Enjoy generous portions with Old World flair at Elena's. They've won a bunch of awards for a…read morereason, maybe due to the unique concept, but they do a nice job combining Scottish pub and Spanish panache. Of course many come for the tapas, and you'll get more than the typical microscope-required dishes at other places. Get your imported beer here on tap as well. It goes well with the diverse choices that should keep everyone happy. Croquettes are sharable but that didn't stop me from eating them all. You get a variety but notice: the chicken ones remain hot! The lamb was tasty and sides filling. A couple drafts later I'm waddling out satisfied. It's a nice alternative to the Argyle area dining scene, and I'll hope to return and try much more.

This is the best Spanish food to be had in Glasgow by a country mile and then some! Why haven't I…read morefound this place sooner? We'd recently returned from a short break in Malaga and were pining for some Spanish ambience, so I was very pleased to discover Elena's, even more so when we spotted the Paella de Marisco (seafood paella) - I'll be having half of that, yes please! They have a pretty good wine list too, and we soon settled on a nice fragrant Alberino, which was a pefect accompaniment to the seafood. The table was soon very cluttered with dishes, wine cooler and glasses, but we managed. I'm afraid I forgot to take any pictures of the food, it was too yummy not to get stuck in. For dessert, I couldn't resist the chocolate brownie, although I opted for coconut ice cream instead of the lemon. I probably shouldn't have had either given my lactose intolerance, but sometimes you have to be prepared to suffer. It did almost finish me off, it was so chocolatey, but wow, it was worth it. I'm only giving four stars as I thought the service was a little lacklustre in places. They didn't offer to pour or let us taste the wine, didn't provide a finger bowl or any wipes for the sticky fingers, and - more importantly - didn't tell us about the menu specials when we were ordering. We only found out about those when I spotted the specials board on the way out. I don't know if it would have made much difference actually, as we were pretty committed to the paella before we arrived, but it would have been nice to have had the choice. Annnd.... I've just spotted that they have Caipirinhas on the cocktail menu - now I'll definitely have to go back!

Their tapas dinner was so good. We had recently been in Spain, and this tastes very authentic…read more Service was professional. Ambience was pleasant, it's a beautiful place in a good location.

Dessert (cheesecake and pudín de caramel) plus coffee, alcoholic and non options, were delicious…read more the waitstaff was courteous although not attentive at all. We sat with our menus closed and ready to order for 15 min before we had to wave to someone. They wouldn't even make eye contact. Same for during and after the meal. Plus they were not busy.

LADIES' LUNCHEON My…read moretwo friends and I decided to have lunch here after wedding dress shopping (eeeeeeeek!! EXCITING!!) last Saturday. The location is great, being within the (COVERED!!) Merchant Square...so in he middle of the Merchant City in town! There's a variety of places to eat/drink in Merchant Square, but on the penultimate day of the Merchant City Festival, this was the only place with any free tables!! I hoped this wasn't a bad sign..!! ;-) Turned out after taking a seat ourselves (pretty sure there was a hostess to do the seating but it was mad busy and the table was empty!!) and looking at the menu, we were looking forward to having a good munch! They do a special lunch offer where you can get three tapas dishes for £8.95...bargain!! We decided to combine all of our choices so we could try a better variety of dishes! This turned out to be a FABULOUS idea! ;-) We ordered (you'll HAVE to forgive my spelling as I know NO Spanish, pretty much..!!) : 2 x patatas bravas, 2 x calamari, 1 x haggis nuggets, 1 x meatballs, 1 x queso croquettas, 1 x croquettas de polo and a wee tomato salad with manchego...we also got some extras of onion rings and chippies-we should have bothered with the extras!!! There was TAPAS-A-PLENTY; it seemed like the waitress just kept bringing our food out-LOL! Everything was delicious and well cooked...I was really impressed! I don't eat tapas all that often (I SHOULD!) but reckon I'll be back here again VERY soon! :-) We finished off lunch with some French Martinis which seemed strrrrrrong-NOT a complaint, by the way... I would DEFINITELY recommend this restaurant to anyone...and I'm doing MORE wedding shopping soon, so will pop back in!

The only standalone Spanish tapas restaurant in the Merchant City - there is one integrated into…read morethe bar complex Arta - Mercado sits on Bell Street and opens out onto the Merchant Square. I've been here a few times, not because I love it, just cos as I said it's the only standalone Spanish restaurant in the Merchant City. So for the same reason we went there again, but this time we only got offered the lunch menu. It's cheap for sure, £7.95 I think for three tapas, but here is the twist, beware of supplements and drinks prices. I opted for Albondigas, Chorizo, and Beef Ternera, and a side of Garlic Bread with Cheese. All were served with a smile, all were tasty, all were very small. The garlic bread was certainly not worth the extra £4.50-odd either, and my Spanish pint was a little expensive at nearly a fiver. I don't love being forced to choose a set menu, nor do I love sneaky charges that bump the price up. I'd rather pay the normal prices and get more food. Ultimately I left feeling slightly hungry and that makes me slightly grumpy, but the food was very decent, it's no El Sabor but it's still 3 stars.

I just visited this place and I don't know what the other reviewer on here is on about! The waiters…read moreand witresses make you feel totally welcome and it is laid out for you that the cheapest option is the set menu. Drinks are always on offer and they are really quick with food and drink. Kids love it, the place is nicely decorated like a real Spanish cafe and the food, the other reviewer forgot to mention, is kick-ass, out of this world. The lamb you have to try! This sounds like I work here, I promise you I don't. I just had to defend them against a snobby review!

Myself and family attended 'Ola' one weekday evening. The meat dishes were fine, but vegetarians…read moreare looked at as if they fell from Mars and, frankly, a giant bowl of rice and peas passed off as a Vegetarian Paella simply shall not do. The portions are small - when they say Tapas they mean Tapas - and my own party, as well as one I spoke to on leaving, felt a bit ripped off. The set menus are recommended as, if you stray onto maitre de recommendations, you may find the bill balloon. The maitre de, a Spanish national I believe, has to curb his tactile histrionics - like Basil Fawlty crossed with Manuel - if all but lunching workies are going to enjoy themselves there. If you are used to chain restaurants with a Spanish or Hispanic theme, like Nando's or Chiquito's, 'Ola' will come as something of a shock. It does not know what it wants to be, it is a small business with chain aspirations and will have to work on a more welcoming atmosphere - the maitre de thinks sexism and sarcasm pass as this and the otherwise friendly Eastern European waitress needs training - and better deals if it is to survive. If you are not a drunken work's group or hen night, with the bill spread about many people, avoid!

I love this little newly opened Spanish Tapas place on Dalry Road in Edinburgh…read more It's a small place and some things still need improvement and development. The toilet is in the cellar and it's unisex. The owners are very lovely and accomodating. They made us feel very welcome. You pay for what you get. The tapas are very tasty. Some say, too salty. But I liked it. Every bite of it. The meat is fresh and you can also buy the ham to take home. They don't have an alcohol license yet, so you should bring your own beverage. Just read the small print. 1 bottle is £5 and others £0.50 per bottle. If you stay there and have a proper meal, this charge can be discussed. We will be back

Small but has excellent food. The owner is very sociable and clearly passionate about his business…read more The tapas were very good. Wonderful place!

Are you going to get the best tapas in the world for the dirt cheap price of McDonald's food? No…read more Are you going to have some delicious tapas and lovely service that makes the price worth it? Yes. Came by on our first night in Edinburgh with my boyfriend because of some decent yelp reviews and we weren't disappointed. The host/server (manager? owner?) took the time to explain ALL of the dishes to us, including all of the specials. [sidenote, being from CA, and hearing Catalonian Spanish with a Scottish accent was such a trip.] He presented and explained all of the dishes table side like you expect in a fine dining restaurant, and brought some olives and bread on the house. We had the four specials, papas bravatos (I think) were my boyfriend's favorite, and the Sancho and Calamari were menu staples that were lovely. Everything we had was cooked perfectly to us, and all of the meats so tender. We washed it all down with a liter of sangria, which had cinnamon as a new twist for us. Great service, great food, no regrets!!!

Came here for a yelp girly lunch following Jenny's weekly newsletter on the best Spanish food in…read moreEdinburgh. My taste buds were a tingling. And tingled they were!! The tabla quijote platter of meat and cheese allowed us to taste every variety on offer. Some were nicer than others (I'm not a fan of blue cheese!) but it was a great sharing plate for anyone who loves cured meat and chorizo. I also ordered a tapas sized of small peppers with white asparagus and topped with an Andalusian sauce. Phallic looking as they were (haha!) I rather liked them. The dish was chilled, asparagus was soft (not crunchy how I normally like asparagus) but tasty nevertheless. The sauce was nice too and I'd order them again. For my main I ordered the Pork Cheeks stew which was recommended by jenny. I went for the medium side but boy it was big! watch out on the sizes if you're having starter tapas too! The stew was basically a big bowl of soup like stew. Not what I was expecting but extremely tasty. I've never had pork cheeks before but the meat was slow cooked and fell away from the fork. Yum! The only thing was the lack of "chunky homemade chips" as described in the menu. There were bits of potato in the stew but chips? Nope. Would I go back? Definitely. The food was authentic and tasty and its really near my work so v handy! It's small but cute with terracotta pots and plants dotted around inside. Quite quaint. If it wasn't for the garlic in the food it would be an ideal date venue! :)

My daughter and I stumbled across this place and we totally fell for the whole experience; the…read moreservers were friendly and efficient, the food was outstanding and the atmosphere welcoming. Our food choices were: TAJINE DE CORDERO Slow-cooked lamb tagine with paprika, cumin, tomatoes, cinnamon, sultanas & apricots ENSALADA ANDALUZA VG GF Asparagus, artichokes, sun blush tomatoes & lemon hinamin dressing

We had dinner here while in Edinburgh. The ambiance was very comfortable. Service was good. The…read morefood was very good yet not amazing. There was nothing wrong. We'd ordered the warm olives, paella di carne, gamba picantes. All were beautifully prepared and presented. I would have enjoyed bigger flavors. I had the sangria, delicious. Husband had a Negroni that he said was good. I wouldn't hesitate to dine here again. Fun with a group.