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    Aioli Bodega Espanola

    3.6 (1k reviews)
    Open • 3:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Aioli Bodega Espanola Photos

    Business Info

    AIOLI BODEGA ESPANOLA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Aioli Bodega Espanola

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    Reviews With Photos

    Papas bravas

    If I could give a 4.5 I would! Everything that we ate was fantastic! The Jamón Serrano croquetas (amazing), papas bravas (fantastic). Special fish of the day (bass) with rice, spinach, with mango chutney was cooked to perfection. The lemon linguine was great. We got the Clavador white wine and it was smooth and refreshing. The burlap tablecloths are not comfortable nor attractive. Overall a very nice experience, great for a date night. Malik was a wonderful and very kind. Thanks for serving us! Definitely want to come back for paella!

    Bread + White Bean Aioli
    Stephanie H.

    Each year, I like to try a place I haven't been to before from the Dine Downtown Sac list; it's a period of time in January (a bit over a week) where restaurants Downtown offer three-course meals for $45, with one-dollar of each meal going to a non-profit (Opening Doors). This year, I tried Aioli Bodega Espanola. Off of their special Dine Downtown Menu, I ordered the following: Estudio de Babtbel, Casarecce a la Siciliana, and Flan. We also had some bread at the beginning of the meal served with a white bean aioli. I enjoyed each course. While I do wish the pasta was paired with a small amount of protein of some kind, that's the only change would make to my otherwise pertect meal. I had a bite of my husband's Zarzuela de Mariscos off the main menu and I really enjoyed the flavor of that dish as well. Service was excellent. It's a wonderful spot for a date night and has a cozy atmosphere.

    Chorizo with white beans - excellent

    Authentic Spanish tapas. Excellent food with fresh ingredients and great service. Highly recommend this restaurant. Staff was very friendly.

    Asparagus
    Jinnie L.

    Late night dinner with my colleague. All the food was delicious but took a while to come out. Drinks came out and was fresh. The watermelon was crisp and seedless. The asparagus still had the ends on and came out slightly overcooked. The mushroom risotto was worth the wait. It was definitely heavy with 4 kinds of mushroom and cheese. The taste was on point and super creamy. We finished more than half the plate between us two.

    Ravioli in "sauce"
    Angie L.

    I'm not usually one to leave negative reviews but I wanted to share my experience from tonight. My partner and I had a 7pm reservation for dinner and when we arrived I guess our table wasn't ready so the owner (I presume) sent us to the bar to wait for "about 10 minutes," which actually ended up being around 35-40 minutes without any apology for the extra wait. I understand they were slammed as it is Saturday night but we made a reservation in anticipation of that and expected it to be honored at least within 10-15 mins. Our server Omer was very kind, as well as the other staff who came by regularly to fill out waters and clear plates. I ordered the ravioli on mushroom sauce and my partner ordered the duck lasagna. The lasagna was actually quite good, it had plenty of filling and was very flavorful. I was unfortunately not pleased with the ravioli. It seems the word "sauce" is used pretty liberally here as when the waiter put the plate on the table I noticed the raviolis sloshed around in some sort of broth. The taste was fine, but it did not taste of mushroom at all and the filling was about the size of a quarter in a very large thin pasta sheet. I think if I had stacked all the raviolis on top of one another, I could have finished it in one bite. If you are going to try out this restaurant, perhaps stick to the paella, which is actually very good, and visit on a day/time when they are not busy so you can expect to be seated in a more reasonable amount of time.

    Veal
    Diana F.

    This is strictly a "Dine Downtown" review. I went on a date so I got to try the soup and salad for starters, veal and pork for entrees, and their flan and poached peach for dessert. It was overall a good meal, but I'm not sure I'd go back for those items. The pork was dry and tough. The salad was barely anything. The only thing I truly enjoyed was the poached peach. The table next to ours ordered à la carte and looked amazing. I left feeling hungry. I ate a couple of slices of pizza afterwards.

    5/2026
    Susan D.

    We had an amazing experience dinning here! The service was fantastic, wonderful environment, unique cocktails, and absolutely crave-able food! We started with the croquetas al gusto with Serrano ham and the pinchos morunos (lamb skewers). The croquets had a perfectly crispy exterior with the most creamy delicate cheese that was savory and yummy! Sooo good!! The skewers were so good! The meat was tender and the sauce had a wonderful deep flavor. Really tasty! We had the paella Barcelonetta (squid ink paella). The shrimp and scallops were cooked perfectly! The sofrito on top was really good and added a bit of lightness and acidity to the dish. The paella did not taste fishy at all. It was a good amount of food, and felt perfect for two people. The paella was soo delicious!! We had wanted to try this paella, but asked our very knowledgeable server what she would recommend and she said this was her favorite. I can see why!! It was amazing! We ate all of it. We were comfortably full, but decided to finish off the evening with the mascarpone limon mousse. It is just as described, a lemon mousse over top lemoncello. It was light and refreshing, a great way to end the evening. All of the food was spectacular! No dish was heavy. Everything felt well balanced and perfectly cooked! I would highly recommend Aioli whether it is for a lunch or dinner, date night or for a celebration! It's one of those places that delivers on quality such that you could go back again and again!

    2025 Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge Participant
    Bridget W.

    Aïoli was never on my radar until this year's Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge. The promise of mushroom risotto and stuffed eggplant drew me in and, well, I'm also partial to a refreshing sangria after a long work day. Suffice to say, Aïoli did not disappoint with their vegan offerings. Everything we tried was a winner. From the perfectly spiced butternut squash soup we started with to the poached pear in port for dessert, we enjoyed every bite. The vibe is casual upscale and the service tracked. We were overcharged on one of the dishes, but it was quickly corrected. I hope Aïoli keeps vegan dishes like these on the menu, because I definitely would return.

    Afshin A.

    A couple of weeks ago, we finally made it to Aioli Bodega Española in Sacramento, and it turned out to be a wonderful first visit. The weather was perfect, so we grabbed a table in their relaxing backyard patio, which felt like the right setting for a slow evening. We started with a pitcher of sangria and two tapas, Patatas Bravas (crispy potatoes with just the right kick) and Pinchos Morunos (spiced skewers of meat). Both were delicious. We also ordered the soup of the day, which was warm, flavorful, and gone too fast. For the main dish, the three of us shared a Paella Valenciana. Technically, it's meant for two, but it turned out to be the perfect size for the three of us, just enough to satisfy without leaving us too full to enjoy dessert. We wrapped up by splitting a creamy flan, and I finished the night with a strong espresso, exactly how I like to end a good meal. The food was excellent across the board, and the service matched it, friendly without being rushed. The whole evening had a relaxed vibe, which made the experience even better. A little extra context I learned: Aioli Bodega Española has been a Sacramento staple since the mid-1990s, run by Aziz Bellarbi Salah and his family. Their focus is on traditional Spanish dishes, lots of tapas, paellas, and, of course, sangria. It's no wonder the place has lasted this long; it feels like one of those restaurants that's been woven into the neighborhood.

    Dessert trio
    Lorena M.

    We went last night to celebrate our friend's 1 year anniversary and everything was just perfect. We had the whole patio to ourselves, which was awesome. Our server Yolanda was so attentive and really knew the menu, assisting us in making our selections and getting to try a little bit of everything. She helped our vegan friend find great dishes that met his dietary requirements. We brought our own wine and then purchased one from their wine list and Yolanda even decanted it for us table side which made a big difference in opening up the flavor of the wine. We started with several appetizers each one equally delicious. They do a great job using seasonal and local ingredients of excellent quality. We had a nice seafood and bean dish, Mushrooms in an incredible sherry sauce that I can't stop thinking about lol, a salad, Persimmon Carpaccio and Mussels as starters and just shared everything family style. We ordered the Paella Valenciana (takes 35 minutes to come out so keep that in mind and order it in arrival) that was cooked perfectly. The Osso Buco was so tender and flavorful. The house made ravioli with mushrooms melted in your mouth. For dessert we enjoyed the poached pear which was the star of the show, a chocolate mouse which was rich and decadent and crème brûlée which is always a classic. Don't sleep on Aioli if you want great food in a lively environment with exceptional service.

    Rebecca B.

    Stopped in late on Saturday and we're welcomed by their very friendly bartender Ashley. Cocktails were perfections. Absolutely love the vibe here. Also add some dessert. Recommend!

    menu
    Reynisa J.

    Upon arrival, there are 2 separate doors, one the leads straight to dining guests & one that is their "entrance." The gentleman that guided us to the correct one was very nice & welcoming, however there's no place to really sit or wait for a table, you kind of just have to guess & stand there awkwardly. We got sat immediately next to a large party. The restaurant itself was extremely loud & it was hard hearing the person in front of me. When the waitress arrived, she explained the menu to us & we got to ordering. For apps, we got Gambas a la parrilla & baked bread with bean aioli. For entrees, we got the Spaghettini pomodoro & pasta amatriciana. The baked bread arrived & was the size of croutons. The aioli that came w it was not good either, definitely don't recommend. However, the shrimp dish was pretty good! It was very flavorful & I wound up using the avocado on the bread lol. When our entrees arrived, my friend took one bite of pasta & immediately stopped eating. I tried it to see if maybe I'd like it, but I didn't enjoy it either. My spaghettini was actually pretty good, I just needed to add some spice to it to kick it up a notch. As for our server, she was missing the rest of the night & we had to ask the nice gentleman for boxes and the bill. We honestly couldn't get out of there quicker.. Overall, I wouldn't come back here for pasta when there's a wonderful option across the street.

    Giselle T.

    The ambiance was very cozy and romantic! We had the Tempranillo and it was okay! I had the ravioli and WOW!! The mushroom sauce was amazing!! My boyfriend had a seafood dish that was also amazing!! 10/10 would recommend for your next date night!

    Bread and white bean aoli

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    Yolanda is a great job serving us and taking care of our needs. The food was delicious.

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    Aioli Bodega Espanola Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Aioli Bodega Espanola

    Are the paella prices listed on the menu per person? Thanks!

    Their Paellas are made for two people, so take the price and devide it by two!

    Do they deliver or take call in orders?

    Yes you can call in and pick up your order or through any food delivery service (e.g., Grubhub, UberEats, etc.).

    View All 6 Questions

    charQterie - Charcuterie (medium)

    charQterie

    4.9(388 reviews)
    5.2 mi•Natomas
    •$$

    The food and wine were delicious -- i had the bruschetta, my uncle Reuben and a red wine flight. I…read moredon't even eat tomatoes like that and ate every single one with the bruschetta. It was soooooooo good. I came in around 6p on a Wednesday evening. There was a group of 6-7 people that were being seated before me. I was greeted by a nice lady (who i believe is co-owner). Her husband, El Jefe (aka Jeff), came and took my order. He was very nice, and I could tell he makes a lot of effort to please and serve those who stop by. I love that. Everyone else that I spoke with was nice & kind. I could tell that everyone makes it a point to take care of anything that you may need. The delicious food and attentiveness to the service is exactly why I will be returning, with my girls. We at one point had a conversation where we clearly had different beliefs/perspectives. I think El Jefe assumed what my perspective was on something because of my job and slightly put his foot in his mouth, but we just talked through it. I appreciated his willingness to have the conversation. It is my hope he remembers me and always makes an effort to see the humanity in ALL people. not everyone is afforded the same privileges. Not everyone grows up in an ideal environment. That impacts different people in different ways. I love that they have items from local creatives on sale when you walk in. They had some really cute items!

    Finally tried CharQterie in Natomas and really enjoyed it. We did the make-your-own charcuterie…read moreplate, which was probably my favorite part. You get to pick your own mix of cheese, fruits, cured meats and other little bites, so you can make it however you like. We also got the pork belly sandwich and it was yummy. One of the item I picked was the picked red hot peppers... definitely had a kick but in a good way. The owner and staff were really friendly, and the place has a cozy, easygoing feel. It's something a little different for Natomas, and honestly I'm just glad we have a place like this around here. Definitely coming back to try another combination.

    Photos
    charQterie - 01.25.26 wine not!

    01.25.26 wine not!

    charQterie - Medium Build your own board

    Medium Build your own board

    charQterie - 01.25.26 handcrafted items for sale... giving back to the community

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    01.25.26 handcrafted items for sale... giving back to the community

    Ro Sham Beaux - Pita Bread & Hummus

    Ro Sham Beaux

    4.6(175 reviews)
    0.5 mi•Midtown, Newton Booth
    •$$
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    I've stopped by this place a couple times for some late afternoon drinks, and it's a nice spot…read more It's located in the same building as Ginger Elizabeth, so parking isn't great, but you can find parking within a block or so of walking. There's metered parking in the street just in front. They have a nice selection of wines and cocktails. Not the most expansive list, but a nicely curated one. Most recently, I tried the Pimms Rangoon (Gin, Ro Pimm's, fresh lemon, ginger, pineapple, fizzy water) and a wine that I can't recall. The cheeze whiz (house made whipped manchego and parm on crostini) is a must-have. The bread is wonderful as well as the cheese and olive. I'm usually not crazy about green olives, but it worked so well with the cheese. I've had tinned sardines in the past, and they were fine... along the lines of a tin of Fishwife. Next time, I'll probably try another bread & cheese dish. I like the kitschy vibe. And, our servers were nice both times I've gone. If I lived a little closer, I'd probably drop by more often, but I'll keep this place in mind when I want a drink and a small snack to go with it (and dessert at Ginger Elizabeth is next door!).

    Long overdue review that has been in the drafts our server was Sariyah and the service was…read moreterrible. Came here for our monthly meet up with the girls and not gonna lie this was a disappointment. I have wanted to try this place for so long and it was mid at best. They didn't have a kitchen when I went so their food offerings were extremely limited which I didn't know before coming. The ambiance was great. While the space was small it packed a great punch. I will say our server disappeared and she was very short when she was unavailable. I came, I saw, it's unlikely I'll return given the many options in Sacramento and the surrounding areas. Go for the experience if you choose On the plus side we ended up at the dive bar Golden Bear after for pizza nachos and beer and I have found my new favorite dive bar so I'll call that a win!

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    Ro Sham Beaux
    Ro Sham Beaux - Raclette over potatoes

    Raclette over potatoes

    Ro Sham Beaux - Bread & Butter

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    Bread & Butter

    Localis - Lox and bagel

    Localis

    4.4(806 reviews)
    0.6 mi•Newton Booth, Midtown
    •$$$$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    Established in 2015

    We went here as a small group for our friend's birthday. I've experienced Michelin restaurants in a…read morehandful of different countries. The food was nice, and the drink pairing was excellent, but if you're with a group I definitely wouldn't recommend the chefs counter. I agree with some of the others comments - he says it's an interactive experience but I also didn't find that to be the case. Locally, if you're torn between here and The Kitchen, I would recommend The Kitchen. There the main chef is funny, more laid back, it's truly interactive, and the vibe is less pretentious/uptight.

    My wife and I went to Localis back in 2016. THIS is not that same restaurant. ThIS was an…read moreexperience. We were fortunate enough to partake in Executive Chef Chris' special "The 10 Dishes I Wanna Eat" pre-fixe menu. Each dish was unique in flavors and presentation. The cherry on top was Chef accompanying each dish with a story of inspiration of how they came to be. We also love the intimate setting of Localis. The main dining area seated 13 people per seating (they have a separate dining area in the back as well). Side notes: Sam and Howie treated us all night with excellent service. And that Bartender Billy...that is one dangerous man. Shaking up cocktails all night that were both delicious and didn't taste like any alcohol was in it...a recipe for some fun times.

    Photos
    Localis - Cucumber, sunflower, black garlic

    Cucumber, sunflower, black garlic

    Localis - Fresh and fermented, first course on the antonyms tasting menu.

    Fresh and fermented, first course on the antonyms tasting menu.

    Localis - Painter's Palette

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    Painter's Palette

    Aioli Bodega Espanola - spanish - Updated September 2026

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