Laura Albéniz is the proud owner of Santornemi restaurant. She and her brother Álvaro are who you'll see in the dining room, while her husband, Santi, is in the kitchen. This is no trio of newcomers, by the way: Santi was the cook at Gelida for ten years, while Laura and Álvaro worked the dining room there for seven. Now if you can get to Sarrià in the morning, they serve hearty breakfasts starting at 8am (9am on Saturdays).
Santornemi doesn't do a set lunch menu, but they do serve great Catalan cuisine at fair prices, something that's increasingly more difficult to come by. They dignify everyday food by making everything from scratch. The cod fritters are light and amazing, the aubergines ethereal, and the healthy helping of meatballs with cuttlefish is impeccable. Also recommendable is the cold cod salad ('esqueixada') that's delicate and not overly salty, which has been known to ruin a trendier salmon tartare. The brother and sister team are from Pamplona, as evidenced by the assortment of cheeses and crystal peppers, and asparagus when it's in season.
It's tough to decide between the extensive menu and the dishes of the day, such as chickpeas with calamari. At the bar display you won't see tapas under the glass but instead the home-made cakes that Laura bakes. Oh, and their day for rice specialities is Saturday if that's what you're after.
