In anticipation of the World Cup, the New York Times listed only 9 places as "Where To Eat" in Dallas; this is one of them. "An intimate Spanish tapas spot." (6/6/26). A wonderful place, with wonderful food, run by wonderful people! Perfect for late night after a show or symphony. Perfect any other time, too! read more

HARASSED by staff for tip - Ruined the rest of the night on Knox Henderson TLDR - Pre-dinner drinks and tapas gone awry. Waited 15 minutes for our server after sat, she refused to believe we waited long, then was served old/stale Pan con Tomate + Jamón plate. We requested a new plate to replace but were asked to explain how the bread could be stale. Server came back to say that she tasted the dish and it was stale, so she would take off the bread and comp with fresh bread and butter. She ended up charging us for that anyways. For 2 drinks, 3 slices of jamon and $2 bread our bill was $32. After waiting and constantly needing to track down our server, we were late for our dinner reservation and needed to leave. I didn't leave a tip and she confronted TWICE, we didn't leave a tip. She then tried to go back to the payment terminal to ring something up so I can tip as if I made a mistake. I let her know that I didn't. 15% of 32 is $4.50. She proceeded to make a scene and got hostile/aggressive. Why are you not leaving a tip. Is it because of me personally or the service? She towered over the table and we had to uncomfortably explain it was not a pleasant experience and we hope the next time we come would be a bit different. Some days are just not our days. We are human. She didn't like our forced answer and left. We were shocked that we were confronted and chastised for not leaving a tip for subpar service, a confirmed unsatisfactory food dish AND was still charged for our "comped bread"which was only $2. This behavior conveys a gross lack of professionalism and understanding. The waitress perceived our actions as disrespectful and lacked understanding that we had a subpar experience given the circumstances. We were shocked and unfortunately left with the most bitter taste in our mouths (aside from the horrible and stale pan con tomate that was drenched in olive oil) We have heard great things about Cafe Madrid and the ambiance and live music was lovely. I'm sure the other dishes are great and that this can be a one off experience. But circumstances like these reflect training and the lack of standard for service and professionalism. Long story - We walked in on a Friday night around 7:30 for some drinks and a tapa before our late dinner reservation down the road. What was supposed to be a quick and enjoyable stop was unfortunately derailed by slow service, confusion in who was our server, STALE and old food and harassment from our waitress about no tip after the fact that our unsatisfactory meal was communicated and acknowledged. Some people have bad days and I understand. The behavior and lack of remorse didn't signal that. For a Friday evening, the restaurant was busy but multiple servers were attending every other table outside of ours after we were sat down by a hostess. After 15 minutes, I motioned to a server to ask to order and after a few minutes our waitress comes by hurriedly and a bit flustered. She asked if we waited a long time. After almost 18 minutes of waiting I was honest and let her know it's been some time. She didn't seem to understand why we were waiting a long time and didn't believe us. It was a small interaction and but I wanted the night to proceed in good spirits. We ordered 2 drinks and 2 tapas (pan con tomate and an order of Jamon). Super easy and quick orders. Our food and beverages come out after another 10 minutes. Unfortunately the bread was completely stale and the olive oil was completely soaking into the bread on other sections. It sounds contradictory that one piece of the bread would be super stale and the other completely soaked. But yes the dichotomy of quality of food was real. I waited another 8 minutes to finally track down our server and politely raise the concern and ask for another order. Our server pressed on to ask for specifics/validation on what the stale bread meant. Toasted bread is very different from stale. I'm not trying to be difficult or patronize so I awkwardly avoid having to explain after being questioned the difference between stale and toasted bread. She finally gives in and takes it away to have it replaced. She comes back and shared that the kitchen explained they had just made the pan con tomate that day so it was fresh. (I didn't know you can pre-make fresh bread with olive oil and crushed tomato's. But that makes sense if the bread was left sitting out pre-made for hours hence the soaked/stale consistency.) We have a pleasant conversation afterward and build rapport. It seems like the night was back on track. What proceeded to occur at the end of the night regarding a $32 bill with no gratuity derailed the whole night and makes a poor reflection on the restaurant. read more

Had not been here in a while but never fails to hit the spot. It was a beautiful day to sit in the patio and enjoy some people watching (don't mind the construction next door). Service was great, food was delicious, and it was just a perfect chill spot on a Saturday afternoon. Highly recommend the lamb skewers! If you get the gambas al ajillo, definitely get some bread to soak up the goodness. We found out they do events every Friday (flamenco first Fridays, band on the others) and there's also music on Wednesdays. Note that one of the musicians does Italian and Spanish and goes back home at times so you could go one of these nights and there's no music. Don't want to falsely set expectations here! read more

Cafe Madrid - Cordero Skewers - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Mediocre Happy Hour! Some hits and misses! My friend and I stopped by for HH on a Wednesday. There was no wait for a table! Service was quick and friendly! We both started with the Red Sangria. It was super watered down and only had a hint of fruit. Disappointing! For food we tried the Spinach and Cheese Croquettes and some smaller apps like the manchego and olives. We enjoyed the croquettes, but weren't wowed by them. We also ordered the Tortilla, which was nice, but also nothing special! read more

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My husband and I were looking forward to trying a new tapas restaurant and decided to give this place a chance after our original choice, Barcelona Wine Bar, was packed. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. The prices were extremely high for the portion sizes and overall quality of the food. We understand that tapas are meant to be small plates, but we've been to many tapas restaurants where the food is far more flavorful, the portions are more reasonable, and the prices are much more justified. We left feeling like we paid a premium without receiving a premium dining experience. The service was fine, but the food simply didn't live up to the cost. We won't be returning and would recommend exploring other tapas options if you're looking for better value. Would not recommend. read more

Red Sangria was BAD. Tasted extremely water and cheap. Tapas on the happy hour menu seemed like a good deal but they were about half the size of the normal portion so not even really a discount. The best part was the house red wine. Service was okay, server was friendly but would leave us alone for long amounts of time to where we had to find another employee to help us. read more

Flamenco night the first Friday of every month! So that's what brought me and friend this particular time. We chose to sit in the middle room which for me is perfect for vibes for the show, but also vibes of the restaurant. They have a backroom as well, but it's better for quieter evenings or larger groups. I started with a glass of the rose which honestly was a little too sweet for me, however I don't like sweet wine at all. It was sweet in the residual sugar way, so if you like that sort of thing, it might work for you. We then decided to go with the calamari- a favorite of mine, and they serve it with a greenish aioli. I'm not exactly sure what the green is, but it didn't have a strong flavor. The calamari was fresh, and fried perfectly. After that we went with the gambas al ajillo. They were a bit too oily, and the bread served with it wasn't grilled, which is what I'm used to with this dish. I'd probably pass on it the next time around. For our main we went with the carne ajo and a side of bravas. The carne was AMAZING, albeit on the small side for the price. It also had a bit too much salt, but I say it was amazing because that's an easy fix, and it seemed like rock salt which probably made it feel saltier than it was. The bravas are another I probably wouldn't order as the sauce it's served with is more like a warm thin gravy than a bravas sauce. Additionally when I asked about this and asked if they had a traditional sauce, the server had a bit of an attitude. FWIW I've lived in Spain as well so I was hoping for something closer to what I'm used to. Oh and I paired this with a glass of the Finca Resalso which just so happens to be one of my favorite reasonably priced Spanish red and this is the only place I've ever seen it on a menu by the glass. Lastly, and this is really saving the best for last, we went with the Honey Almond Nougat Ice cream- their house speciality. The flavor was amazing and we were still texting about it the next day. Definitely give this place a try, whether you go for flamenco or just a regular night, as they have a great happy hour as well! I think it's the best/most authentic Spanish restaurant in Dallas, reminding me of one of the cafes you'd pop into for tapas on a walk down Castellana in Madrid. read more

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3.5/5 Came to Cafe Madrid for happy hour drinks where we sampled the red and white sangria, as well as the sangria sparkler. They were wonderfully made and reminded me of my time abroad in Spain. For tapas, we ordered the patatas bravas, gazpacho, pollo morroquí, and pan con tomate. For tapas, these were relatively big sizes and satisfied our appetite well. The patatas lacked some of the authenticity of what I had over in Spain with the flavors and seasoning, however, I understand that can be hard to replicate. For me, the best plates were the pollo and gazpacho as the gazpacho reminded me of sitting down with my host family for a cozy late night dinner. Service was a little slow at times with our waiter, but we were checked in on by other wait staff near the end of our happy hour visit. Overall, I would return to try other tapas bites and sample the sangria once more! read more

Everything was superb! The food, excellent! Get the lamb things lol!!... Our server Lucas was awesome... Must try the almond ice ice cream! Wish I could leave 6 stars! read more

Cafe Madrid - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Cafe Madrid in Uptown Dallas had quite the Spanish feast! We ordered white sangria to kick things off along with olives plate for a simple start. They have a huge selection of delightful tapas to cater to vegetarian & non vegetarian folk. the garlicky bread with tomatoes and olive oil is always a winner, fried goat cheese with that sweet and savory caramelized onion and honey was a total bomb !!! Phenomenal flavor!! The lamb meatballs and potato bravas plate was good choice we made was full of flavor and cooked to the perfection! For the main courses, my wife got traditional mixed paella, & octopus and shrimp plate & I got saffron rice with Moroccan chicken, a lovely blend of flavors. There was live guitar music playing to entertain the diners in a cozy and romantic setting. We had a perfect evening out. It sounds like Cafe Madrid offers an immersive and enjoyable dining experience. Great & simple decor and the walls painted everything relating to Spain! Service was fast & extremely friendly and warm! Definitely going back. Goes straight into my favorite places to dine. read more

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Cozy, Spanish restaurant that served delicious food. Moderately well priced. Service was pretty good. We were at the happy hours, and got the Spanish potato omelettes, fried calamari, mix, marinated olives, cured Spanish sausage. read more

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We had a beautiful array and the most delicious tapas and yummy Sangria everything was perfect and so what we expected at Cafe Madrid. Our waitress was so friendly and out standing with suggestions when ordering right down to desserts which we all shared. She recommended the Katy path for a nice walk which we enjoyed. Love the old work country look of the cafe. Great setting for this grandmother, daughters and granddaughters. read more

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Great food and wonderful atmosphere service was excellent. Wasn't wild about the cava sangria. Everything else was really good.

Perfect food, service, and environment ruined by smokers on the patio.-----------------------------

Delicious Spanish tapas! We had the paella, calamares fritos/fried calamari, patatas bravas/fried potatoes (not pictured), and morcilla de arroz y cebolla/fried blood sausage served with toasted bread. I loved the paella and fried calamari and we really enjoyed the nice ambience eating on the patio! read more

Cafe Madrid - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This place had some really tasty tapas. We had a large group of about 10 people and made a reservation earlier that week. We went on a Saturday night and they had a large table ready for us. We got many different tapas and sampled a lot of the menu. Everyone really enjoyed the food and overall thought it was pretty tasty. The only down side was that it was a little pricier than it should've been in my opinion. They do have a decent amount of vegetarian options but it is a little difficult to get full from them. read more

Cafe Madrid - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Came here on a Saturday night and absolutely loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. They had live music and it really made you feel like you were right in the middle of Madrid. The waiter was very nice and attentive and I have 0 complaints about the service. Wonderful staff all around. Now to the food... the tapas were good but didn't blow my mind away. Compared to other tapa restaurants it was a little lack luster. In addition the paella was lacking a lot of flavor and seasoning. I would recommend coming here for drinks and maybe a few tapas with friends to enjoy the vibes but not to get a high quality meal. read more

Cafe Madrid - Paella Entree - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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My husband and I went around 5:30 to Cafe Madrid before going to the theater. We really liked the tapas, especially the croquetas and paella, the atmosphere was calm at that time and we enjoyed our drinks and conversation. Around 6:15 ish it became crowded and quite loud. The restaurant has about three spaces with tables and chairs for customers and a place outside. I liked the decorations and the tapas especially. I will return but in between lunch and dinner. read more

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As close to Spain as we are going to get without a plane ticket. Service, food and atmosphere are all great

Coming out of my review-writing hiatus just to rave about how much I love Cafe Madrid. My friends and I came here for girls night -- 2 pitchers of sangria and many tapas later... we left with our hearts happy and bellies full. Caroline was really attentive to us and provided 5-star service. She really elevated our visit and we loved her so much. We are no strangers to Spanish tapas and have tried a couple similar restaurants in the metroplex but Cafe Madrid ranks #1 for us. The atmosphere is more home-y and cozy. Us gals in our mid-30s appreciate the more intimate setting Cafe Madrid offers. The house paella, calamari, patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo, and pulpo y gambas a la vinagreta were all delicious. I am no expert on Spanish food...but Cafe Madrid is home to my favorite paella. Honestly, before dining at Cafe Madrid I thought paella was alright... but now I am a fan. I definitely cannot wait to come back and try more dishes. read more

Cafe Madrid - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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The croquetas and Spanish tortilla were some of the best I have had since Spain and the staff couldn't have been better! Such a cute restaurant, can't wait to make this a weekly dinner spot!! read more

Our very first experience at a Tapas Bar! The food was delicious and the service was even better! Best calamari I've ever tasted and the Croquetas were our favorite! Carolina took really good care of our large party and was very patient explaining the different appetizers and drinks. The flamingo music was the icing on the cake! We will definitely visit again soon. read more

Cafe Madrid - Calamares Fritos, Croquetas De Manchego Y Espinacas & Albondigas Andaluzas - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

We had a wonderful dinner outside on their patio, as we watched the world go by in the Knox/Henderson area. Our service was outstanding. Cafe Madrid has an excellent wine and cocktail menu, along with a full bar. There is an expansive menu of share plates that make for a fun dining experience. We tried quite a few, and all were excellent. We will be back soon to try more! read more

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Amazing tapas, terrific service at this long standing Spanish restaurant. The Staff is excellent, food sublime. I have loved this place for 33 years!!! So glad it's still open! read more

My partner and I took our niece and a friend to dinner tonight. I had multiple dishes, including tortilla Española, morcilla, gambas al ajillo, croquetas de manchego y espinaca, mejillones, pimientos piquillo, vino y sangría. Todo estuvo magnífico. El servicio por Santiago fue excelente y el ambiente fue muy bueno. Llevo años cenando allí y siempre he quedado muy satisfecho. Felicidades Donica read more

I love this spot. Been coming for years. I always know I'm going to get a good meal in a great atmosphere. Our server, Eduardo, made sure we had a great night. The wine list has a wonderful selection, many at a very reasonable price. You don't have to go crazy to get a great Rioja. You can't miss with the tortilla, croquettes, Brussels sprouts and shrimp. So glad this place is still around and still so good. read more

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Cafe Madrid was one of the first tapas restaurants and they still hold their own. Old school Spanish tapas in a comfortable space. Can you get a satisfying meal here? Yes, you can. Does it feel like a special experience? For me, not really. I did love the eggplant chips, but the bread service was sad. Charcuterie was uninspired and the limited beverage options was disappointing. read more

Such a cute spot! Feels super authentic too. I learned it's a gem in Dallas and has some of the best Spanish food. I stopped by for happy hour to get something to snack on. The staff was pretty friendly, I love the outside seating, and the happy hour has great selections. I ordered a white sangria which was tasty. I really enjoyed the croquettas which had cheese and spinach. The shrimp was good too. Overall I have to go back to try more and if you happen to be by the area, I definitely recommend. read more

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This restaurant always a treat for my wife and I. Having lived in Spain in 2004-5 grew fond of their foods. When in Dallas we alway visit for tapas lunch read more

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Service and food were wonderful! Great time celebrating moms birthday. Plates are nice for sharing with your party. Restaurant atmosphere is very cozy read more

Cafe Madrid - Ice cream - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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I had high expectations based on reviews and some recommendations; however, my experience with my birthday dinner celebration was the most embarrassing since I recommended it. For a party of 8 arriving at different times, they offered nothing to drink while we waited. I requested a cheese table, but it was so small that I had to ask for one more and pay for bread since no crackers were included. Once we ordered the food, the dishes came out at different times, leaving some just watching what others were eating. We tried getting the servers ' attention several times during our meal, but were ignored. They forgot a few drinks and a dish we requested, but fortunately, they were not on the check either. Since there were some couples at our party and someone wanted to offer to pay for my meal, we asked if we could split the check, to which we found out that it was not possible with tapas, but to write numbers or names on the check and see if they could do it. I had to split the check myself, asking what each person ate, calculating the taxes, and instructing them how much to charge on each card. The food tasted mixed, with some dishes having good taste and some not as good, like the Paella. Ultimately, the restaurant might be good for small parties, or it was not their night, but at least this experience was not the best birthday dinner I expected. read more

'It's like Aperol-spritz...but wine' Spending this stay-cation pretending I'm in Spain Enjoying some tapas and sparkling sangria! read more

Cafe Madrid - Sparkling wine - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Service is exceptional - I like warm, earthy, cozy spots. This place is just that, add in ambient lighting, open doors where dining feeds into charming outside seating and you have a magical evening filled the vibing sounds, sprinkled with chatter, the occasional glimpse of pups and owners in outside seating. This is the perfect place to close out the day, especially on a Friday. Melts away all the stress and tensions of the week. The food was equally fantastic. Tapas by name and nature are small - but don't be confused the flavors are absolutely explosive! If you like garlic try the sautéed garlicky spinach and pine nuts; vinegary Anchovies in Olive oil and chunks of garlic - decorated with pitted olives - it makes for a sanguine flavor combination with a subtle bite - pair with beer or seltzer and it enhances the experience even more. The saffron rice was simply spot on - nuf said. Lastly had the muscles in an amazing French creamy saffron sauce - hey they're neighbors - so it was a perfect fit - south of France meets Catalina. In short, the services, atmosphere and food made for an exceptional evening - this was a dine alone experience - made, like I said earlier, for a magical evening. Last thing ask about Manuel he's an amazing chef thats graced this establishment for 29-30 of the 33 years that it's been here. His signature ingredient - ... Love Holla -Acha-Boy! ~Anthony read more

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Delightful! Fun! Entertaining! Our service was just wonderful as our adorable server clearly loves her job. She made excellent suggestions, was knowledgeable about every menu item and helped me avoid my allergens. (Sometimes I really wish I could eat shellfish. ‍) The food was outstanding, and if you order enough tapas, even a meat and potatoes man will feel full. Bubbly cava was a great compliment to all the plates. Outstanding tapas were the Spanish tortilla (wow), Aceituans Mixtas O Sabor De Anchoas (anchovy stuffed olives which I wasn't sure about but will order again), Bruselas (Brussels with crispy Iberian ham and garlic which I accidentally had a bite of and the server reminded me it was cooked in the same fryer as shellfish - luckily I got away with it), and the pollo con ajo a la plancha (garlic marinated chicken). We happened to go the first Friday of December (yes, life happened between then and now, but it was memorable) which is when they have flamenco! How talented the dancers were. It was so much fun and contributed to a playful atmosphere! If you want to catch the flamenco, might I suggest you do what we did and make a reservation a week or so in advance for a fairly early time (6:30 or 7) and plan to camp at your table for the evening. read more

The place is very popular! We forgot to make a reservation and had to wait for about 30min, but the place was actually very charming. They have a good selection of drinks and food, very fast service, but the food was just OK. They have seating for parties of two and four, if you have a bigger party make sure to make a reservation since they have few larger tables. The ambiance in the restaurant was very warm and enjoyable. read more

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Such a beautiful restaurant that immediately transports you to Spain! The tapas are just so spectacular! They have a great selection of sangria! My personal favorite was the traditional red sangria. The service here is just so fabulous! Big thank you to Cafe Madrid for the wonderful experience! read more

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The red sangria was great. Not too sweet, and I could taste the infused fruits. I was disappointed that they no longer do happy hour here, as that is what our group came for. We weren't able to try as many dishes due to this. Nonetheless, service was good. Our waitress gave good recommendations. The fried goat cheese balls were my favorite thing we ordered. Sitting outside was nice. I'd like to come back when there's live music on the weekend. read more

Cafe Madrid - Tortilla Espanola, Aceituans Mixtas - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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This is my favorite tapas restaurant in Dallas! You won't find better service anywhere from the manager to our favorite waiter Santiago. He is very down to earth has the best suggestions and will always make you feel like your at home. The food is amazing and they have an excellent wine list! Highly recommend it to everyone! read more

Cafe Madrid - Spanish Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Last night I tasted a little piece of Spain in Dallas. Cafe Madrid offers a cozy, intimate dining setting reminiscent of the little cafes found on the streets of Madrid. Their wide selection of Tapas are popular amongst patrons but their wine selection steals the show. * * Restaurant- It was absolutely beautiful.Most of the decorations came from Madrid and it gave the restaurant an authentic feel. I met the owner, Donica, and she told us that she decorated and came up with the concept of the restaurant. Just imagine stepping into a completely different country. From the paintings, to the rich culture; it truly was an amazing experience. She talked about opening the restaurant, the wine selection (fun fact: they only started with 8 wines and now they have an entire wall full. All wines are from Spain)and how the concept of Cafe Madrid came to be. Donica had a beautiful vision that came to life. PS. Both Eduardo and Donica were super sweet and they took great care of us!!! * * Food -Tortilla española | The most popular of all tapas: Classic Spanish omelette with potatoes and onions -Calamares fritos | Classic fried calamare, served with choice of alioli or brava sauce - Croquetas de manchego y espinacas | Cheese and spinach croquettes - Albondigas andaluzas | Andalucian meatballs in almond-piquillo sauce - Pollo marroquí | Moroccan chicken skewer with 35 spices - Piquillo relleno con queso de cabra | Imported piquillo peppers filled with goat cheese read more

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Amazing tapas bar! Got this recommendation from a friend. I did make a reservation earlier in the week via email. When you walk in this place has an awesome family feel. We had a variety of tapas and everything was great! I recommend the albondigas! I also highly recommend the sangria. Thanks Cafe Madrid for being awesome! Oh, and the service was top notch!! read more

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