Great food, better vibes! Tapas are the perfect solution for wanting small bites without sacrificing taste!

Had a great lunch, the salmon and the portobello mushroom tapas. On my list next time I'm in NC. read more

Taberna Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My wife and I came here last night for our anniversary -- and had a great experience. We tried several dishes... The Steak w/Chimichurri, the Brussels Sprouts, Patatas Bravas, Croquettes, and one or two others whose names I cannot recall. The food was all fantastic and delicious. Additionally, our server was extremely courteous and friendly too. The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is... The price was a bit higher than expected. I understand that a Tapas bar is already expected to be expensive, but Yelp said $$ when it really should have been $$$ due to the fact that each person will need 3 plates minimum for a full meal (4+ if you're a big eater). Unless you're on a diet... in which case, you'll probably be fine with 2 plates :-) But seriously, I cannot complain about the food at all. It was outstandingly good. I just wish there had been a little more on each plate... :-) read more

Wait staff was ok. The food was delicious. Our server wasn't very familiar with the wine list. We had a reservation for outdoor seating and it started to rain and they said they could not seat us inside because of covid. The patio was pretty gross but I did my best to ignore. Probably wouldn't go back, but gave 3 stars because the inside of the restaurant looks cool and the food is really good. read more

I,m from Barcelona and when I found this restaurant I was really pleased. The beer Estrella is wonderful and the calamary are pretty good. The only disappointed is the size of the dishes, there are too small for the prize. But definitive is a good place is you want to try spanish food. read more

I like this place way better than MATEO. Two years in a row I threw a birthday party for my girlfriend. The manager was always accommodating, the food and drinks were great. The service was outstanding read more

Taberna's first five reviews furiously debated its paella valenciana. That happens to be my favorite food. I've never found a good paella fuera de Espana, and I love controversy, so I visited the restaurant to weigh in on the argument. I felt really comfortable here. Taberna is more of a neighborhood joint you would visit frequently than a flashy space for special occasions. Brick walls, big front window, dark interior, dominant bar, sparse decor, dark tables and chairs. Just a few doors down from Whiskey and Beyyu. Parking won't always be simple but it's a safe neighborhood. And.... no. It's not paella valenciana. But, seriously, is there anywhere to get real paella in the triangle? And is that a good reason to kill what is otherwise a fantastic restaurant? (And, real talk, who would expect a full paella when you order a tapa? Paella is a meal. Not a tapa.) Regardless, it was delicious. The chorizo, chicken, rice all set each other off really well. The food made me so happy that I caught myself dancing while I was eating it. Multiple times. We also had a large beet salad replete with maybe the best goat cheese I've tasted. These two dishes filled us up and set us back $18 plus tip. Read that again: delicious food, two full people, elegant atmosphere. $18. The only nit to pick was the inexperienced server- nice guy, but he flubbed a few basics. For example, if you're ordering tapas in North Carolina, you probably shouldn't have to ask for side plates. They should just come with. Bottom line, Taberna is awesome, regardless of your position on the paella. I'm going to be a regular. read more

With the recent expansion into additional serving space, Taberna has moved away from Spain and is sliding into mediocrity. The watermelon gazpacho was too pureed, and included an ice cube in the center of the plate (is this to water down the taste?), the charcuterie plate was sparse, with no olive oil served with the bread and only a few slices of chorizo and jamón serrano. The flamenquín was good as always and the arugula salad was fine, but a shocker was that neither of the staff knew what marcona almonds were, and that they were not available. Taberna needs to hold the line in what real Spanish food can be in Durham, because there's nowhere else. Let's hope they find their way back to the crowded but quaint and authentic restaurant they used to be a year ago. Hopefully they have not lost key staff or management or changed ownership. read more

We've walked by this place probably a dozen times and finally decided to pop in for a drink and a quick app at the bar. WOW. We ended up staying close to three hours because the food was amazing and the service was just as great. Huge shout out to bartender, Patrick, he kept the plates and drinks coming all night! We sat at the side of the bar which made it feel like we had our own cozy, romantic spot. Patrick recommended the octopus as our opening dish and it set the tone for the entire night, it's the reason we decided to stay and keep ordering! read more

"Tapas and Spanish-inspired foods" To my knowledge, this is the only Spanish (ie, from Spain, NOT Latin American) restaurant in Durham, so I was eager to try it. The setting is minimal-- it's small, minimally decorated, and somewhat awkwardly structured with most of the tables in a single line. Instrumental music plays softly in the background (though I laughed at the gentle instrumental of the Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black"). We went on a Saturday evening, and it was surprisingly empty-- maybe one other table occupied when we got there at 6:15pm. Maybe that matches the style, though-- in Spain, no one would get dinner before 8pm! Pluses: + Very attentive service. Our waitress was very friendly and checked on us regularly. + Presentation of every dish was quite good-- they looked awesome. + I loved the taste. My main course was the shrimp paella-like dish. Note "paella-like"-- they emphasize in the menu that it's not exactly paella. This was extremely flavorful in a good way, but didn't have the "crunchy parts" typical in real paella. Salads were also great-- the spinach and melon/strawberry/arugula salads were excellent. The artichoke heart one was pretty good. + Price was high but acceptable/ reasonable for the quality. Minuses: - I wasn't totally impressed with the ingredient distributions in the salads. The melon/strawberry/arugula salad had probably 1-2 strawberries total and a couple of thin slices of melon, though a generous amount of arugula. The artichoke heart salad had probably 1-2 sliced artichoke hearts but a lot of the "frisee". They were fine, but just perhaps not what was expected from the names on the menu. - We heard the paellas were really large and filling, but my shrimp one was fairly modest in size. To really have a filling dinner, I'd probably want one tapas dish, a small salad, and a paella, though I am a big eater. Still reasonable pricing-- that'd come to just over $20 for an extraordinarily good dinner. - Chicken-only paella was a little bland, so I'd definitely go with the shrimp one, especially if you don't eat pork like me. It did come as a larger helping, but it's worth the extra cost/ smaller size to go with the shrimp. - As mentioned before, the restaurant layout was a little awkward. Synopsis: A great addition to the downtown Durham food scene, filling in a gap. Another tapas place is opening soon just around the corner, so they'll have competition pretty quick, but I was impressed with my first dinner here and plan to return. read more

Taberna is the perfect place to go to before heading to the DPAC for a show. I made sure to make sure reservations ahead of time. 5:00 or 5:30 pm is a perfect time to go and you won't feel rushed especially with the DPAC being a 5 min walk across the street. I have been to Taberna twice and our last visit was on a Wednesday. They have a great deal on Wednesdays - 1/2 price on bottles of wine. Yes, please! As for tapas, we ordered Croquettas Chicken and Bacon, Roasted NC Brussel Sprouts, Crab Cake (Pintxos Con Pan) for me only, Valencia Paella, and Crispy Pork Shoulder. Everything was really good especially the brussel sprouts and croquettas. The paella was great and the portion size is perfect for two people to share. Then for dessert, we got a dark chocolate mousse. Yum, I enjoyed it very much. Overall I thought I had a great meal on every visit. I think the perfect amount plates to share is 5 if you include paella in your meal. Definitely coming back to Taberna again! read more

I had to chance to eat at Taberna for the first time earlier this week. I had a reservation for 7 and was seated once my party had arrived. The place is small inside but cozy. I have eaten at Mateos down the street a few times and wanted to check out Taberna to see how the tapas were. While the food was good there were a few things that prevented me from given this place a higher rating. 1. We were told a list of the evening specials and wanted to order one of the dishes. When we ordered our server never came back to us to tell us they had ran out. Instead they sent out another dish and said since they ran out they made that dish for us. While the dish was good we would have appreciated a heads up or even give us a chance to choose that dish off the menu or something else we wanted. 2. Service was slow. I understand everything is made fresh and food would take time but in busy times there should be more servers. 3. I really had my heart set on ordering the Traditional Paella which according to the menu is made fresh for a large party and takes a little time. I wanted it so I told the server I wanted to order it. Instead of saying OK great choice he tried to steer me away from the dish saying it would take 45 minutes or maybe even more that night since they were so busy. Mind you I was trying to order knowing the time it takes and he still choose to tell me don't order it. Not sure if they just didn't want to make it for us or put the effort into it. It really put me off so we just ordered the regular small dish Paella. 4. They also had ran out of another dish that was on the menu that night. And this was only at 7PM. Baffling! 5. Lastly bill had an order of wings that never came out. Food wise we ordered the following: Bacon Wrapped Dates - Good but could have used more manchego cheese Roasted Chicken Wings - We got the spicy garlic pimenton. They were the tenderest wings I have eaten. Yummy! Croquettas Chicken and Bacon - Very well made and tasty Eggplant Chips - Just ehhh Roasted Chicken Paella - Liked it a lot Roasted pepper, shallots vegetable pisto, manchego Valencia Paella - This was well made as well. Flavors went well Grilled shrimp, chicken, chorizo, vegetable pisto, saffron rice Flamenquin Flatbread - Pork loin, w/ serrano ham, roasted red peppers, manchego and a pork reduction - I really like how thought out this dish was. Everything messed well together Beet Salad - Spinach, goat cheese, onion, mint, walnuts - Not a beet fan but goat is won me over. Overall food was good but service and just some of the odd ends prevent me from giving it a higher rating. I will definitely give it another shot. read more

So much potential here, I hate to give it two stars, but this was my experience. The Good: BYOB - Awesome! Need more restaurants that are BYOB, then we would have more money to spend on food. Service! The service here was excellent, not one complaint here. The Bad: Short Rib Flat bread was not crispy at all, it was if they took a pita right out of the bag and slapped short ribs on top. Short ribs while cooked well, were under seasoned. Really a shame. Bacon wrapped dates. Far too sweet, the bacon that wrapped the dates were not thick enough to cut the sweetness of the dates. Chorizo Paella, Seemed to me that the rice was pre cooked, thrown into a bowl, veggies were grilled and thrown on top of the rice. with little to no seasoning. The Chorizo, while good, was barely present, 5 or 6 very thin slices throughout the whole dish. The bar, I would suggest putting a sign maybe on the bar or the door, or in the window somewhere so that patrons are aware that the bar is not opened yet. The wine in the shelves and the beer taps make it look as though you are serving beer and wine. Very confusing. I love BYOB, and if the food improves I would love to come back! read more

I feel bad for Taberna. Without Mateo a couple block away for comparison, I think it would have fared much better. My first visit was during their first month of operation. It was eerily empty. There is always something awkward about being the only occupied table in a restaurant -- too much attention, too quiet, food comes to fast, etc. This was no exception. The food was okay. The beet salad was blah and the short rib pizza had good flavor, but was hard to eat due to the large chunks of chewy meat. Because Dames, Toro and Mateo are always so busy, I gave Taberna a second try. This time we were one of two tables. It still felt awkward. We did a better job picking out food and walked away happy, but not craving return visit. We ordered potatoes aioli, but got potatoes bravas. They were good, but not exciting, just like the arugula salad. The bacon wrapped dates were yummy, but that doesn't take much. I appreciated the more generous serving size of the dishes, which made them share-able unlike the pricey neighbor. If you get stuck in the neighborhood, unable to get a table at the nearby establishments, give Taberna a try. You won't pay nearly as much at Mateo, but you also won't have quite as much fun. And you'll probably leave feeling a little bad for Taberna too. read more

Had dinner there tonight. It was pretty good. Had a small salad and bistecca, which was cooked to perfection. The salad was great but should have ordered a large. Ended up adding on calamari which was also good. This place is probably better suited for a group so multiple tapas can be ordered and shared. Excellent service from the wait staff. Very good old fashioned and mediocre yet decent sangria. read more

Taberna Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Loved the cozy, dim lighting, romantic ambience. Food is great, all locally and sustainably sourced. Delicious flavor combinations. Having lived in Spain, I can honestly say, this food is better than much of the tapas we had in Spain. They took the best of local food + flavor and created some traditional dishes and some with more creative twists. Try the bacon wrapped dates, paella and brussels sprouts! They have several yummy ciders too. Lots of gluten-free options. The owner and staff are also super friendly. Part of me didn't want to give my secret Durham spot away resulting in throngs of people and not being able to get a table! But I really wanted to support and promote this business. They are the real deal, coming from a place of authenticity and love of food. Highly recommend it! read more

This is a solid tapas joint and, unlike many of the reviews I read before going, the service was superb. Friendly, attentive, quick and overall on point. You can consider the reviews of 1 and 2 stars that primarily griped about BYOB and questionable service to be invalid at this point. C'mon people, all restaurants need some time to work out the kinks. The tapas plates were actually bigger than what I expected and the waitress explained that is because they have a whole section of pintxos, which are the more traditional small plates that you might be more familiar with from other tapas places. Also they make individual servings of paella at about $10 a plate, another unique twist worth mentioning. We ordered bacon wrapped dates, a roasted butternut squash tapas with roasted rep pepper puree and almonds, and sweet potato fries topped with roasted pork. All real solid, plus the Brava sauce was the best I've ever tasted. More tangy than brava but still a bit of a kick. We also split one order of shrimp paella that topped off the meal well. We also picked two spanish reds at random off the wine list and they were delightful. Overall we had a fine meal and an even better time. Would love to see this place stick around as the less fancy, more casual tapas restaurant on west main... give it a shot! read more

Wow. This place was such a pleasant surprise. I was initially a little grumpy because I was planning on eating at Dame's, but the wait was ridiculous and we had DPAC tickets, so up the street we went. Taberna was nearly full but they sat us at the bar immediately. I'm so glad they did, because the young lady tending bar was cheerful and charming. She went over the whiskey list with me patiently twice then poured me a very generous Revolution rye. One dinner companion ordered a roast chicken paella. The other ordered the cod, crab, and caper fritters and split a plate of the bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with manchego and pecans with me. I ordered the flamenquín and, holy cow, was if full of flavor. The portions were extremely generous for tapas and we all enjoyed the food tremendously. Now that I'm aware they take reservations, I will absolutely keep Taberna at the top of my list for a pre-show dinner. read more

We had our heart set on Pizzeria Toro but when the hostess told us the wait would be 90 minutes we thanked her and made a bee line across the street to Taberna. All I can say is I was not left wanting. This place was just what we were looking for, a light sampling of delicious dishes and a good inexpensive wine selection. We were greeted and readily seated. The waitstaff were very helpful and friendly. While we were sipping our wine and reviewing the menu we all agreed quickly that one of our choices must be the incredible Bacon wrapped Dates. Overhearing this our waiter moments later appeared with the dish. Sure he was taking a chance that we might have changed our minds, but we admired his enthusiasm. Also he was in no way rushing us . These Dates are required ordering any time I visit Taberna, they are great. We had the Flamenquin, roasted pork, the Paella and the Short Rib Flat Bread. Everything was excellent. The wine was a Spanish Garnacha, very delicious. The atmosphere is very laid back and welcoming. We will definitely make this a regular destination when we are looking for a nice, light, relaxing night out. read more

If you like authentic tapas come here! I came here yesterday on a date with my boyfriend to have some authentic Spanish food. He lived in Spain for a while and I've visited before. Wednesday is half price bottles of wine which was great and their food was top notch. Service was great and everyone was super friendly! Definitely recommend the portobello caps and jamon croquettes. Will be coming back to try their paella and other tapas as well. read more

The food is delicious and the service is great, but my husband and I both felt the menu was a bit over-priced given the portion sizes and simplicity of the dishes. The atmosphere is lovely and cozier than Mateo, but the prices aren't much lower, despite the simpler, more casual menu. I spent 3 months in Barcelona last year, so I loved how authentic our meal at Taberna felt, I just wish I could afford to come more often. We really enjoyed the croquettas, bacon-wrapped dates, brussel sprouts, and tres mares paella. The patatas bravas were average, and probably not worth the price tag. Definitely make sure you order a glass of red wine, the wine list is amazing. read more

Probably a 4.5, but rounding up to 5 because I think this is a place that's been really underrated. I like it way more than Mateo's down the street - it's easier to get reservations, the food's just as delicious (and lots more fish/seafood), great drinks, and bigger portion/less expensive. My favorite dishes: - bacon-wrapped dates - crab cake - short rib stew - patatas bravas - Brussels sprouts Next time I'm trying the shrimp paella. Get the strawberries and cream for dessert. read more

First experience here tonight. Terrific food and very much like what I ate in Madrid recently. Good wine list - all Spanish from different regions. You get a pintxos with your drink and they have a great varied tapas menu. Didn't get to try the paella this time, but I will definitely come back again to do it! Don't miss out on the Bacon Wrapped Dates or the Patatas Bravas. read more

We popped in to Taberna Tapas before a show at DPAC for a drink. With only an hour before our show, tapas sounded like a good plan to eat quickly. Taberna was pretty full at 7pm on Saturday, but they sat us immediately and were very polite. The host asked what brought us in and then replied that they would make sure we were in and out, which I thought was awful nice of him. We made it our show with extra time. We started with drinks, the berry Bajito and Mojito 43. They were okay, but neither of us really tasted alcohol. The berry one was more like strawberry water and mint. The Mojito 43 was all pineapple. Disappointed with the cocktails overall. The menu has many options for vegetarians. I wish we'd had time to try more options. The food was good. We ordered fried manchego cheese and the night's special of grilled asparagus. Both dishes were tasty. The cheese was crispy on the outside and just a little gooey on the inside. The asparagus had a great charred, grilled flavor. Both came with an olive tapenade that didn't really add much to either dish, but I like olives so it was okay. So for $33 we had 2 cheese triangles, 6 asparagus and 2 "meh" drinks. My first experience overall was acceptable but not great. 3 stars for good, friendly service and decent food. Docked 2 stars for poor cocktails, we felt like we were having dinner with the people next to us because we sitting so close, and good food but not great. read more

4.5 Stars!! Great service really good food almost 5 stars but not quite!! Excellent tapas, a little on the small side for sharing, most people probably need 2 to 3 tapas per person so probably should be listed as $$$ versus $$. Good vibe, casual yet classy atmosphere. Would feel comfortable here in jeans or in a suit! Some excellent Spanish wines too! read more

A solid if unspectacular Spanish tapas place. Excellent service and the sangria was superb. Typical Spanish fare was serviceable but nothing to write home to Madrid about. Patatas bravas slightly greasy, sauce tasted tinned. Excellent octopus, decent paella. 5 years ago it would be best in area, but not now. They need more imagination for a public who've had the tapas experience and know good from mediocre. read more

I chose to make my own judgement, despite the previous poor reviews. My girlfriend and I went last night. The space is nice with the exposed brick. The booths are nice and comfortable, the lighting is good. I didn't like the music, it seemed incongrouous with the theme; modern pop music for the most part. The service was friendly, but not professional. I worked upscale and fine dining restaurants for decades, so I know. Our server had no menu or wine knowledge, and didn't ask if we'd like to course our order of 5 items, instead just piling everything on the table as the cook finished it. The cook, and I say cook as opposed to chef, seemed to have no pride, as other reviewers have said. My crispy roasted chicken with spicy tomato sauce was chunks of chicken breast on skewers, overcooked and dry as a bone, and with not enough sauce to overcome the dryness. The sauce was fairly tasty. The presentation was two skewers criss-crossed on the plate, very unappealing, no garnish. The calamari frito was basic and bland too. The sauce was unpalatable, I doused them in lemon and dipped them in ketchup. The spinach and beet salad with goat cheese and onions was the high point. No complaints, anexcellent salad with warm and cool temperature, the onions and beets apparently sauteed to order . A variety of color on the plate made for a nice presentation. My girlfriend enjoyed her crabcake, served atop a crouton in a white sauce that was mayonnaise based. The salted sweet potato fries were very good, nicely seasoned. Summary: A nice space, but unprofessional staff with apparently no supervision. The staff needs to be trained, and an owner or manager needs to be there all of the time to get the restaurant going in the right direction; greeting, service, food preparation, presentation, and consistency. A few of our food items were good, but I wouldn't go back and spend $50 again unless I heard that things had changed dramatically for the better. Especially when there's an excellent tapas place a few doors down, that's taken care of the points I mentioned. read more

Obviously the chef is not from Spain, way to much chili on the Gambas and the Pulpo, the service was good, but at the end of the day is about authentic food! read more

An often an overlooked spot - had the best tapas this side of Barcelona last night. Server was a bit brusk but won't let her off-putting vibe keep us from coming back. Charred squid with squid ink rice and the skirt steak were my personal faves. Perfect spot for a long leisurely dinner to catch up with friends. read more

This tapas bar is located in downtown Durham. Parking in downtown Durham is difficult but manageable. We found parking directly across from the restaurant on a Friday night within minutes of getting into the area. We had a reservation made for the restaurant however I don't think it's very necessary to make one. The space is intimate, and if you have a party over 4-5 you will probably be seated towards the back as that is where more space is available. The food was overall very tasty: Chicken wings - 5/5. We got the least spicy option for sauce, but there are 4 options ranging from not spicy to "diablo". The wings were some of the best I've had. The meat was falling off the bones and the skin was very nicely crispy. There was great flavor and there were 7 chicken wings, which was more food than the other dishes provided. Lamb - 3/5. The lamb was fairly average, and nothing to write home about. The meat was tender but lacked any real texture. The underlying mashed turnips (I'm assuming) were not particularly flavorful, and were more interesting to our party simply because we weren't actually sure what it was. The lamb flavor was decent but I probably wouldn't order it again. Brussel Sprouts - 4/5. The brussel sprouts were very flavorful and nicely crisped. The portion size was good and was able to feed 5 people without any issue. Unfortunately for Taberna, brussel sprouts seem to be popping up on a lot of restaurant menus and theirs are good but not great in comparison. Smoked salmon pintxo - 4/5. The salmon over goat cheese was great, however the portion was very small for the amount charged ($5). It was essentially a portion size made for 1 person. Although the taste was phenomenal I personally would not recommend it unless you have a small appetite. Tres Mares Paella- 5/5. Perfect combo of seafood, flavors, and rice, al in a decent portion. Portobello Cap- 3/5. Again, decent serving, definitely plenty for sharing. The portobello mushroom pieces were delicious! However, the rice was a bit overdone. The cheese flavor of the rice was overly pungent and masked all other flavors the dish may have contained. Overall, food is tasty. But, given the price, Tabernas is a 3 at most. read more

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Came here before a show at DPAC, it was busy as expected but everything came out pretty quick. Service was good. Food was good. The skirt steak was awesome. There's something for everyone, and each plate was enough for a few bites split between 4 people. I think we ordered maybe 8 or 9 plates altogether. I would definitely go back and you can't beat the location if you're going to a show. read more

I have some very happy taste buds after dining at this tapas restaurant! I went as a party of 6, so i was able to sample most everything we ordered and it was all delicious. My meal was one of the Paella, which I had never had before ever, and it far exceeded my expectations! The perfect amount of spice and moisture. Delicious seafood. Just wonderful. My friend's braised beef short rib was also amazing. If it was socially acceptable, he would have licked the plate. This restaurant boasts a rather handsome wine selection, however I didn't partake and can't comment on that front. To dessert- Oooo if you like chocolate definitely get the chocolate mousse. It is INCREDIBLE!! Pretty sure I have dreamed about it since. The portion is shareable for up to 4 people even. So, so good! The flan and strawberries & cream I sampled were also satisfactory! The service was top notch. The server was very relaxed and go with the flow but perfectly attentive at the same time. As I had never been here before, I had many questions with the menu. He provided descriptions and dish suggestions, even rating the three most popular. I enjoyed how the dishes come out as they are ready, which he mentioned to us beforehand. The food took an appropriate amount of time to prepare and the server was cognizant and attentive to our pressed time schedule that evening. I would go back here in a heartbeat! Such a pleasant experience and I would love to try all of those other amazing sounding items I saw on the menu. Thumbs up!! read more

We tried to come here on a Friday evening, but the place was packed so we abandoned that thought and came back the next night armed with a 9pm reservation. As it turns out, Saturday night was dead and the restaurant was nearly empty (weird, Durham, weird). We ate a teeeeeenie amount of food that night since it was already so late, but what we had was pretty tasty. The bacon wrapped dates are just awesome -- get those. No complaints. The crispy pork shoulder was tasty, but not mind blowing. The meat was tender and flavors were okay, but there wasn't much to the dish other than meat and sauce. I'd probably opt for something else next time. We finished up with some flan that was delicious, but nothing mind blowing. The sliced almonds on top added some nice crunch to the dessert. I'd come back again in order to try some other dishes (the brussel sprouts looked delicious) read more

I agree with the reviewers who have said the food was good but not great. However, I would like to stress that I did have an enjoyable time at this restaurant. I went with a friend on a Wednesday evening (half-price bottles of wine!). I made a reservation in advance, and we were seated promptly. The place is small but cozy, and I loved the atmosphere. Our waiter was prompt and very adept at answering questions about the food. Food came out in a very timely manner. My friend was from out of town, so I let him have at ordering the food. I selected the wine. We were able to get a 50.00 bottle for 25.00 - that was fun! Since I didn't order the food, I don't remember exactly what all we had. I do recall fried pickles that were fine. We also had meatballs that were amazing. The meatballs are definitely a 5-star experience. Get them if you can. We also had a salad which was fine. I ordered the chocolate lave cake for dessert. The cake itself was a little dry. The chocolate lava part was excellent. Portion size was right on. Good for sharing but one person could eat this without feeling overly stuffed (I ate most of it). Although I didn't find the food to be too exciting, I would recommend it as it's a great atmosphere with great service. It would be a great place to go for a date or with a group of friends. read more

Intimate space with a modern ambience. Service was great, food was alright. My friends and I were able to try out several of the dishes, such as the octopus tapas, watermelon gazpacho, grilled salmon, and Valencia paella. I found the octopus a bit bland by itself. I preferred the tomatoes that the octopus was paired with - extremely fresh. Texture-wise, they did a pretty good job of cooking the octopus. It wasn't too chewy or too soft. The watermelon gazpacho was alright. They put a twist on it by adding salsa, but I wasn't a fan. The texture was a bit off - kind of runny with weird chunks. Grilled salmon dish was your standard salmon dish. Nothing particularly memorable, nothing particularly bothersome. Paella was decent. It was a bit watery, which was kind of strange, but the seafood was very fresh. I think they could have cooked it a bit longer. Overall, not the best tapas I've ever had. Not terrible, but not spectacular. read more

So was in downtown Durham for another reason, but needed a few quick bites. Menu is clearly labeled to what is gluten free. I had the clams and chorizo, lamb, and the grilled squid squid ink rice. All tasted great. Really loved the sauce for the clams and chorizo. The waitstaff was great as well. This place is a tad pricey, but the food is worth it. read more

If you want your reservation messed up this is the place to go. I made a reservation 1.5 weeks prior to restaurant week. I called the next day to change my reservation from 2 to 4 people. Arrived at the restaurant only to be told I didn't have a reservation. Left and found another, very good, place to eat only to be called by Taberna Tapas at 6:40 PM to inquire if I was going to make my 6:30 PM reservation?! When I called them back 3 minutes later I was told I did have a reservation! WTF?!?! After 2 more phone calls it was determined that they had my name completely and totally wrong (had me as Herman Reines) and the reservation was for 2. But we discovered the Jack Tar and Colonel's Daughter restaurant and had a wonderful meal with excellent service. Thanks Taberna Tapas, without you I never would've found this place! Karla Greene aka Herman Reines read more

We dined here for restaurant week and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The food was delicious, drinks were fantastic, and the service was great. From the time we came in, everyone was very friendly, and our waiter was fun and did a wonderful job. He was helpful with suggestions and made the evening so pleasant. I highly recommend Taberna. read more

I used to like Taberna Tapas. Initially they had good tapas, good prices. and decent service but a recent visit changed my opinion. The food is still good, though pricier. The service, however was terrible. When our table of six asked for 3 separate checks at the outset our server rolled her eyes and was obviously annoyed. As the meal progressed my wife and I got all our food at once. Others at the table had to wait varying amounts of time and one plate arrived after virtually everyone had finished their meal. We all agreed that the service was substandard and debated tip amount. When the checks arrived,though, they had added an automatic 20% gratuity. I will not be back. read more

This was a pretty underwhelming food experience. We had about seven dishes, all of which were under seasoned. It took about five minutes to flag down a waitress to ask for salt and pepper, and when I finally did, she brought back pepper and said "I'm not sure where the salt is," and never came back. Do they only have one?? Perhaps what's why their food is so bland. Otherwise the rice (in two dishes) and the mushroom caps were both undercooked. Our drinks were...not great. The sangria tastes like it's just red wine and seltzer, and the cocktail I had tasted like an orange peel like maybe there was too much zest in it. Not a fan of Taberna. I won't be returning and would suggest Mateo a few storefronts down if you're looking for tapas. read more