Hidden gem! Atxondo puts out quality small plates and entrees in a relaxed atmosphere. Personal…read morefavorites include the grilled scallions and the seared scallops.

I went to Atxondo hoping to taste the work of a Basque chef, and found out that the new chef is…read morefrom El Salvador, but has studied cookery in Spain. After having a full meal with cocktails, appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee (about $70 per person), I concluded that Atxondo will be a definite future destination for Happy Hour and light bites, but that my full meal dining dollars will be spent elsewhere. The Patatas Bravas (Fingerling Potatoes) were outstanding, with their two tasty sauces and rich, crispy flavor and texture. The Hibiscus Margarita with its salt and tajín rim was good enough to warrant a second one... but the Sangria was lackluster due to the complete absence of cut-up fresh fruit in my glass. The "Crispy Duck Breast" is no longer served whole, but sliced on a bed of sauteed kale... and, sadly, seemed to be only a shadow of its former self. The Lamb Meatballs suffered from being mushy (a coarser grind would have made a world of difference in the texture) and lacked that meaty exuberance one treasures in any kind of meatball. My serving of Basque Cheesecake was almost comically tiny (at $9 per serving, perhaps not so funny after all). But my cup of Americano came out of the espresso machine strapping strong and piping hot, with a gorgeous head of natural crema from the oil of the coffee beans. So I will definitely return for a future Happy Hour to devour the outstanding Patatas Bravas and sip the good Margaritas, and to try the bargain Manchego Burger and other Happy Hour bites. For serious dining, Atxondo falls short of the mark... but for drinks and bar food, Atxondo turns out to be a real neighborhood gem. .

No matter what city I'm in Barcelona does not disappoint! We have visited Barcelona in three states…read moreand always have a great meal and great service. They are a great spot for celebrating a special occasion because of the atmosphere and decor, liveliness, and complimentary desserts and drinks. At our last visit, we were celebrating a graduation and our server made sure our guest of honor felt celebrated. There was something for everyone on the menu, even our pickiest eater. Some of my favorites are the whipped sheep's cheese, croquetas, pork belly, and gambas. And we always order a pitcher of red sangria. :)

Listen, when it's still 95 degrees at 9:30 p.m. in DC, any restaurant requiring outdoor seating…read moreonly is automatically disqualified. After striking out at two other spots, we landed at Barcelona Wine Bar, and honestly, it ended up being a pretty good save. As expected on a Thursday night, there was a wait for indoor seating, so we did what any reasonable adults would do: grabbed a drink at the bar and waited it out. I started with a Sauvignon Blanc while my friend ordered an espresso martini made with tequila, which was surprisingly delicious. Since we'd already survived happy hour elsewhere and had plans to continue the evening, we responsibly switched to water during dinner. Hydration is self-care, ladies and gentlemen. For food, we ordered the garlic shrimp, crispy mushrooms, chicken thigh, patatas bravas, and branzino. The stars of the evening were definitely the garlic shrimp and the patatas bravas. The chicken thigh was also flavorful and well-prepared. The crispy mushrooms, however, didn't quite do it for us. The flavor itself was good, but there was so much breading that we felt like we were eating the concept of a mushroom rather than an actual mushroom. Now for the plot twist. Everything came out fairly quickly except for the branzino. After waiting about 30 minutes, our server kindly informed us that it would be another 30 minutes before the fish arrived. At that point, we collectively decided that while we enjoy seafood, we do not enjoy it enough to wait an hour for it. So, we politely waved the white flag and called it a night. The service throughout the evening was genuinely good. The hostess was friendly, our server was attentive and communicative, and the bartender was cool despite operating under what appeared to be combat-level crowd conditions. It was packed, so ordering required decisiveness and a strong sense of purpose. The restaurant itself isn't huge, but it's a great size with a lively atmosphere and plenty of outdoor seating--which I'm sure is wonderful during the approximately three weeks of the year when DC weather is actually pleasant. Would I return? Absolutely. I'd just skip the mushrooms, order strategically, and maybe avoid arriving after spending several hours participating in Happy Hour Olympics beforehand. As I always say: I'm not difficult to please. I just have standards.

Drink of Choice: water during the work day but the sangria is definitely great to try!…read more Food: Flauta de Queso This is my go to place for lunch during the week! Their lunch specials are priced well and are filling!

Great business lunch! Pleasant energy imbues the whole of the restaurant. Service was excellent…read moreand servers were all friendly. Tomato bread, a signature dish, was refreshing. Gazpacho had a nice subtle spice and was full of flavor. Salad was quite fresh and well prepared. The vegetables were the stars. I did not try to the Patatas Bravas but loved the way the dish looked!

Came to Boqueria during DC's Winter Restaurant Week and had a great time! It was a good deal too,…read moreand I left so full. Started off with the "Taste of Spain" which included Pan con tomate, Aged manchego, Jamón Ibérico de bellota, and Boquerones con naranja. Since I couldn't eat the latter two, the server said they could double the first two, which was so appreciated. For my first course, I chose the Escalivada (fire-roasted eggplant, red pepper, labne yogurt, fresh herbs, olive oil, served with focaccia) and Croquetas de setas (creamy mushroom croquettes with truffle aioli). The Escalivada was tasty, but more on the tangy side; the bread was more crostini-like than focaccia. The Croquetas were so good: creamy, savory, umami inside and crunchy outside. Next, I got the Zanahorias (spiced baby carrots, sweet and sour reduction, orange honey yogurt, mojo verde, Marcona almonds) and Patatas bravas (crispy potatoes, salsa brava, pimentón, garlic aioli). When I tell you those carrots had me dreaming about them later, I'm not kidding- all of the different flavor combos paired with the perfectly cooked carrots were amazing. The Patatas bravas was pretty classic- crispy potatoes with creamy aioli and tangy tomato sauce. Finally, for dessert, I had the Tarta de naranja (orange olive oil cake, citrus-honey yogurt), and my friend had the Tarta vasca de chocolate (Basque chocolate cheesecake, macerated strawberries, chantilly cream). Both were tasty, but the Tarta de naranja was so good: perfectly dense cake, refreshing citrus, and great contrast with the yogurt. For my drink, I got the Forget-Me-Not refrescante (butterfly pea flower, thyme, honey, lime, ginger beer). Very interesting drink, not sure I'd order again but it was good. Service was great, super willing to accommodate my vegetarian dietary restrictions. Ambiance is really nice, very modern and elegant. Very accessible by metro, just a short walk from the station. 10/10 would recommend!

First... man the chairs were UNCOMFY. Theres two types of stools and the padded one feels slightly…read moreslanted forward and small. But anyways Paella was delicious, the flavor profile was super fun. We got the short rib and seafood, and we all preferred seafood as the short rib was a bit heavy. The fish in it was crispy and so good, especially with the green sauce- nice herby and refreshing contrast. The figs were interesting and fun. But not that filling... I did not like the patatas... sauce was good but the potato itself had none of its own seasoning and was tough. Yes crispy but not pillowy inside. The octopus was delicious and super tender. Would come back for seafood paella and charcuterie.

Typical corporate DC restaurant. Cavernous interior, largely disinterested staff, and uninspired…read morefood. I ate at the bar on a weeknight. The restaurant was relatively busy, the bar was not. After finishing my first glass of wine, I waited 15 minutes for the bartender to return, but he never did. I had to ask the woman behind the bar whose job seemed to be busing -- she couldn't serve me, but found someone who could. This place is a really just a caricature of Spanish food. Well, I suppose that's DC these days. Sigh . . .

I came here for Restaurant Week for lunch. Three courses for $25 is a steal!…read more I came on a weekday for lunch and it wasn't busy. I imagine the evening to be much more lively. The restaurant is spacious and modern. I was seated near the window and for whatever reason, I did find the restaurant to be a little dusty/fuzzy. I'm not sure if it was from the fuzzy throw pillows or perhaps the napkins, but the table did seem to have little fibers floating around periodically. The booth seat also had some salt or something spilled on it from a previous diner. I was greeted warmly by staff. Luis was my server and service was excellent! For my first course, I ordered the tuna tartare which was a generous serving - great for sharing. The tuna was fresh and they have a 9-minute egg plus little croutons for texture. The meal was off to a good start! Food was brought out quickly. Del Mar means "from the sea" and seafood is really where they shine. For my second course, I ordered the paella fideua negra, which is a thin noodle-based seafood paella instead of rice (much quicker cook time). The dish had great presentation. It was served in a cast iron skillet and they provided wooden paddles to scrape all the goodness from the pan. A separate plate with a lemon and extra aioli was provided as well, which really enhanced the flavor of the dish. The lemon half was served in a squeezing cloth which made it feel extra fancy. The paella was light on the seafood - it had three shrimps, three mussels, and a clam - but they were all nicely cooked and it was a good variety to showcase their seafood skills. Portions were generous - I couldn't finish it all and they kindly packed it up for me to go. To end the meal, I had the ice cream cookie sandwich which was a snickerdoodle cookie with salted caramel gelato dipped in chocolate ganache. I thought the dessert was okay. I like all of the components separately, but together, it ate too sweet (even for a dessert). I had a pleasant dining experience at Del Mar. It felt upscale but still approachable, without being pretentious. I would come again.

Gypsy Kitchen was another great stop. It's Spanish tapas-style, and everything we ordered was so…read moreflavorful. We shared the tabbouleh, beef kabob, octopus, and croquettes, and everything was on point. Special mention to the chocolate raspberry espresso martini because it was amazing -- I genuinely wish I could've had ten of them. We finished with the olive oil cake for dessert, which was also delicious. Our waitress was awesome too. Such a fun meal overall.

This is such a good place to eat with friends and have a catch-up! I came on a weeknight so it…read morewasn't busy at all. The waiters were all wonderful and did not stop helping us. The food was some of the best tapas I have ever had. Literally everything was delicious and perfectly balanced with umami, tart, spice, sweet. My personal highlights were the mussels, croquettes, grilled kebab, jamon, hummus, and cheesecake. I also grabbed their purple gin drink and it was very yummy!

Yummy tapas place. We stopped here after going to the movies across the street. We got a bunch of…read morethings but a favorite was the anchovies. The only thing we didn't care for was the calamari, a bit too tough and little flavor in the breading. Drinks were good. Would go here again to try more things.

All these years and I still haven't been on an occasion outside of their brunch LOL! It may not…read morehave been 4 years, but it has been quite a while since I last returned. I think they adjusted their lighting a little bit -- it was quite dim, and from the outside it looked pitch black. My friend made a reservation for 10 (only 6 showed), but it was fine and I feel like I always sit at the exact same table haha. The staff were very kind and asked if the first to arrive wanted to wait for others, and yes... yes we did. Once everyone arrived we dove right in and everyone enjoyed everything. We had every type of sangria and some of the highlighted foods were the mejillones, platanos, empanadas, pancakes -- on wait, let me speak on the pancakes for a second. A few times when I previously came they weren't sweet potato. I forget what the reason was, but while they and the syrup were still fantastic, I really missed the sweet potato element. But that's back now, and all is right with the world YAY! The eggs benedicts, patatas bravas, datiles, French toast, and huevos rancheros were highlights too. I think it's new, but they have a note that indicates there will be a charge for excess leftover food. I wonder when they added that?? We did an excellent job of eating literally everything, and everyone was satisfied at the end. The staff did an excellent job of checking in on us, gave us plenty of time for last call, and were so diligent. Mind you it wasn't crowded... but listen, it needs to be. I believe even the owner came by asking how everything was, and wished us well on our way out. It's been around a long time... if you haven't been to La Malinche yet, do yourself a favor and go. They have happy hour on weekdays, but the bottomless brunch... it's $41/pp now. Higher than ever, but still the best deal around.

Have walked by here a few times, and put a mental note to try it. I had the opportunity today with…read morea good colleague of mine. The interior is a deep red, with a Gothic style, and intimate atmosphere. I really appreciated it. The tapas selection is quite extensive and we were in between a few options, but settled on the grilled chicken skewers, grilled shrimp, chorizo, and calamari. They came out very quickly after we ordered, although I will say our server wasn't very attentive or concerned. After he dropped off our food, we never saw him again, so I think the service could he improved in this area. As far as the food, it was all very flavorful and tasty. I especially liked the shrimp (mariscos) and the chorizos. The char on the chorizo gave it a smoky taste, and it was so good. I thought the calamari was pretty good, but not the best I've had and the chicken was also pretty decent but it had a lot of sauce on it. I would definitely come back again and get the shrimp and chorizo. I would also try their meatball, bread with cheese and honey, and a few other items. It's close by where I work, so I can definitely frequent once again.

amazing food 10/10 customer service 10/10…read more outside seating 10/10 definitely recommend

A very swanky place. Me and a date were walking around Galleryplace for a place to sit and when we…read morewalked in and we knew immediately to ask for a table. The dark warm mood lighting, the corrugated wall, the intimate seating, and of course the small share plates makes for the sexy experience tapas is suppose to be! It is typical of Spanish flavors, heavily relying on high-end cured meats and cheeses, and classics such as croquetas. There is something very special that goes into tapas because its suppose to satisfy you based on good taste over quantity. Large shrimp in a generous skillet of olive oil and slow cooked garlic slices and a iberico mac and cheese are some examples of how they elevate classics we are familiar with. We really liked that they learned into garlic and spice. We found dried Aji Caballero in our meal, great attention to source country. They have a very robust and generous drinks menu. Loved watching others not dining alone and embracing that share quality of the menu design. Perhaps it is not the best tapas I had, I would have liked to see a balance with lighter citrus flavors but maybe that was an ordering issue. At some point, since the menu heavily leans towards rich and decadent, its better to plan around that. Our waitress was amazing, she explained the questions we had on the ingredients and was on it with the refills.

We wanted to try it for a while and finally we got the time. It's week day lunch, and it was quiet…read moreand nice. Waitstaff were pleasant and helpful. It's a typical Spanish tapas food, we ordered a few dishes, and we both loved MONTADO DE BISTEC Y CHORIZO. I have been thinking about going back to try other dishes.

Delicious tapas and paella! Every dish we ordered was worth ordering: charred octopus, gambas…read more(shrimp), croquettes, mixed vegetables to name just a few. The paella marinera was absolutely cooked to perfection. Service is very friendly and attentive and the restaurant is quite cozy.

Guardado's is a throw back restaurant in the best sense of the word. It is family operated, and…read morethe place has a warm and hospitality you do not often find. The selection of Tapas is lengthly and I have never had on I did not like. Wonderful entrees such a Paellas are also available. Do not let me forget, the drinks are great too. The Margaritas are my favorite.