Macarena Restaurant in Palo Alto

Family of 4 stopped by for a Thursday dinner. Made a res for 4 earlier that day and pretty open time slots...by the time we left, it was packed. We ordered: citrus noir $8 fruto del amor $16 melon con jamon $16 iberico ham $36 gambas al ajillo $18 cotte de rabbo de toro $16 tomato bread $10 lettuce flower $14 grilled octopus $26 presa iberica $52 paella rib eye $98 lagunitas $9 tiramisu de melindro $12 Personally, I really enjoyed the iberico ham and the octopus. Everything else didn't really pop out. The flavors in general were good, but value wasn't there relative to portion. The paella rib eye for $100 isn't really worth it. The alcohol was super sweet. Some items on the menu were not available, which I thought was weird, for a Thursday dinner packed house. Another worry was cleanliness of the staff. Person handling the food I noticed without gloves and coughing over food and toughing their face. Parking can be difficult during peak hours.

A Spanish styled restaurant. Their specialty is paella. It is good, but I am spoiled given my many trips to Spain. I wish the rice was a bit crunchier, especially near the bottom of the pan. I usually do not get dessert, but made an exception this time and was very happy with the cheesecake. Reservations are absolutely needed at peak hours.

A nice option to get some great Spanish food in Palo Alto. But a bit on the expensive side for their servings. We ordered a bunch of tapas - Ham croquetas, Jamón ibérico, Tuna Tataki, Churros Bravos, broccoli etc and almost all of them were a hit. The paellas though are the speciality. We tried 3 of them and my favorite was actually the vegan paella. Others were tasty too but almost all of them seemed a bit pricey for value. Otherwise the ambience, drinks and food in general is on point.

Greasy and flavorless! Small and dark place, not really welcoming. The tables are really small, specially if you order paella as it hardly fits, and you have to be careful with the skillet so you don’t burn yourself, it comes with very little protein. Poor wine by the glass variety, cocktails are really sweet, tapas are blend. The staff is rushing you so that you leave the table soon, they don’t take many cards to pay the check. Only one wc per gender. Such a shame as it has a good location, if you can avoid coming here, do so.

Service is good, food is meh. Catch of the day is $78 but the fish comes not seasoned or flavored. It’s not a fancy fish either, just branzini. It could have better taste given its price. Just paying for the service and atmosphere if you ever think about coming.

Hashtag "Amazing appetizers but average main courses". From the top, I was here at a company event and got to enjoy the wide range of food and beverages the restaurant offers. Fantastic bar with a good selection of cocktails, wine and beer. While sipping and chatting we got served some of the best appetizers I had in some time. The bar and its setting is perfectly setup for that combo of multiple platters of delicious finger foods and a beverage of choice. I think we should have stopped after the appetizers as the main courses did not live up to the promise. We had the seafood, vegetarian and pork paella. The scallops were overcooked and chewy, the rice a bit dry and lacked flavor. Great presentation but not what I expected from paella. The salmon was disappointing as it was dry. The pork on the platters was overcooked and on the dry side. Maybe these dishes are better when served for smaller parties but didn't do much for me. The desserts were uplifting and certainly a nice way to close out the evening. I would certainly come back just to sample the appetizers again. Service was attentive and the place is nicely decorated.

The restaurant has a nice design and a welcoming atmosphere. There’s a good selection of tapas and main dishes. We mainly ordered tapas, which were just okay. Our server was friendly, though the service felt a bit unpolished, perhaps due to inexperience. I’d be open to coming back to try the paellas.

Hands down, my new favorite restaurant in Palo Alto and one of the best meals I’ve had in quite some time!! Not only were they kind enough to fit our party in on a busy Saturday night, but the ambiance and food was EPIC!!! All of the cocktails were also fantastic! (I got their special Pride themed cocktail while my friends got the Alhambra and a Manhattan). For starters, we got the churros bravo and the eggplant chips. For mains, we got the vegan paella, branzino, and grilled calamari. Everything was flavorful and delicious!! 1000% recommend!

Lovely decor and such an inviting atmosphere! I love that it is dim. The service was warm, attentive, and thoughtful. We started with the eggplant chips, which were light, sweet, and surprisingly reminiscent of bacon in texture. At least that's what reminded me of that! The timbal tapa, which is the oxtail, was next, and it was delicious! The braised meat with truffle potato purée was rich, comforting, and so flavorful. Shoutout to our server for bringing extra bread because we enjoyed every last bit! The Olivada broccolini was okay but just a bit too bland for me. I'd probably try other salads! But the true standout was the Rib Eye Paella which was the special of the day. The 28-day aged meat was incredibly tender and buttery, melting in my mouth with every bite. The paella itself was flavorful on its own. You don't need that sauce it comes with on the side. I would recommend this place! I think price point isn't bad considering their location and yes they're like any other Spanish place, such as Teleferic. But it doesn't mean they are bad.

The service and ambiance here are very good. It's a large restaurant with thoughtful, modern decor. The servers are very friendly, though it was hard to get their attention at times, including to ask for more bread or the check. The steak we ordered was cooked perfectly and well-seasoned. The paella negra was pretty tasty, though a bit more liquidy than other paellas I've liked in the past. It was a little mushy, and there were very few crispy bits on the side touching the pan.

BUÑUELOS DE QUESO Aged Cheese Fritters with Tomato Confit. (4u) (veg) 10 CHURROS BRAVOS Potato Churros with Brava Sauce. (Au) (vegan, gfa) 12 PAELLA DE PRESA IBÉRICA Iberian Pork, Chickpeas, Seasonal Vegetables. (gf) 48 TIRAMISÚ DE MELINDRO Traditional Catalan Coffee Sponge Cake, Mascarpone cream and Cocoa Powder. (veg) 12 The food was good I liked the Bunuelos Queso it was sweet and a little salty. But really good. The Churro Bravos was good but I preferred the Queso. The Paella was good but I wish there was more veggies. I enjoyed both desserts we kind of mixed the chocolate sauce with the Tiramisu. Service was ok . Ambiance could use some help in my opinion. The outside was dirty I hope they fix that for the businesses there.

I've heard a lot about paellas here being the best in the bay, and as a tapas + Spanish food fanatic, I had to come here to celebrate my birthday and try it out! The ambiance was lovely, but I felt there are better Spanish restaurants in the bay. The churros bravos were a sleeper hit; it reminded me of crispy potatoes shaped like churros with aioli. The grilled calamari was another standout. Honestly those two were my favorites of the entire meal. Onto the paellas: the paella garlic dip was sooo good, definitely elevated the dish. Gave me Mediterranean garlic toum vibes in the best way. Between the paellas, the paella negra absolutely beat out the presa iberica for me. I wish the toppings were mixed into the rice a bit more instead of just sitting on top. Tiramisu had a unique texture (very creamy but still fluffy somehow), and they surprised us with complimentary raspberry chocolate cake + a mini birthday serenade from a group of servers. It made the night feel really special. Overall, super memorable dinner!

A night to remember! I would definitely give this a 4.5, not yet a 5. I crashed my sister's dinner and luckily they were able to accommodate the 3 of us for a 6:45pm reservation. Ambiance: fantastic, definitely very high end but social. Good for all occasions! Menu: awesome, everything looked so delicious and very reasonably priced too! Portion sizes are also generous. We ordered a variety of things and everything was really good. Only thing I would do differently is probably not order that many appetizers because they all ended up tasting the same. (Even though I know this is a tapas place) Paella wise, we got one with cauliflower in it and it was okay. I think we should have gotten a seafood one. Portion sizes are massive! Drinks here are not bad too. Ambiance is fun!

Restaurant is beautiful and the service was great. Ambience is very cozy and intimate. It was kind of hard to find from the outside because there's some construction. Food tasted very good. We ordered the grilled calamari which was very tender and the paella iberico which was delicious. The food came out fairly quickly. Our server was very helpful and attentive. Would recommend for a date night or a night out with the girls.

The restaurant was busy and lively on a Friday evening. If you are looking for a quiet romantic dinner, this is not the place. Service was attentive and responsive. The Basque Curse - Tempranillo wine, Coca-Cola, maraschino liqueur, and a crowned cherry. Halloween special, the slushie drink was pleasant but both wine and cola flavors were muted Churros Bravos - the best dish of the meal, potato churro was fried to a crisp with a soft creamy inside, Smokey chipotle Bravo sauce goes perfectly with the churros, absolutely addicting Abuelitas Meat balls - very savory but light sauce, tender meatballs, slightly pan fried potatoes, not what I was expecting for a tapas but still decent Gambas al ajillo - a definite miss, the shrimp tastes frozen and smelt a bit fishy, it was cooked in olive oil but was flavorless, very disappointing Paella de pulpo - we forgot to order it with socarrat (crispy bottom layer), but the rice tasted heavy, oily and mushy. Not much flavor other than saltiness, quite one dimensional. The octopus leg was also interesting in texture, very soft and no bounce. This place feels like any other Spanish restaurant with not much of their own flair. Classics like gambas Al ajillo and paella were subpar.

The star of the show here was definitely the food -- which is how it should always be! Food: We ordered a combination of tapas and paella. My favorite tapas were the oxtail, churros bravas, and gambas -- all were absolutely DIVINE. We also had the paella negra, and it was stellar. Finally, for dessert I had the chocolate cake with apricot jam; it was uniquely delicious! Service: We were a group of 7. Our reservation was for 8pm, but we got seated around 8:20 so that was definitely disappointing. The folks at the restaurant offered sparkling wine on the house, which was nice of them. However, I would've appreciated them proactively providing updates on an estimated time that our table would be ready. Ambiance: I have to agree with other reviewers that it was rather dim in the restaurant! I love the vibe, but the dimness in lighting makes it a bit difficult to see, at times. That being said, if you're looking for a romantic date night, I think this restaurant would be a great choice lol. I would most definitely return to Macarena; it is a must-try in downtown Palo Alto!!

Tapas and paella! Look no further if you are looking for some amazing Mediterranean Spanish foods. When you first walk in the decor was bright, modern, beautiful chandeliers, comfy seating, and overall amazing vibes looking into their open kitchen set up. We had lunch for the 5 of us and here is what we ordered: Tapas Churros Bravos $12 (5/5) Warm delicious looking churros but with creamy potato inside. The exterior was light and crispy and once you bite into it, you can taste the creamy filling. This was excellent and went with this the spicy dipping sauce. Eggplant Chips $10 (4/5) I dont normally like eggplant but this I did try one chip. It was very thinly sliced and super crispy. This actually didn't taste like an eggplant at all but they did make this very well and I did enjoy it. Grilled Calamari $18 (4/5) I thought this would be one long squid but it's baby squid about 5 of them that were grilled with a salsa sauce. The flavor was tasty and parts of the tops of the squid were crispy. Abuelita's meatballs $18 (5/5) Tender braised meatballs that melt in your mouth with some peas and carrots. So yummy! Croquetas de Jamon $12 (4/5) 4 piece of crispy fried croquetas. This was more solid when biting in with the pieced of jamon. Mains Olivada Broccolini $14 (3/5) If you like olives and broccoli the longer ones then you would like this. The sauce was ok for me. I wasn't too impressed by this dish and at $14 it was kind of pricey but we wanted a veggie and this was it. Timbal De Rambo De Toro $14 (4/5) Chunk of braised melt in your mouth oxtail mixed with truffled potato purée which we spread on toasted brioche bread crackers. This was really good and very creamy. Brazino fish MP (4/5) Whole fish steam on a bed of thinly sliced potatoes. This was of their specials for the night. The fish was filet into chunks and presented on a platter nicely. Paella with ribeye MP (4/5) The menu serving say paella for 2 but this thing was huge! I mean if you are planning to get just this on no other tapas or mains then yes yet a paella dish for party of 2. We had 5 hungry girls and we devoured this. The only thing not cool about the steak was about 3 huge pieces were just fat... like fat fat. So if you have high cholesterol, then don't get this or we just got unlucky and had a bad piece of steak with hella fat. We paired all this with Aretesa Napa cab and some cocktails. Service was great! Tummies were full and we had an amazing time. I would definitely come back again to try the other paellas and tapas!

Great service from kind staff! Upscale ambience, moody lighting. The three of us shared the croquetas, churros bravos, empanadas, grilled calamari, braised oxtail, and paella ibérica. I enjoyed the croquetas, churros, and empanadas the most (especially the dipping sauce that came with them). Grilled calamari and braised oxtail were ok and didn't stand out to me as much. Paella was solid, I think the garlic aioli sauce they gave on the side really enhanced the experience. I think they're on point with their sauces! Overall glad I tried and would come back for the vibes!

I've been in a restaurant slump and this place really brought me out of it. We went to celebrate my mom's birthday and it was so perfect! The vibes were great and the food was amazing. Potato churros 8/10 - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with a spicy aioli Empanadas 8/10 - filled with a smoky tuna flavor it was bursting Grilled calamari 4/10 - would pass it was too charred and the sauce wasn't thick enough to coat the squid Ox tail - 10/10 amazing so creamy and rich, the potatoes and meat just blended so perfectly together Grilled octopus 100/10 - the best octopus I've had. So tender and cooked perfectly not over cooked so that it would be chewy the mash was also so smooth and creamy Squid ink paella 10/10 - great assortment of seafood and the sauce was just enough to add another dimension of flavor!! We also asked for a spicy sauce which definitely brought the heat Vanilla cream sachets 100/10 - you could taste the vanilla bean and the pastry was so thin and crispy it was not too sweet either Overall I loved this place and it blew my expectations out of the park. Would definitely recommend

I could tell the food is good when each of the plates are empty at the end of the meal. Appetizers were flavorful and just enough for a party of 4. We had a party of 6. Pallea is a thin layer so it really doesn't feed a lot of people but flavorful and worth the experience. Iberico ham brought us back to Barcelona which is the last place we had seen our friends we met on this day. Service was excellent and shoutout to our server whose name I wish I remembered a month ago. Ambiance is fine dining, ritzy, dimly lit, and a lively atmosphere. Would come back again.

This would be a 5-star normally because the decor and food were excellent. Service was decent. However, I have been to Barcelona Teleferic way too many times, and the food is similar, so it was missing the wow factor for me. I got the meatballs, Iberico ham, tuna tataki, and some veggies, which were excellent. The standout (unique for me) dish was the Cheese Buñuelos , which was amazing. Will be back and with more friends the next time.

Beautifully presented, unique and delicious cocktails! The three of us went tapas heavy and ordered one entree to share. Reyes, our server, was awesome with the tapas recommendations and guiding us with the drink descriptions. I loved the churros bravos with aioli. My friends like the gambas. Not enough croutons with the oxtail (ok) and wanting to sop up the gambas sauce, we ordered the house made bread. Kinda steep for $14 for a small round but it was delicious! The tuna was a nice contrast to the meat-heavy items we ordered. The braised Wagyu was soft and tender. The manager came over and said they needed our table for another party, but they moved us to small table outside with complimentary profiteroles (yummy!) and sparkling wine. That was very thoughtful and we appreciated it. Will come back to try their paella!

We came here on a whim from a recommendation from a friend, and we're so happy we went! I can't believe this place has only been open for 6 months. Everything, including ambiance and environment are so thoughtfully put together - with full view of the kitchen. We are rarely ever blown away from every dish (including cocktails and mocktails) but this place was perfect! We shared a bunch of tapas and it was enough for us 2. Would recommend: the churros bravas, croquetas, pulpo, oxtail. We definitely would come by to try the paella. Service was on point. (Oscar? Was our server and he made wonderful suggestions). Food was timely on a weekday afternoon. Probably our new favorite Spanish spot. Will be coming back (maybe quarterly!!)

Every time I hear Macarena, I instantly get thrown back into the 90s with the song and THAT dance. We made a very impromptu lunch reservation for the Friday before Memorial Day weekend here. The seating is a bit cramped, and the "best" table that was available was literally right behind the host stand. And I'm not being sarcastic, literally, my back was against the host stand. Our waiter Alejandro was friendly and just the right amount of attentive. We decided on the patas bravas, croquettes, the gambas al ajio, the truffled bikini, and the iberica paella. To drink hubs got a regular sangria and they were able to create me a virgin version of one. My drink was sweet enough with some spice to it, and was so refreshing..but here's my gripe, why do a ton of restaurants charge the same price as an alchie drink for a mocktail?! Tres sad. First up were the fried goodies. The patas bravas here are different, served in the shape of a small churro. This was my fave item, it so works! Fried just a smidge shy of crispy and the inside is still soft enough, flavorful especially when dipped with the aioli. We also had the croquettes, pillowy soft on the inside, I don't think you can ever go wrong with croquettes, am I right? While my husband enjoyed the shrimp dish, I thought it was pretty bland. The truffled bikini, was basically a grilled short rib sandwich with very minimal truffle flavor, it was stuffed with the beef, but the bread looked like pretty basic sliced white bread. Though the portion was great, I felt like the two bite open faced "sandwich bites" I've seen at other tapa restaurants, may have been a better choice if that meant it could be elevated a bit more. Lastly, the paella. It came with an aioli like sauce but I felt like the base of the paella was very salty, and sadly, there were no crispy parts of the rice. It was topped with pork and chickpeas, due to the texture, I felt like the chickpeas got overwhelming after the first few spoonfuls. We told them and made a note that we were celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary, but there was nothing celebratory touch at all. Parking was a bit difficult as well. I was excited to finally try Macarena, but do prefer the menu at Telerefic more.

Immaculate vibes. If you're looking for a date night spot or simply to enjoy delicious Spanish tapas and paella done right, Macarena is it! RESERVATIONS I booked a reservation on OpenTable for a party of 4 to dine on a Saturday evening at 7:30 PM. Upon arrival, my party and I were greeted with smiles by the hostesses. The table was already set and we were seated quickly. PARKING The restaurant was bustling since it was peak dinner time. Oh, since it's downtown PA and parking can be difficult to find, especially on weekends, don't fret! There's literally a parking deck a street over next to the Wells Fargo. SERVICE I forget our servers name, but he was great! Smiles and welcoming. He gave us insight on the menu and was attentive the entire evening. FOOD & DRINK We ordered several items to share, and everything was divine, including the cocktails, which were well-balanced and tasty! * Paella de Pulpo - Octopus, Squid, And Cautifiower Snow * Branzino - a whole fish deboned over a bed of thinly sliced potato scallops, tomatoes, lemon and rosemary. This was the special of the evening; not featured on the regular menu. * Abuelita's meatballs - Braised Pork And Beef Meatballs, Peas And Potatoes * Empanadas - Sweet Red Pepper, Premium Tuna Belly, and Smoked Pimenton De La Vera. I loved the variety of protein options on the menu. There's something for everyone, but I particularly enjoy all the seafood choices. Everything was beautifully presented and tasted delicious! The star was the Paella de Pulpo, socarrat present and rice cooked perfectly. I highly recommend Macarena, and I can't wait to visit again!

This place is dimly lit, well decorated, and perfect for a romantic date night. The kitchen is somewhat open concept and you can see the chefs trimming meats etc. I was so excited to try this new Spanish restaurant and it fell flat. I ordered a mocktail, two tapas, and a paella. The mocktail wasn't very good, so I think stick to cocktails if you come here. The tapas (croquettes and timbal de rabo de toro) felt like they were made hours earlier and they microwaved them partially before bringing them out. Finally the paella came out and this was the star of the show. We were so stuffed that we could hardly enjoy it but it was really good. Basically if you come here on a date get a paella to share it's plenty of food don't waste your time with the tapas.

Food I would order again: -- Potato churros: 10/10, no notes. Loved the pillowy texture with crispy exterior and dipping sauce. -- Jamon iberico: Good portion size. Delicious by itself or with bread (not included). Our waiter recommended pan con tomate / bread with tomato. My party had mixed feelings about the bread. Some felt the tomato and olive oil flavors were overpowering. -- Pulpo: Cooked well and good flavors. -- Paella negra: The star of the show. Decent amount of seafood. It was flavorful, especially with the garlic aioli. Love the option to request socarrat, which is that crispy caramelized rice crust at the bottom of the pan. Other items ordered: -- Empanadas: Bold seafood flavor. Tiny size, so I would not order again. I believe the dipping sauce was the same as the one that came with the potato churros? Or at least it tasted similar. -- Tuna tataki: Bland, our least favorite dish of the night. -- Fried artichokes: Tasted fine, but forgettable. -- Tiramisu: No complaints, but nothing special in my opinion. -- Sangria: We tried traditional sangria and sangria blanca. They tasted fine. Service was mostly attentive, even on a busy Saturday night. We did have to flag our waiter down a few times to refill our empty water glasses. The interior is dimly lit and tastefully decorated, without feeling stuffy. I would definitely return for a special occasion.

Made a reservation for Monday evening at 7pm but was able to adjust it to 6:15pm really easily through OpenTable. The restaurant inside is aesthetically pleasing, although a bit dark going into late evening. Service was good. As for the food, it started off strong, but some dishes were missing that extra hit of flavor to make this a 5/5 restaurant. Highlights / would get again: paella negra and churros. The churros were fried very well - it reminded me of a perfectly fried hash brown shaped into a churro. The sauce (some sort of spicy aioli/mayo?) went well with it. For the paella, we opted for the crispy request. It had a good flavor - well salted, and was especially good with the side of aioli sauce they provided. The aioli sauce seemed to have a hint of garlic or something, which was nice! The dishes that were good, but could be improved slightly: Croquetas - fried pretty well. Wish there was a tiny bit more ham in it. It was a little too mushy on the inside. Timbal (oxtail) - oxtail was soft and the potato puree was fairly creamy. I wish there was a deeper flavor here though. The truffle was also very faint. Pulpo à la brasa (octopus) - although the octopus was quite soft, I prefer mine with more of a char on the outside. The garlic paprika sauce and potato puree was good, but again still tasted fairly tame compared to what you'd get in Spain. Tiramisu - nice coffee & cocoa flavor. However, the cake itself was not as creamy as I'd like and was a bit too dense/dry. I wasn't a fan of the Gorgonzola basque cheesecake. There was no burnt edges or caramelized top. It was very custardy and soft, if you like that texture on your cheesecake. The jam was also a little too much for me. I do think some dishes are better than others, and if ordered correctly, this could be a 5/5 place!

The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, with décor that reflected Spanish charm and music that added to the lively mood without being overpowering. Our waiter Felipe was knowledgeable, attentive, and happy to guide us through the menu, making the evening feel relaxed and enjoyable. Overall, this restaurant is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Spanish food. From the tapas to the paella, every dish was full of flavor and made with care. It's the kind of place that makes you feel like you've been transported to Spain for the night.

Macarena has beautiful Spanish ambiance reminding me of olden Philippine architecture, namely the wall frames & chandeliers. I was intrigued by the restaurant name and curious enough to try the place. I had a list of items I wanted to try and some of them were unavailable during my Sunday afternoon visit: truffled bikini sandwich, oxtail dip (timbal de rabo de toro). Eats: Eggplant chips Churros Bravos Olivada Broccolini Croquetas Jamon Paella Negra ordered Socarrat I enjoyed the churros bravos, never had savory potato churros before with an aioli dip! They were fragile and melted in your mouth. Broccolini was a tad overcooked as mentioned by other Yelpers. Eggplant chips were interesting but had a charred aftertaste. Croquetas were satisfactory. First time ordering paella negra and it wasn't as crispy as we'd liked, considering we ordered it socarrat. Flavor was pretty good and it was nice they had the signature aioli on the side. Service was prompt. Water was refilled frequently and they came by to check on us as needed. We were never rushed. I'd be willing to come back and try the unavailable items.

As soon as you walk in the ambience and decor immediately set the tone and expectations. What a lovely space. Dinner was magnificent. We ordered the churros bravos, jamon iberico, abuelita's meatballs and the braised oxtail with potato puree. We also added the pan con tomate to eat with the jamon. We ordered two plates and somehow the jamon was delayed in arriving to our table, then the second plate was even more delayed than that. Thankfully it was good so we didn't mind too much. The Branzino is so light and packed with flavor. I enjoyed it and wish we had ordered more. The paella was very good. We had two of the ribeye. I want to try the squid ink next. Service was very attentive thanks to Alfredo and Zoltan. Definitely returning to Macarena very soon!

I had a good time dining at Macarena, two tapas and a paella later I left happy and satiated! My friend and I walked in without a reservation on a Sunday at 1:30 PM and the tables were still quite full! We ordered the churros bravas (potato churros) and tuna tataki, along with the paella negra. The potato churros were interesting and came with a spicy aioli dip, I prefer traditional sugary churros over the savory ones but this was such an interesting dish! I also liked the tuna tataki, they were thickly cut and quite fresh in quality. The paella negra was also great, they didn't skimp on the seafood for us and they left some rice that was stuck to the bottom (not sure what the Spanish term is, but in Chinese it's called guoba). Definitely get this, it adds a crunch to the texture! Overall Macarena delivered on its promise of authentic Spanish food and friendly service.

I had a wonderful experience here. Beautiful ambiance with good vibes. It took a lot of self control for me to not order a sangria... but I will be back... The prices are reasonable for the quality! My date and I shared the Churros Bravos to start, which was sooo scrumptious. Perfectly crispy and lightly salted. The mashed potato center was very satisfying. Loveddddd it. We also got the Paella de Pulpo, which was definitely the star of the day. Slightly crispy rice, which was flavored perfectly! Savory and had the perfect bite. The octopus was incredibly tender and the cauliflower added some contract to the flavors. They offer a garlic aioli and lemon to pair. I highly recommend! My date and I will definitely be back... and I need to try their jamon + sangria next time...

Tapas always excite me, but this time it left me a little underwhelmed. Overall, the food was just ok -- some of the dishes didn't feel cohesive, others lacked flavor or dimension to the dish. Drinks, on the other hand, were great. We ordered three drinks between the two of us and liked each one. The table side gin experience was different and cool to see. The restaurant itself is very cute and modern inside. Service seems like it's a work in progress still. I think my go-to tapas spots for now will continue to be Puerta del Sol or Teleferic if I'm looking for a more trendy vibe.

This tapas spot has such great ambiance and great service! We got a variety of the tapas dishes and some of the highlights were the bravas churros (potato based churros) and the iberico charcuterie. And the desserts were delicious! Also shout out to the cocktails which were excellent.

If you're looking for some authentic Spanish cuisine, then this is the spot! I've been on the search for some good garlic shrimp ever since I came back from Spain and I was so pleased to discover that Macarena had that dish! If you only order one item, you have to try their gambas al pil pil! The tuna tataki and ribeye paella were also super delicious! For drinks, we ordered the cava affair which is similar to a mimosa without the bubbliness and the Macarena gin which was light and fruity. I liked the Macarena gin better but both were good. My friend also ordered a sangria which had a stronger wine vs. fruity taste to it. Service was great; our waiter checked up on us frequently and everything came out pretty quick. I also loved the ambiance! Overall, I would definitely recommend this spot and I'll definitely be back!

Had a team dinner here with a picky audience and everyone loved all the dishes. Outstanding experience was the G&T bar, the others wanted to try various beverages. Thank you for a great experience.

I was intrigued by this place because of the story churros and that did not disappoint. The rest of the food was also delicious. I've been to a few Spanish restaurants and this one is a good contender. Everything was fresh. The ambiance is nice - it's definitely a little more fancy than just a regular dinner. Service was fast and everyone was friendly. Our server seemed really busy but he made sure to check in and other waitstaff came by to ask if we needed anything else either.

I am so glad we went back for a wonderful Spanish experience. The food was absolutely excellent and service was exceptional. The restaurant is clear, fun ambience and highly recommended to give this place a try.

Well, the reviews don't lie. It was a lovely experience. Oscar spoiled us, he's was attentive as well as the staff. Ambiance is romantic and whimsical. We'll be back. We recommend, the tapas, paella, and because we were celebrating our anniversary, they brought out a dessert. Wine pour was smaller, the clearing of the table was a little too fast, but other than that perfect!

5 stars for the very reasonable price conside the food quality and location! 4 stars for the flavors. The garlic prawns appetizer was absolutely bomb. Paella and dry aged steak were legitly flavorful. 3 stars for Some execution details. For example, the broccolini with tapenade was really tasty, but the presentation was dumb like kids' drawings, and I'd prefer it to be charred instead of simply blanched. Also, the vegetables on top of the paella were merely raw cauliflower and broccoli without any flavoring. Unless this is how it's authentically done in Spain, I'd say some things were a little too basic.

The service and ambiance were great. The food was a bit underwhelming. I am highly confused why people enjoy the churros bravos. It lacks flavor with the essential one being salt. The pan con tomate, gambas ajillo good and tuna empanada were good but nothing special. The jamon croquette is on the saltier side. Definitely have had way better tapas elsewhere.

Deeply Disappointed - Definitely Not Authentic Spanish Cuisine I had walked by this place several times and was drawn in by its stylish décor and hip, modern vibe. I finally decided to make a reservation in early October to celebrate my birthday with three friends and unfortunately, it turned out to be a major disappointment. The evening started off poorly: I was served a glass of room-temperature Albariño. I had to send it back and ask for a properly chilled glass. That should have been my first warning sign, what was the server thinking? But the real letdown came with the food. Along with several tapa dishes which tasted just ok, we also ordered the Rossejat de Fideuà and Paella Negra con Vieiras, each costing nearly $50. For that price, I expected quality ingredients and generous portions. Instead, both dishes looked embarrassingly sparse. The Rossejat de Fideuà had just a few scattered bits of shrimp and chicken over a large dish of noodles. If you pieced them together, they might equal one small shrimp. The Paella Negra con Vieiras was even worse: a single asparagus (sliced to look like more), a few tiny chunks of shrimp, and a couple of scallops. Absolutely pathetic. I've traveled to Spain at least five times and have eaten at numerous Spanish restaurants around the Bay Area. Never have I seen paella served with so little substance. It felt downright stingy and unworthy of the price. Just last week, I dined at Amour Amour and Iberia in San Mateo County and they both served authentic paellas loaded with seafood (whole shrimp with heads, scallops, squid) for about the same price. The contrast was night and day. In short, if I could give zero stars, I would. The food was not authentic, the portions were frugal, and the experience was a rip-off. For anyone who thinks Macarena has good paella -- you're being shortchanged. Do yourself a favor and try a real Spanish restaurant elsewhere. Not recommended.

I partook in the group menu: Verbena which cost $110 per person (before tip and tax). I had originally selected a menu for our group, but since we had more than 9 people, we were forced to select a preselected menu. It was unfortunate because there were some tapas not on the menu I would have liked, and others on it that I could have gone without. I understand that big groups can be hard to plan for, but I wish they would have accepted our selections ahead of time. There were only enough tapas for each person to have one item, but the variety was nice. The tuna tataki was particularly yummy, and the pan con tomato was actually a nice surprise. The paella was standard, but the seafood was more on the overcooked side (chewy and dry). The desserts were actually the star, with the Gorgonzola cheesecake being unique and flavorful.

I've been here with a small group of friends and a large group of friends...Macarena did not disappoint. Food was amazing (I think their paella tastes better than Teleferic), drinks were delightful, and the service was very welcoming. I need to come back to try all the other delicious items on their menu.

I've been wanting Spanish food for a while and my husband found this place while we were in Palo Alto! He made a reservation for 1:30pm on Sunday but we were able to get seated at 1pm. It was pretty busy so I would recommend making a reservation beforehand. We ordered: - Croquetas Jamon: Came in 4 small balls and the filling was more liquid than I expected. It was also a bit salty for me. - Cocoette De Rabo de Toro: Prob our fave! It has the texture of pate - great combo with the toasted bread. - Truffle Bikini: This tasted like the cocoette but in a grilled sandwich - my son ate this the most! The sandwich was super soft too. - Paella Negro: it took 20 minutes to make so we ordered this first. I loved that it was full of seafood, every bite had seafood. - Tiramisu: Yum! I can't complain about tiramisu, it's my fave cake! Service was pretty quick and staff were attentive. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice. As for the food, we definitely enjoyed all of them however it does end up tasting pretty salty once you eat more and more of it.

Wonderful new Spanish restaurant!! I've already been twice, and both times were consistently amazing. Walking in, the decor is truly stunning. I love sitting in the bar area, as it's beautifully designed! Service is 10/10, with all of the servers giving great recommendations. My favorite dishes so far have been the savory churros and the meatballs. The meatballs taste homemade in the best way, and are the ultimate comfort food. I also loved the chorizo, salad, and the ribeye. All of the drinks and dessert we had were also amazing. Highly recommend their version of the pisco sour, I would just get it without the truffle oil on top, as it's a bit overpowering. I also got an aperol spritz this last time around and it was one of the best I've ever had. Can't wait to come back:)

A new restaurant added to downtown Palo Alto, but it gives LA vibes. This restaurant is beautifully designed and decorated. It's perfect for a special dinner, date night or just a fun night out with your friends! All their cocktail drinks were delicious and they have a variety of options to choose from. All of their tapas were also so delicious and comparable to the restaurants I've dined at in Spain! My favorite was the paella. I will definitely be back here soon!

Very poor experience with reservations and reception with their aggressive confirmation process involving email, phone AND text. When we arrived late due to inclement weather and traffic a rigid policy was enforced and we were offered only uncomfortable bar seats or 'the door'. Clearly this establishment puts profits before people.

Went for dinner with family on a weekday. *You should make a reservation because it was pretty full* We got the tomato app, tuna tataki, rossejat de fideuá, and gorgonzola cheesecake. Favorites were the tomato starter and cheesecake (very distinct gorgonzola taste that made the cheesecake more savory and rich)! The paella was tasty but could have had bigger/more protein. The ambience was nice for birthday dinner, date, or family dinner! Low lighting and nice vibe.

I came here twice in a week. That's how yummy it is. The churros bravas were so different but so good. The jamon Iberico is perfect on the pan con tomate. Paellas are amazing. Every bite reminded me of being back in Spain. On top of that, the staff was amazing. The manager was awesome and putting up with me and my friends!

Service is super fast. Parking is hard to find. We all were late as we need to walk very far. Excellent service and even belp is take pictures with extra portable light. Food was good except the broccolini and skip the meatballs. Everything else are good. You wont be disappointed.

What an incredible night once again at Macarena's! I honestly can't say enough about the outstanding customer service and hospitality at this place. I had the pleasure of meeting the bartender manager for the first time his name is Jesus and he was phenomenal. Super attentive, made sure everyone had their drinks on time, and kept the vibe lively. I really enjoyed his energy. Of course, I have to shout out our bartender Carmelo and the restaurant manager Sultan such a great guy, full of fun and charisma. He truly makes you want to keep coming back! And oh my gosh... their piña colada is hands down one of the best I've ever had in my life. I usually find piña coladas too sweet, but this one was perfectly balanced so good it's addictive. I tried a few of their other drinks too (wish I remembered the names!), but everything was on point. The atmosphere is just amazing. If you're feeling a little low, this place will absolutely lift your spirits. Everyone keeps comparing Macarena's to Teleferic Barcelona in Palo Alto. I've been to both, and I'm sorry Teleferic doesn't come close when it comes to customer service and energy. They're two completely different restaurants, and Macarena's just hits different.

Amazing! What went well? Everything! Went here to celebrate two of my gf's birthdays. It was the perfect spot. The fake olive tree in the middle of the dining room was a nice touch. Paella de presa ibérica Paella negra con vieiras Eggplant chips Churros bravos Grilled calamari Croquetas de jamon Tiramisu Saquets de crema All of the above was 12/10! Our server was great - there were 7 ladies!!

Recommend (really good)- 1. Presa Iberica - creamy mashed potatoes and tender and juicy meat 2. Jason Iberica Okay (dish was alright nothing special)- 1. Tuna tataki - it is just Tuna. The garnish/sauce didn't really do much. Don't recommend- 1. Cocotte De Rabo De Toro - lacked flavors

Food was amazing, ambience was great service was ok. What we ordered: croquetas de jamon, churros bravos, jamon iberico, pan con tomate, gambas al pil pil, olivada broccolini, dry aged rib eye and rossejat de fideua. For dessert we had the tiramisu and saquets de crema. Cocktails: Macarena gin and pina colada Cocktails are dangerously good. We loved all the dishes. Each one was amazing in their own way. The jamon iberico with the pan con tomate doesn't look like much (like sliced meat on a plate and some bread slices with tomato on top) but the flavors were incredible. Each of the tapas were delicious and we really enjoyed each one. The rib eye was cooked to perfection. The paella we ordered came with noodles, macaroni to be exact, which was very different and really good.

Had dinner with a friend and had a great experience here. We started with the grilled calamari and pan con tomate. The bread was so tasty, super fresh and full of flavor. For my main, I ordered the braised wagyu with mashed potatoes. The meat was incredibly tender and flavorful, and the mashed potatoes were creamy and comforting. I also got to try the paella de pulpo. Soft, flavorful rice with perfectly cooked, tender octopus. So good! The atmosphere was relaxed but stylish, a really nice place to wind down and enjoy a well-prepared meal.