Not all tourist traps in Girona are obvious. Some look genuinely charming. The menu looks good. The terrace is lovely. The staff is friendly. So how do you tell the difference between a real restaurant and a well-disguised trap before your credit card gets hit?
Here are five red flags that locals use:
**1. The menu is in six languages**
A restaurant that caters exclusively to tourists prints menus in English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, and Spanish — all before anyone has even sat down. This is not a sign of hospitality. It is a sign that locals do not eat here.
**2. The paella photo looks too perfect**
If the paella photo looks like it belongs in a food magazine, be suspicious. Real paella is made to order. Tourist paella is pre-cooked, photographed once, and served to hundreds of people.
**3. The waiter is on the street, not in the kitchen**
Restaurants that need to pull people in from the sidewalk are selling atmosphere, not food. A good restaurant lets its cooking do the talking.
**4. The prices are too good for the location**
A €12 three-course menu in the middle of the old town? Someone is cutting corners. And in Girona, that usually means frozen ingredients and pre-cooked sauces.
**5. There are no locals eating there**
This is the most reliable indicator. If the tables are full of tourists and the only Spanish you hear is from the staff, walk away.
Knowing these signs helps. But having a curated list of verified restaurants saves you the trouble of detective work every time you are hungry.
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