I offer my highest recommendation of the delicious meals offered by Cafe Americana, on 403 E. Main Street, in Arlington, Texas. The spectrum of tasty flavors in their cuisine blew us away, from the Seafood Paella, to the Beef Short Rib Empanadas, to the Crispy Pork in sambal, honey, cilantro sauce, to Gouda, mushroom, potato Croquettes. The flavors were amazing. The service was friendly, professional, and attentive. The value was impressive. The restaurant is cozy, warm, relaxing. The bar is excellent, providing generous pours of adult beverages. I can't wait to return, as there are so many dishes on the menu that I want to try. If you're looking for a brilliant dining/lunch/brunch experience in downtown Arlington, Texas, give Cafe Americana a try. Your tastebuds will be so very grateful; Cafe Americana prepares great eats! https://cafeamericanatx.com read more

Our 2nd time at Cafe Americana and everything was great! The seafood paella is a great deal - it is considered a 'side dish' on the menu lol but is plenty for 2 people as a meal. Great flavor and plenty of clams, mussels and shrimp. We also really enjoyed the crispy pork - nice little kick in the sauce and the perfect amount of marbling in the meat. The carpaccio was Texas-sized. Speaking of Texas-sized, do not skip the award-winning coconut cake. It is on the pricey side for a dessert but it easily feeds 4 and yes, it is that good! Our server, Tiffani, was outstanding. She was very attentive throughout our meal, and when the Rioja we wanted was out, she poured my wife several samples to help her decide on another bottle - we ended up w an excellent easy-drinking Paso Robles Cabernet. This place is definitely worth the trip! read more

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This spot has a fantastic location right by the stadium and absolutely stellar service, but the execution had a few hiccups. We opted for the tapas-style sharing, and the staff was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive. They recommended the shrimp, which was hands-down the highlight of the meal! However, the rest of the menu fell a bit short. With tapas, you expect every small bite to pack a punch, but the flavors here leaned more 'middle-of-the-road' than standout. My biggest issue, however, was the atmosphere. While I always appreciate a spotless restaurant, the staff was cleaning during service, and the overwhelming smell of bleach and Fabuloso totally took over the dining room. It's hard to enjoy a meal with strong chemical fumes in the air. Overall: fantastic staff and location, but the food and dining environment need some fine-tuning. read more

My husband found this place for us to celebrate my 40th birthday with a few family members. They were very accommodating, were able to seat 16 people with no issue, were able to split the checks as requested with no pushback, the food was good, the waitstaff was great. There was one small hiccup that resulted in them cooking an extra dish and forgetting my mom's entire entree and instead of us having to make a fuss, they PROACTIVELY comped her meal, took the included gratuity off our bills AND gave us complimentary mocktail/cocktail tickets. They were amazing, Cheyenne was our waitress and she was so patient and approachable. 10/10 recommend! read more

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I loved it! I say "I" as my wife wasn't as big a fan of the food as I was. We had reservations in a busy Saturday night and were seated at a comfortable 2-top. They were about full when we arrived. Not so much when we left. While I thought there was a game tonight - it's the Eagles in concert at one of the nearby stadiums. Because it was packed when we arrived, the space was fairly loud. Cheyenne was our server and she did great. She knew the menu well and made some suggestions. We had already read the Yelp reviews and sort of knew what we wanted. Two of us shared: - Margarita rocks - Pan con Tomate - Crispy Pork - Jerk Chicken Paella The Pan con Tomate was amazing. Really cool presentation too. The Crispy Pork was real nice. A bit dry due to making it crispy. Really meaty too. The Jerk Chicken Paella was great. Cheyenne told us the jerk seasoning wasn't very spicy. She was right. I would have liked it spicier though but understand the decision to appeal to a broader section of diners. The socarrat was amazing. They make the paella in a small (8"?) cast iron skillet. It made for a perfect caramelization of the rice (socarrat). The dish had jerk seasoned chicken thighs and vegetables. Yum! I would have loved to have the Coconut Cake. But we were full and it was $22. We'll come back to Cafe Americana and try other dishes and the cake! read more

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We decided to check this place out after the baseball game hard on my recommendation and everyone sung me praises after the fact because of how good the experience was lol Because someone cancelled their reservation or group was able to be seated right away. First of all the space is very pretty and cozy. The dining room is long and narrow but didn't feel cramped at all. Or server JoJo was with us quickly and was beyond charming. She immediately gave recommendations for each area in the menu and when we were ordering drinks she even suggested different things based on our initial preference. For example, one of my friends asked about a whiskey sour and she recommended one of their pisco drinks instead and it was delicious! We got the yucca, dates, and lamb skewers as appetizers and didn't have a single crumb behind. Well balanced flavor with unique touches that we all appreciated. For entrees two of us ordered the lomo saltado which came out fairly quickly. Unfortunately, they had sold out of the duck when my bf asked for it so they brought him a drink on the house to make up for it. He changed his order to the salmon and loved it. I ordered the paella and sadly that did take waaay too long to come out. By the time they finally brought it to me everyone else was done eating so I just asked for a to-go box. The server did apologize and brought me a drink on the house but it would've been nice to know ahead of time that the dish would take so long to prepare, because I would've chosen something else so I could eat with everyone. All in all it was great and I'll definitely come back. Hopefully I make it in before the duck is sold out next time! read more

Cafe Americana - Seafood paella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas

This is one of those places that I can't wait to recommend local friends, family or visitors to try. The ambiance, service and food are EXCEPTIONAL. The two things not pictured were the lamb skewers that came with a side salad & the bacon wrapped dates. When I say there was flavor in every bite of every dish I mean it. You can't go wrong with anything you choose to get. The cocktails are also well made and worth every penny. Major love and thanks to our waiter Preston P. He definitely made the entire experience more enjoyable. read more

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I had the chicken empanadas, crispy pork, and tuna crudo. I enjoyed everything I had! The chicken empanadas were my favorite. The crispy pork was really good, and they give you a good size portion. I do feel the tuna crudo was overpriced for what it was but I did enjoy the little candied fruit (really unsure what it was) it had which made it different from other crudos. The tuna quality didn't seem worth it though. I enjoyed the espresso martini! It was not sweet or creamy which is what I prefer. Our server was really friendly and helpful with the menu! I enjoyed my dining experience! read more

Cafe Americana - Espresso martini and old fashioned - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas

3 words: GET.THE.PAELLA. Stopped in on a whim just by doing a Yelp search while in the area & 10s across the board! Arrived early Sunday afternoon, just as brunch was wrapping up. Greeted immediately and informed the hostess a seat at the bar would be just fine. The decor is cute - plants galore and that is my jam! The restroom was also clean which always matters to me. On to the staff; staff were extremely sweet and accommodating. I did not run into one staff member who did not ask if everything was good for me, give me a sweet compliment or just make an effort to small talk. The bartender, JoJo, was awesome! She was attentive, thorough and didn't mind giving me the rundown of the menu and her recommendations as it was my first time in. Also gave me some history on the restaurant and the sister restaurant (steakhouse) that will be opening soon. Great people! Now, for the food! I love paella so was super excited to find a spot near serving authentic paella. Opted for the seafood paella, minus the clams, and this was the best paella I've had! It was delicious, flavorful and the spice level was perfect. The shrimp and mussels were fresh and the rice was cooked to perfection. The paella is described as an appetizer but was certainly enough to be an entree. Also tried the limoncello martini (fave out of the two) and their house made sangria. Definitely adding Cafe Americana to the rotation! read more

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Notes: - cute place/ great aesthetic - the pan con tomate (pictured) is one of the most delicious things to have ever graced my mouth. I thought it would just be a simple bread and tomato sauce, but no. The bread is nice and toasty but doesn't cut the roof of your mouth and whatever concoction they put on top was so heavenly it's been on my mind for hours since leaving. - jerk chicken empanadas (pictured) were also very good, it came with three and they were a decent size, definitely shareable. The dipping sauce was so good with these! - jerk chicken paella (pictured) holy mama wow. First of all, a hefty portion (no complaints) definitely can be shared. It was so delicious I wanted to be able to eat it all so bad. Me and my friend described it as feeling like we were on vacation while eating. My friend and I shared those three things and were stuffed at the end and took home leftovers!! Bill total was around $75 (included one alc drink and one soda) 10/10 recommend. I will be dreaming of the pan con tomate tonight. read more

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The queen of Fort Worth, Kendall S, brought me here after a daytime work event. We arrive around 3pm on a Sunday, barely missing their brunch (dang, next time!). But, no complaints on the lunch/dinner menu offerings because we had a lovely spread of tapas--all gluten-free--and vino. We started with the marinated olives, Americana burrata (with charred avocado, olive oil, roasted tomatoes, beets, and agave), charred broccolini, Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp with homemade chili paste), and wild mushroom paella. Yes, it was a lot of food, but there were too many tempting options that we didn't want to miss out on. My faves were the marinated olives and burrata. They have a full bar with cocktails, mocktails, beer, and wine. And yes, there is outdoor seating. Place is cute. Food and service were good... would go back! read more

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We had the best late dinner last night at Cafe Americana. It was after 8, we were nearby and hungry, and I didn't feel like a burger or pizza... but Spanish tapas always sound good to me! Our waiter, Carlos, was fantastic. He was kind and funny and he knew the menu so well. I have to eat gluten free and Carlos knew exactly how each item is prepared, had substitution suggestions, and noted the use of shared fryers. I felt very comfortable ordering our meal, and everything was delicious. We had the buffalo mozzarella with tomatoes, marinated olives, the mussels (bread on the side for gluten-eaters), the New York strip with roasted broccolini in place of fries (served with a garlic aioli), and a fantastic bottle of Cabernet Franc. We ordered our steak medium rare and it was perfect-- extremely tender and flavorful and well seasoned. The broccolini was beautifully charred, crispy, and a little spicy. I'd choose them over French fries anyway. The mussels were in a sort of Thai style broth with coconut milk and peppers. Lovely level of spice. The olives (with almonds) and tomato/mozzarella starters were both super aromatic and perfect for sharing. We pretty much ate every bite of each dish and even took our mussel broth home! I look forward to coming back, there's more on the menu I'd like to try. They're known for their paella which I haven't had yet, so that's on my bucket list! read more

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So today we had the BEST dining experience we have had in Arlington and I have lived here since "99! We joyed every part of our dining experience (husband was a little cold but it didn't bother me)... we went today because it's my birthday and I picked this restaurant to try for our first time! We got a complimentary Prosecco for my birthday and they stopped by our table for us to sample a few new menu items (all were amazing!!) I cannot brag enough about this local restaurant!! We ordered the crispy pork for an appetizer and holy cow that sauce is 5 star!!! I teased that with white rice it would be the best ever... but so not kidding!? I had the New York strip with French fries and my husband had the Seafood Stew! My steak was yummy even though I prefer a Filet Mignon. My husband said the soup base for the seafood stew was the BEST soup base he has ever had! High compliment for sure! I had the Texas Oil Money with Woodford Reserve and that was one of the best balanced whiskey drinks I have ever had! We ended the meal with a Coconut cake (I don't love coconut) but let me tell you it was AMAZING!! The pineapple sauce you pour over the top made it a 10/10!!! I cannot wait to go back! I would give this place an extra star if I could! read more

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Was in town for a game and we found this gem. It is great across the board, food, ambiance and friendliness. Sangria was really nice and I enjoyed the seafood paella. Did not have room for dessert but they looked good as we saw others served. read more

This place is legit ! Located in a very nowhere - plaza , the decor is nice and the service is excellent - our server was very knowledgable and helpful . We got the shrimp for starters (which was very good but not a very large portion ) , and I then got the branzino , which was excellent - made in the grill (beware you need to fillet the fish). We also got a coconut cake in the house which was excellent - yummy and not too sweet . Old-fashioned were very good and the wine Recomendation was also legit . Very recommended in this area read more

Cafe Americana - Menu - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas

Very cool resturant overall -- I visited on a Wednesday afternoon around 4pm for an early dinner. I was greeted promoted and seated quickly! My server, Ellie (I think that was her name) explained the menu and background of the restaurant to me which I appreciated. I travel fairly often and love learning more about restaurants. I started with the sangria and it was amazing -- definitely spice forward but not too sweet. I ended up having two glasses and it's fairly priced at $12/glass. As for the food, I started with the yucca bravas ($10). The portion was extremely generous and that was definitely a plus. The sauce it came with was the perfect amount of spicy too. However, I found that there were quite a few undercooked/hard pieces of yucca and others being softer/fully cooked. For my entree, I went with the seafood paella! I removed the chorizo though since I don't really eat meat (aside from fish) often. The portion was also very generous at the price ($25). However, I found that it lacked depth in flavor -- the shrimp/mussels on top didn't taste like much and the rice within the paella I also found to lack flavor. I appreciated the size of the entree but it was definitely a miss flavor wise. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way for the food here. If I was in the mood for a sangria and happened to be in the area, I could see myself coming back. My server definitely helped set the vibe for Me here so I really enjoyed my visit even with the food being so-so. read more

Cafe Americana - Yucca Bravas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas

This place is a hidden treasure. It offers intimate fine dining, quality service, and its local. The staff is very attentive and we were excited to try the special 5-course menu that was offered on New Years Eve. Everything was exceptional. read more

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Top notch! The location is so beautiful and trendy! We were sat immediately with a reservation. And our waiter was very talkative and outgoing I was able to get plenty of vegan options. We shared the yucca chips and guacamole, the mushroom paella, and the Brussels sprouts!!! All were amazing. I was shocked I was able to get so many vegan options. I did cheat and get a piece of the cake, heaven. This place was awesome! I will definitely have to come back when I am in town! read more

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Nice unique restaurant sitting in north Arlington, we definitely need more places like this! The decor is so funky but in a good way, lots of plants! I really only went for their coconut cake which was so good. It's insane how big of a slice they give you!! Waitress was so kind as well. Will have to try their main courses in the future. read more

This place started so strong and ended so badly. We came in on a Friday with no reservation and were seated immediately. Loved the ambiance and vibes inside. Our server was very helpful and attentive at the beginning. Right off the bat - we told her we had a concert to catch and needed to be speedy. She said that wouldn't be an issue. From that moment on, everything dragged. It took us almost an hour to get our first appetizers and entrees. While I didn't expect them to accommodate the speedy requests, I wanted her to communicate that if it was the case. She did not. We ended up having to take the entrees to go. From a food and drinks standpoint, we loved the appetizers and were underwhelmed by the entree selection. We ordered meatballs for the appetizer and were so grateful we did. Very fresh and flavorful. Keep in mind, everything we ordered was recommended by the server. The fish and paella were underseasoned and bland. We ate half and tossed the other half. Do note these entrees were on the pricier side. I don't recommend overall. Felt overpriced and the service was underwhelming. read more

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The food, service, and ambiance were 10/10! I would recommend to anyone. Tiffany knocked it out of the park with the recommendations. We got a whole variety of food and shared amongst the table and it was so fun to try all of the amazing flavors. If you like lemon, the limoncello is AMAZING! Can't wait to go back! read more

Food was delicious! And the host tiffani was just the icing on top. 10/10 would recommend. I love plants and you get a great view of many of them when you dine along with the vibrant art. :) read more

Cafe Americana - Shimo & Grits (no chorizo) - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas

Went with my mom today around 2:30 pm and we were literally the only ones in there.. which made the experience extremely personalized ! Tiffany was very attentive and gave great recommendations considering she'd only been working there for about a month. I had a mocktail-my first one ever actually and it was very delicious! To start, we had the jerk empanadas- chef's kiss.. she had the salmon and I had the jerk paella ..this business is worth a try and it's so cute inside!! I would recommend something for all the fruit flies that are attracted to all the plants quick before business starts picking up, but besides that, I had a great experience here! read more

The service, ambiance, and food were incredible!!! We thoroughly enjoyed everything we tried!!! 10/10 recommend! read more

Cafe Americana - Chilean Sea Bass- Brussels Sprouts- Mushroom Paella - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas

Went here for lunch today. We were instantly greeted and seated by a very polite gentleman who was standing at the host stand. I had a Bloody Mary, which was decent, not too bland and not too spicy. They only offered us the brunch menu (it was after 1pm) and we all found that a bit disappointing since it was quite limited. I opted for the shrimp & grits and it was delicious. Our waiter was attentive in a weird way but the guy who sat us made up for it. The place is decorated so lovely. The walls are a nice welcoming green, nice art, and they've got potted plants hanging from the ceiling. We will go back, just not during lunchtime. read more

Cafe Americana - This is the inside of the restaurant. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas

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Great spot! Their happy hour is perfect and I love the crispy pork skin; get it every time I go! The food is always on point and so are their drinks. I usually sit at the bar and every bartender has been so sweet and easy to chat with. The decor and ambiance are classy and fun with a dark romantic undertone. If you want a dessert that will last you a week... The coconut cake slice is MASSIVE. My daughter and I tried but brought most of it home and kept trying to finish it for a few days then gave up lol. I'm glad we have this restaurant in Arlington, we needed it! read more

I've been alive 1/2 a century (50 for the slow ones) and my first visit (I've been twice now) was hands down in the top 3 best meals of my life! If you enjoy an amazing space, thoughtful cocktails and food that makes your mouth smile and your soul rejoice, this is the spot! GET THE MUSSELS!!! Absolutely no way you can be disappointed with these absolute game changers! The broth they are swimming in, is quite possibly sent from heaven! Great drink menu, OGT (jazzed up gin and tonic) was an absolute delight to drink and to look at! Served in a large wine glass, looking like the spritziest of spritzers, with long slivers of cucumbers slid into the glass and a sprinkle of fresh pomegranate seeds on top, it was fresh, generously sized and balanced to perfection. I could go on and on, as I've now had their Caesar salad (crushed croutons are rad), lamb skewers, chicken skewers, pork belly, paella and seabass and every single dish was just magnificent. You WILL drop quite a bit of money, but if you know, you know. I find it worth every single penny! Will be back again and again! Staff have all been an absolute delight! Literally not a single complaint, it's an absolute gem! read more

We came here for the Seafood Paella. Everything we ate was perfect. We ordered the Seafood Paella, Chicken empanadas, Brioche with Trout paté, Gambas al ajillo, and the Lomo Saltado. All of the dishes were perfectly balanced, especially the empanadas. Each dish was plentiful. We also finished with the coconut cake, which was insane. Service was outstanding as well. They explained everything and endured we were taken care of. We will definitely be back! read more

Really good! Loved the unique drinks and the steak sandwich was delightful! Great date night spot! read more

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Stopped by for a light dinner and wanted to try this spot. We only sampled appetizer on this visit, but we were extremely pleased with what we had. Our service was fantastic and we felt very welcome fron the moment we arrived. We really enjoyed the decor and liked the live greenery on each of the tables and around the ding room. We look forward to going back and exploring more of their menu. read more

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I consider myself somewhat of a foodie, and I have no trouble saying that this is the best culinary experience I have ever had. I'm genuinely surprised this isn't at least Michelin-recommended. We ordered an array of appetizers and shareable with a group, and everything was top-notch fantastic. So much flavor in everything, perfect yet somewhat unorthodox combinations of ingredients and twists on pan-American classics. The preparation and plating was professional-quality. The interior of the restaurant is a gorgeous, cozy, yet modern combination of bold tropical colors and a jungle of lush plants. It can be a tad pricey for a budget spender like myself, but it is absolutely warranted and worth the price. Incredibly well-done and managed, I cannot recommend it enough. read more

This place was great! Very flavorful and delicious. The service was also great. Cheyenne was very helpful picking items. And the ambience is moody and relaxing. read more

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Can't say how great this place is . Service, drinks , appetizers and entrees and dessert were all top notch . This will definitely be one of our regular stops in the future . Food is unique, delicious and expertly served . Doesn't look like much from the outside but nicely decorated inside . We had crispy pork , steak sandwich , salmon, shrimp and coconut cake . Other things we want to try next time too read more

Cute ambiance as you walk in, service was great and the food satisfied! We ordered more than pictured and everything was tasty but I ordered a second round of Jerk empanadas so I was able to snap this photo before we devoured them! read more

Cafe Americana - Jerk empanadas and guacamole w/ plantain chips - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas

Cutest place I've been yet. The vibe was it. Hanging plants, candles on the table and good music. And food was a 10/10 I for the beef short ribs and a margarita. Service was top notch. Perfect for a dinner date or a dinner party there was 8 in our group and it was accommodating. read more

Cafe Americana - Beef short rings, charred broccolini and a margarita - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas

I am always looking for a tapas restaurant and this is not it - it's not bad but I would not say this is a tapas restaurant. They don't have a multitude of shareable dishes, and if they did, they wouldn't fit on your small table. [Edit: I searched for Tapas on yelp and this came up] Cute place. Very hip and gentrified. There's a nice patio out back all done up with artificial turf. Inside it's very green - lots of plants too. They sat us right by the front door. I hate that but it was ok. Does anyone else's skin crawl when they are seated right at the front door of a place? Anyhow - our server, David, was great and the menu really has a lot to offer. The pan con Tomate is great, but super messy to eat. No way to do it elegantly. But it tastes good. Yucca Bravas we both liked but WOW is that lot of starch! That's easily enough for 4 people to share. It was great but it's too much starch in 1 dish, really. My wife had one of the fish dishes which was great. I had the steak - the New York Strip - it was good but had a fair amount of gristle. I only ate half, and when they boxed it up, they included the bits of fat I couldn't chew through and had off to the side. Weird but my dogs loved them so that was nice. Mixed drinks were great - that Texas Oil Money is one of the smoothest whiskey drinks I've ever had. Did the trick. We liked it and will be back, but like I said, not really a tapas place. And next time we'll sit outside with our dog, or at least not near that front door. read more

Well it's been about 14 months and we decided to give it another try last week ... and it will be the last try!!! The service was not good at all - #badattitude. We had 2 appetizers, spilt 1 entree and 2 martinis each and the bill was $175. Now, I understand the upcharge for premium spirits but more I would expect more than a few stips for $18 a drink - The picture shows what my glass looked like when it arrived at the table - I had NOT taken 1 sip of it before taking the picture ..... and again, the upcharge for four tiny pieces of french bread to go with our appetizer is not cool... - Wish them the best but we are DONE. read more

Cafe Americana delivered way beyond expectations! Food was excellent, service was stellar, and the space was beautiful. We shared 3 appetizers and a salad. Large portion sizes for tapas and prices were great for the quality and quantity. We had the chorizo and mussels...perfectly steamed mussels with a creamy wine garlic sauce with just a hint of spice; the lamb kebabs served with a mint sauce and pickled vegetables (the fennel seed was a nice touch), the tuna crudo was amazing (better than most sushi restaurants), and the Cafe Americana salad (not pictured here). My only fear is that Dallas and FW residents will discover this hidden gem and make it harder to get a table! read more

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I will definitely be back. Not much to look at from the outside but WHAT A BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANT! We had a bottle of white and 2 appetizers, but I want to come back for drinks and dinner. Tiffani was such a bright star in our experience too. She really made our time at Americana so much fun. read more

Restaurant checks all the boxes (food/service/ ambiance). This was our first time going and the drinks/ appetizers/ and main course were all an upscale experience. read more

Cafe Americana - Charcuterie board, bourbon cocktail & sangria. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Arlington, Texas