On the thirteenth day of the Taste of Hartford, I brought my retinue (all two of them) to Barça, a Spanish-themed restaurant in the Parkville neighborhood.
We observed some people dining on the porch before we even found our way into the building.
The entry, which is shared with other tenants, included a giant scale
and a lighting shop with some whimsical fixtures.
Barça, we soon discovered, is also plenty whimsical. Check out this waiting area seating.
Even the water glasses were whimsical.
We were greeted by one of the two owners, Eduardo Rodrigues.
I wandered around the restaurant, absorbing its contemporary feel and taking a few photographs. The bar itself was quiet,
but a large party was soon occupying a tall table and stools in the bar area.
In every dining area, I observed people enjoying themselves mightily.
It’s the natural human tendency to pair off, and Barça is great fun for pairs.
I mounted the long, curving stairs to a chic lounge area.
From there, I could look directly down upon our table.
And from our table, we could watch all of the food as it appeared at the kitchen pass-through.
Our waitress, Zoe, took great care of us throughout our meal.
Soon we had fresh bread in front of us.
It wasn’t much later that our appetizers began to appear. A bowl of shrimp bisque concealed an entire shrimp in the perfectly textured broth.
Mixed greens with poached pear and toasted walnut in a balsamic dressing hit all of the right notes.
Piquillo peppers stuffed with a creamy mushroom risotto were not only terrific but beautifully arranged like a flower.
We also got to try Barça’s crab cakes, which are as good as any you will ever encounter.
Moving on to the entrées, we enjoyed garlic chicken served over mashed potatoes and garnished with broccoli rabe,
generous mussels marinara served with spaghetti wound as tight as desperate housewife Bree Van de Kamp’s bun,
and braised short ribs with roasted red potatoes and garlicky broccoli rabe.
And finally, we spied our desserts on the pass-through.
We enjoyed simple vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup,
creamy chocolate mousse,
and a triangle of silky flan.
As we finished a great meal, we learned that Barça would be extending its special Taste of Hartford menu through August 15th.
We also learned that Barça had serious facilities for concerts and dancing. Elegant Zoe gave me the tour of the dance floor,
its bar,
its deejay station (not pictured), and best of all, its V.I.P. lounge.
I could get used to this life!
Barça Restaurant & Tapas Bar, 1429 Park, Hartford, 860-724-4444