EV has been experiencing the delights of two unique restaurants – Franco’s in the heart of London and Montjuic El Xalet in Barcelona – both offering surprising corporate business facilities.

Many restaurants both here and abroad have extremely impressive food creden­tials. However, one or two also have an added element that makes them even more appealing. In this issue, Executive Venturer is concentrating on two such restaurants - one in London and the other in Barcelona.

Taking the London one first, EV was invited to have lunch at Franco’s in Jermyn Street by the co-owner Jason Philips. We had a three-course meal with wine, the quality of which was unsurpassable. The restaurant is jointly owned by the Hambro banking family and, apart from the fantastic restaurant, has an added secret element.

To the majority of diners it is not known that below the main dining room is a small conference room for about 40 people. This can be used exclusively for business meetings with the added option of eating privately during the meeting.

Franco’s history
Franco’s has been serving the community and visitors to St James’s from early morn­ing to late at night for over 60 years. Some believe Franco’s was the first Italian res­taurant in London having opened its doors in 1946. The bar is also a favourite with local residents who escape the pace of  Franco’s has been serving the community and visitors to St James’s from early morning to late at night for over 60 years the city for an hour or so while enjoying a cappuccino or glass of wine and reading from the selection of daily newspapers and magazines that is always available. Situated at the St James’s end of Jermyn Street, Franco’s is surrounded by the many lifestyle boutiques, private clubs, art galleries and hotels of the area. Open all day, the personality of the res­taurant evolves from a quietly and gently efficient breakfast venue to a sharp and charged lunch atmosphere, and then to elegance and romance in the evening.

The lunch and dinner menus highlight carefully prepared traditional and more modern Italian dishes, and the relaxed and friendly service ensures there is always somebody to greet you with a smile. The menus have evolved over the years and offer sumptuous modern Italian dishes with imaginative combi­nations of the flavours, textures and aromas of Italy, from north to south, as well as classics and simple lighter dishes.

Above all, everyone at Franco’s takes pride in their friendly welcome, care and attention to detail, and willingness to please.

Montjuic El Xalet
The second restaurant is called Montjuic El Xalet and is located on the mountain of Montjuic in Barcelona. The building consists of three storeys. The second floor and the top floor Xalet Room can be hired for private functions. The third storey also has a restaurant and this has a unique feature. The room has a revolving turntable in the centre which enables lucky diners to have a panoramic view of the city of Barcelona. The turntable completes the full 360 degrees in one hour and ten minutes - more than enough time to take in the spectacular scenery of the city.

While visiting EIBTM 2009, EV was honoured to be invited by the manage­ment to dine in the restaurant with the revolving room. The food and wine were both of exceptional standard.

Thetopfloor ofMontjuic ElXaletcanbehiredfor privatefunctions onits own andin combination with the middle storey as well It is owned by the Grup Travi and stands for quality, service and good taste, characterised at all times by a homely and family atmosphere. The Grup Travi and its management team started the business in 1982 with the Can Travi Nou restaurant, set in a seventeenth-century farmhouse owned by the family, which was renovated to host the business.

Since its foundation, the goal of the Soler Ribatallada family, the owners of the Grup Travi, has been to provide quality, service and good taste with a homely and family atmosphere in all its business outlets. The business now comprises eight restaurants, one hotel and one catering service.

An eye for detail
Its professional success and fast growth is to a large extent due to excellent business management and the hard work and commitment of its staff, all of whom have striven to attain the group’s goals. These goals consist of providing customers with top quality, excellent service and the good taste that has always distinguished the Grup Travi businesses. Day in and day out, the utmost care is given to details and services to ensure that customers have an enjoyable stay, taking with them fond and affec­tionate memories. Both these restaurants are extremely keen to increase their corporate busi­ness, so get in touch for a unique experience.

CONTACT DETAILS 
Jason Philips, Co-Owner Franco’s
Tel: +44 207 499 2211
Web: www.francoslondon.com
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Jordi P Ruz, Communications Manager, Grup Travi
Tel: +34 93 324 92 70
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