long time amada goer here. recently they added and changed a few things so I thought i'd give some input. as usual the service, and ambience was impeccable. I am vegetarian, so here are my thoughts on the new items. Ensalade Verde: is the absolute best salad in the city. in the country even. absolute must get. it's big, however me and my sister still refuse to split it. definitely shareable though if you're not as greedy. Patatas Bravas: slightly different iteration than their past one. I think it's actually better. you get more potato's, more sauce, and the sauce just tastes slightly better but who knows. always ordered when we go Brussels Catalana: technically there is blue cheese in this, however, I am a certified blue cheese hater and I had no idea. so don't be turned off by that. first time having this dish and it was solid. good portion, well coated, right texture. will get again Pimientos De Pardon: shishito peppers were good, decent amount of them. I think everyone had three and we had 4 people. wouldn't get again just because there are other things more worth it but still great. Unknown Cauliflower dish: i'm not seeing it on the menu, so maybe it was just removed, but it was essentially a cauliflower gratin dish. I wouldn't get again. it was good, but lacked salt and was basically just a cauliflower in some heavy cream with a tiny amount of bread crumbs. Valenciana Paella: this has meat in it obviously, but I did eat around the pieces. if you're vegetarian and don't mind your food touching the meat, it's very easy to pick around. all the meat pieces are medium sized. This was very good, the rice was amazing, the watercress was so good. presentation was great. worth the time and money especially if you eat meat Ganache de Chocolate: pretty good. honestly interested in trying the rice pudding next. or just ordering another patatas bravas for dessert. shareable between two people. Passion fruit mocktail: MUST GET for all non drinkers! expensive? yes. worth it? yes. taste is great and it's also a nice thing to have if you're with others who drink and don't want to be left out. it's set up just like an alcoholic drink would be. read more

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I did a tour around Philly and decided to pop in here for happy hour and I was pleasantly surprised by how good everything was. The atmosphere is dimly lit and romantic, as I was eating alone I sat at the bar. There were plenty of seating available so that was a plus for me Service was quick and attentive Garlic shrimp: 4/5, loved it! I love the garlic flavor of shrimp which was cooked to perfection. Chicken skewers: 4/5, loved! The chicken was moist and packed with flavor. I enjoyed my meal here and my overall experience read more

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How do I rate this place, first I'll say the atmosphere is great, it had a warm and welcoming feeling. For tapas we had the salmon, croquetas de Jamon, and Pinchos de pollo, the Pinchos were very good, croquetas were not so good, and salmon was just ok. For drinks we had the white sangria (don't order it, this is just cheap wine with a few pieces of fruit in it), the Mojito (awesome), the old fashioned (really well made). Finally for the main dish we decided on the paella Valenciana. Really bad decision, it was one of the worst paella's I've ever had, actually no, it was the worse paella I've ever had. They earn gold on "worse paella". If you've ever had Spanish or Portuguese food and you enjoyed it, this place isn't for you. If you've never had it, don't try this place because this shouldn't be your point of reference as to what Iberian food should taste like. I know, I didn't mention service, it was okay. Overall, and this is hard for me, because I really wanted to like this place, this place gets a 3 for food, a 6 for drinks and some appetizers. read more

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The flavor, presentation, and quality of all the dishes we had were fantastic. I was most impressed with the asparagus and salmon with the amount of flavor they had. Our waitress was so sweet and patient - really kind staff. The ambiance was moody, warm, and elevated. I would come back for a special occasion! read more

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I was excited to visit Amara for restaurant week! Having multiple courses and being at a tapas place allowed us to try a full range of the menu! It was a prefix menu, but there were options for everyone! Some of our favorites were the Brussels and manchego. Things we would not order again- short rib which sadly lacked flavor and the octopus was delicious but there was barley a half of a tentacle on the plate. Didn't have a wide selection of wine by the glass. They definitely promote buying by the bottle. Service was good but I wish we got new plates for each course! read more

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Such good food and ambiance. I just came back from Barcelona in January and this took me back a bit. Our drinks were potent. Food came out quick and with lots of flavor. Everything was delicious. I wanted to try everything after having a few things. Staff were nice and inviting. I surely want to return. read more

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Went to Amada for restaurant week and unfortunately didn't have a very good experience. For starters our waiter had an extremely unpleasant attitude and was rushing us from the moment we sat down. She removed plates from our table while we were in the middle of eating. The calamari was their best item. Chorizo was inedible and tortilla española was extremely salty. The salmon was great until a couple bites in we discover a long blonde hair in the middle of the dish (mind you none of us have long blonde hair lol). We pointed this out to our server who did not apologize. The only thing she said was "want another?" We said no as we felt quite nauseous thinking about the hair and she just took the dish and walked away. They continued to bring the rest of the dishes we ordered but at this point you can't enjoy the meal when all you're thinking about is the long hair you just found in your food. Still no acknowledgment or apology from the waiter. When she brought the check out she said she removed the salmon which is the only reason Im giving 2 stars. We thanked her and left. It's not about the price it's about the principle. We were very disappointed with the service and the lack of a response right when we discovered the hair. An appropriate response would be "We sincerely apologize for this and we will let our chef / manager know" Wouldn't recommend. Servers are not very professional and quality of food is low. read more

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Made a reservation for 4:30 as soon as they opened. They have a good amount of seating and a cute bar area that was filled up for happy hour. The food was amazing! Server was really nice and welcoming and gave great suggestions! Our favorite things we ordered were the empanadas, croquettes, and short rib by far! The drinks were also on point! Great spot and recommend going! read more

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Tapas does a smooth tap dance on your appetite and taste buds. It's a great way to experience small plate dining. In a quaint dark wooden restaurant. It feels like you are in the belly of a colonial era ship. The plates keep coming. You will be amazed at the sheer flair of variety and flavors. read more

What happened to this place? Every dish we ordered was worse than the last. The wagyu steak was so chewy it was practically inedible, the mussels were dry, the bacon-wrapped dates were terrible, and the "flatbread" was basically a tortilla with toppings. Service has also gone way downhill. This used to be one of our go-to spots, but it's clearly not what it once was. Huge disappointment and definitely not worth the price anymore. read more

I've been to Amada twice, and had a wonderful time both times. While not perfect, the food at Amada is flavorful and well portioned. I have especially enjoyed the patatas bravas, the cauliflower gratin, and the lamb albondigas (especially the heavenly truffle froie gras sauce). The short rib could have used a bolder accompaniment sauce, but the meat was perfectly cooked. My friends have enjoyed the bacon wrapped dates, the asparagus salad, as well as the manchego. Drinks are tasty and well balanced. The service is excellent-- efficient and friendly without being overbearing. I have sat in the lovely back room (quieter) and in front with a view of the kitchen (lively). I can see why this restaurant has done well over many years. read more

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Amada is Chef Garces' iconic first restaurant. When searching for a romantic dinner location during our weekend away in Philadelphia, we searched no further than Amada. Entering the rustic industrial space one is immediately nestled in a warm and sexy ambiance. This tapas style restaurant offers a plethora of delicious bites expertly prepared and complemented by vast wine and cocktail selections . We chose The Estrella and Pain & Glory cocktails to start. The Estrella is a vodka based drink mixed with St. Germain, lemon, blueberry and finished with club soda. The P&G is a habanero tequila based drink blended with agave, lime and fresh apples. Both were a wonderful pairing with our tapas selections. We began with Gambas al Ajillo and the Bruselas Catalana. The shrimp were plump, perfectly cooked and steeped in a rich and flavorful garlic sauce that offered a slight hint of smoky heat. The Brussels were like none I have ever tried and probably the best I've ever had, and I am a frequent Brussels eater! They are enveloped in a Valdeon fondue then sprinkled with pine nuts and tart green apple. A marriage of flavors absolutely made in heaven! Last we culminated our meal with the Entrecote, a thinly sliced Wagyu Skirt Steak served with a bright and herbaceous chimichurri and a petite Salmon filet served with a Saffron Vinaigrette. The steak was beautifully marbled and the preparation highlighted the natural rich flavor of the meat. The salmon skin was seared to perfection and the filet was moist, juicy and seasoned to perfection. Overall, Amada is a MUST when in the Philly area. Chef Garces' first concept is truly first rate!! You will not be disappointed!! read more

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What an incredible evening at Amada!! We opted for the iron chef tapas tour and we were not disappointed. From the time we were greeted at the door and until we left we felt so welcome. Our server Molly took excellent care of us. The care and presentation of the plates was so artistic and beautiful. We had dates, croquets, chorizo, piquillos, garlic shrimp, calamari, potato , peppers, cauliflower and shared a chocolate dessert and rice pudding. Everything we tried was incredibly delicious. When in Philly be sure to try this restaurant, you will definitely not be disappointed! read more

The ambiance in Amada was very nice. We started at the bar during Happy Hour. The Sangria was great and tasty. We went to a table where our server Nolan was outstanding! We ordered about 4 different Tapas, the chorizo, Brussels, short rib flatbread, and the crab stuffed peppers. They were all good but the FLATBREAD was out of this world! Omg, that's a favorite forsure. Overall, I recommend trying them. I will be back for that flatbread and some other new items to try. read more

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Such a great night out. The vibe works for a group or a date. Ordering all the tapas was a fun experience but even better was trying them

Early Sat night dinner, greeted warmly and taken in. Served a complimentary tuna starter that was delicious with perfectly salted tortilla chips. I had the ham croquettes and octopus and everything was tender and tasty. We also had a sausage that was smoky good. Great wine selection and service was so nice. Will be back. read more

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Amada... ...good location.... ...good service... ...good food... This place is tapa style and the food is good, not great but I can guarantee you will like it. I don't have much more to say except I would visit again but it wouldn't be my first choice, Just because there are other places to explore. read more

Wow. We saw Chef Garces on a cooking show and decided to check out his restaurant. This place is a small venue but most excellent. They offer tapas and in order to get the paella you have to give them 45 minutes. We did not but we ordered several things We ordered the ham and fig salad. Eww very nice but it is a salty dish. This did not take away from the dish at all it was excellent. We ordered the bacon wrapped dates which came with a little pearl onion on each skewer. They were incredibly flavorful. Sweet savory and awesome. Octopus was amazing charred and sweet and great flavor. Very very good. Waygu skirt steak. This was great flavor but overtly fatty. Short rib flatbread. Wow incredible bacon jam and super tasty. Flatbread was seasoned nicely and very flavorful The staff was awesome and very attentive. It is tapas style so the food comes when ready. We were impressed. read more

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A very cool vibe. Loved the Spanish music and the muted lighting. Staff was fantastic, including our server, Nolan. Restaurant week menu had a good number of options. We enjoyed: *Green salad-with asparagus, fava beans, haricot verts-crisp, fresh and a nice dressing *Spiced lamb turnovers-tasty, crispy, cumin-y, yummy *Spanish octopus with potato slices-tasty *Head on prawns-lovely *wagyu hanger steak-a bit chewy with a vibrant salsa verde *Drinks were very good-"Tie me up, tie me down " and Rose something or the other I hadn't visited Amada in years but it won't be that long til I return. HH and tapas y vino menu look good, also. A very solid option for dining in Olde City. read more

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I am glad I came back here and gave Amada another try and just created our own chef's tasting by just ordering off the menu. ENTRECÔTE: Wagyu Skirt Steak, Salsa Verde with Cabrales Demi - this was our favorite. It was so flavorful and the meat was to buttery and tender. This is a must have. CROQUETAS DE JAMÓN: Ham Croquettes - this was also very tasty, but we couldn't taste the ham. It was like a crispy cheese ball that sits on a dollop of aioli of some sort. PULPO A LA GALLEGA: Spanish Octopus, Potato Espuma - the slices of Octopus had good texture (sometimes they can be chewy). The potato espuma is like an extra creamy mashed potatoes. I also recommend this. SALMÓN: Seared Salmon (skin on), Saffron Emulsion - this one had a very unique flavor. The salmon was well made and not fishy. It is worth a try if you like salmon. PIQUILLOS: Crab-Stuffed Peppers topped with toasted almonds - I don't like peppers but this was very good. The peppers were so soft it just melts in your mouth. This came with three pieces, but stuffed with generous amounts of crab. ALBÓNDIGAS: Lamb Meatballs - this came with generous amounts of bite sized tender meatballs with a cream sauce and lots of peas. Not gamey at all. CORDERO: Lamb Chops (2), Nora Chile Butter and a lemon wedge. This was great, well prepared, tender, and flavor. PAELLA MARISCOS: Squid Ink Bomba Rice, Spiced Monkfish, Prawns, Calamari, Cockles, Canary Island Mojo Aioli - the rice was so good. The other seafood was not mixed it, just organized neatly on a bed of rice. The monk dish was good, but not much flavor to the muscles or cockles. We didn't get prawns (someone has an allergy) so they gave us extra bivalves. Also topped with a lot of parsley and some tomatoes. PERNIL ASADO: Confit Pork, Rosemary White Beans, Seville Orange - this was our least favorite. Least favorite as in we didn't like it at all. The beans were tasted strange (almost a little bit sour) and the pork was a choking hazard. We got a doggy back for this... literally. Our waitress did warn us about this and we didn't listen. We also got complimentary chorizo which was so nice :). They also serve good coffee - dark and strong! The service was great, we adored our waitress and she played along with our crazy antics. Tables were swiftly cleared for upcoming dishes, and water was never half full. read more

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My friend and I recently went to Amada for Center City Restaurant Week and had a great time! The ambiance was super cozy, and service was fast throughout the evening. To drink, I got a mocktail called the Chavala which had Feragia Free Spirit, lemon, rosemary, egg white, and paprika. It was a little sweeter than I was expecting but still super tasty. To eat, we split all of the vegetarian options from the restaurant week menu. For the first course, we had Manchego with truffle lavender honey, Ensalada Verde (green salad, asparagus, favas, haricot verts, avocado), Tortilla Española (potato and onion omelette), and Patatas Bravas (spiced potatoes). My favorite dishes were the salad which was super refreshing and the patatas bravas, which had a delicious aioli. For the second course, we split the Judias Verdes (charred green beans, fennel confit, almond dukka), Pimientos de Padron (flash fried peppers, deviled egg cream), Bruselas Catalana (brussels sprouts, green apple, pine nuts, valdeon fondue), and the Arroz Temporado (wild mushroom rice, peas, manchego). The standout in this round was definitely the brussels sprouts, which were so caramelized and delicious. For dessert, we split the Tarta de Queso (basque style cheesecake with membrillo and granny smith apple) and Arroz con Leche (rice pudding, coffee caramel, crunchy puffed rice). While both were alright, the dessert round was probably my least favorite of the night. I would definitely be interested in returning outside of restaurant week to see how the food compares during a "normal time." read more

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Nice vibe- our service was outstanding, we had two servers Maggie and Alex who were professional and friendly and gave great recs on food and the city. The food was delicious- we had the Brussels sprouts, which were perfectly seasoned, the chicken pinchos, which were tender and flavorful, and the bacon wrap dates were our favorites. Espresso martinis were lovely... great experience overall! read more

Amada - Tapas Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ambiance - wonderful! Service - awesome! Drinks - amazing! Food - lack luster. Didn't live up to the hype. Was disappointed in the food but everything else was great. Go during happy hour. read more

So glad this place is still thriving, such a Philly staple - went back for the first time in years and as good as ever MANCHEGO: Truffle Lavender Honey - 9/10 CROQUETAS DE JAMÓN: Ham Croquettes - 9/10 COSTILLAS DE TERNERA: Shortrib Flatbread, Horseradish, Bacon Jam, Parmesan - 8/10 PAELLA MARISCOS: Squid Ink Bomba Rice, Spiced Monkfish, Prawns, Calamari, Cockles, Canary Island Mojo Aioli - 9/10 read more

Oh Amada, what a life I've lived without you. What an opportunity I had to see you, breathe you, take you in. I adore that chef Jose Garcés has a couple of places to be able to showcase his menus and his thoughts, and I was happier when I noticed Amada is full of energy, great food, and amazing opportunities to relax with loved ones. If you're in the mood for drinking, and snacking, Amada is in. It really is a tapas set up menu, with so many options of drinks to pair with your choices. The decor and the ambiance is so nice but simple. you can sit at the bar, high tables, or in a table and oversee the restaurant, bar or outside. We were given some time to browse the menu, our server brought us water and we opted for some of their house drinks, a coke for the teen, and browsed the menu. Before we put our orders in, we mentioned that my daughter has a shellfish allergy. Our server was very understanding and made sure to ask if things needed to be cooked on their own of if they were able to be cooked in the same section. As far as the pricing, for the individual items you're ordering, whether fish, a charcuterie board, bacon wrapped dates, it's all worth it! The bill will add up for sure, especially if you're a first timer and you want to taste everything like we wanted to. My favorite was the bacon wrapped dates, and the squid. The dates were just out of this world. It was something new to me, but so simple and beautifully crafted man. The same with the squid, it was on the plate with its ink, sliced, simply grilled, just awesome. Philly was so humid that day, so we opted for one drink and water, so much water. The menu selection for tapas is great, and there are also some dishes if you prefer that. Now again, it's pricey because your tasting different items, and it all adds up in the end! If you're looking for a date night to get to know your significant other, your date, and how adventurous you can be, Amada is the place. Just bring some extra cash, tip your servers, be open to a great time and conversation. I love me the Old City in being able to visit Amada! read more

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Loved trying this tapas menu during restaurant week. Me and my girlfriends sat at the chef's counter, cool experience. But warning-- a bench without back support. LOL. The food was good, some better than others. My favorite of the night had to be the octopus and that delicious texture of this pureed potato situation underneath it. read more

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Good, not great. Service, atmosphere, drinks, food, plating: all good. prices are reasonable. Most were good but not irresistible: the paella marisco, setas (mushrooms), bacon wrapped dates, croquetas. Nothing stood out although I personally enjoyed the bruselas catalana, ensalada verde, and patatas bravas. A couple were disappointing: pinchos de pollo and pinchos morunos (chicken and steak skewers) were not very flavorful. The steak and salmon were cooked well but not very interesting. Not a single complaint. But also not a single dish anyone in our group talked about coming back for. Small note that the menu references a broad range of Spanish cuisine but is not strictly authentic, and carries a subtly Latin American flavor profile. That will matter to some people more than others and is interesting in and of itself. For example, Chimichurri sauce (for the steak) is not from Spain. Shishito peppers are from Japan and are similar but not the same as Pimientos de Padron. I'd describe the paella marisco as a tasty rice dish but not a paella and not quite authentic arroz negro either. I don't think that really matters unless you are expecting to replicate an authentic meal you had in Spain. read more

Outstanding food and service - waiter made the right recommendations and brought extra bread without us having to ask.

Food was delicious! We got the meat/cheese plate as our starter and lamb/steak as our mains. The food was delicious but the ambiance was a little too rowdy. I could hardly hear my date who was sitting right across from me. read more

Amada - CHARCUTERIA MIXTO - Tapas Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Because I enjoyed the brunch so much, I wanted to try the dinner because it has more options. Mojito: it doesn't have much alcohol. I have low tolerance of alcohol but I did not feel anything with this drink. It is a refreshing drink for a hot summer day. Patata bravas: fancy plating of the bravas. Square cut potatoes are individually placed on an ornate plate. Each of the potato is garnished with vibrant orange aioli. Really good. Scallops: my favorite dish of the night. Two thin scallops per skewer. Perfectly cooked. Pork tenderloin: overcooked and dry Lamb meatballs: it's ok, not memorable. Setas: mushrooms with truffle. It's super salty. I didn't enjoy it at all. Our waiter was very attentive to my friend's food allergy. He warned him that the bravas was fried in the same frier as cod (he has fin fish allergy). Good call from the waiter. read more

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Enjoyed a great meal with six friends at Amada. Beautiful dining room and great atmosphere. Our server recommended we start with 7 shared plates and that was a perfect amount. My favorites were the bacon wrapped dates and the crab stuffed peppers. We also enjoyed the patatas bravado, some cheeses, jamon Serrano and the croquetas de jamon. Everything was delicious and we ate every morsel. We completed the meal with Paella Valenciana. The dish was presented beautifully and tasted fantastic. Packed with chicken, shrimp, mussels and veggies - it was eaten as quickly as the tapas had been. A great meal complimented by well crafted cocktails and served by an attentive and friendly staff. Can't wait to return to Amada in the future! read more

Amada - Paella Valenciana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We stopped here for a Galentines day dinner and it was delicious! The main star of the show was the paella Valenciana! There was 3 of us all together and we still had leftovers to share! The paella does take about 45 min to come out, so we were able to order some tapas to share before. We had such a good time that we will be back for our next girls trip! read more

Amada - Paella Valenciana - Tapas Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

First time coming here with my family. No complaints about the food (Potatoes were a tad salty) but the rest of our dinner was great. The chefs tasting left us with more food than we were anticipating. Very satisfied with the value. Although the service left a bit to be desired. The unenthusiastic neon pink haired waitress was very distracting read more

Everything at Amada was phenomenal- the vibe, service, food and drinks! I came for happy hour with a few friends and tried their sangria, lemon cocktail and a variety of tapas. My favorite was definitely the bacon wrapped dates but everything was delicious. Definitely recommend stopping by!! read more

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INCREIBLE! I hesitated on coming here, because I used to live in Spain and I'm pretty picky about Spanish food. But when I saw an Iron Chef was at the helm, I decided to give it a try, and I'm glad I did! Before I list out all the food, I want to say that we tried EVERYTHING on the tapas menu and it was all DELICIOUS. The sangria was great, too. This is one of the most authentic Spanish cuisine experiences I've had in the US. Came here for a business dinner and we were sat at the large table in the center. The restaurant wasn't too noisy and it was in a lovely location. The service was great, as well. As you can tell, I highly recommend Amada and know where it gets its name (loved). read more

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Came here for HH and restaurant week, personally I think restaurant week was more worth it (spent the same amount of money for both visits). Everything was flavorful and could be a little too salty for some but the food is yummy. Would comeback again for restaurant week. Dessert was a little sweet for me but I don't have a sweet tooth. Service was friendly and ambiance is cute for a date night.. thought a bit dark for where we were sitting. read more

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una experiencia increíble! as a group of avid travelers who have all visited many cities in Spain, this little tapas bar was a true authentic dining experience that exceeded our expectations. the moody ambiance, great bartender/service, handcrafted cocktails, and vividly vibrant aperitivos were not just bursting with color but mouthwatering flavor as well. we ordered the entire small plates menu *no exaggeration* and devoured each one! los platos más tipicos such as the jamón ibérico passed the test as well. I can't wait to return sometime soon! read more

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So we drove from New York to Philly to eat here. I've been here before and have always loved it. Our server EVELYN was a delight. Knowledgeable about the food and great drink recommendations. We ordered the octopus which was tasty and crispy with soft flavorful potatoes. We had the salmon loved the crispy skin. The ham croquettes we on a romanesco sauce that was delicious we had the beef skewer well season. The rice rice pudding was so delicious I ordered 2 for myself. The gin drinks Evelyn recommend we fantastic definitely a place to go if you are in Philly. Thank you Evelyn for making it great experience. read more

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They have many selections of tapas or dishes to choose from. We tried a couple different tapas and all taste amazing! Service is great and staff were friendly and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

Amada - Chicken sandwich, lamb meat balls, garlic shrimp, Tortilla Espanola, crab stuffed pepper, chorizo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I had an awesome brunch here with a friend. The service was excellent, our server was really attentive. We made reservations so there was not a wait. And we had a nice private corner. $5 mimosas and sangria yes please All of the tapas we had were delicious. I definitely will be back. read more

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