I had another wonderful experience at Barcelona for a dinner with friends. My tip to you is to come…read moreon a Monday since they do half price wine bottles - hello? Amazing! On this visit, we got the goat cheese, brussel sprouts, croquettas, beef empanadas, chicken thigh, and a mixta salad. We enjoyed the goat cheese and dipped our table bread in it. I also loved the brussel sprouts, which were delightful cooked in a brine or vinegar so it mixed savory and sour in the perfect way. The croquettas are a standard for me - delicious, you must get them. New additions to my repertoire were the chicken thigh, beef empanadas, and mixta salad. Now, I know that Barcelona is known for small plates but the chicken thigh and beef empanadas felt very small. That being said, they were both very flavorful and delicious. I enjoyed eating them with the fresh salad. The salad did its job, which was to add freshness to the otherwise heavy meal but it really didn't blow me away otherwise. Still one of my favorite spots in the Triangle to enjoy small plates.

CRAZY LOUD ...like impossible to hear clients and friends just two seats away…read more Very good interior design aesthetically; high energy vibes; packed to the gills. Food ranged from very good to 'disappointing': Lamb, meatballs, carrots, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, lobster bisque, fish balls, steak, empanadas, mushrooms, sheep cheese, bread, croquetas, pork belly. We would skip the pork belly (flavor was off), carrots (meh), bisque ( very very meh). Drinks were fine. Pours were less than fine on the wine (def NOT 6 ounces). For the Red Sangria be prepared for STRONG elderflower flavor (which I like but family members found off-putting.) Service was Ok.... Friendly, helpful. Add +30-60 minutes to your schedule (or more with a bigger group or on a Saturday night. We were there 2 hours for party of 5). We did not get all of our food but when asked they "re-fired" and brought to us. We asked for pepper which never came. We asked for another round of bread which never came. Not my favorite tapas restaurant in Raleigh but solid nonetheless.

Nice mix of different foods you can get tapas style. Patatas bravas is always a classic and was…read moremade well. Everything we got was good. I didn't realize the Brussels sprouts dish was a salad when I ordered it but it ended up being good if you like Brussels sprouts. If you like pickled vegetables the mushroom dish is a must as it has mostly pickled vegetables in it. The steak was well made and paired well with the rest of the food. The shrimp/gambas were also delicious. The chicken empanadas weren't my favorite. The staff was very friendly and took good care of us.

Was in town for work came in to eat dinner on Tuesday night. It was busy but surprisingly the place…read moreclose early. I was really impressed with the food. I had just been in Barcelona a few weeks back so my expectations weren't that high. I opted for four different tapas. All of them were really tasty and had a lot of flavor. The goat cheese stuffed peppers were one of my favorites. I also enjoyed the octopus, the croquettes were really good and the lamb meatballs were really tasty. I finished it off with some churros. They were good, but not the best. I would opt for another dessert over them next time. I would definitely come back to this place. Definitely a lot of places to try in the neighborhood but add this to your list if you're into Spanish food and tapas.

One of the best things about traveling is discovering great places to eat. They're usually not very…read morebig, not part of a large chain, but they're full of magic. Mateo, a Spanish tapas bar in Durham, NC, has everything you could want in a good restaurant. You can't miss it!

Interesting place, I would say it's a great date night type of place. We went as a group and had a…read morefixed menu so our experience was not the standard but the food was good and the service friendly. They don't have a lot of Gluten Free options (aside from the stuff that is naturally GF of course) but they did try to accommodate the need and they do have the Estrella GF beer which no one ever has - on draft even. It's a bit of a twist on an actual Spanish restaurant/tapas with some embellishments that aren't authentic but it isn't a bad place to have a meal.

Grace did an amazing job serving our table back in September 2026. She went above and beyond to…read moreensure both our food (which tasted amazing) and our drinks (which she made herself) were nothing short of perfect. She was super personable as well. Great hire!

We decided to have dinner at Gonza after a walk on a beautiful Tuesday evening…read more There's plenty of parking in the parking lot. Gonza is located next to Village Deli in the front of the Factory area in Wake Forest. We were seated right away and Annabel was our amazing server. We started with the special drink of the night, peach margaritas, the complimentary chips and the best salsa I think I've ever had. We then ordered guacamole. The drinks were good and the guacamole was ok. For our entrees, my daughter had the Chicken Quesadilla, with a side of plantains. Both good. I had the Barbacoa Quesadilla and a side of half cilantro rice and refried beans. The short rib was tender, but didn't have a lot of taste. The rice and beans were good. The servings were enough to have leftovers. The service was great and the food was good, I would go back.

We decided to give this a try on a Saturday night, the location is unassuming and it's clear that…read moreit's a converted fast food spot as some of the infrastructure still remains. (I think they are trying to get a drive through going?). As we walked to the front door the live music was blaring outside and it was a great night for it..it was a little early so it wasn't too crowded yet but people were enjoying the party. Once inside it was much more quiet, we were actually shocked at how well insulated it was from the music, which is great for those that was a little more cozy experience. We were greeted right away by a very friendly man in a great hat! We had our pick of tables and I would describe the decor as a casual vibe. I'm assuming as the name suggests, it's supposed to feel like you are at someone's home for a party. They had a good bunch of people working and everyone was really nice but they also were clearly family and had some kids running around and just basically enjoying themselves, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The menu was great, loads of options. The drink selection was also good, classic Cuban favorites and others. I chose the coconut mojito and it was fresh made and SO good. For an appetizer we had the guacamole and tostones which were really good, and fresh. For dinner I had the arroz con pollo, which was seasoned really well, the rice was a little under for me but still really good. My husband had the ceviche which he said was the best he's ever had and could have had three more bowls. Overall, great spot. We might come back for the music and drinks on another warm night. They also have a good looking breakfast menu!

Unfortunately our last visit to Casa Cubana was not great. Service was slow, it took over an hour…read moreto get our food and when we did get it, it was disappointing. My friends asked for steak sandwiches and they had more bread than steak. The steak was so small they could barely taste it. My friend and I asked for palomilla steak and got a churrasco cut. Staff was somewhat friendly.

I LOVE THIS PLACE . Omg the food is always amazing crispy empanadas filled to the rim with cheese…read morethey have beef chicken pork de to , service is spectacular they do them right there upon ordering so they are warm , so if your in a rush definitely call before , ambiance is clean and very welcoming it's warm and every time I go in I sit and wait a few for my food

Staff is always really friendly. I never eat in but it is always clean. Burrito is really good. I…read morereally like their chicken and empanadas too.

We have found our second restaurant home here in Raleigh for amazing food that jumps off a very…read morecreative menu and onto your plate with thought and care. We have been attracted to the ever-evolving menu that sometimes is not reflected on their website in real time so don't be surprised with some changes that will blow your palette and mind in a great way! Last night was a stellar food evening at Madre in the Smoky Hollow district of downtown Raleigh. We began our dining adventure with their Calabrian Chicken that has been on their menu since the start and most likely will never leave. It's amazing and memorable. A must-try! We moved flavorfully from the cauliflower that is described like this on the menu: quick fried cauli with crumbled goat cheese, green goddess dressing and a balsamic reduction. Perfection in the world of vegetables! We had thought maybe just one or two more, knowing the leftovers the next day will be a great reminder of a special dinner out, so we turned to their rainbow carrots that feature roasted za'atar carrots on citrus yogurt, topped with smoked honey. One of the owners suggested we try their fall version of their stracciatella, and I cannot even do it justice with words. You just need to get to Madre soon and enjoy this inventive and beautifully executed menu by the culinary team. We finished the evening with their brand new brisket croquettes that are crispy and light in spite of the word brisket in them. Looking forward to seeing the team again at the bar, Trace, Justin, and Owen work seamlessly to create an inviting environment for all to dine with them. It was so great to see Celina, part of the ownership team, there again attending to the details of the restaurant such as opening their gorgeous glass doors onto the patio for a bring the outdoors inside tonight vibe. The weather was gorgeous and the mood was lively in Madre.

Went here for date night with my wife. Well spaced tables and nice vibes. Staff was super nice and…read morenot overly so. We thought the service was excellent. The Calabrian chicken was one of the best fried chicken I've ever had. Their hot honey sauce is amazing and the drumstick felt like it was double fried and cooked perfectly. I would absolutely come back just for the chicken. The other notable dish was the gnocchi, it was super soft on the inside which I've never had for gnocchi before, I thought it was cooked perfectly as well. The SALCHIPAPAS was basically patatas bravas. It was cooked perfectly crispy and well seasoned. Nothing extraordinary about it, just a delicious dish. I would not get the picanha again, it was ok, but not great. For such a pricy dish, I was expecting melt in your mouth feel. Maybe I had such high expectations because the other dishes were so great. I look forward to returning to try some of the other plates.

The food is amazing!!! So flavorful, well done and very tasty. I enjoyed every bite…read moreThe service is amazing The ambiance is very cute restaurant with natural lighting and outdoor dining

I've had this placed saved to try for a while and finally got the opportunity to try it out on a…read morerandom Wednesday. The space is large with plenty of seating and also bar seating. You order your food at the front (bar) and then grab a seat wherever you want. I got a mango margarita which they didn't skimp on the tequila in it! Was sweet enough where I didn't notice at first how much tequila was in it (a win in my book). For dinner, I got the pernil w/cuero which was full of flavor. Tostones were nice and crunchy without being greasy. The rice was just okay, I prefer a bit more sazon and sofrito. I think this restaurant would do well in a more inhabited area instead of connected to the mall but the guy working stated they do very well on the weekends, so I hope it brings them continued business!

My sister and I went to Vinos Finos recently on a Friday around 4:30 and had a stellar experience…read more Somehow I had lived in North Raleigh for MANY years and never tried this place, and I'm so glad we did! The space is cozy, not too big, and lovely. Everyone we interacted with was incredibly friendly & attentive. We even got to meet the Chef and let him know how amazing his curated and creative dishes were! We sat at the bar and were able to be seated right away. We each opted for a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon (or two). On to the food! The menu is extensive but not overwhelming. Plenty of delicious and appealing options of small plates to share, but also a few larger ones. We started with the Goat Cheese Stuffed Piquillo Peppers & Truffled Deviled Eggs. Both of these were amazing. The Peppers melt in your mouth and had so much flavor. The Deviled Eggs had the perfect amount of truffle flavor and were perfectly cooked. Next we opted for the Baguette of the day - this one was served with Salami, Burrata, and Arugula. The bread was perfectly crispy and all of the toppings fresh and delicious; this was a perfect combination! Lastly, it was between the Lamb Sliders Trio and the Paella! I really wanted to try the Paella, but my sister and I decided that we would try something a bit lighter and the Sliders looked so elevated, unique, and delicious. They sure did deliver! Served with fresh Goat Cheese, Guacamole, Fresh Jalapeño, Caramelized Onions, and Sriracha, which we got on the side. This dish was absolutely amazing! So different. You wouldn't think to put those flavors together, but it was so great and we would hands-down get it again! All of the food at Vinos Finos was delicious, fun, and fresh. I love how the Chef puts together various flavors that you wouldn't expect. We cannot wait to go back!

I stumbled upon this cute, quaint wine bar when searching for a bite to eat on a Sunday evening. I…read moreloved the coziness of it and it was just what I needed to "wine" down before the begins. My servers were really nice and attentive to me, with a good balance of providing my space to enjoy some "me" time I came for. The wine flights are what caught my eye so I tried the one with white wines. I love that they have so many options for them. Plenty of tapas to choose from too, and the sliders and olives paired perfectly with my wine selection. It's cool that you can tell it's a neighborhood gem, because it sees like they had some Sunday regulars which is nice in a city that's growing so quickly and can easily to lose that neighborly feeling.

Two Puerto Ricans walk into this restaurant to see if it's legit Puerto Rican food and I am sooo…read morehappy to report, IT IS!! We walked in to salsa playing in the background and a huge wall with this beautiful mural of the flag and the Taino coqui. I noticed in the glass refrigerator on the side they had Malta and Kola Champgane. YES! Winning! The refrigerator was broken, but we got a cup with ice and voila. Our first time here so we picked up the menu and sat down to take a look at what we wanted to order. You do have to order and pay at the register. On the menu I noticed some Cuban dishes as well. We both decided to try the 'Mofongo'. This is how you truly know. She ordered the one with pernil. I ordered the one with shrimp, because we had to savor both. I asked to see if they can make it with the tri-fongo instead and for a bit of an up charge they were able to do it. My friend asked for the bi-fongo and again for a bit of an up charge they were able to do it. So worth it. It was DELICIOUS!!!! Every bit of it and I'm so happy. This will be my go to Puerto Rican place from now on. Now, parking in the area, is not fun. If you are lucky enough there are some paid parking on the street. I was not so lucky and had to pay for parking in a lot within walking distance. Not too far at all. Just happy there was parking. Keep this in consideration and come and taste some yummy food. I will definitely be back.

I was a bit disappointed with Kokí. We came on a Thursday for lunch because the empanadas looked so…read moregood in the post, but they were out of almost every flavor except for cheese and a mushrooms one or something like that. If we would have had more time, we would have left and went somewhere else. My fiancé and I actually saw two groups (7 people total) leave the restaurant after speaking with the people at the register. We ended up getting the Señor Iglesias Chicken Sandwich, which was good but very messy. The chicken isn't a patty and the bun isn't solid enough to hold the sandwich together so the tomato and chicken strips were constantly falling out. The Spanglish Cuban was very meaty and good as well. Not my type of sandwich but that's what I got from the bite I did have and my fiancé loved it. The pinto beans and steamed white rice were good. I probably won't return out of fear that I might waste time going there because if you don't have the empanadas during your lunch rush, when would you have it.