Excellent food!! The pulpo (octopus) was cooked perfectly - not chewy. The gambas was spicy and delicious. The Portuguese pastry was warm and perfect. The Bacalhau had the right breading and wasn't too salty. read more

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Authentic Spanish cuisine. We ordered the grilled octopus and pan con tomate as an appetizer and the zarzuela with bread service for main. The food was extremely good and the lady from El Salvador who was our waitress did an amazing job. I was very irritated by the fact that I gave our waitress a cash tip and the Asian lady who is the owner's wife took the cash and put it in the register. Please DO NOT tip because it will not go to the waiters. I was tempted to give this restaurant a poor review because of this but that wouldn't have been fair for the chef (who is outstanding) and the waitress. read more

Charming, small restaurant with friendly service. We just got back from a 2-week trip to Spain on New Year's Day. The food at Iberia Restaurant was delicious and the paella was better than a few places that we went to in Malaga, Marbella, and Barcelona. At first, I thought one of the waitresses was not friendly, however, I realized not long after that she was friendly, but she was bashful of communicating in English. Both she and the other server were quite pleasant and professional. We ordered the signature paella, the Iberia Paella. It had perfectly cooked pieces of seafood- not rubbery at all in generous portions. I did not feel like they skimped on the toppings. The clams were large and cooked to perfection. The calamari was tender and moist. The rice was just as it should be. Just the right balance of liquid to rice ratio, not dry, not soupy. Flavorful, bright, fresh flavors. We also ordered: - Fritas de bacalhau - Portuguese salt-cod fritters, with onions and garlic- They were good and came with a garlic aioli. I ordered these since they did not offer croquetas. - 100% jamón iberico - country bread rubbed with tomato, topped with the iconic ham of the black hoofed iberian pig. The jamon was super fresh. I did not expect the jamon to be so fresh and delicious this far from Spain. The tomato bread was delightful! Again, better than some of the tomato bread that I was served in Spain. - Dates wrapped in bacon- quite delicious with the perfect amount of salty, savory, sweet. The dates were a bit on the small size, but I think you want that because it was the correct proportion of flavor balance. For dessert, we had: - torta de Santiago - orange-almond torte soaked with fresh orange reduction garnish with orange segments and candied peel. The fresh oranges were refreshing, but there was a bit too much syrup which was a bit on the sweet side for my taste. - Flan- creamy, rich, and flavorful with plenty of the sauce. read more

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Tip #1 - reservations are highly recommended; otherwise, they will seat you in a very small table with very uncomfortable chairs. Tip #2- there's a mandatory 20% service charge regardless of the party size. Don't come here if you typically give less than 20%. Tip #3- don't expect service and service is pretty slow. Food wise, I enjoyed their drinks and appetizers. The spicy potatoes were well seasoned complimented real well with the garlic aioli. The added twist of the smoked trout with the potato salad was quite pleasant. The sweetest of the trout paired with light mayo potato salad was spot on. The salmon pate scallop toast was decent. Lastly, I would give their famous paella a 3.5 stars. Wish they offered us more seafood (1 scallop, few shrimps, few clams). read more

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One of our party couldn't eat shellfish, so we did not get paella. We went with six tapas dishes. Mostly very good. Two I would not get again: the cured tuna and the cabbage roll. The first was a huge salt bomb, the second had a sweetness that I didn't care for. The cannelloni, the garlic toast and the Caesar salad were standouts. The interior decor is old fashioned and clubby, but that's part of the charm. The place was busy on a Tuesday night. We all really enjoyed it. A bit noisy. The sangria is really good! They even gave me less ice when I asked for it. The flan was perfect. Altogether we had a really nice time and I'd like to go back to try some other offerings. Would definitely recommend! read more

Iberia Restaurant - Dining room shot - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Belmont, California

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Ambiance intimate. Staff very pleasant. Nice variety of Spanish dishes. Jose Luis is always available.

couldn't believe they added a 30% charge to the bill regardless of how many people were dining. It was just a table for two, and when the bill came, it was $157 plus the extra 30%. I can understand adding a charge like that for a party of five or more, but for only two people it doesn't seem right. I'll never go back. The food was just okay. read more

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty experience. Called ahead for a reservation a few days in advance and our table was ready upon arrival. Street parking is available on El Camino Real. Wait staff wore a uniform but no mask or gloves... The restaurant itself looked like someone's house. The interior was old-school luxury. All the areas that I saw and touched were in tip-top condition. Started off with the 100% jamón iberico de pata negra and it was a tasty treat! Cured Spanish pork over some tomatoes over some bread! Moved on to the chuletón a la parrilla and it was excellent! USDA Prime steak had phenomenal marbling and it was cooked perfectly to medium as requested! The fried potatoes on the bottom were tasty too! The paella Iberia was huge, perfect for sharing! The rice was cooked perfectly and there were tons of toppings, including huge scallops, shrimp, mussels, and pork! Ended off the meal with the crema queimada which had a touch more nuts than I had hoped for. It was a mouthful of nuts in every bite! The cake was super fresh! ~$80/person after tax and gratuity. 20% mandatory gratuity automatically included on the bill. read more

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Fantastic find in Belmont, tripe dish is our favorite, all the tapas dishes were flavorful, owner is a gem, cute two person booths which also are great for people with hearing loss read more

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Hello Yelpers, I wanted to share my recent experience at Iberia Restaurant. Reservations were made for 5:30 pm on a Saturday highly recommended as the restaurant is small. Ambiance is casual but loud. Full bar with a large table by the window which was where our party of 5 was seated. Not ideal but okay, heard too many good things about a local Tapas restaurant. Be prepared for mediocre service with a premium 20% service charge. Not the best first impression, but I'm a sucker for great Tapas and always looking to avoid a chain like Telefèric Barcelona. I'm a Bay Area native and want to support local business owners. We were warmly greeted by Chef Jose Luis Relinque. Food we ordered multiple Tapas y Raciones to share, doubles of the Pastel de Bachalau, and the Bomba. Pastel de Bachalau was good but not great as there was little cod in contrast to potato ratio but flavors were well executed. Bomba was a fun dish with a croquettes of potatoes stuffed with beef. Flavor was relatively bland throughout and should be renamed as the portion was minuscule. Patatas Bravas are a mainstay at every Tapas restaurant but these fell short. Aioli was fine but the spice was overpowering and was left mostly uneaten. Carillera Al vino- slow roasted pork cheeks as my favorite of the night. Interesting contrast of red wine and pork, loved the finely shredded potatoes stings added crunch and texture. Finally, the reason for the long review. Paella de Langosta is a lobster paella with cuttlefish and prawns. Was made in a traditional cazuela and the saffron infused rice was cooked to perfection but can't say the same about the 2 small lobster tails that came with the dish. Really hoping this would be the climax of our dinner but all of the shellfish was overcooked. Pass on this dish, trust me on this one. Dessert, ordered 2 Leche Flans and the 3 Layer cake. I would take a hard pass. Rioja wine was fabulous and Sangria was refreshing. Lasting impression was overall good but definitely not great. It's a shame because we came from the South Bay to meet halfway with out of town family visiting SF and thought this would be a great location. Not so much on this visit, probably won't come back, and won't add it to the list of Halfway points to gather with family and friends. read more

Iberia Restaurant - Lobster Paella that was overcooked. Avoid at $98.50 + 20%. Trust me on this, I'm not the only one. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Belmont, California

We had an amazing time at this restaurant. The food was incredible and the space was warm cozy. I highly recommend a visit.

While on a business trip got a craving for some Spanish Tapas! Iberia did NOT disappoint. From the service to wine list to dessert, a very authentic experience! We ordered shrimp and oyster mushrooms and spicy potatoes and cod fritters and jamon and octopus.....and kitchen sink! Haha Octopus was probably my favorite. It's just so soft and delicious! A lot of the desserts I wanted were not available... maybe because Thursday? But the Portuguese desert I tried was so so so so so GOOD! The restaurant is adorable and makes you feel like you are on vacation in Spain! Overall I highly recommend! read more

Fabulous. A friend of mine recommended Iberia restaurant and we were not disappointed. Absolutely charming neighborhood ambiance and the owner is a delight. So friendly and engaging. Really, all of the staff are wonderful. We ordered a starter of patatas bravas and a mixed (meat and seafood) paella and everything was delicious. Perfectly cooked and excellent with a nice bottle of wine alongside. The desserts also shine. Very unique and interesting selections...for example a frozen hazelnut tower, and a pistachio genoise with chocolate mousse... and it's hard to choose a favorite. I don't typically eat dessert but it was difficult to say no here. Parking is a little bit of a challenge but the service, atmosphere and food more than makes up for any of that. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Rent there for my girlfriend birthday. We ordered the octopus advertiser and they don't have the big one just baby ones with beans. We still prefer the big one and this one was a bit salty. The Clermont Park was also a bit salty. The paella rice was perfect! The crust around the sides was perfectly fine. The texture was borderline al Dante which I love. The seafoods are all too well done. Stream was Sandy and the clam meat shrink and small. The sangria was okay and they were nice enough to split it since I was driving. The atmosphere of the restaurant is more of your dining in other people's houses. I honestly prefer Teleferic because the food wasn't as salty and the atmosphere and vibe was nicer and more modernized. Thank you Jose. read more

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We threw my mom a surprise 80th birthday party here because she likes the food so much. The party went off without a hitch! The menu we agreed upon in advance was served to our guests very efficiently and there was plenty of food. We got to sample many dishes. The favorites were the PAELLA IBERIA, DATILES ENDIABLADOS, berenjena mozarabe, and patatas bravas con allioli. Also, the sangria was delicious and enjoyed by all. For dessert we had delicious fruit tarts while the birthday girl had Flan with a candle! So our night in a nutshell was enjoyed by all, service was smooth, and food was delicious! read more

Horrible experience here. I did not receive any kind of welcome. You can't sample a wine before you commit to it. Instead you need to pay $10 to receive 4 wine samples. Waitress had zero knowledge about wine and brought me a wine opposite of my request. Dirty water glass which she didn't bother filling up. She was an employee with no experience and clearly does not enjoy her work. She should not be working there. And they charge me a $2.75 service charge basically for bringing me my incorrect wine. What a horrible visit. I will tell everyone about this place. The owner needs to know that when you hire people like this, they greatly impact your business and rather than hiring good people they bring down your business. I will make sure that I tell as many people as possible to avoid this place. read more

Iberia Restaurant - $2.75 service charge just for bringing me a terrible glass of wine opposite of my request. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Belmont, California

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Excellent restaurant! Food it's great and tasty. Lots of choices in the menu. Service it's fantastic! I totally recommend it! read more

have gone about 3 times (as of the review) and the food is excellent. nice little spot too. friendly staff and the owner/chef (?) is a funny man. read more

I love Spanish tapas and this place did it well! The ambiance felt classy traditional, but modern at the same time-- I loved it. The owner was so great and she gave us great recommendations. All the food was delicious and they came out piping hot. My favorite thing was the dates wrapped in bacon, it's definitely a must try!! All the food was super authentic and very delicious, highly recommend! read more

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I've been going here for years, and never disappointed. The food is amazing, and chef Jose luise, puts his heart into it. You could see he really enjoyes seeing his food make customers happy. As a fan of tapas, and paellas, this is one of the most reliable places togo to for a delicous experience. It's less of a party place than many of the other tapas places in the bay area, and is more about great food and experience. Also attended 2 of the cooking classes at the reasturant this year, which has been an amazing experience. Highly reccomend that for anyone that enjoys cooking. I can't get enough! read more

This place is INCREDIBLE! Best Spanish food I've had in the US - came here for a company cooking event where we made paella and it was by far the best company event I've ever been to and the food we made/they provided was incredible The course was structured in a really fun way where we felt we learned and accomplished a lot without having to struggle. We got to cook paella in an outdoor setting which was super cool and the chefs made super delicious tapas for us to enjoy while we were cooking. The final result was amazing and we had a TON of delicious leftovers to bring home. The owner is super kind and really passionate about what he does. The staff were also really cool. Overall vibe and ambiance of this place were amazing. I'd definitely come back for an event or a meal! read more

Went on a friend's strong recommendation; somewhat surprised given Belmont location along El Camino. But both the exterior and interior of the restaurant are really nicely done, and totally reminiscent of some village restaurants we've been to in Spain. We went for Happy Hour, which was great since it allowed the two of us to share a wider variety of dishes, since serving size is smaller on Happy Hour menu. That menu is more limited than dinner menu, but still good selection. For the 2 of us, we ordered too much food, along with a couple of sangria's - Paella, definitely good size for 2 people sharing some other dishes. - Scallop with salmon mousse on toast. Single offering, but nice large diver scallop - Prawns with garlic. 3 large prawns - Empanadillo, single turnover, tasty but small. - Lomo pork, confit pork with roasted tomato - Matrimonio, grilled pepper and fresh anchovy Really enjoyed the combination of flavors and freshness/quality of all of the ingredients. Definitely a bit pricier, but earned it. Much better and authentic than typical places offering tapas in the area. For the Vermut Hour/Happy hour, need to sit in the Bar area, which has a few small tables along with bar. Server working bar was really nice. read more

Went here for our anniversary yesterday night and the food was incredible. We started with the Caesar Salad and the patatas bravas. Two very standard dishes. The Caesar was very tasty, well dressed, and anything but standard. The potatoes were perfectly crispy with a yummy aioli that I wanted to slather on everything. We shared the Jamon Iberico on country bread rubbed with tomato. Tasty morsels of food. For the next course I had the grilled day boat scallops on salmon mousse toast. What makes this dish so perfect is it's elegant simplicity. Toast, Salmon mousse, perfectly seared scallops. Great execution of ingredients that delivers scrumptious flavors. I could've eaten another order of this on my own. Easily. Boyfriend had the Bomba, beef fried stuffed potatoes. It was one large cannonball of ground meat covered in mashed potatoes and then breaded and fried. It came served on top of a little pool of tomato sauce that had a touch of sweetness. He enjoyed it very much and said it reminded him a little bit of shepherd's pie. The sauce gave the dish a nice balance offering a touch of acidity to balance the savoriness of the meat and the creaminess of the potatoes. We then shared the slow roasted pork cheeks with roasted onions and amontillado sherry. The cheeks came served on a nest of fried shoestring potatoes engulfed in a decadent demi glaze like Espagnole sauce. Heavenly. Just Wow. For desert we had a luscious pistachio genoise cake covered in ganache with chocolate mousse sitting on a bed of something that tasted like crème anglaise. Perfect way to end a perfect meal. Everything we ordered was fantastic!! But the standout dishes that I will dream about are the scallops with salmon mousse and the pork cheeks. The ambience was warm and inviting. I love how quaint and charming this restaurant feels. So cute and perfect for date night. We were a little surprised they didn't have any Cava selections so we ordered the Prosecco instead and it was nice. Service was ok. She didn't know the wine list or the liquor list and she was upset when asked what was available. She also seemed annoyed when asked if we could see dessert menus. This bummed us out because it felt like we were being rushed out. It was such a lovely evening but such a crummy way to end the experience. She never checked on us throughout our meal and she never once refilled our water which was empty for half of the meal. Felt reluctant to ask because she seemed annoyed when asking for those types of things which is unfortunate because you shouldn't have to ask for those types of things in a restaurant. They also add 20 percent to the bill regardless of party size. I don't mind so much the tip being included, but often times because there is that guarantee, it leaves less incentive to give good service. Overall, the food was so fantastic it outweighs the service. We can't wait to come back. I must say, the owner/chef of the restaurant, Jose, was a pretty standout guy. He greeted us, he was warm, inviting, friendly, and he clearly knows how to leave a lasting impression with his food. We can't wait to come back. We want to say thank you to all the wonderful people who cooked us such a lovely dinner. Thank you for helping us celebrate our anniversary with your amazing food. read more

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This restaurant is good and authentic. Its a bit pricey, but worth the money. Service was great. The venue reminds of small tapas restaurants in Barcelona. Great bar area. Will come back again. read more

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Wait! Whatever happened to the weekday meals?! I got the paella dinner for two (that I ate by myself) a back in March, and it was a ton of food and great value! The food reheated very well for lunch the next day. The one thing I wished the paella had was the crispy socarrat bottom. I placed my order over email, and Jose Luis called me to take my credit card info. He was extremely nice and polite over the phone. I'd love to take one of the his paella classes at Draeger's one day. read more

Charming, cosy Spanish restaurant. Delicious tapas, paella, and other dishes. Good wine list emphasizing Spain, Argentina, and California. Classy bar/lounge area. Convenient location near Belmont Caltrain. This place has been around for quite some years in different locations, most recently Menlo Park Caltrain station. The new location continues their deserved reputation as the best Spanish place on the Peninsula. Unfortunately lacks the patio dining space that the previous location offered. read more

Update! With a birthday celebration to be had, we decided on Iberia because why not? The food and drinks are always delish, and the owners are always so kind, checking on all the patrons to ensure their dish is satisfactory. The restaurant was cozy as always. We made a reservation for 6 on a Saturday - we went with an early time because I made the reservation the day before - oops! Remember - this place is a gem so please don't forget to make reservations in advance because they often have full tables. This time, we started with Moritz beers and Sangria. Crisp and refreshing. For food, we then decided to go the tapas route instead of the paella route (it was only two of us so we didn't want to order more than the tables (and our stomachs) could sustain). For tapas, we got the gambas al ajillo, fritas de bacalhau (like little croquettes), pa amb tomàquet (of course, for the Catalan!), patatas bravas con allioli (always a must!), datiles endiablados (yumm chef's kiss!), conserva de pato, canelón de boletus (a Catalan favorite so naturally we got this too). All the tapas were wonderful. My favorites were the gambas, patatas bravas, and datiles endiablados. The Catalan's favorites were the canelón (hard to find and even harder to make!), gambas, and patatas bravas. I personally would love a canelón made with meat one day hint hint! For dessert, we went with the waitress' recommendation of Brazo de Gitano, which we shared. A perfect birthday dessert for the chocolate lover with ganache and mousse. So make sure to save room for dessert so you can try it! As I'm sure I've stated before, this place is always clean, cozy, and the food is prepared very well. It's perfect to take your visiting family members for a special dinner, a date you want to impress, and/or your best friend/partner to celebrate a birthday. And of course, if you miss food from Europe, España, or Catalunya, check this place out! Thanks Iberia again for a great experience! read more

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I think their paella is really good. I would come back just for this. We had dinner there a few weeks ago. We ordered a bunch of dishes plus the large paella. All of their dishes serving is very small since it's tapas, although their pricing is like main dish. ;) When the paella arrived, we each just grab a spoon to eat right out of the pan. Probably not the most elegant or proper etiquette, we don't really care as the table is so tiny and the sitting is not very comfortable. We just want to finish and leave as soon as we can. Will we be back? Probably just for the paella next time. read more

While usually quite adventurous, the different tapas did not appeal to me- I chose the rustic bread, expecting a type of bruschetta. Small uninspired flat breads arrived with big pieces of garlic on top and little else - so sharp they were not really edible. On the table were also mushrooms floating in a sea of oil and sad thin asparagus with something on top that looked like pre-crumbled feta. I did not try those. The setting was nice - unexpected on ECR. read more

After passing by this spot many times, finally came by to check it out for dinner on a Wednesday night with my husband. We are big fans of Spanish food, tapas and pintxos and were pleasantly surprised to find such a delicious, authentic spot in the burbs. Everything we had was flavorful and well executed. My favorite was the Atlantic cod with romesco but it was all very good. The wine was also enjoyable as well. read more

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I absolutely love Spanish Food, I'm glad I came here yo try this place out. Iberia is a cozy and authentic Spanish restaurant in San Carlos. It was busy on Friday night, but we were able to get a table at 8pm. We ordered a couple glasses of wine, grilled bread, roasted mushroom, prawns and paella. Tapas we're great, the only complaint might be that the shrimp/prawns are not gutted? Normally I would've taken stars away from it. But I couldn't taste the difference and the taste was delicious. More importantly the vibe of the restaurant was so great! Seats are cozy, Servers are so friendly and wine so tasty We had a great time here and that's what dining out is about read more

Iberia Restaurant - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Belmont, California

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Well, I may not be an honorary Spaniard, but I do know my way around a paella, and Iberia does not disappoint. I don't think you can find a better Spanish restaurant experience--or paella--on the Peninsula. Walking into Iberia, the vibe is intimate, warm, cloistered. The seats remind one of those found in European cathedrals. Get a reservation -- they fill up even at 6 on a Tuesday night. And once you sit down, you find out why. The place is relatively tiny, so service is thoughtful and prompt. The owners often come out and shoot the breeze with customers, most of whom are clear regulars. The tapas menu is extensive, with possibly two dozen options, all of which are exquisitely plated and of standard (but not necessarily generous) tapas proportions. I generally order the patatas bravas and some calamari, sometimes a salad, too. The garlic aioli is outstanding, and when I come with teenagers in tow, often have to get them to bring out a second plate since the kids devour these so quickly. But on to the main event -- the paella. Wowie Zowie. It's $50, which is not cheap, but you don't come to Iberia because you want a cheap date. You're here because you're looking for a perfectly cooked paella of Barcelona-level quality. And, to be fair, it really can be split two ways. And it's really, really good. The olive oil is generous and of high quality - there is clearly no Kirkland Signature being used in this kitchen. It's full of all the goodies -- clams, pork, octopus, prawns, tender peas -- and is topped with a single gorgeous scallop. Sorry, Mistral. You have better views but Iberia is the place to go for paella. read more

Tapas style dishes were delicious. Service was great from the owner. Of the many dishes, the only miss was from the lobster in the Lobster paella, which had two lobster tails, each split in half to make four pieces of lobster tail. It was overcooked to an unfortunately rubbery texture. The rest of the dish was fantastic. I'd love to visit again but likely will be opting into another paella read more

Came here for an anniversary dinner. We were wanting something different and saw this place near where we lived. Very interesting (both in a good and bad way) experience: - Went in, and no one was at the door to greet us. A woman was sitting at the bar looking at her phone for a while and then turns around surprised and greets us. Guess that's the hostess - After seating, the hostess hands us a menu. Aside from taking the order we don't see her for the rest of the night, i.e. she ignores us or forgets our table (I think she was waitressing since there was one other server who I think actually ran the dishes to customers). As a result the service was exceedingly slow. - The food was actually decent, not Spain-level quality, but tasty enough to make us full and satisfied. - The prices were laughable, even for this area. The avg cost for one appetizer which is big enough for precisely two people is around $20, and that's not counting a 20% gratuity that they graciously add to the bill for you at the end to save you the trouble. There's also an $8 charge for for bread service (??). All in all, decent food but overpriced with mediocre service. read more

This is one of the few Spanish restaurants on the Peninsula.Pricey but it is like going back to Madrid.Everything was on point and to top it off the Sangria's not bad at all read more

Amazing food, very fresh and flavorful. Had a work dinner here and tried a number of small plates that were all amazing. Had the berenjena mozarabe, patatas bravas con allioli, datiles endiablados, and bienmesabe. For the main course we had the PAELLA and a mix of deserts that were also amazing, my favorite being the flan. read more

Iberia Restaurant - Paella Iberia - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Belmont, California

Iberia's ambiance provides the feel of a classic, original restaurant with warm colors. Each dish is unique, with bold flavors. Paella is excellent. We had great service this time - although the service has been hit and miss in the past. That's a shame as some re-training could solve this problem. All in all, great date night!! read more

True Old World feel. Great classic menu that actually takes time to prepare, and certainly is unique in the area. The owner has his own charm that grows on you. My biggest complaint is that it's hard to get a reservation. read more

The food here is excellent. Everything we had from the drinks, paella to the spicy potatoes was phenomenal. The ambiance was perfect and the wait staff was attentive. So glad I finally ate here and wish I'd done it sooner. read more

Called for a same day reservation secured a table for 3 at 5:30, great. I was informed that they would need the table by 7:00. - No problem! I understand that they need to turn tables. Date appetizers- that was good but something you can make. Beef croquet this was also good. Iberia Paella it had good flavor also just good. Food was good. Not bad- not great. Service charge (I think it was 20%) added on to a group of 3. Fine, but service was blah read more