Bottom line up front...some of the best tapas I've had! Went with 5 friends and it was awesome trying all a bunch of different things. We did 2 paellas and like 8 tapas which was enough for everyone. Even with a bottle of wine and couple of drinks it was very reasonably priced. Great service. Fun atmosphere. We may have been a tad loud but it was so fun! Highly recommend. Will be go to Ann Arbor recommendation. Sorry no pictures, too busy getting after it. read more

So glad to be back! This time we sat in the center of the restaurant and that was kind of a bummer. There's no decor and it's dark and the chairs are not comfortable. Service was great! We celebrated a bday and my cousin got a churros- which was TO DIE FOR! Soft and crunchy, melt in your mouth. Nice cinnamon and sugar with a dark chocolate ganache dip. Great combo of sweet and savory! We had the blue tuna tapa and it was soft and delicate. We shared but I really think it's a one person dish. The steak with romesco sauce tapas was OK but not my favorite. The meat was too chewy for me. Good size to share The tiny starters: glazed pineapple on goat cheese crostini was good but not worth re-ordering. Yes- shareable. The star is the oxtail paella!! Wow, rich, crunch, juicy and the vinegar from the peppers was a great compliment. Good drinks and wine selections. Next time I'll stick with the seafood selections and the oxtail paella. read more

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Been here a number of times over the years but never reviewed. Managed a reservation on a Saturday at 5pm and the place was already packed. Service was a bit slow. The folks at the host stand couldn't be bothered to be particularly engaged or friendly. It was kind of off-putting to be completely ignored as a guest of a business. Food was good! The patatas bravas are a must. The combo of the potatoes (fried perfectly), sauce, and egg, do something truly magical. The brussel sprouts are quite good, as are the wrapped figs. Olives are good if you like those and pickled things. This particular combination of food was not quite enough for two; we could have ordered one more dish. My apple mocktail didn't have a ton of flavor -- tasted kind of watered down. I'd get something different next time. read more

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What a fun time in A2 checking out a new spot. My friend suggested meeting up at Aventura for Happy Hour. It's a quaint chic restaurant serving up Spanish fare. The Happy Hour menu was quite extensive with tapas style items to try and beverages are discounted from 3-6pm. We enjoyed sharing many things off the menu. The food was very tasty and the sauces blended perfectly with each dish. I really enjoyed my cocktails, too! This is most certainly a fun spot to try! read more

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Food was awful. We ordered four tapas dishes and they were all extremely under-flavored except for the mushroom dish, which was way too sour and salty. The crudo we ordered was the worst offender - $30 for a few tiny slices of tuna (not even nice fatty slices) and some cucumber with a tiny bit of ginger flavoring. We ordered churros for dessert and it took 30 minutes to get them. We had to ask someone to go check and they finally brought them up. On the bright side, they were the best (and only good) part of the meal. The atmosphere of the restaurant is nice - this is good a place for talking, but not for eating the food. But it takes some skills or talents to make four tapas all not taste well, I thought this place was famous for tapas??? read more

Haven't been here in years and it is just as I remember! Food is always good and service is quick. The croquettes were perfectly salty and creamy inside! The steak skewers were great and super tender. Not pictured are the most fabulous churros with caramel and chocolate-- I could eat these every day! The restaurant was quiet since we went on a weekday but I'm sure it is busy on weekends. Ann Arbor must go! read more

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Love this place! First time here with a group of ladies and it was great! The service was quick and amazing! Server was great and recommend amazing items! The food was great and full of flavor! P read more

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I can't believe this place is highly rated. The food was awful - all tasteless and overpriced. Didn't enjoy any of the four tapas dishes we had. We had to wait 30 minutes for dessert and finally when we asked if they knew how much longer it would be (which they were clearly annoyed by), they somehow were able to get it to us. The churros we got thankfully were good. The ambiance of this place is good. A good place for talking, nicely decorated, and clean. read more

Stellar visit to Aventura every time I'm in town! Wonderful happy hour deals at the bar. Great, friendly service! read more

Aventura - Pulpo & Tortilla Espanola - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Food, atmosphere, service. Great place in Ann Arbor! Their fantastic new chef Enrique Franco it's adding amazing new items to several of the already popular classics. read more

We went to Aventura on a Sunday evening in summer and they were able to seat us - I was pleased by this! Even though it was busy, we were still able to get a nice seat in the main dining area. We might have ordered the paella because that's what they are most known for ... but this requires an advanced order of at least 40 mins (on a less busy night). My friend and I were on a slight time limit, so we decided to skip the paella and order some tapas instead. Of course we order the batatas bravas (a must have and classic) and then we chose two other tapas at random; We also ordered the PULPO EN SU TINTA (baby octopus on top of squid ink (very interesting, not our favorite but interesting presentation) and the Gambás (grilled and seasoned shrimp (we loved this). The service was great, but we were expecting all three tapas to arrive at the same time. Instead we received each tapa plate at a different time - seemed like 20 mins between each plate... by the time the last plate arrived at our table, the food was already cold. The restaurant is beautiful; there are dimmed lights throughout the restaurant, giving it a cool and intimate vibe - very good place for a romantic date or fancy night out with friends or solo. One thing I wasn't a fan of and that I noticed when we got up from the table to find the bathroom is that the tables/chairs are positioned pretty close to each other in some areas and this makes it hard to move and flow around the restaurant. Overall, nice restaurant and wished I got to try one of the paellas! read more

Aventura - PULPO EN SU TINTA Gambas Al Ajillo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Not a place to go if you are hungry. $60 seafood paella is a 1/2 inch layer of rice with hardly any visible seafood, each ~$20 tapas is but a small appetizer. Two hungry guys still hungry after $200. Food was tasty but not like what we had in Spain. read more

Had a nice dinner at Aventura a couple weeks ago. We came in on a Wednesday evening with no reservations- luckily we were able to get a table without waiting. The restaurant itself is beautiful and I loved the look of the bar. Our server was great and explained the menu making some recommendations. We decided on the Brussels, papas, mushroom balls, dates, and the chicken paella. We also ordered wine and beer. The tapas were all delicious but we especially enjoyed the dates and potatoes with egg on top. I think next time we would skip the paella and just stick with more tapas. Only other negative was it was a bit loud- tables were close and sound traveled through the space. Would visit again! read more

Aventura - Croquetas De Bacalao. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I always love coming here for dinner. We tried some new things on the menu so I thought I would update my reviews. New and notable...I'd love to have again: FLOR DE ALCACHOFA artichoke, salt cured egg yolk, lemon, anchovy aioli $13 POLLO A LA PARRILLA seared crispy chicken, red wine sauce, salsa verde, baby carrots Half...$32 I'm also noting that I liked the Boston Madeira today better than the New York. We usually get the churros and given that they are so rich, I think the zing in the Boston would have been a nice complement to the churros. The New York put the churros into the "too much sweets" category. I also loved the pictured wine with our meal. We often struggle because I often get a headache with red wine, and this one was delicious and didn't give me a headache. A perfect selection for a Pinot noir lover. Wahoo!! As always, the service was outstanding and the meal was perfectly paced. Thanks again for a marvelous experience! read more

Aventura - We loved this wine. Perfect red that didn't give me a headache. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Reservations: I would recommend getting reservations since this is a main street restaurant. Ambiance: very spacious and the vibe is cozy and the interior design is spot on. Service: The service is always nice and I enjoy eating here. Food $$: This is a more tapas style so I would get the seafood paella and then get some tapas to compliment the main entree. Audience: Solo Trip [ ] Family Friendly [X] Friends [X] Date Spot [X] Recommendations/tips: Overall, they have restaurant week deals but if you know what you like it might be a better choice! read more

Aventura - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Highly recommend getting a reservation for this restaurant especially if you are going at prime time on a weekend. The food was delicious and our favorite was the setas which were mushrooms over a yogurt sauce. The churros which I didnt get a picture of were also so fluffy, warm, and delicious. Would definitely recommend this restaurant as the service is always top notch and food is delicious! It is tapas style so the bill can add up. read more

Aventura - Setas and brussel sprouts - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

The crazy thing is we only came in for a couple tapas and a glass of wine. Two hours and $200 later, we know half the menu and an inside to the best drinks. We mostly have Kevin to thank for that. He's the greatest. The sangria is to kill for. If you stopped right there, you'd do alright. I guarantee you'll love the bacon wrapped dates. If you like bacon and dates, that is. My favourite was definitely Coles De Bruselas. Brussels sprouts with shallot, green apple and pistachio. Their Paella is fantastic. I recommend the Valenciana. Expensive but worth it. They scorch the socarrat (rice crust) perfectly, which totally makes the dish. Everyone is attentive and hospitable. The dining room dimly lit and cozy. This might be our special occasion place. 07/25 read more

I felt I had to update my review reviews since the last time I was there. While we did not order the paella again for the first time we tried the tapas. We chose three each and shared, and it was a delightful experience. We had an amazing waiter who selected some items for us to try and we went with those recommendations. The pineapple Crostini was my absolute favorite, followed by the dates and patatas Bravas, we also enjoyed the turkey and chicken, curry meatballs that was our least favorite, but was a nice amount of protein, the tuna Crudo was refreshing, but I would not order again because there's better options but it's a nice addition to the menu. What prevents me from giving a five star divide despite a beautiful atmosphere great food and service as I still feel their wine pricing is extremely high and it's a place you're not going to rush through. It would be nice if they had just some basic wines, a red and a white at $15 a glass or less. read more

Went for happy hour! The vibes are cute and the service was great. The charcuterie board was good for the price. Got one of the gin cocktails which was also very light and refreshing. Would go back with a larger group to try the dinner menu read more

Aventura - Gin cocktail and mocktail - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I consider Aventura a wonderful option for slightly more special occasion meals, and best with groups of at least 3 or 4 to maximize the variety of bites you can try (tapas wise and with the paella). Reservations highly suggested! Aventura accommodated my group of 12 well for an early Sunday dinner. They have a limit of 6 checks per party (which I am supportive of), so we ended up grouping into smaller ordering parties of 2-3 to order, share, and split the bill amongst the smaller groups while sharing the overall meal all together. This did simplify how we shared everything as well. My small group ordered a selection of standard tapas, and enjoyed greatly! Recommendation is 2-3 tapas per person (portion size is on the smaller side, which makes sense for tapas, though pricing is on the higher end). And/or paella shared amongst 2-3. Everything is generally very tasty, I'm not even sure I have clear favorites. There's nothing I haven't enjoyed! The standout for me this last visit was probably the Prawns. Large, tender, and SO flavorful with a great char. Yum! read more

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I've visited Aventura twice and both times were exceptional. The food was delicious, the restaurant vibes are great, and the service was impeccable. I'll keep coming back again and again. read more

Food (3/5) - Didn't get the paella because we were told that it would probably be a 40 minute wait, and the table next to us probably only got their food after an hour. Would call out the dates with chorizo (can't go wrong with these ones), and pork shoulder. Pork shoulder especially was very tender. For reference, also had the patatas bravas, octopus, croquettes. Service (2/5) - We sat down very quickly but food just took a really, really long time to come out and was only warm. Not really sure why, the restaurant was busy but not all tables were filled. Could also get breezy when the door was ever opened. Ambiance (4/5) - homey but the higher ceilings help make it feel more upscale. Not too loud. Price (2/5) - Definitely more upscale for the area. Feels like city center / New York pricing. read more

10/10 for service and atmosphere, 9/10 for food. Shared 4 tapas plates with a friend which surprisingly filled us up and I took some leftovers home. Also tried one of the dry white wines which was excellent. The patatas bravas with potatoes and egg is a must have- so filling and rich tasting. The crudo de atun (tuna) fish was very good as well, light and refreshing. We also had a mushroom dish and the Brussels sprouts. Those two weren't as good as the first two because the Brussels are slightly undercooked and a bit crunchy, but they were tasty. It was more of a texture that I didn't prefer. The mushrooms were just an interesting flavor, something I had never had before. It seemed like they would be good mixed with another dish. The rest of our experience was great, the food also came out pretty quickly. One of my favorites in Ann Arbor! read more

Aventura - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Went to Aventura to celebrate Valentine's day and wasn't disappointed! The food was amazing, the bacon wrapped dates with chorizo was fantastic same with the pork shoulder. The drinks were absolutely delicious and the service was fast and amazing! Everyone that we interacted with was so kind and friendly. Highly recommend :) read more

We made a reservation and arrived early. We were given the choice to enjoy happy hour until our reservation time or to be seated. We chose the latter. There's plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, as well as seating at the bar. We had a small table in the corner. We ordered three tapas, the seafood paella, and churros for dessert. We were asked three times if we were celebrating anything (yes) and thought they would do something special or at least make more conversation beyond asking the same yes/no question three times. I digress. It was a lot of food for two people and we didn't leave a single morsel. It was all tasty. The service was mediocre. Our waitress was awkward and tried to grab my plate before I was done eating. When we flagged her for water refills, instead of picking up the glass and filling it, she poured the water where water would drip all over my plate/ food. Not good. There is a parking structure nearby. read more

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Aventura is one of the nicest layouts in the Ann Arbor. Fair warning the paellas are really for share but the tapas plates are expensive for good tasting food but small for the price. Great for a date and the service is good but be prepared to spend quite a bit of money. If you're ready to do that though, the ambiance makes up for the price. Would definitely recommend. read more

Go just to see the waitress Morgan. She will absolutely make your day. The ambience is amazing here. She literally pulled up a chair and sat with us to really help us figure out what to order. Her suggestions were on point. Best meal ever!!! read more

A restaurant I recommend to pretty much anyone who comes into town and is a food focused individual. They have amazing shareable and great service. The restaurant is clean and a great vibe! read more

Food was good, little more seasoning in the food wouldn't hurt , Ambience was great. Service was pretty fast and good. Overall it was good experience. Didn't take picture of dessert as we had to take it to go. read more

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Aventura is a deeply social experience, designed to bring people together to share in the joys of food, drink, conversation, and laughter. This ethos is beautifully captured in a vibrant restaurant located in the heart of Downtown Ann Arbor, where a sleek central bar serves an array of Spanish wines, exotic cocktails, modern Spanish-inspired tapas, and authentic Valencian paella. Overflowing with hospitality, it's a haven for anyone seeking to immerse themselves in the flavors of Spain. During our visit, we had the pleasure of trying several standout dishes, each a testament to the artistry of Spanish cuisine: PAN A LA CATALANA This dish featured grated tomato, olive oil, garlic, and grilled baguette. Simple yet elegant, the flavors melded together beautifully. The grilled baguette provided the perfect crisp base for the fresh, tangy tomato mixture, elevated by the subtle warmth of garlic. COLES DE BRUSELAS The brussels sprouts were a revelation. Tossed with green apple, shallot, crème fraîche, honey, and pistachios, the dish offered a delightful interplay of textures and flavors--the earthiness of the sprouts balanced by the sweetness of honey and apple, with pistachios adding a satisfying crunch. GAMBAS AL AJILLO Grilled prawns took center stage in this dish, complemented by garlic, Fresno pepper, parsley, olive oil, and a side of baguette. The prawns were cooked to perfection, tender and flavorful, while the Fresno pepper added a gentle kick, balanced by the fragrant olive oil and fresh parsley. COLIFLOR GRATINADA This gratin cauliflower dish was indulgence personified. Smothered in a manchego bechamel, sprinkled with pine nuts, and topped with herbed breadcrumbs, every bite was creamy, nutty, and rich, with a hint of herbaceous freshness from the topping. VERDURAS A medley of roasted cauliflower, wild mushroom, broccolini, scallion, artichoke, piquillo pepper, English pea, saffron, and sofrito came together in this vegetable-forward dish. It was a symphony of flavors and colors, with each ingredient standing out while harmonizing beautifully in the saffron-infused sofrito base. Each dish was a delight, reflecting a mastery of Spanish culinary techniques and an attention to detail that elevated the dining experience. The ambiance--a mix of modern elegance and warm, inviting energy--added to the evening's charm. Whether you're a lover of traditional Spanish cuisine or new to the world of tapas and paella, this restaurant offers an unforgettable journey through the heart of Spain. read more

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We recently came in for dinner for a fairly spontaneous Parents Night Out on an early Saturday evening. Aventura is very popular, but we were still able to get a table for two. The food is pricey, but absolutely worth it. The tapas selection is excellent, though I do wish there were more vegan options. Overall, it was a very pleasant and relaxing visit as always. read more

I went here because a friend invited me to go. Parking is tough in the area so I parked in one of the garages. I always had planned on going and here I am. Reservations were made and we had to wait about 15 minutes. We grabbed a featured wine at the bar. We were then seated and reviewed the menu. We decided on some tapas for starters. We got the asparagus, octopus/squid with ink and the Brussels sprouts. The veggies were pretty good. The squid and octopus with ink was different. Good texture and the squid ink was not as good as I thought it would be. The taste was pretty mild. We ordered the paella with the main course. The pan was very hot. So hot it hardened the rice which was different than I was use to. Not much sauce as in typical paella. There were clams, muscles,shrimp and chicken. The taste was good but I could not get through the crunchy rice. They gave you a spatula to scrape it up. We were struggling so someone came by to show us how to scrape the pan at the bottom. Intetesting take on the dish. Overall good if you like the crunch but not for me. It was an overall good first time experience. read more

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I've been back to Aventura twice since I wrote my last review, both times for happy hour, both times ordering a single sangria. Both times they overcharged me and while they corrected the error, both times they were overall pretty blasé about the mistake. Service and professionalism is commensurate with a lower/mid tier restaurant, not one charging $15+ for mediocre tapas. All of their culinary tricks are old and overused. I'm pretty sure 50% of the dishes are served on a sad, generic smear or spiral of some red pepper sauce. This place wouldn't stand a chance in any remotely competitive food scene read more

Aventura - Sangria - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Nice floral tiled walk. Elijah is waiting on us tonight. Quesos y charcuterie, crudo de jamon, ensalada de raices, 2 albodingas, pulpo, daitiles con chorizo, papatas bravaa, chorizo a la planxa, 2 hamburguesas, coca de mahon, coca de sardina, Pimentos de padron, coles de bruselas, setas a la planxa, pulpo, Valenciana, fig and thyme, blanca sangria, lemonade, evento actual, basque cheese cake and goxua. $142.04 for our portion. The carrots, cheese and charcuterie were decent. The fruit compotes were so-so. The tortilla is cold, sauce is good though. The potato brava is meh. The Brussel sprouts are okay, sweet with the apples. Not my favorite. The pulpo was nicely grilled. The potato layer is good, quite impressive looking. The hamburger sliders were good. It was better flavor profile than the paella. The chorizo and the meatballs were good as were the bacon covered dates. The shishito peppers were nicely fried, but the sauce was lack luster. The two flatbreads were ok. The Valencia rice was okay, the duck confit and the chicken legs were both tender. The paella in general was quite bland and flavorless and not a lot of meat, but lots of rice for the price. Food overall was just average at best. The food was not worth the price in my opinion. Service was quite good here though. read more

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Love. We came here last night before a show since I haven't been in years. Having lived in Spain for a while (yes I know, I'm insufferable), I'm a huge fan of tapas. I had the sangria tinto which was great, and everything we had was amazing. The only thing is I wish they had more non seafood options. Service was also great. read more

I went with a group of friends to check out Aventura during Ann Arbor Restaurant Week and it was horrible. The only good thing about it was the dessert and the service, if that. Our last course came out cold. We were seated in the basement so there is no excuse for it not to be warm when we are sitting right around the corner from the kitchen. I got the mussels and the beef from the restaurant week menu. Wish I stuck to the regular menu because it was one of the most underwhelming meals I've had in Ann Arbor. Good thing restaurant week doesn't last forever because Aventura wouldn't last if they offered food like that permanently. My friends got churros which were the best thing that evening. read more

Aventura - Churros - Tapas Bars Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

The jamon croquets were delicious! They were warm and crispy; way better than last time I was here. The valenciana paella was delicious! I haven't had paella before so I don't have a comparison, but this was amazing! The meat was so tender, but I wish there was more of the duck rather than chicken. The paella was kind of dry, but I'm assuming that's how it traditionally is. read more

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So for my birthday yesterday we decided to get dinner at a highly recommended Ann Arbor restaurant named Aventura. The menu is inspired by Spanish cuisine which is characterized by plenty of seafood and tapas style dining. We ordered and shared so many small dishes that we thankfully managed to finish. I loved everything that was in front of us (minus the underwhelming mocktails). I want to list off everything I ate below: My favorite, the octopus and foie gras on crostini with a cherry. It was so rich and I felt kinda bad eating it knowing that it was duck liver. Roasted eggplant with onions, peppers and goat cheese. Wonderful palette cleanser as it was served cold. Fried potatoes topped with garlic aioli, a fried egg and what tastes like buffalo sauce! Loved it but it was too simple. My 2nd favorite, the cod fritters. They were so soft and melted in your mouth. My only complaint was that each one was the size of a jawbreaker and you only get five. I know it's basic, but we got flatbread topped with melted cheese and drizzled honey. Very good, but nothing out of the ordinary. An assortment of mushrooms roasted w/garlic, truffle oil and parsley. Sardines and home made potato chips. This was our first item of the evening and we inhaled it. Grilled prawns smothered in pepper infused olive oil and served with baguette slices. Next time we return we will order a paella as those are larger portions and can be a meal by itself. We were told it takes 30 minutes to prepare anyway. Very $$$ restaurant, but the service and decor are excellent in addition to the food. read more

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Cool place for tapas! The place is well-decorated and lively without being too loud for conversation. I split the following with 3 other people: quesos y charcutería, tortilla española, patatas bravas, croquetas de jamón, and dátiles con chorizo. Everything was tasty. Cocktails were pretty good, but not great. Service was prompt, considering it was a Saturday evening. That said, the reason I'm giving it 4 instead of 5 stars is I had a *weird* interaction when ordering a nice bottle of vintage sparkling wine. I hate to toot my own horn, but I do know wine and have certifications for it, and I absolutely hate drinking good sparkling wine out of flutes (you can't smell anything!), so I asked for regular white wine glasses for the sparkling wine. The server seemed confused by this request, went to the bar, and then when he brought the bottle, he brought flutes and "explained" to me that they serve sparkling wine in flutes. I again asked him to please bring white wine glasses as that's how I prefer to drink that wine, and he seemed offended and almost acted like I was dumb or crazy. When he finally brought the glasses I asked for, he was short and didn't even pour the first glass for us (bit odd at a nice restaurant). Anyway, strange sparkling wine interaction aside, I'd come back, though maybe I wouldn't order nice wine as I don't know if the servers know much about it. read more

Aventura is a great tapas restaurant in AA. They tucked our group in a cozy corner and we went ahead and ordered our shared. The paella valenciana was divine and had that nice crispy rice crust at the edge of the pan, but note that paella does take a bit to come out so order early. Our first order of ham croquetas somehow had no ham, but the team quickly came to our aid and brought us out a new order, with quaranteed ham. All in all a great spot to sit and share great conversations and even better bites! read more

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