Andreas M.
Google
Mixed Experience at Balo Barcelona
After seeing Balo pop up frequently on social media, we were curious to try it for ourselves. We booked a lunch table to sample their set menu, starting with a local sausage and continuing with the pork belly as our main course (which came with a €5 supplement).
Unfortunately, both dishes left us underwhelmed. There was nothing technically wrong with the food, but my dining companion and I found ourselves exchanging puzzled looks, silently asking "where's the flavor?" The pork belly portion size was reasonable for the upcharge, but it simply lacked the depth of taste we'd anticipated.
The desserts were a different story. We tried both the citrus meringue and chocolate fondant, with the latter emerging as the clear winner—finally, a dish with the rich, bold flavors we'd been hoping for throughout the meal.
The service was perfectly adequate but lacked warmth or enthusiasm. Our server was professional enough, but there was no special touch or genuine friendliness that might have elevated the experience.
As for the space itself, the stark, minimalist aesthetic felt more like a windowless breakfast room in a business hotel than a destination restaurant. With its bare walls and a sea of off-white tones dominating both the interior and staff uniforms, the monotonous color palette did little to inspire. I suppose the food is meant to be the focal point, but unfortunately, most of our dishes weren't vibrant enough to carry that responsibility.
Bottom line: Nothing went wrong, but nothing stood out either. Given the social media buzz, we expected more.