Bota Tapas & Paella Bar

My fiance & I were so hungry after checking into our hotel nearby, that Bota was conveniently open (all the other food spots we were looking at opened around 5/5:30, so we came here around 4:30! It was pretty empty on a Friday around this time but it was nice because it felt like we had the restaurant to ourselves! Our server Keith is awesome! He was very informative with explaining the menu & the specials they had. He was also attentive making sure we were enjoying our food & our water cups were always filled!This was my first time eating a paella & I'm in love! We ordered the regular sized meat paella & it was a perfect size for 2 people to share.Tapas we ordered: brussel sprouts, lamb chops, & the meatballs! Brussel sprouts & lamb chops were do crispy & flavorful! The meatballs were okay/different, I definitely had to drench it in the sauce it came in each bite I took. Definitely think this is a nice spot & would come back again :)

My boyfriend took me to this really cute tapas place in downtown San Francisco for Valentine's Day. I was so happy he was able to get us a reservation. The ambience was very romantic but nothing compared to the amazing service we got! Our servers name was Keith and he was extremely attentive despite how busy it was. He gave us all the best recommendations for food and he was very patient with us when it came to picking our wine as their selection is a little pricey so he made sure we got exactly what we wanted. 10/10 dinner date would absolutely come again.

Cute spot for small bites/tapas! Their food is yummy and fresh, I just wish the paella had more seafood in it. Their staff is kind and accommodating. Overall Id go back, but their menu is limited and their alcohol is minimal.

In town for a conference and so many choices to eat, love SF for that. The Ramen as well as the Tai place down the street had a line out the door and this place was surprisingly empty and we were up for Tapas. What a great find ! The hostess and waiter were great and engaged in giving us some feedback on our dishes.We ordered Pear Confit, Octopus, Ox Tail, and the dates. Portions were generous and the four orders was plenty for two.The oxtail, octopus and dates were worldly. The pear confit was a bit too spicy but sweet pears gave it good balance.We really enjoyed the ambience, service and food! What a nice meal!

We have eaten at Bota at least a half dozen times, probably more than that. I had not been there since the pandemic, however, until last night, and that visit is what prompts this review. In general, we have had dinner early, before a show at the American Conservatory Theatre. Its main space is across the street, a thirty second walk away. But we have enjoyed the experience enough to made reservations without being headed to a show afterward. My wife went there with some out of town friends recently, and they had fun.That is a good word to use. The place can be boisterous. So if you are looking for "serene," I'm not sure this would be suitable. For a first date, it would work if you both were more festive and less calm. The sangria is a good indication. It would be wrong not to imbibe.I'd highlight how accommodating they were. Our waiter was helpful. We were meeting another couple. Our show, the Lehman trilogy, was 3 hours 30 minutes, and it had an early start. They messed up the calendar. They texted as we sat down to say they likely would miss the meal. So we had to change the order. That was no problem. We were willing to relinquish a four top by the window. We volunteered to be reseated. But then our friends showed up, very late. We had not finished. They squeezed in next to us. They finished off the paella.That dish is their specialty. It is made as it should be. That means to order. They warn you it will be more than a thirty minute wait. That's a positive signal. If it came out immediately, that would mean they just had a batch ready, prepared in advance, and they toss in the proteins that they have reheated. In order for the rice to have the flavors imparted to it, they need the full process. As a side, we had brussel sprouts. Those have a bit of cheese. Those are vegetables that have improved in reputation. California is the place to have them. The cheese plate, while pricey, was flavorful and plentiful. It is for sharing.The play was great, much better than I had expected (I was dreading the length). The dinner was a prelude that fit the bill.

My favorite tapas restaurant in the city!' Nicolas was an amazing server! He recommended the chocolate ganache and the churros for dessert. Paella was delicious they have several options.This was was mouthwateringpp

The ambience was great, the service was excellent and most importantly the food was delicious. Keith was a wonderful server and accommodated our group. Definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience at Bota Tapas & Paella Bar for my birthday celebration.We ordered Sangria, Pinot Noir & marinated olives mixed appetizer to start.Comfortable seating, clean, beautiful interior.Easy to make reservations online ahead of time.Entrees grilled Octopus & Lamb Chops. Perfectly grilled and presentation was very nice! The restaurant is in a hotel & I recommend Bota since it was so close to the Union Square.Attentive and friendly service.Looking forward to returning to Bota & trying the Squid Ink Paella!My birthday and the kind, talented kitchen staff made a small dessert to a enjoy chocolate, strawberries, shortbread dessert. It was so delightful. Made my celebration so memorable!Highly reccommed the grilled Octopus!Enjoy!

The food was really good! I would recommend the garlic prawns and the octopus, and the dessert was phenomenal.

The tapas here are amazing! A good amount of vegetarian options, and our waiter Keith was outstanding!