chiguy

We are planning our first Spain trip this November. In doing our research, I'm not really clear on the "waiting" protocol for a place like Cal Pep. If you aren't in line when the door opens, what exactly do you do to get a seat at the bar? Do you stand behind someone, and move up when the seat is vacated? What if the people you are behind decide to spend all night there? Or if you are two or three deep, does that mean you won't be eating for several hours? And finally, do they serve drinks to those waiting for a seat?

Robert2533

The following is from FoodandWine.com:

Best Bites Near The Sights

To get into this tiny tapas restaurant in the trendy El Born district, guests usually have to line up for an hour before it opens. But the wait is worthwhile: Cal Pep serves some of the most exceptional—and refreshingly classic—seafood tapas in Spain.

Line up and take your chances with everyone else, or arrive really early.

Aduchamp1

Cal Pep is not tapas. You get full servings and three or four courses if you wish, including dessert. Last time a few months ago, I had sea bass with a decidedly mixed fried seafood appetizer.
The sea bass was perfext the fried shrimp was not.

Many patrons leave their choices to the staff.

I was in front of the restaurant at approzimately 12:40 and was second "on line." There is no formal line structure, just a curteous acknowledgement of each person's position.

If someone spends the entire night waiting, they deserve to go in front of you.

chiguy

First, thank you to the previous posters for responding. But, I'm thinking that maybe my questions were not clear.

Let's say that I get to Cal Pep at 10:30pm. All the seats at the bar are taken and all the tables are taken. In order to get a seat at the bar when one becomes available, how is that handled? Do you wait in a line outside for an opening?

kenderina

Yes..you do wait for an opening..as in any other restaurant in Spain..I never have been to Cal Pep but I don't expect to be any different unless there's a maitre

ekscrunchy

I ate at Cal Pep every day during a 5-day stay in Barcelona about 5 years ago. One day we actually ate both lunch and dinner there! As I remember, if you arrive after the first diners are admitted, you will wait with a gaggle of people near the front of the place and as the seats become available, the people waiting take their seats. There is no formal procecure but it seems to work out ok. Hopefully this has not changed in the past years as the place has become more well known. For our meals, we waited on line so as to be among the first people admitted. Otherwise you may well have to wait an hour or more. But I doubt if any diner will spend all night there..the staff monitors diners well and you are expected to keep consuming while you are seated, not to dawdle for an hour after having ordered ydour last plate. In any case, it is crowded and noisy so not conducive to just hanging out indefinitely. They also have a restaurant where you can sit at tables; they take reservations for this area.

chiguy

Thanks ekscrunchy. That's what I was trying to understand.