Toro is Boston Southend's classic! The food was incredible! I love the street corn!! The service…read morewas amazing--our server was attentive despite how busy it was. We also tried the gambas and the tortilla, and everything was seasoned to perfection. Can't wait to come back!! We came during lunch so although it was busy, it was doable! This place is fully packed after work hours!

The food here was exceptional. We came on a Thursday, and it was already getting packed. I highly…read morerecommend reservations whenever possible. We ordered an order of the patatas bravas, paella, fried octopus (daily special), and the empanada. The fried octopus was insanely tender; I've never had octopus that soft, and it tasted like calamari. The empanada was crispy and flavorful, served with a wonderful sauce. Paella was delicious, with a great sausage included. My biggest gripe was the patatas bravas. We did order it "brava bomb" style, and I feel like it not bad, but it took away from the crispy texture that you would normally expect from patatas bravas. However, the pork belly that is included in this "brava bomb" was insanely crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I did have to knock the reviews down a bit based off the restaurant's lack of cleanliness. We saw 2 bugs during our meal: one small ladybug, and another huge fly the size of my thumb. I wished I had left room for dessert though, but absolutely loved the food and service here. But next time, I will make a reservation and request to sit a little further away from the door and the bugs.

4.5 stars My Spanish…read morefriend took us here and ordered lots and lots of Tapas. Each Tapas was delicious, fine quality, and plated with such care. Both the drink and food menus have a staggering variety of items. My favorites were the tortilla español ($10) that came with the delicious garlic aioli and the jamon Iberico ($34), though nothing was a dud. The croquetas were hot, fluffy, and so unique. The interior is gorgeous and the staff are wonderful.

Beautiful Space, Catastrophic Execution…read more I rarely leave negative reviews, but this was one of the worst restaurant experiences I've had in years. We visited Boqueria Boston on Father's Day and arrived to find the restaurant nearly empty. Despite that, the experience started poorly when the host refused to accommodate a simple request to sit near a TV so we could watch the FIFA match. After being seated, it took roughly 20 minutes just to be acknowledged. We ordered two bottled beers, a bottle of still water, and tap water. The tap water arrived within minutes, but the beers and bottled water took another 10+ minutes. The beers were served without glasses, and the bottled water was simply dropped on the table without being served. When ordering, we were informed that at least five menu items were unavailable, including the seafood paella we had specifically come to try. The explanation was that they were out of clams and mussels. After insisting they check with the kitchen, we were told they could prepare it without the clams, so we agreed. The pacing of the meal was baffling. Pimientos de Padrón arrived after about 15 minutes, but then another 20-25 minutes passed before the cheese board and salad appeared. The quality was disappointing throughout. The goat cheese tasted like a bulk food-service product, and the pan con tomate was overwhelmed by raw garlic. The gambas took roughly 45 minutes to arrive and came with only three tiny pieces of bread. We immediately ordered additional grilled bread and waited another 20 minutes for that. Throughout the meal, every inquiry about the delays was met with excuses, despite the restaurant being mostly empty and fully staffed. After waiting more than an hour for the paella, I finally requested the check. Miraculously, the paella appeared moments later. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the wait. It was bland, lacked any depth of flavor, and was among the most forgettable paellas I've ever had. To make matters worse, no fresh plates or utensils were provided for the main course. Service remained consistently poor. Water glasses were never refilled. Different servers randomly dropped off dishes, yet nobody seemed interested in clearing empty plates. We eventually started stacking dirty dishes on a neighboring table ourselves before someone finally removed them. Our primary server informed us she was going on break and essentially disappeared for the remainder of the meal, only reappearing when it was time to present the check. The only employee who showed any accountability was an older gentleman who eventually stepped in, acknowledged the problems, and provided a 50% discount after realizing part of our order had never been rung in. While appreciated, the gesture came far too late to salvage the experience. Beyond the service issues, the operational details were concerning. The open kitchen made it easy to observe staff working without hairnets or hats, and employees were constantly entering and exiting the same restrooms used by guests, often carrying backpacks and personal belongings through the dining room. What makes this especially disappointing is that I've had much better experiences at Boqueria locations in New York. However, this visit reinforced what feels like a steady decline in the brand. The restaurant itself is beautiful. The concept is strong. The location is excellent. Unfortunately, the management and training appear to be severely lacking. With so many outstanding dining options in Boston's Seaport, I cannot recommend this location. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere.

Really great food! Came early (5p) on a Sunday so we didn't have to deal with too many people. Had…read morethe following: - beef cheeks - octopus - patatas bravas - grilled shrimp - pan con tomate with anchovies - crab salad pintxos All of the plates were delicious! The pintxos were a bit small for the price, so those might be the only things I would pass on next time. The beef cheeks were delicious and reminded me of a common Korean braised beef dish, shrimp were grilled wonderfully, and octopus was cooked perfectly. The octopus comes with a lot of potatoes, so you end up with a lot of potatoes when combined with the patatas bravas. Would definitely recommend!

Low key, neighborhood hangout vibe. It was packed at 9:15pm on a Saturday. We arrived about 10-15…read moremins before our reservation time but were seated rather promptly. Everyone from the hostess to all the wait staff was lovely, friendly and seemed to genuinely enjoy working there. They acknowledged the note I included about celebrating a birthday which was a nice touch, most places completely ignore the reservation notes. Food was very tasty, we enjoyed everything we ordered. I will say that a couple of the dishes, the bacalao cheeks especially, weren't super elevated and were on the smaller side for tapas, so felt over priced. The basque cheesecake was perfection, super creamy and subtle in the best way. My husband who doesn't even like cheesecake liked it! The only complaint we had was how loud the place was, it was giving college bar with folks literally yelling to be heard. It was so loud I got a noise notification on my Apple Watch. Not what we expected and it really took away from the experience. I would suggest coming in on a different day and time for a more enjoyable experience.

I had the best experience at Dali last weekend. In addition to our amazingly attentive and…read morehilarious server, Sebastian, I'm pretty sure each member of the staff stopped by our table at some point to welcome us. The decor and personality of the place was unmatched, as was the food. I'd say this place is a "must see" if you're around the area!

Dali has been on the list for a long time and it didn't disappoint! I was here with a large group…read morearound 12 people. Our server was extremely hospitable, he kept our waters full, and checked in on us all night. We got many tapas and a paella to share. The sangria is top notch. We ended the night with some desserts. My favourite tapas were the steak with chimichurri and the chocolate mousse at the end. And you can't forget the patatas bravas! I see why this place is so popular. Will definitely be back! There isn't much parking around so definitely budget time for finding street parking or book a spot using SpotHero like apps.

We had a disappointing experience a few weeks back with our reservation, but Victor reached out to…read moreme and invited us back. The staff were fantastic and the food was amazing. Great restaurant with delicious food and top level customer service. Victor was top class. We'll be back.

This place was awesome! It has a large seating area with a very large bar. Modern look!…read more SERVICE: Fabulous! From the hostess to the server, very friendly crew here. Our server Catherine was the best. My first time here, she helped me navigate the menu and wine list. She was very attentive and friendly. FOOD: Outstanding! I tried several tapas options and I enjoyed every single one. My favorite was the lemon hummus - YUM! But the olives, patatas bravas, and hamachi crudo were pretty darn tasty! High recommend for this place - I was surprised to find out it was part of a chain, but it feels like its own local restaurant.

We were at my mother's house in Brookline with a group of family members on a Saturday evening and…read moreafter we toiled about dining in the group unanimously voted to go out. The challenge we had was that we had a group of 9. It was going to be hard to get a reservation. I was not familiar with the restaurant scene in Brookline so I spun the wheel and called 6 places and only on was happy to accommodate us -Tasca. When we got there the place was very busy - I was surprised they could take us. I love a restaurant with energy and this one had it going on! We were seated immediately upon arrival. The table we had was a little cramped, but it didn't matter/ I was loving the buzz of the place! We waited a tiny bit and were greeted by the server - she definitely mirrored the pace of the restaurant- she was a beautiful, bubbly young woman with a wonderful personally! We dug right into the menu. For drinks we all started with margaritas- they were a little strong but that's what made them great - it was made with fresh lime and was very refreshing - a great was to begin. Right behind it we ordered the garnacha sangria - I worry about low quality wine in sangrias, but it was super flavorful- if you get red sangria I recommend it over the house one. With a panty of nine it's easy to order too much food because everything is shareable- sooooooo we ordered just about every small plate on the menu and it was totally ok because the portion size was perfect! I couldn't find a dish that was not short of excellent, so this is a hard review to write. Some stand-out items for me was the spinach- it was sautéd perfectly and had just the right amount of garlic - I could have eaten that for my dinner! I also loved the octopus- a beautiful preparation- the tentacles were very meaty and the sauce was really flavorful! We also ordered both types of calamari- sautéed and fried. I'm a big fan and both were very good. Another was the empanadas - the shell was cooked perfectly so it was not dried out. I had 2 teens with me and was worried the food may be too sophisticated for them, but they found their way to the grilled steak- a perfect dish for them - both got the sauce on the side in case they didn't like it - but ended up pouring it right back on. Definitely a great choice for teens. The dessert list has something for everyone- we got the bread pudding- Spanish crème brûlée and the churros. These are all "must tries". I fell in love with the churros- perfectly crisped and plenty of sugar and super yummy chocolate - uhhhhhh... so good! I wanted to take more pictures of the plates but they were consumed so quickly that I didn't have a chance. It's definitely a loud place but that's part of the energy of the establishment. If you like tapas- this is for you - truly something for all on the menu. I'll be back as it was a great experience- I would highly recommend this restaurant!! Cheers to a great first experience!!!

This was a bit of a disappointment. We came on a very quiet weekday evening and the place was…read moretotally empty. Not sure if the lack of other customers contributed to the depressing atmosphere but we were seated in the larger dining section and it felt a little haunted. The food was just not very good, it pains me to say. Another review mentioned how the dishes did not seem to be prepared with any love or effort, which I agree with. The patatas bravas, a mainstay of any tapas menu, was perhaps the worst offender: undercooked, roughly cut chunks of potato with a messy drizzle of tomato sauce on top. Not sure how you mess that up. The bread used on the side of our spicy garlic shrimp was stale and cold. The toasted crostini with Iberian ham was an utter mess for a $19 dish - crudely sliced ham layered on top, making it impossible to take a bite without the ham sliding off; very tough, chewy bread. And the portion sizes were miniscule for the regular price (they do a HH special with $5 tapas which is a way better deal). The creme brulee was way too heavy on the cinnamon and amaretto. Our waitress was sweet and the food came out quickly, so giving some points for that. Parking: They offer a parking voucher for the Whole Foods around the corner; it's a minor pain to have to traverse that particular intersection to put the voucher in your car and then back to the restaurant but free parking is such a rarity in Boston so I'll take it.

We wanted to go here from my son's birthday, but since he works during the week and Saturdays,…read moreSunday is our only option and they are not open Sundays. Come Mother's Day and I am not a fan of going out on the actual day, but I did remember this place. We made a Saturday reservation, picked up my son from work, and headed over here. SO WORTH IT! I thought the spot was adorable and clearly well loved by locals and their own staff. You really get the feeling that all that work there really love the place. I like the menu items are not the "usual suspects" I see at most Tapas places, which are good but sometimes you want to shake things up. We got: Bolas de queso Patatas Aioli Croquetas De Jamon Croquetas De Verduras Solomillo De Ternera y Queso Cabrales Calamares Fritos Tabla de Quesos Pisto Manchego Albondigas De Cordero Iberico Peras Borrachas Torta De Chocolate All the menu items were flavorful and enjoyable. I think my favorite was the Croquetas De Jamon, if I had to choose just one item. We also decided to get two desserts - a pear dessert which seems to be their signature dish and the chocolate tort. While the pear was lovely, I was really in the mood for something chocolate so I enjoyed it more (but honestly cannot go wrong with either).

Wowza!!! Pinch me I must be in food heaven, but definitely in a food coma. This place never…read moredisappoints. The MOST welcoming and friendly staff that treats you like family as soon as you walk in. I enjoyed my staples for the night: Jamón Iberico, garlic Chicken; pollo al ajillo (a must), and a red sangria. The jamón is freshly cut to order with a nice drizzle of pure olive oil over top. The sangria is so refreshing with fresh fruit tasting like they just picked it themselves. The lovely bartender, Astrit, informed me the grapes are Grenache from Spain , which have a dryer, robust flavor compared to the sweeter red sangrias that make you regret your decisions the next morning and tastes better in my opinion. I'm usually more of a beer guy but this slaps! I've also had the white before and that also hits the Richter scale. Last but surely not least, the garlic chicken (pollo al Ajillo) is the best chicken I've ever had, hand to God. Spiced with everything nice and delicious oil and garlic that you deserve. Even on a first date, you'll be kissed after giving this to your significant other. This fine establishment is one of my favorites and I always am satisfied, leaving with a full belly. I hope the same for you!

Came in for dinner for two, got bar seating right away! The ambiance was very fun, good for any…read moreoccasion, and the service was fast/thoughtful. Dishes from best to worst: Pork Belly: absolutely would order again, very tender and delicious - one of the top pork bellies I can recall Shrimp: the shrimp was tasty, and the oil was delicious with the bread Octopus: really good, nice and crispy and not rubbery Potatoes: crispy and aioli was good, but nothing super special Cod: cod balls were fine, the other customer enjoyed them but personally not my favorite (probably more of a preference thing) Steak: Was a bit disappointed with the steak, was just strips of beef with some sauce Drinks: Sangria: we ordered one to share and the bartender split into two for us without us having to ask, was a refreshing drink Summary: 4/5 overall the food was very good with one or two semi-misses

If I was dining with a picky eater I would bring them here. Let me explain myself-- everything is…read morecooked and seasoned well, and the massive menu ensures that everyone will find something they can eat. Even if you don't end up liking the dish, the tapas size is small so you're not losing too much. And most importantly, most of the dishes I tried had garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil as the predominant flavor profile. The perfect seasoning profile for a non-adventurous eater! For the more adventurous eaters, I'd highly recommend sampling from their charcuterie and cheese selection. I enjoyed trying different combinations of cheese and meat with the bread to see which flavor profile was my favorite (also a good activity for Remy's friend from Ratatouille). As other reviewers mentioned, you can try a lot of dishes but the tables aren't that big so you have to be a little bit strategic if you want to dip the bread in the leftover sauces.