Delishious food, tasty drinks, great ambiance, attentive service, just a lovely time. Great place to stop in for some wine, meat, and cheese read more

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Very unresponsive on the catering side. I reached out via email. No response from anyone.

Great food! Great ambiance: feels like you're in Europe Ordered: Seafood paella and Navarra style trout read more

It's hard to describe how bad the food was. Let me start with what was great. Our server, Sean, was a delight. The bottle of wine we had was very good. We enjoyed the musical selection. We started with Jamison Iberico. It was fatty and stale with cold olives. The bread was like eating toasted white sandwich bread. The patatas bravas left us asking who could mess up potatoes. And mayonnaise not aoili which is typically served with this dish. We hopes that the paella would be better. Hubby ordered paella Valenciana(chicken, rabbit) and I ordered the paella vegetarian. The thing that is great a good paella is the complexity of flavors. There was no complexity here. And who had ever had a breaded chicken in their paella?! Perhaps it isn't as bad as we think it is....it just isn't at all authentic. read more

Went with my boyfriend this past Sunday in search of good paella. We were not disappointed! Our waiter was the manager himself, who is originally from Spain. We ordered the Agua de Valencia cocktail (champagne, vodka, gin and orange juice) and it was deceivingly delicious and quite strong. My boyfriend additionally got a special drink which was called 'Don't Marry a Woman from Tennessee' which had bourbon, muddled cherries and orange juice - also fantastic. The paella - after 20 min wait to cook from scratch - was full of seafood including shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops and white fish. The rice was the perfect level of doneness - soft but still firm - with lovely saffron and well seasoned. The restaurant was empty so we had the whole place to ourselves - a shame because the food is so good and the service is excellent. Street parking was free since it was a Sunday. Although this is in NW DC which is still not a great neighborhood, the area is gentrifying and I imagine this area will be very popular in the future. read more

Top Spanish Cafe & Catering - Seafood paella for 2 - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My favorite place on Georgia Ave. Their tapas are amazing. Every time we visit we get better service. The owner is so sweet. I hope their business survives the pandemic read more

Top Spanish Cafe & Catering - Love it - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a cute place. The staff was super friendly. All the tapas we had were very yummy and they came out quickly. The only reason it gets four stars instead of five is because something we ate messed up our stomachs big time. It was all very good. We just paid for it later. We had: Tortillas espanolas: I would skip this, the flavor was bland Chicken in green sauce: so good, would definitely get again Spanish cheeses: all the cheese was good as well as the honey they serve on the side The warm bread they give you is very yummy Would definitely try again. read more

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Went here for dinner on a Sunday night with a couple of friends, and we were so impressed by the food and service. The owner was so kind and really knows his stuff when it comes to food. We ordered a few tapas - the potatoes, mushrooms, spinach, calamari, chicken in green sauce, and garlic shrimp - and shared a bottle of Spanish wine. Everything was wonderful and so authentic - the chicken in particular was super tasty. The complimentary bread with olive oil was also lovely. Really no complaints about the food at all. The owner, who was also our waiter, was friendly and welcoming. This place is the definition of neighborhood gem...very few of the other tapas places in DC (and I've been to most of them!) can hold a candle to it. Really a charming little place -- will definitely be back to try the paellas and sangria. read more

Best Spanish seafood in DC area! Came here at the last date of 2019! This place definitely a gem in the neighborhood. The waiter is amazing. He's always smile and explain everything on the menu for you. Will definitely come again. read more

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The food was authentic! The jamón ibérico was delicious. I wish I lived in DC so I could go every week! The paella was to die for and the drinks were on point. If you're in the DC area you need to hit this place up. I haven't been to many spanish restaurants in the US, usually they're knock offs or because certain ingredients are hard to get in parts of the US it usually throws the recipes off but this place was right on point! I'll be back next time I'm in DC for sure! read more

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Been meaning to check this place out for a while because of all the good reviews. Got a couple drinks - both solid - and four of the vegetarian tapas. They were all excellent (mushrooms, tortilla Espanola, cheeses, papas bravas). The chef is super friendly and the prices are very reasonable. Will be coming back! read more

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I've been craving a good paella for a while. But it seems it's hard to find around here. And sadly...I'm still looking. Seafood paella: A bit on the greasy side. The scallops tasted near old, but the fish was pretty good. It was missing some thing(s). It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I left with a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction. The server was friendly and sweet though. read more

Top Spanish Cafe & Catering - seafood paella - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'm a proud Spaniard and self-affirmed food snob, so I have a HIGH standard for food from Spain, and this place did NOT disappoint. In fact, it surpassed my expectations. I almost don't want to write this review bc it is such a hidden gem I want to keep it to myself. But at the same time this place deserves so much more attention than it gets due to it's nonexistent marketing (except word of mouth). My first visit was on a date, then I returned the VERY next day with my entire Spanish family because I was so impressed. They all liked it as much as me, it reminds is of the places we go to every day in Spain to eat, from the decor to the perfectly curated playlist, to the extroverted and warm server from Andalucia. FOOD: Excellent! The number one thing that usually happens with Spanish restaurants in the US, is the skim on quality ingredients. They may have good cooks and recipes but they're cutting corners. At bad places, your paella may have some fake coloring instead of actual saffron from Spain (which is more expensive than gold). I was struck by how many saffron threads I found in my paella which is the sign of truly authentic paella where they are clearly spending a lot of money, effort, and time, to get the right/good stuff. This paella even has a "Secret" ingredient often left out of paella because it's super hard to find, called nora. This paella had both! At a place cutting corners, the "Jamon" may be from the US instead of imported. Here the Jamon (Spanish cured ham, like prosciutto, but far better because of the way the pigs are raised, what they eat, and the longer cure time) was of the highest quality. Here, they serve "PATA NEGRA JAMON IBERICO" You can tell by the fat marbling (which by the way is not the bad kind of fat like you typically find in animals, an explanation on that https://www.ibergour.com/en/jamon/beneficios_salud_jamon.html but I cringe when I see american's cut it off). Bonus- no matter what you order, they'll serve you FRESH warm bread, right out of the oven and all the tapas come in delicious sauces so be sure to keep the plates so you can dip your bread in the leftover sauce! WHAT TO ORDER: The mushrooms: literally the most amazing thing i've had in my life! If I could I would fill a pool with them and eat my way out. Paella: Amazing. see above. Jamon: Amazing. see above...it's pata negra, 'nuff said. Also it comes w olives for free! Shrimp/gambas al ajillo: the waiter forwarned us that their take on gamas al ajillo is a little spin on the traditional so I was a bit nervous but they were delicious! perfectly cooked, juicy as hell, and sustainable. octopus/pulpo a la gallega: this is VERY difficult to do well, octopus often ends up rubbery if it's not cooked well. this was soft and melted in our mouth. Cheese plate: great Service: Fantastic! What I love about this place, is that it's the kind of spot where I can go in alone and eat quietly with a book, or laptop, or chat with the extremely friendly, intelligent, and worldly waiter (I think he said his name was Dani). The first time I came was with a date, and the second time I came was with my huge family. There is plenty of privacy for and tons of space so that you can have a convo without everyone else hearing your convo. It also means that having my grandmother, who normally is left out of convos at restaurants because she can't hear anything, was able to hear and participate in the convo without asking us to repeat or having to yell to hear herself. My advice is to ask the waiter about himself and where he is from, you'll learn so much and have a great time and surely leave the place laughing. He's got a great personality and if make the effort to talk to him you'll see it shine! Ambiance: Totally Athentic! I was literally transported to Spain and to the neighborhood places where you become a regular, the decor and the service emit that feeling so well. Location: Like 1 or 2 blocks from the Georgia Ave/Petworth METRO so super easy to get to. There is some construction going on on their block so it's easy to drive or walk right past it. Price: Super cheap for the incredibly high quality. I'm honestly not sure how they make any money. They must have crazy food importation hook-ups. Parking: Tons of free street parking around and they have their own private parking lot around back too. Cleanliness: spotless Overall: I wish I could give it more than 5 stars, not only for what it is, but for what it is in comparison to the other places in the US that claim to serve spanish food. Even the famed Jose Andres, although a great chef, will not give you a true taste of spain. He'll give you some gastronomic experimentation and fusions which are cool, but super over prices and not authentic to Spain. I have been to every restaurant in the area with food from Spain in search for what this place gave me, it's the best spot for food from spain, hands down. cons: cocktails were a bit sweet for me, but read more

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From the moment I called the place, agentleman by the name of Daniel answered and his hospitality made me feel like I was in Spain, he was super friendly and guided me thru the menu- when I got there he made me feel like I was walking inside my own House, very welcoming and accommodating. the PAELLLA is one of the best I have ever had in my life, the gambas the croquettes and patatas were amzing as well. this was my first time but It definitely won't be my last.. and Daniel deserves a raise, I thought he was the owner by the way he cares for every detail. read more

Randomly popped in on a Saturday night. Staff was friendly and engaged in conversation the entire meal. They listened to our preferences and offered suggestions for food and drink. The food was EXCELLENT. We ordered steak, shrimp, and pork tapas and enjoyed all three dishes. Friendly atmosphere, good service, excellent food. Would recommend!! read more

The food was ok, but not memorable. Everything was very heavy on olive oil. I liked the spinach with apples, raisins and nuts.

5 stars! They have lowered some prices (a chicken burrito is now only $8) and they have increased their portions sizes (nachos). The paella for $16 is literally overflowing with seafood and so delicious. Really, really generous portions. My favorite dish here. I LOVE the huge nachos ($5.75) and vegetarian black bean soup ($4) too. The last thing I thought I would change about this place is a bit cheaper drinks / more happy hour specials and hopefully filling it with more customers. They've made progress on the drink prices! The house red wine is $5.50 for a really large glass - a great deal- and a miller lite is only $3.50! Happy hour only lasts from 4-6 though. read more

We just moved into the neighborhood and stumbled upon this spot. And we're very pleased we did. Excellent food Clean Good service Fair price read more

I absolutely love this place! I tend to bring all my family and friends here when they are in town to visit. The mushrooms and the Spanish meatballs are delicious and the olive oil is the best in town. My favorite part of the place is Daniel. He is so kind and friendly, he is also an expert at choosing the right pairing of wine for any meal you order. He always remembers me and defines what it means to build relationships with his customers. read more

This is our favorite place for seafood paella! We also recommend these tapas: mushrooms, gambas & pulpo (octopus) You should also try the Sangria which is amazing. This is a hidden treasure with amazing food. read more

The food here was unimpressive. I got a large charcuterie plate and my stomach hurt after the meal. It just wasn't as flavorful as I was hoping it might be. The prices are quite high for such a bad gamble, which left me feeling a little sour. read more

Best paella and awesome service by Daniel. Very knowledgeable in Spanish dishes and wine. read more

Top Spanish Cafe & Catering - A delicious order of Calamari! - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Oh man, we really wanted to like this place, especially during Covid. But the food just wasn't good. We sent the mussels back--they went bad. We sent the octopus/potato dish back--didn't taste good. The beef medallions were ok, a little overcooked. The garlic shrimp were ok. The best item we had was the cheese platter (and that requires zero cooking on their part). Was the food we ate worth the $75/person price? Don't think so. Can't recommend this place :( read more

Went because of the generous Scoutmob deal they are offering (50% off, max discount $25). Enjoyed the food though the paella was overly and the server was very sweet. Really enjoyed the sangria (1 liter for $18) which we got a good 5 glasses out of and they give you nice big glasses garnished with fruit. The Texas Nachos were excellent with what I think were homemade tortilla chips, cheesy, well distributed, with guacamole, and cheap. Also enjoyed the gambas al ajillo (shrimp with garlic). The seafood paella for two was huge and very flavorful. A dramatic presentation of a big pan of paella, with mussels around the entire rim, with plenty of scallops, calamari, clams, and a piece of fish. The oil content of the dish though is a bit high, probably way too high. The server was very sweet. Was willing to order dessert (I always feel guilty using the deals at small businesses that are nice and struggling). But they only had chocolate mouse and lemon pie, odd for a Spanish/Tex Mex restaurant. Place was completely empty. It was prime dining time on a Saturday night (albeit a really rainy night that kept things dead). But in the several hours we were there, there were 4 tables total. Though I doubt the 1 water and probable 1 person kitchen staff could handle much more. Worth a try. read more

Top Spanish Cafe & Catering - Spanish Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had an absolutely great time with my family at this restaurant. We all enjoyed the tapas, the sangria and paella. My daughter ordered the beef medallions and they were so tender! Daniel Bonilla was the perfect host! He was so attentive to our needs! I love the service, the food, the paella and will definitely be coming back soon! read more

We had a wonderful meal while visiting from out of town. The pulpo (octopus) appetizer was a happy surprise. Mussels, beef tenderloin, and garlic shrimp were tasty. For entrees we had rack of lamb (delicious) and churrasco. Fairly large portions and a challenge to finish because we feasted on so many tapas! Service was very friendly and helpful. If we are ever in the area again, we will come back and try the mushrooms and the paella. read more

Took the wife and the 35yr old son there for dinner on a Saturday night. Food was EXCELLENT. Generous portions, house merlot was quite drinkable. Food was NICELY prepared. Broiled salmon was not overcooked (as it frequently can be done at other places). Steak was served medium rare, and the seafood paella met my wife's high expectations. Sangria was also very nicely done. Octopus was also done beautifully. Service was also excellent. read more

This place is the definition of a hidden gem, I think. It's too bad it never looks busy, because it is worth a trip! Some of the best Spanish food I've had in DC. The dishes are very traditional but really fantastic. The Argentine style steak in particular was a revelation. Extraordinarily tender and flavorful, every bite was a dream. I'd say the same about the albondigas (Spanish meatballs), which were wonderfully rich and served atop the creamiest mashed potatoes ever. I'm not generally a huge paella fan but the Paella Valenciana was very good. Rabbit bones were a little painful to maneuver around, and the dish came out screaming hot (probably needed to wait like 10 minutes to be able to comfortably eat it). But otherwise the flavors and ingredients were great. Only thing that was a little disappointing was the wine list; we ordered two different tempranillos by the glass and neither really shone. The wine list itself isn't super long; the food here will be a great comfort to folks in the neighborhood that miss Ruta del Vino but the wine probably won't. That said, the wine is all very reasonably priced, and if you're looking to buy a bottle (or bottles) without breaking the bank, you have a lot of options here. Service was attentive and rightly proud of the place! I look forward to returning soon and sampling the rest of the menu (the lamb was calling to me!) Prices: tapas are in the $10-15 range each, so can add up quickly if you get 2-3 per person (which would be about right for a meal). Entrees are actually fairly reasonable for this type of restaurant ($20-25), even for a steak dish that was large and would probably run closer to $35-40 elsewhere. I think this place stays afloat on the back of a substantial catering business that allows it to keep open this dining room and stay stocked with fresh ingredients. I've never seen it look busy, but really, if you're in the neighborhood, you should give it a shot! It'll be one of the best meals you can have in DC by reliably just walking in. read more

Amazing experience !!! We had an opportunity to dine here with our friends visiting from out of town. The staff treated us like family and was very attentive. I had churrasco and it by far was the best steak I have had from a restaurant in some time. They staff continued to take care of us a bit after closing as they overheard it had been a while since we had seen each other in some time. Sean was great and we will for sure be back with our family and friends for a meal!!! read more

This is one of the best Spanish restaurants in DC. I went there to celebrate my friends birthday and in search of paella and stumbled upon this gem. Calamari was delicious and nicely flavored along with the octopus. The paella, both the seafood and traditional meat dishes were exceptional. I had a fantastic time I would highly recommend. read more

Tapas above the norm. This place is great! Really amazing food, and the service was outstanding. Even though there was only one waiter, and a table of about 15 people, we were well taken care of, and our food came out hot and perfectly cooked. It's a new favorite. read more

Moved to the Petworth this summer and have been exploring the local cuisine. I was intrigued about this place after reading the great reviews, and it was well worth the hype. Just the type of neighborhood restaurant I know I'll be coming back to. My bestie ordered a generous portion of steak medallions, and I ordered the steamed salmon with mango sauce, both of which were delicious. Before that we shared an appetizer of Spanish meatballs that were on top of mashed potatoes and had a killer sauce. Finished with red wine poached pears topped with vanilla ice cream that was a surprise hit. Shout out to our fabulous server Shawn, and the super friendly guy who greeted us and showed us to our table, but whose name we didn't catch. We'll see you again soon! read more

I had lunch here today. And it was FANTASTIC. I ordered the grilled chicken topped with a pinot grigio, lemon and butter sauce, artichoke hearts and capers. Sides were sauteed, crisp veggies. It would have been easy to screw up this dish, and I was a little skeptical ordering it. I'm sitting in a brand new, admittedly poorly named restaurant across the street from The House (yes, THAT House) on Georgia Ave. I really want to like this place and I've heard that it was worthy. So in the interest of culinary spelunking, here I am. So often am I disappointed in my gastronomic explorations that my sensibilities have admittedly become jaded. There likely would be FAR too many capers, the boneless chicken would probably be dry and tough and what are the odds that the zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower will be limp and forgettable? WRONG; it was a light, tender, and beautifully balanced ensemble. The chef owner brought his creation to table himself, beaming and happy. And he should be; the man can cook! My dining companion had an equally delightful Argentine Churrasco (cooked perfectly medium rare) with fresh chimichurri and sides of warm beets with zingy cornichon and diced, deliciously browned potatoes. The sangria was snappy and refreshing too. I will be back to try the paella, the rock fish, the serrano ham-wrapped shrimp and scallops, the interesting soups, and yes, even the nachos, damn-it. Afterward, I might even go to The House one night. In the interest of cultural spelunking, of course. read more

We had an excellent experience last night! The owner was absolutely lovely and made you feel at home and the food was incredible. Can't wait to go back! read more

This place truly is a hidden gem, as others have said, and the kind of local establishment that I'd really like to see be successful. It has a beautiful interior, with wood-paneled walls and bar area. It would make a great date location because of the nice restaurant space-- just make sure your date is seated facing away from the window as there is a strip club across the street. The new buildings in the area suggest that this is an up-and-coming area that is developing in the right direction. We ordered nearly all the vegetarian options: guacamole & chips, veggie nachos, and veggie burritos. The guacamole was not good, just not flavorful enough or avacado-y enough. The nachos, however, were delicious, and my favorite part of the meal. They had plenty of topping, and sauteed vegetables tossed in added flavor along with the beans and cheese. Yum. The vegetarian burritos were similar, with beans and veggies inside, lettuce and pico de gallo on the side, and a serving of rice that I found boring enough not to eat. The prices were very reasonable, and we left well-satisfied. This place gets bonus points for having a large and pristine clean bathroom. The only thing that will keep us from returning frequently is the lack of diverse vegetarian options, but given that it's a Spanish restaurant, that's not surprising. read more

My husband and I went here for our anniversary, and we will most definitely be coming back soon. Everything we ordered was delicious, especially the tenderloin tapas. The portions were bigger than most tapas restaurants, so we definitely got our money's worth. We ended up having our meal at the bar, simply because the bartender was so helpful and pleasant. Most tapas places I've been to in DC feel a little corporate or as if they're trying too hard, whereas here we felt like we were in a family run restaurant somewhere entirely. I've already recommended it to all my friends! read more

Came here with a friend and had a Scoutmob coupon. I ordered the avocado salad and the nachos. He had the paella and sangria. It was a Sunday and we were the only patrons. The waitress was very nice and attentive and we enjoyed our dinner. My nachos were a hefty plate and my avocado salad was very fresh, with a large bounty of romaine, ripe avocado, and tomatoes. The mango dressing was good, though too sweet for my tastes.I am, not, however, dying to go back but do hope they can continue their business. read more

This restaurant is a find. I hadn't had such authentic Spanish food since living in Spain. The staff is excellent (attentive; friendly; informative; efficient). Similarly the decor and general ambience of the restaurant is warm and inviting. We ordered several different tapas along with a couple pitchers of sangría, and all three of us left feeling very fortunate having stumbled upon this neighborhood gem. We will most definitely be back. read more

This a gem of the neighborhood. We come here about once a month. The food and service is always impeccable, especially Daniel; he's service is top notch. Paella both seafood and meat are second to none. And they have the very best meat and charcuterie board in the District. read more

I absolutely love this place! Top Spanish is the perfect neighborhood dining spot: the food is absolutely delicious and authentic to the Spanish style and the wait staff is always attentive and extremely knowledgeable about the menu, especially Daniel. Daniel always greets us with a smile and makes us feel like family when we're there. His knowledge of cuisine and wine pairings makes each meal fabulous. Top Spanish is always on the list when we have friends and family visiting from out of town! read more