Mr Porter Chophouse, Barcelona ~ Quality Steaks & Pucker Plonk

Taking over the space that once housed the fabled Roca MOO, Mr Porter is an atypical chop house and an equally indulgent space to meet and eat with friends.

The Vibe

Run by the Entourage Group, the concept of Mr Porter has been lifted wholesale from the original venue in Amsterdam, although this glorious light-flooded space in the heart of Eixample looks set to become the company’s new flagship.

It has the air of a London private members club – complete with power lunching businessmen – but the staff is young and enthusiastic, offering a refreshingly informal service style that makes you want to hang around.

The Food

Expect A-grade roast beef carpaccio, succulent bone-in filet and stellar steaks served with hand cut fries. Seafood lovers are treated to the likes of sautéed shrimp, Dover sole, grilled lobster and taboon roasted sea bass in a adobo salsa.

There’s also an impressive array of vegetarian options, including roasted aubergine with grated egg, zucchini, mushroom/avocado carpaccio, and Jerusalem artichokes.

The Booze

The international wine list is suitably impressive, with plenty to choose from the local terroir.

The cocktail menu is also very impressive, with a passionate team of bartenders who invest a great deal of themselves into creating new flavours.

The Verdict

Mr Porter is, as the staff describe it themselves, an “extravagant yet modest space”. Or as I would describe it: “an extravagant space for the modest”.

It’s probably not the sort of restaurant you’re going to be able to afford to dine at on a weekly basis, but if you’ve had your fill of tapas and crave a high quality steak and a bottle of good plonk, you can’t really go wrong.

They also offer a full English breakfast, and you can also hang out around the gorgeous bar for a few drinks with friends. Or go alone as I did and, if you’re lucky, you can hangout with the creative bar tenders a play guinea pig while they test out their latest concoctions.