This week it was late by the time we left the office and we decided to take a taxi. So we got in, saying "Hi! We're going to My Fucking Restaurant". To which the driver sarcastically replied: "Great! But which damned restaurant are we going to?" You could write a thesis on how restauranteurs end up deciding on the names for their new projects. On this occasion, according to Matteo and Nico, the two chefs and owners, they were looking for a curious name which grabs your attention. They found it.
Matteo and Nico are two Italians who settled in Barcelona more than 10 years ago. They've already opened two bars in the city, Oviso and La Castanya, and with the success they've had in both of these, last June they made the decision to evolve their style and launch their "fucking" restaurant in the Raval neighbourhood, specifically at carrer Nou de la Rambla, 35.
At first glance, the restaurant looks like a neighbourhood bar: a barrel in the doorway, narrow with a long bar having 10-12 stools. However, once inside, you go through to a room with space for around 30 people, which has a more modern aesthetic but without losing the informality: stone walls, wooden tables (without tablecloths), some warm lights and a few paintings hung over a long bench. Without doubt, it's ideal for a dinner with your friends.
The culinary offering is mainly tapas and small dishes inspired by family recipes from the Italian-Catalan tradition of the two chefs. They've put together a menu with options for all types of diners, featuring aperitivos (€4-15), mains (€8-16), and desserts (€5). The winelist (€18-35) has a section of natural wines and is complemented by a good assortment of cocktails (€7).
As the menu is relatively long, Matteo and Nico have designed a tasting menu for those of us who like trying different things. The menu costs €35/person and is made up of 10 dishes, including tapas, mains and desserts. Of the dishes we tried, we recommend:
The ostra del dia (oyster of the day - we tried the "gin tonic" version) was nice and fresh to get your stomach into gear. The tac de parmesà i caponata (Parmesan and caponata tacos), where, instead of corn, Matteo and Nico use Parmesan cheese as the base for the tacos, which gives them a crisp and savoury aspect which goes perfectly with the caponata, an eggplant based dish. The Steak tartar, served on a small slice of toast, and with a seasoning that should make it appeal to all tastes.
Ostres del dia
Tacs de parmesà i caponata
Steak Tartar
We also enjoyed the croqueta d'ossobuco (Milanese veal croquette), an extremely crunchy ball with an inside which rather than being creamy is full of shredded veal. The risotto amb papada (risotto with pork jowel), which although the rice was a little too al dente for our liking, has an impressively potent flavour. The onglet ecològic (ecological hangar steak), a very tender meat cut served on a grill which gives it a great aroma. Finally, as a sweet, the roques de xocolata amb bourbon (chocolate lumps with bourbon) a lovely and crunchy conclusion to the whole experience.
Croqueta d'ossobuco
Risotto amb papada
Onglet ecològic
Roques de xocolata amb bourbon
Both Matteo and Nico have worked hard to refine their formula to a point of success: simple dishes, easy to understand, rich and powerful. They know how to satisfy both Barcelona locals and lost tourists in the Raval. We left happy and we think you might have a good time too.
| Score | ||
|---|---|---|
| Food | Wines | |
| 68 | 67 | |
| Service | Premises | |
| 64 | 65 | |
| Price | Miguelín Stars | |
| €35 |  |
|
| Per person: 3-4 dishes + glass of wine | ||
Where is My Fucking Restaurant?
Address: C/ Nou de la Rambla, 35, 08001 Barcelona
Telephone: (+34) 936 39 78 27
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 5pm to 12:30am
Website: www.myfuckingrestaurant.com