A grilled mac-and-cheese sandwich? ‘It may sound disgusting ... but it works!’ La Piña’s innovative take on grilled cheese is its go-to menu item. British owners Jamie Garrett and Celine Gale opened the bar/restaurant last year in Poble-sec. Garrett had previously been a pub manager in London, and you can see a lifetime of bartender’s charm in him.
What the locals call a ‘bikini’ (or toasted ham and cheese sandwich) is ingrained in their fondest childhood memories, a universal Sunday afternoon snack that’s also enjoyed in Garrett and Gale’s native UK. La Piña decided to fuse it with other flavours, and La Britney is the star of the menu, where it’s called ‘a delicious American dream’. Macaroni with barbecue sauce and chives held together with a tantalizing mix of cheddar, mozzarella and Galician tetilla cheese. I guess it's called La Britney because it’s so over the top.
The other star of the menu is La Reina (The Queen), with cheddar, tetilla and ham with a crispy cheese crown. La Piña has the feel of a local bar in El Raval, but you’ll find it in Poble-sec, where they also host clothing and language exchanges, and offer an impressive selection of eco wines, craft beer (try the IPA Ziggy!) and a small but satisfying cocktail menu. The bread is from Yellow Bakery, and in each slice you can taste the baker's passion for creating the most organic and artisan product.