GNO at Barcelona was exactly what we needed!…read more The food was incredible with so many different flavors to try, the ambiance was perfect for catching up with my girls, and our server was absolutely amazing from start to finish. Great service really makes the experience, and they did not disappoint. Already looking forward to our next girls' night!

I came here with a date and it was a great way to try out a bunch of different things and chat over…read moresome drinks. The wait time was really long, but the place was nice and although it was busy, we were able to get our food and drinks. We did put our name down for a table, but they never called our name, thankfully, we already had a space at the bar so not sure why our names weren't eventually pinged for a seat Either way it was good, the parking deck right next to the building makes it very convenient as well. Unfortunately, every bit of parking is paid parking, which is really frustrating but that's kind of just how most downtown places are gonna be I guess It is pretty darn pricey, most of the drinks were above $10 easily.

Nice mix of different foods you can get tapas style. Patatas bravas is always a classic and was…read moremade well. Everything we got was good. I didn't realize the Brussels sprouts dish was a salad when I ordered it but it ended up being good if you like Brussels sprouts. If you like pickled vegetables the mushroom dish is a must as it has mostly pickled vegetables in it. The steak was well made and paired well with the rest of the food. The shrimp/gambas were also delicious. The chicken empanadas weren't my favorite. The staff was very friendly and took good care of us.

Was in town for work came in to eat dinner on Tuesday night. It was busy but surprisingly the place…read moreclose early. I was really impressed with the food. I had just been in Barcelona a few weeks back so my expectations weren't that high. I opted for four different tapas. All of them were really tasty and had a lot of flavor. The goat cheese stuffed peppers were one of my favorites. I also enjoyed the octopus, the croquettes were really good and the lamb meatballs were really tasty. I finished it off with some churros. They were good, but not the best. I would opt for another dessert over them next time. I would definitely come back to this place. Definitely a lot of places to try in the neighborhood but add this to your list if you're into Spanish food and tapas.

One of the best things about traveling is discovering great places to eat. They're usually not very…read morebig, not part of a large chain, but they're full of magic. Mateo, a Spanish tapas bar in Durham, NC, has everything you could want in a good restaurant. You can't miss it!

Interesting place, I would say it's a great date night type of place. We went as a group and had a…read morefixed menu so our experience was not the standard but the food was good and the service friendly. They don't have a lot of Gluten Free options (aside from the stuff that is naturally GF of course) but they did try to accommodate the need and they do have the Estrella GF beer which no one ever has - on draft even. It's a bit of a twist on an actual Spanish restaurant/tapas with some embellishments that aren't authentic but it isn't a bad place to have a meal.

We decided to have dinner at Gonza after a walk on a beautiful Tuesday evening…read more There's plenty of parking in the parking lot. Gonza is located next to Village Deli in the front of the Factory area in Wake Forest. We were seated right away and Annabel was our amazing server. We started with the special drink of the night, peach margaritas, the complimentary chips and the best salsa I think I've ever had. We then ordered guacamole. The drinks were good and the guacamole was ok. For our entrees, my daughter had the Chicken Quesadilla, with a side of plantains. Both good. I had the Barbacoa Quesadilla and a side of half cilantro rice and refried beans. The short rib was tender, but didn't have a lot of taste. The rice and beans were good. The servings were enough to have leftovers. The service was great and the food was good, I would go back.

The food and drinks were super tasty! The server was friendly and had great recommendations. I…read morehaven't been in a few years but the food is still great so I'm glad that their menu and taste has been consistent.

Unfortunately our last visit to Casa Cubana was not great. Service was slow, it took over an hour…read moreto get our food and when we did get it, it was disappointing. My friends asked for steak sandwiches and they had more bread than steak. The steak was so small they could barely taste it. My friend and I asked for palomilla steak and got a churrasco cut. Staff was somewhat friendly.

We decided to give this a try on a Saturday night, the location is unassuming and it's clear that…read moreit's a converted fast food spot as some of the infrastructure still remains. (I think they are trying to get a drive through going?). As we walked to the front door the live music was blaring outside and it was a great night for it..it was a little early so it wasn't too crowded yet but people were enjoying the party. Once inside it was much more quiet, we were actually shocked at how well insulated it was from the music, which is great for those that was a little more cozy experience. We were greeted right away by a very friendly man in a great hat! We had our pick of tables and I would describe the decor as a casual vibe. I'm assuming as the name suggests, it's supposed to feel like you are at someone's home for a party. They had a good bunch of people working and everyone was really nice but they also were clearly family and had some kids running around and just basically enjoying themselves, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The menu was great, loads of options. The drink selection was also good, classic Cuban favorites and others. I chose the coconut mojito and it was fresh made and SO good. For an appetizer we had the guacamole and tostones which were really good, and fresh. For dinner I had the arroz con pollo, which was seasoned really well, the rice was a little under for me but still really good. My husband had the ceviche which he said was the best he's ever had and could have had three more bowls. Overall, great spot. We might come back for the music and drinks on another warm night. They also have a good looking breakfast menu!

It's been a minute since I visited this place. I order 6 empanadas and to my surprise you get 1…read morefree! All the empanadas were just as I remembered it. Also it been too long as their menu expanded. Highly recommend for lunch or dinner.

First time having an empanada that was not from a food truck. You dejected how many to order in…read moremultiple of 3, select your choice, get a dipping sauce and that's it. The filings were overstuffed and the food piping hot. The drinks were coke products in cans. No water available, nor cups or straws. I do not drink soda so this was a negative for me.

Brought my coworker team here for dinner and the experience was absolutely amazing. We tried almost…read moreeverything on the menu and enjoyed the tasting journey we went on. Some favorites were the play on patatas bravas, mushroom melody, elote gnocchi, and the cheesecake absolutely stole the show! We enjoyed wine to pair with our meal and enjoyed the variety they had across Europe and Latin American regions, the cocktail menu also looked solid! I'd absolutely recommend this spot for a group dinner or intimate dinner date night. The service was also attentive and supportive as we decided what to order and as we took our time enjoying our meal.

Good for a group dinner. We had 7 women and ordered about 8-9 small plates and that was enough for…read moreus. Left feeling satisfied but not overly full. Nice service. I wish they brought the small plates out in groups because they started with just one and there were so many of us. Waitress was nice. Drinks were good and strong! Free fudge for the birthday girl!

The food is amazing!!! So flavorful, well done and very tasty. I enjoyed every bite…read moreThe service is amazing The ambiance is very cute restaurant with natural lighting and outdoor dining

I've had this placed saved to try for a while and finally got the opportunity to try it out on a…read morerandom Wednesday. The space is large with plenty of seating and also bar seating. You order your food at the front (bar) and then grab a seat wherever you want. I got a mango margarita which they didn't skimp on the tequila in it! Was sweet enough where I didn't notice at first how much tequila was in it (a win in my book). For dinner, I got the pernil w/cuero which was full of flavor. Tostones were nice and crunchy without being greasy. The rice was just okay, I prefer a bit more sazon and sofrito. I think this restaurant would do well in a more inhabited area instead of connected to the mall but the guy working stated they do very well on the weekends, so I hope it brings them continued business!

My sister and I went to Vinos Finos recently on a Friday around 4:30 and had a stellar experience…read more Somehow I had lived in North Raleigh for MANY years and never tried this place, and I'm so glad we did! The space is cozy, not too big, and lovely. Everyone we interacted with was incredibly friendly & attentive. We even got to meet the Chef and let him know how amazing his curated and creative dishes were! We sat at the bar and were able to be seated right away. We each opted for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon (or two). On to the food! The menu is extensive but not overwhelming. Plenty of delicious and appealing options of small plates to share, but also a few larger ones. We started with the Goat Cheese Stuffed Piquillo Peppers & Truffled Deviled Eggs. Both of these were amazing. The Peppers melt in your mouth and had so much flavor. The Deviled Eggs had the perfect amount of truffle flavor and were perfectly cooked. Next we opted for the Baguette of the day - this one was served with Salami, Burrata, and Arugula. The bread was perfectly crispy and all of the toppings fresh and delicious; this was a perfect combination! Lastly, it was between the Lamb Sliders Trio and the Paella! I really wanted to try the Paella, but my sister and I decided that we would try something a bit lighter and the Sliders looked so elevated, unique, and delicious. They sure did deliver! Served with fresh Goat Cheese, Guacamole, Fresh Jalapeño, Caramelized Onions, and Sriracha, which we got on the side. This dish was absolutely amazing! So different. You wouldn't think to put those flavors together, but it was so great and we would hands-down get it again! All of the food at Vinos Finos was delicious, fun, and fresh. I love how the Chef puts together various flavors that you wouldn't expect. We cannot wait to go back!

Really nice local place. Good selection of wines and the small plates are very tasty. Lamb sliders…read moreare great and the gelato is very good. A wine flight lets you compare taste profiles. It's a relatively small space and can get a bit loud. Excellent staff, we probably had five different folks assisting at one time or another.

I was a bit disappointed with Kokí. We came on a Thursday for lunch because the empanadas looked so…read moregood in the post, but they were out of almost every flavor except for cheese and a mushrooms one or something like that. If we would have had more time, we would have left and went somewhere else. My fiancé and I actually saw two groups (7 people total) leave the restaurant after speaking with the people at the register. We ended up getting the Señor Iglesias Chicken Sandwich, which was good but very messy. The chicken isn't a patty and the bun isn't solid enough to hold the sandwich together so the tomato and chicken strips were constantly falling out. The Spanglish Cuban was very meaty and good as well. Not my type of sandwich but that's what I got from the bite I did have and my fiancé loved it. The pinto beans and steamed white rice were good. I probably won't return out of fear that I might waste time going there because if you don't have the empanadas during your lunch rush, when would you have it.

Found Koki on TGTG and decided to try it out! For ~$6, I got two bowls filled with pulled chicken,…read moreblack beans, salad mix, and white rice. Nothing mind blowing, but it was still a great deal. Service was fast (took about 10 minutes after arrival) and friendly. Ambiance was nice, casual. There's nearby parking in City of Durham garages after 7pm or on weekends. 9/10 would recommend, at least through TGTG!