I loved this restaurant. The whole experience from start to finish was beautifully executed. Tapas style menu with paella and a few meal options. Quaint setting that is clean and warm and inviting. Good and interesting cocktail and wine options. And the food is SPECTACULAR. Everything that came out was outstanding. Significant portions for tapas. And the seafood is fresh. Where the restaurant really excels is in their attention to detail. Those that assisted us were excellent and the chef considered our order and sent the tapas out in an appropriate order, one at a time with one combination of two that worked beautifully together. We were not rushed for a moment (even when we were the last to leave on Good Friday!) and you could tell that the chef (owner maybe?) took such great pride in his work. He was quietly watching to make sure people were happy and came by a few times to talk to us. Just such a beautiful experience. We will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Peter Baevski
Seems like a small family owned restaurant. The food is overall good but definitely some obvious misses. The paella was so oily and didn't have that much loved crunchiness at the bottom of the skillet. Pretty good service and atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Deja
I could talk about my first experience at this place for hours! Came here back in December with my partner to celebrate my birthday and everything was perfect. Our server, although he had pretty much all the tables in the restaurant was impressively very attentive and had great conversation. As a server myself I was admiring the hard work he was putting in to make sure everyone’s experience was unique and enjoyable. The chef went around to each table to make sure that his food was tasting fresh and cooked to the customers liking which added a touch you never knew you needed. He and my partner were hitting it off in conversation speaking in Spanish which impressed him and he ended up offering us a free birthday shot which was very kind of him. The food was melt in your mouth greatness. The salmon was to die for, I’ve never had salmon so well cooked until this place. Now I can’t have salmon anywhere else but here! The chocolate flan… Un postre fuera de este mundo!!! Muchísima gracias, we will be back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Scallops with Daily Compote, Chocolate Cream Caramel
Saad Amir
Great dinner. Recommend the scallops, mushroom risotto, and seafood paella.Great atmosphere and service. Perfect for a date night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Paella
Ximena Bernal
This is a late review but I went to La Vinia restaurant twice in the past years and both times we attended it was incredible. The Restaurant is authentic. You can't go there and not try the Paella. We also had Gazpacho, and Octopus. The food is exquisite and he ambience is wonderful. The Mango Cheesecake is to die for. We always recommend this place to anyone who wants to try authentic Spanish dishes. Keep up the good work!!
Great experience and food. Service was wonderful and the food tasted great. On the slightly more expensive side but I feel like the mains (paella and risottos) can easily feed 2 people especially if you also order tapas.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Peter Levitt
LaVinia is a superb and authentic Spanish experience. Astonishingly good for a place that is a bit out of the way, it is worth the trip (our friends drove from Lawrence Park). We tried 8 different tapas dishes and top picks were the shrimp dishes, particularly Gambas Salteadas con Setas, the calamari, chorizo with clams and beans, and the scallops (big, plump and perfect). I would have gone with 5 stars for the food if it weren’t for the potato dish (spuds not fully cooked) and Paella Valenciana which was a good but a bit mushy compared to what we had in Spain.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp with Saffron Sauteed Mushrooms, Grilled Calamari with Chilli Oil, Grilled Scallops with Daily Compote, Fried Milk, Octopus, Saffron Sauce
Truth Lover
Went with my parents for the first time with reservations made for 6:30pm so we were seated right away. Very welcoming, polite, put our coats away for us, had an umbrella stand for us also, comfortable enough seating. Only have one type of bottled beer (Modelo) which my dad enjoyed . Mum had a $17 sangria which tasted pretty good. The tapas tasted just ok and the portions are not generous. We were looking forward most to the paella and recommended mushroom risotto and both unfortunately were a fail.The paella lacked seasoning and the lobster in it was not fresh, smelt quite fishy. The recommended mushroom risotto was dry and underwhelming. All the dishes lacked flavour . The intervals between the dishes were quite long and we were grateful for the bread and garlic butter. No one really came in between to check on things or actually ask how the food was and thats probably better.Bill for 4 people was $247.00 plus tips. For the amount and quality of the food i would have to say not worth that much.Was really looking forward to it and wanted to love it but …. ?If you are a hardcore foodie, have eaten much excellent food in many parts of the world and have actually tasted good paella, patatas bravas etc. this food isn’t close to cutting it.That said , we can’t return or recommend but wish them well.
Went for dinner with friends where we were greeted immediately and shown to our table. We shared four tapas appetizers and a paella. We left nothing in the plates. The wait staff are the chef/owners son and daughter who are very personable, attentive and provided the best service I've experienced in awhile. The restaurant was at capacity and I watched in amazement how well the brother and sister team worked the tables. Furthermore, the chef comes to the table to ensure the meal was to our satisfaction.At no point we're we rushed to leave which made our conversation very relaxing. If you haven't tried Lavinia, you are missing a great experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
S P
Amazing food and service and it was my first time there. I attended La Vinia to celebrate our work Holiday gathering! The food was delicious, the seafood was fresh and prepared with love, the service was excellent!! I will definitely be going back!Vegetarian options: Excellent
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Paella Valenciana, Mango Cheesecake, Chocolate Cream Caramel, Fish of the Day, Saffron Sauce
Monica
Great little intimate Spanish restaurant! The food is cooked perfectly. We had paella de marisco, and arroz a banda and the octopus. They accommodated a group of 10 with attentive service. The chef personally comes out to great everyone. Highly recommended but make reservations!
Sonia Orr
Just celebrated my mom's 90th birthday party at La Vinia. We hosted 35 people and everything was perfect, excellent and plentiful food, great friendly service and cozy ambience.Thank you for making the day memorable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elian Isasi
A must visit & you’ll be back. I could say a hundred positive things about this place but even then, it wouldn’t do it justice. Family owned. Intimate, feels like you’re dining with friends around you. The most warm & proficient service I’ve received in a veryyy long time. One of a kind a true gem of a place will be back here, REGULARLY.
I loved this restaurant. The whole experience from start to finish was beautifully executed. Tapas style menu with paella and a few meal options. Quaint setting that is clean and warm and inviting. Good and interesting cocktail and wine options. And the food is SPECTACULAR. Everything that came out was outstanding. Significant portions for tapas. And the seafood is fresh. Where the restaurant really excels is in their attention to detail. Those that assisted us were excellent and the chef considered our order and sent the tapas out in an appropriate order, one at a time with one combination of two that worked beautifully together. We were not rushed for a moment (even when we were the last to leave on Good Friday!) and you could tell that the chef (owner maybe?) took such great pride in his work. He was quietly watching to make sure people were happy and came by a few times to talk to us. Just such a beautiful experience. We will definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Seems like a small family owned restaurant. The food is overall good but definitely some obvious misses. The paella was so oily and didn't have that much loved crunchiness at the bottom of the skillet. Pretty good service and atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
I could talk about my first experience at this place for hours! Came here back in December with my partner to celebrate my birthday and everything was perfect. Our server, although he had pretty much all the tables in the restaurant was impressively very attentive and had great conversation. As a server myself I was admiring the hard work he was putting in to make sure everyone’s experience was unique and enjoyable. The chef went around to each table to make sure that his food was tasting fresh and cooked to the customers liking which added a touch you never knew you needed. He and my partner were hitting it off in conversation speaking in Spanish which impressed him and he ended up offering us a free birthday shot which was very kind of him. The food was melt in your mouth greatness. The salmon was to die for, I’ve never had salmon so well cooked until this place. Now I can’t have salmon anywhere else but here! The chocolate flan… Un postre fuera de este mundo!!! Muchísima gracias, we will be back soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Scallops with Daily Compote, Chocolate Cream Caramel
Great dinner. Recommend the scallops, mushroom risotto, and seafood paella.Great atmosphere and service. Perfect for a date night!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Paella
This is a late review but I went to La Vinia restaurant twice in the past years and both times we attended it was incredible. The Restaurant is authentic. You can't go there and not try the Paella. We also had Gazpacho, and Octopus. The food is exquisite and he ambience is wonderful. The Mango Cheesecake is to die for. We always recommend this place to anyone who wants to try authentic Spanish dishes. Keep up the good work!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Paella Valenciana, Mango Cheesecake, Octopus
Great experience and food. Service was wonderful and the food tasted great. On the slightly more expensive side but I feel like the mains (paella and risottos) can easily feed 2 people especially if you also order tapas.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
LaVinia is a superb and authentic Spanish experience. Astonishingly good for a place that is a bit out of the way, it is worth the trip (our friends drove from Lawrence Park). We tried 8 different tapas dishes and top picks were the shrimp dishes, particularly Gambas Salteadas con Setas, the calamari, chorizo with clams and beans, and the scallops (big, plump and perfect). I would have gone with 5 stars for the food if it weren’t for the potato dish (spuds not fully cooked) and Paella Valenciana which was a good but a bit mushy compared to what we had in Spain.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp with Saffron Sauteed Mushrooms, Grilled Calamari with Chilli Oil, Grilled Scallops with Daily Compote, Fried Milk, Octopus, Saffron Sauce
Went with my parents for the first time with reservations made for 6:30pm so we were seated right away. Very welcoming, polite, put our coats away for us, had an umbrella stand for us also, comfortable enough seating. Only have one type of bottled beer (Modelo) which my dad enjoyed . Mum had a $17 sangria which tasted pretty good. The tapas tasted just ok and the portions are not generous. We were looking forward most to the paella and recommended mushroom risotto and both unfortunately were a fail.The paella lacked seasoning and the lobster in it was not fresh, smelt quite fishy. The recommended mushroom risotto was dry and underwhelming. All the dishes lacked flavour . The intervals between the dishes were quite long and we were grateful for the bread and garlic butter. No one really came in between to check on things or actually ask how the food was and thats probably better.Bill for 4 people was $247.00 plus tips. For the amount and quality of the food i would have to say not worth that much.Was really looking forward to it and wanted to love it but …. ?If you are a hardcore foodie, have eaten much excellent food in many parts of the world and have actually tasted good paella, patatas bravas etc. this food isn’t close to cutting it.That said , we can’t return or recommend but wish them well.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Great little restaurant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Get the mushrooms.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Went for dinner with friends where we were greeted immediately and shown to our table. We shared four tapas appetizers and a paella. We left nothing in the plates. The wait staff are the chef/owners son and daughter who are very personable, attentive and provided the best service I've experienced in awhile. The restaurant was at capacity and I watched in amazement how well the brother and sister team worked the tables. Furthermore, the chef comes to the table to ensure the meal was to our satisfaction.At no point we're we rushed to leave which made our conversation very relaxing. If you haven't tried Lavinia, you are missing a great experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food and service and it was my first time there. I attended La Vinia to celebrate our work Holiday gathering! The food was delicious, the seafood was fresh and prepared with love, the service was excellent!! I will definitely be going back!Vegetarian options: Excellent
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Paella Valenciana, Mango Cheesecake, Chocolate Cream Caramel, Fish of the Day, Saffron Sauce
Great little intimate Spanish restaurant! The food is cooked perfectly. We had paella de marisco, and arroz a banda and the octopus. They accommodated a group of 10 with attentive service. The chef personally comes out to great everyone. Highly recommended but make reservations!
Just celebrated my mom's 90th birthday party at La Vinia. We hosted 35 people and everything was perfect, excellent and plentiful food, great friendly service and cozy ambience.Thank you for making the day memorable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A must visit & you’ll be back. I could say a hundred positive things about this place but even then, it wouldn’t do it justice. Family owned. Intimate, feels like you’re dining with friends around you. The most warm & proficient service I’ve received in a veryyy long time. One of a kind a true gem of a place will be back here, REGULARLY.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus