This review started off at 4 stars but sadly the service went down hill as the meal progressed so although I still think it's a great place my rating reflects this visit. The place does have a great Spanish feel and the staff are all Spanish adding to that authentic vibe. I ordered a small glass of Rioja which was £4.50, that sort of price is expected for good wine but this was a house Rioja and nothing special. A few of our party ordered sangria and were very complimentary about it. We all opted for the £20 deal where you get a variety of tapas followed by deserts and coffee. AMAZING value for the money. As the food started appearing our faces lit up with shear delight! Dish after dish was brought out in quick succession to the point that there was no more room on the table and we had to start filling our plates quickly to allow for more! The food was delicious and plentiful, stand out dishes for me were the Spanish sausage and giant prawns but it was all lovely. At this point I was sure this was going to be a 4 star rating. While we were still eating our mountain of tapas they started clearing our plates, including food that wasn't finished. That was the first thing that annoyed me. We then had a massive wait after the plates were all cleared away and when finally someone did arrive they were clearly having a bad night and really let it show. We were asked whether we wanted to see the desert menu and when we told the waitress we were excepting a selection of deserts as part of our meal deal, she made some snotty remark about how she was only checking as they needed to be prepared. When the deserts came they were nice, but there were 5 between 7 of us to share and my friend explained last time they'd had 4 to share between 4 of them! The food was all delicious but the service let it down. I do love El Porto and think it's great for value for money, but Bravas on whiteladies is still my fav for quality and service. read more

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Bringing some Mediterranean warmth to Bristol city centre, this pub is to be found on the same stretch of waterfront containing Mud Dock and Severn Shed. More expensive than either, it's better than the former but doesn't offer a reason not to spend less at Severn Shed. Tapas and everything else you would expect is to be found on the menu. The food's got heaps of latin flavour, and they've certainly done their best to justify their prices in this respect. Furthermore, the the warm and intimate ambience is just right for this sort of place. However, when classy Severn Shed are hawking five pound lunches a restaurant needs to have something special to charge over the odds. El Puerto doesn't unfortunately, making it somewhere to visit if you've got a hunger pang for something latin but perhaps not otherwise. read more

El Puerto - Spanish Near Me - Bristol, BST

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This place holds a special place in my heart because I went there for a blind date with the guy who's now my fella for life! But aside from the nostalgia this place does seriously good, authentic tapas. I have now tried most of the dishes and they really are all little pieces of Spain for the taste buds! I'm never disappointed, and they do a good jug of sangria too! The decor is quite dark but that makes it cosy and somehow feel more Spanish! The service is really good and they know about the food, which is something I find really important - can't beat a recommendation! It's also next to the water so you can walk off your Patatas Bravas by the beautiful harbourside. It's quite pricey but worth it. read more

Where you go if your not fussed about the standard of service, quality of the food and you have a spare £60 to burn. I booked a table here for my partners last Birthday in December.. They sat us next to the till, the music was great if you like spanish gangster rap..I don't. ...The place was over lit to the extent where we had to ask for them to dim the lights as I feared I was about to be interrogated by the Stasi... So, the food, average at best and certainly not worth the exorbitant amount I eventually paid for it. I say eventually as getting any of the staff to notice us required skills I sadly did not possess. read more

El P. has gone down in my estimation since it first opened, as most new restaurants now seem to do in Bristol. Not the best place for a first date as we were squeezed in by the pillar next to a large hen party. This did not set the evening off to a good start. We then proceeded to wait 15 mins before we could order a drink, luckily enough we had plenty to chat (or scream) about as the music that night along with the chatter was quite deafening. After ordering a selection of the tapas we didn't have to wait long for it to arrive and I can't fault the dishes. The waiting staff were somewhat surprised, as they tried to clear our plates, that we wanted to order more food. I felt like they were doing a ship 'em in ship 'em out night which made us both feel uncomfortable. In my opinion for a better experience, La Tasca on the Triangle is a much better venue. Not because of the ambience but because of a better class of service. Disappointed. read more

For an informal meal of Spanish tapas, skip the chains such as La Tasca and head for El Puerto which has way more atmosphere and far fresher food. Right on the corner of Prince Street near the harbourside area of the city centre, El Puerto's tapas menu is pretty authentic - featuring classic dishes such as Albongidas (meatballs), Chorizo a la plancha (grilled sausage), Jamon Serrano (a kind of cured Spanish ham), and Paella, all of which you can swill down with a glass of Spanish wine or beer. This is food to be shared with friends: it's far more enjoyable if there are a few of you so you can order plenty of variety and try a bit of (almost) everything. It's too expensive to order lots of dishes if there are only a couple of you. I've been there a few times now, and I've always enjoyed it, although another downside (in addition to the fairly expensive prices) is that the service isn't particularly fast. To get the full 'Spanish experience', go down on a Sunday when they usually have live Flamenco music on (from about 7.30pm onwards). read more

I first went to El Puerto on a blind date just over 2 years ago. 2 amazing years later and we're still together, so I have a real soft spot for this lovely little tapas restaurant. The decor is low lit with splashes of sangria red fabric. It is very inviting and romantic enough for a date, but not enough to put groups of people off. The stone walls and floor really make this place feel like you've stepped out of Bristol. The food is very good. I have had better tapas, but it is reasonably priced and very good value. The majority of the staff are Spanish (or at least Spanish speaking) and helpful in giving advice on dishes and wines. Stand out dishes for me are: white beans with onion & garlic in tomato & cream sauce, lamb chops marinated in garlic, chicken & peppers cooked in beer. The sangria is amazing and I think it has something in it that makes you funnier - or maybe that was just because we finished 2 jugs during our date? I dunno! We have been back for our 2 anniversaries and will definitely continue to go back. See you next January, El Puerto! read more

This fairly large tapas bar is good at holding big groups of people. However the service can be slow, so don't come here if you're in a hurry. The food is reasonable, and the atmosphere can be cosy and comfortable during quieter times. I'd like to like this restaurant more, but while it's very acceptable, compared to the other places you could eat nearby, sadly it doesn't win on taste, or service, or price. read more

Don't really agree on everyones gripes on the prices. Its certainly not cheap, however 2 tapas which are very filling will set you back £11 and thats a good price for a decent mains in other nearby restaurants. Our bill was £45 for 2 including wine and beer. The food quality is excellent and the service authentic. Noisy and busy but in a good way. read more

Have been to El Puerto several times. Excellent food, nice atmosphere. Usually busy, so book ahead if you plan to visit on the weekend. Really good Spanish food and reasonably priced. read more

El Puerto - Spanish Near Me - Bristol, BST

This has to be the find of Bristol. A charming, cosy venue located on the docks by the thekla and Arnolfini. At first, i was a little concerned over the lack of menu and pricing but my fears were instantly allayed once we received our cocktails, mixed superbly and generously. The food was similarly excellent. The prawns were fantastic and served with a garlic, chile and lemon dressing. The sea bass was sublime, melting in the mouth. I would recommend getting a variety of different dishes, the tapas was incredible. Despite the prices i was stunned at how much food was eaten and drinks consumed. The staff were friendly and accommodating to the end. We came late in the day and from a failed reservation at another restaurant, so we were overjoyed to be seated almost immediately and catered for excellently and without fuss. A genuine pleasure! read more

Atmospheric, cavern-like tapas bar that offers authentic, tasty dishes and paella. It's particularly good fun on Saturdays when the sangria's flowing and the atmosphere is buzzing, and on Sundays when there's live flamenco! It's a shame that the food is a bit hit and miss, with some of the (hot) tapas arriving cold and tasting bland, while some (for example the chorizo) were fantastic. read more

I travel to Bristol twice a year from the US and always stop at El Puerto for dinner. Often recommend El Puerto to friends. The last time 9 May 18, the food was waaayyyy over salted. The paella was in eatable. Our party of three ate two fork fulls and could not finish. When we told management it was met with an "sucks to be you" attitude, and charge us for the paella that was bearly touched. Stay away from this over priced and over salted food. read more

I've never felt so conflicted about a restaurant. The food is good - hot, tasty, spicy and full of garlic, fresher than fresh seafood and chorizo. Each served in terracotta dishes in beautiful rustic surroundings down on the waterfront (pretty much, it's just behind Mud Dock). However, my conflict arose when the bill came. These are not reasonable, small mix-n-match dishes. These are extremely expensive tapas. Many of the dishes cost £7 or £8 each and do not contain much sustenance - so a meal for four people with wine came to a whole lot more than we'd reckoned. Another thing, for all the soft-lighting and music and drool-worthy Spanish fayre, the service is rushed and on the unfriendly side. Sunday night is Flamenco night though - so you might want to eat there, listen to the thump of the guitar and wash it all down with several Margheritas. You might forget about the staff (and the prices)! read more

Drove passed this place everyday for a couple of years but only recently did I take my wife here for dinner as she's an enormous fan of Spanish food and tapas in particular. We weren't disappointed. The menu is comparatively small in comparison to other tapas places I've eaten in, but I've watched plenty of Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare's to know that, that usually means the chef is confident of the dishes he has to offer, so that didn't put me off. Some of the fish dishes in particular were excellent. I highly recommend ordering the sea bass as it was mouth wateringly delicious. The prices are a little on the expensive side, but in my opinion I would say that the food on offer at El Puerto is better than you will find at other Spanish restaurants and probably worth the extra expense. read more

I have been here a couple of times and while it is wonderfully boisterous inside and serves absolutely lovely tapas, I do think it is overpriced. Sadly it's also become a favourite with hen parties. I came here with my parents before going to see a play at the Old Vic and there were far too many phallic head-garments to be contending with so early on a Saturday evening. Yes I know tapas is generally more expensive but I don't think you get value for money here and the menu isn't as exciting or varied as other places I have been. Also the bigger the group you are, the smaller the plates seem to become as experienced on my friend's birthday. Saying that though the albondigas and chorizo was out of this world- I just wish the portion had been slightly more generous, then I wouldn't have anything to grumble about. Because at £7 or £8 a plate it is a little unreasonable. read more

A cozy authentic tapas resturant. The food was delicious and the portions were great, although the dishes were on the pricier end of reasonalble. The service was rather relaxed but this place is still a great place to come with friends. read more

Many of the reviews here suggest that El Puerto has plenty of potential but just isn't quite making it. I'd agree entirely. On my latest visit, this time my wife and I had the full meal option rather than tapas. Nice enough but possibly a little over-priced. I can live with that, but the service was very slow and given at the time we were there it was relatively empty, the music was way too loud. We'll probably try again sometime, but if we have the same experience, more than likely it will be the last. read more

This place does great food and is a beautiful restaurant to dine in. Great for trying loads of different tapas, and pigging out with your friends. The chorizo is really good in there, as is the calamari. i went on a Saturday when it was really busy, so the servce wasn't brilliant. But every course we had as well as the great cocktails was delicious so well worth the wait for the food/and placing your irder. I would recommend going on a weekday when it is less busy and more laid back and it is possible to enjoy it all a lot more. read more

The only restaurant worth going to for Spanish food in Bristol. It's been open for a few years now and the quality remains as good as ever. It's owned and ran by Spanish staff who have a clear desire to serve up the best of what their region has to offer. You may think it's a bit expensive at approx £5 per tapas but you get plenty per dish and you can see where your money has gone in the quality of the food. It's always full at weekends so best to book up in advance. If you've a Sunday evening free then pop along and watch the flemanco dancer whilst eating your paella. read more

I have been to this restaurant twice and I have to admit both times I left feeling uninspired. The restaurant it self has a great mood, soft lighting and is always busy. There is a large selection of tapas and it is a good standard, however largely over priced for what you get. The service is slow and what service you do get from my experience is hurried and unfriendly. read more

Not really for me, some tapas dishes cost as more then starters in other resturants and basically smaller then starters in other restaurants. In fact go to a simular styled resturant in the same area and order every starter and it will be cheaper and served with more of a smile. Nice decor is all I can really say about it read more

Don't go to El Puerto. You can cook better tapas at home - I guarantee it, even if you've never cooked it before. My partner and I went there last night. We had a Groupon deal, so it was £45 for some drinks and what was supposed to be 16 courses of tapas. It was the worst meal we'd had for a very long time. A combination of the very bland the very odd - fatty and massively overpriced, even with our voucher. Service is perfunctory at best. Don't waste your money here. read more

Lush tapas - and good value too, very tasty and prompt service even when we went in the middle of the christmas party season, the meal went very smoothly too. Great margahritas! read more

overpriced and unfriendly staff... highly dissapointed. although I have to admit that the food was good.

Excellent Spanish dishes and live music (sometimes).

A Spanish restaurant with a difference! The wonderful ambience aside, this restaurant serves a lovely set lunch menu for about £6 which includes several authentic dishes, including fabada asturiana. They also have a delightful flamenco and paella evenings on Sundays. Booking in advance is recommended as this restaurant is always full of diners! read more

I have visited this restaurant a on at least 6 occasions, each time the food has been well above average but every visit has been spoilt by bad service. They appear to only have 2 or 3 waitresses to serve the entire restaurant which means long waits of up to 15 minutes or more before you can even get a waitresses attention, never mind the time it then takes to serve you. We sat for more than 15 minutes on three occassions on my last visit trying to order another round of drinks while we were eating. Good food spoilt by bad service. To be avoided. read more

If you like Spanish tapas, you're not picky about attentive service, and you're not worried about spending a bit of money, I strongly recommend this place. It seems to be family run and service is very relaxed. There isn't even any maitre d' or obvious "front" to the restaurant. On busy nights it can be hard to get noticed and be directed to a table (when there even is one available). But the tapas are really good. Their albondigas, for example, are actually spicy (hard to get in England, where most restaurants seem to cater for bland English palates). Don't be fooled by the unimpressive exterior: this place is definitely worth a try. read more

I had lunch for the fifth time to this restaurant with my wife, my son and his girlfriend, the other times enjoyed all of the food service etc, this time we were disappointed with everything we done order and the entries came at the same time with two of the main dishes the other main dish was a paella for two on the menu says it takes 35 minutes, took close to two hours came without flavor, the rice came burned and clinging to the pan bottom, etc etc etc and not a apology from the staff. I am very disappointed and I never return. read more