5/5 meal no complaints! The food was absolutely delicious and I will 100% be returning!…read more The brunch paella was so DELICIOUS! just bursting with flavors. The avocado toast from here may be the first avocado toast i've ever liked in my life!

Catalú has taken several pages from the modern "let's meat and maybe eat just a little" social…read morescene. Modern high ceilings keep the sound level high and white/black modernist decor gives the impression that patrons are more intent on talking than taking the time for serious eats. That said, the bar side seating is less noisy so pull up a table. The menu is smallish for tapas but that doesn't mean the kitchen is trying too hard. We had empanadas; good flavor but there was little sauce for the beef filling and the pastry was grey instead of golden. Shrimp are served in a red hot earthenware bowl with 6 simmering in an hot oil-heavy broth. The oil was spicy and surprisingly better with the big crusty bread hunk served alongside. Shrimp were a bit mealy and were likely thawed. Stuffed red peppers were very good with plenty of cheese filling and a tangy balsamic glaze. Drinks are fast from the nearby bar and there are occasional $1 mojitos that bring in nearby Southenders. Service is pleasant and fast; parking is in the adjacent deck across from the bank. We'll return to try some different things next time to see if the kitchen is upping their game and to try the paella, which takes time to make right and the menu reflects that 30-45 minute wait for that signature dish.

We stopped by Bulla Gastrobar on a recent layover the Charlotte. It's in a mall, so drop off and…read morepickup was easy. It's a nice Spanish-themed cuisine restaurant, lots of tapas and Mediterranean cuisine. It was good! Decent cocktail and wine menus as well. We dined on muchas tapas... patatas bravas, lentil soup, Spanish meatballs, potato tortilla, gazpacho, just to name a few. All were good. Service was OK too. Typical mall restaurant where ceiling fixtures are crooked, burned out lightbulbs in many fixtures, dirty ceiling tiles. Food gave it 4 stars, the space itself is mediocre!

Their food is delicious, the ambience elegant. It's nice for a slacks occasion or a nice lunch or…read moredinner date. It has an amazing menu and prices were great! Service is excellent very well treated and even got a gift card on my birthday which it sadly expired :( but the experience was eternal and the gesture unforgettable. Highly recommended.

Everything about Pio Pio is a 10 out of 10! The service was beyond lovely - friendly, super…read moreattentive, and service was fast. Restaurant was beautifully decorated and clean. Everything we ate was incredibly delicious and so authentic. We ordered a ton of food for our table (most not pictured here because we ate so fast!). Notable the tostones, calamari, the chicken, and yuca...all absolutely amazing. We also ordered pollos soltado to go for a family member who raved it was the best they had since moving to this area.

Pio's restaurant has gotten a facelift and it's even better than it was in the past! The score has…read moreincreased to 99, the seating has been updated and the food is still delicious--maybe even better! We went on a Saturday afternoon and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and attentive service. Our meal was excellent as it has consistently been, especially since the changes have been made to the restaurant. I want to make sure that I mention the cleanliness of the women's bathroom. This is the second time in a row that I've used it and it is very well maintained. It's large, clean and odorless. It gives me an overall positive feeling about the restaurant, which adds to my comfort when we eat here. We love coming here. The prices are reasonable, the portion sizes are just right, and the servers are attentive and friendly. A great experience!!

We got the pupusas and tamales. The pupusas were average at best and the tamales were soggy and not…read moreedible.

Recently saw that this restaurant is much cleaner so I went to go buy some pupusas for $2.50 each…read moreit's a pretty good price and it looks cleaner and service was fast and friendly . I'll post some new menu prices up

I have passed this spot many times and it's been on my list for awhile. I finally made it in…read moreyesterday with a friend and we had the perfect girl's night! We arrived around 7:30pm and sat inside at the bar because it was raining but they do have a nice outdoor area too. This is definitely a fancier venue, dimly lit but still cozy and inviting. Service was prompt and friendly. We started with drinks - a gin cocktail for my friend and a wine flight (Hello, Old Friend) for me. We both enjoyed, enough to get a second round (I opted for a full glass of the sparkling wine from the first flight). For tapas, we shared the meatballs, salmon, and broccolini. The first plate came out very quickly, less than 5 minutes, and was piping hot. They were delicious and there was plenty of sauce leftover for dipping bread. The broccolini and salmon were done perfectly as well. Everything was super flavorful and it was just the right amount of food for us. A little pricier, but definitely worth every dollar- this is a great place for date night or a special/celebratory occasion. @azfitfoodfun

Amazing ambiance, service, and most importantly food! Came on a Sunday night and it wasn't very…read morebusy, though other weekend nights definitely are. This is one of the best restaurants in the area, and a great option to take guests, friends/family, or a date to. Recs/what we got: - Tortilla 4.5/5: a staple, yummy. - Patatas bravas 5/5: my favorite! - Croquetas 4.5/5: my friends' favorite. - Hummus 4/5: the hummus was so tasty! They offered more chips to go with the extra dip for $1. - Spinach & chickpea 3.5/5: cool concept but was just ok - don't think I'd get again. - Paella (chicken, pork belly, etc.) 4.5/5: order these early because they take some time to come out! Very flavorful and delicious. - 3 half glass wine sampler: this was super special because they customize to what your preferences are and surprise you. Servers/managers were friendly, vibe was nice for a night out. Keep in mind it can get pretty loud when it's busy. I'll definitely be back to try more!

After a day of visiting breweries, we were hungry but not starving and I thought tapas would be a…read moreperfect solution. Quickly Yelping "tapas", Marina's stood out with good reviews and a fairly convenient location. We took the Blue Line to Parkwood, a short walk from Optimist Hall, the food hall where Marina's can be found. We were able to score seats at the counter and immediately began ordering. The tomato bread was great and I also loved the patatas bravas. Croquettes and garlic shrimp were also easy on the palette. The food was tasty, filling and hit the spot. Service was quick and friendly. I love tapas because I don't leave feeling overly stuffed and there's the opportunity to taste a variety of items so if you want well prepared tapas in a fun environment, Marina's is a place to go!

If you put a Spanish tapas spot in Optimist Hall, know that we be there on opening day. This place…read morewas so good we went back to order a second round before we finished the first!!! Ordered: croquetas, pan con tomate +manchego, gamba al ajillo, patatas bravas, pimientos del piquillo rellenos, and the calamares fritos. Everything was absolutely incredible. In no order: -sourdough on the shrimp and pan con tomato was a delight. -everything was super fresh. -calamari was a delightful balance of light golden fried -croquetas were so good we needed two orders -shrimp and the sauce was fireeeeeeeeee Service was quick and super friendly!!! He told me I'd be back for more . We sadly missed the meatballs, but will return to enjoy each other's presence at a later time.

Happy to return here, area was nice and clean. Wait staff was super nice and accommodating…read more And the food is so comforting, it's a perfect hug on a plate. My husband ordered some taquitos for breakfast and he finished his plate! He found the accompanying salad to be a perfect addition to the breakfast. I ordered Desayunos #4, and it was fantastic. My eggs were cooked to a perfect runny yolk, the ranchero sauce had a perfect roasted tomato-pepper umami, with the accompanying house made fresh tortillas, you can't help but keep taking an additional bite after bite.

The atmosphere is beautiful and cozy, the staff is very kind and accommodating. Wonderful tasting…read morefood and wonderful service.

Let me tell you ...this is the best Latin American…read morerestaurant in Charlotte. Food is freshly prepared and the service is superb. Try it!! Family atmosphere.

First off when I arrived no one came to me and ask to seat for 10 mins went to the bar seats were…read moretaken. Y he restaurant was not crowded. Finally got seated no water and is hot as hell inside and out. Waited another 10 minutes waitress came with chips and dip. Sweating I finally caught her attention for some water . Food came out no utensils, after a half hour started to eat.