I came in for lunch without a reservation and the staff was very energetic. Everyone greeted me…read morewith a smile. Both managers is produced themselves to me. They asked for.my name and reference to me by name my entire time there. Will introduces the dine la menu and walked me through it. He mentioned that the crab croquettas (with tuna on top)was amazing. It was fantastic. I was tempted to order more, but I wanted to save room for the lobster paella. When that came to the table it looked and smelled amazing! The lobster was fresh, the shrimp cooked perfectly.it was sized for me so I didn't have a meal meant for multiple people. It was season just right. Each bite had the same flavor as the last. This a great place for solo meal or group get together.

We had an excellent experience tonight! Antonia B (aka Toni) was our bartender/server and she was…read moreTHE BEST! Her service guarantees a return visit! Thank you again. See you soon! -M and JP

My wife, son, and I had an absolutely amazing lunch here, and I can honestly say this is one of…read morethose restaurants where we were already talking about coming back before we even finished our meal! It was hot outside so we asked to be seated next to the windows, which were open allowing us to remain cool and feel the ocean breeze. We started with the Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, Spanish Albóndigas, and Pan con Tomate with chorizo butter. Everything was delicious, but the Pan con Tomate with that chorizo butter was incredible. Such a simple dish, but packed with flavor. We paired everything with the Teleferic Sangria, which was refreshing, not overly sweet, and went perfectly with the tapas. For my entree, I ordered the Wagyu Ribeye Chuletón, fire-grilled asador style and served with patatas and piquillo peppers. I love a good steak and usually order mine somewhere between medium-rare and medium, so getting the temperature right is a big deal for me. They absolutely nailed it. The steak was perfectly cooked, incredibly tender and juicy, with a great char and tons of flavor from the grill. Not much else you can ask for from a ribeye! My wife ordered the chicken kebab with sofrito hummus, and that was another winner. The chicken was tender, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor, and the sofrito hummus was a great complement to the dish. Overall, we had an amazing experience. Great Spanish food, great sangria, and most importantly, everything we ordered delivered. There wasn't a single dish we wouldn't order again. Big shout out to our server, Justin, who was fantastic and very attentive. We will absolutely be back!

Lets start with the positive. The place is beautifully decorated, the ambiance is wonderful and…read morethe music is on point. That said, I regrettably must give my personal experience here a 1 star. When we were seated our Waiter appeared disengaged and in a hurry to get us ordering. He was incredibly unfriendly as well. At first, I thought it was my imagination my my party also noticed and commented on his attitude. We placed our order for drinks and he didn't even crack a smile. The drinks came back, mine was ok but one of the drinks in the part wasn't and we asked the waiter if could change it. He was so rude and made us feel so uncomfortable. The replacement cocktail was much better. Next, the meal: while we asked for recommendations becuase it was our first time the waiter failed to adequately describe the various dishes we inquired about. We took our chances and ordered the Patatas bravas, which were the highlight of the meal. next, we had the paella and it was not good. the rice was hard (Undercooked) and felt more burnt then anything else. The meat was over cooked...specifically the roasted pork. However, the pork belly was cooked correctly. we ordered the shrimp, which was not deveined and really had little to no flavor (Very surprising.) We were never checked on by our wait during our meal. Our water glasses were never refilled until just before the check and we were never asked if we wanted a second drink. There were a few more small inconveniences as well but I won't mention them...it just added to the overall disappointment. all in all, the meal was lackluster. I really wanted to like the food...I honestly tried hard to overlook certain things about the evening but in the end, it didn't feel like we were in Spain or eating real Spanish tapas & Pallela. Instead it felt like an American interpretation of Spanish food.

This may be the best paella you'll ever eat in Los Angeles. The paella marinara is a muuuust, it's…read morea seafood paella with so much good seafood all cooked perfectly with the perfect rice We shared a bunch of tapas before the paella and my favorite from our spread was the croquettas. But the paella was the real star. The smallest paella dish serves 2 but honestly next time I want the whole thing to myself with a pitcher of their delicious sangria

Last minute dinner with my boyfriend & his family, & we had such a great experience! The service…read morewas amazing...the staff was kind, funny, & very welcoming. There were seven of us, & we shared appetizers & split the food, which worked out perfectly. The portions were generous, everything was delicious, & we finished every plate. The sangria pitchers were also perfect for sharing! The cozy, family style atmosphere makes this place feel like a hidden gem. They were so sweet to let us enjoy our dinner until closing. Definitely recommend for a date night or family meal!

Perfect summer dinner spot after a hike from the observatory!…read more My favorite is all their seafood (and basically that's all we've ordered) the sea bass is just amazing! I love the moisture and tenderness this fillet has! With the skin, but has no fishy taste at all. The sauce has the right amount of citrusy to bring out the freshness of the fish. Cocas I think is what they are pushing for! Like a mini pizza. Definitely worth trying, but compare that to the banger seafood they are dishing out, won't be a big issue to skip for a second time visit. They don't have a tasting menu but in the end, I do feel like all the dishes pair well with each other organically as a whole summer experience. Sitting at the corner, you also get to enjoy the gentle sunset coming through the lush tall trees just outside of the restaurant. Everything just clicked at that moment! (Also our waiter kinda looks like Tom Blyth, and he's so welcoming and friendly!)

Casa Leo is a new Spanish Tapas restaurant at the corner of Los Feliz and Hillhurst offering…read moremodern, avant-garde Spanish in a trendy setting. I came on a Thursday evening with a friend at opening and we were immediately seated. Our waitress was exceptional, walking us through the entire menu and specials from memory, expressing spectacular knowledge of the restaurant, sharing her favorites, what items we could skip, the "must trys", how to consume the soup (sip, don't spoon!) and taking care of us consistently throughout the evening. We began with the Gazpacho ($10), a light, cool, creamy tomato soup with Spanish melon and drizzle of olive oil that was a perfect, refreshing starter. Following was the Ancient Grain and Radicchio salad ($18), an immaculate blend of flavors - hearty grains, acidic lemon dressing, crispy walnuts, a tangy umami cheese, vibrant grassy mint, sweet strawberries, all covered in coarse finishing salt. Truly, all flavor profiles - every taste receptor - was captured in this plate. Next was the Seasonal Coca ($17) , pizza analog with sweet squash which too provided a great contrast of flavors and an excellent crust. Finishing was the Trout Escabeche ($21), a beautiful, perfectly cooked fillet drenched in a delectable broth brimming with flavor. We finished with Helen's Cheesecake ($10), which was delectable - a fluffy, airy center, top covered with a firm, yet light creme, atop a solid crust base. The texture and subdued flavors were unique and the perfect completion for the meal. The acclaim this Cheesecake gets is entirely deserved. It is rare that all dishes are winners, but Casa Leo delivered hit after hit. The Ancient Grain Salad, Trout, and Cheesecake were the winners. By the time we left almost two hours later, the place was packed full of like-minded foodies eagerly enjoying this savory Spanish sanctuary. Prices, above, are slightly elevated for the small plates, but very reasonable for the quality. With flawless fare and supreme staff, Casa Leo is an absolute must-visit, and worth a detour for anyone looking for a unique, Spanish-inspired experience they will remember for weeks to come. ¡Hasta Pronto Leo! I'll be seeing you again soon. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Value: 4/5

I visited Bar Siesta on a warm spring evening on Monday for a lovely dinner - which, as it turns…read moreout, was the antidote to the Monday blues. We loved the warm ambience of Bar Siesta. There was ample al fresco seating, as well as atmospheric, candlelit dining inside. Menu items were reminiscent of my time in Spain and transported me back to my time there. What we ordered for the table, in order of preference: 1. Patatas bravas - fabulously crispy and flavorful. 2. Sardines - always a favorite, and the lemon zest contrasted nicely with the brininess of the fish. 3. Gambas - prawns were perfectly grilled and fresh. 4. Croquetas - love anything fried or crispy, so this was a classic choice. 4. Sardine toast - again, the lemon zest offset the fishiness beautifully. 5. King trumpet mushrooms - so umami, and almost tasted like steak. 6. The steak - loved the bright sauce that accompanied it. 7. Arroz - perhaps because I was expecting more of a paella dish, this one came out a little more textureless than I would've preferred. Decent flavor; just didn't entirely enjoy the mushy texture. 8. Morcilla de cebolla - I ordered this wanting to give blood sausage another try, but it's still not a favorite dish of mine and would not reorder. Overall, most dishes were enjoyable, well made and presented. We also enjoyed a carafe of basque wine, which complemented our meal very nicely. There's no dedicated parking lot, but there is street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. I was lucky enough to find parking on the street behind the restaurant.

Great service & vibe. Definitely great for date night…read more I tried their blood sausage, sardine on tomato bread, Ensalada Verde salad, and Arroz con Almejas. Blood sausage (Morcilla) was the highlight of the night! Just really delicious and would def recommend for everyone! Along with the house tab white wine, the food pairing was great! Portions are bit small, so not a place to come to pig out, but to enjoy the vibe, service, food, and company you bring. Def reocmmend!

TOO GOOD. FR. FR. Best way to celebrate my father's birthday. I got to try new Spanish tings I…read moredidn't know about. - @eatingwithricardo

After not seeing each other for weeks upon weeks due to conflicts and being out of town, we decided…read morea date night was needed. We had been to this small quaint and beautiful little restaurant in Montrose before and wanted to try it again. We loved their little Spanish style courtyard, the tapas, paellas, and the setting felt so good for little date night after being away for so long. Unfortunately things did not go as planned. We made reservations for 7:15pm and were hardly even greeted by the hostess that seemed she'd rather be elsewhere then to welcome us to Casa Cordoba. Problem was though even after setting the reservation time and arriving exactly at 7:15pm we weren't seated for 15min even though we saw our table being cleaned and set and just sit there unoccupied for over 15min. So we waited. When we finally sat down...our server didn't come by for another 10-15min. But we were patient and we waited. Alvin finally came -- brought us water and opened the wine we brought. A special one for this type of occasion (corkage fee was $30). We ordered the paella with squid ink and seafood since it takes up to 45min to prepare and sat down to enjoy the wine and take in the setting. That night they had live music -- a guy on an acoustic guitar playing some cool songs, from Maroon 5 to Backstreet Boys on a 12 string...at least it was live. It was pleasant. The server didn't attend to us much and just had an air about him. Idk -- they may have been super busy but wasn't sure. Finally the paella came. It was...good. Not plentifully. 7-8mussels, a quarter of an octopus tentacles, and a couple of calamari. If you're thinking that much it and rice then you're right. It was mainly rice. No vegetables accompanying it but that's the dish. That was $57 for the small version. I've made paella before. It takes time and it's a production -- but at least at home I can make one for half that price for 8 people. Maybe that's why we don't go out so often bc it ends sometimes like this. We expect a nice meal, a welcoming host or hostess, a server who enjoys the food and atmosphere and makes us feel at home, and food that we could never prepare at home. It's suppose to be an experience that you are happy to pay for. This wasn't. We were disappointed and just felt like wanting to leave. The last straw was when I signed the check on a toast machine and asked for the printed copy. The server, Alvin just left the toast machine with us and left -- attending to others and leaving us with this machine. All I wanted at the end was a thank you for dining with us and the printed copy. We had to flag another server for that copy. He eventually came, with disdain written all over and just handed me the copy, as if I had taken his time to get my the receipt which I asked. That pretty much did it. I asked to speak with the manager and was told--"oh sure. I can get him--he's the chef, give me a minute." I was floored!! No wonder!!! The chef. The back of house manager is also the front of house manager!! That says a lot. You're front of house and your guests are not being taken care of? What kind of restaurant is this? With these prices? Regardless that was it. We left -- had some great ice cream and spoke about the whole experience all the way back home. Great date night eh? Not returning.

To be honest, I'm really not familiar with Spanish food and don't think I've tried it before. But…read morethis meal was so flavorful and delicious. We got the pan con tomato, the shrimp in wine sauce, the salmon in lemon caper sauce, and the papas bravas. The shrimp was okay, but everything else was outstanding. The salmon tasted very fresh and the lemon sauce was perfection, a lil thick and creamy lemon sauce. The potatoes in both the salmon dish and the papas bravas dish were cooked to perfection, and the pan con tomate had this perfect crunch to it. This restaurant is beautiful as well, whether you're inside or out in the alley at sunset where you get sky and Mountain View's and an alleyway lit with string lights. It's a beautiful setting. I would definitely come back and adventure to try more things on their menu.

First time dining at Dos Besos. I always pass by but never had to chance until the other day. My…read morehusband called in advance to book outdoor seating since we have a puppy. We came during dinner time so it's not too hot. For the table, we ordered: Seafood paella Octopus with potatoes Anchovy String beans Tomato bread Burrata Bread pudding Arnold Palmer Waiter is nice but he kept forgetting to fill our water cups three times. I was so thirsty. Bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts and unfortunately bread pudding here is very odd. It's like pudding and I just never had it like this before. Definitely disappointed in the bread pudding. I cannot recommend. Everything else was delicious. Personally I love strong flavors so I kept adding lemon to the seafood paella. It was a bit bland for me until I added lemons. I love that there is a park behind the restaurant so I took my puppy for a walk afterward. And thank you for providing water for my fur baby!

Every visit here is an unforgettable experience. From the food and service to the overall…read moreatmosphere, everything reflects an exceptional level of quality. The service team is incredibly professional, attentive, and detail-oriented. With plenty of staff available, they are always paying attention to guests and making sure everyone feels well taken care of. Every dish is full of surprises, with amazing flavors and beautiful presentation. The restaurant itself is elegant, clean, and comfortable, and combined with the outstanding service, it creates a dining experience that is truly worth recommending. This is definitely a place I would love to come back to again.

One of very few elite dining spots in the heart of LA. Only 14 seatings per night so you can…read moreimagine how difficult securing a reservation could be. Still cannot believe we were able to join the small community of people that had the honor to experience the artistry of chef Aitor Zabala and his remarkable team. Somni presents a 24-course, carefully curated tasting menu. Only one seating per night and dinner usually runs about four hours long. Doors open right at 7:30 pm and you are seated in the garden where you will receive a welcome drink (Tokyo fizz which is a Japanese sake/yuzu cocktail) and about 6 small bites that range from sweet to savory. This allows us to sit and relax for about 20 minutes before being escorted into the main dining hall. Dinner is served from a counter top so you have the opportunity to watch each dish come to creation. I personally love this interaction. You are served about 12 main courses expertly composed with Iberico pork, Dungeness crab, mussels, Chutoro and Bone marrow, beef tartare, and fresh garden herbs & botanical elements. My top FAVORITES were the Shiso puff tartare (Best dish hands down), Gazpacho blanco, and the Iberico pork. Very filling. Finally, dinner concludes with tea/coffee and 6 small bites of fruity gel, choc donut, and sorbet. Each course captivates your senses with its vibrant presentation, alluring aromatics, complex textures, and remarkable depth of flavors. Every bite was unique and lingered beautifully on the palate. Would love to come back again. Curious to try their fall and winter menu. Without a doubt, Somni is deserving of each of their stars

an easy, under-the-radar gem that's perfect for a beach day dinner or low-key date night. we were…read moreable to walk in without a wait, and the vibe feels relaxed, welcoming, and ettortlessly. popularity: underrated spot - easy walk-in seating, especially compared to other santa monica dinner spots formality: casual chic - think sundress, nice top and jeans, or an easy elevated beach look hidden happy hour: tuesday-friday: 5-6:30pm saturday-sunday: 3-6:30pm $8-$13 small plates & tapas $8 sangria (red or white) $9 house wine $8-$9 beers (including spanish bottles) local secret: the lamb burger is a MUST. it's only on the happy hour menu and lowkey one of the best things there. manchego is perfect for sharing a bunch of small plates, a couple glasses of sangria, and lingering on the patio while it's still golden outside.

The food is great and the happy hour is nice. We sat outside and our server was wonderful…read more However, I dislike how LOUD it is. Outside they have a speaker blasting music, which is too much considering that on an outside patio you already have just regular street sounds.

Dim lighting, cool vibes, Portuguese small plates and a 13th anniversary (aww my relationship is a…read moreteenager now!). The steak tartare was bright, acidic, perfectly balanced and it's paired with sweet potato chips.. I had to take a moment! SO. GEWD. The bacalhau fritters was another favorite of mine. Crisp outside, soft inside, salty in the best way. Ask for extra lemons to brighten it further and thank me later. The head on prawns were so well seasoned and beautifully cooked and the sauce? Divine. I would bathe in it. The french fries were perfect but the lemon parsley aioli they came with is the real main character and I will not hear otherwise. Aioli of my dreams. Literally. Caipirinha with port float and Rosa margarita were both giving. Bolo do caco and boquerones also ate. Service was a little cold to start but warmed up as the night went on, and they ended the meal by surprising us with bubbles for our anniversary which was the sweetest thing. Pricey but worth every single penny. Date night, anniversary, or some other special occasion, this is your spot.

A friend and I went to Barra Santos for dinner on a Wednesday night and grabbed seats at the bar…read more Our server was fantastic and gave us such great recommendations on the appetizers that we decided to skip the traditional main-course route and make an entire dinner out of small plates. Barra Santos is a small space, and it was packed when we were there. Sitting at the bar put us right in the middle of the action, and the close quarters gave the room a lively, cozy feel. They also have outdoor seating in front of the restaurant if you prefer a little more space. We started with Maria's Bacalhau Fritters, made with salt cod, potato, and caramelized onion. They came out crisp on the outside and tender inside with lemon on the side. We also tried one of the specials that night, the croquetes, which was a fun addition to the meal. The Summer Melon Salad was easily one of my favorites of the night. The sweetness of the melon was such a good complement to all of the savory dishes we were ordering. With hazelnuts, charred halloumi, and a basil-cilantro vinaigrette, it was refreshing without feeling like an afterthought. We also tried the Endive Salad with oranges, almonds, cheese, cilantro, and a sherry and smoked paprika vinaigrette. The Linguiça Spiced Meatballs had plenty of flavor, although the meatballs themselves were smaller than I expected when the dish arrived. The Sautéed Calamari Toast was another favorite. The squid tasted fresh, was cooked really well, and had a great texture. Between the chili oil sofrito and the charred bread underneath, the whole dish was packed with flavor. I really enjoyed trying Barra Santos this way because ordering several appetizers gave us a chance to experience a good portion of the menu. One thing worth keeping in mind is the portion size relative to the price. Most of the appetizers we ordered were around $20 or more, and the plates lean smaller, which can add up quickly when you're building an entire dinner out of them. I enjoyed what we ordered, but it's something I'd keep in mind when deciding how many dishes to get. Parking in the neighborhood can also take a little patience. I ended up finding a spot a couple of blocks away (definitely give yourself a few extra minutes rather than expecting to park right in front). I'd definitely be up for coming back and trying some of the mains next time. The Piri Piri Chicken already has my attention.