Estrellón

This really is a beautiful restaurant. I visited a few months ago, so in this review I will only highlight the things that I still recall. The dining room is elegant and bustling with customers and staff. They offer a tapas menu and a larger plates menu. For tapas, the blood sausage and the sweet potato hummus were the top contenders. All the tapas seem to be served on crostinis, so do not let that catch you by surprise. For dinner, the seared rainbow trout was the chosen favorite at the table. The albondigas fell short on flavor and texture. The basque cake was recommended by our server and this is now one of my top favorite desserts. I plan on visiting the café soon. I’ve heard great things about the pastries and I’m hoping to try those xoxos.

I really debated between 2 and 3 stars for this one. It’s somewhere in-​between. We visited a few weeks ago. Madison, WI is a very, very cold place. On this evening the wind was whipping and the temps were brutally cold. Sadly, the restaurant was also uncomfortably cold. We both wore our coats through the meal as did several tables around us. That should be something that gets noticed. When you see your customers sitting around with coats and scarves on, turn up the heat.
The space is pretty cavernous. It is divided into a large bar/​tapas area on one side and a very large dining room on the other. One side of the dining room has an open view of part of the kitchen. Overall, it’s an inviting place.
We tried several tapas including the Charred beets, Manchego, lemon, which really had no char on it at all and was pretty tame and boring. The standout of the tapas was Jamón Ibérico, tomato jam, relish. Jamon Iberico is a delicious, thinly-​sliced ham-​like product that may remind you of prosciutto or speck. These were both served in a crostini fashion.
We then moved on to grilled octopus. When it arrived it was an attractive dish with sliced, tender pieces of octopus thickly coated in smoked paprika. Each of us took a bite and looked at each other. It was insanely over-​salted. We agreed it had to go back. The waitress declined to taste it, but happily replaced it. She then stated «can I get you a couple more tapas to fill the time?» Now, how would you interpret that? We both thought it was something like this «can I comp you a couple tapas while we fix the issue…» So, we say sure and she chooses a couple for us to try.
The octopus came and this one had no spice on it but rather had the spices on the side. That’s not something we asked for, just something the waitress did. A couple issues. First, examining the spices in the little ramekin it was a mixture of salt and smoked paprika. This made me think that they are spinning these spices together then applying them. The problem was that the ratio was way off with entirely too much salt. The second issue is that anyone with even modest cooking skill knows that *when* you salt is very important. You can’t just cook something then douse it with finishing salt. We spiced our own octopus, had a few bites and then called it a night.
When we get the bill — remember those «tapas I can get you???» Well, they were on the bill.
One interesting thought. The very next night we tried another Spanish-​influenced place in Milwaukee called Amalinda which was just plain amazing — like 4-​star amazing. I got to thinking about the differences and developed a theory. It’s clear that whomever designed the menu at Estrellon knows what he’s doing. (This is another restaurant from a group owned by a prominent executive chef). I felt the same way about this place as I did about one of his other restaurants, Graze. It feels like the menu is designed, things are dialed in, and then it’s turned over to staff. And from there, things go South. Conversely, at Amalinda, you can literally see the executive chef preparing every dish himself. No way is a James Beard nominee (or did he even win one?) making mistakes on how and when to salt a dish. The place where that is going wrong is with the staff. I think with stronger oversight, this place could really shine as the menu variety and design looks to be very strong.
I will give it another try and update here.

We tried Estrellon with another couple last weekend. The décor is nice, our server friendly and knowledgeable. This is a place you want to take a date to impress.
The wine list is pretty extensive. There were a number of interesting cocktails to try. There were a few beers but nothing impressive. The menu had some expensive paellas and a number of tapas (small dishes). Between the four of us, we tried around a dozen tapas dishes. Some of them, like the brisket and the polpo were just amazing. So tender and flavorful. We devoured them. Many were creative such as the tempura anchovies, and the brueshetta. Some like the charcuterie and the bacon-​wrapped dates were delicious albeit not particularly interesting. A few weren’t particularly popular at our table such as the roasted vegetables. It’s definitely fun to try a wide variety and share with friends.
This is not an inexpensive dinner, but it’s worth the splurge!

I went last night and I liked what I ate a lot. I had the Huevos Lucia, the albondigas (meatballs), and a couple croquetas. I lived in Spain for 5 years and I think the egg dish was probably the most like what I’d encounter over there. Pretty heavy, good stuff. The meatballs had more of an herby flavor than I’m used to, but I thought that was an improvement. The croquetas were probably the best I’ve ever had, or at least the texture was the best. Maybe it was battered instead of breaded… however it was prepared though, I approve. My service was quite prompt and friendly too. I plan to return some time.

The Café: A cute place but there were not many tables there. They had other seating areas with very low tables which were impossible to eat on but good for just drinking coffee and eating a pastry.
They did not have as large of a crêpe selection as I’d hoped. I ordered the crêpe with mushrooms, tomatoes, manchego cheese and egg. Our waitress said that it was the best crêpe there so I was hoping for big things. The crêpe was good, but not as good as I hoped – there was definitely something missing. I also got a chocolate croissant – it was good but a little dry (I’ve had better).
My friend got the Apple, cheddar and egg crêpe – which I must say was a lot more satisfying than mine. All the flavors blended perfectly. I would definitely recommend this crêpe to anyone who wants to go here.
Although the food was just okay, the service was great. Everyone was very kind and helpful.

Been here 3 times now twice in the morning and once for drinks and tapas before a show. All 3 times on the bar/​lounge side. When you walk in you can either go to the left or right. The right side is for dinner service.
Service has been great all three times. The first time we went in for breakfast the person behind the bar was helpful with the menu and explained the different coffee options and such. Our son also has a dairy allergy and the women assured us the hot chocolate powder they use had no milk powder and they used soy milk. She also made sure it was a manageable temperature and had a nice sweetness to it. She explained the powder was a very bittersweet chocolate and then they added a sweetener to it.
Both times we went in the morning I got the xuxo croissant. It is amazing. Its a cinnamon sugar croissant shaped pastry filled with vanilla bean pastry cream. I enjoyed it so much thats what I got the next time. Hopefully I will be able to update my review with other things I’ve tried if I can resist the xuxo next time but I’m not making any promises.
At the bar at night I had a glass of wine recommended by the bartender and then a red sangria which was delicious and not too sweet. For their happy hour you get a free tapa with a wine purchase. I has one with prosciutto and some other toppings on a crostini I can’t remember but it was super tasty but a little messy to eat. We also shared a some papas fritas with a garlic aoili and red sauce those were good too.
Overall 5 for the xuxo croissant and 4 the evening food I think I just have to try more. And overall service was very good. I’d like to come back and try a few more tapas and maybe dinner for a special occasion (it looks a little pricy), it looks really nice on the other side.

Some friends of mine are in love with the food here and have been five times. They love it and had set me up to expect an amazing experience.
All of the dishes I had seemed to be missing something. They were ok but missing the big flavor I was hoping for. The grilled octopus was very well prepared and had good flavor and the carrots were good — get this if you’re going. The roasted chicken was bad — skin wasn’t crispy, sauce was bland, and it was just kind of slimy.
Service was good. Atmosphere is not my style but it’s fine. Overall, its very expensive for food that’s just ok.

Babe and I stopped in for breakfast. I had the baguette with manchego, jamon and djon; Babe had the hickory bourbon croissant. Absolutely delicious! I had a cortado, cream and espresso, I would use the sugar packet unless you like super bitter coffee. I would engage the friendly staff for suggestions; the service was excellent. We will be going back for dinner, the space is decorated very well.

So I really wanted to love this restaurant. Long term love. Always and forever love. The restaurant is owned by a great chef, the reservations are difficult to get for a weekend, the downtown atmosphere is right and the menu… wow it sounds amazing! The actual meal and experience though was like that first date that the online profile was a little different than meeting in person.
First let me say, it was good. There is nothing that stands out as «that’s the last date» deal breaker. The service was excellent, provided by a server named Michael S. who knew the menu like he wrote it himself. Always helpful, insightful and descriptive with his answers, not to mention keeping the glasses full and the table clean without the invasive, annoying, in your business attitude you find in the service industry. We were seated in an area with a long bench and tables a little too close together, the kind where you can order based on what the next table over is having and possibly take a fork full of theirs to sample before you commit. This caused the wait staff to have to edge in between the tables to talk and I am now acutely aware of what type of jeans the waiter for the table next to us was wearing. These are little gripes, nothing that turns me off. The meal was where I started wondering if the relationship was going to work out.
I love tapas, and the idea of tasting as many things as you can. So we did. While we were looking at the menu the people at the table next to us warned us away from a couple of things they had, like the baked goat cheese they deemed «meh». So we tried other items. We had some amazing dishes, to be completely fair. The crab ceviche was so good that my wife ordered a second one. The oysters were very good, and the brie also. But then we tried the marinated tuna, which frankly was similar to canned Charlie the Tuna. The pot roast, which sounded amazing, was sliced like seared tuna and very dry and not what you would expect given the menu description. My octopus however, was so tender I would not have guessed that is what I was eating, in a pleasant way. We had the standard marinated olives which had a nice kiss of orange/​citrus to them and the dates wrapped in prosciutto which were more savory than expected and worth ordering. To quote another person who reviewed this place «If it’s a crostini, then say it’s a crostini». If the Brie is actually a crostini, one bite, with brie then put that on the menu.
By the end I was wondering if we were just going to shake hands and go our separate ways, there were a lot of good flavors but not a lot of WOW. Then the Basque cake arrived. They had read my message on open table that it was my wife’s birthday so there was a candle on top of the most amazing cake I have ever eaten. Soft and good on the inside with a firmer outside and served with the right tartness of cherries and sweetness of ice cream, for the win of best bite of the night. tonight.
So will we run off and elope? Probably not. But we may casually date and in a town like Madison with a ton of other choices it would be very difficult to commit to regular visits. Definitely worth trying, but I think it is still a work in progress.

Wow! How come I never visit here before?
This is really a great restaurant in the center of downtown. I usually not giving 5 stars as you have no way to go and upgrade yourself with 5 of 5 but as I cannot give 4.75…I’m giving them 5 stars. We eat way too many of their small plates — all so good. You have to have company who is ready to share — and all 4 of us do love to share so it was great.
And — no matter what — keep room to dessert. We tried 3 of them — all just perfect.
Comment: we ate with a great and lovely young couple and we enjoy their company so much — and maybe that why I have giving 5 stars.

Tory Miller’s new venue is the perfect place to stop for tapas and drinks before a show at Overture Center. We stopped in early on a Thursday evening and had the bar to ourselves. The bartenders were well informed and extremely friendly! I love that Estrellon, just like Graze offers tap wine at affordable prices. Happy hour is a must! You get a complimentary tapa with each glass of wine purchased! It doesn’t get much better than that!

Something doesn’t quite fit at this place. The restaurant serves tapas and small plates, but lacks the liveliness, warmth, and spontaneity that both dishes suggest. The décor looks more like a swanky hotel bar than anything remotely Spanish. Some of the dishes were terrific (grilled octopus and Basque cake are stand outs), but others were lackluster ($ 3 jamón croqueta? No). Some were simply inaccurately described on the menu. (If it’s a crostini, tell us on the menu!) And over all, the guess work about how many dishes would be enough was annoying and time consuming. Paella was decent but not something I’d take visiting Spanish relatives to eat. (Guessing overall that they wouldn’t dig it.) This place would work better with a crisper, more modern décor (more bar space, fewer large tables and grandiose club chairs, livelier music), but I suspect out-​of-​towners looking for a fancy meal think the décor should match the prices.
Update: the fantastic breakfast/​lunch crêpes and croissant remain the best bet here. Midday service in the casual side of the restaurant (to the left of the entrance) is much more casual and down to earth. Get the jamón and manchego crêpe. You won’t regret it! You may need to take a nap afterwards.

Ate here with my aunt and uncle as part of a xmas gift to spend time with them while home for 2 weeks on leave from San Diego. I had tried only 1 other Tapas venue before in SD about a year ago or more and it was an amazing concept to get exposed to. When I heard I had a chance to see how Madison, WI measured up I was game!
The 3 of us came in at about 5pm and ordered from the Tapas bar area where the HH specials are available till 6pm. We must have gotten 8 – 9 tapas plates in our time there and all of them were great… I cant even remember them all by name! You get 1 free with every drink you get off the HH menu.
Then we moved to the dining room bar area where you can see the kitchen whip of the magic in front of you. We got a few more tapas there and some medium plates as well. We also got the veggies Pealla as it sounded awesome and whats a Spanish venue without some Pealla?
All our dishes were astounding! The plates are just enough to get a bite or two and savor the flavors, textures and food items. Cheese, meat, oil and herb combo magic!
Our paella was bomb also. For not having meat in it as I had last had with jumbo shrimp and mussels, this held up well. We were unable to finish it all it we had had so many tastes of the tapas before!
We spent a good 2 hours here and you should to. Dont rush this experience. Tapas venues are meant to be an experience, a interaction and exposure to new food served in new ways. Estrollen does this well by infusing WI goods into a Spanish small plate concept.
I will have to see if San Diego still holds up with its local Tapas hot spots now!

Fantastic server. Wish I remembered his name– he was quite knowledgeable, attentive minus fussiness, and had a great command of their extensive menu.
Food in one word: Adequate. My boyfriend and I came here with paella on our minds– first we split a potato/​egg/​ham appetizer that was a great portion for sharing, but slightly unbalanced– too much runny egg, not enough ham, and potatoes were undercooked. Next came the paella. We ordered the Valenciana to split (roasted rabbit, shrimp, mussels, clams, chorizo,
cherry tomatoes, SarVecchio, bomba rice, aioli $ 45) It was beautiful, but, I hate to say it, rather flavorless. It didn’t have that deliciously delicate saffron taste one finds in really good paella or really any spice/​garlic/​salt flavor to speak of. It tasted like rice and meat. The other thing I wasn’t too keen on was the chorizo used– it was overcooked to the point of being somewhat rubbery, yet still crispy– a possibility I didn’t know existed prior to dining at Estrellon. The aioli, which I thought I’d mix in to my portion to amp up the flavor, was bizarre– again, no flavor (tasted almost exactly like cream?!) and really gloppy/​runny.
As for the décor– the dining room is palatial, sure, but the art on the walls is rather offputting. I think they were going for a cheeky Spanish pop-​art kind of thing– but it didn’t fit and seemed like something I’d pick up at TJ Maxx. Not a big deal obviously, but it exemplified the general tone of the whole experience– which is: this could be really great, but something’s just not right.

The service is great, the atmosphere matching, but the food leaves a lot to be desired. For the prices and pomp you’d expect the flavours to match. It wasn’t that anything was bad, but it just never crossed that line from mediocre to amazing.
The menu can’t make up its mind on what the place is wanting to be. In true Wisconsin fashion though, you will find cheese curds. Frankly that is good by us. Adding a twist to a local dish is very spiffy, but the execution wasn’t there. We have had tapas in Spain a few times and Estrellon just doesn’t fit the mold.
Since the service and atmosphere is stellar we will be back for drinks (12 bucks a glass for Cava… esh), but not to eat.

Estrellon, or a male conjugation of «star» in Spanish, is a carefully and respectable establishment in the Capital Square restaurant block. Most of the reviews talk about the food, and I will as well, but my first visit was to hang out at the bar, so I will be focusing on that aspect.
The food is tapas, since in America it seems all Spanish restaurants have to be tapas restaurants. But unlike other restaurants who call their plates tapas only so they could overcharge the customer, the tapas here are legitimately in the spirit of tapas. In Spain, tapas are like food carts where you pay a euro and grab a small bite of fried seafood and sangria. Here, that fundamental spirit was maintained, even if it was atop silverware and linen. All the items are small and cheap, usually around $ 2-​$ 3, and a full meal will take a constellation of these. My prior experiences with tapas have been Catalonian, so there was an emphasis on seafood, but I felt that here the emphasis was more on cured meats. Whether that’s a stylistic choice or merely the impossibility of procuring good seafood in Madison I don’t know.
The drinks, like the food, were well done and with expertise. I struck up a conversation with the bartender, and I learned of the fact that Wisconsin does their Old Fashioned with an orange slice and grenadine. This explained why I was always confused about why my prior orders were so sweet. The bartender there knows what he’s doing, and when he accidentally made me a vodka martini when I wanted a gin one, he soundlessly gave me the correct one gratis. Good job bartender for knowing enough to know when you’ve made a mistake.

Checked this place out with two others, and I think they both liked it more than I did. I’m actually interested in going back to try more, but some things didn’t really work for me on first visit.
There is no denying that Estrellón is gorgeous. A truly beautiful space, with incredible woodwork and rustic chandeliers. And while the flow of the space does feel rather disjointed, it all somehow works. While the restrooms were nice, modern and clean, they are too small considering the size of the restaurant.
The cozy bar/​café area has me curious, so I’m looking forward to going back and checking that out. They serve breakfast in that area, with croissants and crepes available.
And the food:
Smoked Sockeye salmon, Greek yogurt, caviar, truffle honey — Quite tasty and rich. I’d order again.
A complimentary order of Marinated Olives left us pleased enough, but could have used more variety.
A Manchego croquette was quite good, and I’d order it again.
Slow-​roasted beef brisket, chimmichurri sauce — Dissapointing. While it seemed nicely cooked, it was lacking in flavor and arrived cold. Perhaps that’s what they are going for, but I prefer my proteins to be delivered hot. Otherwise I wonder if it’s been sitting unnoticed by a server somewhere, with bacterial count rapidly increasing.
Roasted potatoes, rotisserie drippings, sherry vinegar — fantastic, perfectly cooked. Really delicious.
Dragon tongue, green, & wax beans, crème fraîche, mint, lemon zest — Possibly the tastiest thing we tried. Delicious.
Rabbit Rilletes — This was my least favorite. Everything I enjoy about rabbit was missing. It tasted smoky, somewhat spicy and strange. Wouldn’t order it again.
Wild Hen of the Woods mushrooms, SarVecchio frico, Dijon vinaigrette, egg yolk — Delicious and fun to eat. All the flavors blended together with the stir of the egg yolk. I’d order this again and again.
My two companions ordered oysters, which they struggled to finish. They described the oysters as being over-​seasoned and having an odd, overpowering flavor of lime.
Staff members were friendly and service was adequate. Prices weren’t that crazy, but I’d recommend going with a group and having a few $ 20s in your pocket.
Overall, not too shabby. Looking forward to going back and trying some more.

I went with two other people after work. We were hungry. We were unclear on how many dishes to order. I believe we ordered cheese, three tapas, three small plates, two large plates and the rabbit paella. It was not enough. I then ordered bread to try to fill my stomach. The food was overall just okay. The cocktails were good.
The service staff was too attentive. When you put three bites of food on a plate you better not be trying to clear my plate until is empty.

Made reservations for dinner before an Overture Center show through Open Tables. They had a wonderful table set up for us, just as I asked for. The restaurant is stunningly beautiful. Comfy chairs and big windows.
My guests and I had a lot of fun trying to navigate the menu. The menu could have had better descriptions of size but our server was extremely helpful. She may not have known everything by heart but she had detailed notes to help guide us.
We ordered the Market Paella and many little plates to share. The croqueta with cod was tasty. The cheese plate was a nice way to try the cheeses you want to try. The mushrooms were the stand out dish of the little plates. The Paella came out and it was visually beautiful. My mother enjoyed the paella very much. While I enjoyed the flavor profile of the paella, I thought it was missing something to (that or I had really wanted the seafood paella). I will have to come back and try the more traditional one.
We choose to have the churros and drinking chocolate for dessert. The churros were cooked perfectly and dunking them into the chocolate was very good. But drinking the drinking chocolate was not great. It is pretty bitter. So order coffee with dessert, that was a better choice.
I am sure to explore this restaurant and bar again. Chef Tory Miller has an adventurous spirit and an eye for beauty. He is an artist.

Estrellon is another new small plates/​Tapas addition to downtown Madison.
There are two sections in the restaurant, you can do Tapas in the bar/​Tapas section or do the La cena menu in the dining room (reservations needed).
It’s a very nicely decorated, elegant venue with high ceiling, yet it feels very welcoming. The atmosphere is greatly appetizing.
Perhaps we looked pretty young among the other diners there, we waited for I believe 15 min before someone noticed that our glasses are empty. It happens a lot when we go out to fancyish places.
We were given the Tapas menu and the la cena menu. Both had interesting ideas and serve a different purpose. Most of the items on the tapas menu come on a crostini, and it’s really just «one» bite. They also serve a variety of cheese and charcuterie. So be aware of the price and the proportions.
The la cena menu is essentially another tapas menu with bigger portions. They have several interesting greens options (see dragon tongue). We ordered 4 plates: the mushrooms, albondigas, beef brisket and the dragon tongue. All were some somewhat well executed and come in good portions.
It’s a very reasonably priced tapas restaurant that I will definitely come back. Wide selections of wine as well.

Estrellon offers up three distinct menus for its café, its tapas bar and the main dining room. This review focuses on the Estrellon Café, which operates from 7am until 2:30pm Tuesday through Sunday. The Café offers up a variety of pastries, coffee & tea drinks, sandwiches and crepes. In many ways, it is reminiscent of chef Tory Miller’s late, great Café Soleil (
) which was a popular haunt of mine on the Square ten years prior.
After visiting five times in six days (yes, I’m rather obsessive about finding quality baked goods), Café Estrellon has generally left a good taste in my mouth. First and foremost, the croissants are the real deal. The top is feather light with thin flaking layers, has an airy tender interior and a hint of the rich flavor of butter. The bottom of my chocolate croissant had an amazing crunch of caramelized butter and bittersweet chocolate. I’m getting all dreamy eyed just typing up this review — excuse me for a moment while I compose myself…
…Ok, all better.
I’m also a fan of the coffee from Aerodyne Coffee Rosters of Milwaukee. While my first cup was on the weak side, the subsequent cups were superb. Deep flavor, a hint of chocolate notes that paired perfectly with my croissant and absolutely no bitterness. It easily could become my favorite cup o’ Joe in town. And the server at the bar did a fantastic job of keeping my cup topped off while noshing on my croissant.
Also superb was the egg, jamón and manchego crêpe. The buckwheat crêpe was simply gorgeous, with a mosaic of brown and white tones with a golden, uncooked egg yolk in the center. The exterior of the crêpe offered a little crunch to contrast with the velvety texture of the ham and cheese interior. The interplay between the sweet, lingering flavor of the manchego paired well with the subtle, nutty flavors of the jamón.
I was less of a fan of my sandwich. While the ingredient list was top notch (Spanish ham, Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese and Dijon mustard on a freshly baked baguette), the ingredients were terribly out of balance. The delicate flavors of the jamón and cheese were simply overwhelmed by the large, crusty baguette and the liberal dose of intensely flavored Dijon. With some fine tuning, there is potential for a fantastic sandwich.
The set-​up of the café is slightly confusing for the first time visitor. When you enter, you’ll be immediately drawn to the well-​stocked pastry counter. As you start to order your pastries, you be instructed to instead go to the bar on the far end of the café, where you’ll also see the café menu on a small chalkboard.
The staff is generally friendly and helpful, though the staff behind the pastry counter can be aloof at times (probably from being fatigued from constantly directing customers to the bar to order their food).
Parking is also a challenge, as there are limited parking options on West Johnson. I usually find a parking spot on West Mifflin near the Cap Centre parking garage and hoof it to the café

I could not be more disappointed with Estrellón. If you enjoy paying $ 1 per shishito pepper or $.50 per white bean, then this is your place.
Besides the absurdity of menu prices (come full, don’t eat, leave almost as full because WTF), the food can consider itself mediocre at best. It’s not at all in league with similarly priced places in Madison (especially those places that charge this ridiculous amount for nearly no food on a plate WHICH IS NONE) and not worth your time. Please. Not. Worth. Your. Time.
We literally laughed as the plates came to our table.
Décor could be considered «fancy joke hahah.»
It was also nice when we were trying to be sold on the most expensive glass of wine in the restaurant that our waitress wouldn’t even tell us about.

Enjoy the ambiance and sharing plates, but be prepared to order a lot of plates!
Two menus are available: a tapas menu for the tapas/​bar area, and an additional menu for the main dining area. The dining area menu actually has a lot of small items as well. Overall, the paella is the only self-​contained entrée, as you would definitely want to order additional plates even if you had one of the heartier choices.
Grilled octopus was our favorite item; simply prepared, as it was grilled with a slice of lemon, but it was nicely tender. Lamb sausage was also notable for white beans that were at the correct doneness. Among the tapas we ordered, it was pleasant to order two dishes for which you could order more than one bite.
I do recommend asking the server exactly what each item entails prior to ordering. The charred beets was a crostini topped with cheese, beets, and a lemony pine nut paste. From the menu, there is no indication that this is a crostini, so I expected a small plate of roasted beets. Asking the server is also important due to serving size – I understand that tapas are for sharing, but when I asked about the size of green beans (and other types of beans) w/​cream fraiche, the server indicated that it entailed of about 5 – 7 beans. Ouch.
Albondigas (a type of meatball), ambivalent, same with the croqueta de jamón. Padrón peppers, a mildly spicy fresh pepper, stuffed with cheese and wrapped with ham – enjoyable, but not mindblowing.
To me, the patatas bravas tasted good, but not what I would expect. Patatas bravas are typically chunks of potatoes but these were in an American thick french fry shape. To me it was essentially french fries with hot sauce and some aioli and parsley.
Raspberry ginger sangria was refreshing but I would have a tough time differentiating it from other sangrias. A more knowledgeable person than I would be able to comment about the wine selection, although I did notice a lot of specific Spanish varietals, such as txakoli. The dining area does harken to a Spanish hacienda a little, considering the metalwork on the windows and you can see the jamón ibérico and the plated tapas items ready to go behind glass. The service and ambiance is gracious, but not fussy. You’re on your own for parking, although the Ovation building sometimes has public parking for a fee.
Next time I go, I’ll bring a group of friends and order the paella and a variety of dishes so we can have both the heartier paella and the small plates.