We had an amazing time at Estragon over the MLK weekend. The food was delicious and well portioned. The drinks were great, and even had some hard-to-find beers and spirits on the vast menu. Our waiter, Sahil, may have been the best part of our experience! He was extremely knowledgeable of the menu, beverage pairings, and provided great recommendations! He even tested some of his off-menu cocktail concoctions on us, which were fabulous! Overall, an excellent experience, an excellent server, and excellent service. Thank you, and we will be back in the future! read more

I've been here twice, separated by a couple of years. The first time I went was probably one of the best times I've had at a restaurant; I had just started reading Hemingway and walked to Estragon and ate 4 or 5 dishes while a man played flamenco guitar. It all flowed so nicely and the atmosphere was great. I went again this past week, and the food wasn't as good as I remembered. I did the tapas blitz on Monday and got 6 dishes for $12. That food wasn't as good as the regular meal food, but for the price, you really can't beat it (just sit at the bar). You could order every dish on the tapas happy hour menu for $43, if you want to go all out. I like this place a lot, and it's a great touch to the South End, though I'm sure it has to compete with Toro for customers. read more

The most authentic tapas in Boston. I've been to Bar Lola, Dali and Tapeo and Estragon is now my #1. I read that the chef was from Madrid and I was excited to try it out, being I was just in Madrid for a week, living off of tapas from all over the city. I went for after work drinks and tapas at the bar. Another good incentive to get in there is the $1 tapas from 5:30-7pm M-F. I started with a glass of Sangria. This was the stiffest sangria I ever had. I big glass too for $8, it was heavy on the wine, just like true Spain sangria. The $1 menu had about a dozen sample size choices so we decided to get 10 of them and roll with that. Fried artichokes: Amazing. This was the first thing brought out. I would eat artichokes everyday if prepared like this! A must try. Spanish omelette: A hearty slice of baked eggs, cheese, cream and onions. It was almost like an au gratin. Excellent! Queso de cabra con tomato: warm goat cheese, I love goat cheese so this hit the spot Pan Tumaca con jamon: Delicious jamon on top of tomato sauce on grilled toast. This type of tapa is a real staple in Madrid. Loved it Buequerones con tomato y manchego: a small anchovy on top of a spicy spread on toast. Mmm Tocino meil y macarones: Spanish honey tapa with pork back and almonds. This was sweet and savory. Chorizo: a spicy grilled link on toast. Fantastic Patatas Bravas: crispy fried potatoes in sauce. Very spicy, good side dish! Hilgadidos de pollo salteados: warm chicken livers with raisins and creme fraiche. Delicious! The bartender Lara was very informative with the bar selections and tapas. My boyfriend and I got to talking to her about how authentic everything was. We were taken back to Madrid during the whole meal. Then the chef Julio came out and said hello to us, which was a highlight of the dinner. He really knows his stuff. His vision for the restaurant was right on. He still has another restaurant back home in Madrid. I loved the decor of the place too. Very European with chic chandeliers and vintage pictures. Great date spot. If you can't go to Madrid or Spain, go to Estragon and transform your tastebuds. I hope to be back many times for Julio's cooking! read more

Fabulouso comes to mind! There are no other contenders in boston that can take "the most authentic tapas" award from Estragon. With that being said, it was a quiet evening when we stop by this newly open tapas prize. The setting was perfect, quietly chic with mellow tunes playing in the background. The place has an air of mystery about it (FYI Gentlemen - great place to bring a lady friend for an intimate evening). We opt to sit in the lounge area instead of our table, it was much more cozier. We HAVE to start of with the Garbanzos (crispy paprika chickpeas) and it did live up to all the noise. It was crunchy and light and the perfect thing to make one thirsty for some sangria (which was perfectly tart and not at all sweet). I LOVE LOVE LOVE the menu with all it's innards on display. If you have a light stomach, please stop reading....now. They had cow's tongue and pig's head and all the gory stuff you would find in Madrid. It was perfecto! In Spain - they eat everything of the pig but the oink - or so I was told. I wanted to be a little adventurous but I didn't dare scare my dinner companion so we opted for the braised oxtail, sautéed frog legs, grilled baby octopus, grilled asparagus with shaved machego, and THE BEST dish I had in a very long time, Sea urchin and foie gras slider - the thing just simply melts in your mouth and you just don't want to swallow for fear of having it disappear but you have to because you want to experience that heavenly trail it makes to your anxiously awaiting sac chamber. There were so much more I wanted to try but atlas, I just have to wait for another delightfully visit to this cleverly scheme jem of a restaurant. There's the fried tripe, cod cheeks, seared head on prawns, grill quail and their bone in ribeye that the waiter tells me is divine! Please skip the generic tortilla and shrimp in garlic (save those for their sister restaurant Taberna de Haro) and indulge in the path less traveled. Oh, the drink menu is marvelous as well. Must be the ONLY restaurant I been to that list Callimocho as a drink outside Madrid! Granted it's just wine and coke but to see it in print brings back oh-so-good feeling.. read more

We went to eat for a celebration and the waiter removed his mask to make sure we heard him. He told us where he worked they had dead rats floating in the iced tea and people walked out drinking the iced tea. First he ruined my our evening being rude and vulgar. We will never return.the food was okay but we were so grossed out he ruined it all. read more

How did I forget to review Estragon? First things first - I don't like the name! I don't want to eat at a place that sounds like the name of a female hormone. And, I kind of suspect much of the population in the South End may not want to either. If you can get past the name, it's worth a visit. It's really maybe a 3.5 star place but the waiter we had was so sweet, I had to give it 4. It was a while ago now so I don't remember everything we ordered but I will say that sadly, I do remember ordering the fried chick peas (thanks to yelp reviewer recommendations). I was disappointed. They were not crispy at all. I had envisioned them to be like the texture of say, a wasabi pea, but they were sort of mealy and soft and oily. Anyway, I do remember the croquets were really quite good. My husband's Cuban mother used to make really good ones so there was some tough competition, but Estragon's were better. Yup, their croquets are better than my mother-in-law's and I'm not afraid to say it! We also had the seared prawns served with the heads on. Heads on always look creepy but they really do add to the flavor and make the shrimp taste so much sweeter. We also had another dish ( I don't remember the name and just looked on the menu and couldn't find it) that was only okay. It had cod cheeks and shrimp and mussels (and it was sort of like a stew). Though the seafood was fresh and nice, the dish lacked seasoning. Overall, Estragon is aesthetically pleasing and the service is lovely. The food was only okay but I'm willing to bet that might be a case of us not really ordering the right menu items. There is a nice wine selection and very good sangria. There's also a large bar area that looks like it would be fun for a crowd, though it was overrun by a 21st birthday party the night we were there.. read more

Boston's South End is quickly becoming the mecca of foods from around the world! Enter Estragon, a tapas and wine bar located just down the block from Gaslight. Step into the modern twist on 1920's Spain to find funky vintage sofas and arm chairs that create the front bar area. Head further into the restaurant and choose from high bar stool tables, modern tables or or a corner booth to enjoy your tapas. Our waitress Nicole was on her game! As we perused the all Spanish wine list she helped us make a choice by describing various variates, bottles and letting us know why she preferred certain wines! We ended up with a Rueda, a Spanish white, and I was very happy with our choice! As for food -- the goat Cheese Salad is a MUST! They pan sear the goat cheese and throw in blackberries! AMAZING! I also loved the asparagus and the quince with goat cheese on the cheese plate, YUM! Plenty of veggie options, but you carnivores need to descend as you will have lots more delicious options! Tyler B got the muscles and loved them! What pushed this over the top was the care taken in putting this place together. The entire staff was knowledgeable and on point. The owner (originally from Madrid) and his girlfriend are in the personality of the place, from the decor right down to the vintage postcards. One is of his grandfather rowing and another is of his brother on a motor scooter, where you can just see the smallest bit of a baby (the owners) head sitting in the passenger seat! That same brother is opening up a market called La Ventas just next store when you can pick-up more Spanish items to cook at home! Just make sure to brush up on your Spanish before you go! While the whole menu has both English and Spanish, the bathrooms are labeled only in Spanish, no picture hints! read more

Estragon is busy, super busy. So busy but they decide that 1 waitress, 1 hostess, and 1 bartender are all that they need to serve the entire dining room. I think they had 1 server as well... My friend and I came to Estragon at 7:30 for an 8:15 dinner appointment. We were told on the phone that showing up early is okay as long as we sit at the bar area. The bar area is first come first serve. We were fine with that. After all, we were 45 minutes early. The hostess told us that there are no available seats at the bar. She told another 2 customers the same thing. However, the latter 2 customers were able to find 2 seats for us and 2 seats for themselves just fine. Because we sat at the bar, no one gave us a menu or water. Luckily, we had grabbed one menu while waiting. Approximately 15 minutes later, our bartender finally poured us some water. Who can blame him though? The young man was working non-stop the entire time. He alone was serving everyone at the bar, which at this point, was about 20 people, in addition to filling drink orders from the restaurant area. We hailed our bartender down after a while and ordered our food. Tortilla Espanola: This may have been okay because it's a very simple dish to make. However, it came out barely warm. Roasted Brussel Sprouts: Way too much butter on this thing. It's roasted but I think it's slightly charred. Eggplant Fries: This was recommended to us and I wasn't too impressed to be honest. Huevos Roto: Crispy potatoes were basically deep fried potato chips. It was just greasy. Pork Belly: I've had better pork belly. The skin was hard rather than crispy. Grilled Baby Octopus: The octopus was slightly chewy. It was overall just okay. Also came out lukewarm. Overall, I think there are better tapas bar out there. The food was blah, the service was subpar. I can't think of any reason to return. read more

I love Julio de Haro! He doesn't know it, but he and I go way back: when he opened Taberna, in Brookline, back in 1999, I was all over it because I had just come back from Spain and was obsessed. Plus, some of my best friends worked as waitresses there ... Imagine my surprise when I find out that there has been a divorce, he no longer owns Taberna, and now has his own restaurant - and deli - in Boston. It's a different vibe than Taberna. It's bigger, and the decor is more shi shi; plus they have a full bar with the required trendy cocktails. Julio is a sommellier, but the wine list is not a bible, like at the other place. That being said, the wine we ordered was really good. And the food... well, it was delicious. It's much more creative, sophisticated and again, trendy, than what he used to serve up at his old place. We had beef tongue (MMMM!!!), garlic shrimp (a must), lamb skewers, calamari (we always try at every spanish restaurant), and beef cheeks. Yea, beef cheeks in a stew. The taste really good, actually, but the texture is really funky, kind of gelatinous, so it's not for the faint of heart. It reminded me of aspic - but warmed up. If you have tried aspic, I'd say, you can handle this. The service was great too. Our waiter looked like the guy from REM. Just an observation. So, the three stars are because I'm saddened that the place has caved in to the demands of the market and gave up some of its authenticity for trendiness. But I'll be back. Oh - btw - Estragon has nothing to do with female hormones. It means Tarragon in Spanish. :) read more

Armed with a Groupon and good company, I proceeded to have dinner at Estragon on a Friday evening. I OpenTable'd a reservation a couple of days prior and after ditching the car in a metered spot nearby, I made my way inside the restaurant. A prompt, warm greeting later, off we were to our table. The decor is absolutely awesome. I like the patterns on the table. There's various Spanish posters and it has a great vibe. I was very comfortable in the setting and sighting the food on the nearby tables made me hungry. We glanced at their menu and noticed that although their menu has multiple pages, only one had food on it. The rest was cocktails and their wine list. It was a bit unusual. I also did notice that their menu isn't seasonal as some of their ingredients listed in their tapas weren't seasonal. I was quite disappointed to notice that and proceeded to avoid ordering anything not in season. We went along and ordered the following dishes: - Garbanzos Fritos: Crispy Paprika Chickpeas - Pringá: Bone Marrow, Beef Shank & Pork Belly on Toast - Coles de Bruselas: Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Chorizo, Golden Raisins - Alcachofas Fritas: Crispy Fried Artichoke Hearts, Alioli - Torreznos: Crispy Fried Pork Belly, Salsa Picante - Croquetas de Jamón: Serrano Ham Croquettes Along with these items, we went along and decided to share a pitcher of sangria. We carefully placed our order trying not to butcher the Spanish names too badly and while also making sure that we were getting the right small plates. Their selection covers quite a range of ingredients and they also have some pretty unique twists on some ingredients. One such interesting take is their fried chickpeas (excellent by the way!) which come dusted with some paprika. I had never had them fried, only mostly in pastes and hummus. It was interesting and we were rewarded by having it. Some dishes were great, like the one above, while some were just ok. The beef shank & pork belly sandwich that was supposed to have some bone marrow in it wasn't all that great - it tasted like a soggy pulled pork sandwich and I could not make out any of the bone marrow in it. The crispy fried pork belly was decent but far from great. There was way too much fat on there and it was over-fried. It was almost rock solid. The croquettes were average at best, the flavor of the ham wasn't very present. On the upside, the fried artichoke hearts and the brussel sprouts were excellent. It was a lot of hit or miss. On the upside the food came out fairly quickly; in waves, which is normal for most tapas places but quicker than most tapas places I've been too before. Most small plates there range in price from around $5 to $22 depending on what you get and depending on the ingredients. They do have some Iberico ham, which is expensive and which I really want to try - In case you don't know, Iberico ham is considering one of if not the best ham in the world - the pigs are fed acorns and it gaves the ham a unique flavor and texture. They also had a ton of seafood offerings along with some dishes that are totally fit for foodies; tripes, bone marrow, and various other ingredients are present enabling anyone to be a bit adventurous as they eat. One disappointing factor was their sangria. Frankly, it was one of the worst if not the worst I've ever had. It lacked flavor and it might has well just have been water with a bit of fruit floating in it. The color aside, anyone could have been fooled. Although I didn't mention it to the waiter, I kind of regret it now. This is preventing me from bumping this place to four stars. At $27 a pitcher, I was actually pretty pissed, especially since any tapas place MUST MAKE DECENT sangria. I was pretty bummed about it. That aside, the service was pretty good and parking easy to find. This is a decent, affordable tapas place but it's not nearly as good as Toro which is in the same neighborhood. But unlike Toro, you can get seated here more easily and they take reservations. read more

The restaurant is very dark, which isn't exactly the look you're going with at a lively tapas restaurant, so it seems out of place. The service was pretty terrible as we were visited essentially every 20 minutes by the waiter. The waiter forgot one of our orders (after not writing down any of them) and then blamed it on the cook not knowing what they were doing even though we saw him enter in the forgotten order in the system right after blaming it on the "new guy in the back". The food itself was not great. The brussels sprouts were almost soggy, the meatballs were soft, and the huevos rotos were essentially potato chips, but the main factor which hurt our experience was the bad service. read more

I've read some of the other reviews on this place and i have to say that I don't really agree on any of the negative points some of the people spoke about. The service was very friendly and attentive. The decor interesting and fun. The food delicious! I week earlier I stopped by Toro after hearing all the hype and I have to say that i think Estragon beats that place hands down. The portions here are actually bigger then a bite size and the prices are MUCh more reasonable. The beef tongue was excellent, the salty fish balls (not sure what they're actually called) were a bit on the salty side, but we still enjoyed them. Then the wine kicked in and I can't remember the names of the other dishes for the life of me.. but i do remember that i enjoyed them. I was surprised to find this place fairly not busy for a Saturday night. Maybe it's because they're a bit out of the way or as one of the other yelpers mentioned the discontent for the name of the restaurant (I do not agree). Definitely make a point of going here if you want some really delicious authentic Spanish tapas that are not going to leave your wallet hurting (at least not like Toro). Next time I get a craving for Tapas, this is where I'm coming back. read more

This was my first time here and it was restaurant week. Some restaurants do a poor job trying to impress you on restaurant week but this restaurant made sure you would want to return. Though we got there at 6:15 our table was already ready which was great! The food and cocktails are great. There was one beef dish I didn't like and I told the waiter and the chef came out to get more feedback. I thought that was great that he took the time to come out to understand what we didn't like about the dish and suggestions on what we would have wanted in it. He even stayed and chatted a bit while we said what we liked and didn't like on each dish. It was a really good time. read more

Mmm... * Warm goat cheese and tomato on toast- I will DREAM of this. So good! * Deep fried chickpeas- Surprisingly addictive! * Patatas Fritas- crispy thin fries with 2 good dipping sauces. * Crispy fried artichoke hearts and alioli- another winner! * Traditional Spanish Tortilla- good, but not as good as the sandwich shop next door. Same owner, but not the same recipe? The tortilla sandwich next door is more awesome! Who knew? * There were two meat dishes (beef cheeks and spicy tripe) that my partner got and said were very good too. I'm salivating thinking of the food here... read more

Completely amazing from start to finish. Tried to go to Toro, but were told it would be an hours and a half wait at 8:30 on a Wed night. No food is worth that wait so we went around the corner to Estragon. It was like it was meant to be. True tapas with owner from Spain. The best scallops we've EVER eaten anywhere! There's a beef dish called Pringa that was a little like short ribs, but the depth of flavor absolutely blew us away. Huge amount if rack of lamb in cauliflower mash that wowed us. Now don't laugh, but Ryan the waiter suggested the brussel sprouts so we went with it. Incredible.My husband doesn't even like them and he may now be a convert. Reasonably prices for the great quality and excellent service. Treat yourself. We have def found a new favorite place! read more

Estragon's food takes me from hungry to unfortunately full. But I never feel good about it because I'm always left wishing I had wasted all those calories on something better. The Surtidos de Quesos had an awesome assortment ranging from light and crumbly to almost putrid. Putrid is a compliment for cheese, imho. But what makes any experience just a little more comfortable is a friendly server. A description of what was on the plate would have complimented the cheese. Instead, the server dropped the platter and bolted without a word and the cheese practically molded before he brought us bread. How is it possible that the same kitchen responsible for the tasty tortilla Espanola sandwich at Las Ventas makes such an abysmal slice of mushy, fresh-out-of-the-fridge frigid, unsalted, fall-apart Tortilla Espanola? The Pimientos Shishito curbed my almost constant craving for the sharp, spicy kick of shishito peppers, and the Garbanzos Fritos have a nice kick of paprika. These are the only two dishes I can really say I liked, but the sheer volume of oil was as nauseating. Encouraged by the promising veggies, we moved on meatier fare. The Pringa had so many different things loaded on, it was impossible to taste any of them, and the Falda de Buey con Cabrales drowned in a gross cheese, Estragon's version of airplane gravy. Sadly, Joseph the brilliant bartender has become the only reason I ever return to Estragon. I even had my birthday there for the amazing drinks, but this review is strictly about the food. I did try to give the food a second chance...and a third...and a tenth...and though it's never again been as inedible as my initial experience, I've never actually enjoyed eating here. read more

Been here many times, but this time actually came here for the food, not the drinks. Nice varied menu, good decor. I actually prefer sitting in the lounge, big comfy couches. Great service, even though it was packed. Friendly waiters + hostess, and good selection of drinks (get the sangria) Food time: Waiter recommended the brussel sprouts. Great combination of salty and sweet flavors, raisin with chorizo. Only complaint = too oily. So close to perfect. Sprouts were my favorite dish of the night, everything else was acceptable. Seafood + chicken paella was alright (clams, mussels, chicken, calamari, shrimp, veggies). A little disappointing in that I wanted more infusion of flavors, most of the ingredients seemed like were cooked separately and just thrown in at the end while it heated up for 20 min. Screamed for more spices. Lamb sweetbreads - prepared well, spiced well. (personally, not a big fan of sweetbread texture) Lightly breaded and fried, not over oily. I recommend trying. Not a big fan of : their tortilla espanola, fries. Typical South end prices, damage was 20 a person I think. Best summary? "A-OK" Food (6.5/10) Service (5/5) Atmosphere (4/5) read more

We were stuck in bad traffic and decided to pop back into Estragon to wait it out and take advantage of the $1 tapas happy hour again. We had another amazing experience. This time around we ordered the pringa (bone marrow, pork belly, and braised beef shank on toast), the tortilla espanola (a sort of frittata with potato and onion) and our old favorite the cheese plate with a lovely assortment of Spanish cheeses, nuts, a drizzle of honey, etc. All of the cheeses are available at the shop next door, which is also owned/operated by Estragon. The chef/owner, Julio de Haro (Formerly of Taberna de Haro in Brookline), came out to see how people were doing so we had a nice chat with him and received an education about the wines of Spain. He was very friendly and knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the cuisine and wines of his homeland. We learned that some of the best Scotch single malts are aged in casks also used for the maturation of Spanish Sherries- the casks are sent back and forth between Spain and Scotland to enhance the flavor of each. We had never heard that and found it pretty interesting. Joseph was behind the bar again and we have nothing but good things to say. He made some great recommendations for wines to pair with our cheese plate and we enjoyed all of them. This third great experience seals the deal for us... Estragon is one of our favorite restaurants in the city, and certainly our first choice for tapas. read more

My wife's family is from Spain so I have had the chance to eat a lot of authentic Spanish food from her family and in Spain so we have high standards for Spanish tapas. Estragon surpassed our expectations! What most surprised me was the generious portions for their tapas. The other Spanish places in Boston we've tried (Tres Gatos, Barcelona Wine, Bar Lola, Tasca) offer much smaller portions. I am somewhat obsessed with Spanish jamon (cured meat) and was nervous when ordering the $20 plate of Jamon Iberico. To my surprise, the portion was huge and the jamon tasted great (not as good as in spain, but still excellent). We also had the grilled romaine salad which was an excellent portion and delicious. The lamb chops with cauliflower/garlic mash was scrumptious. The lobster empanada was good but we couldn't finish it due to the large portions we had previously. The jamon croquets were also very good, but is probably the toughest item to reach the standard of home-made authentic. We probably wouldn't order them again just because we eat them at family gatherings fairly often. All in all it was a great night out, with some tasty food and excellent portions. The jamon portion was a special surprise. My wife and I agreed that this was the best Spanish food we've had in Boston. read more

We made a reservation for outdoor dining, but it started raining so we were directed to sit inside. The tables were spaced appropriately. However, we were dismayed at the efforts of the men serving. We watched them wait several tables and handle both dirty and clean dishes without hand-sanitizing. Our server leaned very close to us instead of trying to distance, which made us uncomfortable. The water was served from a bottle that could have been left on the tables but instead the server returned to our table repeatedly to get very close to us and refill waters. Additionally, at the beginning of the meal we were given a water glass with a lipstick stain on it from a previous patron -- a dirty dish would be inconvenient in normal times, but in COVID times it is unacceptable. The food was good and well-priced, but we definitely will not be returning until the pandemic is over as the owners do not seem too cautious about customer (and server) safety. read more

My husband and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night. We had a reservation and we were seated promptly. The menu was different than other tapas places in Boston. We ordered 3 toasts: duck confit with almonds which was ok, beef tongue and pringa (upon the recommendation of our excellent server Brian), both of which were excellent. There weren't anything to our liking among the vegetables so we settled for Potaje Andaluz which wasn't mindblowing. For seafood we had the Galician-style octopus which was very well marinated and gilled. Our favorite was our meat choice which was braised goat stuffed peppers. For dessert, we had the homemade ice-cream and the flavors were whiskey-fig, chocolate porter stout and brown butter. Though I have to say, only the chocolate porter stout had a distinct flavor. Our waiter Brian explained every dish in detail and was very welcoming. The place was rather empty because of a snow storm. We saw 6pm was available on Opentable. However, when we called to see if there were any other times available not listed online, we were told even the 6 pm wasn't available. This was especially strange considering the emptiness of the restaurant when we walked in. Overall, we had a good experience and willing to come back to try other interesting dishes but the reservation system left some question marks in our head. read more

My boyfriend and I went because I got a groupon coupon and have wanted to try the Spanish Tapas place for a while. I love the decor, when you walk in it's like you are in Gotham City, I loved it. We sat at a table by the window, then moved to the couches for dessert, at our waiters suggestion - it was perfect. We tried a bunch of the tapas: Spanish tortilla, fried chickpeas, lamb empinada (I don't eat lamb but he loved it), sea scallops, and mushroom and eggs. They were all delicious! The sea scallops were amazing. It was a little expensive but with the groupon totally worth it! It's a great date place. Also they serve the tapas for a $1 Monday - Thursday if you sit at the bar from 5:30 - 7pm, which is a great deal, we are def going back for that! read more

Last night, upon walking into Estragon...my cardigan morphed into a fur stole, my skirt became a sophisticated wool one-piece and modern technology ceased to exist. Were it allowed, I would have pulled out my red-tipped Marlboros (the kind that fabulously didn't show lipstick smears for the sophisticated, classy woman of the 30's) and lounged in my chair, watching the crowds with hooded eyes and a hint of upper-class disdain... Alas...last night I was not in Madrid...it wasn't the 1930's...and I wasn't at a supper club filled with my socialite friends...but my point...it felt like I was! I had two Elderflower Sours - I would highly recommend these to those of you who like the sweet and sour flavors of lemon and sugar. It was absolutely divine and worth the $9.00 per cocktail. Here's a play by play of the delights my stomach savored: Queso de Cabra con Tomate ~ goat cheese and tomato on toast. This was very good. The goat cheese was nice and warm and had a light, fluffy consistency. The plate comes with two small servings of the dish, so it's perfect if you're ordering for a couple. Garbanzas Fritos ~ fried chickpeas. We were unsure exactly what this would be and we were pleasantly surprised. It's like chickpeas pretending to be peanuts! The chickpeas were fresh out of the fryer, lightly salted and had a crunchy outside and a warm, moist inside. They were addicting... Croquetas de Pollo ~ chicken croquettes. These were very yum. My favorite croquetas are at Taberna del Haro; they are very rich and decadent. Estragon's version is lighter and less filling, but just as tasty. Enpanada de Cordero ~ lamb empanada. Mmm. The filo dough was cooked to flaky perfection. I thought it was a very tasty dish. They were heavy handed on the tomatos and I found myself wishing I could taste more of the lamb. That being said, I still ate it and enjoyed it! The last dish we enjoyed was rolled pork filled with serrano ham and cheese with a side of a very tasty sweet red pepper sauce. I cannot remember the name, but it was really good. The ham and cheese were expertly rolled into thin slices of pork and then breaded and fried. The dipping sauce helped to make a slightly dry pork very delicious. I really enjoyed my visit here...and the time travel/continent hopping fantasies that the restaurant induced. Definitely worth another visit. read more

I've had a groupon for Estragon for a while now and figured it was time to use it before it expired. Service: Our server was very nice, and helpful in suggesting how many tapas to order and to do so a few at a time. That being said, the service was VERY slow. Not sure if they are going for a European vibe but we spent quite a bit of time waiting for the server to come back. I also noticed a lot of groups waiting at the hostess stand for long periods of time. Food & Drinks: - The pineapple mojito was alright. Not the best I've had, but definitely not the worst. The sweetness of the pineapple just overwhelmed the drink. - Pringá: Beef Shank, Pork Belly, Chorizo, Bone Marrow - this was my favorite of the night. The meat was so juicy, very well seasoned, and I loved the addition of the bone marrow. - Garbanzos Fritos: Crispy Paprika Chickpeas - these were fun to snack on and a great way to start the meal. They almost had a bacon flavor to them which I loved, but were on the dry side. I would have loved a dipping sauce to go along with these. - Setas al Ajillo: Sauteed Rosemary-Garlic Mushrooms - the mushrooms were great. They were very well cooked and had a lovely garlicky flavor. - Mejillones - Steamed Mussels, Chorizo, Tomato, Tarragon, Spanish White Wine - I wasn't crazy about the mussels. The size of the mussels ranged pretty drastically so the cooking was uneven throughout. Some of them were *perfect* and others were too tough/stringy to even remove from the shells. The broth was nice, but the whole dish was just a little too fishy for me. - Chuletillas de Cordero: 4 Grilled Baby Lamb Chops, Garlicky Cauliflower Mash - the lamb was delicious and all 4 chops were cooked well. I really liked the cauliflower mash but would have liked it to be just a bit thicker. The decor is very cool, and I would love to return and curl up in a comfy chair armed with a book and some Pringá! read more

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OMG! I'm sooo in love with you.... Welcome to Pork Heaven. Chris Cosentino would be proud. After hearing about Estragon for months, we finally tried it this Saturday night. I bought the Groupon several weeks ago. The variety of dishes is great. So anyone vegetarian, chicken eater, pork eater, seafood eater will find things they like. The service was good. I would have liked a little more attention considering the place was empty. Things we ordered.... Pringas- OMG so tasty and meaty. Absolutely delicious! Highly reccommended. Olives- We were like seriously olives? But no joke so yummy and full of spices and garlic. Fried chickpeas- Umm hello new beer snack? These were great. Very yummy. I mignt try to duplicate. Leeks with romesco- I love leeks. I've never had them like this. These sweet and grilled. Great side to this pork fest. Little necks with serrano ham- Hands down one of the best dishes. Even when we ate all the clams we keep the bowl so we could dip our bread in the juices! We fought over the last bite. Fried pork belly- OMG OMG OMG OMG so yummy. The spicy sauce on top is amazing. These little nuggets were gone in a blink. Jamon Iberico--- Acorn fed ham. My bf loved it so much he got 2 orders. Yeah that's $40 bucks worth of ham. Silly boy. Can't wait to go back and try the rest. read more

Wanted to go here for Restaurant Week but saw an even better deal on their website: $1 tapas from 5:30-7pm Mondays through Thursdays! There are 11 types of tapas on their bar menu (you can only sit at the bar for this deal) for this $1/each deal. I ordered all 11 of course. I'd skip the potato salad (con aioli, but really it is potato salad)... and maybe even the patatas bravas. The rest, especially the one with goat cheese was delicious! Get the manchego as well. I didn't ask for drink specials... their sangria was pretty good ($8/glass). =8) read more

Great tapas and small plates.The food is amazing, and reminds me of my trip to Spain. Cocktails and wine were great as well. The service was friendly and attentive. We did not have a reservation but the host took time to find a table for us and made sure we were comfortable. The waiter had no problem letting us try various wines. Go here! read more

What a cute place--rustic, intimate, and hip, Estragon reminds me of a hip whiskey bar where all the intellectuals hang out. It's a great venue for dates, celebratory drinks, or a nice meal with a few friends. It's tapas style, which is amazing because that means you get to share and try everything. The menu is clearly labeled with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free, for those of you with dietary restrictions. I had the tortilla espanola (Spanish potato omelet), parrillada y romesco (grilled vegetables), and espinacas andaluzas (sauteed spinach with butternut squash). My meal, overall, was filling and delicious, but I didn't find much variation among the flavors of each dish... ample olive oil seemed to be the common theme. Nonetheless, I've had a lot of tapas in my life--many of them in Spain--so I do have high expectations. For Boston, Estragon is good enough. read more

My favorite restaurant in the South End! Estragon has the best service, a very fun vibe, delicious tapas, and amazing cocktails. Lots of variety for all dietary restrictions and preferences! read more

Estragon was not what I expected. It had an art deco style that was later described to me by the waiter as typical of a 1930s Madrid tapas bar. While it wasn't cozy, it was stylish and grew on me as the night went on. But who cares when the food was that good. And the service impeccable. And the company wonderful. And back to the food. Lost my train of thought. The food! The Spanish Tortilla was excellent. The Brussel Sprouts were crispy and had a hint of chorizo. The scallops were delightful. The patatas fritas were delicious. The duck was succulent. I'm pulling out a lot of adjectives here, give me some credit. But the one dish that won my heart was the Pringa (bone marrow, pork belly). It was to die for. And if I ate that every night, I probably would. It was so full of taste that I thought about ordering more...but refrained. Our waiter made us feel at home despite having a full house. He was patient, friendly and made excellent suggestions. Estragon feels like a local place that could hold its own with any restaurant in Boston, or New York for that matter. A marvelous dinner. read more

Some people think that it's a risk to try a new restaurant only for restaurant week on their limited (or hand-picked) menu. Yet we took the plunge and picked Estragon for summer RW. This Tapas bar was so good - I'm back for more, and on a Friday night, at that. The food was some of the best I'd ever tasted - and it had a decadent feel, amongst the homey taste. I sampled the cod cheeks, among other dishes. They were absolutely glorious to the extent I was grinning between bites. Buttery, pleasantly salty with a touch of fish tang, and the texture was surprisingly creamy, for a fish's face. My friend got the beef cheeks - yes, I suppose there was a face theme going - and they were deliciously rich, winey and earthy, without being sickly or heart-attack inducing. I'm a sucker for a good margarita and despite it being a tapas bar, the margarita had a neat twist - paprika-infused salt. I appreciated the creativity - a sense that extended to Estragon's decor and overall menu. The restaurant has a sense of whimsy fully embedded in it's food, interior, wine list and staff - something that I appreciate enthusiastically. read more

Estragon (not to be confused with Estrogen), was a reco I received instead of Toro (the supposed best Tapas spot in BOS). With that said, here's what our experience comprised of: Menu: + HATS OFF to these guys for listing everything as Vegan, Veg, Gluten Free, Dairy, and/or with Nuts Liquids: We arrived with 2 glasses of cava and 2 glasses of sparkling cider already waiting for us at our table. Nice tough guys and thanks to my concierge lady who set it up for us due to my cousin's anniversary! + Moor's Last Sigh. Gin, Ginger Liqueur, Cardamom, Clove, Mint, Cucumber, Lime. $11. Order it with GIN like I did and you'll be golden!!! + Sangria. $8/$29. It was pretty good as far as restaurant sangria goes... + Mojito. $10. It was made very well... - Starbird. Apple Beer, St-Germain, Apple, Absinthe, Angostura Bitters. $9. I wasn't a fan of this drink and tasted somewhere in between medicine and beer. Tapas: + Garbanzos Fritos (VG). Crispy Paprika Chickpeas. $5. This was clearly the crowd favorite amongst the vegs and non veg folks. These little guyss were like nuts/chips. We couldn't stop eating them!!!! + Patatas Bravas (VG). Feisty Fried Potatoes. $5. The sauce on these is what really made this dish. The patatas on their own were very bland and although were cooked perfectly, could've really benefitted from more flavor on the potato. The sauce was incredibly flavorful however. + Espinacas a la Catalana (VG) (N). Sautéed Spinach, Pine Nuts, Golden Raisins. $8. The tie for the other best veg dish of the day. The spinach was abs amazing - it's all about the GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHLIC in this dish. - Gambas al Ajillo. Sautéed Garlic Shrimp. $11.5. This dish was disappointing - although the shrimp was cooked perfectly and I give them credit for that, the 1 inch of butter that it was sitting in was just bland. The red chili was nice but overall, it was just meh + Paella Vegetariana (VG). Vegetable Paella. $22. The veg paella was really good - the brussel sprouts totally made this dish. Our only complaint was that the asparagus spears included the base as well which were very thick and hard to eat/chew + Conejo a la Cazadora. Braised Rabbit, "Hunter's" Stew. $14. This was VERY good - the rabbit was done very well and the stew was thick and fantastic + Chuletillas de Cordero. 4 Grilled Baby Lamb Chops, Garlicky Cauliflower Mash. $21. The lamb chops were outstanding - done perfectly, the rosemary was nice, it was salted well (maybe almost too well) and Frenched perfectly. Service: + We had Loren and she was an amazing server. Knew the menu inside out, took really good care of us, and she was super fun and attentive In Summary - I'd like to try Toro but Estragon was a great experience! 4.31 Yelps on my list. THIS has been a review by Gaurav read more

Estragon - Mid-rare lamb chops. $16. Served atop mashed potatoes. OUTstanding! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

A Spaniard, a Portuguese, an American and a Swede walk into a tapas bar VS. how many drunk waiters does it take to light a candle? Who is more comical before sangria? The trashed waiters of Estragon Who gets more comical after two pitchers of sangria? the SPAS (us) Bread and olives = B+ = complimentary; soft French bread-like loaf served in a bag with tarragon olive oil Garbanzos fritos = A- = VERY addictive garbanzo beans bursting with spice and crunch Rabo de toro = A+ = top-rate oxtail braised until lusciously tender in a tasty reduction Esparragos Verdes y Aceite de Limon = C+ = tasteless asparagus drizzled with lemon juice; anyone can easily make this at home Helado = B+ = trio of ice cream scoops; toffee (so-so), honey-thyme (very unique flavor), and caramel with nuts (my favorite; tastes like the burnt caramel at Toscanini's) Flan = B = very smooth with a strong lemon flavor Sangria, pitcher 1 = C = overly sweet and lacking in body Sangria, pitcher 2; (?); "is this pitcher 2 or 3?" Service = F, Entertainment = A+ = our waiter was visibly trashed, swaying back and fourth, couldn't understand our order even though it was delivered in perfect Spanish from my Spanish friend, then, it took a team of 4 waiters to light our table candle Atmosphere (C); the art-deco design and checkerboard pattern was too chic for me even though it fit perfectly with the hip Southend, I prefer a dark, tavern style for my tapas; plus the open style seating prevented the cozy sharing of snacks Overall (B-); waiter entertainment was amusing and the oxtail was fantastic but Estragon just couldn't live up to our expectations read more

You really cannot go wrong at Estragon. It has friendly service, great atmosphere, awesome sangria, and delicious food. Definitely stop by on weekdays when they have $1 tapas at the bar. I think the menu here is a little more unique and adventurous compared to most of the other tapas bars in Boston. I highly recommend the pringas (beef cheek, pork belly and bone marrow on toast). I have also really enjoyed the beef tongue, crispy chickpeas, fried artichokes, and the Spanish tortilla. read more

I'm a huge fan of Estragon. Spanish food is one of my favorite cuisines and I look for places that remind me of my time studying in Spain. This restaurant fits the bill, from the decor and ambiance to the authentic flavors. My favorite dish is the fried chickpeas. The patatas bravos are a close second. They also have an incredible vegetarian paella. My friends all rave about the crispy fried pork belly. One of the great things about Estragon is the balance of vegetarian (many vegan) dishes along with the standard meat/fish menu. It is easy to go here with friends or family and not need to worry about dietary preferences. They also carry an amazing Spanish wine from where I spent the majority of my time studying. If you've never tried a godello or if you are already fan, try the Alma de Blanco. Pricing is very reasonable here compared to other places like Tapeo. The waitstaff have always been amazingly friendly and helpful. There is plenty of on street parking which is another plus. I've never bothered with reservations when visiting and seating hasn't been an issue. Though it has always been a weeknight. read more

I come here mostly because of the exceptionally friendly staff that works here. Sahil, the bartender on many nights, is easily one of the best bartenders I've ever had the pleasure to meet, who is very knowledgeable and innovative. Lauren is also amazing, and she will really uplift you with her kindness and her signature strong drinks. Their vegetable tapas are also excellent. Estragon really is a neighborhood tapas bar in its truest sense. read more

Came here on a Saturday night. A lot of interesting options for cocktails and food. The lamb burger sliders were perfect and just melts in your mouth. We had the empanadas too, which were fresh and flavorful. We weren't too happy with the scallops as we thought it wasn't seasoned enough to our liking. Service by Brian was nice. 4 tapas to be shared by two people is good. Thanks for a fun dinner and we will be back!! :) read more

I think Andrea B.'s review of our experience at Estragon pretty much sums it up. "Meh, I've experienced better" is quite appropriate in this case. We did have great service, but service alone does not a great meal make. read more

Estragon - Romaine salad with fried pancetta, candied beets, and house Caesar dressing. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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A solid 3.5-4 star restaurant. Service is good, pretty good ambiance. Many of the tapas are very good, others are very so-so. Patatas bravas for example are indistinguishable from homefries with ketchup. If you order the right things, it's a good experience. read more

At last, a genuine alternative to the nightmare that is Toro. We sat on a couch near the window and enjoyed the most wonderfully personal service. The decor is a cool, eclectic mix of furniture and lamps pulled from some fantastic, Argentinian heirloom auction. You relax into the mood -- am I hearing a quiet guitar solo in the background? A tango? The Spanish reds on the wine list are fantastic, and the staff very knowledgeable, because it's clear they love the food too. Put yourself in their hands. The roasted peppers were a revelation, make sure to ask for them, they are not usually on the regular menu. The grilled octopus was brilliant. Take your time, shift the conversational topic, you have hours to traverse the space between the two of you. Great for your second or third date, once you have decided you might be serious about each other. read more