My favorite restaurant, hands down. The quality of the food takes me right back to Spain and…read morehonestly rivals some of the best meals I had there. You can truly tell the chef puts so much care and intention into every single dish. I have celiac disease and had never been able to try pan con tomate before. The chef actually went out of his way to create a gluten-free version for the menu, and it was absolute perfection. That level of thoughtfulness and care meant so much to me and says everything about this place. I already loved it before, but that experience made me love it even more. The mushrooms, the squid ink paella, the tortilla... every dish is incredible. Writing this review already has me wanting to go back.

This is close to the Pasadena City Hall, there's street parking and parking garages near by. We…read morewere able to get seated easily on a weekday night. The sangrias were delicious and refreshing. I really enjoyed the octopus appetizer. This is good for a group of friends or on a date. Just FYI: the paella takes at least 35 minutes as noted on the menu. We shared 2 paellas and an appetizer between the 5 of us and we were still kind of hungry. I definitely suggest ordering more.

incredible food. outstanding service. great environment. The employees are so sweet and kind and…read morethe food is so incredible we almost ordered everything on the menu. the cheesecake truly lives up to its description, it's truly the best. Wiley was the sweetest hostess. Please come here.

Excellent experience from start to finish. We were treated like regulars the moment we walked in,…read moreand the host genuinely seemed happy to see us. Vibe not pretentious and food wasn't overly precious. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and gave thoughtful recommendations. The owner/chef even came by to check on us and spent time chatting, which added to the warm neighborhood feel of the place. They were also extremely accommodating with dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. No full bar, but the sangrias were excellent with great flavors, and the wine list was approachable rather than overwhelming. Nice touch that everything is available by the glass, carafe, or bottle, with bottles still being the best value. The vermouth on ice with dessert was fantastic. Every dish was excellent. The strawberry gazpacho was a fun twist, and the artichoke hummus rivaled the hummus at Saffy's, though in a different style. I also noticed the very high-quality olive oil across multiple dishes, which says a lot about the attention to detail. Heads up, they seem to have a cult around their cheese cake, every staffer mentioned it and waxed poetic (as do many reviews). :-) We'll do it next time but opted for the flan which did not disappoint -- texture and flavor spot on. This feels like a place that wants to become a true neighborhood spot. The long bar seems ideal for casual walk-ins or solo diners looking for a quick bite and a glass of wine. We went all out, but you could easily order a couple of plates and a drink and leave very happy. Portion sizes were generous for a tapas-style restaurant. A great addition to the neighborhood and absolutely worth a visit. Fills a niche in the area.

I visited Bar Siesta on a warm spring evening on Monday for a lovely dinner - which, as it turns…read moreout, was the antidote to the Monday blues. We loved the warm ambience of Bar Siesta. There was ample al fresco seating, as well as atmospheric, candlelit dining inside. Menu items were reminiscent of my time in Spain and transported me back to my time there. What we ordered for the table, in order of preference: 1. Patatas bravas - fabulously crispy and flavorful. 2. Sardines - always a favorite, and the lemon zest contrasted nicely with the brininess of the fish. 3. Gambas - prawns were perfectly grilled and fresh. 4. Croquetas - love anything fried or crispy, so this was a classic choice. 4. Sardine toast - again, the lemon zest offset the fishiness beautifully. 5. King trumpet mushrooms - so umami, and almost tasted like steak. 6. The steak - loved the bright sauce that accompanied it. 7. Arroz - perhaps because I was expecting more of a paella dish, this one came out a little more textureless than I would've preferred. Decent flavor; just didn't entirely enjoy the mushy texture. 8. Morcilla de cebolla - I ordered this wanting to give blood sausage another try, but it's still not a favorite dish of mine and would not reorder. Overall, most dishes were enjoyable, well made and presented. We also enjoyed a carafe of basque wine, which complemented our meal very nicely. There's no dedicated parking lot, but there is street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. I was lucky enough to find parking on the street behind the restaurant.

Great service & vibe. Definitely great for date night…read more I tried their blood sausage, sardine on tomato bread, Ensalada Verde salad, and Arroz con Almejas. Blood sausage (Morcilla) was the highlight of the night! Just really delicious and would def recommend for everyone! Along with the house tab white wine, the food pairing was great! Portions are bit small, so not a place to come to pig out, but to enjoy the vibe, service, food, and company you bring. Def reocmmend!

I only had the Empanada's and they were amazing. Beef and chicken were both great and handmade with…read morelove!

Amazing place a real gem from a kid to now the empanadas are amazing and the whole chicken with the…read morefresh bread

We stayed at the hotel for our anniversary, and were excited to try this Michelin star…read morerestaurant/chef. We had the grilled cheese when we arrived, and wow, it wasn't your average grilled cheese! The truffle butter, sauce, and pepper jack cheese made this the best grilled cheese I ever had! I actually order this from the bar, but I think it comes from the same restaurant/kitchen. The next morning, we had breakfast inside the actual restaurant. We ordered the avocado eggs Benedict with Jamon Iberico added, and the Congee. My husband loved the Benedict, but didn't think the ham for an $16 was worth it. Eggs Benedict is one of my favorite breakfasts, but I did not care for this version. The "light as air" hollandaise sauce seemed too light on flavor. I prefer the full richness of that sauce. The Congee was a first for my husband and I, and we both enjoyed it! Service was amazing! They knew it was our anniversary and made sure we had a table that we were happy with. I think 3 different people wished us a happy anniversary, and they surprised us with a dessert. Omg, the flan they served us was the best we've ever had! It was so silky, light, and airy. Even though we were full, we devoured the whole thing. It was the highlight of our meal!

Beautiful restaurant, beautiful view, but the reception can be improved…read more Host was not friendly nor welcoming. Not what I expect from a restaurant inside a Conrad Hotel. I got much better, friendlier service from a USPS store just prior to coming here. There was a relatively large event nearby and the restaurant was so unprepared for it. I could tell by the manager's tone that he got tired of having to tell non-dining patrons to stay out, basically. For a restaurant inside a hotel such as Conrad, I was surprised that you couldn't request a table based on your preference. It was my wedding anniversary and it was noted on OpenTable reservation, but it wasn't acknowledged.

My lady took me here for an amazing birthday dinner. Booked a standard (inside seating)…read morereservation for 7:30 pm on a Saturday night and although a lot of reservations appeared available online, the restaurant was quite busy with nearly all tables filled. They also have a covered patio you can reserve. Inside was really warm and lively with many conversations going on. Music in the background. Decor was great and there was a bar you can sit at. I admit I found this place through social media videos but it was an awesome experience. I was eager to try it since hearing about the Spanish influence, and caught my attention further to hear the owner was from Top Chef! Chef Amar Santana is the owner, and this is the second location for Vaca with the first location in Orange County. The menu is extensive, and has quite a wine list. Very Bestia vibes which I really enjoy. You are served dish after dish, family style (just how I like it). Edward was our server and he was great. The highlight had to be when Chef Amar Santana escorted us to choose out which ribeye steak we wanted, and of course we went with his recommendation. He happily took photos with us--he is SUPER nice and a great guy. Definitely someone you want to support, someone you are happy to see his success. I did quite the research and curated our menu, here's everything we got, served in order. - Jamon Iberico ($65/oz): this was quite pricey. I asked if we could do half ounce, but they said no. I probably wouldn't get this again but if you have the $$ to shell out $65, try it! (7.5/10) - Canelon de pollo ($26): smoked chicken cannoli with a duck liver sauce. Absolutely AMAZING. A MUST order. The sauce is incredibly addicting. (10/10) - Panipuri ($18): this is the Spanish version of the Indian dish. It is unique and delicious. Pouring the tomato gazpacho in the shell before immediately eating it was a fun experience. (8/10) - bikini sandwich ($17): ham panini with cheese. The dish looks bigger than it is in photos, but it is heavy. It's filling if you want a filler. (6/10) - 55+ day dry aged ribeye ($89/lb): choosing the steak you wanted to eat was pretty cool, especially with Chef Amar Santana guiding you. Delicious but $89/lb is very pricey. We selected a 2 lb 10 oz piece. It is what you expect from a well dry aged steak, strong umami and meaty flavor. Cooked perfectly medium rare, though surprisingly the server did not ask how we would like it cooked. They age it well and the quality is great. Only negative is that it was a little underseasoned but nonetheless a fantastic steak. (9/10) - wood grilled whole branzino ($52): I think this is Chef Amar Santana's speciality. Incredibly tasty, wood fire flavor is amazing. Fish was butterflied and mostly deboned. If you fancy branzino, it is a definite try. (10/10) - patatas bravas ($15): spicy potatoes. Delicious, must order. (9/10) - too full for dessert but they do give you a birthday treat, appears to be a pound cupcake coated in sugar with ice cream on top. It was delicious and hit the spot. For the drinks, I got an espresso martini ($17) which I read from another Yelp review was amazing. I can attest, it was delicious. Apparently made with cognac. I saw the bartender cranking out tons of them for the party seated in the patio. I also got a glass of red wine-cacera Tempranillo ($15), they only have a few wines you can get glasses as opposed to bottles from. It is not on written on the menu though. My lady got the sangria roja ($18) which was ok. By the end of dinner we were so stuffed. I will admit we always over order but it is in our nature to try as much as we can because I am unsure when I will get a chance to come back. The restaurant apparently has a deal for 25% off Tuesday to Friday 3-5 PM. This is a very select window, pretty hard for most people to go to but I commend them for trying. My biggest critic would be the price. However understandably everything has significantly inflated in today's economy, you must be prepared to spend. PARKING: park in the FIG & 7TH parking lot on levels L1, L2, or L3. Vaca validates. Parking was flat rate $13 all day on the weekend, but with validation it came out to $7. The restaurant is located at the very top floor above the food court/target/zara. Same plaza just top floor, and adjacent to the EY building, connected to the hotel. A bit hidden but findable. Would I come back? Perhaps, the only thing that hesitates me is the price. I would, for sure, recommend ALL to try the Canelon de pollo. Thank you Chef Amar for a wonderful experience.

Magical new hidden gem in DTLA!…read more I'm loving the new spots that are coming back into the LA food scene so when I found out that Chef Amar Santana (for all you Top Chef fans) was opening a Spanish spot, I had to check it out. This place just feels like home. From the moment you walk in you're greeted by the friendliest staff, who make you feel like family. The inside is so colorful and homey in the best way, with great music and relaxing vibes, I easily spent 2 hours there just enjoying the afternoon, felt like I was whisked right into Spain/Europe, tucked in between the EY building and Fig & 7th! I happened to come in for their siesta hour (currently during 3-5 pm on the Tuesday-Friday they're doing 25% off) so I had the chance to try several of the tapas - I picked the tostada de atun, pulpo à la gallega and the gambas al ajillo. What a trio of seafood delights! The tostada was perfectly prepared, crunchy tortilla shell with a crab salad, yuzu aoli and thinly sliced albacore tuna - hit it with some of that lime they give you for a refreshing pop... gobbled that one right up. Pulpo was really nice and tender too. That's usually tough (literally) to do with octopus so I appreciated the preparation. But I had to give it to the gambas al ajillo as the star for me... it was in this olive oil garlic and chili flake combo that I kept dipping the bread in... all of a sudden my bread was gone - and I'm not even trying to eat carbs right now! Also, their starry night mocktail... amazing. Beautifully prepared and so balanced, feels like you're having the real thing! You would think after all that I wouldn't go for dessert.... But I did. You MUST have the basque cheesecake. It is decadently rich without feeling heavy, perfectly textured, comes with a beautiful cream and the sauce! Omg. Topped with some roasted crushed almonds, you're going to want to eat the whole thing yourself (and I almost did). I can't wait to come back with friends so that I can actually order more stuff!

Despite growing up and living in the LA area for 10 years more than El Cid has been in existence,…read moreand knowing exactly where it is located -- having driven past it dozens of times -- 2/7/26 was my first time here. My wife found a Groupon special and we celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary here. It was an excellent choice! It's a great date-night experience, but not inexpensive . . . the regular price is $85 per person, plus beverage cost (mixed drinks are $16-$19, beers are $9-$10), so things can add up pretty quickly. After navigating traffic to get here, we were blessed to find a parking space directly across the street on Sunset at exactly 5:45 pm, although this is about 1/4 mile in either direction to the nearest crosswalk. So we carefully crossed mid-block, thankful for a couple of drivers who stopped on the east-bound side to let us finish our trek. Entering the restaurant, you have to travel down several sets of steps, so this is not an easy place for those who are physically challenged. Additionally, the handrails are rather low (I'm 5'9") which is yet another challenge. Once downstairs, there is one step up to the dining area and, dimly lit, it's easy to forget it's there when you leave, and several folks stumbled on the way out (but none actually fell). The dining area is intimate . . . with seating for only about 100 persons, and all seats have a pretty good view of the stage where the flamenco performance takes place. Not a good idea to try your luck and hope there are seats available if you haven't made a reservation. (Note that making reservations can be a little tricky. It doesn't seem like anyone answers the phone live, but they do respond to voice messages and are very pleasant to speak with over the phone). Shortly after being seated, we were served a bowl of vegetable lentil soup which was hot and tasty. Not long after that, our arugala salads were served. The citrus vinaigrette dressing was excellent, although we both agreed that we were disappointed that wasn't more salad on the plate -- there were two slices of fresh orange and a snip of apple underneath the arugala. We both ordered the salmon entree, and it was delicious! A generous 6 ounce (skin on) portion that was hot and perfectly finished. It rested on a small portion of lentils and the plate was decorated with what appeared to be a couple tablespoons of a Green Goddess type of sauce. The paella for two looked good, but mussels just aren't one of my "things." Dessert choices were churros with chocolate sauce, flan, or chia seed pudding. My wife chose the flan, and I had the chia seed pudding. Both were great, not overly sweet, and just the right portions. The hour-long flamenc show started exactly at 7pm and we were captivated by the dancers, the guitarist, and vocalist. These were not "spring chickens" and their routines were physically demanding. It was a delightful experience, and we would recommend it to anyone. The Groupon savings was significant, so look for it before making reservations.

Food, service and ambiance is great. The show and performers…read morewere good. Will recommend it.

Food is well done and cooked right, excellent service and easy restaurant to find. The atmosphere…read moreof the restaurant is amazing.

This place is awesome! Nice and funky with authentic…read morehomemade Mexican food! The Chile Relleno is the best! All the food is freshly made and very tasty. The ladies are really nice too! Nothing fancy, but delicious food and friendly atmosphere!

Rodrigo was such an amazing waiter, he provided samples of wine before we decided on the bottle…read more The food was delicious and the music/ ambiance was lovely.

Miguel always delivers a great experience! Fantastic food and service in Pasadena. 100!read more