Made a Resy for lunch on a Saturday 12:30, but it wasn't very busy yet at opening. Decided on 6 tapas and one dessert for 2 people, and we were plenty full but not overly so. The wine is sold in half or whole bottles (not glasses), so I opted out this time. The menu is a mix of traditional Spanish tapas as well as American and Latin American mixed in. Our original Resy was canceled due to a change in business hours, so we were offered a complimentary dessert. We tried the cheesesteak empanadas, croquettes, bbq pulled pork arepa, garlic shrimp, octopus, short rib gnocchi and finished with tres leches cake. My favorites were the octopus, shrimp, gnocchi, empanada, and tres leches cake. Croquettes were the least favorite, just not exciting, and they were kind of smashed. The octopus was very tender and enjoyed the sauce and sundried tomatoes that came with it. Everything came out at the right temperature and at a good pace to not overwhelm the table with dishes. The restaurant is dimly lit. I found the booth backs to be very hard and uncomfortable - could use an upgrade. Prices per dish are high for the size, but to be expected with tapas in the states. There are a lot of choices so there's something for everyone. read more

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I visited this restaurant several years ago because the Zeppole Tree dessert was delicious, cute, and perfect for photos, so I'd bring my daughter to try it. I know tapas are served in small plates and I know prices are generally high, but I believe anyone who's tried this place will reconsider. The food was tasty, but the price was high and the portions were really too small. If I were to come back, I probably wouldn't be for a full meal; I'd just want to order the Zeppole Tree dessert . We ate around 1:30 pm, so there was no one else at the table and we were the only ones there. The service was very attentive. Skirt Steak $25.25 Paella Valencia $21.75 Gnocchi $18.25 Zeppole Tree $13.50 read more

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We dine in town a lot but not on the side of town where this restaurant is. We have seen it so we figure we will give it a shot. The space is nice and the food is OK but nothing spectacular, not worth how overpriced it is. Tapas are pretty much small-portioned bar food dishes yet this restaurant priced them almost as if they were full-size entrees: for example, $20 for what must be a fourth of a regular portion of paella. I can deal with OK overpriced food but the part that will make me not to ever go back is how they overpriced their alcohol is, particularly their sangria. I ordered half a jar. When we get the bill, they charged us almost $30 dollars: $20 for the *half a bottle of wine* they claim they used, which trust me, tasted more like a $15 bottle of house wine AND 8 dollars for the *juice and fruit" used. Sangria is my favorite drink and this one has to be one of the most diluted I have ever had. It was juice with some wine in it. I get it, running a restaurant is tough business, and selling overpriced alcohol is how they make the most money but there is limit to how much I am willing to be scammed. I will pay you $30 for half a jar of good Sangria. What this restaurant sells is not that. read more

Sunday brunch 1:30pm with zero customers. I want to turn my back but girls want the cotton candy tree. Now I know it's a mistake as the portion of food is really small for a few bits & price range in the $20-30.00. We immediately showed pictures that we had before since this was the 2nd time we had came in a long time as the waiter ignore us and told us this is the way it is. Okay. We pay for it with a smile & a 15% tip. We will never be back. Never go to into an empty restaurant. My bad read more

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We made reservations at cravings and had our friends meet us. It is a cute little restaurant in a vibrant little town. We ordered an assortment of different foods and it was really lovely. The food was delicious and so was the sangria. Our friends meet us and group hadn't seen each other for a while so there was a lot of laughing and talking; however, during parts of our meal we felt a bit rushed even with plenty of tables unoccupied. The food was good and will probably go back...hopefully we won't be rushed again read more

I finally got around to trying Cravings after it being on my to-visit list forever. I went for an early lunch on a Saturday afternoon, opting to park in the commuter lot across the street. I did make reservations earlier in the week, but when I arrived with my mother, the restaurant was empty. We were seated and the server explained the menu to us, as well as letting us know we could purchase a bottle of wine that they would turn into sangria. We started out with a variety of tapas options, all of which were flavorful and enjoyable. They have many gluten-free options, and the menu is very simple to navigate. We received a large jug of sangria, but I was sadly unimpressed with the quality. Perhaps it was the wine itself and the lack of maceration for the fruit, but it was rather unpleasant. I would suggest taking advantage of the BYOB option and bringing something you know you'll enjoy. The restaurant is clean and offers a calm, intimate setting for enjoying small plates. read more

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Surprisingly slow traffic at 5pm on a weekend. Greeter was nice and attentive. The food was above average but a little pricey. read more

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Cozy environment. Delectable dishes with a wide assortment of options. Ample portions and equal attention to the aesthetics of plating and abundance of flavor. Pattatas Bravas and Tuna are particular favorites. Staff were friendly, professional, and knowledgeable about their offerings. Kept my drink topped up. Easy access to train station if you want to grab a bit before traveling. read more

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One of our new favorite places. The tapas are phenomenal and the service was great. We got to meet the owner and you can tell home much she cares about her customers. best empanadas ever! byob and then can turn your wine into sangria too (or choose to get their sangria). read more

We went as a group. Very busy Friday night and food came out fast. Flavors were on point and range is wide. The onion ring stack was the highlight in presentation and the coleslaw made it worth the calories. They also had a white sangria which was refreshing. read more

Cravings Tapas Bistro - Onion ring stack - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

Made reservations for a Saturday night and glad I did because it was pretty packed. The restaurant itself is smaller and it was a bit loud because of the busy crowd. The food was average and our best pick was the shrimp and sangria. Also found it to be a bit pricey for the portions but if you're looking for something different I'd say give it a try. read more

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Had a phenomenal dinner here! I ordered a couple dishes as they are tapas style so they are smaller. The Pulpo was very tasty and not chewy. The Chorizo and Potato's were SO good! I also loved the Ricotta Gnocchi, A MUST TRY! Make sure to save room for dessert because I devoured the Napoleon, the cream they put in it is so delicious! I also got the warm flourless chocolate cake which came topped with whipped cream and was delightful! Definitely check this spot out if you are in the Ridgewood area, you will not be disappointed! read more

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I love this place! I've gone a few times, once for my birthday, and I loved it! The food was delicious! I really do love small plates, you can sample a little bit of everything which is nice. My one friend and I split Pulpo a la Gallega (this melted in your MOUTH it was so good), Truffle Fries, and the Braised Skirt Steak Quesadilla. All so delicious. The service was excellent! Our waitress was very attentive to our table. It is a smaller place and we had a lot of people at our table, and they accommodated us really well! The restaurant has such a cozy, warm feel. I can't wait to go back!! read more

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We visited Cravings Tapas Bistro for some outstanding small (and large!) bites!! Each dish was more flavorful than the last! This is the perfect date night spot or for a gathering with friends or family. Our server Carlos took the best care of us! Be sure to give them a follow on the socials and stop by next time you're in Ridgewood! And don't forget to BYOB or enjoy some of their super delicious sangria! Feel free to check out our post on IG: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6sFvO_rNt4/?igsh=MWo4MmMzNmZwdmVoeA== read more

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I liked it! BYO, which was nice. Cute and tasty little plates! Interesting tastes. Went when it was warmer, and sat outside. Was not rushed. I would return, and recommend! It was a fun experience! read more

Looking at the Yelp reviews then remembering my recent visit. It's like night and day. I'm honestly confused as to why my experience at Cravings Tapas Bistro is so negative compared to my fellow Yelpers. My husband and I popped in on a weekend night with a bottle of wine in tow from a local shop just around the corner. The place was pretty busy, seats were situated pretty close to each other and we were popped in-between two other couples. We asked the waiter to make a Sangria out of our wine and it was delicious a very nice touch for a BYOB location. To start we ordered a mix of empanadas (Chicken, Philly Cheesesteak, and Ground Beef) - then a Crispy Mexican Chicken Breast and a Grilled Black Angus Skirt Steak everything was underwhelming. To try and end our night with a bang we ordered the Zeppole Tree which looked much more space then some of the photos I've seen of it on here. Overall we will not be returned. FYI its street parking, but there is a paid lot across the street. read more

Hello Loved the concept of this place. The food was good but great the service was good not great. The big issue I had is the tasting menu. It said 3 and a dessert for 43. I was going to get that and share The server told me I could not and would be charged double. It's nobody's business who I share the food I buy. I can see if they want to charge me 10 plate share but double not fair read more

Service was friendly and good. The highlights of the meal- onion rings were so good! The middle of the tower had sort of cole slaw like Houston's - delicious. The skirt steak - delicious and enough to share. Truffle fries and creamed spinach were good too Philly steak empanada was very good too. Ricotta gnocchi was ok Risotto balls not good Will definitely be back. read more

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Was about to go high end restaurant for our anniversary but with young kids we decided to try this place. It's small but cost. The staff was very friendly. Food came quick and was good. Definitely will go back read more

Always enjoy coming here. Make sure to have reservations. The food is all good. Cannot think of any dish I didn't enjoy. The Napoleon dessert is so good. Restaurant is a bit pricey. For two, we spent $155. Yes, we had a half pitcher sangria, but that was not the only contributing factor to the high bill. Each dish averages about $20. Staff is really attentive to their customers. read more

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Good food, but portions are smaller and pricier. Careful or you'll pull another Finca.

We're in beginning phases of opening with only outdoor dining available but cravings has delivery through Ubereats and doordash so we ordered tapas. Everything was very good. The paella was delicious and the corn was very flavorful. My husband loved the skirt steak and fries, it's tapas so portions are not huge but they're filling. The paella was very filling for me. Great for sharing and doing some tapas and drinks at home. read more

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Small size hides great restaurant. Owner operator personalized service, with kitchen that imparts new flavors to standard tapas offerings. Sublime tastes and good size servings. BYOB, liquor store around the corner. read more

our friends chose this restaurant and we met for dinner. i did not read the reviews prior to our visit and had i we may have not dined here. they were seated when we arrived and they had already ordered sangria and the combination of spreads which were good. let me start by saying we live 20 minutes from the ironbound section in newark and know what tapas and sangria should look and taste like. i will say the service was good and our waitress was friendly and pointed out the favorable menu items. i always go into a place for the first time with an open mind and embraced the dining experience. while i wouldn't list everything we ordered i will post a picture of the bill for review. based upon the photos i avoided the paella due to its diminutive size. i had the octopus with potatoes and struggled to locate the pieces among the potatoes. the addition of sun dried tomatoes added an interesting flavor to the combination. i also ordered the skirt steak and only received two small pieces which was disappointing. i had difficulty cutting the meat which lead me to believe it would be chewy and i was right. it was obvious that the grade of beef was below prime level. my wife ordered the patas bravas which are supposed to be crispy potatoes and what came out were something along the lines of soft breakfast potatoes that you get with eggs at a diner. accompanying them were slices of flavorless chorizo. very lean no fat and lacking spices. i could go on and describe the rest of what we ordered but it's not worth listing. i was right about the paella it was the size of an appetizer portion. during our meal we ordered a second pitcher of sangria and then took a look at the dessert menu. that turned out to be the best part of the meal! we had the zeppole tree and bread pudding. the tree came out covered in a cotton candy cloud and the zeppole were crisp and flavorful covered in sugar and cinnamon. when finished we asked for the check and went into shock when we saw we were charged $47 for each pitcher of sangria! we did order the large pitcher both times but it barely measured up to the size of the small pitchers we get in ironbound. on top of that as stated on the bill we were charged for full bottles of wine ($37) & $10 for sangria juice? there is no way there was a full bottle of wine with sangria juice with ice and fruit in that size pitcher. our thoughts were validated when we all agreed we did not feel any effect from the two bottles of wine we supposedly drank during our time there. the negative reviews describe how disappointed people are with the food quality size and portions compared to the prices. as the saying goes what you say you are is your philosophy, what we experienced last night was your identity. you can claim to be a tapas restaurant but you don't compare to what a real tapas restaurant is and offers. my advice to the management here is go dine in ironbound or take a trip to Basque in Piermont NY and see what a real skirt steak and a pitcher of sangria looks like. our friends could not have apologized enough for asking us to come here. it's definitely a one and done for the four of us. read more

Cravings Tapas Bistro - zeppole tree - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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I really enjoy going to cravings but recently the prices did get higher. For two people we normally order 4 or 5 dishes and dessert. We got the Burrata, which was a special, mussels with chorizo, Jersey street corn, patatas bravas and the gnocchi. Majority were good size portions except the gnocchi which seemed smaller then normal.The chorizo had great flavor, and the burrata would've been perfect (great consistency!) but the arugula salad below it had slightly too much salt which was a bit off putting. We normally like cappuccinos with desert but they had no milk so we switch to tea. I should've taken a photo of the tea sets they gave us because they were pretty cute. I would've given it a 5, had the burrata been less salty and there was milk for cappuccinos, so it could've been an off day. read more

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The dining experience can be described in one word; Mediocre. First the food. Truffle fries were good, best item on the table. Mussels with chorizo were pretty ordinary. Small mussels slightly over cooked served with chorizo that leaned on the bland side in a pool of bland tomato based liquid. Over charred pulpo served with sun dried tomatoes and potatoes, just ok. Traditional empanadas, flavorful. Dining al fresco can be a challenge. No fault of the restaurant, just the environment. Loud road noise, traffic, and then a train that blows by screaming a whistle every 20 minutes. Finally the service; nice, polite, and inexperienced. It's a one and done for us. read more

Truffle Parmesan fries mmmm so good Gnocchi was soft and delicious Tacos were spot on The 3 flavored creme brulee was to die for Service was excellent Atmosphere was intimate Some outdoor seating Available read more

Cravings Tapas Bistro - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

Excellent Tapas spot with an outdoor eating option! My family and I love tapas style meals and decided to give this spot a try. They have a unique take to how they do tapas. We ordered the crab cakes which had a Mexican take to it with guacamole, croquettes and the Valencia paella. The Valencia paella seafood was very fresh but did lack some flavor. Dessert we order the tres leches and the churros. Both were excellent. Overall I would recommend they re-evaluate the taste for the paella but everything was fabulous and I was impressed. read more

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Not bad, but feel like they are pushing out even they have plenty of seats. I like empanadas especially chicken. Today special shrimp was so so. read more

Absolutely adorable spot in Ridgewood. Ordered a whole bunch of plates - meatballs, tartare, charcuterie, shrimp, etc and everything was so flavorful and delicious. They said about 3 plates per person but some of the plates are really small so could probably have done extra dishes. Food quality was great, and service was lovely. Overall vibe is casual and quaint - perfect for a date or dinner with friends. Food comes out as it's ready. Tables are small so fitting everything was a challenge. BYOB or they have wine and sangria! read more

Great spot in Ridgewood right next to the train station. We had the skirt steak quesadilla, corn empanadas, cravings salad, and asparagus salad. All were amazing. Just the right portion size if you want a bite but don't want to be stuffed to the gills. Wine list available as well by the bottle or half bottle, no glass servings. Ate outside with ample heat right next to us, social distancing in place. Felt like a very safe outdoor dining experience. read more

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Came here for my 27th birthday. Service was awesome and friendly. Food was TOP notch. Some of the best tapas I've ever had, and I've had a lot of tapas. Gnocchi, quesadilla, croquettes and the MUSSELS WITH CHORIZO!!! Omg! So good. Will definitely return soon. 9.5/10 read more

Cravings Tapas Bistro - Mussels with Chorizo - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

My girlfriend and I had dinner here on May 3, 2024, and we had a very disappointing experience. Overall, the food was mediocre. The paella was recommended, but the seafood and rice were not cooked well. The shrimp was very chewy, and the rice was overcooked. Our other tapas dishes were also very underwhelming, lacking any indication that the ingredients were fresh or of high quality. Plus, while we understand that tapas restaurants are expected to have small servings, the portions here were significantly smaller than expected, especially given the price point. The daily special was a $19 burrata that was a little larger than the size of a quarter. We also ordered garlic shrimp that only came with four pieces of shrimp for roughly $20. We both were willing to overlook the small portions if the quality was there, but it unfortunately was not. Both dishes were lackluster at best. The service was okay. It wasn't good or bad enough in either direction to sway our opinion of the restaurant. Our server was nice. However, we had a reservation for 8:00pm at a booth, and they didn't have our table ready upon arrival. While they did have an open booth evidently available, they made the two of us feel awkward wanting to sit in a booth rather than a table. The ambiance also wasn't anything spectacular. It didn't give an atmosphere warranting the prices on the menu either. With the poor quality of food and the small portions, the pricing of the menu doesn't really feel justified whatsoever. The two of us are familiar with tapas restaurants and have experienced much better food, with larger portions, at better prices. Neither of us would come back. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect as reviews have been up and down. Well let me tell you our party of 5 that dined here last evening was very impressed. We assumed going into this the bill would be outrageous but with all the food we shared it only came out to $40 with tip per person. I reserved a table yesterday morning (Friday) and called to confirm as I know it's a weekend and 5 isn't always as easy as let's say a 2 or 4. All was good and their manager returned my call within a couple of min of reaching out. Boy was I glad I made a res because the placed was packed! Parking wasn't terrible for Ridgewood being that we had a 7:30 res and after 8pm parking is free on the street but also on half the train commuter section which is across the street. The restaurant is easy to find and for a nice fall evening still had outdoor seating and heat lamps for those that desired. We were seated in the corner right by the window at the front of the restaurant. Looking around the smaller space I will call this the VIP table. We didn't have to worry about chairs or fellow patrons bumping into us. It was a perfect nook. When I say we ordered a lot we ordered a lot. Favs included the Brussels sprout salad (we had to order a second round it was that good), the ricotta gnocchi (OMG I'm still dreaming about it), charred octopus which was tender, Buratta (minus the crispy bread cracker thing that came with it. Did not like) and tuna tartar. The short ribs were NOT liked and I wasn't a fan of the pulled pork but others were. But I'm not a bbq fan so take that with a grain of salt. We also ordered a spread of meets and cheeses which were tasty. For dessert we shared churros which were perfectly crispy, the beautiful zeppole tree which was as visually pleasing as it was tasty and the Elvis empanada. I wasn't a fan of the dessert empanada as I felt it was too mushy coupled with the tougher crust but others liked. Our waiter was very nice and definitely checked up on us frequently. There were 2 minor mishaps. One of our orders from the first round, as we ordered in phases, didn't come out. We pointed it out and he apologized and added it to our second round. Then when the meat and cheese platter came out we were missing a meat. Again not the end of the world but had we not questioned it, it wouldn't have come. The chef or our waiter didn't double check or read the ticket correctly. Overall it was wow and almost everything I tasted was worth coming back for. Wouldn't recommend necessarily as a date night if you are only going to order 3-4 dishes but as a larger group where you really get to explore the menu this is a hit. read more

Cravings Tapas Bistro - Buratta! Cheese amazing the shell too heavy for dish. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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My first time here...wasn't sure I would enjoy all we ordered cause ya can't love everything right? Well I can't wait to come back and try more dishes!!! We were table of 2 and absolutely loved every bit of all 4 dishes we ordered We had the octopus, Philly cheesesteak empanadas, muscles and chorizo .and steak quesadillas. Each dish it's own flavor and sauce but yet they each compliment each other Can't wait to go back ! Fantastic! read more

One of our favorite places in Ridgewood. Paella is amazing. Shrimp app on plantains and empanadas are excellent as well. They also make a great sangria! read more

Cravings Tapas Bistro - Paella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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I can't say enough good things about this establishment. Growing up in northern NJ, this place has always been my favorite restaurant since they opened up a few years ago and every time i visit home, i come there first. Always get the gnocchi, it is to die for. The octopus, skirt steak, the dessert tree, empanadas, onion ring special, ughhh everything is making my mouth water as i write this. I think i have tried everything on the menu and nothing disappoints, my favorite dish EVER, from anywhere in the world, will always be their gnocchi though. Their service is hands down the best as well, there is a reason why they've won many awards, they are the best in town. I will forever be their number one fan and rave about them whenever i get the chance ‍ Can't wait to visit home and come there, they're all i've been thinking about lately and nothing compares. read more

Great place for tapas, many options to choose from. The place is busy but the service is great. There is an outside sitting area too. Street parking depending on the day and time but there is also meter parking. The best part, is a BYOB and they also have liquor (very small selection). read more

Cravings Tapas Bistro - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

So we were looking for a place to have a quick brunch where we didn't have to stand outside on a line and this is the area we were in. Reviews were pretty good so I thought why not give it a try! I'd always wanted to try a tapas place and this seemed like a good place to start. Walked in to a mostly empty restaurant but it was mid Sunday afternoon so the "brunch crowd" may have already cleared out. Our waitress - (or owner? manager?) Well her name was Stanya (?) and she was the absolutely sweetest! Service was awesome from start to finish. We started off with sparkling water and then I had a half carafe of white sangria while my husband had the 1/2 carafe of red sangria. Cute way of serving, they bring the 1/2 bottles of wine to the table and add them to fruit in those cute serving pitchers and stir at the table. Nice touch! We started with the calamari which was perfect. Next we had the gnocchi with with braised short rib, also good. We then had a few other things - Mexican chicken (good), shaved corn (sooo good), truffle fries which were good and plentiful and then we had the empanadas - they were just okay. We also had the flatbread pizza and I wasn't crazy about it - too many flavors that didn't mesh but they took it back without question and we ordered something else. What stood out was the friendly, welcoming customer service and the cozy ambiance. The restaurant is quaint, nicely decorated and absolutely inviting. I definitely plan to return. Oh and how could I forget our dessert?! That cotton candy tree, well it was a zeppole tree with cotton candy - and it was so incredibly cute. I felt like a kid in a candy store ordering it, eating it, and of course taking the obligatory pictures of it! When we were leaving it was starting to fill up with customers - a large group of women and a few couples, etc. so I'm sure it can get busy so reservations might be a good idea. Great spot! Tiny bit pricey but worth it in terms of service and ambiance in my opinion. Not to be missed! read more

Cravings Tapas Bistro - Sangria! Absolutely loved this place! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Ridgewood, New Jersey

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I've been here at least 2-3 times a year since cravings opened 10ish years ago. over the years, the quality has fluctuated and we have been disappointed in the past. We went this Saturday and we're absolutely wowed by the quality of each dish we received as well as the service. This is now my favorite restaurant in ridgewood. read more