On the first floor of Hotel Catalonia Catedral you can find a tranquil dining spot with a view of old town Barcelona in which to enjoy first rate cuisine. This is Ascent, a restaurant specialising in Mediterranean dishes but with a French touch. The location could not be more convenient for a tourist in Barcelona since Ascent is located in the busy commercial heart of the Gothic Quarter, a stone’s throw away from both the Cathedral and Plaça de Catalunya.
Bringing your kids to Barcelona can be something of a risk. The city is renowned for its nightlife, culture and wine – not necessarily what a child looks for in a holiday! Ascent Restaurant however clearly make their menu child-friendly with a whole section devoted to them. With options like ham and cheese pizza, rigatoni pasta with Neapolitan sauce and fish and chips, even the fussiest of eaters should be able to find a main course they like the sound of.
With the little ones taken care of, you will be free to peruse the chef’s suggestions at leisure. Tempting offers like grilled beef tenderloin with foie, Pont Neuf potatoes and Pedro Ximénez reduction demonstrate the mix of French and Spanish gastronomy, whilst lobster cannelloni with creamy boletus show how all the best Mediterranean fare feature strongly. Seafood lovers will delight in the many fish and shellfish recipes on Ascent’s menu, including grilled sole, monkfish rice, octopus or fresh catch of the day.
If you want to truly eat like a Spaniard, you can choose from the tapas menu with various paellas, or if you visit Ascent at lunchtime, try their weekly lunch menu. All the Iberian favourites are available in sharing portions such as mushroom croquettes, jamón ibérico and of course, seafood paella. For more adventurous diners looking to try something different, why not sample the black rice of squid ink and prawns, baked in coal or quinoa with samfaina and smoked tofu (both available on the lunch menu, though it does change weekly).
It should be evident that Ascent has a broad and varied menu of starters and mains, appropriate for all ages and for either lunch or dinner. Even better, they like to spoil their clients with a wide range of dessert options too. Once again, the kids have their own choices (though some adults may be tempted by the homemade oreo sandwich too!) such as fruit or different ice creams. Meanwhile the adults can choose a Catalan favourite, Mel i Mató – a fresh soft cheese drizzled with honey – carrot cake with blueberry mousse, chocolate coulant or many more.
