Cal Pep was exciting.
Sitting at the long bar running the length of the establishment, this is counter dining at its superb best. We asked for a selection of tapas and sat back and watched Pep Manubens work the long space calling from end to end orders to the chefs and waiters as they grill, and finish dishes in the long space, some dishes were also coming from a tiny kitchen at the end of the bar. Peps big personally shines through in all aspects of his small dining room, from the funky art on the placemats and on the walls, to the cute postcards we are given as we leave, and to politely asking if I could take photos to then suddenly having camera thrust out of my hands and into the waiters' and then Jack Nicholson look-alike Pep, posing with us for a photo. You are made to feel incredibly welcome.
Crispy fried baby fish of a few different varieties, school prawns and calamari rings all tossed together and perfectly seasoned.
Pan fried fish, that was sectioned and bones removed in front of us.
Cal Pep was all about ambience, of which it oozed. We didn't speak the language and they didn't speak ours but there was a lot of care and love in everything we ate and experienced.
Cal Pep would be the ultimate local.... if only I lived in Barcelona.
Jack