I've visited Aventura twice and both times were exceptional. The food was delicious, the restaurant vibes are great, and the service was impeccable. I'll keep coming back again and again. read more

The jamon croquets were delicious! They were warm and crispy; way better than last time I was here. The valenciana paella was delicious! I haven't had paella before so I don't have a comparison, but this was amazing! The meat was so tender, but I wish there was more of the duck rather than chicken. The paella was kind of dry, but I'm assuming that's how it traditionally is. read more

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Go just to see the waitress Morgan. She will absolutely make your day. The ambience is amazing here. She literally pulled up a chair and sat with us to really help us figure out what to order. Her suggestions were on point. Best meal ever!!! read more

Cool place for tapas! The place is well-decorated and lively without being too loud for conversation. I split the following with 3 other people: quesos y charcutería, tortilla española, patatas bravas, croquetas de jamón, and dátiles con chorizo. Everything was tasty. Cocktails were pretty good, but not great. Service was prompt, considering it was a Saturday evening. That said, the reason I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 stars is I had a *weird* interaction when ordering a nice bottle of vintage sparkling wine. I hate to toot my own horn, but I do know wine and have certifications for it, and I absolutely hate drinking good sparkling wine out of flutes (you can't smell anything!), so I asked for regular white wine glasses for the sparkling wine. The server seemed confused by this request, went to the bar, and then when he brought the bottle, he brought flutes and "explained" to me that they serve sparkling wine in flutes. I again asked him to please bring white wine glasses as that's how I prefer to drink that wine, and he seemed offended and almost acted like I was dumb or crazy. When he finally brought the glasses I asked for, he was short and didn't even pour the first glass for us (bit odd at a nice restaurant). Anyway, strange sparkling wine interaction aside, I'd come back, though maybe I wouldn't order nice wine as I don't know if the servers know much about it. read more

Aventura is a great tapas restaurant in AA. They tucked our group in a cozy corner and we went ahead and ordered our shared. The paella valenciana was divine and had that nice crispy rice crust at the edge of the pan, but note that paella does take a bit to come out so order early. Our first order of ham croquetas somehow had no ham, but the team quickly came to our aid and brought us out a new order, with quaranteed ham. All in all a great spot to sit and share great conversations and even better bites! read more

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This is what a true "5 STAR" place means! 5 star taste of food, 5 star plating and presentation, 5 star unique and a great variety of menu items, 5 star ambiance and 5 star service. Eden took great care of us during our dining experience. Thank you Eden! We started with these two drinks: Fig and Thyme Passion Tropical We tried these items on the Tapas menu: Pimientos de Padron (Shishito Peppers) Patatas Bravas Almendras Y Pina (pineapple) And we finished with a large plate of Paella Verduras. This is the vegetarian rice amongst all of the Paella's. My favorite Tapas was Almendras Y Pina! The preparation of the pineapple was on point and mind bogglingly delicious! This place is a must visit if you are in Ann Arbor! read more

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I really wanted to like Aventura, but I'm not sure I would return. The ambiance was the best part...the inside of the restaurant is beautiful, spacious, and I loved the Spanish romantic vibe both at the tables and at the bar with the brick and the floral mosaic. We ordered a pitcher of the Tinta sangria to start and they accidentally brought us out the wrong kind (I think Blanca, very green appley). They brought us out a pitcher of the Tinta on the house for the mix-up, which was really nice. I'm usually a huge sangria fan, but didn't love either of them, and after 2 pitchers for 4 people... I expected to feel the alcohol a bit, but none of us did at all. For tapas our waiter recommended 3 per person, and we did that. We ordered 2 breads.. the Almendras y Pina (unique and very sweet!) and the Catalana (my favorite, fresh and garlicky!), unfortunately the bread was a little tough on both. The croquettes, lamb meatballs, eggplant, and chorizo were just ok as well. I kind of felt like every dish was missing something. I recommend ordering 4 plates per person, because we all left hungry and got wings later in the night elsewhere. In short.. beautiful place, good service, but food a little disappointing. read more

Aventura - Cheese Croquettes - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Probably the best Spanish food you'll find in the state, overpriced, but definitely took me back to Spain. Have been here twice now when in AA. First time we had Paella and some various tapas namely the gambas al ajilo and the croquetas. All were amazing and the restaurant has a certificate of authenticity for their Valencian paella. Having gone to uni in Europe and been to Spain multiple times I'm very much aware of what good Spanish food and paella tastes like and this place has it. Sadly, like most European food in Michigan it comes at a premium. 12 dollars for croquetas is a bit much.. Paella even in Europe is expensive since it's made to order so I can live with that. But honestly I can't be too mad about the prices because the food is really good. You go in with a few other people and you'll have a great time. The second visit was literally just croquetas because I had been craving some Spanish food. Went in and got 4 orders with my mom and sister and was treated to some amazing customer service and desert on the house for my sister's bday. The restaurant looks very trendy and is spacious. Definitely worth a visit. read more

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Though it pains me to say it, something is going off the rails here. The problem is in the kitchen. I have enjoyed Aventura and recommended it to others for years. I'm not comparing the meal I had last night to my personal preferences, or against other restaurants, I'm comparing the dishes to the identical dishes I have been served at Aventura during preceding visits. Here are just some bullet points: Shishito peppers: plenty of oil present, but cooked, not blistered. No detectable salt. We asked for some finishing salt, which helped. Mushrooms: plenty strong on the lemon, but again, in need of salt. Yellowfin Tuna: good enough, (for a flourescent pink cryo-fresh tuna) but again no salt whatsoever. We fortunately had salt from our earlier request. Bacon-wrapped Chorizo stuffed dates: all were burned to black on one side, providing a pronounced scorchy taste. In spite of all the fat provided by bacon and chorizo, they are dry, sweet nuggets. Pulpo: unusually thin, tiny dime-sized slices of octopus and giant mandoline slices of potato. Again, too scorchy to be described as a flavorful char from grilling. Heavy seasoning can't save the mediocre octopus. Iberico pork shoulder: pleasant enough flavor, but dry as the Sahara desert. Laid over an equally dry bed of bitter shaved roots. On the plus side, service was great as usual. Friendly, helpful, engaged. Eating at the bar is the best seat in the house. Skilled bartenders. (As an aside, I did not care for the house cocktail that I chose and they took it off the bill without my asking, which was not necessary but a nice gesture.) Bourbon selection and reasonable prices are much appreciated. Clear ice cubes are an important luxury, which is not always available elsewhere. read more

We came here for our Anniversary and really enjoyed the elegant ambiance and great food. Tons of flavor. Great gluten free options, even for dessert. Very nice service as well. read more

Aventura - Sangria - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Absolutely awesome seafood paella! Something you can't find very easily in Michigan. All around, this is one of the best restaurants in Ann Arbor in my opinion. From the atmosphere to the service and food, Aventura does not disappoint. Next time, I want to explore the Tapas menu more. read more

Great food! Wish they had a few more options for protein in their tapas but I'd strongly recommend the papas bravos

This is a great place to stop for a happy hour drink and apps with the girls! The sangria that I got was great. The tapas weren't the best that I've ever had, but were still yummy and good to share. The restaurant space itself is absolutely beautiful, and service was great too! read more

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Cozy, dimly lit romantic atmosphere. Tables are spaced just enough for privacy. Staff is well trained and know the menu. We started out with croquetas - super thin crunchy exterior filled with hot cheesy whipped heaven. Next, the bravas (spicy cubes of potato topped with a runny yolk egg - amazing! The absolute best item was the Datiles con Chorizo. It's like date pure' wrapped in bacon. The consistency is how I imagine velvet tastes like. They are the most delicious thing I've had in a very long time. The surprise is the tangy mustard - brilliant!!! read more

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Located in a beautiful historic building, this is a rather large restaurant spread over 2 floors. Go check out downstairs wine cellar. Makes for nice pictures! Food is pretty good. Quite a few tapas (small plates) to choose from. We tried potatoes and eggs - patatas bravas - and it was so so good! Crispy outside, soft inside, delicious sauce. Definitely a yes! Gambas was very good as well - shrimp with toasted bread. Finally, Americana paella wasnt bad - rice was good but chicken could have used more flavor. Squid ink seafood paella was ok - rice was a bit on a dry side but seafood was good. Portion was good for 2 people. read more

Aventura - Gambas Al Ajillo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

We consider ourselves foodies, we love to eat out. We have been to Aventura a few times over the years but never frequently. The reason being is their food and service has been average, not outstanding. We considered Aventura a three star restaurant. This Fall, we had a better experience at Aventura while eating at their bar. We moved them up to four stars in our personal radar. So this week, when we were looking for a place to eat to celebrate an occasion, we thought of Ruth's Chris (five star for us), the Chop House (five star for us) and Aventura. Since we weren't that hungry, tapas won the decision process. Atmosphere was great, the beer was cold, and then things went downhill. They forgot our food so when it did get served, it was cold. With the cold food, our caesar salad was what we considered the worst caesar salad in Ann Arbor. The lettuce served was full of let's just say, not so fresh lettuce. I would have been embarrassed to serve that but serve they did. Cold food was strike one. The salad was strike two. Since we were celebrating, we decided to just chalk it up to Aventura being Aventura. We asked for the bill. Strike three came with the bill, they added a "Sustainability Fee!" Really, at that point I called for the manager. He gave me some run around about Los Angeles and New York. I told him this is Michigan. I paid the bill and gave a good tip like I always do. They are now a two star restaurant in our book. Only wish there was another tapas restaurant in Ann Arbor because if there was, the competition would force Aventura to improve. read more

Tapas dishes were perfect, we had croquettes, potatoes bravas, and the Brussels sprouts. We also had their cheese board and veggie paella. And a pitcher of sangria. Nothing was disappointing, very flavorful. The ambiance was also beautiful, a little dark but still inviting and cozy. Service was also very professional and fast. read more

This is a wonderful restaurant as long as you know what to expect when you visit. First, it is expensive, so be prepared not to look at the prices, get what you want, and deal with it later. Second, the plates will come out in a somewhat random order as determined by the waiter, the kitchen, or karma, we are not really sure. If you are ok with those guidelines, this is really a nice place. The decor is comfortable and cozy. The service was impeccable, if a little stuffy. All the food was delicious, although you do need a tolerance for garlic which seems to be plentiful in every dish. We got 5 dishes for 2 people and it was a little too much. The wine list is very good and has many choices, but was also quite expensive. We would return here for special occasions. read more

This place is phenomenal! The atmosphere, food, and service are all great. It's a bit pricey, but everything we ate was delicious. (Except for the tomato salad, the portion was small and it was just okay) The pulpo (octopus dish) was the best out of everything we tried. It was the second best octopus dish I've ever had. The seafood paella was good too. I was impressed that all the different kinds of seafood were all cooked perfectly. This is hard to do since, for example, mussels and shrimp have different cooking times. The scallops were the best part, they were like butter. It's a great place for a celebration, a bit too expensive for me to go to regularly. But the quality definitely lives up to the price. read more

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Trendy and classy dinner spot in downtown Ann Arbor serving tapas and paella. This was my first experience with paella and it won't be my last. Our waiter was charming and welcoming. Great cocktail selection and food variety. We started with the octopus and charcuterie board. I can't remember which paella we had but it had duck in it. Absolutely scrumptious. Attire: it was a bit of a mix. You had college students who wore crop tops and then you had us older folk who wore cute dresses with cardigans. Most guys had on polos and dress shorts or pants. Parking: highly suggest the parking garage across the street. It's downtown Ann Arbor. read more

Aventura - Charcuterie - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I always come to Aventura on special occasions, so it has carved a particular place in my heart. In fact, I've been doing so for the last nine years and not much has changed, except the prices. By far, I consider Aventura to be the best restaurant in town, in terms of a high-quality, curated menu. The space is gorgeous, with exposed brick, suede chairs, and candle-lit tables. I'll never forget when I came here with my parents when I first moved into Ann Arbor, and my dad asked the waiter to choose 8-10 different dishes for our family to enjoy. He listened intently to our likes & dislikes, and out come ten dishes that I still salivate about until this day. The waitstaff and culinary team are extremely knowledgable about the menu and can make recommendations for anybody, since some items may be intimidating. If you are visiting with a group of 6+, I would recommend ordering 2 of anything you'd want to sample, since everything is served tapas style. Trust me, you'll be jealous when your friend is eating that last crispy potato of the patatas bravas, smothered in runny egg yolk and smoky crema. Their paella (with a healthy glass of one of their sangrias) is also a fan-favorite that you should all try at least once. read more

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Tried the shishito peppers and the verdura paella. It was very good and perfect for sharing

Food was excellent. First time here and my wife and I tried 5 different items from the menu. Enjoyed every. Service was amazing as well. Will definitely come back again read more

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Aventura is a good Tapas place in Ann Arbor, their Pan a la Catalana is one of my favorites in the area. The ambiance is nice. It has been awhile since I have visited this restaurant. I would recommend them. I usually go here or to a Spanish Tapas place in Detroit when I am wanting Tapas. Each place has their own version of certain Tapas dishes. read more

My husband and I came here for our wedding anniversary. The place was very busy, as it was a Saturday, but the service was incredible. We had a nice table in front by the window. Our waitress was outstanding. She recommended some fabulous drinks and tapas dishes for us. She was attentive even though it was a busy night. At one point, I was looking for the bathroom and another waiter saw me immediately and asked if I needed help and then pointed me in the right direction. The Tapas was amazing as was the Paella. The interior is gorgeous and despite being pretty large, felt cozy and intimate. I highly recommend! read more

Maybe I just don't like tapas but nothing tasted good, prawns were too salty and service was very slow to get all of our tapas out. Our fourth tapa came while we were settling the bill - we just thought they forgot and we didn't mind that we hadn't gotten it. Very expensive and left unsatisfied. Perhaps if you are into that then would be fine. They seem to be popular. read more

If I could I would give Aventura 6 stars! Food was exceptional, service exemplary, & ambiance relaxed. Although all the food we had was terrific, I found the potatoes unbelievable good! Best I have tasted for years. Other standouts include bacon wrapped figs and tomato salad. One minor note of disappointment was fish of the day which was 3 chef choices. The skate and milk fish were fantastic but the calamari was way overcooked. I will be back for the paella!! read more

Great food and service. A special place in Ann Arbor for great food. It's very dark when you go at night but I didn't mind it! Great spot! read more

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Very tasty. I had the paella which was delicious. Our server was so kind and enthusiastic.

We had reservations for four for a going away dinner. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, which is divided into four sections: cheese/ charcuterie, pintxos (bread and topping), cold tapas, and hot tapas, with your food delivered to you in that order. Queso and charcuterie board: Big board covered in three cheese, three meats, two jams, olives, capers, and mustard with crackers on the side. Everything was good but my favorites were the goat cheese and the prosciutto-style cured meat. Pan con tomate (pintxos) Perfectly crusty baguette topped with chopped tomato and garlic. Very savory, very fresh, just a touch too salty but I'd still order it again in a heartbeat. This came in four pieces so it was convenient for splitting four ways. Pepinos (cold tapas) Cucumber salad with grilled peppers, tomato-based dressing. We had the whipped feta on the side. This was different from any salad I've had in the past, hard to describe but it was fresh and savory and all of the flavors came together well. Patatas bravas (hot tapas) Crispy diced potatoes in a creamy sauce, topped with a fried egg. Really good, and felt a bit more familiar than some of the other foods and provided some starchy heft to an altogether light meal. Setas (hot tapas): My wife's favorite, a combination of perfectly cooked tender mixed mushrooms topped with goat cheese. Datiles de chorizo (hot tapas): Bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo. Good balance of sweet and salty. The chorizo wasn't too lean (my big gripe with a lot of chorizo). Overall a great meal. Every item was a hit, and felt expertly composed and presented. We all left satisfied, but not stuffed; it felt like the right amount of food for our group, which for what it's worth was composed of one large man and three small women. I was surprised at how affordable the meal ended up being about $40 after tax and tip. If I want a high quality, novel, classy meal that doesn't break the bank, this would be my first choice in Ann Arbor. read more

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Great place to go with friends or for a nicer date night. Particularly love going for their happy hour deals ($10 sangria and half off apps - side note the white sangria is so yum). I used to go all the time in college and went again recently and it was just as delicious. The tapas sizes are decent portions for the price and for 2-3 people to share depending on if you get an app vs more a main dish. We loved the croquetas, bacon wrapped dates, octopus and patatas bravas. The ambience is nice whether indoor or outdoor -- both are slightly upscaled, but fun & music/chatter is never too loud that you can't have an easy conversation. read more

Aventura - happy hour apps + drinks! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Food was incredible, amazing tapas and paella. Drinks were very good and reasonably priced compared to most places. Service was outstanding. As always, Go Buckeyes! read more

We were greeted and seated quickly at a table upstairs by the window. The view was great and our server was attentive, without being overbearing. We probably over-ordered. The charcuterie board was enough for 4 people. The patatas bravas and the Iberico pork were probably the best dishes, though the shishito peppers were right up there. read more

Two thumbs up to another great visit to Aventura. Great service, lively atmosphere and best of all...consistently good dish offerings served in typical small portions where you get to try a little bit of everything. Centerpiece, however is always the big platter of paella. Seafood is the fave here, but plenty of land animal varieties as well as vegetables only. read more

I'm so excited we got here right after the state opened back up and were able to get a table here! What a warm and inviting back patio space with greenery and good feels all around. Our server was a sweet college student who went over all of the details for the meal including an introduction to their specialty tapas. Then the pre-dinner olives and beverage (can't recall if it was absinthe or something else) were brought out - great change up to other restaurants' usual table bread with oil and vinegar. My friend ordered the pineapple appetizer while I had the pulpo (flown in from Australia)! Both were very flavorful and delicious. Next we shared the fish over macaroni. The macaroni was a little lackluster and wouldn't have been my first choice to pair with this delicate dish but it grew on me throughout the meal. For dessert I ordered the watermelon granitas - a delightful summer post-meal indulgence. It was both salty and sweet and was a great alternative to ice cream or a heavier chocolate option that I might normally go for. We got here just before sunset and had a wonderful experience here. The restaurant was still packed when we left after our meal - I guess everyone knows where to get a good meal and enjoy the company of friends! read more

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Terrible and overpriced food. All of the effort seems to be put into the decor and ambiance, which is nice, but the cocktails are dull, wine list unimaginative, and food is bland. I was going to to say that the food is a pale imitation of Spanish cuisine, but that would be doing Spanish food a great injustice. Our tapas and paella were completely unseasoned! It's like they dulled all the flavor down to appeal to the lowest common denominator and priced as if this was some kind of fine-dining experience. Woeful. We left angry at being swindled, will never go back, and discourage anyone with any sense of taste from going. read more

The restaurant week menu was really not impressive in taste, with the exception of the ceviche and the creme brûlée. Portions weren't too bad as I didn't leave hungry but I also didn't leave feeling satisfied like I ate a really great meal... I've been here twice now and the prices for the regular menu just seem exorbitant for the portion and quality of flavor you get. Trust me, I'm willing to pay good money for good food but this is not the case at Aventura. The atmosphere is nice, service is serviceable albeit kind of slow but the food just does not add up to its cost. read more

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Very unique and authentic food! This is a great spot for a nice dinner and they have amazing sharable plates. I love the paella Americana, but it is definitely filling. The dining experience is very nice with dim lights, and all of the staff is very professional and friendly. read more

Aventura - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Came here with a party of 7 for a UMich celebration. Restaurant is very pretty and service was great enough. We ordered tapas that included Croquettes, Stuffed Dates, shishito peppers, Ensaladas, Tuna and Patatas Bravas. All were delectable... some of the best tapas I've had. I wished we had stopped there. We then had 2 orders of paella: the Valenciana (chicken and duck) and the Ventura (vegetarian). Both paellas were lacking in flavor and pizzazz! Way to ruin the dinner vibe. We thought desserts of rice pudding and Basque cheesecake would help redeem the night, but sadly the desserts fell flat too. read more

Lots of great options for tapas on their menu. Would definitely recommend their patatas bravas!! Delicious food, great ambiance, and very attentive and friendly service read more

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