Top Spanish Cafe & Catering — Restaurant in Washington

This place is the definition of a hidden gem, I think. It's too bad it never looks busy, because it is worth a trip! Some of the best Spanish food I've had in DC.

The dishes are very traditional but really fantastic. The Argentine style steak in particular was a revelation. Extraordinarily tender and flavorful, every bite was a dream. I'd say the same about the albondigas (Spanish meatballs), which were wonderfully rich and served atop the creamiest mashed potatoes ever.

I'm not generally a huge paella fan but the Paella Valenciana was very good. Rabbit bones were a little painful to maneuver around, and the dish came out screaming hot (probably needed to wait like 10 minutes to be able to comfortably eat it). But otherwise the flavors and ingredients were great.

Only thing that was a little disappointing was the wine list; we ordered two different tempranillos by the glass and neither really shone. The wine list itself isn't super long; the food here will be a great comfort to folks in the neighborhood that miss Ruta del Vino but the wine probably won't. That said, the wine is all very reasonably priced, and if you're looking to buy a bottle (or bottles) without breaking the bank, you have a lot of options here.

Service was attentive and rightly proud of the place! I look forward to returning soon and sampling the rest of the menu (the lamb was calling to me!)

Prices: tapas are in the $10-15 range each, so can add up quickly if you get 2-3 per person (which would be about right for a meal). Entrees are actually fairly reasonable for this type of restaurant ($20-25), even for a steak dish that was large and would probably run closer to $35-40 elsewhere.

I think this place stays afloat on the back of a substantial catering business that allows it to keep open this dining room and stay stocked with fresh ingredients. I've never seen it look busy, but really, if you're in the neighborhood, you should give it a shot! It'll be one of the best meals you can have in DC by reliably...

The best Paella AND the best pata negra Jamon serrano i've had outside of Spain! The mushroom dish is to die for. But what really makes this hidden gem so special, is the star manager/waiter Dani from the south of Spain. From the moment you walk in you feel like family! Each touch from the decor to music to food selections are perfectly curated to transport you to Spain. Not some whitewashed hipster gentrified imitation of Spain, but a real authentic taste of it (and I would know, i'm Spanish). There are only 2 other Spanish restaurants I would bother eating at in the city and at both you can expect to pay 3 times more money for food that isn't any better, and is actually less traditional and authentic (and more "fusion"). Good acoustics so it's perfect for a quiet intimate meal where you can actually hear each other speak, or for a big...

This place is absolutely incredible! Like going back to Spain!! The cuisine is authentic and the tapa portions are large, especially for DC. Price point per-person depends on how many people you bring and how much you order, but we walked away full with minimal strain on our pockets (again, especially for DC-based spot!). I would post pics but phone did not eat first... lol. They also have super solid drink options -- ranging from Spanish beers, wines, and cocktails.

Unfortunately, the guy who served us said they are closing on Sept 4, so RUN don't walk to try them and show support before they shut...