The 3-star rating is actually an average of my 4-star and my wife's 2-star ratings. Why was she so much less happy with our supper tonight? Read on. So we ended up at Aioli tonight with another couple after trying and failing to get in at the place across the street. We weren't unhappy about that as we used to frequent Aioli years ago and always really liked it. I'll just cut to the chase here and say that the problem tonight was the service. Everything seemed really rushed and pacing was poor. Our friends already had their cocktails when we got there, and we each ordered one while checking out the menu., When they arrived, our server asked us for our orders, but we weren't ready, so she came back a short time later. My wife ordered a salad and a tapa plate and was asked whether she wanted the salad ahead of time or with the meal and she said she'd have it with the meal. A short time later, the food came out, with the exception of the salad. It didn't come out for some time, and my wife was just getting ready to tell them not to bother when it arrived. Right after that, they cleared the rest of the plates and asked us if we wanted dessert or coffee. Obviously, she was still working on the salad at that point. So she really did not appreciate the service. I was less unhappy about it, but she certainly had a good point. It was way too rushed and uneven for a place like Aioli. In addition to that, our server just seemed to have a rushed and frantic edge to her, and that didn't help at all We did agree that the food was very good. Her chorizo dish and the salad were both excellent. I had the octopus and the little pork skewers, both of which were fantastic. (That octopus is an absolute classic and everyone should try it.) Fried brussels sprouts were fine - not excellent, but certainly not bad. I liked my cocktail, my wife didn't particularly like hers. So we're averaging this one out to a three. I would have to go back for more data points to see which of the two or four star ratings is really more emblematic of Aioli. Unfortunately, my wife doesn't want to go back. So bottom line: good food, poor service, excellent octopus. Mike sez check it out but beware. read more

I'm not usually one to leave negative reviews but I wanted to share my experience from tonight. My partner and I had a 7pm reservation for dinner and when we arrived I guess our table wasn't ready so the owner (I presume) sent us to the bar to wait for "about 10 minutes," which actually ended up being around 35-40 minutes without any apology for the extra wait. I understand they were slammed as it is Saturday night but we made a reservation in anticipation of that and expected it to be honored at least within 10-15 mins. Our server Omer was very kind, as well as the other staff who came by regularly to fill out waters and clear plates. I ordered the ravioli on mushroom sauce and my partner ordered the duck lasagna. The lasagna was actually quite good, it had plenty of filling and was very flavorful. I was unfortunately not pleased with the ravioli. It seems the word "sauce" is used pretty liberally here as when the waiter put the plate on the table I noticed the raviolis sloshed around in some sort of broth. The taste was fine, but it did not taste of mushroom at all and the filling was about the size of a quarter in a very large thin pasta sheet. I think if I had stacked all the raviolis on top of one another, I could have finished it in one bite. If you are going to try out this restaurant, perhaps stick to the paella, which is actually very good, and visit on a day/time when they are not busy so you can expect to be seated in a more reasonable amount of time. read more

Aioli Bodega Espanola - Ravioli in "sauce" - Spanish Near Me - Sacramento, California

Each year, I like to try a place I haven't been to before from the Dine Downtown Sac list; it's a period of time in January (a bit over a week) where restaurants Downtown offer three-course meals for $45, with one-dollar of each meal going to a non-profit (Opening Doors). This year, I tried Aioli Bodega Espanola. Off of their special Dine Downtown Menu, I ordered the following: Estudio de Babtbel, Casarecce a la Siciliana, and Flan. We also had some bread at the beginning of the meal served with a white bean aioli. I enjoyed each course. While I do wish the pasta was paired with a small amount of protein of some kind, that's the only change would make to my otherwise pertect meal. I had a bite of my husband's Zarzuela de Mariscos off the main menu and I really enjoyed the flavor of that dish as well. Service was excellent. It's a wonderful spot for a date night and has a cozy atmosphere. read more

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This is strictly a "Dine Downtown" review. I went on a date so I got to try the soup and salad for starters, veal and pork for entrees, and their flan and poached peach for dessert. It was overall a good meal, but I'm not sure I'd go back for those items. The pork was dry and tough. The salad was barely anything. The only thing I truly enjoyed was the poached peach. The table next to ours ordered à la carte and looked amazing. I left feeling hungry. I ate a couple of slices of pizza afterwards. read more

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Aïoli was never on my radar until this year's Sacramento Vegan Chef Challenge. The promise of mushroom risotto and stuffed eggplant drew me in and, well, I'm also partial to a refreshing sangria after a long work day. Suffice to say, Aïoli did not disappoint with their vegan offerings. Everything we tried was a winner. From the perfectly spiced butternut squash soup we started with to the poached pear in port for dessert, we enjoyed every bite. The vibe is casual upscale and the service tracked. We were overcharged on one of the dishes, but it was quickly corrected. I hope Aïoli keeps vegan dishes like these on the menu, because I definitely would return. read more

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A couple of weeks ago, we finally made it to Aioli Bodega Española in Sacramento, and it turned out to be a wonderful first visit. The weather was perfect, so we grabbed a table in their relaxing backyard patio, which felt like the right setting for a slow evening. We started with a pitcher of sangria and two tapas, Patatas Bravas (crispy potatoes with just the right kick) and Pinchos Morunos (spiced skewers of meat). Both were delicious. We also ordered the soup of the day, which was warm, flavorful, and gone too fast. For the main dish, the three of us shared a Paella Valenciana. Technically, it's meant for two, but it turned out to be the perfect size for the three of us, just enough to satisfy without leaving us too full to enjoy dessert. We wrapped up by splitting a creamy flan, and I finished the night with a strong espresso, exactly how I like to end a good meal. The food was excellent across the board, and the service matched it, friendly without being rushed. The whole evening had a relaxed vibe, which made the experience even better. A little extra context I learned: Aioli Bodega Española has been a Sacramento staple since the mid-1990s, run by Aziz Bellarbi Salah and his family. Their focus is on traditional Spanish dishes, lots of tapas, paellas, and, of course, sangria. It's no wonder the place has lasted this long; it feels like one of those restaurants that's been woven into the neighborhood. read more

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We went last night to celebrate our friend's 1 year anniversary and everything was just perfect. We had the whole patio to ourselves, which was awesome. Our server Yolanda was so attentive and really knew the menu, assisting us in making our selections and getting to try a little bit of everything. She helped our vegan friend find great dishes that met his dietary requirements. We brought our own wine and then purchased one from their wine list and Yolanda even decanted it for us table side which made a big difference in opening up the flavor of the wine. We started with several appetizers each one equally delicious. They do a great job using seasonal and local ingredients of excellent quality. We had a nice seafood and bean dish, Mushrooms in an incredible sherry sauce that I can't stop thinking about lol, a salad, Persimmon Carpaccio and Mussels as starters and just shared everything family style. We ordered the Paella Valenciana (takes 35 minutes to come out so keep that in mind and order it in arrival) that was cooked perfectly. The Osso Buco was so tender and flavorful. The house made ravioli with mushrooms melted in your mouth. For dessert we enjoyed the poached pear which was the star of the show, a chocolate mouse which was rich and decadent and crème brûlée which is always a classic. Don't sleep on Aioli if you want great food in a lively environment with exceptional service. read more

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This was my first time here and it did not disappoint! I ordered the Zarzuela De Mariscos and it was delicious. The dish consisted of shrimp, calamari, mussels, clams, bits of fish, in a garlic tomato sauce with a side of bread. The shrimp was whole with the head and shell, but was crispy. The calamari, mussels, clams, and fish were all cooked perfectly. The fish was salmon. The bread tasted fresh and buttery. The portion was not big enough for a hungry person as this restaurant specializes in tapas sized dishes. The house baked bread and white bean aoli was delicious. The bread was soft and fresh. The white bean aoli had lots of flavor and complimented the bread well. Service was excellent as employees were friendly and helpful. read more

Aioli Bodega Espanola - Bread and white bean aoli - Spanish Near Me - Sacramento, California

Stopped in late on Saturday and we're welcomed by their very friendly bartender Ashley. Cocktails were perfections. Absolutely love the vibe here. Also add some dessert. Recommend! read more

Aioli Bodega Espanola - Spanish Near Me - Sacramento, California

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The food was divine, service warm, inviting, and ambiance rustic and dim. I'll definitely return for the lasagna with duck ragu, chef's kiss read more

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The ambiance was very cozy and romantic! We had the Tempranillo and it was okay! I had the ravioli and WOW!! The mushroom sauce was amazing!! My boyfriend had a seafood dish that was also amazing!! 10/10 would recommend for your next date night! read more

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Other than the fact that I swear their hood vent doesn't work (and you're always eating in a smoke cloud) this place doesn't disappoint. On this occasion we shared duck breast (best thing of the night), chorizo and white beans, Spanish torte and roasted potatoes. We weren't disappointed with any of the food but the Sangria is also fantastic. Bar service was top notch; we mentioned that we had a bit of a time crunch and she made sure we got our food in plenty of time. Highly recommend. read more

We stopped by here for dine downtown weekend for $45 pp, which was a 3 course meal, everything was pretty on point. My husband opted to get some items off the regular menu, which were pretty decently priced as well. I feel like if you don't like all the options for the 3 course, you might be better off getting à la carte and choosing a dessert or appetizer with your main for the same price. I didn't exactly feel like we were getting a special price based on the portion sizes, but everything was pretty good. read more

Came on a Saturday night- it was empty and we didn't need our reservation, and shocked because this was a beautiful little date night find in downtown Sac. They gave us a complimentary bread basket upon sitting down- you should skip. BUT the actually food was great. We started with Pulpo a la Gallega, Gambas Ajillo and the Pechora de Pato. All three were amazing and would definitely get again!! I do wish they had a nice bread to dip in the sauce of the Gambas Ajillo, that would've been amazing! And then we split the Paella Valenciana. This was also good. It was a little wet when it first came out (not sure if it needed more time to set/rest, but my second helping was better than my first. Also- I'm a sucker for the crispy rice on the bottom and loved that! read more

Went to Aioli Bodega Espanola for Dine Downtown but decided we wanted to try the rest of the menu instead LOL Here's what we ordered with stars next to my favorites: Pan y Aioli $3 Ensalada Mediterranea $9.99 Ensalada De Lechugas Mixtas $11.95 Charcuterie y Queso Manchego $14.95 *Tomaquet Con Jamon $6.95 *Pechuga De Pato $17.95 (pan-seared duck breast) *Pinchos Morunos $12.50 (grilled leg of lamb skewers) Mejillionnes Aioli $21.95 Costillas de Puerco $16.95 (pork spareribs) **Pulpo a la Gallega $16.95 (octopus in adobo marinade) Chuleton Mole $32.95 Lasagna con Ragu de Pato $21.95 *Paella Mariscos $60 *Ravioli Caseros $21.95 *Lemon Mousse $12 Tiramisu $12.95 Yeah it's pricey, but service was great, vibes were immaculate, food was scrumptious, and we were celebrating a birthday! Definitely a "for a special occasion" restaurant. They have an extensive wine list and our server was able to help us pinpoint wines within our price point. She even recommended a non-alcoholic wine for our friend who doesn't drink! The most lackluster dish was the mole. We felt like there was no flavor to it at all, unfortunately. read more

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The food and service were five stars. The place has an intimate setting for anyone. The drink I had was three stars for my palate because it was a bit too sweet (request less honey for those who do not have a sweet tooth). See the pictures with description of the food from the menu, and imagine the seductive flavors. What I don't like is their seating against the wall with a long padded cushion with some sort of material covering. Hopefully, the material is something they take off and wash often, but I don't know because I didn't ask. I prefer seats that are sanitized easily. Revisit? Absolutely! This little piggy loves to sample several plates at a time, and the food was YUMM-O! read more

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Upon arrival, there are 2 separate doors, one the leads straight to dining guests & one that is their "entrance." The gentleman that guided us to the correct one was very nice & welcoming, however there's no place to really sit or wait for a table, you kind of just have to guess & stand there awkwardly. We got sat immediately next to a large party. The restaurant itself was extremely loud & it was hard hearing the person in front of me. When the waitress arrived, she explained the menu to us & we got to ordering. For apps, we got Gambas a la parrilla & baked bread with bean aioli. For entrees, we got the Spaghettini pomodoro & pasta amatriciana. The baked bread arrived & was the size of croutons. The aioli that came w it was not good either, definitely don't recommend. However, the shrimp dish was pretty good! It was very flavorful & I wound up using the avocado on the bread lol. When our entrees arrived, my friend took one bite of pasta & immediately stopped eating. I tried it to see if maybe I'd like it, but I didn't enjoy it either. My spaghettini was actually pretty good, I just needed to add some spice to it to kick it up a notch. As for our server, she was missing the rest of the night & we had to ask the nice gentleman for boxes and the bill. We honestly couldn't get out of there quicker.. Overall, I wouldn't come back here for pasta when there's a wonderful option across the street. read more

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Nice cute little restaurant that has good Spanish food. I came with my mom for the dine downtown in 2026 and the menu was good and this area is delicious. The service is really nice and the servers are friendly. read more

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Salmon Alcapa was delicious! They were short staffed but after we got sat we were taken care of well. Food is tasty. The clams were a bit too fishy in our paella (Paella Valencia), but the rest of the meat was good. read more

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this place is not very good. first of all the complimentary bread came with a bean spread that had no flavor. the patatas bravas were mushy, not crispy at all. the pulpo was good with some crispy potatoes at the base and was probably the best part of this meal. the paella was disappointing because it was heavy with oil, the rice was really mushy and not super appetizing in the way i remember paella being and there wasn't a lot of acidity to cut through the heaviness of the dish. they should have added some more acidity to both paellas we got. the service was fine albeit a little intrusive and off putting at times because our server was really interrupting our conversation every time he came to give us water which felt like every 2 minutes. the sangria was another highlight, i like the spices in it. overall i wouldn't come back honestly read more

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Waitress: Jolanda, attentive server. I changed my mind after ordering, and she quickly changed it with no complaint and all smiles! Well and tasteful decorated inside with relaxing music playing. I don't see kitchens that cook exclusively with 100% extra virgin olive oil often, so my expectations were already raised. The flavor was delicious, and the value was there, it just wasn't as impactful as I would like. The flavor just didn't stand out to me, but that's also my first time having Spanish food so maybe it doesn't fit my flavor palate. Also, The muscles were very small, some the size of my pinky! The paella will satisfy you fully if you have a large appetite, with no need of appetizers. The only issue is waiting the 45 minutes+ needed to prepare it. I'll give them a 4 star for the service, but the food was just alright. I wouldn't come again, but it is still worth a try to see if you make like it. read more

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We were greeted by the proprietor and promptly seated for lunch. Our kind and attentive server explained all of our questions on menu items with an adorable Spanish accent. We started with the celery soup.....never had celery soup before but it was light and delicious and a great precursor to the tapas that followed. We chose these..... Pa Amb Tomiquet (Spanish bruschetta with evo and tomato), Gambas a la parrilla (shrimp w/citrus cumin avocado and salsa Fresca), & patatas bravas (roast potatoes in spicy tomato sauce w/ garlic aioli). We each had a glass of Sangria with an orange slice too. A very enjoyable lunch that was filling but left us not overly full. I can't completely explain how refreshing the attentive service was. Good service at a restaurant is such a rare commodity these days! read more

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Aioli Bodega Espanola gives off date vibes, casual dinner vibes, any occasion really. Randomly came across this place and glad I was able to try it. The staff and service here are great. I tried the mushroom ravioli dish which was 4 giant home made raviolis and it was good. read more

Aioli Bodega Espanola - RAVIOLES CASEROS CON HONGOS (mushroom ravioli) - Spanish Near Me - Sacramento, California

Had a delightful celebratory luncheon here late last week. Despite having lived in Sacramento County for 28 years and working in downtown/midtown for more than 20 years, this is one of just a few restaurants I had never tried. So glad we selected this place for our special occasion. It fit the bill perfectly. We were greeted with a big smile and seated right away. Aurora provided fantastic service throughout our visit and had some great recommendations, provided with a little spicy sass, in the best possible way. I didn't capture a single photo, but the interior is very comfortable and festive. I didn't even take a glimpse of the outside patio (totally forgot, but now have a solid reason to return again and enjoy a different view). We ordered a round of tapas for sharing (garlicky shrimp, succulent salmon and portobello mushroom with cheese), plus bread and white bean aioli to sop up the delicious sauces. And two pitchers of their excellent sangria. The only downside came when Aurora regretfully informed us that they had not yet received their fresh pork shipment so our three bocadillos de puerco were not available (6 of us ordered 3 to share). We quickly switched gears and all selected the beef bocadillos with mushrooms instead and they were delicious. Would still like to try the pork bocadillo sometime ~ maybe when I return and sit out back... Highly recommend this bustling place. Be sure to grab yourself a reservation because they were busy very early! read more

We came here on a Saturday night before watching Ballet at the Performing Arts Center. The restaurant had been here a couple decades. The decor had Spanish red and orange pastel colors with warm lighting. There were many patrons and the place was packed. Our server was very attentive and even the owner checked on us multiple times. The food was very well prepared and presented and tasted savory and filling. My favorites were the seafood paella and the flan dessert. read more

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Do NOT order the chuletas de lomo de cordero. The me u states that it comes with saffron rice, but it does NOT. It comes with potatoes (yuck) and no vegetables. I loved this in the past, but it's terrible now. The lanb is bland. I won't be returning to this restaurant. read more

Food is okay, the vibe feels good, but the drink is good! Price is not cheap, but the services people are nice. I would say can give it a try, personally can't compare with the one in Napa read more

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I'm not a huge fan of this place. I think the food is ok...not the best palette for me I suppose. Patio is cute. Servers are attentive enough. Nothing really stands out for me about this place. It's not bad read more

Food was amazing! Service was worth the wait, but the place was crowded. Met some lovely people in the restaurant with the atmosphere was nice. The wicker seats were kinda low and white table cloths with grey paper toppers. read more

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Great tapas and I love their squid ink paella. Perfect for sharing and large groups! They also have an amazing wine menu read more

Aioli Bodega Espanola - Spanish Near Me - Sacramento, California

Loved the prices! Perfect for a large group. Server was great and offered us dessert at the end when we were about to go. Awesome service? read more

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I had plans to get together with some girlfriends for a long overdue visit. We all met in Sacramento at this Spanish restaurant because it was easy for all of us to find. Turned out the food was excellent. We splurged on every kind of horde'rve they prepared for us. We stuffed ourselves before the entrees arrived. The bill was high but so what it was girls day out and we felt like blowing lots of our life mates, hubbies money ........................................... read more

Very good tapas! I've had better paella but the patatas bravas and all of the pork and lamb dishes are amazing. Very tender meats with flavorful sauces. The cocktails are really good and the ambiance is cozy but fun. The owner/manager is very nice and we had a great meal! Service was a tad slow but it was a little busy so that's okay. Overall we loved it read more

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It has been quite some time ago since I last dined here. So I thought I would give them a try for weekday lunch. Overall the food was just basic and ok tasting (lackluster) and service was disjointed. I walked into an almost empty restaurant void of customers and it was a wee bit past high noon. There were only two customers. The hostess stand is halfway in the dining room. As I stood there waiting I grabbed a menu. But it was for dinner. When the waitress came over, I asked for a lunch menu. She replied they do not have one printed and not one online either but can tell me the options. They had three specials: salmon, pork belly, and something else (I can not member). Each is served with a cauliflower puree soup and honey cake. The soup and cake were vegan. I was told each special was priced at $20. I ordered the pork belly. She asked if I wanted bread. I in turn asked if the bread was an extra charge. She replied that it is. Good thing I asked. A pet peeve of mine is servers asking if I want something extra that I did not order without telling me it is an additional charge. Onto the food... the cauliflower soup was vegan, so no dairy. It tasted like puréed cauliflower with a touch of cracked black pepper and olive oil. The consistency was thin and liquified. It was served at room temperature. I was not a fan. The entree consisted of three super thin slices of pork belly. The thinness was comparable to Subway sandwich slices. Each slice was pan grilled with a dollop of sautéed spinach and scoop of cubed potatoes. Everything on the plate lacked flavor. It seems they may have forgotten a sauce, seasoning... something. The honey cake slice was miniature size. The vegan cake was served chilled with a dollop of vegan whipped cream. The cake texture was grainy and mushy. Also not a fan. Instead of $20, I was charged $25. Not happy about the 25% bait n switch. During my 40 so minute lunch, there were only 5 customers including myself dining in. One was a regular customer that sat in the middle of the dining room speaking loudly and animatedly on his cell phone in an extended conversation. He was quite entertaining. read more

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4.5 out of 5 here's why! Had a large party for this occasion and service was great. I wish they had a hot tortilla, yes I might be biased being half Spanish but was really looking forward to it. Sangria pitcher serves about 7-8 cups so worth getting that instead of copas. The patatas bravas are a must try. My only complain is not having tapas style but overall the service and vibes are super chill. You can go there to celebrate a bday, anniversary or just meeting up with friends. Would recommend. Please make a tinto de verano, such an awesome drink from Spain read more

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My wife has spent significant time in Spain so when she read on one of the reviews that "paellas here are to die for" she started to crave it. We decided to go here on a Saturday afternoon. Place was empty and we were the first ones to come in. The decor is wonderful and our server was good. They individually make the paella on order so upon reading this we got super excited. We ordered a few tapas and paella along with some sangria. The bread that we ordered was a loaf of bread that someone struggled to cut with. They charge 3.50 for it which does not make sense at all, at least the portion size is good. The sausage with baked beans and lamb kebab tapas were delicious. We cleaned up the plates quickly. Sangria was average. The fruit hadn't infused well with the wine. The paella arrived and it was a tiny 6-8" pan. It was advertised as serves 2 but didn't really look so. There was lot of raw squid and octopus just thrown over which didn't make the presentation very appealing. Taste was very average with a rather heavy hand of salt. As a courtesy we didn't want to send it back but I'll say this was one of the worst paella I ever had! read more

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Ended up here for Dine downtown and boy am I happy the other restaurant fell though. Everything was great from start to finish, From the service, drinks, to everything we ate 10/10 Our sever Omer was very personable and made out evening great. For Dine Downtown you were able to get an appetizer, entree, and a dessert for $35 and boy did this place or disappoint, Aioli had two options for each and my friend and I got one of each to share and taste everything. I will definitely be making it a priority to come back and taste more of the menu. Definitely recommend this cozy spot for dining you won't regret it read more

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The wife and I wanted something "different" and we chose Aioli Bodega. When we walked it, the place was inviting like going to your grandparents for Sunday dinner. Malik immediately asked us if we'd like to dine in and we grabbed a table. The menu offered many traditional Spanish tapas and paella options, and much more. Malik provide suggestions after we asked for recommendations based on our taste and mood. He nailed every suggestion. The restaurant came alive as our dinner progressed with many other patrons visiting. The owner even stopped by to check on us, which reminded me of my grandfather. It was an amazing experience thanks to the staff and of course the food. Highly recommend stopping by and giving it a try. read more

A cosy vibe with Spanish style decor and artwork, we came here for lunch on a Saturday and we're seated promptly. Service was quick & efficient. We got a variety of tapas with some wine and beer. The table favorites were the grilled chorizo on a bed of canneloni beans and the grilled octopus. We also got the tortilla Espanola, a stuffed calamari - I especially appreciated our server checking in with us either we'd be good with cold calamari since it wasn't a commonly available dish. The usual patatas bravas - nothing exceptional, but warm potatoes on a cold day felt good, shrimp in garlic lemon sauce completed our mains. To end the meal we got some chocolate mousse with berries which was great and I was glad we decided to share it! While not the best Spanish tapas I've had, a solid place for a cozy meal with friends. read more

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First time there Didn't know what to order Great suggestion and explanations what was in each plate from our waiter.. he was very attentive to our experience there .. I would go back food was good' read more