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Delicious tapas in charming Frederick. Lunch was a bargain: a choice of three tapas for $16. There were four of us and we all loved our choices: two different batatas, empanadas, baked Brie, paella, fried asparagus, shrimp. Yum yum everything was great, service was friendly & efficient too. If we didn't live 3+ hours away, we'd come here regularly. (After lunch we found a parking ticket on our car. We'll probably fight it since we had plenty of parking time left, so that will be another excuse to come back & eat at Isabella's.)
Our group of 10 stopped in for Sunday brunch before a show at the nearby Weinberg Center. Even though the restaurant was busy, our reserved table was ready, and we were seated in a quieter side room that worked perfectly for us. The décor is colorful and warm, with Spanish-inspired art. On this brisk cold afternoon there was also a cozy brick fireplace in full working mode located in the back of the main dining area that adds to the charm. Our server was excellent--friendly, organized, and very mindful of our need to finish in time for the show. She handled separate checks, kept drinks filled, and made sure everything ran smoothly. The food was the highlight. We ordered full brunch meals, and everyone enjoyed their dishes. The house-made chorizo, flavorful sauces, and Eggs Benedict (with the option of a fresh biscuit instead of an English muffin) were especially good. Overall, we had a great experience. The menu is large, the atmosphere is inviting, and we'd happily return the next time we're in Frederick.
I've been wanting to try this place ever since I moved to Frederick. This is my first experience trying a Tapas restaurant. My girlfriend and I went after doing some shopping in downtown Frederick and walked in on a Thursday night around 6:30. It was pretty slow, so this was a good night to go. First, the menu is massive. They also have a separate menu with the daily specials. We got a little bit of everything. The peach Sangria was really good and I would highly recommend. The empanadas were awesome and not deep fried. However, a little pricey at $16 for two of them. The asparagus was interesting. It's breaded and deep fried with a really good tomato aioli. I don't think they cooked or blanched the asparagus long enough though, it was very stringy and needed a knife to cut it and eat. The wagyu sliders were awesome. They had plenty of cheese and a nice crispy bun. They were juicy and cooked to a perfect temperature. I also got a cranberry mule that was pretty good. The ribeye special wasn't bad. The steak was cooked to a good temperature, but it lacked any seasoning and had a charred taste to the outside. Not sure, but it may have been cooked on a really hot flame which caused the charring. For $42, it was not worth it. The service was just okay. After we placed our order I didn't see the server until we were almost done and asking for the check. I was trying to get a condiment and couldn't since she never checked on our food. The inside is very nice , but there isn't a ton of seating. I can see this place getting very busy on a weekend. I would certainly come back for the drinks and appetizers! There is some outdoor seating along the street and they appear to be dog friendly in that seating area.
Tapas bar in Frederick, MD. Great great bar. I've only been twice but I've had great experiences both times. The Sangria offered here is worth visiting for, which is also adequately priced. The food is good as well. I highly recommend the Queso Al Horno (Goat Cheese Queso), it comes with its own chips cut and cooked in house and it's amazing. The Happy Hour here is priced very well, with a range of drinks being discounted (Sangria and Margaritas only $5) and food being discounted as well. The service at the bar both times was great as well. I was checked on frequently. I would highly recommend this tapas bar!
We had a great Valentine's Day dinner. We ordered the cauliflower tapas, stuffed eggplant tapas and the sautéed mushrooms tapas. Along with the Valencia paella. Everything was delicious and I highly recommend this establishment.
Great night after seeing the Nutcracker we searched downtown places that are open post 9pm and thank goodness Isabella's was still open. We got to sit right next to the fireplace and enjoyed our tapas. This is a favorite place for sure.
Our group of 10 stopped in for Sunday brunch before a show at the nearby Weinberg Center. Even though the restaurant was busy, our reserved table was ready, and we were seated in a quieter side room that worked perfectly for us. The décor is colorful and warm, with Spanish-inspired art. On this brisk cold afternoon there was also a cozy brick fireplace in full working mode located in the back of the main dining area that adds to the charm. Our server was excellent--friendly, organized, and very mindful of our need to finish in time for the show. She handled separate checks, kept drinks filled, and made sure everything ran smoothly. The food was the highlight. We ordered full brunch meals, and everyone enjoyed their dishes. The house-made chorizo, flavorful sauces, and Eggs Benedict (with the option of a fresh biscuit instead of an English muffin) were especially good. Overall, we had a great experience. The menu is large, the atmosphere is inviting, and we'd happily return the next time we're in Frederick.
They have the best lunch special in Frederick! The food here is AMAZING!!! You can't go wrong with anything you pick. I normally get the three tapas lunch special. The asparagus fries are a must have, and the empanadas are delicious and the sizzling shrimp is Sooooo Good! Get the Sangria, the peach and fall seasonal sangria is life changing! The service here is great.
We stopped by Isabellas's for breakfast on a Saturday morning since they had a nice menu and opened early for breakfast. Very cool atmosphere and pub environment and an amazing bar! We were quickly seated as they were not very busy at the time. After that, things seem to slow down significantly. It took about an hour to get our food from the time we ordered. When we did get our meals the presentation was nice, but the flavors were not what we expected. We tried the Tortilla de Patatas, which was ok, but nothing special. My wife ordered the biscuits with sausage gravy (and 2 eggs). The biscuits were very tough and gravy was ok. While breakfast was not the best, I would definitely try Isabellas for dinner because the plates of food being served to people on the patio looked amazing.
Nearly five star setting and food (nice patio on a sunny Sunday; only drawback was the exceptionally loud car and motorcycle noise), good tapas choices, but unfortunately 3 star service (long long wait; spotty; inattentive; once ordered our food we waited for an hour, even for a simple two eggs, standard breakfast plate). Mussels are good (spicy sauce, special) Crab cake on artichoke is artfully presented, delicious Prosciutto e Melone is refreshing and tasty
Came back to Isabellas after yeaaaars this time for tapas/dinner and not disappointed at all. We came in on a Tuesday night and there was ample space. We ordered a few different things to share amongst 3 people. I got the Flirtini drink which I enjoyed a lot. We got the fried manchego cheese, fried asparagus spears, brussel sprouts with capers and walnuts, papas fritas,albondigas(beef meatballs) and bacon wrapped dates (this one I did not try). Everything was delicious but surprisingly my favorite thing was the fried manchego which went so well with the fig jam it came with. Service was nice, they were good to let us know when the kitchen would be closing in case we wanted to get some last minute items in.
I have been to Isabella's multiple times, whether it's friends or family, and am pleased every time! The servers are friendly, the food is good, and the restaurant is clean. This is a safe and fun restaurant to go to if you are searching for new places to try. Nothing but positives!
Everything went well, so well I'd give it 6 s!! We walked in the door, seated promptly, water at the table almost before we sat down! Jared, our waiter, was engaging, friendly, offered tips about the menu! He, and a co-worker, compliment one another well! They back one another and there wasn't a gap in our service! Nor were we rushed! Food was amazing, with wonderful traditional tapas flavors and generous portions. The restaurant, in a historic area of Fredrick, has beautiful exposed brick walls solid wood floors, beautiful old bar, and great vibe for any time of day! My only regret, we don't live close enough to frequent weekly! Excellent, Isabella's!
Frederick, Md. has some of the best restaurants within an hour's drive from home. Isabellas's is right there amongst the best in downtown Frederick. Ii is a spanish restaurant and serves excellent food. I had the seafood paella (one of my favorite dishes). The rice was flavored and seasoned perfectly. It was loaded with shrimp, mussels, calamari, and My wife had the beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes. For our cocktails, we had the peach sangria. Absolutely light and delicious. Our server was excellent. He made excellent recommendations and was very attentive. The dining area was very comfortable, roomy, bright, clean and nicely decorated. Eaxh booth comfortably seats anywhere from 4 to 6 customers. There is a bar offering beer, cocktails and wines. The bathrooms were spotless and modern. There is paid street parking. I easily and strongly recommend this restaurant. read more
8 months ago
A tapas bar/ restaurant in downtown historic Frederick. We went for a Sunday brunch (with a reservation for a 5-top in the window). The waiter was patient and easy going, especially for such a busy time. The food was well seasoned and portions plentiful. The biscuit that came with the combo was a cheese biscuit, however the menu didn't mention the cheese otherwise we would have asked for a plain biscuit (looking forward to having jelly with it, but not so much on a cheese biscuit), but regardless, it was a good biscuit. I look forward to visiting again next time in town, trying their dinner/ tapas. read more
10 days ago
Delicious tapas in charming Frederick. Lunch was a bargain: a choice of three tapas for $16. There were four of us and we all loved our choices: two different batatas, empanadas, baked Brie, paella, fried asparagus, shrimp. Yum yum everything was great, service was friendly & efficient too. If we didn't live 3+ hours away, we'd come here regularly. (After lunch we found a parking ticket on our car. We'll probably fight it since we had plenty of parking time left, so that will be another excuse to come back & eat at Isabella's.) read more
Our group of 10 stopped in for Sunday brunch before a show at the nearby Weinberg Center. Even though the restaurant was busy, our reserved table was ready, and we were seated in a quieter side room that worked perfectly for us. The décor is colorful and warm, with Spanish-inspired art. On this brisk cold afternoon there was also a cozy brick fireplace in full working mode located in the back of the main dining area that adds to the charm. Our server was excellent--friendly, organized, and very mindful of our need to finish in time for the show. She handled separate checks, kept drinks filled, and made sure everything ran smoothly. The food was the highlight. We ordered full brunch meals, and everyone enjoyed their dishes. The house-made chorizo, flavorful sauces, and Eggs Benedict (with the option of a fresh biscuit instead of an English muffin) were especially good. Overall, we had a great experience. The menu is large, the atmosphere is inviting, and we'd happily return the next time we're in Frederick. read more
I've been wanting to try this place ever since I moved to Frederick. This is my first experience trying a Tapas restaurant. My girlfriend and I went after doing some shopping in downtown Frederick and walked in on a Thursday night around 6:30. It was pretty slow, so this was a good night to go. First, the menu is massive. They also have a separate menu with the daily specials. We got a little bit of everything. The peach Sangria was really good and I would highly recommend. The empanadas were awesome and not deep fried. However, a little pricey at $16 for two of them. The asparagus was interesting. It's breaded and deep fried with a really good tomato aioli. I don't think they cooked or blanched the asparagus long enough though, it was very stringy and needed a knife to cut it and eat. The wagyu sliders were awesome. They had plenty of cheese and a nice crispy bun. They were juicy and cooked to a perfect temperature. I also got a cranberry mule that was pretty good. The ribeye special wasn't bad. The steak was cooked to a good temperature, but it lacked any seasoning and had a charred taste to the outside. Not sure, but it may have been cooked on a really hot flame which caused the charring. For $42, it was not worth it. The service was just okay. After we placed our order I didn't see the server until we were almost done and asking for the check. I was trying to get a condiment and couldn't since she never checked on our food. The inside is very nice , but there isn't a ton of seating. I can see this place getting very busy on a weekend. I would certainly come back for the drinks and appetizers! There is some outdoor seating along the street and they appear to be dog friendly in that seating area. read more
24 days ago
Tapas bar in Frederick, MD. Great great bar. I've only been twice but I've had great experiences both times. The Sangria offered here is worth visiting for, which is also adequately priced. The food is good as well. I highly recommend the Queso Al Horno (Goat Cheese Queso), it comes with its own chips cut and cooked in house and it's amazing. The Happy Hour here is priced very well, with a range of drinks being discounted (Sangria and Margaritas only $5) and food being discounted as well. The service at the bar both times was great as well. I was checked on frequently. I would highly recommend this tapas bar! read more
9 months ago
We had a great Valentine's Day dinner. We ordered the cauliflower tapas, stuffed eggplant tapas and the sautéed mushrooms tapas. Along with the Valencia paella. Everything was delicious and I highly recommend this establishment. read more
Great night after seeing the Nutcracker we searched downtown places that are open post 9pm and thank goodness Isabella's was still open. We got to sit right next to the fireplace and enjoyed our tapas. This is a favorite place for sure. read more
2 months ago
11 months ago
Our group of 10 stopped in for Sunday brunch before a show at the nearby Weinberg Center. Even though the restaurant was busy, our reserved table was ready, and we were seated in a quieter side room that worked perfectly for us. The décor is colorful and warm, with Spanish-inspired art. On this brisk cold afternoon there was also a cozy brick fireplace in full working mode located in the back of the main dining area that adds to the charm. Our server was excellent--friendly, organized, and very mindful of our need to finish in time for the show. She handled separate checks, kept drinks filled, and made sure everything ran smoothly. The food was the highlight. We ordered full brunch meals, and everyone enjoyed their dishes. The house-made chorizo, flavorful sauces, and Eggs Benedict (with the option of a fresh biscuit instead of an English muffin) were especially good. Overall, we had a great experience. The menu is large, the atmosphere is inviting, and we'd happily return the next time we're in Frederick. read more
3 months ago
They have the best lunch special in Frederick! The food here is AMAZING!!! You can't go wrong with anything you pick. I normally get the three tapas lunch special. The asparagus fries are a must have, and the empanadas are delicious and the sizzling shrimp is Sooooo Good! Get the Sangria, the peach and fall seasonal sangria is life changing! The service here is great. read more
We stopped by Isabellas's for breakfast on a Saturday morning since they had a nice menu and opened early for breakfast. Very cool atmosphere and pub environment and an amazing bar! We were quickly seated as they were not very busy at the time. After that, things seem to slow down significantly. It took about an hour to get our food from the time we ordered. When we did get our meals the presentation was nice, but the flavors were not what we expected. We tried the Tortilla de Patatas, which was ok, but nothing special. My wife ordered the biscuits with sausage gravy (and 2 eggs). The biscuits were very tough and gravy was ok. While breakfast was not the best, I would definitely try Isabellas for dinner because the plates of food being served to people on the patio looked amazing. read more
Nearly five star setting and food (nice patio on a sunny Sunday; only drawback was the exceptionally loud car and motorcycle noise), good tapas choices, but unfortunately 3 star service (long long wait; spotty; inattentive; once ordered our food we waited for an hour, even for a simple two eggs, standard breakfast plate). Mussels are good (spicy sauce, special) Crab cake on artichoke is artfully presented, delicious Prosciutto e Melone is refreshing and tasty read more
Came back to Isabellas after yeaaaars this time for tapas/dinner and not disappointed at all. We came in on a Tuesday night and there was ample space. We ordered a few different things to share amongst 3 people. I got the Flirtini drink which I enjoyed a lot. We got the fried manchego cheese, fried asparagus spears, brussel sprouts with capers and walnuts, papas fritas,albondigas(beef meatballs) and bacon wrapped dates (this one I did not try). Everything was delicious but surprisingly my favorite thing was the fried manchego which went so well with the fig jam it came with. Service was nice, they were good to let us know when the kitchen would be closing in case we wanted to get some last minute items in. read more
5 months ago
10 months ago
I have been to Isabella's multiple times, whether it's friends or family, and am pleased every time! The servers are friendly, the food is good, and the restaurant is clean. This is a safe and fun restaurant to go to if you are searching for new places to try. Nothing but positives! read more
Everything went well, so well I'd give it 6 s!! We walked in the door, seated promptly, water at the table almost before we sat down! Jared, our waiter, was engaging, friendly, offered tips about the menu! He, and a co-worker, compliment one another well! They back one another and there wasn't a gap in our service! Nor were we rushed! Food was amazing, with wonderful traditional tapas flavors and generous portions. The restaurant, in a historic area of Fredrick, has beautiful exposed brick walls solid wood floors, beautiful old bar, and great vibe for any time of day! My only regret, we don't live close enough to frequent weekly! Excellent, Isabella's! read more
5 months ago
The food was amazing and the location is dog friendly! We ate outside and brought our dog. We asked for a burger patty for her and it was the most beautiful burger for a dog I have ever seen! I had salmon on toast and it was exceptional. Try their house made hot sauce--flavorful, hot and tangy. read more
8 months ago
While visiting Frederick a friend recommended Isabella's for dinner and we are so thankful for the recommendation. Isabella's is a vibrant restaurant that serves Spanish tapas, amazing sangria and a variety of paellas. We were glad we made reservations because the restaurant was busy in the dining area and the bar. Isabella's has evolving menus based on the season so there is always new and inventive food and drink choices. We started the evening we ordered a carafe of spiced pear sangria and a pumpkin spiced martini. Both were very tasty. We ordered the Paella a la Valenciana (shrimp, chicken, mussels, chorizo, and clams), Remolacha (roasted beets, feta and greens) and Datiles Rellenos (bacon wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo). The paella was amazing, full of seafood and enough to share between two people. Don't forget to try the the Datiles Rellenos which were three beautifully prepared and tastebud tantalizers that nearly cause us to order another round. The only thing that could have made this better would have been sitting at the bar and taking advantage of their $6 tapas happy hour. Well, there will be another trip to Isabella's in the near future! read more
5 months ago
3 years ago
Didn't get food but the drink menu is wonderful! Lots of fun Pickens! Service was great, bartender very observant even during busy hours. Place is rustic and simple. read more
11 months ago
Great food, service, and vibes. The tapas never miss the mark and are always scrumptious. My personal favorites are papas bravas, short rib sandwiches, bacon wrapped dates, and the sizzling shrimp. I tried two specials: a wild mushroom risotto and crab with cream cheese and sriracha on a crostini. Both were good. The risotto didn't have a strong mushroom flavor but was very creamy and rich. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and told us she would stagger our orders so they didn't come out at the same time. This helped prevent the table from getting too crowded. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
Gluten-Free friends: come here in person and the menu is simply labeled for all GF options and the staff is knowledgeable. I will say, I have a sensitivity, not an allergy. Everything came out hot and fresh, server was great. Food: I love when simple ingredients can taste SO AMAZING. The flavor on every dish was fantastic. Steak was cooked perfectly and tender. Highly recommend! read more
6 months ago
One of my favorite places to eat in Frederick. My friend and I ordered the bacon wrapped dates, the asparagus fries, chorizo mini burger, goat cheese fritters and the Brussels sprouts and everything was delicious! Service was fast and friendly as always and the ambiance is lively and fun but not overly noisy. They do offer outdoor seating but it was too cold the day we went so we sat by the window. I highly recommend Isabellas and if you can come with a group it's more fun because then you can try more tapas. read more
Our first time at Isabella's. The atmosphere was amazing and service was great. Our server was very kind and engaging. The food was okay. The baked brie was the best thing we ordered. The bravas de boniato was a bit salty. The costillita tapas was a disappointment with the mashed potatoes (not sure if they were real, old, or boxed). The soup del Dia was salty but edible. We ordered the tres de Leche cake to go and it tasted more like a box cake and was not satisfactory. Overall, the atmosphere and service was wonderful but the food, not as enjoyable as we hoped. read more
Great food and great atmosphere! Located in downtown Frederick, this restaurant is definitely a must try ! It is a tapas restaurant so the portions are small (tapas portions) but then you get to try several dishes . Most of what we ordered were super yummy! Definitely recommend the fried asparagus, housemade chorizo, costillita tapas ( braised short rib) , beef empanadas, manchego frito, sizzling shrimp and of course the fried calamari. For dessert, we ordered the tres leches ( it was the best) , Spanish flan ( could be better) & cheesecake. We doubled / tripled up on the orders as there were 8 in our group. Service was attentive and very amicable The reason for the 4 stars ( instead of 5) was because we were seated at a table with a pole right in the middle of our table which made conversation difficult. I had made this reservation 3 weeks before so ...not last minute - they could've accommodated us better. We did ask to be seated someplace else but it was a busy Saturday evening... read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
The food tastes great! There's also good customer service. They were quick, nice, and made it easy to order. read more
2 years ago
I have eaten many, many, many fried chicken sandwiches during my life. Isabella's has the best one. They put something in the breading that makes it so peppery and flavorful. So good I had to eat half of it before I thought to take a photo. If you ever take this off the menu I'll cry. read more
Located in the historic Frederick downtown. Bare brick walls, ventilation pipes and tin plate ceiling characterized the decor. Busy foot traffic outside and quiet atmosphere indoors. Prices were reasonable, service was great, but the food was ordinary, nothing stood out. We ordered 3*Today's Soup which was chicken soup: per normal. Lots of chicken. Portion was good. 3*Classic Burger: bland, per normal. 3*Queso Frito-- Goat cheese Fritters were golden, warm, went well with vinaigrette pickled onions 4*Costillita Braised Short Ribs: well cooked and very tender. 4*Esparragos Fritos--- Isabella's Signature Crispy Panko Crusted Asparagus "Fries" with Smoked Tomato Aioli: deep fried crispy brown, the sauce was pretty good. Texture and taste were great, but not healthy. 3*Empanada Grande: ground Beef filling, went well with chili aioli. read more
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