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The food was okay, but compared to the price, there was no wow effect. The anchovies in olive oil and the big green and black olives were great and full of complex flavors that they served at the beginning. The oysters were good as well. Unfortunately, the rest of the starters and main dishes were just okay. Even the vermouth they served was not of good quality, and the dessert was also 'quite disappointing' despite the promising presentation.

Rafa Zafra’s restaurant delivers a standout seafood experience. Each dish showcases the best of the Mediterranean fresh, elegant, and full of flavor. The red prawns are a highlight, perfectly cooked and deeply satisfying. Service is polished and relaxed, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

This place is definitely overpriced, but their ingredients are top quality. They have starters of sardines, olives and bread. The sardines are mild, slightly fishy, and pretty good chewy bite. The olives are quite mild and pleasant. Then they have the anchovy with tomato bread on the menu(anchoas cantabrico). The menu portion is 4 of each which is 34€, but you can order just 1. That works out to 8.5€ for one of each. The tomato bread was thin and crunchy. The anchovy though was extremely salty, strong tasting and somewhat fishy(less than you would expect for how strong it was) Unless you're an anchovy enjoyer, don't bother for this price Goose barnacles min 100g, 36€ has this particular chew, it's kind of like crab but salty instead of sweet and more chewy. For 100g you don't get much meat, and if I were being honest I have no idea why this thing is a delicacy. It's more just novelty, it's really not superb tasting. It's an interesting snack, maybe worth 5€ for 100g if we just consider the taste. Definitely skip this Minimum order of one Gambas Rojas de roses brasa. This one was top tier. The flesh tasted like the best amaebi. Superbly supple and almost juicy. The head unfortunately was bitter. Unless you have a thing for big prawns tho, I hardly think this is worth it. The smaller ones taste the same, and costs a lot less at other places. The cheesecake is amazing. This is coming from someone who loves cheesecake, it's got such a great harmonious flavour, and the soft crust that's almost a sauce in itself worked wonders too. If you're a serious cheesecake lover, you have to try this. The whole thing was so impressive I couldn't believe they merely used cream cheese. Moreover, the strawberry jam it's served with is one of the best I've had. First of all it seems like there's barely any added sugar, and it's intensely fruity. Most jams are too jammy(as in it seems artificial, rather than something you cook down from natural products), and don't work as a sauce. This one somehow works perfectly with the cheesecake. Apart from the cheesecake, the items here are premium but priced at way too much of a premium with no significant taste improvement. However the cheesecake is insane. I polished it off myself, and you can tell from the pic the thing is not small, probably meant to be shared between 2

Hidden away in the Gothic Quarter, this small, cozy restaurant is perfect for a delicious dinner with friends or a romantic one for two! Fresh fish, a good selection of wines and very welcoming staff!

Enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Estimar. A bit pricey, but well worth it! The restaurant is small, intimate, and fun watching the chefs work around us. We started with the oysters and caviar butter toast - so good! Picked our own fresh scorpion fish and paired with the asparagus. And the cheesecake is a must!

Amazing high quality fresh food. Everything is delicious and well cooked. Good atmosphere and great kind service. The place is hidden in a small street and the restaurant is quite small which gives a lovely atmosphere. The menu is super rich and based mostly in fresh fish that they cook in front of you(depending on the table). Only con: the price of wines is outrageous.

Excellent quality seafood restaurant. It has a cozy atmosphere. Service was excellent. Staff were very helpful. I highly recommend the caviar and butter bite, percebes, chipirones and their gilda. Everything was great but some things you can’t skip.

Culinary highlight for all seafood lovers. Artistry skilled plates with the most exclusive edible treasures from the nearby Mediterranean. Do try the menu items that sound weird because they're the best. Also do eat a full three course, you made it this far, enjoy it to the fullest! The barnacles were the best surprise. The scorpion fish cheeks are the best menu item. Thanks for having us and sharing the love.

This small but elegant seafood restaurant offers fresh and healthy ingredients, perfect for seafood lovers. The dishes are prepared with care, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys ocean-inspired cuisine. The staff is well-trained and knowledgeable, providing excellent recommendations for both food and wine. Be sure to reserve a table in advance to avoid disappointment.

This was our big night out when we were in Barcelona and easily the place we spent the most. They specialize in seafood and steak. Upon entering you see the butcher station with the seafood and meat spread out for your view. It looks extremely fresh. The front smells like seafood. I personally love the salty smell of seafood, but I know some people can't stand it. Our host and waiter were very nice and accommodating. We were sitting in a little alcove a little away from everyone on our own, until more parties came creating an intimate ambiance. We received complimentary bites of fish (sardines?) with bread to start us off. Then we ordered oysters and razor clams for appetizers. I really enjoyed the oysters. They were bright, fresh, and nothing was too overcomplicated with extra flavors or overwhelming ingredients. I wasn't so much a fan of the razor clams. The texture wasn't bad at all, but the flavor fell a little flat and left a bitter taste in my mouth. For our entree we ordered the monkfish. It was very good! Keep in mind they let the flavor of the fish shine through, so it is really simple. Seafood is my favorite, so I was still able to enjoy it without the flavor complexity. My husband did not enjoy that aspect. He wasn't a fan of the fish because there wasn't a bolder flavor. I basically ate the whole fish because (to me) it was that good. Because he was disappointed with the fish, we wanted to try their beef since he had high hopes for this restaurant. We ordered steak. It was cooked very well, moist, and tender. However, once again, they let the flavor of the meat shine through on its own and didn't add a bunch of seasoning for flavor. My husband was a little disappointed with the lack of complex flavor but enjoyed the steak more than the fish because he is a steak lover. The restaurant was very expensive, but everything was cooked well and fresh. Also, they offered some unique options. Overall, I thought it was really good, but I can see how its not everyone's cup of tea.

Out of Country Review - Spain Our final dinner in Spain was at Estimar on Monday night. We went out with a bang at this amazing and intimate seafood spot. Quality: An excellent upscale seafood experience. Every dish was fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. The Crayfish Carpaccio despite its odd color was wonderful. The Pickled Skewers were my favorite bite of the evening. The Cantabrian Anchovies were tremendous and should not be skipped. Both the Razor Clams and the Sauteed Clams showcased flavor mastery. And the Scorpion Fish entree and how it was served was incredible. Quantity: Good size dishes. Value: Expensive. Ambiance: Estimar is a small seafood restaurant located in the El Born neighborhood of Barcelona. It is on the backroad of a backroad, so prepare some time to locate it. The inside is very small and the kitchen is built around the dining space. This puts you in the middle of the action and heavily involved in your neighbors dinner. Crowd: Extremely small space, every seat filled. Service: Exemplary.

Absolutely fabulous, intimate, and delicious spot. Everything was sooo fresh and beautifully presented. Make sure to make a reservation as this place is small. Wine list was spectacular too

Known for serving some of the best seafood in the city, Estimar delivers its 5-star experience! Wine list included a nice selection of local sparkling cava. For champagne, the Bollinger Special cuvée at 65 Euro was reasonably priced. The menu features an array of sharing dishes: razor clams stewed in a citrus sauce with onions was enjoyable and nice size portion to share between 2 diners. The fried baby squid in ink aioli was also up to the hype with a light batter and was fried to perfection. As for main dish, we shared the scorpion fish which was about 90 Euro (for 900 grams),. It was grilled perfectly with a lemon buttery sauce that complimented the flavor of the fish without overpowering it. Was very lovely and nicely executed. Paired with some fries and padron peppers that we dipped into the sauce /jus from the fish, yes it really was delish. Recommend when you are in the mood for some upscale fresh seafood and great service!

Really cute maritime themed seafood restaurant. Food was a 4 for me - maybe because I wasn't terribly hungry, or maybe because Barcelona is the city of seafood so the bar is high. But I loved various whimsical touches and the extremely attentive service that definitely bumped up the experience to a 5 overall. Appetizers - snails, olives, sardines were good but in line with expectations for Barcelona. Langoustine carpaccio is very interesting and worth making a trip for just to see what it is - especially since langoustines are a local specialty. It's so thin and translucent that it's almost a soft crepe. The green sauce that encircled it went well with it but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was. The whole dish is delicate and unique. Razor clams in saffron sauce was also good. For me it was really two dishes combined into one. Razor clams plus a follow up dish consisting of a bed of slightly vinegary carrots and other veggies that neutralized the richness of the razor clams and cleaned the palate. Razor clams in Barcelona are sweet which is different from razor clams I've had in other places. The only small minus is the clams had some sand and shell fragments which is a pet peeve of mine. The rose red prawn looked gorgeous and was good but unfortunately didn't quite stand out as much relative to other grilled red prawns I've had in Barcelona for instance at Boqueria Market or by the beach. Same went for the raw clam. Finally, I liked the cheesecake dessert primarily because amusingly they gave me cute silicone spatulas as eating utensils. Other cute touches - they served bread in a container that looks like a folded paper boat. The bill came in a wooden treasure chest. I saw someone order mussels and they came on a rock as if they're barnacles on it. I also really appreciated that they do half size for the entrees. It's a great place to try a bunch of different things like I did. Overall enjoyable experience. Check out their Instagram @estimarzafra for more food photos than you can see on Yelp.

Located in the old quarter in Barcelona, the restaurant has a good atmosphere. The fish is excellent but way overpriced. You can have the same quality fish in many restaurants for half the price. The caviar brioche was ridiculously overpriced, could only taste the huge piece of brioche (18€/piece) The desserts are too big. In thinking we (2) would share a couple, the desserts were portions for at least 6 people each. The cheese cake though is excellent.

My husband and I went here for dinner on our honeymoon in Barcelona. It was such an incredible experience, and we had the chance to try so many unique dishes. My favorites were the sea urchin, the oysters, and the shrimp and caviar tartare. It's definitely on the more expensive side, but very much worth it in my opinion. The wine list is extensive, and the servers were happy to help us pick out a bottle that paired well with our meal. Also, the cheesecake is amazing (and very different than any I'd had before) so be sure to leave room for that!

This gem is hidden away inside the alleyways of the Born neighborhood. Rafa Zafra (an el Bulli alum who's got a decorated resume) created this restaurant to serve impeccable seafood and it didn't disappoint at all. We had an amazing sole fillet, razor clams, rose red prawns, and much much more in what was definitely a splurge meal. The cheese cake dessert was also a delight! The staff were great company and service was outstanding. They had a great grasp of English as well. I highly recommend booking online, and grabbing an earlier timeslot so you have access to the widest selection of seafood before the locals arrive, most of which were probably caught that morning. You can pick what you want to eat from a vast array of fresh items on ice, and you pay by weight.

Holy cow... this place is a hidden gem. We had to ask people to show us the small street but once we entered, we knew it was going to be a fine dining experience. For two people, we ordered: 1) bread service 2) Scorpion fish grilled 3) Wagyu beef 4)Asparagus 5) cheesecake We were stuffed by the end of the meal. The fish basically melts in your mouth- it's perfectly cooked. The beef is sprinkled with coarse salt so has a bit salty taste but medium rare was delightful. The cheesecake which was recommended by our server was incredible. We ordered the cake with cappuccino which was also tasty. One of the best service and food ! I can't wait to

WOW. I was recommended this place by a seasoned Toronto chef who's spent a lot of time (over a decade) in Spain. He said that the chef, Rafa Zafra was a "chef's chef". Obviously I had to go, so I booked a reservation for four at 9 PM on a Saturday night. Had to book a few weeks in advance, and was lucky to snag such a spot in this tiny restaurant. From top to bottom, fantastic meal. It would be too much to go through every dish, but a highlight was definitely getting to pick our own fish from the fresh lineup. Raw fish is held on ice by the kitchen. We landed on a John Dorey fish that was so fresh and lovely. We also tried goose barnacles and razor clams for the first time. Other favourite were the thick fries with peppers and the chickpea stew with Red Rose shrimp is a must. Get that shrimp in some form! The tomato salad could be a piece of art. Definitely go. Please go.

Most likely you already know the backstory to the restaurant before writing an email to book a table. The chance of you stumbling upon the restaurant is almost nil due to its location. Even with those expectations, this restaurant still delivers in quality and creativity. We had our second dinner of the night here, so thankfully we were able to dial back on ordering and get away with a full appreciation for fresh seafood impeccably prepared but with BOTH our arms and legs intact. The fried squid looks great in pictures but in reality was probably the most underwhelming dish. I'd still recommend it but maybe you should ask for a half portion. The grilled red prawns were spectacular, and they should be at almost 20 euros each, but honestly I've never had shrimp so good. The razor clems were incredible texture-wise, though I don't know if the citrusy sauce works for me. The highlight of the meal was the langostine carpaccio, a dish the chef kept from his El Bulli days. Man, what a revelation. The mouthfeel of the shrimp was unlike anything I've had before, and the seasoning was spot on, just incredible. The neighboring tables were having the grilled langostines the size of my forearm, and also the grilled whole fish, which all looked drool-worthy. Though I have a suspicion that they stuck us at the walk-in table even we had a reservation, I won't quibble with it too much because the food was that good.

Fresh seafood. Main room nice, but we were seated in the closet room with no atmosphere with the other foreigners. We left quickly to celebrate our anniversary elsewhere.

it does not get better than Estimar. Trust me. From the staff to the quality of the food to the presentation. 5 stars all the way. I have been to the one in Madrid and Barcelona. Both are FANTASTIC. You do not want to miss going. I am officially obsessed with this restaurant.

So glad we found this place to dine for our last night in Barcelona. The service, food, environment were all exceptional. This should be a Michelin Star dining experience. We asked our waiter what he recommended and nothing disappointed.

Wow, where to start? I know tourists and visitors seem to inflate reviews when they go somewhere new, but I'm trying not to do this and I really think this is one of the best places I've been in years. Made reservations for our last lunch in BCN and not disappointed and very happy in fact! Instead of getting a whole fish, we decided to get a few different things. It was a bit hard to decided and we weren't sure if we got too much or two little, but turns out it all worked beautifully. Tried the crawfish carpaccio. Delicate, light, the caramelized onion on the rim the real deal. Next was a couple of oysters in green sauce, the garlic balance was perfect. The squid Andalusian style with ink mayo was one of the best things ever. Simple, but perfectly done. Plus, you make an ink plot art on the paper when you are done! What I saw in my blots is the best was yet to come! The razor clams in what turned out to be saffron and onion sauce was something I'm still dreaming about! Save room fro some dessert! Great wine, great service, equals unqualified, un-inflated 5 stars!

This place needs more 5 star reviews. Seriously the El Bulli alum helming this kitchen does not f*ck around. It's great being able to see the fresh catch of the day arrayed in front of their open kitchen and the whole experience feels like you're at a chefs table inside a kitchen but it's even more impressive when the superbly fresh seafood is executed to perfection. Even a simple grilled prawns with seasalt dish was mind blowing. The pastry chef gets some kudos too for what is probably the best house made cheesecake I've ever had. Great meal all around!

This is an exceptional restaurant. I rarely give 5 stars (max. 5 since I joined Yelp) but this place deserves this. I am not going to make a fuss over the main Chef with stupendous credentials, because the proof is, as they say, in the pudding. And the food was great (dried meats, sardines, turbot, an artsy tomato salad, potatoes, etc. as well as pineapple and strawberry desserts.) All excellent. Service was very attentive and you essentially eat in the kitchen - 100% transparency, that is courageous!

Tiny jewel Loved it from the minute we found it Not a tourist in sight except for us!! The staff was exceptional Run with precision and warm attention to all diners Sit near open kitchen to watch the wonderful action in kitchen and prep station We had tomato salad ,grilled white asparagus, grilled bread rubbed with olive oil and tomato and the freshest grilled fish we have ever eaten Save room for dessert because the cheese cake is sublime with homemade cherry jam Important to note: This fantastic restaurant is not easy to find and no car can drop you off or pick you up in front But It's so worth the adventure to get there and enjoy excellent food prepared with care and attention

The food was ok, we literally payed €30 for two shrimps. Even though we had a reservation, they served us too late and said the restaurant was about to close. We were rushed to order and they didn't even bring all our orders. Then the manager asked if we wanted the bill, but we told her that there were some missing plates and they didn't even do anything about it. We complained and she told us to LEAVE! We thing the waiter is very professional although the manager isn't. We're never going there back again.

Holy $h#t!! Our most memorable meal from a 12 day trip to Spain. We ate a lot of highly acclaimed places but this was the best. Intimate, honest, highly proficient chefs and staff, who know how to let the ingredients shine. Serious desert island/last meal stuff right here. They also served our new love, percebes, AKA Goose Barnacles.

A lovely place for a romantic meal. The waitstaff were friendly and attentive. We got our reservation time mixed up and arrived an hour late and they still held our table for us which was very generous. Seafood is very fresh. We dined too late to be able to order the scorpion fish (already sold out) but it's something I would order next time based on other diner's reviews. The white garnacha bottle of wine that we ordered was delicious. My favorite dish was the mussels and garbanzo beans for 19 euro. It was perfectly spiced but strangely only had 3 mussels and was 95% garbanzo beans. I asked the waitress if we could have more mussels and that I would be happy to pay extra for them as they were delicious. The kitchen was able to accommodate my request and they didn't charge us extra. All in all a very nice place for seafood. Strongly recommend. The dessert is also supposed to be amazing but we were too full to order any.