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    Amada

    4.2 (2.4k reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Amada Photos

    Business Info

    AMADA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Amada

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    Reviews With Photos

    Salmon
    Madison R.

    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!

    CHAMUCA
    Lilly B.

    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!

    Shawn T.

    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.

    Hair in salmon
    Jasmine S.

    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.

    Short rib
    Trish R.

    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!

    Garlic shrimp
    Peggy C.

    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.

    Gambas al Ajillo and Bruselas Catalana
    Lisa G.

    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!!

    Lea was absolutely amazing! The recommendations were perfect and the service was top notch!

    Brittany G.

    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.

    Croquette
    Matt L.

    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.

    Waygu skirt steak
    Dale C.

    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.

    Head on prawns
    Eva C.

    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.

    Ham Croquettes
    Justine J.

    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.

    Arroz con Leche

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    Terrible service took 30 minutes to take my order. Waiter was lazy and impatient and was not enthusiastic.

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    Page 2 of 61

    Ask the Community - Amada

    How much is the prefix menu for dinner?

    $65 per person with an extra $35 for wine tasting

    View All 3 Questions

    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Seafood

    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar

    3.8(1.5k reviews)
    0.1 miOld City
    $$$

    Went to Cuba Libre with some yelpers. We did the secret menu which was an amazing deal. The inside…read moreis so pretty. It looks like what I think Cuba would look like. There are big manual fans at the top which were pretty cool to see. The place also has a decent happy hour menu but only available at the bar. The table got bread and mango butter. I really liked how crispy the bread was. It had been pressed down very thin. I got the empanadas which were really good. The main dish (pinchos de camarones), had way too much salt on it. It was nice they had shrimp that also incorporated a kimchi salad. For dessert, the tres leches cake was a delight. I liked how spongy the texture is.

    I've been to Cuba Libre multiple times now and it never disappoints -- the tropical ambiance inside…read moreis always a vibe! I've tried their seafood paella, ropa vieja, and their crab guacamole with plantain chips. The paella is the real star -- chef's kiss on the flavor! The lobster, mussels, shrimp, and squid all taste fresh, and the portion is generous enough to share alongside a couple of apps. But honestly? The thing I'm still thinking about is their complimentary housemade mango butter on Cuban bread. Didn't even get a photo of it, still thinking about it. For drinks, the coconut mojito is a must. And here's the bonus: Friday & Saturday nights 11pm-2am, Cuba Libre flips the whole restaurant into a Latin DJ dance party -- it's a lot, in the best way, and free with a dinner receipt! Eat guilt-free knowing you can dance the calories off on the same floor later. Definitely get a reservation here, and it's also conveniently located in old city, where there is so much to do. Service was wonderful, no complaints there.

    Photos
    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar
    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Jardin Salad with Grilled Shrimp

    Jardin Salad with Grilled Shrimp

    Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar - Cheers!!

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    Cheers!!

    Oloroso - Charred green beans (restaurant week)

    Oloroso

    4.0(294 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Oloroso has slowly become one of our favorite spots in the city for Spanish tapas. The food is…read morealways terrific, the cocktails are excellent, and the whole place just has such a warm atmosphere. This visit we had a Gin Mare martini, a lovely Spanish garnacha, jamón y queso croquetas, scallop brochette, tajín de pollo, and an incredible traditional paella loaded with shellfish, chicken, and chorizo. We finished with churros and chocolate sauce for dessert, which were absolutely worth it. Such a fun, delicious evening, and we're already looking forward to going back.

    Snagged a reservation on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised with almost everything we…read moreordered. First, the vibe is great. Cozy and romantic and we were seated with a great view of the open kitchen, which compared to some other open kitchens, was humming away and directed by the head chef/owner. We first ordered several dishes from the tapas menu: Eggplant, Albondigas, Bacalao, and Roasted Beets. The eggplant was custardy on the outside and perfectly charred on the inside and its savory yet sweet profile would convert any eggplant hater. The beets were nicely steamed and sprinkled with a flavorful pistachio dukkah, though the coconut kefir swoosh on the bottom wasn't super flavorful. The albondigas were good, the pork/beef mix a bit overworked but the tomato sauce they were in was bright and perfectly spiced and made a perfect sauce to dip the abbbbsolutely DELICIOUS housemade sourdough slices this course came with. Last of these was the bacalao fritters, perfectly fried and topped with a citrus aioli. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Order these. Next was the raciones course, which is basically just tapas but just more meat-centric. We ordered the chicken leg with berbere and saffron couscous (came with housemade pita bread squares) and the Spanish sausage with roasted long hots. The chicken was our least favorite of the night. Overcooked and lacking much flavor, though the couscous made up for it with its saffron essence and sweet and soft dates and apricots. The pita bread, just like the sourdough was DELICIOUS. (Can you tell I like bread?) The sausage was salty and perfectly charred and another favorite of the night. They have a tapas/raciones tasting menu for $55 and the above cost two of us about $100 so we might try the tasting menu the next time though, we left full satisfied. Definitely will be back!

    Photos
    Oloroso
    Oloroso - Their incredible traditional paella loaded with shellfish, chicken, and chorizo.

    Their incredible traditional paella loaded with shellfish, chicken, and chorizo.

    Oloroso - Wood roasted pork belly (restaurant week)

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    Wood roasted pork belly (restaurant week)

    Amada - Bruselas Catalana

    Amada

    4.2(79 reviews)
    13.4 mi

    I was in the burbs of Philly and saw some old friends. She asked what kind of food would we like,…read moreand I said Spanish, so she suggested Amada by Jose Garces - James Beard Award winner. Oh this was so delightful and delicious. Every detail of each dish was perfection. The staff was super nice, and the GM came by our table to thank us for dining at Amada on this evening. I have to say thank you for having us! Pro tip. The Lancaster Ave location is on the 1st floor of an office building and you will likely not see it from Lancaster Ave. I suggest for your 1st visit, use GPS. There is plenty of free parking in the back of the building. For those who want valet parking and door to door service, that is available too.

    It used to be better! Our waiter only offered us bottled water (then I see other tables getting tap…read morewater...). We were a group of 6 and we ordered the 18 recommended tapas . They rolled out food sooo slowly, we sat with salad on the table for at least 30 min. The whole dinner took 2h! I was so uncomfortable sitting in that booth for that long. Dishes worth returning to: Patatas Bravas Beef skewers Croquettes Stuffed peppers The rest was meh. Cheesecake was overcooked, salad was under seasoned, salmon had a weird sauce to it, octopus was fishy and slimy. I used to love this place. It's a shame the quality has gone down. In both locations. Time for chef to come check on his restaurants.

    Photos
    Amada - El Carrito with Hendricks Orbium, Mediterranean Fever Tree, Orange Angusturo, cucumber, basil, lime & strawberry for color

    El Carrito with Hendricks Orbium, Mediterranean Fever Tree, Orange Angusturo, cucumber, basil, lime & strawberry for color

    Amada - Ganache De Chocolate

    Ganache De Chocolate

    Amada - Bar

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    Bar

    Barcelona Wine Bar Passyunk - Jamón & Manchego Croquetas, Spiced Beef Empanadas & Olive Oil Pancakes

    Barcelona Wine Bar Passyunk

    4.4(916 reviews)
    1.8 miEast Passyunk Crossing
    $$$

    This place was awesome for a big group dinner! Went here with a group of 10 friends and opted in…read morefor the tasting menu, which they immediately recommended for any big group. The tasting menu had three tiers you could choose from- $35, $45, and $55/person. We chose the $55/person option which included the full menu of tapas as well as dessert. They pick the most popular dishes to bring out to the table but also allow you to request any specifically that you'd like. By the end of night, we had a TON of food, even more than we could finish, and ended up trying at least 15 different dishes. All the food was great, with some of my favorites being the eggplant caponata (cold, very flavorful), scallops a la plancha, jamon & manchego croquetas, spiced beef empanadas, and the paellas. Favorite dessert was the chocolate cake, but we were received all the desserts other than the ice cream and sorbet. I may have liked the food experience less if I had ordered off the regular menu and only tried a few small plate, but I loved the option of trying so many dishes. By the time we finished everything, we had been there for over 3 hours (including lots of wine of course), which was really fun! The place gets packed on a Saturday night so we would not have gotten in without a reservation.

    Ended up here by accident because I was window shopping with my 3 year old and he suddenly shouted…read more"I need to potty"...most establishments do not have restrooms available to the public so I figured our best bet was a restaurant and popped in here. The staff were immediately sympathetic, super friendly and helpful. Of course, as if I wasn't embarrassed enough, as soon as the 3 year old washed his hands, he shouted "I'm hungry" (is this sort of human I'm raising?). We were already in a restaurant so why not. Before being seated or looking at the menu, I asked for some fries to be put in and the waitress offered some chicken tenders. After finally looking over the menu, I don't think these are regular offerings so I appreciated them trying to be accommodating to a frazzled parent at dinner time. My vegan mother in law joined us and we were pleased that there were so many options for her. My absolute favourite (such that I had to order another round) was the eggplant caponata - perfectly sweet with a little bit of spice. It was so warm and comforting - exactly what I want at the end of a long cold day. My MIL's fav were the Brussels sprouts - they had a tang reminiscent of buffalo sauce and were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, textured heaven (extra bonus points for the 3 year old absolutely LOVING them - he redeemed himself). If you like hummus, try the spinach and chick pea cazuela. Squash is in season so I knew it was going to be delightful - the pomegranate was a combination that was new to me, but it didn't disappoint. We didn't try the roasted carrots (because my household is all carroted out for the moment) but someone one table over was gushing over them. As a meat eater, I have to say that the non meat tapas were standouts - I tried the empanadas, they were fine; I didn't enjoy the meatballs and I just wanted to order more of the eggplant caponata. All in all, I would definitely come back, maybe for drinks with friends or date night. The drink list looked inviting and nothing says intimacy like mood lighting and shared plates. The price (without alcohol) was very approachable - for $80 a vegan, a 3 year old and a frazzled mom left satiated.

    Photos
    Barcelona Wine Bar Passyunk - Summer Street Sling

    Summer Street Sling

    Barcelona Wine Bar Passyunk - Amazing butternut squash with pistachio.

    Amazing butternut squash with pistachio.

    Barcelona Wine Bar Passyunk - Open kitchen.

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    Open kitchen.

    Amada - tapas - Updated May 2026

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