Truly a taste of Spain! The gambas al ajillo were spot on and perfectly cooked. Interesting cocktail choices as well as good selection of wines. You don't always see Ribeira del Duero on a menu. Service was friendly, professional, prompt but unintrusive. Ambience felt old-world. When it gets warm, I'll try the patio seating, and I'll come back for the entertainment to see what that's about. Great find in Maynard. read more

NOTE: This restaurant prefers adult patrons. I am leading off with this fact to forewarn visitors with kids showing up unaware and being disappointed (who am I kidding, *angry*) as a result. Personally, I believe this is absolutely reasonable for an establishment with a separate room reserved for the enjoyment of quality rums. The seating is comfortable and the orientation eclectic. Preference is given to a variety of spaces rather than a repeated pattern of small two or four top tables (an arrangement that would no doubt accommodate more diners). A good portion of space is also dedicated to a stage but I'm not sure if that is always the case. The drink menu is fairly extensive and the food is surprisingly good considering how recently they opened. Service was friendly and by no means slow. When I visited on a Friday night, there was a live performer. I'm admittedly biased (not particularly kid-oriented) but it is damn brave of Azucar to have an adult-only policy and I think it would be a shame for them to be punished for it. Having a variety of dining experiences means just that, a variety. Not every style is for everyone and that's okay. read more

So Happy To Have This Great New Restaurant in Maynard. Step Inside and You Feel Like You're in the City!! So Different From Anything Else Around. Had a Fantastic Sangria and Daiquiri! Great Tapas and Paella!! And Best of All, Not a TV in Sight read more

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Weren't sure what to expect going in, but we were pleasantly surprised! The food was great, and came out quickly. They have a variety on the menu which is really nice. The plates are adorable! Our waitress was nice but we had someone with a severe food allergy and she didn't answer confidently, and I had to ask her to be sure to please double check with the kitchen. So my only recommendation is to be extremely clear with food allergies. read more

Azucar Tapas Bar - Everything circled is what we ordered. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

I really liked this restaurant and want it to succeed. I went there a few days ago for dinner after knowing that it recently opened. The space is quite beautiful. It's full of color, slightly whimsical, and overall extremely cozy. The service was top notch and our Server was really wonderful, as were the other staff we interacted with. I'm going to get into the weeds of some of the items on the menu: -Ceviche. Delicious! However, the serving size was quite big. The restaurant could cut back on this as a ceviche should be enough for two people- not 4. Otherwise, perfect amount of acid. -Fried Cheese: Incredible. Exactly as represented. -Empanadillas (Vegetarian): Big time disappointment. I was hoping for fried empanadas oozing with corn and mushroom pieces. What we got instead were deep fried baby empanadas with only a little bit of flavorless filling. I would take this off the menu or completely re-vamp it. -Tuna Croquettes: So/So. There seemed to be canned tuna inside. I would recommend changing this to chicken croquettes with a sauce. -Grilled Lamb Chops: Delicious. I ate it right down to the bone. Perfectly seasoned and plated. -Pork Tenderloin: AMAZING! I've never had a "blue cheese sauce" to accompany pork- and it works! This was the standout dish at the restaurant. I would go back for this alone. -Papas Bravas: Very good. Perhaps the potatoes were cut a bit too big, but otherwise really good. I really want to continue going here and supporting local restaurants. I just think the menu needs to be tweaked for this place to reach its full potential. read more

Short version, the food was good but the speed of service was not. We'll be back once they've ironed out some of the kinks and I'll adjust this review then. Food: 5 stars. What we had (empenadillas and chorizo) was delicious, hot, and well prepared and presented. Service: 2 stars. We arrived about 7 and placed an order for two items at 7:10. We had two items by 7:20 and had finished them by 7:30. Then we waited until 8 for the other two before canceling the rest of our order, paying our check, and departing. The issue was decidedly in the kitchen. We were visibly not the only ones waiting, and the kitchen was quite evidently slammed. We'll be back to try a few more items, and we'll hope the kitchen has their act rather more together when we go again. The wait staff was very accommodating and quite present throughout the meal, and they were entirely understanding about us canceling the rest of our order. They're why the service gets two stars instead of one and why this review is three stars instead of two. read more

Having lived in Madrid a few years back, I was happy to see a Spanish restaurant land in the area. Based upon my first visit, I'd say that it's promising, though also very uneven. About half the tapas we tried were quite good. Highlights included the classic Papas Bravas (potatoes), as well as the Pincho de Cerdo (pork skewers), Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp), Bacalao a la Vizcaina (salt cod), Padron Peppers and Hongos al Ajillo (mushrooms with garlic). The Beet Salad was also nice, but as someone else mentioned, the portion size was small. Basically, you get six very thin slices of beet decorated with tiny dabs of goat cheese and a drizzled line of vinaigrette. Two other classic dishes were really disappointing. The Tortilla Espanola was only about a quarter inch thick, and dry/overcooked. The Gazpacho (which admittedly we never should have ordered in November anyway) tasted like tomato juice. We could only manage a couple of spoonfuls. (Oh how I long for the refrigerated cartons of Alvalle Gazpacho we used to get in Madrid's supermercados! But I digress...) Wine prices seemed high for what was on offer. We skipped buying a bottle, and went for the cocktails instead. They did justice to Spain's reputation for creative drinks. The desserts were also excellent - especially the Pera Borracha (poached pear), and the modestly named "chocolate cake" that was so dense, it was difficult to cut. Service was authentically Spanish: sometimes attentive, sometimes absent, with a long wait to pay the check. We ended up spending about $50/head including tip, which seemed fair, though more than other good restaurants in Maynard cost (and more than we would have spent in Madrid). Armed with a little more knowledge about what to order, and what to skip, we're willing to give it another go in a few weeks. We're especially curious about the paella. read more

Azucar has a fun, funky atmosphere. The wait staff was very friendly, attentive, and able to offer helpful suggestions when we asked about the menu and drinks. There were a lot of unique and interesting tapas options, all of which were delicious! Plenty of parking, especially in the big lot behind the building. read more

The place is very clean and beautifully decorated. The owners are so nice and the food is amazing!

Not bad but not great. I was excited to try out this place and the pictures of the food looked great. But after trying out the food, expected better flavoring. Usually don't care if the servings are small, but it was quite disappointing when the taste didn't meet expectations either. Nothing special, unfortunately. Service was good and fast. Thank you. read more

We were provided a private room and had a great time there! Great service, tasty food, especially the toast duck, my favorite dish! Highly recommend it to anyone! read more

Do not go here! Food is good and ambiance is nice. Why would I be so emphatic in not going here? I showed up 10 to 15 minutes before the kitchen closed. I ordered everything promptly including my dessert. After 15 minutes they came out and said that they wouldn't be making my dinner. I come here often. However a business with such little concern for its customers doesn't deserve my or your future patronage. read more

What a great local addition. This area really needed something like this. I like tapas a great deal, and this is classic tapas with lots of variety. Portion sizes are perfect. Flavors were spot on. Azucar is great for a date night or a small group of 3-5 friends. The set-up doesn't lend itself well to larger parties, but that's not a huge drawback for me. Azucar, as other reviewers have mentioned, has a decidedly adult vibe. Families with older teens would be fine; with younger kids, not so much. I liked that there was live music playing, and it wasn't overbearing or intrusive. Drinks were quite good especially a rum drink called the Jamaican which combined rum, muddled raspberries and ginger beer. I'm definitely making a return trip. read more

Azucar Tapas Bar - Sangria - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

Delicious! I got the red sangria and several tapas, everything was tasty and service was nice. We highly recommend! read more

Azucar Tapas Bar - House salad, spanish fried cheese with tomato jelly, chorizo, lamb meatballs - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

Bottom line: Would have earned more stars if the food was better or the prices were lower. First impressions: Really wanted to love this place. We're big Maynard boosters, and it's great to see another decent restaurant open up here. Unfortunately this place is yet another "missed opportunity" in an underserved area, but there's time for improvement and we'll probably give it a second chance. Vibe: Aside from the problems with our particular table we loved the decor, noise level, and vibe of this place. We'd love a reason to come back. Service: We showed up as a party of two on a Saturday evening without a reservation at 5:30 and they were able to seat us, so points for that. Unfortunately they seated us at one of the tiny tables right at the front of the restaurant. Problem one - we basically had every party that came in standing right over us while they were waiting to be seated. Problem two - it's hard to serve tapas on a table that tiny. It was precarious trying to fit more than two dishes at a time. Problem three - table was completely unstable and we lost a bit of our drinks due to some sudden moves. However, our waitress was attentive, the serving staff seemed to work well together, and service was prompt. Food: Plato Mixto ($20) - Fairly good, but nothing to write home about. No real complaints here. Ceviche ($9.50) - Underwhelming. No "off" flavors, but completely lacking character. Pulpo Asado ($14) - This dish was the stand-out. It was really good and we highly recommend it. Mejillones en Vino Blanco ($13) - This was a very small dish of mussels - there were only seven and two weren't open. The mussels that were open were highly overcooked, mealy, and and tasted a little off. The sauce was good but there wasn't much of it. Albondigas de Cordero ($9.50) - These lamb meatballs were tiny and mealy. This didn't taste or feel like quality ground lamb. The cocktails and sangria were also fair but underwhelming. Value: With two drinks and the above dishes, we walked away having spent well over $100 after tip feeling hungry and dissatisfied. Verdict: This place needs to improve the food, lower the prices, or both if it wants to thrive. It could be just right for the area - but needs some work. read more

Went here for date night with the hubby. Sat in their outdoor seating on the street...not too bad after we leveled the very wobbly table. Food was delicious and fresh. Service was good. Expediter that delivered the food did not speak much English. She tried to deliver another tables food to us by mistake and did not understand that we were trying to tell her....the food was not ours. We got it sorted out after a few tries. The drinks were excellent too read more

This is a hidden gem in Maynard with great world class food and drinks and a nice intimate atmosphere. After 9pm gets much less busy and you will see me at the bar again. Best tapas I've had outside of Tampa. Highely recommended and doing great for a new place in town. read more

Everything abou the place was excellent. Food and drinks arrived on time. Will definitely be back soon.

The atmosphere is fabulous, so many cozy corners. The server was attentive and well informed. Our party enjoyed unique cocktails and delicious plates, lamb, shrimp, mushrooms, mussles, potatoes..I wish the owners success with their latest restaurant. I'll be back often. read more

I was so looking forward to them opening. Sadly, terrible customer service. Never even got to the point of placing an order...

Nice place. Food was generally very good although I thought the chorizo was dry and they needed a bit more fat in the mix. Since I'm what would be considered a 'value shopper', I was dismayed that 4 plates of tapas and a 2 glasses of wine was around $80. Seems like a lot for what it was. read more

Great selection with a lot of different types of flavors. Lamb chops were particularly delicious, as was the crema catalana. Ceviche and seafood paella were good. Atmosphere was nice - Spanish background music. read more

My wife, a few good friends and I are at Azucar a short while back. The food was absolutely awesome! The drinks were also really good but maybe a tad too heavy on the sweet. The only issue we had, which really isn't an issue at all, is that the live music started much later than advertised. When it did start it was great. People started dancing and the already good environment got even better. I'd highly recommend this place. read more

Sweet little place decorated beautifully. Great drinks and lovely food. Wait staff super nice and friendly. Mexican food wig a twist. Sister restaurant to El Huipil. Just around the corner! Go!!!! read more

Great dinner spot! Outdoor seating is the definitely the move. Sper fun atmosphere and menu!

Intimate place with good tapas. You think you're in Barcelona or Madrid. They had a guitarist and singer, singing Spanish folk songs. Friendly staff. Great addition to the area. Gets pricey. read more

This place is a gem! Sangria is a must! Shared multiple tapas. We had gone just for 1 or 2 but just kept choosing new ones to share.

This is an amazing jewel in the heart of Maynard! The owners are very warm and everyone is very friendly and attentive. SO happy that they are now open, successfully following the new COVID-19 guidelines! We had the option to sit outside or go indoors, where we would be spaced accordingly. We chose to sit outside because the weather was so nice, but indoors is always fun with their different seating choices (cushy benches or tables in different rooms) We were greeted by the host, who presented us with a clever way to display their menus. We scanned a QR code with our phones to access their full menu. Their drink specials are fun and creative with their take on authentic ones. I had their Tinto de Verano - it was delicious and matched the beautiful weather. We have not had a tapas that wasn't delicious! Their presentation for each dish is fun, often using rustic ceramic bowls and plates to accompany the food and sauces. On this visit, we had their ceviche - with a perfect blend of fish cooked in the lime juice, and blended with onions, avocado and tomatoes. We didn't want to waste the sauce, so got some extra toasted bread to dip. We also sampled their Padron Peppers - simply prepared, roasted peppers to nibble and share. Calamares Andaluza (fried calamari) hit the spot and was light and flavorful. My husband and I agreed that the winner for the night was their Datiles Ibericos - baked dates wrapped in panceta and goat cheese. Mushrooms aren't my thing, so my husband will get them when we go out - he LOVED the Hongos al Ajillo (mushrooms sauteed with garlic). All told, we had 3 drinks, 5 tapas and a side of toasted bread; left a nice tip and it was $93. Perfect date night and so reasonable for exceptional freshly made cuisine. We can't wait to go back to enjoy the food, drink and look forward to the live music scene that they were known for before the pandemic... Please go to this restaurant, it's a stand out! read more

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Fabulous and promising first visit! We sat at the bar and had a great time talking to the bartender. Red sangria was delicious. We didn't plan to eat but ended up ordering the olives and peppers, as well as the anchovies on bread with olive oil and almonds and peppers (forget what it was called!). Both were fabulous- fresh ingredients, beautiful plating, and prompt and warm service. We can't wait to come back with emptier bellies to try more! The decor is really lovely- they have taken what used to be a huge space and created cozy and colorful nooks everywhere. We are die-hard El Huipil fans and are so pleased to see such lovely restaurant owners thrive in Maynard. Well done! read more

Azucar Tapas Bar - This was so delicious and fresh! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Maynard, Massachusetts

So exciting to have a place like this in Maynard! It's unlike anything else in the area. Amazing atmosphere and decor, which creates a vibe that makes you want to go back for more. It feels very upscale. We tried around 10 different dishes and each was as excellent as the next. The menu is thoughtful, and though portions may be on the smaller side (which is expected with tapas), the quality makes up for it. The drink menu is awesome - a ton of options, and Maynard has definitely been missing a place with an elevated cocktail list. The staff is extremely friendly and eager to help. We have been back countless times since, and we have hope for the continued success of this place, as it is truly well deserved! read more

The staff are great, everyone is so nice, and kept to COVID standards. Sat outside. Service was all great, but the downside was the food. Ordered several plates, mostly seafood and some beef empanadas. All plates lacked flavor, and really was mediocre. The Del Mar Paella came out with some closed mussels/cracked closed mussels, jumping out to us as not being fresh or looked over. Made us weary of eating any more seafood after that. Over all the Paella was salty. Was hoping for more, but was not impressed. Glasses of wine are equal to the cost of the full bottle that can be purchased. read more

This is a delicious and quaint restaurant. The bacon wrapped dates and lamb chops are delicious, and the red sangria is delicious. Our waitress was attentive and very personable. read more

Delicious meal, very attentive staff, beautiful comfortable atmosphere and the kitchen is open late. We thought they did a great job for only being open less then a week. We tried the Tuna croquettes, lengua as we are adventurous eaters, octopus and chorizo. All were beautifully presented and cooked perfectly. For dessert try the poached pear and the custard as they were so yummy. The sangria was very good too. Great spot for drinks at the bar too or for stopping in for dessert. We had no complaints at all and what a nice addition to Maynard. read more

We swooned. The sangria was perfect; not sweet. The date appetizer is worth the trip alone. We also liked the garlic shrimp, mint meatballs, cod, duck, and bread. Super helpful staff. read more

Food is disappointing, very small portions and no taste at all. Wait staff was great. The food is not authentic and has no flavor. There is a restaurant behind them that has better food and flavor. I went there and it was way better than azucar. read more

Have been there three times - all good. Twice just tapas plates, once with a paella - which was LARGE. Little quibbles: last time, four of us, ordered nine tapas plates, everything pretty much came all at once. I am sure that if we had specified, timing would have been adjusted. The Crema Catalana was a disappointment - like a Creme Brulee that had not 'set' served in a bowl. read more

Thank you to the Azucar staff for an excellent dinning experience. Highly recommend the Roasted Duck with Berry Sauce and the Paella. Cocktails were outstanding as well. As I'm pregnant I asked for a recommendation on a mocktail and was recommended an amazing Raspberry Mojito which was so great I had to have another. Thank you again for such great service in this time of uncertainty. read more

My wife chose Azucar for her birthday dinner. We ordered $85 worth of food to be picked up in 30-40 minutes. I arrived to pick up our dinner after 35 minutes and was told "10 more minutes." I waited and then was told "2 minutes more." I finally walked out with our dinner after waiting for it for 1 hour and 20 minutes. The food was great and they got the order right. For that we are grateful. Also, Azucar was busy tonight. However, the way I was treated is unacceptable. If a mistake was made or if the kitchen was backed up and it was going to be nearly 3x the ETA, please just be honest with your patrons. We want to support local business and understand that things happen, but to ignore and lie to a waiting customer while you seat new parties, take orders, and fill drinks is wrong. Maybe the person I met needs more training. Unfortunately, we will probably end up looking elsewhere before considering to patronize Azucar again. read more

Food was great, excellent presentation, service exceptional. A little pricey, but worth it. Nice atmosphere.

Very excited to have such a great place in Maynard! Went on Aug 23rd. Just after they fully opened. Both food and drinks were delicious. Was rather pricey by the end, but we expected that with a tapas restaurant. Had 3 different tapas and a paella. All was great! read more