Barcelona Sant Andreu

El Desván Azul, C. Malats, 8 (☎933 12 02 88). Sant Andreu. “The Blue Loft” offers an airy environment and upscale cuisine. Excellent pasta dishes (€8-10) such as tortellini with spinach, Roquefort, and walnuts. Meat and fish entrees €9-17. Weekday lunch menú €9.60. Open M 1-4pm, Tu-Th 1-4pm and 9-10:30pm, F 1-4pm and 9-11pm, Sa 9-11pm. MC/V.
Indians, C. de Campo Florida, 52 (☎933 52 72 62). Congrès. Walk down C. Francesc Tárraga and take a left on C. de Campo Florida. This local favorite serves pizza de créppes (€8.30), which substitutes pizza dough with a light egg batter. Patrons often linger after a meal for drinks at the terrace upstairs. Why the name? No one knows. Open M-Sa 8:30pm-12:30am. MC/V.
La Brotxeta, C. August i Milà. (☎933 11 57 13; www.labrotxeta.com). Sant Andreu. Walk up Pg. Torras i Bages, go left on C. de Joan Torras, and continue as it leads onto C. August i Milà. The specialty here is brotxeta (€6-12)—grilled meat, poultry, or seafood skewered and hung from a hook, then served with potatoes and aioli. The setting feels cozy and old-fashioned and the service is good. Open M-Th and Su 9am-midnight, F-Sa 10am-2am. Cash only.
El Burro Chilango, C. Cinca, 86 (☎933 45 80 08). Torres i Bages. The lime green tables make this restaurant feel like a piñata. Mexican standards include fajitas (€11), tacos (€9-10), and burritos (€9.50). Open Tu-Su 1-3:30pm and 8-11:30pm. MC/V.
Tasca i Vins, C. del Cardenal Tedeschini, 32 (☎934 08 27 39). Sagrera or Congrès. From Sagrera, walk up Av. Meridiana and turn left on C. del Cardenal Tedeschini. Other locations at C. Industria, 118 (☎934 35 50 52) and C. Diputació, 304 (☎933 42 53 28). It’s big, it’s cheap, it’s a 4-location chain: embrace it. Paella, sangria, bocadillos —this place has anything you could possibly want at unbeatable prices, served around a pretty terrace with a fountain in the center. Breakfast deals (half-sandwich, OJ and coffee; €2.40). 6 menús €6.80-14. Montaditos €1. Paella €8.50. Sangria pitcher €7. Open M-F 8am-midnight, Sa 1:30pm-midnight, Su 1:30-10:30pm. MC/V.
Rhino’s, Pg. Fabra i Puig, 68. (☎933 45 72 67; www.cerveceriarhinos.es). Fabra i Puig. The over-the-top safari theme, complete with life-size model rhinoceros, makes this a fun and kitschy place to enjoy tapas (€3-6) and bocadillos (€3-5). Open M-Th and Su 9am-midnight, F-Sa 10am-2am. Cash only.
Barchelona Pg. Fabra i Puig, 32 (☎933 11 26 25). Fabra i Puig. Colorful cervecería festooned with paintings of the sea-dwelling creatures being cooked and seasoned for your dining pleasure. Combination plates (€6-12.50) feature Catalan staples like sepia and botifarra. Torrades €6-13. MC/V.