Costa Brava

Who knew DC had a neighborhood called Bloomingdale? Not me, somehow. Once I discovered that this strange land was not an upscale department store, I had to head out to make my mark on this uncharted territory. Consider it marked. And I was impressed.
We had a great date here on a Friday night. Upstairs they have a small, intimate outdoor patio with two tables and multicolored string lights. It was our own private getaway. Could not have asked for better ambiance. The food was good, too. The skirt steak with chimichurri sauce came served atop thick cut fries with a side of brussel sprouts — some of the best sprouts I’ve ever had in life. The steak was tasty as well.
Had to try some drinks while we were at it. I went with the madrid, which is a bourbon based cocktail with cherry bitters, marmalade, and vermouth. A bit sweeter than my norm, but I didn’t care because it was delicious and still tasted strongly of bourbon. My date had the kalimatxos, a drink that is apparently a common drink in Spain, but I had never heard of. This was a night of new discoveries for me. It is red wine and coke. And hey, she liked it.
Bonus points for excellent service. They also have a lower patio, lower indoor dining area, and smallish upstairs bar/​lounge — the space is deceptively large. Highly recommended.

The owner of this bar is always present and changing the menu. He’s friendly and promotes a fun dining and happy hour environment. They have innovative dishes and yummy classics (try the albondigas) plus a Tuesday half price wine deal.

3.75 Stars
I have to admit I was wrong about Costa Brava. During the dust and scaffolding phase, my reaction was the same as any Tapas-​themed restaurant: «Oh great — another one of those too little food for way too much money kind of places.» When I met the redoubtable and dynamic future manager/​chef I thought that it sounded a little too ambitious but then again, who could have ever expected the Red Hen, Rustic, Aroi, and Boundary Stone to be such hot spots in the sleepy little village of Bloomingdale? Sometime it does indeed take unrealistic ambitions — and sure enough — Costa Brava has become a beloved addition in Bloomingdale.
The food is pretty delicious — definitely some items you might not get at other Tapas restaurants. The patatas bravas were quite nice — crispier than its cousins over at Jaleo and little extra heat which I really liked. The other dishes were some deep fried anchovies (superb), blood sausage (always wanted to try this dish), grilled octopus, and for dinner, the grilled skirt steak smothered in an ample amount of chimichuri, and a generous side portion of batatas bravas, and brussell sprouts. I’ve heard excellent things about the Squid ink pasta and the grilled chicken dish so definitely on my to-​try list down the road. I think that the prices are solid — especially for the Tapas portions. The dinner prices are moderate but very doable.
For desert — a delicious spicy chocolate cake — outstanding. The interiors are warm and cozy — a perfect date night spot and a fine place to just hang out casually either by ones self or with another small group. The place tends to fill up pretty quickly, so get their earlier or else its off to Rustic for a couple hours before you can get seated. Again, an excellent addition to lovely Bloomingdale.
And goddamnit, Spanish language menus drive me absolutely crazy.

My boyfriend and I live in the area and have been to Costa Brava 4 or 5 times for both dinner and/​or drinks. We have thoroughly enjoyed every visit from the food to the friendly staff. I would recommend it more for drinks and small plates upstairs than a dinner, the upstairs bar is comfortable and inviting and they have a great DJ on some nights playing hip hop. Stand out food: meatballs and lamb sliders, best drink is the Madrid, a delicious play on a Manhattan.

Why am I writing this review? Mostly because of the person who claimed this is the next Red Hen… I went here largely because of this review, so I decided I’d follow up… It’s def not the next Red Hen…
The service and atmosphere are great, but the food is just meh. I was excited to go here, but ended up quickly disappointed once I was there. The food really is hit-​or-​miss, so you should consult with people who have been there before you go…
To start off, my boyfriend and I got drinks. My wine was meh (100% honest: some $ 6 wine at Trader Joe’s is better…) and my boyfriend’s beer was just OK. We then ordered two tapas. Both were pretty disappointing. We got the Papas con Boquerones, which is honestly just overly salty chips with a few anchovies on top. We also got an octopus tapa, which really was just badly cooked octopus on a stick. It was really chewy and not really seasoned. We were both disappointed. For an entrée, we got a lentil dish, which had a good flavor. Overall, I really liked it, but there was some really salty ham, which surprised me given the overall quality of the dish. To end, we got the flan. Also OK, but a bit too sweet. It was again, alright, but nothing to write home about… I’ve gotten MUCH better flan at hole-​in-​the-​wall mexican places…
Overall, again, it’s not a horrible place, but don’t go for the food… I don’t understand why everyone’s raving about this place. Maybe it’s the décor, which really is great? Or the bar? As far as the food though, I’d skip this place. I can’t see myself going back with such a high price tag for just OK food. I feel mislead after reading such good reviews…
Also, my boyfriend and I found ourselves with a large bill and an empty stomach. this isn’t a place to go to get full…

Met my sister here for lunch recently. Disappointed that they only had a brunch menu as I was looking forward to their regular menu — it sounded delicious. However, our «breakfasts» were surprising good. A major factor in our enjoyment was our rapport with our waitperson.

Best Wednesday hangout! Bridget is AMAZING AND the food & drinks are great, affordable and tasty! the DJ… EVERYTHING! Party atmosphere with great locals!

Love this spot! Nice patio out front, downstairs is the dining area; upstairs has a bar, DJ booth, sitting area, and outdoor patio. It’s a nice mixed crowd, enough people to have a good time without feeling like you’re gonna step on someone. GREAT music, loud enough to dance to but not too loud that you can’t carry a conversation. People are friendly: the regulars will spark up a conversation with you, and I feel like I’ve known the bartender forever!
Mixed drinks are STRONG, thanks to BRIDGET! Nice beer selection. I’ve only had the skirt steak w/​potatoes and brussel sprouts and the chicken empanadas, both came out fast, hot, and delicious.
I live in Arlington and the bars out there are too big and crowded for me; so the little drive into DC is worth it.

I love trying new restaurants, so when my friend told me about the wonderful experience she had at Costa Brava, I knew I had to check this place out.
My date and I arrived at the cozy, bi-​level restaurant around 8:45pm on a Friday night. There were a few empty tables; however, we were initially told by a male waiter that we could not be seated because the tables were reserved for a birthday party. I was disappointed, especially since I’d gone out of my way to get there. Luckily, a female waitress had overheard the conversation and explained to us and the male waiter that we could in fact be seated at a table. My date and I exchanged confused glances as the waitress ushered us to a table and brought us menus.
I had perused the menu online before arriving at the restaurant, but the one that was handed to us was slightly different. I asked our waitress for her recommendations and she pointed out several items on the menu that she considered exemplary dishes. We ordered the chicken empanadas for our starter and it was just as amazing as our waitress had described. The chicken was flavorful, the crust had the right amount of crispness, and the sauce perfectly complimented the empanadas.
I ordered the Madrid cocktail, which was made with bourbon, vermouth, orange marmalade, and cherry bitters. All the ingredients worked well together to create a strong and flavorful drink.
My companion and I shared the grilled marinated skirt steak entrée. The dish was served with potatoes and Brussels sprouts and the chef didn’t skimp on the portions. This meal was a winner.
In between bites and conversation, I had time to survey the restaurant. The restaurant is dimly lit and the first floor consists of the kitchen and a few wooden tables. The seating area is large enough to accommodate about twenty people. Most of the seating consists of tables for four that cannot be separated into single tables for two. This means that parties of two, like us, are seated at a table for four. While I enjoyed having the extra space, it’s not the most efficient use of space for the restaurant. About an hour after we got there, a line started to form at the door. The restaurant is tight enough without a crowd of people standing next to you waiting on a table, so I wish the restaurant had ushered them upstairs to the bar area rather than leaving them standing next to the door in the dining area.
As the word continues to get out about this hidden gem, Costa Brava will have to do a better job of managing the flow of diners. Thankfully they’ve mastered the food so far. Even if you have to wait, you won’t be disappointed once you sit down and taste the food!

Love this place! Checked it out yesterday as a friend of a friend was dj’ing there and had a blast! Can’t speak for much of the food — but the olives and brussel sprouts were good — not the *best* brussel sprouts ever, but ones I would get again if I was craving a veggie. Per the reviews, the mushrooms may be worth a try as well.
Costa Brava is located in the bloomingdale area, and the ambiance is that of being at a really cool dc house party — the drinks are flowing, the food is nibble worthy, the people are friendly, and the dj keeps you jamming. The owner is very hospitable & welcoming — he apparently plans to have some crab feasts in the summer which I definitely plan to attend. The bartenders make delicious concoctions — ask for Eddy! There’s patio space downstairs, but the action is mainly upstairs and there is a smaller patio here as well. They plan to get additional seating in the coming weeks, so I’m excited to see their changes.
Overall, definitely a great place to check out for their Sunday fundays now that the weather is nicer. We already have plans to go back next weekend!

We went here for my brother in laws birthday, and though I can only speak for myself, I had a wonderful time and a great meal. Not only were the staff incredibly nice but they were also so very accommodating with our large party. I ordered a gin and tonic with lime which was well made and reasonably priced. To start the meal, I requested the Setas (Sautéed mushroom dish) and the blend of mushrooms were seasoned nicely. Yum!
For dinner, I ordered the Pulpo a la Plancha (Octopus). I thought the char-​grilled octopus was cooked perfectly. It wasn’t rubbery, but still had a firm texture with a nice pop when bitten. The sides of confit potatoes and sautéed onions complemented well (only note: because the octopus offered so much texture, I would have preferred that the onions had been cooked through. Just a personal preference!).
All in all, it was a wonderful evening and I left hungry for more (but very satisfied).

Delicious butter on their bread, very well-​made and well-​seasoned chicken. I thought the mushrooms needed something extra, but they were cooked well and it’s hard to make mushrooms interesting.
The winner here was the manchego cheesecake. Not only was the wine/​pear topping unlike anything we had ever eaten before (IN THE BEST WAY!), the cheesecake itself was scrumptious, I’d say better than Estadio’s.
I like the décor. Waitstaff was very, very courteous.
They have interesting cocktails, one with egg whites blended with whiskey. We also tried several wines, which we were impressed with.

I went here for dessert. The menu was different than online. The online menu featured a lavender and olive oil cake which I wanted, but they no longer carry it. There was no comparable menu item so I decided to pass on ordering dessert. The cocktail that I wanted wasn’t available either.
The only reason that I am giving Costa Brava four stars is because of my husband’s manchego cheesecake. He loved it. The brandy soaked pears were an excellent compliment to the dense, cold cheesecake. The crust was crunchy and delicious. I tasted it and thought that the cheesecake was too salty. The textures were nice, though.
We met the owner. He was incredibly nice and acknowledged that the menu was a work in progress. So, we will be back.

I have mixed feelings about this place, and it really comes down to the fact that one has to be careful about what one orders in order to make it a worthwhile dining experience. Case in point, I went there with a friend and we ordered two very different meals. I had a skirt steak with papas bravas and brussel sprouts, which was a solid, delicious, filling meal. However, my friend ordered boqurones as an appetizer and the grilled octopus as his main course. The boqurones were the most egregious, as he got only four tiny, tiny slivers of anchovies for $ 8; it was so measly it was laughable. And while the octopus was decent there was not enough food to accompany it to give my friend anything close to a satisfying meal. He ended up paying $ 30 and still felt hungry; we went back to my place so he could cook himself another meal.

I stopped by for dinner on a Saturday night. The cozy downstairs dining area was buzzing, and a hostess greeted us at the door immediately. She said the wait wouldn’t be long, so we headed upstairs for a drink at the bar. The bar was classy, nice comfortable atmosphere, lively but not so loud you had to shout, and the drinks and service were terrific. DC cocktail prices but I actually felt it was worth it here.
At our table, we tried the paella with seafood and chorizo and black squid ink, and the skirt steak. Both were truly delicious and the portions generous. The paella was THE best I’ve had, not just compared to the better Spanish restaurants in DC and elsewhere, but also compared to some excellent home cooked meals I enjoyed in Spain.

Came for a few tapas and drinks. The atmosphere and service were 5 star. The food was 4 star. Really liked the brussels sprouts dish, the lentejas negro con huevos (lentils with a poached egg). Also had the setas (mushrooms) which was pretty good.
The only downside was they were out of many of the drinks. The price was also decent for the area, atmosphere and quality of the food.
Loved the manchego cheesecake with strawberries for dessert!

Absolutely obsessed with this place! So glad it’s in our hood! Everything we have had here is delicious! Seriously — all of it. But to help you choose — the chimicurri steak is tender, tasty, and filling. The Arroz con Pollo is divine — tender chicken, full of flavors, and a hearty portion. If you are looking for tapas to start — simple — croquettes, mushrooms, deviled eggs, sardines, and, olives with capers — all wonderful.
Bottom line — you won’t be disappointed — food is out of this world and service is impeccable!

I went to Costa Brava after it had been opened for a couple of weeks. They did not have a full menu yet so instead had a tasting menu for $ 22. There was three or four different categories and you got to pick one dish from each. All of the dishes were very tasty and left me wanting more. My favorite was the tenderloin which was cooked just right and had a nice glad on it. My girl friend and I each also got a beer. Their beer selection although not huge was decent with a nice selection of craft beers.
The ambiance inside is nice with the stone walls but it’s a small place so felt slightly cramped but not it a bad way. The way they do drink orders is weird. There is a bar upstairs where the servers get the drinks from. I feel this makes the process longer because we had to wait about 15 minutes to get our drink after the order was placed. After that everything else came out in a timely manner.
The overall quality of the food was great and I’d say this place is only second to Red Hen in the area (my favorite Bloomingdale establishment). Costa Brava is definitely worth checking out. I plan on going back once they get the menu in full swing!

Came here for dinner and drinks with friends. Great ambiance! Good selection of wine and beer. Food was top notch! Service was great as well! Very welcoming waiter and staff. Def a nice place for a date or casual dinner with friends. I will recommend and def come back again!

Granted they’ve only been open a month. However, our food tonight was not good. The menu was relatively small and there weren’t many things that jumped out at us. The chicken and rice, my main course, was SUPER salty (and otherwise relatively boring). The brussel sprouts were also salty and not particularly noteworthy. The empanadas were fine, but nothing to write home about. It was a Monday night at 7:00 and there was no one else in there, so the ambience wasn’t great. On top of all of this, it’s kind of pricy!
We’ll give them a try in a few weeks, but we were disappointed.