We have been hoping to find a true Spanish restaurant, since moving to the area. Finally made a visit to Taberna Ole. It doesn't look like much from the outside. But very classy decor. The staff is super welcoming. Customer service is epic. We went specifically for the Seafood Paella. Our waiter told us that it takes about 40 minutes, as they make each order fresh. We were more than willing to wait. We decided on an appetizer, the Iberico Ham Croquettes. They were very lightly beaded and very crispy. We each had a glass of their white sangria. It was very refreshing. The paella came out and the aroma was heavenly!! It was the best paella I have ever eaten! The clams were so succulent and tasty. I could have eaten several dozen. All the seafood was cooked to perfection! We could not have asked for a better meal! I can't recommend Taberna Ole enough! A hit from start to finish. read more

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Wow. Where to begin with this horrendous experience. We had very high hopes as we love Spanish and Latin Cuisine. The problem started when we walked in the door. We made reservations on Open Table, and I wanted to ensure I got my points. The computer is down.......sorry. They let us to a high top table. I do not want a high top. Took many minutes to decide which table to seat us at. We were there when they opened at 4pm and were the ONLY customers in the restaurant. When we left at 5:45pm we were STILL the only customers in the restaurant. Finally they seated us at a table. The absolute most uncomfortable chairs in the history of dining. Chairs with wooden bottoms. They explained that there was a concert this evening, and the place was booked full. OK. why not explain that on the web-site, so we could come another night. Or better yet, don't accept reservations for that evening. The noise level was horrible. Everyone of the staff scurrying around, moving tables, and chairs, setting up the speakers. Yelling, yelling, yelling, yelling. Could not hear myself think. Then, one of the owners opens a cabinet, and around 50 glasses come tumbling out, crashing to the floor and breaking. OK accidents happen. Then the performer arrived. Sorry, I do not know who he is, but the entire staff did and were very excited. They dropped everything and started taking photos with him. Then, they had to spend another 15 minutes showing each other the photos. This whole time, we are still the only customers, and we were totally ignored. The web site says happy hour is 4-6PM. The waitress tells us because of the party the happy hour is only lunch. Then, she asks a manager, and they bring a happy hour menu. We order from the regular and the happy hour menu. The one good note is that the cod fritters and the ham croquettes were excellent. The paella was soupy (I understand some folks enjoy it that way. I like mine with crispy rice) The waitress was very nice. She said she was sorry about all the confusion. We finally flagged her down and asked for the bill. She did, in fact, give us happy hour pricing. But, sorry, that does not make up for the evening. We left thinking that we would come back another day and give it a try. But, the next morning we woke up saying it was a horrible experience, and it is just not worth it. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g34230-d33076380-r1056307800-Taberna_Ole-Fort_Myers_Florida.html# read more

We were excited to try this hidden restaurant that we've past 100 times in the years living in the area. We went for the sizzle menu. Arriving shortly before 5pm, we were the only table. Natalie was our server. She's new to the establishment but did a wonderful job. We both had the lobster bisque which had great flavor but came out like warm. Next up, the tapas trio and the Artichoke. Both were good. Lovely flavors but again lukewarm warm. For our entrees, the paella and ribeye. The paella came out so scalding hot the plate almost burnt my partners hand. The ribeye, like warm. I mean I know I ordered it rare but like a touch of warmth to the outside of the steak would be great. Dessert was amazing. While everything tasted really delicious it just wasn't hot. We arrived at 4:50 and left at 6:15pm. It's was a lengthy dinner. The bar is gorgeous and they have a great cocktail list! read more

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Have driven past the strip center and wondered what the Taberna Ole restaurant there was like. We just tried their September Sizzle menu and this unique family Spanish gem is now a destination! Starting off with a creamy and delightfully seasoned Lobster Bisque and a fresh & crisp Mediterranean Salad quickly told us our meal would be great! Second course was the Spanish Tapas trio with very different small bites which were all delicious and the jumbo shrimp hot and sizzling Gambas Al Ajillo dish. Next came the bountiful fresh Seafood Paella which reminded my husband of the paella he enjoyed in Spain. I selected the Prime Ribeye meal which was perfectly grilled and tender. The potato pave was creamy and a light crunch around the edges. The roasted broccolini was tasty and not over cooked. All dishes were flavorful but not salty. Our very friendly and attentive servers offered us a traditional Tarta Santiago cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert. This thrilled us because we fell in love with the Galician Almond Cake in Spain and it is hard to find here. The cake was very flavorful, fresh and so very good! We also enjoyed the classy modern decor and Spanish music which transported us back to Europe. Our visit was during the week so we missed out on live music but this night we wanted a quality meal and an intimate evening. That is exactly what we got! Five Star everything! read more

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Taberna Ole is located at former Gloria's La Trattoria Café Napoli. While it maintained as a Spanish Restaurant, you can see new owners are making change in the menu and renovated the interior substantially. It is very trendy. Now, Taberna Ole is more serve for dinner only. Gone are lunch hours! When we go to Spanish Restaurant, we normally ordered Sangria and Paella. Tonight, we repeated our ritual again. Start off with a glass of Red Sangria. Garnished with slices of apple, orange and a good pour of Sangria, this drink gave you an instant relief of humid Florian weather! There are good wine beer selection as well. There are selections of tapas or small plates but we opted for a seafood Paella and shared an appetizer, Croquetas de Jamon Iberico. Our original was Croquetas de Pollo but our wait staff, Leo suggested ham croquetas is better than the chicken croquetas. The ham croquetas coated with Panko crumbs gave the crunchy feel and the Iberic ham with bechamel gave that savory taste. Leo scored 100%! The seafood paella come with shrimps, clams, mussels, calamari and scallops and cooked with Calasparra rice. Normally, paella is prepared with Saffron gave the traditional golden color and flavor. However, this paella is used a saffron substitute. It tasted so good that I forgot to ask the staff what they use! We rounded off the dinner with a flan with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It is a perfect ending for dinner! read more

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I really wanted to like this place. The atmosphere is nice, and both the appetizers and desserts were enjoyable. Unfortunately, the main courses fell well short of expectations. We ordered the fish, which was severely overcooked--to the point that it was impossible to cut. The broccolini was overcooked and mushy, and the potatoes were served cold. We also ordered a steak cooked medium, but it arrived well done. Again, the broccolini was overcooked, although the potatoes were acceptable. While the restaurant itself has a pleasant ambiance, it was overshadowed by extremely loud music, live singing and friends of the owner hooting and howling that detracted from the dining experience. Most people come to enjoy a meal and conversation, not struggle to hear over an overpowering performance. The staff is also lacking as it comes to knowing how to serve, we walked in there were about 4 tables with people and the hostess asked if we had a reservation, we didn't and they sat us at the bar, were we were ignored, went into open table and got a reservation and let the hostess know that now that we have one can we get a real table, you would have thought I asked for her to perform open heart surgery, such confusion and scuffling around to make sure she put us apparently at a table where we wouldn't bother the friends and family that later showed up. It's disappointing because there is potential here. However, with the food quality and overall dining experience we had, I don't think the restaurant will be able to retain paying customers long-term. read more

A friend of mine wanted to try this place and decided to do it during Sizzling week . I had been there a couple of years ago with my hubby , food was overpriced and service was bad. Thinking things may have changed I agreed to go with 3 other gals . We went a little earlier for happy hour and were gravely disappointed. The staff couldn't tell us much about the drinks for HH. Our waitress disappeared for like 15 minutes before we asked the bartender to help . The restaurant was empty and the manager picked that time to train these two wait staff . We asked for the manager who came and explained the HH pricing which was on the HH menu for the wine and sangria . They're having the bogo deal for wine and sangria and that was a mess bec the waitress forgot to ring us the second one and when we asked she told us HH was over . After a lengthy conversation she finally brought us the second one . She claimed she was very new. Our thoughts were , if she didn't know anything why wasn't the manager helping her since the place was empty and we were the only ones for at least an hour. After dinner we asked for our checks and believe it or not our checks were all incorrect / all 4 - again you'd think the manager would look into it she clearly saw that this waitress was struggling. Very bad expert for all of us and we decided that we would not go there again nor recommend it to anyone . You d out later that the manager is actually the wife of the owner . Very disappointing overall ! read more

Little late at posting as we were there over a month ago. Got reminded as i am going through my camera roll of food pics. Wonderful restaurant with plenty of tapas style delicious food with live mostly Spanish music on Fridays. Services is always spectacular! read more

Taberna Ole - Spanish Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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Went to an early dinner at Taberna Ole, a Spanish restaurant in Fort Myers. It is known for its tapas, paella and wine. Last night, we tried their seafood paella. It was delicious and tasty. Their appetizer, croquetas de Jamon Iberico and flan are fine! Hubby loves his Red Sangria here! The wait staff was friendly and accommodating! Over all a good experience at Taberna Ole. Will be back! read more

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Dining at Taberna Ole was a serious disappointment. The appetizer soup was cold, tapas were unidentifiable and not tasty. All of us ordered paella, two of which were made completely differently from the other two, none of the paellas were of a good quality. The two desserts on the menu (a fixed menu) were not available. Service was fine and the manager tried nominally to set things right; however, it could not make up for a less than pleasing experience. read more

Went for tapas on Mother's Day and the place was packed, live music, and people dancing. We had a big lunch so we just wanted lite. We ordered the charcuterie board, cerviche, garlic shrimp and the octopus with mashed potatoes for the 3 of us to share. The service was slow but to be expected since it was Mother's Day. I loved it all except for the ceviche which I wasn't a fan of. I have an aunt that makes a killer cerviche and this didn't even come close. Nice place overall! read more

Excellent food and service! We have been there several times and have not been disappointed. The food is authentic Spanish and the atmosphere reflects their home country. read more

Spanish (from Spain) food and service. We had a lively Cuban woman as our server and she was delightful, very accented English and very helpful in explaining the dishes to us. It is tapas, small plates, and paella. We need to go back to try the paella as it comes recommended, but it takes 45 minutes to prepare. There are also dinners, so we will need to visit several times. We had tapas and small plates to sample more of the menu. The food was fresh made tasty and well prepared. The space has been drastically remodeled by the new owners, and we had a very pleasant acoustic guitar playing during dinner. Deserts were very traditional and great tasting. The espresso was traditional European, not Cuban coffee. They have wine available, but not a full bar at this visit. I understand that you can bring your own bottle and the corkage fee is $20. A very nice addition to the Ft. Myers dining scene. read more

Holy smokes, run don't walk to this hidden gem!!! The minute I walked in the vibe was exciting! I couldn't believe this type of space was hidden in a side strip mall off of Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers! I met a couple of friends for dinner and the food was fantastic! My friend and I started out with a glass of wine and a sangria at the bar as we were waiting on another friend. The wine was delicious and the homemade sangria did not disappoint. this is a Spanish tapas restaurant along with other entrées. my friend and I shared the octopus tapas and churrasco steak entree. Our friend had the gulf shrimp tapas dish and we shared a Spanish version of tomato bread. The complementary bread was delicious as well. Our server Diana was lovely as well as the other staff. The photos were taken after we started eating, sorry. read more

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Great food and great service! Authentic Spanish tapas and lovely wines. Highly recommend the dates with bacon, pan con tomate and the jamon. read more

Amazing food and drinks. Music was awesome, he ask for music request. Nice slow pace music to relax while you eat great food!

I tried this restaurant today for the first time, with my mom. It was great, great service and delicious food. We had a great time and we'll definitely come back to try the paella. We had the Basque cheesecake and crema catalana for dessers but forgot to take pictures. They were both delicious! read more

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Great food, great staff, and ohhhh, the bread.... Amazing. Our 2nd time there. It's a 'keeper'.

I was part of a group that shared a pig. We were served a salad family style intended for eight people that was not enough for three people. We were served adequate potatoes. The pig was bland and lacked seasoning. One in our party asked for BBQ sauce and never received it. The amount of food was lacking and we left still hungry. The service was terrible. The servers were unorganized and did not seem to know what to do. Terrible food, lousy service, and way more expensive for the experience. read more

Been wanting to try Taberna Ole for awhile after reading some Yelp reviews. The restaurant is in a fairly large space and it appears to expanding. They currently only serve beer and wine so I suspect they are waiting for an expanded license. The menu is large and serves tapas, ham and cheese boards, seafood and beef. Its about 50/50 on small plates and entrees so there is something for everyone. The price point is higher but not unreasonable. Tried the pork chop and salmon, which were nicely cooked but a little heavy with the butter. The only downside was the service was not great. I think some servers are newer as they seemed nice but there was alot of waiting for drinks and not much explanation of the menu. This is great spot and I am sure it will only get better. read more

I've been to this restaurant several times since it was acquired by the new owners. It's hard to express how fortunate we are to have a real Spanish restaurant in Southwest Florida. The location is a little deceiving, in that you would not expect a restaurant of this caliber, with food this good, to be in a strip mall, but don't let appearances deceive you; don't judge this book by its cover. There is example parking along the front of the restaurant and towards the back of the strip mall. The dining area is clutter-free, neat, and well organized. The menu is straight out of Spain, and having tried many of the items, I have yet to encounter one I did not enjoy. The chef is awesome. She has come to our table on several occasions to make conversation with us, and has been spot on with all of her recommendations. The service is great. The ambience is great and the food is spectacular. Truly five stars all the way around. read more

Delightfully surprised with the deliciously flavorful tasting dinner we had tonite. The food was wonderful, as was service. This is a must visit for any foodie. Just go, you will not be disappointed! read more

Can I give zero stars? We arrived at 6:25 for a 6:30 reservation. Sat and waited. 10 minutes later, we finally were asked for our drink orders. 10 min later, we were finally asked for our order. 20 minutes later, we got up and left. Never got our starters. Couple next to us, who by the way arrived after us, received three tapas in a 15min span. Don't worry, we left $30 on the table to cover my mediocre glass of wine and a sparking water. I would add pictures if I actually got food. clearly, no food was ever served. Oh, and to add insult to injury, when my husband informed them he was leaving cash on the table for our drinks, Diana said "ok".. read more

Delicious Spanish dinner here! Ambiance and service were spot on! Very authentic. Even the Spanish bread was remarkable and delicious! Flan and Burnt Spanish cheesecake both delicious and surprisingly light. The cheesecake is crustless, my GF friends! read more

Taberna Ole - Spanish pork tenderloin with mushroom risotto - Spanish Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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This place has been on my list for a while now and I'm so glad I finally made it here last night. Cozy little restaurant with nice ambiance and decor and friendly staff. I love the variety of tapas they have while still offering some great options for those looking to have a full entree. Desserts sounded wonderful but unfortunately we had no room left after all the delicious tapas we have had. Wine list is nice with enough variety but I would highly recommend their sangria! Bar seating can be a great choice on the nights with live music as you will have a front row seat. One thing to note, it seems like they automatically add 20% service charge to all bills despite the size of the party (we were a party of 2) so be careful when leaving a tip so you don't leave 40% and double up and what was already charged. Overall, great experience and we will definitely return to this restaurant! read more

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Visited for dinner and it was amazing. Ambiance was great, loved the art. Food was delicious, I ordered two tapas the Bunelos and the Grilled octopus along with the skirt steak entree and the tarta de almendra for dessert. Their red sangria was bold, mildly sweet and smooth. I loved it. The server Yasmin was super sweet and offered great suggestions for dessert while also informing me that all of my choices were some of her favorites. Would love to visit again soon. read more

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Here are the positives: Attentive staff Delicious food Nice dish selections and unique selection of traditional Spanish desserts, hard to find outside of Spain Must Order: Iberico Ham Croquettes, octopus, skirt steak, Basque cheesecake. Food was truly impeccable. Here are the negatives: -No freedom to sit where you pick, even when you are the only party at the restaurant like it was our case. We had reservations at 4pm, no other table was occupied yet we could not pick the party of 4 table of our choice. As we were leaving(we were the only customers at the restaurant the entire time we were there) another party of 4 walked in, they also weren't allowed to pick the table they wanted to sit at. - They have the audacity to pre charge 20% gratuity and then ask for additional tipping besides the 20%. Tipping should not be enforced, and it sure should not be automatically added to a party of two adult two kids' table. this is NOT a reflection on our waitress, she was nice and attentive and she would have received a 20% tip regardless, with food as delicious as they have and staff as attentive as they have there is zero need to pre charge tip on the bill. That is something that will come naturally because they have good food and service. Overall restaurant is pleasant, food is authentic and well prepared, staff is nice and helpful. Just let me sit where I want, and leave the tip up to the customer like you are supposed to. read more

Not a great Tapas, Small Plate experience. The Patatas Brava were French Fries with a white "aioli"? and a Tomato base drizzle...needs some smoked paprika and maybe cayenne, or Calabrian chili. The "Burrata with arugula and roasted red pepper", was not Burrata, it was a goat cheese...to sour for this dish, not sure why the burrata wasn't presented. The croquetts were cooked very nicely, but needed an acidic drizzle around the croquette to cut the richness. Your restaurant is very nicely decorated...love the table settings and atmosphere. Vinegars, olive oils, Spanish herbs and spices. read more

While searching for hidden gem restaurants, this restaurant popped up. We figured we'd give it a try. We are so happy we did! From the time we walked in till the time we sat down, we were greeted, we spoke with the waitress about our upcoming trip to Spain, and when we ordered food she delightfully said that those were great choices. We tried several different tapas which included the faux gras with lentils, the green olives with anchovies and peppers, sourdough bread, little sausages, and ended with the creme brulee and espresso. The service was excellent. The red sangria was very light and delicious as well. I highly recommend this restaurant for a quaint, delicious meal. read more

Tried this place out with friends the other night. All four of us ordered different menu items and everything was excellent. I personally highly recommend the pork tenderloin with the potatoes. Delish! Other items ordered were the octopus, lamb chops with risotto, and the skirt steak. We also had 2 tapas and wine. It was a great experience and the food was top notch. would definitely come back. I will say I think they add the 20% tip onto the check, so just be aware of that and check before you pay and add two tips... read more

Let's see where to start! The place was nicely decorated and beautiful staff welcomed us in! We ordered ham croquettes as an appetizer and they were divined! Had seafood paella and pitcher of sangria. Both out of this world good! Last we finished with a crème brûlée just as good as the ones we've had in Spain! We will return to this great restaurant time and time again! read more

Fantastic food, service and music. The pork tenderloin is amazing. The grilled octopus was tender and delicious!

Pretty good tappas and great service. Decent wine selection as well. Wasn't crazy about the octopus but everything else was great.

Saw this relatively new Tapas place so we went for our anniversary. The wine (Tempranillo ) and Tapas were to die for. Super Authentic comfortably upscale Spanish restaurant. read more

5 stars !! Had a wonderful experience . Everything so authentic from the olives , anchovies , bread, tapas and wine ! We loved the octopus and lamb! Best flan ever! Enjoyed the entertainer also! read more