Here's the deal. I went to the monthly flamenco dance performance. It was very enjoyable and on its own would be a 4. The only thing I don't understand is why they miked the guitar in a smallish restaurant so Smartwatches kept flashed "louder than 90dB" warnings. It really wasn't necessary. But you go to a restaurant for the food. And my food was a 2 with the wind behind it. I had the Chicken Extremena, which is chicken filets with onions, red peppers, potatoes and Spanish sausage. Yes, all those ingredients were in the dish. It was too salty although it did have a bit of a kick. All in all, the ingredients didn't blend well, it sort of seemed like they were thrown together and doused in a generic . A friend had the Veal Corunesa, which is veal and mushrooms sauteed in brandy sauce. She stated that a fine piece of veal was cut into little pieces, overcooked and swimming in brandy sauce. Now, the people who ordered the pan fried filet of fish and the pork chops had good meals. But the chef should be able to do something other than panfry and broil. Last point, I had a chocolate brownie with walnuts and vanilla ice cream for dessert. I am know for my proclivity to eat anything chocolate. I took a bite of a dry brownie and ate the vanilla ice cream. I heard the tiramisu was good. But I didn't have the tiramisa. Service was prompt, surroundings pleasant. So here's the deal. The quality of the food was too erratic to be three stars. The entertainment was very pleasant, so averaging a 4 + 2 equals 3. I have no desire to go back and try again. There are so many good Spanish restaurants in Essex County even outside of the Ironbound that going here for a dinner just seems to be a waste. read more

Sayola Restaurant - The special menu for the flamenco dancing. - Spanish Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Enjoyed a birthday dinner here and everything was pleasant! The food was all very good and large portions. The staff are professional and the ambiance is high-end. The octopus was my favorite! All the seafood was very fresh. read more

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Came here on Friday evening. It wasn't too busy. We parked on a near by road. We were greated and seated. We received complementary bread that was warm, with garlic butter. And complementary spanish potatoes (chips). We ended up ordering the grilled salmon with a side of mash, and a chicken dish that I can't remember the name. Both were pretty good. We then ordered the Tres leches and the bread pudding for dessert. I didn't like the tres leches, the texture was off, but the bread pudding was a 10 out of 10 I highly recommend. Food 8/10 Service 10/10 read more

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Went to the music show for a birthday dinner. Staff was friendly and accommodating helping us find the best seat to watch the show. Portions of food are large and tasty. Great bread and garlic butter served to the table. Music was entertaining and well organized. read more

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Such an amazing place. The entire experience was lovely. Great service. Beautiful ambience. The layout and design was impressive. Food was delicious I wish I had taken pictures. Drinks were on point yummy but still strong. Highly recommend! read more

Sayola Restaurant - Birthday cake - Spanish Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

I can't stop asking myself why I didn't try this restaurant sooner. The ambience is classic, elegant, warm, and welcoming. The host was incredibly attentive, anticipating what customers needed and addressing those needs precisely. The waitstaff were equally professional and courteous. Everything we ordered was delicious. The mussels were fresh, juicy, and full of flavor. The baked scallops were succulent and complex -- I couldn't get enough. The ribeye was enormous and, most importantly, perfectly cooked to medium rare. The steamed lobsters were as good as you can get anywhere. Desserts were sweeter than my taste, but that's just personal preference -- I usually cut about 80% of the sugar from any recipe. This is an unassuming place that delivers something far beyond your everyday dinner -- refined, heartfelt, and worth every visit. read more

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This restaurant is great, but it is in a weird location, so I think they need to meet their full potential. It is located right off Bloomfield Ave. with plenty of parking options, but it is hard to miss. We went to try their happy hour on a rainy night, so it was not very busy at the time. As we were browsing the menu, we were given their hand-cut potato chips. These chips were fresh and delicious. My only complaint is getting a more even salt on them. Some chips had a lot of salt while others had none. A toss will solve this. The menu is small but offers some nice choices. As for what we ordered: Pinchi de Cerdo (3/5) - The pork came on a skewer and was tender. Very nice taste and flavor. Duck Empanadas (3/5) - Interesting because it had plenty of duck but I did not get much duck flavor. The flavors worked. Piquillo Pepper (4/5) - Stuffed with crab and shrimp, this was delicious and can eat this dish with just a fork. High remarks here. Pincho de Salmon y Camarones (4/5) - Perfectly cooked skewers and seasoning well. Many dishes came with the same aioli which I do not like, but the flavor saved it, because it was very tasty. For drinks I ordered Monkey Bay - Sauvignon Blanc and my wife ordered a pineapple Mojito. The wine was average, but the Mojito was really good. Overall, I love eating here and the service is always top-notch. read more

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You truly can't beat the all night happy hour at Sayola. This is perfect if you can't make it out of work early enough to beat a 6pm deadline. My friend and I came Friday evening and the bar was packed! Clearly we weren't the only ones with the idea. We ordered a variety of apps to share - duck empanadas, stuffed peppers, port skewers, and octopus to name a few. I love that they give you a dish of Spanish chips when you sit at the bar. That was a nice surprise. All of the food was delicious and a really great deal in our opinion. We got to try a little of everything. I also visited Sayola for the flamenco dinner which was fun and entertaining. The dinner was solid but I think the happy hour was better. The show is a pre fix menu so you have less variety. It was also quite loud so be mindful if you are coming with a large group. It will be difficult to speak to everyone. All in all, this is a great option in the Montclair area. read more

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Dined here for the first time with another couple. We were able to make same day reservations and were seated on time. Staff was very friendly throughout our experience. We ordered a variety of cocktails, appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Everyone really enjoyed their meals. Overall a nice dining experience! read more

My surprise 55th birthday was given at Sayola. This restaurant exceeded my expectations. The cuisine was perfectly seasoned and the portions were unreal ! The staff which included Francisco was personally attentive to me and all my question. This was such a EPIC NIGHT and quest 3 yrs after are still raving about the Food and how BEAUTIFUL this place is ! I initially gave my Fiancee a party there 2 yrs prior. And is happy to say that I have booked his 65th birthday dinner reservations for 10/22/24 I can't wait to be back and able to experience another Fantastic time. My Favorite place and soo grateful that they survived the Covid era read more

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Excellent food and service. We eat here often and always have a first-rate experience. Highly recommended!

I really wanted to like this place. The service, staff, and decor was wonderful. So were our cocktails. I ordered the patatas bravas which were basically cubed boiled potatoes with spicey ketchup. The potatoes that came as a side dish tasted like Pringles. My Paella Marinera was OK, needed more paprika and saffron. My advice, save your money and go to Newark's Ironbound for a cheaper, tastier, and more authentic dinner. read more

This place is a Spanish food gem. I grew up eating at Spanish restaurants and this place is authentic. The food is fantastic. And the space is really upscale. Recommend the Spanish tortilla, the ham croquettes, the shrimp and green sauce and the Chilean Seabass with shrimp. Excellent cocktails too. Service is top notch. Very friendly too. read more

Loved this restaurant! Went for an anniversary dinner. Great Ambiance, GREAT food, great value. The paella was amazing, so much fish, lobsters, easily fed 2 of us at a great price. Service was fantastic. I miss restaurants having great service. So many are overpriced with terrible service, but they're "trendy". This restaurant is beautiful, with great service, reasonably priced for delicious food. Recommend for special occasions or any time you want a nice meal. There is also a parking garage right next to it, so easy to find parking, which is not easy in other locations in Montclair! read more

Just ok. We sat at the bar. Drinks were good, each had a different tequila drink. Bartender was very nice. It was 7pm on Saturday and it was fairly Empty. Had calamari and duck empanada appetizers and they were meh. Calamari was undercooked and nothing special. Empanadas were tasty but geasy. I don't think I need to hustle back. read more

Sayola is amazing! We go often because we like the food and they have vegetarian options. My husband loves their vegetarian paella and I love everything else. The servers are always friendly. read more

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Definitely missed the mark for me! I saw. This place about 3 months ago and kept it on the radar until now. Let me start by saying the decor is beautiful. We were the first to arrive for the evening and the restaurant was pleasantly quiet. Our waitress was very attentive and informed us that they were BYOB, which we did not know. Not to worry, they have a company that delivers to your table. We looked at the menu, our wine arrived and all seemed well. Well, not exactly. The waitress must have asked us at least 6 times if we were ready to order despite the restaurant being empty. We ordered the garlic shrimp appetizer and as stated in other reviews, they are loaded with garlic. For my taste, that's a good thing. It was the smoked paprika or maybe MSG that threw me. I still have a headache and it's the next day. I am very sensitive to MSG so I can tell when it's been used. Anyway, after about 3 more requests for our dinner order, I requested to know the specials - there were none. So, I asked about the difference in the Sea Salt Branzino (SSB) and the Grilled Branzino (GB). Get ready... they were out of the SSB, which is why I asked. She explained that they were out of whatever sea salt device they use while grilling the fish. Apparently, it's used in the grill. It's also stuffed with spices and herbs, basted in olive oil and topped with sea salt, filleted and served with vegetables. Delish!!! However, the GB is simply grilled whole, not filleted and served with a side of mashed potatoes. Pretty underwhelming. She did not offer or inquire if the GB could be given the pizazz treatment sans sea salt ritual. So, with that level of service, I called a nearby restaurant, booked a table, asked for my shrimp (to go) and left! Paid the check of course but I will never go back. read more

Sayola Restaurant - Nice decor - Spanish Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Where do I even begin with this experience? I'm planning a surprise 40th birthday party for my husband on October 19th and made a reservation for 12 people about three weeks ago. When I first called, I spoke with Sandra, who was incredibly accommodating and kind. I explained that this party is important, as it's a surprise for my husband, and I wanted to recreate an evening from our summer trip to Spain. Sandra and I agreed on a semi-private room, where we would be sharing the space with a few other tables, and we made arrangements to bring decorations, a flamenco dancer, and a cake. Today, I visited the restaurant to finalize the menu and check out the space. I was greeted by Francisco (the manager, though I'm unsure of his actual name), and that's when everything took a turn. He informed me that if a larger party (13+ people) books the same night, we would be moved to the main dining area--this was never discussed. As for decorations? He dismissed it, saying if it doesn't fit on the table, we can't have it. The flamenco dancer I arranged? No space for a 30-minute performance on a busy Saturday. All these details had been confirmed with Sandra well in advance, yet Francisco seemed uninterested in honoring them. He then emphasized that he "can't lose money" and treated my party of 12 as more of an inconvenience than valued customers. His message was loud and clear--profits come first, and if my party gets bumped from the private room, so be it. He even suggested I move the entire event to Sunday because it would be more convenient for the restaurant. Excuse me? I'm not asking for a favor or a free meal. To the owner: I strongly recommend reevaluating your management. Francisco's behavior was unprofessional and completely lacking in hospitality, while Sandra has been a model of customer service. Perhaps she should be the one managing. I work in the city and regularly deal with restaurants, and I've never been spoken to or treated like an inconvenience. UPDATE: After my review, Sandra called to apologize on Francisco's behalf, and while I appreciate her gesture, it's Francisco from whom I should have received an apology. Unfortunately, the restaurant failed to offer any meaningful solutions, so I've chosen to spend my money where it's truly valued. If you're looking for an exceptional dining experience where your party is treated with care, I highly recommend driving just two minutes down Bloomfield Avenue to Faubourg Restaurant. There, you'll enjoy a private room, a dedicated party coordinator attentive to every detail, and three personal waiters ensuring a flawless event. Sayola, perhaps it's time to take a few notes from your neighbors. read more

The service was everything here -absolutely fantastic. The cuisine is true Andalusian Spanish flavors and combinations. The Paella looks too huge for 1 person, but I had the Gambas a la hijo (Shrimp in Garlic oil) and it was very delicious. Then I had the jamon croquettes which were awesome. The only sad thing is no Sangria! They DO have a BYOB policy which seems to be a thing out in Montclair. A few restaurants do that, but otherwise very excellent experience. I would recommend you come with wine, preferably a Spanish oneN read more

Sayola Restaurant - Croquettes delicious and authentic of Spain! - Spanish Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Sayola Restaurant in Montclair. Excellent food, good service and great entertainment. I highly recommend it.

Came here for an early dinner (6 pm) on a Friday night. By the time I left at 8 pm, this place was packed. First things first, the decor here is beautiful, but I think the one thing that blew me away was the service. Our server, Carlos, was beyond helpful. He explained all of the specials in impeccable detail as well as made recommendations based on what we were in the mood for. He was attentive even when the place started to get full. The entire staff that we interacted with were kind and helpful. To start, the combinación is where it's at (if you're not vegetarian). It has chorizo, skirt steak and shrimp in a gravy garlic sauce. If you get this, save the complimentary bread to dip in the sauce . I had the Valenciana paella (seafood) and it was pretty good and the portion is definitely for 2 people (they charge $8 if you share). The only thing I have to say about the paella is that it needed more salt, but hey, that's what the salt shaker is for. Cappuccino was a great end to the meal. Prices are pretty standard, this meal for two was about $85. Oh, this place (like most of Montclair) is BYOB. Parking in the area is atrocious considering the construction of the hotel. If you're a local and can walk, do it. read more

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I got to try this newish spot in the one of the new condo buildings w/a small group of friends. As they have another location in Tenafly, the new restaurant kinks seem worked out which is good. I loved the space with dim lighting w/chandeliers, trendy banquets, and formal yet comfy seating. They have a wine bottle wall yet its BYOB? We did have a reservation as the place seems to get packed on weekend nights. Service was good t/o and provided recommendations and helped pace the meal well so we could all enjoy appetizers leisurely. We split the gambas al ajillo ($16.95) which came with 12 medium shrimp. Like the portion size as everyone got to try a few and it was good flavor though sadly, I've had better. We also tried the pulpo a la gallega ($19.95) - traditional Spanish octopus which was really tender and fresh yet very small portion. We did try a cheese plate which was small. For my main, I got the paella negra ($31.95) which was squid ink rice with a variety of seafoods. Absolutely delicious as the rice was cooked perfectly with good flavor from the sauce (aoli gratin) which was on top in the middle. HUGE portion as I took most home but enjoyed it alot the next day. Others got the sea bass and loved it - apparently this is one of the most popular dishes. For two who got the meat - grilled skirt steak and oxtail respectively - they both raved about the flavor of the meat. Welcome addition to Montclair! read more

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I am only giving 4 stars for now since I have yet to try a lot of other items that sounded amazing. We had the oil/garlic clams, beef empanadas and the skirt steak with shrimp, rice and veggies-which everything was delicious. Such a classy ambience, attentive waiters and overall great experience. Looking forward to coming back soon, oh and try to lychee martini - delicious!! read more

Wonderful food and great service. The atmosphere is very elegant and the decoration very different and beautiful! A little expensive but a lot of food!!! Definitely will come back! read more

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Good service & ambience, but mediocre food. Not a single dish was outstanding. Disappointed!

Girls night out, we decided to try this place. Very disappointed. Despite all the bottles in their pictures they're a BYOB. You can order wine but they have to order it from another store and wait for it to come. We decided not to order the wine and stuck to water. The bread they brought out was the best thing we ate all night. We started with some appetizers. We ordered shrimp, scallops, and empanadas. Nothing had any flavor to it. The scallops were actually 1 scallop covered in crab and cheese. The shrimp had no flavor and kind of chewy. The empanadas were ok a little dry. All in all we decided not to order anything else since nothing had flavor and was extremely overpriced. The staff was attentive but a little more than we wanted. They also stood in a line right next to our table. All in all did not enjoy my experience at all read more

Sayola Restaurant - Scallop covered in cheese and crab! Only 1 scallop - Spanish Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Good food, attentive staff, good staff and guest ratio. Great prices and excellent flamenco show. read more

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Great edition to the neighborhood! Beautiful looking restaurant... lots of atmosphere! Very festive with good Spanish food. We had the special- striped bass with crab meat and risotto. It was yummy!!! Want to come back for more. read more

Just ok, definitely not worth the price. Service was decent, attentive to an extent, but our glasses of water were not filled throughout the dinner. I think that is telling. Food was just ok, definitely overpriced for what you get. Portions are too big as well, but at least you get your money's worth. This restaurant would be well seved cutting portions by half and prices a third. I had the seared tuna special as my entree. It was cooked well, just gently seared. But otherwise it was bland. That more or less describes the flavor of all the food I've tried here thus far: well executed, but balnd. I would save your money and go elsewhere. read more

Sayola Restaurant - Spanish Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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A friend and I tried this place and had a great experience. It's BYOB but they have a runner that can grab your order for wine at your table and he goes to the store and bring it back for you. That was super convenient. The waiters were rather friendly and the food was really good. read more

Honestly, we came twice. The first time we came 45 mins before it closed. The second time we came 1 hr and 45 mins before it closed. They turned us away both of the times saying because they were closing.. Very frustrating. Will not return. read more

Found this Resturant on yelp during the holiday season and it really is a beautiful Resturant ... the service was incredible very accommodating ! My fave was the salmon it was delicious , I normally love all things oxtail but i am not use to the flavor profile of this oxtail, the red wine was really loud in the flavor ... the shrimp and garlic we had to start was delicious and everything was fresh and piping hot when it arrived to the table . .. I will def be back soon read more

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What a fantastic experience! The large space is beautifully decorated, adorned with illuminated wine bottles. The staff couldn't be friendlier or more accommodating. The menu is lengthy, a long list of delicious sounding items that make it hard to narrow it down. But here comes the waiter, he'll surely guide us. Oh no, he just read off at least 5 appetizers and 5 more entree specials that all sounded incredible! We finally decided on Shrimp in (serious) Garlic Sauce, Garlic Soup( even more serious), Blue Cheese Stuffed Figs and a Jamon and Manchego Board that could only be described as " sexy"! All were spectacular! Entrees: Bone in Ribeye, Stuffed Shrimp, Fettuccine Special with Jumbo Shrimp in a Truffle Cream Sauce and Sea Bass with black risotto.Everything was executed to perfection. I will say that I wasn't overly impressed by any of the desserts. However, I don't have much of a sweet tooth and this will not stop me from returning. It's a BYO and a little on the pricey side but well worth it! Can't wait to return read more

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Awesome!! Prasanni and Francisco were key! I'll be honest I had trouble seeing the menu (I left the house without my glasses) but Francisco has a stash of glasses and omg! I could see! Thank you Prasanni & Francisco for going above and beyond to make our evening perfect! read more

This was a beautiful atmosphere and the food was amazing. The service alone was five stars. From the appetizer to the dessert everything was eye-rolling good. It is a BYOB but even if you forget they have a great delivery service. Perfect date night, we will be back. read more

Sayola Restaurant - a plate of fried squids with a lemon wedge - Spanish Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

New favorite spot! Only downside like most places in Montclair is that they don't serve alcohol but they have a menu so you can buy bottles and have it delivered within mins! Diverse bread basket and choice of two butters and olive spread. Had two shared apps, a hot and cold one. Good sized had left overs. And got the shared paella valenciana. It was good even with two people we still had left overs. Rice slightly mushy for my taste but still delicious. Skipped on dessert this time as we were stuffed but the selection was good! Excited to come back and try I have my eye on a few more apps and entree. The staff were very courteous and friendly. Our waiter was Francisco and he was very attentive! Really loved the decor. Perfect for date nights. Celebrations and anything that needs a slight notch higher than casual. Parking (paid garage parking) was across the street. read more

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Truly exceptional dinner. Everything from apps to main courses to sangria was just fantastic. I live in the area and am kicking myself I didn't come here earlier. A true 5 star dining experience. Loved it. read more

We were notified upon arrival that there was a problem with the kitchen and we could be seated (8:30 Saturday evening), but need to wait at least 20 mins. to order; no problem for us. It's not unusual for new establishments to have a few hiccups. The interior is interesting reminds me of one of the Portuguese places in the Iron Bound. The empanadas were tasty, slightly oily, but good. The cheese plate was good, but overpriced at almost $20. The pork chop w/peppercorn was tender and well cooked & came with fries and veggies (squash & carrots), also well prepared, but nothing special. The stuffed sole came with the same veggies and mashed potatoes (room temp. - not warm at all). I din't care for the sole ($35); tasted slightly cheesy. I ate less than half. We also had the potato gratin and sautéed spinach; both were very good. The caramelized rice pudding was also very good. The owner apologized for the wait and credited our check for the sole, so our bill was around $100. I will return and give this restaurant another try. read more

Sayola Restaurant - Spanish Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I cannot say enough good things about this newly opened restaurant in Montclair. The decor is impeccable and the service was very good. As a Spaniard, I am a true critic of quality Spanish food. I came in on a Sunday afternoon with 2 family members. For my first visit we tried the beef empanadas, grilled octopus, and cheese platter for our shared appetizers. Beef empanadas were warm and crispy come with a creamy pink sauce (not really sure what it was made of but it was good), grilled octopus was smoky and tender, and the cheese platter had a good assortment. For the main course we shared a squid ink paella which was loaded with mussels and clams. The rice itself was moist, flavorful and accompanied by a delicious garlic aioli sauce (my favorite). Im fortunate to have gone on a nice quiet Sunday because I am sure when people hear about this restaurant it will get packed quickly. For the quality of the food, the price was excellent. Can't wait to come back! read more

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I was so pleased that food was so good! Paella was excellent! Make a reservation, it's getting busy