Had a mix of plates for dinner at Taberna Tapas - the environment is bustling and hip. The place is popular; so I do recommend a reservation, although they might not always be necessary. The service was fast & friendly, a good server crew. Maybe I ordered wrong, but I found the food to be Ok, which was a bit of a surprise. read more

See all

I really wanted to love Taberna Tapas in Durham. The space has potential,warm, rustic charm with exposed brick, cozy lighting, and a few traditional Spanish design elements sprinkled in. On first impression, it feels like the kind of place that should deliver big on ambiance and flavor. The service was friendly and attentive, and the team clearly wants diners to enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, the food just didn't live up to the setting. Let's start with the overall vibe of the menu. While it markets itself as a Spanish-style tapas restaurant, the dishes felt more like Americanized small plates than true Spanish tapas. What was most noticeable across the board was the lack of seasoning and depth. These dishes were fine, but none of them left a lasting impression. We began with the Croquettas de Jamon, which were more creamy-fried than filled with ham. They were crispy on the outside and soft inside, but without that satisfying salty bite of jamón you expect. Nothing about them felt particularly special. Next up were the Albondigas in Savory Tomato Sauce. These meatballs were tender and cooked well, but the tomato sauce didn't bring much flavor. Again, it was just fine. It didn't offend, but it didn't excite either. We also tried the Calamares Fritos, which were fried properly with a light, crunchy coating. But it's tough to mess up fried calamari. There was nothing memorable about the seasoning or presentation. It lacked the boldness or creative twist that could have made it stand out. The highlight of the meal was the Empanadas de Carne. These were genuinely good. The puff pastry was buttery and crisp, and the filling had actual flavor, steak, potato, and shallots came together in a hearty, satisfying bite. This was the one dish that felt like it had been prepared with intention. Overall, Taberna Tapas has a great look and an inviting atmosphere, but the food feels like it's playing it too safe. Tapas, when done right, should be bold, flavorful, and transportive. Instead, we left feeling underwhelmed and wishing for more seasoning and personality on the plate. With such a charming space and a great location, it has all the ingredients to be great , it just needs a bit more soul in the kitchen. read more

See all

10/10 for me! The food, service, value, and location. Everything pictured was delicious. The octopus wasn't for me but I tried it and my friends loved it. The wings and calamari were my favorite. I loved the potatoes with the short rib. We had both items on the specials menu, which were the pesto chicken with potatoes and the pesto chicken salad. Everything was served hot and came out quickly. The portions are pretty big and can be shared. I recommend 2-3 plates per person. We spent $200 for a party of 4 and that included a glass of wine and two mocktails. I loved everything about this place (except the parking, which isn't their fault). There are two nearby parking decks. So much to choose from so I'll definitely be back. read more

See all

Grabbed dinner from here recently and had a good time! First, there was a nearby parking garage, and since it was the weekend, it was free to park there! Hurray :) We had a reservation for our meal, but I don't think it was necessary since we were eating so early. Since it's tapas, we ended up ordering a few different plates to share. We started with the short rib and salt cod, and both were very tasty! The salt cod was my favorite, while my wife preferred the short rib just a bit :) Next, we grabbed the lamb chops and the shrimp paella. Honestly, we were a little disappointed at the lack of meat for the lamb chops. For $28 I would hope for something a little more substantial! The amount of side veggies served with it was also a little underwhelming. The shrimp paella was better and definitely tasty. I ordered a beer for myself (served from a can - I think their drafts were down) while my wife grabbed a couple of cocktails, which she enjoyed. Overall, this was a nice date night restaurant and I would definitely consider coming back here! read more

Party of 5 and was a great time. Had a reservation and were seated right away. The best part was that the noise level allowed for conversations to be had without shouting. Most of the tapas we ordered had sizes big enough for each person to have some. Ordered the bacon wrapped dates, pan con tomate, steak in chimichuri sauce, octopus, brussel sprouts, patatas bravas, and small Valenciana paella. Had the vanilla caramel flan and dark chocolate mousse. Probably the best flan I've ever had. Great service, perfect ambiance. read more

WE LOVE THE FOOD! Everything was so lovely. Our server Mary took care of us and made sure we had everything we could have wanted! I have never had such dedicated staff services in Durham before! It was such a treat tasting all the delicious foods and desserts. Please let Mary know we really enjoyed her service to us. She checked on us often and made sure we felt safe even there were a couple of random folks bursting thru and disturbing the restaurant. Mary remained calm and made us feel very safe. And please send our love to the bartender, he made us a fun drink we wanted and he did it VERY well! read more

Taberna Tapas - Dark Chocolate Mousse - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

The location and ambiance are solid for downtown Durham. The place was bumping on a Saturday night, and we were with a large group of 15 for a milestone birthday party. Our experience was highlighted by a few of minor things, nothing major went wrong. Our server was nice and knowledgeable, although when she asked if we wanted separate checks, everyone said sure and she sighed then said "Geez" before shrugging and our taking orders. My wife didn't get a water, and we finally asked someone walking by if she could have one and it was brought out pretty quickly. Our waters weren't refilled very often, but no big deal. The ambiance got a little too romantic when either someone bumped a light switch or a fuse was blown, because all the lights went out (luckily we had candles at our table), and our server ran to the front to get the lights back on quickly. The tapas were in many cases overcooked and sad looking, but everyone seemed to enjoy them. The drinks we ordered came out one at a time from the bar, and the guy serving them seemed disheveled and stressed for each drink delivery. The cocktail menu was very basic and there were no special or unique drinks. My wife ordered an old fashioned and I ordered a negroni. Both were fine, nothing special that we couldn't have easily made at home. We didn't not order seconds. In the end, it was a fine experience. If you're not sure about tapas, I definitely would not start at Taberna. But if you want a good vibe in downtown Durham, or if you need a fancy place that can seat a large party semi-last minute, then Taberna could be a good choice. Pro tip: parking is available at the Corcoran Street deck, a short walk away. There's a stairwell from the parking deck that leads right out to Main Street. Don't even bother with street parking, it's a mess. read more

We ordered several dishes including the octopus, lamb, brussel sprouts mushrooms and the chocolate churros. The meat dishes were all pretty good I would really recommend the octopus and the lamb. The vegetarian dishes were average nothing special. The vibes are cool and one of the few tapa places in Durham. read more

Taberna Tapas - Octopus - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Nice ambience and the server was great! Unfortunately, everything else was disappointing. My red sangria tasted watered down, and the gambas ajillo and patatas bravas arrived cold. Both were lacking flavor as well. They didn't have authentic Spanish flavors and tasted Americanized. Maybe it was just an off night. read more

We came here before a rare Monday night show at DPAC. We got there a little before 6, and I am glad we didn't get there any later, because it quickly got very busy. Our server Alex was top notch, and explained that they were short staffed, but that didn't hinder our experience. We ordered SO much food, and although none of it went to waste, some dishes stood out. We didn't even take pictures, we devoured it all so fast. Dishes we ordered were: Beet & feta salad, Ham & Arugula salad, bacon wrapped dates, Crab stuffed peppers, braised short rib with polenta, steak and chimichurri sauce, potato cake, octopus, mussels, churros, chocolate Valencia ice cream, and chocolate mousse. (PHEW) The potato cake proved to be a little bit basic, but the aioli was delicious, and the chimichurri on the steak sort of cooked into it, instead of being more present on top. The dates, mussels, and even the salads were stars, and both drinks I got hit the spot (try the rose sangria! We would absolutely go back here before a show, or with out-of-town friends. There is definitely something for everyone and there are still dishes I want to try! read more

Warm and welcoming staff. Food was delicious and sangria authentic. Will definitely be back soon!

This restaurant, Taberna Tapas, fraudulently adjust the tip amount on my bill without my permission. My original tip amount is 4.38 dollars, but they adjust it to 9 dollars on their own. Don't come here to support this restaurant with fraud and dishonesty! read more

Taberna Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

I have been a regular patron of Taberna Tapas for many years but tonight's dining experience was unacceptable As a diverse party of three, we were seated at the worst table in the restaurant, next to the hostess station and the area of the bar where wait staff pick up customer orders. We would have asked to be seated at another table, but the waitress abandoned us after we placed our food order. The party seated next to us appeared to have a problem with the diversity of our party. Perhaps it's not wise to seat white supremacists beside people of color. Just a thought. And to top everything off, the flank steak was tough and chewy I will not be returning to this establishment ever again. Sincerely, Keith B. read more

After a happy hour social at Alley Twenty Six, my team and I walked to Taberna Tapas for dinner. We ordered more drinks and a wide variety of dishes to share. We ordered 2 each of the following: Octopus Braised oxtail Spicy shrimp Beef empanadas Pork empanadas Meatballs Beets salad Roasted cauliflower Bacon wrapped dates Skirt steak & fries Everything tasted great. My top 2 favorites were the octopus and the oxtail. The skirt steak was the worst, super chewy meat. Definitely recommend this restaurant! It's fun, it's lively, and the food was amazing! The service wasn't great, but we enjoyed each other's company and the food too much to really care. read more

See all

Absolutely delicious tapas and service was impeccable. Additionally they had awesome craft cocktails

My husband and I enjoyed dinner here. The Flamenquin and Crab Stuffed Piquillo Peppers were our two favorite dishes. The red sangria was delicious. Service was fast and friendly. In addition, the hostess was very generous to still seat us, because our babysitter was late and we arrived 20 minutes after our reservation time on a Saturday night during peak dinner hour. read more

Not bad at all, but for tapas, I'd say average...a good percentage of the food was obviously pre-made and waiting for orders--some being lesser quality because of this, the worst being the desert churros that were dried out and nearly tasteless; vegetable dishes were best and the paella quite good...mussels had a good sauce, but the mollusks themselves were quite overcooked, or sat around awhile. Service was spotty, but good when they interacted read more

Came in without a reservation and got seated on the patio. Within minutes, we were moved to a table, thanks to a cancellation. We had the Steak with chimichurri sauce, bacon wrapped dates, oysters bravas, gambas ajillo. Some came out hot, some cold. ( oysters were room temp) Sanitation grade is 95.5. They include a 4% "non cash adjustment ". So bring cash and save a few bucks. Mary is a great server. Young guy at front check in is top notch. Overall, food was good, but sadly overpriced. read more

Great tapas and atmosphere. Friendly staff. Just go! Oh yeah...not too many places have baccalau! Just delicious! read more

Came here on a Thursday night with a friend. She made a reservation but it didn't seem to be super crowded. Waiter was helpful in giving suggestion to veggie dishes. Tres mares was probably my favorite because it was very flavorful. The cauliflower was also very delicious I love the cheese sauce that was top of it. Honestly the dishes we ordered were delicious. Not pictured was the octopus which had a spicy kick to it! Had a good time here ! read more

See all

Great date spot. They set a smooth atmosphere here. Great service from Seth. He gave his suggestions and they were good, especially the paella and gambas. Their version of steak frites was the best and the the short rib is a must have. Definitely going back. read more

See all

So I gave them four stars because the place is nice inside and the server was nice. I have a gin vodka lemon drink that was yummy. The thing about tapas is that years ago, you paid 6-10 dollars for a small plate & then get like a bunch for the table. At the end, you ended up with a reasonable per person price & full. Somewhere along the line tapas decided they were going to start charging the same as regular entrees in another restaurant, but retain the same small size. The idea that it's family style & you hope for a person who doesn't eat much is at the table. Ultimately I paid $28 for salmon & potatoes & when I left I stopped at McDonald's & got a quarter pounder. Btw this isn't necessarily just this place. I stay away from tapas nowadays. The salmon & potatoes were just ok. I would go sit at the bar though. read more

Dinner before a live show is a must. And that was what me and my partner were planning to do as our Uber dropped us off in front of Taberna Tapas. I commented how cute it was inside and possibly eating there. We were going to eat a restaurant down the block but discovered we would've needed a reservation. Boo. So my plans of dining for tapas came true after all. Moody candlelight + small tables, great for date night. Neither of us had tapas before so we both didn't know what to expect. Our first round of orders were SCRUMPTIOUS. I didn't know what to expect but we both agreed we could easily keep eating there. Empanadas de Carne came out and I've been hesitant to eat Spanish food after being there for two weeks (nothing compares to the OG). But these were so tasty and crispy. Perfect amount of flavor, so glad I started with these. Portobello Mushrooms: at first glance I was like what is that??? Then I thought oh yeah mushrooms. These little guys were so addictive to eat, that I sort of ate most of them and asked my partner if he wanted any. He saw the look on my face and told me I could have it which *sweet* and I ate that little mushroom so quickly, no crumbs left. Octopus: I've had squid before, mainly fried, so this really surprised me. My partner ordered it and dug right in as soon as I snapped a photo. It was tender, not too chewy, and flavored throughout. Smoky, salty, yummy. The fried tomato was also delicious. Fried Oysters: A little kick of spice, lickable sauce, and crispy to the heavens. Think popcorn shrimp but WAY better. I still dream about the Fried Oysters. Wings: My partner, the wing man, ordered the garlic ones. They were just okay in my opinion, a bit too salty. He ate most of them. I don't think these are special enough to order when there's so much on the menu! Oyster Mushroom and Kale Sauté: A little veg, I ordered the Oyster Mushroom and Kale Sauté. The mushrooms were so yummy and meaty, but not enough of them!! The kale was cooked to perfection, had good texture without being overly soft or tough. This was the last dish. This restaurant is for experience dining and I must say, I want more of it. Come by and I promise, you'll find something (or two) that you like. read more

See all

Food Honestly, the food was pretty forgettable, except for the paella, which was pretty good. I didn't like most of the other dishes we tried. Service The service was OK, except for the hostess, who honestly was a huge B. It was 530 for our reservations, and the place was empty. I asked if we could sit by the window. She really said that that table was reserved. And no one sat there for our entire meal. Our 2 top was literally in a traffic lane, and people kept bumping my elbow, but our server was nice. Ambiance Meh. I guess it was cute, if you like a tiny table in a crowded area. It was super dark in the place, though, very hard to read the menu. What it comes down to, for me is when I go back to a restaurant or not.? And this one is a no. read more

This is our good to place for tapas. Great atmosphere and service is friendly and fast. All the plates are excellent , especially arugula salad, patatas bravas, steak Chimichurri sauce, Ham Croquettes, stuffed mushrooms, sautéed shrimp. read more

Ok it so upsets me that this place has less than an average of 4 stars. I'd give it a 4.5 if I could - I feel like 5's are elusive for me. The food is phenomenal. I still stand by Tabernacle over Mateo. The arugula and jamon salad with goat cheese and honey - mmmm - I can't believe I'm raving about a salad but it's that good - one of the few things I was sad to not eat with charcuterie meat while I was pregnant. The wings and paella are still a fave. As are the bacon wrapped dates. The lamb chops are great and so are the fried oysters. Basically everything. Solid wine selection. Friendly staff. Cute ambience - great for date night or girls nights. Only things that make it a not 5 - desserts are okay, cocktails aren't my fave and it's not 100% consistent - I've had a few not stellar experiences there but after going once a month for 6 years, what can I expect?? Highly recommend! Check it out! read more

A colleague recommended this place so I was excited to try it. Parking sucks and the food is mediocre, but it was definitely a nice little vibe for a date night. You have to park behind the building which we didn't know until we were called for our reservation. Once we entered the restaurant, it was super cute and quaint. The host was really nice, but our server wasn't very welcoming. She lowkey seemed annoyed. We had the paella, spare ribs, oxtail and honey chipotle wings. The ribs were the best, but something I could've made at home. None of the food blew me away especially for the price. We did enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant otherwise. read more

See all

Service was great Foods were awesome. We couldn't try the paella for group because of the 45min cook time. I will definitely go back to try the best dishes. read more

See all

How have we not been here before? They have some amazing tapas and their Spanish wine selections incredible. It's in a great spot to pop around each bar and have an app and a cocktail and this is the perfect spot just for that! read more

See all

we came on a saturday night and it was pretty much filled with people so we got some seats at the bar. you can tell the servers are really busy but their attitude was still good! we ordered the tres mares, calamares fritos, mussels, and braised beef short ribs. our favorite was the mussels and short ribs. both were packed with flavor and well cooked. the others were honestly alright, not bad but feels like it's missing a kick. read more

See all

CUTE COZY VIBE. CAN'T GO WRONG WITH A CHEESE/MEAT BOARD. Came here one day with a friend wanting to try new restaurants downtown. Loved the vibes, huge windows, cozy, beautiful bar, and nice booths. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by friendly staff and the warm, cozy atmosphere. The menu was filled with a variety of traditional Spanish tapas dishes. Some of my personal favorites included the patatas bravas + the cheese board. Anytime I'm craving Spanish tapas I'll definitely come back here. Cannot emphasize enough how cute the vibe is. Perfect for date night or a for a fun catch-up dinner with a group of friends. Overall, Taberna Tapas is a must-visit for anyone looking for Spanish cuisine in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. I can't wait to go back with a bigger group and try more dishes. read more

Taberna Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Everything cooked perfectly. We ate 6 dishes across the menu, including dessert. Everything was perfect. Flavors and textures were excellent, nothing disappointed. The dark chocolate mousse was a perfect finish. read more

We enjoyed a terrific dinner before a show at the DPAC. The menu is not huge, however it is varied to include something for every palate. We enjoyed the dates, braised short ribs (twice!), the roasted chicken wings, octopus, oyster mushroom and kale sauté, and the Empanadas de pollo. Everything was delicious. The restaurant is situated in an older downtown building and is in a "U" shape with a bar and kitchen in the middle. They also have a small but nice patio for limited outside seating. The service was very good once we got started. There was a longer than expected wait to place drink orders and to be waited on, but once we placed our orders the dishes came out amazingly fast. One suggestion: Don't place your entire order at once, try two or three plates then order again. You will not be waiting very long at all. Our server was cognizant that we were going to a show and got us out in ample time. read more

Taberna Tapas - Bar - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Excellent food. Great, friendly service. Wonderful location in the center of downtown Durham. Great ambience (perfect lighting, big windows, exposed brick, etc). This is our third visit. This place never disappoints! read more

Taberna Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This was by far one of my favorite dining experiences I've had in Durham. First, our server was spectacular, attentive, and gave amazing recommendations. Second, the food was incredible. My friend and I went for my birthday, so we splurged a little. We tried the octopus, crab stuffed pawuillo peppers, jamon croquetas, and the 16oz ribeye with garlic toast. We also got the dark chocolate Valencia orange ice cream, no pictured. It was rich and creamy, very good. Everything was awesome. The ribeye was cooked perfectly and my favorite thing on the menu. The overall ambiance was fantastic as well! I loved the music they were playing. I'm coming back here very often now. read more

See all

Don't miss this place!!! We made a later reservation at this restaurant on a Sunday evening and what a great decision. We were greeted by Stephanie who was most helpful and polite, as she escorted us to our table. The setting was almost perfect with dim light and candles on the table. We ordered the 12" paella for our group of 4 people and it was more than enough. There was plenty of seafood in it - clams, shrimp, scallops, etc. the chorizo in it was also a great touch and was amazing. We paired this with the beet salad and calamari. The service was fantastic as our waitress Mary provided some recommendations, kept our glasses full, and checked on us periodically. She made this experience what it was. Not sure what others are saying about this place but it should be on your short list for places to try. We will definitely be back when we return to Durham. I am already craving it!!! read more

Nice! They had a lovely wine selection, fun atmosphere, and good (if slightly awkward) waitstaff. The food was a mixed bag in my mind. Gambas ajillo were my fav - just a bit spicy but flavorful and perfectly cooked. I'd also recommend the paella Valencia. The rice was nice and crispy, perfectly cubed chorizo, shrimp, and chicken. The chicken was a bit overdone but the rest made up for it. I was less impressed with the portobellos - the stuffing was really bland, and the portion was kind of small. The churrasco with chimichuri had good flavor but the steak was tough. The fries that came with it were perfect though! Overall, great place to eat and catch up with some friends! read more

Great ambiance! Dark ish lighting, pretty great service, attentive wait staff. Food was delicious! Patatas bravas are definitely my favorite. The short rib is also delicious read more

Good food, definitely try the spare rib, paella and calamari. Full bar, drinks were poured with a healthy amount of liquor ;-). It is a true tapas restaurant, if you don't like tapas then I would not recommend going. Attentive service, and decent ambiance. I would choose to sit in the front next time. We'll be back. read more

Beef Short Rib to save the day! Taberna Tapas is a beautiful little spot with a really nice staff and great selection of items to try. However, a lot of what we got was underwhelming. The beef short rib with the mashed potatoes is by far the best item on the menu. So much so we got two. We got the Potatoes Bravas. They were bland. We got the bacon wrapped dates. Too large, very chewy and the choice of lamb based cheese is not for everyone. I liked it but my gf did not. The roasted cauliflower with manchego cheese was okay. Again, just kinda bland. The Valenciana Paella was very tasty. It was nice because they offer it in a small size versus like most paellas restaurants where you have to order it for a large serving. The chorizo was more like andouille sausage versus how it's served in tacos here in Texas. The shrimp was succulent and cooked well. The chicken was okay. Overall the dish is a little oily but it's really good. The servers we had were pretty busy and very rarely stopped by the table. I ran out of water pretty often and we waited about 10 minutes after eating to get the check. I was hoping to try their churros but I was tired if sitting there so I passed. Needless to say it was just okay. Nothing to write home about. I had a wagyu beef short rib in the past month that blew this one out of the water but it was still pretty good. This is nice let's grab a drink and a snack place but it's not somewhere I would look to visit on my next trip to Durham. read more