What a great tapas place! Was not expecting to find a very authentic Spanish spot on Cary. Great selection of meats, cheeses, and booze. Great service as well. Reminds me of being in Madrid! Great interior as well.
Matt Hardy
Amazing dinner, perfect for date night. You must try the Jamón Ibérico, it was delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicola Blaha
I'm am so happy that Importante opened in Richmond! It's just what Richmond and Carytown needed. The owners are from Bilbao and are absolutely delightful.The servers were very attentive to my dietary restrictions and gave me wonderful options.The atmosphere is cozy and warm.I will definitely be frequenting Importante in the future!Dietary restrictions: Were very receptive to my dietary needs even though my restrictions are not common for this type of cuisine
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas
Micah H
This place is amazing! Jamón Ibérico de Bellota can be hard to find in America, so we were ecstatic when we found Importante & saw that they offered it! We ordered the regular & Pata Negra versions of their Jamón Ibérico de Bellota & both were so, so good! Great atmosphere and table service as well. We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jamon Iberico Pata Negra
Steven L.
OmG a must try. They have options for small portions. Simple (is better) with great flavor. We will be back.
Marie E.
What a great addition to Cary Street! The wine and food were both great! My partner had the sangria and said it was also excellent. The cheeses and Ibérico cold cuts plate was a great starter for two people. Definitely plan on coming back for the wine tastings they have during the week!
Shreyas Vasanth
Absolutely loved our Valentine's Day dinner at Importante! The paella was divine, and the Importante Salad was a delightful surprise. The ambiance was perfect for a romantic evening, and the service was top-notch. The wine selection complemented the meal perfectly. Can't wait to return for another memorable dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dan Heng
First of all, I am french. Being a neighbor of Spain, i know what true tapas are and it is exactly what we have in Importante.I went there with friends and we ordered a couple of different dishes and wines. Portions are not huge but they are meant to be shared. It’s why it’s fun. We had spanish tortilla (potatoes omelette), pintxos Pan tumaca (bread with tomato and olive oil), Serrano ham and a plate of spanish cheeses (Oh boy! Their blue cheese Cabrales has some character! Delicious but not recommended for sensitive palates!)One of my favorites are the patatas bravas (fried potatoes). Crispy outside, soft inside with the aioli sauce (garlic mayo) or their spicy home made sauce, it is simple but it makes the job!And here comes the hidden gem of the menu! The Jamon Iberico Pata Negra! Maybe some people didn’t take it because of the high price ($35) but the truth is that we have here a Product of Exception! This ham is coming from spanish black pigs raised with chestnut or acorn. Ham is cured for up to 48 months. The process gives a rich nutty flavor with lingering taste in your mouth! And the pata negra means it is the black label, so the highest grade of the Jamon Iberico (spanish ham). It is basically what caviar is to fish eggs or A5 Waggyu is to beef… It is « la crème de la crème ». Export from Spain is limited and they are hard to find.My very humble advice. Go with your family and friends! The dinner will go beyond food. With an adequate red spanish wine, you will get « Wow!! » or «Oh my God! » or « it stays in my mouth!! ». Then it becomes an experience, a memory you are sharing. For me, it will worth every penny
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brett Howells
First time at this place, for Valentine’s Day. So take what I say with a little pinch of salt, as I am sure the staff were stressed on their first Valentine’s Day and there was probably lots going on behind closed doors.Firstly, the hostess told us we had a reservation for an hour earlier, and that she called us. Neither of which was true. But they fit us into one of the three or four open tables, luckily.Our server was probably the most interesting person I’ve ever had serve me in Richmond. We learned he was an alcoholic, loves using the ‘f’ word in casual conversation, and that half the staff didn’t speak any English so he is often accused of making mistakes.Then onto the food, every course was cold, and tasted and looked like it had been under the not very warm heating lamps for hours. Dry. Wilted salad. Comically wilted. The main dish was paella but it was cold, which I asked to be warmed up, but it came back basically the same. Even slightly warmed, I have microwaved better rice dishes than this.I don’t leave reviews for restaurants, but this was honestly the most bizarre meal I’ve had in Richmond. I felt like I was on a TV show, expecting Gordon Ramsey to walk in and slap the chef.
The service was outstanding. The wine selection was nice. The food was not bad. The rating is based on the food for me. The service was lovely. The place is really nice.Place has potential. I’ll likely try again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
YVETTE DANIEL
Enjoyed a most lovely wine and tapas evening with friends! Place is new and going through the requisite new restaurant growing pains but so worth it! Iñaki the owner was warm, welcoming and attentive and went out of his way to find us a spot when they were slammed full and we had no reservations…I absolutely enjoyed the Shrimp Ajillo and the Pintxos Sobrasada… delicious! Luis is an amazing bartender and very knowledgeable about wine he suggested Obrigo and it was delicious! Staff was attentive, friendly and professional. Added bonus was the delightful surprise to run into the charming Chef Daniel of Land of Saffron. We had a great time. Just wish they had some good Spanish music! Definitely My new fave spot!Chef Yvette
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zack Walton
The service was really nice but slow. The food was largely very good. Hot food was not actually hot and the salad and charcuterie were forgettable. A lot more work needs to be done.
What a great tapas place! Was not expecting to find a very authentic Spanish spot on Cary. Great selection of meats, cheeses, and booze. Great service as well. Reminds me of being in Madrid! Great interior as well.
Amazing dinner, perfect for date night. You must try the Jamón Ibérico, it was delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'm am so happy that Importante opened in Richmond! It's just what Richmond and Carytown needed. The owners are from Bilbao and are absolutely delightful.The servers were very attentive to my dietary restrictions and gave me wonderful options.The atmosphere is cozy and warm.I will definitely be frequenting Importante in the future!Dietary restrictions: Were very receptive to my dietary needs even though my restrictions are not common for this type of cuisine
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas
This place is amazing! Jamón Ibérico de Bellota can be hard to find in America, so we were ecstatic when we found Importante & saw that they offered it! We ordered the regular & Pata Negra versions of their Jamón Ibérico de Bellota & both were so, so good! Great atmosphere and table service as well. We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jamon Iberico Pata Negra
OmG a must try. They have options for small portions. Simple (is better) with great flavor. We will be back.
What a great addition to Cary Street! The wine and food were both great! My partner had the sangria and said it was also excellent. The cheeses and Ibérico cold cuts plate was a great starter for two people. Definitely plan on coming back for the wine tastings they have during the week!
Absolutely loved our Valentine's Day dinner at Importante! The paella was divine, and the Importante Salad was a delightful surprise. The ambiance was perfect for a romantic evening, and the service was top-notch. The wine selection complemented the meal perfectly. Can't wait to return for another memorable dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First of all, I am french. Being a neighbor of Spain, i know what true tapas are and it is exactly what we have in Importante.I went there with friends and we ordered a couple of different dishes and wines. Portions are not huge but they are meant to be shared. It’s why it’s fun. We had spanish tortilla (potatoes omelette), pintxos Pan tumaca (bread with tomato and olive oil), Serrano ham and a plate of spanish cheeses (Oh boy! Their blue cheese Cabrales has some character! Delicious but not recommended for sensitive palates!)One of my favorites are the patatas bravas (fried potatoes). Crispy outside, soft inside with the aioli sauce (garlic mayo) or their spicy home made sauce, it is simple but it makes the job!And here comes the hidden gem of the menu! The Jamon Iberico Pata Negra! Maybe some people didn’t take it because of the high price ($35) but the truth is that we have here a Product of Exception! This ham is coming from spanish black pigs raised with chestnut or acorn. Ham is cured for up to 48 months. The process gives a rich nutty flavor with lingering taste in your mouth! And the pata negra means it is the black label, so the highest grade of the Jamon Iberico (spanish ham). It is basically what caviar is to fish eggs or A5 Waggyu is to beef… It is « la crème de la crème ». Export from Spain is limited and they are hard to find.My very humble advice. Go with your family and friends! The dinner will go beyond food. With an adequate red spanish wine, you will get « Wow!! » or «Oh my God! » or « it stays in my mouth!! ». Then it becomes an experience, a memory you are sharing. For me, it will worth every penny
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time at this place, for Valentine’s Day. So take what I say with a little pinch of salt, as I am sure the staff were stressed on their first Valentine’s Day and there was probably lots going on behind closed doors.Firstly, the hostess told us we had a reservation for an hour earlier, and that she called us. Neither of which was true. But they fit us into one of the three or four open tables, luckily.Our server was probably the most interesting person I’ve ever had serve me in Richmond. We learned he was an alcoholic, loves using the ‘f’ word in casual conversation, and that half the staff didn’t speak any English so he is often accused of making mistakes.Then onto the food, every course was cold, and tasted and looked like it had been under the not very warm heating lamps for hours. Dry. Wilted salad. Comically wilted. The main dish was paella but it was cold, which I asked to be warmed up, but it came back basically the same. Even slightly warmed, I have microwaved better rice dishes than this.I don’t leave reviews for restaurants, but this was honestly the most bizarre meal I’ve had in Richmond. I felt like I was on a TV show, expecting Gordon Ramsey to walk in and slap the chef.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Delighted with the serviceRecommended
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The service was outstanding. The wine selection was nice. The food was not bad. The rating is based on the food for me. The service was lovely. The place is really nice.Place has potential. I’ll likely try again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Enjoyed a most lovely wine and tapas evening with friends! Place is new and going through the requisite new restaurant growing pains but so worth it! Iñaki the owner was warm, welcoming and attentive and went out of his way to find us a spot when they were slammed full and we had no reservations…I absolutely enjoyed the Shrimp Ajillo and the Pintxos Sobrasada… delicious! Luis is an amazing bartender and very knowledgeable about wine he suggested Obrigo and it was delicious! Staff was attentive, friendly and professional. Added bonus was the delightful surprise to run into the charming Chef Daniel of Land of Saffron. We had a great time. Just wish they had some good Spanish music! Definitely My new fave spot!Chef Yvette
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service was really nice but slow. The food was largely very good. Hot food was not actually hot and the salad and charcuterie were forgettable. A lot more work needs to be done.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
so amazing beautiful wine great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great selection of wine !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5