This Spanish restaurant in Montclair was a wonderful experience from start to finish. They offer two hours of free parking, which is very convenient in the area. We ordered sangria, and it was delicious. The service was outstanding -- very attentive, especially when our warm bread ran out; they immediately offered more. We also ordered paella, which had an incredible flavor and arrived very hot, as if it had been made fresh to order. They served what seemed like house-made crispy potatoes, small and perfectly cooked. At one point, I dropped a fork, and the staff quickly noticed and replaced it without us even asking -- a small detail that really shows their level of attention. The price felt fair for the quality of the experience, and I was honestly surprised -- my wife usually isn't a big tipper, but this time the service truly earned it. To finish the meal, they brought warm towels to clean our hands, which was the perfect touch to close the experience. Five stars -- or more. Highly recommended. read more

Sayola Restaurant - Spanish Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

Like stepping into an old world vibe. Great service, classic ambiance, impeccable food and drinks. Very much worth the stop.

Had an amazing wedding dinner here. The service was very attentive and friendly. Would definitely come back for the amazing food as well. read more

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The food was fantastic until we got the bill. They tried to charge us almost $40 for filtered water in a refillable bottle. When we challenged it, the managers explanation is that the free "Table water" is basically unfiltered water from the sink!! On top of that, he tried to further justify the cost because someone poured the water for us!! I really can't make this up!! So they offer 3 options: sparkling, filtered (not to be confused with sealed bottle water), and nasty unfiltered jersey sink water. Like, are you kidding me?!? In their defense, the manager did eventually agree to remove the egregious charge from the bill, but not before embarrasing himself with his mansplanation. Again the food and drinks are great, but don't order water unless you like paying for filtered water that you can't even confirm is filtered because it comes in a refillable bottle, haha!! read more

Sayola Restaurant - Fancy "Filtered" water - Spanish Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

Let's start off with the ambiance. As soon as you walk in, you are surrounded by Spanish-inspired decor- arched doorway, ivy along the walls, rustic furniture, earthy tones, etc. This is a great choice for group celebrations or an intimate date night. They have live music on certain days and they also host flamenco shows. We had reservations for 9pm on a Friday night and were able to find street parking easily right across the restaurant. The host seated us immediately and I noticed it was pretty empty except for a few tables. The servers were all professional, courteous, and attentive. We received complimentary bread with a delicious kind of chimichurri sauce that I've never had before. Their dinner menu contains all of your Spanish classics along with an extensive drink menu consisting of wines and cocktails. Prices are on the higher end. I ordered: Red Sangria $12 - 5/5 You can't go wrong with a traditional Spanish sangria. Perfect blend of red wine and fruits. Pulpo a La Gallega $23 - 3/5 A bit disappointed in this appetizer. I usually order grilled octopus but I wanted to try something different. While the octopus was cooked well, there wasn't much flavor. The menu states that it is seasoned with "rock salt, olive oil, and paprika" but it was bland... we had to ask for lemons to add a kick of flavor. Churrasco (16 oz grilled skirt steak, cooked medium) $42 - 4/5 PORTION WAS HUUUUUUUUGE. I could only eat half and took the rest home. Although it was very tender, it was a bit greasy/oily but I still enjoyed it. The dish came with an assortment of vegetables, Spanish rice, and chips. I couldn't stop eating the chips! They were so crispy and light. I would definitely come back here to try more dishes - looking forward to the paella, seafood, and more sangria! read more

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I wanted a good happy hour and tried this restaurant! When I arrived I parked in their lot across the street. I walked into a cute restaurant. I was greeted and served by Gustavo the manager and one other server Fernando and they were nice. I ordered the red sangria which was good and the Camarones en Aioli which was so good with the warm bread. It was a good experience all in all! read more

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I enjoyed the decor at Sayola. It was typically Spanish, and there was a nice vibe to it. Service was great! Our server was very nice and friendly and tended to our needs. Now for the food... I was not very impressed by the flavor of the Pulpo a la Gallega, though the portion was plentiful. I ordered the chicken with chorizo special and it was really flavorful however, it was also quite oily. My boyfriend and his son ordered the Shrimp and Lobster special and the Langostinos. They both said that they were happy with their meal. The sangria was tasty though a bit on the sweet side. I plan on going to the other location in Montclair and watching the flamenco show. I will order a different appetizer and entree at that location. read more

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Had seafood and chicken paella. Was just ok and chicken was dry. Preparation seemed more like jambalaya than paella given there was no "socarrat". read more

Food was good and will come back! Portion size was decent and really feel a spanish vibe.

Came here with family to celebrate birthdays. There were 16 of us. The restaurant is good and spacious. The waitress is very friendly and nice. She always ensure we are being served. The food was pretty good but some dishes were too salty. We had a great time. Thanks read more

Sayola Restaurant - Black Squid Ink Black Paella - Spanish Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

From the moment I booked online to the day of reservation their attention was wonderful. Thank you to Gustavo who was on point w details . Now the food... 5 stars to all our appys. The cróquets were my favorite. The chorizo with onions were cooked perfectly. The octopus was soft and tasty. Entrees were also 5 star. The paella marinera, couldn't get enough of the rice. Soft and sticky on the bottom. The mariscada had sliced garlic pieces, tons of seafood and a delicious green sauce. Will def be back.oh! And it was flamenco night. What an lovely show. Sayola will be my new fav place. read more

Sayola Restaurant - White sangria - Spanish Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

My wife and I had dinner there and it was top notch. The Combinacion appetizer (the first thing on the menu) with Shrimp, Chorizo and Sausage was excellent. The entrees were great with decent portions and the service was very attentive. We'll be back. read more

Nice local restaurant in Tenafly. Love their tapas. Very big portion. Muscles are ok but octopus and the combo (steak, chorizo, shrimp) are good. We order lobster/seafood combo as well. The sauce is the same is muscles' sauce. We should have order either or. The complimentary bread is warm and soft. One of the best! Also White sangria sent me over the roof!! So good. read more

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Very well decorated Spanish themed restaurant with legit atmosphere and experience of Spanish dine- in. We went for dinner on Saturday, and were lucky to get hold off one of the last few high tables. Almost all of the other tables of the restaurant were reserved. Their tapas items are in Appetizers section. These dishes are quite large, easily shareable between 3/4 people. We ordered the shrimp churizo combination , traditional octopus and mussels. We loved the shrimp churizo, the sauce is delicious. The octopus was a tasty dish too. The mussels and seafood marinara dishes were on the average side. The marinara dish comes with lobster, but unlike other upscale places, they don't break it for you. The lobster was also over cooked, it was hard to chew. We had a good service, but the food took ages to come out. They have a good drinks and a skilled bartender too . read more

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Let me start off by saying that the food is very good in taste, portion size and presentation. We were a group of 6 people out for my birthday dinner. The ambiance and decor is also very pleasant and holds an old Spanish/Mediterranean feel. The service on the side of our waitress and table servers was also very good. HOWEVER, they seem to be running a scam on water. Apparently, they offer 3 types of water: 1.) tap, a.k.a. sink water, 2.) "flat", of which I believe comes from a magical/mystical filter considering they charge about $7-$8 for a refillable glass bottle of it and 3.) bottled. When we ordered water for the table we were not told that they had 3 options, only 2 were mentioned (flat & bottled). We were ALSO NOT told that they charge for the "flat" water. So, you can imagine the confusion when receiving the bill, after seeing a close to $40 charge for water. When we asked the waitress, she THEN mentioned the 3 options and explained each. We asked to speak to a manager, who took his time coming to our table & then struggled to explain WHY the charge was made. He repeatedly justified it by constantly mentioning the "filter" and also stating that a table server refilled our glasses, therefore the charge is valid. When I attempted to speak to him, he dismissed me as soon as I was done with my statement and turned his attention to my husband (one of the MALES at the table). I find that behavior to be VERY unprofessional and disrespectful to any customer. Also, considering the total amount of the bill, the last thing he should have been doing is trying to push a defense of the charge, of which he was not successfully upholding. An explanation yes, followed by a solution to the issue. I have been here once before and was very pleased. After this late experience I can very confidently say that I will not be going back, nor recommending Sayola to others any longer. read more

Amazing service- great drinks and great food! Ask for Gustavo~ Amazing people Come out and enjoy~ read more

Lived in this are for years and yet just recently found the time to dine at Sayola. My hubby and I had the opportunity to dine out our own this past weekend. It was last minute and wanted to try a place close by and intimate. I had Sayola bookmarked on Yelp and so glad I did!! I made a last minute reservation via Open Table, arrived a bit earlier and were pleased to be seated right away. We arrived around 6:20 and it was quiet and pretty empty. As soon as we walked in we knew we he made the proper choice for our evening dinner. Place wAs super cute, romantic, rustic, tasteful and just what we were looking for! We started with fried calamari, a pitcher of their red sangria and shared the Valencia Paella. The food was great! The sangria was fresh, large and good. Not too sweet, not too much ice and just the right amount of liquor. We thoroughly enjoyed the setting, the ambience, the service and the guests ranged from small groups of friends, double dates and regular dates like us. If you are seeking a loud place this is not the place for you. Will most definitely return! Thanks to our amazing server who was professional and did not rush us, yet provided the perfect amount of attention. read more

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Beautiful restaurant with nice staff. First time there. Disappointed with mixed seafood in green sauce. It lacked flavor and very runny. I order this dish is all the Spanish restaurants I eat in. Will try other dishes next time but please do something about your salsa verde read more

Great ambiance, Amazing entertainment, awesome date spot. I recommend if you want to impress a client, date, or family. Service was on point. The food was impressively delicious. This is a nice hidden gem. Highly recommended. read more

I went with my mom for my birthday. We went around 6PM and it was very quiet. The paella Valencia was quite yummy and I enjoyed their array of drinks. read more

Sayola Restaurant - Paella Valenciana - Spanish Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

Came here on beautiful Sunday afternoon. Met up with three other girfriends for the buffet brunch. Pulled up to the restaurant to find plenty of street parking as well as a lot across the street. Surprised to come inside and not see any one else but us there for the entire time. Nonetheless the buffet was pretty tasty. I had the paella, salad, salmon. Paella was really good. Salad dressing was amazing. In addition, they had pork loin, chicken, omelets, pancakes, bacon and so much more. To drink, I had the white sangria. It was so good, we ordered a pitcher and did not regret it. It was the right amount of everything. Service, especially Fermando, was superb. read more

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Celebrated a birthday here and the food was delicious and portions were perfect for sharing. We had lots of leftovers and saved every bite! I'd love to visit on a Flamenco night read more

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1st time coming here and decided to go earlier. We loved the ambiance, romantic and felt like home. The staff were very welcoming and overall the food and service were excellent. We will definitely come back. read more

We had the red sangria which had perfectly balanced flavors that went nicely with everything we ordered ... For appetizers we had the Pulpo Gallega Traditional Spanish Octopus, house made potato chips & Chorizo Española. All delicious, but their Homemade Beef Empanadas were my favorite - a little fresh lime juice squeezed on the filling really brought all the flavors home. Followed by a fabulous Paella Marinara. Nicely flavorful Spanish rice covered in calamari, mussels, clams, scallops, shrimps, and lobster. And Churrasco a la Parrilla, their delicious grilled skirt steak! It was sooo tender and juicy. The beef was excellent quality and had amazing flavor. I highly recommend it. Our server was fantastic and we were serenaded by the amazingly talented Spanish guitarist, Paul J Baccash, to make our wonderful meal a truly memorable experience. He plays every Sunday from 5pm-8pm and you won't be disappointed! read more

Where do I even begin with this experience? I'm planning a surprise 40th birthday party for my husband on October 19th and made a reservation for 12 people about three weeks ago. When I first called, I spoke with Sandra, who was incredibly accommodating and kind. I explained that this party is important, as it's a surprise for my husband, and I wanted to recreate an evening from our summer trip to Spain. Sandra and I agreed on a semi-private room, where we would be sharing the space with a few other tables, and we made arrangements to bring decorations, a flamenco dancer, and a cake. Today, I visited the restaurant to finalize the menu and check out the space. I was greeted by Francisco (the manager, though I'm unsure of his actual name), and that's when everything took a turn. He informed me that if a larger party (13+ people) books the same night, we would be moved to the main dining area--this was never discussed. As for decorations? He dismissed it, saying if it doesn't fit on the table, we can't have it. The flamenco dancer I arranged? No space for a 30-minute performance on a busy Saturday. All these details had been confirmed with Sandra well in advance, yet Francisco seemed uninterested in honoring them. He then emphasized that he "can't lose money" and treated my party of 12 as more of an inconvenience than valued customers. His message was loud and clear--profits come first, and if my party gets bumped from the private room, so be it. He even suggested I move the entire event to Sunday because it would be more convenient for the restaurant. Excuse me? I'm not asking for a favor or a free meal. To the owner: I strongly recommend reevaluating your management. Francisco's behavior was unprofessional and completely lacking in hospitality, while Sandra has been a model of customer service. Perhaps she should be the one managing. I work in the city and regularly deal with restaurants, and I've never been spoken to or treated like an inconvenience. UPDATE: After my review, Sandra called to apologize on Francisco's behalf, and while I appreciate her gesture, it's Francisco from whom I should have received an apology. Unfortunately, the restaurant failed to offer any meaningful solutions, so I've chosen to spend my money where it's truly valued. If you're looking for an exceptional dining experience where your party is treated with care, I highly recommend driving just two minutes down Bloomfield Avenue to Faubourg Restaurant. There, you'll enjoy a private room, a dedicated party coordinator attentive to every detail, and three personal waiters ensuring a flawless event. Sayola, perhaps it's time to take a few notes from your neighbors. read more

We went here on Saturday for my girlfriends birthday for a party of about 20. The service was amazing, they were very accommodating to the party and the atmosphere was very friendly. The food was also great, we had searched around for a good tapas location and we were extremely satisfied. We would recommend for an intimate night with friends looking for good food in a classy location. read more

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The food was amazing! Best paella I have had. I had the paella valenciana and my husband the vegetarian one. He also said his paella was excellent. Big portions too! The service was good too! We'll be back. read more

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Really good food We went there for my daughters graduation The white sangria was very refreshing read more

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Dissappointing and totally unsatisfying in this faux "tapas bar". Very nice space and good server staff but the food is completely sub par bordering on plain bad. Tapas section is very limited to several items and NYC level prices or higher. Nothing other than plain Jane poorly made things accompanied by what appears to be Miracle Whip - sweet and sharp tasting oily junk. Salad was a very sad clump if tired old leaves which smelled like a kids ballon with a gallon of dumped on glop. Had to send it back and ask for a new one with dressing on something side. Same ballon smell and sagging old greens with a salad dressing off to the side which tasted like a combination of RAID and sour milk. Octopus was canned, soggy as an old sponge and thankfully tasteless. Also sent it back to kitchen. Mariscada verde was not so fresh tasting sandy muscles and clams in a grey-brown sauce apparently thickened with corn starch or flour. Broth was over seasoned and fake tasting. Wine list a sham - wine by glass limited and oxidized. Very high prices, sad old and stale ingredients - crappy cheap taste - no wonder what only 6 people on big place at 730P on Friday night. Never trust Yelp reviews over 3 from NJ. read more

Sayola Restaurant - 7PM Prime Time - 3 tables rest empty and there's a good reason. Bad review to follow. - Spanish Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

The food was extraordinary! Paella was awesome in both locations. Service was excellent, waiter was very attentive. What can I say for $85.00 you get an awesome flamenco show, dinner with plenty of choices. You get appetizers dinner dessert and the Flamenco show for $85. You can't go wrong. I will definitely go back, and recommend this restaurant. read more

The best place for a great steak and you will never leave this place full.. 10/10 The clams casino and the pulpo are great choices too.

I have been there several times with a good experience. We were there for the flamingo show, which i recommend. Unfortunately, I would NOT recommend the paella valenciana. The rice was watery and had no taste. I had this dish all my life, and it is not a good one.. read more

I love their octopus, so good. Also the black paella. It's highly recommended and you won't regret it. Take it from me.

First time in Sayola and I must say I will be returning back. When we entered we were greeted by a gentleman, who went over and beyond for us, helped with the car seat and was helpful throughout are time at Sayola. Our server Nashla was sweet, knowledgeable and patient. Good portion of food, the Salmon, Skirt steak and Seafood stew were excellent. The ambiance was welcoming and lovely. read more

I have been to Sayola a few times in the past and it was great, 5 stars! The last time I was there, it was pre-pandemic. We finally had a chance to return, expecting great food once again. We were in for quite a different experience. We ordered 3 appetizers and 3 entrees, the appetizers were average to bad. The octopus dish, Pulpo Gallega, was mushy, very over cooked. Calamari was okay, not as good as before, definitely did not look like the photos you see here on yelp. The clams casino were okay, not great, but not bad. For our entrees we had, the Paella Valenciana (seafood paella), Grand Parillada, and skirt steak. The seafood in the paella was over cooked, the lobster was so tough! The meats in the Parillada was also all over cooked, the pork, the chicken (cut very thin), all tough and dry. The skirt steak was grilled to my expectations, medium, but had a very gamey taste. Probably meat from Australia or somewhere else. We went on Super Bowl Sunday, maybe the normal chef wasn't in and the dishwasher took over, who knows! Overall an expensive and disappointing meal. We won't be back, that's for sure. read more

Nice ambiance, we enjoyed a bunch of tapas, all were tasty and well presented. Service was attentive and friendly. We will definitely be back! read more

Sayola Restaurant - Decor - Spanish Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

The best spot for celebrations and events. If there's a birthday or anniversary Sayola is our go to restaurant. The interior is cozy, food is delicious, and service is top notch. Highly recommend the pulpo a la plancha, paella valenciana, salmon sayola. But honestly, everything i've tried has been very good - even the bread and the olive tapanade! read more

Food here is delicious. Price is reasonable and the service is very attentive. Recommend the Paellas.

Very good 1st time,,, & saw dancers it was really special! 2nd not so good,, very disappointed ,, was a Sunday, maybe different chef, very bland read more

Sayola Restaurant - Flamenco dancer & music - Spanish Near Me - Tenafly, New Jersey

Delicious Spanish food that is not too salty. The Tenafly location has tons 9f parking. The service amateurish but friendly. The d3cor is slightly dated but comfortable. I have not been to Flamingo night. I bet it is great. The brunch menu is extensive. It's reasonably priced. read more