The neighborhood kitchen that sets trends

Jordi's eyes fill with pride and emotion when he reviews his family history. "Ours is a very beautiful story," he warns us from the outset, beginning his story. His counter is covered in papers, bills from the restaurant, because he is in charge of the daily management of 5 Hermanos, and it's clear, from the volume of paperwork and the number of people there, that things are going well. The road has been long, hard, and full of obstacles. Grandma Juanita paved the way, opening the first bar and eateries in the 1940s in Guineueta Vella. Years later, in 1977, her daughter, Tere, who had already earned a master's degree in cooking and life, moved the business to the newly created Canyelles neighborhood after losing her husband and renamed it 4 Hermanos, in honor of her four children. But there was one more to come, Jordi, who was born in 1984 and who forced the restaurant's name to change: 5 Hermanos.

This is the story of a humble, hardworking family from the neighborhood who for years have fed the residents of the Nou Barris district with simple, honest cuisine and who now look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm. Last year, they renovated and modernized the entire premises and the small shop next door: "We have to be humble, not forget why we're here and explain it, but we also have to be at the forefront," says Jordi Gerpe, eager to take on the world. He's the youngest of five brothers: after him comes Javi (in the kitchen and serving manager), Toni (the only one missing because he decided to open another business), Julio (the cook), and Manel (who oversees the cash register behind the bar and welcomes customers). A truly great team that designs and prepares a 15-euro set menu every day, as well as a menu that's enjoyable. We, as always, came to play: we shared clams a la marinera, snails "al pastor," and the historic and delicious "cabeza y pata" (head and leg), one of the restaurant's classics that is a must-try and dip bread in. For the main course, we decided to split the fish of the day from the market: a wonderful Sant Pere roosterfish accompanied by a selection of vegetables to aid digestion. A bottle of Ritmo 2021 (DO Priorat) and dessert: lemon sorbet and an exquisite egg flan, also to share. "A good feast has been ruined!" exclaims Jordi, smiling after seeing our entire order, and he's right.

Already during digestif time, Jordi recalls one of the key moments in the life of the 5 Hermanos restaurant: "In 2017, Barcelona City Council created the Barcelona Restauración Awards to promote the city's gastronomy, and they nominated us for one of the three categories: integration in the neighborhood. They gave us the award, and that's when I saw...," he explains. "5 Hermanos is a neighborhood diner that, with the effort and sacrifice of the entire family, has managed to make a name for itself on the city's gastronomic scene. During the week, the restaurant is full of locals who are regular customers, but on the weekends, it's filled with people from all over the city and the country who travel specifically to enjoy authentic cuisine with good products: "We do what we know how to do and don't complicate things. We treat the product with great care and cook the way Mom and Grandma did. We too, like our siblings, feel fortunate to be able to live and enjoy the legacy of Tere and Grandma Juanita even today.