Barcelona Spanish Mediterranean Restaurant

Welcome

With a unique Spanish-Mediterranean atmosphere, Chef Perez creates culinary delights incorporating various international cuisines. He uses the freshest ingredients and strives to produce high quality meals that everyone will enjoy. Barcelona offers many different options when it comes to dining. We have a picturesque main dining room, upstairs banquet room, and a veranda for outdoor seating. Barcelona has a full bar with a generous selection of wines by the glass and a Tapas menu for light fare. The staff of Barcelona pride themselves with their friendly and professional service and abilities to make everyone feel welcome. We look forward to seeing you on your visit and hope that you will return time and time again.

Chef Perez uses only the freshest ingredients in preparing your meal choice. Everything that is prepared is made to order. We thank you for your patience and guarantee it will be worth any wait you may incur. We do our best to accommodate your special request. Please feel free to ask your server.

Appetizers Sopa De Almejas Dozen clams sauteed w/garlic, olive oil, & marinara sauce. Hot or Mild Grilled Chorizo Sausage Served over roasted red peppers topped with mozzarella cheese Eggplant Rollatini Eggplant rolled with ricotta and spinach topped with mozzarella & marinara sauce
Grilled Portobellos Organic greens, roasted red peppers, & artichokes in a balsamic vinaigrette Brushetta Grilled Italian bread with olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, & basil Caracoles Escargot, garlic, olive oil, roasted red peppers in a white wine pesto sauce with grilled Italian toast Sierra Mushrooms Crabmeat filled mushrooms Fried Calamari Served with a side of marinara sauce Mejillones Salteados Sauteed green & black mussels w/olive oil, fresh tomatoes, white wine, & garlic Mozzarella ala Caprece Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella drizzled with extra virgin olive oil & basil Salads & Light Entrees Grilled Gambas Mixed greens topped with marinated grilled shrimp, tomato, & artichoke served in balsamic vinaigrette & crumbled Roquefort cheese Black & Bleu Salad Grilled beef tenderloin atop mixed greens, tomatoes, & artichokes with Maytag Bleu cheese & Roquefort Roasted Red Pepper Salad Roasted red peppers over hearts of romaine tossed with olive oil, capers & anchovies & fresh mozzarella Special Salad Barcelona Fried golden calamari on mescaline greens with a lemon oil dressing Spiced Rice & Beans Sauteed black & white beans with saffron rice & marinated vegetables Vegetarian Paella Fresh vegetables sauteed with olive oil and garlic served over saffron rice Putanesca Fresh plum tomatoes sauteed with garlic, olive oil, black olives, & capers served over linguini Entrees All entrees are served with bread & salad Chicken Paella Sauteed chicken & chorizo sausage, onions, sweet peppers & peas mixed with saffron rice Chicken Enchiladas Flour tortillas filled with chicken & finished with a mole sauce & mozzarella served with saffron rice Pollo Asado Con Ajillo Half roasted chicken with garlic finished in a lemon parsley sauce served with saffron rice and vegetables Pollo al Citron Chicken breast sauteed with mushrooms & capers finished with a lemon butter sauce served with saffron rice & vegetables Zurzuela Sauteed in olive oil, onions, peas, & sweet peppers with clams, mussels, scallops, calamari, shrimp, lobster, & prosciutto; finished in a lemon saffron broth with roasted almonds Entrees served with pasta Chicken Parmigiana Fried cutlet topped with rich tomato sauce & mozzarella served w/spaghetti Chicken Riccollano Fried cutlet topped with ricotta, spinach, tomato sauce, & mozzarella served with spaghetti Chicken Vodka Chicken sauteed with sundried tomatoes in a vodka cream sauce served over penne pasta Grilled Chicken Pasta Grilled chicken sauteed with garlic, olive oil, sundried tomatoes, crimini mushrooms, & spinach served in a garlic cream sauce over fettuccini Linguini with White or Red Clam Sauce Whole & diced clams in a white wine, garlic, herb & butter sauce or marinara Sauce Shrimp Fra Diavlo Sauteed shrimp, mushrooms, & onions in a marinara sauce over linguini. Hot or Mild Seafood Pasta Clams, Mussels, shrimp, calamari in a red sauce served over linguini Calamari Marinara Sauteed calamari rings tossed in marinara sauce served over linguini Seafood Alfredo Scallops, shrimp, & crab in a creamy Romano cheese sauce over fettuccini Grilled Penne Portobello Roasted peppers sauteed with garlic, white wine, extra virgin olive oil, light cream & gorgonzola cheese served over penne pasta Chicken Francese Battered chicken sauteed with butter, wine & lemon served with linguini Chicken Marsala Sauteed chicken, portobello mushrooms with marsala wine sauce served with linguini Seafood Entrees Seafood Paella Clams, mussels, shrimp, lobster, calamari, & chorizo sausage with saffron rice Tuna Mediterranean Rubbed with cracked black pepper, topped with Mediterranean sauce of tomato, black olives, & artichoke with a pesto cream sauce served with rice & vegetables Shrimp in Tomatillo Cilantro Shrimp sauteed with onions, cilantro, & green tomatillo sauce over rice and vegetables Drunken Fish Broiled swordfish or salmon topped with sauteed fresh tomatoes, onions, & garlic finished in a chili pepper tequila lime sauce served with saffron rice & vegetables Salmon or Red snapper Vera Cruz Seared and sauteed in garlic, olive oil, onions, fresh tomatoes, black & green olives, & capers garnished with two mussels & two clams finished in a butter wine sauce served with saffron rice & vegetables Stuffed Shrimp Stuffed with our delectable crab meat filling; in a seasoned garlic butter wine sauce served with saffron rice & vegetables Salmon ala Barcelona Pan seared fresh atlantic salmon finished with fresh tomatoes, spinach, white beans in a lemon white wine sauce served with saffron rice & vegetables Tucha Perez De-boned fresh trout, pan seared till golden brown, finished in a lemon, roasted red pepper, & garlic sauce & julienne Parma prosciutto served with saffron rice & vegetables Carne Grilled Filet Mignon Rojos Served in Espanol sauce with garlic & roasted red peppers finished in a merlot glaze served with roasted red potatoes & vegetables Steak Barcelona Marinated grilled sirloin topped with sauteed red onions served over fresh spinach & roasted red potatoes Steak Torres Marinated grilled sirloin topped with portabella mushrooms finished in a chianti glaze sauce served with roasted red potatoes & vegetables Rack of Lamb Rosa Maria Grilled rack of lamb served with mushrooms in a dijon cream sauce served with roasted red potatoes & vegetables Veal Daniel Battered veal, mushrooms, & prosciutto in a Jack Daniel's cream tomato sauce served over linguini Veal Venice Black olives, red peppers, artichokes, & capers in a white wine lemon butter sauce over linguini Veal Marsala Sauteed veal with portabella mushrooms in a marsala wine sauce over linguini Pork Mediterranean Grilled tenderloin topped with mediterranean sauce of tomato, black olives, & artichokes with a pesto cream sauce, potato, and vegetable

Reviews

“There are few restaurants in the area that so combine the quality of food with reasonable prices, atmosphere and service as Barcelona does.It is a place that offers an excellent meal at better than market prices and creates an environment that truly lets you enjoy the dining experience.” - The Record - “ Chef Paul Perez clearly understands that to succeed in this market, you need to accommodate the tentative. You'll find easygoing preparations of steak and lamb -- carne for the carnivorous -- and pork tenderloin in a tomato-rich Mediterranean array” - Metroland Magazine - “Perez has such a nice touch with seafood, it's difficult to stay away from it.” - Times Union -

Where Fish Meets Rice, Metroland Magazine by B.A. Nilsson
Not long ago, I dined at a well-recommended Spanish restaurant in Manhattan. I had my mouth set for a traditional paella -- that wonderful rice-based compote of seafood and sausage -- and was disappointed when served a bunch of bland fish over rice delivered from steam-table storage. The two hadn't met before hitting my plate. There are hundreds of paella recipes, but they boil down to a saute of the components, together, in a wide but shallow pan, the paellera. And it turned out that I needed to go no farther than Albany to find it prepared well. Barcelona for many years was the Michele da Verona restaurant; it changed hands and name in 1988, to what I then termed "an earth-colored villa." Two years ago it changed hands again, and owners Paul and Minerva Perez have kept the basic look but ramped up both the food quality and the friendliness. Although Barcelona positions itself as a Spanish restaurant, there's a more continental feel to the menu. Chef Perez was born in Mexico and steeped in the Oaxacan fare of his boyhood, but his most recent local gig was in the Italian kitchen of Paolo Lombardi's. And he clearly understands that to succeed in this market, you need to accommodate the tentative. But the food should win over even the most cautious. The seafood ($26) shamed the downstate batch, arriving with a generous assortment of fish -- including a half-lobster atop the plate, which my daughter immediately claimed -- mixed with chorizo and, of course, rice nicely redolent of all those briny juices. Small rings of calamari, baby clams, succulent mussels and shrimp completed the generously sized dish. Many seafood entrees give you more than enough to choose from, including a sauteed trout (deboned) in a lemon-garlic sauce served with prosciutto bits and saffron rice ($16), salmon served with white beans, tomatoes and spinach in a lemon white-wine sauce ($18) and black pepper-rubbed tuna in a Mediterranean pesto cream sauce($19). You'll find easygoing preparations of steak and lamb -- carne for the carnivorous -- and pork tenderloin in a tomato-rich Mediterranean array ($18). Veal Daniel ($20) turned out to be a very appealing pasta dish, with medallions of battered veal sauteed with mushrooms and prosciutto, with a touch of bourbon in the dark tomato cream sauce that made an excellent linguine accompaniment long after the meat and veggies were gone. I have to confess that I'm finding bruschetta a tiresome appetizer. If you're going to mess with Italian bread, I reason, just slather it with garlic butter and be done with it. Trying to balance little chunks of tomato atop a dry bread slice is ever-hazardous to my shirts. But Barcelona offered a bruschetta appetizer that put me in no such peril: the bread was topped with a thin, creamy layer of an artichoke-spinach combo that worked well, and, at $8 for four slices, made the house a sweet portion of dough for its bread. Eggplant rollatini ($8) is an appetizer that would work equally well as an entree. A ricotta and spinach filling was seasoned to give it more depth of flavor than I would expect; with a marinara-mozzarella topping, it was like a gourmet eggplant calzone. Other starters range from the Spanish, like grilled chorizo ($9), to the Italian (mozzarella and tomatoes, $8), to the bastardized Italian (fried mozzarella sticks, $7). Stuffed mushrooms, fried calamari and grilled portobello mushrooms also fall in that price range, and I recommend the opportunity to try the caracoles ($7) -- escargot served on Italian toast with a white wine pesto sauce. These recurring items -- pesto, the Mediterranean combo of tomatoes, olives and garlic, the wine-based sauces -- these are among my favorite flavors, and chef Perez combines them so skillfully that the effect on the palate is a joy. And he positions some of his most innovative dishes under the "salads and light entrees" menu heading. Salad Barcelona ($12) puts fried calamari atop a mesclun mix with a lemon-oil dressing; vegetarian ($12) gives you the glory of the rice stew without all that messy meat. Spiced rice and beans ($12) reads simply enough: "sauteed black and white beans with saffron rice and marinated vegetables," but those vegetables turned out to be an unexpectedly tasty array, squash and broccoli and cauliflower among the components. For once I believed the promise that they were marinated. Just as there's much tradition and variation among paella recipes, so too does flan tend to change. The Barcelona recipe ($5.50) adds some cream cheese to give it a thicker texture -- not what I expected, my own preparation being more of the custard variety, but a worthy dessert when you're accustomed to it. A reasonably priced and wide-ranging wine list offers by-the-glass choices as well. Service couldn't have been friendlier, and was reasonably attentive -- but my wife had to go prowling for milk to accompany her tea before the stuff got too cold. Nevertheless, Barcelona remains on our short list of places to revisit even though I won't get reimbursed by the newspaper, and that's recommendation indeed. ____________________________________
Barcelona Restaurant 1192 Western Ave., Albany, 438-1144. Serving dinner Mon-Thur 4-10, Fri-Sat 4 - 11, Sun 4-9. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Cuisine: Spanish-flavored continental
Entree price range: $12 (eggplant parmigiana) to $26 (seafood paella)
Ambiance: elegant bistro Clientele: upscale foodies

Where ya going'? Barcelona, The Recordby Bob Goepfert Albany - Barcelona Restaurant is my new favorite place to eat. There are few restaurants in the area that so combine the quality of food with reasonable prices, atmosphere and service as Barcelona does. It is a place that offers an excellent meal at better than market prices and creates an environment that truly lets you enjoy the dining experience. Long Term and I made a visit on Saturday, and the experience was more than enjoying a good, relaxing meal. It actually put us in the proper frame of mind to enjoy the Christmas holidays. Let me offer some back-story. It was less than a week before Christmas and the tress was still not up. That was for starters. I promised to string lights, even though it meant a couple of articles I had avoided writing had to remain unwritten. Never mind the issue of several gifts that needed to be purchased. While I despised the idea of dealing with the tree, Long Term dreaded going to an afternoon concert to which she had committed to with a friend weeks ago. She went to the concert. I fought the tree. Because of all our unfinished business, Long Term and I agreed that her friend would drop her off to complete last-minute shopping at Stuyvesant Plaza (the only shopping area I will visit in the one-mile radius of what I call "shoppers hell"), and I would meet her there at a prearranged time. I would struggle with the tree in the interim. The plan worked, except the people we were supposed to meet for dinner begged off at the last minute because of a sick child. Let's just say the Christmas spirit was not in me, when I met Long Term. We thought about having a quick meal at one of the nearby chains, but I was already in a humbug mood. Why make it worse? Then I remembered that a friend as been pestering me about visiting Barcelona Restaurant, which was only up the road on Western Avenue, across from SUNYA. He raved about the place that was under new management by the Perez family and described it as a Mediterranean Italian menu with a Mexican influence. Agreeing with the philosophy that says no problem is so big it cannot be run away from, we decided to skip tree decorating and agreed shopping could wait. We would treat ourselves instead. When we arrived at Barcelona, my mood immediately changed. The atmosphere was soothing - the dim lighting and flickering candles on the tables offered a sense of serenity and the atmosphere was beyond sophisticated - you could call it romantic. Once seated at our window table, we immediately ordered wine - Chardonnay for her, Pinot Grigiot for me - (a steal at $4.50 a glass). Before we even looked at the menu, Long Term turned to me and said, "I want to come back here." Before answering, I checked out the prices and replied, "We will." Everything on the menu sounded wonderful and was priced generously. You can get a variety of chicken dishes for $12.95 and veal for a few dollars more. It's a rare item that costs more than $20, with most entrees in the $15 - $17 range. The appetizers all sounded wonderful, but we narrowed our choice to two basics - Sierra Mushrooms (mushrooms stuffed with crabmeat) or Fried Calamari. Both were priced at $5.95, but to try the house Marinara sauce, we went with the Calamari. It was wonderful. Lightly breaded, the large pieces of squid were tender and meaty, while the Marinara sauce was gentle and rich, with a flavor that only hinted at sweetness. The wine, the delicious food and the opera music that filled the small, intimate dining room had a strange effect on us. Our entrees came with a salad and excellent home made dressings; and, as we munched, Long Term started telling about how much she enjoyed the afternoon concert and I listened. Not only were we having a conversation - it was about something other than how rushed we were. I think of it as a Christmas miracle. My friend insisted that when I visit Barcelona, I try the fish. "It's sublime," he said. Since Long Term decided she would have either the Salmon or Red Snapper Veracruz, I ignored his recommendation and opted for the Italian side of the menu and ordered Shrimp Fra Diablo to test the spicy part of the menu. It only came in two speeds - hot or mild. I don't know when happened to medium, and all I could read was manly or wimp. Of course I didn't stop to consider what happens when you combine a Mexican chef with a hot Italian dish, so I ordered the hot. All I can say is if you like really spicy hot dishes try the Shrimp Fra Diablo. I could only eat about half the portion - as my mouth could only handle so much heat. I'm not complaining. I truly enjoyed what I ate and appreciated it even more the next day. In fact, the leftover shrimp seemed to absorb the spice without gaining any more heat, and it was even better than the night before. As for the shrimp, there must have been a half-dozen of them, and their enormous size had to be steroid induced. Served over a perfectly prepared bowl of linguini, it made the $15.95 price seem cheap. Long Term decided to have the Red Snapper rather than the Salmon thanks to advice from our very professional waiter, Aaron. He explained that her fish would come in a mild butter and wine sauce that would be more fitting for the gentle flaver of the Red Snapper. He was right.
Indeed, you could not have a greater contrast in meals on one table. Her meal was as delicate as mine was spicy. The snapper was sauteed in olive oil, garlic, onions and topped with fresh tomato and olives. Alongside the fish were a pair of clams and tree mussels, all accompanied by rice and a vegetable medley. It was one of those meals that was not startlingly good, but ideal in its own way - and fairly priced at $16.95. We needed coffee and could not leave without trying dessert. We decided to share the made-on-premises Tiramusu at $5.95. It was an excellent choice, as the Tiramusu was cake-like, soft and not overly sweet. A perfect companion to the coffee and a great conclusion to the meal. During the meal, we struck up a conversation with our neighboring table of five that included a beautiful, well-behaved 1-year old. After we discovered that the grandparents were up on their monthly visit from Connecticut, our own conversation turned to the importance of children, family and friends- especially during the holidays. It put shopping and decorating in perspective. As we left, we agreed that a dining experience like this was the perfect way to forget the artificial stress we bring upon ourselves for no good reason. More important, we (at least temporarily) understood that experiences like this are important all year long - not just at the holidays. If you share that thought, I recommend Barcelona Restaurant. It's more than just good food - it's a dining environment that helps you to enjoy the moment. The bill for a meal that included appetizer, salad, entrees, dessert, wine and coffee and tax was a very reasonable $57.80, before adding a near 20% tip that brought the tab to $68. It is easy to cut dollars off that amount, and you will not diminish the enjoyment of your visit. Long Term was right - we will return. Regularly. Barcelona Restaurant
1192 Western Ave., Albany (across from SUNYA) 438-1144 Hours Lunch 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon. - Fri. Dinner 5 p.m. - closing seven days a week Handicapped access: poor, steps at entrance, restroom upstairs Food Overall 4 1/2 stars (Out of five)

Banquets and Catering

Barcelona has been host to many banquets and catered events. The restaurant is ideal for graduation parties, rehearsal dinners, business meetings, cocktail parties, and other functions. We have the ability to offer sit-down full service meals or there is a buffet option to consider. Our banquet room can accomodate 40-50 guests and special requests are always met. Make your party reservations soon!

Get in Touch

If you plan to visit or send U.S. mail to Barcelona, we are located at 1192 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203. Click here for an interactive map or follow these easy directions: Take the Northway (Interstate 87) south to Route 20 (Western Avenue). Turn left heading east on Route 20 (Western Avenue) for approximately one mile. Barcelona is on the right just past the Key Bank on the corner of Western Avenue and Tryon Street. If you would like to speak to one of our staff members directly, we can be reached by telephone. Our number is 518-438-1144.