Pearl #8: Gluten-free at BARcelona Tapas, St. Louis

Oh.my.god. I just got back from BARcelona Tapas in Clayton and an uh-MAZING meal. Now let’s just say, this is not my first rodeo at Barcelona. This is a usual haunt of mine – happy hours, weekend evenings, Sunday afternoons. However, I usually sit on the bar side, sip down some sangria, and play it safe with the chicken & chorizo skewers or tortilla española, as the barstaff generally doesn’t have time to walk through the menu step-by-step.

Tonight, though, my mom and I stopped in after a hard afternoon of shopping. We sat on the restaurant side before the dinner rush, and I just happened to pick up a menu that was marked up with “Yes” and “No.” I’d heard tales of this elusive gluten-free menu, as many a waitress has told me that there is one floating around.

The stars must have aligned for me, because the waitress walked me through the menu and pointed out each and every gluten free items.

So, my gluten-friends. Here it is. Basically…you can eat most of the menu items. Let’s talk about AWESOME. We went big and did the pincho de pollo y chorizo (chicken + chorizo) with cumin aioli; the pincho de solomillo (beef brochette) with horseradish aioli; their fantastic paella, PLUS their housemade flan.

I give you the list, below.

[Before I begin – all of the salads were gluten-free, as long as you remove the croutons. However, be sure to check with your server in case menus change.]

Bon appetit!

Tapas frias

Boquerones en Vinagreta – White Spanish anchovies with caperberries. YES

Tortilla Española – Potato and onion omelette cake with spinach. YES

Pimientos Asados – Marinated roasted red peppers with garlic. YES

Tres Quesos – Manchego, Cabrales and goat cheese with Spanish picos. YES, without picos (crackers)

Queso con Membrillo – Manchego cheese with quince puree. YES

Jamón Serrano con Manchego – Cured Spanish ham and cheese plate with Spanish picos. YES

Mordiscos (little bites)

Almendras – Paprika roasted Spanish almonds. YES

Aceitunas Aliñadas – Spanish olives marinated in olive oil and spices. YES

Champiñón con Mahón – Chilled marinated mushrooms with Mahon cheese. YES

Patatas Alioli – Chilled garlic potato salad. YES

Pan con Alioli – Warm garlic bread with olive oil. NO…obviously.

paella Y pasta

Paella Valencia (serves two) – Valencia Rice with saffron, chicken, chorizo, mussels and market fish (please allow 15 minutes). YES, YES, YES.

Fideos – Spanish vermicelli pasta with chicken, chorizo, peppers, garlic and tomato sauce. NO.

Fritos fried bites…

NO TO ALL…Sorry, pardner’, you’re out of luck.

Calamari Frito – Crispy calamari with Romesco sauce.

Alas de Pollo – Garlic pepper chicken wings with sherry mayonnaise.

Bacalao – Crispy codfish and potato cakes with lemon garlic alioli.

Alcachofas Fritas – Crispy artichokes with Romesco sauce and shaved Manchego cheese.

Pinchos (tapas on a stick)

Pincho de Maruno – Pork tenderloin with curry mayonnaise. YES

Pincho de Pollo y Chorizo – Chicken and chorizo skewer with cumin alioli. YES

Pincho de Solomillo – Beef brochette with horseradish alioli. YES

Tapas Calientes

Empanadas de Espinaca y Champiñón – Spinach and mushroom pastries with cumin garlic alioli. NO

Coliflor al Azafrán – Roasted cauliflower with saffron, raisins and pine nuts. YES

Trigueros con Romesco – Grilled asparagus with Romesco sauce and Manchego. IT CAN BE…without Romesco sauce. Ask your server to exclude it.

Brécol Rioja – Sauteed broccolini with sundried tomatoes and garlic. YES

Setas Salteadas con Amontillado – Sauteed mushrooms in sweet sherry sauce. YES

Mejillones en Salsa Picante – Mussels in spicy tomato sauce. YES

Pescado a la Plancha – Grilled market fresh fish with Romesco sauce. YES, without Romesco sauce.

Salmón con Alcaparras – Grilled salmon with sherry cream, lemon and caperberry. ??

Atún con Pimienta – Pepper encrusted tuna with Rioja sauce. YES

Plato de Embutidos – Assorted grilled Spanish sausages. YES

Cordero a la Parilla – Grilled lamb chops with sherry alioli and Rioja reduction. YES

Clásicos

Queso de Cabra al Horno – Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread. NO

Patatas Bravas – Roasted potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce. YES

Espinacas con Garbanzos – Sauteed spinach and chick peas with Manchego. YES

Croquetas de Pollo y Jamón – Chicken and Serrano ham croquettes, cumin alioli. NO

Gambas al Alioli – Garlic shrimp with chili oil and fresh lemon. YES

Albóndigas – Spanish meatballs in tomato sauce with Manchego cheese. NO

Solomillo con Cabrales – Grilled beef tenderloin with blue cheese, spinach and a Rioja reduction sauce. YES

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