Tree-lined Baishaquan is quickly becoming one of the most eclectic dining streets in Hangzhou. With the opening of La Pedrera, Hangzhou’s first, authentic, Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar, we think they’re going to need to widen that road. We were invited to their soft opening, so they were still in the process of decorating; fortunately, the kitchen, run by Chefs Marc and Raquel, was ready to go.
From the outside, La Pedrera looks like an homage to its namesake, the Casa Milà, in Barcelona. We say namesake, because the Casa Milà, is better known as, La Pedrera. The interior, though not completed at the time of this review, was still clean, bright, and inviting. The space itself offers 3-floors of seating options, with the ground floor containing a wine and tapas bar, the 2nd reserved for formal dining, and the 3rd for private parties. But enough about the décor, let’s get to the food.
It should be noted that the chefs at La Pedrera come from the same school as the chefs at Shanghai’s famous, el Willy, so expectations were high. Starting with the tapas, we ordered olives (30RMB) which included a yummy blend of stuffed green and Kalamata olives, drizzled in oil, and served with garlic and red pepper. Next up was the fried baby squid (48RMB), which was a little soft, but good nonetheless, and the prawns in garlic and olive oil (68RMB), which were phenomenal. Rounding out our tapas order was the dish we felt was the strongest, the ham croquets, which were creamy, rich, and cooked to perfection.
For our main courses we ordered the seafood paella for two (180RMB), and the beef filet with foie gras in a port reduction (198RMB), which is big enough for two. Now, if you’ve never had paella, you’re missing out, because it’s fantastic, and the rendition served at La Pedrera is as deliciously authentic as they come. The rice was cooked to perfection, the spices and seasonings just right, and the generous usage of fresh clams, mussels, scallops, and prawns made the whole dish a delight. The filet and foie gras were equally decadent, while the port wine served as a snappy juxtaposition to the richness of the dish, and some of the best sweet potatoes we’ve had in China were served as a side.
We washed this down with a full pitcher of their house-made sangria (300RMB), which fit the mood and the food to a T. In the end, we left feeling better than we had in a long time, and couldn’t wait until the next time we’d make it back to try more stuff off the their expansive menu. Our expectations weren’t just met, they were exceeded. Bi-lingual Spanish/English menu available. Parking is available on the street.
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