La Catalana open in Havana Rumba strip

[Robin Garr]

Authentic Barcelona cuisine, says my source! I assume this is in the space vacated by Royal India and its short-lived successor. Sounds well worth checking out ... who'll file the first report?

Haven't been yet. Heard from somebody I trust that it may be the "new best restaurant in Louisville". Going today for lunch!

Now if Havana Rumba would just expand so it's not an hour long wait.

[Robin Garr]

Mary and I went yesterday. It's good. Very good. Much of the menu is Catalan, but it also ranges around the Med and even throws some American dishes (beef stew!) on the lunch menu.

Mary and I went yesterday. It's good. Very good. Much of the menu is Catalan, but it also ranges around the Med and even throws some American dishes (beef stew!) on the lunch menu.

Hey Robin, what's the price range?

Now if Havana Rumba would just expand so it's not an hour long wait.

Wasn't Havana Rumba even smaller in its original design?

Now if Havana Rumba would just expand so it's not an hour long wait.

Wasn't Havana Rumba even smaller in its original design?

Yes. I believe it consisted just of the left room.

I ate at La Catalana today for lunch and is was VERY GOOD. Good size portions and a wide array of opportunities. I spoke to Hector one of the owners and he said they have started off slow to work on the service but wants to be sure that the food is of the highest quality. They have two lady chefs from Spain doing the cooking. I would put the quality of food equal to that of Havana Rumba.
I had Santeed Lamb, Rice and fresh vegetable salad. They started off with a (bruchetta) grilled crusty bread with a tomato garlic spread and gazpacho.
There is a little language barrier, but the same as any other authentic restaurant.

Another poster (Adam) asked for the price range:
Lunch
Mixed dishes $7.85 (that is what I had)
Sandwiches $7.50
Dinner
Apps and Salads range from $4.75 - $7.75
Entrees range from $6.25 - $18.55

The Grand Opening is 11/27/09 open at 11am
They are offering a 15% discount on opening day.

4123 Oechsli Ave
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 895-8882

[Robin Garr]

Hey Robin, what's the price range?

Kurt beat me to the details, but note also that they have a three-course (app, main, dessert) lunch special for a flat $10. The dishes on it change daily, usually two choices for each course. Mary and I went yesterday and both got the lunch so we could try it all, and everything we tried was good. I have to agree. Head to head with Havana Rumba and two doors down, this is going to be some tough competition if they stay on track.

The menu is mostly Catalan, particularly the main courses, which are shown on the menu in both Catalan and English, but they do have a number of options from all over the Med - the rest of Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey ...

Please keep me posted. I went the first night and boy they must have worked out quite a few kinks. I'm more than fair with new places, and even gave the owner the web site info so he could send a line to Robin, but wow! I know you guys must have gone to the same place, but I thought they had miles to go before they were any competition for Rumba.
blandness was a major issue. Bland overcooked vegtables, bland steak, bland calamari, bland lamb shanks... and on and on. Maybe they were working out some issues or the two Spanish Chefs were late for work... I will try it again on the advice of this forum and wish them the best. They seemed like really sweet people. I was sad for them and now I'm eager to try it again. Thank you for keeping me in an open frame of mind. I would have never returned and now I will. Promise.

Please keep me posted. I went the first night and boy they must have worked out quite a few kinks. I'm more than fair with new places, and even gave the owner the web site info so he could send a line to Robin, but wow! I know you guys must have gone to the same place, but I thought they had miles to go before they were any competition for Rumba.
blandness was a major issue. Bland overcooked vegtables, bland steak, bland calamari, bland lamb shanks... and on and on. Maybe they were working out some issues or the two Spanish Chefs were late for work... I will try it again on the advice of this forum and wish them the best. They seemed like really sweet people. I was sad for them and now I'm eager to try it again. Thank you for keeping me in an open frame of mind. I would have never returned and now I will. Promise.

I was there today with my mom, who is from Spain. Everyone was EXTREMELY nice and thrilled to meet a Spaniard. We met the chef, two partners, wait staff...the whole gang.

But, I would agree with much of what was said above. Food was not quite there yet. The image needs work too, and they know it. It's supposed to be mainly Spanish/Catalan inspired..but they have been influenced in some early comments by yokels who didn't know where Spain was (yikes), assumed they were an Indian joint (double yikes), or thought that Mediterranean meant "Peruvian" food (oh dear). So, they went a little over the top and in the wrong direction, and now have the wait staff wearing tolga-like outfits. Alrighty then. Thankfully, they plan on ditching the sheets. They need to stick to "Spain" for the theme. More pictures on the walls, some spanish guitar or Gypsy Kings for background music (instead of Eminem).

Will be giving them another chance, for sure.

Please keep me posted. I went the first night and boy they must have worked out quite a few kinks. I'm more than fair with new places, and even gave the owner the web site info so he could send a line to Robin, but wow! I know you guys must have gone to the same place, but I thought they had miles to go before they were any competition for Rumba.
blandness was a major issue. Bland overcooked vegtables, bland steak, bland calamari, bland lamb shanks... and on and on. Maybe they were working out some issues or the two Spanish Chefs were late for work... I will try it again on the advice of this forum and wish them the best. They seemed like really sweet people. I was sad for them and now I'm eager to try it again. Thank you for keeping me in an open frame of mind. I would have never returned and now I will. Promise.

Yes, they sure must have!! I just got back from there. Service is VERY friendly, and the food was VERY good. I had the Turkish mousaka. Wow...I still like Grape Leaf for quantity but this dish is very good quality! If you ask for bread, they will bring you traditional Catalan bread rubbed with tomato. I also had the baked apple, a whole apple (I think it was Gala?) baked in cinnamon. My guess is the quantity is because of the tapas nature of Barcelona cuisine. But the two dishes together were filling, and that plus an ice tea and a good tip, were about $15.

On Friday, their Grand Opening, they have 15 percent off all day.

Another great meal today! They brought me a bowl of gazpacho on the house, and I had the garlic shrimp, rice, and salad. Very tasty! Fruit skewer (strawberries, bananas, kiwi, pineapple, pear) covered in rich dark chocolate for dessert. And they are not used to Americans tipping 20 percent yet

Can someone post a menu please, or is there a website with one already?

Can someone post a menu please, or is there a website with one already?

There is not a website yet. They gave me a copy of their menu, but I haven't had a chance to retype it and post it.