We loved the steak tartare and Schnitzel plate! The octopus carpacho had a nice spice to it as well! We loved the intimate ambience and it was the perfect date night for us. read more

Great little restaurant near the ocean. This was my second visit. Unfortunately my food had plastic in it. Ashamed since I was looking forward to visiting this location again. The server offered another item but my thinking is if my food had plastic in it. What else does or what kind of quality control is not happening behind the scenes.. No thanks read more

Amazing food, service and atmosphere! Very nice, highly recommended. We were greeted by a beautiful lady. read more

My wife and I came by this past weekend for our usual date night and all I can say is we were blown away by how amazing this place is. I had never really been to a "tapas" style restaurant and was worried that I would not be full after eating only small plates, but I was absolutely wrong. We shared about 4-5 small plates and each one was absolutely amazing. We started with the anchovies, and my wife who usually hates anchovies, but loved this dish. The shrimp in garlic oil was amazing, especially with the bread to dip in the oil. We also had papas bravas and jamon ibérico to finish. For all those saying the service is not great, we couldn't disagree more. Our serve Kim was outstanding and really knocked it out of the park with her recommendations since we were new. In fact, after our first couple of dishes we asked for recommendations and she asked "Do you trust me?" and after her first recommendations we did, so she picked out our last couple courses including a delicious Basque cake to finish off the meal. If we ever come back and Kim is working we will let her just hand pick our whole meal that's how amazing she was. It's a bit of a drive for us from San Diego, but well worth to have a pleasant date night here. Do yourself a favor, order a bottle of wine, order some good food, and enjoy a beautiful meal at this restaurant. read more

Really enjoyed the ambience, decor and most importantly the delicious food at Valentina! Some of my favorite dishes was the chipirones de la plancha (seared local calamari), cauliflower raclette, short ribs (cooked perfectly!) and eggplant Milanesa. Very impressed with the service as well. Be sure to ask for the their bread (we didn't know about this until after paid the bill) that they bring in but it's supposed to be excellent! read more

Valentina - Seared calamari - nice seasoning - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We had such a welcoming experience with Jeff who let us order even at the end of his shift. The Oysters were amazing... a fantastic mignonette made them extra. The mussels came with a delicious sauce and even better Pommes Frites. The Cesar has just enough kick on crunchy romaine that we gobbled it up. Two pours of a delicious white wine and we were sold! What a nice addition to Leucadia. read more

This restaurant was amazing. Our server was super helpful, accommodating, and attentive. My husband and I went here for our anniversary and enjoyed a variety of tapas. The wine was excellent too. Would definitely come back for any experience with any friends or family. read more

Valentina - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

Just discovered Valentina and can't wait to go back again to try some of the other menu items. Our server was wonderful and very accommodating when we mentioned the music noise level since we couldn't hear each other and he was able to turn it down - I don't see hard rock as a music choice for this restaurant unfortunately. Other than that, everything we tried was absolutely delicious ... read more

We have been to Valentina many times over the past years. It's a great little spot and an easy walk. The food has always been great and the menu had a wide variety. They now require a credit card to hold a reservation so you want to be certain of your plans. This time we arrived and were led to a small 2 top next to a wait station. Probably the least ideal table in the entire restaurant. I never like these locations and feel that it's just the owner trying to cram in tables. Same price food but not the same experience. There were open booths but those were for other reservations. So here's my advice - be careful if this is a date night for two. Groups of four will get the booths. And the booth area has less noise than the inside where the table are located. It was loud. Plan on taking more time to park if you're driving. The menu has only 4 entrees. Probably best to make sure everyone can find something they like as the options are so limited. read more

Great food and atmosphere. Service is also commendable. You might need to get a reservation as it gets crowded fast and the place is on a smaller size. It does get loud bc the place is smaller so the buzz created from people talking inside and the loud 101 might be unpleasant to those with auditory sensitivity - I would not recommend this spot for these folks. Great selection of shareable appetizers and they are delicious! They update menus regularly which is a great sign of how the chef adapts to seasonal fruit/veg availability and feedback from people who dine there. The place is a bit pricey as well but well worth it if you want to try a variety of foods which is a classic tapas type of deal. I will be back! read more

Valentina used to be one of my favorite local restaurants since we moved to Cardiff in (deep COVID) 2020. Their modern European style menu always was great, and the patio ambiance was a must. We had a few lackluster experiences probably about 9 months ago where we were not sat where we made our reservation then had loud dinners with parents on the street which was not the move. Anywho, fast forward to last night - wow, have things turned around! Much more Spanish focused dishes, we tried so many (all recommended by our waiter who was amazing) and LOVED them all. Will bring friends and family back, so many more dishes we were excited to try! read more

unique dishes. delish and great atmosphere! love the vibe!!!!!!!' i encourage you to go there

Got brunch with my coworker here. Ambience was great. Our server was really attentive and even asked the chef if we could get the paella which is a dinner menu. I love the spiciness of the gambas. The baguette was really good. Would definitely come back again here. Its a very pretty place. read more

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I ate here last night with two others, and I must say the food was good but a few things I ordered the portion size was not worth the price that was charged for the item. The calamari for $12 was three bites which was shocking but it was damn good I must say. The Caesar salad for $10 was huge which was again good but a little bit too much salad dressing. When the bill came I was shocked to see a 3% surcharge on the bill. One sparkling bottled water and two Sprites totaled $15. So between the three drinks, the surcharge, and the tax on the meal that was $31. Crazy! I must say overall the food was good and the chef is incredible and the service was good but I still will not be returning.. read more

My second time here, it's got good service, knowledgeable staff, good wine & great atmosphere! And this stake tartare and fries is a beauty! read more

Valentina - This Stake tartare and Fries it's a beauty! - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

It's clear there is a significant and sincere effort to bring something unique from a food and atmosphere point to an up and coming part of this quaint beach town. I would describe the restaurant as youthful, vibrant with cuisine focused around Basque-Spanish coastal/tapas flair We relocated to seating in the covered patio area which was much nicer than the immediate indoor seating upon entering. There was far too little ventilation and an almost greasy smell in the air from sitting inside - but that was rectified from moving and the patio highly recommended We are not well versed in this specific type of regional cuisine but within that context the food was presented well and tasted good but could have had a bit more flavor. The cocktails we had were on point! The dessert menu looks great - I wish we had more space in our appetite at the time to try that. Although overall we enjoyed our dinner (we were celebrating our anniversary) - not sure if we would go out of way to return for a dinner, but that may be personal choice vs saying something about the quality of the establishment. We would consider returning to try their brunch. The food was good, ambience (2/3 seating areas) and service were up there - just lacking that edge to make it truly great. I would say Valentina is worth visiting at least once if not for its flair and uniqueness to the area read more

Lovely little bistro with great ambiance in their outdoor patio area. Nice, reasonably priced wine-by-the-glass options. Attentive & friendly staff. The Arroz Negro with tender calamari, black rice & piquillo pepper was delicious and very rich. While the Stuffed Aubergine (eggplant) with tomato, onion & bell pepper, accompanied by asparagus and cauliflower, was attractive when plated, it could have been spicier/more flavorful. Dessert consisting of sorbet and fresh berries was the perfect end to a nice dinner. read more

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Solid 4 stars. There were some outstanding dishes and some that can def be improved. My party of 3 arrived a bit early for our 5:30 reservation on a Sunday. We were seated smack dab in the center in front of the bar. Ambiance was very hobo chic. Food: Cesar salad and anchovy dish was Amazing! The anchovies were so good i could forgive that some of the romaine lettuce was brown. The mussels were plump and full of deliciousness. It was a stand out! Octopus and fries were good! Def enjoyed! PAELLA: NO! Needed atleast handful of salt or seasoning. It was so bland. Very disappointing. Note to the restaurant, please change your petri dish wine cups. Service was good. read more

I really love the food and the ambiance it makes a great date night restaurant. Our server Kim, was so knowledgeable and very sweet she really made the whole experience. The food is amazing, everything has so much flavor and is heavily inspired by Spanish cuisine. (My husband is from Spain so I always ask his opinion) However, the portion sizes are standard tapa size but the prices are entre prices. It doesn't match the traditional tapas culture which is a small portion of food that is provided when ordering a drink or at a low cost. Don't plan to come here and get full for less than $50-60 a person. read more

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Everything about this place is incredible. Food, atmosphere, service. Favorite items were the beef tar tar and the pork schnitzel read more

Valentina - Beef tar tar - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

What a gem in Encinitas! Make reservations, we made reservations for Friday evening at 730pm and I am glad we did because it was a full house upon arrival. Street parking around the little white building, you can park on the dirt across the street. We were seated on the patio, they have area heaters which made it a very cozy outside, and less loud and crammed than the inside seating. The ambiance was casual and homey, felt like you were invited into someone's house for dinner. They have a good wine and drinks list, so take your time to look it over. We started with the mussels in white wine and meatballs, both with great flavors, and I was about to just drink the mussel broth straight from the bowl... almost did. Meatballs were delicious and the ricotta cheese in the marinara sauce really gave it more body and flavor, we cleaned out the cast iron pan it came on. They have lots of shareable plates, and all of them sounded amazing. Entrees ordered were lamb mole and the pork chop. Both dishes were packed with flavor, the pork chop were perfectly made, moist and savory. The lamb mole was a party in the mouth. HIGHLY recommended if you like lamb. Unfortunately we did not have room to try the churros, but next time, it will be on the list. Overall the service was great, we were not rushed to order or finish our food. Had a great time chit chatting, and it was very relaxing. Overall great date night. Thanks Valentina!! read more

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Stumbled into Valentina on a Saturday evening with a friend for a girls night after our original reservations elsewhere fell through, and what a treat the aversion was! The ambiance was charming, quaint, and cozy while still feeling perfectly upscale. Our server, David, was incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and overall just made our experience that much more memorable. We shared a few plates that were all delicious, but the bread and butter was a standout for us! Served warm with fresh salted butter - so good! Will definitely be back! read more

What a great spot! Love the aesthetic and the food is excellent. We had the halibut and the sea bass - both melted in our mouth. DefInitely start with a warm baguette and olives. Will be back for sure! read more

Valentina - Indoor - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

Really good food. Not a fan of $6 for bread or the 5% "volatility" charge but I was impressed with most everything we had. The chicken thighs, the squid and the creme brûlée were excellent. The shrimp were a taaaad spicy. The service was excellent and overall the prices were extremely reasonable (although the oyster prices seemed a little high 26/42 for 6/12). I'd come here again. But be prepared for the train noise and small tables. read more

Party of 4, were there early on Saturday evening 2 weeks ago. Happily surprised at the good food, great server. Not my type of place - normally. I would go again. read more

Love this restaurant, excellent service, with a flair of Barcelona & Milan Great decor, except the seating is very uncomfortable read more

We are visiting from Los Angeles and had dinner at Valentina tonight and I just had to post because our meal was so amazing. The food was delicious and fresh. Ingredients were top notch. We started with the bread and then had oysters, sashimi, shrimp cocktail and corn soup. Then the steak tartare and chicken paillard as entrees. Churros for dessert. Super impressed by our dining experience. Highly recommend!! read more

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If you're looking for a classy, romantic restaurant, this isn't the place, but if you want a hip happening place, you'll probably like it. The inside decor is cute, but very casual, very crowded and very noisy. The outside patio lacks any ambience and is also very noisy with the traffic. The food was just okay. The Ceasar salad was the best part of our meal and was large enough for two people to share. I had the seared scallops on a bed of puréed carrots. The food was beautifully presented on the plate, but the scallops lacked flavor, though the carrot purée was excellent. My husband had the paella, and again, the presentation looked great, and it tasted good, but not memorable. Perhaps my expectations were too high after reading all the great reviews. read more

Valentina has a lovely patio with modern farmhouse vibe and airy space with nice booth settings. We had the brunch menu and I enjoyed a nice spin on Schnitzel while my wife had a Caesar with spicy shrimp. Nice portion sizes and satisfying. The servers were a bit slow to deliver initially but the front of House ensured we caught up on drinks with the meals. That's the only complaint but we will come back to try the dinner menu read more

The food and beverages were exceptional. The staff demonstrated impeccable service, being both friendly and efficient.

Sat on sidewalk and trains were frequent and loud. Server (female who's name starts with a "C") doesn't know wine or how to perform wine service but started off friendly enough. Shrimp appetizer tasteless. Artichoke appetizer has 5mm of edible heart and the rest of the choke is inedible. Bread and butter good. Corn soup best dish of the night. Halibut special overcooked. Chicken piccata dish was way over cooked. Scallops were fine. Server became defensive and then rude when my wife politely pointed out the issue with her chicken. She knee-jerk reacted and offered desert (we didn't ask for this). She then disappeared fir 15-20 minutes while we waited on our check. Threw the check and credit cards on the table. We tipped 10% but shouldn't have given her anything. She Probably needs a lot more training or possibly she should look into another line of work. Copied from another review platform read more

Love the interior of this restaurant! The food was delicious and savory. The rice and the patatas bravas were my favorite. Our waiter was very friendly and delivered great service. read more

Valentina is a perfect place for a date night or a small group dinner outing. The atmosphere and decor is wonderful. For food, I HIGHLY recommend starting with the bread (with butter yum), shishito peppers, corn soup, and Caesar salad (make it spicy style and they add horseradish!!). Honestly having those as your entrees will leave you happy and full. Those are my top favorite items on the menu. Other great options are the carrots, oysters, fish and chips (come with a mountain of fries), and eggplant dish (vegetarian). All the portions are big and worth the money. They have wine and beer. No cocktails but they can make an Aperol spitz which is good! read more

Valentina - Eggplant parmigiana- vegan and gluten free - Seafood Near Me - Encinitas, California

What a cluster. Reserved and then called ahead about birthday. The absolute worst service in San Diego in 15 years. Started out ok and the went rapidly down hill. Waited 19 minutes for glass of wine. After 3rd time asking bus team and other servers for water started going to bar for water. Never offered a second drink. Birthday dessert never arrived, no offer for coffee. After 20 more minutes went hostess to pay bill. Food great for nice first seafood courses, then disappointment for meat. Left half beef tartar and burnt meatballs. Wanted nice bday for husband....train wreck. read more

The dinner special they had on Saturday night, the porcini fettuccine, was 10/10. Also the pan bread and calamari appetizers! so good. These all were excellent. The paella and chicken were good, but the former definitely stole the show. The ambience of the place is great for date night. And in a time where it seems that most dining places are understaffed and wait times are long... this place was very timely. Overall love Valentina! Such a gem. read more

Love everything about this place! Great food & ambience! My favorite is the Milanesa de Cerdo! read more

I had a lovely dining experience at Valentina. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and their outdoor seating area is charming. I loved the family touch throughout the space, including branded lemons from the family's ranch and cute portraits of the family. I ordered the Papas y Pulpo, Lamb Mole and the Churros for dessert ... all were impeccable. Not to mention their impressive wine selection! I can't wait for my next visit! read more

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It really pains me to write this review and I've waited a week to really sit on whether or not to write it. But Valentina has always been our go to favorite. We've celebrated birthdays, reunions, and plenty of date nights..but sadly last week we went for our anniversary and the food was awful. We ordered the paella and I can't even describe how bad the presentation was. It was served on a random plate with rice that was crispy but generally just dry with no flavor and random calamari just tossed on top. There was no presentation whatsoever and I've always loved the paella and this just felt like a slap in the face where they took an old scoop of old paella and threw it on a random side dish. It was really unfortunate and a buzz kill To our evening. We are everything bc we were starving but I've thought a lot about this experience and just so sad to feel like we may never go back. If you're a Spanish style restaurant, I'd expect to see paella be delicious and presentation on point. read more

We went for lunch on a sunny Friday and realized that we hadn't been since COVID started. It's even better than we remembered. Love the seating options, the service was super friendly and warm, and the food (especially the sashimi and the mussels) were terrific. So glad that they survived and are thriving! read more

Best restaurant in Encinitas!!!!! Best quality and amazing taste it my wife and my favorite place to go for dinner! Also our server Kimmy is the best very nice and always remembers us when we come in thanks Kimmy see you soon! read more