In the popular suburb of Clarendon Park, just round the corner from the University of Leicester, and a short walk into the city’s centre, sits Barceloneta. Established in 1990, the restaurant serves authentic Mediterranean and Spanish tapas specialities, including wines, liqueurs and aperitifs. Committed to giving their customers a real flavour of Spanish dining, the restaurant promises a buzzing atmosphere, perfect for big groups of people and catching up with friends.
The restaurant is full of Spanish charm and packed with life and character. With a bar bursting full of Mediterranean drinks, and blossoming, colourful greenery adorning the uniquely decorated windows, Barceloneta is an eclectic taste of Spanish design. The beautifully patterned tiled bar and intimate dining space makes for the perfect environment to spend an evening with friends and family, sampling the food and drink, and enjoying the lively ambience.
The menu is full of delicious Mediterranean and Spanish food, authentically cooked and generously flavoured. The portions are generous and the variety will spoil you for choice. There is a large variety of vegetarian options, making it the perfect place for a large group of friends with a whole host of tastes. Try the Queso Mahon for a sample of regional cow’s cheese from the island or Minorca, or the Patatas Al Ajillo for deep fried chipped potatoes in garlic butter and spiced with paprika. A favourite dish is the Albondigas De Queso De Cabra Fritas, a delicious combination of balls of goat’s cheese, breadcrumbed and fried, served in a honey dressing and a red onion and chilli marmalade. For a meatier dish, try some of their most popular tapas meals, including the Fabadas Asturianas, an Asturian casserole with chorizo, jamon, black pudding, beans and saffron. Fish lovers should make sure to try the flavoursome Filete De Bacalao Fresco Rebozado, a dish of a fresh cod steak encrusted in paprika, breadcrumbs and fresh chilli, served with a red onion and pimento dip.
A lively place to dine, full of character and variety, Barceloneta, Leicester is a fantastic place to visit for great food and drink hailing from Spain and the rest of the Mediterranean regions.
Tapas today are without question the most international element of Spanish cuisine, having become an exclusive culinary category, and we shouldn’t be surprised. There is something incredibly satisfying about enjoying a bite of something delicious alongside a cold beverage and while we were making do with the salted peanut or crisp in Britain, the Spanish were revolutionising the art of savoury snacking.
So where did tapas come from? Why are they called tapas and who invented them?
There are many different explanations surrounding the origin of tapas, many of which involve medieval kings and other historic figures. Although most accounts claim it originated in Andalucía, different regions of Spain all individually claim to be the birthplace of this popular Spanish tradition. Perhaps one of the most important clues to understanding the mystery is the origin of the word itself. The word tapa means ‘lid’ and comes from the verb tapear, meaning ‘to cover’. Many people say that the custom of tapas came about when bar keepers began covering their customers’ drinks with a slice of bread, ham or cheese to stop flies and dust from
IN THE POPULAR SUBURB OF CLARENDON PARK, JUST ROUND THE CORNER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER, AND A SHORT WALK INTO THE CITY’S CENTRE, SITS BARCELONETA. ESTABLISHED IN 1990, THE RESTAURANT SERVES AUTHENTIC MEDITERRANEAN AND SPANISH TAPAS SPECIALTIES, INCLUDING WINES, LIQUEURS AND APERITIFS.
Address:
Barceloneta, 54 Queen’s Rd,
Clarendon Park, Leicester, LE2 1TU.
Telephone:
Tell Us: 0116 270 8408
Mob: 0740 531 7594
Email:
info@barcelonetarestaurant.co.uk
