Food 3.5/5.0 Service 3.5/5.0 Value 3.5/5.0 Decor 3.5/5.0 Overall 3.5/5.0 Interesting neighborhood spot. They were light in waitstaff for a weekend lunch, but the two folks they did have working the tables were very efficient. Food was decent. read more

TLDR; this is a lovely Spanish tapas place that might be especially nice for (second and beyond) dates. My first impression of Ser was its ambiance - nice mood lighting, comfy seats, and just the right amount of ambient noise. We had a reservation (recommended!) and were quickly ushered to our seats and given menus. The waiter was courteous, prompt (always re-filling our water glasses), and helpful when we had questions about the menu (e.g., about which wine he preferred). This was our first (but not last) time visiting Ser, and our initial foray into the menu was pretty basic. My wife and I split the jarrete de cordero (lamb shank), three tapas dishes (croquetas, pan Catalana, and berenjenas [fried eggplant]), and two cheeses. My wife's favorite tapas was the pan catalana, which was bright and slightly salty/sweet in flavor with great texture in the balance between the crispness of the bread and the softness of the tomato. I preferred the croquetas, each of which coated my mouth with the warmth of hot cheese and rich meat. The lamb shank consisted of a massive piece of meat on the bone, resting on a bad of mashed potatoes and slices of sweet peppers. The lamb itself was what it should be: thick, tender, and juicy with a rich, slightly gamey flavor. The addition of the mash and peppers made it even better, and I can say that this is the first time that I actually enjoyed peppers - before I just tolerated them, even in my own cooking. These peppers paired perfectly with the mash and lamb, and I relished every bite. I would be tempted to order this same thing again on our next visit, but I have to know what the meat paella is like. Anyway, it all paired perfectly with the Spanish tempranillo (that our waiter helped me select). I would be remiss if I did not talk about our to-go box. The lamb was too much for us (and by "us", I mean my wife, who was not up to the task of eating her share of the main course), and we asked for this to be boxed to take home with us. And I was blown away when the remains of our dinner were brought back to us already deboned (but with the bone included). I found this to be above and beyond, as I was not looking forward to cutting that meat off the bone (to put in my next day's lunch, which was glorious), not the least because I am not very good at doing this. And that we still got the lamb bone meant either stock for a stew or sharing a treat with our four-legged housemate. We really appreciated this! read more

SER - Jarrete de Cordero - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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We visited ser on the Friday after thanksgiving for our traditional cousin dinner. There were 8 of us, and we had a reservation, so they seated us immediately. We went the tapas route for dinner, and here's what we got: - plate of 4 meats (delicious flavor but some of the cuts were a touch thick for my taste) - plate of 6 cheeses - pan Catalana (really good, we ended up ordering a second) - puntillitas (fried squid, hard to go wrong) - tortilla de patatas (pretty spot on) - gambas al ajillo (shrimp were slightly overdone but the garlic sauce was ideal for dipping) - croquetas (star of the night) - papas bravas (under sauced) - brussel sprouts (the pepper cheese sauce was not a sauce but a crumble, really good though!) I think we all wanted to be a little more full than we were by the end. We ended up getting some desserts like the churros, a couple of chocolate soufflé (which I don't feel were appropriately named), a flan, and a popsicle to split, but the real star of this course was the round of brandy that our server gave us on the house. The house-steeped brandies were so damn good I would've wanted a whole bottle of that lemon thyme one if I didn't have to fly it home to Florida after. Overall, I would probably go back to ser. Although I wasn't crazy about some of the tapas we got, I think they showed a lot of potential and I'd be excited to try their paella. read more

This is definitely a great place for happy hour. Their sangria and beer selection is quite good! We also really enjoyed the shark bites and codfish stuffed potato bites. We joined some friends for dinner after happy hour here and tasted the puntillitas (calamari), vegetarian paella, the cheese plate, and steamed octopus with potatoes. The octopus wasn't really our favorite (needed more salt and spice), but everything else was very good. The servers were very accommodating and great at explaining the food options. Just be prepared to spend a pretty penny here to get a taste of España. read more

My first time at Brunch at SER in Arlington. It was delicious. All six people at the outdoor table were happy. I can vouch for the Papas Bravas and Eggs Benedict with Salmon and Spinach. The Roasted Rainbow Carrots and the Mediterranean vegetable with pine nuts and carmelized goat cheese looked amazing. Also a shout out to our server Keysin who really knows her menu! read more

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My girlfriends and I were in the mood to try something new for dinner and ended up at Ser Restaurant! From start to finish, the service was top-notch, and the food was absolutely incredible. We ordered from the special Restaurant Week menu, which, surprisingly, isn't part of their regular offerings (a real shame, because every bite was delicious!). We're already planning our next visit to explore the regular menu. If it's anything like what we had, we're in for a treat! read more

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Haven't been here since COVID. We ordered the octopus which melted in my mouth. So warm, so tender, so delicious! Then the scallops which had a sweetness. Loved them! Tuna light and refreshing. We spit the whole salted fish and it was amazing. Fresh. Dessert was ok. Out water Jose was great. He anticipated our needs and service was excellent. read more

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This review is just for the happy hour. One of the better happy hours in the Virginia Square Ballston area. We've been regulars for many years now and you cant go wrong with any of the cocktails be it Campos Rose, Wexler's Secret, Rio Tinto, Corta Atalya, Genesis. Fried eggplant, shishito peppers are good vegetarian choices while Gambas, Puntillitas, and cod fritters for pescatarians. You'll find many regulars at the dark and cosy bar. Service is attentive both at the bar and tables. read more

Great service from a friendly staff & delicious options. We both enjoyed our drinks. The winner in the food category was the scallops, I would definitely get those again. The stuffed peppers are not on the menu but also worth a try. The salad dressing and goat cheese were great additions to a tradition tomato, cucumber & red onion ensemble. Hubs is also a fan of the cheeseburger which he sometimes gets for lunch as he works nearby. Pretty sure we will visit here a few more times and try some more items. read more

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Nice little spot. Can feel a little crowded. Staff is great. Food is good, but everything falls a little short of being really good. Cocktail's and desserts were wonderful. Overall it's a nice spot to check out but the food may not blow you away, it's just good. The tuna crudo was my favorite. The fried eggplant was ok it just lacked flavor. The croquetas were good just not hot enough. The short rib was average, more so because of the flavor, because it was cooked perfect. read more

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Walked down from VHC just before noon. Spacious dining room and comfortable bar. Since it's tapas style it's a good place for a first date since you can order a couple small plates and see how the date is going without much damage. I was there just for lunch solo. They have a 3-course prix fixe for $35 and $10 glass of wine (as of this review). I was feeling expansive so I went ordered it. The first course is soup ir salad. While it says "market" salad they may want to correct the menu. I was told it would not be the "market" salad but a green salad. I was told this upfront so no problemo. I ordered the salad. My main was either swordfish or flank steak so I chose steak. For dessert I chose flan over fruit. For my wine I chose the tempranillo. Warm pieces of bread were brought over along with spanish evoo. Good bread too and the oil had that olive taste. They might consider offering black pepper at the table. It was fine as it was though. Less work for staff. The bottle was brought to the table, I confirmed it was good and my glass was poured. The wine was good in the mouth with enough tannins to my taste. The salad arrived already dressed. Thankfully not drowned in dressing. And it was a good dressing too. A variation on italian. My steak arrived with a green chimichurri sauce for it and accompanied by roasted potatoes and peppers. The steak was nicely seared and medium inside. The potatoes and peppers had an orange sauce that did not stick well to them but I managed. For dessert, the flan! Deliciously caramelized on top with berries and whipped cream around in adoration. I really liked it! Then the bill and the teaching moment. Staff should be familiar with the menu pricing. The bill charged the wine @$15! I called my waiter over and he told me I was mistaken. I had him bring the menu. He did. I found the price and handed it to him to look. He did and immediately apologized and corrected the bill. None of is perfect and I credit him for admitting he was wrong and making it right. Some might want a credit on the bill as punishment, but I will not cast the first stone. Maybe I'll bring my wife here for date night. read more

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My boyfriend and I came here on Sunday for lunch and will have to say, a huge miss. Luckily we did not order so much starting out and only ordered a few items. Immediately realizing the food quality, creativity and just does not add up at all to the price point. Service was not great as it was quite slow and I ended up having to get up and grabbed what I needed. Ordered the leek soup, bland--flavorless. To be fair the server took that off and gave my boyfriend a different complimentary soup to try, which was definitely much better but still at that point, we were just beyond ready to leave. Mushrooms was the best thing and even that was nothing special that would make me come back for. read more

SER - Gambas al Ajillo - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Despite "simple" in the restaurant's name, the food here is elegant. The presentation of every salad is a work of art! And the food is always delicious. I hadn't visited in years, but I stopped by on a stressful day and felt a momentary reprieve from everything that was bothering me. Service is competent and seamless. I'll stop by again next time I want a treat. One last note: the restaurant validates up to three hours of parking for $4, which is a good deal in the area. read more

SER - Lunch special: Tortilla de Patatas sandwich with salad - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Service, food, price was all fabulous. Weny here for brunch with the boyfriend and he loved it as well. We will be back. You can validate parking for 2 hours. Ambiance is calm and very fitted for a date. read more

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The service here was outstanding! Only the one dish stood out to me, which was the Revuelto de Setas. Our other dishes were still tasty but nothing to rave about. The night we went was a bit slower and quiet music playing which we enjoyed. read more

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I randomly found this place on open table when looking for a last minute reservation. It did not disappoint! The service was great, the ambiance and decor were lovely and the food was amazing! Items tried: - sangria (red) 10/10 - garlic shrimp 10/10 - Patatas Bravas 10/10 - kale caesar salad 10/10 - egg plant 8/10 - grilled steak 10/10 - octopus(didn't try but my friend liked it) read more

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As I have been a huge fan of Spanish food ever since I traveled to San Sebastian, Madrid and Barcelona, SER has long been on my bucket list. Finally I got a chance to try the place. The moment we stepped into the restaurant, the staff greeted us and she was aware of my reservation. She was also aware that I preferred a table close to the kitchen and in a quiet area, which shows in my Open Table profile. But it is not read most of the time. But SER did. So we were seated near the kitchen and away from the other customers. What about the food? Everything was very satisfactory. The seafood paella was cooked very well, with rice moist and not burnt. The only thing is the hefty price for the paella ($60). Overall, ambiance, service and quality of food were all beyond my expectations. read more

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We ventured to Simple, Easy, Real (SER) based on the recommendation of an acquaintance. From top to bottom, we enjoyed everything that SER had to offer. In terms of food, the restaurant has quite a variety of items in which everyone should find something that they will like. However, there are more options for folks who eat meat and seafood. For our dining pleasure, we went with a mix of items to share that included Papas Bravas (potatoes), Croquetas (I cannot remember if we had a mix of croquettes or just ham and cheese), Gambas al Ajillo (garlic shrimp), Sardinas (sardines), and Cachopo (breaded steak filet). While I really enjoyed the gambas, I just wish the whole (with the head) gambas were served (a very minor complaint). I wasn't a fan of the Cachopo, but I've nearly really been a fan of this particular Spanish dish. My Spanish partner (who is very particular about his country's cuisine) and I thought all of the dishes were great. Having lived in NYC for a couple of decades, I I kind of expected these prices. However, I'm not sure how to rank these prices in comparison to other places in this area. For our next visit, we'll make sure that we will save some room for desserts since we did not have an opportunity to try the desserts. All of our servers were absolutely friendly and very engaging. SER has a very large restaurant that has indoor and outdoor seating. If the weather is nice, I would highly recommend sitting outside. read more

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Our server Christian was extremely excellent and very helpful. The food was amazing, so many options. The crispy calamari was sooooo delicious. Came here on a Sunday, early evening, for a birthday dinner for three. The atmosphere was very quiet and relaxing. read more

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I adore the dinner experience at SER. From the moment we are shown to our table and the first taste of bread comes out with those cute olive oil containers, all the way to the delightfully plated desserts that leave us with the best conclusion to any lively experience. The centerpiece of a SER dinner for me is the paella, this night we went for the seafood one having spotted some mussels on the way to our table that looked delightful. With the paella in mind, we build our shared plates to open our palettes but not overwhelm. We started with some cheese, Pimientos, and Berenjenas to stay light but full of flavor. The Cazon and Papas Bravas are hard to resist knowing their flavor so they become an accoutrement that does not take overwhelm the build. The paella was perfect, no notes, I only wish for more. We finished with Arroz con Leche and Soufflé (substituting berry sorbet for espresso gelato) and walked away with big smiles on our faces. read more

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My first time experiencing SER was a big win. First of all, our server was amazing and easily the best lunch service I have received recently. The restaurant is centrally located in Arlington and was easy to get to while providing discounted parking in the same building. Another considerable advantage. We sat next to window and enjoyed the considerable natural light. The specials all sounded incredible as well as the main menu options so I elected to go with the Halibut special. This dish was prepared perfectly and was the best fish I have had in months. It stole the show and I had just eaten a phenomenal bowl of gazpacho. The fish had a sensational herb and caper sauce that complimented it beautifully. The Gazpacho was fresh and clean with the perfect amount of olive oil drizzle to enhance the presentation as well. A perfect lunch dining experience. read more

Stopped in for lunch at this Spanish restaurant and had a nice experience overall. I ordered the market salad with chicken, which was fresh and tasty. We also tried the bravas potatoes--they looked promising but unfortunately lacked flavor and didn't quite deliver. That said, the service was excellent--attentive and friendly--and the Spanish red wine was absolutely delicious. It really brought the meal together. Would come back to try a few more dishes! read more

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Cocktails were great. Came with a gf during midday so it was pretty empty but it was a fun vibe nonetheless. Server was wonderful. I always love trying a new gin cocktail. read more

SER - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

This is a great place for a double or triple date. Take advantage of the number of people and start ordering tapas (small plates) for the table. Be bold and adventurous. Whatever you think you might not like, I assure you, you will. They also have a great bar so order some cocktails as well. read more

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Dinner here with friends was fun - and delish! I love that their sangria comes with an ice cube full of fruits... what a great idea. We had paella and a few other dishes... all were good. Service was also very good. read more

SER - Sparkling sangria - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I will say, at the price point and swanky interior, this place is NOT the real deal. With overly pretentious cheeses to small portion and under seasoned mains, I was a bit underwhelmed. Additionally, the pacing of the meal was absolutely confusing. Our cheese plate came out immediately with our next three dishes being spaced our 20 or so minutes in between. I'm sure the culprit was a busy kitchen, but still very confused. Overall, I really wanted to like this place, but it just didn't hit the mark for me. I'm willing to give it another try at a future date but for a good go-to tapas joint, I will frequent Barca in Old Town. Sorry. read more

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Nothing better and a Spanish dinner with friends! So many places "play" Spanish but this is like stepping right into Madrid. The chipirones a la plancha was just delicious. Our table has a wide selections and the only reason there are pictures is that we were too busy eating laughing and enjoying ourselves. We enjoyed it so much. We didn't even get dessert! The staff was very discreet and they were in and out keeping everyone refreshed. The ambience was quiet although they were fairly busy. read more

SER - Menu - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Really solid spot. We remembered enjoying Joselito Casa de Comidas but didn't know about SER. Really glad we finally got to try this place years later. Really good service, great food. Inside was nice and bright and was surprisingly not packed for a Sunday brunch time of noon. Calamari was cooked to perfection with slight crispiness from the breading but not too heavy and not too greasy. The pulpo (octopus) was pretty good- the potatoes were a bit dry (tasted steamed) but flavorful. The octopus itself was chopped into a lot of pieces and slightly overcooked. The meat paella was awesome. It says serves 2 but 3 or 4 people can easily share it. I loved how crispy it was throughout I got the magret de pato with mushroom risotto. The duck was supposed to be medium rare but it was cooked a bit more than that and a bit tough. But the arugula salad was flavorful and citrusy, and the mushroom risotto was fantastic! Definitely would come back. read more

SER - Magret de Pato - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I cannot support a restaurant that continues to serve octopus, a highly intelligent species, and unspecified shark species, which affects the entire food chain when it is overfished. I spoke to the owner about this two years ago, but unfortunately, it seems that environmental sustainability is not a focus here. read more

Good food. Uneven service. Nice ambiance. Sat outside with a friend on an early Friday evening (5.15PM) for drinks and apps. Our server changed midway, without telling us, so we wondered why we never saw him again. Bill was $100 for two sangria glasses, two signature cocktails, shishitos, one small cheese serving and a croquette app. So much for the happy hour pricing promoted in their website. A lot of hype for an experience that was fine, but not hype-able. read more

SER - Our three apps - manchego, croquettes and shishitos. - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I had an amazing time here. I cant remember the last time I've been this satisfied by my dinner. Everything I put into my mouth was delicious (I had 4 tapaa ans a main plate) and i am hella picky. I sat at the bar and Jecson was speedy and attentive for a Saturday evening and the service simply made the experience superb. read more

Great atmosphere. Lots of families. Lots of people coming from work. Service is great. Waiters came to check on us often, especially since this restaurant is tapas / small plates style, so we ordered a lot of small plates. Can be a bit pricey though, especially given that the plates are small. But this is good for fine dining, special occasions, & even dates. Must try the shrimp dish -- gambas al ajillo! Would definitely come back next time for paella. read more

SER - Oysters - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I stopped by for happy hour with a few of my coworkers. The food here is really good and fresh. Our server was good and attentive. My favorites on the happy hour include the garlic shrimp, tortilla and the mini fried squid. The cheese board was great, the cabezuela was my favorite. The appetizers came out fast and it was enough to share with our group. I loved the ice with the fruit in it, the red sangria was good but not strong. I would come back again. read more

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Whenever we go to Ser it feels like we are going to see family. The food is delicious and all the staff have hearts of gold. Our children walk around giving high fives and hugs. It's hard to find a dining spot where you can enjoy it all. You can't go wrong with Brunch, Happy Hour or Dinner. There is something for everyone. read more

Good service, ok tapas at Ser. The banuelos were meh, the garlic butter shrimp were tasty, the olive bread was a hit, Tortilla de Patatas too, and the Piquillos de Rellenos were the best tapas dish. read more

After eating at The Melting Pot we went to SER to have a drink at the bar. We sat at the bar and our first impression was.... this bartender is a jerk, and he was.... BUT.... There was a bar back named Daniel that was willing to explain to me "the pride of his country...". Jamon Pata Negra! Amazing ham! This stuff is like butter... the fat just melts in your mouth. You need to really savor it. Daniel taught me that. He told me about how the pigs are mix of wild boar and domesticated are only fed acorns and it affects the flavor of the meat. He has such excitement and passion for this food and his country of Spain. I thought that he was the owner and he said "I wish!!" The owners should be so thankful to have him. read more

SER - Jamon Pata Negra --wow!!! - Spanish Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Absolutely love this Spanish restaurant, that has the feel of a neighborhood joint. Very kid friendly, my 2 and 5 year old are big fans. Perfect spot for an easy weekday family dinner out or when showing off to guests visiting from out of town. We love the fantastic tapas or going big with the paella or the suckling pig or huge steak. The cava sangria is magic in the summer. read more

Lost our favorite Paella place Jaleo in Bethesda and Arlington locations. I have to say this, SER, is now our favorite Paella place with authentic taste. I wish they have Squid ink seafood Paella one day. Our other favorite dish is this delicious Pulpo/octopus. It has this tiny spicy kick to it and melt in your mouth tender octopus. Tortilla de patatas has this exquisite onion fragrance and not feeling too stuffy. We also enjoyed this wonderful finale manchego cheesecake with the sorbet and pear puree. Friendly and great service staffs. Nice clean restroom. Will definitely visit SER again! read more

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SER is always a winning choice. Excellent food and service. We ate there on the 4th and had kids with us. They enjoyed the games. The food specials were great. read more

I went to SER for a weekday lunch with a couple friends and I thought the food and service was average. The restaurant has a nice location in Ballston which is a great spot to meet during weekdays. We went on a day there was not many other people around, despite this, service was quite slow and we felt our waiter did not come around often. The food wasn't anything special. We ordered a mix of tapas and we felt that some of them were cold - especially the tapa with goat cheese. The patatas bravas were a bit cold and mushy as well. read more