Had an incredible experience here!! Every menu item we tried was absolutely delicious, including the ceviche, albondigas, escalivada, suquet de mariscos, arroz negro, etc! Our server Ash was amazing too, checking in regularly and making sure all was going well, and even helping us with our mom's birthday dessert + candle :) The inside is relaxed but classy, and the vibes are great- I would absolutely come back!! read more

Spectacular fixed price dinner with lots of flavor surprises. Combination of traditional tapas and paella with superb innovative use of spices and ingredients. Derrick was an extraordinary host. Only issue is we are from Los Angeles so travel time is an issue! Strongly recommend visiting El Raval and I strongly encouraged them to open a location in LA! read more

We came in with a group of 11. We were seated almost immediately as per our reservation time. The server was so helpful in guiding us on the number of dishes to order for sharing. We were able to feed a variety of dietary differences with no challenges. The food was delicious and I loved being able to try a variety of items. read more

El Raval - Wine - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Came back to try more dishes and every dish was a hit I got the garlic shrimp again, too good to not order. This time I also ordered the octopus, potatas bravas, and mariscos paella. Everything was amazing and enough for 3 people The service was excellent. Our waiter was attentive and answered all our questions. Someone else came around and kept our water filled, which was great because my dad needs low sodium food and to drink a lot of water to offset any sodium in the food. I believe the managers checked on us and wished my parents happy anniversary, which was a classy touch. All around 5 stars. read more

It was busy on Saturday. We didn't have reservations and they were able to seat 5 of us outside. There was some fan and umbrellas so it wasn't uncomfortable but then again, it was 95F outside ;) Our server was great. She came around as needed and the folks bringing out the food spent some time describing what was being put on the table. We were also able to drink from the porron some cava because someone was walking around the tables offering. That was fun! Appetizers were delicious, get the patatas bravas for sure and the pan is delicious as was the brussels. We got 2 paellas : duck and wagyu. For 5 people, we could've ordered another one. These take some time so be patient. Worth the wait! I thought my margarita was ok. Maybe it needed more kick or tequila? We got the basque cheesecake, creme brulee and rice pudding. All very delicious. I thought the creme brulee was the best. Parking can be hard because the garage gets full. Be patient as it seems people are constantly leaving. The restaurant validates 3 hours too. read more

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Austin is a great town for food. I hit El Ravel for some tapas. Got a seat at the bar quickly. The hostess also served me and she was friendly and funny. There were many items on the list and I ordered the ham croquettes and patatas bravas. Highly recommended. This two plates filled me up and I will definitely hit this place again. read more

Great first visit to El Raval, and will definitely be back to try out a few more of their tapas/drink pairings. Plenty of Latino music and art to enjoy along with some great food. Enjoyed the staff recommendations on wine to go with the small group food favorites, which were calamari (~$15), patatas bravas (~$15), and paella de mariscos (~$40). These were tasty and enough to share so that everyone at the table had a few bites. Free parking outside in the adjacent lot and/or public garage spots available. It was easy to make a reservation in advance (though wish I could have selected a booth instead of a high top set up). read more

I absolutely LOVE this little spot. I came on a Monday for a snack before an event, and my mom and I were seated right away. They do have some parking available in the retail garage, it's a 3 hr limit but is otherwise free. My mom and I both had a cocktail called the "Ume Oro." I've had many interesting cocktails in my day but it's been a long time since I had a cocktail that truly surprised me - and this one did! I asked about a floral drink and they told me it's floral but not too sweet and that was exactly correct. The Chinese plum flavor with the ginger was a lovely combination, I can truly say I don't think I've had a drink like it and I love it when I can say that! We ordered the Fideos à la Cassola ($20) and shared it. Neither of us were very hungry and this dish was so tasty and rich that even half of it with the cocktail was plenty and we didn't need anything else to eat. The service is also phenomenal, our waitress was so sweet and at one point the manager came by and offered some Cava (like spanish prosecco) to our table and the table next to us. It is served by being poured directly from a very cool looking decanter, almost like a genie's lamp? He poured it directly into our mouths from arm height while we were sitting, it was such a fun thing to try! And on top of all this - the ambiance inside is lovely, it would be a great date spot. Bathrooms are immaculate too. I genuinely cannot rec this place higher, it's one of my favorites in Austin! I'll be back even just to have the Ume Oro again! read more

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I came in on a Friday with 11 friends at 7:30 pm. We had reservations and were seated upon arrival. The restaurant was bustling, and we had to wait a little bit to place our drink orders, but once ordered, they were served in a reasonable amount of time. That's not always the case when dining with a large party. We were prepared for the small plate sharing menu, and our server did a good job of helping us decide how much to order, and what would work well for our various dietary restrictions and preferences. Everything was easily sharable and overall quite yummy. We ordered the cheesecake for dessert. It was fluffy and had a nice texture. This is a good spot for a large group meal if your group is into sharing. read more

Love this spot! We came for the Monday all night happy hour - amazing deal - plenty of tapas at discount and some drink specials It's beautifully decorated inside and a little on the darker more intimate side Service was great - able to get a table Monday night around 7 or so walking in. We tried a lot of tapas and the seafood paella My favorites were the seasonal salad (amazing) The croquetas are always so good The chicken brocheta is a large portion and delicious - comes with sauce and carrots Pan con tomate is classic and delicious The patatas bravas could've been a bit crispier personally but still great The ceviche and the sauce is incredible - just wish there was more fish but it was happy hour size Paella was great - we aren't huge seafood people lol but the scallops and shrimp and crab were so freaking good My husband ate the mussels and other seafood items but great portion for two people!! read more

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The vibe on a Saturday night in this place screams Spain. We were lucky enough to get seated at a high top which I think adds so much to the fun Spanish experience. The sounds of the kitchen with sounds of pots and pans and plates and glasses clanking, the hustle and bustle of the wait staff, the elbow to elbow with the other parties beside you, the dark ambiance that sets the mood.... for those who have been to Spain...you know. We ordered a smorgasbord of food for a party of 6 to share family style. One recommendation from our waiter that I would have never known to try is their roti. This roti is now a staple in my life! Or at least everytime I come here lol. This is a must go to. And! Even a must take someone to if they're coming from out of town. read more

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The paella with bone marrow wasn't my favorite. The rice was really lacking--it's usually my favorite part. There's a very thin layer of rice which I thought was odd. It also was way too greasy because of the bone marrow. I also didn't love the white sangria. read more

El Raval - Bone marrow paella - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

I HIGHLY recommend this place. We did the feed me experience and it was so delicious, and we left stuffed. it was more than worth the price, and I never find myself saying that anymore. My partner and I don't drink but there were some nice mocktail options, the ambiance was great. Also Derrick is such a great guy, he made us feel like we were VIPS. It was a very memorable meal. read more

Take a Time Machine back to the 70s when a restaurant bent over backwards to make your evening meal simply outstanding! Just like the old TV series "Cheers" where everyone knows your name! Every server, bartender, manager came over to our table to introduce themselves, asked our names, and then remembered them an hour later. The paella, tapas, dessert and wine need to be given 7 out of 5 stars... With nearly all restaurants worrying only about profits, this is a one of a kind gem because they only worry about their customers which evidently takes care of the bottom line. Treat yourself to a flashback to the 70's at El Raval! read more

El Raval - Delicious paella...Best in Austin by far! You would have to travel to Spain to find one this good! - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

I really enjoyed El Raval's extensive menu, there are so many options, and several items felt refreshingly unique. The service was attentive, and the plates were perfect for sharing, making it a great spot for groups. That said, I'm taking off a star because both the paella and several of the tapas we tried were noticeably too salty. Everyone in my group agreed on this point, so it wasn't just a matter of individual taste. I'd love to come back and try more of what the menu has to offer, but I hope the kitchen can adjust the seasoning a bit for a more balanced experience. read more

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I found this place on Instagram @elravaltx and I was impressed by their dishes and the place just by seeing their posts, so we decided to go and try them and oh surprise I was impressed, they have a good menu we started well, I ordered a very good margarita wow, when we ordered a dish of octopus for God's sake my head exploded with the flavor balance gathered there, the best octopus I have tried in Austin TX, when I say the best it is the truth, you must come and check it out, second course a seafood paella left me speechless, an exquisite and elegant with an explosion of flavor, to finish they surprised us with a special dessert it was not loaded with sweet rather a delicious flavor that you can't stop eating, without a doubt you will see me there often because I have to try all the dishes, thank you Chef @laila_bazahm for the exquisite recipes and thank you Su Chef who cooks like Gods, the attention in the place is excellent thank you For the kindness, Ash is wonderful. We will definitely see you soon to see tha flamenco dancers live. Pleasant atmosphere with good music. read more

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Food and ambience were good. The service was ok- our waiter did not know what wine to recommend. The wine list is robust but overpriced. Spanish wines should not start at $90 a bottle. The meat balls were way too big; they were like little meatloaves. We could not finish them. They were more Moroccan than Spanish. The pulpo was amazing, but it came towards the end when we were full. The patatas bravas and croquetas were on point although a little cold. The pan con tomate was a healthy serving. We could have had half the amount. The three cheeses were good, but nothing outstanding- I've had better Manchegos . We really wanted to like this place, but the food, execution, and service were off. For a Saturday, it was pretty empty. read more

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The Good: :: it's a local business! :: easy to find parking with the nearby parking deck :: delicious food...i don't know what else to say other than that. go with anything from their snacks, charcuteria and cheese plate, tapas, and paellas. complement with some wine and you're in business. delicious Spanish food while not being overpriced nor pretentious :: friendly service :: very fun vibe and decor while being cozy :: great happy hour options :: some outdoor seating The Bad: :: none The Ugly: :: none Would I go back? For sure!!! The happy hour is awesome but generally the place has a great vibe in addition to great food. Definitely plan on return visits. This place is IN. read more

Service was great and the atmosphere was awesome, but the food was not great. Not authentic tapas.

Tapas, the Spanish version of the "small plates" concept, are a favorite choice for me as you can sample a menu and gain a good sense of a chef and a restaurant's flavors. Thus it was that we wandered down to South Lamar to check out El Raval, an eatery located in the retail space of a larger apartment complex. Reading the Yelp reviews, I was very excited to give it a go here. We arrived right as they opened for dinner service and were seated promptly. The dining room was comfortable but decorated in a very generic retail design. It could have been a sushi place or a bistro for all I knew looking around. Before I launch into the rest of my review, I should mention that unbeknownst to us before arriving, the restaurant was engaged in some kind of collaboration with another chef so the menu was not the regular one although the dishes we chose are typically available. Our server did not seem to be well acquainted with the beers available so I settled for a pilsner on tap (forget the name) that was decent. Settling into the menu, we were advised that paella could take a while (30 minutes) to prepare so we made sure to order the Paella de Mariscos and get that in the queue while we had some of the other tapas. We started with the Patatas Bravas, their take on home fries served with a spicy tomato sauce and another sauce drizzled over it. Fries were crisp yet fluffy inside and just the right texture. I appreciated the bit of pepper heat that was perfect without overwhelming the potatoes. The same can be said for the Gambas al Ajillo, packed with savory goodness and cooked tenderly. I would have liked to have had a couple more shrimp (there were six). It just seemed a bit overpriced even for the Austin market. The ceviche had some nice brightness and a decent hit of cilantro, but the hamachi preparation was sloppy. I prefer a small dice for ceviche and the fish was sliced-that was okay but was a problem was the slices were not cut through so the fish hung together when you tried to eat it. Someone in the kitchen needs to work on their knife skills. Plantain chips were meh. It was otherwise beautifully presented but the portion was way too small, unless you're Billy Barty. That brings us to the dish that should have been the notable highlight of the evening, the paella. It was notable but not in a good way. Even at a tapas restaurant, the paella shouldn't conform to the small plates format. It comes in a big pan chock full of rice piled high, which may be prepared fluffy or slightly al dente, and laden with fresh seafood. The Paella de Mariscos could have had a few more pieces of something (shrimp, scallops, calamari, fish, etc.) but the tiny portion of rice was disappointing. There was barely enough to cover the bottom of the pan and what was there was greasy and dry, well beyond any description of al dente. To add insult to injury, the mussels and scallops had a significant amount of sand and grit (actually found a small rock in one of the scallops) so someone screwed the pooch when cleaning the fish. It's a shame because the flavors and seasonings are pretty good so I think that someone in the kitchen does care about the food, but at the same time someone isn't paying attention there as well. And the overpricing bothers me-dude, either make the portions bigger (my preference) or shrink the prices a bit. It's been a while since I've gone through an empty-your-pockets exercise but that's what it felt like at El Raval. I've enjoyed some great meals at tapas and Spanish/Latin restaurants in Chicago and Miami Beach so I have some idea of what that experience looks like. This wasn't it and while maybe it was just an off night, I was highly disappointed. read more

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Ssam de costillas $35 Paella de marisco $39 must get!!! Albondigas (meatballs $18 with roti $7) Second time back and still love it here! Dishes are a bit pricey but the food is delicious and worth it. You must get the paella here-it's the best I've had in town. They sometimes have specials for different variation of paella such as steak, but I guarantee the paella de mariscos slaps every tjme. I wish I had gotten two paellas instead of one! Meatballs are delicious! Also opted for the additional puffy roti for $7-it has manchego cheese inside. Dip it in the marinara sauce with the meatballs! Wow! Ssam- meat portion is great but wish there were more lettuce to wrap them in. Made a reservation and was able to be seated immediately. The tables are kind of small so if you order more than 2 large dishes, you may wanna combine your table with another one like we did. read more

El Raval - Ssam de costillas - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Omg! What a find! Delicious! Happy hour excellent! 4 of us fell into this little spot bc was on Lamar considering music places. Best find! As new locals it will be a go to place to bring all our guests! We had everything and it all was amazing! The paella with duck yummy!!! Potato bravas, croquettes, bread, butter!!!!, every bite was outstanding. read more

Great menu, lots of fun bites and lively environment. Food is alright, but you can tell there was a lot of effort put in the food. Service is also great. Good place for a large group read more

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I didn't take pictures of all the dishes here. The food was great. The ambiance is nice as well and it feels very upscale. The service we had was horrible. We were there for over 3 hours and it was over an hour before we got our first dish. It took 30-45 minutes to get the drinks we ordered and it took 30 min for them to bring out a canned coke I ordered. This place really needs some improvement on the service but the food is very good. read more

El Raval - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is by far one of the best restaurants I've been to! The ambiance is so artfully curated. A mix of American and Spanish fusion of decor and food. Reminds me of my trip to Barcelona. We ordered the calamari, Brussels sprouts, paella de pata, and they're all phenomenal! Most of all Derek was super amazing! What a warm welcome esp. that we're visiting from Los Angeles!! He even gave us dessert on the house and gift cards!! Arroz con leche with Ube ice cream is to die for! Everything is delish!! Sadly we have to go back to LA and I'll be craving all these food :(. Wish they had one in LA! read more

El Raval - Paella de Pata (duck) - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We went to celebrate my birthday, and booked last minute on Open Table and got a spot for 2 on a Friday during Happy Hour. That's already a win. We had to sit at one of the high tables though, because the place was crowded quickly, I did not expect it to be so busy!! The restaurant is dark, and moody, and stylish. I liked the ambiance, but I would say maybe more appropriate for a night with friends than a family dinner with toddlers. The Happy Hour is reasonable, but otherwise prices are high. Hence my 4/5 stars. Spain is known to be so cheap. Why am I paying 5x Spain prices for the same food? Service was good, the waitress was sweet and not pushy. On happy hour, we got: * Mule $10.00 good * Golden Hour Cocktail $10.00 good as well * Glass of Red wine $8.00 * Embutidos $19.00 - the cured meat selection was good, again, small portions, but a nice shearable and for 2 it was enough with the cheese plate * Tabla De Queso $18.00 - I came for this, I wanted cheese and meat, and it was a good portion, but I wouldn't spend more than $18!! * Croquetas De Jamon $12.00 - I love them, but that's pricey! * Ceviche $12.00 DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS ONE, so good, and worth the $12. I would get 2 of them it was so good * Because it was a birthday dinner, we ordered Torrija ($12.00) for dessert and it was good, kind of a chocolate french bread? I think it's expensive for a dessert though, especially a piece of bread. Pro-tip: use your InKind app to pay for your bill and get the 20% cashback! read more

El Raval - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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What a fantastic experience! I highly recommend the feed me experience the food just kept coming! From ceviche, oysters, and calamari to duck, paella, and so much more, every dish was a delight. The white sangria was an unexpected but pleasant surprise. Our waitress and her team were absolutely amazing. They described each dish as it arrived and even repeated it when needed, ensuring we didn't miss a thing. This place is perfect for a girls' night, date night, or just a "why not?" evening. There was a mix-up with our reservation at check-in, but they made up for it with a kind gesture with complimentary champagne. It showed they truly valued our time and experience. I'll definitely be back! I was in the moment this time around so I didn't get pictures of everything, but I will next time! read more

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Food and services was excellent! If you feel like eating Paella give El Raval a try, you won't regret it. We also had different tapas like Gambas, Potatoes brava-bit spicy, calamari, albondigas & croquettes. Raval has true Spain flavors! read more

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El Raval is some of the best food you can find in south central Austin, and competition is tight! This restaurant beautifully blends Spanish cuisine with vibrant, unique flavors from around the world. Tasty is an understatement- everything we ordered was bursting with flavor, combining fresh, crispy textures with melt-in-your-mouth decadence. The jamon iberico croquetas, patatas bravas, pan con tomate, and paella de marisco were our favorite dishes, and the arroz con leche dessert was the perfect ending. Service was very good and the atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and upbeat, good for both larger groups and date night. read more

We went before a play on a Friday night. Arrived at 5:30 and we were seated right away. We were pleasantly surprised to find that it was happy hour. The $8 hour red wine was a really nice Tempranillo. The two us is shared a few tapas. Each was delicious with the mussels being my personal favorite. The service was excellent. Highly recommend! read more

El Raval - Albondigas - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We had a reservation at 7:30 but I asked my dad to move us up to 5 o'clock when I found about the wonderful happy

Service was fine but the food was just very average for the price point. Maybe Spanish food is just not for my palette? Started with the albindigas (wagyu meatballs) and patatas bravas. The albindigas were good but not mind-blowing. The patatas has a nice crunchy texture but again, flavor just felt meh? Ordered the short rib and paella of the day (wagyu). There was more veggies than short rib so that was disappointing but tasted pretty good with the strawberry gochujang! That was actually surprising. The paella could have definitely fed the both of us. The rice stuck to cast iron so there was a little bit of a char taste but otherwise, tasted fine. Truthfully, the star of the show was the arroz con leche with ube ice cream and pistachio shavings. That was amazing! We had made a trek all the way 40 mins south of where we lived and it was unfortunately not worth the drive. read more

My wife and I went for date night around 5 PM and it was nice and chill! We ordered the Paella de Marisco! It was so dang good. If you get Ben as a server, you'll learn all about it and get excellent service! 10/10! read more

El Raval - Paella de Marisco! - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've always loved this place before it became what it is now. It used to also be a tapas place called tapas y mas which was also delicious. So the place inside basically looks the same now there's just like a bunch of writing on some of the walls which is interesting. Anyways, I had tried the paella at an event and it was delicious so I was so happy to know that they were opening this restaurant. I have to say that this place really stepped it wrong with the Hammond ego. It is to die for and I can literally eat it every single day. It is as good as when you eat it in Spain. I also got the croquettes. They were very good and a good amount. The girl with the octopus was good and it wasn't overly chewy. We got the Maricopa as the main dish and it was delicious. Great consistency on the rice. Nothing was burnt or stuck to the plate and all the shellfish on that was on point. At first, it did take a little long to get a server which was kind of surprising but once we got one, they were super nice and attentive and knew what to recommend and the dishes came out very promptly and they did an overall great job. When it comes to the drinks, they have a great wine selection as well with any kind of cocktail that you would enjoy. read more

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Don't tell anyone about this Austin gem. Food, service and ambiance are fantastic. Derek and G are the best and do not miss the Iberico ham, croquetas, albondigas and mariscos paella. I'd eat here every night if I could. read more

I would give El Raval a 8/10. The food was all tasty, just not knock your socks off memorable. The gambas were super yummy and really flavorful with the garlic and smoked paprika notes. The patatas bravas were crunchy and fresh, although I could go without the tomato sauce it comes with. The pan tomate is also good, especially that fresh bread. The paella de mariscos was okay, it needed salt and more flavor. read more

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How come we never been here before? Loved the vibes of the place, service was outstanding, our server was very knowledgeable about the history of the food, anticipated every our need, and just in general was a pleasant person. We ordered couple appetizers, and he suggested to do half-and-half. That was a great offer which allowed us to taste even more variety. Paella was outstanding, loved it. We washed it all down with a pitcher of white sangria, it was made with tequila and it was one of the best I ever had. Loved it, will be back. Would love to try their flamenco night. Will be back for sure. read more

El Raval - Veggie paella (vegan) - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had been to Barlatta so wanted to see what the new hype was. I did the tasting menu with the wine pairing. Up front, two small issues but combined brought it down one star. Those were coursing a portions. The coursing was very rushed. At one I was three dishes deep. It made me feel rushed and it was just awkward at my seat as they didn't quite know where to keep putting food when they brought out more and I obviously wasn't ready for other dishes to be cleared. The portions were also massive considering there were seven courses and this was a per person tasting. I ate maybe a third of the food in total. I was able to pack up about 75% of the paella to go. I felt bad wasting so much food and had to be really careful to not eat too much of one thing knowing more was coming and I wanted to taste everything. That being said, the service was very attentive and the food was delicious. The ceviche was some of the best I have ever had and the calamari and octopus were cooked to perfection. The paella was so incredibly flavorful. The potatoes were on the spicy side for me but if you do t mind spice I think you'll enjoy them a lot. I could have done without the tomato toast but the croquette was delightful. The arroz con leche was so good! Better than the are con leche I had at Pujol in Mexico City the week before! Over will definitely return. The tasting menu is good value if you can't decide what to get but I probably won't get it again. read more

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El Raval has become one of my favorite spots. This is the best place for a group dinner with the amount of tapas you can order for the table to share as well as the Paella. Every time I've tried a new item here I've been impressed. Can't forget to mention the cocktails and wine list here, both are stacked and provide great options. I can't wait to bring people from out of town here when they visit. read more

El Raval - Spanish Near Me - Austin, Texas

Definitely get the paella here! If you're looking for some light bites I recommend coming during happy hour. Food: The ceviche was great - citrusy, refreshing, portion was a bit small for the price but would get again. The oxtail dish was comforting and warm, very filling with the pasta and the sauce - a must try! I would skip the mushroom hummus - wasn't my favorite and the roti was very greasy. Paella was the star, and filled with lots of seafood! A nice shareable portion. Drinks: The house sangria is bomb! Service: Our waiter was very helpful in explaining the different parts of the menu (traditional tapas options vs the fusion ones). It started getting a little slow once the dinner rush came, but that's expected. Vibe: If you want to dine indoors, would recommend a reservation. We sat at the patio and it was pretty comfortable with fans and shade. The decor inside looked nice and tropical, and feels lively. read more

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