I've already cut and pasted some info from this thread into my trip files:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-girona.cfm

Anyone have any other tips on restaurants and tapas bars in Girona and Tarragona? We are using both cities as bases to explore the surrounding areas, but we will want to come back at night to eat dinner. Actually, any tips on markets would be appreciated, too...

thanks!

The two really good ones we found were Txantxangori in the plaza and Cuca Fera which is a couple of streets away near the cathedral. We had the best paella we've ever had there.

Thanks Egbert!

Tarragona doesn't have a great deal of tapas options. Like many of the places outside of Barcelona in Catalonia, since tapas aren't part of the Catalon culture they are not prevalent. They are more places that serve raciones and are sit down - versus a stand up/one serving tapa bar. However, there is a tapas bar of the (somewhat good) chain Lizarran on Plaza de la Font.

I was in Tarragona for 2 nights in September 2007 and ate at 2 restaurants in the old town.

Pigal, Carrer La Nau 6 - modern cuisine approach and very good. The 12 euro menu (offered at lunch) included a salad with pomegranates, nuts and olives as the starter, a mar & montagne combination for the main course and flan for dessert. A nice wine was included along with bread and water. Good value and quality food.

Entiendes, c/Villaroma No 4 - would not recommend. I had a 18.9 menu del dia option that included a very small brochetta of fois groie as a starter, chicken stuffed with seafood for the main course (non-descript) and leche frita (good but nothing special) for dessert.

I'd also recommended going to the port area where there are some restaurants and having the traditional fish with romesco sauce.

Thanks Cathy - I'll take along your notes. The lunch at Pigal sounds great!

Do you mind sharing when you are visiting this area and where you are staying in Girona and Tarragona?

Not at all... we will be in Tarragona from September 26 - October 1. Then we are going to Vic for two days (staying at the parador) and then on to Girona from October 3 to October 10. Are you going to be there at the same time?

I'll be in the Basque country but no Catalunya when you're visitiing.

Tarragona has a great festival, Santa Tecla, that may be happening when you're there (or you may have just missed it). If you contact the tourist office they should confirm the dates.

You probably already have your hotel booked but I stayed at a wonderful little (20 rooms) place, Hotel Plaza de la Font. It was right on the main plaza in the old town. My room was large (for European standards, at least) and I had a balcony overlooking the plaza - it made for great people watching. It's relatively new and was very clean. Not a 4* luxury hotel but all the basic services, great location and prices were reasonable.

http://hotelpdelafont.com/

Do you need restaurant recs for Vic? Or are you planning on eating at the Parador. I spent 2 nights in Vic during my fall 2007 trip and loved it.

Have you considered Besalu as a daytrip?

hi Cathy -

We'll have lots of daytrips, including Besalu. I googled the festival and unfortunately we will miss it! It ends on the 24th.

http://santatecla.tarragona.cat/

We are staying in an apartment in Tarragona but I will bookmark your hotel rec - it sounds great.

Have a great time in the Basque country!

Cathy, I'm just getting my notes together and noticed you asked me about Vic. I totally missed that, sorry! We will probably eat dinner at the parador but if you know of any place that would be good for lunch, let me know.
Once again, thanks and have a great time on your trip.