We have driven by here so many times and finally went in last night now that we're comfortable in group settings again. Wow. What a gem. We had friends flying in and their flight was late last night. We scrambled to find a place still open and serving food. This place overdelivered. Highlights: -live music -easy to use smart phone app for ordering. Similar to stone's if you've been there recently - cheap corkage! Bring your own wine if you want to - really tasty red sauces on dishes and good portions (margarita too!) - dogs are welcome - atmosphere/vibe/lighting - open late! Kitchen was open last night until 10. read more

Came on Friday night to support my friend in a Comedy Show. First impression when I walked, "Where am I right now?" What a cool venue! Love that they created the ambiance with real candles. Talk about living on the edge. I had planned for dinner and a show. To my surprise their food options were on the lighter side and I was starving. Since I had time before the show started, I left to grab real food and returned. Luckily some of us showed up early and reserved great seats for us. Close enough to hear and see, but far enough not to get heckled. Upon returning, the bar line was long. My guess is they didn't staff for a full house tonight. One drink took really long, the other one was wrong. Since the line was so long, he didn't want to wait again to have them fix it. We understand mistakes happen. Overall cool venue, stellar talent and will return for live music or comedy show. read more

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I'm normally not a hater but have to warn people about this place. I feel scammed. The standup comedy and music was fun but make sure to get food beforehand. Do not eat here! They literally serve budget frozen dinners heated in a microwave and charge $25 a plate. My girlfriend's eggplant Parmesan was still frozen in the middle. The comedy is free, the venue has to make money, I get it. But either have a kitchen and serve real food or charge $15-$18 for $3 frozen dinners. Don't charge $25 a plate to microwave budget gourmet frozen dinners from Vons, shameful. read more

Me and my girlfriends used to come here often and really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. So sad to see the place go downhill so so badly after Covid. Owner doesn't seem to care. He came and spoke with us and wasn't even interested in our feedback. Food was terrible, drinks were tiny and the service was on par with fast food. I won't ever return read more

Cafe Bar Europa - Are we camping? - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Went here for the flamenco show Friday after tg. The show was amazing, not only was the performance great, but there was an older lady who brought the theatrical part of the dance out so excellent you could see she was feeling, the hurt, pain, sadness! It was epic! The younger dancer was amazing as well. She had beautiful costume changes and was just a fabulous entertainer. They also did an impromptu performance with the flamenco community from sd and they sang a holiday song. It was so amazing because almost felt like it was tribal. Bravo!!!! Had one of the best Sangrias there, too. The owner gave us some paella to taste as well. So nice!! I've seen shows in Sevilla and Madrid before and felt like I was back it Spain again. It was really good. Wish they had more of them. read more

Cafe Bar Europa - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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When we first arrived late on Sunday night the place was almost completely empty. We almost left to be honest. Their ordering system can be a bit confusing at first as you order from the table using your phone. (you can order the traditional way but pay 20% more) once you get the hang of it and set up an account it's rather quite easy and simple. The service was excellent and the food? Simply amazing!!! They informed us that Sundays although good are usually their slowest night as they are winding down and preparing for the upcoming week. They have live bands during the week and we are most definetly coming back for sure. Their bread is out of this world!!! Anthony was the chef and we chatted a bit and love him!!! He really knows how to cook the food! Alex was our server and he was just as great!! So fun and friendly. Definetly coming back to see these guys again and for one of the live bands!!! Can't wait!! read more

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The food was not bad for the vegan options. It was a pasta with some veggies. The live entertainment is the reason I went and it was so great! The service is really nice and the ambiance is really dark and witchy, but in a good way! I love the melted candles and magical paintings on the walls. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Go on the weekends! Live Brazilian music from 6pm on. They have an awesome Brazilian Feast on Sundays with caipirinhas (Brasil's national drink) & feijoada! Yum! Last time we had the Greek lemon chicken & paella which were excellent. The interior is full of classic European art complete with an antique piano & candelabras. There's a beautiful space inside with dance floor & outdoor covered patio seating where the music happens. It felt like we walked into a magical house party where everyone was friendly. My favorite new venue!!! They have a cool new system where you order from the online menu directly which I'm guessing allows them to focus on making good food & live music. Took me a moment to adjust but I think it's a smart move for restaurants to adopt. read more

Cafe Bar Europa - Josias Dos Santos from Brazil hosts a pro jam. - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Feel like being whisked away to Europe without actually flying far away? Feel like eating something a bit more international for a change? Feel like listening to live international music? Feel like even just a simple change in environment from the usual? In the outskirts of PB, you'll find this interesting escape. When you arrive and step in, it is an open-seating format. Just seat yourself anywhere available, and the instructions to order will be on your table. In case you don't see it for some reason, the two ways to order is by phone on their website or at the front welcoming station. Through the former, it will be 10% cheaper. My girlfriend says that this place definitely reminds her of Europe, as the feel is very reminiscent of her visits there. It was There is likely live music on any given night when you visit. We came here on a Friday night, and there was a Brazilian guitarist playing and singing all the classic bossa nova songs Now for the food. We were slightly tempted by the paella, but we opted to postpone that experience for next time since we were not up for the challenge to get that full for the night. What we did opt for was a collection of small plates: bocadillo, tortilla española, frutto di mare, and eggplant parmesan. That was the sequence of plates that we had for that night, and it happened to be the ranking from least favorite to most favorite. However, the "least" favorite was still very good. Bocadillo was a set of 4 small spanish-style sandwiches with jamón serrano and manchego cheese. I was definitely more impressed by the jamón serrano, as that becomes the main flavor with the cheese as the compliment. I enjoyed this order. It was easy to eat, and it was straight-to-the-point. The tortilla española is much different than the Mexican tortilla we Americans are more familiar with. It's actually more of an omelet/quiche hybrid. The amount given was maybe about a slice of it. If you had the entire tortilla, it would be a hefty meal. The frutto di mare was a plate of fried seafood (shrimp, fish, and calamari) with a tomato-based dipping sauce. They prepared it well. It had the right amount of breading, and the seafood itself was delicious while not being "tough". The eggplant parmesan was a dish of slice eggplant embedded in gratuitous amounts of parmesan cheese. This dish was delicious and hearty for a small plate. It also took a bit longer, so keep that in mind in case you are starving and want something fast. I think that in the back of my mind, I was plagued by the notion that (according to at least some places in Spain) tapas are free and continuously served when you are continuously ordering and consuming wine. But I understand that in the context of a San Diego business, everything costs money and it is based on the economy and value of dining out in this area. Parking: Street is your best bet. We parked maybe a block away in the residential neighborhood and walked here. FYI: - Not for those with tight expenditure. The small plates are definitely small in food amounts unless you get the paella. - The check-in deal is pretty good if you're getting paella. - Utensil and water is self-serve. The staff mainly informs you of the procedures and serves the food and drink. - The area to the direct left of the stage is also open seating area, in case you're wondering. read more

Had a great time here listening to live music and eating tapas with beer and mimosas. The setting is very romantic, with maroon walls and paintings all over; and it's across the street from the other must-go European place, the French Gourmet. The ordering system is phone-order and is very cool. You don't need to wait for a server to take your order, instead take out your phone (I think we're at the point where we're done calling them "smartphones," instead we just call the non-smartphones "dumb phones") and order from their online menu with pictures, enter your table number and credit card, and viola--your food/drink arrives promptly. You can also order at the register. I wish more restaurants utilized this self-serve model. I hate waiting for the bartender or waiter to come by and take my order or cash me out. One thing I would recommend is integrating it with Apple Pay so I don't have to pull out my card and enter it manually when it's already saved on Apple Pay. There were some aspects that could be improved, however. They only had one local craft beer on tap (Iron Fist), and the others--Elysian, Kona, Golden Road, Goose Island--are all owned by Anheuser-Busch and are not local nor craft as defined by the Brewers Association. Also, the prices are a little steep, but overall it was great evening. read more

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Our first time here for a birthday party. Have to come back. Food, service and guitarist were all excellent. Prices are fair and food is very interesting. We had lamb, eggplant, calamari, and bacon wrapped dates and meatballs. Wish I'd taken pictures. Sorry. read more

Cafe Bar Europa - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great spot for a drink and to listen to some live music. Very nice staff, and tons of tables/couches for big groups

You can tell that there is love in this food. The ingredients are fresh and tasty. People may be confused about ordering but instructions for ordering is right on the table. Just scan and order. The vibe is very European-esk. Good to sit down drink a Sangria and talk to friends and family. You may get a long wait time but the food is made with such passion. There's a feel of love and effort in the food and service. Highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

Cafe Bar Europa - Creamy Tomato Pasta - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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I came here w/ my Yelp friend Toonces after we had dinner at Table 926 down the street. Ali, the bartender at Table 926 recommended another bar, but we actually ended up at this place by mistake. It turned out OK, because The Turquoise is cool. Toonces had wine and sangria, while I had port. I asked if they had Cockburn and Toonces said, "This isn't a date!" - JK!!!. Actually, Toonces and the bartender looked at me like I was F*cking Crazy. I told them that Cockburn is a brand of port. I looked it up on my phone and showed it to them. They still looked at me skeptically. They didn't have Cockburn so I ended up w/ Tawny (a port from Portugal). The ambiance is very cool. They have an old school cappuccino machine and a candelabra (see pics). There are some tables on the patio, some high tables on the inside and the bar. In addition, there was a live band w/ 3 musicians in the back. Some ladies took advantage of the small dance floor and danced and dropped $ in the musicians jar. We didn't order food, but it looked like they had some nice tapas. The service was pretty good too. We started at the bar and decided to move closer to the band. The bartender had no issue with that, and brought us new drinks later. BTW, Toonces is an awesome wing gal! She is a lot of fun and interesting to talk to. Plus, she knows a lot of single women that she can introduce me to. Now that is what being a good wing gal is all about - I may get that Cockburn after all - LMAO!!! read more

Cafe Bar Europa - Cool cappuccino machine - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Elegant. European. Currently, a Portuguese singer and a guitar plays as you sip wine and have tapas. Relaxing environment. Recommend this place. read more

The menu online vs what you get at the location is not the same. The one in person is about 90% gone. And the menu you have there is all sold out. This place is more of a bar/hang out place than for eating. The food wasn't even that good. Moscow mule, more like water down ginger ale. You serve yourself. Order yourself. Do it all yourself. The owner has too many kids hanging around- running all over the place and behind the bar. Restrooms were not clean and out of things. HARD PASS read more

Cool bohemian gypsy vibe with small tables and wax dripped candelabras. On the weekends there is often a party or special event, a fun menu with tapas - good cheeses and sliced ham and olives, fresh breads, 3 or 4 entrees, good prices on bottles of wine, and a full bar. There's always music, sometimes it's live... including dance classes or maybe passionate flamenco artists from far and wide! Once in a while there are musicians playing all sorts of instruments and genres. Later at night the DJ begins. The service is friendly, and although sometimes a little scattered when they are busy - they will make it up to you with kindness and you will go away with dreamy happy memories. Go with a group of friends. Credit accepted. read more

Perfect date night ambiance. Bartender extraordinaire Jordan prepares Pernod old school style. read more

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This is the best tapas spot we've had outside of Europe. Kind of appalled by the rating, makes me wonder what on earth is wrong with people. Bacon wrapped dates w goat cheese-10/10 Pinchos morunos-10/10 Greek lemon chicken 9/10 Gambas al ajillo-8/10 We loved the food and ambience and will definitely be ordering takeout from them throughout covid. Can't wait till they can do shows again! We will be back read more

Unfortunately we won't be back. The owners have ruined this place!! We used to frequent this place because we love tapas and live music. Which says something since it's about a 15 minutes drive. This new ordering system does nothing to make me want to stay. We come there to relax and NOT look at our phones, yet we are forced to use them to place every order. What if I wanted to pay in cash? The place has become stale with even worse service. The food was decent as always but the experience has totally been ruined. The girl running food was nice but obviously unmotivated. And I can't blame her. I felt bad for the band. They were pretty good but I felt like I was in a cafeteria. What a shame. It's obvious the owners are just trying to milk every penny out of the place. Oh yeah. And don't try and sit at the bar, they've walled it off with glasses. So stupid. read more

We enjoyed a very laid back evening capped by delicious entrees. The salmon was moist and flavorful, and the chicken was delicious. Adrienne was an incredible hostess and made sure we enjoyed our visit. Definitely a do again experience. read more

This place is a bit of a cross between The Living Room in La Jolla and a French restaurant. The food was very delicious and the owner, who is also the server, who is also the bartender, who is also the barista, who is also the hostess, was very accommodating with my girlfriend's celiac diet. Because she runs the place by herself, service may be a bit confusing. You order up front, seat yourself, and she will come out with your order. She could use some help with someone who is a bartender, another sever/hostess and she could potentially be set. Ambiance was great with the Victorian style furniture that has an old world European feel. It was pretty empty with the exception of a few tables and that's likely because of the confusing means on ordering since the owner doesn't have a server to help or hostess. Otherwise, our food, espresso martini, and homemade tiramisu were great. Give the place a chance, but make sure you go up front to the bar where the register is at to place your order. The owner is kind and could use some help, but the food was delicious. I had the Spanish meatballs and Greek lemon chicken which tasted delicious - particularly the chicken as it was so moist and tender. read more

Cafe Bar Europe is a great place. I was visiting from San Francisco with my friends. We wanted to get some tapas and so we went to this place. The food was amazing and the ambience was lovely. There was live jazz music which gave a great vibe. Would definitely recommend this place! Recommendation: order the eggplant parmesan or the mussels! :) read more

Cafe Bar Europa - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We were introduced to this place by a friend who was an employee at one time. He knew the owner fairly well and we went to try it out. When all said and done, my wife and I had a new hang out. Always great music and atmosphere, while the food is absolutely exquisite. Great decor, paintings all done by the owners daughter, and the casual cafe style is awesome for wine instead of coffee. Great drinks, my first time drinking authentic absinthe was here. I recommend doing the phone to table ordering system, cheaper prices and quicker as well. Easy to use! The owner is Bucillio (sorry if it is incorrect) and we have had the pleasure of making his acquaintance a few times. He is very entertaining and very kind host and he will greet you if he gets the chance. ALSO Every Tuesday a female Italian harpist places beautiful pieces for an intimate crowd. Her name is Chiara It is perfect for a romantic or relaxing evening. Tuesday nights are always a great time and always bring us back. CHECK HER OUT!! BACON WRAPPED DATES! read more

So the setting was gorgeous and the couches were super comfy. Prices were very affordable and the idea of this cafe is super interesting! The vibe is really cool but I have to say we weren't greeted or spoken to by anyone the entire time. Not even the waiter spoke , the others who came in were greeted and things were explained but not to us .... I found that a bit odd but things were pretty simple to figure out. The drinks also were pretty bad I'm not sure if it was just the bartender but I actually didn't drink mine and the person I came with only sipped theirs. Lastly where we sat there was something on the floor super oily and just could have been hazardous. Altogether I would still recommend the place because of the eccentric feel read more

Cafe Bar Europa - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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What an interesting spot in Pacific Beach. It's nestled away from the main area of PB, surrounded by residential areas. We had gift certificates that we wanted to try. There are two ways to order: through a website (which you get 20% off) and in person at the register. We were trying to order through our phones but our codes didn't work. The server helped us out by placing the order in person. After the bit of confusion and challenges of ordering, everything was smooth sailing. Food was delicious. Tapas were small and yummy. I ordered the sea bass which was flavored well. Maybe we were hungry but we ended up ordering too much food and had some to take home. So just be cautious that portions are pretty well-sized for tapas. Ambiance was wonderful. It was heated and a guitarist played most of the night. The live music was such a joy to feel while enjoying our dinner. Servers were also all lovely and accommodating. read more

Very European like ambiance. Has the best tapas in town. Great place to go to with a couple of friends specially during night time. read more

Cafe Bar Europa - Tapas Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Second time coming to Europa. First was on a super slow night. This time it was for a packed house with a full live band. The Food is great. The Phone to table is great and is a new experience. It's super easy to order on your phone and not have to interrupt the whole party everytime someone orders tapas throughout the night. Came with a group of 12. No one had to split bills at the end. Food came to the table fast and hot. No servers interrupting conversations to take your order. Got my drink faster than if you stood up and ordered it. Overall the prices can't be beat, the ambiance is great and it's a great spot to celebrate birthdays at! read more

Cafe Bar Europa runs on a trippy business model. You take a seat, look up their web site on your phone, place your order, and the staff brings you your food and drinks. (a little awkward, at least for me) You need to put in your credit card; the charge is goods plus tax plus 10% gratuity. Ordering this way makes it tricky to get a cocktail exactly the way you want it made. I did not see a Sazerac cocktail on the menu - sad! The liquor bar now has a black lace curtain over it, which is strange to me. It looks and feels isolating or unfriendly. I like sitting at the bar. You can't do it here. The live music is still good. Please leave the musicians a tip. read more

This tapas bar offers live music in a dim, relaxed atmosphere. Nice selection of food and drinks. Had the Spanish tortilla, which was pretty good, and a Kentucky mule. Their order through your phone feature is a little strange but it works. read more

This was the cutest tapas bar! Went for a first date, it was suggested by my dates friend. It has 2 areas, one that is a normal bar/restaurant and a patio type area that is covered with couches and coffee tables. There is also a fire pit. You order your food off your phone, which makes it nice because there are pictures and you pay right away. This makes it easy to leave when you are done. They have a great cheap happy hour from 6-7. They also have live music. I will definitely be back. read more

What a gem! High class jazz, a beautiful and comfortable ambiance, delicious tapas, great service and for all that, exceptionally affordable! They have an online/cell-phone ordering system that is actually super efficient for both food and drinks. The variety is nice too; from a $5 meritage to a $10 tempranillo, from a tortilla Española to a caprese saladv or a platter of paella! read more

I love Cafe Bar Europa and the environment Basilio set up for his customers. The atmosphere is friendly, lively, and relaxing. Basilio is very innovative with the ordering system and has gone to great lengths to make diners feel like family. P.S. It's also a great place for a first date ;) read more

This place is amazing. I recommend Thursday night jazz night. The wait staff is so nice. Drinks are tasty. Food is delicious. Atmosphere is the best! read more

I have really enjoyed this place in the past. The waitstaff are awesome, the food is pretty good, the music is always great. I'm really sad that they've ruined it. It now feels very un-hospitable and unwelcoming. The whole system is awkward, inconvenient and, ultimately, not worth it. You'd be better taking a date to a cafeteria. They now force you to pay as you go. You find a table, note the number on your table, go to the bar, wait in line, order, pay and close out (they will not let you keep a tab open), and then, when you want another round of drinks or more tapas, you go back to the bar, wait in line (which is sometimes VERY lengthy), order again, pay again. Now remember, this is a music venue that serves drinks and tapas. Comfy, cozy ambiance and a nice outside patio space. The kind of place you want to lounge, enjoy the iterative nature of tapas ("let's stop there for now and if we're still hungry, we'll order more!"), and have a few drinks with friends or a great date. Nope. They've decided to make it as inconvenient and unwelcoming as they possibly can. I really liked this place. It's a little heartbreaking to see. read more

Ever since Max took over as GM this place has been outstanding! Excellent service, great food, chill atmosphere. You can come here right after the beach or get dressed up for a nice date. There's is also live music most nights of the week. This place is great for groups especially for special occasions like birthdays. They have comfortable outdoor couches. Max went out of his way to make my best friend's bachelorette party very special! Amazing service and friendly, chill vibe. My husband and I came by about 20 minutes before opening and max gladly let us in and gave us the happy hour pricing--- amazing service and top notch in SD. For what you get, the prices can't be beat. Cocktails are around $8 but taste like a $20 cocktail made to perfection. At happy hour they are around $4-5. You also get a discount if you order on your phone. We usually order on the way over and then our food is served immediately. My husband and I have been to hundreds of restaurants in San Diego and this is the best priced upscale style restaurant with a relaxed vibe you can possibility get! Did I mention the food is outstanding! My favorite dishes are the calamari and meatballs. The style is tapas and main plates. They pretty much have everything. I've tried most dishes and they are all good. Overall, A+++++ for service, good food, and ideal prices!! read more

I've frequented this place several times over the years and as a cafe, a bar, and entertainment spot I really do not have any complaints. Actually I have enjoyed many nights out enjoying good food and music here. UNFORTUNATELY, when I have to question the integrity and character of the people who work at or own the busines, it greatly compromises how I can even give a second thought about recommending this place to anyone , leaving me inclined as well to alert others of this issue: On December 14th I contacted the business through the website email listed to inquire about whether the business offered gift cards/certificates. My message was promptly returned by Basilio Ceravalo (listed as owner) to confirm I could purchase any amount gift card. I would need to submit a PayPal payment and once received he would create the gift certificate and email it to me. On Dec 16th I notified him again that the payment was sent and that it was intended as a Christmas gift, hoping to receive it as soon as possible. On Dec 19th after no response, I again reached out by personal email. Still no response. On Dec 21 I again reached out (this time through Paypal msg) to explain I still had not received a response or my gift certificate and again explained this was an intended gift. I did receive a response same day which states he was working on it and would email for sure the following day. Needless to say, that was the last I've heard from him. I've since left him another message through PayPal requesting a refund at this point. At this point, no matter how much I have enjoyed myself at Cafe Bar Europa in the last, I will no longer recommend this business in good faith and I hope others are cautious dealing with transactions like this. I typically would never PayPal money like this but I had assumed this business and it's owner to be quite reputable and honorable. Wrong. Lesson learned. read more

Go to the Turquoise if you want to have some guy in your face, bothering you and your friends, telling you to sit down, and claiming that you won't even pay your bill. Wow...It pains me to give this place a one star, but after my last experience I will not be back! I had previously given four stars, not for the food, but for the atmosphere, past memories, bizzare nudes, and the delicious espresso martinis. I have planned birthday parties, girls' nights out, gone to dance tango, been to book signings, and even planned our company holiday party there. I last went on my own birthday, thinking that it is best to go somewhere I know and love. We went for happy hour that went into the middle of the evening. About 15 of my friends came by and we had a table in the bar. This was the makings of a good evening, except for the burly manager who continuously came by to tell us to sit in our seats. He constantly bothered me and my friends, who are not at all a rowdy crowd. He even told us that we were obstructing the view of the band from the rest of the restaurant, mind you, there is a wall obstructing the view and on one was sitting behind us anyway. I really wanted to leave, but unfortunately there is no where else to go right there. Finally, the last straw.... They add 17% gratuity to the bill. Well, our server was pleasant enough and my friends are generous, so they added an additional $10 to the already paid tab. The manager comes over, and without looking in the billfold, with our cash inside, rudely asks " So are you gonna pay?" read more

I only gave it 3 stars because I'm ambivalant about the place. The food is great. The service is ok. The wine list is good. The music is good. (But I agree it can be too loud to converse with your friends.) But there isn't anything amazing about the Turquoise. It almost seems like they are trying too hard. I was especialy bummed when they turned me and my friends away because they were only seating people for dinner and not for drinking at the bar. This was on a friday night at 7:30. Still there is something appealing about the candelight and jazz. I'm in like with the place. read more

Came here as a VIP guest. For this event various tapas, wines and desserts were offered. The staff at this cafe was great - friendly, upbeat and personable. 3 wines were offered - Zin, Merlot and Pinot Noir. I tried them all, but my fave was the Mark West PN. Tapas offered were a meat/cheese platter, a potato frittata and a veggie frittata. All were OK - nothing I would rave over. The potato frittata was my fave tapa of the evening. Mini cakes and truffles were offered from another vendor. Cakes were descent, but the truffles were a disappointment. Cool and dim ambiance and a band was playing at the corner stage. The band was a bit loud, and we found our group yelling over the music just to hold a conversation. read more