There should be a word for a word that is both plural and singular, like deer or moose or sheep...or shrimp. On our most recent visit to Vega, my wife and I paid $11 for camarónes con calabaza, which is described as "cardamom dusted jumbo gulf shrimp on roasted pumpkin ravioli with basil cream". They didn't have pumpkin ravioli, so they substituted a different kind, which was fine, but...when it came out, there was only one shrimp. For $11. Now, I know all about oxymorons like "jumbo shrimp", but this was a normal sized shrimp. Maybe the cook kept overdid it and shrunk it? In any case, we got four small ravioli and...one shrimp. I felt cheated. Maybe I would feel better if the description of the dish read: "one [and hit that word hard] cardamom dusted jumbo gulf shrimp..." because then at least I would know what I was getting myself into. Of course, if the description read that way, I believe that far fewer people would order it--who wants to pay that much for one bite (by the way, I told my wife to go ahead and eat the shrimp herself, because I just couldn't see using my knife to split such a tiny thing, and she said that it was not the best bite of shrimp she ever had, which is kind of what I would expect at that price)? Later, we laughed about it, imagining that the restaurant fed some of the dish to a hungry kitty out back, in honor of the SPCA, for which the dinner was a kind of benefit. Ha! So I have two pieces of advice: first, ask the server about exactly what comes in each dish that you order, especially the difference between the "tapa" portion and the "racion" portion (that wouldn't have helped us because there weren't two different prices for the shrimp). Secondly, don't order camarónes con calabaza unless you feel like a "splurge". In the past, overall, we have had really good experiences at Vega, especially on "non-event" nights. I have really enjoyed the food, wine, and service on most of those occasions, but this ridiculously-priced shrimp dish soured me on it a bit. We will probably try it again sometime, but you better believe that I will asking my server about every little thing (ha!) that we order.
(3)
Larry B.
Excellent. Well at least that was our experience. Everything we had consisted of that "Wow" factor... One thing that I was extremely surprised by was the pear sorbet for dessert, not something I might have ordered but Lauren did and I ended up eating most of it LOL... absolutely incredible. seared tuna = excellent cheese plate = excellent seared beef = excellent crab cake = excellent grilled shrimp = excellent chocolate cake = excellent pear sorbet = Phenomenal All of this had very great taste and texture. The only thing that stopped the 5th star (not saying it was not good) the service was not excellent but not bad... and the other was (although we expected the price and that was part of the experience) for the amount we had it was a little pricey. Over all a Great time and a food Lovers Dream. Larry/Lauren
(4)
Tyrannie P.
Great hospitality. Awesome food. Wonderful specials. It's nice and cozy. I had the lobster bisque, mussels, steak, & the banana split. Everything was perfect. My hostess Mariana & server Julie were very personable. I'll be sure to be back especially on Mondays.
(5)
Annie B.
Einstein said: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". I sometimes think of this when I refuse to learn my lesson about certain things, such as eating a seaweed salad with chopsticks in the car or continually eating at tapas places, even though I know I don't like tapas. Why am I always disappointed by tapas? Pure selfishness. I don't like applying a communal aspect to an already tiny plate. It stresses me out to see my minuscule rations being passed around the table, knowing that while I did get the first bite, that is probably all I'll get. Yet, even when it's just Max and I, we usually leave renewing our agreement to not eat at any more tapas places. Three olives and some low-grade manchego do not a meal make. But one day I discovered Old Metairie Road and was charmed by a strip of restaurants that look like a glimpse into the 40's, one of those restaurants being Vega Tapas. Since Max doesn't share my weakness for breaking promises made to one's self, I had to enlist Anna to go with me for a weekday lunch. Even though we got there five minutes before closing and were the only table, the waiter was ridiculously accommodating. I was thrilled to see a carp roe "caviar" dip on the menu in place of the same old boring hummus dip I expected to see. But I was overjoyed when the dip was delivered with an assortment of accoutrements including capers, onions, and two kinds of unknown cheeses, as well as warm, grilled pita bread. Grilled bread in any form makes me giddy. I was further titillated by the mention of house made duck sausage. I believe there are certain red flags that signal a restaurant is quality. One of those flags is house made sausage. Anyhow, because of this predilection, I had to order the special of duck sausage with black-eyed peas cooked with pancetta. A little gluttonous for a weekday lunch but there you have it. I won't say the sausage was great, but it was good. More so the black-eyed peas were wickedly smoky and delicious. Although I certainly haven't tried the gauntlet of food at Vega, so far I'm impressed, meaning I might have to forget about my pledge to discontinue tapas. For more of my reviews of Nola cuisine, visit my blog: eatdrinknola.blogspot.com
(4)
Sammi D.
I am madly in love with this place! Ok, let's start this! This lovely tapas bar is located in the heart of Old Metairie on Metairie Rd. If you've never been, chances are you have driven by it a few hundred times and not even noticed it. I hate to call it a hole in the wall because it isn't, but it is a quaint little place nestled into a small strip of other bars and another food place. There is very limited parking right in front of it but there is a whole parking lot across the street the provides ample parking. They serve up a wide array of traditional and non-traditional tapas. There are also daily specials that incorporate whatever fresh produce, seafood, etc. is in season. The specials are always so affordable and yummy. In addition to that greatness, there are Monday - Friday specials, such as $2 Tapas Tuesday, Winey Wednesdays which is $5 glasses of any wine, Corkage Amnesty (I think that's on Mondays), etc. My #1 favorite dish from here is the Steamed Mussels. Talk about to die for! Some other faves are the Paella, Scallops, and the Empanadas. If I lived in this area, I would probably be here everyday. If you haven't tried this place yet, your shorting yourself. Give it a whirl this weekend and you will be hooked.
(5)
Tuna D.
Located on Old Metairie Rd, went there before the storm and after the storm. Difference is that they take only cash after the storm. Everytime that I have been there I have had the Apple & Brie salad which is really good and the dressing is home made right there in that kitchen ya see...gotta have the steamed mussels and must try their paella, it's yummmmyyyy with seafood, chicken and pork. Parking is along the building and if you come in the evening there may be a wait. If you need to get to an ATM, there is one in walking distance. For the most part, you are in a safe area so no needs to worry. Good list of wines to choose from. Ideal for a 1st date if you are looking for something casual and not too dark.
(3)
Erica S.
I've been going here since before Katrina, and I'm really glad they reopened. The menu selection is always interesting and keeps a few of their better dishes consistent, like the Moorish Pork and the Chicken in Phyllo. The dishes that rotate throughout the year are always interesting, though some are much better than others. Any grilled vegetable dish is always good. I wish they'd bring back those scalloped potatoes with the berry topping. When the hell was that anyway? Oh well. My last experience here (Nov 2008) was great, and the white sangria is always excellent.
(4)
Stephen K.
We had a delightful dinner at Vega Tapas Cafe. Service was excellent. This is our favorite restaurant in Metairie. We love the art work on display in the restaurant. The Moroccan spiced ribs were probably the best ribs we ever had. Excellent selection of Tapas and small dishes that are uniques and innovative.
(5)
Dee B.
We came here because our favorite Tapas restaurant decided to close. Fried goat cheese balls are a must have for our group. They weren't listed on the menu here. The chef tried hard to be accommodating but it just wasn't quite to our taste. Our waitress, although very pretty, had a cold and that was a serious turnoff. The food had good taste and we might give it another try at some point. The AC was cranking so if you do go bring a sweater!
(3)
Ileana O.
This spot is a real hidden treasure. Let's be honest, I live in downtown New Orleans, and Metarie feels like it may as well be an hour and a half away most days even though it's only a 15 minute drive. Lucky for me, I hopped on Groupon yesterday morning and saw a killer deal and decided the trek was worth it. $42 for 6 tapas AND 1 dessert? Sold. I got reservations for that same night and it proved to be the best Groupon deal I've scored in a long time. We started off with the cheese plate and the oysters swimming in chorizo in queso (Ostras). Stellar. We then substituted 4 of the tapas for the Fideo de Vega which is essentially a Paella over short noodles instead of rice. It was great! We ended with an awesome Bread Pudding in a Tres Leches sauce and let me tell you, I was feeling like I should have worn my stretchy pants because I was so full of good food! The decor was great and our server was always really attentive. My girlfriend and I will be back for sure to sample more of the Tapas! Thank you for a great dining experience Vegas. From one Spaniard to another. :)
(5)
Linda M.
A few weeks back I posted a negative review after not getting a reply back from a letter I sent to Greg F., the owner. Greg replied to my comments on Yelp and had not received the letter. Very graciously, Greg wanted to make amends to my daughter about the unfortunate event and offered to treat them on their next visit. We made it a family affair and had a wonderful meal. Every morsel was delightful and we had quite an array. I now have great faith again in customer service at Vega Tapas and an extraordinary owner who strives to make this a great dining experience. Thanks again to Greg and staff! Linda M.
(5)
Gerry W.
My friends and I have been going to Vega for several years. Now that it has a new owner, we were interested in finding out how it was under new management. The food was still absolutely delicious . The smart new owner had kept on the chef who used to assist the former chef- owner, and promoted him to head chef. Our waitress and bartender both recognized us from before, and we had a great evening.
(5)
Monique S.
Vegas Tapas used to be my favorite restaurant on Metairie Road with such friendly wait staff and a nice ambiance, but the last two times I have had dinner there were such a disappointment. What is going on with the salt ??? I ordered Gambas and scallops on Saturday night and both were unbearably salty and the scallops were too chewy (overcooked). If it had not been tapas I would have sent both dishes back. I don't know if I want to go back...
(2)
Alex G.
This place is awesome. I love the decor and I also love the food. I've sampled several dishes including the delicious paella. They give you a huge portion of paella so it's great for sharing, hence the tapas... They also have a decent wine selection. I haven't had a plate I didn't like here! Great place!
(5)
Bryan S.
First I love Tapas and the many new places in NOLA that offer small plate menus. I went to Vegas Tapas with a friend who ordered from the "Special Menu" a series of small dishes.. there were 6 or 7 dishes but the portions were WAAY too small, let me clarify the portions were TINY and my date (who rarely eats anyway) was visibly upset. There is no way these could be considered "Small Plate" dishes, this was something else, something I never heard of.. a series of micro-plates. Each plate will give you a bite or two and leaving you hungry as you wait the 5 to 10 minutes for the next micro-serving to arrive. Maybe if these were all presented on the "Special Menu" as an Appetiser and the plates were brought out faster and topped with an entree I could see this working, but it did not work. I played it safe with the Caesor Salad (with grilled avocado!) and had a dish with jumbo grilled shrimp served in bread with a very tasty barbeque sauce... I was satisfied with my order, but again my date was not happy with her course of several tiny servings so I was nice enough to share some of my jumbo shrimp. Lesson learned and will not be back soon.. My Tip AVOID the 'SPECIAL MENU' unless you consider it nothing more than a series of itsy-bitsy appetizers before a main course.
(2)
Susan B.
I have been going here since inception when ms. Vega first started. I moved away for 10 years and the restaurant changed hands. Have had hit or miss meals since then. Will never go back after tonight. Ordered something that purported to be spicy, but was quite sweet. Upon complaint, the "chef" refused to remove it from the bill. It is not about the $12 dollars , but, rather the arrogance. Pass on this place. Way too many great restaurants in NOLA.
(1)
Michelle G.
So glad to see this place packed on a Friday night. We had the vega salad, berrenjana, and the pescado. Absolutely delicious! Service was outstanding . Can't wait to come back again. The new management is obviously suiting this place well!
(4)
Beth B.
My first thought was why here? location is a bit strange. But.... we are a table of 4, ordered a total of 14 various tapas and 2 desserts and it was all amazing! Every plate was beautiful, perfectly cooked and delicious. Recommend the ribs, the avocado salad, the scallops, and everything else. Our waitress was great, even knowing we had a Groupon. And... the chocolate cake... just amazing. Even for those of us who life in the city it is worth the drive, and for you suburbs-type people that wont come into town it is the place for a great meal.
(5)
Elmer E.
Unfortunately this meal started badly. I ordered the steamed mussels and they were not up to any standard of acceptability. The flavor was fine but the mussels were scrawny and nothing like what should have been a plump morsel. I asked the waiter to have the owner/chef come look at what he was serving but the waiter returned to tell me the owner was "too busy". My point was going to tell the owner that he needs to pull that dish from the menu. Surely he wouldn't knowingly serve a sub-par dish to his customers (would he?) Zero stars! After sending the mussels back, I had a wonderful salad with Brie and Granny Smith apples and Carmelized leeks. Four stars! This was followed by the savory Moorish pork kabobs over flash fried spinach. Would love to know the spice used in this dish. Four Stars! Finally, the duck confit sliders! Terrific flavor but the buns appeared to come from the local Krystal Hamburger locations. The flavor overcame any nitpicking over the Buns. Four Stars! All in all very good! (Don't order the mussels unless they are fresh and plump)
(3)
Cristen F.
This is a great place to try something of your culinary comfort zone. With the small sized "tapa" portions it's also a great way to have several different dishes. I am continually amazed at the locals who don't go BECAUSE it's "such small portions." That's the whole theme of the restaurant! You can't go to a tapas restaurant and complain everything is in small portions?!? If you want a trough of food, go to a buffet! Anyway...with that rant over...I recently went again and ordered the roasted artichoke, tapas bravas and duck sliders. All were fantastic. We also ordered the pork ribs and the special pork empanada. The ribs were the only thing that was WAY overcooked. The flavor was good, the dish was just really tough and more like jerky. Wednesday night is the night to go as they have $5 glasses of wine!
(4)
Amanda M.
I love me some tapas! My husband and I went here for a romantic dinner and it didn't disappoint. Definitely the best tapas restaurant in the city that I've been to. I picked out a few tapas (rare seared ahi, a jumbo shrimp in spicy cream sauce, spicy potatoes, baked oysters with chorizo and manchego) and my husband ordered paella. We both shared the tapas and ate only a fraction of the paella. We had a ton of paella that we took home. Everything was very good. I liked the atmosphere and I will definitely go back because there are so many more dishes I want to try.
(4)
Big C.
ROACH COACH-Nasty place-no wonder the lights stay down.
(1)
Steve G.
Had a great late dinner after the movie with my wife and daughter recently. Comfortable, very creative menu and sooooo good! The duck sliders were off the chart good and the service (Angela) was perfect! Also nice to see the Owner/Chef,Glen, making the dining room rounds introducing himself and checking in with diners.
(5)
Tamia G.
Fabulous service! I stopped in for the 1st and enjoyed their bottomless wine for only $10 (every Friday 5:30-7:30, limited time; it has ended). Also, they have 1/2 off all bottles every Monday and $5 any wine on Wednesday. But... Call to confirm so you won't be disappointed when they stop one of the deals without notice (eventhough their website still displays the deal). The Spanish Malbec was well balanced & fruit forward. Since I sat on the patio, I appreciated that they'd slightly chilled the wine. I started with the Atún del coriandro, which is coriander seared rare ahi tuna with avocado-tomato relish & chili cilantro vinaigrette. $4/$10. It was exceptional. Next, I had the Gambas pil pil, jumbo gulf shrimp in smoked paprika garlic oil. $3/$11. The shrimp were cooked and seasoned so well; definitely my favorite! After that, I ate the Moorish pork, which consisted of cured & grilled tenderloin over flash fried spinach w/horseradish sour-cream. $4/$9. The spinach preparation was actually quite good and went well with the savory and tender pork. Finally, I had the Costillas del Morocco, exotic spiced pork baby-back ribs w/Steen's cilantro glaze. $9. My suggestion...pass on this item. It's too big and is neither tender nor well marinated. Everything else was so wonderful and I'll definitely go back! They have a new "Taste of the Mediterranean" going on, so I'll have to check out some of the wonderful offerings mentioned on their website.
(5)
KJ C.
The tapas is amazing and service absolutely outstanding! I loved the gulf fish with pureed cauliflower and octopus escabeche. The crab salad and cheese plates were okay. Price is good for quality. The wines were also excellent. I liked it as a date spot, there are cozy couch seats.
(3)
Ashley M.
This place is amazing! My friend and I went for a girls night out and starting from the minute we walked in the door we were impressed. The host was attentive and asked about our table preference. The ambiance was quite nice. Our waitress was also very attentive and we never went without wine refills or immediate plate removal. The food was also DELICIOUS! We had the duck sliders, the hummus plate, the tuna, and the scallops. All of the food was perfectly cooked and well presented. The $5 wine special (Wednesdays) was perfect. This place is not cheap but so worth every single penny! I will definitely be back!
(5)
Mike K.
One of my favorite restaurants in New Orleans. It's just an added plus that it's in my neighborhood. EXCELLENT DATE RESTAURANT. Very nice casual fine dining that's fun and a little bit sexy. Food rocks, service is awesome, location is great. Wine selection is great and the staff is knowledgeable, so don't skimp on the questions. If you're sick of Magazine St. and Prytania, this is a great place off the beaten path on the same caliber of Uptown's best.
(5)
Kelli J.
Our first visit to Vega Tapas was on valentines day. They had a 6 course, prix fixe menu that evening for the "date night holiday." The presentation was beautiful and the food extremely tasty. The atmosphere simply complimented the entire experience perfectly. Great date place. I look forward to returning, for a tour of their regular daily menu.
(5)
meaghan e.
If you're one of those people who can never pick just one item off the menu, come here. If you love amazing food, come here. If you don't want to empty your bank account for a jaw dropping food coma inducing meal, come here. Tonight we had a Portuguese red blend, 7 large plates and dessert for under 150. And not one plate was less then stunning perfection. First: the cold plates. Pink caviar dip, duck foie gras, and a cheese plate. All excellent. Now for the good stuff. The hot tapas were where my mind was really blown. Lamb meatballs, steamed mussels in white wine, mushroom ravioli, and baby veal in cream sauce. All perfectly cooked, spiced, and executed. Trying to describe how amazing each dish was would be like attempting to carve the Grand Canyon with a toothpick. Seriously. And our dessert?! The Vega banana split: fried banana empanadas with Nutella, vanilla gelato, and whipped cream. Simply put, heaven on a plate. All in all, this place is amazing, service was amazing, I can't wait to go back. My new go to spot for any occasion.
(5)
David R.
Best meal ever. Great people, great food.
(5)
Ryan S.
This little gem is tucked away in a part of Metairie that is well traveled, but rarely seen. The whole strip mall in which it is located has a rustic look. Once you enter the doors, however, you quickly come to realize that you've just stepped into a classy gastronomic hideaway! In several visits, I have yet to have a dish that is less than intriguing. Some of the concoctions are interesting, to say the least, but tend to be surprisingly good more often than not. The menu is generally seasonal, and frequently changing tasting menus ensure that no two visits (unless you are a creature of habit) are identical. Drink specials, especially Mondays (1/2 price wine by the bottle) and Wednesdays ($5 all wine by the glass), make for an exciting addition. The frequently changing artisan cheese plate is always a great starter on those nights! Recently renovated dining room! Service: 22 / 30 Decor: 24 / 30 Food: 28 / 30 Wine List: 19 / 30; Limited, but worthwhile; ~2x markup
(5)
Shannon S.
Vega Tapas does some really great food and it is one of the more enjoyable restaurants to dine at in the Metairie area. They do some really good paella and their other entrees are also quite tasty. Their tapas are very nice and they typically give you good portions. I've also really enjoyed Vega's food when they catered the Running of the Bulls event where they really out did themselves and provided some fantastic food. This has always been a fun place that I've enjoyed eating at and I've enjoyed nearly everything I've ever eaten here. They sometimes get a bit too creative with some new fangled style dishes that don't often appeal to me but as long as I stick to the traditional things I'm a happy camper. When I'm in the mood for tapas this place makes my very short list along with Barcelona Tapas and Lola's.
I had been seeing this place on Groupon for a week or so and decided to give it a try. Good price- $42 for six tapas and one dessert. The ambiance was nice and the decor was very vibrant. The staff was very energetic and friendly. Food wise, the fare is a little on the rich side. My favorite was the scallops tapa, though it was the richest flavor of all. We opted to sub a filet for two of our tapas and it was a great decision! The meat was cooked perfect (mid-well) and was tender and flavorful. Thank goodness for Groupon or we probably never would have tried this place! We will return to sample more of the flavors!
(4)
Megan S.
I absolutely love this place! I've eaten here multiple times and have made my way across the menu and can honestly say I have not eaten anything I didn't love. Spanish food is one of my favorites, and you can't beat tapas. I love the concept of tapas. If you're like me, you want a little bit of everything - and ordering one item becomes a difficult task, which is why small plates/sharing plates is such a great thing to me. The pricing is very fair. The sangria is also very good. The last time we went we made reservations online and got a free plate. Who knew?
(5)
Thuy L.
I bought a groupon voucher. It's was a nice deal. Dinner for two- six tapas and one desert. Highlights- Mussels, tender and cooked well Calamari, lightly battered and fried well Chocolate truffle cake, decadent I was disappointed with the other items. The smoked salmon dip was rich. Simply just not a fan of the mousse texture of the dip and it tasted like a lot of mayo. The scallop was cooked perfectly but way too salty. The duck was overcooked. For a groupon deal, I was able to try out a new restaurant. However, I felt like the food was just ok.
(3)
Paul j.
Had the pork tenderloin, bbq ribs, and chicken Wellington (don't remember actual name). All we great small plates that I finished to the last drop. The owner happened to be sitting next to me at the bar when I ordered and he pared a red wine with my meal perfectly (even made sure that it was a happy hour wine too). The entire team (hostess, waiters, and bartender) where all very nice and very helpful. Even suggested some other nice little places for me to try while I was in town. The bartender made sure to place the plates in order so that I could finish one dish before another came out to ensure nothin got cold, but I never had to wait either. The chef has been there since the place opened over 20 years ago and has a done a great job keeping his recipes traditional and up to date. (There are also a ton of sea food dishes that I didn't try since I'm more of a land meat eater but the bartender ensured me that they are just as good as the ones I got) Finally the owner did mention to me that all the food is fresh and made to order, nothing is pre cooked and reheated. The fresh grill taste was great.
(5)
Kelly F.
New owners made it all go downhill. Such a shame. It was a nice place. The neighborhood is awful as well. There's an apartment complex across the street with strippers and coke heads living there. Not my kind of atmosphere. If I could give it zero stars I would.
(1)
Erin M.
Went here for the Israeli dinner. 4 course plus cocktail for $35.00. You can't beat it. The waitress was outstanding. The first course was hummus. It was okay. Needed more spice or seasonings to me, but not bad. 2nd course ground lamb in a red sauce with egg on top. The red sauce was out of this world. The lamb was great, too. I could skip the egg. 3rd course was chicken and red bell pepper skewers underneath was Israeli couscous with a yogurt sauce for dipping. It was ok. I thought the chicken was a little dry. 4th course was desert. Neither my friend nor I cared for this and didn't eat it. It was a custard with a raspberry coulis on top with rose water and pistachios. The cocktail was surprisingly delicious. It was soda water with lemon shot of whiskey. So refreshing and a great way to end the meal. Will be back fro the 4 course Italy dinner! Can't wait!
(4)
Ashley P.
Bought a Groupon for $42 for 6 tapas and a dessert. Only downside is you can only book Tuesday or Thursday. But it is such a great value. We went on a Tuesday and there was a $2 sangria special. Score! We started with the Atun (ahi) which was so yummy. Then we ordered the Barbacoas (shrimp) which was delish. That was my boyfriend's fave. We also go the Vieiras (scallops). That was my fave but I'm partial to scallops. The scallops by themselves were a tad too salty but when you ate it with the farro it was very balanced. We also ordered the Costillas (ribs) but we were started to get full so boxed those to go and devluged in the filet in exchange for 2 tapas. Cooked perfect med rear and had a nice sear. I wish it had a pinch more of seasoning though. Very simple but good. We then got the lemon custard pancakes for dessert and those were absolutely amazing. I'm so glad we got a Groupon for this place, otherwise we may have never tried it. Our server Nick was cool and the ambiance was great to hang out with your girls or for a cute date night. Will definitely be back to try more tapas!
(5)
Jody B.
I picked Vega because I was meeting someone at dinner time and we both had eaten rather large lunches and just wanted to get together and catch up over a couple shared appetizers. This seemed the perfect choice. The place was fairly empty and quiet on a Tuesday night and a good place to have a conversation. Vega is probably is way more conducive to a first date or special occasion kind of place since the lights are low which sets a romantic ambience. As nice as that is, the low light does make it very difficult to read the menu. We had to use the flashlight on our phones in order to read. Our waitress was very nice but I wish she had been a bit more helpful when we were ordering. I had mentioned that it was our first time there and we told her that we were looking to split 3 or 4 selections. I've had tapas before but not from here. It seems the choices we made were the smallest of all the small plate options available, they were like mini-tapas. I saw several dishes come out to other tables and they were much larger than ours and more appropriate for sharing than our selections. It would have been nice to be told which ones were really, really small, we would have either made different selections or maybe ordered multiples of the same dish. One selection was the size of a single solitary spring roll and took the longest of all our choices to come out of the kitchen. We both kind of laughed to ourselves when it came out. It was good, just tiny. I might try it again if I'm looking for a romantic spot for a date.
(3)
C D.
Not impressed. Small plates are just that and I've had better - for less. The owner/manager is a bit arrogant and lacks customer service skills. Not going back -- EVER.
(2)
Hai L.
Man. Where do I start? How can you not love tapas? The location is nice. Away from New Orleans' craziness. I recommend anyone that come here to be adventurous with the different types of dishes.
(5)
Tracy S.
We had a great dining experience. Our waiter was very informative and friendly. I really enjoyed the tapas style so we could experience many different items. I loved the cheese platter, the barbacoas (spicy shrimp), the roasted duck sliders and especially the paella. The chocolate truffle cake was rich but truly decadent. Can't wait to go back to try more!
(5)
Bishop L.
One of the better restaurants in the greater New Orleans area! Definitely the best tapa bar! Been coming here for years!
(5)
Ander S.
Great for a quick 'snack' with friends or family, or a long meal. Either way, you won't be disappointed. Has been perfect for small reunions.
(5)
Lindsay F.
Our waiter was a little slow on the service to be acknowledged (approximately 20-25 minutes) but did recommend a good bottle of wine. Our first dish was the Cheese plate which was very good. Then everything went down hill. Our oysters were cold, but had good flavor. The mussels were old and fishy followed by inedible meatballs. We were hoping for much more for a metairie road staple near the house. Unfortunately, it did not meet our hopes. Wouldn't recommend to friends or family.
(2)
Bonnie R.
Normally one of my regular places to go. Have been here a dozen times, but things were slightly off tonight. Had a waitress who was ok but not wonderful (as we usually have). Had some wonderful items that were specials for today: roasted corn with cheese & garlic butter and the main course of scallops on braised cabbage over a fried tomato drizzled with a crawfish cream sauce that was delicious. However, I also had my regular favorite salad that wasn't so good. It has beets over spinach with a patty of fried goat cheese & spiced pecans served with a vinagrette. Tonight the dressing or the pecans were so salty that it took away from the salad & was difficult to finish. My friend had the Moorish pork dish that was very dry, tough & chewy. Was flavorful if you could bite & chew it! We ended with a tres leches bread pudding with berries that was fabulous! Will likely go back & overall we enjoyed the evening, but I would normally give this restaurant a 5 star review & have no complaints about any part of the meal. But not this time.
(3)
Elizabeth E.
Visited Vega Tapas for the first time on a Monday evening. Found it very warm & cozy upon entering. The hostess was amazingly friendly as well as the waitresses. We were seated in a corner booth that had vibrant pillows..very comfy! Take notice of the local artwork hanging on the walls that is offered for sale as well. Bottles of wine are half priced on Mondays..very nice! We weren't quite sure which to decide on and the waitress let us taste one we might be interested in before making a final decision. What a big help! We couldn't get over how tasty the simple tomato spread served with the complimentary bread was! Started with the Remolochas which was pretty standard, however the goat cheese was fried which added a nice touch. The Atun was very tasty.. wished there was more because of how good it was. Tortilla Espanola was served piping hot, but lacked a little bit of flavor.. maybe even a dash of salt would have made a great difference. The Alcachofas were grilled nicely and had just the right amount of smokey flavor. Mejillones were SO GOOD! Was pleasantly surprised by the amount of mussels given. The broth was enjoyed with the hot French bread long after the mussels were gone. :) Albondigas were very tasty. Just enough spice to them. Cerdo Moro was slightly overcooked, but very enjoyable. The flash fried spinach was a great touch that offered a little bit of sweetness to the dish. We had mentioned in conversation that we were celebrating a birthday and the waitress brought out Tortitas Rellenas de Natillas al Aguardiente. Overall, a bit sweet for my taste, but the birthday boy enjoyed it. Can't wait to go back and try the paellas.. Wish I would have snapped some pictures as I usually do, but we were so excited to try each dish, that photos got overlooked. :)
Party of four on a Saturday night. As noted in other reviews, this place is hidden in a strip mall on Old Metairie Road. It is very likely that you have driven by this place without ever seeing it. This is my first time in a Tapas restaurant. For the other rookies, the menu is dozens of appetizers sized for individuals or larger to be shared. There are no rules, order as much or as little as you see fit. Have a round and then order more. Everything is high quality. You won't like everything, but you do get to try it. The trick is talk up the dishes that you don't care for (i.e. "this tofu stuffed hang nail is to die for....") so everyone will eat those leaving the good stuff all to your self. Another strategy is to suggest everyone take a portion and volunteer to take whatever is left. That wasn't always as successful. It's a Machiavellian thing.. Interesting decor, comfortable environment. The tables are a little tight for 4 with all the dishes and bottles and glasses, but it's all part of the experience. . This is a fun meal with friends. Potatoes (patatas bravas), scallops (seared diver scallops), salad (ensalada de cangrejo), nutty vega were noteworthy. Service was excellent. Our waiter was knowledgeable and additive to the experience. Didn't hover, kept the glasses full and was sensitive the order, eat, order, eat, order, eat flow of the meal. Didn't see the bill, but you can figure $30 per person with drinks and tip. If anyone wants to treat me here, I am available.
(4)
Jen L.
I hadn't eaten here in a million years, but in an effort to find someplace on a Saturday during Jazz Fest for 5 people at 8:30 without a wait...we ventured out to the wilds of Metairie. And we had a most excellent meal. My first plate was a salad which was OK. I didn't go with my 1st instinct (the brie & apple) because it was supposed to have leeks as was my 3rd plate. As it turned out my 3rd plate didn't have the listed leeks either. Oh well. The artichokes with feta relish (my 2nd plate) were excellent. And the diver scallops with butternut squash were AMAZING, leek or no leeks. Everyone else enjoyed their food. And the bits I tasted off their plates were good, except for the risotto (can't remember what else was with the dish, maybe fish). The risotto was really salty and not much else. My only other criticism is the whole tapas phenomenon. I feel like I should pre-eat so that I don't break my budget. All those small plates are expensive!
(4)
Amanda S.
We went to Vega Tapas Cafe for my sister's birthday last night. We had 8 people all together. We weren't sure where we were going until the last minute so I was afraid we would have to wait without a reservation but They sat us right away. Our waiter was very patient with us and gave us as much time as we needed to look over the menu. We finally decided on 16 Racions (which are larger than the tapas). That made it 2 per person, and we shared everything. We liked pretty much everything, but I was a little disappointed with the gazpacho. I ordered it with the lump crab meat, but they were out so they brought it out without the crab meat (the cheaper version). It just felt really lacking, and no one really like it. I love gazpacho so it was a pretty big disappointment for me. Everything else that we ordered was devoured! The things everyone seemed to like the most were the ceviche, and the scallops over butternut squash. The service was wonderful and they have half priced bottles of wine on Mondays! I would definitely go again! Also, it wasn't as expensive as some of the other Tapas restaurants in New Orleans ($190 for 8 ppl), which is always a plus!
(4)
Sophia K.
Food tastes great but very much overpriced. Service was very slow and the restaurant was only 75% full. Had an issue with the bill which will prevent me from ever going back. Better more enjoyable tapas places in town.
(1)
Perrey L.
This is one of those places that I love so much and for so many reasons, it has been hard for me to muster up the wherewithal to draft a review, but here goes. I first noticed Vega driving trough Old Metairie, and was understandably drawn by its artsy, quirky facade. I immediately thought, "Hey. I need to check that place out." A few months later, the bf came for a visit and we had to find a place for our New Year's Eve dinner, and we found the chance. The ambiance of this place is absolutely killer - the walls are adorned with wrought iron wall art, viney arms holding tea candles that lend a romantic glow to the place. Also, there is an ever-rotating gallery of original art by local artists on the walls priced for sale. The food here is amazing. The first time we went here, we got the tasting menu for NYE and it was fabulous. I have no idea what we ate, but, man it was good. The last time I ate here, we went all out, ordering some special salad tossed with brie, mussels, chorizo-stuffed quail, the paella, and a few other items I can't remember. It was all delicious, although the paella was not as good as we expected from reading former reviews. The prices here are reasonable, and it is a fantastic, chic choice for Metairie-ites who don't want to brave the big city bullshit.
(4)
Casey B.
I did not have high expectations for Vega as I am the anti-tapas man, but this place was actually alright. Of course, most portions are small and overpriced, but the quality was definitely present! I thought the service was good. My biggest pointers would be: 1. The mixed seafood paella is good value and delicious. 2. The tres leches waffle was delightful ----very innovative! WWL Perks has a half off coupon for this place right now so check it out and get your money's worth! Also, they didn't charge me to BYOB!
(3)
Kyria W.
Great food. Good ambiance. It's tucked away on a little street in Metairie.
(4)
Koko S.
Finally got to enjoy the ambiance and food at this place. Loved the look, very intimate and comfortable. Loved the Lil bar area in the front. Being a vegetarian, we tried the following dishes: Grilled Artichokes - was ok, but didn't have much of a texture. But good flavors. Patatas bravas - was the best dish of the night. Very good flavor. salsa de berenjena - loved the flavors in this salsa. Wished it came with more pita, and worth eating every bit. Berenjena napoleon - was the most disappointing. Perhaps becuz it was a cold dish, but when i added a Lil salt, it made the flavor the eggplant more intriguing. But it left the most to be desired. All in all, i would go back as the ambiance the wonderful wine menu would make this a great place to enjoy a night out, but i have had better tapas in the city.
(3)
Sharon S.
This was my 1st visit & a wonderful experience. The food was amazing & the service was great! We tried 2 different salads & 5 different Tapas dishes & each one was DELISH! Can't wait to go back
(5)
Scott M.
Every time my mother comes into town we eat here and have a great time and always have had the same server who is excellent every time. Last night though was a different story. We were the fourth table seated and I ordered promptly for everyone. We received the small plates soon enough but the paella she ordered for her and her husband took an hour and a half. I assured her that paella takes a while but after we hit the 45 minute mark, something was up. The waiter said there were orders in front of us which was right. I watched 2 other tables have four courses that were seated after us. Upon delivery of the check not even an apology...MAN....
(2)
Mike P.
I tried the moorish pork racion and the duck fat fries. Both were good, and I was unexpectedly full when I left despite the small plates. The white sangria was also good. However, I guess I'm not a fan of the tapas set up and paying $6 for a single scallop seems a little crazy to me no matter how good it is. At one point, an extra dish was brought by mistake and I was expected to pay for it. This was my only knock on the service. All in all, if you're a fan of Tapas to begin with, you'll enjoy this restaurant, otherwise you might want to consider other options.
(3)
Tap B.
Great recommendation from Dorothy Y., who is a GREAT FOODIE and REVIEWER! Reservations were made for 8PM, party of 3. We ordered: - Ensalada de mariscos - an array of seafood on baby arugula with a lemon-thyme vinaigrette - Foie gras terrine - Steamed mussels - Smoked duck sausage and gruyere mac-n-cheese - Pork sliders -Paella de la vega - Pistachio gelato and pear sorbet The most memorable dishes of the night were the steamed mussels and the paella de la vega. The mussels were perfectly cooked in a light wine-butter sauce, finished off with capers, onions, and dill. The paella was fantastic--I'm just sad it was the last item to come out on the table. My friends and I were quite full when it came out. The other ordered items were also great, just not as memorable. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)
D W.
Valentine's evening dinner was ruined by the near total implosion of this formerly good restaurant. Arrived on time, expecting a two-hour or so good time; departed almost four hours later. Server was brand new to Vega and to the industry and appeared to be sleepwalking throughout. Menu was a 6-course prix fixe. In all, we received 4 courses due to inability of kitchen and wait staff to deliver. Had to request table's busing after each course. Finally gave up and began piling our dirty plates on the adjoining table, which was still not bused after 2 hours of vacancy. My fish arrived cold. My wife's "filet," ordered medium, was bloody and could not be cut with a steak knife. The bisque was excellent, as was the fried oyster first course and the asparagus salad. We saw three different groups of diners leave the restaurant due to lack of service. One group consisted of a dad and his 7-year old daughter, who was dressed up for Valentine's day; this was going to be a special treat for her. They finally gave up after an hour, having received only bread and beverages. She said they were going to McDonald's to get "a good dinner!" We asked three times for the owner, and were rebuffed each time; perhaps he was at McDonald's. The barman, Ryan, came through for us as the only representative of management and gave us a discount on our meal. Have been going here for years and had good experiences. This night was a total disaster and our worst New Orleans dining experience in 43 years here.
(1)
Catie K.
I have been here multiple times. I love it. They know what they're doing. Go on Tuesday for their specials.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Andrew K.
There should be a word for a word that is both plural and singular, like deer or moose or sheep...or shrimp. On our most recent visit to Vega, my wife and I paid $11 for camarónes con calabaza, which is described as "cardamom dusted jumbo gulf shrimp on roasted pumpkin ravioli with basil cream". They didn't have pumpkin ravioli, so they substituted a different kind, which was fine, but...when it came out, there was only one shrimp. For $11. Now, I know all about oxymorons like "jumbo shrimp", but this was a normal sized shrimp. Maybe the cook kept overdid it and shrunk it? In any case, we got four small ravioli and...one shrimp. I felt cheated. Maybe I would feel better if the description of the dish read: "one [and hit that word hard] cardamom dusted jumbo gulf shrimp..." because then at least I would know what I was getting myself into. Of course, if the description read that way, I believe that far fewer people would order it--who wants to pay that much for one bite (by the way, I told my wife to go ahead and eat the shrimp herself, because I just couldn't see using my knife to split such a tiny thing, and she said that it was not the best bite of shrimp she ever had, which is kind of what I would expect at that price)? Later, we laughed about it, imagining that the restaurant fed some of the dish to a hungry kitty out back, in honor of the SPCA, for which the dinner was a kind of benefit. Ha! So I have two pieces of advice: first, ask the server about exactly what comes in each dish that you order, especially the difference between the "tapa" portion and the "racion" portion (that wouldn't have helped us because there weren't two different prices for the shrimp). Secondly, don't order camarónes con calabaza unless you feel like a "splurge". In the past, overall, we have had really good experiences at Vega, especially on "non-event" nights. I have really enjoyed the food, wine, and service on most of those occasions, but this ridiculously-priced shrimp dish soured me on it a bit. We will probably try it again sometime, but you better believe that I will asking my server about every little thing (ha!) that we order.
(3)Larry B.
Excellent. Well at least that was our experience. Everything we had consisted of that "Wow" factor... One thing that I was extremely surprised by was the pear sorbet for dessert, not something I might have ordered but Lauren did and I ended up eating most of it LOL... absolutely incredible. seared tuna = excellent cheese plate = excellent seared beef = excellent crab cake = excellent grilled shrimp = excellent chocolate cake = excellent pear sorbet = Phenomenal All of this had very great taste and texture. The only thing that stopped the 5th star (not saying it was not good) the service was not excellent but not bad... and the other was (although we expected the price and that was part of the experience) for the amount we had it was a little pricey. Over all a Great time and a food Lovers Dream. Larry/Lauren
(4)Tyrannie P.
Great hospitality. Awesome food. Wonderful specials. It's nice and cozy. I had the lobster bisque, mussels, steak, & the banana split. Everything was perfect. My hostess Mariana & server Julie were very personable. I'll be sure to be back especially on Mondays.
(5)Annie B.
Einstein said: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". I sometimes think of this when I refuse to learn my lesson about certain things, such as eating a seaweed salad with chopsticks in the car or continually eating at tapas places, even though I know I don't like tapas. Why am I always disappointed by tapas? Pure selfishness. I don't like applying a communal aspect to an already tiny plate. It stresses me out to see my minuscule rations being passed around the table, knowing that while I did get the first bite, that is probably all I'll get. Yet, even when it's just Max and I, we usually leave renewing our agreement to not eat at any more tapas places. Three olives and some low-grade manchego do not a meal make. But one day I discovered Old Metairie Road and was charmed by a strip of restaurants that look like a glimpse into the 40's, one of those restaurants being Vega Tapas. Since Max doesn't share my weakness for breaking promises made to one's self, I had to enlist Anna to go with me for a weekday lunch. Even though we got there five minutes before closing and were the only table, the waiter was ridiculously accommodating. I was thrilled to see a carp roe "caviar" dip on the menu in place of the same old boring hummus dip I expected to see. But I was overjoyed when the dip was delivered with an assortment of accoutrements including capers, onions, and two kinds of unknown cheeses, as well as warm, grilled pita bread. Grilled bread in any form makes me giddy. I was further titillated by the mention of house made duck sausage. I believe there are certain red flags that signal a restaurant is quality. One of those flags is house made sausage. Anyhow, because of this predilection, I had to order the special of duck sausage with black-eyed peas cooked with pancetta. A little gluttonous for a weekday lunch but there you have it. I won't say the sausage was great, but it was good. More so the black-eyed peas were wickedly smoky and delicious. Although I certainly haven't tried the gauntlet of food at Vega, so far I'm impressed, meaning I might have to forget about my pledge to discontinue tapas. For more of my reviews of Nola cuisine, visit my blog: eatdrinknola.blogspot.com
(4)Sammi D.
I am madly in love with this place! Ok, let's start this! This lovely tapas bar is located in the heart of Old Metairie on Metairie Rd. If you've never been, chances are you have driven by it a few hundred times and not even noticed it. I hate to call it a hole in the wall because it isn't, but it is a quaint little place nestled into a small strip of other bars and another food place. There is very limited parking right in front of it but there is a whole parking lot across the street the provides ample parking. They serve up a wide array of traditional and non-traditional tapas. There are also daily specials that incorporate whatever fresh produce, seafood, etc. is in season. The specials are always so affordable and yummy. In addition to that greatness, there are Monday - Friday specials, such as $2 Tapas Tuesday, Winey Wednesdays which is $5 glasses of any wine, Corkage Amnesty (I think that's on Mondays), etc. My #1 favorite dish from here is the Steamed Mussels. Talk about to die for! Some other faves are the Paella, Scallops, and the Empanadas. If I lived in this area, I would probably be here everyday. If you haven't tried this place yet, your shorting yourself. Give it a whirl this weekend and you will be hooked.
(5)Tuna D.
Located on Old Metairie Rd, went there before the storm and after the storm. Difference is that they take only cash after the storm. Everytime that I have been there I have had the Apple & Brie salad which is really good and the dressing is home made right there in that kitchen ya see...gotta have the steamed mussels and must try their paella, it's yummmmyyyy with seafood, chicken and pork. Parking is along the building and if you come in the evening there may be a wait. If you need to get to an ATM, there is one in walking distance. For the most part, you are in a safe area so no needs to worry. Good list of wines to choose from. Ideal for a 1st date if you are looking for something casual and not too dark.
(3)Erica S.
I've been going here since before Katrina, and I'm really glad they reopened. The menu selection is always interesting and keeps a few of their better dishes consistent, like the Moorish Pork and the Chicken in Phyllo. The dishes that rotate throughout the year are always interesting, though some are much better than others. Any grilled vegetable dish is always good. I wish they'd bring back those scalloped potatoes with the berry topping. When the hell was that anyway? Oh well. My last experience here (Nov 2008) was great, and the white sangria is always excellent.
(4)Stephen K.
We had a delightful dinner at Vega Tapas Cafe. Service was excellent. This is our favorite restaurant in Metairie. We love the art work on display in the restaurant. The Moroccan spiced ribs were probably the best ribs we ever had. Excellent selection of Tapas and small dishes that are uniques and innovative.
(5)Dee B.
We came here because our favorite Tapas restaurant decided to close. Fried goat cheese balls are a must have for our group. They weren't listed on the menu here. The chef tried hard to be accommodating but it just wasn't quite to our taste. Our waitress, although very pretty, had a cold and that was a serious turnoff. The food had good taste and we might give it another try at some point. The AC was cranking so if you do go bring a sweater!
(3)Ileana O.
This spot is a real hidden treasure. Let's be honest, I live in downtown New Orleans, and Metarie feels like it may as well be an hour and a half away most days even though it's only a 15 minute drive. Lucky for me, I hopped on Groupon yesterday morning and saw a killer deal and decided the trek was worth it. $42 for 6 tapas AND 1 dessert? Sold. I got reservations for that same night and it proved to be the best Groupon deal I've scored in a long time. We started off with the cheese plate and the oysters swimming in chorizo in queso (Ostras). Stellar. We then substituted 4 of the tapas for the Fideo de Vega which is essentially a Paella over short noodles instead of rice. It was great! We ended with an awesome Bread Pudding in a Tres Leches sauce and let me tell you, I was feeling like I should have worn my stretchy pants because I was so full of good food! The decor was great and our server was always really attentive. My girlfriend and I will be back for sure to sample more of the Tapas! Thank you for a great dining experience Vegas. From one Spaniard to another. :)
(5)Linda M.
A few weeks back I posted a negative review after not getting a reply back from a letter I sent to Greg F., the owner. Greg replied to my comments on Yelp and had not received the letter. Very graciously, Greg wanted to make amends to my daughter about the unfortunate event and offered to treat them on their next visit. We made it a family affair and had a wonderful meal. Every morsel was delightful and we had quite an array. I now have great faith again in customer service at Vega Tapas and an extraordinary owner who strives to make this a great dining experience. Thanks again to Greg and staff! Linda M.
(5)Gerry W.
My friends and I have been going to Vega for several years. Now that it has a new owner, we were interested in finding out how it was under new management. The food was still absolutely delicious . The smart new owner had kept on the chef who used to assist the former chef- owner, and promoted him to head chef. Our waitress and bartender both recognized us from before, and we had a great evening.
(5)Monique S.
Vegas Tapas used to be my favorite restaurant on Metairie Road with such friendly wait staff and a nice ambiance, but the last two times I have had dinner there were such a disappointment. What is going on with the salt ??? I ordered Gambas and scallops on Saturday night and both were unbearably salty and the scallops were too chewy (overcooked). If it had not been tapas I would have sent both dishes back. I don't know if I want to go back...
(2)Alex G.
This place is awesome. I love the decor and I also love the food. I've sampled several dishes including the delicious paella. They give you a huge portion of paella so it's great for sharing, hence the tapas... They also have a decent wine selection. I haven't had a plate I didn't like here! Great place!
(5)Bryan S.
First I love Tapas and the many new places in NOLA that offer small plate menus. I went to Vegas Tapas with a friend who ordered from the "Special Menu" a series of small dishes.. there were 6 or 7 dishes but the portions were WAAY too small, let me clarify the portions were TINY and my date (who rarely eats anyway) was visibly upset. There is no way these could be considered "Small Plate" dishes, this was something else, something I never heard of.. a series of micro-plates. Each plate will give you a bite or two and leaving you hungry as you wait the 5 to 10 minutes for the next micro-serving to arrive. Maybe if these were all presented on the "Special Menu" as an Appetiser and the plates were brought out faster and topped with an entree I could see this working, but it did not work. I played it safe with the Caesor Salad (with grilled avocado!) and had a dish with jumbo grilled shrimp served in bread with a very tasty barbeque sauce... I was satisfied with my order, but again my date was not happy with her course of several tiny servings so I was nice enough to share some of my jumbo shrimp. Lesson learned and will not be back soon.. My Tip AVOID the 'SPECIAL MENU' unless you consider it nothing more than a series of itsy-bitsy appetizers before a main course.
(2)Susan B.
I have been going here since inception when ms. Vega first started. I moved away for 10 years and the restaurant changed hands. Have had hit or miss meals since then. Will never go back after tonight. Ordered something that purported to be spicy, but was quite sweet. Upon complaint, the "chef" refused to remove it from the bill. It is not about the $12 dollars , but, rather the arrogance. Pass on this place. Way too many great restaurants in NOLA.
(1)Michelle G.
So glad to see this place packed on a Friday night. We had the vega salad, berrenjana, and the pescado. Absolutely delicious! Service was outstanding . Can't wait to come back again. The new management is obviously suiting this place well!
(4)Beth B.
My first thought was why here? location is a bit strange. But.... we are a table of 4, ordered a total of 14 various tapas and 2 desserts and it was all amazing! Every plate was beautiful, perfectly cooked and delicious. Recommend the ribs, the avocado salad, the scallops, and everything else. Our waitress was great, even knowing we had a Groupon. And... the chocolate cake... just amazing. Even for those of us who life in the city it is worth the drive, and for you suburbs-type people that wont come into town it is the place for a great meal.
(5)Elmer E.
Unfortunately this meal started badly. I ordered the steamed mussels and they were not up to any standard of acceptability. The flavor was fine but the mussels were scrawny and nothing like what should have been a plump morsel. I asked the waiter to have the owner/chef come look at what he was serving but the waiter returned to tell me the owner was "too busy". My point was going to tell the owner that he needs to pull that dish from the menu. Surely he wouldn't knowingly serve a sub-par dish to his customers (would he?) Zero stars! After sending the mussels back, I had a wonderful salad with Brie and Granny Smith apples and Carmelized leeks. Four stars! This was followed by the savory Moorish pork kabobs over flash fried spinach. Would love to know the spice used in this dish. Four Stars! Finally, the duck confit sliders! Terrific flavor but the buns appeared to come from the local Krystal Hamburger locations. The flavor overcame any nitpicking over the Buns. Four Stars! All in all very good! (Don't order the mussels unless they are fresh and plump)
(3)Cristen F.
This is a great place to try something of your culinary comfort zone. With the small sized "tapa" portions it's also a great way to have several different dishes. I am continually amazed at the locals who don't go BECAUSE it's "such small portions." That's the whole theme of the restaurant! You can't go to a tapas restaurant and complain everything is in small portions?!? If you want a trough of food, go to a buffet! Anyway...with that rant over...I recently went again and ordered the roasted artichoke, tapas bravas and duck sliders. All were fantastic. We also ordered the pork ribs and the special pork empanada. The ribs were the only thing that was WAY overcooked. The flavor was good, the dish was just really tough and more like jerky. Wednesday night is the night to go as they have $5 glasses of wine!
(4)Amanda M.
I love me some tapas! My husband and I went here for a romantic dinner and it didn't disappoint. Definitely the best tapas restaurant in the city that I've been to. I picked out a few tapas (rare seared ahi, a jumbo shrimp in spicy cream sauce, spicy potatoes, baked oysters with chorizo and manchego) and my husband ordered paella. We both shared the tapas and ate only a fraction of the paella. We had a ton of paella that we took home. Everything was very good. I liked the atmosphere and I will definitely go back because there are so many more dishes I want to try.
(4)Big C.
ROACH COACH-Nasty place-no wonder the lights stay down.
(1)Steve G.
Had a great late dinner after the movie with my wife and daughter recently. Comfortable, very creative menu and sooooo good! The duck sliders were off the chart good and the service (Angela) was perfect! Also nice to see the Owner/Chef,Glen, making the dining room rounds introducing himself and checking in with diners.
(5)Tamia G.
Fabulous service! I stopped in for the 1st and enjoyed their bottomless wine for only $10 (every Friday 5:30-7:30, limited time; it has ended). Also, they have 1/2 off all bottles every Monday and $5 any wine on Wednesday. But... Call to confirm so you won't be disappointed when they stop one of the deals without notice (eventhough their website still displays the deal). The Spanish Malbec was well balanced & fruit forward. Since I sat on the patio, I appreciated that they'd slightly chilled the wine. I started with the Atún del coriandro, which is coriander seared rare ahi tuna with avocado-tomato relish & chili cilantro vinaigrette. $4/$10. It was exceptional. Next, I had the Gambas pil pil, jumbo gulf shrimp in smoked paprika garlic oil. $3/$11. The shrimp were cooked and seasoned so well; definitely my favorite! After that, I ate the Moorish pork, which consisted of cured & grilled tenderloin over flash fried spinach w/horseradish sour-cream. $4/$9. The spinach preparation was actually quite good and went well with the savory and tender pork. Finally, I had the Costillas del Morocco, exotic spiced pork baby-back ribs w/Steen's cilantro glaze. $9. My suggestion...pass on this item. It's too big and is neither tender nor well marinated. Everything else was so wonderful and I'll definitely go back! They have a new "Taste of the Mediterranean" going on, so I'll have to check out some of the wonderful offerings mentioned on their website.
(5)KJ C.
The tapas is amazing and service absolutely outstanding! I loved the gulf fish with pureed cauliflower and octopus escabeche. The crab salad and cheese plates were okay. Price is good for quality. The wines were also excellent. I liked it as a date spot, there are cozy couch seats.
(3)Ashley M.
This place is amazing! My friend and I went for a girls night out and starting from the minute we walked in the door we were impressed. The host was attentive and asked about our table preference. The ambiance was quite nice. Our waitress was also very attentive and we never went without wine refills or immediate plate removal. The food was also DELICIOUS! We had the duck sliders, the hummus plate, the tuna, and the scallops. All of the food was perfectly cooked and well presented. The $5 wine special (Wednesdays) was perfect. This place is not cheap but so worth every single penny! I will definitely be back!
(5)Mike K.
One of my favorite restaurants in New Orleans. It's just an added plus that it's in my neighborhood. EXCELLENT DATE RESTAURANT. Very nice casual fine dining that's fun and a little bit sexy. Food rocks, service is awesome, location is great. Wine selection is great and the staff is knowledgeable, so don't skimp on the questions. If you're sick of Magazine St. and Prytania, this is a great place off the beaten path on the same caliber of Uptown's best.
(5)Kelli J.
Our first visit to Vega Tapas was on valentines day. They had a 6 course, prix fixe menu that evening for the "date night holiday." The presentation was beautiful and the food extremely tasty. The atmosphere simply complimented the entire experience perfectly. Great date place. I look forward to returning, for a tour of their regular daily menu.
(5)meaghan e.
If you're one of those people who can never pick just one item off the menu, come here. If you love amazing food, come here. If you don't want to empty your bank account for a jaw dropping food coma inducing meal, come here. Tonight we had a Portuguese red blend, 7 large plates and dessert for under 150. And not one plate was less then stunning perfection. First: the cold plates. Pink caviar dip, duck foie gras, and a cheese plate. All excellent. Now for the good stuff. The hot tapas were where my mind was really blown. Lamb meatballs, steamed mussels in white wine, mushroom ravioli, and baby veal in cream sauce. All perfectly cooked, spiced, and executed. Trying to describe how amazing each dish was would be like attempting to carve the Grand Canyon with a toothpick. Seriously. And our dessert?! The Vega banana split: fried banana empanadas with Nutella, vanilla gelato, and whipped cream. Simply put, heaven on a plate. All in all, this place is amazing, service was amazing, I can't wait to go back. My new go to spot for any occasion.
(5)David R.
Best meal ever. Great people, great food.
(5)Ryan S.
This little gem is tucked away in a part of Metairie that is well traveled, but rarely seen. The whole strip mall in which it is located has a rustic look. Once you enter the doors, however, you quickly come to realize that you've just stepped into a classy gastronomic hideaway! In several visits, I have yet to have a dish that is less than intriguing. Some of the concoctions are interesting, to say the least, but tend to be surprisingly good more often than not. The menu is generally seasonal, and frequently changing tasting menus ensure that no two visits (unless you are a creature of habit) are identical. Drink specials, especially Mondays (1/2 price wine by the bottle) and Wednesdays ($5 all wine by the glass), make for an exciting addition. The frequently changing artisan cheese plate is always a great starter on those nights! Recently renovated dining room! Service: 22 / 30 Decor: 24 / 30 Food: 28 / 30 Wine List: 19 / 30; Limited, but worthwhile; ~2x markup
(5)Shannon S.
Vega Tapas does some really great food and it is one of the more enjoyable restaurants to dine at in the Metairie area. They do some really good paella and their other entrees are also quite tasty. Their tapas are very nice and they typically give you good portions. I've also really enjoyed Vega's food when they catered the Running of the Bulls event where they really out did themselves and provided some fantastic food. This has always been a fun place that I've enjoyed eating at and I've enjoyed nearly everything I've ever eaten here. They sometimes get a bit too creative with some new fangled style dishes that don't often appeal to me but as long as I stick to the traditional things I'm a happy camper. When I'm in the mood for tapas this place makes my very short list along with Barcelona Tapas and Lola's.
(4)Dennis G.
Recently Veronica S. and I had a lovely dinner at Vega Tapas Cafe as a bit of a celebration. I'd never really done the tapas thing myself so I was looking forward to the experience. For those that haven't had tapas before, it's a series of small plates, almost like a tasting menu. When you see a tapas plate listed as $4 that's four dollars for essentially a bite of something. You can imagine how it can get expensive real fast. One big caveat here: the price range indicator should be $$$ or $$$$. We had a nice meal, desert, and a glass of wine each and it was about $120 after tip. This is definitely a splurge/celebration type of place. But was the food worth it? Read on. I'll use the tapas names and descriptions from the website menu so you can easily find these dishes should you want to try them. We started our meal with two plates of the day's specials. The "hojas de uva rellenas" (stuffed grape leaves) were very good and had a hint of mint that I wasn't expecting since I'm used to stuffed grape leaves being more Greek/Mediterranean. The other special was "ostras al horno" (baked oysters with house-made chorizo and manchego) which was simply amazing. Our next course was " foie gras terrine" (country style duck liver pâté with exotic mustards and croutons) and "manzana y queso brie" (baby greens, granny smith apples, creamy brie & caramelized leeks in cider vinaigrette). I happen to love foie gras and this was top notch. It had a great, almost smokey flavor and smooth texture. The mustard dipping sauce did a good job of bringing out some of the flavors without being overpowering. The salad was equally deicious. The textures of crisp apples along with creamy brie was great and the flavors very complimentary. The "main" course (if tapas every had a main course) was moorish pork (Cured & grilled tenderloin over flash fried spinach& horseradish sour cream. Wait, the Moors had pork?!) and "conchas de peregrine" (seared jumbo diver scallops on butternut squash puree with balsamic reduction) with a bowl of "patas bravas" (spicy 'Brave' potatoes with garlic alioli). While the pork was fantastic and the scallops really out of this world (thanks to the staff and other customers who recommended them) the real stars are las patas bravas. I could eat just a giant bowl of these for dinner. No tapas is complete without them. We finished out meal with dessert. "Crema catalana" (burnt catalan creme custard) is like a creme brulee. The caramelized top adds a great crunch to the smooth custard beneath and has a nice, slightly smokey flavor that works wonders. We also had chocolate truffle cake, which is flourless cake with orange gelee. I happen to love orange zest in chocolate so this was another win for me. Overall a great meal. We'll definitely go back for special occasions.
(4)Jennifer M.
I had been seeing this place on Groupon for a week or so and decided to give it a try. Good price- $42 for six tapas and one dessert. The ambiance was nice and the decor was very vibrant. The staff was very energetic and friendly. Food wise, the fare is a little on the rich side. My favorite was the scallops tapa, though it was the richest flavor of all. We opted to sub a filet for two of our tapas and it was a great decision! The meat was cooked perfect (mid-well) and was tender and flavorful. Thank goodness for Groupon or we probably never would have tried this place! We will return to sample more of the flavors!
(4)Megan S.
I absolutely love this place! I've eaten here multiple times and have made my way across the menu and can honestly say I have not eaten anything I didn't love. Spanish food is one of my favorites, and you can't beat tapas. I love the concept of tapas. If you're like me, you want a little bit of everything - and ordering one item becomes a difficult task, which is why small plates/sharing plates is such a great thing to me. The pricing is very fair. The sangria is also very good. The last time we went we made reservations online and got a free plate. Who knew?
(5)Thuy L.
I bought a groupon voucher. It's was a nice deal. Dinner for two- six tapas and one desert. Highlights- Mussels, tender and cooked well Calamari, lightly battered and fried well Chocolate truffle cake, decadent I was disappointed with the other items. The smoked salmon dip was rich. Simply just not a fan of the mousse texture of the dip and it tasted like a lot of mayo. The scallop was cooked perfectly but way too salty. The duck was overcooked. For a groupon deal, I was able to try out a new restaurant. However, I felt like the food was just ok.
(3)Paul j.
Had the pork tenderloin, bbq ribs, and chicken Wellington (don't remember actual name). All we great small plates that I finished to the last drop. The owner happened to be sitting next to me at the bar when I ordered and he pared a red wine with my meal perfectly (even made sure that it was a happy hour wine too). The entire team (hostess, waiters, and bartender) where all very nice and very helpful. Even suggested some other nice little places for me to try while I was in town. The bartender made sure to place the plates in order so that I could finish one dish before another came out to ensure nothin got cold, but I never had to wait either. The chef has been there since the place opened over 20 years ago and has a done a great job keeping his recipes traditional and up to date. (There are also a ton of sea food dishes that I didn't try since I'm more of a land meat eater but the bartender ensured me that they are just as good as the ones I got) Finally the owner did mention to me that all the food is fresh and made to order, nothing is pre cooked and reheated. The fresh grill taste was great.
(5)Kelly F.
New owners made it all go downhill. Such a shame. It was a nice place. The neighborhood is awful as well. There's an apartment complex across the street with strippers and coke heads living there. Not my kind of atmosphere. If I could give it zero stars I would.
(1)Erin M.
Went here for the Israeli dinner. 4 course plus cocktail for $35.00. You can't beat it. The waitress was outstanding. The first course was hummus. It was okay. Needed more spice or seasonings to me, but not bad. 2nd course ground lamb in a red sauce with egg on top. The red sauce was out of this world. The lamb was great, too. I could skip the egg. 3rd course was chicken and red bell pepper skewers underneath was Israeli couscous with a yogurt sauce for dipping. It was ok. I thought the chicken was a little dry. 4th course was desert. Neither my friend nor I cared for this and didn't eat it. It was a custard with a raspberry coulis on top with rose water and pistachios. The cocktail was surprisingly delicious. It was soda water with lemon shot of whiskey. So refreshing and a great way to end the meal. Will be back fro the 4 course Italy dinner! Can't wait!
(4)Ashley P.
Bought a Groupon for $42 for 6 tapas and a dessert. Only downside is you can only book Tuesday or Thursday. But it is such a great value. We went on a Tuesday and there was a $2 sangria special. Score! We started with the Atun (ahi) which was so yummy. Then we ordered the Barbacoas (shrimp) which was delish. That was my boyfriend's fave. We also go the Vieiras (scallops). That was my fave but I'm partial to scallops. The scallops by themselves were a tad too salty but when you ate it with the farro it was very balanced. We also ordered the Costillas (ribs) but we were started to get full so boxed those to go and devluged in the filet in exchange for 2 tapas. Cooked perfect med rear and had a nice sear. I wish it had a pinch more of seasoning though. Very simple but good. We then got the lemon custard pancakes for dessert and those were absolutely amazing. I'm so glad we got a Groupon for this place, otherwise we may have never tried it. Our server Nick was cool and the ambiance was great to hang out with your girls or for a cute date night. Will definitely be back to try more tapas!
(5)Jody B.
I picked Vega because I was meeting someone at dinner time and we both had eaten rather large lunches and just wanted to get together and catch up over a couple shared appetizers. This seemed the perfect choice. The place was fairly empty and quiet on a Tuesday night and a good place to have a conversation. Vega is probably is way more conducive to a first date or special occasion kind of place since the lights are low which sets a romantic ambience. As nice as that is, the low light does make it very difficult to read the menu. We had to use the flashlight on our phones in order to read. Our waitress was very nice but I wish she had been a bit more helpful when we were ordering. I had mentioned that it was our first time there and we told her that we were looking to split 3 or 4 selections. I've had tapas before but not from here. It seems the choices we made were the smallest of all the small plate options available, they were like mini-tapas. I saw several dishes come out to other tables and they were much larger than ours and more appropriate for sharing than our selections. It would have been nice to be told which ones were really, really small, we would have either made different selections or maybe ordered multiples of the same dish. One selection was the size of a single solitary spring roll and took the longest of all our choices to come out of the kitchen. We both kind of laughed to ourselves when it came out. It was good, just tiny. I might try it again if I'm looking for a romantic spot for a date.
(3)C D.
Not impressed. Small plates are just that and I've had better - for less. The owner/manager is a bit arrogant and lacks customer service skills. Not going back -- EVER.
(2)Hai L.
Man. Where do I start? How can you not love tapas? The location is nice. Away from New Orleans' craziness. I recommend anyone that come here to be adventurous with the different types of dishes.
(5)Tracy S.
We had a great dining experience. Our waiter was very informative and friendly. I really enjoyed the tapas style so we could experience many different items. I loved the cheese platter, the barbacoas (spicy shrimp), the roasted duck sliders and especially the paella. The chocolate truffle cake was rich but truly decadent. Can't wait to go back to try more!
(5)Bishop L.
One of the better restaurants in the greater New Orleans area! Definitely the best tapa bar! Been coming here for years!
(5)Ander S.
Great for a quick 'snack' with friends or family, or a long meal. Either way, you won't be disappointed. Has been perfect for small reunions.
(5)Lindsay F.
Our waiter was a little slow on the service to be acknowledged (approximately 20-25 minutes) but did recommend a good bottle of wine. Our first dish was the Cheese plate which was very good. Then everything went down hill. Our oysters were cold, but had good flavor. The mussels were old and fishy followed by inedible meatballs. We were hoping for much more for a metairie road staple near the house. Unfortunately, it did not meet our hopes. Wouldn't recommend to friends or family.
(2)Bonnie R.
Normally one of my regular places to go. Have been here a dozen times, but things were slightly off tonight. Had a waitress who was ok but not wonderful (as we usually have). Had some wonderful items that were specials for today: roasted corn with cheese & garlic butter and the main course of scallops on braised cabbage over a fried tomato drizzled with a crawfish cream sauce that was delicious. However, I also had my regular favorite salad that wasn't so good. It has beets over spinach with a patty of fried goat cheese & spiced pecans served with a vinagrette. Tonight the dressing or the pecans were so salty that it took away from the salad & was difficult to finish. My friend had the Moorish pork dish that was very dry, tough & chewy. Was flavorful if you could bite & chew it! We ended with a tres leches bread pudding with berries that was fabulous! Will likely go back & overall we enjoyed the evening, but I would normally give this restaurant a 5 star review & have no complaints about any part of the meal. But not this time.
(3)Elizabeth E.
Visited Vega Tapas for the first time on a Monday evening. Found it very warm & cozy upon entering. The hostess was amazingly friendly as well as the waitresses. We were seated in a corner booth that had vibrant pillows..very comfy! Take notice of the local artwork hanging on the walls that is offered for sale as well. Bottles of wine are half priced on Mondays..very nice! We weren't quite sure which to decide on and the waitress let us taste one we might be interested in before making a final decision. What a big help! We couldn't get over how tasty the simple tomato spread served with the complimentary bread was! Started with the Remolochas which was pretty standard, however the goat cheese was fried which added a nice touch. The Atun was very tasty.. wished there was more because of how good it was. Tortilla Espanola was served piping hot, but lacked a little bit of flavor.. maybe even a dash of salt would have made a great difference. The Alcachofas were grilled nicely and had just the right amount of smokey flavor. Mejillones were SO GOOD! Was pleasantly surprised by the amount of mussels given. The broth was enjoyed with the hot French bread long after the mussels were gone. :) Albondigas were very tasty. Just enough spice to them. Cerdo Moro was slightly overcooked, but very enjoyable. The flash fried spinach was a great touch that offered a little bit of sweetness to the dish. We had mentioned in conversation that we were celebrating a birthday and the waitress brought out Tortitas Rellenas de Natillas al Aguardiente. Overall, a bit sweet for my taste, but the birthday boy enjoyed it. Can't wait to go back and try the paellas.. Wish I would have snapped some pictures as I usually do, but we were so excited to try each dish, that photos got overlooked. :)
(4)Owl T.
Great atmosphere!!! Great food!!! My last visit was my second time to this restaurant and I love the feel of the place and the comfortable vibe Went with a group of four so I was able to try many things on the menu and only one item didn't appeal to me. It was an octopus dish that didn't have much flavor. Everything else was really good and left me wanting more,especially the scallops with what I think was a butternut squash purée. The scallops were cooked perfectly. In a city with endless food choices this is one to visit again
(4)Stephen K.
Party of four on a Saturday night. As noted in other reviews, this place is hidden in a strip mall on Old Metairie Road. It is very likely that you have driven by this place without ever seeing it. This is my first time in a Tapas restaurant. For the other rookies, the menu is dozens of appetizers sized for individuals or larger to be shared. There are no rules, order as much or as little as you see fit. Have a round and then order more. Everything is high quality. You won't like everything, but you do get to try it. The trick is talk up the dishes that you don't care for (i.e. "this tofu stuffed hang nail is to die for....") so everyone will eat those leaving the good stuff all to your self. Another strategy is to suggest everyone take a portion and volunteer to take whatever is left. That wasn't always as successful. It's a Machiavellian thing.. Interesting decor, comfortable environment. The tables are a little tight for 4 with all the dishes and bottles and glasses, but it's all part of the experience. . This is a fun meal with friends. Potatoes (patatas bravas), scallops (seared diver scallops), salad (ensalada de cangrejo), nutty vega were noteworthy. Service was excellent. Our waiter was knowledgeable and additive to the experience. Didn't hover, kept the glasses full and was sensitive the order, eat, order, eat, order, eat flow of the meal. Didn't see the bill, but you can figure $30 per person with drinks and tip. If anyone wants to treat me here, I am available.
(4)Jen L.
I hadn't eaten here in a million years, but in an effort to find someplace on a Saturday during Jazz Fest for 5 people at 8:30 without a wait...we ventured out to the wilds of Metairie. And we had a most excellent meal. My first plate was a salad which was OK. I didn't go with my 1st instinct (the brie & apple) because it was supposed to have leeks as was my 3rd plate. As it turned out my 3rd plate didn't have the listed leeks either. Oh well. The artichokes with feta relish (my 2nd plate) were excellent. And the diver scallops with butternut squash were AMAZING, leek or no leeks. Everyone else enjoyed their food. And the bits I tasted off their plates were good, except for the risotto (can't remember what else was with the dish, maybe fish). The risotto was really salty and not much else. My only other criticism is the whole tapas phenomenon. I feel like I should pre-eat so that I don't break my budget. All those small plates are expensive!
(4)Amanda S.
We went to Vega Tapas Cafe for my sister's birthday last night. We had 8 people all together. We weren't sure where we were going until the last minute so I was afraid we would have to wait without a reservation but They sat us right away. Our waiter was very patient with us and gave us as much time as we needed to look over the menu. We finally decided on 16 Racions (which are larger than the tapas). That made it 2 per person, and we shared everything. We liked pretty much everything, but I was a little disappointed with the gazpacho. I ordered it with the lump crab meat, but they were out so they brought it out without the crab meat (the cheaper version). It just felt really lacking, and no one really like it. I love gazpacho so it was a pretty big disappointment for me. Everything else that we ordered was devoured! The things everyone seemed to like the most were the ceviche, and the scallops over butternut squash. The service was wonderful and they have half priced bottles of wine on Mondays! I would definitely go again! Also, it wasn't as expensive as some of the other Tapas restaurants in New Orleans ($190 for 8 ppl), which is always a plus!
(4)Sophia K.
Food tastes great but very much overpriced. Service was very slow and the restaurant was only 75% full. Had an issue with the bill which will prevent me from ever going back. Better more enjoyable tapas places in town.
(1)Perrey L.
This is one of those places that I love so much and for so many reasons, it has been hard for me to muster up the wherewithal to draft a review, but here goes. I first noticed Vega driving trough Old Metairie, and was understandably drawn by its artsy, quirky facade. I immediately thought, "Hey. I need to check that place out." A few months later, the bf came for a visit and we had to find a place for our New Year's Eve dinner, and we found the chance. The ambiance of this place is absolutely killer - the walls are adorned with wrought iron wall art, viney arms holding tea candles that lend a romantic glow to the place. Also, there is an ever-rotating gallery of original art by local artists on the walls priced for sale. The food here is amazing. The first time we went here, we got the tasting menu for NYE and it was fabulous. I have no idea what we ate, but, man it was good. The last time I ate here, we went all out, ordering some special salad tossed with brie, mussels, chorizo-stuffed quail, the paella, and a few other items I can't remember. It was all delicious, although the paella was not as good as we expected from reading former reviews. The prices here are reasonable, and it is a fantastic, chic choice for Metairie-ites who don't want to brave the big city bullshit.
(4)Casey B.
I did not have high expectations for Vega as I am the anti-tapas man, but this place was actually alright. Of course, most portions are small and overpriced, but the quality was definitely present! I thought the service was good. My biggest pointers would be: 1. The mixed seafood paella is good value and delicious. 2. The tres leches waffle was delightful ----very innovative! WWL Perks has a half off coupon for this place right now so check it out and get your money's worth! Also, they didn't charge me to BYOB!
(3)Kyria W.
Great food. Good ambiance. It's tucked away on a little street in Metairie.
(4)Koko S.
Finally got to enjoy the ambiance and food at this place. Loved the look, very intimate and comfortable. Loved the Lil bar area in the front. Being a vegetarian, we tried the following dishes: Grilled Artichokes - was ok, but didn't have much of a texture. But good flavors. Patatas bravas - was the best dish of the night. Very good flavor. salsa de berenjena - loved the flavors in this salsa. Wished it came with more pita, and worth eating every bit. Berenjena napoleon - was the most disappointing. Perhaps becuz it was a cold dish, but when i added a Lil salt, it made the flavor the eggplant more intriguing. But it left the most to be desired. All in all, i would go back as the ambiance the wonderful wine menu would make this a great place to enjoy a night out, but i have had better tapas in the city.
(3)Sharon S.
This was my 1st visit & a wonderful experience. The food was amazing & the service was great! We tried 2 different salads & 5 different Tapas dishes & each one was DELISH! Can't wait to go back
(5)Scott M.
Every time my mother comes into town we eat here and have a great time and always have had the same server who is excellent every time. Last night though was a different story. We were the fourth table seated and I ordered promptly for everyone. We received the small plates soon enough but the paella she ordered for her and her husband took an hour and a half. I assured her that paella takes a while but after we hit the 45 minute mark, something was up. The waiter said there were orders in front of us which was right. I watched 2 other tables have four courses that were seated after us. Upon delivery of the check not even an apology...MAN....
(2)Mike P.
I tried the moorish pork racion and the duck fat fries. Both were good, and I was unexpectedly full when I left despite the small plates. The white sangria was also good. However, I guess I'm not a fan of the tapas set up and paying $6 for a single scallop seems a little crazy to me no matter how good it is. At one point, an extra dish was brought by mistake and I was expected to pay for it. This was my only knock on the service. All in all, if you're a fan of Tapas to begin with, you'll enjoy this restaurant, otherwise you might want to consider other options.
(3)Tap B.
Great recommendation from Dorothy Y., who is a GREAT FOODIE and REVIEWER! Reservations were made for 8PM, party of 3. We ordered: - Ensalada de mariscos - an array of seafood on baby arugula with a lemon-thyme vinaigrette - Foie gras terrine - Steamed mussels - Smoked duck sausage and gruyere mac-n-cheese - Pork sliders -Paella de la vega - Pistachio gelato and pear sorbet The most memorable dishes of the night were the steamed mussels and the paella de la vega. The mussels were perfectly cooked in a light wine-butter sauce, finished off with capers, onions, and dill. The paella was fantastic--I'm just sad it was the last item to come out on the table. My friends and I were quite full when it came out. The other ordered items were also great, just not as memorable. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)D W.
Valentine's evening dinner was ruined by the near total implosion of this formerly good restaurant. Arrived on time, expecting a two-hour or so good time; departed almost four hours later. Server was brand new to Vega and to the industry and appeared to be sleepwalking throughout. Menu was a 6-course prix fixe. In all, we received 4 courses due to inability of kitchen and wait staff to deliver. Had to request table's busing after each course. Finally gave up and began piling our dirty plates on the adjoining table, which was still not bused after 2 hours of vacancy. My fish arrived cold. My wife's "filet," ordered medium, was bloody and could not be cut with a steak knife. The bisque was excellent, as was the fried oyster first course and the asparagus salad. We saw three different groups of diners leave the restaurant due to lack of service. One group consisted of a dad and his 7-year old daughter, who was dressed up for Valentine's day; this was going to be a special treat for her. They finally gave up after an hour, having received only bread and beverages. She said they were going to McDonald's to get "a good dinner!" We asked three times for the owner, and were rebuffed each time; perhaps he was at McDonald's. The barman, Ryan, came through for us as the only representative of management and gave us a discount on our meal. Have been going here for years and had good experiences. This night was a total disaster and our worst New Orleans dining experience in 43 years here.
(1)Catie K.
I have been here multiple times. I love it. They know what they're doing. Go on Tuesday for their specials.
(4)