I rarely write negative reviews, but after several experiences at Romesco's, I feel this one is warranted. My first issue happened during my birthday dinner, which my husband had planned to host as a surprise in the tapas bar area. When he booked the event, he was informed of a minimum spend requirement, which he agreed to. However, no one told him that it would be a half-off night. Because of that, and because some of our guests were charged separately for their meals (which we were embarrassed to discover after the fact), our final bill didn't come close to the required minimum. When we asked to speak with a manager, we were initially ignored. After repeatedly asking through our server, the manager eventually provided a partial gift card toward the remaining balance--but the situation could have easily been avoided with clear communication upfront. Unfortunately, things didn't improve when we returned to use that gift card. On multiple visits, we experienced long waits just to be acknowledged, and when we were told to seat ourselves, many of the tables were dirty and hadn't been cleared. The most frustrating experience was with a takeout order. I ordered the chicken marsala, expecting a quality meal for the $30 price. Instead, I received four extremely thin pieces of chicken. When I called to politely share my concern, the manager argued the portions are always weighed to 8 oz. After weighing what remained (I ate one very small piece), it came out to just 3.9 oz. So it would've been 4.5 oz at best. I sent photos and was told I'd receive a call back--but never did. I ended up bringing the food back to the restaurant, where I was told a gift card had been texted to me (it hadn't). It was resent on the spot, but even then, it didn't include the takeout fee. Yes, they charge a $6 service fee for takeout on top of the already overpriced dish!!! There was no apology or real acknowledgment of the issue. I was so hungry at that point that I ordered the shrimp and fries tapas--she charged me, minus the service fee lol. It was void of flavor tbh. At the end of the day, the recurring issues are lack of communication, inconsistent service, and disappointing food quality for the price. A sincere apology, acknowledgment of falling short of expectations, or follow-through would have gone a long way, but unfortunately, that never happened. It's disappointing because this place presents itself as a higher-end dining experience, but the service and quality just don't match. It's clear they only care about one thing...and it's definitely not the customer! I still have a significant balance left on the gift card, otherwise I likely wouldn't return. read more

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After more than 15 years, we finally returned to Romesco's -- and it was a great reminder of why this place has remained a local favorite. We arrived around 5:30pm on a busy Friday evening with two other couples and no reservations (always a gamble). The dining room and tapas bar were fully booked for a party of six, but fortunately an outdoor patio table opened up and we happily took it. Even better, our server Jose Luis (who also works at TJ Oyster Bar) recognized us from past visits. He delivered friendly, attentive service all evening and struck the perfect balance of checking in without hovering. Drinks: * Paper Airplane (bourbon-based signature cocktail) -- excellent and well balanced * Estrella Galicia 0.0 ABV Spanish pilsner -- a surprisingly good non-alcoholic option Food: * Cazuelita de Costilla de Res (short rib tacos) -- flavorful and a standout starter * House bread -- simple but very satisfying * Tiramisu & churros -- both excellent and perfect for sharing Just "Meh": The Chicken Marsala. Not bad, but we've definitely had better at Italian restaurants. Next time we'll stick entirely with the Spanish/Mexiterranean side of the menu. Pro Tip: Make reservations for dinner or arrive early for happy hour (4-6pm, Mon-Fri) -- this place fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Service was attentive, pacing was smooth, and our table was well taken care of throughout the evening. Overall, a very enjoyable dining experience -- and we definitely won't wait another 15 years before coming back. read more

I have been here a couple of times. It is delicious. I've had the steak and a couple different pasta dishes. The steak was delicious and cooked to perfection. Martha's spaghetti is delicious and a little spicy and full of flavor. I also have had the Parmesan crusted penne and it was delicious and a good portion. Cute intimate dark spot that is good for a date. Amazing service! read more

Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro - Mexican Near Me - Bonita, California

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If you plan on ordering a steak to-go they do not cut the steak and also didnt include utensils. Forgot dressings for both salads. Things should not fall through the cracks when the restaurant is slow. Not cutting a to-go steak is just flat out lazy. Dining in isnt much different. Been for dinner on a slow week night and service was very slow. Food was great but the service, not so much. read more

Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro - Mexican Near Me - Bonita, California

10/25/25: The date that started it all. Picture a dimly lit restaurant with just enough bustle to simultaneously look both busy & intimate. The first date nervousness is palpable. Will she like me? Will she think I'm boring? Did I remember to check the stove to ensure all the knobs are completely off? Where were we? Oh yeah, date with an angel. Your humble narrator is seated near the front area of the restaurant w/ small 2-4 person booths & tables. Perfect for staring at Venus herself, daring to take that leap into opening my heart one final time. And as this vision of beauty, nay angelic grace, walks through the door. Instantly I think of the line from Ted Lasso that Roy says to Rebecca: "You deserve someone that makes you feel like you've been struck by f--- lightning!" And boy was I struck by 1.21 Gigawatts, Marty! The food? I think we had only a bottle of white wine & some appetizers, as this was our first stop. I promise to return with actual photos next time. Service was impeccable. They are rather astute! Possibly mind readers! I apologize to my readers, as this was more an ode of love, than a review. Thank you for reading this far. TL:DR - Love at first sight exists. Very romantic setting perfect for reigniting your love after years...or just starting out & giving yourself another chance at love. read more

We ordered the Filet Mignon and Lemon Chicken. Took a while to get the menus and to order our drinks . Both dishes were good, service was good, price a tad high. Weird thing was when they covered the cloth table cloth with brown paper. That took the ambience down quite a bit. I could see that if this was a crab shack, but it made me feel like I should be sitting in a high chair with a bib, too. read more

Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro - Lemon Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Bonita, California

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Disappointing service at the tapas bar We walked in yesterday planning to enjoy the tapas bar at Romesco's. There were several open tables, so we sat down at one. We waited about 10 minutes before a waiter finally came by, brought menus, and asked if we wanted drinks. We ordered two waters and two alcoholic beverages. About 10 minutes later, the waiter returned with only the waters and unfortunately, that was the last time we saw him. Our alcoholic drinks never arrived, and no one checked back in with us. With plenty of staff around and open tables available, the lack of follow-up was frustrating. We were looking forward to a relaxed tapas experience, but the service alone made it impossible to enjoy or even continue our visit. Hoping this was just an off day, but first impressions matter. read more

If you're looking for a hidden gem, Romesco Mediterranean Bistro in Bonita, CA is it! This spot blends Mexican and Mediterranean flavors with a mix of bistro vibes and a chill tapas bar. I couldn't get enough of the Bone Marrow Sope, their famous Caesar Salad, and the Paella. But the real star for me? The Spaghetti Alla Bolognese--so good it's unforgettable. Oh, and funny story: I tried their Mezcaleria Special, a mezcal shot with chili salt, orange slices, and... grasshoppers! I didn't realize what I was eating until after the first bite--talk about a surprise! And guess what? They were actually delicious. We ended the night with their creamy Tiramisu, and with live music in the background, you know this girl just had to dance the night away! Happy Hour makes it even better: * All day Tuesdays * Weekdays from 3-7 PM Half-off tapas plus $9 House Margaritas, Sangrias, and House Martinis? Yes, please! Huge shoutout to our amazing server, Gustavo, and the talented bartender, Gil, for making our night extra special! Whether you're here for a casual bite, good music, or a fun night out, Romesco's is a must-visit. read more

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The food is great. I've order about 6 or 7 different things. Every dish is delicious. The service is terrible. The place is dirty. The cost is too high for the service, not the food. The lady up front always has that face, you know which one. The servers are also bad, dirty, are always rushing to walk somewhere and have no sense of common courtesy. I've gotten bumped twice by someone walking food. Funny. 5 star food, zero star service. read more

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Wedge salad lacked a little flavor but not bad, everything else was flavorful. The quail is delicious! read more

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Awesome food! A refreshing change from the ordinary. Good stuff! We'll be back for sure.

The happy hour menu is def amazing and we wanna come back to have the regular menu :)

Food is good, but the reservation system is a mess. We had a reservation on 11/21 at 7:30 PM, but when we arrived the place was packed. Several people walked in after us and were seated immediately without even checking in. Meanwhile, we were told we could sit at the bar something we didn't reserve, especially for a party of four. When we declined, we were told it would be "10 minutes," but that didn't seem realistic. No one looked close to leaving, and it takes at least that long just to clear and reset a table. It felt like we were being pushed aside rather than treated as guests with a reservation. This was our third visit, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing enough that we won't be coming back. The food is good, but not good enough to overlook a poorly managed reservation process. read more

My friend and I came here to celebrate our birthdays together on a Saturday night. Definitely recommend making a reservation especially on the weekend as the place fills up fast. Plenty of parking available in the lot. The restaurant itself is very cute and cozy. There's both inside and outside seating available. The service was great and efficient. The menu has a wide variety of options to choose from and lots of different wines and cocktails available. The food was pretty good. It's worth a try if you're in the area! Food and drink review: Complimentary bread (always a plus)! Pinot Grigio: Very smooth and tasty. Caesar salad: (3/5) I was expecting it to be amazing here but it was very simple and not worth the hype. The fresh black pepper did help with the taste. Beef filet mignon carpaccio: (3.5/5) This was an interesting dish. The fried capers on top were definitely an interesting touch. Very small serving for the price. Wouldn't order again. Calamari fritti: (4/5) This was pretty good! Nothing spectacular. It was cooked well and had good texture. Bolognese Penne dish: (4/5) This was huge! It was very flavorful. Came with delicious melted cheese on top and I topped with chili flakes for an extra kick. You can definitely share this with the table. Lasagna: (4/5) It was pretty good. It was missing something, I can't quite put my finger on. I wouldn't order this again. read more

Ok I just post for people to experience something that's different and delicious. We all have different palates . I'd service presentation and service make the food that was wonderful even become more flavorful like the environment that we enjoyed ourselves. Every dish was delicious. read more

One of my favorites. Tapas menu is great. Tuna tostada & Octopus are my must haves.

Simply, it is the best in San Diego and beyond. It's menu, the food, it's happy Hour many options, the drinks, the service people and the regular crowd, uncomparable, unmatchable. read more

Honestly I'm really at 3.5 and have been torn which way to lean.... I was surprised what shopping center this was in because the inside was well decorated. The restaurant is elegant with an almost open kitchen concept. The food was good! I enjoyed every bite that was brought to the table. Compliments to all the cooks. Unfortunately, there were some negatives. The drinks tasted like pure syrup with no alcohol. But the worst part was the person who served us. I watched as every other staff member was attentive, kind and happy to be there. When asked about the food, we got "it's good" no matter the question. We asked if there was a preference on specific entrees and still receive they are both good. We finished our drinks early on but weren't asked if we wanted anything else until we were completely finished. We had to waive down our server to ask for a dessert menu and again when we wanted the bill. To sum it up, if someone said want to go with me to Romesco, I would say sure but I wouldn't be the one to say let's go! read more

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We celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary here last night and couldn't have chosen a better spot. We had reservations and were seated on the patio, which made for a wonderful atmosphere. The service was outstanding, the food was excellent, and my whole family truly enjoyed the experience--especially my wife. A perfect place to celebrate a special occasion with Great hospitality. read more

Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro - Grandson eating calamari - Mexican Near Me - Bonita, California

I've lived in Bonita for nearly 10 years and from time to time I've thought of coming in to check this little place out . My husband surprised me with a dinner date . There was absolutely no wait time as we had a reservation, but it did take awhile to have someone take our drink order . The Cabernet Sauvignon was excellent , the Tamarindo margarita was a little on the thick side but not terrible . The presentation for the potato tacos was nice and overall they were pretty good lacking a little salt but the cheese and salsa complemented the tacos. I would order them again . I was surprised to see the variety of options . I wanted to taste a lot of them . The pumpkin soup was good in flavor but a tad runny . The cachete tacos were good in flavor but the meat was overly shredded seemed stringy . I would definitely come here again . read more

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If you like horrible service (but good food), this is the place for you. If you like being seated at the extremely crowded bar like a Disneyland line because they do not have your reserved table ready for you for TWENTY-FIVE minutes, this is your kind of restaurant. If you then like being almost totally ignored by your server during your entire meal, this is a great place to dine at. read more

Please respect the hours of operation. It is very frustrating to show up at 9:20 and drive all the way there when hours state you are open until 10pm. I do like coming here but after that I probably won't come back. read more

I've been coming here for years... food is always delicious. I love the orejas de mar, sopes de tuetano and my fav pulpo a las brasas

We came to celebrate my friend's birthday and we had such an amazing experience. The staff were so friendly, our server Hector recommend tamarind margarita and it was really good. We got the ribeye botanero and the lasagna by Arturo recommendation and were so delicious. The service went above and beyond to ensure our experience was perfect. Highly recommend this place! read more

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We've eaten here before... if the food is even mediocre, we won't return (there are too many restaurants, why settle?) We met up with friends & everything was lovely: the appetizers, our entrees, the cocktails. Gustavo, our server, was a bright light: he laughed when he spoke, had good recommendations & was just a ray of sunshine!! We'll ask for him when we return. read more

Well, a lot has changed since 2016. Decided to check out Romesco with my husband for Tapas and Live Music. Visited on a Saturday night and was a bit disappointed with the overall experience. The live music was not part of the dining experience, and the band we were there to see was not actually playing that night. Their marketing team needs to do better updating their websites with the latest information. We started off with some delicious Sangrias. They have an extensive wine list. With that being said the menu was tapas and Mexican dishes. Definitely Different. We tried the tapas we typically order at our go to Tapas place with one exception. The Grandmas Tacos de fideo. Oh boy. Grandmas Tacos de fideo- to the very first grandma who invented this recipe, I'm not a fan. Thankfully my grandmas never fed me these. These tacos "taquitos" are just not good. They are bland, lack flavor, small, and just a disappointment. Very sad to have ordered this. Alright onto the rest of the meal: Pulpo- good, nothing extraordinary but cooked right (it was smaller portion than I expected) Choricito frito- it was ok, it was cut oddly (like small fingers) but it was good. A must order at any Tapas place Croquettas- solid choice Champinones al ajillo- tasted good but looked ugly? Gambas al ajillo- Saves the day. Gambas were delicious and garlic forward. Big shrimp, small quantity. I do like the atmosphere and that it's more family oriented compared to other Spanish Tapas places around town. At the end of the meal we went to their back rook for live music, although the band wasn't for us- happy to know it's there. I might be back one day. read more

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Ended up at this restaurant in a whim and by total accident. When we showed up the place was packed. We had a party of 6 and were told that if we didn't want to wait we could sit at the tapas bar... so glad we did! What a fun spot. There was music playing and even my three year old didn't want to leave. We had a variety of dishes and everything was delicious. Mushroom tapas, grilled octopus, fettuccine Alfredo, chile en nogada, tuna tostada and amazing martinis! Check this place out m, you won't be disappointed. If you want a more romantic ambiance try the regular seating at the restaurant. read more

I love the food, service, and ambience at this restaurant. Parking is easy. They have outdoor seating, which I enjoy. Menu is large with great tapas offerings. FYI, happy hour specials are not available on the patio. Wish they were! read more

I have been a Romescos fan for over a decade now. I first visited during Restaurant Week. I initially ordered the lobster ravioli but it smelled fishy so I sent it back and ordered the chile en Nogada. Best decision of my life. I recently went to wine and dine my partner. Here is what we ordered; -A bottle of their Merlot (Magoni) -their famous roadhouse ahi tuna tostada (you can't go to Romescos and not try this) -tortilla de papa -Chile en Nogada -Slow braised ribs -flan (so creamy) The amount before tip was 175 dollars and over 200 with tip. The servers are lovely and know their food and drink. I would have licked the plate of the chile if I wasn't in public. Everything was delicious. I highly recommend you make a reservation like I did bc sometimes it's really busy. I love this place. You can come in wearing casual or fancy attire. There isn't a dress code but don't ruin the ambient. They have a tapas bar connected to the back which is super fun if you like 80s music. They have 50% off their wine bottles on Wed. Enjoy! read more

Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro - Chile en Nogada - Mexican Near Me - Bonita, California

Romesco feels like two restaurants in one, from the more formal, traditional dining area in front and the tapas bar in the back (where happy hour is, and what I made a beeline for on this first visit). For those coming in for happy hour: it's from 3-7 pm, and it's all day on Tuesdays! Certain tapas are half off (they're marked on the menu), and there are good drink deals. The tapas bar area is more Spanish in style and more casual- it's dark and lounge-y with a bull's head on the wall. The red sangria is a winner, refreshing and not too sweet. We shared the Grandma's spaghetti tacos (surprisingly good), the albondigas (the chipotle sauce overwhelmed the meatballs themselves), the cochinita pibil tacos (flavorful and a good portion), and the Tacos Gobernador shrimp and mozzarella tacos (fine, but a little heavy and one-note in flavor). Of those, the Grandma's tacos and cochinita pibil tacos stood out and would order those again. Service was attentive, but not overly so, a good balance. Looking forward to trying more on the tapas menu and trying the front restaurant area too! read more

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I will start this review saying that, a waiter hit me with the folding table, it was terrible. I turned around after trying to catch my breath "you hit me with the table" the waiter didn't even say anything and talked to the back. This happened at the end of our meal and I told our waiter who I had to call over. He was very nice and apologetic, he had the manager come over to talk to me but I was so overwhelmed, that I couldn't talk and wanted to leave. She gave me her card, I will be reaching out to her and telling her exactly what happened. My coworkers and I had our Christmas gathering. The food was Fantastic, very fresh and well cooked. The service was terrible, our waiter took 30 min before he came to our table, to get our order. We ordered bread and water, we waited another 30 min for that. I know the restaurant was super busy but the level of service should accommodate larger parties. Romescos is a great place for tapas and a drink but for large parties, it's a Disaster. I will not recommend this restaurant anymore. Don't go if you're hungry, it took us an hour and 15 minutes to get our food. Very disappointing!!!! read more

I don't think you could find a better waiter than Gustavo! Every visit without fail, he provides exceptional service. Always so friendly and kind it's like having dinner with one of your Tios! Restaurant was out of their famous Caesar salad, so Gustavo suggested we try the pear salad, which was exceptional. We also shared the house tostadas and calamari. We ordered a bottle of white wine which enhanced our dinner date- so much fun with great food. read more

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Such a wonderful place for cocktails and tapas. A lot of their dishes are super large but they have such a large menu, how could you choose just one? The lasagna and paella needed maybe some salt but overall, great place. Great service and attentive waiters with a great family restaurant vibe! read more

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Nicely decorated.. friendly staff but food was awful! I didn't think you could mess up a Caesar salad but turns out you can. It was basically lettuce with a bunch of mayo and a tad lemon juice, absolutely disgusting! The calamari appetizer which should've been a shareable portion had four rings and two squid ... and the ahi tuna tostada was not fresh tuna. Buyer beware! Way over priced... with so many great restaurants in sd don't waste ur time here. read more

The service is awesome. We visited here again, 18 months after our first visit (which was during the height of COVID-19 Pandemic). We ordered a a greek salad, Tortilla Soup, Potato Tacos, chocolate lava cake, dessert crepes, triple expresso, and a Tamarindo margarita. Food was decent, tortilla soup was the best course. A little disappointed in our patio seating location. Lots if flies in the corner near the building made me leery that we may be sitting on the other side of a trash area. Service was okay. Many minutes went by without us seeing our server. We couldn't find him to replace the dirty dessert spoon he brought us. Just dropped off the dessert & never came back for about 15-20min. So we got another place setting on the server buffet station about 8 feet away from our table. We tip 18-20% but we went with 15% this time. read more

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Food was delicious Luis our waiter one of the best The ambience is always excellent fun. I highly recommend it. It's all good. read more

I've been coming here for years and realized I've never left a review. Everything I've had over the years has always been good. The standout I would say is the bone marrow sope. If I ever see bone marrow on a menu I order it. This is the best! 3 gigantic beef bones full of delicious marrow (meat butter) on top of a slightly piping hot crisp sope. It's accompanied with salt, a spicy sauce and a little jus. Push out that narrow and add o little of each , heaven. We also get the brined garlic. It's raw but pickled enough to take out the bitter. The Caesar salad is well worth the hype do it tableside it's a show. Everything is delicious! I highly recommend. read more

Romesco Mexiterranean Bistro - Terrible picture but you get it. - Mexican Near Me - Bonita, California

Love me some romesco food service music Amazing Service is always on point. Every waiter remembers your name. Food always comes out hot in the licious. My favorite dish is the Avalon Del Mar fresh and yummy The lollipops are delicious. in the little paella it's the spot not too big just in the first two while you have your drinks and let's not forget the music on Fridays and Saturday nights. Loads of fun. read more

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I have been coming since it opened and the last few times service has been off. Wait staff has been there for years, so I don't understand why they changed! We had to ask for bread after food was served, asked for water refill twice and never got it. Dirty dishes piled up until I finally asked to have removed. Restaurant wasn't busy yet so no excuse... last time it was the same scenario... like the waiters don't really care. The food was ok but again, the service sets the tone. I hope they step it up as I'm not the only old customer to have noticed the change. read more

A uniquely wonderful spot in Bonita. The service was incredible - very friendly and warm from front of house through the servers. Happy Hour absolutely cannot be beat - half off of select tapas plus discounted drinks. We ate a variety of dishes and enjoyed them all. The decor is old school cool - very classy and refined. Eager to return to try more of their menu! read more

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