Café Salamanca

The food is delicious no matter what you order. The service is amazing, they are kind, humorous and very knowledgeable about the food. It really makes the dining experience that much better. The over all ambiance is great. I truly recommend giving this place a try, you will not regret it!

On a very rainy night Comfortable seat at the bar. Having one of the 3 special on their menu Very professional old school set up great staff of 2 that are always very friendly Mussel fresh and plenty the sole delicious with either a side of rice or broccoli I had the rice. And flan was the dessert It's a go to for a single person dinner romantic one with someone special or larger party's the place is very inviting once inside. Don't let the old outside fool you.

Absolutely the best paella marinera I have had in years. Service outstanding. Prices more than reasonable. Portions will stuff you. Make a reservation as they have a big following.

Ate here today for dinner after work on a cold, windy and rainy Tuesday night. This was my first time eating Spanish food. I had tried, chose, ordered and ate by starting off the bread with butter first, soup of the day next as an appetizer, then have paella valenciana as my main course and finally had flan for dessert. It was really good and delicious. The service there was really attentive and friendly that I didn't feel rushed about what to choose and pick for the first time. The ambiance of the restaurant was really quiet. I couldn't agree more. Finally, I would definitely eat and come back again next time! :)

Good Spain food, better than anything we have locally. Took the trip to Jackson Heights on a Thursday for dinner with a few guys. Service is incredible+++, restaurant is nice inside. Prices are good. Parking stinks, but I think there is a public lot right down Northern Blvd. Started with: - tapas of filet mignon bites (more like two thin slices of filet in a delicious mushroom/pepper sauce) - garlic shrimp - very good - soups, incredible garlic soup and tripe soup - baked clams Salamanca were ok, not crisped, but clams were cooked nicely - snails of the day were nice - chorizo Salamanca was very good, sliced thin and easy to share - octopus was the hands-down winner, melt-in-your-mouth served on a wooden plate - Paella Valenciana, was ok, too soupy, but flavor profile was on - bone in chicken was delicious - stuffed lobster was really good - they are little guys, about a pound - sides of potatoes were maybe once crisped, but maybe kept under a dome as they were a little soggy at the table Guys said the house made sangria was good. For desert, the tres leches was the winner, the the cake was ok, the flan not so much - too much caramelization perhaps?

Absolutely terrible! I went here last night with my parents. I had the steamed octopus and grilled salmon. It was tasteless, bland, and a tad too salty. My dad had sole and my mom a paella. They were also disappointed in their selections. I would not go back if someone offered me a free meal there.

Wonderful lunch out for only $38. The fish was divine; it was stuffed a secret stuffing, with rice and cole slaw to share with your partner.The house salad with good, too, with olives and tomatoes. The restaurant is authentic, with nice waiter service and Spanish music! Try it. You won't be disappointed.

Arrived here as a group of three on a Wednesday evening without any reservation. Thankfully no wait to get a table inside (no outdoor seating to speak of) as we settled in towards the back. Lots of things to try here between the three of us: Trio of Mussels (free) - served with a tangy tomato sauce that got the appetite going Warm Bread/Butter (free) - a large basket of soft bread that was hard to not dip into the various other dishes Datiles con Bacon ($8) - basic bacon wrapped dates, good flavor and not overcooked Pulpo ($16) - a large portion of grilled octopus in a vinaigrette, a bit chewy but good flavor overall Cod Croquettes ($10) - about ten pieces of lightly fried potato/cod mashups. Only a hint of cod in the dish and could have used a better texture balance Boquerones ($8) - a small plate of skinned anchovies swimming in garlic and vinegar. Good flavor here and the saltiness is offset by the garlic Sangria ($27) - large pitcher filled with fruit and red wine; more sweet than strong I believe I missed some items we ordered from the above but those stood out the most. Service here is helpful as they took time explaining dishes and remade a couple that fell flat. Definitely a spot for a gathering if in the neighborhood.

A hidden gem in Queens that is family owned and operated. Everything is delicious and amazing. Definitely recommend weekday dinner special

We had a lunch for our staff here recently. The place is clean and spacious. The staff was very nice. I ordered the skirt steak medium and got a sirloin well done. I plugged through. Was asked about options for sides. I chose potatoes. They were potato chips. That was a plot twist. The calamari was good. The sauce was better. People in the group liked the paella and everyone who had lobster seemed happy. Coffee tasted like coffee. I was conflicted about how many stars as I think the very large group affected the kitchen some and the wait staff was great as were the appetizers. I erred on the higher side because of those factors. People in the group had snails and we're happy with that choice.

The atmosphere was great but the food was not at all good. attended a private party and didnt eat til 10 pm

The flavors are light and play on your tongue leading to the shameful overstuffing of your stomach. But who goes to a restaurant looking to leave half-full? Not I! Take heed to my words: do not eat all of the warm, crusty delicious bread that they give you, free of charge. Leave space for your entree and save the bread for dipping in the sauces that come with your food. Main entrees include a simple green salad and we each received a complimentary, small order of mussels in the most wonderful, savory salsa. Lastly, order the Sangria pitcher-- I prefer the red. Service is stellar from the minute one enters to the final exit with mints to freshen your breath and an umbrella holder. Try the signature lobster, or fish, or the paella which comes in a cute personal pot (but is enough for two to share). You cannot leave without having their Spaniard coffee or dessert! It is an absolute must ending to a great meal. Give it a shot if you're in the area!

Very friendly staff and superbly delicious food Thanks for your service and staying open!

We started With soups, garlic, seafood and caldo verde and they were all tasty and comforting then we proceeded with the paella marinera which was very good and plentiful but for me, hands down, was the octopus. I've been to many places offering this dish, including other Galician places, this was the best I've tasted. Soft and tasty over a base of EVOO and sprinkled with Spanish paprika, it was a culinary experience. The interior could use some improvement but the excellent service and food more than make up. Good food.

The food here is great and very authentic. I had the paella Valencia and the portion was HUGE. The paella had good flavor and I brought home leftovers. Why they didn't get 5-stars: The decor is a little dated and blah. They're going for a Spanish feel but it could be updated. Their paella had great flavor but it was a little wet and the same dish as the arroz con pollo, which makes it feel in-authentic. The day we went they had someone playing guitar for the crowd, but he would stand at the table and made eating a bit uncomfortable.

Went there last night. They wanted to give me middle but table but I wanted a table on the side, the place wasn't even half full. Made us wait for another table. Ok , no biggie. Ordered cod fish croquettes for an appetizer, waited more than half hour, had to remind waiter. They came plain, no lemon, no sauce. They were pure potato and a hint of fish flavor. My paella valenciana was so salty at first bite, couldn't eat it at all. I told the waiter, but I didn't want to wait again and my mom and husband were already eating. Caldo gallego was watery, not authentic. Croquettes seemed frozen though waiter said they'd been made fresh. Moms fillet of sole seemed like the last piece of the lot, plain, now this was under seasoned. No one came to ask how was the food, did we need more drinks , nada. No discount on my paella either. Flan was watery , a cheap version of flan. I'm Cuban and I know Spanish food. This place was subpar. A lot of non Sp folk eating . They don't know what they are eating is a garbage reproduction of true delicious Spanish cuisine. Will not be back!!!

Cafe Salamanca is an old school style dining establishment. If you are expecting hipster or trendy this place isn't for you. If you are looking for attentive service, a quiet environment, and delicious food look no further. We haven't been here in years and decided to go for an early dinner with my family and my in-laws last night. I made a reservation for us for 5:30 pm on a Saturday night. When we arrived we were seated immediately and the restaurant was expectedly pretty quiet. Our server was friendly asking if we had any questions about the menu and explaining certain dishes that didn't have as much of an explanation. We ordered a bunch of apps for the table and mulled over the menu to decide what to have for dinner. Our apps consisted of: -a pitcher of sangria -cod croquettes -patatas bravas -calamari -mussels vinaigrette (complimentary) -shrimp al ajillo For my meal i ordered the Garlic Soup and the appetizer portion of Baked Clams Salamanca. Everything was top notch! The standout items were cod croquettes and the calamari. The cod croquettes were like little potato and cod clouds of deliciousness. The calamari, although it looked like it needed to be fried for another minute, was perfect. It was the tenderest calamari live ever eaten, it was like butter. Everything else was so good and seasoned well. The sangria gets a shout out too! The staff was friendly and attentive.

From the service to the food everything was excellent. The waiters were so gracious. We will be coming back again. Order the seafood Paella, machengo salad, seafood soup and lemon chicken excellent

I took my mother to Cafe Salamanca for her 77th birthday along with a few other family members and it was so wonderful! The food was absolutely delicious! Starting with the appetizers of fried calamari and stuffed clams...so tender and yummy! Surf and Turf, filet mignon was perfect, lobster tails were scrumptious and the shrimp were divine! Desert, tres leches...my favorite, heavenly! Mom had the flan and she loved it!! David was our waiter and he was very attentive and had the most delightful personality! He was very patient with having to explain things to mom several times and was very lighthearted. My family and I had no complaints at all!! My son wants to come back. I know I will be back for sure!!

Great food! Authentic Spanish food! Very nice background music if you're Latin and know older singer from Spain! Very Covid compliant and nice service! Will definitely go back!!!

I have been here twice now. Once was for my brother's birthday a few years ago and more recently was this past Friday for dinner with my uncle and brother. To be honest, I think the food was a bit better a few years ago when the table shared the paella Valencia and the paella marinara. This time around, I ordered the dinner. It is a pretty good deal for the paella and comes with a soup or salad, and a dessert and coffee. I felt like the sauce was too watery and I did not get as much shrimp or chicken as I had remembered. I ordered the chicken soup for my appetizer, which was very flavorful. The flan for dessert was delicious as well as their coffee. My uncle and brother both got the garlic chicken and they both loved it. I would give them another chance, I think maybe the shared paella in the pit is probably a better bet than the personal one.

Truly shocked by the positive reviews. 2 stars for friendly service, but the food here is really not authentic Spanish at all. Having had the real deal in Spain, this place is far from it. Nothing tasted like it should. The shrimp in garlic sauce I have never had such a weird sauce, over cooked, the pulpas had a weird sweet taste and needed salt, the patatas bravas were straight up terrible - soft potatoes with a weird hot sauce, it tasted like homefries with hot sauce. We ordered two kinds of paellas and they were decent. But still not authentic. We also ordered a surf n turf which was again decent, but the steak was one of the rarest I have ever seen and we ordered it medium rare. The one thing I actually liked here was the red wine sangria but that's pretty hard to mess up. We have been to great tapas places and Spanish places in the city, this is not one of them and we will not be back. Such a shame because restaurant is really nice and the staff were great.

Very nice atmosphere, good service, authentic Spanish tapas, and the guitarist/vocalist added much Spanish dinning ambience to our meal! We just back from a vacation to Spain, missed Spanish foods. Tried several spanish restaurants and tapas bars in NYC, found this restaurant the most authentic one from the setting to the food to the performance. The four of us ordered eight tapas dishes and some drinks. Their garlic soup is to die for, octopus is tasty and soft, callos is tender, the olive oil cooking the shrimps are super flavorful. We are very happy and satisfied with our meal. Will come back soon and highly recommend for people looking for authentic Spanish dinning experience.

Just bought paella for two people, and ended up throwing 60% to the trash.... You should call this oily rice with 5 shrimps, half chicken breast and a lot of oyster shells!! Never coming back Nonetheless, the service is really good

This place is a gem! I was introduced to this location by my cousin. We had a ladies night out and decided in advance to visit Salamanca. Their lobsters orderEd by my cousin and friend were huge and juicy!!! My friend got hers stuffed and boy was it delicious. I ordered the seafood platter which was amazing! Lobster tail was amazing and the crab and mussels and scallops. I honestly didn't know what to expect. The sangria was amazing, the appetizers were delicious! I honestly will be ordering the seafood paella next time so I can try something different. Oh and my sangria glass tipped into my plate making a wine sauce which made my dish even better

I hosted two parties at Cafe Salamanca. It's a very nice environment, the staff were on top of things and helpful. Our only issue was that the seafood was over cooked, regardless of what style it was served, except for the appetizer- the shrimp were absolutely perfect. I've gone back since and asked for that appetizer as an entree. They served it with a cover over the dish to keep it hot, but it continued to cook the seafood and made the shrimp tough and dry. The rest were happy with their dishes- especially the steak. By far they serve the BEST SANGRIA!

Been coming here all my life for some birthdays with my family. The servers know us and always treat us kindly. The food is pretty good but my favorite is the lobster, we all always get the lobster. They also have a great baked clams, stuffed mushrooms, and chorizo.

Very nice place with delicious traditional Spanish food and good service. Will definitely come back.

Family favorite restaurant for years. Having been to Spain many times, the food here is pretty authentic and delicious. The sangria is so good and very very close to how it is made in Spain (Barcelona). Tapas are delicious as is the paella and rice dishes. Other family members enjoy the lobster and lamb chops. Great and friendly service consistently. We always return.

Love their service. They start you off with warm bread and tiny muscles. I always order their sopa gallego and the broiled lobster. Never disappoints. Been coming here for years now.

Honestly, I can't think of anything negative to say about this restaurant. My family and I have been ordering paella & mariscadas from this place for many years. They have never disappointed us with the quality of the food nor the service. This restaurant is definitely worth giving a try, if you want old school Spanish food in Jackson Heights

I've came here as a kid but I don't remember the food much. I came tonight with a friend and had the Seafood Paella. It wasn't memorable,didn't taste saffron and the seafood was over cooked. I've had much better Paella in other places. Good service but I won't be back.

Cafe Salamanca is back with outside seating! Great experience, seats are spacious. Feels like your in a private villa!

It was amazing experience. For the special I got Spanish soup, whole lobster and dessert with coffee for 25$. Service is awesome. I definitely come again. Nothing can beat their prices and service.

This is a secret gem in Jackson Heights. The lobster dinner special is a great deal: Yummy baked stuffed lobster, soup, side dish and dessert. The lobster paella is cooked to peefexrion and full of flavorfull seafood and meat. The sides are average. If get two dinner specials, you can get a pitch for sangria for $20, pretty decent.

The lobster was excellent! Soup was tepid! Not flavorful! Caldo gallego was disappointing! Excellent service!

Very charming and old school, with great delicious Spanish tapas and very friendly, professional waiters. I also appreciate that the enviornment - though a tad bright for my taste - has no loud music and no TV screens. In our neighborhood, that is rare and special indeed. If someone from the restaurant is reading this, allow me to offer an idea: dim the lights and add candles. It will become a GREAT date place!!

They are racist here !!! Cafe Ole in Astoria has better food And better decor and better service. We had to beg the waiter to come over to us as he only had 4-5 tables and he waited hand and foot to these people ....

I could write a whole paper as to why I was so disappointed with this place but I'll keep it brief. I should have known from the start this place wasn't gonna be any good. First, I asked the waiter his recommendations and he no lie said to me, "It depends on what you like." 2nd, when I asked about the Shrimp, he said 6 pieces come with it. Nothing about how it's cooked, the sauce it's made with. 3rd, we had the calamari. I've had better calamari at local pizzas. No flavor whatsoever. I had to drench it in lemon for it to even be eatable. 4th, when we received the food, never did the waiter come back to ask how everything was, meanwhile I wanted to the "French fries" for rice, wanted water, another soda, and some lemon. The surf and turf had no flavor. I felt like there was no chef and the cook, was just cooking the food and forgetting to add seasoning or even the basics salt & pepper. Finally I had to stand up and go look for him but was helped by another waiter thankfully. For the price and service, skip this spot. When you can have better food and service in Red Lobster there's a problem.

Paella is heaven on earth! Great food, music and service! Wine is great. Really enjoyed my dinner.

Poor service all around. The food wasn't great and it took forever. Made a reservation and still had to wait an extended period of time. Completely disappointed with this place as my father really liked it the first time he came. We decided to bring him for Father's day and now wished we hadn't.

Great seafood and sangria! Excellent for after work dinner. Cost efficient menu for the win!

Cafe Salamanca is a nice little restaurant that feels like it's tucked away from the rest of the world. It's perfect for a weekday evening with friends. Also, kind of because there were no other patrons there at 7PM on a Wednesday. Worry not, families trickled in some time thereafter. Here is a blow-by-blow of the food we ordered: - Bread rolls. Yes, I know people comment that the complimentary bread was day old toasted hero rolls, but this isn't Fig & Olive. They were fine. - Pulpo a la gallega. The octopus was decent, they didn't go overboard with the olive oil. - Calamari. Again, decent. Could've been more crisp. - Croquettes. I'd say decent, but after you got past the probability that they were pre-frozen. - Vegetable Paella. Pretty good! It takes about 25 minutes to prepare, so load up on the appetizers. The service was excellent -- they really take care of you here.

The drinks were very good. Service was ok. The shrimp in green sauce was bland, no flavor. The paella valenciana was very good and flavorful. Nothing really to be remembered.

Very charming old school restaurant. We stumbled on it simply by asking someone in the neighborhood where is a good place for Spanish food. We were there early so there was no issue with service and timing of the food being served. My son doesn't have a big appetite so we did a light order. Shared the chorizos and the shrimp in green sauce, which were both very well prepared. I thought the serving size could have been a big larger. I used to be a regular at a Spanish restaurant in NYC where the food was great tasting and had large quantities so I am a little spoiled. We both had a tequila based drink that was very well prepared and not overly expensive as some restaurants can be. Considering we were not prepared to pick a restaurant it was an excellent find.

Awesome hidden gem in Jackson Heights. Try the sangria, it's awesome. Will definitely be back soon!

Came into the restaurant expecting more of what the higher reviewers were stating. To my dismay, I was completely disappointed. For a restaurant that appears to look fancy, the food was nothing but poor. * Complimentary bread was day old toasted hero rolls. * Salad was plain iceburg lettuce with a slice of tomato. Note: the house dressing that came with it was a combination of ketchup and mayo. * Paella was mediocre at best Save your stomach and your money from a wasted night. The only saving grace was the service, which I am providing the 2 stars for this place. I would not recommend anyone.

Family was visiting from Florida and we picked them up at LGA on a Friday evening. Wanted to get a nearby bite before we made our 1.5 hour trek back to Connecticut and had a hankering for paella and sangria. Never been to Cafe Salamanca before, but was absolutely blown away. The aromas as you walk in the door simply captivate; the food and service prove it up as no mere olfactory fluke. Absolutely wonderful experience. Looking forward to returning!!

3.5 Stars My other half and I was craving for some good Paella but didn't want to head to the city. A friend of him originally from Spain highly recommended this place. Looks very small from the outside, but inside is pretty spacious, friendly staff with a romantic feeling decor. Mostly local residents who live around the neighborhood goes there. Wasn't a big fan of the Synthetic Roses in every table. Serenade music so it's more of a romantic place to go if you're on a date. The waiter*** immediately attended us and brought us glasses of water and Distributed a plate of 3 mussles filled in with Ceviche flavor for every person. Then gave us couple of minutes to decide what to have. I ordered the Paella Valenciana ($ 16.95). And he warned us that it will take about 30 minutes to cook this special dish. So before hand, we ordered Stuffed mushrooms for appetizer ($ 7.00 ??*). And he ordered the same one with the Lobster combination ($ 19.95). Didn't order the Sangria this time since it was on a Sunday night and didn't want to drink. Maybe will try that next time. Stuffed mushrooms came - 9 pieces of Hot mushrooms, it was not great since it was just breaded "stuffing" on top of the mushrooms and it wasn't marinated. So for me, that tasted it just O.K. Minutes later the waiter pushed a cart with 2 Metal pots and plates delivered to the table. Poured the rice and the seafood around the plate and served us the first portion**..... I only had 2 rounds and I was full!. Results = The Food is contains high temperature, be aware of burning your Tongue. The Mussles, shrimps, were not bad, Chorizos were not fully cooked (was a bit chewy), Chicken was pretty good. Rice was a bit hard and too much sauce, also a tad salty instead of more "flavor" in it. At the end we skipped the Dessert, too much Food!!!!. ____________________________________________________ * = Can't keep up with prices nowadays, maybe I should write it down next time. ** = The portions looked average, but multiply by 3 that means it's a lot of FOOD!. *** = Waiters are Actual Spaniards, they have the Castellano ACCENT!

I would definitely come out from the city to check out the Spanish food at Cafe Salamanca. 79th Street and Northern Blvd is about 10 minutes from the Queens side of the 59th Street Bridge. Parking is abundant and reasonably safe on the residential side streets. The first thing that will strike you about Cafe Salamanca are the prices. Paella is just $21.95 and has more seafood than a Bucket of Boat Trash from Bubbba Gumps. The whole seafood menu is generous and competently prepared with Galician flair. Owner Julio Villar is the genuine article. He's the guy placing that second plate of complementary mussels on your table.