We visited this restaurant for dinner and caught up with the end of the Setmana Gastronòmica Gironina, an annual occasion in which a group of restaurants design a tasting menu to show off their skills and creative power. The price can range from 20 euros to over a hundred, depending on the restaurant. In the festival webpage one can find the list of restaurants and their respective menus. The festival for this year started from 4 March to 21 March, but due to the storm which created access problems, the duration has been extended to 28 March.
Albereda is situated in the barri vell, the old city, on a street with the same name. It is a beautiful old stone house comfortably and subtly decorated. However, there was a constant humming of the air-conditioner, which would have been inaudible, I surmise, if the restaurant were fuller. There are smoking and non-smoking areas, and it is spacious with tables wide apart. Service is attentive and personal.
We were served an appetizer with couscous, which was light and truly wetted the appetite.
The menu started with oyster bathed in a pear porto-tonic and lemongrass slush. The taste of the sea was accentuated by this light and fragrant accompaniment.
Second was gamba de Palamós, a famous shrimp from the coast from where it gets its name. It came with a cold shrimp soup and trout caviar. The shrimp was sweet and delicate, which was not hidden at all by the strong soup.
Pasta was next, it was accompanied by mushroom and a sauce made with Parmigiano and foie gras. It was good without being excellent and the quantity could be reduced to leave more room for the other dishes.
It was then followed by tuna fish done in Takaki manner, which came with a mixture of fennel, soy sauce, cocoa and nuts. The sauce was very interesting and gave an unexpected taste full of imagination; however, the tuna fish was much too done and became completely dry.
Next was scallop, grilled and decorated with mash squash, a calçot and its romesco sauce. The sauce was excellent; but unfortunately hid the delicate taste of the scallop.
The turbot was wrapped in a slice of crunchy potato, tomato jam and seafood cream. It was a delicious dish and the contrast was neatly done.
The last was duck, with apple and a mistela sauce with cinnamon. The only problem is by then I was so full that I couldn't enjoy too much this dish and I apologise for the photo which is out of focus.
Dessert was a hot orange cake with chocolate inside and cream with spices. The cake was delicious. Coming with coffee was some petit fours, which unfortunately looked a little sad and didn't do justice to its taste.
One can choose the menu with wine, which cost only 10 euros more, and that was what we did. The whole menu was priced at 65 euros. The selections were Cava Berta Bouzy Montferrant, Hermanos Luton Verdejo 2008, Sinols Coronmina 2005, Sinols moscatel 2009; and our glasses were refilled as soon as they were empty.
I had a visit to their bathroom and it was decorated with care and of course, very clean.
It is a delightful place, service is excellent and the price is reasonable. In a word, it is a good restaurant where one can be sure of being well fed and professionally served.
P.S. I had another occasion to revisit this restaurant for dinner. There was a set menu which cost only 30 euros, excluding drinks. The food was well presented, tasted delicious and pleasantly served. I highly recommend this place for an intimate dinner.
