Telefèric Barcelona

This Spanish restaurant has only been open for a month. Ramon, Gary, and I had our Easter lunch there yesterday. The original restaurant opened in Barcelona in 1992. The three of us were so excited, mainly since we all had studied the menu beforehand. 

We all agreed to start with a Sangria. They have several kinds, but our server recommended the Telefèric Sangria, a mix of red wine, gin, brandy, fruit salad, cinnamon, and mint. We all loved the drink, and I don't think I would experiment on anything differently next time since this was perfect.

We were unanimous in ordering a Paella Negra with squid ink, gulf Shrimp, scallops, octopus, and clams. We had to place the order before our appetizers since it takes about 25-35 minutes to cook.

While we waited for the main event, we ordered 4 appetizers. The first one was Ham Croquetas. These croquettes had Iberico ham and were served with pepper sauce and aioli. They were crispy outside, and the inside just melted in your mouth. Delicious.

The second appetizer was the Crispy Artichoke Hearts with light pistachio foam and red curry. We all loved it, and the pistachio sauce was so delectable.

The Pulpo Telefèric came next; octopus served with truffle oil and a pimentón potato purée. The octopus was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was exquisite. The last appetizer was Gambas al Ajillo. Gulf Shrimp sautéed with lemon zest and crispy garlic. Wow! That was delicious with its "suck-worthy" shrimp head.

The timing was just right. As we were finishing the Gambas, the plate of our Paella Negra arrived at our table. I wanted to clap! It looked sooo good, and it did not disappoint. It was an "OMG" moment. After that first bite, we all thought....how can everything be so delicious? 

Stephen, our server, was very attentive, and he kept coming back to check on us. It was an excellent time to be there since they were relatively quiet for lunch. 

It was time to decide what dessert to order. We all love Spanish Churros; however, Gary and I do not like Nutella. Stephen informed us that he could serve it without the Nutella, which was fine, but they didn't have the thick hot chocolate they usually serve with churros in Spain. (Churros con chocolate) So we opted for the Torrija, a French toast, Catalan cream, and pistachio foam with vanilla ice cream. This was the only disappointment. The French toast had no flavor. Gary and Ramon had that dessert in Sebastian, Spain, and it had caramelized sauce and had a lasting impression on them as it was perfect. 

I wish they would open a Telefèric Barcelona in Palos Verdes or the Torrance area. They are located at 11930 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood. This used to be the Italian restaurant Vincenti.