Oveja Negra
Tapas restaurant · Santana Row ·

Oveja Negra

Tapas restaurant · Santana Row ·

Airy-chic eatery serves modern & traditional tapas plus shareable plates

braised beef cheeks
seafood paella
wild mushrooms
sangria
date night spot
ambiance
spanish octopus
spanish cuisine
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by Oveja Negra Restaurant
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null
Oveja Negra by null

Information

355 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128 Get directions

$50–100

See Menu
Restroom
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Dinner reservations recommended
Cozy

Information

Static Map

355 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128 Get directions

+1 408 423 5400
ovejanegrasj.com
@ovejanegrasj

$50–100 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Dinner reservations recommended
•Cozy
•Trendy
•Good for groups

Last updated

Jan 17, 2026

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Best Restaurants at Santana Row and Valley Fair in San Jose | Eater SF

"If you value presentation over serving size, Oveja Negra is the option for you. Though the portions may be small, these pleasingly plated tapas are reminiscent of abstract art. Treating plates like canvases, the team here embellishes dishes by layering ingredients, strategically placing microgreens, sprinkling seasonings, and drizzling or brushing sauces across their surfaces. Try the raised beef cheeks, Oveja Negra’s signature dish. It contains tender meat with potato puree, seasonal mushrooms, and a full-bodied sauce with red wine." - Johanna Harlow

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-santana-row-san-jose
Oveja Negra Restaurant
Oveja Negra

Brutally honest food C.

Google
I had my 60th birthday celebration with about 14 of my closest friends. Was not at all impressed with the food! Everyone there said how I cook better pallea! I did not find one piece of chorizo and barely tasted any saffron. I felt I was overcharged for the quality! The bread I ordered was $60 and I did not think that they spent more than $20 to make it, but the worst was the seafood pallea it came with shrimp with heads and eyes! The service was okay I was charged a $50 cake cutting fee but my friends actually cut it themselves. The ambiance was okay and the sangria was just blah at $50 per pitcher none the less I'm grateful that the restaurant could accommodate my guests, but very dissatisfied in the servers they only came to bring food, never once asked if we needed anything else! Because I'm an excellent tipper I over tipped the restaurant, and I'm about to email the manager to have him send me an itemized receipt! Overall I said I would maybe recommend the restaurant to others, but I will be honest about my experience! Maybe because of the economy the restaurants have all gone down, I feel this is the case with this restaurant. But when one spends nearly $1000 for mediocre food one wants to let others know about their experience! Overall I left unhappy! I rate the restaurant and the food two stars ! The service 2 stars and the ambiance and location 4 stars so I'm giving an overall three stars rating.

William T.

Google
Finally came here after walking past it for years in Santana Row. I wish I had come sooner because I feel like I had been missing out. Came for dinner and had the tapas and paellas. We had both the rabbit and lobster paellas which was very flavorful and full of toppings. I only wish there was more of a crisp on the bottom, but it was still good and I’d get it again. For tapas we got the octopus which was amazing, the patatas which was solid, and the cauliflower which was refreshing. I was so happy with the meal, we came back in a few days to try the breakfast. It was a good breakfast but it was just American style, not anything Spanish or special there. There’s not a lot of breakfast places in Santana Row so it’s still a good spot for it, especially since they open early.

Omar S.

Google
I had the pleasure of dining at Oveja Negra during my stay at the Hotel Valencia, and I can confidently say it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. I made a reservation and was greeted warmly upon arrival. The service throughout the evening was impeccable—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly. The food was phenomenal. I started with the octopus, which was perfectly tender and flavorful. The sea bass was equally impressive, cooked to perfection with a beautiful balance of textures and flavors. To finish, the rice pudding was simply divine—rich, creamy, and the perfect end to a fantastic meal. The ambiance of the restaurant was elegant and inviting, adding to the overall experience. It was the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to linger and savor every moment. I absolutely loved my evening at Oveja Negra and will definitely return the next time I’m in town. Highly recommended!

Laura H.

Google
We really loved the atmosphere! Gorgeous courtyard with a fountain and lovely lighting. Good food. Decent wine list but only a few Spanish wines unfortunately. The service was extremely slow. Waited for the bill for 30 minutes, another 20 to get out of there.

Conrad P.

Google
Located at Santana Row, inside the Hotel Valencia. Take the elevator up to the third floor, same level as the hotel check in and bar. Food was good and for the most part, won't disappoint. It's not the most flavorful tapas or paella I've had, but satisfying. If the claim is fine dining, then there's some work needed to improve the experience (would have appreciated a different set of flatware and silverware between courses). Staff was friendly.

Shamrock W

Google
Food are good, flavorful. Seafood in paella were fresh, flavor was rich and balance. The seafood paella we had here is better than those we had in Cascal. No socarrat but I have yet to find a paella in the US that has a proper socarrat. The search continue. We also had octopus and beef cheeks. The mushroom next to the beef cheek really stood out. As in most restaurants, foods tend to be more salty than I prefer but that’s just me. The manchego cheesecake exceeded expectation. Not as sweet as most, the way I like it, and it has more depth to the taste. The only complain is there is no sign to show that the restaurant is hiding on the 3rd floor. Added bonus is they have outdoor seating for my dogs 😍

Ben W.

Google
Must try!! Beautiful outdoor dining that gives true European vibes. A wonderful menu - we tried 4 dishes and each was delicious. The Patatas Bravas are a non-negotiable. The beef cheek with mushroom purée is also a go-to. Vegetarian paella was a ‘maybe order again’ for me, but my fiancée loved it. The mushrooms were good, but could be skipped if you order this mix. The live music truly added to the atmosphere, and the staff was welcoming and accommodating, offering to bring us a heat lamp in advance. Would not hesitate to visit again.

Subhankar D.

Google
Located within Valencia hotel, it’s a little hidden. It’s on the 3rd floor across the hotel reception, so just take the elevator up. Tastefully decorated with live music playing, this place is a hidden gem. We loved the Sea Bass, the seafood paella and the roasted cauliflower. Must try in the dessert is the Torrija
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Tannu S.

Yelp
It was a decent experience overall. The place is huge, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The salad was good, but I felt the mushroom dish I ordered was missing something--having a companion bread or breadsticks would have made it better. My favorite dish was the roasted cauliflower. May be I will try the paella the next time with the right company, as the dish is served two or more.
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Amanda M.

Yelp
I'm a big fan of Spanish tapas so I was looking forward to trying this spot! Overall, I thought it was good--sufficient to satisfy the desire for tapas--but overpriced for what you get. We ordered the ahi tuna wonton tacos, octopus and seafood paella. I enjoyed the spicy mayo / lime flavor but felt like the ahi tuna wonton tacos had more avocado filling the taco than tuna. While the octopus was tender, the sauce was pretty mild and I felt like we should've gotten more than 1 tentacle. The seafood was cooked well in the paella, but it seemed heavily tomato-based; likewise, $60 seemed steep for the quality. There are several other tapas restaurants in the area that are very good and match or are better than this price point. As far as ambiance, I bet this experience would be great on the patio, but unfortunately we had to sit inside due to a corporate event. The inside is cozy and intimate, so it wasn't a bad location, but I think outdoors would be better!
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Brian T.

Yelp
We came here to celebrate on our anniversary recently! Getting here, it was definitely a maze because we had to ask people in the hotel how to get here. In interior was very nice and peaceful. The portion was a lot bigger than we anticipated as we didn't finish our food and to-go boxes was definitely needed. Chorizo Omelette (4.3/5) - This was probably my favorite dish of the night. the egg was cooked perfectly with it being a bit cripsy on the edge. The chorizo was delicious and the whole dish paired well with rice. Seafood Paella (3.2/5) - The broth they cooked it in was very delicious. However, I found that it was salty. The calm was very small so not much meat in there. The shrimp was a bit overcooked, could have been a bit softer. There was nothing wrong with the lobster as it was coked fine! I would want it less salty and bit more well done on the rice. Brussel Sprouts (3/5) - The brussel sprouts was cooked nice but I think it could have a bit crispier in the oven to finish. It was seasoned nice but also a bit salty for me. Something to cut it off would be a bit of honey to balance the seasoning a bit more. It was alot of brussel sprouts so worth the money. Lychee Martini (2/5) - Even though it smelt nice from the lychee, I am not much of a martini person as the drink itself is basically just alcohol. It was a nice and peaceful evening and I was happy the waiter was able to help us out a lot!
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Tina K.

Yelp
This restaurant is upstairs at the hotel Valencia adjacent to the courtyard. Reservations were pretty easy to secure and they weren't very busy. The service was great - our server was super nice and knew his stuff. The food was fine, nothing exceptional. I think when you compare it to other restaurants on Santana Row, it was just not as good. The food was a bit overcooked and under-seasoned. The seafood paella was a bit fishy. The only great thing we tried was the beef cheeks.
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Carmen L.

Yelp
My husband and I had a reservation for a Friday night. We thought the restaurant would be busier but it seemed to be a quiet night and there a few walk-in's after us so I'm not sure if reservations are super necessary. FOOD: Spicy chicken croquette 3.5/5 - this dish seemed to lack chicken in the mixture. It was more mushy on the inside. Octopus 4/5 - grilled perfectly but could do without the aioli on top since it already comes with a sauce Ribeye 5/5 - steak cooked perfectly to our preference and seasoned well Paella mixta (chicken, rabbit, shrimp) 3/5 - the meat options were not seasoned well. The chicken and rabbit came in large portions and i would have preferred they were cut up to bite size already. The rice had more a risotto texture. SERVICE: Our waiter was attentive and checked in with us often. He was great. AMBIANCE: Perfect for date night and they have a live musician playing.
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Jen C.

Yelp
Such a beautiful venue, but unfortunately, the food was lacking. While the Ahi Tuna Tacos were alright, my man enjoyed them. I thought it had too much sauce. Then it went downhill from there. The pear salad was disappointing; the octopus was overcooked and rubbery, and the shrimp was gross. The Wild Mushroom was my fave out of all the dishes that came out, until we found a piece of plastic in it. The server replaced it with a new dish, but we were turned off. My man and I came here on a weekday afternoon for a lunch date, and there were only a few people in the restaurant. Now I know why it's not so popular. Was the lack of customers due to the food quality? They need to up their game!
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Kevin N.

Yelp
Came for a late brunch and practically had the whole place to ourselves to eat. Ambience and atmosphere here is spectacular with it being in the middle of the courtyard. Service was a bit slow however but granted we were the only ones there they probably weren't fully attentive in checking in on us with no one else there. Ordered a chicken sandwhich with fries and a chorizo Benedict. Chicken sandwhich came out pretty decent and the fries were crispy but the Benedict was just okay. Eggs were a little overdone and the biscuit it was on was pretty hard.
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Amy N.

Yelp
I came here with my family a couple weeks ago for my birthday dinner. Making a reservation and finding this restaurant was fairly easy to do. We were greeted and seated promptly when we arrived. We started off with drinks and was able to order a bunch of items on the menu to eat and share. Some of my favorite menu items I ate here were the wild mushrooms, the squid ink paella, Brussel sprouts and the braised beef cheeks. The mushrooms and brussel sprouts were a refreshing addition to the carbs and proteins we were consuming. The squid ink paella and braised beef cheeks had so much flavor making it savory dishes. Some of the other items we ordered like the spicy chicken croquettes and squid had too much sauce on or in it to my liking, but my family members liked it. Service here is friendly, quick and attentive. Memorable birthday dinner here, thank you.
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Angelica G.

Yelp
We came as a group to celebrate my friend's birthday, and from the start, the service was exceptional, friendly, attentive, and very welcoming. We shared a couple of pitchers of sangría, which was fruity, well-balanced, and not overly sweet, just how a good sangría should be, with hints of citrus and red wine coming through nicely. We ordered everything to share, starting with the braised beef cheeks, honestly, amazing. They were incredibly tender and rich, and the mushroom sauce was full of depth and flavor. We also had the seafood paella, which had great taste, but the texture was a bit too watery for my preference. And of course, we couldn't skip the Tomahawk (I forgot to take a picture!), it was served medium rare as requested, and came out juicy and well-cooked, perfect for sharing.

Kiana N.

Yelp
Great location, service was very fast and attentive. They had a man playing guitar while we ate, very peaceful. Meal was fantastic. I had the beef cheeks
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Jamie M.

Yelp
My friend and I decided to dine at Oveja Negra for a belated birthday dinner. Oveja Negra is a Spanish-themed tapa restaurant located on the second floor of the Valencia Hotel. The decor is lovely - white walls and chairs, dark wood tables, wrought iron light fixture. Red placemats add a nice pop of color. During our visit, we took our time and ordered slowly, and the service was friendly and accommodating. Now, onto the food -- and we ordered plenty. We started with the roasted cauliflower. My friend wanted to order this, and I have to admit, I wasn't as excited to get this dish as she was. I was pleasantly surprised though, it was delicious! The cauliflower was cooked perfectly, well-seasoned, and paired nicely with the hummus. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this dish. Next up, we ordered the spicy chicken croquettes, which were good, but didn't seem like anything special. And the truffle Mayo was fairly mild. We also ordered the seared scallops, which were served with a corn salad on top of a cauliflower purée. Nothing to complain about with this dish, the scallops were cooked just right, which can be tricky. But there wasn't a wow factor, particularly for the $34 price tag. The grilled romaine salad (lemon vinaigrette, white anchovies, piquillo peppers, tomatoes, and, black olives) was delicious! The greens, which were well dressed and seasoned, had a smoky flavor and were crisp. Did I mention how good this salad was? I'd definitely recommend giving this a try. For our entree, we opted for the seafood paella, with clams, shrimp and lobster. It was a good, solid paella. If I had any criticisms of the dish, the lobster was a little over cooked, and I prefer my paella with a little moister, but to be clear, I wouldn't call it dry. The big surprise of the evening was the crème brûlée French toast for dessert. This was really the star of the show. This dessert was so good, I am still thinking about it two weeks later. It was soft, and warm, and gooey, with the crispy brûléed sugar on top and a bruleed banana on the side. This dessert is not to be missed. We also ordered the chocolate pot de crème, which was topped with a marmallow like vanilla crème and raspberry sorbet, served in a mini mason jar. It was tasty too, and I really liked how the fresheness of the sorbet paired with the chocolate crème. Again, this dessert was good, but the crème brûlée French toast was next-level amazing! Overall, we had a really nice time here. This was my second visit and both times were great experiences. I'd recommend if you are looking for a small plates, shared dining type experience, or if you enjoy Spanish cuisine and you want to get your tortilla espanola, patatas bravas, and paella fixes.
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sheryl l.

Yelp
We are very upset!! Made a xmas day dinner reservation by phone 2 weeks ago. The girl who took our call seemed a bit uninformed as she had to shout out to staff asking if they were open Xmas . They said yes so we made a dinner reservation for 6 pm. TODAY we called to confirm and were told the restaurant closes at 4pm. We were on the books but no one called to inform us the restaurant in fact would be closed at 4!!! Our first and last experience with them and we will be sure to inform our fine dining friends of this unfortunate outcome. Here we are xmas day in a most unfortunate situation. Inexcusable on their part...I would give them 0 star but one had to be issued in order to post
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Kristin L.

Yelp
The location ambience of this restaurant is fantastic. It's in the open air floor level courtyard within hotel Valencia. So you're obviously enter from the street on Santana Row need to go up the elevators and then the lobby staff will direct you to the restaurant where you could see indoors or outdoors. The food is just slightly above average in my opinion, especially considering the price point and high restaurant and food quality competition literally next-door . The service was great no complaints there.
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Kelly L.

Yelp
Saw flyer for $140 tomahawk tuesday deal as i was walking by so made reservation for the next tuesday to give it a try because I love the Flemming deal and this was $10 cheaper with same amount of food. the restaurant is located on the third floor of the hotel. right from the bat, a little discourage when the place was relativity empty, prob due to the fact it is hidden but the outdoor ambience is beautiful with the waterfall and string lights. we got the tomahawk deal with the side of mushrooms and garlic mashed potatoes. we also ordered a pitcher of sangria for $44. the tomahawk was HUGE!! def bigger than Flemming and bone was so much bigger with more meat. i absolutely love the mushroom. Best combo is dipping the steak into the mushroom sauce!!! the salad size was also huge. I really liked the churro, but the caramel rice pudding was not a favorite for me. I will definitely be back to try more of the desserts. my partner and i couldn't finish a single thing and had to bring home leftovers. I think this deal is so worth it and more people should come try it.
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Sarah T.

Yelp
I came here with friends for Taste the Row, dining experience to try out smaller menus at restaurants in the area of San Jose, CA. We did try the pre fixe menu for the event. Between the group we were able to order most of the offered items. We ordered the spicy chicken croquette, braised beef cheeks, and the wild mushroom rice. The pre fixe menu included sangria. We also ordered a charcuterie board to share. The portions were generous! Charcuterie is pretty similar to any other restaurants, nothing special. The braised beef cheeks were so tender and the vegetables served with the dish were nicely roasted and flavored. The spicy chicken croquets were deep fried rolled up rice and chicken balls that sat on a spicy sauce. It was not spicy at all, which was a little disappointing. The wild mushroom rice is very similar to risotto and seemed odd to be offered as a main dish, but the portion was huge so we were able to share and have with the beef. The sangria was good and sweet with a twist because it had lychee. I have never seen lychee in sangria before. We made reservations for a Friday evening but the restaurant was pretty empty so I guess it wasn't needed. Our host and waiter were both very nice and professional. They welcomed us in and sat us pretty quickly with water, menus, and the special for the night. We chose to sit out on the patio because the weather was nice that evening. The ambiance was nice with water features at the center of the patio and live music playing while we dined. Overall, I would go back to try the regular menu and sit inside to see what it's like.
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Cherylynn N.

Yelp
3.5 STARS The best part of Oveja Negra? The QUAINT courtyard patio with live music: https://tinyurl.com/y3zj6xxz You don't hear or see the obnoxious cars driving in laps, revving up their engines and blasting their music on Mantana Row. As a hotel resto (Hotel Valencia), you gotta manage your expectations tho. I haven't stepped foot into Hotel Valencia since the V-Bar hey days and wanted to try something new (to us) on The Row. I found Oveja Negra on Yelp. Rezzies were easily made an hour prior and there were plenty of open time slots for a Saturday evening. It was pretty empty the entire time we were there. Open all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Indoor and outdoor dining. Dogs are allowed in the outdoor courtyard for a meal but only service dogs are allowed in the hotel rooms. M E N U Globally inspired tapas and paella. Full bar. D R I N K S * Vesper, Hendricks ($21) // 3 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/3z3wk9wr It was ok, heavy handed with the vermouth so it ran too sweet for me. F O O D * Signature Braised Beef Cheeks w/ mushroom puree, toma point reyes cheese ($30) // 3.5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/54ee6ys3 Rustic taste with modern presentation, the meltingly tender beef cheeks are served over creamy, earthy mushroom purée. Didn't taste the toma cheese tho. The beef cheek was a small portion, smaller than the palm of my hand and I have kid sized hands. Looking at previous pics, this dish used to include pommes purée and a mound of mushrooms. Not anymore, blame it on shrinkflation. * Beef Short Rib w/ mojo verde ($32) // 3 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/y7586jpu The short ribs were fork tender but bland as was the mojo verde. * Marmitako: Seared Yellowfin Tuna w/ spicy tomato sauce, potato coquette ($32) // 2 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/tzkm8k2c Best part of the dish: the crunchy, creamy soft potato croquette and [not spicy] "spicy" tomato sauce. While a generous fish portion compared to the other two dishes we ordered, the fish quality was meh - dry and stale tasting. The dish is like wearing a puffer with flip flops. Disjointed. Not sure why you would pair grilled tuna with something heavy. S E R V I C E Polite but awkward and slow. A M B I A N C E Beautiful Spanish style villa with a rustic indoor dining area and a large open-air courtyard with waterfalls and live music. P A R K I N G As of August 2024, parking at The Row is free for the first 2 hours, then $2/hour thereafter (same as Valley Fair across the street). Overall, if you're looking to escape the bustling weekend crowds on The Row, Oveja Negra is a good place for drinks on the courtyard patio. Food is as expected for a hotel resto....mediocre. But hey - it's all about "vibes" these days, right?
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mong linh n.

Yelp
I hate giving any restaurant below 3 stars, but with the experience from last night .. I feel like it's justified Overall food came out quick and our server was great. I feel like srow doesn't have good goood food. Most restaurants here are just pricey and people are there for the vibes. Well this is just another one of just that. We had ressys for 6PM and opted to sit inside. It was pretty dead. One other couple and a family at the other end of restaurant. We had a group of 6, so we were seated in the back of restaurant. Now let me make it clear... I know I am a loud person, and when my girls and I get together we talk and catch up and can be loud. I acknowledge that, but we are in srow where people drink hangout and catchup. Which is pretty normal. It's not like we are in some elegant crazy Michelin restaurant or some fancy shmancy dinner place in Napa. Anyway, a worker came by to ask us to be quiet. Already ruined our mood to enjoy rest of our dinner. As we were leaving he opened the door for us, and just that smirk smile which was ew. He could've ended it on a better note by saying "thanks for stopping by ladies have a great night". But the way he did it did not seem friendly at all. Anyway we prob left around 8, and the restaurant was still completely dead! There was still just another 2 tables as we were walking out. Soooooo this place was just not for us, and we would not be back.
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Mark M.

Yelp
Great little spot. Two brothers from Argentina that run it and they are super nice. Good food. Empanadas are delicious. Taste fresh. Desserts are great too. Definitely recommend trying this spot!
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Victoria N.

Yelp
Made a reservation for my husband's birthday on Friday through OpenTable. We arrived on time and were seated promptly, but the host didn't say much and there were five other tables with people eating. Our server came by quickly, but we weren't ready to order just yet. When we were, we asked for the eggs royale, açaí bowl, and 2 peach Bellinis. After a long wait, she came back ~25 minutes later to let us know the kitchen never received our order due to a POS issue -- but that the meal would be comped. Wow, lucky us! 5-10 minutes after that, she told us they were out of peach and made strawberry prosecco instead. She mentioned we could ask for something else if we didn't like it after trying, but didn't follow up. Our food finally arrived 50 minutes after ordering. Food was great, except for the visibly half a portion of hash browns that were served. She said she'd bring more hash browns after acknowledging that that wasn't a full portion and she never did bring them... The hash browns were lukewarm to almost cold and I was really looking forward to the hash browns too. The restaurant had nearly cleared out with one table left after we finally received our food. One new family arrived and had to wait a few minutes before the waitress showed them to a table. The food itself was delicious, but the long wait and missed details (like the birthday note on our reservation) made the experience feel a bit disappointing. We appreciated the comped meal though, but it wasn't the birthday brunch experience that we had hoped for. There was one other friendly server that dropped by and cleared our plates and we were on our way after leaving a tip. Restaurant was pretty much dead by then, except for two tables left. Music was also turned off and you could hear the awkward static in the background. I don't think we'd be back, maybe dinner...?
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Heather R.

Yelp
We saw the word tapas and got excited, but finding this place was a mystery in itself! You have to go up to the third floor, then down the hall, then down the outside hall, and then the entrance really doesn't feel like the entrance (maybe we went in the wrong door)? Inside, the ambiance is very unique. There is one half of the room with white "egg" looking chairs, and the other half has these bulky chairs fit for a queen! The service was good and very attentive. My water glass was never half empty. Food is served tapas style, but portions were larger than most tapas restaurants. We tried: -Cheese platter, Meat platter: Good but small portions -Spicy chicken croquettes: 4/5: Definitely packed a little kick. Good sized and the aioli was a nice touch. -Tomato toasts: Huge, simple, delicious -Brussel sprouts: 3/5: Cooked well, seasoned well. -Mushrooms: 5/5: Delicious, simple, but on the smaller side -Seafood paella: 5/5: Huge portion, great for sharing with a table. Lots of fish.
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Elisa G.

Yelp
It's pretty quiet at Oveja Negra inside Hotel Valencia and I wasn't sure if they were open today on 12/17/24. The servers were hiding in back and someone finally came out to take my order. She is nice The superfood salad has no lettuce, just quinoa The wild mushrooms were too oily. It was a weird lunch to say the least I think this is a better place to have continental breakfast when staying at the hotel.
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Neeta M.

Yelp
Celebrated my friend's birthday here - we came early and they gave us seats immediately. We sat in the atrium next to the water falls. Gorgeous place. We food quantity was much more than I expected. The spicy chicken croquettes were my fav and the sangria had fresh food pieces - yum!
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Momo P.

Yelp
I'd been wanting to try this place. Went for breakfast and was surprised we were seated right away. Food was delicious. Loved how they didn't rush us. Will be back to try lunch and dinner.
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Ariana H.

Yelp
I wish my experience was not the one I'm about to tell. I did a lot of research for my birthday weekend and I wanted to go to the best of the best. Oveja Negra made it to my first stop of the day. When you walk in it's hard to tell where the restaurant is but we were told to go to the 3rd floor. Once there we found the host who sat us right away. I should have taken it as a sign how empty it was. Once sat the server came to give us water. We ordered the Patatas Bravas as an appetizer and it was a disappointment. They were crunchy but felt oily and BLAND. Everything was so bland. We added as much salt as possible to eat it since we were starving but they were not good. We put our food order in, but honestly we barely saw our server in this very small area with less than 3 tables. Classic Spanish Omelette was BLAND again no flavor whatsoever. It looked weird too when you cut into it was watery and gross. The only good thing on the plate was the bread and all they did was toast it. Chicken and Prawns with rice. The rice was ok, a lot of cilantro flavor. Again flavorless, my MIL had to drench it in Salt. Last the waffle batter chicken sandwich was average. The waffle batter on the chicken was sweet but nothing special about it. Not one thing impressed us of the food and service. The ambiance was quiet and the decor was cute but that's it. $100 to be so unsatisfied was the worst start for my day. Would never come back or recommend specially not during brunch.
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Heather S.

Yelp
I would give 3.5 stars. Very appealing restaurant with a nice atmosphere and attentive staff. The wine menu could use some work. Not a single Albariño or Granacha. There was a Tempranillo or two but if you're going to have a Spanish focused restaurant you really need Spanish focused wines for a true experience. For my first drink I had a Santana 75 which is a French 75 with their added flair of raspberry, it was very good. For my second drink I had the sangria rojo that was good but not authentic. Not a single piece of fruit in it??? From the tapas menu I tried the wild mushrooms. There were other items in the table but I don't eat meat so didn't try those. The wild mushrooms were fantastic and the sherry they used really hit the mark. For dinner I had the vegetable paella that was shared with the table. The flavor was better than most of the other restaurant paella's I've had but there was no socorrat! Very disappointed since this is an essential part of paella. I'm Spanish from my Mom's side so I was hoping for a lot of familiarity but it just didn't hit the mark for me. We had a wonderful time and appreciated the complimentary birthday cheesecake slice but I won't recommend this to someone who is looking to try Spanish cuisine.
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Willy T.

Yelp
This was a pricey but pretty experience. It's relatively upscale and not something that I would do too often, but still a cool experience. Honestly I really wanted to try rabbit. I came in a party of 3 and we got Brussel Sprouts, Jamon Iberico, Spanish Octopus, and Paella Mixta. I convinced my party to get Jamon Iberico and I sort of regret it. I think it's overrated and tastes just like prosciutto. The Brussel Sprouts were super fine and I really liked the octopus. They gave use a pretty big piece. The paella I had here was the main attraction. I like it better than the one I had in Long Beach. This paella wasn't too salty and was creamy. The rabbit is slightly gamey and has more fat than the chicken. It also comes and larger chunks and has bones in it. The paella was pretty good and was my favorite part of the meal.
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Rose L.

Yelp
Great ambiance, nice decor, very romantic outdoor lighting. It's inside Hotel Valencia, great date night spot!
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Annie K.

Yelp
Came here Saturday morning for brunch with the bf! Beautiful day to be outside on patio tho we ate inside next to window enjoying AC. We both ordered the Huevos Rotos which comes with 2 eggs, iberico pork, and fries. I didnt know how many fries it would come with! The fries r very fresh and skinny and remind me of McDonald fries in a good way i really liked them. I also enjoyed the what seemed like poached eggs on top and the iberico ham. It is aged and kind of prosciutto consistency .. thinnly sliced but stringy as well. The dish was not too salty and enjoyable with ketchup and tabasco sauce. I would def be back bc i like how quiet it is here with good food.
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Nohemy C.

Yelp
My husband and I came on a Friday for a lunch date. It was really quiet, only two other tables with guests. You take the Valencia Hotel elevator to the third floor and walk through the lobby of this Mediterranean style hotel. As with everything at Santana Row, you are paying for the location . We sat outside in the courtyard and every staff member was hospitable and super attentive. The menu isn't large and has about 10 tapas, 10 entrees, and an average drink menu. We chose the spicy chicken croquettes (3 per order), the patatas bravas (large bowl), and shared the beef cheek (small portion). It was enough for us for lunch but if we were hungrier, definitely would have needed a third appetizer or our own entree. Everything was delicious, full of flavor, and tasted fresh.
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Kristine S.

Yelp
Came here with several friends and had a nice dinner. Food was great especially the Spanish octopus. Perfectly cooked that we had to order another one. The other food we ordered were good but for my taste buds it needed a little something else to elevate it. Some acidity may have helped some of the dishes. Service was good and quick. It is a little dark inside which made reading the menu a little difficult but other than that it was a good place to celebrate a friend.

Roberta G.

Yelp
I had my 60th birthday celebration with about 14 of my closest friends. Was not at all impressed with the food! Everyone there said how I cook better pallea! I did not find one piece of chorizo and barely tasted any saffron. I felt I was overcharged for the quality! The bread I ordered was $60 and I did not think that they spent more than $20 to make it, but the worst was the seafood pallea it came with shrimp with heads and eyes! The service was okay I was charged a $50 cake cutting fee but my friends actually cut it themselves. The ambiance was okay and the sangria was just blah at $50 per pitcher none the less I'm grateful that the restaurant could accommodate my guests, but very dissatisfied in the servers they only came to bring food, never once asked if we needed anything else! Because I'm an excellent tipper I over tipped the restaurant, and I'm about to email the manager to have him send me an itemized receipt! Overall I said I would maybe recommend the restaurant to others, but I will be honest about my experience! Maybe because of the economy the restaurants have all gone down, I feel this is the case with this restaurant. But when one spends nearly $1000 for mediocre food one wants to let others know about their experience! Overall I left unhappy! I rate the restaurant and the food two stars ! The service 2 stars and the ambiance and location 4 stars so I'm giving an overall three stars rating.
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Jenelle G.

Yelp
Nestled up top on the 2nd floor of Santana row is a little escape from the hustle and bustle sits the Spanish themed decor restaurant that has all the Spanish favorites from traditional to seafood paella and all the tapas your heart could desire. They have a beautiful event space next door that was reserved for a corporate buyout and it looked beautiful with a mixed indoor/outdoor space. To find this place enter the hotel and take it to the 3rd floor walk down the hallway last the hotel desk and to the podium in the right and you have Ovejas Negra. They have a full bar and sangrias that pair well with whatever you order. They also have a special Tuesday course menu I would come back to try. We ordered the traditional paella that had rabbit, chicken and shrimp. Everything was flavored very well and seasoned only thing missing was the Sofrito bottom but maybe this was a different style. We also started with the potatoes brava which were crispy even at the end of the night.
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Avivi W.

Yelp
This place was good, but I do think that it is over priced for what you receive! I really enjoyed the ambience and how cute the outdoor seating area is! However, we weren't able to end up sitting outdoors because they did not have any heaters. The food was good, but not astonishing for the price ($200 for 2 people). The service was also just alright. Not sure if I would come back to this place again but definitely a good one time experience.

Yidong Z.

Yelp
Nice restaurant inside Hotel Valencia with a relaxing vibe and patio seating. Friendly and helpful staff. I enjoyed the beef short ribs, but the food won't surprise or wow you. Good choice for holiday brunches.
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James Y.

Yelp
A bit tricky to find as it's on the 3rd level of Hotel Valencia, but when you do find it, my oh my, you'll enjoy your experience at this little "hidden gem" of a restaurant in Santana Row. With a courtyard and inside dining and a small bar to boot, once you find Oveja Negra,it'll feel like you were visiting somewhere in Europe. And everyone we experienced on our night, from the mature d to our servers and to all those we interacted with were extremely kind and nice. Greeted with a smile and consideration (the finer details). Then let's talk about the food. Delicious, decadent, and we'll put together on every dish we ordered. What especially stood out to me were: The Beef Cheeks (oh my, beef so tender combined with mashed potatoes and wild mushrooms), this dish brings a rustic-ness that us in urban society really only watch on television. The Cauliflower was fried to a perfect balance of crispy outside and soft inside. Paired with what seemed like chickpea hummus with cracked hot peppers, this dish exudes a humble background with hints of spiciness. Then, the Jamon Iberico. Not something that is made by the chef, but this Jamon Iberico, I mean c'mon... Our server (Nemours) was amazing. While we were tucked out into a dark corner (our choice), he checked upon us multiple times. The kicker, he acknowledged my wife's birthday (this was her birthday dinner), and brought us a little cheesecake with a candle. It made our night that much better. Thank you. Oveja Negra, amazing experience.
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Lakwan H.

Yelp
I took my partner here for his birthday and I am so happy we got to visit this place. This restaurant is inside a hotel and is nicely decorated. The ambiance is very romantic and intimate. It's a great place to have a nice date and enjoy the decorations around you. We came during the start of dinner (keep in mind they close before dinner hours). When we arrived there was only one other group of 6 in the restaurant. We got to choose the seat that we sat in. First, we tried the booth but being 5 feet I felt like the booth was too low compared to the table and decided to sit by the window in their two-seater. Our waiter was very nice and efficient, we were checked up on frequently and did not wait long for our food. The drinks were very tasty. We got the death by taxes and Santana drink. and the food was even better. We tried the Tomahawk steak and shared it between the two of us. The steak came with fries, ketchup, their version of chimichurri, and red peppers. We also tried their ceaser salad and ordered a side of potatoes. We also got a cake at the end of our dinner which was a manchego cheesecake. That was the first time I had a cheesecake-like that and it was definitely interesting. Didn't hate it and didn't love it. Overall my experience was great. A waitress boxed our food up for us which I loved. However, the second time we had more food our waiter did not box the food for us and just gave us the boxes to do it ourselves. Overall, the service was fast and lovely. We were in and out of there in 1.15 hours. Definitely will go back. Keep in mind its pricey but a great restaurant to splurge on.

K T.

Yelp
I came back the second time on a Thursday afternoon to this restaurant I was very disappointed this time. The menu had less items and the ones I had in my first visit on a Saturday evening were not there, except for the braised cheeks. Unlike last time, the food was too salty and not good this time For the average cost of $32 per dish, the quantity and quality did not meet my expectations. I won't come back :(
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Ashley D.

Yelp
If you're trying to find this place, it's right next to the hotel. This place inside has an ambiance. The restaurant looks fancy and anyone can take their date here. Our waiter that we received he was constantly checking on us and did an excellent customer service. I didn't have to ask my waiter to refill my water lol. He was really patient with us since it was my cousin and i's first time coming in. The food was good. I like the churros that came with the chocolate and the chocolate came out very rich flavors.
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Hang T.

Yelp
I'm sure most people have gone to Teleferic Barcelona in Los Gatos or Palo Alto for their Spanish food craving. I don't know about everyone else, but I think the food is far superior to the one in Los Gatos at least (haven't been to the other location). My husband and I went here on a random Thurs for a date night. It wasn't packed in the beginning (we arrived at 6pm, but gradually more people starting coming in. I feel like people don't really know about this place because it's not on the main strip and it's on the third floor of a hotel. Most of the diners are probably guests. Service was excellent. Very nice, helpful, and prompt. The food was excellent. We ordered the beef cheeks, short ribs, and the seafood paella. Everything was delicious. The mushrooms that came with the beef cheeks *chef's kiss*. That was the best part. So good that my husband who hates vegetables voluntarily ate it. The paella was filled with seafood and the rice was the perfect texture. It is a little pricey so I wouldn't recommend it for a random dinner out. It's more like for a date night. A cozy atmosphere for some good food and drinks.
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I F.

Yelp
Cute place and friendly hostess, but service is really slow and the food isn't great. We had to flag someone down to take our order. I ordered Eggs Benedict with a side of hash browns and the blueberry drink. It was a little bland, and I had to add alot of salt and pepper. The ham in the dish was also overcooked and was too rubbery to cut properly. The blueberry drink, which was supposed to be alcoholic, was basically water with 3 blueberries in it. Probably won't be back.
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Carnie C.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this restaurant on our night out. We came at 8pm on Thursday and the restaurant was basically empty. The vibes of this restaurant are perfect for a date night. The food was also surprisingly delicious! Honestly the wild mushrooms is a must!!!! The flavors were so juicy and delicious. It's definitely one of the best mushrooms dishes I've ever had. The jamon was salty and flavorful, which paired nicely with wine. The pan con tomate also had good flavorful and the bread was soft and not too greasy like others we've tried from different restaurants. Honestly the starters were 10/10. The beef cheeks were very tender and had good flavorful. The potatoes that came with the dish wasn't my favorite and a little to sour for my taste. The black cod was lacking some flavorful but adding some salt and pepper did just the trick. The cod was super tender and fell apart when we tried to pick it up. I'll definitely be back to try more. I highly recommend this date night spot!

Mary N.

Yelp
Food, location and service is supreme. The food and drinks were authentic! The hotel patio opens up the sky! The service was fabulous too!
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Ariel O.

Yelp
The food here was delicious. We ordered shareables and an entree to split, it was delicious! Our waiter German was lovely as well, the service was spectacular from him. Food came out quickly and he was attentive. Ambiance was lovely as each table had a romantic lantern to set the mood, and the table set up was beautiful. Great date spot to impress someone with.
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Ron D.

Yelp
Reservation is a must to this place. Overall dinning experience is good. Food and service are Great. We ordered croquettes and the Spanish octopus as a starter and it was done right. Octopus meat is tender and seasoned right. Croquettes are crispy and not too oily. Then for main we have the squid ink which was so creamy and rice is tender. Baby octopus are also tasty and tender. For dessert we have the classic churro of course and why not. And second dessert is our first time to try the fried cheesecake with vanilla ice cream. Wow it didn't disappoint. It was lightly batterred that provides crispy texture on the outside then the soft inside . When you bite it all together with the ice cream it was a pleasant well blended dessert in your mouth . My wife and I enjoyed our dinning experience here. Will come back for more date nights.

Sima G.

Yelp
9/19/25 I celebrated my birthday at this restaurant with my family. While the setting was pleasant and the guitar player was very good, the service and food were disappointing. My son brought me a large, beautiful bouquet of roses. I asked the hostess to place it in a vase and bring it to our table. Unfortunately, the bouquet was never brought back, and amid the celebration, I forgot to follow up. We left at 8 PM, and I only realized at home that my flowers were missing. I returned the next morning at 9:30 AM to retrieve them, only to be told by the morning supervisor that the bouquet had been 'discarded'-- because I "didn't take it." There was no apology, just a casual explanation that what the evening supervisor said. I found this careless, disrespectful and ignorant. As for the food: * The gazpacho soup, which is traditionally tomato-based, was served as a bright green, watery liquid with a few cherry tomatoes thrown in. It was bland, tasteless and uneatable and no one offered an apology or replacement. * The braised beef cheeks were too salty. * On a positive note, some tapas we ordered, were enjoyable. Overall, it left a bad impression -- especially on what should have been a memorable celebration.
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Jeff W.

Yelp
Oveja Negra is in a very nice hotel on the 3rd floor. We were seated in the courtyard by the fountain. It was very nice. We were the only customers in the courtyard. It was a holiday so and we ate pretty late for us at around 6:30 pm so there were not too many people there. We started out with salad and we ordered the octopus plate and the chicken shrimp and rabbit paella. The service was very nice and the waiter came out with our first course the salad. However, my wife said that the salad had old leaves, not very fresh and the waiter was gracious enough to remove it from our bill. The paella was presented very nice, but my wife thought it was slightly salty, but I thought it was pretty good for my taste. Overall we thought that the restaurant was very nice and we thought to ask to see the breakfast menu. We are thinking that this would be a great place to try to go for brunch one day and so we'd possibly may come back again.
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Katrina V.

Yelp
I had to make a return at a store in Santana Row, but I realized that it didn't open for another after I had arrived. I figured that now would be a good time to grab breakfast. I wanted more than a pastry from Blue Bottle or Cocola, so a quick search led me to Oveja Negra. I noticed that Oveja Negra was one of the few restaurants that opened super early in Santana Row, probably because it services Hotel Valencia. I arrived around 10am on a Sunday and was able to easily get a table for myself. I got a table indoor, yet I sat by the window and got great views of the outdoor courtyard. Service was fine. I did find that my breakfast took a long time to be made, but the hospitality from my server made up for it. I ordered The Hipster, which was basically a veggie omelette with a side of breakfast potatoes. I could also choose an extra side, so I got the gouda grits. Again, the food was just fine. The Hipster was loaded with grilled veggies, but it could've used some salt. The breakfast potatoes were nicely crispy. I liked the flavor of the grits especially coming from the smoked gouda, but I thought that the grits needed more time to cook through.
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Lyndaa T.

Yelp
I went there for my boyfriend's birthday and I will never ever go back to this place. It was by far the worst restaurant we've ever eaten at. The food was gross and extremely expensive for what it was. The bill was around $250 for 4 appetizers, 1 cocktail and 1 obscenely gross and dry paella. I was heartbroken when the paella came out because I had chosen this place specifically because of it and because my boyfriend is a big fan of it but OMG ... What came before us was a monstrosity that was so tasteless and dry, we barely touched the dish and the server was even surprised we didn't want to take the leftovers home ... We both went to Spain and I am french so I can assure you we know our stuff and this restaurant is really not it!!! The ambiance is definitely what you pay for...
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Constance L.

Yelp
Came for a friend's birthday and it was lovely, gorgeous venue and quieter than you'd expect even though it's right on top of Santana Row! Plates here are pricey and only some of the food hits the spot. - Lobster arancini, 5/5: Perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with the freshest tasty corn salsa. Definitely order! - Basque style seabass, 2.5/5: The fish was cooked well but not particularly flavorful or tender. The artichokes were also pretty plain and could use more seasoning. The dish overall was very average. - Yucca frita, 2/5: Very crispy, but plain and had an unpleasant texture. Maybe they were undercooked? They were SUPER tough/hard to bite.