiled spinach inside (exactly what they were) Fried potatoes was like french fries smothered in spaghetti sauce. no thanks. If I ever go back to Indy, it won't be here, SRY BRO
(2)
Moistnchewie L.
Came here for a corporate dinner. For the standard prices in Indy, it's definitely not worth the money. The bill was $100 for 2 people including a few drinks. Plastic cups, cheap silverware, missing mosaic tile on our table. The food was decent, but don't think I'd come back again. For the same price, I'd rather dine at a finer more upscale restaurant. The lamp chops receive an honourable mention. I've had way better tapas in vegas (firefly).
(2)
Amanda Z.
BARcelona was a delightful respite from all the major chains in the downtown area and just a short walk away from our hotel. Upon our servers suggestion, we ordered: --Queso de Cabra al Horno: traditional goat cheese dip that nearly everyone gets at tapas restaurants. This was was decent, but not the best I've had. --Atún con Pimienta: The tuna was seared, but to the point of being a bit tough on the outside and the pepper coating was almost too heavy. I did thoroughly enjoy the rioja sauce on it, though. --Solomillo con Cabrales: Beef tenderloin with blue cheese and spinach. Great flavor, but the meat was a bit tough, which for tenderloin tells me it is not the greatest quality. --Setas Salteadas con Amontillado: My favorite. Mushrooms in a sherry sauce. Lovely. A pitcher of sangria helped round out a not-bad, but not-fabulous tapas experience. Service was friendly and helpful and the patio outside looked like it'd add for better ambiance to a tapas experience. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't patio weather, so we ate inside. Not a bad spot, and the food wasn't offensive, but again, nothing special. A solid three stars.
(3)
Kimberly C.
Yes it is a restaurant that offers something "different" but the most essential, the food, was just not good. If you've been to other tapas restaurants before you will be disappointed. Not to mention the prices are just a bit on the high side considering the quality (not to mention quantity). I went to the lunch buffet as well- and really it looks like a badly coordinated pot luck as my co-worker likes to put it. Some chopped up vegetables, a bowl of lukewarm paella, a few cheeses, and some brownies to end it all.
(2)
Martha H.
Best goat cheese and fresh Jamon Serrano!! You have to try the great tres leches dessert!!! Love it!
(5)
Tom K.
I was in Indianapolis for the mini marathon and my friend and I decided to give this place a try. I was wondering if I would like it or not but decided to give it a try. We ordered drinks I went for a basic margarita and it was the best I have ever had - the other drinks ordered was a sangria martini which was not good and would not recommend but the tequila martini was fantastic! We ordered a variety of things including grilled asparagus which was very good except for one piece that was very bad. Next we ordered the goat cheese in a tomato sauce with bread which was very tasty. My friend ordered the mussels in a spicy tomato sauce which he liked a great deal. After being told about the grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese and spinach in a Rioja reduction sauce I knew it was calling my name. It was the best item for me and I would highly recommend it to anyone! Since I have a big sweet tooth I talked my friend into ordering desserts and I went with the Montserrat Chocolata Brownie which was made with a bittersweet chocolate and it was fantastic and my friend ordered Tres Leches which is a spanish three milk cake topped with cream and caramel and he said don't order this unless you are ready to fall over in utter bliss. It was truly an amazing conclusion to the meal. The server Sam was very attentive and I appreciated the time he took to explain what each item was and how it was prepared and made some great recommendations! So ask for him when you go! Overall it was a great place to go for lunch or dinner. I can't wait to go again.
(5)
Tony P.
This year at GenCon my friends and I found this place and tried it out. The place sits on the corner and not very big. The decor is simple mediteranean style and clean. The service was a little slow. What really made this place memorable was the dishes. The servings are obviously small so you'll want to order several choices. I had the gazpacho andaluz and it was very refreshing. I had some very good lamb and the grilled sausages was excellent. Save some room for the brownie dessert. It's outstanding.
(4)
Benjamin H.
I've had plenty of good experiences at BARcelona.. I really enjoy the empanadas, goat cheese and curry chicken salad. The asparagus is good as well. I prefer the curry chicken salad sandwich with a delirium for lunch. I wish it wasn't located next to India Garden as I tend to pick Indian 95% of the time.
(4)
Fida C.
Came here for restaurant week (Devour Downtown). The food was mixed. The artichoke fritters and goat cheese in tomato sauce were good. The black bean soup and the paella were bland-to-tasteless. The churros warm and crispy, but assertively artificially flavored. The real downer, thigh, was the service, which ranged between absent and rude.
(2)
Andy F.
Really bad experience. I enjoy tapas and Spanish food. Sadly, my visit gave me rubbery garlic shrimp, watery sangria, bland patatas bravas, and some other forgettable dishes. The bread was flavorless. The decor was like that of a bad Mexican restaurant. $56 for two people (tip not included) for a really poor meal. It's as if they just stopped caring. On the upside, the service was pretty good.
(1)
Liz M.
BARcelona, how do you expect me to love you when you treat me so badly? I would rate my previous experiences 3.5 stars, but this last visit left me very disappointed. When we walked in on a busy Saturday night, we stood at the host podium for a few minutes before anyone acknowledged us. What made that so surreal was that not only the host, but the manager, came up to the podium a couple of times without saying a word to my friend and me, or the four or five other people standing there. They just walked up, then walked away. Walked up, then walked away. There was no, "good evening folks, I'll be with you in just a minute." When he finally spoke with us, they somehow "lost" an OpenTable reservation, but seated us right away anyway (bonus point). Once seated, our drinks came pretty quickly, and then we began to wait...and wait...for the goat cheese appetizer. It didn't seem to be particularly difficult to prepare (an ice cream scoop of soft goat cheese on top of marinara sauce), so I didn't understand why it took so long. It was rich and delicious, and the toasted bread was yummy, too. The next tapas come out really quickly - fried artichokes, garlic shrimp, and garbanzos and spinach (the sauce with the shrimp was so good - I was cleaning out the dish with my bread). At about this time I ran out of water, and had to ask for a refill. Our waiter seemed...a little spacey. When he checked on us, he said, "You're waiting on the asparagus and the meat?" No, we're eating the garbanzos - we just need the meat. Later, "You need the meat and churros?" No, the meat and the brownie. Isn't all of this written on a computer for you? As the restaurant got less busy, our food stopped coming out. We had to wait...and wait...and wait...and wait for the solomillo to come out. The waiter came by at least three times to tell us it was coming "right out." When it did come, it was DELICIOUS. The cabrales cheese on top was great. Then my water glass ran out. Again. The food was very good, but the service overall was really lacking. It wasn't all our waiter's fault - it took a team effort to mess up the meal. The manager was just standing around against a wall like a coat rack. Oh wait, he was drinking a soft drink at one point in the night...something which made me even thirstier as I stared at my empty water glass. I really respect managers who will get in there and POUR WATER for customers and interact with them. You know, introduce themselves, ask how your evening is going, etc. I will certainly be going back for the food, but next time I'm going to sit at the bar.
(2)
Molly S.
I'm an out of towner, and once again, downtown Indianapolis did not disappoint. BARcelona was charming, with a friendly staff and a cozy atmosphere. Our server was new to the restaurant, but he was well versed and had a wonderful personality. The food was delicious - I had the mussels, broccoli rabe, and fried artichokes - all amazing. I'm a Tapas convert now. My mission in life is small plates of spicy food! The mussels were actually quite plentiful, I wouldn't consider that small plate at all, there were so many! My colleagues thought I was joking when I suggested we order one of each desert... but damned if we didn't. Bites of the Creme Brulee, Churros, Flan, and the Dulce De Leche cake all made it past me, and they were amazing. This is definitely the kind of place I'd want to eat every week if I lived in Indianapolis.
(5)
Emily U.
Something about the ambiance of BARcelona just screams of those trendy corporate "restaurant concept" joints that Lettuce Entertain You has all over the Chicago area. In other words, Tapas BARcelona feels like a chain that is pretending not to be a chain. Maybe the hokey name also contributes to the vibe--I can never stop myself from accentuating the BAR in BARcelona! That said, I do enjoy dining there every now and again. As many reviewers say, the goat cheese IS delicious, but really how can you go wrong with a dish of warm goat cheese, tomato sauce and bread? I think the cauliflower and raisin dish is maybe the best of the small plates I've had there. My dining companions last week praised the blue cheese tenderloin thing-y, though we all found the sauce that came with the fried artichokes a little boring (we ended up putting goat cheese on them!). The drinks are passable--the Mojitos were nice and citrus-y but a bit too cloying in taste last time (less sugar, more booze!). The Dark and Stormy was good, and the drink list has a few other really interesting-sounding items--such as the Latin Manhattan--which I have not tried yet. If you've got room, the Montserrat brownie dessert practically melts in your mouth. Awesome. The service here is mostly pretty good, though I once had a waitress deal with a few missteps by completely abandoning our table (very odd). I mostly enjoy going here because it's bustling in the evenings, lending to an enjoyable atmosphere. And getting a small taste of a lot of things is a great way to eat, in my opinion.
(3)
Bradford K.
Went here for a brief lunch buffet. One of the worst buffets I have visited. I'm short, the paella was soggy, flavorless, and without fresh ingredients. The spicy chicken was unglorified spicy chicken wings. The roast beef looked fatty and shredded, not sliced. The pasta was overlooked. No other selections to pick from. Will not go back again for food. Did not try their sangria.
(2)
Ange B.
Barcelona Tapas is colorful, fun, exciting, and full of energy PLUS to top that all off the food is outstanding!!!! We have been to Barcelona Tapas many times and every single time I think it gets better. It is a very busy, loud place so if you are looking for a quiet meal, this is not the place for you. Everything on the menu is delicious; I haven't had a single complaint in all of my visits. I recommend you start off with the goat cheese and then make sure you try the sauteed mushrooms with garlic and sherry. They are out of this world! Tips from a BT lover: *Ask if Tim is working behind the bar and have him make you a mojito, it will blow your mind. *While the churros are good, go for the tres leches for dessert. I"t's made of the wishes, hopes, and dreams of small children" according to a friend who "doesn't even like tres leches." *If you go on Tuesday, two people can eat six tapas plates for thirty dollars. *Lunch buffet from 11a-2p for ten bucks! You really can't beat that!
(5)
Jonathan K.
We went there one Sunday afternoon with the kids. It's not that this place isn't kid friendly, it's that my kids were too young to enjoy it, and we didn't have enough time to truly enjoy it. Combine that with my wife not being a big meat eater and our personal experience wasn't as happy as if I would be there alone. The food is good, pretty reasonably priced, and the service was pretty good, too.
(4)
Anna B.
I have gone to BARcelona twice, once for lunch and once with my parents and friends for dinner on my birthday. Let me first say that I have been to Spain a number of times, and BARcelona's tapas are, if not authentic, pretty good American adaptations. I have to echo other yelpers and agree that the baked goat cheese is the best choice. Also good are the tortilla española and the pinchos. The bill can add up quickly, depending on how many of the tapas you order. My advice is to order as you go, just a few at a time, so as to not end up with extra food at the end that you can't eat. Also, the sangria was tasty, a little watery, but very plentiful for the $10 pitcher special on Tuesday nights.
(3)
Nichole H.
Okay, I finally went to BARcelona Tapas to eat - and I'll amend my review accordingly. Maybe sitting in the bar is just not the way to go. My friend and I went there Friday night around 8pm and sat outside. We were greeted promptly and our orders were taken. We had the curry chicken salad and the paella, with the white sangria. Will say that I still don't love white sangria, but it was my friend's choice. The curry chicken salad was awesome, the the waiter promptly brought us bread when we asked for it. The paella was really good. Way better than Palomino, in my opinion, and it serves 2 for $20. For two ladies, it was dinner for the two of us and enough leftovers for dinner the following night. Our waiter didn't try to rush us out, and we had a lovely evening.
(4)
Holly H.
I love BARcelona's! The food is great. It may take a couple visits to find some "favorite" dishes, but the experimenting is half the fun. I know this place is touted as being good for groups... and I know I've had great times my friends, as we all like to try different things and let one another sample our food... But I will say that on a busy night (and it seems like they are busy most nights), a larger group is a bit hindering. It's loud, so it's hard to really talk to people down the table... I would say this place is probably best with 2-4 people dining together. In fact, the most fun I've had there is when just my husband and I go. We get a good amount of food, and we both share and sample back and forth. My favorites include the baked goat cheese with tomato sauce that was mentioned earlier... I also love the Queso con Membrillo, which is manchego cheese with quince puree. It doesn't sound great, necessarily... But it's so tasty! We usually get 6-8 plates all together (which includes our dessert... I recommend the churros!) and we leave completely full! Now that it's getting to be autumn, the outdoor seating will be nice. :)
(5)
Trevor T.
The food and service were great; I was pleasantly surprised because we came with a large group - 9 people total. We were there for about 2 hours. We chose several of the tapas selections and almost all were universally enjoyed. My personal favorite was the paella, which will serve 4 easily. I don't think dessert was as good as the tapas. The tres leches didn't have much flavor; the montserrat chocolate brownie was cold and heavy; the cajeta churros were the best of the three.
(3)
Scott D.
Last night a dozen of us celebrated my wife's birthday here. It was a good time. Piggybacking off the other reviews, this really is a good place for groups and a terrible place if you want to hear someone else speak. It really is loud, but that also adds to the overall atmosphere. It was a Wednesday, so it was fairly dead. I s'pose that probably made our experience better since we didn't have to compete with a full house. I heard no one in our group complain about the food. Makes sense. It's hard to screw up food when you're only creating a small bit at a time. So, it was good and like the other reviews say, the place is unique with a really, really fun menu. I felt our service was great. I only had to ask for my water to be filled back up once and that was toward the end of the meal. I was surprised she didn't ask me if I wanted another glass of wine, but with twelve people she was probably busy enough. One guy in our group finally had to get up and leave the table to tell something to the server, though, because she basically just forgot about his corner of the table. Me? I was great, but he did seem a little honked off. Get the brownie at the end. I've also been here for the lunch buffet. It's very affordable and a very fun way to spend your lunch hour. At the end of the night the chef came out, said hello. That was nice. We then stood around for a good 12 minutes *almost* leaving. No one pushed us out or made us feel uncomfortable. There was a band that went on about 9:00pm on a Wed. night. There was only one or two table when we left at 9:20. Very weird.
(4)
Danielle F.
I didn't really know what to expect from this restaurant, but was pleasantly surprised. It had a really good atmosphere. It was casual and there were definitely more younger people hanging out after work than families. The drinks were awesome. I had my favorite drink, which is sometimes hard to find, the tequila martini. It was strong and flavorful. My mom had a mojito, which (if you are a mojito person you know the true Cuban mojito which can be hard to find in restaurants) was authentic and tasty. The food on the whole was good and very reasonably priced. Most tapas were between $5-$6, with some of the larger ones reaching $11. The really amazing dishes were the sausage sampler, the egg and potato omelet, and the croquettes. The minuses were that the calamari was undercooked and all the tapas had the same dipping sauce. Id o wish there had been a little more variety in the sauces. However, I will definitely go again.
(4)
Julie W.
Had the lunch buffet--it was satisfying, but underwhelming. The tortilla was very good, but the paella was not. I'd go back in the evening to try the real tapas.
(3)
Bill B.
Don't know if this place was any good when it opened but my lunch today was fantastic! Really enjoyable experience. wishing I'd have made the effort to go a long time ago. Will chastise my downtown friends for not sharing earlier. I think I'll take my wife back for the Sunday Brunch. P.S. not sure that curried chicken salad is native to Spanish menus but the stuff was deelish!!
(5)
Niki U.
Uh, OK. Went to Barcelona for New Years Eve. Although I had made a reservation ahead of time on OpenTable, I got seated at a table between the bar and a wall. Very small walk way between the two and the only thing that seperated the two was a very tiny walk way. It was awkward. When people were waiting at the bar for a drink, they were standing shoulder to shoulder with me eating my food. The service was tough to track down. Once we did get his attention, he was pleasant enough but the courses were too far seperated to be a cohesive experience. Had the beef tenderloin (good), goat cheese (yum), olive plate, and others. The worst thing I had was the churro for desert. Over fried, over sugared, weighed about 10 lbs. ewww. BARcelona was OK. I can just think of better ways to spend my money.
(3)
J H.
We were there for Devour Downtown's Winterfest and experienced the 2 for $30 menu. This was our first time actually having food at BARcelona Tapas and we were pleased with the food, not so much with the service. We had a reservation and sat for 20 minutes without anyone coming to get our order. The bartender finally came to take our drink order and shortly after our server showed up. We started with the Queso de Cabra al Horno which is their Goat cheese in marinara sauce with garlic bread. That was probably our favorite item. This was when things kinda fell apart (further) with our experience as the next few items were brought out all at once! We followed up with the beef brochette, the spinach and mushroom empanadas and the sauteed broccolini. Each of the devour downtown menus was paired with a skillet of Paella, but with the pacing being off, we were unable to save room for those or the churro dessert. The server was friendly, but the pacing was awkward and it made the experience just so-so. The food was amazing though, my husband and I were very happy with the food and would come back again just for the food!
(3)
David M.
No. No. No. About as authentic as taco bell. We had six tapas. Roasted red peppers. They would have been fine but they were drenched in a heavy and overpowering mayonnaise sauce... Not olive oil and garlic as described. Spanish meatballs. They were fine... But they weren't any different than Italian meatballs you might get at fast food joint. Cod potato pancakes. They had no fish in them. Soooo... Fried artichoke hearts. Fine, but hard to screw up. However, the accompanying sauce was poorly matched and overall not good. Anchovies. No complaints here, as advertised. Serrano ham and manchego cheese. Good but once again, hard to screw up. I did get the feeling it had been plated several hours earlier and left in a chill box. Atmosphere felt like a chain Mexican restaurant. Service was prompt and pleasant. Look, Indy isn't full of people who are willing to really try new foods or cuisines outside the comfort zone. This place is catering towards safety. Call me a food snob, but If you've had decently authentic tapas, you'll be disappointed.
(2)
Miike G.
I really do enjoy tapas!! Had the goat cheese and the tenderloin tapas. They were both amazing! Will be back next time I'm in INDY!
(4)
Kelly C.
I have been here a couple of times while in the Indy area on business. Both times the service was friendly and attentive and it was not very crowded, but decent size for a week night. The first time was just with one other person and our server made suggestions when I inquired about the portion sizes and we ordered a bunch of stuff. The next trip had more people, but we enjoyed the meal just the same. They have a decent amount of vegetarian dishes which is nice to offset all the meats and cheeses that most places Tapas places tend to focus on -- trust me, I'm not vegetarian, but it's nice to have the variety to balance my diet on the road. It's a nice concept for folks to try different things and share. Some dishes can be small, but if you going for a tasting of different things it's good to have some smaller stuff -- one can always order more if they like it. I travel quite a bit and so it's nice to find a casual friendly place that has decent food to get away from the normal big chains that you often find in Indy and my ratings are putting in perspective of the locale with a slight comparison to other cities. I'm grew up in on the West Coast and live in Chicago so there is plenty of good food and places have to do something really right for me to even bother to write about them. Great values: *Albóndigas - Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce with Manchego cheese. Tasty and plenty to share. Soak up the red sauce with bread -- yummy! *Tres Quesos - Manchego, Cabrales and goat cheese with Spanish picos. is yummy starter In fact, most items with the Manchego on the menu were delish! *Coliflor al Azafrán - Roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisins and pine nuts. This was recommended by the server on my first visit. Unless you have a big aversion to Cauliflower, this is very tasty. *Plato de Embutidos - Assorted grilled Spanish sausages. Tasty! *Cordero a la Parilla - Grilled lamb chops with sherry alioli and Rioja reduction. - Yum! *Queso de Cabra al Horno - Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread. * Not a Fan! *Croquetas de Pollo y Jamón - Chicken and Serrano ham croquettes, cumin alioli. I get these everywhere when in Miami area. It's passable, but not my fav. Portion size is small. *Tortilla Española - Potato and onion omelette cake with spinach. Personally not a big fan of potatoe cakes of any kind. Flavorful if you like this kinda of stuff. *Salmón con Alcaparras - Grilled salmon with sherry cream, lemon and caperberry. it just was not spectacular - not crazy about the sauce. about 5 oz portion served. Cooked to right temperature and nice to have some salmon on the menu. Semi-sharable.
(4)
The Shadow K.
What a disappointment. When this St. Louis spinoff first started up in Indy, it showed some real promise. But now, after several years serving the same corner in downtown Indianapolis, it has skunk into mediocrity, and that just the food. Poor, inattentive, although friendly service and watered down drinks makes it the perfect place for only high school graduation parties. Is this place in survival mode or do the owners don't care any more? If it's the former, than the only way for this place to make it is to get back to the basics - good food - great service. If it the latter, go back to St. Louis and reopen a fast food restaurant in its location. At least the food would be cheaper.
(1)
Tiffany B.
Though the atmosphere and location is cool, the food is a poor translation of the real deal. Having lived in Barcelona, I can't pretend that their versions of Catalan favorites would pass muster in the cheapest of places in the real city of Barcelona. The format is the most faithful part of the translation--small side dishes to nosh on with a drink. As for the menu items, the tortilla a la Espanola is the closest to the kind you'd typically get in Spain, but then again, how bad can you mess up a giant omelet cake? The items that have a tomato based sauce don't taste the same, but even canned tomato sauce or paste tastes different in Spain, and I'm guessing they just can't get the same products here. Just get together some scratch and go to the real Barcelona. Also when this place is full, the acoustics are a real challenge. The mojito I had was good--but that isn't Spanish. Try ordering a mojito in the real Barcelona, I promise you'll get a blank stare. The joint is at least quite colorful, and at least it isn't a chain!
(2)
Xopher D.
Hey look! It's a BAR I can bring my kids to! (Sorry, this is just my little poke at Indianapolis's silly excuse of a smoking ban compromise with the 18+ rule.) So yes, I did bring the family to Indy's (only?) tapas joint while in town for work. We got there around 5:30pm for dinner, which was a good thing because the place filled up very quickly in the next hour. Being Tuesday, we went for their 2-for-Tuesday menu. Tall milks for the kids, frosty cold ones for the grown-ups ($2.50 pints). The food? Well, read on... Goat cheese in tomato sauce: not bad. Not too salty, good on toast. Kids Iiked it. Sauteed garlic shrimp: they are not afraid of garlic. Lashings of shaved garlic in this dish made the small amount of broth great for sopping. I think my wife managed to stop me from licking the bowl, but just barely. Crispy artichokes: news flash to the kitchen -- you need to peel off the leathery bits before cooking. My kids ate the breading off and spit out the veg. For once, I can't say I blame them. Paella: passable. Seafood was not overcooked, though mussels were surpisingly salty. Tuna was substituted for salmon. Rice was done well, though little saffron, if any, was detected. The "chorizo" was more like an andouille, but I love just about any kind of sausage (Hot Doug's, anyone?). Brownie: should have gone with the churros. Brownie was warm & moist on the inside, tough and bricklike on the outside. Left far too long under the heat lamp, chica. I wouldn't return for dinner, but the happy hour specials are a great deal. Enough drinks, and you can begin to overlook the kitchen's inconsistencies. Service was solid throughout (and actually shouldn't be an afterthought). Salud!
(3)
Kelly M.
I had been wanting to try BARcelonas tapas since i had tapas on a business trip a few years ago in Houston. BARcelonas has a fairly big gluten free menu and i was very comfortable eating in this open and airy, colorful restaurant. My love had meatballs (one of his favorite foods) and we shared the lamb special (one of my favorite foods), both were really tasty. I am not a fan of their cold garlic peppers, but everything else we had was really good, especially the creme brulee, mmm... The food was a bit pricey for what you get, but the atmosphere was worth it.
(4)
Alena S.
I have been to Barcelona Tapas a few times, but today I went for the Devour Downtown Menu. I went during lunch, not realizing their Devour Downtown Menu is only for dinner. However, they were so nice that they offered us the Devour Downtown menu for lunch! Yay! As usual, we started with the goat cheese and tomato with bread (sorry, I can't remember the actual names of the dishes, so bare with me) It's probably my favorite item there. It just sorta melts in your mouth. We also got the fried artichokes which were very yummy. We had a pork dish on a skewer, which was a little too salty for me, Asparagus (tasted grilled...it was good), and a seafood mixture on rice. It had mussels, shrimp, chorizo, and probably a few other things. By the time we got to the last course (seafood), I was already so stuffed, so I only had a mussel and a few other bites. And then for dessert, we had the churros. If you can handle intense sweetness, then you will love them. I had a couple, and although they are very good, I don't have much of a sweet tooth. The deal was 2 people for $30 and it was well worth it. There was more than enough food and we took leftovers home. The service was excellent. Other times I have been to Barcelona Tapas, the food has been good. It's one of the few non-chain restaurants in the business "wholesale" district of downtown Indy. The wholesale district is suffering from serious chain overload (which is why I don't eat down there very often...we prefer Mass Ave or some of the other places just outside the wholesale district). So if you want something close to the hotels that's just a little bit different, it might be a good choice for you.
(3)
Matt S.
One of the only places in town to get Spanish food. All of the food that I tried was delicious and the service was really good. The only drawback is that it is a little expensive, but it is well worth it.
(4)
Amanda Z.
This is a pretty solid downtown restaurant choice- I would agree with another reviewer that it's more of a 3.5 than a 3 or 4. Our 4 dishes came out in really quick succession, which is nice if you want to turn over tables and continue to fill the restaurant, but it made us feel a little rushed. We ordered the goat cheese, which is a definite recommend, the curried chicken salad, also a definite recommend, the tortilla espanola- a decent dish,& the potatoes in tomato sauce, just meh. It was a lot of food, and definitely way too much to even have any room to try any of the delicious sounding desserts. Service was good- our waitress was helpful in giving us recommendations and was attentive without being overbearing. Overall it was a decent dining experience. I'm not dreaming of my next trip back, but I'm sure I'll make it back at some point to sample a few more dishes.
(3)
Tina N.
Super cute place. I went here during Devour Downtown so I had made reservations, and was seated promptly (it may have been the worst seat in the place, but oh well). The food was pretty good (except for the paella - which was disappointing), and the service was great. I love tapas so I will definitely be back! That goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread was WOW!
(4)
Lane M.
Although we enjoyed the casual atmosphere (we sat on the patio), the tapas were a disappointment. Three of our dishes - patatas bravas, the mussels, and the baked goat cheese - all appeared to have the same lifeless and oversalted tomato sauce, despite being very different dishes. The lamb chops were good but were brought out in a mixture of aioli and grease that was not appealing. The vegetable dishes fared better, although there was nothing subtle about them. The asparagus was buried beneath shredded manchego and the chickpeas and spinach were overpowered by garlic cloves. All in all, a fine place for a drink and snack but I suspect we could have gotten much better food for the price in Indy. Also I was surprised to pay $7.50 for a 6oz. Dark and Stormy but at least it was made with Bermuda Stone.
(2)
Elizabeth C.
BARcelona has a special vegan menu that you can ask for at the host stand. Of course I'm going to give them 5 stars. The food is really yummy and vegans and non vegans alike will scrap over the last bits of patatas bravas. The sangria is delicious, although they could give you a little more for your $. I guess on the whole I find this place a touch pricey, but it is WORTH IT. I'm a big fan of the broccolini; the sun dried tomato sauce is just really indulgent, and I usually find sun dried tomatoes a little too acidic, so it's quite masterful.
(5)
Ashley H.
The hostess was rude and our waitress took awhile to take our drink orders, but everything else was fabulous. Delicious food, great drinks, and, once she appeared, a very nice waitress!
(4)
Chris B.
I have been here a few times now and it's been pretty average. They have some good dishes (goat cheese and tomato sauce, garlic shrimp) the major disappointment was the Paella. Nothing authentic about it... one of the basic key ingredients is short grain rice, they use long grain...makes a world of difference and a spanish restaurant should know this. The sangria is also pretty watered down.
(3)
Nater P.
For 8:30pm on a Saturday night, we got prompt service, an ample pitcher of sangria, and tasty tapas. Fresh garlic was very present in almost every dish we ordered. I'd come back.
(4)
Amber M.
I went here once for dinner with husband's family and hope to never go back. The space is fun and colorful, and pleasant if you enjoy dinner with a tv always in your sight line. The food was seriously lacking. The red sangria i personally didn't like, the white was okay but nothing special. The calamari was done to perfection, though was bland. The worst item we had by far was the goat cheese- the sauce it was baked in tasted like plain canned pasta sauce.
(2)
Theresa R.
We went on a weekend before the rush and thought this would increase our chance of a delightful experience. The ambiance is great- entry way has curb appeal and the decor warm and bold. But the low score is simply for serving the worst tapas ever. The albondigas were straight out of a Gordon Food Service bag and heated in the microwave with a sauce so bland that it screamed tomato paste mixed in water. I also tried a cheese and olive dish served with bread. The bread was stale and hard, cut right off of something prepackaged and left out in the air too long. No beautiful drizzles of tempered olive oils like you'll find in other great tapas establishments. The cheese was mediocre and bland, no lovely goat cheeses plated with basil leaves here. I've read other reviews and wonder if they simply ran out of ingredients. If so they should have removed these items off the menu. They really tried to push the pricey drinks as perhaps it's the only thing worth coming for. And they were boxed as well though a slightly higher quality box mix. Skip the tapas. Their cooks would benefit greatly by visiting other restaurants with phenomenal tapas and getting a lesson or two and by demanding higher quality meats, cheeses and olives & breads. Whomever prepared our food had no idea what they were doing. Sad that this is Indy's only experience of tapas. I wouldn't even bother to call their food tapas. We paid a traditional tapas price for this experience and had to grab something else to eat on the way home. A wasted afternoon.
(1)
Kathryn G.
Little portions, big on flavor! My favorite dishes included: the chicken and chorizo skewer, spinach and mushroom empanadas, spanish sausages, and baked goat cheese in tomato sauce. Great for groups - I recommend each person in your party ordering 2-3 dishes each and then sharing with the entire table!
(4)
Ken H.
Eating with a group of nine, we tried probably 2/3 of the restaurant's menu. While there were no real standouts, there were also no real disappointments. My favorites were the grilled asparagus, the sausage plate, and the baked goat cheese. This restaurant unfortunately misses the mark on wine service. The wine list is fairly pedestrian, with fewer than a dozen inexpensive reds from which to choose (although they are at least all Spanish reds). The wine is not served in stemware, but in lowball glasses. Prices for bottles of wine easily exceed 3x retail. Although I think it was a little bit pricey, for a large group, especially a group that doesn't care about wine, this would not be a bad choice for dinner.
(3)
Marc K.
Went here for dinner last night. I thought that we might have difficulty finding parking, but there was easy parking on the street right outside. The decor is warm and inviting with cool mosaic tile tables *wish I had some artisitic talent*. The service was laid-back without being lazy or slow. The selection of vegetarian options was broad, which is good for a place where you order more than one thing. We had 4 plates, the two best were the garlic potato salad and the fried artichokes which were both quite good. The wife had a Mojito which was over-limed and not well balanced, but I don't have high hopes for that drink in restaurants. We escaped for $31 with one drink and no dessert, so definitely reasonable. For some reason this place feels more like a big city than the places on Mass Ave, maybe it's just me. Will definitely return.
(4)
Kasey J.
This is the first time I'd gone to a tapas-style restaurant, and I have to say it was fun and the food was decent. It's a great place to go with friends, so you can share a ton of items on the menu and everyone is happy. My favorite was curried chicken salad (yes, the chicken salad again for me. Mmmm!), along with the espanola tortilla. We also had the patatas bravas and grilled sausage (which I tried and did not like. I'm not a sausage fan). We didn't get tons of food, so we had room for dessert, which everyone agreed was great. We loved the chocolate brownie!
(3)
Patricia S.
We were passing through Indianapolis on our way to Kansas and found this restaurant close to our hotel. We loved eating tapas in other places and were hoping for an interesting meal. The food was definitely good, just not very imaginative. I will admit that we are vegetarians and so were somewhat limited with what we could select from the menu. The empanadas were ok ( primarily because we liked the cumin dip). Everything else was fairly average, but tasty enough to be satisfying. If we lived here we might come again for the ambiance, but wouldn't seek it out as a special dining experience.
(3)
Ryan H.
If you're familiar with the Spanish style dining known as 'tapas,' you'll probably find yourself comfortable at BARcelona. Opening just over a year ago, this downtown spot got off to a fast start in the dining scene in Indy, as it is really the only true tapas restaurant in town. Aside from the laughter that comes along with people reacting with 'did you say TOPLESS restaurant? huhhuhuhuh,' BARcelona leaves you satisfied with dozens of choices, as well as a full bar for ordering drinks. It's hard to believe that this space was once a Burger King, although a quick glance at the floor and it's not too hard to figure out, if you are familiar with the brown, ceramic floor tiles that were in every BK that was constructed over the last 40 years. No Whoppers here, though. This is mostly-authentic, delicious food. Not quite as 'authentic' as places found in Spain, but then again, in American dining, it's all about making your mark, not imitating others. Give BARcelona a try if you are not already a regular diner there. It's great food and it's awesome for a large group, where everyone can sample everything.
(4)
Amanda H.
Here is what I am going for....this will help people visiting or NOT from Indiana. If you know what good tapas is...maybe disregard this review. This was the least worst meal I've had in Indianapolis and I've been to a decent amount of places there due to work travel. Service was pretty shitty, but we were a party of 8. Booze was cheap. Food seemed as fresh as Indiana food could be. They dealt with my special "vegan" versions of the veggie tapas plates on the menu. That said, it was one of the only places that has veggie options that are not cheese + fries+ salt in Indiana. Thumbs up for that. thanks! Give it a try. Not that bad.
(3)
Paul H.
I found the food and service to be amazing, it's my favorite restaurant in the city. But be prepared to sit for a 2-3 hr meal to fully enjoy it (thats Tapas, baby), pay heavily, and ask for recommendations. Some of the stuff is not that good, but they put it on there because some people who are ignorant of Tapas dining think they should get the stereotypical Spanish national dishes (Most of which are not intended to be tapas food), or simply because so so many Indy dinners are way to afraid to try new things. (I remember that a group of 6 lawyers refused to order anything at one place because there were no burgers!) BARcelona's meats are almost universally awesome, but the asparagus is great as well. I recommend JAMÓN SERRANO CON MANCHEGO ALMENDRAS BACALAO PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO PLATO DE EMBUTIDOS CORDERO A LA PARILLA QUESO DE CABRA AL HORNO and SOLOMILLO CON CABRALES (sorry about the caps, came right from the online menu) avoid the Paella, it sucks.
(5)
TOMMY o.
Our Search Continues for Happy Hours Downtown !!!!! Timothy our server was very busy, but took the time to explain everything including the Happy Hour Food table menu in Spanish, kept our drinks full the new 3-6 PM Happy Hour with 9 items for $3 dollars each, Alas de Pollo (the chicken wings, ours came covered in roasted garlic slices & sauce, now i Love garlic but not today, you can request the Hot Sauce version instead), Albondigas (Meatballs in sauce, a little bland for me but my Italian b/f liked them, but he's Italian, he loves meatballs in anything)LOL the best dish= Queso de Cabra al Horno, a Large Dollop of Goat Cheese in Marinate with small loaves of bread the Calamari Frito wasn't all that, tasted a little like it had been out of sea a little too long, but we loved it's sauce, the next items we didn't have, Pan Con Alioli (garlic bread) Bacalao /cod & Patatoe cake, Alcachofas Fritas (Artichockes), Empanadas (spinach & mushrooms) but next time we will try Croquetas de Pollo Jamon (chicken &Spanish HAM croquettes) also seemed to be a great place to have a drink after work although still a little cluttered after Lunch rush, i LOVE the bowls in the bathroom
(4)
Stacy K.
Great place...affordable and delicious food, wonderful sangria and fun atmosphere! I would definitely visit here again when in Indy.
(3)
Nancy H.
This place was pretty good I guess. It's more of a 3.5. The service was good and the tapas came out very quickly. We only had 4 tapas and the best of them was a pork tenderloin on a skewer in a sweet spicy tangy curry sauce that was just absolutely delicious. I wasn't too crazy about the mussels and I would skip anything that mentions a tomato sauce of any kind because it pretty much just tastes like mussels in spaghetti sauce.
(3)
Cindy D.
I've had great food every time I've eaten at BARcelona Tapas. Best of all, we took our teenagers there for dinner, and they absolutely loved it. Sometimes the service could be a bit better, but overall, it's a place I really look forward to visiting.
(4)
Kristy B.
Went for dinner on a weeknight and sat on the patio. Service was a little slow outside but worth the wait; the food was excellent! Loved that they had a separate menu of gluten free items, makes it so much easier for those of us with celiac disease. I'll definitely go back next time I'm in Indy!
(4)
Carey D.
I've been wanting to go to BARcelona ever since it opened, but just never made the time for it. My fiance and I went on Thursday night and ordered from the Devour Downtown menu (2 eat for $30). From the limited menu - which the waitress told us are some of the most popular items- we selected: 1. "Queso de Cabra Al Horno" Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce served with garlic bread 2. "Gambas Al Alioli" Sauteed Garlic Shrimp 3. "Alcachofas Fritas" Crispy artichokes with Romesco sauce and shaved Manchego cheese 4. "Trigueros con Romesco" Grilled Asparagus with Romesco sauce and shaved Manchego cheese 5. "Paella Valencia" Valencia rice with saffron, chicken, chorizo, mussels, shrimp, and salmon 6. "Montserrat Chocolata Brownie" Chocolate Brownie made with bittersweet chocolate We also added the Tortilla Espanola, Dan had a couple draft beers and I had the mojito. Here's our take: The goat cheese with tomato sauce was our favorite, but that might be because we are both big fans of goat cheese in general- not necessarily the way that BARcelona prepared it. All the same, I would order it again. The garlic shrimp were not anything spectacular, and the sauce in which they were served was rather bland. Wouldn't get them again since you can get garlic shrimp that are just as good at Red Lobster, IMO. Artichokes had little flavor, and just tasted like something that had been breaded and fried. Wouldn't ever get them again, and we didn't even finish the plate of them. The grilled asparagus was good, but nothing that you couldn't find as a side dish at many other restaurants around town - the sauce and seasonings were nothing special. I had particularly high hopes for the Paella, since it's one of the most distinguished Spanish dishes. I also had VERY high hopes for the Tortilla Espanola. I spent 5 days in Spain - Barcelona, Figueres, Cadaques- a few years ago and had an amazing Tortilla Espanola and Paella while there. They seem like simple enough dishes that any quality Spanish restaurant in the US should be able to re-create easily enough if they know what they are doing. BARcelona under delivered with both. While the Paella was supposed to have chicken, chorizo, mussels, shrimp, and salmon in it, I failed to notice any chorizo or salmon in ours. And the flavor of the dish, in general, was rather bland. In fact, everything we ate was rather bland with the exception of the red pepper flakes (think Pizza Hut red pepper flakes) that were sprinkled on the goat cheese. The Tortilla was a HUGE disappointment for me. Way too many potatoes, not enough egg. I spoke with a friend who lived in Spain for 6 months and has dined at BARcelona several times, and we both agreed that while this may be a good place for people who haven't had much experience with truly authentic Spanish cuisine, it is a disappointment for those who have been to Spain and go to BARcelona looking to relive those memories. Dan thought they had a poor selection of darker beers on draft and ended up with a variety of Goose Island. My mojito was ok, but for $7.50, I don't think I will order it again. The brownie wasn't as fudgy as I like my brownies, and the chocolate and caramel sauces that were drizzled on top tasted like they came from a bottle of Smucker's or Hershey's that you'd buy at the grocery. Our bill, with tip, came to about $80. If I'm looking for a variety of international cuisine in Indy and have $80 to burn, I'd rather spend it at Santorini. Would consider returning to BARcelona for a tapa or two and drinks, but don't anticipate going back for a full dinner again. So sad that it didn't deliver what I had hoped for!
(2)
Clayton S.
Very good food, great service, and 10 dollar pitchers of sangria on Wednesdays!!!
(4)
Chris M.
While, not mind-blowingly awesome, I still find myself enjoying my experiences here. Its fun to sit around, have a drink, and chat while nibbling on small plates of food. Its a bit pricey for what it is, in my opinion though. If the Mexican restaurant can give me a huge plate of blazing hot and delicious shrimp. rice and beans for about $10.00, why would a single skewer of shrimp cost about the same? Despite that, the food is still different and fun at BARcelona. The goat cheese is good as are the meatballs, beef tenderloin dish, and the sausages. We had a special that was breaded and fried pork with an avocado chili lime sauce that was really delicious. I was kind of disappointed in the paella. The sausage and chicken were pretty tasty, but the rice seemed to be lacking the kick of flavor I expected. My wife was offered the opportunity to sample some wines before purchasing a glass which was nice, but two of the selections tasted seemed to be going bad unless the new wine fad is vinegar flavoring. They don't have the greatest beer selection (not the worst either), but they did have Sun King Wee Mac cans.
(3)
Rachael E.
Great food, fun place to eat, and can even be pretty affordable if you and your friends split it up.
(4)
Mark W.
That's not tapas
(2)
Rosey F.
Good tapas for Indy, but not sure it would hold up in bigger cities. The prices are great, and the baked goat cheese and mussels items are by far their best offerings that keep me coming back. Other tapas plates are either too small or not as flavor-able as they should be. The service seems to be so-so, depending on the day/time. Don't sit outside - it's really loud next to Delaware unless you're a mid-afternoon or late night diner. The lunch buffet is okay, but they recently stopped including brownie bites. Unfortunately, the brownie bites and baked goat cheese were the two best items on the lunch buffet. They don't post their drink prices, so although they have a full bar, it seems to be fairly expensive for Indy unless you're getting the average Sangria. Also, it's a little far from other things downtown. You need to leave yourself plenty of time if you plan to park, walk to dinner here, and then walk to your Pacers/Colts/concert/etc venue. Yes, I know you'd walk farther in other cities, but this isn't a walking city. Just be warned you'll be the only ones walking from here to the Stadium.
(2)
Andy F.
This is an average tapas restaurant at best. The prices were slightly more expensive than some 5-star tapas restaurants I've been too, but most of the food was not of the same quality. Place has a nice look, but smells like a lab. The positives: The beef tenderloin and blue cheese meal is very good... perfectly cooked on a spinach bed. The cauliflower dish is amazing... a great combination of ingredients I've never seen before on cauliflower. There is a decent selection of craft drafts. Desert wasn't too shabby... churro with strawberry jam and chocolate is never bad! The negatives: probably the worst chorizo dish I've ever had at a tapas place... extremely greasy and served with mustard (are we in a German place)? Stick to chorizo with peppers and other more Spanish items. The asparagus manchego dish was also disappointing... very bland and an extremely small portion. The fried cod and potato cake barely had any fish flavor and quite possibly came from the frozen food section of a local store.
(3)
Matt B.
Had a good lunch experience at BARcelona the other day. I was surprised that they had a regular lunch menu of American-style food, but we ended up ordering off the tapas menu. There were four of us guys eating tapas, so we ordered seven items. This ended up being enough for us. Portions do vary, depending on the tapas, so be sure to inquire with your server to be sure that you're getting enough food. I thought the goat cheese was excellent, but everything was really tasty. I look forward to going there for dinner sometime and having a more casual time.
(5)
Eric S.
The meatballs with cheese in a tomato sauce was the best thing we had. All the food was hot, fresh and delicious, and I loved the variety and quality of what was offered here. The decor is like any sports bar but with the clever twist of having fake slabs of meat hanging from the ceiling and the names of European soccer clubs displayed in memorabilia. Fun place, nice and helpful wait staff, recommended.
(4)
Dewey M.
I really liked the experience and the service, and the food is OK. For comparison, I've had worse tapas at some places in Spain an better tapas in some New York joints... If I found myself in Indy again an was looking for a fun place to have diner with a group of friends, this place would definitely be on the short list.
(3)
Daniel H.
I liked what I tried, even though it is not very Spanish (but it is still okay). I would be more generous with prices (I understand if they are imported products, but if it is chicken it should be cheaper). I didn't see any dinners either (except for Paella). Why not having bocadillos de chorizo? They are extremely popular in Spain and delicious. In general, I would recommend it. The only bad thing is waiters, they are a little rude, at least the ones I met the day I went.
(3)
stephanie t.
I have only been here once but the service was great, food delicious and great atmosphere. Located in the downtown area this one might be the best restaurant I have been to in Indianapolis. Small and inviting the atmosphere feels like Barcelona with intricate tiles all over, the lighting is warm, and service is very good as well. I think this is a fairly new restaurant in town, but one of the best! Indianapolis needed something like this and for the people who have relocated from the west coast or east coast this will live up to their deservedly higher expectations. Sorry mid-westerners but the fact is the restaurants are much better so far in those areas, healthier with better and more choices of food. The restaurants I listed are changing that here though so let's hope the trend continues because it is making Indianapolis a really wonderful little city, with a small town kid of feel that has lots of charm, which is why I love it here.
(5)
Brian N.
Went to Tapas for lunch one day and dinner the next week. The atmosphere is awesome for an ex-Burger King and the place has a very hip European feel (much hipper than I am). The food is pretty darn good too. The only downside I could see was the price, pretty expensive dinner ($40) for just having appetizers. I would recommend going on a Wednesday as the special is pitchers of sangria which is awesome!
(4)
Brittany L.
I'm late to the party on BARcelona Tapas, but add me to the long list of people who are singing its praises. I've never had tapas before, and I'll admit, I was mostly ignorant about Spanish cuisine. Most of what I've heard about food in Spain was "MEATMEATMEAT," so I wasn't sure I'd have a lot of options here. Totally wrong! I walked out of Barcelona Tapas almost uncomfortably full, because the food was plentiful, diverse, and vegetarian/pescatarian friendly. I enjoyed a little of everything, from the grilled asparagus (not your average asparagus- perfectly cooked, seasoned and topped with the perfect amount of cheese) to the mussels, my favorite dish of the night. In between? It's kind of a blur, but I know there was a delicious pitcher of sangria involved, crispy, fresh calamari, and a mound of roasted potatoes (Patatas Bravas) covered in the best red sauce I've ever tasted. I'll definitely be a repeat customer. I feel like I ate so much, but still have so many other options to try in the future. That itself poses it's own problem, as I already have a few favorites :) It would be a wonderful choice to enjoy a few bites and a drink, or a larger, drawn out full dinner. The prices are friendly to even smaller budgets, and the ambiance is perfect for a date night, girls night out, or happy hour.
(5)
Alexis H.
I have been here about 5 times now over the past several years and had a late lunch with mom last Thursday. It wasn't crowded at all, we were seated right away and, as always, it was delicious. Can everyone complain about the prices of certain menu items? Sure. This is the nature of tapas. You're also paying for the experience. Whatever, it's worth it. Mom and I dropped $25, including tip, and had 3 plates to share AND....................I got to drink a Gumballhead from Three Floyds!!! (for $5.50) For lunch portions, this was perfect. -Ensalada De Espinaca (spinach, goat cheese, pine nuts, raisins) = 4 out of 5 -Curried chicken salad = 3.5 out of 5 *explained below -Tortilla Espanola (potato, onion, spinach omelette) = 4 out of 5 The curried chicken salad lost about a star's worth for me because it was too saucy. Much saucier than prior visits. As a result, the curry was lost in all the creaminess and ruined it for me a bit. Disappointing since this is a must have item for me at each visit. Other must tries include: -Queso De Cabra Al Horno (goat cheese in tomato sauce and bread) !!! -Mushrooms (side) -Cauliflower (side) -The tuna (pepper crusted and yes, you will hate the portion size for the price but LOVE the flavor) -Spanish meatballs The tres leches cake and creme brulee are both winners for dessert. Make sure to go either with a big group or with someone you enjoy talking intimately with. This is a slow down and enjoy the food, the company, the moment place.
(4)
Kari M.
Was my first experice with Spanish food. I had the beef tenderloin. Jt was topped with blue cheese and a delicious marsala sauce. Also tried the goat cheese with the marinara sauce around it, that was good as well and I'm not usually a fan of goat cheese. Will visit again.
(5)
Judy G.
We enjoyed our experience at Barcelona. The food was awesome as well as the service. We will return.
(5)
Cherish M.
For starters the place is charmingly beautiful. I brought my little sister here, and her and I both did not enjoy any of it except the fast service and our waiter. We got the crispy codfish and potato cake. Awful. It taste like an over salted pre-frozen fish stick. The most awful thing; the Paella was all jacked up. The presentation is deceiving it looks good but taste bland. No flavor. Too garlicky. Mos def will not be returning
(2)
Shane A.
Very accommodating & knowledgable staff. Family has some food allergies & the staff made sure that everything was prepared for everyone &/or that we were informed of all allergens that affect us. And super nice!!
(5)
Becky H.
Went to Barcelona last night for a pre-symphony meal of tapas. It was a party of four, none of which had ever been to this restaurant. Two in our party had recently spent an extended time in Spain, so we were really interested to hear their impressions of Spanish food in Indy. This place did not disappoint. The Devour menu was excellent and varied. Curried chicken salad and the goat cheese tomato dip were favorites. Oh my, and the dessert! Best flan I've ever had and my husband really enjoyed the churros(sp?)! Our server, Jamie (?) did a great job! We will be back!
(4)
Deandra H.
Loved the food, especially the goat cheese marinara. My husband raved about the lamb and the sauce. The only issue was our waiter. He had such a dry personality. We asked him about food and drink pairings and he didn't seem to either know or care... I'm not sure. I just thought for a place like this you need to have a personality and know about the food and drinks you are serving since there are so many options. We will go back just hope we don't get him again.
(4)
Laura L.
When this place first opened the food, service, cleanliness it was such a great place to go! It was different and unique really great flavor combinations. My most recent experience was anything but great. Nobody was smiling and servers looked angry! Our server was pleasant, but she didn't even ask us if you wanted anything to drink, she just brought us waters. There was a manager that was walking around, he looked like he didn't even know what he was doing. The paella came out before the other tapas we ordered. What was up with the bread that they brought with the goat cheese is that different?? The meatballs way too spicy! Pastel de tres leches was so dry but sitting in milk and you had to roll the cake to choke it down. The menus were gross and crusty and the girl at the hostess area was wiping them down? The bathrooms? what happened to them? AWFUL! But at least they weren't as bad as the exit door you have to pass to go to the bathrooms...disgusting! Considering it was the weekend of the final four and the place was practically empty says a lot. It just makes me sad to know that one of my favorite places, that I considered my special place because of my love of Spain especially the city Barcelona, but the Barcelona restaurant in Indy I don't plan to visit again!
(1)
Rob D.
Forget the Paella...strange preparation of precooked rice and meat piled on top. And forget the Flan too. Tapas are just OK, but decent portions. Service attentively took care of us. Alas, probably won't return.
(2)
Lily H.
I went there for their Sunday Sangria Brunch! It is quite amazing. They had a lot of vegetarian dishes therefore good for vegetarians. I'm not a vegetarian and I think the food is superb, plus there's lot of other meat options too. Great flavoring! You can also order 1 dish on their Sunday menu, cooked straight from the kitchen and also 1 sangria drink. The sangria was only so so, but everything else great! I'd definitely go back again!
(4)
Jillian C.
Mother's Day brunch = INCREDIBLE. Mom, dad, grandpa, and I showed up for the 10:30 seating and were immediately seated and thoroughly impressed with the huge selection of stuff. On the bar they had all manner of charcuterie, cheeses, salmon, fruit, and desserts. The buffet had lots of lunchy items including veggie paella, pastas, goat cheese in marinara (you know I got all up on that!!), chicken salads, roast beef, etc. There were also figs, dates, drunken bread pudding, and churros. Really it was just an amazing spread. In addition, your admission price gave you the option of there "made to order" options: tres leches french toast, custom omelets, and a Cantonese eggs benedict. I tried bits and pieces of everything (and I mean everything!!) and my table ordered the french toast to share and taste. I had nothing that didn't just dance on my taste buds. We all ate more than we needed too but we simply couldn't get enough. The sangria (included in the price) was great too. What a perfect start to Mother's Day!
(5)
XiaoHwa N.
Maybe, because I'm from New York, I get really snobby about out-of-state food. So take that in consideration when you read this. I've been to Barcelona. And I can say that the tapas at BARcelona can't hold a candle to the real thing. Now you're thinking "obviously!" and aren't I being too harsh. But the tapas here were a weird American/Italian-not-Spanish version of shrunken appetizers found on bar menus. I guess if you add Manchego cheese to a dish it become Spanish. It was all very odd. I dined here with a large group for a rehearsal dinner. The atmosphere was hip, friendly and the servers were nice enough. Since it was family style, I'll did not see a menu. We started with some gazpacho that basically tasted like chilled marinara sauce. There were fried artichokes with a mayo chipotle dipping sauce. Too oily with a mayo based sauce. Some tasty garlic bread baskets. Fried calamari lacking seasoning and, again, too oily. I felt ill after. Grilled asparagus with, yet again, another mayo based sauce. Overcooked pork tenderloin skewers. Like little rocks. Roasted potatoes in a "spicy" tomato sauce (i.e. potatoes with marinara sauce). And some spinach and chick pea dish that lacked spinach and, for that matter, chick peas. A salmon dish - overcooked again. There may have been some other dishes but they were forgettable. The best thing was the garlic bread. This was a large and, I admit, slightly obnoxious party so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that the kitchen was tossing out our courses just to keep us fed. Maybe, for smaller parties, there is a little more TLC put into the dishes. As for me, an out-of-towner, I say skip it.
(2)
Fatso J.
Having enjoyed drinks and small plates at Barcelona a number of times, we recently tried the Sunday brunch. The brunch menu is completely different from the tapas theme, being more of the typical omelette, prime rib fare that you can get anywhere. Even though everything we had was tasty, the buffet setup itself was not presented well and was not appetizing at all. The price was right and the service was good but the buffet setup was disappointing.
(3)
Susan F.
Barcelona is pretty good-but not the best tapas I have ever had. That award goes to Ceviche in St. Petersburg. This was my third trip to Barcelona (ha!), and honestly, the best. I was with a group of about 24 people, which was the best way to experience it. We could try so many different things. My first visit was not long after they opened, and I feel like the food quality has come a long way. List of things we tried: Alcachofas Fritas (loved-and I don't typically like artichokes!) Coliflor Al Azafran (ok) Queso De Cabra Al Horno (must try!!) Gambas a| Alioli (very good) Croquetas De Pollo Y Jamon (meh) Patatas Bravas (good) Pan con Alioli (good) Pincho de Pollo y Chorizo (good) Macaron Y Queso (rich, but very good!!!) Solomillo Con Cabrales (I've had before, not at this visit) (good) We also had the red and white sangria-both very good! We were with some friends who had never done tapas before, and we had a wonderful time! Awesome to get to try so many different things! Our server was wonderful, and they were vere accomodating of our large party (we had a reservation). I would love to go back and sit outside!
(4)
Jenna P.
I went here yesterday for devour downtown and honestly all I remember is goat cheese marinara deeping sauce with bread and churros..they were really good. the main foods were mehhh. Actually they were not very good. Chicken wings were blend and oily, chicken salad wouldve been better with some spice or citrus accent. Paella was...um, why? The ingredents were good but, why??? Why does it have to taste so blend=(? I mean the food were not that terrible..but was dissapointed. Oh and there was a short black hair on the second food which they gave us new one but stil...
(2)
Leslie H.
Great tapas inspired restaurant. It's probably the only Spanish like restaurant in Indianapolis that serves paella etc. They have decent selections of tapas. However, I was hoping they have more jamon choices as well as empanadas. A pitcher of sangria is only $17 which is such a good deal when you're sharing it with a group. Must try is their sausages and croquettas.
(4)
Zach H.
If you've never been to Spain or a decent Spanish restaurant you might enjoy this. If you have you might enjoy it as long as you don't expect to have Spanish flavor food when there. The thing that was most spot on was of course the Estrella damm beer. The Gambas are good. I didn't dislike it or find it bad--just not what it claims to be. Then Again , it's not exactly super expensive so maybe I'm being to harsh. You might like it. It's worth a try. I just would not go back. They were very accommodating of our largish party and service was good.
(2)
Tina N.
I love tapas. This place is pretty solid, yet not quite 5 star worthy. Our meal consisted of Albondigas ( spanish meatball ),queso de cabra al horno, solomillo con cabrales (beef tenderloin ), gambas al alioli ( garlic shrimp ) & calamari frito. As other reviewers have stated - the queso de cabra al horno is a must try! It is a delicious goat cheese/ red sauce concoction that you put on bread. I have to say, it was probably my favorite of the meal so, thanks to the other Yelpers who suggested it. The rest of the meal was good as well. I was really hoping for something that would make me throw my head back and slap my momma.... but I didn't get that this time. I found myself scanning the menu for more ( although I was so stuffed ) in search of that reaction but I decided against it considering I had no room for another morsel of food! Why only four stars you ask? Service was so-so and there were some cob webs that needed to be cleaned off the walls.Their booths have some cracks and need to be repaired. A few minor things that could be corrected easily. All in all, I enjoyed the visit and will be back.
(4)
Laura M.
I went to BARcelona for the Devour Downtown offer over the weekend. I had been there before with friends or for work functions, and had always been a little underwhelmed by the offerings and the price. It went pretty much the same way this time. I started with a cocktail, the Gaudi Martini, which was heavy on the lime juice and very sour. We started with the black bean soup with cream, which was tasty enough if kind of bland. Moving on, we went with what I think of as the signature dish - queso de cabra al horno - and it was solid as usual. Creamy goat cheese, tomato sauce (tasted a lot like marinara, but what the heck) and a little red pepper for spice. Our next selection was the chicken and chorizo skewer. Again, it was solid but bland. There is no seasoning on the chicken, and while the chorizo can stand on its own a plain chicken breast suffers a little. Crispy artichokes were next up - they seemed to have been fried in almost a tempura batter. The coating was a little heavy for me, but the dipping sauce was good. For the "main course" we got the tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach, and rioja reduction. It seemed over=salted, but the meat was nicely cooked and the blue cheese is a great match for the dish. Dessert was the most disappointing of the evening. We got the chocolate brownie, which is supposed to be "made from Spanish bittersweet chocolate". Know those microwave brownies that you can get from the store and make in 90 seconds? It was like that, but cold. I give BARcelona two stars because "meh" accurately sums up how I feel about the place. It's not bad food (except for the brownie) but it's not good food either. I do recommend going for the buffet because you can pick and choose from the selections, which gives you a little more leeway to stock up on the good stuff (goat cheese and dulce de leche) and pass on the rest.
(2)
Brett G.
Great ambiance, good food, very good service. I have been here three times and try always try something new. Good wine list (if you like Spanish wine). I'd recommend the bacalao, the atun and the pan con alioli (Spanish garlic bread).
(4)
K. H.
Went there for the first time and was a little skeptical based on the reviews because they're all over the place. Our first foray into the world of tapas was at Cafe Ba Ba Ree Ba in Chicago and since then that has been the gold standard. I have to say that BARcelona is a solid alternative closer to us than Chicago. The asparagus with manchengo cheese was cooked perfectly. The garlic pepper wings with sherry aioli were fantastic. Also had the patatas bravas and curried chicken salad which were also great. The goat cheese and marinara was good, but not amazing. Loved the carmel filled churros too! The white sangria was also very tasty. Our waiter was helpful and everyone was well aware and considerate of my severe tree nut allergy which allowed me to relax and enjoy my meal. All in all a great experience. We will be back.
(4)
Bob F.
Recent last minute decision to go tapas. Wasn't in the mood but was convinced by my companion. I am glad I was easily convinced that night! The Duck Confit special was smooth, rich and right where I wanted it. Then some crispy artichokes worked very well, along with mussels with spicy tomato, and manchego with quince. Also enjoyed the Ensalada Cesar with white anchovies - and several other dishes. Very good service and well mixed cocktails. I will not be reluctant next time.
(4)
Megan L.
I wish there was an option to give this place 4.5 stars because just a feeeew tiny things made my experience go from a 5 to a 4.5. My best friend and I used to work together near a different tapas restaurant and never had time to go. Now we work in completely different sides of the world, so when she came back for the first time since then, we were determined to try tapas! Because we hadn't gotten together in so long, it was a little annoying that the noise level was so high because we could barely hear each other. The pitcher of red sangria we ordered was REALLY watered down; I get tipsy easily, so when I didn't get so much as a buzz by the end of the night, that's saying something. As for food, our Fideos Tradicionales was just a tad too salty for our taste - and I think that's all the "complaints" I have. Now for the compliments: we conveniently came during Devour Downtown so we already had a little menu set up where you would pick between two options for each course (there were 6 courses). Our top favorites were the Queso de Cabra Al Horno and the Cajeta Churros!! At first we were skeptical that we were going to get full, but by the time our 5th course arrived, we were super stuffed; we still managed to eat those churros though :) Our waitress was very accommodating and the greeters were super friendly. Overall, I highly recommend this place to anyone wanting to try something different!
(4)
Sarah A.
It has pretty much gotten to the point where my husband doesn't even need to ask me where I want to go when we decide we'd like to eat out. The first restaurant that always comes to mind is BARcelona Tapas. Not only is the food amazing, but the customer service is excellent. I love BARcelona because tapas menus allow a food-lover like me to try many different things in one sitting. Of course, my husband and I have a few favorites that we tend to get every time (see Rob A.'s review), but their extensive menu has allowed us to explore brand new flavors and options each time we visit. BARcelona is also not afraid to tailor an order to meet the customer's needs. For instance, my husband and I have ordered the sausage platter and asked for only the spicy chorizo because that's our favorite. We have also made requests for only the strawberry churros instead of the mix of strawberry and caramel. Each time we make a special requests the staff are sincerely happy to accommodate us. BARcelona Tapas, keep on keepin' on. We'll see you again soon!
(5)
Andrew L.
When I was told that we were going to a tapas bar for brunch, I had no idea what to expect. Tapas had always been a dinner food with its meats and cheeses. Nevertheless, I trusted my friends' judgement. I am glad I did. For breakfast, BARcelona offered a combination of made-to-order entrees and a buffet. Made-to-order entrees included the traditional breakfast dishes: blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup on top, omelets made your way, and chorizo eggs benedict. In the buffet, they feature classic tapas. The combination worked well and was cooked perfectly. Less I forget, the brunch also comes with a glass of sangria or a fully stocked bloody mary bar for $2 extra. I went with the bar. It had everything including mozarella sticks. I eventually realized that with a straw you could carve out the center and turn this dairy product into a perfectly good straw itself! Finally, the gentleman at the carving station was very friendly and nice. It sounded like it was his first day, and he was doing a great job!
(5)
Jillian B.
went for devour,and all 6 of the items we had were amazing,.especially the gambas al ajillo. three waitress was very attentive, and the ambiance was very festive
(4)
Mathews J.
This is my second and last visit here. Can't comment on the food because we never got it. In fact the drink took longer than most places take with there paella so we left. Another couple was complaining to the manager about the service as we left. Unfortunate because I liked their cod and lamb tapas last time.
My husband and I stopped in Indianapolis for lunch a few weeks back while on a road trip. Not that I'm any kind of expert, but I did spend a month in Spain a few years back. I love any chance to try a new Spanish restaurant. We got there at the very end of their lunch, at 2 p.m. or so. We decided to try the buffet, even if some of the food was running out. The place was pretty empty, but the service was prompt. I did not have high expectations, cuisine-wise. I am somewhat prejudiced against the whole state of Indiana, though I have to admit I have seldom veered off of I-80 and I-65. There is not, IMHO, much more than corn in Indiana. There is one good tapas place, however. For Indiana, I thought the food was actually pretty decent. The buffet was running pretty low since it was so late, but everything I tried was good. My husband had initially been irritated with my choice, thinking it would take too long and be expensive, but he was wrong. Yes, that does happen sometimes. He mostly liked the food, though he said it was just good and not spectacular. Honestly, though, okay was good enough for a quick road trip meal with good service. I did like the goat cheese, though there wasn't enough of it. I had a spinach salad that was really yummy, and I liked the Tres Leches Cake, even though I had thought this dish was more of a Latin American dessert than a Spanish one. BARcelona Tapas doesn't compare to my favorite tapas places in the Chicagoland area, but I thought it was really good for its location. I was impressed at how reasonable the prices were, too. Do you want to know my favorite thing about the whole restaurant? The sink in the ladies' restroom. It is awesome. So, score one for Indianapolis. My husband and I got an hour to relax and enjoy some tapas before having to deal with each others' neuroses for a few more hours. This meal relaxed me enough that I, ahem, slept all the way to Louisville.
(3)
Kelsey S.
While I was recently spoiled with the real deal in Spain recently, the sangria and tapas were just okay. The sangria was watery, which is tragic! The croquetas were very good, but the goat cheese and tomato sauce dish was disappointing. The tomato sauce tasted like it came from a jar. The environment is fun though, and there are so many options on the menu, I would consider going again.
(3)
Galen C.
It's good for what it is, which is a tapas place. Are you in to that sort of thing? This is actually a good place to find out. Service was nice for the most part, although we did have a few slow moments. Wait staff did a decent but not great job in describing what we were getting and when we were getting it. Part of that was due to having a larger group, although I would've assumed they'd be ready for that, since that seemed to be a big part of their clientele. Food was generally good, although some dishes were significantly better than others. I would go back, but I will probably be visiting a lot more places first, as this place is nice but not overwhelmingly awesome.
(3)
Sara H.
Had dinner there last night with a party of 6. Had a great meal and really good service. Our server spaced out our meal perfectly. The sauces where flavorful, yet light and healthy. They have a special vegan menu which highlights items on their menu that can be made vegan which was fabulous. The cauliflower dish was my favorite. Wines where reasonably priced.
(5)
Beth C.
So the lunch buffet has figs and medjool dates. Sold. I have been to Barcelona Tapas twice recently and it has reclaimed a top spot on my favorites list. As a vegetarian, I love that they have a wide range of offerings including vegetarian paella! And being a vegetarian here is pretty affordable as the meaty tapas tend to be a little expensive. That said, I think that just about anyone would be satisfied with the selection here no matter the price! The lunch buffet is awesome and only $9.95. It seems like a small buffet at first glance but there is actually a ton of offerings, including plenty of meat-free options. Garlicky potatoes, salad, mini roast beef sandwiches, DATES, olives, goat cheese marinara with rolls, paella, FIGS, fresh fruit, frittata...and tres leches, of course! You can't go wrong. I just wish the plates were bigger! Service is also fast and friendly and they never rush you, no matter how busy they are. I love the decor and overall ambiance here. You could dress up or down and fit right in. I don't know how authentic all of the dishes are but I like the effort and I like the taste so I can't really complain. I haven't tried the sangria yet but look forward to that on my next visit!
(5)
Michelle H.
Great atmosphere and food. My husband and I frequently come here. Reasonably priced, good customer service. The lunch buffet offers a good assortment. The drinks are strong but good. Def a great date night spot!! The tree leeches cake is soon soo good!!
(4)
susan e.
We had a very late lunch on Saturday and it was pretty empty. They had a separate vegan menu, which was very helpful to me and my daughter. We ordered vegetable paella, black bean soup, a couple of chicken dishes, and spaghetti (for the 11-year-old, natch). My 16-year-old daughter loved the black bean soup so much she ordered a second cup. When my 11-year-old tasted it, she wanted her own cup. The veggie paella wasn't as good as the paella I had *in* Barcelona (or even as good as that they serve at San Chez, where we live -- in Grand Rapids MI), but it was quite tasty and large enough to feed two. My husband really liked his chicken. I can't remember what it was, but something on a skewer and something spicy.
(4)
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Address :201 N Delaware St
Indianapolis, IN, 46204
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Taylor F.
Zoooom! Like an Indy car off the third turn there goes our waitress!!!! Unfortunately I was mid sentence a couple of times as I was speaking to our waitress and she would take off. I love this place as it is one of the only tapas places in town however this past visit was uninspiring. The food was pretty good...though I thought that the patas bravas could have been spicier. Sadly the pitcher of sangria was horrible...it tasted like flavored water....maybe it was sitting on ice too long? We ll be back because we love tapas and have had fantastic experiences before but we ll try a new small plates restaurant before we give barcelona another go.
(2)Amanda F.
I love BARcelona! We had so many tapas that I can't even remember them all, however per the recommendation of Yelp, we got the goat cheese tomato thing. EXCELLENT! The sangria was watered down, so next time, we're going to ask for a pitcher without ice. Sure, it will be less full, but will taste good the whole way through! Also ordered the dulce de leche. That was great as well, however I hate to say that I've had better from Taco Cabana in San Antonio. I will be back, though!
(4)Kyle K.
Came here for devour. The pace has a neat atmosphere. We enjoyed every course l. I especially liked the tenderloin in the wine sauce. So sweet! And the churros really rocked. They may have even been better than Sam's Club ;)
(4)Olivia M.
Do yourself a favor and go eat that mac 'n' cheese right this minute. Made for a fantastic double date. We made it through nine or ten plates plus a shared creme brûlée between the four of us. Note: waiter recommended we order two to three plates per person, but we had all we could handle at two per. We were so stuffed we didn't want to eat again for the next two days.
(4)Marisol F.
We went on a Tuesday and were surprised with a special, 6 tapas for 2 people for $35. Great deal! Everything we had was great. The goat cheese with spicy sauce was hot and good. The paella was delicious.
(5)Stacy J.
Had the Devour menu = 2 for $35 Chose: 1. Ensalada de Pollo con Curri - Curried Spanish chicken salad = pretty tasty 2. Queso de Cabra al Horno - Baked goat cheese in a spicy tomato sauce, with garlic bread = delicious!!!!!!!!!!!! 3. Pincho de Pollo Y Chorizo - Chicken and chorizo skewer with cumin aioli = meh, not so good, chicken was pretty dry 4. Espinaca con Garbanzo - Sauteed spinach and chick peas with Manchego cheese = good 5. Solomillo con Cabrales - Grilled tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and Rioja reduction = MOUTH WATERING, JUICY, TENDER, YUM-O!! Wish they were a little bit bigger because they were fantastic!! 6. Cajeta Churros - Strawberry and caramel-stuffed pastries, served with chocolate sauce = Yum!!! Very good!! Was worried we wouldn't get enough to eat with how small the tapas were, but all in all we left feeling filled just enough! But I didn't like how we felt rushed to eat each item as the next one was already on our table... and that unsettled/unrelaxed feeling probably also came from the high noise level due to many patrons and tile floors. Service was slow to approach us, but then was fairly good for the remainder of the dinner - like I mentioned, food came quickly! Interesting concept... not sure how I feel about it... guess I am just partial to a nice relaxing, quiet, well-attentive service... and this is loud and fast paced. Overall the food and service were really good! (have also heard that the Sunday brunch is amazing... will try this soon!)
(4)Swatee G.
Went here for a lunch buffet today. Had NO CLUE Spanish Tapas could be done buffet style! :p Not a fan of the cold gazpacho, was too grainy for me :( Their pasta was decent, I basically filled my plate with a lot of veggies. The bread was good, the dessert was pretty ok too. Hostess was nice and polite, our glasses were always refilled appropriately. Might come back for the cheap buffet and the kinda nice vibe this place has.. Nothing extraodinary though
(3)Suzan H.
Food was good but waiter had no personality or charm. Guy in ponytail and beard, if you don't like people then don't be a waiter!
(3)Lourdes R.
The food is good and authentic. The atmosphere is a bit loud but fun. The service was horrible. We asked for brea to go with the tres quesos (3cheeses) & they looked at us like we were from Mars. It took twice asking to get it.
(3)Carrie G.
Food was alright. Nothing rave about, but I'm not that big on that kind of food anyway. The tres leche was good as was the flan. :) server was very nice
(3)Danielle P.
Love this place! They have all the tapas favorites. The goat cheese dish is always my favorite, and the garlic shrimp was fantastic. I also love the broccolini and the meatballs. Great decor and great service!
(5)Shannnon C.
We really enjoyed our dinner. We are from out of town and found the food very flavorful and interesting. We had the calamari, the garlic shrimp, a cheese/ham plate, a cauliflower dish, and a broccolini dish. All superb! And the waitress (Ally) was knowledgable, helpful and pleasant! I have a couple of food allergy issue and had no problem maneuvering the choices. I recommend this stop.
(5)Aubrey A.
This place was exactly what I'd hoped it'd be when I decided to take my girl friends out for dinner for tapas! Surprisingly they started on a wait at 5:30pm when I called to see if reservations were needed, but we decided to go anyway. We arrived and ordered drinks from the bar, and although we were given estimated 1-1.5 hour wait time, we were seated in less than 45 minutes. While we were waiting, the manager even came up to us to let us know that there were two seats in the bar that we could have until our table was ready. The decor was very traditional and welcoming. I was dressed up, but did not feel overdressed or underdressed. There were families and even older couples throughout the dining area. The food was great! I didn't particularly like that the food came out one dish at a time. You see, there were four girls and 2 of us shared, and the other 2 shared. The girl I was sharing with and I received all of our dishes before the other 2 did. I felt rude eating before they got their food, so I waited and my food got less than hot. I got over it though and chowed down with an, "mmm!" smile on my face. The host, manager and bar staff were all extremely friendly and welcoming. But the friendliness stopped there. Our server had probably never been called friendly in her whole life. She seemed bored and eager to get out of there on that busy Friday night. On top of dull, she was very slow. Thankfully, there were food runners and bussers to help us out, or else I would've complained to the manager. I've been a server before and let me just say that she should probably find another industry to work in. She is not good; not good at all. I left a 20% tip because I am not a meany, and the horrible service will not deter me from coming back. I just hope that I don't get the same service next time, or I won't be so nice!
(3)Jennifer P.
Went last Saturday for Devour Downtown. Had a very enjoyable evening. The service was great and you couldn't beat the price! (6 courses of tapas for 2 for only $35 and we left completely stuffed) Round 1: Curried Chicken Salad - very tasty, would love to have the recipe. Was a sweet curry with peas and raisins in it. I enjoyed it and I typically despise raisins. Round 2: Queso de Cabra al Horno - basically a scoop of goat cheese in the middle of tomato/marinara type sauce with crushed red pepper served with slices of toasted bread. It was yummy but nothing outstanding. Round 3: Pincho de Pollo y Chorizo - a skewer of grilled chicken and chorizo sausage served with a cumin aioli. This was delicious! I am usually not a fan of chorizo but this was great. It was much more mild than any chorizo I have had before and not nearly as greasy. The chicken was very flavorful and the aioli a nice compliment. Round 4: Espinaca con Garbanzo - sautéed spinach and chickpeas with manchego cheese. This was okay but a little heavy on the garlic. And I LOVE me some garlic! Round 5: Solomillo con Cabralles - sautéed tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach, and Rioja reduction. Cooked to order this delicious bit of steak was quite delightful! Especially with blue cheese and red wine reduction :) Round 6: Cajeta Churros - strawberry and caramel stuffed pastries served with chocolate sauce. These hit the spot, especially with a cup of coffee! The pastries were still warm and the strawberry centers went well with the chocolate sauce. Overall was a great experience and will definitely be back. One downside was the sangria had absolutely no flavor, so don't waste your time or money there, stick with a glass (or bottle) of wine instead!
(4)Ed S.
I work right down the street from BARCelona Tapas and have gotten takeout from there for dinner about ten times in all. I've not sat down for a meal in the place, but the bar and dining areas seem very inviting and clean. The personnel are also pretty friendly. As for the food, it's very good. I usually like to pick up the mixed greens salad along with two or three tapas to take home for dinner. It makes for a not-too-heavy but very tasty meal with a nice variety of tastes, even more so with some nice cold Sangria to go with it. The alioli that's provided with most of the meat-based tapas also adds a nice touch of extra flavor as a dipping sauce. At this point, I've probably had well over half of what's on the menu and have never gone wrong. Highly recommended, especially now that the kinks with the online ordering have been worked out. Come to think of it, I think I'll be getting some dinner from BARCelona Tapas tomorrow night -- just writing this review has stoked my appetite for those tapas! Enjoy!
(5)DeAnna P.
Why WOULDN'T you go here. The sangria is dry but fruity, just like I like it. The sherry braised mushrooms are the best I've ever had. I love the tapas format, you can have a small meal or a huge one, just keep adding! The Sunday brunch is a bit pricey at $16.95, but the quality is really good. And it doesn't have that gross stuff yourself silly atmosphere like some buffets. It also comes with a glass of sangria -- hooray!
(4)Amber B.
I have eaten here a handful of times and I love their food and atmosphere. The staff has always been pleasant and my kids enjoyed eating here as well. There is nothing here as of now that I do not like. A great date spot if your down town Indy.
(5)Allie S.
I went here for Devour Downtown on Superbowl Sunday. I called at 7 to make sure there were open for a couple more hours, as I was driving an hour to get there. They said they were open till 9. I got there at 8, tried opening the door, and it was locked. I called them and they said "because of Superbowl" they were closing early. After explaining I had called ahead, they unlocked the door. There were at least 6 other tables full and 2 more parties tried coming in after us (to no avail, as they locked the doors after us). I don't understand why they tried closing early when there were plenty of people in there. Very unprofessional. The food was ok. The fried artichoke was like fair food. The paella was bland. The brownie was cold and hard. The tortilla espanola, black bean soup, and goat cheese dish were decent. This place is just ok. I've been to much better tapas restaurants and this one is bland in comparison.
(3)Dia D.
We had their $9.95 lunch buffet which has a very nice selection of tapas. The server was good about refilling our drinks. This is a little off the beaten path in downtown Indy but it's worth the extra block or two.
(4)Angie F.
Holy salt buckets! This place has awesome potential, but the food is so salty!! I might have ordered additional small plates and beverages, but I abandoned all my plans to down at least a liter of water. The apps would be quite tasty if they'd lessen up on the sodium. Maybe I can request no salt next time??.
(2)Jessica H.
I am in love. Plenty of vegetarian options - we came as a large group with prix fixe pre-arranged. I'm guessing we probably got a really good deal and were able to taste more than the average person would. So, of the vegetarian things I sampled the consensus was: Potato cake/pie - delicious... eggy, cheesy, flavorful and served with a great accompanying dipper. - TORTILLA ESPAÑOLA - Potato and onion omelette cake with spinach. $5.25 Goat cheese and spicy sundried tomato sauce - delicious and more than a little spice QUESO DE CABRA AL HORNO - Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread. - $7.50 FANTASTIC spinach empanadas - warning - there's a lot of spinach, but offset by the same aioli/sauce as on the potato cake. My fave. EMPANADAS DE ESPINACA Y CHAMPIÑÓN - Spinach and mushroom pastries with cumin garlic alioli. $5.95 Broccoli Rabe - served with red wind reduction/sauce and roasted garlic cloves. Delicious! BRÉCOL RIOJA - Sauteed broccolini with sundried tomatoes and garlic. $6.25 Meat stuffs: wings - ALAS DE POLLO Garlic pepper chicken wings with sherry mayonnaise $6.75 chorizo and b chicken skewers - PINCHO DE POLLO Y CHORIZO - Chicken and chorizo skewer with cumin alioli. $6.95 shrimp - GAMBAS AL ALIOLI - Garlic shrimp with chili oil and fresh lemon. $8.95 calamari - CALAMARI FRITO - Crispy calamari with Romesco sauce. $6.50 And beef tips -- I think it was: SOLOMILLO CON CABRALES - Grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and a Rioja reduction sauce. $10.50 A very fun place, delicious food. Totally worth every cent.
(5)Brian B.
I have been to the location in St. Louis many times mainly for drinks and lunches. I did not know there was an Indianapolis location and we accidentally stumbled on it while visiting on business and looking for a place to get a late dinner downtown on a Sunday night. I was excited to see this location had a vegetarian paella so of course I had that. (Why does the St. Louis location not have this?) It was very good--a decent size portion with the rice cooked nicely, the right amount of garlic and tasty asparagus on top. Their Sangria was of course very good as well. Relaxing atmosphere and glad they are open late on Sunday night.
(3)Jawad A.
Went there on two occasions. Lunch and Dinner. For lunch my wife and I had the buffet. I think it was about $9.50/person. For what the buffet offered the price wasn't too bad. I really liked the Ensalada de Pollo con Curri, Salmón and Tres Leches. Dinner can get expensive because each dish is~$8 and for two people you need atleast 4 dishes. If its your first time going I would recommend to try the Lunch buffet.
(3)Pawel P.
enjoyed the food and drinks here very much. the beef tenderloin was awesome, but the goat cheese came after it and was alright, would of wanted to end on that beef
(4)Nicolette M.
I've been coming to this place for years and love it for its ability to offer a fun setting for a group of people to share great food. I also am a big fan of the buffet lunch although I save it for moments I want to splurge. There's so many items I love here. First off, I never leave without having had the queso de cabra al horno. It's deceptively simple, crusty bread with a dipping sauce made of marinara with a dollop of goat cheese in the center. I often can talk the servers into giving us additional bread, albeit plain rather than the crunchy, crispy kind that comes with the dish. Many of the classic Spanish tapas are here including tortilla and patatas bravas. The versions here aren't as marvelous as you can get at some places in Barcelona, Spain, but they do beat some of the places along Las Ramblas in Barcelona, which tend to sell more to the tourists anyway. The first time I visited this restaurant a few years ago, I swear the tortilla used to be a bit better, but it seems to have declined a little bit in quality over the years. The other tapas are hard to choose from as so many of them are amazing. You can make your meal as healthy as you want it. If you aren't in the mood for tapas, the paella here is pretty amazing as is the gazpacho. A trip here is not complete without sangria. In fact, sometimes its worth a trip in itself. The pitchers aren't as cheap as they used to be, sadly, but they are still definitely worth their cost. This place will always be a great go-to place, for the food, for the sangria, and for the cheerful atmosphere.
(4)Kevin S.
Well, we got three courses. Two sucked. 1 was good. This equates to a 33.3% satisfaction rate.
(2)Jennifer S.
This is such a fun place to go. I love family style dining, where you have a bunch of things to share, and this place is perfect for that. Two of my favorites are the Almendras (Paprika-roasted Spanish almonds) & Queso de Cabra al Horno (Baked‌ goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread).Two of the three times I've been here have been during Devour Downtown - great way to try a bunch of things! The drinks are very good as well.
(5)Chinasa N.
Great location to try veggies on tapas :) I had black bean soup, grilled cauliflower, broccolini & asparagus was delightful. Generous amounts and flavorful.
(5)Anna O.
Glad BARcelona could satisfy our craving for Spanish fare after our trip there, although in a slightly "watered down" manner. The service was great, the waitress very attentive and checking on us every 5-7 minutes or so, paying attention to small things, such as utensils dropped by kids and follow-up "food envy" orders. Recommend: goat cheese with tomato sauce, lamb, beef tenderloin, cheese with quince jelly, fideos (came out as angel hair pasta vs. the short black noodles we enjoyed in Barcelona, but the sauce was spicy and delicious). Try cava instead of Sangria, which was not sweet enough and too watered down. Lovely experience overall, we will be back
(4)Nathan O.
It doesn't taste like spain, and the dishes are pretty off. Yet it's really tasty anyway. So if you're looking for authentic spainish food, you'll be disappointed. If you're looking for a good meal at reasonable prices, it's a lovely place to eat.
(4)Ryan D.
It was our first time visiting the restaurant, and we visited in the middle of the week, a Tuesday I believe. The menu has alot to offer, some quite special, others mediocre. I strongly recommend the Queso de Cabra al horno ,baked goat cheese in tomatoe sauce- it's awesome. They give you enought garlic bread and ti is quite a large app, you could split it between two people. I also really liked the lamb- flavorful and well cooked. The salmon tapa and mushroom with spinach empanada were mediocre. The quality fo the salmon seemed to be lower then what one gets a standard fish restaurant- and it was noticable. The empanada just was too salty and not well done. We also had the Pincho de Chorizo and Pollo- which was pretty decent, but not spectacular-quite basic. The margaritas were tasty, but the mix didn't make my top ten, but also didn't stop me from ordering a second! I will go back as there aren't alot of restaurants that offer this fare. I think wise ordering is needed and you could have pretty great night. Service was decent, what you would expect- pretty average. Atmosphere- we ate outside which was quite nice, just watch out for those smokers!! Summary:Decent food, some really great dishes, some just-ok, even fair. Unique little joint, you aren't going to find elsewhere in Indy. I've eaten in number of Tapas bars across the country I found better, but this is the best one I've found here. Would go back.
(3)Jonathan M.
What a great place. Went here with a group of 6 friends and had a wonderful experience. We each ordered 2 items and shared everything family style. Filet, fish cakes, goat cheese dip, broccolini, sausages, mussels, and on and on and on! We were so full when we were done. Tapas are small plates that are meant for sharing but easily a few plates could fill you up. They have a great cocktail, wine and beer menu as well. This is really a great place to meet friends and have an evening where they can roll you out at the end. We went on Moto GP weekend and the staff was still very attentive even though the place was packed. I have been here sveral times and have never been disapponted.
(5)Holly G.
We made our second trip to BARcelona Tapas a week ago on Friday. It was date night and my fiance and I decided to stop in for dinner before going to First Friday at Stutz. Neither time have we been disappointed. The offerings were brought quickly at the appropriate temperatures and they were always delicious. While reading the menu on this visit, it mentioned something about the tapas experience being centered on a conversational eating atmosphere - a place to get to know the people with whom you're dining. I think that is right on the money. It's easy to talk and eat when you don't have a daunting plate in front of you. Your food doesn't get cold and there's time in between dishes to talk about what you're eating, how your day went, etc. It is NOT cheap to eat here. But, for me anyway, dining out is not about the quantity of food - it's more about the quality, as well as the quality time spent with your friends and loved ones. I love the atmosphere and the experience of eating here! We will most definitely be back!
(5)Julie C.
Yet another of my favorite Indianapolis restaurants. My friends and I make it a point to eat here every year when we are in town for GenCon. It is about 10 blocks away from the convention center, so it is not as packed as the restaurants that are closer, but it is still walkable. I have tried many of their dishes and liked most of them. One thing I would recommend is when you order the patatas bravas, ask for the sauce from the croquetas, which is more like the sauce you get in Barcelona. Otherwise, they come with chopped tomatoes on top, which is just weird. I have also enjoyed their tortilla española, olives, and ham/cheese plate, although it is a bit skimpy. Very good options for gluten-free diners.
(5)Kate K.
Stupid name, or rather, stupid emphasis on the "BAR" portion of the name. Other than that, this was the best tapas experience I've ever had...in the US, at least. Without a reservation on a Saturday night, we expected a major wait, but luckily a large party had cancelled last minute, so we got seated literally in seconds. Prices were phenomenal - not sure why every other tapas place I've ever been charges 2x as much for the same food quality/portion sized?? I also appreciated how they actually serve Spanish tapas and aren't using "tapas" as an excuse to serve a random collection of small places as lots of places seem to be doing as of late. I'm not going to go dish-by-dish here since my party of two ordered a ton of different stuff (my boyfriend had never had tapas before - for shame!), however, I do recommend getting the bread basket, if for no other reason than to soak up some of the really flavorful juices you will encounter (from the mushrooms, meats, soups, etc)
(4)Jack J.
Okay so you know how they (people that have visited or lived in Europe) say that the food tastes different because of the water or just because it's Europe and not the States?.....Well this place has overcome that hurdle. If you like, start with the rich and hearty Spanish olives to get the salivary glands soaked then rinse with the Gazpacho soup. As you sip your beverage (it could be water as good as this place is) scan the menu and choose your favorite Tapas. I promise you won't go wrong. I sat here and tried 5 of the 17 and found no faults. And guess what? I am in downtown Freak'n Indianapolis....unbelievable! Back to D.C. and the poser Tapas Joints compared to this place! No 5- star because it is not pretentious!
(4)Marcie M.
BARcelona was a great place for my 30th birthday dinner....my girlfriends hosted a fabulous night out starting with this as our meeting place for food/drinks. They had $10 wine bottle specials and a bourbon lemonade drink option for the evening along with their regular full bar. We had a reservation for 7 p.m. and we were not alone. The place was BEYOND packed. For all the negative nelly reviews on here, you would think it would be dead, but.....it's not and for good reason....it's delicious! We had a very nice sized table for our group and when we asked for extra seating when a few non-RSVPers showed up last minute, they were happy to accommodate despite being super full! There was a big party behind us and two smaller groups next to us. My biggest complaint was how loud it was. I had to practically yell to the person sitting six inches away from me and don't even get me started on the guests at the end of the table. It was impossible to share a decent conversation, so this was disappointing since many of my friends had to leave after dinner... What was not disappointing was the food. It was off the chain. I loved almost everything. I am still dreaming about the beef brochette in horseradish sauce. My garlic shrimp in a lemon zest sauce was absolutely mouth-watering. The goat cheese spread was plentiful to share with 4-6 others and absolutely fatten you up delish! I also tried the chicken wings, Spanish meatballs and garden salad, all of which was absolutely amazing. I thought the food came out super fast too, despite it being very crowded and we had zero service issues. Our server also was more than willing and happy to split the checks for our 15 person group, which I found to be overly acommodating and something MANY downtown venues will not do. Overall, I don't quite understand the complaints about BARcelona....Maybe it is the chainy vibe...but with NOTHING else competing in this arena, I'm not exactly sure what the expectation is. It's not Chicago and no one really said it was. It is definitely different for Indy, though....there are not a lot of comparable "tapas" options to choose from and for a group, it is wonderful! I recommend for birthday dinners and a group out to celebrate fun times...I do not recommend going on a saturday night for a first date. It will be nearly impossible to hear your dining mate. But it's great for conversation over food and I love the idea of sharing with your dining partners in crime. It just makes the whole meal that much more fun, interactive and interesting.
(4)Veronica V.
This has been by far the best brunch location I found since moving here from Texas where brunch is king. The tres leches french toast is to die for as is their eggs benedict!! The brunch buffet changes but has great staples. Love the spanish style brunch! Don't forget your free glass of sangria!
(4)Rob A.
BARcelona Tapas is one of my favorite spots around Mass Ave. There aren't many options for tapas in Indy but this place does it right. I lived in Spain for some time and the food here really takes me back. Tortilla Espanola is my all time favorite, and the version offered here really hits the spot. They add some extras beyond the traditional ingredients but it works. The Espinaca con garbanzo is a good one too -- very fresh and simple with good favors. Other favorites of mine are the albondigas (Spanish meatballs) and patatas bravas. Paella is decent and the portion size is pretty good for the price. My only complaint is that the sangria tends to be watery. I also avoid the pinchos de pollo just because I think the price is a little high for two small skewers. For dessert the flan is a hit, although I've never seen them have anything besides the traditional caramel variety. The strawberry and caramel stuffed churros are good too and are a fun twist on the classic Spanish snack of churros con chocolate. Check it out!
(4)Stella C.
The food was great! The asparagus is a must. The restaurant had a fun eclectic vibe but, was a bit too loud. The waiter was very friendly but, seemed a little rushed. All in all I was very please and will return if the opportunity presents itself.
(4)Brittany R.
I enjoyed the tapas style dining and our waitress was incredibly friendly, however if you're looking for a filling meal without breaking the bank, tapas might not be the way to go for you. Speaking of the food, it was delicious! We loved everything we ordered. Having dined in Spain before, I can't go as far as saying it tasted authentic, but it was still good.
(3)Daniel L.
4 stars? Too many? Maybe, but I'm grading for business innovation. In a downtown area saturated with Steakhouses and the standard American Bar, BARcelona Tapas explores different territory. Recommendations: Sangria, and the Friday Lunch Buffet for $10.
(4)Robbie R.
I went there with a group last night for the first time. Waitress was very friendly and on top of her game. The baked goat cheese was good, the crispy artichokes were great and the Beef brochette was awesome!! The Empanadas were the only thing that I did not care for. I will give it another shot and try a few other items next time :)
(4)A M.
I never thought I would find good Spanish food in Indianapolis. Great service, delicious food, great atmosphere. No attitude. I enjoyed dinner got to see a great soccer match. Parking is a bit of a pain. You can park on the street. You can use coins or credit card. Big parking lot (paid) on the empty lot opposite to the restaurant.
(4)Mr And Mrs G.
MR says ... awesome TAPAS! MRS says ... one of those diamond in the rough find restaurants downtown indianapolis. we walked blocks after blocks looking for a not so busy place to eat since at fogo de chao we phoned in a 7o'clock reservation and still we were asked to wait for at least 30-45min. we couldn't be more satisfied to see a variety of spanish tapas on the menu. we had some mussels, sausages, goat cheese, paella, and marengo cheese with prosciutto. servings enough to share and reasonable price for a downtown restaurant. great service too!
(4)Donna B.
Yummy. Great service!
(4)David B.
Favorite places DT. great food, atmosphere, good $$
(5)Tony J.
the wife really likes their gazpacho and the goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread. we did not enjoy the paella at all. we've eaten there twice already but so far i have not had any dish that i really enjoyed. next time i will try the other dishes.their selection of tapas is quite lengthy. UPDATE April 17,2011: We tried their Sunday Sangria Brunch buffet early today and it was awesome. Huge selection including some of their dinner tapas menu. A few dishes can also be ordered from the kitchen. For $16 per person, its a very good deal.
(3)Michael S.
Had been here a number of times and in fact was there for a preview to the opening. Every time I have been it has slipped a little, but tonight was hands down the worst. I went with my wife and 6 of my family members and was really looking forward to good service and good wine, even if the food is always just okay (not ever been all that excited about their food - maybe because I have had the real dishes in Spain, but I really think that the cooks do not taste their food) It started out all right the waitress seemed excited to be there and started to tell us a little about the menu, then talked to my brother, his friend and my niece then left without taking anyone elses orders or asking if anyone wanted drinks. She just vanished. Then the food that my brother and niece ordered ( she had not finished) My wife mentioned to the guy that was setting food on our table that we would like to place our order and he rudely replied that he was not our server (what a jerk) He points out our waitress as he stalks away and we tell her that we would like to place our order (which we did at that time along with drinks) I ordered a bottle of wine, someone else ordered a beer and sangria. 15 minutes go by and a beer appears, another 10 and some sangria (did I mention that they were not all that busy?) 30 minutes still no wine and I cancelled and just wanted to leave but my family was still there. Finally the food arrives and the tortilla is stale tasting and the spinacha con garbonzos is cold and undercooked. All this time no apology from the waitress for any of the screwed up things that have happened. I could go on... I talked to the manager who seemed genuinely embarrassed ( I really didn't want to have to talk to her myself) She made herr apologies for the waitress and said she would try to do something for our bill. Ended up comping one iterm on everyones ticket (still no I'm sorry form our waitress) I had planned on desert, but really was simply glad to say goodbye to Barcelona. While I appreciate the effort of the manager, I will not be going back
(1)Richard H.
Have been here several times, and although it has never been bad, I can't say that it has ever been especially memorable. On one visit, fellow diners had the paella, and it was really gorgeous looking, and they said very good. They have a number of creative things on the menu to try. Once when I was there, they did not have the item on the menu that we requested, but then discovered the chef was prepping it at that very time so delivered it to us at no charge, which was a terrific touch! Visited there most recently for their Sunday brunch. The sangria that come with it is OK. The brunch itself is OK -- delicious sliced beef, great small assortment of cheeses, but some of the offerings looks a little tired (typical green salads, uninspired charcuterie). But you also can order three items made to order, and the eggs Benedict with chorizo is awesome! I may have found at last my memorable food from BARcelon tapas. The interior is a little tired-looking -- the definitely need to reupholser those booths -- but the food seems reasonably priced, and they do have a selection of large plates as well.
(3)nick d.
This place could be good and the paella is fair but there is no excuse for not changing the oil in the fryer. Our first dish smelled of rancid oil so badly we didn't touch it. The paella rescued the situation otherwise I would have had issues giving this place one star. Many better places such as Tastings or Saffron. Give this place a miss.
(2)H R.
Barcelona, the city, is a very special place for my boyfriend and I so I decided to take him here for his birthday. He lives in Indy and I though it would be awesome to treat him to a taste of Barcelona in his home town. I really, really wanted this place to be good. It would be such a treat to have great tapas available in Indy and a new place for us to frequent regularly. Our service was great but unfortunately the food was mediocre. We decided to order the six course meal and share all the tapas. Our first course, the gazpacho could definitely use more seasoning and left you yearning for more. The second course, the goat cheese in tomato sauce appetizer was a little better but the tomato sauce tasted like it came out of a jar of marinara sauce from the grocery store. The third course, empenadas, were also good but nothing to brag about. The same with the paella. Our last course, the flan was actually pretty good but not enough to save the entire meal. This restaurant would not be one of my first choices to go to again in Indy.
(3)Jennifer B.
Sopa de Alubias (Black bean soup with sherry cream) was easily the most flavorful simple black bean soup I've ever had the pleasure of spooning into my mouth. Setas Salteadas con Amontillado (Sauteed mushrooms in sweet sherry sauce) so decadent I drained my bowl dry of the sauce. Queso de Cabra al Horno (Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread) covered in crushed red pepper and well loved by us. Tortilla Española (Potato and onion omelette cake with spinach) was quite breakfast worthy and pleased my roommate. Atún con Pimienta (Pepper encrusted tuna with Rioja sauce) thoroughly enjoyed by him. He had rave reviews of their hot chocolate too. The food descriptions were taken directly from the menu. It's not very often that you order so many varied items off a menu and aren't the least bit disappointed in a single one. Perhaps I should go to Spain. Nom nom nom.
(5)Honey S.
The baked goat cheese was to die for :) :) loves it! The Solomillo Con Cabrales was delish! Everything from the sangria to each tapa was fantastic. I will be back next time I'm in Indy
(4)Minna A.
This place gets busy fast! I love tapas, I love that they come out in small portions so you can try everything, that you share them with everyone at your table, etc. etc. So, I'm not from around Indy (Chicago.. woot woot!), so I'm not sure what the food scene in Indy is like. However, I couldn't believe all the food you can order for the price you pay! We had the goat cheese, the lamb, I-can't-even-remember-we-ordered-so-much-food, and the paella. The paella is awesome, don't miss out. ps. the mirror on the back of the girls bathroom door is slimming (my whole group noticed!).
(4)Silly H.
Was in Indianapolis for a business trip and was pleasantly surprised that Indianapolis could offer such a great tapas experience. The mix of tapas we ordered were solid, the sangria went down smooth (directly from a cute little pitcher). The atmosphere was nothing too exciting. All in all a good tapas experience in Indianapolis.
(4)Sarah S.
Went back to Barcelona last night with a group of friends, we reserved a table via OpenTable for six. We ordered a pitcher of sangria, and I ordered a class of Cava. The sangria arrived quickly, and I had to flag down the waiter because he forgot about my cocktail. It took a few minutes, but, I got my drink. We decided to order off of the Devour Downtown menu, which, for $30, a couple could get five rounds of food and they can chose one item for each round (between two items). With six of us, we couldn't pass it up, so, we ordered a great amount of vegetarian and non-veggie food. Things came out quick and our table filled up. The staff was attentive and cleared things as needed, gave us extra plates and we feasted! It was quite fun and most of the food was great. The tomato sauce + goat cheese = the bomb. The waiter brought us extra bread to finish off the third order of it we had (total debauchery!). Other highlights - the fried artichokes, the asparagus (though the portions were very small and the asparagus was rather wimpy and small), chick peas, and the beef tenderloin (perfectly cooked!). The paella was a total fail and was so freaking lemony that I couldn't even eat it. However, the dessert..oh god...I would walk a mile barefoot in the cold for churros. They are cut up into bite size pieces, served with chocolate sauce (the serving of chocolate was too small though!). Mmmm! We all went crazy about them. We also had a chocolate goo filled brownie, which was small, but rich and decadent. Around 9:30 the server came over declaring that he wanted to get our payment situated but he "wasn't trying to rush us." Which usually means he is. He took care of us and we left with full bellies. Overall, another fun experience, and it was nice to be able to try a wider variety of items on the menu thanks to Devour Downtown.
(4)Shruti K.
My boyfriend and I went to BARcelona Tapas on a Saturday night when we were visiting Indianapolis and the place was about 40% full. Since we're from Chicago, we were surprised since it's hard to get a reservation at a tapas restaurant let alone be seated immediately at a table of your choice. However, once we were ordered the food and were done eating it, we didn't understand why this place wasn't full. Although the sangrias weren't the best I've had, they were ok. The goat cheese and spicy tomato sauce, served with lightly toasted and seasoned bread and recommended by our server was absolutely DELiCIOUS!! I've had better Patatas Bravas but the fried calamari was Fantastic!! Crispy yet tender, the meat wasn't chewy at all which is always tricky with calamari. We also ordered the Paella which was delicious too and had chunks of chicken and all kinds of seafood. A LOT OF SEAFOOD. We were stuffed to the point where we had to pack some of the paella to go, so the portions are pretty good too. If I'm ever in Indy again, I'll make sure I visit this place!
(4)Jarrod R.
Being parents, it's sometimes a challenge to get a "date night," so when we do, we try to choose wisely. BARcelona provided us with one great date night. For a couple, we found the atmosphere to be warm, while providing some fun people watching, too. Everything we tried was outstanding and our server was very helpful by providing suggestions. I must apologize for not remembering the exact dishes we enjoyed, which might have been caused a little bit by the mojitos. I can also see that this would be a fun place for a larger group with different tapas zipping by the table and everyone getting a chance to sample their wares. All in all, a wonderful experience. We look forward to another trip downtown in the near future.
(4)Deborah B.
Walked past BARcelona Tapas a lot since we moved here from Chicago, when we are on our way from our place downtown to Mass Ave for some libations on the weekends.(Yet another plus of living downtown-walking everywhere!!) Attempted to walk in once, with no luck on a Friday, envious of all the people sitting outside sipping their sangrias and enjoying the spanish fare. So I made a reservation for the following Friday, which couldn't arrive soon enough. Sat outside, despite being warm out, the shade made it comfortable. Promptly,a very friendly waitress arrived and explained the specials. We ordered the requisite Sangria (red)-they also have white. Ordered a cheese plate with some charcuterie and olives that was on special. Delicious and low carb, if you avoid the toast points that come with. We then ordered an assortment of tapas. Everything was delicious! My ONLY issue was that the waitress never asked how we wanted our steak cooked, and we ended up with well-cooked grey steak. Of course we would have preferred it medium rare! besides that, we really enjoyed our dinner and will absolutely be returning again soon!
(4)Mary Beth A.
One of the best places to go in downtown Indy for a fun - and relatively inexpensive - night with friends. I have been to Barcelona a number of times since they opened, but visited last weekend with a group of 7 friends for a late dinner. Despite there being seven of us - who all ordered different sets and varieties of small plates - the service was extremely efficient, prompt, and polite. Our water glasses stayed full, as did the pitchers of sangria (which is fruity and delicious) that we went through. ($17/pitcher - each pitcher produced a small glass of sangria for all 7 of us!) The food is good - if I had to specify, I would say that the food might be closer to a 3, with the drinks at about a 4, while the service is a 5. Those average out to my 4 star overall rating. Definitely order the baked goat cheese with marinara sauce - it is a standout favorite. it is simple, but delicious and comforting. The asparagus was not my favorite - very grilled and smoky tasting, with many hard and un-chewable pieces. Meatballs are very good and above average. The potato omelette-like pancake was quite tasty and surprising, and came with a spicy mayonnaise of sorts. The garlic shrimp were not as flavorful as I had hoped, but tasty. For two of us, splitting about 5 or 6 small plates and paying for one of the pitchers of sangria that our table shared, our bill was just over $50. I didn't have dessert this time, but the tres leches cake is TO DIE FOR. I have heard they have a fantastic lunch buffet during the week that, including a drink, is only nine bucks. I have also been meaning to check out their Sunday brunch which apparently includes lots of meats AND sangria - for only sixteen bucks! Would highly recommend as a gathering place for middle-sized to larger-sized groups. Our waitress was extremely efficient in keeping track of who ordered what, which couples were together, and what items needed to be on each bill. This is sometimes difficult when you are with a group, and I was highly impressed. Don't forget to make a reservation - they can get packed, and it can be hard to get a table if you do decide to go with a group.
(4)Benjamin R.
Fun place, like their sangria, and about 70% of the tapas
(4)Katie W.
We came here for my husbands bday celebration and it was just what we were hoping it would be. Low key, good food, decent service and affordable. When we arrived with our reservation, the hostess seemed flustered and ran away to go find menus...because more customers were so unexpected I guess...and then we were seated with two menus for our group of four with no explanation or apology, but thats not a big deal, if you don't share well, tapas is not a great choice for you. We ordered a round of very tasty drinks and tapas (which all came out very quickly and we were really happy about that:) such as the meatballs, cod cakes, goat cheese bake, asparagus, strawberry churros and creme brûlée. Really good, satisfying stuff, but we are not picky people. All in all, it's a solid place, definitely worth a shot and we will be back!
(4)Anna P.
For a group of fifteen the kitchen completed every order without mix up, however my tuna and salmon was extremely over cooked, salmon=gray= gross! Server was attentive and we never had dry glasses. Great place to accommodate larger crowd.
(3)Rachel L.
In a word: Yuck! If it wasn't for the fact that I had just finished a three-and-a-half hour drive from Evansville, it was nearly 10 o'clock at night with a forthcoming 3 a.m. wake-up call and I was STARVING, I wouldn't have eaten anything. But, that wasn't the case so... My colleague and I ordered the asparagus, shared the paella and tried a chickpea dish. Everything was awful. Not even the rice in the paella was good. How do you mess up rice? We ate outside on the street patio, which is better than eating inside which smells of a chlorox mixture. I visited the restroom to wash my hands. Let's just say I wish I didn't. I don't know if work will ever take me back to Indianapolis (goodness knows that leisure won't), but if I do make it back to the Midwest, I definitely won't be checking out BARcelona again. Yuck yuck yucky!
(1)Kris P.
This should probably be a 3 star review but the Yelp 2 star criteria clearly states "meh Ive had better" And that really sums up my Barcelona experience. The food is good but it always makes me think about my tapas experiences in Chicago where the food is fresher/the service is friendlier/and the prices are surprisingly cheaper. Is it the best tapas Indy has to offer? Yes. Did I enjoy myself? Yeah it was a jolly good time. Was the service prompt and polite? Yeah she even divided the check into a proportional payout. That kind of irked me actually. So in the end I kinda screwed over Barcelona on this one. They deserved a better rating. Nostalgia is the the knife that strikes in the back of todays memories.
(2)Catherine W.
Enjoyed this restaurant for a quick bite. Ordered 7 dishes for 2 people, which was probably 1 too many. Standouts were the bacalao, the fried artichokes, and the chicken wings. Did not like the croquettes. Not the most authentic tapas I've ever had (many of the dishes we ordered were drizzled with mayonnaise or featured prominently with a side of sauce), but it suited my craving and enjoyed the pleasant service, and laid-back atmosphere. Bar area was a fun place to hang out.
(3)Tristan S.
BARcelona's a decent stop to have a drink on the patio on a nice day and get a snack, but not a "must" destination. Went on a Friday night for drinks and appetizers and were promptly checked in to our requested spot (no reservations) on the patio. The server was polite and helpful when it came to the drink menu. The mixed drinks were unique and tasty. The food, not so much. The seared tuna was well done: tough and dry. The asparagus with a bit of cheese and tomato sauce was okay - fresh, but lacking in terms of the accoutrements. I don't need my veggies to be flooded with cheese and sauce, but it's nice to have enough to be able to taste them. This wasn't my first time at BARcelona. I went several times after they first opened with people who LOVED the place, but I never grew to love it and prefer to go to other nearby places. (We dined at India Garden next door after the snack I've reviewed.)
(3)T-Rock T.
Love this place! It is such a great place to try new things and not be upset if it isn't your favorite since it is all small portions. Great place to take a group and share lots of plates!!
(4)Jessica S.
Fun selection of Spanish-style tapas, great-tasting sangria, and wonderful decoration makes Barcelona Tapas a fun place to visit with a group.
(4)N H.
Is this place rather expensive? Yes Is it worth it if you have the money? YES I highly recommend the mussels, melted goat cheese in marinara, the tortilla espanola...and honestly, everything. The decor is full of warm colors and they have great happy hour deals at the bar. Service is prompt and kind. I highly recommend.
(4)Kim K.
The perfect tour of Spain. I am a "a-no-option share-r." I often can't decide on one dish, so to make it easy on myself, I find out what my companion is getting-and convince him to let me sample his dish -- whether he wants to or not. BARcelona's solves this problem. All dishes are made to share and are small portions, so get 1, 2, 3, 4 dishes to try. Their Alcahofas fritas (Crispy artichokes with lemon-garlic aioli and shaved Manchego cheese) and their baked goat cheese and tomato sauce is DYNAMITE. Some of their dishes feel greasy to me, but the atmosphere and experience is one not to be missed. They also take reservations; which is super helpful on a weekend night.
(4)Kavitha D.
I went here again recently for their Sunday brunch with some friends, and all I can say is: TRES LECHES FRENCH TOAST. OH MY GOODNESS. It will blow your mind!!!! Other than that you get a tonnnnnnnnnnn of food for the sunday brunch, which is the reason why their brunch is so dang expensive. I bumped this place up to 3 stars only because their french toast is the best I've ever had in my life. However, to charge that much for brunch because you are giving your customers THAT much food is just obscene. You're just aiding our existing obesity problem in the US.
(3)Rebecca H.
My fiancee and I went here on a whim one weeknight. We had meant to go to Chef Joseph's for fancy date night, but they were closed so we just walked across the street to BARcelona. I'm glad we did! We happened to walk in on a night when they were doing the Devour Downtown menu just for fun. So we of course had to do that. It was nice to get a chance to try multiple things. We got the goat cheese in marinara and it was pretty good. Just like everyone suggested. My favorite were the tiny lamb chops! So good! It was a little pricy though, but definitely worth a fun night out.
(4)Justin L.
I was in Indianapolis on a business trip and I came here with some coworkers. I had the lamb chops, goat cheese dip, and another dish, however since I cannot remember it, it was not that memorable. The ambiance was not bad, and the beer was cold. I enjoyed a couple glasses of a beer called "The Preachers Daughter" which was very good. The lamb chops were not bad, but I definitely have had better. I was able to try the Albondigas, and I must say that they were pretty good. If I return here, I do not think I will come back to this restaurant. I was quite shocked to see that the seafood paella was made with salmon (which is definitely NOT served in Barcelona).
(3)Melissa S.
I cannot begin to tell you how fantastic the food is here. Order as many different plates as you can...sharing is the only way to go here. Enjoy and then try the amazing one in St. Louis too
(5)Shane M.
I have heard so much about this place and finally went tonight at the end of a drunken bike ride with my girlfriend. The bartender was nice and helpful so no complaints there the tapas however I have a mixed reaction to. You must try the hot goat cheese and tomato sauce because it the thing to do. You also must try the cordero because its really damn good. Avoid the croquettes. There just not worth it. I will be back to try more and I hear that they have a DIY bloody marry bar which souds awesome.
(3)Damie A.
We've been here many times, and I have to say it's very good! We've tried so many different things, and ithey have been amazing. The only thing I got and did not like was their salmon. It was overcooked... Barring that, go! On Sundays they have a breakfast buffet that is awesome and they even make amazing french toast.
(4)Sarah N.
I am an out of tower to Indy and in town for the race. Barcelona was a suggestion provided by a bell person at a hotel. Walkable to "Mass Ave" which was a great option to park and then walk over the block or two to get there, but I would say Barcelona was just OK. Not that anything was bad, but nothing really standout. We had a drink at the bar and then a couple tapas. Meatballs, olives and a steak thing. Again, all just ok. Something about the ambiance might need a touch updating and maybe that is why I give them only a 3. They have TV's and the staff seemed nice, but again nothing really stood out so much. So go and decide for yourself I suppose. If you love tapas, you might be more qualified to evaluate.
(3)Jason O.
I really like the variety of choices on their lunch buffet. Lots of veggie, meat, salad choices. Neat building with a cool feel inside! I haven't tried the outdoor seating but that looks nice also. I've been here a couple of times and I've been impressed with both the food and service!
(4)Ruchi S.
One of the few places to get paella in this city! They recently revamped their paella and it so flavorful and delicious! I got the vegetable paella and it was hard not to eat the whole bowl! I also loved the roasted cauliflower and the tortilla Española. I do wish they would put aioli on the patatas braves like they do in many Spanish tapas restaurants in other cities- that dish is lacking. Overall a great place- yummy small plates and great for sharing!
(4)Mansi N.
I'm giving this restaurant 4 stars for the dessert, ambiance, and vegetarian options. I've never been to Barcelona, but I imagine the city to be a colorful and vibrant place, which is reflected in this restaurant. I'm not a huge fan of tapas to begin with since they tend to be pricey and sometimes the small bites don't blow me away in flavor. There were a few tapas I would've liked to try but I'm currently not eating goat cheese. I got the omelette and roasted red peppers. Both were tasty, with the omelette being a decent portion. I just wasn't amazed as I have been by a couple other tapas restaurants. My husband got a paella. He ate it all and it was a decently large portion considering the price. It didn't have the crust that paella is known for, but even he acknowledged that true paella can take several hours and most restaurants don't make it that way. The tres leches dessert was the highlight. It was quite a large slice of cake and was moist and spongey. I believe it had a caramel flavor as well, but regardless, if not for the tres leches, I would've been giving this restaurant 3 stars.
(4)Cara B.
We tried it as part of Devour Downtown for our anniversary. Everything was excellent! The only thing stopping this being a five star rating is that they mistakenly brought out our dessert before our last course!
(4)William Aaron K.
So it was a Thursday afternoon and my friend and I were just looking for something to do. I went over to her apartment and then we decided to partake in some fun activity that left us feeling pretty goofy and hungry and just got us real pumped up to eat something delicious and just lose ourselves to a delicious experience. We chose to go to Barcelona to experience a new culture and really just to get some food in our bellies. Our waiter was obviously having a go at us when he first saw us, but it was understandable and he ended up being a pretty nice guy! We first started out by getting the Isla cocktail and some water. Our cocktail came, but the water oddly took a long time to get to us, which was awful because I was so thirsty. However, it finally came and I could have given our waiter the biggest in the world. So then we decided order the goat cheese, alas de pollo (super SUCCULENT chicken wings) and calamari frito. The goat cheese with the tomato and garlic bread was almost to die for. At first, it's kind of strange but then you notice yourself not being able to stop dipping the bread in the cheese and just continuously munching on it. Calamari frito really wasn't my favorite. I usually like calamari, but this was just a little dry. It wasn't bad, but it was just a bit underwhelming. Like I said though, those chicken wings were super delicious, succulent, juicy and just everything you need in a chicken wing with a wild cultural twist. I would be lying if I said this was my favorite restaurant in the world, but it's a pretty good place to at least try out at least once.
(4)Linda L.
I'm a fan of Barcelona Tapas. They have a yummy lunch buffet on weekdays, and have a happy hour at the bar till 6. $3 plate for calamari, empanadas, wings, goat cheese, croquettes... You walk away with a full happy belly and hopefully some good friend time. The service at the bar is also wonderful. There is a window directly from kitchen to bar so everything came out quickly.
(4)Cathy X.
Loved it! Everything from the warm and cheerful decor, to the solid drinks selection at the bar, to the DELICIOUS TAPAS. Definitely order ALLLL the meat off the tapas menu. If you're intimidated from the exhaustive menu, some highlights to definitely include are: the tenderloin steak, lamb shanks (small portion, but so worth it for the rich butter sauce), meatballs (huge portion), and tuna. Fried calamari was also delish. And because a balanced diet includes earth-things, I also recommend the roasted cauliflower and spinach empanadas. The paella was impressive, but order early because they take forever to come out. If you're around for lunch, their lunch buffet is $10 and similarly yummy. My friend from Spain remarked Barcelona Tapas wasn't authentic, but agreed to come here again a week later. So it's safe to say that these are pretty good for this side of the Atlantic :)
(4)Samantha O.
Nice place to go on a weeknight, especially during happy hour. Service can be s bit dicey when they get busy. Very good tapas for the price.
(4)Jessica C.
This place is freaking amazing! Stopped in for lunch in a Saturday afternoon. Everything comes in small portions, which is great bc I wanted to try every item on the menu!!! We ordered: alas de pollo, bacalao, pan con alioli, and Cordero. It was ALL PHENOMINAL. Our server wasn't really the greatest, but she was pleasant. Food was off the chain though so it made up for anything else.
(5)Sigrid F.
I highly recommend checking out the Sunday Brunch buffet. Not only do you get an extensive buffett, which has all sorts of lunch items, from salads to rice ishes, various chicken or pork, chesses, salami, French bread, quiches, and dessert. Also present salmon on a plank and a carved meat station. Sangria is also included in the price, coffee is not... but alas there is a Bloody Mary bar for just a slight upcharge. I am partial to the made to order items, which are also included and you can eat as many of those as you want. The French toast is to die for, light and fluffy, served with a vanilla sauce, berries and a dollop of whip cream. There are omelet made to your liking and Eggs Benedict. Always interesting is the Chef Special, which in my case was Ham and cheese pancakes... sounded very odd, but turned out to be quite delicious.
(5)Allison F.
WAIT A SECOND. There's one of these in St. Louis too? Fun fact! BARcelona produces good food, but a little bit greasier and less flavorful than I would like it to be. I've had my share of tapas in Spain (I know that just made me look like a big food snob, but it's hard trying the good shit over there and then coming back to find something less than that), so I want more flavor from my small plates. The ingredients are there (manchego, peppers, sherry, seafood), but my palette feels underwhelmed...maybe some more smoked paprika? Less ice in the sangria? At least the food comes out hot (they bring out a dish whenever it's ready).
(3)Olivia P.
We were seated immediately at approximately 8:00 pm on a Friday night. The server was extremely pleasant and full of great menu suggestions. My colleague and I split the following while traveling for business: 1 pitcher of Sangria: $19 Tres Quesos: $7.50 Jamon Serrano con Manchego: $8.50 Plato de Embutidos: $8.25 Queso de Cabra al Horno: $8.25 Andaluzian Creme Brulee: $5.75 Total: $57.25 for two, pre tip & tax The quality of the food was excellent. Each of the suggestions from the server were spot on. The ambiance and vibe was so laid back and enjoyable that we were really able to have great conversations and never felt rushed. The family style serving was great. The portions were slightly small for the price point, but I believe the service and location made up for it. We really enjoyed dining here and I would definitely dine here again if I return to Indianapolis.
(4)Amy V.
I was on the fence whether to give Barcelona a 4 or a 5. Because we really enjoyed our dinner, our server, and the experience - I am going to go with a 5. (Plus the Holidays just passed, and I am still in the giving spirit. ;-)) So in the matter of .2 seconds - my boyfriend and I decided we were "starving" driving back from a shopping trip on a Friday night. We stopped at a couple restaurants which were on the way, and they were both packed full so we ended up skipping them and decided we should go somewhere closer to home *downtown* - but then we were wondering where can we eat on a Friday without a reservation? Well, I love OpenTable! Like a lot!... So using the app, I saw that there was immediate openings at Barcelona. We were reluctant to try it yet due to the mixed reviews we had got from friends/ read. But, we are very glad we did! Me: Vegetarian. Boyfriend: Meat lover galore. - We were both fully satisfied here!! We ordered tons of food, I really enjoyed the onion & potato casserole (that had an amazing Spanish dip to go with it) and he really enjoyed the mussels, shrimp, and Spanish sausage. I did order a cauliflower dish - which I wasn't crazy for - so I wouldn't recommend it. But we did share a dish of goat cheese with tomato sauce, which was AMAZING. We topped our dinner off with bread pupping! Yum, yum, yum! It was an expensive last minute Friday date ($75 for two people, no alcohol, one dessert, after tip) - but we would go there again in the future if the craving arose. I would say if you are on the fence - go visit! You will probably walk away happy you did!
(5)Mark J.
Great atmosphere and excellent Happy Hour specials from 3-6. Meatballs were tender and juicy, wings were crispy and staff was friendly.
(4)Kristian P.
Barcelona is solid. Not the greatest restaurant ever, but one of my favorites. Tapas is a natural fit in the new 'small plates' move on the Indy culinary scene. The food is always hot or cold appropriately. In general the food is well seasoned and approachable. The Devour Downtown menu this year was very good and showcased some of the best the restaurant has to offer. The lunch buffet is a good way to check out a variety. If you order plates make sure to try the baked goat cheese with tomato sauce, roasted cauliflower and cod cakes. The paella is good too, but don't expect a crusty bottom. In addition to good food the service is always excellent and the drink selection is decent.
(4)Leah R.
The tapas are good, and the price is fair for what you get. The highlights were the bacalao, coliflor, patatas bravas, croquetas de pollo y jamon, albondigas, tres mariscos toro. The absolute hands down favorite by the table was the Tres Leches dessert. Some drawbacks were that the white sangria was watered down and there wasn't any fruit in the pitcher, and the paella, which didn't have that crusted goodness on it that I always look for. But overall, it was a great meal. I'd be curious to try out their brunch since it looks like a great deal.
(4)Ronak S.
I forgot how much I like this place. Barcelona is that perfect crowd-pleaser, a place with something everyone in a large group can like. Vegetarian or meat-lover, carbo-loader or gluten-hater, spice-tongue or sweet-tooth, there's a dish on the menu to match. Coupled with a decent selection of drinks, Barcelona is a pretty unique in downtown Indy, let alone Mass Ave. Still, for some reason, I usually forget about Barcelona when I'm looking for a place to eat. I think it's because, while so many new places are popping up in downtown, Barcelona has largely maintained the same formula and menu for many years -- a lot of good food but nothing so surprising and exciting that it keeps me coming back. It will be interesting to see if Barcelona is able to maintain as strengthy of a customer base as the downtown restaurant scene grows more and more saturated. The fare is solid enough, though, that I imagine they will have no trouble holding their ground.
(4)Ashley S.
We stopped in BARcelona during Indy's Devour Downtown special. They offered a $30 meal for two which was plenty of food and delicious to say the least. First we dined on cod and potato cakes with a lemon zest aioli, then goat cheese with tomato sauce, and spinach empanadas. Next we had fresh garlic chicken wings and fried rice with chorizo and shrimp ( the rice was my least favorite as it was a little dry and flavorless). Finally we had churros filled with strawberry and caramel dipped in warm chocolate sauce. The service was fast and friendly and the overall environment was pleasant as tapas dining allows diners to share food and converse more freely than being served a large meal portion all at once. We will for sure be back as the menu was affordable and there seemed to be plenty of other tasty options I can't wait to try!
(4)Kaela V.
This restaurant is fun for groups as you can order sangria pitchers and small plate tapas to share. Some of our favorite items on the menu include the paprika almonds, Spanish meatballs, and beef/spinach/blue cheese dish. We have also been for the Sunday brunch which was unique. The buffet had a lot of the traditional menu items as well as some traditional Spanish deserts. There is also a Bloody Mary bar where you mix your own drink!
(4)Jeff P.
Great food as always, service was a bit slow and it wasn't extremely busy. However I fully recommend BARcelona Tapas-Indy! Great Food!
(4)Patricia N.
If not for the food, come for the service! We sat at a high-top table in the bar and had great service all night from Amy? If it wasn't for her, my rating would've been a 2. 1) Pitcher of Red Sangria - ehhh...not all that impressive 2) Fried Calamari - under seasoned and it's a small portion for the price 3) Baked Goat Cheese w/ Garlic - best dish they've got! 4) Paella Valencia - it was ok...not all that authentic and it more a "fishy" taste to it All of this was a hefty $80 for two of us with tax. So is it a little overrated? I'd say so.
(3)Angela N.
As a flight attendant, I eat all over the world.. This place has it!! Loved the location, service, decor, food & drinks! Hit happy hour & was so well greeted.. Bartender took our orders for happy hour tapas. Everything was awesome!! The happy hour (flavored margarita) was Delish! I highly recommend a visit to this little local feel place.
(5)Kati F.
I love BARcelona! Monday's are margarita specials, and Wednesday's you can get a pitcher of sangria for $10! For 2 people I usually get 3-4 tapas. Literally everything is good, and reasonably priced!
(5)Silje S.
Me and my roommate (both in college) drove by this place sometime ago, on Tuesday night we finally got to it and went here. We decided to order a table the day before since we did not know whether this would be a busy night or not. When we arrived it seemed to be a quite night, so the reservation would not have been necessary on a weekday. We thought the 6 dishes for $32 for two people sounded like a good deal, and a way for us to try a few of the different tapas. We enjoyed almost all of the food we received, our favorites were; the baked goat cheese with the tomato sauce and bread, the chorizo with a sort of dipping sauce and our dessert which was the flan. This was probably the best flan I have tried, though I have only tried this three times. Two of these three times was in Spain, but they were from a store pre-made. Also neither of us have been fan of goat cheese in the past, but our baked goat cheese dish changed our minds. I am looking forward to going back here in the future, my roommate said the same thing. We will be taking our friends here in the future, this is because of the food and the service here.
(4)Shawn D.
Sunday Lunch. Best deal in town - especially if you plan on drinking. Unlimited Sangrias, what??!?!!!!! I also saw they had a bloody mary bar but didnt check out the details. Buffet was nice and clean - (traditionally im grossed out by buffets). Favorites included goat cheese marinara, charcuterie, mac and cheese, salads, paella. Very nice. Flavorful. Plenty to choose from. Desserts were fantastic as well - was some sort of dulche leche. I cant wait to go back for my next visit.
(4)Bob J.
Try grilling to specified temperatures people request and reducing or thickening the sauces so they have some flavor. All the sauces were like a pool of red wine with yellow mustard (they call aioli) drizzled in the red wine. Not very authentic or interesting. We commented to the server and he thought we were crazy. Very inexpensive, and just OK food, but missed the mark.
(1)Kami M.
Barcelona was everything I needed it to be when I was starving and wanted a wealth of small plate options. Was it the best tapas I've ever had? No, but there were decent options and the service was attentive and fast. Probably a three-star experience but added a star for an excellent strawberry margarita.
(4)Kendall M.
Yum. This restaurant brings me back to the time I lived in Spain. Every day I miss it, and I have wondered what my gluten intolerance would affect my love for Spanish food - it didn't. At Barcelona, they have allergy menus, including a gluten free one behind the hostess stand - just ask. Sangria is good, and so were tapas. Server told me an order of Paella would be too big for me (could feed me twice over), so opted for 3 tapas instead and ate a bit of each. Tapas servings are very generous compared to the tapas restaurants I have been to recently, so would recommend 4-5 to share between 2 guests. For 1, when traveling alone, I would say 2-3... But I love tapas so much, I went with 3. After ordering and enjoying the Jamon con Manchego, Gambas al Alioli and Tortilla. For GF, just ask for the ham & cheese w/o picos (bread). Only average part was the service, the bartender was very slow. Would definitely recommend dining here!
(4)Nancy H.
My husband and I took three people with us for their first tapas experience and they were not disappointed. One in our group said the salmon tapas she ordered was the best salmon dish she ever had anywhere! We had calamari, tuna, pork and chicken skewers, mussels, garlic shrimp, cauliflower, asparagus, meatballs with machengo cheese and a couple of other dishes washed down with a pitcher of sangria. It was a great experience for our friends! The food is fantastic.
(5)Dan S.
Love this place. Great decor, helpful staff, and decent pricing. And the food is excellent. The best: salmon, shrimp, goat cheese and tenderloin. Skip the Calamari, which is average or below. Add the empanadas and the meatballs to the above best list and you will not be disappointed in any of it. My GF and I went about 4x in 3 months, and now that we've broken up, going with her to BT's might be one of the things I miss most. 8*(
(5)Jennifer R.
I had lunch here on 2/20 with some work friends. I have to be honest here - this place is just not good. I've been here probably 10 times in the last two years for lunch with work people and it is just never good. I don't mean it's even just ok - it's bad. The food is greasy and lacks seasoning. Since this place is pretty popular, I've tried several items and nothing has really stood out as anything better than the low side of mediocre. The restaurant is also kind of dirty (not the dishes or silverware or anything but the restaurant itself) Now on the positive side - I have NEVER had bad service here. Never. The servers are always prompt and friendly. Also - the presentation of the food is usually very nice. Also - in the interest of fairness - I have never been here for dinner or the Sunday brunch. It make be better than lunch. I also do not drink and no one in my group drinks at lunch because we have to go back to work - so they could have outstanding cocktails.
(2)Mark W.
Wow, don't plan on one thing, variety is key to this place. The Mejillones is spicy and goes with several other Tapas. My picky 10 year old loved the Croquetas de Pollo y Jamin (chicken & ham) and we also got her garlic bread with Queso de Cabral al Horno. The Sangria's are good, but the margarita was better. We will be back again.
(4)Melissa B.
If you plan on coming here for dinner, it might be wise to make a reservation. This place is always packed, and for good reason. I adore tapas to begin with, and this place does them so, so well. My absolute favorite is the baked goat cheese. The peppers, macaroni, empanadas, EVERYTHING. Pitchers of sangria are $19 (big pitchers). If you haven't had tapas before, it's not your traditional one-plate meal. They are a bunch of small plates that come to you as they're made to share with the whole table. So, the more people you bring, the better it's going to be. The first time I came here was the first time I've had tapas, and I was very grateful that the staff explained certain plates to me patiently. I've come back several times and have loved every second of it. The nights that I came without a reservation, I sat at the bar and ate. The bartender, both times, was absolutely fantastic. He took his time to make our drinks and was very friendly as we ordered our food. This is a larger restaurant right downtown with a great, Spanish ambiance. Not that I've ever been to Spain--but this place lets me pretend. I especially love this place, because everything isn't crammed together. You actually have room to breathe and not have to overhear the next table. I highly, highly recommend it.
(5)Brad A.
The Sunday brunch is amazing! For less than $20 you get unlimited food and sangria. Excellent quality buffet style authentic Catalonia (Barcelona area) food in Downtown Indy. The eggs Benedict, red sangria, and French toast were my favorites. I also hear that they have a lunch buffet which I will be returning to check out!
(5)Emily B.
Came in for the Tuesday tapas special and basically tried the whole menu. The goat cheese marinara was to die for! Also incredible vegetarian paella and moderately priced bottles of cava. The whole bill came to 80 dollars and we ate off the food for three days - much larger than normal tapas style portions. Service was spotty, but the food was incredible.
(5)Heather H.
How have I missed reviewing Barcelona? I've been coming here since we moved to Indy, it has always been a solid downtown choice for dinner, and a place I'm happy to recommend to friends from out of town. They have a wide variety of hot and cold tapas, and a great selection of vegetarian options. My favorites include the sherry marinated mushrooms, the crispy artichokes, the goat cheese in marinara, and the flan. Mmmm flan. Sit a the bar on M-F from 3-6pm for a short list of $3 tapas and save some money! Also, they have some great cocktails and sangria (good price by the pitcher)! Bring some friends and try out a bunch of stuff!
(4)Michelle S.
I have been here for Sunday brunch and the food was great! However, today I was very disappointed. The service was ok but the food was terrible. No taste for being a spanish tapas restaurant. Don't look pass the salads. It's a good place for a drink or two... 2 stars for the ambience...
(2)Nancy K.
Again with the "I really wanted to love it!" The good - immediate seating for two without a reservation on a Saturday night. And the menu looked really interesting. *keyword: looked EMPANADAS DE ESPINACA Y CHAMPIÑÓN - good, but a bit greasy; the dip was great TRIGUEROS CON ROMESCO - some flavor, but a little too limp (i.e. I like crisp-ish asparagus) QUESO DE CABRA AL HORNO - okay, but I had a "Meh, I could have made this at home moment." The bread served with it was pretty fantastic Pitcher of red sangria was not good. Tasted watered down, not enough fruit or flavor or alcohol to justify the $20 price tag. And my friend, who lives out of town but loves this place, no longer loves this place. She thought the sangria was the highlight. Server was new, but did a decent job and gave us lots of attention. So, 2 stars for service.
(2)Elle A.
I must say I was pretty disappointed with this place. The reviews made it sound so great and I love Spanish food so I was really excited to try it out. Our waitress was fine but a little scatterbrained. When I asked if they served mojitos she wasn't sure what it was and when I got it, it looked like a sad little cocktail. It was the WORST mojito I've ever had. If they didn't regularly serve them that would've been fine and nice to know and I just would've ordered the sangria but instead I had a sad cocktail to go with the small plates. I know tapas means small plates and I know the portion sizes are smaller and shareable but their sizes were ridiculous on some of the plates. The chicken skewers, which took an extra 10 min than anything else, was literally one skewer with four little chunks of chicken for $7!! I could buy 2 pounds of chicken for that price! The garlic wings were good as was the lamb. The manchego plate was a joke. It had four tiny pieces of cheese with what looked and tasted like a fruit roll up on top. I will say the tres leches did live up to the hype and was worth every penny. Simply delicious and, finally, a generous portion. Overall my husband and I spent $90 on 4 small plates, a cocktail, 2 beers, and a dessert and that would've been fine if we felt full and satisfied but alas we felt neither. Maybe I've just been spoiled with other tapas places but this place was a real let down.
(2)Peter P.
I love tapas as much as the next hombre, but I truly love the buffet they do here (weekday lunch and Sunday brunch). It's a great deal on weekdays as they have a great spread of salads, olives, figs, dates as well as some hot foods and gazpacho. All for about $10. The Sunday brunch costs a little bit more (about $16), but you also receive a glass of sangria (white or red) and you can get made-to-order omelets, french toast, and eggs benedict from the kitchen. My favorite item: the mushrooms The vibe is casual European and when the weather is nice, they open the giant doors so you really feel like you're on the Mediterranean. If you're a soccer (or as they say in Barcelona, futbol) fan, this is the place to get your Spanish La Liga "kicks" (pun intended). Especially if you're a FC Barcelona fan.
(4)Waleska P.
We are tapas lovers, and have eaten at many tapas restaurants worldwide. We had 5 tapas and the paella valenciana at Barcelona. The food was really good. However, the sangria - both the white and red - was terrible. On the other hand, the tres leches dessert was the best 3 leches I've had in my life! We recommend eating here, but ordering wine or beer.
(4)Holly S.
Decided to give this restaurant a second chance after not being impressed with the skimpy, undercooked, over-priced small plates we sampled about three years ago. Went in the evening of 5/8/15 on a double date. We waited 5 minutes for menus/a server to show up even though there were several open tables, the hostess was extremely rude and we decided to leave. She harassed us as we left the restaurant.
(1)Kacy G.
I've been here a few times, and I'm generally pretty underwhelmed with the food with one exception: the goat cheese marinara. It's awesome. But how can you really go wrong with cheese & bread? The service is always excellent and food comes out fast. It's a great place to go with a crowd or a diverse group of eaters. The atmosphere/tapas sharing make up for the OK food. Tip: the pitcher of sangria, while it seems like a good deal, is a waste. It's about 3/4 full of ice and not that tasty.
(3)Tarun G.
Nice dish ideas but all of them had too much oil, salt, and aioli. Very disappointing. Service was nice and the location is OK, but I would steer clear and try Punch burger instead.
(2)John M.
My daughter graduated from Marian andcask us to ho here for dinner. It was so good. Try everything and share with the group! The lamb chops were great. The Saffron rice, amazing. Save room for dessert!
(5)Annette W.
Great authentic Spanish food. Sangria pitcher is a bargain. Service was excellent. Decor interesting. Small plate foods are great for sharing at the table.
(4)Marty G.
My first experience with tapas food, and I really enjoyed it! I didn't have an idea of what I would like, but I ordered 3 things: The curried chicken salad, Tortilla Espanola, and the baked goat cheese. I love curried chicken salad, and their rendition was no exception. The chicken was well cooked, the dish was well seasoned, and the flavor balance was exceptional. A nice starter to my meal. The Tortilla Espanola was my favorite dish - a nice quiche-like dish with potatoes and onions. I might ditch the other two dishes to try something new on a return visit, but this one's a keeper. The baked goat cheese was great, but it was a bit rich for me to finish. Just goes to show I should have shared! All in all, I'd make a return trip to Barcelona.
(4)Aaron W.
This tapas joint has a very pleasing and welcoming exterior. It is a cheery red and yellow beacon amidst the city gray. Within the confines, a seriously cozy vibe is to be had. Burnt orange and other shades of red and yellow abound. Tastefully placed FC Barcelona flags/scarves are to be found in the nice bar area. A nice touch, even for this FC Bayern Munich fan! Beyond the Spanish soaked decor, the menu is pretty cool. A lot of tasty tapas, of course, and some mean paella. The lunch buffet is Monday through Friday and, while not huge, has some good choices. It is a good option to get a feel for the rest of the menu with such things as: Chicken and shrimp paella, pasta rioja, baked goat cheese in marinara, gazpacho shots, dates, figs, Spanish olives, beef and chick peas. Just a few examples. Each day may be a bit different than the last. The price for the buffet at the time of this review is a very reasonable $9.95. Try the chocolate flan or tres leches cake if possible. They could have refreshed the buffet on one visit a bit more, the next was better.
(4)Buddy N.
Just finished eating here and severely disappointed. The Mar Y Tierra Toro (filet, shrimp and cauliflower skewer was not good at all. Fillet tasted old. Service was poor. Finally brought a veggie dish (asparagus) and it was cold. I love chorizo but the chicken chorizo skewer was very dry. The only dish we liked was the fried artichoke hearts and the meat balls. 1 star is generous. Sorry. I am usually a good rater. The worst tapas I have ever had. :(
(1)David N.
A recent lunch at BARcelona covered all of the bases; from lucky base hits to out-of-the-park home runs, we hit for the cycle. Tried as much as we could; hard to believe but we barely scratched the surface of their tapas menu. Quick insight as to what we liked, and what we could've done without... Home Runs: Albondigas (Meatballs) - Perfectly crafted, well seasoned, cooked perfectly, tender, excellent accompanying sauce and cheese. Queso de Cabra al horno (Baked goat cheese in red sauce) - Again, a match made in heaven. Paired with crispy garlic bread, it's a must have. Triples: Solomillo con Cabrales (Beef Tenderloin) - A tad chewy, but well-seasoned, cooked to order, and paired well with bleu cheese and spinach Patatas Bravas (Spicy Potatoes) - Better than most we've tried, nice spice, could've used a bit more seasoning, plenty of bang for your buck. Double: Gambas al Alioli (Garlic Shrimp) - Cooked well, married well with the chili oil and lemon, but seemed to be missing an ingredient or two. Single: Calamari Frito (Fried Calamari) - Very basic. Little taste, luke warm, wouldn't try again. Nothing separating it from your basic greasy Mediterranean/gyros joint. That's the food.... Service was great, hopefully not just because of the lack of clientele. Interior did what it was supposed to do; it felt like a Spanish tapas bar. Soccer (futbol) on every TV, flags, jerseys, the whole nine yards. I did notice some lacking in the cleaning department. Fairly dusty inside, floors needed some cleaning. Gave of an almost "under construction" feel. Long and the short, solid tapas, plenty of well paired libations available, and all the futbol you can handle. Worth a visit, but not topping any of my lists.
(3)Jen Y.
Place is cute... good for drinking. Food ok nothing memorable for vegetarians. Chickpeas, something with greens, and so so cheese. Great atmosphere to hang out and grab a drink though.
(3)bampf S.
Went to BARcelona with a large group of friends while staying in downtown Indy. We each ordered several tapas and shared everything family style. We sampled at least 15 different dishes and they were amazing. We were blown away by several dishes. A few were "merely" great. The cod fishcakes, tenderloin, lamb chops and calamari all stood out as particularly amazing. Our group of 7, with dramatically different tastes and culinary backgrounds, were universally impressed. Finished it all with one of the most velvety flans I have ever had. The wait staff was extremely friendly and attentive. First rate all around and very reasonably priced! Highly recommended!
(5)Lindsay R.
First time with the tapas setup. It seemed like the first three dishes came at us at the same time. There was always new dishes coming to the table. Definitely try the Devour Downtown menu. The The Plato de Embutidos and Tortilla Española was not my thing, but good; the Queso de Cabra al Horno was fantastic. My favorite dishes were the Gambas al Alioli and Setas Salteadas con Amontillado.. delicious! The Paella Vegetariana had good flavor but again not really my thing. The Cajeta Churros were phenomenal! Fresh and delicious with the chocolate sauce.. couldn't have been better! Definately go with a group of people so you can all share dishes and try everything because there's a lot of different options.
(4)Juancarlo R.
The food was not authentic at all. The Paella was simply a yellow rice, the gambas al ajillo were just big shrimp with some lime on them and the sangria was tasteless. The only good thing was the tortilla which was pretty good. The place look like a chessy mexican restaurant instead of an authentic spanish restaurant. If you are looking for a real spanish place this is not it.
(2)Annie V.
I recently tried BARcelona Tapas to prepare myself for an upcoming trip to Spain. LOVED it! Everything I had was bursting with flavor. You have to order about 4-5 for two people so you get to try a bunch ofsmall plates. If you like something I suggest getting two. The Albondtgas and the Colifor Al Azafran were my favorite tapas. The Tres Leches is to die for so make sure you save room for dessert. I would come back just for the dessert. I would 100% recommend this as a fun date night. The food here is very similar to that of the food I experienced while I was in Spain. Items I've tried: Jamon Serrano Con Manchego, Aceitunas Alinadas, Coliflor Al Azafran, Plato De Embutidos, Gambas al Alioli, Albondtgas, Espinacas Con Garbanzos, Tres Leches. Tip: the price can be on the higher end depending on how many you order. also make a reservation online as they get busy! they take reservations on parties as small as two on the same day.
(4)Rick G.
Looked for some good Latin food while visiting Indy. Place is very dirty with an odor I didn't recognize. The food was barely warm and tasted like it came out of the freezer. Hope this helps.
(1)James C.
If you're going on a Friday or Saturday night, make a reservation. Other nights of the week you can probably walk in with a short wait time. I made the mistake of skipping the easy to use reservation feature and waited 20 of the said 30 minute wait. Thankfully two spots opened up at the bar and we sat there. Our service at the bar was prompt and very friendly, we were made at ease and paid attention to. Kudos to both bartenders that night, I can't remember their names (big red head guy, smaller bearded guy), both thanks! We go the Paella Valencia and the Mar Y Tierra Toro. Both were delicious. My only concern was with the portion size of the Mar Y Tierra, it was quite small for the price, so the value here takes a hit. Also, the rice of the Paella was at the cusp of being over cooked, and too much water, not quite, but close so that the rice was a bit sticky and globbed in places. Outside of these two issues, I'm a fan, it's a cool place with lots of cool people. They serve Weemac and a few other local beers. Cocktails are average to high priced but they have an interesting selection. Try the Barcelona!
(4)Lauren R.
This review is long over due, but better late than never, right.... I was able to try this place out during the Dine about Downtown event. It was awesome! There was more than enough food and I even took some home! Some of the fare included chicken wings and goat cheese with tomato. Both were superb! My dining buddy had a few glasses of the Sangria as well The location is easy to get to. I can't really comment on the parking situation since I walked to the restaurant. The staff is friendly and helpful. Great place to hang out with some buddies and talk.
(4)Brittney H.
Barcelona has a little bit for everyone in my opinion. It is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in downtown Indy. Try out the goat cheese with tomato sauce first and work your way into the more savory meat-based tapas (the chicken wings, a.k.a. Alas de Pollo is a delicious one) . This is an ideal place to go for a large group or just as a couple. I like that Barcelona also has the buffet option for lunch. I've only done it once, but I felt that it was a very good price for the variety of tastings that were offered. One other thing to do if you have not tried this place is to wait for Devour Downtown to happen. It is typically 2 for $30 which is a decent chunk off your bill if you don't get a lot of drinks. The service here is great, the atmosphere is eclectic and the food is wonderful, what's not to like?
(5)Billy V.
As with all tapas style restaurants it quickly becomes a game of hunting for what dishes you like, what dishes you love, and what dishes you won't ever be ordering again. Personal favorites of mine include the Maracon y Queso (the second best mac and cheese in Indy), the Patatas Bravas (potato chunks in a spicy marinara style sauce) and the Chicken Skewers. Their wine selection and sangria are spot on and they always have a few unusual (even rare) beers on tap. The only downside is they seem to hold tables for reservations that don't ever appear. The easy way around that is to make your own reservation or simply sit at the bar. Their bartenders blend the perfect mix of small talk and food/drink recommendations without interrupting or becoming overbearing. Word to the wise, most of the plates are small dishes. There are, however, some larger entree sized portions. One of those is the aforementioned Mac and Cheese. Trust me, you can easily split that one between 2-4 people.
(4)Megan S.
Great portion sizes, varying menu offerings. They were packed and couldn't seat us without a reservation, but we were lucky to find 2 spots at the bar. The churros were crazy good!
(4)Andrea J.
What can I say about this place besides it being the only tapas place in town true to form?! Tapas only. The food here is impeccably good. The vibe energetic . The seating a little cramped. The service always on par. The drinks not too shabby.
(4)Sonya A.
I had avoided rating BARcelona because I wanted to love it and really the tapas are never spot-on enough to seduce me so in my book it was a 2-3 / 5 stars. Dinner tapas menu includes typical tapas which is exciting but the execution is so spotty sometimes its fantastic and others its a bit off. But it all changed when we stopped for brunch. They have a made to order brunch menu that includes french toast, eggs benedict, an omelet and the chef was sweet to send out a small stack of blueberry pancakes that weren't on the menu! And then of course a choice of red or white sangria. But that's not all! They also have the lunch buffet out for you to get your fill. Amazing. Every dish was spot on. I can't wait to go back for lunch. Food: 4/5 - Average of dinner (3/5) and brunch (5/5) Service: 4/5 - Spotty like the food, but Amy was so cool that I bumped it up to 4/5 from 3/5 Location: 4/5 - I like their outdoor seating, the bar is a great place to sit as well.
(4)Jon C.
Sunday brunch is important to me, and I look forward to it all week long. Finding the right location is important, and I much rather wake up and enjoy brunch with friends at the table rather than waiting on one with other people who haven't had their morning coffee yet. Last Sunday I got together with a group of 10 of my friends to Barcelona Tapas for Sunday brunch. Barcelona Tapas uses OpenTable for online reservations, so getting in is quick and easy, and after you see the brunch buffet, you'll want a table as quickly as possible. Unlike dinner, most of the food is served on a buffet, with various salads, egg dishes, meat and cheese trays, cedar planked salmon and pasta. On this particular visit, they also had curried pork loin on the buffet, but the meat dish rotates. In addition to the 20 or so items on the buffet, you can all order small plates off the menu, like Spanish omlettes, tres leches French Toast, Eggs Benedict Spanish style (chorizo instead of ham). They usually feature a specialty dish too;this visit it was biscuits and gravy. The price of your brunch includes a glass of their sangria, either red or white. Most people I go with tend to prefer the white over the red, but both are excellent. For an additional charge you can make use of their Bloody Mary bar, which features a great bloody Mary mix by Hoosier Mama. Even if you've been here for dinner before and didn't have a great experience, you owe it to yourself to give it another try. I'm glad I did; it's quickly become one of my favorite brunch places in Indy.
(3)Isabelle L.
This is a good place to relax and grab a few drinks in a low key atmosphere but the food could be better. The tapas were OK but nothing exceptional or outstanding and they tasted more like highly banalized Americanized dishes. The highlights were the goat cheese with tomato sauce and a couple of desserts: bread pudding and tres leches All our other dishes (salmon, meat balls, calamari, roasted peppers...) were filling but lacking in authenticity and flavor. I would associate more this place with a bar than a restaurant. If you are looking for a few drinks to unwind Tapas Barcelona will fit the bill. If looking for good tapas, just skip.
(3)Melissa R.
My husband and I went here looking for something different. It was amazing. I liked the way we ordered smaller amounts and just ordered continuously throughout the evening. The food was delicious. We loved the Coliflor (Roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisin and pine nuts). So delicious. I would definitely go back. Will start with dessert next time. Was in a hurry and didn't get to that.
(5)Nic J.
I really like the atmosphere here. The wife and I stopped in and had a meatball tapas, which was delicious, and a spicy pasta dish, which was mediocre. I'm only giving 3 stars, but I feel like I need to try some more things here to give a full evaluation.
(3)Matthew B.
Devour downtown is a great deal here. Service is good, not great, but the food is fantastic at a good price. For those who like Emilio's Tapas in Chicagoland, I would definitely recommend this place over that.
(4)Tania B.
I was there a few years ago and remember liking it... Enough that I decided to go again during a short visit to Indy... What a disappointment! Food was mediocre and not fresh. Had their famous goat cheese dish... It was served lukewarm at best. The calamari were really soggy. The meatballs were definitely not homemade. Everything was covered in store bought marinara sauce. The only saving grace of our meal were the lamb chops... However they were on the expensive side... $12+ for 3 little chops. Will be going somewhere else next time I'm in Indy.
(1)Mak J.
Full disclosure: I used to work here. But I have not worked here for awhile, and it is my honest opinion that Barca does brunch better than just about any place I could think of in Indy. I don't feel that I am being biased at all in giving the brunch five stars because it is my honest opinion as an avid consumer of brunch in the Circle City. I love brunch, and I specifically love this brunch. Also for that reason, I will keep this review strictly about Sangria Brunch, although I do have favorable opinions regarding the tapas menu as well. So it's $16.95 a person, which includes an all-you-can-eat buffet of epic proportions (American and Spanish fare, a carving station with salmon and prime rib, and multiple desert options) AND an unlimited menu of four made to order tapas style desert options that consist of Spanish style Eggs Benedict with chorizo sausage links or asparagus stalks, made to order omelets with multiple ingredient choices, a french toast dish that incorporates their popular Tres Leches cake toppings, and a revolving special that more often than not includes sausage gravy. And one glass of your choice of red or white sangria. All for $17. I mean, come on. I can barely keep myself away on Sunday am. But the thing is, and I don't even know how that is possible, but that is not even the best part. There are $3 mimosas (which is an almost unheard of low price among the other brunch places I frequent) and A TWO DOLLAR BLOODY MARY BAR. An entire bar of tasty accouterments with which to enhance your Bloody Mary drinking experience. Now, the $2 vodka choice is well (they offer upgrades for pretty reasonable prices) but a Bloody Mary is the only way I can find well vodka palatable and therefore it is fine. Literally my only complaint about Sangria Brunch is that it is only on Sundays and not Saturdays as well, because I feel that brunching is a weekend activity (or all week activity for some of us) that get unfairly regulated to just Sundays, but that is really a cultural issue I guess. Other than that I am pleased and continue to patronize this brunch spot in all of its brunch-y wonderfulness.
(5)Beth D.
Whatever you do, don't sign up for their promotional emails! They have recently started texting specials and they won't stop texting you even if you follow their directions to unsubscribe. I never signed up to receive text messages - such a horrible marketing & business strategy.
(1)Douglas H.
Our waiter, Bryce, knows what he is talking about. Great suggestions, friendly, and most helpful. Must try's: CALAMARI FRITO - Lightly-fried crispy calamari with Romesco sauce. ALCACHOFAS FRITAS - Crispy artichokes with lemon-garlic aioli and shaved Manchego cheese PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO - Beef‌ brochette with red onion and horseradish alioli COLIFLOR - Roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisins and pine nuts. TRIGUEROS CON ROMESCO - Grilled asparagus with Romesco sauce and Manchego. SETAS SALTEADAS CON AMONTILLADO - Sauteed mushrooms in sweet sherry sauce. ATUN - Pepper-encrusted seared tuna with Rioja sauce SOLOMILLO CON CABRALES - Grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and a Rioja reduction sauce. Great atmosphere that is conducive to entertaining, conversation, and good memories. $9.99 lunch buffer M-F. Large craft beer selections on tap. #The317Live #Indy
(5)Jessica S.
Lets start with this was my first time eating Tapas, let alone the 3 other people who went with me. For starters I went with 2 cheap a$$ men, and I recommending leaving the cheap-o's at home next time. My sister in law and I enjoyed the meal immensely and would have enjoyed it more if they hadn't been there commenting on the size of the food and the price. It is Expensive that is for sure, and if you are not ok paying $14 for half a portion of meat, don't go. Ok, on to the meal and such, just forget the men :) My SIL and I decided to just get what we wanted and split it and ignore them. We started with the ALCACHOFAS FRITAS - Crispy artichokes with lemon-garlic aioli and shaved Manchego cheese, and let me tell you this is the most wonderful fried food I have ever eaten (both men liked it too who are not artichoke fans otherwise). we then got the COLIFLOR - Roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisins and pine nuts, which is very nice serving size, easily shareable, and so good, the sauce is worth drinking, flavors are strong but not over whelming. We then for the Corder a La Parilla Grilled lamb chops with sherry alioli and rioja reduction (at our servers recommendation), we both worried it would be over cooked, and it was. The sauce was good, but the poor lamb was tough,we ate it off the bone like a dog,because we didn't want to waste it. My husband got the Solomillo Con Cabrales Grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and a rioja reduction sauce, which was very tasty and cooked perfectly, but very very small, about the size of a slider burger, he liked it but it really was not shareable. My BIL got the Bacalao Crispy codfish and potato cakes with lemon garlic alioli, as his choice, and it was only ok, small and bland (he said Gordon's fish like), and very late to the table, we had received all our orders plus bread before it came. We did get a side of garlic bread,because the sauces from the food was worth sopping up. For dessert my BIL got the Tres Leches Spanish three milk cake topped with cream and caramel, which WAS HUGE, and the best milk cake We have ever had! Would go back for a coffee and the cake. Side note, we got a 20$ pitcher of sangria and were disappointed in it, it was 80% ice and chopped up green apple and a small amount of liquid,gave us tiny glasses to drink from to make up for it? PASS.. The boys had draft local beer( I can't name) and they LOVED it ! They spent a lot on sinks for the bathrooms and do not have proper handicap stalls, speaking of the handicap stall the seat is barley attached to the bowl, so be careful. Ladies room also had a large amount of air-fresheners in it, noticeably and tacky. Overall, I would go again with a girlfriend and pay cash (hehe) but it will not be on the regular rotation just for the cost and the fact that 3 hours later we had to hit S/S because we were all starving.
(3)Julia N.
Perfect perfect perfect. The food was delicious, each dish better than the last. The mushrooms In sherry sauce were close your eyes and groan incredible. As was the beef tenderloin. And the broccolini. The service was great too. Attentive but not annoying with a good pace to the meal. Bring lots of people so you can try everything.
(5)Tara F.
Devour Downtown Time! First stop- Barcelona Tapas!!! I've been soooo excited to try this restaurant ever since I joined Yelp, and finally my dreams came true. Let's begin- there's going to be a ton of food coming your way... Especially if you chose the 6 course sampler from the Devour menu. I tried everything with my vegetarian roommate, except when it came to the Paella course. Now, ladies and gentleman, if there's seafood on the menu, you better move outta the way for little ol me to come and pillage the table for its delightfulness. When I saw that they served traditional Paella (a dish made with glorious seafood), I was giddy with anticipation. However, when you're splitting with an anti-meat person, chaos will ensue. Thankfully, our waiter and cooks graciously provided us a portion of Paella suitable for vegetarians, as well as a separate plate of the meat for myself to mix into my portion. The fact that a restaurant was kind enough to do this for me, (and it's not even a real dietary request or preference really), they received the ultimate rating. After this trip, I'm gladly going to come here again. Let's not forget the FOOD- I left full.... I was full the next day.... And I even had a day dream about the flan that I consumed... It was THAT GOOD! **Note- $10 Sangria pitchers on Wine Wednesdays... *holla*! :D
(5)Kjirsten K.
I'm on the fence about Barcelona Tapas. On the one hand it's fun to order the small plates and try several items on the menu, but on the other hand the food is usually mediocre. My last visit was really cool because, 1) we got a free bottle of wine for our anniversary, and 2) the chef came to our table to explain the cheeses featured on their cheese special. Basically, what it comes down to is this, I love the experience of Barcelona Tapas, but not necessarily the food.
(3)Winston F.
Had lunch there today, party of five. We all had the buffet. I thought the spread was generous, varietal, tasty, and at $10/person, affordable. I do just want to give a heads up about the espresso drinks. All of us got espressos after the meal, including singles, doubles, regular, and decaf, and every last one came out severely watered down. This outcome was particularly peculiar because our waitress boasted that she "knew her coffee" before we ordered the drinks, so it's odd that she didn't warn us that their espresso machine was so miscalibrated. We ended up redeeming our coffee experience at a local coffeeshop in Broadripple after lunch ;)
(4)Phoebe R.
I admit it's been over a year since I've been to BARcelona but we had such a good experience we went twice over a three day visit. This was my first tapas experience and it still makes me laugh when I remember telling my parents where we'd been and my mom said "why are you eating at a topless bar" but I digress. It was one of those places that made me glad I'd drug my boyfriend to Indy (along with the art museum!).
(4)Krissy C.
On a recent trip to Indy we were looking for a good place to eat that wouldn't be super heavy or a big steakhouse (we had reservations at a steak house the next everning). Indy seems to be very big on steak houses, and this was the alternative we were looking for. I really enjoy tapas style eating since I tend to want to try everyone else's food anyway, so small plates get a big plus from the start from me. Our service here was great, the waiter was very friendly and helpful with drink selections. the food is decently priced and about as to be expected for tapas. We had no issues with waiting too long for food even though we got one of the steak kabob dishes. Actually, we had to be careful to not order more plates too soon or else we were ending up with a table full of food! Tha goat cheese was good. Better than similar dishes like this that I've had. the bread was crusty, but not hard, and you get a generous portion of cheese. The sause also has a very nice amount of spices added to it which took it to a higher level. The garlic shrimp were very good if you like garlic, shrimp, and spice, which I do. the empenadas were so-so. A previous review was right when they said it tasted like boiled frozen spinach. I thought the dough was very tasty though. The horseradish steak kabob was tasty and very well cooked (be wary of this dish if you like your meat well done. Ours came out med-rare which is what we like, but I didn't remember the waiter asking). We had a great experience on a casual night out for two people. I could see where it could be too loud for larger groups, but on a Thursday night it was perfect. The interior is also a bit similar to a Chilis-type interior or a lot of mexican places, but it seems to work for them and did not put me off at all. It is very brightly colored and festive, which makes a great casual night out.
(4)Jeffrey J.
Lots of rich food, but it was just OK. Service was fine.
(2)Jay C.
Went for the lunch buffet - everything on it was good and kept well stocked. Service was also good; however.... since there were six of us they automatically added gratuity to our bills ($1.95 tip on a $9.95 buffet). That comes to approx 20% -- seems a little steep for a buffet.
(3)Ryan M.
There's sort of a Spanish mood set by the decor and the menu here, but don't forget you're in the middle of Indiana. Just as the tapas come and go. your experience will probably go from good to meh and back again. The margaritas on the rocks are tasty but on par with what you can get elsewhere. Adobo definitely has better. On our first visit, they were getting the drinks out a bit slow, but they realized it so we go them on the house. Good on BARcelona for making the effort. On each trip the servers have been personable and helpful, but brought the courses out either far too quickly, or took far too long. If the restaurant is busy, you'll probably see the tapas inconveniently served in groups. Chicken wings are one of the tastiest items items on the menu, and possibly the least Spanish. The wing sauce is delicious and a bit spicy. Overall, the food is pretty great. Also recommended is the paella and definitely a course of warm, chocolatey churros. Tip: BARcelona offers "Two for Tuesdays," with five courses for two people for $30. This is the same menu they offer for Devour Downtown. A pretty good deal.
(4)Katrina V.
Eh, this place is OK. It has the atmosphere of a Chevys...for real. I read about this place on yelp, and when I got there I was surprised to see how big it is. When I think tapas, I think small spot featuring small plates made with care...not big restaurant on the corner. It took forever for a waitress to come take our order, but once she finally got there she was really cheerful and cool. Our food all came quickly, but that may have been because we didn't order any meat items. Black bean soup was good and flavorful; thick Baked goat cheese was tasty and a generous portion Fried artichoke was kind of like breaded artichoke calimari? so-so Empanadas tasted like bread with flavorless boiled spinach inside (exactly what they were) Fried potatoes was like french fries smothered in spaghetti sauce. no thanks. If I ever go back to Indy, it won't be here, SRY BRO
(2)Moistnchewie L.
Came here for a corporate dinner. For the standard prices in Indy, it's definitely not worth the money. The bill was $100 for 2 people including a few drinks. Plastic cups, cheap silverware, missing mosaic tile on our table. The food was decent, but don't think I'd come back again. For the same price, I'd rather dine at a finer more upscale restaurant. The lamp chops receive an honourable mention. I've had way better tapas in vegas (firefly).
(2)Amanda Z.
BARcelona was a delightful respite from all the major chains in the downtown area and just a short walk away from our hotel. Upon our servers suggestion, we ordered: --Queso de Cabra al Horno: traditional goat cheese dip that nearly everyone gets at tapas restaurants. This was was decent, but not the best I've had. --Atún con Pimienta: The tuna was seared, but to the point of being a bit tough on the outside and the pepper coating was almost too heavy. I did thoroughly enjoy the rioja sauce on it, though. --Solomillo con Cabrales: Beef tenderloin with blue cheese and spinach. Great flavor, but the meat was a bit tough, which for tenderloin tells me it is not the greatest quality. --Setas Salteadas con Amontillado: My favorite. Mushrooms in a sherry sauce. Lovely. A pitcher of sangria helped round out a not-bad, but not-fabulous tapas experience. Service was friendly and helpful and the patio outside looked like it'd add for better ambiance to a tapas experience. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't patio weather, so we ate inside. Not a bad spot, and the food wasn't offensive, but again, nothing special. A solid three stars.
(3)Kimberly C.
Yes it is a restaurant that offers something "different" but the most essential, the food, was just not good. If you've been to other tapas restaurants before you will be disappointed. Not to mention the prices are just a bit on the high side considering the quality (not to mention quantity). I went to the lunch buffet as well- and really it looks like a badly coordinated pot luck as my co-worker likes to put it. Some chopped up vegetables, a bowl of lukewarm paella, a few cheeses, and some brownies to end it all.
(2)Martha H.
Best goat cheese and fresh Jamon Serrano!! You have to try the great tres leches dessert!!! Love it!
(5)Tom K.
I was in Indianapolis for the mini marathon and my friend and I decided to give this place a try. I was wondering if I would like it or not but decided to give it a try. We ordered drinks I went for a basic margarita and it was the best I have ever had - the other drinks ordered was a sangria martini which was not good and would not recommend but the tequila martini was fantastic! We ordered a variety of things including grilled asparagus which was very good except for one piece that was very bad. Next we ordered the goat cheese in a tomato sauce with bread which was very tasty. My friend ordered the mussels in a spicy tomato sauce which he liked a great deal. After being told about the grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese and spinach in a Rioja reduction sauce I knew it was calling my name. It was the best item for me and I would highly recommend it to anyone! Since I have a big sweet tooth I talked my friend into ordering desserts and I went with the Montserrat Chocolata Brownie which was made with a bittersweet chocolate and it was fantastic and my friend ordered Tres Leches which is a spanish three milk cake topped with cream and caramel and he said don't order this unless you are ready to fall over in utter bliss. It was truly an amazing conclusion to the meal. The server Sam was very attentive and I appreciated the time he took to explain what each item was and how it was prepared and made some great recommendations! So ask for him when you go! Overall it was a great place to go for lunch or dinner. I can't wait to go again.
(5)Tony P.
This year at GenCon my friends and I found this place and tried it out. The place sits on the corner and not very big. The decor is simple mediteranean style and clean. The service was a little slow. What really made this place memorable was the dishes. The servings are obviously small so you'll want to order several choices. I had the gazpacho andaluz and it was very refreshing. I had some very good lamb and the grilled sausages was excellent. Save some room for the brownie dessert. It's outstanding.
(4)Benjamin H.
I've had plenty of good experiences at BARcelona.. I really enjoy the empanadas, goat cheese and curry chicken salad. The asparagus is good as well. I prefer the curry chicken salad sandwich with a delirium for lunch. I wish it wasn't located next to India Garden as I tend to pick Indian 95% of the time.
(4)Fida C.
Came here for restaurant week (Devour Downtown). The food was mixed. The artichoke fritters and goat cheese in tomato sauce were good. The black bean soup and the paella were bland-to-tasteless. The churros warm and crispy, but assertively artificially flavored. The real downer, thigh, was the service, which ranged between absent and rude.
(2)Andy F.
Really bad experience. I enjoy tapas and Spanish food. Sadly, my visit gave me rubbery garlic shrimp, watery sangria, bland patatas bravas, and some other forgettable dishes. The bread was flavorless. The decor was like that of a bad Mexican restaurant. $56 for two people (tip not included) for a really poor meal. It's as if they just stopped caring. On the upside, the service was pretty good.
(1)Liz M.
BARcelona, how do you expect me to love you when you treat me so badly? I would rate my previous experiences 3.5 stars, but this last visit left me very disappointed. When we walked in on a busy Saturday night, we stood at the host podium for a few minutes before anyone acknowledged us. What made that so surreal was that not only the host, but the manager, came up to the podium a couple of times without saying a word to my friend and me, or the four or five other people standing there. They just walked up, then walked away. Walked up, then walked away. There was no, "good evening folks, I'll be with you in just a minute." When he finally spoke with us, they somehow "lost" an OpenTable reservation, but seated us right away anyway (bonus point). Once seated, our drinks came pretty quickly, and then we began to wait...and wait...for the goat cheese appetizer. It didn't seem to be particularly difficult to prepare (an ice cream scoop of soft goat cheese on top of marinara sauce), so I didn't understand why it took so long. It was rich and delicious, and the toasted bread was yummy, too. The next tapas come out really quickly - fried artichokes, garlic shrimp, and garbanzos and spinach (the sauce with the shrimp was so good - I was cleaning out the dish with my bread). At about this time I ran out of water, and had to ask for a refill. Our waiter seemed...a little spacey. When he checked on us, he said, "You're waiting on the asparagus and the meat?" No, we're eating the garbanzos - we just need the meat. Later, "You need the meat and churros?" No, the meat and the brownie. Isn't all of this written on a computer for you? As the restaurant got less busy, our food stopped coming out. We had to wait...and wait...and wait...and wait for the solomillo to come out. The waiter came by at least three times to tell us it was coming "right out." When it did come, it was DELICIOUS. The cabrales cheese on top was great. Then my water glass ran out. Again. The food was very good, but the service overall was really lacking. It wasn't all our waiter's fault - it took a team effort to mess up the meal. The manager was just standing around against a wall like a coat rack. Oh wait, he was drinking a soft drink at one point in the night...something which made me even thirstier as I stared at my empty water glass. I really respect managers who will get in there and POUR WATER for customers and interact with them. You know, introduce themselves, ask how your evening is going, etc. I will certainly be going back for the food, but next time I'm going to sit at the bar.
(2)Molly S.
I'm an out of towner, and once again, downtown Indianapolis did not disappoint. BARcelona was charming, with a friendly staff and a cozy atmosphere. Our server was new to the restaurant, but he was well versed and had a wonderful personality. The food was delicious - I had the mussels, broccoli rabe, and fried artichokes - all amazing. I'm a Tapas convert now. My mission in life is small plates of spicy food! The mussels were actually quite plentiful, I wouldn't consider that small plate at all, there were so many! My colleagues thought I was joking when I suggested we order one of each desert... but damned if we didn't. Bites of the Creme Brulee, Churros, Flan, and the Dulce De Leche cake all made it past me, and they were amazing. This is definitely the kind of place I'd want to eat every week if I lived in Indianapolis.
(5)Emily U.
Something about the ambiance of BARcelona just screams of those trendy corporate "restaurant concept" joints that Lettuce Entertain You has all over the Chicago area. In other words, Tapas BARcelona feels like a chain that is pretending not to be a chain. Maybe the hokey name also contributes to the vibe--I can never stop myself from accentuating the BAR in BARcelona! That said, I do enjoy dining there every now and again. As many reviewers say, the goat cheese IS delicious, but really how can you go wrong with a dish of warm goat cheese, tomato sauce and bread? I think the cauliflower and raisin dish is maybe the best of the small plates I've had there. My dining companions last week praised the blue cheese tenderloin thing-y, though we all found the sauce that came with the fried artichokes a little boring (we ended up putting goat cheese on them!). The drinks are passable--the Mojitos were nice and citrus-y but a bit too cloying in taste last time (less sugar, more booze!). The Dark and Stormy was good, and the drink list has a few other really interesting-sounding items--such as the Latin Manhattan--which I have not tried yet. If you've got room, the Montserrat brownie dessert practically melts in your mouth. Awesome. The service here is mostly pretty good, though I once had a waitress deal with a few missteps by completely abandoning our table (very odd). I mostly enjoy going here because it's bustling in the evenings, lending to an enjoyable atmosphere. And getting a small taste of a lot of things is a great way to eat, in my opinion.
(3)Bradford K.
Went here for a brief lunch buffet. One of the worst buffets I have visited. I'm short, the paella was soggy, flavorless, and without fresh ingredients. The spicy chicken was unglorified spicy chicken wings. The roast beef looked fatty and shredded, not sliced. The pasta was overlooked. No other selections to pick from. Will not go back again for food. Did not try their sangria.
(2)Ange B.
Barcelona Tapas is colorful, fun, exciting, and full of energy PLUS to top that all off the food is outstanding!!!! We have been to Barcelona Tapas many times and every single time I think it gets better. It is a very busy, loud place so if you are looking for a quiet meal, this is not the place for you. Everything on the menu is delicious; I haven't had a single complaint in all of my visits. I recommend you start off with the goat cheese and then make sure you try the sauteed mushrooms with garlic and sherry. They are out of this world! Tips from a BT lover: *Ask if Tim is working behind the bar and have him make you a mojito, it will blow your mind. *While the churros are good, go for the tres leches for dessert. I"t's made of the wishes, hopes, and dreams of small children" according to a friend who "doesn't even like tres leches." *If you go on Tuesday, two people can eat six tapas plates for thirty dollars. *Lunch buffet from 11a-2p for ten bucks! You really can't beat that!
(5)Jonathan K.
We went there one Sunday afternoon with the kids. It's not that this place isn't kid friendly, it's that my kids were too young to enjoy it, and we didn't have enough time to truly enjoy it. Combine that with my wife not being a big meat eater and our personal experience wasn't as happy as if I would be there alone. The food is good, pretty reasonably priced, and the service was pretty good, too.
(4)Anna B.
I have gone to BARcelona twice, once for lunch and once with my parents and friends for dinner on my birthday. Let me first say that I have been to Spain a number of times, and BARcelona's tapas are, if not authentic, pretty good American adaptations. I have to echo other yelpers and agree that the baked goat cheese is the best choice. Also good are the tortilla española and the pinchos. The bill can add up quickly, depending on how many of the tapas you order. My advice is to order as you go, just a few at a time, so as to not end up with extra food at the end that you can't eat. Also, the sangria was tasty, a little watery, but very plentiful for the $10 pitcher special on Tuesday nights.
(3)Nichole H.
Okay, I finally went to BARcelona Tapas to eat - and I'll amend my review accordingly. Maybe sitting in the bar is just not the way to go. My friend and I went there Friday night around 8pm and sat outside. We were greeted promptly and our orders were taken. We had the curry chicken salad and the paella, with the white sangria. Will say that I still don't love white sangria, but it was my friend's choice. The curry chicken salad was awesome, the the waiter promptly brought us bread when we asked for it. The paella was really good. Way better than Palomino, in my opinion, and it serves 2 for $20. For two ladies, it was dinner for the two of us and enough leftovers for dinner the following night. Our waiter didn't try to rush us out, and we had a lovely evening.
(4)Holly H.
I love BARcelona's! The food is great. It may take a couple visits to find some "favorite" dishes, but the experimenting is half the fun. I know this place is touted as being good for groups... and I know I've had great times my friends, as we all like to try different things and let one another sample our food... But I will say that on a busy night (and it seems like they are busy most nights), a larger group is a bit hindering. It's loud, so it's hard to really talk to people down the table... I would say this place is probably best with 2-4 people dining together. In fact, the most fun I've had there is when just my husband and I go. We get a good amount of food, and we both share and sample back and forth. My favorites include the baked goat cheese with tomato sauce that was mentioned earlier... I also love the Queso con Membrillo, which is manchego cheese with quince puree. It doesn't sound great, necessarily... But it's so tasty! We usually get 6-8 plates all together (which includes our dessert... I recommend the churros!) and we leave completely full! Now that it's getting to be autumn, the outdoor seating will be nice. :)
(5)Trevor T.
The food and service were great; I was pleasantly surprised because we came with a large group - 9 people total. We were there for about 2 hours. We chose several of the tapas selections and almost all were universally enjoyed. My personal favorite was the paella, which will serve 4 easily. I don't think dessert was as good as the tapas. The tres leches didn't have much flavor; the montserrat chocolate brownie was cold and heavy; the cajeta churros were the best of the three.
(3)Scott D.
Last night a dozen of us celebrated my wife's birthday here. It was a good time. Piggybacking off the other reviews, this really is a good place for groups and a terrible place if you want to hear someone else speak. It really is loud, but that also adds to the overall atmosphere. It was a Wednesday, so it was fairly dead. I s'pose that probably made our experience better since we didn't have to compete with a full house. I heard no one in our group complain about the food. Makes sense. It's hard to screw up food when you're only creating a small bit at a time. So, it was good and like the other reviews say, the place is unique with a really, really fun menu. I felt our service was great. I only had to ask for my water to be filled back up once and that was toward the end of the meal. I was surprised she didn't ask me if I wanted another glass of wine, but with twelve people she was probably busy enough. One guy in our group finally had to get up and leave the table to tell something to the server, though, because she basically just forgot about his corner of the table. Me? I was great, but he did seem a little honked off. Get the brownie at the end. I've also been here for the lunch buffet. It's very affordable and a very fun way to spend your lunch hour. At the end of the night the chef came out, said hello. That was nice. We then stood around for a good 12 minutes *almost* leaving. No one pushed us out or made us feel uncomfortable. There was a band that went on about 9:00pm on a Wed. night. There was only one or two table when we left at 9:20. Very weird.
(4)Danielle F.
I didn't really know what to expect from this restaurant, but was pleasantly surprised. It had a really good atmosphere. It was casual and there were definitely more younger people hanging out after work than families. The drinks were awesome. I had my favorite drink, which is sometimes hard to find, the tequila martini. It was strong and flavorful. My mom had a mojito, which (if you are a mojito person you know the true Cuban mojito which can be hard to find in restaurants) was authentic and tasty. The food on the whole was good and very reasonably priced. Most tapas were between $5-$6, with some of the larger ones reaching $11. The really amazing dishes were the sausage sampler, the egg and potato omelet, and the croquettes. The minuses were that the calamari was undercooked and all the tapas had the same dipping sauce. Id o wish there had been a little more variety in the sauces. However, I will definitely go again.
(4)Julie W.
Had the lunch buffet--it was satisfying, but underwhelming. The tortilla was very good, but the paella was not. I'd go back in the evening to try the real tapas.
(3)Bill B.
Don't know if this place was any good when it opened but my lunch today was fantastic! Really enjoyable experience. wishing I'd have made the effort to go a long time ago. Will chastise my downtown friends for not sharing earlier. I think I'll take my wife back for the Sunday Brunch. P.S. not sure that curried chicken salad is native to Spanish menus but the stuff was deelish!!
(5)Niki U.
Uh, OK. Went to Barcelona for New Years Eve. Although I had made a reservation ahead of time on OpenTable, I got seated at a table between the bar and a wall. Very small walk way between the two and the only thing that seperated the two was a very tiny walk way. It was awkward. When people were waiting at the bar for a drink, they were standing shoulder to shoulder with me eating my food. The service was tough to track down. Once we did get his attention, he was pleasant enough but the courses were too far seperated to be a cohesive experience. Had the beef tenderloin (good), goat cheese (yum), olive plate, and others. The worst thing I had was the churro for desert. Over fried, over sugared, weighed about 10 lbs. ewww. BARcelona was OK. I can just think of better ways to spend my money.
(3)J H.
We were there for Devour Downtown's Winterfest and experienced the 2 for $30 menu. This was our first time actually having food at BARcelona Tapas and we were pleased with the food, not so much with the service. We had a reservation and sat for 20 minutes without anyone coming to get our order. The bartender finally came to take our drink order and shortly after our server showed up. We started with the Queso de Cabra al Horno which is their Goat cheese in marinara sauce with garlic bread. That was probably our favorite item. This was when things kinda fell apart (further) with our experience as the next few items were brought out all at once! We followed up with the beef brochette, the spinach and mushroom empanadas and the sauteed broccolini. Each of the devour downtown menus was paired with a skillet of Paella, but with the pacing being off, we were unable to save room for those or the churro dessert. The server was friendly, but the pacing was awkward and it made the experience just so-so. The food was amazing though, my husband and I were very happy with the food and would come back again just for the food!
(3)David M.
No. No. No. About as authentic as taco bell. We had six tapas. Roasted red peppers. They would have been fine but they were drenched in a heavy and overpowering mayonnaise sauce... Not olive oil and garlic as described. Spanish meatballs. They were fine... But they weren't any different than Italian meatballs you might get at fast food joint. Cod potato pancakes. They had no fish in them. Soooo... Fried artichoke hearts. Fine, but hard to screw up. However, the accompanying sauce was poorly matched and overall not good. Anchovies. No complaints here, as advertised. Serrano ham and manchego cheese. Good but once again, hard to screw up. I did get the feeling it had been plated several hours earlier and left in a chill box. Atmosphere felt like a chain Mexican restaurant. Service was prompt and pleasant. Look, Indy isn't full of people who are willing to really try new foods or cuisines outside the comfort zone. This place is catering towards safety. Call me a food snob, but If you've had decently authentic tapas, you'll be disappointed.
(2)Miike G.
I really do enjoy tapas!! Had the goat cheese and the tenderloin tapas. They were both amazing! Will be back next time I'm in INDY!
(4)Kelly C.
I have been here a couple of times while in the Indy area on business. Both times the service was friendly and attentive and it was not very crowded, but decent size for a week night. The first time was just with one other person and our server made suggestions when I inquired about the portion sizes and we ordered a bunch of stuff. The next trip had more people, but we enjoyed the meal just the same. They have a decent amount of vegetarian dishes which is nice to offset all the meats and cheeses that most places Tapas places tend to focus on -- trust me, I'm not vegetarian, but it's nice to have the variety to balance my diet on the road. It's a nice concept for folks to try different things and share. Some dishes can be small, but if you going for a tasting of different things it's good to have some smaller stuff -- one can always order more if they like it. I travel quite a bit and so it's nice to find a casual friendly place that has decent food to get away from the normal big chains that you often find in Indy and my ratings are putting in perspective of the locale with a slight comparison to other cities. I'm grew up in on the West Coast and live in Chicago so there is plenty of good food and places have to do something really right for me to even bother to write about them. Great values: *Albóndigas - Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce with Manchego cheese. Tasty and plenty to share. Soak up the red sauce with bread -- yummy! *Tres Quesos - Manchego, Cabrales and goat cheese with Spanish picos. is yummy starter In fact, most items with the Manchego on the menu were delish! *Coliflor al Azafrán - Roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisins and pine nuts. This was recommended by the server on my first visit. Unless you have a big aversion to Cauliflower, this is very tasty. *Plato de Embutidos - Assorted grilled Spanish sausages. Tasty! *Cordero a la Parilla - Grilled lamb chops with sherry alioli and Rioja reduction. - Yum! *Queso de Cabra al Horno - Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread. * Not a Fan! *Croquetas de Pollo y Jamón - Chicken and Serrano ham croquettes, cumin alioli. I get these everywhere when in Miami area. It's passable, but not my fav. Portion size is small. *Tortilla Española - Potato and onion omelette cake with spinach. Personally not a big fan of potatoe cakes of any kind. Flavorful if you like this kinda of stuff. *Salmón con Alcaparras - Grilled salmon with sherry cream, lemon and caperberry. it just was not spectacular - not crazy about the sauce. about 5 oz portion served. Cooked to right temperature and nice to have some salmon on the menu. Semi-sharable.
(4)The Shadow K.
What a disappointment. When this St. Louis spinoff first started up in Indy, it showed some real promise. But now, after several years serving the same corner in downtown Indianapolis, it has skunk into mediocrity, and that just the food. Poor, inattentive, although friendly service and watered down drinks makes it the perfect place for only high school graduation parties. Is this place in survival mode or do the owners don't care any more? If it's the former, than the only way for this place to make it is to get back to the basics - good food - great service. If it the latter, go back to St. Louis and reopen a fast food restaurant in its location. At least the food would be cheaper.
(1)Tiffany B.
Though the atmosphere and location is cool, the food is a poor translation of the real deal. Having lived in Barcelona, I can't pretend that their versions of Catalan favorites would pass muster in the cheapest of places in the real city of Barcelona. The format is the most faithful part of the translation--small side dishes to nosh on with a drink. As for the menu items, the tortilla a la Espanola is the closest to the kind you'd typically get in Spain, but then again, how bad can you mess up a giant omelet cake? The items that have a tomato based sauce don't taste the same, but even canned tomato sauce or paste tastes different in Spain, and I'm guessing they just can't get the same products here. Just get together some scratch and go to the real Barcelona. Also when this place is full, the acoustics are a real challenge. The mojito I had was good--but that isn't Spanish. Try ordering a mojito in the real Barcelona, I promise you'll get a blank stare. The joint is at least quite colorful, and at least it isn't a chain!
(2)Xopher D.
Hey look! It's a BAR I can bring my kids to! (Sorry, this is just my little poke at Indianapolis's silly excuse of a smoking ban compromise with the 18+ rule.) So yes, I did bring the family to Indy's (only?) tapas joint while in town for work. We got there around 5:30pm for dinner, which was a good thing because the place filled up very quickly in the next hour. Being Tuesday, we went for their 2-for-Tuesday menu. Tall milks for the kids, frosty cold ones for the grown-ups ($2.50 pints). The food? Well, read on... Goat cheese in tomato sauce: not bad. Not too salty, good on toast. Kids Iiked it. Sauteed garlic shrimp: they are not afraid of garlic. Lashings of shaved garlic in this dish made the small amount of broth great for sopping. I think my wife managed to stop me from licking the bowl, but just barely. Crispy artichokes: news flash to the kitchen -- you need to peel off the leathery bits before cooking. My kids ate the breading off and spit out the veg. For once, I can't say I blame them. Paella: passable. Seafood was not overcooked, though mussels were surpisingly salty. Tuna was substituted for salmon. Rice was done well, though little saffron, if any, was detected. The "chorizo" was more like an andouille, but I love just about any kind of sausage (Hot Doug's, anyone?). Brownie: should have gone with the churros. Brownie was warm & moist on the inside, tough and bricklike on the outside. Left far too long under the heat lamp, chica. I wouldn't return for dinner, but the happy hour specials are a great deal. Enough drinks, and you can begin to overlook the kitchen's inconsistencies. Service was solid throughout (and actually shouldn't be an afterthought). Salud!
(3)Kelly M.
I had been wanting to try BARcelonas tapas since i had tapas on a business trip a few years ago in Houston. BARcelonas has a fairly big gluten free menu and i was very comfortable eating in this open and airy, colorful restaurant. My love had meatballs (one of his favorite foods) and we shared the lamb special (one of my favorite foods), both were really tasty. I am not a fan of their cold garlic peppers, but everything else we had was really good, especially the creme brulee, mmm... The food was a bit pricey for what you get, but the atmosphere was worth it.
(4)Alena S.
I have been to Barcelona Tapas a few times, but today I went for the Devour Downtown Menu. I went during lunch, not realizing their Devour Downtown Menu is only for dinner. However, they were so nice that they offered us the Devour Downtown menu for lunch! Yay! As usual, we started with the goat cheese and tomato with bread (sorry, I can't remember the actual names of the dishes, so bare with me) It's probably my favorite item there. It just sorta melts in your mouth. We also got the fried artichokes which were very yummy. We had a pork dish on a skewer, which was a little too salty for me, Asparagus (tasted grilled...it was good), and a seafood mixture on rice. It had mussels, shrimp, chorizo, and probably a few other things. By the time we got to the last course (seafood), I was already so stuffed, so I only had a mussel and a few other bites. And then for dessert, we had the churros. If you can handle intense sweetness, then you will love them. I had a couple, and although they are very good, I don't have much of a sweet tooth. The deal was 2 people for $30 and it was well worth it. There was more than enough food and we took leftovers home. The service was excellent. Other times I have been to Barcelona Tapas, the food has been good. It's one of the few non-chain restaurants in the business "wholesale" district of downtown Indy. The wholesale district is suffering from serious chain overload (which is why I don't eat down there very often...we prefer Mass Ave or some of the other places just outside the wholesale district). So if you want something close to the hotels that's just a little bit different, it might be a good choice for you.
(3)Matt S.
One of the only places in town to get Spanish food. All of the food that I tried was delicious and the service was really good. The only drawback is that it is a little expensive, but it is well worth it.
(4)Amanda Z.
This is a pretty solid downtown restaurant choice- I would agree with another reviewer that it's more of a 3.5 than a 3 or 4. Our 4 dishes came out in really quick succession, which is nice if you want to turn over tables and continue to fill the restaurant, but it made us feel a little rushed. We ordered the goat cheese, which is a definite recommend, the curried chicken salad, also a definite recommend, the tortilla espanola- a decent dish,& the potatoes in tomato sauce, just meh. It was a lot of food, and definitely way too much to even have any room to try any of the delicious sounding desserts. Service was good- our waitress was helpful in giving us recommendations and was attentive without being overbearing. Overall it was a decent dining experience. I'm not dreaming of my next trip back, but I'm sure I'll make it back at some point to sample a few more dishes.
(3)Tina N.
Super cute place. I went here during Devour Downtown so I had made reservations, and was seated promptly (it may have been the worst seat in the place, but oh well). The food was pretty good (except for the paella - which was disappointing), and the service was great. I love tapas so I will definitely be back! That goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread was WOW!
(4)Lane M.
Although we enjoyed the casual atmosphere (we sat on the patio), the tapas were a disappointment. Three of our dishes - patatas bravas, the mussels, and the baked goat cheese - all appeared to have the same lifeless and oversalted tomato sauce, despite being very different dishes. The lamb chops were good but were brought out in a mixture of aioli and grease that was not appealing. The vegetable dishes fared better, although there was nothing subtle about them. The asparagus was buried beneath shredded manchego and the chickpeas and spinach were overpowered by garlic cloves. All in all, a fine place for a drink and snack but I suspect we could have gotten much better food for the price in Indy. Also I was surprised to pay $7.50 for a 6oz. Dark and Stormy but at least it was made with Bermuda Stone.
(2)Elizabeth C.
BARcelona has a special vegan menu that you can ask for at the host stand. Of course I'm going to give them 5 stars. The food is really yummy and vegans and non vegans alike will scrap over the last bits of patatas bravas. The sangria is delicious, although they could give you a little more for your $. I guess on the whole I find this place a touch pricey, but it is WORTH IT. I'm a big fan of the broccolini; the sun dried tomato sauce is just really indulgent, and I usually find sun dried tomatoes a little too acidic, so it's quite masterful.
(5)Ashley H.
The hostess was rude and our waitress took awhile to take our drink orders, but everything else was fabulous. Delicious food, great drinks, and, once she appeared, a very nice waitress!
(4)Chris B.
I have been here a few times now and it's been pretty average. They have some good dishes (goat cheese and tomato sauce, garlic shrimp) the major disappointment was the Paella. Nothing authentic about it... one of the basic key ingredients is short grain rice, they use long grain...makes a world of difference and a spanish restaurant should know this. The sangria is also pretty watered down.
(3)Nater P.
For 8:30pm on a Saturday night, we got prompt service, an ample pitcher of sangria, and tasty tapas. Fresh garlic was very present in almost every dish we ordered. I'd come back.
(4)Amber M.
I went here once for dinner with husband's family and hope to never go back. The space is fun and colorful, and pleasant if you enjoy dinner with a tv always in your sight line. The food was seriously lacking. The red sangria i personally didn't like, the white was okay but nothing special. The calamari was done to perfection, though was bland. The worst item we had by far was the goat cheese- the sauce it was baked in tasted like plain canned pasta sauce.
(2)Theresa R.
We went on a weekend before the rush and thought this would increase our chance of a delightful experience. The ambiance is great- entry way has curb appeal and the decor warm and bold. But the low score is simply for serving the worst tapas ever. The albondigas were straight out of a Gordon Food Service bag and heated in the microwave with a sauce so bland that it screamed tomato paste mixed in water. I also tried a cheese and olive dish served with bread. The bread was stale and hard, cut right off of something prepackaged and left out in the air too long. No beautiful drizzles of tempered olive oils like you'll find in other great tapas establishments. The cheese was mediocre and bland, no lovely goat cheeses plated with basil leaves here. I've read other reviews and wonder if they simply ran out of ingredients. If so they should have removed these items off the menu. They really tried to push the pricey drinks as perhaps it's the only thing worth coming for. And they were boxed as well though a slightly higher quality box mix. Skip the tapas. Their cooks would benefit greatly by visiting other restaurants with phenomenal tapas and getting a lesson or two and by demanding higher quality meats, cheeses and olives & breads. Whomever prepared our food had no idea what they were doing. Sad that this is Indy's only experience of tapas. I wouldn't even bother to call their food tapas. We paid a traditional tapas price for this experience and had to grab something else to eat on the way home. A wasted afternoon.
(1)Kathryn G.
Little portions, big on flavor! My favorite dishes included: the chicken and chorizo skewer, spinach and mushroom empanadas, spanish sausages, and baked goat cheese in tomato sauce. Great for groups - I recommend each person in your party ordering 2-3 dishes each and then sharing with the entire table!
(4)Ken H.
Eating with a group of nine, we tried probably 2/3 of the restaurant's menu. While there were no real standouts, there were also no real disappointments. My favorites were the grilled asparagus, the sausage plate, and the baked goat cheese. This restaurant unfortunately misses the mark on wine service. The wine list is fairly pedestrian, with fewer than a dozen inexpensive reds from which to choose (although they are at least all Spanish reds). The wine is not served in stemware, but in lowball glasses. Prices for bottles of wine easily exceed 3x retail. Although I think it was a little bit pricey, for a large group, especially a group that doesn't care about wine, this would not be a bad choice for dinner.
(3)Marc K.
Went here for dinner last night. I thought that we might have difficulty finding parking, but there was easy parking on the street right outside. The decor is warm and inviting with cool mosaic tile tables *wish I had some artisitic talent*. The service was laid-back without being lazy or slow. The selection of vegetarian options was broad, which is good for a place where you order more than one thing. We had 4 plates, the two best were the garlic potato salad and the fried artichokes which were both quite good. The wife had a Mojito which was over-limed and not well balanced, but I don't have high hopes for that drink in restaurants. We escaped for $31 with one drink and no dessert, so definitely reasonable. For some reason this place feels more like a big city than the places on Mass Ave, maybe it's just me. Will definitely return.
(4)Kasey J.
This is the first time I'd gone to a tapas-style restaurant, and I have to say it was fun and the food was decent. It's a great place to go with friends, so you can share a ton of items on the menu and everyone is happy. My favorite was curried chicken salad (yes, the chicken salad again for me. Mmmm!), along with the espanola tortilla. We also had the patatas bravas and grilled sausage (which I tried and did not like. I'm not a sausage fan). We didn't get tons of food, so we had room for dessert, which everyone agreed was great. We loved the chocolate brownie!
(3)Patricia S.
We were passing through Indianapolis on our way to Kansas and found this restaurant close to our hotel. We loved eating tapas in other places and were hoping for an interesting meal. The food was definitely good, just not very imaginative. I will admit that we are vegetarians and so were somewhat limited with what we could select from the menu. The empanadas were ok ( primarily because we liked the cumin dip). Everything else was fairly average, but tasty enough to be satisfying. If we lived here we might come again for the ambiance, but wouldn't seek it out as a special dining experience.
(3)Ryan H.
If you're familiar with the Spanish style dining known as 'tapas,' you'll probably find yourself comfortable at BARcelona. Opening just over a year ago, this downtown spot got off to a fast start in the dining scene in Indy, as it is really the only true tapas restaurant in town. Aside from the laughter that comes along with people reacting with 'did you say TOPLESS restaurant? huhhuhuhuh,' BARcelona leaves you satisfied with dozens of choices, as well as a full bar for ordering drinks. It's hard to believe that this space was once a Burger King, although a quick glance at the floor and it's not too hard to figure out, if you are familiar with the brown, ceramic floor tiles that were in every BK that was constructed over the last 40 years. No Whoppers here, though. This is mostly-authentic, delicious food. Not quite as 'authentic' as places found in Spain, but then again, in American dining, it's all about making your mark, not imitating others. Give BARcelona a try if you are not already a regular diner there. It's great food and it's awesome for a large group, where everyone can sample everything.
(4)Amanda H.
Here is what I am going for....this will help people visiting or NOT from Indiana. If you know what good tapas is...maybe disregard this review. This was the least worst meal I've had in Indianapolis and I've been to a decent amount of places there due to work travel. Service was pretty shitty, but we were a party of 8. Booze was cheap. Food seemed as fresh as Indiana food could be. They dealt with my special "vegan" versions of the veggie tapas plates on the menu. That said, it was one of the only places that has veggie options that are not cheese + fries+ salt in Indiana. Thumbs up for that. thanks! Give it a try. Not that bad.
(3)Paul H.
I found the food and service to be amazing, it's my favorite restaurant in the city. But be prepared to sit for a 2-3 hr meal to fully enjoy it (thats Tapas, baby), pay heavily, and ask for recommendations. Some of the stuff is not that good, but they put it on there because some people who are ignorant of Tapas dining think they should get the stereotypical Spanish national dishes (Most of which are not intended to be tapas food), or simply because so so many Indy dinners are way to afraid to try new things. (I remember that a group of 6 lawyers refused to order anything at one place because there were no burgers!) BARcelona's meats are almost universally awesome, but the asparagus is great as well. I recommend JAMÓN SERRANO CON MANCHEGO ALMENDRAS BACALAO PINCHO DE SOLOMILLO PLATO DE EMBUTIDOS CORDERO A LA PARILLA QUESO DE CABRA AL HORNO and SOLOMILLO CON CABRALES (sorry about the caps, came right from the online menu) avoid the Paella, it sucks.
(5)TOMMY o.
Our Search Continues for Happy Hours Downtown !!!!! Timothy our server was very busy, but took the time to explain everything including the Happy Hour Food table menu in Spanish, kept our drinks full the new 3-6 PM Happy Hour with 9 items for $3 dollars each, Alas de Pollo (the chicken wings, ours came covered in roasted garlic slices & sauce, now i Love garlic but not today, you can request the Hot Sauce version instead), Albondigas (Meatballs in sauce, a little bland for me but my Italian b/f liked them, but he's Italian, he loves meatballs in anything)LOL the best dish= Queso de Cabra al Horno, a Large Dollop of Goat Cheese in Marinate with small loaves of bread the Calamari Frito wasn't all that, tasted a little like it had been out of sea a little too long, but we loved it's sauce, the next items we didn't have, Pan Con Alioli (garlic bread) Bacalao /cod & Patatoe cake, Alcachofas Fritas (Artichockes), Empanadas (spinach & mushrooms) but next time we will try Croquetas de Pollo Jamon (chicken &Spanish HAM croquettes) also seemed to be a great place to have a drink after work although still a little cluttered after Lunch rush, i LOVE the bowls in the bathroom
(4)Stacy K.
Great place...affordable and delicious food, wonderful sangria and fun atmosphere! I would definitely visit here again when in Indy.
(3)Nancy H.
This place was pretty good I guess. It's more of a 3.5. The service was good and the tapas came out very quickly. We only had 4 tapas and the best of them was a pork tenderloin on a skewer in a sweet spicy tangy curry sauce that was just absolutely delicious. I wasn't too crazy about the mussels and I would skip anything that mentions a tomato sauce of any kind because it pretty much just tastes like mussels in spaghetti sauce.
(3)Cindy D.
I've had great food every time I've eaten at BARcelona Tapas. Best of all, we took our teenagers there for dinner, and they absolutely loved it. Sometimes the service could be a bit better, but overall, it's a place I really look forward to visiting.
(4)Kristy B.
Went for dinner on a weeknight and sat on the patio. Service was a little slow outside but worth the wait; the food was excellent! Loved that they had a separate menu of gluten free items, makes it so much easier for those of us with celiac disease. I'll definitely go back next time I'm in Indy!
(4)Carey D.
I've been wanting to go to BARcelona ever since it opened, but just never made the time for it. My fiance and I went on Thursday night and ordered from the Devour Downtown menu (2 eat for $30). From the limited menu - which the waitress told us are some of the most popular items- we selected: 1. "Queso de Cabra Al Horno" Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce served with garlic bread 2. "Gambas Al Alioli" Sauteed Garlic Shrimp 3. "Alcachofas Fritas" Crispy artichokes with Romesco sauce and shaved Manchego cheese 4. "Trigueros con Romesco" Grilled Asparagus with Romesco sauce and shaved Manchego cheese 5. "Paella Valencia" Valencia rice with saffron, chicken, chorizo, mussels, shrimp, and salmon 6. "Montserrat Chocolata Brownie" Chocolate Brownie made with bittersweet chocolate We also added the Tortilla Espanola, Dan had a couple draft beers and I had the mojito. Here's our take: The goat cheese with tomato sauce was our favorite, but that might be because we are both big fans of goat cheese in general- not necessarily the way that BARcelona prepared it. All the same, I would order it again. The garlic shrimp were not anything spectacular, and the sauce in which they were served was rather bland. Wouldn't get them again since you can get garlic shrimp that are just as good at Red Lobster, IMO. Artichokes had little flavor, and just tasted like something that had been breaded and fried. Wouldn't ever get them again, and we didn't even finish the plate of them. The grilled asparagus was good, but nothing that you couldn't find as a side dish at many other restaurants around town - the sauce and seasonings were nothing special. I had particularly high hopes for the Paella, since it's one of the most distinguished Spanish dishes. I also had VERY high hopes for the Tortilla Espanola. I spent 5 days in Spain - Barcelona, Figueres, Cadaques- a few years ago and had an amazing Tortilla Espanola and Paella while there. They seem like simple enough dishes that any quality Spanish restaurant in the US should be able to re-create easily enough if they know what they are doing. BARcelona under delivered with both. While the Paella was supposed to have chicken, chorizo, mussels, shrimp, and salmon in it, I failed to notice any chorizo or salmon in ours. And the flavor of the dish, in general, was rather bland. In fact, everything we ate was rather bland with the exception of the red pepper flakes (think Pizza Hut red pepper flakes) that were sprinkled on the goat cheese. The Tortilla was a HUGE disappointment for me. Way too many potatoes, not enough egg. I spoke with a friend who lived in Spain for 6 months and has dined at BARcelona several times, and we both agreed that while this may be a good place for people who haven't had much experience with truly authentic Spanish cuisine, it is a disappointment for those who have been to Spain and go to BARcelona looking to relive those memories. Dan thought they had a poor selection of darker beers on draft and ended up with a variety of Goose Island. My mojito was ok, but for $7.50, I don't think I will order it again. The brownie wasn't as fudgy as I like my brownies, and the chocolate and caramel sauces that were drizzled on top tasted like they came from a bottle of Smucker's or Hershey's that you'd buy at the grocery. Our bill, with tip, came to about $80. If I'm looking for a variety of international cuisine in Indy and have $80 to burn, I'd rather spend it at Santorini. Would consider returning to BARcelona for a tapa or two and drinks, but don't anticipate going back for a full dinner again. So sad that it didn't deliver what I had hoped for!
(2)Clayton S.
Very good food, great service, and 10 dollar pitchers of sangria on Wednesdays!!!
(4)Chris M.
While, not mind-blowingly awesome, I still find myself enjoying my experiences here. Its fun to sit around, have a drink, and chat while nibbling on small plates of food. Its a bit pricey for what it is, in my opinion though. If the Mexican restaurant can give me a huge plate of blazing hot and delicious shrimp. rice and beans for about $10.00, why would a single skewer of shrimp cost about the same? Despite that, the food is still different and fun at BARcelona. The goat cheese is good as are the meatballs, beef tenderloin dish, and the sausages. We had a special that was breaded and fried pork with an avocado chili lime sauce that was really delicious. I was kind of disappointed in the paella. The sausage and chicken were pretty tasty, but the rice seemed to be lacking the kick of flavor I expected. My wife was offered the opportunity to sample some wines before purchasing a glass which was nice, but two of the selections tasted seemed to be going bad unless the new wine fad is vinegar flavoring. They don't have the greatest beer selection (not the worst either), but they did have Sun King Wee Mac cans.
(3)Rachael E.
Great food, fun place to eat, and can even be pretty affordable if you and your friends split it up.
(4)Mark W.
That's not tapas
(2)Rosey F.
Good tapas for Indy, but not sure it would hold up in bigger cities. The prices are great, and the baked goat cheese and mussels items are by far their best offerings that keep me coming back. Other tapas plates are either too small or not as flavor-able as they should be. The service seems to be so-so, depending on the day/time. Don't sit outside - it's really loud next to Delaware unless you're a mid-afternoon or late night diner. The lunch buffet is okay, but they recently stopped including brownie bites. Unfortunately, the brownie bites and baked goat cheese were the two best items on the lunch buffet. They don't post their drink prices, so although they have a full bar, it seems to be fairly expensive for Indy unless you're getting the average Sangria. Also, it's a little far from other things downtown. You need to leave yourself plenty of time if you plan to park, walk to dinner here, and then walk to your Pacers/Colts/concert/etc venue. Yes, I know you'd walk farther in other cities, but this isn't a walking city. Just be warned you'll be the only ones walking from here to the Stadium.
(2)Andy F.
This is an average tapas restaurant at best. The prices were slightly more expensive than some 5-star tapas restaurants I've been too, but most of the food was not of the same quality. Place has a nice look, but smells like a lab. The positives: The beef tenderloin and blue cheese meal is very good... perfectly cooked on a spinach bed. The cauliflower dish is amazing... a great combination of ingredients I've never seen before on cauliflower. There is a decent selection of craft drafts. Desert wasn't too shabby... churro with strawberry jam and chocolate is never bad! The negatives: probably the worst chorizo dish I've ever had at a tapas place... extremely greasy and served with mustard (are we in a German place)? Stick to chorizo with peppers and other more Spanish items. The asparagus manchego dish was also disappointing... very bland and an extremely small portion. The fried cod and potato cake barely had any fish flavor and quite possibly came from the frozen food section of a local store.
(3)Matt B.
Had a good lunch experience at BARcelona the other day. I was surprised that they had a regular lunch menu of American-style food, but we ended up ordering off the tapas menu. There were four of us guys eating tapas, so we ordered seven items. This ended up being enough for us. Portions do vary, depending on the tapas, so be sure to inquire with your server to be sure that you're getting enough food. I thought the goat cheese was excellent, but everything was really tasty. I look forward to going there for dinner sometime and having a more casual time.
(5)Eric S.
The meatballs with cheese in a tomato sauce was the best thing we had. All the food was hot, fresh and delicious, and I loved the variety and quality of what was offered here. The decor is like any sports bar but with the clever twist of having fake slabs of meat hanging from the ceiling and the names of European soccer clubs displayed in memorabilia. Fun place, nice and helpful wait staff, recommended.
(4)Dewey M.
I really liked the experience and the service, and the food is OK. For comparison, I've had worse tapas at some places in Spain an better tapas in some New York joints... If I found myself in Indy again an was looking for a fun place to have diner with a group of friends, this place would definitely be on the short list.
(3)Daniel H.
I liked what I tried, even though it is not very Spanish (but it is still okay). I would be more generous with prices (I understand if they are imported products, but if it is chicken it should be cheaper). I didn't see any dinners either (except for Paella). Why not having bocadillos de chorizo? They are extremely popular in Spain and delicious. In general, I would recommend it. The only bad thing is waiters, they are a little rude, at least the ones I met the day I went.
(3)stephanie t.
I have only been here once but the service was great, food delicious and great atmosphere. Located in the downtown area this one might be the best restaurant I have been to in Indianapolis. Small and inviting the atmosphere feels like Barcelona with intricate tiles all over, the lighting is warm, and service is very good as well. I think this is a fairly new restaurant in town, but one of the best! Indianapolis needed something like this and for the people who have relocated from the west coast or east coast this will live up to their deservedly higher expectations. Sorry mid-westerners but the fact is the restaurants are much better so far in those areas, healthier with better and more choices of food. The restaurants I listed are changing that here though so let's hope the trend continues because it is making Indianapolis a really wonderful little city, with a small town kid of feel that has lots of charm, which is why I love it here.
(5)Brian N.
Went to Tapas for lunch one day and dinner the next week. The atmosphere is awesome for an ex-Burger King and the place has a very hip European feel (much hipper than I am). The food is pretty darn good too. The only downside I could see was the price, pretty expensive dinner ($40) for just having appetizers. I would recommend going on a Wednesday as the special is pitchers of sangria which is awesome!
(4)Brittany L.
I'm late to the party on BARcelona Tapas, but add me to the long list of people who are singing its praises. I've never had tapas before, and I'll admit, I was mostly ignorant about Spanish cuisine. Most of what I've heard about food in Spain was "MEATMEATMEAT," so I wasn't sure I'd have a lot of options here. Totally wrong! I walked out of Barcelona Tapas almost uncomfortably full, because the food was plentiful, diverse, and vegetarian/pescatarian friendly. I enjoyed a little of everything, from the grilled asparagus (not your average asparagus- perfectly cooked, seasoned and topped with the perfect amount of cheese) to the mussels, my favorite dish of the night. In between? It's kind of a blur, but I know there was a delicious pitcher of sangria involved, crispy, fresh calamari, and a mound of roasted potatoes (Patatas Bravas) covered in the best red sauce I've ever tasted. I'll definitely be a repeat customer. I feel like I ate so much, but still have so many other options to try in the future. That itself poses it's own problem, as I already have a few favorites :) It would be a wonderful choice to enjoy a few bites and a drink, or a larger, drawn out full dinner. The prices are friendly to even smaller budgets, and the ambiance is perfect for a date night, girls night out, or happy hour.
(5)Alexis H.
I have been here about 5 times now over the past several years and had a late lunch with mom last Thursday. It wasn't crowded at all, we were seated right away and, as always, it was delicious. Can everyone complain about the prices of certain menu items? Sure. This is the nature of tapas. You're also paying for the experience. Whatever, it's worth it. Mom and I dropped $25, including tip, and had 3 plates to share AND....................I got to drink a Gumballhead from Three Floyds!!! (for $5.50) For lunch portions, this was perfect. -Ensalada De Espinaca (spinach, goat cheese, pine nuts, raisins) = 4 out of 5 -Curried chicken salad = 3.5 out of 5 *explained below -Tortilla Espanola (potato, onion, spinach omelette) = 4 out of 5 The curried chicken salad lost about a star's worth for me because it was too saucy. Much saucier than prior visits. As a result, the curry was lost in all the creaminess and ruined it for me a bit. Disappointing since this is a must have item for me at each visit. Other must tries include: -Queso De Cabra Al Horno (goat cheese in tomato sauce and bread) !!! -Mushrooms (side) -Cauliflower (side) -The tuna (pepper crusted and yes, you will hate the portion size for the price but LOVE the flavor) -Spanish meatballs The tres leches cake and creme brulee are both winners for dessert. Make sure to go either with a big group or with someone you enjoy talking intimately with. This is a slow down and enjoy the food, the company, the moment place.
(4)Kari M.
Was my first experice with Spanish food. I had the beef tenderloin. Jt was topped with blue cheese and a delicious marsala sauce. Also tried the goat cheese with the marinara sauce around it, that was good as well and I'm not usually a fan of goat cheese. Will visit again.
(5)Judy G.
We enjoyed our experience at Barcelona. The food was awesome as well as the service. We will return.
(5)Cherish M.
For starters the place is charmingly beautiful. I brought my little sister here, and her and I both did not enjoy any of it except the fast service and our waiter. We got the crispy codfish and potato cake. Awful. It taste like an over salted pre-frozen fish stick. The most awful thing; the Paella was all jacked up. The presentation is deceiving it looks good but taste bland. No flavor. Too garlicky. Mos def will not be returning
(2)Shane A.
Very accommodating & knowledgable staff. Family has some food allergies & the staff made sure that everything was prepared for everyone &/or that we were informed of all allergens that affect us. And super nice!!
(5)Becky H.
Went to Barcelona last night for a pre-symphony meal of tapas. It was a party of four, none of which had ever been to this restaurant. Two in our party had recently spent an extended time in Spain, so we were really interested to hear their impressions of Spanish food in Indy. This place did not disappoint. The Devour menu was excellent and varied. Curried chicken salad and the goat cheese tomato dip were favorites. Oh my, and the dessert! Best flan I've ever had and my husband really enjoyed the churros(sp?)! Our server, Jamie (?) did a great job! We will be back!
(4)Deandra H.
Loved the food, especially the goat cheese marinara. My husband raved about the lamb and the sauce. The only issue was our waiter. He had such a dry personality. We asked him about food and drink pairings and he didn't seem to either know or care... I'm not sure. I just thought for a place like this you need to have a personality and know about the food and drinks you are serving since there are so many options. We will go back just hope we don't get him again.
(4)Laura L.
When this place first opened the food, service, cleanliness it was such a great place to go! It was different and unique really great flavor combinations. My most recent experience was anything but great. Nobody was smiling and servers looked angry! Our server was pleasant, but she didn't even ask us if you wanted anything to drink, she just brought us waters. There was a manager that was walking around, he looked like he didn't even know what he was doing. The paella came out before the other tapas we ordered. What was up with the bread that they brought with the goat cheese is that different?? The meatballs way too spicy! Pastel de tres leches was so dry but sitting in milk and you had to roll the cake to choke it down. The menus were gross and crusty and the girl at the hostess area was wiping them down? The bathrooms? what happened to them? AWFUL! But at least they weren't as bad as the exit door you have to pass to go to the bathrooms...disgusting! Considering it was the weekend of the final four and the place was practically empty says a lot. It just makes me sad to know that one of my favorite places, that I considered my special place because of my love of Spain especially the city Barcelona, but the Barcelona restaurant in Indy I don't plan to visit again!
(1)Rob D.
Forget the Paella...strange preparation of precooked rice and meat piled on top. And forget the Flan too. Tapas are just OK, but decent portions. Service attentively took care of us. Alas, probably won't return.
(2)Lily H.
I went there for their Sunday Sangria Brunch! It is quite amazing. They had a lot of vegetarian dishes therefore good for vegetarians. I'm not a vegetarian and I think the food is superb, plus there's lot of other meat options too. Great flavoring! You can also order 1 dish on their Sunday menu, cooked straight from the kitchen and also 1 sangria drink. The sangria was only so so, but everything else great! I'd definitely go back again!
(4)Jillian C.
Mother's Day brunch = INCREDIBLE. Mom, dad, grandpa, and I showed up for the 10:30 seating and were immediately seated and thoroughly impressed with the huge selection of stuff. On the bar they had all manner of charcuterie, cheeses, salmon, fruit, and desserts. The buffet had lots of lunchy items including veggie paella, pastas, goat cheese in marinara (you know I got all up on that!!), chicken salads, roast beef, etc. There were also figs, dates, drunken bread pudding, and churros. Really it was just an amazing spread. In addition, your admission price gave you the option of there "made to order" options: tres leches french toast, custom omelets, and a Cantonese eggs benedict. I tried bits and pieces of everything (and I mean everything!!) and my table ordered the french toast to share and taste. I had nothing that didn't just dance on my taste buds. We all ate more than we needed too but we simply couldn't get enough. The sangria (included in the price) was great too. What a perfect start to Mother's Day!
(5)XiaoHwa N.
Maybe, because I'm from New York, I get really snobby about out-of-state food. So take that in consideration when you read this. I've been to Barcelona. And I can say that the tapas at BARcelona can't hold a candle to the real thing. Now you're thinking "obviously!" and aren't I being too harsh. But the tapas here were a weird American/Italian-not-Spanish version of shrunken appetizers found on bar menus. I guess if you add Manchego cheese to a dish it become Spanish. It was all very odd. I dined here with a large group for a rehearsal dinner. The atmosphere was hip, friendly and the servers were nice enough. Since it was family style, I'll did not see a menu. We started with some gazpacho that basically tasted like chilled marinara sauce. There were fried artichokes with a mayo chipotle dipping sauce. Too oily with a mayo based sauce. Some tasty garlic bread baskets. Fried calamari lacking seasoning and, again, too oily. I felt ill after. Grilled asparagus with, yet again, another mayo based sauce. Overcooked pork tenderloin skewers. Like little rocks. Roasted potatoes in a "spicy" tomato sauce (i.e. potatoes with marinara sauce). And some spinach and chick pea dish that lacked spinach and, for that matter, chick peas. A salmon dish - overcooked again. There may have been some other dishes but they were forgettable. The best thing was the garlic bread. This was a large and, I admit, slightly obnoxious party so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that the kitchen was tossing out our courses just to keep us fed. Maybe, for smaller parties, there is a little more TLC put into the dishes. As for me, an out-of-towner, I say skip it.
(2)Fatso J.
Having enjoyed drinks and small plates at Barcelona a number of times, we recently tried the Sunday brunch. The brunch menu is completely different from the tapas theme, being more of the typical omelette, prime rib fare that you can get anywhere. Even though everything we had was tasty, the buffet setup itself was not presented well and was not appetizing at all. The price was right and the service was good but the buffet setup was disappointing.
(3)Susan F.
Barcelona is pretty good-but not the best tapas I have ever had. That award goes to Ceviche in St. Petersburg. This was my third trip to Barcelona (ha!), and honestly, the best. I was with a group of about 24 people, which was the best way to experience it. We could try so many different things. My first visit was not long after they opened, and I feel like the food quality has come a long way. List of things we tried: Alcachofas Fritas (loved-and I don't typically like artichokes!) Coliflor Al Azafran (ok) Queso De Cabra Al Horno (must try!!) Gambas a| Alioli (very good) Croquetas De Pollo Y Jamon (meh) Patatas Bravas (good) Pan con Alioli (good) Pincho de Pollo y Chorizo (good) Macaron Y Queso (rich, but very good!!!) Solomillo Con Cabrales (I've had before, not at this visit) (good) We also had the red and white sangria-both very good! We were with some friends who had never done tapas before, and we had a wonderful time! Awesome to get to try so many different things! Our server was wonderful, and they were vere accomodating of our large party (we had a reservation). I would love to go back and sit outside!
(4)Jenna P.
I went here yesterday for devour downtown and honestly all I remember is goat cheese marinara deeping sauce with bread and churros..they were really good. the main foods were mehhh. Actually they were not very good. Chicken wings were blend and oily, chicken salad wouldve been better with some spice or citrus accent. Paella was...um, why? The ingredents were good but, why??? Why does it have to taste so blend=(? I mean the food were not that terrible..but was dissapointed. Oh and there was a short black hair on the second food which they gave us new one but stil...
(2)Leslie H.
Great tapas inspired restaurant. It's probably the only Spanish like restaurant in Indianapolis that serves paella etc. They have decent selections of tapas. However, I was hoping they have more jamon choices as well as empanadas. A pitcher of sangria is only $17 which is such a good deal when you're sharing it with a group. Must try is their sausages and croquettas.
(4)Zach H.
If you've never been to Spain or a decent Spanish restaurant you might enjoy this. If you have you might enjoy it as long as you don't expect to have Spanish flavor food when there. The thing that was most spot on was of course the Estrella damm beer. The Gambas are good. I didn't dislike it or find it bad--just not what it claims to be. Then Again , it's not exactly super expensive so maybe I'm being to harsh. You might like it. It's worth a try. I just would not go back. They were very accommodating of our largish party and service was good.
(2)Tina N.
I love tapas. This place is pretty solid, yet not quite 5 star worthy. Our meal consisted of Albondigas ( spanish meatball ),queso de cabra al horno, solomillo con cabrales (beef tenderloin ), gambas al alioli ( garlic shrimp ) & calamari frito. As other reviewers have stated - the queso de cabra al horno is a must try! It is a delicious goat cheese/ red sauce concoction that you put on bread. I have to say, it was probably my favorite of the meal so, thanks to the other Yelpers who suggested it. The rest of the meal was good as well. I was really hoping for something that would make me throw my head back and slap my momma.... but I didn't get that this time. I found myself scanning the menu for more ( although I was so stuffed ) in search of that reaction but I decided against it considering I had no room for another morsel of food! Why only four stars you ask? Service was so-so and there were some cob webs that needed to be cleaned off the walls.Their booths have some cracks and need to be repaired. A few minor things that could be corrected easily. All in all, I enjoyed the visit and will be back.
(4)Laura M.
I went to BARcelona for the Devour Downtown offer over the weekend. I had been there before with friends or for work functions, and had always been a little underwhelmed by the offerings and the price. It went pretty much the same way this time. I started with a cocktail, the Gaudi Martini, which was heavy on the lime juice and very sour. We started with the black bean soup with cream, which was tasty enough if kind of bland. Moving on, we went with what I think of as the signature dish - queso de cabra al horno - and it was solid as usual. Creamy goat cheese, tomato sauce (tasted a lot like marinara, but what the heck) and a little red pepper for spice. Our next selection was the chicken and chorizo skewer. Again, it was solid but bland. There is no seasoning on the chicken, and while the chorizo can stand on its own a plain chicken breast suffers a little. Crispy artichokes were next up - they seemed to have been fried in almost a tempura batter. The coating was a little heavy for me, but the dipping sauce was good. For the "main course" we got the tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach, and rioja reduction. It seemed over=salted, but the meat was nicely cooked and the blue cheese is a great match for the dish. Dessert was the most disappointing of the evening. We got the chocolate brownie, which is supposed to be "made from Spanish bittersweet chocolate". Know those microwave brownies that you can get from the store and make in 90 seconds? It was like that, but cold. I give BARcelona two stars because "meh" accurately sums up how I feel about the place. It's not bad food (except for the brownie) but it's not good food either. I do recommend going for the buffet because you can pick and choose from the selections, which gives you a little more leeway to stock up on the good stuff (goat cheese and dulce de leche) and pass on the rest.
(2)Brett G.
Great ambiance, good food, very good service. I have been here three times and try always try something new. Good wine list (if you like Spanish wine). I'd recommend the bacalao, the atun and the pan con alioli (Spanish garlic bread).
(4)K. H.
Went there for the first time and was a little skeptical based on the reviews because they're all over the place. Our first foray into the world of tapas was at Cafe Ba Ba Ree Ba in Chicago and since then that has been the gold standard. I have to say that BARcelona is a solid alternative closer to us than Chicago. The asparagus with manchengo cheese was cooked perfectly. The garlic pepper wings with sherry aioli were fantastic. Also had the patatas bravas and curried chicken salad which were also great. The goat cheese and marinara was good, but not amazing. Loved the carmel filled churros too! The white sangria was also very tasty. Our waiter was helpful and everyone was well aware and considerate of my severe tree nut allergy which allowed me to relax and enjoy my meal. All in all a great experience. We will be back.
(4)Bob F.
Recent last minute decision to go tapas. Wasn't in the mood but was convinced by my companion. I am glad I was easily convinced that night! The Duck Confit special was smooth, rich and right where I wanted it. Then some crispy artichokes worked very well, along with mussels with spicy tomato, and manchego with quince. Also enjoyed the Ensalada Cesar with white anchovies - and several other dishes. Very good service and well mixed cocktails. I will not be reluctant next time.
(4)Megan L.
I wish there was an option to give this place 4.5 stars because just a feeeew tiny things made my experience go from a 5 to a 4.5. My best friend and I used to work together near a different tapas restaurant and never had time to go. Now we work in completely different sides of the world, so when she came back for the first time since then, we were determined to try tapas! Because we hadn't gotten together in so long, it was a little annoying that the noise level was so high because we could barely hear each other. The pitcher of red sangria we ordered was REALLY watered down; I get tipsy easily, so when I didn't get so much as a buzz by the end of the night, that's saying something. As for food, our Fideos Tradicionales was just a tad too salty for our taste - and I think that's all the "complaints" I have. Now for the compliments: we conveniently came during Devour Downtown so we already had a little menu set up where you would pick between two options for each course (there were 6 courses). Our top favorites were the Queso de Cabra Al Horno and the Cajeta Churros!! At first we were skeptical that we were going to get full, but by the time our 5th course arrived, we were super stuffed; we still managed to eat those churros though :) Our waitress was very accommodating and the greeters were super friendly. Overall, I highly recommend this place to anyone wanting to try something different!
(4)Sarah A.
It has pretty much gotten to the point where my husband doesn't even need to ask me where I want to go when we decide we'd like to eat out. The first restaurant that always comes to mind is BARcelona Tapas. Not only is the food amazing, but the customer service is excellent. I love BARcelona because tapas menus allow a food-lover like me to try many different things in one sitting. Of course, my husband and I have a few favorites that we tend to get every time (see Rob A.'s review), but their extensive menu has allowed us to explore brand new flavors and options each time we visit. BARcelona is also not afraid to tailor an order to meet the customer's needs. For instance, my husband and I have ordered the sausage platter and asked for only the spicy chorizo because that's our favorite. We have also made requests for only the strawberry churros instead of the mix of strawberry and caramel. Each time we make a special requests the staff are sincerely happy to accommodate us. BARcelona Tapas, keep on keepin' on. We'll see you again soon!
(5)Andrew L.
When I was told that we were going to a tapas bar for brunch, I had no idea what to expect. Tapas had always been a dinner food with its meats and cheeses. Nevertheless, I trusted my friends' judgement. I am glad I did. For breakfast, BARcelona offered a combination of made-to-order entrees and a buffet. Made-to-order entrees included the traditional breakfast dishes: blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup on top, omelets made your way, and chorizo eggs benedict. In the buffet, they feature classic tapas. The combination worked well and was cooked perfectly. Less I forget, the brunch also comes with a glass of sangria or a fully stocked bloody mary bar for $2 extra. I went with the bar. It had everything including mozarella sticks. I eventually realized that with a straw you could carve out the center and turn this dairy product into a perfectly good straw itself! Finally, the gentleman at the carving station was very friendly and nice. It sounded like it was his first day, and he was doing a great job!
(5)Jillian B.
went for devour,and all 6 of the items we had were amazing,.especially the gambas al ajillo. three waitress was very attentive, and the ambiance was very festive
(4)Mathews J.
This is my second and last visit here. Can't comment on the food because we never got it. In fact the drink took longer than most places take with there paella so we left. Another couple was complaining to the manager about the service as we left. Unfortunate because I liked their cod and lamb tapas last time.
(1)K R.
I have been here twice, and each time the food is delicious and perfect portions, especially for those not looking to eat typical American portions. The shrimp dish was buttery/lemony good. Meats/sausages are good. The flan was delicious, resembling a creme brûlée texture rather than a eggy flan texture. Fun atmosphere here too.
(4)Melissa E.
My husband and I stopped in Indianapolis for lunch a few weeks back while on a road trip. Not that I'm any kind of expert, but I did spend a month in Spain a few years back. I love any chance to try a new Spanish restaurant. We got there at the very end of their lunch, at 2 p.m. or so. We decided to try the buffet, even if some of the food was running out. The place was pretty empty, but the service was prompt. I did not have high expectations, cuisine-wise. I am somewhat prejudiced against the whole state of Indiana, though I have to admit I have seldom veered off of I-80 and I-65. There is not, IMHO, much more than corn in Indiana. There is one good tapas place, however. For Indiana, I thought the food was actually pretty decent. The buffet was running pretty low since it was so late, but everything I tried was good. My husband had initially been irritated with my choice, thinking it would take too long and be expensive, but he was wrong. Yes, that does happen sometimes. He mostly liked the food, though he said it was just good and not spectacular. Honestly, though, okay was good enough for a quick road trip meal with good service. I did like the goat cheese, though there wasn't enough of it. I had a spinach salad that was really yummy, and I liked the Tres Leches Cake, even though I had thought this dish was more of a Latin American dessert than a Spanish one. BARcelona Tapas doesn't compare to my favorite tapas places in the Chicagoland area, but I thought it was really good for its location. I was impressed at how reasonable the prices were, too. Do you want to know my favorite thing about the whole restaurant? The sink in the ladies' restroom. It is awesome. So, score one for Indianapolis. My husband and I got an hour to relax and enjoy some tapas before having to deal with each others' neuroses for a few more hours. This meal relaxed me enough that I, ahem, slept all the way to Louisville.
(3)Kelsey S.
While I was recently spoiled with the real deal in Spain recently, the sangria and tapas were just okay. The sangria was watery, which is tragic! The croquetas were very good, but the goat cheese and tomato sauce dish was disappointing. The tomato sauce tasted like it came from a jar. The environment is fun though, and there are so many options on the menu, I would consider going again.
(3)Galen C.
It's good for what it is, which is a tapas place. Are you in to that sort of thing? This is actually a good place to find out. Service was nice for the most part, although we did have a few slow moments. Wait staff did a decent but not great job in describing what we were getting and when we were getting it. Part of that was due to having a larger group, although I would've assumed they'd be ready for that, since that seemed to be a big part of their clientele. Food was generally good, although some dishes were significantly better than others. I would go back, but I will probably be visiting a lot more places first, as this place is nice but not overwhelmingly awesome.
(3)Sara H.
Had dinner there last night with a party of 6. Had a great meal and really good service. Our server spaced out our meal perfectly. The sauces where flavorful, yet light and healthy. They have a special vegan menu which highlights items on their menu that can be made vegan which was fabulous. The cauliflower dish was my favorite. Wines where reasonably priced.
(5)Beth C.
So the lunch buffet has figs and medjool dates. Sold. I have been to Barcelona Tapas twice recently and it has reclaimed a top spot on my favorites list. As a vegetarian, I love that they have a wide range of offerings including vegetarian paella! And being a vegetarian here is pretty affordable as the meaty tapas tend to be a little expensive. That said, I think that just about anyone would be satisfied with the selection here no matter the price! The lunch buffet is awesome and only $9.95. It seems like a small buffet at first glance but there is actually a ton of offerings, including plenty of meat-free options. Garlicky potatoes, salad, mini roast beef sandwiches, DATES, olives, goat cheese marinara with rolls, paella, FIGS, fresh fruit, frittata...and tres leches, of course! You can't go wrong. I just wish the plates were bigger! Service is also fast and friendly and they never rush you, no matter how busy they are. I love the decor and overall ambiance here. You could dress up or down and fit right in. I don't know how authentic all of the dishes are but I like the effort and I like the taste so I can't really complain. I haven't tried the sangria yet but look forward to that on my next visit!
(5)Michelle H.
Great atmosphere and food. My husband and I frequently come here. Reasonably priced, good customer service. The lunch buffet offers a good assortment. The drinks are strong but good. Def a great date night spot!! The tree leeches cake is soon soo good!!
(4)susan e.
We had a very late lunch on Saturday and it was pretty empty. They had a separate vegan menu, which was very helpful to me and my daughter. We ordered vegetable paella, black bean soup, a couple of chicken dishes, and spaghetti (for the 11-year-old, natch). My 16-year-old daughter loved the black bean soup so much she ordered a second cup. When my 11-year-old tasted it, she wanted her own cup. The veggie paella wasn't as good as the paella I had *in* Barcelona (or even as good as that they serve at San Chez, where we live -- in Grand Rapids MI), but it was quite tasty and large enough to feed two. My husband really liked his chicken. I can't remember what it was, but something on a skewer and something spicy.
(4)