This is a neighborhood gem. The food is always fantastic. The service is always top notch. The…read morestaff is friendly and attentive. Whenever friends visit from out of town, we bring them to Atxondo. And if they visit again, they always ask to go back again.

I went to Atxondo hoping to taste the work of a Basque chef, and found out that the new chef is…read morefrom El Salvador, but has studied cookery in Spain. After having a full meal with cocktails, appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee (about $70 per person), I concluded that Atxondo will be a definite future destination for Happy Hour and light bites, but that my full meal dining dollars will be spent elsewhere. The Patatas Bravas (Fingerling Potatoes) were outstanding, with their two tasty sauces and rich, crispy flavor and texture. The Hibiscus Margarita with its salt and tajín rim was good enough to warrant a second one... but the Sangria was lackluster due to the complete absence of cut-up fresh fruit in my glass. The "Crispy Duck Breast" is no longer served whole, but sliced on a bed of sauteed kale... and, sadly, seemed to be only a shadow of its former self. The Lamb Meatballs suffered from being mushy (a coarser grind would have made a world of difference in the texture) and lacked that meaty exuberance one treasures in any kind of meatball. My serving of Basque Cheesecake was almost comically tiny (at $9 per serving, perhaps not so funny after all). But my cup of Americano came out of the espresso machine strapping strong and piping hot, with a gorgeous head of natural crema from the oil of the coffee beans. So I will definitely return for a future Happy Hour to devour the outstanding Patatas Bravas and sip the good Margaritas, and to try the bargain Manchego Burger and other Happy Hour bites. For serious dining, Atxondo falls short of the mark... but for drinks and bar food, Atxondo turns out to be a real neighborhood gem. .

Going to Barcelona Wine Bar has been the most fantastic exhilarating nights I have enjoyed in my…read morepast 52 years of life. My husband Dave and I go almost every month and the food and drinks are fantastic! I will say this restaurant draws a very young audience, but nonetheless we are always down to boogie. My favorites have been the goats whipped cheese, flank steak, patatas bravas, and the empanadas! And the drinks to absolutely die for! I always start Dave and I off with a pitcher of sangria, red of course, but he's not too keen on the fruity drinks so he always gets a beer. Overall experience is a 10000/10 am definitely going back next month. Xoxo Kathy!

One of my favorite go-to spots whenever I'm in DC! Barcelona never disappoints. The food is always…read morefresh, flavorful, and phenomenal, and the ambiance is top-tier. Plus, you never know who you might see while you're there! They also have a great Happy Hour with a really nice selection of food and drinks. Now, I've never been a gimlet girl, but after trying their Richmond Gimlet, my palate was officially expanded! A gimlet is now one of my favorite cocktails. The unfortunate part is that everybody can't make a GOOD gimlet, even though it seems like such a simple cocktail. Barcelona definitely gets it right! If you're looking for good music, a great crowd, delicious food, and even better drinks, definitely check out Barcelona. It's always a vibe!

First time in Washington. Came here with a friend before a concert. We had an amazing time. We…read morechose to sit outside and the weather was wonderful. I expected it to be cooler considering it was late October, but it was just a wonderful time. Due to not thinking clearly, we ordered (2) 5 course tasting meals. So, for those of you counting at home, that means a total of 10 courses. Because we are rocket scientists, we figured out our mistake after course 6 or 7. We were there for almost two hours and we had a wonderful time. The deep fried eggplant with honey and lemon zest was incredible. A standout. A wonderful time was had by all.

We were lucky to get a parking spot out front on a Friday for lunch! Staff are a bit prickly given…read morethe location in the heart of DC and possibly the move along service is due to the majority business lunch traffic. Food was good but a bit pricy - probably due to location. Love their interpretation of a Paper Plane drink.

Came to Boqueria during DC's Winter Restaurant Week and had a great time! It was a good deal too,…read moreand I left so full. Started off with the "Taste of Spain" which included Pan con tomate, Aged manchego, Jamón Ibérico de bellota, and Boquerones con naranja. Since I couldn't eat the latter two, the server said they could double the first two, which was so appreciated. For my first course, I chose the Escalivada (fire-roasted eggplant, red pepper, labne yogurt, fresh herbs, olive oil, served with focaccia) and Croquetas de setas (creamy mushroom croquettes with truffle aioli). The Escalivada was tasty, but more on the tangy side; the bread was more crostini-like than focaccia. The Croquetas were so good: creamy, savory, umami inside and crunchy outside. Next, I got the Zanahorias (spiced baby carrots, sweet and sour reduction, orange honey yogurt, mojo verde, Marcona almonds) and Patatas bravas (crispy potatoes, salsa brava, pimentón, garlic aioli). When I tell you those carrots had me dreaming about them later, I'm not kidding- all of the different flavor combos paired with the perfectly cooked carrots were amazing. The Patatas bravas was pretty classic- crispy potatoes with creamy aioli and tangy tomato sauce. Finally, for dessert, I had the Tarta de naranja (orange olive oil cake, citrus-honey yogurt), and my friend had the Tarta vasca de chocolate (Basque chocolate cheesecake, macerated strawberries, chantilly cream). Both were tasty, but the Tarta de naranja was so good: perfectly dense cake, refreshing citrus, and great contrast with the yogurt. For my drink, I got the Forget-Me-Not refrescante (butterfly pea flower, thyme, honey, lime, ginger beer). Very interesting drink, not sure I'd order again but it was good. Service was great, super willing to accommodate my vegetarian dietary restrictions. Ambiance is really nice, very modern and elegant. Very accessible by metro, just a short walk from the station. 10/10 would recommend!

First... man the chairs were UNCOMFY. Theres two types of stools and the padded one feels slightly…read moreslanted forward and small. But anyways Paella was delicious, the flavor profile was super fun. We got the short rib and seafood, and we all preferred seafood as the short rib was a bit heavy. The fish in it was crispy and so good, especially with the green sauce- nice herby and refreshing contrast. The figs were interesting and fun. But not that filling... I did not like the patatas... sauce was good but the potato itself had none of its own seasoning and was tough. Yes crispy but not pillowy inside. The octopus was delicious and super tender. Would come back for seafood paella and charcuterie.

I tried Del Mar for the first time last week. It's located right on the wharf, kind of right in…read morethe center too. I went late afternoon and opted for their tapas menu. They have two different menus depending on if you sit at the bar or regular dining. My group went with the regular dining and ordered their Spanish tortilla, fig salad, croquettes, and cheeseboard. The Spanish tortilla was a group favorite. It was fried but soft on the inside and topped with warm cheese...so good. The fig salad was solid, but the sprouts or other greens really took over and created an intense bitter taste when you didn't pair a bite with a fig. The croquettes and cheeseboard were fun additions as well, but the tortilla reigns supreme.

After a nice walk along The Wharf, our group decided to stop by Del Mar for lunch. Seeing it…read morefeatured in so many top food guides, we figured it was a good bet for a great meal. They seated us on a gorgeous terrace with sweeping waterfront views, but that's pretty much where the good vibes ended. Immediately, the seating process was a total mess--the staff seemed super confused about how to set up our tables, and they automatically brought out bottled water without us even asking. We decided to go with their $36 brunch deal alongside a few extra sharing plates for the middle of the table. Honestly, the food was fantastic. The crab cakes were packed with flavor, the eggs were cooked to absolute perfection, and having dessert included in that $36 brunch special is an incredible value for this area. Unfortunately, the service completely killed the experience. Despite having a huge team on the floor, the staff was slow, disorganized, and constantly mixed up our courses. To make matters worse, all the confusion led to mistakes on our final check. It's such a shame because the kitchen is doing amazing work and the presentation is spot-on, but the front-of-house team really needs to get it together.

Everything about this restaurant was outstanding! We ordered one of each appetizer and all of them…read morewere great!

I've forgiven them for the brunch experience. This spot remains one of my fave Mediterranean in DC!…read moreThe food and flavors are amazing and it's a great spot for a date or happy hour with friends. The labneh is always a must!

The food was truly amazing and the staff wonderful, I have no idea why there was not a line out…read morethe door.

We visited La Malinche for tapas for birthday celebration before a play at the Silver Spring Black…read moreBox Theatre. We chose it because of its strong reviews and our desire to support a small business. The atmosphere was warm and casual, though a bit dated, and the service was excellent. Unfortunately, the food did not meet our expectations for such a highly rated restaurant. Despite the website's promise of "small bites, big flavor," the dishes were beautifully presented but lacked flavor. Perhaps we caught the restaurant on an off day. YUCA FRITA -- Okay BOQUERONES -- Good CAESAR SALAD -- Disappointing ALBONDIGAS A LA MALINCHE -- Decent ESPARRAGOS CON JAMON -- Okay CALAMARES AZTECAS -- Good MEJILLONES AL VAPOR -- Very good VEIRAS A LA PLANCHA -- Not good; we sent them back PINCHOS DE POLLO -- Good

Have walked by here a few times, and put a mental note to try it. I had the opportunity today with…read morea good colleague of mine. The interior is a deep red, with a Gothic style, and intimate atmosphere. I really appreciated it. The tapas selection is quite extensive and we were in between a few options, but settled on the grilled chicken skewers, grilled shrimp, chorizo, and calamari. They came out very quickly after we ordered, although I will say our server wasn't very attentive or concerned. After he dropped off our food, we never saw him again, so I think the service could he improved in this area. As far as the food, it was all very flavorful and tasty. I especially liked the shrimp (mariscos) and the chorizos. The char on the chorizo gave it a smoky taste, and it was so good. I thought the calamari was pretty good, but not the best I've had and the chicken was also pretty decent but it had a lot of sauce on it. I would definitely come back again and get the shrimp and chorizo. I would also try their meatball, bread with cheese and honey, and a few other items. It's close by where I work, so I can definitely frequent once again.

amazing food 10/10 customer service 10/10…read more outside seating 10/10 definitely recommend

Legit HH and great food. Met up with my old college roommate before the wizards season opener and…read morethis place got us fed well. I ordered patatas bravas twice (crispy and filling), the beef sliders (tender but needed a bit more sauce), mushroom croquetas (tasty and small) , and the shishito margarita (refreshing). Everything was great and our server was on point, always checking to make sure we were good. The inside is pretty spacious and decorated well. Great place for date night honestly. I'm definitely bringing my wife here in the future.

This was...decent. My friend and I got the chef's seasonal tasting menu. This tasting menu started…read moreout carb-heavy: pan con tomate, flatbread with hummus, jamon serrano with toasted bread, dukkah-spiced sweet potato. The bread in both the pan con tomate and the jamon serrano was stale. Then came the grilled goat cheese salad (good) and the chicken skewers (also good). The shrimp with bacon was bland. The seafood paella was overcooked. The crema catalena was good, as were the churros. Best thing was probably the drink, the Adult Summer Camp was delightful and had a bit of a kick. Some good dishes but for the most part, the execution was uneven.

We went to Guardado's for the first time and were extremely impressed…read more It's a cozy little place that gives out such as comfort atmosphere. Makes you feel like you are in Seville. Their staff are so friendly and accommodating. The food were amazing. You know this is an authentic Spain restaurant when they have Tinto De Verano. A famous summary drink in Spain. We had cheese plate which was so fresh and flavorful. A dish with sausage and homemade mashed potatoes which was the best mashed potatoes we ever had. Mussels were cooked perfectly!!! We will definitely going back to try paella!!!

Confession - I haven't written this review for YEARS. In fact, please don't read this review. I'd…read morelike to continue to be able to get in easily to this restaurant without much of a reservation. They have great food, great service, and a nice chill environment. It's not a kid place but they're nice to my kid. Sadly they have pared down their menu but everything on it is excellent. The paella is worth waiting for, but if you don't want to wait the lamb chops are spectacular. Pretty much everything is great but we order the lamb chops every time. If there's three or more drinkers order a pitcher of sangria, otherwise singleton glasses should be fine. Whether you've had tapas before or not, you'll love this restaurant. But ssshhhh! for goodness' sakes don't tell anyone! 'Cause I'd like to keep being able to get in...