Restaurant Review-La Pedrera (Hangzhou, China)

Address:  4, BAISHAQUAN, SHUGUANG ROAD, Hangzhou 310007, China   Phone # 0571-88866089

Anyone who has lived in China, or been a long staying visitor, can likely relate to the sentiment that no matter how much you may be enjoying yourself, sometimes nothing you want more is to get some peace and quiet. The crowds and noise get the best of you, and you crave an escape. When you find a special place whether it be a restaurant, bar, or house of a friend which allows you to transport yourself to a place of comfort, the feeling is rare and nothing less than magical. That is what is so special about La Pedrera restaurant in Hangzhou….the homey décor and the fresh quality ingredients combined with Chef Eze`s (Ezequiel Cardozo) charm and personality allow oneself to leave China and travel to beautiful Spain.

We felt comfortable at La Pedrera prior to even arriving at the restaurant. Having gotten lost on our way there, we called the restaurant and Chef Eze came and met us and helped us find our way, right away going above and beyond in terms of service. Upon arrival at the restaurant, we were immediately impressed by the charming and tastefully decorated 3 story restaurant, which contained a bar on the ground floor level.

The menu contains an extensive list of drinks and Spanish dishes, ranging from tapas to mains, all at reasonable prices.

Our Meal

Marinated Olives- Those of you who have travelled to Spain likely remember the spicy and salty marinated olives which are a staple of any tapas bar. These olives did not disappoint…marinated for over 24 hours, these olives were bites of deliciousness containing spicy flavours of mint and cumin. Even my friend who claimed “she does not like olives“ was converted.

Bread and Tomatoes-Another traditional Spanish tapas, crusty toasted bread with a tomato paste to spread on top was beautiful in its simplicity.

Salad with Marinated Salmon and Avocado- The fresh and crunchy mixed greens topped with radish, fresh and tasty salmon.

Ham and Shrimp Croquettas- I love love love croquettas! One of my favorite tapas while living in Spain…these babies brought me back…crispy on the outside, creamy in the middle (think béchamel sauce with meat and a crispy crust).

Spanish Tortilla- I’ve tasted many Tortillas in tapas restaurants in Spain that were dry and bland….this was not one of them. This tortilla was well seasoned, and cooked to perfection.

Beef Cooked for 36 Hours- My boyfriend was practically salivating just reading the description of this item and it did not disappoint! Melt in your mouth, fall off the bone tender beef with a gravy-like sauce over creamed potatoes. Homey, tasty, deliciousness.

Fried Camembert with Honey & Rosemary-Baked cheese with a crunchy phyllo pastry crust…need I say more? Oh yes…just YUM!

Seafood Paella- The seafood paella was artfully presented in a iron skillet…the beauty of this dish didn’t end in the presentation but rather surpassed visual expectations with its flavor and taste.

Pina Colada Soup- This was one of the most interesting desserts I have ever tasted. A pina-colada flavoured “soup“, with an egg shaped piece of mint chocolate and foam mousse was a unique combination of textures and flavours that worked!

We were wow-ed and fully content by the end of our meal, and to our delight and surprise, our enjoyment was not to end yet! Chef Eze “convinced” (it didn’t take much haha) us to try out his beautiful Gin and Tonics at the ground level bar. What’s so special about G&T’s you ask? Well let me tell you…these were no ordinary G&Ts. Try a variety of different G&T’s with pineapple and apple caramelized by small torch in front of us, fresh herbs, and frozen figs. This was this incredibly entertaining and you could not help but get swept up in the Chef’s enthusiasm and passion he put into making each drink…and the proof was in the product…they were fantastically flavored!

Anyone looking for fantastic service, beautiful ambiance, tasty drinks, and hearty and flavorful food this restaurant is a must go to!