We went here for lunch on a Friday. I made reservations, but didn't seem to need them - only a few tables were occupied. Nice, high ceilinged place with a charming feel. We sat at a table next to the window, great spot. The food is incredibly good! Not one thing was bad! - The Bruselas (Brussels sprouts) were very crunchy, good flavor - The Bravas were my favorite - love the spicy sauce with them - The Bimi (grilled broccolini) was very tasty. Veg was not overcooked! - The Croquetas de Champinones (mushroom and manchego fritters) were tasty. They weren't what I envisioned though. These were like a paste, fried. Excellent job on frying - very light and crunchy. - The Albondiga Sub was good. Like the bollilo roll. Meatballs were a good size without being too large to eat. They were tender, so they stayed in the sandwich when you bit into it (didn't squeeze out). Sauce was not overly spicy. - The Tuna sub was good, according to the diner. - The Rucula salad was very good. - My Pollo Bravo sandwich was excellent! The fried chicken piece was fried perfectly, wasn't dry. The slaw was excellent. I was really impressed that the bun had been grilled/toasted. This kept the slaw from making the sandwich mushy. Great job! read more

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We had an amazing dinner, which was a family celebration. Our table of 5 orders a dozen tapas and a paella. We loved every dish and all picked different ones as our favorite. So basically, you can't go wrong. In every single dish, the ingredients were fresh and the flavors were vibrant. While the rest of us had dessert, my husband had another order of scallops because they were some of the best he ever had. The live music was the icing on the cake. We had a really nice meal. The only bummer was the hostess was not great. She was fine, but was not to the level of the rest of the staff. We had reservations for 5, but they gave us a table for 4 with a chair stuck on the end. And these were small tables to begin with, tight for any group of 5. When I explained that we had 3 people in our group over 6'6", she said she was too booked to give us more space. We had two people that sat turned with their legs outside the table, not ideal. Then I noticed three tables stayed empty the whole hour and a half we were there. I'm sure they were saving them for walk ins, but we actually had a reservation and should have been accommodated. And she wasn't rude, but she kinda blew me off. UPDATE: Sergio from La Marcha responded the next day about the hostess and let me know that should not have happened. His message was lovely and very appreciated. We will definitely continue to support this restaurant. read more

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

Typically, the Spanish tapas places I have been to have small portions because they're tapas, with like maybe 1-2 bites per person for every dish (with a party of 4). Therefore, because I was hungry, we got 15 dishes including a paella. We ordered 16, but we didn't get the goat cheese (Piquillos) but that didn't matter since we were absolutely stuffed. Some of the dishes only come with 2-3 pieces, but you can always add an extra one for a party of 4. Here's a rundown of what I would get next time knowing what most of the menu tastes like: Vegetables: Cesar: Light, refreshing, great to start the meal. Not too sure if the squid ink contributed that much to the flavor. Patatas Cargadas over Patatas Aioli: both are great, however, the additional of the tender oxtail with the brava sauce just elevated the crispy potatoes. But, the brava sauce may be spicy to those who are sensitive to it. Think higher quality, leveled up Taco Bell cheesy fiesta potatoes. Coliflor over Bimi: Again, both are great, all the vegetables were cooked perfectly. The cauliflower, to me seemed more complex compared to the broccolini which was more on the simple side. Seafood: These are lighter than the meats and can't go wrong with any of them. Calamares: Nice portion of light, crispy squid that pairs well with the squid ink aioli. Pulpo: One tentacle that was tasty and tender, can't go wrong with it. Vieras: Big scallops that are beautifully cooked with a nice sear on them. Meats: You probably only need 1 of these as they do get heavy. Tocino: One of the favorites, crispy, tender, fatty and rich pork belly with a small sweetness to it. Costillas: Super tender, fall off the bone with a side arugula salad. The pickled vegetables and salad complement the richness of all the foods thus far. Carrilleras: Super rich, heavy and full of flavor. Goes well with the toast. Croquetas De Cangrejo/ Croquetas De Bogavante: These all tasted very similar to one another so best to just get one. Think crab cake like filling, not like a Japanese croquette. Bunuelos: It was alright, didn't stand out from any of the croquettes, similar to like a crispy fried shrimp you can get at dim sum. Paella Marroqui: Flavorful rice with some crispy bits. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the paellas. Staff is super friendly, very quick, changed plates, amazing. Ambiance is lively, about 25-30 ish seats inside with a bar. There's street parking outside that's free after 6pm. Overall, super stuffed, could've probably gotten away with 10 dishes including a paella. This place is worth checking out. read more

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We, 3 of us, went on a Wednesday night. We had reservations and we were glad we did! The atmosphere was really nice and the smells were great! We had a cocktail to start and all 3 were beautiful and tasty. We ordered 5 different tapas that were fabulous! The scallops were one of my favorites, so were the fried shrimp balls, we also had a board of Spanish Serrano ham, pickled onions and almonds and cheeses. I would highly recommend La Marcha! Really great food! read more

It's been a while since we visited La Marcha. Always worth the drive. Love the food and the hospitality. A great place to enjoy yourself and get a taste of Spain!! read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - The brunch Paella!! So delicious as usual - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food was AMAZING! Service was superb! Ambiance is cool! We tried: - Patatas bravas. Nice and crispy on the outside potatoes. Love the seasoning. - Croquetas de champiñones with mushroom & manchego, mojo verde filling inside. Delicious! - Hamburguesas morunas. Lamb sliders that I can eat more of!!!!!!!! The harissa mayo is a plus! - Paella Marinera with mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari. Legit paella! Our server was super nice and the seating hostess opened a bottle of Cava for us on the house, due to a table seating mishap. All the staff were quite hospitable. read more

Food is great, service at the bar was kind of awful. It was a Tuesday so it wasn't a packed place to understand the lack of service. My friend & I sat for at least 10 mins before the bartender gave us menus. Took another 10mins to get our order. She overall seemed kind of annoyed by having to work perhaps? The food came out faster than the amount of time it took us to get menus & get our order taken. The food was incredible though! Probably won't sit at the bar again, table side service seemed more attentive. read more

The food was tasty, as usual, but the service was not. We sat at the bar and ordered cocktails and several items. We were quickly served our first order of croquetas. But after one bite we realized they were under cooked and still frozen inside. Shortly after sending those back our second order (different type) of croquetas arrived. One bite in and you guessed it, frozen inside again. Other items arrived while we sat waiting for both orders of croquetas to be remade...and for our cocktails to arrive. The remade croquetas, eventual cocktails, and everything else were fine. The staff was seemingly apologetic, but upon receiving our bill there was no compensation provided. Neither of the two croquetas that had to be remade were removed, just expected a minimum 20% tip as if we had a perfect meal being served at one of the tables rather than taking responsibility for serving uncooked food. Just remove one or even a comp a drink or dessert and it all would have been ok. You can do better La Marcha. read more

3.5/5 A solid tapa place. We ordered several tapas to share with the highlights being the crispy potatoes, brussel sprouts, mushroom & crab croquettes! Docking off some points due to service. There was a party sitting behind us that came in after and got a paella before us. Our table thought it was strange but didn't think much and saw the table eating it. A bit later we noticed their table flagging the server and said it was the wrong paella. The server took it and brought it to the back of the kitchen and a few moments later brought it to our table. We saw the whole thing happening and questioned the server if this is the paella that was mistakenly brought to the other table and if it was a fresh new one. Server said it was a fresh new one but I questioned it again and said that we saw the table eat it and that our paella was brought to the wrong table. Server said "oh they ate it? I didn't know." We were shocked they were about to serve us a paella that the other party ate. If we didn't say anything they would've served it to us anyways. Staff were very apologetic and offered us two complimentary tapas as a result. We did have to wait another 30-45 minutes for a new paella to be made but no big deal. * Patatas Bravas & Bruselas: can't go wrong with the classic crispy potatoes and brussel sprouts! * Croquetas De Champinones (mushroom): the highlight of our group of all the tapas we got! Love the combo of the mushroom/cheese/pesto sauce! * Croquetas De Cangrejo (crab) and Croquetas De Bogavante (lobster): Crab was the winner between the both. I honestly didn't taste any lobster and the mahon cheese overpowered it. * Pulpo: Good but overcooked. I liked the purée and dish was elevated with the crispy garbanzo/pollen. * Albondigas: Iberico & beef meatballs. Okay but nothing special. Meat was a bit dry but the tomato sauce cream sauce was good. * Arroz Negro Paella: Yum! Super flavorful. The trout roe definitely elevated this dish. The food was good, but the whole situation left a bad impression. I understand mistakes can happen and staff was very friendly and apologized several times so that was appreciated. read more

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We were lucky to snag a reservation at the last minute. The food was great, way better than I expected. My favorites were the meatballs and Brussels sprouts. It's a small cozy spot but it can get crowded during happy hour or late night happy hour so make sure you make a reservation in advance! read more

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Amazing food and great service. A must try. Everything was wonderful. Hope to come back soon!

Been meaning to formally try La Marcha after discovering them during COVID. My family booked a lunch here with myself + bf. So. Much. Paella. The service here is A1-- water was never left more than half full, dishes were fast to arrive, empty plates were bussed instantly. No frills, just diligence. HORCHATA: I think they add vanilla? Not gritty, very creamy and mellow. Probably one of the better horchatas I've had. PULPO: Surprisingly soft and tender, with a bit of sweetness. My family loved this. CROQUETAS DE CHAMPIONES: Melty manchego + savory mushrooms. I hardly noticed the crispy shell. In the spirit of adventure, we ordered every paella on the menu. My favorite was the Mixta-- the meats cooked together brought out an incredible umami flavor. A few paellas skewed a little too salty for my taste, but overall great eats. read more

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Forgive me for the half eaten food photos, my associate Craig is quite gluttonous when we go for Tapas! 10/10: crispy and light breading with a well seasoned calamari interior. Squid ink aioli was well balanced: earthy yet creamy, savory yet zesty Salad: 9/10 perfectly dressed with slightly smoky crunch. Dressing was a little on the underwhelming side but shredded cheese added the savory balance needed scallops 7/10: slightly overcooked but the olive tapenade packed a flavorful punch. Chorizo flavor was close to absent, as olive over powered any presence of the sausage. Negro Paella: Always incredible. Wonderful umami from the squid ink, saltiness from the fish roe, creaminess and citrus balance this dish so well. Service is always spectacular, always a go to for tapas and paella! read more

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Went without reservations. Place was packed, hostess gave us an hour later spot. Heard a lot of great things about this place so we took it. Waited about an hour. Ordered the gin n tonic and pork belly for appetizer which was awesome. For our entree we ordered the squid paella to share. Loved it. The service was fast and precise. Small place, but great ambiance. It was a great experience read more

La Marcha in Berkeley is a tapas treasure trove where every plate marches to the beat of its own drum--the food is so good, you'll want to join the parade. From the swoon-worthy Carrilleras wagyu beef cheeks, Tocino fig pork belly to the Cargadas patatas bravas that pack a punch, each dish was a flavor fiesta. Seriously, if taste buds could do the flamenco, they'd be dancing all night. But while the kitchen was firing on all cylinders, the bar was more of a slow waltz than a salsa. The Bar Manager made a point of letting us know he was the cocktail curator, but unfortunately, his service was shaken, not stirred. Watching him drop ice cubes into glasses one by one was less "craft cocktail" and more "ice age"--and with drinks coming out slower than a siesta, the bar was definitely on the rocks. It wasn't just us--servers and fellow patrons were all waiting for their drinks, and even the staff had to jump behind the bar to pour their own wine and beer when the Bar Manager escaped to the back kitchen for the fourth time. His meticulousness was impressive in theory, but on a busy Friday night, it left us parched and pondering if we'd ever see our anniversary cocktails. We ended up at Merado925 to finish our celebration, but we'd absolutely return to La Marcha for the food--just maybe with a BYO sangria next time. Here's hoping the bar service catches up to the kitchen's rhythm, because this spot will certainly deserve a standing once internal team synergy finds its way. read more

This was a great little gem that hits the spot! All the food we ordered was delicious - seafood paella, croquet, the shrimp - were the top favorite. The flavor was spot on, and it was very well seasoned and balanced. The paella has a nice crispy Socarrat layer but wished it had more. The calamari was good and fresh (as is everything else) but we wish there was a bit more crispness. The drinks were also nice and refreshing. Only wished the old fashioned had a large ice cube, but no biggy. Service was also good- our waitress was very friendly. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed this little gem and would definitely come back if we're in the hood. read more

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We wanted to try this place for the longest time, and yesterday was the day. I made a reservation for 5:30 pm, the old man at the door was very polite. It was still happy hour. With happy hour you get a bite sample of their tapas. The food is very good, 5 stars to the food. The ambiance was ok, cozy. But I wasn't impressed with the service. At the beginning Nelly was polite, but them she forgot to offer me a tapa with my second drink. Then I I decided to ask a question to the busser about the happy hour rule for a free tapa with a drink. That enraged Nelly and she just told me that if I have a question or doubt I should ask her. After that small situation, the service from Nelly went down the drain. I don't want a waiter/waitress to be happy and smiling all the time, but I do expect good customer service. Maybe Nelly wasn't having a good day yesterday, but for me, anyone working in the service industry should offer excellent customer service all the time. I will give 5 stars to Gabriel the busser for customer service. Next week we are going to try Teleféric Barcelona in Walnut Creek, maybe it will be a better dining experience. read more

I would give the food a 5 but the service a 1. We went for the 10pm happy hour which is a great deal on food and drinks, however, the employees that night seemed annoyed that we were even in there. They weren't friendly at all and it took 24 minutes for them to take our drink order. We had empty water cups for about half of our visit and had to ask for water. They decided to close early at 11:30 and started to stack the chairs. The sangria is amazing and the food is great too but we hesitate to come back because of that experience. read more

Food 3.5 stars / 5 - most of it was flavorful and correctly cooked, if overseasoned with salt. Loved the mushroom croquettes. Didn't love the lamb sausages left whole on top of our paella - so gamey! Service 4/5 stars - staff were all friendly and knowledgeable, but seemed overwhelmed by the crowds. Someone at the next table was delivered my drink. No one acknowledged the note in our reservation that this was a birthday meal. Location/decor 5/5 stars - all lovely! read more

We came here on a Saturday night and the place was packed! Thankfully I made a reservation online so we got seated right away. The chicken croquetas were crispy with a creamy, flavorful filling, and the patatas bravas were perfectly crispy with a hint of spicy sauce. The highlight was the Paella Mixta, loaded with tender chicken, seasoned rice, chorizo and grilled shrimp. It takes a while to cook, so order it early. Parking was easy with paid street spots right out front. Definitely coming back!! read more

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

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Nice, cozy place, with lovely food and friendly, chill service. I can't believe it was our first time here. My kid's choice for his birthday dinner. I asked "sushi or tapas?", where he would typically choose sushi, no matter what the other option is.) Thank goodness for tapas! My favorites were the patatas bravas and roasted Brussels sprouts with grapes. And seafood paella was yum. And the blackberry Cabernet Sauvignon sorbet was amazing. read more

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Incredible Food. Service was some of the worst I've experienced in years. A general feeling of apathy, waters left un-refilled, never greeted, Service staff didn't seem friendly. When I asked about menu items, the waitress left and didn't come back for 10 minutes once she returned she said she forgot my question and asked if I was ready. Not catastrophic, but put a bit of a dent in the excellent night me and my four friends were having. read more

Went for a mid-afternoon snack and ordered the Patatas Bravas. They do it perfectly! The potatoes were the right size and thickness and there was plenty of orange-y brava sauce on top. The sauce had some kick, but not overly spicy. My eyes are watering and my mouth is salivating just thinking about it. read more

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Service took an hour to bring the food out. The ambiance was okay, the music was relaxing but the service just didn't satisfy me. First they forgot about our drinks and didn't bring them until we got our food and then our food took an hour. Bread looked like it was soggy out the microwave. Menú had something called "Rabo Dip", ordered a Pollo Frito but it still tasted like rabo. read more

La Marcha is a cute restaurant in Berkeley that is in the smaller side. Parking can be difficult but you can usually find street parking close by or within a block. Unfortunately, the service was very slow and it was very busy when we arrived for our reservation lunch time on a Monday. Our server seemed very stressed and was doing his best. The drinks were delicious and well made! However, the food was lacking. My Pringa sandwich did not have a balance of flavor and mostly salt took over the dish. The salads we ordered were okay and the proteins in those salads lacked salt. The papas bravas were tasty but needed more acidity or lacked the depth of the dish. Everything was okay. I might suggest trying it out and seeing if it was just a rough day or if it hits different for you. read more

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

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SQUID INK PAELLA. One of the most memorable and interesting dishes I've had anywhere this year. Great value for the meal and lovely well-lit brunch atmosphere. Traffic seems to clear out by 1pm for brunch. Highly recommend ordering a paella for the table right when you get seated, well worth the 30-45 minute wait. Churros amazing and not too sweet. Amazingly subtle flavors on the shrimp and octopus. Brussels sprouts were a bit more tart than I expected from the balsamic. Horchata had a hint of carrot taste that I personally was not a fan of. read more

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Everything was so delicious! I would absolutely recommend the paella, it's some of the best paella I've ever had, but there was not a single bad dish. A little pricey but definitely worth it if you are willing to splurge! read more

Super busy night around 8:30p on a Saturday. Came in without a ressie but were able to get a seats at the bar for two in less than 10 minutes. Note: sitting at the end of the bar by the restrooms is the corner where the staff seem to hang out in between checking on tables. At least tonight it felt like being stared at a lot. The food is SO flavorful. Take your time with the tabla de ibéricos...each variety is pretty nuanced so pause for the cured meat cause to really appreciate the differences. The patatas bravas were nice and crispy, each bite having some crunch. Not a single soggy patata. And the paella marinera tasted like the sea. SO good and a generous amount of shrimp, clams, squid and mussels. SO worth the time for it to come out. Very delicious meal! read more

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Make reservations! We had a party of 6 and had to wait a little bit for them to push tables together. It's a relatively small and dimly lit place, but great ambiance. If you have a big group, it's best to order two of everything so everyone has a chance to try it. Our least favorite was the pulpo, I think everyone prefers their octopus to be more grilled. It was too chewy. The table's favorite was the croquetas de jamón. I personally love albóndigas too. The sauce was amazing. We also ordered the squid ink crab croquetas which was interesting, but won't order it again. The small paella says it only can feed up to 4 people, but it was plenty for the 6 of us. The churros was the best dessert as it was light and crunchy. The warm chocolate sauce was a nice complimentary, but not needed. Definitely, a great place if you're feenin' for some tapas. Lots of options to choose from. I would hands down come again, esp to try their happy hour. read more

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We indulged in a selection of food and drink. I was asked about alergies, "alcohol" I said. She came to my table to design a drink for me, gave me a taste and I approved. Spouse had a horchata Started with a salad included soft cooked whole egg, tuna, and greens. Followed: tocino pork belly, kohlrabi slaw, sherry figs, SAUCE sweet and spicy AND patatas bravas crispy potatoes, spicy brava sauce they perfectly crisp and sauce spicy AND bruselas brussels sprouts, grapes, balsamic-pedro ximénez more perfect cooking and delicious sauce. Portion sizes filled us up and we brought home salad, porkbelly some brussel sprouts. Packed house at 6PM quick and cheerful service. Hard of hearing gave us a table we requested to mitigate noise. I am now gonna go finish off the left overs. Next time be safe and make a rez read more

This was my first time here and the tapas was really good! I really enjoyed the salad, really refreshing with the grapefruit and the coqueta was great. As for the paella, it was ok. I had better paella elsewhere. I would come back for the tapas! read more

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Service was horrible! I went for my birthday with a group of girlfriends, the staff was rude. They rushed us and said we can only sit for 90mins! The food was delicious but all the servers had a bad attitude and being a woman of color being served by colored women didn't feel welcomed at all. Definitely not returning. read more

Everything I got here was wonderful and I will definitely be back again. I would order everything I ordered. Get the red wine sangria with real fruit bits, the chicken croquetas, the meatballs, and the potatas bravas (slightly spicy). Great place for a date night. The food above was more than enough for one person; I had to bring most of the potatas bravas home for leftovers. read more

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A popular Spanish tapas bar, La Marcha not only survived the pandemic, but it is thriving. I passed by there and decided on the spot to have dinner there. It was on a late Sunday evening. The place was packed, filled with groups of young people as well as families and solo diners. The hostess was very courteous and tried her best to accommodate those of us without reservation. Service was friendly and efficient. The hostess, the waiter, and the busboy worked in symphony, serving and turning over diners smoothly. The seafood paella was on the mark, delicious and satisfying. On-street Parking after 6 PM was easy. They still have Happy hours as they did pre-pandemic. read more

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We were in the area for a show so we came to La Marcha on the recommendation of a friend. Street parking was relatively easy since we were there early in the evening. We ordered several tapas to share and wine by the glass. The food was excellent but service unfortunately left much to be desired. There was little to no follow up from our waiter, my silverware was removed and never replaced (we had to take a set off another table in order to continue our meal), one of our dishes seemed to have been forgotten, finished items were not cleared... you get the idea. It was very disappointing. That said, the meal itself was quite good. I particularly liked the Coca (foccacia with jamon, carmelized onion, manchego, pear, walnuts, and honey dijon), the crab and squid ink croquettes, and the Fabada Asturiana, a white bean stew with chorizo, blood sausage and pork belly. Perhaps it was an off day. read more

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Paella is good, tasty but a bit mushy (for Brunch). The croquettes are delicious but too tiny (3 pcs)...we were hoping for better size serving of 4 maybe. Will go back to try other apperizers. read more

If you are in the area, definitely check out this busy tapas bar. There are two seating areas, inside and on a covered patio reached by walking around the corner and through a parking lot. The patio was great and had several space heaters. We had a carafe of their delicious red sangria and an assortment of tapas. I was enjoying my dinner companions so didn't take pictures (except for our desserts!), but it was all fantastic. We had the potatoes with aioli, octopus, the mushroom croquettes, the bean stew, and a savory donut. As it we weren't full enough, the desserts were tempting and we gave in! There was an olive oil cake, a Spanish crème brûlée and a tasty type of cheesecake. Yum! read more

La Marcha Tapas Bar - We had three delicious desserts! - Spanish Near Me - Berkeley, California

The food was just okay. Went there for brunch but there was no brunch being served when we arrived. Super bummed. Paella Marinera needed some work - very very "oceany" texture was also a bit under for me liking. My fav was the pulpo. Service on a Friday with reservations and only 2 other tables in the restaurant was non existent. Asked if there was Aperol Spritz or something like it, server said no but on our way out I did see Campari. I don't see any of us four going there again. Would rather drive out to Zuzu in Napa. read more

The worst restaurant experience of my life. Do NOT come here if the weather is warm. They have no AC and no fans. We were all melting including our 11 month old baby. It was much cooler outside and it was one of the warmest days of the week . We quickly ran through our water and had to repeatedly ask for more as they didn't notice our cups were almost always empty. Also they have NO ICE. Who doesn't have ICE!? We ordered 2 paellas which we were told would take "30 mins". Over an hour later they finally arrived.. They were awful. So overly seasoned and salty. One of us ordered the oxtail brunch plate which came with one measly oxtail peace. Very unsatisfying. I gave 2 stars instead of one because some of us tolerated the saltiness and thought the food was decent enough. I would never come back and would not recommend this place to anyone. The cherry on top were the flys.. probably would have been avoided with AC or a fan. read more

This is my second time coming to this restaurant and I am still amazed by how good the food is! It was so delicious, from the yummy happy hour drinks to the tasty appetizers and the paella.. omg was sooo good!! read more

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