Santa Monica was a great find for us. While Barcelona has an enormous amount to offer, the food (at least to me) was not one of the highlights. We wandered into Santa Monica on the south side of the Placa Reial one night for dinner, and liked it so much we came back two nights later. The risotto and hake were two of our favorite dishes, with the fresh tomato and mozzarella appetizer. The wine list was excellent as well, with many local Spanish wines.
Santa Monica is great for romantic dinners--the lights are dim, and the tables are widely spaced so that you''re not rubbing elbows with your neighbors. The service was excellent and very friendly both nights we were there. I''d highly recommend the restaurant to anyone looking for a not-exactly-authentic Spanish fine dining experience . . .