Came to Boqueria during DC's Winter Restaurant Week and had a great time! It was a good deal too,…read moreand I left so full. Started off with the "Taste of Spain" which included Pan con tomate, Aged manchego, Jamón Ibérico de bellota, and Boquerones con naranja. Since I couldn't eat the latter two, the server said they could double the first two, which was so appreciated. For my first course, I chose the Escalivada (fire-roasted eggplant, red pepper, labne yogurt, fresh herbs, olive oil, served with focaccia) and Croquetas de setas (creamy mushroom croquettes with truffle aioli). The Escalivada was tasty, but more on the tangy side; the bread was more crostini-like than focaccia. The Croquetas were so good: creamy, savory, umami inside and crunchy outside. Next, I got the Zanahorias (spiced baby carrots, sweet and sour reduction, orange honey yogurt, mojo verde, Marcona almonds) and Patatas bravas (crispy potatoes, salsa brava, pimentón, garlic aioli). When I tell you those carrots had me dreaming about them later, I'm not kidding- all of the different flavor combos paired with the perfectly cooked carrots were amazing. The Patatas bravas was pretty classic- crispy potatoes with creamy aioli and tangy tomato sauce. Finally, for dessert, I had the Tarta de naranja (orange olive oil cake, citrus-honey yogurt), and my friend had the Tarta vasca de chocolate (Basque chocolate cheesecake, macerated strawberries, chantilly cream). Both were tasty, but the Tarta de naranja was so good: perfectly dense cake, refreshing citrus, and great contrast with the yogurt. For my drink, I got the Forget-Me-Not refrescante (butterfly pea flower, thyme, honey, lime, ginger beer). Very interesting drink, not sure I'd order again but it was good. Service was great, super willing to accommodate my vegetarian dietary restrictions. Ambiance is really nice, very modern and elegant. Very accessible by metro, just a short walk from the station. 10/10 would recommend!

First... man the chairs were UNCOMFY. Theres two types of stools and the padded one feels slightly…read moreslanted forward and small. But anyways Paella was delicious, the flavor profile was super fun. We got the short rib and seafood, and we all preferred seafood as the short rib was a bit heavy. The fish in it was crispy and so good, especially with the green sauce- nice herby and refreshing contrast. The figs were interesting and fun. But not that filling... I did not like the patatas... sauce was good but the potato itself had none of its own seasoning and was tough. Yes crispy but not pillowy inside. The octopus was delicious and super tender. Would come back for seafood paella and charcuterie.

Everything is so so good recommend the flan!! And def get the tapas. Service phenomenal. Ambiance…read moreis beautiful the candles, music, and lighting is perfect for a date. Only thing is the cheesecake can be a little dry

Happy Hour: Mini…read moreGimlet: Excellent, I got 4. Patatas bravas: Crispy, lots of sauce, and really good. Beef empanadas: Pretty lackluster IMO. Not at all spicy. Truffle goat cheese: This was great, I'm not a big fan of truffle flavor, but everyone enjoyed it. Meatballs: These melted in your mouth and had a nice sauce with it. Croquettes: Loved these! Service: Our server was very nice and patient. She was attentive and took good care of us. Ambiance: It was pretty busy and quite loud. We had a reservation and had no issues getting our table. Its a cool place in the area.

Going to Barcelona Wine Bar has been the most fantastic exhilarating nights I have enjoyed in my…read morepast 52 years of life. My husband Dave and I go almost every month and the food and drinks are fantastic! I will say this restaurant draws a very young audience, but nonetheless we are always down to boogie. My favorites have been the goats whipped cheese, flank steak, patatas bravas, and the empanadas! And the drinks to absolutely die for! I always start Dave and I off with a pitcher of sangria, red of course, but he's not too keen on the fruity drinks so he always gets a beer. Overall experience is a 10000/10 am definitely going back next month. Xoxo Kathy!

One of my favorite go-to spots whenever I'm in DC! Barcelona never disappoints. The food is always…read morefresh, flavorful, and phenomenal, and the ambiance is top-tier. Plus, you never know who you might see while you're there! They also have a great Happy Hour with a really nice selection of food and drinks. Now, I've never been a gimlet girl, but after trying their Richmond Gimlet, my palate was officially expanded! A gimlet is now one of my favorite cocktails. The unfortunate part is that everybody can't make a GOOD gimlet, even though it seems like such a simple cocktail. Barcelona definitely gets it right! If you're looking for good music, a great crowd, delicious food, and even better drinks, definitely check out Barcelona. It's always a vibe!

Fun to try our first Jose Andres restaurant while visiting Washington DC for the first time in…read moredecades. We had reservations so the wait was minimal for our party of 6 on a weeknight. We enjoyed sangrias to start, and were seated at a fun foosball table where Elvis and other characters battled it out as we waited to order. The restaurant felt welcoming and festive with lots of bright colors and decor. The manchego cheese and olives, garlic shrimp, and chicken thighs were all very tasty, tender, and succulent. Chicken and mushroom paella was served tableside with a swoosh of garlic aioli on each plate. We finished with 3 desserts which were all very well done - who would think to combine olive oil ice cream with grapefruit? I love eating desserts that I would never prepare at home. Overall, this is a great place to go with a group. Check it out if you're in the area.

We were lucky to get a parking spot out front on a Friday for lunch! Staff are a bit prickly given…read morethe location in the heart of DC and possibly the move along service is due to the majority business lunch traffic. Food was good but a bit pricy - probably due to location. Love their interpretation of a Paper Plane drink.

3.5 stars but bumped for 4 for the cocktails, space, and service. Came to Taberna on a Monday…read moreevening and had an overall nice time. Service was great and attentive throughout with multiple waiters serving our table and the space is beautiful and cozy. It wasn't too crowded around 5:30 when we came and wasnt too busy overall. We left a little before 8 and it never got too loud or too crowded. I think walking in without a reservation would be fairly easy. They have a great cocktail list and I really enjoyed mine! It was a unique cherry and almond flavored drink while my friend went for a cucumber type drink. Both great. We shared 4 tapas which were surprisingly quite large and ended up being plenty for the both of us. We did patatas bravas, mushroom croquettes, fried manchego, and calamari. The tapas were good/average but nothing to rave about. Our bill came to about $120 which is probably about standard now but felt overpriced for what we got. They do a 20% service charge with 5% being operational and only 15% going to staff. Not my favorite...I dont mind a service charge but burying an operational charge into it made us confused on whether the expectation was to still tip or not. I wish restaurants were more transparent about this. I wouldn't come back for a full dinner but drinks were nice and service was great so I'd consider spotting in for a happy hour if in the area. Worth a try overall. I hope they consider giving their servers the full 20% of the service charge. 5% for operations should really be baked into the prices or otherwise listed separately.

We met here with family for a nice meal and what we had hoped would be very good paella. My husband…read moreand I are usually the only 2 that do not eat seafood like mussels and shrimp, so we have been out of luck at other paella places. So, we were very pleased to see that Taberna offered 2 different chicken only paellas. Right off the bat, the location is very nice. It is clean and well decorated. We were there on a Tuesday night, so it wasn't crowded at all. The entire staff was amazing. Very friendly and attentive. We ordered the Tortilla De Patatas (Spanish omelette with potatoes) as appetizer. It was very delicate and creamy, but had zero flavor. Not one hint of salt or any seasoning. The sauce with it was never explained. We think it was some sort of aoli. Again, not a hint of salt. The main flavor from it was from the olive oil it was cooked in, which was not the flavor we were hoping for. My husband and I ordered the De Pollo Y Txistorra (chicken and chistorra sauage) paella. The amount we got was rather large and would have easily fed us both. However, the sausage was not at all what we expected. It looked like Slim Jim's had been broken in two and placed on top. Granted, the sausage was flavorful, it just wasn't visually or texturally appealing. In addition to the sausage and the chunks of chicken, the paella had chunks of some other meat that we think was pork. Also, Canelli white beans, which my husband hates, and large chunks of artichoke. Again, no salt and no real flavor. The one thing I was extremely excited for was the socarrat. But, there was none. I am not sure if the staff just didn't scrape it off the pan and give it to us, or it wasn't cooked properly and just didn't have it. Ours was not the only paella without it. It was very disappointing to not have that vital element. Of our party of 8, only 2 finished their paella. We really could have made better rice a roni at home and saved the $74 (just for my husband and myself). At the end, one person got the Arroz Con Leche (Spanish rice pudding) and another couple got Milhojas De Crema Con Almendra Tostada (a puff pastry and creme dessert). The rest of us had coffee and cappuccino. We were also brought a plate of tiny cookies. One was a chocolate no bake cookie that ended up being pure cocoa and rice cereal. The other cookie was a bland butter cookie. For the price of what we got, and the mandatory 20% charge, plus a tip, we felt this restaurant was very overpriced and not worth the trip. I don't think we will be coming back.

We went to Guardado's for the first time and were extremely impressed…read more It's a cozy little place that gives out such as comfort atmosphere. Makes you feel like you are in Seville. Their staff are so friendly and accommodating. The food were amazing. You know this is an authentic Spain restaurant when they have Tinto De Verano. A famous summary drink in Spain. We had cheese plate which was so fresh and flavorful. A dish with sausage and homemade mashed potatoes which was the best mashed potatoes we ever had. Mussels were cooked perfectly!!! We will definitely going back to try paella!!!

Confession - I haven't written this review for YEARS. In fact, please don't read this review. I'd…read morelike to continue to be able to get in easily to this restaurant without much of a reservation. They have great food, great service, and a nice chill environment. It's not a kid place but they're nice to my kid. Sadly they have pared down their menu but everything on it is excellent. The paella is worth waiting for, but if you don't want to wait the lamb chops are spectacular. Pretty much everything is great but we order the lamb chops every time. If there's three or more drinkers order a pitcher of sangria, otherwise singleton glasses should be fine. Whether you've had tapas before or not, you'll love this restaurant. But ssshhhh! for goodness' sakes don't tell anyone! 'Cause I'd like to keep being able to get in...

This is a neighborhood gem. The food is always fantastic. The service is always top notch. The…read morestaff is friendly and attentive. Whenever friends visit from out of town, we bring them to Atxondo. And if they visit again, they always ask to go back again.

I went to Atxondo hoping to taste the work of a Basque chef, and found out that the new chef is…read morefrom El Salvador, but has studied cookery in Spain. After having a full meal with cocktails, appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee (about $70 per person), I concluded that Atxondo will be a definite future destination for Happy Hour and light bites, but that my full meal dining dollars will be spent elsewhere. The Patatas Bravas (Fingerling Potatoes) were outstanding, with their two tasty sauces and rich, crispy flavor and texture. The Hibiscus Margarita with its salt and tajín rim was good enough to warrant a second one... but the Sangria was lackluster due to the complete absence of cut-up fresh fruit in my glass. The "Crispy Duck Breast" is no longer served whole, but sliced on a bed of sauteed kale... and, sadly, seemed to be only a shadow of its former self. The Lamb Meatballs suffered from being mushy (a coarser grind would have made a world of difference in the texture) and lacked that meaty exuberance one treasures in any kind of meatball. My serving of Basque Cheesecake was almost comically tiny (at $9 per serving, perhaps not so funny after all). But my cup of Americano came out of the espresso machine strapping strong and piping hot, with a gorgeous head of natural crema from the oil of the coffee beans. So I will definitely return for a future Happy Hour to devour the outstanding Patatas Bravas and sip the good Margaritas, and to try the bargain Manchego Burger and other Happy Hour bites. For serious dining, Atxondo falls short of the mark... but for drinks and bar food, Atxondo turns out to be a real neighborhood gem. .

Service was very detailed and intentional. Serving as well as describing each dish in such depth…read moreand maintaining the authentic story of the chef. Elegance in the form of assorted napkins based on your pant color and delicately pouring warm hygienic hand wipes before and after snacks and clearing every course in pairs like a choreographed dance. Our sommelier Aran did something I rarely see at restaurants which was down sell us rather than try to upsell us on something we were unsure of. The bottle of wine he selected for us from Portugal was from 96' and was great value. We also enjoyed a few glasses of White wines by the glass and Half glass that he recommended with the first 3 courses and it was spectacular and complimented the food wonderfully.

We visited Xiquet by Danny Lledó for the Summer Tasting Menu and to celebrate An's birthday. The…read moremeal showcased modern Spanish cooking inspired by Valencia, with seafood, seasonal ingredients, and dishes prepared in the woodfire kitchen. The presentations were beautiful, and the lobster paella was especially memorable. We also added the signature Ibèric Wellington, but weren't impressed with it. I communicated my allergies a few days before our reservation. The kitchen accommodated them, but several of my dishes arrived without sauce. I understand that substitutions can be difficult with a tasting menu, though I was disappointed that an alternative sauce couldn't be offered. Those dishes felt less complete than the chef intended. There was also an awkward moment when we asked a staff member to take a photo of the chef with our party of four. One person was cut out of the picture, so we didn't get the group photo we'd hoped for. Overall, it was a special way to celebrate An's birthday, and we appreciated the creativity and care evident in the meal. The allergy accommodations and photo experience kept it from being a five-star visit for me.

Have walked by here a few times, and put a mental note to try it. I had the opportunity today with…read morea good colleague of mine. The interior is a deep red, with a Gothic style, and intimate atmosphere. I really appreciated it. The tapas selection is quite extensive and we were in between a few options, but settled on the grilled chicken skewers, grilled shrimp, chorizo, and calamari. They came out very quickly after we ordered, although I will say our server wasn't very attentive or concerned. After he dropped off our food, we never saw him again, so I think the service could he improved in this area. As far as the food, it was all very flavorful and tasty. I especially liked the shrimp (mariscos) and the chorizos. The char on the chorizo gave it a smoky taste, and it was so good. I thought the calamari was pretty good, but not the best I've had and the chicken was also pretty decent but it had a lot of sauce on it. I would definitely come back again and get the shrimp and chorizo. I would also try their meatball, bread with cheese and honey, and a few other items. It's close by where I work, so I can definitely frequent once again.

amazing food 10/10 customer service 10/10…read more outside seating 10/10 definitely recommend

I just saw that post that Chef B is a scammer. I don't know who this chef you saw. I had the…read moregreatest experience abuse several times and when my trip trips to DC for business meetings, personal luncheon and cocktail parties have never ever had a problem very professional very well organized had no billing issues whatsoever. I would also recommend her to anybody. She has a very high-end Deck clientele also so I'm just wondering how that goes along with that post I just didn't see that I'm very confused.

We love Chef B's weekly meals. Food is so delicious and just perfect for my family as we are all…read moresuper busy and don't have time to cook. The food is farm to table and always arrive in neatly packaged containers every Sunday evening so we have dinners stocked to enjoy the following week. I have had meal services with others before and this is by far the most skilled cooking of farm to table meals. I think it's a good value. One recent review I read was really not fair about "scam". That's just not true but I understand the frustration that led to a misunderstanding. I know the owner/chef was busy and working to try improve their marketing, ordering app, and communications. It's a small business so you just have to contact her directly if there is an issue and she will take care of it. I did that every time and I was patient because I want this good cooking to last to feed my family. Seems like great people. I've spoken to her and met the staff who deliver food to my house. We look forward to ordering each week!