Delicious paella and Spanish tapas!…read more The paella was seasoned well with hefty portions of seafood. $59 for two people (minimum) and two tapas plates were plenty. The interior is decorated very casual and homey, it was a fun ambiance with excellent service! The flan dessert was so rich and creamy too. I would come back to try more of the hot tapas plates!

Costa Brava offers an energetic, lively atmosphere with dark woods and soft lighting. Owner Javier…read moreruns a bustling spot with tons of people. It does get a bit loud, including some street noise from car exhausts outside. It makes for a fun experience, especially for a lively group dinner. THE FOOD * Pulpo a la Gallega: Sautéed in olive oil and paprika. Tender, thin slices. The fresh lemon adds a bright acidity that balances the dish. * Gambas al Ajillo: Garlic shrimp treated very well. Tender, juicy, and highly flavorful. * Patatas a la brava: Hot potatoes coated in a creamy ali-oli. * Choricito frito: Delicious sautéed chorizo sausage. * Pinchitos de solomillo: Grilled filet mignon skewers. While the cook made them quite tender, the beef flavor was a bit off. I would recommend sticking to their phenomenal seafood instead. * Paella mixta: A classic presentation of saffron rice, chorizo, chicken, shrimp, and mussels. * Spanish creme brulee: A perfect finish. Wonderfully creamy underneath with a crisp sugar top. THE SERVICE Michael was our server and provided great service. He was attentive, knew the menu details inside and out, and provided excellent recommendations to guide our meal. OVERALL A solid tapas dining experience with great service and standout seafood.

Reservations not needed but highly recommended. After we arrived, we understood why: the place was…read morepopulated during dinner time especially on weekends. However, we were immediately seated at a very cozy table for two outside with a nice heater - albeit still a bit chilly considering the day started out quite warm. Our attentive and stellar servers were Candace and Ben. Since it was our first time at Valentina, our attentive and stellar servers recommended appetizers, main entree and dessert. Each course that came did not disappoint as our palate reached nirvana with each and every bite we took. I ordered the pork schnitzel as my main course while my partner succumbed to his eyes that were drawn to the ingredients of the seabass. We both shared squash soup and a separate plate of grilled square shaped potatoes that were a perfect pairing we devoured with satisfaction. Dessert came as a surprise, as we were served not one but two desserts - the latter was an added thoughtfulness, acknowledging my partner's birthday. The taste was divine! The bill totaled at just a little over $100, which we expected for this fine dining experience. Oh yes, we plan to return - even way before the next birthday. In the meantime, happy eats everyone and hope to see around town.

Upscale tapas place - be prepared to leave a lot of money for small plates, but very worthy plates…read more Seafood paella as well as clams were top choices for everyone in our group. Service was also very attentive. Lastly, they have my most favorite soap in the bathroom and I made a point to wash my hands multiple times during dinner service just to experience the scent. Small thing but leaves lasting impression

Opening during store hours? Waiting for a while, called several times. Place was closed.read more

I love this place came in because I really wanted to have paella for my birthday and I didn't know…read morewhere to get the good local goods from España so I decided to come in here and they had everything I needed and more I was able to walk out with some delicious hormone as well as all of the goods I needed to make a really solid paella highly recommend stopping in the place is so cute. The people are so sweet and the food is so good

TL;DR: Great seafood, great service, great vibes! What an awesome pocket of North Park for whatever…read moreoccasion! Must visit in SD! Stopped by after coming home from a work trip to get a late night meal and was so glad we did! Service was top notch! From the minute we walked up to the door to the dish recommendations, everything was so warm and welcoming. Drinks, both alcoholic and NA, were well-balanced and refreshing. Really opened our appetite to crush a bunch of fresh seafood ...speaking of... Wow. Just wow. Everything was so fresh and you could taste the ocean in each bite. - Oysters were freshly shucked and delicious without any of the add-on sauces/dressings - Carpaccio: not to say that it wasn't delicious. It's just that compared to everything else, this was just good. skippable tbh - Sardines on toast: another banger! such thick whole pieces that just melted away with each bite. yum. - Mussels (MVP app): wowwwww so good. Underrated. So glad our server recommended them. If I had to redo our meal, I'd have ordered 2 and skipped the carpaccio. MUST GET MUSSELS. - Beets were a refreshing change from the seafood. Open to other salads but def order one as a palette refresher from all the ocean - Octopus: perfectly cooked and not chewy at all - Potatoes: too heavy to end with. Not bad in any way but I'd skip this next time. Really only want a half bite. All in all, Mabel's smashed it and we'll be back 100%. Cheers, Mabel's!

On a casual walk around the neighborhood since I had parking which can be tricky. I found myself on…read morea very important mission: dessert. Mabel's has been on my list for a while I just hadn't made it in yet. The soft, intimate lighting and lively crowd pulled me in like a moth to a very chic flame. The hostess was warm and welcoming, and since the place was buzzing, we opted for the makeshift patio seating prime people watching territory. Inside, I noticed the layout has two distinct rooms, with one acting as a waiting area where guests can mingle and sip a drink before being seated. A nice touch if you enjoy a little pre-dinner social hour. Somewhere between scanning the menu and spotting all the seafood options, dessert quietly exited the chat. We decided to lean into the moment and see what the hype was about. After a quick chat with our waiter, we went with the octopus skewer and grilled swordfish. Now, fun fact I completely missed: it's a gin bar. This realization came after I confidently ordered a dirty martini like I knew what I was doing so I pivoted and reordered a glass of wine. Smooth recovery... mostly. The octopus was nicely cooked tender with a good char and the swordfish was... fine. Not bad, just not something I'll be dreaming about at 2 a.m. Overall, the dishes were executed well, but flavor-wise, they could've used a little more personality. A pinch of salt might've gone a long way. That said, I know their menu changes frequently, so I'd absolutely come back and give it another shot. And next time, I might actually stick to my original plan... you know, dessert.

Best Sangria and beef empanadas. We had great service and…read moregreat food! Decor and ambiance was fantastic and set the tone. Can't wait to go back. Our new favorite restaurant.

Sevilla Valentine's Day Edition:…read more Pardon the delay, amigos! It's been a lengthy week! But I digress! You're here for the deets! Like every boyfriend who wants to show his adoration for his gorgeous girlfriend, I planned this event a few weeks ago. Commitment & dedication are key. Flamenco Show, 3 course dinner for two, AND dancing after?! Yeah, your amigo has it covered! This package is available on their website, and not only on Valentine's. But this day does make it more romantic! A minor 5-10 minute wait as we stepped out of our Uber to the front entrance of the club adjacent to the restaurant. Our lovely hostess greeted us & escorted us downstairs to pick our table. There were no specific table reservations, but all seats are good, as it's a small venue. The Love Gods smiled upon us and granted a table close to the front with an awesome view of the stage. Perfect table for the perfect date! Starters set the tone. What's this? A Welcome Charcuterie Platter?! It appears out of nowhere as our server takes our drink orders. The service here is impeccable! Impressive spread of cheesy, meaty goodness! The Shaved Jamón Serrano Ensalada Sevillana has a wonderfully zesty citrus vinaigrette that makes you clack your castanets! Ole!! Cocktails for the cute couple! A Oaxacan Flower for my Monterrey Mami! My gal loves her some mezcal! I opted for El Matador Margarita, because I know what I want...tequila! Plus the cucumber counts as healthy! I will die on this hill! The Main Course is the star of the show. And in full diva fashion, the Lobster Paella Valenciana stole the spotlight! A masterfully, monstrous mix of meat & seafood, all on top of some bomb-a** Saffron Bomba Rice! There's even a lobster tail in case you're still hungry! Queue the Flamenco show. The two dancers were elegant, the music was powerful, the singer sublime! Enjoy your dinner to a phenomenal 2 part show put on by very talented artists! We got to meet them after the show, as they personally thanked practically every guest! Elegant as their artform! Lest we forget the dessert! The Flourless Chocolate Cake was just the right amount of sweetness to cap off the dinner & show, as we shared our own sweet nothings. Love & Chocolate, a perfect combo, just like my beloved beauty & her humble narrator. As the performers were packing up & saying their final goodbyes, the staff was clearing the space for the last part of our adventure...dancing! A brief 15ish minute wait back outside & back inside we went! Got a great spot up front by the stage, but be aware the only sitting will be done by the VIP section. I believe it's bottle service only, but you can ask. We didn't, as we did not intend to sit at all! We boogied down, baby! The DJ did a great job keeping the vibe alive. Perfect ending to a perfect night. *Caveat - The dinner menu has other options & several a la carte items, if you so choose. Check their website for specific package info. You cannot go wrong. TL:DR - Never give up on love!

After more than 15 years, we finally returned to Romesco's -- and it was a great reminder of why…read morethis place has remained a local favorite. We arrived around 5:30pm on a busy Friday evening with two other couples and no reservations (always a gamble). The dining room and tapas bar were fully booked for a party of six, but fortunately an outdoor patio table opened up and we happily took it. Even better, our server Jose Luis (who also works at TJ Oyster Bar) recognized us from past visits. He delivered friendly, attentive service all evening and struck the perfect balance of checking in without hovering. Drinks: * Paper Airplane (bourbon-based signature cocktail) -- excellent and well balanced * Estrella Galicia 0.0 ABV Spanish pilsner -- a surprisingly good non-alcoholic option Food: * Cazuelita de Costilla de Res (short rib tacos) -- flavorful and a standout starter * House bread -- simple but very satisfying * Tiramisu & churros -- both excellent and perfect for sharing Just "Meh": The Chicken Marsala. Not bad, but we've definitely had better at Italian restaurants. Next time we'll stick entirely with the Spanish/Mexiterranean side of the menu. Pro Tip: Make reservations for dinner or arrive early for happy hour (4-6pm, Mon-Fri) -- this place fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Service was attentive, pacing was smooth, and our table was well taken care of throughout the evening. Overall, a very enjoyable dining experience -- and we definitely won't wait another 15 years before coming back.

I rarely write negative reviews, but after several experiences at Romesco's, I feel this one is…read morewarranted. My first issue happened during my birthday dinner, which my husband had planned to host as a surprise in the tapas bar area. When he booked the event, he was informed of a minimum spend requirement, which he agreed to. However, no one told him that it would be a half-off night. Because of that, and because some of our guests were charged separately for their meals (which we were embarrassed to discover after the fact), our final bill didn't come close to the required minimum. When we asked to speak with a manager, we were initially ignored. After repeatedly asking through our server, the manager eventually provided a partial gift card toward the remaining balance--but the situation could have easily been avoided with clear communication upfront. Unfortunately, things didn't improve when we returned to use that gift card. On multiple visits, we experienced long waits just to be acknowledged, and when we were told to seat ourselves, many of the tables were dirty and hadn't been cleared. The most frustrating experience was with a takeout order. I ordered the chicken marsala, expecting a quality meal for the $30 price. Instead, I received four extremely thin pieces of chicken. When I called to politely share my concern, the manager argued the portions are always weighed to 8 oz. After weighing what remained (I ate one very small piece), it came out to just 3.9 oz. So it would've been 4.5 oz at best. I sent photos and was told I'd receive a call back--but never did. I ended up bringing the food back to the restaurant, where I was told a gift card had been texted to me (it hadn't). It was resent on the spot, but even then, it didn't include the takeout fee. Yes, they charge a $6 service fee for takeout on top of the already overpriced dish!!! There was no apology or real acknowledgment of the issue. I was so hungry at that point that I ordered the shrimp and fries tapas--she charged me, minus the service fee lol. It was void of flavor tbh. At the end of the day, the recurring issues are lack of communication, inconsistent service, and disappointing food quality for the price. A sincere apology, acknowledgment of falling short of expectations, or follow-through would have gone a long way, but unfortunately, that never happened. It's disappointing because this place presents itself as a higher-end dining experience, but the service and quality just don't match. It's clear they only care about one thing...and it's definitely not the customer! I still have a significant balance left on the gift card, otherwise I likely wouldn't return.

Amazing food & service Food has so much flavor and so does…read morethe desserts 10/10 recommend

We ate here two nights in a row it was that good! The first night we got the mussels, I ordered the…read morelamb chops, and my husband ordered the short rib. The mussels are normally cooked with some kind of pork, which I don't eat, but when I asked if it was possible to get it without pork, they said they could definitely do that, which is never expected but definitely always appreciated! The lamb chops were delicious and cooked to perfection. They came on a bed of some sort of salad, with some aioli and mint jelly. Personally the salad and jelly didn't work for me but my husband's short rib (which was also cooked perfectly) came on a bed of cauliflower puree which was so delicious that I ate half. On night two, I ordered the lamb chops again but requested they be served with the cauliflower puree, and they happily obliged. My husband got branzino, which he thought was good but I thought it was great, and I usually don't care for it. Pro tip: They offer a $15 corkage fee but I think you may have to ask when you make a reservation and they also have a $15 coupon (business card) at the front desk. The service was great, both of our waitresses were perfectly attentive and the bussers were on point. This is now one of my favorite restaurants in the area and we plan to come back every time we are in town.

My wife and I had a wonderful dinner at Juniper and Ivy. Delicious food impeccably presented with…read moreoutstanding service. Truly, our service was what one always hopes for in fine dining for but so rarely receives these days. Our primary did an excellent job helping us select our meal. She was attentive, supportive and a pleasure to talk with, yet also discreet. Plates were well-timed. Our water glasses always seemed to be full although I rarely noticed it happening. All of our entrees were delicious. Favorites? Probably, first, the Hokkaido Scallop starter. The scallops themselves were huge, perfectly cooked with a crusted chili crunch topping and served with a delicious miso butter sauce. Not overly spicy, the flavors meshed perfectly. I also loved the Miso Black Cod (especially because it's a dish one can rarely find near the East Coast where we live.) Any misses? Not really, although the Pâté de Campagne was prepared as very rustic. It was tasty but I found it difficult to eat with the bread, Overall, I recommend Juniper and Ivy as a great place to celebrate an event, enjoy a date, or just have an excellent evening dinner away from the house.

1/2 Juniper & Ivy is…read morethe kind of restaurant that reminds you why you seek out places like this, the food is genuinely exceptional. It's just a shame the experience came with a few caveats. We requested the patio, drawn in by descriptions of a vibrant, lively porch. What we got was four tables, a persistent wind tunnel, and a front-row seat to the San Diego flight path, meaning every few minutes, conversation came to a full stop for a low-flying plane. No warning from the restaurant, which felt like a miss. Inside next time, without question. The menu itself was a little overwhelming at first, but our server stepped in with confident suggestions that completely redeemed the experience. And then the food arrived. The house sourdough with Mikolich Farm honey butter was the kind of bread course that makes you reconsider every other bread course. The shio tang oysters with mojito foam and cucumber relish were playful and precise. The three cheese tortellini, wild porcini, english peas, aged parm brodo, was the standout of the night: rich, deeply layered, and deeply comforting. The saffron bigoli and miso black cod were both beautifully executed. We paired everything with a Russian River Valley Pinot that was an ideal match for the table. Bottom line: the kitchen is firing on all cylinders. Sit inside, trust your server, and order the tortellini. You won't regret it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

So sorry to report that Chiki Jai has burned down January…read more2018 It was around since 1947 and was an absolute favorite In the heydays of the 70's and 80's UPDATE: February 2018 Hear they are on a rebound at a new location in Tijuana.

This place just has a small sign outside. And it has no windows. But my meal was good! I had a…read morechicken breast with Spanish rice and soup for 240 pesos. And a sangria for 115 pesos. I will try to come back here when I am in Tijuana.

Cellar Hands, will give you, based on our 2 experiences;…read more Exceptional and friendly service Simply and properly well-made food; nothing to overwhelm you or made for Instagram All wines are great, experiment and enjoy a different wine each time Minimalist but cozy, well-designed, atmosphere

Cellar's Hand has officially become my new favorite brunch spot and honestly, I can't believe it…read moretook me this long to stop in. I've passed by this place so many times without realizing what I was missing. After finally giving it a try, I loved it so much that I came back the very next day for brunch after having dinner the night before. That should tell you everything.Brunch here is beautiful. Every dish that came out looked like a gorgeous palette thoughtfully plated and almost too pretty to eat (almost). Everything tasted just as amazing as it looked.The restaurant itself is cute, comfortable, and such a great place to sit, relax, and catch up with friends. It has that perfect balance of cozy and stylish without feeling over the top. They also have a great wine selection along with small dishes that pair really well with the wines they offer, which makes the experience feel a little elevated but still approachable. A huge shoutout to Katy, our server both days. She was fantastic. Katy had incredible knowledge of the wine list and helped recommend dishes that paired perfectly. Every suggestion she made was delicious. She checked on us regularly and gave truly superior service. Places like this are such a great surprise when you finally discover them and Cellar's Hand definitely delivered. I'll absolutely be back!