Alberg La Torre Vall Fosca

We stopped for lunch because we remembered enjoying the Vall Fosca, but this place turned out to be dirty and poorly looked after. The fideuà was awful: undercooked, bland and very oily. The duck and apple paella with supposed foia disappointed too. Service made things worse. A woman took our plate of frozen patates braves away without asking, then tried to clear the fideuà while we still had food left. We had a horrible experience and wouldn’t recommend it. Bellvei has better choices, like Artur hotel and Felip bar, where the service is exceptional, prices are better and the Pallaresa cooking is real.

The quinoa salad was very good and generous, but the rice for four was raw and had no flavor. At €22 per person, I found the price disproportionate to the quality and presentation. We’d come for lunch on someone’s recommendation from the Capdella Hydroelectric Power Plant museum. The setting by the river is lovely, with trees that gave us shade on a very hot day. But a black plastic pergola made it feel like sitting under a greenhouse. It seemed a shame to put plastic in the middle of the meadow instead of making use of such a beautiful spot.

The manager, or maybe the owner, was very sweet and attentive, and the food was delicious. They were short-staffed, though, so service moved slowly. They apologized several times, and even the cook came out to say sorry. I appreciated that. I’d recommend the place, but book a few days ahead because it gets very busy.

The food was so good I wanted to try every dish, but the portions were generous enough that I couldn’t finish. We had the set menu: Andalusian gazpacho, house salad with chopped cuttlefish or squid, clams in marinara sauce with a spectacular broth, rabbit and rib fideuà, pork shoulder with porcini mushrooms, then grandma’s cake and watermelon. I was trying to finish more out of greed than hunger. We only came for lunch, so I can speak just about the restaurant. The setting is fantastic, with a stream nearby, parking right outside and a campervan area. There are chickens and a rooster, plus a terrace out back. The place looks pretty humble at first, and I briefly wondered if we’d chosen badly, but not at all. The two waiters were excellent. Maybe the service wasn’t quite what the owner/chef expected, but I’ve no complaints. The price was reasonable, even inexpensive for the quality and quantity. I’d definitely return.