Castle Cantina

★★★★☆ 4.2 (47)

"We had a melange of tapas and the paella. All of it was excellent. From the asada fries to the street corn to the empanadas. The paella was especially good. Lots of seafood. Excellent service and kitsch ambiance. Their cocktails are tasty too. Had a Paloma and it was excellent."

Peka Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (83)

"Went here to celebrate my friend's birthday, and it was so much fun. They had a salsa band, and somehow my friend's father made his little dancing floor by the band, where there was no room., The place is fairly large with three rooms and it's a great place for birthday celebrations. The food is delicious. I had the ceviche and tacos and they were very very good. The owner Kat was super nice. She showed the entertainment room, which was a cute space for dancing and celebrations.. it seemed like it was well enough for the pop up place for people to come out and play. The sangria was good. Will be back here again."

Kushala Sip Coffee & Tapas Bar

★★★★★ 4.7 (26)

"10/10 amazing food and service! My girlfriends and I truly enjoyed our brunch/lunch here!"

Olespana Whiskey & Tapas

★★★★☆ 4.3 (47)

"Yes! The delicious tapas!! Came here for dinner on a Saturday night and we had such a great experience! First of all do not be fooled by the outside appearance of this super cute restaurant. As soon as we walked in we were transformed into an eclectic, spunky and fun atmosphere that you would not have expected. There is a huge bar in the center of the restaurant with tons of different liquor bottles and plenty of seating for big groups.The waiter was very attentive throughout our meal. We started with some super yummy cocktails and then explored their tapas menu. They have several items in their menu categorized by country which is fun but we only wanted dishes from Spain. We decided on their shrimp appetizer, Spanish style tortilla, their house salad and some fried pork. Everything was delicious! The shrimp was grilled in spicy lemony sauce which was amazing! The Spanish tortilla was filled with potatos and chorizo and it was mouthwatering! The salad was super fresh and we couldn't stop eating the fried pork! We literally licked all the bowls clean and still wanted more! Oh and the cocktails were also amazing! I can't wait to come back and try some of their other dishes!"

Buttermilk & Bourbon

★★★★☆ 4 (1156) • $$$

"We have been thinking of trying Buttermilk & Bourbon for some time now and today, we were able to make it out to Commonwealth Ave to see what they're about!Love the aesthetic inside, it's definitely giving NOLA vibes in here... RUE BOURBON ;) We tried a little bit of everything for lunch today. Started off with the Nashville hot alligator fries ($15), sweet & spicy buttermilk fried boneless chicken thighs ($14), nola bbq shrimp ($15), & fresh fried beignets with chocolate ($10). Everything was flavorful and tasty. One thing I would like to comment on is the temperature of some of the dishes; I do enjoy my food hot so when food arrives warm-ish cold, it leads me to believe that they are just warming up food that has already been prepared in advance. The alligator fries & bbq shrimp both were not hot but our server was kind enough to send it back to make sure it's hot. Even though I could taste that it was seasoned well & yummy, it was definitely a game changer when the food came back hot. The sweet and spicy chicken was delicious! Piping hot (thank gosh!) and was definitely one of my favorites from this meal. The beignets were perfect. Light, fluffy, & crispy goodness. I would definitely come back again to get these two items. Keep in mind for if you go here, everything is family style portion, meant for sharing. Parking: This side of Commonwealth Ave is residential parking for the most part. You may have to circle around Newbury & Boylston, maybe check side streets, to find some parking. There's meter parking & garage/lot nearby. Conclusion: I'm not sure if I would come back soon, but if I do, I'd probably swing by, if in the mood, for some buttermilk fried chicken or just beignets & some drinks."

Bocado Tapas Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 (649) • $$$

"We went on a Saturday night to meet our friends. We had gotten a reservation and I recommend getting one. They have valet parking which is really nice and they also validate parking. There are two lots one is free parking and the other is paid parking (validated). The ambience is totally enjoyable. The bar is really nice. They have such extensive seating spaces and they were still packed which says a lot about how amazing it is to be there. The service was impeccable, extremely friendly and super attentive. They have a very extensive drink menu and food menu. They have wine flights and various experience options which I thought was amazing. Don't expect large portions but you can expect delicious food. I would love to go back in the near future."

Atlántico

★★★★☆ 3.8 (104)

"This was a really nice place to get a glass (well 2) of wine after work!We split the bruschetta- I don't always enjoy bruschetta these days as I'm picky but this was good and very flavorful!My first glass:Cava mercat sparking - definitely crisp. A little drier than expected. Not as sweet as I usually like but this was good. Second glass: Txakolina gaintza- chose it because "light effervescence" was very interesting to me. I liked this. My normal teeth shattering sweet wine preference buds weren't disappointed by this also not so sweet wine. I'll drink anything but sauv blanc. Come at me. My friend enjoyed the Chardonnay. Will come back for more wine and tapas."

Pintxo Pincho Tapas Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (636) • $$

"I had an amazing time here for Valentine's Day (celebrated day before).It's mostly high top seating and 2 tables, relatively small, but cozy. They recommend getting 3-4 tapas per person, we got 5 and a paella and it was very filling. I think my favorite was the calamari, the batter was light and I didn't feel heavy after eating it. The sauce it came with was the perfect pairing. The service was absolutely amazing, super attentive and was helpful when choosing our tapas Pintxo de Txistorra - homemade chorizo on a crostini - we did the mild and it wasn't spicy at all, would try the hot next time Calamares a La Romana - aioli sauce was perfect for the fried calamari Vieiras Pil Pil - perfectly cooked scallops, came with bread - good to dip it into the oil Empanadas de carne - smaller empanadas than I'm used to, but the flavor was wonderful Pollo al ajillo - well seasoned chicken, would get again Paella Mixta - absolutely loved the chicken in this, so juicy"

Rose Tapas

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (30)

"This is a new tapas restaurant that opened in the old Jeveli's location. The restaurant's decore is modern, with beautiful art and flowers on the wall. They did a great job with the renovations. My wife and I ordered several tapas, a dish from the 'memory lane' (pasta) and a dessert. And some drinks. I'll start with the issues. The first thing I noticed is that the menu doesn't include any prices - which is pretty off-putting since we don't know what the portion-sizes look like or how to budget for it. If you're opening in a working class neighborhood like East Boston, it feels tone deaf. There are fancier restaurants nearby (like MIDA) that don't do this. We asked the waitress what the prices were and she was happy to give us a ballpark estimate - which eases our nerves. I got the feeling she was asked this question a *lot*. All our cocktails were $18, by the way. The food was much cheaper. As well, I felt the ceviche was lacking acid and salt. Definitely one of the weaker ceviches I've had in recent memory. And the chicken vodka was just okay - boxed pasta comfort food. There's definitely easy ways to elevate the dishes at low cost. For the good, we thought the tortilla with the smoked chile and gambas were excellent. The calamari was good - lightly breaded and the fried banana peppers were lovely. I really enjoyed my cocktails. Despite the high prices, they were certainly meeting the higher expectations. It's worth the cost. Branded ice, thoughtful garnish, well balanced and unique. As well, we had *excellent* service. Everyone we interacted with was warm, inviting and kind. Food and drinks came out at an ideal pace. Bravo!For a more "lounge"-type bar, I was also delighted with the music choice (mostly disco-house and chill drum n bass) - and it was at a reasonable volume where I can still enjoy conversations. Overall, Rose is a welcomed addition to the neighborhood and I'm looking forward to trying the rest of their specialty cocktails. I think if they tighten up some of the dishes, they'll be a decades-long success."

Taberna De Haro

★★★★☆ 3.5 (372) • $$$

"I can't review the full dinner menu and tapas, as I only came here for the bar, but I did want to leave a review because it was a great evening. From 5-7pm Monday through Saturday, the bar does $2 oysters, and my partner and I had a whopping 24! We went on a Thursday evening and the atmosphere was great - not too loud or crowded, but not dead either. The service was amazing as well - the oysters came almost immediately after we ordered them and when we ordered the Sherry flight, the staff gave us a great explanation of each of the 4 drinks before leaving us to our food and drink.Oysters ($2 each) - I'm not usually a huge fan of oysters, but these were different from a lot of the others I've had in the past. They were slightly briny, but they also had a really sweet aftertaste that made them really pleasant to eat. They were served with lemon and also a little cup of vinegar - both options were good but I preferred the lemon. We started with 12 oysters and ordered a second dozen when we realized how good they were!Sherry flight ($30) - I had never had sherry before, but this was quite pleasant. The flight came with 4 different sherries and 2 croquetas which were tasty and filled with ham and bechamel. The filling was a bit dense, but not necessarily a bad thing. The four sherries were as follows, and my reviews are coming from someone who does not know much about sherry but enjoyed each one:- Manzanilla La Cigarrera - This was a light one with a very light alcohol taste. It paired nicely with the oysters.- Fino el Granero - This one had a slightly stronger alcohol taste to it, but it also paired nicely with the oysters.- Amontillado Rare Escuadrilla - This one tasted like a red blend and was my favorite of the four. It was nice to sip on after eating the oysters.- Olorosso East India Solera - This one was my partners favorite and tasted sweet. It almost had a taste like raisins, but it was quite pleasant.The order also came with bread, though I'm not sure if it was the drinks or the oysters that triggered the bread. The bread was nice, but they did not offer butter with it. Instead, you could have olive oil, but it was a fancy olive oil so there was a charge. We opted to just eat the bread by itself and it was nice - crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.All in all, this was a bit of an expensive night (we did eat a lot though!) but it was well worth it. I do know there are $1 oysters around Boston, but $2 oysters near our home is also a great deal. The sherry flight was nice to try, but I'd also like to try their gin and gin mixed drinks, as they are known for both their sherry and gin. I give this a strong 4/5 and we will definitely be back!"

Estragon

★★★★☆ 3.8 (526) • $$

"Update 2022! We come here all the time!! The bartender that I previously mentioned has been gone for a few years now. Now we have Sahil who is literally amazing! I love seeing him every time we visit. Our go to items are still the same. Estragon has been super consistent over the years!Gambas Al Ajillo - Big shrimp! Perfectly garlickyChuletillas de cordero - Love this and we order it every single time. The lamb is a perfect medium rare and the cauliflower mash is sooo good! We rotate through a few other things (patatas/croquettes) and will randomly try something new once in a while. We had the carrillada (braised pork cheeks) and it was a great portion as well as a nice change from our typical choices. We've also recently tried the xoxolata (chocolate mousse with olive oil). Omg to die for. Don't forget to mix the olive oil in BEFORE taking a bite."

Pagu

★★★★☆ 3.5 (532) • $$$

"This was my second time visiting and I loved this visit much more than my last.I went with a friend who was vegan and was so surprised by all of the vegan options. Even their aioli is vegan which we were both happy about. Turns out, 47% of their menu can be veganized!!I do want to go back and get more of the meatier options, but highlights were def the potatoes minus the price and the mushrooms!! I'd come back also because the drinks were good and it's a good tapas style place. I think my one complaint is that the prices are a little high for what it is. We had patatas bravas, five in particular, and it was $12 :("

Sabina Mezcaleria

★★★★☆ 4.2 (23)

"I am so impressed and happy that this restaurant has opened. It's easily one the best places to eat on Newbury Street. For example, I usually don't like the smoky, lingering taste of mezcal but even I couldn't stop drinking the Nights in Oaxaca cocktail. Equally as tantalizing were the foods. The ceviche was fresh and deliciously seasoned. The mini rib eye tacos were tasty as they were beautiful to behold. The Huitlacoche empanada is so satisfying. Stellar job with the new opening!"

VIVI's Tapas Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (25)

"Vivi's Tapas Bar opened very recently at the Ryder on Revere Beach Blvd. This modern tapas restaurant and bar offers a good variety of creative tapas, crudos, large plates, salads, and desserts. The bar serves up beer (draft & bottles/cans), wine, cocktails, and sangrias. The pricing is moderate high.The place has dim lighting with upbeat Spanish music blasting over the speakers. The main dining area to the left offers a great view of the Revere Beach oceanfront with rows of table seating and a wine cooler at the end. The bar section has high top seating, communal seating along the window and seating at the bar (2 flatscreen TVs).I stopped by Vini's for a late dinner recently.  The place was too busy and I was seated in the dim lit dining room and given a menu. There is a small lit candle at each table. The server arrived with a chilled bottle with tap water and glass. I promptly placed my order for food and the three plates arrived 15 minutes later.I enjoyed the following plates which were nicely plated:Halibut ($15 plus tax) rocoto leche de tigre, red onion, cancha, Japanese sweet potato chips, served cold. This crudo was interesting and had a good mix of flavors, slightly spicy.Steak Tartare ($15 plus tax) potato causa, shallots, cornichons, capers, Dijon aioli, potato chips, served cold. The steak tartare was soft and moist and the potato chips were good for dipping & spreading the meat mix. Fig Tortellini ($16 plus tax) gorgonzola, asparagus, prosciutto, vincotto, served hot. This was my favorite which each tortellini was hand folded and had slightly sweet and rich flavors.Each plate I ordered was a good size and I was pretty much all set with my meal, deciding to pass on dessert (I was going to order flan if I had room). The check for 3 plates was $48.22 with tax and before tip. Overall, the plates I ordered were very interesting and I really enjoyed the mix of flavors and ingredients. The service here was fairly laid back with no rush. The server also asked if I had any food allergies while taking my order. I would definitely come back to try some of their other plates, but dining here with a group is ideal, so you can try several dishes in one meal."

Boqueria Seaport

★★★★☆ 4 (88)

"Boqueria was SOOOO good and was one of the highlights of my Boston trip! I love how perfectly portioned all of the tapas were - we had a large party of about 10 people and it was the perfect spot for us.Some highlights:+ Patatas Bravas ($13): SO good that we ordered another round after finishing the first lol. The potatoes were super crisp and the garlic aioli was addicting!+ Croquetas de Setas ($9): I love mushrooms and these croquettes were the best! Super crisp and the mushrooms were rich in flavor+ Jamon Iberico de Bellota ($34): A must get! It seemed to be one of their more popular items (hence the star next to it on the menu lol). The ham was packed with flavor!Our server was kind and super accommodating to our group. Try the white peach sangria!"

Bocado Tapas Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (254) • $$

"A nice find in Wellesley. Phenomenal tapas with a good array of varied heat. The prices are very reasonable. This place is very loud, crowded after 6, but worth your time. Speaking of time, if you need to use the head, be prepared to wait. They have one single occupancy head per sex, including for the staff. Decor is classic Dali-sequel Madridian. My question is, why is bullfighting so romanticized? It is costumed barbarism, unabated cruelty."

Solea Restaurant & Tapas Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (676) • $$

"Solid 3.5 restaurant had just opened an hour before we got there for lunch so there was plenty of seats to choose from. Our waitress was sweet and although she was the only server on the floor, she got to every table without missing a beat.Everything was seasoned nicely and portions were perfect for the price and to share. The only thing I had to send back was the shrimp in garlic sauce... I'm fairly familiar with traditional tapas and shrimp in garlic sauce is usually flavorful and packed with garlicky goodness. Their version wasn't even sauteed, just swimming in oil and the garlic didn't even look like they tried to date it one bit. Took a flan to go and that was delicious as well. Definitely a solid spot to stop in for a good meal."

Hobgoblin Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (68)

"Great vibe for date night and hangout with friends. Basement floor has live music. Front desk host was super nice and friendly However, the drinks were bad (had several cocktails, all too sweet). The margarita was not bad"

Toro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (2564) • $$$

"Fantastic. We had so many dishes and everything was so good. The mushroom and potatoes were among my favorites. Can't go wrong with churros as a sweet option. The place itself was smaller than I initially thought but it made for a super nice dinner ambiance. This is a tapas place worth trying out! You can't go wrong!"

Valsos Table & Bar

★★★★★ 4.5 (135) • $$

"It's no surprise this place would be packed to the gills on a warm summer's night. Enjoy America's First Vegetable Tower on your way to America's First Beach.Thank goodness for map apps because this place is tucked away like a joey in a pouch. Once arrived, better hope you beat all the other world travelers in line. And if there aren't open tables, head to the bar for just as friendly service as the four-tops. Those craft beer people will be happy to know of the four or so locals on tap. For me it was a blood orange wheat. Imagine...wheat...and blood orange. How could you say no. For those fru-fru types, go for one of several mojito varieties. Two words: fresh mint. Maybe they pipe it in from mint-ville, but there was a giant bunch placed into water while I was saddled up to the bar. It's your non-negotiable "secret ingredient" for passion, coconut, or the ever-popular "classic". Or get even wilder with the Arví Arví or Rustic Lover (somebody's nickname in high school). I'll be back over at the draught section.Don't worry, I'm not skipping over that Vegetable Tower; it was the main reason for my unforgettable night. You might have this image of a Tupperware with raw cauliflower and ranch dip, or multi-layers of dried carrots and broccoli. No no no. Zucchini, eggplant, squash, bell peppers, onions, and smoked gouda--all grilled and placed on some special ricotta mixture. You'll only think I'm spending too much time describing it until you try it.A fun vibe with (I guess) latin dance music kept me feeling like I was on the cool kid list, and friendly service accompanied the tasty food. I'll break out the gps again for the return trip as soon as possible."

La Bodega

★★★★☆ 4.4 (231)

"This is one of the best restaurants in the Boston/Cambridge area. They are run by a couple that cares about their cultural representation through wine and food. They are so talented that each little tapas-like dish is an experience.My wife & I come here for two reasons: first, to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and second, to impress our friends. We get an Ecuadorian wine that they recommend that goes perfectly with the appetizers and the meal. This is after an ideal little cocktail from their specialty list. For us, it's a neighborhood place, but it is always special.The service is run by the owners, and everything runs like clockwork. This is a very good restaurant that we sometimes just come have an app and a drink at. I feel so privileged that it's located in my neighborhood. We often order the duck two days before required, and it is so worth the wait and the effort. For my birthday I love sitting in the train car! Though I'm a barfly usually, anyplace here is lovely. Treat yourself and come have a dining experience."