The food, atmosphere, and service was 10/10. Our server was awesome and gave us lots of recommendations which we chose and they did not disappoint. I highly recommend this place. Everyone is having a good time and all team members are happy to help. read more

The cozy Tabanera was surprisingly bigger than I thought it was gonna be. what I thought was an upstairs borrow some tabling was actually a giant establishment with a downstairs space that was intimate and cozy. Are Hostess was extremely kind funny and observant to our needs. I had the salmon which was good And the sight of fries. I chased that with a beer That hit the spot. The only debate I have is whether the price point is worth what you are getting. But if you got a little extra cash I definitely think it's worth a visit. read more

The Cozy Taberna - Salmon - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Last time I was there I didn't like it. Then I went again and sat upstairs and found it pleasant. Good salad.

You know I don't write reviews much and I could go into detail but the first time back in April we thought it was good. I didn't eat much but my friends loved it. For 5 of us we spent $400. Tonight the two of us had a bill of $179 without tip. It was as if they purposely took the flavor out of everything. I sent the Asparagus away because it had zero taste. Of course it's insulting if you have to ask for salt but for $23 those 6 spears should be amazing. The Brussels sprouts were good, pork short ribs tasted. $62 for Paella that was ok. Grilled garlic rubbed bread, no taste. No garlic, it tasted like olive oil on toast. The Lemon Curd Coconut Custard Cake looked so good but it was not so great. It tasted stale and the whipped cream as well. The Burnt Cheesecake looked good but it was more of a custard, not much taste. The staff is great and friendly and really hustled and we were at the bar and they were all very busy cooking. I am hoping it might just be an off night but it is kind of expensive to experience an off night. I will try it again and it will tell me if perhaps it was just that. read more

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We so enjoy going into downtown to The Cozy Taberna. Delicious food, outstanding service & very friendly waitstaff. read more

My wife and I decided to try The Cozy Taberna for dinner/happy hour for our 4 year anniversary. We started off with a beautiful bottle of wine, a 1999 Rioja. It was an absolute delight to start. We were surprised to have such an old vintage on their list knowing they have some local wines at a cheaper price. We first ordered the Garlic rubbed toast along with Goat cheese dumplings. I would say overall a 2 out of 5 rating. The Romesco sauce was nice and smooth with a nice spice, but the dumplings had an overpowering burnt-herbal-taste to the point of inedible. The only saving grace was rubbing it over the garlic toast to create our own small plate. After having some more wine and a little time, we wanted another round of food. We ordered the Roast coppa steak frites and Manchego Burger, both medium rare. The Roast coppa Steak only tasted like liquid smoke. It was very overpowering and ultimately inedible. After cutting into it the au'jus ran out all over the fries like steak soup. The food runner came over after 2 minutes because "the chef was worried there wasn't enough fries." It lacked little flavor other than smoke. My wife ordered the Manchego burger with frites which came with aioli. We had to ask for the aioli after a few minutes because it did not come with the dish. We followed this with the Manchego burger. The bottom bun was completely soggy, soaked in Romesco, and that's all we could taste. Absolutely no care for the very thin, broken patty of meat which had no seasoning. We finished up the night with a Paloma Tequila drink which saved the night. Ultimately this is an overrated restaurant with below par food and average drinks. I will say, the Only positive tonight was our Bartender Taylor. (Purple streak hair) Very nice person! read more

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One of the saddest reviews I've ever written. When Cozy's opened we absolutely fell in love with it. Salem finally had "that place." The food was near perfect. Beyond fresh, incredible flavors and very unique. The chef was on station and ensured quality control was on point. Although I do not know the details, we have been told the chef left and there are new owners. Without details, that is super evident. There are literally young kids in the kitchen, arms crossed, laughing and joking with zero sense of environment or situation. Something that you'd expect from Applebees or alike. The last 4 times we have been there salads have been totally wilted, food cold and simply bad. Tonight, my wife's birthday, we chose to give it one last try. It was worse than ever. We sat next to another person at the bar who had very similar observations and experience. Our last time ever dining here was tonight. Back to Da Vinci's for a fine meal. read more

The Cozy Taberna - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Oh, how I do not want to give this place three stars, but I have to. Let me start with the positives. The food at The Cozy Taberna is fantastic, especially for Salem where fine dining options are few and far between. The food, drink, and dessert menus are diverse and offer quite a bit to choose from. Truly, you cannot go wrong with whatever you order. Aside from the food, the restaurant itself is new and beautifully designed. The entrance is in an alleyway, giving it a secret-of-the-city type of feel. Unfortunately, the service here is subpar. With the prices that you're paying, great (or at least attentive) service is a must. In the numerous times that I have dined here, I have had the same experience. It takes an incredibly long time for the server to come to the table (which is the only time I have any contact with the server), other people bring out the food, and because the server never returns, I have to flag someone down to pay the check or tend to any other matters (e.g., needing more water, condiments, etc.). It is really disappointing because the service is such an integral part of the restaurant experience. If it were better, or at least met expectations, I would definitely give this place a four or five-star rating. read more

The Cozy Taberna - The goat cheese dumplings. My absolute favorite item on the menu. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Food is good. Some of it's great. But the prices... get real. $20 for a drink!?!?! $26 for. A Single small Plate? When this place first opened we went often. Not anymore. Increase in prices to the point it's literally laughable. This isn't nyc. Never going again. read more

Owning a new restaurant is like having a four-year-old child. Constant supervision with attention to every detail, every day and every hour or else tragedy will strike. I really enjoyed the first 3 times I was at the Cozy. Excellent staff interaction with great craft cocktails and small plates were coming out of the kitchen in a timely fashion. I was really excited to go in for an actual dinner so I invited a friend of mine who's a developer in the area and bragged about how wonderful this place was. If we would have just had the craft cocktails and stopped at the first course, this would have easily been a five-star review. Unfortunately that was not the case. I'm not going to go into great details because I don't want to completely put this place on notice, but I will talk about the coppa steaks they are serving. I am familiar with coppa steaks as pertaining to the cut of pork shoulder that's very tender and marbling much like a ribeye steak. However, I never heard of that term with a beef steak so I had to Google it. I have butchered entire animals before and processed all my own Meats, so I'm pretty familiar with the components and the different parts. I found an old article from a previous well known restaurant serving it and further investigated. They referred to it as a chuck eye roast. Lol. Well I can tell you there's no such thing. There is EXACTLY 2 very small CHUCK EYES on every cow. It's one cut per side and that's it. A roast would be just Chuck which would be a lot of unrendered fat and very tough if not slow cooked. A chuck eye is certainly one of my favorite steaks especially for the money. They are marbled and very tender. But that is certainly not what we received with the coppa steak. I'm not sure if it was Chuck or it could have been blade, but it was horrible. I was so embarrassed. My friend ate the center and was done. I ventured a little further, but quickly became frustrated with spitting out chewed meat with tough connective tissue. One more issue we had. We counted 15 plus employees and the restaurant was busy, but nothing like the other three visits I had made. Bartenders were great and literally brought our drinks. Servers however were all engaged in conversations with coworkers and we had a difficult time breaking them free to get another fork or napkin. I would assume the owners were not around and the atmosphere without supervision was way too casual for the floor staff. Anyway the whole experience was embarrassing because I raved about the place to my buddy and was shocked at what we received. 4 oz of actual meat and the rest was all unrendered fat & gristle. read more

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A bit overrated. I would like more middle/high-end options in salem. I admire what they're aiming for but feel they fall short perpetuating the standard of mediocre cuisine in town. There are a lot of great ideas, but I feel some revising may help. Unfortunately, out of the many items tried only one item, the brussel sprouts were worthwhile, in my opinion. I also think they could be recreated by roasting some brussel sprouts in bachan japanese bbq sauce and garlic. At its current performance I would go to Taproot over Cozy Taberna as the flavors and quality are aligned and the price point is a bit more favorable. My hope is that they elevate to match the wonderful ambiance and expectations they curate. read more

Pros Delicious food Great selection Nice ambience Great location Cons Crowded Tightly spaced read more

The food was good but not amazing. We found this place to be way overpriced with a confusing menu. Some of the dishes are shareable, some not so much. The portion sizes are all over the place -- the $52 scallops were just 4 scallops while the $48 steak had a substantial side of peppers and onions. There weren't enough tapas/small bite options for us to piece together a meal. The ambiance was good and our server was helpful but we have had more memorable meals for half the price. read more

Met friends here last night for an early dinner. The food, service and ambience were top notch. The cocktails were amazing The bartenders are amazing The server was attentive, knowledgeable, friendly and didn't hover. The only dish I didn't care for the Brussels. Fried Brussels with fish sauce? Seemed so blasé and not unique enough like the other dishes which blew our socks off. Overall the experience was lovely and we will be back. read more

The wife and I had business in Salem and had multiple recommendations to come here and we were not disappointed. We made reservations to sit at the chefs bar and everything looked amazing. Brussel sprouts, bacon wrapped dates, honey brined pork chop and lava cake made the order. All were fantastic but couldn't help but interrupt James on the grill to ask about all the plates we couldn't try. James and the rest of the staff are some of the nicest people I've ever encountered. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great people. No notes. read more

Over priced, the ribs taste like propane, the brussel sprouts are over charred but cold in the middle and the potatoes are home fries. Great staff and the atmosphere is cozy, but the food is very disappointing and we wouldn't recommend it to visitors to the area. read more

Very good food, impeccable service , Ambiance ! I want to come back with pleasure Adrian Constantin read more

This is the best food I've had in the state of Oregon, and the best service since the RingSide ca. 1999. We arrived at five on a Saturday with no reservations and took a two-seat table in the window, ordering a few small items as we sat down. Impressions are at the end. Food and drink come first. Sangria, pitcher: muddled, fruity, delicious. This simple drink is so often wrecked -- too acid, too syrupy, too pulpy, too watery. Not this sangria! Get it by the pitcher -- it goes with everything. Cocktail: the Cardamom Blush (Aria gin, cardamom-infused Lillet Rosé, with lemon and bitters), like the grandest gin sling, served in a coupe. Reminds me of the glorious cocktails at Table 508 (R.I.P.) and there is no higher compliment. Bacon-wrapped dates: I've had these elsewhere as dátiles rellenos, but never so good: the bacon was crisped and smoky, the dates rich and not too sweet, the Marcona almond a nice touch. The spiced honey was balanced and made us order another round. Frites: as advertised, and a vehicle for the aioli, creamy, airy, and perfectly garlicky. Castelvetrano olives: served hot, which I am stealing to do at home. The oil-cured olives are even more juicy and rich this way. Amazing. Charcuterie board: so balanced. The chicken-liver mousse was delicate and light; the country pâté had body; the sausages ranged from rich to spicy. Mustard grains seemed bound with honey, flavorful but not sweet. Country bread and thinner toasted slices. Freshly pickled beets were well spiced and the spicy onions were pickled; all killer, no filler. Lamb chops (grilled El Greco lamb chops with herbed vinaigrette): crackling from the fire, perfectly hot and pink, seasoned brightly and still lamb-forward but not gamy. We took the bones home to gnaw in privacy. Scallops: seasoned and seared, with a shaved fennel salad, and romesco so good we had to try it on every other thing on the table. It will make you want to lick the plate. Desserts looked grand. We saved them for next time. Overall impressions: Music: it was a good volume to neutralize the pitch of the chatter without intruding; I walked into what I thought was "Music for Chameleons" by Gary Numan, and my small heart grew three sizes. Food: everything was richly flavored and well seasoned, fresh and so well balanced. Every garnish and condiment went with every other thing, with no two things tasting the same, but all of it going together -- tapas magic. It would be easy to have a totally vegetarian feast, eat lightly or gluttonously, or go hog-wild à la carte. But it was really designed to share and combine. Service: abundant, observant, thoughtful, experienced, and well-directed. Hosts moved discreetly, seeing all. Always prompt, never rushed...fine dining service in a casual setting with luxe comestibles. If I sound like I'm gushing, I am, and still I am not doing it justice. It fed my soul. It gave me vitamins I have been missing, and I was not sequestered during the plague years. This is not a bedraggled resuscitation, but a restoration of decadent simplicity that gives me hope for a glorious "new normal". I feel like we can have good things again. read more

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Made a reservation here after a few repeat recommendations from locals. We sat at the bar by the kitchen to watch the chefs on action and it made us wish we could have eaten here twice on our trip so we could try more menu items. Our favorite dish was the squid ink pasta. We came in around 4:30pm so we were lucky enough to arrive during happy hour. Definitely recommend coming during happy hour because there are lots of great dishes on discount. We also loved the olives starter. The spices they add to the oil is so delicious. The flat iron steak was cooked perfectly but be warned that almost every shishito pepper was too spicy for me. The patatas bravas came with a sauce underneath and on top. Those flavors combined were wonderful. If we came again we would try the scallops and the pork chop. We saw those come up for other tables and were super jealous. We will have to find another excuse to come back and visit Salem. read more

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Delicious Spanish tapas style - Potatas Bravas, charcuterie board, awesome wine we actually special ordered some of the same when we returned from our trip to Salem. A+++ food and ambiance! read more

The Cozy Taberna - Food and drink. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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Always fantastic food and atmosphere. Great service on a very busy Valentine's Day this year - we goofed on our reservation timing and got the date wrong. They fit us in immediately with zero issues. Very kind management team. We love the clams in chorizo broth, the plank salmon and the steaks. Always a fantastic meal and great cocktails too! read more

Absolutely delicious food and great service! I treated my out-of-state family to dinner here and we were all thrilled. The ambience and booth were nice, and our waitress was flawlesss. We shared: -A picture of sangria (good) -A salad with pickled strawberries and rhubarb and spicy hazelnuts that was outstanding! -House made brioche with warm, salted honey that was delicious! -Patatas bravas were the only "meh" item -Grilled asparagus with crispy prosciutto and lemon vinaigrette that was outstanding! -Goat cheese dumplings with garlic bread. I would not order this again, but my family would, so I was outnumbered 3 to 1 -Sirloin steak with mushroom sauce was good On my list of "I really want to come back and try this": -Fried Brussels sprouts -Broccolini -Roasted eggplant -Seared scallops I cannot wait to return! read more

If I am anything I am a tapas girl. Getting to try a little bit of everything?? Yes please. The Cozy Taberna is a sweet restaurant located down the alley of Court street right before you hit commercial and behind the great harvest bread co. Definitley not a casual dinner for a couple of college students but was so delicious and worth every penny for our special night out. We ordered 3 small dishes and 3 big for our table of 5 and it was the perfect amount of food. There are also lots of options for vegetarians on the menu! My favorite veggie dishes were the squid ink pasta and the goat cheese dumplings. The staff working was so nice and friendly and gave us lots of amazing recommendations because there is so much to choose from and honestly everything looked so good it was hard to narrow it down. We can't wait to go back to try the rest that we missed out on! Cocktails here are also delicious and HUGE! We got the cran rosemary and elderflower gin and tonics and savored every last drop. read more

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My best friend and I came here tonight and had a truly lovely experience! If you don't have a reservation and hope to get a seat, rest assured it is possible. The bar top is open seating, first come first serve, so if you get there right when they open at 5 PM you can snag seats before it fills up for the evening. Off the top, I can attest that not only are the cocktails delicious, the food is as well, additionally very fresh and clean and flavorful. And the service was excellent. What we appreciated most about the service was how friendly and patient the bartenders were as we decided on items, the well timed check ins throughout the night, and the fact that they never pressured us with time, as we ended up staying from open to close. Of course we made sure to compensate them well with a great tip. We ordered many items on the menu including the sautéed spinach, grilled broccolini, manchego asparagus, fried artichokes, cod fritters, as well as the larger main dishes of the roasted eggplant with lamb ragu and the roast coppa steak frites. Honestly everything was delicious. All of the vegetable dishes were cooked perfectly and very flavorful. The roasted eggplant with lamb ragu was like a homemade lasagna but better because it was cleaner and fresher. Also, the beef roast was delicious! I don't normally eat red meat and I was very impressed with the flavor and cut of the steak. Also cooked perfectly. And the cod fritters were one of our absolute favorite dishes! Like fish and chips cod but so much more decadent and fresh, with such a clean, light flavor. Paired with the housemaid aïoli, this was the one dish we didn't leave any behind for leftovers. If you want to come here and have two cocktails, eat well, and leave satiated, you should expect to pay about $70 per person before tip. Of course, there are larger entrée items that can make this price higher depending on what you order. We ordered a little more than this, but at least this gives you a pretty realistic idea of what you might be paying. This is definitely a great place for a romantic date, a special occasion celebration with friends and family, or a just-because with your best friend! Highly recommend, and we will definitely be back! read more

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If you want Portland-style dining in Salem, you will be thrilled! What else to expect from restauranteur John Gorham who was quite literally pushed out of the Portland restaurant scene for threatening and misgendering a trans woman of color on facebook. It seems his Bend excursion worked so well he is now the culinary advisor and partner of Cozy Taberna. Anyone who had previously eaten at Toro Bravo would see his signature style and cuisine mirrored here. Fries were good, onion rings were mediocre, charcuterie boards was abhorrent (the crackers were soggy??? that's a new one even for me), they were sold out of the red velvet cake on a Friday night. Bringing Portland dining to Salem is an admirable goal in itself, but Salem is not the market for Portland prices. Look around and it's not hard to see why. The one highlight was the house-made sangria, but even then, not for the price. Scheduling a reservation doesn't have credibility because you WILL have to wait an extra 10-15 minutes for a table, so be warned. The storefront itself is insanely small and everything feels so squished! Tiny tables + tapas does not equal a comfortable situation for a double date. Walk-in dining is not an option; you WILL be turned away. read more

The Cozy Taberna - Sangria - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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We went here for brunch and it was fantastic. Everything we ordered great! This is a great restaurant

this is our favorite restaurant in Salem and perhaps one of our all time favorite restaurants in the U.S.! we are huge fans of the burger - the use outstanding meats, a special sauce, the best buns, and manchego cheese which makes this burger unique and one we are always craving! can't go wrong here - except you have to make a reservation WAY in advance if you want to get a seat!! read more

Went here for my birthday and the food was great, the sangria's are delicious and before we left they gave me a muffin! I'm guessing the waitress saw my birthday when i showed my passport We will be coming back definitely! read more

The Cozy Taberna - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Everything - that's what I love about this place. Food and service are the best I've ever had in Salem. Unfortunately for Salem, that is a low bar, but this place sets a new standard. Highly recommend Mojito and Squid Ink Pasta! read more

Loved the food and scene at this restaurant!! I came here last night with my parents for my birthday dinner. We were driving through Salem on our way to Seattle and were searching for a bar before eating dinner. My mom found this place online, and we just decided to eat dinner here as well. They were completely booked last night, so we sat at the bar. The restaurant is in a small alley and the front is open to the outside, so they have some outside, semi outside, and indoor options. The restaurant itself is modern and cute. We ordered drinks first. My mom got this pineapple drink with Serrano pepper infused vodka. It was so good! It has a kick, but tasted sweet. I got a sangria and my dad had an old fashioned. All the drinks were great and the bartender was super friendly. For dinner, we ordered bacon wrapped dates, Brittni's salad, cedar plank salmon, and the honey brined pork chop. Everything was amazing! The salad tasted so fresh and the puffed quinoa added a nice crunch. The salmon was incredibly tender and flavorful. It was slightly undercooked and was topped with a salsa verde. The pork chop was probably the best one I've ever had in my life. It melted in my mouth and was full of flavor. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate torte and almond cake. The torte was so rich and thick. I'm a huge chocolate person, and this hit the spot. The almond cake was gluten free. It was quite moist. The servers were super sweet and gave me a birthday cupcake and a small sign that thanked me for going there for my birthday. Overall, an amazing dinner. I wish I lived nearby so that I could go regularly. I recommend this place to everyone who happens to be in Salem! read more

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This place has lots of good energy. The location for one makes it unique yet could be better instead of an alley. When I took my wife and my kid it was good until we were situated at our booth. Not an ideal restaurant to take kids or walk-in unless you have a reservation ahead of time. What I like about the restaurant is good vibes, great for drink night, food is okay, open kitchen, and more of portland energy. What I dislike about the restaurant is the expensive small and big plates. The portions were surprisingly small and expensive af. Would recommend giving this place a try if you are in a group trying to grab some drinks. Otherwise, it would be best to find a different restaurant to dine and eat in. For the three big plates that I ordered with the beer, it was close to $100. I am not satisfied with the experience overall but this place has potential. read more

The Cozy Taberna - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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The Cozy Taberna came highly recommended, but as we learned after our meal, the head chef recently left and ownership has changed hands. That might be the explanation behind a puzzling hit or miss experience at what has been considered the best restaurant in Salem. On the positive side, there was the radicchio caesar salad. We added some fresh fish to it for a couple more dollars. This dish was actually pretty amazing. It had a wonderful balance of flavors from the crisp radicchio to the the grassy manchego and pleasantly sour notes from the fish. I would highly recommend this salad as a starter. We also really enjoyed the goat cheese dumplings. These dumplings probably have the most Instragram appeal as they come served in a bright red spicy sauce that provides a gorgeous contrast to the yellow pasta. But aside from just appearance, the dumplings themselves tasted like an elevated stuffed shell. I'd order these again as well. Another tasty side item were the lamb and beef meatballs. They provided a welcome savory contrast to the dumplings and salad. Outside of these items, we experienced some less spectacular dishes. While some at our table enjoyed it, I thought the amalgam of chorizo, manchego and honey would materialize into something spectacular in the riot roll. It didn't really pop for me. The much lauded Brussel sprouts were immensely disappointing as they had a sulfuric taste that many avoid using a flash frying method. They don't use that here. The caramel and fish sauce could only do so much to mask the bitterness. A dish that we all universally hated was the bavette steak. Often, people have different takes on what constitutes an appropriate level of doneness and like most diners, I prefer medium rare for steaks. Our steak, however, was relatively purple and tough to both cut and eat. As another reviewer noted, the dish was absolutely covered in onions and mushrooms to such an extent that those flavors dominated the order. We had thought about ordering the cowboy ribeye. Based on our experience with the sirloin, I'm happy we passed on it. Overall? I do think there are some nice items at Cozy Taberna, but I wonder if I missed a culinary gem when their head chef left the restaurant for Portland. I will note that I still liked it better than any of the other elevated experiences in Salem. Plus, a bevy of highly rated reviews deserves some credibility to the idea that I may have just experienced an off night. So take this three star review with at least a couple of grains of salt. It's still worth a visit but perhaps with highly tempered expectations. read more

Five stars? Five stars? My dear reader, the celestial firmament doesn't have enough stars to adequately rate the Cozy Taberna, a culinary paradise nestled in the heart of Salem, Oregon. It's not just a restaurant, it's a gastronomic journey, a sensory experience, a date with destiny, and the destination of said date is Flavor Town. As soon as you step foot through the Electric Alley Entrance (249 Liberty ST NE #140, for those of you tracking our epic journey via GPS), you're transported to a land where Spanish influences dance with local Oregonian charm, a love affair that sizzles hotter than a sauté pan on a Saturday night Let's talk appetizers, shall we? And by talk, I mean rave, because the pre-main course offerings at the Cozy Taberna are nothing short of a culinary standing ovation. While the specifics of the appetizer menu remain shrouded in a tantalizing veil of mystery, the ethos of sharing that the restaurant champions guarantees that these starters are designed to delight, to be passed around, to be fought over in a friendly-but-fierce fork duel. Every bite is a revelation, a little bit of Spain mingling with the best local ingredients Oregon has to offer. Now, the ambiance. Ah, the ambiance! It's like walking into a warm hug from an old friend who's also somehow a world-class interior designer. There's a cocktail bar that makes you want to sit, sip, and spill your deepest secrets. And the cozy lower lounge? It's like your living room but infinitely better, mostly because no one's asking you to help them set up their new phone. Add to that a Spanish-inspired wine list, 24 taps of craft beverages, and screens, presumably for watching the big game or perhaps Spanish telenovelas. It's a haven of comfort and class, all rolled into one. Now, if I may take a slight detour from the edible to the adorable, there's a certain waitress there. Bethany. My oh my, Bethany. If Helen of Troy's face launched a thousand ships, Bethany's smile could no doubt launch a NASA Mars Rover. Her beauty is only surpassed by her service - always there when you need her, never there when you're trying to sneak an extra bread roll. And did I mention she's hot? Like, jalapeno-on-a-stick-dipped-in-lava-hot. No, hotter. Imagine the surface of the sun, but with better hair. Bethany, if you're reading this, call me. Let's make more than just dinner reservations. Let's make babies. In conclusion, the Cozy Taberna isn't just a dining experience, it's a life experience. It's the story of Spain and Salem, of appetizers and ambiance, of Bethany and... well, hopefully, me. Five stars? It's an infinite constellation of deliciousness and delight. Visit the Cozy Taberna. Your taste buds will thank you, and your heart just might find love. read more

Second time here. Again, great meal. Had a different salad than last time and although it was good, I will go back to the Brittni one next time. We had the lamb and it was perfect! Tried the papas bravas and I enjoyed them more than my husband who honestly liked the sauce in the bottom of the dish than the papas themselves (he said he would have liked them better roasted not fried). Dessert was a dream! Service was attentive. read more

The Cozy Taberna - Basque cheesecake - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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The Cozy Taberna is wonderful. It has a unique menu and great service. The atmosphere is cozy and friendly

First time here with a friend just last week after wanting to try this place for many months. It did not disappoint. Lovely hostesses greeting and seating us, which being the front-facing first impression, a welcoming host or hostess goes a long way in setting the tone for the experience, so kudos to them. Ambiance is nice and makes you want to return to sit in the intriguing-sounding downstairs, but we were upstairs at a table looking out on the alley, which was fine. Service was attentive, professional and friendly. My friend and I both had The Basque Kiss cocktail, fresh and delicious. We shared appetizers: Patatus Bravas (nice crisp on these potato bites, lite sauce) and Goat Cheese Dumplings (OMG so delicious, rich and addictingly good). For dinner entree, I had the Seared Scallops: four large and perfectly-seared scallops. I have to admit my brain automatically did the math (that's $12 per scallop) but of course that isn't all there is to that little math equation. There's the delicious perfect sauce and fennel salad, the chef's expertise and training, restaurant overhead, and so forth, and to be honest, if I were to cook them at home, there's a pretty good chance they would be overcooked and rubbery. SO...yes, expensive but a very nice treat and worth it. My friend had the Honey Brined Pork Chop, which she said was very good, and enough that she saved some for lunch the next day. For dessert, we shared the Basque Burnt Cheesecake. SO GOOD. I would have partaken of a dessert sherry but my friend cast a disapproving look (party pooper) so maybe next time! I'll definitely return again when I have another friend or family visiting or a special occasion to use as an excuse as it is a bit pricey, but not that much more than many other local good restaurants. read more

The Cozy Taberna - The Basque Kiss cocktail. Very tasty! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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My husband and I went there on a Thursday night. We made sure to have a reservation. We shared everything that we ate and it was all delicious. The goat cheese dumplings paired well with the rustic bread and were very rich and tasty. The Moroccan brick chicken was flavorful and tasty and the chicken itself was cooked to juicy perfection. The wait staff was friendly and helpful. They all seem to keep their eyes on all tables. The chocolate molten lava cake was really good especially with the ice cream. We had a wonderful meal and a nice quiet ambiance. We will definitely be back. read more

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We were traveling on business with a bit of a chip on our shoulders that Salem is so quiet and uninteresting and there's not much going on (we're from Portland: surprise), THEN we walked into Cozy Taberna. Oh. My. God. Is there a rapture for agnostics? I'm pretty sure Cozy Taberna would be catering it. We split an amazing salad, the brussels sprouts which were so delicious they shouldn't even call them brussels sprouts anymore and then, THEN: the squid ink pasta. I have to tell you the memory of it is bringing tears to my eyes. Not since I was introduced to squid ink pasta years ago in Barcelona have I been so enthralled by a dish. What a perfect meld of seaworthy saltiness and heat. It was like I was back in Barcelona. It is hard to imagine returning to Salem--we go once a month--and not returning to this shining mecca. read more

Delicious food and incredibly attentive staff. Everything we ordered came out hot and tasted great. We tried a variety of different foods. A great place to enjoy a nice dinner out and try some new dishes. Will definitely be returning! read more

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I have struggled to find a place in Salem that I truly enjoy eating and I finally found a place there that I not only enjoyed but would very willingly go back to! The Cozy Taberna is tucked away off an alley in the old town downtown. Once you enter you know why it got it's name. We had reservations and were seated immediately by the staff which were all really friendly and knowledgeable. The wine menu is what you'd expect but my Tempranillo was nice. There is also a cocktail and beer menu plus some non-alcoholic options beyond soda. We ordered nearly everything on the menu and there was nothing that wasn't delicious. The artichoke hearts were a little greasy so I didn't prefer them but the cedar plank salmon was outstanding. The ribeye steak was perfectly cooked and flavorful, too. The goat cheese "dumplings" are very unique, though pretty filling. The salads were the perfect addition to "cut" the fat and heaviness of other items ordered. They have your classics like olives, bacon wrapped dates, marcona almonds, and Brussels sprouts but they also have brioche buns with ramekins of butter and salt cod fritters. The scallops and squid ink pasta were also nice additions to the table. Service was a bit slow but always friends and we did have 10 people, so it was no small feat feeding us all. Very happy with the experience! read more