Solera Spanish Tapas Restaurant And Bar

We ordered drinks and a selection of tapas: calamari, tomato toast, and piquillo peppers. Unfortunately, the calamari, served with a citrus aioli, tasted like frozen calamari paired with mayonnaise. I requested a red sauce—safrito, piquillo, romesco, or anything but mayonnaise. It took quite a while for our server to bring out a substitute, explaining that all sauces were made in-house, so they take longer. What I received was simply ketchup with some hot sauce or chilies mixed in. I didn’t finish the now-cold calamari. The piquillo peppers were lukewarm and served on stale bread, and I couldn’t detect any hint of rosemary honey. As for the pan con tomate, it consisted of cold grated tomatoes on stale bread. True pan con tomate should feature tomato, garlic, and olive oil broiled over sourdough. I'm not convinced about their claim of offering authentic Spanish tapas anymore. It seems something has changed since their opening.

Hoping to try something different, I decided to order the charcuterie board. When it arrived, I felt confused and disappointed; it was small, poorly presented, and I couldn't see any cheese. When the waiter returned, I expressed my confusion about the order and decided to send it back. When we asked for the checks, the manager came over to apologize. I shared my concern about the absence of cheese and showed him a picture I took. At first, he agreed with my observation, but after closer inspection, he mentioned that it was underneath the bread. However, he was very accommodating, removed it from my bill, and apologized once again.

In an area filled with countless fast food joints, numerous Southern and Creole restaurants, and a few excellent steakhouses, Solera stands out as a refreshing alternative. First, let's talk about the food. We enjoyed four different tapas dishes, and we each had a dessert—none of them let us down. In fact, we would have happily ordered more if we could have! The portion sizes are just right for sharing, leaving us wishing for more. The frozen mango drink was exceptional. The service was impeccable, the atmosphere was delightful, and our server, Katie, was always attentive and accommodating. We will definitely return to try more tapas!

My wife and I visited on a Saturday afternoon to celebrate her birthday, and it was an amazing experience. We sat at the bar and sampled five different tapas. Our top picks were the Piquillos and the Brussels sprouts, both of which were outstanding. The Caesar salad was also delicious, especially with the addition of anchovies, which really elevated it. We topped off our meal with the seafood paella, which was easily the highlight of our dining experience—absolutely fantastic! We enjoyed several drinks as well; my favorite was the Solera Old Fashion, and we also loved the Mangonada. We can't wait to return and try more tapas. I highly recommend this restaurant!

We had an incredible dinner and can’t wait to return! Thank you, Solera, for a fantastic dining experience!