Jason W.
Google
I was excited to try this place after many years of not having access to real authentic Venezuelan food. So I made an effort to solely stop by La Cachapera on our recent trip to Barcelona and introduce my partner to the food I grew up eating.
Nothing out of the ordinary with the atmosphere, however, we did have an issue with the amount of fruit flies that was pestering our table and dishes. Throughout our meal, we were constantly using our hands to swat away the flies to no avail. To our surprise, the staff did not intervene, step in or say anything. We were not expecting any special treatment or have the issue fully resolved immediately (which is impossible), but a simple comment addressing the issue would have been nice. Perhaps a suggestion to change tables and see if that would alleviate the problem?
Food wise, it really was nothing to write home about. I grew up eating cachapas, platanos fritos, nata, you name it. But it really was all just very bland. The plantain was not even sweet and tasted pre-fried, tasteless shredded cheese, the cachapa with the 3 dots of tartare sauce on the side (?) and supposedly the star of the entire meal) was really just okay (a nub of butter or margarine would have been nice). The only item that had any flavor whatsoever were the chicken tostones or patacones. The Maltín Polar was nice too.
Service was pretty straight forward and plain. Definitely lacked the vibrant energy and Latin American welcome I had grown up experiencing. I speak fluent Spanish (with a native Venezuelan accent as well) so it was not a language barrier issue.
I really tried to like this place and had no expectations coming in. I also wanted to support a Venezuelan business because this culture and cuisine was a major part of my life. But this was a big no for me. I am genuinely amazed at how this place is able to receive so many positive reviews.
My advice? Find an alternative if you are looking for authentic Venezuelan food. It is Barcelona after all - you have options.
