Good food, nice staff, nice decor, good for groups, upscale pricing…read more We planned a gathering of friends from all over the area. Tío Pepe came to mind as an old-school favorite, and it drew in some folks we havent seen in a while for a chance to get haircuts and dress up a little for a memorable dinner. Reastaurante Tío Pepe is a nicely decorated taste of old Spain and Europe, a little north of downtown Baltimore. Look for the deep red awning over the descending stairs. There's an ample garage across the street. Around 6:30pm on a Saturday, we entered a lush hall and a dark comfortable bar area, with a coatcheck room just to the right. We arrived a little earlier than our group, so we found seats at the smallish full-bar with the imperial-red or ruby-red granite top. We had a great old $15 Catalonian Yzaguirre sweet red dulce vermouth rojo, caringly flavored since 1884 with distinct yet mild herbs reminiscent of the way the beverage is custom-infused in the old small bars across Spain. It was slighlty-sweet and richly complex. Quite refreshing, and they have even nicer vermouths on the menu, too. And we had an $10 rich amber dry white sherry, possibly a Gozales Byass which we noticed mentioned on wall décor, milder than the vermouth yet also fully flavored. We liked the authentic ambiance of white-painted stone walls and well-chosen items of décor from Spain. Our group of 20-or-so was split into two tables. And the eleven at our table also went through three $32 pitchers of tasty sweet sangria! So it was a lovely evening :-) Waiters in bright red jackets were very attentive. The food we chose from Pepe's extensive menu was good. We got $14.50 garlic caracoles, snails in butter, to pass around as an appetizer. A fun gently-flavored rather-chewy treat for the adventurous! Well, "caracoles". We had $10 Crema Escarial, a flavorful bisque with seafood and Brandy de Jerez. It had only the tiniest brunoise-size chunks of seafood in it, though, or whatever the Spain equivalent of "brunoise" is. We had a $13 Sopa de Pescado y Mariscos, a soup loaded with shrimp, mussels, clams, fish and lobster chunks, plus rice and some veggies. This was a much heartier choice. We had $17 Ostras Gratinadas, an oysters-Rockefeller of five large oysters loaded with spinach and cheese. They were very tasty and satisfying. We had a well-made $10 salad that included artichokes, beets, watercress and a sweet vinaigrette.  Many of us had different fish dishes, most around $36. They were fresh and tasty in a variety of flavorful sauces. The $36 sole, Filets de Linguado Alcázar, was perfect, with hollandaise made with bananas! That was a real treat! Ask your servers about off-menu apps and mains, too. We ordered fun twice-fried "puffed" potato wedges for everyone, hot, light, and just a little salty. We shared $14 Tortilla Sorpresa Fantasia Española, a baked Alaska, prepared table-side by red-jacketed staff. An exciting delicious spectacle! And a number of us split huge tasty $12 Brazo de Gitano a los Piñones, lush pine-nut whipped cream rolls.  A few weaker points: it was a busy night for the restaurant, and staff seemed a bit behind the curve. Food took a very long time to come out, around 3 hours from start to finish, and some of us had entrees half-eaten while others were still waiting. Several of us said their rice was only lukewarm. A couple of folks were unimpressed by the tenderness of their fish. For two of us, the total at dinnertime was $135 before the tip, and we had really modest dishes plus we paid for one of the pitchers of sangria. I imagine others were over $175 per person. The restaurant at large seemed happy, and we liked our food and drink. But for me, i expect everything to be quite delightful at those prices. I admit, most of the time we have previously come here over lunch, which has lower prices. It was fun evening, and our group seemed very happy, with several toasts and homages to our family of friends, and the hospitality of Tio Pepe :-)

Absolutely incredible restaurant. Our Go-To for birthdays, anniversaries, special anything…read more Atmosphere, staff and food have been putting a smile on my face since almost as long as it has been open. Will be celebrating my birthday there on Saturday. Can't wait for that first escargot to hit my tongue. My belly then knows it's in for a feast.

I would not reccomend this restaurant to friends and family. I would not eat there again even if I…read morewas given a gift certificate or card for a free meal. The menu is very limited. What they do serve is not good. Nearly 50% of the menu items were American. The beans are soupy, the chicken and steak are bland, and the salsa is watery. A Velveeta-like cheese sauce was used on nachos. They give about two cups of rice with each plate, about 1/4 of a cup of sour cream, and a cup of shredded wet lettuce. It is freezing cold and smoky in the restaurant. The smoke from the kitchen all creeps into the dining area. The seats, booths, tables, and decor were all outdated and old. I had to go home and immediately wash my hair and clothes (including the jacket I wore while dining because it was freezing). My husband, who is normally hot also had to put on a jacket. I was looking forward to this new place; was sadly disappointed. It was bad; really bad. I doubt El Nopal will stay in business long. Single Pro: a bartender the night I went made a good margarita. I did not ask for a name.

Wish I could give more stars. The papusa's were good and the burrito was decent. Although I do…read morebelieve there was some type of processed cheese food on top. They forgot 1/2 of our order and it was freezing cold in there.

Barcelona was hands down the best meal we had during our time in Reston. We were lucky enough to…read moresit out on the patio, enjoy some great weather, and have an outstanding dining experience from start to finish. Our server, Maria, absolutely made the night. She was friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and struck that perfect balance of checking in without hovering. Great service can elevate a meal, and Maria did exactly that. The food was excellent. The paella was delicious, the patatas bravas were flavorful, and both the pork belly and bacon-wrapped dates were standouts. The sangria was also fantastic and paired perfectly with the meal. Now, I've had Spanish food in places where it's a little more authentic and refined, so this wasn't necessarily the best Spanish food I've ever had. But considering we're in Virginia, Barcelona absolutely exceeded expectations. The quality of the food, the atmosphere, the patio setting, and especially the exceptional service combined to create a five-star experience. If you're in Reston and looking for a memorable dinner, Barcelona should be at the top of your list. Ask for Maria if you can she is fantastic.

I've been wanting to try Barcelona Wine Bar for a little while and am happy I got the opportunity…read moretoo! Barcelona Wine Bar serves a variety of authentic Spanish tapas and plates along with a large wine selection. My mom and I were super excited to dine here as we both love a good tapas meal! The restaurant is in a great area but you do have to pay for parking (they should validate your parking though). The interior is lovely and the ambiance is unique with a rustic-chic vibe. The service was good and our server was attentive. She offered us some guidance on the menu and some recommendations as well. The workers did a great job grabbing finished plates off tables and were super friendly. Some of our food took longer to come out, specifically the charcuterie board. Each table starts with fresh, warm bread and Spanish olive oil. Some tables got balsamic vinegar added to their oil, but we didn't. They do offer refills for the bread as well. For tapas styled dinners it is recommended to order a couple of plates at once for the table to share. We started with the Aperitivo Board which included an Jamón Serrano, Chorizo Soria, Idiazábal, Manchego, Eggplant Caponata, House Marinated Olives, Pickled Guindilla Peppers, and Patatas Brava. This was a huge board with a little bit of everything. Ordering this allows you to try some charcuterie and tapas at once for a great price. The meats were lovely and the Manchego cheeses were bold. Both paired well with the olives too. The eggplant caponata had a slight sweetness to it, which I liked. And the patatas bravas were easily some of the best I've had. The crema atop of them was to die for, these are a must order! Like I stated above, our board took a while to come out. This wasn't a huge deal, but it definitely took longer than it should have and I wish our server had checked in on us during that period. Next, we order the beet salad, albondigas, and the jamón & manchego croquetas. These dishes arrived quicker and all came around the same time. The beet salad consisted of pickled beets with a Skordalia garlic spread on the bottom. The sweetness of the beets complimented the Skordalia nicely. The albondigas included 5 Spiced Meatballs in Jamón-Tomato Sauce. With a little bit of a kick to them, these meatballs were fantastic! The sauce was extremely flavorful and I thoroughly enjoyed these. Lastly, the jamón & manchego croquetas which were served with the same garlic aioli that was atop the patatas bravas. These were rich and really creamy with lots of manchego. The breading was light on the outside and the inside was packed with mostly manchego and some jamón. I didn't like these as much as I thought I would, but they are definitely worth a try. Overall, all the food was amazing and we both really enjoyed our meal. The service was decent and I thought they did a good job taking care of us. They are very friendly and will help you navigate the menu if needed. The interior is such a vibe and I really loved the ambiance. While our charcuterie seemed to take a while to come out, all the other food arrived promptly. Everything is served made to order and arrive hot to your table. The Aperitivo Board is definitely the best bang for your buck. I would 100% order this if you want a little charcuterie and some of the tapas. Could easily be a meal for two people. I would return to try more tapas in the future and recommend if you are in the area! Aperitivo Board - 10/10 Beet Salad - 7/10 Albondigas - 8/10 Jamón & Manchego Croquetas - 7/10

Finding this restaurant can prove difficult...if your GPS lands you at the back of the building…read morekeep going around. If you lands you at the train tracks, yes that tiny road leads to La Cuchara. Prompt greeting by the host and very attentive service throughout our dining experience. I enjoyed all appetizers (Pintxos) but my absolute favorite was the beef empanada, it was so full of flavor. The tapas potatoes and salad were very tasty too. I had the rainbow trout for entree, for which the cuts were coming up short so they asked if shrimp was ok to add. I enjoyed the flavor of the shrimp, but I think the fish lacked seasoning- it was the only plate I didn't enjoy. Had the Aim to spark cocktail, a very well balanced drink! I'd visit again!

My friend and I had an amazing experience here. We came for happy hour and found seats at the bar…read more The bar was huge with ample seating as well as it appeared to have plenty of tables for dining. We both got a glass of wine and ordered two small plates to share. After quite a while of waiting for our food, the bartender checked to ask what we had ordered. He had forgotten to put our order through and to apologize, gave us a bit more wine to compensate which was super appreciated. Our dishes came out quickly once they were placed. We had gotten the Beef Empanadas and Dumpling Squash Beignets. The beignets weren't what we were expecting but were delicious. They were fried balls with squash cooked inside - very tasty. The empanadas were just as good with plenty of beef and a great aioli. All around, an amazing first experience here. The ambience was lively and service was great. Food and drink specials were just as amazing. We will definitely be back!

My daughter treated me for early Mother's Day. This was my first time there and it was a great…read moreexperience. Our server was wonderful. Our food came out within a reasonable amount of time and it was freshly prepared. Everything I had was so delicious, I certainly have to go back to try some other things. My daughter and I started with a pitcher of red sangria which was the best I've ever had. Our food was Gambas Al Ajillo (sautéed shrimp), Ragut de Setas (sautéed mushrooms) and a board (I don't remember the name) which contained fried cheese, chicken strips, fried pork chunks, empanadas and more. We had plenty to take home! The atmosphere was nice. I really liked the booths.

Service was decent. Our Saturday night (July 26) waiter was polite and professional. Not sure of…read morehis name tbh. The bottle graveyard they keep is interesting lol. They have a lot of interesting-sounding offerings but today i kept it simple with the steak frites with chimichurri entree. It wasn't hot. For a nice clean, plain dish i didn't hate it. It wasn't a fabulous steak tho. But it was fine. Honestly for the price it was a good basic item i shouldn't really complain. The fries were seasoned well but the bland steak juice dripping onto them, of which there was a lot, was making them unpleasant. The special tonight sounded really good I have a feeling that item would've been to a higher standard. My date liked her veg options. Next visit we'll try the cordero and the papas bravas

A tapas bar/ restaurant in downtown historic Frederick. We…read morewent for a Sunday brunch (with a reservation for a 5-top in the window). The waiter was patient and easy going, especially for such a busy time. The food was well seasoned and portions plentiful. The biscuit that came with the combo was a cheese biscuit, however the menu didn't mention the cheese otherwise we would have asked for a plain biscuit (looking forward to having jelly with it, but not so much on a cheese biscuit), but regardless, it was a good biscuit. I look forward to visiting again next time in town, trying their dinner/ tapas.

Frederick, Md. has some of the best restaurants within an hour's drive from home…read more Isabellas's is right there amongst the best in downtown Frederick. Ii is a spanish restaurant and serves excellent food. I had the seafood paella (one of my favorite dishes). The rice was flavored and seasoned perfectly. It was loaded with shrimp, mussels, calamari, and My wife had the beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes. For our cocktails, we had the peach sangria. Absolutely light and delicious. Our server was excellent. He made excellent recommendations and was very attentive. The dining area was very comfortable, roomy, bright, clean and nicely decorated. Eaxh booth comfortably seats anywhere from 4 to 6 customers. There is a bar offering beer, cocktails and wines. The bathrooms were spotless and modern. There is paid street parking. I easily and strongly recommend this restaurant.

Food was Fantastic - I will go there again without a doubt…read more Service however was reareallyl bad - the waiter took the order had someone else deliver it and missed putting one of our orders in the kitchen. He never showed up to ask us how the food was and if there is something else we needed. After quite some time had to signal another waiter and explain to him yet our waiter never came out till it was time for the check. While exiting the restaurant we were told the front door is closed and for us to exit through the side - but there were people coming out of the front door. If the food was not fantastic we would never visit it again. Food was worth the money.

Food 3.5/5.0 Service 3.5/5.0…read moreValue 3.5/5.0 Decor 3.5/5.0 Overall 3.5/5.0 Interesting neighborhood spot. They were light in waitstaff for a weekend lunch, but the two folks they did have working the tables were very efficient. Food was decent.