What a great experience with your friends. Issac the owner, had the chef prepare for our group of eight, an assortment of the menu items from the menu, WOW! It was a five course, paired with excellent wine. The staff was great! Our group will be here on a regular basis! Thank You! read more

GREAT LITTLE PLACE! Overall first impressions....it was a little hard to find the front door. We parked in the back and walked through the back patio and were escorted by a very friendly server who knew the history of the building (impressed). She led us to the front door. Then we had to climb some very steep stairs. For the average individual it wasn't bad. But we had two seniors with us that found the steps challenging. Once inside we were greeted by the hostess and a very not so good odor (we almost walked out, it smelled musty and very old, our thoughts were the bathrooms. These need to be renovated badly). But once you get into the dining room there was no more smell. Tino was our server for the evening he did an amazing job. We ordered classic pasta (honestly it had good flavor but the sauce was very watery), the Duck (that was very good), and the Prime Rib (that was huge, that would be perfect for two people). We finished dinner and proceeded to go outside to the patio (mind you this is in January, when the weather is perfect for sitting el fresco) and had dessert. We ordered the Banana's Foster (Santana did an excellent performance, best part of the dessert) or Platanos Cajeta (huge difference) and the Flan. They were both good. This was a Saturday night and they had a duet playing acoustic guitar music (this helped top off the evening). We ended up spending a good amount of time here and enjoyed each other's company in a very nice atmosphere. Will definitely be revisiting. read more

Espana - Platanos con Cajeta - Mediterranean Near Me - McAllen, Texas

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Just take a look at the picture of the patio. She is that girl. I felt like I was transported out of the valley and landed myself in a cute little corner of Spain! The ambience at night was even more warm and magical with live music and the intimate lighting. The paella is much bigger than it looks like in the picture, it was shared by 3 of us so it's the perfect family-style meal! It came in this beautiful shell-like plate. There was plenty of seafood inside and the rice was well seasoned. My friend who has visited Spain said this was very authentic. We also ordered a chocolate cake for my friend's birthday and they came out to us singing in celebration. It was a sweet gesture and made our night! Of course, the cake was decadent as well :) I will definitely have to come back. read more

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Food was average and service was poor. It appeared that the place was understaffed or unprepared for the evening. The server could not answer a lot of questions about the menu either. We waited a very long time for our drinks and well as our food. And we never really heard an apology. read more

Came for a birthday party. We're seated outside patio area where there's a stage for live music. Very nice ambiance and decor. Very friendly waitstaff and owner was seen helping and tending to some of the tables. Menu is pretty open with nice options for everyone...we ordered the oxtail empanadas ,pizza , the duck and seabass entrees Pizza wood fired style ...was good nothing to boast. I enjoyed the crispy flakiness of the empanadas but I feel the oxtail filling needed to be more tender...or at least that's what I'm use to cooking and eating oxtail from other places. Still had some bites where it was a bit stringy and toughness. Truffle fries were thick and soft and that was yummy...duck entree was great. Moist , not gamey and light crispy skin. Was on a bed of mashed potato and a sauce...gives off a thanksgiving type vibe. The Seabass however I was kinda disappointed...fish it self was cooked perfectly...but it was just paired with the wrong stuff. Flavor profile was too overpowering that it takes everything away from the Seabass. The way it's presented there's no focus on the fish as well. But overall great experience might give it another try for maybe the steak and some other appetizers that was curious about. read more

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Great food. Good music. Lovely place supporting local artists and a great location to hang in a casual yet elevated atmosphere. read more

Espana - Mediterranean Near Me - McAllen, Texas

Nice booth and service. People in booth behind is were some wha loud with all the laughing. Ribeye lot of fat. Service very good. Will go back. read more

Came here on a Saturday night. It wasn't too crowded, and the air was nice outside, so we sat in the patio. They had live music. The performer was good and the speakers were at a good volume. Not too loud. The food was just ok. I don't think it's worth the price. The cocktails are better. Our server was very nice and helpful. She was a lot of fun. In the middle of our meal, a whole wedding showed up and set up their reception in the patio area. That was a little weird. We didn't expect it. And they took over the stage area. read more

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My husband and I went to celebrate our anniversary the place is average nothing special the service average we ordered food and waited two hours to be served and we were the only customers in the entire restaurant a shame because the food and drinks were delicious read more

Espana - Paella valenciana - Mediterranean Near Me - McAllen, Texas

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The slowest service I have ever experienced. It took them an hour to take our order JUST for drinks. Another 30 minutes to bring them.

Love everything about this place. Perfect for a date night or work dinner. Love the little moody bar and amazing cocktails. Food is delish and the chef's expertise is unmatched. Servers always go above and beyond read more

Prepaid for our Valentine's dinner reservation ($125each). Upon arrival, hostess had a hard time figuring out what table numbers belonged to what table. Took us a while as we followed her around a maze of tables and diners. Once seated, we waited at least 20 minutes to receive water after stopping a waitperson. No table cloths, silverware was not picked up between each course (we used same silverware for each course). Cocktails were finally served in cheap, disposable plastic cups. We had to flag someone down to get any kind of service. Appetizers and soup were good, but our entrees were room temp at best. We spent the majority of our evening trying to flag down some help. We typically tip well regardless of service but they automatically add a 20% gratuity and request additional tips on the bill. We spent $330 for dinner and expected a fine dining experience. This was just horrible. Way understaffed and very poor execution. Plastic disposable cocktail cups, no tablecloths, horrible service. This wasn't a kids birthday party! A young couple at a table near us waited over an hour before being served water. Valentine's dinner was a disaster. I'm sorry to say we will never return. read more

I reserved a table for 2 for their valentine's day special menu where the entire meal had to be prepaid which is understandable. I requested an inside table upon reservation and they sat me and my wife outside upon arrival. We then waited 30 min to be approached by a server who then never approached us after. Our reservation was set at 745 pm and didn't get served our entrees until 1030 pm which we then requested to be plated to go. The ambiance is spectacular, but the service was not worth what I paid for beforehand. read more

We enjoyed the atmospher, drinks and food immensely. Highly recommend visiting as the paella was an amazing dish to share. Started with the oxtail empanadas. read more

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I wanted to try a different type of restaurant for my birthday and it was not the wisest idea lol! So as you read this review keep in mind that for most of us lastnight it was our first time there and we didn't have a great experience... main reason was the wait time for everything was ridiculous...to get our drink it took 30-45 min to get it. A few times my friends would have to get up to the bar to get it ourselves and when we would go, sometimes the server would say they're working on it yet when we'd go get it the bartenders were jus standing there ? Another thing, on top of the drink taking so long it never occurred to our server to ask when we wanted to order another drink, it is common sense when a drink is empty/ low...to ask that qt, (and I'm not trying to be mean, but I used to be a server myself and this is something every server should be doing, esp at a restaurant w prices like this) w that being said...when we would want to order another one it would take another 15-20min to get our servers attention to do so (on top of the 30-45 min wait to get the drink)! One of my friends it took 45 min to get her a glass of wine lol and I'm not even exaggerating on the time, yet I wish I was. Lastly, upon me mentioning to our server we would like to order, I ASSUMED he knew to take the entire tables order? Because that's what a good server would do, and I mean again, COMMON SENSE..and he only took mine and my partners' ... now bc of that everyone got their food at ridiculously different times.. and I had to keep mentioning to him "hey they didn't order either" like come on... idk if it was his first night on the job etc... oh and also he took all of our names when he took the orders yet when he'd bring out our food one by one (bc that's how he took our order) he never knew who the plate belonged too and you could sense the frustration in his voice bc no one was claiming a dish etc. I didn't even snap a photo of my food bc of how hungry I was lol, and yes it was delicious but the overall bad experience outweighed the flavor of the dish! Let me also add that the gratuity ($25) was ridiculous for the service he provided. Like extremely stupid ridiculous... I'm sorry (not really) but for the pricing of the plates (I think my dish was $30-40, and my bf plate was like $50, this isn't incl drinks!) and just over all experience for what was meant to be a special night, it was not worth it and will not be returning!!! Over all bill for 2 drinks each, food and gratuity $165!! read more

This place is nice, with a very nice atmosphere, but the food needs to catch up to the rest. It's pricey, but the taste & flavor need improvement. Wish I could give it higher, but if you're not too particular on flavor, or consider yourself a foodie, then it's a nice place to meet friends or family & enjoy the atmosphere. read more

Extremely slow service. Very disorganized layout; walked through the front door facing Main St. and there was no waiter to help seat us. Walked around the side and finally sat down in the outside area. The server took 29 minutes to approach our table to get us started with waters. I try to be patient if the server looks new or the place is busy, neither were the case this time. 30 minutes after placing our mixed drink choice we finally got it to the table; no beverage takes that long to prepare. Figured it was a fluke and decided to give it another shot for the second round; another 35 mins before we got our drinks. By that time the restaurant was trying to close early for the night and urging patrons to close out their tabs. Over all a nice ambiance and decorations but horrible service and a major disappointment for the price point. read more

I love their bar. It's a beautiful room in the back of the restaurant's courtyard area. Small and intimate, with the smell of smoked wood from one of their craft cocktails. Honestly, most of the cocktails in the valley are poorly balanced and way too sweet. But I really enjoyed this restaurant's cocktail menu and seafood. read more

This was not my first time to eat at Espana but it was my first time to eat in the bar. I was traveling alone and was going to grab a quick bite and retire to my hotel. I settled in at the bar and ordered a drink, "Holy Smoke" and that is both the name of the drink and my reaction. While basically an Old-fashioned with the added layer of smoke this drink was a delight on the palate. For my meal I perused an extensive and slightly complicated set of menus and ordered. In the interim, the owner/chef of the restaurant Isaac Guerra, brings out some homemade potato chips that were just the right level of crispy and seasoning for my taste. It also gave occasion to meet him and discuss the food. As a result of this conversation I decided to accept a tasting challenge he offered.......I was not disappointed. The meal consisted of small portions of the following.... Camarones Del Ray, Oxtail Empanadas, and Saenz Tapas(an amazing green salsa based sauce with an excellent balance of heat, spice, and texture). As a bonus Isaac asked if I was willing to try a new dish he was working on and it didn't disappoint......Waygu Pot Stickers. This dish consisted of the waygu stuffed dough with a poisson sauce that made the flavors just explode in my mouth. To finish off the main part of the meal was a portion of "Cigar Box Smoked Salmon" which was transferred to a tomato based roux that was just slightly spiced and nicely balanced addition to the salmon. At the end of the meal Isaac presented me with a delightful "Creme Brulee" that had a sweet custard that was nicely sweetened without being overwhelming. A delightful evening of culinary adventure and flavor. I recommend this restaurant whole heartedly. read more

A coworker recommended this place and so glad I listened. I sat in the bar area and the service I received there was phenomenal. The bartenders were so helpful and everything I tried was based on their recommendations. For my drink, I had the Agra Rojo - it was so refreshing. I loved how there was fresh watermelon juice and the chile salt was such a nice add to the drink. For food, I have to say first I didn't have a big appetite due to a late lunch, therefore I ordered appetizers. I had the oxtail empanadas which was delicious with the sauce it came with. My other dish was the Basque which is a crostini. One had pepperoni and other things and the other had Buffalo mozzarella with balsamic and candied walnut. All my dishes were absolutely mouth watering. Next time I come I will definitely make sure to have an appetite so I can try and entree. I highly recommend this place - Salud. read more

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We went to this restaurant unfortunately during Valentine's Day and we were sitting down for about 25-30 minutes waiting for a server to serve us. I had to stand up and ask three times who was my server and they would stay, "I will look for the server". Until a server came up to us and asked us if we had already gotten help. The food was not as great in a few hours my stomach started hurting and everything was out in less than 5 min. Overpriced for the food & service. My husband also got charged 3 times and did not even get to see the bill. They immediately asked for his card and ended up paying several times. Service 1/10 Food 7/10 read more

So I told my friend I'd give a 3. And he's like that's nice. So 2 it is. I told him the 3 was for the ambiance - escape , the fact this exists in McAllen So yeah ambiance and vibes super cute. Super happy to have this vibe in McAllen. Everything else ay no.. Food took 2+ hours to get here. It was a small dish They made it right but flavors were basic We ordered all the 3 tapas Surprisingly the best was the one with apples. That one had the most complexity The first one the romesco buffalo tasted very basic The jam and walnuts - how can that pairing go wrong lol The server was sweet and nice. She was keeping that place somewhat held together. Bless her heart. read more

It had been years since being here. Once upon a time it was Casa de Espana, then later became something else and now it's back! Husband and I dined outside to live music. Very relaxing and romantic atmosphere with the lighting, amazing chandelier and red drapery. I ordered their margarita and it helped kick off the evening of delicious food. I had the sea bass, and I don't normally like olives but they really transformed the dish in such a way that the olives actually complimented it for me. That takes skill in my book. Can I also mention the presentation of the food and drinks married amazingly well with the chill romantic vibes? I loved the attention to detail, even with the cutlery! We also ordered the bananas Foster, which was prepared table side, so nice little show there and it tasted just as good as the anticipation we had watching it be made. Highly recommend this place for a romantic date night, or even a fun atmosphere with a group to celebrate any occasion. Will definitely be back, and maybe check out the inside as well. read more

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"When Food and Art Collide: a Dining Experience Not to be Missed" BOTTOM LINE: I will return many times. You come here to more than eat, you come here to experience. Careful thought has been put in to everything: the location, the interior decoration, the artisan food. I was impressed from the moment I saw the venue from the street to the moment I left the restaurant. I was reminded of dining experiences I've had in Sevilla, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Mexico City, and my current hometown of San Francisco, CA. Definitely ask for the owner Isaac Guerra. He is pleasant, loves his customers, and will make a brilliant food/drink recommendation based on your personal tastes. PLEASANTLY SURPRISED I loved that this was a "detached" venue. I am accustomed to restaurants in McAllen located in strip mall settings. It appears that this was someone's old house that was rebuilt to create a fantastic Iberian experience. QUAINT: The dining area is outdoors but I met my buddies in the smaller detached bar which I found to be more intimate. The interior decor screams European sophistication. MUST HAVE: Upon recommendation, I had a "Holy Smoke": a concoction of cognac, rum, and bourbon. The striking presentation is unlike anything I had seen. The drink itself lived up to its presentation: a smoke tinged flavor that goes down smooth. I let my buddies have a taste and they all reacted with: "WOW". FOOD IS ART: Beef empanadas in Buenos Aires are hard to beat. This venue equaled them with their "Oxtail Empanadas" and jalapeño sauce. I ordered their charcuterie board which was equally as beautiful to see as it was beautiful to eat. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. read more

Terrible service. We waited for more than an hour to receive the food. We left the place. Not at all recommendable. They preferred to serve the tables outside. read more

Robert was amazing and the food was beyond delicious. The atmosphere is very serene and enjoyable. Highly recommend!!

Drinks are the best in town and the only place with a bottle of Pappy!!! Tapas are out of this world! read more

Espana - Mediterranean Near Me - McAllen, Texas

I loved the natural strawberry lemonade, everything we order was delicious really, but the best was the dessert that was prepared right in front of us, we enjoyed dinner in the outdoor space. read more

Although the outside is a little different the food is amazing! Located in what looks like a former house the inside is very well kept up and intimate for a restaurant. The food and server was top notch! I highly recommend the watermelon drink! read more

Food was good but the service was terrible. We had to wait for our food and drinks. Our server was what made our experience subpar.

So excited this restaurant has made a come back!! It's a must go to when in McAllen. Great ambiance, excellent service and amazing food!! From the appetizers to the drinks and desserts with everything in between you won't be disappointed! Owner Isaac Guerra is quite hospitable as well and has his personal artwork displayed throughout the restaurant. read more

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This place is absolutely the definition of a 4 star place. It's great. Great ambiance. GREAT service. Great drinks. Good food. When you can come for the live band, outside, it's a top 5 vibe in the valley. What I like is, this place would do well anywhere. Put this place in San Francisco , it's very successful. For vibes and drinks, this is a must in the valley. read more

My girlfriend and I went here for Valentines Day. PLEASE DO NOT GO ON VALENTINES DAY. We had reservations at 6:30 and left past 9:00. We spent half an hour just trying to make sure we paid. The food was good but with a final ticket over $300, this was a horrible experience. We were sat by the bar area and they had only 1 bartender for the entire restaurant. The entire night we heard waiters and the bartender argueing about this and that. A horrible Valentines Day experience, especially for the price tag. You had to put a credit card on file for the reservation so they knew how many people were coming. Extremely dissatisfied and disappointed with the entire experience. Please save yourself time and money and never come here, especially for a high traffic day. read more

My wife and I went to Espana this evening for dinner. We've been to a lot of places in McAllen and we enjoyed this by far the best the atmosphere is great and the staff is wonderful. Please take time to visit this spot. read more

Covid precautions taken. Service was really great. Luis was a great at suggesting appetizers and dishes. Empanadas are a must try the sauce is delicious. read more

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I was informed that the restaurant was adjusting to a new system, and despite a full house they were tentative and kind.

On behalf of the entire Tijerina Legal Group: Thank you for an amazing experience! We had superb customer service and are very excited read more

Espana - TLG in the houz! - Mediterranean Near Me - McAllen, Texas

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A few friends came in from out of town and we thought we'd give it a try! I hadn't been here since it's glory days in the early 2000's. Thought it would be nice to "impress" them and bring them here. I'm sorry I did. Waitress kept going behind the bar to sip wine. Instead of taking the edge off, she kept forgetting everything. The beef rib wasn't fall off the bone. The sea bass was so thick, the texture had like 5 different consistencies. Well done, medium, rare. The oxtail empanadas tasted more like bbq brisket. Food took too long, over an hour. Overall, I was bummed. The manager, think her name was Libby was very nice and helpful tho once we voiced our concerns. Between her and the bartender, I give 2 stars. For the 2 good things to come out of our visit. The drinks were very good! I think we miiiiight go back, only for a few drinks tho. read more

Be careful with the dishes that are not on the menú. They offer Rockefeller oysters and they charge $45 for 8 of them! Very pricey! Beware and always ask the price before ordering a dish not on menu. read more

The wait was horrible and did not even get all the food we ordered. If you want to act fufu and be seen there because it is expensive, then be their guest. If you want quality food, great service and a good overall experience for the high dollar you are willing to pay, don't go to España. You would think they would care and read the past reviews that sound like a broken record. read more