one of few restaurants I've seen on TikTok that exceeded my expectations. we tried 10+ dishes and all of them were tasty, some better than others. It's dimly lit, the ambience and decor are perfect for a romantic dinner date. for 6 we got: apps- - croquetas de jamon: crunchy shell with an salty, creamy, potatoey inside, - ensalada de patata: literally tasted like potato salad, couldn't taste much of the crab, the other flavors overpowered; would skip this one - empanadas: the tuna belly was so tender, wasn't dry at all, and paired well with the sauce (reminded us of the orange sauce from Spartans), somehow thought there was chicken in it too but apparently not - mini cornetos de atun: my favorite app, tuna was super tender and flavors melted in my mouth, it was slightly fruity, crunchy from the cone - oxtail canelones: one of the not as memorable menu items, it was oxtail stuffed in a pasta shell but didn't really stand out to me - abuelitas meatballs: sauce reminded me a lot of beefy stock of beef bourguignon sauce, the meat balls were tender and great with the sauce - april special calamari: not really different from other calamari I've had, didn't really taste anything different, it was crunchy and not too oily which was nice main- -pulpo à la brasa: octopus is super tender and paired with a creamy sauce, but not really a standout imo compared to other dishes paellas each came with lemon and side of cream to add to your liking- - paella negra con vieras: extremely creamy squid ink paella, seafood is fresh and this was my favorite - normal paella no squid ink - same as above - paella campestre: this was a slightly less creamy paella with a slight tomatoey flavor with juicy pork belly and chicken overall the paellas were sufficiently creamy and tasty with a variety of meats, they also came out ~20 min rather than the 35 minutes wait time they specified desserts- - tiramisu de melindro: big portion, circular piece of tiramisu in a cup, very creamy, breading is slightly moist, not too sweet - saquets de crema: a few pieces of tasty fried pastry filled with gooey chocolate and cream inside - gorgonzola cheesecake: they put a lot of raspberry puree on top, it wasn't super super cheesy, I think the raspberry puree kind of overpowered the cheesecake but it was still pretty good would come back~ read more

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A very pretty restaurant with great service, however, the food did not standout as much as the vibes unfortunately. We came to Macarena on a Sunday and was seated almost immediately with a reservation. As soon as we walked in, I was amazed at the interior space, so aesthetically pleasing! As a note, this restaurant is located near the heart of downtown Palo Alto so parking is hard to find and limited, for folks reading this review, I truly hope you get lucky. We came as a party of four and here is what we ordered and our thoughts! *Churros bravos: Definitely the main star of this restaurant (what makes them unique). In my personal opinion, while the potato churros are fun to eat (these are a completely a savory dish), I wish it had more depth to them. They were a bit plain and I wish they were more salted. I do understand though they might have held off since it did come with a sauce already. *Mini cornetos de atun: Cute finger food with raw tuna. I typically love dishes like this; however, I felt like the waffle cone was a bit too sweet and did not contrast well with the tuna. If the tuna had a bit more of orange citrus flavor. I think I would have liked it more. * Grilled calamari: This was good, however I do not think it stood out enough. The salsa mery did not really have any strong flavorings. * Abuelita's meatballs: Surprisingly, I did enjoy these! The gravy coated sauce on both the meatballs and potatoes made it homey and tied it together. *Paella negra con vieras / Paella Campestre: The paellas was tasty, but I wish both had crispier bottoms, but the grains of rice was cooked well. The meat/seafood to rice ratio was perfect to me, and they both had unique flavor profiles. Overall, this place had good food but not enough for me to try to come back a second time. read more

i was really excited to eat at this new spanish restaurant and take my mom out for mothers day but it was an okay experience. i took my mom out sunday for mothers day and we sat on the outdoor patio. our server greeted the table next to us and was very kind and patient and introducing them and wished them a happy mothers day. she turned to us and didnt even say hello and said are you ready to order. it was fine, i just ignored that because it was busy and we ordered. food was okay, pulpo came out cold and the paella was good. lemon pie for dessert was amazing. at the end she went again to the table next to us being very nice saying thank you for coming in today and happy mothers day and when she turned to us, she just put down the check. first time not awknoledging it fine but the second seems intentional. overall food was fine but i prefer the food and service at teleferic barcelona in town and country. read more

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Seafood paella was better than the beef paella Fish was ok Papas churros was amazing Drinks also good Appetizers very small portions Good service read more

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Nice ambiance and good service. Tapas were good but was disappointed by the tiny unbalanced portions of bread in some of the tapas. We ordered a steak paella and it was wayyy too salty and could not finish it. We were seated outdoors and it got quite chilly, no heat lamps were turned on. Parking was difficult to find nearby, I ended up parking a few blocks down in the residential area. read more

Macarena - Spanish Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Hands down one of the best restaurants in the Bay Area! I can see why Bad Bunny came to this place haha. My experience from start to finish was delightful, all of their staff were friendly and our waiter made sure we had everything we needed. The lighting and ambiance in here is perfect for a date night! I took my boyfriend here to celebrate his birthday. We ordered the ribeye paella which is a special not on the menu and was priced at about $90-97. Which I think was worth the price, the portion size was huge! And the paella was addicting. The meat itself could've used more season but I think the rice paired well with it. The empanadas were made out of tuna but didn't have a fishy taste to it, as someone who is Mexican it reminded me of the taste of tinga which is a chicken plate. Sooo incredibly good! I will definitely be back, we had an amazing experience! read more

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This might be the best patio dining in Palo Alto now. Macarena opened their new outdoor terrace and it feels like a little escape to Spain right in downtown Palo Alto. You have to try their classic tapas and mains: Churros Bravos - my favorite, crispy potato churros with creamy spicy brava sauce Grilled Octopus (Pulpo a la brasa) or grilled calamari Paella ribeye - ask for socarrat, for crispy rice! I'm obsessed with how perfectly medium rare and juicy the ribeye was, completing the salty and flavor paella. I also love the cute little table-side gin cart for a gin and tonic cocktail moment! The patio itself is such a vibe, with heaters, greenery and views of Cogswell Plaza. It's perfect for a relaxed dinner, drinks with friends, or a date night, just feels like you're stepping into a European bistro. The owners and chefs are from Spain, and you can tell. Everything feels authentic but still elevated. Service was amazing (shoutout to our server Christian). Enjoy the festive spirit of Feria de Abril over good vibes, tapas and drinks! read more

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I took my parents to try this place out and it was decent! I had a plethora of dishes: Rib eye paella - Rib eye was medium rare and soft and tender, paella was well seasoned and the socarrat was such a solid element. The crispiness was a nice touch. Branzino- Fish was well cooked, deboned, and simple. It was fresh and actually very melt in your mouth. Churros Bravos- Potato churros were good! Warm and crispy. Eggplant chips- These were actually my favorite. Honey drizzled on top and tasted super light and crispy. Jamon Iberico- Decent, wen eaten with bread it was a nice appetizer. Pulpo a la brasa - Octopus was tender and not at all rubbery. The potato puree was also very heavenly and very well made. read more

4.5 stars Reservation experience was good. I booked for a Saturday dinner a month ago, then in the week leading to it, I had to move it to the next Saturday. When I logged into Opentable, I was able to find the same time slot 6:30pm the Saturday after, there was no stress at all to book a new one and cancel the old one. Parking was also better than expected. We arrived at the peak dinner time and we were able to park on the curb side right outside of the outdoor dining area. At the entrance, we were warmly greeted at the outdoor and the host led us inside. The hosts inside quickly got us seated. The restaurant's decoration was elaborate, with expensive chandeliers and a tree planted in the middle. There's also a full bar. The tables and chairs were cozy and inviting. Some corner areas are decorated like a snook with soft round sofa chairs, feeling very inclusive. Even the bathroom has this low profile dark but luxurious sense of comfort. Our server Felipe was amazing. He explained all the specials and gave us time to absorb them. There are 3 specials for the night, the roasted pig, the rib eye paella, and the Branzino fish. Because they all took an extra 25 minutes to prepare, it is very smart of him to lead us into that first. Our bus girl was also very timely with water refill throughout the whole meal. Felipe replaced our dirty dishes after the tapas courses before introducing the entrees. All food came quickly and continuously, the pace was comfortable. At the end of the meal, Felipe waited to make sure we were all comfortably resting after clearing all the dirty plates and delivered a birthday dessert. He and the bus girl sang the birthday song and best of all, he was a pro in taking pictures for us. Filipe knows to use the table lamp to add extra light to the camera, and our pictures turned out perfect. -Paella Ribeye $98: lots of ribeye meat on top and the rice was cooked just right. You can taste each grain in the mouth with a full texture that it soaked up the liquid. Unlike Chinese fried rice, the paella is slightly moist. It also came with half a lemon for you to squeeze onto the paella and a bowl of cream. -Pan con tomate $12: tomato paste on bread. A dish tailored for children. If you order meatball, I suggest to save some bread to soak up the sauce, more to that later. -Eggplant chips $10: a plate of very thinly sliced eggplant with honey drizzles on top. The eggplant comes from the big fat kind, not the long Chinese eggplants. The honey overpowers the eggplant so that the eggplant taste is mild. -Empanadas $14: 4 fried dumplings with a spicy aioli on the side. The fillings are sweet red pepper and premium tuna belly with smoked pimenton de la vera. -Oxtail Canelones $16: slow braised oxtail meat wrapped inside canelones with a rich creamy sauce. We can taste the oxtail meat cooked to tenderness. It's a good and creative dish. -Pulpo a la Brasa $24: an octopus leg charred with mashed potato. I think the octopus leg was slightly overcooked as the end was a bit burned. The dish also seemed a bit too small for an entree. Nevertheless it's a safe choice. -Abuelitas' meatballs $18: I felt the meatballs textures could be a bit more spongy, but the sauce reminds me of the delicious beef tripe tapas in Sevilla. This is where I crave for bread that could soak up the sauce. All in all, all the dishes we tried were good and meat expectations. There were no bad dishes that we regretted the order. We didn't order any alcohol, but when our neighbor table ordered a cocktail, the staff pushed a cart over and made the drink at the tableside, which is entertaining to watch. There used to be an employee health care charge on the bill, but this time it was a clean bill with only itemized food orders and plus tax. I'm pleasantly surprised. Before going to this dinner, I was browsing fellow Yelpers' comments and I was a bit worried. I saw their ratings were like a roller coaster with some heavy high and low ratings. I was worried that it would be like a hit and miss experience for a birthday celebration. However, our experience was positive and I'm very happy for my choice. I did not find Telefèric's menu creative, but I like Macarena more for its creativity and execution in food, warm and on point services and its beautiful decoration. read more

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Finally made it to Macarena and it was so worth the wait. I've been wanting to try it for a long time, and it honestly exceeded my expectations. The space itself is beautiful. It has such a good energy, stylish but still comfortable, and just the kind of place you want to sit and enjoy for a while. Everything we ordered was amazing. We had the ribeye paella, empanadas, and the churros, and every dish was full of flavor. The empanadas had the perfect crisp on the outside with a really rich savory filling. The ribeye paella was definitely the highlight. The steak was cooked perfectly, super tender and flavorful, and it really did melt in your mouth. The whole dish was just so well done and balanced. You can tell they really care about the details. The drinks were also a standout. Very creative and different from what you usually see, but still really delicious. Service was great too. Everyone was attentive and welcoming. Overall, such a great experience. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service all came together perfectly. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

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I had a chance to try Macarena last night and overall really enjoyed my experience. The service was top notch, the ambiance was nice and I enjoyed a lot of the different foods. I had heard of this place before but of course after we heard Bad Bunny went here after the Super Bowl it really got on my radar! For food we tried: *Croquetas de Jamon 5/5 - I enjoyed this thoroughly, they were warm, crispy and full of flavor and filling *Churros Bravas 5/5 - hubby and brother really enjoyed this dish, it was like a crispy potato in churro form with a yummy aioli sauce. I love how unique this was and we did see a lot of tables ordering it *Eggplant Chips 2/5 - personally I did not like these but they are very thin pieces of eggplant with honey on them. I felt there was too much honey on these and the chips pieces was a little big and too thin? Overall I would skip * Tuna CoIberia 5/5 - everyone on the table enjoyed these. I could not have it due to diet but I was told they had lots of flavor and were good *gambas al ajillo - 3/5 personally these were good but not great. It came with 6 shrimps in an olive oil sauce but did not come with any bread or anything of that sort to dip in which would be nice. Not bad, but other items were better * Salmon in papilotte - 4/5 I really liked this dish and the salmon was made really well with nice grilled veggies. I wish there was more sauce though to bring more flavor, but the preparation of fish/veggies was great *Catch of the day - 5/5 this was branzino dish and we loved it. SO GOOD and game with thin potatoes, onions and tomatoes... the preparation was amazing here * Squid ink paella - 4/5 surprisingly we loved this a lot as well, overall our family does not love paella but with the sauce mixed in we really enjoyed this! * Saquets de crema - 5/5 WE loveeed thisss these were like these creamy custardy bites wrapped with phyllo dough you could dip in chocolate. So yummy They also gave us a free chocolate cake dessert as this dinner was for an anniversary with a candle which was really sweet. Really enjoyed our experience here and would come back! read more

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This is always a great experience. The food is excellent -- last time I went, I got the Salmon en Papillote, which was delicious. The salmon simply melted in my mouth, and the curry sauce was excellent. Drinks and tiramisu were also top notch. The interior decor is elegant and understated, and there's also pleasant outdoor seating. Service is impeccable -- the host was very accommodating, since we asked to change tables a couple of times due to temperature issues. Waiters are very friendly and knowledgeable. Prices are surprisingly reasonable for what I regard as a pretty high end restaurant. Definitely worth a try! read more

Macarena - Salmon "en Papillote" - Spanish Near Me - Palo Alto, California

My wife's birthday was coming up and I was on the clock on finding a good restaurant for her to go to. Her being a fan of tapas, I immediately got to searching and Macarena came up during my search. Being a 90's baby and seeing "Macarena" gave me a wave of nostalgia and after reading good reviews and also seeing that Bad Bunny gave it a blessing after his SuperBowl performance, we were set to go. [[ Location ]] It's located one street away from the heart of downtown Palo Alto so there are a lot of places to go afterwards when you are done eating. We went during lunch at 11:30am and I found a lot of free street parking (2 hours free). No issues here. I guess the main restaurant is hard to see but they have a huge built-out outdoor patio you cannot miss so it shouldn't be hard to spot. [[ Service ]] Unfortunately, my Open Table reservation did not make it into their system for some odd reason. I was able to show the reservation on my app though and even they were super confused. It wasn't busy at 11:30am so I guess it's not a big deal but I would probably be a lot more annoyed if my reservation was not found if I were coming from dinner. Hopefully they can figure out what happened in their system. Other than that, I thought our server Deisy was really good. She explained all the specials to us when we sat down, checked in on us constantly to make sure everything was tasting okay, and also came back to refill our water without asking at least 3-4 times during the meal. Excellent service. [[ Food ]] Some quick notes: 1.) I think the tapas here are on the smaller side so I would advise ordering 3-4 tapas for a table of 2 if you want to be full. 2.) The Paella itself is quite large for 2 people and can serve around 3-4 in my opinion. 3.) Even though the restaurant is fancy/beautiful, I thought the pricing was very fair for the quality. We ordered the following: Mocktails: a.) Flor de Maracuya b.) Matcha Rojo Tapas: a.) Croquetas Jamon b.) Ensalada de Patata c.) Oxtail Canelones Mains: a.) Pulpo a la Brasa b.) Paella Campestre My favorites were the Ensalada de Patata, Pulpo a la Brasa, and Paella Campestre. They were the highlights of the meal and each bite was superb. The only one I would not personally recommend is the Oxtail Caneloes. No issues on the taste or anything but I just didn't like that combo overall even though I love Oxtail. read more

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This past Friday my co workers and I decided to try this place based on the reviews. We had a reservation at 6pm, for four of us. Two of us arrived by 5:40pm, we asked if our table was ready. The young lady showed us our table, we ordered our first round of drinks. When the two other ladies showed up, we ordered appetizers and our meal. During this time our group ordered a decent amount of drinks. When our food showed up I was starving since it took sometime for it to come out, I want to say almost an hour. To my surprise it was not worth the wait. The steak was extra fatty and super salty. The veggies that came with it didn't look appealing, I didn't even try them. I had a side of broccolini, I asked for it to be plain with everything in the side. Well that didn't happen it had some black powder and lots of salt. I had a couple of bite of my steak and decided to leave it aside and order dessert. For dessert I ordered tiramisu, that must have been the best item I tried at this place. Overall the place is beautiful, service is not there. I had to ask for water a few times. We didn't know where our server was most of the time, we had to ask people to get her for us. Spending over $600 on a couple of items was super disappointing. Oh the worse part was when what appeared to be the manager on duty came over our table and asked if she could clear it, not once but twice. Yes it's 8pm at that point but my co workers wanted their last drink. Maybe instead of her asking if she could clear our table she could have asked if we wanted to order anything else. Think before trying this place, if you like salty flavorless food check it out read more

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5/5 Fruto Del Amor - great refreshing sweet drink that packs a punch, favorite item of the night 3/5 Mojito - refreshing and good flavor but not as strong 4/5 Ribeye paella - meat cooked wonderful but rice not as crispy on pan and flavor was lackluster, aioli helped a lot 1/5 eggplant chips- not crispy at all, kinda stale and needed more than just honey 3/5 churros -melted in mouth but would have liked a sweet sauce as an option and not just savory 3/5 croqueta- savory filling was good, crunch could've been better 4/5 oxtail - very flavorful, portion was small compared to other tapas Overall the hostess and server Sebastian were amazing! They were able to switch our inside booking with another party that was willing to move inside. This allowed our party of 4 to sit at a table versus the bar. Very appreciative that they were able to accommodate us! Decor outside was very cute as well. read more

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Came for a large birthday lunch on the weekend, about 12 people. Was allotted a 3 hour dining window for the reservation and provided a pre-fixe food menu plus all-you-can-drink beer, wine, and sangria. Atmosphere is really cute with both indoor and outdoor dining. We were indoor and it was a mix of chic but rustic comfort. Standout dishes were three three paellas we had as part of our menu. - rossejat de fideuà - my favorite paella i tried. Have never had paella that was made with crispy noodles. I loved the crispy texture and also found that this was the most flavorful - paella campestre - only took one tiny bite of this one so I don't have much of an opinion but the protein was cooked well - paella negra con vieiras - second favorite paella made with squid ink, scallops, calamari, swordfish, shrimp, peas, and aioli. Seafood was really well cooked with nothing overcooked The one thing that did throw me off about this reservation was that about 2.5 hours in, they no longer allowed us to have all you can drink, even though it was part of our menu. Yes, a couple people in the group were a little rowdy so I understand if they wanted to cut the group off. However, it wasn't about cutting us off as they said we could still order and pay for the drinks during our last 30 min. Was just a bit of a bummer and didn't make sense, especially because we arrived about an hour late so didn't have as much time as others. read more

Macarena - Spanish Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I've been eyeing this place because I love a good tapas place, and even more so since I heard Bad Bunny bought out the place for his private post-Superbowl party. While walking to the restaurant, I saw all the outdoor seating from a distance and thought it was super cute. I was really excited to see the set-up was for Macarena! There's heated lamps and fuzzy blankets to keep you warm, but we came on hotter day so it wasn't necessary. We started off with a few drinks, both mocktails and alcoholic bevvies alike. I got the flor de maracuya ($8) which is a mocktail composed of pineapple and passionfruit juice. I really liked it and thought it was the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. My sister ordered the matcha rojo ($8) which was another non-alcoholic drink featuring blood orange and a housemade matcha soda. The blood orange notes were there, but none of us tasted the matcha at all. Husband got two glasses of sangria ($14 each). I'd say skip the white one, but the red one wasn't bad! Foodwise we ordered the churros bravos ($12), la vie en cheese ($24), ensalada de patata ($22), and the squid ink paella ($48). The churros bravos were such a disappointment. UGH. I was so excited for them! They were just crispy potato churros without any flavor and no fluffy interior. The sauce it came with was really good though. I mentioned my thoughts to the server, primarily because I was so dismayed by something I thought would be absolutely delicious, and to my surprise, she said she would take it off the bill for us. Everything else was a hit though. The cheese board came with a fat slab of brie and an amazing tomato rosemary jam, but not enough pieces of tostada for the cheese (it's always like that isn't it? Give me my carbs!). I did appreciate the handful of grapes and dried figs on the side as well. We ordered the crab potato salad just for funsies, but it was actually decent. The star of the night was definitely the paella. The menu says it's good for 2 people, but I think it could feel 3 or 4. The seafood was cooked perfectly and we even had enough leftover to enjoy the following day. Staff packed it up for us quickly. I would have liked to try the desserts, especially the tiramisu and the gorgonzola cheesecake. However, we just came from afternoon tea so decided against more sweets. Next time though! read more

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Croquetas de jamon 4/5: savory filling, light crisp Churros bravos 3/5: delicious sauce, not oily Eggplant chips 1/5: not crispy, light sweetness Empanadas 4/5: great portion, ample amount of filling Oxtail canelones 3.5/5: pasta was almost too al dente, oxtail was tender, sauces pair well with rich meat Rib eye paella 4/5: great portion, rib eye cooked well, tender, delicious garlic aoli Service 5/5: Sebastian was amazing! He answered all of our questions and was always checking to see how our experience was going. Servers and host staff are attentive and kind, they accommodated a last minute change to our reservation! Ambiance 5/5: was sat outside and it was extremely comfortable, beautiful seating and place settings read more

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2.5 STARS Were the tapas seasoned with imagination because why was everything so bland at Macarena?! Macarena has been on my radar since it opened last year, but I was on the fence since PA restaurants can be hit or miss. However, the recent addition of outdoor seating convinced me to check it out. IDK if Bad Bunny's visit during Superbowl weekend boosted their exposure so much that the staff now think they can get by without much effort...because the food and service were not it. But more on that later. Rezzies are a must on the weekends (unless you don't mind eating outdoors). M E N U Spanish tapas, owners are Telefèric Barcelona alums. A la carte menu, along with prix-fixe family style menu ($75 pp), and suckling pig meal ($150 for a party of 2-8). Full bar. F O O D * Churros Bravos: Potato Churros w/ brava sauce (5 pc- $12): https://tinyurl.com/54dkafyf Best dish of the night! A creative twist on patatas bravas, the potato churros was crispy on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside. Served with a deliciously creamy, smoky spiced aioli. I regret not keeping the brava sauce to use for the other dishes. * Mini Cornetos de Atún: Crispy Squid Ink Cones w/ tuna tartare, orange escabeche (4 pc - $18): https://tinyurl.com/3fy2dhc8 Tiny portion of flavorless tuna in a dry mini tart crust. I asked about the squid ink cones for the mini cornetos de atún and was told they'd been out for a week, which hadn't been mentioned when we ordered. The staff said they'd talk to the manager to remove it from the bill, but when we paid, the bill wasn't itemized. After requesting one, we saw we'd still been charged and had to remind them to correct it. * Gambas Al Ajillo: King Prawns w/ olive oil, garlic, chili ($18): https://tinyurl.com/4d5wwavm Six overcooked shrimp swimming in a shallow pool of tasteless oil. When we requested a side of bread, customary with gambas al ajillo, we were told the only option was the $12 pan con tomate. I was down to pay for a side of bread so this came off as an excuse to upsell. * Oxtail Canelones: Mini Canelones w/ slow-braised oxtail, béchamel, veal reduction ($16): https://tinyurl.com/ycxpmbmd Beautifully plated Catalan pasta tubes stuffed with meltingly tender shredded oxtail but sadly, the dish was severely underseasoned. Rather than rich, savory flavors it low-key tasted like eating plain cream. * Braised Wagyu: Slow-Braised Carrillera w/ gravy, creamy mashed potatoes ($38) The beef cheek was tender on the outside but not warmed through, giving the marbled fat a waxy, unappetizing texture. Like the other dishes, it was bland. S E R V I C E 5+ star service from Orlando (busser) - warm, friendly, and kept our water glasses full. He even offered water to the doggies. The other FOH staff we interacted with either didn't care or need training, as they lacked basic hospitality and customer service skills for this level of dining. We had early rezzies - food arrived promptly but with our drinks didn't arrive until the middle of our meal. A M B I A N C E Vibes are everything these days and Macarena has that down solid, it's trendy with lush greenery, lattice ceiling, and gold finishes. There's an open kitchen and a beautiful bar area. The thoughtful design extends to their outdoor parklets with tear drop lighting, faux fur draped chairs, and accent pillows. Overall, I'm not sure if we just hit Macarena on an off day but the food felt universally bland and the service too lax. OFC, everyone's experience can vary for a number of reasons and palates differ so it's worth trying Macarena for yourself. read more

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My husband and I took our friend who was visiting us here. We ordered four tapas/small dishes to share - artichoke, calamari, jamon, and gambas. Skip the gambas, it was more small frozen shrimp, but the rest were good. We ordered the paella with steak and the branzino to share. It was plenty for two men and a woman who eats well loll They push the pig on to you a lot, but we did not get it. I'm glad we did not. It would've been too much food. Our server was ok. Think she was new to the more formal restaurant scene and had trouble with both bottles or our wine. But the sommelier, think his name was Saltan?, was great. Wish we had him when we were picking our wines. The ambiance is the winner. Very romantic and interesting interior choices, and we enjoyed the diverse people (in the Bay Area!) that dined in the restaurant. The music and the lively convo of people does make it harder to hear each other, so go elsewhere if you are wanting a quiet and romantic dinner. read more

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We kept coming back! Bringing family and friends. Great food and amazing service! Perfect location and ambiance too read more

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I made an impulse reservation at Macarena at the end of January and was super excited to check it out. We love paella and tapas in this house! First off, the ambiance at the restaurant just felt luxe. We're talking fur covers draped over all the chairs in the outdoor seating area out front. Velvet couches and moody light in the front section where we were seated. Def a nice date night vibe. But we're here for the food ok! We got our usual staples for tapas - croquetas and pulpo. Then we also go the oxtail canelones. I'd say the croquetas and pulpo were good but nothing too memorable. Now that we're over a month out, I honestly can't really remember much of what they tasted like, but I def remember preferring the pulpo at teleferic barcelona. I didn't even know what canelones are when we got the oxtail canelones, but I knew like oxtail! Turns out they are like little rigatoni pasta shells stuffed with oxtail and a cream sauce. They were yummy! I've never had oxtail in that form, but it was super tender, like shredded shortrib in pasta. Def an interesting dish, I could have eaten a lot more of them lol. Now for the paella - I kept seeing pics of a ribeye paella and was like where is it on the menu?!?! Turns out it's an a special off menu item, though the waiters did seem to offer it at each table. I'll say it was rlly good, but also a bit like two stars (ribeye and paella) competing with the each other for attention. I felt like it maybe detracted from my ability to fully appreciate each one. Overall I thought it was a solid meal, but I'm still partial to teleferic for our Spanish food cravings. read more

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WOW. WOW. WOW. I have truly been missing out! Just visited Macarena for the first time recently and this was truly an experience. I made a reservation prior, so we were seated immediately. The ambiance is very intimate, romantic, and enchanting. Felipe was our server and he was the sweetest! He was always checking up on us, giving us recommendations, and making sure we were taken care of. What we ordered.... Food -- JAMÓN IBÉRICO PAN CON TOMATE CHURROS BRAVOS LETTUCE FLOWER RIB EYE PAELLA (special!!) Drinks -- CAFÉ Y CACAO PALO CORTADO SOUR MELÓN CON JAMÓN Everything was truly amazing! You HAVE to go order the rib eye paella. The meat was so tender and perfectly seasoned. The paella had an amazing consistency and it all paired together so well. Cafe Y Cacao is an amazing drink if your an espresso martini girlie, but order the Palo Cortado Sour if you are feeling more fruity!! 5/5 recommend. I can't wait to visit again soon! read more

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My boyfriend surprised me here for our anniversary and we were both excited to go here because of Bad Bunny (lol) but also its been on our list for a long time. Beautiful place and WONDERFUL staff. The service was so attentive and even gave us a free dessert for our anniversary. Spacious area with a big bar and comfy seats. I really liked the octopus but the rest of the food were okay, we only got the tapas and I think next time we'd get the paella it looked great. The empanadas flavor was okay it just tasted like tomato sauce but the outer shell was so good and crispy. The drinks were delicious. I need to come again to try other items but overall cute little date spot read more

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Such a beautiful restaurant with great service. Definitely my favorite paella in the bay... the steak is incredibly good!!! Such good tapas as well. I've already come back a few times. If you like cheesy cheesecake, make sure to try the one here :) my boyfriend even wanted it for his birthday. read more

Macarena - Paella (steak) - Spanish Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Beautiful indoor space and service is very attentive and friendly. I observed the staff feels like family as they all work together to make sure guests are happy. I ordered a Pina colada type mocktail that was delicious! The paella with rib eye was delicious. The tapas we ordered were tasty but room temp which was disappointing ( the meatballs). Overall I would come back again if I'm in the area and give it another try. read more

Macarena - Spanish Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Rating: 2.5/5 We visited for a Friday date night after seeing the beautiful decor on Instagram. While the ambience is stunning and clearly well-thought-out, the experience didn't quite live up to the aesthetic. Service was a bit average, and we were disappointed to find out they were out of the Gambas after we had already ordered. We tried the Empanadas and Vegan Paella, but as fans of Teleferic Barcelona, we found the flavors here to be a bit underwhelming by comparison. It's a lovely spot for a drink and photos, but the food didn't quite hit the mark for us. read more

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heard Bad Bunny dined here before so had to try. couldn't get a resy online but calling worked. interior is moody, dim, really nice vibe. went with a group so we shared a bunch. tapas were actually super unique and packed with flavor. potato churros were a standout. paella was good, a bit on the saltier side but not one-note. just wish it had that crispy bottom. overall, solid spot for vibes + sharing plates. read more

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We made reservations so as soon as we checked in with the hostess we got taken care right away. So glad we made reservations the place was so busy! Parking is limited but we got lucky and found a street parking nearby. The ambiance is so elegant. We seated right in front of a beautiful fireplace. The chair was comfortable. Foods we ordered: Eggplants chips Birria with cheese and bread Squid with green sauce at the bottom Main dish: rib eye paella dessert: tiramisu and saquets drinks: sangria and verdelicous Everything was absolutely delicious. They had different people served our foods and all were so attentive and nice. They seemed to have the staff working as a team to make the guests dinner special and deliver quick service. Rib eye Paella was the star of the dinner we enjoyed it very much. They have indoor and outdoor seating. If you are outdoor they have heater and blankets ready for the guests in the winter. Highly recommend this restaurant if you are in town. read more

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This place is extremely incredible from the kind staff, delicious food and the yummy cocktails. We found this place through yelp and so glad that we got to check it out in person The ambience is beautiful, a bit moody from a lighting perspective, with an elegant table setting and very spacious interior. Everything we ordered was delicious and large portions Looking forward to coming back read more

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Pretty good tapas! Came because I'm always going to Teleferic for tapas when I'm in PA so wanted to try something new lol Saw Macarena and the interior looked too cute not to book! Tons of Resys through OpenTable at least for now...cute outdoor seating and the inside is also perfect for date nights or girl catchups. Sad that they took over Bird Dog because I really enjoyed my experience there but love that Macarena has a semi-open kitchen concept if you are sitting towards the back. Service was fine, food came out extremely quick and almost unexpected. Highlights: - Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp): absolutely delicious 10/10 - tiramisu: worth getting! - puff pastry: also worth trying! Came in 4 pieces, perfect for our party of 4 - squid ink paella: very good but not a ton of toppings, came with maybe 6 scallops and then small bits of fish -grilled squid: yummy! Pass: -broccolini: ok, olive sauce was a bit cold -potato churros: prefer the roasted potatoes instead -croquettes: super mushy, not fried enough so fell apart -empanadas: wouldn't order again, crust was dry Overall, would be back if I'm in the area! read more

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I've already been here three times. Reservations are relatively easy to get, and it's a solid option when you're craving tapas. It's also perfect for a girls' night out. The indoor seating is insta worthy, and the outdoor seating is surprisingly cozy too. They even provide fluffy blankets on the chairs, plus there are small fountains that add to the ambiance. What we ordered: Churros Bravos - so delicious. Super flavorful. The sauce leans a little salty, but I personally enjoyed it. Ensalada de Patata - notmy favorite. The olive taste is quite prominent. Gambas Al Ajillo - very solid! Eggplant Chips - interesting idea, but really they're just chips. Empanadas - good and easy to share. Oxtail Canelones - on the oily side, but yummy when eaten with bread. Pulpo a la Brasa - potato purée is silky smooth and pairs well with the octopus. Olivada Broccolini - solid veggie option. Paella Negra con Vieiras - my favorite paella. Highly recommend! Paella de Pulpo - good alternative but not as flavorful as the squid ink version. Desserts: Tiramisu de Melindro - so delicious and incredibly creamy! Saquets de Crema - sweet and yummy, though definitely on the sweeter side. read more

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Macarena is so so beautiful! The restaurant is very warm and inviting but also has those aesthetic vibes. We dined here for lunch and it wasn't super busy but there were still people in the surrounding tables. Between three, we shared the churro bravas, croquettes, paella de presa iberica, and the pulpo à la brasa. We originally wanted the fig cheese board and the braised wagyu but they weren't ready at the lunch hour. Churro bravas - I've never had anything like this! They are like the churros you get in Spain but stuffed with the softest mashed potatoes. it came with an aioli of some sort. I loved this dish. i probably could eat 10 of these by myself. Croquettes - Good flavor and would taste amazing with a glass of wine! Pulpo - This fell short for us. It lacked flavor and was difficult to eat as I feel like it could have been charred more. The mashed potatoes like thing was also not the greatest. Paella - AMAZING! Flavor, rice, pork belly, chicken, I mean, the roasted red bell peppers were so so good too. i wish there was more of the red peppers and pork belly. They are super generous with the chicken but not enough pork belly. But other than that, beyond.. definitely made up for the pulpo. Definitely a cute girls dinner or date night spot! Always fun to be dining in downtown PA! read more

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Delicious tapas, paella & dessert in a casual setting with friendly staff - we enjoyed ourselves and will be back! read more

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3.5-a solid 4 for the food and 4.5 for ambiance, but service was pretty dreadful. Recently came here for dinner and was impressed with the decor and overall ambiance. It's beautiful and they really utilized the space well, with a few different uniquely decorated areas like the entrance, bar, and elevated dining nook that made it visually interesting. Overall the food was delicious. Highlights for us were the octopus and the squid ink paella. The seasoning was very well executed and appreciated that everything was so flavorful yet not too salty or one dimensional. Our experience would have been wonderful had it not been for the service. Maybe we just got unlucky but would expect better, consistent quality of service at a restaurant of this caliber. Our server was very jarring--rudely interrupting our conversation to say his piece, not picking up on the cadence of the meal (ie bluntly entering with a dessert menu when we were still enjoying the paella and clearly had quite a bit of food left), and just overall very unaware and clumsy service. Hopefully was just an off night in terms of service. read more

Macarena - Spanish Near Me - Palo Alto, California

The decor and vibes of this place are excellent. I mean if it's good enough for Bad Bunny it's good enough for me! Drinks were great and so were the apps, especially the croquetas. The paella itself was tasty but a little too salty and maybe not cooked quite long enough? I got the special ribeye one and the meat was delicious. read more

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Walking in, the restaurant felt very cozy with its dim lighting. We were a party of two and seated next to another table of two. I usually prefer a bit more spacing between tables, but I assume most of the others were already reserved. We ordered the squid ink paella, croquettes, grilled calamari, and tuna. I would probably skip the croquettes next time. The crust was a bit chewy for my taste and overall a bit bland. The filling was creamy. They weren't bad, just lacking a bit of flavor. The grilled calamari was awesome, with nice charred flavors paired with a refreshing sauce. The tuna was also amazing, very tender and flavorful. I would definitely order both of those tapas again. The squid ink paella was delicious. The scallops were tender, the fish was flaky, the rice was full of flavor, and the garlic aioli on the side was a perfect finishing touch. Overall, the food was fantastic, and the service was great as well. Our water glasses were consistently refilled, and the staff checked in on us often. I would definitely come back! :) read more

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I had heard about Macarena and finally had the chance to try it. The decor was stunning and ambience was elegant. We tried all three sangrias; red, white, and the cava sangria which were garnished with fruit skewers. We opted to share the tapas, salad and a main. First we had the oxtail tapas. The flavors of the meat and the sauce were wonderful. Then we had the tomato salad which was small but packed with flavor. Lastly we had the salmon main. The desserts were exceptional. I look forward to coming back and enjoying the different types of paella. The service was ok. read more

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Macarena is a new upscale tapas-style restaurant in the Peninsula that is great to go with a large group of people, so you can order lots of dishes to share. My friends and I came here for a late lunch on Sunday and ordered a bunch of dishes to try. My personal faves were the churros bravos and the special paella for the day. The churros bravos are like elevated French fries, and tasted super fresh and crispy. The special paella had perfectly cooked medium-rare ribeye that was tender and had a perfect ratio of meat to fat. I thought it was interesting that it came with the cream-based sauce on the side, so you can add as much or as little of the sauce as you'd like. The rice in the paella was cooked perfectly, but I wish the bottom were crispy. I love the crispy bottoms of paellas, so it would be nice if they could add that option for customers who also enjoy. There's ample parking either on the street or in outdoor lots around the area, and it's just a short walk to the main street with lots of shops, cafes, and other restaurants. Service was friendly and attentive. read more

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This is a Spanish / tapas style restaurant in Palo Alto. I went here around 4pm so as expected it wasn't busy, but since I was a solo diner, they recommended me to take a bar spot, which is fine by me. I got the churros bravos and timbal de rabo de toro. The churros bravos is quite creative and is a dish to order as it stands out as unique in a tapas place. You will see patatas bravas in other places but churros? It's shaped like a churro but it is actually deep fried potato - it's really cool and delicious at the same time. Definitely a must order. The timbal is a short ribs with truffle potato puree. This one the short rib is good but everything else is just okay. The bread is a bit stale and the potatoes is not that fragrant in truffle flavor. It's still a good dish but it's inferior to the churros bravos. Service is okay - I had to flag down a server to get water refills but otherwise this place has decent tapas and good to go with a group. I only solo dined as I was on a business trip and in a hurry to catch a flight shortly after. read more

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