We have been wanting to try this place a long time ago but couldn't have a chance to. The location is very convenient at Bellevue Square. You can park in the Bellevue Square parking garage and walk to here. They have online reservations through Google Maps so I suggest doing so to make sure your table is ready because I have seen long lines during peak hours. We had a reservation and arrived on Sunday evening for dinner but still had to wait a while before a server came even though there was no line. There was a water bottle on the table and it was not free so keep that in mind. The restaurant is cozy, but the light could be brighter from my opinion. The menu has many options from small to large and shareable dishes. We went for their famous lamb chops and squid paella for two people. The lamb chops were great and paired well with the potato. It really took a long time (the menu said 30 minutes) for the paella, so take that into account before ordering, but the flavor was worth it. This is our first time trying Spanish food but these were really good. The rice was well mixed, flavored, and came in a big portion. Only one thing is that the meat and seafood were a bit less given the price of this dish. In general, this restaurant is a decent place with great food and location in the heart of Bellevue. I would highly recommend it if you crave for Spanish food. The price is a bit on a higher end but at least you will leave with a good mood and a full belly. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - PAELLA SQUID INK (2) - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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My family and I came here to celebrate my father's birthday, but unfortunately it turned into one of the most unpleasant restaurant experiences we've had. I had made a reservation in advance by phone. When we arrived, however, the restaurant told us they could not find our reservation. While mistakes can happen, the interaction felt dismissive from the very beginning. After we were eventually seated, we were not given menus, even though other guests around us received theirs immediately. We waited and asked multiple times but were still left without menus. Eventually, I tried to get the attention of the front desk and asked for a menu. Instead of helping us, the owner came over and told us that we were being "not polite" and that because we were "not polite," we would not be given a menu. Wanting to document our experience, I posted a Google review while we were waiting. Shortly afterward, the owner came directly to our table with the review on her phone and confronted us about it while we were eating. I politely asked if we could discuss it after the meal, but was told that we needed to change the review immediately or leave the restaurant. I was honestly shocked. I've never experienced a restaurant owner approaching diners during their meal and pressuring them to modify a review. This was my father's birthday dinner, and the confrontation made the entire evening uncomfortable and upsetting for my family. To make matters worse, after we got home, we realized that one of the dishes we ordered was never served at all, and no one noticed throughout the entire meal. I understand that service mistakes can happen. Losing a reservation, forgetting menus, or missing an item can all be corrected. What disappointed me most was how these issues were handled. Instead of acknowledging the problems, we were blamed, confronted, and pressured to change our feedback. I rarely leave negative reviews, but I believe future customers deserve to know about our experience. read more

We made a reservation about a week in advance, but when we arrived, the staff initially denied that any reservation existed. After some discussion, they eventually located and confirmed our booking. Unfortunately, the service only got worse from there. After being seated, we waited for an extended period without receiving menus. We politely asked for menus twice. Instead of an apology, we were warned to "ask more politely" or we would not be given menus. I've never experienced anything like this at a restaurant. Being treated as though we were inconveniencing the staff simply for requesting menus was both surprising and frustrating. Had we not already arranged to meet friends there, we would have left immediately. The food may or may not be good, but the level of service we received completely overshadowed everything else. Based on this experience, I would not return. Update: The owner toke out the review and asked to leave immediately, what a crazy and ridiculous place! read more

Stopped by for lunch a few times, and the food is delicious. If you sit at one of the booths, you can enjoy watching the city while you eat. They can get pretty busy on weekends, but weekday lunch is easy time to get a table. They also take reservations. There was one odd moment during one of our visits where someone outside stood right in front of our window, changed clothes, and then watched us eat through the window. It was a very uncomfortable experience. We let the staff know, and security asked the person to leave. Overall, the food is good and usually lunch is nice here. read more

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Castilla has been a restaurant I've heard of for a long time, but honestly never really had plans to come in. We did a belated Christmas gift exchange with friends recently and our friends made reservations here. So glad they did! It's literally right down in the main Bellevue Square hub, so we were able to easily park at the mall and make a short walk to Castilla. Vibes were perfect with low lighting but still a bustling atmosphere. Our server (unfortunately forgot his name) kept solid recommendations coming all night and was so funny and personable! As this is a tapas spot, we tried quite a few dishes and split them amongst the table. Mixta Paella: our server promised us that the smaller size paella was good for 2-4 people and man he was RIGHT. The portion was absolutely insane and I don't think we even finished all of it. Everything tasted so fresh and there was so much flavor to the dish. They warn you ahead of time, but plan for the paella to take 30 minutes for them to prepare. Grilled Octopus Leg: Every time I have octopus (which is two times now LOL) I'm a little worried about the texture, but it was prepared beautifully here and the sauce that it was in was delicious. Salmon & Artichoke Dip: I'm a sucker for any type of artichoke dip and this was no exception. Creamy, rich, and great flavor! Beef Medallions: Tender and cooked to perfection. Definitely recommend. Chorizo & Onion Empanada: Another banger. So crispy and the filling was so good! I actually was on the fence about this one but my husband insisted, and it was a good choice. Patatas Aioli: Crispy layered potato with a garlic aioli? I mean, come on. You can't go wrong. Delicious. This was our first visit to Castilla and I'm sure it won't be the last - would definitely return if I'm dining up again in Bellevue! read more

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We had such a fun girl's night here! The menu is extensive with a lot of variety and something for everyone. Our waiter was wonderful - consistently checked in and took care of us. Had great recommendations and matched our group's energy. We loved the potatoes bravas, ham and manchego cheese croquetas, and the green beans. The flatbread was a little dry but the flavor combo of the steak with pickled grapes was super unique and yummy. A few tips: Leave plenty of time for parking as the parking garage behind the restaurant added a good 15 minutes to find a spot. You'll be offered mineral or tap water - the mineral costs at $6 a bottle, which wasn't super clear to us. read more

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Great atmosphere and friendly service. The Burrata salad and seafood stew were absolutely delicious. The beef was just okay, but overall we had a wonderful dining experience. We'd definitely come back for the seafood! read more

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Food anazong great atmosphere people are great and food is delicious wish i had more pics but the food was great regardless paella a must have im telling tou get it but make sure you have time takes awhile but well worth it read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - PAELLA MIXTA (2) - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

We visited Castilla on a Thursday evening and found it quiet and easy to get a table. Our waiter helpfully suggested us to order the paella right away because it takes about 20 minutes to prepare. It requires a 2-person portion minimum. We chose the Squid Ink Paella and it was fantastic. The portions were very generous, the seasoning was superb, and the rice had the perfect texture--flavorful without being too soft. It also had plenty of seafood. We also ordered one appetizer and two cocktails, and they were pretty standard. Overall, we absolutely loved the paella and would highly recommend it. Our only wish is that the portions were slightly smaller (or with 1 person option) with a correspondingly lower price point. It felt a bit expensive for the value. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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My husband booked a reservation for us two and the kids on Valentines Day around noon. We waited over 25 minutes to be served and that is only because I complained about others getting helped before us. They brought over crackers as an apology for the kids. The waiter took our order and forgot the salad we ordered. The food was great. Our personal favorites were the croqueta de jamón and the chops. The service was not great at all. After the food was delivered, the waiter didn't go check on our table. I had to ask the hostess for the bill. Pretty disappointed in the experience. read more

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I've been here a few times and always found everything delicious! The paella usually takes longer to cook and serve, so it's best to order it first. The portions are huge as well. Other tapa dishes are usually good, with smaller portions that work well for sharing among 2-4 people. The restaurant can be quite popular, so it's best to make reservations ahead of time. It can also get a bit loud due to the crowd. The staff is helpful and attentive. Parking is free in the same parking garage. read more

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Food was just ok. Not memorable. You'd come here for the atmosphere and shareable bites. Lots of things to try. But overall disappointed in terms of taste and uniqueness. My favorite was the paella but even then it was not amazing. Server was amazing. He was nice, friendly, attentive, and sincere. I would not come here again. read more

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We went for a lunch with our family friends from Spain and they have lots of great options! Plenty for vegetarians, but unfortunately only one vegan option. The service was good and they food came out as it was ready, so it was very much a tapas kind of experience. We had been here once before I was using Yelp and had a positive experience as well. Would recommend. read more

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Spanish Specialties from Paella to Tapas, Gozpacho to Flatbreads. This was my second time here and I was even more impressed this time than the previous. We were sat quickly, the tables are a little close to each other and the booths aren't very tall so it got pretty noisy around us. but tolerable. Some tables by the window looked picturesque, but too open for public viewing for me. The service was great. Our server checked in on us and was prompt with our questions, she had a hard time explaining some dishes but we ended up very satisfied with the selections. The food was loaded with flavor! The croquetas were packed with mushroom flavor, the empanadas were perfectly crispy and seasoned. We also got mussels which were not fully cooked, but they made us a new one which was done right. I would've liked a little more sauce in the mussels but not sure if that's just my expectation of a having italian alle vongoles. Anyway this is a perfect spot for happy hours, or people experimenting with Spanish cuisine, or a group date! read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - artichoke fritters, croquettas (with mushroom and missing one), and empenadas - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

TLDR: 10/10 every bite was delicious. Great portions for tapas. Happy hour every day 3-5p. We went during happy hour (bar area only) on a Sunday and it wasn't very busy. Our food came out in less than 20 minutes - we ordered a flatbread (cocas rústicas) and 3 tapas plates. Same sauce for the artichoke fritters and croquetas. Everything came out hot and delicious! Artichokes were crispy on the outside and soft and tender inside. Ham and cheese croquettes had a tangy cheese filling - couldn't taste the ham much. Bacon wrapped dates were sweet and salty with a spicy surprise that builds while you chew ! I'm not sure if the spice came from the sauce or if it's from inside the dates. Windows open for the summer , so it's great for a sunny or breezy day. Bar seats have purse holders (to die for) and bar sections for happy hour has seats that aren't directly at the bar. Can't wait to come back for the paella read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - BRIE, CARAMELIZED APPLES, PECANS - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Came here with some friends. Seating took awhile as it was Friday night. We order lamb chops, squid ink paella, shrimp wrapped bacon, croquettes, and some other stuff. Everything was good. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - Warm Bread Pudding - delicious - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Comfy upscale paella right in Bellevue Square! I cannot speak to the authenticity of the food but the overall taste and flavor was pretty good. My personal favorites of the tapas that we ordered included the grilled octopus leg (cooked perfectly), brussel sprouts, and tuna salad. The paella mixta had lots of mussels and shrimp and rice was cooked well, overall great flavor. Service was prompt and professional. Overall vibe was cozy and upscale but not overly intimidating either. Not the most bang for your buck or budget friendly place overall but worth a visit for a nice occasion. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - PAELLA MIXTA (2) - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I thought the lamb chops were good, but expensive for what you get. Overall, we thought everything was too salty and could not finish. The mussels especially were too salty along with the calamari tenders. I'm not sure if I would come back. The restaurant does have a nice ambiance inside though. read more

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We have been here few times with friends. This is the place we been going to; to hang out and celebrate their special occasions. The foods we had always been consistenly good and the staffs has always been friendly. The restaurant itself is nice w85h plenty seating but we always make reservation. I didnt take any pictures but we have our usual orders which are: * empanadas (4.5/5) We tried all of the falvors and they all great. * paella (5/5) We always order paella and its always good; never dissapoint * Lamb chop (5/5) We love it. My wife favorite because its not gamey at all. There were plenty of other things we ordered but we always enjoy all of them. I recommend to make reservation if you are going on weekend since it does get busy. Good amount of drinks option as well. Their sangria is always good! read more

This place has the best tapas. Maybe I always land into good Mexican restaurants and I think they make the best tapas. Anyone craving good Mexican food, you need to go here. read more

This eatery has excellent tapas. The small plates are rich, creative and flavorful. The Sangria is fruity and just makes you want more! I recommend the Pincho Gilda for fish lovers, wild mushroom and basil croquettes, braised lamb shank! Succulent, flavorful and the staff is so friendly! read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - Shrimp - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Had such a wonderful experience at Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar on a recent visit. Sat at the bar, which is open seating; but I would highly recommend reservations for this restaurant. I was lucky to have beat the rush and found a spot for myself. Although they were busy, the staff was friendly and accommodating with answering questions about the menu. The courses arrived well timed which enhanced my dining experience. The lighting and feel of the restaurant was cozy. I had the chicken and rice soup to start; followed by the bacon wrapped dates, garlic shrimp, and garlic mushrooms. All of the dishes were tasty, well presented, and paired well with my white wine. The shrimp and mushroom dishes came with a couple of slices of bread. A good value for what I got, enhanced by the service and ambiance. Will definitely return soon. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - Menu - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Came here on a Monday night with some family, and even though it was pretty busy, we were seated quickly. Our waitress was fantastic and shared some great recommendations from the menu. The portions were perfect for our group of three, and everything we tried was delicious. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

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LOVED the tapas style dishes, especially the mushroom croquetas and the chicken empanadas! The vibes were so nice with lots of seating. The sangria was delicious! The service was friendly and food came out within 10-15 minutes. read more

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Solid Spanish restaurant with nice atmosphere within the mall area. We had: almonds (overpriced for $7 lol), ham and cheese croquette (smoky and rich), bacon wrapped dates (my favorite! So chewy sweet and umami), potato's bravo (mushy spicy and not much flavor), and paella mixta (so delicious definitely get this) read more

You know that moment when you try a dish from a new cuisine for the first time, and it blows your mind? Then, you travel all the way to the country where it originated, expecting a next-level experience--only to realize that the version from this restaurant was actually better? Yeah, that happened. The food here is so good that I'm literally drooling as I write this. The flavors? Unreal. The service? Impeccable. The ambiance? Pure class. Sure, it's on the pricier side, but honestly, I'd pay double just to experience it again. Highly recommend--just bring your appetite and maybe a napkin for the drool. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Tried out the late night happy hour! The staff were super nice and accommodated us even before closing! The sparkling sangria is fruity and light and the perfect drink to start or end the night! I highly recommend this! Papatas bravas the crispy potatoes with the spicy flavorful sauce was delicious! 10/10 will go back again for this! If you want a high fiber protein snack the bacon wrapped dates are for you! Especially if you like sweet and savory and can't decide. The restaurant was true to its Spanish routes and gave me Barcelona vibes. read more

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Directly across from the Square, this Spanish restaurant features the small plate selections known as tapas. That's perfect for our crew. Six of us that love to sample different fare. The Calamari Tenders and the Garlic Shrimp really stood out, but, I could make a great argument for the Mussels and the Grilled Octopus. Mrs. E. is a big fan of their Brussels Sprouts. The menu is large with a couple dozen tapas, large plate options, Empanadas and excellent tasting seafood dishes. Finish off the night with the Spanish Hot Cocoa. So worth it. You'll want to make a reservation. You can do that through Yelp. They have plenty of tables, but, they all get filled. The first time we came one of our friends confessed their massive fear of being crowded in and excused herself. Hopefully you like a little intimacy in your dining. The service is fast and friendly. The few staff we've met have been terrific. They quickly clear old plates (probably because there's no room on the tables in the first place). I have to criticize the costs. Small plate-tapas-is a much smaller portion, but at a much larger price. No surprise-it's Bellevue, just disappointment. Be ready to drop a hundred bucks per person, depending on your drink and dine habits. 06/25 read more

We were here on Saturday night, restaurant are full of people but the turn over is fast! Staff are nice and respectful, kindly letting us know when the kitchen is slightly overload and delaying. The food turns out really nice and pair well with the wine. Dessert flan has great and strong egg flavor which is great. We didn't realize the chocolate cake is flourless. It turns out like a soufflé pudding texture. It is not our favorite but overall is a great place for weekend dinner. read more

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We stopped in last night for a quick reverse happy hour since adjacent restaurants started later. As soon as we walked in the space was pretty empty, empty enough the loud sigh from the server who approached us from the kitchen could be heard. We were seated in the main area with regular menus & i inquired about the reverse happy hour but was told it's only in the bar area. We were asked to move that area but since the bartender was leaving early bc they planned to close early he allowed us to return to our original table. We had a glass each of Sparkling Sangria (10/10) but you need a straw bc of the ice & fruit in the smaller stemless wine glass, bacon wrapped dates, patatas braves (10/10) & harmon platter. The food was amazing & the server was nice after the initial reservation that they had to stay longer to serve us - which they even turned on the lights to give us push ti leave. I don't think we were there a full hour. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Surprisingly very good. We had: -Bread with tomato 7/10 (the tomato purée is almost too cold -artichoke stuffed salmon 5/10 too rich -grilled sardines 10/10 MUST TRY -lamb chops 10/10 -chorizo empanadas 6/10 super greasy -Chicken skewers 8/10 -Mixta paella 8/10 needs more seafood -olive oil cake 9/10 -flourless cake 8/10 -bread pudding 9/10 Overall very very good. The vibe is cool too. read more

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Amazing food and great happy hour prices! My husband and I came here for a drink and some apps. The food was fresh and the environment was beautiful. Loved the atmosphere and the serving was great too. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - CROQUETAS, MUSHROOM, BASIL - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Best tapas I've had outside of Spain. Service and ambiance are wonderful, and the happy hour prices are very reasonable. Lots of vegetarian options and the Verdejo is an excellent white wine option. Service is good as well. Literally my favorite happy hour on the Eastside. read more

Ambiance , service 10/10 food 8/10 , ease of booking and parking are plus. I think it is good place to have small or big gatherings. My favorite food item has been Trout read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - Rabit - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I love the food here and the staff are always so nice! I do think it's kinda expensive for tapas/drinks, but it is in downtown Bellevue so it's expected. A great place for casual dinner or a celebration! read more

I ordered the Ventresca Del Mediterraneo from the Soup and Salads section of the menu described as "Tuna belly, tomatoes and microgreens. It came out quickly and the tuna was great! The main problem was that it was a completely different dish than described. There were no tomatoes or micro greens. It was served with pickled peppers, a green sauce and chips which I can't have due to a dietary limitation. Then the steak with bacon wrapped shrimp came out. I asked for rare, but this was blue rare and cold in the middle. Mostly still raw inside, I would not call that rare. Then the worst part was the service. I'm really not sure how out our server could completely forget about us when she was constantly coming up next to our table to get menus to seat other people. My partner even tried to flag her down after sitting with our plates empty to the side, wallet out with credit card ready to pay for over 30 minutes and was promptly ignored. I really wanted to like this place but it felt like they didn't respect our time at all. read more

Expensive Spanish tapas bar with okay food... Came here with a large party (8 people) on a Monday evening without reservation. Luckily was able to be seated immediately. Ordering tapas with a large group is hard but what made it harder here was the small portions despite the price point. We mainly opted to get paellas since that was easier to share amongst a large group. Their paellas were quite disappointing. One of the selling points about paella is that nice crispy rice along the edges of the skillet. However, all 3 paellas were so watery that there was no crispy rice. They also all tasted the same, which is not a bad thing since I'd imagine most smaller parties would only order 1 type of paella. The rabbit was intriguing since I've never had it before and it tasted like chicken. Apart from the paellas, we also tried: - Chicken, Mozzarella, and Brava Sauce Blistered Peppers (2/5): One pro was that this came with 8 pieces, perfect for our group. However, the toppings were so minimal and unevenly scattered and the bravas sauce was so subtle (I've been to Spain so I know what bravas sauce is supposed to taste like). - Octopus Leg (3/5): For $20, the portion was small and honestly the flavor wasn't really striking. Was pretty disappointed with this place, given their high prices. Service was decent though but nothing outstanding. read more

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Went here for New Year's Eve. Nice ambiance and good service. Of the dishes ordered would definitely recommend the Lamb Chops, Garlic Shrimp, and Flatbread. The Beef Medallions were tender but the sauce wasn't my fave. Would pass on the Garlic Mushrooms and very dry Chicken Skewers next time. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - Pears, Blue Cheese, Pecans & Arugula Flatbread, Garlic Shrimp, and Garlic Mushrooms - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

I feel ashamed that I've eaten here about five times and not written a review. Castilla is a consistent restaurant in cleanliness, service, and food quality. We love to bring our out-of-town guests here because we know everyone will enjoy the food and have a great experience. read more

We were at the mall on Sunday, and decided to join some family members who had a reservation at Castilla. Was able to get a reservation on very short notice, less than an hour. We're able to join our table of four, to their table of four. It worked out quite well. The environment and ambience was quite nice, good buzz around the room, good energy, immediately engaged by the service team. Leo was our server, and he did an awesome job. We had a birthday in the group, so he was able to put together something special for her. The food, it was amazing, love all the small plates that they have here, and the paella was quite amazing. I don't recall exactly what all we had, I think we had about one of everything. A very good experience, I can't wait to go back again. read more

Castilla Restaurant and Tapas Bar - Only got a photo of my beer. Dang. - Spanish Near Me - Bellevue, Washington