Patatas bravas may be a staple of Spanish tapas culture, but in Barcelona one small café has elevated them into something extraordinary. Hidden on Carrer de Calàbria in l’Esquerra de l’Eixample, Le Petit has won acclaim for its ‘Bárbaras’ bravas — a reinvention of the classic dish that has food lovers raving.
From the outside, Le Petit resembles a Parisian-style patisserie, known as much for its cakes as for its savoury menu. Yet inside, owner Rafael de Abreu and his team have transformed the humble potato into a local culinary highlight.
‘After working in other kitchens and trying countless bravas, we found them repetitive,’ Rafael explained. ‘We wanted a sauce that was different — not too spicy, with a hint of sweetness. And it had to be homemade.’
The result is a secret recipe blending kimchi for heat, sun-dried tomato for depth, and honey for balance. Topped with chistorra sausage, crispy onion and Parmesan, the creation was so bold the team christened it ‘Bárbara’. At €6 a portion, regulars say it is worth every cent.
Customer reviews back up the hype. ‘Simply spectacular: crunchy outside, soft inside,’ wrote one diner online. Others have praised them as ‘original, different, delicious’ and among the very best in Barcelona.
While bravas are often an afterthought in the city’s tapas bars, Le Petit has turned them into its calling card. Alongside pastries and coffee, the bravas have given this unassuming spot an outsized reputation — a reminder that sometimes, even the simplest dishes can be reimagined into something unforgettable.
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Source: El Periódico
