The food and service were good but the place was too loud.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Paella
Debra Criner
I am a picky eater and still found good food. Was with friends and we all had small dishes to share. My favorite was the 3 ribs. Great place for food. Oh and I almost forgot they have live music! It was wonderful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Claire C.
Delicious tapas, yummy driauthentic food, gracious, knowledgeable and welcoming staff!! The live music and the chefs table seating made for a wonderful experience
H C.
Such a fun place and great food! We had a blast and will definitely be visiting the next time that we are in San Diego!
Dean Remy
Had simple finger-foods during a meeting there. Our server was incredible
Service: 5
Catherine T
Love coming here. Delicious tapas, wonderful service, fantastic live music, dancing. It’s always such a joyful experience.Parking: In a very pedestrian friendly area. Parking is normally plentiful but will be a block (or more) away depending on the night of the week in paid lots/street/garage or using valet.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Octopus Ceviche, Patatas Bravas, Gambas Al Ajillo, Traditional Paella Valenciana
All Streets G.
All Streets eagerly awaited a visit to San Diego's Gas Lamp Quarter for some time, sampling its nightlife and shops before the weather got too humid. As is seemingly the fashion these days, do some research and be ready to book ahead. In this case, we knew we wanted to try Cafe Sevilla, right along Fifth Street, so reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. We have the same advice for parking - in this case, we looked ahead and settled on 6th and K Parcade, which is just a short block away. This restaurant is decked in arresting reds and contrasting dark woods, giving the feel you've stepped into the minds of its creators, Rogelio and Janet Huidobro. They wanted to capture the essence of the Spanish night with its decor, live music, and tapas. This vision serves the restaurant well, and for a lively night out for a date or with a small group (it is tapas after all)... We opted for the 'Journey Through Spain!' - a five-course dinner for two. You can, of course, still order off the prix-fixe, but after our server suggested this, we thought it best to sample the menu and shave off a bit of the price for a pitcher of sangria for the table to share. As tapas go, Cafe Sevilla makes sure they bring its essence - small plates, but fully realized. We chose off of the Dinner for Two but added a few items here and there; the asterisk indicates what was included in the prix fixe: Albondigas al Jerez con Chorizo* - three large meatballs (albondigas), soft with breading and flavor enhanced with the tanginess of chorizo; a great reason to invest in the bread service! Datiles Rellenos* - these large Medjool dates are stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in applewood bacon, topped with a sweet and sour cider glaze; I probably could have stopped there - it was so good! Mushroom & Fig Coca Flatbread* - wood-fired flatbread top with Manchego cheese, fresh herbs, arugula, mushrooms and figs. Salmon Con Chorizo* - a big chunk of salmon topped with bits of roasted chorizo, served over kale, chickpeas, shallots & white wine Rioja Short Rib* - braised for 16 hours, this Rioja Short Rib, so named in that it is basted in Spanish Rioja wine, then served on Manchego mashed potatoes and vegetables; as it should be, tender and flavorful Truffle Potato Chips - I'm a sucker for these, wherever they may be available - these are delicious and fresh; don't expect a tone, but, for two, it was enough Pan Con Tomate (or Olive Loaf) - I felt a bread service was in order, as there was more than enough juice to sop up; this bread is perfectly tailored for this task Dulce Empanada Duo* - four tear-dropped shaped empanadas, seemingly alike churros, topped with guava or lemon custard, served with a chocolate dipping sauce; yes, as you read, it is quite delightful! The tapas were wonderfully flavorful and artistically plated - never did we feel something was being fluffed up, each plate solid in its own way. While live music played in the background, the place became lively, with impromptu dancing on the floor. We never felt rushed; the pacing of the food came out as it should--very much like the experience we expected. We enjoyed Cafe Sevilla so much that we are looking forward to visiting its Orange County cousin one day! Please check out allstreetsgourmand.com for more!
Eustaquio L.
After my engagement nearby, I wanted to find a unique restaurant walking distance from us. Not many places in SD serve paella. Costa brava usually our go-to but Cafe Sevilla did not disappoint. We definitely took advantage of the happy hour tapas! Some we had to order twice! The host and servers were friendly, and our waitress Karina was very sweet and attentive. My only regret was that we didnt get a family size paella!
Ellie R.
One of my new favorite places!! I was looking for some good paella and this place did not disappoint. I ordered the paella with black squid ink rice and it was delicious! I was also a fan of the red wine flight. Service was great! My favorite thing about this place is the live music After I finished dinner I hung out at the bar because I still wanted to see the live performance! Such a cute place.
Oof, this place is nasty! Dirty tables, microwaved tapas, and watered down drinks. The server was very nice but the food is just disgusting. We should have known better!
S Y.
Attempted to eat here on Easter Sunday at around 8pm. The place had a band playing and was around 25% full. Hardly busy at all. There was one couple in front of my gf and I waiting to be seated. They had been there a few minutes before us. We waited around 7 minutes while a waiter dressed in black walked by us 3-4 times. He looked at us, but didn't say anything. Shortly after, a lone female got in line behind us. After a while, my gf approached an employee dressed in a red shirt and asked if we should seat ourselves. He replied, "No. There should be a host there" then walked away. We waited a few more minutes as the same waiter kept walking by with no acknowledgment whatsoever. We left and went to a restaurant down the street wondering why 2 Asian couples and an African American female go to a Spanish restaurant that's not busy and get ignored for almost 15 minutes... Do better!
Angela C.
It was decent. Service was good, but not outstanding. The food was good, but not outstanding. We were there on an evening without live music, and it was still quite loud. Nothing really stands out about our visit, though worth a visit to try it out. Of note- I have beef and pork allergies, so there were many things I could not try. The beef/pork dishes may be fantastic, but I can't give an honest review about those.
Lydia H.
I wrote a review for Cafe Sevilla 7 months ago, but feel that another review is warranted. This is my third visit to Cafe Sevilla and it is STILL my favorite place to go in the Gaslamp District. The food, ambience, drinks, and live music really make this place. My favorite dishes are: The Traditional Paella Valenciana (pictured), the mushroom & fig coca, the croquetas de queso y jamon, the spicy octopus ceviche, and the lamb sliders. You really can't go wrong with anything that you order here. I'd like to give a special shoutout to our server Karina. I remembered her from the last time I was here 7 months ago and was so happy that she was our server again. We were celebrating my son's birthday and she went above and beyond to pull all the stops to make his birthday celebration a night that we won't forget. She even brought a special dessert for him just for his birthday. It is because of you, Karina, that we are loyal patrons of Cafe Sevilla! We can't wait for our next visit!
Great food and vibe
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and service were good but the place was too loud.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Paella
I am a picky eater and still found good food. Was with friends and we all had small dishes to share. My favorite was the 3 ribs. Great place for food. Oh and I almost forgot they have live music! It was wonderful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious tapas, yummy driauthentic food, gracious, knowledgeable and welcoming staff!! The live music and the chefs table seating made for a wonderful experience
Such a fun place and great food! We had a blast and will definitely be visiting the next time that we are in San Diego!
Had simple finger-foods during a meeting there. Our server was incredible
Service: 5
Love coming here. Delicious tapas, wonderful service, fantastic live music, dancing. It’s always such a joyful experience.Parking: In a very pedestrian friendly area. Parking is normally plentiful but will be a block (or more) away depending on the night of the week in paid lots/street/garage or using valet.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Octopus Ceviche, Patatas Bravas, Gambas Al Ajillo, Traditional Paella Valenciana
All Streets eagerly awaited a visit to San Diego's Gas Lamp Quarter for some time, sampling its nightlife and shops before the weather got too humid. As is seemingly the fashion these days, do some research and be ready to book ahead. In this case, we knew we wanted to try Cafe Sevilla, right along Fifth Street, so reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. We have the same advice for parking - in this case, we looked ahead and settled on 6th and K Parcade, which is just a short block away. This restaurant is decked in arresting reds and contrasting dark woods, giving the feel you've stepped into the minds of its creators, Rogelio and Janet Huidobro. They wanted to capture the essence of the Spanish night with its decor, live music, and tapas. This vision serves the restaurant well, and for a lively night out for a date or with a small group (it is tapas after all)... We opted for the 'Journey Through Spain!' - a five-course dinner for two. You can, of course, still order off the prix-fixe, but after our server suggested this, we thought it best to sample the menu and shave off a bit of the price for a pitcher of sangria for the table to share. As tapas go, Cafe Sevilla makes sure they bring its essence - small plates, but fully realized. We chose off of the Dinner for Two but added a few items here and there; the asterisk indicates what was included in the prix fixe: Albondigas al Jerez con Chorizo* - three large meatballs (albondigas), soft with breading and flavor enhanced with the tanginess of chorizo; a great reason to invest in the bread service! Datiles Rellenos* - these large Medjool dates are stuffed with blue cheese and wrapped in applewood bacon, topped with a sweet and sour cider glaze; I probably could have stopped there - it was so good! Mushroom & Fig Coca Flatbread* - wood-fired flatbread top with Manchego cheese, fresh herbs, arugula, mushrooms and figs. Salmon Con Chorizo* - a big chunk of salmon topped with bits of roasted chorizo, served over kale, chickpeas, shallots & white wine Rioja Short Rib* - braised for 16 hours, this Rioja Short Rib, so named in that it is basted in Spanish Rioja wine, then served on Manchego mashed potatoes and vegetables; as it should be, tender and flavorful Truffle Potato Chips - I'm a sucker for these, wherever they may be available - these are delicious and fresh; don't expect a tone, but, for two, it was enough Pan Con Tomate (or Olive Loaf) - I felt a bread service was in order, as there was more than enough juice to sop up; this bread is perfectly tailored for this task Dulce Empanada Duo* - four tear-dropped shaped empanadas, seemingly alike churros, topped with guava or lemon custard, served with a chocolate dipping sauce; yes, as you read, it is quite delightful! The tapas were wonderfully flavorful and artistically plated - never did we feel something was being fluffed up, each plate solid in its own way. While live music played in the background, the place became lively, with impromptu dancing on the floor. We never felt rushed; the pacing of the food came out as it should--very much like the experience we expected. We enjoyed Cafe Sevilla so much that we are looking forward to visiting its Orange County cousin one day! Please check out allstreetsgourmand.com for more!
After my engagement nearby, I wanted to find a unique restaurant walking distance from us. Not many places in SD serve paella. Costa brava usually our go-to but Cafe Sevilla did not disappoint. We definitely took advantage of the happy hour tapas! Some we had to order twice! The host and servers were friendly, and our waitress Karina was very sweet and attentive. My only regret was that we didnt get a family size paella!
One of my new favorite places!! I was looking for some good paella and this place did not disappoint. I ordered the paella with black squid ink rice and it was delicious! I was also a fan of the red wine flight. Service was great! My favorite thing about this place is the live music After I finished dinner I hung out at the bar because I still wanted to see the live performance! Such a cute place.
Restaurantji Recommends
Oof, this place is nasty! Dirty tables, microwaved tapas, and watered down drinks. The server was very nice but the food is just disgusting. We should have known better!
Attempted to eat here on Easter Sunday at around 8pm. The place had a band playing and was around 25% full. Hardly busy at all. There was one couple in front of my gf and I waiting to be seated. They had been there a few minutes before us. We waited around 7 minutes while a waiter dressed in black walked by us 3-4 times. He looked at us, but didn't say anything. Shortly after, a lone female got in line behind us. After a while, my gf approached an employee dressed in a red shirt and asked if we should seat ourselves. He replied, "No. There should be a host there" then walked away. We waited a few more minutes as the same waiter kept walking by with no acknowledgment whatsoever. We left and went to a restaurant down the street wondering why 2 Asian couples and an African American female go to a Spanish restaurant that's not busy and get ignored for almost 15 minutes... Do better!
It was decent. Service was good, but not outstanding. The food was good, but not outstanding. We were there on an evening without live music, and it was still quite loud. Nothing really stands out about our visit, though worth a visit to try it out. Of note- I have beef and pork allergies, so there were many things I could not try. The beef/pork dishes may be fantastic, but I can't give an honest review about those.
I wrote a review for Cafe Sevilla 7 months ago, but feel that another review is warranted. This is my third visit to Cafe Sevilla and it is STILL my favorite place to go in the Gaslamp District. The food, ambience, drinks, and live music really make this place. My favorite dishes are: The Traditional Paella Valenciana (pictured), the mushroom & fig coca, the croquetas de queso y jamon, the spicy octopus ceviche, and the lamb sliders. You really can't go wrong with anything that you order here. I'd like to give a special shoutout to our server Karina. I remembered her from the last time I was here 7 months ago and was so happy that she was our server again. We were celebrating my son's birthday and she went above and beyond to pull all the stops to make his birthday celebration a night that we won't forget. She even brought a special dessert for him just for his birthday. It is because of you, Karina, that we are loyal patrons of Cafe Sevilla! We can't wait for our next visit!
These are not paellas, they are
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1