OMG!!!! THE PAELLAS!! And the small plates were just so delicious!!! I cant pick my favorites because they were all soo goood! The classic paella was delicious!! Such a cute little spot and so busy!! read more

I don't think there are ever enough tapas restaurants because the concept feeds the foodie in all of us with smaller bites and a wider variety of tastes. Even certain Japanese restaurants reposition their smaller quantity dishes like yakitori as tapas. I've heard about this place for several years including a shout-out on "Check, Please! Bay Area", but once again, it took the pandemic for me to try it for takeout. For sure, something gets lost when you remove the social element of eating tapas. I remember when I was in Barcelona when you count up your toothpicks from an endless display of plates to figure out your bill. However, I needed to be quite deliberate in my choices and hope I picked the right ones. I think I did good. I started with the $10 Ensalada Mixta, a nice little container of freshness with butter lettuce, cherry tomatoes, olives, egg, and tuna salad (photo: https://bit.ly/3Gi7Ei8). I think of octopus when it comes to Spanish cuisine, so I also ordered the $10.50 Pulpo, which presented slow-cooked octopus, piquillo peppers, and pickled onions over a velvety garbanzo bean puree (photo: https://bit.ly/3HPVQEa). Genuinely delicious with contrasting textures that worked. Of course I needed a protein fix and went for the $9 Costillas, a trio of meaty confit baby back ribs accompanied by a salad of pedro ximenez, pickled peppers and red onions, and arugula (photo: https://bit.ly/34HmL6Z). The last of my order was the $9.50 Coliflor, an appetizing box of blistered cauliflower, mornay sauce, mojo picón, and bacon lardons (photo: https://bit.ly/31ObDUN). That was a great cross-section of bites with a gourmand sensibility that worked on my palate. At the same time, I look forward to returning to the restaurant with a bunch of good friends and having the freedom to pick and choose bites on a whim. Will that day ever occur? I wonder. FOOD - 4 stars...well-turned tapa delights AMBIANCE - n/a...looks like it could be fun but mine was a takeout order SERVICE - 4 stars...well organized and nicely packed to go TOTAL - 4 stars...buzzy tapas spot has classy small bites that manage to satisfy if you buy in multiples RELATED - Got a taste for tapas? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/33JCiAC read more

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What a hidden gem in Berkeley; seriously this place was amazing!!! It was busy for a Saturday night but were able to get seated within 10 minutes. Service was spot on and food/tapas were coming out pretty quick. We ordered a lot of everything along with a seafood Paella. Everything was delicious; all the dishes were devoured without a bite; even the paella was destroyed up to the last rice grain! Great atmosphere too and all in all can't wait to visit again! Love the concept, the food, the service and the atmosphere. Come hungry; it's worth it!! We ordered the following; the salad with kale and fruits I think; really good. The patatas bravas , mushroom croquets very yummy, chicken croquette very good, Brussel sprouts - best I've had everrrr with a compliment of grapes! Shrimp confit pretty good. Finally we had the seafood paella well worth the wait! Love this place! Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Atmosphere 4/5 read more

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Delicious paella, croquettes are divine, I would definitely come here again, the staff was a pleasure and very nice. It's a cozy little restaurant that packs a big punch of flavor. read more

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Have had dinner here often and love it. Had brunch today with a group of 8 and it was amazing. Great flavors and ambience - amazing service. read more

Never had tapas before. Always wanted to try. Damn have I been missing out Impeccable balance in flavor and textures. Would come back again. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

Went here to celebrate a birthday. Thankfully we had a reservation as the place was packed. We ordered some wine and tapas. They have a good albariño on the menu. Food took a while til it came out. They might be a bit under staffed. We ordered the crab croquettes, the patatas with aioli, the fried calamari and stuffed peppers. Didn't really like the stuffed peppers, the cheese inside just didn't taste great. The other dishes were good, my favorites were probably the patatas and the fried calamari. The black squid ink was unusual but great as dipping sauce. As dessert we had the chocolate cake. It was ok, but actually prefer the classic, it was just a bit too much salt and orange peel for my taste. The restaurants Ambiente is nice, just a bit noisy and cramped. But that's authentic for a tapas bar staff was friendly and attentive. read more

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We ordered several dishes and the paella mixta and marinera for brunch. Faves were the octopus, egg/salmon bread thing, gambas, egg/pork belly and both paellas. The menu states the paella is big enough for 2 but it seemed like it'd feed more than that. There were 8 of us and it was just right with all the other dishes we had. The churros were the only disappointment as they just weren't good. The creme catalana was good... like creme brulee. read more

Neighborhood gem, don't sleep on this place excellent food great service the white sangria was delicious lamb, sliders paella, crispy potato with oxtail, wild mushroom, croquette, shrimp, croquette, ribs, broccolini the best I've ever had I will be back read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

Takeout review - a very solid tapas option! We ordered 7 tapas for 2 people, and had some leftovers. Everything kept pretty well for takeout, which was nice. We had: The kale and radicchio salad: very fresh and generous portion. Loved the pear and candied walnuts Shrimp and onion fritter: my favorite item I think Calamari: still crisp after delivery; generous portion and flavorful breading; a lot of heads which I like Octopus x 2: the octopus was tasty but I must say I don't love it composed with bean purées. I prefer grilled octopus with garlic olive oil or chimichurri Albondigas: the boar was interestingly gamey. I thought these were just ok Stuffed red peppers: stuffed with goat cheese - pretty fresh. The octopus come with bell peppers so has I known I wouldn't have ordered this. OverWe didn't order paella and thus had trouble ordering enough tapas that weren't fried - maybe offering a tortilla or more meat tapas would be helpful. I also wish there was bread. But overall everything was tasty and I look forward to dining in person one day! read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Our spread - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

Been here a few times, happened to be by myself each time and sat the bar. The bartenders seem uninterested in customer service and last night in particular, the tortilla tasted fishy and the other dish was a ridiculously small amount of food. Won't waste my money here again. read more

Food was delicious as my companion and I sat at the bar the servers were the nice balance of talking and letting us talk with each other.

The place was quite popular on a weekend evening and the indoor area was packed. Definitely recommend to make a reservation. They also have a lovely outdoor patio with heating, which was much quieter compared to the indoor dining, and worked perfectly for our party. Be aware that the outdoor patio is not open around 6:00 pm which is not specified on the booking system. I was very excited about the food based on the great reviews, and unfortunately felt a little disappointed. The dishes we tried were not bad but we've definitely had better paellas. Out of what we ordered, tocino (pork belly) was my fav and definitely worth the price. It was very tender with nice flavor. A star given to the friendly staff. Also, the dishes came out pretty quickly. read more

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We showed up here on Friday for dinner without reservation. It was confusing since we got to the back and they said they do have tables but we have to go to the front. We went to the front and they didn't seem pleasant with us having no reservation. Managed to get a seat but didn't feel too welcoming. I wanted paella but it'd take a long time so we had to pass on that. We got some tapas items with sangria and food was served relatively quick. - Tocino (braised pork belly, hazelnut pistachio romesco, cherry poached figs): tender and well seasoned pork belly, definitely recommend. - Bruselas (Brussels Sprouts, grapes, balsamic-Pedro ximenez, reduction): a great addition for the meal if you want vegetables. - Costilla (sherry marinated confit ribs, pickled peppers, arugula): the ribs was good and I'm glad they serve it with arugula. - Albondigas (boar & beef meatballs, tomato cream, manchego, guindillas, toast): it's just ok to me since I'm not a big fan of this type of meat ball. Great sauce for the toast though. - Cangrejo Croquetas (Dungeness crab & squid ink fritters with squid ink aioli): crispy on the outside and be cautious when eating since it's hot. Heard that they have great paella so we might have to come back for that. read more

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Good food & reasonably priced. The atmosphere is too crammed and stuffy though. The hostess and waitress were a bit snobby and tried taking away our plates when there was food still on them. We all felt a but rushed since they were busy and probably wanted to turn the tables. Our waitress rolled her eyes when she thought we were taking too long to order. read more

I recently returned from Spain and was very excited to try this place as I love Tapas and Paella. We started with a wonderful red Sangria. The fruit was scrumptious and fresh. We tried several small plates with coquettes and they were superb. The Frisée salad was delectable, fresh and full of flavor. I will return to try the Paella.. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Interior of La Marcha - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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used to be lots better but tapas got increasingly saltier and heavier. paella is slightly too soggy now, but HH tapas are still cool! recommend: brussel sprouts, croquetas, pork belly, and calamari read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Croquetas de Championes, Bruselas, pork, and Calamares Fritos - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been here a few times and the food is consistent. If you are missing Spain , this is comparable. We ordered Patatas Bravas, Pulpo Gallego, Croquetas de Championes, and Tocino . For drinks we had the Estrella Damm Lager and the White Sangria. Patatas Bravas has a kick and the sauce was Smoky the Pulpo Gallego is elevated with crispy garbanzo, the Croquetas Championes (mushroom) was paired with mojo verde. The surprise dish for me was the Tocino- tender, falls apart and easy to eat and I love the fig sauce. The decor is simple and modern. The seating is close to other patrons and could get loud. Overall I love the food here. Come visit and taste for yourself ! read more

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My friend and I had a visit to Berkeley and stumbled onto this gem! It was a Thursday evening and we walked in and the only space was at the bar, what a treat! We enjoyed the food tremendously and the service, even though busy was attentive. The next time I am I am in the area I plan on coming back. read more

My husband and I got married in January and he made our first Valentine's Day dinner reservation as a married couple at La Marcha. Yesterday (Valentine's Day) morning, I went on their website and couldn't find a special set/prix fixe menu. I ended up arriving to dinner with the erroneous assumption that we'd be able to select from the regular dinner menu (which I would have been totally fine with). It was, consequently, slightly jarring to see the set menu and, honestly, most of the items listed were not ones I would have normally selected. At that point I didn't think we'd have the option to leave since reservations come with a $25/$30 charge per person if cancelled. Also, at 7 pm that night, I didn't feel like schlepping off to another restaurant. When I asked our waitress if there were any potential options other than the ones listed, she politely told me that there weren't. To add to this, La Marcha decided to do what some other restaurants do on special occasions which is to squeeze as many tables into their space as possible. Another Yelper, Paige D., posted a photo on September 5, 2021 of what the space, I assume, typically looks like. Yesterday (Valentine's Day), it looked much different, with maybe 5-6 inches between tables. My husband and I were seated between two other couples in full conversations, and it took me a minute to wrap my head around my surroundings. It definitely was a rookie mistake on our part to not inquire ahead of time about the menu and also the ambiance. That said, I enjoyed the white wine sangria, the Rabo de Toro (oxtail and polenta) and the paella for the most part. At the end of the evening, the meal was $200+ and... underwhelming, and I'm not sure I'd make much of an effort to come back. read more

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My husband brought me here for my birthday and luckily we had a reservation because it was so busy that a walk-ins were being turned away. Food was on point. Everything was so tasty. We came with another couple (so that we can order more food) and we definitely all had our favorites but there wasn't anything that I really didn't like. Paella was really heavy but it was soooo good. Definitely glad we came with friends so that we got a good variety of items from the menu. Overall we had a great time. I'll be back. read more

Every once in a while you "stumble" across a GREAT place and this would be it for a long time!! Wow!! Cute cozy place (at 5 pm on Saturday totally booked) so we sat at the bar. Great wines by the glass...all Spanish blends and reasonably priced. Food came out quickly and was fantastic!! Scallops, calamari, brussel sprouts and albondigas (meatballs) with a very tasty sauce. These were tapas so small plates but for $100 we were very well taken care of by Juan from San Francisco. read more

I rarely say things like "wow" or "amazing" in reviews, but that's exactly what our meal made me say. We started with the red sangria and a few tapas (small plates), including the stuffed red peppers with goat cheese, pork belly, and meatballs. Then the marinara paella (a more traditional version), which were all excellent. This paella rivaled, if not surpassed, what we had in Barcelona! Service was friendly and impeccably attentive. If they aren't Michelin starred, they should be. Make a rez and go! read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

My friend had made reservations for 2 on a Sunday night and we arrived early and they were able to seat us inside. We had one white and one red sangria. The red sangria was too strong, but the white sangria was lightly sweetened and I enjoyed it. For the food, we had the blistered peppers and mixed paella and finished it all. The food was okay, like other reviews, it wasn't anything "special". Go with the paella if you want to have rice for dinner, otherwise, I'd say stick with the variety of tapas. For dessert, we had the chocolate cake w/ a mousse which is not indicated on the menu. That was just okay too, the mousse wasn't good and the cake was too thick. I wouldn't order it again. Also - with the QR menu you scan it and view it and order verbally with the waitress. They didn't tell us that and we kept trying to order through the app and then she came over to tell us to order with her which wasn't too helpful after the fact. If I go again, I would just stick to the tapas selection and not order the chocolate cake. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Was looking a nice place for a date night dinner and happened to come across La Marcha Tapas Bar. This was my first time indulging in Spanish cuisine and was not disappointed to say the least. The menu was vast which can come off as daunting but our server was nice and eloquent when it came to recommending entries. The patatas aioli was my favorite due to its crunchy exterior but keeping a nice soft inside with the aioli was a perfect combo. The paella was perfect to be shared for 2 and even had more for leftovers which went well the next day. Will be back again to try more of their appetizers ! Thank you for the experience read more

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The inside of the restaurant is cute. Paella was visually stunning but needed more seasoning. It was lacking the bold flavors to match the beautiful presentation. The ratio of cheese and nut spread in the Bimi was off. If the broccoli is the star, let it shine. And the Bimi could have been more cohesive as I felt it was three distinct and separate ingredients put together on a plate. The Pulpo was yummy but again the ratio was off. Too little octopus; too much hummus, pickled vegetables, and chickpeas that I didn't really care for. read more

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Came for Valentine's Day Dinner. Seated 40 minutes past the reservation time (they told us it was a 10-15 minute delay at first). The restaurant was crowded with too many tables so we had to wait outside on the sidewalk. The food was good though and their service was fast (except the water refill took 20 minutes), but they proceeded to forget one of our dishes in the fixed menu, and when we asked about it after waiting for 15 minutes, the manager lied by saying they were "going out of order from the menu" and brought another dish out instead. The dish then took another 5-10 minutes to prepare. Decor was pretty nice, just very crowded and noisy for a "nice" dinner. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - bone marrow croquettes w/ hamachi - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Stepped in around 5:30 pm, the guy in the front said he'd be with us but took around 4 minutes. Then asked if we had a reservation and we told him no. He said the next table for 2 was at 7:45. We asked if we could sit at the bar and he said the bar was reserved ( never heard of this before ) . We asked to be placed in the list but never got a call or text. He was sassy and had attitude. I love this place and the food but this was a bad experience. It's upsetting because my husband and I have been regulars here, never been treated like this. I went online to join the waitlist and it said I was first in line but was never reached out by Open Table. When my husband went on their site and tried making reservations there was a 6:00pm available. There was 4 open tables and 2 seats at the bar when we came in. Disappointment is an understatement. read more

We used La Marcha / Nora Catering for our wedding and it was an unforgettable day. Dalia and Emily was communicative beforehand (accommodating dietary needs and adjusting our order when we changed our minds about which items we wanted) and supported us in making this day as magical as it was. Everyone raved about the paella chefs at the event; the food was amazing; Emily and her staff were super gracious, helpful, tireless, and accommodating and my coordinator mentioned they were the most helpful staff she's worked with. We definitely recommend Nora for your event. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is definitely one of my favorite spots in the east bay. I have never been dissatisfied with any dish that we have ordered. The sangria is also amazing. The only reason I am not giving a five star review would be the service. I make a reservation here every time and still don't sit down until at least 30 minutes after my reservation. This has been the case every time I've gone. Once we sat down, no one even came to serve us water until at least 15 minutes. Once the food had arrived no one checked in on us, Except to give us the check. Our last visit was on a Monday night. read more

The food was great little small on the inside tables close together The sauces on their tapas and different dishes were excellent never taste anything like it, and the sangria was great read more

Good location although parking is precarious depending the day and time of the week. The decor is nice. The ambiance may be hindered by the sound which makes conversation a challenge. Food is good but not the best of Spanish Taps. Service is nice although I had an attitude problem with one of the servers of my desert. Overall prices are above expected. read more

Love this place! I had my friend's visit and took him to this restaurant for the first time. I made a reservation for two. When we arrived around 6:45 p.m., tables were already full. Highly recommend to reserve a table if you plan to visit. We had cheese plate, salad, croquettes, paella and some other dishes. Everything was beyond my expectations and very delicious. I will for sure come back. read more

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Amazing service! My home girl Dom (Pamana Plantas ) owner & I had lunch here! Amazing service! FOOD AMAZING! HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I love their happy hour, it is from 4pm-6pm Monday - Friday. You can make reservations on OpenTable! Save on a pitcher of sangria between 2 and some $6 tapas while waiting for the main dish. Which for me, is the paella. The tapas are good, the paella is good, the sangria is good, that is all I need to be fulfilled for the night. I've been here maybe 3-4 times already and I still like it. read more

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The croqueta burgers here will change your life! There are regular burgers, and then there are croqueta burgers with a deliciously fried cheese patty inside. YUM! Their El Clásico Croqueta Burger contains a beef patty, manchego cheese croqueta, CB sauce, lettuce, red onion, and bone marrow butter on an Acme bun. When you cut into or take a bite of the burger, the melted cheese literally oozes out from the croqueta. It is magic. The Cangrejo has a Dungeness crab and aged cheddar croqueta and uni aioli. This one doesn't ooze out like the El Clásico, but you'll definitely a delicious combination of crab and cheese in each bite of this burger. La Marcha also offers a variety of Spanish tapas that are great for sharing! I loved their Queso Y Chorizo Patatas Fritas (French Fries)! They are smothered in manchego cheese sauce, crispy chorizo flakes, and chives. I had never had Buñuelos (shrimp and sweet onion fritters), and now I'm a fan! These deep fried fritters are perfectly crispy and delicious when dipped in the lemon aioli. They have a beautiful outdoor patio space, which I really enjoyed! Definitely great for enjoying a nice meal with your friends, family, or significant other! read more

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The squid ink paella is solely a seafood protein type of dish. There is no good way I have ever seen to add meat flavor to a dish that has overall sea taste. The sausages in this paella do not make any good to the flavor of this dish. It only makes the dish cheaper to make, since only clams are used as protein. The price of the squid ink paella does not reflect the ingredients used. I would not order it again. San Jacobos are nice and remind me of kids menus when I was a kid. The cheese was really good and it was fried to perfection. Ham croquetas are good but have tons of ingredients not part of a traditional croqueta. The cinammon dip is surprising and itself it's good, but I did not fully understood what the dip added to the ham and cheese croquetas. The patatas bravas were ok. Not greasy. Good size and good sauce. Service energy was mixed. Not sure if the team was new or something. Ambiance was chill. No AC was on but it was ok inside. read more

It's our first time trying La Marcha, I was very excited to try the tapas and Paella, it was meant for a birthday celebration. However, was a bit disappointed in some of the food options presented to us. Our server was not detailed about the options nor was I informed that children were also charged. I had three children that did not eat the food, however we were still charged. It did not occurred to me until I looked at the bill again when I returned home. I was also disappointed with the service. We were automatically charged with 20% gratitude and I can say for sure that our server to did not work his best to get this gratitude. The whole entire night the service felt rushed and we didn't have anyone check on us. I don't think we will be returning again. read more

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Atmosphere, foods, and service - 4 stars The setting was a bit odd, the restaurant is in the front, but entrance to the patio is behind the restaurant where you have to walk around the corner, enter behind the 7-11 parking lot, but be alert, that you cannot park in the parking lot and do not drink too much as you would have to walk around the corner to enter the front store for bathroom.... aside from that, don't let it discourage you from dining at La Marcha Tapas Bar. Food is a BOMB. The fries were crispy and packed with garlic flavors; ribs fall off the bone, with a hint of sweet bbq sauce not drowning the ribs and love the arugula salads and grilled red peppers. Shrimps were also great which cooked perfectly. Definitely a winner and love to return. read more

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Tldr: this restaurant is still working out the kinks as it reopens. They weren't taking reservations (the person on the phone said because staffing had been a challenge), the back patio wasn't open, and it was a clunky process to get seated and order. That being said, my friends and I had a wonderful meal that was worth the celebratory splurge. We arrive a bit after 4 pm to a short line of a couple parties waiting to be seated. One of the parties left--my guess is because the patio was closed. There was a sandwich sign in front that said patio seating was through the 711 parking lot (I saw the party walk around the corner and come back to confirm with staff). Similarly, we were disappointed. However, the restaurant was practically empty so we took a chance. We were seated and it took about 5 minutes to get a menu, which was via QR code. They also brought us two waters (we were a party of 3), but we asked for a 3rd and we quickly received it. We ordered the pitcher of sangria and the waiter said that they could do half white and half red, which was perfect! We also started off with: patatas bravas, tocino, and the kale salad (the name escapes me and isn't on their online menu). The wait staff first brought us brussel sprouts, which we initially declined because we didn't order them. They tried bringing it back to us and between the first visit and the second, we decided it look delicious enough to keep and pay for. Lol. The brussel sprouts were crispy and had a good kick of balsamic vinegar. I also was amused by the grapes that were mixed in. I'm glad we accidentally received it! The rest of our dishes came out and they were all delicious! The tocino earns special recognition--crispy pork belly with a nice succotash was DIVINE. It was rich, but the flavors were well-balanced. Everyone said that it was a favorite. As we ate, we saw another table's generous helping of the calamari and we instantly wanted it. We went to order it, but they had already sold out. We were all very sad, but decided to order the bunuelos. These came out relatively quickly and were also a tasty favorite. The shrimp came through and the crispy texture was perfect. The aioli, which looked more like a yogurt sauce was and amazing addition. I kept taking small bites so I could keep dipping into the sauce--this was a task because the fritter was already something that could be finished in one or two bites. Ha! We finally decided to wind down the meal with dessert. We were trying to decide whether to get the pastel de chocolate and the tarta de requesón. We got both! I preferred the pastel over the tarta because it was rich, dense, not too sweet, and had a lil bit of salty. The tarta was a little too light and didn't quite have enough acid for my taste, but I still ate and enjoyed it. If it wasn't for the pastel, I probably wouldn't have felt as satisfied. Overall, we enjoyed the meal over two hours, which was an experience I've missed since the pandemic. Is it something I'll do again soon? Probably not, but the experience will hold me over for a while. The close out process was fast and easy. They didn't bill us for the brussel sprouts, which was generous. After the initial seating, I wasn't sure what to expect, but my concerns quickly dissolved and I'm so grateful for the wonderful food memories we created La Marcha, I am sorry I only have two pictures...but it is evidence of a meal well-cherished. read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - Pastel de Chocolate - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

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