I love how high end this place is! We came for brunch one weekend when we were staying in the neighborhood which opens late at 11 even though it says 11:30 on yelp. We were hungry but we decided to walk around only to be told we needed a reservation when we returned. We got a nice bar table so that's wasn't bad. The plates are mostly tapas style so small but delicious and great service. read more

I was here once last year and once this year and each time the service was appalling. Service during my first visit was arrogant and this past time deserves a whole explanation. My mother and I were seated at 8:25pm for 8:00 reservation on a Thursday night. We had a drink at the bar while waiting which should have been comped but was not. It took nearly 10 minutes for the server to come to our table, which are very uncomfortable because if you are sitting on the wall side your neck will be close to table height. When our server finally did come by our table she was not knowledgeable and her clothes and breath smelt like cigarettes. As someone who's worked in many restaurants I am 100% positive she was taught to mint after a smoke before returning to a table. The service itself was adequate but far from friendly. If I never had Spanish food in Spain I'd probably really enjoy this place. I know tapas are bold and unrefined but the tapas at Amada are to heavy with butter, oil and garlic. Grilled dishes such as lamb are very good. A salmon with a foam was also very good. If you order the chef's menu you will not believe how much you'll get. I cannot say whether or not I will ever be back at Amada. If I ever do come back it may be at the bar to escape the downfalls of the service and I'd certainly not order any tapas. read more

Simply put, this is the best restaurant in Philadelphia. For so long Philadelphia had been plagued by Stephen Starr and BYOBs, who would have thought that Chef Garces could have emerged from one of Starr's food chop shops (Alma De Cuba) to become this city's culinary savior. The atmosphere is makes you believe that you are entering a little slice of rustic Spain...stone floors, a dark wood bar, cured meat hanging in an open kitchen, and candle lighting over scrubbed wood tables. The closeness of the tables doesn't just encourage, but demands that you discuss your meal with neighbors, and often hidden gems that I would not normally consider have been recommended and savored. The cuisine is traditional, small plate Spanish fare: lamb chops, artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, fresh seafood, and perfectly cooked meats. Not to miss dishes include the Spanish octopus (one of Garces' specialities), lamb meatballs with manchego, duck confit flatbread, and the grilled lamb chops. Dessert should always include the saffron rice pudding, another of Chef Garces' specialties. For first-timers, the menu can be a bit overwhelming, so I definitely recommend the chef's tasting. Ranging for $45-$65/guest, it worth every penny, as you get to experience the full gamut of the chefs' range of skills and flavors. A wine pairing is a great accompaniment with each course is also a good idea. The staff is welcoming and helpful, with the waitstaff and bartenders especially knowledgeable with suggestions for both food and drink. Amada really is one of the jewels of Philadelphia restaurant scene, so reservations are a must, especially given Chef Garces' recent Iron Chef appointment read more

This was my first time being in Philadelphia. My gfs and I decided to try Amada, because of the location (closer to the bars/lounges) and we were skeptical because of the price, but we went anyways. Our reservation was at 10:45pm (kind of late) but it was perfect since our flight into PA was at 7pm. When we arrived there, the food smelled so delicious! And the place was so cozy and the staff were super friendly. We finally got seated and with the help from our waiter, we ordered practically EVERYTHING on the menu. Everything was nicely portion (for four girls) and everything came out at the right time. Once we were done with one entree, the next one came and so forth. The food was amazing! Here is what we ordered: Almejas con chorizo (clams & chorizo), Gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), Pulpo a la gallega (spanish octopus), Madre e Hijo (chicken breast w/ fried egg, mojama & truffles), Entrecote a la Catalana (prime sirloin with catalan spinach, membrillo & goat cheese), Alcachofas y setas (artichoke & wild mushroom flat bread) and a couple of more items! The waiter was so nice that he gave us some complimentary items as well! The food was DELICIOUS!! One of the best restaurants we've been to in Philadelphia! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!!! read more

Came here for Mother's Day with the family. Let's just start by saying the service is just lovely. Our server was sweet and quite keen on her wine recommendations. Meal started with a selection of 3 cheeses. The cheese selections were quite delectable, but the accoutrements were what really made the platter. The lavender truffle honey was INSANE. You could really taste all the flavor without one overpowering the other. The balsamic strawberries were interesting and the homemade hazelnut spread was delectable. I'd go back just for meats and cheeses! We ordered the grilled chorizo, pulpo (octopus), garlic shrimp, lamb meatballs, shishito peppers, and tortilla. Everything was great to split between the 3 of us. I'd definitely come back but would maybe try the front area, as the back seemed quite dark. read more

I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in a restaurant. The first thing that annoyed me was that, with a reservation, we were seated uncomfortably close to people. I heard every word they said the whole night. Next, as soon as we were done ordering, the food started to come out two at a time. I like being able to relax after ordering and drink some wine before the food starts coming out. Food: $8.50 for 3 very small slices of good cheese. The Jamon Serrano was decent. Ham croquettes...brutal. Just tasted deep fried. Lamb meatballs definitely reheated but were in a good sauce. Shrimp were shrimp. Beef brochettes were tough, overcooked roast cubes with a much too salty Bordelaise sauce. Their margin on the $14 beef short rib flatbread must be 10,000%. The pork belly similarly way overdone. Then, when wrapping up, they bring out the mushroom rice dish they clearly forgot about. The food here is nowhere near the level it should be for what you will end up paying. I feel like I was robbed. read more

Bottom line - in my experience, really good food, lackluster service. Came here on a Friday night and shared several glasses of wine and tapas. Sat near the bar/kitchen area and got to watch the food come out which was fun. Food - In order of deliciousness, we got the lamb meatballs, ham croquettes, baked goat cheese, and garlic shrimp (the last one was a huge miss for me, it's hard to prepare shrimp in a way I won't adore them, but these ended up being pretty bland). The wines we tried were excellent. Service - Started off crappy and never changed. Took 15 minutes for our server's initial visit, and from that point our she legitimately "visited" us twice in the two hours we were there. And those visits weren't prompted, we had to flag her down each time. There was a 45-min wait between when our first two dishes came out and when our second two dishes came out. I understand that things get busy on a Friday night and I always make some kind of allowance for that. But we seriously felt like we were living in an outpost. Very little interaction or service whatesoever. Repeat visits - Will I go back next time I'm in Philly? Probably not - too many other places with stellar food, stellar service, and timely kitchen throughput. read more

Great atmosphere and service. Food is inconsistent. The lunch deal is reasonable as you get a soup and a salad, or sandwich with the spicy potatoes, and a soft drink for $14.5. All in all, I wouldn't come back here, definitely not for dinner, if I had any other culinary options. As one of my lunch mates remarked: "If its this(place) or McDonald's, then this". Following is a breakdown of the food if you're interested: The "spicy" potatoes were well cooked, but not spicy at all, under salted, and lacked acidity to balance the mayo based dressing. The gazpacho was very delicate and good. The chorizo were good, but the hanger steak was nothing to write home about. The jamon salad with figs was very good, but the Verde salad was basically lettuce with a mundane vinaigrette. The hanger steak sandwich was overwhelmed by the glazed onions and lacked acidity and any distinction of flavors. read more

Delicious authentic Spanish tapas with a twist. Our faves were the watermelon, crab gazpacho, the crab stuffed peppers, and the lobster a la plancha! But the croquettes, warm bean salad, asparagus, and cured meats were delicious a well. Perfect Sunday brunch for people who loves good food and sharing it with friends and family:) read more

The Amada restaurant is situated at 3rd and chestnut, in a good tourist area. It's good for both locals and tourists that come to the area. We went there for a birthday dinner, we did the tasting menu option. The food tasted so good and so rich. Everything is just good I love that place. read more

Amada Philadelphia - Tapas Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We came here for a team dinner during Restaurant Week. Since there were about 10 of us, we ended up ordering everything on the menu and there was just incredible, incredible food in very small portions. read more

In all fairness, I am probably an anti-foodie. I don't really appreciate taste unless it's sushi. But I didn't walk out of this place thinking this place was excellent. I actually left feeling hungry (I ordered about 4 things). My date didn't care much about the food either and she was a foodie. So I'm basing my rating off of both of our taste buds. Also, we didn't appreciate how our waiter was very mechanical in trying to get us to order more (even though our bill already was $150). He just kept salesmanning me into buying more dishes even though I wasn't interested but I thought if I listened to just one of his recommendations, it would appease his desire to feed me. Nope. Also, I don't drink and the waiter just kept pushing "drinks" onto me (for example, he would come back every 10 minutes and ask "you sure you don't want anything other than diet coke?"). read more

Terrible experience. We had a reservation at 8:30 but didnt get seated until 9:15. Once we were seated, we weren't greeted (at all!). We waited for 20 minutes at our table and watched the ables around us get served while even our water glasses remained empty. We walked out and wont be back. read more

Good not great food. A tad expensive for what you get. Lackluster innatentive, service.

A large group of us enjoyed the $75 tasting menu here... And when I say enjoyed I do mean enjoyed. There was so much food and every dish was better than the next. We had pictures of sangria that was the perfect complement to the tasting menu. Can't wait to go back read more

A trip to amada is not complete without an order of the olives, the shortrib pizza and I wish every jose garces restaurant ended its meals with that wondrous cookie! read more

I saw Garces there! It was nice to know he's still working in the kitchen at his restaurants. I went for lunch before a crazy pub crawl and my PERNIL SANDWICH (Slow-Cooked Pork, Warm Cabbage & Cadi Urgelia Cheese) with fries was sooo filling I couldn't start drinking until dinnertime. I wasn't that impressed by the sandwich though -- it was too sweet, so whatever sauce the pork was in just overpowered everything. My friends loved their tapas though! read more

I love this place! The food is delicious and service is great. I tried the short rib flat bread and asparagus and truffle salad. They were each such large portions that I didn't even feel like it was tapas style. It is a very hard place to get a reservation on a weekend so we ended up going to dinner at 10:00 pm but it was definitely worth it! read more

William S. and I went on Monday during restaurant week and I'm between a 4 and a 5 here...but I guess it says something that I'm rounding up. We got to Olde City a half-hour early and thought we'd grab a quick drink at the bar before getting seated, but the crowd on Monday after work is...the after work crowd. Lots of men sitting alone at the bar in suits, and we kinda stuck out in our "young people" clothes, so we went a block away to Eulogy. PROS: -the service was great. I'm sure it had a lot to do w/ Harrison, our server, who was fab, not bc he was particularly chatty or trying too hard but was very informative, friendly and let us enjoy our meal. Glasses of water always over half-full, napkins folded after returning from the restroom, we didn't wait too long for our dishes...ya know. -the veggie dishes! Grilled asparagus with poached egg and mahon cream sauce. WHO KNEW ASPARAGUS could blow your mind?! I was sad we had to share it. Also really enjoyed the grilled veggie appetizers that comes out w/ little toasted bread + some cheesy spread (great description, i know..) NOT-MY-FAVE: (just has to do w/ what we ordered...) -white wine sangria w/ the pear. My first time having white wine sangria and i'm sure its just a preference thing, but definitely go for the red wine one over this. -short-rib flatbread. It was just OK. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and its in the running to be my fave JG joint...can't wait to go back! (*hint-hint hubby*) read more

Restaurant Week at Amada: not exactly what I expected. The service was incredibly lackluster-the entire time I felt like a lower being for deciding to come during RW; dishes between courses were thrown out within 1-2 minutes of each other, hurrying our meal. In terms of the food itself, I was actually pretty disappointed in the majority of the dishes. The olives were maybe a half-step above eating straight out a can; the croquettes and chorizo relatively one-note, etc. The fava bean salad (although very liquid-y) was relatively good, but at non-RW prices, I'd probably find it hard to justify ordering again. The real standouts were the beef brochettes and the desserts (we got the Catalana and their chocolate cake). The beef brochettes, medium rare, were amazing. As I truly only liked three dishes, I find it hard to give Amada more than 3 stars, although I would have loved to. I'm definitely planning on coming back during non-RW to see if it's any better or different. read more

The circumstances under which I went here were a little unique--I was meeting my Californian pen pal of 15 years for the first time! (For serious! We started writing when I was in 4th grade and haven't stopped since, and last year was the first time I ever met her.) Her fiance had suggested Amada, since he had been before, and what a great choice. We ended up going around 4 PM so we didn't eat a whole lot, but we got a few different plates. It was SO good. After waiting at the bar for a bit for a table, we got seated. The restaurant has a cool vibe, and the staff was friendly. But now for the best part: BACON WRAPPED DATES. I barely knew what dates were when we ordered this, and I'm still not really sure. It doesn't matter, though. They're amazing. AH-MAZ-ING. So now that I've finally written this review, I'm excited to go back and get a full meal there. I have a feeling my next update will be 5 stars for Amada. read more

What is there to say about Amada that has not already been said?! I cannot believe I lived in Philly for so long and waited 3 years to eat here. Clearly one of the most recommended and renowned restaurants around, it lives up to its name. The only downside is choosing what to get! I wanted everything on their extensive menu (oh well I guess I'll have to go back soon!) That and the fact that though they are small plates, you fill up faster than you think you will, and if you are like me are left with almost a full order of the pork belly staring at you. The service was nice, and attentive, but without hovering. The food came out much quicker than I could have expected. Drinks - sangria for me were wonderful, and tasty, and strong. A+ I will continue to dream about the aged manchego w/ truffled lavender honey, the stuffed dates, the spicy potatoes, the beef short rib flat bread, and the pork belly. I can not say I tasted one thing I didn't love all night. All in all this is clearly one of the shining stars in Philly and for good reason. I wouldn't miss it!! read more

The food here is delicious and the flavors are complex. The octopus dish and the croquettes are my favorite.

Food and atmosphere was wonderful and they make some incredible gin and tonics. My boyfriend and I ended up here for a late Valentines dinner and we loved every dish we got! The waitress and staff were all so nice. The dishes are tapas style so it was fun picking numerous dishes. My favorite was the chicken with the poached egg. The sauce was absolutely delish!! We will definitely eat here again. read more

I love Amada. Was there last night (Saturday) and had my first bad experience. The kitchen was so slow that everyone complained. The food remains delicious but the wait between courses was interminable. Our server mentioned that three chefs had left this past week but that made no sense until I read this morning's newspaper. Garces opened a new Amada in New York. I'm guessing the three chefs who left are now in NY. It's a pity that the chefs who remained in Philly weren't trained well. I'll give Philly's Amada one more chance to see if it gets it's act together. Hey Jose, don't lose sight of the city that made you a star. Returned to Amada on 4/25/18. I was prepared to be annoyed that the street was closed and no one bothered to inform us, listen up Open Table. Even the girl who called to confirm the reservation didn't mention it. We managed to park and still get there on time but had to wait for our table. The manager came over and offered us free drinks for the wait but we declined. Later, however, we got two free appetizers and free dessert. The food was delicious. Always is. And now with the extra effort the staff gave, Amada gets FIVE stars. Go eat there. Best food in the city. read more

Full review in the blog: After the last of our tapas arrived there was a wait as previously noted. While some members of our party felt this entirely inappropriate (to the point where someone demanded to speak to the manager) I will note that it was explained and we were not abandoned - the server checked in regularly to be sure drinks were filled and plates were cleared. After the delay we saw the pig emerge from the oven and moments later it was wheeled tableside where it would be deftly carved by one of the chefs who stated he'd performed the deed over 500 times. Starting with the standard cuts we were asked if we wanted more exotic pieces such as ears, snout, cheeks, and tail and stating we did indeed want these things the carving commenced. As the sides were arriving simultaneous with the pig carving I will admit I looked away multiple times and never saw where the exotic cuts were placed - this would again be a sore subject at our table as some members seemed to feel others were hoarding the unique items, but honestly I'm pretty sure everything was just mixed in - I know I had one cheek and some ribs, but I never did see snout, trotter, or tail. With the COCHINILLO ASADO dispersed amongst four large plates we each forked ample portions onto our plates and dug in. Intensely porky and wonderfully salted I can definitely say the pig was worth the visit, the wait, and the expense...much more so than any of the tapas. Impossibly crisp skin pre-brined and roasted to perfection the key was to match skin with muscle in order to balance salinity and get a balanced bite. Focusing larger on the leaner cuts, particularly the loin, as well as the ribs I will note I ate a lot of the pork and despite my propensity for multi-course meals I found the pig intriguing in the way each bite provided a novel experience, my only wish would be that the cuts would have been separated better on the board so that I knew what I was eating in order to take mental notes. In discussing the sides I will note that the Herb Roasted Fingerlings were rather standard potatoes - well cooked, somewhat salty and well spiced - I ate a few but really felt no need to fill up on starch. Similarly the GARBANZOS CON ESPINACAS - Chickpeas & Spinach were rather uninspiring aside from the slightly overcooked layer on top - crispy like a corn-nut and nicely balanced with tomato, spinach, and a hefty shake of paprika. More impressive amongst the side dishes were the Rosemary White Beans - creamy and well cooked with ample notes of parsley, rosemary, and butter and the incredible CALÇOTS CON SALBITXADA - Grilled Green Onions which were seared to a char and served with chili pepper spiked garlic butter. Receiving only one plate of the onions I actually requested a second which I consumed almost entirely on my own as the rest of the table was getting full. Watching others slow their eating I continued to pick at the pork, onions, and crispy chick peas for a while chatting with those seated closest to me. It was around this time that I suddenly realized other members of the table were getting testy. Perhaps it was the long drive, perhaps the long wait, or perhaps something else but regardless there was at first a scowl, then audible complaints about the service. Finished with the pork our server arrived to clear plates and to pack up the leftovers - a good 4lbs of pork and at least 4 cups of garbanzo beans. Returning to the table with the leftover protein packed in only two boxes this was another source of controversy and complaint even though I volunteered to talk to the server about getting things repacked - it was at this point that someone decided to invoke the manager. With the manager present and grievances apparently aired we were asked if we wanted dessert or coffee and the most vocal member of the table opted to speak for us all and say no until I piped up and suggested we could at least take a look at the menu. With menus delivered and leftovers taken to the kitchen for re-boxing (4 people wanted to take some home, including, oddly, the people who seemed least pleased with the meal) a few ordered coffee (GTC Reserva, currently on brew in my home) and cappuccino while myself and another diner opted to split a dessert, the delectable PASTEL CON ESCABECHE - Warm Brown Butter Cake, Peach Escabeche, and Almond Ice Cream. Served as a dense cylinder with ample notes of cinnamon and butter the cake paired quite nicely with the sautéed peaches and fragrant ice cream. Arriving with the check would be a second dessert, two small almond cookies that tasted somewhat akin to a fortune cookie - light, whimsical, and a nice touch. Splitting the bill evenly (with 20% tip already included) the total came out to approximately $70 per diner, a deal given the amount of food and duration of the meal, even if not the highest quality of comfortable seating. read more

By far the best Jose Garces restaurant in the city. Make sure you go with a party of about 4 in order to try all the different tapas and delectable fare they offer without either having to order several of the same dish or feeling you're unable to try many dishes. Here are my suggestions: Cheese Mixto - Really you can't go wrong with cheese paired with different jams, fruits, nuts etc. All the pairings are delicious, I personally love manchego and that truffled lavender honey that it's paired with is so good we asked the waitress to bring us some at the end of the meal and bought a small bottle right there. Jamon Iberico - This until recently prohibited meat is like eating ham flavored butter. So soft with a melt in your mouth texture. Salty and nutty. Yum. Pulpo a la Gallega - Don't be afraid of eating this cephalopod. It's prepared in a very non-affronting way and perfectly grilled and seasoned. Esparragos con trufas - Anything with truffles really can be quite delicious yes I know, but perfectly tender asparagus and a nicely poached egg is a perfect pairing. Anyway, anything you get here is sure to please. Make a reservation early because it can get quite packed. Just enjoy. read more

In my opinion, the measure of an upscale restaurant is how their service measures up during Restaurant Week. Using this foolproof formula, Amada really wowed with not only great service, but unbelievable food and selection as well. Before diving into the tapas I hung out at the bar for a while. Their sangria was unbelievable, and everything the barkeeps were serving up looked fantastic. Of all the placed I've tried on the cheap during restaurant week, Amada had by far the best menu. Two things that stood out the most were The garlic shrimp and prosciutto and melon...some of the most delicious things I have ever tasted. Amada was an excellent restaurant experience. However, if you want to go the other 51 weeks of the year when it's not $35 price fix, you better bring the bankroll because it's not cheap. read more

After a less than stellar meal here a few years ago, I came back to Amada last night for a birthday dinner. Since we were a fairly large party, we sat in the private party room, which I really enjoyed since it was tucked away in the back from the noise of the restaurant. The ambiance is great with its dark walls and flooring with a large, crisp marbled table. I started with a rose cava, which was balanced and delicious. Then, some of us split a pitcher of the Temporada sangria, which was also great with its fresh raspberries at the bottom. We split the table in half and ordered for each half accordingly. Our half ordered: jamon serrano, aged manchengo with truffled lavender honey, garlic shrimp, lamb meatballs, bacon-wrapped dates, 2 patatas bravas, 2 scallops a la plancha, and the berkshire pork ribs. It was the perfect amount of food for 5-6 people (some cheated and picked from both sides of the table), though next time I would probably skip the ribs because the barbecue sauce was far too sweet. Some highlights of the meal: scallops were tender and sweet, the garlic shrimp sauce was perfect for dipping bread, and the lamb meatballs exceeded expectations with its creamy sauce. We probably could have done without the second dish of patatas bravas, but they're such a tapas classic we couldn't resist. The presentation for dishes such as the patatas was also noteworthy. We also had dessert since it was a special occasion. Our side of the table shared the olive oil cake and chocolate cake with pistachio ice cream. The ice cream was so fresh and flavorful, but I wasn't a fun of the chocolate cake. The olive oil cake was dense and delicious. Needless to say, Amada has gained some points in my book, and I will be back to try out some of their other tapas dishes. read more

Full disclosure: I'm disgusting and went to restaurant week two nights in a row. What can I say, my first experience with a Garces restaurant was so majestic I just had to do it again, immediately. The best part about this was that I was dining with one other person, and each of us was ordering TWO dishes per course, so that was FOUR tasty things to try per course. We got: Aged manchego cheese: lavender truffle honey and apples. This was an extremely sensual experience for me. Don't know if it was the scented honey or if I just feel that way about cheese in general.. don't judge. Chorizo pamplona: cornichons, dijon mustard, and some sort of tiny pepper-olive hybrid that I've never seen before but loved. This was probably the highlight of the meal for me. Babygirl could eat cheeseplates allllll day long. Ham croquettes: served atop a tomato sauce. Fried, but not greasy, perfect bite. Came with four pieces so perfect for 2 to share. Garlic shrimp: be sure to drip the extra bread in the spicy garlic sauce that these shrimp come in. Beef short rib flatbread: horseradish, parmesan, bacon. So crisp, so light. How do you make a short rib dish light?!?! Magic, that's how. Grilled asparagus & poached egg: truffles, mahon crisp. Poached eggs are every food's best friend. Chickpeas & spinach: After all of the heavenly heavy goodness, this was a nice light (almost) closing dish to the meal. Came in a tomato sauce. Scallop skewers: two scallops per skewer, in some sort of delicious green sauce. Crema catalana & Tarta de chocolate: The two desserts are even smaller than the rest of the dishes, but by this point I was so blissfully full that it didn't even matter. If you haven't been here yet, you're missing out. One of the best meals I've had in Philly. read more

Is Amada worth the hype it receives in Philly? Kind of. It's good. But not amazing. I came here for restaurant week dinner with a few friends for the second time, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. However, I cannot bring myself to enjoy how much you pay for the smallest tapas in the world. It is borderline ridiculous. As a consumer, I cannot tell you how annoyed I am that "small plates" are trendy now, because it just means you pay a lot of money for small quantities of food. Anyway, rant over. My favorite plates are the cheeses (MANCHEGO -- so good. The honey + cheese combo is perfect), the escalivada, the garlic shrimp, the asparagus & egg, and the pork belly. To be honest, I don't think you can go wrong with anything on their menu, because it's all flavorful and well prepared. I would say that you should get things which include ingredients you like, and chances are, you'll love it. I got some sort of chocolate tart with ice cream for dessert, and it was excellent. However, it was... small! You should try Amada, but beware of small portions, and exorbitant prices. read more

We came here on an open table reservation. I did feel a bit under dressed, I wore a t shirt. Yikes. At least wear a polo shirt or a button up. Very nicely dressed vibe. they recommended 3 tapas a person, I think you can go with 2, we are moderate consumers. They give you a complimentary tuna and toast tapas to start off, it was very good. Manchengo Pasamotes: the lavendar honey with cheese and bread. This was a surprise, but very good! I'd recommend this to anyone and everyone. piquillos rellenos: crab stuffed peppers, I didn't like this one. I wouldn't get it again. It was palatable, but I just didn't enjoy it too much. patatas bravas: spicy potatoes: I enjoyed this one very much. I'd get it again. wagyu beef brochettes: this was good. I enjoyed it. spanish flatbread: this was tasty. We got the beef shortrib, it was very good. Fideos con mariscos: the Linguine was very tasty, I enjoyed this, but it was one of the latter dishes, so I couldn't finish it. I wanted to try dessert, but I was too full! I'd go back, from beginning to end, one of the tastier meals I've had. read more

I've dined at Amada on the 25th of February and it was a wonderful experience. Our waiter was a delight and throughly explained the menu to us, recommending us to choose three to four plates. Upon ordering, my eyes saw a roasted pepper with stuffed crab that was delightful. I've also ordered a "Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down" cocktail that went amazing with the meal I've had. I recommend Amada to anyone that wants to experience a authentic Spanish meal. read more

Amada (My Beloved) is the perfect name for this restaurant. I still remember the first time that we looked at each other it was love at first bite. Like young lovers it did not take long before my mouth made it's way around the plate at La mesa de José. Sampling each piece incessantly. Losing control of my tongue feeling the overflow of my saliva and my heart pounding out of gluttony, anxious to see the next tapas, every second more excited than before. The evening was culminated with a whipped, creamy and savory dessert, La crema catalana. I left feeling warm, elated and even a little sleepy. read more

I haven't been here since my days of expense accounts and trade shows and corporate life, so we made a little lunch pit stop here today to revisit the delight that is Amada. Low key lunch time crowd, fantastic server (literally, she couldn't have been any more knowledgeable or friendly) and a to-die-for Mixto cheese plate to start off our meal. Really? Garlic dulce de leche? The ambiance as always was fantastic, the glasses of rose delightful, service top-notch (literally, I was thinking as she described the wine to us that this was one of the best of the best in town) and the Pernil (sandwich) to-die-for good. Places like Amada remind me of just how good the restaurant scene in Philadelphia is... this City has it going on. read more

Food was very average for an iron chef. Happy hour was extremely underwhelming. Drinks were good tho. Doesn't live up to the iron chef hype.

Amada was the first restaurant I tried when I moved to Philadelphia. What a great way to be introduced to my Philadelphia dining experience! I can still remember the unbelievable taste of my first sip of their sangria. It was a sangria made with rose wine. I tend to stay away from rose unless it is produced in or near the Provence region out of fear that I am getting a white zinfandel. My friend and I ordered their chef's tasting menu and while we were just astounded by the amount of food that came our way. It was truly one of the best meals I've ever had. Since my first experience, I've returned a number of times. They have a pretty good lunch special. Warning though - you may need a nap after lunch if you combine their food with some sangria. I usually try to take visitors to Amada and it never fails to impress. read more

This place introduced me to sangria. And then it introduced me to patatas bravas. A love was born. I am so eternally grateful. The first time I came here was for drinks with my roommates. We were wandering around Old City and dropped in and got a pitcher of the white sangria - it was SO DELICIOUS and has set the bar for all sangrias that came after it! This was also the first time I had tapas. My sister and best friend came in and I decided we should all try tapas together. The server was very knowledgeable and gave us a list of popular plates and some of her own recommendations. We had such a great time since it was so novel and the plates were incredibly tasty and filling! Like I said above, the patatas bravas are fantastic. Other favorites included the ham croquettes and aragones cheese (MMMMM!!!) So, great for a beginner and hopefully I'll get to go back someday soon! read more

Only thing I dislike about Amada is that I'm a student living off loan money... This is probably my second favorite restaurant in Philly just slightly behind Garces' other amazing restaurant Tinto. I've been lucky to eat at this place three times and loved it every time. My second time was for restaurant week and though I still liked it alot, I thought the food was a little less spectacular than usual. In my opinion if you are doing Amada, do it the right way and avoid restaurant week. Service is always great, servers always friendly and prompt. The ambiance is also very nice, specially the back room which is allot more cozy and romantic than the front of the restaurant. Last time I went to Amada I had the best meal there of all three times; it was also the time I tried the greatest variety of tapas. The stuffed piquillos (crab stuffed red peppers) are my favorite dish in the menu, they taste beyond this world. The Quail and Madre E hijo where also amazing, both very tender and tasty. I also tried the 3 cheese platter and ordered the cana de cabra, Aragonese and the Garrotxa. The Garrotxa comes with garlic dulce de leche and together is one of the simplest yet tastiest foods I've had. If you want cocas you can never go wrong with the Short rib and horseradish ones, its the only dish I have had all 3 times that I have been to Amada. Only thing I was slightly disappointed by was the octopus mostly because I was comparing it with the Octopuss I tried at Tinto which was on a league of it's own. The octopus was a little too salty and not as tender as the one at Tinto. All in all, I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who might read this review. I will for sure be back as soon as I break my piggy bank 5 months from now. read more

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Spanish-fusion tapas bistro in Old City. Came here with friends on a weekday night. We were seated at a picnic table by the front window. Strangely, our table was situated atop what appeared to be a truckload of loose rocks. I wonder how they keep them clean? We started off our meal with meat and cheese mixto platters. The first cheese I sampled was an aged manchego served with truffled lavender honey. Awesome! The intense creaminess of the cheese contrasted perfectly with the sweet, mild honey. I found myself dipping bread into it over and over. The next cheese was a La Peral, mild and tangy, paired with a sweet currant-pistachio relish. Mmmmm! Last, I tried a Cana de Cabra, creamy goat cheese served alongside a chunky cherry & fig marmalade. The marmalade was a bit too sweet for my taste, but the sharp cheese balanced it nicely. Our meat mixto included five different house-made cured meats, mostly made from pork. Each was thinly sliced and served with mustard, baby pickles, and bread. Overall very good and each meat had a unique texture and spice blend. Although all of them were rather dry, they were true to authentic Spanish cuisine. Our waiter also brought around crisped garlic flatbread with a creamy tuna dip so we had something savory to munch on between each dish. Before our first plates were even finished, Tortilla Espanola arrived at our table -- a traditional Spanish omelette full of potatoes. It was thick and dense, and although very good, felt somewhat like filler food compared to what came next... Along came patatas bravas, which is basically a Spanish tater tot. Bite-sized pieces of crispy-fried potatoes topped with a spicy sauce and various seasonings. So yummy - the thin, crisp skin gave way in every bite to soft potatoey deliciousness. Next, we ordered alcachofas a la parmesana, artichoke hearts baked and drizzled with a Parmesan sauce. Wow! Soft, tender, creamy, and savory. This was the highlight of our meal and without a doubt the best artichoke I have ever tasted. Finally, we sampled their chicken and wagyu beef brochettes. Each short skewer is piled with hefty cubes of meat, then grilled to tender perfection in a blend of spices. Smoky, salty, and savory, the beef skewers have the edge over the chicken, although I would order either of them again in a heartbeat. Service was on point throughout the meal. The staff kept our glasses full and the kitchen upsized some of the small plates so that everyone in our party could have a taste. Whether you're looking for authentic Spanish cuisine or a place to impress your foodie Tinder date, Amada deserves every praise. I'm looking forward to my next visit! read more