I grew up in Mountain View, and I've passed by Cascal many times, but I've never eaten there because I know that they have a heavy fish menu. My friend and I decided to go there last night because the Mongolian barbecue was closed, and we were going to hit up a show at the Performing Arts Center. I'm glad we went because I got two Tapas and they were absolutely superb. I got the Potato Gratin and the Wild Mushroom Empanadas. A glass of red wine to top it off... And it was a delicious dinner. The wine wasn't so good, but the service was excellent and we ate outside because the inside was already full at 5:30. They have heaters and then it started sprinkling and we were concerned, but then they brought these huge umbrellas and put them over us and we were good. Excellent service, everyone was super nice, and I will definitely go there again. Tapas!! read more

Cascal - Potato Gratin and Wild Mushroom Empanadas! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Mountain View, California

In the mood for paella, I sought out Cascal to fill that void in the tummy. Service was on the slower end on this Friday night, but my friend and I stuck around for the Ahi Tuna Tartar and Paella Marinera. We only had water, but this water was clear and tasty. We may ahve cleared the entire jug together. While waiting for food, we enjoyed the complimentary bread with dip alongside some light traffic on the outdoor patio. The Ahi Tuna Tartar was our appeitizer, and it was delicious - gobbled in minutes! It was enjoyed with the chips and was quite light. The Paella Marinera came next, which featured a good amount of seafood. The seafood was all crisp but fell short in a few ways. For starters, the rice was mainly carried by seasoning, but the taste was lacking a body - stretched in sour, salty and sweet, but something was indeed missing. The shrimps were enjoyable, but the mollusks were grilled so much that the shell was easily cracked, and there were small pieces in the food. Overall, I would say this dish was the most underwhelming. While we enjoyed dinner on the street, there are options to dine in, too, where the noise would not be from light traffic but rather TVs and passive conversations, the kind one might expect from a bar. Paying the bill at the end took quite a long while, too, so budget accordingly! read more

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Had a really great experience here! The restaurant itself has a very nice atmosphere--perfect for a relaxed meal but still feels a bit upscale. We ordered a variety of dishes and everything was delicious. The ceviche was super fresh and flavorful, and the seafood dishes (especially the paella and mussels) were cooked perfectly. You can really tell they use quality ingredients. Even the smaller plates were well thought out and balanced. Service was also excellent--friendly, attentive, and made us feel taken care of without being overbearing. Overall, great food, great service, and a great vibe. Definitely a place I'd come back to and recommend to others. read more

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HOLY SH*T this restaurant is AMAZING!!! We went during their live music Friday/Saturdays and had a blast dancing! The vibes were vibing. We ordered their virgin sparkling sangria, pork belly chicharron, their peruvian ceviche, and their paella rustica. The pork belly chicharron is 100% a must order. I'm a huge foodie who's traveled 30+ countries and it was hands down the best pork belly I've ever had. I NEED their recipe. The skin was super crispy and the meat was fall apart tender, juicy, and flavorful. It was paired with a fresh crisp salad, to be eaten on top of warm fresh tortillas. The sauce they provided was the perfect balance of fruitiness and acidity. 1000000/10 The virgin sparkling sangria was fantastic, integrating all the best fruity sweet elements of a sangria (sans alcohol) with orange juice and a refreshing sparkling water. One of the best mocktails I've ever had. 10/10 The ceviche was incredibly fresh and the big plump bites of fish were perfectly complemented by the acidity of the dish and the perfectly ripe avocados. 8/10 Unfortunately, I think the paella was the most lackluster of all the dishes. The tender meats were cooked really well, but I wanted more flavor from the dish to mask the gaminess of the protein. 6.5/10 The service was incredible! Our waitress was prompt, so kind, and very helpful in suggesting dishes. We were celebrating a special occasion so they even gave us a complimentary dessert. read more

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Went for double date on a Friday night. We had a 630pm reservation but would have been able to walk in as the restaurant is pretty huge with lots of tables. Live music starts at 730pm with dancing! Which made for a great fun atmosphere! We asked to sit inside to enjoy the music but with some distance from the band so we could still have conversation. The brought us nice bread with a green dipping sauce yum. We enjoyed our mocktails and cocktails (extensive drink menu). We started with shishito peppers & patatas bravas-- excellent classic tapas! The roasted cauliflower is full of flavor. The heart of palm salad is bright and crunchy with fresh fruits & vegetables. The rest of the table enjoyed ceviche & shrimp. We finished with sharing a small vegetable paella-- perfectly cooked and with generous amount of beautiful vegetables. There is free street & garage parking nearby. read more

Cascal - Interior - Tapas Bars Near Me - Mountain View, California

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It's still great. I hate to write a review update just to say not to order something, but the octopus dish as of late 2025 wasn't in the same universe as the previous version. The early 2025 / late 2024 octopus recipe had a texture and sauce that really popped; it might be the best octopus dish I've ever had. (Cascal if you bring the old recipe back, please tell us on the menu so we can order it again!) Of note: the tamarind margarita with mezcal was fantastic. I love to say this every time I like a mezcal drink: "I don't usually love mezcal cocktails but this one was great!" Well-balanced, deeply satisfying. The premium mojito was decent. Some non-surprises: the mushroom empanadas deserve the hype as does the paella marinera. And don't forget to get the chocolate souffle, which is like a perfectly executed flourless chocolate cake. read more

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Very enjoyable evening and dinner here For drinks we ordered Mezcal Negroni which was excellent. Also ordered a Ruby Cosmo, very good as well. Food wise we ordered the Eggplant Tian and Roasted Cauliflower which are both our favs. Wild mushroom empanadas were ok, should have skipped. Flan was excellent to finish off a great meal Good ambiance full of energy. Excellent server and service. read more

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Yes yes yes to best Peruvian ceviche, mushroom empanadas, grilled octopus... could go on and on about the food BUT it's also the consistent excellent service. Some (maybe most?) of the wait staff has been there for a long time. Even during Covid they gave out coupons when they had to shutter the doors for a period of time they are a neighborhood fixture. In my opinion, better service than Limón across the street - whose service is inconsistent at best. A small bar gives intimate Ambiance vibe. Many seats available outdoors. Love that I can relax there and settle in to tapas style meals-I'm never rushed to leave. read more

Came here for a work team dinner and had their paellas (seafood, vegetarian). Appetizers tried the ceviche, mushroom empanada, potato gratin, and different salads. I believe the team prefer the vegetarian paella over the seafood one as it is more flavorful. Mushroom empanada had a strong truffle flavor. We also had an order of the Cuban pork, which was very well cooked and melt away on touch. Overall pretty good team dining experience and everyone enjoyed the food. The main thing that was meh is that we found the dessert to be too sweet (flan, tres leches). Basque cheesecake was okay but still on the sweeter side. So idk if I would come here for dessert unless you got a big sweet tooth. read more

Amazing pan-Latin restaurant with an extensive menu and high quality food. The paellas are huge and packed with so many different proteins and maximum flavor. The interior is huge with also plenty of outdoor seating. The staff are very friendly and helpful. They serve free bread as well to whet your appetite. read more

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I appreciated the colorful and inviting decor of the restaurant with beautiful artwork on the wall, as I sat at the bar this past Saturday evening. Open seating, no waiting. The World Series showing silently on the large screen TV's above. Live music by the Gypsy Tribe created an alluring atmosphere, the smooth sounds of the band performing on stage adding to the lively vibe in this upscale casual establishment, latin rhythms as well as lovely instrumentals of songs like Hotel California. A range of delectable bites were offered on the menu including wild mushroom empanadas, spanish octopus, and three different paella dishes. I got an order of the croquetas de jamón. These three crispy croquettes were filled with shredded spanish serrano ham that was both sweet and savory. I also had an orange margarita which was light and refreshing with a nice sweetness to it and chunks of fresh fruit in the mix. Service was attentive and cordial. Also, parking was free and easy just around the corner. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. read more

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Mussels were excellent -- tender, fresh, and served in a delicious sauce. Butter prawns were a bit underwhelming -- herbs smelled great and the prawns were good quality, but the dish lacked flavor and could've been saltier. Honestly, I expected more shrimp. Orzo pasta was really flavorful with a perfect bite; it was so generous it almost looked like another paella dish. Paella was great -- aromatic with plenty of seafood. read more

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Amazing food! We got the Paella Cascal and absolutely loved it. The portion size was reasonable; it does indeed feed two (or a very hungry one) with the small portion. The Cuban Pork is amazing as well - the meat was extremely tender and just fell off the bone. We also loved the Cured Salmon Crostini. Their complimentary bread was also a highlight of the meal. read more

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Love Cascal. This place has been consistent for 20 years and I think that should be applauded. We truly enjoyed everything we ordered. Stand out dishes included the pork wrap, steak, brave potatoes and Spanish tortilla. I will say, it does look like the interior needs a refresh and certainly feels very early 2000's. But, our wait staff was on point and the kitchen was super fast. Really nothing to complain about! read more

Came here for my Mom's birthday. We've ordered takeout from here before but it was our first time sitting down to eat. When we sat down they brought out complimentary bread with chimichurri sauce. Nice and soft bread that soaked up the sauce really well. I also got their Cascal Breeze cocktail which had a nice fruity taste! Fried Calamari 4/5: Got this for the appetizer. Nice and crispy with chipotle sauce on the side. Decent but I thought some pieces were too rubbery for my liking. Tapas Sampler Platter 5/5: If you're unsure what to get, this is an absolute must try. Your table will thank you for it. Honestly I don't even know half the things I was eating but everything I tried was sooooo good. Different flavor after flavor of things I've never tried before, that I definitely want to try again! Spanish Octopus 3/5: Was honestly a bit disappointed by this. When it came out we didn't know what it was, but then saw the octopus had been cut into small chunks. You can barely see them in the picture. The octopus didn't feel like the highlight of the dish at all. It mostly tasted like I was just eating some sautéed potatoes with some chili-like sauce on it. It did taste decent but not what I was expecting when ordering it. Paella Cascal 5/5: Hard to go wrong with paella. This one comes with everything. Meat, veggies, and seafood. Very well made! read more

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One of my favorite spots to go to for a special occasion meal! The interior is decorated so colorfully - it truly transports you to another world. The service is always incredible and speedy. I love when there's live music - it's such a great flair to the restaurant. The food is always phenomenal. I look forward to every visit and have never been let down. Every single tapa I've tried has been delicious. I highly recommend the wild mushroom empanadas. The truffle oil adds so much depth to this dish, and the stuffing is always steaming hot. The heart of palm salad is another favorite: super refreshing and packed with palm hearts. All of the meat dishes I've had are incredibly flavorful. The pork belly chicharron features rich pork belly with a crispy skin, balanced with a light mint salad. You cannot skip the house special arroz negro if you visit, with squid ink fried paella rice and plentiful seafood. Cascal is a must-visit, with a variety of delicious options. read more

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Okay, okay, okay... So imagine you're in Spain. But like, not the real Spain. More like... if a Spanish Guitar and a Latin Dance Party had a baby, and then that baby got raised by Silicon Valley tech bros who microdose and talk about tapas like it's a religion. THAT'S CASCAL. And lemme tell you -- I WAS HERE FOR IT. Flavors? Drinks? Atmosphere? Somewhere between "mildly sexy" and "should I be salsa dancing right now?" TAPAS TIME, BABY So many little plates! So little self-control! You come here thinking, "I'll try a thing or two." WRONG. You're gonna black out and order 12 small plates, a pitcher of sangria, and maybe a paella the size of your face. Each one: a tiny fiesta. Even the olives hit like they've been marinated in the tears of a flamenco dancer. DRANKS Sangria was dangerously good. Like, you-wake-up-the-next-day-speaking-Spanish good. My friend said it tasted like sunshine and regret, and I think that's the most accurate thing ever said about wine. THE VIBE It's like someone took the soul of Barcelona and gave it a California zip code. Warm lighting. Live music. People clinking glasses like they're in a rom-com. It's casual, but also fancy. Like wearing a tuxedo t-shirt. FINAL THOUGHTS Cascal is the move. Whether you're on a hot date, a group dinner, or just trying to vibe out with paella and sangria like a modern-day conquistador -- this place SLAPS. 10/10 would tapa again. Olé, baby. Olé. read more

Amazing paella! My go-to spanish restaurant with satisfying service and great vibes always :) First time trying braised lamb and it was surprisingly tasty and 100% recommend if you are craving for decent spanish dishes in mountain view. read more

Attentive service and good food! Ordered the Tapas Sampler and the Paella Cascal. The Tapas Sampler was wonderful and came with two of everything. The salmon toast with olive oil and cream cheese was amazing. Lots of good bites. The paella was very flavorful. Lots of ingredients that blended well together. read more

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Loved the ambience here! We went at night and there was live music -- couples were dancing right in the restaurant, just enjoying the evening Highly recommend the ceviche, the sampler, and the paella -- all had great flavor and generous portions! The service was super attentive too, especially with keeping the outdoor seating warm and cozy!! Perfect spot for a date night and a nice stroll through downtown Mountain View after dinner!! read more

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Came here on a Friday for dinner. They had a live band playing. While the bar area wasn't big, we were still able to dance a bit. As usual, food was great! The fried calamari had a nice light crunch to it. The paella is our usual favorite. Had leftovers to take home. read more

Cascal - Fried calamari - Tapas Bars Near Me - Mountain View, California

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The food was quite good! We enjoyed the Caesar salad and also shared the Paella Cascal. We had the watermelon margarita and the chile mango mojito, which were both enjoyable and very flavorful! The service was very quick and the waiter checked in on all of us quite a lot! We did not voice for separate tabs though, which we wish we would have done at the start to make it easier for everyone - that was on us though! The decor was very vibey and the dining table plates and glasses were very fitting to pair with it. The music was present, yet not overwhelming, and gave us all the ability to speak to each other without yelling. We will be back again sometime for a gathering hopefully to this place with it being centralized and the diversity of food that meets many different walks of life! read more

Cascal - Tapas Bars Near Me - Mountain View, California

I love this place so much. I was there again today you haven't been there in probably 10 years. We had a large group today so that was so we got to try a lot of different things. We had a great server. I can't remember his name but he was fantastic. We had a group of nine and people loved pretty much everything that we ordered minus one person. Love their fried olives. We loved their cheese platter for a group. I loved one of their drink drinks. It was like a cucumber refresher. Just really lovely and nice service and really good food. Gonna have to keep this place in my rotation. It's been way too long. read more

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Arrived on a Friday in time for happy hour so we ordered a pitcher of sparkling sangria for $34 which filled about 6 glasses. The complimentary bread was okay. I much preferred the burrata with toast. The calamari was nicely cooked and seasoned. The Peruvian ceviche was overwhelmingly acidic, not much flavor to it. The paella was underwhelming, no depth of flavor. The rice was also a little mushy. The churrasco was wonderfully seasoned but on the small side for the price. The Cuban roast pork was nice and tender, but we did not care for any of its sides. The beans were a little undercooked and the mash had an overpowering taste of cinnamon or nutmeg type of spice. The tres leches is not your typical tres leches. It was a little spongy, not soaked in milks like usual. Our check had a 3% wage/healthcare surcharge which wasn't disclosed before the meal or I didn't pay enough attention to the menu. Our server was very friendly and responsive, making sure to check on us through the dinner. The waiter tried to get us to order another pitcher twice which was a little excessive. The restaurant was packed inside and outside so it was quite loud and bustling. We got to catch some live singing entertainment on the way out. Overall would not have to come back again. read more

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I didn't enjoy the food here that much, the paella a little bit undercooked, and the tapas were very overpriced and not that delicious. The service was ok, the waiter was not that attentive- not sure if it was because we were sitting outside. It's a very spacious environment outside though and I do like how they have the heaters. read more

Cascal - Tapas Bars Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Great spot of Spanish food lovers like us. Food and Drinks: *Seasonal Sangria *Virgin Sparkling Sangria *Cured Salmon Crostini *Paella Cascal *Paella Marinera *Curry Mussels *Cuban Wrap Overall, great ambiance. The service is good and the food is yummy. Looking forward to trying the Spanish Octopus, Spanish Tapa Sampler, and Spanish Artisan Cheeses platter next time read more

Cascal - Cured Salmon Crostini - Tapas Bars Near Me - Mountain View, California

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I really do enjoy this restaurant. The food and drinks are always amazing. The happy hour specials are worthwhile. You can't go wrong with the Sangria, the empanadas, and the paella. The bartenders and waiters are always attentive and friendly. The inside has the Hispanic hometown feel along with clean restrooms and a nicely arranged outdoor seating area. Great food, great atmosphere, great service, and great drinks all in one place! Hard not to keep coming back! read more

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Highlights: & Crowded on a Monday night & Great octopus Food: Spanish octopus The meat was tender, very flavorful. The suction cup part was a tad charged, though the overall dish was great. read more

Cascal - Spanish octopus - Tapas Bars Near Me - Mountain View, California

Great amotsphere and cozy ambiance. Friendly service. Prices are what you can expect in downtown Mountain View for this type of dining. That being said...the food is...nothing too special. There's nothing wrong with the food per se, but it's just not elevated to warrant the prices or match the environment. Good for business or team events though. read more

last couple of visits were for the live music! music always slaps here but very small area to dance. different bands come here every week (rotating regularly). TONS of couples here dancing and showing off their moves. def a good time to shake them hips! food and drinks are always yummy but can get super pricey. dont expect to get full off one thing- portions are not american sized (think super size me lol). always loud and dark in here so if you're here to yap, seating is available outside with heat lamps read more

Food 4/5 Ever since I was introduced to the real delicious paella and patatas bravas in Spain Barcelona more than a decade ago, I have tried many places in the bay and also those up in SF city. Cascal has been one of the two go-to restaurants here in the bay whenever I crave paella. Their Marinara paella has been consistently flavorful while the Cascal paella can sometimes be a hit and miss in terms of taste. There were times when it was a tad bland and other times they came out more flavorful. The only thing I need to constantly remind them is to make the it more soccarat (scorched/burnt bottom). Socarrat is considered a key element of a good paella, as it adds a unique texture and flavor to the dish. Last night's visit was a let down when it comes to the Marinara paella. It didn't come out soccarat at all- in fact too damp/soggy in my opinion. My family loves their wild mushroom with truffle oil empanadas. Again was a little disappointed with this dish yesterday as I felt the dough crust was a little too thick this time. They used to be buttery and flaky in the past. I wonder if that's the reason why the overall rating has been low - due to the inconsistency in the dishes. The palm salad was alright. Nothing to special. Their Peruvian cerviche was a hit among our family members. The others on the trip sampler was just alright. Service - 3.5/5 Friendly server though the guy forgot to serve the complimentary dessert as a surprise to the birthday person on our table. We decided not to pursue as it was late and we still have a birthday cake waiting at home. Ambiance 5/5 upscale, modern nice decor. If you like to dine, have some live music, and dance (on their super small) dance floor next to the band like me. If you are looking for a place for quiet fine dining, this is not the place you want to go on weekends. read more

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Here for work dinner as a party of 8 and this place was packed. We ordered pitchers of red sangria - I believe each pitcher gave us about 5 glasses worth. I got the mushroom empanadas which were SO good, highly recommend. It did take 30 mins or so to come out, but they were fresh and hot. Shishito peppers for the table which were yummy and well roasted. For dinner, I got the banana leaf chicken. I wish this was served on a slightly bigger plate as it was a bit hard to eat, but the chicken was delicious. It was more of a curry with rice served on top and was so flavorful and juicy. read more

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My friend took me out for a belated bday lunch today and we had a lovely time. While it was a bright and sunny day, the outdoor seating was well shaded and the tables are spread out nicely. It felt calm, quiet, and breezy. We started with the gazpacho - refreshing, smooth, and chilled to perfection. I recommend it! Then, came the fried calamari which was plentiful with truly tender squid. It was medium crispy. We enjoyed the corn poblano which was a great side - sweet, smoky, crunchy corn and a bit spicy. The paella Cascal arrived as the centerpiece with smoky chorizo and tender shrimp. If you are ordering the paella, be sure to know it takes a little longer for it to be made/arrive, so it is good to have some appetizers. I had a virgin mojito which was fresh and an ideal compliment to the bold and rich flavors of the meal. They make other NA cocktails. My friend had a NA sangria and she said it was the perfect amount of sweet and refreshing. There was also complimentary bread with chimichurri which was fresh and tasty. Our waiter was the perfect amount of attentive, as we are friends that needed to catch up with some privacy. Overally, I found it to be a lovely place for a casual, fancy lunch. read more

Wow!, let's start with the Service. The moment we walked in this place was popping fully packed. Spoke with concierge she asked for my reservation I apologized for not planning ahead. She said give me a few minutes I can accommodate you inside near the kitchen! Turned out to be the best seat as we didn't know what exactly to get so many choices.. Ambience was ideal of a Spanish restaurant staff was very accommodating and attentive, explained specials, recommendations we decided on Mixed salad, Mushroom empanadas, large Marinera paella along with a carafe of Sangria!! Absolutely delightful. Thank you all that recommended this spirit was as described or better!...( I will reorder a to go for mom..!) read more

Nice location on Castro with outdoor seating. The place was very clean and good service. The food was okay, kind of expensive for the portion size. I got the squid ink Paella and it was good, maybe would be better with less ink. My husband got the banana leaf chicken and it was pretty small and basic. The free bread with chimichuri to start was good. The grilled eggplant looked like a mini lasagne and tasted really good. Overall nice place to eat outside on Castro street. read more

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What the heck?! This place isn't called Eascal?! The whole time my friends never corrected me, but it's not my fault when the sign is so confusing. The food wasn't memorable so I asked my wife who has the memory of a quantum computer, and she said "I don't remember". So it must be mid. read more

The food is always amazing here. Have been coming here for years and the Lamb dishes are my favorites (both the meatballs and the entree). The flavors just blend so well together in your mouth! PRO TIP: Sometimes they have live music, which amps the vide; and parking is usually available one block north (except if there is a festival or some other special event). read more

Had a lovely dinner there before going to Theatre works just down the block. My dining companion is vegan and their menu and wait staff were very accommodating. I had the curried mussels which were delicious although a bit too sweet for me. Their Spanish Caesar salad was fresh and delicious. read more

Cascal - Spanish Caesar salad. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Cascal has always been one of my favorite spots - the best place for happy hour. I love the drinks, the food, the location, and the ambience... it really has it all. But lately, some of my friends feel it's getting a bit too expensive for what it offers. Now I'm not sure I can convince them to come back -- which is a little sad. read more

Cascal - Tapas Bars Near Me - Mountain View, California

Food was ok , nothing wow..... or I want more of this.....presentation was nice and portions for a tapas,was good , you can share it. The bread and the dipping sauce was good. We got octopus (over cooked and dificultad to chew) croquetas de jamón ( my favorite) , eggplant, we asked for lamb albóndigas and we got lamb chop server asked to changed it but I really don't like to waste food (so many hungry people in the world to waste what we have in the table) and tortilla española (potato omelette). The waitress was very nice and attentive, she and the busser made the experience enjoyable. Decor are kind of old and out dated maybe need some change and go with the new and modern time. Probably I don't coming back. read more

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