I came in with my daughter and a special friend last night... our meal was great we shared many things... the artichokes were especially killer... our server Shiloh really made our evening.. she was fresh and present and charming.. beautiful addition to a great evening read more

Right on the wall it reads: "Relax, this is not a fancy place." It does have a great ambiance but the prices reflect that of a fancy and bougée eatery. We waited over 5 minutes for our server. Service is definitely that of a relaxed eatery, not a fancy place, but, if you're going to price gouge is at least give us good service. I ordered a sangria for $13. At least fill that wine glass at 3/4 instead of 1/2 full. Come on! Half an empty glass for $13 is that of a fancy place. I then ordered a glass of wine. Same thing, 1/2 empty. Let's move to the food. We ordered Steak Fritte for $39. Definitely was wishing for something much more tasty and tender. We also had Croquette Imberico for an appetizer. $15 for 4 little rolls that tasted like it came out of a frozen box at Trader Joe's. On a positive note, We also ordered Mussels and side of French fries. These were actually good. Priced around $20. My entree was the Seabass with mashed potatoes. Tasty but small portions. I believe this was priced around $27. The bottom line is we felt this place was definitely over priced for the quality and portions. They didn't win us over and won't be going back. . read more

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We had friends visiting from out of town and wanted to take me out for my birthday and my daughter made reservations at Valentina. This was my first time and I've heard so many great things so we were excited to experience this adorable restaurant. We made a reservation for 5 and a baby ( not a good place for babies.) I won't go into details but the person who "greeted" us at the door was very rude and condescending and let us know that they open at 5 o'clock not 5 till. We understood and waited for the restaurant to open. We were shown to our table and then made aware that there wasn't room for the stroller, again understandable, but the way it was communicated was abrupt and she offered no solution. Luckily after asking if we could sit at a lower, smaller table they accommodated us with the warning that this is the only time they will do this. Phew! Once we were seated a lovely server turned the whole experience around! We ordered the octopus, artichokes, mussels, steak frits, sea bass and a few other treats. The food was beyond excellent and the wine we paired was on point. Our server acknowledged the greeting we received and apologized for the way we were treated. We walked out with full belly's and warm hearts and are looking forward to our next visit. read more

Delicious tapas & more, a little on the pricey side, but worth it. They do have a good Happy hour, which I had only one of, as everything I wanted was not on it. My waitress service at the bar was excellent, friendly and helpful, in fact all servers were nice from start to finish. read more

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Nice vibe. Solid service. What we got: * ($24) Arroz Del Senyoret was OK. Not memorable * ($110) Chuleton (32oz ribeye) was poorly prepared. Ordered it medium rare...half of it was well done, quarter was rare, quarter was actually medium rare. Very disappointing. * ($14) Patatas Bravas looked good in Yelp photos, but IRL, they're just potato wedges. Not memorable. * ($18) Basque Cake was best part of meal. Tastes like kettlecorn. * ($10) Crema Catalana- Taste like every other crème brûlée you've had. * ($60) Sangria and spritz cocktails were great * ($7) Sparkling water = With tip, we spent ~$330 I was told it's best to visit Valentina during the day and just getting tapas. We probably screwed up going for dinner and getting entrees. We're very likely to give it another try, but our first visit wasn't the best. read more

Such a cute and cozy spot in Encinitas with wonderful food. We went here on a Saturday night and it was a great spot for a date. I would definitely recommend making a reservation in advance because it was pretty busy. The restaurant has a casual but more elevated vibe and the interior is cozy and well decorated. We had the steak with chimichurri, potato bravas, shrimp, crispy rice, and octopus. All the dishes were wonderful and id recommend any of them based off what your preferences are. My personal favorites were the steak and the shrimp dish. I'll definitely be planning on coming back and trying a different menu of theirs! read more

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The food so good I'm like Im well be back soon the service is good but to much oil but I'm like the food is good they

I had the chicken paillard. If you're looking for something very light, fresh, and healthy, I would recommend it. It's not the most savory dish but for something a bit healthier and clean, I enjoyed it. My friend got the omelette but said he didn't like it. I think he was expecting a more traditional, diner-style omelette, and not Valentina's take on one. read more

Valentina - Chicken paillard. Take that lemon and squeeze it all over the chicken and the salad. - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

This was our last night visiting the San Diego area so we wanted to go someplace special. We found Valentina, and it is special. The food and service was 5 stars, however, I have to subtract 1 star for the sidewalk seating. It is right along the train track, and the train came by 3 times during our meal. It's so loud we can't hear the person next to you. It's also along a busy street, where some motorcyclists feel they have to rev their engine extra loud. However, on the positive side, each table is separated by a large olive tree, so you have your own private space. The food here is sophisticated, but not stuffy. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and casual. The plates are small and meant to be shared. What we ordered: + Chicken paillard - butterflied chicken breast in a lemon mustard sauce. The chicken is flavorful, and the sauce we so good, I could have licked the plate. I wish there was just a bit more sauce, though. + Pesa del dia - tonight's fish was monk fish with roe over mashed potatoes. The fish was buttery smooth, and the roe pops in your mouth. Potatoes were soft and delicious. The serving was very small though; about the size of a side dish. + Side salad - spring greens in a vinaigrette dressing, with pepitas, olives, red onions, and red peppers. All the components complimented each other. + Basque cake - what a way to end a meal. Cake with pastry cream, cherries, and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The best part is the burnt edges on top of the cake. Our server also recommended a Donkey and Goat chardonnay blend, which paired wonderfully with our meal. Overall, a wonderful experience. read more

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Loved the ambiance and the tapas! Celebrated my daughter's birthday and finished with a wonderful dessert. Look forward to returning again. read more

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This place is fabulous! We came here for my daughter's birthday and could not have been more pleased. It was intimate but still super fun and stimulating. The food was glorious from the oysters to the octopus to the crispy rice. The presentation was beautiful and the taste was perfect. I loved the elevated casual vibe. I'm definitely coming back for my anniversary. The churros were a revelation- do not skip! read more

Valentina - Perfect place for celebration or first date- such a lovely atmosphere - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

First, you all have to pardon the crummy food pictures. I was having too much fun and the vibe was just outrageous. Last night it was packed and everyone was out to have fun which is the way it should be. kalen our server was fantastic and he was overwhelmed with a lot of crazy tables, but took great care of our table. We started with Wine and ended with Wine as it should be in between we had some quail, great chicken and my favorite thing schnitzel. As good as the food is, the atmosphere is better. I've seen this restaurant grow since it opened and they've learned that the experience and the energy are just as important as the food can't wait to go back. read more

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Valentina is a cute little restaurant with casual and intimate setting; however, the train nearby runs through occasionally and for me, causes quite a disturbance. The service is casual but perhaps a bit too hands off. First off, the sangria was disappointing. Small in portion for $39, and lacking the fruity infused flavor especially when diluted with a big chunk of ice in the glass. Food overall was overall good but not outstanding. Crudo (tuna) Del día was fresh and light. Good but nothing you can't find in other places. The rest of dishes followed the same theme - gambas al ajillo, steak and potatoes, and octopus. Good but not a standout. My favorites were the artichoke and their version of paella (arroz del senyoret). The artichoke was soft with crispy edges and with the aioli it was delicious. The rice dish had a few mixed seafood and plenty of the crispy rice; however, I found the saffron flavor lacking and not enough of the softer rice that absorbs the seafood juices. It was tasty but not compared some of the more flavorful paellas. The chicken paillard was juicy but bland. The desserts - basque cake, crème brûlée, and buñuelo were all ok but nothing I would order again. Not a bad overall experience but I wouldn't go out of my way to return. read more

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Ended up here after accidentally going to the wrong address on our GPS. This was down the road. Best "mistake!" My boyfriend and I came right at 5pm. They were booked up on reservations as it was Valentine's weekend but had one nice table available for an 1.5 hrs just long enough for an amazing experience. We had the carpcho de pulpo (sous vide octopus) which was tasted fresh and delicious. The chiles on top gave it the perfect kick. I only wish a had a bit of bread because there was an abundance of olive oil, cilantro, green onion chile mix left on the plate when the seafood was devoured. Yummm! For entree I had the lubina con patatas (sea bass and potatoes). It was a creamy soft cozy meal. I throughly enjoyed it. My boyfriend had schnitzel which I am not a fan of so I have to compliment and say this one was actually tasty. In fact I used the lemon wedge that came with his food to perfect mine. I enjoy Tempranillo (which they had) and noticed they also had a Tempranillo Rosé which I got instead as I thought a lighter wine would pair better with fish. Great choice. Would order again. The star of the evening was the desert which I don't generally ever order, bc Im too full and often restaurants deserts are an afterthought, not where the heart and would went, and certainly not worth the extra calories. Not here. The crema catalana was incredible! My favorite desert is crème brûlée and this similar desert topped so many (bad) recommendations of crème brûlée from San Deigns for years. This is it!! Incredible no words. I also want note that our server Isa was top notch. I no doubt our evening would not have turned out as memorable without him. He is for sure an invaluable asset to this establishment. Attentive, knowledgable, warm, humorous, and always made sure we were taken care of. Fantastic evening. read more

Valentina - carpacho de pulpo - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

Ok, so while deciding where to go in Encinitas for dinner I stumble upon this place. The ambiance is cute and the wait staff/ host were great offf the get! We got the steak tartare, patata bravas, squash soup, brocolini, and the pork schnitzel. We were hungry boys. The patatas bravas was like soooooooooo good. Potatoes light and creamy with sauce a flavorful sauce and aoili. Like seriously I luved them (probs my fave thing)!!!! The steak tar was alright it had a soft delicate flavor but I don't know why it's paired with their thin potato chips... kinda makes me feel cheap. Squash soup was packed with FLAVOR! Probably the most flavorful thing we ordered but a little bit to thick for me, personally like my soup on da creamy side I wanted the schnitzel to be that girl and sadly it just wasn't. It was cooked to perfection and had a nice sauce, but idk the flavor just didn't jump at me and tackle me to the floor. Overall I think none of the flavors on my plate really made my eyes roll to the back of my head. Like a place like this needs a signature dish that's like one of a kind and make it a commodity. Everything was good but eh, nothing really great. I would definetly say check it out but, I probably won't come again personally. Once again the staff was INCREDIBLE AND SOOOO LOVLEY. They're the reason I'm giving 4 stars. But nothing I had today is gonna get me back in the resturant again. read more

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Had the best experience at Valentina! Staff was super friendly right when we walked in and our server Kimi was amazing and recommended plates for us to share. Shared a bottle of Pinot Noir and enjoyed multiple tapas plates. I will definitely come back for another date night or special event. read more

Valentina - Gambas and Bread - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Incredible service. Incredible food. Incredible vibe. The papas bravas and the arroz were fantastic. Some of the most flavorful sauces we've ever had. We'll definitely be back to try more dishes. There's a discount if you pay cash. Also, you don't need a reservation to eat outside. read more

Valentina - Papas bravas - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Round two for us and we were not disappointed. It took a little time to seat us and we were waiting outside, behind closed doors (it was a little windy and chilly) but after that the service was good. All the recommendations from food and drink were spot on. We really enjoyed the shrimp and bread (dipping the bread in the chili garlic oil was my fav part). The octopus was decent. The patatas bravas seemed to be much smaller and not as crunchy since our last visit. We tried the steak for the first time and it was seasoned and cooked very well and was enough for 3 to 4 people. The basque cake was a little on the drier side. But we will be back! read more

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Wasn't acknowledged for 10 minutes on a slow day! Food wasn't paced accordingly , spent over two hours .

Located right off the 101, this is a cute, chic-casual restaurant with a spacy and low lit feel. It could be perfect for date night, dinner with friends or to celebrate important occasions. Parking is located along the road. They have a strict 2 hour time limitation policy, which made no sense to us because the restaurant was 3/4 empty while we were there. The server was nice and was able to guide us through the menu and our drink choices in depth. I got the Riesling which was pretty good. My friend tried a bunch of different wines before she settled on the Albarino, which was close to a Sauvignon Blanc. For food, we got a bunch of different tapas plates. The corn and coriander soup was a Chef's kiss. Warm, flavorful without being too punchy, like a warm summer night's hug. The patatas bravas were different from what I expected them to look like, but they were pretty tasty. The Codorniz was a nice little surprise - Spanish quail presented as one would a chicken wing. The tamarind sauce was a little salty which made it harder to finish this quickly. But, overall, I enjoyed the meat a lot. It was also falling off the bone pretty easily, which is what I like my wings to be like. The Tomaquet con Iberico was a bruschetta presentation of Iberian ham on tomato bread. Personally, I would've liked more than just ham and bread. They have an interesting menu and I'll be back to try some more options. I do wish they remove the 2 hour dining limit. The server coming back to keep us moving the menu felt rushed. I understand having this rule for a bigger group, but doesn't make sense for 2 people looking to have an easy, relaxed dinner. read more

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My wife and I have been so excited to try Valentina restaurant. We drove down from Los Angeles to have our anniversary dinner and it was absolutely ruined from the first moment by our server David. Condescending, arrogant and rude on all accounts. He questioned our choice of wine bottle and commented about how cheap it was. If it's so bad why do you serve it? Then he talked to my wife like she was an idiot about her celiac allergy and proceeded to make us both feel stupid by reading the menu to us and pointing out the word bread on the items which were not gluten free. My wife stated she can use a shared fryer and he then belittled her allergy. He was completely obnoxious and when we told him we were leaving because of him, he could not have been less apologetic and in fact was even more rude. I'm running out of adjectives to describe him. Awful. Thanks for ruining our dinner before it started read more

Food here overall is really good with Spanish style tapas but some of the dishes feel a little heavy on the sauce and the cream. The service was on point and the ambience is fairly romantic. read more

The good: Nice location the sunset was pretty from here with the ocean near by and it was easy to get to from the high way. The ambience was chill eclectic modern with a cozy feel. The bad: The food was maybe a 6/10 for me but it might depend what you order our sea bass was amazing but most other dishes didn't hit the mark for me. I also like the bread and steak with mashed potatoes. The mussels were tiny and had a fishy odor it was pungent. The chicken was flavorful but salad with it was off. The potato bravas had too much aioli and the shishito peppers were rubbery. The ham croquettes were good just tiny. The service: Server was nice at first but by the end of our reservation the waiter seemed upset and rushy due to their 2 hour limit they impose. In summery maybe this is more of like a date night spot or small gathering either way it's best to check it out yourself. I love the creativity of the menu though and overall look of the restaurant. read more

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Great mellow restaurant for a date night or evening with friends. The paella and oysters are favorites, and the wine selection is also pretty good. I've had great service all four times I've been here! read more

Our family loves tapas so much. We ordered a bunch of tapas, some big plates and dessert to share. Everything was delicious. Here are a few highlights. 1) Their paella was different from the transitional paella. I love it so much! They made rice crispy and oily. Their seafood on top was fresh and delicious. This whole dish was heartwarming and comforting. 2) The mushroom dish was another surprise. The combination of mushrooms, breadcrumbs, and egg yolk was impressive, with a delightful contrast of textures in each bite. It was a unique and satisfying experience. 3) Their Patatas Bravas was also creative. Thinly sliced potatoes were deep-fried together, creating an interesting texture. The sauce on top was perfect for this dish. 4) I am very picky for desserts. I love desserts, but I don't like desserts o be too sweet. their basque cake was just perfect! Texture was great! 5) smashed seared artichoke was delicious and salmon crudo was flavorful. 7) The garlic shrimp, Iberian ham on tomato toast, croquetas, and Spanish sausage were all prepared in a classic way and were tasty. They changed some items on their menu. A few fish I was interested was not on the current menu anymore. I am a little bit sad for missing out. Hope they would bring some previous dish back. I like carpcho de pulpo more than grilled octopus. Please bring carpcho de pulpo back. Also seared squid and beef tartare. One suggestion I have is that anchovies would be even better with raw garlic on top. Overall, we had a fantastic time at this tapas restaurant and will definitely be returning in the future. read more

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Came here a few weeks ago with some friends and had a great time. The vibe was chill and I loved the decor. We went with the shared plates and everything was very good. So good I forgot to take photos! Haha. Definitely recommend the smashed artichoke - first time I've ever had it prepared like that and I am wondering where it's been all my life! Also, 100% recommend the patatas bravas. They were crispy but melted in your mouth and with their brava sauce on top! So, so good. The wine selection was great and so were the cocktails. I suggest calling to make a reservation because they don't open until 4:30pm on weekdays and they get busy. read more

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It's good food and good service is good as well, so this complaint is more about management decisions than the service. I just can't stand any restaurant that doesn't think that representing a credit card fee not built into the menu is acceptable in this day and age. It's a scam slightly justified by small print. read more

Omg, this cute little restaurant on Coast Highway is soooo amazing! Everything we ordered was great!! Aguachile de Cameron is amazing!! We loved the chiperones a la plancha aka baby squid. The smashed artichoke was unique and a standout!! The waitress is extremely knowledgeable about the food and wines. She's awesome! My fave is carpacho de pulpo aka octopus which is sliced so thin and beautifully! I loved the sea bass! The layered potato dish was so interesting and I can't figure out how they made it but boy was it tasty!! I highly recommend coming here!! read more

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Food was great! Came here for my bday dinner and it did not disappoint. Made reservations for 7p and was seated quickly, server was attentive and super nice I'm sad I can't remember his name...but he was great! Ordered the schnitzel with a side of fries, other party members ordered sea-bass and steak tar-tar. Appetizer was artichoke and it was so delicious! Valentina's was so nice, romantic but yet a very cool modern place, I would come back for that amazing schnitzel and artichoke. Sangria was refreshing as well. read more

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Drink menus for my pal James who requested the wine menu (let me in on that case order?). Rumor has it the squash will be on the menu soon, tried the special and it was great so get it if you can! read more

Valentina - Cocktail menu - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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This place was such a find. I can't believe it's been here for so long and I've never been there. Right off the 101. I've always said we needed more places like this with unique, flavorful food with fresh ingredients. Tapas are a great way to try many different plates and enjoy conversations about each one. The shrimp was my favorite. Service was friendly and atmosphere is a really good vibe. read more

Valentina - Shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Came for dinner with some friends and was blown away by the food at this charming but unassuming restaurant. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu. The Good - The house made bread is a must a goes well as a vehicle to soak up the sauces from their other dishes - The Patatas Bravas and Crudo were excellent - The Lubina con Patatas, Weinerschnitzel, & Arroz del Senyoret were all excellent as entrees The Mid - Steak & Potatoes were OK read more

Really enjoyed this spot. Loved the vibe, great service, thanks Kimi. It's elegant and relaxed, with a nice crowd. The food is fantastic, especially the seabass and gentleman's rice, those prawns yum! Thoughtful wine list, enjoyed albarino and Tempranillo and they make a nice Negroni. Lots more to explore on the menu, look forward to returning. read more

We had something to do in Encinitas so we made a day out out of it. Came here for lunch and was very nice. Parking was a little tough but there's parking across the street. Food is more like tapas so we got to try multiple dishes! Well seasoned and textures were nicely paired. Will be back! read more

Valentina - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

Such a sweet space! Everyone that works here is just delightful, especially our waitress Jessica There were four of us and we had Seabass, chicken paillard, arroz del senyoret, bread, and olives. Absolutely delicious. I am definitely coming back. Go just go. You will be happy. read more

Valentina - Chicken Paillard - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We drove here for our anniversary weekend from Arizona and settled on this restaurant for our dinner! And boy were we happy we did. As soon as we sat down, the hostess took a Polaroid of us for a memento! Our waitresss was extremely accommodating and helped us choose which wines to get and reccomended the best items on the menu. We got the baby squid, mussels, bread, gentlemen's rice?? Which was sorta like Paella, and gamba from the appetizer section. You must try the Orange wine! It was delicious. It was cozy and dimly lit but lit well enough to read the menus! It was also super lively with a full dining room even at 8:30pm:) Will be coming back for sure. They even brought us a little dessert and a manager called and asked how our experience was a couple days later. Incredible service. read more

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Amazing! Food - equal to amazing places in San Sebastián Service - Kimmie was Awesome Thank you read more

Arrogant with an attitude. Way too expensive for what they serve and the stuck up service. They charge 3-4 times the price of a bottle of wine for what we can get at the grocery store. Fancy, in Leucadia. Not. Don't waste your money. read more

Quite possibly my favorite spot in the city. They deserve all of the 5-star reviews, which unfortunately make it that much harder to get a table. Pan con tomate, smashed artichoke, paella, garlic shrimp were all spectacular. read more

We enjoyed the food and lively environment . The tapas style plates were unique and amazingly good. Each plate was 18 - 24 so be ready to pay but worth every penny read more