Bar Raval is a treasure. When we got there last n...

Bar Raval is a treasure. When we got there last night, there was a wait list to get into the main bar, but the service and food and drink is the same outside. You're simply trading an enclosed patio for a warm wooden bar.

The bartenders are masters at their craft and the food is delicious. I hate tapas with a passion as a concept because it often ends up just being small portions of a dish for the price you would pay for the rest of it. But, Bar Raval does a great job of making these plates unique and not just miniature versions of something you want to eat. We tried the Tomato Bread, the Kitchen Bread, the Ham and Cheese croquettes, the quail with almonds and the burger. They were all unique, but I would put the Quail at the top of list, followed by the tomato bread and croquettes, then the burger and the kitchen bread. Please understand, these were all great and I'd get them again, but if you wanted to know favorites, there we are.

This bar doesn't need to be as good as it is. The quality of the cocktails and the decor and food would guarantee it would make all of the lists anyway. The face that the staff here was so kind and friendly made it really an incredible evening. The way they would search for stools for one of us to sit at the large barrel tops was so kind.

Run, don't walk to this place and don't be afraid to stay outside if the wait is long.