The Boston Globe pegged the trendy Barcelona right when it said that the menu navigates a line “that threads tradition, invention, and ambition.” Tapas offerings include both traditional standbys like pan con tomate (bread rubbed with tomato, garlic, and olive oil) and mussels al ajillo (mussels in garlic sauce) as well as unconventional concoctions such as crispy eggplant with smoked maple and pickled beets with pesto and feta. The atmosphere is festive and the restaurant is usually packed.