Cuina Sant Cugat / Contemporary Mediterranean cuisine

After a mysterious six-month “tancat”, Cuina Sant Cugat is back. Word is, it had something to do with a reshuffle in the partnership with Raül Balam Ruscalleda (son of the legendary Carme Ruscalleda) who is now no longer part of the restaurant. What matters to us winers and diners and good value menú del dia seekers, is that the doors are open again and Sant Cugat is all the better for it.

The bright, fun and modern entrance is a photostop and will give you a sense of pride when you bring guests along for the first time. Step inside and it’s like the closure never happened. Same comfortable furniture, same big front window, same cosy-modern vibe that feels just right, like La Barra does. What has changed is the price. And the menu is more normal. But also, we now felt an atmosphere which I do not recall from before. On a random weekday lunchtime the place was busy. Dropping the menú del dia from 26.50€ to 16.90€ probably explains it.

I liked the old Cuina a lot. The cooking was creative, presented beautifully and tasty. The service was spot-on. The pleasant surprise now is that the food quality hasn’t slipped, yet it’s affordable. Some of the team are clearly new, but they’re keen and friendly. The new maître d’ is a real find for them as he was conversational and not just transactional. Food? Straight in with the ceps croquetas. Crunchy outside and deeply mushroomy within. The torrada with roast beef was the only slight misstep for me. The toast was too aggressive and the avocado was just a smear. A dollop of horseradish and softer bread would have nailed it for me.

The beetroot, goat’s cheese and orange salad, hough, was beautiful and perfectly balanced. I’m having that next time. Then we shared the signature black rice with carabinero prawns. Eight prawns lined up like overweight soldiers thoughtfully peeled bodies with the heads and tails left on for show, and no messy fingers. The dish was great, though I still have a softer spot for the inkier version at Ébano in Bellaterra, admittedly at double the price.

Desserts kept the winning streak alive: a classic baked apple with ice cream and cinnamon and a cheesecake that actually tasted of cheese.
Lunch is only menú del dia, but with plenty of choices, while dinner has interesting and mouthwatering options. Prices feel almost too reasonable for the setting. We paid 55€ for two, including many extras. But we could easily have kept it to 33€ if we stayed disciplined and had an equally good time.

Cuina still works for pretty much any occasion from casual to business lunches, romantic encounters, groups, or just a quiet glass of wine at the bar. I’m genuinely delighted it’s back, and this time at prices that might actually keep it here. Sant Cugat needs this place. It’s on our “where shall we go?” list.

Welcome Back!

Cuina Restaurant, c. Sant Bonaventura 6, now open for business