Read full review
2014-09-17
6243 views
Having recently sampled some of the best dishes in different provinces of Spain, I really can't expect a lot from Hong Kong restauranteurs. But a girl has to satisfy her cravings and so after some preliminary research we visited Boqueria for dinner. Boqueria didn't even meet my not-so-high standards I previously set.DecorUpon entry I thought we got the wrong location. The place seemed absolutely packed, it was only after some navigation through the crowd that we were led to a quieter area at the
Decor
Upon entry I thought we got the wrong location. The place seemed absolutely packed, it was only after some navigation through the crowd that we were led to a quieter area at the back where people do sit down for food (still using bar tables and high rise seats though). I had a sinking premonition that told me this place is not designed for diners, rather as a chillax joint that serves casual tapas and drinks. Our first instincts are always accurate...Food
Bikini toast with ham, cheese and truffle.To be honest, this cannot compare with the real deal you get in Barcelona, or even that in the Hong Kong restaurant Catalunya. The toast is way too thick to be considered "bikini"; unless this is a particularly well-built and voluptuous lady in a bikini...There is also too much inside this bikini, the ham slices are substantive and requires chewing, the texture of the cheese is too "coarse" and the truffle flavour is lost. None of the exquisite, delicate yet balanced combination you get in THE REAL DEAL. This is a cousin of the panini and the bikini...why not call it the pikini or banini instead. Rated 5.8/10.
Slow-cooked 48 hour beef cheekOK, so I'm impressed by the choice of crockery. They serve you in Le Creuset, which did serve to score points. Likely the ONLY points worthy of this dish. Do not be tempted by the name, and one will be easily misled to be anticipating tender succulent beef cheeks. NO - you get the main course of beef broth, the beef cheeks are the 湯渣, only accessory to the main character of the broth. What this means is that the beef cheeks are tasteless AND chewy! Is that 48 hours of goodness seeped into the broth and nothing left in the beef cheeks? In that case I think I can serve the same in my own humble kitchen. Further, it's not even fulfilling, with 2 meagre pieces of beef charged at around $200. Rated 2/10.
Chicken paellaAnyone who's been to Valencia will have tasted the authentic paella. Yes, it does and should come in a huge, flat wok. So there they've got at least something right. Now to the rice - wrong type of rice, wrong consistency, wrong temperature, wrong flavour. What more can I say? Mediocrity...Rated 3/10.
Spanish toast with yoghurt icecream (don't remember its exact name)Not bad, perhaps because I haven't had the benefit of tasting a better rendition. (Honestly I have such low expectations for this restaurant already). It's special, because of the grainy sauce and slightly cinnamon-y taste of the filling. The yoghurt icecream does not have the full and tangy flavour of yoghurt, I've tasted much better versions of that at least. For encouragement I'd rate this 6/10.
Conclusion
Come for drinks perhaps, but not even their sangria is worth mentioning....
Other Info. :
MA MA DEI - sums it all.
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
Post
