Some of you asked for my thoughts on El Celler, so here we go. This might be a slightly controversial take. I’m genuinely happy for anyone who had a better experience than we did — taste is subjective after all — but unfortunately our dinner did not live up to expectations. Personally, I struggle to understand how this is still operating at a three-star level. Hear me out.
Let’s start with the positives.
The wine pairing was excellent. They serve roughly 20 wines throughout the meal (small pours, but still very generous overall). Even if you’re usually not a fan of pairings, this one is worth considering.
Service was mostly very good. The only real issue was pacing — we had to ask four times before they slowed the service down. Aside from that, the team was professional and friendly throughout.
The ambiance was lovely and I also appreciated the number of dishes served. I personally prefer multiple smaller courses over fewer, heavier ones, and the structure of the menu suited that preference well.
Now unfortunately, the food.
It wasn’t bad — but it also wasn’t particularly good, which is arguably more disappointing at this level. With a few exceptions, many dishes lacked freshness and depth. On several courses, I couldn’t shake the impression that components had been prepared long in advance. That may not actually be the case, but the textures and flavors occasionally gave off that impression.
The highlights for us were the aubergine dish, which was genuinely excellent, the bread service, and both desserts which were well executed. The dinosaur cutlery was also a fun and memorable touch.
The opening consommé was solid, though not particularly memorable compared to similar dishes served at many other starred restaurants today. The remaining snacks ranged from average to underwhelming. Several had an unusual aftertaste that made them feel slightly tired or overworked.
Another issue was timing and presentation. While we were still eating a course, it happened repeatedly that the next two or three dishes were already placed next to us waiting to be served — including main courses. That unfortunately broke immersion and made the experience feel rushed and slightly careless.
Conceptually, many dishes had interesting stories behind them and strong creative ideas. In execution, however, the flavors often felt flat and surprisingly similar across courses, despite very different ingredient lists.
Minor Spoiler Below
The dinner concluded with a VR experience alongside the petit fours. Unfortunately, it felt poorly executed. The first headset didn’t work at all, and the replacement was lagging and glitchy. The concept itself isn’t bad, but it felt strangely disconnected from the rest of the experience and somewhat forced. In a more experimental restaurant setting it might work well, but here it felt out of place.
Overall, the dinner felt noticeably below what we expected. It almost came across as if the restaurant is relying on its reputation and demand rather than continuing to push forward. It may well have been exceptional in previous years, but based on our visit, it did not feel like a current three-star experience. Personally, I wouldn’t return.
Happy to answer any questions as always.
Also curious — which restaurants would you like to see reviewed next? Would hotel reviews be interesting as well?
by Elyor_access