Tapas Restaurants near Arlington, VA

“I don’t usually write reviews—when I do, it’s because the experience was either exceptionally bad or truly outstanding. This one might be a bit long, so let’s start from the beginning. It’s been 10 years since I moved to Virginia, and I have to say, I love it here. That said, I do miss the beaches and the incredible food from Miami. Ever since I moved, I’ve been searching for the perfect spot—a place where both the food and the service are amazing. Let’s be honest, that’s hard to find. Often, the food is great but the service is just okay, or the service is excellent but the food falls short. When looking for a place to celebrate my wedding anniversary, a few options came up, and one of them was Sabores Tapas Bar. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it there at the time and ended up going to two other places—one was okay, the other was awful. Later, I told my wife we needed to try Sabores, maybe on New Year’s Day. Again, we ended up at a “safe” spot we like to visit. The food and service were good, but it was just our usual go-to. Fast forward to last week: my best friend from Puerto Rico came to visit with his family. He loves to eat, and his wife can be hard to please. This time, we decided to go to Sabores Tapas Bar. I’ll admit, I was nervous—I wanted them to have a great experience, but pleasing everyone is never easy. Finally, we went. What can I say? The food was amazing, and the service was just as incredible. It was so good we couldn’t stop eating. I had high expectations—growing up, my house was always full because my friends came over for my mom’s cooking. She’s an amazing cook. Mom, forgive me for saying this, but Sabores Tapas Bar is as good as, if not better than, your cooking, and the service was amazing. Wow. I’ve found the place. It’s so good that I want to go back and try dishes I normally don’t like, just to see if they can make me love them. I can’t wait to return. My taste buds have found the love of their life at Sabores Tapas Bar.“

“Absolutely phenomenal food and service here! We have a very high bar for Tapas and this was such a fabulous experience. The tapas are all perfectly cooked and seasoned, cocktails are also really really well designed and made. Paella, churros, and octopus are must haves.“

“Incredible food and atmosphere and service 5 stars all the way“

“I’m new to the Arlington area and have been searching for a wine bar for quite some time. That search ended recently, as I came across Verre.

I was warmly greeted and promptly presented with a menu despite a busy evening. I opted for a charcuterie board paired with the boom boom shrimp.

I was impressed with Lilly’s expertise, as she guided me through several wine recommendations, leading me to try the vino verde.

The lemon lime and green apple notes coupled with some of the best prosciutto assortment I’ve had, made me think I was on the coast of northern Portugal even in the dead of winter.

Highly recommend this place!“

“Excellent foods, good vibes, great services!“

“Dinner here on our last night in the DC area and it was delicious! You can’t go wrong with any of the dishes, we are a family of 6 so tried several but the gnocchi and penne pollo were excellent! The pizza was also a hit. Even if you’re stuffed, try a dessert. Again, we loved them all. The tiramisu, cannolis, chocolate cake, and cherry gelato were the perfect ending to our meal. Great, friendly service with a cozy atmosphere and exceptional food. Definitely recommend! All 4 kids agree!“

“the food was great and the drinks were good“

“muy buena atención, exelente comida ahora con los piques machos y variedad de piques del Chillamicito funcionando con la comida boliviana“

“It was fabulous! I loved how much thought went into the meal and the whole place showed the care and love behind the creations. The food and service were spectacular!“

“Bottom line up front, Cranes is a MUST for DC’s Winter Restaurant Week! From the hostess's accommodation of our late arrival, friendly greeting, and front door coat check to our waiter’s, Elmer, and wait staff’s attentive service throughout our visit, Cranes was superb! The Faux-jito, Squash Hummus, Ramen, and Iberico Pork Fried Rice were fantastic! When there was a problem with our bill, it was quickly resolved. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommend!!!“

“Food, service, and atmosphere were top notch. Would definitely go back.“

“Ahhhh I can’t explain how much I miss you food guys you are amazing and soon withen this year I’ll be back to the city and for sure I’ll be visiting you, I advice you to visit them if in town the staff is amazing and supportive and the atmosphere is wonderful and the food is outstanding“

“Fun night for two out of towners! Food was amazing and the staff were incredibly friendly, even though we’re two or three times their ages and not cool at all! ;)“

“A thoughtful shared plates experience. We followed the wise recommendations of our server and were rewarded. Nice spot. Excellent yet not pretentious.“

“I had an amazing experience hosting a large party at El Techo. The owner and team were great! As were the food, drinks, ambiance and service. 10/10, I would recommend this place to anyone“

“We had an early dinner before attending a performance at the Ford’s Theater. We made reservations through Open Table and were immediately seated upon arrival. The service was great. Our server recommended several dishes that we loved. There were abundant vegan and vegetarian options. Chilorio de Res tacos were mouthwatering as were the Hongos en Milto ones. In fact, every dish we ordered was delicious. One dish (chilaquiles) never arrived from the kitchen but we were pressed for time so we opted to have it taken off our bill instead of waiting for them to prepare it separately. Dessert, Cafe de Olla, was phenomenal. Pics are only some of the items we tried. Great atmosphere for date night and a milestone birthday celebration. Highly recommend.“

“Excelente lugar para despejar la mente y divertirte ala grande viendo tanta mujeres lindas“

“Amazing food and a great environment.“

“Had a great experience. I would definitely come back next time we are in DC.“

“Absolutely in love with this place! 🍽️✨ The food is a beautiful symphony of flavors, and the atmosphere is just so warm and welcoming. The perfect spot for a cozy meal with friends or a special dinner. Every bite was a little piece of happiness. 💛“

“Great vibes and music here!!!😎“

“I had the pleasure of dining at The Hitching Post DC. I ordered the grilled lamb chops, mac & cheese, collard greens. The lamb chops are in my top 2 of the best I've ever tasted. I don't normally order mac & cheese when I go out to a restaurant, but this order was perfect as well. The collard greens could use a little vinegar, however, they were still delicious. I will definitely dine there in the near future. The lemon cake had was flavorful, moist and delicious, too. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“I had the Arancini, gnocchi sardi, and olive oil cake and they were all fantastic. And while I came for food, I will say the two things I'll remember the most were 1. The fact you gave postcard with the receipt as a souvenir and one less thing I'd have to buy on my trip and 2. The service was amazing. I forget what her name is now, but my waitress came over and cleaned off the table of the two or three crumbs of truffle I had and got me new silverware for the second course. I can't think of any other restaurant I've been to where I've had service that attentive before.“

“um ambiente perfeito, a comida gostosa como as bebidas“

“Everything was perfect, the service, food and cocktails! Look forward to returning.“

“Loved this place. The atmosphere is cozy and whimsical. We had the steak salad, salmon, Brussels sprouts, and chive dumplings - all were fantastic. The cocktails were also on point. Would recommend if you’re in the area. Make a reservation in advance as the location is small.“

“Great place to go after a long day or on a date . The staff was awesome when it came to what wine may be best to try with which dinner . First timers or old heads to wine excellent place to visit . Will visit every time I am in town“

“Always a pleasure to come to the Taberna! Extra interesting restaurant week menu this time around. I had the artichoke main -- unusual, different, good. Tasty Tempranillo crianza. Espresso was just right o finish off relaxed meal. Fun to sit in the more cozy back room on a cold day. Small quibble -- would have been nice to see a hot soup on the menu.“

“Excellent customer service, breathtaking view of the Potomac River. Extensive variety on the menu. I highly recommend all items on the menu, and prompt turnaround time after placing an order.“

“Great place and great staff!“

“This is my go to spot in Alexandria, especially for happy hour. The Gin Ramen is amazing and they have a great selection of Sake!“

“If you’re looking for a place that serves up dry ciders, look no further. You have to order everything online and they bring it out to you. I’ll definitely return to buy some more ciders to-go.“

“We had tried to get a reservation for a while. We needed up sitting at the bar instead of the table by the front window. Bartender was very engaging and helpful. We definitely felt attended to. Helpful with food and drink suggestions. Friendly inviting atmosphere. Food was expertly prepared and delicious. Drinks perfect and was the type of drink I requested. Fun night all around. We enjoyed it“

“Don’t let Atxondo’s modest looks deceive you. I was skeptical but some friends wanted to try this place so I went along. I was very pleasantly surprised. We ate vegetarian and everything was excellent. I can recommend the brussel sprouts, tortilla española, crispy potatoes, coliflor, golden beets, fried shishitos, and risotto. I almost forgot to mention the interesting drink menu and the best flan I’ve ever had. Service was great too. Go with a group so you can try everything!“

“The place is amazing . The food is good“

“This is such an amazing place most people don't even know how good this place is they have e been open for over 18 years now, the food is so good it will definitely make you crave it a few days later, their drinks are bang on and leaves their neighbors behind. This place is definitely worth checking out amazing food and staff“

“Good service, good food and awesome drinks!“

“My favorite place in Takoma Park! Great food and drinks made and served with care.“

“Yerevan Café is one of those rare places that feels both home-cooked and special at the same time. Everything we tried was beautifully prepared and genuinely delicious.
The food was outstanding.
The stuffed flatbread was warm, soft, and perfectly charred, served with creamy yogurt and tender grape leaves that tasted incredibly fresh. The lahmajun was flavorful and comforting — exactly what you want from Armenian-style flatbread. We also loved the red pepper spread they serve on the side, which added the perfect brightness and spice.
The desserts are a must.
The honey cake was the star — light, tender layers with just the right amount of sweetness. Their dessert case is full of classics (baklava, gatta, Napoleon, and more), and everything looked handmade and generous.
Great wine and even better atmosphere.
The glass of red wine paired perfectly with the dishes. The café itself has a warm, authentic vibe, and you can see the care they put into everything, even from the kitchen area and pastry counter.
If you’re looking for a cozy spot with truly delicious Armenian food and amazing desserts, Yerevan Café is absolutely worth it. I’d come back just for the honey cake.“

“Consistently excellent. The calamari, the jamon, the pan tomate, the cheeses... you can't go wrong. Staff is superb and very attentive: my wine glass stem snapped when I had very little left in my glass... they rushed to clean up & still replaced it with a full glass. Recommend sitting at the bar & watching the chef at work.“

“Server was nice and vigilant about dietary restrictions. Flan was excellent. Burger was undercooked but not bad.“

“Amazing food and service.“

“Service and food were very excellent!!!!“

“Great addition to the Wharf dining scene. Big menu with vegetarian options and some healthier options like poke bowls. Appetizers are a must try, my favorite is the miso eggplant and my boyfriend likes the karaage crispy chicken the most. The original tonkatsu ramen is the most authentically Japanese ramen I've had in DC proper, reminds me of a ramen I had in Tokyo earlier this year. I love the hot sauce that comes with it so much, it definitely makes the food taste authentic. If you here with someone, I would recommend sharing a ramen and some appetizers, as the ramen is very big and you wont be able to finish a whole ramen plus appetizers. Ask for Mario as your server, he is the kindest and very knowledgeable about the menu.“

“Delicious food. Great service.“

“We ordered the rigatoni pasta with the marinara sauce and grilled chicken and we also ordered the macaroni cheese with Parmesan cream and grilled shrimp. Honestly, both of them were to die for. Me and my husband absolutely loved the place and we will definitely be regular customers.“

“Great place to enjoy with friends“

“Amazing place! We had a baby shower there and could not be more than perfect. The food and service were incredible. Tanya is a great manager and very helpful. We couldn’t be more than happy.“

“HIGHLY RECOMMEND! The Bazaar at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., offered a unique and vibrant dining experience that beautifully blends traditional and contemporary culinary influences. The restaurant boasts an elegant yet inviting atmosphere, perfect for both casual gatherings and special occasions. The decor reflects the sophistication of the Waldorf Astoria, creating a warm and welcoming space. The menu is a feast for the senses, featuring a diverse range of dishes inspired by global flavors. Standout items include the inventive tapas and small plates, which are perfect for sharing. The seafood options, particularly the fresh ceviches, are a must-try, along with the signature paellas that are rich in flavor and beautifully presented. The staff at The Bazaar is attentive and knowledgeable, providing excellent service that enhances the overall dining experience. They are happy to make recommendations and ensure that all guests feel well taken care of. The cocktail menu is creative and extensive, showcasing unique blends that complement the food perfectly. The wine selection is also impressive, offering a variety of choices to suit different The Bazaar at the Waldorf Astoria is a delightful dining destination that combines exquisite food, impeccable service, and a stunning setting. Whether you're visiting for a romantic dinner or a celebration with friends, this restaurant promises a memorable experience that captures the essence of fine dining in D.C. Highly recommended!“

“I visited Miss Toya"s Creole on Saturday September 30th. I took my oldest son for his birthday ?. My waitress Hope gave excellent customer service. The food was awesome as always. The manager Imai came to our table numerous times to make sure everything was good. Please go to Miss Toyas in Silver Springs Md the food and customer service will not disappoint you.“