We ended up here by happenstance and decided to give it a try. Tucked away in a parking lot, dark from outside but my husband always says the display of lights draw me in. We'll, there is some truth to that, but it was also a Cold night and I saw a fire pit sparking through as we walked by. Quaint bar and restaurant. They have both indoor and covered (warm) outdoor seating that expands the space. Tables were filled with both friends gathered, laughing and having cocktails as well as couples enjoying a lovely dinner together. The staff - when we walked in originally, we were created by a gentleman who was welcoming and shared more about the restaurant with us. We hesitated a bit and stepped outside as we already had our name on a waiting list for another restaurant around the corner. After talking a bit more we decided to cancel that wait and walked back in. We only had about a 5 min wait for a table and were seated. The menu is Spanish tapas. We ordered drinks (they were so so), the chorizo with hot honey, but it was the grilled octopus that won the evenings dinner praise. We enjoyed trying the restaurant, however (not just here, but all tapas restaurants) tend to be on the pricier side for food. Great atmosphere, good staff and enjoyable food. read more

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Spanish diners may serve tapas, which are small plates of food meant for sharing, or other traditional Spanish dishes. This place is a a take on the tapas style treats from overseas. We stopped in to check this out and decided to stay for some treats. Teh srvice staff os pretty on spot. When were waiting I thought they were under staffed however everyone seemed to work together and make sure no one is left unattended. ONe thing to consider, 20% is added to every order plua health care coverage tax. The place is loud. Expect to have to speak up just to hold a conversation. read more

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Nice spot! I'm always excited for tapas, and this spot had some decent options. Our bartender was helpful with dish descriptions, and we opted for two proteins (the grilled shrimp and ham croquettes) and two sort of "sides" (the grilled tomato bread and roasted peppers). The shrimp and bread were the forerunners for me. I thought everything was fine but I wasn't wowed. Also, the plates took quite a while to come out, and there weren't many guests dining that evening so I didn't really understand the wait. The bar is beautiful with the green, sort of aquatic uplighting. The outdoor fire pit was really cool (or warm, I should say!). I'd go back for the ambiance before the food. read more

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Excellent meal made better with friends. Drinks were good. I should have had one of their cocktails instead of the G&T. Tried several at the table and yummy. We had scallops which were perfect texture and great flavor with the parsnips, croquetas which were pretty typical, patatas bravas which we had to order more because they were too good, and the bisteca which was lovely. The only miss was the gambas- so much sauce that you couldn't taste the shrimp. We got several bottle of Tempranillo which hit the spot. Bread was tiny toast which was ridiculous. Service excellent. Wish we had room for dessert. read more

This is from September so it's an old review but better late than never This was a wonderful restaurant to try and would love to come back sometime! My partner and I stopped in while walking around Portland. The staff was kind and informative of the menu and the outside area was nice! We really enjoyed the octopus! It was a different dish from anything we've ever had! Lots of flavor and the octopus was cooked perfectly. Deviled eggs were amazing but it's hard to share with 3 of them. The crudo was good but honestly had too much going on for such a small amount of fish. $17 for that was really disappointing. I wish it said in the description that it's a pretty small dish. read more

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I hadn't been here in years and glad I gave it another chance- tasty drinks and enjoyed all the dishes we tried. The pork belly, trout and besos were probably my top picks but all of the food was flavorful and delicious. Friendly staff, indoor and outdoor seating options, and overall a nice dinner spot. read more

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We've been in twice recently and the servers are lovely, but the experience make me wish I never left home. The first time was in December and we hoped to get dinner and drinks, but were sent away after our cocktails because of a "kitchen fire." They comped our cocktails and gave us gift cards, so we went back. I ordered a $16 cocktail and it was presented like this. The wrong glass, no garnish, just meh. Maybe the bar tender was new? The server was great and replaced the drink. The food was priced like high end food, but fell woefully short. We will not be going back and recommend Scotch lodge or rum club in that areas. read more

Bar Casa Vale - $16 cocktail at bcc. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This place was one of my favorites. But then... In Dec of 2025 three of us went her for their paella night. $65/pp. What the server failed to mention was that it was a so-called Hunter's Paella and featured chicken, not seafood and sausage. The serving was skimpy (tons of rice and small portions of overcooked chicken) and so salty we couldn't finish it. Then they gave us two desserts to split when three of us were dining. All in all, it was a really bad experience and I'm now, sadly, hesitant to return. read more

Only by pure luck walked into this amazing tapas restaurant and bar!!! Amazing greeting with the most amazing host who promptly sat us without reservation!! Great little bites and large shareable plates as well!!! Amazing beverages as well!!! Highly recommended!' read more

This place is by far one of my favorites in Portland!! The staff are THE BEST! Seriously! I can't say enough amazing things about every single person I've encountered here. The food speaks for itself: vibrant, dynamic, flavorful, textural- composition is wonderful and the staff is so knowledgeable about flavor pairings so let them help you if you're between choices! 100/10- this place is a GEM! read more

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Recently went here for portland dinning month and loved everything about it. Friendly attentive staff, delicious food.

We always frequent this establishment when we're in the mood for tapas and paella (arroz mix on the menu). Service was great minus us having to remind them about the birthday celebration on our reservation notes but all good. Food was 7/10 since the rice wasn't as crispy as usual & potatoes were a bit hard. We've had it better prepared in the past but still fairly tasty. Ambiance is great. Drinks could be improved by adding a garnish. It's always a bit sad to pay $15+ and not get the extra touch (personal preference). Last improvement regarding the 20% auto gratuity - not a fan when restaurants do this + 3% health charge. For party of 2, doesn't make sense to tack on these charges and ask for additional tip. read more

Bar Casa Vale - Tapas Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Worthy of a top 40 recognition! Space & lighting perfect for a cozy & romantic vibe inside. The simple outdoor patio is just as energetic (on the weekends). Order the paella as soon as the staff greets you for drinks. We must have been lucky cause the grilled octopus was one of the largest legs we ever had! So tender & flavorful. Service excellent ~ poised and friendly with smiles each time. Very attentive. Limited private parking lot, street parking for most. Reservations recommended. read more

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It's a bit too hip for a tapas joint in Spain, but hey, we are in PDX, and the ambiance is quite enjoyable, with a bar area, seating area, and an outdoor, heated, tented-space. Something for everyone. Four of us worked our way through a good part of the menu. Boquerones, Spanish cheese board, pan con tomate, patatas bravas, ensalada de espinacas, calabaza guisada, atun crudo, roasted romanesco cauliflower, and the wagyu steak a la plancha for the carnivore of the group. Presentation of the food was mixed, as was portion size, but generally appropriate for the dish. Bread with tomato--well, it's a slab of thick cut, large grilled bread slathered with a bright, acidic tomato conserve. I wonder if summer tomatoes would smooth out that excess bite, but the dish worked well. I mean bread and tomatoes is a peasant dish, and the portion size matched that. The cheese board was quite the opposite, aiming for visual minimalism that matched the 2 ounces of cheese, a small mounding of macerated raisins, and a scant grouping of thinly shaved fennel that was so marvelously seasoned that I really wish the kitchen hadn't been so stingy. The cheese selection was ok, not exceptional, which made it feel that the $16 price tag for this was exorbitant. Switching aesthetic approach again, the spinach salad used a variety of thick-leafed over-sized spinach, and kept the leaves whole, which required some dexterity on the diner's part. I prefer the texture of spinach like this over the more easily managed baby spinach or even bunched spinach you find in the market. The pears and pumpkin seeds added excellent texture and variety, and while the salad was perfectly dressed (ie, not over-dressed), the quince vinaigrette seemed more like a conceit--being overly-interested in including the name quince in the description than adding any particular identity of its own. Despite that one quibble, the dish was a success. Moving on to the boquerones, we return to a very small portion size, unless you include the generous offering of crackers. But that's as it should be as anchovies are about intensity not quantity. These were a good example of white anchovies, having that fresh, bright, saline flavor which distinguishes them from the muddled, all-bass notes of your average canned variety. A win. The butternut squash was one of the great successes of the kitchen on the night we dined in. Squash, when handled well, has an intense, meaty depth to it, and this was on point. Add to that the judicious layering of flavors, from the harissa, which didn't punish with heat, but added a tickle of interest, and the slightly sour richness of the fromage blanc produced a fully-conceived winner. Regarding portion size and presentation, this hit a mid-spot between rustic food and urban sophistication, coming out in a glazed earthenware cocotte which was as autumnal as the squash. And then the patatas bravas. If there is one stereotypical tapas, this is it, and as a consequence, there is tremendous variety in how kitchens approach the classic. BCV decided to hew a country-path with a nod to American sensibilities, by which I mean that the potatoes were coated in far more 'salsa brava' than many places in Spain. The potatoes themselves were served in oversized chunks that added to their bucolic identity as did their abundance. Some of the potatoes had a crisp exterior that crackled beneath their creamy interior, while others may have softened or never crisped up in the first place. In the dim light, it was hard to ascertain, but it felt like the potatoes had not been peeled. Again, the peasant approach, which stood out as I can't think of a time when patatas bravas were not peeled. These also were slathered with what the menu calls an aioli, but which was less assertive on the garlic flavor than many, which I noted as a benefit. With the atun crudo, we are once again presented with minimalist plate decor to accompany the small portion size. The raw 'tuna' had a slight "bite" to it. I should first note that here the menu seems to be confused, because yellowtail is a jack, not a tuna. Having eaten and fished a great deal of yellow tail, I am still confused by the texture of this yellow tail. It makes me think that it may have undergone a very short pickling or curing--it didn't taste it but the texture was confusing. The parsley oil was lovely, purveying all the complexity that good parsley possesses. The large lipped plate was dotted with the harissa in the contemporary style, like small red molehills of mild flavor. I still haven't decided how successful this dish was, which may itself be the answer. While I didn't have the steak, I was told it was extremely tender, which credit must be split both by the cut of meat--flat iron is second only to tenderloin for a yielding texture. However, the pumpkin puree didn't meet with my pal's approval. Service was solid, providing descriptions of dishes and keeping us appraised of kitchen timing. Bravo! read more

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This place deserves a Michelin star. The people I spoke with were very accommodating, fun, and welcoming. The food was plated like each dish was a work of art. And the flavor! Each dish was more delicious than the last. I actually licked the plate a few times. This is easily my new favorite restaurant and I am counting the seconds as to when I'll be back! read more

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We came here for drinks and dessert. The desserts, drinks and service was so good that we want to come back for dinner one of these days. The ambience is dark, dim, woody, cozy, romantic. It is inviting for couples, friends, and singles that want to get a drink at the bar. This is mainly a restaurant and they operate on restaurant hours, closing at 10 pm. They have an enclosed outdoor space with a fire pit and heat lamps. read more

Bar Casa Vale - Tapas Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Their cocktails are delicious! The ambience is laidback. We sat at the bar since their tables are usually for parties greater than 2 The service is quick and very attentive read more

This place has a tasting menu for currently (2025) $65 a person. After participating in the tasting menu with 4 other people, I've learned that the meals they provide are the undersold dishes of the night. The dishes were very small and left alot to wanted. When a restaurant does a tasting menu, it is usually their best items to highlight the skills of the chefs. This restaurant seems to be the opposite. I'd suggest cation coming to this restaurant in general but highly caution the tasting menu. I was very disappointed with the meal. The wine selection however, was very pleasant and the staff were nice. read more

The perfect place for a date night filled with fun and Spanish tapas. We loved the sangria, the Roasted Romanesco cauliflower, and the Steak Banderilla. Our server was wonderful, we'll definitely be back. read more

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First time here. Came on a weekday. Lots of FREE parking. Arrived when it opened and was seated immediately. There was one other table of 4 guest. The space had an indoor/outdoor feel. We looked over the menu and decided on a few things to share. The Mixed Green Salad was refreshing. Grilled Octopus was tender. Patatas Bravas (potatoes) didn't impress us. Both the octopus and potato tapa had a similar taste. The restrooms are shared with other businesses in the building. read more

Bar Casa Vale - Potatoes - Tapas Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Go for the drinks, stay for the service! I visited Bar Casa Vale with a friend this week for the first time and had an amazing experience. Was able to find street parking right in front, although they do have a small parking lot! The service is incredible! The staff was present and super attentive and our food came out very fast. The food was delicious but extremely salty. That could just be personable preference but again delish! My favorite was the drink! I'm still thinking about it and will return for drinks with friends. I got a rest last minute and we sat outside on the patio and it was a perfect end of summer day. Overall, I would recommend this place, if it's on your list! read more

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How interesting! Bar Casa Vale serves tapa-style Spanish food and I was intrigued as I've studied abroad in Spain during college. Their tapas menu is authentic and showcases dishes you'd find on the streets of Spain. We got the patatas bravas, brussels sprouts, gambas al ajillo, costillas de Jerez, and mixta paella. Food came out really fast and I was impressed. All the flavors of the dishes were interesting...it wasn't bad, and it were flavors I'm familiar with, but I wasn't sure how well they worked together. The patatas bravas and brussels sprouts were a bit too over-fried - almost too crisp. The mixta paella was weird...it was citrusy, and it overpowered the dish. The rice was also too mushy. Overall, great concept, but execution could be better. Service was great though! Our waitress was attentive and came in to check on us frequently. Maybe our visit was a one-off as I've heard good things about them. Or maybe this is my sign to go back to Spain... read more

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We wanted to grab small tapas before a comedy show and this place had a great selection. We chose no meat to reduce heaviness and stuck with veggies. Shishito peppers with on point and plenty for even 3-4 people. He said 4-6 plates would be good for 2 people but we stuck with less. The peppers I preferred a sauce but told that's just a southern thing. Fried cauliflower and nice peppers and nuts mix. I would chop it up and then mix to eat it and not like a piece of meat. Corn was the best with the aioli sauce. That's was finished read more

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This place changed my whole perspective on Spanish food, I want to go to Spain right now to eat more of this cuisine! We ordered quite a lot and enjoyed their take on certain items. The server noted our non diary preferences and made sure to let us know which dishes contained dairy. We ate a lot and I enjoyed ever dish! The ambiance was dark and moody, but not too dark that you couldn't read the menu. I'll definitely be back! read more

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First of all, I would call this an "upscale" restaurant, this coming from a notorious food cart junkie. The ambiance is what I would call luxurious, but I think it was a bit too dark. The service was impeccable. The servers knew every inch of the menu, were pleasant and very helpful with giving advice. The food was good. I always look for the "surprise" dish and this time, it was the croquettes and the frisée salad. The octopus was very good and the potato chips was a nice touch. If you are looking for an elegant date night, this a great place to try. read more

Came here on a Friday evening at 6p and was seated immediately. I ordered the Oaxaca National which is a mezcal based drink and it was amazing. We then order the Gildas, boquerones, squid ink fideo, pulpo and patatas bravas. Everything was amazing but I have to say the squid ink fideo was the star of the show. read more

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The food here was amazing. We got the grilled octopus & steak. Both were cooked to perfection.

Bar Casa Vale is an amazing restaurant in the Buckman neighborhood that is worth a visit for any occasion. The restaurant has a beautiful brick interior and lovely ambience with great outdoor and indoor seating. The menu is split into small snacks, medium sized tapas, and larger plates. I went with one other person and ordered the olives, gilda, patatas bravas, salt cod fritters, biltas de manchego, and octopus. The patatas bravas were outstanding, the roasted potatoes were addicting. The biltas de manchego reminded me of gnocchi with a lovely twist of using manchego. I thought all the food was fantastic. In addition to great ambience and food, Bar Casa Vale has a great drink menu with cocktails, spanish wines, and an extensive vermouth list. We tried the vermouth flight and enjoyed it. read more

Bar Casa Vale - Tapas Bars Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Awesome revisit to this Spanish tapas place. Beautiful ambience - perfect for an intimate date! Had the Boquerones, Pulpo a la Gallega (grilled octopus), the harissa marinated quail, and the arroz negra (squid ink risotto with calamari). Nice red wine choices to accompany. Excellent service at the bar. The quail and calamari were the true superstars of the evening. Don't miss this sort of hidden gem@ read more

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Dropped by Bar Casa Vale for my partner's birthday and you know we over-ordered. If I'm involved, there will be plethora of food items l o l We got the patatas bravas, the rapini montadito, the cauliflower, and 1 paella each -- meat for the boy, vegetarian for leaf eating me. I have to mention that he also got their in house raspberry soda which was DELICIOUS. Highly recommend getting this; honestly, way better than the cocktail I got and I'd prefer to have that non-alcoholic soda any day. Food wise, the montadito was deeelicious. Greens on top of perfectly toasted bread with a savory umami peanut sauce on top. Polished that off quite quickly. Then came the patatas bravas -- if you know me, you know I'm a literal potato fanatic so you know I loved this dish. The potatoes were piping hot, crispy and paired super well with the sauces on top. 10/10 would potato again no doubt. The cauliflower was quite the hefty dish and probably the mildest out of the tapas but still pretty good. Paella wise, the portion looks intimidating but is reasonable if you don't eat a bunch of tapas like we did. You could definitely share the paella if you wanted to. My partner tasted both of our dishes and noted that the vegetarian paella was not as well seasoned -- which was my main gripe as well. It came topped with a ton of great veggies but I felt like they needed to be a bit more seasoned to carry the rest of the dish. The crispy rice at the bottom was def the winner here. We did get a cake for dessert which was good but not great. My partner loved it, but I was not a huge fan of the texture. Tastewise, pretty good regardless. Service was very friendly, our food came out at a reasonable time, and the place was just so cute! Can't wait to go back and sit outdoors on sunnier days~ read more

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Bar Casa Vale might have friendly staff, but not even great service can save food this bad. Chef Robert Smith seriously missed the mark. Every dish we ordered was either overcooked, underseasoned, or just plain strange. It felt like someone was experimenting without any clue what they were doing--and we were the unlucky taste testers. The servers were attentive and kind, which made the experience slightly less painful, but honestly, they deserve better food to serve. This place tries hard to look cool, but behind the trendy vibe is a kitchen that clearly doesn't have it together. I don't care how good the cocktails are--if the food is this bad, what's the point? Won't be back. read more

With a group of friends visiting town, tapas are the only way to go! The menu is comprised of Spanish mains and tapas that give you options for the classics like patatas and paella but other options that you may not normally see. They are a popular spot so be sure to make a reservation ahead of time. We were checking in and the group in front was able to get a walk in since a party cancelled. We didn't get the main dining area but they did really well with the other space which seems to be their outdoor area with a large fire pit in the middle and space heaters around the place. We were cold at first but as we were seated we were warm throughout the night. Really cool ambiance on both the outdoor and indoor area. Busy-ish area so while they have a parking lot with free parking it gets filled quickly. You can find free parking around the area though but come earlier so you don't feel rushed to check in. | WHAT WE GOT | + Deviled Eggs + Rapini Montadito + Croquetas (3x) + Spanish Cheese (cheddar and goat) + Patatas Bravas + Cous Cous + Gambas + Flank Steak + Pulpo ^^The above was the right amount to share with a group of 5 people with even some left to spare. If you can't tell by the number of times we ordered the croquetas they are a MUST get item on the menu. Come early since they may run out if you have a reservation later in the night. In addition to the croquetas the faves of the night were the pulpo, deviled eggs, and the flank steak with the goat cheese. The rapini was unique so would recommend trying that if you've never seen it on a menu. Gambas/patatas were good but standard of what you would expect and I would pass on the cous cous next time. To start the night we also got a pitcher of their sangria that was so yummy! I really enjoyed that they brought out chilled glasses for the sangria and even for our other friend that was drinking a coke. They have a nice selection of gin cocktails with various flavor profiles so would try that if you're into gin! Service was friendly and attentive here as well. Had some slight hiccups with the back having double orders for us but we just sent the entrees back and they were nice about it. read more

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Jumped in here on a Friday night before a show. Grabbed two bar seats. Immediately was helped by the friendly bartender. Got a couple of drinks. They were fabulous. Ordered a few tapas to share. Food was amazing. Great bacon wrapped dates. The Gambas were so delicious. Ordered two more drinks. Equally as good as the first two. What a gem of a spot. Can't wait to come back. read more