Shanghai 1930 -- Another Chinese Restaurant in Barcelona

Shanghai 1930 – Buenos Aires 11-13, Barcelona; tel. 933 634 370

Although I lived in Barcelona for a few years, the Chinese restaurants that I had been to were countable. On the one hand, I had not been to one that made me want to go again; and on the other, it is more appropriate to visit restaurants specialised in Spanish or Catalan cuisine.

There used to be one that was extraordinary, even in Chinese standard. It was in Maremagnum and the dim sums were simply delicious, even better than some restaurants in Hong Kong. However, it had been closed for quite some years.

Some time ago I paid a visit to Shanghai 1930. It was a big restaurant with a Baroque decoration with a variety of miscellaneous objects.

There were not a lot of clients that evening, and the huge space looked a bit desolated. We were treated in a very familiar manner in contrast with the formal setting

Our table cloth had holes on it. At the background there was a continuous humming noise of some type of machine, and there was a continuous loud chatter somewhere. Service was fast, and in fact the staff were quite anxious to take away the dishes as fast as possible.

There were some interesting dishes on the menu which you do not often see in Chinese restaurants in the city, such as sea cucumber (which, unfortunately was not available that evening), abalone and jellyfish.

We asked for cava, a Catalan sparkling wine similar to champagne, but it was warm and when we complained, we were persuaded that it would cool in time with the wine cooler.

There was nothing memorable. We were only two, so there were limited dishes that we could try.

Memorias de China -- A Chinese Restaurant in Barcelona

Memorias de China – Lincoln 17, Barcelona; tel. 934157602

One day I passed by a little street called Lincoln in Barcelona and found this unusual looking Chinese restaurant. It caught my attention because of its unassuming front door, very reserved in contrast with most of the other Chinese restaurants. However, we should not been too harsh on their barroque decoration with lots of gold and miscellaneous objects, since it is culturally determined. As visits to local restaurants in China would demonstrate, a good and traditional restaurant cannot do without its twin columns in red and gold with a phoenix and a dragon on each, and their corresponding poems; or a huge aquarium full of exotic fishes and elaborate decorations.

Somehow, this modest door in Barcelona told of a fancy restaurant, which also meant costly. With the mildest excuse to celebrate a small occasion I ventured. I had to confess that I did not have much faith in Chinese restaurants in Barcelona considering my past experiences; however, I was willing to give this one a shot.

The decoration inside was to impress with its extravagance. The taste was certainly better than many other Chinese restaurants, or shall we say, more pleasing to the occidental eye. There was a roofed patio inside separated from the main body of the restaurant by glass. This pleasant space, however, as in many cases, is reserved for smokers. Fellow non-smokers have to put up with the less privileged corners. We were put at the table just beside the ramp which led to the patio although there were at least three empty tables which stayed empty at the time of our departure. My friend booked with a Chinese name, but obviously that did not get us a good table; at least we know that they do not give special treatment to their fellow countrymen.

Beside the smoke that escaped from the patio, we had to put up with the entrances and exits of the waiters. Service was a bit cold and impersonal. But the most important thing of course was the food, when one has to determine if it is worth it or no.

However, in the menu there was not anything out of the unusual from other Chinese restaurants. We tried several dim sum dishes, which are one way to tell the ability of the chefs, since it is not easy to produce good dim sums. They were so so, nothing to call home about. The other dishes were good without being extraordinary. They certainly did not make my friend feel homesick.

Since then I have read a lot of exaggerated positive commentaries about the restaurant, even that it was the best in Barcelona. Well, I have not tried all the Chinese restaurants in Barcelona, so I am definitely not a judge for that. Among the ones that I have tried, you can say that it is better, depending if you are willing to pay the price. One thing is certain, that it is more expensive than the others. I personally do not feel like giving it a second try, but if one has a craving for Chinese food one day, it would be high on the recommended list, if one is willing to pay.