Underwhelmed. Definitely did not live up to the glowing press or Michelin rating. The space and atmosphere are great but, the food was mediocre and the service was spotty. A couple of forgotten courses met by attitude when we reminded the server. No need to seek it out in a borough of great options. read more

we went as a group excited to try a new restaurant. a friend who lives in the neighborhood found it and i read the time review. i have to agree with others that the artichoke dish and eggplant were fabulous. the rest of the dishes we shared, including the sangria, were....OK. yes, just OK. the reason why i am not giving it more stars is because it was so expensive for just OK food. i dont have a single issue paying for quality food but yes, again along with the other posters, the value is a bit off here. and to boot, we all left joking that we needed to go get a slice of pizza. mmmm, pizza.... read more

One of our favorites! Absolutely delish. Great for a neighborhood restaurant and equally great to wow someone special.

Loved this place! Went here with my fiancé a few weeks ago for dinner, we got the scallops, lamb meatballs, lamb breast, fried chickpeas and a couple other things which I can't remember. Anyway, relatively inexpensive for a Michelin starred spot and great service and low key/relaxed atmosphere. Strongly recommend! read more

Opened yesterday and already quite the crowd on its first Friday night. Not a long wait though. Got there at 8 and they said 30 minutes, but spots opened up at the bar within 15 minutes. Every dish was delectable (most notably the roasted chicken) and the Sangria was super tasty as well. But above that was the good-natured staff. Excited to serve and answer questions -- they even clapped with excitement when we were able to get seated at the bar before a table opened up. Can't wait to go back! And excited to see what the brunch menu looks like when they start serving it. Definite recommend. read more

Delicious food on offer here that starts La Vara with five stars, but the service is lacking. My friend asked if something could be substituted, and the response was a terse, almost nasty, "We don't do any substitutions here." A second waiter said the person providing that information was wrong--good to hear--but that initial interaction set the wrong tone. The service after that was inconsistent, with one part of our order forgotten and no apology when pointed out. There were many waiters and very few customers, which made the mediocre service much less excusable. Anyway, I'll go back, but with average expectations. read more

Lovely styled place, with nice service and a few tables that don't make you feel like you are on a train during rush hour. However it is overpriced for what they give you. The staff made a suggestion as to how many dishes for us to order and although I agree with others that the eggplant is great, it just wasn't enough food at all to call it dinner. If you leave an establishment thinking about the possibility of pizza later or wondering if you have a snack at home, its not worth it. I'd looked forward to the possibility of returning, but the food is not consistently good enough nor sized correctly to make that possible whether or not I have a wage raise. Makes me a little sad as its in my new neighborhood. read more

Came here Tuesday night for dinner with the lady. Getting in: - Walked in, asked for a table for 2 - there was a small wait which we passed with a glass of wine out front on the bench Atmosphere: - Resto meets wine bar with an out door back deck - Not too dark; a spirited place - Resto is set in the middle of a residential block near Cobble Hill Park - Relaxing and fun Service: - Very good, friendly Food: - Fantastic and authentic. They have an abundance of seasonal specials - Get the small peppers - exactly like you will eat in Spain - Get the pork - it is braised for 12 hours and then crisped up upon order. It was fantastic. The skin was perfect - The croquetas were very good - I can't wait to try brunch here Other: - Overall great, neighborhood place - Staff is friendly - Can't wait to come back here soon read more

Our favorite neighborhood place! From the scrumptious sangria to the spicy chickpeas to the remojon to the olive oil ice cream - not a bad thing on the menu! read more

Fantastic food! We randomly walked in on a Saturday and were very positively surprised. It`s not cheap but every single dish we tried was fantastic from the salads to the suckling pig. The hostess was very nice , knowledgeable and her wine recommendation was great. read more

This is great food and all, but one of the things on the menu involves 'hand-torn bread," and come on now.

don't get it really don't get the hype place is cute indeed but i fell for the "Michelin 1-star cheap list" thing (not sure why as I normally hate Michelin) most of the food was kinda ok until i got to the Fideua (sp?) (the Paella made with noodles) this is one of the saltiest dishes i've ever had couldnt eat it... read more

We first came to La Vara to try the cows tongue, yes, tongue! Which by the way I always loved, growing up Ecuadorian, last time I ate it was about 20 years ago! You have to really know how to prepare this meat, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But the result was amazing! If I could describe this meat is close to a brisket type meat, deelish! Then we tried the chicken hearts which again has been a long time since and that was good, the seasoning was more the taste then again chicken hearts don't have much of a flavor. Followed by the fried artichoke w/anchovy aoli dish, very good. Noodle Paella was my dish, I enjoyed it but wished I had a bit more fish. The dishes are small portions. Place is cozy, clean, & welcoming with hostesses that are friendly and accommodating. Our Waitress Anna was super friendly and knowledgeable on the menu, she guided us well, we would come back just to say hello to her! Oh, by the way, the Sangria is probably one of my Favorites I have had at any restaurant, not too sugary, nor too light on the alcohol, just perfect! 2nd visit: this time all the tables were full so after saying hello to our friendly Anna we decided to stay and eat at the bar with Diana the bartender mixologist that makes those fabulous sangrias. She was great too and suggested we try the suckling pig and so we did! Suckling Pig dish is out of this planet!! Juicy and tender and please, please, do eat the crunchy top part of the meat or your will miss out on the whole experience. This has become one of our favorite spots in Brooklyn. We will return soon again and can't wait to try their other amazing dishes! read more

I've been to la vara many times, and really liked this place. I went back again looking forward to it, knowing that it will probably be a good experience. It wasn't. To be fair, the drinks were good and the staff nice, yet not engaging. I am writing this review for the owner/chef who I know is amazing and probably isn't there as much to pay attention for small details in the kitchen which have made the food go downhill. After ordering, we were presented with a small amuse bouche of carrot juice and cumin in a sherry glass. This alone started the meal off poorly, the opposite of the amuse point. It was flavorless and cold. We wish it just didn't come out at all. We started with the fried eggplant with honey and cheese which was one of my favorites previously. There was too much cheese, the eggplant was not crispy and not sweet enough. The chicken hearts were good but it was a very small bite more of a snack than an appetizer and not worth $13. The migas (also one we raved about in past visits) had too much paprika and not enough grapes; it was not exciting. The croquettes of the day which were described as Serrano ham were actually some bland potato/cheese fried mush.. Not distinguishable and definitely no ham involved. The last dish, Lingua special was the worst of all. Arrived after 45 min sitting and wasn't sure it was even the right cut. It tasted like regular beef and was very chewy. The carrots were undercooked as well. Also small for the price, $18 for a tiny stew. We really like this place in the neighborhood and this review is not to put la vara down but as a push to make it better and like how it was before. read more

We had a great experience with our waiter. He was kind and attentive without being intrusive. We thought that the food was way too expensive for what we received. $32 dollars for half a fillet of fish or $18 for a few bites of fideuá, a noodle paella which was a great tasting dish but served in such a small portion that it made sharing awkward. Of the dishes we had the fideuá was the standout. A number of the other dishes were just okay. There was even a salt baked fish for which, ironically enough, we had to request salt because it was underseasoned. I like the fun ideas of the restaurant's menu . It's just that the portions, instead of making you focus on the meal you've had, just make you feel cheated. Not the best feeling to have after a meal. Just made us long for Curate. read more

Service was friendly, nice atmosphere and environment, and highly creative and interesting items, but, having been there multiple times already (as a relative local), I rarely yearn to go back. The portions can be erratic and some of the dishes don't work as they should (here's looking at you gurullos). I like it, but not enough to put in the rotation. read more

It's no surprise that this is a Michelin rated restaurant. The food was incredible and the service was excellent. The fried chickpeas are a must! read more

I do not understand how this place has 4 stars. I went with my husband last week and was very disappointed in the food. The fish special was $31 and tasted like a bottom feeder fish with barbecue sauce slapped on it, very little flavor. We also do not eat meat so maybe this is why we didn't enjoy it. We order 5 things it was around $100 and the portion sizes were very small. I would not recommend this place for people who don't eat meat. Hopefully the meat is amazing there, otherwise I don't see a point in trying it out. read more

Second time around went for brunch so I can finally get my hands on those churros. Had the fried chickpeas, poached eggs with grapes and ham and finally the churros. Chickpeas were well seasoned and great when mixed with the ham and grapes and egg dish which was a delicious example of a savory and sweet combo. Finally the churros came three a piece with a side of dulce de leche sauce. OMG, they were awesome. Light and crispy and sweet enough that I didn't need to use too much of the sauce which was a bummer because I wanted to finish the sauce. They don't have the olive oil ice cream until dinner; maybe next time I'll see if they have any ice cream just so I can have with the sauce. Service was excellent again and I love the atmosphere here. Definitely coming back. read more

A terrific place to order a bottle of wine and some tapas. Located where Café Clinton used to be, Lauren Vara has undergone a complete renovation. Gone is the dilapidated bar interior. The interior is now white and silver. The patio remains but it too has been renovated. The wine menu is a winner. Plenty of range. I'm surprised they don't offer flights. It would be a great way to enjoy their tapas. Some tapas are what you would expect at a Spanish restaurant but many are unique. I was impressed with the very long list of daily specials and pleased that the waiter told us the price of each one. No sticker shock here but it does get very busy. Tables for two aren't very big but then again, this is not a huge place. There are communal tables close to the front. read more

A very fun, inviting restaurant! The restaurants vibe was both energetic and intimate. The food was delicious and unique, and the white sangria was amazing. Seriously, I don't usually like white sangria, but theirs will definitely have me coming back for more. read more

La Vara is our go to 'nice' place. It's small, so go early or get an RVSP. Favorites: Migas, chick peas, crispy eggplant, sprouts. The little sandwiches were a bit underwhelming. And there is the rub...this place is expensive, and the plates for 'sharing' are really good for 2 people...and there's not a lot of food. And it adds up quick. Also...it's small...and on a busy night, people might be 2 deep at the bar, and you're trying to eat. But if you know what you're getting into...it great, and interesting. read more

Great! Loved the clean, white look of the place. We had the best seat in the house, a nice booth right in the front window - ask for that if you are a group of 4. We had the sardines, fried artichokes, the jamon croquetas, the rabbit, the lamb meatballs and a couple of specials - one was a fish filet in a harissa sauce and the other was a take on a deviled egg. Delicious food, only wish we could come back and try everything else. Perfect pacing. Very nice, friendly service. read more

Another Brooklyn restaurant with fabulous media attention, La Vara was a major let down. The storefront room, on a lovely Cobble Hill Street, is Brooklyn shabby meek. There's nothing to it. The rickety tables sit on top of each other, and there are no soft touches to absorb sound. Yet, the cacophony of sound is actually interesting due to the internationalism of the languages spoken. This was an encouraging sign. However, that is the only whiff of foreign authenticity at La Vara. The tapas all sounded interesting, but what appeared at first as a culinary history of the cuisine of Sephardic Jewry, emerged as a contrived attempt to place significance on bland and tasteless tapas. The food simply did not taste good. it's too bad since the staff was attentive and caring. I will admit, many of the young folks around us seemed to be enjoying themselves, but I think that was due to the wine and I didn't notice much exclamations of deliciousness. There is something about a Brooklyn location that gives restaurants a certain panache in the minds of restaurant reviewers. However, shabby, lousy, and tasteless doesn't become cool because it's happening in Williamsburg, Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, or Cobble Hill. Me thinks Brooklyn needs some accurate critical analysis of its restaurant scene. Perceived trendiness does not translate into culinary pleasure. read more

Went here last night, had a wonderful experience. A small space on Clinton, but tastefully done. Atmosphere is airy and playful, with decor that doesn't try too hard to be cool. Tight, and hard to walk around really, but overall bearable (although this was a Thursday, not sure how cramped it gets on weekends). Despite a few slip ups (hostess not paying attention, bartender forgot our glasses of wine while we waited for a table, but apologized and was pleasant), my initial impression was overall good. You could bring your wine glasses outside and enjoy the weather while you wait, and the wait was not long (for 2). The service at the table was impeccable. Small plates were brought, as usual, when they are ready. Dirty/empty plates were taken away as needed, water refilled, etc. The server was fantastic. Accommodating, understood the intricacies of the menu and the food, and was a delight to interact with. Very profession, and she knew her shit. Now, the food: We had the lamb meatballs with mint yogurt, which were very good but not great, the meat quality didn't astound me. The roasted beet salad with sunflower seeds and oil was fantastic, the beets were perfectly done. Tomato rubbed bread with cured meats was amazing, I haven't tasted something that good in a while. Eggplant with honey and cheese was the best part. It tasted like "french toast sticks with eggplant" as my friend described. We also had a zucchini special appetizer stuffed with cheese in a tomato sauce. Really good. For dessert we had the olive oil ice cream (better than I expected), and the date walnut tart with sweet cream and lemon preserves. That was my favorite part of the meal. To die for. So, for a bunch of small plates (not that small) and a bottle of wine and another glass later, the pricetag wasn't too bad either (about 80 a person). I'll be back! read more

This must be the place. Well, being still relatively new to Brooklyn and knowing there is still many more restaurants to try, I'll say, this must be the place...for now. Damn. Definitely the best restaurant so far. The food is all so good. Small plates. Awesome. Awesome small plates. Try the acorn squash dish and chick pea stew for sure. But you can't go wrong with anything, apparently. I can't wait to go back. read more

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I WILDLY enjoyed my first experience at La Vara, about a month after they opened. It was a birthday dinner there (for myself) and the meal was delicious and memorable in all the best ways. Exquisite execution of unique dishes and ingredients. A quality meal and great service. I very much looked forward to returning. Fast-forward to NYE 2014. I tried to book La Vara for a NYE dinner, about two months in advance of the date. They accepted my reservation. I sat smug and looked forward to the meal. About a week later, they left me a voicemail saying they decided not to be open that night, and, oh well...sorry! Admittedly, I landed on my feet with a reservation at Brooklyn Fare for NYE, but still, why take orders for a special dining night and then decide to close? That was a head scratcher. Fast-forward to last week. My fiancé and I are moving out of the neighborhood and I had been telling him about my amazing La Vara meal for so long I thought I should treat him to a dinner there before we upped sticks entirely. The meal was 'meh' for both of us. The portions have become ridiculously small for the price. We ordered three smaller plates and two larger, and then ordered a third larger dish to try and achieve that happy-full feeling. Of the smaller plates, the fried artichokes stood out, but mainly because nothing else did. The biggest offender was the anchovy dish that arrived with 4 slivers of anchovy and 3 pieces of bread to eat them with. For a table of 2. I mean, come on La Vara. You couldn't have sprung for that 4th disc of baguette? Pitiful. Our third smaller plate was the anchovy dish which looked like a puddle of watery tomato and a few headless fish drowning in it's lifeless waters. At this point I was hoping for a miracle with the other dishes, but it never happened. For larger plates, we ordered the rabbit loin (which was tender, but the accompanying compote/salad was overly sweet). The Red Spanish prawns (TWO PRAWNS. TWO. ONE - TWO. THAT'S IT.) were delicious, but there were TWO. And, the pasta paella. They use a matchstick shape of pasta that looked (and tasted) a bit like Lipton Cup O'Soup. Not that I think they use this there, but you could basically get the same mouth feel and flavor sensation buying a packet of the soup and added a couple of chewy clams and the teeniest sliver of calamari. We did not stay for dessert as most of the options were dull and predictable. We saw one of the fig cakes being brought out to a neighboring table, but it looked like little more than a big Fig Newton with a splodge of cream on it. Five stars for our server, who was exceedingly friendly and pleasant. 2 stars for the food. read more

Dinner at La Vara was a very rewarding experience - the food, the ambiance and the service were top notch. We ordered a few tapas that included vegetables, rabbit, and fish and all were delicious complemented by exquisite sauces. It was certainly a feast in the mouth. read more

Great service...and exceptional food. I'm not much for tapas because I lean veggie and am not a huge fan of cured meats. And the veggie options here were just glorious. Ate here last night and already itching to return for the spice fried chick peas (a new trend I'm totally digging), the eggplant w/honey, cheese & nigella seed, and the crispy bundles with black kale, swiss chard, pine nuts and currants...Writing those here so I do not forget! read more

I had high expectations for la vara after recommendations from friends and they hype. The flatbread was a laughably small portion. Most of the portions were on the small side which made it difficult to share some of the dishes. I really liked the paella but wasn't wowed by anything. read more

My last time at La Vara was disappointing. Everyone in my group had a hard time hearing/understanding the server. She also did not volunteer a description of the dishes. The salad with shrimp had zero greens. The $30 suckling pig was only the meat. Had I been informed, I would have ordered something else. The custard and almond cake were tiny and forgettable. read more

Good quality food and good service, but this is not the place to go if you have less money than brains. Other NYC tapas places will offer the same or better quality for a much better price. Unfortunately, La Vara does not live up to the hype, and I would not return or recommend to a friend. read more

A long time customer walks in to an empty restaurant and is told by someone who has been able to drive for less time then they have been a patron that they only have room at the bar. Okay no problem. Then five minutes later we are asked to move to the end of the bar where their iPad is set up by the same unsmiling, dour, "I'm too cool for this job" sourpuss. I guess they wanted more room? But that is also the stand where they tabulate checks and give orders to the bartender, and it has no privacy, and has an iPad on the place setting. The bar is also open. At what point do you give up on a place because their staff is arrogant or doesn't like the way you look or dress or has some other bias? I'd say you give up at that point. The service is obviously terrible now. My advice spend money elsewhere. We left and went to a place that was glad to have us. Thank god for colonie. read more

Not only is this now one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood, but is a new favorite in the city. We just returned from a meal was delicious from beginning to end. We had a raw scallop special that was divine. The chicken hearts were wonderfully delicious, as was the beef tongue, rabbit, red shrimp a la plancha with preserved lemon, and Fideúa (noodle paella). The service is also exceptional - these folks clearly love food. There is nothing like this in the neighborhood, and I hope it is here to stay for years to come. We will be back regularly, and will be recommending highly to friends. Love, love, love La Vara! read more

A great Spanish tapas place in the neighborhood!! Love all of their dishes. Drinks are so great, too! Staff is friendly. Decor and lighting all goes well with the food! Neighborhood favorite! read more

Easily the best restaurant in the neighborhood, and one of my top 5 for Brooklyn. Yes the portions are small but do you really need more food on your plate? No, you don't. Sure it's not inexpensive but you get what you pay for. And what you get is super delicious flavorful food. I've never had a dish there I wasn't completely enthusiastic about. I'm never able to get a reservation when I want one but have had an easy time walking in. Service is good but that doesn't even factor into my rating because the food is so good. I don't post yelp reviews often. So if you want to know what other Brooklyn places are in my top 5 so you can see if you'll maybe like this place, they are: Pok Pok Al di la Fette sau Saul And chances are if you've been to all those places you probably don't need my yelp review to gauge if you'll like La Vara because you've probably already been there. read more

The lamb was dish of the year 2013 for me. I have never been disappointed. This place is fantastic. The wait can be a bummer, so be prepared. read more

I don't really know how to describe how much I love La Vara. I'm more than a little partial because this is where we went to celebrate our engagement after a long walk through Prospect Park, Park Slope, a couple Hill neighborhoods, but that partiality speaks more to my fiancé and my love of the place from before that thrilling moment. You probably want to try for a reservation because it's teeny, and if you're lucky, it'll be a nice day and you will get the honor of a back patio seat. The portions are small, and it's a little expensive. That said, it's a place I know I can count on for an amaaaaaaaazing special treat of a meal. After you order (do get a cocktail, even the simple gin Kas is refreshingly delightful), they bring a tiny amuse bouche. A nice start. The fried artichoke, daily croqueta, and sobresada con miel are our staple "first course" tapas. Now, they don't always come out in that order, but they're on the ever so slightly less rich side of the menu, so that's how my brain maps them. The honey with the sobresada is foamed and oh sooooo good. The suckling pig shouldn't be missed out on. It's a pretty simple preparation and the herby green sauce cuts through the fat nicely. We usually get one or two more of the smaller dinner plates, none of which have been disappointing. And olive oil ice cream. OHHH that olive oil ice cream. I have tried on a couple occasions to make it at home since it is my favorite ice cream (and I love, love, love ice cream), but I keep having to come back here. Do make sure to save room for this dessert, or don't because it's more likely there will be some left if I come on the same night. :P read more

Came here for dinner with some girlfriends. At first I was nervous about the communal tables (so many babies in brooklyn) but all was fine. The waitress was a bit slow/hard to find, but generally friendly, knowledgable and allowed us to taste wines (by the glass) before ordering them. The plates are SMALL but overall very delicious. Favorites were the fried greens, meatballs, "paella", pan con tomate, and date tart for dessert. At a little over $30 per person before tip (one drink per person), I was pleasantly surprised at the value and full (but definitely not stuffed). The annoying part was that it was very hard to get the waitress's attention to get our bill at the end of the meal. The place was almost empty and she couldn't see us waving to get her attention? Otherwise a positive experience. read more

Good food but completely overpriced. The quantities and the place do not justify such prices. Also, I did not feel any 'spanish' experience. The lamb was excellent but the tuna pies and the croqetas were very disappointing. Service is good. read more