Costa Brava Bistro

Spanish restaurant · Bellaire

Costa Brava Bistro

Spanish restaurant · Bellaire

2

5107 Bellaire Blvd Ste. 100, Bellaire, TX 77401

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Highlights

Nestled in Bellaire, this intimate bistro serves a delightful fusion of Spanish and French cuisine, featuring standout paella and expertly crafted tapas.  

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5107 Bellaire Blvd Ste. 100, Bellaire, TX 77401 Get directions

costabravabistro.com

$100+ · Menu

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5107 Bellaire Blvd Ste. 100, Bellaire, TX 77401 Get directions

+1 713 839 1005
costabravabistro.com
CostaBravaBistro
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@costabravahou

$100+ · Menu

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Jul 11, 2025

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@eater

"Chef Angeles Dueñas’s love letter to Houston via Madrid — this Spanish and French fine dining restaurant offers thoughtfully prepared tapas, soulful entrees, and one of the better value-tasting menus in town. The paella, in particular, is a standout and Dueñas’signature dish, served with a hearty combination of jumbo shrimp, calamari, mussels, chicken, pork, and beef nestled in the crispy tomato saffron rice." - Sean Hekmat

10 Houston Restaurants Doing Paella Justice
View Postcard for Costa Brava Bistro
@eater

"Spanish fare with French influences takes center stage at this down-home Bellaire neighborhood bistro. Meats and seafood highlight the tapas offerings, which included its jamon Iberico tomato pan cristal dish — a Spanish-imported ham spread across a Catalan glass bread — and the three-citrus Scottish salmon belly ceviche. Mains such as the Texas quail with wild mushrooms also showcase a Spanish flair with French technique and Costa Brava’s meshing of local ingredients, which keeps diners coming back for more." - Sean Hekmat

9 Houston Restaurants With the Tastiest Tapas
View Postcard for Costa Brava Bistro

renegadegeeK

Google
Invited by friends to join them for a wine tasting evening and the experience lived up to all the expectations. Service is attentive, the presentation is extra delicate and detailed to ensure the wine can stand out during nights progression. Was pleased they helped w vegetarian offset so everyone could enjoy the courses. Very warm, rich atmosphere, for a quiet upscale outing. Glad to find this type of atmosphere, top shelf ingredients and culinary elevation outside the loop, tucked into the neighborhood. Cheers and Ching-ching.

Christopher Ortega

Google
TL/DR - Intimate atmosphere, best service in Houston, Incredible Food Overall, this is a great food experience with incredible quality and flavor. Maybe the best kept secret in this part of Houston. Full high marks on service, atmosphere, presentation, and, of course, flavor. The place is small and intimate, but that’s only makes it a great experience.

Aaron “A-normous”

Google
The food at this restaurant was amazing. spanish/french inspired cuisine was delicious. Nicholas our server was very nice and attentive. can’t wait to come back.

ulfat u

Google
One of the best restaurants I have been to in the USA. Each dish has distinct flavors using quality produce. I must say the paella was a great surprise perfectly put together and you cam taste the saffron in the rice. The dessert that chocolate orange mouse is to die for it is something I would eat forever! Bravo I'll be there again soon!

Ollie

Google
Went to this place for a family dinner. Was a little annoyed to not get the menu for a way too long duration of time. Also despite half of the table being served drinks, 3 of us had to ask for a beverage ourselves, but that’s just me being nitpicky. For appetizers, I shared a salad with my friend, though personally not my favorite, she and everyone else enjoyed it. Entrees, I got the salmon with cauliflower, and though I enjoyed it, it felt a bit overpriced for what I got, I was still pretty hungry afterwards (but that could totally just be a me thing).The salmon itself was small but it was crispy and well season, and whatever cauliflower thing surrounding it was was extremely buttery and delicious. My friend got the paella and personally I believe that was the weakest entree. I’ve had more authentic and flavourful paella for half the price for more people and it just personally wasn’t my favorite. My favorite dish, that I wish I got, was the scallops. I thought I didn’t like scallops because whenever I get them, they’re usually rubbery and gritty and overly salty. These on the other hand were the best scallops I’ve ever had, smooth and not chewy, flavorful but not tasting like sand. It was delicious. The risotto was also creamy and delightful. As for desserts, was midly disappointed. I got the strawberry dessert and it kinda tasted like something I could get at IHOP. Someone else got a cheesecake and I personally disliked it heavily. It was for too savory and taste way too much like jsut a slice of cheese. My friend got the apple tart and it was probably the best out of the three. Sweet and delightful. Overall I just think this place is a bit too pricy for me considering its options, but the rissota was incredible that I’d love to go again to get it myself. The atmosphere was nice and I was told the wine and cocktails were delicious (I don’t drink)

Teo “Wise” Bollettin

Google
I went to the place for dinner with my girlfriend. We're from Italy and went in Spain for some times and having dinner here was literally like being transported to Spain again! Everything was perfect from the service to the food, it has been a nice culinary experience and I'd recommend this place to anyone! Usually I eat very fast, here instead I wanted to enjoy every single bite, slowly. The waitress helped a lot and suggested the best plates and wine. Only thing out of place in my opinion, we waited 30minutes at the bar because our table was not ready, from a place of this level I'd expect being offered something to drink during the wait. Anyway, definitely 5/5. See you again!

Natalie Phi

Google
I've searched for years for a place that serves a classic french rabbit dish and I've finally found it! The flavor was perfect; delicate, tender, and satisfying. Just when I couldn't be more impressed, the espresso cake in a cloud blew me away. The service was above and beyond, waitstaff and manager were accommodating and knowledgeable. I ventured beyond my normal wine, and tried something new and don't regret it at all. This may be my new favorite fancy spot. Dress code - casual/elegant They also offer a prix fix menue at lunch for $45, but the rabbit is my highest reccomendation.

Jim Gossen

Google
One of my favorite restaurants In Houston. Angeles Dueñas and Kitty Bailey owner operators run a very consistent and well run restaurant. Everything on their menu is top notch as well as their service staff. Do yourself a favor and dine at Costa Brava and you will be a regular.

Simon O.

Yelp
First time in Houston, in fact first time in Texas. My 21st state visited. I was lucky enough that the new friend I was visiting with had the good judgement to book a table at Costa Brava. As I was treating her I had hoped it wouldn't turn into "Costa lot!" The lovely couple that run the bistro were so generous in their warmth to this newcomer, one in the front of the house and the other the head chef. The trouble she took to personally check on us before we ordered the Paella without crustations my friend keeps kosher, along with the sumptuous sea bass that I ordered, made the meal one to remember.

Christopher N.

Yelp
Just back from a lovely dinner at Costa Brava. Dark, intimate setting -- surprising, given the strip mall location -- with quick, attentive, knowledgeable service. Our waiter Jesus was on the spot with wine recommendations and dining choices, and I'm hard-pressed to find fault with anything we tried. While billed as a Spanish restaurant, the overall construction leans in on the border with France, so expect rich sauces and dense platings -- though I managed to finish my duck breast entree and half the quail entree my wife had. Starters are not to be missed. The octopus is some of the best I've had anywhere. Desserts are also solid, and I highly recommend the chocolate croissant bread pudding above anything else I tasted. Prices seem wholly reasonable considering the quality. I'd go back any time.

Lauren F.

Yelp
I had an excellent experience at Costa Bta this past Friday night. My husband and I got the pre fixe option, and we loved almost all of it. We started with a palette cleaner, which was some kind of get in an olive mold. It tasted strongly of lemon and olive oil, but I couldn't quite tell what was in it. My husband didn't care for it at all. However--the rest of the meal was fantastic. We had lobster, quail, foie gras, petite filet, and a white chocolate mandarían as part of the 5 course menu, and everything was 10/10. We also got an order of the chocolate croissant bread pudding, and I loved it. We had another "olive" with some kind of palette cleansing gel in it to end the meal, and it was much better than the first. My husband also really enjoyed the cocktails he had. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. I especially loved that the chef came out and talked to us about each course--just above and beyond the typical restaurant experience. I would highly recommend this to my friends in the Houston area.

Kim V.

Yelp
We dined for Valentine's Day and it was a meal full of love! We loved everything about our experience - from the restaurant's ambiance to the staff to the cocktails to the menu to the dishes. Every part of our dinner was superb! It's our new favorite restaurant in Houston (well it's actually in Bellaire). It is a bit pricy (entrees range from $30 - $54) but we are happy to spend a little more for such a wonderful dining experience!

Don C.

Yelp
Beautiful inside. Full bar nice wine list. Service was friendly and perfect. I went for the seared foie gras and it was amazing. I had a Tempranillo to start with the olives and tapenade brought to the table. After that I asked for a bubbly suggestion and was pointed towards the cava which was delicious. I had two. I had seared scallops perfectly cooked. I can't wait to go back to this lovely place!

Jorge G.

Yelp
Coasts Brava was everything I wanted for my 60th birthday!!! Aid read the reviews and wow what a gastronomic celebration of exquisite food!!! Beginning with the Octopus and fingerling potatoes, as good as Hugo's or Caracol and even Ninfa's on Navigation!!! The Paella was deep and delicious, even by my Husband who is from Sevilla, Spain. The Arroz con leche was definitely Spanish with the hint of citrus.

Michael L.

Yelp
The food and service are amazing served with perfect cocktails, great wines and ambience galore!

Michael C.

Yelp
I finally made a trip here and ordered the Mixed Paella earlier tonight. It was very delicious, authentic, moist in every bite and good quality. The rice itself had that wet, sticky texture kind of similar to risotto rice. It had a mild but great aroma to it and good saffron taste. The pieces of meat were tender, juicy and tasty. The seafood in the paella consisted of mussels, shrimp and squid. Each were tasty, well-cooked and fresh. They added a nice contrast with the rest of the food. This is one of the two best paellas I have ever had in TX, along with the paella from Mr. Sabor out in Friendswood, TX. The flavors, ingredients and prep made it really good and it wasn't a fake Americanized one either. The service from both bartenders, lady chef and lady owner greeting people on this first-time visit was so attentive, friendly, hospitable and efficient. I also hope to purchase a dessert next time I return. They no longer carry the flourless chocolate cake, so I might get the bread pudding or a dessert that seems to be a beloved choice matching my preference. The sangrias looked great and refreshing for some of these menu entrees, which I will be sure to remember as well.

Tristan R.

Yelp
I was working with my colleague who recently moved to the U.S. from Spain and wanted to try Costa Bravo. Her exact words after we ate were "I think the food is actually better than the food I had in Spain!" We had the toasted bread with caponata and olives, the bread was crunchy and great flavor and the olive caponata was amazing. We had the Grilled Spanish Octopus appetizer, it was some of the best Octopus that I have ever had . . . Amazing! She had the Crispy Seared Scottish Salmon which was cooked perfectly (medium) and finished everything on her plate. I enjoyed the Gulf Red Snapper with Lump Crab. The fish was cooked perfectly, the lemon Beurre Blanc was beautiful and the vegetables were so flavorful and crispy. The restaurant had a very elegant, romantic and warm setting and the staff were exceptionally pleasant and knowledgeable. This will be a spot I will visit often just to share the high praises for all the delicious food.

Natasha B.

Yelp
Wonderful evening, lovely and quaint ambiance. Sarah was our server, and she was so sweet, attentive & personable The food was good. However, for our taste, we could've used more salt or seasoning (note: we realized later, we could've asked to have salt/ pepper for the table) Certain things you need to ask for, like water, which is noted in the menu - but talk to your server - they are more than happy to help! Oh, and if you're wondering, the dress code is dressy casual for dinner.

Charlotte H.

Yelp
they are not kid friendly but fail to tell you that until you show up They actually text me that info when I checked in after i requested a high chair a week earlier.

Mark F.

Yelp
Probably the best restaurant in Bellaire. This is fine food and a wonderful place for an exquisite meal.

Jordan W.

Yelp
Very good Spanish food! My favorite was the Paella! It was done very well. The octopus and mushroom risotto were also very good. We came as a party of 6 so we were able to dine family style. I highly recommend doing it this way so you can try everything! We'll definitely come back!

Tiffany S.

Yelp
Fine dining at a great price. Wine selections are heavy on the Tempranillo (my favorite grape) and all reasonably priced by the glass or bottle. I had the lamb chops and they were cooked to perfection and the Parmesan potato cake was magic. Octopus appetizer was also good. A large selection of desserts but forego those and get a Port instead. Service was exquisite. Ambience is romantic. Perfect spot for date night.

JF G.

Yelp
Great ambiance, quiet, romantic. Food is great. Some unusual menu items that are cooked to perfection.

Michael C.

Yelp
Great fusion of Spanish and French dishes. Everything was spectacular and exploding with flavor. Wait staff was everywhere. We didn't have to wait for anything. Nice romantic vibe with dark cherry wood surrounding you.

Benjamin C.

Yelp
From the moment you walk into this hidden gym, you are treated like royalty. The staff is super friendly, the service is phenomenal and of course the food and wine pairings are beyond reproach. This would definitely qualify as a hidden gem in Belaire. Who would've thought such a fabulous and elegant restaurant would be here. Everything they serve is phenomenal and amazing. Every time I come here I enjoy the "La Tablea" cheese and artisan salami board. They serve an amazing bread with pesto and fresh olives. Every entrée is served to perfection and made to order. I personally enjoy the red snapper, which is always fresh, firm, and the right temperature. I also enjoy as an appetizer there bean and chorizo soup, which is very delicious and amazing to say the least. They have the most excellent wine selection for all tastes. Every other Tuesday they have a wine tasting pairing event, that is very good. Their desserts are freshly made and very good. My favorite is there apple dessert which is perfectly prepared with a side of fresh vanilla bean ice cream. There's a strawberry, dessert that is also phenomenal. They have a decent selection of dessert, wines, and ports. I highly recommend this hidden gem.

Fabian M.

Yelp
I usually get in trouble by ordering more than I can eat; however, this time around I had no leftovers. Great service and really good food. Dining area is just perfect, not too big, but not too small. Enough to enjoy the atmosphere and feel good about the overall experience.

James S.

Yelp
My rating amounts to a 4.5 for their regular menu and a solid 5 for their wine dinner menus. I have eaten at Costa Brava almost a dozen times and the experience has always ranged from very good to outstanding! The regular menu could perhaps be a little more imaginative - but it is always very good. Where they really shine is their wine dinners. These happen once or twice a month. Generally the wine dinners are five courses paired to the wines that they are showcasing. Three examples I have been to recently were old world vs new world Pinot Noirs, Beaujolais and Burgundy. While not cheap, considering the quality of the food and wines - these wine dinners well worth the cost. Including the wines these wine dinners will run from $120 to $160 per person. Pros: This is a great special occasion restaurant. Generally quiet with romantic seating. Excellent selection of Spanish and French wines. Spanish and French influenced meals. Good Parking. Outstanding Wine Dinners. Cons: The meals can get pricey so be prepared. Already liking forward to the next wine dinner!

Jennifer B.

Yelp
We love this place, and everything about it - the ambience, waitstaff, quality of the food. Yum!!!

Barbara H.

Yelp
I ordered the sea bass with lump crab and it did not disappoint. Biggest back fin lump crab I've ever had the joy of eating!! So delicious. Very nice wine selection. You'll want to save this place for date night or a special occasion as it is pricey, but worth it.

Ashley Y.

Yelp
This is another lovely place I found in the neighborhood. The service was nice and the interior was cozy. The food was pretty good as well. The only thing I was a lit disappointment they actually don't really serve tapas. Basically you only have choices of appetizers and entrees. We had a shrimp appetizer and fried calamari. We had quail and lamp for entrees. They all were really yummy. The lamp chop was pretty tender. I will definitely go back here sometimes for a good dinner.

Rachel B.

Yelp
This was my second visit. I went years again and was dying to go back so my husband and I went for our anniversary. Let's start with the bar. I've never felt so rushed. It's like he looked at us like oh why are you here? No customer service. The hostess kept coming over to see if we wanted to be seated. Can we just finish a drink and relax a little. Finally after three times asking we decided to sit so she'd leave us alone. We had a reservation and came early just to have a cocktail so much for that. The waiter was nice but rushed us. We both ordered the filet with the Manchego mashed potatoes. It's like they looked for the smallest filet they could find and then butterflied it and gave us each half. It was seriously maybe 4 bites each. My daughter dropped us off so we could have drinks and what not and not have to drive. We were literally telling her to pick us up before she was even back home. They didn't have an issue with a $300 bill for the smallest soup appetizer and the tiniest steak in the world. So if you are not a regular and want to be treated as an outcast and rushed and spend a ton of money on nothing than this is your place. We will never return. Don't waste your time. Horrible food and staff! So disappointed!

Amanda S.

Yelp
Went once and not a fan. Food high priced, service is alright, managers gave no attention to detail and heard them speak negatively towards the workers. Don't recommend, other small businesses I would rather support.

Clive V.

Yelp
We have not tried this restaurant for years, in fact it was a different location. It is a smart restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere and very popular. In fact customers who did not have a reservation could not be accommodated. We decided to sit at the bar. It took a while to get served because the bar tender was slammed, the owner noticed this and came over to take care of us. These are the little things that make the world of difference as a customer - well done. The usual we order cocktails were excellent as were the wines. An initial dish to share of tapenade and olives was very tasty. We both ordered the shrimp and scallops over risotto - perfectly cooked and seasoned. We followed this with the apple tart, a perfect size to share and not overly sweet! We will certainly return, possibly for one of the wine dinners they hold that talking to the owner have helped them stay afloat.

Andres B.

Yelp
Without been rude. When you go to a restaurant, -any kind-, I always try to order some appetizers to really figure it out how this would be in the rest of the menus. My particular experience: I ordered grilled octopus, and ¡BAM!, it wasn't cool the right way, it was extremely soft and it wasn't the right timing of cooking an octopus... after that I decided not to order more than that. Sorry but my expectation are really high and I know about cooking time on food to taste the right way.

Cynthia C.

Yelp
Overpriced and uppity vibe for a sadly overpriced restaurant located in practically the middle of nowhere. The lady who greeted us was sweet until she saw that my boyfriend was wearing athletic wear, which was a poor decision on his part for not googling the ambience of the restaurant or the dress code prior to dining. He would have seen the "elegant casual" requirement and not have been scolded at the door. Honestly, you never know who has money these days - the ones with money don't always need to flaunt it nor want to dress up after being in business clothes all day. Anyway, the menu also explicitly states to silence cell phones and to limit phone calls to outside. These unspoken rules just seem odd to print on a menu like it's some intro sequence to a movie. Our server was kind and was able to knowledgeably answer any questions we had about the menu. Two plates of complimentary crostinis, olives, and tapenade arrived shortly after our party of 5 ordered. 1. Grilled spanish octopus: octopus was cooked well and delightfully chewy but was sitting in a pool of flavorless oil that I assume was meant to be mopped up by the large baguette ends. 2. Duck confit on poached egg over smoked onions and bacon: sauce was good but duck was overcooked, which is a shame because it's my absolute favorite meat and the fat content really should have helped the texture. 3. Texas quail with mushrooms and jamon serrano: this was really yummy and was quite a bit of food especially given that it's stuffed with more goodies. I would have liked something a bit more savory underneath instead of the vegetable medley that looked like canned veggies. 4. Braised rabbit leg with hunter's sauce: this sauce is repeated a few times throughout the menu but thankfully it's really tasty - sweet, savory, and not at all salty despite the dark color. The rabbit was cooked to perfection and fell right off the bone, making it the easiest meal to eat, taste-wise included. 5. Crispy skuna bay salmon with tarragon beurre blanc: loveee when a restaurant appreciates crispy skin on fish as much as I do. Cooked medium rare though we asked for medium, it was still a good dish overall and one of my favorites from the night.

Jackie L.

Yelp
Really enjoyed my lunch here. I found the service to be excellent and the atmosphere very conducive to initiate conversations and business lunches. The lighting was a little dark to my lightening but on a very hot sunny day it was welcome change. We ordered the three course set lunch and I found the food warm and prepared perfectly. The portions were small but with some complimentary olives and spread, a salad, main course and desserts it was just appropriate. I did not feel overly full. I ordered their radish, beet and watermelon salad and found it extremely refreshing and a palate cleanser after having their olive spread on some crostini. The main entrees I had the sea bass with zucchini that came out warm and well cooked. The portion was small but I liked the size for a lunch. Dessert was a chocolate like pudding with a taste of citrus. It was excellent. They also had a savory cheesecake with Manchego cheese which was on the savory side. I can see having the cheese cake with the wine would be excellent pairing. Can't wait to return and try out dinner there!

Robert S.

Yelp
Just shy of four stars is worthy praise for Costa Brava. For a restaurant located in a strip mall, it's exceptionally good but prices are exorbitant. I think the cheapest (and smallest compared to my other dinner companions) entree was the Scottish salmon. It was spectacular but not 6 ounces for $30 spectacular. As you'd expect from a Spanish/French bistro, this is not a place for vegetarians and certainly not vegans, so if you have any veggies in your group, it'll be a salad, olives, and bread. For everyone else, the food is wonderful, with a good selection of seafood, beef, and pork dishes. The restaurant itself is lovely, service was spot-on, and there's a nice quiet/lower lighting vibe good enough for this to be a engagement spot or a small event dinner. The dress code says smart casual, but you'll be fine coming her in jeans and a polo.

Deets H.

Yelp
Went here for a bday/anniversary and loved everything about it. The food and service were top notch. We had the grilled octopus, jamón ibérico, duck confit, and foie. Everything came out great! Then we had the chocolate croissant bread pudding, which was perfect. Got to meet one of the owners (who was hostessing!), and she has such a passion for what she does and was also really kind. You can tell this place has a lot of regulars. Will be back for sure.

Karyn N.

Yelp
From the moment you enter the restaurant and are greeted, you feel as though you are a treasured friend. The service is excellent and the ambiance is very sophisticated, yet comfortable. The choices are varied and there is something for every palate. So delicious!! The acoustics are great; I expected it to be somewhat loud - it was not at all loud. I highly recommend that you try this wonderful restaurant.

Kimberley D.

Yelp
There are so many restaurants in Houston that are better than this one. It is small portions and WAY overpriced for what you get. This restaurant is successful only because it is in Bellaire, Texas ...also this is an old over 55 group vibe. Over priced and not worth it.

Ernesto R.

Yelp
Came to this restaurant to try it. Looking around Houston to get a decent Spanish dish. So far the experience is good, very small location compared to others. You need to make reservations if you want to get entrance quickly, otherwise you will need to wait. Service was very good and nice. Tried the Paella, and it was pretty in taste, in presentation I think I still prefer to be presented in a Paellera pan, that's how normally this plate should be presented. The sangria to me was probably the best part, I highly recommended it. I will go back to this restaurant in the future to try new dishes.

Ennie H.

Yelp
The best for local fine dining. Service is second to none and the food is absolutely delicious. I've never had a bad experience here. Highly recommend for a date night or night out with friends.

Michael F.

Yelp
Delicious Spanish and French dishes with a surprisingly deep Wine selection. The atmosphere is cozy without being on top of your neighbors. Make a reservation on Fridays or Saturdays. Walk up during the week

Britney G.

Yelp
I am very sad to write this "average" review because a huge part of me really wanted to love this place! Especially with it being near the house and locally owned and run. The owner was so nice too! We enjoyed the location and the atmosphere and even the service, but the food let us down. I have to preface this with the fact that I typically do not like super salty food. At home, we cook with, what I think to be, a minimal amount of salt. The FOOD: - Jumbo Shrimp Appetizer: I will give it this, you get a lot of food in this appetizer which makes the price point of $16 reasonable. It comes with other seafood as well (octopus, calamari). The downside: it lacked on the flavor and needed salt. Rating: 3 - Escargots: These are served atop a piece of bread that is swimming in what looks to be buttery, garlicly goodness sauce. But it's not. The escargot were prepared fine, but again, the flavor was lacking. Salt is needed here too. By far, the most bland escargots I have ever had. Good amount of food for the price of $12. Rating: 2 - Jamon Iberico: Cured Ham from Spain/Portugal. This is delicious. I have no complaints. Price: $15 Rating: 5 - Lamb Chops Entrée: Served over delicious goat cheese pancakes and spinach. I enjoyed this meal. I thought the lamb was prepared well and the flavor was good (after I added salt of course). I really appreciated the goat cheese pancakes which paired great with the lamb. Not sure it's worth the hefty price point of $37. Rating: 4 - Rice Pudding Dessert: This is reasonably priced at $6 and very light. I really enjoyed the citrus and cinnamon flavors. I think it is the only GF dessert option on the menu. Overall the atmosphere was welcoming and romantic. The staff was friendly, attentive and knowledgeable (especially regarding their Gluten Free (GF) items). Most price points were reasonable and portion sizes were acceptable. But, the food needs some flavor. Please use some more salt! I want this place to make it! Follow me on my way to Foodietown! http://britneygfoodie.yelp.com

Luis M.

Yelp
My Family and I were looking forward to a nice dinner. We sat down and a waitress decides she needs to abruptly take a flower that was on the table from my 4 year old daughter she was not playing with it only admiring and smelling it. The waitress decides she needs to admonish my child and take the flower away from her. This action upset me very much and my family and I left. We are never going to this restaurant again we felt the situation could be handled in a much different matter. The waitress could have told us the parents and we would have talked to our child she had no right to admonish a 4 year old girl that left the restaurant crying because of that persons actions. If you have children probably not the place to go to hope this helps.

Elizabeth L.

Yelp
The best gastronomic experience you can enjoy in Houston for magnificent Authentic Spaniard Food. Outstanding service, intimate envuronment, chef Gabriel made it a Gastronomic experience.

Que N.

Yelp
Y'all don't know what a proper love affair is with Spanish tapas until till you've dined at Costa Brava, which is seriously one of the BEST restaurants in Htown! Make your RSVPs here sooner rather than later because this place is always packed nightly for dinner. My friends took me here for my birthday dinner and we made sure to make reservations ahead of time. Despite waiting 10-15 mins for our table (it was packed like a can of sardines), we were able to scope out the menu and figure out which dishes to devour. The complimentary olives and tapenade with toast were a nice touch to complement our various tapas dishes. Stuffed piquillo peppers: They were out of this world and my absolute fave dish of the night!!! The sauce was music to my dancing taste buds and you'll have to try it to believe it! (5/5) Escargots: They are cooked ever so perfectly and tenderly that they will melt like butter in your mouth- that may perhaps be due to the fact they are swimming in the most addictive garlic butter sauce (5/5) Salpicón de Mariscos: The seafood medley was light, and very fresh & delish! (5/5) Grilled octopus & potatoes: Again, another fresh and delicious dish; the octopus was just slightly chewy to my liking (4/5) No matter what you decide to order, you cannot go wrong! All of their dishes are impeccable and simply divine. Your taste buds will surely awaken and even the biggest of appetites will be completely satisfied. Service was on point and of the highest quality- we never felt rushed with dinner and got to relax and enjoy our wine. Be sure to make Costa Brava your next Htown foodie destination and you will not regret it! Happy Spanish tapas-ing!!! Insider tip: Save yourself some time looking for parking because there's plenty of parking behind the restaurant.

Daniel M.

Yelp
Fantastic service on traditional Spanish food. The owner is from Madrid. Had the Galecean style octopus as an appetizer. Very tender octopus with fingerling potato's with a light olive sauce. Very good! Almost forgot they brought a small plate with crunchy bread with a small bowl of olives and one of crushed capers. Best olives I've ever had and the capers were not bad. Got the paella and it looked great, but it was not the best I've ever had. If you've been to Spain, there are more recipes of Paella than stars in the heaven. Was it bad, no, but my Aunt made the best paella la Valenciana I've ever had! The crusty bread was so wonderful I had to order more. The ambience is wonderful and exceptionally nice for a date! The service is impeccable and the lovely lady that owns the place is stellar. It hurts me to give only three stars, but the paella was not what I expected. I also understand it's subjective, but I had a friend with me and he thought the same. Not bad, but not great like we expected for the price. Almost forgot about the gaspacho, very good! Would I go back YES! But I'd try something else!

Tracy D.

Yelp
I been wanting to try this place and it definitely lives up to the good reviews. I rsvp for a tues night and the place was pretty full, therefor I strongly recommend you to rsvp . It's a small and intimate restaurant which is perfect for a date. The staffs there attentive and friendly, definitely felt like a neighborhood restaurant. The chef came out and greeted everyone! Grilled octopus (5/5) - I have never tasted a grilled octopus that's tender. Foie gras (5/5) - wow, one of the best I ever had Scallops and shrimp (4/5) - it tasted good but I felt like it was a little over cooked Pork roast (4/5) Crispy salmon (5/5) Overall, this is now one of my favorite restaurant.

Austin J.

Yelp
Wonderful meal. Excellent service. Reservations were honored. Delicious food. We got the Escargot and Octopus as appetizers. Both were great. I personally liked the Octopus more. We got the nightly special Lamb Shank as an entree to share. Mmm wow cooked perfectly and just falls off the bone. And then we got the nightly special roasted pear creme brulee. All dishes were amazing. Chef Kitty, who is a native Houstonian, came by our table half way through the meal and gave us additional recommendations (pairing wines and dishes) to complement our waiter's recommendations and to augment our evening. Highly recommend Costa Brava for a nice dinner evening in an intimate space, and for high-quality cooked food.

Tiffany E.

Yelp
3.5 Stars Pretty good food, but not worth the price. White asparagus & Jamon Serrano - (2/5) Asaparagus was veryyy mushy and the jamon was very subtle. Grilled Octopus with fingerlings and pimeton - (3.5/5) Octopus was very tender and flavor was good. Red Snapper with Crab in lemon beurre blanc - (3/5) Least flavorful of the 3 entree. Without the sauce, it was bland. Rainbow Trout with Shrimp - (5/5) I thought this had the most flavor and was well rounded. Flavorful, great texture with the couscous and the anchovy sauce was yummy. I really like this dish. Texas Quail with mushrooms and jamon serrano - (3.5/5) Decent portion considering quail. Flavor from the mushrooms and garlic made this dish. There was jamon in there? Veal Tenderloin, bone marrow and mushrooms - (3.5/5) Some of my favorite food are mushrooms, risotto and bone marrow. It was an easy choice, but I would pass on this. Bone marrow was unnoticeable and the mushrooms were plentiful, but lacking in flavor. Risotto was cooked well. Chocolate Cake - (3/5) Tasted fine, but no better than a moist box mix from the store. Chocolate Croissant - (3/5) It was good enough. Nothing to write home about. It's a pretty small restaurant. Service was great. We celebrated my parents 45th anniversary. We ordered(and paid) for two desserts and they put a candle in each.

Gina T.

Yelp
Having recently visited Spain, Costa Brava is as authentic as it comes and more. The owners and chef truly make you feel welcome and their love of food and passion for the people they serve shows in every dish and smile. Among the most unique dining experiences I've had in a long time, from their clever olives and desserts they serve to new flavors such as the "arroz negro con sepia" to "pimientos de piquillo rellenos", it was artwork at it best. We enjoyed so many great dishes...you can't go wrong! Buen provecho everyone.

Buddy O.

Yelp
Last night we celebrated my wife birthday in this cozy restaurant, the best Spanish restaurant we have visited in Houston; you would feel like in La Castellana Madrid "tapas y bar". If you enjoy soup, ask for Iberico Bone Broth with White Beans & Chorizo, a real Spanish sopa. If you are looking for a good fish, order red snapper or if you love lamb, ask for rack of lamb ribs, delicious and then close with a good dessert: crema catalana. Good Cava and Verdejo white wine at the right temp. Don't miss this place and we'll be back, for sure. They only need a round table for 6

L A.

Yelp
In one word overpriced. I'm giving Costa Brava only two stars because even though the food is excellent, they have become ridiculously overpriced. We used to go to their special wine dinners with four courses on select nights, but now they charge $235 a person. Just an entree' without extras is almost $50. Their New Years Eve dinner without wine is $190 a person. I don't care how good their quality, no neighborhood restaurant in Houston should charge this. We are not scrimpers on going out for a nice dinner, but they priced us out .

Lyla A.

Yelp
We celebrated our anniversary here last night. We had reservations for 8:30 but had to wait at the bar till about 9 before we got our table. The lady at the front was apologetic about the table and that the party had paid over 20 mins ago but were just sitting. We were seated and served a little dish of mixed olives and tapenade with some toasts. Nice touch for those of us who love olives. We decided to order tapas style. We ordered the following: 1 wild mushrooms with serano ham. It was a small, delicious bite that definitely got us wanting more. 2. Grilled octopus was up next. It was my first time trying octopus and it wasn't bad. It wasn't chewy as I had expected and I appreciated the subtle flavors and char grill taste. 3. Garlic shrimp was course 3. It was extremely garlicky (yeah!) and in a lovely olive oil sauce. My only complaint was that there were only 3 shrimp. I think they should do 4 so they're shareable. Maybe use a smaller shrimp (if you have to, or charge slightly more but give people 4. ) Just my two cents. It was served with hot crusty bread not enough. We asked for more and it was $1.50 for a tiny bit. It's ok, no big deal but a little annoying when you're paying like $18 for 3 shrimp. 4. Stuffed peppers (can't remember the type of pepper). They were stuffed with ham and cheese. It was topped with a smooth and creamy red pepper sauce. It was the best bite of the night. 5. Duck confit was our final bite of the night. I do not like duck and haven't enjoyed it ever. The chef came to our table to check in and I mentioned that to her when she suggested it and she brought out a tiny taste of the meat for us to try. It was the best duck I've had (but I'm still not a fan of duck). It was served with a duck egg that you had to pop the yolk and mix it up to make the sauce. It was interesting and my husband really enjoyed it. I ate around the duck meat and enjoyed everything else. My husband enjoyed his decaf cappuccino but said it was super small compared to most. They brought us an anniversary dessert on the house with a trick candle - great touch! The service was stellar.

Joseph S.

Yelp
First visit on a Weds. - almost full so consider reservations on the weekend. Rave reviews from 3 friends. Cozy space; noise level acceptable so you can talk. Mainly an older crowd. Service very good. Large wine list heavy on Old World. Prices by the glass are $11 and up (like to see some choices at less than $10). Although this is a Spanish restaurant (they have octopus, iberico ham, and paella), it is heavy on and known for their seafood. They serve a complimentary plate of bread, olives, and tapenade. We had their gazpacho and cold leek with potato soups. Outstanding. Entrees were the cheese, pate, and sausage tray (la tabla) - listed as an appetizer and would serve two - and the scallop and shrimp over risotto. This was a superb dish. However at $35 a bit skimpy with 2 scallops and 2 jumbo shrimp (3 and 3 would have been heavenly). We'll be back. Dinner for 2 with tip is $150.

Julissa A.

Yelp
Neat small & cozy place. The food was OK tasting. I had the red snapper with green beans. My dates mean - steak was better tasting - I think.

Taryn N.

Yelp
Horrible experience!!! $85 per person...for what?? My boyfriend and I should have left the moment we saw the sticker price and that it was a set menu. For that amount of money that one spends in this place, I do not recommend this restaurant at all. The food had a lack of taste in every single dish on the set menu , it was deplorable. I also was thirsty the entire time because all I got was a very small Pellegrino and a very small glass. I had to ask the waiter multiple times for something to drink because I was so thirsty from the lack of food that was not satisfying my appetite. Every single plate that was served to me I did not finish, and I was extremely surprised that the waiters or a general manager did not pick up on this for the sticker price of what we were spending. I was extremely disappointed that not one person noticed how dissatisfied I was with the dinner and did not say anything to me. Overall, my boyfriend and I should've spoke up and demanded that we get our money back. I would have rather eaten cardboard then return to this place ever again. And one last thing, the owners or managers of the restaurant smiled at us as we walked out and said "we hope you enjoyed your meal and have a good night." We got played!