Robin O.

This was my first time to La Tasca. I've heard great things and I was excited to go. The overall experience was good, and the employees were very nice. However, they spent most of the evening talking to each other at the end of the bar rather than waiting on the customers. One of my friends waited 10 minutes for someone to take her drink order. Now, we were there for happy hour, but if you are just standing around instead of helping customers - that's different. The food was outstanding. There is a great happy hour selection of tapas for only $4 each. Warning... they are large! Everyone in my group ordered 2 tapas, and we all had something left over! I suggest sharing if you want to try more items. They also had a lot of fresh made sangria - also $4/glass at happy hour. I am absolutely a fan of their food and beverages.
(4)
Summer P.

Good food but tremendously overpriced. Two stars for overall value. Everything was about $2 overpriced per plate. Regardless here is a review of the flavors! Matadores cocktail is well balanced. Brussels sprouts cooked very well. Sweet potato fries made a nice hash. The food is lovely. Just vastly overpriced.
(2)
Yesha S.

Sangria had very old fruit and looked disgusting. The food was good, but wasn't very varied. My family and I were in a celebratory mood, and decided to go around King Street. Our beloved Tapas place in Alexandria had shut down, so though I was hesitant about trying out a chain restaurant but decided to give it a try. We arrived around 2 pm, so it was after the lunch rush. My mom was craving a sangria, we ordered the Sangria Rosada. When it came out we were so excited and started drinking. The taste was good but when we looked into the pitcher at the fruit... it was disgusting. The fruit looked like it had been reused or had been sitting there for ages. I'm sure freshfruit is readily available, this definitely looked canned and OLD. We became a bit discouraged after that. We ordered quite a bit of food, and the food was delicious. The bacon wrapped pork was my favorite. I would give this place more stars but the sangria was awful. Other than that our waiter was not attentive at all. I understand it wasn't during the lunch or dinner rush, but we often had to go find him... and he would be on his phone with the other waiters in the back of the restaurant.
(3)
Jenny L.

Everything we order was great. The beef empanadas was the best that I have had. It's not greasy and the shell was soft and the added taste of bell pepper really boost the flavor. The lamb chop was also very good. The sangria was perfect for me since it was not very sweet and the alcohol content was not very strong. The salad was fresh and the seasoning for the ahi tuna was very good. The tuna was a bit tough to split with my fork. The last dish was the bean spout with dates and toasted almond. It's a bit salty with soy sauce but it was still good over all. The ONLY drawback to this place is the fact that we feel we were rushed to leave with the waiter/bus boy trying to collect our plates while we were still eating and bring us out check before we were ready. Hence the star removed
(4)
Joey N.

I love the ambiance of La Tasca. It just feels like you've stepped into another world. I went during lunch, so it very quiet/empty. I sat at the bar area, but noticed maybe 5 occupied tables in the main dining area. My server appeared quickly and was great at recommending which sangria I should try. I got the cadillac sangria (red) and it was tasty enough, but felt watered down. I did see a few flying insects in the restaurant and they keep the sangria pitchers (behind the bar) open for easy access for the bartender, so that was a bit disconcerting. My server helped me decide on my tapas, since they offer 2 tapas and 1 non-alcoholic beverage for $14 as a lunch special. They have an unlimited tapas lunch option as well, but I forget the cost. My food was brought out pretty quickly. The chicken skewers were sooo good. The orange sauce they put on it is great, but the dip they offer with it is the icing on the cake. My empanadas weren't as terrific. The outside was good, but the beef filling was eh. I'd love to try the chicken or seafood empanadas though. Overall, I'd go back...especially for dinner and the days they have the flamingos dancers.
(4)
Bri H.

La Tasca, La Tasca, La Tasca....I freaking love this place. Let me tell you! I absolutely love Spanish tapas style restaurants and La Tasca doesn't disappoint. I came here last minute on Saturday night and surprisingly, it wasn't too busy. We got there around 8 and it was busy but not too busy to the point you had to wait for hours to be seated. We were seated right away. When you walk in, there is a beautiful long bar with a HUGE, I mean HUGE projector screen (the best way to watch sports). We were seated in the dining area at a small table which was perfect. Now to the food; the menu is in Spanish 0.o but the descriptions are in English so you know exactly what you are ordering. Our server was awesome because every time I read off the description of the dish, because my Spanish is "oh not so good" HA, he knew exactly what I was ordering without even looking at the menu. He even repeated the order back by each dishes proper name...Wow go you! Ha. They have a variety of options to choose from so everyone will find something that they'll like. That is the best part of tapas; you can order 5-8 different dishes and try a little bit of everything!! :D We ended up ordering a pitcher of red Sangria which was sooooo freaking good, it made me look up recipes the next day so I could make my own at home. For tapas, we had the chicken empanadas, shrimp & bacon, crab cakes, and the Brussel sprouts. Everything was amazingly good. OMG! But listen to me when I say that the crab cakes were some of the best that I have ever had! They were peppery and loaded with straight crab! I definitely want to try more tapas when I come back next time. There is so much to choose from! All in all, I loved my experience at La Tasca. The server we had was phenomenal, the food was elegant & delicious, and the sangria was refreshing & hit the SPOT! I will most definitely be back to visit La Tasca in the near future. I read that they have live music and dancers on specific nights so I am looking forward to that. :D Favs:Crab cakes and Sangria. Also, our server was informative and observant. Would Change: You should sell your Sangria in a bottle, I mean it's only right :P
(5)
Eric T.

Been here a few times. Usually spot on. Today the food was not up to par. Meat was a little too chewy. Came for a late brunch. Portions were good but taste was just ok. Was sitting between 3-4 stars. Decided to go 4 because the server recognized us from a previous stay. She was friendly and remembered details from months before. That's worth an extra star. Prices are reasonable.
(4)
Shannon P.

I met a friend here today for some drinks before we painted pottery. I got there just in time for happy hour! They have great deals everyday starting at 4pm, at the bar only. Every sangria is $4, they have about 6 different ones. They are pre-made and you can see each of the flavors displayed in really cute glass jugs behind the bar. I got the traditional red sangria which was sweet and filled with apple slices, my favorite in sangria! They have an entire list of tapas that are also on happy hour special for $4 everyday! I got the chicken empanadas. Best decision ever! I got 2 decent sized empanadas filled with shredded chicken and cheese, they were absolutely delicious! The empanadas were fried to perfection! They came with a side of some kind of orange sauce and it's delicious! Not too spicy and pairs perfectly with the empanadas!
(4)
Laura L.

Very loud, not good for conversation. Sangria was watery and warm. Rice wasn't cooked all the way in the paella. Tapas were good.
(3)
Lissete D.

We stopped in on a whim while strolling around King St. It was early, and the dining room was pretty empty. So we were seated immediately. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. My husband and I ordered a variety of tapas to share & a 1/2 pitcher of the Cadillac Sangria. Our tapas included the following: ~ Pan a la Catalana- nicely toasted and very flavorful ~ Croquetas- delicious, nice sized round croquettes with the perfect balance of ham, chicken & bechamel ~ Empanadas- oh my gaaawd, these were absolutely delicious. We had one of each, chicken & beef. Perfectly seasoned & nice and crisp on the outside. ~ Patatas Bravas- these were just ok. ~ Solomillo de Cerdo- tender & flavorful pork tenderloin rounds. ~ Manchego Fritos- who doesn't love fried cheese. It's 10x better when that cheese is manchego! ~ Salteado de Setas- a medley of sautÃ©ed mushrooms. I missed the part about the poached egg on top. I don't eat eggs. (Unless they're in a cake!) The mushrooms were tasty though. ~ Crema Catalana for dessert- The best part of any meal and this one did not disappoint. Oh, and the sangria was great as well. Everything was nicely presented and the food exceeded our expectations. I would suggest staggering your order. So everything does not come out at once. Maybe order 2 or 3 at a time. If you have time, of course. Service was attentive throughout our meal. Our dishes were promptly cleared as needed and our water glasses were never empty. We will definitely return to this location!
(4)
Sara W.

This location is my favorite. I have been to the DC and Rockville locations as well on several occasions and they just don't have what the Old Town location has. There is something about this location being a little smaller that keeps the feel more quaint and intimate. The staff turnover is really low as the same core group of staff have been there for the 4 years I have been going. I try to go during HH. The prices are good and the food is great. My favorite are the bacon wrapped dates. I also turn to the shrimp with garlic and hot peppers, the mussels with chorizo and the seafood paella. All their sangrias are super. Not to mention they make a mean margarita.
(4)
Brandt L.

I've never been at a bar where u sit down, they wipe the bar down at ur seat then take someone else's drink order from the other side of the bar.
(1)
Charles K.

If you like a more laid back vibe and great sangrias then this is the La Tascas for you. I went on a Saturday in January and the place wasn't packed like the La Tasca in Chinatown or Arlington. I had a livingsocial deal that allowed me to pick 1 appetizer, 5 tapas, 2 desserts, and a bottle of wine (or 2 sangrias). The deal was well worth the money. I went back to livingsocial and found that Ls Tasca offers different deals and events. The food was great and I enjoyed the service that I received .
(5)
Dani P.

I love tapas; I think it's a great social event since people share and decide different things they want. We were here on a Friday night to celebrate a friend's new job. We ordered mango blackberry sangria, which was excellent. The food was delicious as usual, but sometimes our server disappeared for long stretches of time when we wanted to order food. My go to faves: patatas bravas and brussel sprouts with dates and almonds. They usually have live music on Friday nights. If you're into that, then it's a fun time. If you're trying to be social and talk, it makes your throat hoarse trying to have simple conversation :/
(3)
Ana C.

Bad service , bad lunch tapas so disappointed!!specially for the price I paid!! I would never come back again and dfntly won't recommend to anyone of my friend
(1)
Diana V.

This is my husband's and I favorite happy hour/date night spot. We typically sit at the bar since we really like the bartenders there. They remember who we are and make us feel welcome and provide great service. They also change up th menu every now and then and offer different options or modify their recipes. We have been coming for 6 yrs on a regular and still enjoy the menu. They have a good happy hour with many sangrias, beer and tapas options. During brunch they offer 3 select tapas for $20 and $2 mimosas, sangrias, and bloody maries.
(5)
Laura H.

This was my first time at La Tasca and I absolutely can't wait to come back! My boyfriend and I came here on Thursday night around 7:45 and were seated immediately. They have flamenco dancing at 8 so it gets a bit noisy but it was quite the addition to the atmosphere. Our service was very quick and friendly throughout our dining experience, which is always appreciated. The bar area seemed very nice with a section of couches and chairs too. As others have noted, they have a large projection screen which was showing a soccer match while we were there. For drinks, I had heard good things about the sangria so we split a pitcher of the traditional sangria- why not we took the metro- for $28. We had three glasses each so very reasonably priced! The concept is tapas so we chose to share the quarteto de cerdo (skewers with pork four ways- grilled pork tenderloin, chorizo, bacon and pork belly) for $8 and the pastelitos de cangrejo (tasca style crab cakes, frisÃ©e salad, aioli) for $9. We also ordered a cheese board- tetilla (cows milk cheese, mild), valdeon (blue cheese wrapped in tree leaves), cana de cabra (soft, creamy goat cheese), and manchego (salty, grainy sheeps milk) served with fig jam for $18. Our server offered us bread with the board and that was perfect- very rustic, artisanal and great with the fig jam. I personally enjoyed the blue cheese the most as did my boyfriend but the goat cheese was a close second. The crab cakes were the best I have had in quite a long time! Portioned with two cakes, it was perfect for sharing, very little meat, and paired perfectly with the aioli- very Devine!the pork four ways was also portioned as two skewers, with my favorite style being the juicy, tender pork belly. I joined their mailing list and received 25% off our dinner which came to $51 after the discount. Considering the price of our sangria, this was more than reasonably priced for our date night. They had so many other options that looked succulent and delicious, we will absolutely have to come back and sample more!
(5)
Matthew B.

Absolutely awesome. On a trip for wrok. Walking king street looking for a place to eat, we approached La Tasca, my friend had a "mini" orgasm...he said we have to go here! Well, paella mixta combined with three servings manchego, calamarilles, and sweet plantains - time for a nap. Ohh and the best part of the paella comes from scrapping the pan! Loved it!
(5)
Shemeka H.

Gotta start with the sangria like so many other reviews before me. I had the Cava which is sparkling wine, grape juice, and blueberries! Let that sink in for a minute. It was delicious. Def wanted more than one glass. Good thing they offer it by the pother as well. We came during happy hour which it was great to have on a Sunday! The happy hour is every day from 4-7 and the tapas plates are the perfect size if you were enjoying an after work drink. We had the fried cheese, calamari, croquetas, and I had some great chicken skewers. None of this disappointed me. Bathrooms were nice and clean. The atmosphere was super chill.
(4)
Qwerty -.

Three and half stars?! For this mess!?! Let me lower that . . . there, much better. Stopped in during the lull between lunch and dinner, and even though only a handful of tables were taken the service was so. dolorously. slow. It was a full ten minutes before anyone came to take my drink order, and no one remembered to give me a menu (the host and hostess were too busy flirting with each other to do much of anything). Thankfully, the server speeded things up once I let her know that I was on lunch break. I ordered grilled shrimp with an orange flavored glaze--very good--and followed it with a flan--not so good. It took me a several hours to figure out why the flan was so unsatisfying: three weeks earlier I'd enjoyed a creme brulee that pretty much wiped every other egg-based custard off the map. So good that nearly a month on, it's still ruining related desserts for me. You know that moment when you have a really good Italian ice, and all of a sudden you can't go back to rocket pops and sno cones? That's pretty much what happened. I was seated at this table for two shaped like a barrel, and though it works with La Tasca's ambience, actually eating at the thing is another story. Because of the barrel shape, there's no space for your legs. You either have to spread 'em or keep a good 8" away from your food. And the table top is so cluttered with menus and placards advertising specials that my two tapas could hardly fit. Unfortunately, their Clarendon location is even worse. La Tasca is going to have to up their game if they want the rest of those stars.
(2)
A A.

Came here on a double date. The sangria was good, but just a little expensive. There are a LOT of options on their menu and great food. The paella is a large serving, fit for a group. So if you get one, don't fill up on the smaller dishes. **Make sure to come here with a group and see the dancers!!!** It could use a little more Spanish ambiance and is a little crowded and dark.
(4)
Hilary T.

I've been to 1 or 2 other La Tasca locations, and I'm quite partial to the one in Clarendon, but this one in Old Town is definitely a keeper. Caveat: I came here for a romantic birthday dinner on a Tuesday night, so I can only give the benefit on my experience on a weeknight, rather than a weekend. First of all, half off all Paellas on Tuesdays (!!!!). That's reason enough to go! The Paella de Carne was fabulous, and the leftovers were just as good for lunch today. All of my co-workers were jealous. I also thoroughly enjoyed their tapas. After studying abroad in Madrid, tapas became a way of life for me, and La Tasca's sent me back to the golden days of siestas, speaking espanol, and men with mullets (oh yeah, you didn't know those were big in 05-06? it was gross). I highly recommend the Tortilla Espanola, the Patatas Bravas, the Canelones de Berenjenas (AMAZING! Eggplant, red peppers, goat cheese - you'll die), and the Croquetas de Pollo. Between two of us, we downed all of them within about 4 minutes, give or take 16 seconds. The House Sangria is only alright - nothing to write home about. But it's all about the Spanish experience, right? Our server was great, very sweet and efficient, but again, I was there on a weeknight and the place wasn't too crowded. I would advise not to expect such speedy service on a weekend night. In general, I would say this La Tasca is worth a visit, especially when there are flamenco dancers and guitar players. Is it just like my favorite spots in good ol' Madrid? Not quite, but it'll fulfill your inner Spanish culinary desires, and then some.
(4)
Rebecca L.

The atmosphere was fantastic! The sangria was delish:) We split a pitcher of the blueberry mango (YUM). We also ordered five items, 3 meat, two veggie. The sausages were bursting with flavor! The peppers were so-so, but everything els was really good! We will definately go back!
(4)
Paige R.

La Tasca is one of those places that you wish people would treat the way the management and staff treats it. It's a shame people don't see the obvious signs that tell them not to wear their street clothes into an establishment like this one. The owners of the chain have paid close attention to decor and live music (no cover) to help you enjoy your time spent there. The menu is exclusive, not "over-priced." Prices set the a tone of upscale authenticity, as do almost every other detail in the place. Look at the wait staff's uniform, the top-shelf liquor in the bar, and the general ambiance achieved by lighting and music. It really is authentic to some village restaurants in Spain. La Tasca is a unique place to relax for hours over a long meal with friends and, late at night, get up and dance in front of the band!
(5)
J L.

Was there on a business trip recently. This was actually my first trip to a Tapas place. It was better than I thought it would be. Didn't really have anything bad. I loved the olives! My advice is to get anything with eggplant. my group got the eggplant with red peppers and goat cheese. I could get addicted to that easily. Loved it. The beef and mushrooms was awesome as well. Service was ok. My only complaint was that they left you with the same plate the entire night. That blended flavors. Would have liked fresh plates at some point.
(4)
Brenda M.

I stopped here on a Friday afternoon for a drink and appetizer after a long walk in Alexandria. Service left much to be desired. I ordered the shrimp with garlic appetizer and their house red wine special. The wine was good and great at $4 a glass. Unfortunately, my appetizer never came as the bartender forgot to place it. I was running short on time and had to catch my ferry back to the hotel so did not mention it. I do like the ambiance and decor. Not sure how to describe it but it's intimate and you get the feeling of being in a place with a long history.
(2)
Shannon V.

Came here on a recent Friday night for happy hour in the bar. I know happy hours get busy and crowded and servers have a hard time keeping up, but our server completely ignored us. We were trying to flag her down so badly that eventually the bus boy came up and took our orders. The bar snack I tired was not very good as it had a heavily based mayonnaise sauce that I felt was not well explained on the menu. I know this is a popular spot for happy hour and tapas and will definitely come back to try it again with hopefully better results.
(2)
David B.

Absolutely the worst tapas food in the DC area! So much salt and garlic that it was inedible. Service is non existent. We had to wait 10 minutes for silverware. Barely 1/2 a star.
(1)
Roger P.

Doesn't work that way. Restaurant should never serve bad food that has to be sent back .... unless they think they can get away with it? The paella was truly a disaster!
(1)
Stephen D.

Came tonight for happy hour from 4-7, great first experience. Food was cheap, $4 a tapas, and sangria was great also at $4 a glass....both worth it. Great experience, looked like it was getting a little crowded after 530 when we left so I would get there early on.
(5)
Marc Alen D.

This review is based solely on drinks and service as I did not order any food. The drinks were wonderful. Sangrias, a great selection of beers... Awesome HH spot. At night there's live latin music! The servers and bartenders were very nice and delivered in a timely fashion. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Wendy B.

The service was horrendous, both at the bar and at the table. We waited several minutes for the bartenders to offer us a menu, even though the bar wasn't crowded. We were seated within a few minutes, but no waiter ever came to our table or came close enough that we could even make eye contact. I can't tell you how the food was because we left after waiting several minutes for table service. So disappointing.
(1)
Lizzie B.

This was my first time here and it was for happy hour. I had a fantastic experience! The sangrias and tapas were fabulous and at a price most places can't beat. It wasn't too crowded either (Tuesday 6-8) and our waiter was pretty attentive. Definitely coming back.
(5)
lella b.

Headed her to avoid a brewing shower. 3 of us did the $20 all you can eat tapas menu (per person). Hits Dates/bacon Eggplant Salads Paellea Garlic Shrimp Cadillac Sangria Misses: Mushrooms Frozen sangria We sat for 3 hours, attentive service, ate, drank and caught up. It was a perfect. Would we have been able to had a leisurely meal when it was crowded? maybe not. We had a blast, ate ourselves silly and would go back. *of note, they have a kids menu (we were sans kids, but saw burgers, etc for kids
(4)
Hugh A.

I'm not a huge tapas fan but my significant other wanted to try this place. The highlight of the meal was the Port City beer. Very nice. I liked it so much I went to Wholefoods and bought a 6 pack. As far as the food goes, it was ok. We had various dishes that ranged from meat to seafood to vegetable. The chorizo paella was good, but I like the paella I make at home better. The datiles con tocino (grilled bacon wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese) was interesting but the blue cheese was a little over the top. I think I'll try it at home with just the bacon and dates. The sangria was good. I liked the 1/2 pitcher option. The seranno ham and corn nuts plate was my favorite dish for the evening. If I ever go back to La Tasca, it'll be to drink a beer and nosh on the serrano ham and corn nuts. The ambiance was kinda loud. The service was good (and fast). $80 (before tip) got us 5 tapas, 1/2 pitcher of sangria, and a beer.
(3)
Alexa G.

After a long day of bridesmaid duties I was starved, so my date and I aimlessly wandered down king street trying to find something open late, which was a task in itself. We finally found La Tasca only to be informed that their kitchen was closing * boo*, well my date actually persuaded the bartender to grab us some food, which he kindly did..and at his suggestion we ordered the $50 tasting sampler. To start out we had the sangria, which was pretty tasty and not to sweet. The steak and the onion,potato omelet, and pork tenderloin were some of my favorites, the apple salad..not so much. All in all it was a great night they had a live band playing, and the staff was pretty awesome for letting us order a quick meal!
(4)
Michael Z.

The three of us split the meat tasting menu (8 dishes for $50) along with the Montaditos de Jamon y Queso (essentially bruschetta but with a few pieces of meat, $6.50). Overall, the place was fairly cheap as far as tapas goes but we all really enjoyed our food. We were also pretty full after eating a menu designed for two, yet with three of us (and 2 of us are pretty big eaters). Off the meat tasting menu, the dishes that stood out were the chorizo, the bacon wrapped pork, and the apple slices. The rest were alright, but nothing special. The spinach and pine nuts was exactly that, ditto for the meatballs in vegetable sauce (aka tomato sauce). For drinks, my brother and I split a pitcher of the Holiday Pomegranate and Cranberry sangria ($26, straying from our preference for White sangria), and really enjoyed the drinks. Unlike some other places, the sangria wasn't loaded with ice, and I'm pretty sure I was even able to get drunk. While no one else wanted a dessert, I still had a little bit of room and tried the Flauta Rellena de Crema ($7), which is a banana-caramel puff pastry w/ ice cream. This was probably the most interesting dish, as it was a bit fancier and I was able to convince my mom to give it a try. It had some cinnamon on the outside and really hit the spot after a few sangrias. With another tapas place just down the road (and a mongolian BBQ across the street), there's some stiff competition going on around here. I'll definitely try out the mongolian BBQ (Red Mai) place next, but I was glad to have tried this tapas place. Would go again, if there weren't so many other restaurants that look appealing nearby.
(4)
Angel W.

I wish I liked this place. I really do. I mean where else can you taste 12 different twists on sangria (mixed with strawberries and blueberries, or lemon and lime, or pineapple and whipped cream) and I love sangria. I have tried them all and was disappointed by every single sangria offering. Yes, they do look beautiful and tempting in the display pitchers but the taste always seems to be off. Because of their inability to pull off a well made sangria, I have never eaten here. You can get better sangria at The Cheesecake Factory (white) or La Sandia (red) or even Luna Grill and these places do not specialize in sangria but they hit the mark, even as an afterthought.
(2)
Matthew S.

I held my rehearsal dinner here, and it was fantastic. We reserved the dining area in their upstairs loft. We had ordered one of the party menus and the food was excellent. They were very helpful with allowing us to select how much alcohol and what types to serve. The Sangria was a big hit, that many ended up ordering more when the selected amount had run out. There was so much food, and such good food, that even with a party of 25 we had to take some home with us. The service was excellent, with well paced delivery of all the dishes. They actually had Flamenco dancers performing throughout the evening (not sure if this is common) which was cool to see. They asked us if it was OK for them to come up to the loft to perform to make sure they wouldn't be bothering our party. It wasn't bothering us and definitely made the ambiance and evening more festive overall. A very fun place and I definitely will go back.
(5)
H. C.

Very unimpressed by both the food and waitstaff. We specified at the beginning of the meal that we had someone with a shellfish allergy and they brought out his entree with shrimp on it!!! When they did finally bring him a Chorizo dish back, it apparently had been cooked on the same griddle with the shrimp and he had a mild allergic reaction from it (symptoms subsided with just Benadryl). Also, it was SO LOUD that I could not hear the person sitting next to me!!!!! Definitely will not get your money's worth here.
(2)
Kelly S.

I was visiting in Alexandria, VA for the weekend and we decided to go down to Old Town, and when my friend told me about this I was so excited! Especially excited for all the diffferent trypes of sangria. There were awesome, some better than others but I loved it. This was a great experience, we got the meat prix meal for 50 bucks and it was well worth it!! I think we got 10 plates of food! So good too! I highly recommend this place and next time I am in the area I will be back! But this time on a Friday because they have dancers! I was also reading on the menu Wednesday they have all you can eat Tapas. Yummy!! I wish they had more chains especially in the Boston area. It would be a big hit here!
(4)
Walter O.

The food was great and the service was fast (on a Sunday afternoon). I recommend the pumpkin spice sangria while they last. I would definitely come back for some more tapas and maybe catch the flamenco show. The decor reminded me of my trip to Madrid.
(4)
Neka K.

La Tasca is our go-to restaurant. They're not SUPER consistent in their food prep but their Cadillac Sangria is so amazing and we have never left disappointed. They're also not super fast but they're always super nice. It's just somewhere we can rely on going and enjoying ourselves and eating good food. That being said, the band in the evenings is obnoxiously loud. If you actually want to talk to the people you're eating with, don't go during the music hours.
(4)
Esmeralda M.

I absolutely love this place!! I definitely recommend their Sangria Brunch, every Saturdays & Sundays!! You really can't beat $2 Sangrias!! LOL!! No but seriously this place is great, their drinks and tapas are AMAZING!! Worth every penny, you will not be disappointed!!
(5)
Arnold B.

I went in wanting to eat as many tapas as I could eat. Mission. Accomplished. I'll start with the sangria. I had the mango blackberry flavor and it was a solid 3 stars. The flavor was good but it I didn't taste mango or blackberry unless I was picking the fresh fruit out of the glass. That being said it wasn't nasty it just wasn't what I expected. I'm going to cover the highs and the lows starting with the highs. Hands down the favorite thing I had was the dÃ¡tiles con tocino. The whole dish was a journey through a plethora of flavors. The dates themselves were sweet while the bacon was salty and the marmalade was sweet with a citrus infusion. Also in attendance was the pungent taste of blue cheese. It all worked well. My next favorite dish was the ensalada de pollo. Again, the flavors were great! The chicken was amazing and the pine nuts offered an amazing crunch. Now for the lows. A lot of the plates took too long to come out and by the time they did arrive they were cold. The albondigas were just disappointing. They sound good but they just aren't. The meat taste funny and the onion mustard broth was all onion. Still, overall the experience was positive and I'd go again.
(4)
Tiara P.

sangria happy hour at La Tasca is fantastic! Half price pitchers of incredible sangria, a wide selection of decadent and delicious tapas, love music, and fantastic service...A+! Watch Old Towners walk by as you enjoy your meal and drinks, and stay long enough to listen to the band. An amazing Spanish experience just steps from the Potomac!
(5)
Yotam Y.

Food was nothing special. Service was ok. Really enjoyed the flamenco show, that was a very nice surprise.
(3)
Kari S.

The happy hour is amazing! $5 sangria, $5 appetizers -- if you live in Old Town you must check it out!
(4)
Yelp_user M.

Mila is the best barmen in la tasca!! This is the only reason we go there!! Great environment and happy hour is the best!!
(5)
Stephanie M.

I cannot sing the praises of La Tasca enough! I have always loved coming here for girls nights but recently I through my best friends bridal shower here and they were wonderful! I was planning this from California and it was a breeze! Adele was so accommodating and helpful in the planning process! I will be back for some more yummy sangria and tapas!
(5)
Alison M.

La Tasca seems to be a good choice for tapas in Old Town. They have a large assortment of tapas. I went with a group and shared a bunch off of the "Taste of Spain" menu. Pretty much all of our tapas came at the same time and there were a lot, so that was pretty cool especially because I've been places when they come out one at a time and it can be a little awkward when you are waiting for things. Some tapas I enjoyed included the paella with seafood. Yum! I love paella. The eggplant, it was fried incredibly crispy almost like chips. I've never had eggplant quite like that and the flan for dessert. It was cold, creamy and fabulous. It actually reminded me of my Cuban friend's homemade flan which is an impressive feat. Service was pretty good, fast and the waiter was attentive and spoke with a Spanish accent. I did however have to ask for my water to be refilled. They have a large assortment of sangrias on the menu, some of which are seasonal and all sounded like yummy cocktails with liquor and berries added. I heard good things, but I went with the original which I liked it a lot. I should mention that when I ordered at the bar I saw them making the sangria with boxed wine... I'm not expert on Sangria, so maybe they are all made with boxed wine, but it didn't strike me as the classiest thing. I usually get tapas at Jaleo and I have to say that La Tasca is considerably more affordable especially if you order off the taste of Spain menu. They have 2 deals which includes 6 tapas, one for $40 which includes a desert or $60 which includes a pitcher of Sangria. I would probably come here again.
(4)
Mimi A.

I loved this restaurant! They serve lunch all day long which is great for a person with a flipped schedule like me haha! My friend ordered a smoked salmon(I forgot to take a photo of her dish) but she enjoyed her meal and it really looked yummy! As for me, I ordered a yummy kale salad (check out the pictures I posted)
(4)
Yolit Y.

Great and tasty food and wow!!! The waiter recognized me since the last time I was here,a lot of great tapas,always fresh and well served,very tasty and colorful with deep taste of Spain,highly recommended all year long!
(5)
Taheerah B.

My sister suggested that we try the LaTasca in Alexandria. The restaurant was fairly empty, but we sat in the bar area which quickly filled up. The biggest difference in the various Latascas are the environment. The one in Olde Towne is extremely laid back. Even the patrons seemed to just want to enjoy the evening. I did notice that the happy hour menu items were different since I lasted visited LaTasca Chinatown. Maybe the items changed in both places. I enjoyed the marchego frito (fried chees balls), patatas bravas (fried potatoes in a spicy greenish sauce), and pan a la cantalanas (toasted french bread with a brusetta type spread). My sister enjoyed the beef empanadas and fritura mixta (a fried mixture of various seafoods). In addition, she tried the cheery blossom sangria. This became her favorite drink of the night. After trying both LaTasca is Virginia and the one in Chinatown, I am concluding that each one has its own feel. For example, the one in Arlington is perfect for outdoor seating. Chinatown is perfect for socializing, but this one is perfect for a nice laiback dinner. I prefer the latter.
(4)
Gracie J.

This review is only for happy hour @ the bar. Didn't want to pay the full price so we crammed as much food as possible during happy hour. Drinks were great, HOWEVER, the overall consensus among our party is that sangria should not be messed with. Ever. Just red or white, thanks. La Tasca boasts a variety of different sangria, but none of them come close to just the classic red and white (e.g., their seasonal sangria in January was one that tasted like liquid cinnabuns - cloying, way too sweet, awkard tasting). Tapas ranged from average (calamari) to great (chicken skewers). I could see myself going back for happy hour but I would not pay the full dinner price for tapas. But then again, that's just me.
(4)
Jennifer B.

after years of heavy reliance on yelp reviews, it is way past time for me to contribute myself! here we go. the old town location of la tasca is my favorite; the food and drinks are the same as others (i.e. tasty), but old town has a flamenco show on wednesday nights! it was very entertaining and made me nostalgic for a trip back to spain. some day... I always get the rosada sangria, which comes with strawberries and blueberries. it is somewhat sweet and very easy to drink. if dining with another person, I recommend splitting a pitcher, and then make sure to order lots of food to balance it out ;). I think the pitcher usually works out to about 6 to 8 glasses. for food: the beef empanadas are filled with flavorful meat and cheese and come with an addictive orange dip - ask for extra orange dip!; the patatas bravas are always hot and topped with a good ratio of both the spicy red and garlic white sauces; the manchego frito cheese bites are ok, but the orange jelly does not really complement them; the platanos fritos are nice and crispy and come with a salsa that almost could be served in a tex-mex restaurant; the tabla campera is kind of like pizza, if pizza had a delicious spanish cousin; the huevos estrellados, sadly, usually get left out due to prioritizing stomach space, but the sweet potato/bacon/egg combo is interesting and very good. no matter the time of day, the day of the week, the city (dc, arlington, alexandria), the location (at the bar, high top, dining room), the group size - service is always excellent. the consistency of friendly service and tasty food and drinks will keep me returning to la tasca over and over again.
(5)
Xerxes N.

Spanish tapas. All around good food. Here's what we ordered: - Canelones de Berenjenas - stuffed eggplant rolls, tomato, piquillo pepper, goat cheese - Chuletitas de Cordero - grilled lamb chops, thyme sauce, garlic mashed potatoes - Solomillo de Cerdo - bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, your choice of cabrales cheese or sweet sherry sauce - Calamares a la Andaluza - fried squid, lemon aioli I've never had an eggplant roll. It's different. The goat cheese certainly helps. The lamp chops and bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin are sure winners here. Both very juicy and flavorful. The lamp chops are a little steep in price at $14 but certainly worth it. As for the fried squid... I can go without it. It was good but nothing special to it. Great spot with a great vibe in Old Town Alexandria. Our waiter was super friendly and very pleasant, helpful and attentive.
(4)
Pete A.

It is a chain restaurant in the heart of Old Town, but overall it is a pretty good establishment. They obviously have tons of Sangria selections, but their other drinks and beer selections are pretty on par. I have only had the calamari and jamon and queso platter which was ok. They didn't give any bread which is a requirement when having jamon y queso. When I asked for bread it took an act of God to get some. This is a perfect place to come for happy hour and a few snacks. Prices are on the steep side and it can tend to be a little noisy inside. I'd return but it's not on the top of my list.
(3)
Krista B.

The bf and I ate here for date night on a Friday night. While we had no reservations, and they do not take them or call ahead as it was restaurant week, we called ahead an assured there wasn't a huge wait (it was early Friday) before deciding on this place for dinner. As it was restaurant week they had a great dinner deal- 3 tapas, a drink and dessert for $30.14. We each got the RW deal and all of our dishes were fantastic! I especially liked the creme brulee-like dessert and grilled veggies. Also the sangrias were delicious! Only complaint was I didn't get refills on water, even though I saw a couple guys refill other tables. Otherwise service was great and attentive. Atmosphere was dim and romantic. I would absolutely eat here again!
(4)
Paul F.

Wonderful food and Flamenco dancing. Who can ask for more? Go on a Wednesday and get the half off bottle of wine special. Awesome!
(5)
Catherine K.

I will say it again and again, best location and great entertainment along with delicious food!! Weekends are awesome with their talented musicians! Recommend the tabla de salmon, patatas bravas, empanadas de pollo, along with the paella with everything!
(5)
Karen M.

Tapas is always fun! The sis and I came here for lunch and had an assortment of yummy treats. We ordered from the special $6 each lunch menu. My favorites were: Gambas al Ajillo -Sauteed shrimp with garlic and hot peppers. Great! Vieiras y Txangurro - pan seared scallops and blue crab. The crab was good...but the scallops were overcooked and dry. Cazuela de Setas - mushroom casserole. This was my favorite! Mashed potatoes, mushrooms with a fried egg. The yolk was soft, so I couldn't stomach that, but the sis pounded it down no problem. Tabla de SalmÃ³n - Smoked salmon with lemon cream cheese was awesome! The restaurant was super cool inside, I loved the decor it was dark, Spanish and cozy inside. If I lived closer, I would come back more often!
(4)
Tony N.

Good sangria, interesting tapas, entertaining flamenco dancers with guitar; add it all up and you have a nice evening a La Tasca. No one part of dinner was outstanding; you have to come here to enjoy the total experience. I came here on July 2nd, and we ordered plenty of shareable dishes and still felt satisfied. Yes, the tapas could have been a bit more substantial and the show could have been longer. But we had a great time and I would recommend La Tasca.
(4)
Marie S.

La Tasca is our favorite restaurant chain in the DMV area! We have always had amazing food, drinks and service there. Yes it does get busy, but they take reservations. They also have great happy hours. They also have good groupon and livingsocial deals often, or deals for special occasions like New Years Eve or Restaurant Week.
(5)
Joey L.

Food was good. Between a 3 and 4 star rating. Their tapas dishes and each were with sustenance.
(3)
Marissa B.

Went here one evening over the summer for dinner. Earlier that same week my family saw a poster in their window about a salsa performance that the restaurant was having. We went mostly for the performance and it was a neat experience. The food was just okay, but not sure I would go again. I would bring friends from out of town here if they asked, but otherwise, it was just a cool one-time experience.
(3)
Ashley M.

Every single thing I tried here was amazing! I don't recall the names but my favorites were the chicken, ham and cheese (like cordon blue), churro desert, fried eggplant and mini crab cakes. We also tried the Patatas bravas, seafood paella, and bacon wrapped things. All amazing as well! Our waiter was great and the wine delicious! Can't say enough good things about this place and I can't wait to come back and eat myself into another food coma.
(5)
Sara T.

Atmosphere and good were great! The bacon wrapped dates were delicious! Just make sure to call ahead for reservations if you go on the weekend. The place is very popular and gets busy!
(4)
Jo R.

Totally digging this restaurant. Come to find out I love Spanish cuisine, from outside, looking in, it looks dim and it cries..stay away but once you get seated, the servers are polite, excellent recommendation on the menu, great food..wow! Wed, Thursday and Friday they have a show so we will definetely come for that.
(5)
Lendsey C.

Oh how love thee, let thou ears hear my praise. Here is a limerick for my love. There was a lovely tapas place in Old Town Their sangria was bright and the food never brought a frown One drink or tapas for four The menu was never a bore In their red and white spirits you can drown Any place that drives me to poetry is worthy of four stars in my book.
(4)
Michele B.

La Tasca is one of my favorite restaurant in old Town. There are about 5 La Tasca's in the DC metro but this is my favorite location. They have a good selection of different sangrias, but my favorite is the Cadillac Red Sangria. Their sangria's are available by the glass, half pitcher or full pitcher. My standby menu items that I get just about every time I go there are the Berenjenas Fritas, the Ensalada de Tomate, the Patatas Bravas (I could eat these all day!), the Brocheta de Pollo and the Gambas al Ajillo. The Buey a la Plancha is another favorite of mine. I celebrated my birthday here one year and they were very accommodating. They even let my friends bring in my favorite cupcakes from Alexandria cupcake for dessert!
(4)
Frank B.

Awesome job ... Been here over 5 times and never disappointed! The service is great, the ambience is soothing (with Latin music playing), and the food is delicious .... I ordered the "unlimited tapas" for $28.00 ... Well worth it. Thanks;)
(5)
Zach N Emily E.

Pleasantly surprised and a suitable find if you like tapas and sangria! I lived in Spain for a year and felt the food was comparable and tasty! Still not 100% authentic as I've seen in San Diego... But doable! Nice staff. Didn't like how all the tapas came out at once. Didn't like how the Jamon Serrano didn't come with bread.
(4)
Justin W.

Standard La Tasca chain tapas in Old Town Alexandria. The food is enjoyable. It is a spacious place with ample room for large parties. I feel that as a restaurant, I'm judging it based on it's counterparts around the area. I feel that this restaurant is just average, but it has good Happy Hour and Sunday Brunch deals! These are seriously the best times to go!
(3)
Shannon S.

I went to La Tasca for the first time 2 weekends ago and I will definitely be coming back! They had a special menu for Alexandria Restaurant Week that offered 3 tapas and a non-alcoholic beverage for $20. You could also choose from the brunch menu 3 tapas for $20 and then a Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or Sangria for $2/each. I ordered (I can't remember the Spanish names, but I'll just describe) the sliced beef on mushroom puree with a side of horseradish-infused sauce, the calamari, and the potatoes in a cream sauce. All amazing! The only reason I would take off 1 star was because the service was a little slow and the waiter forgot to enter one of my friend's extra tapas. He corrected the situation and it came out shortly after.
(4)
Veronica H.

My friend took me there last Sunday in Old Town Alex area. Bartender is friendly to me. I had never been there before. I'm not big fan of Spain foods. I was like why not to get me a chance my new experience for Spain food and drink. I ordered for Strawberry Lemonda drink (homemade). It was SO good, wow! Gambas Al Ajillo (sauteed shrimp, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, hot peppers) It was SO delicious, wow! Brocheta De Pollo (marinated grilled chicken breast skewers, bell pepper). It was SO juicy grilled chicken not dry, wonderful. I will coming back there AGAIN!
(5)
Jackie R.

what is not to love. First of all you can not beat the happy hour prices.. on both the tapas and the sangria. I love every single sangria I have ever tried and also every single tapas I have ever tried. The salmon de something? haha is absolutely my favorite though. The staff at this location has always been great as well. A favorite in my opinion and go for happy hour to save some money!
(5)
Ka'ili H.

Amazing. Fantastic. Fantabulous. This restaurant was a delight from beginning to end. A rehearsal dinner of 20+, can they handle it? Yess and with flying colors! This was my first time eating Tapas and I'm thrilled to have experienced this with the, now, newly weds, my boyfriend, his fam, and his new sister in law's family. We were all seated on a long table towards the back of the restaurant to give us a bit more privacy. Everything was beautiful and the perfect ambiance for the beginnings of celebration just on the morrow. Our meal started after the yummy sangria, it was a deep red with strawberries in it, delicious and worth the pitcher to share! The menu for the night was the Casta Menu. Which, according to the party menu, consists of dishes that represent some of the heartiest items offered at La Tasca. There are 12 dishes and we tried ALL of them. The Pan a la Catalana: toasted rustic bread with tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic spread. yumm, let me recreate this tonight and savor the deliciousness once again. Manchego Frito. Fried cheese with honey orange marmalade, heck yess! Ensalada de Tomatoes. This was beautiful. There were a few different varieties here. They were sweet and the mild goat cheese gave it a rich flavor that married well with the honey herb dressing. It was probably my favorite dish, so refreshing! . Calamares a la andaluza. calamare, what more to say? Berenjenas Fritas. Fried eggplant with cheese dip, this was pretty darn good. Eggplant and cheese dip? who woulda thunk it? Buey a la Plancha. Here is where the meat is at. I tried one piece, for me, it was a bit on the tough side, but good nonetheless. Parrillada de Verduras. Grilled asparagus, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, drizzled with olive oil. Eating your vegetables never tasted so good! Patatas Bravas. Fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and garlic aioli. Think of this as french fries {X} 100 and much more classy. Gamabas al Ajillo. Shrimp sauteed in extra virgin olive oil with garlic and hot peppers. I can no see why olive oil and garlic is a staple in Italy & spain. Croquetas de Polllo y Jamon. Pulled chicken and diced jamon serrano croquettes, lightly breaded and deep fried. The chicken was tender and juicy. Salmon. Grilled topped with sauteed spinach and lightly fried mussels, served over creamy spinach sauce. Hold on, I need to go buy all of these ingredients right now cuz that's how good it was! Last but not least: empanadas de Carne. filling and yummy. As you can see, I just had to share with you each and every dish that came out because excluding one would be completely unfair and unjust. If you ever have a chance to experience this menu I highly recommend it. You get a taste of everything that they have to offer and will be pleasantly surprised how different they taste yet amazingly wonderful.
(5)
C. M.

Sadly, this place let me down. Service was slow, food was not spaced out well and the tapas were all bland. The atmosphere was ok, large screens playing sports took away from the weds night flamingo dancing event. This place was not bad, but it was just ok...I really wanted to like this place, but I don't think I'll go back.
(2)
Steve D.

**Update** Went last night (11/18) for the Sangria making dinner. Totally worth every penny. The food was outstanding as usual, and they were not holding back on the drinks. We were able to make a pitcher of sangria, taste samples of four different sangrias, and experiment with different flavors at a sangria bar. Food included appetizers, a tapas buffet for dinner (including freshly made paella), and dessert, all for $65. Will definitely be checking out the Flamenco dinner in the future.
(5)
Kaiyi H.

The portions are too small. I know, I know: that's the name of the game, but still. The only thing more tragic than charging 7 bucks for a couple of fried and salted calamari rings is charging 8 bucks for two sticks of lamb meat, 50% of which is actually grilled pineapple. Perhaps one gets better value for lunch as the other reviews indicate, but as for me, I was left unsated and had to head straight to taco bell afterwards for some authentic Mexican food.
(2)
Haruka K.

Hands down, my favorite happy hour spot in Old Town. $4 tapas and reduced price on sangria pitcher is a good way to unwind after a stressful week at work. The traditional sangria tinta is my personal favorite. The bartenders and servers are friendly and efficient. My boyfriend and I had the paella mixta last time and it was delicious.
(5)
Maria T.

I've been here twice for dinner! I love it love it love it! The first time I went I got sangria and they topped it with whip cream. YUM! That was the most memorable thing aside from the tapas. Second time I went was V-day. They hand you a rose at the door. The waiter comes back to your table literally every 10-15 minutes to make sure you're doing okay. If you don't know what to order just ask them and go with your gut instinct everything is amazing. The serving sizes are pretty small. Which is great because you don't feel overly stuffed like you normally would but certainly satisfied. What I like most is the ambiance. Dim lighting and romantic. After dinner you can just stroll around the area (if your heels aren't too high). Take your date and order some wine. She'll feel woo'd. :) You're welcome.
(5)
John D.

Gambas al ajillo was so delicious. Service was quick, friendly, and is an excellent place to have a date. Atmosphere is warm and welcoming, food is a little on the expensive side but I still think it's reasonable. Make sure you ask for a secluded place, they'll adhere to it.
(5)
Kadian F.

La Tasca is a place where you can hang out for a while. I've been there for lunch, dinner and happy hour. The happy hour prices are very good, $4 tapas and sangria. My go to tapas are the patatas bravas and beef empanadas. Most of the sangrias are good, my favorites are the cava, rosada and tinta. This is one of the best places for happy hour in old town. Whenever it's available take part in the unlimited tapas deal. I like to partake during lunch as it keeps me full for the rest of the day and I get to try all the tapas I care to try.
(4)
Kiev R.

I like La Tasca!! We showed up post happy hour with a group of ten (and without a reservation) and were accommodated immediately. Although we only had 8 of the 10 people present when we requested the table, that didn't poise a problem and we didn't have to wait for everyone to arrive (which is nice). The tapas are good and the sangria is even better. The prices are reasonable and the service was great. What more could one ask for??
(4)
Jackie B.

The pitchers of sangria lured my best friend and me inside. We ordered a FULL pitcher ($28) of the Sangria Blanca - white wine with peach schnapps, sliced peaches, and cinnamon sticks. The sangria was crisp and refreshing and not too sweet. The peaches themselves were a little sour actually, but I didn't mind. The taste was great. HOWEVER, the wine was so watered down, and I don't think it was just from the ice! I'll be honest... we were looking for a buzz (don't judge). Maybe more than a buzz as we finished the entire pitcher. But felt NOTHING. We're small girls, too! We ended up ordering a glass of rose wine afterwards in an attempt to feel at least a little something before leaving. The tapas would be pretty decent if they were served piping hot. The shrimp and bacon-wrapped scallops were almost cold, rendering the limp greasy bacon inedible. The empanadas were good and were at least warm when we got them. They were filled with beef and cheese. Very comforting. The spinach salad with pears was the best part of the meal. The dressing was tasty and I liked the textures of the pear, cheese, and walnuts. The churros weren't bad, but I've had better. I've come here on two occasions and haven't been overly impressed. I probably won't be back for the food, but I wouldn't mind giving the sangria another chance as they have several that sound pretty amazing, like the Watermelon Kiwi and Mango Blackberry.
(3)
Erica A.

The hostess denied my request for a window table with little explanation. Other than that, service was excellent. Yes, portions are a bit small, bit everything we had, including the sangria, was delicious.
(3)
Jeff H.

Several different sangrias to choose from. Good tapas. Live music.
(5)
Richard N.

The tapas are alway great, you will need to pick 3-4 for a meal. The Mother's Day promotion is a winner. Go on a night with flamenco dancing. It is very entertaining.
(4)
Patrick C.

Great food! Great service!
(4)
Krystle B.

Great SANGRIA! Great tapas! You can not beat the happy hour specials.
(5)
Sunny C.

Food and drink are great, but don't expect fast service, especially on a Friday evening. Took 10 minutes for a server to stop by the table, about another 15 minutes for our water to arrive. Recommended tapas: coles de bruselas: breaded, deep-fried brussel sprouts huevos estrellados | slightly spicy sweet potato fries, egg, diced bacon - I could eat a plate of just that. empanadas de carne: stuffed pastry shells, seasoned ground beef, tetilla cheese paella mixta: chicken, chorizo, shrimp, scallops, mussels, squid, clams Recommended sangria: mango blackberry sangria: white wine, brandy, mango slices, blackberries Super refreshing, and I loved eating the fruit pieces. If they have loud music that evening, you may want to sit further away because it can get pretty loud and hard to carry a conversation. Bathrooms are clean, but there is not much room to maneuver yourself out of the stall. The restaurant is also pretty dim.
(4)
Kelly C.

Great sangaria and tapas on King Street. We tried a bunch of plates between the 4 of us, but my favorites were the papas bravas (great garlicky sauce), fried manchengo, bacon-wrapped pork (how could that not be good?), grilled tomato bread (just like bruschetta) a few other basic tapas. My parents aren't really adventurous eaters and don't stray beyond Italian fare so we sticked to the basics but enjoyed everything. The only thing I'd skip next time were the meatballs, which were on the small side and not that memorable. Best for sharing everything, but not great if you are super hungry and looking for a satisfying meal for both your stomach and wallet - those small dishes add up + wine. But definitely fun and great for a group setting. They were setting up a special wine tasting event that night that looked fun. Be warned, there is another tapas place with a very similar name (Las Tapas) that's terrible and seems to score business by those who get these two confused.
(4)
Keren C.

Nice atmosphere but unassuming food. I don't remember everything that we had but I definitely remember that the paella was not seasoned well at all. I will have to return for the flamenco dancers and happy hour to get the full experience of the restaurant but, on first visit, this La Tasca is mediocre at best. I will update after my next visit. **** 4/11/15 Having been here a few times since my first visit, I can say that it has become a go-to for me but still remains at 3 stars. Parking is a pain and some of the food is still pretty bland. So, why do I keep going back? Well, they have an awesome Happy Hour. Again, if you're a fan of Spanish food/drinks, La Tasca's will not blow your mind BUT the variety and quality you get for their HH prices are absolutely worth it. The favorites among my friends & myself: - Tabla de salmÃ³n - Brocheta de verduras - Brocheta de pollo - Manchego frito Also, catch the Flamenco shows when you can!
(3)
Peaches P.

Great place in Old Town. Had a wonderful time with a friend of mine. Loved every Tapas plate that was brought out. I had the Pan Catalana, Churreria, and Salmon. And of course their infamous Sangrias. Try the Backberry Mango and Cava... Delicious! Only bummer is that no matter the size of the party, there's only one check per table. Not a big deal, but after sangrias and wine, it was kinda hard to remember what was ordered by whom. Lol. All in all a very nice time and will be returning!
(4)
Sandy S.

Go ahead and try it. I've been here frequently. The tapas dishes are very tasty. Everyone can find something that they really like. The eggplant is not to be missed! The happy hour prices are great, although I didn't like that the hostess said we had to sit in the overcrowded bar area for the happy hour prices. They have low chairs (that are too low- very uncomfortable) directly under the AC and next to the kitchen walkway that we were not going to sit at. The last time I was here, we sat next to the window which was open and loud. The music was terrible. The window seats have tall bar chairs with no arms and tables that are too low and fat to sit comfortably with anyone (barrels). They look nice, but are terribly uncomfortable. The sangria is super tasty.
(3)
Fan S.

Tapas is wonderful. So many choices. Paella is great, it will be much better if there is more scallop~The waitress are friendly and with cute accent.
(3)
Scott S.

Went for restaurant week. Awesome food, suprising large portions for tapas. None of the 6 choices we made were bad or even mediocre. Very impressed, and great service and atmosphere as well. We will be back.
(4)
Yin H.

4 for good attentive service, 2 for food. Ordered a bunch of tapas to share along with a bottle of garnacha. The wine prices were very decently priced. When I asked the waitress the difference between 2 garnachas, she just pointed to the more expensive one and said it was better. Hmm...wish they had more educated wait staff on Spanish wines at a tapas place. pan a la catalana crushed tomato, olive oil, garlic: pretty good sized portion of bread with s tomato spread, 4/5 berenjenas fritas fried eggplant slices, cabrales dip: i love eggplant but this was terrible. when i took a bite, all i could taste was the grease, ick, 1/5 brocheta de polloGF marinated grilled chicken breast skewers, bell pepper: not a big fan of chicken but this was perfectly cooked and delicious, chicken was very tender and flavorful! 5/5 brocheta de corderoGF* skewers of grilled lamb and pineapple, light mint sauce: just ok, lamb was a bit overcooked and chewy, 3/5 chorizo a la sidraGF spanish chorizo cooked in cider: tasted like sausage that i could've gotten at a grocery store, not impressed, 2/5 coles de bruselasGF brussel sprouts, dates, almonds: delicious! 5/5 patatas de churrerÃa potato chips, avocado mint dip: chips were well cooked and the dip was so delicious! 5/5 buey a la planchaGF* grilled angus sirloin steak, herb potatoes, cabrales cheese or sherry mushroom sauce: this was recommended by the waitress. should've known better after she didn't know the difference b/t the wines. we ordered the steak medium rare and it was almost inedible. there was so much fat and the meat tasted it like had been frozen and thawed 5 times, 1/5 Made a reservation for a Sun night at 7:30 pm. Was not necessary. We were seated next to the Xmas tree, which was a nice touch for the holiday season. The wine was delicious and a great deal for the price. Several of the tapas were well done, but the rest were terrible. Service, other than lack of knowledge regarding the wine and food menu was decent (fast, honored our 25% coupon, polite).
(3)
Ideen S.

Soo, if it's your birthday...and someone else pays for the meal...this place is pretty legit. Otherwise, I imagine that it's still awesome; but much less. Half pitcher of La Tasca Sangria (red wine with apples and cinnamon sticks) was a brilliant call. (Though, when is sangria not...?) For the actual tapas, I really enjoyed the Ensalada de Pochas (white bean and red pepper salad in a tomato shell), Lubina Aceitunera (grilled rockfish with a black olive and white wine sauce), Brocheta de Pollo (skewers of Andalusian spiced chicken breast), Parrillada de EspÃ¡rragos y Verduras (grilled asparagus, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and piquillo pepper), Espinacas con ArÃ¡ndanos (sautÃ©ed spinach with pine nuts and dried cranberries), Empanadas de Carne (pastry shells stuffed with ground beef and cheese), and Chorizo a la Parrilla (pork sausage). Seriously, everything was friggin' delicious. It was definitely a memorable and gustatory experience. Though, I'm realizing that for 2 people, that meal probably cost ~$80 including tax and tip. So, pricey; but tasty. If there were a voucher/deal/discount, don't even hesitate to purchase.
(4)
Danielle H.

This is a nice place to enjoy a glass of wine and eat a small plate. The staff is attentive and the wine list is great. They change the menu, I guess seasonally but it's worth checking out.
(4)
Ania C.

I didn't like the food it was cold and def NO authentic Spanish food. Very dissatisfied! I don't recommend this place. It's expensive too!
(1)
Gary C.

La Tasca, is fun and my wife and I typically only go for special occasions. We love the food, have always had great service and always leave happy. All of this sounds like a receipt for 5 stars, and you are correct - until the check is delivered. Yes it's expensive, but I still love it. 4 stars
(4)
Daniel D.

Great food, drink, and service. I had the dinner Sevilla and I highly recommend it. Service is quick and is perfect for lunch. The restaurant is right next a Chipotle; you can get better quality food for about the same price and In a better environment at La Tasca. If your lucky, maybe you will see a flamenco show. La Tasca is great if you are looking for authentic Spanish food.
(5)
Cates V.

We were seated right away. There were no problems using a Living Social certificate - they were even promoting the deal in the restaurant! They seem to have a bunch of happy hours and other deals. I'm definitely going back!
(4)
AurÃ©lien Z.

Nice selection of tapas. Very tasty. Pleasant service Went there for lunch. Was looking for some place to eat in Alexandria and got a very pleasant lunch.
(4)
Kyoko A.

My daughters and I really enjoyed unlimited tapas special. The ambience was perfect for Spanish restaurant and tapas were great. But the best part of our experience was Diego. He made us feel really welcoming and made sure we got everything we needed including just iced water! My ice tea was always filled and he knew when to come back to take next order. He treated us with the pest proffesionalism and courtesy. Gracias!
(5)
Shusmita A.

Went here for Valentine's Day with my fiancÃ© after coming here once with my sisters and it was so bad. The food was oily, nothing special definitely needed salt or some type of seasoning. We got the asparagus with mushroom sauce, the duck, pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon and scallops. The scallops were rubbery, the duck was overcooked, the pork had no flavor and the asparagus was way too oily. Never coming back here, service was good but food was not.
(1)
LaShawn H.

I was very disappointed with the Sangrias! I went specifically for the Sangrias. They tasted very watered down. We got a few tapas and they were good, especially the Paella Mixta! We got the lamb chop tapas, which were not good at all! They were dry and cold. Not sure if I'll return to La Tasca.
(2)
Walter M.

The food was amazing, they had a special for a pitcher of sangria and 6 tapas and the selection was great. Unfortunately the desert was subpar, we had the flan which is usually sweet and this one had a more coffee and bitter taste.
(4)
K J.

Went here this week for happy hour and was very impressed. We sat at the bar and the bartender was incredibly friendly and attentive. We tried a few different sangrias and I definitely loved the blackberry mango the best! We also ordered some food and thought the tomato bread and patatas bravas were the best. It's definitely worth stopping at after work. We had 4 glasses of sangria and 6 tapas for under $50! Such a great deal.
(4)
Caci D.

Sangria was excellent! Tapas were nearly all over cooked or poorly seasoned. Lamb chops and paella mixta were very overdone. SautÃ©ed shrimp had no flavor. Really wanted this place to be good, because the deals were great! Very disappointed.
(2)
Daniela G.

my stuffed dates and my friend's salad were terrific but the small paella was absolutely not good. It was evidently cooked before and then reheated, the result was really bad
(3)
Eve L.

Happy hour: sangria and tapas. They know how to do this properly and I really appreciate them for this.
(5)
Amanda M.

I went here with my sister and brother-in-law on Halloween after our tour of haunted Old Town. I've been to this location once before and the Clarendon location several times. I have to say that this visit was the best. I have one dish that I always order at tapas places and thus, order it at La Tasca every time I go - Gambas al ajillo - shrimp sauteed in olive oil, garlic, and hot peppers (here it was red pepper flakes). On Monday it was perfect. Not too oily, not too spicy (unless you are my sister), and the shrimp were not overdone. For three of us, we ordered the following: Paella de Verduras - miniature paella with assorted vegetables - this one had snow peas, green peas, roasted red peppers, and mushrooms; Solomillo de Cerdo Iberico - grilled pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon served with cheese sauce. The tenderloin was good, the cheese sauce so-so; Setas al Ajillo - wild mushrooms sauteed with garlic and extra virgin olive oil. These were excellent this visit; Calamares a la Andaluza - quick-fried, battered calamari rings. My brother-in-law loves calamari so these were a "must". Not too greasy and just the right amount of salt. The aioli was nice too; Gambas al Ajillo - see above; and Esparragos Verdes a la Plancha - grilled asparagus with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. I would have liked these to be grilled a bit more. We arrived around 9 pm. Restaurant wasn't crowed, service was attentive, food arrived at a nice rate. I much preferred this visit to previous ones. Having visited La Tasca on various occasions, I think the key is going on off hours. 9 p.m. on a Monday was perfect.
(3)
Jillian B.

Loved this place! Definitely great with a group and ordering a bunch of small plates/tapas to share! Everything has so much flavor! We really enjoyed the rose sangria!
(4)
Dave H.

A great visit for my birthday. Ignacio was a veryu gracious waiter and offered me a great wine find, Finca La Mata. I started with the bacon wrapped dates and they are like candy. The Crudo de Buey was a very light but flavorful salad, and my favorite was the Piquillos Rellenos. They also have a loyalty program that will give you 25% off on your first visit and discounts for future meals.
(5)
Amanda H.

I love this restaurant! On Friday nights during the summer this is the place to be! They have free flamenco in the evenings and dozens of types of sangria. My favorite is the sangria Blanca. Their food is some of the best around. I would highly recommend their eggplant chips, shrimp with garlic aioli, and dates with blue cheese and bacon, just to name a few. I have done their endless tapas menu which is available as a lunch special sometimes. Perfect atmosphere and food! Go here!
(5)
Julie C.

Whenever I am in the DC area, I try to meet some of my friends at La Tasca in Alexandria's Old Town. The whole tapas experience takes us back to the time when we met, 30-odd years ago, while studying in Madrid. We love the atmosphere at La Tasca and we've had a couple of excellent meals there over the past several years. The last time was in September of 2013, and on that occasion the food wasn't quite as good as it had been in the past. I can't remember everything we ordered, but I do remember that the Patatas Bravas are not Gluten Free, and for some reason they didn't have a normal tortilla espaÃ±ola on the menu. Instead, they served us a weird thing that was a normal pie-shaped slice of potato/egg tortilla, cut in half like you would a layer cake, with some kind of white sauce in between. It proved the point that sometimes a classic doesn't need updating--they should go back to Old Reliable, the unadorned tortilla espaÃ±ola. The "setas al ajillo" (mushrooms with garlic) were superb as was the "solomillo de buey" (beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes).
(4)
Anna M.

Food is not great, decent though. Paella rice was undercooked, churros as well. Cadillac sangria tinta was good. Staff were friendly.
(2)
Alan M.

Must-go tapas place in the DC area, way better (and overall cheaper) than most tapas places around here. The tapas are really good, and the sangria is pretty good. The patatas bravas here are one of the best I've tried, really yummy (and spicy of course!), better than some I've tried in Spain! The tortilla is great, and there's also the Empanadas, which are amazing. There's alot of Spanish dishes here that are amazing, and so far all of them were great.
(5)
Bill L.

Absolutely superb. Very nice ambience . All the tapas were excellent and the service was outstanding. Highly recommended.
(4)
MONIQUE L.

Great atmosphere, service & food. The menu choices were many, from veggie to meats & seafood. Wasn't able to try the sangria menu but it was a large selection as well. Every dish we ordered came out hot & fresh. Everything was seasoned well. Didn't care for the asparagus but the other dishes made up for it. Especially the beef w/red potatoes. I will definitely try this place again & hopefully the sangrias too.
(4)
Stephen M.

Went during Alexandia restaurant week. Went for the "all you can eat" tapas from a moderately limited menu, more selection than I could get thru. . The place was lively and almost full. Servers very competent. Food was good though not great Fried egplant apetizer- good but too large a portion Fried calamari- good and unusually large serving Sauteed shrimp-excellent Shrimp with scallops-good Chorizo-good Steak with potatoe- good but not hot enough Pork in bacon - okay Dessert selections were included but I was past my capacity to sample that. Holiday sangria - nice and fruitey but not very winey I would go there again preferably with a group.
(4)
Jill K.

The salad with dates and spinach is soooo tasty, just the right amount of dressing. Love the bacon wrapped dates and the best tres leche cake ever!!!!
(4)
Joe W.

I was in the mood for some Spanish food, and this place hit the spot. The bartender was very helpful and recommended 2 dynamite dishes (potatoe tapas for appetizer, and chorizo de paella for main course), along with 2 dynamite drinks (Red Sangria, and the White Sangria). The drinks were smooth and perfected, and the food had just a hint of spice to it that made it awesome. Not to spicy, and definately not bland. The atmosphere was outstanding, and definately a relaxing place for friends, dates, families, etc..... If you don't want to be seen, or want to get away from the crowd, go upstairs and have a table away from everyone for your own VIP experience at no extra charge!
(4)
Janet E.

I really enjoyed the food they had here. There was a total of six of us and we all shared the small plates. I think it came to about $25-$30 per person. If you work for the government and show your badge, you get a discount! They had music and dancers too during the dinner hours! The service was good and I had a fun time.
(4)
Michelle S.

Half priced sangria pitchers on Thursdays? Yes please. 5 people+3 pitchers+tasting menu=perfect little happy hour (and only 25$ per person!) oh and the flamenco dancers were a plus! Will be going back for sure.
(4)
Czarina B.

Maybe I was just in a good mood last night, but I really enjoyed my dining experience here. The ambiance is great -- very warm and comfy and fits with the Spanish/tapas theme. The service matches the interior being mostly warm and attentive. I thought the prices were reasonable -- there are some plates that I didn't even look at since they were over $10 (for 1 tapas dish?) but I stuck to a lot of the usual suspects like papas bravas, croquettes, etc. and the prices seemed similar to other tapas joints I've been to in the DC area. The desserts were a great surprise. The trese leches cake and banana crepe were so tasty! I am generally disappointed by desserts as they are more an afterthought, but here there was just as much effort put into them as the food. I would definitely go back again. Perfect place for a date, intimate conversation, or a large party.
(4)
Isabel B.

Although I've been to the La Tasca in Chinatown and Baltimore several times, this is my first time visiting the one in Old Town. Generally, I love this restaurant. I think the food and the drinks are superior to many other Spanish restaurants I've been to in this area (I'm looking at you, Jaleo). I love coming here with friends, ordering a pitcher of one of their many types of Sangrias, and enjoying a great meal. Another thing I like about all the La Tasca locations is the ambiance. All three of the restaurants I've visited are trendy as well as intimate, and the live music helps set the mood (but only as long as one doesn't seat too close to the band, as it can get very loud very quickly). As far as the food itself, the menu has a very extensive vegetarian tapas section, as well as several excellent salads. I recommend the small but surprisingly satisfying Espinaca con Peras salad (spinach and pears, $7), or the Arugula salad ($6.50). Seriously, they are so good that anytime I, or any of my friends have ordered one, we were very tempted to order another, just because it's so good! The vegetable paella ($6) and the Espinaca Salteada (sauteed spinach, $6) compliment any salad nicely. To end the meal on a light note, I usually go for the amazing Egg Flan ($6), or if you feel like splurging (on calories at least), the Tres Leches Cake is also a good option ($6). As for the service, it's usually good and attentive... sometimes too attentive. The waiters and bussers seem to always be hovering around, asking if everything is ok and nonstop clearing the small plates. *sigh* Sometimes I just want to be left alone... But i guess that's ok, it's not like we're in France or anything. All in all a great choice of restaurant for pretty much any occasion.
(4)
Tonya L.

Went here with a friend for my first experience with tapas and was really pleased. Had a great window seat and a pitcher of blanca sangria. we ordered the "Tasting menu". I was overwhelmed by the amount of food that kept coming, even if it was small plates. Everything was well prepared and tasted great. The staff was friendly and attentive. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Scott N.

I love the food however they are inconsistent from store to store in sangria. I'm still however frequent these restaurants often.
(5)
Kenya H.

Wonderful meal, good ambiance, and delicious sangria. Notable dishes were the bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese--amazing flavor! The patatas bravas, and the mejillones con salsa marinara were also excellent. Great meal and service overall. They also have live music in the bar area!
(4)
Morgan P.

Duck confit is awesome.
(5)
Jeff Q.

First tapas either of us have had. Food was good. Waitress was great. Flamenco dancers were good. Whichever sangria the wife got was just what she was looking for. Would definitely go back. We got the meat tasting menu, but we'll order individually next time. Love the location and the ambiance inside.
(4)
Brandin D.

This place was a real disappointment in the land of Tapas. The restaurant has this whole story of how Tapas were born, but did a very poor job of keeping them alive. We had the albodigas which could have been passed off as Chef Boyardee meatballs. The mini paella was mediocre. The scallops were undercooked. I didn't even want dessert. The only thing that was decent was the sangria Save your money and go to Jaleo!
(1)
Nick B.

I love La Tasca. I've been to several locations. The food is good, the atmosphere is fun, and they have entertainment on the weekends. Get the bacon wrapped dates and Sangria Rosada!
(5)
Chase C.

Delicious tapas and spectacular service. All around great experience with soccer on both tv's as well. Try the La Tasca Tasting Menu -- can't beat it.
(5)
Brian G.

Awesome food and great service! Great place to take friends and family. Best Tapas in Old Town.
(5)
Sarah S.

My fiancee and I LOVE the food here!! We go during Happy Hour, 4-7 PM everyday and get several of the $3 Tapas as well as some of the regular priced ones that are our favorites. I have to admit, the service is laid back and sometimes lacking, but if you catch the eye of the bartender he'll come right over to see what you need. Otherwise you're left alone to enjoy each others company and excellent food. I love that you can pick and choose and get many different things to try. And you can order a few here and a few there so your table isn't full of food that gets cold before you have a a chance to eat it. We order 2-3 tapas at a time, and place the order for the next round when the previous round is delivered. By the time we're finished the next round arrives = perfect. We ALWAYS get the Empanadas de Carne (to die for!), the Patatas Bravas ($3 and soooo worth it), and the Berenjenas Fritas ($3 and very light for being fried). The different sauces that come with the dishes are out of this world! Anytime we have friends visit we take them to La Tasca. If you don't mind slightly inattentive service, the food is well worth it. My mouth is watering just thinking about the tapas!!
(5)
Matthew H.

Best meal we had in a week on the Washington D. C. /Virginia area, and I found it thanks to Yelp. Walking home from the Metro, another Tapas bar was pushing a Sangria special, which got me in the mood. Yelp rated La Tasca more highly, so we gave it a go. The good and bad reviews are mainly accurate. The restaurant IS loud, and the service is attentive but slow. I wouldn't go there if I was in a hurry or wanted a quiet dinner. But the food!!! Salivating just thinking about the risotto with wild mushroom and Gruyere. Mondays they run a great special, buy a pitcher of Sangria and get four plates of Tapas half price. No brainer. The Sangria was great, as were three of our dishes. The Salmon was Meh, but not bad, just paled next to the other three. And our total bill pre tip was like $37.
(5)
Lori S.

I would eat here again but wouldn't go out of my way to either recommend it or dine here. I agree with everyone on the sangria. I drank a pitcher and the only buzz I experienced was from the insane amount of sugar. I enjoyed the "sangria" but it was more fruit juice with cut up pieces of fruit. The second pitcher was an entirely different consistency/color than the first pitcher, showing that the recipe is inconsistent and they probably change the amount based on the pitcher you are on. Ah well.... The service was pretty good. She made recommendations and steered us away from ordering certain items. We had the fried potatoes with some mayo/red sauce....it was good, not as good as Jaleos' (the potatoes at Las Tasca were not cooked as thoroughly as I would have hoped). We had the smoked salmon, which I really liked and also the ribs, which I also really liked. It was a good dining experience but I think that had a lot to do with the fact that the server allowed us to enjoy our meal and did not rush us. It was a good meal but there are better places in Alexandria. If you are in a tapas mood though and on King Street, I'd give it a try.
(3)
Frank O.

I have been to a few of the La Tasca restaurants in the past. It's about time I finally review one! The wife and I came to this one about a week ago and had lunch. (WOAH! A WEEK?! MAN, YOU'RE BEHIND! Yes, yes, I know, I know... beginning of the new school year and all... I've been swamped for the past few weeks, cut me some slack.) Now, La Tasca is a tapas restaurant, meaning you don't just order one main entree. Instead your order a number of smaller dishes and share them as a table. You just keep ordering rounds and rounds of dishes until you all are full. :) La Tasca has some very friendly tapas dishes. By that I mean, they're not too weird. They're basic simple dishes that pretty much anyone can like. Their fried eggplant with the cheese dip is awesome. Their potato dishes are equally good. The chorizo and croquetas are also quite good. In all honesty, I haven't had a bad tapas dish here. The only downside about this visit was that they had an unlimited tapas menu for Restaurant Week and as a result, you got limited choices. The unlimited tapas menu was only a small portion of their full tapas menu. Since we were here for lunch on a Monday afternoon around 1-2pm, the place was pretty dead. As a result, we had great service from the waitress One of the big high points of La Tasca is their sangria. They have a lot of different types with different fruits and spices in them. I recommend coming here with a big party so you can try a few different pitchers full. :) Overall, it's a good place to visit. The tapas aren't too exotic but tasty and the sangria is good. Just watch your bill, because if you eat a lot of tapas dishes, you'll end up spending a lot of cash. Overall though I recommend giving La Tasca a visit!
(3)
Mary R.

I ate here when my family came to visit and everyone loved it! Everyone from my little sister who's a picky eater to my Dad who's lived in Spain for about 5 years. He said the paella was one of the best he's had at this price point and higher in the states. Which says a lot coming from him. We had a very friendly and helpful waiter. The food was prompt. delicious, and visually appealing. A lot of the wait staff are native spanish speakers so if you ever want to practice your accent/language this is a great place to do it. The waiter gave wonderful suggestions and the management was present on the floor. Which is always a good sign to me that the management is really involved in the running of the place. I have to go back and get some of their tapas, all we had was the paella and sangrias which were wonderful might I add, before I can give it a 5 star stamp. I'd reccommend this place for a date night or family gathering. It had a very warm and cozy feeling to the place.
(4)
Jess N.

Put some tapas and a pitcher of sangria in front of me and bam! automatic 3 stars. The food is decent enough and there are limitless choices - a bit too much in my book. I want it all - keep the food coming. The sangria choices are great - traditional is well the house sangria. I always start with the cava sangria, it's refreshing and delicious. I always eat the drunken blueberries after :) I like the majority of the tapas but I'm not a huge fan of their paella and the eggplants. I've had them on various occasions just to make sure and they have disappointed each and every time. Oh well... I always take advantage of restaurant week offers because you can try everything for a cheap price.
(3)
CYNTHIA C.

OMG, I cracked up laughing when I realized that when I reviewed La Tasca back in November, I had actually visited Las Tapas. OK, so I finally did visit La Tasca last night. It was Restaurant Week in Alexandria and the unlimited tapas deal was great. Just make sure you order at least 4 tapas dishes to make your money's worth for $35.11 per person. Both Las Tapas and La Tasca possess charm in their decor. The server, Mario (I believe), was FABULOUS! It was pretty crowded and he was a trooper and provided wonderful service. The food was well-prepared and very tasty. The Cadillac sangria (red) was just OK though. However, the overall experience was great.
(4)
Bethany W.

This is my all time favorite Tapas restaurant. The variety of foods and home made Sangria is wonderful. The atmosphere is traditional Spanish and the servers are all Spanish speaking which makes it that much more fun. This is one of my few favorite restaurants. I prefer the Old Town Alexandria location to all the others, the service is better and the atmosphere is better. Two thumbs up for me!
(5)
Marina E.

I really had a good time here. Started the evening with a monster mojito and then the entire tasting menu. The place gets loud...to the point you end up screaming at the people across your table, but I enjoyed tasting all the food and love the small portions. My nutritionist keeps telling me about portion distortion...so she'd be super proud of me. By far, my favorite dish was the Meloso de Ajo Creamy (rice with roasted garlic, nuts, and raisins), I dreamed of that dish later on that evening in a dirty way...Yes, it was that good.
(4)
Yumi W.

Not good...why even bother.
(2)
Sarah R.

The food and service was very good. We had a large group & two little ones, so a bit high maintenance. I cannot comment on authenticity of the food, but everything we ordered was tasty. Join the e-mail club & get 20% off food only on your first visit.
(5)
Alyssa L.

I came here for lunch with my best friend one Saturday and they offer and all you can eat tapas menu for $25.00 a person, WHAT A SCORE! It was certainly worth it. One of the best tapas place in the area. Their shrimp, steak, and salad tapas were really good. Their sangria however, it was alright. Certainly better sangria at some other places.
(4)
Jay A.

I mean, it's okay for the price. It's not a top-notch tapas restaurant but the price is right. If you want a discounted sangria and finger food, I definitely recommend that you pay them a visit. I had my birthday dinner there at La Tasca. I was way too wasted to remember any of the food, but I also went to one in Baltimore and know the food wasn't up to my expectations. Their seafood paella was weird. Too much squid and nothing else; not the type of paella that I would like. I got grossed out because there were just too much little squids in the paella. Bad experience.
(3)
christine c.

My friends and I almost didn't go to this restaurant because the reviews I read (on Yelp as well as Trip Advisor) were quite divided - some were really enthusiastic and some very lukewarm. But in the end we still went because neither of my friends have had tapas ever(!) so wanted to try something new. I made the reservation for lunch online and for some reason was only able to get one for 11:30 am (I would have preferred 12 noon), even though when we arrived (it was a Thursday during the Restaurant Week) the three of us were the first and only people in the restaurant for almost 45 minutes before anyone else showed up. Still during the whole time, I would say that the restaurant was hardly one-quarter full. Not that I had a problem with that as I don't like overly crowded and noisy restaurants. We took one of the two tables by the window. The restaurant is rectangular shaped with a long bar and bar tables on one side and restaurant on the other, with a wall in between. The interior is darkish, since there are only windows on the narrow end of the long room and the dÃ©cor is a lot of dark wood paneling and dim lighting. The upside is that the tables are adequately spaced so you won't feel elbow to elbow with other diners even when it's more crowded. We ordered off the Restaurant week menu, which in fact is exactly the same as the normal lunch special menu except the former also applies to dinner ($20.11 per person for lunch, 26 selections - no dessert - and $35.11 for dinner with the additional 4 dessert selections). I felt that they should have included at least one or two dessert selections for lunch even if they have to reduce a couple of non dessert selections. In any case, we ordered the spinach salad with dates, tomatoes, fried eggplant, mussels, paella with chicken and shrimp, shrimp sautÃ©ed in garlic oil, grilled asparagus, Spanish omelet, bacon wrapped dates, bacon wrapped pork, wild mushroom, and grilled salmon and basically, they were all really well prepared and delicious. The fried eggplant came first and almost right away, and the rest were served all together not long after. The eggplant was truly a winner, the slices were delicately thin, the batter so crispy and non greasy and the portion was very generous (the other portions were not quite as large). I wasn't too excited by the accompanying cheese dip however - would have been quite happy with ketchup or nothing at all frankly - but that was just due to individual preference, not a negative comment on the dip itself. If I go there again, I would definitely order all the items all over again, except maybe drop the bacon/pork, and the potato omelet (calling it an omelet is misleading, it's like a potato kugel). Overall I would say that we had a really good first visit to this restaurant and will go back again - more often if they would add some dessert to the lunch menu!
(4)
D B.

La Tasca, I have moved far away and I will miss you most. No one has the eclectic sangria selection and endless tapas selection that you do. I like the la tasca sangria most, but their winter seasonal is equally delicious. As far as favorite tapas, I love the patatas bravas, tortilla espanola, solomillo de buey, brochetta de pollo, grilled asparagus, and beef empanadas. During happy hour, the patatas bravas, asparagus, and beef empanadas are on the hh specials. Go on a Thursday when the sangria pitchers are half off! For dessert, try the banana thing. It's my favorite dessert in Old Town. La Tasca, if you ever venture west, let me know.
(5)
Matt D.

I've been here twice now. This is a fun place to go with another couple because the menu is extensive and everyone can order 2-3 items to share. Both times the service was excellent. On our first visit, the food was very good. The seafood was fresh and our 2 pitchers of Sangria were excellent! The second time the food seemed a bit more, as much as I hate to use this term, 'meh.' Our cheese plate was presented without bread (?) and I ordered a shrimp item that seemed to use not-so-fresh shrimp. However the Paella Valenciana was excellent. In fact, the next time I go I think I'll team up with someone and order the large portion. Overall, it's pretty good...but not great. It's not a place I avoid, but for some reason I never find myself dying to go back.
(3)
Morgan C.

Went here on Thursday for HH. Pretty good deal on the sangria, $15 for a pitcher which gives you I think around 6 short glasses full. The sangrias were filled with fresh fruit which was delicious. Tried some of the tapas for $3.50 (not being sure exactly what that was). The ones we had were pretty good and they were delivered quickly. The dipping sauce was wonderful. It was busy but comfortable for our large group. They also had some live music and dancers for a short period of time. Would definitely go back for another HH.
(4)
Tamieka M.

Went here for happy hour with some coworkers on Thursday. We ordered a huge spread of tapas from the happy hour menu. You can't beat the $3.50 price, especially for the beef empanadas! We ordered a pitcher (or three) of the cava sangria, which did not disappoint. So for around $20 a person, we were tipsy, bellies full, and enjoyed live entertainment from the flamenco dancers. Good times!
(4)
Kristi J.

This was the second time I've been to La Tasca and the second time I've ever had Tapas. After dining with a large party and tasting a pretty wide variety of the items on the menu, I'm a fan. While I'm sure none of the menu items are particularly healthy, they sure are delicious. We had a great many things including the Fried Eggplant, Chicken Skewers, Calamari, Empada's, Spinach Salad, and 4 different desserts (which were TO DIE FOR). I HIGHLY recommend the Tres Leches Cake. Even though it's probably pretty terrible for me, I would go back and hope to do so soon!
(5)
Amy H.

I was skeptical of finding good tapas in Old Town as most restaurants here are not all that great. I was completely wrong! The sangria was a delicious start, one with just berries and another with cinnamon apple. We ordered the Pan a la Catalana, Chorizo a la Parrilla, Patatas Bravas, and Gambas al Ajillo. Each of these dishes was perfectly cooked and seasoned. A really great meal and only $50 with tip and drinks for 2 people.
(4)
Neline S.

My cousin and I were walking around looking for a place to eat and she stopped at this place because she loves Tapas. Equally nice was the World Cup was on with the US playing Ghana. The TV monitors weren't that big since it typically wasn't sports bar and I wanted to watch the game. Unfortunately, the bar was packed so we were seated at the dining tables but the waitress made sure I had a good view of the TV. My cousin was a glutton and I wasn't hungry yet so she wanted to get the $50 platter special. I gave her a look andd said you're eating that by yourself. All I want is Calamares Andaluza. She wanted 2 meat dishes, a bread dish, and a vegetable dish. I told her we should only opt for 3 dishes so she debated for some time. Finally, she chose the Patatas Bravas, Setas al Ajillo (sauteed mushrooms) and my Calamares Andaluza along with red Sangria. The Sangria was ok but how can you compare it when you have Spanish friends who make it for you at home. The Setas al Ajillo were very oily but I did enjoy the Calamares. Our waiter was very attentive which is always nice. Afterwards, we split a Flan de Huevo since we were waiting for my friend to join us. Once my friend came in, I made the mistake of ordering 2 Basses. Mix that with the VA humidity and 3 glasses of Sangria proved to be crushing blow to my head. Otherwise, it's a nice, friendly place to chill and have some tasty food
(4)
Chris F.

Me and my fiancee had a late lunch here on a weekday we had to go to a real estate office nearby and they recommended it to us. It was fantastic. It has a great atmosphere, and pretty authentic Spanish vibe. They have delicious cheeses and the salads were good. The "tapas" were basically full portions, the Sangria was very good, and they have a huge selection of different sangrias (red and white). There were something like 11 different sangria choices, so we went with whatever the staff recommended based on our combined tastes, and we weren't disappointed. I definitely recommend the paella, it's some of the best you can get in the D.C. area. The scallops were incredible and the service was attentive and friendly. To quote my fiancee, "It wasn't worth every penny...but it was close."
(4)
Sifire M.

I have ate here many of times any always good i went they where having 30 days for $30 my table ordered about 8 things all was good except the lamb it was rare. but other then that was great i told the server it was my bday and he brung out strawberry shortcake.. which was good and they have live music on fridays
(5)
Melissa B.

My husband is from Spain and he didn't feel like this was very authentic. We got a paella and it was not close to the real thing . It tasted like rice with stewed tomatoes. Not what we were expecting. The other tapas we got were good but tended to be on the cold side when they were served. The taste was there but presentation was not preferred. I didn't hate this place but I cannot rave about it like some of the other Spanish restaurants in the area.
(3)
RL C.

The place is a good tapas place, not great. It serves up many of the standard tapas fare and it's cheaper than places like Jaleo. Didn't think the sangria was that great. The bar is nice too.
(3)
Gregg M.

I love tapas and paella so La Tasca was a convenient call after doing drinks at PX. I had been to the La Tasca in Clarendon before and had enjoyed my meal, but I hadn't tried the Old Town version. Of course, my La Tasca experience was before I had been to the Penn Quarter Jaleo and Estadio so my expectations for La Tasca were perhaps unreasonably high. This evening we (my GF and a three mutual friends) decided on splitting the Paella de Langosta (lobster paella/$52) with orders of the Berenjenas Fritas (fried eggplant/$6), SelecciÃ³n de Embutidos (charcuterie with SalchichÃ³n, CaÃ±a de Lomo, Fuet, Chorizo, and JamÃ³n Serrano/$12), and the Tabla de Quesos EspaÃ±oles (cheese plate with Tetilla, Manchego, Delicia de Cabra, Serena, and Cabrales/$15). The good-sized portion of eggplant was thinly sliced, lightly floured and perfectly fried to a nice crispness. It was a good start. The charcuterie, however, didn't maintain the momentum of the meal. The meats, while tasty, were a bit dry (perhaps sliced well in advance of our order waiting to be served?) which hurt their texture and flavor. La Tasca's charcuterie does not come close to comparing with the Estadio's in-house-made offerings. The cheeses did regain some of the lost momentum by offering up a good selection of cow, sheep and goat's milk Spanish cheeses. All were flavorful, aromatic and fresh. Sadly, the paella killed the rally by being an over-salted, uneven, and, frankly overpriced, given the quantity of of seafood received. The rice and lobster were reasonably moist and flavorful. However, my girlfriend noted that the the scallops did not appear adequately cleaned because they retained an amount of grittiness. The shrimp and mussels were small and overcooked. La Tasca isn't the worst restaurant in town, but there are MUCH, MUCH better Spanish tapas restaurants in this area. Go to Estadio or Jaleo in Penn Quarter instead. You'll be glad you did.
(2)
Mac O.

3.5 stars. I love tapas places because you can order a ton of food without appearing like a hog. I love food, I love to eat, and love any place where I can just keep ordering and eating without being judged. La Tasca is a fairly good tapas joint. I enjoy the ambiance which seems as if they're trying to trick you into thinking you are truly in Spain. It's very nice. It's also large which means wait times aren't usually long. The service is great, too. The waiters return frequently to check on you, refill your bevs, and inquire whether you'd like to order more. Yes, please! The food here is good. We enjoyed. We were a party of six, so we sampled much. Lemme give you the quick and dirty rundown: Langostinos al Pimenton de la Vera, shrimp with garlic and hot pepper were good. Shrimp cooked nicely, dish was full of flavor. Patatas Bravas, the classic tapas of fried potatoes with a mayo sauce. Good, not the best I've had. Setas al Ajillo, mixed mushrooms. Eh, I can make those at home. Tortilla EspaÃ±ola, another definite classic, the "omelet" with potato. Done nicely here. Ensalada de Manzana, green apple salad with almonds, tetilla cheese, and lemon quince dressing. This was delish, probably my fave. The apples were super crisp and tart, the cheese a wonderfully salty foil. There was an array of the meat tapas ordered, but alas, I cannot comment, being a pescetarian and all... Something a bit different about this tapas bar is the vast Sangria list. They make a TON, which are on display in pretty glass containers with taps at the bar. Fun! We sampled the Sangria Rosada, made with rose wine, grape juice and berries. Good. And the more traditional Cadillac Red Sangria, prepared with Sangre de Toro. Also good. Kicking things up a notch, flamenco dancers and musicians wended through the dining room, providing the entertainment. Nice touch. All in all, a good experience. We'll be back.
(3)
Yolanda B.

Better tapa selection than las tapas. I highly recommend coming here before trying any of the other tapa locations. There is a lot more to pick from and the portions sizes are really good.
(5)
Katie F.

My awesome husband took me here for my birthday. The short review: delicious food, a good wine/drinks list, good service, fun ambience, and fairly reasonable prices. We'll be back. In more detail: His rioja was great. My Sangria Rosada was good, despite missing the blueberries the menu advertised. I'd get something else next time, just because a bunch of the other sangrias looked good too and I want to try them. Bacon-wrapped dates were tasty, although we couldn't taste the bleu cheese. Grilled asparagus was charred just enough to give it really great flavor, and the grilled lemon on the side added a lovely citrus tang. The apple salad with quince dressing was light and delicious. The ham and cheese "sandwiches" with tomato spread were awesome. Crispy bread, sharpish cheese, salty ham, sweet tomatoes. Perfect combination, and I don't even like tomatoes most of the time. Scallops with artichoke hearts were good, but probably not the star of the menu. The scallops were fine, but the artichokes lacked flavor. The peppers or whatever the red stuff atop the scallops overpowered the dish. Lamb with hazelnut romesco sauce was very good, if a bit overdone (so says my husband--I'm allergic to rosemary, so lamb isn't often a safe choice for me, and this dish is covered in it). Tortilla espanola (a sort of potato strata) was so delicious that I wanted to order about six of them to go. Served with a tangy red sauce (tomato? red pepper? couldn't tell, but it was great), it was a really good accompaniment to the meat dishes. Duck confit was out-of-this-world good. It comes with a chick pea mash that's a tad bland on its own, but a perfect companion to the sweet orange-fig sauce. And the figs were like candy. Divine. We were too full for dessert, even though several looked good. Incentive to go back, right?
(4)
lilibet m.

I've been dying for tapas and heard La Tasca was the place to go. I wasn't disappointed. The frozen sangria blanca was a great buy! They say a pitches serves 4 but we got more than 4 glasses out of it. The tapas we tried: olives (really good), sliced manchego cheese (very nice and thinly sliced), empanadas (amazing!), the chorizo paella (ok not much chorizo in it), shrimp and bacon wrapped scallops (didn't try them but my friend said they were good), the fried chicken with roasted garlic sauce (very good). Can't wait to go back!
(4)
joe w.

The selection of tapas was amazing. All of the dishes we tried were delicious: salmon, shrimp, asparagus, tomato salad, paella, lamb. It took about 30 minutes before we received our first dish so I recommend arriving long before one is really hungry. They did not have enough chef staff that shift. For restaurant week, this is a deal that cannot be beat. We also received some items we did not order but again everything was delicious. The street car trolley stops along this road but one has to look at the numbers along the road to not overshoot.
(3)
R C.

Best white sangria ever, awesome bacon-wrapped dates, and delicious Spanish omelettes!!
(5)
Sheri I.

Yummy lil plates of deliciousness.....sharing food is good....sharing a pitcher of sangria even better.
(4)
Ken C.

After two years, I went there over the weekend with few buddies. We have a lot of tapas and three order of Sangria. They got pricey. So, we end up having a little dinner with half stomach (We all big guy). A lot of single girl, but we got waste on the Sangria (good and strong kick). We went to the bar and sit on the sofa. We got a cute bartender serving us. She know we were a little drunk, but still in good control. Sorry to say the Jack Daniel a little over price $9 per shot (Come on!!!) Anyway, overall food is OK, tapas a little pricey and not recommend to take shot. However, a lot of single female. We saw birthday girls and few groups of single female. It was a little surprise...
(2)
Charles H.

Had a great time in La Tasca. The tapas were right on time. Great drinks, good atmosphere....
(4)
Danielle W.

Note to readers: dismiss anyone's review that compares La Tasca to actual Spanish tapas in Spain. The fact that you're in Old Town - hell, the fact that you're sitting at a nice table which you would not be doing in an authentic Spanish tapas joint - means guess what Toto, you're not in Spain! Now that we've cleared that up, onto the food. I've been a few times and always find the sangria pleasing, maybe just a bit too much ice (but I have sensitive teeth. call me a wuss, I deserve it). The cava sangria is my favorite and isn't loaded in sugar which is a nice change of pace. Most of the tapas are excellent. I'll refrain from saying "excelente". The tortilla espanola tastes exactly like my host mother's tortilla in Salamanca. The manchego is good, but it's hard to screw up a piece of cheese. The calamari could use a smidge more flavor and less breading, but the gambas al ajillo had an awesome fiery kick. Also I love their tasting menus. We got the $60 tasting menu and it was more than enough food for three hungry girls who have no sense of propriety and will eat anything placed in front of them.
(4)
Spleen D.

We recently made reservations for a birthday party of 6 people. The food was superb. The drinks (sangria) were sublime. Service was very responsive, but we never felt like there was "pressure" to order another round of tapas. The live music contributed nicely to the ambiance (loud enough to keep the upbeat mood, but not too loud). The wait staff was also very happy to help us with an additional birthday request. to bring in our own cupcakes from a nearby bakery (a favorite of the birthday girl). Could not have been better!
(5)
Nina B.

Kudos #1: I like their wait-staff. He was super friendly and offered good suggestions from the specials menu. If everything was as good as their Mariscos on the Portabello Mushroom, I would have been more impressed. Complaint #1: They're a bit overpriced, even for tapas. Kudos #2: The ambiance is nice with large windows to people watch in Old Town on a cold day. Since it's right on King Street, there is plenty of people watching to be had. Complaint #2: Their Sangria Rosada doesn't contain much alcohol. How is it that I drank practically an entire pitcher of it (for $18.95) and not even feel the slightest bit buzzed? It was like drinking fruit juice. (Note: 2/3/08 - I found out why the Sangria doesn't taste any good. It's illegal in VA to mix spirits with wine/beer. It's an antiquated law that was passed in the post-prohibition period. La Tasca got busted once, and they've changed their recipes since. THEY DON'T SERVE TRUE SANGRIAS! washingtonpost.com/wp-dyâ€¦
(3)
Bryan P.

GIMMIE AN "F"! F! GIMMIE AN "E"! E! GIMMIE AN "H"! H! WHAT DOES THAT SPELL? FEH! ONE MORE TIME... FEH! FEH! FEH!! FEH!!! I've lived in Alexandria for many years and eaten at a lot of restaurants. I'm from New York where there are thousands of restaurants but its pretty hard to find a good one. On the whole I think its the opposite in Alexandria; there's not a lot of restaurants but its hard to find a bad one. Then there's La Tasca... Folks, this place is THE WORST. Not only it it the worst restaurant in Alexandria, but the worst I've eaten in for quite a while. I was with my friend and we started with the marinated mushroom appetizer. I would swear that someone in the back opened a can of generic store brand mushrooms and poured them in a bowl. Absolutely pathetic. I won't bore you with additional details, but lets just say that the meal got worse from there (something which I didn't think possible). I was so offended by the "food" that don't even remember how the service was. Listen people... If you want great Tapas just go up and across the street to Las Tapas (no need to go anywhere else). The food and the service there are great. Avoid La Tasca like the plague! FEH!
(1)
first l.

Atmosphere over food. Good for drinks and a fun night out,
(3)
Ellen F.

Not seeing what's "hip" about this place. They seem to have a seasoning problem with the food. Too much sugar, salt, grease... My kid's burger and fries were good though. And she liked her chocolate Ice cream.
(2)
Dennis J.

This place is just OK. I've certainly been to better tapas places. Here's what I did like: Bacon wrapped dates filled with blue cheese, the meatballs, and the apples with cheese Definitely don't get these: Potato cake, sausage, spinach I have no plans to return. There is absolutely more Tapas in the sea...
(2)
Dave B.

We picked La Tasca for a birthday dinner and had high expectations. The service was pretty good. The atmosphere is exactly what we expected. The cheese and meat tray appetizers were excellent. Where it started to go down hill was when we ordered the tapas and paella. We got the meat and the seafood tapas and we had to send a couple of the tapas back because they were overcooked and we got back tapas that were just as bad. The paella was really disappointing. We got the mussels and chorizo. The mussels were sandy and bloated. Im not sure I'd go back.
(3)
John C.

This place is not for me. A little annoying if you ask me. The band was so wack. The food was so fucking nasty. The table was so fucking dirty. Now tell me why the fuck would you put the entrance door where the little mini dance floor is at and where the wack ass band plays at. That sht was the worst ever. Like I say to most of my reviews. I bet this place is good nice or whatever, but my first time is always my last. That goes to most of the places I go to around DMV area. Step up
(1)
Randy G.

Important caveat up front: I'm really not into the whole tapas thing. I've tried it countless times, including in Spain, and was rarely impressed or overly satisfied. In addition to not being crazy about tapas, I'm also routinely disappointed by paella, which has to be one of the world's most overrated dishes around. Give me a good plate of pasta any day. So ok, I went here recently to meet a friend who was in town from out of the country. In short, the food was mostly bland and unremarkable. The appetizers were actually pretty decent. We got the cheese plate and fried eggplants. Yeah, that was all good, but I'm also crazy about cheese so it doesn't take much to please me there. I should point out that the sangria was very forgettable. The regular one just tasted funky or something, while the other one we got (which I think was the "cueva" or something like that) was a little better, but watery to me. Have definitely had better sangria, including homemade by myself and friends who had no idea what we were doing. The food I ordered at first looked amazing. I got the solomillo steak, the mar y tierra, and the chorizo paella (everyone at the table was impressed by the appearance of what I ordered, at which point I boasted that having a Spanish grandfather could come in very handy sometimes). It was actually a lot of food for one person, but I only ate about half of it largely because it just didn't do much for me. There was something in the paella that didn't taste right, the solomillo was ok but nothing special, and the mar y tierra was kinda boring. Oh but wait, the patatas bravas are actually pretty good, so highly recommend getting those if you go. So yeah, most other people would have probably given the place at least 3 stars based on the experience I had, but since Spanish food isn't my thing I'm gonna go with 2 stars. But wait, let me close out by saying that Spanish wine is da bomb. Such a waste to get sangria when you get get some amazing Riojas, but such was what the group wanted. Bah. A good glass of Spanish wine beats the crap out of a pitcher of sangria any day.
(2)
Tricia S.

We arrived to La Tasca and were promptly waited on, except that the waiter got part of the order wrong, but none the less the food came pretty quickly. We ordered the seafood tasting menu, which was fine but not exceptional. The paella tasted like it was made from a Goya box, overall the meal was very commercial and didn't taste authentic. Though we ordered two bottles of Rioja which were both great. In the end we left satisfied; more with the drink than the food. BTW if you are going for the Flamenco dancing, don't bother. Two women go to the various areas of the restaurant and perform a two minute dance. It is loud and disruptive and got tired quickly.
(2)
Betty W.

I think the bad reviews are because people don't understand that tapas are small portions! I went here with my brother and I thought it was fantastic. The stuffed dates are my favorite. They also have half off sangria pitchers on Thursdays, as well as flamenco dancers. Great service, ambiance, and overall experience.
(5)
Attiya M.

This is a review for the service and not the food. Why? Read on. I came here during the latter part of Alexandria Restaurant Week, Summer 2010. I'm aware of the nature of restaurant week, the necessity of both reservations and patience. However, with any business, those running it should be prepared for all the events in which they participate. La Tasca was ill-prepared. First, my online reservation was not honored. I can tolerate this, especially when offered bar seating at a table with a view. I was told that my table would be cleaned off and that I would be attended to. Several awkward glances at the hostess stand and 25 minutes later, I left. I was tired of staring at the credit card of Mr. Ryan ********* and his meager tip, but was starting to understand why 5% was appropriate. Still, I shouldn't have been able to view that and certainly not to ponder it for that length of time. I knew it was time to go when the remains of the beverage belonging to his dining partner, presumably a woman based on the lipstick, was starting to sound like a good way to quench my thirst. Once outside, I glanced in, still craving sangria and squid. I was quite appalled to see a couple sipping cocktails at a cleared off table... my table. I returned today to share my experience with a manager, simply air my grievances so as to not weigh in my thoughts anymore. I've worked in customer service for many years in my past, so I'm well aware of how to handle such a situation. I was expecting a fake, but somewhat theatrical apology, a small offer of redemption which I would turn down, and a closing invitation to return to the establishment. I am still deeply disturbed that all I received was a shakey (literally) defense. I guess next time my tapas cravings hit while in Old Town, I'll be sure to go to Las Tapas where on the busiest of evenings I am given at least some kind of service which renders an opening of my wallet.
(1)
Jennifer G.

I've been a fan of La Tasca (the DC location) for years - its a must whenever I visit so I was excited to try out another location on this trip and it did not disappoint. We got there around 9ish and were seated right away. The service was a little slow, but the flamenco dancers and live music entertained us while we were waiting for things. We started with a pitcher of the classic red sangria and it was delish. We got a bunch of dishes to share: Ablondingas -used to get 3 large meatballs but now you get a bowl of little meatballs - I'm ok with it either way. They are yummy! Pan a la Catalana - this is the tapas version of bruschetta and it was fantastic. tip: eat it quickly or the toasty bread gets kinda soggy. Berenjenas Fritas - lightly battered fried eggplant slices served with a warm white cheesy dip- HUGE serving and fantastic. Croquetas de Pollo - Best chicken croquettes ever!! :) Patatas Bravas - fried potatoes with a garlic mayo to dip - also yummy Paella de Verduras - Veggie Paella - the perfect compliment to all the other food on the table. Ensalada de Espinacas con Peras - which was a spinach salad with pears, dates and walnuts and some crumbly cheese on top. I'd be lying if I told you I ate more than 2 bites of this with all the other options on the table. Not that it wasn't a good salad, but croquettes and meatballs and carbs always win with me :) For dessert: My FAVORITE - Trufa de Chocolate - its like a dark chocolate mousse on top of a crispy hazelnut pastry with vanilla ice cream. Must try.
(5)
Lyn P.

We had quite a sampling of their menu as we visited during Alexandria's restaurant week where it as all you can eat tapas for $35. Highlights: Tortilla espanola, ensalada de tomates, paella, gambas al ajillo, empanadas de carne, buey al jerez, datiles and the solomillo de cerdo. Avoid: brochetta de gambas, croquettes, gambas gabardina Service was fine and so was the sangria. Definitely get a pass but I'd probably hit up Jaleo over La Tasca next time I am in the area.
(3)
Leslie S.

Wow. I don't know what is going on today but this is not like I remembered from a year ago. Is it just at lunch? The food came out slowly and was just above room temperature, which was cool on this chilly day. They aren't busy. The tapas had no, zero, flavor or spice besides rancid oil. My tortilla was barely solidly cooked. Yuck. I'm off la Tasca. There are better choices on King Street.
(1)
Crystal H.

I'm a huge fan of Sangria and they have plenty of delicious options to choose from! They have some gluten free options available. Got the meatballs. Eh. They were kind of dry. So I just drank more Sangria and all was right in the world again! If I lived in the area, I would definitely go back. At least, for happy hour.
(3)
Flo W.

As always, the food is amazing and the mango blackberry sangria are wonderful. Customer service is impeccable!
(5)
Danielle C.

Very cool place to meet up with a group during happy hour but not good pricing or food for a sit down dinner or for kids. Great sangria!
(3)
Matt A.

Very much enjoyed the food, nothing that we had was less than good. The ambiance was nice, but if you're going when they have the flamenco music and dancers, be forewarned that it is LOUD. Almost comically so; we actually asked to be moved basically as far away as we could just so that we would have a chance of hearing each other when we talked.
(4)
M M.

Love this place for happy hour- best bang for your buck in the old town area for sure- Pitchers of sangria in the bar area for $18, and a wide assortment of tapas for only $4. There are usually about 8 or so sangrias to choose from- something for every palate, and each that i have tried seem to have enough alcohol but not too potent. Went with my family for tapas brunch this weekend and was able to sample a wider assortment then usual. Some things i wouldn't order again- I've tried the calamari twice, and felt it was too rubbery, and when its just rings and no tentacles- thats a dead give away that they arrived frozen. the fried manchego isn't very melty the cheese plate is really pretty stingy for $18. it couldn't have been more than 2 ounces for some very average cheeses. empanadas are good,albeit greasy but so many other restaurants serve these in the area for far less Some of the better choices- the croquettes of chicken and ham are a misnomer- this tapas is mostly warm melty cheesy perfection. ANYTHING on a skewer- the bacon wrapped cheese filled dates are the perfect sweet and salty combination, the shrimp scallop and bacon skewers were perfectly cooked and seasoned, the chicken skewers and veggie skewers are all great bets as well. I'm really on the fence about the paella though. I've never had paella before so i don't have anything to compare it too, but i was expecting a more delicate dish. The rice was very red and tomato based with a good amount of proteins. there was also a liberal amount of perfectly cut green beans so i was kind of suspect about them being previously frozen... Anyhow, I really love the place for happy hour, and not a bad place for meals as well. Flemenco dancers, beautiful interior, good food and service. Definitely try.
(4)
Le B.

We had the worst waiter in history. Our beers sat empty for over 10 minutes and he didn't bring us small plates with our cheese board. Did I mention that the restaurant was almost completely empty? He just seemed annoyed that we were even there, messing up his "game" with the hostess (who was absolutely lovely, I might add). We tried a lot and loved most of it. Everyone's favorite was the bacon wrapped dates. I look forward to going back the next time we are in Alexandria, but I would hate to have to deal with that waiter again.
(3)
Bryan B.

I've been to other LaTasca restaurants that seem much brighter and cheerier. This place is very dark - I had a hard time even seeing the menu. Even small lights on the end of the tables would help. The sangria was good with lots of fruit chunks, but a bit bland. I would order it again during a happy hour, but not at full price. The food was also good, but very small portions for the price. This would be a nice date place and I know happy hours are popular, but I probably wouldn't come back. That being said, I don't think you'd be terribly disappointed in coming. It is what is - a chain tapas restaurant.
(3)
Tamani L.

I can't even begin to explain how i loved my entire experience @ La Tasca! Anescio was fantastic! He was helpful and knowledgeable when it came to tapas and Sangria suggestions!! We ordered the Paella Mixta and Paella Carne with Ensalada de Espinaca con Peras the taste was enlightening and sensational! The seasonal mango blackberry sangria was AMAZING!! I will be back to try all the Tapas Menus!!! the services exceptional!! Gracias Anescio!!!
(5)
Ash C.

Visited La Tasca with a friend who does not like trying new things and judges his food by the quantity as much as he judges the food by the quality. And since this tapas style I had to warn him that it won't fill his belly but I was hoping it would satisfy his heart haha one way of putting it. We ordered some mojitos and waited for our food to arrive. Mojitos kept the conversation going since they were generous and nicely made. Our appetizer was some sort of garlic bread concoction which was quite ordinary and I would have preferred a dipping sauce with it. Food came and we were pleased: small seafood paella was delish and so were the patatas bravas. The lamb chops were medium rare (I like mine well done) but I let my friend enjoy them. The roasted chicken was merely little wings with diced potatoes (nothing ingenious or something I would order again) All in all a pleasant experience, the place is bustling with couples and large groups. Try if you are around!
(4)
Erika C.

I've been here a few times and I love it! Make sure you stick w/ tapas though. Last time I ordered their paella and was very disappointed. It was burnt and they used frozen seafood. But overall the place is good and their sangria is amazing.
(4)
John P.

My wife, three year old daughter and I have gone to La Tasca twice. The first time we went there it was a fun evening, my daughter enjoyed the small portions provided. The second time we went, my daughter was singing as three year olds do. A few of the table next to us would clap as she sang. I thought we were all having fun, but then the bleach blond hostess came to our table and in a voice intended to be heard throughout the place asked us to keep it quiet as people are trying to eat. You have to know quickest way to piss off a parent is to insult their kids, especially when a three year old is being good, not throwing anything, just laughing and singing. We then paid our check and left, no need for dessert after that especially when Ben and Jerry's is two blocks away. John
(1)
Nathalie R.

Not impressed overall. The food was mediocre at best, and made me worried I would be sick from eating it at worst. The tortilla (Spanish potato omelette) was runny. The gluten free notations on the menu were clearly not marked clearly or correctly (one item we ordered was marked gluten free but was served on top of bread) which made me suspicious of all other items I ordered. Finally one of the dishes we ordered came out wrong, and by the time the correct dish came out we were full and couldn't eat more than a taste.
(2)
Barry P.

Found a real score of Happy Hour here on a Sunday afternoon, and I believe the server says it was everyday from 4-7pm, but you better double check me on that. They have an extensive selection of Sangrias -- something for everyone -- and we also sampled several tapas which I remember being very good, but I don't remember what exactly we had (because of the Sangria). We found the Happy Hour to be a nice quiet break to a crowded, busy, spring day in Alexandria. I will definitely stop back next time I'm in Old Town, to sample some more of the Sangrias, and explore the menu further.
(4)
Ryan S.

Wow. Their happy hour is killer. Had a couple crazy nights that started here. Love this place!
(4)
Lyn L.

After reading the mixed reviews, I did not have super high expectations but I do love tapas and I love Old Town. Overall- The food exceeded my expectations, the service was excellent, the location convenient. Service: Excellent! The server was right there from start to finish! He paid close to attention to everything from filling my husband's water glass to taking our next order of tapas! (We had the unlimited tapas menu for restaurant week). The plates were always bus'd by the other bus guys and the food came out SO quickly! Food- Yes, we love to eat so we had plenty of tapas for our money! The fresh chips were SO good, not greasy like other places like Mon Ami, but these were so light! Their sauces were a just a tad thick and not too much flavor but they were good. We also had the cheese bread, the seafood paella, the garlic shrimp, Angus beef, pork tenderloin, a couple of the potato dishes, and asparagus. Everything came out fresh, hot, and tasty. The only thing that seemed quite bland was the calamari. For dessert, my husband got the mousse since they had run out of the churros. We also ordered the flan and that had a nice presentation and was very light. Drinks: The sangria (White Cadillac) seemed somewhat weak but it was tasty. I would definitely come back. They also have a nice pub area, that might have had happy hour too!
(4)
Jill B.

My boyfriend and I really enjoy this place. Though it is a bit pricey, we have always had a great experience and the service is good. The ambiance is very nice as well. We have had two very special dinners here. The last dinner my boyfriend called ahead to get a table by the window (we noticed it last time and it was so cozy and nice) so they put a "reserved" sign on the table which was very nice. A couple of weeks ago we went to the happy hour. They had very good happy hour specials. They also had a great selection of sangrias and they were excellent. The waitress was very helpful in deciding which one I would like, I liked the Cava one the best. We have added this place to our favorite happy hour list and will be going back.
(4)
Dawn B.

A wide variety of well priced/portioned items makes this place great for happy hour. I spent $11 to purchase their esparragos, empanadas de pollo y tortilla espanola. I would definitely recommend the empanadas and the tortilla to all patrons of the restaurant, but wouldn't necessarily recommend the esparragos. All the dishes were well cooked and flavorful, but I guess the esparragos wasn't as special a dish as the other two (Basically you could make it at home). The decor was also a definite plus and the atmosphere was filled with patrons that, you could tell, were enjoying the dining experience. I guess the only downside to this place is it's location. Sure, old town is a fabulous location for the restaurant, but as with most of old town the restaurant only has street parking. If you don't have a bike, use the metro or live in the area you have to pay metered parking to visit this restaurant. It's not the meter pricing as much as the inability to pay more than 1 1/2-2 hours at a time that makes it difficult to visit this place if you drive to this location.
(4)
Christina M.

I spent one summer on a performance tour through villages in the Catalon region of Spain (e.g. Barcelona and to the NE). I wanted to find an authentic Spanish Tapas bar where I could reminisce my experiences of eating the food prepared for our group at each stop by the village mothers (and also the more "commercial" dishes we enjoyed in Barcelona). La Tasca delivered! If you know anything about cuisine from Espana, I think you'll agree that the flavors offered here are spot on. We enjoyed the Tabla de Jamon y Queso (Pan con tomate with manchego cheese and serrano ham) which was all exactly how I remembered it and was one of the things we could count on being served at every meal! The Tortilla Espanola was good and mostly the way I remember it but was served with a strange creamy sauce on top and a spicy tomato drizzle I have never seen on that dish before. I guess they felt the tortilla is too much of a homely comfort food to be served plain to Americans. Canelones de Berenjenas was a delicious eggplant dish (the roma tomatoes inside really make it!) The Chorizo sausage is spot on! Again, this may not seem spectacular if you're looking for out of this world flavor, but I was looking for good old Espanola comfort food. We also got the Paella de la Huerta, a veggie paella, and loved it!! Again, the roma tomatoes are amazing! We wanted to get just a plate of those by themselves, they were so good. For dessert we order the Tres Leches (classic and pretty good, but I've had better at a cuban restaurant in Durham, NC), Churros (mediocre compared to the ones we would get at roadside stands in Spain), and a deep fried banana cream dish I can't remember the name of (it was amazing!). So, food, yes, was very good overall and what I was looking for. HOWEVER: Part of the reason we picked to go the night and time we did was the advertisement for flamenco at 9:00pm. We made our reservation for 8:30 so we could get settled in and have plenty of time to order because I was the only member of my family familiar with Espana cuisine. I was running late, but arrived at 8:50 only to find out from my family that the dancing had happened at 8:30. How lame! There's nothing I hate more than false advertising. If the food wasn't so good I would immediately give this restaurant 1 or 2 stars just for this and probably at least never return to this location. Secondly, we ordered a second round of Pan con Tomate and Tortilla before dessert and never got it. When our dessert came and was subsequently devoured and there was still no sign of our food, I inquired with the waiter about it. The best he offered was to cancel the order. For the price of the bill, I would have expected them to apologize a lot more and get us those two dishes for free. I was very disappointed with the lack of commitment to stellar service in this regard.
(4)
Meg H.

Very Sexy place!! My friend and I went here on a Friday night, they had a live band going and it was a really great cozy atmosphere. The crowd is probably 30's and up, but the music was really fun for a friday night girls night. We had cute little red chairs that were comfy, and the waitress was very very accomodating. I'll be back to try the food for sure!!
(4)
Sher R.

Every time I go here it is great! Great service, atmosphere, food and drinks. Always looking for excuses to return. Bacon wrapped dates. Order a lot of them.
(5)
M J.

The food was ok, but the service at our table was TERRIBLE. The bar service was great, hence how they earned 2 stars. We went for my friend's birthday and had a large party. We started in the bar and waited for the entire party to arrive before moving to a table for dinner. The bar service was great and we closed out our tabs there before moving to the table. They kept asking us (around 7 times) if we were going to order food, because if we weren't going to order food, they weren't going to seat us. Rude, but we kept answering yes and telling them that we were there for a birthday dinner. We asked for a table for 15, and they gave us a table for 12. We then asked if they could move some of the empty tables next to us to the end of our tables so that we had enough space, and they said no. Mind you at this point the restaurant is nearly empty, it's 8pm, and it's a snow day. The likelihood of the two seaters next to us filling up is slim to none (and the tables around us did remain empty for the rest of the night). After too much back and forth with the waiter, I went and spoke to the hostess, who accommodated our request (after she initially turned it down and sat our party of 15 at a 12 top). The waiter then took our orders and we hardly saw him again. The people bringing the food were nice and the manager was nice, but no waiter to take our orders. This is a tapas place and as many times as they asked if we'd be ordering food, you'd think they'd keep taking our tapas and drink orders. Even still, a good waiter comes back to check on his table, especially considering how empty the restaurant was. Since our waiter wasn't around and we wanted to order drinks, a few of us went over to the bar. Out of the blue pops our absent waiter who tells us that we can't order at the bar, and we have to order with him. Maybe if he ever came back to our table to check on us, we could have ordered with him. But also, we can order wherever the heck we want. He was rude and told us to go sit back down. I told him that if this is all because of the tip, his is already included, his service has not earned the tip he's going to get and he needed to bring our check for the table immediately. At the end of the night, we spent a total well over $1500 at the bar and at our table and I regret every penny. I will never go back to that restaurant (maybe unless I'm only at the bar because the bar service was fine). Between the rude hostess and seating mess that made absolutely no sense, the terrible and greedy waiter and the food being just ok (most things were overcooked), there was nothing about that experience that would make me want to go back.
(2)
Pam S.

Despite the fact that the ambience is "hipster/casual" (I thought I moved AWAY from hipsters), I ventured in here last week for some dinner after some super fun cute boot shopping. While the food (Ensalada de Tomates con Vinagreta de Miel and Solomillo de Buey) was good, the service was deplorable considering it wasn't that busy either in the restaurant or the bar. I sat at the bar thinking I'd get in, get out, and get back to unpacking. The bartender had other plans. First, it took him roughly a decade to acknowledge me. I was sitting there for quite some time before I even was able to order a drink. And then he forgot what I was drinking (nothing fancy- one of their sangrias- not that hard). THEN it took him forever to take my order. I waited..a lot. For everything. For the first time in my life I considered walking out on my tab because I didn't know when I'd a) get to order food and b) when I'd get my bill. Guys that came in after me were able to order their food first, and got significantly more attention. Do not recommend sitting at the bar, but do recommend the food.
(2)
Sean H.

Man, I wanted this lunch to be good. $20 for all you can eat tapas on Sunday is a killer deal. The service was great, the restaurant is cozy inside...but the food just wasn't that good. We tried 8 or 9 different dishes but most of them seemed to be kinda cheaply made. I'm glad I didn't go for dinner and pay full prices for the dishes we got. That all being said, the lunch menu is limited, so I'm sure there are better dishes than the ones we had. I really liked the Potatoes Bravas (the potatoes themselves were pretty plain, but the garlic and marinara sauces on them were addicting). The servers were very friendly and attentive. Just wish the food was better.
(3)
Allison B.

Came here for dinner last week while visiting friends in D.C. I'd never been to Old Town, Alexandria. Super cute place, especially with the holiday lights. We had reservations and though it was fairly empty when we arrived, it quickly filled up. The menu is pretty extensive, so upon suggestions from both our friends (who have dined there before) and the server, we opted for the La Tasca tasting menu plus a few extra dishes - the datiles (bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese) and the canelones (tomato and goat cheese stuffed eggplant rolls). We also tried to order one of the specials - a rabbit dish - but it was sold out. However, what we ended up with was a perfect amount for the 4 of us. In fact, it left me comfortably full. For drinks, sangria is the way to go. With so many options to choose from, our server was kind enough to let us sample a few to make our decision easier. Unfortunately you cannot sample all, as some are "made to order", but that is understandable. We opted for the La Tasca sangria (hey.. when in Rome..) because it tastes like xmas. Seriously. The service was great and we felt well attended to. At some tapas places it's common to be upsold on dishes you may not need, but this was not the case here. All in all, a great dining experience. I would definitely return.
(4)
Peter K.

Ok, I have to admit, I am not a tapas or paella expert. I've been to Madrid but just for a long weekend and everything tastes amazing when you travel (unless you go to a restaurant targeted to tourists, which means you are not an experienced traveler). In any case, I saw that they had half-price paellas and figured it'd be hard to go wrong with that. We got the Paella de Carne as recommended by other reviewers. It was pretty good. Rice was a nice consistency. Service was excellent. We came here with our 13 month old son. It's a large space and they were definitely accommodating in terms of setting up a high chair and not coming across as being annoyed for having a stroller. We also got the sangria which was tasty. Probably could have used more alcohol but don't we always wish that were the case? I'm definitely going to come back for half-price tapas night.
(4)
Chelsea S.

This is one time I feel misled by my fellow yelppers. We went to La Tasca around a month ago for dinner on a Saturday night and were not at all impressed by the food. Overly salty and way too oily. I literally started to feel sick from all the oil and salt even before the meal was over. Unfortunately, the dissapointment doesn't end there. The noise level was insane. They had live music but it could barely be heard over the sound of people talking (shouting?), or in the case of the table next to us filled with a group of young girls, the sound of loud cackling. With so many other great restaurants to chose from, we'll definitely be giving this place a pass.
(1)
Karisa D.

I love it here! We went for dinner as part of DC Restaurant Week and it was definitely an excellent choice. Their restaurant deal is a choice of tapas and dessert; by the way the tapas are unlimited. You definitely get your money's worth here. Together, my boyfriend and I ordered 10 different tapas dishes as well as the Sangria Rosada (it's a berry based sangria) Two of my favorite dishes were the Paella Valenciana and a sweet spinach salad. We ordered churros and a chocolate lava cake for dessert, both of which were delicious. The service was great, the hostess was friendly and apologized when we had to wait for our table even though we had a reservation. There was also live music on Friday night which we enjoyed! It was very busy when we went so I recommend making a reservation, especially if you go on the weekend. Wonderful dining experience overall!
(4)
Miriam K.

Not impressed. Went for Restaurant Week. Wine or sangria plus 3 tapas plus dessert. $35. My friend had a scallop dish (vieiras sobre pil-pil) and the sauce tasted odd. My empanadas de carne was delicious but mainly because of the spicy sauce. My ensalada de espinacas (salad with pears) was typical but fine. We both had the veal shanks (jarretitos de chorizo) and each dish was not hot and the meat was tough to cut off the bone and lacking flavor. My friend had the churros con chocolate and thought it was delicious. I had the rice pudding (arroz con leche) and the flavor was absolutely delicious however the center of it was frozen solid about the size of quarter...not good. The waiter was fantastic, great personality and very helpful. The restaurant had flamenco dancers and they were just okay.
(3)
John R.

The service alone would get this place zero stars if I could. Beware of the server "Cha***a.," unless you want to be talked down to, ignored for a half hour, and treated with general disdain. We had to ask why our order hasn't come five times, and the server's reply was "well, do you want to see a dessert menu?" (Our reply was maybe after our one friend (who she knew was the birthday boy) finally gets his dinner.) Like to drink sangria? She will try to leave with the pitcher and a half a cup of drink left right after she pours your drinks. She was just problem after problem and attitude after attitude. Even a clearer tried to take the plate from under me while I had the fork in my mouth. We went here last year and spent twice as much, came back in October of 2013 and will never come back. I wish a manager was around to fire this lady. Long and short, skip this place. It's as hit or miss with the service as it is with the food and for this price, it's not worth the risk.
(1)
Rich E.

This has become our favorite Sunday afternoon hangout. The choices of homemade sangrias is great, the Cadillac is my favorite. We have tried almost all of the tapas, they are all very good. The Sunday bar tender/manager is a great host, she really makes you feel at home. If your looking for a relaxing afternoon that won't cost a fortune, this is a great place to go.
(4)
Cindy H.

My foodie friend and I decided to try the La Tasca in Alexandria this month during their month-long Paella Festival BECAUSE a few weeks ago we attended a special Sangria tasting party at the La Tasca in DC and it was so delicious, the Sangrias and food were flowing so freely, and we had such a great time that we were curious to check out this event a little closer to (my) home. Score! The place was hopping when we arrived at 7 p.m. on a Friday night but the place is big (and we had reservations through Open Table) so we were ushered to our table right away. I liked the seating because while my friend took the chair, I got to sit on a banquette, which is a great thing for those of us who carry big purses. (Hey, you never know when you're going to need a flashlight and an umbrella!) Anyhoo . . . we had the $75 "Paella Package" for two, which included two tapas, a huge pan of paella, two desserts, and a bottle of wine or pitcher of Sangria. I love this place because they make about ten different kinds of Sangria, including some very unique ones ( think watermelon-kiwi and mango blackberry). I tried them ALL at the Sangria tasting party in DC and trust me, there are no wrong choices. In addition to having our choice of Sangrias, the tapas menu for the package dinner contained about ten choices, there were four different paellas to choose from, and about six desserts. We opted for a pitcher of the traditional red Sangria Tinta with diced apples and orange slices because we were thirsty, for heaven's sake, and we didn't want to negotiate over all the options. For tapas, we split plates of Tortilla Torera, a nicely cooked egg and potato omelet, and Brocheta de Gambas y Vieiras, skewers of grilled shrimp and bacon-wrapped scallops with a lemony sauce. Both were really nice starters -- great flavors and generous portions. For the main event, we chose the Paella Mixta, which contained chicken breast, chorizo, shrimp, scallops, mussels, and squid. La Tasca knows how to do paella, people. It came to the table in a sizzling hot pan and the crispy rice on the bottom of the pan was perfection. There was plenty of meat and seafood, and everything was tender and juicy. The squid was the most tender I've ever eaten. Dessert (ah, dessert!) was -- for him -- the Tarta de Pera, a moist pear and almond cake accompanied by a scoop of sangria sorbet, and -- for me -- churros, those irresistible Spanish crullers coated with cinnamon sugar. The churros came with a chocolate sauce for dipping, but I like them naked with just their sugary crust for cover. There were about six churro "loops" in a little fry basket, which meant four for me, one for my friend, and one left in the basket for my conscience. I also tasted his pear tart and it also was delicious. He's not a dessert guy and couldn't believe how much he liked the tart and the sangria sorbet, noting that the dessert was not overly sweet. He cleaned the plate. The wait staff at both the DC and Alexandria La Tascas go out of their way to be accommodating and welcoming, and the service is excellent. In spite of the crowds, we never felt rushed and we lingered over dinner for a good two hours. Around 9 p.m., a couple of guitarists appeared on a small stage at the front of the restaurant and provided a nice musical accompaniment to a great evening. La Tasca is not exactly a cheap dinner date but they have some great lunch and happy hour specials, and the bars at both locations are destinations in themselves, so there are some good deals to be had if you're in the right place at the right time. (There's also a La Tasca in Arlington but we haven't checked that one out . . . yet.) Long story short, get to La Tasca right now and plan to spend a couple of hours. You won't regret it.
(5)
Katie N.

Not a bad place. Went on a Saturday night probably around 7ish. I enjoy tapas and this was a nice double date with friends that live in the area. We tried three different sangria pitchers - mango blackberry, watermelon kiwi and finally the cava sangria. I think the Watermelon Kiwi was the favorite. Each of us ordered a tapas and then we split each among the four of us. We did two rounds of this and I can't remember all of them, but my definite favorite was the Buey a la Plancha - Slices of grilled New York strip steak served with oven-baked sliced potatoes and your choice of a sherry mushroom sauce or Cabrales cheese sauce. We chose the mushroom sauce and ordered the steak medium rare and it was delicious! I took some stars off because it was warm in the upstairs seating area where we were sat and the waiter took a while getting to us initially even though it wasn't that crowded. We were also given the wrong dish twice and had to be sent back to the kitchen.
(3)
Matthew G.

We've been here three times. The food hovers around the "meh, it's OK" area of the scale, with a few hits and a few misses. Something was off about the octopus last time we went, but most of the food skews salty and bland when it errs. The sangria is not well balanced. The room absorbs noise well, so it's great for families. It would be a solid three, therefore, but for the last time we went (and I mean the last time). The deal was five tapas and a glass of cava for $35. We ordered fifteen tapas for three people, then added an extra a la carte. The extra tapa never came. Our glasses of cava never came. All of our fifteen tapas came at one time, and we had to rush to finish food from the first plates they set down in order to make room on the table for the rest. They took our silverware when they cleaned the table then didn't bring us new ones for the dessert. We raided an empty table, but they only had forks and knives, and our ice cream was melting fast. The waitress came back and brought us more napkins, forks and knives, noted that we probably needed spoons but refused to give us any. Not really sure why. All in all, we didn't get what we ordered and paid for, didn't get the utensils we needed to eat what we got, and we felt rushed and harried. Quite unpleasant.
(2)
Said E.

I hope it's not very late to write about my 10 month old experience. The food was great. The unlimited Tapas is a really good deal. Friendly service and a selection of Sangria. We were 2 just my wife and I and we couldn't finish the second wave of Tapas. We only tried the seafood tapas and the vegetable Tapas they all been fresh and tasty.
(4)
Rachel S.

My husband and I went to La Tasca for a date night. Making a reservation for a Friday night was easy (and in the end, unnecessary - the place was not full). The atmosphere was fun - cozy and warm, with lots of small groups dining there. The service was good and our waitress seemed to know the menu very well. They have an interesting drink menu, including some fun cocktails and new takes on traditional sangria (one with white grape juice and cava that we enjoyed). The tapas were good, especially the gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp). We had to ask for bread, which I thought was odd, but the waitress brought it to us promptly. We ended up sharing 5 tapas between us, which left us full but not stuffed. I would definitely go back to La Tasca.
(4)
Sarah S.

My fiancÃ© and I went there for restaurant week for lunch and we got 16 different tapas! No we didn't eat them all but we did try all of them and some were great, some ok, and some sucked...the fried eggplant, angus beef, fried shrimp, and pork tenderloin were all awesome...the tomato salad, mushrooms aioli, calamari, Octupus and salmon were ok, nothing special... The lamb, mussels, fried potatoes all sucked.. I don't remember the names of all the stuff on the menu but I would say it was fun to try a variety of food especially for $20 bucks each. I probably wouldn't do it for dinner just cause u get the same stuff except u get dessert for dinner..not worth $15 bucks to me. Overall, it was fun, but I would probably go back only for sangria and the eggplant.
(3)
Mark J.

Went for tapas during a Friday happy hour. Really tasty and the sangrias were good too. Prices very reasonable. Will go back
(5)
Chris K.

Food was good second time here service is terrible and owners could care less said something and still got terrible service
(1)
Rochelle J.

I love La Tasca, especially during happy hour. The drinks a delicious and the food is great. I especially love the berenjenas with the cabrales cheese.
(5)
Amiyr B.

We just came from out of town and we were very excited to come to this restaurant. However we were mostly disappointed when we actually got our dinner. This is a place that I would give five stars for the service and two stars for the food. The food could have been warmer and seasoned more. We had the grilled asparagus, the salmon tapas, the potatoes bravas, and the fried eggplant. All of these dishes failed to impress us. They were okay but not remarkable. Nothing worth returning to this place for. We loved our server Jose he was remarkable it's too bad the food he was serving wasn't. Vegetarians shouldn't order the Vegetable Paella. We ordered it and we found out it was cooked with a piece of chicken inside the paella so we sent it back. We did however enjoy the spicy shrimp and the spinach tapas. But overall this place is pretty mediocre.
(3)
MJ S.

Favorite place ever. Every time we have visitors in town, this is our go-to place. I'm a sucker for tapas because I want to enjoy the diversity of a menu, and this is one place where each dish is more enticing than the next. We generally showcase this gem to out-of-towners with the La Tasca Tasting Menu and a handful of other dishes, then we revisit our favorites in round two. We stick to the traditional Sangria and have not been disappointed. Sometimes getting a table is tricky, but if you're up for a late dinner there's usually a spot and perhaps even live music and dancing. All around amazing experience!
(5)
Julie D.

We ate a late lunch here, party of 5 during the week, so the restaurant was nearly empty. We enjoyed extra attention from the server and the chef, and the food was delicious. I found most plates to be much less greasy than authentic spanish tapas that I've had elsewhere. The menu is extensive, and we tried the Unlimited Tapas for $20. The whole table has to order the Unlimited to try it, and it was well worth. The Buey al Jerez (grilled beef medallions) and Brocheta de Pollo (chicken skewers) were both seasoned perfectly, tender and flavorful but simple. Also a big hit was the pork in a cheese sauce, delish. The empanadas we tried were chicken and beef, we preferred the chicken. The mini paella valencia was nice but nothing outstanding, still a nice option on a Tapas menu. One person in our party has Celiac, which means no Gluten. The menu is labeled clearly which items are Gluten Free, but there are others on the menu that we hoped to order without sauce. The chef came out to personally assure us that he makes those sauces without gluten, so there were even more GF choices than labeled. Also fun is the long Sangria selection, with about 10 different flavors and combos. I had the Traditional and it was not too sweet, perfect. We could not have been happier with our lunch and service.
(5)
Ed G.

recently had dinner at La Tasca. Me and my wife shared a few tapas including the cazuela de setas (really tasted the mashed potatoes, not much else), empanadas de pollo (awesome empanadas), manchego frito (the orange marmalade was great to be mixed in with the cazuela de setas dish), berenjenas fritas (the dip was very unique), and the patatas de churrerÃa (probably our favorite, chips with a mint dip). A very pleasant experience with excellent service and with some very different tasting dishes.
(4)
Dan A.

La Tasca is one of our favorite family-friendly restaurants. Great selection, good deals for kids on Saturdays. Good value.
(4)
Chunnu B.

Well isn't this the happening place to be on a Monday night. La Tasca was pretty crowded all around when I showed up around 6:30 for dinner. Nothing was horrible, but nothing was great either. I will never fully understand the hype behind tapas/appetizers for dinner but I continue to hope that maybe, one day, I will come across a tapas restaurant which is truly as amazing as everyone makes them seem. My friend and I ordered a pitcher of Cava Sangaria, which is most definitely the route you want to take if you've had an annoyingly long Monday, like myself. Even better: If you order a pitcher of sangaria on a Monday, you get 1/2 off on 4 tapas. We had the chorizo, calamari, some sort of croquettes, and the "Datiles con Tocino." Ok, I take back what I said about nothing being great. The dates stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon were off the hook amazing. I wish I didn't have to share. Maybe I should just show up alone next time and enjoy a pitcher of sangaria and a plate of dates by myself!
(3)
Michelle D.

I just wasted 50$ on the most tasteless food ever. Of all the things we ordered, the only things that were... meh ok... were the empanadas. The chorizo is not at all like the chorizo I remember, tasted terrible and it was cold when we got it. In fact, none of the foods we ordered were hot. They were all lukewarm, probably had been sitting in their kitchen for a while. Portions are extremely small, that's expected because of the tapas, but I want to make sure that gets in here because after spending 50 dollars on 5 different things from their menu, we barely had food for two people. This means that if you're going to eat here, expect to spend a lot, and to be honest, its not worth it.
(1)
Wyld K.

The sangrias are tasty, and the tapas selection is great. Still, the food isn't so good that we want to keep coming back. Still, a good place to bring a group of people. We missed te live music everytime we stopped in, but that would definately help with the atmosphere.
(3)
Tyler R.

This was pretty much my first tapas experience. My girlfriend brought me here and I'm glad she did. It was great and the every item they brought out was excellent.
(4)
Joshua F.

Went here for happy hour and the drink and tapas menu is a really good deal. $4 drinks and sangria and $4 tapas plates. Me and my wife got like 5 plates and three drinks and the bill came out to $34. Not a bad deal.
(5)
Kathryn C.

Best tapas place around!! Can't get enough, and I've been going there for years. If you go to the bar, hope you're there on a night Fernando is working!
(5)
Liza O.

If I'm ever back in Alexandia, VA this is one place I know i will come back to. The ambiance of this place reminded me of a classy spanish eatery. They also had a live band later that evening. We were seated upstairs. If you enjoy Tapas and picking at varieties of different scrumptios appetizers rather than having a 1 dish meal. Than check out some of these selections we enjoyed dinning on. -white wine w/peach sangria -desert cinnamon bread w/ berries n cream -meat tapas beef empinada bacon wrapped pork loin with cheese sauce -seafood tapas seasoned sliced ahi shrimp in garlic olive oil with chili seeds -appits home made potato chips with 2 sauces
(4)
Alan T.

Went here with my lady for V day lunch and had a wonderful time. We had the unlimited tapas deal $20 per person and it was a great deal. The salmon, bacon-wrapped dates, mussels, sorreno ham, garlic olive shrimps were the star of the meal. Highly recommended!
(5)
Catherine G.

Second time coming here...and it was worse than the first. The first time, we were left feeling kind of mediocre about it. We werent sure if it was because we choose the paella, and didnt do the tapas. Well, last night we choose to do tapas as we normally do when we go to a tapas restaurant. It was a little after 530 and there was hardly anyone in the restaurant. We got sat right away and then waited, and waited for a server to acknowledge us. (I think there was only one other table there.) After 5 or 10 minutes, with me appearing as though I was OBVIOUSLY looking for someone, a server appeared. During the wait though, my husband asks me if I passed gas. Well, his exact words were, "Did you fart?" To which I replied, "no...not this time." So then he says, do you smell that. Which is when I started sniffing the air. Something DID smell funky....like sewage actually. Turns out there was a truck out front on the other side of the street doing something in the ground. It smelled off and on bad. Anyway, back to the food. It was mediocre as tapas goes. Which would have gotten a 3 star for this place. But wait! Waiter..there's a fly in my ...... ICED TEA! I swear to god I'm not lying, there was a fly in my husband's ice tea, which I ONLY noticed because it was SO big and he had drank ALMOST all of the tea. I saw it as the server was going to refill it and I picked it up and just gave it to her. She saw it too and just left the table and I tried to say, "Oh, maybe it was a bee or something." NOT! It was a friggin big fly! YUCK. So this occurs of course after we've nearly eaten everything, after which I just dont really have a stomache for anything and we quickly ask for the check. Now, this is where its weird. We ordered at least 7 tapas last night. Which brought the check to nearly $60, I forget the amount. But the manager came and said she was sorry for what happened and said she would adjust our check. (I'm still grossed out, but we didnt really fuss.) Maybe we should have, because all they did was take off $2.75 for the tea, and $3.25 for a part of a tapas. Really? $6.00? Was that the discount you are giving me for getting a fly in my beverage??? I dunno, maybe that was sufficient, but back in the day when I waited tables, I dont think so. Anyway, we're not going back again. It really isnt worth it. We'll probably go out to Jaleo next time near Crystal City.
(1)
Dave C.

Went here while on vacation & was looking for something different and interesting. I chose La Tasca over Las Tapas based on Yelp reviews. The restaurant is open & festive, but wasn't overly loud at 6pm on a Saturday. Very kid-friendly, and they have a non-tapas kids' menu. We brought in bagels from across the street for our younger kids, and the restaurant was totally cool with that. The free King St shuttle makes it easily accessible. The sangrias were tasty & refreshing, and our 13 yr old daughter greatly enjoyed a virgin sangria. We ordered the tapas sampler which is a combination of meats and veggies, and it was uniformly good. The standout was clearly the blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. The combination of flavors was so good that we got a 2nd order. In summary, if you're looking for something a little different and very tasty, I'd highly recommend La Tasca.
(4)
Kester A.

The rice on my $40 paella was totally undercooked. When i informed the waitress, she told me that the rice was supposed to be crunchy. Really!!!!! After some pressure they recooked the paella. The manager never showed up.
(1)
Stephanie A.

Ok- great deal actually for Restaurant Week- unlimited tapas for $20!! I had to try it out. The food was actually not great. The tomato salad with cheese was to be conceptually a tomato and cheese lover's dream!! But the tomatoes were not ripe at all. I am not talking about the texture- I'm talking about the flavor. So bland. When a dish has maybe 3 components then it might be good to have all 3 perfect or the whole thing is bad. The salmon was too fishy! Mussels also smelled off and were not properly cleaned. The sauce with the mussels was nice though. Shrimp also had no taste- it was like they boiled them before and tossed them in the sauce a while later. Paella was maybe the best, but the rice was not cooked properly. Chicken on the skewer was dry. Asparagus was the highlight of my meal... not sure what that means about the restaurant. And the sangria was a disgrace!! Strawberries were mushy and did not even have any alcohol taste so they must have been bad when going into the liquor. The worst part was the timing of the food. They came around to the table before we even got our first round of dishes and said it might be a good time to place your second order of food now. I was worried they were going to run out. People next to us that sat down after we came ordered way after us got their food first. Would never come back here.
(1)
G B.

Had a great meal here and the servers are really great!
(3)
Valencia W.

I am sure glad I came here for Restaurant week for their $20.10 Unlimited Tapas. I feel like I need to come to this place just one more time to make sure I remind my self of Espana. I don't know what chef was cooking today, but I do know that this reminded me sitting at sunset in Malasana (Madrid) munching on some tapas. I really was in need to go and check out restaurants for Restaurant week and I decided to check out La Tasca. Parking as always, sucks. It's King Street...don't need to say anything else. The service was superb, my parents and I were well taken care of and they were very helpful. We had a great experience as all the food was cooked well, the tomato salad was amazing, the salmon was very good, the paella wasn't too bad the buey was shockingly very good and yes, the churros were perfect. I kind of wish they had Gazpacho ... Regardless, I would definitely come back again, and I just might for more tapas and sangria. Can't get a better $20 for Unlimited Tapas--you've got to go.
(4)
Merly T.

We sat at the bar and the service was super slow on saturday night. They had a live band (That was actually cool) people were dancing and having a good time. The salmon was ok.
(3)
Mrs. S.

Ate here for Christmas Eve dinner. I made a reservation for 4 but we ended up eating in the bar--not because the restaurant was packed (it wasn't), but because it was happy hour! Yes, this place is great if only for the fact that happy hour doesn't get a holiday :) I've eaten here a few times before, and I will say my favorite is the beef empanadas, the fried eggplant, the chicken, and the potato chips. The queso-like sauce that comes with some of the things tastes a little funky to me but hubby enjoys it. I like the spicy queso that comes with the empanadas--it's like the Spanish version of spicy mayo. Also, excellent sangrias! The one with whipped cream sounds a little weird, but if you have a sweet tooth then you will love it.
(5)
Carol W.

I went here with my BF and some friends after drinks earlier in the evening. Normally I am a huge fan of tapas; I like eating many small plates - gives me the opportunity to try numerous dishes. Tonight - we started off with a charcuterie platter (our friends ordered the cheese platter). I was extremely disappointed with this plate. The meats were overly "dried" Almost likely they were old rather than fresh. Though I will say that the cheese platter was good with a good and diverse selection. The second plate we had was the friend eggplant. This was delicious! Our main entree was the Longosta paella (lobster). The lobster was very good, cooked perfectly, though the scallops had a grittiness to them that took away from the enjoyment of the other seafood in the dish. To top it all off, the rice was completely oversalted. For the price and the amount of food that came out, I was extremely disappointed. I definitely prefer other tapas restaurants in Old Town and certainly in DC more so than I did La Tasca.
(2)
Diana D.

restaurant week is the only time i ever come here... why?! because it's probably the best deal on EARTH. unlimited tapas for twenty buckaroos. kept a couple menus at our table and ordered as we went along. popular dishes were the eggplant crispies, calimari, steak, & apple salad. everything else was kind of a blur of waves of laughter~ always a sign of good times with good friends =) ... and la tasca's sangria.
(4)
Teresa J.

Ive been to this location multiple times. I really enjoy all of the different types of sangria they have. The Cava sangria is a sparkling white wine with blueberries... delicious. The La Tasca sangria is made with red wine, apples, and cinnamon sticks... also delicious. They even have non alcoholic sangria! The tapas are great as well. My favorite items are the Solomillo de Cerdo (pork wrapped in bacon in a delicious cheese sauce), Berenjenas Fritas (thinly sliced fried eggplant with a cheese sauce for dipping), and the Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp in oil with roasted garlic and red pepper flakes). Staff has always been extremely helpful and nice. I definitely recommend La Tasca for a great lunch, dinner, or happy hour!
(5)
Nicole E.

It has been a while since I had tapas, so this was a must on my list of places to go this week. We went in late and the restaurant was packed, but that didn't stop us from being seated in a timely fashion and being servered quickly. We shared a pitcher of sangria (how can you not in a tapas place?) and ended up taking our forks to the fruit at the bottom after draining the pitcher. We had 7 different tapas and loved them to bits and pieces!! There was nothing left when the waiter came to clear the table. If I have only one complaint it was that it was hard to talk when the live music was playing - but that wouldn't stop me from eating there because it was so delicious.
(5)
Kathleen Q.

Our group of three made lunch reservations for Sunday, February 10, 2012, the last day of Restaurant Week. (We drove miles from Maryland for this restaurant centrally located to the group.) It was almost unbelievable to imagine "unlimited tapas" for $20.11. We showed up on time and upon being greeted, we were told that the kitchen was running 30 minutes behind. Not a good sign to be greeted with this information. It went down hill from there. This was by far the worst restaurant experience I have ever had. The waitress did not introduce herself by name so we never knew her name. She too advised us that the kitchen was running behind on orders. She would take our order in parts and place the order for food that could be prepared quickly first, so that we would have something to eat. We each ordered 3 tapas, confirming with her that our choices could be quickly prepared. She had to go back to the bartender in order to answer my question about available beers - pale ales, IPAs. That took 5 minutes. Then, when she took our drink order it took another 10 minutes for the drinks to arrive. About 20 minutes after the drinks arrived she checked back at our table, with no food. Again saying the kitchen was behind, she said she would check on the order. I had to ask for another beer. We didn't see her again for another 20 minutes. By now we had been in the restaurant for about an hour with no food. People at tables who came in after us had been served and two tables were on their second order of food. We had nothing. How long can it take to prepare these small plates? We flagged down the greeter and asked to see the manager. There was no manager there. The waitress returned to our table again with no food, apologized and said she would check on the order again. Finally, different person came with a tray of food and starting passing it out without identifying what each was. We had to ask. It was nothing we had ordered. Starving, we took it. The waitress returned and we told her that the other staff delivered food which was not ours but after 1.5 hours we took it. She went to the kitchen again. Then the tapas we think we ordered - it had been so long - began to arrive. Like a kamakaze bombing the table, this guy would go by with the tapas, leave it on the edge of the table and mumble something unintelligible as he kept walking away. We had no idea what it was he had left and for which of us it was for. He did that twice. Finally another staff person came over to ask about our problem. Never introduced himself. We explained that it was now 2 hours after arriving. We had received 2 tapas, of the 9 we had originally ordered at about 2:15. We exclaimed that this was simply unacceptable and that we had yet to receive all of the order that should have been placed initially, which we had now ordered twice. We were starving. By 4 PM we had received 8 tapas, only 2 of which we had originally ordered around 2:15. This staff person, whomever he was, apologized and said he would not charge us for any of the food that had been brought to the table. He gave us the bill for the drinks. Others protested, saying there drinks should be credited for our trouble. He took the bill as if he were going to adjust it. Then he came back to the table and said: "Just leave." We did. Never in my entire life have I had such a horrible dining experience. Won't be back. If I could give it NO STARS I would. But this review must require at least one in order to complete the post!
(1)
Brian C.

I came in for a drink and a quick bite after an event. The food and atmosphere is always great, though the service can be a little slow.
(4)
Atif A.

This was my first experience with tapas and paella. It was a dinner for my birthday planned out by my Fiance. So it was her myself, and my sister trekking our way out to Old Town. So we get there and it's packed, a band is playing, and people are having a great time. How bad could it be? We sat down in a very interesting seating arrangement. It was very rustic and very Spanish. I liked it a lot, it's nice to see restaurants go back to their roots, without having to be tacky. So we ordered a plethora of tapas and a seafood Paella. To drink, of course, a pitcher or two of Sangria. Everything was cooked perfect, had so much flavor. The sauce and oils that they used was of the highest quality and flavor. It was just insane how amazing and how much flavor they packed into these tiny dishes. Now the Paella came out. And once I put the first bite into my mouth, it was all over... I felt almost as if in heaven and eating like a God. I very rarely enjoy food this much, but it was amazing, and it inspired me to attempt to make my very own Paella later that week. The only reason I have given it 4 stars is because of some shady business our server tried to play.. She was incredibly hot and attractive, and possibly thought that because she was that she'd get away with this. We were doing split tender between the lot of us, and gave her cash and credit. More than 60% on cash and 40% on credit. She came back with a receipt from the credit card transaction and no cash. The receipt showed the entire amount charged to the card and the cash for herself. Once I asked her why she did this, she said, "oh, I thought that was my tip" ONLY REASON FOR THE 4 STAR.
(4)
E L.

This is a happy hour review. Pollo Frito - 2 stars (chicken was very dry) Calamares - 2.5 stars Pan a la Catalana - 2 stars Gambas Gabardina - 3 stars Service - 2 stars
(2)
Margaret O.

Seeking a light lunch in Alexandria, we opted for La Tasca yesterday. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived but the hostess asked us if we had reservations and then lead us to a tiny table for two when there were plenty of four top tables available and also some for two with more room to spread out. I wish someone would let me know why hostesses insist on seating people in sub par tables. We were very polite so there was no reason to "punish" us! Anyway, back to the food. We wanted a light lunch and La Tasca delivered. First, the "not so goods:" the Pan Catalan was very tasty but weirdly cold, the sherry was not chilled which was a surprise. One the upside, the salad we ordered had a lovely mix of veggies including a perfect avocado, the scallops were firm and the patatas bravas came in a generous serving size. I need to return for a dinner sometime to do the menu justice. The interior is fun and colorful on a dull cold day and it seems like the array of sangrias was broad. Just don't put baby in the corner : )
(3)
Regina S.

Yum. I wish we had something like that in Fort Lauderdale
(5)
Patricia S.

Can I just say MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM? A friend and I came here - she used to live nearby and recommended it. Her pitch had me at "peach sangria," but I got so much more! We ordered 8 small plates, including the Pan a la Catalina, Jamon Serrano, the Tabla de Quesos, the Paella with chorizo, the tomato salad with goat cheese, Patatas Bravas and the Salmon a la Plancha, along with a whole pitcher of the aforementioned sangria. Yes, it was just for two people. Yes, we ate a LOT. The table service was fantastic, and the waitress brought out a few plates at a time so that we weren't over crowded with food (the pigs that we were!) and the decor was fabulous. Warm orangey tones and plush reds dominated the space, with Spanish artifacts adorning the walls. And, to top it all off, there was a group playing flamenco guitar. So romantic! As my friend said of the band, "I want to have all of their babies, and I don't even know what they look like!"
(5)
Evan B.

Never disappointed in the several times I ate here. Probably had half of the tapas menus over the years and the were all excellent and the prices very reasonable. Their house sangria is wonderful and full of fruit if you care to get the extra "bite" at the end of the pitcher.
(5)
J R.

Fellow foodies, please let me begin my review of my visit on the evening of Thursday 9 August 2013 with two simple words: STALE PICOS. I believe that the Jamon they served me was prosciutto. I'll have to reverify on another visit. This place is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE FOR THE SO-CALLED SPANISH FOOD. Very few noteworthy positive points: - a cheesy selection of sangrias (which I imagine could impress anyone who has never been to Spain, where Tinto Verano is the choice wine cocktail beverage), - Estrella beer on tap (served really cold), and - Flamenco dancers single performance on Thursday nights (but the live guitar music accompaniment is way too fast to allow the beautiful dancing to shine). My suggestion to the restaurant: shut down the kitchen forever, and serve only Estrella beer on Thursday nights only.
(1)
Jon K.

Two stars and not much more. Why oh why does this chain get so high of reviews. I have been here several times and it's basically a DMV tapas chain. The only reason we keep coming back is because it's close to home and my wife likes it. There are a few things I like about this restaurant and a few things that I don't so I'll go ahead and list the pros and cons: Pros: 1. The Paellas are fantastic 2. I'm a sucker for Sangria at these kinds of places and they have a good selection. 3. There has been a $25 gift certificate on Restaurant.com for some time now so that is fantastic for a discount if you're lucky enough to get one. Cons: 1. The management and staff can be VERY rude at times, my wife and I have encountered this at several locations including Alexandria, DC, and Baltimore. 2. Sometimes it can get very crowded and the management and staff don't seem to care. 3. Some of the small tapas dishes are overpriced and not worth the money. 4. Did I mention this place has no concept of "customer service"? 5. They won't let you use gift certificates or gift cards on items on "special" Give me a f@#&ing break. The restaurant itself has a crazy spanish style ambience that looks like it just came out of "corny designs for chain restaurants USA". Let's not try to make it out to La Tasca in the future unless we're desperate...lol
(2)
Susan C.

Disgusting. That is the only word that could describe our meal at La Tasca on King Street last night. This is the first time I have ever eaten there and I hope through my suffering, other yelpers will know to avoid it like the plague that it is. I left last night with a bitter taste in my mouth figuratively and literally. My friend and I were lured to this restaurant by positive reviews on yelp and a restaurant.com gift certificate. We ordered the Seafood Tapas Tasting Menu at $48 + two sodas. Not exactly cheap, but doable. We thought this would be a great opportunity to sample what La Tasca had to offer. I guess it was called a tasting menu for a reason though. They certainly weren't expecting us to eat the slop that they gave us. Our meal started out pleasantly enough. Our first tapa was the Ensalada de Espinacas (Spinach and Cabrales cheese salad) followed by the Calamares Andaluza (Fried calamari with garlic mayonnaise), Aritos de la Huerta (Fried onion, green and red pepper rings), and Setas al Ajillo (Mushrooms sautÃ©ed in garlic and olive oil). Those dishes tasted fine, but it's pretty difficult to ruin vegetables and fried food. We then had very mediocre Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp sautÃ©ed in olive oil). The consistency of the shrimp was rather rubbery. It was definitely overcooked and I suspect it wasn't the freshest. Next we had the Paella Valenciana (Chicken and mixed seafood paella). The rice was soggy and the tomato sauce overpowered the dish. These dishes were not great but compared to the rest of the meal they were divine. Next, we had the Salmon a la Plancha (Grilled salmon, spinach and fried mussels). The dish was topped with overfried mussles. The salmon was so overcooked we thought it was chicken. It looked that dry. Upon tasting, it really turned out to be that dry. Although, if it were chicken, and it looked like that, it probably would have been moist. But we were still content with our meal. Little did we suspect what came next. The climax of our meal was supposed to be Vieiras Cava (grilled scallops in a flavorful champagne sauce). It was flavorful alright, but in all the wrong ways. The dish was so salty, it was inedible. Upon first bite, the salt devastated my taste buds. I thought the dish couldn't be worse than that initial taste, but I was wrong. After swallowing a sliver of the bringy nugget, what was left of my palette was encoated with bitterness. We had no choice but to leave two of the three scallops on the plate for they were clearly not fit for ingestion. We deliberated on whether to say something, but the scallops were really disappointing so we told the waiter about the taste. He volunteered to take the dish away. We thought he was going to replace it with a corrected dish, but we were wrong. We never heard about the scallops again until the bill came. When we got the check, we asked the waiter about the scallops, to which his response was "Oh, yea, we tried them in the kitchen and they were really salty." To which I then inquired why he didn't replace them. The waiter told us that another dish would likely be just as salty and that he could not deduct the cost of it from our bill because we got the tasting menu. After deducting the restaurant.com certificate amount from our bill, we were left with a total of approximately $41 to pay for 2 people. I am appalled that a restaurant would admit that their food was inedible and would do nothing to remedy the situation. I wasn't expecting or even asking for a free meal, but I do not think it too much to expect not to have to pay for the scallops. If I could leave zero stars or less, I would, but unfortunately the lowest Yelp allows me is 1. Essentially I had to pay a good amount of money for a terrible experience. It ruined my entire night. I Probably would have been better off going to Five Guys or Popeyes down the street.
(1)
Kat L.

Hi there party of 12, its 9pm and we're closing so despite the fact that you were just served your food, can you put in your dessert order now? What? Tapas is tapas. This place has a fairly large selection and keeps it pretty savory and concise without being weird. Being in a large group we ordered 2 paellas (which take 40 minutes to prepare so order that as soon as you sit down if thats what tickles your fancy) and 2 tasting menus- the meat, and the seafood. I dont know what about me screams "I love seafood, I want to live, breathe, swim, and die in it, please put it in front of me" but I'd say a good 80% of the dishes were placed in front of me. WHY? There are already 8 plates in front of me, share the wealth! Not to mention, I'm the only one at the table deathly allergic to seafood and shellfish. BAH! From what I could eat I liked the sliced, fried eggplant, sauteed spinach, bacon wrapped (dates / figs?), and my arugula salad was fantastic (although drowning in dressing). We had two dessert samplers, and people seemed to wolf them down. I only tried the chocolate cake thingie, and the ice cream. The boy said flan was actually pretty good. And cousin JB went bananas for the churros comparing them to a mini version of a costco churro Pros - Took a large group last minute - half priced sangria Thursdays (imho it should always be half priced- its just o,k. We tried 3 kinds) - larger than normal tapas portions - quality ingredients - friendly staff Cons - lighting sucks (i still have a headache 3.5 hours later) - Close early even with a group eating, drinking, and celebrating - Bread never came out. Ordered it 3 times. Twice from the same waiter - Forgot my arugula salad, twice. - unfriendly hostess, aloof, and anorexic.
(2)
Thomas W.

Tapas! Tapas! Tapas in a fun atmosphere. This place is a bargain. Is it a place for real foodies? Perhaps not, but you will really enjoy the great variety of food. This is a great place for a celebration. Bring your appetite!
(3)
debbie a.

This is the type of restaurant that is on the verge of being a good one. You would to LOVE it, but you just cant because well.. they miss on the food. I have been here a multiple occasions.. trying my hardest to love this place by trying everyone on the menu.. NOTHING has wowed me at all or made me crave their food again. I am NOT comparing this to actual Spanish Tapas (never been to Spain) but comparing this to what my palate would expect from great Spanish flavors - paprika, garlic, Spanish Olive Oil, pimentos or other peppers.. .. Its just Missing a bit of it. I needs some boosting on the flavor and I swear I will love it. The sangrias are never the same when I go there. Sometimes it is watery others it is just... too strong but NEVER BAD. Try them out. The decor (great - could just a tiny bit of an update ie..floor tiles replaced, bathrooms updated) The atmosphere is nice, the music/dancers -great touch
(2)
Amy A.

Best spanish tapas place I've been to! My favorite is the steak, the aspargus and the patas bravas - very delicious! If you go when they have restaurant week, or on various holidays, they will have unlimited tapas for like around $25 per person or things like a three course meal for two for $30, things like that. Pretty good sangria as well. It's a very cute date spot too, and not far from the water, so you can go for a stroll after dinner :)
(5)
Andrew I.

Was here for a dinner with friends. The waiter was less then interested in us when we first arrived. Half the group arrived first and he didn't come over to introduce himself and get us started with some drinks while we waited for the other half; we were completely ignored. Service only marginally improved the rest of the meal. The food was a little above average, with exception of the flan dessert which had too strong a taste of egg and was likely undercooked. Other dishes were well prepared. Things really went downhill when the live spanish music started playing and it was so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. After trying to put up with it for 15 minutes our heads hurt it was so loud so we left.
(2)
Crys C.

fabulous selection of tapas with mouth watering flavors. happy hour specials are awesome!
(5)
Caitlin C.

This is the second time I've been here. The first time, my boyfriend and I were walking around Old Town and he dragged me in here to try something new, I had no clue what a "tapas" was (yes, I ordered one dish...), and left angry and dissatisfied. This experience was much, much better! A couple we know made reservations here for Friday night and my boyfriend and I met them there and sat in the upstairs seating area. The atmosphere was fun and loud. There was a live band and lots of happy lively people sitting around us. I felt a little bad for the one couple trying to have a romantic date at the table next to us. I know we and the group sitting behind us were loud! This isn't the kind of place where you would go to have a quick bite. It was a much more relaxed, tiered event. We started with a pitcher of Traditional Sangria ($23), delicious, and loaded with fruit. I didn't know what to order, so we ordered the La Tasca Tasting Menu and ordered Chorizo a la Parrilla, Solomillo de Cerdo IbÃ©rico, and Brocheta de Gambas y Vieiras to split amongst the 4 of us. Mid meal, we ordered another pitcher of Sangria...and by this point I'd had enough of the first Sangria that I don't recall what type we ordered on the second round... The food was so great and enough to fill us up! I can imagine that the bill was high, but worth it for a special occasion :)...probably about $123 without tax. The waiters brought out 2 rounds of tapas because the amount we ordered didn't fit on the table. My favorite dishes were: Chorizo a la Parrilla (YUM), Solomillo de Cerdo IbÃ©rico (bacon wrapped anything can never go wrong. This was the upper eschelon of bacon wrappage),Solomillo de Buey (steak and potatoes mm!), Patatas Brava (oh my gosh this was filling and comforting), and Ensalada de Tomates (I hate tomatoes. I loved this). The sangrias, as I have stated were awesome and made me want to dance. Unfortunately, nobody was dancing at 10:00.
(4)
Marivic L.

I've been to the Old Town La Tasca 3 times now. The waiters are always attentive, the seating is comfortable (I especially like the pillows when I sit on the bench side) and I like the mixed up decor. The food, while good, is nothing spectacular. serrano ham, catalana bread, & manchego cheese appetizer - yum fried calamari - cooked well, crisp, but could use more flavor sauteed calamari w/olives in white wine - meh dates stuffed with blue cheese, wrapped in bacon - good mussels in pepper and tomato marinara - good grilled asparagus - good, but wish they were the thicker kind spinach w/raisins and pine nuts - good Honestly, if you want better tapas, just go to Jaleo. In a pinch, and if you're in the area, La Tasca is just fine if you're in the mood for a meal with tons of variety.
(2)
Mark N.

Bottom line: Avoid. Mediocre at best. Things which should be cooked less ... way overcooked (e.g. tenderloin and scallops). Things which should be cooked more .. basically raw (brussel sprouts). Things which should be unique-- a bread special with garlic and cheese .. soggy Pizza Hut mess. Noise so high people were screaming at each other. I won't be coming back, and you shouldn't bother.
(2)
Harrison L.

This place is just great. Amazing. Wonderful. Delicious. Spectacular. Imagine getting to have a little taste of all sorts of perfectly made, unique dishes and wash it down with a selection of sangria made by actual Spaniards. Jorge is a cool waiter.
(5)
Joseph M.

I've been here a bunch of times. I was hoping things would get better, but they haven't. I just wasn't impressed. Sangria and food was meh. The place is beautiful inside. Chinatown location is A LOT better.
(2)
Matthew R.

I've never had tapas before, so I can't compare La Tasca to other places, but it was a decent meal. My wife and I ordered a delicious charcuterie plate to start, which was the highlight of the meal. We also ordered the grilled shrimp and bacon-wrapped scallops, which were a little disappointing, empanadas (2 orders--they were pretty good), spinach croquettes, eggplant roll-ups with goat cheese and red pepper, and lamb chops. Everything was tasty, but the bill came to $60, which I thought was high for the overall quality. But, as a recent Philly-area transplant to DC, I am quickly realizing that the price point is a little off here generally (30% higher than comparable fare would be in Philadelphia). I suppose I just need to get used to it if I am expecting a nicer meal in this area...
(3)
E P.

Had lunch special -2 tapas for $12. Pretty reasonable. I was with family, so we split 6 tapas. My favorites were the paella verduras and espinica. The paella was a bit salty though. For dessert we tried the sampler- flan, choco lava cake, tres leches sponge cake, and churros. The flan was the best of them all. Our mesero (server) was really nice. We even got a free cup!
(4)
Los A.

The location, interior decoration, and atmosphere of La Tasca give it the three stars at minimum. The food is good but I wouldn't consider it top notch Spanish food. I feel the food lacks those flavors that come to my mind when I use to live in Spain. All I did in Spain was eat tapas, watch soccer, and drink with old Spanish men. The best time of my life to be honest. The staff is friendly and outgoing which replicates the Spanish hospitality in bars and restaurants. I tried the white wine sangria and was decent but prefer the red sangria. I give them thumbs up for having specials through out the week. I really enjoy the atmosphere and location which allows me to be not so critical of the food. I recommend this place for anyone looking to experience the "tapas" experience.
(4)
Kyra S.

My husband and I had a genuinely nice time here. I had low/no expecatations coming in, I knew La Tasca was a chain (though a local one) and my expectations were tempered by this. My only complaint is that it is on the pricey side, however DC Restaurant Week and Alexandria week are both coming up ASAP, so I plan on returning then. We had sangria, seafood, shrimp, mushrooms (excellent), bacon-wrapped scallops (recommended) it's a great atmosphere, we had nice window seating and our server was excellent. Definitely coming back! Next time I will get a pitcher of sangria.
(5)
Mark L.

Had dinner here with my two teenage children. We split a meat tapas tasting menu - I highly recommend this as it gave us a chance to sample the tapas. I had a glass of El Primavera wine from Spain. The whole experience was wonderful - and with live music. The tres leches desert was scrumptious. For the price and quality of food La Tasca is hard to beat!
(4)
Angelica R.

Love this restaurant! The service is excellent and the food is delicious and the drinks are awesome. Will definetly be back.
(4)
Brian H.

The duck with apples and mashed garlic potatoes is amazing. Really enjoyed the pork wrapped in bacon and the seared sushi grade tuna. The flauta stuffed with banana creme is the best dessert have had in the area.
(5)
Bruce B.

In fairness it was late when I went in because I was hungry and tired of looking for a place to eat. Lots of fried food which I try to avoid. I wasn't sure what to get so had three plates. the shrimp/scallop skewer was pretty good, probably a clear three out of five. The waiter told me this was what a lot of folks ordered. That said i've certainly had better at a lot of places. The meatballs were ok, but you didn't really get a lot. For almost the same price I could pretty much get a pasta/meatball dinner at a lot of places that would have been as good if not better. The ground beef empanada I could have done without. There was hardly anything in it, it was fried and it wasn't really even that good. Next time I hope to get to town a little earlier and not feel pressured into eating at a place that didn't have a lot of things I like. I did spend a bunch of money here though and walked out wishing I'd spent $10 at Chipotle instead. It was right up the street and would have been much more satisfying. Service was good, atmosphere nice, just hey I like a good dinner for my money. Luckily there's lots of restaurants in this town.
(2)
Nicole J.

Maybe it's because I'm comparing it to tapas from Spain, but these were just ok. I would go back, but only if someone in a group wanted to. Las Tapas was better.
(2)
Serena P.

I have dined here severals time and I truley have to say it is either "hit or miss" - each experience is never quite the same. I am a creature of habit since I have alot of food allergies, and I pretty much always order the same thing with little tweaks here and there. Everytime I eat here the tapas can be either PERFECT or too dry or salty. Complete mystery to me! But I will continue to keep trying....after all, the best experiences were definatley worth it!
(3)
Aaron W.

We went for dinner Saturday night. I was very disappointed. The food was so over priced. I ordered rice and a sausage. The sausage was the size of my thumb, payed 6 dollars and it tasted bad. The service was slow and some of the waiters did not speak English. My friend's Salmon was raw and had to wait for a new plate. Don't waste your money. We ended up at Taco Bell a few hours later because we were still hungry.
(1)
Rowland S.

La Tasca is an experience, it has a really cool atmosphere that hits you as soon as you step in the door. For those who have never been to a Tapas bar before what they serve is Spanish style appetizers in small dishes. It may sound a little strange but it is allot of fun, especially if you go with a close group of friends and the entire group can share all the dishes you order. My wife and i have been here about 10 time now and have never had a bad meal. The service has always been polite and prompt and they have an extensive selection of different kinds of Sangria. If you are looking for something different from the normal Friday night fair, stop in with an open mind and i doubt you will be disappointed.
(4)
Lissa -.

I love this place. Very warm and inviting with great food! They also have live music. Ole!
(5)
SD L.

meh. average wine. good (not great) food. was hoping for more
(3)
Virath P.

Brief review: Love the food and the price is reasonable! The free music (evenings only?) is refreshing and great for background music in a place that's great for dates and even families alike. I totally recommend the bartender Jimmy to take care of you (he's got a pony tail and pointed sideburns) because he's an awesome bartender and I am not just saying it.
(4)
Bill V.

If you go here expecting something out of Barcelona or Madrid you will be disappointed. That being said it is pretty good tapas for this area. I like the house beer and the feel of the place us pretty authentic.
(3)
Tawana Nicole H.

enjoyed the two for ten bucks deal
(3)
Carrie B.

Eh. I've had much better. Shared the vegetarian paella with a friend and we both agreed it was way too salty. I definitely agree with the other reviewers that the sangria is really weak, although tasty. The fried potatoes and tomato dip appetizer was good but then how do you screw up potato chips? Shared paella, app and a pitcher of sangria came to $75 with tip. WAY overpriced if you ask me. I won't return any time soon.
(2)
Kelly C.

This place get a 5 star for food and a 1 star for sangria. Maybe some people enjoy their sangria, but I've lived in Spain before and this sangria is soooooo not authentic. But if you like it, the price is good during happy hour. Just don't expect authentic sangria here. The food is good though. The paella, although still not living up to Spain standards, is some of the best I have had in the U.S. The prices are better than Las Tapas, just a block away. The tapas are bigger too and they are also good. The entertainment is pretty nice on the weekends. I will always go here if I want some paella or tapas, but I got to Las Tapas for sangria.
(4)
Lin X.

In dire need of a sangria fix - stopped in for a drink but this was unfortunately BEFORE they repealed the stupid no mixing of liquor and wine law in VA. Drink was tasty, tasty like fruit juice but hopefully now that they won't get fined for mixing sangria the way it's supposed to be made it will taste more like they are suppose to.
(2)
Tiffany L.

This place has the worst service. We went in and sat in the bar and never got service. There were only a couple of occupied tables in the entire restaurant and at least two waiters and the bar tender walking around who never stopped by our table. We ended up leaving and going to Las Tapas down the street.
(1)
L P.

tapas were horrible. paella was okay. they couldn't get the sofrito right but after tasting the tapas, well... that wasn't a big surprise. i kept thinking how do they stay in business?? tourists... so sad. and so expensve!
(1)
Dave R.

GREAT! We've been several times and it's always very good food. Strongly recommended.
(5)
Danielle C.

Tasty tapas. The Sangria was a little weak.
(3)
Gina L.

Wonderful restaurant! Everything we ordered was good. We had the garlic cheese bread to start. Then we had two beef dishes...one with blue cheese mashed potatoes and one with fingerling potatoes. I'd say the one with fingerling potatoes was my favorite. I also LOVED the shrimp and scallop skewer. The Mediterranean salad was very good too...lots of olives. Great atmosphere. One a Friday night, we made reservations for two online and were able to get seated right away. Seemed to be a wait for those that didn't have reservations. Their classic sangria is very good...$22 for a pitcher.
(4)
Lisa d.

I'm from Spain- the food is completely unauthentic but also really bad.. the drinks were fine and atmosphere decent0 hence 2 stars but would not recommend and not go back,
(2)
Summer P.

Good food but tremendously overpriced. Two stars for overall value. Everything was about $2 overpriced per plate. Regardless here is a review of the flavors! Matadores cocktail is well balanced. Brussels sprouts cooked very well. Sweet potato fries made a nice hash. The food is lovely. Just vastly overpriced.
(2)
Yesha S.

Sangria had very old fruit and looked disgusting. The food was good, but wasn't very varied. My family and I were in a celebratory mood, and decided to go around King Street. Our beloved Tapas place in Alexandria had shut down, so though I was hesitant about trying out a chain restaurant but decided to give it a try. We arrived around 2 pm, so it was after the lunch rush. My mom was craving a sangria, we ordered the Sangria Rosada. When it came out we were so excited and started drinking. The taste was good but when we looked into the pitcher at the fruit... it was disgusting. The fruit looked like it had been reused or had been sitting there for ages. I'm sure freshfruit is readily available, this definitely looked canned and OLD. We became a bit discouraged after that. We ordered quite a bit of food, and the food was delicious. The bacon wrapped pork was my favorite. I would give this place more stars but the sangria was awful. Other than that our waiter was not attentive at all. I understand it wasn't during the lunch or dinner rush, but we often had to go find him... and he would be on his phone with the other waiters in the back of the restaurant.
(3)
Jenny L.

Everything we order was great. The beef empanadas was the best that I have had. It's not greasy and the shell was soft and the added taste of bell pepper really boost the flavor. The lamb chop was also very good. The sangria was perfect for me since it was not very sweet and the alcohol content was not very strong. The salad was fresh and the seasoning for the ahi tuna was very good. The tuna was a bit tough to split with my fork. The last dish was the bean spout with dates and toasted almond. It's a bit salty with soy sauce but it was still good over all. The ONLY drawback to this place is the fact that we feel we were rushed to leave with the waiter/bus boy trying to collect our plates while we were still eating and bring us out check before we were ready. Hence the star removed
(4)
Joey N.

I love the ambiance of La Tasca. It just feels like you've stepped into another world. I went during lunch, so it very quiet/empty. I sat at the bar area, but noticed maybe 5 occupied tables in the main dining area. My server appeared quickly and was great at recommending which sangria I should try. I got the cadillac sangria (red) and it was tasty enough, but felt watered down. I did see a few flying insects in the restaurant and they keep the sangria pitchers (behind the bar) open for easy access for the bartender, so that was a bit disconcerting. My server helped me decide on my tapas, since they offer 2 tapas and 1 non-alcoholic beverage for $14 as a lunch special. They have an unlimited tapas lunch option as well, but I forget the cost. My food was brought out pretty quickly. The chicken skewers were sooo good. The orange sauce they put on it is great, but the dip they offer with it is the icing on the cake. My empanadas weren't as terrific. The outside was good, but the beef filling was eh. I'd love to try the chicken or seafood empanadas though. Overall, I'd go back...especially for dinner and the days they have the flamingos dancers.
(4)
Bri H.

La Tasca, La Tasca, La Tasca....I freaking love this place. Let me tell you! I absolutely love Spanish tapas style restaurants and La Tasca doesn't disappoint. I came here last minute on Saturday night and surprisingly, it wasn't too busy. We got there around 8 and it was busy but not too busy to the point you had to wait for hours to be seated. We were seated right away. When you walk in, there is a beautiful long bar with a HUGE, I mean HUGE projector screen (the best way to watch sports). We were seated in the dining area at a small table which was perfect. Now to the food; the menu is in Spanish 0.o but the descriptions are in English so you know exactly what you are ordering. Our server was awesome because every time I read off the description of the dish, because my Spanish is "oh not so good" HA, he knew exactly what I was ordering without even looking at the menu. He even repeated the order back by each dishes proper name...Wow go you! Ha. They have a variety of options to choose from so everyone will find something that they'll like. That is the best part of tapas; you can order 5-8 different dishes and try a little bit of everything!! :D We ended up ordering a pitcher of red Sangria which was sooooo freaking good, it made me look up recipes the next day so I could make my own at home. For tapas, we had the chicken empanadas, shrimp & bacon, crab cakes, and the Brussel sprouts. Everything was amazingly good. OMG! But listen to me when I say that the crab cakes were some of the best that I have ever had! They were peppery and loaded with straight crab! I definitely want to try more tapas when I come back next time. There is so much to choose from! All in all, I loved my experience at La Tasca. The server we had was phenomenal, the food was elegant & delicious, and the sangria was refreshing & hit the SPOT! I will most definitely be back to visit La Tasca in the near future. I read that they have live music and dancers on specific nights so I am looking forward to that. :D Favs:Crab cakes and Sangria. Also, our server was informative and observant. Would Change: You should sell your Sangria in a bottle, I mean it's only right :P
(5)
Eric T.

Been here a few times. Usually spot on. Today the food was not up to par. Meat was a little too chewy. Came for a late brunch. Portions were good but taste was just ok. Was sitting between 3-4 stars. Decided to go 4 because the server recognized us from a previous stay. She was friendly and remembered details from months before. That's worth an extra star. Prices are reasonable.
(4)
Shannon P.

I met a friend here today for some drinks before we painted pottery. I got there just in time for happy hour! They have great deals everyday starting at 4pm, at the bar only. Every sangria is $4, they have about 6 different ones. They are pre-made and you can see each of the flavors displayed in really cute glass jugs behind the bar. I got the traditional red sangria which was sweet and filled with apple slices, my favorite in sangria! They have an entire list of tapas that are also on happy hour special for $4 everyday! I got the chicken empanadas. Best decision ever! I got 2 decent sized empanadas filled with shredded chicken and cheese, they were absolutely delicious! The empanadas were fried to perfection! They came with a side of some kind of orange sauce and it's delicious! Not too spicy and pairs perfectly with the empanadas!
(4)
Laura L.

Very loud, not good for conversation. Sangria was watery and warm. Rice wasn't cooked all the way in the paella. Tapas were good.
(3)
Lissete D.

We stopped in on a whim while strolling around King St. It was early, and the dining room was pretty empty. So we were seated immediately. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. My husband and I ordered a variety of tapas to share & a 1/2 pitcher of the Cadillac Sangria. Our tapas included the following: ~ Pan a la Catalana- nicely toasted and very flavorful ~ Croquetas- delicious, nice sized round croquettes with the perfect balance of ham, chicken & bechamel ~ Empanadas- oh my gaaawd, these were absolutely delicious. We had one of each, chicken & beef. Perfectly seasoned & nice and crisp on the outside. ~ Patatas Bravas- these were just ok. ~ Solomillo de Cerdo- tender & flavorful pork tenderloin rounds. ~ Manchego Fritos- who doesn't love fried cheese. It's 10x better when that cheese is manchego! ~ Salteado de Setas- a medley of sautÃ©ed mushrooms. I missed the part about the poached egg on top. I don't eat eggs. (Unless they're in a cake!) The mushrooms were tasty though. ~ Crema Catalana for dessert- The best part of any meal and this one did not disappoint. Oh, and the sangria was great as well. Everything was nicely presented and the food exceeded our expectations. I would suggest staggering your order. So everything does not come out at once. Maybe order 2 or 3 at a time. If you have time, of course. Service was attentive throughout our meal. Our dishes were promptly cleared as needed and our water glasses were never empty. We will definitely return to this location!
(4)
Sara W.

This location is my favorite. I have been to the DC and Rockville locations as well on several occasions and they just don't have what the Old Town location has. There is something about this location being a little smaller that keeps the feel more quaint and intimate. The staff turnover is really low as the same core group of staff have been there for the 4 years I have been going. I try to go during HH. The prices are good and the food is great. My favorite are the bacon wrapped dates. I also turn to the shrimp with garlic and hot peppers, the mussels with chorizo and the seafood paella. All their sangrias are super. Not to mention they make a mean margarita.
(4)
Brandt L.

I've never been at a bar where u sit down, they wipe the bar down at ur seat then take someone else's drink order from the other side of the bar.
(1)
Charles K.

If you like a more laid back vibe and great sangrias then this is the La Tascas for you. I went on a Saturday in January and the place wasn't packed like the La Tasca in Chinatown or Arlington. I had a livingsocial deal that allowed me to pick 1 appetizer, 5 tapas, 2 desserts, and a bottle of wine (or 2 sangrias). The deal was well worth the money. I went back to livingsocial and found that Ls Tasca offers different deals and events. The food was great and I enjoyed the service that I received .
(5)
Dani P.

I love tapas; I think it's a great social event since people share and decide different things they want. We were here on a Friday night to celebrate a friend's new job. We ordered mango blackberry sangria, which was excellent. The food was delicious as usual, but sometimes our server disappeared for long stretches of time when we wanted to order food. My go to faves: patatas bravas and brussel sprouts with dates and almonds. They usually have live music on Friday nights. If you're into that, then it's a fun time. If you're trying to be social and talk, it makes your throat hoarse trying to have simple conversation :/
(3)
Ana C.

Bad service , bad lunch tapas so disappointed!!specially for the price I paid!! I would never come back again and dfntly won't recommend to anyone of my friend
(1)
Diana V.

This is my husband's and I favorite happy hour/date night spot. We typically sit at the bar since we really like the bartenders there. They remember who we are and make us feel welcome and provide great service. They also change up th menu every now and then and offer different options or modify their recipes. We have been coming for 6 yrs on a regular and still enjoy the menu. They have a good happy hour with many sangrias, beer and tapas options. During brunch they offer 3 select tapas for $20 and $2 mimosas, sangrias, and bloody maries.
(5)
Laura H.

This was my first time at La Tasca and I absolutely can't wait to come back! My boyfriend and I came here on Thursday night around 7:45 and were seated immediately. They have flamenco dancing at 8 so it gets a bit noisy but it was quite the addition to the atmosphere. Our service was very quick and friendly throughout our dining experience, which is always appreciated. The bar area seemed very nice with a section of couches and chairs too. As others have noted, they have a large projection screen which was showing a soccer match while we were there. For drinks, I had heard good things about the sangria so we split a pitcher of the traditional sangria- why not we took the metro- for $28. We had three glasses each so very reasonably priced! The concept is tapas so we chose to share the quarteto de cerdo (skewers with pork four ways- grilled pork tenderloin, chorizo, bacon and pork belly) for $8 and the pastelitos de cangrejo (tasca style crab cakes, frisÃ©e salad, aioli) for $9. We also ordered a cheese board- tetilla (cows milk cheese, mild), valdeon (blue cheese wrapped in tree leaves), cana de cabra (soft, creamy goat cheese), and manchego (salty, grainy sheeps milk) served with fig jam for $18. Our server offered us bread with the board and that was perfect- very rustic, artisanal and great with the fig jam. I personally enjoyed the blue cheese the most as did my boyfriend but the goat cheese was a close second. The crab cakes were the best I have had in quite a long time! Portioned with two cakes, it was perfect for sharing, very little meat, and paired perfectly with the aioli- very Devine!the pork four ways was also portioned as two skewers, with my favorite style being the juicy, tender pork belly. I joined their mailing list and received 25% off our dinner which came to $51 after the discount. Considering the price of our sangria, this was more than reasonably priced for our date night. They had so many other options that looked succulent and delicious, we will absolutely have to come back and sample more!
(5)
Matthew B.

Absolutely awesome. On a trip for wrok. Walking king street looking for a place to eat, we approached La Tasca, my friend had a "mini" orgasm...he said we have to go here! Well, paella mixta combined with three servings manchego, calamarilles, and sweet plantains - time for a nap. Ohh and the best part of the paella comes from scrapping the pan! Loved it!
(5)
Shemeka H.

Gotta start with the sangria like so many other reviews before me. I had the Cava which is sparkling wine, grape juice, and blueberries! Let that sink in for a minute. It was delicious. Def wanted more than one glass. Good thing they offer it by the pother as well. We came during happy hour which it was great to have on a Sunday! The happy hour is every day from 4-7 and the tapas plates are the perfect size if you were enjoying an after work drink. We had the fried cheese, calamari, croquetas, and I had some great chicken skewers. None of this disappointed me. Bathrooms were nice and clean. The atmosphere was super chill.
(4)
Brenda M.

I stopped here on a Friday afternoon for a drink and appetizer after a long walk in Alexandria. Service left much to be desired. I ordered the shrimp with garlic appetizer and their house red wine special. The wine was good and great at $4 a glass. Unfortunately, my appetizer never came as the bartender forgot to place it. I was running short on time and had to catch my ferry back to the hotel so did not mention it. I do like the ambiance and decor. Not sure how to describe it but it's intimate and you get the feeling of being in a place with a long history.
(2)
Shannon V.

Came here on a recent Friday night for happy hour in the bar. I know happy hours get busy and crowded and servers have a hard time keeping up, but our server completely ignored us. We were trying to flag her down so badly that eventually the bus boy came up and took our orders. The bar snack I tired was not very good as it had a heavily based mayonnaise sauce that I felt was not well explained on the menu. I know this is a popular spot for happy hour and tapas and will definitely come back to try it again with hopefully better results.
(2)
David B.

Absolutely the worst tapas food in the DC area! So much salt and garlic that it was inedible. Service is non existent. We had to wait 10 minutes for silverware. Barely 1/2 a star.
(1)
Roger P.

Doesn't work that way. Restaurant should never serve bad food that has to be sent back .... unless they think they can get away with it? The paella was truly a disaster!
(1)
Stephen D.

Came tonight for happy hour from 4-7, great first experience. Food was cheap, $4 a tapas, and sangria was great also at $4 a glass....both worth it. Great experience, looked like it was getting a little crowded after 530 when we left so I would get there early on.
(5)
Marc Alen D.

This review is based solely on drinks and service as I did not order any food. The drinks were wonderful. Sangrias, a great selection of beers... Awesome HH spot. At night there's live latin music! The servers and bartenders were very nice and delivered in a timely fashion. I would definitely go back.
(5)
Wendy B.

The service was horrendous, both at the bar and at the table. We waited several minutes for the bartenders to offer us a menu, even though the bar wasn't crowded. We were seated within a few minutes, but no waiter ever came to our table or came close enough that we could even make eye contact. I can't tell you how the food was because we left after waiting several minutes for table service. So disappointing.
(1)
Lizzie B.

This was my first time here and it was for happy hour. I had a fantastic experience! The sangrias and tapas were fabulous and at a price most places can't beat. It wasn't too crowded either (Tuesday 6-8) and our waiter was pretty attentive. Definitely coming back.
(5)
Neka K.

La Tasca is our go-to restaurant. They're not SUPER consistent in their food prep but their Cadillac Sangria is so amazing and we have never left disappointed. They're also not super fast but they're always super nice. It's just somewhere we can rely on going and enjoying ourselves and eating good food. That being said, the band in the evenings is obnoxiously loud. If you actually want to talk to the people you're eating with, don't go during the music hours.
(4)
Esmeralda M.

I absolutely love this place!! I definitely recommend their Sangria Brunch, every Saturdays & Sundays!! You really can't beat $2 Sangrias!! LOL!! No but seriously this place is great, their drinks and tapas are AMAZING!! Worth every penny, you will not be disappointed!!
(5)
Arnold B.

I went in wanting to eat as many tapas as I could eat. Mission. Accomplished. I'll start with the sangria. I had the mango blackberry flavor and it was a solid 3 stars. The flavor was good but it I didn't taste mango or blackberry unless I was picking the fresh fruit out of the glass. That being said it wasn't nasty it just wasn't what I expected. I'm going to cover the highs and the lows starting with the highs. Hands down the favorite thing I had was the dÃ¡tiles con tocino. The whole dish was a journey through a plethora of flavors. The dates themselves were sweet while the bacon was salty and the marmalade was sweet with a citrus infusion. Also in attendance was the pungent taste of blue cheese. It all worked well. My next favorite dish was the ensalada de pollo. Again, the flavors were great! The chicken was amazing and the pine nuts offered an amazing crunch. Now for the lows. A lot of the plates took too long to come out and by the time they did arrive they were cold. The albondigas were just disappointing. They sound good but they just aren't. The meat taste funny and the onion mustard broth was all onion. Still, overall the experience was positive and I'd go again.
(4)
Alison M.

La Tasca seems to be a good choice for tapas in Old Town. They have a large assortment of tapas. I went with a group and shared a bunch off of the "Taste of Spain" menu. Pretty much all of our tapas came at the same time and there were a lot, so that was pretty cool especially because I've been places when they come out one at a time and it can be a little awkward when you are waiting for things. Some tapas I enjoyed included the paella with seafood. Yum! I love paella. The eggplant, it was fried incredibly crispy almost like chips. I've never had eggplant quite like that and the flan for dessert. It was cold, creamy and fabulous. It actually reminded me of my Cuban friend's homemade flan which is an impressive feat. Service was pretty good, fast and the waiter was attentive and spoke with a Spanish accent. I did however have to ask for my water to be refilled. They have a large assortment of sangrias on the menu, some of which are seasonal and all sounded like yummy cocktails with liquor and berries added. I heard good things, but I went with the original which I liked it a lot. I should mention that when I ordered at the bar I saw them making the sangria with boxed wine... I'm not expert on Sangria, so maybe they are all made with boxed wine, but it didn't strike me as the classiest thing. I usually get tapas at Jaleo and I have to say that La Tasca is considerably more affordable especially if you order off the taste of Spain menu. They have 2 deals which includes 6 tapas, one for $40 which includes a desert or $60 which includes a pitcher of Sangria. I would probably come here again.
(4)
Mimi A.

I loved this restaurant! They serve lunch all day long which is great for a person with a flipped schedule like me haha! My friend ordered a smoked salmon(I forgot to take a photo of her dish) but she enjoyed her meal and it really looked yummy! As for me, I ordered a yummy kale salad (check out the pictures I posted)
(4)
Yolit Y.

Great and tasty food and wow!!! The waiter recognized me since the last time I was here,a lot of great tapas,always fresh and well served,very tasty and colorful with deep taste of Spain,highly recommended all year long!
(5)
Taheerah B.

My sister suggested that we try the LaTasca in Alexandria. The restaurant was fairly empty, but we sat in the bar area which quickly filled up. The biggest difference in the various Latascas are the environment. The one in Olde Towne is extremely laid back. Even the patrons seemed to just want to enjoy the evening. I did notice that the happy hour menu items were different since I lasted visited LaTasca Chinatown. Maybe the items changed in both places. I enjoyed the marchego frito (fried chees balls), patatas bravas (fried potatoes in a spicy greenish sauce), and pan a la cantalanas (toasted french bread with a brusetta type spread). My sister enjoyed the beef empanadas and fritura mixta (a fried mixture of various seafoods). In addition, she tried the cheery blossom sangria. This became her favorite drink of the night. After trying both LaTasca is Virginia and the one in Chinatown, I am concluding that each one has its own feel. For example, the one in Arlington is perfect for outdoor seating. Chinatown is perfect for socializing, but this one is perfect for a nice laiback dinner. I prefer the latter.
(4)
Tiara P.

sangria happy hour at La Tasca is fantastic! Half price pitchers of incredible sangria, a wide selection of decadent and delicious tapas, love music, and fantastic service...A+! Watch Old Towners walk by as you enjoy your meal and drinks, and stay long enough to listen to the band. An amazing Spanish experience just steps from the Potomac!
(5)
Yotam Y.

Food was nothing special. Service was ok. Really enjoyed the flamenco show, that was a very nice surprise.
(3)
Kari S.

The happy hour is amazing! $5 sangria, $5 appetizers -- if you live in Old Town you must check it out!
(4)
Yelp_user M.

Mila is the best barmen in la tasca!! This is the only reason we go there!! Great environment and happy hour is the best!!
(5)
Stephanie M.

I cannot sing the praises of La Tasca enough! I have always loved coming here for girls nights but recently I through my best friends bridal shower here and they were wonderful! I was planning this from California and it was a breeze! Adele was so accommodating and helpful in the planning process! I will be back for some more yummy sangria and tapas!
(5)
Gracie J.

This review is only for happy hour @ the bar. Didn't want to pay the full price so we crammed as much food as possible during happy hour. Drinks were great, HOWEVER, the overall consensus among our party is that sangria should not be messed with. Ever. Just red or white, thanks. La Tasca boasts a variety of different sangria, but none of them come close to just the classic red and white (e.g., their seasonal sangria in January was one that tasted like liquid cinnabuns - cloying, way too sweet, awkard tasting). Tapas ranged from average (calamari) to great (chicken skewers). I could see myself going back for happy hour but I would not pay the full dinner price for tapas. But then again, that's just me.
(4)
Marissa B.

Went here one evening over the summer for dinner. Earlier that same week my family saw a poster in their window about a salsa performance that the restaurant was having. We went mostly for the performance and it was a neat experience. The food was just okay, but not sure I would go again. I would bring friends from out of town here if they asked, but otherwise, it was just a cool one-time experience.
(3)
Ashley M.

Every single thing I tried here was amazing! I don't recall the names but my favorites were the chicken, ham and cheese (like cordon blue), churro desert, fried eggplant and mini crab cakes. We also tried the Patatas bravas, seafood paella, and bacon wrapped things. All amazing as well! Our waiter was great and the wine delicious! Can't say enough good things about this place and I can't wait to come back and eat myself into another food coma.
(5)
Sara T.

Atmosphere and good were great! The bacon wrapped dates were delicious! Just make sure to call ahead for reservations if you go on the weekend. The place is very popular and gets busy!
(4)
Jennifer B.

after years of heavy reliance on yelp reviews, it is way past time for me to contribute myself! here we go. the old town location of la tasca is my favorite; the food and drinks are the same as others (i.e. tasty), but old town has a flamenco show on wednesday nights! it was very entertaining and made me nostalgic for a trip back to spain. some day... I always get the rosada sangria, which comes with strawberries and blueberries. it is somewhat sweet and very easy to drink. if dining with another person, I recommend splitting a pitcher, and then make sure to order lots of food to balance it out ;). I think the pitcher usually works out to about 6 to 8 glasses. for food: the beef empanadas are filled with flavorful meat and cheese and come with an addictive orange dip - ask for extra orange dip!; the patatas bravas are always hot and topped with a good ratio of both the spicy red and garlic white sauces; the manchego frito cheese bites are ok, but the orange jelly does not really complement them; the platanos fritos are nice and crispy and come with a salsa that almost could be served in a tex-mex restaurant; the tabla campera is kind of like pizza, if pizza had a delicious spanish cousin; the huevos estrellados, sadly, usually get left out due to prioritizing stomach space, but the sweet potato/bacon/egg combo is interesting and very good. no matter the time of day, the day of the week, the city (dc, arlington, alexandria), the location (at the bar, high top, dining room), the group size - service is always excellent. the consistency of friendly service and tasty food and drinks will keep me returning to la tasca over and over again.
(5)
Xerxes N.

Spanish tapas. All around good food. Here's what we ordered: - Canelones de Berenjenas - stuffed eggplant rolls, tomato, piquillo pepper, goat cheese - Chuletitas de Cordero - grilled lamb chops, thyme sauce, garlic mashed potatoes - Solomillo de Cerdo - bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, your choice of cabrales cheese or sweet sherry sauce - Calamares a la Andaluza - fried squid, lemon aioli I've never had an eggplant roll. It's different. The goat cheese certainly helps. The lamp chops and bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin are sure winners here. Both very juicy and flavorful. The lamp chops are a little steep in price at $14 but certainly worth it. As for the fried squid... I can go without it. It was good but nothing special to it. Great spot with a great vibe in Old Town Alexandria. Our waiter was super friendly and very pleasant, helpful and attentive.
(4)
Pete A.

It is a chain restaurant in the heart of Old Town, but overall it is a pretty good establishment. They obviously have tons of Sangria selections, but their other drinks and beer selections are pretty on par. I have only had the calamari and jamon and queso platter which was ok. They didn't give any bread which is a requirement when having jamon y queso. When I asked for bread it took an act of God to get some. This is a perfect place to come for happy hour and a few snacks. Prices are on the steep side and it can tend to be a little noisy inside. I'd return but it's not on the top of my list.
(3)
Bill V.

If you go here expecting something out of Barcelona or Madrid you will be disappointed. That being said it is pretty good tapas for this area. I like the house beer and the feel of the place us pretty authentic.
(3)
Tawana Nicole H.

enjoyed the two for ten bucks deal
(3)
Nicole J.

Maybe it's because I'm comparing it to tapas from Spain, but these were just ok. I would go back, but only if someone in a group wanted to. Las Tapas was better.
(2)
Serena P.

I have dined here severals time and I truley have to say it is either "hit or miss" - each experience is never quite the same. I am a creature of habit since I have alot of food allergies, and I pretty much always order the same thing with little tweaks here and there. Everytime I eat here the tapas can be either PERFECT or too dry or salty. Complete mystery to me! But I will continue to keep trying....after all, the best experiences were definatley worth it!
(3)
Aaron W.

We went for dinner Saturday night. I was very disappointed. The food was so over priced. I ordered rice and a sausage. The sausage was the size of my thumb, payed 6 dollars and it tasted bad. The service was slow and some of the waiters did not speak English. My friend's Salmon was raw and had to wait for a new plate. Don't waste your money. We ended up at Taco Bell a few hours later because we were still hungry.
(1)
Rowland S.

La Tasca is an experience, it has a really cool atmosphere that hits you as soon as you step in the door. For those who have never been to a Tapas bar before what they serve is Spanish style appetizers in small dishes. It may sound a little strange but it is allot of fun, especially if you go with a close group of friends and the entire group can share all the dishes you order. My wife and i have been here about 10 time now and have never had a bad meal. The service has always been polite and prompt and they have an extensive selection of different kinds of Sangria. If you are looking for something different from the normal Friday night fair, stop in with an open mind and i doubt you will be disappointed.
(4)
Carrie B.

Eh. I've had much better. Shared the vegetarian paella with a friend and we both agreed it was way too salty. I definitely agree with the other reviewers that the sangria is really weak, although tasty. The fried potatoes and tomato dip appetizer was good but then how do you screw up potato chips? Shared paella, app and a pitcher of sangria came to $75 with tip. WAY overpriced if you ask me. I won't return any time soon.
(2)
Kelly C.

This place get a 5 star for food and a 1 star for sangria. Maybe some people enjoy their sangria, but I've lived in Spain before and this sangria is soooooo not authentic. But if you like it, the price is good during happy hour. Just don't expect authentic sangria here. The food is good though. The paella, although still not living up to Spain standards, is some of the best I have had in the U.S. The prices are better than Las Tapas, just a block away. The tapas are bigger too and they are also good. The entertainment is pretty nice on the weekends. I will always go here if I want some paella or tapas, but I got to Las Tapas for sangria.
(4)
Lin X.

In dire need of a sangria fix - stopped in for a drink but this was unfortunately BEFORE they repealed the stupid no mixing of liquor and wine law in VA. Drink was tasty, tasty like fruit juice but hopefully now that they won't get fined for mixing sangria the way it's supposed to be made it will taste more like they are suppose to.
(2)
Tiffany L.

This place has the worst service. We went in and sat in the bar and never got service. There were only a couple of occupied tables in the entire restaurant and at least two waiters and the bar tender walking around who never stopped by our table. We ended up leaving and going to Las Tapas down the street.
(1)
L P.

tapas were horrible. paella was okay. they couldn't get the sofrito right but after tasting the tapas, well... that wasn't a big surprise. i kept thinking how do they stay in business?? tourists... so sad. and so expensve!
(1)
Dave R.

GREAT! We've been several times and it's always very good food. Strongly recommended.
(5)
Danielle C.

Tasty tapas. The Sangria was a little weak.
(3)
Gina L.

Wonderful restaurant! Everything we ordered was good. We had the garlic cheese bread to start. Then we had two beef dishes...one with blue cheese mashed potatoes and one with fingerling potatoes. I'd say the one with fingerling potatoes was my favorite. I also LOVED the shrimp and scallop skewer. The Mediterranean salad was very good too...lots of olives. Great atmosphere. One a Friday night, we made reservations for two online and were able to get seated right away. Seemed to be a wait for those that didn't have reservations. Their classic sangria is very good...$22 for a pitcher.
(4)
Lisa d.

I'm from Spain- the food is completely unauthentic but also really bad.. the drinks were fine and atmosphere decent0 hence 2 stars but would not recommend and not go back,
(2)
Matthew S.

I held my rehearsal dinner here, and it was fantastic. We reserved the dining area in their upstairs loft. We had ordered one of the party menus and the food was excellent. They were very helpful with allowing us to select how much alcohol and what types to serve. The Sangria was a big hit, that many ended up ordering more when the selected amount had run out. There was so much food, and such good food, that even with a party of 25 we had to take some home with us. The service was excellent, with well paced delivery of all the dishes. They actually had Flamenco dancers performing throughout the evening (not sure if this is common) which was cool to see. They asked us if it was OK for them to come up to the loft to perform to make sure they wouldn't be bothering our party. It wasn't bothering us and definitely made the ambiance and evening more festive overall. A very fun place and I definitely will go back.
(5)
H. C.

Very unimpressed by both the food and waitstaff. We specified at the beginning of the meal that we had someone with a shellfish allergy and they brought out his entree with shrimp on it!!! When they did finally bring him a Chorizo dish back, it apparently had been cooked on the same griddle with the shrimp and he had a mild allergic reaction from it (symptoms subsided with just Benadryl). Also, it was SO LOUD that I could not hear the person sitting next to me!!!!! Definitely will not get your money's worth here.
(2)
Kelly S.

I was visiting in Alexandria, VA for the weekend and we decided to go down to Old Town, and when my friend told me about this I was so excited! Especially excited for all the diffferent trypes of sangria. There were awesome, some better than others but I loved it. This was a great experience, we got the meat prix meal for 50 bucks and it was well worth it!! I think we got 10 plates of food! So good too! I highly recommend this place and next time I am in the area I will be back! But this time on a Friday because they have dancers! I was also reading on the menu Wednesday they have all you can eat Tapas. Yummy!! I wish they had more chains especially in the Boston area. It would be a big hit here!
(4)
Walter O.

The food was great and the service was fast (on a Sunday afternoon). I recommend the pumpkin spice sangria while they last. I would definitely come back for some more tapas and maybe catch the flamenco show. The decor reminded me of my trip to Madrid.
(4)
Lori S.

I would eat here again but wouldn't go out of my way to either recommend it or dine here. I agree with everyone on the sangria. I drank a pitcher and the only buzz I experienced was from the insane amount of sugar. I enjoyed the "sangria" but it was more fruit juice with cut up pieces of fruit. The second pitcher was an entirely different consistency/color than the first pitcher, showing that the recipe is inconsistent and they probably change the amount based on the pitcher you are on. Ah well.... The service was pretty good. She made recommendations and steered us away from ordering certain items. We had the fried potatoes with some mayo/red sauce....it was good, not as good as Jaleos' (the potatoes at Las Tasca were not cooked as thoroughly as I would have hoped). We had the smoked salmon, which I really liked and also the ribs, which I also really liked. It was a good dining experience but I think that had a lot to do with the fact that the server allowed us to enjoy our meal and did not rush us. It was a good meal but there are better places in Alexandria. If you are in a tapas mood though and on King Street, I'd give it a try.
(3)
Krista B.

The bf and I ate here for date night on a Friday night. While we had no reservations, and they do not take them or call ahead as it was restaurant week, we called ahead an assured there wasn't a huge wait (it was early Friday) before deciding on this place for dinner. As it was restaurant week they had a great dinner deal- 3 tapas, a drink and dessert for $30.14. We each got the RW deal and all of our dishes were fantastic! I especially liked the creme brulee-like dessert and grilled veggies. Also the sangrias were delicious! Only complaint was I didn't get refills on water, even though I saw a couple guys refill other tables. Otherwise service was great and attentive. Atmosphere was dim and romantic. I would absolutely eat here again!
(4)
Paul F.

Wonderful food and Flamenco dancing. Who can ask for more? Go on a Wednesday and get the half off bottle of wine special. Awesome!
(5)
Catherine K.

I will say it again and again, best location and great entertainment along with delicious food!! Weekends are awesome with their talented musicians! Recommend the tabla de salmon, patatas bravas, empanadas de pollo, along with the paella with everything!
(5)
Karen M.

Tapas is always fun! The sis and I came here for lunch and had an assortment of yummy treats. We ordered from the special $6 each lunch menu. My favorites were: Gambas al Ajillo -Sauteed shrimp with garlic and hot peppers. Great! Vieiras y Txangurro - pan seared scallops and blue crab. The crab was good...but the scallops were overcooked and dry. Cazuela de Setas - mushroom casserole. This was my favorite! Mashed potatoes, mushrooms with a fried egg. The yolk was soft, so I couldn't stomach that, but the sis pounded it down no problem. Tabla de SalmÃ³n - Smoked salmon with lemon cream cheese was awesome! The restaurant was super cool inside, I loved the decor it was dark, Spanish and cozy inside. If I lived closer, I would come back more often!
(4)
Tony N.

Good sangria, interesting tapas, entertaining flamenco dancers with guitar; add it all up and you have a nice evening a La Tasca. No one part of dinner was outstanding; you have to come here to enjoy the total experience. I came here on July 2nd, and we ordered plenty of shareable dishes and still felt satisfied. Yes, the tapas could have been a bit more substantial and the show could have been longer. But we had a great time and I would recommend La Tasca.
(4)
Marie S.

La Tasca is our favorite restaurant chain in the DMV area! We have always had amazing food, drinks and service there. Yes it does get busy, but they take reservations. They also have great happy hours. They also have good groupon and livingsocial deals often, or deals for special occasions like New Years Eve or Restaurant Week.
(5)
Joey L.

Food was good. Between a 3 and 4 star rating. Their tapas dishes and each were with sustenance.
(3)
Jo R.

Totally digging this restaurant. Come to find out I love Spanish cuisine, from outside, looking in, it looks dim and it cries..stay away but once you get seated, the servers are polite, excellent recommendation on the menu, great food..wow! Wed, Thursday and Friday they have a show so we will definetely come for that.
(5)
Lendsey C.

Oh how love thee, let thou ears hear my praise. Here is a limerick for my love. There was a lovely tapas place in Old Town Their sangria was bright and the food never brought a frown One drink or tapas for four The menu was never a bore In their red and white spirits you can drown Any place that drives me to poetry is worthy of four stars in my book.
(4)
Michele B.

La Tasca is one of my favorite restaurant in old Town. There are about 5 La Tasca's in the DC metro but this is my favorite location. They have a good selection of different sangrias, but my favorite is the Cadillac Red Sangria. Their sangria's are available by the glass, half pitcher or full pitcher. My standby menu items that I get just about every time I go there are the Berenjenas Fritas, the Ensalada de Tomate, the Patatas Bravas (I could eat these all day!), the Brocheta de Pollo and the Gambas al Ajillo. The Buey a la Plancha is another favorite of mine. I celebrated my birthday here one year and they were very accommodating. They even let my friends bring in my favorite cupcakes from Alexandria cupcake for dessert!
(4)
Frank B.

Awesome job ... Been here over 5 times and never disappointed! The service is great, the ambience is soothing (with Latin music playing), and the food is delicious .... I ordered the "unlimited tapas" for $28.00 ... Well worth it. Thanks;)
(5)
Zach N Emily E.

Pleasantly surprised and a suitable find if you like tapas and sangria! I lived in Spain for a year and felt the food was comparable and tasty! Still not 100% authentic as I've seen in San Diego... But doable! Nice staff. Didn't like how all the tapas came out at once. Didn't like how the Jamon Serrano didn't come with bread.
(4)
Justin W.

Standard La Tasca chain tapas in Old Town Alexandria. The food is enjoyable. It is a spacious place with ample room for large parties. I feel that as a restaurant, I'm judging it based on it's counterparts around the area. I feel that this restaurant is just average, but it has good Happy Hour and Sunday Brunch deals! These are seriously the best times to go!
(3)
Shannon S.

I went to La Tasca for the first time 2 weekends ago and I will definitely be coming back! They had a special menu for Alexandria Restaurant Week that offered 3 tapas and a non-alcoholic beverage for $20. You could also choose from the brunch menu 3 tapas for $20 and then a Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or Sangria for $2/each. I ordered (I can't remember the Spanish names, but I'll just describe) the sliced beef on mushroom puree with a side of horseradish-infused sauce, the calamari, and the potatoes in a cream sauce. All amazing! The only reason I would take off 1 star was because the service was a little slow and the waiter forgot to enter one of my friend's extra tapas. He corrected the situation and it came out shortly after.
(4)
Veronica H.

My friend took me there last Sunday in Old Town Alex area. Bartender is friendly to me. I had never been there before. I'm not big fan of Spain foods. I was like why not to get me a chance my new experience for Spain food and drink. I ordered for Strawberry Lemonda drink (homemade). It was SO good, wow! Gambas Al Ajillo (sauteed shrimp, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, hot peppers) It was SO delicious, wow! Brocheta De Pollo (marinated grilled chicken breast skewers, bell pepper). It was SO juicy grilled chicken not dry, wonderful. I will coming back there AGAIN!
(5)
Jackie R.

what is not to love. First of all you can not beat the happy hour prices.. on both the tapas and the sangria. I love every single sangria I have ever tried and also every single tapas I have ever tried. The salmon de something? haha is absolutely my favorite though. The staff at this location has always been great as well. A favorite in my opinion and go for happy hour to save some money!
(5)
Kaiyi H.

The portions are too small. I know, I know: that's the name of the game, but still. The only thing more tragic than charging 7 bucks for a couple of fried and salted calamari rings is charging 8 bucks for two sticks of lamb meat, 50% of which is actually grilled pineapple. Perhaps one gets better value for lunch as the other reviews indicate, but as for me, I was left unsated and had to head straight to taco bell afterwards for some authentic Mexican food.
(2)
Haruka K.

Hands down, my favorite happy hour spot in Old Town. $4 tapas and reduced price on sangria pitcher is a good way to unwind after a stressful week at work. The traditional sangria tinta is my personal favorite. The bartenders and servers are friendly and efficient. My boyfriend and I had the paella mixta last time and it was delicious.
(5)
Maria T.

I've been here twice for dinner! I love it love it love it! The first time I went I got sangria and they topped it with whip cream. YUM! That was the most memorable thing aside from the tapas. Second time I went was V-day. They hand you a rose at the door. The waiter comes back to your table literally every 10-15 minutes to make sure you're doing okay. If you don't know what to order just ask them and go with your gut instinct everything is amazing. The serving sizes are pretty small. Which is great because you don't feel overly stuffed like you normally would but certainly satisfied. What I like most is the ambiance. Dim lighting and romantic. After dinner you can just stroll around the area (if your heels aren't too high). Take your date and order some wine. She'll feel woo'd. :) You're welcome.
(5)
John D.

Gambas al ajillo was so delicious. Service was quick, friendly, and is an excellent place to have a date. Atmosphere is warm and welcoming, food is a little on the expensive side but I still think it's reasonable. Make sure you ask for a secluded place, they'll adhere to it.
(5)
Ka'ili H.

Amazing. Fantastic. Fantabulous. This restaurant was a delight from beginning to end. A rehearsal dinner of 20+, can they handle it? Yess and with flying colors! This was my first time eating Tapas and I'm thrilled to have experienced this with the, now, newly weds, my boyfriend, his fam, and his new sister in law's family. We were all seated on a long table towards the back of the restaurant to give us a bit more privacy. Everything was beautiful and the perfect ambiance for the beginnings of celebration just on the morrow. Our meal started after the yummy sangria, it was a deep red with strawberries in it, delicious and worth the pitcher to share! The menu for the night was the Casta Menu. Which, according to the party menu, consists of dishes that represent some of the heartiest items offered at La Tasca. There are 12 dishes and we tried ALL of them. The Pan a la Catalana: toasted rustic bread with tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic spread. yumm, let me recreate this tonight and savor the deliciousness once again. Manchego Frito. Fried cheese with honey orange marmalade, heck yess! Ensalada de Tomatoes. This was beautiful. There were a few different varieties here. They were sweet and the mild goat cheese gave it a rich flavor that married well with the honey herb dressing. It was probably my favorite dish, so refreshing! . Calamares a la andaluza. calamare, what more to say? Berenjenas Fritas. Fried eggplant with cheese dip, this was pretty darn good. Eggplant and cheese dip? who woulda thunk it? Buey a la Plancha. Here is where the meat is at. I tried one piece, for me, it was a bit on the tough side, but good nonetheless. Parrillada de Verduras. Grilled asparagus, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, drizzled with olive oil. Eating your vegetables never tasted so good! Patatas Bravas. Fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce and garlic aioli. Think of this as french fries {X} 100 and much more classy. Gamabas al Ajillo. Shrimp sauteed in extra virgin olive oil with garlic and hot peppers. I can no see why olive oil and garlic is a staple in Italy & spain. Croquetas de Polllo y Jamon. Pulled chicken and diced jamon serrano croquettes, lightly breaded and deep fried. The chicken was tender and juicy. Salmon. Grilled topped with sauteed spinach and lightly fried mussels, served over creamy spinach sauce. Hold on, I need to go buy all of these ingredients right now cuz that's how good it was! Last but not least: empanadas de Carne. filling and yummy. As you can see, I just had to share with you each and every dish that came out because excluding one would be completely unfair and unjust. If you ever have a chance to experience this menu I highly recommend it. You get a taste of everything that they have to offer and will be pleasantly surprised how different they taste yet amazingly wonderful.
(5)
C. M.

Sadly, this place let me down. Service was slow, food was not spaced out well and the tapas were all bland. The atmosphere was ok, large screens playing sports took away from the weds night flamingo dancing event. This place was not bad, but it was just ok...I really wanted to like this place, but I don't think I'll go back.
(2)
Steve D.

**Update** Went last night (11/18) for the Sangria making dinner. Totally worth every penny. The food was outstanding as usual, and they were not holding back on the drinks. We were able to make a pitcher of sangria, taste samples of four different sangrias, and experiment with different flavors at a sangria bar. Food included appetizers, a tapas buffet for dinner (including freshly made paella), and dessert, all for $65. Will definitely be checking out the Flamenco dinner in the future.
(5)
Kadian F.

La Tasca is a place where you can hang out for a while. I've been there for lunch, dinner and happy hour. The happy hour prices are very good, $4 tapas and sangria. My go to tapas are the patatas bravas and beef empanadas. Most of the sangrias are good, my favorites are the cava, rosada and tinta. This is one of the best places for happy hour in old town. Whenever it's available take part in the unlimited tapas deal. I like to partake during lunch as it keeps me full for the rest of the day and I get to try all the tapas I care to try.
(4)
Kiev R.

I like La Tasca!! We showed up post happy hour with a group of ten (and without a reservation) and were accommodated immediately. Although we only had 8 of the 10 people present when we requested the table, that didn't poise a problem and we didn't have to wait for everyone to arrive (which is nice). The tapas are good and the sangria is even better. The prices are reasonable and the service was great. What more could one ask for??
(4)
Jackie B.

The pitchers of sangria lured my best friend and me inside. We ordered a FULL pitcher ($28) of the Sangria Blanca - white wine with peach schnapps, sliced peaches, and cinnamon sticks. The sangria was crisp and refreshing and not too sweet. The peaches themselves were a little sour actually, but I didn't mind. The taste was great. HOWEVER, the wine was so watered down, and I don't think it was just from the ice! I'll be honest... we were looking for a buzz (don't judge). Maybe more than a buzz as we finished the entire pitcher. But felt NOTHING. We're small girls, too! We ended up ordering a glass of rose wine afterwards in an attempt to feel at least a little something before leaving. The tapas would be pretty decent if they were served piping hot. The shrimp and bacon-wrapped scallops were almost cold, rendering the limp greasy bacon inedible. The empanadas were good and were at least warm when we got them. They were filled with beef and cheese. Very comforting. The spinach salad with pears was the best part of the meal. The dressing was tasty and I liked the textures of the pear, cheese, and walnuts. The churros weren't bad, but I've had better. I've come here on two occasions and haven't been overly impressed. I probably won't be back for the food, but I wouldn't mind giving the sangria another chance as they have several that sound pretty amazing, like the Watermelon Kiwi and Mango Blackberry.
(3)
Erica A.

The hostess denied my request for a window table with little explanation. Other than that, service was excellent. Yes, portions are a bit small, bit everything we had, including the sangria, was delicious.
(3)
Jeff H.

Several different sangrias to choose from. Good tapas. Live music.
(5)
Richard N.

The tapas are alway great, you will need to pick 3-4 for a meal. The Mother's Day promotion is a winner. Go on a night with flamenco dancing. It is very entertaining.
(4)
Patrick C.

Great food! Great service!
(4)
Krystle B.

Great SANGRIA! Great tapas! You can not beat the happy hour specials.
(5)
Sunny C.

Food and drink are great, but don't expect fast service, especially on a Friday evening. Took 10 minutes for a server to stop by the table, about another 15 minutes for our water to arrive. Recommended tapas: coles de bruselas: breaded, deep-fried brussel sprouts huevos estrellados | slightly spicy sweet potato fries, egg, diced bacon - I could eat a plate of just that. empanadas de carne: stuffed pastry shells, seasoned ground beef, tetilla cheese paella mixta: chicken, chorizo, shrimp, scallops, mussels, squid, clams Recommended sangria: mango blackberry sangria: white wine, brandy, mango slices, blackberries Super refreshing, and I loved eating the fruit pieces. If they have loud music that evening, you may want to sit further away because it can get pretty loud and hard to carry a conversation. Bathrooms are clean, but there is not much room to maneuver yourself out of the stall. The restaurant is also pretty dim.
(4)
Kelly C.

Great sangaria and tapas on King Street. We tried a bunch of plates between the 4 of us, but my favorites were the papas bravas (great garlicky sauce), fried manchengo, bacon-wrapped pork (how could that not be good?), grilled tomato bread (just like bruschetta) a few other basic tapas. My parents aren't really adventurous eaters and don't stray beyond Italian fare so we sticked to the basics but enjoyed everything. The only thing I'd skip next time were the meatballs, which were on the small side and not that memorable. Best for sharing everything, but not great if you are super hungry and looking for a satisfying meal for both your stomach and wallet - those small dishes add up + wine. But definitely fun and great for a group setting. They were setting up a special wine tasting event that night that looked fun. Be warned, there is another tapas place with a very similar name (Las Tapas) that's terrible and seems to score business by those who get these two confused.
(4)
Keren C.

Nice atmosphere but unassuming food. I don't remember everything that we had but I definitely remember that the paella was not seasoned well at all. I will have to return for the flamenco dancers and happy hour to get the full experience of the restaurant but, on first visit, this La Tasca is mediocre at best. I will update after my next visit. **** 4/11/15 Having been here a few times since my first visit, I can say that it has become a go-to for me but still remains at 3 stars. Parking is a pain and some of the food is still pretty bland. So, why do I keep going back? Well, they have an awesome Happy Hour. Again, if you're a fan of Spanish food/drinks, La Tasca's will not blow your mind BUT the variety and quality you get for their HH prices are absolutely worth it. The favorites among my friends & myself: - Tabla de salmÃ³n - Brocheta de verduras - Brocheta de pollo - Manchego frito Also, catch the Flamenco shows when you can!
(3)
Peaches P.

Great place in Old Town. Had a wonderful time with a friend of mine. Loved every Tapas plate that was brought out. I had the Pan Catalana, Churreria, and Salmon. And of course their infamous Sangrias. Try the Backberry Mango and Cava... Delicious! Only bummer is that no matter the size of the party, there's only one check per table. Not a big deal, but after sangrias and wine, it was kinda hard to remember what was ordered by whom. Lol. All in all a very nice time and will be returning!
(4)
Sandy S.

Go ahead and try it. I've been here frequently. The tapas dishes are very tasty. Everyone can find something that they really like. The eggplant is not to be missed! The happy hour prices are great, although I didn't like that the hostess said we had to sit in the overcrowded bar area for the happy hour prices. They have low chairs (that are too low- very uncomfortable) directly under the AC and next to the kitchen walkway that we were not going to sit at. The last time I was here, we sat next to the window which was open and loud. The music was terrible. The window seats have tall bar chairs with no arms and tables that are too low and fat to sit comfortably with anyone (barrels). They look nice, but are terribly uncomfortable. The sangria is super tasty.
(3)
Fan S.

Tapas is wonderful. So many choices. Paella is great, it will be much better if there is more scallop~The waitress are friendly and with cute accent.
(3)
Scott S.

Went for restaurant week. Awesome food, suprising large portions for tapas. None of the 6 choices we made were bad or even mediocre. Very impressed, and great service and atmosphere as well. We will be back.
(4)
Yin H.

4 for good attentive service, 2 for food. Ordered a bunch of tapas to share along with a bottle of garnacha. The wine prices were very decently priced. When I asked the waitress the difference between 2 garnachas, she just pointed to the more expensive one and said it was better. Hmm...wish they had more educated wait staff on Spanish wines at a tapas place. pan a la catalana crushed tomato, olive oil, garlic: pretty good sized portion of bread with s tomato spread, 4/5 berenjenas fritas fried eggplant slices, cabrales dip: i love eggplant but this was terrible. when i took a bite, all i could taste was the grease, ick, 1/5 brocheta de polloGF marinated grilled chicken breast skewers, bell pepper: not a big fan of chicken but this was perfectly cooked and delicious, chicken was very tender and flavorful! 5/5 brocheta de corderoGF* skewers of grilled lamb and pineapple, light mint sauce: just ok, lamb was a bit overcooked and chewy, 3/5 chorizo a la sidraGF spanish chorizo cooked in cider: tasted like sausage that i could've gotten at a grocery store, not impressed, 2/5 coles de bruselasGF brussel sprouts, dates, almonds: delicious! 5/5 patatas de churrerÃa potato chips, avocado mint dip: chips were well cooked and the dip was so delicious! 5/5 buey a la planchaGF* grilled angus sirloin steak, herb potatoes, cabrales cheese or sherry mushroom sauce: this was recommended by the waitress. should've known better after she didn't know the difference b/t the wines. we ordered the steak medium rare and it was almost inedible. there was so much fat and the meat tasted it like had been frozen and thawed 5 times, 1/5 Made a reservation for a Sun night at 7:30 pm. Was not necessary. We were seated next to the Xmas tree, which was a nice touch for the holiday season. The wine was delicious and a great deal for the price. Several of the tapas were well done, but the rest were terrible. Service, other than lack of knowledge regarding the wine and food menu was decent (fast, honored our 25% coupon, polite).
(3)
Ideen S.

Soo, if it's your birthday...and someone else pays for the meal...this place is pretty legit. Otherwise, I imagine that it's still awesome; but much less. Half pitcher of La Tasca Sangria (red wine with apples and cinnamon sticks) was a brilliant call. (Though, when is sangria not...?) For the actual tapas, I really enjoyed the Ensalada de Pochas (white bean and red pepper salad in a tomato shell), Lubina Aceitunera (grilled rockfish with a black olive and white wine sauce), Brocheta de Pollo (skewers of Andalusian spiced chicken breast), Parrillada de EspÃ¡rragos y Verduras (grilled asparagus, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and piquillo pepper), Espinacas con ArÃ¡ndanos (sautÃ©ed spinach with pine nuts and dried cranberries), Empanadas de Carne (pastry shells stuffed with ground beef and cheese), and Chorizo a la Parrilla (pork sausage). Seriously, everything was friggin' delicious. It was definitely a memorable and gustatory experience. Though, I'm realizing that for 2 people, that meal probably cost ~$80 including tax and tip. So, pricey; but tasty. If there were a voucher/deal/discount, don't even hesitate to purchase.
(4)
Danielle H.

This is a nice place to enjoy a glass of wine and eat a small plate. The staff is attentive and the wine list is great. They change the menu, I guess seasonally but it's worth checking out.
(4)
Ania C.

I didn't like the food it was cold and def NO authentic Spanish food. Very dissatisfied! I don't recommend this place. It's expensive too!
(1)
Gary C.

La Tasca, is fun and my wife and I typically only go for special occasions. We love the food, have always had great service and always leave happy. All of this sounds like a receipt for 5 stars, and you are correct - until the check is delivered. Yes it's expensive, but I still love it. 4 stars
(4)
Daniel D.

Great food, drink, and service. I had the dinner Sevilla and I highly recommend it. Service is quick and is perfect for lunch. The restaurant is right next a Chipotle; you can get better quality food for about the same price and In a better environment at La Tasca. If your lucky, maybe you will see a flamenco show. La Tasca is great if you are looking for authentic Spanish food.
(5)
Cates V.

We were seated right away. There were no problems using a Living Social certificate - they were even promoting the deal in the restaurant! They seem to have a bunch of happy hours and other deals. I'm definitely going back!
(4)
AurÃ©lien Z.

Nice selection of tapas. Very tasty. Pleasant service Went there for lunch. Was looking for some place to eat in Alexandria and got a very pleasant lunch.
(4)
Kyoko A.

My daughters and I really enjoyed unlimited tapas special. The ambience was perfect for Spanish restaurant and tapas were great. But the best part of our experience was Diego. He made us feel really welcoming and made sure we got everything we needed including just iced water! My ice tea was always filled and he knew when to come back to take next order. He treated us with the pest proffesionalism and courtesy. Gracias!
(5)
Shusmita A.

Went here for Valentine's Day with my fiancÃ© after coming here once with my sisters and it was so bad. The food was oily, nothing special definitely needed salt or some type of seasoning. We got the asparagus with mushroom sauce, the duck, pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon and scallops. The scallops were rubbery, the duck was overcooked, the pork had no flavor and the asparagus was way too oily. Never coming back here, service was good but food was not.
(1)
LaShawn H.

I was very disappointed with the Sangrias! I went specifically for the Sangrias. They tasted very watered down. We got a few tapas and they were good, especially the Paella Mixta! We got the lamb chop tapas, which were not good at all! They were dry and cold. Not sure if I'll return to La Tasca.
(2)
Walter M.

The food was amazing, they had a special for a pitcher of sangria and 6 tapas and the selection was great. Unfortunately the desert was subpar, we had the flan which is usually sweet and this one had a more coffee and bitter taste.
(4)
K J.

Went here this week for happy hour and was very impressed. We sat at the bar and the bartender was incredibly friendly and attentive. We tried a few different sangrias and I definitely loved the blackberry mango the best! We also ordered some food and thought the tomato bread and patatas bravas were the best. It's definitely worth stopping at after work. We had 4 glasses of sangria and 6 tapas for under $50! Such a great deal.
(4)
Caci D.

Sangria was excellent! Tapas were nearly all over cooked or poorly seasoned. Lamb chops and paella mixta were very overdone. SautÃ©ed shrimp had no flavor. Really wanted this place to be good, because the deals were great! Very disappointed.
(2)
Daniela G.

my stuffed dates and my friend's salad were terrific but the small paella was absolutely not good. It was evidently cooked before and then reheated, the result was really bad
(3)
Eve L.

Happy hour: sangria and tapas. They know how to do this properly and I really appreciate them for this.
(5)
Matt A.

Very much enjoyed the food, nothing that we had was less than good. The ambiance was nice, but if you're going when they have the flamenco music and dancers, be forewarned that it is LOUD. Almost comically so; we actually asked to be moved basically as far away as we could just so that we would have a chance of hearing each other when we talked.
(4)
Amanda M.

I went here with my sister and brother-in-law on Halloween after our tour of haunted Old Town. I've been to this location once before and the Clarendon location several times. I have to say that this visit was the best. I have one dish that I always order at tapas places and thus, order it at La Tasca every time I go - Gambas al ajillo - shrimp sauteed in olive oil, garlic, and hot peppers (here it was red pepper flakes). On Monday it was perfect. Not too oily, not too spicy (unless you are my sister), and the shrimp were not overdone. For three of us, we ordered the following: Paella de Verduras - miniature paella with assorted vegetables - this one had snow peas, green peas, roasted red peppers, and mushrooms; Solomillo de Cerdo Iberico - grilled pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon served with cheese sauce. The tenderloin was good, the cheese sauce so-so; Setas al Ajillo - wild mushrooms sauteed with garlic and extra virgin olive oil. These were excellent this visit; Calamares a la Andaluza - quick-fried, battered calamari rings. My brother-in-law loves calamari so these were a "must". Not too greasy and just the right amount of salt. The aioli was nice too; Gambas al Ajillo - see above; and Esparragos Verdes a la Plancha - grilled asparagus with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. I would have liked these to be grilled a bit more. We arrived around 9 pm. Restaurant wasn't crowed, service was attentive, food arrived at a nice rate. I much preferred this visit to previous ones. Having visited La Tasca on various occasions, I think the key is going on off hours. 9 p.m. on a Monday was perfect.
(3)
Jillian B.

Loved this place! Definitely great with a group and ordering a bunch of small plates/tapas to share! Everything has so much flavor! We really enjoyed the rose sangria!
(4)
Dave H.

A great visit for my birthday. Ignacio was a veryu gracious waiter and offered me a great wine find, Finca La Mata. I started with the bacon wrapped dates and they are like candy. The Crudo de Buey was a very light but flavorful salad, and my favorite was the Piquillos Rellenos. They also have a loyalty program that will give you 25% off on your first visit and discounts for future meals.
(5)
Amanda H.

I love this restaurant! On Friday nights during the summer this is the place to be! They have free flamenco in the evenings and dozens of types of sangria. My favorite is the sangria Blanca. Their food is some of the best around. I would highly recommend their eggplant chips, shrimp with garlic aioli, and dates with blue cheese and bacon, just to name a few. I have done their endless tapas menu which is available as a lunch special sometimes. Perfect atmosphere and food! Go here!
(5)
Danielle C.

Very cool place to meet up with a group during happy hour but not good pricing or food for a sit down dinner or for kids. Great sangria!
(3)
Julie C.

Whenever I am in the DC area, I try to meet some of my friends at La Tasca in Alexandria's Old Town. The whole tapas experience takes us back to the time when we met, 30-odd years ago, while studying in Madrid. We love the atmosphere at La Tasca and we've had a couple of excellent meals there over the past several years. The last time was in September of 2013, and on that occasion the food wasn't quite as good as it had been in the past. I can't remember everything we ordered, but I do remember that the Patatas Bravas are not Gluten Free, and for some reason they didn't have a normal tortilla espaÃ±ola on the menu. Instead, they served us a weird thing that was a normal pie-shaped slice of potato/egg tortilla, cut in half like you would a layer cake, with some kind of white sauce in between. It proved the point that sometimes a classic doesn't need updating--they should go back to Old Reliable, the unadorned tortilla espaÃ±ola. The "setas al ajillo" (mushrooms with garlic) were superb as was the "solomillo de buey" (beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes).
(4)
Anna M.

Food is not great, decent though. Paella rice was undercooked, churros as well. Cadillac sangria tinta was good. Staff were friendly.
(2)
Alan M.

Must-go tapas place in the DC area, way better (and overall cheaper) than most tapas places around here. The tapas are really good, and the sangria is pretty good. The patatas bravas here are one of the best I've tried, really yummy (and spicy of course!), better than some I've tried in Spain! The tortilla is great, and there's also the Empanadas, which are amazing. There's alot of Spanish dishes here that are amazing, and so far all of them were great.
(5)
Lyn P.

We had quite a sampling of their menu as we visited during Alexandria's restaurant week where it as all you can eat tapas for $35. Highlights: Tortilla espanola, ensalada de tomates, paella, gambas al ajillo, empanadas de carne, buey al jerez, datiles and the solomillo de cerdo. Avoid: brochetta de gambas, croquettes, gambas gabardina Service was fine and so was the sangria. Definitely get a pass but I'd probably hit up Jaleo over La Tasca next time I am in the area.
(3)
Leslie S.

Wow. I don't know what is going on today but this is not like I remembered from a year ago. Is it just at lunch? The food came out slowly and was just above room temperature, which was cool on this chilly day. They aren't busy. The tapas had no, zero, flavor or spice besides rancid oil. My tortilla was barely solidly cooked. Yuck. I'm off la Tasca. There are better choices on King Street.
(1)
Crystal H.

I'm a huge fan of Sangria and they have plenty of delicious options to choose from! They have some gluten free options available. Got the meatballs. Eh. They were kind of dry. So I just drank more Sangria and all was right in the world again! If I lived in the area, I would definitely go back. At least, for happy hour.
(3)
Flo W.

As always, the food is amazing and the mango blackberry sangria are wonderful. Customer service is impeccable!
(5)
M M.

Love this place for happy hour- best bang for your buck in the old town area for sure- Pitchers of sangria in the bar area for $18, and a wide assortment of tapas for only $4. There are usually about 8 or so sangrias to choose from- something for every palate, and each that i have tried seem to have enough alcohol but not too potent. Went with my family for tapas brunch this weekend and was able to sample a wider assortment then usual. Some things i wouldn't order again- I've tried the calamari twice, and felt it was too rubbery, and when its just rings and no tentacles- thats a dead give away that they arrived frozen. the fried manchego isn't very melty the cheese plate is really pretty stingy for $18. it couldn't have been more than 2 ounces for some very average cheeses. empanadas are good,albeit greasy but so many other restaurants serve these in the area for far less Some of the better choices- the croquettes of chicken and ham are a misnomer- this tapas is mostly warm melty cheesy perfection. ANYTHING on a skewer- the bacon wrapped cheese filled dates are the perfect sweet and salty combination, the shrimp scallop and bacon skewers were perfectly cooked and seasoned, the chicken skewers and veggie skewers are all great bets as well. I'm really on the fence about the paella though. I've never had paella before so i don't have anything to compare it too, but i was expecting a more delicate dish. The rice was very red and tomato based with a good amount of proteins. there was also a liberal amount of perfectly cut green beans so i was kind of suspect about them being previously frozen... Anyhow, I really love the place for happy hour, and not a bad place for meals as well. Flemenco dancers, beautiful interior, good food and service. Definitely try.
(4)
Le B.

We had the worst waiter in history. Our beers sat empty for over 10 minutes and he didn't bring us small plates with our cheese board. Did I mention that the restaurant was almost completely empty? He just seemed annoyed that we were even there, messing up his "game" with the hostess (who was absolutely lovely, I might add). We tried a lot and loved most of it. Everyone's favorite was the bacon wrapped dates. I look forward to going back the next time we are in Alexandria, but I would hate to have to deal with that waiter again.
(3)
Bryan B.

I've been to other LaTasca restaurants that seem much brighter and cheerier. This place is very dark - I had a hard time even seeing the menu. Even small lights on the end of the tables would help. The sangria was good with lots of fruit chunks, but a bit bland. I would order it again during a happy hour, but not at full price. The food was also good, but very small portions for the price. This would be a nice date place and I know happy hours are popular, but I probably wouldn't come back. That being said, I don't think you'd be terribly disappointed in coming. It is what is - a chain tapas restaurant.
(3)
Tamani L.

I can't even begin to explain how i loved my entire experience @ La Tasca! Anescio was fantastic! He was helpful and knowledgeable when it came to tapas and Sangria suggestions!! We ordered the Paella Mixta and Paella Carne with Ensalada de Espinaca con Peras the taste was enlightening and sensational! The seasonal mango blackberry sangria was AMAZING!! I will be back to try all the Tapas Menus!!! the services exceptional!! Gracias Anescio!!!
(5)
Ash C.

Visited La Tasca with a friend who does not like trying new things and judges his food by the quantity as much as he judges the food by the quality. And since this tapas style I had to warn him that it won't fill his belly but I was hoping it would satisfy his heart haha one way of putting it. We ordered some mojitos and waited for our food to arrive. Mojitos kept the conversation going since they were generous and nicely made. Our appetizer was some sort of garlic bread concoction which was quite ordinary and I would have preferred a dipping sauce with it. Food came and we were pleased: small seafood paella was delish and so were the patatas bravas. The lamb chops were medium rare (I like mine well done) but I let my friend enjoy them. The roasted chicken was merely little wings with diced potatoes (nothing ingenious or something I would order again) All in all a pleasant experience, the place is bustling with couples and large groups. Try if you are around!
(4)
Erika C.

I've been here a few times and I love it! Make sure you stick w/ tapas though. Last time I ordered their paella and was very disappointed. It was burnt and they used frozen seafood. But overall the place is good and their sangria is amazing.
(4)
John P.

My wife, three year old daughter and I have gone to La Tasca twice. The first time we went there it was a fun evening, my daughter enjoyed the small portions provided. The second time we went, my daughter was singing as three year olds do. A few of the table next to us would clap as she sang. I thought we were all having fun, but then the bleach blond hostess came to our table and in a voice intended to be heard throughout the place asked us to keep it quiet as people are trying to eat. You have to know quickest way to piss off a parent is to insult their kids, especially when a three year old is being good, not throwing anything, just laughing and singing. We then paid our check and left, no need for dessert after that especially when Ben and Jerry's is two blocks away. John
(1)
Nathalie R.

Not impressed overall. The food was mediocre at best, and made me worried I would be sick from eating it at worst. The tortilla (Spanish potato omelette) was runny. The gluten free notations on the menu were clearly not marked clearly or correctly (one item we ordered was marked gluten free but was served on top of bread) which made me suspicious of all other items I ordered. Finally one of the dishes we ordered came out wrong, and by the time the correct dish came out we were full and couldn't eat more than a taste.
(2)
Barry P.

Found a real score of Happy Hour here on a Sunday afternoon, and I believe the server says it was everyday from 4-7pm, but you better double check me on that. They have an extensive selection of Sangrias -- something for everyone -- and we also sampled several tapas which I remember being very good, but I don't remember what exactly we had (because of the Sangria). We found the Happy Hour to be a nice quiet break to a crowded, busy, spring day in Alexandria. I will definitely stop back next time I'm in Old Town, to sample some more of the Sangrias, and explore the menu further.
(4)
Ryan S.

Wow. Their happy hour is killer. Had a couple crazy nights that started here. Love this place!
(4)
Lyn L.

After reading the mixed reviews, I did not have super high expectations but I do love tapas and I love Old Town. Overall- The food exceeded my expectations, the service was excellent, the location convenient. Service: Excellent! The server was right there from start to finish! He paid close to attention to everything from filling my husband's water glass to taking our next order of tapas! (We had the unlimited tapas menu for restaurant week). The plates were always bus'd by the other bus guys and the food came out SO quickly! Food- Yes, we love to eat so we had plenty of tapas for our money! The fresh chips were SO good, not greasy like other places like Mon Ami, but these were so light! Their sauces were a just a tad thick and not too much flavor but they were good. We also had the cheese bread, the seafood paella, the garlic shrimp, Angus beef, pork tenderloin, a couple of the potato dishes, and asparagus. Everything came out fresh, hot, and tasty. The only thing that seemed quite bland was the calamari. For dessert, my husband got the mousse since they had run out of the churros. We also ordered the flan and that had a nice presentation and was very light. Drinks: The sangria (White Cadillac) seemed somewhat weak but it was tasty. I would definitely come back. They also have a nice pub area, that might have had happy hour too!
(4)
Jill B.

My boyfriend and I really enjoy this place. Though it is a bit pricey, we have always had a great experience and the service is good. The ambiance is very nice as well. We have had two very special dinners here. The last dinner my boyfriend called ahead to get a table by the window (we noticed it last time and it was so cozy and nice) so they put a "reserved" sign on the table which was very nice. A couple of weeks ago we went to the happy hour. They had very good happy hour specials. They also had a great selection of sangrias and they were excellent. The waitress was very helpful in deciding which one I would like, I liked the Cava one the best. We have added this place to our favorite happy hour list and will be going back.
(4)
Dawn B.

A wide variety of well priced/portioned items makes this place great for happy hour. I spent $11 to purchase their esparragos, empanadas de pollo y tortilla espanola. I would definitely recommend the empanadas and the tortilla to all patrons of the restaurant, but wouldn't necessarily recommend the esparragos. All the dishes were well cooked and flavorful, but I guess the esparragos wasn't as special a dish as the other two (Basically you could make it at home). The decor was also a definite plus and the atmosphere was filled with patrons that, you could tell, were enjoying the dining experience. I guess the only downside to this place is it's location. Sure, old town is a fabulous location for the restaurant, but as with most of old town the restaurant only has street parking. If you don't have a bike, use the metro or live in the area you have to pay metered parking to visit this restaurant. It's not the meter pricing as much as the inability to pay more than 1 1/2-2 hours at a time that makes it difficult to visit this place if you drive to this location.
(4)
Christina M.

I spent one summer on a performance tour through villages in the Catalon region of Spain (e.g. Barcelona and to the NE). I wanted to find an authentic Spanish Tapas bar where I could reminisce my experiences of eating the food prepared for our group at each stop by the village mothers (and also the more "commercial" dishes we enjoyed in Barcelona). La Tasca delivered! If you know anything about cuisine from Espana, I think you'll agree that the flavors offered here are spot on. We enjoyed the Tabla de Jamon y Queso (Pan con tomate with manchego cheese and serrano ham) which was all exactly how I remembered it and was one of the things we could count on being served at every meal! The Tortilla Espanola was good and mostly the way I remember it but was served with a strange creamy sauce on top and a spicy tomato drizzle I have never seen on that dish before. I guess they felt the tortilla is too much of a homely comfort food to be served plain to Americans. Canelones de Berenjenas was a delicious eggplant dish (the roma tomatoes inside really make it!) The Chorizo sausage is spot on! Again, this may not seem spectacular if you're looking for out of this world flavor, but I was looking for good old Espanola comfort food. We also got the Paella de la Huerta, a veggie paella, and loved it!! Again, the roma tomatoes are amazing! We wanted to get just a plate of those by themselves, they were so good. For dessert we order the Tres Leches (classic and pretty good, but I've had better at a cuban restaurant in Durham, NC), Churros (mediocre compared to the ones we would get at roadside stands in Spain), and a deep fried banana cream dish I can't remember the name of (it was amazing!). So, food, yes, was very good overall and what I was looking for. HOWEVER: Part of the reason we picked to go the night and time we did was the advertisement for flamenco at 9:00pm. We made our reservation for 8:30 so we could get settled in and have plenty of time to order because I was the only member of my family familiar with Espana cuisine. I was running late, but arrived at 8:50 only to find out from my family that the dancing had happened at 8:30. How lame! There's nothing I hate more than false advertising. If the food wasn't so good I would immediately give this restaurant 1 or 2 stars just for this and probably at least never return to this location. Secondly, we ordered a second round of Pan con Tomate and Tortilla before dessert and never got it. When our dessert came and was subsequently devoured and there was still no sign of our food, I inquired with the waiter about it. The best he offered was to cancel the order. For the price of the bill, I would have expected them to apologize a lot more and get us those two dishes for free. I was very disappointed with the lack of commitment to stellar service in this regard.
(4)
Meg H.

Very Sexy place!! My friend and I went here on a Friday night, they had a live band going and it was a really great cozy atmosphere. The crowd is probably 30's and up, but the music was really fun for a friday night girls night. We had cute little red chairs that were comfy, and the waitress was very very accomodating. I'll be back to try the food for sure!!
(4)
Sher R.

Every time I go here it is great! Great service, atmosphere, food and drinks. Always looking for excuses to return. Bacon wrapped dates. Order a lot of them.
(5)
M J.

The food was ok, but the service at our table was TERRIBLE. The bar service was great, hence how they earned 2 stars. We went for my friend's birthday and had a large party. We started in the bar and waited for the entire party to arrive before moving to a table for dinner. The bar service was great and we closed out our tabs there before moving to the table. They kept asking us (around 7 times) if we were going to order food, because if we weren't going to order food, they weren't going to seat us. Rude, but we kept answering yes and telling them that we were there for a birthday dinner. We asked for a table for 15, and they gave us a table for 12. We then asked if they could move some of the empty tables next to us to the end of our tables so that we had enough space, and they said no. Mind you at this point the restaurant is nearly empty, it's 8pm, and it's a snow day. The likelihood of the two seaters next to us filling up is slim to none (and the tables around us did remain empty for the rest of the night). After too much back and forth with the waiter, I went and spoke to the hostess, who accommodated our request (after she initially turned it down and sat our party of 15 at a 12 top). The waiter then took our orders and we hardly saw him again. The people bringing the food were nice and the manager was nice, but no waiter to take our orders. This is a tapas place and as many times as they asked if we'd be ordering food, you'd think they'd keep taking our tapas and drink orders. Even still, a good waiter comes back to check on his table, especially considering how empty the restaurant was. Since our waiter wasn't around and we wanted to order drinks, a few of us went over to the bar. Out of the blue pops our absent waiter who tells us that we can't order at the bar, and we have to order with him. Maybe if he ever came back to our table to check on us, we could have ordered with him. But also, we can order wherever the heck we want. He was rude and told us to go sit back down. I told him that if this is all because of the tip, his is already included, his service has not earned the tip he's going to get and he needed to bring our check for the table immediately. At the end of the night, we spent a total well over $1500 at the bar and at our table and I regret every penny. I will never go back to that restaurant (maybe unless I'm only at the bar because the bar service was fine). Between the rude hostess and seating mess that made absolutely no sense, the terrible and greedy waiter and the food being just ok (most things were overcooked), there was nothing about that experience that would make me want to go back.
(2)
Pam S.

Despite the fact that the ambience is "hipster/casual" (I thought I moved AWAY from hipsters), I ventured in here last week for some dinner after some super fun cute boot shopping. While the food (Ensalada de Tomates con Vinagreta de Miel and Solomillo de Buey) was good, the service was deplorable considering it wasn't that busy either in the restaurant or the bar. I sat at the bar thinking I'd get in, get out, and get back to unpacking. The bartender had other plans. First, it took him roughly a decade to acknowledge me. I was sitting there for quite some time before I even was able to order a drink. And then he forgot what I was drinking (nothing fancy- one of their sangrias- not that hard). THEN it took him forever to take my order. I waited..a lot. For everything. For the first time in my life I considered walking out on my tab because I didn't know when I'd a) get to order food and b) when I'd get my bill. Guys that came in after me were able to order their food first, and got significantly more attention. Do not recommend sitting at the bar, but do recommend the food.
(2)
Sean H.

Man, I wanted this lunch to be good. $20 for all you can eat tapas on Sunday is a killer deal. The service was great, the restaurant is cozy inside...but the food just wasn't that good. We tried 8 or 9 different dishes but most of them seemed to be kinda cheaply made. I'm glad I didn't go for dinner and pay full prices for the dishes we got. That all being said, the lunch menu is limited, so I'm sure there are better dishes than the ones we had. I really liked the Potatoes Bravas (the potatoes themselves were pretty plain, but the garlic and marinara sauces on them were addicting). The servers were very friendly and attentive. Just wish the food was better.
(3)
Allison B.

Came here for dinner last week while visiting friends in D.C. I'd never been to Old Town, Alexandria. Super cute place, especially with the holiday lights. We had reservations and though it was fairly empty when we arrived, it quickly filled up. The menu is pretty extensive, so upon suggestions from both our friends (who have dined there before) and the server, we opted for the La Tasca tasting menu plus a few extra dishes - the datiles (bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese) and the canelones (tomato and goat cheese stuffed eggplant rolls). We also tried to order one of the specials - a rabbit dish - but it was sold out. However, what we ended up with was a perfect amount for the 4 of us. In fact, it left me comfortably full. For drinks, sangria is the way to go. With so many options to choose from, our server was kind enough to let us sample a few to make our decision easier. Unfortunately you cannot sample all, as some are "made to order", but that is understandable. We opted for the La Tasca sangria (hey.. when in Rome..) because it tastes like xmas. Seriously. The service was great and we felt well attended to. At some tapas places it's common to be upsold on dishes you may not need, but this was not the case here. All in all, a great dining experience. I would definitely return.
(4)
Peter K.

Ok, I have to admit, I am not a tapas or paella expert. I've been to Madrid but just for a long weekend and everything tastes amazing when you travel (unless you go to a restaurant targeted to tourists, which means you are not an experienced traveler). In any case, I saw that they had half-price paellas and figured it'd be hard to go wrong with that. We got the Paella de Carne as recommended by other reviewers. It was pretty good. Rice was a nice consistency. Service was excellent. We came here with our 13 month old son. It's a large space and they were definitely accommodating in terms of setting up a high chair and not coming across as being annoyed for having a stroller. We also got the sangria which was tasty. Probably could have used more alcohol but don't we always wish that were the case? I'm definitely going to come back for half-price tapas night.
(4)
Rich E.

This has become our favorite Sunday afternoon hangout. The choices of homemade sangrias is great, the Cadillac is my favorite. We have tried almost all of the tapas, they are all very good. The Sunday bar tender/manager is a great host, she really makes you feel at home. If your looking for a relaxing afternoon that won't cost a fortune, this is a great place to go.
(4)
Karisa D.

I love it here! We went for dinner as part of DC Restaurant Week and it was definitely an excellent choice. Their restaurant deal is a choice of tapas and dessert; by the way the tapas are unlimited. You definitely get your money's worth here. Together, my boyfriend and I ordered 10 different tapas dishes as well as the Sangria Rosada (it's a berry based sangria) Two of my favorite dishes were the Paella Valenciana and a sweet spinach salad. We ordered churros and a chocolate lava cake for dessert, both of which were delicious. The service was great, the hostess was friendly and apologized when we had to wait for our table even though we had a reservation. There was also live music on Friday night which we enjoyed! It was very busy when we went so I recommend making a reservation, especially if you go on the weekend. Wonderful dining experience overall!
(4)
Miriam K.

Not impressed. Went for Restaurant Week. Wine or sangria plus 3 tapas plus dessert. $35. My friend had a scallop dish (vieiras sobre pil-pil) and the sauce tasted odd. My empanadas de carne was delicious but mainly because of the spicy sauce. My ensalada de espinacas (salad with pears) was typical but fine. We both had the veal shanks (jarretitos de chorizo) and each dish was not hot and the meat was tough to cut off the bone and lacking flavor. My friend had the churros con chocolate and thought it was delicious. I had the rice pudding (arroz con leche) and the flavor was absolutely delicious however the center of it was frozen solid about the size of quarter...not good. The waiter was fantastic, great personality and very helpful. The restaurant had flamenco dancers and they were just okay.
(3)
John R.

The service alone would get this place zero stars if I could. Beware of the server "Cha***a.," unless you want to be talked down to, ignored for a half hour, and treated with general disdain. We had to ask why our order hasn't come five times, and the server's reply was "well, do you want to see a dessert menu?" (Our reply was maybe after our one friend (who she knew was the birthday boy) finally gets his dinner.) Like to drink sangria? She will try to leave with the pitcher and a half a cup of drink left right after she pours your drinks. She was just problem after problem and attitude after attitude. Even a clearer tried to take the plate from under me while I had the fork in my mouth. We went here last year and spent twice as much, came back in October of 2013 and will never come back. I wish a manager was around to fire this lady. Long and short, skip this place. It's as hit or miss with the service as it is with the food and for this price, it's not worth the risk.
(1)
Chelsea S.

This is one time I feel misled by my fellow yelppers. We went to La Tasca around a month ago for dinner on a Saturday night and were not at all impressed by the food. Overly salty and way too oily. I literally started to feel sick from all the oil and salt even before the meal was over. Unfortunately, the dissapointment doesn't end there. The noise level was insane. They had live music but it could barely be heard over the sound of people talking (shouting?), or in the case of the table next to us filled with a group of young girls, the sound of loud cackling. With so many other great restaurants to chose from, we'll definitely be giving this place a pass.
(1)
Cindy H.

My foodie friend and I decided to try the La Tasca in Alexandria this month during their month-long Paella Festival BECAUSE a few weeks ago we attended a special Sangria tasting party at the La Tasca in DC and it was so delicious, the Sangrias and food were flowing so freely, and we had such a great time that we were curious to check out this event a little closer to (my) home. Score! The place was hopping when we arrived at 7 p.m. on a Friday night but the place is big (and we had reservations through Open Table) so we were ushered to our table right away. I liked the seating because while my friend took the chair, I got to sit on a banquette, which is a great thing for those of us who carry big purses. (Hey, you never know when you're going to need a flashlight and an umbrella!) Anyhoo . . . we had the $75 "Paella Package" for two, which included two tapas, a huge pan of paella, two desserts, and a bottle of wine or pitcher of Sangria. I love this place because they make about ten different kinds of Sangria, including some very unique ones ( think watermelon-kiwi and mango blackberry). I tried them ALL at the Sangria tasting party in DC and trust me, there are no wrong choices. In addition to having our choice of Sangrias, the tapas menu for the package dinner contained about ten choices, there were four different paellas to choose from, and about six desserts. We opted for a pitcher of the traditional red Sangria Tinta with diced apples and orange slices because we were thirsty, for heaven's sake, and we didn't want to negotiate over all the options. For tapas, we split plates of Tortilla Torera, a nicely cooked egg and potato omelet, and Brocheta de Gambas y Vieiras, skewers of grilled shrimp and bacon-wrapped scallops with a lemony sauce. Both were really nice starters -- great flavors and generous portions. For the main event, we chose the Paella Mixta, which contained chicken breast, chorizo, shrimp, scallops, mussels, and squid. La Tasca knows how to do paella, people. It came to the table in a sizzling hot pan and the crispy rice on the bottom of the pan was perfection. There was plenty of meat and seafood, and everything was tender and juicy. The squid was the most tender I've ever eaten. Dessert (ah, dessert!) was -- for him -- the Tarta de Pera, a moist pear and almond cake accompanied by a scoop of sangria sorbet, and -- for me -- churros, those irresistible Spanish crullers coated with cinnamon sugar. The churros came with a chocolate sauce for dipping, but I like them naked with just their sugary crust for cover. There were about six churro "loops" in a little fry basket, which meant four for me, one for my friend, and one left in the basket for my conscience. I also tasted his pear tart and it also was delicious. He's not a dessert guy and couldn't believe how much he liked the tart and the sangria sorbet, noting that the dessert was not overly sweet. He cleaned the plate. The wait staff at both the DC and Alexandria La Tascas go out of their way to be accommodating and welcoming, and the service is excellent. In spite of the crowds, we never felt rushed and we lingered over dinner for a good two hours. Around 9 p.m., a couple of guitarists appeared on a small stage at the front of the restaurant and provided a nice musical accompaniment to a great evening. La Tasca is not exactly a cheap dinner date but they have some great lunch and happy hour specials, and the bars at both locations are destinations in themselves, so there are some good deals to be had if you're in the right place at the right time. (There's also a La Tasca in Arlington but we haven't checked that one out . . . yet.) Long story short, get to La Tasca right now and plan to spend a couple of hours. You won't regret it.
(5)
Katie N.

Not a bad place. Went on a Saturday night probably around 7ish. I enjoy tapas and this was a nice double date with friends that live in the area. We tried three different sangria pitchers - mango blackberry, watermelon kiwi and finally the cava sangria. I think the Watermelon Kiwi was the favorite. Each of us ordered a tapas and then we split each among the four of us. We did two rounds of this and I can't remember all of them, but my definite favorite was the Buey a la Plancha - Slices of grilled New York strip steak served with oven-baked sliced potatoes and your choice of a sherry mushroom sauce or Cabrales cheese sauce. We chose the mushroom sauce and ordered the steak medium rare and it was delicious! I took some stars off because it was warm in the upstairs seating area where we were sat and the waiter took a while getting to us initially even though it wasn't that crowded. We were also given the wrong dish twice and had to be sent back to the kitchen.
(3)
Matthew G.

We've been here three times. The food hovers around the "meh, it's OK" area of the scale, with a few hits and a few misses. Something was off about the octopus last time we went, but most of the food skews salty and bland when it errs. The sangria is not well balanced. The room absorbs noise well, so it's great for families. It would be a solid three, therefore, but for the last time we went (and I mean the last time). The deal was five tapas and a glass of cava for $35. We ordered fifteen tapas for three people, then added an extra a la carte. The extra tapa never came. Our glasses of cava never came. All of our fifteen tapas came at one time, and we had to rush to finish food from the first plates they set down in order to make room on the table for the rest. They took our silverware when they cleaned the table then didn't bring us new ones for the dessert. We raided an empty table, but they only had forks and knives, and our ice cream was melting fast. The waitress came back and brought us more napkins, forks and knives, noted that we probably needed spoons but refused to give us any. Not really sure why. All in all, we didn't get what we ordered and paid for, didn't get the utensils we needed to eat what we got, and we felt rushed and harried. Quite unpleasant.
(2)
Said E.

I hope it's not very late to write about my 10 month old experience. The food was great. The unlimited Tapas is a really good deal. Friendly service and a selection of Sangria. We were 2 just my wife and I and we couldn't finish the second wave of Tapas. We only tried the seafood tapas and the vegetable Tapas they all been fresh and tasty.
(4)
Rachel S.

My husband and I went to La Tasca for a date night. Making a reservation for a Friday night was easy (and in the end, unnecessary - the place was not full). The atmosphere was fun - cozy and warm, with lots of small groups dining there. The service was good and our waitress seemed to know the menu very well. They have an interesting drink menu, including some fun cocktails and new takes on traditional sangria (one with white grape juice and cava that we enjoyed). The tapas were good, especially the gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp). We had to ask for bread, which I thought was odd, but the waitress brought it to us promptly. We ended up sharing 5 tapas between us, which left us full but not stuffed. I would definitely go back to La Tasca.
(4)
Sarah S.

My fiancÃ© and I went there for restaurant week for lunch and we got 16 different tapas! No we didn't eat them all but we did try all of them and some were great, some ok, and some sucked...the fried eggplant, angus beef, fried shrimp, and pork tenderloin were all awesome...the tomato salad, mushrooms aioli, calamari, Octupus and salmon were ok, nothing special... The lamb, mussels, fried potatoes all sucked.. I don't remember the names of all the stuff on the menu but I would say it was fun to try a variety of food especially for $20 bucks each. I probably wouldn't do it for dinner just cause u get the same stuff except u get dessert for dinner..not worth $15 bucks to me. Overall, it was fun, but I would probably go back only for sangria and the eggplant.
(3)
Mark J.

Went for tapas during a Friday happy hour. Really tasty and the sangrias were good too. Prices very reasonable. Will go back
(5)
Chris K.

Food was good second time here service is terrible and owners could care less said something and still got terrible service
(1)
Rochelle J.

I love La Tasca, especially during happy hour. The drinks a delicious and the food is great. I especially love the berenjenas with the cabrales cheese.
(5)
Amiyr B.

We just came from out of town and we were very excited to come to this restaurant. However we were mostly disappointed when we actually got our dinner. This is a place that I would give five stars for the service and two stars for the food. The food could have been warmer and seasoned more. We had the grilled asparagus, the salmon tapas, the potatoes bravas, and the fried eggplant. All of these dishes failed to impress us. They were okay but not remarkable. Nothing worth returning to this place for. We loved our server Jose he was remarkable it's too bad the food he was serving wasn't. Vegetarians shouldn't order the Vegetable Paella. We ordered it and we found out it was cooked with a piece of chicken inside the paella so we sent it back. We did however enjoy the spicy shrimp and the spinach tapas. But overall this place is pretty mediocre.
(3)
Evan B.

Never disappointed in the several times I ate here. Probably had half of the tapas menus over the years and the were all excellent and the prices very reasonable. Their house sangria is wonderful and full of fruit if you care to get the extra "bite" at the end of the pitcher.
(5)
J R.

Fellow foodies, please let me begin my review of my visit on the evening of Thursday 9 August 2013 with two simple words: STALE PICOS. I believe that the Jamon they served me was prosciutto. I'll have to reverify on another visit. This place is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE FOR THE SO-CALLED SPANISH FOOD. Very few noteworthy positive points: - a cheesy selection of sangrias (which I imagine could impress anyone who has never been to Spain, where Tinto Verano is the choice wine cocktail beverage), - Estrella beer on tap (served really cold), and - Flamenco dancers single performance on Thursday nights (but the live guitar music accompaniment is way too fast to allow the beautiful dancing to shine). My suggestion to the restaurant: shut down the kitchen forever, and serve only Estrella beer on Thursday nights only.
(1)
Julie D.

We ate a late lunch here, party of 5 during the week, so the restaurant was nearly empty. We enjoyed extra attention from the server and the chef, and the food was delicious. I found most plates to be much less greasy than authentic spanish tapas that I've had elsewhere. The menu is extensive, and we tried the Unlimited Tapas for $20. The whole table has to order the Unlimited to try it, and it was well worth. The Buey al Jerez (grilled beef medallions) and Brocheta de Pollo (chicken skewers) were both seasoned perfectly, tender and flavorful but simple. Also a big hit was the pork in a cheese sauce, delish. The empanadas we tried were chicken and beef, we preferred the chicken. The mini paella valencia was nice but nothing outstanding, still a nice option on a Tapas menu. One person in our party has Celiac, which means no Gluten. The menu is labeled clearly which items are Gluten Free, but there are others on the menu that we hoped to order without sauce. The chef came out to personally assure us that he makes those sauces without gluten, so there were even more GF choices than labeled. Also fun is the long Sangria selection, with about 10 different flavors and combos. I had the Traditional and it was not too sweet, perfect. We could not have been happier with our lunch and service.
(5)
Ed G.

recently had dinner at La Tasca. Me and my wife shared a few tapas including the cazuela de setas (really tasted the mashed potatoes, not much else), empanadas de pollo (awesome empanadas), manchego frito (the orange marmalade was great to be mixed in with the cazuela de setas dish), berenjenas fritas (the dip was very unique), and the patatas de churrerÃa (probably our favorite, chips with a mint dip). A very pleasant experience with excellent service and with some very different tasting dishes.
(4)
Dan A.

La Tasca is one of our favorite family-friendly restaurants. Great selection, good deals for kids on Saturdays. Good value.
(4)
Chunnu B.

Well isn't this the happening place to be on a Monday night. La Tasca was pretty crowded all around when I showed up around 6:30 for dinner. Nothing was horrible, but nothing was great either. I will never fully understand the hype behind tapas/appetizers for dinner but I continue to hope that maybe, one day, I will come across a tapas restaurant which is truly as amazing as everyone makes them seem. My friend and I ordered a pitcher of Cava Sangaria, which is most definitely the route you want to take if you've had an annoyingly long Monday, like myself. Even better: If you order a pitcher of sangaria on a Monday, you get 1/2 off on 4 tapas. We had the chorizo, calamari, some sort of croquettes, and the "Datiles con Tocino." Ok, I take back what I said about nothing being great. The dates stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon were off the hook amazing. I wish I didn't have to share. Maybe I should just show up alone next time and enjoy a pitcher of sangaria and a plate of dates by myself!
(3)
Michelle D.

I just wasted 50$ on the most tasteless food ever. Of all the things we ordered, the only things that were... meh ok... were the empanadas. The chorizo is not at all like the chorizo I remember, tasted terrible and it was cold when we got it. In fact, none of the foods we ordered were hot. They were all lukewarm, probably had been sitting in their kitchen for a while. Portions are extremely small, that's expected because of the tapas, but I want to make sure that gets in here because after spending 50 dollars on 5 different things from their menu, we barely had food for two people. This means that if you're going to eat here, expect to spend a lot, and to be honest, its not worth it.
(1)
Wyld K.

The sangrias are tasty, and the tapas selection is great. Still, the food isn't so good that we want to keep coming back. Still, a good place to bring a group of people. We missed te live music everytime we stopped in, but that would definately help with the atmosphere.
(3)
Tyler R.

This was pretty much my first tapas experience. My girlfriend brought me here and I'm glad she did. It was great and the every item they brought out was excellent.
(4)
Joshua F.

Went here for happy hour and the drink and tapas menu is a really good deal. $4 drinks and sangria and $4 tapas plates. Me and my wife got like 5 plates and three drinks and the bill came out to $34. Not a bad deal.
(5)
Kathryn C.

Best tapas place around!! Can't get enough, and I've been going there for years. If you go to the bar, hope you're there on a night Fernando is working!
(5)
MJ S.

Favorite place ever. Every time we have visitors in town, this is our go-to place. I'm a sucker for tapas because I want to enjoy the diversity of a menu, and this is one place where each dish is more enticing than the next. We generally showcase this gem to out-of-towners with the La Tasca Tasting Menu and a handful of other dishes, then we revisit our favorites in round two. We stick to the traditional Sangria and have not been disappointed. Sometimes getting a table is tricky, but if you're up for a late dinner there's usually a spot and perhaps even live music and dancing. All around amazing experience!
(5)
Patricia S.

Can I just say MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM? A friend and I came here - she used to live nearby and recommended it. Her pitch had me at "peach sangria," but I got so much more! We ordered 8 small plates, including the Pan a la Catalina, Jamon Serrano, the Tabla de Quesos, the Paella with chorizo, the tomato salad with goat cheese, Patatas Bravas and the Salmon a la Plancha, along with a whole pitcher of the aforementioned sangria. Yes, it was just for two people. Yes, we ate a LOT. The table service was fantastic, and the waitress brought out a few plates at a time so that we weren't over crowded with food (the pigs that we were!) and the decor was fabulous. Warm orangey tones and plush reds dominated the space, with Spanish artifacts adorning the walls. And, to top it all off, there was a group playing flamenco guitar. So romantic! As my friend said of the band, "I want to have all of their babies, and I don't even know what they look like!"
(5)
Catherine G.

Second time coming here...and it was worse than the first. The first time, we were left feeling kind of mediocre about it. We werent sure if it was because we choose the paella, and didnt do the tapas. Well, last night we choose to do tapas as we normally do when we go to a tapas restaurant. It was a little after 530 and there was hardly anyone in the restaurant. We got sat right away and then waited, and waited for a server to acknowledge us. (I think there was only one other table there.) After 5 or 10 minutes, with me appearing as though I was OBVIOUSLY looking for someone, a server appeared. During the wait though, my husband asks me if I passed gas. Well, his exact words were, "Did you fart?" To which I replied, "no...not this time." So then he says, do you smell that. Which is when I started sniffing the air. Something DID smell funky....like sewage actually. Turns out there was a truck out front on the other side of the street doing something in the ground. It smelled off and on bad. Anyway, back to the food. It was mediocre as tapas goes. Which would have gotten a 3 star for this place. But wait! Waiter..there's a fly in my ...... ICED TEA! I swear to god I'm not lying, there was a fly in my husband's ice tea, which I ONLY noticed because it was SO big and he had drank ALMOST all of the tea. I saw it as the server was going to refill it and I picked it up and just gave it to her. She saw it too and just left the table and I tried to say, "Oh, maybe it was a bee or something." NOT! It was a friggin big fly! YUCK. So this occurs of course after we've nearly eaten everything, after which I just dont really have a stomache for anything and we quickly ask for the check. Now, this is where its weird. We ordered at least 7 tapas last night. Which brought the check to nearly $60, I forget the amount. But the manager came and said she was sorry for what happened and said she would adjust our check. (I'm still grossed out, but we didnt really fuss.) Maybe we should have, because all they did was take off $2.75 for the tea, and $3.25 for a part of a tapas. Really? $6.00? Was that the discount you are giving me for getting a fly in my beverage??? I dunno, maybe that was sufficient, but back in the day when I waited tables, I dont think so. Anyway, we're not going back again. It really isnt worth it. We'll probably go out to Jaleo next time near Crystal City.
(1)
Dave C.

Went here while on vacation & was looking for something different and interesting. I chose La Tasca over Las Tapas based on Yelp reviews. The restaurant is open & festive, but wasn't overly loud at 6pm on a Saturday. Very kid-friendly, and they have a non-tapas kids' menu. We brought in bagels from across the street for our younger kids, and the restaurant was totally cool with that. The free King St shuttle makes it easily accessible. The sangrias were tasty & refreshing, and our 13 yr old daughter greatly enjoyed a virgin sangria. We ordered the tapas sampler which is a combination of meats and veggies, and it was uniformly good. The standout was clearly the blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. The combination of flavors was so good that we got a 2nd order. In summary, if you're looking for something a little different and very tasty, I'd highly recommend La Tasca.
(4)
Kester A.

The rice on my $40 paella was totally undercooked. When i informed the waitress, she told me that the rice was supposed to be crunchy. Really!!!!! After some pressure they recooked the paella. The manager never showed up.
(1)
Stephanie A.

Ok- great deal actually for Restaurant Week- unlimited tapas for $20!! I had to try it out. The food was actually not great. The tomato salad with cheese was to be conceptually a tomato and cheese lover's dream!! But the tomatoes were not ripe at all. I am not talking about the texture- I'm talking about the flavor. So bland. When a dish has maybe 3 components then it might be good to have all 3 perfect or the whole thing is bad. The salmon was too fishy! Mussels also smelled off and were not properly cleaned. The sauce with the mussels was nice though. Shrimp also had no taste- it was like they boiled them before and tossed them in the sauce a while later. Paella was maybe the best, but the rice was not cooked properly. Chicken on the skewer was dry. Asparagus was the highlight of my meal... not sure what that means about the restaurant. And the sangria was a disgrace!! Strawberries were mushy and did not even have any alcohol taste so they must have been bad when going into the liquor. The worst part was the timing of the food. They came around to the table before we even got our first round of dishes and said it might be a good time to place your second order of food now. I was worried they were going to run out. People next to us that sat down after we came ordered way after us got their food first. Would never come back here.
(1)
G B.

Had a great meal here and the servers are really great!
(3)
Valencia W.

I am sure glad I came here for Restaurant week for their $20.10 Unlimited Tapas. I feel like I need to come to this place just one more time to make sure I remind my self of Espana. I don't know what chef was cooking today, but I do know that this reminded me sitting at sunset in Malasana (Madrid) munching on some tapas. I really was in need to go and check out restaurants for Restaurant week and I decided to check out La Tasca. Parking as always, sucks. It's King Street...don't need to say anything else. The service was superb, my parents and I were well taken care of and they were very helpful. We had a great experience as all the food was cooked well, the tomato salad was amazing, the salmon was very good, the paella wasn't too bad the buey was shockingly very good and yes, the churros were perfect. I kind of wish they had Gazpacho ... Regardless, I would definitely come back again, and I just might for more tapas and sangria. Can't get a better $20 for Unlimited Tapas--you've got to go.
(4)
Merly T.

We sat at the bar and the service was super slow on saturday night. They had a live band (That was actually cool) people were dancing and having a good time. The salmon was ok.
(3)
Mrs. S.

Ate here for Christmas Eve dinner. I made a reservation for 4 but we ended up eating in the bar--not because the restaurant was packed (it wasn't), but because it was happy hour! Yes, this place is great if only for the fact that happy hour doesn't get a holiday :) I've eaten here a few times before, and I will say my favorite is the beef empanadas, the fried eggplant, the chicken, and the potato chips. The queso-like sauce that comes with some of the things tastes a little funky to me but hubby enjoys it. I like the spicy queso that comes with the empanadas--it's like the Spanish version of spicy mayo. Also, excellent sangrias! The one with whipped cream sounds a little weird, but if you have a sweet tooth then you will love it.
(5)
Carol W.

I went here with my BF and some friends after drinks earlier in the evening. Normally I am a huge fan of tapas; I like eating many small plates - gives me the opportunity to try numerous dishes. Tonight - we started off with a charcuterie platter (our friends ordered the cheese platter). I was extremely disappointed with this plate. The meats were overly "dried" Almost likely they were old rather than fresh. Though I will say that the cheese platter was good with a good and diverse selection. The second plate we had was the friend eggplant. This was delicious! Our main entree was the Longosta paella (lobster). The lobster was very good, cooked perfectly, though the scallops had a grittiness to them that took away from the enjoyment of the other seafood in the dish. To top it all off, the rice was completely oversalted. For the price and the amount of food that came out, I was extremely disappointed. I definitely prefer other tapas restaurants in Old Town and certainly in DC more so than I did La Tasca.
(2)
Diana D.

restaurant week is the only time i ever come here... why?! because it's probably the best deal on EARTH. unlimited tapas for twenty buckaroos. kept a couple menus at our table and ordered as we went along. popular dishes were the eggplant crispies, calimari, steak, & apple salad. everything else was kind of a blur of waves of laughter~ always a sign of good times with good friends =) ... and la tasca's sangria.
(4)
Teresa J.

Ive been to this location multiple times. I really enjoy all of the different types of sangria they have. The Cava sangria is a sparkling white wine with blueberries... delicious. The La Tasca sangria is made with red wine, apples, and cinnamon sticks... also delicious. They even have non alcoholic sangria! The tapas are great as well. My favorite items are the Solomillo de Cerdo (pork wrapped in bacon in a delicious cheese sauce), Berenjenas Fritas (thinly sliced fried eggplant with a cheese sauce for dipping), and the Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp in oil with roasted garlic and red pepper flakes). Staff has always been extremely helpful and nice. I definitely recommend La Tasca for a great lunch, dinner, or happy hour!
(5)
Rebecca L.

The atmosphere was fantastic! The sangria was delish:) We split a pitcher of the blueberry mango (YUM). We also ordered five items, 3 meat, two veggie. The sausages were bursting with flavor! The peppers were so-so, but everything els was really good! We will definately go back!
(4)
Paige R.

La Tasca is one of those places that you wish people would treat the way the management and staff treats it. It's a shame people don't see the obvious signs that tell them not to wear their street clothes into an establishment like this one. The owners of the chain have paid close attention to decor and live music (no cover) to help you enjoy your time spent there. The menu is exclusive, not "over-priced." Prices set the a tone of upscale authenticity, as do almost every other detail in the place. Look at the wait staff's uniform, the top-shelf liquor in the bar, and the general ambiance achieved by lighting and music. It really is authentic to some village restaurants in Spain. La Tasca is a unique place to relax for hours over a long meal with friends and, late at night, get up and dance in front of the band!
(5)
Kathleen Q.

Our group of three made lunch reservations for Sunday, February 10, 2012, the last day of Restaurant Week. (We drove miles from Maryland for this restaurant centrally located to the group.) It was almost unbelievable to imagine "unlimited tapas" for $20.11. We showed up on time and upon being greeted, we were told that the kitchen was running 30 minutes behind. Not a good sign to be greeted with this information. It went down hill from there. This was by far the worst restaurant experience I have ever had. The waitress did not introduce herself by name so we never knew her name. She too advised us that the kitchen was running behind on orders. She would take our order in parts and place the order for food that could be prepared quickly first, so that we would have something to eat. We each ordered 3 tapas, confirming with her that our choices could be quickly prepared. She had to go back to the bartender in order to answer my question about available beers - pale ales, IPAs. That took 5 minutes. Then, when she took our drink order it took another 10 minutes for the drinks to arrive. About 20 minutes after the drinks arrived she checked back at our table, with no food. Again saying the kitchen was behind, she said she would check on the order. I had to ask for another beer. We didn't see her again for another 20 minutes. By now we had been in the restaurant for about an hour with no food. People at tables who came in after us had been served and two tables were on their second order of food. We had nothing. How long can it take to prepare these small plates? We flagged down the greeter and asked to see the manager. There was no manager there. The waitress returned to our table again with no food, apologized and said she would check on the order again. Finally, different person came with a tray of food and starting passing it out without identifying what each was. We had to ask. It was nothing we had ordered. Starving, we took it. The waitress returned and we told her that the other staff delivered food which was not ours but after 1.5 hours we took it. She went to the kitchen again. Then the tapas we think we ordered - it had been so long - began to arrive. Like a kamakaze bombing the table, this guy would go by with the tapas, leave it on the edge of the table and mumble something unintelligible as he kept walking away. We had no idea what it was he had left and for which of us it was for. He did that twice. Finally another staff person came over to ask about our problem. Never introduced himself. We explained that it was now 2 hours after arriving. We had received 2 tapas, of the 9 we had originally ordered at about 2:15. We exclaimed that this was simply unacceptable and that we had yet to receive all of the order that should have been placed initially, which we had now ordered twice. We were starving. By 4 PM we had received 8 tapas, only 2 of which we had originally ordered around 2:15. This staff person, whomever he was, apologized and said he would not charge us for any of the food that had been brought to the table. He gave us the bill for the drinks. Others protested, saying there drinks should be credited for our trouble. He took the bill as if he were going to adjust it. Then he came back to the table and said: "Just leave." We did. Never in my entire life have I had such a horrible dining experience. Won't be back. If I could give it NO STARS I would. But this review must require at least one in order to complete the post!
(1)
Brian C.

I came in for a drink and a quick bite after an event. The food and atmosphere is always great, though the service can be a little slow.
(4)
Atif A.

This was my first experience with tapas and paella. It was a dinner for my birthday planned out by my Fiance. So it was her myself, and my sister trekking our way out to Old Town. So we get there and it's packed, a band is playing, and people are having a great time. How bad could it be? We sat down in a very interesting seating arrangement. It was very rustic and very Spanish. I liked it a lot, it's nice to see restaurants go back to their roots, without having to be tacky. So we ordered a plethora of tapas and a seafood Paella. To drink, of course, a pitcher or two of Sangria. Everything was cooked perfect, had so much flavor. The sauce and oils that they used was of the highest quality and flavor. It was just insane how amazing and how much flavor they packed into these tiny dishes. Now the Paella came out. And once I put the first bite into my mouth, it was all over... I felt almost as if in heaven and eating like a God. I very rarely enjoy food this much, but it was amazing, and it inspired me to attempt to make my very own Paella later that week. The only reason I have given it 4 stars is because of some shady business our server tried to play.. She was incredibly hot and attractive, and possibly thought that because she was that she'd get away with this. We were doing split tender between the lot of us, and gave her cash and credit. More than 60% on cash and 40% on credit. She came back with a receipt from the credit card transaction and no cash. The receipt showed the entire amount charged to the card and the cash for herself. Once I asked her why she did this, she said, "oh, I thought that was my tip" ONLY REASON FOR THE 4 STAR.
(4)
E L.

This is a happy hour review. Pollo Frito - 2 stars (chicken was very dry) Calamares - 2.5 stars Pan a la Catalana - 2 stars Gambas Gabardina - 3 stars Service - 2 stars
(2)
Margaret O.

Seeking a light lunch in Alexandria, we opted for La Tasca yesterday. The restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived but the hostess asked us if we had reservations and then lead us to a tiny table for two when there were plenty of four top tables available and also some for two with more room to spread out. I wish someone would let me know why hostesses insist on seating people in sub par tables. We were very polite so there was no reason to "punish" us! Anyway, back to the food. We wanted a light lunch and La Tasca delivered. First, the "not so goods:" the Pan Catalan was very tasty but weirdly cold, the sherry was not chilled which was a surprise. One the upside, the salad we ordered had a lovely mix of veggies including a perfect avocado, the scallops were firm and the patatas bravas came in a generous serving size. I need to return for a dinner sometime to do the menu justice. The interior is fun and colorful on a dull cold day and it seems like the array of sangrias was broad. Just don't put baby in the corner : )
(3)
Regina S.

Yum. I wish we had something like that in Fort Lauderdale
(5)
Jon K.

Two stars and not much more. Why oh why does this chain get so high of reviews. I have been here several times and it's basically a DMV tapas chain. The only reason we keep coming back is because it's close to home and my wife likes it. There are a few things I like about this restaurant and a few things that I don't so I'll go ahead and list the pros and cons: Pros: 1. The Paellas are fantastic 2. I'm a sucker for Sangria at these kinds of places and they have a good selection. 3. There has been a $25 gift certificate on Restaurant.com for some time now so that is fantastic for a discount if you're lucky enough to get one. Cons: 1. The management and staff can be VERY rude at times, my wife and I have encountered this at several locations including Alexandria, DC, and Baltimore. 2. Sometimes it can get very crowded and the management and staff don't seem to care. 3. Some of the small tapas dishes are overpriced and not worth the money. 4. Did I mention this place has no concept of "customer service"? 5. They won't let you use gift certificates or gift cards on items on "special" Give me a f@#&ing break. The restaurant itself has a crazy spanish style ambience that looks like it just came out of "corny designs for chain restaurants USA". Let's not try to make it out to La Tasca in the future unless we're desperate...lol
(2)
Liza O.

If I'm ever back in Alexandia, VA this is one place I know i will come back to. The ambiance of this place reminded me of a classy spanish eatery. They also had a live band later that evening. We were seated upstairs. If you enjoy Tapas and picking at varieties of different scrumptios appetizers rather than having a 1 dish meal. Than check out some of these selections we enjoyed dinning on. -white wine w/peach sangria -desert cinnamon bread w/ berries n cream -meat tapas beef empinada bacon wrapped pork loin with cheese sauce -seafood tapas seasoned sliced ahi shrimp in garlic olive oil with chili seeds -appits home made potato chips with 2 sauces
(4)
Alan T.

Went here with my lady for V day lunch and had a wonderful time. We had the unlimited tapas deal $20 per person and it was a great deal. The salmon, bacon-wrapped dates, mussels, sorreno ham, garlic olive shrimps were the star of the meal. Highly recommended!
(5)
Nicole E.

It has been a while since I had tapas, so this was a must on my list of places to go this week. We went in late and the restaurant was packed, but that didn't stop us from being seated in a timely fashion and being servered quickly. We shared a pitcher of sangria (how can you not in a tapas place?) and ended up taking our forks to the fruit at the bottom after draining the pitcher. We had 7 different tapas and loved them to bits and pieces!! There was nothing left when the waiter came to clear the table. If I have only one complaint it was that it was hard to talk when the live music was playing - but that wouldn't stop me from eating there because it was so delicious.
(5)
Susan C.

Disgusting. That is the only word that could describe our meal at La Tasca on King Street last night. This is the first time I have ever eaten there and I hope through my suffering, other yelpers will know to avoid it like the plague that it is. I left last night with a bitter taste in my mouth figuratively and literally. My friend and I were lured to this restaurant by positive reviews on yelp and a restaurant.com gift certificate. We ordered the Seafood Tapas Tasting Menu at $48 + two sodas. Not exactly cheap, but doable. We thought this would be a great opportunity to sample what La Tasca had to offer. I guess it was called a tasting menu for a reason though. They certainly weren't expecting us to eat the slop that they gave us. Our meal started out pleasantly enough. Our first tapa was the Ensalada de Espinacas (Spinach and Cabrales cheese salad) followed by the Calamares Andaluza (Fried calamari with garlic mayonnaise), Aritos de la Huerta (Fried onion, green and red pepper rings), and Setas al Ajillo (Mushrooms sautÃ©ed in garlic and olive oil). Those dishes tasted fine, but it's pretty difficult to ruin vegetables and fried food. We then had very mediocre Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp sautÃ©ed in olive oil). The consistency of the shrimp was rather rubbery. It was definitely overcooked and I suspect it wasn't the freshest. Next we had the Paella Valenciana (Chicken and mixed seafood paella). The rice was soggy and the tomato sauce overpowered the dish. These dishes were not great but compared to the rest of the meal they were divine. Next, we had the Salmon a la Plancha (Grilled salmon, spinach and fried mussels). The dish was topped with overfried mussles. The salmon was so overcooked we thought it was chicken. It looked that dry. Upon tasting, it really turned out to be that dry. Although, if it were chicken, and it looked like that, it probably would have been moist. But we were still content with our meal. Little did we suspect what came next. The climax of our meal was supposed to be Vieiras Cava (grilled scallops in a flavorful champagne sauce). It was flavorful alright, but in all the wrong ways. The dish was so salty, it was inedible. Upon first bite, the salt devastated my taste buds. I thought the dish couldn't be worse than that initial taste, but I was wrong. After swallowing a sliver of the bringy nugget, what was left of my palette was encoated with bitterness. We had no choice but to leave two of the three scallops on the plate for they were clearly not fit for ingestion. We deliberated on whether to say something, but the scallops were really disappointing so we told the waiter about the taste. He volunteered to take the dish away. We thought he was going to replace it with a corrected dish, but we were wrong. We never heard about the scallops again until the bill came. When we got the check, we asked the waiter about the scallops, to which his response was "Oh, yea, we tried them in the kitchen and they were really salty." To which I then inquired why he didn't replace them. The waiter told us that another dish would likely be just as salty and that he could not deduct the cost of it from our bill because we got the tasting menu. After deducting the restaurant.com certificate amount from our bill, we were left with a total of approximately $41 to pay for 2 people. I am appalled that a restaurant would admit that their food was inedible and would do nothing to remedy the situation. I wasn't expecting or even asking for a free meal, but I do not think it too much to expect not to have to pay for the scallops. If I could leave zero stars or less, I would, but unfortunately the lowest Yelp allows me is 1. Essentially I had to pay a good amount of money for a terrible experience. It ruined my entire night. I Probably would have been better off going to Five Guys or Popeyes down the street.
(1)
Kat L.

Hi there party of 12, its 9pm and we're closing so despite the fact that you were just served your food, can you put in your dessert order now? What? Tapas is tapas. This place has a fairly large selection and keeps it pretty savory and concise without being weird. Being in a large group we ordered 2 paellas (which take 40 minutes to prepare so order that as soon as you sit down if thats what tickles your fancy) and 2 tasting menus- the meat, and the seafood. I dont know what about me screams "I love seafood, I want to live, breathe, swim, and die in it, please put it in front of me" but I'd say a good 80% of the dishes were placed in front of me. WHY? There are already 8 plates in front of me, share the wealth! Not to mention, I'm the only one at the table deathly allergic to seafood and shellfish. BAH! From what I could eat I liked the sliced, fried eggplant, sauteed spinach, bacon wrapped (dates / figs?), and my arugula salad was fantastic (although drowning in dressing). We had two dessert samplers, and people seemed to wolf them down. I only tried the chocolate cake thingie, and the ice cream. The boy said flan was actually pretty good. And cousin JB went bananas for the churros comparing them to a mini version of a costco churro Pros - Took a large group last minute - half priced sangria Thursdays (imho it should always be half priced- its just o,k. We tried 3 kinds) - larger than normal tapas portions - quality ingredients - friendly staff Cons - lighting sucks (i still have a headache 3.5 hours later) - Close early even with a group eating, drinking, and celebrating - Bread never came out. Ordered it 3 times. Twice from the same waiter - Forgot my arugula salad, twice. - unfriendly hostess, aloof, and anorexic.
(2)
Thomas W.

Tapas! Tapas! Tapas in a fun atmosphere. This place is a bargain. Is it a place for real foodies? Perhaps not, but you will really enjoy the great variety of food. This is a great place for a celebration. Bring your appetite!
(3)
debbie a.

This is the type of restaurant that is on the verge of being a good one. You would to LOVE it, but you just cant because well.. they miss on the food. I have been here a multiple occasions.. trying my hardest to love this place by trying everyone on the menu.. NOTHING has wowed me at all or made me crave their food again. I am NOT comparing this to actual Spanish Tapas (never been to Spain) but comparing this to what my palate would expect from great Spanish flavors - paprika, garlic, Spanish Olive Oil, pimentos or other peppers.. .. Its just Missing a bit of it. I needs some boosting on the flavor and I swear I will love it. The sangrias are never the same when I go there. Sometimes it is watery others it is just... too strong but NEVER BAD. Try them out. The decor (great - could just a tiny bit of an update ie..floor tiles replaced, bathrooms updated) The atmosphere is nice, the music/dancers -great touch
(2)
Amy A.

Best spanish tapas place I've been to! My favorite is the steak, the aspargus and the patas bravas - very delicious! If you go when they have restaurant week, or on various holidays, they will have unlimited tapas for like around $25 per person or things like a three course meal for two for $30, things like that. Pretty good sangria as well. It's a very cute date spot too, and not far from the water, so you can go for a stroll after dinner :)
(5)
Andrew I.

Was here for a dinner with friends. The waiter was less then interested in us when we first arrived. Half the group arrived first and he didn't come over to introduce himself and get us started with some drinks while we waited for the other half; we were completely ignored. Service only marginally improved the rest of the meal. The food was a little above average, with exception of the flan dessert which had too strong a taste of egg and was likely undercooked. Other dishes were well prepared. Things really went downhill when the live spanish music started playing and it was so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. After trying to put up with it for 15 minutes our heads hurt it was so loud so we left.
(2)
Crys C.

fabulous selection of tapas with mouth watering flavors. happy hour specials are awesome!
(5)
Caitlin C.

This is the second time I've been here. The first time, my boyfriend and I were walking around Old Town and he dragged me in here to try something new, I had no clue what a "tapas" was (yes, I ordered one dish...), and left angry and dissatisfied. This experience was much, much better! A couple we know made reservations here for Friday night and my boyfriend and I met them there and sat in the upstairs seating area. The atmosphere was fun and loud. There was a live band and lots of happy lively people sitting around us. I felt a little bad for the one couple trying to have a romantic date at the table next to us. I know we and the group sitting behind us were loud! This isn't the kind of place where you would go to have a quick bite. It was a much more relaxed, tiered event. We started with a pitcher of Traditional Sangria ($23), delicious, and loaded with fruit. I didn't know what to order, so we ordered the La Tasca Tasting Menu and ordered Chorizo a la Parrilla, Solomillo de Cerdo IbÃ©rico, and Brocheta de Gambas y Vieiras to split amongst the 4 of us. Mid meal, we ordered another pitcher of Sangria...and by this point I'd had enough of the first Sangria that I don't recall what type we ordered on the second round... The food was so great and enough to fill us up! I can imagine that the bill was high, but worth it for a special occasion :)...probably about $123 without tax. The waiters brought out 2 rounds of tapas because the amount we ordered didn't fit on the table. My favorite dishes were: Chorizo a la Parrilla (YUM), Solomillo de Cerdo IbÃ©rico (bacon wrapped anything can never go wrong. This was the upper eschelon of bacon wrappage),Solomillo de Buey (steak and potatoes mm!), Patatas Brava (oh my gosh this was filling and comforting), and Ensalada de Tomates (I hate tomatoes. I loved this). The sangrias, as I have stated were awesome and made me want to dance. Unfortunately, nobody was dancing at 10:00.
(4)
Marivic L.

I've been to the Old Town La Tasca 3 times now. The waiters are always attentive, the seating is comfortable (I especially like the pillows when I sit on the bench side) and I like the mixed up decor. The food, while good, is nothing spectacular. serrano ham, catalana bread, & manchego cheese appetizer - yum fried calamari - cooked well, crisp, but could use more flavor sauteed calamari w/olives in white wine - meh dates stuffed with blue cheese, wrapped in bacon - good mussels in pepper and tomato marinara - good grilled asparagus - good, but wish they were the thicker kind spinach w/raisins and pine nuts - good Honestly, if you want better tapas, just go to Jaleo. In a pinch, and if you're in the area, La Tasca is just fine if you're in the mood for a meal with tons of variety.
(2)
Qwerty -.

Three and half stars?! For this mess!?! Let me lower that . . . there, much better. Stopped in during the lull between lunch and dinner, and even though only a handful of tables were taken the service was so. dolorously. slow. It was a full ten minutes before anyone came to take my drink order, and no one remembered to give me a menu (the host and hostess were too busy flirting with each other to do much of anything). Thankfully, the server speeded things up once I let her know that I was on lunch break. I ordered grilled shrimp with an orange flavored glaze--very good--and followed it with a flan--not so good. It took me a several hours to figure out why the flan was so unsatisfying: three weeks earlier I'd enjoyed a creme brulee that pretty much wiped every other egg-based custard off the map. So good that nearly a month on, it's still ruining related desserts for me. You know that moment when you have a really good Italian ice, and all of a sudden you can't go back to rocket pops and sno cones? That's pretty much what happened. I was seated at this table for two shaped like a barrel, and though it works with La Tasca's ambience, actually eating at the thing is another story. Because of the barrel shape, there's no space for your legs. You either have to spread 'em or keep a good 8" away from your food. And the table top is so cluttered with menus and placards advertising specials that my two tapas could hardly fit. Unfortunately, their Clarendon location is even worse. La Tasca is going to have to up their game if they want the rest of those stars.
(2)
A A.

Came here on a double date. The sangria was good, but just a little expensive. There are a LOT of options on their menu and great food. The paella is a large serving, fit for a group. So if you get one, don't fill up on the smaller dishes. **Make sure to come here with a group and see the dancers!!!** It could use a little more Spanish ambiance and is a little crowded and dark.
(4)
Hilary T.

I've been to 1 or 2 other La Tasca locations, and I'm quite partial to the one in Clarendon, but this one in Old Town is definitely a keeper. Caveat: I came here for a romantic birthday dinner on a Tuesday night, so I can only give the benefit on my experience on a weeknight, rather than a weekend. First of all, half off all Paellas on Tuesdays (!!!!). That's reason enough to go! The Paella de Carne was fabulous, and the leftovers were just as good for lunch today. All of my co-workers were jealous. I also thoroughly enjoyed their tapas. After studying abroad in Madrid, tapas became a way of life for me, and La Tasca's sent me back to the golden days of siestas, speaking espanol, and men with mullets (oh yeah, you didn't know those were big in 05-06? it was gross). I highly recommend the Tortilla Espanola, the Patatas Bravas, the Canelones de Berenjenas (AMAZING! Eggplant, red peppers, goat cheese - you'll die), and the Croquetas de Pollo. Between two of us, we downed all of them within about 4 minutes, give or take 16 seconds. The House Sangria is only alright - nothing to write home about. But it's all about the Spanish experience, right? Our server was great, very sweet and efficient, but again, I was there on a weeknight and the place wasn't too crowded. I would advise not to expect such speedy service on a weekend night. In general, I would say this La Tasca is worth a visit, especially when there are flamenco dancers and guitar players. Is it just like my favorite spots in good ol' Madrid? Not quite, but it'll fulfill your inner Spanish culinary desires, and then some.
(4)
J L.

Was there on a business trip recently. This was actually my first trip to a Tapas place. It was better than I thought it would be. Didn't really have anything bad. I loved the olives! My advice is to get anything with eggplant. my group got the eggplant with red peppers and goat cheese. I could get addicted to that easily. Loved it. The beef and mushrooms was awesome as well. Service was ok. My only complaint was that they left you with the same plate the entire night. That blended flavors. Would have liked fresh plates at some point.
(4)
lella b.

Headed her to avoid a brewing shower. 3 of us did the $20 all you can eat tapas menu (per person). Hits Dates/bacon Eggplant Salads Paellea Garlic Shrimp Cadillac Sangria Misses: Mushrooms Frozen sangria We sat for 3 hours, attentive service, ate, drank and caught up. It was a perfect. Would we have been able to had a leisurely meal when it was crowded? maybe not. We had a blast, ate ourselves silly and would go back. *of note, they have a kids menu (we were sans kids, but saw burgers, etc for kids
(4)
Hugh A.

I'm not a huge tapas fan but my significant other wanted to try this place. The highlight of the meal was the Port City beer. Very nice. I liked it so much I went to Wholefoods and bought a 6 pack. As far as the food goes, it was ok. We had various dishes that ranged from meat to seafood to vegetable. The chorizo paella was good, but I like the paella I make at home better. The datiles con tocino (grilled bacon wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese) was interesting but the blue cheese was a little over the top. I think I'll try it at home with just the bacon and dates. The sangria was good. I liked the 1/2 pitcher option. The seranno ham and corn nuts plate was my favorite dish for the evening. If I ever go back to La Tasca, it'll be to drink a beer and nosh on the serrano ham and corn nuts. The ambiance was kinda loud. The service was good (and fast). $80 (before tip) got us 5 tapas, 1/2 pitcher of sangria, and a beer.
(3)
Alexa G.

After a long day of bridesmaid duties I was starved, so my date and I aimlessly wandered down king street trying to find something open late, which was a task in itself. We finally found La Tasca only to be informed that their kitchen was closing * boo*, well my date actually persuaded the bartender to grab us some food, which he kindly did..and at his suggestion we ordered the $50 tasting sampler. To start out we had the sangria, which was pretty tasty and not to sweet. The steak and the onion,potato omelet, and pork tenderloin were some of my favorites, the apple salad..not so much. All in all it was a great night they had a live band playing, and the staff was pretty awesome for letting us order a quick meal!
(4)
Kristi J.

This was the second time I've been to La Tasca and the second time I've ever had Tapas. After dining with a large party and tasting a pretty wide variety of the items on the menu, I'm a fan. While I'm sure none of the menu items are particularly healthy, they sure are delicious. We had a great many things including the Fried Eggplant, Chicken Skewers, Calamari, Empada's, Spinach Salad, and 4 different desserts (which were TO DIE FOR). I HIGHLY recommend the Tres Leches Cake. Even though it's probably pretty terrible for me, I would go back and hope to do so soon!
(5)
Michael Z.

The three of us split the meat tasting menu (8 dishes for $50) along with the Montaditos de Jamon y Queso (essentially bruschetta but with a few pieces of meat, $6.50). Overall, the place was fairly cheap as far as tapas goes but we all really enjoyed our food. We were also pretty full after eating a menu designed for two, yet with three of us (and 2 of us are pretty big eaters). Off the meat tasting menu, the dishes that stood out were the chorizo, the bacon wrapped pork, and the apple slices. The rest were alright, but nothing special. The spinach and pine nuts was exactly that, ditto for the meatballs in vegetable sauce (aka tomato sauce). For drinks, my brother and I split a pitcher of the Holiday Pomegranate and Cranberry sangria ($26, straying from our preference for White sangria), and really enjoyed the drinks. Unlike some other places, the sangria wasn't loaded with ice, and I'm pretty sure I was even able to get drunk. While no one else wanted a dessert, I still had a little bit of room and tried the Flauta Rellena de Crema ($7), which is a banana-caramel puff pastry w/ ice cream. This was probably the most interesting dish, as it was a bit fancier and I was able to convince my mom to give it a try. It had some cinnamon on the outside and really hit the spot after a few sangrias. With another tapas place just down the road (and a mongolian BBQ across the street), there's some stiff competition going on around here. I'll definitely try out the mongolian BBQ (Red Mai) place next, but I was glad to have tried this tapas place. Would go again, if there weren't so many other restaurants that look appealing nearby.
(4)
Frank O.

I have been to a few of the La Tasca restaurants in the past. It's about time I finally review one! The wife and I came to this one about a week ago and had lunch. (WOAH! A WEEK?! MAN, YOU'RE BEHIND! Yes, yes, I know, I know... beginning of the new school year and all... I've been swamped for the past few weeks, cut me some slack.) Now, La Tasca is a tapas restaurant, meaning you don't just order one main entree. Instead your order a number of smaller dishes and share them as a table. You just keep ordering rounds and rounds of dishes until you all are full. :) La Tasca has some very friendly tapas dishes. By that I mean, they're not too weird. They're basic simple dishes that pretty much anyone can like. Their fried eggplant with the cheese dip is awesome. Their potato dishes are equally good. The chorizo and croquetas are also quite good. In all honesty, I haven't had a bad tapas dish here. The only downside about this visit was that they had an unlimited tapas menu for Restaurant Week and as a result, you got limited choices. The unlimited tapas menu was only a small portion of their full tapas menu. Since we were here for lunch on a Monday afternoon around 1-2pm, the place was pretty dead. As a result, we had great service from the waitress One of the big high points of La Tasca is their sangria. They have a lot of different types with different fruits and spices in them. I recommend coming here with a big party so you can try a few different pitchers full. :) Overall, it's a good place to visit. The tapas aren't too exotic but tasty and the sangria is good. Just watch your bill, because if you eat a lot of tapas dishes, you'll end up spending a lot of cash. Overall though I recommend giving La Tasca a visit!
(3)
Mary R.

I ate here when my family came to visit and everyone loved it! Everyone from my little sister who's a picky eater to my Dad who's lived in Spain for about 5 years. He said the paella was one of the best he's had at this price point and higher in the states. Which says a lot coming from him. We had a very friendly and helpful waiter. The food was prompt. delicious, and visually appealing. A lot of the wait staff are native spanish speakers so if you ever want to practice your accent/language this is a great place to do it. The waiter gave wonderful suggestions and the management was present on the floor. Which is always a good sign to me that the management is really involved in the running of the place. I have to go back and get some of their tapas, all we had was the paella and sangrias which were wonderful might I add, before I can give it a 5 star stamp. I'd reccommend this place for a date night or family gathering. It had a very warm and cozy feeling to the place.
(4)
Jess N.

Put some tapas and a pitcher of sangria in front of me and bam! automatic 3 stars. The food is decent enough and there are limitless choices - a bit too much in my book. I want it all - keep the food coming. The sangria choices are great - traditional is well the house sangria. I always start with the cava sangria, it's refreshing and delicious. I always eat the drunken blueberries after :) I like the majority of the tapas but I'm not a huge fan of their paella and the eggplants. I've had them on various occasions just to make sure and they have disappointed each and every time. Oh well... I always take advantage of restaurant week offers because you can try everything for a cheap price.
(3)
Matt D.

I've been here twice now. This is a fun place to go with another couple because the menu is extensive and everyone can order 2-3 items to share. Both times the service was excellent. On our first visit, the food was very good. The seafood was fresh and our 2 pitchers of Sangria were excellent! The second time the food seemed a bit more, as much as I hate to use this term, 'meh.' Our cheese plate was presented without bread (?) and I ordered a shrimp item that seemed to use not-so-fresh shrimp. However the Paella Valenciana was excellent. In fact, the next time I go I think I'll team up with someone and order the large portion. Overall, it's pretty good...but not great. It's not a place I avoid, but for some reason I never find myself dying to go back.
(3)
Morgan C.

Went here on Thursday for HH. Pretty good deal on the sangria, $15 for a pitcher which gives you I think around 6 short glasses full. The sangrias were filled with fresh fruit which was delicious. Tried some of the tapas for $3.50 (not being sure exactly what that was). The ones we had were pretty good and they were delivered quickly. The dipping sauce was wonderful. It was busy but comfortable for our large group. They also had some live music and dancers for a short period of time. Would definitely go back for another HH.
(4)
Tamieka M.

Went here for happy hour with some coworkers on Thursday. We ordered a huge spread of tapas from the happy hour menu. You can't beat the $3.50 price, especially for the beef empanadas! We ordered a pitcher (or three) of the cava sangria, which did not disappoint. So for around $20 a person, we were tipsy, bellies full, and enjoyed live entertainment from the flamenco dancers. Good times!
(4)
Neline S.

My cousin and I were walking around looking for a place to eat and she stopped at this place because she loves Tapas. Equally nice was the World Cup was on with the US playing Ghana. The TV monitors weren't that big since it typically wasn't sports bar and I wanted to watch the game. Unfortunately, the bar was packed so we were seated at the dining tables but the waitress made sure I had a good view of the TV. My cousin was a glutton and I wasn't hungry yet so she wanted to get the $50 platter special. I gave her a look andd said you're eating that by yourself. All I want is Calamares Andaluza. She wanted 2 meat dishes, a bread dish, and a vegetable dish. I told her we should only opt for 3 dishes so she debated for some time. Finally, she chose the Patatas Bravas, Setas al Ajillo (sauteed mushrooms) and my Calamares Andaluza along with red Sangria. The Sangria was ok but how can you compare it when you have Spanish friends who make it for you at home. The Setas al Ajillo were very oily but I did enjoy the Calamares. Our waiter was very attentive which is always nice. Afterwards, we split a Flan de Huevo since we were waiting for my friend to join us. Once my friend came in, I made the mistake of ordering 2 Basses. Mix that with the VA humidity and 3 glasses of Sangria proved to be crushing blow to my head. Otherwise, it's a nice, friendly place to chill and have some tasty food
(4)
Chris F.

Me and my fiancee had a late lunch here on a weekday we had to go to a real estate office nearby and they recommended it to us. It was fantastic. It has a great atmosphere, and pretty authentic Spanish vibe. They have delicious cheeses and the salads were good. The "tapas" were basically full portions, the Sangria was very good, and they have a huge selection of different sangrias (red and white). There were something like 11 different sangria choices, so we went with whatever the staff recommended based on our combined tastes, and we weren't disappointed. I definitely recommend the paella, it's some of the best you can get in the D.C. area. The scallops were incredible and the service was attentive and friendly. To quote my fiancee, "It wasn't worth every penny...but it was close."
(4)
Sifire M.

I have ate here many of times any always good i went they where having 30 days for $30 my table ordered about 8 things all was good except the lamb it was rare. but other then that was great i told the server it was my bday and he brung out strawberry shortcake.. which was good and they have live music on fridays
(5)
Angel W.

I wish I liked this place. I really do. I mean where else can you taste 12 different twists on sangria (mixed with strawberries and blueberries, or lemon and lime, or pineapple and whipped cream) and I love sangria. I have tried them all and was disappointed by every single sangria offering. Yes, they do look beautiful and tempting in the display pitchers but the taste always seems to be off. Because of their inability to pull off a well made sangria, I have never eaten here. You can get better sangria at The Cheesecake Factory (white) or La Sandia (red) or even Luna Grill and these places do not specialize in sangria but they hit the mark, even as an afterthought.
(2)
Gregg M.

I love tapas and paella so La Tasca was a convenient call after doing drinks at PX. I had been to the La Tasca in Clarendon before and had enjoyed my meal, but I hadn't tried the Old Town version. Of course, my La Tasca experience was before I had been to the Penn Quarter Jaleo and Estadio so my expectations for La Tasca were perhaps unreasonably high. This evening we (my GF and a three mutual friends) decided on splitting the Paella de Langosta (lobster paella/$52) with orders of the Berenjenas Fritas (fried eggplant/$6), SelecciÃ³n de Embutidos (charcuterie with SalchichÃ³n, CaÃ±a de Lomo, Fuet, Chorizo, and JamÃ³n Serrano/$12), and the Tabla de Quesos EspaÃ±oles (cheese plate with Tetilla, Manchego, Delicia de Cabra, Serena, and Cabrales/$15). The good-sized portion of eggplant was thinly sliced, lightly floured and perfectly fried to a nice crispness. It was a good start. The charcuterie, however, didn't maintain the momentum of the meal. The meats, while tasty, were a bit dry (perhaps sliced well in advance of our order waiting to be served?) which hurt their texture and flavor. La Tasca's charcuterie does not come close to comparing with the Estadio's in-house-made offerings. The cheeses did regain some of the lost momentum by offering up a good selection of cow, sheep and goat's milk Spanish cheeses. All were flavorful, aromatic and fresh. Sadly, the paella killed the rally by being an over-salted, uneven, and, frankly overpriced, given the quantity of of seafood received. The rice and lobster were reasonably moist and flavorful. However, my girlfriend noted that the the scallops did not appear adequately cleaned because they retained an amount of grittiness. The shrimp and mussels were small and overcooked. La Tasca isn't the worst restaurant in town, but there are MUCH, MUCH better Spanish tapas restaurants in this area. Go to Estadio or Jaleo in Penn Quarter instead. You'll be glad you did.
(2)
Dave B.

We picked La Tasca for a birthday dinner and had high expectations. The service was pretty good. The atmosphere is exactly what we expected. The cheese and meat tray appetizers were excellent. Where it started to go down hill was when we ordered the tapas and paella. We got the meat and the seafood tapas and we had to send a couple of the tapas back because they were overcooked and we got back tapas that were just as bad. The paella was really disappointing. We got the mussels and chorizo. The mussels were sandy and bloated. Im not sure I'd go back.
(3)
John C.

This place is not for me. A little annoying if you ask me. The band was so wack. The food was so fucking nasty. The table was so fucking dirty. Now tell me why the fuck would you put the entrance door where the little mini dance floor is at and where the wack ass band plays at. That sht was the worst ever. Like I say to most of my reviews. I bet this place is good nice or whatever, but my first time is always my last. That goes to most of the places I go to around DMV area. Step up
(1)
Melissa B.

My husband is from Spain and he didn't feel like this was very authentic. We got a paella and it was not close to the real thing . It tasted like rice with stewed tomatoes. Not what we were expecting. The other tapas we got were good but tended to be on the cold side when they were served. The taste was there but presentation was not preferred. I didn't hate this place but I cannot rave about it like some of the other Spanish restaurants in the area.
(3)
Mac O.

3.5 stars. I love tapas places because you can order a ton of food without appearing like a hog. I love food, I love to eat, and love any place where I can just keep ordering and eating without being judged. La Tasca is a fairly good tapas joint. I enjoy the ambiance which seems as if they're trying to trick you into thinking you are truly in Spain. It's very nice. It's also large which means wait times aren't usually long. The service is great, too. The waiters return frequently to check on you, refill your bevs, and inquire whether you'd like to order more. Yes, please! The food here is good. We enjoyed. We were a party of six, so we sampled much. Lemme give you the quick and dirty rundown: Langostinos al Pimenton de la Vera, shrimp with garlic and hot pepper were good. Shrimp cooked nicely, dish was full of flavor. Patatas Bravas, the classic tapas of fried potatoes with a mayo sauce. Good, not the best I've had. Setas al Ajillo, mixed mushrooms. Eh, I can make those at home. Tortilla EspaÃ±ola, another definite classic, the "omelet" with potato. Done nicely here. Ensalada de Manzana, green apple salad with almonds, tetilla cheese, and lemon quince dressing. This was delish, probably my fave. The apples were super crisp and tart, the cheese a wonderfully salty foil. There was an array of the meat tapas ordered, but alas, I cannot comment, being a pescetarian and all... Something a bit different about this tapas bar is the vast Sangria list. They make a TON, which are on display in pretty glass containers with taps at the bar. Fun! We sampled the Sangria Rosada, made with rose wine, grape juice and berries. Good. And the more traditional Cadillac Red Sangria, prepared with Sangre de Toro. Also good. Kicking things up a notch, flamenco dancers and musicians wended through the dining room, providing the entertainment. Nice touch. All in all, a good experience. We'll be back.
(3)
Yolanda B.

Better tapa selection than las tapas. I highly recommend coming here before trying any of the other tapa locations. There is a lot more to pick from and the portions sizes are really good.
(5)
Stephen M.

Went during Alexandia restaurant week. Went for the "all you can eat" tapas from a moderately limited menu, more selection than I could get thru. . The place was lively and almost full. Servers very competent. Food was good though not great Fried egplant apetizer- good but too large a portion Fried calamari- good and unusually large serving Sauteed shrimp-excellent Shrimp with scallops-good Chorizo-good Steak with potatoe- good but not hot enough Pork in bacon - okay Dessert selections were included but I was past my capacity to sample that. Holiday sangria - nice and fruitey but not very winey I would go there again preferably with a group.
(4)
Jill K.

The salad with dates and spinach is soooo tasty, just the right amount of dressing. Love the bacon wrapped dates and the best tres leche cake ever!!!!
(4)
Katie F.

My awesome husband took me here for my birthday. The short review: delicious food, a good wine/drinks list, good service, fun ambience, and fairly reasonable prices. We'll be back. In more detail: His rioja was great. My Sangria Rosada was good, despite missing the blueberries the menu advertised. I'd get something else next time, just because a bunch of the other sangrias looked good too and I want to try them. Bacon-wrapped dates were tasty, although we couldn't taste the bleu cheese. Grilled asparagus was charred just enough to give it really great flavor, and the grilled lemon on the side added a lovely citrus tang. The apple salad with quince dressing was light and delicious. The ham and cheese "sandwiches" with tomato spread were awesome. Crispy bread, sharpish cheese, salty ham, sweet tomatoes. Perfect combination, and I don't even like tomatoes most of the time. Scallops with artichoke hearts were good, but probably not the star of the menu. The scallops were fine, but the artichokes lacked flavor. The peppers or whatever the red stuff atop the scallops overpowered the dish. Lamb with hazelnut romesco sauce was very good, if a bit overdone (so says my husband--I'm allergic to rosemary, so lamb isn't often a safe choice for me, and this dish is covered in it). Tortilla espanola (a sort of potato strata) was so delicious that I wanted to order about six of them to go. Served with a tangy red sauce (tomato? red pepper? couldn't tell, but it was great), it was a really good accompaniment to the meat dishes. Duck confit was out-of-this-world good. It comes with a chick pea mash that's a tad bland on its own, but a perfect companion to the sweet orange-fig sauce. And the figs were like candy. Divine. We were too full for dessert, even though several looked good. Incentive to go back, right?
(4)
lilibet m.

I've been dying for tapas and heard La Tasca was the place to go. I wasn't disappointed. The frozen sangria blanca was a great buy! They say a pitches serves 4 but we got more than 4 glasses out of it. The tapas we tried: olives (really good), sliced manchego cheese (very nice and thinly sliced), empanadas (amazing!), the chorizo paella (ok not much chorizo in it), shrimp and bacon wrapped scallops (didn't try them but my friend said they were good), the fried chicken with roasted garlic sauce (very good). Can't wait to go back!
(4)
joe w.

The selection of tapas was amazing. All of the dishes we tried were delicious: salmon, shrimp, asparagus, tomato salad, paella, lamb. It took about 30 minutes before we received our first dish so I recommend arriving long before one is really hungry. They did not have enough chef staff that shift. For restaurant week, this is a deal that cannot be beat. We also received some items we did not order but again everything was delicious. The street car trolley stops along this road but one has to look at the numbers along the road to not overshoot.
(3)
R C.

Best white sangria ever, awesome bacon-wrapped dates, and delicious Spanish omelettes!!
(5)
Sheri I.

Yummy lil plates of deliciousness.....sharing food is good....sharing a pitcher of sangria even better.
(4)
Ken C.

After two years, I went there over the weekend with few buddies. We have a lot of tapas and three order of Sangria. They got pricey. So, we end up having a little dinner with half stomach (We all big guy). A lot of single girl, but we got waste on the Sangria (good and strong kick). We went to the bar and sit on the sofa. We got a cute bartender serving us. She know we were a little drunk, but still in good control. Sorry to say the Jack Daniel a little over price $9 per shot (Come on!!!) Anyway, overall food is OK, tapas a little pricey and not recommend to take shot. However, a lot of single female. We saw birthday girls and few groups of single female. It was a little surprise...
(2)
Charles H.

Had a great time in La Tasca. The tapas were right on time. Great drinks, good atmosphere....
(4)
Danielle W.

Note to readers: dismiss anyone's review that compares La Tasca to actual Spanish tapas in Spain. The fact that you're in Old Town - hell, the fact that you're sitting at a nice table which you would not be doing in an authentic Spanish tapas joint - means guess what Toto, you're not in Spain! Now that we've cleared that up, onto the food. I've been a few times and always find the sangria pleasing, maybe just a bit too much ice (but I have sensitive teeth. call me a wuss, I deserve it). The cava sangria is my favorite and isn't loaded in sugar which is a nice change of pace. Most of the tapas are excellent. I'll refrain from saying "excelente". The tortilla espanola tastes exactly like my host mother's tortilla in Salamanca. The manchego is good, but it's hard to screw up a piece of cheese. The calamari could use a smidge more flavor and less breading, but the gambas al ajillo had an awesome fiery kick. Also I love their tasting menus. We got the $60 tasting menu and it was more than enough food for three hungry girls who have no sense of propriety and will eat anything placed in front of them.
(4)
Spleen D.

We recently made reservations for a birthday party of 6 people. The food was superb. The drinks (sangria) were sublime. Service was very responsive, but we never felt like there was "pressure" to order another round of tapas. The live music contributed nicely to the ambiance (loud enough to keep the upbeat mood, but not too loud). The wait staff was also very happy to help us with an additional birthday request. to bring in our own cupcakes from a nearby bakery (a favorite of the birthday girl). Could not have been better!
(5)
Nina B.

Kudos #1: I like their wait-staff. He was super friendly and offered good suggestions from the specials menu. If everything was as good as their Mariscos on the Portabello Mushroom, I would have been more impressed. Complaint #1: They're a bit overpriced, even for tapas. Kudos #2: The ambiance is nice with large windows to people watch in Old Town on a cold day. Since it's right on King Street, there is plenty of people watching to be had. Complaint #2: Their Sangria Rosada doesn't contain much alcohol. How is it that I drank practically an entire pitcher of it (for $18.95) and not even feel the slightest bit buzzed? It was like drinking fruit juice. (Note: 2/3/08 - I found out why the Sangria doesn't taste any good. It's illegal in VA to mix spirits with wine/beer. It's an antiquated law that was passed in the post-prohibition period. La Tasca got busted once, and they've changed their recipes since. THEY DON'T SERVE TRUE SANGRIAS! washingtonpost.com/wp-dyâ€¦
(3)
Bryan P.

GIMMIE AN "F"! F! GIMMIE AN "E"! E! GIMMIE AN "H"! H! WHAT DOES THAT SPELL? FEH! ONE MORE TIME... FEH! FEH! FEH!! FEH!!! I've lived in Alexandria for many years and eaten at a lot of restaurants. I'm from New York where there are thousands of restaurants but its pretty hard to find a good one. On the whole I think its the opposite in Alexandria; there's not a lot of restaurants but its hard to find a bad one. Then there's La Tasca... Folks, this place is THE WORST. Not only it it the worst restaurant in Alexandria, but the worst I've eaten in for quite a while. I was with my friend and we started with the marinated mushroom appetizer. I would swear that someone in the back opened a can of generic store brand mushrooms and poured them in a bowl. Absolutely pathetic. I won't bore you with additional details, but lets just say that the meal got worse from there (something which I didn't think possible). I was so offended by the "food" that don't even remember how the service was. Listen people... If you want great Tapas just go up and across the street to Las Tapas (no need to go anywhere else). The food and the service there are great. Avoid La Tasca like the plague! FEH!
(1)
first l.

Atmosphere over food. Good for drinks and a fun night out,
(3)
Ellen F.

Not seeing what's "hip" about this place. They seem to have a seasoning problem with the food. Too much sugar, salt, grease... My kid's burger and fries were good though. And she liked her chocolate Ice cream.
(2)
Dennis J.

This place is just OK. I've certainly been to better tapas places. Here's what I did like: Bacon wrapped dates filled with blue cheese, the meatballs, and the apples with cheese Definitely don't get these: Potato cake, sausage, spinach I have no plans to return. There is absolutely more Tapas in the sea...
(2)
RL C.

The place is a good tapas place, not great. It serves up many of the standard tapas fare and it's cheaper than places like Jaleo. Didn't think the sangria was that great. The bar is nice too.
(3)
Amy H.

I was skeptical of finding good tapas in Old Town as most restaurants here are not all that great. I was completely wrong! The sangria was a delicious start, one with just berries and another with cinnamon apple. We ordered the Pan a la Catalana, Chorizo a la Parrilla, Patatas Bravas, and Gambas al Ajillo. Each of these dishes was perfectly cooked and seasoned. A really great meal and only $50 with tip and drinks for 2 people.
(4)
Bill L.

Absolutely superb. Very nice ambience . All the tapas were excellent and the service was outstanding. Highly recommended.
(4)
MONIQUE L.

Great atmosphere, service & food. The menu choices were many, from veggie to meats & seafood. Wasn't able to try the sangria menu but it was a large selection as well. Every dish we ordered came out hot & fresh. Everything was seasoned well. Didn't care for the asparagus but the other dishes made up for it. Especially the beef w/red potatoes. I will definitely try this place again & hopefully the sangrias too.
(4)
Randy G.

Important caveat up front: I'm really not into the whole tapas thing. I've tried it countless times, including in Spain, and was rarely impressed or overly satisfied. In addition to not being crazy about tapas, I'm also routinely disappointed by paella, which has to be one of the world's most overrated dishes around. Give me a good plate of pasta any day. So ok, I went here recently to meet a friend who was in town from out of the country. In short, the food was mostly bland and unremarkable. The appetizers were actually pretty decent. We got the cheese plate and fried eggplants. Yeah, that was all good, but I'm also crazy about cheese so it doesn't take much to please me there. I should point out that the sangria was very forgettable. The regular one just tasted funky or something, while the other one we got (which I think was the "cueva" or something like that) was a little better, but watery to me. Have definitely had better sangria, including homemade by myself and friends who had no idea what we were doing. The food I ordered at first looked amazing. I got the solomillo steak, the mar y tierra, and the chorizo paella (everyone at the table was impressed by the appearance of what I ordered, at which point I boasted that having a Spanish grandfather could come in very handy sometimes). It was actually a lot of food for one person, but I only ate about half of it largely because it just didn't do much for me. There was something in the paella that didn't taste right, the solomillo was ok but nothing special, and the mar y tierra was kinda boring. Oh but wait, the patatas bravas are actually pretty good, so highly recommend getting those if you go. So yeah, most other people would have probably given the place at least 3 stars based on the experience I had, but since Spanish food isn't my thing I'm gonna go with 2 stars. But wait, let me close out by saying that Spanish wine is da bomb. Such a waste to get sangria when you get get some amazing Riojas, but such was what the group wanted. Bah. A good glass of Spanish wine beats the crap out of a pitcher of sangria any day.
(2)
Tricia S.

We arrived to La Tasca and were promptly waited on, except that the waiter got part of the order wrong, but none the less the food came pretty quickly. We ordered the seafood tasting menu, which was fine but not exceptional. The paella tasted like it was made from a Goya box, overall the meal was very commercial and didn't taste authentic. Though we ordered two bottles of Rioja which were both great. In the end we left satisfied; more with the drink than the food. BTW if you are going for the Flamenco dancing, don't bother. Two women go to the various areas of the restaurant and perform a two minute dance. It is loud and disruptive and got tired quickly.
(2)
Betty W.

I think the bad reviews are because people don't understand that tapas are small portions! I went here with my brother and I thought it was fantastic. The stuffed dates are my favorite. They also have half off sangria pitchers on Thursdays, as well as flamenco dancers. Great service, ambiance, and overall experience.
(5)
Attiya M.

This is a review for the service and not the food. Why? Read on. I came here during the latter part of Alexandria Restaurant Week, Summer 2010. I'm aware of the nature of restaurant week, the necessity of both reservations and patience. However, with any business, those running it should be prepared for all the events in which they participate. La Tasca was ill-prepared. First, my online reservation was not honored. I can tolerate this, especially when offered bar seating at a table with a view. I was told that my table would be cleaned off and that I would be attended to. Several awkward glances at the hostess stand and 25 minutes later, I left. I was tired of staring at the credit card of Mr. Ryan ********* and his meager tip, but was starting to understand why 5% was appropriate. Still, I shouldn't have been able to view that and certainly not to ponder it for that length of time. I knew it was time to go when the remains of the beverage belonging to his dining partner, presumably a woman based on the lipstick, was starting to sound like a good way to quench my thirst. Once outside, I glanced in, still craving sangria and squid. I was quite appalled to see a couple sipping cocktails at a cleared off table... my table. I returned today to share my experience with a manager, simply air my grievances so as to not weigh in my thoughts anymore. I've worked in customer service for many years in my past, so I'm well aware of how to handle such a situation. I was expecting a fake, but somewhat theatrical apology, a small offer of redemption which I would turn down, and a closing invitation to return to the establishment. I am still deeply disturbed that all I received was a shakey (literally) defense. I guess next time my tapas cravings hit while in Old Town, I'll be sure to go to Las Tapas where on the busiest of evenings I am given at least some kind of service which renders an opening of my wallet.
(1)
Jennifer G.

I've been a fan of La Tasca (the DC location) for years - its a must whenever I visit so I was excited to try out another location on this trip and it did not disappoint. We got there around 9ish and were seated right away. The service was a little slow, but the flamenco dancers and live music entertained us while we were waiting for things. We started with a pitcher of the classic red sangria and it was delish. We got a bunch of dishes to share: Ablondingas -used to get 3 large meatballs but now you get a bowl of little meatballs - I'm ok with it either way. They are yummy! Pan a la Catalana - this is the tapas version of bruschetta and it was fantastic. tip: eat it quickly or the toasty bread gets kinda soggy. Berenjenas Fritas - lightly battered fried eggplant slices served with a warm white cheesy dip- HUGE serving and fantastic. Croquetas de Pollo - Best chicken croquettes ever!! :) Patatas Bravas - fried potatoes with a garlic mayo to dip - also yummy Paella de Verduras - Veggie Paella - the perfect compliment to all the other food on the table. Ensalada de Espinacas con Peras - which was a spinach salad with pears, dates and walnuts and some crumbly cheese on top. I'd be lying if I told you I ate more than 2 bites of this with all the other options on the table. Not that it wasn't a good salad, but croquettes and meatballs and carbs always win with me :) For dessert: My FAVORITE - Trufa de Chocolate - its like a dark chocolate mousse on top of a crispy hazelnut pastry with vanilla ice cream. Must try.
(5)
Joe W.

I was in the mood for some Spanish food, and this place hit the spot. The bartender was very helpful and recommended 2 dynamite dishes (potatoe tapas for appetizer, and chorizo de paella for main course), along with 2 dynamite drinks (Red Sangria, and the White Sangria). The drinks were smooth and perfected, and the food had just a hint of spice to it that made it awesome. Not to spicy, and definately not bland. The atmosphere was outstanding, and definately a relaxing place for friends, dates, families, etc..... If you don't want to be seen, or want to get away from the crowd, go upstairs and have a table away from everyone for your own VIP experience at no extra charge!
(4)
Janet E.

I really enjoyed the food they had here. There was a total of six of us and we all shared the small plates. I think it came to about $25-$30 per person. If you work for the government and show your badge, you get a discount! They had music and dancers too during the dinner hours! The service was good and I had a fun time.
(4)
Michelle S.

Half priced sangria pitchers on Thursdays? Yes please. 5 people+3 pitchers+tasting menu=perfect little happy hour (and only 25$ per person!) oh and the flamenco dancers were a plus! Will be going back for sure.
(4)
Czarina B.

Maybe I was just in a good mood last night, but I really enjoyed my dining experience here. The ambiance is great -- very warm and comfy and fits with the Spanish/tapas theme. The service matches the interior being mostly warm and attentive. I thought the prices were reasonable -- there are some plates that I didn't even look at since they were over $10 (for 1 tapas dish?) but I stuck to a lot of the usual suspects like papas bravas, croquettes, etc. and the prices seemed similar to other tapas joints I've been to in the DC area. The desserts were a great surprise. The trese leches cake and banana crepe were so tasty! I am generally disappointed by desserts as they are more an afterthought, but here there was just as much effort put into them as the food. I would definitely go back again. Perfect place for a date, intimate conversation, or a large party.
(4)
Brandin D.

This place was a real disappointment in the land of Tapas. The restaurant has this whole story of how Tapas were born, but did a very poor job of keeping them alive. We had the albodigas which could have been passed off as Chef Boyardee meatballs. The mini paella was mediocre. The scallops were undercooked. I didn't even want dessert. The only thing that was decent was the sangria Save your money and go to Jaleo!
(1)
Nick B.

I love La Tasca. I've been to several locations. The food is good, the atmosphere is fun, and they have entertainment on the weekends. Get the bacon wrapped dates and Sangria Rosada!
(5)
Chase C.

Delicious tapas and spectacular service. All around great experience with soccer on both tv's as well. Try the La Tasca Tasting Menu -- can't beat it.
(5)
Brian G.

Awesome food and great service! Great place to take friends and family. Best Tapas in Old Town.
(5)
Isabel B.

Although I've been to the La Tasca in Chinatown and Baltimore several times, this is my first time visiting the one in Old Town. Generally, I love this restaurant. I think the food and the drinks are superior to many other Spanish restaurants I've been to in this area (I'm looking at you, Jaleo). I love coming here with friends, ordering a pitcher of one of their many types of Sangrias, and enjoying a great meal. Another thing I like about all the La Tasca locations is the ambiance. All three of the restaurants I've visited are trendy as well as intimate, and the live music helps set the mood (but only as long as one doesn't seat too close to the band, as it can get very loud very quickly). As far as the food itself, the menu has a very extensive vegetarian tapas section, as well as several excellent salads. I recommend the small but surprisingly satisfying Espinaca con Peras salad (spinach and pears, $7), or the Arugula salad ($6.50). Seriously, they are so good that anytime I, or any of my friends have ordered one, we were very tempted to order another, just because it's so good! The vegetable paella ($6) and the Espinaca Salteada (sauteed spinach, $6) compliment any salad nicely. To end the meal on a light note, I usually go for the amazing Egg Flan ($6), or if you feel like splurging (on calories at least), the Tres Leches Cake is also a good option ($6). As for the service, it's usually good and attentive... sometimes too attentive. The waiters and bussers seem to always be hovering around, asking if everything is ok and nonstop clearing the small plates. *sigh* Sometimes I just want to be left alone... But i guess that's ok, it's not like we're in France or anything. All in all a great choice of restaurant for pretty much any occasion.
(4)
Tonya L.

Went here with a friend for my first experience with tapas and was really pleased. Had a great window seat and a pitcher of blanca sangria. we ordered the "Tasting menu". I was overwhelmed by the amount of food that kept coming, even if it was small plates. Everything was well prepared and tasted great. The staff was friendly and attentive. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Scott N.

I love the food however they are inconsistent from store to store in sangria. I'm still however frequent these restaurants often.
(5)
Kenya H.

Wonderful meal, good ambiance, and delicious sangria. Notable dishes were the bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese--amazing flavor! The patatas bravas, and the mejillones con salsa marinara were also excellent. Great meal and service overall. They also have live music in the bar area!
(4)
Morgan P.

Duck confit is awesome.
(5)
Jeff Q.

First tapas either of us have had. Food was good. Waitress was great. Flamenco dancers were good. Whichever sangria the wife got was just what she was looking for. Would definitely go back. We got the meat tasting menu, but we'll order individually next time. Love the location and the ambiance inside.
(4)
Sarah S.

My fiancee and I LOVE the food here!! We go during Happy Hour, 4-7 PM everyday and get several of the $3 Tapas as well as some of the regular priced ones that are our favorites. I have to admit, the service is laid back and sometimes lacking, but if you catch the eye of the bartender he'll come right over to see what you need. Otherwise you're left alone to enjoy each others company and excellent food. I love that you can pick and choose and get many different things to try. And you can order a few here and a few there so your table isn't full of food that gets cold before you have a a chance to eat it. We order 2-3 tapas at a time, and place the order for the next round when the previous round is delivered. By the time we're finished the next round arrives = perfect. We ALWAYS get the Empanadas de Carne (to die for!), the Patatas Bravas ($3 and soooo worth it), and the Berenjenas Fritas ($3 and very light for being fried). The different sauces that come with the dishes are out of this world! Anytime we have friends visit we take them to La Tasca. If you don't mind slightly inattentive service, the food is well worth it. My mouth is watering just thinking about the tapas!!
(5)
Matthew H.

Best meal we had in a week on the Washington D. C. /Virginia area, and I found it thanks to Yelp. Walking home from the Metro, another Tapas bar was pushing a Sangria special, which got me in the mood. Yelp rated La Tasca more highly, so we gave it a go. The good and bad reviews are mainly accurate. The restaurant IS loud, and the service is attentive but slow. I wouldn't go there if I was in a hurry or wanted a quiet dinner. But the food!!! Salivating just thinking about the risotto with wild mushroom and Gruyere. Mondays they run a great special, buy a pitcher of Sangria and get four plates of Tapas half price. No brainer. The Sangria was great, as were three of our dishes. The Salmon was Meh, but not bad, just paled next to the other three. And our total bill pre tip was like $37.
(5)
CYNTHIA C.

OMG, I cracked up laughing when I realized that when I reviewed La Tasca back in November, I had actually visited Las Tapas. OK, so I finally did visit La Tasca last night. It was Restaurant Week in Alexandria and the unlimited tapas deal was great. Just make sure you order at least 4 tapas dishes to make your money's worth for $35.11 per person. Both Las Tapas and La Tasca possess charm in their decor. The server, Mario (I believe), was FABULOUS! It was pretty crowded and he was a trooper and provided wonderful service. The food was well-prepared and very tasty. The Cadillac sangria (red) was just OK though. However, the overall experience was great.
(4)
Bethany W.

This is my all time favorite Tapas restaurant. The variety of foods and home made Sangria is wonderful. The atmosphere is traditional Spanish and the servers are all Spanish speaking which makes it that much more fun. This is one of my few favorite restaurants. I prefer the Old Town Alexandria location to all the others, the service is better and the atmosphere is better. Two thumbs up for me!
(5)
Marina E.

I really had a good time here. Started the evening with a monster mojito and then the entire tasting menu. The place gets loud...to the point you end up screaming at the people across your table, but I enjoyed tasting all the food and love the small portions. My nutritionist keeps telling me about portion distortion...so she'd be super proud of me. By far, my favorite dish was the Meloso de Ajo Creamy (rice with roasted garlic, nuts, and raisins), I dreamed of that dish later on that evening in a dirty way...Yes, it was that good.
(4)
Yumi W.

Not good...why even bother.
(2)
Sarah R.

The food and service was very good. We had a large group & two little ones, so a bit high maintenance. I cannot comment on authenticity of the food, but everything we ordered was tasty. Join the e-mail club & get 20% off food only on your first visit.
(5)
Alyssa L.

I came here for lunch with my best friend one Saturday and they offer and all you can eat tapas menu for $25.00 a person, WHAT A SCORE! It was certainly worth it. One of the best tapas place in the area. Their shrimp, steak, and salad tapas were really good. Their sangria however, it was alright. Certainly better sangria at some other places.
(4)
Jay A.

I mean, it's okay for the price. It's not a top-notch tapas restaurant but the price is right. If you want a discounted sangria and finger food, I definitely recommend that you pay them a visit. I had my birthday dinner there at La Tasca. I was way too wasted to remember any of the food, but I also went to one in Baltimore and know the food wasn't up to my expectations. Their seafood paella was weird. Too much squid and nothing else; not the type of paella that I would like. I got grossed out because there were just too much little squids in the paella. Bad experience.
(3)
Mark N.

Bottom line: Avoid. Mediocre at best. Things which should be cooked less ... way overcooked (e.g. tenderloin and scallops). Things which should be cooked more .. basically raw (brussel sprouts). Things which should be unique-- a bread special with garlic and cheese .. soggy Pizza Hut mess. Noise so high people were screaming at each other. I won't be coming back, and you shouldn't bother.
(2)
Harrison L.

This place is just great. Amazing. Wonderful. Delicious. Spectacular. Imagine getting to have a little taste of all sorts of perfectly made, unique dishes and wash it down with a selection of sangria made by actual Spaniards. Jorge is a cool waiter.
(5)
Joseph M.

I've been here a bunch of times. I was hoping things would get better, but they haven't. I just wasn't impressed. Sangria and food was meh. The place is beautiful inside. Chinatown location is A LOT better.
(2)
christine c.

My friends and I almost didn't go to this restaurant because the reviews I read (on Yelp as well as Trip Advisor) were quite divided - some were really enthusiastic and some very lukewarm. But in the end we still went because neither of my friends have had tapas ever(!) so wanted to try something new. I made the reservation for lunch online and for some reason was only able to get one for 11:30 am (I would have preferred 12 noon), even though when we arrived (it was a Thursday during the Restaurant Week) the three of us were the first and only people in the restaurant for almost 45 minutes before anyone else showed up. Still during the whole time, I would say that the restaurant was hardly one-quarter full. Not that I had a problem with that as I don't like overly crowded and noisy restaurants. We took one of the two tables by the window. The restaurant is rectangular shaped with a long bar and bar tables on one side and restaurant on the other, with a wall in between. The interior is darkish, since there are only windows on the narrow end of the long room and the dÃ©cor is a lot of dark wood paneling and dim lighting. The upside is that the tables are adequately spaced so you won't feel elbow to elbow with other diners even when it's more crowded. We ordered off the Restaurant week menu, which in fact is exactly the same as the normal lunch special menu except the former also applies to dinner ($20.11 per person for lunch, 26 selections - no dessert - and $35.11 for dinner with the additional 4 dessert selections). I felt that they should have included at least one or two dessert selections for lunch even if they have to reduce a couple of non dessert selections. In any case, we ordered the spinach salad with dates, tomatoes, fried eggplant, mussels, paella with chicken and shrimp, shrimp sautÃ©ed in garlic oil, grilled asparagus, Spanish omelet, bacon wrapped dates, bacon wrapped pork, wild mushroom, and grilled salmon and basically, they were all really well prepared and delicious. The fried eggplant came first and almost right away, and the rest were served all together not long after. The eggplant was truly a winner, the slices were delicately thin, the batter so crispy and non greasy and the portion was very generous (the other portions were not quite as large). I wasn't too excited by the accompanying cheese dip however - would have been quite happy with ketchup or nothing at all frankly - but that was just due to individual preference, not a negative comment on the dip itself. If I go there again, I would definitely order all the items all over again, except maybe drop the bacon/pork, and the potato omelet (calling it an omelet is misleading, it's like a potato kugel). Overall I would say that we had a really good first visit to this restaurant and will go back again - more often if they would add some dessert to the lunch menu!
(4)
D B.

La Tasca, I have moved far away and I will miss you most. No one has the eclectic sangria selection and endless tapas selection that you do. I like the la tasca sangria most, but their winter seasonal is equally delicious. As far as favorite tapas, I love the patatas bravas, tortilla espanola, solomillo de buey, brochetta de pollo, grilled asparagus, and beef empanadas. During happy hour, the patatas bravas, asparagus, and beef empanadas are on the hh specials. Go on a Thursday when the sangria pitchers are half off! For dessert, try the banana thing. It's my favorite dessert in Old Town. La Tasca, if you ever venture west, let me know.
(5)
Matthew R.

I've never had tapas before, so I can't compare La Tasca to other places, but it was a decent meal. My wife and I ordered a delicious charcuterie plate to start, which was the highlight of the meal. We also ordered the grilled shrimp and bacon-wrapped scallops, which were a little disappointing, empanadas (2 orders--they were pretty good), spinach croquettes, eggplant roll-ups with goat cheese and red pepper, and lamb chops. Everything was tasty, but the bill came to $60, which I thought was high for the overall quality. But, as a recent Philly-area transplant to DC, I am quickly realizing that the price point is a little off here generally (30% higher than comparable fare would be in Philadelphia). I suppose I just need to get used to it if I am expecting a nicer meal in this area...
(3)
E P.

Had lunch special -2 tapas for $12. Pretty reasonable. I was with family, so we split 6 tapas. My favorites were the paella verduras and espinica. The paella was a bit salty though. For dessert we tried the sampler- flan, choco lava cake, tres leches sponge cake, and churros. The flan was the best of them all. Our mesero (server) was really nice. We even got a free cup!
(4)
Los A.

The location, interior decoration, and atmosphere of La Tasca give it the three stars at minimum. The food is good but I wouldn't consider it top notch Spanish food. I feel the food lacks those flavors that come to my mind when I use to live in Spain. All I did in Spain was eat tapas, watch soccer, and drink with old Spanish men. The best time of my life to be honest. The staff is friendly and outgoing which replicates the Spanish hospitality in bars and restaurants. I tried the white wine sangria and was decent but prefer the red sangria. I give them thumbs up for having specials through out the week. I really enjoy the atmosphere and location which allows me to be not so critical of the food. I recommend this place for anyone looking to experience the "tapas" experience.
(4)
Kyra S.

My husband and I had a genuinely nice time here. I had low/no expecatations coming in, I knew La Tasca was a chain (though a local one) and my expectations were tempered by this. My only complaint is that it is on the pricey side, however DC Restaurant Week and Alexandria week are both coming up ASAP, so I plan on returning then. We had sangria, seafood, shrimp, mushrooms (excellent), bacon-wrapped scallops (recommended) it's a great atmosphere, we had nice window seating and our server was excellent. Definitely coming back! Next time I will get a pitcher of sangria.
(5)
Mark L.

Had dinner here with my two teenage children. We split a meat tapas tasting menu - I highly recommend this as it gave us a chance to sample the tapas. I had a glass of El Primavera wine from Spain. The whole experience was wonderful - and with live music. The tres leches desert was scrumptious. For the price and quality of food La Tasca is hard to beat!
(4)
Angelica R.

Love this restaurant! The service is excellent and the food is delicious and the drinks are awesome. Will definetly be back.
(4)
Brian H.

The duck with apples and mashed garlic potatoes is amazing. Really enjoyed the pork wrapped in bacon and the seared sushi grade tuna. The flauta stuffed with banana creme is the best dessert have had in the area.
(5)
Bruce B.

In fairness it was late when I went in because I was hungry and tired of looking for a place to eat. Lots of fried food which I try to avoid. I wasn't sure what to get so had three plates. the shrimp/scallop skewer was pretty good, probably a clear three out of five. The waiter told me this was what a lot of folks ordered. That said i've certainly had better at a lot of places. The meatballs were ok, but you didn't really get a lot. For almost the same price I could pretty much get a pasta/meatball dinner at a lot of places that would have been as good if not better. The ground beef empanada I could have done without. There was hardly anything in it, it was fried and it wasn't really even that good. Next time I hope to get to town a little earlier and not feel pressured into eating at a place that didn't have a lot of things I like. I did spend a bunch of money here though and walked out wishing I'd spent $10 at Chipotle instead. It was right up the street and would have been much more satisfying. Service was good, atmosphere nice, just hey I like a good dinner for my money. Luckily there's lots of restaurants in this town.
(2)
Robin O.

This was my first time to La Tasca. I've heard great things and I was excited to go. The overall experience was good, and the employees were very nice. However, they spent most of the evening talking to each other at the end of the bar rather than waiting on the customers. One of my friends waited 10 minutes for someone to take her drink order. Now, we were there for happy hour, but if you are just standing around instead of helping customers - that's different. The food was outstanding. There is a great happy hour selection of tapas for only $4 each. Warning... they are large! Everyone in my group ordered 2 tapas, and we all had something left over! I suggest sharing if you want to try more items. They also had a lot of fresh made sangria - also $4/glass at happy hour. I am absolutely a fan of their food and beverages.
(4)
Lissa -.

I love this place. Very warm and inviting with great food! They also have live music. Ole!
(5)
SD L.

meh. average wine. good (not great) food. was hoping for more
(3)
Virath P.

Brief review: Love the food and the price is reasonable! The free music (evenings only?) is refreshing and great for background music in a place that's great for dates and even families alike. I totally recommend the bartender Jimmy to take care of you (he's got a pony tail and pointed sideburns) because he's an awesome bartender and I am not just saying it.
(4)

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Address : 607 King St
Alexandria, VA, 22314
Phone (703) 299-9810
Website https://www.latascausa.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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La Tasca

607 King St, Alexandria, VA, 22314

La Tasca Menu

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