Margarita was one of the best we had. All the tapas we tried were very good. Definitely come back

We FINALLY tried Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge and WOW, was it good! We wanted an early dinner so we made reservations for 5:15pm on a Friday - it was lovely and quiet at that time, but it got busier as we were leaving. It seems an ideal place to go with friends and order a variety of dishes to sample and share. We began with their signature Peruvian Ceviche with coconut and kafir lime (the non-spicy version for me - there is also an ají amarillo version you can get with a bit of a kick to it) and the Smoked Mussels Toast. The ceviche was served in a deceivingly small bowl that contained a generous amount of fish and it came with crispy plantain chips. The mussels toast is a dish I NEVER would have ordered myself, but I let my husband pick and it turned out to be my favorite surprise of the meal. Served on crispy toast points with salsa macha aioli and a green pepper adobo that worked beautifully together. I could not rave enough about this dish! (Just try it! You'll thank me!) Our next 2 small plates were the Pulpo a la Gallega and the Lollipop Lamb Chops - both incredible. The octopus had a lovely char, but was very tender. It was served with crispy and slightly spicy papas bravas. The lamb chops were served on a bed of pistachio butter - and yeah, it was AS amazing as it sounds. My only complaint is I wanted about 6 more lamb chops...I kid, I kid. But seriously, we will probably order 2 plates of these next time. Deliciously tender and again, had a lovely chargrilled taste to it. At this point, we were too full for any more savory small plates, but, there was just enough room for dessert! We tried the Guava Sorbet, topped with a rum and cream cheese fondant icing and pomegranate seeds. This was light, refreshing, surprising, and I would 100% recommend it to cap off a good meal if you want something a little sweet that isn't too heavy. We also ordered the Mini Churros, which were a little more indulgent, filled with a light custard cream, topped with a sweet and salty plantain and graham cracker crumble, and served with a dark bittersweet chocolate sauce and a tart passion fruit sauce. I don't typically love sauce with my churros, but both of these were so good we practically drank them like shots! For our first experience at Pulpo, it was fantastic! Looking forward to a return visit to try even more of their dishes and cocktails. read more

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Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge is a new (year-old?) Latin and Peruvian-inspired restaurant and bar in St. Pete's Grand Central District. I like their thin wine glasses and the patterns and colors on their plates. We've · Arios - a bit too dry · Camino de Navaherreros · Castro Ventosa · Clos de Los Siete 'C7' · Pork belly - soft · Shrimp - succulent · Pulpo - tender · Squid ink rice chimichurri - good The white is on the dry side, but the three red wines are delicious. I appreciate well-prepared pork belly, and theirs is, although a little sweet, the texture is right. The pulpo and squid have distinct tastes: yummy. We went there to have a few drinks before the Rays game, but two men at the bar explained that their happy hour starts next week. Oh well. I like their decor enough to stay. Other than drinks, we had a few small plates. They've an outdoor section to the side, and the sidewalk has a few tables too. read more

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We really liked Pulpo! It has a great atmosphere, you can sit in side or outside, and it even has an alternate outside area where they have a stage and you can listen to live music. We actually went back a second time just to sit outside and listen to a DJ one Saturday night and got drinks. The food is really good. We did not try the octopus, but we did try some other things. We got the Ahi Tuna tartare and the Seafood Paella, both very flavorful and tasty. The empanadas were good and the drinks were very classy. My wife and I will def be back at Pulpo to try more of their menu and see who is playing on their stage. It is a great little spot. read more

The funny thing is that this could be 3 or 4 stars which makes no sense. How can it be both really good and mediocre. I don't know! Came here solo and sat at the bar. Got a mezcal I have never heard of that was great and the duck and mushroom paella. I was going to go inexpensive tonight but I saw that on the menu and I had to try it. First, it is an odd paella. It comes out with these roasted peppers and micro greens. It's really green and colorful, but I'm not used to that. The duck was smoked I think and then charred. It was good but it wasn't what I think of when I see duck confit. The paella was great. Or was it. It had such a unique flavor with the duck and the mushrooms that I keep waffling on how much I liked it. A lot. I think. Yeah. A lot. Maybe. Anyway, come here and try it. If nothing else the flavors will surprise you. Chef is very creative and in a good way. I think. read more

Delicious food, great vibe and super friendly and helpful service team. We selected quite a few tapas to share and loved them all!

Came here to meet up with friends to catch up on life. Usually when that happens, we order a lot of drinks and appetizers! Good thing this place had a lot of tapas :) Our server Andrea was great and gave amazing drink recommendations based on some quick questions she asked. We loved all the drinks we tried. For food, we started with the Smoked Mussels Toast, Duck Confit Empanadas, Mixed Skewer Asado, Gambas al Ajillo. For the entrees, we shared a Branzino Grilled à la Plancha and the Paella of Duck Confit & Roasted Local Mushrooms. HIGHLY recommend both entrees we tried. We also enjoyed the small plates too (the appetizers), but everything on the menu looked good and we were having a hard time choosing. Next time we'll probably order other things and make a final decision on our favorites. We were sat inside this time, but when it gets a little cooler outside, I think we'll try to get a table outside when they have a live music! read more

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Truly excellent meal at Pulpo while in St. Pete on vacation. Cute spot in the heart of Central Ave. One of the best meals I've had this year. The scallops and seafood paella were personal favorites. Also tried the ropa vieja. Not a mediocre bite on the table. The only oddity was our server. He wasn't bad. Just seemed to have a low grade annoyance with our general presence. Perhaps just an off day and the food was too good to let him sour it. read more

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We made a reservation for four on the patio, and upon arrival, were seated promptly. The table was dirty, and it was never cleaned, but the rest of the evening was worth the visit. Service is good, although they did forget to bring my wife's sangria-Rita, but once we said something, it was delivered very quickly. Paella was very good, with nicely cooked rice. Gambas were wonderful. The ceviche tasted like tom kha soup, and not a lot of seafood compared to veggies and stuff, but still tasty. Ropa Vieja was spot on, the plantains were solid as well. The meat on a stick was definitely a hit, and we enjoyed the dipping sauces that came with it. The tuna tartare was really tasty as well. A suggestion was two dishes per person, and that is too much food when you add in paella. Dessert was good, but probably not worth $15. We spent $250 (after tip) for four of us with only 2 drinks, so it does get expensive. With that being said, we will be back and ready to try some new dishes. read more

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Hidden Gem! This is honestly some of the best Peruvian food you'll find in the St. Petersburg area. Everything was absolutely delicious, with incredible quality, authentic flavors, and a wonderful blend of flavors. Seriously, 10 out of 10! read more

First time at Pulpo won't be my last! This time I just went for a little happy hour so grabbed a mocktail. Really itching to eat here, it's beautiful inside and the food all sounded so good. The bartender was so helpful and nice too! read more

Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge - Salad Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Service was amazing the bartender explained the flavor profiles of the cocktails to make sure we got what we wanted. My drink was great. It was bourbon with apple syrup and foam. My friend liked her gin based drink with fig syrup. We shared the birria tacos and pork belly cuban sandwich. It's served with dipping sauce. We also shared the yucca fries with aioli. 10/10 We will definitely return. We loved how the bar wraps atop the restaurant. read more

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Once again St. Pete delivers on amazing & unique food. We joined friends for lunch at Pulpo. In addition to the regular menu, we were handed a lunch menu. I chose ropa vieja tacos. These were truly gourmet tacos. They were loaded with complex flavors that all coordinated well. The base was ropa vieja made from brisket. There were cheese, crema, tomatoes. peppers, & it seemed like a dozen other ingredients contributing to the amazing flavor. Accompanying it was a bowl of liquid birria. Dunking each piece of taco in that was gold. We sat outdoors, & the waiter couldn't have been more pleasant. Pulpo is a great experience! read more

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This restaurant left me wanting to go and shake the chefs hand and tell them congratulations. We got 4 tapas plates and a side salad, which was the perfect amount of food--we came hungry and left full. Every item on the menu was fantastic, fresh, and perfectly crafted. It's hard to pick a favorite, but the Peruvian ceviche definitely stood out as well as the pulpo à la gallega. Great atmosphere for a date night spot or upscale tapas. read more

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This was an amazing find in Grand Central in St. Pete. The interior is vibrant and modern, creating a really fun atmosphere. The menu has a Peruvian influence with tapas-style plates that are perfect for sharing. We had the ropa vieja and the octopus, and both were excellent. There's plenty of space, making it great for groups, with seating both inside and outside. They've also started featuring live music in the evenings, which adds to the experience. Our server was very knowledgeable about both the food and the drinks. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I'll definitely be back! read more

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Pilpil shrimp, good Chimichurri steak, my friend got obsessed with chimichurri Mixed skewers with chicken, beef, and shrimp Pulpo (octopus) was good, tender The squid ink calamari stuffed rice was meh... better the one from Jaleo read more

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What a wonderful meal! We love small plates because we can try so much of the menu. We loved the look of the place and the superb service. It seemed like they had a team watching our needs! All the food had deep flavors and we asked for bread to soak up the wonderful sauces. We started with the ahi tuna tartare . Wow, an explosion of flavors! Next was the Peruvian style ceviche with chips of plantains and chunks of sweet potatoes. More sauce to soak up with bread. The duck confit empanadas were a surprise and worth tasting. We were filling up and had to try the grilled octopus, which had a nice grilled taste and tender. We love flan so made room for this rich and creamy end of our meal. read more

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Eh. Some stuff here is great some not so much. First off everything is very oil heavy (see pics) for example my side of plantains came in a bowl of chimichurri oil and the branzino comes sitting in a plate of pesto oil. Everything was just unbalanced. I had to ask for lemon for my branzino just to balance the taste. A great dish was the scallops. Very good. Also the steak sandwich. The restaurant is nice however our server was very low energy. Almost to the point of uncomfortable. Over all i wont go out of my way to revisit. Was a very expensive blah experience. read more

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Pro tips: its downtown St Pete, parking is scarce so plan accordingly. Also they get busy so make a reservation! We came with a large group and had an amazing experience! Our server, Forrest, really made the experience next level. The menu is mostly a selection of small, shareable plates, do we ended up getting about 8 of those to share, along with the seafood paella. Cocktail: white dove - their take on a Paloma, had a bit of a kick to it to balance out the tart of the grapefruit. The grapefruit sugar on the glass was a nice touch! Shareable plates: crispy plantanes, smoked mussels toast, caramelized acorn squash, duck confit empanadas, pulpo a la gallego, lollipop lamb chops, marinated bistec asado, and a gulf shrimp toast special. Everything was presented beautifully on colorful plates, with enough food for our party of 9 to each have a bite of everything. My favorites were the asado and the empanadas, great depth of flavor. The seafood paella was served in a large bowl with rice and lots of shrimp, scallops, calamari, and mussels. Great flavor and the seafood was cooked perfectly. For dessert, we had to try the churros, served with a dark chocolate sauce and some dolce de Leche ice cream on the side! Pulpo was such a fun experience, can't wait to come back and check out some live music and cocktails on their patio! Thanks Forrest for taking good care of our group and even taking our group photo outside afterwards! read more

Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge - Churros - Salad Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Outstanding place run by the Brick& Mortar folks. We had a 5:45 PM reservation on a Saturday night in March and by the time we left I would say it was 75% or more full. The service was good but slowed as the evening got busier. As for the reviewers who were shocked that they were told they needed to vacate the table by 7:30 after walking in around 5: next time make a reservation! This is not the restaurant's fault. The wine list was ok but nothing g special. My glass of Tempranillo was not worth $16. The arugula salad was good but the Machengo cheese made it better. The ceviche was outstanding as was the carmelized acorn squash. The octopus was great but I found out I am not a fan of patatas bravas as I don't like mayo or aioli. I will definitely go back to try other plants. Although it is a tapas restaurant the portions were more than adequate. read more

Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge - Carmelized acorn squash - Salad Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Started with ahi tuna tartar - aji passion fruit, tortilla crisp, spicy cucumber, avocado, creme, shiso. Delicious and fresh. Great starter. Drinks were El Antiquado ~Old Fashion Buffalo Trace brown butter washed & infused with sultan raisons, black walnut, angostura, & orange bitters. Really good. Got better as the ice melted. Calor Claro ~Clarified Margarita Rosaluna Mezcal, Ancho Reyes Poblano, h.m. habanero bitters, bell pepper cordial, lime. Very refreshing. Next plate was - mixed skewer asado (4) - chef's selection of meats, aji amarillo & black mint sauces, salsa macha. We had chicken, beef. Then the crispy pork belly - sherry agrodolce, herb salad. This was probably the best bang for your buck. Very nicely prepared and seasoned. A little heavy so I suggest starting with this. Finally we had to get the paella of duck confit & roasted local mushrooms - confit duck leg, chorizo, macha aioli. Really deep flavors. Good portion size for 2 if not 3. We had left overs. Andrea our server was awesome. Great suggestions and so friendly. The brunch menu look amazing so we will make plans to drop in for that!! As we were leaving we checked out the live band in the outdoor bar area. So cool!! read more

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The great reviews drew us here, but we likely won't be returning. This place is so cute and well decorated, I just wish we enjoyed the food more. We got the stuffed calamari which was overly salty with a very creamy sauce. I loved seeing this as an option on the menu, but I think the sauce was not a good pairing and the calamari needed something more citrus or tomato based. Something that compliments the delicate calamari without overpowering it. The papas bravas were tasty but it's fried potatoes tossed in a creamy sauce. They were probably a tad over cooked, but still good. I was planning on ordering more food, but since we weren't loving anything, we decided to not order anything else. We noticed they had a sizable nice outdoor space. I hope they are able to do something fun with it. read more

Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge - Calamari - Salad Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Wow, blown away! I want to give more than 5 stars... The restaurant is beautiful, service is good, and the 3 dishes we got (2 small plates: octopus & pork belly and the lunch menu branzino sandwich) were all sooo incredible. Truly the best meal I have had in a long time. Already dying to go try more. read more

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We came here twice during our trip to St. Pete's. The first time was kind of by accident. We were starving and still adjusting to how early everything closes around here. Coming from NYC, we're usually just sitting down to dinner at 10. We arrived about 10 minutes before last call, but our server Jenn (I think that was her name) was incredibly welcoming. She chatted with us, made us feel completely at ease, and never rushed us. On our second visit, which was also our last night in town, she remembered us and greeted us warmly. As for the food, everything we tried was excellent. The crispy pork belly was the standout. It had the perfect mix of saltiness, sweetness, and acidity. Every bite was incredibly satisfying. We also ordered the branzino and the duck with mushroom paella. Both dishes were really well done, but the duck was the star. It was packed with umami and had such deep flavor. The vibe of the restaurant is lovely too. It's cozy and welcoming, and just a great place to relax and enjoy a meal. We're already talking about coming back on our next visit to St. Pete's. read more

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I had been wanting to try this place for the longest. An influencer made a video about it and so I took that as my sign. The service at the bar was great. The ceviche is why I went. The flavors were there but the fish tasted a bit fishy. I eat ceviche a lot and know it's not supposed to taste fishy. I also got the steak sandwich and it was as tough as a tire. The flavor was fantastic but I couldn't eat it because it was so tough. The potatoes or papas were okay. They needed more of that sauce and some salt. Idk if I'll be back. The drinks were fantastic read more

Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge - Steak sandwich and papas bravas - Salad Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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The food was amazing! Service was great and welcoming. Ambience was relaxing and modern. Highly recommend. read more

Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge - Heaven - Salad Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

I couldn't be happier that this hip and stylish Latin-Peruvian fusion restaurant has made its way into the neighborhood! The parking situation can be bad on the weekends on Central Ave. However, there are plenty of free 2-hour spots along the street. This place is a hot spot, so reservations are recommended for indoor or outdoor dining--booking through the Resy app is the way to go. You can dine outside, as there are about 6 tables outside. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a vibrant, energetic atmosphere. The interior is a feast for the eyes--colorful, thoughtfully designed, and centered around a striking horseshoe-shaped dining room that wraps around the bar. FOOD: The menu offers fusion-inspired tapas and modern, creative bites that keep you coming back for more. 1. Baby Arugula with Manchego Salad (4/5; black pepper and citrus vinaigrette): This salad is delicious, but the star is the combination of the black pepper with the citrus vinaigrette. The ingredients tasted very fresh. The citrus vinaigrette is slightly sweet, thus, this is a great spring/summer salad. 2. Ahi Tuna Tartare (3/5; squid ink rice, chorizo, pepitas, spicy cucumber, and avocado): This was my least favorite dish. It's served as five small tartare bites, but the overwhelming mix of flavors overshadowed the ahi tuna. In the center of the dish is a small spicy cucumber salad, which reminded me of the Korean dish Oi Muchim (Spicy Cucumber Salad). 3. Branzino (4/5; pistachio butter and herb salad): The branzino was delicious. You cannot go wrong with this. 4. Ropa Vieja (4/5; shredded slow braised brisket in tomato sauce, rice, and plantains): Ropa Vieja is a rich and savory dish with a hearty texture. This dish was a comforting, melt-in-your-mouth experience with a touch of warmth. 5. Smoked Mussels Toast (5/5; house smoked, salsa matcha aioli, green pepper adobo): My friend was raving about this, and it was the star. I did not taste a prominent smoked taste of the mussels, but everything paired well together. It comes with three pieces of toast, each topped with three mussels. 6. Duck Confit Empanadas (4/5; pebre sauce, aji amarillo, fresh herbs): The sauce was delicious. The duck empanadas were not greasy; they offered a nice twist on the classic, with a perfect balance of savory and crispy textures. 7. Bistec Asado (4/5; fresh herb salad and chimichurri): The meat was great, not too chewy, and marinated in garlic, lime, and spices. They were cooked well, with a slightly charred exterior yet juicy inside. The servers recommended their favorite drinks and plates. Service was nice yet relaxed, with knowledgeable staff who are happy to guide you through the menu. Would I come back? Yes. It is a must-visit for anyone who loves great food, fantastic drinks, and a chic setting. read more

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The food here is absolutely amazing. We decided to order several of the small plate dishes so that we could get a nice taste of what they had to offer. We started with the smoked mussels on a toast. Out of this world! The drinks are a good pour. Squid ink rice stuffed calamari was somewhat dry but tasty. The Peruvian style ceviche was yummy. And it wouldn't be right if you didn't try the entre that is their namesake-pulp à la gallega-wish there was more but it was yummy. read more

Date night at Pulpo! No reservation so we sat in the bar area which is great seating and fun to mingle with staff. We were before 6 so no problem with seating. Everything was great! Staff was fun and I enjoyed multiple yummy drinks and wine. We enjoyed the all the specials that night! Meatball appetizer, fresh red snapper and the filet. The meal was delicious and beautiful presentation of food. Definitely will be back. read more

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Very nice little establishment in St Pete. The staff were all very friendly and attentive. We got there about half an hour after it opened so it was relatively empty and we got our food within 10 minutes. We got the seafood paella with a side of yucca fries. The yucca fries are covered in cheese and some sort of sweet sauce and comes with a side of maybe some sort of chipotle aioli. Pretty good. The seafood paella was also very good. I will say that it was less food that I expected, the dish is very shallow, I'd say there's probably like a 4 rice kernel depth to the serving. However, very yummy! The scallop was the absolute winner of the night, soft and delicious especially when you make sure to mix the sauce on top with it. The rest of the dish was equally enjoyable, just make sure that the sauce is well distributed. The scallop was just hands down the best part. I wish there was more scallop - ours came with 3 pieces. For the price of $48 though I was expecting that we would have some leftovers between two people but we finished it all off. It was enough to fill us up for the meal but I thought there'd be more seafood and just more food overall. Nice dining experience, thoroughly enjoyed it read more

Pulpo Kitchen + Lounge - Seafood paella, yucca frites - Salad Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

The food was amazing! We had a bunch of different things and everything was great!! It was very busy in there. But the service was great! They have a ton of mocktails and cocktails. Parking is awful but what can you do it's DTSP! Haha. It was very cute inside. Very picture worthy! But does get loud so it's hard to hear the person in front of you but that was my only complaint! The marinated bistec asado was literally the best thing I've ever eaten! A must!! I loved the local gems & blue cheese fritters. Who doesn't love fried cheese of any kind?! The ropa vieja and papas bravas was good. I wasn't a fan of the duck empanadas but we finished with the Churros and they were very warm and I would eat an old shoe of that chocolate sauce was on it!! Over all we had a great time! read more

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Oh what a meal! Evening started with cocktails from their inventive menu - interesting twists on classics. The Lavanda was their take on a pisco sour. So good. We enjoyed multiple courses with highlights being the ahi tuna tartare and the smoked mussels. Our server, Tory, made fantastic recommendations and guided us through a wonderful evening of food and wine. Will be back! read more

Heyyyyyyy you guyyyyyyyyyyys! Let's get right in-this place is amazing! It was a culinary experience that was a 10 out of 10. The decor was vibrant and welcoming. The server was outstanding and his recommendations were all spot on! His service was excellent. We started with the pork belly, melt in your mouth goodness! We shared the Cuban this was the BEST Cuban I have ever had. The Ceviche was mildly spicy and oh so delicious. Run don't walk this place is where you want to be. read more

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Stopped by with a group of 3 for a quick dinner. Ordered marinated olives, papas bravas, local gem & cabrales blue cheese fritters and ropa vieja. All delicious, but for non seafood lovers, a warning that an anchovy came (not advertised) on the marinated olives. We were fine with it, but if you have allergies, you might let your server know. Papas bravas had a nice kick to them and the ropa vieja was cooked until nice and tender. Definitely worth checking out! read more

Came here again and brought some family that was in town! It was even better than last time. The food was so good and so were the drinks. I really enjoyed it all. It is a bit on the pricier side still but worth it. The food is so fresh. read more

First time went because of reviews. Personally I eas very disappointed. The fiid was good, different. The portions instead of small plates should be tiny plates. Ordered several quite a few things...stuffed calamari...1. Paella was a dinner plate portion. Beer was $7.50 dont even want to say what cocktails were. $200 + tip. For 3. Service was ok felt like no one wanted to be there including us. We are foodies and like trying different places...I am glad they get good review...just not for us. read more

Beautiful atmosphere, stellar cocktails and amazing food. If you like tapas, this is the place to go. Service was also excellent. read more

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This Sunday was slow and wonderful Usually packed. Food is always a10. And the lamb-chops are my favorite as well as the pulpo

Service was excellent and food was great. It was also nice to have live music which was also really good.

We walked over to Pulpo last week to try out the new restaurant in our neighborhood. It was a weekday night, so it wasn't too busy. We were greeted when we walked in and took a table outside, right by the door. We sat there for 10 minutes before anyone addressed us. Our server was pleasant, but she wasn't there when needed. We order a few apps and a glass of wine. We went with the skewers and lamb chops app. The wine took a while to arrive and the food came out right after. The skewers were unique. They were more like toothpicks of meat, just a few ounces maybe. One piece of chicken and two pieces of short rib that were mostly bone. The sauces were the highlight. The lamb chop app looked interesting, but when we dug into it, the lamb was not seasoned at all, no salt. There was some tasty sauce on the plate, but it was under the salad and chops which was hard to see while sitting outside on the dimmly lit sidewalk. The chops were grilled to perfection and the pistachio butter complimented them well once we found it. While waiting, we decided to try the fried blue cheese salad. It was quite pleasant and the dressing it came with worked very well. I ordered another glass of wine before our main meal came out, the duck and chorizo paella. A few minutes later, the paella arrived. It looked amazing. The confit duck leg was super flavorful and complimented the chorizo and rice well. It was our favorite dish. About half way through our main dish, the second glass of wine arrived. This was over 10 minutes after it was ordered. The bar just seemed to be dragging even though it wasn't too busy. Overall, we had mixed feelings on our first visit. The skewers were a miss for us, the lamb was decent once you found the sauce, salad was good, and paella was very tasty. Service was friendly, but getting our drinks in a timely manner and cashing out took too long. I am sure they will work out the kinks over the coming months and we hopefully will try them again in the future. read more

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