We were traveling on business with a bit of a chip on our shoulders that Salem is so quiet and uninteresting and there's not much going on (we're from Portland: surprise), THEN we walked into Cozy Taberna. Oh. My. God. Is there a rapture for agnostics? I'm pretty sure Cozy Taberna would be catering it. We split an amazing salad, the brussels sprouts which were so delicious they shouldn't even call them brussels sprouts anymore and then, THEN: the squid ink pasta. I have to tell you the memory of it is bringing tears to my eyes. Not since I was introduced to squid ink pasta years ago in Barcelona have I been so enthralled by a dish. What a perfect meld of seaworthy saltiness and heat. It was like I was back in Barcelona. It is hard to imagine returning to Salem--we go once a month--and not returning to this shining mecca. read more

My husband and I went there on a Thursday night. We made sure to have a reservation. We shared everything that we ate and it was all delicious. The goat cheese dumplings paired well with the rustic bread and were very rich and tasty. The Moroccan brick chicken was flavorful and tasty and the chicken itself was cooked to juicy perfection. The wait staff was friendly and helpful. They all seem to keep their eyes on all tables. The chocolate molten lava cake was really good especially with the ice cream. We had a wonderful meal and a nice quiet ambiance. We will definitely be back. read more

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I have struggled to find a place in Salem that I truly enjoy eating and I finally found a place there that I not only enjoyed but would very willingly go back to! The Cozy Taberna is tucked away off an alley in the old town downtown. Once you enter you know why it got it's name. We had reservations and were seated immediately by the staff which were all really friendly and knowledgeable. The wine menu is what you'd expect but my Tempranillo was nice. There is also a cocktail and beer menu plus some non-alcoholic options beyond soda. We ordered nearly everything on the menu and there was nothing that wasn't delicious. The artichoke hearts were a little greasy so I didn't prefer them but the cedar plank salmon was outstanding. The ribeye steak was perfectly cooked and flavorful, too. The goat cheese "dumplings" are very unique, though pretty filling. The salads were the perfect addition to "cut" the fat and heaviness of other items ordered. They have your classics like olives, bacon wrapped dates, marcona almonds, and Brussels sprouts but they also have brioche buns with ramekins of butter and salt cod fritters. The scallops and squid ink pasta were also nice additions to the table. Service was a bit slow but always friends and we did have 10 people, so it was no small feat feeding us all. Very happy with the experience! read more

The foods fantastic, and on point almost every time. The service is great, and the ambience is everything I would expect from a higher energy, upscale establishment in a large city. It's a nice addition to Salem Oregon, and definitely elevates the dining scene. I would like to see a little bit more innovation in the menu, and or a special chefs menu. I never see specials. I go there a lot and I'm kind of getting bored of the same things all the time but it is still good and I love the vibe. read more

The Cozy Taberna - Radicchio salad - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Don't look for anywhere else to eat. This is where you should eat. Just do it. And sit at the chefs counter. read more

The Cozy Taberna - Sirloin, asparagus, potatoes and the house bread. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

The Cozy Taberna is wonderful. It has a unique menu and great service. The atmosphere is cozy and friendly

First time here with a friend just last week after wanting to try this place for many months. It did not disappoint. Lovely hostesses greeting and seating us, which being the front-facing first impression, a welcoming host or hostess goes a long way in setting the tone for the experience, so kudos to them. Ambiance is nice and makes you want to return to sit in the intriguing-sounding downstairs, but we were upstairs at a table looking out on the alley, which was fine. Service was attentive, professional and friendly. My friend and I both had The Basque Kiss cocktail, fresh and delicious. We shared appetizers: Patatus Bravas (nice crisp on these potato bites, lite sauce) and Goat Cheese Dumplings (OMG so delicious, rich and addictingly good). For dinner entree, I had the Seared Scallops: four large and perfectly-seared scallops. I have to admit my brain automatically did the math (that's $12 per scallop) but of course that isn't all there is to that little math equation. There's the delicious perfect sauce and fennel salad, the chef's expertise and training, restaurant overhead, and so forth, and to be honest, if I were to cook them at home, there's a pretty good chance they would be overcooked and rubbery. SO...yes, expensive but a very nice treat and worth it. My friend had the Honey Brined Pork Chop, which she said was very good, and enough that she saved some for lunch the next day. For dessert, we shared the Basque Burnt Cheesecake. SO GOOD. I would have partaken of a dessert sherry but my friend cast a disapproving look (party pooper) so maybe next time! I'll definitely return again when I have another friend or family visiting or a special occasion to use as an excuse as it is a bit pricey, but not that much more than many other local good restaurants. read more

The Cozy Taberna - The Basque Kiss cocktail. Very tasty! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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First off the service was amazing. My friend and I were seated right away the wait staff were prompt in getting to our table and they were very friendly. Our meal not so much. The brussel sprouts are excellent and I would order them again. But the Moroccan Brick Chicken was literally a brick. Way over done, extremely thin and burned to a crisp. The leg portion looked like it came from a cornish game hen. We sent it back as it was totally inedible. If they are going to charge $23 for just a breast of chicken it should be big and meaty. Next was the Bacon Manchego Burger & Frites, I will say the frites are great! But the burger came out raw, it could have mooed it was so raw. Sent that back and got another one which was good but not $20 good. Bottom bun was soggy and the meat was so so. But again the friets were great. What made this such an awesome experience was the wait staff. They were apologetic and wanted to make everything perfect for us. We did not have to pay for the brick of chicken and we were each comped a delicious dessert - Tarta de Santiago - out of this world good. The chef delivered the dessert to our table and was very sorry that we had such a bad experience with the food. The restaurant did make it right and we will go back. read more

Well the atmosphere was awesome. We ordered a steak and it came with about 25 grilled jalapeños. The steak was small and who can eat 25 grilled jalapeños for the side. My wife ordered the sirloin and it came with about 4 quartered grilled onions. Who can eat that many onions. Little disappointing with the price we paid for way too many jalapeños and onions. I guess the beer was good. I bought some co workers $200 gift certificates prior to going. I wish I had known before I bought their gift certificates. Sorry wrong be back. read more

I've been here for a couple times now. Love love love their fried Brussels sprouts!! Recently discovered their artichoke small plate was very delicious as well. It was a huge surprised that I really enjoyed these 2 dishes because I actually don't like artichokes nor Brussels sprouts. Their pork chops are very moist and juicy. Many times pork chops would be very over cooked and dried out. Not here. They also had a decent wine selection on their menu along with a variety of cocktails to choose from. read more

The Cozy Taberna - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Great ambience, food, drinks, and service. Wine and beer selection is solid. Good beers in tap, too. They're also consistent. Love em!

A guest friendly dining experience. Our meals were tasty and served by a very attentive wait staff. We will return. read more

Amazing food and drinks, the atmosphere is also great and I love the sharing of plates. Service was very speedy and attentive as well but they weren't pushy by any means, I've already been multiple times and will most likely be frequenting again! read more

We got here just in time for happy hour. Great staff and service. Outstanding Happy Hour food and good drinks. We plan on coming back for dinner in the near future. read more

It was my 2nd road trip through Oregon, and we decided to spend our evening at The Cozy Taberna. At first glance we thought the atmosphere and vibe were going to be amazing but that was far from the truth. After arriving we ordered a Radicchio Salad and almonds for $25.00 where every shred of lettuce was to be enjoyed until a hair found its way onto my fork. Not wanting to cause a ruckus I removed the hair and continued onto my main dish. We thought the seared scallops were going to be a great choice only to find that they were over-seared and tasted like some kind of meat was cooked very nearby. The service took forever, and I think I heard the manager yelling at its staff. This was unprofessional and rude that I didn't even want to complain to the staff about our food. To finish it off, we ended up getting very sick and we had to spend the entire next day at the hotel. Our road trip turned bad, so we'd recommend going somewhere else. read more

Food, drinks, service and atmosphere were all great! Everyone loved their food! Party of five had two bacon manchego burgers which were fantastic! One radicchio salad- great size with plenty of cheese and dressing, two orders of crab fritters- yum!!!! Cedar plank salmon was cooked to perfection! All drinks were great specifically the old fashioned was given a 9.8 out of 10! We will be back! For the Love of Food read more

Recently came here for brunch. Omg loved it. I actually prefer their brunch over dinner. Still lots of items from the dinner menu, but more. Breakfast sandwich was the best item we ordered. The French toast was good, but disappointing in the size it came it. Seriously felt it wasn't worth the price tag. Otherwise, same ambience and good service. read more

We love this place and eat here often. Last night was not good. The amount of salt in every dish was just insane. Not sure if there was a new cook or what. The food was not served in the right order, the waitress did not ever come over for drinks and the salt was horrible. Not sure I'll be back again. 1 When you pay $151 for two people you expect better service and food that's edible. Update the GM called and refunded my full meal. I will be back again. read more

Good food served family style. Very few vegetarian options but the goat cheese dumpling are wonderful.

Oh my what a find in an alley in Salem. Wonderful tapas - we had bacon wrapped dates, Marcona almonds, clams, radicchio salad, and the squid ink pasta. And yummy wine. read more

Salem downtown needs more restaurants likes this. It's my favor spot now. The menu has lots of options. Foods are delicious and price are not bad. read more

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This place was sooooo good! I stopped in after an appointment and the place is clean & vibrant. The staff welcoming, friendly & knowledgeable. I had a glass of red wine and the squid ink pasta, with hazelnuts, peppers & egg yolk. An absolutely delicious & unique dish. Though a bit on the pricey side, the experience was worth it. read more

One of the very best restaurants in Salem. Everything I've had here -- food and drink -- is creative and delicious. The burnt cheesecake is a memorable and crave-worthy flavor. Service is consistently friendly and decor is casual but nice. Other restaurants in this $$$ to $$$$ price range try to impress but this place actually does. read more

So happy to have this restaurant in Salem! The staff is excellent and the food delicious. I love the whole vibe. My "go to" restaurant when meeting friends! read more

While the food was flavorful and unique for salem, it took an hour and 15 minutes for 2 of our entrees to arrive, and the side dishes came out randomly over that time period. It became more of a sampling experience vs. a dinner. When we went to inquire about the entrees we were informed the manager was not on site. A young wait staff said she would discount the meal, this never happened. At $98.00 for a steak in salem, the manager should be available when the business is open and should be striving for excellence. Without leadership, the wait staff was left adrift. This establishment lacks leadership and organization, we do not plan to return. read more

Delicious food and service. The presentation of the plates was amazing; excellent quality as well.

Another wonderful meal here. So glad Salem has this option. Wish they hadn't been so busy while we ate at the bar, otherwise we would have tried dessert. Maybe next time. read more

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Our 5th time here and food was amazing as it ever has been. Don't wait. Go here as soon as you can. We have yet to be disappointed in any item we have ordered. Our service has always been top notch. Drinks are great. Just do it Salem! read more

shoutout to bill!! omg owner came by and brought us two free desserts.. soooo sweet and the best service at the bar - the girls who served us were so cute. restaraunt itself also super intimate, warm lighting, and lots of seating. the entrance is thru this lil alley downtown and it would be perf for date nights/gno!! as for food, yummm. steak i got medium and it came out pretty good! pre-cut, with lots of onions which i did not finish but the mushrooms on top were delicious. the pickled vegetables i didn't rly care for but not the main part anyway. we originally got the burnt basque cheesecake and then got the tarta de santiago and banana cake later on read more

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We were visiting Salem and everyone recommended this restaurant to us. It's the best place in Salem so make sure you make a reservation! We sat at the chef's table (a bar where you can see the "back of house" chefs working.) It was amazing. You can smell and see all the amazing dishes. All the chefs and waitstaff were extremely friendly and James especially made our night. He had a bright, shiny, attitude and he was hilarious, friendly, and shared his personal recs with us during the night. The food was amazing. They call it tapas but the portions are extremely generous. We had the bacon wrapped dates, Brussel Sprouts, goat cheese dumplings, and the honey brined pork chop. I've never had meat so tender. Delicious! This whole place is one giant chef's kiss of perfection. read more

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What a classy spot to have right in Salem. Quality food, atmosphere was rad, and service was genuinely great and kind. The open kitchen rocks, and flavors were fantastic!! Such a great variety of food selections, hand crafted cocktails and a great wine list. Can't wait to go back!!! read more

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Such a cute, cozy spot to grab food. Everything we tried was yummy. Service was fast and friendly. I'll definitely return in the future.

excellent margaritas nice dining room wonderful roasted chicken. we will be back soon. read more

I absolutely loved this restaurant! It's a cozy, yet very trendy place-I loved the vibe. All the food is meant to be shared, hence tapas. There were 3 of us and we order as appetizers: fried crab fritters, fried artichoke hearts (amazing), tortilla with romesco (husband loved it), clams with an order of garlic bread (amazing). Entrees we ordered: squid ink pasta (omg amazing), radicchio salad (amazing), brick chicken, octopus (really good, not chewy at all) and the ceded plank salmon (omg amazing)!! We had lemon Bundt cake for dessert. Everything was awesome-the server was nice-definitely want to take your time here. This is not a quick meal. The cocktails are good and I had two zero proof cocktails that were very nice-I almost didn't miss that it didn't have alcohol. lol Over all I would come back here every time I am in Salem. Great experience. read more

The food is pricey here. For people and we got out of there for about $230. We had five dishes and four cocktails. The experience was great. We had the Brussels sprouts, carrots, lamb and beef meatballs, cheese dumplings, prawns, and the Bavette steak. All of the dishes were transformed from what you normally eat to something out of this world. I'm not sure how to describe it but to me, it had the perfect amount of sweetness, spice and salt. it felt like it drew out the best flavors of the food. The carrots were tender, but not soft. They had a delicious thick sauce to it. Not too much and not too thin. The bavette steak was perfectly cooked medium rare, but they did ask if we were OK with it being that rare which we were. I probably wouldn't go here every weekend as it's so expensive but it's probably one of the best places to eat in Salem. Definitely the best place I've ever eaten there. The cocktails were fine. I've had better, but I think there main thing is the food. I do want to go back and try the octopus, and some other dishes. It had a great feeling inside despite the fact that you had to go through the alley to get there. It reminded me of some places in LA that I've been to that were fantastic. Enjoy read more

The Cozy Taberna - This is the entrance to the restaurant which is in the alley. It added a little bit more to the charm of the restaurant. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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I'm torn between hating this place and loving it. There are pros and cons. Pros: Beautiful building Excellent layout Professional staff Amazing plated food Meticulously crafted drinks Cons: Expensive AF Literally, the reason most people will come here only once is that they are INSANELY expensive. Beers and ciders are about double the price of every bar downtown. Plates of food without sides are VERY expensive for what you get. Basically, this is where you would go to flaunt your money and impress your date in the hopes of getting laid. The main demographic I've seen in here is the 38-68 year old "I like to brag about my business card and bmw" crowd. Which- if that's what they are going for, then they are nailing it. Place gets very full. Make sure to get a reservation. read more

First when we get there they welcome us like a family we order the salad, the salad is so delicious and my wife loves it and we order one appetizer and one entire the lamb meatballs are so delicious I can't that every day read more

I had my college graduation dinner here and it was one of my favorite meals I'd ever had while going attending school in Oregon.

The food is wonderful here. I would come back for sure. I got the chicken for dinner and it was really juicy and tasty. Had enough to bring home too. read more

Wonderful food environment and staff. We really enjoyed our evening and definitely recommend