I'm surprised this place has such mixed reviews! I've only been here a couple times but both times I loved. I recommend going on a warm summer night, sitting outside at their candle lit tables and eating dessert and drinking wine for a romantic date. Yes, a bit pricey, but I thought the experience was worth it. One of my faves in sac.
(5)
Kurt S.
Went to dinner late on Halloween. Great time to go - Not crowded at all. Fun and interesting food. Always a romantic place to eat. Staff makes good wine selections to go with whatever you all order.
(5)
Britta G.
HOLY YUMMNESS PAELLA TO DIE FOR! The food was excellent! Ahi ceviche was the best! The service left a little to be desired, but we had a great time! Sangria was perfect not too sweet! Portions were good, and we left happy and full, try the portabella mushroom appetizer.
(4)
Jennifer B.
I've been to Aioli Bodega quite a few times, but our visit last night was especially great! Let's start with the good: My husband and I are both vegan and our server was extremely helpful with choosing dishes! The paired up a wine with our choices that was DELICIOUS. I'm not a serious drinker so I don't know too much about wine but I can say that it was yummy. When our first dish came out, the server literally placed the food onto our plates.... I've NEVER had a server place food on my plate. It was kinda weird and unexpected, but I really enjoyed it! That's service!! (I've also never had that happen before while eating here) I whole heartedly believe that their vegetable paella is the best in town! I will never eat it anywhere else ever again. Ok now for the bad: We asked to be seated in the patio area and they sat us right next to the fans. This wouldn't have been a huge deal if the patio wasn't completely empty. I mean, why not sit us at any of the other 12 open tables that are not next to the fan?! But once we got into conversation, the waterfall covered the hum of the fan and it wasn't a big deal! Overall I'm still giving it 4 stars and I still really enjoyed my dinner
(4)
Rahul K.
Tried the Rabbit here. It was awesome. The place is on the pricey side, but good food and ambience. Their service is slow, so don't expect to get done in a jiffy. Take lot of patience and enjoy the eating experience
(5)
Sam C.
Delicious! Sangria is not too sweet but had lots of good flavor. Our server was extremely helpful in determining how many tapas our group of five should order. The portions were decent size. Salads were excellent.
(4)
Jessica W.
We were lucky enough to sit outside on a beautiful summer evening. The setting was absolutely gorgeous. We had a variety of dishes. Most were great but some better than others. The shrimp dish with the garlic was amazing. I could not get enough of the sauce! The sangria was also very flavorful and not overly sweet. The service was fantastic. Our server was so helpful and recommended the dishes come out in pairs and which ones went best together. I would highly recommend going here for a great meal!
(4)
Marnie P.
I ate at Aioli with a group of 10. We got off to a bit of a rocky start, as one of our party was a local and really wanted us to experience the patio but that was not communicated when we booked our reservation. We ended up inside which was warm, homey and comfortable. The owner suggested he order for us and trusting his knowledge of the menu we went with it. He did not disappoint! We had a selection of tapas including a yummy sausage and garbanzo dish, a lovely beet salad, and a fig and hummus crostini. He even worked with the allergies of several of our group. We then had a very good lamb and chicken paella and finished off with a delicious desert duo. The setting is a small neighborhood gathering place with a rustic flair. I look forward to a return visit on my next trip to Sacramento.
(4)
Alan T.
Aioli has some pretty great food. I have yet to check out their paella, but most of the tapas I have had at Aioli are good food. The wait staff here doesn't really do it for me, EXCEPT for one guy. He's probably into his mid 40s, white and has a pony tail. He always seems to go the extra mile and a half not only for whatever table I'm at but for all the other tables around me as well. Very cool guy, knowledgable on wines, and will not stick you with a bottle that he himself wouldn't drink. I find that admirable. The patio they have outback is really pretty and makes for a good impression on whoever you might be bringing along. I do not dig the sangria at Aioli, it's boring as hell. Check out Cha Cha Cha in SF for some great Sangria. PS - The real price range per person is probably between 30 and 40 bucks, but that's including a good amount of food. That's NOT including a good bottle of wine though of course.
(3)
glen o.
Paella was good. Although, I thought it was a bit pricey. It didn't have a lot of seafood but mostly bellpeppers. It was tasty though. We tried several tapas including the gambas and the cold shark salad. Both were quite tasty. What I liked the most was probably their bread and the hummus. Their sangria was also good and had an uncharacteriscally cinammonny after taste.
(3)
Tamanna O.
My husband just moved here from philadelphia and went on a saturday. Both of us are foodies and thought the place was awesome. We had 5 items off of the tapa menu, a bottle of wine and desert and it was $100. We ordered the calmares rellenos toradeor, scallops (dont remember the name) with citrus based suace and saffron rice, ravioli de la moda, short ribs with chimicurri sauce. My favorite were the short ribs. The desert was probably one of the best deserts I have had- dark chocolate truffles in a white chocolate soup- A-MAZING! The staff was all really nice and sweet. We will def be returning here.
(4)
michael s.
You used to rock! What happened? This has always been my favorite "date" restaurant. This is where my partner and I have celebrated many special occasions because we felt confident we would have a great experience. Something has changed. I am standing at 3.5 Stars in case we just happened to catch the cooks on an "off" night. The food on this particular evening was so bland - Plain and simple. When I go to Aioli's I expect exceptional. The Tomato soup in particular was a huge disappointment. Not all the salt and pepper (that we had to borrow from the table next to us) could save the soup that night. I hear that this is a good place for a nice lunch. I think maybe I will try that out, and see if I can be swayed to give an old favorite another chance.
(3)
Scott M.
Aioli never ceases to amaze myself, family and friends for their European-style service, extremely seasoned professional staff, superb wine list and an always-changing array of Spanish, French, Italian and Med cuisine. Patio seating in the cool weather is peaceful, airy and quaint. It is one of the few Spanish restaurants carrying a wide array of Spanish wine, from Rioja, Crianza and Priorat; every one can be paired with several offerings from the menu.
(5)
Eric P.
Very pleased by this place. Outstanding food, outstanding service, outstanding atmosphere. Great place to sit with a nice glass of wine and nibble on lots of different stuff. Not very many places around Sacramento that you can get Spanish food, and this is the best. Great place to relax.
(4)
Ann J.
5 stars for food, 2 stars for service, for an average of 3 stars total...I really love the ambience, the wine, the intimacy of the seating, and the tapas. I mean, the food is yummmmy....but I've been there twice now, and both times the service was horrendous. Terrible...almost 1 star. Our waiter forgot 2 dishes that we had ordered, then brought us the check and said "anything else?" and we were like, um, maybe the rest of our dinner? So weird... The host brought us bread TWICE after our table was cleared, thinking we had just sat down. The food took forever, both times. I"m not sure what their deal is. I think they need that nasty Gordon Ramsey from Hell's Kitchen to come in and give them a serious shakedown. I really love eating here. I like the food and it's a fantastic date place. But don't come with no time to spare. Come knowing that you will wait for a table, then wait to order, then wait for your food, then wait for your check...you get the idea. It's a long, European process...
(3)
Jessica H.
I love Aioli! We have spent too many nights staying up late here with friends. The lamb meatballs are always tasty, as is pretty much everything else on the menu. Trust Gigi and Jose with your wine. They will make sure you love it. I had never had the lunches before last week, and was pleasantly surprised. The steak sandwich was delightfully filling, and came with a salad. A fantastically inexpensive lunch for a classy place.
(4)
Mira M.
My first time there and it was the best paella I've ever had. Good way to try a few things because of the small plate selections. Great selection of spanish wines as well. Forgot who played and sang that night but he was amazing. Cool place to hang with friends and have a wonderful dinner. Service was excellent!! We all were pampered!!
(4)
Review B.
In spite of negative yelp comments from other diners about the food, my party was quite happy with what we ate, which included various tapas, entrees, and desserts. The downsides of our experience were: 1. there are too many tables in in this cramped restaurant; 2. this was possibly the loudest restaurant that I have ever eaten in. The guitar player/singer was near our table, but we could barely hear him over the background noise.
(3)
Debbie F.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. Last time we sat in the patio and were serenaded by spanish guitar music while we drank sangria and smelled orange blossoms from a nearby tree. Every dish we tried was delicious. Can't wait to go again.
(5)
jason h.
I don't know what I was thinking when I took a large group of Spanish visitors to this place one New Year's Eve. I'd already had their gummy paella, mushy mussels and overpriced, unauthentic tapas. But it was one of the only places we could get seated that night, so in we went. I don't remember what the Spaniards had, only that they were less than unimpressed. I had a rabbit dish that was close to cold and salted with in an inch of its former life. The highlight was the helium balloons hovering at the ceiling -- inhaling helium and singing the munchkin song was the most fun I've had on a NYE in years. So I have to hand them that...
(2)
Suzi W.
The owner (I assume) is incredibly welcoming and friendly! The food was great, but I think perhaps a little pricey. That said, it makes for a lovely night out with family or friends over a leisurely dinner. Highly recommend!
(4)
Huyen teresa N.
I came here for dinner with a group of people on a Saturday night. The wait was not cool BUT the food was delicious. I'm torn between giving them a 3 or a 4. I would give them a 3.5 to be honest because we had reservation and still had a long wait. this place is not big and this was all of our first time dining here so we didn't know what to expect. Since we had a large group, we had to wait for the big table and due to the delay of the people not leaving after they pay, we had to wait and wait so yes it was frustrating. Now, once we were seated, it was a different experience. The service we had after being seated was Excellent. The staff was friendly and funny. The food was great. We all ordered something different and shared them. They have Live music which I like. I would definitely come back again but I think I will try to come back on one the the weekdays because I don't like dealing with the crowds.
(3)
Emanuel W.
Had a meeting over lunch with 9 company representatives, and all of them *loved* the place. Affordable, very good cuisine.
(5)
Allen Y.
I love their unique and very flavorful food. The food is seemingly good for you too. The wine is great and so is the atmostphere. The waiters are informative and nice, however, they don't pay that much attention to you because they disappear. I enjoyed my two experiences here. The best was sitting in the back with an appetizer and a glass of wine with a friend. Good times.
(4)
Rachel S.
You know that feeling when you leave a restaurant and know you'll crave the food and dread the service? Luckily, in the realm of solving such a difficult dilemna ;), i don't live in Sacramento, so as a cup half-full sorta gal, I'll hold the flavors in high regard and not foresee further opportunities to be ignored, an attempt at major over-charging (doubled the bill when they ran it on my card and i had to ask them to void it..), or being so rushed by the server that I missed ordering a cocktail. Alas.. distance makes the heart grow fonder right.. so in that vain, i declare some key notes of the eating: -every sauce unique and flavorful: on the roasted veggies the olive tapanade was delicious, the dipping sauce for bread spot-on and the side with the roasted asparagus tangy-zingy but grounded in a nice olive oil. -brochetes of meat were decent, a little greasy to my taste but the quality high.. the seasoning was nice and simple to let the natural flavaor thru. -when he got around to it, the wine we enjoyed was smart and i thought the price point was good. -atmosphere was pleasing; intimate, jovial (this is once you are sat down.. which in our case, even though tables were free took about three trips around the moon..) Sooo,, the synopsis, good food i'll not be gunning for in a hypoglycemic episode ;) And if my credit card statement shows dissent over the over-charging, well, my optomistic tone could turn south like a galewind...
(3)
Rolan S.
For a place that is pretty smug, one would think that the food would be okay food. No. Most of the tapas that we ordered were terrible.... The food had little to no flavor, and the portions are extremely small even if you order a larger group size. They couldn't even get a salad right.
(1)
Stacy F.
I love love love Aioli. Aioli has never let me down. From the first tapa to dessert, every bite is savory, fresh, and delicious. Some of my favorites are the sangria, gambas, mushroom ravioli, vegetarian paella, and the fruit cake dessert that is drizzled with booze. They have a nice small bar with about 6 seats or so that is fun to drink wine at alone or with a friend. The inside is pretty darn romantic for a date and the outside seating is cool too when eating with friends. All of the staff is friendly and accommodating and will make some good recommendations.
(5)
Taylor K.
While I wouldn't say that eating here was a bad experience, it could have definitely been better. It has a great location and ambiance, and the staff were professional and friendly. I enjoyed the food and generally found it worth the price. However, my particular experience was far from perfect. I was there with a large group, so I guess I shouldn't have expected service perfection, but I was quite surprised when my meal came out ten minutes after the rest of the party. It was quite awkward eating alone after everyone else had finished. To make matters worse, the waiter didn't seem to think this was a problem or offer to knock a drink off the bill to make up for it. My best advice for avoiding such a situation is for your party to stick to tapas or entrees, but not to mix. Otherwise, it has good food I'd recommend going.
(3)
Caitlin B.
Delish! And the wonderful wait staff suggested fab wine and got us out in time for our Music Circus show. Bravo!!! Also our 11 year old says it's his new favorite place!
(5)
Josh R.
Wow, why have I not been here before. This is one of those places we walk or drive by and say "I hear great things about that place. We should go" and then promptly forget about it. We finally got there last night and it'll be a frequent visit from now on. The 3 of us split a bottle of Tempranillo and 6 or 7 tapas. From what I remember we had the rabbit, shrimp on grilled avocado with a pico tapenade thing (which was amazing), chorizo on white beans, the ground beef pastries, tortillas tres colores, dayboat scallops (which were again amazing) and then on to dessert. We each got a selection to share. I got the borracho (which means "drunk") and it lived up to its name. Maybe a touch too much for me, but the fruit and cream with the moist cake was very good. The chocolate truffles in a white chocolate soup was my favorite and was a very nice presentation. And the thing I didn't think I would like all that much, the almond cake with orange, was fantastic. It was such a nice evening, the service was impeccable, the window seating to people watch was fun, and the ambience was very comfortable. A great dining experience.
(4)
Josh A.
If I hadn't lived in Spain I would like this place more. Does the paella taste like paella? Yes, it does. Albeit the paella is lighter on saffron and heavier on oil than I care for. I was left wondering why isn't there cochinillo or empanadas gallegas or countless other more traditional dishes.
(3)
Carl B.
great sangria. the food was only okay and pretty expensive. the service was good, but there were only a few tables being served. the chairs were uncomfortable which made it hard to enjoy sitting there for any length of time.
(4)
dale d.
Great food, great choices in wine, great service and a fabulous environment. Many big names in Sacramento frequent Aioli.
(5)
John W.
In my initial walks around my new neighborhood (I moved from GA in August 2004), two places caught my eye--Aioli and Zocalo. The latter opened very soon after I moved in and, as you might imagine, it was a gaudy, baroque spectacle, replete with press coverage, hollering mariachis, and (of course) dozens of sweaty singles. By contrast, there was very little activity around Aioli: its exterior was nice but unprepossessing, and its fare was appealing but a bit obscure. Being (ahem) a man of the people---and new to the area---I went to have a mojito and gawk at the circus. In consequence, I did not make it to Aioli for nearly 4 months. What the initial trip suggested, subsequent visits confirmed: this is a very good restaurant, but it's difficult to pin down exactly why. The cuisine is clever but not innovative---assorted seafood tapa and paella are the main attractions---and the interior is pleasant but not memorable. Why, then, do I like it so much? Aioli appeals to me because it has what I consider an authentic or natural sophistication---not the flashy affectedness of Masons or the continental pomp of Firehouse, but a genuine and quiet confidence in its concept and its cuisine. It is the southern gentleman of Sacramento restaurants: it esteems those who recognize its virtue, and shows its respect for its patrons by refusing to gratify their baser appetites. It is for the people without being of the people. It bows but does not stoop. It is courteous and obliging, but never saccharine or cloying. It has a leisured and effortless grace that touches everything around it and everyone in it: the service is polite but not fawning, the food is interesting but not whimsical, and the decor is elegant but a bit shabby. It has that vague thing that we somewhat graspingly call culture. I'll spare everyone specific recommendations, as essentially everything on the menu is good. I will mention two things, though: 1) Aioli has a wonderful wine selection, both by the glass and by the bottle, and 2) after everything has been considered, Aioli is surprisingly affordable. It can get away from you if you let it, but exercising a little restraint won't prevent you having an excellent meal here.
(4)
Kevin V.
Great atmosphere. Excellent taste in wine. Awesome duck platter (best in town on my scale). Don't go there if you're in a hurry to eat. It is a relaxed atmosphere where the food comes when it comes, allowing its patrons time to enjoy the wine and classical guitar. For all those who complained about the service, GET TO KNOW YOUR WAITER! This is a very European style restaurant. The more open you are to the waiter, the better your service.
(4)
David S.
Once upon a time There was a small restaurant on a corner that tried to look like the big restaurants so it figured it would have pricey food to try to appeal the bourgeoisie but it was still a small restaurant with crappy service so it couldn't bring so many people then it figured it could call his friends to help and add a whole bunch of fake reviews but small restaurant on the corner was not very smart because all the people could realize that blocks of 3 fake comments in a row were showing up and small restaurant couldn't figure out that food is not made of fake comments and that people were not really into swallowing them
(1)
Bannon R.
I don't know who these people are fooling. I am not another restaurant trying to make you guys look bad like your many "fans" that write "5 star reviews" proclaim. Why are these 5 star reviewers so informative and clear on the ingredients of each dish and they know the names of the managers and servers when I only made contact with my server for a total of 30 seconds, if that. And why do they sound all the same and threaten the other no star reviewers with slander? Oh wait, I think we all are wearing our BS filtering goggles and don't fall for these fake reviews. I just really hope that someone at yelp would take a look at these reviews and see that the managers (obviously them) at Aioli (oops, I mean Aioli Bodega Espanola located at 1800 L Street) are skewing the ratings system. How about instead of writing fake reviews, take this as an opportunity to actually fix what is wrong with the restaurant? I know, I know, strange. But hear me out. Fire your wait staff. You might fool some idiots to come into your restaurant with the astonishing amount of informative 5 star reviews but you will not get any repeat customers. Once they are there, they will be given their free pair of BS filtering goggles and will immediately see what is actually going on. The only repeat customers are the ones that Yelp is getting from people like me that are so overwhelmed with hatred that a place would treat the very people that keep the restaurant a float the way that they do and are forced to warn anyone who hasn't gone there to completely avoid the place like the plague. It feels like these 5 star reviews are just cute little stickers and bright colored paint on a prison in North Korea. No matter how much you try and cover what is underneath, it doesn't solve the actual problem. By the way, I enjoyed the calamari. That is all.
(1)
Summer D.
This restaurant is one of my absolute favorites. As soon as you walk through the door you are greeted by one of the owner's, usually with a "Hello Bella". I recommend sitting outside if it is a nice evening; my preference is near the fountain as it drowns out the surrounding noise. I always stick with ordering tapas rather than a main dish, then you get to try a little bit of everything. I highly recommend the skirt steak, rabbit and chicken tapas ... and the lamb. Actually, I do not believe there is an item I wouldn't recommend at least trying. 5 stars!
(5)
Jessica S.
Tapa the World's is better. The End.
(2)
Michael R.
Took a first date here for dinner not long ago and it was a good experience. I would say the menu is for more of the creative eater being that many of the better offerings are outside of the norm. Massive wine list and a solid staff of seasoned professionals.
(4)
Karen B.
In an effort to cheer me up, the BF proposed we have a "date" here last Monday. I was giddy with excitement, knowing of his reluctance to go there because I have a tendency to call Aioli "that place where I yelled at you." The place holds additional novelty for me because BF always complains that it's "pricey" and is "more of a date place." Though I love the patio, it might have been a blessing in disguise that the waiter refused to seat us there. We settled for a window seat, and the interior started started to emit a warm glow as the sun sank past Midtown's trees. It's much louder when you sit inside - I don't know if it's the Christmas lights, the calming fountain trickling away, or the folksy art strewn about that keeps people quiet outside, but there were times I could hardly hear BF the other night if we tried to use our "inside voices." Regardless, it's nice to see the whole "it's more of a date place" argument quashed. We started the evening with olives, or aceitunas, which I deem mandatory with any tapas meal (unless it's at a Cuban place a la Haight's Cha Cha Cha.) Our other tapa fria was calamari stuffed with pork and what seemed like ground squid tentacle in a "tangy red sauce" (which I realize doesn't sound appetizing, but it's pretty good.) As our tapas calientes we continued a seafood theme with baked salmon with capers in some sort of beurre blanc and mussels in another creamy white wine-y goodness. The two sauces also served as fun dips for the bottomless and conveniently small-cut bread. The last tapa to arrive was mushroom ravioli, made of a pasta that pleasantly glides over your tongue and invites you to taste what's inside (OK, I admit, that just sounds weird - but trust me, it's delicous and completely non-sexual.) Dessert was a difficult choice for us based on menu descriptions. Since it was Cheer Karen Up Day I got to make the ultimate decision. After intense discussion and a round of Look Away and Point to the Menu, we decided on the "orange flavored cream topped with a caramelized orange" which turned out to be orange creme brulee. The light, sweet creaminess of the custard made up for the slight bitterness of the orange-infused "shell." BFand I walked away not only full, but pleasantly and not sluggishly so. The BF also concluded that the prices are actually rather comparable to Tapa the World and that Aioli is "way better." Joy of joys! Let celebrations commence throughout the land!
(5)
D K.
What a kerfuffle! Fake reviews, extreme hatred.... this site is hilarious. I've been going to Aioli for many years and have seen a gradual decline in both food and service from year to year. The food isn't terrible and I've never been made to feel bad there, but it's not the special place it used to be. For the prices, the food should stand out as it used to. Otherwise, many people will continue to choose Tapas, which is not any better, but far less pricey.
(2)
D R.
We and our guests from NYC loved everything about this place - and they've dined in Spain. The food (paella & tapas) was great, service friendly & funny, live music was nice, the vibe and atmosphere really good. Much better than the other tapas place we'd tried in Midtown. We're still relatively new to Sacramento, but this was our best meal out in this area so far. The only downside was the sangria, it wasn't really good at all. But there's always wine.
(5)
Joe S.
I was really disappointed with Aioli's on my first (and probably only try). I cam all the way from Ripon to check it out, had high hopes, but it didn't come through for me. The place is nice, but loud. It is cramped in there too. Outside is probably the best place to sit, but it was a little cool so we opted for inside. I had the paella Valencia and it was just average. It didn't make me want to come back. the rice was a little burnt, and like every other dish i tried it lacked flavor. I went with 3 other people who ordered several different tapas and they were all bland. Nothing popped in my mouth and made me excited. the best tapa I tried was the marinated shark, but it was too acidic. It was a little on the sour side, too much lemon i think. Service was pretty good, guy was new but did his best.
(2)
J P.
Service 2 stars at best. Food 4 stars at least. Long story short - I have eaten at Aioli 2 times, both times I really enjoyed the food. But the service is a different story. FOOD This last time I got many different tapas - a mushroom tapa (not the portobello), a ravioli tapa, salmon, and the "pastry triangles" filled with beef. All of the food tasted good, but the service was lacking. SERVICE They sat us next to the water fountain, which throughout the course of the night got an arm of my jacket pretty decently wet, despite moving the table about 6 inches away from its original position. Why they have a table that close is beyond me... I guess for romance, but it isn't that romantic when you are constantly getting misted by water and fairly cold out. Additionally, our server came by only about 3 times throughout the night... which is normally fine by me, but not when they forget to bring out one of the plates. By the time he came around again and we clarified that we needed the last dish (which he didn't remember us ordering) we had already practically filled up on bread. Ultimately, our server wasn't flat out rude, but wasn't particularly lovable or helpful in any way, and something about the experience rubbed me the wrong way. I wouldn't NOT ever go there again, but it will probably never be my suggestion again, when there are more and more memorable pleasant places to eat (Formoli's, Arpeggio) popping up all the time It seems as if this place is definitely hit or miss as far as service goes, which is what most people seem to complain about. But for the price, I'd say I expect more consistency. If you get good service, you will love it, if not, you'll be disappointed.
(3)
Ken J.
I stumbled across this place. What a find! I wasn't too hungry so we just had tapas. The maitre'd recommended the seared ahi-- it was a little over cooked. The pork was a little sweet. The roasted vegetables could have been a little more charred. Picky, picky, picky. I will go there again. The overall experience was very positive. The Spanish guitar on a Thursday night added the right amount of atmosphere. The portions were nice. The service was excellent and the ambiance was cozy. Really liked the bread cubes, though the Aioli dip was too bland. Next time I hope I go in better weather where I can sit on their small but inviting patio... reminds me of many restaurants in Spain.
(4)
Elif F.
Ok Update. Since when is Drinking on the Job ok? Sorry Aioli. I might not return. I have had good Paella from you before. The key and main ingredient to it is Saffron and Tomatoes, what I got was white rice and over cooked Chicken chunks. I went here with friends hoping to showcase what I thought would be a good farewell dinner to several friends who are moving back to their home countries. No. Not the case, they were met with rude attitude, horrible service, and the worse food I have tasted in a long time. I had to arrive later then the others, and saw their long faces, and immediately wondered why. The servers didn't see me at first and I saw how they treated my friends. They basically barked at them and threw the food on the table and left. The servers know me as a regular and while they hugged me and waved when I entered I was also given a very cold shoulder. I was told later by my friends that they came in the wrong door and were thrown out and told to go to the other door or they will not be served. We witnessed the servers drinking openly with the patrons; god only knows what the cook staff was doing as all the food was IN EDIBLE. We did not eat most of our entrees and wanted bread to fill up with, which I guess is now a crime. Didn't stay to suffer through desert. We spent well over $100 on food and wine. What was the ultimate clincher was while we were left to fend for ourselves the entire evening, even having to walk to the bar to get water in our glasses, as soon as the bill came and we laid it down on the table the server grabbed it up. I am so disgusted with this experience I am willing to give up the wonderful patio and wine. I can do better at home and I can get take out from TAPA the WORLD and eat it at home. Sorry you lost several loyal customers after this experience.
(1)
Nick L.
Food was good but waitress was horrible. No personality and gruff. I'd get rid of her yesterday!!! Food was 4 star but service took it down. Had to ask for everything!
(3)
patrick g.
had lunch here today. Good value, good service, good food.
(4)
Amanda H.
The waitstaff is a little quirky and you should expect to wait a while for your food. With that said, it's still one of my favorite places to eat downtown. I've always enjoyed the atmosphere (especially when the Spanish guitarist is playing) and the food has always been good. I only go for tapas and my favorites are: marmitako de attun, ravioli de la moda and pollo andaluz.
(4)
Melissa R.
I have to say that I was very impressed. It is a little expensive, but the quality of service and the delicious food makes it well worth the price. This restaurant is great for an anniversary or another romantic evening.
(5)
Jen K.
Six of us came here for a Thursday night dinner and had a sub-par experience. The decor is nice, classy, with white linen tablecloth. We were seated promptly but the server (old white guy, looked like he could be the owner?) was so strange. When we asked for red wine recommendations, he bluntly asked, "how much ya wanna spend?" and when we gave him price range, then he walked away and came back with a bottle. Granted, it was a nice bottle of Malbec which I loved, but it was so weird that he didn't ask what kind of reds we like. He was all business, didn't really talk to us but was pushy and blunt, which I didn't appreciate. The food was okay, some better than others. Portabella and goat cheese, and shrimp in white wine garlic sauce were delicious, but the rest were blah. Fig and goat cheese bruchetta was alright, lamb screwers were kinda fatty, spicy potato cubes were overcooked. The worst was the overcooked, not that fresh tasting mussels in unimpressive sauce. Gross! I don't know if I'd want to give this place another try.
(2)
P T.
Quite a find for us while visiting Sacramento, it was so good that after having lunch there we came back for dinner! The food was excellent, the service attentive yet not annoying, the decor is quite nice. If you bring a date, be prepared to shout over the background noise unless you come at lunch time. The grilled lamb skewers is to die for, comes with this amazing red sauce I could not stop slurping with pieces of crusty bread. Our other favorite is the clams in saffron broth. My gosh that broth is so good that after the clams were gone I was prepared to just spoon it like soup so not a drop is wasted. Salpicon of oh so tender octopus came with just the right note of acidity, garlic and parsley. My wife had the seafood zarzuela which is their version of bouillabaisse, another memorable dish with every piece of shrimp, salmon, mussel cooked to perfection in thick tasty broth. This is so hard to pull off consistently. Even a simple dish like grilled vegetables was just delicious. We managed to have room for dessert. The El borracho (The drunk) was this concoction of cake soaked in sherry layered with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries drizzled in raspberry coulis. They used farmer's market quality fruit, I am so impressed! These guys care, they clearly have passion, and I wished I did not live 3 hours away. Even my wife was impressed and she does not impress easily.
(5)
Lauren D.
The food and atmosphere are great, but the service couldn't be any slower. My friend and I ordered some tapas, wine and split some paella, which were all great, but the restaurant was so tight and there were some many waiters, it puzzled us why it took so long to a least be greeted by our server. I would go there again, but expect it to take a few hours.
(3)
Ross p.
Take two hundred bucks and start with the sangria.Sit at the bar on the left end.Let it happen.
(4)
Charles H.
My girlfriend and I happened to be in Sacramento last weekend for a b-day party and to enjoy the wonderful 106 degree weather. Bear in mind I'm from San Mateo... The saving grace for the whole trip was our dinner @ Aioli. We made reservations for 7:30 and it was very refreshing to arrive @ 7:25 on a Saturday night and immediately be seated. Our waiter even came over and asked if we'd like to move to a table near the window, since we had made reservations and gave our middle table to another 2 party that didn't. Very nice. The ambiance of the place was very nice. Even though it was crowded, it was not loud and the waiters and other staff were very attentive with drinks, knowing when to bring out dishes (important at a tapas place and a two-top table), etc. We ordered some tapas (potatas bravas, mussels in a sherry cream sauce, and skirt steak) to start and then the Paella Valenciana, which is for two. It was a lot of food, but what can I say... I love to have midnight left overs. The food was all cooked very well and the green lip mussels both in the tapas and paella were spectacular. Easiest the freshest looking muscles I've had in a very long time. They also have a very large selection of wines from Spain, Argentina/Chile, and California. I did have three small knocks on the place, however. 1) You need to muddle mint in a mojito, period. Whole mint leaves just don't cut it. If you don't muddle your mint, you shouldn't serve a mojito. 2) In a place with tapas/small plates, I think there should be at least 2 to 3 wines by the glass per varietal. What works with mussels probably isn't going to work with a lamb tapas. Please have more wines by the glass. 3) I was slightly embarrassed walking up to the place and not being able to figure out which door to enter. My GF is smarter than I am, so I just followed her. In sitting next to the window/second door, everyone that came to the restaurant had the same 'which door?' issue. Maybe make the actual entrance more noticeable. A couple of parties even waited just inside the side door until a host told them where to go. Having said this, I'd totally go back and am looking forward to my next trip to Sacto..... hopefully this fall when the weather is better.
(4)
Michael T.
Went here tonight and it was great. I had 3 tapas and a soup. All were delicious. My only complaint was the soup came before the tapas. I mean really? I could have made a big deal about it , but really I am not going to be that picky. I will definately be back, but early reservations are suggested, as people seem to talk and not eat. Not a high turnover on seats here
(4)
b j.
food 3 service 4.5 prices 3 beer list 1 ...very basic ambience 3.5 (inside) went here a couple weeks back, don't remember too many details, but i know we started with one of the shrimp dishes which was very flavorful. The mussels dish we had was not, my wife loves mussels and only had one out of the dish. The salmon was well cooked and well seasoned, but came with a very heavy potato-cheesy side... didn't complement well. I had chicken, but don't remember much about it other than I was satisfied, not blown away, but satisfied. The And the wife's margarita was up to her standard.. always makes for a good night...
(3)
Cellar Rat D.
I visit Ailoli for their wine and tapas...both of which are really good. For wines, I recommend the Riojas or a Tempranillo.
(5)
cheng a.
My over all experience at Aioli Bodega Espanola would be tepid at best, the food was bland tasting. We ordered the sangria pitcher and I've drank alot of sangria before and Aioli's has a mint flavor that reminds me of a MOJITO cocktail. I for one when ordering a sangria would like my sangria to taste like a sangria minus the mint. I'm a little anal about that but once you put mint in a sangria it just ruins the drink. Anyways the food we ordered didn't have any flavor and or personality to what you would expect a spanish tapa would be. I do admit that the decor and the outdoor patio was far out breathtakingly beautifully. Sitting outside hearing the guitar and the fountain was a nice experience especially when your out on a date with your husband and or wife significant other. As for the dessert, I wouldn't say its dessert, my flan and my husbands sherry soaked sponge cake turned out to be kind of bitter tasting. My flan didn't taste like a flan and my the sherry flavored overwhelmed the sponge caked. To conclude my experience with Aioli versus Tapa the world i would sooner go back to tapa the world, because the ambiance there is way cooler and the food is more bang for your bucks than Aioli.
(2)
Shannon G.
Lively, fun mid-town Spanish/tapas restaurant. Server had a great personality - good match for our group. Service was excellent! Food was delicious! Wide variety of dishes in all categories - appetizers, salads, entrees, tapas, and desserts. Wine was excellent! We had a terrific evening and all vowed to return soon to enjoy dinner in the beautiful outdoor garden.
(5)
Andrew C.
Pros: Location, Cleanliness, Service Cons: over-priced, watery/weak sangira, B- food What is it that people say is the most important thing for a restaurant? Oh yeah - location, Location, LOCATION! This place is at a key spot in midtown and that lets it to be both over-priced and mediocre. I decided to take my parents here b/c I don't know Sac very well yet and the restaurant is very close to where I live. We opted to order mainly what the waiter recommended, which included a Mediterranean salad (since when is one of the best dishes in a pricey restaurant the salad???), two tapas dishes (short ribs and shrimp) and the paella. We also ordered some sangria. To start off, the sangria is surprisingly weak and watery. I badly wanted to go back in the kitchen and see if I could do better (bad sign). Then the salad came out and wowed us with how salty it was (and again I wondered if I could do better), then the shrimp and beef came out but didn't wow anyone at the table (double-penalty for having the shell the shrimp, personal pet peeve of mine). The paella was then left as the only hope of the evening and while it wasn't bad, I would say the overwhelming thought in my mind was "bland." We even ordered their dessert and it was incredible how alcohol-soaked their wine-flavored sponge cake was (my mom couldn't even eat it). Now this restaurant isn't the worst I've been to, but it is far from even the middle of the pack. If our bill was $60 or less I probably wouldn't be so critical but it was well north of $80 so, as they say...you reap what you sow. That being said, if you suddenly lose the ability the drive far from midtown, don't mind overpaying for food, and love people-watching at 18th and L...then by all means, eat here!
(2)
shane w.
I went to Aioli last night with a lady friend. I had been there about 10 years ago and remembered it as being a great place. Needless to say, I came into the restaurant with a very positive attitude. We were warmly welcomed at the door and immediately served drinks. The menus had some great selections and we were excited about the food. This is when trouble came into paradise. First we got the tuna tartar. I was expecting fresh raw tuna that was finely chopped. Instead I got grey chunks of slightly cooked tuna that I really didn't want to eat. the taste wasn't horrible, but the presentation was. I would be embarrassed to serve this at a dinner party. Next, we got the salad. I had asked the waiter to put the feta on the side because I HATE feta. So I see the waiter walking toward us with the salad, and then turning around when he realized that the cheese was not put on the side, but well mixed into the salad. Instead of making a new salad without the cheese, they tried to take most of the cheese off the salad and put it on the side. Needless to say, there was still plenty of feta on the salad, and I found it inedible. After that, we got sauteed shrimp. The first thing I noticed was that they seemed cold. But when I bit into one it was completely raw on the inside! It was a disgusting clear chewy mess! Terrible. Finally, we had sardines that were lackluster at best, but at least they came out cooked and a bit warm. I actually complained about the shrimp and the salad to the waiter. I cannot recall the last time I complained or tried to send something back, but it has been years. I am really just not that type of person. I am easy to please and will make do with most things. But this was simply unacceptable. The waiter offered to take the shrimp off the bill, but was not willing to do anything about the salad. when all was said and done, I had spent $52 plus tip for a terrible meal and left the place still hungry. It was the worst experience I have had in years and I go out all the time. The only saving grace was the attentive waiter. But I will never go back again.
(1)
Munchie S.
Overall a good experience. The decor inside is cute - good for dates, dinner with the girls, dinner with parents. This is not a place to bring kids. Decent wine list. All of our dishes were seafood based so thats about all I can comment on. Everything was good but it all tasted the same...(?) Service was good, the waiter had an interesting sense of humor and was a bit too flirty but still, overall it was ok. I'd come back here again, but not when I'm tight on budget...
(4)
Annie A.
The food at Ailoi is very tasty, but I would have to say that it is all about the ambiance there. Its a great first-date venue. If the weather is nice ask to sit in the patio where you can enjoy their fountain and lush greenery. Plenty of wine to choose from, great bites, and if your date sucks, you can even get a live guitarist as entertainment. Aioli is known for their tapas and paella, but the steamed mussles are a must. They are cooked perfectly in a butter, wine, garlic sauce. Just make sure you ask for extra bread so mop it all up. Hmm... maybe this isn't the dish you order on your first date. In any case, the deserts are also delicious... try the orange creme brulee.
(4)
Cate E.
This is one of those restaurants to go to WITHOUT the kids! Located in downtown Sacramento, Aioli is one of those wonderful little restaurants where the tables are close and the food is very good. But it's just not a place for kids! The indoor tables look nice, but I have yet to sit there since my friend enjoys the courtyard. Quite honestly, so do I! It's a bit more quiet out there, and with the fountain going in the background, it makes for a very relaxing meal. Just don't sit too close to the fountain. We did one night and my skirt ended up getting soaked! I didn't mind since it was in the 90's that day and the skirt was wash and wear! The sangria is great, best bet is to order a pitcher and share it with a friend or two. I alwasy order the small plates (tapas) instead of an entree, but friends I have dined with enjoyed the entrees (Pollo El Morro: grilled chicken in a paprika sauce with sauteed spinach). The Charcuterie y Queso Manchego (cured meats, sausges and cheeses) and Fadaba (white bean soup with swiss chard) off the Sopas y Ensaladas menu are a great starter. Or opt for the Judias Blancas Con Atun Fresco (white bean salad with mint, kalamata olives and onions) from the Tapas Frio Menu if you want something cold. From the Tapas Calientes choose the Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp in a garlic wine sauce) and ask for extra bread to dip in the garlic sauce. A meal in itself. Or Bourek De Casa (little triangles filled with meat or cheese). Delicious! These are but a few options. The only caution I can make is that if you are on a budget, watch out! Those little plates can add up fast. But hey, if you are at Aioli, it's a date night or a night out with friends. The sky is the limit!
(5)
Nicole E.
The food was pretty good, not great, but better than good. The sangria was fantastic though, my boyfriend and I both loved it. I wish we got a pitcher instead of a glass for each. The only thing I didn't care for was the lighting. I understand that they might be going for a romantic mood but it was too dark for my lighting.
(4)
Michelle I.
After all the years, hubby and finally dined here Saturday night... and not surprisingly, (due to the heat) had the luscious patio all to ourselves! Started off with glasses of Sangria,,,the perfect thirst quencher, while perusing the vast menu.... being new, we asked our charming server (whose name i did not catch, but who was abundantly charming and helpful!) for some tips on ordering... we started off with the portobello in red wine with feta cheese, which was delicious... the octopus in a yummy sauce with sweet green peas (and mopped up the sauce with the bread!!) and also the chorizo served on a bed of sauteed chard and white beans.... all very good... still feeling a bit hungry, we had the cold calamari with potatoes ,,, a nice refreshing finish to the entire meal... will definitely return to try more of the wonderfully prepared and seasoned food and the glorious ambience of the charming, hidden gem of thei patio!
(4)
Karen Y.
my husband gave me a break from commuting back to la this weekend, i figured i better make sure i take him out on a nice date. since we liked the one in davis so much, i decided to give this place a chance. the food was everything we expected, though i thought the stuffed calamari was better at aioli in davis. the lamb sausages and bourek de casa stuffed with beef was excellent. and again, i was mopping up the sauce that came with the albondigas. the service here was excellent and attentive. the waiter set us up with a wonderful 2003 rioja. bread was replaced without even asking. the atmosphere was perfect for us to re-connect from the week with the soft live music and candle-lit tables. we ended our meal with a glass of port and the el borracho cake. the port was excellent but i cannot say i was a fan of the cake, there was too much liquor which over-powered everything. i immediately wished i ordered something else. over-all it was a nice date and we left satisfied enough to say we would come back when in sacramento again.
(4)
Paulie E.
Being Spanish I always keep in mind that I will not be a fair judge in an establishment that tries to emulate the cooking I grew up with. Having said that, I like the food they serve here. While not very authentic, with an Algerian owner and heavy French influence, the meals are fairly consistent and good. Their atmosphere is nice, maybe a little loud when crowded, but I appreciate the live music on the weekends and the warm decor. My favorite dish here is their Chocolate Soup dessert, it is amazing. The owner roams around, and depending on his mood can be a great host and buy you a glass of wine, or be a grumpy loud man.
(4)
Cameron Y.
I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant. Ate there on a Friday evening on the patio. Made a reservation for 7:30 for the patio, but was whisked out there without even checking in. Our server was distinguished without being stuffy (great sense of humor), and made some fantastic recommendations, several of which we went with. The salad was beautifully presented, fresh-tasting, and the lemon juice/Spanish olive oil dressing was just right. For the main course, we enjoyed several tapas, all of which were delicious. My only complaint would be that the table at which we were seated was impeded upon by a large plant, which hung over my date. If I had sat in the seat, it would have been touching my head. Other than that, highly recommended.
(4)
Dumuzi N.
We love food from Spain. I thought tapas here were very average. Seafood in Paella was overcooked. But, we still keeping coming back to this restaurant as it reminds us of all the wonderful time we had in Spain.
(3)
Brak S.
After enjoying the good wine and poor service at the Grand Wine Bar, we walked down the street to Aioli's to enjoy further poor service. Apparently a family business trade mark. I go back to this restaurant every couple of years hoping it will be better and always walking away saying "eh" or "ok." The dishes seem a bit tired. Nothing really stands out as particularly delicious or amazing. Perhaps I was spoiled by first being introduced to tapas in SF.
(2)
sofia R.
i love this place. me and my wife go to this place every time we want to have a nice dinner date.
(5)
Ms. E E.
Me and my sister had lunch here - WOW!!!!! The service was incredible and the food even better. There is a gentlemen here who has worked here for years and is just so accomodating and nice. The food was exceptional - it is tapas, but everything is up a notch from other tapas I've experienced. Layered flavors - I will definetaly put this on my list of places to frequent. People that complain about service - go during the day and you will be very well taken care of.
(5)
Julie S.
I will NEVER go to this place again. After spending almost $300 between four people in an hour and half we were asked to leave because they had another party waiting. We were in such shock when they asked us to leave we didn't say a word. Just shocked. If they needed the table the least they could have done was to invite us over to the bar for a complimentary glass of wine or coffee. We could have dealt with that but being asked to leave is inexcusable. To top it off the food is just mediocre.
(1)
Marilyn S.
I was in town from Virginia visiting my sister over the weekend and we decided to check out Aioli on a whim. I must say, this was the worst dining experience that I have experienced in awhile. The cashier at the airport Burger King on my trip back was more gracious than the server that waited on us. The food was mediocre, which may have saved my opinion of the restaurant after the treatment we received from the server, but no such luck on that one! I travel to Sacramento frequently to visit family and I am never patronizing this restaurant again and I would suggest you to save your money and go some place else!!
(1)
Melissa W.
I live in the Bay area and have taken my family to small plate restaurants often enough that we all know how to make a meal of them, the waiter was very friendly but wasn't quite convinced we knew what we were doing until we ordered, at first he tried to talk us into some large plate items and that just confused things. But it all got worked out, we had plenty of food, a good balance of hot and cold, veggie and protein, mild and spicy. I agree with the mentions of over-priced, under-proportioned, but it isn't too bad. A lot of the cold tapas come drizzled in yummy olive oil, so I can't complain!
(4)
stacy k.
I thought the tapa's were average tasting. Nothing spectacular really caught my eye nor my pallette. It is a good place to go to for a quick lunch with a friend and to enjoy the outdoors on a nice sunny day. But, if you are looking for some really, really, really packed with flavor tapa's, this place isn't the one.
(3)
Hoa Q.
The food is pretty expensive. The appetizer isn't really enough to replace a meal. We had the salmon alcaparado (tapa) and cazuela de conejo "Riojena" (especialidad). The food was decent but it left us with something to be desired. If you must eat here, I recommend the Davis location, which is more laid-back and has better service.
(3)
D A.
I thought after reading the negative reviews that i would post mine. We have been going to Aiolis for years and have gotten nothing but Great service and the Food has always been good. I feel if someone doesn't like the service or food then it is there right to post a bad review., But that doesn't mean those of us who Love this place are writing Fake reviews.. Just move on and Enjoy all the Different Places Sacramento has to offer...
(5)
Philip C.
Once I stepped foot in this place, I was struck by its coziness. The dining area was inviting, with warm walls and windows that let the light through to the tables. The art on the walls is tastefully unobtrusive, allowing you to get some sense from the paintings, but not pulling your attention away from your friends and meal. The lunch menu is different from the dinner menu, and you'll be pleasantly suprised by its very affordable lunch menu. The meal itself is a treat, especially at lunch, where the prices are very friendly, considering the quality of the food. I'd recommend the chicken salad or the vegan salad, but most everything there is very tasty. The textures and flavors blend well, not obnoxiously loud, and the portions are just right. Dinner is a different experience altogether. While the price is not modest, (especially if you get wine) this ranks as one of the finest meals I've ever had. The salmon was incredible, complimented by a wine that our waiter most expertly offered. What can I say? I spent a good portion of the meal trying to find the chef, so I could compliment him and thank him for my meal! Service? What does meeting the owner of the restaurant and drinking a bottle of wine with him count for? While this is probably not going to be everyone's experience, it accents the emphasis he has on getting things right. The servers were quick and polite, and very knowledgeable. The only negative was that they were difficult to get, especially at dinner. Be sure to bring your friends, this is a good place to be.
(4)
john d.
Hands down the best tapas in town, and one of my favorite restaurants of all time. I love eating in the garden.
(5)
Amanda B.
I loved everything I had and really thought the courtyard was a great little space to spend an evening chatting with my dinner companion. I am going back to try it again soon.
(4)
Rusty J B.
My wife and I had dinner at Aioli Dodega on a Sunday night and were plesantly surprised. The restaurant was not crowded and the service was fine. The waiter was friendly, pleasant and attentive. When asked to recommend a wine from some we had selected from the Rubero del Duero region, the one he recommended was not the most expensive and very good. We had the albondigas and charcuterie tapas as starters and the Paella Valenciana as our main course. The tapas were very good and the paella, though not the best we had had, was very good for the price. The food we had was very good, the prices moderate and the service attentive. We try to choose restaurants that offer food we do not prepare ourselves, Aioli Bodega reminded us of our vacation in Spain where we mainly dined in local neighborhood restaurants.
(3)
Vande R.
For better or worse (to me, better, but apparently worse for others), this place is packed to bursting with character. Aioli has some wonderful tapas, including salmon, the bourek de casa, and the charcuterie plate, and the bartenders and servers know their wines extremely well and are stupendously adept at matching their recommendations to your tastes and meal. The bar is small and intimate, and the staff often introduces the regulars to non-regulars, frequently launching a gregarious and high-spirited evening among former strangers. The restaurant itself is divided into two rooms, one quite small and the other a bit larger. The lush patio is a delight during the right time of year. As to the service... Ah, yes, the service: This is where the character comes in. Some people love the staff and some people hate them. They have always been extravagantly courteous and warm to me, but then I was a regular. From what I have observed, the female staff are sweethearts to most everyone; the male staff can be, ah, temperamental, but they do love the good-lookin' ladies. Regardless, however, of your looks and chromosome type, if you are polite and friendly to them, for the most part they will respond in kind.
(4)
Heather J.
great, fabulous, wonderful restaurant! this if my favorite local spot, and I always bring out of towners to try the tapas menu, it has flavor and personality. sit out on the back patio if you can, very charming, the wine list is great too. Cheers.
(5)
Yoshiko M.
When I want to show outta-towners who think there is no there in Sacramento, I take them to Aioli's. Sacramento is an al fresco town, and there is no better showcase for al fresco dining than the patio at Aioli's. The sound of water flowing from the fountain adds to the ambiance. I've read some of the complaints of Aioli newbies that they were denied patio seating -- my suggestion -- make a reservation, especially in the summer. My friends from Europe agree with me -- Aioli is a slice of the Continent -- from the European-style waiter to the paella. Do order the paella. I thought the tapas were mixed -- some I liked, others were so-so -- but I am never disappointed by the paella. The kitchen does special requests -- I always ask for the house spinach salad -- it is an off-menu item but is sumptuous in its simplicity. A little olive oil, sea salt, pepper, a hint of citrus -- no overbearing dressing. Service is attentive, polite, and unintrusive. When I want to get away, but I can't, I treat this signora to Aioli's.
(5)
Eric D.
Is it possible to give negative stars? The service is horrible (uptight and pretentious wait staff) and the food is disgusting. We had to send the mussels back because it smelled like sewage.
(1)
Ed P.
Sorry guys, we had the Paella (Valenciana and all seafood), and I have to say the food was not that great. The seafood was overcooked, the rice was slightly under. The seafood tasted a bit off - particularly the oysters, which were clearly not fresh. You will pay $11 for 4 sardines and $14 for 6 shrimp, neither of which was that memorable. The bill came back at well over $100 for 4 people, and the only good thing about the place was the sangria, which still wasn't "spectacular" and most certainly did not command such margins.
(2)
Jacqueline T.
Never a let down. Everyone we have had a great experience. Service is top notch and the food is amazing. The paella and the lamb kabobs unlike any lamb I've ever had. The lemonade is so good.
(5)
DJ D.
This place kind of lost it. A couple of years ago was one of our favorite places to eat. Now it just seems ok but expensive. Nothing really stands out besides a bill for $200 for 6 people and no alcohol. Menu definitely could use an upgrade. The problem is that it is still the best place for spanish food in Sac which is sad.
(3)
Jennifer L.
I came here this past Sunday for a late anniversary dinner with my boyfriend. We got here around 8pm where it had just become dark enough to enjoy the courtyard seating with the charming strung lights. Our waiter was a really nice young man named Jaime who made great recommendations and was really informative in regards to any questions we may have had. Unfortunately we had ate two hours earlier and were still quite too full to experience the full range of tapas they had to offer. We did order the "Salpicon De Pulpo" which is a cold tapa made up of octopus, potatoes, and onions and roasted bell pepper. It was a really refreshing dish for the warm summer night; the octopus tasted quite fresh and went well with the veggies. They also gave us a serving of bread with olive oil and vinaigrette which we devoured right away. For our main course we got the Paella Valencia due to the raving reviews, the menu stated that it would take about 45 mins from ordering to be cooked but the wait didn't feel that long especially which the tapas and bread at hand, plus it gives you time to really take in the ambiance of the place. My boyfriend loved the Paella, it had a great combination of seafood and other meats such as pork and chicken. My only holdback was that I felt it was a little lacking in salt/seasoning as the mussels fell bland to the taste buds. We ended the night with a pear dessert called "Pera Aioli" which is a pear braised in red wine and cinnamon which we enjoyed. It wasn't overly sweet and the red wine gave it a bit of a tart taste which we enjoyed. Overall the experience was great, but I couldn't give this place a five star because when I called to make a reservation they simply said "okay" and asked me for my name and nothing else, and I had also called back to confirm near the dinner time. Upon arriving they couldn't find me in the system but I was lucky because it a bit of a slow night so I was able to get the seating I requested.
(4)
Phil C.
We chose Aioli last night after receiving no attention at another restaurant 10 minutes before. Having been to here on previous occasions made it an easy decision, as always the staff is prompt and courteous. Our food and drinks were delicious. The costilla and sangria are a must try. We even stuck around for dessert and coffee. We will continue to frequent this restaurant. Keep up the good work
(5)
Alisha B.
Very meh food and over-priced. Ordered a pretty wide selection. None of it good. Decent sangria though. Tapa the world waaaaaay better!
(2)
Chantal T.
So I've been here a couple of times. Food was usually mediocre to good but usually nothing too impressive. So I came here last on a double date. It didn't start off well at all. We had reservations and were waiting in a crowded environment for at least an additional 15 minutes past our reservation time with no apologies while the wait staff kept squeezing past us. Before we got seated, we asked to put in an order of the paella which on the menu takes 45 minutes to make. We got some resistance from the waiter who said that it would not change our wait time at all. After insisting more, he put our order in. Our server was a little rough, asking us to place our tapas order ASAP. And then when someone from our party asked for oil and vinegar to go with the bread, the response she got was also rough - "What do you think this is? An Italian restaurant?!" He eventually brought it out but the comment was a little strange. All of these are the reasons why they don't get a perfect 5 stars. But as the meal progressed, the night improved. The food was phenomenal. The duck was cooked perfectly. The paella was flavorful. I liked every dish. Our water listened to my wine preference and brought me out great wines that suited my tastes. They kindly refilled our bread baskets and waters constantly. There was even live music! Jazz in Sac? Yes please! Based on this past experience, I would definitely come back!
(4)
Jesse G.
I haven't been here in quite a while but the last time I did I had one of the worst dining experiences of my life. I called in a reservation for a patio seat more than a week in advance. I was taking my then girlfriend to dinner for our anniversary. When we got there, the place was packed and in was told there was only one table available, not on the patio but literally right next to the door which bumped my chair every time it was opened. I was furious but not as furious as I would be come in the next five seconds. Immediately after we arrived, a wealthy looking older couple showed up without a reservation and was immediately shown to a much better table. This was followed by horrible service, bad food and an overcharge on the bill. I truly wish with all my heart that this joke of a restaurant would burn to the ground. When I complained, it fell upon deaf ears. GFY aioli.
(1)
Hilary G.
It's 8:45. We had a reservation at 8 pm and arrived on time. The host told us they gave our table to another party who were supposed to be a 4 top but ended up being a 6 top. But one of them is a "really good customer" so "they're just going to get up when they get up". There is nowhere to stand. Instead of offering our party drinks or apps for waiting, the host just keeps telling us there is nothing he can do. I'd love to be able to review the food but it's just not possible. Service is abysmal.
(1)
Brian W.
Great place to eat and great vibe. When the weather is good, take advantage of the courtyard seating because it is very comfortable. The menu is excellent and our advice is to have the wait staff just bring you small plates that they recommend. We've done this with both food and beverages and they haven't missed yet. One of our new favorites and always recommended when someone from out of the area asks where to go.
(4)
Esperanza N.
I've come here before and enjoyed it. Not so much this last time. We came for our anniversary. We were seated at a tiny table RIGHT next to the (wonderful) guitarist. Awkward. Our waiter Joseph came by and moved us. Whew. We had a cocktail and wanted it order some tapas. Waiter told us we needed to order dinner first, because it would take awhile. Weird. We didn't know what we wanted for dinner yet, we just wanted some tapas to start. But no, we had to choose our dinner right then. Tapas came. We had brought our own bottle of wine (Tempranillo). He opened it, with a corkage fee, of course, but he didn't pour it for us. Strange, because he poured the wine at our neighboring tanks, which they also brought. Before we finished our tapas, surprise - here's dinner! You know the dinner at we had to order early because it would take too long. So now we have a crowded table with tapas and dinner. When the tapas were finished they cleared the plates away, and then the busser tried to clear our dinner plates before we were even finished. Rushed, anyone? Not cool. We ordered dessert and cappuccino. The cappuccino came wayyyy before the dessert. So the choice was to let the coffee go cold or drink it before dessert came. We drank it. Then ordered another, which came way after the dessert arrived. Head smack. So, for the cost of cocktails, cork fee, tapas, dinner, dessert and cappuccinos - about $150 - we expected and deserved better service. The food, however, was delicious. And the guitarist was beautiful. But the service will prevent us from returning soon.
(3)
Donald W.
I had one of the best dining experiences of my life here this past weekend. A friend and I were getting caught up after not seeing each other for a long time. We enjoyed several hours together along with some great wine from Spain and a variety of great Spanish cuisine. We had seared ahi tuna, paella, salmon, lamb chops, and some really tasty desserts. Every bite was exquisitely prepared, delicious, and healthy. I would highly recommend this place, and look forward to going here again.
(5)
Justin B.
Probably my top place in Sacramento. Good place to get some excellent Spanish rioja. I wish they had more jamon selection.
(4)
Anastacia L.
Paella is really great! Big enough to share for three!! Sit out side, sip sangria and you feel like you are in another country!
(4)
Amy D.
I'm a San Franciscan & I had never been here before & thought the food was really good last week. We had a couple of tapas to start, some wine (which wasn't dry & without fruitiness as we had asked, but was drinkable nonetheless) & shared the paella & dessert. Everything was really top notch & edible. The service was really pretty bad. Nobody checked on us except for once & we were here for at least a couple of hours. When our glasses were empty, they stayed empty & we were too tired to flag down anyone. I would go back for the paella & tapas though. Good food is more important to me than good service.
(4)
Shaila S.
I was planning on picking up a couple grilled cheeses from The Rind across the street from here, but they closed their kitchen early. Super disappointed, and it seemed like nothing else appealing was open within walking distance. The boyfriend had just driven up from the bay and was meeting me in midtown to eat. Unfortunately, it was after 10pm so there weren't many options nearby. We popped into Aioli to see if they were open and yes! They were open until 11. Once we stepped inside, we were greeted with warmth and the sound of live music, and we were seated by the Christmas tree. The place was dim with light strings everywhere, which is my absolute favorite lighting scheme. Although I would have liked to try the paella, that required 45 minutes of prep time and we were starved. My boyfriend is vegetarian and there weren't many veggie dishes for him, so I knocked down one star for that, and the prices. We settled on an array of tapas instead of entrees. Each one was small, but delicious. We definitely enjoyed our experience here and the food, but it's somewhere we would probably only return to for a special occasion (or if we both get raises!) because it is rather pricey.
(4)
Wendy Y.
Also, on another note, since another reviewer mentioned that I may have "stiffed" the waiter and ruined his night, gratuity was already included in the bill which means that the restaurant got their full tip for the night. But for a waiter to slip up on the $4, (and this isn't even about the money it's about the principle) and obviously being shady with the attitude he gave for getting caught, I don't think he deserved any tip whatsoever. I pay for food, tip for service. I don't think anyone deserves to be paid to be dishonest, which in effect makes a restaurant lose its integrity. When working in a service industry, it is your JOB to provide excellent customer service as that is part of your job description. And I'm not even asking for a cheerful or jolly person. At the very least I'm looking for attentiveness and honesty. This is why the restaurant is getting my 1 star and before I can give it another chance, a sincere apology would be appreciated rather than the disgusting attitude we received that night.
(1)
Kay P.
The service was appropriately attentive and friendly. We had tapas (charcuterie, toast with fig topping), green "gazpacho" soup made with mint, grapes and cucumber (REALLY GOOD!), lamb chops (excellent), desserts ( both wonderful.) We totally recommend Aioli Bodega!
(5)
Dee V.
ZERO STARs! The worst service ever! When we walked in they were very nice and helpful but as soon as they saw who our company was all of a sudden racism reared its ugly face. Not only were we ignored the whole time we waited, we got there at 6 o'clock with 630 reservations and at 8:30 we still had not been sat! We will never come to this awful place ever again! And to top it off the waitress, as we walked out, yelled at us, "please come back! we shoved people out of your way just to seat you guys! I'm so sorry but our manager isn't here so none of us know what to do!" WOW. Learn people. I wrote a letter and never got a response. I gave them over a month to respond before I posted this.
(1)
Nina M.
Went here a couple months ago for a date night with my finace. The staff are welcoming and attentive (but not TOO attentive, which is a good thing). I ordered their Zarzuela De Mariscos (opera of seafood in garlic tomato sauce) and my fiance had Salmon Con Acento Catalan. The Salmon Con Acento Catalan gets a thumbs up: The salmon was moist, fresh and the crust on it was fantastic. The Zarzuela De Mariscos gets a thumbs way down. The mussels were muddy and the calamari was too chewy. The overall flavor/sauce was good, but the seafood components of the dish just didn't strike the right note. The ambiance of the restaurant gets a thumbs up - there are large windows and their overall decor really does transport to a different time & place.
(3)
Rafael C.
Tried to have dinner but the waiter was very rude, like they did not want our business.
(1)
Ts S.
Food great. Service very slow. Waiter had a little attitude. Dire need to get some organization around what door they want customer to come in from. Confusing. Poor flow. Poor acoustics. Outdoor patio nice in good weather.
(3)
Maria G.
I had a first date here recently (2/13/14) and enjoyed a wonderful and warm experience with inspired and unique food. The owner (or manager??) was a warm and charming man who went out of his way to delight and inform us. We ordered beet and arugula salads,which were lovely and fresh, although the star of the show by far was the gravlax. It was succulent, melt-in-your-mouth perfection and an extremely generous portion. I plan to return here soon. I'm giving Aioli 4 instead of 5 stars only because the decor and ambience are a little cramped and uninspired, although certainly acceptable.
(4)
Jason G.
We finally came here after living in town for 4 years. I was very happy with the place. My friends said dont sit where the old man waits tables and of course who do we get? the old man. I thought he was great. Very funny, knowledgeable. The food was very good, though I thought the portions were small, even for tapas. The paella was awesome. We will be back, because of the prices not regularly though.
(4)
Jun R.
This is probably more of a 3.5 rating. We ordered several cold and hot tapas and the food was pretty good for the most part. The paella was disappointing... everyone said we made much better paella at home. The Sangria also tasted a bit watered down. The rabbit, halibut, and lamb shanks were all very good. And we always enjoy the patio seating at night.
(4)
Miss M.
I recently had my birthday dinner here with a party of 14 people. The Paella Velencia was amazing. The ambience was perfect and my waiter was very informative on the dishes and wine! The birthday dessert was not so good the orange tartness mixed with chocolate did not go well! Other than that definitely will come back!
(4)
George C.
We dined at this restaurant on 5/10/14 and had a wonderful meal..Our waiter was an older gentleman (grey haired with glasses). At the very end we were doing a review of the check...there was a question about one of the items listed on the tab. Our waiter when asked about the item was upset that there was a question and made a snide remark when asked about it..When I understood what was happening he took my credit card to have it run as he was walking away from the table my guests saw that he was overtly upset. I was considering what tip to leave him during all this. He unknowingly reduced what was going to be a generous tip by his behavior. The food at this restaurant is terrific and the street views give it a nice abience.
(4)
Laura R.
Si si to authentic Spanish culinary flare in Sac! We've been here quite a few times but most recently, we came last week for a family celebration. They were very accommodating in serving the wine we brought, and our server was very friendly, attentive, and helpful to the Spanish food-newbies at the table. In addition to lovely service, the outside garden area is a lovely space to dine. I highly recommend requesting a table in the back garden (which you might miss should you enter the restaurant from the L Street side) if the weather is nice. As for food, there are very few things I haven't tried on the menu at this point and all are good. However, I do recommend their tapas over their paella. The paella is pretty good, just not their strong suit. But I would offer the caveat that personally, I think it's hard to get everything just perfectly cooked with paella where the rice, seafood, and other meats all have very different cooking times. I find that I am often disappointed in paella unless it is homemade with plenty of saffron or at a very good restaurant in Spain. Aioli's paella is certainly much better than the tourist trap paella I had in Madrid, but not as exquisite as a really perfectly cooked paella. The tapas, however, are fantastic! Some of my favorites are the lamb sausage, which are small pieces cooked in a killer red sauce that melt in your mouth, and the salmon cooked in white white, lemon, and capers. The charcuterie plate with the ever-scrumptious Iberian ham is also a wise choice. And if you're new to tapas, it's always a good idea to check out the classics like patatas bravas (fried potatoes with aioli sauce, how could you go wrong?), Catalan toast (toast with fresh-crushed tomatoes spread on top, which is delicious and I don't even like raw tomatoes!), and gambas al ajillo (shrimp cooked in garlic, white wine and olive oil, much like Italian shrimp scampi). For dessert, I cannot recommend the chocolate truffles served in white chocolate "soup" enough. They are truly delectable! Overall, I find this place reliably good, affordable, and a romantic spot for a date that also has a larger separate room for a big party. If you are a Spanish food veteran, you will find unique bites to delight your palette, and if you are a newbie, you'll find things that are familiar enough to comfort (like the delicious ribeye with blue cheese!).
(4)
Ray M.
Our first time here. And Wow. I have to say it was Excellent. The service the food and the atmosphere was perfect. We will definitely will be going back. Highly recommend if you like a bunch of flavor in your dish.
(5)
Rod W.
First time here. We ordered the salami plate, arugala salad, the duck and the mussels. The salami, mussels and the salad was good. Wow! The Duck was the driest Duck I have ever had in my life! And Im talking about the Dark meat! We didnt get to the breast of the Duck thank God because we sent it back and got the Lamb instead. The Mussels and the Duck were the entres so when the waiter took the duck away it was at least 20 minutes before the Lamb came out which means the kitchen didnt even cook it until 15 minutes later after the duck was taken away. For an Entre replacement dish it should have been rushed but it wasn't so we waited a very long time. I don't know if it was the waiter who maybe forgot to put in the Lamb order or the kitchen took way long to cook a medium rare Lamb but either way it shouldn't have taken so long. We wanted to try the Paella but it would have been 45 minutes but we were there 90 minutes anyway. Overall, the food is good but the service is barely fair. We even had to ask for water refill!! Oh I have to say that the Bar Tender was superb! She added the Simple syrup with the perfect amount and she brought a refill without having to ask! Also, for service not being so good, there were only 5 tables! Oops, forgot to mention the Flan was very good! I hate to imagine the service if they were busy!! Yyeeesssshhhhh!
(3)
Narmina G.
One of my new favorite places. Went last week and the week prior. Spanish theme...small and intimate. Love dinning on their patio. Very relaxing ambiance and the times I've gone they've had a guitarist playing live. Very good wines at reasonable prices. Recommend the Tuna Tartar and Lamb. Will always come back anytime I just want to enjoy a nice relaxing dinner.
(5)
Melissa W.
The food here was unbelievably good. My husband and I had the lamb shank and the ribeye. The food was prepared perfectly, and the staff found us a great bottle of wine to pair with the meal. We will definitly be coming back, and soon!
(5)
Katrina F.
Came here for a friends birthday this last weekend and I loved the outdoor seating area. My friend and I split 4 of the tapas dishes and a dessert. All was delicious though I don't think I'll return as it wasn't so good that it justified the price. The waitress did recommend us some fabulous drinks off of the wine menu though. If you're a foodie I think you'll respect the food here far more than I did, but otherwise I would recommend going somewhere else where you can get a much larger bang for your buck. 2 appetizers, 4 tapas, 2 drinks and 2 desserts (which should have been only 1 dessert but apparently there was a misunderstanding and we were charged the dessert that the table ate, not a big deal just a little annoying) ran us $110. Be ready to spend some money if you come here.
(3)
Mike K.
I always done at this restaurant, when in town. They have the best Paella anywhere. The Aioli owner and staff are friendly and provide a true dining experience second to none. This is a must place to eat in Downtown Sacramento!
(5)
Julia L.
A fellow Peds intern and I went out in Sacramento in search for a tapas dinner and ended up getting a paella dish! So I was like half an hour late meeting my friend cuz I was driving around midtown at 7 PM on a weekday and could not find parking for the life of me. I must have done every combination of zig zag on a letter street and a number street and ended up parking blocks away. Since I had a crummy time finding parking, I rewarded myself with a nice large sangria. We started off the night with the cheese plate and garlic shrimp, nothing was really amazing. The paella was pretty good though, although compared to the paella in Barcelona it was only ok. I think if we were in the mood for paella and I'm feeling too lazy to cook, we could come eat here.
(4)
Wolf R.
Our tapas meal was excellent and the service was great. We tried the mussels and the mussel themselves were very strong. When we told the server he took them away didn't charge for them. I say this is a restaurant that understands good customer service. We'll go back,but not for the mussels.
(4)
Adam G.
We came for the tapas and drinks, left feeling content and happy. The shrimp & calamari tapas were very good.... so good in fact that we politely stopped our friendly waiter from taking the empty bowl away so that we could use their nice bread to sop up the tasty remaining juices. Great atmosphere, perfect for a date! Highly recommended!
(4)
Ken G.
I'm not really a huge fan of Spanish cuisine, but I really enjoyed my experience here. The food was very good. I had a plate of Citrus Grilled Chicken and even though it was an extremely simple dish, it had a ton of flavor and everything was cooked very well. The side of potatoes topped with aioli was also great. I had some of their sangria, which was excellent, full-flavored, without being too sweet. They have an outdoor area where a live performer sings some amazing Spanish music....very romantic. If you get the chance to sit outside, please do. I would definitely come back here...the service, food and ambiance were very good.
(4)
Susan D.
Today was my first visit to this amazing place. Since there were three of us, we ordered the lunch special which was $12.50 per person (reasonable price). The three entree choices were pasta, salmon and stew. Ordered one of each and ordered one hot tapa, large shrimp with a salsa served on top of avocado. The service by James was impeccable as was the still salivating food. I will be making a return visit and I suggest that you try it. It is really yummy.
(5)
Dan P.
Aioli serves wonderful Spanish food and has one of the best garden patios in Sacramento. The tapas style is great for sampling several dishes each visit and having a light bite. During 5 visits, we have only had one issue, a medium rare rib eye was ordered and it arrived well done. Not usually a problem, but the server had a bad attitude -- "I have been in the restaurant business for 13 years and know what a medium rare steak looks like." Okay, then why did you serve us one that is obviously well done??
(4)
Holly T.
I have an intense, passionate love of this restaurant. Poor though I am, I come here as often as possible because it is incredible. The food is expensive, but it is worth every penny. Each bite is succulent, well spiced, and delicious. I've done both tapas and entrees and I've never once been disappointed. The drinks are also phenomenal; I ordered a lemon drop and it didn't taste like pure sugar as is so often the case at lesser bars. The much of the restaurant staff is Spanish and I think other reviewers have confused cultural differences for rudeness. Every care has always been taken for my well being here. The owner is always present, checking that everything is running smoothly. This is my favorite special occasion restaurant, not because they make me feel particularly special or bend over backward for me, but because the food is amazing, the staff are present and friendly, and I feel like a small part of a larger fantastic culinary experience.
(5)
Chad B.
This review does not pertain to the food, as we were never seated. We made a reservation for a party of 9 a week in advance. When we arrived it was very busy, and it was clearly a stressful night for the staff. The host told us very quickly that there would be a wait and apologized. After half an hour of waiting I thought it would be appropriate to ask the host what the situation looked like. He was clearly stressed, we were sympathetic, but he decided to take the stress out on us; he told me there was nothing he could do and that we would find out when we find out. He also told my guests that the group sitting at our table was "important" and that he refused to suggest they move to the bar (which was his idea because their tab had been paid for 45 minutes before). We understand you have no control over people not getting up from the table, and we would never suggest that someone be asked to leave. We had no problem waiting, the bar was open, and we were just happy to be hanging out together. But we did want some information. Bottom line, I would strongly recommend to never go here with a large party. If you make a reservation a well in advance, they still might treat you like you are an inconvenience to them or that you're the problem. A table became available 50 minutes after our reservation, but we were so put off by the staff that we left.
(1)
Yana K.
I went here for my friends birthday and we all order a whole bunch of different tapas. Everything was amazing. The salad was fresh with a great vinaigrette, the chicken was savory, the lamb was young and the drinks were well made too. We ate outside, it was so nice and there was a man playing the guitar, very authentic. I can't wait to come back.
(5)
Emily A.
Great service. Great paella. Wonderful restaurant. Since moving to Sacramento, we have been to a lot of restaurants people recommend and had some pretty underwhelming experiences. Moving from San Francisco means that our expectation can be a bit...unreasonable. We know it. We accept it. Aioli exceeded our ridiculous expectations. The food is delicious and the restaurant is charming. We can't wait to go back.
(4)
Barbara S.
I love this place. I think one of my 'tips' was something along the lines of "every time I come here, I wonder why I don't come here more often!" I'm way behind writing this review but here's what I can tell you- when sweetie and I are looking for a romantic dinner spot in the summer, we head straight here. The little patio has lots of plants, tiny little sparkly lights and little water features. Memories of drinking wine here on a warm summer evening and indulging in some great Spanish food make me hate winter all the more. Sitting inside does provide some great people watching opportunities. The large windows give a great view of the foot traffic in the neighborhood. Be adventerous and let the waiter pick your tapas for you. I think we told him to pick his 6 favorites and surprise us- and we were quite happy with what came out. I'll update this the next time I visit with some more specifics about the food. As I said, I'm behind on my reviews. In the meantime, stop in- you won't regret it!
(4)
Denise D.
Absolutely amazing. Everything we are melted in our mouth. Highly recommend. Nice wine selection too.
(5)
The Rau Ranch R.
As recommended by our son, we thought we'd take friends to dinner here. We arrived about twenty minutes early to check it out. We were very pleased when they offered for us to sit outside on the patio dining area while we waited. We ordered a bottle of wine had great conversation with the manager and enjoyed our relaxing time prior to our table being ready. Once inside, I do have to say that the place gets noisy but it wasn't a problem for us. Our appetizers and meals were fantastic! My guess as it was for us, you won't understand much of what the menu says so ask your server and have a fun and delicious experience! I recommend Ailoi highly, we will make this a monthly visit ourselves!
(5)
Jeannine M.
Great wine, great food. Wine is a bit pricey but the food is less so. I guess it evens out. Great ambiance. Really great table linens. :-)
(4)
Noemi B.
We've always passed by and wanted to go in for dinner but the wait is always so long, but I finally made reservations and we both fell in love with the place and the food. We were seated in the patio area and it was really nice and we were able to have an intimate time. I love spanish tapas and i wanted him to try everything--which would be possible if we were planning on staying for several hours, but alas we didn't and decided to go back there agian. We ordered the boquerones, moorish lamb skewers, jamon, and stuffed tomato as well as their orange creme brulee. They were all on point. I cant compare this place with ZuZu's in napa as no restaurant is really comparable. Their sangria is also great. I could probably drink it all day if i had to. We will definitely come back and try more of their extensive menu.
(4)
Sue B.
I love this restaurant. ! It is Mediterrean in style , lovely !the food is delicious ! The tapa selection is extensive & the food has a lovely presentation & is fresh & delicious. . Extensive wine list , service is good . 1 of my favorite Sacramento restaurants
(4)
Tinah Y.
I had to take a star away because the owner was in a bad mood and was rude to us and I still don't know why... it seems that he was just overwhelmed by our huge group. You know, if you can't handle a big group... don't take our reservation. I was seconds away from telling my party of 18 that we're leaving, before the other owner stepped in and took over. Short version of my review... not a place for big groups (or kids)!!!! now here's the long: My first time here was several years ago and I remember we left the food choices to the owner. During that visit, we were a party of 7 and the owner served each dish with a great explanation and was really nice. This time it was a party of 18 and half the seating for our party was this long one piece booth chair. We asked if we can pull at least half the tables apart to leave space in the middle for people to get up and we were told no. So, when ever someone sitting in the middle needed to get out, 5 people have to get up and out. There was a table for two at the end of our tables and for the life of me, i can't understand why the owner would try to stick two people at that table when there were other tables available. Every time someone from our group gets out, we have to stick our asses into them just to squeeze out... that's how tight they had us. While placing this couple at the table, the owner bumped one of our tables, spilled a glass of water and just left it there. The whole glass of water spilt onto the chair and we had to lay out several napkins and towels so that one of our people can sit. The owner didn't try to pick up the glass when it first spilled, didn't try to clean it up or have someone clean it up until we complained later. Again, if it wasn't so late, and I didn't have such a big hungry group of people, I would have left. No apology what-so-ever, I asked our waiter (whom, I believe he may be part owner) who the manager is because I wanted to voice my complaint, he told me that is the owner. No one in my party has ever been to this restaurant or heard of it. All week long I've been raving about how good this restaurant is and what great hospitality it is there. It was stressing me out because the owner was just so rude and hostile. He was yelling and swearing at his staff and under his breathe. No one knows what he was pisst about. He says something and finally the other owner walks up and says that he was taking over. He asked me if i was going to take charge with the ordering and I said no. He said usually with a big party it's better for one person to take charge. Finally he said that he will take charge and he will make the selection and we're in good hands. At this point.. I was like, fine, whatever. The food there is GREAT. I have yet to eat anything there that I didn't like. All the other servers/waiters/hostess were really nice. In the end, the owner did seem to calm down and even join in on the birthday song. I will go back...but it will only for a party no bigger than four. In case you're unsure of what to try, here's a list of what was served to us... all was very good and you can't go wrong with these items: - Ensalada Mediterranea: spinach, basil, tomato, red onion, cucumber ^ olives tossed in olive oil and citrus, toped with feta cheese - Gambas De La Parilla: shrimp marinated in cumin, olive oil & citrus over avocado grilled and topped with salsa fresca - Charcuterie Y Queso Manchego: An assortment of cured spanish sausage, cured ham & cheese from la moncha - Setas Con Comino: mushrooms marinated with cumin, garlic, sheery vinegar & olive oil - Pinchos Morunos De Cordero: moorish style marinated lamb grilled and finished in a sauce of red wine & peppers - Paella Valenciana: saffron rice with shrimp, mussels, calamari, chicken, park spareribs.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Sac. I have been here a few times and always have great service and a good time. I absolutely love to come here with a group and order lots of tapas to share.The short ribs are to die for. Actually I have never ordered a dish that I didn't really like. Next time I want to order the paella. They have a great outdoor area too.
(5)
Ana T.
The husband and I don't get to go out alone to dinner often, so Saturday we had the extraordinary opportunity to do so, and we chose Aioli, looking for good food, romantic ambiance and a fun night out on the town. We got there in time for our reservation and we were seated right away. Our table was by the window, lovely. As we were seated, our waiter (who is the reason why I give such a low rating) rushed us with the menu, pointed out at the dishes and wine list curtly and quickly and gave us a minute. We decided to start with some tapas and were going back and forth with which ones to chose. The waiter, again, came rushing us, asking if we had decided. This was our first time there, so we weren't sure what to get. He came again a few minutes later and as we told him what we had decided for starters, he rudely told us we had to be ready and order our main course right away when ordering our appetizer. Mind that at this time we had not been even offered a drink, which we also had to order in a rush. Our tapas came out quickly, but we had not even finished them when our main course showed up. The food was flavorful, presentation was wonderful and the ambiance of the place made our night special. But I was not pleased with the service we received from our waiter, who was curt, rude and simply not pleasant. His tip reflected his service. --Bottom line-- When I have a chance to have a nice dinner alone with my husband, without the children, the last thing I need is a waiter rushing me to make an order. We felt almost like we were being rushed out of the place. We finished our meal and didn't even feel like staying for dessert. I give this place 5 stars for its delicious food and lovely ambiance, but it would be nice if management checked in with its staff and the service they are providing. This waiter was definitely not a good representative of the other wonderful qualities of this restaurant. Not sure if we will return...
(2)
Stephanie L.
Oh my Spanish goodness! How could I have not reviewed this place yet? Bad Stephanie! You want tapas? This is the place to go! Not the Americanized competitor down the road- that place you go for atmosphere. Aioli- Great food, and a beautiful restaurant with a gorgeous patio. Little water fall and trellis with vines outside on the patio. What a little hidden getaway! And when you sit, they give you complimentary french bread and focacia, WITH a dipping sauce that is a white bean puree with a hint of tomatoes and mint. I could go there for wine and bread/dip alone. But, I don't. I can't help but order tapas, which is mostly what the menu is made of. Sure, they have a few large plates and a specials menu printed daily. But I usually stick with the small plates. The tapas. They are divided into an easy to read menu of hot and cold tapas. Here are a few of my favorite things: 1. Sangria!- Best in Sacramento, lots of fruit and citrus flavors with a hint of perhaps cardamom or cinnamon. 2. Octopus Escabeche (cold tapa)- marinated octopus with pickled vegetables. Mmmm. 3. Amatraciana Buccatini ( large plate special sometimes)- my favorite pasta noodle with my favorite pancetta tomato sauce. A bit of spice. 4. Spanish chorizo and white beans. Oh mon dieu! 5. Rabbit- in a creamy white sauce. 6.White Chocolate truffle soup! Oh soo beautiful... white chocolat anglaise in a shallow bowl with hand rolled truffles, and raspberry puree swirl. The service can be great (male server with red hair) or snobby (tall snobby guy). Of course, that doesnt deter me from going back! His poor attitude is his problem, not mine. The food is worth 10 stars! The prices are comparable to its competition, and the flavors are more prevalent in all dishes. If you haven't been here, at least come for the sangria. Solo or with a buddy. Or with a date ;)
(5)
Dominique M.
Where do I start..... The atmosphere here is so nice and calm the decor, just lovely!!! Just the perfect addition to mid-town SAC. Great for a date night :) Aioli Bodega Espanola is without a doubt pricey, but also very well presented and the quality is so fresh and delicious. I did feel as though the tapas were a complete tease though and I don't like to be teased at all. Mushrooms and mussels YUM!!! I had the Salmon for dinner and it was very good slightly undercooked. My friend had the steak and short ribs and said the short ribs were the best ever, so he order another order of short ribs... Service was above average and I am all about service. Overall we were both extremely delighted with the entire experience we had at Aioli Bodega Espanola.
(4)
J D.
Server with ponytail, can't remember his name was great all throughout the night! Food was fantastic and the outside patio is just so so wonderful!
(5)
G M.
I have found the service to be consistently good and the food always, hot, fresh and flavorful. My friends and I have been eating at this establishment for two years and have learned to avoid the rush hours here as well as other establishments for the best service. We love the Seafood Paella and the last few times we have had wonderful tuna fish. Topped off with some Sangria we find this restaurant with it's outdoor dining to be a wonderful addition to our evenings out.
(5)
Megan K.
How lucky am I that I found one of my all-time FAVORITE restaurants in Sac on the very block I live on! There's really something special about tapas done right; It brings people together more than any other type of meal. If you've been to Tapa the World and were relatively unimpressed (as I was), let me tell you-- don't give up! Aioli is truly on a whole other level. I strongly recommend their swordfish entree (holy crap, so good), but honestly, you can't go wrong here. (To be fair, I've never tried their paella, just loads of tapas). Be brave! Try something new! With the excellent help of our server Joseph (very adorable Frenchman) I tried rabbit for the first time, and was seriously impressed. Oh yeah, don't forget to sample their fantastic wine selection too. Joseph did a wonderful job picking out our wine (2 bottles for 3 people-- I don't mess around). I walk by here multiple times a day, and literally every time I feel compelled to go in, sit down, have some fantastic food/wine, and take a nice, long siesta.
(5)
John M.
I just had an amazing lunch here!...my server was friendly, knowledgeable. ..and efficient. The restaurant is beautiful. ..I loved the food so much I made a reservation for Thursday night. .this is a must try if you visit Sacramento!
(5)
Jess C.
As I scooted into my chair (they have an odd, cramped layout), I noticed that they used fresh flowers, else something smelled good, and I was looking forward to a fancier lunch compared to the usual subway. The server who took care of us was disheveled and looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. He ran out of water when refilling our glasses, so he went to the kitchen for more but forgot to come back and actually fill it. Then, he forgot to get the sparkling water I ordered and when I reminded him 30 minutes later, he didn't even apologize! Other than extremely poor service, I felt the food was mediocre, often lacking flavor, and definitely overpriced. The lunch special, $12 for 3 courses is a pretty good deal if you're hungry, but you better be very hungry. The gaspacho soup starter was like bad salsa, the entree was pretty tasteless (how do you make short ribs tasteless?), and the tiramasu dessert was ok at best. I found the lamb and short ribs to be covered in chunks of fat (yes, visible chunks), and lacking in seasoning and flavor. Dousing my food in fat isn't going to make me like it more! The flatbread they used for the wraps were good - my friend liked the steak wrap filled with onions and mushrooms. It sounds delicious actually, dont ask me why I ordered the lamb instead. Lastly we had some tapas, the shrimp tapas were extremely overpriced (try the ones at Cafe Rolle they're much fresher), and my mushrooms came out luke warm. Overall, I thought the mushrooms tapas wasn't bad, the shrimp was ok but overpriced, the sandwich was good and generous especially for $10, and the 3 course meal is a good deal (if you make sure the courses they're serving you don't include the gaspacho). I highly doubt I will be coming back anytime soon.
Ok, this place is awesome! We ordered about 7 or 8 different dishes and each one was better than the next!! I was in Madrid a few months ago and this place blew it away!! Amir took great care of us to find the right wine, Aziz took over and finished us off! I will definitely be back. You should stop in and try, i'm a foodie and if you love great food and great service, just drop in, you won't regret it!!
(5)
Ryan D.
Why haven't I come here sooner! A unbelievable little gem on a great block surrounded by other quality spots. Aioli is almost 2 different restaurants, a nicer indoor sit down, white table cloth spot, and a great causal patio with a waterfall feature, overhead lighting, lots of foliage to cover out the surrounding buildings. We were greeted by a joyful waiter and sat down in the patio outside. Everything from the decor, food, service and wine were fantastic. Authentic Spanish tapas with the best paella that I have had in Sac since being back from Spain. This will be a regular spot on the dining out rotation and can't wait to go back!
(5)
Robert H.
We've had lunch here twice while in Sacramento so will limit my review to our lunch experiences. I'm always on the lookout for decent Spanish food. Unfortunately we didn't have time to try a Paella (the benchmark for all Spanish food as far as I'm concerned). The bread was brought to our table in a flash. The "bean dip" that goes with the bread was delicious. For tapas we ordered the Gambas and the sauce was so good we used it on our bread. Due to time constraints we limited our lunch to the "daily specials" both times. Yesterday was beef bocadillos. The beef was cooked to perfection and in a "wrap" of sorts. I was able to eat the first half without making a mess but needed a knife and fork to attack the second half. The accompanying salad of greens and fried potato crisps was excellent. In each visit, the lunches could have easily passed for a full dinner. If we'd had more time we would have had dessert. The service was prompt and efficient. The owner was there and very personable. They do have a full bar and outdoor patio seating for those hot sacramento days. I will definitely return -- I want to sample their paella and other delicacies on their impressive menu. I would encourage everyone to give them a try.
(4)
Sabrina Eileen M.
Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. We were seated promptly and were pretty excited to get going. We were waited on by the owner and not only was he funny but very polite. I enjoyed our tapas and the wine that was recommended. Definitely will come back
(5)
Meg M.
I dined at Aioli with a large group (there were about 10 of us) and found the service to be on point and fast. Our server even offered seperate checks (that were completely acurate!). The food was a little pricey but everything tasted great. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. I ordered one of the shrimp tapas (the one with avocado) and the endive salad. Both were fantastic. The only thing I would suggest to Aioli is to verify if the patron is ordering the tapas version or the meal version on the menu, just so there is no confusion when the bill comes. Other than that, very enjoyable experience.
(4)
Naida E.
Delicious appetizers and sangria! I am looking forward to visiting for a full meal. Also one of the most beautiful patios in Sacramento.
(4)
Stuart H.
Another nice dinner at Aioli! We had: Cocktails Merguez Lamb Sausage Persimmon Salad (special) Braised Rabbit Lamb Shanks Shrimp Tapa Mussels All was awesome. Service was great. Even though we had a somewhat awkward table, the dinner was fun and relaxing. Live flamenco guitar was a nice touch. I'll keep Aioli in the rolodex for a nice dinner out in midtown Sac.
(4)
David D.
Yummy food. Beautiful patio. Cool personality that are working their.
(4)
Lulu M.
My family and I were looking really forward to having dinner at Aioli after reading several wonderful reviews. Unfortunately, our experience was kind of a nightmare. Initially, the reason why I wanted to go there was because I heard there was going to be a Spanish guitar player performing. Not to mention, the website states Spanish guitar on Saturday nights and I even called and confirmed this. We had reservations and once we arrived we were abruptly seated in a tiny corner. The worst part of our night (in addition to the food which is EXTREMELY overrated--tasteless and overpriced) was our server Kimberly. It was clear that something was irritating her. She was so unbelievably rude, short, snappy and on edge. She was really abrupt when we would ask her about the different entrees on the menu. At one point she even said, "Just tell me what you want." We asked her maybe two questions before she said this. Because she would get snappy when we would ask her questions, we just hurriedly ordered. The portion size of the Salmon Talapia was smaller than an appetizer! Had I known, I would not have ordered it. Oh and the Sangria tasted like water. Did I mention there was no Spanish guitar player there? We asked an employee and she told us he would not be there that night....Does it get any worse? The worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant! We regretted not going to Paesonos right up the street :(.
(1)
Matt M.
The food here is amazing. I've been here twice only ordering tapas the first time and entrees the second time. Each dish was cooked to perfection. The service was spot on. Our waiter was more than happy to help us find the best meal for our tastes. It is a bit pricey, but it is entirely worth it. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Juli B.
Open late, a beautiful patio, and small plates make for my ideal night out. The setting is intimate and romantic and reminds me of so many late nights in Argentina where I recently stayed a while. So many times on a weekday I'm looking for a late dinner and am stuck with the options of burritos or bar food, but Aioli's kitchen stays open til closing at 11pm. Had a delicious glass of Mendoza-region Malbec, the beet and citrus salad, and a lamb shank served in a dark and rich tomato herb sauce. Shank was a little fatty, but maybe that's just lamb? I enjoyed it so much I'm not telling anyone I know- I want to keep it my little secret.
(4)
Ian L.
Aioli has by even low standards, sub par food. I've been to different Spanish restaurants over the years and always order the paella wherever I go. So, Aioli was no exception. But, when I got my food and tasted it I was so disappointed. The Paella Velenciana was horrible it had no flavor, the seafood was over cooked and the rice was burnt. I'm not even Spanish and I could make better paella. Something's wrong with that. On the bright side the patio is amazing. So, if atmosphere is what you're looking for go. But, if you were looking for some taste food I would think twice.
(2)
Tuyet N.
Frustration. Starvation. Temptation. Ingestion. Digestion. Relaxation. Went here with a group of 9 for a birthday dinner with reservations at 8 on a Saturday night. Frustration: Had reservations and wasn't seated until about 40 minutes after. What's the point of having reservations when we still had to wait for our table just as other walk in customers do? Yes, I was frustrated and starving! Starvation:I saved my stomach for this dinner, I was excited to try new things but I was starving waiting for my table to finally free up! I was waiting by the kitchen and saw and smelled the aroma of the foods that came out. What a tease! They all looked delicious! When was I going to get to eat? When will it be my turn? Temptation: Our table finally frees up! OMG I finally got to sit down and look at the menu! I was so hungry at this point, I could eat a horse! I was tempted to order everything on the menu and then some! So instead, our group ordered some tapas and main entrees. The tapas were: Ravioli, Mussels, Calamari and Spareribs. Ingestion: The Ravioli was soo delicious! Definitely one of the best tapas there. The mussels and spare ribs were good and the calamari was nothing to brag about. For entrees I ordered the Salmon and the boyfriend had the baked chicken. His baked chicken was delicious! My salmon was good but after tasting his plate, I wished I ordered his instead. Digestion: Okay so I won't get into the nitty gritty here BUT I do have to comment on the restroom! Its super cute and clean! I love the character it had. I have a thing about clean restrooms ;) Relaxation: After eating, there were no one waiting left to be seated so we mingled and chit chatted while some in our group had sangrias, beer and mojitos. It was quieter now and the light was dimmed. Nice relaxing atmosphere. I'd just like to point out something to other patrons. Please try to be considerate. Maybe because I had to wait for so long for a table I became a little anal but seriously though...the table we were waiting on had already paid their bill and instead of gathering up their things and moving the party along, they sat and talked for another 30 minutes! I peaked over to see if they were drinking or having dessert but they were doing neither...Just taking up needed space. This restaurant is pretty small and tons of people were waiting, so I wish they would have been more considerate of others. I will not knock down a star because of the wait because it wasn't something that the manager could do at that point anyhow.
(4)
Julz P.
Decided on this place for our date night, since they only open for dinner. The restaurant had a really nice ambiance, food was great and service was superb! We enjoyed every minute of it. Glass of wine at the bar while waiting for our table, seated us two seconds after and ordered the clams, stuffed octopus with scallops and meat with their seafood paella. Everything came promptly in order. I don't recall the Spanish terms but will definitely be back for more great food!
(5)
Tram T.
Paella FTW! Great flavor, super filling (it serves 2), and fresh ingredients. I am craving it now!
(4)
Yvonne L.
I had to yelp about my 5 star experience here this past week! First they got my reservations wrong again but it was ok since it was a quiet Friday night there. We got a table in the patio which was just as romantic as i remember it. Service was excellent. She could describe the wines so my friend, who is a red wine lover, could pick a wine. She also recommended a few tapas for us. We were a group of 4 and we shared the beet salad and 7 tapas and a small chocolate dessert. We were so full. Sangria was ok as usual. Bartender was friendly. Gazpacho was excellent but small. bruschetta with hummus and black figs was very good. Scallops with polenta was my favorite! The orange sauce was tasty. Large shrimp with avocado ( I don't see it on the online menu) was a close second. Cheese Raviolis with mushroom sauce and asparagus special were both superb. Chorizo on white beans and lamb skewers were good. You can not go wrong on your order. Everything is fabulous! Overall this experience was 5 stars, as good as it gets. I will up my rating once I think Aioli's service is consistently A plus. Next time I want to try the octopus tapa and the gravlax. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Melissa W.
The food was decent (rabbit was pretty yum - albeit a bit dry; it comes with this amazing polenta cake) but service could have been better. A few things that made the experience awkward: 1) our server kept touching my dining partner's shoulder (5-6x); 2) he "pushed" our tapa (the portobello al jerez, by no means a big plate) onto our table so it shoved into our silverware; 3) when setting down my sangria he pushed it between us while we were talking (no pause or warning to let us move apart) - in fact, no verbal or eye contact at all; 4) after explaining the menu he took the extra step of repeating "Appetizer. Main. Appetizer. Main" (gesturing to the tapas vs entree menus) as if we were monkeys who couldn't have figured that out by the descriptions and pricing. AND: when he came by to provide menus, he laid the two food menus onto our plates, then "dropped" the wine list so that it drifted down to rest awkwardly between our two glasses. For a restaurant that seems to aspire to be an upscale, date-night kind of place, that was pretty un-sexy. I'll have to think twice about returning.
(3)
Luda Z.
Love this place. Great food and ambience. The owner is very nice and has a great wine selection. Highly recommend the rabbit and paella
(5)
Sun K.
Very nice tapas place. I've never tried tapas so it was a very delicious experience. I got the braised rabbit, skirt steak, and clams. Too bad I could taste some wine that night ahaha. The rabbit and steak were super moist and very flavorful but not over powering which was amazing. The rabbit had a mustardy flavor to it so you get the subtle sweetness of the rabbit Nd the tanginess of the mustard. The steak had some kind of pesto on top and some potatoes on the side. It had an herby/earthy taste to it which was a unique twist on a steak and the potatoes tasted alittle like radishes. Now the clams. The clams were so juicy that you could just slurp those suckers. Ahaha I dipped the bread they provided into the left over broth and that was super yummy. Presentation was beautiful overall. The only reason i give this 4 stars is bc its on the pricey side but if money wasnt an issue it'd definitely be a 5 star for food and service. :)
(4)
Duane H.
I like genuine authentic (kinda redundant, huh?) Spanish food. This is not a Mexican joint. This is what food tastes like in Spain. We came here just before our last trip to Barcelona and got tips from the staff on where to visit in the area. Their recommendations were spot on. These folks definitely are NOT pretenders. Aioli has a really nice wine selection... actually better than what we could find ourselves when we were in Spain (but that is another story...). Definitely go out on the patio in the summer. Sacramento cools down on summer evenings and the combination of food and patio are magic. Can you tell I love this place and don't hesitate to make the two hour trek to dine here? Recommended.
(5)
Eric B.
A friend and I enjoyed tapas for lunch with about 6 dishes.Overall it was satisfying but lacked value. A tapas of a variety of cold cuts had 3 or so pairs yet was priced over $10. A hot salmon tapas was well seasoned and fair for the price. A lamb sausage was perhaps the most satisfying dish with a hint of cumin. The bill was over $70. We probably should have gone with the lunch special. Bottom line: the portion size was less than expected for the price and dragged the rating down.
(2)
Mo O.
Food was great as usual...service was mediocre. Pretty sure our waiter was drunk. We had a group of 9 and were ordering lots of tapas...waiter refused to write anything down and forgot things more than once. We finally tore off a piece of the butcher paper tablecloth and wrote out what we wanted. After we were finished, we sat for about 20 minutes and had to ask for the check...our drunk waiter was just strolling around the patio oblivious to the fact that we were ready to pay up. Clueless. Guess what...charm and good food can only get you do far...service counts too.
(3)
Nina H.
I came here bc I was attracted to the outdoor patio. It's very quaint looking with Christmas lights and plants. I would have given one star for the service, but the food was pretty good still, so 2 stars. I was not wowed by the food, but it was good. The waiter we had was just not very good, he never came back to ask us how the food was, he never came back after delivering the food. We had to ask another waiter for the check. It's a shame service was so bad since the person who was perhaps a host, the older gentleman who greeted me, was super nice and friendly. I had high hopes coming in. I was a bit annoyed about the food even as I originally asked about the servings on the tapas, and the waiter was like they are appetizers and did a hand motion about maybe 5 inches wide, so it seemed the servings were tiny for the tapas. So I get the rack of lamb with saffron rice and veggies. About 5 min later I see the table next to me get some of the tapas including one I had originally wanted and it was like a normal entree portion- one that could have def fed me(I am a really small preson...)- the serving was maybe a little smaller than my entree. The lamb wasn't bad, a bit fatty though, the saffron rice did not have any saffron flavor, the veggies were alright. But let's just say I only ate half of it... and am debating what to have for a snack right now. I do have the rest in my fridge right now, perhaps as they will make amazing leftovers? I wouldn't come back. The other reviews on the service were spot on, I wish I had checked yelp before coming here.
(2)
Linda P.
I love the sangria! I've gotten a pitcher every time I've been here. It is perfect to share with a special someone. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Sacramento. It's special to me because this was where my BF and I went on our first date and 6 months later, we decided to come back and were pleasantly surprised when we were greeted by our old waiter and were seated at the same table we sat at before. I kind of wished that we'd get that table. The atmosphere is very romantic--more so in the wintertime than the summer. It was absolutely perfect on that cold December night. The restaurant was adorned with holiday lights, the atmosphere inside the restaurant was warm an inviting and was a welcome relief from the cold and crisp air outside. But back to the recent review. My BF and I came back on June 27, 2010. Weatherwise, it was a stark contrast from before, as it was sweltering outside. Luckily after a few rounds around the block, we were able to find parking close to the restaurant. I noticed that they have a summer theme, with a more casual table setting, but I prefer the more formal white tablecloths. Our server brought us bread and this dip that reminded me of sun dried tomato hummus. This was a pleasant departure from your usual bread and butter. I intended to try the seasonal specials and order entrees this time, but the tapas always tempt me. I haven't been to a better tapas place in Sacramento. We sipped on sangria while waiting for our tapas. The cold beverage was very refreshing on a hot summer evening. We started off with the cheese pastries. Warm, gooey cheese shrouded in layers of delicate, flaky crust = YUMMY. I savored each delectable bite. Then came the mussels. They were the BEST MUSSELS I'VE EVER EATEN. My BF said he's had better, but in Valencia, Spain. Our server generously brought over more bread so that we could sop up the juices, it was so good! Then came the tuna and beef tapas. I forgot what they're called but the tuna was amazing. The beef was only okay. I remember it tasting better before. There was this green sauce blanketing the beef and in my opinion, had a little too much dill in it. But other than that, everything was perfect. I had to give this place 5 stars because when I was here 6 months ago, everything was perfect.
(5)
Ric M.
I'm not a tapas expert. These folks are very friendly, and the food is very good. A weeeeee bit pricey for me. I've taken the family there 2 times in the past 3 years because of the cost. But since the food is always good, and the people there are very nice, it's a good treat.
(4)
Matt G.
went there sunday for a going away for a colleague and had the patio reserved. $30 per person and there were about 20 of us. literally a dozen plates mostly bread and mushrooms, 10 shrimp to split and 10 beef skewers? really? additional $10 sangria? then at 635 the waiter and owner kicked us all out rudely because another group had the patio reserved at 7...."for something important" omg! never again and never recommend this joke of a place. these idiots just kicked out a group with a combine annual income of 6 mil. rude owner and mediocre food.
(1)
Z W.
Based on two dining experiences, one a "3" and the other a "5", i give aioli a "4" Their paellas are great when done right, but poor when done poorly as was the last occasion when the mushrooms really seemed like they were cooked separately and then added on top of the tasteless rice, like they forgot the saffron. That dish was a "O". I really should have complained but was having a good time with friends. Had a great tomato heirloom salad with olives, 4 slices for $10. Very nice atmosphere, with a spanish guitar player who strums for tips. Very nice desserts. Overall,$180 for 4 people.
(4)
Tram T.
They close at 11pm but considering we arrived a little early for our 10:45pm reservation, our water was definitely in a rush to get our order in to the kitchen for them to start cooking. Slightly over-priced...4 pc garlic/wine shrimp appetizer for $10? The atmosphere was nice, meal was nice, wine was nice, coffee was good. Waiter didnt ask us if we wanted dessert though. I guess he needed to leave. It was "Meh. I've experienced better." like the star rating suggests.
(2)
Siemny C.
I love tapas. Small plates, a variety of food to nosh on and I'm on board. I came here on a Wednesday night with a few girlfriends and was pleasantly surprised to see a jazz band playing in the restaurant. It looked fun, but a little loud so we opted to sit the in patio which was great. The weather was perfect, it had a nice intimate vibe out there. Our waiter was extremely helpful and suggested that each of us order 2 small plates each, which was the perfect amount of food for our party of 4. The best dish was a shrimp and avocado dish. Extremely yummy. The cold octopus salad was also delish, as was ravioli, and albondigas. The salads were good - they tasted fresh but they lacked a bit of a wow factor for me. That said, it's always nice to get some greens in. I thought the service was great. As I said before, the waiter seemed pretty helpful, and someone kept coming around to refill our waters. It's a good place for a date or a night out with friends.
(4)
Suzanne E.
Took a large group for a client dinner on a Wednesday night and they were packed!! Reda and his staff took excellent care of us in helping us selecting our wine, to supplying a steady stream of delicious plates for our party of 7 (which were chosen at Reda's discretion). Some new things I'd never had before (or even saw on the menu) so in think they get creative in that kitchen based on whats in season and fresh, and how adventerous a group may be. The salmon in the lemon caper sauce and the lamb chops were to die for. I don't even like lamb, but I've learned at Aioli to TRY EVERYTHING THEY BRING YOU!!! By far, my favorite restaurant and dining experience in Sacramento!!
(5)
John P.
One of our favorite places in midtown. During the summer the their patio is a great place to have a romantic dinner (lights on the trees overhead, soft guitar music). They have a good selection of spanish wines and the food is wonderful. They have both hot and cold tapas depending on your desires. The parking can be a little difficult but there is a garage a few blocks away.
(4)
Caitlin R.
Wow is all I have to say and not good wow. Today I had my worst experience EVER at a restaurant at Aioli Bodega Espanola. This review will mostly be about the service and not the food (which quite honestly was not memorable). First a few notes about the food and setting and then I will explain the worst service I have ever experienced. The restaurant serves mostly tapas, salads, and soups, however there are some entrees as well. I ordered the bourek de casa (cheese filled pastries) and the raviolis de la moda (cheese raviolis with a brown butter and mushroom sauce) with a glass of sangria. The sangria was good and the raviolis were ok (not too flavorful). The bourek de casa was dry and I was surprised that it wasn't served with some sort of dipping sauce. I ended up dipping mine into the white bean sauce provided with the dinner bread. Overall, my food was not that flavorful and nothing to rave about, however I will be honest and say that tapas aren't totally my thing. The atmosphere seems nice and I like the way the place is decorated. They have patio seating which looked nice, however our group was not seated outside. Here comes the bad news: they have horrible customer service. I went with a group of about 15 people and in total our group spent over $400 that night. The service started out ok (not great) and progressively got worse as the evening continued. Our waiter was an older man who appeared annoyed having to serve such a large group (we had a reservation). While we were all deciding on what to order he was either overly checking on us (felt like he was rushing us to order) or was not available when we actually needed his service. When our food came out it came at all different times so some of us were eating while others were still waiting. i can understand that because we had such a large group. Multiple times tapas came out that we did not order and our waiter would put them down in front of someone and tried to ensure them they ordered it. However, we all knew what we ordered and cleared that up. I had ordered the bourek de casa with cheese, however I was served the meat version. I tried it and it wasn't my thing so I requested them in cheese as I had originally ordered. It took about 15 minutes to get the correct order. Now, the real issue I had with the customer service was at the end of our meal when we were paying. The waiter had split our bill into two tabs, however that was not practical since pretty much every person only had a credit card. We asked for our bill to be split up and were told "No we cannot do that, it is too difficult." After asking multiple times, our waiter continued to refuse and got increasingly ruder and louder when speaking with us. On top of this issue, our tab was printed very poorly and we could not even read what we were being charged for. We were also charged for an additional tapa and glass of sangria that no one ordered. At this point, another person at our table went to speak with the manager about our concerns. Another younger waiter (I believe he was the owner's son) came to our table and said that he "was a change of character" and would take care of us. He made it very clear that they never split tabs and that it was against their policy. After splitting up our tabs it became apparent that we were charged for other items and he concluded that those items must have belonged to our other table (which had already paid). The whole time he was splitting our tabs and taking our cards it felt very tense and it was obvious he was annoyed and not genuine in trying to make the customer happy. Our other table was given another tab with the additional items and of course they did not belong to anyone. The waiter then grabbed the tab from the table, crumpled it up, and very loudly said, "Fine, this tab is on me!" He was loud, obviously angry, and created a scene in the restaurant. As we were finally leaving we could hear the younger waiter and another staff member talking about our table and saying, "they won't be back here." Yes, you are right, none of us will be back. We spent a lot of money at Aioli and deserved at least standard customer service. None of us would have left a tip, however we were not given the option since they automatically include it in the bill. I have never had such a tense and uneasy experience at a restaurant. I was expecting at least one of the waiters to start yelling (they already had raised voices). I don't care how good people think their food is, service does matter. If I am going to spend that kind of money I will spend it somewhere else that cares if I have a good dining experience or not. Please think twice about going here, especially if you are with a large group.
(1)
Julie T.
Droooool... The paella here is the best I've had since being in Spain four years ago. The ambience, the wine, and the food were enough to transport me back to España, minus the crotchety Spaniards and their elitist attitude that I experienced left and right throughout the country. The waiter did let us know when we ordered our Paella Valenciana ($32, but enough for 3-4 people) that it would take about 30 minutes to make, but it definitely went more towards the 45-minute mark. Our waiter was very polite and helpful but not particularly present, so water wasn't refilled for the entire meal, nor were we asked if we wanted more wine. Overall, my rating is more for the food than anything else, but I was a happy customer!
(4)
Pete A.
Great atmosphere! Their food is amazing! Their service can be slow at times but, it makes for a good place to take your date!
(4)
Amanda S.
Ugh. What a waste of a great location and building. This place could use a swift kick in the butt from Gordon Ramsey.
(1)
Stephanie M.
Hmmm, I seem to be backlogging all my past experiences at well-known Sacto haunts...and a lot of these reviews are negative or neutral. Too bad. Casey C. says that it's hard to figure out how to get yourself seated, and that customer service is bad. I have had good service when in a big party, but poor service when with a few people, so I'm not sure what to think. Elsewhere I wrote: "I've been to Aioli two or three times, and each time food was well-made and presented, but nothing out of the ordinary. And there's an odd smell coming from the kitchen." I have friends who swear by this place, and to me, it's just not worth it. Tapas has better food, even though they look shabby by comparison.
(2)
Ross M.
Loved it. I wish I could comment on something besides the paella, but it's so good that i get it every time. The service was very good and friendly. It's a great place for a date or for a nice night out with a friend. Enjoy!
(5)
Miranda P.
My favorite place to eat Tapas. Very welcoming I have always been seated promptly. Love the food. The first time I went in I didn't know how to order so I told them I was a vegetarian help me out. They just kept bringing out dish after dish well timed and very very good. Love it! Great on a date or with a group.
(5)
Farrah F.
The outside seating is reallyyy pretty. :D But it was a hot day, so we opted to sit indoors. It was my roommate's birthday, so we were out to celebrate and stuff our faces, because that's what we do best. Their menu...has about a billion different dishes I would like to try. Instead, we all ordered something different and asked for plates to share. They were really great about it, and the food is unbelievably awesome. *-* I ordered one of the chicken dishes (Aragon?) and got to try the lamb and duck dishes two of my roommates ordered. I'm tempted to go back just to try all the tapas, but that may have to wait until I'm a little less poor. There was a blackout during our meal, so they lit candles for us, and opened the door so we'd get a breeze. The first batch of bread we got was great. :D Warm, crunch crust--I don't know what the dip was exactly, but it was really good as well. Our waiter was also really awesome. I unfortunately forgot his name, but he's really, really tall. There was a second guy who'd come around to get us water, refill our bread because we eat like starving vultures, and other such duties. We have no idea what his name is, but he will forever be known to us as the Potato Guy. This is not a name created out of affection. :[ Explanation: My roommate ordered a pretty awesome potato appetizer that we were all happily sharing. There were two pieces left, and while we recognize, sure, two pieces isn't a lot, this dish is freaking amazing, and we sure as hell want to finish it all. But he came by and swiped it so quickly, we were reduced to expressions somewhat similar to what you'd get if you'd stolen candy from a baby. ;_; We were pretty upset, as it would've been nice if he'd asked first (or at least noticed our horrified expressions). He also took a pretty long while in getting our second batch of bread back to us (so it was cold :[ ) and forgot to give the packed up food back to us, but our waiter flagged him down, apologizing profusely, so yeah, it's cool, I guess. So, a major plus for the delicious food and most of the service. Big minus for stony-faced Potato Guy. :[
(4)
Jeremy W.
The short ribs are the bomb! I liked this place, but I wasn't able to win my friends over. I think their palates just might not be ready for Aioli! Until I can find some unsuspecting victim to come in with me, I guess I'll just have to day dream about those short ribs!
(4)
Liberty G.
I have fond memories of this place. It was 1998 and one of the first dates with my better half after a six month out of state separation. We arrived late at night, closer to closing time and I found the place incredibly romantic, especially with the live guitar player, who I think was a kitchen employee. The staff was wonderful and the owner invited us to share drinks with him at the bar after we finished dinner.
(5)
Flo G.
Love the food. Great value for lunch! Had a party of 8 here for NYE and had a festive, fancy, and enjoyable time. Good wine selection also.
(4)
Peter L.
I have lived in Sacramento for over 10 years and I have always heard about Aioli ... all my friends say it was good to check it out but let me tell you i was VERY upset Not only did they ruin my birthday dinner but they were extremely rude about it, we didnt even get passed the first course of tapas, we ordered the mussels and let me tell you, they had a weird smell and taste but we tried to get over it but my buddy ate a mussel that was just down right nasty! it was black in the middle and smelled like it was rotten, he even put it in his mouth and almost threw up then and there!! We told the little red head waiter what the problem was and all he had to say was "I will show Chef" and then didnt say a darn thing, they practically rushed us off to go somewhere else. Ridiculous! They didnt even attempt to make the situation better ... this place may be good but they need a huge lesson in customer service .... will never go this place again ....
(1)
Alex L.
If you are one of those people who expect a basic level of service and quality when shelling out money at a supposedly upscale restaurant , don't choose Aioli. My girlfriend and I ate here seeking an elegant restaurant experience in the downtown area. What we got was a packed, loud atmosphere with wait staff hastily shouldering their way through the crowd and yelling at each other from across the restaurant. Our waiter was an older, grey-haired gentleman with a gruff, snarky attitude. He seemed completely overwhelmed and didn't attempt to feign politeness when rushing us through our orders. My girlfriend was intimidated by his aggressive attitude The only highlight of his service was offering us a table after we kindly informed him that we didn't have a reservation. I sympathized for him because the restaurant was understaffed for a Saturday, but if you're going to seat us, we are going to expect some service. It took at least 20 minutes to order drinks, there was no bread offered (while bread was clearly being served to other tables), and when our food arrived nearly 45 minutes later, half the dishes were cold. It didn't help that we were sitting at butt-level next to the bar. We ate anyway, fearing that if we complained we'd never get served again. The overpriced dishes seemed like they would have been tasty in a more inviting setting. When I complained to him about our meals being cold, he stared me down and said nothing. I spoke to him politely and said I realized it probably wasn't his fault. There was no apology and no compensation. Needless to say, we won't be returning.
(1)
Rob R.
Don't get the paella! Too much rice and it's burnt to the bottom of the pan! We had a large group so the waiter convinced us to let him handle the ordering (don't do this!). The spinach salad was tasty, but I could have passed on the meats and the mushrooms. The shrimp appetizer was yummy in a wine/garlic/butter sauce and is worth getting if not only to dip your bread into! We concluded with a lamb chop, chicken, and sausage plate. The lamb chops were delish but the rest was cold and dry. For $50/person, I expected more. I'll probably visit again to enjoy the court yard and try something new on the menu.
(2)
Blake J.
I liked the atmosphere here a lot. The patrons all seemed happy, and they had live Spanish guitar. The waitstaff was all very helpful and upbeat as well. Didn't do tapas except for the cheese filled pastries. Those were good. I ordered the salmon for dinner. Again good. The potatoes were good as well. I don't like spinach, but I ate all of it on my plate and it too was good. My girlfriend ordered the the skirt steak. I had one bite but it was delicious. The only snag in the night was the waiter mixed up our order. My food came out a good 10 minutes before my girlfriends so when I finally got to eat it the food wasn't as warm as what's normally desirable. Our waiter was very apologetic and comped us some port wine and chocolate mouse. A very nice gesture, but still left with the feeling of a less than smooth experience. Not his fault though, that happens. Overall, I enjoyed the place but nothing on the menu truly jumped out as something I'd have to come back and try another time. While I don't doubt it's all tasty, it's a little pricey to not be blown away.
(3)
Flix N.
love this place!!! It costs slightly more than the other tapas place in town but it's well worth it. Nice portions, nice presentation, excellent service, cool ambiance. Lamb skewers...yes! Beet and arugula salad...he!! yes!!! Marinated mushrooms...kinda' meh Free bread with dippin' sauce...most excellent. Raviolis as tapas? fantastic! Mojitos...possibly the best I've ever had! and and and A great selection of wine by the glass, generously sized to boot.
(4)
Anh N.
We ordered the Paella and it wasn't that good here. The socarrat was very disappointingly missing from this dish. Don't think you can consider it Paella without the socarrat; the signature trait of the dish. The steam mussels had a foul smell coming from it; like sweaty gym underwear. Perhaps the other dishes are better, but I'd stay away from the Paella and mussels until they can cook it right.
(2)
Scott I.
Full disclosure... I love this place. I have been frequenting Aioli for about two years now and all I can say is, they make you feel like family. If you are looking for a fine dining experience, a place where you can meet with a client or simply relax with a loved one, Aioli will take great care of you. The food is fantastic and the selection of wine is superb but best of all, fall in love with the atmosphere.
(4)
Ruth P.
Great customers service and good lunch special:)
(4)
Marina C.
Aioli and I have a long and sordid history. And I admit, there was a time a while ago when I knew most of the staff by name. Our relationship was young and fresh and idealistic then. I was charmed by the bodega atmosphere and the hospitality, the tasty tapas, the fantastic wine list, the Spanish guitar player, and (dare I say it?) the rather hot waiters. (I dare.) Years passed and my head was turned by newer, shinier, hipper restaurants. I too suffered a few evenings of the gruff nonservice of the older guy (Dude! Drink some prune juice!). The final straw came when I took a good friend here against her protests and had a truly one-star experience. I sighed and shook my head and moved on with my life, with occasional wistful glances at the corner of 18th & L. Aioli and I, we're no spring chickens now. But you know when a restaurant sticks around for as many years, they are doing something right. And there's something to be said for that tried and true, faithful friend--when you call, you know they'll be there with arms wide open. On a recent visit with a large party (I admit, my fingers were crossed behind my back), the service was impeccable. Our waiter, whose name I've forgotten (tall guy, red hair--I hope my pals left you a great tip), provided stellar, friendly, totally-on-it service. The patio was, as always, a divine little midtown oasis. And the menu (and several updated offerings), rivaled any of the new midtown Yelp darlings. Say what you will, but Aioli has regained its rightful place on my restaurant rotation. Ole!
Great place. I had never eaten there before. Just had lunch there recently with work mates. I had one of the three special offerings that they have ever day for lunch. Not sure if they offer the same deal for dinners but it was a steal and soooooooooo very delicious. Service was slow even though we told our waitress (who was amazing) that we were in a hurry. Otherwise I would have given them 5 stars.
(4)
Barb G.
What an excellent dining experience we had yesterday. The dining room was beautifully appointed for the holiday season as was the neighborhood--all twinkley and the nice big windows allow the patrons to enjoy the hustle and bustle and cityscape views. Reda, the owner, greeting us so warmly. Yes I have been before but yesterday was really special---we asked for a Chef's choice meal and we were not disappointed--Scallop over polenta, mixed grill with lamb, chicken and chorizo, superb mushroom ravioli, salad with citrus...just an excellent excellent dining experience. Joseph was our most capable server which only added to the pleasure and enjoyment of it all...I know Reda has a very strong and loyal following and I am also a member of the ranks! Thank you Reda.
(5)
Elixa S.
An excellent choice for a date or a romantic night out with your significant other. I loved the decor and there was a guitarist singing romantic ballads the night I went. The food was outstanding. I've had Spanish food plenty of times, but this far exceeded what I was accustomed to. I enjoyed the citrus chicken, but can't wait to return to try some of the other entrees. I wish I'd had room for dessert, but after an appetizer and an entree I was thoroughly stuffed. Next time. The only thing I would change about this place was the temperature. It was freezing outside and the restaurant seemed to only be a few degrees warmer. I understand not wanting diners to roast, but they could have cranked it up above shivering.
(4)
TJ D.
This is probably the hardest review I've ever had to write. I've been going to Aioli since 1997, and I've never written a review until today. Ordinarily, Ailio would get 5 stars from me. But not today. It's been 5 years since I've been to Aioli. I moved to Orangevale and haven't had the time to spend in midtown like I did when I lived there (duh). Every time we have tried to go to Aioli it was closed. But last night we managed to be in the area during dinner, and decided it would be a good treat. We were seated promptly in the courtyard, which is where I prefer to be. We promptly ordered our traditional pitcher of sangria, and some tapas. I eagerly awaited the delicious bread with the bean spread, as it is one of my personal favorites. The bread and bean spread came, and we quickly discovered the bread was burnt. We are talking black crust. We mentioned it to Jacob, our server, and he apologized and said he would fix it. When he returned, it was the same bread WITH THE CRUST SCRAPED OFF. The only reaction a person can have to this is "OMG, WTF! ARE YOU SERIOUS?". And that is exactly the reaction I had. Fortunately, I didn't get a chance to say anything before they brought us a fresh batch of bread. Next came our tapas. The Ahi and Spinach salad was excellent. However, I did notice they used canned beets. For the price, one would expect all the ingredients to be fresh. Even so, we both enjoyed it as a light starter. Next up was the fig and goat cheese bruschetta. It looked very appealing and was well presented. However, the bread itself was burnt. There were large black spots over the crust and the body of the bread. We mentioned this to our server and he brought us a fresh plate within 5 minutes. He was, however, sure to point out that the black spots were grills marks, which I took as an insinuation that I do not know the difference between toast and burnt toast. By this point we realized we were in for a different Aioli's experience. What the heck, the sangria is excellent (the touch of mint is the defining taste of Ailoi's sangria). Love the courtyard. Another pitcher of sangria please! Next up was the lamb and pepper skewers. My wife commented on how dry and overcooked the lamb was, and I at first thought she was just being over-reactive since the experience thus far had not been good. Not so. Not only was she right, she was understating it. The lamb was dry and CHEWY, as if it had sat under a heat lamp for hours. The sauce and peppers were actually delicious, and I am certain this would have been a 5 star dish had the lamb been cooked properly. Finally, the scallops and risotto. Very nicely done. Perfectly cooked, tender and delicious. The risotto was creamy and well flavored. Unfortunately the previous 3 dishes ruined the experience a bit. It's a bit difficult to explain the service. The best word I can use to describe it is "WEIRD". Jacob, if you read this,we gave you a 20% tip (20% of the pre-discounted bill) because we both appreciate that you do this for living. In truth, that sort of service was not worth 20%. Inferring that the customer doesn't know the difference between well toasted toast and burnt toast is silly. Scraping burnt off the food and returning it to the customer as if they won't notice or won't care is just plain rude. Jacob also brought us someone else's dish. Ordinarily we wouldn't even see this as a problem, but it was another little thing to further irritate us. The bus boy was devoid of any personality. No big deal. It just added to the negative experience. The owner came to our table. I assume this was a move to try to make amends, but it came off very weird, with the owner asking us if all the food was bad. It was very odd and uncomfortable, and he never really offered an apology for the bad experience. He seemed more shocked that we didn't appreciate his restaurant. Jacob did offer us free dessert as compensation,but we really weren't hungry for dessert. Jacob then told us he would remove the two overcooked dishes from our bill. It was a nice gesture I guess, but it really didn't change our perspective The couple behind us also complained that they received the wrong dish. They did not realize it until they had started eating it. They said it was good, but pointed out to Jacob that they had expected their original order. They clearly sounded irritated. Instead of asking if they wished him to bring the dish they were supposed to get, his reply was "It was good though, wasn't it?" Not even an apology! These last 30 minutes of our visit (while trying to enjoy our pitcher of sangria) was just weird. I finally suggested to my wife that we leave before things got even more weird. I am not sure I can go back.
(2)
Dave G.
Excellent cuisine, accommodating service, and romantic atmosphere! My wife and I arrived at Aioli's for New Year's Day dinner and they did not disappoint. My wife has several food allergies and the chef and wait staff were able to work with her to come up with some delicious options that she loved. I have no such restrictions and really enjoyed the white bean soup and lamb skewers. This is a great place when you're able to leave the kids at home and enjoy an evening out. Definitely will be returning. Great value for the price, as well.
(4)
J P.
These guys have 2 entrances but apparently only one is monitored. Walk in the wrong one and you'll be standing around for 15 minutes while being ignored by the numerous employees who see you standing there. Walk in the right one and the robots might promptly seat you to a bad meal. Once we were actually seated, the service we got from the blond guy was pretty good. No faults there. The food, on the other hand, was mediocre, bland and what little taste it did have was a bit awkward. Everything was just a bit off.. either not fresh or poorly prepared.. I couldn't tell. The server asked if everything was ok when we opted not to pack up the $40 worth of food that was still sitting on the table. What do you say when everything is bad? For the money, Aioli should be doing a much better job. I hate to mention other restaurants in a review but Tapa the World is cheaper, has better food, and better ambiance. If you want Tapas late at night, go there. We won't be going back to Aioli.
(2)
Jackson G.
Another great experience at Aioli with Reda and Joseph guiding us through dishes selected by Reda. Balanced selection of cold and warm tapas (the scallop on polenta was marvelous) served first with a Cava Brut and followed by a Cava Brut Rose. The mixed grill was the penultimate dish with a dessert offering of almond torte accompanied by a chocolate truffle sitting atop a delightful and subtle dollop of cream. A most delightful early dinner with great attention to detail and welcoming ambience.
(4)
Louisa R.
Not something that I would go back into but enjoyed my lunch just because we were seated outside and there was a nice table and water fall with a mural. Food was typical. I'd only come back if i had no other choice. Service was okay,id give 4 stars for the interior.
(3)
Leonard L.
Aioli Sacramento Midtown Saturday December 31, 2010 Five Stars Update If you are in Sacramento, go to Aioli. We started with fresh bread and that superb white bean dipping sauce. The Greek Salad was light, well balanced and refreshing. The Grilled Vegetables Platter was prepared nicely b/c each veggie still had a good crunch to it. Plus the grilled garlic and eggplant puree were so decadently nice. The Grilled Shrimp with Avocado was just as delicious as I remember it- Clean and Flavorful. The Scallops with Saffron Risotto was brilliant in taste and color. The Brown Butter Ravioli was perfect b/c Brown Butter is clog your heart delicious. The Skirt Steak was rare and tender just way it should be. The DUCK HEARTS were most delicious thing I ate all day. The Seafood platter was filled to the brim with tasty saline treats. My friend Stu $ came here for the first time and said that each dish was "F***ing amazing" and he is not easy to please. Overall, Worth the Price.
(5)
Aza T.
A first impression IS very important. Aioili gave me a great first impression I just had to share. The staff are eager to please and very personable. The experience was a success, overall. I went for my friends 21st birthday and the waiter was such a gentlemen and was always checking on us. In honor of my friends birthday he brought her a sweet birthday drink for her to try. I can't remember his name, but he was a red headed guy who was absolutely fabulous! The entrees are a bit pricey, but delicious (and its a good amount of food). They have a huge alcohol menu, also. I highly recommend for a good night out, or a romantic evening, it is well worth it!
(5)
Jeff P.
The food here is outstanding. The service was great and ambiance is fitting for its location. We had the mussels, short ribs, chicken, and mushrooms. The flavors of the food were so savory. The quality and presentation of our meal was great. I was extremely pleased with the entire experience. I do find Aioli Bodega Espanola a little pricey. It is tapas, so they are small plates made to share. I find that if you had a party of more than 4 it would get really expensive. Overall it is a great place for a dinner for 2 and love that it is in an alive part of mid-town Sacramento.
(4)
Mali T.
4.8 Aioli's serves some of the best Spanish Tapas in Sacramento! Oh Yes! Authentic in taste and great selections to choose from! I'm in love hehe! They have varieties of small plates too! Order away =) The service here was also amazing! Nice decor and great atmosphere! Need to head back here and try out their other dishes hehe! Totally recommend!
(4)
Jacqueline W.
Group/colleague decision to get a late dinner at Aioli last night. Service has dramatically improved, and the food was very good, as usual.
(4)
Laurance L.
Came here for Valentine's day. Food: 4/5 Ambience: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Maybe because it was valentine's day, but the service here was attentive. My bread basket nor my water glass was ever empty--which is a great thing. We ordered 4 different dishes: Mussels in a sherry cream sauce: The mussels were good, not the FRESHEST mussels, but they weren't bad. The sauce, on the other hand, was great. I skipped the dipping sauce they gave us and just attacked this plate like a baby dinosaur. Filo dough filled with cheese: Very simple, but delicious. Very, very delicious. Buttery, flaky bread + white cheese (the actual typee of cheese escapes me, and I apologize) cannot go wrong. Ever. Seafood Paella: It was very tasty, but I was upset that I did not get more of the burnt rice (I don't know why, but that's one of my favorite parts of paella--though some people absolutely hate it). So I guess it's great for a lot of other people...because they like their rice cooked and not burnt...the seafood and vegetables made the dish very flavorful. Flan: It's flan. Creamy, silky flan. Oh! Btw, though yelp lists this place as casual...I wouldn't recommend t-shirt casual. Maybe a polo/nice jeans.
(4)
Carlo S.
Every time I think about this restaurant, my mouth waters for the "rack of lamb" . Cooked and seasoned perfectly. Tender in the melt in your mouth kind of way. This dish is by far the best "rack of lamb" I've had in town. Even compared to Plan B where theirs was voted the best, for me, I believe that Aioli's is the best. Located in a very pleasant part of downtown on L and 18th st. Great for people-watching with a European flair. Very highly recommended.
(4)
Candice R.
Amazing! We let the waiter just being out whatever he wanted along with his choice of wine pairings. Out of this world, definitely a one of a kind experience. Paella was fantastic. I could make a meal of the chorizo alone.
(5)
Jen C.
The service was horrible- I think there was only one server for the entire restaurant. The tapas were bland and overpriced. $10 for 2 scallops?! I was not impressed. Out if 4 tapas we ordered only one was good- meat and cheese. I guess it's hard to screw that up. I will never go back. Tapa the World is a hundred times better.
(2)
Nance V.
Came here the other night for dinner. We sat in the outdoor patio...it was nice and cozy; however, the burlap tablecloth was scratching my legs because I had on a short dress..lol. Our waiter was attentive and courteous. I couldn't decide on which red wine to have for the night and our waiter brought out his recommendation and it was perfect. We started with the garlic shrimp tapa which was very rich and tasty. I ordered the salmon for dinner. The fish was perfectly cooked. The spinach and potato gratin that accompanied the dish was delicious. Good ambience, good service, good food!
(4)
vince v.
I will admit up front that I was somewhat reticent coming here having read the very mixed reviews about the service given to younger patrons, but it was my lady friends birthday and she really wanted to go here ssoooooo yyyeeeaaahhhh....we went. We ordered a series of small plates and each of them were very delicious in their own ways. Moreover, they were brought out in the correct tasting order which made them even more delectable. We had the following: ahi ceviche, the prawns, duck hearts, beef tartare, beef short ribs, and for dessert the drunken lady fingers and truffles in white chocolate. Of the above choices I would recommend the short ribs and duck hearts in addition to the drunken lady fingers, all three of which were unbelievably unique in their flavor composition. Our server, Azziz I believe his name was, and the support staff were spot-on and struck a perfect balance of efficiency, friendliness, and leaving us alone that an evening such as this needed. To top it off when they found out about the birthday the entire wait staff came out at the end and sang happy birthday with a lit candle in one of the desserts for her to blow out. While this kind of thing can run the risk of being "chain restaurant" cliche the staff at Aioli put their own unique Spanish touch on it and in the words of a wise, allegedly sober, and completely coherent Paula Abdul circa 2007 "made it their own". Overall, we had an extremely good dinner which was made even better by an efficient and friendly wait staff. It's too bad that some reviewers have had bad experiences here in terms of the service and I can only hope that Aioli has worked these kinks out because I would recommend going there.
(4)
Miki S.
Great Spanish food and service! Try the gambas and ravioli
(4)
Michelle K.
We waited an hour to be seated (we had reservations). It took a total of 3 hours to get all of our food, pay, and leave. They stuffed us in a small corner and forgot about us. The food portions are sooooo small and the food is not that great. We spent $200 for 4 people and 3 dishes. NOT WORTH IT! If you want to drop some money and get good food, do not come here!
(1)
Karli B.
*sigh* Aioli. I work right across the street and rarely get to eat here. BUT when I have, it's been delicioso. This is a great place for a first date- small plates= low commitment. Order as you go and you can get your check when you're sick of the date. Or don't, this is where my sister and now brother-in-law had their first date. The patio is very beautiful. Lush and with a waterfall- just don't sit too close to the waterfall or you won't be able to hear each other very well (but everyone else will hear you). MUST TRY: Seafood paella. I am drooling thinking about it... Rich and well cooked- not too rubbery or sticky. Tip: Sit at the bar and let the 'bartender' pair the wine with your food. Drew is great at this. Knows his stuff.
(5)
Deniece R.
Had a wonderful dinner for 6 here. We wanted to dine at Hock Farms, but a malfunctioning fire alarm shut them down, so arrived at Aioli with no reservations. Hoped to sit on the patio, but no table for available, started out at an indoor table but the within 20 minutes the owner was back and had a patio table for us, gorgeous night to sit outside, esp with live music. We followed the waiter's suggestion and ordered tapas (small plates) and everything was delicious. Grilled veg platter, fresh & smoky, meatballs in a tomato based sauce with garbanzos, little pastries filled with seasoned meat, steamed mussels (didn't think I liked mussels but these were very good), delicate ravioli, shortribs were amazing with a tangy potato salad, bruchetta with mushrooms, the list goes on & on. Everything was perfectly seasoned & prepared, and nice wines for reasonable prices. Lovely place for a birthday dinner, or anytime you want fabulous food and great service.
(5)
Paul C.
Went here for Hemingway Night kickoff a few years back - what better excuse to drink large quantities of over-priced wine? So me and four others ordered six or seven bottles of whatever red wines the waiter felt like bringing and made every conceivable stupid toast to Papa we could come up with. It was a clean not-so-well lighted place. Things got loud, we broke a couple wine glasses, and managed to set the table cloth on fire - thankfully this was out in the back patio - and then I have a hazy memory of someone peeing in the potted plants. The tab was as large as the Hemingway myth, but I didn't see any charges but the wine. The bread sticks were free. All in all they were tolerant of our deviant behavior and willing kept pouring the vino until it was just us, someone sweeping the floors, and the ghost of Ernest remaining. I can't remark on their food - but the service was dandy - and I really appreciate them leaving Sac PD out of it all.
(3)
Jax A.
Let me just say, I have never liked Spanish food very much, not even while I was in Spain...maybe I was just a naive colleges student on a budget who didnt know how to order, but it seemed like everything I tried was overly salty or consisted entirely of dry ham and olives...well NOT anymore thanks to Aioli! I was lucky enough to visit Aioli in Midtown with my awesome boss who knows a thing or two about real Spanish cuisine and this place was great! I tried half of their tapas- I recommend the portobellos al jerez and their tortilla espanola, the patatas bravas...their sangria is pretty good (although I wish I had tried their wine) - Lets just say the food was so good, I came home and tried to recreate their dishes the next day!
SLEEZY ARCH CRIMINAL! It was a business dinner for 8 people. Set up entire menu weeks in advance. Agreed upon menu, price, everything. As I was paying, and it was an important business dinner, and just to ensure there were no snags, I met with the server an hour before everyone else arrived. Agreed upon $400 + tip. DO THE MATH: 8 people x $50 approx per person: $400 + TIP. I planned on leaving a nice tip approx 20% or more !! So I figure I'm in for close to $500. We were having a nice time, everything going as planned, when the SLIME Owner of Aioli comes out & says hello. ** Then he says he is sending out some special food...... Nobody wanted any more food, but as it is somewhat awkward, nobody declined..... Out comes a bunch of crap, sardines, bones & shit we couldn't eat........... I am not kidding, it was a disgrace.... THEN........... Slime-ball says he is so happy to have us here, he is sending out desserts........... Not a couple of nice desserts for everyone to share, NO - everyone gets their own piece of shit almond cake that tasted like shit, no one ordered, no one wanted, and no one ate...... OK, Fine! Whatever! I get the bill........... Fk'g asshole adds all this crap to my bill!!! My prearranged bill went from $400 to $700.... (AND they add 25% "service fee" tip) ....... so it was more like $875 !!! Thanks, arch criminal, grand larceny, multiple felon... It's an important, awkward business situation, so i do not want to end the evening fighting with the restaurant owner... And this sleazy slime KNEW IT !! There is nothing I can do, but smile, take it in the ass, say thank you and pay.... Next time, why not just stick a gun in my face and take my wallet, you scum..... I have more respect for LA street gangs that carjack you at gunpoint .... This guy should be IN JAIL !!
(1)
Stephanie T.
My boyfriend and I came to Aioli for a Friday night date and it was good. The tapas are good and 2-3 each would have been enough for dinner, but we decided to get a paella too since we were there. The paella takes 45 minutes to make, so order it right away if you decide to have it. We ordered a few tapas, and the Paella Valenciana which had saffron rice, shrimp, calamari, muscles, chicken, and pork spareribs. The paella was really good, and could have easily filled up 3 people. 4 people if you ordered tapas, so come hungry! We had plenty of leftover paella and ate the next day for lunch. It was still good as leftovers. The service here was good, and I liked the cozy restaurant feel. I would definitely come back for a date night here.
(4)
Kevin W.
Like so many of the other reviewers comments, the service was on a subpar level at best: our server was so disinterested after we told him that we don't drink alcohol (knowing that it would affect our bill); he was slow to change out lunch specials menu for the dinner version. Later, he tells us, although beyond his control, that anything with shellfish or Ahi is no longer available (this was at 630 pm). Our sole purpose for coming to Aioli that night: we had come for the mussels appetizer, the Ahi appetizer, and the Paella that includes shellfish, neither of this items were going into our tummies this unfortunate night. We did enjoy the delicious and well-prepared lamb, and the steak, too....plus the chocolate truffles in custard sauce and orange creme brulee almost made up for the horrendous lack of service. Hmmm, maybe not. Apathetic service can make or break a restaurant, especially one that is resting on it's laurels. On another irritating note: I had ordered the flan early in the night thinking it would run out (which it did), but the lack of communication between the bus-person and the server kept our table from enjoying that dessert. Our bill, including tip, came to $180.00...this is inexcusable for (3) persons in a Sacramento eatery that only drank H2O. The food portions, though flavorful, were very small. It's about 3 hours since we ate - and I'm hungry!
(1)
Denny T.
Came in for dinner. Made a reservation. Hoped to get something outdoors. Ended up inside. Service was a mixed bag. Water refilling was not consistent or staff ignored empty glasses. Food order took some time to be taken and made. Tapas and entrees were ordered. Ordered the duck leg and the duck tapas. Also ordered the lamb and another dish. The ducks were decently good. The entree came with sides and grains. The duck tapa was with a sauce. The sauce was the best thing between those dishes. Duck was a bit dry both ways. Plenty of flavor though. The lamb was fall off the bone tender. The accompaniments paired well with. Overall okay experience. Good: mostly okay dishes. Bad: inconsistent service, dry was one of the duck. I'd come back to give another shot.
(3)
Connor C.
Awesome place with great food, friendly staff and unique decor. A little on the noisy side but the lamb and swordfish are top notch!
(5)
Sharyl S.
Oh my, this was like going back to Spain. Great food, wonderful wait staff. Ate on the patio after a 100+ degree day, but the ambience makes you forget the heat. A must return again and again.
(5)
Yvette G.
I came here several weeks ago with several friends for dinner. Our server was excellent!! He treated our party of seven very well. I really wish I remember his name, but he was very professional and courteous. The food is ok, but definitely not worth the price you pay for it. I had the "Jarret" De Cordero Basco which is the braised lamb shank in tomato confit served over spinach and white beans. The meat was very tender, but as whole the dish didn't have any flavor. For $22, I expect better. Truthfully, I don't know if I will come back. Maybe for appetizers and drinks.
(3)
Ashley B.
Aioli is one of my favorite places to have tapas or dinner during the summer. Their private patio makes my heart happy. Who knew there could be such a little slice of heaven space dab in the middle of the city. The trickling fountain and ivy are such a nice touch. I love to try new plates everything I come I have yet to try something that I did not like. I didn't think I liked lamb but I had it here and fell in love. I highly recommend making a reservation on the patio for a date night or girls night and share a bottle of wine or a pitcher of sangria and share a few plates.
(4)
James D.
I have eaten here many times and have never been disappointed in either the quality of the food or service. This is a great place for a date night.
(4)
Jeanice S.
Came here for dinner at 7pm with a large group. We had two long tables near the front of the restaurant. Menu was selected already, just had to choose our main course. Numerous of people walking in and out to the back of the restaurant. Food: I order a chicken dish, it came out with two large flat chicken breasts and what looked like potatoes with some sauce on top. The food was ALMOST COLD when they brought it out! The chicken had a sour taste to it like they squeezed lemon over it or had too much lemon juice. The moistness of the chicken was fine. The potatoes could have been more warm and a little crunchier. I was just very disappointed that my entree was not warm. Yes it was a large party but there should be a way to keep the food warmer than what I got. Price: Everything looked like it wasn't too cheap but not too expensive either. Although, our menu items were pre-selected so we weren't able to see the prices. Service: The waiter came around numerous of times and kept bugging us about our entree. Then he expected us to know what the menu consisted of. Keep in mind, this is my FIRST TIME here and I was not familiar with the food. The waiters were nice, refilled water when it was needed. Overall, I doubt I would come back. I was thinking of giving 2 stars but service was not bad, just the food was not up to par for me.
(2)
Ralph S.
Went here for the first for my mothers birthday and I was glad that she loved the food and so did I. Can't say much more other than the food is great and the place is very nice on the inside and the backyard is very cozy. I give it a 5 star.
(5)
Noy P.
Cozy and romantic place for a date night. Food tasted great. There was a live guitarist the night we were there. Our server, Joseph, did a fantastic job giving suggestions on several tapas and served us a bottle of wine that we liked. Price of wines starts at $38 and up. Wish they had some cheaper choices, too. Overall, the place is a good spot for dates. I would be back to try the other tapas next time.
(4)
Melissa T.
Epic dining experience. Maybe it was the most fantastic sangria ever? Maybe it was the ambiance of the outdoor patio and live jazz? Maybe it was the perfection of every tapas plate we tried? Our dinner group of 6 enjoyed sharing all the different plates. The standouts were the scallops served on polenta (the scallops were so sweet, fresh and tender), grilled vegetable tapas with olive tapenade and the lamb sausage. What a wonderful restaurant. They have a great wine selection. This is a romantic place to bring a date! Plus they give you complimentary bread and dip. So many restaurants do give anything complementary anymore. The bread was nice to enjoy all the great sauces in the plates.
(5)
Lillian H.
The portions are small here even for tapas. It takes forever to have my order taken, even longer to get my food, and just as long for them to pick up my check. I came here during lunch and it wasn't even crowded but it still ended up being a 2 hour meal. The outside patio is really nice though-- it's like a garden.
(3)
Ashleen C.
I've always wanted to check this place out and finally got the chance to do so on my bday. It's a little confusing trying to figure out what door to enter through and when you do go in there is no hostess table. You're standing around the table where other people are dining and I didn't like that. It was a Tuesday so relatively quiet, and when we finally spotted a waiter we were seated right away. I recommend sitting outside in their patio. For a slow night the service was equally slow to get started. Our waiter was nice and gave some nice recommendations on the wine which I was pleased with. For dinner I had the duck, highly recommend. It was so soft the meat just melts off it. It could use more seasoning, a tad bland but great otherwise. We also had the salmon which was another great dish. I would come back to try the tapas but I certainly hope the service improves.
(4)
Christine G.
I thought the food was pretty good. The portions were pretty large for tapas. So we were full after 4 tapas. We had the patatas bravas which were pretty good although they could have used more mayo sauce, the mussels were were huge and yummy, good broth. We also had the beet salad which was nice and the grilled veggies. The give you bread also for dipping in all the sauces. The service very fast and friendly. there was live music and the place was cute and intimate.
(4)
Omar G.
Maurice provided excellent courteous service; paella valenciana was as usual on point! Appetizers, salad and wine recommended by Maurice were excellent as well. Aioli, keep up the great work, u r truly a Bay Area-esque gem in our local Midtown.
(5)
Paul C.
Very awesome. I'll Keep coming back to try the whole menu. Owner and family made my first time here a great one, hence the reason for return. Tonight we had Paella Valenciana.
(5)
Ray S.
Excellent food, service and ambience. Had some traditional cocktails all made with fresh ingredients. For dinner we had 2 tapas for each person and several deserts to share. Saturday night parking was difficult.
(5)
Megan C.
Before you read please understand I believe this place was having a seriously bad day operations wise but the food was fantastic... I googled "best paella in Sacramento" Aioli was top of this list. I immediately made reservations for my birthday super excited for Paella!! We arrived to the restaurant and I absolutely loved the place. It's small, warm, beautiful and overall just adorable. However, the staff was not pleasant. Everyone has off days but the entire staff had an aching negative energy rolling throughout the entire evening. We really even put out effort to try to soften our waiter. Never once did you see a smile on their face, they all really needed a hug. I'm not going to blame the service staff because this energy trickles down from management.... There was or something had gone seriously wrong prior to our arrival putting the entire staff under stress and preventing them from creating an inviting environment. Now back to "Sacramento's Best Paella" we did not get to order it!!!! The waiter told us "it will be an hour and 45 min before the cook starts to make it.... IF he chooses to". What?!?!?!?! This for me was very upsetting and very unprofessional. The restaurant also was out of pitchers of sangria however, were able to charge each of us a glass of sangria and then later on in the evening bring us a pitcher. I feel this place may have refused us paella because they didn't want us sharing and up sold us on Tapas to rack up the bill. I really did enjoy the food I did get to eat, the sangria was delicious, and the place was beautiful. They lose two stars for their unwelcoming energy and NO Paella. I can't imagine this place having this issue consistently this had to have been a rough fluke for them. I was just really hoping to experience the ambience in the video on their website. I would love to give this place another try but I just can't. I'll have to find paella somewhere else. :( Fantastic food out of that kitchen guys!! I'll be missing out in the future.
(3)
Ashna T.
Great service!!.Food was excellent and the atmosphere is great. Didn't feel rushed. Enjoyed immensely. Our waiter/server was very knowledgeable about wines and was able to accommodate all the dietary restrictions of our group
(5)
Stacey H.
The BEST duck I have had in an extremely long time, great flavor, cooked to perfection! Also tried the Rabbit which was delightful and the meatballs.. Sooooooo delicious. A local Jazz band was playing live and they were fabulous. The music was quiet enough that you could hold a conversation at the table, yet loud enough to feel the soul behind the music. Definitely will be back again!!!
(5)
Rod R.
Like many other reviewers I have to say the service was not up to where it should be. We had two separate waiters and still had to wait for service. Food was good except, if you say the special is an heirloom tomato salad then use heirlooms. I know the difference and it really detracted from the rest of the meal. I will give them another try but right now I can't recommend. Sadly
(3)
Michael H.
This place is romantic and has a menu that is very Spanish. I've sat inside and out; I highly recommend getting a table outside under the lights. Order the pulpo, aka octopus, if you want a true taste of Northwest Spain. A good date night.
(5)
Julie G.
I anticipated dinner here, I saved my daily consumption of carbs, sugars and fats so that I could order and eat guilt free. We started with the Beet salad, which was excellent. The beets weren't over cooked & tossed with grapefruit and feta cheese. The stuffed calamari had a unique blend of flavors and ingredients (of which I couldn't discern). This dish caught me off guard, they looked like raviolis and I was expecting it to be warm or a hot dish but it's served cold. Although "Cold" is stated on the menu, I think it would taste better warmed up. The calamari in all the dishes was fresh and tender, no chewy elastic calamari here. The grilled shrimp over avocado weren't anything spectacular or that you can't do at home. We then ordered the valenciana paella, which is loaded with seafood, chicken and ribs. An order of paella takes 45 minutes to prepare. The saffron rice was good but the whole idea of paella is to meld all the ingredients and flavors during the lengthy cooking process. It tasted like paella rice with a bunch of ingredients on top, which individually had no flavor. For dessert we ordered "El Borracho" - appropriately named, as the liquor used was far to overpowering and the cake was stale. We also tried the Pear in red wine reduction sauce, which was light and flavorful. All In all the food is edible but nothing really stands out. Our waiter was direct and always seemed to be in a rush. I probably will stick to the other Tapa restaurant a few blocks northeast of this place.
This restaurant is amazing! You feel like you are in Spain, true spanish food with an owner who has lived and traveled everywhere!! So trust me, he knows good food! I love it when they have flamenco night with a guitarist who comes and play. The bar is my best place in the house but the back is wonderful as well!! Reda is always so welcoming as well as his son, they love what they do and we can tell!! Try it!!
(5)
Ken S.
The duck was amazing!!! We also had Paiella. We were expecting the generous platter that we have had in the past in the Portuguese section of New Jersey but we were disappointed. The rice was not completely cooked and the dish lacked proper seasoning. The restaurant staff was very friendly and informative about the menu. We enjoyed the live music also. We'll definitely try this restaurant again to further explore the menu.
(4)
Lisa S.
My boyfriend and I (late twenties-early thirties) visited this place last night. Bottom line that if a fun ambience and/or good service is important to you, take your business elsewhere. The service was stuffy and disinterested. Our waiter failed to inform us of the specials (he informed the next table over), did not ask us how our food was, and did not thank us at the end of the meal (really?!). Which is too bad, as we are generally very generous and reward servers for good service (20+%). Oh and I should mention that I usually don't notice or care about service, so it has to be pretty bad for me to notice/care. Anyways, we ordered the olives and tomato soup to start. The olive appetizer was a joke - the olives were peanut-sized - and the tomato soup tasted like heated up tomato juice. I ordered the halibut special as my main course. It wasn't light and flaky like other halibut I've had but it was seasoned well enough. Overall, the food was OK but not good enough to make me want to come back, especially given all of the other dining options that Sacramento has to offer.
(2)
A.c. D.
Excellent find - or recommendation as it were. We sat outside for lunch. Having recently returned from Spain we were happy to find some very good, authentic Spanish food and wine. Kimberley, our server, was great. We will definitely come back.
(5)
Tina k.
Delicious:) every dish is so good, it's my 5th time here. Tapas :) good Vino. Romantic patio. Nice and friendly personal. Will come back
(4)
Kate M.
The food was pretty good, but the service was absolutely awful. We ordered two tapas, and then our server disappeared for the next 45 minutes. Nobody checked on us, nobody asked if we wanted more drinks... Nothing. And there was only 5 tables there. It was surprisingly difficult to get anyone's attention because it seemed like all the servers were avoiding eye contact. Once our server came back, we ordered another tapa and waited about 35 minutes before finally telling him to cancel it and get us the check. We asked what happened to him and he was a real jerk about it. We believe his name was David based on the receipt. We will never return. Food wasn't good enough to warrant the terrible customer service.
(2)
AL P.
The restaurant was jam packed on a Saturday night. Excellent paella seafood style. Will have to come back to try some of their other fine dishes. Varied dishes and flavors with reasonable prices from tapas to full dinner dishes.
(4)
My N.
The coffee was outstanding. The service was good. The food was only fair. We will not be returning to this restaurant. What a disappointment.
great food! came in at 3pm on a Thursday. we came as a party of 5, don't remember the names well but we ordered tapas: Patatas bravas , Legumbres, tortillas de colores and paella valencia. bread was amazing.. not to mention we all had enough food to fill up. service was amazing as well, the waiter was very attentive and brought bread and water when we ran out. Thank you for a great service.
(5)
Sarcaswit Z.
This restaurant is fairly old and owing to the cold weather outside, and a ton of customers inside, there were large traces of condensation on the windows, so not the most inviting of vibes right off the bat, but the food more than makes up for it. For a tapas style place, the portions are surprisingly satisfying. The salmon, shrimp and potato dishes were all delicious. Service is also very good. Two of us sat in the corner by a window overlooking the street, thankfully protected from the spirited laughter of other customers at least on one side, but that side proved to be particularly cold, either because the glass was too thin or, they had forgotten to turn off the AC; there was cold air literally blowing at us from above which did not make for a super comfortable dining experience - but that's my only real complaint, otherwise thumbs up.
(4)
Daniel T.
Visits: 1st Rating: 4* Service: friendly & attentive. They joked with us a lot. Dishes: Paella Valenciana; Calamari Wifey is a big fan of Paella. And probably anything with rice if you ask me. So her friend & fellow nurse recommended Aioli for some good paella. So here we go. -Paella Valenciana (3.5*), Seafood Paella. It's different from the paella I'm use to from Barcelona to SF & LA. But we haven't had Basque paella yet, so perhaps that's why? It is still good though. The rice is not as yellow, it comes with a whole lot of veggies that I wouldn't expect & a little more liquidity than I'm use to. A whole bunch of seafood in a beautiful presentation. The portion size to me is huge. The menu said good for two. If you're Asian, get a 3rd person to help out. We had a good amount left over, which should make for a good lunch the next day. =) -Calamari (4.5*) in a tomatoe based sauce. Excellent dish. Very delicious. Calamaries were tender & fresh. The sauce was so good with a little kick of spiciness. Great all around. This plate was wiped dry with bread. Delicious!
(4)
Mike E.
Hands down the best Spanish food on the west coast. Fresh, bright and innovative. Waiters create a meal for you that is eclectic and balanced. Wine is inexpensive and pairs beautifully. Best service in all of sacramento. Waiters are adept and attentive. The patio and the dining room are warm and inviting. You never feel rushed or that they are ready to turn your table. 2-3 hours passes like nothing, you almost don't want to go home because it feels like home.
(5)
Teena B.
I have been here a number of times with friends and family. I love the fact that the wait staff know what they are doing and know the menu. The food has always been fantastic, and the wine good, also. Love this place.
(5)
Darrell S.
The food was ok. The service was HORRIBLE. Avoid the server "Jeffrey." If I feel like being ignored for an hour, I can go to the DMV.
My friend recommended this place and I came to try it out last Fri. I expect a popular restaurant with good word of mouth would be packed on a Friday night however when I walked in the restaurant it was half empty. I kinda doubted whether the food is good or not based on the low occupancy. I ordered Paella Valenciana and it did take more than 45min to be served (as shown on the menu of estimated cooking time). It's only two of us so we only ordered one appetizer figure the entry would be enough for us. And it was. I'd say Paella Valenciana was not impressive, maybe my expectation is little higher. The dish dries up very quickly as the rice absorbs all the juice. Half way through and we cannot take it anymore cuz it's just way to dry. I wanted to try the sangria however the waiter told us that it would be too sweet. Overall, just an ok experience for me and I don't think I would come back.
(3)
Diane D.
Food was excellent and the service was excellent. Try the sangria, and sit on the patio. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Mike L.
Dinner last night. Tapas were the call for the night. They were all very good. Waiter was good. Overall service average though. Some great Riojas too All in all- a solid 4 of 5. Good, fun place
(4)
Alicia W.
Excellent experience all around! Firstly, the food is delicious. Moreover, the ambiance is enchanting! Food, 5 stars. Service, 6 of 5 stars! We put our entire meal into our servers hands. His name is Roman, and he is amazing!! Wine list is top notch! We LOVE this place!!!
(5)
Janice J.
Amir was such a great waiter, and his father was so charming! Love this place and this night! Happy birthday to me and Mary. Thanks to Julie too!
(5)
Nelp H.
This place is a must go! The patio is beautiful with a fountain, lights and a guitar player. The food is delicious! I had the beef short ribs with polenta, mussels and the patatas gratas. Each was perfectly made. The only thing that I didn't like was that the sangria had no fruit in it. Otherwise five stars for sure.
(5)
Lea G.
Large family dinner with reservations, We were seated promptly and drink orders taken after a quick peruse of the menu ... sangria all around! The tapas experience is a great opportunity to try new food. Especially in a group setting as we could try a little but of everything. With the help of our waiter, he told us the popular tapas as well as the number of people the dish would feed. With a group of 9, we order double of specific tapas such as the cod fish, and braised pork. To our surprise we love the vegetarian tapas. Great place and would definitely recommend!
(4)
Val P.
Came here about 5pm on a Saturday for a lite dinner with a friend, she has been here two times before and enjoyed it. Our experience this evening was bad! We asked to sit outside and they said no it wasn't ready so we sat at the bar. We ordered drinks my wine was terrible but no one asked if it was ok.... The glass was full and I never drank it you would guess by that it wasn't to my tasting. Our food came after we had to asked to order and it was good. We had to ask for our ticket and I kept trying to get someone's attention but no one would help us. I walked up to The manager/owner and told him how bad the Service was and all he could say was "he had no idea" well if it's my restaurant I would know there were only 2 other parties there eating at the same time! This place is not the place to go if you want any service! The sad part is the manager didn't care enough to ask if there's anything he could do to much us happy....sad!!! I will not eat here again and will tell my friends not to eat here either
(2)
Pedro B.
Had a lovely dinner in the window seat up front. Could also go back in the patio where a guitarist plays and it is very romantic all the young people were there. A happy place to go for a Spanish dinner and entertainment.
(5)
Mary C.
Went there with a group of friends and loved it! We had anchovies, caramelized dates, octopus, the beet salad, Mediterranean salad, scallops, chorizo, and more! it was delicious!
(5)
Diana C.
I recently celebrated my birthday with my parents at Aioli Bodega Espanola. I attempted to make a reservation online, and there were no times available. I quickly called the restaurant, and they were able to make a reservation for the time I had requested (6:30). The three of us showed up at 6:30 p.m., and it was a little unusual to enter in the restaurant. Was not sure whether we even entered in through the right door and we stood around waiting to see if we had to be seated. It wasn't until I went up to one gentleman and told him we had a reservation, then we were seated right away. Coming from a Spanish background, and my family cooking very delicious food, it is difficult to go to any restaurant, let alone one that cooks many of the same dishes I eat at home. I ordered their Sangria, which I thought was a bit off for my personal palette. We ordered two tapas: the costillas and the gambas (a la mexicana). They both were very good and I had no doubt that the rest of the food would be delicious. The costillas were very flavorful, similar to ones that my family makes at home. The gambas or shrimp, were grilled and topped with a version of salsa fresca, but with olives. Then we decided, with some reluctance, to order the Paella Mixta. Any restaurant in the U.S. or Spain I feel has never made it as good as my family does. The waiter said that it is very popular and well-liked. We ordered, and it seemed it was not the right color or flavor. Could have been more "bright" in color and flavor. The chicken pieces were underwhelming and so were some of the other ingredients. Overall, I would definitely recommend the tapas to share and not get anything too large. We were full from just the tapas when the paella arrived. I liked the overall ambiance, though I think the service could have been even better. There was something a bit off. Not sure if I will come back again, but if I do, I will just go for the tapas.
(3)
Stan L.
Great experience. Walked in, and was seated (for two people) within 5 minutes -- although the physical location of the host was not very clear. Ordered 4 tapas: portobello mushroom, lamb skewer, braised pork, and cod fish. The portions are good, so for two people, 4 tapas, and one dessert definitely put us over the top. You could just order three tapas and a dessert, and that would probably be enough. But we wanted to try everything! Our favorite was the portobello mushroom and the cod fish. Portobello mushroom came with cheese (I forgot which kind). The juice from the mushroom together with the cheese was so full of flavor, with just two ingredients. Definitely surprised and highly recommended. The cod fish was served on top of a bed of greens, which complemented nicely. Fish was cooked and seasoned just right. Might be on the salty side for some folks, but it was fine if you ate it with the greens. The lamb and the pork were just OK for us. Both meats were fully cooked, made it kind of tough to eat. But they were both quite tasty. They kept refilling our bread basket, which was delicious with their special bean dip. But save some of the bread to go with the tapas. We got the dessert, forgot what it was called. But came with slides of plain cake soaked in some kind of dessert wine, topped with fresh fruits and drizzled with syrup. Not too bad with coffee, but I'd personally like it more if there were some kind of cream filling. Definitely recommended.
(4)
Angel M.
We came for a 25th Anniversary dinner here and they did a pretty nice job of accomodating us. We were about 15 people and Aziz, i think he's the general manager was also really helpful and friendly. We had a family style dinner with each plate serving about four people and he gave me really good suggestions on how to arrange the menu for our dinner that night. The paella valenciana was delicious and the different tapas as well!! All in all the evening was a success!! But my favorite thing was their Sangrias! MAKE SURE YOU ORDER ONE!
(4)
KR R.
We came here without a reservation on a Saturday night. Had drinks at the bar while we waited for a table. Everyone we dealt with was very friendly and service was good. The tapas we tried were all delicious. Can't wait to come back and try some more!
(4)
G R.
So, if three stars is "A-OK", I have to go with two stars for "Meh. I've experienced better." On the plus side, beautiful decor and professional service. Only had tapas dishes, four in all, but just not worth the high prices. The duck was cooked nicely, but it's served with a gastrique too heavy in vanilla. The sauce was akin to pancacke syrup... not a great experience. The Langostina salad was OK, but the meat was cooked with no spices, which seemed an odd choice. I guess they have to charge the high prices to afford this great corner spot with a large outdoor courtyard, including a live jazz quartet. Very nice ambience, but the food does not measure up.
(2)
noc f.
1-Bald owner is a Jerk!!!!!! 2-Paella Vale is theee worst I have had! 3- Overrated and overpriced! NEVER AGAIN!!!!
(1)
Alan S.
This is a nice place to go for tapas with a group or just out for a date night. Out on the patio is the romantic spot to be, as its got kind of a mood lighting effect going on. We ordered four tapas for two people which was plenty of food to satisfy without being stuffed. Overall the food and the service was great, but you may want to make a reservation as the place can fill up on the weekends.
(4)
Brad D.
I went to this restaurant blind. Never spoke to anyone about it, no recommendations, no prior knowledge of it at all. I was looking for a little something different to take my wife to on Valentine's Day. I looked at some reviews and wound up booking a reservation and crossing my fingers. It was a cute and quaint place. Just fancy enough, but not stuffy. I'd feel comfortable going there in a suit and/or jeans. We sat inside, but when I saw the patio, I really wish we got a table there. Seemed like a gorgeous place to sip on sangria, enjoy some good food, good company and a beautiful evening. We truly didn't know what to order, but saw the paella valenciana and we're sold on it from the description. The waiter suggested grilled shrimp and lamb skewers for appetizers. We both thought the appetizers were excellent. The shrimp were seasoned and grilled to perfection. The lamb was a perfect medium rare to medium, seasoned and sauced very well. The main dish was a seafood paella. The rice was delicious and I think the mussels were cooked perfectly. The most tender I think I've ever had. The same was true for the pork...excellently cooked. The calamari, chicken, and shrimp were slightly overcooked, but not so overcooked not to be enjoyable. Overall we really liked the paella. No major complaints. If you want the paella, make sure to order it when you first get there as it takes approximately 45 minutes to make. I'd definitely suggest the paella however. As for dessert. Another suggestion by the waiter. I'm bad with names, but it was essentially an orange creme brule. Very good way to top off the meal. Oh....and I forgot to mention the sangria. Excellent! A definite must have. Overall, excellent experience. A little spendy to eat there everyday. About $100 with tip, but worth the experience. And I do believe they have more budget friendly lunch fares and such. Hit it up. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
(5)
Roz S.
Staff was wonderful, very knowledgeable in regards to wine flavors and tastings. The steak was delicious! So many flavors in one sitting. The atmosphere was somewhat loud and conversation was slightly rough, but the taste trumped the atmosphere! Worth it!
(4)
Sarah T.
The first time I ever been here was in 2005, and I did not like the food. I came back to give it another try because my friend had a birthday dinner party here and it was nothing like I remembered. I ordered the duck breast with a wine reduction sauce and that was delicious. Someone else ordered the meatballs and that was fantastic too. We had a total of 5 pitchers of sangria and spent over $500 for a table of 13 people. The manager or owner (not sure which) opened two bottles of champagne for everyone at the table to show appreciation for our business. I thought that was a nice gesture. A month later I came back and the food excellent. I also enjoyed the endive salad as well.
(4)
Daniel K.
We came here with a group of high school friends and got a nice seat in the outdoor patio. We highly recommend the back patio for ambience. Perfect for dates on a nice summer night. We ordered two main dishes (seafood paella and steak) and 6 tapas (mostly vegetarian orders) to share, which was perfect for six people (four dudes and two gals). Quality of tapas were great, particularly the mushroom dishes and all of the sauces. The price-to-quantity though was lacking: I wouldn't recommend getting a tapa as a main course dish for yourself, because that will not be enough to fill you up. In the end, the bill came up to about $30 per person (including tip). I would add that the waiter was hilarious and super blunt. (Even gave advice about marriage!) And the waiter was super friendly and greeting/welcoming customers at the entrance. Oh, also, two of the guys in our group were wearing tshirts and flip-flops and felt a little underdressed. So come at least with a button up! tl;dr Good ambience, service, and food. Small portion to price ratio. Maybe return for fancy occasions or nice dates.
(4)
Misty M.
First-timer - was impressed by the food and the environment. We came for lunch since I had a craving for tapas. I knew it was too early to order paella so i tucked that away for another day. We had the charcuterie y queso manchego - very tasty and presentable. i'm a fan of manchego so it was very good. We had the patatas bravas, ravioles de la moda, and albondigas todo ajo - they were very tasty, small plates, and filled two us up. sopa de chocolate and pera 'aioli' was dainty! We sat out on the patio for lunch, albeit it was a little breezy and I was worried about all that tree/shrubbery things falling onto our food, otherwise it was a good experience. The server was very cordial.
(4)
Zachary W.
One of my favorite places. I am from Spain so it's nice to have some authenticity nearby. The tapas are wonderful, the ambience is fun and casual and overall the experience was great. The service was fast, our server was extremely friendly and I have no complaints. I just recently moved to the area and the midtown area is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
(5)
TRACY R.
I come here for the Paella Valencia. Sooo good I came back two days in a row. For $37, it was definitely worth it! Trust! You have to try it. No other restaurant does Paella, and when they do, they don't do it justice. But this place does. Big prawns, muscles, calamari pieces, pork, chicken, underneath a bed of saucy, red, warm rice. They make it for two people, but I'm pretty sure you can share if you order more tapas. The first night, I came with a gf to gossip and catch up. Add a pitcher of Sangria to that and a Tapa and it became a four hour meal :) The ambiance was relaxing. Candle lights, big open windows to people watch, and friendly wait staff. Every time I come here I have a great experience. The paella was so good, I was sad the bf wasn't with me to enjoy it. So the next day I had to share with him the mouthgasm that I experienced. We came with another couple and ordered two tapas with the paella. The food may look like it has small portions, but it is so rich and full of flavor. We seriously were so full that we couldn't finish the Paella and had to take the rest home. LOVE this place!! Great for gf dinners to catch up, romantic dinners for two, or just dinner with another couple. The food is always good, the wait staff are always friendly; definitely worth it!
I have been meaning to check out aioli for so long already, and today happened to be the night. I was very unimpressed. Very disappointed. We came in with 10 girls for a birthday. Our server was fantastic. Very helpful, nice, and had a great vibe overall. I ordered the honey glazed duck with roasted potatoes. I was disappointed. The worst duck I've had...ever. The whole composition of the meal just did not go together. 2 stars because the manager was so rude. He kept on staring at us the entire time with his hands crossed hoping we'd hurry up and leave. After we had our dessert and asked for boxes to go, he said, "move it, move it" you've been here since 5:30. It was 7:45 when he said that. I was shocked. So disrespectful. We reserved a table, paid for our food, left a nice tip and we're getting kicked out. I couldn't help but come up to him on my way out and respectfully and politely told him how unprofessional he was with his customers and if he wants customers to come back, kicking them out is not the way to go. He just kept saying, "I know, I know," and seemed at no interest whatsoever. Very unfortunate, but I will not be coming back here again.
(2)
Sarah A.
Love, love, love this place! Everything I've tried here has been delectable! Definitely one of Sacramento's finest.
(5)
Mai B.
Aioli is by far my favorite restaurant in Sacramento! Everything about this place deserves an A+. The staff is friendly and warm, the seating is intimate and romantic and the food is absolutely delicious. On a warm summer evening you have to dine on the beautiful and quaint outside patio. This is the place to go if you want to take your special someone out for a romantic dinner.
(5)
Margarita A.
Aioli never disappoints. My favorite Tapas are the eggplant and the pork... Sorry I can't remember the names. The sangria is amazing and you have to ask for Roman ask your server! He's absolutely the best:)
(5)
Bridget G.
First time I've been here, food was alright but the service was awesome. We went in on a Thursday night with no reservation and we're surprised to see that the restaurant was insanely busy! We sat at the bar and ordered a drink and not 5 minutes later they offered us a table in the corner by the front window. It was a tiny table but we were happy they were so accommodating. We ordered a mushroom appetizer and two steaks. Food was nice but not amazing, tasted pretty home-cooked. Our waiter was super nice and authentic. He explained every dish and really made us feel special even though he had 5 other tables to deal with. Not sure if I'll be back anytime soon with all of the amazing food options in midtown but a good restaurant to keep in mind for large party's who want quality home-cooked food.
(4)
Ms. S.
I was at Aioli this evening with a friend. We ordered the seafood paella, mushrooms, olives, my friend had sangria, then we each had a desert and I had a cappuccino. I found it overwhelmingly disappointing. The olives were a joke, 99% were tiny - barely larger than a raisin) (I love all kinds of olives. I've lived and traveled in Greece and Turkey - I've ordered olives from Spain. I know my olives.) The ones we were served where ridiculously tiny, and most tasted off - not that raisin sized olives are much to chew on. The sangria was just okay- nothing compared to Tapa The World or even Tower Cafe. I ate two muscles in the paella. They both tasted as if they'd been rotting in the sun. I had to spit one into my napkin. Before we ordered desert, I nicely told the waiter about the mussels. He looked away as if by doing so it would mean he couldn't hear me, then said, "They're fresh here". I love muscles, but these were disgusting. The presentation was nice. We enjoyed our deserts - but would have done better by going to Tapa's then over to Tower Cafe. I was really looking forward to Aioli, but over all, I've had better and the mussels are really concerning.
(1)
Ronda T.
If you are a first time Spanish food eater, go with a group and get topas. Get more than you normally would. The topas are small and perfect for one. Each person should pick one or two. Get a whole bunch and that is your dinner. Everything is super yummy. The waiters are sweet and attentive. The ambience is amazing. Love it.
(5)
Zoe D.
PAELLA PORN. That is exactly what led my boyfriend and I to visit Aioli earlier this week. Thanks, Yelpers! The food was excellent, drinks were delicious, and the paella was, as all of the gorgeous food pics have indicated, amazeballs. Our waiter was a bit odd-unattentive, a little forceful? It was weird. Nonetheless, I would definitely go back to get my hands on that saffron-infused carby goodness.
(4)
Cathe A.
Had a lovely dinner here twice now...once with a bunch of my colleagues and then most recently with my parents. They had a live guitarist. The waiters are so friendly. The seafood here is so succulent and delicious. The sangria was good but I prefer their Pasanau Priorat wine!! It is to die for!!! We had a bunch of tapas and tried their paella..not the best but pretty good!
(4)
Joshua s.
What an overcrowded, and yet wonderful tapas restaurant. Had my sisters birthday there, and we had a great time. The food was amazing. We had mainly tapas, but some of us had the main courses. The service was great, expect some attitude from the man who looked like the manager. We sat outside, and it was just a wonderful dining experience. I definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice place downtown.
(4)
Helen H.
The following review is only about the food. Ensalada de la Moda $8.95- spinach salad with green beans, carrots, beets, olives, potatoes, eggs and tuna, in a light vinaigrette It was an unique salad. I especially liked the potatoes and eggs in it. The beets reminded me of Dwight Schrute. Ravioles de la Moda $9.95- ravioli stuffed with herbs & cheese in a fresh shitake mushroom, brown butter, sage sauce Yummy! You can really taste the mushrooms flavor. There were only 3 raviolis though. Tomate Catala $9.95- A large tomato stuffed with seasoned bread, Spanish ham, & Danish fontina baked in a white wine garlic sauce. Large tomato indeed. This was good too, but was a little salty. I wish I had some rice to go with it.
(4)
David C.
Haven't been here in a while, but here with a group for a birthday. Food and service were great! Definitely returning.
(5)
Welmond C.
Food was good for the most part. Customer service could have been better. Went there for lunch and were the only ones in the restaraunt. Was expecting a speedy service - take order, bring food out, eat, pay and go to work. Did not happen. Unless you have an hour and a half for lunch, a lunch during the work day is not going to happen. Ordered the three course lunch (I had the fish). After eating the curry soup (which was different...in a good way) we waited through our entire lunch period for the next course. Being fed up, we ended up taking the rest to go. Surprisingly, it was the manager (i'm assuming he was the manager) that made such a big deal out of it. In the end - fish I had was delicious but lemon cake desert was too watery (yes.... watery) for my taste.
(3)
Kimberly M.
A FANTASTIC restaurant! The service is above and beyond and the food is absolutely mind-blowing. The decor both inside and on the patio outside make it a great place for everything from business meetings to romantic dinners. I've gone several times, and it gets better every single time! HIGHLY recommended.
(5)
mike b.
The manager is a racist. My family and I called in two minutes prior and they said they have plenty of room. When we got there they had three open tables and the manager (A bald guy in a Hawaiin Shirt. Took one look at us and said they have no room. As we decided to leave another family came in and was seated right away. Don't go here!
(1)
Danny H.
Great food and drink options! Sangria was very good. Server was helpful in giving suggestions. Try the spicy octopus! I loved the outdoor seating area.
(4)
Eastsac G.
Haven't been here in years so thought we'd give it a try again. Hubbie had steak bistecca which comes thinly sliced with some arugala on the plate. Steak was pretty yummy but would have been nice to have a more substantial side. I had the sea bass w/au gratin potatoes and veggies. Fish was a tad overcooked but good flavor and a good portion. Potato also had good flavor but was watery. Sangria was the bomb though. Not overly sweet. Kinda peppery. Really wanted the paella but only can get if 2 people order. Bummer. I'd go back to try that. Oh, bread was VERY dry. Hummus dip was OK Waitstaff was nice and attentive.
(3)
Cesar S.
Reda Bellarbi is the beast ofr restaranteaur. With his geneality and overseas life experience, brought to Sacramento a unique , real and superb real taste of Spanish culinary. I moved to San Diego 4 years ago. I live in the top notch area, and there in no place here that can compete to Ailoi. I miss Aioli. A place to be. Please, say hi to Reda when you are there, he loves talking to people. 10 stars
(5)
David C.
Aioli's serves some of the best Spanish tapas in Sacramento. There is a nice European feel to the place, intimately lit and a patio area in back. On some nights they also have a live guitarist strumming flaminco music. My wife and I eat here almost every year for our anniversary and they always deliver. Every time we go, we order 1-2 small plates dishes that we know we love and then we let the waiter/waitress order everything else based on what he/she thinks looks good for the night. We have yet to be disappointed with this approach. A few personal favorites: Bruschetta with garbonzo puree and carmelized black figs (We thought it sounded odd but it tasted wonderful!) Mussels in garlic sauce Stuffed tomato Beef short ribs With 3 kids of my own, we have never taken them to Aioli's. It's probaly not the best place to go with little kids as it's often crowded with small dining tables. In Spanish tradition, the dining experience at Aioli's is just that, an experience. Don't go to Aioli's if you are trying to make it to a show/performance in 45-60 minutes. The food delivery can be slow at times but they have a great wine selection to make up for it. Go to Aioli's for the tapas/wine, to catch up with an old friend or for a romantic dinner. Aioli's is a Spanish dining experience. Enjoy!
(4)
Emily W.
I really want to like this place but almost everytime we come here there is some kind of problem. A group of friends came here on a 2nd Saturday for dinner. There were 10 of us. We ordered 5 bottles of wine an a huge selection of tapas. The tapas keep coming out but they would not give us enough bread. We keep getting 1 tiny little basket for all of us. Since we were sitting right next to the area were they cut the bread we just ended up helping ourselves since our server was no where to be found. I think we should have gotten much better service. We paid over $150 just for wine and of course we were going to leave a good tip. I have not been back since.
(3)
Andrew B.
I ate here for the first time a few nights ago. I'll start with the good about Aioli - the Sangria. It was refreshing and not too sweet. They don't make a white sangria though, just red. Everything else about the restaurant was at best mediocre. Either I went on an off-night, or the other folks who have given this place 5 stars are just wrong. The service was ok, although my gf said she saw a different waiter than ours pick something out of his mouth and eat it. The ambiance is average at best as well. We sat inside and it felt just like a ho-hum restaurant. It didn't have that lively atmosphere I expect from a Tapas restaurant. My group tried several things to eat. The best dishes were the ones with pre-made food (such as chorizo sausage). Our other dishes were not so great. We ordered a scallop crudo dish and the scallops did not taste fresh. They just had a funk to them. I ordered a beet and arugula salad, which was also average and had just a few small chunks of beet in it. And probably the most startling part of our meal was that we asked for some aioli to go with our bread...and the server said they were out! Quite sad considering the name of the restaurant. And I don't understand why more could not have been made since all you need is egg yolk, oil and garlic. I've read other reviews comparing Tapa the World and Aioli. Based on my experience, Aioli can't sniff Tapa the World's jock strap. The food is much better and fresher at Tapa the World. Tapa the World also has a massive wine list, and the ambience inside is much nicer than at Aioli.
(2)
Kevin T.
Coming from SoCal, I have had my share of AMAZING tapas joints so I was excited when I was invited out to Aioli's. This place is located right in the heart of downtown Sac, nestled right at the edge of the restaurant strip. Expectations were high as I entered the restaurant and was greeted by the softly lit track-lights and potato sack covered tables. We were immediately seated and began to peruse the menu. I was so excited by the menu that I didn't even notice that close to twenty minutes had gone by and we hadn't even been offered a drink. So as soon as a waiter walked by we grabbed his attention and ordered drinks along with the food, hoping to speed up the service a bit. Drinks were brought out relatively quickly, and I soon had my sangria brought to me. I was a bit disappointed at the lack of fresh fruit used to make my sangria and I found it to be a bit too acidic for my taste. WIth our thirst quenched, we waited in eager anticipation for the food to arrive. ....And waited...and waited...and waited some more. Frankly, I was shocked at how long the food took to arrive at our table being that it was a Monday night and there were only two other tables occupied in the restaurant. Not only was the food slow in coming, but after the drinks had been delivered we didn't even see our server once until the food arrived. After about half an hour our mussels arrived. After about another half an hour so did our Paella Valencia I don't mind waiting longer for Paella, especially if it's cooked from scratch as opposed to the pre-cooked stuff you usually find at restaurants. From the wait, I gathered that they must've been cooking it from scratch. I was mistaken. You know the food is mediocre when you taste exactly which parts of the paella were cooked separately and which ones were actually allowed to cook together. The flavors of a paella whose ingredients aren't allowed to cook together simply fall flat. After finishing, we didn't feel like waiting around any longer so we got up from our table and flagged down our waiter for our check. He told us he'd bring it to our table so once again we sat down and waited. Surprisingly, we didn't have to wait very long but what did get me was that after inquiring about what we thought about the food, our waiter then made a comment jokingly about how excellent the service was. (Are you kidding?) I didn't respond to his joke but I smiled politely as the bill was paid for and left. All I can say is woe to those that come in this place hungry because you are definitely in for a waiting game for nominal food.
(2)
David M.
I've been to Aioli (both Davis and Sacramento) a total of 4 times since they opened however many years ago that was, and every time I wonder why. The food is almost always mediocre, the service unreliable, & the atmosphere rather so so. Last night was the final time. Though my beet salad was fine, my tuna tartare was absolutely taste free, honestly the greens on the toast was preferable and the service was horrible. The waitress dumped bread crumbs in my lap without so much as a "sorry", she practically tossed the dishes down on the table ( with an audible bang no less) and when I mentioned the (1/3 eaten) tuna was tasteless, she literally told me she'd tell the chef with her back to me while walking away. Won't waste our money here again.
(2)
Wesley H.
We really like the ambience here. We enjoy the food too, although its not quite as authentic as you would find in bigger cities like San Francisco or New York. This place is a little pricey, but there is a lack of good Spanish food here in Sacramento. I'd give this place 4 stars if it wasn't for the poor service that we consistently receive. We've ordered the paella and a bottle of wine, then received somewhat rude treatment from some of the waitstaff when we pass on ordering appetizers. I guess they don't like it when they can't pad their tips. If we're not that hungry, we're not that hungry, and we shouldn't have to apologize for it or explain it to you, get over it already.
(3)
Annie B.
We went there for my in-laws' 50th anniversary dinner. My SIL and I chose this place because it would have a large variety of food and wouldn't be super fancy because we were bringing her 2 kids, ages 3 and 6 and did not want the pressure of keeping them silent. This place hit the spot and we were treated very special. We were greeted promptly when we first came in. We order a couple pitchers of sangria and got down to ordering some tapas. Luckily with a party of 8, you get to order a lot of tapas. Our favorites were the clams, chorizo and white beans, beef short ribs, and meatballs. Our server was the older gentleman who did an excellent job of offering suggestions and at one point suggested said if we didn't love the chorizo with white beans that he would bring us the other chorizo tapa on the house. For being a larger party, we were never without bread and our water was constantly refilled. On to the entrees, we ordered the paella valencia, more tapas, the salmon, lamb shanks. One of my nephews is a really picky eater and our server had the kitchen make him a special chicken entree. Special care was given to my MIL and FIL throughout the entire meal. Our server even sensed that my FIL needed his fish cooked more just by watching him cut into the fish and immediately sent it back without him needing to ask. For dessert, they dimmed the lights and brought out beautiful desserts for them and had the guitar player serenade them. Good food, really thoughtful and caring service. I am looking forward to going back.
(5)
Kurt M. b.
Disclaimer: I do know the owner of Aioli because I have been spending my hard earned dining budget there for years. If this level of contact doesn't disqualify me then here goes... Sophie S. does not know dining. Great food and they have a vegan asparagus soup right now that is incredible. Good service (except for Josie). Do try the paella. Pablo's soups are brilliant. Like Mussels? White wine with the Mussels Asorda. Yum
(5)
Stacy G.
I went here on a date a while back - very classy place. I truly felt like i was whisked away to Spain for a night and enjoyed the decor and ambience. We ordered the gazpacho to start with. I was a gazpacho virgin, so I don't claim to be any sort of expert, but the flavors seemed a bit strong for my tastes. Our main dish, the paella, however, was absolutely fantastic. Very flavorful and savory, it was the best I've tried in Sacramento and much better than that at Tapa the World. I would come back here if only for the paella!
(4)
Derek B.
My wife and I have been going here for over 7 years. We even chose this as the place to dine when we got the offer accepted on our house we bought, and the night I asked her to marry me. I don't want to bury the lead. I will NEVER spend money there again. Why? The owner. Read some of the other reviews. You will see similar stories. The food? I have always enjoyed it. The staff? They have always been wonderful to us. The atmosphere? We have almost always found ourselves amongst interesting people. You know that "Saturday Night Live" sketch about the Italian waiters who molest the female customer at the table? Could have been based on the owner of Aioli. It can be endearing at first. Then after several visits, it just borders on creepy. He has also had a habit of "offering" wines for us to try, under the guise that he may be just letting us sample them. Then, they show up on the bill. As though we should have to ask, "Well, are YOU buying this, or are WE buying this?" We only went back for New Year's Eve because a good friend was there. We went there in spite of our feelings about the owner. As usual, a "groping" greeting was in order. The owner was nice about getting us a table together for 6 people. Things were going fine until the owner decided he wanted to start popping balloons. One after another, after another. Right next to our table. A woman in our party was sensitive to the noise, so we asked him if he could stop, or do it in some other part of the restaurant. After popping a couple more, he relented and went off to another part of the restaurant. Of course after awhile, he had to come back and do it some more. Again, we conveyed our wishes. Yes, it was NYE, and there should be revelry. We weren't requesting "no noise." Simply, don't pop balloons two feet from our ears. No exaggeration. When midnight hit, he went all out, popping several in a row, and seemingly choosing our table to do so, just because he wanted to prove a point. One couple decided to leave because of this. When the man of the couple expressed to the owner why we were leaving, his attitude to paraphrase was, "This is my place. I do what I want." This, to a party of 6 who had bought about $200 worth of wine and champagne. Nice way to treat your customers on NYE. The owner is a petulant man-child. You may be able to go there and have a very nice meal. But, if something goes wrong for you, and the owner gets involved, it will likely not be resolved to your liking. Again, look at some of the other reviews. There are too many good places to eat and spend money in this city to be treated this way. I am much younger than the owner and will be returning someday, when he has sold it to someone who cares about their customers. I shouldn't have to wait too long. Happy New Year to all.
(2)
Emily S.
Went for dinner last night for the first time and it was delicious!! Our waiter pretty much ordered for us, nixing our wine suggestion and supplementing his own, making food recommendations, etc. And, of course, everything turned out to be absolutely DELICIOUS. I would highly recommend the portobella and goat cheese tapa and whatever red wine we had...although I'm not sure, because the waiter didn't like our selection and substituted his own. I am so glad he did!
(5)
Clarke H.
Good food and wine in an inviting and friendly place. It's not Spain, but hey, for Sacramento it's close enough to really enjoy it. Take the waiter's recommendations.
(4)
Jesseca T.
Once upon a time, a girl wanted to meet her sister, who was traveling for work, in a town called Sacramento. It was her first trip to this city and she left work at 2:45pm on a Thursday, expecting the 112m trip to take a couple of hours. 3 hrs, much rain, and one (small) panic attack later....this girl was lost somewhere downtown (thanks mapquest). I called the Voice of Reason (my older sis) and we agreed to drive towards each other - I was on L street. I happily found a valet and got rid of my car, then stepped into a well-lit restaurant to use their restroom and get my bearings. Upon entering, I was alarmed to see a self-serve soda station and a congealed phad thai attempt on someone's plate, along with many meaty-looking dishes...not very veg-friendly for me and my veg-sister...hmm...I used the restrooms (clean) and exited quickly. Standing outside in the rain I looked around at my options and spotted, across the street, a sign barely legible through the rain...."(something)....aioli". OK, I though, If they're not afraid to throw around that word and be able to spell it correctly, I'm game. So I went in - The ambiance enveloped me like a warm blanket. I truly felt I had found refuge from the storm in both a literal and figurative sense. I had a glass of wine and a lovely conversation with the bartender and a woman at the bar (who was obviously a regular) about their selection of wines and their recommendations- both of them were very knowledgeable. My sister met me shortly thereafter and we proceeded to get a cosy table next to the window and an excellent waiter who was more than happy to point us in the direction of the many veg options. Highlights include: spinach salad with feta, portobello mushrooms sauteed in a mustard gravy, white beans with mint and other herbs, and the coup de grace: handmade cheese pasta ravs with a browned butter sage sauce. We had Tempranillo and Grenaches paired with these...and if I had had room I would have ordered another rav tapas... Dinner was $110 for two and worth every penny. I will have fond memories of this place for years to come, for providing us with attentive service and an excellent veggie meal, and for the memories I have spending precious time with my sister....I only hope that I can find it again and that it wasn't all a dream.
(5)
Donna S.
stopped in late last night after a Yoga party at Zuda Yoga.. it was also Second Saturday Downtown, so the joint was a jumpin. Beautiful courtyard for outside dining. We loved the food. i enjoy sharing from small plates. I had driven by at least a hundred and eight times, but never stiopped in. This time we were on foot, enjoying the walk from Zuda. It is true what they say, you miss out on alot of good things in life if you dont get out and walk!
(5)
Mike J.
Huge fan. I think this is one of the best places in town. I usually only get the tapa's - and they crush Tapa the world. Wine is great and the staff is always helpful and friendly. The owner is great! He makes this place what it is. Always friendly and always helpful. I am going to go back tonight!
(5)
Sheila T.
Great ambiance and great service! We tried the scallops, vegetable platter and ribs. It was good but nothing spectacular. Great date night but would probably try other places before we come back.
(3)
Henry D.
When talking to people about their never ending search for a great bar they often make mention of trying to find their very own cheers. Well if a restaurant could be Cheers, while serving Spanish food, this would be it! I rarley have to order from the menu, the waiters are old school and can always put together an amazing meal for me every time. A tribute to them being old school they always pick the right items, portions and are always in the right price range. Many waiters would love to serve their most expensive items and try to over charge you, but not here, the price is just right. When I ask for a white wine between 20 and 30$ a bottle it usually falls in the middle of the price range and never disappoints. They have a great selection of wines for every occasion. I am always greeted with a hug, a smile and questions about my life and family. The owner, always comes by the table to check in and is full of laughter and suggestions. This is a great family place, date place and would even work for business. Casual and comfortable. If you have ever had a bad experience here, you either don't get it, or you need to go back and give it a second chance...
(5)
Carolyn K.
I have eaten at Aioli on 3 different occasions and have finally decided to give it 3 stars. As far as the food is concerned this place is a hit or miss. If you are to try Aioli make sure to taste the following: -lamb sausage dish -grill pan topped with mushrooms -grilled chorizo on top of white beans -fabada soup -clams in saffron -pork dish is pretty tastey -flan was awesome -really enjoyed the sangria The rabbit, depending on the sauce is a hit or miss. I was not impressed with the clams, mussels, and short ribs. The salmon is tastey but nothing special. The outside patio sets a lovely setting. I've always enjoyed the servers. Food service is ok - not great, not terrible. This is definitely a place to atleast try once.
(3)
David G.
My son Woody and I had a long and excellent 2pm dinner/lunch at Aioli Bodega Espanola......can't praise this restaurant enough.....they serve small plates (tapas) and large plates in a Spanish/European style.....we ordered all small plates so that we could share to sample as much of the menu as possible.......1st we had white garlic soup, then fresh calamari in a light and orange & tomato sauce with a little heat, octopus salad, Pasta Al'Matriana with zesty tomato/herb sauce and pancetta (served on top of bucatini, my favorite pasta which is a long tubular noodle), we had bread with romanesco dip (smooth red bell pepper sauce) followed by beef short ribs with a crispy and flaky exterior and tender and succulent interior served with a spicy diced potato salad and then finished with carmelized pieces of mission figs with balsamic reduction served on top of baguette slices and garbanzo bean puree, truly a sweet and savory delight....the server was a wonderful woman who was Guatemalan & Nicaraguan.......as a send off treat she brought us (on the house) a thinly sliced walnut cake soaked with honey and orange water.....culinary bliss
(5)
John C.
We had a large party for dinner and had one the worst meals ever. The restaurant was loud, the tables too close, and the food was bland and over-priced!! However, the worst part of the meal was our waiter Joseph (he said he was French). He was pushy, rude, and non-attentive. A waiter plays a crucial role in your overall dining experience-he made it a nightmare. He refused to take our drink order until we ordered our food, he told us he would have made up his mind much sooner, he never asked us how our meal was.....and I could go on and on. Everyone in our party said after the meal we would not return to the restaurant again-there are too many good choices in the area. The owners need to focus more on good service and treating customers properly. Find another place to eat and avoid a bad dining experience.
(1)
Franchesca F.
Aziz was an amazing Host!! Great food, great service! Definitely a big fan!
(5)
Darina H.
I was at Aioli Bodega for Valentine's Day dinner and specifically requested the corner window weeks prior to. I was quite happy when this request was fulfilled when my party and I arrived (but not before having to wait until the host got off the phone before greeting us). The waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and recommended we try the following tapas: tartare, portobello mushroom w/ goat cheese, and duck. Delicious and so much flavor. Although I wish there were more mushroom ... it went perfectly with the duck and our wine. We ordered the seafood paella which may not have been enough to share between the four of us...and it did leave us wanting a little more. No kidding aside the paella was DELICIOUS! Very happy with our service and the food we had.
(4)
Steve L.
Sit down for a meal after sunset and you could be in San Francisco, or New York, or Paris, or Madrid. Aioli has an cosmopolitan, international feel. I've been there several times over the years and have found it to be consistently excellent. On our most recent visit, we enjoyed clams in a saffron broth, shrimp in a subtly spiced cumin and olive oil marinade, and perhaps the best pasta dish I have ever experienced - long, thick, tube-like noodles with pancetta and a light, perky tomato sauce. The service was solicitous to the point of being personal, and it worked. You could easily picture yourself in a bodega in the old country. The only complaint is the timing of the dishes. The pasta arrived very late, which, fortunately, did not interfere with our enjoyment.
(4)
Marcella I.
YIKES. I'd like my 2 hours back please. - Esthetically pleasing decor. - Service was decent with a smidgeon snobbery. - Food...toooook forEVER. It felt like A dish came to our table of four every 10 minutes. Thank god they kept refilling the bread basket. I had the salmon (nice), aceitunas (meh. tiny and not as flavorful), and raviolis (tasted like uncooked masa with cheese floating in garlic water - BLEHK). Lesson learned, I'll go back to Tapa the World.
(1)
Chuck N.
Friday, 8:00PM. Friendly staff welcomed us to the bar while we waited for a table to seat three. The bartender was nice and served up some good recommendations for white wine for my company during the wait (took 15-20 minutes). We sat outside where the ambiance was warm, a great place to kick it n' chat. Unfortunately, the lighting on our particular table (just by candlelight) was insufficient for eating...too dark! If we were closer to the walls, there were X-mas lighting which would've helped. + Friendly service, present and delivered + Great decor, very clean! - Maybe we didn't order enough seafood? Tapas were disappointing =/ - Looooong wait Final Call: Unless corporate pays for the meal, the food quality does not justify the price. ******************** Munchies: 1. Vegetable paella - Minimal veggies, where'd they all go? + Paella had a nicely flavored crust 2. Tuna + Favorite dish, gravy was delicious and the meat was tender/juicy 3. Portabello mushroom - Couldn't taste the mushroom, too much vinegar. 4. Patatas bravas - No crisp, spice was weak 5. Calamari in tomato sauce - Bilked on the calamari, didn't retain flavor of the dish + Sauce was YUMMY
I'm a bit conflicted about this place. I will definitely try to go again to see if the experience can be better the next time. Here were the issues: 1: The 2 items that stood out for me, the calamares"alamares rellenos" for tapas and another item that's an add-on from the regular menu were unavailable so I had to get my plan B foods. 2: After ordering, it took about 1 hour to get our food 3: We got our food little by little, not all at once. 4: When picking up the plates, the waiter didn't notice the knife was dripping juice on my shirt. I can oversee this since it was an honest mistake. On the plus side: 1: We did get bread served to us periodically 2: The lemonade was great 3: The waiter did apologize for the delay in food 4: We got a complimentary drink due to the delay My dish was good. The pork chops might need a tiny bit more salt or seasoning but overall the dish was good. It's not on an online menu but it had caramelized figs, sauteed vegetables and risotto. My rating is based on the experience overall. I did like our waiter though for apologizing on the delay for food. That is always a plus to me.
(2)
Sus R.
Food was really good and also the service. Love the ambiance and the live music. Definitely coming back
(4)
Melanie H.
A neighborhood gem. I have never had a bad experience at this restaurant! It's cozy, tasty, not too loud, and the food is always great. The mushroom raviolis are my favorite, but everything is always thoughtfully prepared and the service is never intrusive. Great for special occasions or romantic meals.
(5)
Susan F.
Love the service and food here. The scallops and mussels and clams arre amazing ( separate dishes) This place executues in every meal. Love it!
(5)
Gabriela S.
Their boquerones were awesome, but the paella not that much.
(3)
Elena M.
The food and service are both exceptional here, and the ambiance is very pleasant. When I called to make a reservation for four people and a big stroller, the host said there should be no problem fitting the stroller on a busy Saturday night. When we arrived, we even got to pick our table: we chose to be seated in the patio. We ordered whole bunch of tapas, among which were the beef ribs - I give this dish an A+, garlic shrimp - another A+, puff pastry filled with meat - A+, and with cheese - A+. Tomato soup gets an A, and salmon tapa gets an A. Sangria was pretty good too, though, adding some fruit to it would make it even better. We ordered some desserts too: we shared flan and an almond cake, and both were really good. I can not rave about the service enough: even though it's gotten pretty busy towards the end of our visit, our red haired waiter (didn't ask for his name) was very attentive, bringing the food quickly and taking dirty dishes off our table promptly. Several times he asked us if we needed anything, and when we asked for more bread, he had it brought to our table within two minutes. The buss boy helped quite a bit too, making sure everyone's glasses were filled with water - I saw him at the patio quite a bit. There was life music playing: the guitarist gives Aioli this true Spanish feel. He played not too loud, not too soft, just right, so that the people at the restaurant can have a conversation without raising their voices. Overall, a very pleasant experience and we are definitely coming back
(5)
M N.
Originally after looking at the menu, I though to myself, wow, these tapas are more expensive than other restaurants. Luckily, the prices reflected the serving sizes, so our tapas were larger than usual. Lucky! My favorites? I like the bouret stuffed with meat, cheese, veggies, or seafood which you can mix or match. Each dish comes with 2 flaky pastries! The ravioli with mushroom tapas were tasty as well. Salmon tapas..awesome! Going onto the entree, I had the lamb with risotto and veggies. The lamb was very tender. I like! To finish off, I had the chocolate mousse with assorted fruit. it was okay, nothing special. The flan was smooth, rich. Nice... I believe they have live music with a guitarist sometimes. That night, there was not any live music but we did come rather late at around 830 pm. Otherwise, ambient lighting, comfortable, intimate. overall a nice place to have a quiet dinner with good company.
(4)
Savannah H.
Hands down, the atmosphere is the best thing about this place. Its intimate, the outside patio is enchanting and it all seams to have a sort of candlelit glow. Perfect place for a date night, which is how I got there for the first time. As far as the food goes, I ordered the paella, which was good, but I thought it tasted a bit unauthentic. The tapas plate was yummy and the service was great. I look forward to going back and trying a different dish, so I can fill in that last star.
(4)
Gianna J.
Yum. Can't say I've been here for dinner but my lunch experience today was great. The server had a wonderful knowledge of the menu and suggested a great crisp white wine. The soup is a must try. White bean and flavorful. Yum! All in all I had a pleasant time.
(4)
Stephanie W.
Aioli is frequently hit or miss. Some dishes are good and some dishes are bad, but none are ever fantastic. The interior lighting is extremely dark (sorry, but i like to be able to see what I'm eating, even if it does take away from the ambiance) and it's pricey for what you get. I've been to much better basque restaurants and even though I am not a huge fan of Tapas the World, I will still go there when I'm in town over Aioli because it's moderately less expensive and the live entertainment is actually quite good. Additionally, the service is slow but in the inattentive way, not in the "we know exactly how to keep our distance to leave the two of you alone for a romantic evening even though that may be presumptuous of us. " No, this was the inattentive where our water glasses remained empty for about ten minutes and they seemed to forget about taking our drink order. There are better places, for sure.
(2)
Vinny C.
Here's the deal. Aioli's is the BEST place for a business lunch in Sacramento BAR NONE. It's quiet, comfortable and the food is awesome. The 3 course lunch is always wonderful (I LOVE the salmon!) and if you like lamb, the lamb bocadillo is the best lamb sandwich ANYWHERE. Having the view to 18th and L is also fabulous for people watching and to see how many people try to make a wrong turn on L St in an hour. GO!
(5)
Juan C, G.
Today was my first time at Aioli. I can truly say that the experience was awesome. I like the type of place that's kind of informal, where you chat with the waiters, where the food is always a surprise. The tapas were great, and the service was SPECTACULAR! This isn't a restaurant for formal gringos. This is for people who want the presence of a real place. My wife and I give it the highest rating. In addition, the guitarist is extremely good! The paella was like they do it in Madrid, the wine is great, etc. If you want "formal", go to Paragary's. If you want experience, come here. Juan C Gray
(5)
Alicia C.
We went here to celebrate our three year anniversary and we were not disappointed. We were shown to a very nice table by the window and greeted within moments. My boyfriend loved his beer (a Spanish beer I can't remember the name of) and the mocha got. I had a glass of their sangria which is the best I've ever had-very authentic tasting, seasoned perfectly, and sweetened naturally with a bit of citrus fruit and no added sugar. Then we were brought a complementary bread with a rather bland dipping sauce. On our waitresses recommendation we chose four tapa's and split them between us. We had a sushi-grade salmon tartar that came with grilled foccacia topped with arugula. It was seasoned perfectly so that you could still taste the freshness of the king salmon. Our second tapa was a mushroom based bruschetta with white truffle oil and bleu cheese. I liked it, but the taste of the bleu cheese was a bit overpowering. My boyfriend however devoured it. After we finished those two our waitress cleared the table and brought out our meat based tapas. The rabbit in white wine sauce with mushrooms was devine. I had never had rabbit so I was concerned it might be a bit too gamey but it was delicious and I ended up dipping some of the bread in the sauce I loved it so much. Our last tapa was chicken in a tomato citrus sauce I no longer remember the name of but it was good, the chicken still moist and the sauce flavorful. For dessert I ordered the braised pear in red wine reduction sauce which was served to me with a knife and spoon. It was soft and sweet but not overly sweetened and at $6 totally worth it. Some of the reviewers mentioned the price but for the quality of the food, the service, and the romantic atmosphere it is to be expected. Before the tip our bill came out to $80 even which we found perfectly reasonable, considering that inclued four tapas, two mochas, one beer, and one sangria.
(5)
eMerly L.
Nine, count them, NINE fake five star reviews. Not one real person has given this overpriced flop house five stars. Maybe if the owner spent less time online creating fake profiles and writing ridiculously long cheesy fake reviews and more time reading real reviews this place would ok to eat at.
(1)
Mrs. L.
I've only eaten at Aioli twice. Both times the food was delectable, but the service - ugh! The first time (years ago) I was with my husband and our waiter was incredibly rude and condescending to him. It was so awful that I made a mental note never to return, despite the delicious meal. However, a group of friends wanted to go there for dinner the other night. Again, the food was amazing, but the service was poor. For example, the waiter disappeared for long stretches of time so we had to ask other staff for things that we needed. For me, Aioli's great food can't overcome the bad service.
(2)
Chantal F.
The waiters are awesome, delicious food & wine, and great atmosphere!
(5)
Kerri T.
After my divorce a few years back I almost literally lived at Aioli's. Every Friday night, and at least two weekdays a week you'd find me sitting at the bar, making small talk with whomever happened to find themselves in similar circumstances - needing to get out of their houses / heads, needing a little sustenance, needing a lot of booze, and desirous of some intelligent conversation. Some nights I'd end up shutting the place down with the staff, finally arriving home via a cab the staff would call for me. After a brief hiatus during which I fell in love, got engaged, and planned my wedding, my (now) husband and I returned to Aioli and I was once again reunited with the staff who, for years, heard my every dating woe, hugged any stranger I brought into the place, and knew my wine preferences more intimately than anyone else in my life. Given the amount of time I spent in the restaurant over the last three years I'm surprised to see how many people err on the "hate" side of what appears to be a solid love/hate relationship with the place. Mostly I'm surprised because (ahem) in the three years of steady belly-upping at the bar I don't really remember seeing very many of you inside the establishment, and also surprised because my experiences have been so wholly positive (at my last visit two of the staff bought me glasses of wine to celebrate my upcoming wedding). However, I understand how easy it might be to hate Aioli because the first two times I tried to dine there I had horrible experiences. HORRIBLE. The waiters were rude. The waiters tried to rush us through dinner to turn the table over more quickly. But, we didn't have reservations. We arrived at peak weekend hours and didn't even know which door was the "front" door. We spent FOREVER trying to decide on what to eat, and thought we could dine "waterboy" style - that is, thought we could camp out at the table for 4 hours and order a few tapas at a time and it would be okay. It was not all that okay, evidently. Still....I swore I'd never return. Thank god I got over myself and braved Aioli's again at a more sane hour. Personally I find the "true" Aioli experience is, by necessity, either a VERY planned one (e.g., make reservations if you want a table, especially if you want a patio table in the thick of summer/fall) or a decidedly organic one (arrive early, sit at the bar all night, talk to strangers and drink wine with the bartender and staff). As far as the staff - the staff are no ruder than the staff at any busy resturant, particularly restaurants I frequented in Madrid, San Sebastian, and Barcelona. Basically there's just an expectation that you know how things work at the restaurant - and if you don't know, then ask - at least that is how I've always approached it. After I got back from Spain, dining at Aioli's felt like stepping back into Madrid (except now I knew what everything was on the menu). I don't eat huge dinners so I typically go tapas-style, which allows me to sample many dishes at once. Not all of the food is a solid "hit" but their version of the Nicoise salad (ensalada de la moda) is impeccably delicious, several of their small plates are spot-on (aceitunas variadas, ravioles de la moda, puerco castilla) and for dessert it's hard to go wrong with the crema catalan con naranja or the Chocolate con accento frances. Anyway, to sum up my three years of experience in a few simple suggestions: sit at the bar or come early if you don't have a reservation; converse with the staff - they are intelligent and personable if you are, and helpful if you ask; eat small plates and lots of them; don't skip dessert.
(5)
Sophia S.
About time for an Aioli update! First and foremost, Kurt M.b, you made me laugh, so thanks for that. I have spent 10 years of my life working in the restaurant business. I have been a server, a manager, a trainer, and of course, A PATRON. So whether you think that "knowing the owner" at the sh*ttest place in town gives you one up on the sacred knowledge of dining, then GOOD FOR YOU BUDDY! (insert standing ovation). Explain to me how such a great place could have such a disproportionate amount of terrible reviews compared to the majority of restaurants in town? Anyway, this is beside the point because I would just like to point out that the 34 plus 1 and 2 star reviews for this joint are fair. I also happen to know some employees of this establishment. One happens to be a supervisor & server at both the downtown & davis locations. I got into a long discussion about how my friend and I were mistreated at this place. This employee CONFIRMED that the older server who disrespected us was INDEED judging us solely on our age. He was able to confirm this because it is a well known fact by management and customers that this server refuses to serve anyone that appears to be under 30. He has a self fulfilling prophecy that we will not spend a lot or tip well. If his dumb a$s would actually show back up to the table, we would order more, drink more, come back for more... If he respected his guests like a decent human, they would reward his service with tips.. You're owner "friend" is a douche bag for letting a person like this represent his business. Based on the other reviews, he is not the only bad server in this place.
(1)
Nancy C.
They need better bread but we still like the place. We had dinner for New Year's Eve. They gave us a cute table for 2 in the window. They had decorated with balloons and it was very festive. They need to get a different bread because they serve a complementary but terrible bread cut in little pieces that does not taste very good and it comes with a boring hummus. We had a mediterreanan salad with was about $8.00 and we would not order it again as it did not have many olives and the dressing bland. We then had onion soup and a white bean soup. Both good soups but the white bean soup was OUTSTANDING. For tapas, we shared a salmon with a mustard caper sauce and it rated 5 stars as it was EXCELLENT. Our other tapa was the scallops and my husband raved about them. Service was great, surroundings wonderful. We will return next year. Hope they change their bread though.
(4)
Ryan D.
Love the old world charm by the owners. Sitting outside on the patio is one of my favorite places to be. I could sit there all day with a pitcher of their sangria.
(4)
Tessie S.
Having been to Madrid and had tapas there, my husband and I found that many dishes served at Aioli Bodega are authentic. Our favorite ones include lamb sausages with white beans, squid in tomato and mint sauce, grilled vegetables, and five-spice beef short ribs. The interior is nicely decorated with subdued and well designed lighting (which is important to me). Service is good, too. We always had a good time here.
(4)
Charline C.
Went here during the usual wine crawl up L Street after happy hour. We wanted an inside table, but the place was packed so the owner had us sit at an outside table until an inside one was free. Okay, so while we were waiting for a table, we decided to get some drinks. I wanted to get a glass of the sangria, but when I tried to put in an order, our waiter was like, "No, you want a pitcher." Okay, since everyone in my group was game, we decided to get the whole pitcher. Well, it was a whole pitcher of DISGUSTING-ness. I almost spit it out when i took an experimental sip. It was bitter and sour and just plain nasty! well, when i mentioned to the waiter that the sangria was off (everyone had taken a sip and agreed it was foul) and he could clearly see that we weren't drinking it, he said that WE were the only ones who thought so and left. Um...what? Things with that waiter went downhill from there. We were finally seated at an inside table with our foul sangria. We originally ordered some portabellos, the appetizer plate, mussels, and short ribs, but after the waiter told us that wasn't enough food for our party of 4, we ordered the spanish meatballs and more mussels. The portabellos were awesome with some goat cheese on top. The appetizer plate of meats and cheese was okay, except for the pool of oil that was over the entire thing (it looked like the cheese and meats had been sweating for a while). The mussels, normally my favorite for the sauce alone, were okay. they were served barely warm and the mussels were a little tougher than normal. Short ribs looked and tased like charcoal. Spanish meatballs were good, light and fluffy in a pool of tomato broth. Besides the rude waiter (who never refilled my water glass, despite flagging him down a couple times...i was PARCHED!) service was good. The owner as always was awesome as well as the busser who attended more to our needs than our waiter! (kept the bread coming!) The food, although okay, has been better.. I was almost willing to forgive the waiter (if anything, it was out of sight, out of mind, didn't see him much after getting out food) but then, I got mad again when the $20 pitcher of nastiness was on our bill. Grrr...could have argued about it I guess, but at that point, we just wanted to leave!
(3)
Sarah S.
Such a disappointment, in every way. I do know why they call the place aioli, though, because everything on the menu is covered in it. I had a couple tapas, and they were overpriced and nothing I'd pay for again. The bread basket had the stalest bread I've ever seen. The waiter was the worst part. I think the only words he spoke to us the entire time we were there were, "Are you ready to order?". He didn't ask how the food was, didn't refill the water, didn't bring the check after a 20 minute wait, nothing. No smile, no greeting, no service, and no more visits from me. The sad thing is, after reading the other reviews, the guy we had doesn't even fit the description of the other awful servers, so this must be a regular thing with them. Like the other reviewer said, waste of a good location. As my friend said, "I would rather be at Chipotle."
(1)
Erin A.
My boyfriend asked what Spanish wine the waiter recommended and he asked our price range (50-60) and snatched the wine list and said "leave it to me... do you trust me?" To which the only reply is.. sure. He came back with this rioja blend that was 90% tempernillo (rah, I can't remember the name, sorry- but if you ask for a rioja for $52 you should get that) and it was amazing. I was totally excited at the food after having a wine like that. The food was just so so. The bread with the dipping sauce was fun. We got the olives, they were all small, mostly good. We got the cold cured Spanish meats and cheeses, which I really liked. We also got the clams with saffron sauce (not very saffrony, clams were not amazing quality). Lamb brochettes but the lamb was really tough. Ravioli with mushrooms and browned butter sage sauce- the flavor was pretty good but it was so over cooked that the ravioli were totally exploded and was just limp pieces of pasta with a bunch of stuff floating around. roasted potatoes - average And for dessert I got the crema catalan con naranja - which is just a creme brulee with orange. I thought it was pretty nice, there were parts that tasted a little eggy (which isn't good), but overall it was a nice orange flavor, and the caramelized orange slice on top was KILLER good! It was a cool experience, but I didn't love it, and can't see going back any time soon.
(3)
Jon Y.
Time to chime in. In the early days of my foray into Sacramento I was taken to Aioli's. My host knew the menu, the waiters, and the atmosphere. This place isn't quick serve, in my opinion its a pretty accurate spanish style restaurant. You order your appetizers, a few hot (or cold tapas) and enjoy a few glasses of wine or beer. I have had 7-10 dishes there, including a few large events of 10+ people and every single time people have given a positive review of the place. The patio is great on a summer night to sit down around 6/6:30pm have a few drinks, move through dinner and then leave as the sun is setting around 8:00pm. If you are one of those eat and leave in an hour, don't bother. For me given the right mood, its perfect.
(4)
california b.
great tapas style food
(5)
Elaine C.
Great service and attractive decor, in addition to delicious food. We had the fish lunch special, and all were pleased.
(5)
M C.
The place is cute, and tucked in a nice corner of mid-town. The hostesses were great. However terrible experience with the waiter.. I believe his name was Jeffe. Completely ignored us the whole night, no drink refills, brought the food and eventual drinks to the wrong table. Then brought the wrong check to the table. The food was also okay, the waiter again brought the appetizer 5 min before the main course, kinda backwards. Overall not impressed for the cost of the food.
(3)
Kris C.
I've been to Aioli a couple of times now and it has become my favorite spanish food in Sacramento. Although the price is somewhat up there, the food is excellent and obviously has a lot of care taken in its preparation. The wine list is great and the servers were very helpful and knowledgeable. The seasonal specials are a very nice treat, as we can come in and find a new dish frequently, yet the tapas keep the constant comfort of familiar favorites on the menu. I would certainly recommend this place for a nice romantic evening (enjoy the great wine, great sangria, and great food) and to enjoy some great authentic Spanish food. In addition, the restaurant is conveniently located close to many other midtown attractions, like the clubs on L and J street!
(4)
Katie S.
Huh. Well as much as I hate it when businesses self-inflate their reviews, I really haven't had a bad experience at Aioli. I go in fairly often (probably proportionately more than I eat out at other places), specifically because the food and service are always good. A lot of times the service is even outstanding. Seriously. The waiters make jokes, recommend things, check in on us frequently, the works. I'm sure that with all places, there are good nights and bad, but it's unfortunately that so many people seem to be having really bad experiences somewhere that has the potential to be really good.
(4)
Megan L.
I'm a bit surprised by the negative reviews here, but ahs well. Went here with a group of 19 and had GREAT service. Our food was very good and the wine that was recommended was great. All the tapas that were ordered were delivered hot and tasty. I think that everyone in out group was more than pleased by our service and food. I guess I have to try it again to see if it was a fluke.
(4)
Ricardo S.
The food at this place is amazing, the garlic shrimp from the tapas menu, is addictive its so good. The paella is also amazing, but be prepared to wait an hour for it to come out. A pitcher of their delicious sangria will do the trick. The wait staff has a lot of character, not the typical type of service you would expect from an upscale place like this, but it is entertaining and i don't mind it at all. It almost makes me feel like i am actually in Spain. They have a beautiful outdoor patio in the back that is perfect for dates. If you are a stuffy kind of person you will hate the atmosphere here, but i absolutely love it, lots of fun and great food.
(5)
Camille B.
I ate here for the first time about a month ago. The food was excellent and we sat in their beautiful patio. I will definitely be back!
(5)
Casey C.
This place sucks. Overpriced and TERRIBLE service. I took my wife and In-laws out for a good time, but NooOOOOOoOOOoo! One thing I cannot stand is bad customer service. Here's how it went: 1. There's no greeter or sign directing you as to when or where to sit. Awkward, since we had a reservations on Saturday night. 2. We waited for 30 minutes before our server came by with water & menus. 3. We waited another 45 minutes for our appetizers and cocktails. And only half of us got our appetizers & cocktails. 4. Then we continued to wait a full hour before we got our dinner. Each dinner was brought out separately, and so far apart that we were forced to eat separately or risk it going cold. And they forgot my wife's dinner altogether. (by this point her blood sugar was really low, watch out!) 5. The owner intervened to expedite our food, but instead of apologizing, he blamed it on the server. 6. We asked for some bread at least so my wife didn't pass out and the owner dropped off a bowl and walked away (with the bowl still spinning on the table, no lie). 7. The two tables around us were waiting equally as long for their food. It was the most horrific (i repeat, HORRIFIC) dining experience I've ever had.
(1)
Toni N.
How disappointing. As a couple we made RSVP well in advance and still were sandwiched in the bar area with 2 additional LOUD parties with unruly children. The Paella was dry and some seafood undercooked. What a shame for what should be their signature dish. In addition the waitstaff was rude and curt . Having frequented many Spanish restaurants in Florida such as the world famous Columbia, Valencia Gardens etc. I left completely crestfallen and made note to write my first review of a restaurant in Sacramento. Too bad.
(1)
ea j.
I went late on a weekday night recently and had a nice experience. The food was lovely: I enjoyed just about every bite I put in my mouth. My favorites of the night were the Mushroom Raviolis (raviolis de la moda) and the chicken skewers (pinchos morunos). I will pass next time on the skirt steak with herb sauce (mint, parsley and cilantro- i think not) unless you prefer the individual flavors having a WWF match on your tongue. Unfortunately, the dessert wasn't the best note to end on: the "drunk" cake was dripping in spanish sherry and completely overwhelmed the cream, cake and fresh fruit combined. But I would go again and hopefully next time get out on their gorgeous patio.
(4)
Robyn B.
Had a great meal on the patio, next to the waterfall, the Sangria was awesome, the tapas Devine, garlic shrimp to die for as were the potatoes, truffles in white choc. Soup, omg. This s a great place to eat,
(4)
Sarah A.
Typically poor service, or 4 out of every 5 times I have been there, but the paella and wine list more than make up for it.
(4)
James L.
I'm a Bay Area native who lived in Sacramento for a short while, and this is one of maybe two or three restaurants for which I would consider making the drive up to Sac. The tapas are a bit pricey, but honestly, the portions are just right. I love my huge portions like most guys but when you have big flavors in every bite you don't need a huge mound of food - especially when there's wine and dessert thrown into the mix. I always leave this place feeling totally sated, not uncomfortably full. Stuff I enjoy: - Olives marinated in a fantastic olive oil with rosemary and juniper berries. Not surprisingly the berries give a slight hint of gin flavor to the olives. - Anchovy fillets, again in that sumptuous olive oil, on pieces of a moist flatbread. - The most tender Baby squid - or was it octopus? It was a cephalopod of some kind! - with a bit of crushed tomato and herbs on top of tender slices of new potatoes. - Some other tapas that I am forgetting at the moment but which are equally delicious. - An amazing seafood paella, with just the right hint of smokiness and saffron and that CRUST on the bottom of the pan. I'm a Korean boy so I love my rice crust, mmmmm. Very rich flavor but light and clean, in the way that the best seafood dishes are. - Great white wine recommended to us by our waitress to go with all our seafood dishes. This was hilarious because she looked like she herself was barely at the legal drinking age. (Oh, and by the way, I normally hate wine unless I'm cooking something with it. If I'm going to reach for anything alcoholic to drink it's going to be a Belgian lambic.) - Fantastic creme brulee, though I have to warn people that it has a hint of sweet corn flavor. I grew up with sweet red beans and malted rice in my desserts so I love that kind of shit, but many people might not. - Excellent port with the dessert. So yes, eat here ASAP! I mainly came here with my dates/boyfriends so I view it as a romantic spot, but the sophistication is balanced out by a relaxed, casual vibe. It would be as great to come here with friends or with family as it would be with a hottie on your arm. P.S. I can't offer any feedback on the land animal dishes, as I stick to my veggies and my seafood. However, if those dishes are anywhere near as good as what I have here, it's worth the trip.
(4)
Scotty M.
Really enjoyed the food here and our server was great. We sampled a number of small plates (scallops. seared skirt steak, tuna, portabello mushroom with goat cheese, prawns, and potatoes) and were happy with the lot. Nice wine choice as well. Looking forward to coming back
(4)
Erik N.
3 confirmation calls and they still screwed up the reservations..We specifically said 12 for the patio 3 days early..and when we got there..no patio no table..lots of attitude.. this is after they called us 3 times to confirm. Anyways the night began with a lot of attitude about the table then a snotty waiter with an unrecognizable accent says "listen up because I only talk once, you don't hear me, I won't say it again" ....this set the tone for an amazingly bad meal. Actually the food and wine were okay but the lack of service is what ruined the experience. The server was hardly around but at least the busser was there trying to help. She quickly recognized our frustration and disappointment and attempted to somewhat remedy the situation but water refills and apologies weren't helping. I think our bill ended up close to $700 and would have been well over $1000 had we been able to order the other food and wine we wanted, and still very little attention from the server. Here is a good example of the service and lack there of, at one point the server dumped a good 1/4 of a beer on my girlfriends salmon and was nice enough to towel it off a bit before sliding it onto a bread plate.. now thats classy. PS. We were going to speak with the manager but from what we gathered the server was the manager...F'ing terrible..Never again Aioli
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
T L.
I'm surprised this place has such mixed reviews! I've only been here a couple times but both times I loved. I recommend going on a warm summer night, sitting outside at their candle lit tables and eating dessert and drinking wine for a romantic date. Yes, a bit pricey, but I thought the experience was worth it. One of my faves in sac.
(5)Kurt S.
Went to dinner late on Halloween. Great time to go - Not crowded at all. Fun and interesting food. Always a romantic place to eat. Staff makes good wine selections to go with whatever you all order.
(5)Britta G.
HOLY YUMMNESS PAELLA TO DIE FOR! The food was excellent! Ahi ceviche was the best! The service left a little to be desired, but we had a great time! Sangria was perfect not too sweet! Portions were good, and we left happy and full, try the portabella mushroom appetizer.
(4)Jennifer B.
I've been to Aioli Bodega quite a few times, but our visit last night was especially great! Let's start with the good: My husband and I are both vegan and our server was extremely helpful with choosing dishes! The paired up a wine with our choices that was DELICIOUS. I'm not a serious drinker so I don't know too much about wine but I can say that it was yummy. When our first dish came out, the server literally placed the food onto our plates.... I've NEVER had a server place food on my plate. It was kinda weird and unexpected, but I really enjoyed it! That's service!! (I've also never had that happen before while eating here) I whole heartedly believe that their vegetable paella is the best in town! I will never eat it anywhere else ever again. Ok now for the bad: We asked to be seated in the patio area and they sat us right next to the fans. This wouldn't have been a huge deal if the patio wasn't completely empty. I mean, why not sit us at any of the other 12 open tables that are not next to the fan?! But once we got into conversation, the waterfall covered the hum of the fan and it wasn't a big deal! Overall I'm still giving it 4 stars and I still really enjoyed my dinner
(4)Rahul K.
Tried the Rabbit here. It was awesome. The place is on the pricey side, but good food and ambience. Their service is slow, so don't expect to get done in a jiffy. Take lot of patience and enjoy the eating experience
(5)Sam C.
Delicious! Sangria is not too sweet but had lots of good flavor. Our server was extremely helpful in determining how many tapas our group of five should order. The portions were decent size. Salads were excellent.
(4)Jessica W.
We were lucky enough to sit outside on a beautiful summer evening. The setting was absolutely gorgeous. We had a variety of dishes. Most were great but some better than others. The shrimp dish with the garlic was amazing. I could not get enough of the sauce! The sangria was also very flavorful and not overly sweet. The service was fantastic. Our server was so helpful and recommended the dishes come out in pairs and which ones went best together. I would highly recommend going here for a great meal!
(4)Marnie P.
I ate at Aioli with a group of 10. We got off to a bit of a rocky start, as one of our party was a local and really wanted us to experience the patio but that was not communicated when we booked our reservation. We ended up inside which was warm, homey and comfortable. The owner suggested he order for us and trusting his knowledge of the menu we went with it. He did not disappoint! We had a selection of tapas including a yummy sausage and garbanzo dish, a lovely beet salad, and a fig and hummus crostini. He even worked with the allergies of several of our group. We then had a very good lamb and chicken paella and finished off with a delicious desert duo. The setting is a small neighborhood gathering place with a rustic flair. I look forward to a return visit on my next trip to Sacramento.
(4)Alan T.
Aioli has some pretty great food. I have yet to check out their paella, but most of the tapas I have had at Aioli are good food. The wait staff here doesn't really do it for me, EXCEPT for one guy. He's probably into his mid 40s, white and has a pony tail. He always seems to go the extra mile and a half not only for whatever table I'm at but for all the other tables around me as well. Very cool guy, knowledgable on wines, and will not stick you with a bottle that he himself wouldn't drink. I find that admirable. The patio they have outback is really pretty and makes for a good impression on whoever you might be bringing along. I do not dig the sangria at Aioli, it's boring as hell. Check out Cha Cha Cha in SF for some great Sangria. PS - The real price range per person is probably between 30 and 40 bucks, but that's including a good amount of food. That's NOT including a good bottle of wine though of course.
(3)glen o.
Paella was good. Although, I thought it was a bit pricey. It didn't have a lot of seafood but mostly bellpeppers. It was tasty though. We tried several tapas including the gambas and the cold shark salad. Both were quite tasty. What I liked the most was probably their bread and the hummus. Their sangria was also good and had an uncharacteriscally cinammonny after taste.
(3)Tamanna O.
My husband just moved here from philadelphia and went on a saturday. Both of us are foodies and thought the place was awesome. We had 5 items off of the tapa menu, a bottle of wine and desert and it was $100. We ordered the calmares rellenos toradeor, scallops (dont remember the name) with citrus based suace and saffron rice, ravioli de la moda, short ribs with chimicurri sauce. My favorite were the short ribs. The desert was probably one of the best deserts I have had- dark chocolate truffles in a white chocolate soup- A-MAZING! The staff was all really nice and sweet. We will def be returning here.
(4)michael s.
You used to rock! What happened? This has always been my favorite "date" restaurant. This is where my partner and I have celebrated many special occasions because we felt confident we would have a great experience. Something has changed. I am standing at 3.5 Stars in case we just happened to catch the cooks on an "off" night. The food on this particular evening was so bland - Plain and simple. When I go to Aioli's I expect exceptional. The Tomato soup in particular was a huge disappointment. Not all the salt and pepper (that we had to borrow from the table next to us) could save the soup that night. I hear that this is a good place for a nice lunch. I think maybe I will try that out, and see if I can be swayed to give an old favorite another chance.
(3)Scott M.
Aioli never ceases to amaze myself, family and friends for their European-style service, extremely seasoned professional staff, superb wine list and an always-changing array of Spanish, French, Italian and Med cuisine. Patio seating in the cool weather is peaceful, airy and quaint. It is one of the few Spanish restaurants carrying a wide array of Spanish wine, from Rioja, Crianza and Priorat; every one can be paired with several offerings from the menu.
(5)Eric P.
Very pleased by this place. Outstanding food, outstanding service, outstanding atmosphere. Great place to sit with a nice glass of wine and nibble on lots of different stuff. Not very many places around Sacramento that you can get Spanish food, and this is the best. Great place to relax.
(4)Ann J.
5 stars for food, 2 stars for service, for an average of 3 stars total...I really love the ambience, the wine, the intimacy of the seating, and the tapas. I mean, the food is yummmmy....but I've been there twice now, and both times the service was horrendous. Terrible...almost 1 star. Our waiter forgot 2 dishes that we had ordered, then brought us the check and said "anything else?" and we were like, um, maybe the rest of our dinner? So weird... The host brought us bread TWICE after our table was cleared, thinking we had just sat down. The food took forever, both times. I"m not sure what their deal is. I think they need that nasty Gordon Ramsey from Hell's Kitchen to come in and give them a serious shakedown. I really love eating here. I like the food and it's a fantastic date place. But don't come with no time to spare. Come knowing that you will wait for a table, then wait to order, then wait for your food, then wait for your check...you get the idea. It's a long, European process...
(3)Jessica H.
I love Aioli! We have spent too many nights staying up late here with friends. The lamb meatballs are always tasty, as is pretty much everything else on the menu. Trust Gigi and Jose with your wine. They will make sure you love it. I had never had the lunches before last week, and was pleasantly surprised. The steak sandwich was delightfully filling, and came with a salad. A fantastically inexpensive lunch for a classy place.
(4)Mira M.
My first time there and it was the best paella I've ever had. Good way to try a few things because of the small plate selections. Great selection of spanish wines as well. Forgot who played and sang that night but he was amazing. Cool place to hang with friends and have a wonderful dinner. Service was excellent!! We all were pampered!!
(4)Review B.
In spite of negative yelp comments from other diners about the food, my party was quite happy with what we ate, which included various tapas, entrees, and desserts. The downsides of our experience were: 1. there are too many tables in in this cramped restaurant; 2. this was possibly the loudest restaurant that I have ever eaten in. The guitar player/singer was near our table, but we could barely hear him over the background noise.
(3)Debbie F.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. Last time we sat in the patio and were serenaded by spanish guitar music while we drank sangria and smelled orange blossoms from a nearby tree. Every dish we tried was delicious. Can't wait to go again.
(5)jason h.
I don't know what I was thinking when I took a large group of Spanish visitors to this place one New Year's Eve. I'd already had their gummy paella, mushy mussels and overpriced, unauthentic tapas. But it was one of the only places we could get seated that night, so in we went. I don't remember what the Spaniards had, only that they were less than unimpressed. I had a rabbit dish that was close to cold and salted with in an inch of its former life. The highlight was the helium balloons hovering at the ceiling -- inhaling helium and singing the munchkin song was the most fun I've had on a NYE in years. So I have to hand them that...
(2)Suzi W.
The owner (I assume) is incredibly welcoming and friendly! The food was great, but I think perhaps a little pricey. That said, it makes for a lovely night out with family or friends over a leisurely dinner. Highly recommend!
(4)Huyen teresa N.
I came here for dinner with a group of people on a Saturday night. The wait was not cool BUT the food was delicious. I'm torn between giving them a 3 or a 4. I would give them a 3.5 to be honest because we had reservation and still had a long wait. this place is not big and this was all of our first time dining here so we didn't know what to expect. Since we had a large group, we had to wait for the big table and due to the delay of the people not leaving after they pay, we had to wait and wait so yes it was frustrating. Now, once we were seated, it was a different experience. The service we had after being seated was Excellent. The staff was friendly and funny. The food was great. We all ordered something different and shared them. They have Live music which I like. I would definitely come back again but I think I will try to come back on one the the weekdays because I don't like dealing with the crowds.
(3)Emanuel W.
Had a meeting over lunch with 9 company representatives, and all of them *loved* the place. Affordable, very good cuisine.
(5)Allen Y.
I love their unique and very flavorful food. The food is seemingly good for you too. The wine is great and so is the atmostphere. The waiters are informative and nice, however, they don't pay that much attention to you because they disappear. I enjoyed my two experiences here. The best was sitting in the back with an appetizer and a glass of wine with a friend. Good times.
(4)Rachel S.
You know that feeling when you leave a restaurant and know you'll crave the food and dread the service? Luckily, in the realm of solving such a difficult dilemna ;), i don't live in Sacramento, so as a cup half-full sorta gal, I'll hold the flavors in high regard and not foresee further opportunities to be ignored, an attempt at major over-charging (doubled the bill when they ran it on my card and i had to ask them to void it..), or being so rushed by the server that I missed ordering a cocktail. Alas.. distance makes the heart grow fonder right.. so in that vain, i declare some key notes of the eating: -every sauce unique and flavorful: on the roasted veggies the olive tapanade was delicious, the dipping sauce for bread spot-on and the side with the roasted asparagus tangy-zingy but grounded in a nice olive oil. -brochetes of meat were decent, a little greasy to my taste but the quality high.. the seasoning was nice and simple to let the natural flavaor thru. -when he got around to it, the wine we enjoyed was smart and i thought the price point was good. -atmosphere was pleasing; intimate, jovial (this is once you are sat down.. which in our case, even though tables were free took about three trips around the moon..) Sooo,, the synopsis, good food i'll not be gunning for in a hypoglycemic episode ;) And if my credit card statement shows dissent over the over-charging, well, my optomistic tone could turn south like a galewind...
(3)Rolan S.
For a place that is pretty smug, one would think that the food would be okay food. No. Most of the tapas that we ordered were terrible.... The food had little to no flavor, and the portions are extremely small even if you order a larger group size. They couldn't even get a salad right.
(1)Stacy F.
I love love love Aioli. Aioli has never let me down. From the first tapa to dessert, every bite is savory, fresh, and delicious. Some of my favorites are the sangria, gambas, mushroom ravioli, vegetarian paella, and the fruit cake dessert that is drizzled with booze. They have a nice small bar with about 6 seats or so that is fun to drink wine at alone or with a friend. The inside is pretty darn romantic for a date and the outside seating is cool too when eating with friends. All of the staff is friendly and accommodating and will make some good recommendations.
(5)Taylor K.
While I wouldn't say that eating here was a bad experience, it could have definitely been better. It has a great location and ambiance, and the staff were professional and friendly. I enjoyed the food and generally found it worth the price. However, my particular experience was far from perfect. I was there with a large group, so I guess I shouldn't have expected service perfection, but I was quite surprised when my meal came out ten minutes after the rest of the party. It was quite awkward eating alone after everyone else had finished. To make matters worse, the waiter didn't seem to think this was a problem or offer to knock a drink off the bill to make up for it. My best advice for avoiding such a situation is for your party to stick to tapas or entrees, but not to mix. Otherwise, it has good food I'd recommend going.
(3)Caitlin B.
Delish! And the wonderful wait staff suggested fab wine and got us out in time for our Music Circus show. Bravo!!! Also our 11 year old says it's his new favorite place!
(5)Josh R.
Wow, why have I not been here before. This is one of those places we walk or drive by and say "I hear great things about that place. We should go" and then promptly forget about it. We finally got there last night and it'll be a frequent visit from now on. The 3 of us split a bottle of Tempranillo and 6 or 7 tapas. From what I remember we had the rabbit, shrimp on grilled avocado with a pico tapenade thing (which was amazing), chorizo on white beans, the ground beef pastries, tortillas tres colores, dayboat scallops (which were again amazing) and then on to dessert. We each got a selection to share. I got the borracho (which means "drunk") and it lived up to its name. Maybe a touch too much for me, but the fruit and cream with the moist cake was very good. The chocolate truffles in a white chocolate soup was my favorite and was a very nice presentation. And the thing I didn't think I would like all that much, the almond cake with orange, was fantastic. It was such a nice evening, the service was impeccable, the window seating to people watch was fun, and the ambience was very comfortable. A great dining experience.
(4)Josh A.
If I hadn't lived in Spain I would like this place more. Does the paella taste like paella? Yes, it does. Albeit the paella is lighter on saffron and heavier on oil than I care for. I was left wondering why isn't there cochinillo or empanadas gallegas or countless other more traditional dishes.
(3)Carl B.
great sangria. the food was only okay and pretty expensive. the service was good, but there were only a few tables being served. the chairs were uncomfortable which made it hard to enjoy sitting there for any length of time.
(4)dale d.
Great food, great choices in wine, great service and a fabulous environment. Many big names in Sacramento frequent Aioli.
(5)John W.
In my initial walks around my new neighborhood (I moved from GA in August 2004), two places caught my eye--Aioli and Zocalo. The latter opened very soon after I moved in and, as you might imagine, it was a gaudy, baroque spectacle, replete with press coverage, hollering mariachis, and (of course) dozens of sweaty singles. By contrast, there was very little activity around Aioli: its exterior was nice but unprepossessing, and its fare was appealing but a bit obscure. Being (ahem) a man of the people---and new to the area---I went to have a mojito and gawk at the circus. In consequence, I did not make it to Aioli for nearly 4 months. What the initial trip suggested, subsequent visits confirmed: this is a very good restaurant, but it's difficult to pin down exactly why. The cuisine is clever but not innovative---assorted seafood tapa and paella are the main attractions---and the interior is pleasant but not memorable. Why, then, do I like it so much? Aioli appeals to me because it has what I consider an authentic or natural sophistication---not the flashy affectedness of Masons or the continental pomp of Firehouse, but a genuine and quiet confidence in its concept and its cuisine. It is the southern gentleman of Sacramento restaurants: it esteems those who recognize its virtue, and shows its respect for its patrons by refusing to gratify their baser appetites. It is for the people without being of the people. It bows but does not stoop. It is courteous and obliging, but never saccharine or cloying. It has a leisured and effortless grace that touches everything around it and everyone in it: the service is polite but not fawning, the food is interesting but not whimsical, and the decor is elegant but a bit shabby. It has that vague thing that we somewhat graspingly call culture. I'll spare everyone specific recommendations, as essentially everything on the menu is good. I will mention two things, though: 1) Aioli has a wonderful wine selection, both by the glass and by the bottle, and 2) after everything has been considered, Aioli is surprisingly affordable. It can get away from you if you let it, but exercising a little restraint won't prevent you having an excellent meal here.
(4)Kevin V.
Great atmosphere. Excellent taste in wine. Awesome duck platter (best in town on my scale). Don't go there if you're in a hurry to eat. It is a relaxed atmosphere where the food comes when it comes, allowing its patrons time to enjoy the wine and classical guitar. For all those who complained about the service, GET TO KNOW YOUR WAITER! This is a very European style restaurant. The more open you are to the waiter, the better your service.
(4)David S.
Once upon a time There was a small restaurant on a corner that tried to look like the big restaurants so it figured it would have pricey food to try to appeal the bourgeoisie but it was still a small restaurant with crappy service so it couldn't bring so many people then it figured it could call his friends to help and add a whole bunch of fake reviews but small restaurant on the corner was not very smart because all the people could realize that blocks of 3 fake comments in a row were showing up and small restaurant couldn't figure out that food is not made of fake comments and that people were not really into swallowing them
(1)Bannon R.
I don't know who these people are fooling. I am not another restaurant trying to make you guys look bad like your many "fans" that write "5 star reviews" proclaim. Why are these 5 star reviewers so informative and clear on the ingredients of each dish and they know the names of the managers and servers when I only made contact with my server for a total of 30 seconds, if that. And why do they sound all the same and threaten the other no star reviewers with slander? Oh wait, I think we all are wearing our BS filtering goggles and don't fall for these fake reviews. I just really hope that someone at yelp would take a look at these reviews and see that the managers (obviously them) at Aioli (oops, I mean Aioli Bodega Espanola located at 1800 L Street) are skewing the ratings system. How about instead of writing fake reviews, take this as an opportunity to actually fix what is wrong with the restaurant? I know, I know, strange. But hear me out. Fire your wait staff. You might fool some idiots to come into your restaurant with the astonishing amount of informative 5 star reviews but you will not get any repeat customers. Once they are there, they will be given their free pair of BS filtering goggles and will immediately see what is actually going on. The only repeat customers are the ones that Yelp is getting from people like me that are so overwhelmed with hatred that a place would treat the very people that keep the restaurant a float the way that they do and are forced to warn anyone who hasn't gone there to completely avoid the place like the plague. It feels like these 5 star reviews are just cute little stickers and bright colored paint on a prison in North Korea. No matter how much you try and cover what is underneath, it doesn't solve the actual problem. By the way, I enjoyed the calamari. That is all.
(1)Summer D.
This restaurant is one of my absolute favorites. As soon as you walk through the door you are greeted by one of the owner's, usually with a "Hello Bella". I recommend sitting outside if it is a nice evening; my preference is near the fountain as it drowns out the surrounding noise. I always stick with ordering tapas rather than a main dish, then you get to try a little bit of everything. I highly recommend the skirt steak, rabbit and chicken tapas ... and the lamb. Actually, I do not believe there is an item I wouldn't recommend at least trying. 5 stars!
(5)Jessica S.
Tapa the World's is better. The End.
(2)Michael R.
Took a first date here for dinner not long ago and it was a good experience. I would say the menu is for more of the creative eater being that many of the better offerings are outside of the norm. Massive wine list and a solid staff of seasoned professionals.
(4)Karen B.
In an effort to cheer me up, the BF proposed we have a "date" here last Monday. I was giddy with excitement, knowing of his reluctance to go there because I have a tendency to call Aioli "that place where I yelled at you." The place holds additional novelty for me because BF always complains that it's "pricey" and is "more of a date place." Though I love the patio, it might have been a blessing in disguise that the waiter refused to seat us there. We settled for a window seat, and the interior started started to emit a warm glow as the sun sank past Midtown's trees. It's much louder when you sit inside - I don't know if it's the Christmas lights, the calming fountain trickling away, or the folksy art strewn about that keeps people quiet outside, but there were times I could hardly hear BF the other night if we tried to use our "inside voices." Regardless, it's nice to see the whole "it's more of a date place" argument quashed. We started the evening with olives, or aceitunas, which I deem mandatory with any tapas meal (unless it's at a Cuban place a la Haight's Cha Cha Cha.) Our other tapa fria was calamari stuffed with pork and what seemed like ground squid tentacle in a "tangy red sauce" (which I realize doesn't sound appetizing, but it's pretty good.) As our tapas calientes we continued a seafood theme with baked salmon with capers in some sort of beurre blanc and mussels in another creamy white wine-y goodness. The two sauces also served as fun dips for the bottomless and conveniently small-cut bread. The last tapa to arrive was mushroom ravioli, made of a pasta that pleasantly glides over your tongue and invites you to taste what's inside (OK, I admit, that just sounds weird - but trust me, it's delicous and completely non-sexual.) Dessert was a difficult choice for us based on menu descriptions. Since it was Cheer Karen Up Day I got to make the ultimate decision. After intense discussion and a round of Look Away and Point to the Menu, we decided on the "orange flavored cream topped with a caramelized orange" which turned out to be orange creme brulee. The light, sweet creaminess of the custard made up for the slight bitterness of the orange-infused "shell." BFand I walked away not only full, but pleasantly and not sluggishly so. The BF also concluded that the prices are actually rather comparable to Tapa the World and that Aioli is "way better." Joy of joys! Let celebrations commence throughout the land!
(5)D K.
What a kerfuffle! Fake reviews, extreme hatred.... this site is hilarious. I've been going to Aioli for many years and have seen a gradual decline in both food and service from year to year. The food isn't terrible and I've never been made to feel bad there, but it's not the special place it used to be. For the prices, the food should stand out as it used to. Otherwise, many people will continue to choose Tapas, which is not any better, but far less pricey.
(2)D R.
We and our guests from NYC loved everything about this place - and they've dined in Spain. The food (paella & tapas) was great, service friendly & funny, live music was nice, the vibe and atmosphere really good. Much better than the other tapas place we'd tried in Midtown. We're still relatively new to Sacramento, but this was our best meal out in this area so far. The only downside was the sangria, it wasn't really good at all. But there's always wine.
(5)Joe S.
I was really disappointed with Aioli's on my first (and probably only try). I cam all the way from Ripon to check it out, had high hopes, but it didn't come through for me. The place is nice, but loud. It is cramped in there too. Outside is probably the best place to sit, but it was a little cool so we opted for inside. I had the paella Valencia and it was just average. It didn't make me want to come back. the rice was a little burnt, and like every other dish i tried it lacked flavor. I went with 3 other people who ordered several different tapas and they were all bland. Nothing popped in my mouth and made me excited. the best tapa I tried was the marinated shark, but it was too acidic. It was a little on the sour side, too much lemon i think. Service was pretty good, guy was new but did his best.
(2)J P.
Service 2 stars at best. Food 4 stars at least. Long story short - I have eaten at Aioli 2 times, both times I really enjoyed the food. But the service is a different story. FOOD This last time I got many different tapas - a mushroom tapa (not the portobello), a ravioli tapa, salmon, and the "pastry triangles" filled with beef. All of the food tasted good, but the service was lacking. SERVICE They sat us next to the water fountain, which throughout the course of the night got an arm of my jacket pretty decently wet, despite moving the table about 6 inches away from its original position. Why they have a table that close is beyond me... I guess for romance, but it isn't that romantic when you are constantly getting misted by water and fairly cold out. Additionally, our server came by only about 3 times throughout the night... which is normally fine by me, but not when they forget to bring out one of the plates. By the time he came around again and we clarified that we needed the last dish (which he didn't remember us ordering) we had already practically filled up on bread. Ultimately, our server wasn't flat out rude, but wasn't particularly lovable or helpful in any way, and something about the experience rubbed me the wrong way. I wouldn't NOT ever go there again, but it will probably never be my suggestion again, when there are more and more memorable pleasant places to eat (Formoli's, Arpeggio) popping up all the time It seems as if this place is definitely hit or miss as far as service goes, which is what most people seem to complain about. But for the price, I'd say I expect more consistency. If you get good service, you will love it, if not, you'll be disappointed.
(3)Ken J.
I stumbled across this place. What a find! I wasn't too hungry so we just had tapas. The maitre'd recommended the seared ahi-- it was a little over cooked. The pork was a little sweet. The roasted vegetables could have been a little more charred. Picky, picky, picky. I will go there again. The overall experience was very positive. The Spanish guitar on a Thursday night added the right amount of atmosphere. The portions were nice. The service was excellent and the ambiance was cozy. Really liked the bread cubes, though the Aioli dip was too bland. Next time I hope I go in better weather where I can sit on their small but inviting patio... reminds me of many restaurants in Spain.
(4)Elif F.
Ok Update. Since when is Drinking on the Job ok? Sorry Aioli. I might not return. I have had good Paella from you before. The key and main ingredient to it is Saffron and Tomatoes, what I got was white rice and over cooked Chicken chunks. I went here with friends hoping to showcase what I thought would be a good farewell dinner to several friends who are moving back to their home countries. No. Not the case, they were met with rude attitude, horrible service, and the worse food I have tasted in a long time. I had to arrive later then the others, and saw their long faces, and immediately wondered why. The servers didn't see me at first and I saw how they treated my friends. They basically barked at them and threw the food on the table and left. The servers know me as a regular and while they hugged me and waved when I entered I was also given a very cold shoulder. I was told later by my friends that they came in the wrong door and were thrown out and told to go to the other door or they will not be served. We witnessed the servers drinking openly with the patrons; god only knows what the cook staff was doing as all the food was IN EDIBLE. We did not eat most of our entrees and wanted bread to fill up with, which I guess is now a crime. Didn't stay to suffer through desert. We spent well over $100 on food and wine. What was the ultimate clincher was while we were left to fend for ourselves the entire evening, even having to walk to the bar to get water in our glasses, as soon as the bill came and we laid it down on the table the server grabbed it up. I am so disgusted with this experience I am willing to give up the wonderful patio and wine. I can do better at home and I can get take out from TAPA the WORLD and eat it at home. Sorry you lost several loyal customers after this experience.
(1)Nick L.
Food was good but waitress was horrible. No personality and gruff. I'd get rid of her yesterday!!! Food was 4 star but service took it down. Had to ask for everything!
(3)patrick g.
had lunch here today. Good value, good service, good food.
(4)Amanda H.
The waitstaff is a little quirky and you should expect to wait a while for your food. With that said, it's still one of my favorite places to eat downtown. I've always enjoyed the atmosphere (especially when the Spanish guitarist is playing) and the food has always been good. I only go for tapas and my favorites are: marmitako de attun, ravioli de la moda and pollo andaluz.
(4)Melissa R.
I have to say that I was very impressed. It is a little expensive, but the quality of service and the delicious food makes it well worth the price. This restaurant is great for an anniversary or another romantic evening.
(5)Jen K.
Six of us came here for a Thursday night dinner and had a sub-par experience. The decor is nice, classy, with white linen tablecloth. We were seated promptly but the server (old white guy, looked like he could be the owner?) was so strange. When we asked for red wine recommendations, he bluntly asked, "how much ya wanna spend?" and when we gave him price range, then he walked away and came back with a bottle. Granted, it was a nice bottle of Malbec which I loved, but it was so weird that he didn't ask what kind of reds we like. He was all business, didn't really talk to us but was pushy and blunt, which I didn't appreciate. The food was okay, some better than others. Portabella and goat cheese, and shrimp in white wine garlic sauce were delicious, but the rest were blah. Fig and goat cheese bruchetta was alright, lamb screwers were kinda fatty, spicy potato cubes were overcooked. The worst was the overcooked, not that fresh tasting mussels in unimpressive sauce. Gross! I don't know if I'd want to give this place another try.
(2)P T.
Quite a find for us while visiting Sacramento, it was so good that after having lunch there we came back for dinner! The food was excellent, the service attentive yet not annoying, the decor is quite nice. If you bring a date, be prepared to shout over the background noise unless you come at lunch time. The grilled lamb skewers is to die for, comes with this amazing red sauce I could not stop slurping with pieces of crusty bread. Our other favorite is the clams in saffron broth. My gosh that broth is so good that after the clams were gone I was prepared to just spoon it like soup so not a drop is wasted. Salpicon of oh so tender octopus came with just the right note of acidity, garlic and parsley. My wife had the seafood zarzuela which is their version of bouillabaisse, another memorable dish with every piece of shrimp, salmon, mussel cooked to perfection in thick tasty broth. This is so hard to pull off consistently. Even a simple dish like grilled vegetables was just delicious. We managed to have room for dessert. The El borracho (The drunk) was this concoction of cake soaked in sherry layered with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries drizzled in raspberry coulis. They used farmer's market quality fruit, I am so impressed! These guys care, they clearly have passion, and I wished I did not live 3 hours away. Even my wife was impressed and she does not impress easily.
(5)Lauren D.
The food and atmosphere are great, but the service couldn't be any slower. My friend and I ordered some tapas, wine and split some paella, which were all great, but the restaurant was so tight and there were some many waiters, it puzzled us why it took so long to a least be greeted by our server. I would go there again, but expect it to take a few hours.
(3)Ross p.
Take two hundred bucks and start with the sangria.Sit at the bar on the left end.Let it happen.
(4)Charles H.
My girlfriend and I happened to be in Sacramento last weekend for a b-day party and to enjoy the wonderful 106 degree weather. Bear in mind I'm from San Mateo... The saving grace for the whole trip was our dinner @ Aioli. We made reservations for 7:30 and it was very refreshing to arrive @ 7:25 on a Saturday night and immediately be seated. Our waiter even came over and asked if we'd like to move to a table near the window, since we had made reservations and gave our middle table to another 2 party that didn't. Very nice. The ambiance of the place was very nice. Even though it was crowded, it was not loud and the waiters and other staff were very attentive with drinks, knowing when to bring out dishes (important at a tapas place and a two-top table), etc. We ordered some tapas (potatas bravas, mussels in a sherry cream sauce, and skirt steak) to start and then the Paella Valenciana, which is for two. It was a lot of food, but what can I say... I love to have midnight left overs. The food was all cooked very well and the green lip mussels both in the tapas and paella were spectacular. Easiest the freshest looking muscles I've had in a very long time. They also have a very large selection of wines from Spain, Argentina/Chile, and California. I did have three small knocks on the place, however. 1) You need to muddle mint in a mojito, period. Whole mint leaves just don't cut it. If you don't muddle your mint, you shouldn't serve a mojito. 2) In a place with tapas/small plates, I think there should be at least 2 to 3 wines by the glass per varietal. What works with mussels probably isn't going to work with a lamb tapas. Please have more wines by the glass. 3) I was slightly embarrassed walking up to the place and not being able to figure out which door to enter. My GF is smarter than I am, so I just followed her. In sitting next to the window/second door, everyone that came to the restaurant had the same 'which door?' issue. Maybe make the actual entrance more noticeable. A couple of parties even waited just inside the side door until a host told them where to go. Having said this, I'd totally go back and am looking forward to my next trip to Sacto..... hopefully this fall when the weather is better.
(4)Michael T.
Went here tonight and it was great. I had 3 tapas and a soup. All were delicious. My only complaint was the soup came before the tapas. I mean really? I could have made a big deal about it , but really I am not going to be that picky. I will definately be back, but early reservations are suggested, as people seem to talk and not eat. Not a high turnover on seats here
(4)b j.
food 3 service 4.5 prices 3 beer list 1 ...very basic ambience 3.5 (inside) went here a couple weeks back, don't remember too many details, but i know we started with one of the shrimp dishes which was very flavorful. The mussels dish we had was not, my wife loves mussels and only had one out of the dish. The salmon was well cooked and well seasoned, but came with a very heavy potato-cheesy side... didn't complement well. I had chicken, but don't remember much about it other than I was satisfied, not blown away, but satisfied. The And the wife's margarita was up to her standard.. always makes for a good night...
(3)Cellar Rat D.
I visit Ailoli for their wine and tapas...both of which are really good. For wines, I recommend the Riojas or a Tempranillo.
(5)cheng a.
My over all experience at Aioli Bodega Espanola would be tepid at best, the food was bland tasting. We ordered the sangria pitcher and I've drank alot of sangria before and Aioli's has a mint flavor that reminds me of a MOJITO cocktail. I for one when ordering a sangria would like my sangria to taste like a sangria minus the mint. I'm a little anal about that but once you put mint in a sangria it just ruins the drink. Anyways the food we ordered didn't have any flavor and or personality to what you would expect a spanish tapa would be. I do admit that the decor and the outdoor patio was far out breathtakingly beautifully. Sitting outside hearing the guitar and the fountain was a nice experience especially when your out on a date with your husband and or wife significant other. As for the dessert, I wouldn't say its dessert, my flan and my husbands sherry soaked sponge cake turned out to be kind of bitter tasting. My flan didn't taste like a flan and my the sherry flavored overwhelmed the sponge caked. To conclude my experience with Aioli versus Tapa the world i would sooner go back to tapa the world, because the ambiance there is way cooler and the food is more bang for your bucks than Aioli.
(2)Shannon G.
Lively, fun mid-town Spanish/tapas restaurant. Server had a great personality - good match for our group. Service was excellent! Food was delicious! Wide variety of dishes in all categories - appetizers, salads, entrees, tapas, and desserts. Wine was excellent! We had a terrific evening and all vowed to return soon to enjoy dinner in the beautiful outdoor garden.
(5)Andrew C.
Pros: Location, Cleanliness, Service Cons: over-priced, watery/weak sangira, B- food What is it that people say is the most important thing for a restaurant? Oh yeah - location, Location, LOCATION! This place is at a key spot in midtown and that lets it to be both over-priced and mediocre. I decided to take my parents here b/c I don't know Sac very well yet and the restaurant is very close to where I live. We opted to order mainly what the waiter recommended, which included a Mediterranean salad (since when is one of the best dishes in a pricey restaurant the salad???), two tapas dishes (short ribs and shrimp) and the paella. We also ordered some sangria. To start off, the sangria is surprisingly weak and watery. I badly wanted to go back in the kitchen and see if I could do better (bad sign). Then the salad came out and wowed us with how salty it was (and again I wondered if I could do better), then the shrimp and beef came out but didn't wow anyone at the table (double-penalty for having the shell the shrimp, personal pet peeve of mine). The paella was then left as the only hope of the evening and while it wasn't bad, I would say the overwhelming thought in my mind was "bland." We even ordered their dessert and it was incredible how alcohol-soaked their wine-flavored sponge cake was (my mom couldn't even eat it). Now this restaurant isn't the worst I've been to, but it is far from even the middle of the pack. If our bill was $60 or less I probably wouldn't be so critical but it was well north of $80 so, as they say...you reap what you sow. That being said, if you suddenly lose the ability the drive far from midtown, don't mind overpaying for food, and love people-watching at 18th and L...then by all means, eat here!
(2)shane w.
I went to Aioli last night with a lady friend. I had been there about 10 years ago and remembered it as being a great place. Needless to say, I came into the restaurant with a very positive attitude. We were warmly welcomed at the door and immediately served drinks. The menus had some great selections and we were excited about the food. This is when trouble came into paradise. First we got the tuna tartar. I was expecting fresh raw tuna that was finely chopped. Instead I got grey chunks of slightly cooked tuna that I really didn't want to eat. the taste wasn't horrible, but the presentation was. I would be embarrassed to serve this at a dinner party. Next, we got the salad. I had asked the waiter to put the feta on the side because I HATE feta. So I see the waiter walking toward us with the salad, and then turning around when he realized that the cheese was not put on the side, but well mixed into the salad. Instead of making a new salad without the cheese, they tried to take most of the cheese off the salad and put it on the side. Needless to say, there was still plenty of feta on the salad, and I found it inedible. After that, we got sauteed shrimp. The first thing I noticed was that they seemed cold. But when I bit into one it was completely raw on the inside! It was a disgusting clear chewy mess! Terrible. Finally, we had sardines that were lackluster at best, but at least they came out cooked and a bit warm. I actually complained about the shrimp and the salad to the waiter. I cannot recall the last time I complained or tried to send something back, but it has been years. I am really just not that type of person. I am easy to please and will make do with most things. But this was simply unacceptable. The waiter offered to take the shrimp off the bill, but was not willing to do anything about the salad. when all was said and done, I had spent $52 plus tip for a terrible meal and left the place still hungry. It was the worst experience I have had in years and I go out all the time. The only saving grace was the attentive waiter. But I will never go back again.
(1)Munchie S.
Overall a good experience. The decor inside is cute - good for dates, dinner with the girls, dinner with parents. This is not a place to bring kids. Decent wine list. All of our dishes were seafood based so thats about all I can comment on. Everything was good but it all tasted the same...(?) Service was good, the waiter had an interesting sense of humor and was a bit too flirty but still, overall it was ok. I'd come back here again, but not when I'm tight on budget...
(4)Annie A.
The food at Ailoi is very tasty, but I would have to say that it is all about the ambiance there. Its a great first-date venue. If the weather is nice ask to sit in the patio where you can enjoy their fountain and lush greenery. Plenty of wine to choose from, great bites, and if your date sucks, you can even get a live guitarist as entertainment. Aioli is known for their tapas and paella, but the steamed mussles are a must. They are cooked perfectly in a butter, wine, garlic sauce. Just make sure you ask for extra bread so mop it all up. Hmm... maybe this isn't the dish you order on your first date. In any case, the deserts are also delicious... try the orange creme brulee.
(4)Cate E.
This is one of those restaurants to go to WITHOUT the kids! Located in downtown Sacramento, Aioli is one of those wonderful little restaurants where the tables are close and the food is very good. But it's just not a place for kids! The indoor tables look nice, but I have yet to sit there since my friend enjoys the courtyard. Quite honestly, so do I! It's a bit more quiet out there, and with the fountain going in the background, it makes for a very relaxing meal. Just don't sit too close to the fountain. We did one night and my skirt ended up getting soaked! I didn't mind since it was in the 90's that day and the skirt was wash and wear! The sangria is great, best bet is to order a pitcher and share it with a friend or two. I alwasy order the small plates (tapas) instead of an entree, but friends I have dined with enjoyed the entrees (Pollo El Morro: grilled chicken in a paprika sauce with sauteed spinach). The Charcuterie y Queso Manchego (cured meats, sausges and cheeses) and Fadaba (white bean soup with swiss chard) off the Sopas y Ensaladas menu are a great starter. Or opt for the Judias Blancas Con Atun Fresco (white bean salad with mint, kalamata olives and onions) from the Tapas Frio Menu if you want something cold. From the Tapas Calientes choose the Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp in a garlic wine sauce) and ask for extra bread to dip in the garlic sauce. A meal in itself. Or Bourek De Casa (little triangles filled with meat or cheese). Delicious! These are but a few options. The only caution I can make is that if you are on a budget, watch out! Those little plates can add up fast. But hey, if you are at Aioli, it's a date night or a night out with friends. The sky is the limit!
(5)Nicole E.
The food was pretty good, not great, but better than good. The sangria was fantastic though, my boyfriend and I both loved it. I wish we got a pitcher instead of a glass for each. The only thing I didn't care for was the lighting. I understand that they might be going for a romantic mood but it was too dark for my lighting.
(4)Michelle I.
After all the years, hubby and finally dined here Saturday night... and not surprisingly, (due to the heat) had the luscious patio all to ourselves! Started off with glasses of Sangria,,,the perfect thirst quencher, while perusing the vast menu.... being new, we asked our charming server (whose name i did not catch, but who was abundantly charming and helpful!) for some tips on ordering... we started off with the portobello in red wine with feta cheese, which was delicious... the octopus in a yummy sauce with sweet green peas (and mopped up the sauce with the bread!!) and also the chorizo served on a bed of sauteed chard and white beans.... all very good... still feeling a bit hungry, we had the cold calamari with potatoes ,,, a nice refreshing finish to the entire meal... will definitely return to try more of the wonderfully prepared and seasoned food and the glorious ambience of the charming, hidden gem of thei patio!
(4)Karen Y.
my husband gave me a break from commuting back to la this weekend, i figured i better make sure i take him out on a nice date. since we liked the one in davis so much, i decided to give this place a chance. the food was everything we expected, though i thought the stuffed calamari was better at aioli in davis. the lamb sausages and bourek de casa stuffed with beef was excellent. and again, i was mopping up the sauce that came with the albondigas. the service here was excellent and attentive. the waiter set us up with a wonderful 2003 rioja. bread was replaced without even asking. the atmosphere was perfect for us to re-connect from the week with the soft live music and candle-lit tables. we ended our meal with a glass of port and the el borracho cake. the port was excellent but i cannot say i was a fan of the cake, there was too much liquor which over-powered everything. i immediately wished i ordered something else. over-all it was a nice date and we left satisfied enough to say we would come back when in sacramento again.
(4)Paulie E.
Being Spanish I always keep in mind that I will not be a fair judge in an establishment that tries to emulate the cooking I grew up with. Having said that, I like the food they serve here. While not very authentic, with an Algerian owner and heavy French influence, the meals are fairly consistent and good. Their atmosphere is nice, maybe a little loud when crowded, but I appreciate the live music on the weekends and the warm decor. My favorite dish here is their Chocolate Soup dessert, it is amazing. The owner roams around, and depending on his mood can be a great host and buy you a glass of wine, or be a grumpy loud man.
(4)Cameron Y.
I thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant. Ate there on a Friday evening on the patio. Made a reservation for 7:30 for the patio, but was whisked out there without even checking in. Our server was distinguished without being stuffy (great sense of humor), and made some fantastic recommendations, several of which we went with. The salad was beautifully presented, fresh-tasting, and the lemon juice/Spanish olive oil dressing was just right. For the main course, we enjoyed several tapas, all of which were delicious. My only complaint would be that the table at which we were seated was impeded upon by a large plant, which hung over my date. If I had sat in the seat, it would have been touching my head. Other than that, highly recommended.
(4)Dumuzi N.
We love food from Spain. I thought tapas here were very average. Seafood in Paella was overcooked. But, we still keeping coming back to this restaurant as it reminds us of all the wonderful time we had in Spain.
(3)Brak S.
After enjoying the good wine and poor service at the Grand Wine Bar, we walked down the street to Aioli's to enjoy further poor service. Apparently a family business trade mark. I go back to this restaurant every couple of years hoping it will be better and always walking away saying "eh" or "ok." The dishes seem a bit tired. Nothing really stands out as particularly delicious or amazing. Perhaps I was spoiled by first being introduced to tapas in SF.
(2)sofia R.
i love this place. me and my wife go to this place every time we want to have a nice dinner date.
(5)Ms. E E.
Me and my sister had lunch here - WOW!!!!! The service was incredible and the food even better. There is a gentlemen here who has worked here for years and is just so accomodating and nice. The food was exceptional - it is tapas, but everything is up a notch from other tapas I've experienced. Layered flavors - I will definetaly put this on my list of places to frequent. People that complain about service - go during the day and you will be very well taken care of.
(5)Julie S.
I will NEVER go to this place again. After spending almost $300 between four people in an hour and half we were asked to leave because they had another party waiting. We were in such shock when they asked us to leave we didn't say a word. Just shocked. If they needed the table the least they could have done was to invite us over to the bar for a complimentary glass of wine or coffee. We could have dealt with that but being asked to leave is inexcusable. To top it off the food is just mediocre.
(1)Marilyn S.
I was in town from Virginia visiting my sister over the weekend and we decided to check out Aioli on a whim. I must say, this was the worst dining experience that I have experienced in awhile. The cashier at the airport Burger King on my trip back was more gracious than the server that waited on us. The food was mediocre, which may have saved my opinion of the restaurant after the treatment we received from the server, but no such luck on that one! I travel to Sacramento frequently to visit family and I am never patronizing this restaurant again and I would suggest you to save your money and go some place else!!
(1)Melissa W.
I live in the Bay area and have taken my family to small plate restaurants often enough that we all know how to make a meal of them, the waiter was very friendly but wasn't quite convinced we knew what we were doing until we ordered, at first he tried to talk us into some large plate items and that just confused things. But it all got worked out, we had plenty of food, a good balance of hot and cold, veggie and protein, mild and spicy. I agree with the mentions of over-priced, under-proportioned, but it isn't too bad. A lot of the cold tapas come drizzled in yummy olive oil, so I can't complain!
(4)stacy k.
I thought the tapa's were average tasting. Nothing spectacular really caught my eye nor my pallette. It is a good place to go to for a quick lunch with a friend and to enjoy the outdoors on a nice sunny day. But, if you are looking for some really, really, really packed with flavor tapa's, this place isn't the one.
(3)Hoa Q.
The food is pretty expensive. The appetizer isn't really enough to replace a meal. We had the salmon alcaparado (tapa) and cazuela de conejo "Riojena" (especialidad). The food was decent but it left us with something to be desired. If you must eat here, I recommend the Davis location, which is more laid-back and has better service.
(3)D A.
I thought after reading the negative reviews that i would post mine. We have been going to Aiolis for years and have gotten nothing but Great service and the Food has always been good. I feel if someone doesn't like the service or food then it is there right to post a bad review., But that doesn't mean those of us who Love this place are writing Fake reviews.. Just move on and Enjoy all the Different Places Sacramento has to offer...
(5)Philip C.
Once I stepped foot in this place, I was struck by its coziness. The dining area was inviting, with warm walls and windows that let the light through to the tables. The art on the walls is tastefully unobtrusive, allowing you to get some sense from the paintings, but not pulling your attention away from your friends and meal. The lunch menu is different from the dinner menu, and you'll be pleasantly suprised by its very affordable lunch menu. The meal itself is a treat, especially at lunch, where the prices are very friendly, considering the quality of the food. I'd recommend the chicken salad or the vegan salad, but most everything there is very tasty. The textures and flavors blend well, not obnoxiously loud, and the portions are just right. Dinner is a different experience altogether. While the price is not modest, (especially if you get wine) this ranks as one of the finest meals I've ever had. The salmon was incredible, complimented by a wine that our waiter most expertly offered. What can I say? I spent a good portion of the meal trying to find the chef, so I could compliment him and thank him for my meal! Service? What does meeting the owner of the restaurant and drinking a bottle of wine with him count for? While this is probably not going to be everyone's experience, it accents the emphasis he has on getting things right. The servers were quick and polite, and very knowledgeable. The only negative was that they were difficult to get, especially at dinner. Be sure to bring your friends, this is a good place to be.
(4)john d.
Hands down the best tapas in town, and one of my favorite restaurants of all time. I love eating in the garden.
(5)Amanda B.
I loved everything I had and really thought the courtyard was a great little space to spend an evening chatting with my dinner companion. I am going back to try it again soon.
(4)Rusty J B.
My wife and I had dinner at Aioli Dodega on a Sunday night and were plesantly surprised. The restaurant was not crowded and the service was fine. The waiter was friendly, pleasant and attentive. When asked to recommend a wine from some we had selected from the Rubero del Duero region, the one he recommended was not the most expensive and very good. We had the albondigas and charcuterie tapas as starters and the Paella Valenciana as our main course. The tapas were very good and the paella, though not the best we had had, was very good for the price. The food we had was very good, the prices moderate and the service attentive. We try to choose restaurants that offer food we do not prepare ourselves, Aioli Bodega reminded us of our vacation in Spain where we mainly dined in local neighborhood restaurants.
(3)Vande R.
For better or worse (to me, better, but apparently worse for others), this place is packed to bursting with character. Aioli has some wonderful tapas, including salmon, the bourek de casa, and the charcuterie plate, and the bartenders and servers know their wines extremely well and are stupendously adept at matching their recommendations to your tastes and meal. The bar is small and intimate, and the staff often introduces the regulars to non-regulars, frequently launching a gregarious and high-spirited evening among former strangers. The restaurant itself is divided into two rooms, one quite small and the other a bit larger. The lush patio is a delight during the right time of year. As to the service... Ah, yes, the service: This is where the character comes in. Some people love the staff and some people hate them. They have always been extravagantly courteous and warm to me, but then I was a regular. From what I have observed, the female staff are sweethearts to most everyone; the male staff can be, ah, temperamental, but they do love the good-lookin' ladies. Regardless, however, of your looks and chromosome type, if you are polite and friendly to them, for the most part they will respond in kind.
(4)Heather J.
great, fabulous, wonderful restaurant! this if my favorite local spot, and I always bring out of towners to try the tapas menu, it has flavor and personality. sit out on the back patio if you can, very charming, the wine list is great too. Cheers.
(5)Yoshiko M.
When I want to show outta-towners who think there is no there in Sacramento, I take them to Aioli's. Sacramento is an al fresco town, and there is no better showcase for al fresco dining than the patio at Aioli's. The sound of water flowing from the fountain adds to the ambiance. I've read some of the complaints of Aioli newbies that they were denied patio seating -- my suggestion -- make a reservation, especially in the summer. My friends from Europe agree with me -- Aioli is a slice of the Continent -- from the European-style waiter to the paella. Do order the paella. I thought the tapas were mixed -- some I liked, others were so-so -- but I am never disappointed by the paella. The kitchen does special requests -- I always ask for the house spinach salad -- it is an off-menu item but is sumptuous in its simplicity. A little olive oil, sea salt, pepper, a hint of citrus -- no overbearing dressing. Service is attentive, polite, and unintrusive. When I want to get away, but I can't, I treat this signora to Aioli's.
(5)Eric D.
Is it possible to give negative stars? The service is horrible (uptight and pretentious wait staff) and the food is disgusting. We had to send the mussels back because it smelled like sewage.
(1)Ed P.
Sorry guys, we had the Paella (Valenciana and all seafood), and I have to say the food was not that great. The seafood was overcooked, the rice was slightly under. The seafood tasted a bit off - particularly the oysters, which were clearly not fresh. You will pay $11 for 4 sardines and $14 for 6 shrimp, neither of which was that memorable. The bill came back at well over $100 for 4 people, and the only good thing about the place was the sangria, which still wasn't "spectacular" and most certainly did not command such margins.
(2)Jacqueline T.
Never a let down. Everyone we have had a great experience. Service is top notch and the food is amazing. The paella and the lamb kabobs unlike any lamb I've ever had. The lemonade is so good.
(5)DJ D.
This place kind of lost it. A couple of years ago was one of our favorite places to eat. Now it just seems ok but expensive. Nothing really stands out besides a bill for $200 for 6 people and no alcohol. Menu definitely could use an upgrade. The problem is that it is still the best place for spanish food in Sac which is sad.
(3)Jennifer L.
I came here this past Sunday for a late anniversary dinner with my boyfriend. We got here around 8pm where it had just become dark enough to enjoy the courtyard seating with the charming strung lights. Our waiter was a really nice young man named Jaime who made great recommendations and was really informative in regards to any questions we may have had. Unfortunately we had ate two hours earlier and were still quite too full to experience the full range of tapas they had to offer. We did order the "Salpicon De Pulpo" which is a cold tapa made up of octopus, potatoes, and onions and roasted bell pepper. It was a really refreshing dish for the warm summer night; the octopus tasted quite fresh and went well with the veggies. They also gave us a serving of bread with olive oil and vinaigrette which we devoured right away. For our main course we got the Paella Valencia due to the raving reviews, the menu stated that it would take about 45 mins from ordering to be cooked but the wait didn't feel that long especially which the tapas and bread at hand, plus it gives you time to really take in the ambiance of the place. My boyfriend loved the Paella, it had a great combination of seafood and other meats such as pork and chicken. My only holdback was that I felt it was a little lacking in salt/seasoning as the mussels fell bland to the taste buds. We ended the night with a pear dessert called "Pera Aioli" which is a pear braised in red wine and cinnamon which we enjoyed. It wasn't overly sweet and the red wine gave it a bit of a tart taste which we enjoyed. Overall the experience was great, but I couldn't give this place a five star because when I called to make a reservation they simply said "okay" and asked me for my name and nothing else, and I had also called back to confirm near the dinner time. Upon arriving they couldn't find me in the system but I was lucky because it a bit of a slow night so I was able to get the seating I requested.
(4)Phil C.
We chose Aioli last night after receiving no attention at another restaurant 10 minutes before. Having been to here on previous occasions made it an easy decision, as always the staff is prompt and courteous. Our food and drinks were delicious. The costilla and sangria are a must try. We even stuck around for dessert and coffee. We will continue to frequent this restaurant. Keep up the good work
(5)Alisha B.
Very meh food and over-priced. Ordered a pretty wide selection. None of it good. Decent sangria though. Tapa the world waaaaaay better!
(2)Chantal T.
So I've been here a couple of times. Food was usually mediocre to good but usually nothing too impressive. So I came here last on a double date. It didn't start off well at all. We had reservations and were waiting in a crowded environment for at least an additional 15 minutes past our reservation time with no apologies while the wait staff kept squeezing past us. Before we got seated, we asked to put in an order of the paella which on the menu takes 45 minutes to make. We got some resistance from the waiter who said that it would not change our wait time at all. After insisting more, he put our order in. Our server was a little rough, asking us to place our tapas order ASAP. And then when someone from our party asked for oil and vinegar to go with the bread, the response she got was also rough - "What do you think this is? An Italian restaurant?!" He eventually brought it out but the comment was a little strange. All of these are the reasons why they don't get a perfect 5 stars. But as the meal progressed, the night improved. The food was phenomenal. The duck was cooked perfectly. The paella was flavorful. I liked every dish. Our water listened to my wine preference and brought me out great wines that suited my tastes. They kindly refilled our bread baskets and waters constantly. There was even live music! Jazz in Sac? Yes please! Based on this past experience, I would definitely come back!
(4)Jesse G.
I haven't been here in quite a while but the last time I did I had one of the worst dining experiences of my life. I called in a reservation for a patio seat more than a week in advance. I was taking my then girlfriend to dinner for our anniversary. When we got there, the place was packed and in was told there was only one table available, not on the patio but literally right next to the door which bumped my chair every time it was opened. I was furious but not as furious as I would be come in the next five seconds. Immediately after we arrived, a wealthy looking older couple showed up without a reservation and was immediately shown to a much better table. This was followed by horrible service, bad food and an overcharge on the bill. I truly wish with all my heart that this joke of a restaurant would burn to the ground. When I complained, it fell upon deaf ears. GFY aioli.
(1)Hilary G.
It's 8:45. We had a reservation at 8 pm and arrived on time. The host told us they gave our table to another party who were supposed to be a 4 top but ended up being a 6 top. But one of them is a "really good customer" so "they're just going to get up when they get up". There is nowhere to stand. Instead of offering our party drinks or apps for waiting, the host just keeps telling us there is nothing he can do. I'd love to be able to review the food but it's just not possible. Service is abysmal.
(1)Brian W.
Great place to eat and great vibe. When the weather is good, take advantage of the courtyard seating because it is very comfortable. The menu is excellent and our advice is to have the wait staff just bring you small plates that they recommend. We've done this with both food and beverages and they haven't missed yet. One of our new favorites and always recommended when someone from out of the area asks where to go.
(4)Esperanza N.
I've come here before and enjoyed it. Not so much this last time. We came for our anniversary. We were seated at a tiny table RIGHT next to the (wonderful) guitarist. Awkward. Our waiter Joseph came by and moved us. Whew. We had a cocktail and wanted it order some tapas. Waiter told us we needed to order dinner first, because it would take awhile. Weird. We didn't know what we wanted for dinner yet, we just wanted some tapas to start. But no, we had to choose our dinner right then. Tapas came. We had brought our own bottle of wine (Tempranillo). He opened it, with a corkage fee, of course, but he didn't pour it for us. Strange, because he poured the wine at our neighboring tanks, which they also brought. Before we finished our tapas, surprise - here's dinner! You know the dinner at we had to order early because it would take too long. So now we have a crowded table with tapas and dinner. When the tapas were finished they cleared the plates away, and then the busser tried to clear our dinner plates before we were even finished. Rushed, anyone? Not cool. We ordered dessert and cappuccino. The cappuccino came wayyyy before the dessert. So the choice was to let the coffee go cold or drink it before dessert came. We drank it. Then ordered another, which came way after the dessert arrived. Head smack. So, for the cost of cocktails, cork fee, tapas, dinner, dessert and cappuccinos - about $150 - we expected and deserved better service. The food, however, was delicious. And the guitarist was beautiful. But the service will prevent us from returning soon.
(3)Donald W.
I had one of the best dining experiences of my life here this past weekend. A friend and I were getting caught up after not seeing each other for a long time. We enjoyed several hours together along with some great wine from Spain and a variety of great Spanish cuisine. We had seared ahi tuna, paella, salmon, lamb chops, and some really tasty desserts. Every bite was exquisitely prepared, delicious, and healthy. I would highly recommend this place, and look forward to going here again.
(5)Justin B.
Probably my top place in Sacramento. Good place to get some excellent Spanish rioja. I wish they had more jamon selection.
(4)Anastacia L.
Paella is really great! Big enough to share for three!! Sit out side, sip sangria and you feel like you are in another country!
(4)Amy D.
I'm a San Franciscan & I had never been here before & thought the food was really good last week. We had a couple of tapas to start, some wine (which wasn't dry & without fruitiness as we had asked, but was drinkable nonetheless) & shared the paella & dessert. Everything was really top notch & edible. The service was really pretty bad. Nobody checked on us except for once & we were here for at least a couple of hours. When our glasses were empty, they stayed empty & we were too tired to flag down anyone. I would go back for the paella & tapas though. Good food is more important to me than good service.
(4)Shaila S.
I was planning on picking up a couple grilled cheeses from The Rind across the street from here, but they closed their kitchen early. Super disappointed, and it seemed like nothing else appealing was open within walking distance. The boyfriend had just driven up from the bay and was meeting me in midtown to eat. Unfortunately, it was after 10pm so there weren't many options nearby. We popped into Aioli to see if they were open and yes! They were open until 11. Once we stepped inside, we were greeted with warmth and the sound of live music, and we were seated by the Christmas tree. The place was dim with light strings everywhere, which is my absolute favorite lighting scheme. Although I would have liked to try the paella, that required 45 minutes of prep time and we were starved. My boyfriend is vegetarian and there weren't many veggie dishes for him, so I knocked down one star for that, and the prices. We settled on an array of tapas instead of entrees. Each one was small, but delicious. We definitely enjoyed our experience here and the food, but it's somewhere we would probably only return to for a special occasion (or if we both get raises!) because it is rather pricey.
(4)Wendy Y.
Also, on another note, since another reviewer mentioned that I may have "stiffed" the waiter and ruined his night, gratuity was already included in the bill which means that the restaurant got their full tip for the night. But for a waiter to slip up on the $4, (and this isn't even about the money it's about the principle) and obviously being shady with the attitude he gave for getting caught, I don't think he deserved any tip whatsoever. I pay for food, tip for service. I don't think anyone deserves to be paid to be dishonest, which in effect makes a restaurant lose its integrity. When working in a service industry, it is your JOB to provide excellent customer service as that is part of your job description. And I'm not even asking for a cheerful or jolly person. At the very least I'm looking for attentiveness and honesty. This is why the restaurant is getting my 1 star and before I can give it another chance, a sincere apology would be appreciated rather than the disgusting attitude we received that night.
(1)Kay P.
The service was appropriately attentive and friendly. We had tapas (charcuterie, toast with fig topping), green "gazpacho" soup made with mint, grapes and cucumber (REALLY GOOD!), lamb chops (excellent), desserts ( both wonderful.) We totally recommend Aioli Bodega!
(5)Dee V.
ZERO STARs! The worst service ever! When we walked in they were very nice and helpful but as soon as they saw who our company was all of a sudden racism reared its ugly face. Not only were we ignored the whole time we waited, we got there at 6 o'clock with 630 reservations and at 8:30 we still had not been sat! We will never come to this awful place ever again! And to top it off the waitress, as we walked out, yelled at us, "please come back! we shoved people out of your way just to seat you guys! I'm so sorry but our manager isn't here so none of us know what to do!" WOW. Learn people. I wrote a letter and never got a response. I gave them over a month to respond before I posted this.
(1)Nina M.
Went here a couple months ago for a date night with my finace. The staff are welcoming and attentive (but not TOO attentive, which is a good thing). I ordered their Zarzuela De Mariscos (opera of seafood in garlic tomato sauce) and my fiance had Salmon Con Acento Catalan. The Salmon Con Acento Catalan gets a thumbs up: The salmon was moist, fresh and the crust on it was fantastic. The Zarzuela De Mariscos gets a thumbs way down. The mussels were muddy and the calamari was too chewy. The overall flavor/sauce was good, but the seafood components of the dish just didn't strike the right note. The ambiance of the restaurant gets a thumbs up - there are large windows and their overall decor really does transport to a different time & place.
(3)Rafael C.
Tried to have dinner but the waiter was very rude, like they did not want our business.
(1)Ts S.
Food great. Service very slow. Waiter had a little attitude. Dire need to get some organization around what door they want customer to come in from. Confusing. Poor flow. Poor acoustics. Outdoor patio nice in good weather.
(3)Maria G.
I had a first date here recently (2/13/14) and enjoyed a wonderful and warm experience with inspired and unique food. The owner (or manager??) was a warm and charming man who went out of his way to delight and inform us. We ordered beet and arugula salads,which were lovely and fresh, although the star of the show by far was the gravlax. It was succulent, melt-in-your-mouth perfection and an extremely generous portion. I plan to return here soon. I'm giving Aioli 4 instead of 5 stars only because the decor and ambience are a little cramped and uninspired, although certainly acceptable.
(4)Jason G.
We finally came here after living in town for 4 years. I was very happy with the place. My friends said dont sit where the old man waits tables and of course who do we get? the old man. I thought he was great. Very funny, knowledgeable. The food was very good, though I thought the portions were small, even for tapas. The paella was awesome. We will be back, because of the prices not regularly though.
(4)Jun R.
This is probably more of a 3.5 rating. We ordered several cold and hot tapas and the food was pretty good for the most part. The paella was disappointing... everyone said we made much better paella at home. The Sangria also tasted a bit watered down. The rabbit, halibut, and lamb shanks were all very good. And we always enjoy the patio seating at night.
(4)Miss M.
I recently had my birthday dinner here with a party of 14 people. The Paella Velencia was amazing. The ambience was perfect and my waiter was very informative on the dishes and wine! The birthday dessert was not so good the orange tartness mixed with chocolate did not go well! Other than that definitely will come back!
(4)George C.
We dined at this restaurant on 5/10/14 and had a wonderful meal..Our waiter was an older gentleman (grey haired with glasses). At the very end we were doing a review of the check...there was a question about one of the items listed on the tab. Our waiter when asked about the item was upset that there was a question and made a snide remark when asked about it..When I understood what was happening he took my credit card to have it run as he was walking away from the table my guests saw that he was overtly upset. I was considering what tip to leave him during all this. He unknowingly reduced what was going to be a generous tip by his behavior. The food at this restaurant is terrific and the street views give it a nice abience.
(4)Laura R.
Si si to authentic Spanish culinary flare in Sac! We've been here quite a few times but most recently, we came last week for a family celebration. They were very accommodating in serving the wine we brought, and our server was very friendly, attentive, and helpful to the Spanish food-newbies at the table. In addition to lovely service, the outside garden area is a lovely space to dine. I highly recommend requesting a table in the back garden (which you might miss should you enter the restaurant from the L Street side) if the weather is nice. As for food, there are very few things I haven't tried on the menu at this point and all are good. However, I do recommend their tapas over their paella. The paella is pretty good, just not their strong suit. But I would offer the caveat that personally, I think it's hard to get everything just perfectly cooked with paella where the rice, seafood, and other meats all have very different cooking times. I find that I am often disappointed in paella unless it is homemade with plenty of saffron or at a very good restaurant in Spain. Aioli's paella is certainly much better than the tourist trap paella I had in Madrid, but not as exquisite as a really perfectly cooked paella. The tapas, however, are fantastic! Some of my favorites are the lamb sausage, which are small pieces cooked in a killer red sauce that melt in your mouth, and the salmon cooked in white white, lemon, and capers. The charcuterie plate with the ever-scrumptious Iberian ham is also a wise choice. And if you're new to tapas, it's always a good idea to check out the classics like patatas bravas (fried potatoes with aioli sauce, how could you go wrong?), Catalan toast (toast with fresh-crushed tomatoes spread on top, which is delicious and I don't even like raw tomatoes!), and gambas al ajillo (shrimp cooked in garlic, white wine and olive oil, much like Italian shrimp scampi). For dessert, I cannot recommend the chocolate truffles served in white chocolate "soup" enough. They are truly delectable! Overall, I find this place reliably good, affordable, and a romantic spot for a date that also has a larger separate room for a big party. If you are a Spanish food veteran, you will find unique bites to delight your palette, and if you are a newbie, you'll find things that are familiar enough to comfort (like the delicious ribeye with blue cheese!).
(4)Ray M.
Our first time here. And Wow. I have to say it was Excellent. The service the food and the atmosphere was perfect. We will definitely will be going back. Highly recommend if you like a bunch of flavor in your dish.
(5)Rod W.
First time here. We ordered the salami plate, arugala salad, the duck and the mussels. The salami, mussels and the salad was good. Wow! The Duck was the driest Duck I have ever had in my life! And Im talking about the Dark meat! We didnt get to the breast of the Duck thank God because we sent it back and got the Lamb instead. The Mussels and the Duck were the entres so when the waiter took the duck away it was at least 20 minutes before the Lamb came out which means the kitchen didnt even cook it until 15 minutes later after the duck was taken away. For an Entre replacement dish it should have been rushed but it wasn't so we waited a very long time. I don't know if it was the waiter who maybe forgot to put in the Lamb order or the kitchen took way long to cook a medium rare Lamb but either way it shouldn't have taken so long. We wanted to try the Paella but it would have been 45 minutes but we were there 90 minutes anyway. Overall, the food is good but the service is barely fair. We even had to ask for water refill!! Oh I have to say that the Bar Tender was superb! She added the Simple syrup with the perfect amount and she brought a refill without having to ask! Also, for service not being so good, there were only 5 tables! Oops, forgot to mention the Flan was very good! I hate to imagine the service if they were busy!! Yyeeesssshhhhh!
(3)Narmina G.
One of my new favorite places. Went last week and the week prior. Spanish theme...small and intimate. Love dinning on their patio. Very relaxing ambiance and the times I've gone they've had a guitarist playing live. Very good wines at reasonable prices. Recommend the Tuna Tartar and Lamb. Will always come back anytime I just want to enjoy a nice relaxing dinner.
(5)Melissa W.
The food here was unbelievably good. My husband and I had the lamb shank and the ribeye. The food was prepared perfectly, and the staff found us a great bottle of wine to pair with the meal. We will definitly be coming back, and soon!
(5)Katrina F.
Came here for a friends birthday this last weekend and I loved the outdoor seating area. My friend and I split 4 of the tapas dishes and a dessert. All was delicious though I don't think I'll return as it wasn't so good that it justified the price. The waitress did recommend us some fabulous drinks off of the wine menu though. If you're a foodie I think you'll respect the food here far more than I did, but otherwise I would recommend going somewhere else where you can get a much larger bang for your buck. 2 appetizers, 4 tapas, 2 drinks and 2 desserts (which should have been only 1 dessert but apparently there was a misunderstanding and we were charged the dessert that the table ate, not a big deal just a little annoying) ran us $110. Be ready to spend some money if you come here.
(3)Mike K.
I always done at this restaurant, when in town. They have the best Paella anywhere. The Aioli owner and staff are friendly and provide a true dining experience second to none. This is a must place to eat in Downtown Sacramento!
(5)Julia L.
A fellow Peds intern and I went out in Sacramento in search for a tapas dinner and ended up getting a paella dish! So I was like half an hour late meeting my friend cuz I was driving around midtown at 7 PM on a weekday and could not find parking for the life of me. I must have done every combination of zig zag on a letter street and a number street and ended up parking blocks away. Since I had a crummy time finding parking, I rewarded myself with a nice large sangria. We started off the night with the cheese plate and garlic shrimp, nothing was really amazing. The paella was pretty good though, although compared to the paella in Barcelona it was only ok. I think if we were in the mood for paella and I'm feeling too lazy to cook, we could come eat here.
(4)Wolf R.
Our tapas meal was excellent and the service was great. We tried the mussels and the mussel themselves were very strong. When we told the server he took them away didn't charge for them. I say this is a restaurant that understands good customer service. We'll go back,but not for the mussels.
(4)Adam G.
We came for the tapas and drinks, left feeling content and happy. The shrimp & calamari tapas were very good.... so good in fact that we politely stopped our friendly waiter from taking the empty bowl away so that we could use their nice bread to sop up the tasty remaining juices. Great atmosphere, perfect for a date! Highly recommended!
(4)Ken G.
I'm not really a huge fan of Spanish cuisine, but I really enjoyed my experience here. The food was very good. I had a plate of Citrus Grilled Chicken and even though it was an extremely simple dish, it had a ton of flavor and everything was cooked very well. The side of potatoes topped with aioli was also great. I had some of their sangria, which was excellent, full-flavored, without being too sweet. They have an outdoor area where a live performer sings some amazing Spanish music....very romantic. If you get the chance to sit outside, please do. I would definitely come back here...the service, food and ambiance were very good.
(4)Susan D.
Today was my first visit to this amazing place. Since there were three of us, we ordered the lunch special which was $12.50 per person (reasonable price). The three entree choices were pasta, salmon and stew. Ordered one of each and ordered one hot tapa, large shrimp with a salsa served on top of avocado. The service by James was impeccable as was the still salivating food. I will be making a return visit and I suggest that you try it. It is really yummy.
(5)Dan P.
Aioli serves wonderful Spanish food and has one of the best garden patios in Sacramento. The tapas style is great for sampling several dishes each visit and having a light bite. During 5 visits, we have only had one issue, a medium rare rib eye was ordered and it arrived well done. Not usually a problem, but the server had a bad attitude -- "I have been in the restaurant business for 13 years and know what a medium rare steak looks like." Okay, then why did you serve us one that is obviously well done??
(4)Holly T.
I have an intense, passionate love of this restaurant. Poor though I am, I come here as often as possible because it is incredible. The food is expensive, but it is worth every penny. Each bite is succulent, well spiced, and delicious. I've done both tapas and entrees and I've never once been disappointed. The drinks are also phenomenal; I ordered a lemon drop and it didn't taste like pure sugar as is so often the case at lesser bars. The much of the restaurant staff is Spanish and I think other reviewers have confused cultural differences for rudeness. Every care has always been taken for my well being here. The owner is always present, checking that everything is running smoothly. This is my favorite special occasion restaurant, not because they make me feel particularly special or bend over backward for me, but because the food is amazing, the staff are present and friendly, and I feel like a small part of a larger fantastic culinary experience.
(5)Chad B.
This review does not pertain to the food, as we were never seated. We made a reservation for a party of 9 a week in advance. When we arrived it was very busy, and it was clearly a stressful night for the staff. The host told us very quickly that there would be a wait and apologized. After half an hour of waiting I thought it would be appropriate to ask the host what the situation looked like. He was clearly stressed, we were sympathetic, but he decided to take the stress out on us; he told me there was nothing he could do and that we would find out when we find out. He also told my guests that the group sitting at our table was "important" and that he refused to suggest they move to the bar (which was his idea because their tab had been paid for 45 minutes before). We understand you have no control over people not getting up from the table, and we would never suggest that someone be asked to leave. We had no problem waiting, the bar was open, and we were just happy to be hanging out together. But we did want some information. Bottom line, I would strongly recommend to never go here with a large party. If you make a reservation a well in advance, they still might treat you like you are an inconvenience to them or that you're the problem. A table became available 50 minutes after our reservation, but we were so put off by the staff that we left.
(1)Yana K.
I went here for my friends birthday and we all order a whole bunch of different tapas. Everything was amazing. The salad was fresh with a great vinaigrette, the chicken was savory, the lamb was young and the drinks were well made too. We ate outside, it was so nice and there was a man playing the guitar, very authentic. I can't wait to come back.
(5)Emily A.
Great service. Great paella. Wonderful restaurant. Since moving to Sacramento, we have been to a lot of restaurants people recommend and had some pretty underwhelming experiences. Moving from San Francisco means that our expectation can be a bit...unreasonable. We know it. We accept it. Aioli exceeded our ridiculous expectations. The food is delicious and the restaurant is charming. We can't wait to go back.
(4)Barbara S.
I love this place. I think one of my 'tips' was something along the lines of "every time I come here, I wonder why I don't come here more often!" I'm way behind writing this review but here's what I can tell you- when sweetie and I are looking for a romantic dinner spot in the summer, we head straight here. The little patio has lots of plants, tiny little sparkly lights and little water features. Memories of drinking wine here on a warm summer evening and indulging in some great Spanish food make me hate winter all the more. Sitting inside does provide some great people watching opportunities. The large windows give a great view of the foot traffic in the neighborhood. Be adventerous and let the waiter pick your tapas for you. I think we told him to pick his 6 favorites and surprise us- and we were quite happy with what came out. I'll update this the next time I visit with some more specifics about the food. As I said, I'm behind on my reviews. In the meantime, stop in- you won't regret it!
(4)Denise D.
Absolutely amazing. Everything we are melted in our mouth. Highly recommend. Nice wine selection too.
(5)The Rau Ranch R.
As recommended by our son, we thought we'd take friends to dinner here. We arrived about twenty minutes early to check it out. We were very pleased when they offered for us to sit outside on the patio dining area while we waited. We ordered a bottle of wine had great conversation with the manager and enjoyed our relaxing time prior to our table being ready. Once inside, I do have to say that the place gets noisy but it wasn't a problem for us. Our appetizers and meals were fantastic! My guess as it was for us, you won't understand much of what the menu says so ask your server and have a fun and delicious experience! I recommend Ailoi highly, we will make this a monthly visit ourselves!
(5)Jeannine M.
Great wine, great food. Wine is a bit pricey but the food is less so. I guess it evens out. Great ambiance. Really great table linens. :-)
(4)Noemi B.
We've always passed by and wanted to go in for dinner but the wait is always so long, but I finally made reservations and we both fell in love with the place and the food. We were seated in the patio area and it was really nice and we were able to have an intimate time. I love spanish tapas and i wanted him to try everything--which would be possible if we were planning on staying for several hours, but alas we didn't and decided to go back there agian. We ordered the boquerones, moorish lamb skewers, jamon, and stuffed tomato as well as their orange creme brulee. They were all on point. I cant compare this place with ZuZu's in napa as no restaurant is really comparable. Their sangria is also great. I could probably drink it all day if i had to. We will definitely come back and try more of their extensive menu.
(4)Sue B.
I love this restaurant. ! It is Mediterrean in style , lovely !the food is delicious ! The tapa selection is extensive & the food has a lovely presentation & is fresh & delicious. . Extensive wine list , service is good . 1 of my favorite Sacramento restaurants
(4)Tinah Y.
I had to take a star away because the owner was in a bad mood and was rude to us and I still don't know why... it seems that he was just overwhelmed by our huge group. You know, if you can't handle a big group... don't take our reservation. I was seconds away from telling my party of 18 that we're leaving, before the other owner stepped in and took over. Short version of my review... not a place for big groups (or kids)!!!! now here's the long: My first time here was several years ago and I remember we left the food choices to the owner. During that visit, we were a party of 7 and the owner served each dish with a great explanation and was really nice. This time it was a party of 18 and half the seating for our party was this long one piece booth chair. We asked if we can pull at least half the tables apart to leave space in the middle for people to get up and we were told no. So, when ever someone sitting in the middle needed to get out, 5 people have to get up and out. There was a table for two at the end of our tables and for the life of me, i can't understand why the owner would try to stick two people at that table when there were other tables available. Every time someone from our group gets out, we have to stick our asses into them just to squeeze out... that's how tight they had us. While placing this couple at the table, the owner bumped one of our tables, spilled a glass of water and just left it there. The whole glass of water spilt onto the chair and we had to lay out several napkins and towels so that one of our people can sit. The owner didn't try to pick up the glass when it first spilled, didn't try to clean it up or have someone clean it up until we complained later. Again, if it wasn't so late, and I didn't have such a big hungry group of people, I would have left. No apology what-so-ever, I asked our waiter (whom, I believe he may be part owner) who the manager is because I wanted to voice my complaint, he told me that is the owner. No one in my party has ever been to this restaurant or heard of it. All week long I've been raving about how good this restaurant is and what great hospitality it is there. It was stressing me out because the owner was just so rude and hostile. He was yelling and swearing at his staff and under his breathe. No one knows what he was pisst about. He says something and finally the other owner walks up and says that he was taking over. He asked me if i was going to take charge with the ordering and I said no. He said usually with a big party it's better for one person to take charge. Finally he said that he will take charge and he will make the selection and we're in good hands. At this point.. I was like, fine, whatever. The food there is GREAT. I have yet to eat anything there that I didn't like. All the other servers/waiters/hostess were really nice. In the end, the owner did seem to calm down and even join in on the birthday song. I will go back...but it will only for a party no bigger than four. In case you're unsure of what to try, here's a list of what was served to us... all was very good and you can't go wrong with these items: - Ensalada Mediterranea: spinach, basil, tomato, red onion, cucumber ^ olives tossed in olive oil and citrus, toped with feta cheese - Gambas De La Parilla: shrimp marinated in cumin, olive oil & citrus over avocado grilled and topped with salsa fresca - Charcuterie Y Queso Manchego: An assortment of cured spanish sausage, cured ham & cheese from la moncha - Setas Con Comino: mushrooms marinated with cumin, garlic, sheery vinegar & olive oil - Pinchos Morunos De Cordero: moorish style marinated lamb grilled and finished in a sauce of red wine & peppers - Paella Valenciana: saffron rice with shrimp, mussels, calamari, chicken, park spareribs.
(4)Adonis V.
¿Qué es ese plato llamado, otra vez? What is that dish called, again? This question often comes to mind as I partake on some of the tastiest tapas this side of the world. Two of my favorites is a cheese filled warm pastry and spinach with sliced medium rare steak dish, both of which names have been lost in the void that is my brain but have retained its righteous flavorful memory in my tummy. The tables are lined with white linen cloth but the ambience does not lead one to believe of pretentiousness. Au contraire, this little shining jewel in the L street mecca offers great service and friendly atmosphere without being over the top. Some yelpers have mentioned the owner...yes he seems to have this strange aura about him but he's always been cordial and friendly. The wine selection has a few good vintages from Rioja Spain - my favorite. I knocked one star off the rating from the otherwise massive celestial body that is Aioli Bodega Española because of the otherwise celestial pricing - it is fairly expensive for tapas.
(4)gina l.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Sac. I have been here a few times and always have great service and a good time. I absolutely love to come here with a group and order lots of tapas to share.The short ribs are to die for. Actually I have never ordered a dish that I didn't really like. Next time I want to order the paella. They have a great outdoor area too.
(5)Ana T.
The husband and I don't get to go out alone to dinner often, so Saturday we had the extraordinary opportunity to do so, and we chose Aioli, looking for good food, romantic ambiance and a fun night out on the town. We got there in time for our reservation and we were seated right away. Our table was by the window, lovely. As we were seated, our waiter (who is the reason why I give such a low rating) rushed us with the menu, pointed out at the dishes and wine list curtly and quickly and gave us a minute. We decided to start with some tapas and were going back and forth with which ones to chose. The waiter, again, came rushing us, asking if we had decided. This was our first time there, so we weren't sure what to get. He came again a few minutes later and as we told him what we had decided for starters, he rudely told us we had to be ready and order our main course right away when ordering our appetizer. Mind that at this time we had not been even offered a drink, which we also had to order in a rush. Our tapas came out quickly, but we had not even finished them when our main course showed up. The food was flavorful, presentation was wonderful and the ambiance of the place made our night special. But I was not pleased with the service we received from our waiter, who was curt, rude and simply not pleasant. His tip reflected his service. --Bottom line-- When I have a chance to have a nice dinner alone with my husband, without the children, the last thing I need is a waiter rushing me to make an order. We felt almost like we were being rushed out of the place. We finished our meal and didn't even feel like staying for dessert. I give this place 5 stars for its delicious food and lovely ambiance, but it would be nice if management checked in with its staff and the service they are providing. This waiter was definitely not a good representative of the other wonderful qualities of this restaurant. Not sure if we will return...
(2)Stephanie L.
Oh my Spanish goodness! How could I have not reviewed this place yet? Bad Stephanie! You want tapas? This is the place to go! Not the Americanized competitor down the road- that place you go for atmosphere. Aioli- Great food, and a beautiful restaurant with a gorgeous patio. Little water fall and trellis with vines outside on the patio. What a little hidden getaway! And when you sit, they give you complimentary french bread and focacia, WITH a dipping sauce that is a white bean puree with a hint of tomatoes and mint. I could go there for wine and bread/dip alone. But, I don't. I can't help but order tapas, which is mostly what the menu is made of. Sure, they have a few large plates and a specials menu printed daily. But I usually stick with the small plates. The tapas. They are divided into an easy to read menu of hot and cold tapas. Here are a few of my favorite things: 1. Sangria!- Best in Sacramento, lots of fruit and citrus flavors with a hint of perhaps cardamom or cinnamon. 2. Octopus Escabeche (cold tapa)- marinated octopus with pickled vegetables. Mmmm. 3. Amatraciana Buccatini ( large plate special sometimes)- my favorite pasta noodle with my favorite pancetta tomato sauce. A bit of spice. 4. Spanish chorizo and white beans. Oh mon dieu! 5. Rabbit- in a creamy white sauce. 6.White Chocolate truffle soup! Oh soo beautiful... white chocolat anglaise in a shallow bowl with hand rolled truffles, and raspberry puree swirl. The service can be great (male server with red hair) or snobby (tall snobby guy). Of course, that doesnt deter me from going back! His poor attitude is his problem, not mine. The food is worth 10 stars! The prices are comparable to its competition, and the flavors are more prevalent in all dishes. If you haven't been here, at least come for the sangria. Solo or with a buddy. Or with a date ;)
(5)Dominique M.
Where do I start..... The atmosphere here is so nice and calm the decor, just lovely!!! Just the perfect addition to mid-town SAC. Great for a date night :) Aioli Bodega Espanola is without a doubt pricey, but also very well presented and the quality is so fresh and delicious. I did feel as though the tapas were a complete tease though and I don't like to be teased at all. Mushrooms and mussels YUM!!! I had the Salmon for dinner and it was very good slightly undercooked. My friend had the steak and short ribs and said the short ribs were the best ever, so he order another order of short ribs... Service was above average and I am all about service. Overall we were both extremely delighted with the entire experience we had at Aioli Bodega Espanola.
(4)J D.
Server with ponytail, can't remember his name was great all throughout the night! Food was fantastic and the outside patio is just so so wonderful!
(5)G M.
I have found the service to be consistently good and the food always, hot, fresh and flavorful. My friends and I have been eating at this establishment for two years and have learned to avoid the rush hours here as well as other establishments for the best service. We love the Seafood Paella and the last few times we have had wonderful tuna fish. Topped off with some Sangria we find this restaurant with it's outdoor dining to be a wonderful addition to our evenings out.
(5)Megan K.
How lucky am I that I found one of my all-time FAVORITE restaurants in Sac on the very block I live on! There's really something special about tapas done right; It brings people together more than any other type of meal. If you've been to Tapa the World and were relatively unimpressed (as I was), let me tell you-- don't give up! Aioli is truly on a whole other level. I strongly recommend their swordfish entree (holy crap, so good), but honestly, you can't go wrong here. (To be fair, I've never tried their paella, just loads of tapas). Be brave! Try something new! With the excellent help of our server Joseph (very adorable Frenchman) I tried rabbit for the first time, and was seriously impressed. Oh yeah, don't forget to sample their fantastic wine selection too. Joseph did a wonderful job picking out our wine (2 bottles for 3 people-- I don't mess around). I walk by here multiple times a day, and literally every time I feel compelled to go in, sit down, have some fantastic food/wine, and take a nice, long siesta.
(5)John M.
I just had an amazing lunch here!...my server was friendly, knowledgeable. ..and efficient. The restaurant is beautiful. ..I loved the food so much I made a reservation for Thursday night. .this is a must try if you visit Sacramento!
(5)Jess C.
As I scooted into my chair (they have an odd, cramped layout), I noticed that they used fresh flowers, else something smelled good, and I was looking forward to a fancier lunch compared to the usual subway. The server who took care of us was disheveled and looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. He ran out of water when refilling our glasses, so he went to the kitchen for more but forgot to come back and actually fill it. Then, he forgot to get the sparkling water I ordered and when I reminded him 30 minutes later, he didn't even apologize! Other than extremely poor service, I felt the food was mediocre, often lacking flavor, and definitely overpriced. The lunch special, $12 for 3 courses is a pretty good deal if you're hungry, but you better be very hungry. The gaspacho soup starter was like bad salsa, the entree was pretty tasteless (how do you make short ribs tasteless?), and the tiramasu dessert was ok at best. I found the lamb and short ribs to be covered in chunks of fat (yes, visible chunks), and lacking in seasoning and flavor. Dousing my food in fat isn't going to make me like it more! The flatbread they used for the wraps were good - my friend liked the steak wrap filled with onions and mushrooms. It sounds delicious actually, dont ask me why I ordered the lamb instead. Lastly we had some tapas, the shrimp tapas were extremely overpriced (try the ones at Cafe Rolle they're much fresher), and my mushrooms came out luke warm. Overall, I thought the mushrooms tapas wasn't bad, the shrimp was ok but overpriced, the sandwich was good and generous especially for $10, and the 3 course meal is a good deal (if you make sure the courses they're serving you don't include the gaspacho). I highly doubt I will be coming back anytime soon.
(2)Selene J.
I went to this place for dinner with my family, because we're big fans of Spanish food, tapas, and especially enjoy Tapa the World, which is not too far away from here. The ambience was lovely, everything was nicely decorated for Christmas, and the service was quick and friendly. This review, though, is all about the food, which was lackluster and very blatantly aimed at those with unseasoned palates looking for a 'cultural experience'. That sounds a bit harsh, but really, that's what it felt like. I am a strong believer in the idea that the bread and butter served before the meal is a good indicator of the restaurant's quality. We were served little bite-sized pieces of bread with an orange colored dipping sauce, which looked flavorful and promising. However, it tasted like Indian daal, if you've ever tried that, with some extra herbs in it. Basically, it tastes like a bean-legume paste, like hummus. Not necessarily a bad thing, but not exciting by any stretch. Next, we had two tapas- I regret that I have forgotten the name of one of them, and they are not on the listed menu for some reason. Essentially, they were like little croissant-bread pockets of melted cheese. Very simple but had a warm, cozy feeling to them. The other we had were the gambas la parilla, which are also not on the listed menu. It's grilled prawns, avocado, pico de gallo, and lemon, which is quite delightful. I recommend these, but would side with the cheese-bread pockets for their rustic simplicity that gives your mouth a warm hug. I shared the paella with my mom. It looked like your standard paella- mussels, clams, chicken, and calamari, but had NONE of the typical, characteristic saffron taste. What kind of paella doesn't involve a heady dose of saffron? Needless to say, it tasted like yellow instant rice, and a bunch of unseasoned seafood. Not awful, but definitely not respectable paella. I cannot speak to the other entreés. Finally, we had a pitcher of sangria. Now, maybe it was a special sangria recipe for the holidays, but it was oddly muddled and spiced with cinnamon and perhaps something else. It wasn't clear, fruity sangria, but rather well, bloody (surprise), and thick. Again, not bad, but not what you expect from sangria. Very experimental, and not really to my taste. Overall, I would give this place 2.5 stars, but I can't give halves. Wouldn't come again, but it works well for people who don't like spicy food but want to try a new range of Mediterranean.
(2)Mark C.
Ok, this place is awesome! We ordered about 7 or 8 different dishes and each one was better than the next!! I was in Madrid a few months ago and this place blew it away!! Amir took great care of us to find the right wine, Aziz took over and finished us off! I will definitely be back. You should stop in and try, i'm a foodie and if you love great food and great service, just drop in, you won't regret it!!
(5)Ryan D.
Why haven't I come here sooner! A unbelievable little gem on a great block surrounded by other quality spots. Aioli is almost 2 different restaurants, a nicer indoor sit down, white table cloth spot, and a great causal patio with a waterfall feature, overhead lighting, lots of foliage to cover out the surrounding buildings. We were greeted by a joyful waiter and sat down in the patio outside. Everything from the decor, food, service and wine were fantastic. Authentic Spanish tapas with the best paella that I have had in Sac since being back from Spain. This will be a regular spot on the dining out rotation and can't wait to go back!
(5)Robert H.
We've had lunch here twice while in Sacramento so will limit my review to our lunch experiences. I'm always on the lookout for decent Spanish food. Unfortunately we didn't have time to try a Paella (the benchmark for all Spanish food as far as I'm concerned). The bread was brought to our table in a flash. The "bean dip" that goes with the bread was delicious. For tapas we ordered the Gambas and the sauce was so good we used it on our bread. Due to time constraints we limited our lunch to the "daily specials" both times. Yesterday was beef bocadillos. The beef was cooked to perfection and in a "wrap" of sorts. I was able to eat the first half without making a mess but needed a knife and fork to attack the second half. The accompanying salad of greens and fried potato crisps was excellent. In each visit, the lunches could have easily passed for a full dinner. If we'd had more time we would have had dessert. The service was prompt and efficient. The owner was there and very personable. They do have a full bar and outdoor patio seating for those hot sacramento days. I will definitely return -- I want to sample their paella and other delicacies on their impressive menu. I would encourage everyone to give them a try.
(4)Sabrina Eileen M.
Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. We were seated promptly and were pretty excited to get going. We were waited on by the owner and not only was he funny but very polite. I enjoyed our tapas and the wine that was recommended. Definitely will come back
(5)Meg M.
I dined at Aioli with a large group (there were about 10 of us) and found the service to be on point and fast. Our server even offered seperate checks (that were completely acurate!). The food was a little pricey but everything tasted great. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. I ordered one of the shrimp tapas (the one with avocado) and the endive salad. Both were fantastic. The only thing I would suggest to Aioli is to verify if the patron is ordering the tapas version or the meal version on the menu, just so there is no confusion when the bill comes. Other than that, very enjoyable experience.
(4)Naida E.
Delicious appetizers and sangria! I am looking forward to visiting for a full meal. Also one of the most beautiful patios in Sacramento.
(4)Stuart H.
Another nice dinner at Aioli! We had: Cocktails Merguez Lamb Sausage Persimmon Salad (special) Braised Rabbit Lamb Shanks Shrimp Tapa Mussels All was awesome. Service was great. Even though we had a somewhat awkward table, the dinner was fun and relaxing. Live flamenco guitar was a nice touch. I'll keep Aioli in the rolodex for a nice dinner out in midtown Sac.
(4)David D.
Yummy food. Beautiful patio. Cool personality that are working their.
(4)Lulu M.
My family and I were looking really forward to having dinner at Aioli after reading several wonderful reviews. Unfortunately, our experience was kind of a nightmare. Initially, the reason why I wanted to go there was because I heard there was going to be a Spanish guitar player performing. Not to mention, the website states Spanish guitar on Saturday nights and I even called and confirmed this. We had reservations and once we arrived we were abruptly seated in a tiny corner. The worst part of our night (in addition to the food which is EXTREMELY overrated--tasteless and overpriced) was our server Kimberly. It was clear that something was irritating her. She was so unbelievably rude, short, snappy and on edge. She was really abrupt when we would ask her about the different entrees on the menu. At one point she even said, "Just tell me what you want." We asked her maybe two questions before she said this. Because she would get snappy when we would ask her questions, we just hurriedly ordered. The portion size of the Salmon Talapia was smaller than an appetizer! Had I known, I would not have ordered it. Oh and the Sangria tasted like water. Did I mention there was no Spanish guitar player there? We asked an employee and she told us he would not be there that night....Does it get any worse? The worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant! We regretted not going to Paesonos right up the street :(.
(1)Matt M.
The food here is amazing. I've been here twice only ordering tapas the first time and entrees the second time. Each dish was cooked to perfection. The service was spot on. Our waiter was more than happy to help us find the best meal for our tastes. It is a bit pricey, but it is entirely worth it. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Juli B.
Open late, a beautiful patio, and small plates make for my ideal night out. The setting is intimate and romantic and reminds me of so many late nights in Argentina where I recently stayed a while. So many times on a weekday I'm looking for a late dinner and am stuck with the options of burritos or bar food, but Aioli's kitchen stays open til closing at 11pm. Had a delicious glass of Mendoza-region Malbec, the beet and citrus salad, and a lamb shank served in a dark and rich tomato herb sauce. Shank was a little fatty, but maybe that's just lamb? I enjoyed it so much I'm not telling anyone I know- I want to keep it my little secret.
(4)Ian L.
Aioli has by even low standards, sub par food. I've been to different Spanish restaurants over the years and always order the paella wherever I go. So, Aioli was no exception. But, when I got my food and tasted it I was so disappointed. The Paella Velenciana was horrible it had no flavor, the seafood was over cooked and the rice was burnt. I'm not even Spanish and I could make better paella. Something's wrong with that. On the bright side the patio is amazing. So, if atmosphere is what you're looking for go. But, if you were looking for some taste food I would think twice.
(2)Tuyet N.
Frustration. Starvation. Temptation. Ingestion. Digestion. Relaxation. Went here with a group of 9 for a birthday dinner with reservations at 8 on a Saturday night. Frustration: Had reservations and wasn't seated until about 40 minutes after. What's the point of having reservations when we still had to wait for our table just as other walk in customers do? Yes, I was frustrated and starving! Starvation:I saved my stomach for this dinner, I was excited to try new things but I was starving waiting for my table to finally free up! I was waiting by the kitchen and saw and smelled the aroma of the foods that came out. What a tease! They all looked delicious! When was I going to get to eat? When will it be my turn? Temptation: Our table finally frees up! OMG I finally got to sit down and look at the menu! I was so hungry at this point, I could eat a horse! I was tempted to order everything on the menu and then some! So instead, our group ordered some tapas and main entrees. The tapas were: Ravioli, Mussels, Calamari and Spareribs. Ingestion: The Ravioli was soo delicious! Definitely one of the best tapas there. The mussels and spare ribs were good and the calamari was nothing to brag about. For entrees I ordered the Salmon and the boyfriend had the baked chicken. His baked chicken was delicious! My salmon was good but after tasting his plate, I wished I ordered his instead. Digestion: Okay so I won't get into the nitty gritty here BUT I do have to comment on the restroom! Its super cute and clean! I love the character it had. I have a thing about clean restrooms ;) Relaxation: After eating, there were no one waiting left to be seated so we mingled and chit chatted while some in our group had sangrias, beer and mojitos. It was quieter now and the light was dimmed. Nice relaxing atmosphere. I'd just like to point out something to other patrons. Please try to be considerate. Maybe because I had to wait for so long for a table I became a little anal but seriously though...the table we were waiting on had already paid their bill and instead of gathering up their things and moving the party along, they sat and talked for another 30 minutes! I peaked over to see if they were drinking or having dessert but they were doing neither...Just taking up needed space. This restaurant is pretty small and tons of people were waiting, so I wish they would have been more considerate of others. I will not knock down a star because of the wait because it wasn't something that the manager could do at that point anyhow.
(4)Julz P.
Decided on this place for our date night, since they only open for dinner. The restaurant had a really nice ambiance, food was great and service was superb! We enjoyed every minute of it. Glass of wine at the bar while waiting for our table, seated us two seconds after and ordered the clams, stuffed octopus with scallops and meat with their seafood paella. Everything came promptly in order. I don't recall the Spanish terms but will definitely be back for more great food!
(5)Tram T.
Paella FTW! Great flavor, super filling (it serves 2), and fresh ingredients. I am craving it now!
(4)Yvonne L.
I had to yelp about my 5 star experience here this past week! First they got my reservations wrong again but it was ok since it was a quiet Friday night there. We got a table in the patio which was just as romantic as i remember it. Service was excellent. She could describe the wines so my friend, who is a red wine lover, could pick a wine. She also recommended a few tapas for us. We were a group of 4 and we shared the beet salad and 7 tapas and a small chocolate dessert. We were so full. Sangria was ok as usual. Bartender was friendly. Gazpacho was excellent but small. bruschetta with hummus and black figs was very good. Scallops with polenta was my favorite! The orange sauce was tasty. Large shrimp with avocado ( I don't see it on the online menu) was a close second. Cheese Raviolis with mushroom sauce and asparagus special were both superb. Chorizo on white beans and lamb skewers were good. You can not go wrong on your order. Everything is fabulous! Overall this experience was 5 stars, as good as it gets. I will up my rating once I think Aioli's service is consistently A plus. Next time I want to try the octopus tapa and the gravlax. We will definitely be back!
(4)Melissa W.
The food was decent (rabbit was pretty yum - albeit a bit dry; it comes with this amazing polenta cake) but service could have been better. A few things that made the experience awkward: 1) our server kept touching my dining partner's shoulder (5-6x); 2) he "pushed" our tapa (the portobello al jerez, by no means a big plate) onto our table so it shoved into our silverware; 3) when setting down my sangria he pushed it between us while we were talking (no pause or warning to let us move apart) - in fact, no verbal or eye contact at all; 4) after explaining the menu he took the extra step of repeating "Appetizer. Main. Appetizer. Main" (gesturing to the tapas vs entree menus) as if we were monkeys who couldn't have figured that out by the descriptions and pricing. AND: when he came by to provide menus, he laid the two food menus onto our plates, then "dropped" the wine list so that it drifted down to rest awkwardly between our two glasses. For a restaurant that seems to aspire to be an upscale, date-night kind of place, that was pretty un-sexy. I'll have to think twice about returning.
(3)Luda Z.
Love this place. Great food and ambience. The owner is very nice and has a great wine selection. Highly recommend the rabbit and paella
(5)Sun K.
Very nice tapas place. I've never tried tapas so it was a very delicious experience. I got the braised rabbit, skirt steak, and clams. Too bad I could taste some wine that night ahaha. The rabbit and steak were super moist and very flavorful but not over powering which was amazing. The rabbit had a mustardy flavor to it so you get the subtle sweetness of the rabbit Nd the tanginess of the mustard. The steak had some kind of pesto on top and some potatoes on the side. It had an herby/earthy taste to it which was a unique twist on a steak and the potatoes tasted alittle like radishes. Now the clams. The clams were so juicy that you could just slurp those suckers. Ahaha I dipped the bread they provided into the left over broth and that was super yummy. Presentation was beautiful overall. The only reason i give this 4 stars is bc its on the pricey side but if money wasnt an issue it'd definitely be a 5 star for food and service. :)
(4)Duane H.
I like genuine authentic (kinda redundant, huh?) Spanish food. This is not a Mexican joint. This is what food tastes like in Spain. We came here just before our last trip to Barcelona and got tips from the staff on where to visit in the area. Their recommendations were spot on. These folks definitely are NOT pretenders. Aioli has a really nice wine selection... actually better than what we could find ourselves when we were in Spain (but that is another story...). Definitely go out on the patio in the summer. Sacramento cools down on summer evenings and the combination of food and patio are magic. Can you tell I love this place and don't hesitate to make the two hour trek to dine here? Recommended.
(5)Eric B.
A friend and I enjoyed tapas for lunch with about 6 dishes.Overall it was satisfying but lacked value. A tapas of a variety of cold cuts had 3 or so pairs yet was priced over $10. A hot salmon tapas was well seasoned and fair for the price. A lamb sausage was perhaps the most satisfying dish with a hint of cumin. The bill was over $70. We probably should have gone with the lunch special. Bottom line: the portion size was less than expected for the price and dragged the rating down.
(2)Mo O.
Food was great as usual...service was mediocre. Pretty sure our waiter was drunk. We had a group of 9 and were ordering lots of tapas...waiter refused to write anything down and forgot things more than once. We finally tore off a piece of the butcher paper tablecloth and wrote out what we wanted. After we were finished, we sat for about 20 minutes and had to ask for the check...our drunk waiter was just strolling around the patio oblivious to the fact that we were ready to pay up. Clueless. Guess what...charm and good food can only get you do far...service counts too.
(3)Nina H.
I came here bc I was attracted to the outdoor patio. It's very quaint looking with Christmas lights and plants. I would have given one star for the service, but the food was pretty good still, so 2 stars. I was not wowed by the food, but it was good. The waiter we had was just not very good, he never came back to ask us how the food was, he never came back after delivering the food. We had to ask another waiter for the check. It's a shame service was so bad since the person who was perhaps a host, the older gentleman who greeted me, was super nice and friendly. I had high hopes coming in. I was a bit annoyed about the food even as I originally asked about the servings on the tapas, and the waiter was like they are appetizers and did a hand motion about maybe 5 inches wide, so it seemed the servings were tiny for the tapas. So I get the rack of lamb with saffron rice and veggies. About 5 min later I see the table next to me get some of the tapas including one I had originally wanted and it was like a normal entree portion- one that could have def fed me(I am a really small preson...)- the serving was maybe a little smaller than my entree. The lamb wasn't bad, a bit fatty though, the saffron rice did not have any saffron flavor, the veggies were alright. But let's just say I only ate half of it... and am debating what to have for a snack right now. I do have the rest in my fridge right now, perhaps as they will make amazing leftovers? I wouldn't come back. The other reviews on the service were spot on, I wish I had checked yelp before coming here.
(2)Linda P.
I love the sangria! I've gotten a pitcher every time I've been here. It is perfect to share with a special someone. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Sacramento. It's special to me because this was where my BF and I went on our first date and 6 months later, we decided to come back and were pleasantly surprised when we were greeted by our old waiter and were seated at the same table we sat at before. I kind of wished that we'd get that table. The atmosphere is very romantic--more so in the wintertime than the summer. It was absolutely perfect on that cold December night. The restaurant was adorned with holiday lights, the atmosphere inside the restaurant was warm an inviting and was a welcome relief from the cold and crisp air outside. But back to the recent review. My BF and I came back on June 27, 2010. Weatherwise, it was a stark contrast from before, as it was sweltering outside. Luckily after a few rounds around the block, we were able to find parking close to the restaurant. I noticed that they have a summer theme, with a more casual table setting, but I prefer the more formal white tablecloths. Our server brought us bread and this dip that reminded me of sun dried tomato hummus. This was a pleasant departure from your usual bread and butter. I intended to try the seasonal specials and order entrees this time, but the tapas always tempt me. I haven't been to a better tapas place in Sacramento. We sipped on sangria while waiting for our tapas. The cold beverage was very refreshing on a hot summer evening. We started off with the cheese pastries. Warm, gooey cheese shrouded in layers of delicate, flaky crust = YUMMY. I savored each delectable bite. Then came the mussels. They were the BEST MUSSELS I'VE EVER EATEN. My BF said he's had better, but in Valencia, Spain. Our server generously brought over more bread so that we could sop up the juices, it was so good! Then came the tuna and beef tapas. I forgot what they're called but the tuna was amazing. The beef was only okay. I remember it tasting better before. There was this green sauce blanketing the beef and in my opinion, had a little too much dill in it. But other than that, everything was perfect. I had to give this place 5 stars because when I was here 6 months ago, everything was perfect.
(5)Ric M.
I'm not a tapas expert. These folks are very friendly, and the food is very good. A weeeeee bit pricey for me. I've taken the family there 2 times in the past 3 years because of the cost. But since the food is always good, and the people there are very nice, it's a good treat.
(4)Matt G.
went there sunday for a going away for a colleague and had the patio reserved. $30 per person and there were about 20 of us. literally a dozen plates mostly bread and mushrooms, 10 shrimp to split and 10 beef skewers? really? additional $10 sangria? then at 635 the waiter and owner kicked us all out rudely because another group had the patio reserved at 7...."for something important" omg! never again and never recommend this joke of a place. these idiots just kicked out a group with a combine annual income of 6 mil. rude owner and mediocre food.
(1)Z W.
Based on two dining experiences, one a "3" and the other a "5", i give aioli a "4" Their paellas are great when done right, but poor when done poorly as was the last occasion when the mushrooms really seemed like they were cooked separately and then added on top of the tasteless rice, like they forgot the saffron. That dish was a "O". I really should have complained but was having a good time with friends. Had a great tomato heirloom salad with olives, 4 slices for $10. Very nice atmosphere, with a spanish guitar player who strums for tips. Very nice desserts. Overall,$180 for 4 people.
(4)Tram T.
They close at 11pm but considering we arrived a little early for our 10:45pm reservation, our water was definitely in a rush to get our order in to the kitchen for them to start cooking. Slightly over-priced...4 pc garlic/wine shrimp appetizer for $10? The atmosphere was nice, meal was nice, wine was nice, coffee was good. Waiter didnt ask us if we wanted dessert though. I guess he needed to leave. It was "Meh. I've experienced better." like the star rating suggests.
(2)Siemny C.
I love tapas. Small plates, a variety of food to nosh on and I'm on board. I came here on a Wednesday night with a few girlfriends and was pleasantly surprised to see a jazz band playing in the restaurant. It looked fun, but a little loud so we opted to sit the in patio which was great. The weather was perfect, it had a nice intimate vibe out there. Our waiter was extremely helpful and suggested that each of us order 2 small plates each, which was the perfect amount of food for our party of 4. The best dish was a shrimp and avocado dish. Extremely yummy. The cold octopus salad was also delish, as was ravioli, and albondigas. The salads were good - they tasted fresh but they lacked a bit of a wow factor for me. That said, it's always nice to get some greens in. I thought the service was great. As I said before, the waiter seemed pretty helpful, and someone kept coming around to refill our waters. It's a good place for a date or a night out with friends.
(4)Suzanne E.
Took a large group for a client dinner on a Wednesday night and they were packed!! Reda and his staff took excellent care of us in helping us selecting our wine, to supplying a steady stream of delicious plates for our party of 7 (which were chosen at Reda's discretion). Some new things I'd never had before (or even saw on the menu) so in think they get creative in that kitchen based on whats in season and fresh, and how adventerous a group may be. The salmon in the lemon caper sauce and the lamb chops were to die for. I don't even like lamb, but I've learned at Aioli to TRY EVERYTHING THEY BRING YOU!!! By far, my favorite restaurant and dining experience in Sacramento!!
(5)John P.
One of our favorite places in midtown. During the summer the their patio is a great place to have a romantic dinner (lights on the trees overhead, soft guitar music). They have a good selection of spanish wines and the food is wonderful. They have both hot and cold tapas depending on your desires. The parking can be a little difficult but there is a garage a few blocks away.
(4)Caitlin R.
Wow is all I have to say and not good wow. Today I had my worst experience EVER at a restaurant at Aioli Bodega Espanola. This review will mostly be about the service and not the food (which quite honestly was not memorable). First a few notes about the food and setting and then I will explain the worst service I have ever experienced. The restaurant serves mostly tapas, salads, and soups, however there are some entrees as well. I ordered the bourek de casa (cheese filled pastries) and the raviolis de la moda (cheese raviolis with a brown butter and mushroom sauce) with a glass of sangria. The sangria was good and the raviolis were ok (not too flavorful). The bourek de casa was dry and I was surprised that it wasn't served with some sort of dipping sauce. I ended up dipping mine into the white bean sauce provided with the dinner bread. Overall, my food was not that flavorful and nothing to rave about, however I will be honest and say that tapas aren't totally my thing. The atmosphere seems nice and I like the way the place is decorated. They have patio seating which looked nice, however our group was not seated outside. Here comes the bad news: they have horrible customer service. I went with a group of about 15 people and in total our group spent over $400 that night. The service started out ok (not great) and progressively got worse as the evening continued. Our waiter was an older man who appeared annoyed having to serve such a large group (we had a reservation). While we were all deciding on what to order he was either overly checking on us (felt like he was rushing us to order) or was not available when we actually needed his service. When our food came out it came at all different times so some of us were eating while others were still waiting. i can understand that because we had such a large group. Multiple times tapas came out that we did not order and our waiter would put them down in front of someone and tried to ensure them they ordered it. However, we all knew what we ordered and cleared that up. I had ordered the bourek de casa with cheese, however I was served the meat version. I tried it and it wasn't my thing so I requested them in cheese as I had originally ordered. It took about 15 minutes to get the correct order. Now, the real issue I had with the customer service was at the end of our meal when we were paying. The waiter had split our bill into two tabs, however that was not practical since pretty much every person only had a credit card. We asked for our bill to be split up and were told "No we cannot do that, it is too difficult." After asking multiple times, our waiter continued to refuse and got increasingly ruder and louder when speaking with us. On top of this issue, our tab was printed very poorly and we could not even read what we were being charged for. We were also charged for an additional tapa and glass of sangria that no one ordered. At this point, another person at our table went to speak with the manager about our concerns. Another younger waiter (I believe he was the owner's son) came to our table and said that he "was a change of character" and would take care of us. He made it very clear that they never split tabs and that it was against their policy. After splitting up our tabs it became apparent that we were charged for other items and he concluded that those items must have belonged to our other table (which had already paid). The whole time he was splitting our tabs and taking our cards it felt very tense and it was obvious he was annoyed and not genuine in trying to make the customer happy. Our other table was given another tab with the additional items and of course they did not belong to anyone. The waiter then grabbed the tab from the table, crumpled it up, and very loudly said, "Fine, this tab is on me!" He was loud, obviously angry, and created a scene in the restaurant. As we were finally leaving we could hear the younger waiter and another staff member talking about our table and saying, "they won't be back here." Yes, you are right, none of us will be back. We spent a lot of money at Aioli and deserved at least standard customer service. None of us would have left a tip, however we were not given the option since they automatically include it in the bill. I have never had such a tense and uneasy experience at a restaurant. I was expecting at least one of the waiters to start yelling (they already had raised voices). I don't care how good people think their food is, service does matter. If I am going to spend that kind of money I will spend it somewhere else that cares if I have a good dining experience or not. Please think twice about going here, especially if you are with a large group.
(1)Julie T.
Droooool... The paella here is the best I've had since being in Spain four years ago. The ambience, the wine, and the food were enough to transport me back to España, minus the crotchety Spaniards and their elitist attitude that I experienced left and right throughout the country. The waiter did let us know when we ordered our Paella Valenciana ($32, but enough for 3-4 people) that it would take about 30 minutes to make, but it definitely went more towards the 45-minute mark. Our waiter was very polite and helpful but not particularly present, so water wasn't refilled for the entire meal, nor were we asked if we wanted more wine. Overall, my rating is more for the food than anything else, but I was a happy customer!
(4)Pete A.
Great atmosphere! Their food is amazing! Their service can be slow at times but, it makes for a good place to take your date!
(4)Amanda S.
Ugh. What a waste of a great location and building. This place could use a swift kick in the butt from Gordon Ramsey.
(1)Stephanie M.
Hmmm, I seem to be backlogging all my past experiences at well-known Sacto haunts...and a lot of these reviews are negative or neutral. Too bad. Casey C. says that it's hard to figure out how to get yourself seated, and that customer service is bad. I have had good service when in a big party, but poor service when with a few people, so I'm not sure what to think. Elsewhere I wrote: "I've been to Aioli two or three times, and each time food was well-made and presented, but nothing out of the ordinary. And there's an odd smell coming from the kitchen." I have friends who swear by this place, and to me, it's just not worth it. Tapas has better food, even though they look shabby by comparison.
(2)Ross M.
Loved it. I wish I could comment on something besides the paella, but it's so good that i get it every time. The service was very good and friendly. It's a great place for a date or for a nice night out with a friend. Enjoy!
(5)Miranda P.
My favorite place to eat Tapas. Very welcoming I have always been seated promptly. Love the food. The first time I went in I didn't know how to order so I told them I was a vegetarian help me out. They just kept bringing out dish after dish well timed and very very good. Love it! Great on a date or with a group.
(5)Farrah F.
The outside seating is reallyyy pretty. :D But it was a hot day, so we opted to sit indoors. It was my roommate's birthday, so we were out to celebrate and stuff our faces, because that's what we do best. Their menu...has about a billion different dishes I would like to try. Instead, we all ordered something different and asked for plates to share. They were really great about it, and the food is unbelievably awesome. *-* I ordered one of the chicken dishes (Aragon?) and got to try the lamb and duck dishes two of my roommates ordered. I'm tempted to go back just to try all the tapas, but that may have to wait until I'm a little less poor. There was a blackout during our meal, so they lit candles for us, and opened the door so we'd get a breeze. The first batch of bread we got was great. :D Warm, crunch crust--I don't know what the dip was exactly, but it was really good as well. Our waiter was also really awesome. I unfortunately forgot his name, but he's really, really tall. There was a second guy who'd come around to get us water, refill our bread because we eat like starving vultures, and other such duties. We have no idea what his name is, but he will forever be known to us as the Potato Guy. This is not a name created out of affection. :[ Explanation: My roommate ordered a pretty awesome potato appetizer that we were all happily sharing. There were two pieces left, and while we recognize, sure, two pieces isn't a lot, this dish is freaking amazing, and we sure as hell want to finish it all. But he came by and swiped it so quickly, we were reduced to expressions somewhat similar to what you'd get if you'd stolen candy from a baby. ;_; We were pretty upset, as it would've been nice if he'd asked first (or at least noticed our horrified expressions). He also took a pretty long while in getting our second batch of bread back to us (so it was cold :[ ) and forgot to give the packed up food back to us, but our waiter flagged him down, apologizing profusely, so yeah, it's cool, I guess. So, a major plus for the delicious food and most of the service. Big minus for stony-faced Potato Guy. :[
(4)Jeremy W.
The short ribs are the bomb! I liked this place, but I wasn't able to win my friends over. I think their palates just might not be ready for Aioli! Until I can find some unsuspecting victim to come in with me, I guess I'll just have to day dream about those short ribs!
(4)Liberty G.
I have fond memories of this place. It was 1998 and one of the first dates with my better half after a six month out of state separation. We arrived late at night, closer to closing time and I found the place incredibly romantic, especially with the live guitar player, who I think was a kitchen employee. The staff was wonderful and the owner invited us to share drinks with him at the bar after we finished dinner.
(5)Flo G.
Love the food. Great value for lunch! Had a party of 8 here for NYE and had a festive, fancy, and enjoyable time. Good wine selection also.
(4)Peter L.
I have lived in Sacramento for over 10 years and I have always heard about Aioli ... all my friends say it was good to check it out but let me tell you i was VERY upset Not only did they ruin my birthday dinner but they were extremely rude about it, we didnt even get passed the first course of tapas, we ordered the mussels and let me tell you, they had a weird smell and taste but we tried to get over it but my buddy ate a mussel that was just down right nasty! it was black in the middle and smelled like it was rotten, he even put it in his mouth and almost threw up then and there!! We told the little red head waiter what the problem was and all he had to say was "I will show Chef" and then didnt say a darn thing, they practically rushed us off to go somewhere else. Ridiculous! They didnt even attempt to make the situation better ... this place may be good but they need a huge lesson in customer service .... will never go this place again ....
(1)Alex L.
If you are one of those people who expect a basic level of service and quality when shelling out money at a supposedly upscale restaurant , don't choose Aioli. My girlfriend and I ate here seeking an elegant restaurant experience in the downtown area. What we got was a packed, loud atmosphere with wait staff hastily shouldering their way through the crowd and yelling at each other from across the restaurant. Our waiter was an older, grey-haired gentleman with a gruff, snarky attitude. He seemed completely overwhelmed and didn't attempt to feign politeness when rushing us through our orders. My girlfriend was intimidated by his aggressive attitude The only highlight of his service was offering us a table after we kindly informed him that we didn't have a reservation. I sympathized for him because the restaurant was understaffed for a Saturday, but if you're going to seat us, we are going to expect some service. It took at least 20 minutes to order drinks, there was no bread offered (while bread was clearly being served to other tables), and when our food arrived nearly 45 minutes later, half the dishes were cold. It didn't help that we were sitting at butt-level next to the bar. We ate anyway, fearing that if we complained we'd never get served again. The overpriced dishes seemed like they would have been tasty in a more inviting setting. When I complained to him about our meals being cold, he stared me down and said nothing. I spoke to him politely and said I realized it probably wasn't his fault. There was no apology and no compensation. Needless to say, we won't be returning.
(1)Rob R.
Don't get the paella! Too much rice and it's burnt to the bottom of the pan! We had a large group so the waiter convinced us to let him handle the ordering (don't do this!). The spinach salad was tasty, but I could have passed on the meats and the mushrooms. The shrimp appetizer was yummy in a wine/garlic/butter sauce and is worth getting if not only to dip your bread into! We concluded with a lamb chop, chicken, and sausage plate. The lamb chops were delish but the rest was cold and dry. For $50/person, I expected more. I'll probably visit again to enjoy the court yard and try something new on the menu.
(2)Blake J.
I liked the atmosphere here a lot. The patrons all seemed happy, and they had live Spanish guitar. The waitstaff was all very helpful and upbeat as well. Didn't do tapas except for the cheese filled pastries. Those were good. I ordered the salmon for dinner. Again good. The potatoes were good as well. I don't like spinach, but I ate all of it on my plate and it too was good. My girlfriend ordered the the skirt steak. I had one bite but it was delicious. The only snag in the night was the waiter mixed up our order. My food came out a good 10 minutes before my girlfriends so when I finally got to eat it the food wasn't as warm as what's normally desirable. Our waiter was very apologetic and comped us some port wine and chocolate mouse. A very nice gesture, but still left with the feeling of a less than smooth experience. Not his fault though, that happens. Overall, I enjoyed the place but nothing on the menu truly jumped out as something I'd have to come back and try another time. While I don't doubt it's all tasty, it's a little pricey to not be blown away.
(3)Flix N.
love this place!!! It costs slightly more than the other tapas place in town but it's well worth it. Nice portions, nice presentation, excellent service, cool ambiance. Lamb skewers...yes! Beet and arugula salad...he!! yes!!! Marinated mushrooms...kinda' meh Free bread with dippin' sauce...most excellent. Raviolis as tapas? fantastic! Mojitos...possibly the best I've ever had! and and and A great selection of wine by the glass, generously sized to boot.
(4)Anh N.
We ordered the Paella and it wasn't that good here. The socarrat was very disappointingly missing from this dish. Don't think you can consider it Paella without the socarrat; the signature trait of the dish. The steam mussels had a foul smell coming from it; like sweaty gym underwear. Perhaps the other dishes are better, but I'd stay away from the Paella and mussels until they can cook it right.
(2)Scott I.
Full disclosure... I love this place. I have been frequenting Aioli for about two years now and all I can say is, they make you feel like family. If you are looking for a fine dining experience, a place where you can meet with a client or simply relax with a loved one, Aioli will take great care of you. The food is fantastic and the selection of wine is superb but best of all, fall in love with the atmosphere.
(4)Ruth P.
Great customers service and good lunch special:)
(4)Marina C.
Aioli and I have a long and sordid history. And I admit, there was a time a while ago when I knew most of the staff by name. Our relationship was young and fresh and idealistic then. I was charmed by the bodega atmosphere and the hospitality, the tasty tapas, the fantastic wine list, the Spanish guitar player, and (dare I say it?) the rather hot waiters. (I dare.) Years passed and my head was turned by newer, shinier, hipper restaurants. I too suffered a few evenings of the gruff nonservice of the older guy (Dude! Drink some prune juice!). The final straw came when I took a good friend here against her protests and had a truly one-star experience. I sighed and shook my head and moved on with my life, with occasional wistful glances at the corner of 18th & L. Aioli and I, we're no spring chickens now. But you know when a restaurant sticks around for as many years, they are doing something right. And there's something to be said for that tried and true, faithful friend--when you call, you know they'll be there with arms wide open. On a recent visit with a large party (I admit, my fingers were crossed behind my back), the service was impeccable. Our waiter, whose name I've forgotten (tall guy, red hair--I hope my pals left you a great tip), provided stellar, friendly, totally-on-it service. The patio was, as always, a divine little midtown oasis. And the menu (and several updated offerings), rivaled any of the new midtown Yelp darlings. Say what you will, but Aioli has regained its rightful place on my restaurant rotation. Ole!
(4)Elle T.
The food was fantastic! I had dinner with a few friends and we all ordered something different. Every dish that came to our table was incredible. We were there on a Tuesday evening. There were a few other groups of people eating there. The service was attentive and polite. We had a great evening with great food. BTW the crem brûlée was to die for!
(5)Kelley M.
Great place. I had never eaten there before. Just had lunch there recently with work mates. I had one of the three special offerings that they have ever day for lunch. Not sure if they offer the same deal for dinners but it was a steal and soooooooooo very delicious. Service was slow even though we told our waitress (who was amazing) that we were in a hurry. Otherwise I would have given them 5 stars.
(4)Barb G.
What an excellent dining experience we had yesterday. The dining room was beautifully appointed for the holiday season as was the neighborhood--all twinkley and the nice big windows allow the patrons to enjoy the hustle and bustle and cityscape views. Reda, the owner, greeting us so warmly. Yes I have been before but yesterday was really special---we asked for a Chef's choice meal and we were not disappointed--Scallop over polenta, mixed grill with lamb, chicken and chorizo, superb mushroom ravioli, salad with citrus...just an excellent excellent dining experience. Joseph was our most capable server which only added to the pleasure and enjoyment of it all...I know Reda has a very strong and loyal following and I am also a member of the ranks! Thank you Reda.
(5)Elixa S.
An excellent choice for a date or a romantic night out with your significant other. I loved the decor and there was a guitarist singing romantic ballads the night I went. The food was outstanding. I've had Spanish food plenty of times, but this far exceeded what I was accustomed to. I enjoyed the citrus chicken, but can't wait to return to try some of the other entrees. I wish I'd had room for dessert, but after an appetizer and an entree I was thoroughly stuffed. Next time. The only thing I would change about this place was the temperature. It was freezing outside and the restaurant seemed to only be a few degrees warmer. I understand not wanting diners to roast, but they could have cranked it up above shivering.
(4)TJ D.
This is probably the hardest review I've ever had to write. I've been going to Aioli since 1997, and I've never written a review until today. Ordinarily, Ailio would get 5 stars from me. But not today. It's been 5 years since I've been to Aioli. I moved to Orangevale and haven't had the time to spend in midtown like I did when I lived there (duh). Every time we have tried to go to Aioli it was closed. But last night we managed to be in the area during dinner, and decided it would be a good treat. We were seated promptly in the courtyard, which is where I prefer to be. We promptly ordered our traditional pitcher of sangria, and some tapas. I eagerly awaited the delicious bread with the bean spread, as it is one of my personal favorites. The bread and bean spread came, and we quickly discovered the bread was burnt. We are talking black crust. We mentioned it to Jacob, our server, and he apologized and said he would fix it. When he returned, it was the same bread WITH THE CRUST SCRAPED OFF. The only reaction a person can have to this is "OMG, WTF! ARE YOU SERIOUS?". And that is exactly the reaction I had. Fortunately, I didn't get a chance to say anything before they brought us a fresh batch of bread. Next came our tapas. The Ahi and Spinach salad was excellent. However, I did notice they used canned beets. For the price, one would expect all the ingredients to be fresh. Even so, we both enjoyed it as a light starter. Next up was the fig and goat cheese bruschetta. It looked very appealing and was well presented. However, the bread itself was burnt. There were large black spots over the crust and the body of the bread. We mentioned this to our server and he brought us a fresh plate within 5 minutes. He was, however, sure to point out that the black spots were grills marks, which I took as an insinuation that I do not know the difference between toast and burnt toast. By this point we realized we were in for a different Aioli's experience. What the heck, the sangria is excellent (the touch of mint is the defining taste of Ailoi's sangria). Love the courtyard. Another pitcher of sangria please! Next up was the lamb and pepper skewers. My wife commented on how dry and overcooked the lamb was, and I at first thought she was just being over-reactive since the experience thus far had not been good. Not so. Not only was she right, she was understating it. The lamb was dry and CHEWY, as if it had sat under a heat lamp for hours. The sauce and peppers were actually delicious, and I am certain this would have been a 5 star dish had the lamb been cooked properly. Finally, the scallops and risotto. Very nicely done. Perfectly cooked, tender and delicious. The risotto was creamy and well flavored. Unfortunately the previous 3 dishes ruined the experience a bit. It's a bit difficult to explain the service. The best word I can use to describe it is "WEIRD". Jacob, if you read this,we gave you a 20% tip (20% of the pre-discounted bill) because we both appreciate that you do this for living. In truth, that sort of service was not worth 20%. Inferring that the customer doesn't know the difference between well toasted toast and burnt toast is silly. Scraping burnt off the food and returning it to the customer as if they won't notice or won't care is just plain rude. Jacob also brought us someone else's dish. Ordinarily we wouldn't even see this as a problem, but it was another little thing to further irritate us. The bus boy was devoid of any personality. No big deal. It just added to the negative experience. The owner came to our table. I assume this was a move to try to make amends, but it came off very weird, with the owner asking us if all the food was bad. It was very odd and uncomfortable, and he never really offered an apology for the bad experience. He seemed more shocked that we didn't appreciate his restaurant. Jacob did offer us free dessert as compensation,but we really weren't hungry for dessert. Jacob then told us he would remove the two overcooked dishes from our bill. It was a nice gesture I guess, but it really didn't change our perspective The couple behind us also complained that they received the wrong dish. They did not realize it until they had started eating it. They said it was good, but pointed out to Jacob that they had expected their original order. They clearly sounded irritated. Instead of asking if they wished him to bring the dish they were supposed to get, his reply was "It was good though, wasn't it?" Not even an apology! These last 30 minutes of our visit (while trying to enjoy our pitcher of sangria) was just weird. I finally suggested to my wife that we leave before things got even more weird. I am not sure I can go back.
(2)Dave G.
Excellent cuisine, accommodating service, and romantic atmosphere! My wife and I arrived at Aioli's for New Year's Day dinner and they did not disappoint. My wife has several food allergies and the chef and wait staff were able to work with her to come up with some delicious options that she loved. I have no such restrictions and really enjoyed the white bean soup and lamb skewers. This is a great place when you're able to leave the kids at home and enjoy an evening out. Definitely will be returning. Great value for the price, as well.
(4)J P.
These guys have 2 entrances but apparently only one is monitored. Walk in the wrong one and you'll be standing around for 15 minutes while being ignored by the numerous employees who see you standing there. Walk in the right one and the robots might promptly seat you to a bad meal. Once we were actually seated, the service we got from the blond guy was pretty good. No faults there. The food, on the other hand, was mediocre, bland and what little taste it did have was a bit awkward. Everything was just a bit off.. either not fresh or poorly prepared.. I couldn't tell. The server asked if everything was ok when we opted not to pack up the $40 worth of food that was still sitting on the table. What do you say when everything is bad? For the money, Aioli should be doing a much better job. I hate to mention other restaurants in a review but Tapa the World is cheaper, has better food, and better ambiance. If you want Tapas late at night, go there. We won't be going back to Aioli.
(2)Jackson G.
Another great experience at Aioli with Reda and Joseph guiding us through dishes selected by Reda. Balanced selection of cold and warm tapas (the scallop on polenta was marvelous) served first with a Cava Brut and followed by a Cava Brut Rose. The mixed grill was the penultimate dish with a dessert offering of almond torte accompanied by a chocolate truffle sitting atop a delightful and subtle dollop of cream. A most delightful early dinner with great attention to detail and welcoming ambience.
(4)Louisa R.
Not something that I would go back into but enjoyed my lunch just because we were seated outside and there was a nice table and water fall with a mural. Food was typical. I'd only come back if i had no other choice. Service was okay,id give 4 stars for the interior.
(3)Leonard L.
Aioli Sacramento Midtown Saturday December 31, 2010 Five Stars Update If you are in Sacramento, go to Aioli. We started with fresh bread and that superb white bean dipping sauce. The Greek Salad was light, well balanced and refreshing. The Grilled Vegetables Platter was prepared nicely b/c each veggie still had a good crunch to it. Plus the grilled garlic and eggplant puree were so decadently nice. The Grilled Shrimp with Avocado was just as delicious as I remember it- Clean and Flavorful. The Scallops with Saffron Risotto was brilliant in taste and color. The Brown Butter Ravioli was perfect b/c Brown Butter is clog your heart delicious. The Skirt Steak was rare and tender just way it should be. The DUCK HEARTS were most delicious thing I ate all day. The Seafood platter was filled to the brim with tasty saline treats. My friend Stu $ came here for the first time and said that each dish was "F***ing amazing" and he is not easy to please. Overall, Worth the Price.
(5)Aza T.
A first impression IS very important. Aioili gave me a great first impression I just had to share. The staff are eager to please and very personable. The experience was a success, overall. I went for my friends 21st birthday and the waiter was such a gentlemen and was always checking on us. In honor of my friends birthday he brought her a sweet birthday drink for her to try. I can't remember his name, but he was a red headed guy who was absolutely fabulous! The entrees are a bit pricey, but delicious (and its a good amount of food). They have a huge alcohol menu, also. I highly recommend for a good night out, or a romantic evening, it is well worth it!
(5)Jeff P.
The food here is outstanding. The service was great and ambiance is fitting for its location. We had the mussels, short ribs, chicken, and mushrooms. The flavors of the food were so savory. The quality and presentation of our meal was great. I was extremely pleased with the entire experience. I do find Aioli Bodega Espanola a little pricey. It is tapas, so they are small plates made to share. I find that if you had a party of more than 4 it would get really expensive. Overall it is a great place for a dinner for 2 and love that it is in an alive part of mid-town Sacramento.
(4)Mali T.
4.8 Aioli's serves some of the best Spanish Tapas in Sacramento! Oh Yes! Authentic in taste and great selections to choose from! I'm in love hehe! They have varieties of small plates too! Order away =) The service here was also amazing! Nice decor and great atmosphere! Need to head back here and try out their other dishes hehe! Totally recommend!
(4)Jacqueline W.
Group/colleague decision to get a late dinner at Aioli last night. Service has dramatically improved, and the food was very good, as usual.
(4)Laurance L.
Came here for Valentine's day. Food: 4/5 Ambience: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Maybe because it was valentine's day, but the service here was attentive. My bread basket nor my water glass was ever empty--which is a great thing. We ordered 4 different dishes: Mussels in a sherry cream sauce: The mussels were good, not the FRESHEST mussels, but they weren't bad. The sauce, on the other hand, was great. I skipped the dipping sauce they gave us and just attacked this plate like a baby dinosaur. Filo dough filled with cheese: Very simple, but delicious. Very, very delicious. Buttery, flaky bread + white cheese (the actual typee of cheese escapes me, and I apologize) cannot go wrong. Ever. Seafood Paella: It was very tasty, but I was upset that I did not get more of the burnt rice (I don't know why, but that's one of my favorite parts of paella--though some people absolutely hate it). So I guess it's great for a lot of other people...because they like their rice cooked and not burnt...the seafood and vegetables made the dish very flavorful. Flan: It's flan. Creamy, silky flan. Oh! Btw, though yelp lists this place as casual...I wouldn't recommend t-shirt casual. Maybe a polo/nice jeans.
(4)Carlo S.
Every time I think about this restaurant, my mouth waters for the "rack of lamb" . Cooked and seasoned perfectly. Tender in the melt in your mouth kind of way. This dish is by far the best "rack of lamb" I've had in town. Even compared to Plan B where theirs was voted the best, for me, I believe that Aioli's is the best. Located in a very pleasant part of downtown on L and 18th st. Great for people-watching with a European flair. Very highly recommended.
(4)Candice R.
Amazing! We let the waiter just being out whatever he wanted along with his choice of wine pairings. Out of this world, definitely a one of a kind experience. Paella was fantastic. I could make a meal of the chorizo alone.
(5)Jen C.
The service was horrible- I think there was only one server for the entire restaurant. The tapas were bland and overpriced. $10 for 2 scallops?! I was not impressed. Out if 4 tapas we ordered only one was good- meat and cheese. I guess it's hard to screw that up. I will never go back. Tapa the World is a hundred times better.
(2)Nance V.
Came here the other night for dinner. We sat in the outdoor patio...it was nice and cozy; however, the burlap tablecloth was scratching my legs because I had on a short dress..lol. Our waiter was attentive and courteous. I couldn't decide on which red wine to have for the night and our waiter brought out his recommendation and it was perfect. We started with the garlic shrimp tapa which was very rich and tasty. I ordered the salmon for dinner. The fish was perfectly cooked. The spinach and potato gratin that accompanied the dish was delicious. Good ambience, good service, good food!
(4)vince v.
I will admit up front that I was somewhat reticent coming here having read the very mixed reviews about the service given to younger patrons, but it was my lady friends birthday and she really wanted to go here ssoooooo yyyeeeaaahhhh....we went. We ordered a series of small plates and each of them were very delicious in their own ways. Moreover, they were brought out in the correct tasting order which made them even more delectable. We had the following: ahi ceviche, the prawns, duck hearts, beef tartare, beef short ribs, and for dessert the drunken lady fingers and truffles in white chocolate. Of the above choices I would recommend the short ribs and duck hearts in addition to the drunken lady fingers, all three of which were unbelievably unique in their flavor composition. Our server, Azziz I believe his name was, and the support staff were spot-on and struck a perfect balance of efficiency, friendliness, and leaving us alone that an evening such as this needed. To top it off when they found out about the birthday the entire wait staff came out at the end and sang happy birthday with a lit candle in one of the desserts for her to blow out. While this kind of thing can run the risk of being "chain restaurant" cliche the staff at Aioli put their own unique Spanish touch on it and in the words of a wise, allegedly sober, and completely coherent Paula Abdul circa 2007 "made it their own". Overall, we had an extremely good dinner which was made even better by an efficient and friendly wait staff. It's too bad that some reviewers have had bad experiences here in terms of the service and I can only hope that Aioli has worked these kinks out because I would recommend going there.
(4)Miki S.
Great Spanish food and service! Try the gambas and ravioli
(4)Michelle K.
We waited an hour to be seated (we had reservations). It took a total of 3 hours to get all of our food, pay, and leave. They stuffed us in a small corner and forgot about us. The food portions are sooooo small and the food is not that great. We spent $200 for 4 people and 3 dishes. NOT WORTH IT! If you want to drop some money and get good food, do not come here!
(1)Karli B.
*sigh* Aioli. I work right across the street and rarely get to eat here. BUT when I have, it's been delicioso. This is a great place for a first date- small plates= low commitment. Order as you go and you can get your check when you're sick of the date. Or don't, this is where my sister and now brother-in-law had their first date. The patio is very beautiful. Lush and with a waterfall- just don't sit too close to the waterfall or you won't be able to hear each other very well (but everyone else will hear you). MUST TRY: Seafood paella. I am drooling thinking about it... Rich and well cooked- not too rubbery or sticky. Tip: Sit at the bar and let the 'bartender' pair the wine with your food. Drew is great at this. Knows his stuff.
(5)Deniece R.
Had a wonderful dinner for 6 here. We wanted to dine at Hock Farms, but a malfunctioning fire alarm shut them down, so arrived at Aioli with no reservations. Hoped to sit on the patio, but no table for available, started out at an indoor table but the within 20 minutes the owner was back and had a patio table for us, gorgeous night to sit outside, esp with live music. We followed the waiter's suggestion and ordered tapas (small plates) and everything was delicious. Grilled veg platter, fresh & smoky, meatballs in a tomato based sauce with garbanzos, little pastries filled with seasoned meat, steamed mussels (didn't think I liked mussels but these were very good), delicate ravioli, shortribs were amazing with a tangy potato salad, bruchetta with mushrooms, the list goes on & on. Everything was perfectly seasoned & prepared, and nice wines for reasonable prices. Lovely place for a birthday dinner, or anytime you want fabulous food and great service.
(5)Paul C.
Went here for Hemingway Night kickoff a few years back - what better excuse to drink large quantities of over-priced wine? So me and four others ordered six or seven bottles of whatever red wines the waiter felt like bringing and made every conceivable stupid toast to Papa we could come up with. It was a clean not-so-well lighted place. Things got loud, we broke a couple wine glasses, and managed to set the table cloth on fire - thankfully this was out in the back patio - and then I have a hazy memory of someone peeing in the potted plants. The tab was as large as the Hemingway myth, but I didn't see any charges but the wine. The bread sticks were free. All in all they were tolerant of our deviant behavior and willing kept pouring the vino until it was just us, someone sweeping the floors, and the ghost of Ernest remaining. I can't remark on their food - but the service was dandy - and I really appreciate them leaving Sac PD out of it all.
(3)Jax A.
Let me just say, I have never liked Spanish food very much, not even while I was in Spain...maybe I was just a naive colleges student on a budget who didnt know how to order, but it seemed like everything I tried was overly salty or consisted entirely of dry ham and olives...well NOT anymore thanks to Aioli! I was lucky enough to visit Aioli in Midtown with my awesome boss who knows a thing or two about real Spanish cuisine and this place was great! I tried half of their tapas- I recommend the portobellos al jerez and their tortilla espanola, the patatas bravas...their sangria is pretty good (although I wish I had tried their wine) - Lets just say the food was so good, I came home and tried to recreate their dishes the next day!
(4)Samantha M.
Terrible terrible service, we ordered three different tapas and when my fiance asked about a 4th, our waiter actually told us we ordered alot and if were still hungry, we can order more. Really?? Who are you to tell us what we can order... And the Tapas we ordered were not good... The salmon entree I had was okay, but when I asked for two lemon slices the waiter brought me lemon slices that had already been squeezed... The only thing that was very good was the potato gratin. But after the service my fiancé and I received I would not go back. Pretty place, but I was thoroughly unimpressed.
(1)Duke L.
SLEEZY ARCH CRIMINAL! It was a business dinner for 8 people. Set up entire menu weeks in advance. Agreed upon menu, price, everything. As I was paying, and it was an important business dinner, and just to ensure there were no snags, I met with the server an hour before everyone else arrived. Agreed upon $400 + tip. DO THE MATH: 8 people x $50 approx per person: $400 + TIP. I planned on leaving a nice tip approx 20% or more !! So I figure I'm in for close to $500. We were having a nice time, everything going as planned, when the SLIME Owner of Aioli comes out & says hello. ** Then he says he is sending out some special food...... Nobody wanted any more food, but as it is somewhat awkward, nobody declined..... Out comes a bunch of crap, sardines, bones & shit we couldn't eat........... I am not kidding, it was a disgrace.... THEN........... Slime-ball says he is so happy to have us here, he is sending out desserts........... Not a couple of nice desserts for everyone to share, NO - everyone gets their own piece of shit almond cake that tasted like shit, no one ordered, no one wanted, and no one ate...... OK, Fine! Whatever! I get the bill........... Fk'g asshole adds all this crap to my bill!!! My prearranged bill went from $400 to $700.... (AND they add 25% "service fee" tip) ....... so it was more like $875 !!! Thanks, arch criminal, grand larceny, multiple felon... It's an important, awkward business situation, so i do not want to end the evening fighting with the restaurant owner... And this sleazy slime KNEW IT !! There is nothing I can do, but smile, take it in the ass, say thank you and pay.... Next time, why not just stick a gun in my face and take my wallet, you scum..... I have more respect for LA street gangs that carjack you at gunpoint .... This guy should be IN JAIL !!
(1)Stephanie T.
My boyfriend and I came to Aioli for a Friday night date and it was good. The tapas are good and 2-3 each would have been enough for dinner, but we decided to get a paella too since we were there. The paella takes 45 minutes to make, so order it right away if you decide to have it. We ordered a few tapas, and the Paella Valenciana which had saffron rice, shrimp, calamari, muscles, chicken, and pork spareribs. The paella was really good, and could have easily filled up 3 people. 4 people if you ordered tapas, so come hungry! We had plenty of leftover paella and ate the next day for lunch. It was still good as leftovers. The service here was good, and I liked the cozy restaurant feel. I would definitely come back for a date night here.
(4)Kevin W.
Like so many of the other reviewers comments, the service was on a subpar level at best: our server was so disinterested after we told him that we don't drink alcohol (knowing that it would affect our bill); he was slow to change out lunch specials menu for the dinner version. Later, he tells us, although beyond his control, that anything with shellfish or Ahi is no longer available (this was at 630 pm). Our sole purpose for coming to Aioli that night: we had come for the mussels appetizer, the Ahi appetizer, and the Paella that includes shellfish, neither of this items were going into our tummies this unfortunate night. We did enjoy the delicious and well-prepared lamb, and the steak, too....plus the chocolate truffles in custard sauce and orange creme brulee almost made up for the horrendous lack of service. Hmmm, maybe not. Apathetic service can make or break a restaurant, especially one that is resting on it's laurels. On another irritating note: I had ordered the flan early in the night thinking it would run out (which it did), but the lack of communication between the bus-person and the server kept our table from enjoying that dessert. Our bill, including tip, came to $180.00...this is inexcusable for (3) persons in a Sacramento eatery that only drank H2O. The food portions, though flavorful, were very small. It's about 3 hours since we ate - and I'm hungry!
(1)Denny T.
Came in for dinner. Made a reservation. Hoped to get something outdoors. Ended up inside. Service was a mixed bag. Water refilling was not consistent or staff ignored empty glasses. Food order took some time to be taken and made. Tapas and entrees were ordered. Ordered the duck leg and the duck tapas. Also ordered the lamb and another dish. The ducks were decently good. The entree came with sides and grains. The duck tapa was with a sauce. The sauce was the best thing between those dishes. Duck was a bit dry both ways. Plenty of flavor though. The lamb was fall off the bone tender. The accompaniments paired well with. Overall okay experience. Good: mostly okay dishes. Bad: inconsistent service, dry was one of the duck. I'd come back to give another shot.
(3)Connor C.
Awesome place with great food, friendly staff and unique decor. A little on the noisy side but the lamb and swordfish are top notch!
(5)Sharyl S.
Oh my, this was like going back to Spain. Great food, wonderful wait staff. Ate on the patio after a 100+ degree day, but the ambience makes you forget the heat. A must return again and again.
(5)Yvette G.
I came here several weeks ago with several friends for dinner. Our server was excellent!! He treated our party of seven very well. I really wish I remember his name, but he was very professional and courteous. The food is ok, but definitely not worth the price you pay for it. I had the "Jarret" De Cordero Basco which is the braised lamb shank in tomato confit served over spinach and white beans. The meat was very tender, but as whole the dish didn't have any flavor. For $22, I expect better. Truthfully, I don't know if I will come back. Maybe for appetizers and drinks.
(3)Ashley B.
Aioli is one of my favorite places to have tapas or dinner during the summer. Their private patio makes my heart happy. Who knew there could be such a little slice of heaven space dab in the middle of the city. The trickling fountain and ivy are such a nice touch. I love to try new plates everything I come I have yet to try something that I did not like. I didn't think I liked lamb but I had it here and fell in love. I highly recommend making a reservation on the patio for a date night or girls night and share a bottle of wine or a pitcher of sangria and share a few plates.
(4)James D.
I have eaten here many times and have never been disappointed in either the quality of the food or service. This is a great place for a date night.
(4)Jeanice S.
Came here for dinner at 7pm with a large group. We had two long tables near the front of the restaurant. Menu was selected already, just had to choose our main course. Numerous of people walking in and out to the back of the restaurant. Food: I order a chicken dish, it came out with two large flat chicken breasts and what looked like potatoes with some sauce on top. The food was ALMOST COLD when they brought it out! The chicken had a sour taste to it like they squeezed lemon over it or had too much lemon juice. The moistness of the chicken was fine. The potatoes could have been more warm and a little crunchier. I was just very disappointed that my entree was not warm. Yes it was a large party but there should be a way to keep the food warmer than what I got. Price: Everything looked like it wasn't too cheap but not too expensive either. Although, our menu items were pre-selected so we weren't able to see the prices. Service: The waiter came around numerous of times and kept bugging us about our entree. Then he expected us to know what the menu consisted of. Keep in mind, this is my FIRST TIME here and I was not familiar with the food. The waiters were nice, refilled water when it was needed. Overall, I doubt I would come back. I was thinking of giving 2 stars but service was not bad, just the food was not up to par for me.
(2)Ralph S.
Went here for the first for my mothers birthday and I was glad that she loved the food and so did I. Can't say much more other than the food is great and the place is very nice on the inside and the backyard is very cozy. I give it a 5 star.
(5)Noy P.
Cozy and romantic place for a date night. Food tasted great. There was a live guitarist the night we were there. Our server, Joseph, did a fantastic job giving suggestions on several tapas and served us a bottle of wine that we liked. Price of wines starts at $38 and up. Wish they had some cheaper choices, too. Overall, the place is a good spot for dates. I would be back to try the other tapas next time.
(4)Melissa T.
Epic dining experience. Maybe it was the most fantastic sangria ever? Maybe it was the ambiance of the outdoor patio and live jazz? Maybe it was the perfection of every tapas plate we tried? Our dinner group of 6 enjoyed sharing all the different plates. The standouts were the scallops served on polenta (the scallops were so sweet, fresh and tender), grilled vegetable tapas with olive tapenade and the lamb sausage. What a wonderful restaurant. They have a great wine selection. This is a romantic place to bring a date! Plus they give you complimentary bread and dip. So many restaurants do give anything complementary anymore. The bread was nice to enjoy all the great sauces in the plates.
(5)Lillian H.
The portions are small here even for tapas. It takes forever to have my order taken, even longer to get my food, and just as long for them to pick up my check. I came here during lunch and it wasn't even crowded but it still ended up being a 2 hour meal. The outside patio is really nice though-- it's like a garden.
(3)Ashleen C.
I've always wanted to check this place out and finally got the chance to do so on my bday. It's a little confusing trying to figure out what door to enter through and when you do go in there is no hostess table. You're standing around the table where other people are dining and I didn't like that. It was a Tuesday so relatively quiet, and when we finally spotted a waiter we were seated right away. I recommend sitting outside in their patio. For a slow night the service was equally slow to get started. Our waiter was nice and gave some nice recommendations on the wine which I was pleased with. For dinner I had the duck, highly recommend. It was so soft the meat just melts off it. It could use more seasoning, a tad bland but great otherwise. We also had the salmon which was another great dish. I would come back to try the tapas but I certainly hope the service improves.
(4)Christine G.
I thought the food was pretty good. The portions were pretty large for tapas. So we were full after 4 tapas. We had the patatas bravas which were pretty good although they could have used more mayo sauce, the mussels were were huge and yummy, good broth. We also had the beet salad which was nice and the grilled veggies. The give you bread also for dipping in all the sauces. The service very fast and friendly. there was live music and the place was cute and intimate.
(4)Omar G.
Maurice provided excellent courteous service; paella valenciana was as usual on point! Appetizers, salad and wine recommended by Maurice were excellent as well. Aioli, keep up the great work, u r truly a Bay Area-esque gem in our local Midtown.
(5)Paul C.
Very awesome. I'll Keep coming back to try the whole menu. Owner and family made my first time here a great one, hence the reason for return. Tonight we had Paella Valenciana.
(5)Ray S.
Excellent food, service and ambience. Had some traditional cocktails all made with fresh ingredients. For dinner we had 2 tapas for each person and several deserts to share. Saturday night parking was difficult.
(5)Megan C.
Before you read please understand I believe this place was having a seriously bad day operations wise but the food was fantastic... I googled "best paella in Sacramento" Aioli was top of this list. I immediately made reservations for my birthday super excited for Paella!! We arrived to the restaurant and I absolutely loved the place. It's small, warm, beautiful and overall just adorable. However, the staff was not pleasant. Everyone has off days but the entire staff had an aching negative energy rolling throughout the entire evening. We really even put out effort to try to soften our waiter. Never once did you see a smile on their face, they all really needed a hug. I'm not going to blame the service staff because this energy trickles down from management.... There was or something had gone seriously wrong prior to our arrival putting the entire staff under stress and preventing them from creating an inviting environment. Now back to "Sacramento's Best Paella" we did not get to order it!!!! The waiter told us "it will be an hour and 45 min before the cook starts to make it.... IF he chooses to". What?!?!?!?! This for me was very upsetting and very unprofessional. The restaurant also was out of pitchers of sangria however, were able to charge each of us a glass of sangria and then later on in the evening bring us a pitcher. I feel this place may have refused us paella because they didn't want us sharing and up sold us on Tapas to rack up the bill. I really did enjoy the food I did get to eat, the sangria was delicious, and the place was beautiful. They lose two stars for their unwelcoming energy and NO Paella. I can't imagine this place having this issue consistently this had to have been a rough fluke for them. I was just really hoping to experience the ambience in the video on their website. I would love to give this place another try but I just can't. I'll have to find paella somewhere else. :( Fantastic food out of that kitchen guys!! I'll be missing out in the future.
(3)Ashna T.
Great service!!.Food was excellent and the atmosphere is great. Didn't feel rushed. Enjoyed immensely. Our waiter/server was very knowledgeable about wines and was able to accommodate all the dietary restrictions of our group
(5)Stacey H.
The BEST duck I have had in an extremely long time, great flavor, cooked to perfection! Also tried the Rabbit which was delightful and the meatballs.. Sooooooo delicious. A local Jazz band was playing live and they were fabulous. The music was quiet enough that you could hold a conversation at the table, yet loud enough to feel the soul behind the music. Definitely will be back again!!!
(5)Rod R.
Like many other reviewers I have to say the service was not up to where it should be. We had two separate waiters and still had to wait for service. Food was good except, if you say the special is an heirloom tomato salad then use heirlooms. I know the difference and it really detracted from the rest of the meal. I will give them another try but right now I can't recommend. Sadly
(3)Michael H.
This place is romantic and has a menu that is very Spanish. I've sat inside and out; I highly recommend getting a table outside under the lights. Order the pulpo, aka octopus, if you want a true taste of Northwest Spain. A good date night.
(5)Julie G.
I anticipated dinner here, I saved my daily consumption of carbs, sugars and fats so that I could order and eat guilt free. We started with the Beet salad, which was excellent. The beets weren't over cooked & tossed with grapefruit and feta cheese. The stuffed calamari had a unique blend of flavors and ingredients (of which I couldn't discern). This dish caught me off guard, they looked like raviolis and I was expecting it to be warm or a hot dish but it's served cold. Although "Cold" is stated on the menu, I think it would taste better warmed up. The calamari in all the dishes was fresh and tender, no chewy elastic calamari here. The grilled shrimp over avocado weren't anything spectacular or that you can't do at home. We then ordered the valenciana paella, which is loaded with seafood, chicken and ribs. An order of paella takes 45 minutes to prepare. The saffron rice was good but the whole idea of paella is to meld all the ingredients and flavors during the lengthy cooking process. It tasted like paella rice with a bunch of ingredients on top, which individually had no flavor. For dessert we ordered "El Borracho" - appropriately named, as the liquor used was far to overpowering and the cake was stale. We also tried the Pear in red wine reduction sauce, which was light and flavorful. All In all the food is edible but nothing really stands out. Our waiter was direct and always seemed to be in a rush. I probably will stick to the other Tapa restaurant a few blocks northeast of this place.
(3)Janette C.
Took my husband here for his first Aioli experience & they did not disappoint. We ordered Tapas: Stuffed Calamari, Lamb Sausage & Duck in Chocolate Wine Sauce; Entree: Paella Valencia; Dessert: Orange Creme Brûlée. We also took our waiter's recommendation of pairing the meal with the Tempranillo. It is very rare for a meal to force a smile on both our faces & they succeeded! It was very busy & a little cramped, but we didn't make a reservation, so that's on us. We will save this place for special occasions.
(5)Karine L.
This restaurant is amazing! You feel like you are in Spain, true spanish food with an owner who has lived and traveled everywhere!! So trust me, he knows good food! I love it when they have flamenco night with a guitarist who comes and play. The bar is my best place in the house but the back is wonderful as well!! Reda is always so welcoming as well as his son, they love what they do and we can tell!! Try it!!
(5)Ken S.
The duck was amazing!!! We also had Paiella. We were expecting the generous platter that we have had in the past in the Portuguese section of New Jersey but we were disappointed. The rice was not completely cooked and the dish lacked proper seasoning. The restaurant staff was very friendly and informative about the menu. We enjoyed the live music also. We'll definitely try this restaurant again to further explore the menu.
(4)Lisa S.
My boyfriend and I (late twenties-early thirties) visited this place last night. Bottom line that if a fun ambience and/or good service is important to you, take your business elsewhere. The service was stuffy and disinterested. Our waiter failed to inform us of the specials (he informed the next table over), did not ask us how our food was, and did not thank us at the end of the meal (really?!). Which is too bad, as we are generally very generous and reward servers for good service (20+%). Oh and I should mention that I usually don't notice or care about service, so it has to be pretty bad for me to notice/care. Anyways, we ordered the olives and tomato soup to start. The olive appetizer was a joke - the olives were peanut-sized - and the tomato soup tasted like heated up tomato juice. I ordered the halibut special as my main course. It wasn't light and flaky like other halibut I've had but it was seasoned well enough. Overall, the food was OK but not good enough to make me want to come back, especially given all of the other dining options that Sacramento has to offer.
(2)A.c. D.
Excellent find - or recommendation as it were. We sat outside for lunch. Having recently returned from Spain we were happy to find some very good, authentic Spanish food and wine. Kimberley, our server, was great. We will definitely come back.
(5)Tina k.
Delicious:) every dish is so good, it's my 5th time here. Tapas :) good Vino. Romantic patio. Nice and friendly personal. Will come back
(4)Kate M.
The food was pretty good, but the service was absolutely awful. We ordered two tapas, and then our server disappeared for the next 45 minutes. Nobody checked on us, nobody asked if we wanted more drinks... Nothing. And there was only 5 tables there. It was surprisingly difficult to get anyone's attention because it seemed like all the servers were avoiding eye contact. Once our server came back, we ordered another tapa and waited about 35 minutes before finally telling him to cancel it and get us the check. We asked what happened to him and he was a real jerk about it. We believe his name was David based on the receipt. We will never return. Food wasn't good enough to warrant the terrible customer service.
(2)AL P.
The restaurant was jam packed on a Saturday night. Excellent paella seafood style. Will have to come back to try some of their other fine dishes. Varied dishes and flavors with reasonable prices from tapas to full dinner dishes.
(4)My N.
The coffee was outstanding. The service was good. The food was only fair. We will not be returning to this restaurant. What a disappointment.
(1)Kunal B.
After a long day of studying and work, I realized I hadn't eaten since 10 AM. Seeing as it was 5:30 PM and I was too lazy to cook dinner at home, I decided I should treat myself. Hemming and hawing later, I decided to try Aioli for dinner. Was seated promptly and brought out some delicious bread and a dip with a pumpkin shade but tasted like hummus. Bread could have been warm but it did taste fresh so that wasn't bad. Feeling hungry and indulgent, I decided to order their lamb kebabs equivalent from the tapas calientes menu. I forgot the proper name of the item, but it's basically 2 skewers of lamb topped with a tomato sauce and bell pepper slices. Actually was quite good, lamb was tender and the sauce was quite delectable. For the main course, I decided to branch out and try their "Pato al Porto y Aceitunas": half a duck glazed in honey, port, and cinnamon topped with green olives with a side of roasted potatoes and sautéed spinach and I paired it with their Malbec, whose name I forgot but was quite good. A friend of mine has recently raved about Malbecs for their spicy taste as he describes it. To be honest, I wish I remembered the name so I could purchase a bottle for myself. It had a very smooth finish, lightly "spicy" but mellow. Very understated but good. Now to the main course: the spinach, unfortunately, was not entirely cooked through and was extremely salty. Sautéed spinach should not include spinach that looks like it just was served in a plate raw. Also, was way too salty. Luckily the potatoes were less salty and it balanced out. The potatoes were divine. First time trying duck, overall I must say not bad. With a bit of skin-on and mixing it in the sauce, the darker meat was beautifully done. Tender and fatty but oh so good. Maybe I'll have to come back here for other things. The service was quite good, thank you Jaime! My only criticism was that spinach I would say but everything else was great and I'll probably come here again in the near future.
(3)Ana M.
great food! came in at 3pm on a Thursday. we came as a party of 5, don't remember the names well but we ordered tapas: Patatas bravas , Legumbres, tortillas de colores and paella valencia. bread was amazing.. not to mention we all had enough food to fill up. service was amazing as well, the waiter was very attentive and brought bread and water when we ran out. Thank you for a great service.
(5)Sarcaswit Z.
This restaurant is fairly old and owing to the cold weather outside, and a ton of customers inside, there were large traces of condensation on the windows, so not the most inviting of vibes right off the bat, but the food more than makes up for it. For a tapas style place, the portions are surprisingly satisfying. The salmon, shrimp and potato dishes were all delicious. Service is also very good. Two of us sat in the corner by a window overlooking the street, thankfully protected from the spirited laughter of other customers at least on one side, but that side proved to be particularly cold, either because the glass was too thin or, they had forgotten to turn off the AC; there was cold air literally blowing at us from above which did not make for a super comfortable dining experience - but that's my only real complaint, otherwise thumbs up.
(4)Daniel T.
Visits: 1st Rating: 4* Service: friendly & attentive. They joked with us a lot. Dishes: Paella Valenciana; Calamari Wifey is a big fan of Paella. And probably anything with rice if you ask me. So her friend & fellow nurse recommended Aioli for some good paella. So here we go. -Paella Valenciana (3.5*), Seafood Paella. It's different from the paella I'm use to from Barcelona to SF & LA. But we haven't had Basque paella yet, so perhaps that's why? It is still good though. The rice is not as yellow, it comes with a whole lot of veggies that I wouldn't expect & a little more liquidity than I'm use to. A whole bunch of seafood in a beautiful presentation. The portion size to me is huge. The menu said good for two. If you're Asian, get a 3rd person to help out. We had a good amount left over, which should make for a good lunch the next day. =) -Calamari (4.5*) in a tomatoe based sauce. Excellent dish. Very delicious. Calamaries were tender & fresh. The sauce was so good with a little kick of spiciness. Great all around. This plate was wiped dry with bread. Delicious!
(4)Mike E.
Hands down the best Spanish food on the west coast. Fresh, bright and innovative. Waiters create a meal for you that is eclectic and balanced. Wine is inexpensive and pairs beautifully. Best service in all of sacramento. Waiters are adept and attentive. The patio and the dining room are warm and inviting. You never feel rushed or that they are ready to turn your table. 2-3 hours passes like nothing, you almost don't want to go home because it feels like home.
(5)Teena B.
I have been here a number of times with friends and family. I love the fact that the wait staff know what they are doing and know the menu. The food has always been fantastic, and the wine good, also. Love this place.
(5)Darrell S.
The food was ok. The service was HORRIBLE. Avoid the server "Jeffrey." If I feel like being ignored for an hour, I can go to the DMV.
(2)Lyndsay F.
Aioli is as good as it gets. Last night I enjoyed Aioli for the second time with my fiancé, my mother, father and step father and we had exquisite service and phenomenal food. Joseph was our server and he made us feel like we were sitting in his kitchen at home. Joseph has a strong French accent and he is very personable-he treated all of us like family and I even hugged him when we left because he was such a nice guy. We originally had a reservation for 7PM on the patio but arrived at 6PM and requested a seat inside because it was 90+ degrees outside-Joseph was happy to accommodate us. My father and I ordered the salmon and it was absolute perfection! My Mom and step dad split the Paella and my fiancé got another shrimp dish. Everyone was extremely satisfied with their meals and couldn't stop talking about how delicious it was! I just came from breakfast with my mom and stepdad and they are still raving. Aioli is not a cheap restaurant but it's 100% worth every penny. If you get a chance try to sit on the patio, it's super romantic and authentic-there was a guitarist on the patio last night next to the fountain. I love Aioli and can't wait for another reason to come back!
(5)Lucy G.
My friend recommended this place and I came to try it out last Fri. I expect a popular restaurant with good word of mouth would be packed on a Friday night however when I walked in the restaurant it was half empty. I kinda doubted whether the food is good or not based on the low occupancy. I ordered Paella Valenciana and it did take more than 45min to be served (as shown on the menu of estimated cooking time). It's only two of us so we only ordered one appetizer figure the entry would be enough for us. And it was. I'd say Paella Valenciana was not impressive, maybe my expectation is little higher. The dish dries up very quickly as the rice absorbs all the juice. Half way through and we cannot take it anymore cuz it's just way to dry. I wanted to try the sangria however the waiter told us that it would be too sweet. Overall, just an ok experience for me and I don't think I would come back.
(3)Diane D.
Food was excellent and the service was excellent. Try the sangria, and sit on the patio. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Mike L.
Dinner last night. Tapas were the call for the night. They were all very good. Waiter was good. Overall service average though. Some great Riojas too All in all- a solid 4 of 5. Good, fun place
(4)Alicia W.
Excellent experience all around! Firstly, the food is delicious. Moreover, the ambiance is enchanting! Food, 5 stars. Service, 6 of 5 stars! We put our entire meal into our servers hands. His name is Roman, and he is amazing!! Wine list is top notch! We LOVE this place!!!
(5)Janice J.
Amir was such a great waiter, and his father was so charming! Love this place and this night! Happy birthday to me and Mary. Thanks to Julie too!
(5)Nelp H.
This place is a must go! The patio is beautiful with a fountain, lights and a guitar player. The food is delicious! I had the beef short ribs with polenta, mussels and the patatas gratas. Each was perfectly made. The only thing that I didn't like was that the sangria had no fruit in it. Otherwise five stars for sure.
(5)Lea G.
Large family dinner with reservations, We were seated promptly and drink orders taken after a quick peruse of the menu ... sangria all around! The tapas experience is a great opportunity to try new food. Especially in a group setting as we could try a little but of everything. With the help of our waiter, he told us the popular tapas as well as the number of people the dish would feed. With a group of 9, we order double of specific tapas such as the cod fish, and braised pork. To our surprise we love the vegetarian tapas. Great place and would definitely recommend!
(4)Val P.
Came here about 5pm on a Saturday for a lite dinner with a friend, she has been here two times before and enjoyed it. Our experience this evening was bad! We asked to sit outside and they said no it wasn't ready so we sat at the bar. We ordered drinks my wine was terrible but no one asked if it was ok.... The glass was full and I never drank it you would guess by that it wasn't to my tasting. Our food came after we had to asked to order and it was good. We had to ask for our ticket and I kept trying to get someone's attention but no one would help us. I walked up to The manager/owner and told him how bad the Service was and all he could say was "he had no idea" well if it's my restaurant I would know there were only 2 other parties there eating at the same time! This place is not the place to go if you want any service! The sad part is the manager didn't care enough to ask if there's anything he could do to much us happy....sad!!! I will not eat here again and will tell my friends not to eat here either
(2)Pedro B.
Had a lovely dinner in the window seat up front. Could also go back in the patio where a guitarist plays and it is very romantic all the young people were there. A happy place to go for a Spanish dinner and entertainment.
(5)Mary C.
Went there with a group of friends and loved it! We had anchovies, caramelized dates, octopus, the beet salad, Mediterranean salad, scallops, chorizo, and more! it was delicious!
(5)Diana C.
I recently celebrated my birthday with my parents at Aioli Bodega Espanola. I attempted to make a reservation online, and there were no times available. I quickly called the restaurant, and they were able to make a reservation for the time I had requested (6:30). The three of us showed up at 6:30 p.m., and it was a little unusual to enter in the restaurant. Was not sure whether we even entered in through the right door and we stood around waiting to see if we had to be seated. It wasn't until I went up to one gentleman and told him we had a reservation, then we were seated right away. Coming from a Spanish background, and my family cooking very delicious food, it is difficult to go to any restaurant, let alone one that cooks many of the same dishes I eat at home. I ordered their Sangria, which I thought was a bit off for my personal palette. We ordered two tapas: the costillas and the gambas (a la mexicana). They both were very good and I had no doubt that the rest of the food would be delicious. The costillas were very flavorful, similar to ones that my family makes at home. The gambas or shrimp, were grilled and topped with a version of salsa fresca, but with olives. Then we decided, with some reluctance, to order the Paella Mixta. Any restaurant in the U.S. or Spain I feel has never made it as good as my family does. The waiter said that it is very popular and well-liked. We ordered, and it seemed it was not the right color or flavor. Could have been more "bright" in color and flavor. The chicken pieces were underwhelming and so were some of the other ingredients. Overall, I would definitely recommend the tapas to share and not get anything too large. We were full from just the tapas when the paella arrived. I liked the overall ambiance, though I think the service could have been even better. There was something a bit off. Not sure if I will come back again, but if I do, I will just go for the tapas.
(3)Stan L.
Great experience. Walked in, and was seated (for two people) within 5 minutes -- although the physical location of the host was not very clear. Ordered 4 tapas: portobello mushroom, lamb skewer, braised pork, and cod fish. The portions are good, so for two people, 4 tapas, and one dessert definitely put us over the top. You could just order three tapas and a dessert, and that would probably be enough. But we wanted to try everything! Our favorite was the portobello mushroom and the cod fish. Portobello mushroom came with cheese (I forgot which kind). The juice from the mushroom together with the cheese was so full of flavor, with just two ingredients. Definitely surprised and highly recommended. The cod fish was served on top of a bed of greens, which complemented nicely. Fish was cooked and seasoned just right. Might be on the salty side for some folks, but it was fine if you ate it with the greens. The lamb and the pork were just OK for us. Both meats were fully cooked, made it kind of tough to eat. But they were both quite tasty. They kept refilling our bread basket, which was delicious with their special bean dip. But save some of the bread to go with the tapas. We got the dessert, forgot what it was called. But came with slides of plain cake soaked in some kind of dessert wine, topped with fresh fruits and drizzled with syrup. Not too bad with coffee, but I'd personally like it more if there were some kind of cream filling. Definitely recommended.
(4)Angel M.
We came for a 25th Anniversary dinner here and they did a pretty nice job of accomodating us. We were about 15 people and Aziz, i think he's the general manager was also really helpful and friendly. We had a family style dinner with each plate serving about four people and he gave me really good suggestions on how to arrange the menu for our dinner that night. The paella valenciana was delicious and the different tapas as well!! All in all the evening was a success!! But my favorite thing was their Sangrias! MAKE SURE YOU ORDER ONE!
(4)KR R.
We came here without a reservation on a Saturday night. Had drinks at the bar while we waited for a table. Everyone we dealt with was very friendly and service was good. The tapas we tried were all delicious. Can't wait to come back and try some more!
(4)G R.
So, if three stars is "A-OK", I have to go with two stars for "Meh. I've experienced better." On the plus side, beautiful decor and professional service. Only had tapas dishes, four in all, but just not worth the high prices. The duck was cooked nicely, but it's served with a gastrique too heavy in vanilla. The sauce was akin to pancacke syrup... not a great experience. The Langostina salad was OK, but the meat was cooked with no spices, which seemed an odd choice. I guess they have to charge the high prices to afford this great corner spot with a large outdoor courtyard, including a live jazz quartet. Very nice ambience, but the food does not measure up.
(2)noc f.
1-Bald owner is a Jerk!!!!!! 2-Paella Vale is theee worst I have had! 3- Overrated and overpriced! NEVER AGAIN!!!!
(1)Alan S.
This is a nice place to go for tapas with a group or just out for a date night. Out on the patio is the romantic spot to be, as its got kind of a mood lighting effect going on. We ordered four tapas for two people which was plenty of food to satisfy without being stuffed. Overall the food and the service was great, but you may want to make a reservation as the place can fill up on the weekends.
(4)Brad D.
I went to this restaurant blind. Never spoke to anyone about it, no recommendations, no prior knowledge of it at all. I was looking for a little something different to take my wife to on Valentine's Day. I looked at some reviews and wound up booking a reservation and crossing my fingers. It was a cute and quaint place. Just fancy enough, but not stuffy. I'd feel comfortable going there in a suit and/or jeans. We sat inside, but when I saw the patio, I really wish we got a table there. Seemed like a gorgeous place to sip on sangria, enjoy some good food, good company and a beautiful evening. We truly didn't know what to order, but saw the paella valenciana and we're sold on it from the description. The waiter suggested grilled shrimp and lamb skewers for appetizers. We both thought the appetizers were excellent. The shrimp were seasoned and grilled to perfection. The lamb was a perfect medium rare to medium, seasoned and sauced very well. The main dish was a seafood paella. The rice was delicious and I think the mussels were cooked perfectly. The most tender I think I've ever had. The same was true for the pork...excellently cooked. The calamari, chicken, and shrimp were slightly overcooked, but not so overcooked not to be enjoyable. Overall we really liked the paella. No major complaints. If you want the paella, make sure to order it when you first get there as it takes approximately 45 minutes to make. I'd definitely suggest the paella however. As for dessert. Another suggestion by the waiter. I'm bad with names, but it was essentially an orange creme brule. Very good way to top off the meal. Oh....and I forgot to mention the sangria. Excellent! A definite must have. Overall, excellent experience. A little spendy to eat there everyday. About $100 with tip, but worth the experience. And I do believe they have more budget friendly lunch fares and such. Hit it up. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
(5)Roz S.
Staff was wonderful, very knowledgeable in regards to wine flavors and tastings. The steak was delicious! So many flavors in one sitting. The atmosphere was somewhat loud and conversation was slightly rough, but the taste trumped the atmosphere! Worth it!
(4)Sarah T.
The first time I ever been here was in 2005, and I did not like the food. I came back to give it another try because my friend had a birthday dinner party here and it was nothing like I remembered. I ordered the duck breast with a wine reduction sauce and that was delicious. Someone else ordered the meatballs and that was fantastic too. We had a total of 5 pitchers of sangria and spent over $500 for a table of 13 people. The manager or owner (not sure which) opened two bottles of champagne for everyone at the table to show appreciation for our business. I thought that was a nice gesture. A month later I came back and the food excellent. I also enjoyed the endive salad as well.
(4)Daniel K.
We came here with a group of high school friends and got a nice seat in the outdoor patio. We highly recommend the back patio for ambience. Perfect for dates on a nice summer night. We ordered two main dishes (seafood paella and steak) and 6 tapas (mostly vegetarian orders) to share, which was perfect for six people (four dudes and two gals). Quality of tapas were great, particularly the mushroom dishes and all of the sauces. The price-to-quantity though was lacking: I wouldn't recommend getting a tapa as a main course dish for yourself, because that will not be enough to fill you up. In the end, the bill came up to about $30 per person (including tip). I would add that the waiter was hilarious and super blunt. (Even gave advice about marriage!) And the waiter was super friendly and greeting/welcoming customers at the entrance. Oh, also, two of the guys in our group were wearing tshirts and flip-flops and felt a little underdressed. So come at least with a button up! tl;dr Good ambience, service, and food. Small portion to price ratio. Maybe return for fancy occasions or nice dates.
(4)Misty M.
First-timer - was impressed by the food and the environment. We came for lunch since I had a craving for tapas. I knew it was too early to order paella so i tucked that away for another day. We had the charcuterie y queso manchego - very tasty and presentable. i'm a fan of manchego so it was very good. We had the patatas bravas, ravioles de la moda, and albondigas todo ajo - they were very tasty, small plates, and filled two us up. sopa de chocolate and pera 'aioli' was dainty! We sat out on the patio for lunch, albeit it was a little breezy and I was worried about all that tree/shrubbery things falling onto our food, otherwise it was a good experience. The server was very cordial.
(4)Zachary W.
One of my favorite places. I am from Spain so it's nice to have some authenticity nearby. The tapas are wonderful, the ambience is fun and casual and overall the experience was great. The service was fast, our server was extremely friendly and I have no complaints. I just recently moved to the area and the midtown area is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
(5)TRACY R.
I come here for the Paella Valencia. Sooo good I came back two days in a row. For $37, it was definitely worth it! Trust! You have to try it. No other restaurant does Paella, and when they do, they don't do it justice. But this place does. Big prawns, muscles, calamari pieces, pork, chicken, underneath a bed of saucy, red, warm rice. They make it for two people, but I'm pretty sure you can share if you order more tapas. The first night, I came with a gf to gossip and catch up. Add a pitcher of Sangria to that and a Tapa and it became a four hour meal :) The ambiance was relaxing. Candle lights, big open windows to people watch, and friendly wait staff. Every time I come here I have a great experience. The paella was so good, I was sad the bf wasn't with me to enjoy it. So the next day I had to share with him the mouthgasm that I experienced. We came with another couple and ordered two tapas with the paella. The food may look like it has small portions, but it is so rich and full of flavor. We seriously were so full that we couldn't finish the Paella and had to take the rest home. LOVE this place!! Great for gf dinners to catch up, romantic dinners for two, or just dinner with another couple. The food is always good, the wait staff are always friendly; definitely worth it!
(5)Alicia C.
We went here on a Friday for dinner and really enjoyed it. Walking in was a bit confusing, with multiple doors, but we went in and headed for what appeared to be the host stand. The owner (?) greeted us and redirected us to the bar to wait 5 mins since I requested a patio table. He was very to the point and brisk, but not rude like some reviews mention. The bartender was awesome! He showed us the wine and cocktail menu, was super friendly, and fast with our drinks, even waters. I love the sangria, a special house blend they're known for. My boyfriend got the mojito which was equally amazing. They use a ton of fresh mint and very fine sugar instead of simple syrup, an attention to detail that really matters. He even stopped by our table later to check on us. (Just a side note, anytime you're at a restaurant it's always best to cash out at the bar and pay for your drinks there! You make it easier on the server by avoiding a hunt for your tab and a transfer that involves a manager, plus you get to tip your bartender!) Our table on the patio was gorgeous and romantic, perfect for nice date night. As far as service, Jamie was great. He was friendly and helpful, made me feel comfortable ordering, and seemed it genuinely want us to enjoy our dinner. The food was amazing! We tried four tapas and three desserts. I'm not sure of the name of all the items I ordered, so I'll just describe them. The tartar tuna was delicious, very fresh and well seasoned. We tried the Mediterranean marinated olives, a small but yummy treat. We also had salmon that came in a white wine sauce with lemon and capers. It was wonderful, well cooked to still be tender and with a smooth flavor that wasn't overpowering. Our last tapa was a lamb skewer. We agreed it was the best lamb we've ever had. Tender with a great flavor/sauce it had a taste that was different than beef or but also not overpowering. It had roasted red peppers that added a lot of flavor. We were celebrating so we got three desserts. These are European style desserts, so expect smaller potions but you're really going for quality over quantity here. Normally one dessert would be great to satisfy a sweet tooth. The pera aioli is a pear in a red wine reduction. It's sweet and delicious, without being sugary sweet. We also had the chocolate truffles in white chocolate soup. The three dark chocolate truffles were better than you could even get at some chocolatiers and the bitterness mixed perfectly with the sweet white chocolate sauce. It was a very rich dessert, in a great way. Lastly, the creme orange was very much an orange creme brûlée, but in a good way. The caramelized fresh orange slice in the middle was devine. We can't wait to go back and try the Paella!!!
(5)Maia S.
I have been meaning to check out aioli for so long already, and today happened to be the night. I was very unimpressed. Very disappointed. We came in with 10 girls for a birthday. Our server was fantastic. Very helpful, nice, and had a great vibe overall. I ordered the honey glazed duck with roasted potatoes. I was disappointed. The worst duck I've had...ever. The whole composition of the meal just did not go together. 2 stars because the manager was so rude. He kept on staring at us the entire time with his hands crossed hoping we'd hurry up and leave. After we had our dessert and asked for boxes to go, he said, "move it, move it" you've been here since 5:30. It was 7:45 when he said that. I was shocked. So disrespectful. We reserved a table, paid for our food, left a nice tip and we're getting kicked out. I couldn't help but come up to him on my way out and respectfully and politely told him how unprofessional he was with his customers and if he wants customers to come back, kicking them out is not the way to go. He just kept saying, "I know, I know," and seemed at no interest whatsoever. Very unfortunate, but I will not be coming back here again.
(2)Sarah A.
Love, love, love this place! Everything I've tried here has been delectable! Definitely one of Sacramento's finest.
(5)Mai B.
Aioli is by far my favorite restaurant in Sacramento! Everything about this place deserves an A+. The staff is friendly and warm, the seating is intimate and romantic and the food is absolutely delicious. On a warm summer evening you have to dine on the beautiful and quaint outside patio. This is the place to go if you want to take your special someone out for a romantic dinner.
(5)Margarita A.
Aioli never disappoints. My favorite Tapas are the eggplant and the pork... Sorry I can't remember the names. The sangria is amazing and you have to ask for Roman ask your server! He's absolutely the best:)
(5)Bridget G.
First time I've been here, food was alright but the service was awesome. We went in on a Thursday night with no reservation and we're surprised to see that the restaurant was insanely busy! We sat at the bar and ordered a drink and not 5 minutes later they offered us a table in the corner by the front window. It was a tiny table but we were happy they were so accommodating. We ordered a mushroom appetizer and two steaks. Food was nice but not amazing, tasted pretty home-cooked. Our waiter was super nice and authentic. He explained every dish and really made us feel special even though he had 5 other tables to deal with. Not sure if I'll be back anytime soon with all of the amazing food options in midtown but a good restaurant to keep in mind for large party's who want quality home-cooked food.
(4)Ms. S.
I was at Aioli this evening with a friend. We ordered the seafood paella, mushrooms, olives, my friend had sangria, then we each had a desert and I had a cappuccino. I found it overwhelmingly disappointing. The olives were a joke, 99% were tiny - barely larger than a raisin) (I love all kinds of olives. I've lived and traveled in Greece and Turkey - I've ordered olives from Spain. I know my olives.) The ones we were served where ridiculously tiny, and most tasted off - not that raisin sized olives are much to chew on. The sangria was just okay- nothing compared to Tapa The World or even Tower Cafe. I ate two muscles in the paella. They both tasted as if they'd been rotting in the sun. I had to spit one into my napkin. Before we ordered desert, I nicely told the waiter about the mussels. He looked away as if by doing so it would mean he couldn't hear me, then said, "They're fresh here". I love muscles, but these were disgusting. The presentation was nice. We enjoyed our deserts - but would have done better by going to Tapa's then over to Tower Cafe. I was really looking forward to Aioli, but over all, I've had better and the mussels are really concerning.
(1)Ronda T.
If you are a first time Spanish food eater, go with a group and get topas. Get more than you normally would. The topas are small and perfect for one. Each person should pick one or two. Get a whole bunch and that is your dinner. Everything is super yummy. The waiters are sweet and attentive. The ambience is amazing. Love it.
(5)Zoe D.
PAELLA PORN. That is exactly what led my boyfriend and I to visit Aioli earlier this week. Thanks, Yelpers! The food was excellent, drinks were delicious, and the paella was, as all of the gorgeous food pics have indicated, amazeballs. Our waiter was a bit odd-unattentive, a little forceful? It was weird. Nonetheless, I would definitely go back to get my hands on that saffron-infused carby goodness.
(4)Cathe A.
Had a lovely dinner here twice now...once with a bunch of my colleagues and then most recently with my parents. They had a live guitarist. The waiters are so friendly. The seafood here is so succulent and delicious. The sangria was good but I prefer their Pasanau Priorat wine!! It is to die for!!! We had a bunch of tapas and tried their paella..not the best but pretty good!
(4)Joshua s.
What an overcrowded, and yet wonderful tapas restaurant. Had my sisters birthday there, and we had a great time. The food was amazing. We had mainly tapas, but some of us had the main courses. The service was great, expect some attitude from the man who looked like the manager. We sat outside, and it was just a wonderful dining experience. I definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice place downtown.
(4)Helen H.
The following review is only about the food. Ensalada de la Moda $8.95- spinach salad with green beans, carrots, beets, olives, potatoes, eggs and tuna, in a light vinaigrette It was an unique salad. I especially liked the potatoes and eggs in it. The beets reminded me of Dwight Schrute. Ravioles de la Moda $9.95- ravioli stuffed with herbs & cheese in a fresh shitake mushroom, brown butter, sage sauce Yummy! You can really taste the mushrooms flavor. There were only 3 raviolis though. Tomate Catala $9.95- A large tomato stuffed with seasoned bread, Spanish ham, & Danish fontina baked in a white wine garlic sauce. Large tomato indeed. This was good too, but was a little salty. I wish I had some rice to go with it.
(4)David C.
Haven't been here in a while, but here with a group for a birthday. Food and service were great! Definitely returning.
(5)Welmond C.
Food was good for the most part. Customer service could have been better. Went there for lunch and were the only ones in the restaraunt. Was expecting a speedy service - take order, bring food out, eat, pay and go to work. Did not happen. Unless you have an hour and a half for lunch, a lunch during the work day is not going to happen. Ordered the three course lunch (I had the fish). After eating the curry soup (which was different...in a good way) we waited through our entire lunch period for the next course. Being fed up, we ended up taking the rest to go. Surprisingly, it was the manager (i'm assuming he was the manager) that made such a big deal out of it. In the end - fish I had was delicious but lemon cake desert was too watery (yes.... watery) for my taste.
(3)Kimberly M.
A FANTASTIC restaurant! The service is above and beyond and the food is absolutely mind-blowing. The decor both inside and on the patio outside make it a great place for everything from business meetings to romantic dinners. I've gone several times, and it gets better every single time! HIGHLY recommended.
(5)mike b.
The manager is a racist. My family and I called in two minutes prior and they said they have plenty of room. When we got there they had three open tables and the manager (A bald guy in a Hawaiin Shirt. Took one look at us and said they have no room. As we decided to leave another family came in and was seated right away. Don't go here!
(1)Danny H.
Great food and drink options! Sangria was very good. Server was helpful in giving suggestions. Try the spicy octopus! I loved the outdoor seating area.
(4)Eastsac G.
Haven't been here in years so thought we'd give it a try again. Hubbie had steak bistecca which comes thinly sliced with some arugala on the plate. Steak was pretty yummy but would have been nice to have a more substantial side. I had the sea bass w/au gratin potatoes and veggies. Fish was a tad overcooked but good flavor and a good portion. Potato also had good flavor but was watery. Sangria was the bomb though. Not overly sweet. Kinda peppery. Really wanted the paella but only can get if 2 people order. Bummer. I'd go back to try that. Oh, bread was VERY dry. Hummus dip was OK Waitstaff was nice and attentive.
(3)Cesar S.
Reda Bellarbi is the beast ofr restaranteaur. With his geneality and overseas life experience, brought to Sacramento a unique , real and superb real taste of Spanish culinary. I moved to San Diego 4 years ago. I live in the top notch area, and there in no place here that can compete to Ailoi. I miss Aioli. A place to be. Please, say hi to Reda when you are there, he loves talking to people. 10 stars
(5)David C.
Aioli's serves some of the best Spanish tapas in Sacramento. There is a nice European feel to the place, intimately lit and a patio area in back. On some nights they also have a live guitarist strumming flaminco music. My wife and I eat here almost every year for our anniversary and they always deliver. Every time we go, we order 1-2 small plates dishes that we know we love and then we let the waiter/waitress order everything else based on what he/she thinks looks good for the night. We have yet to be disappointed with this approach. A few personal favorites: Bruschetta with garbonzo puree and carmelized black figs (We thought it sounded odd but it tasted wonderful!) Mussels in garlic sauce Stuffed tomato Beef short ribs With 3 kids of my own, we have never taken them to Aioli's. It's probaly not the best place to go with little kids as it's often crowded with small dining tables. In Spanish tradition, the dining experience at Aioli's is just that, an experience. Don't go to Aioli's if you are trying to make it to a show/performance in 45-60 minutes. The food delivery can be slow at times but they have a great wine selection to make up for it. Go to Aioli's for the tapas/wine, to catch up with an old friend or for a romantic dinner. Aioli's is a Spanish dining experience. Enjoy!
(4)Emily W.
I really want to like this place but almost everytime we come here there is some kind of problem. A group of friends came here on a 2nd Saturday for dinner. There were 10 of us. We ordered 5 bottles of wine an a huge selection of tapas. The tapas keep coming out but they would not give us enough bread. We keep getting 1 tiny little basket for all of us. Since we were sitting right next to the area were they cut the bread we just ended up helping ourselves since our server was no where to be found. I think we should have gotten much better service. We paid over $150 just for wine and of course we were going to leave a good tip. I have not been back since.
(3)Andrew B.
I ate here for the first time a few nights ago. I'll start with the good about Aioli - the Sangria. It was refreshing and not too sweet. They don't make a white sangria though, just red. Everything else about the restaurant was at best mediocre. Either I went on an off-night, or the other folks who have given this place 5 stars are just wrong. The service was ok, although my gf said she saw a different waiter than ours pick something out of his mouth and eat it. The ambiance is average at best as well. We sat inside and it felt just like a ho-hum restaurant. It didn't have that lively atmosphere I expect from a Tapas restaurant. My group tried several things to eat. The best dishes were the ones with pre-made food (such as chorizo sausage). Our other dishes were not so great. We ordered a scallop crudo dish and the scallops did not taste fresh. They just had a funk to them. I ordered a beet and arugula salad, which was also average and had just a few small chunks of beet in it. And probably the most startling part of our meal was that we asked for some aioli to go with our bread...and the server said they were out! Quite sad considering the name of the restaurant. And I don't understand why more could not have been made since all you need is egg yolk, oil and garlic. I've read other reviews comparing Tapa the World and Aioli. Based on my experience, Aioli can't sniff Tapa the World's jock strap. The food is much better and fresher at Tapa the World. Tapa the World also has a massive wine list, and the ambience inside is much nicer than at Aioli.
(2)Kevin T.
Coming from SoCal, I have had my share of AMAZING tapas joints so I was excited when I was invited out to Aioli's. This place is located right in the heart of downtown Sac, nestled right at the edge of the restaurant strip. Expectations were high as I entered the restaurant and was greeted by the softly lit track-lights and potato sack covered tables. We were immediately seated and began to peruse the menu. I was so excited by the menu that I didn't even notice that close to twenty minutes had gone by and we hadn't even been offered a drink. So as soon as a waiter walked by we grabbed his attention and ordered drinks along with the food, hoping to speed up the service a bit. Drinks were brought out relatively quickly, and I soon had my sangria brought to me. I was a bit disappointed at the lack of fresh fruit used to make my sangria and I found it to be a bit too acidic for my taste. WIth our thirst quenched, we waited in eager anticipation for the food to arrive. ....And waited...and waited...and waited some more. Frankly, I was shocked at how long the food took to arrive at our table being that it was a Monday night and there were only two other tables occupied in the restaurant. Not only was the food slow in coming, but after the drinks had been delivered we didn't even see our server once until the food arrived. After about half an hour our mussels arrived. After about another half an hour so did our Paella Valencia I don't mind waiting longer for Paella, especially if it's cooked from scratch as opposed to the pre-cooked stuff you usually find at restaurants. From the wait, I gathered that they must've been cooking it from scratch. I was mistaken. You know the food is mediocre when you taste exactly which parts of the paella were cooked separately and which ones were actually allowed to cook together. The flavors of a paella whose ingredients aren't allowed to cook together simply fall flat. After finishing, we didn't feel like waiting around any longer so we got up from our table and flagged down our waiter for our check. He told us he'd bring it to our table so once again we sat down and waited. Surprisingly, we didn't have to wait very long but what did get me was that after inquiring about what we thought about the food, our waiter then made a comment jokingly about how excellent the service was. (Are you kidding?) I didn't respond to his joke but I smiled politely as the bill was paid for and left. All I can say is woe to those that come in this place hungry because you are definitely in for a waiting game for nominal food.
(2)David M.
I've been to Aioli (both Davis and Sacramento) a total of 4 times since they opened however many years ago that was, and every time I wonder why. The food is almost always mediocre, the service unreliable, & the atmosphere rather so so. Last night was the final time. Though my beet salad was fine, my tuna tartare was absolutely taste free, honestly the greens on the toast was preferable and the service was horrible. The waitress dumped bread crumbs in my lap without so much as a "sorry", she practically tossed the dishes down on the table ( with an audible bang no less) and when I mentioned the (1/3 eaten) tuna was tasteless, she literally told me she'd tell the chef with her back to me while walking away. Won't waste our money here again.
(2)Wesley H.
We really like the ambience here. We enjoy the food too, although its not quite as authentic as you would find in bigger cities like San Francisco or New York. This place is a little pricey, but there is a lack of good Spanish food here in Sacramento. I'd give this place 4 stars if it wasn't for the poor service that we consistently receive. We've ordered the paella and a bottle of wine, then received somewhat rude treatment from some of the waitstaff when we pass on ordering appetizers. I guess they don't like it when they can't pad their tips. If we're not that hungry, we're not that hungry, and we shouldn't have to apologize for it or explain it to you, get over it already.
(3)Annie B.
We went there for my in-laws' 50th anniversary dinner. My SIL and I chose this place because it would have a large variety of food and wouldn't be super fancy because we were bringing her 2 kids, ages 3 and 6 and did not want the pressure of keeping them silent. This place hit the spot and we were treated very special. We were greeted promptly when we first came in. We order a couple pitchers of sangria and got down to ordering some tapas. Luckily with a party of 8, you get to order a lot of tapas. Our favorites were the clams, chorizo and white beans, beef short ribs, and meatballs. Our server was the older gentleman who did an excellent job of offering suggestions and at one point suggested said if we didn't love the chorizo with white beans that he would bring us the other chorizo tapa on the house. For being a larger party, we were never without bread and our water was constantly refilled. On to the entrees, we ordered the paella valencia, more tapas, the salmon, lamb shanks. One of my nephews is a really picky eater and our server had the kitchen make him a special chicken entree. Special care was given to my MIL and FIL throughout the entire meal. Our server even sensed that my FIL needed his fish cooked more just by watching him cut into the fish and immediately sent it back without him needing to ask. For dessert, they dimmed the lights and brought out beautiful desserts for them and had the guitar player serenade them. Good food, really thoughtful and caring service. I am looking forward to going back.
(5)Kurt M. b.
Disclaimer: I do know the owner of Aioli because I have been spending my hard earned dining budget there for years. If this level of contact doesn't disqualify me then here goes... Sophie S. does not know dining. Great food and they have a vegan asparagus soup right now that is incredible. Good service (except for Josie). Do try the paella. Pablo's soups are brilliant. Like Mussels? White wine with the Mussels Asorda. Yum
(5)Stacy G.
I went here on a date a while back - very classy place. I truly felt like i was whisked away to Spain for a night and enjoyed the decor and ambience. We ordered the gazpacho to start with. I was a gazpacho virgin, so I don't claim to be any sort of expert, but the flavors seemed a bit strong for my tastes. Our main dish, the paella, however, was absolutely fantastic. Very flavorful and savory, it was the best I've tried in Sacramento and much better than that at Tapa the World. I would come back here if only for the paella!
(4)Derek B.
My wife and I have been going here for over 7 years. We even chose this as the place to dine when we got the offer accepted on our house we bought, and the night I asked her to marry me. I don't want to bury the lead. I will NEVER spend money there again. Why? The owner. Read some of the other reviews. You will see similar stories. The food? I have always enjoyed it. The staff? They have always been wonderful to us. The atmosphere? We have almost always found ourselves amongst interesting people. You know that "Saturday Night Live" sketch about the Italian waiters who molest the female customer at the table? Could have been based on the owner of Aioli. It can be endearing at first. Then after several visits, it just borders on creepy. He has also had a habit of "offering" wines for us to try, under the guise that he may be just letting us sample them. Then, they show up on the bill. As though we should have to ask, "Well, are YOU buying this, or are WE buying this?" We only went back for New Year's Eve because a good friend was there. We went there in spite of our feelings about the owner. As usual, a "groping" greeting was in order. The owner was nice about getting us a table together for 6 people. Things were going fine until the owner decided he wanted to start popping balloons. One after another, after another. Right next to our table. A woman in our party was sensitive to the noise, so we asked him if he could stop, or do it in some other part of the restaurant. After popping a couple more, he relented and went off to another part of the restaurant. Of course after awhile, he had to come back and do it some more. Again, we conveyed our wishes. Yes, it was NYE, and there should be revelry. We weren't requesting "no noise." Simply, don't pop balloons two feet from our ears. No exaggeration. When midnight hit, he went all out, popping several in a row, and seemingly choosing our table to do so, just because he wanted to prove a point. One couple decided to leave because of this. When the man of the couple expressed to the owner why we were leaving, his attitude to paraphrase was, "This is my place. I do what I want." This, to a party of 6 who had bought about $200 worth of wine and champagne. Nice way to treat your customers on NYE. The owner is a petulant man-child. You may be able to go there and have a very nice meal. But, if something goes wrong for you, and the owner gets involved, it will likely not be resolved to your liking. Again, look at some of the other reviews. There are too many good places to eat and spend money in this city to be treated this way. I am much younger than the owner and will be returning someday, when he has sold it to someone who cares about their customers. I shouldn't have to wait too long. Happy New Year to all.
(2)Emily S.
Went for dinner last night for the first time and it was delicious!! Our waiter pretty much ordered for us, nixing our wine suggestion and supplementing his own, making food recommendations, etc. And, of course, everything turned out to be absolutely DELICIOUS. I would highly recommend the portobella and goat cheese tapa and whatever red wine we had...although I'm not sure, because the waiter didn't like our selection and substituted his own. I am so glad he did!
(5)Clarke H.
Good food and wine in an inviting and friendly place. It's not Spain, but hey, for Sacramento it's close enough to really enjoy it. Take the waiter's recommendations.
(4)Jesseca T.
Once upon a time, a girl wanted to meet her sister, who was traveling for work, in a town called Sacramento. It was her first trip to this city and she left work at 2:45pm on a Thursday, expecting the 112m trip to take a couple of hours. 3 hrs, much rain, and one (small) panic attack later....this girl was lost somewhere downtown (thanks mapquest). I called the Voice of Reason (my older sis) and we agreed to drive towards each other - I was on L street. I happily found a valet and got rid of my car, then stepped into a well-lit restaurant to use their restroom and get my bearings. Upon entering, I was alarmed to see a self-serve soda station and a congealed phad thai attempt on someone's plate, along with many meaty-looking dishes...not very veg-friendly for me and my veg-sister...hmm...I used the restrooms (clean) and exited quickly. Standing outside in the rain I looked around at my options and spotted, across the street, a sign barely legible through the rain...."(something)....aioli". OK, I though, If they're not afraid to throw around that word and be able to spell it correctly, I'm game. So I went in - The ambiance enveloped me like a warm blanket. I truly felt I had found refuge from the storm in both a literal and figurative sense. I had a glass of wine and a lovely conversation with the bartender and a woman at the bar (who was obviously a regular) about their selection of wines and their recommendations- both of them were very knowledgeable. My sister met me shortly thereafter and we proceeded to get a cosy table next to the window and an excellent waiter who was more than happy to point us in the direction of the many veg options. Highlights include: spinach salad with feta, portobello mushrooms sauteed in a mustard gravy, white beans with mint and other herbs, and the coup de grace: handmade cheese pasta ravs with a browned butter sage sauce. We had Tempranillo and Grenaches paired with these...and if I had had room I would have ordered another rav tapas... Dinner was $110 for two and worth every penny. I will have fond memories of this place for years to come, for providing us with attentive service and an excellent veggie meal, and for the memories I have spending precious time with my sister....I only hope that I can find it again and that it wasn't all a dream.
(5)Donna S.
stopped in late last night after a Yoga party at Zuda Yoga.. it was also Second Saturday Downtown, so the joint was a jumpin. Beautiful courtyard for outside dining. We loved the food. i enjoy sharing from small plates. I had driven by at least a hundred and eight times, but never stiopped in. This time we were on foot, enjoying the walk from Zuda. It is true what they say, you miss out on alot of good things in life if you dont get out and walk!
(5)Mike J.
Huge fan. I think this is one of the best places in town. I usually only get the tapa's - and they crush Tapa the world. Wine is great and the staff is always helpful and friendly. The owner is great! He makes this place what it is. Always friendly and always helpful. I am going to go back tonight!
(5)Sheila T.
Great ambiance and great service! We tried the scallops, vegetable platter and ribs. It was good but nothing spectacular. Great date night but would probably try other places before we come back.
(3)Henry D.
When talking to people about their never ending search for a great bar they often make mention of trying to find their very own cheers. Well if a restaurant could be Cheers, while serving Spanish food, this would be it! I rarley have to order from the menu, the waiters are old school and can always put together an amazing meal for me every time. A tribute to them being old school they always pick the right items, portions and are always in the right price range. Many waiters would love to serve their most expensive items and try to over charge you, but not here, the price is just right. When I ask for a white wine between 20 and 30$ a bottle it usually falls in the middle of the price range and never disappoints. They have a great selection of wines for every occasion. I am always greeted with a hug, a smile and questions about my life and family. The owner, always comes by the table to check in and is full of laughter and suggestions. This is a great family place, date place and would even work for business. Casual and comfortable. If you have ever had a bad experience here, you either don't get it, or you need to go back and give it a second chance...
(5)Carolyn K.
I have eaten at Aioli on 3 different occasions and have finally decided to give it 3 stars. As far as the food is concerned this place is a hit or miss. If you are to try Aioli make sure to taste the following: -lamb sausage dish -grill pan topped with mushrooms -grilled chorizo on top of white beans -fabada soup -clams in saffron -pork dish is pretty tastey -flan was awesome -really enjoyed the sangria The rabbit, depending on the sauce is a hit or miss. I was not impressed with the clams, mussels, and short ribs. The salmon is tastey but nothing special. The outside patio sets a lovely setting. I've always enjoyed the servers. Food service is ok - not great, not terrible. This is definitely a place to atleast try once.
(3)David G.
My son Woody and I had a long and excellent 2pm dinner/lunch at Aioli Bodega Espanola......can't praise this restaurant enough.....they serve small plates (tapas) and large plates in a Spanish/European style.....we ordered all small plates so that we could share to sample as much of the menu as possible.......1st we had white garlic soup, then fresh calamari in a light and orange & tomato sauce with a little heat, octopus salad, Pasta Al'Matriana with zesty tomato/herb sauce and pancetta (served on top of bucatini, my favorite pasta which is a long tubular noodle), we had bread with romanesco dip (smooth red bell pepper sauce) followed by beef short ribs with a crispy and flaky exterior and tender and succulent interior served with a spicy diced potato salad and then finished with carmelized pieces of mission figs with balsamic reduction served on top of baguette slices and garbanzo bean puree, truly a sweet and savory delight....the server was a wonderful woman who was Guatemalan & Nicaraguan.......as a send off treat she brought us (on the house) a thinly sliced walnut cake soaked with honey and orange water.....culinary bliss
(5)John C.
We had a large party for dinner and had one the worst meals ever. The restaurant was loud, the tables too close, and the food was bland and over-priced!! However, the worst part of the meal was our waiter Joseph (he said he was French). He was pushy, rude, and non-attentive. A waiter plays a crucial role in your overall dining experience-he made it a nightmare. He refused to take our drink order until we ordered our food, he told us he would have made up his mind much sooner, he never asked us how our meal was.....and I could go on and on. Everyone in our party said after the meal we would not return to the restaurant again-there are too many good choices in the area. The owners need to focus more on good service and treating customers properly. Find another place to eat and avoid a bad dining experience.
(1)Franchesca F.
Aziz was an amazing Host!! Great food, great service! Definitely a big fan!
(5)Darina H.
I was at Aioli Bodega for Valentine's Day dinner and specifically requested the corner window weeks prior to. I was quite happy when this request was fulfilled when my party and I arrived (but not before having to wait until the host got off the phone before greeting us). The waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and recommended we try the following tapas: tartare, portobello mushroom w/ goat cheese, and duck. Delicious and so much flavor. Although I wish there were more mushroom ... it went perfectly with the duck and our wine. We ordered the seafood paella which may not have been enough to share between the four of us...and it did leave us wanting a little more. No kidding aside the paella was DELICIOUS! Very happy with our service and the food we had.
(4)Steve L.
Sit down for a meal after sunset and you could be in San Francisco, or New York, or Paris, or Madrid. Aioli has an cosmopolitan, international feel. I've been there several times over the years and have found it to be consistently excellent. On our most recent visit, we enjoyed clams in a saffron broth, shrimp in a subtly spiced cumin and olive oil marinade, and perhaps the best pasta dish I have ever experienced - long, thick, tube-like noodles with pancetta and a light, perky tomato sauce. The service was solicitous to the point of being personal, and it worked. You could easily picture yourself in a bodega in the old country. The only complaint is the timing of the dishes. The pasta arrived very late, which, fortunately, did not interfere with our enjoyment.
(4)Marcella I.
YIKES. I'd like my 2 hours back please. - Esthetically pleasing decor. - Service was decent with a smidgeon snobbery. - Food...toooook forEVER. It felt like A dish came to our table of four every 10 minutes. Thank god they kept refilling the bread basket. I had the salmon (nice), aceitunas (meh. tiny and not as flavorful), and raviolis (tasted like uncooked masa with cheese floating in garlic water - BLEHK). Lesson learned, I'll go back to Tapa the World.
(1)Chuck N.
Friday, 8:00PM. Friendly staff welcomed us to the bar while we waited for a table to seat three. The bartender was nice and served up some good recommendations for white wine for my company during the wait (took 15-20 minutes). We sat outside where the ambiance was warm, a great place to kick it n' chat. Unfortunately, the lighting on our particular table (just by candlelight) was insufficient for eating...too dark! If we were closer to the walls, there were X-mas lighting which would've helped. + Friendly service, present and delivered + Great decor, very clean! - Maybe we didn't order enough seafood? Tapas were disappointing =/ - Looooong wait Final Call: Unless corporate pays for the meal, the food quality does not justify the price. ******************** Munchies: 1. Vegetable paella - Minimal veggies, where'd they all go? + Paella had a nicely flavored crust 2. Tuna + Favorite dish, gravy was delicious and the meat was tender/juicy 3. Portabello mushroom - Couldn't taste the mushroom, too much vinegar. 4. Patatas bravas - No crisp, spice was weak 5. Calamari in tomato sauce - Bilked on the calamari, didn't retain flavor of the dish + Sauce was YUMMY
(2)Rose C.
I really want to like Aioli Bodega more than I actually do. I don't think it's BAD, but it should be much better than it is. I do like the rustic Spanish décor and the outdoor patio area. I think the ambience is pretty romantic, especially with the candles, tasty sangria and wines which add to the atmosphere. The flamenco guitarist entertainment adds to it too, though I wish there was more entertainment more often. I do like the location, which is my favorite spot downtown, though parking can be a real bitch at times since it is a busy, popular area. I like Spanish food and seafood, so the food was fine with me though it wasn't the best. I was very impressed with the tenderness of the seafood. They had the best calamari I've ever had, which topped a salad. The mussels, shrimp and anchovies were good too, though two clam dishes were just "okay" for me. Unfortunately the service is hit and miss. Yes, the servers have personality but they could speed it up and work harder on being more attentive. I just can't stand waiting forever for my food. So this place, unfortunately, does not deserve 5 starts. That's too bad.
(3)Adrian B.
I'm a bit conflicted about this place. I will definitely try to go again to see if the experience can be better the next time. Here were the issues: 1: The 2 items that stood out for me, the calamares"alamares rellenos" for tapas and another item that's an add-on from the regular menu were unavailable so I had to get my plan B foods. 2: After ordering, it took about 1 hour to get our food 3: We got our food little by little, not all at once. 4: When picking up the plates, the waiter didn't notice the knife was dripping juice on my shirt. I can oversee this since it was an honest mistake. On the plus side: 1: We did get bread served to us periodically 2: The lemonade was great 3: The waiter did apologize for the delay in food 4: We got a complimentary drink due to the delay My dish was good. The pork chops might need a tiny bit more salt or seasoning but overall the dish was good. It's not on an online menu but it had caramelized figs, sauteed vegetables and risotto. My rating is based on the experience overall. I did like our waiter though for apologizing on the delay for food. That is always a plus to me.
(2)Sus R.
Food was really good and also the service. Love the ambiance and the live music. Definitely coming back
(4)Melanie H.
A neighborhood gem. I have never had a bad experience at this restaurant! It's cozy, tasty, not too loud, and the food is always great. The mushroom raviolis are my favorite, but everything is always thoughtfully prepared and the service is never intrusive. Great for special occasions or romantic meals.
(5)Susan F.
Love the service and food here. The scallops and mussels and clams arre amazing ( separate dishes) This place executues in every meal. Love it!
(5)Gabriela S.
Their boquerones were awesome, but the paella not that much.
(3)Elena M.
The food and service are both exceptional here, and the ambiance is very pleasant. When I called to make a reservation for four people and a big stroller, the host said there should be no problem fitting the stroller on a busy Saturday night. When we arrived, we even got to pick our table: we chose to be seated in the patio. We ordered whole bunch of tapas, among which were the beef ribs - I give this dish an A+, garlic shrimp - another A+, puff pastry filled with meat - A+, and with cheese - A+. Tomato soup gets an A, and salmon tapa gets an A. Sangria was pretty good too, though, adding some fruit to it would make it even better. We ordered some desserts too: we shared flan and an almond cake, and both were really good. I can not rave about the service enough: even though it's gotten pretty busy towards the end of our visit, our red haired waiter (didn't ask for his name) was very attentive, bringing the food quickly and taking dirty dishes off our table promptly. Several times he asked us if we needed anything, and when we asked for more bread, he had it brought to our table within two minutes. The buss boy helped quite a bit too, making sure everyone's glasses were filled with water - I saw him at the patio quite a bit. There was life music playing: the guitarist gives Aioli this true Spanish feel. He played not too loud, not too soft, just right, so that the people at the restaurant can have a conversation without raising their voices. Overall, a very pleasant experience and we are definitely coming back
(5)M N.
Originally after looking at the menu, I though to myself, wow, these tapas are more expensive than other restaurants. Luckily, the prices reflected the serving sizes, so our tapas were larger than usual. Lucky! My favorites? I like the bouret stuffed with meat, cheese, veggies, or seafood which you can mix or match. Each dish comes with 2 flaky pastries! The ravioli with mushroom tapas were tasty as well. Salmon tapas..awesome! Going onto the entree, I had the lamb with risotto and veggies. The lamb was very tender. I like! To finish off, I had the chocolate mousse with assorted fruit. it was okay, nothing special. The flan was smooth, rich. Nice... I believe they have live music with a guitarist sometimes. That night, there was not any live music but we did come rather late at around 830 pm. Otherwise, ambient lighting, comfortable, intimate. overall a nice place to have a quiet dinner with good company.
(4)Savannah H.
Hands down, the atmosphere is the best thing about this place. Its intimate, the outside patio is enchanting and it all seams to have a sort of candlelit glow. Perfect place for a date night, which is how I got there for the first time. As far as the food goes, I ordered the paella, which was good, but I thought it tasted a bit unauthentic. The tapas plate was yummy and the service was great. I look forward to going back and trying a different dish, so I can fill in that last star.
(4)Gianna J.
Yum. Can't say I've been here for dinner but my lunch experience today was great. The server had a wonderful knowledge of the menu and suggested a great crisp white wine. The soup is a must try. White bean and flavorful. Yum! All in all I had a pleasant time.
(4)Stephanie W.
Aioli is frequently hit or miss. Some dishes are good and some dishes are bad, but none are ever fantastic. The interior lighting is extremely dark (sorry, but i like to be able to see what I'm eating, even if it does take away from the ambiance) and it's pricey for what you get. I've been to much better basque restaurants and even though I am not a huge fan of Tapas the World, I will still go there when I'm in town over Aioli because it's moderately less expensive and the live entertainment is actually quite good. Additionally, the service is slow but in the inattentive way, not in the "we know exactly how to keep our distance to leave the two of you alone for a romantic evening even though that may be presumptuous of us. " No, this was the inattentive where our water glasses remained empty for about ten minutes and they seemed to forget about taking our drink order. There are better places, for sure.
(2)Vinny C.
Here's the deal. Aioli's is the BEST place for a business lunch in Sacramento BAR NONE. It's quiet, comfortable and the food is awesome. The 3 course lunch is always wonderful (I LOVE the salmon!) and if you like lamb, the lamb bocadillo is the best lamb sandwich ANYWHERE. Having the view to 18th and L is also fabulous for people watching and to see how many people try to make a wrong turn on L St in an hour. GO!
(5)Juan C, G.
Today was my first time at Aioli. I can truly say that the experience was awesome. I like the type of place that's kind of informal, where you chat with the waiters, where the food is always a surprise. The tapas were great, and the service was SPECTACULAR! This isn't a restaurant for formal gringos. This is for people who want the presence of a real place. My wife and I give it the highest rating. In addition, the guitarist is extremely good! The paella was like they do it in Madrid, the wine is great, etc. If you want "formal", go to Paragary's. If you want experience, come here. Juan C Gray
(5)Alicia C.
We went here to celebrate our three year anniversary and we were not disappointed. We were shown to a very nice table by the window and greeted within moments. My boyfriend loved his beer (a Spanish beer I can't remember the name of) and the mocha got. I had a glass of their sangria which is the best I've ever had-very authentic tasting, seasoned perfectly, and sweetened naturally with a bit of citrus fruit and no added sugar. Then we were brought a complementary bread with a rather bland dipping sauce. On our waitresses recommendation we chose four tapa's and split them between us. We had a sushi-grade salmon tartar that came with grilled foccacia topped with arugula. It was seasoned perfectly so that you could still taste the freshness of the king salmon. Our second tapa was a mushroom based bruschetta with white truffle oil and bleu cheese. I liked it, but the taste of the bleu cheese was a bit overpowering. My boyfriend however devoured it. After we finished those two our waitress cleared the table and brought out our meat based tapas. The rabbit in white wine sauce with mushrooms was devine. I had never had rabbit so I was concerned it might be a bit too gamey but it was delicious and I ended up dipping some of the bread in the sauce I loved it so much. Our last tapa was chicken in a tomato citrus sauce I no longer remember the name of but it was good, the chicken still moist and the sauce flavorful. For dessert I ordered the braised pear in red wine reduction sauce which was served to me with a knife and spoon. It was soft and sweet but not overly sweetened and at $6 totally worth it. Some of the reviewers mentioned the price but for the quality of the food, the service, and the romantic atmosphere it is to be expected. Before the tip our bill came out to $80 even which we found perfectly reasonable, considering that inclued four tapas, two mochas, one beer, and one sangria.
(5)eMerly L.
Nine, count them, NINE fake five star reviews. Not one real person has given this overpriced flop house five stars. Maybe if the owner spent less time online creating fake profiles and writing ridiculously long cheesy fake reviews and more time reading real reviews this place would ok to eat at.
(1)Mrs. L.
I've only eaten at Aioli twice. Both times the food was delectable, but the service - ugh! The first time (years ago) I was with my husband and our waiter was incredibly rude and condescending to him. It was so awful that I made a mental note never to return, despite the delicious meal. However, a group of friends wanted to go there for dinner the other night. Again, the food was amazing, but the service was poor. For example, the waiter disappeared for long stretches of time so we had to ask other staff for things that we needed. For me, Aioli's great food can't overcome the bad service.
(2)Chantal F.
The waiters are awesome, delicious food & wine, and great atmosphere!
(5)Kerri T.
After my divorce a few years back I almost literally lived at Aioli's. Every Friday night, and at least two weekdays a week you'd find me sitting at the bar, making small talk with whomever happened to find themselves in similar circumstances - needing to get out of their houses / heads, needing a little sustenance, needing a lot of booze, and desirous of some intelligent conversation. Some nights I'd end up shutting the place down with the staff, finally arriving home via a cab the staff would call for me. After a brief hiatus during which I fell in love, got engaged, and planned my wedding, my (now) husband and I returned to Aioli and I was once again reunited with the staff who, for years, heard my every dating woe, hugged any stranger I brought into the place, and knew my wine preferences more intimately than anyone else in my life. Given the amount of time I spent in the restaurant over the last three years I'm surprised to see how many people err on the "hate" side of what appears to be a solid love/hate relationship with the place. Mostly I'm surprised because (ahem) in the three years of steady belly-upping at the bar I don't really remember seeing very many of you inside the establishment, and also surprised because my experiences have been so wholly positive (at my last visit two of the staff bought me glasses of wine to celebrate my upcoming wedding). However, I understand how easy it might be to hate Aioli because the first two times I tried to dine there I had horrible experiences. HORRIBLE. The waiters were rude. The waiters tried to rush us through dinner to turn the table over more quickly. But, we didn't have reservations. We arrived at peak weekend hours and didn't even know which door was the "front" door. We spent FOREVER trying to decide on what to eat, and thought we could dine "waterboy" style - that is, thought we could camp out at the table for 4 hours and order a few tapas at a time and it would be okay. It was not all that okay, evidently. Still....I swore I'd never return. Thank god I got over myself and braved Aioli's again at a more sane hour. Personally I find the "true" Aioli experience is, by necessity, either a VERY planned one (e.g., make reservations if you want a table, especially if you want a patio table in the thick of summer/fall) or a decidedly organic one (arrive early, sit at the bar all night, talk to strangers and drink wine with the bartender and staff). As far as the staff - the staff are no ruder than the staff at any busy resturant, particularly restaurants I frequented in Madrid, San Sebastian, and Barcelona. Basically there's just an expectation that you know how things work at the restaurant - and if you don't know, then ask - at least that is how I've always approached it. After I got back from Spain, dining at Aioli's felt like stepping back into Madrid (except now I knew what everything was on the menu). I don't eat huge dinners so I typically go tapas-style, which allows me to sample many dishes at once. Not all of the food is a solid "hit" but their version of the Nicoise salad (ensalada de la moda) is impeccably delicious, several of their small plates are spot-on (aceitunas variadas, ravioles de la moda, puerco castilla) and for dessert it's hard to go wrong with the crema catalan con naranja or the Chocolate con accento frances. Anyway, to sum up my three years of experience in a few simple suggestions: sit at the bar or come early if you don't have a reservation; converse with the staff - they are intelligent and personable if you are, and helpful if you ask; eat small plates and lots of them; don't skip dessert.
(5)Sophia S.
About time for an Aioli update! First and foremost, Kurt M.b, you made me laugh, so thanks for that. I have spent 10 years of my life working in the restaurant business. I have been a server, a manager, a trainer, and of course, A PATRON. So whether you think that "knowing the owner" at the sh*ttest place in town gives you one up on the sacred knowledge of dining, then GOOD FOR YOU BUDDY! (insert standing ovation). Explain to me how such a great place could have such a disproportionate amount of terrible reviews compared to the majority of restaurants in town? Anyway, this is beside the point because I would just like to point out that the 34 plus 1 and 2 star reviews for this joint are fair. I also happen to know some employees of this establishment. One happens to be a supervisor & server at both the downtown & davis locations. I got into a long discussion about how my friend and I were mistreated at this place. This employee CONFIRMED that the older server who disrespected us was INDEED judging us solely on our age. He was able to confirm this because it is a well known fact by management and customers that this server refuses to serve anyone that appears to be under 30. He has a self fulfilling prophecy that we will not spend a lot or tip well. If his dumb a$s would actually show back up to the table, we would order more, drink more, come back for more... If he respected his guests like a decent human, they would reward his service with tips.. You're owner "friend" is a douche bag for letting a person like this represent his business. Based on the other reviews, he is not the only bad server in this place.
(1)Nancy C.
They need better bread but we still like the place. We had dinner for New Year's Eve. They gave us a cute table for 2 in the window. They had decorated with balloons and it was very festive. They need to get a different bread because they serve a complementary but terrible bread cut in little pieces that does not taste very good and it comes with a boring hummus. We had a mediterreanan salad with was about $8.00 and we would not order it again as it did not have many olives and the dressing bland. We then had onion soup and a white bean soup. Both good soups but the white bean soup was OUTSTANDING. For tapas, we shared a salmon with a mustard caper sauce and it rated 5 stars as it was EXCELLENT. Our other tapa was the scallops and my husband raved about them. Service was great, surroundings wonderful. We will return next year. Hope they change their bread though.
(4)Ryan D.
Love the old world charm by the owners. Sitting outside on the patio is one of my favorite places to be. I could sit there all day with a pitcher of their sangria.
(4)Tessie S.
Having been to Madrid and had tapas there, my husband and I found that many dishes served at Aioli Bodega are authentic. Our favorite ones include lamb sausages with white beans, squid in tomato and mint sauce, grilled vegetables, and five-spice beef short ribs. The interior is nicely decorated with subdued and well designed lighting (which is important to me). Service is good, too. We always had a good time here.
(4)Charline C.
Went here during the usual wine crawl up L Street after happy hour. We wanted an inside table, but the place was packed so the owner had us sit at an outside table until an inside one was free. Okay, so while we were waiting for a table, we decided to get some drinks. I wanted to get a glass of the sangria, but when I tried to put in an order, our waiter was like, "No, you want a pitcher." Okay, since everyone in my group was game, we decided to get the whole pitcher. Well, it was a whole pitcher of DISGUSTING-ness. I almost spit it out when i took an experimental sip. It was bitter and sour and just plain nasty! well, when i mentioned to the waiter that the sangria was off (everyone had taken a sip and agreed it was foul) and he could clearly see that we weren't drinking it, he said that WE were the only ones who thought so and left. Um...what? Things with that waiter went downhill from there. We were finally seated at an inside table with our foul sangria. We originally ordered some portabellos, the appetizer plate, mussels, and short ribs, but after the waiter told us that wasn't enough food for our party of 4, we ordered the spanish meatballs and more mussels. The portabellos were awesome with some goat cheese on top. The appetizer plate of meats and cheese was okay, except for the pool of oil that was over the entire thing (it looked like the cheese and meats had been sweating for a while). The mussels, normally my favorite for the sauce alone, were okay. they were served barely warm and the mussels were a little tougher than normal. Short ribs looked and tased like charcoal. Spanish meatballs were good, light and fluffy in a pool of tomato broth. Besides the rude waiter (who never refilled my water glass, despite flagging him down a couple times...i was PARCHED!) service was good. The owner as always was awesome as well as the busser who attended more to our needs than our waiter! (kept the bread coming!) The food, although okay, has been better.. I was almost willing to forgive the waiter (if anything, it was out of sight, out of mind, didn't see him much after getting out food) but then, I got mad again when the $20 pitcher of nastiness was on our bill. Grrr...could have argued about it I guess, but at that point, we just wanted to leave!
(3)Sarah S.
Such a disappointment, in every way. I do know why they call the place aioli, though, because everything on the menu is covered in it. I had a couple tapas, and they were overpriced and nothing I'd pay for again. The bread basket had the stalest bread I've ever seen. The waiter was the worst part. I think the only words he spoke to us the entire time we were there were, "Are you ready to order?". He didn't ask how the food was, didn't refill the water, didn't bring the check after a 20 minute wait, nothing. No smile, no greeting, no service, and no more visits from me. The sad thing is, after reading the other reviews, the guy we had doesn't even fit the description of the other awful servers, so this must be a regular thing with them. Like the other reviewer said, waste of a good location. As my friend said, "I would rather be at Chipotle."
(1)Erin A.
My boyfriend asked what Spanish wine the waiter recommended and he asked our price range (50-60) and snatched the wine list and said "leave it to me... do you trust me?" To which the only reply is.. sure. He came back with this rioja blend that was 90% tempernillo (rah, I can't remember the name, sorry- but if you ask for a rioja for $52 you should get that) and it was amazing. I was totally excited at the food after having a wine like that. The food was just so so. The bread with the dipping sauce was fun. We got the olives, they were all small, mostly good. We got the cold cured Spanish meats and cheeses, which I really liked. We also got the clams with saffron sauce (not very saffrony, clams were not amazing quality). Lamb brochettes but the lamb was really tough. Ravioli with mushrooms and browned butter sage sauce- the flavor was pretty good but it was so over cooked that the ravioli were totally exploded and was just limp pieces of pasta with a bunch of stuff floating around. roasted potatoes - average And for dessert I got the crema catalan con naranja - which is just a creme brulee with orange. I thought it was pretty nice, there were parts that tasted a little eggy (which isn't good), but overall it was a nice orange flavor, and the caramelized orange slice on top was KILLER good! It was a cool experience, but I didn't love it, and can't see going back any time soon.
(3)Jon Y.
Time to chime in. In the early days of my foray into Sacramento I was taken to Aioli's. My host knew the menu, the waiters, and the atmosphere. This place isn't quick serve, in my opinion its a pretty accurate spanish style restaurant. You order your appetizers, a few hot (or cold tapas) and enjoy a few glasses of wine or beer. I have had 7-10 dishes there, including a few large events of 10+ people and every single time people have given a positive review of the place. The patio is great on a summer night to sit down around 6/6:30pm have a few drinks, move through dinner and then leave as the sun is setting around 8:00pm. If you are one of those eat and leave in an hour, don't bother. For me given the right mood, its perfect.
(4)california b.
great tapas style food
(5)Elaine C.
Great service and attractive decor, in addition to delicious food. We had the fish lunch special, and all were pleased.
(5)M C.
The place is cute, and tucked in a nice corner of mid-town. The hostesses were great. However terrible experience with the waiter.. I believe his name was Jeffe. Completely ignored us the whole night, no drink refills, brought the food and eventual drinks to the wrong table. Then brought the wrong check to the table. The food was also okay, the waiter again brought the appetizer 5 min before the main course, kinda backwards. Overall not impressed for the cost of the food.
(3)Kris C.
I've been to Aioli a couple of times now and it has become my favorite spanish food in Sacramento. Although the price is somewhat up there, the food is excellent and obviously has a lot of care taken in its preparation. The wine list is great and the servers were very helpful and knowledgeable. The seasonal specials are a very nice treat, as we can come in and find a new dish frequently, yet the tapas keep the constant comfort of familiar favorites on the menu. I would certainly recommend this place for a nice romantic evening (enjoy the great wine, great sangria, and great food) and to enjoy some great authentic Spanish food. In addition, the restaurant is conveniently located close to many other midtown attractions, like the clubs on L and J street!
(4)Katie S.
Huh. Well as much as I hate it when businesses self-inflate their reviews, I really haven't had a bad experience at Aioli. I go in fairly often (probably proportionately more than I eat out at other places), specifically because the food and service are always good. A lot of times the service is even outstanding. Seriously. The waiters make jokes, recommend things, check in on us frequently, the works. I'm sure that with all places, there are good nights and bad, but it's unfortunately that so many people seem to be having really bad experiences somewhere that has the potential to be really good.
(4)Megan L.
I'm a bit surprised by the negative reviews here, but ahs well. Went here with a group of 19 and had GREAT service. Our food was very good and the wine that was recommended was great. All the tapas that were ordered were delivered hot and tasty. I think that everyone in out group was more than pleased by our service and food. I guess I have to try it again to see if it was a fluke.
(4)Ricardo S.
The food at this place is amazing, the garlic shrimp from the tapas menu, is addictive its so good. The paella is also amazing, but be prepared to wait an hour for it to come out. A pitcher of their delicious sangria will do the trick. The wait staff has a lot of character, not the typical type of service you would expect from an upscale place like this, but it is entertaining and i don't mind it at all. It almost makes me feel like i am actually in Spain. They have a beautiful outdoor patio in the back that is perfect for dates. If you are a stuffy kind of person you will hate the atmosphere here, but i absolutely love it, lots of fun and great food.
(5)Camille B.
I ate here for the first time about a month ago. The food was excellent and we sat in their beautiful patio. I will definitely be back!
(5)Casey C.
This place sucks. Overpriced and TERRIBLE service. I took my wife and In-laws out for a good time, but NooOOOOOoOOOoo! One thing I cannot stand is bad customer service. Here's how it went: 1. There's no greeter or sign directing you as to when or where to sit. Awkward, since we had a reservations on Saturday night. 2. We waited for 30 minutes before our server came by with water & menus. 3. We waited another 45 minutes for our appetizers and cocktails. And only half of us got our appetizers & cocktails. 4. Then we continued to wait a full hour before we got our dinner. Each dinner was brought out separately, and so far apart that we were forced to eat separately or risk it going cold. And they forgot my wife's dinner altogether. (by this point her blood sugar was really low, watch out!) 5. The owner intervened to expedite our food, but instead of apologizing, he blamed it on the server. 6. We asked for some bread at least so my wife didn't pass out and the owner dropped off a bowl and walked away (with the bowl still spinning on the table, no lie). 7. The two tables around us were waiting equally as long for their food. It was the most horrific (i repeat, HORRIFIC) dining experience I've ever had.
(1)Toni N.
How disappointing. As a couple we made RSVP well in advance and still were sandwiched in the bar area with 2 additional LOUD parties with unruly children. The Paella was dry and some seafood undercooked. What a shame for what should be their signature dish. In addition the waitstaff was rude and curt . Having frequented many Spanish restaurants in Florida such as the world famous Columbia, Valencia Gardens etc. I left completely crestfallen and made note to write my first review of a restaurant in Sacramento. Too bad.
(1)ea j.
I went late on a weekday night recently and had a nice experience. The food was lovely: I enjoyed just about every bite I put in my mouth. My favorites of the night were the Mushroom Raviolis (raviolis de la moda) and the chicken skewers (pinchos morunos). I will pass next time on the skirt steak with herb sauce (mint, parsley and cilantro- i think not) unless you prefer the individual flavors having a WWF match on your tongue. Unfortunately, the dessert wasn't the best note to end on: the "drunk" cake was dripping in spanish sherry and completely overwhelmed the cream, cake and fresh fruit combined. But I would go again and hopefully next time get out on their gorgeous patio.
(4)Robyn B.
Had a great meal on the patio, next to the waterfall, the Sangria was awesome, the tapas Devine, garlic shrimp to die for as were the potatoes, truffles in white choc. Soup, omg. This s a great place to eat,
(4)Sarah A.
Typically poor service, or 4 out of every 5 times I have been there, but the paella and wine list more than make up for it.
(4)James L.
I'm a Bay Area native who lived in Sacramento for a short while, and this is one of maybe two or three restaurants for which I would consider making the drive up to Sac. The tapas are a bit pricey, but honestly, the portions are just right. I love my huge portions like most guys but when you have big flavors in every bite you don't need a huge mound of food - especially when there's wine and dessert thrown into the mix. I always leave this place feeling totally sated, not uncomfortably full. Stuff I enjoy: - Olives marinated in a fantastic olive oil with rosemary and juniper berries. Not surprisingly the berries give a slight hint of gin flavor to the olives. - Anchovy fillets, again in that sumptuous olive oil, on pieces of a moist flatbread. - The most tender Baby squid - or was it octopus? It was a cephalopod of some kind! - with a bit of crushed tomato and herbs on top of tender slices of new potatoes. - Some other tapas that I am forgetting at the moment but which are equally delicious. - An amazing seafood paella, with just the right hint of smokiness and saffron and that CRUST on the bottom of the pan. I'm a Korean boy so I love my rice crust, mmmmm. Very rich flavor but light and clean, in the way that the best seafood dishes are. - Great white wine recommended to us by our waitress to go with all our seafood dishes. This was hilarious because she looked like she herself was barely at the legal drinking age. (Oh, and by the way, I normally hate wine unless I'm cooking something with it. If I'm going to reach for anything alcoholic to drink it's going to be a Belgian lambic.) - Fantastic creme brulee, though I have to warn people that it has a hint of sweet corn flavor. I grew up with sweet red beans and malted rice in my desserts so I love that kind of shit, but many people might not. - Excellent port with the dessert. So yes, eat here ASAP! I mainly came here with my dates/boyfriends so I view it as a romantic spot, but the sophistication is balanced out by a relaxed, casual vibe. It would be as great to come here with friends or with family as it would be with a hottie on your arm. P.S. I can't offer any feedback on the land animal dishes, as I stick to my veggies and my seafood. However, if those dishes are anywhere near as good as what I have here, it's worth the trip.
(4)Scotty M.
Really enjoyed the food here and our server was great. We sampled a number of small plates (scallops. seared skirt steak, tuna, portabello mushroom with goat cheese, prawns, and potatoes) and were happy with the lot. Nice wine choice as well. Looking forward to coming back
(4)Erik N.
3 confirmation calls and they still screwed up the reservations..We specifically said 12 for the patio 3 days early..and when we got there..no patio no table..lots of attitude.. this is after they called us 3 times to confirm. Anyways the night began with a lot of attitude about the table then a snotty waiter with an unrecognizable accent says "listen up because I only talk once, you don't hear me, I won't say it again" ....this set the tone for an amazingly bad meal. Actually the food and wine were okay but the lack of service is what ruined the experience. The server was hardly around but at least the busser was there trying to help. She quickly recognized our frustration and disappointment and attempted to somewhat remedy the situation but water refills and apologies weren't helping. I think our bill ended up close to $700 and would have been well over $1000 had we been able to order the other food and wine we wanted, and still very little attention from the server. Here is a good example of the service and lack there of, at one point the server dumped a good 1/4 of a beer on my girlfriends salmon and was nice enough to towel it off a bit before sliding it onto a bread plate.. now thats classy. PS. We were going to speak with the manager but from what we gathered the server was the manager...F'ing terrible..Never again Aioli
(1)