El Laurel Café and Taberna in Granada falls short, plain and simple. Spain is known for its exceptional food and particularly for its ingredients. This place stands in stark contrast to that reputation.
The service, to be fair, was the one redeeming aspect. Our waitress, the only staff member that seemed to be working on this Saturday was clearly overwhelmed but did her best to manage the situation with professionalism. Unfortunately, no amount of good service can salvage subpar food.
We were after a couple of risk-free tapas as a light snack after a train journey. The patatas bravas were a far cry from what you’d expect. Instead of the crispy potatoes and tangy sauce you hope for, we received soggy wedges topped with what seemed to be little more than bottled ketchup with a bit of Tabasco and mayonnaise.
The croquetas weren’t much better. Jamon and queso (ham and cheese) croquetas are a heartening staple but simplicity needs quality of ingredients. Sadly this was lacking – the ham felt heavily processed in a way that is quite rare in Spain in our experience. The tuna was worse, and had that unpleasantly fishy smell that immediately made them inedible, and we ended up leaving most of them behind.
The best part of the meal? The café con leche, which, though not outstanding, at least came from a machine—perhaps the most consistent element of the experience.
Ultimately, El Laurel isn’t worth your time. With what is a wealth of fantastic dining options in Granada, there’s no reason to settle for something that doesn’t even begin to live up to Spain’s culinary standards. Find somewhere else.
