La Vara

Sat in the back patio on a Thursday evening with my fiancé. Immediately seated and greeted by hostess. I recently visited Spain on a biking trip and felt that many of the dishes accurately reflected the cuisine of Galicia. Tried the octopus, eggplant special, pork roast, and the lobster risotto-like dish. Food portions are not the greatest, but the flavors explode. Well seasoned and played to perfection. I would definitely come again. Be prepared to spend more than expected though!

My recent dining experience at La Vara left me absolutely enchanted and eager to share my wonderful experience. From the moment we stepped through the door, we were embraced by the warm inviting ambiance. The menu is a tantalizing journey through the diverse and rich flavors of Spanish cuisine. Each dish tells a story of tradition and innovation, expertly crafted to delight the senses. The attention to detail is truly remarkable, every bite was a symphony of tastes and textures that took my taste buds on an unforgettable adventure. Paired with the a few nice cocktails, I'm already counting down the days until my next visit!

Okay. Not great, not the worst either. Service was kind of rushed. Wanted to order Ajo Blanco, was told that they didn’t have scallops but “it really didn’t matter.” Not sure what that means. Wait staff tried to take full plates from our table while we were still eating. Unacceptable for a small plate restaurant as bites are supposed to be enjoyed through the dinner. My date had the Cochinillo as the main course, and absolutely loved it. I had a few of the small plates and Lascas con gurullos, which was tasty but incredibly salty for human consumption. And I’m not talking about bakalao itself, the pasta and the yogurt-y sauce it was served with was barely edible due to how salty they were. We dined inside and it was very loud for a date night, bathroom didn’t have soap. Won’t be returning but also didn’t have the worst night either.

Located on a tree lined block in the Clinton hill section of Brooklyn this place is a perfect place to grab an amazing dinner with friends or that special someone. If you plan to visit, which I recommend that you do, reservations are highly recommended. If you do not make a reservation there is a possibility that you won’t get seated. This restaurant appears to be in high demand. So take the time to call ahead. We visited on a Friday evening for dinner. During our visit we sat outside mostly because the weather was beautiful and also because they were busy inside, most the the tables were full. The inside of this place is nice, it’s small but no smaller then a typical NYC restaurant. I would classify this restaurant as a fancy new age tapas bar. It’s Super chic and elegant. The server explained the menu in detail. Basically the smaller items are at the top of the menu and the larger items are at the bottom. We ordered the huevos rellenos, morras prensados, salchichon and the arroz melsoo. Everything was delicious with the exception of the salchichon. Salchichon is a sausage dish served with crispy artichoke. I found the artichoke to be heavy and greasy. The greasy artichoke did not take away from the over all tastes. The sausage… It was DELICIOUS. Honestly the sausage was the most delicious part of the dish. The atmosphere is somewhat fancy and the crowd is a little upscale for a simple brooklyn girl like myself. Nonetheless i found this place to be a great place to grab a bite to eat coupled with a great tasting drink. The total bill for the above items, two desserts and three drinks was roughly $206.00. The plates are small but still shareable. All over this place deserves its star rating and it worth the money.

This Spanish tapas restaurant impressed me with its delicious and innovative food. The waiter was friendly without being pushy, though the welcome could have been warmer. Could have had more attention to detail, e.g. not leaving the sticker on the lemon. The dessert, chocolate mousse with cream and olive oil, was delightful. Worth a visit for a flavorful dining experience!

La Vara is a cozy and inviting restaurant that offers a great selection of tapas. While the ambiance is pleasant, it doesn't stand out as exceptional. The food, on the other hand, is terrific. Each tapa is bursting with flavor, although the portions are quite small. The attentive service is a standout feature, with staff accommodating dietary restrictions and offering recommendations. The cocktails and drinks are also noteworthy, with a good variety to choose from. However, the price is a bit steep for the small portion sizes, which may leave some diners feeling unsatisfied; we ordered 5 tapas and we were not totally satisfied. To truly enjoy the experience, I’d recommended to order around 6/7 tapas for two people. Overall, La Vara is a great spot for tapas, but be prepared to spend a bit more than expected. Despite the price, the quality of the food and service make it a worthwhile visit. 4/5 stars.

Went to La Vara for a belated birthday dinner. We ordered the olives, gazpacho, salchicon, and of course, the conchinillo. Everything was delicious and prepared so beautifully. My partner and I couldn't choose a favorite because they were all amazing. The cochinillo skin is extremely crispy and the meat just falls apart. We'll definitely try to come back and try the other items on the menu, but we were so pleased with everything. The desserts were also *chefs kiss*