My wife and I have been meaning to try out Valencia and finally got around to it for a birthday lunch today. Valencia, near downtown Covington, is a stylish, contemporary presence featuring tapas and traditional Spanish cuisine, with a respectful nod to the local culture. Service was friendly and attentive today, with Dara providing valuable info on menu offerings and taking excellent care of us. Today we enjoyed their specialty tapas; a Valencia roll, fried calamari, and a brand new offering - fried chicken pesto flatbread. All were excellent, with the roll having a sumptuous glaze and the calamari packing a tasty jalapeño punch. The flatbread, which we found out that we were the first to try, may have been the star of the show; generously portioned, with a thin crust, moist chicken and a zesty , but not overpowering, pesto finish. Although we were too full for dessert, several appealing ones were available. A number of specialty cocktails were also featured. We enjoyed their sangria. We look forward to returning to Valencia! read more

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Well, I've never been to Spain. But I kind of like the food. They say the cooks are insane, and they really know how to feed you. They don't overcook it, never gonna leave you hungry, I can't refuse it. Prior to my trip to Valencia, I had never had real Spanish food. I have had lots of Latin American food, but true Spanish food was not something I had tried. Now that I have, I am hooked. Valencia is amazing. I went with a group one night at their recommendation. I had other ideas for downtown Covington, but this is where they wanted to go. Suprisingly my youngest kid agreed to go too, which turned out great. Valencia is located in an old house that has served as several restaurants before. I always loved the location and have loved several of teh other spots. But Valencia takes the cake. It is fancy without feeling pretentious. Intimate despite being loud and popular. So many great things to say about the vibe. The food, however, is the star, even with the amazing ambiance. We started with calamari and creamy goat cheese. Both were stellar. The creamy goat cheese was so light and rich. The calamari was perfectly fried and incredibly fresh. Delicious! My entrée was the skirt steak, which I chose over the ribeye. I made the right choice. It was just like all of the other food, rich and delicious, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor unlike anything I have had before this meal. One word of caution. My kid had the charred octopus, and it was good, but it was indeed charred. I tried it and liked it, but it may have exceeded her taste buds. But, ladies and gentlemen, is how we learn. I cannot say enough great things about Valencia. PS If you are staying at the Southern, you can walk here! read more

Valencia - Skirt Steak - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Covington, Louisiana

Valencia was such a delicious discovery! I went here with my co workers based on a recommendation and we were all so glad that we did! We had a large group so made a reservations, but it seems walk ins were welcome as well. The space was very cute. Our waitress made some great drink and food recommendations. And took recommendations. I got a pomegranate mojito. We ordered several appetiziers, my favorite was the beef empanadas. For dinner we got the Pollo and Chorizo Paella and the Negra Fideua. It's served family style and our waitress was super flexible allowing us to split the order between the two. I had never tried a Fideua before and it was our favorite dish! The portions were huge and we went home with leftovers. For dessert we tried the brownie which was a good balance to our appetizer and dinner. This is definitely a place I would visit again. Great ambiance, delicious food, and lovely service. read more

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Valencia has been on our list of restaurants to try for some time now. My family had the pleasure of dining at Valencia for lunch today. What a wonderful addition this restaurant is to downtown Covington. The staff were friendly and provided exceptional service during our lunch. The atmosphere works well for families, couples and social gatherings alike. We enjoyed the Beef Empanadas, Calamari Frito, Ensalada verde with green apples & goat cheese and the Paella Valenciana for two. Our order was just right for our party of four. Each dish was prepared perfectly and was full of flavor. Valencia's quality is comparable to some of our favorite tapas restaurants around the world. My family and I look forward to our next visit. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation at Valencia to experience the delcious cuisine they have to offer. read more

Valencia - Paella Valenciana for 2 - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Covington, Louisiana

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Fresh and flavorful Spanish dishes in the heart of Old Covington, Valencia is the perfect spot to take your significant other or bestie! When we dined here, we were greeted by friendly servers and relaxing Spanish music. The atmosphere makes you feel like you're in Europe dining at a fancy restaurant in the town square. Our favorite dishes were the beef empanadas and the goat cheese tapas. The citrus marmalade syrup paired well alongside the creamy and smooth goat cheese spread, while the empanadas were crispy and filled with the most flavorful meat. We also enjoyed Pan Con Tomate--a menu item that reminded me of bruschetta toast with the addition of manchego cheese. The patatas bravas were also super yummy--home potatoes drizzled with a spicy tomato sauce and garlic aioli. It was also my fiancé's birthday so he wanted something sweet to end the meal with and the Spanish French toast did not disappoint. It was made with bread pudding batter and covered in bananas and sweet rum sauce, certainly a nod to a Banana's Foster and NOLA cuisine. 10/10 I recommend this place if you're ever in downtown Covington! read more

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The restaurant is very nice. We sat on the porch and the weather was perfect. The waitress was super nice & knowledgeable (Dara). And then the food, we had the fried calamari & jalapeños & we split the Valencia burger. We got the calamari extra crispy & they were perfect. The burger came with fries and was cooked to perfection. We will be back! read more

Valencia - Calamari Frito - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Covington, Louisiana

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It's a beautiful restaurant. The service is wonderful, but somehow my steak came out very tough to their credit. They took it off the bill so we will try again. read more

Our server Emily made my birthday dinner memorable. Many at our table struggled to read the tiny print on the menu. I would like to see the menu items expanded or a "specials" menu added to the standard menu. I would like to see an expanded Spanish or South American red wine menu. We will be back! read more

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Great food and fast service! The chicken empanadas and burger was amazing. One of the best burgers I've had. Atmosphere was so cute and we heard they have live music some nights! read more

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My experience at this restaurant was exceptional. The service was very good and the food was excellent. I really enjoyed the paella, much better than Costera's in New Orleans. We had a good time. read more

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I've been to Valencia a few times and it's always excellent. Service is great, they have my favorite White Sangria and goat cheese tapa. I'll be back!! read more

Valencia - Goat Cheese tapa - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Covington, Louisiana

One of the best restaurants on the Northshore! Wonderful outside patio with live music on weekends Food is so good. Lots of shareable plates and you have to get the star of the show...paella. Also don't skip on dessert...the churros are just like when I had them in Spain! read more

The food, ambience and service definitely were excellent. Spanish food, not to be confused with latin American food (they are different but still delicious), seems pretty authentic compared to other Spanish restaurants. Prices are fair and worth it. Also, the Spanish music was very nice! read more

Yummy! We stopped here for our date night and I am super glad we did. The food was delicious and service was phenomenal. Very nice ambiance and fitting for a spanish restaurant. I am so glad to see the authenticity being honored in the family dishes. Definitely coming back for paella as we did tapas. read more

The service, ambiance and drinks were excellent. I came for a girls dinner and Valencia was the perfect setting. If making a reservation, I recommend patio seating as they often have live music making the dining experience that much more special. The food, albeit good, was not traditionally Spanish and tasted more like Latin meals made in Colombia or Central America/Latin America. It was not what I was expecting at a Spanish restaurant at all. read more

Valencia - Paella Valenciana - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Covington, Louisiana

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Great Food and Cocktails. The potato salad is more like potato's in sauce not actual potato salad in mayo. read more

Valencia - Mahi and potato salad - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Covington, Louisiana

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Flavors were amazing! Atmosphere was cozy. Wait staff was very nice. We will be back soon. read more

Valencia - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Covington, Louisiana

Came in on a Friday evening and the place was pretty empty. It was also rather warm inside. We had some appetizers and drinks per the waitresses suggestion and were not impressed by any. It may be just a miss on our experience read more

Great Food and Service. Best Pork Belly I've ever had. Came here for a Saturday Lunch and will definitely come again. Only remark is I wish they played Spanish music instead of American Pop. read more

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Excellent! Ambiance on point, cozy but sophisticated. Service is 10/10. Every dish had its own unique taste and cooked to perfection.

Came in to celebrate a birthday and couldn't have picked a better place! The staff were all nice and attentive, and the food was incredible! The dining room is small but set up beautifully for any occasion. We will be coming back soon! read more

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We went to Valencia for the first time last night. We learned to cook Paella in Spain, BTW. The food was outstanding, and affordable. We had the octopus app, cesar salad, and the Paella Negra, some of the best food we have had on the Northshore. The service was amazing. We will go back for sure. read more

Valencia's is my new favorite spot! Tonight was my first time dining and I can say everything was simply amazing. Great atmosphere, and ambience Food Was 10/10 Omg we had the calamari & chicken empanadas everything came out hot, fresh and flavorful For entree we had the Valencia paella and omg so much flavor, smelled amazing, it's unexplainable like it was perfectly perfect. I can't wait come back.. Service was good also. Quickly greeted, candle light dinner. read more

Loved it! My sister and law and I came for a moms night out, we drank good wine, had 4 tapas and loved every bite! Our waitress was friendly and accommodating, let us taste different wines before choosing what we wanted, gave us her thoughts of various menu items etc. we had a great time, and the food was delicious! read more

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Wine and shared tapas plates! Our server was Stacey and she explained all the dishes to our table. We were so appreciative of her extensive knowledge. We decided on trying several tapas plates and they were excellent. Nice amount of spice and delicious sauces. Very comfortable seating and low light ambiance. So nice! read more

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It's ok. I have had food like this before in the south shore on st Charles, I forgot the name, so naturally coming here I had the same expectations.... I got the grilled octopus and it was too charred and rubbery for my liking. I had this dish before in another restaurant and it was better than Valencia. The area Valencia is in is very nice. read more

Always a pleasure. The food, atmosphere and service....always top notch. The servings are plentiful and tastes as good as it looks. Ask for Dara, she is awesome. read more

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Took my mother out to lunch here and glad I did! I studied in Spain for six months and know my Spanish food, and this represents the cuisine well! From the tortilla española to start, the charred octopus or pulpo, to the paella valenciana and the flan, we really gave ourselves a treat. My mother thought their sangria was delicious and refreshing. The service was friendly and prompt. Everything I ate on the menu was delicious and worth having again. Looking forward to my next stop, when I can enjoy the black squid ink paella! read more

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Had a great brunch on Sunday. I had the Pork Belly Benedict and my wife had the Brunch Burger. Bloody Mary's were well mixed and garnished to my liking. read more

Went in on Sat evening, atmosphere was great, but it stops there. Started with pork belly bites that were cooked great but the sauce on the outside was burnt so much it stuck to your teeth. Also got the chicken empanadas and they were decent. Moved on to entrees with the octopus and skirt steak. The octopus was burnt, and I mean burnt with a salty sauce that just wasn't edible. On to the skirt steak. Steak itself was cooked perfectly wirh a great chimichurria sauce, but the downfall of the dish was the mashed potatoes. It had so much garlic; and I love garlic, but I burped it for hours after, and something about the texture made them grainy. Really wanted to like this place, but y'all gotta fix the food or you will go under and based on the lack of patrons on a Sat. nite it wont be long. read more

I've been wanting to visit Valencia for a while, and it didn't disappoint! Date night was lovely thanks to great ambiance, it was about a half full restaurant but was not too loud; modest and cozy decor that made you feel comfortable but not over the top. Our server Raven was pretty busy, but she made sure we were taken care of. Drinks were a bit pricy, but the Margarita was delicious and my date enjoyed two El Jefe whisky drinks. We ordered four tapas, squid, pork belly, goat cheese and meatballs. While I wish the portions were a tad bigger, we left satiated for two and not over stuffed. Everything was very nice and I will be back. read more

Extremely impressed with this restaurant. The atmosphere is cozy and even a little romantic, making for a great date night spot. Everything we ordered was authentic and extremely good. read more

Sooooo good! We stopped on a whim while my brother was in town from Ohio. We ordered bunch of tapas, the watermelon/feta salad and a pitcher of sangria. Nothing disappointed! read more

Excellent food, ambience and service. Especially recommended are the paella Valenciana, panceta, albarino and flan.

Recommend....? Holy Moly this place is awesome! The detail in the ingredients is second to none. Every dish we ordered was perfectly created and quality over quantity. I recommend 110% and hope this place becomes an institution in Old Covington. Stacy was awesome and the vibes here are positive with so much energy. read more

The food was excellent, I had chicken empanadas and pork belly which was to die for! We were 8 in total and the service was great! Everyone enjoyed their meal. read more

I'm reading all these wonderful reviews so it must mean we need to give this place another try. We went for lunch one day and I do agree the manager and waitstaff all very nice. Our water came and I picked up glass to drink and detected an unusual smell. Thinking it was the glass I tried it and it had a chemical taste. I told our waiter and was told she didn't smell anything and she in turn asked the bartender who agreed with her assessment. We then ordered Diet Coke which also tasted strange. On to the food...I ordered the hamburger and it was dry and tasteless my husband got the shrimp tapas which was served with crostini's which I assume were to soak up sauce from shrimp. No sauce shrimp were also dry and tasteless. The one plus was the flan it was authentic and delicious. We did say we'd like to try the paella so we'll defer to the others who gave such glowing reviews. read more

On Tuesday evening my family and I had the pleasure to try Valencia Restaurant in Covington and oh my what a treat! I had heard it was owned by the same family who owns Empa Taco which is our favorite spot in Madisonville so I couldn't wait to celebrate my birthday at Valencia Restaurant. When we arrived we were greeted by the hostess and the manager. We did not have a reservation, which was not a issue and they asked if we preferred inside or outside dining. I said I'd love to be outside but there are no tables open and the manager said give me one minute. When then watched him rearrange some 2 tops to make a larger table and set us up nicely on their front deck. Our server Christopher was quick to stop by, fill our water glasses and introduce us to the menu. He explained because the meal is all made fresh it is their preference to take the entire order at once and explained the paella (which is why I was there) could take 30-40 minutes to prepare. (Having eaten Spanish food around the country I was well aware good paella typically takes that long). To start we decided to have their red sangria and it was sooo good, the fruit in it was fresh and yummy. For our meal we decided to have the Creamy Goat Cheese & Pork Belly Bites. Keep in mind I had my children with me (11 & 13) who are typically picky eaters and I ended up having to fight the kids for the pork bellies which have an amazing sauce on them and beg my wife to share the creamy goat cheese with me. The orange marmalade on the goat cheese was to die for! After we finished our appetizers our server Christopher kept our glasses full and made sure to check on us while we enjoyed the ambiance of their front deck while awaiting our paella! I would say Christopher or the manager would come by at least every 5 minutes to check in and provide an update on the progress of our entrees. We waited maybe 10 minutes between courses but that wasn't a surprise as they told us from the moment we sat that the paella was made fresh and would take some time. Yall..... it was soooooo worth the wait! For our main entrées we ordered the Charred Grilled Spanish Octopus, the Paella Valencia for 2 and of course some chicken nuggets off the kids menu. The octopus came with 4 large pieces of meat and was served over a grilled pineapple with capers and bed of grilled potatoes with a great sauce. Everyone at the table enjoyed this dish and my wife, who doesn't typically finish a plate made sure not to leave anything on this one. But people, the Paella Valencia was the start of the show! It was cooked to perfection and every bite was scrumptious. The pan was filled with large shrimp, sausage, chicken, prawns, calamari, mussels, & andouille! Even my children enjoyed this dish because they were able to pull out the meats they enjoy and just avoid things like mussels. As much as I wanted to eat the entire pan, last night I was very happy to enjoy this paella as leftovers and it rewarmed just a good! Overall, I would say: Atmosphere = A+ Service = A+ Food = A++ Would I return and dine here again? Hell I texted a group of 10 people on the way home saying we MUST all come here because it was so good! ***I did not think to take photos, I borrowed these from other reviews to show some of what we had. read more

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DEFINITELY the most authentic tapas restaurant on the Northshore!!! The food was so ON POINT. We had the Warm goat cheese with honey and orange marmalade with some pistachios and some Crostini, the the manager, Brain, who ROCKS, let us try some of the Fabada and the Mofongo (Puerto Rican) in the duck gumbo. We also had the Patas Bravas and we shared the vegetarian paella. Folks, let me tell you, R U N don't walk to this restaurant, it's authentic as tapas gets!!! Plus, Brian mentioned they would be adding g 15 more tapas to the menu. I will officially be moving into Valencia very soon!!! read more

My daughter ordered a steak which came out over cooked. The waitress pulled out a flashlight at a Saturday night dinner service and declared that it was medium rare. The rest of us could see it was medium well. We sent it back. This did not go over well with the staff. No manager stopped by and no apology given. Perhaps the manager could be more involved. read more