Found this restaurant through Instagram. Initial thoughts, cute , intimate, and colorful. We had…read morea reservation and were running late to our surprise the restaurant wasn't super busy on a Friday night. We started off with nachos, great size and flavorful. For our entrees my husband had the steak ordered medium and came out to perfection . I had the chicken and it was also perfect. I look forward to visiting again .

Alma Bistro, Cocina Latina is a Latin fusion restaurant in Norwalk, Connecticut, celebrated for its…read moreflavorful, authentic dishes with a modern twist, blending South American, European, and Asian influences. Popular menu items include birria tacos, octopus, shrimp ceviche, and steak chimichurri. My daughter and I visited here for her birthday, and we both love Latin cuisine. As we walked in, we were greeted warmly and shown to our seats immediately. It was a chilly day, and the restaurant felt cold inside as well. The staff tried to warm things up with space heaters, but they didn't quite do the trick. We ordered empanadas, birria tacos, hanger steak, and sweet plantains with crema and queso fresco. When the dishes arrived, they were lukewarm--a bit disappointing, considering how cold it was outside. The birria tacos were delicious, though again, they could have been hotter. The meat was tender and well-seasoned, but I would have liked it a bit crisper. The hanger steak was tender, and the Pico de Gallo was bursting with flavor, pairing perfectly with the steak. It was nicely seasoned and had a good-sized portion. The empanadas were tasty, with flavorful and plentiful meat. The plantains were extremely delicious. The crema and queso fresco helped bring the whole dish together beautifully. The customer service was friendly, but the food could have been hotter; still, the flavors and seasonings were spot-on.

So now I'm back in Connecticut, in a different town, and dealing with different things…read more Enjoyed an evening at Tablao, an easy walk from SoNo train station. We had a great table by the window. The waitperson was gracious. Our group met to discuss an important matter so we were a bit slow ordering. Our food was fantastic. I especially enjoyed my Paella And another diner loved the Brussels Sprout Salad with truffle vinaigrette, and the Beet Salad. My other companion thought the grilled octopus was special. The Albarino we ordered was delicious too. The only downside I can think to mention is the musical journey beginning in the 80s! And we were still able to have our serious conversation. I will be returning.

Made a quick stop Saturday night with my friend for drinks and a tapa, and it ended up being such a…read moregood vibe. We grabbed seats at the bar, which was perfect since the service was quick. The atmosphere felt very grown and polished without being overly formal...the kind of place that's lively and stylish but still comfortable enough to relax and hang out. I was surprised by the Spanish stuffed peppers; It was better than I expected, filled with rich, slow-braised oxtail short rib ragu that was incredibly tender, savory, and full of deep flavor. The slight smoky sweetness from the peppers balanced the hearty meat perfectly. Such a unique memorable tapa. Perfect spot for drinks, sharing plates, and a fun night out.

I drive by the place all the time, as it's right down the street from my home and had to try it…read more BEAUTIFUL rustic decor. Exposed wood beams and wood floors. The walls are filled with amazing art to admire while you dine. The restaurant is very clean and it's one of the first things I notice when I sat down. Lots of appetizers/tapas to choose from separated into hot tapas and cold tapas. The Mejillones (mussels) were finger licking good!! We also got the oxtail empanadas. They did not meet my expectation but still good. Lots of paella options to choose from: meat, seafood, classic...etc. We ordered the classic paella and it was delicious!! Full of flavor. One waitress running the show, who I assume to be the owner and she was a pleasure to talk to and quick. There is a lot next door you can park at but it's small. However, the street it's located on has plenty of street parking.

We have been to Paella a few times but before I was a more avid Yelp reviewer. Haven't been back in…read moreawhile and was craving some authentic paella. This restaurant immediately came to my mind and we were off! Happy to report it is still what I remembered it to be- wonderful food, great drinks, relaxing atmosphere, and friendly service. I did not take photos of everything we got for the table. One of my favorite appetizers here is the codfish croquettes and they were melt in your mouth good- highly recommend these! We came for paella and went with the classic version..... it definitely hit the spot. The rice was perfectly cooked and crunchy in the right spots. Seafood was cooked beautifully and the spices with the chorizo made it all a balanced and delicious dish. So happy we were able to come back to Paella and we will be back (hopefully) more regularly!

The restaurant has rebranded to Valencia Cocina. The menu has been streamlined. The food was…read moreexcellent as usual. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Cocktails were well made! They took what worked well before and made it even better!..

I was passing by on Cinco de Mayo around lunch time and decided to pop in. I had been waiting for…read morethe renovations to finish so I was pretty excited. Sadly, just like the rest of the recent reviews I was quite disappointed by what I encountered. Everyone working was super friendly and attentive which was nice but I didn't recognize anyone working there. I didn't pay much attention to that but when the menu came it was greatly reduced and trying to be more "upscale". it felt odd as the main draw of Valencia for lunch was that it was fast, casual, affordable and delicious. I usually get the lunch combo that came with an aerpa, empanada, rice beans and ceviche but that wasn't on the menu that I saw. I ordered the street corn to start and got the bowl with a pernil arepa. The bowl was a large portion and everything was fresh. Taste wise things were pretty good but didn't blow me away. The pernil was only ok and that should have been the star of the show. I had to ask for aji and I was only given a small dish with some hot sauce as well. In the past your server would just hand over a bottle of aji and let you go to town. The food was decent, but not close to what I remember. The biggest let down was when the check came. I know things are expensive all over but lunch was $41 for some street corn, a jeujed up chipotle bowl and a coke. That seems wild. There was also a charge added for the kitchen which I get but it still feels odd to see additional service charges on an already expensive meal. As far as the renovations go it honestly didn't really seem like anything changed inside, maybe some fresh paint and tile? Unfortunately I will probably not return any time soon or even at all.

The ambiance and service was Fantastic!!! I live out of town and it was my First time here and I…read morewill definitely be back. The food was SOOOO GOOD and fresh! The staff were so nice and friendly & work as a team. Loved the experience! The music was perfect - I love a place with good music. I Highly recommend the Fried Red Snapper - one of the best I have had!!

they charge you 3.00$ for a empty plate this is disgrace I would go here every weekend with my…read morefamily they lost a client forever! Check your bill because they charge you extra without you knowing Te cobran 3,00 $ por un plato vacío, esto es una vergüenza, iría aquí todos los fines de semana con mi familia, ¡perdieron a un cliente para siempre! Revicen sus recibos porque te cobran extra sin que lo sepas

Amazing food! And the portions were generous. For being a…read moreweekday late lunch place was open, no long wait Service was very good. Place was clean and with good lighting. We had the opportunity to thank the chef in person for a great experience

Great service. Walked in and had a seat in 10 seconds. Took my order in under another minute. And…read morehad a drink in hand under 5. Gotta love it when you're on a quick work lunch. Got a custom Lomo with steak and shrimp. And a passionfruit mojito. Also delicious. I'll have to swing by and grab another lunch soon.

We were celebrating my cousin's birthday and chose Barcelona. Hands down one of my favorite places…read more We ordered the full-size Mariscos Paella and the full Barcelona Parrillada. It was the perfect amount of food for four people, and we finished everything. I did enjoy the paella, but the meat in the parrillada was a bit too salty and didn't sit well with my stomach. The service was excellent, but overall the paella could have been better.

Never had Spanish food , but I am happy that we tried. I…read morewish they have some California wine , They have good selections of wines from Spain and Portugal. Food is good, service is quick . See ya

Fantastic food and atmosphere in this place. The lunch specials were reasonably priced and had a…read moregood amount of seriously delicious food. The service was prompt and pleasant to interact with. Pastor tacos here are out of this world! Highly recommend!

Excellent food! Six of us (from loves-spicy to spice-averse) had totally different meals and were…read moreall very satisfied.

I visited this restaurant while staying nearby at the Even hotel Norwalk. I ordered there fish…read moretacos to try because I was not familiar with this restaurant or it's food. The staff was friendly and helpful when I asked questions. The restaurant itself was spacious and clean however I did not eat there. When my order was ready I took it to go. When I saw my tacos I knew immediately that most likely I would not return. First, $15 for 2 fish tacos that had more avocado than fish was crazy to me. Especially, when the menu described my order as - taco de mar baja style fish tacos - Citrus Cabbage Relish and Chile Aiali were the listed ingredients but mine were full of Avocado which was not listed as an ingredient. I didn't want to try anything else after that.

The Salmon is my go-to. Easily one of my favorite dishes in the area. Service is pretty good,…read moredesserts are fantastic.

This is a high energy hipster chic spot in SoNo. The walls are covered in graffiti, (gives me NYC…read morevibes) and there's usually a DJ spinning hip hop, so just a heads up...it gets loud and crowded, but in the best way possible for a fun night out with friends. Im a fan of outdoor courtyard they share with The Spread, fyi: it's dog-friendly. The menu is inspired by global street food, and everything is served in paper bowls with plastic utensils. We recently visited on Cinco de Mayo for their Taco Tuesday special, and honestly, all you can eat tacos for $22 is an absolute steal. They also run $5 Arepa Wednesdays, which is perfect if you're trying to keep things budget friendly. I tried a few tacos and appreciate the corn tortillas. The Al Pastor was easily my favorite, which surprised me because I don't usually go for pork. The meat was juicy, topped with real grilled pineapple, and paired perfectly with the spicy árbol sauce. We also tried the Birria, which had rich, tender slow-braised brisket, though I did wish it came with the traditional consommé for dipping. The Chicken Tinga was decent, but I'm just not a huge tinga person in general. The Veggie taco was a good vegan option, packed with sautéed potatoes and peppers that gave a nice break from all the meat-heavy choices. I'm already looking forward to coming back to try the churros with ice cream for dessert. Even on a busy holiday night, the staff really stepped up. Eric handled the pressure like a pro, and Chris kept everything spotless despite the constant crowd. This place is definitely more about the lively atmosphere and the "United Nations" of flavors than a quiet, traditional dinner experience. Perfect for a group hang, casual date night, or anytime you want good energy with your meal.

Definitely one of my favorite places to take guests who come into town; the menu is varied and…read moreextensive based on global cuisine. I personally love the beef bulgogi and their pierogis. The drinks are tasty and service is always excellent, just know that it will be loud and usually crowded. During the summer the outdoor bar is a nice space to saddle up to. Outdoor seating is also available.