I went on a mission to find the best tapas in Durham and was extremely disappointed compared to other taps choices in the area. The only menu items worth ordering are the bacon wrapped dates and the Croquettas de Jamon. The dates were delicious, who doesn't love bacon?! The Corquettas aren't my favorite in the area but they were still good. I was not impressed with the Brussels Sprouts or Patatas Bravas, both came out bland with little flavor or sauce that honestly left me thinking I could have made both easily at home and it would have turned out more flavorful. The vibe is nice and it wasn't too crowded for a Friday night. Would probably only go back again for a quick drink or appetizer before an event in downtown Durham but not for a full dinner. read more

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Food, drinks and atmosphere are amazing! Our favorite tapas in the Raleigh Durham area!

Always open spots at the bar where it's great to eat alone or with a friend/date, consistent quality, great atmosphere, and as a celiac- I've never gotten sick over at least 5 dinners! read more

The service was excellent and the atmosphere was nice, but food was just eh. We ordered the Brussels sprouts and could not finish them bc they were dry and overspiced. The potatoes were also dry although aioli was excellent. The beef brisket and empanada were decent. Overall, I feel as though most of the tapas could have been made at home- if not better at home. For an average of $15/plate I felt the food should have been better. read more

The food was acceptable. What I personally didn't enjoy was the tables super close to each other. You could hear the waiters reciting the menu to the other table in your ear The staff seemed to be rushing your time there for getting more tables vacated. I won't be coming back again. read more

The service was slow but the food was good. Beverage - red sangria Food - we started off with two pintxos, or small snacks - the smoked salmon and albondigas followed by the butternut squash soup, bacon wrapped dates, croquettas de jamon, crab stuffed piquillo peppers and pan seared salmon The red sangria was just okay, I would recommend opting for another beverage. The best tapas were the dates, croquettas de jamon and peppers. The salmon was overcooked and we were not a fan of the small snacks. In the end, this spot is a good option if you are in the mood for tapas. read more

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I was in the area for work and staying around the corner from Taberna. The staff at the front desk of my hotel suggested dinner here, so I walked down and sat at the bar (next to the shelf with all of the wine bottles that were covered in dust...). I have to say, I was pretty disappointed. The service was ROUGH. I don't know if they are understaffed or just confused, but everything just took way too long and everyone was flustered and overwhelmed. Not an enjoyable experience, if you ask me. The food was ok, but not the quality that you'd expect from a place with such great reviews and a fairly pricey menu. They were out of half of the items that I wanted, and the food that I did receive was very small and bland. Will I be back? No. Could it have been an off night? Maybe. For all of the cute restaurants on this block, I wouldn't suggest wasting my time with this one. read more

Taberna Tapas - Brussels sprouts and patatas bravas - very good but so small! - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

As with any restaurant and especially a tapas restaurant the law of averages should apply so let me start with the good. Service was great! We went on a night of a DPAC event and the place was slammed but the service was stellar and the speed at which the food was brought out was also excellent. Food was both great and average, how do you get the great? Ask your waiter/waitress for their recommendations...... Where we followed their recommendations it was a 5, where we went with our own ideas a 3. Details; Date wrapped with bacon sweet and savory perfection! Cauliflower sautéed very good but a little too much sauce but easy to remove. Portobello Mushroom caps: skip it, personal note to the chef, simplify this dish and let the mushroom flavor come out the filling was overpowering. Overall we enjoyed the food and will come back the next time we are in town. Give it a try I am sure you'll not regret it! read more

Cutest little tapas spot, great for date nights! Came here with my friend tonight (yes, she and I have regular date nights and I recommend it for anyone who's got a friend they cherish) and we were seated at the bar (having not made a reservation prior). The bar area is super cute and rustic, and our server was very attentive and nice. We started off with glasses of sangria (rosé for her, red for me) which tasted lovely. For dishes, we split the croquettes de jamon, short rib risotto, and the kale and mushroom sauté. All were flavorful - definitely recommend the first two. We had to end the night with dessert (as always) and opted for the churros. Light, crispy, and served with a dark chocolate dipping sauce - what's not to love?! Great experience overall and I'd recommend it! read more

Taberna Tapas - a variety of food and drinks - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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"Life changing!" We had dinner this evening as a family (me, my husband, 13yo son, and 10yo daughter) for the first time. My daughter at ages 4-7 would pretty much only eat pizza and raw spinach leaves. Needless to say, branching out beyond that was a distant hope for us. While her tastes have been expanding, her exact words after eating the Paella Valenciana were, "my life has been forever changed," while she smiled from ear to ear. Our favorites were the braised short ribs, albondigas, empanada carne, and the dark chocolate Valencia orange ice cream. And my daughter, of course, loves the paella. Service was outstanding, attentive, polite, and prompt. Make a reservation and enjoy this outstanding gem in downtown Durham. read more

A visit to Taberna was long overdue, given how often I've passed by it. Upon entering, I was immediately struck by the ambiance: up-scale, distinctly spanish, and craftily displaying their excellent selection of drinks. We sat at the bar as we didn't have a reservation (which I highly encourage given their limited seating). Nevertheless, our server was wonderful, both welcoming and highly knowledgeable (she gave an excellent tour of their diverse menu and provided several solid recommendations). We choose the Skirt Steak, Vegetable Paella, Portobello Mushrooms, Roasted Cauliflower with Manchego Sauce, and Dark Chocolate Mousse. Despite the range of Taberna's menu, their tapas is easily the highlight. Every small dish we ordered was absolutely delicious. The Manchego Sauce served with the cauliflower was creamy and flavorful (and perfect for dipping other items into), the Portobello Mushrooms were bite-sized and perfectly balanced (if there's one thing you need to try, it's this), and the Chocolate Mousse struck was deliciously rich. Overall, I found the food and drink at Taberna to be quite good, but the ambiance is really their selling point. I highly recommend Taberna for a nice date or small, celebratory gathering. read more

The ribeye was ok, the croquetas also ok, the chicken paella dismal. Service was good and fast, but I am weighting my review by the quality of the food. I would give it a 2.5 stars. read more

Good food, great service. The Paella was hands down the best I've had outside of Spain or NYC. Only thing I didn't love was the beef with chimichurri- it was over cooked and tough. Everything else was great. read more

Came here on a short trip to Durham. I heard great things about this place! Upon arriving, we were seated inside immediately. The staff was friendly and attentive, everyone wore masks. For drinks, I got the Pasiòn. It was excellent - Loved the hints of blueberry and vanilla. For tapas, we got the Skirt Steak in Chimichurri Sauce. The steak comes with a side of potatoes. I thought this was delicious, steak was soft and tender. Potatoes were crispy and nicely salted. The pollo empanadas was juicy and flavorful. I wish there was more sauce, it was sweet and enhanced the flavors of the empanada. The Spain cheese tray left much to desire. The bread is soft, and some parts of the cheese were unusually hard (my teeth could not break it.) A great place for a date or a small gathering! Overall, food & drinks was good, except next time I'd skip the Spain cheese tray. read more

Taberna Tapas - Skirt Steak in Chimichurri Sauce - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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My wife and I love, absolutely love tapas, but this place was a huge let down! The heirloom tomato salad sucked! The tomatoes were frozen. So we asked for another one and it didn't have half of the ingredients on it. Then the rest of the meal went downhill from there. The waitress was nice....when we got to see her. The drinks she suggest were not good either. How can you mess up sangria and a gin and tonic??? Thankfully there is another tapas restaurant in town. It's actually around the corner. Do yourself a favor and skip here and go there! You will thank me! read more

Average taste......This place is in my collection for a long time, I come with high expectation. While... read more

Taberna Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Everything we had here was delicious. Patatas Bravas, seared salmon, grilled octopus, sliced steak with chimichurri, and especially the shrimp (so good we ordered a second one!) Mary was a great host. This place deserves more attention. read more

I love this place! This is one of the only restaurants we repeatedly go to! The owner, Chris, is super nice. The food is always amazing. Highly recommend this place! read more

The service and staff are just wonderful. The food is always well prepared. While the portions could be a bit bigger the one little piece of meat. The flavors are always great. read more

I absolutely loved their food. The calamari was delicious as well as the short ribs. The lamb chops could have been seasoned better I wasn't a huge fan of that. The salad is a little overpriced but a nice leafy green for all the other meaty dishes. The flat bread was good as well but I would have wanted to try more elaborated dishes. A nice evening environment and great staff. read more

Taberna Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

First of all the vibe of the restaurant was very chill with the dark and dim light setting. Very romantic. The food was absolutely amazing. The wings were very tender (probably the best wings I ever had). The crab stuffed peppers were mouth watering and that says a lot considering I don't normally eat or like peppers. The salmon was good, a little dry but the sauce they had on top was a nice touch. The only thing I didn't get a photo of which I wish I had was the calamari and empenadas de Pollo. The calamari was absolutely amazing. It wasn't chewy, melted in your mouth and the sauce wasn't a regular marinara. It was light and refreshing. The empenadas were my least favorite. It was good but tasted basic. The mousse and flan were probably my favorite mostly because they were sweet lol. But the sliced almonds on the flan made a nice touch with the crunch. I'm a sucker for chocolate so of course the mousse hit the spot. Overall the restaurant is amazing. I will definitely be back for more. read more

Taberna Tapas - Dark chocolate mousse and vanilla flan - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The service was great here! From the moment we stepped in the door and were greeted to the confusing moment of deciding how to split the check, all the staff we encountered were fantastic. I ate here with three friends on Saturday night and we tried so many things. One friend is vegetarian and another is lactose intolerant, and both found plenty of options. We all enjoyed wine and sangria, and everything was delicious. My regular-eater friend and I shared the beet salad, the short ribs, the bacon-wrapped dates and the kale/oyster mushroom dish. Everything was so good! The bacon-wrapped dates were also stuffed with manchego cheese, which took them to a whole other level. Everyone but me found the kale dish a bit spicy, but I thought it was great and full of flavor. I also tasted the vegetarian empanada and the squid ink dish- both were great (and dairy-free!). For dessert we shared the chocolate orange ice cream, and the chocolate mousse. The flavors were unique, sophisticated, and not for everyone, but I was very impressed. Ultimately we found Taberna to be more affordable and more delicious than Mateo, just a few doors down. I will definitely be back! read more

Food to price ratio in terms of both quantity and quality is way off, especially for a tapas restaurant where small-er plates are the norm.

I was not expecting to have good Spanish food when visiting Durham but this place was a pleasant surprise. I have pretty high standards for Spanish food, having spent a couple months in Spain and always have a hard time finding good Spanish food in the US. I really liked the jamon croquette, the garlic shrimp, and bacon wrapped dates. Not as impressed with the tortilla and skirt steak. Went in a group and shared so that was good for variety. We got a carafe of sangria too which was ok. I was also a bit disappointed by the fact they didn't have any jamon ibérico :( All in all one of the better Spanish restaurants in the US. read more

Mostly hits, with a couple of misses. The atmosphere of this comfortable, industrial, so-Durham space with giant windows and a huge bar and some cozy booths is perfect. The food was stellar--and by that I mean every dish, from the grilled octopus to the crab-stuffed piquillo peppers to the mussels to the fried oysters to the mushroom-kale plate. Great flavors, seasoning, char, and all perfectly cooked. The sauces were nuanced and bread-soakingly delicious. The service was great, too; much better than we have been experiencing in Durham post-COVID. The only misses were these (easily fixable should the management care to): 1. We ordered six tapas plates. Immediately received the first; and then, I kid you not, all five more came out within 5-6 minutes. There was not enough room on our small table for them all (they had to remove the candle). Now, if you are on your way to DPAC or have only half an hour for lunch, this would be ideal. However, for a Valentine's Day dinner, we were hoping for a nice, leisurely experience like we used to get in Spain, without feeling rushed. 2. Could step up the drinks game. Some creative cocktails? Another white wine or two on the menu? Some interesting sherry? An after-dinner drink like port? We were so rushed with eating our warm food that we decided to leave the cheese plate for the end, and have it with a drink, instead of ordering dessert. Told they didn't serve those but our lovely waiter managed to scrounge up some sherry for us (not on the menu). All in all, we had a great evening and enjoyed a scrumptious meal and we will definitely be back. In our opinion, the food and atmosphere here is much more authentic and delicious than the perhaps better-known tapas place nearby, which takes liberties with Southern fusion. Glad Taberna is here. read more

I came here for dinner with colleagues. The ambiance was spectacular. They perfected the dim light comfy feel while not making it too dark to see your food either. The overhead chandeliers and candles at each table make it a really cozy experience. We were 8, and ordered about 10 dishes. My first time at a tapas restaurant, the concept seemed really neat. I tried the octopus, bruschetta, brussel sprouts, gambas (shrimp), patatas bravas, and roasted cauliflower. All were phenomenal! I recommend the octopus, gambas, and brussel sprouts in particular. The portions were indeed small, but it's a cool concept. For dessert, we shared churros, the vanilla caramel flan, and dark chocolate mousse. All delicious! If I have to choose one, chocolate mousse is probably it but vanilla caramel flan was a sneaky tasty option. Our waiter was super friendly and took 5 minutes to explain to us the menu and his recommendations. Would definitely go back. read more

Great spice level. Needed more salt and acidity. My friend ate a whole pepper - should have had a disclosure there.

Durham NC is quickly becoming a "foodie" destination. This restaurant is located in downtown Durham near the Carolina Theatre and DPAC. We went there with another couple on Saturday for a quick bite before a show. The place is really nice. It was busy with all the tables taken and every seat at the bar occupied. We ordered quite a few tapas dishes and shared. The paella, clams, skirt steak and short ribs were all hits. The drink and cocktail menu has many old and new favorites. I had a Rye Manhattan and it was made just right. We got complimentary churros for desert and they were surprisingly light and not oily. Definitely check this place out if you happen to be in Durham. The food was really good and the prices are reasonable. read more

We had such a wonderful dinner at Taberna Tapas this weekend! The atmosphere was lovely, and the food was outstanding. It made me feel like we were back in Barcelona. When we arrived, we were tucked into a cozy table in the front of the restaurant. As I was debating between a couple of different wines, the waiter was nice enough to bring me a small sample of one the roses I was considering, and I opted for that wine. We ordered several small plates for the table. The best by far was the Braised Beef Short Ribs with Smoky Risotto. The depth of flavor was remarkable. We also enjoyed the Patatas Bravas, which were nicely spiced; the Brussels Sprouts; the Albondigas in Spicy Tomato Sauce, which were fabulous; and the Bacon Wrapped Dates. The dishes did not all come out at the same time, which was nice because it allowed us to dig into a couple at a time. My favorite combo was really the potatoes, sprouts and meatballs. The short ribs were outstanding on their own, as were the dates. We also ordered the flan and churros to take home. They were also spectacular! There were so many more things on this menu that I would love to try in the future. I am so grateful to have a lovely tapas restaurant in our area, and will definitely go back there often! read more

Cane here for a late night dinner around 9pm on a Sunday! There was no wait and we were seated right away. For drinks, I ordered the Germain on Main- SOOO DELICIOUS! St. Germain is my go-to drink and this drink couldn't have been made better. It was very fruity(grapefruit) with a hint of sweetness, very easy to drink. We then ordered patatas bravas, which was okay. It wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing either. My FAVORITE was the atun tartar!! You have to try this- it's so refreshing and very flavorful- I would 100% order this again! The last thing was the Tres Mares. This was very delicious as well but I feel like it's quite a small portion. Other than that, I'd definitely come again! read more

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Taverna has a great interior and would make an awesome date spot! I came with a large party and we sat outside at a long table and our server was awesome. The bacon wrapped dates were stellar, 10/10 recommend. The dark chocolate mousse was very rich and good. I don't recommend the sangria though, it just didn't taste like sangria :( the tapas portions are perfect though! read more

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Eaten from here twice. First time everything was delicious. Second time, empanadas were great however we ordered the short rib and it was so fatty the whole short rib was inedible. It wouldn't even break apart. Once again, disappointed by the quality of food presented and sold, at a decently priced amount, in this area read more

On several previous instances, while walking around downtown Durham looking for a place to eat, I have lingered outside Taberna Tapas, peeking through the large picture windows or perusing the chalkboard menu posted outside. But I've never gone in, because it is always packed to the gills. Earlier this week on Monday when I did my walk-by, it was so quiet and empty I thought they were closed, like many other restaurants in this part of town on that day of the week (Rue Cler, Mateo, et al). Walking in, I was welcomed warmly and offered the choice of about 20 tables, as there were only two other parties dining. I opted to sit at the completely empty bar instead so I could chat with the friendly looking bartender. He told me Monday was their slow day, and there was no show that evening at either the Carolina Theatre or DPAC, where a lot of their clientele comes from. Mystery solved, I started enquiring about the beers on tap, and he offered me samples (I think he was kind of bored!). I tried a few, then settled on an Estrella Damm lager, which tasted exactly like a lager is supposed to taste - refreshing! I skipped over the extensive tapas selection as I was in the mood for a paella - they offer five types of paella, three with various proportions of shrimp (which I'm allergic to), one chicken and one vegetarian. I opted for the chicken, which came with "vegetable pisto and Manchego" - and told him I wanted the paella crispy at the bottom. The paella arrived - hot - but not hot enough to crisp the rice. So I sent it back. It came back in about 5 minutes - not much difference. He looked apologetic, and I didn't have the heart to send it back again. So I started picking at the chicken, quite disappointed in whatever was underneath it. He must have seen my expression, as he asked if I wanted to try some of their pintxos con pan (toasted bread with various toppings). He recommended the Spanish Chorizo and Avocado - "We order our chorizo from Spain, and it's my favorite" - and I went along, also ordering the Smoked Salmon (which I was pretty sure they couldn't mess up). The pintxos arrived and I dug into them. They were little bites of heaven! The chorizo was flavorful and paired wonderfully with the fresh avocado, and the topping of shallots completed the explosion of flavors in my mouth. The smoked salmon was good too - but not as transcendent as the chorizo (it was my safe choice, I reminded myself). As I chewed contentedly, my now cold paella completely forgotten, I realized this is why I enjoy trying out unfamiliar restaurants and cuisines - because it is an adventure. You may not always get what you want, but you will usually get what you need. read more

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Rustic and reasonably priced is what comes to my mind after my first visit to Taberna Tapas! Stopped in here before a show at DPAC, the location is convenient for anyone in the same boat. Inside Taberna, the space is tight and revolves around the dark wood bar. But it certainly feels simple and European in style. We order up some sangria, chicken-bacon croquettes, short rib, and stuffed dates. The sangria starter is excellent and full of fruit. The bacon wrapped dates are nicely browned with manchego cheese and an almond inside. I've made these at home and it's a great sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy app! Enjoyed the creamy and crispy croquettes, we finished off with an excellent flan for $4. All in all, Taberna Tapas does an excellent job with a convenient location and reasonable prices. Consider it an alternative to the uber-popular Mateo and you'll even save yourself some steps when you need to head over to DPAC. read more

Taberna Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Highly underrated tapas place! The staff were beyond friendly. The dates are amazing. A great place to drop in for a night out in Durham.

My mom and I were looking for a fun place to try in Durham and so I made a reservation for this place at 5 pm last Saturday. I realized after making the reservation that it didn't open for 10 minutes, but since we were cold and hungry, we figured we would see if they could at least seat us early and give us a glass of water. We walked up to the restaurant to see 3 workers standing around the host booth hanging out and laughing. We walked in and said hello only to be greeted with a curt "we open at 5." With a bad taste in our mouth, we went and sat on a park bench until 5 and figured that we would give the restaurant a chance still since it sounded good. Yes, the girl was rude and could have said to come back in 10 minutes in a nicer way or just sat us with menus and water. Our actual server was fine and didn't have an attitude like the other girl thankfully, but the food was bland. The cheese plate had very little flavor, the red wine I got which was supposed to be "smooth" was so bad that I didn't even finish it (and I'm not a wine snob) and the lambchops had literally no flavor. The mussels were mediocre and in a weird red sauce and the patatas bravas tasted like they were in a spicy ketchup. The roasted brussels sprouts were bland as well. I've literally made better ones myself. All in all, the food was not worth it and I wish we hadn't ordered all at once, so we would have known it wasn't good. I think these were the most overpriced and boring tapas I've had in my life. read more

Amazing experience . Great food and lovely ambience. Service was great too.. Definitely recommend!

Beautiful place & great food!! Loved the octopus and patatas bravas, tastes just like Spain

Arrived early (6ish) so the crowd had yet arrived. The food was remarkable, the space clean and attractive, and the service was exemplary. looking forward to our next visit. Criticism? The flan was more 'crème brûlée' but would order it again in a heartbeat. this restaurant is now on my list of Durham favorites. Will try the paella next time as reviews are very positive. read more

Nice place and sexy ambiance and food is REALLY good! BUT the plates were a bit skimpy. Do not go here if you are HUNGRY HUNGRY as they give VERY small portions for entree meals. The meals are more of snacks and won't give a meals satisfaction. Otherwise great place for drinks and a light meal! read more

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