The holidays are finally over. Days of excess, after which many minds turn to diets and gyms. If yours has, stop reading right now, because the exquisite food we’re describing today will spark utterly uncontrollable cravings…
If you’re an indecisive gourmand, you’ll love today’s formula. Osmosis offers 3 gourmet sampling menus for the entire table. One has 5 dishes, the other 7, and the extra-long one has 9. All the menus can be accompanied by wine pairings. Frankly, when the restaurant opened – 10 years ago! – we thought that the plan was equal parts smart and risky, and that if they wanted to survive they’d surely have to make the menus more flexible and open. But without having changed an iota, Osmosis is still open… and we can confirm that it’s in fine shape! We clearly erred in our prediction.
Osmosis is in a narrow, two-storey venue on Carrer Aribau. On street level, the space is sober and large enough, elegant in a minimalist style. The upper level has several different rooms, and also exudes elegance, but it has more personality and is more exclusive, especially the room housing the chefs’ gastronomic library. Tables with tablecloths and professional servers who know the dishes by heart but don’t get bogged down in lengthy explanations. The wine list has several curious choices. In short, it’s the ideal place for intimate dinners with 2 to 4 people.
We start with the “Vanilla-scented demi-cuit foie gras with apple”, a dish so good that it’s been on the menu for 10 years. We follow it with an impeccable, delightful “Red prawn ravioli stuffed with wild mushroom duxelle”. Then comes the fascinating “Razor clams with creamed vegetables and pancetta”, a carefully crafted dish with a delicate flavour in which you can appreciate the efforts of the Osmosis team.
Vanilla-scented demi-cuit foie gras with apple
Red prawn ravioli stuffed with wild mushroom duxelle
Razor clams with creamed vegetables and pancetta
More striking is the “Black truffle rice”, cooked and flavoured to perfection, and the succulent, tasty “Veal”, which concludes the savoury dishes.
Black truffle rice
Veal
The next chapter is the desserts, which follow the same philosophy with equally exceptional results. The first is “Lemon ice tea”, which is particularly delicious. The next one is the “Chocolate with spices and dried fruit”, which combines a variety of textures and kinds of chocolate in the same dish.
Lemon ice tea
Chocolate with spices and dried fruit
What do we gain from this osmotic formula? A set menu featuring exquisite, gourmet dishes that are beautiful and refined, crafted with outstanding products, all at reasonable prices: €38, €55 and €68.
Specialisation, focus and particularly a refusal to be distracted by trying to please everyone result in 3-Miguelín-star dishes which explain this restaurant’s sustained success.
If osmosis filters are used to get pure drinking water by eliminating unwanted smells and flavours, at Osmosis they do the polar opposite: they give food all the scents and flavours you could want. Top kudos for today’s restaurant: 3 stars!
| Score | ||
|---|---|---|
| Food | Wines | |
| 80 | 73 | |
| Service | Venue | |
| 73 | 70 | |
| Price | MIGUELÍN STARS | |
| 25-68€ |  |
|
| Per person: Lunch set menu (3 dishes) €25 / 5-dish set menu €38 (with wine pairing €60) / 7-dish set menu €55 (with wine pairing €95) / 9-dish menu €68 (with wine pairing €110) | ||
Where is Osmosis?
Address: Carrer d'Aribau, 100, 08036 Barcelona
Telephone: 934545201
Timetable: Monday to Saturday 1:30-3:30 pm and 8-11 pm. Closed Sunday.
Website: http://www.restauranteosmosis.com/ca/