My new employer has offices in Atlanta and Washington D.C. so this has given new life to my yelp reviews. Taberna del Alabardero is a short walk from the office so naturally I had to try it. I took an office colleague with me and immediately upon entering I felt my business casual attire was just a hair out of place. This place is posh and a great place to take a date. Soon as homeboy walked up with tuxedo I knew the food was going to be fire. Since this was my last meal in DC I wanted to go all out. We ordered the Croquetas de Jamón Serrano - Pulpo a la Gallega - Gambas al Ajillo - Calamares a la andaluza con allioli de ajetes. The clear favorite was the shrimp and the croquetas. The cheesecake was also decadent. Don't sleep on that octopus dish because the next time I'm in DC I'm taking my Queen. Taberna del Alabardero is spot on. read more

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Went here for a group wine dinner. Food was great -- favorites were the grouper and the ham croquettes. The dessert was pretty fabulous too (and I am not really into sweets). Service was polite and professional. The private room for our event was too warm (it was an unusually hot April evening) and there was inexplicably some sort of talk radio show coming through the speakers at low volume. Kinda weird. Otherwise, a lovely evening at a lovely venue. read more

Taberna del Alabardero - Dessert! Hot/molten chocolate thingie with sumptuous vanilla ice cream. - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice Spanish restaurant with an extensive and traditional Spanish menu. Unfortunately my dining companion wanted to eat paella so I did not have the opportunity to try a different dish. However we did have the Serrano and manchego cheese plate which was just the right size as an appetizer. We also had the gazpacho that we both loved and the mixed paella was delicious. Our waiter was very attentive. The hostesses however, we're a different story. They seemed a little flustered with the line of guests and were short in courtesy. Worse part was on our way out I asked if they could call a cab (pretty much the norm in any restaurant) and I was told "they didn't do that". I was with a person with disabilities and wouldn't have asked except I was not familiar with the area. This is a nice restaurant with pretty high prices. I would have expected a little more on the service part. That's the difference between a good restaurant and a great one. read more

This is great for large groups - we had 15 plus and were seated in the private room. When the door was closed, it felt like we were in a grand dining room at a private residence! Our menu was pre-set and guided through wonderful options. All the food was flavorful. The staff were friendly and helpful during our meal. read more

I was debating whether this would be a 3 or 4 stars. But amazing customer service wins every time! I called last week and made a bday reservation with Ana. We were to be seated in front, or close to the flamenco performance. I explained I had never seen a flamenco show before and it was my bday, so I was looking forward to this. She told me arrive at 7:45, so we can put our orders in, because the show starts at 8 and it is quite loud. Well lo and behold, we are seated indoors and I see a show happening outdoors. I asked the waiter if the dancers travel inside because I was expecting to be seated where I could see and hear the show. She apologized and told me it is outdoors only. I told her this was unacceptable and the only reason I chose this restaurant was for the "flamenco" component. She was very nice, professional and I know it wasn't her fault, but I explained the food was not the determining factor and I could have went to Ruth Chris', so at this point I asked for the manager. I had to request a manager 4 times! The server came back and said there is a table outside, however it won't be right in front. We agreed to move. (Still no manager) Well it was a pointless move, because the point of flamenco is to be able to see the foot work. From our new table, we could see waist up. Now we had a new serve named Juan, who was also nice and professional. I told him my night was ruined and wanted to know how the establishment was going to rectify this. Ramon finally came by, (GM) and he explained, Ana was out sick and they have several Anas that work there, but that those kind of promises should not be made. Nevertheless, there was a bday card waiting at the table, so the message was definitely communicated. An hour later (they must do a show at 8 and then at 9) a table was opening in the front and Ramon said he could move me again but at this point, I declined, we were cozy and already eating. Juan asked us what drinks we would like on the house. It was a nice gesture and we chose a passion fruit cocktail. To make me happy, they went heavy on the liquor. I had to ask for another splash of jugo de piña! But after the seating mishap, let's move on to the food. The tapas we ordered were the bread with Iberian ham. Could have been amazing but the garlic marinade on top, makes the bread soggy. The parts of the bread that were not wet, were crusty and flaky. Maybe the chef can consider putting the garlic sauce on top of the ham, so as to not soak the bread. I would give this a 2.5 out of 5. The mussels meh. They needed a lot more flavor and they tasted just like the sea. I also ordered the garlic shrimp. Now this was out of this world and they came piping hot! I should have ordered 3 servings because that's how savory and garlicky these shrimp were. They also were the perfect texture and not overcooked. I actually started dipping my mussels into the shrimp sauce! The pork belly sighh, had so much potential, but I realize every Hispanic culture prepares food differently: I like mine fried extra hard or crunchy. They leave theirs too soft, so while the pork was seasoned nicely, it was too chewy to be enjoyed. Had it been fried 5 minutes longer, much of the fat would have puffed up and hardened. That was a 3 out of 5. The crab balls were delish and reminiscent of poppers! The surprise hit of the night--the fried eggplant drizzled with honey--perfection! We loved it. I regret not getting an order to go home. I sampled the red and white sangria, and like other reviews pointed out, they are "weak," mostly juice so don't expect anything strong, but we did like the white over the red. The tapas/appetizers filled us up so we didn't order an entree. Now, for the turn of events!! Dessert time was the absolute highlight! We should have started with dessert. I ordered a Spanish French toast that was a giant cream puff. The texture on the outside was golden, crispy and flaky, while the inside was creamy, soft and fluffy. I've never had anything like it and I devoured it. The toast was garnished with fresh blackberries, blueberries and strawberries. This is definitely a brunch dish! We also had the homemade rice pudding--creamy and delicious without being too sweet. Perfect! I asked to sample the mango icecream and it too, was delicious. We should have started with desserts bc I had a smile on my face the whole time while eating the sweets! What started off as my night being ruined--due to the All Star Staff and management, the night was able to be saved! I left feeling happy and full. Ramon, Juan and everyone else made my night amazing, that I almost forgot I couldn't see the show. Definitely give this place a try but if you like fun and lively, you have to sit outside, the inside (unfortunately) has the ambiance e of a funeral parlor. In fact, I recommend they play some flamenco or fandango softly in the background to give it more of a vibe. All in all though, I was very happy with my experience. read more

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Good service, ok food and nice atmosphere. We went there during the restaurant week and had a great time.

Wonderful, authentic food and music. This place is a DC institution. Would go again!

What started as a promising evening turned into one of the most disgusting and offensive dining experiences I've ever had. Not just because of the food, but because of the appalling way we were treated by the manager on 8/5/25 at Taberna del Alabardero. I had been to the restaurant before and genuinely enjoyed it, so I brought a dear friend, excited to share what I thought would be a lovely experience. We ordered a glass of rose for happy hour, then a full bottle. With it, we got the octopus with potatoes from the HH menu and manchego with raspberry from the regular menu. The potatoes arrived half-raw completely undercooked. I grew up in Europe. I've eaten potatoes my entire life. These weren't al dente, they were simply not cooked. The staff said they'd cook them more. What came back was the same potatoes, just hotter still raw inside. Trying to make the best of it, we accepted the server's suggestion to replace them with ham croquettes. The moment they arrived and I cut one open, there it was a hair inside the food. Not on the plate. INSIDE! That was it. Appetite - gone. But we were trying to be polite as I worked at the restaurant for over 7 years and been through it all! We didn't want to cause a scene. The manager approached and encouraged us to try something else - his idea. Eggplant with honey. We agreed, trying to salvage the experience. What came out was a plate of eggplant chips drenched in honey. Not appetizing at all. The manager kept asking if we liked it. I was very honest and said it's not up to my taste and then he turned to my friend a sweetheart. She said "it's okay," even though she barely had a bite. He wouldn't let it go. Eventually, he pushed us to order the manchego again since we "liked it before," just to end the conversation. When the bill came, not only was nothing comped beyond the problematic dishes, there was also no apology. I calmly mentioned that the wine was lovely but the food experience was awful and after finding a hair in the food, one would expect at least a dessert or drink offered as a gesture. Instead, the manager smugly replied "That's not our policy," and then proceeded to tell us, "Maybe you SHOULD NEVER come back." He actually told us not to return after we stayed polite through undercooked food, a hair in our appetizer, and his patronizing attitude. To top it all off, he said his salary DOESN'T include dealing with these kinds of issues. ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE . This place went from one of my favorite spots to a complete disappointment. Not just because of one bad dish but because of a lack of basic hospitality, professionalism and human decency. I will never be returning, and I would caution anyone who expects even the most basic standards of cleanliness or respect. read more

ALL THREE of u S GOT HORRIBLE FOOD POISONING. IN BED FOR 24 hours. do not eat here. could have been the Luke warm greasy oil on the potatoes or the beer chicken which was as tough as shoe leather. I still feel like crap. I might attribute our sickness to something else. but we were all throwing up last night they will be reported to the health department Besides getting food poisoning the food is tired and yesteryear. way better choices for tapas in dc read more

I loved this place! I spent some time in Madrid as a student, and I felt like I had been transported back to Spain as soon as I stepped in. The waiters were very professional and gracious, and seemed to take pride in their work, just like in Spain. Also the decorations and atmosphere were very nice. The food was great, too! I had gambas al ajillo, which is shrimp cooked in olive oil with garlic, and it was delicious. I was there at 4:30 in the afternoon during COVID, and it was still pretty busy!I think any restaurant doing that well under those conditions must be very popular. There was a group of men at a table in the corner chatting in Spanish and drinking wine when I arrived. They were still there when I left. I have the feeling they are from Spain and maybe work at the Spanish Embassy and this is their hangout that reminds them of home. A good sign of the restaurant's authenticity! read more

Taberna del Alabardero - Gambas al ajillo and tortilla de patata. Yum! - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Authentic Spanish food, beautiful decors, excellent service, absolutely will return to try more dishes! The Gazpacho and paella are simply AMAZING. We also love the octopus and shrimp tapas! read more

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I went here for Restaurant Week. I don't recommend it for this, since it's already an expensive restaurant. If you wanted paella with Restaurant Week, you had to pay an extra $16 on top of the expensive prices already; so you're left instead eating chicken or salmon, which you could get anywhere else. They also give you ONE piece of bread before the meal; seems a little stingy when you know they have the money to give each table a bread basket. But the happy hour menu does look good, and I would go back for that (and the patatas bravas). But they don't have any unique cocktails: it's your standard margarita, mojito, sangria, etc. But the HH prices are at least reasonable. read more

Taberna del Alabardero - The flan is very heavy on cinnamon! - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Charges you automatic gratuity of 20% and a credit card fee of 3% LOL no thanks won't come back solely because of this money grab

I came here for restaurant week. The food was underwhelming. I got the Patatas Bravas (potatoes and cheese), the chicken Paella, and churros. next time I'll try something else and update the review. The appetizer and main course had no flavor and was very bland. The desert tasted bomb! We all got the churros. Ambiance: Most of my rating goes towards how gorgeous this place is! The service was great as well. Everything felt very luxe. The servers know what they're doing they literally serve you with elegance. The decor makes you feel like you're in another country! Food 3/5 Ambiance 5/5 Service 5/5 read more

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The food is fresh and beautiful. A little sweeter than my preference. Nice ambiance and service. We came for early so no reservations needed. read more

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Found Taberna del Alabardero on Yelp from their great reviews after giving up on a different restaurant with a long waitlist, so I did not know what to expect. The interior decor is kind of classic, old fashioned upscale restaurant style. Would be a great place for a date, but maybe not so much for business or family with young kinds. Kind of felt a bit out of place here, but the food was great. I had the seafood paella, which was great. The portion can be shared with two people (maybe more) and is still very large with lots of different types of seafood. When they serve the paella, it comes out in a big pan and they split it up table side. They sort of arrange the seafood on the plate almost as if to count the shrimp lol. read more

We went for lunch. The food is amazing. My daughter had the lamb steak and I had fish. Both with red wine. Delicious! And the service was as good as the food. read more

Taberna del Alabardero - Lamb steak - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ummm, how have I, in the 20+ years of living in the DC area, never known about Taberna del Alabardero? This is the closest I have felt like I've been living under a rock. How embarrassing for me! If you enjoy paella and have never tried Taberna del Alabardero, you have to make a reservation pronto. It is a traditional Spanish restaurant founded in Madrid that has been in DC since the late 1980s. Obviously, the star of the menu is paella. Each paella is cooked for a minimum of two portions, and each portion feeds one person. Paella takes at least 25 minutes to cook. I've had both the paella de langosta (lobster, shrimp, mussels, and clams) and paella con pollo y txistorra (chicken and txistorra sausage). Both are spectacular and flavorful. I particularly enjoyed the paella de langosta. Plenty of seafood and the paella was savory and fresh. There is also paella with squid ink, shrimp, and baby squid, paella with seafood and chicken, paella with oxtail, and paella with vegetables. In addition to paella, Taberna del Alabardero serves a plethora of tapas, appetizers, cheese and charcuterie, and fideua (pasta paella). There are also seafood entrees and meat entrees. Service was friendly and attentive. This is a great place to take your family, your date, your friends, and your colleagues. Very much recommend! read more

Taberna del Alabardero - Paella de Langosta - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A surprising plethora of vegetarian options for a Spanish restaurant, and I appreciated the very flexible, attentive service when we asked to customize the restaurant week menu. To start we had the fried eggplant, gazpacho, and fried manchego with jam. Eggplant was good - clearly skillfully and delicately fried, although I couldn't help but wishing it had come with lemon and salt rather than honey. Manchego was my favorite of the meal, with such a delectable contrast between the salty cheese and sweet jam. Gazpacho was nicely tart, would recommend. The vegetarian paella was flavorful, and I appreciate the richness added by the chickpeas. I felt the texture could have been a bit crispier though? At times I found the rice too moist, and craved some contrast. Loved the churros - having grown up on subway cart churros in NYC, I was shocked by how good these could be when made fresh! read more

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Great dishes The atmosphere excellent Service are professional I love the seafood paella And the sangria ...omg very tasty read more

I love paella and I have always l loved coming here since I was younger. This is true Spanish cuisine. So here I are my thoughts after all the years. The decore is super dated. Everything in Red. This is either totally tacky or nostalgic - you pick. For us, coming on the weekend before the inauguration was very interesting. First you had to walk there since it was inside the wall (I felt like I was walking into escape from New York). And of course with the current COVID restrictions, we were going to eat outside. Fortunately they have done a great job setting up their outdoor space and heating system. It was a little chilly but totally workable. Now to the food. As always we are gluten free so they were very accommodating and brought us gluten free bread to the table which we dipped in some really good olive oil. Next, I had a shrimp, mango, and avocado salad that was fantastic. My wife had the octopus which she liked, but thought it was a bit salty. Then we shared the paella negra. This is where the rice is cooked in squid ink so it comes out totally black. It had tons of squid and about eight himno shrimps in it. I am not a squid lover, but enjoyed the rice and the shrimp. It is salty by nature but the cream that comes with it really helps. To wash it all down we had Spanish Gin and Tonics. That was so amazing that when it was time for desert, I had another one instead of any sweets (we were walking so I did not have to worry about the count of drinks). In the end, I think we had somewhat of a mixed bag. Decoré - 3 Stars Outdoor seating - 4 Stars Food - 3.5 stars Drinks - 5 stars Service - 5 stars Clearly the last two influenced my vote in addition to the fact they were open in the middle of the lockdown for inauguration. Way to go!! read more

It is a fabulous atmosphere here - great artwork, comfortable and cozy seating all part of the traditional upscale Spanish experience. The seafood paella was very good, but light I thought on the seafood. The service was really good. I would perhaps try another dish to see if my rating is accurate. 5 for service and atmosphere, but 3 for the paella. read more

Party of 2 on Valentine's Day. Reservations at 7:45pm. Arrived at the restaurant and five minutes later was seated at a table in the middle section with other patrons sitting within three feet of us. Talk about intimate! I felt like I knew more about my neighbor's conversation more than my own date. We both looked at the menu provided and saw it was a pre-fixe menu. There was no advertisement of this when the reservation was made and quickly asked the server if this was the only dining option tonight. He confirmed, and thirty minutes later we found out that was a BIG, FAT, LIE! I get that the "holiday" puts restaurants in a strain, but that was only the start of our woes. Yes, you can still order off the regular menu, but still, why provide misinformation to a guest? Next, if a pre-fixe menu alleviates the burden, why did it take 30-50 minutes between courses? Sat waiting for the next course without even a drink in hand because the server couldn't come by the table check in on us. Only checked in a total of two times in the three-hour long dining experience, and one of those was after we paid the check with a different server. Terrible service and vibe from the get-go made for a lackluster experience. Food wise, on the pre-fixe menu was a beet and pate starter, pumpkin soup, cod and monkfish dish, beef tenderloin dish, and cake dessert. This is in simplest terms what was on the menu to save anyone from thinking their fancy description on the menu warranted a $92 per person price point. Pate was like eating a thick slice of deli ham with potato chips as garnish. Pumpkin soup was tasty, but it's soup; not impressive. The fish dish lacked seasoning and my beef dish was ordered medium but came to the table rare. It took five minutes to get a server's attention to switch out the dish and an addition fifteen minutes waiting for the replacement. By the dessert came out, there was really no desire to eat a cake that tasted like it came from a grocery store, accompanied with chocolate covered strawberries. I am a firm believer that dining on Valentine's Day isn't always the easiest on the service industry, but I also believe it's an opportunity to showcase your restaurant to new diners. In this case, this specific instance, Taberna del Alabardero lost out on repeat business within the first five minutes. Unsatisfactory service from the front of house, poor display of culinary arts from the back of house, which is why I won't be returning to their house for dinner, or anything else for that matter. You might be wondering, why two-stars then? Well, I did have a gorgeous date so it made up for the whole experience. Her beauty across the table helped me forget the disdain I felt towards the business. read more

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Had a reservation with my gfs on a Saturday afternoon. Restaurant is less than a minute walk out of the Farragut West metro station. Buffet style of food and bottomless drinks all for $35 at a 2 hour seating! There was limited options for food, but it was still all good. All types of bottomeless drinks- Mimosas, beer, wine, Bellini. You have to walk up a floor to get to the 3 stall bathroom. Place was cozy. Staff was extremely Nice! A good time! They also apparently have happy hour specials during the week as well. read more

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We gave this place a try for Restaurant Week. Wonderful decor, complimentary parking in the garage right across the street (after 4PM weekdays and all day on weekends), the food was awesome and the staff was very friendly and attentive. We had the seafood paella and it was excellent. The other dishes coming out of the kitchen looked just as good, and I'm sure they were! Only negative for me is my wife and I had to order the same paella since they're made for two. Not quite sure I understand why. What does a single diner do? read more

Taberna del Alabardero - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Amazing scenery, perfect location and food! The staff was very nice and helpful. It is a perfect date night restaurant. The entertainment is amazing and so authentic and unique. I ordered the paella and it was so flavorful, tasty and fresh. I will be back for more! read more

Taberna del Alabardero - Paella - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We were visiting DC to see the cherry blossoms and found taberna on Yelp. Few blocks from White House. There's a parking garage right in front of the restaurant n free parking for restaurant patrons. Nice restaurant with friendly staff . For appetizers we had the Patatas Bravas, calamari Fritos Con Allioli, anchovies w toasted bread and salmorejo and ensalada Classico alabardero. They were all delicious . Yum yum. It was the first time I tasted salmorejo which is like a tomato soup n was so good . We had the seafood paella de Langosta and the salt crusted branzino which was v interesting. The fish was grilled n covered in salt. Was a procedure to debone it. But tasted good n wasn't salty. The paella was so good with plenty of seafood - lobster, shrimp, squid n mussels and was v moist. We couldnt finish the rice as we wanted to save room in our tummies for the delicious deserts - flan con caramelo, torreja con coffee y helardo de vanilla ( kinda bread pudding ) and a napoleon. OMG the deserts were heavenly n just the right size to satisfy that sweet tooth, Thanks for a great dinner. Will certainly be back. read more

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Great experience! Ordered pan tumacaJamon iberico, patatas bravas, and For dessert order the tres leches and churros con chocolate!! Delicious! read more

Worth it? YES!! Repeat? Yes! Wow. If I'd give this place 6 stars I have never been to a restaurant that took care of a special occasion as well as this place did. They HANDWROTE a card thanking us for spending my wife's BDay celebration and topped off the table with rose petals! Wow. Instant fan for life and above and beyond anything I've experienced. Starting from the host stand to the servers, everyone was friendly and professional. + Shrimp was cooked perfectly. Save the juices for the warm bread they give you +Jamon Iberico was so good, we ordered another TOGO. The crackers help offset the richness ++Paella was good, but ask for the spicy sauce on the side. That kicked things up a whole another level to make it so much better. Caution: it is muy caliente aka super spicy + Croquettes Jamon Serrano was very creamy on the inside and delicious ~ Fried Manchego was okay.. kind of like a mozzarella stick but not worth. **Pro Tip** They validate the parking garage across the street so get in there. Also, it closes at 9PM but the server has the key card to let you out after hours! read more

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I returned for Tapas a month later and the Croqetas del Boletas were fantastic. Hot, crispy on the outside and just bursting melt-in-your-mouth goodness inside. Quality shows and the filling is creamy, buttery, and the boleta flavor is something to savor with a glass of roja. read more

Taberna del Alabardero - An anniversary treat. - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a wonderful restaurant. Awesome lobster paella and very well cooked. The sangrias was one of the best I have ever had. I love the ambience and the service. Highly recommend visiting this spot and we will add it our list of favorites in DC! read more

We stopped by for our anniversary and was so pleasantly surprised with everything. Food service, ambiance, music, everything was so nice. Service was excellent as well which make this restaurant a place to come back. read more

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Craving some seafood and paella one evening, we decided to grab some takeout from Taberna del Alabardero and we were not disappointed. The PAELLA DE MARISCO tasted flavorful and freshly cooked, with a delicious mix of shrimp and oysters and other seafood. The PATATAS BRAVAS were just the right amount of crispy, with a wonderful dipping sauce that was spicy and satisfying. And the ASPARAGUS were gigantic and had a delicious hint of smokiness and char that you can't replicate over the stovetop at home. For what it's worth, the service was also friendly and prompt too. read more

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Beautiful, family-owned restaurant in DC with a warm atmosphere and formal table service. We sat on the patio to enjoy a later Friday evening dinner and were treated to live music and flamenco! My partner and I shared the fried manchego and lobster + crab paella. The wine list was extensive, so we also ordered a Rioja tempranillo + cab blend. Everything was excellent! Would recommend for a leisurely dinner with people you want to catch up with over food! read more

Taberna del Alabardero - Langosta paella - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Awesome experience! We came on a Saturday night and there was a live music performance with a Spanish guitar, percussion, and a Flamenco dancer. The service was excellent. Very attentive waiters. The sangria was delicious! I was a big fan and was able to get a free one by checking in. S/o to Yelp! We got the paella chicken and seafood option. This meal is for a minimum of two people but in my opinion it was a lot of food for the two of us. However, it was $38, which is very reasonable. For a Spanish restaurant I think the paella was appropriate but not exceptional. I've had better home made paella. The rice wasn't cooked super well there were a few pieces that were a bit undercooked. In conclusion, great service and environment! The food was solid as well. read more

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Came for happy hour, had a red sangria and some pintxos. Food was flavorful and filling, and the sangria was yummy! The waiters were quick and attentive, paying attention and ready to remove a plate or take an order immediately. The outside space is really nice, I sat outside during a quick rain after which they raised the automated patio walls to allow a breeze in. All in all, lovely experience! read more

Taberna del Alabardero - Octopus, goat cheese, anchovy pintxos - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I wish I could give 0 stars just based on the treatment my husband and I got just from stepping foot in this restaurant. We were looking for a place to eat after attending the cherry blossom festival in DC. We came across this restaurant and asked for a table. Mind you we were dressed more casually (jeans, sweater) for comfortably walking around. We could tell the restaurants was nice-ish, but saw other customers seated outside wearing t-shirts and jeans (also keep in mind those customers were older and "yt" - iykyk), so we didn't think it would be a problem. We walk in and I ask for a table. The hostess seems to immediately have an attitude when asking us if we have reservations. We say we don't, but we didn't think it would be a problem since the restaurant is near empty. She immediately says she can't seat us if we don't have a reservation. Now I'd understand that if the place were busy, but 1) the fact that it was empty, 2) the fact that the hostess had an icy attitude and 3) how one of the workers gawked at us with her mouth open as soon as we stepped in as if she couldn't believe we would even walk in there made it obvious to us that we were not welcome. My husband and I are relatively young and latinx, so we definitely felt like this was directed mistreatment. If you're a POC and prefer not to be rudely attended, I'd say skip this place. read more

Wife and I visited here during DC restaurant week. They had parking in a garage right across the street, and when entering we did not have to wait long to be seated. The place had a nice Spanish vibe, and the live singing and dancing was really good. For a starter we had the fried potatoes with spicy sauce and the garlic shrimp. The potatoes nice and crispy with a really good kick in the sauce and my wife loved her garlic shrimp. We had the chicken and sausage paella for our entree, it was so good and very filling. Really loved the rice and the squeeze of Limon really set it off. For dessert the Churro con Chocolate was great. We really love the whole meal and will visit again. read more

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I have been here twice and both times it has been AMAZING. If you want real good Spanish food this is an amazing place in Washington DC to enjoy. They have delicious paella and other Spanish food. If you go on Fridays, they have a flamenco dancer or live music. this is an excellent complement to your delicious food. Make sure you dress up as it is a nice restaurant on the pricy side, about 70$ a person or more depending on how much you drink. They also have a tremendous wine selection. Enjoy this nice spot with real food of Spain in Washington DC read more

DC international is some of the best in the country. Alabardero has an attention to detail that surpasses many in Spain. Someone here has an eye for detail and elegance. The food was perfect, authentic, and comfortable. I had the brunch menu with a delightful calamari. read more

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