Had lunch there today, my first time there, and it was a reminder that amazing food makes me entirely too happy. The best items my cuz and I tried were the sizzling shrimp, the mussels, the goat cheese short ribs, the portabella mushroom wrapped with wilted spinach and cheese plus sides. Not as high on my list but still good: the artichoke bottoms topped with jumbo crabmeat entree. Maybe next time I'll go just for the cheeses or just desserts. Fun place for the tastebuds - thank you Isabella's. read more

This was one of my favorite stops in Frederick. What is not to like about a tapa's bar? We started with a large carafe of summer sangrias, but quickly moved on to ordering tapas as we saw many delicious creations walk by our table. We first tried the fried asparagus that came in a wine glass with a delicious aioli at the bottom. Hot and fresh! Yum! We also tried the fig and goat cheese crostini- also Yum. Then the sizzling shrimp. Yum. We got extra bread to dip into the yummy butter sauce. Yum. Then I guess the feeding frenzy continued but is blurred by delirious happiness as we drained the second half of the carafe. On the way out, we mentioned to the maître d' how beautiful we thought the sunflowers were and he told us that they grew them on their own farm and asked if we would like to have some! Being girls, we squealed yes of course we did! So the two of us walked home with a beautiful bouquet of fresh sunflowers! read more

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Definitely NOT great portions for the price. Oh. My. Word. I get it, tapas are small plates. But we left the establishment starving. We watched as our server tried giving our meal to a different table within our space. After wandering around for a few minutes and not noticing our attempt to wave at them, they did not return until 30 minutes later with the actual meal. By that time, we were ready to go and the one singular bacon wrapped date was both not worth the long wait and the high price. read more

They were able to accommodate after a reservation gone wrong at another establishment. Food is really good. My kids shared a cheese pizza, meatball sandwich, and grilled chicken with French fries and fruit. They were soo impressed with it. As for the adults we had the Gambas Shrimp dish, Pan con Costilla and Empanadas. Paired with a strawberry margarita and cranberry mule. Service and food definitely all a ten. Would highly recommend! read more

Wow. Terrible service. Sat at table and no one came. Perused the menu and not traditional tapas. Should be small portions and samples of meats and other items for 6-8 dollars. Walked out. They do portions and add mash potatoes. Really Terrible! Where are the real samples? Where is the red and Green sauce?! Go to DC for real tapas. read more

Went here with family for a special occasion. I've had Tapas before and I've worn a white chef jacket. I was disappointed that I was sat at the table in front of the steps leading down to the wine cellar. I was disturbed in my seat no fewer than 10 times. I found our waiter to be very terse, inattentive, and unpleasant. We had to ask for refills of drinks and water and he seemed annoyed that we dare asked him for something. Our tapas was delivered too quickly except for the octopus which came out after we ate everything else. The asparagus was hard to dip, sauce was in the bottom of a fluted glass. Some people at my table didn't like the waiter's suggestion that we double dip to get enough sauce to our asparagus. Food was ok, kinda pricey, and not the best I've ever had. read more

We had a nice waiter who was very knowledgeable about the menu and made some good recommendations. We missed having a few tapas dishes that they used to have. Plates were beautiful and food was delicious. read more

Food is good, service from my particular waiter was terrible, older guy I think his name is sadot, I was offered no straws for water or any of the drinks I had. We ordered steak and was not asked the temperature so it came out rear and we had to send it back. Plus other things. Maybe he is not a normal server but I would be willing to comeback post COVID19. read more

Isabella's - Paella Del Dia and Carne con patatas $50 entree and $32 - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Let's start out with the obvious: this is the best restaurant in Frederick. The food is delicious. It's phenomenal, really. We have been to Isabella's several times over the years and we are always impressed. Every bite is over-the-top good. The service is friendly but frankly not too interactive -- your food is brought to the table by food runners, not the waitstaff, so you won't see your server much. Bar drinks are just bar drinks (although we had a special Apple Pie Martini once and it was amazing), but the food. It's all about the food. We always get the asparagus fries and they are great, but we try to rotate through all the other items so I can't recommend anything specifically. It's all good. Just go there and enjoy. read more

Tapas are the best way to try everything a restaurant has to offer! EVERYTHING was amazing. Between 4 of us, we sampled 7 meat dishes, 3 seafood dishes, and 2 desserts. The octopus on special was the best we ever had, very tender and not chewy at all! It was the table favorite along with the stuffed peppers. The calamari was juicy and thick and fried to perfection, the camarones were garlic-y and saucy. A lot of the dishes came with chorizo, which was spicy and flavorful. We also tried the pork on special for market price ($20, tapas sized 6 slices) which was fatty, salty, and yummy! We ended our smorgasbord with flan (kind of tough instead of the smooth spoonful texture it should have) and the chocolate-heaven pot de creme. With all the food we had and a bottle of wine, our check was only $170! A steal for pretty much a chef's tasting course! read more

Isabella's - tapas! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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One of my favorite spots for lunch and dinner when working in the area. The Tapas menu is the best! Every single item is flavorful..The Sizzling Shrimp, Asparagus Fries, Empanada are amongst my top picks. Service is also fast and friendly. Small outdoor seating and great packaging for To Go. read more

I've been here a few times now, mostly for brunch, and I've yet to really understand why they have such a positive following from Frederick locals. They're a Spanish-themed restaurant and supposedly brunch is what they're really known for. I've had their huevos rancheros, their chorizo Benedict, the pancakes, corned beef hash, and the sausage side. Nothing I had would make me go back. Nothing really wow'ed me. The pancakes were basically the same pancakes you'd get from McDonald's. The corned beef hash was pretty obviously not made in house and my guess is it is frozen and just heated up. No flavor whatsoever. It's just not good food and there are plenty of other places in town to get some awesome brunch. read more

My family and I really enjoy this place. We always enjoy the food and the service. Recently, I was there and a waiter made a spill and it got on me. I was not upset. I've been a server before, myself, and accidents happen to the best of us. The manager, Travis, was awesome. He offered to cover any costs for cleaning and/or replacement and he kept his word when I provided the receipts. We love this restaurant already, but now, even more so. Customer service is not always offered anymore. We will be long time customers here. read more

I met the one owner of the restaurant last night. He was very friendly and extremely generous offering us some delicious appetizers because our table took longer to get ready. I asked his manager to tell the owner that I really appreciated his gesture. I am the Brazilian woman who had a party of 7. The owner is Turkish and used to work with José Andrés. I didn't get his name, but I highly recommend his restaurant. The food was delicious and everyone was very friendly. I ate outside but saw the inside of the restaurant and it looked very pretty. They have a separate area that I thought would be nice to have a party with a larger group. My friends and I had a wonderful time! Thank you! read more

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Holy. COW. First: 10.99 for your choice of 3 tapas items on a limited menu is a steal. Even if the options were limited, it didn't feel like I was struggling to find things- everything sounded good. Then, by golly, everything tasted good too! My favorite was the goat cheese fritters, and the empanadas del dia. They timed the arrival of the dishes well, so we weren't overwhlemed nor waiting. We were in heaven with the 6 tapas between us (we each got the special). The service was slow arriving to our table intially though, because apparently the (super aloof and a bit odd) hostess neglected to tell anyone that we were seated, albeit being completely unbusy at her stand. But the server was great! We'd definitely come back if we lived here. Highly recommend! read more

If you are looking for a place to settle in and have a lovely afternoon or evening Isabella's is a great choice. The Tapas Lunch Trio Tuesday-Thursday is fun. Three plates for $14.99. The waiters seem to have a way to make you feel welcome. Food is thoughtfully prepared. (The spinach and the serrano ham are my favorites.) read more

Isabellas is awesome. From a quiet Sunday brunch to a loud and boisterous back bar on Wednesday nights there's something for everyone. The bartender is great and remembers your name and drink preferences. The goat cheese fritters are incredible and the filet is well worth the money. The coffee with Sunday Brunch is very smooth and the waitstaff are very fast with refills. read more

It's definitely a place to go and have some "similar but not the same" spanish tapas. Some were a hit like the patatas bravas and others a big miss like the gambas al ajillo. Get a big pitcher of sangria en relax. I will be back. read more

Everything I've ever had has been delicious. The filet in the cocoa powder is divine. Service is always stellar.

Nice... We sampled the tapas, 2 salmon dishes both were yummy good but my favorite was the Pan Con Salmon Curado.....the bread was lightly toasted so when you bit in to a section you teeth just sank through the salmon and cream cheese and the bread gave way. Freakin' perfect! The other salmon dish is listed on the menu as simply *Salmon*... a seared section of salmon atop chic peas and pesto (yes pesto) sauce on the side. Very good....absolutely no complaints. Just favor the first for some reason. Paella.....Paella a la Valenciana it was good no real complaints....its well, I really liked the Pan Con Salmon Curado. I could have devoured a plate of those. *giggle* Red Sangria....nice flavor Ice Cream and flan to end the meal. Hint....the hazelnut ice cream is WONDERFUL. read more

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Excellent food and service. We really enjoy sharing our dishes family style. Thank you!

This used to be a fabulous place. its popularity has resulted in a complacency that moved it to mediocrity. I had time to spend in Frederick before returning to Columbia, so I visited a wine bar and then made my way to the happy hour at Isabela's. I had hoped for a seat at the bar and a chance to order several tapas, but I had to stand at the end, right next to the "buffet." In forty years of seeking out happy hour buffets, this is among the worst. It is made even more appalling by the fact that this kitchen, a few years ago, could produce absolutely unmatched tapas. I soon found a seat at the bar, but the only improvement was comfort and a chance to try a few tapas. The fried asparagus remains special, but I am just too old for a bar scene without any special friends. There were a few perks, as I recieved an extra order item. This only pushed the negatives a little into the background. In the end, I decided that I was not enjoying my time there, and I moved on. I did meet a few local characters, and enjoyed a few minutes of conversation. I think that if I came regularly and brought a friend or two, I would probably end up elsewhere. In the end, the check was wrong, but I did not complain--it was in my favor. I am still curious about what makes it happy hour, because I left quite dissatisfied. Social engimeering fail, I guess. And the food failed too. Eat well, tip well. read more

Isabella's - Fried Asparagus. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

We had brunch at Isabella's and everything was absolutely wonderful. Bloody Marys are superb( and there are several to chose from). We had the mushroom and goat cheese omelette and a Chorizo omelette-- the best we have had. The eggs were cooked to perfection. The mushroom and goat cheese was filled with three different types of mushrooms and a generous amount of goat cheese - the perfect compliment. The chorizo omelette had caramelised onions- a delightful dish. We chose the oven roasted potatoes- the right size with skin on, crispy and flavourful. And to make it better we ordered the chorizo gravy to pour over the potatoes- heavenly. The portions are very generous so we took leftovers home for next day brunch and they were equally tasty. If you are in Frederick if just looking for a nice weekend drive to old town Frederick , Isabella's is a great place to stop read more

Had lunch here today and I was very pleased by our server's knowledge of the menu and suggestions. The special of pick 3 tapas was just enough for one person. The food was delicious, I have no complaints and highly suggest trying this spot out! read more

My friends and I drove an hour to Isabella's in order to participate in Frederick Restaurant Week. We were incredibly excited to try out a new restaurant and of the many options, we landed on Isabella's. Upon arrival, we noticed the large chalk board indicating the weekly deals and Happy Hour menu. While we had intended to get utilize the special Restaurant Week menu, we arrived within the Happy Hour window and decided that would be a better deal. $5 margaritas/sangria and $6 tapas sounded perfect because we weren't quite hungry enough for a 3 course meal at that time. Once approached by our waiter, Joseph, we inquired if we could get flavored margaritas for the happy hour. He was cheerfully assured us he could do lime or strawberry, so each of us ordered a drink. Afterwards, we inquired which items on the menu were classified as "tapas", obviously referring to the $6 tapas listed on the happy hour menu. Joseph exclaimed that everything except the entrees and paella were tapas. Knowing this, we ordered differently than we would have normally, because we were interested in trying several tapas rather than getting a full meal. We were served our first round of drinks and tapas and everything was good, but not great. We were happy with it due to the happy hour prices, but agreed it would not be worth it to come normally. When Joseph came back to our table, we made another reference to the happy hour menu as we decided what we were going to order next. This time, he indicated that nothing we had ordered so far could be applied to the happy hour menu because we were not sitting at the bar. Our waiter indicated a very small fine print written on the sign that validated his statement. We were less than two feet away from the bar and very close to the happy hour sign - if we could not see the writing, there is no chance another table would be able to see it. Upon revealing this information, the waiter boasted "That's how we get you" and "I was the person who wrote it!" Joseph clearly withheld information in order for us to spend more and receive a larger tip. His actions, and the actions of the restaurant for allowing misleading information, were disingenuous, deceptive, and truly ruined our experience. I would not recommend being a patron at this restaurant. read more

Isabella's - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

Waiter absolutely peeved me, BUT I have never tasted food as good as this in my life. I wouldn't even call it food, it was art. Just get everything, nothing will disappoint you. No food will ever compare to this. read more

Another outing with friends and co-workers lead to a massive tasting party. One highlight of this restaurant is a near endless menu. Unfortunately, while some offerings were fairly good, none truly blew me away. Additionally, I understand the Tapas principle, but would hope for a little more on the plate to share. One thing I can give them is prompt delivery of food and service with a smile. In all, I might return if I was unsure what exactly I was in the mood to eat. Otherwise, I'd probably venture elsewhere. read more

I found time to go to downtown Frederick other than visiting the most well-known restaurant in town. After leaving the driving range, we were starving. I was lucky to have found a parking spot right in front of the Isabellas. The restaurant was dark and cool, a contrast from the bright and sunny day outside. We were seated right at the window so we could get a good look of the passerbys. We were there for brunch but unfortunately they did not have brunch on Saturday. We asked the server what was their most popular dish and it was the asparagus fries but we werent too keen to eat deep fried food for our supposedly brunch. We ordered a variety of dishes: Cerviche: I specifically asked if the cerviche was pre-boiled, the server guaranteed it was freshly made there everyday. The cerviche came out at lightning speed it was mostly topped with garnishes lots of tomatoes especially. There were bay scallops that were fresh and was "cooked" in lime juice but then there were the shrimps that were clearly pre-boiled. It was interesting but overall it had a good clean fresh taste. Portabella mushrooms with cheese and spinach: The cap of the portabella with a layer of spinach and cheese. The surprise part was the slight reddish gravy that was completely tasteless and bland. I'd never seen this type of gravy on spanish tapas. The whole dish tasted watered down. Bacon wrapped dates with goat cheese cream: The bacon was cooked well and the dates worked well with the flavors of the bacon. In addition, the creamy sauce made with goat cheese was delightful, adding an acidic note to the savory and sweet dish. The reduced balsamic was another element which was interesting with goat cheese sauce. Peruvian grilled chicken: Nicely marinated pieces of chicken skewered on bamboo sticks and it came with a red pepper sauce which was piquant. Homemade spanish sausage (chorizo): A chorizo sausage split and pan fried it was served on a bed of mash potato and a brown gravy! OMG it was like I was trippin' on gravy at Isabellas. The brown gravy was flavorless it did nothing for the dish and quite un-Spanish. The chorizo was tasty by itself. The use of watery bland gravy set the food back 20 years. On the scale of authenticity, 1-10 I would say Isabellas was about 4. However, the server gave us a decent service and food was served quickly - sometimes that's not always a good thing. read more

First, I have to start out by calling out another reviewer. She did not know why she did not like this since she usually likes "Tex Mex.". Tapas is spanish food, as in the country in Europe. Tex Mex is from Texas and Mexico. That is thousands of miles apart. This is enough reason to ignore that review. Now to my review: We were searching for a restaurant to take both of our families to for a special occasion. My family are very dietarily conservative and dislike anything different. My wife's family enjoys high end food but tends toward the same sorts of meals. My wife and I love anything novel and different and love trying new things. I was paying, so I figured we should get what we wanted. We had an audition meal at Isabella's. We ate outside and had a bottle of wine and 6 or 7 different dishes for a very reasonable price. We started by ordering two dishes but everything was so good we just kept getting more. The waitress was amazing and I wish I remembered her name because she was one of the best servers I ever had. At this point we decided to bring our families. To our surprise, and theirs, everyone loved the meal. Normally we cannot bring everyone out without people complaining about something. This time we heard nothing but rave reviews. The menu is so diverse everyone found dishes they loved. Everyone shared and talked and had a great time. My in-laws also enjoyed the full bar. It was one of the greatest dining experiences of my life especially since I did not think any restaurant could make that entire group happy. The service was wonderful again. We had the same waitress and she was amazing. For all of this the check was very reasonable. I would have happily paid much more to see the entire family enjoy themselves so much. First time I ever wished I could give 6 stars. read more

I showed up before happy hour had even started, but the bar was already completely full of patrons. So with no other choice, I opted for a table close enough to the bar. I then ordered a couple drinks, but was told that happy hour discounts only apply to people physically sitting at the bar. God forbid my 10 foot distance. Yeah, screw that noise. You can do that in DC, but this is Frederick. C'mon now. The tapas were tasty, so I am at least merciful on that point. But, I probably won't be going back. read more

Isabella's - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

I love coming here for any meal- their brunch is superb (get the huevos rancheros) as are their drinks. Tapas never disappoint- I've gotten dozens of them over the years and I've never had one I didn't like. Highly recommend the aguacate and the stuffed dates- I can't help but get those every time. Really warm and inviting space in the front interior and outside. Truthfully the back room leaves a bit to be desired- no windows and high ceilings so the sound just bounces around. Excellent service always. read more

Great drinks, great food We came for the tapas and were not disappointed. Everything we ordered was so delicious including the chorizo burgers and papa's bravas. You must try the brussel sprouts. My husband ordered the pear margarita and it's a new favorite. read more

Isabella's is humble and seriously underrated. Continuously delicious lunch and dinner main stays and outstanding specials. Every time I come here, I am delighted with new imaginative, well prepared and well seasoned meal. Grilled Bronzino special rivals (and perhaps beats) the best I've tasted in Greece. Chanterelle and truffle pasta is a steal. Short ribs melt in your mouth. Stuffed crab artichokes with saffron...weirdly good. They hooked me years ago with their fried goat cheese balls with punchy vinaigrette and roasted brussel sprouts with panchetta and manchego. and I keep coming back for more. I don't know about their brunch, but for lunch/dinner, Isabella is a solid 5. read more

This is one of my favorite place for tapas. It is conveniently located in downtown Frederick. The menu is quite complicated because there's so many to choose from. My favorites include anchovies, fried asparagus, paella, chorizo and I can go on and on. The place is not for big groups (if there's like 20 of you then go somewhere else). It is a good place when you want to have wine and tapas after a stroll around historic Frederick. read more

Reasonably priced and nicely... nice. I stopped off for breakfast during the Frederick street something-or-other. The service was a bit slow (maybe appropriate for Frederick) and the servers were very friendly (also possibly appropriate). The food, in my case a Western Ommlet, was fresh, hot, tastey, good sized, and reasonably priced. The next time I'm in Frederick I'll definately go to Brewers Alley because I used to really like that place and haven't been there in a very long time. However, the visit after that I'll give Isabella's another try. read more

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One of my favorite tapas places in the area. First off, Isabella's has the BEST ESCALIVADA I've ever had. Most other places' are soggy and boring. Isabella's takes the veggies (imagine Spanish take on caponata) and mixes in some capers and serves over leafy greens. Genius. Must have for vegetable lovers. Patatas bravas, usually a reliable tapa, is okay here. Bigger chunks of potato than I'm accustomed to for this dish. And be sure to get some dátiles con tocino; you'll thank me later. Everything's pretty good. I'm waiting for them to bring back calamares a la plancha (once you have grilled squid, fried will never seem as good). Good selection of sangrías and other Spanish wines. A great place for casual dinner with friends or a nice date with a special someone. Highly recommended! read more

I recently visited and I must say that I wasn't impressed. The food was good BUT the server wasn't very cheerful. Also, the material on the wall booth seating was wearing out and it felt dirty in there. I'm not quite sure what happened from my visit years ago but the quality of service has gone downhill. #YelpMDburbs read more

We were looking for small plates/ tapas. This place took small plates way to literal. Tiny plates is what they should state. Do not get me wrong everything that we had was so so so delicious and awesome but definitely not enough. The prices are expensive compared to the amount of food in each dish. The cerviche was delectable but OMG barely enough than 3 bite fulls.and it was served in a huge bowl which made us laugh. We left hungry and went down the street to the taco restaurant To get something to fill us up In summary the food is very very delicious just not enough. Don't come hungry! read more

This place was super busy one Sunday morning for brunch, so we thought it would be a winner. We were actually very disappointed. Service was good. Prices are high - especially for what you get. My mom and her boyfriend ordered brunch, they had the classic benedict and western omelet. They both thought it was decent, but that portions were tiny based on the pricing. I had the goat cheese, strawberry and walnut salad. Which was decent, but again they were not very generous with the ingredients. It also tasted like something you would get anywhere else. The dressing tasted like it was from a bottle. We also ordered the asparagus fries as an appetizer, which was good. But it only came with 4 pieces. And it was $8. YIKES. We won't be returning. We didn't like it enough to want to come back. read more

Isabella's - Strawberry, Goat Cheese & Walnut Salad - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

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Maybe I ordered the wrong things, but there wasn't much flavor that wasn't overpowered by the oil. I travelled extensively in Spain for 13 years and what I ate couldn't hold a candle to authentic Spanish food. I'll have to stick to recreating dishes at home. I had the chistorra and brussel sprouts tapas. Three stars for being clean with good service. read more