San Chez A Tapas Bistro

First visit to Grand Rapids—impressed w service, drinks, and food here. Liked the atmosphere except music was a little bit loud. Loved their fresh salad w red grapes, blue cheese, and honey toasted cashews. My friend and I really loved the small plate dishes! All were great!

The chef creates uniquely yummy food, but the price is high. They have a unique presentation. The food is hearty and very satisfying. The kitchen does a great job with the pork. The steak dish is a full meal. Also, the shrimp are well taken care of and slightly delightfully sweet. They offer a scrumptious chocolate peanut butter dessert.

Pricey for the portion that you get, but the taste is worth the trip! The goat cheese appetizer paired with the baguette was so simple, yet so good. Definitely a must to start the meal. Also recommend the peppered steak with the tortellini. It was cooked perfectly! Least favorite was the ahi tuna. Couldn’t taste much jerk and was not a fan of the chunky carrots. Definitely will be back to try more!

Had a great time! The food was great, service absolutely top-tier, and there are truly options for everybody! I had multiple dishes pictured, but my absolute FAV was definitely the empanadas. I would order them all on their own to-go! They blew me away! I suggest grabbing a few dishes, as it is a tapas restaurant, so you should come with a family style dinner mindset! (Which I personally love) Also, I shared a video of the introduction they give when they bring over your paella/tapas dishes. He was so kind and well-spoken! I just thought it was the sweetest thing. 12/10, will be back!

San Chez Bistro is beautiful inside and out. Their staff is knowledgeable about allergies, and they have a guide to the major allergens that tells you what is safe to eat (green), what you can eat with modifications (yellow), or what you can't eat (red). If you need a modification, it tells you what modifications need to be made. The food was delicious, I had the vieiras y tocino which is seared scallops and pork bełly. I also had a side of gluten free bread which came with a delicious dipping sauce. My mom had the Queso De Cabra which is baked goat cheese, tomato sauce, and garlic toast. The waitress did inform us that it could be made gluten-free by using the gluten-free bread but she went with the garlic bread instead. The decor inside the restaurant is beautiful and even in the bathroom there are many murals which make it an enjoyable experience wherever you go 😆.

Brunch or tapas. You can’t go wrong. I’ve been when everything was perfect. Only once I’ve been when a couple items are less than par. Overall, we are usually very happy when eating here.

Really enjoyed this place. Went here for brunch as we were passing through the state. Wasn't expecting to stop at a Spanish tapas resturaunt in Grand Rapids but it did not disappoint. Highly recommend.

Wonderful staff. Kaleb, our server was engaging and friendly. The food was well presented and executed. Nice upscale version of authentic Spanish cuisine.

Everything was fantastic! Layne was a great server, kept the small plates coming at the perfect rate. It has a very nice, somewhat casual ambiance. Very convenient location near hotels and the arena. Our favorite dish was the Bistec Con Pimieta, the peppered steak and tortellini in cream sauce. We also had Queso de Cabre, Piquillo Relieno, and Langosta En Crema. The apple cobbler was great, as well as the Très Leces.

Noted in the reservation that we were there to celebrate a birthday. While that was acknowledged at check-in, nothing else during the evening was done to help make it a special-ish occasion. We were seated at the base of the stairs to the balcony in a very high traffic area. Not a very intimate space. A standout positive was that they had a food allergy/intolerance listing that they provided up front. Ordered the paella once seated because it can take 45 minutes. Also ordered the roasted, harissa olives, the goat cheese and pesto with roasted red peppers, and the goat cheese stuffed dates. The goat cheese and pesto had potential, but was served way too cold. The pesto was good, and the rest, meh. Mixed opinions on the goat cheese stuffed dates in the harissa sauce. One thought it was too much like chili, the other liked the plumpness of the dates that were caramelized, which was a contrast with the spiciness of the harissa. Birthday boy got the olives - enjoyed a platter full of various olives, heated and nicely roasted. The paella was a bust, although it did come quicker than expected. It had 5 mussels, 4 shrimp and one, too-slimy octopus tenacle. Overall, it was bland. It had no crispy rice bottom crust. It was just so lacking, so bland. Normally, we love Spanish wines, and we ordered some by producers we typically order, but they were not as good as what we normally drink at home.

This place is pretty good and has a nice vibe to it (I think it is very pretty at night), but I don't know if I'd say this is my favorite tapas place! Nevertheless, the service was quick and very friendly. Still a good place to try if you haven't gotten around to yet. BUT if you are to try this place, go during Happy Hour! The dishes are quite reasonable for the prices they offer. We got three tapas dishes: Medjooles Rellenos, Patatas Bravas, and Vieras y Tocino. Because of the sweetness of the Medjooles, I'd recommend eating as one of the last dishes. They were good! The dates and the stuffed goat cheese were well baked. Patatas Bravas were good and had a nice crispy exterior texture to it which made it fun to eat, and the Vieras y Tocina was alright. I expected to enjoy the dish more because among the other dishes, this was supposed to be the juiciest and flavorful, but it was just alright. I've had way more juicy pork belly, and this one just didn't hit the spot. Maybe because I've had really amazing fat scallops in my life, I was expecting slightly more with their scallops. But anyway, service was warm and friendly! I did enjoy my time there.

My relationship with San Chez goes back over 16 years. Many of my major life events were celebrated over the delicious empanadas and creamy blue cheese fritters served with a friendly smile. The ambiance continues to be warm and energetic, but in a way that feels relaxed and comforting without putting you to sleep. The Spanish concept of "tapas" which roughly translates to "small plates" is my favorite way to enjoy new food (and old favorites) because you get to enjoy multiple options and are not tethered to a choice you may not like (though honestly, there are no bad choices here). In a recent visit to celebrate by wife's birthday, I had the pleasure to try the Alcachofas A La Parilla which are artichokes hearts - not usually one of my favorite vegetables. However, this dish was so flavorful and bright that it outshone even some of my old favorites dishes as my unexpected favorite. This way of dining encourages being bold and adventurous. And with flavors like these, you may never go back!

This is a great happy hour spot, and a pretty good dinner/special occasion spot overall. We had a reservation for 7pm. Each tapas is 2-3 servings, maybe 4 max if everyone had small bites. Some tapas are worth ordering 2 orders for table. We ordered the stuffed dates and potatoes bravas as double-orders for a table for 7 people. For 2, we shared the bistec and the lamb osso bucco. The quality and ambiance is always good here!

So, it's been several months and I am STILL dreaming about this meal. Literally the best I had in town when I was visiting Grand Rapids. A group of colleagues and I decided on this restaurant for our "fancy" dinner out - and we were NOT disappointed. Our server was very attentive and was extremely patient with me asking numerous questions about the menu before deciding on the BISTEC CON PIMIENTA - peppered bistro steak grilled medium-rare over a tortellini in manchego cream sauce. It was HEAVENLY. There were six of us, so we ordered a lot of different tapas and they mostly shared - mine was so delicious, I did not share it at all, LOL. I also got to try few bites of the duck leg (divine!) and the paella (which they are known for apparently). I was so distracted by the delicious food, I forgot to take pictures of most of it, but I'll add the few I have. We left stuffed and happy. If I'm ever in Grand Rapids again for business downtown, I will be visiting this place again!

Concept was extremely cute. Was sad that the food wasn't that tasty. The drinks made up for it though.

Cool vibe, delicious brunch options, yummy cocktails to complement the eats. The waitress, Jess was great. She was attentive and friendly. Definitely worth checking out this place for its food, character and friendly staff.

This is my 5th visit to this place in the last few years. I've tried almost everything on the menu and every visit feels like my first time. The food is always full of flavor no matter what you order. The sangria is a must and so is the queso con hierbas. What stood out during this visit was the Pollo and Chorizzo dish. The chicken literally melted in my mouth. Service was very good. Brett was very patient with us and took good care of everyone. The desert was the literal icing on the cake

Great service! Delicious tapas, salads & paella! Unique & yummy drinks! Great ambience!

Always spectacular and always consistent. One of my favorite dining experiences in GR. If you enjoy or are willing to try new foods, this is the best spot for date night, girls night out, etc. My favorite plate is the octopus and the espresso martini is delish! I always enjoy asking our waitress and/or chef to choose a plate for us - they always do an amazing job and it allows us to try a plate we may not have otherwise chosen.

This place still bangs. Queso con hierbas still slaps. Patatas Bravas changed up a little bit - not as good as it used to be. Used to be the patatas with the two dips you could do--now they put the dip on top for you which is sort of a step back. Pictured: Croquetas are unchanged and fantastic. The Bistec con Pimienta. Fire. And something we haven't tried before: vieras y tocino: seared scallops & pork belly, house-made blueberry chutney. Blueberry chutney wasn't overpowering and not as weird as I thought it would be. Scallops and pork belly both cooked to perfection. I love this place.

Oh. My. Goodness. This place exceeded our expectations. I'm really hoping this is what heaven tastes like. Every single dish was divine (we did the throwdown), and the service was fantastic. Jess was incredible - her service, suggestions, and sweet presence.

Came here on Saturday night with my fiance for our anniversary. The place has two floors and an opened concept with these huge pillars decorated with mosaic tiles. We sat on the top floor overlooking the entire restaurant. The ambiance was moody and fun! We ordered drinks to start with T.b.a, la flor borracha, and ended with bees knees. All great drinks that definitely made us feel good this is a tapas place which means they are small plates. The price is a little more expensive but for our special event we splurged on ourselves. We went ahead and ordered vieras y tocino (scallops and pork belly with blueberry chutney), langosta en crema (lobster with mustard cream sauce and bread), alcachofas a la parilla (artichoke with bell pepper cream sauce), bistec con pimienta (steak with tortellini in manchego cream sauce), pan con tomate (baguette with tomato and garlic spread), and verduras y tortas (quinoa cakes with lemon dressing and salsa). The food was delicious! My fiance enjoyed the scallops and I really enjoyed the different creaminess flavor of the little lobster/shrimp. The service was impeccable! Everyone was so friendly and explained our dishes with a smile. Our server was great and recommended freat drinks and the two gentlemen who delivered our food were genuine as well. We would love to come back when we get the chance for another special occasion!

Overall, wow. A must go to restaurant in GR. Service from Brett was fantastic. We sat on the patio which is in the back of the restaurant. There's were some mix ups with food going to the correct table and we ended up with a dish we didn't order (not pictured but was the tuna). I HIGHLY recommend the Paella- the rice mixture itself was very flavorful and being able to choose the add in options was a great way to personalize for the table. All of the food items were delicious. I think next time I wouldn't order both the croquettes and Fritos but both are unique in their own. Pretty easily made vegetarian friendly by asking for sauces on the side. Bill was just under 300 but we had quite a few cocktails. Happy hour is from 2-6pm!

We always enjoy an evening at San Chez...great food and ambiance. Tonight we celebrated our daughter's birthday with a small group and our server, Jess, made it extra special with a Tapas Throwdown®! Thanks so much, Jess!!

Delicious tapas spot! Would recommend ordering at least 5 dishes for groups of 3, we left a little hungry. The octopus was devine! Service was also excellent

Just came here after experiencing a beautiful Christmas show. We had coffee, tea and the most amazing desserts. Sanchez is still my favorite go to for delicious food and their desserts don't disappoint! I had the chocolate cobbler with raspberries and chocolate gelato. I loved the dark chocolate and warmth of the cake against the creaminess of the cold gelato. Highly recommend. My mom had the pastel de banana and it was packed full of flavor. I tasted the sugar glass and was surprised with the blueberry flavor embedded in the decoration. Love Sanchez! Service was great too.

Over the weekend, there was a concert so me and my friends had a hard time finding a place to eat without a wait time. I was visiting with friends from Chicago just for one night because we were going to Holland, MI the next day for the tulip festival. Overall, seemed like good vibes inside. It seemed like a popular spot for locals. For the table we ordered 10 tapas which was the perfect amount for 4 people. And honestly the food came out pretty fast. We ordered: - Ham & cheese board: midnight moon, chef's selection cheese, and salami - Patatas bravas - Croquetas - Ajo al horno - Empanadas - Medjooles Rellenos - Calamaritos fritos - Vieiras y tocino - Bistec con pimienta - Pollo y chorizo a la plancha My fav dishes were the patatas bravas, empanadas, and the bistec! The bistec was really tender and flavorful and it laid on a bed of tortellini which was something unique. My least favorite would have to be the croquetas and the calamari. The croquetas had such a weird texture to them. The calamari was just bad - very soggy and more peppers than calamari pieces. It came with 2 sauces that didn't pair well with the calamari.

We were really disappointed with a recent visit. We had a reservation at 6 for 2 people. We ordered a bottle of wine and 4 dishes right away. At 745 we had only received 2 plates and our wine! We asked our waiter about it and he said "they were up" ran downstairs and got our two dishes. They were luke warm and we had to inhale it because we had a show at Van Andel at 8. Crazy for a meal over $100. We will not return because the service and food were so disappointing.

Came here for a work dinner party, and tried just a little bit of everything! Tried some new foods I had never had before, and had some new versions of foods which was super interesting! Perfect place to come with a group if you want to try everything. Their mocktail list was so fun, along with a great drink menu with alcoholic beverages! The service was great, we had two long large tables upstairs.

I feel like a little bit of a fraud for never having been here before- it seems like every GR local jumped on this place before I did So when a friend suggested we go, I was all in! I'd never been to a tapas restaurant that was served family-style like this, and it was so much fun! We ordered a plate or two at a time to split, and we really got to enjoy each thing because of this serving style. I had a Grand Rabbits beer from Black Rocks to drink, which has been a long term favorite of mine. My friend had their house red wine, which she swears by! We started with the croquetas, which are potato and smoked cheddar croquettes, and they came with garlic aioli and arbol honey. Then, we ordered the queso con hierbas (goat cheese, roasted red pepper, and pesto on grilled bread) and the medjooles rellenos (honey-cardamom goat cheese stuffed dates on spicy harissa sauce). All of the food was sooooo good, and I loved the variety that came with ordering multiple plates to split. We finished our meal with the tarta y trufas, or flourless dark chocolate tarte with chocolate ganache, raspberry sauce, and chocolate truffles. Service was a little iffy at times, but the food and the ambiance were so great, it made up for it, and they still get five stars There's not many restaurants that I'm really excited to go back to right after I leave, but this is one of them! See ya soon probably San Chez!

Very accommodating for people with dietary restrictions! This dish is already vegan. Great service too.

We had a spectacular time here! I made a reservation online for two and asked for a window booth if possible. They honored this request and it made me feel so special. Our server was remarkable. I felt well taken care of all night long. She was so considerate, so helpful, and so incredibly kind to us through out the night and I think this truly made our experience so amazing. I enjoyed a glass of Pinot Noir and it was half off for happy hour! They have a lot of drinks and tapas with discounted prices from 2pm-6pm. We ordered the Croquetas, Empanadas, Gambas Al Ajillo, Queso con Hierbas, and Vieiras Y Tocino! Loved every single one of these! Tapas are so fun to me because I love trying new things and getting a taste of alot of items without getting full too fast:) For dessert I ordered the vegan option Tarta De Bayas and it was good but I probably wouldn't get it again mostly because of the texture. It was just alright in my opinion. But everything else was so packed with flavor and I just can't wait to come again and try more! Come here if you're in the area! You won't regret it!

Not only is this place super cute but the food is great and the service was even better. This place caters to everyone and it's a pretty big restaurant so there was no wait (an ideal scenario for an impatient person like myself). They have non alcoholic drink options, and vegan and gluten free food options. The employees are nice and attentive and they really enhance the experience. And they take dietary restrictions seriously which is great for someone like me. The restaurant itself is super cute and the bathroom has hand painted murals which I personally love. And they play great music. The ambiance is fun and welcoming. They also serve lunch and dinner so if you don't make it for brunch you can aim for a different meal and I'm sure it's just as lovely. I would definitely recommend stopping by if you can even if it's just for a quick drink or bite. Oh!! And they allow you to take cocktails to go which is kind of fun.

San Chez consistently delivers in food, service, and ambiance! We always get the octopus, as they are hands down better than anyone in town. We managed to hit happy hour, which definitely helped with our caraffe of red/white sangria. Edith, our delightful server recommended the stuffed dates, which are little balls of happiness.

Just had our kids 21st birthday at San Chez and what a great experience! Kudos to our lovely wait staff and a special shout out to Jess who looked after us beautifully and could not have been nicer! She helped us pick an excellent assortment of dishes for our party of 11, the food came out at exactly the right moments, and we all got to try things on the menu that were interesting and delicious. Thanks for a great evening, Jess and San Chez!

Didn't love it but didn't hate it. Good variety of tapas options that are a little overpriced for what you get. The food runners might have been having an off day because we (and other tables near us) kept getting the wrong dishes brought to our table. The seared scallops were good and the steak had good flavor. Would not recommend the paella though - the dish is traditionally on the saltier side but theirs was unbearably salty.

Incredible experience dining at San Chez Bistro. Our friends were in town and we did the tapas. Everything was so delicious and drinks were tasty too. Highly recommend!

Wow, not sure how I havent reviewed San Chez yet! I've been a fan since about 2006 and while there have been quite a few changes over this time to the space and menu, they have been consistently good. Even now I can find things on the menu that I'd get every time over a decade ago. Great spot for an impressive yet approachable meal that isn't outrageously expensive. Most recently I came for brunch after quite a few years of absence. Was happy to see some favorites on the menu but also lots of new items. The brunch menu is more extensive than I remember it being, which is great. I had a breakfast wrap which had steak and a tasty cheese sauce. The potatoes it was served with were awesome. We also tried a smoked salmon tapas dish, as they serve brunch (breakfast) type foods as well as a limited tapas menu (we went on the weekend, unsure if that makes a difference). The smoked salmon bite was a great appetizer portion with interesting flavors. We sat on the deck out back which was quite nice. Service was friendly and welcoming.

Amazing brunch. Also like the paella is amazing! We had my rehearsal dinner here and they accommodated all of us upstairs which was amazing! We love the food and drinks!

Enjoyed a hosted wine dinner event in the upstairs space. Food & service were wonderful. The upstairs space can be noisy/loud - at times it was difficult to hear one of the staff speaking. Each wine was selected to match the food. We heard a little about each wine before each course. Staff went out of their way to accommodate my celiac mother to ensure she had gf items where needed (bread in 1st course).

Amazing sangria and cheese board, surprisingly nice takeout Sangria - 5/5. Mixed option combining red and white is so fun and delicious Jamon y queso - 4.5/5. Got the pick 3 with Mahon cheese, Serrano and salami meats. All good and the complements of salted almonds, super pickled red onions, cherries and a lovely jam. Empanadas - 3.5/5. Perhaps diminished by takeout but I found the filling lacking in flavor. The shell was nice a crispy though Atun - 3.5/5. Nice seasoning but didn't particularly hit the spot for me. Feel like the tuna would need to be fresher or come with more punch on the sauce. Trufas y torta - 3.5/5. Chocolate cake really led by the red and chocolate sauces. Pastel de queso - 3.5/5. Looked incredible but the custard and meringue were both OK

What a great experience we had here. The food was excellent our waitress was very helpful. We never felt rushed and we had the perfect table tucked back in the corner where we could take our time and enjoy the company of our friends. We worked our way through the menu ordering one item from each section and sharing and it was perfect.

There's not much to say about San Chez at this point. It's been around a long time and the locals love it. But, I'm from the east side and I didn't know anything. This isn't a place to come on a quiet, intimate date. It's a bit hip. It's a well-oiled machine. Most of the time the music is a bit too loud. It can get crowded. Fortunately, you can still wait and grab a drink at their bar and it's separated from sitting patrons. The service at the bar and during our meal was great. They have enough staff and it shows. I think half of the reason to come to San Chez is the atmosphere. You want to be part of the bustle, part of the party. The other half is the food and drink. As with any long-standing restaurant, I'm not sure they change their menu much, based on what I've seen from other reviews. So they have their recipes and sticking to them. I'll never get over paying 10 bucks for patatas bravas, but I don't think the prices are that crazy. They had enough Spanish wines to not be disappointed if that's your thing. I don't think anything stands out food wise. It's all well made. They know these recipes. They make these things every day. But... I loved having Remolacha after bread, so you got a lighter taste before diving into bigger things. They were oddly out of croquetas by 6pm on a Saturday, but the Arroz was close enough. Somewhat. I don't think you can go wrong with the scallops, and they were an interesting mix with pork belly. It's a fun place with good food and Spanish wine. All you need.

I ordered the breakfast sandwich at brunch, as well as a white mocha latte (hot). The sandwich was good, egg yolk perfectly jammy, flaky croissant bun, thick swet bacon. I just wish there was a little more on the sandwich - it looks lackluster and overpowered by the bun. That being said, it came with seasoned diced potatoes on the side, which were good and rounded out the meal. Latte was good, nothing life changing but enjoyable enough that I ordered a second. My partner got the breakfast empanadas, which were good and the plate looked more appetizing in terms of presentation, though if I had to compare, I liked the sandwich better. Service was friendly and efficient and the music was great, our table kept singing along. I'd definitely like to try them again. Our bill was about $50 before tip for two meals and two drinks each.

San Chez will always be my favorite. I've been coming here for 20 years. I have so many memories here, through my college years and into my adult life... and now I get to share this special place with my teenage daughter. Hopefully she will be able to do the same. Always exceptional service, food and all-around experience. It really is a one-of-a-kind. Thanks, San Chez... here's to another 20! :)

i'm the 1,000th review! their brunch is so good, it always hits the spot! i highly recommend the queso con hierbas if you love bread, goat cheese, and pesto like i do :) the service is nice and attentive. on the day of your birthday you can get BOGO tapas!

The stuffed dates are my favorite!! I regularly pick this restaurant as a birthday breakfast spot!

My friend and I went here for the first time today. It was the BEST breakfast I've had in a long time. We split the French toast and the traditional breakfast. It was phenomenal!!! Our server, Ben, was also delightful. He was super sweet and gave us a good laugh. Ben, keep doing great things and best of luck in Virginia! You are such a kind soul! 10/10 service 10/10 food 10/10 atmosphere!

This was my second time dining at San Chez, and my second time to be utterly delighted! My mom, who'd never dined there before, and my partner and I had such a wonderful experience. Our server, Layne, was just the right amount of attentive and gave such excellent recommendations! Tapas after tapas, we looked across the table at each other and said, "That was my favorite!" before another dish came out - only to be ultimately topped by the scallops and pork belly. We're a rice-eating family, and asked for a couple of sides of white rice to soak in the delicious sauces. Do it. Worth it. Additional shout out to Layne. Engaging, curious, expert regarding the menu and things we'd like based on what we'd had previously. Just did a fantastic job and made it even more of a joy to dine at San Chez. We'll be back!

We met friends here for breakfast on a Sunday morning at 930AM - lots of seating available but it did get busy as the morning went on. I had already scoped out the menu before we arrived - they have a small but eclectic mix of items, something for everyone. They offer breakfast cocktails, as well. They all looked so good. I already had my heart set on the breakfast empanadas and our servicer recommended the side of gravy with them - he was not wrong! I also got a white bean quinoa cake on the side - delish! Hubby got the breakfast hash and he literally cleaned his plate. Friends got the french toast - this thing was literally 4" thick! Looked and smelled divine. The casserole scramble also looked so good. You gotta love anything that comes in a skillet! Portions were big enough but not too big. Food came out pretty quickly, too! Oh, don't forget the toast. the sourdough - 10/10. I'd definitely recommend brunch at San Chez to anyone downtown looking for unique and delicious breakfast / brunch options! Plus, parking was not bad on a Sunday morning :)

Exquisite food-- creative, shareable, delicious. 3 tapas + drinks = perfect date night. You can't go wrong here!

Service was very good at the bar, but the paella seemed overly expensive for what was rice and beans, we added chicken and chorizo for an additional 12 dollars and we got two slicers of chicken and 3 pieces of sausage.

We had a really disappointing experience last night. Every top us took so long to get out. When we did receive a couple of dishes, the Toyota chorizo, and the gambas al ajillo both were burnt and absolutely horrible. Looking when the expediter brought it to our table they should've seen how horrible they looked and recognized that to not even serve it. Each dish we did have had very little sauce, as though they were scraping the bottom of the barrel to put some on a plate. When it did come to ordering dessert. There were five or six items that they were completely out of. Definitely not the experience we are used to. It may be a while before we go back. On an additional note, the bathroom, for the ladies was very gross and dirty.

This place is definitely trendy and classy! Fun plates of food bursting with flavor! It is on the pricy side but worth a date night or other special occasion! Staff was very good and helpful picking unique items off the menu to try!

Well, of all the places we've tried in Grand Rapids, San Chez tapas has been the most impressive. Each dish does a yeoman's job of faithfully representing the dishes as I remember them from my times in Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, and the Canary Islands. The roasted olives were perhaps the best ever had by my olive-loving dinner companion, although I showed her that that it's even better when when when mixed with the Manchego tapas. The chicken and chorizo tapas comes with a side of garlic aïoli, which was so good that we got a side of that. (Read on.) The paella, with the chorizo, was beautifully done, especially with a squeeze of lemon. BUT adding the aïoli and stirring just made the dish POP! The pulpo salteado (braised octopus, anchovy aïoli, patatas bravas, and candied lemon) wings my vote for best of show. Perhaps the best octopus I've ever had. Tender, flavorful, beautifully spiced. Our third diner, who had more than some trepidation not this dish, chowed down! The Jamaican jerk ahi tuna did its own great job of both being a fun dish and highlighting the ingredients. The scallops and pork belly, with a blueberry apple chutney, was the weakest dish, brought down a teeny bit by inconsistent cook on the pork. The scallops were damn near perfect. The chutney was a nice touch but the proteins were so good it wasn't really necessary. The cinnamon pecan roll & gelato was a fine ending. We were full and couldn't try them all. With a frequent rotation of tapas, San Chez would be on my monthly visit list, and on our next trip from San Francisco we'll be back, guaranteed! From now on, when someone asks me about the state of Grand Rapids food culture I'll point to San Chez.

We came here for brunch for the first time and we were mindblown by the tapas. We got different tapas, but my favorite was the croquettes!! It's not what you imagine, I promise!! The one star off is the brunch menu we ordered--egg scramble on a skillet. It was so-so. You know what it tastes like. It was pretty ordinary, but a bit pricey. Our server was friendly and made sure we were taken care of. My husband did mention prior that it was my birthday, and he was hoping to get an acknowledgement to surprise me, but that didn't happen, so he was a bit disappointed. Other than that, I'd consider coming back to try other things. But perhaps not on a special occasion.

What wonderful experience! Brett is the absolute best, I've never had my water cup filled so fast and he told us a hilarious story, will definitely come again!