Goliard

Just moved across the street from this place– even though I’ve only been living here a few days, it’s been pretty consistently packed every time I’ve walked by.
Their lunch menu is very affordable, the servers are extremely helpful and welcoming, and the food is astoundingly fresh. The portions will leave you very satisfied, so come hungry!
I walked in during a busy lunch service and was greeted by very friendly waiters. I was seated almost immediately. The menu was in Catalan, which I’m not quite fluent in yet– but the waiters were more than happy to translate for me.
I had a really lovely artichoke tempura to start with, which was cooked perfectly. The tempura wasn’t excessively heavy on the batter, and despite being a fried appetiser, I felt the dish was surprisingly light and refreshing.
I had a tuna dish as my main, served with a vegetable side (mainly potatoes). Everything was very nice, but my fish was unevenly cooked. The dish was also rather heavy on the paprika. I was happy to finish the plate as these were small flaws. The ingredients that were used were very flavourful and again, fresh.
The dessert served was a piña colada natilla, topped with rum. WOW. This dessert was complex and really very impressive. Again, very strong flavours and a very light overall feeling to the dish, despite having a lot of fat (as a natilla is a milk and egg based dish). I really, really loved this dessert and really hope they have it when I return
This is definitely one of the best places to have lunch at in Gracia. The chefs at Goliard are very impressive and talented. I think making fatty foods taste light and airy is one of the most impressive things a chef can do. I came very close to giving this place 5 stars. Minus one star due to the uneven cooking of the fish, unfortunately. I also noticed the table next to me had ordered some dishes that were similar to mine but were served in a different way (simple differences in plating and garnishes). It wasn’t anything excessive, but worth noting.
I’m really looking forwards to trying more of Goliard’s food. They seem to have a very interesting tasting menu that I’m excited about! I saw the table next to me eating it and they seemed to be having a fantastic time!
EDIT: Returned afterwards with some friends for dinner and while the waiters were very attentive to allergies, the kitchen staff kept sending food up with the offensive ingredients (which the waiters would almost serve, recognize, and then have to take away). Guess their restaurant needs a bit more communication between staff members.

Fantastic. Excellent tasting menu (our favorite dish of the evening was the beef tataki), excellent service, very charming space. And coming from the SF Bay Area, this prices here seem like an absolute steal. Tasting menu for two plus a great bottle of Rioja = 68 Euros. Crazy.
We didn’t have a reservation, but we went when they opened and didn’t have any trouble getting a table. It does look like they book up, though, so you might want to call ahead.

Best Uptown lunch menú, 14 €‘s aprox.
Half portions at night is a good one!

Aquí he venido con mis amigas de siempre, con los padres de una amiga, con mi ex, vamos, que es un restaurante para todo tipo de ocasión. Es elegante y se come muy, pero que muy bien.
Reseñable: tienen medias raciones en TODOS los platos, eso quiere decir que estómagos pequeños no tienen que inflarse y el monedero no tiene porqué llorar.

Goliard es uno de esos restaurantes más que efectivos si quieres impresionar a alguien. Imaginemos una cita sin ir más lejos… y haciendo un esfuerzo de imaginación.
Lo que se va a encontrar tu cita es un local acogedor, un servicio amble y unas mesas un pelín juntas las unas de las otras. Intimidad la justa, pero se entiende. Porqué una se puede desmelenar. Sí, la carta en ocasiones provoca espasmos orgiásticos, al más puro estilo «Cuando Harry encontró a Sally». A mi me pasó con su tremendo foie de pato caramelizado:
-¡Oooh…uuuh…aaaah, sí, sí, sí!-
Si lo llego a saber, me pongo la ropa interior con tirantes.
Si no queréis llamar la atención, en su carta también destaca la ensalada de angulas de calamar, alcachofas y espárragos, lomo de cordero confitado con berenjenas, trufa de chocolate a la naranja amarga… El perfecto equilibrio entre lo tradicional y lo sofisticado, acompañado de una amplia oferta de vinos. Para los poco hambrientos (o poco abundantes) también ofrecen medias raciones. Fantástico.

Cuenta mi amiga Wikipedia, que el término Goliardo se utilizó durante la Edad Media para referirse a cierto tipo de clérigos vagabundos y a los estudiantes pobres pícaros que proliferaron en Europa con el auge de la vida urbana y el surgimiento de las universidades en el siglo XIII.
Me gusta el origen del nombre de este restaurante. Lejos de hacer honor a la época en que proliferaron estos personajes y comer carne con las manos, en este refinado local cobijado en una planta baja del barrio de Gràcia tendrás la suerte de probar auténtica cocina mediterránea de autor. Es perfecto para relajarse al mediodía, en el break que separa la hiperactiva mañana de la perezosa tarde, menús que siempre te permiten levantarte sin necesidad de sales de fruta o en su versión alcohólica, pacharán… Su disposición y karma me recuerda a un jardín zen, sobre todo porque imagino que para pasar del salón principal hasta el jardín interior hay que pasar por un caminito convertido, en mi juguetona mente, en un puente de madera, que nos permite cruzar sin mojarnos los zapatos en el río y llegar a una deliciosa tarta de chocolate con helado de vainilla gigante. ¡Mmm!