Tonight's dinner wasn't good at all. Out of 5 tapas and entry we ordered only the patatas bravas were good. Empanadas and crockets were extremely spicy, anchovies were very small, dry, and very salty, octopus was charred which is never done in Spain and was accompanied by semi-raw potatoes. Rioja was good though. Mandatory 22% service charge is just arrogant. read more

I chose this place as apart of my Birthday Festivities. It's kinda pricey and different from my usual cuisine but I heard great things about it. It didn't disappoint. It's one of those restaurants that does a range of flavors notes. Not just sweet or savory. We tried a few of the Pintxos dishes. my favorite was the croquettes. read more

This review is for happy hour only. Happy hour is at the bar only from 5-7 M - F and all night Sunday as well - big win in my book! They had drinks is ranging from 3-7 dollars and included beer wine and cocktails. The best part of their happy hour is the food. Half off all pintxo (bite sized apps) and primer is (regular sized apps). We ordered everything from cheese to olives to croquettes (a must order!) as well as the tuna stew, patatas bravas, and fried oysters from the primeros. I typically don't like fried oyster but they were delicious! We got their at the end of happy hour and had to order quickly so looking forward to getting there at an earlier time to enjoy a slower paced meal. read more

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The only downside was the tres leches. It was awful. It was dry, tough, bland, and had cream cheese whipped icing on it. Even the coffee cream was disappointing. A lot of people like cream cheese, but I don't and it wasn't in the description. There was a fresh citrusy or floral/herby essence that provided the only pleasant kick. Bonus points for the charred onion & fennel bread (I hate fennel but I tasted none) and the most unctuous chicken and perfect chicken skin I've ever eaten. Everything else we had was, as expected, absolutely divine. Half chicken, steak, pinxtas, cider, bread board, and churros were all superb. Service (Mark, hostesses, and bar) was superior, and ambiance was great. Be aware: the half chicken came with a foot still attached. We go places this wonderful once every two to three months (go early) to get our kiddo used to good food and atmosphere, and this is not an ideal place for kids, per se, but it was a great place (go early) for a kid to learn and practice. We ordered pretty kid friendly food, shared it, and mains were much larger than I expected so it worked out really well. And now I have leftovers to nibble on for at least two more meals:) read more

La Cuchara - Half chicken (foot still attached), charred cauliflower, kale, and huckleberry sauce - Basque Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Absolutely delicious food. We took a Sunday reservation for 5:30 and the place was still busy (a very good sign). Yelp indicates that this place is not kid friendly but I will clarify: if you are looking for a menu catering to a child's palette, this is a fair assessment. The flavors are complex and there is no specifically"kid friendly" food. However, my husband and I brought our 6 month old and they have high chairs and plenty of space. The atmosphere is noisy and social (in a good way), so a babbling child would not be a disturbance. As for the food, the iberico ham and cheeses were delicious. I highly recommend the boquerones. The flight of Spanish wines was all reds, bold, and tasty. I believe the menu rotates, but I cannot stress how much my husband and I enjoyed the pork cheeks. For sweets, you must order the churros. There are few restaurants where my husband and I feel that each and every dish hit its own high note, but La Cuchara got it right... even with a baby in tow. We will be back and we appreciate the service as new parents! read more

The interior is beautiful, the service is great. The entrees are not so good. There are not many choices and they were out of the lamb appetizer and the sea bass. We got there at 6:30 so you think they would be stocked up at that time of the evening. I got the veggie paella and it was very bland with not much flavor at all. The portion size was very large. My boyfriend got the swordfish as they were out of sea bass and he said it was over cooked and very bland. For the prices they charge, they need to take inventory of what they are serving and make some adjustments quickly. I will not be back. Sadly I live very close and this could have been one of my go to places. read more

I hate to give three stars as this has always been one of my favorite restaurants but some of the staff are very rude. Everyone from the hostess to our waiter and busboy were excellent and so nice but there is a young woman behind the bar who is unbelievably rude. Her name begins with an M as I didn't catch her full name and forgot to ask. She yelled at my friend for sitting at the wrong bar, snapped at another customer then snapped at the hostess! She needs a crash course in how to treat customers and fellow staff. read more

In a time period where America's top restaurants are struggling to deliver the food, service and ambiance that their regular customers expect, La Cuchara hits a homerun. It was our first time in this restaurant, and we very quickly learned how dedicated the owners, staff and the regulars are to this place. The restaurant was full on a hot Sunday night. The staff takes guest dietary restrictions seriously (very important in this day and age), and delivers drinks using alcohol not always found at your local liquor store. The bread was to die for! We shared Txuleton Bone-In Ribeye, Pan Roasted Bronzino, Fresh Porcini Mushrooms (including a similar dish that did not contain sesame), Mesclun Salad, and Wood Grilled Zuchini. Our desserts were Vanilla Panna Cotta (Blueberry Jam), and Mini Candy Bar (Peanut Butter and Marshmallow) which made for a nice ending to a great night. What is there not to like (an inviting atmosphere, food that is both fresh and delicious, and the absolute best wait staff that I have seen in a long time). read more

I've been here twice this summer. I love the atmosphere. We sat outside. Very calm and beautiful vibe. The food was excellent on my first visit and mostly good this past weekend. The jamon croquettes came out cold so that was unappetizing and the beef empanadas were undercooked and almost tasted like a hot pocket. The Serrano and cheeses were great. You can build your own meat and cheeses and it's a generous portion. The menu changes but we had the venison steak and sea bass. Both were excellent. The steak came with corn and peaches and potatoes- very good flavors. The sea bass has a purée that was flavorful but the green beans were bland and undercooked. Overall the fish was cooked perfectly and the plate was beautiful. Celebrated a birthday so they brought us free champagne, which was lovely. Waitress was nice and they have great wine recommendations. Would recommend! read more

La Cuchara has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants in Baltimore. The food is consistently fantastic. We have eaten there several times over the pandemic (they have a beautiful outdoor seating area) and have brought friends as well. Everything we have eaten has been amazing. The cocktails, the beer and wine list, the tapas and appetizers, entrees and desserts - not a disappointment in the bunch. And because the menu is constantly changing, we always have something new to try. They just do everything well. We've had delightfully unique vegetarian entrees and equally great steaks. Our 4 year old son loves the Jamon croquettes. I love that their menu works equally well for a dinner for two, a dinner with our son, or an evening of drinks and appetizers with friends. And the servers are always stellar. Easily some of the best service in baltimore. read more

Sept 4, 2018 - Baltimore Sun: Woodberry restaurant La Cuchara, known for its Basque fare, was caught on camera dumping leftover tomatoes into the Jones Falls watershed Sunday after its annual Tomatina festival, a recreation of the Spanish event in which people throw tomatoes at one another each August. Ben Lefenfeld, La Cuchara's general manager, admitted that employees dumped leftover tomatoes in the Jones Falls after the festival, and that they were compelled to do so after someone else filled their dumpster with trash, leaving no room to dispose of the tomatoes. .... I've been here before, more than once - but I can't continue to support a business who so proudly contributes to Baltimore's pollution and illegal dumping. read more

The customer service was top notch. Our glasses were never empty and the food preparation/service was timely. I enjoyed the Veal Tongue Bocadillo (Pinxtos), Patatas Bavaros, Peaches and Huevos Diablo w/Squid Ink for happy hour. I was satisfied and would definitely return. One suggestion: a few more menu options read more

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Incredible food. Always fresh and rotating menu regularly. Seasonal specials are always on point. Staff is incredible, you can tell they are well trained, always attentive and helpful with suggestions. Cocktails are inventive and delicious. Would 10/10 recommend to everyone. Just make sure you get at least 1 of every pintxo on the menu!!! read more

Great spot in the area. Went for to try a new spot for date night. Many different seating options: outdoor, bar, quieter dining rooms. Menu is comprised of a fair mix of Spanish, French and some fusion items. Solid wine list, regional beers and creative cocktails. All elements of our meal were incredible! read more

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Seriously one of my favorite places to eat in the city. On Friday nights you can stay casual and enjoy late night happy hour at the bar with $1 pintxos, which are a variety of delicious, and adorable tapas/appetizer bites, as well as special wine and sherry pairings a the bar. I'll admit that I've come and enjoyed a full meal on just those delicious happy hour items, while enjoying great conversation at their expansive bar. However, do be sure to come back for a romantic date while enjoying their outdoor seating. A large, comfortable, and candle lit dinner awaits. There are so many delicious choices, and you won't want to miss the jamon and cheese selections. It felt almost like I had been transported back to Barcelona for a night. I can see myself becoming a regular here, and I hope to see you there too! read more

Wonderful venue, great service and I like that the menu changes daily. I ordered the beef Daube. The presentation was beautiful, however it tasted like a dry over cooked and unseasoned pot roast. It was edible after adding salt, usually a no-no for a restaurant of this caliber. Others at my table ordered the Bronzini or the Lamb which looked very good and received great reviews. I would definitely go back to visit and I am looking forward to my next visit, however anything beef will not be my choice. read more

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Hadn't eaten here since it opened years ago. Much better experience this time, food and operations dramatically improved. A little hard to get to but great space with a lot of character. Service outstanding. Party of 7, including 4 kids. We ordered small plates only, intending to order paella after, but pintxos/tapas were so tasty and portions generous enough that we were too full for a main dish. Desserts delicious and shareable. $250 with tip, which seemed very reasonable given the quality and portion sizes. Our two youngest daughters don't have the most sophisticated palates (e.g., they were hoping to find Basque chicken fingers on the menu), but even they came away from the meal with big smiles. Patatas bravas were a hit. Well constructed and interesting cocktails, dessert wine was fantastic. Only (tiny) niggle is obligatory 22% gratuity. In fairness, it is clearly stated on the menu, and can be adjusted down if one wants to be a grinch. I realize that standard tip % has crept up from 15% to 20%, and that 22% is not a huge outlier. I also know that obligatory gratuities are a great way to provide restaurant workers with a consistent living wage. Having said that, 20% might be less jarring. read more

Count me as a big fan. My hubby and I stole away from DC for a night, and La Cuchara was a great change of scene from overpriced small-plates joints so popular here. We sidled up to the bar at Happy Hour and ordered "one of everything" (8 items) from the $1 pinxtos menu, plus some cheeses and sherry pairings and one vegetable dish. Bottom line: this is a fantastic place for happy hour that doesn't skimp on either the quality or portion size of excellent food and drink. We loved it. Our order: lamb albondigas (meatballs) - These tender, adorable little orbs (3) were about the size of the meatballs in a can of Spaghettios, but way tastier. We ordered a second round. cheese croquette - nicely crispy and good, only slightly outshined by the jamon and cheese croquette - cheese, ham, fried, not too doughy or greasy - we had to get a second veal tongue bocadillo - really tasty little two-bite slider, only wish it weren't halved. Between the brioche and the Spanish comeback sauce, this was a bit like a little Big Mac, in the best possible way Fuet sausage - a generous portion - 6-7 thick slices - of a really nice salami. I think it may have been house made. pairing #1 - oloroso sherry and jamon serrano - a generous portion of thick-cut serrano ham and a full pour of nutty, savory aged sherry. I think they're giving this away at $5. Sherry + cured pork = a match made in heaven pairing #2 - fino sherry with marcona almonds - fino is a lighter style that still has some barrel aging and savory notes. Salty, buttery marcona almonds make a fine pair. Idiazabal cheese with PX reduction - creamy, cheddary, and similar to a manchego, this sheep milk's cheese was a huge hit. Quite a generous slice for the price as well. cabrales with dried figs - this is a pretty pungent blue cheese, and not my favorite iteration. I feel like it needed more sweet notes for counterbalance - it was so funky, it almost had ammonia notes. We didn't finish this, which is unusual for us, but there were so many other delicious things more worthy of stomach real estate. grilled morel mushrooms and ramps/scallions - this consisted of two skewers of morel mushrooms and grilled allium of some type (the wines were kicking in by this point). Pretty good, but to my mind, not the greatest value compared to what else you can get on the menu. rye crisp with creme fraiche and salmon roe - I'm not sure how Spanish this is, but it was fantastic. The perfect interplay of different textures and flavors. Order. marinated gigantes beans - These creamy, meaty beans in their delicious marinade will convert you to a legume-lover. I really liked the dressing. gildas - anchovy, olive, and pepper skewer. I thought I'd be down...but no...a bit fishy for me. gulas (baby eels) on toast - meh. kind of forgettable. There was no really distinctive flavor here. I can only guess this nostalgic for anyone who's eaten tapas in Spain, but maybe loses something in execution Stateside. homemade bread trio - as raveworthy as has already been covered. I appreciated the sea-salt sprinkled butter it was served with. The Happy Hour red and white were both very good - much better than they had to be, really. I would order the fruity, well-balanced red again off the regular menu. Not to sound like a yuppie privileged a**hole, but 4 drinks and tons of well-made food for a little under $70 is a steal. Stop wasting your precious happy hours and get thee to La Cuchara before they realize they're giving away the house! read more

La Cuchara - L to R: cheese croquette, lamb albondigas, ham and cheese croquette, HH red wine, gilda,  gulas, gigantes beans, bread board - Basque Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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My family recently held an anniversary party for my sis and bro-in-law here (Original wedding plans were cancelled last year due to pandemic) and the staff at La Cuchara went above and beyond to accommodate us and make the evening special for them! We were highly impressed with Ben's responsiveness to all our questions and requests and Mike was awesome the night of the event making sure we had everything we needed! The guests all loved the food. The drink package was super impressive. Overall one of the best event packages out there! read more

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This place is amazing. From the second we walked in we knew we were in for a treat. The entire staff is friendly and knowledgable. The owners are very personable and pretty brilliant at that. (You'll see for yourself when you go) The decor and set up is perfect. Plenty of space with regular tables and bench style, the bar is beautiful and there's lots of out door seating!!!! The food is unbelievable. Every single thing we had, we loved. Not just liked. Loved. We started off with a bunch of pintxos ($2 each) the manchengo, smoked mussels and Jamon croquette. All were about 2 bites each and heavenly. We ordered their new tapas Bluefin tuna, and devoured it without even blinking. We also enjoyed the patatas bravas. But nothing stole the show like our entrees. The swordfish was so perfect and meaty. The Dunk confit however was the big winner. The duck fell off the bone just by looking at it and the gnocchi literally melted in my mouth. They were like little pillows of melty goodness. I talked about them the rest of the night and honestly haven't stopped. We even gave dessert a whirl, and of course that too was amazing. I can't say enough good things about this beyond amazing restaurant. You have to go see for yourself!! read more

La Cuchara - The Bluefin Tuna is amazing!!! The little green tomato looking things are actually the best cherries you'll ever eat!! - Basque Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Service, food, and drinks were all great. We started with a few pixtos (about two or three bite-sized appetizers): the jamon croquette, the manchengo rosette de lyon, and a small veal tongue slider. All three were good but the jamon croquette stole the show with veal tongue slider coming in a close second. We then got a primero: the wild mushroom veloute (like a soup). It had these great pumpernickel croutons and some fried manchengo cheese, everything played real great together. For entrees my wife got some rabbit wrapped with duck, was excellent. I got the lamb shoulder, also excellent. read more

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Favorite spot in the city for happy hour!! 5-7pm and 9pm-close on weekdays, half off all tapas-style pintxos and primeros, $5 wines, and a few $2-3 beer selections. Of course you can order off the regular menu too, but happy hour is definitely the move here. The menu constantly changes so there are always new, creative, inspired dishes to try and it never gets tiresome. I've been here several times: post-work happy hour, catching up with a group of friends, taking out an old college friend who was in town to visit, date night, etc. and it's always a hit. The meal begins with complimentary breads, which I only recently learned that can also be purchased to take home or ordered in advance for events. The pumpernickel with a hit of molasses is my favorite!! The selection goes well with the charcuterie boards too. If you have a group, I'd recommend going for the all charcuteries and quesos option to share. Patatas bravas, charred octopus, veal tongue bocadillo, duck, mussels, lamb albondigas, the list goes on and it was all delicious!! It's an open space with hip, trendy decor and is aesthetically pleasing all around. Easy (and free) parking, excellent service, high-quality food, great flavor combinations, beautiful space, La cuchara has it all!! read more

La Cuchara - All charcuteries and quesos, served with complimentary breads - Basque Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Amazing food! One of my favorite spots in Baltimore. Great attention to detail, very accommodating and a warm home kitchen feel with top notch cuisine. read more

We went here for restaurant week and it was such a great deal! The food was amazing, the balance of flavors was so well done. And the level of consistency and quality that they were able to dole out in such a scale was impressive. There was a long wait after our reservation, however the manager quickly resolved this with comped beers and a delicious appetizer. If you want well balanced and delicate flavors done in an interesting style I'd highly recommend. And when you go out for restaurant week I just assume I have to pick one of three things 1) Quality of Food 2) The Quality of the Deal 3) Service/ wait time. And if I had to wait 45 minutes that was quickly made up for by superb service and free drinks I'd call that a good night. read more

We went here one time before and fell in love. We went back for my birthday and it was like we were at a different restaurant. The restaurant is pretty expensive, so we expect an amazing experience. We both got lamb and it came out cold. The eggplant under the lamb was even cold. Which to me, if we are paying $40 for an entree it should be made to order. The cold vegetables under the lamb told me that this was not fresh. The lamb was also very overpowered by other elements on the dish, it is like the chef was not tasting their creations. This was a very disappointing birthday experience. I don't think we will be coming back. read more

omg what a wonderful experience--food, drinks and service! Gf enjoyed 2 (strong!) false idols, and I had a very lovely picon punch. We started with 2 gildas and 1 cantabrian anchovy, but added another 2 cantabrian - so delicious. Bacaloa (fish) croquettes, mesclun, and black trumpet mushrooms were all great, but the crispy oysters were a standout - incredibly light. Took most of the Idiazabal (smoky cheese) home to continue enjoying and finished with the tres leches cake (not too sweet) and the churros with fantastic chocolate sauce. My gf was also provided a nice bday surprise. I haven't been this excited about service in a very long time. Our server explained everything clearly (there is a lot of Spanish on the menu) and checked in with us regularly. But there was a seemingly endless crew of other staff who brought out dishes with lightening speed, kept our glasses full and just checked on us. Given the number of plates we could have accumulated, I particularly appreciate the quickness with which clean plates were cleared! The staffing felt quite generous. And everyone was so pleasant and cheerful. This place was everything I was hoping for when I set out to find a place we'd never been to for my lady's bday. It's cozy, interesting architecture, very attentive without being stuffy. So enjoyable. Re finding the place - Waze brought us right there - there might be confusion about whether you can drive on the lane right beside the light rail and the answer is yes, head down the ramp, and La Cuchara is right there with valet but plenty of self parking. read more

I don't give many places 5 stars but this place blew me away. There were things that weren't spectacular but the duck confit was AMAZING! I've had his dish before and been disappointed with it being tough and hard to get off the bone. This one was tender, not over seasoned, the meat fell off the bone and the skin was crisped to perfection. The white beans were seasoned really well and the Swiss chard added an element of freshness. I would get it once a week if I could afford to! We had some of the pinxtos, the jamon croquette was pretty amazing. And the lamb loin was tender and flavorful. It was actually better than the lamb entree. For tapas I probably wouldn't get the blood sausage again, I think it would have been better without the fried potato sticks and Dijon mustard. But the oysters were really good. We also had the lamb entree but to be honest, it wasn't spectacular. Get the duck confit! You won't regret it! read more

La Cuchara is simply phenomenal. It's a great new entry into the Baltimore scene, and it's just straight-up a great restaurant. La Cuchara is a Basque themed restaurant in the Jones Falls area, meaning it's uber-nice and predictably a bit pricey. Service is superb, and the place is impeccably designed and super clean. Tables go fast, but we found success showing up early with a reservation. We had all of the pintxos and a selection of tapas, and all were good in their own way. , though some stood out more than others. Of the pintxos, the smoked trout rillette was the clear winner, as it was just simply excellent in every bite. The Jamon croquette was perhaps a runner up in excellence. I was not as much of a fan of the tortilla espanola. Of the tapas, the tartare was superb (and featured potato chips, a unique combination I really liked), and the sweetbreads dish was almost as excellent, though perhaps a bit strong. The baby kale tapas and calamari were also stand-outs among what we tasted. We also tried the Cannelé, which was my first experience with the dish. It was excellent - definitely recommended. All in all, an excellent experience and a great addition to Baltimore. read more

La Española recommended this new restaurant in Baltimore for Spanish cuisine so I was looking forward to trying it out. It was quite the treasure hunt to find the actual location, as we drove and turned around then did it once more time for good measure. Eventually, we crossed the small bridge when we came to it (both literally and figuratively) and made a left then a right. We found the beautiful wooden log facade neatly tucked away in Meadow Mill and were greeted by the La Cuchara sign. As we climbed the stairs, we encountered another car load of patrons entering the restaurant who were commiserating about having had to drive in circles before finally finding the restaurant Upon opening the large glass doors, we entered a large, open, awe inspiring space that led us to exclaim: Wow! The long bar occupied the center of the main room and was surrounded by tables on both sides. By the end of our night, the bar was packed with people standing shoulders deep and up close to those seated at the surrounding tables. La Española jokingly proclaimed that with so many people standing it was like being back in a bar in Spain. We ordered a boquerones while awaiting a friend,which was very very salty. When our full party arrived, we ordered the morcilla, octopus, cured chorizo, fresh txorizo, and mesclun salad. Everything was tasty, except for the morcilla. In my experience, if something is truly unusual on a menu the server tends to give the customer a heads up but that did not occur in this instance. I had no idea that morcilla was blood sausage so left my portion untouched. My other friend ate it and said it was ok. La Española claimed that it was unusual for her to have it prepared cold, as fresh blood sausage tends to be served warm but cured blood sausage is usually served cold. The octopus was tasty, the cured chorizo was a hit and the mesclun salad was happily larger than expected and delicious. For dessert, we ordered the churros and warm chocolate. Yummy, nuf said. The downside of the evening for me was the persistent up selling that the server engaged in no matter what we ordered. If we ordered a drink, he recommended one that was more expensive. If we ordered five tapas, he pointed out the most expensive one that we had not considered. This kept on throughout the evening and was super annoying. If I wanted an up sell I would go to Mickey D's (want fries with that?). In such an upscale restaurant, it was unexpected, clumsy and most unwelcome. Overall, the space was exceptional, the food delicious but the service lacking.One worrying experience that La Española shared with me was that it appeared to her that each time she ate here it was getting a little less amazing, although still quite good. Probably best to go as soon as you can and before the roads become slick with snow and ice. read more

This is more of a tapas restaurant. (At least the night we were there.) Minimal selection of entrees. All of the tapas we ordered were inventive and good. However, we did order a bruschetta type tapas that tasted like cheap bread with canned tomatoes on top. Very bland. We would have ended the night saying it was a decent meal, not spectacular, however the restaurant automatically tacked on a 22% gratuity. I would have liked to decide on my own how much of a tip I choose to leave. This left a bad taste on my mouth regarding this restaurant. read more

Great place to gather with friends on any day especially Sunday with the all day happy hour you can order a variety off the menu and share with friends. read more

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One of the best and most unique dining experiences I've had. The ambience, wine selections, food and desserts, all exquisite! Two visits, both wonderfully memorable! read more

I made a reservation here and when I showed up there were four parties waiting to be seated and no host. When I finally spoke to the host she told us 15 mins which okay fine but with a reservation why is the wait so long? Then she simply forgot about my party (of three) and sat the party of three that came in behind us. We waited for an hour before leaving. The excuse given was that "there's tables of certain size" which was a poor excuse when the table sat before us was the same size party as us. read more

I have been to La Cuchara several times...in terms of quality/taste of food tonight's meal was excellent other than a hair being in my lamb shoulder entree. Surprisingly, nothing (!!) was done by staff to make up for this outside of offering to remake the dish. In theory I would say nothing more can be done other than remaking food, however, I am shocked based on the standard La Cuchara seems to be interested in cultivating that the dish was not taken off the bill or that nothing else was offered (e.g. dessert or drinks) as complimentary for the discomfort I had in picking hair out of my dinner. 10/10 ambiance otherwise. read more

Excellent food, service and atmosphere! Full disclosure, I know the owners, but I didn't know they opened a restaurant until yesterday, because I have not seen or talked to them in 15 years. We went to high school together, but had my experience been less than great, I simply would not have written a review. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, rarely have I had this great of an all around restaurant experience. First, it is a high end restaurant with a parking lot. Is this a big deal? Of course not, but it was just nice to not have to valet, or hunt for a space. Second, the place has a gigantic bar, that is inviting and comfortable. If my wife and I were not there to meet friends for dinner, we gladly would have sat at the bar for hours, eating and drinking the night away. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the place is beautiful and well laid out, but I am someone that appreciates a well executed bar space. Third and perhaps most important, the food was awesome. I am an educated man and I enjoy nice things, but I can admit I needed some of the menu interpreted for me, so we just picked things and went with suggestions from our waiters. It was fun and delicious. I had at least two things I never would have picked on my own, and they were so tasty that, as stupid as I am fully aware this sounds, I felt like I had somehow become a better person after eating them. Finally, the staff was super nice and helpful. This is no surprise because the owners are great humans and the kind of people you are happy for when good things happen to them, and employees tend to feed directly off the example set by leadership. The owners didn't know we were there until the end, so I trust that despite having a "connection," we got the same great treatment you will get when you decide to visit. I am happy for old friends realizing a dream, but I honestly recommend this place to anyone that wants to happy hour, grab a drink and a quick bite, or sit down for a full blown meal like we did. We had an absolutely great time. We will absolutely be back. read more

I came here as part of a group of six this past Saturday for dinner, and I'm a fan! To start, the space is super-cool, and really is good for any type of night out. Also, I appreciated the limited menu options, sampling many. The pintxos were very good, as were the tapas. Since we ordered so many of these, we didn't order any parrilla, but I can only surmise it is also good. However, my one complaint about the food is that there was too much salt in it. I could even see a clump of it in our salad, for example. Washing it all down with a tasty bottle of red wine, we had more than our fill. That said, our server still acted like we should continue to order more and more, even though we had probably ordered half of the menu by the time we finished. I understand everyone is in business to make money, but there should have been a balance between that and I don't know... logic? We can only consume so much in one sitting. In any case, I would definitely return for more and I recommend that you do, too! read more

Hands down one of the best food experiences in Baltimore. I'm there at least biweekly since they opened. Great space, exciting menu that constantly changes, spot on cocktails and the service would be difficult to beat anywhere in the city. read more

I have eaten here several times and it is always delicious- and they have the best happy hour in baltimore. The space is also beautiful. But recently, during quarantine, they have been doing grocery pick ups with all the essentials. Everything is high quality and there are ready to eat meals too. A huge thank you to the La Cuchara team for saving my family trips to the grocery store! I support this place now and I will of course be back when they reopen. read more

Hell yeah. This place is awesome!! It's in a great location of new restaurants and breweries and is really a hidden gem. I came here originally for the first time for a YELP event and was treated like gold. We got to hear first hand from the owner about his love for the new restaurant and their awesome food and history. Tonight I came for Happy Hour which includes $3 select beers, $5 select wine (red and white) and a cava. The wait staff is incredibly knowledgable about the food, which is foreign to me as the menu is basque. They have an advanced sommelier, which I really just think is the coolest, because if you haven't seem the documentary Somm on Netflix, check it out, you'll agree. Happy hour also includes $1 oysters and $1 pintxos (small bites). If you want a romantic/intimate feel, without feeling like you are sitting on the strangers lap next to you, this place is for you. I love that you can have your own space and not feel like I'm so preoccupied by others conversations that I can't have my own. Tonight I sat at the bar. The little things are amazing...like the fact that we were waiting for someone else, and we didn't tell the waiter, but he over heard us talking about how we were waiting for one more and put a water by the chair next to our party to save the seat. Next level. Thank you. This is a place the makes me want to return for more. Everyone that works here seems really passionate about their job, their love for people, and for food and drink. Cheers Baltimore! p.s. - the bread is amazing. read more

We enjoyed an absolutely beautiful evening at La Cuchara. The vibe in the restaurant is relaxed and not pretentious, with cool old spoons decorating the walls. The dining menu is more reflective of a tapas restaurant, but there are some great looking entrees on there. We stuck with the appetizers and small plates. The charcuterie selection is excellent and the lamb meatballs were delicious. Our favorite was the shrimp dish though! The food was excellent, but La Cuchara seems to be known for having a stand out wine list. There was a huge selection of great bottles, but we went with a Beaujolais. The somm helped guide us through the bottle's flavors and shared some great wine knowledge. The somm mentioned that Sunday's are half price bottle days - that would be an awesome way to try some more expensive bottles. We had a great meal here! Definitely a special occasion type of restaurant. read more