Taberna del Alabardero

If you're looking for a true taste of Spain, this restaurant is a must-visit. From the moment you step in, the atmosphere transports you straight to a traditional Spanish tavern. The food is absolutely good. We tried a variety of classic Spanish dishes (chipirones en su tinta, jamón ibérico, croquetas de boletus, torreznos, and pulpo. About the drinks—seeing Mahou and Estrella Galicia on the menu was a true joy!

My wife had never been to D.C. so I made sure to research restaurants ahead of time. This was a Spanish Tapas restaurant, which was different than the restaurants in the area. We ate outside even though it was still hot that week (July 16). Our waitress was great with us from the get go! I’m sorry but I forget her name but I remember she was from Spain. Knowing this was a tapas restaurant, my wife and I decided to order the patatas bravas and the croquetas de Jamon Serrano. Wow, amazing especially the patatas bravas with that brava sauce with the garlic alioli! For entrees, my wife got the Alaskan salmon and I got the shrimp with something else. I don’t think it was on the original menu. We capped it off with creme brulee as dessert! Definitely my favorite restaurant of 2025!! Highly recommend!!

Wonderful place for dinner. We loved the Spanish decor, and that the servers also spoke Spanish. The service was impeccable, attentive, and prompt. We had the Paella de Pollo y Txistorra and Paella de Marisco for our main course. Both were excellent!

We came in with high hopes, excited by a friend’s recommendation for the paella—but sadly, we left completely disappointed. We ordered two paellas (both in 3-person portions): one seafood, one squid ink. Along with that, we tried the lamb chop, oxtail meloso, garlic shrimp, octopus leg, and octopus carpaccio. Unfortunately, the paella rice was far too soggy and lacked the rich, layered flavors we usually expect—it was overwhelmed by a single, flat squid note. To make things worse, the server didn’t ask if we’d like to take a photo of the paella before serving; they jumped straight into plating it for sharing. The highlights of the meal were the croquettes and garlic shrimp. Ironically, the arroz under the lamb chop had a better paella-like texture and far more balanced seasoning. Overall, this will most likely be a one-time visit for us. We’re left wondering if the portioned paella cooking method affected the taste and texture. Also, for parties over six, be aware they add a 22% gratuity after tax, which is worth noting.

Came here Friday night around 6:15 during restaurant week. Much less crowded than I expected. Food was great and they didn’t surprise us with a service fee like some other DC restaurants. For appetizers we had sausage and croquettes. Main meal was mahi mahi with really good creamy rice. Also rib eye steak which was very good, better than we expected. Almond cake with a bit of ice cream was excellent. Service was friendly, better than we’ve had in many other DC restaurants.

The dining experience was outstanding, with both the food and service exceeding expectations. The dishes arrived promptly, allowing us to savor our meal without a long wait. Having explored numerous Spanish restaurants in the area, I can confidently say that this establishment stands out as one of the finest. The flavors were vibrant and authentic, making it a truly memorable experience.

The atmosphere was pleasant(they had a flamenco show), and the service was good. While some of the dishes were delicious like eggplant and croquetas the main course (the ink paella) was overcooked and tasteless. It was a big disappointment. My friend and my mother that accompanied me said it was decent, but we all knew it was not worth its $88 price.

I came here with a friend for a light dinner and was immediately stunned by the interior -- a beautiful blend of Victorian elegance. - CROQUETAS DE JAMÓN SERRANO: Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and uniquely shaped into cubes. Absolutely delicious! - CALAMARES A LA ANDALUZA CON ALIOLI DE AJETES: Perfectly fried calamari, incredibly crispy, and elevated by the flavorful scallion aioli -- an excellent pairing. - MEJILLONES CON SALSA MARISCADA: The mussels were fresh served in a bland broth. I've had better. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience. The food and atmosphere, I'd happily recommend it and plan to return to explore more of the menu!

After seeing the White House from afar, we walked a few blocks over to Taberna del Alabardero for an early dinner. When browsing quickly on Google, I completely overlooked how elegant the restaurant would be since I was just excited for some tapas. Needless to say, we felt fairly underdressed in our vacation-wear, but the staff didn't seem to mind and took great care of us throughout our meal. With this being more of a fine dining spot, pricing is steeper. Some sections of the menu note that the listed price is per portion (like for paella), so you'd need to multiply the price by the number of people eating it. If you're sticking with tapas, like we did, you don't need to worry about this. While waiting for our food, one waiter came by with a bread basket and I selected a slice of their raisin bread. In general, the service was outstanding. They traded our plates out halfway through and kept our waters full. The waitstaff appears to work together on tending to all tables, which they did with great organization. + PULPO A LA GALLEGA ($20): Tender pieces of octopus were served with potatoes and sprinkled liberally with Spanish paprika. The octopus was perfectly firm and not rubbery at all. The dish overall tasted very natural. + TORREZNOS DE SORIA ($15): This cured pork belly had a super crispy exterior and was sprinkled with what I believe was paprika. The pieces of pork were meaty and had pretty proportionate layers of meat to fat. + GAMBAS AL AJILLO ($19): Plump and deshelled shrimp in a garlic olive oil. Between the crispy garlic pieces and mild heat from red pepper flakes, these shrimp had so much flavor. My favorite plate of the night! + TXIPIRONES EN SU TINTA CON ARROZ ($20): Baby squid with ink sauce and rice. The squid was so tender and I could not get enough of the creamy buttery rice. Definitely order this. + POLLO AL AJILLO ($16): Pan-seared rosemary chicken in a garlic & white wine sauce. While the chicken was nicely cooked, I actually didn't taste much garlic and instead, the rosemary dominated the flavor. Meh, I'd skip this dish. + MOLLETE DE TXANGURRO ($16): The menu describes this as just a crab cake, but it actually came in sandwich form, like a slider. The bread overpowered the crab cake which was somewhat bland by itself. It came paired with a small side of greens, tossed in a slightly tangy, sweet, onion-y dressing. + BERENJENAS FRITAS CON MIEL ($10): Thin slices of eggplant fried to a golden brown and drizzled with honey. I've never had eggplant like this before... it was truly addicting! We loved the eggplant and shrimp dishes so much that we got a second serving of both. At the end of our meal, they served complimentary butter cookies and chocolate crisp treats for a sweet ending. The classy atmosphere, attentive friendly service and variety of food made this a worthwhile splurge and wonderful experience.

Nice Spanish restaurant with an extensive and traditional Spanish menu. Unfortunately my dining companion wanted to eat paella so I did not have the opportunity to try a different dish. However we did have the Serrano and manchego cheese plate which was just the right size as an appetizer. We also had the gazpacho that we both loved and the mixed paella was delicious. Our waiter was very attentive. The hostesses however, we're a different story. They seemed a little flustered with the line of guests and were short in courtesy. Worse part was on our way out I asked if they could call a cab (pretty much the norm in any restaurant) and I was told "they didn't do that". I was with a person with disabilities and wouldn't have asked except I was not familiar with the area. This is a nice restaurant with pretty high prices. I would have expected a little more on the service part. That's the difference between a good restaurant and a great one.

The dining experience was unsatisfactory. The lamb chop was bland, and the oxtail portion was notably small. The chicken and vegetable fideuà was overpriced at $35 per person, considering it only contained noodles, chicken, and a few vegetables. The sangria lacked a distinct wine flavor, and the server discarded the remaining sangria in the pitcher, prompting us to request that the pitcher be left on our table to avoid unnecessary waste. Furthermore, the sangria was excessively diluted with ice and fruit. My dessert primarily comprised whipped cream, and the service was considerably tardy. Despite reserving our table days in advance, we were seated near the kitchen area. We requested a change, but despite other empty tables being available, we were informed that they were already reserved, but they remained empty during our entire stay there. To our dismay, we discovered additional charges on the bill, including a 5% wage fee and a 5% service fee, in addition to the suggested gratuity of 15-22% of the total bill. This pricing structure seemed excessive relative to the standard of service we received.

I was debating whether this would be a 3 or 4 stars. But amazing customer service wins every time! I called last week and made a bday reservation with Ana. We were to be seated in front, or close to the flamenco performance. I explained I had never seen a flamenco show before and it was my bday, so I was looking forward to this. She told me arrive at 7:45, so we can put our orders in, because the show starts at 8 and it is quite loud. Well lo and behold, we are seated indoors and I see a show happening outdoors. I asked the waiter if the dancers travel inside because I was expecting to be seated where I could see and hear the show. She apologized and told me it is outdoors only. I told her this was unacceptable and the only reason I chose this restaurant was for the "flamenco" component. She was very nice, professional and I know it wasn't her fault, but I explained the food was not the determining factor and I could have went to Ruth Chris', so at this point I asked for the manager. I had to request a manager 4 times! The server came back and said there is a table outside, however it won't be right in front. We agreed to move. (Still no manager) Well it was a pointless move, because the point of flamenco is to be able to see the foot work. From our new table, we could see waist up. Now we had a new serve named Juan, who was also nice and professional. I told him my night was ruined and wanted to know how the establishment was going to rectify this. Ramon finally came by, (GM) and he explained, Ana was out sick and they have several Anas that work there, but that those kind of promises should not be made. Nevertheless, there was a bday card waiting at the table, so the message was definitely communicated. An hour later (they must do a show at 8 and then at 9) a table was opening in the front and Ramon said he could move me again but at this point, I declined, we were cozy and already eating. Juan asked us what drinks we would like on the house. It was a nice gesture and we chose a passion fruit cocktail. To make me happy, they went heavy on the liquor. I had to ask for another splash of jugo de piña! But after the seating mishap, let's move on to the food. The tapas we ordered were the bread with Iberian ham. Could have been amazing but the garlic marinade on top, makes the bread soggy. The parts of the bread that were not wet, were crusty and flaky. Maybe the chef can consider putting the garlic sauce on top of the ham, so as to not soak the bread. I would give this a 2.5 out of 5. The mussels meh. They needed a lot more flavor and they tasted just like the sea. I also ordered the garlic shrimp. Now this was out of this world and they came piping hot! I should have ordered 3 servings because that's how savory and garlicky these shrimp were. They also were the perfect texture and not overcooked. I actually started dipping my mussels into the shrimp sauce! The pork belly sighh, had so much potential, but I realize every Hispanic culture prepares food differently: I like mine fried extra hard or crunchy. They leave theirs too soft, so while the pork was seasoned nicely, it was too chewy to be enjoyed. Had it been fried 5 minutes longer, much of the fat would have puffed up and hardened. That was a 3 out of 5. The crab balls were delish and reminiscent of poppers! The surprise hit of the night--the fried eggplant drizzled with honey--perfection! We loved it. I regret not getting an order to go home. I sampled the red and white sangria, and like other reviews pointed out, they are "weak," mostly juice so don't expect anything strong, but we did like the white over the red. The tapas/appetizers filled us up so we didn't order an entree. Now, for the turn of events!! Dessert time was the absolute highlight! We should have started with dessert. I ordered a Spanish French toast that was a giant cream puff. The texture on the outside was golden, crispy and flaky, while the inside was creamy, soft and fluffy. I've never had anything like it and I devoured it. The toast was garnished with fresh blackberries, blueberries and strawberries. This is definitely a brunch dish! We also had the homemade rice pudding--creamy and delicious without being too sweet. Perfect! I asked to sample the mango icecream and it too, was delicious. We should have started with desserts bc I had a smile on my face the whole time while eating the sweets! What started off as my night being ruined--due to the All Star Staff and management, the night was able to be saved! I left feeling happy and full. Ramon, Juan and everyone else made my night amazing, that I almost forgot I couldn't see the show. Definitely give this place a try but if you like fun and lively, you have to sit outside, the inside (unfortunately) has the ambiance e of a funeral parlor. In fact, I recommend they play some flamenco or fandango softly in the background to give it more of a vibe. All in all though, I was very happy with my experience.

The food was so good. We went for happy hour. The olives were European quality. I could have eaten 4 of these bowls! The service was efficient. The ambiance was impeccable. It felt like you were in Spain with the decor and quality of food. There was live music that started at 8pm. We went on a Thursday. Highly recommend.

Wow. Tapas were amazing. Paella (we had 3 kinds) for our party of 8 was perfect portions and savoury.

Spanish restaurant with great atmosphere. Every worker was helpful and attentive. I was not very hungry so ordered a shrimp tapas and pork tapas and the shrimp was seasoned perfectly. The pork was cooked as advertised, but the shrimp was a hit. I completed the meal with apple pie and a coffee. The apple pie was so tasty! Two days later I ate here again and ordered a Tapas calamari and egg plant. I really enjoyed the egg plant it was cut very thin and was crispy like chips. I completed the meal again with another apple pie. Clean place and cool atmosphere. A must try place.

Came here for happy hour after a long day at work. Enjoyed sitting on the patio with the fans offering a cooling breeze. The staff were quite attentive, though one female server took away our utensils when one of my colleagues said she wasn't staying past one round of drinks and the server assumed we weren't ordering tapas or entrees. My caipirinha was delicious and I would have loved some Brazilian cheese bread but after my two remaining colleagues & I finished our drinks, we chose to go elsewhere for dinner.

We made our reservation on Open Table. The food was good, atmosphere is ok. The service is ok; kind of all over the place. The person serving our water had a runny nose and kept on touching her nose . I had to tell her to stop pouring water for us. Servers were standing on the side the whole night blocking us from watching the Band . We were charged a Fare wage fee of 5%. My understanding is that the restaurant has to display that charge before customer orders and this charge was not displayed.

I suppose with all of the restaurants available in DC, if I find somewhere I come to twice in a week - it probably deserves 5 stars. I stumbled upon this restaurant when looking for a flamenco show. I love flamenco and wanted to see some. This restaurant popped up as having flamenco on the weekends. I immediately snagged a reservation. You don't have to buy tickets for the show, just make a reservation during the show time. You can tip the performers at the end if you are so inclined. I was. The first time I went was as a double date, the second time as a girls night. The wait staff remembered me! They even remembered I have a food allergy! Imma call that service. The food? Amazing. We got tapas, paella, and dessert. I loved all of the taps I had, the tomato bread one with iberico ham is so good, the tortilla is prob one of the best I've had, and the apple pie...the apple pie! Delicious. I didn't find anything I tried that wasn't extremely good. I couldn't try a few things on the menu because of my food allergy, which was disappointing - but it was great that the staff knew the menu, ingredients, and cooking processes well enough to safely advise me. They also confirmed everything with the kitchen. The flamenco shows were great. They had musicians and dancers both nights. I am going to return. Next week perhaps?

Totally delighted with this restaurant. Beautiful and classic decor. The service was more than perfect and the food was simply finger-licking good. "Patatas bravas o con allioli" is something you can't miss, the most delicious potato I've ever eaten, "sollomillo de cervical whriskey con patatas" I have no words to describe that sauce, if it wasn't rude I would lick the plate and the "Pollo en salsa de cerveza con patatas" best chicken ever. The price is completely fair and not overpriced for the location! A big plus is that by checking in on Yelp you get 1 free sangria. And it's delicious!

This place is unexpectedly authentic and not a tourist trap,which would be very logical considering their location. Parking was convenient and fully validated.Service was superb,food was almost perfect! We got paella,gazpacho dessert. Everything was very good to perfect. The biggest difference between Alabardero and other places is a flamenco show,which was beautiful performance. Now to cons. Restaurant doesn't have a dedicated scene for show,do very few tables got a full unobstructed view of dancer and musicians. Lastly,prices are pretty high,so this is not a place for regular weekend activities,you can't eat for less than 60-70 dollars per person,even if you opt out drinks. If you have something to celebrate,this is a must to go.

I recently celebrated a birthday dinner at this restaurant on a weekend night, and I'm pleased with the experience overall. We had made a reservation in advance, so there were no issues with waiting. Additionally, they offer parking validation for a garage across the street, which is convenient. The appetizers and main dishes were good, but I must say I remember them being even better when I visited a while ago. The Gazpachos, for instance, used to come in smaller portions, and now they've increased in size, but I found them slightly saltier than I'd prefer. The same goes for the appetizer Pulpo a la parrilla con mojo; they were better than the tapas portion Pulpo, but I found them a bit too salty. However, the main dishes truly shined. The paellas were cooked to perfection, showcasing a deep savoriness from the seafood. And the Oxtail, a personal favorite, consistently lives up to my expectations. It's cooked to the utmost tenderness, which is always a delight. Overall, a solid four-star experience.

Fun place for tapas and paella. The service is fairly formal but also helpful in navigating the large menu. Upscale atmosphere. We had a variety of tapas, all nicely prepared. Definitely merits a return visit next time we're in DC.

I enjoyed the pleasant atmosphere of the restaurant. The seafood Paella was a standout, bursting with great flavors. However, the Jamon Iberico, priced at $43, fell short of expectations and wasn't worth the cost. On a positive note, the rib eye steak was exceptional--one of the best I've had outside my home. It paired wonderfully with the Paella. The truffle croquettes were delicious! The live musician added a nice touch to the ambiance, although some might find the volume a bit loud. Overall, it was a mixed experience with highlights in the food department and a consideration for the music volume. The white Sangria was pretty good, only had 4 glasses :) . Don't forget to check in on yelp and get a free glass of Sangria.

Service: 5* Ambience: 4* Taste: 5* Bought a special on TravelZoo (who knew they had them too?). We paired $99 and you received: Dinner for 2 people: 3 tapas (up to $15 each) 2 paellas to share (up to $34 each); choose from: Paella Valenciana or Paella de Verduras 1 dessert to share (up to $10) Choice of 1 option: 1 pitcher of red or white sangria $29 to use toward any 1 bottle of wine We ordered the octopus and potato, garlic shrimp, and Maryland crab cake. The octopus was soft and tender, my partner remarked that he never liked octopus but now he does because of this dish. The garlic shrimp, can we talk? I mean all my favorites in one, yes please! The garlic olive oil was delectable, we dunked everything into it. The shrimp were perfectly done. The crab cake (only one) was okay and I would choose something else next time. We ordered the lobster paella. Delicious! Lobster, mussels, shrimp, clams and rice with calamari. Plenty to share and we took home leftovers. The dish was delicious. Everything done perfectly, but not over done. Well flavored and tasty. It was a whole lobster (not Langostino) and it was plenty of lobster. Just a wonderful treat. We topped it off with the red sangria. We asked to sample each and the red was the clear winner. Very tasty and refreshing. The brought us 4 cookies a chocolate (good) and another ( also good). We will return when in the DC area.

Great dishes The atmosphere excellent Service are professional I love the seafood paella And the sangria ...omg very tasty

CHECK IN and get a FREE Sangria (Tasty and Light)! We arrived when they opened for lunch. Super nice restaurant. The ambiance was great too. Definitely get the olive bread which was phenomenal! The regular bread was just ok. I ordered the garlic shrimp and my work bestie got the pork belly from the tapas menu. It was enough for lunch. We even got a little cookie and chocolate at the end of our meal! The waitress was quick to answer any questions we had. Also we got the still water and it was great too. Great place!!

The food is fresh and beautiful. A little sweeter than my preference. Nice ambiance and service. We came for early so no reservations needed.

We went for lunch. The food is amazing. My daughter had the lamb steak and I had fish. Both with red wine. Delicious! And the service was as good as the food.

We came here today for brunch because I REALLY needed bottomless sangria. Typically, when I go to brunch, I expect to leave drunk. Three stars for this place because I didn't get the true brunch experience. We made reservations for 1 via OpenTable but it was so dead that we didn't need them. With brunch, you can add "bottomless" red or white sangria, bloody marys, or mimosas. I out "bottomless" in quotes because there's a two-hour time limit and they are SLOWWWWWWWW to refill drinks. We ended up being there for over two hours and at like the 1.5 hour mark, we'd only had like six drinks (my sangrias just had more ice and fruit dumped into my glass, so I wasn't getting a proper glass) and they stopped bringing drinks. Then, when we finally got their attention, we were told it was our "last drink." Kinda rude since they moved so slow. The mimosa my friend ordered was terribleeee. So much orange juice. She kept asking for more champagne and they'd add like a splash. The food was okay. Definitely didn't hate it. I got the chicken in beer sauce with patatas. It was good, but my friend's paella was fire. They didn't give us the concón but .... I guess. The decor here is beautiful but it's not a lit brunch spot and I'm sorely disappointed by the drinks. We did get a free small birthday treat, though. Which was nice.

This is our second time here and we came specifically this time for the DC restaurant week. The food is beyond delicious/well-prepared and the service is amazing (very attentive, water is always filled on time, I asked for mocktails and they brought a different drink menu, a waiter directed me to the bathroom). The interior is also beautiful and not too loud. Overall great experience, and will definitely come back!

Came here for my birthday a few days ago, and it was my first time. The painted ceilings and majestic chandeliers bring you an exquisite taste of Spain without being in Spain. The whole environment had a romantic vibe and the service was immaculate. My favorite from everything that we ordered was the Mil Hojas. It was beautifully made. Excellent presentation. A Flaky, creamy taste of Heaven that I would go back for. Thanks for a great birthday!

Really good food and drinks. I love how cute the ambiance is and was BLOWN AWAY by the service. My colleagues ordered a bunch of paellas and dinner specials that came with an appetizer and dessert for around $40! Great deal; loved this place! Only small complaint would be how hot everyone was inside.

Excellent tapas with outstanding service. Impeccable waiting staff, constant attention. High class decorum and beautiful environment.

I haven't been to Taverna in maybe 15 years and I had forgotten how much I love it. No doubt the month we spent in Spain a year ago heightened my appreciation. When we sat down and saw the menu, I just started smiling and chuckling with fond memories of Spain. There's a selection of lovely Spanish vermouths. We started with ajo blanco for her and salmorejo for me. Wow! Then a terrific assortment of tapas. And wine of course. The service was terrific. The waitress was attentive, and the sommelier very helpful. If you're an old time like me you'll notice that la Taverna has been remodeled either the red velvet replaced and the whole place updated. The menu is terrific, especially strong on seafood. There was a special menu celebrating the Feria de Sevilla and there was another menu about to come out in July. I think I may have a new favorite restaurant in Washington.

Made reservations here for DC restaurant week. $40 gets you an appetizer, a main course and a dessert from that special list. They also have the normal a La carte menu for those who don't fancy prix fix. A quick price comparison showed that the restaurant week menu was a much better deal. Interior was opulent (complete with Spanish style paintings and chandeliers) while elegant. My first course was the croquetas de boletus (mushroom creme fried squares). My companion had the gazpacho Andaluz. Both were excellent. The croquetas were light with a silky filling and crispy coating. The gazpacho was not your typical slightly grainy chilled soup. It was really smooth and rich with a slight acidity. Main course offering included individual entrees (chicken, steak, lamb stew) as well as their signature paellas. The paellas were for 2 people and both diners have to choose the same one. Luckily my companion and I were on the same page and wanted to try the vegetable paella. It came in a hug cast iron pan sizzling. The servers divvied the food evenly onto 2 separate plates nearby before bringing to the table. The rice was perfectly cooked and slightly firm. Saffron was tasted as well as chopped up olives for enhanced flavor. The vegetables included mushrooms, artichoke hearts, roasted peppers of various colors, fava beans and onions. Everything went perfectly together and was very tasty (generous portion as well). Dessert for me was the flan con caramelo. The custard was surprisingly light, as was the surrounding caramel sauce. My companion also loved the cinnamon churros (came out warm) with a smooth semi-bitter chocolate sauce to balance. Service was very attentive and friendly. Warm bread came to the table often (try the olive bread) and the olive oil for dipping was also very good.

Visited for brunch a couple weeks ago for my birthday and this place was amazing. I indicated in my reservation it was my birthday and they gave me a birthday card and a complimentary dessert. For brunch, you get the option of a starter and a main for $35 (uncharges for certain items). The food was amazing, my favorite was the Spanish ham and cheeses. The eggplant chips were so delicious and I'd never ever had anything like this. The paella was delicious, I've had paella in Spain and this was pretty close. My boyfriend got a pork sandwich and I loved the bread - we also discovered next door they have a store which sells the bread. You could add bottomless drinks for $17 extra and my boyfriend tried the white sangria. I had a few sips and it was so fresh and flavorful. Lastly, you get free bread and to pick between 3 types - the olive bread was my favorite. The atmosphere was lovely, a bright green interior and very bright. The service was superb and they do validate parking for a lot right across the street. I highly recommend this spot for a delicious Spanish meal!

Found Taberna del Alabardero on Yelp from their great reviews after giving up on a different restaurant with a long waitlist, so I did not know what to expect. The interior decor is kind of classic, old fashioned upscale restaurant style. Would be a great place for a date, but maybe not so much for business or family with young kinds. Kind of felt a bit out of place here, but the food was great. I had the seafood paella, which was great. The portion can be shared with two people (maybe more) and is still very large with lots of different types of seafood. When they serve the paella, it comes out in a big pan and they split it up table side. They sort of arrange the seafood on the plate almost as if to count the shrimp lol.

It is a fabulous atmosphere here - great artwork, comfortable and cozy seating all part of the traditional upscale Spanish experience. The seafood paella was very good, but light I thought on the seafood. The service was really good. I would perhaps try another dish to see if my rating is accurate. 5 for service and atmosphere, but 3 for the paella.

Came for a birthday, the service was extremely professional. The food was amazing -- the vibe of the place was interesting, like how I'd imagine eating fine dining in the 90s would be. Get the oxtail!

This is the best tapas place I've ever been to. Best paella--we got the lobster seafood paella. Absolutely delicious.

Great experience! Ordered pan tumacaJamon iberico, patatas bravas, and For dessert order the tres leches and churros con chocolate!! Delicious!

Went here for a group wine dinner. Food was great -- favorites were the grouper and the ham croquettes. The dessert was pretty fabulous too (and I am not really into sweets). Service was polite and professional. The private room for our event was too warm (it was an unusually hot April evening) and there was inexplicably some sort of talk radio show coming through the speakers at low volume. Kinda weird. Otherwise, a lovely evening at a lovely venue.

This is great for large groups - we had 15 plus and were seated in the private room. When the door was closed, it felt like we were in a grand dining room at a private residence! Our menu was pre-set and guided through wonderful options. All the food was flavorful. The staff were friendly and helpful during our meal.

We stopped by for our anniversary and was so pleasantly surprised with everything. Food service, ambiance, music, everything was so nice. Service was excellent as well which make this restaurant a place to come back.

Great place. I have some issues with authenticity. Anchovies were out of a can. Paella had mushrooms instead of peas. Otherwise, very professional staff and great ambiance.

3.5 stars if I could choose half a star on Yelp. 1. reservation: a must 2. Parking: street parking, possible to find, may need to walk a bit to get back 3. Food: okay, 3 stars Octopus with potato was an interesting combo, but bland Paella: was disappointing, no seasoning Churros: I love churros, but I didn't even eat half of it. The chocolate dip could be better 4. Drinks: 3 stars. - Yelpers, when you check-in, you get a free sangria, which i liked. The white sangria was good, red not so much - Old fashioned: not good and guess what? they charged $20 for the shot of whiskey I chose, I would've liked to know if on top of $18, you are adding $20 for just 1 old-fashioned, which comes with crushed ice like in a cheap bar and plastic cherry. DON'T get any cocktails here. - Wine: came with floating something, whether it was part of the cork that broke off or that bad of a wine, i don't know, had to send back 5. Service: VERY SLOW. Ordered the paella as soon as we sat down, before the drinks. After 1 hour and 10 mins later, finally we got it. I am now convinced the server never put our order in when we first ordered. 6. Dance: fun and cool This part was cool! A lady dances flamenco and a small band of 2 plays live music. She dances around the tables and it was so fun. All in all, I can't recommend this place for the food, service or the drinks. Just the entertainment I guess.

I returned for Tapas a month later and the Croqetas del Boletas were fantastic. Hot, crispy on the outside and just bursting melt-in-your-mouth goodness inside. Quality shows and the filling is creamy, buttery, and the boleta flavor is something to savor with a glass of roja.

One of the finest restaurants I have dined at in recent memory. Impeccable service and presentation. The interior of the restaurant is so beautiful and adds so much to the overall experience. We started with the Tortilla de Patatas and Jamón serrano y Queso manchego. The wine list was quite extensive. We enjoyed a bottle of Cava. For our entree we enjoyed Paella de pollo y txistorra (Chicken and txistorra sausage). It was served tableside. The flavor and texture of the rice was amazing. The sausage and chicken was perfectly cooked ; nothing was dried out. We then enjoyed a great Spanish Rośe wine with our entree. Our server was so welcoming and attentive (her name escapes me but she is originally from Venezuela). For dessert we enjoyed the Churros with chocolate sauce-so rich and tasty. A special thank you to Sommelier Álvaro Correas for the wonderful tour of the restaurant.

I went here for Restaurant Week. I don't recommend it for this, since it's already an expensive restaurant. If you wanted paella with Restaurant Week, you had to pay an extra $16 on top of the expensive prices already; so you're left instead eating chicken or salmon, which you could get anywhere else. They also give you ONE piece of bread before the meal; seems a little stingy when you know they have the money to give each table a bread basket. But the happy hour menu does look good, and I would go back for that (and the patatas bravas). But they don't have any unique cocktails: it's your standard margarita, mojito, sangria, etc. But the HH prices are at least reasonable.

i had a fantastic dinner here! it was beautiful inside, much fancier than i had expected honestly, but so beautiful! it looks like a very classic spanish restaurant so i really think it's a perfect place for a date night or spot to stop by if you're in the area (downtown). our waitress was so lovely and very attentive, the have a great bread service, and are really friendly and make you feel at home. also, the food was delicious. my favorites were the Gambas al Ajillo (shrimp is an amazing garlic sauce) and honestly the dessert, the Mousse De Maracuya (a passionfruit cake). everything was wonderful! the bread is delicious, i recommend the Pan tumaca, and the portion sizes for the tapas is larger than i expected so i also think it's all for a great price! also, they have a wonderful wine cellar/selection as well as great cocktails! overall, beautiful restaurant with really great food; we're looking forward to going back!0

Came for happy hour, had a red sangria and some pintxos. Food was flavorful and filling, and the sangria was yummy! The waiters were quick and attentive, paying attention and ready to remove a plate or take an order immediately. The outside space is really nice, I sat outside during a quick rain after which they raised the automated patio walls to allow a breeze in. All in all, lovely experience!

DC international is some of the best in the country. Alabardero has an attention to detail that surpasses many in Spain. Someone here has an eye for detail and elegance. The food was perfect, authentic, and comfortable. I had the brunch menu with a delightful calamari.

I decided to walk in after being impressed by their photos online but left unsatisfied. The hostess at the front was super nice. The ambiance was beautiful. I noticed there were mostly Spanish speaking staff which made the restaurant feel even more authentic. But then I noticed one waitress speaking down to other staff in Spanish, maybe thinking nobody would notice. The seafood I ordered was super bland. It was also overpriced.

I wish I could give 0 stars just based on the treatment my husband and I got just from stepping foot in this restaurant. We were looking for a place to eat after attending the cherry blossom festival in DC. We came across this restaurant and asked for a table. Mind you we were dressed more casually (jeans, sweater) for comfortably walking around. We could tell the restaurants was nice-ish, but saw other customers seated outside wearing t-shirts and jeans (also keep in mind those customers were older and "yt" - iykyk), so we didn't think it would be a problem. We walk in and I ask for a table. The hostess seems to immediately have an attitude when asking us if we have reservations. We say we don't, but we didn't think it would be a problem since the restaurant is near empty. She immediately says she can't seat us if we don't have a reservation. Now I'd understand that if the place were busy, but 1) the fact that it was empty, 2) the fact that the hostess had an icy attitude and 3) how one of the workers gawked at us with her mouth open as soon as we stepped in as if she couldn't believe we would even walk in there made it obvious to us that we were not welcome. My husband and I are relatively young and latinx, so we definitely felt like this was directed mistreatment. If you're a POC and prefer not to be rudely attended, I'd say skip this place.

I recently visited Taberna del Alabardero with my family and enjoyed their live Flamenco music and Spanish cuisine. The service was excellent. I would highly recommend their red sangria and seafood paella.

Roscon de Reyes It is the second consecutive year that they have given me a Roscon de Reyes with two "beans" instead of one bean and a figurine. I will never buy it from them again. You ruined the tradition. Thanks

Three of us split several dishes. We ordered the Baby squid, Some ham & manchego, Black paella with squid ink, shrimp, and baby squid, Grilled octopus with mojo. The ham and manchego contained 6 triangles of cheese and lots of yummy ham and some bread twists. I loved it and would order it again. But I would get more bread for that dish. The olive bread was delicious- the girl came around with a basket. The mushroom and truffle croquettes were creamy on the inside, crunchy on the outside and had lots of mushroom flavor. The octopus was perfect! I loved the black ink paella and highly recommend it. They served some cookies after the bill and gave us some to take home. We had some delicious wine to wash it all down. Good crowd for a Sunday night. Service was exemplary.

Went for dinner during the week. Restaurant was busy though food and services were spectacular. Ordered patatas bravas, pork belly, lobster paella, flan, and a pitcher of sangria. Sangria was nice and sweat. Appetizers were excellent and full of flavor. Paella was better than the once's I ate in Spain. Paella portions were massive. Overall food and service were excellent. Very relaxing atmosphere, not a rushed meal.