Inside Palo Alto’s new Teleferic Barcelona
Enjoy authentic Spanish tapas, pintxos and paella
When Barcelona’s tapas hot spot, Teleferic Barcelona, opened an outpost in Walnut Creek three years ago, delighted pintxos and paella lovers rejoiced. Now siblings Xavi and Maria Padrosa have opened their second California location in Palo Alto’s Town & Country Village, bringing an entire management staff from Spain’s Catalan region to ensure authenticity. Here’s what it’s like inside.
THE VIBE » Up-lit with mood lighting and wicker pendants overhead, this new restaurant feels half a world away from a Palo Alto shopping center. Cool tones and sleek lines give it a modern vibe.
THE FOOD » You’ll find classic Spanish tapas here, from the patatas bravas ($9), delivered in cheerful yellow ceramic bowls, to jamon Iberico de bellota ($28) and gambas al ajillo ($17). And the pulpo Teleferic ($17) offers tender octopus with truffle oil and pimenton potato puree.
But you’ll also find some unexpected, perhaps more California-centric items, like the corn kale salad ($13) with avocado, goat cheese, quinoa and chickpeas. The taquitos de atun ($12) sounds like a typical tuna and avocado sashimi situation, but when the wonton shells arrive in taco form, you discover it’s a dish that won best in show at a 2018 Barcelona tapas competition.
And, of course, there are the paellas, which range from the extravagant paella de bogavante ($49 for two guests) with lobster and other seafood, to the vegetarian paella de verduras ($35 for two). Other entrees include a popular crispy porca ($17) and creamy seafood canelon ($25).
Save room for dessert — irresistible churros con chocolate ($8) or the Top Trio selection ($16), which includes churros, creamy flan and the traditional
Catalan peasant dessert called torrijas, that is basically rich Spanish (instead of French) toast, dipped in cream and fried, topped with orange coulis.
THE SIPS » The Spanishinspired
cocktail menu is topped by a trio of gin-tonics, including the classic Catalan ($13) made with Uncle Val’s Gin, grapefruit and rosemary, and three kinds of sangria ($10-$12), from the sangria Barceloneta with cava to the spicy sangria, spiked with serrano pepper vodka and elderflower.
DON’T MISS » The nine seats at the chef’s counter get you close to the action. And the Palo Alto location offers a mercado, a small marketplace stocked with Spanish ingredients and wine and soon, cooking classes — learn to make paella! — and tastings.
GOOD TO KNOW » This place is busy; make reservations. If you want paella, order it first, as it takes 35 to 45 minutes to prepare. And tempting as the pintxos are — these small skewered bites are passed around the restaurant — they’re $3 each, so try not to order 50 of them.
PERFECT FOR ... » A fun date night out — especially at the chef’s counter. Or come with a group so you can try one of everything.
DETAILS » Open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, until 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday at 855 El Camino Real, Suite 130, Palo Alto; www. telefericbarcelona.com.