The food was incredible, service outstanding and staff extremely friendly and helpful.

General manager Gilles described Pa'La as "for the people" and that it certainly is. I felt so welcomed and valued even the first time I dined at Pa'La for happy hour. There is a cozy yet spacious bar upstairs and live music on Fri-Sat. Some of my favorites were the squid ink milkbread, anchovies, and Randy's killer espresso martini (ask him what the secret ingredient is!). I most recently dined at Pa'La again after several happy hours because I noticed they were rated as "dine fearlessly" (highest rating) on the Seed Oil Scout app (a movement to map out restaurants that care for their customers by cooking with healthy and natural oils) which is aligned with a new lifestyle/diet I am following. I sent an email requesting a special accommodation for my dietary needs and Gilles and Chef Jason jumped right on it with enthusiasm. We had the most outstanding Omikase experience. Every course was crafted with such attention to detail and care for my diet. Modifications were made with ease. Chef Jason made numerous appearances at our table and engaged with us throughout the evening. For the first time in about 6 months, my anxiety about dining out melted away and I was able to enjoy the ambiance, the flavors, and my company without having to worry if I was going to accidentally eat something that I wasn't supposed to or wondering if I was ruining the night (for my company and the staff) by asking countless questions about ingredients. Some of my favorites were the tartare on sweet potatoes, trout, anchovies (of course), shishito peppers, and ribeye (even though everything was my favorite!). We've been back since and everyone remembered us, even our server Brittany. We joked that we felt like royalty here because we were treated so well, but really it is a privilege to dine at Pa'La and know Gilles, Jason, and Brittany. They are the true stars and they make Pa'La so special. read more

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Honestly very impressed. We probably had 7-8 dishes and they were all really good. Service was attentive and courteous. Loved the vibe of the whole place. I had el caleuche cocktail which was super good and memorable. read more

What a special place. From the moment you walk in you just get all the good vibes. Gorgeous decor, friendly faces, impeccable menu. We came in pretty last minute and the wonderful owner was able to seat us with a little creative arrangements. Everyone was so kind and friendly. The drinks are very creative and yummy but the menu... ah, the menu. So wonderful and delicious. We will definitely be back on our next trip to the Phoenix area! read more

Pa'La Kitchen - Downtown - Gorgeous cocktails. - Seafood Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

What an amazing place! I was excited to come after reading about the live Jazz band. I was trying to figure out where to sit to be close to the Jazz band. I was looking online but couldn't find it and I tried calling, but no answer. So I made a reservation in the dining room. If you want to be by the band, reserve the lounge room. I get there and explained to the GM. He checked to see if there was availability but there was not. But he kept alert and he did get us a table at the end by the band for dessert. It was fun. Also the GM (Giles Kolakowski) who was amazing and attentive recommended some delicious wine from France after telling him that my fav wine was from that country. He took really good care of us and made us feel special. Our server was super sweet and loved her energy ( shout out to Samantha)! We ordered appetizers, entrees and sides for sharing. Everything was delicious, cooked to perfection and on another level. I have not one single criticism to say. I will definitely be back. Every time I have a guest over visiting me from out of town, this place will be on my itinerary every time. If you have not been, make sure you make the time to experience it. You will not be disappointed. read more

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It was our first time and it left a lot to be desired. It was very nicely decorated and solid ambiance. We sat down for the chefs menu and they include wine in that. The wine was no good. It is included in the price so you feel like you should drink it but I would skip it all together. I wish they didn't include it in the price so I could order a drink that I actually want to try. The 8 courses started to flow out. I will give them credit the flow was very nicely timed, our waitress Jo did a great job with that. That's about where my compliments end... The first course was olives, very standard. The next course was oysters, they didn't bring anything with them. We then asked for something to accompany it and they finally brought out something. They were very average at best. From there they went with a squid ink bread and beef tar tar. They were trying too hard with this dish. I would pass. They had an octopus salad that was yummy. The next dish was a short rib that was AWFUL. They over salted it and over cooked it. The final player was fish and steak. Steak was good but for the total price and that being the best dish. I would pass on the chefs experience. They did a nice desert at the end. Thankful for that and the service. I would probably pass on going back but if you're going maybe give it a shot but don't do the chefs menu. As a side note I am not a picky eater and eat anything so it wasn't that the dishes were exotic it was taste based. read more

This is a great bar and restaurant! The cocktail's were all superb, and the food was solid. We ate a selection of appetizers including the beef tartar, and oysters. We were not disappointed. The environment was perfect, classy, upscale with a vibrant busy urban vibe. The bartenders were very friendly, helpful and entertaining. Definitely will return. read more

Pa' La downtown is one of my absolute favorite restaurants. I had my 4 year anniversary last night and I had the most magical experience! Seriously, the staff made my night so special. I set up a reservation with Gilles and the staff rolled out the red carpet for my evening. All of the servers told us Happy Anniversary and made us feel like celebrities! We had the warm olives and nuts along with the charred octopus for appetizers. I highly suggest this combination. We had the Tomahawk steak for dinner, it was absolutely incredible! We also enjoyed a side of squash cooked to perfection. My partner is sober and for the grand finale they brought us a complementary glass of champagne and non alcoholic champagne for her. This is the first time any restaurant has added this level of service and details. I was truly touched. We both were so filled with joy and gratitude for the level of service we received. We devoured the flan and ice cream, it was literally a party in my mouth! Pa 'la is a fantastic spot for a date night, girls night out, special work events. Oh and they have live jazz on Tuesdays. Thank you for making my anniversary one I will never forget! Truly blessed! read more

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What an amazing experience! From the time that we walked in until the time that we left, the service was absolutely outstanding! The hostess that sat us gave us a thorough description of the menu and seated as promptly. And our server, Jeff, was also phenomenal! He was extremely knowledgeable about all of the ingredients of each dish, and that was impressive! Now onto the food because the food was fabulous! I started with the octopus and my husband had the pork belly. My girlfriend had the muscles and they just simply melt it in your mouth! My main entrée was miso card. I wasn't a big fan of the flavor miso but the fish was cooked to perfection. My husband had the whole Bronzino fish and he absolutely loved it! Oh yeah, and to top it off, the live jazz was spot on! We were still able to have a good conversation and enjoy live music because it was not too loud. We sat upstairs so that we could hear the live music. I can't wait to go back. Again the food was fabulous. The service was outstanding, and the atmosphere was a definite vibe that was most enjoyable! read more

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Only giving this 5 stars because they don't allow more...EVERY bit of food was excellence. Bare with the wait staff as they may be over the top hospitable in explaining and maybe over explaining everything but the entire team is super attentive! The grilled octopus was the first course star, specially prepared it was the most tender octopus I've ever had the kampachi crisp was close second both filled with great taste. The bream whole fish was great and the shared sirloin the star of the second course with the black garlic "sauce" proving amazing taste. The affogato and flan were both satisfying and finish with Hungarian Chablis was a treat. The wine list is vast...and unique...go past US, French and Italian and camp on page 25, Austrian, Lebanese, Slovenian and Israeli wines...we did 2 bottles of Slovenian and what value!! ~$65/bottle a real discount for the taste and quality!! The team is just great and I wish I ate here all 3 nights in PHX! read more

I gave Pa'la another try and it was PHENOMENAL! That's the quality and experience that I was expecting the first time so I'm so glad I went back to try it again. They hit it out of the park! If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Pros 1.Both my husband and I had the omakase and I'm so glad we did because we were able to try sooooo many different things. It's well worth the price for the quality of food and super fresh ingredients. 2. Our server, Brittany, was so sweet and helpful, and the manager (didn't get her name) made the dinner more than a dinner - it was an experience! 3. We sat upstairs this time and really enjoyed the atmosphere. I love that it feels like a place that would be in NYC, where I'm from. Felt very comfortable, lounge like, romantic and sexy. 4. All of the food tasted so fresh, beyond tasty, and you can tell there was a lot of thought, love and creativity put into each dish. 5. The foie gras was sweet and savory, smooth, and perfectly balanced. 6. The wagyu was melt-in-your-mouth delicious! 7. The bucatini with seafood was so creamy and delicious. Comfort food. Love the addition of uni. Yumm so darn good. Cons None, nada, NA Cannot wait to go back. Going to book a reservation right after I finish writing this review. I'm still dreaming about our experience and want to experience it over and over again. read more

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Again, such a lovely experience at Pa'la with amazing food and service. We ordered the beef tartare as an appetizer which was sooo good, don't let the black bread or raw meat stray you away from trying. I was hesitant to order but loved it! For entrees, we ordered the NY Strip and Flank Steak. I will say the NY strip was better than the flank. I found the flank to be a bit too salty but the New Strip was perfect balance of flavor. The sweet potatoes were so yum, slightly spicy but not overwhelming. We came here for our anniversary and it was so sweet that each person that sat us, served us or said bye to us wished us a happy anniversary!! They gave us a Tres Leches cake which was so delicious as well. Can't wait to be back read more

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From the moment we walked in, I knew this place was special. The staff at the host station was warm and welcoming, and patient as we wandered away to look at the offerings at the bar. We were a party of four, and I had made reservations for the upstairs jazz lounge for dinner. For a second I thought I had made a mistake because the downstairs (where we entered) looked really inviting. The surprise is that there is no bad choice. The jazz lounge has a more intimate vibe and the band was really enjoyable. We had great music that wasn't too loud, so we were able to easily converse. Once we were seated, Pablo, our server/guide for the evening, came over to introduce himself and give us an overview of the drink menus to start us off. I was unaware of how expansive and impressive their wine list is. If you are even slightly interested in wine don't miss this place! Every menu item has notes, so you don't need to be a sommelier to pick out something to try. Our drink orders in, Pablo explained three menu ordering options. The first is off the à la cart menu and blackboard specials, the next is a price fixed omakase menu with the chef preparing their choices for you (about 10 courses), or you can have your server select for you within a price point you choose. Before we even selected, we all agreed that we're going to come back so we can try different styles of ordering. Ultimately, we went with the à la cart menu. Dishes are served tapas style, small dishes designed for sharing. We chose eight dishes, but the highlights were definitely the octopus, which was unbelievably tender, the pork belly, which I will be dreaming about for quite a while, the Japanese, sweet potato, which I can't explain, but you have to try, and the mussels which were amazingly sweet. I also would not shy away from the blackboard specials. We had the bucatini carbonara. It was delicious and fresh, and having just been in Italy, very authentic. I can't recommend this place enough. If you were looking for a fun evening with friends, or really nice date night, make a reservation soon! Either floor is a good choice. read more

I keep coming back for the creative, delicious meals and of course the live music. PA'LA delivers on all fronts for a great downtown experience. The servers are attentive and the jazz flows on the weekends. Get a table in the upstairs lounge for better listening! The murals on the wall and ceilings are awesome, as is the wonderful smell of wood fired cooking; PA'LA is a must hit! read more

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We just had the most amazing experience here. I treated my husband to date night and this place was a real treat. The staff were amazing from the moment we walked through the door. I made a reservation for the second floor and they had a live jazz band playing, this really set the vibe. The food was to die for! Note that they have a rotating menu so you might not have the option to try what we did. We started with the shishito peppers and pork belly, and oh myyyyy both were so dang flavorful. Then we had the pleasure of indulging in the miso black cod and NY strip steak, which were absolute heaven. I didn't get a chance to take a pic of the food, only my cocktail. I had the carjillo which is like an espresso martini with tequila. I really liked it. We can't wait for another date night here!! read more

Pa'La Kitchen - Downtown - Carajillo cocktail - Seafood Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Very good place friendly staff Try beef tartar mushroom octopus. Food is delicious It is so good that I am eating and leaving reviews. Super place read more

My wife had a conference downtown so we were looking for a place to grab dinner. We happened upon Pa'La and were so thankful that we did. The food and service were amazing. The owner came by to refill our waters and while chatting with him, we discovered that they are opening a new concept in Goodyear, which is where we live. New spot is called Magdalena and is supposed to open in August -- we can't wait! read more

I don't know where to start, made reservations for my husband bday and we got front row seats to the jazz player. Very friendly and welcoming as soon as you walk in everyone is ready to greet you. There was so many different food and drinks I wished I could pick all of it but the portions we got was enough for us. I had the Rock Shrimp and it was delicious my husband got the Mussels and delicious as well. The server we got was Pablo (if I'm not mistaken) he was amazing explain to us the menu and drinks. Super friendly and made us feel like royalties ( I might be exaggerating but that's how we felt). The jazz was a plus for us the music wasn't even that loud enough that you can't even have a conversation but music was great, we will definitely go back and try more food. I highly recommend to try special occasions or just something out of your comfort zone and try them out. I didn't take any pic due to we were enjoying our time but maybe next time I'll take pics. read more

If cozy vibes and global bites had a baby, it'd be this Phoenix gem. Pala Wood Fired cooking is serving up Mediterranean, South American and Japanese vibes all on one menu--think global flavors, local ingredients, and serious wood-fired magic. The space is warm and cozy, the staff treats you like royalty, and the menu? It's a rotating lineup of shareable small plates that basically demand you try everything. We're talking tapas-style bites that are packed with flavor and creativity. While nothing totally blew my mind, everything was really solid--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully done. Heads up: their menu changes depending on what's fresh and in season, so don't get too attached to any dish you see here (RIP to the ones that got away). But if you're looking for a place that feels a little special without being stuffy? Pa'La's your girl. Five stars, wood-fired and well-deserved. read more

Absolutely phenomenal. My entire group I was with loved everything. I honestly can't remember the last time I raved about a restaurant like this! We did tapas style and tried the Beef tartar, Octopus, Sweet potatoes, Pork belly, Iberico pork, the Pasta special, the house Focaccia, the Shishito peppers, the cod, and we got the cheesecake and chocolate torte dessert. They have an amazing happy hour every day 5-630 and also all day Sunday and live jazz on weekends. Our server, Ana, was also fantastic in giving recommendations. I can't wait to go back. read more

The food was absolutely amazing full of flavor and cooked to perfection. But what really stood out was the customer service! The staff was welcoming, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. Definitely coming back and highly recommend to anyone looking for great vibes, great people, and even better food! read more

Pa'La Kitchen - Downtown - Japanese sweet potato | Aleppo chili + cilantro - Seafood Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Delicous food pretentious service. Upstairs has live jazz music. I'd do it again in a pinch : )

Saturday night jazz!!! What else is there to say? Plus the food is delicious. We got 3 plates to share and loved it! read more

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Very nice restaurant but I felt a bit underdressed. I didn't know it was kind of a fine dining scene. I was looking more into the food menu hehe. Anyway, the vibe is more of a late date night scene. My family and I went for dinner (party of 7) and we had my nephew come along (he is 2 years old). He was well behaved so it was good. We were seated upstairs. There are stairs to go up in the dining area but for me, temporarily walking with a cane, super glad they had an elevator. But that elevator took forever lol I do love the menu and the food choices we had ordered however, it was just a small plate. Would love to order more though and perhaps try other cocktails and perhaps the NY strip steak (which they ran out of last night- Sunday) for next time. Also there was one food- photo un-named (a server came to our table and set it down but we didn't order the food, so it came to us by mistake) but our waitress that night apologize but still told us to try because it's really good (which it was!) and it didn't get charge on our check They do validate parking for 2 hrs. We parked right across (Chase bank) read more

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Delicious. Food options were good, very expensive and small portions, but food was a 5/5, prices 4/5, ambiance 5/5, staff amazing and out of this world. Had such a great experience. read more

I went here for dinner on Mother's Day to celebrate. I was immediately greeted and seated. When I arrived, there weren't a lot of people but the space quickly filled up with other parties. The waitress was so sweet and down to earth. I wish I remembered her name! She took pictures of me after when I asked and she went the extra mile by providing some lighting. It was nice. I got the Japanese sweet potato appetizer, then I got the octopus for my first course, prime NY strip steak cooked medium rare for my main course, and the chocolate peanut butter torte for dessert. Everything was SO GOOD and well-made. The sweet potato appetizer was my fav and in my opinion, is a must try! I also got a margarita and some other drink that has blackberry and whiskey. It was reminiscent of an old fashioned. I was also served complimentary bread. The place was clean and well-kept, including the bathroom. They have a really pretty wine wall as well. I will be back for the communal dinner that they host on Tuesdays! My only suggestion is that when you are doing a special menu for a holiday, maybe consider not serving a dessert with peanuts although I feel like they would accommodate someone who may have an allergy because the waitress did ask me if I had any allergies or sensitivities. I thought that was considerate. read more

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We were lucky that a friend was able to book us a last-minute reservation on Valentine's Day. It was definitely a good call that we took a rideshare -- there was an event at the symphony that night, and with already limited parking, it would have been even tougher to navigate. Pa'La has an intimate feel without being stuffy, and the live music adds the perfect touch. It's lively, but you can still comfortably have a conversation. There's a two-hour maximum, but we never felt rushed. The service really stood out. The waiters were extremely informative, and you can tell they're well trained. One mentioned that part of their training is to take guests through a confident, sensory-driven description of each dish -- and they absolutely delivered. The way they described the drinks, food, and dessert helped me fully envision each plate before it arrived, and the flavors matched those descriptions perfectly. The ribeye was cooked to perfection, and the flan was hands down one of the best desserts I've ever had. It's important to remember this is tapas-style dining. We were a group of four and ordered burrata, pork belly, brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, mahi, ribeye, and branzino. With small plates, we each got a couple bites of each appetizer and side dishes and a few more bites of the dish and steak -- enough to share and experience everything. We left completely satisfied, but not overly full. It's on the pricier side, but in our opinion, completely worth it. We'll absolutely return the next time we're in Arizona -- already looking forward to round two. read more

I saw a post on Instagram for Friday Night jazz music and had to go check it out. I've been to Pa'La before but this was the first time upstairs. It has a completely different vibe than downstairs. It's much more dark and moody with some really cool murals on the walls and ceiling. Our server was great but food came out in such a weird order and not together at all. The complimentary focaccia bread was a nice touch. My steak was delicious. Both our mains came out first, but not together and then the broccolini came out right at the end so you didn't even really get to eat everything together. Our server apologized for the delay and comped one of our glasses of wine for our troubles. I will definitely go back on a different Friday night for a glass of wine and to listen to the music. read more

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My wife and I were downtown to watch a show and decided to try this place for dinner. We had reservations and were seated in a nice quiet area upstairs near the beautiful glass wine cellar. We originally were going to try the restaurant week menu but ended up going with their standard menu. It's Tapas style so we shared each plate. We started with the Bone marrow, Octopus and pork belly. The were all fantastic. Such great flavors! We finished off the meal with Japanese Sweet Potatoes and the Flat Iron steak. Both were to die for. The flat iron steak was so tender and had an amazing beef flavor. They also have a great wine list. We had a fantastic GSM from the Rhône region of France. Paired perfectly with the food that we ordered. read more

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Came here for the first time last night for an anniversary. We were really excited about the live jazz, but left disappointed when there wasn't any. It's possible that we needed to request seating on the second floor, but even then, we didn't hear any music coming from up there. If that is the case, I think that should be listed on the website or even asked upon arrival. Our server was friendly, but seemed rushed and stressed--likely due to being understaffed. It affected the experience, especially when we had to ask for water refills more than once as well as waiting a decent amount of time for our check. As for the food: * The wood-fired octopus was okay. The salad underneath was overly vinegary and kind of overpowered the dish. * The mussels were one of the highlights--the broth they came in was delicious, though the mussels themselves were on the smaller side. * The Argentine flank steak was definitely the standout. Perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. * The asparagus was good, nothing too memorable. * The Wagyu fat potatoes were the biggest letdown. Undersalted and bland, they tasted more like boiled potatoes with a few olives tossed in. It was also frustrating that the dishes didn't come out together--we ate our sides without the meat and the meat without the sides, which took away from the overall meal. I had planned to take pictures of this dining experience but once I was disappointed by the octopus, I stopped. so this would be the only picture I have. I love the concept of combining Mediterranean and Asian influences, but it felt like the execution missed the mark. Not a terrible experience, but not one I'd return for. read more

Pa'La Kitchen - Downtown - Wood fired Octopus - Seafood Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Out of the three restaurants we visited during this weekend this was my favorite! The ambiance was a mix of Italy meets modern feel. Loved the pictures of Sorrento, and the jazz music for dinner! The service was amazing! The food on point! Was very happy to have a little birthday cheesecake too! read more

Late afternoon after working to set up an event across the street at the convention center, I was so happy to see that this restaurant was right there! I have been trying to go in and have reservations for about a month and a half or more but since it's a bit out of my way , I had not been able to make time to drive up or I should say to drive downtown. However , totally worth the wait! I had a delicious appetizer in the drinks were absolutely amazing! My friends had really good meals and of course we all enjoyed our drinks ! I also have to mention the customer service was exactly what I expected out of a bar restaurant like this one ! I highly recommend it and you need to come and try it for yourself !!! read more

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Pa'La Downtown was originally the birthday dinner destination but we were skeptical about the menu. Once we got there the ambiance was nice enough but the menu left a lot to be desired. Maybe we didn't get the concept so we decided on two cocktails. The live jazz was really nice and so was our server and the drinks had a kick to them. read more

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Beautiful ambiance...so sexy and soft. The service was amazing and so personalized. Our cocktails were delicious and refreshing, recommended from our server Alex. I will go back again and again, just for happy hour. The place is so pleasant and comfortable. read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner. The upstairs ambiance was nicer than downstairs in our opinion. Our server explained tapas to us after we had told him we came here specifically for tapas. We thought a lot of the dishes were good like the octopus and bone marrow but the monkfish had a smell to it that seemed like it was not fresh. For the cost, I expected a bit more read more

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Pa'La has a location on 24th and one downtown. 2 total separate vibes, 2 amazingly separate experiences. We had dinner at the downtown location upstairs Saturday night with live jazz. Our service was extraordinary our food was delicious and the ambiance was amazing. This location is quite nice and made for a wonderful date night out. read more

Pa'La Kitchen - Downtown - Lamb cutlets and carrots- delicious! - Seafood Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I had my 50th birthday celebration last weekend with a group of 15. It was amazing and my guests loved the food, service and vibe. I first went there a year ago on a date (well that didn't work out) and I knew this is the vibe I wanted. Ana who coordianted my special day and server Joey (sp?) was amazing and went over and beyond. The food was fabulous and I can't recommend this place for any special event you have (upstairs is my jam)!! read more

Tonight was our first time here, and my wife and I chose it for date night. They did not let us down. We started with oysters, which were fresh and delicious. Next, we tried their smoked Brussels sprouts--absolutely incredible. We also enjoyed a few different types of cocktails. What's great is that all the cocktails are the same price, so you can just focus on what you like to drink without worrying about the cost. For our main dish, we shared the ribeye, which was perfectly cooked and tender. We also had sweet potatoes on the side--so delicious. I highly recommend making a reservation to ensure you get a spot. You don't want to miss out. We're already planning to come back for my birthday or another special event. read more

Pa'La Kitchen - Downtown - Seafood Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

My girlfriend and I went to Pa'la for the first time two weeks ago and we could not sing its praises more. Gilles was incredibly accommodating and treated us like family the moment we sat down. We cannot wait to go back and would highly recommend this place to anyone who values incredible food, well made cocktails, and jazz (don't leave without going upstairs for some music). read more

This is my first time going and to this specific location with some friends and it was really nice! We were set on the second floor, where they were playing jazz and it was a little loud, but we didn't mind it at all since we sat towards the back, but if you're not into loud noise, maybe ask to be seated on the first level. The second level seemed a little smaller than the first level, but definitely not too overcrowded. There was lots of dim lighting, so it was giving a really romantic, chill vibe. We met this bartender in the first floor while we waited for our table named Fernando and he was so cool. Would totally come back just to be served by him. Drinks were amazing him and the conversation was great. Forgot our waitresses name, but she was really sweet and really patient since it was our first time there. I enjoy having a drink, but my taste buds just can't handle strong liquor so they recommended for me to try one of their drinks La caleche. It was so delicious, sweet and refreshing. We had an early dinner before coming so we didn't have a huge appetite so the portions for the food here were great. For the tapas we tried the kurobuta pork belly, woodfire octopus, fresh Barada and they were so delicious! We also tried the Japanese sweet potato, and that was really good. The skin was crispy and it wasn't mushy at all. Super super soft but still held its texture. Definitely coming back to have a full meal next time. read more