Northern Chronicles: Barcino

Barcino has been one of our favorite restaurants when dining with business partners. With its scrumptious food offerings and warm ambiance, our guests are sure to have a good lunch. And it being just a few blocks away from our office makes it the perfect option. 

Hello, Barcino. 

I always get excited whenever our lunch plans involve Barcino. Just thinking about feasting on paella and ginormous gambas make me smile from ear to ear. And one time, we had a bit more. 

Its Ayala Malls Vertis North is one of the quiet restaurants in the mall. With hardly any customer around noon, this serves as a great choice for lunch meetings and over great food at that!

We ordered Jamon Serrano (PHP380), Gambas al Ajillo (PHP790), Patatas Bravas (PHP280), Pulpo Braseado con Crema de Patata (PHP795), Spaguettis a la Marinera (PHP380), Paella de Marisco (PHP850) and Crema Catalana (PHP250).

Jamon Serrano had this salty taste that was balanced by raisins and dried mangoes. I would have enjoyed this too with some bread. 

The pan of Patatas Bravas or fried potato with salsa brava was quite heavy for an appetizer but its slight spicy taste made me want more.

Our small plate of Gambas al Ajillo, as always, was fantastic. It's hands down my favorite dish and would order this again despite its hefty price.

I am a big fan of pulpo so I was very excited to sink my teeth into this dish. The boiled and grilled octopus with potato cream base was perfectly charred and serves as a great starter too or snack with drinks.

I was surprised that Barcino's serving size for pasta is more than generous. For just PHP380, this pasta with clams could be a filling lunch for 2 to 3. Taste though was a bit light and would require Parmesan cheese for more flavor. 

I always go for Paella de Marisco when picking paella and I drizzle it with lemon juice to balance the saltiness of the dish. 

Crema Catalana was excellent! Creamy with the right level of sweetness, I wish that we ordered two. Similar to crème brûlée, the torched brown sugar on top added crunch to the dessert. I'll definitely get more of it next time. 

Overall, it was a lovely meal. I'll probably try a few new dishes next time. 

Barcino is located at Ground Floor, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Quezon City.