BCN Taste & Tradition - Ignacio Torras' Elegant Spanish Restaurant Led By Chef Luis Roger

[Josh]

Eric Sandler reports that Ignacio Torras and Luis Roger are planning a more casual pintxos-focused restaurant in River Oaks to be named MAD (sticking with the Spanish airport theme).

I celebrated my most recent birthday at BCN, and very much look forward to visiting whatever Torres has planned for MAD.  BCN is certainly fine dining, but maintains a friendliness and relaxed-enough vibe that it never feels stuffy (despite the fact that you'd probably feel out of place if you weren't wearing a jacket).  Paco, the GM treated us as though we were old friends from the moment we walked up to the front door.

They do the classics well, including an extensive gin & tonic list.  I have a soft-spot for Spanish culture and cuisine, so I am likely to be predisposed to like a place like BCN, but I do think it does a fantastic job of balancing the classics with modern interpretations of Spanish flavors.  Our arroz negro hewed closely to the Platonic ideal, while the confit pork cheeks with lentils and chanterelles introduced a new way for me to obsess over Iberian pork.

(Click through to see other photos on IG.)