Lanto Restaurant
Where? Lanto Restaurant (Sant Marti, Barcelona, Spain) Map Menu
When? Thursday March 21, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Catalan
My time in Barcelona is coming to a close, and this restaurant has always been on my radar for its menu del dia - menu of the day. Unfortunately they were all booked out on the day I went, so I tried to get a reservation for the next day, and here I am. It’s full of old Catalan people having lunch so you just know this is authentic and legit. They’ve recognised me as the loser who came yesterday, and they have two questions, which I have to ask for in English. Meat or fish, and what drink?
I’m watching as the other tables are served and trying to pick up what’s in them. I can catch a few keywords…I think… but what I do know is that the food looks great. Thankfully my explanation of the appetisers and mains is in English, but the dessert is in Spanish. Let's see whether my four months of Duolingo has paid off.
Appetisers
Beetroot carpaccio with sausage and beetroot sauce / Onion with pickled dill / Roasted tomato puree with roasted cauliflower and smoked cheese
Beetroot: Vibrant and sweet, this is excellent and refreshing.
Onions: The onions are delicious and the sauce has a wonderful hint of sweetness to give it some balance. This one is my favourite. The breadcrumbs give it some nice crunchy texture.
Cauliflower: Lots of umami here from the cheese, balanced out with acidity from the tomato puree. The cauliflower still has a bit of bite and isn’t too soft.
Mains
Beef and sweet potato puree
Originally I had thought it was pumpkin puree, but the waiter tells me it's sweet potato. At least I got the protein correct, though I would have failed Gordon Ramsay’s Taste It Now Make It. It’s delicious, the protein is juicy and so tender, but still a bit pink, and the puree is sweet and creamy. For something that looks so simple, it packs a lot of flavour and elegance.
Dessert
Madeline with chocolate crema and banana compote
This explanation is in Spanish but I’ve managed to pick up the key ingredients. That crema is so smooth and impeccable. The butter crumb has a bit of salt to balance out all the sweet elements and it’s delicious. I will say though, other people’s plates have strawberries on them but I’m too noob to complain. Actually some plates are completely different, with a brown Swiss roll base instead. Oh well. I’m very satisfied though. €18.50 for that meal is pretty damn good!
Posted by Jeremy at 8:18am on Saturday December 28, 2024 :: 0 comments :: 