Dinner with friends on Friday night. Reservation recommended - the restaurant was completely full when we were there. Casual. Tapa style food - food selection was limited but alcohol list was rather comprehensive. Flavorful except the market fish (NC trout) was pretty plain. Paella was great. Charcuterie board was served with the wrong selection and our server helped correct it. The restaurant seemed to be a bit understaffed as our server also had to take care of the guests standing at the bar so I had to go to the bar to ask for dessert and check. She was being helpful but just too busy to check in with us. Parking validation for 2 hours; definitely a plus given the south end location. read more

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Good, but a little overpriced for what it is. Biggest complaint is most of our dishes came out lukewarm, nothing was actually hot. Kind of brought everything down a notch. Our waiter was super nice. They do have specials like half off tapas and drinks certain days, so would likely return for half off versus regular price. read more

Catalú - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I have to give a one star rating because they charged me 40 extra dollars for a dish that I didn't order and when I contacted them about it, they gave me an email to contact and nobody responded to the email. Make sure you check your receipts. read more

Sangria flight was great. Tried the calamari and te paella. Decor is very nice. Eating outside is lovely just a warning. Patella takes about 40 minutes to make . read more

Catalú - Sangria Flight - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Paella was excellent and the flan with orange topping refreshing and rich. Excellent service and trendy atmosphere.

We had such a great dinner at Catalú tonight! If you're looking for authentic Spanish cuisine in Southend, this is your spot. Our server, Courtney, was so friendly and kind, and the vibe of the restaurant is awesome - beautiful space with high ceilings and vibrant while not feeling overwhelmingly loud. The menu includes all the usual tapas suspects (a great selection of Spanish wines, charcuterie, calamari, croquetas, shishito peppers, patatas bravas, etc.) and weaves in a few unique options as well! We ordered a delicious Rioja and got a few cheeses and a meat to start (very small charcuterie portions, but super flavorful), then we went with a recommendation from the man sitting next to us to try the oxtail, which was served over mashed potatoes with a red wine reduction... have never had oxtail before and I am now hooked - that was incredible. Tasted like the best short rib I've ever had but better. We had the grilled asparagus over romesco sauce next (perfectly grilled and had delicious crispy bits of Manchego on top), followed by the calamari (lightly fried and refreshing with the lemon sauce) and the NY strip topped with crispy potatoes and a bleu cheese sauce which we asked for on the side (but ended up loving). And we couldn't resist ending with the chocolate olive oil cake, which was sandwiched around a rich cream cheese frosting, dusted with pistachios and had a tiny dollop of black olive caramel (had never tasted anything like it and it went so perfectly with the dessert). As you can tell by the length of my review, we loved this place. Perfect date night spot for anyone looking to share some delicious small plates and enjoy a fun vibe! read more

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Completely accidental fine over in the Losso area. Sat at the bar had wonderful food and bananas were some of the best in Charlotte. The sangria was interesting with a little bit of cinnamon, and all of the tapas was very good reasonably priced as well. read more

Fantastic! I visited Catalú for their first Drag Brunch - Y2k themed - and was blown away by the food. We had several plates, and all were varying levels of delicious. First, the Beet Salad was the unexpected standout, with a mix of flavors that truly were outrageously delicious: goat cheese, balsamic reduction, pistachios. The Avocado Toast was a feast for the eyes, and the mouth. The Gambas Al Ajillo were fantastic, so much so that I considered asking for more bread to sop up the broth. The Canelones De La Casa were a creamy delight. Also loved the Butifarra. Really and truly, everything was delicious and beautifully plated. I also thought that the restaurant did a great job of putting on the drag show, especially with it being the very first one. I appreciated the large windows facing the rail trail, especially that they are garage-style where they can open them up, and that there are screens to protect patrons from bugs coming in. I think this is a special place, and I cannot wait to go back. read more

Went here for my girl's birthday dinner and it was the absolute best experience! There was not one dish that I did not like. The stuffed peppers were incredible. The shrimp dish and mussels I highly recommend. The oxtail dish was so tender and delicious. The ambiance was very sexy but casual and the drinks were great. Our server was Emmanuel and he did an amazing job. I will definitely be back! read more

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We celebrated my husbands birthday at this restaurant and we were blown away! The food was phenomenal. We had a large group and ordered various tapas and their Catalu paella (which was 1/2 off because it's their offer on Sundays) and it was all absolutely delicious. Our server was wonderful and so attentive. The ambiance gave more of a lounge vibe and the music really added to the experience. We will absolutely be back! read more

Catalú - Sangria Flight - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Great service and delicious food. Everything was well seasoned and great textures. Cannot wait to come back to try more dishes! read more

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Food was great - it was brunch time. Had the ceviche, gambas, risotto and the tortilla española. The drinks were delicious- beet it up and the Rosalia are must haves. Service was great, she was very attentive. It was not busy. So it was quiet with nice music in the background. read more

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Spanish tapas isn't new to Charlotte , Catalú, is pretty much on par with the others I've tried in town. Some good things, some not so great and some average. The service was really good though, the menu, varied and great for vegetarians, the drinks were really good, great cocktails and nice wine list. Really enjoyed the patio area. Nice space inside too. Starting off with drinks! One of my friends loved the Brut Rosé, the other and I had one of their fun G&T's, both were really good. Pretty and great spring outdoor beverages. We started off with the tuna tartare, this was by far my favorite thing we ordered! Amazing presentation, great flavor, light, fresh, perfect starting point. Then we had the creamed mushroom rice, kinda like risotto, this I really enjoyed too. Rich, creamy and I loved the mushrooms. The Patatas bravas always a good safe bet! The ham and cheese croquettes, these were ok, nothing spectacular. I did love the creamy chicken crepes. The crepes were thin, the chicken nicely shredded, the creamy sauce was literally white. Could have maybe added some herbs to it, but did like the Parmesan crisp on top. The grilled asparagus was nothing special, grilled with some red sauce with not much flavor. We had a great variety I thought and like I said some were great, some ok. I could come back and order something entirely different next time as their menu is so big! Wasn't all that impressed with their dessert options, so we didn't get any. Enjoyed trying everything, love that about tapas, I'm sure we'll be back here at some point! read more

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Decided to try this place as it was featured in Axios as a good brunch spot. Decor was simple and bright. Service was really good, he was attentive and very knowledgeable about the food and drinks. The food, I'd give 3.5/5 it was missing something (seasoning, freshness?).I did enjoy the steak and eggs and patatas bravas. My least favorite was the avocado toast and ceviche. Server said dinner was a good experience so I'd love to try their dinner menu. But brunch wasn't for me. read more

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We went to this nice and contemporary Spanish restaurant on a Monday night. Our food was very tasty and flavorful (Arroz Negro, Espinaca Catalana, Canelones, Pulpo a la Gallega, Croqueta). I did find a couple of dishes that were a little bit too salty for me. But nothing that will discourage me from going back. Our drinks (Barceloneta, Faux Mule) and dessert (Crema Catalana) were great. I liked the service provided and the fact that they validate your parking ticket. It was a nice dinner time. read more

Catalú - Canelones - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I went on a date here last night and it was so good! I love a tapas restaurant so great choice if you want a little of everything. The drinks were also great and the bartender had a lot of knowledge about the food and drinks to give us some background. It's a very nice restaurant and I'll be back! read more

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I was invited to Catalu through my Charlottefoodandfun account on IG and I tried like literally the entire menu. I'll start with the ambiance which was great for brunch! The interior is so clean and modern with chic lighting. The patio was hopping with a DJ slinging beats. I loved their drink menu which consists of quite a few mocktails as well. I had the Rosalia which was AMAZING and the sangria flight which was so fun. All the dishes were good honestly. It's small plates so best to get a bunch and share. The oxtail hash was my fav! SO flavorful and tender. The melon y jamon was perfectly refreshing on a warm day. I hate avocado toast but their version definitely added flavor and flare to an otherwise ridiculous dish IMO. Overall great brunch spot. One of the best parts was the cost.... I thought their food prices were excellent and I rarely say that these days!! read more

Catalú - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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First time at Catalú and I'm blown away. The amazing service by Mario and led by Geri shows the place is in great hands. Both the calamari and the huge paella were amazing and cooked to perfection. It was our first time in and sat on the patio we'll definitely be back again! So many more menu items to try! read more

Catalú - Catalu paella - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Underwhelming. This place is like a quick market of Barcelona wine bar, which is just down the road. Very limited food menu. The wine menu has different versions of Tempranillo mostly. But it does focus only on Spaniard cuisine. So if you're into that, this is your jam. If you like more variety with Spanish cuisine, Barcelona wine bar is the place read more

A new favorite spot for tapas!! This is a go-to place when friends are in town for delicious shareable plates. We love their croquettes, shrimp, meatballs, and of course their famous paella!! Our servers have been great every time we've dined here, and we're especially friendly when we brought our 2 year old nephew. The ambiance is very moody, modern, and clean, with a beautiful bar that wraps around the front corner of the restaurant. read more

The food were good. My husband and me ordered croquetas and pulpo for appetizers and Paella which it was good just I little dry. We still like it. The restaurant is really nice. read more

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Had an amazing dinner here last night! With my father in town I wanted to do something special, and since this place is new and has been getting a lot of buzz, I thought it was the perfect time to try it. Booked through Open Table we wanted to do an early dinner so we arrived at 5:30. There were a few other tables seated but it was relatively quiet, however the chill house music in the background and the beautiful interior provided a nice atmosphere. As the night went on it later filled in as the Thursday night crowd started to come alive. They are a true tapas restaurant with some classic Spanish dishes that come in small servings and are meant to be shared. Throughout the night in addition to some sangria and some cocktails we tried several of the dishes. My personal favorites were the patatas bravas, the croquetas, and the canelones, but we tried many more and all of them were a hit. We even started with some charcuterie, and ended with a very rich and decadent chocolate cake. All in all it was a fantastic culinary experience and one we won't soon forget. I highly recommend this place for a date night, or a night out with friends. You will be impressed! read more

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A date night at Catalu was wonderful! The food and service was great! We ordered a few small plates and shared a paella. It was very good. We had crema catalana for dessert and were very disappointed that it wasn't a traditional crema catalana. It tasted liked whipped crème with a few candied nuts read more

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Let's start with the great: The desserts (Flan & Crema) were divine. You could probably go here just for a refreshing Rose sangria and dessert, tbh. Both were lovely. Best tapas we tried were the padrones peppers and the calamares. And, while the bread basket had a 'bought at Harris Teeter' feel, the second piece of bread, a grilled-with-olive-oil marvel, was fabulous. I would've skipped the 'basket' and ordered this several times over had I known this option. Finally, the manager is really on it -- he was very kind and generous, and the door staff were sweet. We are aware that Catalan food is heavily sea food based, so from a pescatarians perspective, it's unfortunate there is chorizo in the olives; but if you eat pork that would work for you. The server did not hear my daughter decline the olives when she learned of the chorizo but I am sure the kitchen could remove it if you asked. The kitchen took the chorizo out of the paella del mar (even if the server asked WHY we requested it be left out which seemed odd and vaguely inappropriate. She was a little rough around the edges). The paella - black with squid ink - was yummy. The not great: Charging for a FIRST basket of bread seems gauche. Also, serving a ceviche with no chips/crackers or some such is peculiar - but perhaps leaving this traditionally Peruvian dish with nothing to eat it with is done this way in Catalonia. Vibe summary: This restaurant is to Catalan food what Vapiano's is to Italian food -- sort of trendy, with average bites. read more

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The staff and service was warming and kind. Drinks were great, we got the sangria flight. Overall experience was good, no real complaints. Food is good but nothing too memorable or worth returning for. We got an array of tapas and 2 paellas (only 1 pictured). read more

Catalú - Arroz Negro Del Mar Dinner - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

You must go here with a group because the entire menu is a must-try! I love this place, the energy is lively, and the staff match it! The apps are great for sharing! I would recommend doing the "around the world" option for each person at the table so you can sample everything! My faves were the ceviche, gambas and pulpo! read more

Hands down my new South End staple. Week night happy hour, date night, events, etc. I've dined here 2-3 since it's opened and cannot wait for my upcoming reservations. So far we've tried The Valenciana paella, PULPO A LA GALLEGA, GAMBAS AL AJILLO, croquetas & lots of wine/cocktails. Everything I've ordered has been an employee recommendation or a bartender mystery creation. NOTHING has disappointed. The tapas servings are perfect to share with 1 other person. I'd suggest 2-3 tapas + one of the paella selections. This staff is so personable and knowledgeable of their menu. read more

Catalú - The Valenciana Dinner - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I went here with a group of about 10 people on Thursday night and our experience wasn't quite what I expected from a place like this. The food was OK but lacked flavor. I had stuffed peppers with goat cheese and the steak. The steak was cooked well done and would've been much better cooked less. The peppers were pretty solid, though they just needed some seasoning. I had the faux mule which was so tart that I had to send it back and ask them to add club soda just so I could drink it. The worst part of the evening was when we asked for our checks and we had to wait 30+ minutes to get them due to machine problems. At the very least I expected the manager to come over to our table, but she did not. Instead, she sent the server back to the table to apologize and deal with the situation, which is absurd. The manager needs a lesson on the hospitality business. Due to the delay getting the checks I had to pay $10 for parking. Had the checks come out on time I would've got free parking for since they validate up to two hours. The place has a really nice layout, but the music was so loud. We were yelling across the table at each other. Overall, not a good experience. read more

Catalú - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Drinks are exceptional (I get the matador every time), patio is lovely and Joseph was a very attentive server! read more

Catalú - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Catalú is a delightful new Spanish Tapas restaurant that recently opened in the South End, right by the New Bern rail line station. Occupying the former space of Eight & Sand, it's managed by Qué Hospitality, known for their "Qué" Mexican restaurants throughout Charlotte. The Spanish tapas style is ideal for sampling multiple small dishes at a reasonable price--perfect for a first date or a romantic evening. I travelled in via ride-share (so I'm not too sure about parking), but I'm pretty confident there's a handy parking garage linked right to the restaurant. The menu is straightforward yet extensive, From customizable cheese and meat boards to an array of both hot and cold plates, paellas, you're spoiled for choice. As for beverages--Spanish wines, cocktails, mocktails, beers, and sangrias line up to quench your thirst. Upon arrival, the personable hostess Cheyenne greeted and seated me. She was a fountain of knowledge, dishing out top-notch recommendations with genuine enthusiasm. The restaurant boasts comfortable indoor and outdoor seating with varied table heights but no booth seating, making it very ADA accessible. The decor is tasteful, and the ambiance is enhanced by lounge music at a pleasant volume, good lighting, Plus, the open kitchen layout lets you peek at the culinary magic as it happens. Darien, my fabulous waitress, knew the wine list like the back of her hand. She was spot-on with her food suggestions. I started with the stuffed piquillo peppers--filled with whipped goat cheese, balsamic reduction, herb breadcrumbs--and the gambas al ajillo, shrimp sautéed in garlic olive oil with brandy, garlic chips, and chile de arbol dust, served with toast. For my main course, I chose the canelones: crepes stuffed with chicken and spinach, topped with béchamel sauce and Manchego cheese. The piquillo peppers are a must-try for goat cheese enthusiasts. The gambas al ajillo were delicious, though some might find the garlic butter sauce a bit salty; however, the toasted bread is perfect for sopping it up. The canelones were served hot, smothered in a tasty béchamel sauce and topped with a crispy cheese round, making them a comforting and indulgent dish. Tip from me: pace yourself. Start with a few plates, then take a breather and see how those taste buds are feeling before you dive in for more. Mid-meal, the ever-attentive manager, Matt, swung by to check on my dining experience, which was a classy touch. And not to be outdone, the hostess Cheyenne circled back post-meal to ensure my evening was nothing short of spectacular. She even dropped a little insider info about upcoming monthly live Spanish music and falmenco dancers--talk about spicing things up! If your aim is to wow someone special or just treat yourself to an evening of stellar food and impeccable service, make a beeline for Catalú! read more

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This was the best brunch I've had in forever!!! We took brunch tour option that included 4 tapas per person that we chose for ourselves that only ended up costing around thirty dollars for each of us dining which is crazy for the food that we got!!! Everything was delicious, the torrijas, which were a guava jam drizzled French toast style dish, and steak and huevos were sooo amazing though! Everything, from the beautiful interior to the bopping playlist was incredible, especially the staff, our server Geri gave us some of the most attentive, personable and knowledgeable table services I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing! read more

Catalú - Torrijas! - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Never been in Cataluña Spain, but the interpretation and explanation of each item on the menu is incredible. Since the moment you enter in the restaurant, you can feel that warm vibe that's characteristic of the Que Hospitality group. Nailed once again, flavors, presentation, even the demeanor of each team member just embrace quality and an elevated experience. Can't wait to come back and enjoy those delicious drinks that Emerson make, don't leave without trying desserts and of course you earn yourself a regular customer, well done Catalu. read more

Catalú - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Service by Mario was excellent & happy hour deal was INSANE - half off tapas between 4-6 was a super fun surprise!! If you're looking for bigger portions and (FAR) superior service to Barcelona Wine Bar, please try Catalú. Need to come back to try their paella & large plates! read more

Great food, Our server Timesha was great! We had Pimentos del Padron Pulpo a la gallega Crema Catalana and the sangria was delicious read more

Nicely decorated open interior. Service was excellent. Beers were a little overpriced. Oxtail was okay. Spinach, a little better. Steak was over but the blue cheese sauce was amazing. I cannot recommend the fideua. It had a not so fresh fishy flavor. I would like to try the paella and the pinchitos. If you park in the adjacent parking deck, remember to bring in your ticket as they will validate. read more

Catalú - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I haven't uploaded a review in almost 2 years and this place was so good I decided it's worth a yelp review. My favorite dishes were the Patatas bravas and beet salad. I didn't have high expectations for the Patatas given that every tapas restaurant I've been too, they were just fine. However, Catalu uses a 10/10 spicy tangy sauce that makes the dish unique and very flavorful. The beet salad was also amazing both in presentation and flavor. The pistachio butter is creamy and pairs wonderfully with the fresh beets. Overall, a great experience that I would recommend to friends and couples. read more

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Date night with Hubby, sat at the bar and had amazing drinks and tapas Highly recommend this place. Atmosphere A+ service A+ food A+ read more

Catalú - Devils Play ground and Deal closer - Spanish Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Tried Catalu last month with a few friends. Every dish was flavorful, well presented and altogether prepared perfectly. The Paella was unfortunately slightly dry/undercooked but every single other dish was amazing and for the most part all Gluten Free, without trying! Quality of dishes was so impressive and the price tag for 4 people, two drinking cocktails and two drinking mocktails, was so impressive! Service was also worth mentioning as our serve was knowledgeable, attentive and caring! read more

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Brunch 10/10! Food was great! Service was great! Value was great! From the sangria flight & espresso martini to the ceviche & calamari poboy then the steak & eggs & pulled oxtail hash everything was delicious! Next time we will have to do the menu tasting to try even more! Can't wait to try dinner as well! read more

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Went there recently and was really disappointed. The food lacked flavor and the portions were very tiny. Even though I understand the place to be a tapas restaurant, the portions were extremely small for the price. I can't understand how a chef can make a salmon dish so tasteless. A little salt and pepper and maybe some garlic would have enhanced the flavor. I was so disappointed that I left most of it. I didn't complain but I'll definitely will not return nor recommend this place. I gave it 2 stars only for the service. The food, ambience and price receive zero stars. read more