This might be my new favorite restaurant in Pasadena, although for a price tag…read more Came in with a party of 10, so ordered probably 80% of the menu apart from drinks. There were 0 misses. We tried four different paellas: Seafood, Seafood Noodle, Squid Ink, and the daily special (which I've sadly forgotten). I genuinely can't pick a favorite...they were all so incredible. I've had some pretty bad experiences with overly salty paella, even in Spain (!!!), so I was relieved Dos Besos wasn't that. Great selection of tapas as well. We basically ordered everything. The standouts for me were the Galician octopus, mushrooms in truffle cream, and the cured meats. But holy, everything was so good. I am not a huge fan of red wine but the sangria was fruity and went down smoothly. Desserts were also fantastic, I especially loved the torrijas. The chef, who's from Barcelona, was incredibly kind and came out personally to offer complimentary pan con tomate with our endless jamón orders. Incredible experience and I would love to come back every day if I had the financial means to.

Been here many times with my wife and we loved the food. The quality is great and it's a good…read moreenvironment to wind down. I give it a 2 star rating because their service isn't great. We loved it when we had the owners, husband and wife on the floor. In our recent visit, the owners weren't there. No one came to check on us or refilled our water not at least till the very end of our dinner because they wanted to see if we wanted to order dessert. Now, we watched them bus other tables out in the patio with water and frequent visits. There were only a few tables occupied at the time so the restaurant wasn't busy and definitely has the capacity to serve. I will not be coming back again sadly. Customer service is what makes or breaks a restaurant for me.

Excellent experience from start to finish. We were treated like regulars the moment we walked in,…read moreand the host genuinely seemed happy to see us. Vibe not pretentious and food wasn't overly precious. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and gave thoughtful recommendations. The owner/chef even came by to check on us and spent time chatting, which added to the warm neighborhood feel of the place. They were also extremely accommodating with dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. No full bar, but the sangrias were excellent with great flavors, and the wine list was approachable rather than overwhelming. Nice touch that everything is available by the glass, carafe, or bottle, with bottles still being the best value. The vermouth on ice with dessert was fantastic. Every dish was excellent. The strawberry gazpacho was a fun twist, and the artichoke hummus rivaled the hummus at Saffy's, though in a different style. I also noticed the very high-quality olive oil across multiple dishes, which says a lot about the attention to detail. Heads up, they seem to have a cult around their cheese cake, every staffer mentioned it and waxed poetic (as do many reviews). :-) We'll do it next time but opted for the flan which did not disappoint -- texture and flavor spot on. This feels like a place that wants to become a true neighborhood spot. The long bar seems ideal for casual walk-ins or solo diners looking for a quick bite and a glass of wine. We went all out, but you could easily order a couple of plates and a drink and leave very happy. Portion sizes were generous for a tapas-style restaurant. A great addition to the neighborhood and absolutely worth a visit. Fills a niche in the area.

Great addition to the neighborhood! Decided to try this…read moreplace based on Yelp reviews which is hit or miss lol. We loved this place. The food was delicious. Quality of ingredients superb. Flavor delicious. We cleaned our plates. The tuna crudo was some of the best tuna I've ever had, like buttah. In a sauce of chili olive oil. The mushroom coca was divine. The shrimp gamba was garlicky good. The tomato manchego tomato toast was just ok. Cheesecake light and flavorful. And the service was perfect. Shout out to Kevin who was the perfect mix of friendly and professional, and on it with refilling water, etc. Parking lot in the back $10 with lazy kid who told us to get our own car when we came out lol. Will definitely be returning . Yum.

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!

Authentic food; hone-ly service…read more Could well be elevated with more attention to better food presentation, improved ambience and elevated service.

Their paella literally tastes like the one my Spanish family makes…read moreThe chef has been here for 20 years so their recipes are always consistent. Their Argentinian meat platter was really good with so many options to choose from: chicken, steak, sausage and more! Came here for my mom's birthday and everyone was super friendly and service was great. Great place for large groups

We had some reservations walking in, mostly because we were not too familiar with the menu or the…read morecuisine. But honestly, we ended up leaving absolutely delighted. San Laurel at the Conrad Los Angeles, from Michelin chef José Andrés, was such a nice date night treat. The food has that Spanish-inspired feel with a California touch, and everything we tried had a rich and memorable flavor. The menu is not huge, but I actually liked that. It feels like they are not trying to do too much, and instead put more attention into making each dish really count. Every plate felt thought out, from the flavors to the presentation. We started dinner with the bread, roasted eggplant, and seared scallops - already a great way to kick things off. The bread was unique - light, crispy, and a perfect companion to the sauces. The roasted eggplant was something we had never had before. It had a nice depth of flavor and made for an interesting start to the meal. The scallops were beautifully seared and tasty. From there, we also enjoyed the vegetables, Wagyu Flat Iron, sea bass, and dessert. Portions were just right, the pacing was smooth, and nothing felt rushed. Service was also commendable, especially from our server Andrea, who was warm, attentive, and made the evening feel easy and relaxed. Dessert was a great surprise. The Milhojas was not on the menu but came recommended, and I'm glad we went with it. It is a Spanish-style layered pastry, similar to a mille-feuille, with crisp flaky layers and cream in between. Light, delicate, creamy, and a really nice way to end the meal. Overall, this was a lovely date night dinner and a very enjoyable experience. Great flavors, beautiful presentation, good portions, smooth pacing, and wonderful service. We would definitely come back and try the others to the menu!

I had a 5:15 pre-theater reservation and I was seated promptly. I had a nice little inside deuce…read morefacing north. The restaurant is simply but elegantly decorated. The bar is a focal point as is the large wrap around dining terrace. After taking a look at the menu, I had a brief conversation with Elizabeth about the size of the dishes and what to order. I wanted to try a few things so I started with the fennel soup, and then I had the straciatella salad & the scallops. The fennel soup with crabmeat was so beautifully presented and it tasted absolutely heavenly. I wanted that bowl to be never-ending. It was my favorite dish of the evening! Btw, the only miss of the night was that the soup and salad were brought out at the same time. That was not ideal, but when I told Elizabeth, she kindly returned the salad to the kitchen and brought out a fresh one once I'd finished my soup. The salad was good, but quite sweet. I also didn't enjoy the little frisée like, twig-esque lettuce leaves that were tossed in although the strawberries and other elements in the salad were so delicious. It was a bit like having dessert early. The scallops were perfectly cooked and divine. I enjoyed them. I could have done without the sliced grapes, but they weren't really a bother. I probably should have just ended with these items, but I was still hungry. So I ordered the vermicelli Mac n cheese. It came out in a piping hot red serving dish and was interesting... the cheese sauce did not have the depth of flavor that I was looking for, but with the crunchy shallots and the umami of the mushrooms, some bites were quite satisfying. This dish was in the larger side, so I ended up taking most of it to go. I also had a glass of Lefrana 2021, & it was pleasant and accompanied my dishes well. Overall, this was an elevated meal is a sophisticated yet welcoming environment. The service was quite good. I was referred to by name throughout the experience, and all of the staff members were professional and attentive. The bathroom is gender neutral meaning that there is one large restroom with individual stalls for everyone to use. I noted valet parking and self-parking, but I walked & took Angels Flight from Little Tokyo, so I can't comment more on it. Gracias!

Food was delicious.. Servers were very attentive.. Excellent service.. beautiful environment. Very…read moreclean

My lady took me here for an amazing birthday dinner. Booked a standard (inside seating)…read morereservation for 7:30 pm on a Saturday night and although a lot of reservations appeared available online, the restaurant was quite busy with nearly all tables filled. They also have a covered patio you can reserve. Inside was really warm and lively with many conversations going on. Music in the background. Decor was great and there was a bar you can sit at. I admit I found this place through social media videos but it was an awesome experience. I was eager to try it since hearing about the Spanish influence, and caught my attention further to hear the owner was from Top Chef! Chef Amar Santana is the owner, and this is the second location for Vaca with the first location in Orange County. The menu is extensive, and has quite a wine list. Very Bestia vibes which I really enjoy. You are served dish after dish, family style (just how I like it). Edward was our server and he was great. The highlight had to be when Chef Amar Santana escorted us to choose out which ribeye steak we wanted, and of course we went with his recommendation. He happily took photos with us--he is SUPER nice and a great guy. Definitely someone you want to support, someone you are happy to see his success. I did quite the research and curated our menu, here's everything we got, served in order. - Jamon Iberico ($65/oz): this was quite pricey. I asked if we could do half ounce, but they said no. I probably wouldn't get this again but if you have the $$ to shell out $65, try it! (7.5/10) - Canelon de pollo ($26): smoked chicken cannoli with a duck liver sauce. Absolutely AMAZING. A MUST order. The sauce is incredibly addicting. (10/10) - Panipuri ($18): this is the Spanish version of the Indian dish. It is unique and delicious. Pouring the tomato gazpacho in the shell before immediately eating it was a fun experience. (8/10) - bikini sandwich ($17): ham panini with cheese. The dish looks bigger than it is in photos, but it is heavy. It's filling if you want a filler. (6/10) - 55+ day dry aged ribeye ($89/lb): choosing the steak you wanted to eat was pretty cool, especially with Chef Amar Santana guiding you. Delicious but $89/lb is very pricey. We selected a 2 lb 10 oz piece. It is what you expect from a well dry aged steak, strong umami and meaty flavor. Cooked perfectly medium rare, though surprisingly the server did not ask how we would like it cooked. They age it well and the quality is great. Only negative is that it was a little underseasoned but nonetheless a fantastic steak. (9/10) - wood grilled whole branzino ($52): I think this is Chef Amar Santana's speciality. Incredibly tasty, wood fire flavor is amazing. Fish was butterflied and mostly deboned. If you fancy branzino, it is a definite try. (10/10) - patatas bravas ($15): spicy potatoes. Delicious, must order. (9/10) - too full for dessert but they do give you a birthday treat, appears to be a pound cupcake coated in sugar with ice cream on top. It was delicious and hit the spot. For the drinks, I got an espresso martini ($17) which I read from another Yelp review was amazing. I can attest, it was delicious. Apparently made with cognac. I saw the bartender cranking out tons of them for the party seated in the patio. I also got a glass of red wine-cacera Tempranillo ($15), they only have a few wines you can get glasses as opposed to bottles from. It is not on written on the menu though. My lady got the sangria roja ($18) which was ok. By the end of dinner we were so stuffed. I will admit we always over order but it is in our nature to try as much as we can because I am unsure when I will get a chance to come back. The restaurant apparently has a deal for 25% off Tuesday to Friday 3-5 PM. This is a very select window, pretty hard for most people to go to but I commend them for trying. My biggest critic would be the price. However understandably everything has significantly inflated in today's economy, you must be prepared to spend. PARKING: park in the FIG & 7TH parking lot on levels L1, L2, or L3. Vaca validates. Parking was flat rate $13 all day on the weekend, but with validation it came out to $7. The restaurant is located at the very top floor above the food court/target/zara. Same plaza just top floor, and adjacent to the EY building, connected to the hotel. A bit hidden but findable. Would I come back? Perhaps, the only thing that hesitates me is the price. I would, for sure, recommend ALL to try the Canelon de pollo. Thank you Chef Amar for a wonderful experience.

Despite growing up and living in the LA area for 10 years more than El Cid has been in existence,…read moreand knowing exactly where it is located -- having driven past it dozens of times -- 2/7/26 was my first time here. My wife found a Groupon special and we celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary here. It was an excellent choice! It's a great date-night experience, but not inexpensive . . . the regular price is $85 per person, plus beverage cost (mixed drinks are $16-$19, beers are $9-$10), so things can add up pretty quickly. After navigating traffic to get here, we were blessed to find a parking space directly across the street on Sunset at exactly 5:45 pm, although this is about 1/4 mile in either direction to the nearest crosswalk. So we carefully crossed mid-block, thankful for a couple of drivers who stopped on the east-bound side to let us finish our trek. Entering the restaurant, you have to travel down several sets of steps, so this is not an easy place for those who are physically challenged. Additionally, the handrails are rather low (I'm 5'9") which is yet another challenge. Once downstairs, there is one step up to the dining area and, dimly lit, it's easy to forget it's there when you leave, and several folks stumbled on the way out (but none actually fell). The dining area is intimate . . . with seating for only about 100 persons, and all seats have a pretty good view of the stage where the flamenco performance takes place. Not a good idea to try your luck and hope there are seats available if you haven't made a reservation. (Note that making reservations can be a little tricky. It doesn't seem like anyone answers the phone live, but they do respond to voice messages and are very pleasant to speak with over the phone). Shortly after being seated, we were served a bowl of vegetable lentil soup which was hot and tasty. Not long after that, our arugala salads were served. The citrus vinaigrette dressing was excellent, although we both agreed that we were disappointed that wasn't more salad on the plate -- there were two slices of fresh orange and a snip of apple underneath the arugala. We both ordered the salmon entree, and it was delicious! A generous 6 ounce (skin on) portion that was hot and perfectly finished. It rested on a small portion of lentils and the plate was decorated with what appeared to be a couple tablespoons of a Green Goddess type of sauce. The paella for two looked good, but mussels just aren't one of my "things." Dessert choices were churros with chocolate sauce, flan, or chia seed pudding. My wife chose the flan, and I had the chia seed pudding. Both were great, not overly sweet, and just the right portions. The hour-long flamenc show started exactly at 7pm and we were captivated by the dancers, the guitarist, and vocalist. These were not "spring chickens" and their routines were physically demanding. It was a delightful experience, and we would recommend it to anyone. The Groupon savings was significant, so look for it before making reservations.

Food, service and ambiance is great. The show and performers…read morewere good. Will recommend it.

This place is awesome! Nice and funky with authentic…read morehomemade Mexican food! The Chile Relleno is the best! All the food is freshly made and very tasty. The ladies are really nice too! Nothing fancy, but delicious food and friendly atmosphere!

The food is good here!! I have had the pupusas and chile relleno and it's delicious!. It's a small…read morewhole in the wall type place. The staff is very friendly! I highly recommend if you want authentic Salvadorian or Mexican Food.

Food was very good got the brunch tower !!!! Our server Diana was very nice and attentive.read more

We came the afternoon of June 6th to celebrate my son's birthday. Rodrigo and the team made us…read morefeel at home. The food was delicious, drinks were excellent and service was A+. thank you for an amazing afternoon.