Rambla, my new favoite restaurant

[JazzyB]

I love everything about this place. Nice space, great music and oh yeah, OUTSTANDING food. I can't remember enjoying a meal this much in a long time. My husband, son and I went for dinner Sat. It was so good we went again for an early dinner Sunday after leaving the dome. They open 3:30 after the game. Regular hours are 5:30-10/10:30 , till midnight on Sat. (maybe Fri. too, can't remember). Here goes:

First dinner:

Patatas Bravas: Unlike any version I've ever had. Smoky, a bit of spice, crispy outside, inside like velvet. No tomato sauce. So good, we ordered another.

Croquetas: Andouille, mushroom, shrimp-fennel. OMG, what flavor! We all got a little taste of each and decided next time, we're not sharing.

Roast duck cassoulet: a flavorful pass around dish.

Rambla shrimp: their take on BBQ shrimp. Peeled and different in a very good way.

Serrano ham, fig, Cabrales flatbread: great juxaposition of flavors. Crisy flatbread, not unlike an artisan pizza but better.

Paella Andalucia: mixed seafoods, chicken, chorizo. Crispy top and bottom. Very nice. My son thought it was better than in Spain. This was not a tapas but from the Grand Plats.

Red Sangria was good and gratis since they don't have their liquor licence yet. They hope to have it Monday.

Total cost, an unbelievable $100.+ tip. I'd pay double for food this good. No, I haven't any affiliation with anyone involed with Rambla. BTW, they don't validate.The valet is $15.

Post game early dinner, there were only 2 of us. We decided to sample different tapas from the night before but could not bypass:

patatas bravas
croquettas (2)

asparagus with serrano ham vinagrette: just as it says, 6 perfectly cooked spears, light and refreshing

Spinach, tomato, chevre flatbrad

potato-asparagus-sweet onion tortilla : this was more of a torta, a wedge of layered of potatoes, onion and aspargus. This proved to be to much potatoes combined with the bravas.

Again, gratis Sangria. Total $50 +tip. You've got to be kidding!

[robrob]

I went to Rambla last night with a few friends and thought it was fantastic. We had many of the tapas plates and also the paella and steak. Everything was so tasty. Our waitress was extremely pleasant and helpful. The space is very chic too. I can't wait to go back again!

[gimes]

I had been really excited to try Rambla since early this year, when I first found out it was opening. I finally went last night after reading all that everyone had written about it. I must say that I was really disappointed. I did not find the food to be that good or that good of a value.

We had the dates, they were okay, I have had better. Three dates on a plate is not a tapa.
The Charcuterie plate was really nice. I liked everything on it even though a lot of it was not house made. We also had the lentils with with a yard egg on top. The lentils were well cooked but for 9 dollars there could of been a lot more to the dish that lentils and an egg. And from a texture standpoint, there was no variation besides the egg. The octopus we ordered was amazingly cooked but it was slathered in so much oil, that it tasted greasy.

I guess that the best thing about Rambla was their wine list. Although they have very few Spanish wines for a Spanish/tapas place, they did have some dessert wine from Malaga. These wines are not exported often, so when you find them, drink them.

I feel that there were KEY Spanish foods missing from the menu, white anchovies and blood sausage being the two I really would have liked to see.

I wouldn't pay $120 again, not for lack luster food.

[edible complex]

Gimes, how do you compare Rambla to Vega, Laurentino's, Cafe Granada, Baru, Riomar for their tapas both in food and value?

[HalfShell]

I think the prices are probably inflated because it's a hotel restaurant. I always find restaurants in hotels to be slightly pricier than they would otherwise be.

Oh, and another poster recently said she thought the portions were too large.

[N.O.Food]

Check out my earlier post. We ate a bunch of food for 72 bucks. We usually don't get out of a decent dinner under 100.

[JazzyB]

Tapas range from $6-$12. How much cheaper do you expect? IMO you are getting a value for food of this caliber.

[BayouTeche]

I agree. We had a great meal, a bottle of wine, plus two additional glasses of wine, and dessert, for just over $100.

[gimes]

I don't feel like the food was of any "caliber." I am not sure that potatoes with paprika and garlic mayo, or lentils with a couple of pieces of bacon, really qualifies as an incredible value. I did think that the charcuterie plate was wonderful, and a great deal for a bunch of house made meats.

As far as comparing, I like rio mar more because I feel like the food hasn't been changed as much to suit an american palette. Some of their highest food cost items are incredibly cheap, like the morcilla and the white anchovies. In addition, their flan is almost as good as my grandma's.

I haven't been to Baru, too many negatives on Chowhound.

I liked Vega a lot. The food was pretty good with just a couple of exceptions. I really don't remember how much we paid for dinner there but it didn't seem unreasonable, from what I remember.

[JazzyB]

We went to Rambla for a 3rd time and I must say, it was not a charm. We had many of the same tapas from our intial visits plus a couple new ones. Nothing shone and nearly all was overcooked. We've experienced their best so we'll try again (after some time to iron out the kinks).

[N.O.Food]

Went last night and had the dates, calamari, croquettas, ham/fig flatbread, octopus, patatas bravas, duck pate (special), and flan. All were really good, but the dates are something special. Wife thought that some of the dishes were a little greasy, but I didn't notice. Food plus one large pelligrino was 72.00 including tax, pre-tip. It's a good space, but I have a feeling it could get pretty loud in there. Service was fine, if a little too attentive. Will definitely go back. Park on the street to avoid the hotel-rate parking.

[cereed007]

Jazzy-
just wanted to say thanks for the req. we went today for lunch and it was great. We got the croquettes, empandas, ceviche and the fig flatbread. Everything was great. Cant wait to go back for dinner. ;)

[cereed007]

Does anyone know if they are open for lunch? everyday?

[JazzyB]

They are. Don't think it's the same menu since there's no burger on the dinner menu.

[uptownlibrarian]

The burger wasn't printed on the menu, it was on the specials board.

[cereed007]

is there a different menu for lunch and dinner? or is the same just minus the specials?

[zin1953]

As I'll be staying, as usual, in the International House, I'll definitely check it out. Sounds a lot like César here in Berkeley and Oakland, but -- just as the Oakland location has a bigger menu than Berkeley, Rambla seems to have an even larger selection . . .

http://www.barcesar.com/

[flojindamesa]

Menu is similar to that at Cesar but the atmosphere is definitely darker and more club-esque.

[Lyonola]

Had lunch there recently. Hate to get overly excited about a new restaurant, but certainly the proprietors are no rookies.
The stuffed dates are one of the most pleasurable things I have eaten this year. The perfect bite: salty, sweet, chewy, creamy, and crisp bacon.
Patatas bravas really delicious, but the frites with the burger (which deserves its own post) were phenomenal. Light and crisp, one could eat many of these.
Croquettas and empanadas also very pleasing.
Would love to try more, only aggravating thing was I didnt get the free Sangria.

[JazzyB]

Forgot to to mention, we also tried the Moules Provencal: fresh mussels in an herb tomato both. A nice size tapas portion with bread for sopping.Had the empanadas as well, braised greens and pulled brisket. really tasty.

[uptownlibrarian]

I had lunch here today and tried the croquettas, the dates wtih serrano, valdeon and almonds, and the Rambla burger (ground beef with cumin, paprika, etc.). All was good, the dates were awesome. My friend and I split everything and it came to $29 with a soft drink. The room is pretty. Niggling complaints: the menu design is overly precious, the server was very, very informal, and the hamburger bun clearly was out of a bag and wasn't toasted, so it got soggy and fell apart. I'm looking forward to trying the rest of the menu!

[Absinthe Minded]

Sounds like a potential alternative to our favorite restaurant, Rio Mar.

Location, please!!

Never mind, I found it!!

[BayouTeche]

It's in the International House Hotel on Camp St., 2 blocks from Canal.

[edible complex]

504-587-7720
they do not take reservations though.

[BayouTeche]

That's great news Jazzy. I think I may change dinner plans Friday night and hit Rambla instead.