We got the cod fritter and squid ink paella. Both dishes are delicious and salty, but there are depth of flavor that I love. I wished they are a bit more generous w the amount of rice in paella. I understand that people like the cracked rice in paella but it is a bit too much on the side especially. I would come back to try the other dishes for sure. read more

See all

Didn't actually get to eat here. I had a reservation for 6:30 on a Thursday. It wasn't too crowded. We sat for over an hour. No server ever came to take our order. We didn't even see one to flag down. We saw the table next to us having the same problem. We ended up just leaving and going somewhere else. read more

4.4.26 My friend and I came here for dinner to celebrate her birthday. I had originally made a 6:30 p.m. reservation for a Saturday, but she ended up running late so I called at 6:30 to push it to 7:00. Thankfully, they were able to accommodate the last-minute change, which I really appreciated. There are picnic tables out front, but we chose to sit inside. I ordered a variety of tapas including the octopus, cod fritters, crispy chicken wings, beef empanadas, and she ordered the seafood paella and a house salad. My friend absolutely loved the paella. My personal favorites were the chicken wings and the octopus; both were flavorful and well-prepared. Service was friendly, and our server checked in on us frequently, though there were a few hiccups. My chicken wings were initially forgotten, I was given another table's check, and I was accidentally charged twice for the wings. I called the next day, and Wendall, the general manager, promptly handled the refund, which I appreciated. Despite a few minor oversights, we had an enjoyable experience overall. The staff was especially kind. My friend asked a couple of team members to take photos for us, and they were more than happy to help, which added a nice personal touch to the evening. read more

See all

Cute ambiance, cozy vibes, and great service. The food was decent overall, but the seafood paella definitely stood out. We got the medium size and it's probably enough for 2-3 people max. Not the biggest portion, but super flavorful and worth trying. read more

See all

Everything was delicious. The paella does take awhile to prepare so they ask you to order it first then peruse the rest of the menu. Nice happy hour menu with a lot of selection on food and wine. Ambiance was warm. Loud enough to speak freely but quiet enough to hear where everyone is saying. read more

See all

I'm late, but no wonder I always hear so much about this place! I was in the area on some business and stopped here while I had some time. I arrived right around the time they opened, so it was empty. But the decor is so stunning and inviting, I'm glad I was able to take it all in with the lack of people. On the far end, there's a bar with less than 10 seats, and that's where their happy hour takes place 4-7. I love me some tapas, so I was excited to dig in! I was hungry so I got to sample quite a few things -- calamari, salad, croquettes (MY FAVORITE), lamb meatballs, bunuelos, patatas bravas, and more items that I can't think of at the moment. As I already said, the croquettes by far were my favorite. I also had a delicious mocktail (summer punch) to wash everything down. I enjoyed myself so much that once my business in the area was done, I came back right before they closed and was able to get myself another order right before the kitchen closed. I got to enjoy a sangria as well. I need to visit again and work my way through their menu. I want to find something I enjoy as much (if not more) as the croquettes. Dope spot! read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

See all

We stopped by here for some quick tapas one afternoon, and I'm not exaggerating when I say they were the worst I've ever had. The croquetas had an odd flavor and were fried in so much batter that they tasted like hush puppies, and the datiles (dates wrapped in bacon) had blue cheese in them (what?). The sangria was OK, and service was good. But based on the two tapas, we didn't order more food and just left. I feel like this is a classic case of the kitchen just trying too hard. My feedback: leave the experimentation to Michelin-starred restaurants and focus on getting the basics right. read more

My cousin and I wanted to go out for dinner. We picked El Mercat! First time coming and we had an amazing dinner! Started with the patatas bravas and gambas al ajillo with shrimp - both were absolutely delicious. The montadito de carne had such great flavor, love me some chimichurri; definitely a standout. The alitas de pollo had a nice kick from the spicy honey sauce. It's not too overwhelming but you definitely feel the heat. Cocktails were on point too. That pineapple smoke drink is wild! You really get hit with the smoky flavor at the end, loved it. The flor de España was a little strong but in the best way. Only disappointment was the churros rellenos with Nutella. They looked great but weren't cooked all the way through, which was a bummer since I was really looking forward to them. Overall though, great meals and I'd definitely go back. We plan to let our girls know to try it out! read more

See all

This place was fabulous! Service was quick, the interior setting offered good ambiance, and there was a unique variety of menu items--including many that I've never seen offered at other tapas restaurants in the past. We dined in early, and made a reservation, but didn't end up needing it on a Friday. However, by the time we left all of the tables were full. I would absolutely consider making a reservation if I was to return during peak hours. I would love to try additional menu items. The carrots were the dark horse and are a must try! read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Zanahorias rostizadas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

See all

Cute, cozy tapas bar in Rockville Town Center. Not sure how long they have been here but I had a good time and I would come again. There's a few parking options to include street parking and some garages. There's daily happy hour (yes, I know!) from 4 - 7! Stopped by on a Sunday afternoon for happy hour. They have specials on small bites, cocktails, beer and wine. I enjoyed the red sangria and a red wine. Service by Veronica was great! Thank you : ) read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

See all

I've been here Multiple times yeah very good within the week and everything is amazing. Everything on the menu is amazing. Absolutely some of the best food I've had in Maryland hands- down read more

Delicious tapas! friendly service as well. The albondigas (meatballs) were so savory and flavorful and it was nice to dip the toasted bread in the seasoned tomato sauce afterwards. The mocktails don't come super sweet but you can ask the server to make them sweeter. read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Albondigas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

The place was nice and a bit tight since they have a lot of patrons coming for happy hour. We had a couple of tapas and drinks. My favorite was the calamari and the margarita was great. The service was good and the whole place is very chill and full, you know people loved going here. read more

See all

Stopped by for a quick bite and ended up really liking everything I tried. The crab and artichoke dip came out piping hot and super creamy, packed with flavor and actual crab meat. It was rich but not too heavy, and the toasted bread with it was perfect. The spicy honey wings were easily the star of the meal. Nice crunch on the outside, juicy inside, and that sweet heat combo was on point. Sticky, messy, and so worth it. The seared steak with chimichurri was great too. The steak was tender with a nice sear, and the chimichurri added a garlicky, herby kick that tied it all together. Service was friendly, atmosphere was laid-back, and the food came out fast. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm craving wings or just want some solid comfort food with flavor. read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Hibiscus Margarita - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

I'm normally not a tapas person. I never know what or how much to order and, in the past, ended up with too many fried food plates. But I really enjoyed our dinner here last night. We got a variety of items: Escalivada - roasted vegetables with yogurt Albondigas - lamb meatballs Datiles con Beicon - dates with bacon and blue cheese Patavas Bravas - fried potatoes in tomato sauce Gambas Al Ajillo - shrimp, garlic oil, chili Calabacin a la Plancha - zucchini and goat cheese Maiz Rostizada - roasted corn with spices We enjoyed the variety and different flavors of the small plates. The garlic sauce with the shrimp and the tomato sauce with the lamb were worthy of repeat dipping. The roasted vegetables with yogurt was finger-licking good. The only item we really didn't care for was the dates wrapped in bacon. I thought the date was mushy and the bacon overcooked. I took one bite and spit it out from the texture. One of my partners didn't care for it, but liked the hardness of the bacon. Only one of the three people at our table ate their bacon wrapped date. The rest we left on the plate. A waste of $9. There is a large selection of small plates at the restaurant, and I will come back to try some of the others, as well as repeats. I'd also like to try the paella sometime. The paella requires a 30 or so minute cooking time, and the server was sure early on to get that under our consideration. Service was good and friendly. The restaurant is small physically, so it is easy to catch parts of conversations from nearby tables. But it's a nice atmosphere and welcoming. Three of us spent about $90 total before tip, and we felt full and satisfied. read more

See all

I have been here a few times since it has opened a few years ago as it is conveniently located in Rockville Town Center. When my mom wants to have happy hour, this is always first on my recommended list, as they have delicious sangrias and tapas. We typically sit at the bar, and it usually gets filled up during HH, so keep that in mind. They have all your typical Spanish tapas such as bacon wrapped dates, paella, croquettes, etc. The service has always been attentive and friendly. There are a few tables both inside and outside. We had the same level of service regardless of where we have sat before, which can be a problem at some other establishments. Great happy hour! read more

Omg! The food was delicious. I really enjoyed the montadito de carne. The steak was very tender and flavorful. The service was good considering there was only waiter. The ambiance was nice. Very aesthetically pleasing. Overall, I had a great time and would 100% recommend. read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Montadito de Carne - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

5 stars Garlic shrimp - I could eat this sauce with bread all day PEI mussels - almost as delicious as the shrimp 4 stars Shishito peppers - great tasting but would be nice to be charred a bit on the outside Zucchini - wonderful flavors Chicken & chorizo paella - not the chorizo I prefer, but the chicken is well seasoned and their paella is cooked perfect. They allow it to cook long enough that there is socarrat, they probably put it in the broiler after to crisp the top, and the taste of the rice is excellent. It's not tomato based like many other paellas 3 stars Seared steak on bread Mushrooms Calamari Seafood paella - maybe a 3.5 Churros stuffed with dolce de leche 2 stars Octopus - I prefer a long piece that is grilled and charred Lamb meatballs - the taste of this just wasn't my thing Creme Catalana - not too special read more

See all

Made it out for a Friday date night here! Service was great, although a smidgen confusing at first because multiple servers were helping us. One gave the best recommendations that rounded our meal well and I'm sorry I didn't catch his name because he was a true gem! Stand outs were the coco Catalina flatbread: it was perfection, horseradish was zesty but not spicy, we both loved it. Definitely a must try item! Shishitos were cooked well. We didn't love the mussels. The shrimp were ok but the sauce and bread outstanding. Churros and caramel are a must get. Sangria was good! Potatas bravas were good but maybe too saucy for my liking. read more

See all

Food was excellent! Service was as well, I thought the deals during happy hour were great, and prices reasonable. I love the atmosphere too, very chill. read more

See all

It's always a treat to enjoy the food, convenience, service, and ambiance at El Mercat Bar in Rockville Town Center! Once again, we had delicious food and sangria with a delightful conversation. My only disappointment is that they don't have Maryland beers. I like to buy/drink local and am hoping that they'll expand their offerings. read more

Tried El Mercat for the first time during weekend brunch hours! The food and service were excellent! The restaurant itself is quiet and very clean. We were seated right away for brunch, and our waitress was very friendly and had some great recommendations from the menu. I even got to sample their seasonal sangria before deciding to get a glass. There is a bottomless drink option for $25, which I didn't get this time around, but I'd love to go back and try it!The prices are all very reasonable for tapas, and considering bottomless brunch can run up to $60+ per person in the DC area, El Mercat's brunch is a great value. We ended up sharing the duck confit hash, which is a full size entree, and the cod fritters, which was tapas size. Both were delicious! We also got the brunch paella to try, which was also very flavorful. We ended up taking a lot of it home and it was just as good the second time around. read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Duck confit hash (upper) and cod fritters (lower) - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

See all

Went here for brunch and truly enjoyed sitting outside and munching on the food. The service was good- the mimosas came out a bit slow but otherwise everything was great! We got the Heuvos toro, chicken and waffle and duck. The duck was absolutely excellent. Looking forward to coming back for one of the salsa nights! read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Chicken and waffle, duck, huevos roto - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Stopped in for brunch on Saturday. Was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant had a nice open feeling and was extremely clean. The staff were very friendly and attentive. We started with the charcuterie board which was very good and the cheese & meats paired real nice with everything on the board. Then we had the steak and eggs which was a great choice cooked perfect and very tasty. We will definitely stop back to this restaurant when we are in Rockville. read more

Kylie and James made such a great pair and took care of our table. I ordered the paella and it was absolutely amazing and the ambiance was phenomenal. read more

5/5. Great service, nice ambiance with themed decor, and everything tasted great! You honestly can't go wrong with any of the tapas on the menu. The portions are big enough to share between 1-2 people, everything is flavorful, and each tapa costs between $8-$20. The paella is big enough to serve 2-4 adults (or just the right amount for someone with a big appetite and wants to take home leftovers). The menu is also vegetarian friendly as well. read more

See all

El Mercat definitely has it going it on. I've visited this restaurant on a couple of occasions for happy hour, and I was quite blown away one each occasion. Overal, El Mercat has a decent, moderately-priced happy hour with a wide selection of beverages and tapas. My favorite beverage is the spanish Spritz, which is the closest thing you will come to for a typical Spanish gin tonica. Fortunately for me, it was delicious because it's the only gin-based beverage on the happy hour beverage menu. For our dining pleasure, we went with the 1) pan con tomate, 2) croquetas de jamon, 3) patatas bravas, calamares, 4) gambas al ajillo, 5) paella negra, 6) boquerones con papas, and 7) churros rellenos. All of our dishes were absolutely delicious. I will admit that I was a bit disappointed that the gambas were not head-on shrimp. Also, I thought I was kind of interesting (to say the least) that the paella was served with peas. I don't think I've seen that before. Since we ate at the bar, we had a great conversation with the male bartender. He was chatty (since it was a slow afternoon), but also left us to our own devices. While the restaurant is a bit small, the layout and decor (like most Jose Andres places) were very cool. If you plan on visit El Mercat with a 2+ person party, I'd highly recommend making a reservation. This spot definitely will stay on my to-go list for Mediterranean bites. read more

See all

I'm honestly a bit surprised at the high rating given the taste of the food. We went for brunch on a Saturday at 1pm, there was only one other couple there but a few others came later as we ate. The ambiance was nice and intimate seating inside as well as some on the outside. The service was also good, given there wasn't much people, food came out quickly. The food was nicely presented but very disappointing in flavors and texture/cooking. I posted some details with each picture. The highlight was probably the basque cheesecake, which I've made before, and this one is on par with mine, except the top seemed to have some olive oil that you can taste and it was odd. We had a lot leftover and I'm not one to waste food and would pack everything with me, but when the waiter asked if we needed boxes, I passed. That says a lot. read more

See all

Stopped in for dinner after seeing the daily happy hour sign and glancing through the menu posted outside. Overall, the food is delicious. I felt the cod fritters (bunuelos) were disappointing and the tortilla was more on the dry side but everything else (patatas gravas, pulpo, paella, lamb meatballs, gambas and calamari) was fantastic. Service was also straightforward. Would definitely go back to try more on the menu. read more

See all

A Taste of Spain Closer to Home As big fans of Barcelona Wine Bar, my partner and I are always on the hunt for a great tapas spot. Living in Maryland, the commute to Barcelona can be a bit of a trek, so we were thrilled to discover El Mercat bar, a fantastic new option much closer to home. We visited on a bustling Saturday night and, since we had our dog with us, were happily seated at one of their outdoor tables. The atmosphere here is wonderfully chill (not crazily busy and loud as Barcelona Wine bar), making it the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a summer evening. We ordered a variety of dishes, and almost everything was delicious and presented beautifully. Each plate arrived looking as good as it tasted, showcasing the care and attention put into the cuisine. While I won't go into every dish, suffice it to say that the quality and flavors were impressive across the board. If you're a tapas lover in Maryland looking for a delicious and relaxed dining experience without the long drive, this spot is definitely worth a visit. We'll certainly be back! read more

See all

I tried El Mercat's happy hour small plates and drinks last week. Their sangria is less sweet than most sangrias I've had, so I wish I tried something on their sweeter side. I also ordered their potatoes, ham croquetas, and chicken wings. The potatoes were covered in a creamy mayo sauce. They also came out streaming hot, which further perfected them. The croquetas were my favorite among the three, but I wish more than 4 came with each order. The chicken wings were meh, so I'd skip on those. The meat was a little tough and flavorless, and I'm sure they have other better dishes to try. read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Sangria - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Overpriced for the portion sizes and food quality & taste is very mid. Would recommend just going to Panera or Potbully for lunch tbh and saving your money read more

This place was great!! Loved their ambience, food and service. We had seafood paella and it was amazing. Except for gambas al ajillo we loved everything we ordered. So def recommend everyone to check out this amazing tapas place!! read more

My family took me out there for an early birthday brunch. Food was good in that they arrived quickly. Paella takes 30 minutes so order that first if you know you want it, then be as slow as you want with the rest of the items. For a table of 5 we shared the calamari, the patatas braves, the pan con tomate, lamb albondigas, shrimp with garlic and then of course the seafood Paella. My favorites were personally the calamari and the lamb meatballs. Ask for plenty of bread to soak up all that yummy tomato sauce around the lamb. The potatoes were also really tasty as well. I'd recommend checking them out if you're with a group. read more

See all

Had a brunch reservation for my sister's bday here. The inside is decorated very nicely and has a good vibe. Once seated, we ordered many items. The main entree was the seafood paella and it was solid (loved the shrimps), but my favorite was the calamari (perfectly crispy), patatas bravas (filled me up in a good way), and lamb meatballs (took me to flavor-town). The bread with tomatoes and anchovies was interesting, and the shrimp garlic dish with bread could've had a bit more oomph. My wife brought home the ham croquettes not pictured, and she said it was the best item there, so I'll have to try that in the future. Happy to have tried this spot out. read more

See all

You walk in, and the host makes yiu feel like you are family. Servers work fast, and food comes out pretty quickly. If you want the paella, order it in advance. All small portions are delicious--ambience, music, and an overall cozy place for date night. Definitely recommended. read more

This was a lovely surprise! We stopped by on a rainy evening for a bite to eat before our movie and we didn't expect much but we really did enjoy ourselves. It's a smaller space so it does get crowded in the evenings. Good wine selection. Hubby loved his lamb meatballs ("just so good, really good"), and I loved the goat cheese and tomatoes with the strong tomato flavor and crusty bread. Patatas bravas were good but a bit salty -- texture (crisp outside and fluffy inside) and sauce were perfect though! Cauliflower was an unexpected surprise because I didn't expect the raisins to work as well as it did with the dish. Word of advice: don't be obtuse like us and order paella if you have movie tickets. Give yourself plenty of time because it's good paella but good things take time. Nice to have this tapas spot in the area! read more

See all

We came here a couple of time for HH, dinner and brunch, and l really liked both the food and drinks. We tried patata bravas, pulpo, negra (squid ink paella) and churros. I especially liked the negra, which taste the same as in Spain, and I haven't found it anywhere else in the Rockville area. churros was very good as well, the pulpo was on the oily side. I also liked it for HH, they had good selection of drinks and tapas. Service was great, and ambience was casual/intimate. Highly recommend this place. read more

See all

Most tapas were ok but definitely the paella is pretty bad. Does not look, smell or taste like paella, and came out all burned from the edges of the plate for being in an oven (?). The rice was mushy with strong tomato flavor and not saffron taste at all. I rate the paella 1 Out of 5. It is importante to note that many other reviews also talk about the paella being not great. For me it is disappointing that a signature Spanish dish like paella is cooked that bad. Overall cocktails and ambience was great, and waitress very friendly! read more

El Mercat Bar De Tapas - Paella - it came with lots of sea food on top and looked great - but rice was not well cooked and not mixed at all with the seafood. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockville, Maryland

Delicious Spanish tapas in an intimate restaurant in town center. Loved the patatas bravas and the montaña paella. Great flavors and great service! read more

See all