The meal overall was okay but I was pretty disappointed. Their food menu seemed pretty limited, especially the entrees. There was very little, local seafood on the menu the day we ate there. They only had bluefin and swordfish. Their coq au vin is probably good but it's a two person order and each person gets charged for it. Pan Con Tomate - 10/10 Patatas Bravas - 8/10 Coquettes - 5/10, tiny portions, taste was meh Heirloom Cherry Tomato - 7/10 Shrooms - 6/10 Bluefin - dry and fishy, 3/10 Cured meat - fine but didn't think it was worth it, 5/10 Blueberries - 7/10 I would not rebook if I were visiting from out of town for a few days with only a few limited dinners. read more

BEST MEAL EVER. Me and my husband couldn't have made a better decision coming to Chaval! Incredible service, the vibe of the restaurant was perfect, and the food was so unique and out of this world! 3 appetizers, 2 entrees &&&& two desserts highly recommend The vegetable entree & the from the oven chocolate cake. Please go here immediately!!!! read more

We got multiple starters for the table and everything was incredible. The Shrooms were the table favorite. I got the burger as an entree and it did not disappoint. Great service as well! read more

Chaval - The Burger! - Spanish Near Me - Portland, Maine

Fantastic! Totally worth it Portland! The desert is incredible! Amazing food and vibe! read more

I love small plates. Why? Because it gives you a little of this and a little of that. And we ended up loving all of it. The top of the list has to be the Patatas Bravas. Spicy potatoes might not catch your eye but trust me that the flavors are off the chart. More importantly is we loved the vibe from the decor to the super friendly waitstaff. Thank you for giving us a great night out. Next time I'd ask to be seated in the front of the house (or outside during the summer). Also, I would ask for some bread for the ham. So good without it but a little would just allow me to eat more. read more

Like many fabulous eateries in Portland, you'll get great food and service in a relaxed, cozy atmosphere. The food is outstanding, but definitely pricey for small plates. For instance, gaspacho for $5 sounds like a bargain, but when it is maybe 1.5 ounces in a saucer, you sorta wonder. Oh well, we had a gift certificate, and the food was delicious, so we hate to complain. Warm olives ($5) were delightful. Patates bravas were unique and super yummy ($5). Gazpacho ($5) phenomenal, but very small portion. I highly recommend their Coq Au Vin for two ($24 per person). It's worth the price with homey root veg and perfectly braised chicken in unctuous wine sauce. Eating outside was beautiful with their house gorgeous mural by Tessa Greene Obrien. read more

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My husband and I were in Portland for a few days and made a reservation here based on reviews and we are happy we did! We got the melon appetizer, which was so different and refreshing, as well as the burrata to share - yum! Then we shared the 2-person coq au van and it was incredible! read more

Excellent innovative food, attentive service, always some interesting wines. My go-to place when I'm in Portland.

What a find. In a city full of eclectic interesting restaurants, this one is a stand out. Small but exciting menu, but we'll executed. Warm olives paired well with my Wellers bourbon. Spanish style tomato bread was elevated with a not so subtle amount of very flavorful chopped tomato infused with garlic and olive oil. The house Cabernet paired with the Coq au Vin was a great choice, and the burger ( unusual for a semi Spanish tapas restaurant) was actually quite delicious. The fries that accompanied it were reminiscent of the other local favorite "Duck Fat". Outside seating was alluring and was supplemented by radiant heating to combat the onset of fall. The only negative was the service wait time. I am assuming staffing challenges were the reason. Worth a trip read more

Chaval is one of my favorite West End neighborhood gems and a dangerous place to live close to because it's just so consistently good. I came here the other day for brunch which my parents, which I hadn't done before, and it was absolutely delicious. I always forget that there's a back section to Chaval. When we arrived on Sunday morning around 10:30am (without a reservation I might add), we were led through the kitchen into the section of tables in the back of the restaurant where light flooded in and bright wood made the space feel open and inviting. Our waiter was fantastic, consistently attentive without being overbearing. I got the "Tartiflette" which is essentially sourdough with that amazing raclette cheese on top that everyone and their sister wants to post a video of on instagram. And while I didn't have someone table-side to swipe melted cheese from a wheel directly onto my toast, I somehow managed to enjoy it. My parents got the eggs benedict, which they raved about, and enjoyed a glass of the sangria as well. I've now been to Chaval for dinner, drinks, and brunch. Each time I come, I leave wanting to plan my next visit. I highly recommend coming in for any and every meal here and I can't wait to keep doing that myself. read more

Chaval - Spanish Near Me - Portland, Maine

I was really excited to try this restaurant out. I ordered the $42 steak frites and was disappointed. The chimichurri was not flavorful and the steak was not that tender. Several of us had it and left with the same impression. I have visited Spain and the ham definitely represented. The appetizers were better so if you are looking for apps/tapas/drinks this could be your place. read more

I love restaurants that are a unique surprise and that get me excited about the Portland food scene again. Chaval did just that. I ended up coming to Chaval on a Sunday evening around 7pm. A friend and I had made a reservation, and we ended up being glad that we did because at about 7:30pm, the restaurant filled up fast. The aesthetic of the restaurant is very modern rustic with the dim lighting, the iron decor, and the subtle European-influenced essence exuded throughout the venue. My friend and I were seated at one of their tables for two. Our waitress was extremely nice and started out by asking us if we wanted tap or sparkling water and then took our drink order. Chaval has a great deal of unique cocktails to choose from, along with an extensive wine list and local beers on tap. I opted for the Spanish G&T. The drink was served in a large spherical glass and it was probably the best drink I have had in a while. Perusing the food menu, it is separated into categories: To start and snack, cured and salted meats, stuck in the middle, forks and knives, la familia, and desserts. What I enjoyed most about the menu is that if you wanted to come here with friends and get a bunch of small plates, you can do it. However, the menu allows for plenty of options if you are looking for a plated dinner for one. My friend and I decided to get a couple of apps or small plates to start out with. We ordered the deviled eggs and the brie toast. The deviled eggs were filled with shrimp and caviar and were good, however, the brie toast was the highlight of the apps. The toast was actually large and was filled with brie and was topped with a sauce and minced onions that had been braised in what seemed like a wine sauce. The flavor was complex and tasted amazing. For our meal, we decided to do the Coq Au Vin for two. This dish was just as complex and delicious! It was filled with chicken, vegetables, and sauce. They also serve this dish with bread and dunking the bread into the wine sauce was the best part! The chicken was falling off the bone...it was perfection. We ended our dining experience by ordering a dessert special which happened to be a chocolate souffle, and again, it certainly did NOT disappoint. I would put Chaval up there in my favorite restaurants of Portland. I highly recommend Chaval for a date night, a night out with friends, and even just a quiet, relaxing dining experience yourself. I can't wait to come back and try more, and even try Chaval for brunch on Sundays! read more

This should be 3.5 rather than 4, but that's not an option. Party of 3. We shared all our dishes. The sangria was a bit bland. The food overall is quite good, but some of the dishes can be hit or miss. We liked nearly all of our appetizers, especially the salads/dips and the olives, however, the terrine had more of a fishy taste to it and was quite disappointing as I am a big fan of terrines and pates. Our favorite, by far, of the main dishes, was the scallops, especially the hazelnut butter sauce it came with. The rabbit pasta came with a very tasty crème fraiche on top, however, this was limited and there was very little actual rabbit meat in the dish and the pasta was nothing spectacular. The fish special was fresh tasting, but otherwise had little seasoning and was nothing exciting. The desserts, however, were very good, with the sundae and the custard being the stand outs. Our server was ok, but could have been a bit more attentive at times and was also somewhat abrasive. He also seemed not to know some parts of the menu particularly well and seemed out off by a few of our questions, however, he did explain some items to us well and gave us good recommendations for dessert. In summary, I would say the restaurant is doing a very good job, but is sometimes trying too hard to be eclectic and cutting edge when it could focus a little more on taste. The restaurant also lacked a few basics that would have been nice like bread to go with the game and olives and they also did not have espresso, so these are things for consideration. read more

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Excellent cuisine, wonderful patio to dine outside and a relaxed atmosphere. That's all I need.

I waited 2 hours for a crap dish. For each plate took at least 30 minutes of waiting and the taste was always disappointing. Would never recommend. read more

Based on two separate occasions- first was dinner, second was brunch. The food was incredible both times. Let me also say that this place has the BEST customer service I've ever experienced. I could write an entire paragraph on that but I'll spare you. For dinner I sat outside, DO IT IF YOU CAN GUYS, it's beautiful. They had 90s R&B playing and they somewhat recently had a mural painted outside, its stunning. Brunch was just as enjoyable, sat inside on that day as it was raining. Enjoyed that meal as well. Bonus points because Chaval is one of the very few restaurants in Portland that does reservations. Much appreciated. Parking is shockingly easy to find as well, despite what it may seem like. My apologies for not remembering what half of these things were called . Five stars fo sho read more

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A bit expensive for what it is. Menu prices on website were different from in restaurant. The food was pretty bland and nothing unique despite the staff talking up the uniqueness. I was very disappointed in my meal that I could have reasonably made at home for much cheaper. read more

Certainly one of the best dining experiences in the Northeast. Flawless preparation and plating. Most importantly the courses were exceptionally tasty. This being done while dining outside on a cool Maine evening. The small plates were perfect and reasonably priced. Do not. Do not miss dessert. read more

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The food was everything we hooed it would be. We had the coq au vin. Was delicious with a nice light beaujilous. The waitress was knowledgeable and friendly. We will definitely be back!..we sat in the back room and had some friendly conversation with the other diners. read more

This was our second time here (first time here was back in 2019)... the menu, service, and consistency in the flavor we're absolutely excellent! What a wonderful place to enjoy Spanish and French style tapas using local and fresh ingredients... as most places these days, recommend making a reservation as seating inside is limited. They had patio and greenhouse seating available - but there appeared to be a long wait for those without reservations. Would gladly return again! read more

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There's so much to try, so share many amazing flavors. Each delicious dish is served by wonderful hosts in a lovely, refined rustic atmosphere. read more

I had my first COVID-19 dining out experience last night on the beautiful Chaval patio. It was outstanding in every way ... from the safety protocols with hand sanitizer at check-in + on every widely spaced table, to the turbo fan keeping the space extremely well ventilated, single-use menus, through every single perfect bite of an excellent three course dinner. It was great to be outside in a well-planned safe environment eating such incredible food. I felt like I was in vacation mode. It was a 90 minutes of perfection. I can't wait to go back. ⁣ read more

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Had a terrific meal here a few days ago. The food was amazing, and the service was great too. Food was top-notch, and served with a a very professional but unpretentious style that made it all the more enjoyable. Will definitely come back when I return to Portland. read more

We had the coq au vin, which was excellent. Most dishes had at least one creative, unusual ingredient. The liquor list had a lot of fairly obscure items while lacking well-known, top shelf alcohols such as Woodford Reserve or Maker's Mark. The service was fine, although we prefer the European practice of not bringing the check until the patron asks for it. The wait staff knew all the fancy descriptions for the food and wine. One thing we didn't like was the sound level. It was very noisy for an old man's weak hearing. read more

They have done a great job renovating the neighborhood restaurant that used to be Ciaolas. It's clean, airy, cozy and charming. There is a front of the house dining room with a long bar overlooking an open kitchen, and there is a more intimate back dining room. I recently read a "best of Portland 2017" article, and Chaval's vegetarian dish was listed as the best vegetarian entree in the city. I couldn't wait to try it! I'll cut right to the chase. Although I really wanted to like Chaval, the food was very boring. We had the: -Brie Toast: Caramelized onion jam on Sourdough. $6. This was a single piece of toast that was soaked in butter. It was quite good but what soaked in butter isn't good? -Basque Deviled Eggs: olive oil confit, swordfish, spicy pimenton. $5. This was just 1 egg split in two. It was topped with shredded swordfish that, I'm sorry to say this, reminded me of cat food. -Baby Artichokes: "barigoule" creme, radicchio, onion, olive oil. $12. I was expecting this to be warm, but it wasn't. It was just artichokes swimming in olive oil. I couldn't believe this was $12! -Atlantic Cod "a la Plancha": roasted peppers, marble potatoes, olive oil pimenton. $23. This was basically under-seasoned fish swimming in a tomato sauce with potatoes that tasted like nothing. My husband and I didn't even want to finish it. It was so bland. -Vegetable: salt roasted celery root, delicata squash, romesco swiss chard, olive tapenade. $17. Everything on the plate was cooked nicely and seasoned properly, I enjoyed eating it, but the best vegetarian entree in the city?? Yeah right. It was just vegetables that I could have made myself. It was a very small portion for the price and I left hungry. We contemplated dessert but after being so unimpressed with dinner we decided to skip it. With a glass of wine, a beer, tax and tip we spent $100. I thought everything was very overpriced for the portion sizes. We ate when we got home. Maybe I'd come back for a drink at their cozy bar, but not again for dinner. read more

EVERYONE NEEDS TO TRY CHEVAL. This deserves a 10/5 stars honestly. I fell in love with the ambience from the second I walked in. The restaurant is decorated with a very rustic but personal appeal. The service was friendly and extremely prompt. I was obsessed before the food even came out, but everything we ordered was phenomenal. The morcilla puffs were delectable and bite-sized. I didn't like blood sausage before I tried these. The roasted heirloom beets were fresh and unique with crème fraiche. The escargots were served on a garlic and leek bread pudding which was different. The caved and ordered the coq au vin since everything was so good and were not disappointed at all by the meat literally falling off the bone. read more

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I love Chaval. As with other visits, the food was amazing. This is definitely a place for foodies. And the service was amazing.

Everything I've had here over my several visits has ranged from very good to excellent. I love the results of Spanish tapas/French fusion and Chaval has its own deserved spot in my regular restaurant lineup. The chef definitely focuses on comfort type foods and my only gripe is that everything seems very heavy. The food is so good that sometimes I'd love something light to break it up and reenergize myself before another round of fried Iberico ham croquettes, stuffed pigs feet and patatas bravas. read more

The food and service were superb as always. And there is usually a surprise or two off the menu and the baby squid that was offered was wonderful . The drinks were first rate and reasonable, a Spanish vermouth and a Manhattan. It was a leisurely dinner and much appreciated. Great place for something familiar but different. read more

The food was amazing ! If you are in Portland this is a must! Drinks were really good and staff was friendly!

Food in Portland doesn't get a lot better than this, if at all. The space has its negatives though: a bit cramped. Too warm in the summer months and like most eateries, they tend to pack a few too many in on any given night. But then, there's the food. In general, it ranges from eclectic to comfort. The presentation is labored over from the patatas bravas, a simple Spanish style potato starter of Yukon golds and a spicy tomato sauce, to the jamon Serrano, a Spanish styled 18-month plus cured ham, ($10 & $15 respectively.) Portions aren't large and it leans toward small plate fare, but the price is on mark. The menu is a bit limited and doesn't see any major seasonal change. but this is also a popular meet-for-drinks destination in Portland's older, popular West End neighborhood. Service is always friendly and I've yet to encounter a grumpy or unmotivated staffer. I like the place. It's good, affordable. The taste is James Beard without the cancer of pretension that afflicts so many of the great food choices in and around America's "no. 1 restaurant city". Tip: Try the Spanish persimmon salad: iberico lomo, mustard cream, pickled mustard seeds butternut squash and sorrel. ($14) Oh! For the beef lover, a must have is the steak & frites. New York strip and house-made fries with a bearnaise. ($31) My mouth waters just thinking of it. read more

Wonderful meal. The blueberry dessert with vanilla ice cream and caviar was to die for. Highly recommend.

My boyfriend and I came to Portland for Valentine's day weekend and Chaval truly was the highlight of our weekend. We had the Iberico Croquetas and Bass Tartare (special) to start, both were phenomenal. I would note that the Croquetas are definitely higher-scale than Cuban croquetas you'd get in Miami. For dinner we shared the Steak Frites, which was cooked to perfection, and the Cod (special). Both were amazing, the cod was perfectly cooked. For dessert we shared the Churros and the new Creamsicle sorbet/gelato. The Churros are delicious with a very light cream filling. I would say, don't expect Disneyland churros. These churros were not overwhelmingly sweet, which I thought was perfect but my sugar crackhead boyfriend did not. The creamsicle gelato was very delicious, but the closer you got to the bottom, the stronger the bay leaf flavor came through -- which, if you're prepared for it, can be a nice palate cleanser but could overwhelm some. Overall, I definitely enjoyed Chaval and will likely be back next time I'm in Portland! read more

This spot is very solid. Comfortable outdoor seating. Service was friendly and usefully opinionated. Wine list was ok, but the gin tonic is the move here. All tapas were delicious, their bravas can easily stand with peers from Spain and are the only must-get for me read more

Fresh, high quality, beautiful dishes. We sat at the bar and the bartender was outstanding, answering questions we had about the menus, had a welcoming attitude and personality. Love this place will be coming back! read more

We flew in from Chicago and had the most fabulous experience at Chaval. Memorable from appetizer to dessert! The food was unique, flavorful and creative. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful with menu suggestions. Definitely a food experience that we will crave! read more

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+ Reservations = exist, and are easy. Chaval actually uses Yelp to reserve tables, which is a very easy process. I got a phone call confirming my reservation, just to be sure. We chose Chaval over another restaurant because we could actually make a reservation. + Patio = amazing. I've been lucky to sit out there both times I've been to Chaval. It's private, cozy, charming, and you get to walk through their bustling kitchen which is a real treat. + Food = interesting, varied. In fact, I've tried three new dishes at Chaval that I've never had before: head cheese, braised dandelion, and quail. As it's Spanish/French inspired food, you could do a bunch of small plates, or dig into a bigger dish. I got the quail "cordon bleu": two panko crusted quails stuffed with ham & gruyere on a bed of frisee with just the right amount of mustard. It was absolutely delicious. My partner got the grilled steak frites with bearnaise; the steak was cooked just to perfection. + Service = impeccable. While walking in, all of the staff welcomed us. We were there for a special occasion and the service definitely added to that feeling. + Drinks & desserts = a treat. While they have an extensive wine list, we stuck to their cocktails. As a bourbon lover I felt the flavors in my sour were just right, and my partner got an interesting take on the old fashion: the "D.O.F." which included rum, molasses bitters, and toasted oak. At the end of the night we got crispy churros with a decadent chocolate dipping sauce. In sum, Chaval is a very welcome new addition to the neighborhood and reinforces my belief that living in the West End is simply the best. With such a quality food and dining experience, I'd be interested to check out their sister restaurant Piccolo. read more

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First time at Chaval and I will be back! We had a delicious lovely brunch with a group of four total people. They were very accommodating for some gluten and dairy sensitivities in our group. Great coffee. Great bacon. Great service. We all loved our entrees! read more

Chaval - "Tartiflette" - two eggs, potato, bacon, onion, raclette cheese, sourdough toast, greens - Spanish Near Me - Portland, Maine

I have never had anything mediocre at Chaval. The food always blows my mind, the portions are amazing, and there's always something new to try at a very reasonable price. On average we spend around $150 on dinner, we leave full, order about 6 dishes including an entree to share at the end, and a few drinks. My #1 restaurant in Portland right now, constantly suggesting it to people I meet visiting our city. Keep hitting dingers, love it! read more

Ah... this place really missed the mark. First of all, we made reservations in advance and they required a cancellation deposit. This was fine at the time and got us even more excited to try out Chaval for my partner's birthday dinner. Upon arriving, we were taken back to our table through the restaurant. Of note- masks were mandatory inside the restaurant regardless of vaccination status, yet the tables were not spaced nearly far enough apart even for non-COVID standards. I felt like I was on top of the other couples around me and it lost the feeling of an intimate dinner. From the get-go, the service was painfully slow. We even witnessed one table get up and leave due to how slow things were. It took 30 minutes for us to even get our drinks. Oddly, our appetizers and entrees had to be put in at the same exact time. To start, we ordered the burrata and croquettes. Neither blew us away taste-wise, and we were incredibly disappointed in the poor value of the croquettes (only 2). Once we finally got our entree (we split the Coq Au Vin), the dish was no longer hot. I will say that the best part of our experience was the Coq Au Vin; it was a fair portion, tasted good, and was a decent value. Our waitress was very nice whenever we interacted with her, but she barely checked in with us throughout our evening. I noticed that the rest of the servers seemed to be in the same pattern and service all throughout the restaurant was slow. Additionally, the single bathroom stall available for all guests looked like it had not been tended to all evening (if you know what I mean). Overall, this place just did not live up to expectations- slow service and overpriced for the experience. read more

Chaval - Coq Au Vin - Spanish Near Me - Portland, Maine

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