4. Restaurants

MOVIDA

524 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI, 53204
  • (414) 224-5300
  • Store is closed

MOVIDA Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.

Auntie Anne’s ( 2500 N Mayfair Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.

Auntie Anne’s ( 2500 N Mayfair Rd )

  • Amy Z.

    I want to come back here immediately and eat everything again. Highlights of the meal include: everything. Seriously. I tried bites of the short rib tosta, mushroom croquetas, ham croquetas, pork cheek, garlic shrimp, and the empanadas and I loved all of it. The short rib tosta may have been my favorite - the meat was super tender and it had a hint of citrus that was unusual and delicious. The atmosphere was fun and lively and I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Merete M.

    I visited Movida on Friday with 4 friends, and we had an amazing time. You absolutely cannot go wrong with this menu. We tasted all of each other's drinks and food, and there was NOTHING I wouldn't have ordered for myself if I had the fat stack of cash and room in my guts for all of it. It was amazing. We were very well taken care of by our server, a person seemingly designated to filling waters, and another server or possibly manager that kept checking in with us. But they weren't overwhelming, you guys! Somehow we had all this attention, but it was a light enough touch that we didn't feel like every bite was interrupted.

    (5)

  • Joe P.

    Descriptive phrase: fairly-authentic upscale Spanish restaurant. I'm pumped Spanish food is making waves in Milwaukee lately, and MOVIDA offers a great example why. Pinchos (finger food) to start: decadent Pork Cheek, salty and sweet Jamon Serrano with Cantaloupe, mini Chicken Empanada, Mushroom Croqueta (any croqueta is best croqueta), and Garlic Shrimp. Their Seafood Paella was very good but needed a bit more saffron added. Be prepared to crunch the burnt parts, it's normal. And for desserts, you can't go wrong with Flourless Chocolate Cake, Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding, or Sangria Sorbet. Added points for the bartender making a MEAN Agua de Valencia (cava, orange juice, vodka, gin) even though he'd never made one before and it wasn't on the menu. MOVIDA is doing Spanish food for Americans right. Make a reservation, folks.

    (4)

  • Jake B.

    First I'll start off by saying my wife and I were very very excited to try this place. After reading the reviews on here and the buzz around town about it we were floored that we didn't like it. That said, let's start with the positives. The location is great, right off of second in the up-and-coming foodie area. That atmosphere is great, exposed brick and wood make for a really warm inviting spot. The service was really great as well. Now on to what earned this place a low ranking. For a Spanish restaurant we were surprised to find no Rioja wine available by the glass. I had the Alto's de la Hoya and it was so-so. Then we ordered four items. The short rib tosta, the tomato starter, the chicken paella, and octopus tapa. Not one of them had us excited for more. In fact, we said that the items lacked spice so they took the paella off of our bill.

    (2)

  • Dylani H.

    love love love this place!! where do I start the ambiance is awesome. I love the cream brick industrial look with tastefully decorated walls. the layout was pretty good and the dim lighting really made a difference to the whole setting The wine. is really good. you cant go wrong with the wine here. i tried about 4 glasses of whites to reds which were all great I am so glad we went here with a bunch of friends as we were able to The food where do I start. Everything we tried was awesome. the Bruschetta was average but everything else was just awesome - the garlic shrimp was the crow favorite - the anchovies which came on a thinly sliced fried plantains or maybe some sort of potato ??!!was just fabulous (but may be too salty for some of the America foodies). this was my favorite ! - The pork cheek was really tender and melted in your mouth Empanadas were great (not the best in town. but I would say it's up there) - Octopus was surprisingly good and flavorful Service was great the girl who served us was really helpful, patient and answered all our questions. I wish I remembered her name to pas on the complement. but thanks for the great service !! I will definitely return, recommend going with a group so you can share and try out many options

    (5)

  • Lesley W.

    I've been to MOVIDA twice -- once for a happy hour and more recently for dinner with a large group. The happy hour was great! I enjoyed the oysters and cava and shared some tostas, and everyone I was with has gone back at least once. Our dinner really could have been a disaster. I picked it for our group because my sister had been wanting to go there and it was her bachelorette party. However, it was a true adventure for about half the people who came, who had never had tapas and usually stick with chicken-and-a-starch type meals. There was a moment when we were looking at the menus where I was inwardly freaking out about whether or not people would eat (there is no basic chicken dish on the menu). Our waitress came to my rescue and helped everyone feel comfortable ordering and ensure that we had a variety of dishes everyone would enjoy. By the end of the evening we had a few people saying "Wow! I can't believe I tried that, but it was really good." And it wasn't just our tapas newbies who were happy -- everyone else really loved the food. (The salmon tostas and seafood paella were my personal favorites.) With the exception of the paellas, the food came it a nice, steady stream and every item was a great size for sharing. The paellas were awesome (and the presentation is beautiful), but we over-ordered (the waitress said they were individually portioned, but with the amount of tapas we ordered, we definitely should have shared, which was our original plan), and it took almost an hour for them to arrive (menu says a half hour). In addition to the slow paella, we had a little misunderstanding about one dish (which I didn't think was the restaurant's fault -- I though it was probably ours), and not only did they not charge us for the dish, but the manager came in person to apologize and presented us with a complementary dessert board. I thought it was really classy that they went so far to try to make things right (further than they needed to), especially since we were kind of a difficult group. I felt like they were really trying to make sure that our night was great and recognized that it was a special occasion for my sister. So, despite a few wobbles, I'm giving Movida four stars because the food was outstanding and they really care about making their customers happy.

    (4)

  • J S.

    I've been here so many times since, I'm amazed I've never written a review! I'm not from Milwaukee, but I make sure to visit every time I'm in town. I brought my boss with me this time around and she absolutely loved it! We loved almost all of the dishes that we had: the boquerones was sublime (the acidity was a perfect balance to the saltiness of the anchovy), the Huevos Rotos was amazing (the richness of the egg yolk was a perfect complement to the Serrano ham), the tartare was absolutely delicious (then guindilla pepper and duck egg were a great add). We had a few more dishes that night, but those aforementioned were the standouts. Above all, the service is fantastic every time! Aaron (co-owner) was a gracious host, and came by to check up on us often, and even gave us a taste of wine with the porron! I must say, this place was such a find, and I look forward to coming back every time I am in town!

    (5)

  • Amara H.

    Because I was craving paella, and this spot had a vegetarian option, describing the vegetables as the "kitchen's daily selection of fresh produce", I decided to try this restaurant out with my food buddy. While the place was packed and full of life on a Thursday night, we were seated quickly (as we had made a reservation via Yelp). The service was quick and efficient. Upon being seated, the ambiance and decor caught my eye. The decor could be described as a getaway to the Iberian peninsula with a modern touch. In addition to the paella, I chose: eggplant + honey + salmorejo along with the papas with alioli. Impressively, even though I am not a fan of tapas purely because my appetite is never satiated, the portion sizes were more than adequate. Unfortunately, the paella had the opposite problem. The paella size was that of a tapas dish with the cost of an entree. Apparently, you have to specify if you want a larger portion size. Also, while the ingredients in all the dishes were very fresh, the vegetable selection for the paella did not compliment the dish. It was an odd combination for my taste buds. For dessert, we tried the churros con chocolate, expecting to be transported to mid-day Spain. While the consistency, texture, and shape of the churro was similar to those found in Spain, there was cinnamon on the churro, which reminded me of a churro from Mexico. Although the chocolate had the right consistency, the taste was not pleasant. Overall, this was an enjoyable tapas experience. The prices, aside from the paella, was very reasonable, given the larger tapas portion sizes. An added bonus is the 10% off your visit, available on Yelp.

    (4)

  • Batilly H.

    I actually really liked the food. It was a slightly different spin on the tapas I usually order. We ordered short rib on toast, shrimp in a garlic butter sauce and seafood paella. I would definitely recommend all of the above. Paellas take about 45 minutes to cook, so order it first! We went on a Wednesday - first glass of wine should be on the house for ladies. However, it totally slipped our minds and it was not mentioned by the server. Odd, because I even asked for drink recommendations. This is where I have the issue, I pointed at another customer's drink and said I wanted to try it. She said it was "Something Borrowed." My friend ordered the white sangria. When the drink arrived, (1) it wasn't even the same drink as the one I pointed out and (2) it smelled too fragrancy and tasted like a flower. I swapped it for another white sangria. Definitely a much much better choice. I also didn't appreciate the fact that you could tell she was talking about me with the bartender (he made eye contact with me). ANYWAY - I would definitely come back again for the food. The service was a kinda slow but honestly, it wasn't the server's fault. It was one server, one backwaiter, one bartender and one hostess for the entire floor. I still gave her a really good tip because being understaffed isn't her fault, however, recommending the right drink is since I pointed it out. Hopefully my second experience would fare better.

    (3)

  • Stephanie R.

    We headed to MOVIDA for a weeknight dinner, and I was even able to use Yelp to make a reservation so we didn't have to worry about getting a table. We were walked to a small table right next to another small table where a couple was already eating, even though there were other tables open. At first I felt like it would be awkward sitting so close to them, but the sound didn't really carry and we were able to enjoy our own conversation. The tables and chairs themselves seemed vintage/antique-y, and had nice charm. Our table had a bit of a rock to it, but our server was right on it and adjusted it forthwith. To start, we had the Pa amb tomàquet, bread with tomatoes and roasted garlic. It was OK, but not the star of the meal. Next we had the Croquetas which were better. I felt like the serrano and the filling were all emulsified together, which gave them a richness. Then came the mushroom tosta which was fine, but again, not the winner for me. Next came the two stars of the whole meal. The lomo tenderloin tosta pork was deliciously seasoned and paired well with the apricot and Brie. I didn't notice the pickled aspect of the apricot (which is how it was described on the menu), but the whole dish was great. And to finish, on a bit of a whim we ordered the Manchego cheesecake with apricot. Wonderful and slightly nutty, and the apricot puree was a great accompaniment. Our server was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu, and the arrival of our small plates was nicely timed. I would come back for the lomo and the cheesecake and to try some other items, and the brunch menu looks promising as well.

    (4)

  • Rachel F.

    I super dig MOVIDA, you guys. Excited to return! This industrial-upscale yet super comfy spot right on Second is all about Spanish eats and drinks. Boom. Think paella, cheese plates, tapas, Spanish wines, great cocktails, warm woods, low lights and communal seating. LISTEN UP, all you after work good-timers: They rock daily happy hour specials which kind of rule. MOVIDA also boasts a Wednesday "ladies night" special - first glass of wine is on the house for ladies - and a Thursday $6 cava + oysters special. They also rock a Sunday brunch. I've been exactly once and thoroughly enjoyed my visit. The soon-to-be hubs and I split a bottle of wine, a short rib tosta, the MOVIDA paella, and a cheese plate. 80-ish or so dollars (and that was mostly due to the wine). Excited to return to try out a special or brunch. Great job MOVIDA!

    (4)

  • Sarda P.

    The food was okay...I have had better tapas both in Spain and within USA. I had the veg paella, shrimp in garlic sauce, potato dish and the mushroom croquets....the mushroom croquets were the only good thing...the paella was okay...not worth the price. The service though was great and the ambiance was beautiful

    (3)

  • Tony F.

    Ya know how you know when a tapas experience was five star? When you don't remember a damn thing about it, but you remember loving basically everything. I can't recommend one, single dish, but I'm dead positive that every single bite was really good. We were there with a big group of friends, and we ordered damn near half the menu. It was great, we all drank too much, and the bill was exorbitant. I remember that it was packed that night, and there was a bit of a lag in the service, but that's to be expected, so no biggie. Maybe the best tapas in the area, I dunno.

    (5)

  • Anna C.

    Everything was wonderful from the food to the service. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu!

    (5)

  • Luke T.

    Amazing Spot. Has been open almost a year now and they are killing it!! Great food, music, and Vibe. One of the owners was there and came to our table and was very nice. It's always refreshing to see that. I don't live in the area but when I'm back in Milwaukee I'm comin back!

    (5)

  • Laura T.

    Great staff and I love the specials!

    (4)

  • Cosmo K.

    Staff is fantastic menu is fantastic food is fantastic. It did not get five stars because it's simply too many tables too close to each other. The noise level is on the high side. My parents missed half the table conversation and won't go back. They love the food it was all about the noise for them. Maybe if you go earlier it's not so bad. We must go back because there's too many good things on the menu we did not get to try on our first visit!

    (4)

  • A C.

    The decor is great. But you know when a review starts with "great decor" that it's not a great sign. We ordered the movida paella (squid, shrimp, goat cheese, spinach) as it does take 35 minutes. Then we ordered the sheep cheese, tartar, braised short ribs, coquette and the canary potatoes. In addition I ordered a martini dry 2 olives, and my dining companion the red sangria. The first thing we got was the potato canary - which was a little underdone for my taste. It had snap to it but too much snap as if you had a college room mate who 1/2 boiled water in a microwave and left potatoes in the salted water for 30 minutes without getting the water boiling. The sauce was nice but the overall plate was underwhelming. A lot underwhelming like a Russian winter and this was the only food the Gulag provided. Nothing about it screamed new age Spanish cuisine. Next was the tartar which was great. Loved it. No complaints just all around very nice. Then the paella which was good, but I ordered it with the crusted rice and got none. It was very small, like a small plate but for $15. It was good but not the best I've ever had, I would call it average, I think I can make better at home. Then the coquette good crispy and deep fried, the filing was boring, not bad just not special as it was said to be. The braised short ribs had a dollop of blue cheese and caramelized onions with the beef shredded on top. The blue cheese overwhelmed the dish and I wanted the toasted point to be toasted but it was soft and had gotten sort of soggy. The beef which was the star of the show called in an understudy that was posing as rib meat. It was stringy and sort of bland. Great presentation with arugula and pomegranate but these added nothing to contribute to the dish. I kept waiting for it to pull the whole dish together and it didn't. After asking about 4 times for the cheese. Mind you the cheese was the first thing ordered as in before beverages first thing. We got it last which defeated the purpose of having it paired with our other choices. It was delicious cheese but took the sheep less time to be milked than to get it to our table. There are other Tapas places in Milwaukee like La Meranda which I find more interesting and varietal. I would recomend La Meranda before I would Movida.

    (3)

  • Amanda N.

    The food was amazing and our waitress was great. We were looking for things to do around Milwaukee and she wrote us a whole list! Great food, atmosphere, and staff!

    (5)

  • Chris M.

    Had a great Mother's day brunch. Staff were very friendly and the food was great . We will return!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth A.

    We stopped in last night without a reservation, just wanting a drink and something light to eat. The downstairs dining area and bar were jam-packed, but we were seated right away upstairs. Only one other couple was up there, so it was a nice little area away from the crowd. I had their seasonal gin & tonic, and my husband ordered the tequila mockingbird on our server's recommendation. Both drinks were excellent! I don't normally drink gin & tonics because to me they're meh, but if they were all like Movida's version, that's all I'd drink! My husband ordered the scallops, I ordered the ensalada, and then we shared the mini burgers. The scallops and ensalada were good, but the burgers were our favorite. Not sure what spices they used...thought we tasted cinnamon maybe? However they flavored them, it worked, because they were delicious! We'll definitely be back to try more.

    (4)

  • Ravi N.

    awesome paella...amazing flavor of saffaron!!

    (4)

  • Lisa S.

    Our first time at this restaurant:) We have been to Spain and thought let's try Movida. It brought us back to our summer in Espana. Superior food and service. Our wait staff was knowledgeable and guided us through the tapas menu so that we could get a wide sampling of items and still have room for the Paella! Which was top knotch and as authentic as you are going to get in the states. They will make it to your specifics if there are dietary concerns or allergies to shell fish etc. Make sure you have the sangria. Excellent on the wine list as well. If you haven't been to Movida, check out their web site as we will be back on Tuesdays for Flamenco and Thursdays for their Cava and oyster special (6 bucks).

    (5)

  • Petey G.

    We stopped for drinks and tapas tonight and it was a perfect way to start our evening. The sangria is my favorite in the city, absolutely delicious. We had a cheese platter, grilled shrimp, and a delicious anchovy appetizer that was so good! The bartender Mike, took great care of us, and to tell you the truth, we were sad to leave when it came time to move on.

    (5)

  • Seeks G.

    Three friends and I enjoyed our first visit to Movida. What a great experience. Our server, Molly, was fantastic - she offered great suggestions about the menu, kept the dishes flowing at a steady pace - - yet not rushed - - and truly made us feel welcome. In fact, everyone staff person helped - various folks delivered the food, another server even answered a couple questions when Molly was busy and more. The food was first rate. Everything we ordered was attractively presented, freshly made and delicious. The smaller portions allowed us to sample a greater variety of dishes. And the desserts were a perfect culmination to a taste ymeal. My only (and small) criticism was that it was very dark in the restaurant. Yes, one wants to set a mood but it was impossible to read the menu without the cell phone assist light. And i noted that more than one other diner had to do the same thing. Clearly one does not want it noon time bright but a bit more illumination would be helpful. We wil definitely return.

    (5)

  • Marie D.

    We enjoyed our dinner at this new restaurant in Walker's Point. We had wine instead of cocktails, so I can't comment there. The menu is fairly diverse. The cheese & meat selections we ordered were really tasty. The seafood paella was good (although not out-of-this-world). They are definitely new & still working out some of their kinks, but I was impressed how smooth they were on a busy Saturday night. The space has a good feeling to it, as well - cream city brick, dark but lots of candle light. A few areas I'd love to see them improve: our service could have been more attentive (we had to ask for more water for the table twice). Also, I clearly stated I needed to eat gluten free - they offered 3 items on the menu that I could order gluten free, which was a bit of a disappointment (especially for a big tapas menu). I think this is because a lot of the items did come served on a slice of bread. I hope they will think outside of the box a bit on that side of things --- in many cases, I would bet that separating the bread would lead to a 100% gluten free dish. Then, my dining partner could load his own bread with the tasty toppings and I could enjoy them with a fork. I know Movida doesn't claim to specialize in gluten free so this is definitely not a knock against them, just a suggestion.

    (3)

  • Betsy R.

    As my husband said numerous times at dinner, "I could eat myself to death on this!" It's true- everything we had here was amazing, but that wasn't all. The atmosphere on a Thursday night was great- busy, foodie, good looking and fun. To start with the drinks, the sangria was absolutely amazing. We ordered our paella right away (it takes about 30 minutes to prepare). I recommend the garlic shrimp tapa, the tartare and my ultimate favorite was the short rib tosta- wow! The movida paella was to die for- a must-try for all, you may want to get extra it's so good. To finish we had the chocolate covered figs which completed a wonderful meal so perfectly. The whole staff was so friendly and accommodating- I wish I could eat here daily!!

    (5)

  • Scott F.

    Had a wonderful dinner last night. Started off with a great Mojito for my wife and Center Waters Hop Rise for myself. Quality drinks at reasonably prices. Our cheese plate selection of two Spanish cheeses (Manchego & Mahon) hit the spot. Very generous serving size which is great to see after a few experiences elsewhere of micro slices! We then shares the garlic shrimp small plate and Huevos Rotos. Both were served when ready, very fresh and the right portion size. Would have them again. Best of all, the service was flawless. Water was always filled, plates timely cleared and especially exciting for us, our waitress, Ashley, has served us at several other great restaurants, so we knew we would professionally taken care of. She has always done a great job of explaining the food & prep. We will be back, likely with a large group.

    (4)

  • Angela S.

    We had the fried olives, potato brava, lomo, and manchego sandwiches. The chips that came with the sandwiches were really good, also liked the potatoes minus the red sauce. Nothing else overly wowed us.

    (3)

  • Jim S.

    Must Have Ordered the Wrong Things - Very, very Dinky Portions I was really looking forward to trying Movida after reading all the great reviews here. I have been to many so-called small plates and tapas restaurants and I get the concept, but I really think they need to re-look at the model -- these tiny, tiny portions for the price is not sustainable, in my view. Here were the headlines: great Sangria, but with a cup full of ice, there were about 3 sips -- not worth it. Their version of pizza was three very small slices of french bread with blah toppings. And then came the paella -- I get that this is a small plates restaurant, but for $15, I expected more -- the very tiny serving left me wanting more, but the bill did not reflect this. There were about three shreds of chicken is all. I suspect their food cost is under a dollar on this dish. Sorry, gang, I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Mary L.

    The food has such wonderful flavors, the service is excellent, the atmosphere fun, and it is a great place to spend time with friends.

    (5)

  • Neven Z.

    I can't get enough of this place the food the drinks are amazing and I feel like I'm home and the people that work there they do an amazing job. When you walk inside I feel like I'm somewhere else and the music is fantastic keep up the good work movida!!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Mary D.

    We were excited to try Movida and its tapas menu, so we were disappointed that there was a fixed menu for Valentines Day. Either way, we were game for some exciting food. The star of the menu was the scallop with a lemon beurre blanc sauce and a Serrano ham chip. It was a perfect balance of textures and flavors. Sadly, things went downhill from there. Our server was constantly around, trying to pour wine or take dishes when we weren't finished. The pork cheeks were cold, the tomato confit needed salt, the quail was overdone, and I couldn't find the paella that was supposed to be stuffed inside. Another small detail that was a little annoying was our wine glasses....stemless (not a big deal), but only about 3"tall. Bizarre. Sadly, I don't think we will be back to try their Spanish tapas menu, if that's what they really have. There was no Spanish flavor in food or decor at all here. Movida needs to define their brand.

    (2)

  • TJ S.

    Had a great dinner experience last night. It took a while to get ball rolling after we were seated. But as soon as our order was in they kept the Tapas coming one after another without making us feel rushed. The staff was friendly and helpful and the food delicious.

    (5)

  • M D.

    High hopes but drinks were ok, self absorbed bartender. Will give this place another shot and get table service and update my review. For now, 3 stars is adequate based on the one experience.

    (3)

  • Chelsea G.

    Get the red sangria! With orange slices and cinnamon sticks, it is delicious. As far as the food goes, it's good-especially the mushroom coquettes.

    (4)

  • Adam G.

    Arguably the top date-night destination in Milwaukee. A departure from a lot of the food scene in Milwaukee which seems to value portions over quality. Atmosphere is a mix of romantic and fun. Excellent wine list--rare and underrated Spanish wines (including a couple great RIojas) that you can get into without busting your wallet. Food reqs: boquerones (when they have them)... olive oil marinated anchovies, that I almost don't want to call 'anchovies' because this is so far above the standard of what that usually means to us. Melt in your mouth. Not too salty at all. shrimp tapa... wonderfully cooked shrimp, hits perfectly with the sauce, bread, and spanish peppers. subtle heat, creaminess. mushroom croquetta... could eat myself to death on them. Get yourself a seat at the bar when Aaron or Tomack are bartending... pretty much guarantees you a fun night.

    (5)

  • Ronnie E.

    Having enjoyed our trip to Spain, we were super excited to try Movida. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful - very hip and modern. But the food was overall very disappointing. The cauliflower soup was over-salted and not consumable. The eggplants were over-fried and drowning in oil, reminiscent of something you would buy in the frozen section of a grocery store. The sliders had meat that was chewy and lacked any seasoning. On the bright side, the sangria drinks were delicious; however, very expensive for the tiny cup it came in. In the end, I won't be going back and instead trying La Meranda, which has consistently gotten fantastic reviews.

    (2)

  • Danielle R.

    Overall I was pretty impressed with this place. I loved the atmosphere and how welcoming it was. We ordered a variety of small plates and they ranged from very good, I would order a second if I had more room, to decent try but missed the mark. I found that the simpler plates were the better ones. The service was top notch and she explained everything in detail and was attentive. There were only couple of negative parts. That inluded being placed on a shared table next to a door that was often open letting in cold air when there were other open tables elsewhere in the restaurant. And the busser often set dishes and other items on our table very close to us as if we were not there. This wasn't so awful as it was awkward. All in all though, a solid place that deserves a second visit.

    (4)

  • Matt M.

    By far the closest thing to actually being in Spain here in Milwaukee. Excellent food, check. Excellent service, check. Going back? Absolutely. You however should not go so that there are more openings for reservations for me.

    (5)

  • Emiliano J.

    Un poco de España en Mke. Muy buena comida y tragos. El lugar es moderno y las fotos en las paredes son interesantes. Mucha Suerte!

    (4)

  • M S.

    This place is phenomenal! Everything we tried was delicious. The mushroom croquettes were melt-in-your-mouth-amazing, and the paella was great. We also really enjoyed the manchego and the chorizo (real spanish chorizo!! hard to find anywhere in milwaukee) - and really good sized portions for the price. The ambiance was warm and inviting and we came on a Tuesday when Evan Christian was playing live flamenco - VERY COOL! We will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Had a WONDERFUL dinner for four on 11/15. Atmosphere was cozy & perfect for conversation. Sangria was very good but be sure to try the Spanish Gin & Tonic! Dinner was well-paced and our server was very helpful with information on the menu and recommendations. We ordered and then ordered twice more. Food was very good and value was excellent. Even though we were full, we had the flan for dessert (on recommendation) and it was EXCEPTIONAL. Aaron & Andre (proprietors) stopped by our table to check on us. Great drinks, food & service. I look forward to our next visit.

    (5)

  • Maya G.

    I am always disappointed by overhyped new restaurants. Made a reservation for 8:30, we got there at 8:00 and had drinks at the bar. I can tell the drinks were good but not our taste. The pisco sour was the only drink that I knew I would like on the drink menu but it came out too frothy. We could see that there were open tables while we were at the bar. Around 8:40 my husband got up and asked the hostess why we weren't seated yet- she had forgotten about us.. Finally we were seated and our chairs were backless. I get that they are going for a quirky authentic vibe but come on, it's the weekend we wanna sit on comfortable chairs when we go out to eat. The food was good, but we've definitely had better tapas for cheaper. The paella was excellent, but too small. We would not go back because there are better tapas places in the area for cheaper.

    (3)

  • Norman B.

    Great breakfast. Cheese and fruit tray was amazing. Benedict with pork was great too

    (5)

  • Yuliya M.

    What a wonderful place!! I love the design of the restaurant and their very simple/layed back atmosphere. If you ever been to Spain, Movido definitly brings back the feeling of being there again, but now in Milwaukee. We ordered a bunch of tapas and were not disappointed with a single one. Everything was delicious and very flavorful!! We also got Spanish margarita and an old fashion. Both had some kick to them. If you love spicy, it's a must! So now that you are done reading this, go check it out for yourself :)

    (5)

  • Jason G.

    Outstanding! Spectacular! Love the food, the ambiance, the people! Must try! Well done, and thank you!

    (5)

  • Ming H.

    I went with a large group and it was excellent. The food, atmosphere and service were all 5 stars. Paella was awesome too! We were so grateful of the owner who was generous enough to donate a portion of sales to my friend who was raising money for the MS Society. My only issue was the square table was too big for conversations, I wish the table is rectangular instead it would have fit the same amount of people, and maybe even more room on the side for more seating. While it was a very nice atmosphere, the dim lighting was a little too dim as we couldn't see our food and we saw other diners using their phones to see their dish. Will definitely be back again for ladies night and oysters!

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    Nice decor,friendly servers and fun menu. The shrimp dish was our favorite. We got to meet the owner. He's done a nice job converting the space with very cool photos of Spain from the 40's and 50's displayed. We will be back!

    (4)

  • Crystal F.

    Last night, a group of friends and I had a wonderful experience at this new tapas restaurant in Walker's Point. After only being open to the public for two days, everything was impressively put together. The interior is softly lit with cream city brick walls and a woody feel. I loved the way the bartenders were dressed and the deep colors of the wood finish. This is the perfect atmosphere for any date or get together with friends. Upstairs they have a large table to sit with strangers and socialize, which is perfect for me because I go out to eat alone all the time. The drink list was well crafted and interesting, I had the spanish margarita and it was a bit spicy, how I like it. To eat we ordered numerous things. The croquetta, which were deep fried balls of soft cheesy-goodness, and Lomo Tosta, pork tenderloin well seasoned on bread with apricot sauce...these two were my favorite. The Broken Egg is something I would get again. My friends tried the salt cod and said it was the best. The desserts were a awesome way to end the dinner. We tried all three and they were everything I would want them to be. Will definetly be returning soon!

    (5)

  • Heather N.

    I was at Movida on 11/6. Although the staff was "good," the wine was "great," this is definitely NOT a Spanish restaurant. They tout real spanish safron and spices in their paella but it did not taste like the real deal. Worth a try but with so many other good restaurants in the Walker's Point and Fifth Ward area, I'd probably skip this place.

    (2)

  • Bobby G.

    This place always has great atmosphere. They have an amazing nice staff. The food is OK. Not bad by any means, but lacks flare & soul. Nothing mind blowing anywhere on the menu. Service is great, just wish they offered to course out or stagger dishes. In stead they dropped 8 plates at once to share as they got cold. I'll be back in 6 months as I hope they will work out the kinks.

    (3)

  • Sally M.

    We went here last night after the play. We didn't have reservations but full menu available at the bar. Very helpful staff navigated us through the drink and food menu making some excellent recommendations. The Lomo tostada was fantastic! Everything we ordered was great. Highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Kathie H.

    Service, food, ambiance... 5 STARS. They remember customers, appreciate business, and strive to please. I've been to most the nice dinner venues in Milwaukee and nothing comes close to the flavor, quality, and presentation of Movida! Great job Movida, you hit it out of the park!

    (5)

  • Adam H.

    Great restaurant addition to Milwaukee. Service and food were both fantastic. Croquettes were a huge hit!

    (5)

  • C S.

    I love this place. Tuesday's are the best with live music. All the food is delicious and there are plenty of Gluten Free options.

    (5)

  • Axel A.

    Great new tapas restaurant in Walkers Point. A nice addition to the growing choices in an interesting part of Milwaukee. Had a wide sampling of the tapes, including the cheese plates, meat plates, and several vegetarian plates. All were excellent. I can still taste the blue cheese three days later. Great service and nice interior.

    (4)

  • Lisa F.

    The food was fabulous and our server was knowledgable. My favorite was the shrimp with garlic. The guitarist was extremely talented and brought a very Spanish flavor to our evening.

    (5)

  • Edward D.

    Went there this past weekend. Was worried that my three year old son wouldn't find something he would like. The server did a great job of helping pick plates that my son would enjoy as well. Very good service, even better food!

    (5)

  • Elijah J.

    Movida has a wonderful environment & our server, Jennifer, was very knowledgable about the menu & made terrific suggestions. We began with one of the best cheese plates in Milwaukee followed by the frog legs with escargot, the chalimari sandwich, the broken egg, & the gaspacho. Our old fashion, Madrid mule, & mojito were all very refreshing. We will most certainly be back.

    (5)

  • Sean B.

    Biked by on a crisp February Tuesday to get a couple small plates. Ended up getting a couple more plates and just biking a little faster:) First two thumbs up to Evan Christian. Easy to stay longer with his background music.Since I was facing him, pictures of our plates were handled, as normal, by Katie, as very dark, mine were unusable, didn't want to flash him. I've been to Spain, and I was quite happy with Movida's version of Tapas. Flavor pairing of items were spot on, and didn't clash with other plates. Canary potatoes could have used a hair more time in the pan, and the octopus a hair less. Still immensely edible and other items were great. The namesake Movida Paella is worth the wait. If only it could be priced size accordingly, but their time = our money. Make your money go farther by getting the Olive & Pepper, a few times. The oily sweet bit o spice bites will occupy your now happy tongue. Rice Brulee dessert stood out to me also in the amount of happiness it provided.

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    We've been a few times now and sadly its become less-than each time. I just feel their menu needs more variety, and higher-quality ingredients. Spanish food is so hard to find, period in Milwaukee, but this place needs a little work in service and inspiration.

    (3)

  • Erin M.

    This place really delivers in giving an authentic experience while also incorporating modern Milwaukee flare. Above all, this place has a great atmosphere. The tables were small, but led to great conversation. The cocktails were amazing. I got the drink with rosemary (can't remember the name) and it was a hit. I had a few friends order it after trying mine. This place does spanish tapas right. I felt transported back to my days in espana. Harmon iberico, spanish manchego. Croquetas, Patatas con huevos. Everything was authentically delicious. I would highly recommend the Jamon iberico and the croquetas. Paella was amazing. It's a small portion, but after a few tapas, it's perfect to split. I got the movida, with scallop and goat cheese. Overall, great service, great experience. There's no other restaurant like this in Milwaukee. I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Jamie P.

    Went here for brunch so I'll have to come for dinner and rate again. The food was so amazingly flavorful. The portion sizes were fairly large for the prices. They had at least 5 menu items that were listed as gluten free and they also had vegetarian options. Super awesome atmosphere and great drink options. Don't be afraid to try something new because everything we had was superb. Will sure be here again for brunch and can't wait to come here for dinner! Side note: anodyne coffee was super cheap for unlimited refills!

    (5)

  • Christina C.

    This is a Milwaukee gem. Industrial style interior is rustic, just like the layers of flavor in the tapas here. The grilled octopus was fantastically tender. The suckling pig empanadillas were also flavorful and savory. Can't wait to go back and would recommend to anyone who enjoys good Spanish cuisine.

    (5)

  • Mary Jo C.

    Ugh... My second attempt at Movida. And, my last. The menu has changed from the same things I had at our last dinner, to not so great. But, the thing I , and my dinner companions were confused about, was the server telling us in no uncertain terms that separate checks were basically " out of the question" " There are just certain things we can't put on Separate bill". WTH?!?!?! We a were so confused as to why. She basically made us feel like idiots for not grasping the concept. She said " I will try my best, but...." . And when we questioned the way they split the Bill, she was pretty dismissive . So, my dinner companions ended up paying for my $10. 00 drink!!!! What restaurant cannot split a drink bill?!? Wow! I have never had that happen. We were so feed up with her. And the whole unable to do separate checks, we just paid it, and left. Too bad. This place seemed to have promise, but after tonight, I will not recommend , nor , will I go back. Our dinner party has never been treated like idiots at any other restaurant. I still don't understand the problem. Ugh... What a horrible experience for spending almost $200.00 . At our last dinner with 10 people, our server had noooooo problem doing five separate bills. Really a disappointment. Unfortunately I have a reservation next week, because my friend wants to go back. I'm going to tell her to lower her expectations. And, maybe we all need to sit at different tables to make it easy for our server to figure out the checks. I hope we get a different wait person.

    (2)

  • Daniela C.

    Last weekend the boy and I did some restaurant hopping in the fifth ward and Movida was our second stop. It's a Saturday night, so of course the place was busy and full of reservations, but lucky managed to grab two seats at the bar. Our bartender, Dan, was awesome. Turns out he is consulting for Movida on their bar menu, and based on our experience, is doing a great job. Mike got the Rioja 75, a delicious drink with cava in it- and I got the red sangria. It was definitely unlike any sangria I had ever drank before - I believe it had a peach brown sugar in it, which just made it so wonderful and unique. Since we were venturing to different restaurants, we only got two plates: the croquettas and the lomo tosta. The plates might have been small, but were packed with flavor and rich in texture. This is especially true for the great mix of jamon Serrano in the croquettes, and the blend of the Brie and apricot jam with the loin on the tosta. The place has such a great atmosphere, very lively music and a nice romantic lighting to it. I'd definitely have a nicer celebration here, though it is casual enough to venture into on a random week night for tapas. Thanks Movida!

    (5)

  • Melissa C.

    My husband and I recently spent our honeymoon vacation in Spain and the food at Movida took us right back! The selection is perfect, even down to the Pan con Tomate! Lots of restaurants claim to serve tapas but Movida serves the most authentic tapas in the city. Love the sangria, ambience, and service too. Movida is a great addition to the Milwaukee restaurant scene!

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Olé, Olé, Olé! Normally "Olé, Olé, Olé (The Name of the Game)" is sung or chanted at the end of Spanish football games, but after dining at Movida, I was the one singing it all the way back to my house. Movida rocks Spanish cooking in Milwaukee like Lionel Messi kicks a round ball. Precisely. Intensely. Powerfully. Movida's stellar reputation preceded it before I finally had a chance to visit. High hype often sets expectations unrealistically, but in Movida's case, they not only met them, they exceeded them. First, the cocktails. There's a bunch of good ones, but I selected the Spanish Gin & Tonic with house-made tonic. The Rehorst-brand cocktail is bottled and opened at the table. I'm not sure what effect bottling has on the cocktail, but it was the best gin & tonic I've ever had. It must be the tonic. We also tried the house-made white sangria. This, too, is also bottled a day or two earlier and is superb. Perhaps a little too good--it goes down like lemonade on a hot Summer day. It's a good thing it's not too strong as it's pretty easy to drink a lot of this stuff very quickly! Being Spanish, the food is tapas oriented. That is, you order a few things and share them at the table. From the Algo Para Picar section we ordered the Olive & Pepper; from the Tablas, Manchego and Jamon Serrano; Sopas, Cocido; and from the Tapas selections Beet, Pulpo a la Gallega (octopus), and Pork Cheek. We also were treated to an amuse bouche of Croquetas served by one of Movida's partners who thanked us for our visit. I'll tell you, that really sets a good tone for the rest of the evening when you are welcomed like that. My favorites were the Manchego (sheep, sharp, hard, 12-month) cheese, Jamon Serrano, Cocido soup, and Pulpo a la Gallega. Don't be nervous to try the octopus. If there's one thing I've learned after a couple of trips to Spain and dining at Movida: the Spaniards know how to cook cephalopod molluscs. One of the things I love about Spain is inexpensive wine. While it may not be as cheap as water (by volume), you can get a 750ml bottle of Rioja for near the same price as 1.75 liters of water. We fell in love with this Tempranillo-based wine on a trip to Barcelona in 2011. And even in the States, Rioja wines offer exceptional value. We find many solid bottles for $10 or less. So entering Movida, we both had a bottle of Rioja on our minds. However I was taken aback at the prices of Movida's Spanish wine collection. Most are north of the $40/bottle mark--pretty normal prices for a bottle of wine at a fine restaurant, however, to me, for a Spanish Tempranillo, $40+ seems a bit steep. No matter, with cocktails as good as their gin & tonic or sangria, I can skip the wine. Movida definitely put one in the net. This place is great. Olé, Olé, Olé!

    (5)

  • Cathy D.

    We ate here again on July 4th. Had a fantastic server. Always more than 1/2 the battle. The menu is always changing so you never get board. While I have had the eggplant before it had a new twist. The gazpacho was served in a shot glass and all our number one choices. The others very very delicious. The vegetable paella is always good but different all the time. Just hope when their new restaurant is open they don't lose their focus here.

    (5)

  • Pamela M.

    Very excited to write this review for Movida! I've dropped in a couple times now for drinks and for a Newaukee event, but wanted to wait on a write-up until after eating a real dinner. The interior of Movida is really cool. They have this awesome, traditional wallpaper that coordinates really well with the windows which are styled like the inside of a home. Then there is a contrast with the industrial look that shows exposed, naked wood and brick. It's pretty hot. The staff at Movida has been impressive every time I've come. Good job people! As I mentioned in the "Tips" section - Tuesdays they feature music by Evan Christian, Wednesdays ladies get their first wine free and Thursdays there is a $6 special which gets you 3 raw oysters and a glass of cava brut champagne. I was sold on the Thursday special. My friend and I arrived super excited to try it before going to a show at the Marcus Center. We immediately order the oysters and cava (lucky me my friend wasn't drinking (Yay for DOUBLIN' UP ON THE CAVA!). The oysters arrive in three "flavors" one is citrus, the other has a tomato and I think a bacon flake? and the last is a cucumber/onion topping. They are all quite similar but a little different. I wouldn't mind, actually, if they had more of a difference between the three. They were blue point oysters and some were a little bit small but I really can't complain for $6 plus the drink! And I LOVE that there was no limit on the oysters and cava :) We also tried four of the tapas to share after two orders of oysters/cava. Boquerones!!! Get them. Don't be a wuss 'cause it says anchovies!!! Really good - my favorite of the tapas we tried that night. Mushroom Tosta - so I thought this would be pretty basic and maybe boring, but it was actually better than expected! Delicious flavor and lots of mushrooms on a chewy, toasted bread. Meatball - meh. I didn't like the texture of the meatball so much just because I kept getting some hard bits. The romesco wasn't exciting. So I had the boring anticipation switched because this one sounded more exciting. I wouldn't go for this item again so much. Chorizo - I had a couple issues with this one. Again with the hard bits in the meat that I had to take out of my mouth. I don't like having to do that. Maybe it's just how some chorizos are and I've experienced this before, but I will never like this "hard unchewable bits" situation. There was a large pile of chorizo slices (it's cured) but a small amount of the accompanying jam of pear/honey/ginger (I didn't get much of the honey/ginger). When I left the restaurant I really enjoyed the "tingle" that remained from the chorizo, however. I'm excited to get back and try their Sunday Brunch! We were told there were some of the main menu items for brunch but also several items that a especially for brunch, and yes there are eggs. I look forward to going back and definitely on another Thursday!

    (4)

  • Ellie B.

    Everything at Movida is delicious. On this cold night, I started with a hot drink, The Early Hunt, which has brandy, chocolate chai black tea, citrus, cinnamon honey syrup and Bittercube Blackstrap bitters. It was wonderful. There were a bunch of things I wanted to try on the menu but I decided on a special flatbread, cauliflower soup, mushroom croquetas, and a paella to split with Dan. He also got the beef tartare. Everything was fantastic and I never wanted to stop eating. The plates were perfectly spaced out and the service was friendly. For dessert I couldn't resist the apricot toffee buttermilk cake and it did not disappoint. I will be back FOR SURE.

    (5)

  • Lindsey A.

    Torn. I am very, very torn. We had dinner reservations for Bacchus the night we ditched the white-linen dining scene for something more "us." We spent a few weeks in Barcelona last Summer and the thought of tapas and gin and tonics were hook, line and sinker for us. We arrived without a reservation but were promptly seated at a large communal table at the back of the restaurant. No one sat next to the us the entire meal, so, that was fine. But, that spot needs to be separated from the weird little kitchen-like area they have going on back there. I gave my wife the "better" seat (facing the tables and windows) while I stared at a strange refrigerator and the hustle and bustle of coffee prep and order-input. Why not partition this off from the restaurant? Hang a long, lovely, dark-red curtain or put up a small room divider? Doesn't need to be fancy - just needs to be done. Our wait staff, though friendly as F, was ... slow. And non-attentive. We ran out of our first drink, drank the entire bottle of water on the table, and the had to flag them down before we could ask for another drink. We were never asked, after that, if we wanted another bev .... even after our tapas were served and our cervezas squeezed dry, we were left to our own devices. Not ok in my book. Lastly, the food. It was good - but different. Which - yes - the menu states it is their take on Spanish tapas. But..... come on! No pan con tomate? That is a STAPLE. Why are you serving a Spanish omelet on toast? The omelet should be served on its own... and that toast should be slathered in delicious, garlic-y tomato spread. The paella was good, but we were told there was a 'crispy bottom' version and they highly recommended that - ours had no crisp. But my wife loved it, so that's that. The manchego cheese - wow, what a portion! - needs to come with more bread and more membrillo quince (or whatever that was). It ended up being too dry of a cheese to eat alone (PAN CON TOMATE!!!!) Overall, the pricing is fantastic for what you get - I highly disagree with one reviewer's point about it being too expensive. But, the service needs a tick up and some of the dishes could be perfected a bit more.

    (3)

  • Carrie G.

    A Happy Hour worthy of your time. Both great food and drink specials can be found at this newish Walker's Point spot (see photo below). The decor has not changed much since the last establishment to occupy the space. The dark wood abounds and in there is still a faint smell of fuel in the air as the building was originally home to a Milwaukee Tool Factory. The addition of a full sized kitchen cooler in one corner of the dining room is a bit distracting, gives a weird lighting vibe to half the tables and give the appearance of overflow storage in the eating area. The rest of the new aesthetic is calming and welcoming. The classic house made Sangria is a good way to start ($5 HH special). The white is made with sparkling Cava instead of the usual white wine, which gives a great pop to each taste. Spanish Brandy, Creme Sherry and Strawberry Kiwi Syrup round out the recipe for this tasty, fresh and not too sweet cocktail. If red wine is more your thing, the class red is more your thing it made with dark red wine, Peach Brown Sugar Syrup, Combier, and Bittercube Cherry Vanilla Bark Bitters. The overall taste is deeper tones with a richness coming from orange peel and cinnamon stick. When choosing our apps we thought it best to certainly choose the one item that's not on the dinner menu, the Madrid Chips ($5). One bite reinforced what an excellent decision this was. Large crisp homemade potato chips were topped with a mojo picon sauce and cheese. The pepper based sauce had great depth without searing heat. Layer on the sauce was a Spanish cheese similar to mozzarella but with a bit more nutty flavor. All layers tasted created an excellent flavor profile. We also opted for the Brussels Sprout Chips ($5 HH, $6 dinner). Leaves of the sprouts are quickly fried and salted and served in a bowl. While these had good flavor, the chips were so thin that they were a bit of a challenge to eat. They were served with fresh lemon to squeeze over and a very small portion of garlic aioli that was divine. On a previous visit I really (and unexpectedly) enjoyed the Canary Potatoes ($5 HH, $6 dinner. On that first visit light yellow fingerling potatoes were cut lengthwise and roasted, then served cut side down on a bed of mojo picon sauce. The sauce was incredible then and remains to be, but this time the potatoes really distracted from the dish. Instead of the delicate fingerlings, round purple skin potatoes were used. This itself would not have been an issue if they had been prepared and presented similarly as they were in my first visit. But the purple potatoes were boiled, not roasted, and served whole with very little contact in the picon sauce. So a dish that was a 5+ on my first visit quickly became a generous 2 on this one. Should I decide to order this dish in the future I would certainly inquire about the kind of potato and the preparation. We rounded out our small plates with the Jamon Croquettes ($5 HH,$8 dinner). Six ample sized bites were served with a fabulous saffron aioli. They really know the sauce game in this kitchen. And the ham and cheese stuffed bite is breaded and deep fried and pretty darn tasty. Given the value of the Happy Hour plates we were easily tempted into ordering dessert of the regular menu. And the Vanilla Bean Flan ($6) was another easy choice. The flan was firm and packed with flavor. The caramel sauce glaze was perfect in taste and consistency and the accent cracker provide a welcome crunchy balance to the creamy dessert. You simply cannot go wrong with this one. Our server was very attentive (plates came out as they were ready and empty ones were immediately cleared). She also has a passion about the dishes and drinks that she was more than happy to share. I personally enjoyed learning a little bit more about the preparation and history of the dishes and may even request the same server in the future. The Happy Hour here is a great way to sample a few menu items and some great cocktails and will most likely entice you into coming back for a full meal!

    (4)

  • Lisa J.

    MOVIDA MOVIDA MOVIDA! I love you! The ambience is charming, the staff is so incredibly nice and accommodating, and the food is just as fantastic as everyone else has mentioned. Movida is my new brunch spot! Haven't had to wait for a table yet (hopefully that doesn't change) and the food is fantastic! I really enjoy the Pepito sandwich- perfectly cooked egg, toasted bread with melted manchego, every thing about the sandwich is amazing. The potatoes it comes with are also perfect-perfect amount of salt, perfect amount of crisp on the outside, perfectly cooked inside. Did I mention they are absolutely perfect? Pork Belly waffle is a new favorite-I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the brunch menu. As for dinner-go for the scallops-they are a light/ citrusy delight. OH and back to the accommodating staff-so genuinely nice! My husband ordered an ice tea-it took awhile to come out. Turns out they don't serve ice tea but the bartender brewed him a cup anyways. The owner-so kind and welcoming. This place is all around fantastic. Make a reservation already!

    (5)

  • Marissa M.

    I want this review to be the written equivalent of dressing up in one of those insanely fancy matador costumes and waving around a red cape enticing people to come to Movida. Movida is just that good and just that Spanish. The environment of the restaurant is casual, classy, and intimate without being overly romantic. It's just as cool as the handlebar mustaches of men in some of the pictures around the place. The food was all great. In fact, some of the food might be better than actual food I ate in Spain. All the types paella was delicious (with the vegetable being my personal favorite). The drinks were delicious. Our favorite tapa had to be oyster tapa plate, which was spectacular. Added bonus was a 10% off check-in courtesy of Yelp and Movida. I don't need much encouragement to come back. This place is perfect from anything from a date to a girls' night to a fancy restaurant for your parents or co-workers. In short, ven aquí.

    (5)

  • MariCarmen R.

    Drinks are great... totally worth it !!! I ordered a paella and it was made with tuna. (That's not Spanish style) Portion was really small and pricey for size of that portion. I wouldn't care to pay more and get a regular size... I walked out hungry ;(

    (3)

  • Kelsey S.

    I typically try not to review a place after just one visit so I can try more of the menu first, but the joy of tapas is that you can sample a great deal all at once. And I'd love to call your attention to this lovely new place, so here we go. I recently dined here with some pals for a bachelorette party dinner. I recommended it because a couple of them had studied abroad in Madrid and others had traveled in Spain, so a Madrid-influenced restaurant made sense. That could have been risky had it not met expectations-- but everyone loved it. We sampled a variety of items - probably about 1/3 of the menu. Every item tasted fresh and flavorful, and our server was awesome at introducing and explaining the dishes. Personal favorites included the vegetable paella, croquettas, and the olive and pepper plate. But seriously, you can't go wrong here. The drink menu also features a good variety of house cocktails, wine, and beer. I think it's important to note when you have good service, and Movida's service was nothing short of excellent. Our server was attentive, friendly, and checked in with our group frequently enough for ordering plates in waves but without being imposing. One of the owners was also in that night and stopped by to introduce himself and ask about our experience, which we thought was nice. All in all, good stuff happening here at Movida - hoping to see them succeed in the Walker's Point neighborhood!

    (4)

  • Denise W.

    Beautiful restaurant. Fun food. We went with a group of 9 people and the service was very good. They have a nice wine list. We ordered 3 paellas, the seafood being my favorite. The mushroom croquettes were to die for. Definitely have a Gazpacho shot...loved it! The sliders were the only thing no one liked...they had an unusual taste to them. Other than that, I can't wait to come back and try some more dishes.

    (4)

  • Tanya M.

    I was so excited to see a Spanish tapas and cocktail bar would be coming to Milwaukee in Walkers Point this summer while walking down 2nd Street. And even more excited to attend a soft opening and try out the food and drinks in the redesigned space. Favorites of the night go to the Spanish Margarita and the Lomo Tosta. The Spanish Margarita is worth a visit to the bar with or without the food to accompany it. It has a slight kick with the ancho chile liqueur and is balanced out nicely with the rhubarb and lime mix. The Lomo Tosta also plays with balance by bringing together pork tenderloin, brie and apricot in a traditional Spanish tosta. We started with the Gazpacho, which is made with yellow tomato instead of the traditional red. I love gazpacho and liked this variation with a slightly sweeter and mild flavor to it. We tried several different tapas: the Croquettas and Meatballs - both were good, exactly what I would expect; and the Canari potatoes - a slightly different spin on patatas bravas with a much lighter sauce that still brought in the typical flavors. The Vegetable Paella packed in many flavors and was topped with several different veggies. The asparagus and potatoes were especially good with the saffron rice. Do make sure to allow extra time for the paellas, as they take a while to prepare. The arroz con leche dessert was just the right amount of sweet rice and cinnamon filled nostalgia of Spanish childhood, with a crisp brulee top layer, to conclude our meal. We enjoyed all of the plates we tried, but would probably opt out of the Stuffed Picquillo and maybe go for another cheese plate next time to try some that we missed this time. And pass on the white sangria, since it wasn't anything too special.

    (5)

  • Mimi S.

    Great food across the board , wine list is well put together a struggle for all restaurants is glassware vs ounces of wine first glass seemed pretty short on the pour , second a little better. Paella is great, good portions on the cheese board selections ,overall nice meal and good service.

    (4)

  • Isaac S.

    I came here about a month ago and was thoroughly pleased. I shared several plates with my companion and we had the two types of sangrias. The waitress was very helpful and guided us to some highlight dishes. All of them were very good. Four stars for value. It was a little expensive, just a little, for what we received.

    (4)

  • Nayoung L.

    Solid Tapas restaurant in downtown Milwaukee. It is in a bit sketch neighborhood but I managed to walk here from the Third Ward. I noticed not many people walk on the street in Milwaukee and I won't walk after dark. They have a great selection of drinks and tapas. The food was a bit salty and many dishes were fried but everything was pretty delicious and our server was very friendly and helpful. I would recommend this place as a dinner option if you are visiting Milwaukee.

    (4)

  • Wayne D.

    First time here and I'm very happy. I highly recommend the meat dishes. Tartar, the pork cheek and the lomo were off the charts. The flavor pairs on the pork cheek are genius. Melt in your mouth tender. Fast, friendly and unpretentious service!

    (5)

  • Josh B.

    The vibe and decor is trendy and hip, with soft natural lighting that makes this an ideal intimate dining spot in the third ward for either dates, or small groups of friends. They emphasize tapas (small dish) style dining, and the menu is modest, but has enough variation where most people will be able to find something they'd be willing to try. Prices were reasonable, if a touch high, and between the two of us, we had ordered 4 shared plates and a desert, and were just at the right spot of satisfied without feeling full. Foodwise, it seems to be hit or miss... They did have a special where you can have a glass of wine, and three different styles of oysters for $6, which was too good to pass up, however some of the oysters were a bit rough on the shucking... a few crunchy ones... While each flavor was very different, the cucumber one was just bizarre, while the ginger one was SO GOOD! The cheese and cured meat plates were phenomenal, I would go back just for their chorizo, however the duck egg/potato dish was almost too inconvenient to eat without making a mess. The staff was very knowledgable, helpful, and friendly, however there were multiple times where items we had ordered had not come out, and when we asked the waitress, her response was "No one brought it out? I'll go check" It's not a huge place, but when we had ordered two of the wine/oyster appetizers, and you brought out two glasses and serving of said oysters... it's pretty easy to tell that we never got the rest when there's nothing else on the table and you've already come back twice. I understand simple mistakes happen, I've been there when I was a server, but over the course of dinner, it happened two more times, and we were almost served gazpacho that we didn't order. The food runner just set it down and walked away right after announcing what it was... I had to wait for him to walk by again to let him know we didn't actually order it (might have been his first day, he also dropped a few dishes when bumping into the bar near the kitchen) All in all, I'd be interested in coming back, now that I have an idea of where their strengths are. There's a good foundation for a great restaurant, once a few kinks are ironed out. The atmosphere and the dishes they do right are well worth taking a second shot.

    (3)

  • Joan W.

    We've been to Movida three times and they get more impressive every time we visit. We happened to arrive during Happy Hour the other day and couldn't resist the offerings. First of all, their sangria is the best I've ever had. My fellow diners stuck to the Spanish beer and they were equally pleased. We made our way through the selection of small sandwiches with chips, and they were all so good it was impossible to pick a favorite. The patatas bravas are not to be missed - so flavorful and satisfying. Croquetas? - delectable! Gazpacho shots? - heaven in a glass. The friendly staff were happy to help describe any of the dishes or ingredients that we weren't familiar with, and we can see why Dan, the bartender, is top-rated. Our only regret was that we were too full for dessert. Oh, well...next time!

    (5)

  • Danielle W.

    I came here for brunch with 3 friends that I studied with in Spain a few years back. The croquetas were described by my friend as "the croquetas I remember and love from Spain." The movida breakfast sandwich was an amazing mix of flavors and the side of potatoes were fantastic! It will definitely be on my radar for a dinner stop some time.

    (5)

  • Jessica O.

    Pro tip: Get the Wisco Old Fashioned. It is maybe my favorite cocktail EVER. The pairing of brandy and chili oil is brilliant. If you're not a big fan of sweet beverages, go with this one. Our super smart friend Ryan did all of the ordering, so I don't remember everything we got, but the bites were perfectly portioned and delicious. My only complaint is that the paella proportions are a little strange. You can either get a teeeeeeeeeeny tiny bowl for one, or a MASSIVE bowl for, like, 8 people. I would like a medium size. Because the paella is lovely, and I found that I wanted more...but it felt weird to order six tiny portions for our group. I'm not a big fan of charcuterie, but the manchego cheese and serrano ham made for very succulent bites. AND, if you like things on the spicy side, the shrimp has a great kick to it. Our server, Erin, was awesome - and when she saw how obsessed I was with the sauce on the shrimp, brought extra bread so that I could get every last little bit. Great place for a relaxed evening of delicious bites and wonderfully crafted cocktails. Looking forward to returning.

    (5)

  • Tania E.

    I went to MOVIDA a couple weeks ago, but I had to sit down and write a review! We walked in and were immediately greeted and told we could pick any table we wanted. We chose this great table right by the window. The music was great and the decor was lovely. Our server was very welcoming. She was happy to offer suggestions, give us time to peruse, whatever we wanted. She took the time to speak to us about the restaurant, the owners; she had no problem giving us a little history. We were welcomed with a free yellow tomato gazpacho shooter. I loved it and could've had a whole bowl. We started our order with the Thursday special of 3 oysters and a glass of cava. I'm a HUGE oyster fan, so I was a happy camper. Add a glass of bubbly and how can you go wrong! I also had a glass of their white sangria, which I absolutely loved. Next we ordered the shrimp tapa, which was great. The sauce was wonderful to dip bread in, so good. Then we ordered another round of oysters...cause why not. Next up was jamon, which was this wonderful stack of ham and crispy bread. After that we had the MOVIDA paella (no we're not done yet!). Be forewarned, the portion is quite a bit smaller than expected but the flavor is huge. We also tried the pork belly, which again was wonderful. We followed that up with calamari, which we really weren't a fan of and barely touched. When the server returned we let her know we didn't care for the calamari and just wanted to order dessert (glutinous much? I know, I know). We ordered a rice pudding brûlée with blackberries. Ugh, so much yum!! Probably the best part is that before our dessert even made it to our table one of the owners dropped by. He wanted our honest feedback about the calamari. He was very receptive to hearing our opinions and told us that it was taken off our bill and the dessert was on the house. Talk about great customer service!! We paid our bill and were chatting with our wonderful server. We asked her about a shot we had seen a few people at the bar taking. It was a spiced Spanish whiskey. She asked if we wanted to try it and we all gave a resounding yes! Next thing we know we're taking a shot with our server and two of the owners. We even took a group pic! All in all it was a great experience. Ambiance, great service, wonderful food, MOVIDA has it all!

    (5)

  • Vueve D.

    I have visited Movida three times within the past two months, and each time has been better than the last. The atmosphere is excellent as well as the food and drinks. The service has always been of the highest quality as well. The first time I visited Movida was on a Thursday. My friend and I were pleasantly surprised to find they have a fantastic deal running alongside of their happy hour. $6 for three oysters and a glass of cava. The oysters were fresh and matched perfectly with the cava. We both tried the red sangria and various vegetarian appetizers which were all good. I was surprised with the amount of vegetarian appetizers they had. The red sangria has a hint of cinnamon which rounds off the drink quite well. My most recent visit to Movida was last night. We barely made happy hour, so we asked the server to bring us two appetizers from the menu of her choice. She brought us shrimp and chicken tapas with a side of homemade fries. Both were to die for! My cousin had the beer and pepper shot, which he said was excellent. Our friends ran a bit late for dinner, so the owner stopped by to introduce himself and give us a complementary tapa of mushroom croquettes. They were impeccable. One of the highlights of my dinner was the pork cheek. I have never had softer pork in my life. Definitely a must try when you visit. My family and I plan to round off our culinary tour of Movida tomorrow with brunch. I am excited to try the bloody mary they have 'only on Sundays' as it is made fresh in the morning. I hear it's a fusion between spanish gazpacho and a traditional bloody mary. Exciting!

    (5)

  • Jennifer R.

    For a great dining experience, there's just something about...MOVIDA! I have been twice, and both times were equally awesome. The first time was with a group of six seasoned foodies and Yelpers who tackled the menu with finesse. We all ordered one or two dishes each, and true to small plate form, passed them around to share and savor. As one Yelper said about the evening, I think we sampled 75 percent of the menu. The plates just kept coming, and we kept enjoying! My favorites from that evening included the paella (it takes a little bit longer to prepare, so if it's what you want, order it immediately). We also had meatballs, salt cod croquettes and shrimp. What was not immediately memorable to me about that evening was every dish we sampled. All were good. What I remember is the service...as again and again the server came out from the kitchen with MORE plates to enjoy. And as I didn't know the people in the group very well, comparing notes over the food we were sharing was a great way to bond! I returned more recently with a friend to try MOVIDA's happy hour menu, offered in the bar from 4-6 Monday-Thursday. There are 5-6 small plate offerings and sandwiches for $5, beer, wine, sangria and martini specials. We split four plates to make a meal: the brussel sprout chips with lemon aioli, yummy canary potatoes, and ham croquettes. The standout plate both of us raved over, however, were the Madrid chips. Thin crisps with an olive and Spanish-seasoned spread, topped with cheese and broiled until crisp. We devoured those things! Served with a side of bread, we drank, we ate, we laughed, and had a great meal!

    (4)

  • Megan C.

    Not one for tapas , this will be the place to change your mind ! The decor is beautiful and the music makes you feel like you are on vacation in Spain . The staff was super friendly and attentive . They have a menu for each month . They also do a seasonal drink menu . If you like gin, you'll love this place . I ordered a cocktail called something borrowed something blue . It smelled like a candle and tasted even better , it mixed gin with blueberry lavender syrup and other heavenly flavors . All the speciality cocktails are reasonable ranging from $9 and up . It is all tapas and depending on how hungry you are 3-5 should be more then enough for two . They have plenty of options for both meat and veggie lovers . My favorite thing we ordered was the mushroom croquets ! They were so flavorful and seasoned just the rite amount . All the food came out fast and the only thing you have to wait for is their paella, which takes about 40 min to make . I also suggest anything with the pickled arugula , which literally tastes like they injected it and infused it with bursting flavors . I could eat a whole bowl of it !

    (5)

  • Paress H.

    LADIES- Wednesday night you get a FREE glass of wine with your meal. LOVE that. I mean, I was going to order a glass anyway, but that free wine just sounds and tastes so much nicer. We ordered the mushroom croquette which was the perfect amount of richness, the pork loin with brie cheese and pickled apricot was probably my least favorite of our 3 dishes, but it was still tasty. I guess I didn't read close enough that the dish was going to be served on crostinis. My favorite by far was the paella. We got the paella with chorizo, scallops, goat cheese and peppers. I could eat that dish multiple times a week and am going to work very, very hard at attempting to recreate it at home. So good! Our server Jennifer was adorable, efficient and so sweet. I didn't realize that Movida was the old Industry until we walked in. The atmosphere looks very similar. There are black and white photos of different artists like Dali which is cool. The atmosphere is a bit bland, but the tableware is nice and cozy and I like their stunted wine glasses, almost like little glass bowls. Oh, and the wine was tasty! There was a small issue with a mis-ring in our bill, but Jennifer took care of it right away and a manager came out to make sure everything was okay as well. When we checked in on Yelp, we were offered a 10% off our check coupon which our server did not know about, and I don't believe the full 10% was taken off. My only advice would be to educate the staff about this awesome incentive to check in on Yelp and to adhere to it. Other than that, everything was awesome. I will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Esperanza I.

    Words cannot express how good the food, service and the ambiance were. Let's start with the food... fresh, authentic ingredients expertly prepared so they deliver succulent, sophisticated flavor combinations; then add friendly, knowledgeable, timely service that guided our choices. Finally, top it off, with a fun, inviting atmosphere, slightly reminiscent of Spain, yet very MKE.

    (5)

  • Jen W.

    Love the space. The wood, the big window, the witty quotes above the bar. Super cozy. But for me the food failed to live up to the hype. The cauliflower soup was delicious; creamy without being overly heavy, but yet a little flat and in need of some kind of spice. Oddly though, my soup came out at a normal temperature while my nephew's was so hot he couldn't eat it for quite some time. The eggplant was soggy, as if it needed more time with salt to draw the water out and the honey was completely lost with the fried coating. I also had some other toast that was so unremarkable I cannot remember it now, though I recall thinking it was soggy and just okay. Service was friendly but scattered with some of us getting 3 dishes at once and others sitting with nothing. I understand that the dishes come out as they are ready, but it seems like they should consider the table when deciding the order of which to prepare things. On the plus side, the servings were more than generous and with 3 plates I left fully stuffed. I can't wait to go back for the flamenco on Tuesday nights.

    (3)

  • Doreen E.

    Such a gem of a restaurant, tucked in between a few older buildings. You'd never know it was here, unless you were looking for it. But you should seek it out. The food is fabulous. Do not miss the vegetable soup; it's $7 and worth every drop. I also loved the pork cheek. Small, but rich. Every bite was delicious. The six of us shared a seafood paella. I thought it was well-flavored and perfectly seasoned. The seafood was cooked just right. There is lots of opportunity for bar-type seating both down and upstairs. Make a reservation if you can. They'll take good care of you.

    (5)

  • Anya K.

    Fantastic little Spanish Tapas place with a great drink selection. Nice variety of tapas all packed with great flavor. Meatballs and croquetas were some of your favorites. They have great twists of traditional drinks too. The old fashioned and margarita had a nice spicy kick to them, both are something ladies and gentleman could enjoy. The seasonal mojito stood out as the sweet and deliciously fruity drink. The service was absolutely fantastic. The place has a nice atmosphere that made us feel like we're in Madrid again. Strongly suggest checking this place out. You could meet the most interesting man's son while you're here too.

    (5)

  • Suzy W.

    Lovely, lovely restaurant. The décor, the staff, the food, the wine, all excellent. An interesting and tasty selection of tapas, all of a size to more than easily share. I especially loved the tender octopus with fingerlings and this spice sauce called mojo picon and the gazpacho shots. yumm.

    (5)

  • Gregory S.

    Service was good. Food was very good except for the empanadillas which were quite doughy rather than a nice pastry crust. The paella was extremely good. The only reason I did not give a 5 to this was the doughiness noted and the very poor wine glasses. They were bowls and not stemmed and very difficult to poor into and drink from. Otherwise, this was a 5.

    (4)

  • Elissa B.

    Movida, you are so damn lovely. We had a rather large group for brunch on Sunday, and they were really sweetly accommodating. The big table on the upper level was perfect! It's a little balcony within the restaurant with a giant table to comfortably seat about 14, but you could cram a couple more people in there if you had to. A note: There is also a bar with seating around the perimeter of the upper level, but every seat filled would leave very little room for moving and visiting with each other. It's a pretty space, and is quite private. The staff introduced themselves, letting us know that they would be happy to help anyway we needed. It was just so nice to be welcomed in like that. Our server (Crystal? I think. She's super pretty) was attentive and patient and helpful and just the best. I always feel guilty when I inconvenience someone or cause a ruckus, but the Movida staff made us feel right at home. But let's discuss my favorite part of every day: the food. I had a mimosa to start, which had that extra something to make it more than your average champagne with OJ tossed on top. My one little tiny complaint is that the drinks were quite small, while the prices were quite large. But that's fancy brunch prices, you know. I ordered the Movida Tortilla Espanola, the Spanish omelette with chorizo, potatoes, fun cheese, and garlic aioli. It's served as a little round cake-let with fruit and spinach. I ate it too fast out of excitement, then was seized by disappointment at its disappearance (story of my life though). The fruit side was just as happy, without the bullshit melon filler that most places use. From what I could tell, the rest of the party was thoroughly pleased with their choices. I look forward to getting Boyfriend to come here with me, and I won't even care if he also adores Crystal (gosh, I hope that's right) because she really is the prettiest thing.

    (5)

  • Mauricio M.

    I regret not having left this review last year when we were there and the place had just opened. They have some of the best tapas I've ever had, and delicious, creative drinks. The vibe of the place was fantastic, from the music through the decor to the presentation. My only complaint is that it's not in Madison!

    (5)

  • Stephen D.

    Good food Good service Small plates Still a little hungry But I'm fat So that's probably good Would come back

    (4)

  • Kristina K.

    Absolutely delicious food, intimate dining environment, lovely service, and outstanding cocktails. I cannot get enough of Movida and the amazing small plates offered. Thus far the favorites are jamon, manchego, croquettas, huevos rotos, and short rib tosta. Que Delicioso! Trust me, this is a fabulous addition to the Milwaukee dining scene.

    (5)

  • James M.

    Met with a group of 6 for a birthday celebration. We made reservations online, and received a call the day of to confirm. When we arrived, we were seated in the private area above the bar, perfect for a small gathering. The service was excellent, and we followed our server's recommendations. The house-made sangria's were excellent, I would definitely recommend them to anyone. We shared a wide array of tapas as well as the signature paella for the main course. The only complaint would be that it did get very warm in the private dining area, which I am assuming is because it is above the bar and much closer to the ceiling. Overall, a great experience. We will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Maurice D.

    We made a reservation the day before and were offered 2 options. Our table was, indeed ready when we arrived despite the dining room being full (and a little cramped). Dinner was very good. We loved every dish. The flavors were robust and traditional with sauces providing a welcome twist. Prices were appropriate. Service was slightly above average. Servers are well educated on the menu. Portions were very small. I know this is small plate but this is also Wisconsin. Most plates came with 3 portions but we were a table of four. Just add one more and I think everyone will be happy. Also a little more generous with sauces as they were not sufficient for pairing. One last thought. I would like to see the menu stay more traditional. There is no shortage of "fusion tapas" but Milwaukee desperately needs traditional Spanish flavors.

    (4)

  • Margaret R.

    My new favorite restaurant in Milwaukee! Stellar service, delicious drinks and food to die for! 10% off for Yelpers? Yes, please. Made a reservation for 4 of us, were seated right away. Ambiance and decor is trendy and warm and cozy. The staff and our server were attentive and just effing fantastic. They didn't hover but they were at the table regularly and made some great recommendations. They even made me a new drink since I didn't like it. Drinks - we tried some of the craft cocktails and they were all great. I mentioned that I didn't like mine, but that's because I didn't personally care for the chili syrup in the Old Fashioned. It gave it a wonderful, complex dimension but I'm not one for heat. Our favorite was the Hidden Charm. I also liked the red sangria with its lovely cinnamon stick. Food - we were sent to heaven. The Lomo (pork tenderloin) set the bar as our favorite. We raved about it the rest of our meal. Our next favorite were the mushroom crostatas. We ordered a second plate of them with their luscious creamy interior set with a crunchy panko exterior. More, please. We en joyed the Mahon cheese plate with its yummy preserves, the chorizo plate which surprised everyone with its non-greasiness, the delectable and rich cauliflower soup, the shredded pork belly, the canari potatoes (I personally wasn't impressed with these, I mean, they're potatoes, but the rest of the table were), the Broken Yolk (ok, these potatoes were impressive) and almost all of the desserts. The vanilla bean flan was deemed the table's favorite and we liked the rice pudding creme brûlée although I have to admit the texture was hard to get used to. The spice cake was moist and flavorful but I have a sweet tooth so this didn't fit the bill. It was drizzled with Greek yogurt so this would better suit someone looking for a modest dessert that isn't so sweet. Verdict? We. Will. Be. Back.

    (5)

  • Theresa F.

    Unbelievably good food! We are from Chicago and have tried just about every local tapas joint we've come across. We have YET to experience tapas like this. The ham croquettes - OMG!! The seafood paella - WHOA!! Cocktails also very very good. You can tell everything here was made with good ol fashion TLC - something of which we're not used to in Chicago.... Our server was Dulce and she was great! This will definitely be our go-to anytime we visit MKE.

    (5)

  • Brent V.

    I walked into this place knowing spainards cook up some mean food I mean, what the heck is paella? I'm still not sure what was in it but daaaaamn. Go and get your self a red wine and lots of meats

    (5)

  • Tyan S.

    Love this place!! Great welcoming decor and vibe. I Jane been twice and had a great experience both times. The first time I was in a group of 4 and sat at a table. We had the seafood paella - seafood cooked PERFECTLY!!, jamon croquetas, yellow tomato tosta, assortment of cheeses and meats, padron peppers (personal favorite and just like in Spain), & calamares. Everything was perfectly cooked and the wine and cocktails were fantastic. Our server was knowledgeable and the owner/chef came to check on us which was a nice personal touch. Last night, we sat at the bar - party of 3. I love sitting at the bar. The bar was very tall so I felt very short and that the bar was practically at my chin - perhaps even taller chairs? but no big deal. Our bartender was fantastic! I don't remember his name (sorry!) but in culinary and hospitality school. Very charming, attentive and knowledgeable. Entertaining but not overwhelming. He read us well that we liked some interaction, but not too much. We had the croquetas again..yum..., oysters with cava! 3 oysters each uniquely garnished with a glass of cava for $6? Awesome! canary potatoes, Spanish version of nachos & several different cocktails and Spanish brandies & vermouths. Loved the attention to detail and authenticity of this place! I'll be back!!

    (5)

  • Joanna T.

    I hit up Movida with 5 other ladies which meant we were able to try about 75% of their menu. Does Milwaukee FINALLY have a good, traditional Spanish tapas place? Read on... Tried: *Arugula salad - I mean, it was a salad. Good. *Manchego cheese slate. For $5 they give you a TON of cheese, unlike most places. *Mahon cheese slate. Again, a lot of cheese (not complaining) and it was served with a delicious black tea jam. *Sobrasada, aka chorizo spread. It was served with the cutest little breadsticks & wasn't greasy at all. Loved. *Jamon Serrano - again a very generous serving and the tomato bread it was served with was great. You can tell they used really good, fresh tomatoes. *Lomo Tosta - basically pork loin, brie and jam on bread. Absolutely delicious - great flavors and the meat was tender. *Pork Belly Pepito - another "meat on toast" choice. I really liked that the pork belly here was shredded and wasn't overly fatty. *Movida paella - pretty good, but maybe a little overcooked. Neither of the paellas we tried had the "crust" on the pan but both were tasty. *Seafood paella - the better of the two with lots of seafood stock flavor *Canari potatoes - I didn't think fingerling potatoes could taste this good! A spicy, flavorful sauce surprised us all and it ended up being one of the favorite dishes *Shrimp - sautéed in a garlicky oil sauce, the shrimp were tender and not overcooked *Salt cod fritters - I don't personally "love" cod but I actually really liked these. Kind of like a compact fish fry. *Meatballs - served with romesco sauce. I'm used to them being in a crock of sorts but these were tasty all the same, not rubbery at all. *Broken Egg - basically homemade potato chips with a fried egg & chorizo on top. Again, something that was simple but surprisingly good. Loved. *Mushroom croquetas (special) - have to confess that I didn't try them but others raved about the flavors *Tartare (special) - beef tartare on a parmesan crisp with a little quail egg. I'm not afraid to go raw & really liked this bite. Now I know you're like daaaaammmmmnnn girls, ya'll ate a ton of food! They're SMALL plates, ok? Don't be judging us - because of course we got dessert too! (In the interest of writing a comprehensive review, of course. It's all about you, Dear Readers) *Spice cake with sour cream - again a surprise! A fairly standard spice cake turns into a totally different flavor when you drizzle some sour cream on it. Who knew? *Flan - caramely & delicious! *Bruleed rice pudding - I love rice pudding and I love crème brulee so imagine my delight at a dish that combines two of my favorite things. Overall, of all of the dishes I samples (and it was a lot of things, not even going to lie) I truly did at least "like" everything and there were several things I absolutely loved including the potatoes, broken egg, lomo tosta and the tartare. I was quite impressed with the overall flavors and textures - the tapas are traditional for the most part but Movida has definitely added their own stamp on them. Since they are new, I can only imagine the food will continue to get even better which is really exciting (because it's pretty great now). Also because they are new, there's a few rough edges but nothing that's a deal breaker. I'm not a big fan of the "kitchen-ish" area in the dining room. It looks a little tacky. Service started out a little rough (there were 1-2 things that we ordered that never made it to the table including brussel sprout chips. Not that we needed them) but ended up being just fine. Our server was really nice, on top of filling drinks and checking in with us. I was also really impressed at how well the kitchen timed our plates. We never had a shortage of things to try but we weren't overwhelmed with plates all at once. Prices for tapas are fairly reasonable - you might get a little more bang for your buck at La Merenda but Movida is definitely going in a different direction from them food wise. My share of the LONG list of food above... $40 (plus a few extra bux 'cause I had a glass of wine) which included tax/tip/ Quite reasonable in my book. Anyway, super impressed at the food Movida's putting out! Sorry for the long review but...now you know...and knowing's half the battle.

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    Beautiful little restaurant, warm and cozy. Modern Spanish flair w/ unique sangrias. Party of four and we enjoyed every dish we tried especially the octopus and scallops. We had 8 small plates and 2 paella dishes to share. The small plates were portions of 3 so for that reason I am only giving them 4 stars otherwise I would give them 5. Service was good and we did not have to ask for anything.

    (4)

  • Cory P.

    Garlic soup was perfect. Octopus was the best I've had--tender, smokey, yum. Pork cheek was also amazing. Desserts were solid.

    (5)

  • Owen W.

    Everything was delicious, and when we left we were crafting a mental list of dishes we had to get next time.

    (5)

  • Corey C.

    We came in on the spur of the moment, and were amazed to find such authentic tapas. Their riff on a hot toddy, The Early Hunt, hit the spot after being out in the cold. We loved the Brussels Sprout chips. The portion size on the stellar manchego cheese was huge. The ham croquettes were delicious and smooth. Like most Tapas restaurants, expect to pay $8-12 for each small plate, and each is a taste treat not a meal. The tapas and drinks here are more focused on authentic Spanish cuisine. All in all, every dish we picked was excellent. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Trish P.

    I love the slightly quirky, but classy vibe of Movida. The service was fantastic & very attentive. We ordered several tapas. The jamon iberico was amazing! I haven't had this level of quality jamon since spending time in Spain!! The tortilla & cheeses were tasty as well. Looking forward to my next visit & trying more menu items!

    (4)

  • Jessica L.

    The food was delicious and service was great. We were a bit disappointed that the price point for each tapa/item was a little high (typically 3 items on a plate).

    (4)

  • Yan H.

    Haha I've tried to come here on 3 separate occasions for dinner before I succeeded. Closed on monday, private event, and just too long of a wait... but I finally made it happen! I don't think I've ever disliked any spanish tapas, so instead being pointless and saying everything=good, I'll highlight what I really really liked. The gazpacho was very distinct and surprising. It had a great bright fresh flavor, enough to change my view of gazpacho as a dish overall. The pork belly tosta was excellent... I know not everyone loves the richness of pig belly... but the char cooked onto it, and the balance of sweetness from the fig and cider braise makes it something very special. Finally the paella... they are in smaller portions, which is a great idea. In case if I ever accidentally dine with someone that hates it (gasp), I can just happily eat it by myself.

    (4)

  • Erin U.

    Movida just didn't deliver for me. For what we paid I wasn't impressed. The atmosphere was the best part of the experience. It is spacious with exposed brick and sexy lighting. They have good craft cocktails - I recommend their Wisco Old Fashioned or their red sangria. As for food, our large group ordered one of everything on the menu which is my favorite thing to do at a new restaurant. The tablas were good - definitely the lomo and manchego. Don't waste your money on the $45 Jamon Iberico de Bellota. It was unbelievably underwhelming and overpriced. The tostas were great, especially the pork belly. The paella was meh. The tapas were good but not that memorable. We enjoyed the croquetas and the patatas. The service was OK. It took an uncomfortable amount of time to get our drinks made. I thought they did a poor job telling us what food they were bringing out and an even worse job timing the food. There were times where they brought so much food to the table we didn't have room, and other times where we were waiting and waiting for the next course to come. I think I would have liked Movida more if I was able to take the time to enjoy the food. Instead we all felt rushed to make room. I'll try to make it back in a few months with hopes that they have things ironed out by then.

    (3)

  • Kristen D.

    Great evening at Movida tonight! Went in with a group of 6 for some bonding time. Lucky for the 3 ladies it was Women Wine Wednesday- first glass of wine is free! They only offer it for 1 varietal of red and 1 white, but I was pleasantly surprised at how great the red was!! More importantly the food: So we shared a couple orders of the Lomo tosta- its a must! After all of the dishes we had, we said we'd for sure have at least 2 more of them! We also had the Short rib tosta- came with a nice touch of pomegranate seeds for crunch and acidity- beautiful job! We had the octopus, which was good yet measly for the $11. It was more potato than octopus- I'd like to see more meat next time! We also shared some manchego and serrano- both delicious and came with great crusty breads and accoutrements. The paella movida was a nice bite, but I don't think I'd order it again- the tostas were definitely where its at!! The ambience and décor were warm, welcoming, and very European- loved it! The service was great and timely as well! Highly recommend! Would like to see a bit more value for the $, but definitely not a wallet buster compared to some other places around!

    (4)

  • Maurice D.

    We made a reservation the day before and were offered 2 options. Our table was, indeed ready when we arrived despite the dining room being full (and a little cramped). Dinner was very good. We loved every dish. The flavors were robust and traditional with sauces providing a welcome twist. Prices were appropriate. Service was slightly above average. Servers are well educated on the menu. Portions were very small. I know this is small plate but this is also Wisconsin. Most plates came with 3 portions but we were a table of four. Just add one more and I think everyone will be happy. Also a little more generous with sauces as they were not sufficient for pairing. One last thought. I would like to see the menu stay more traditional. There is no shortage of "fusion tapas" but Milwaukee desperately needs traditional Spanish flavors.

    (4)

  • Esperanza I.

    Words cannot express how good the food, service and the ambiance were. Let's start with the food... fresh, authentic ingredients expertly prepared so they deliver succulent, sophisticated flavor combinations; then add friendly, knowledgeable, timely service that guided our choices. Finally, top it off, with a fun, inviting atmosphere, slightly reminiscent of Spain, yet very MKE.

    (5)

  • Nayoung L.

    Solid Tapas restaurant in downtown Milwaukee. It is in a bit sketch neighborhood but I managed to walk here from the Third Ward. I noticed not many people walk on the street in Milwaukee and I won't walk after dark. They have a great selection of drinks and tapas. The food was a bit salty and many dishes were fried but everything was pretty delicious and our server was very friendly and helpful. I would recommend this place as a dinner option if you are visiting Milwaukee.

    (4)

  • Wayne D.

    First time here and I'm very happy. I highly recommend the meat dishes. Tartar, the pork cheek and the lomo were off the charts. The flavor pairs on the pork cheek are genius. Melt in your mouth tender. Fast, friendly and unpretentious service!

    (5)

  • Amy Z.

    I want to come back here immediately and eat everything again. Highlights of the meal include: everything. Seriously. I tried bites of the short rib tosta, mushroom croquetas, ham croquetas, pork cheek, garlic shrimp, and the empanadas and I loved all of it. The short rib tosta may have been my favorite - the meat was super tender and it had a hint of citrus that was unusual and delicious. The atmosphere was fun and lively and I will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Merete M.

    I visited Movida on Friday with 4 friends, and we had an amazing time. You absolutely cannot go wrong with this menu. We tasted all of each other's drinks and food, and there was NOTHING I wouldn't have ordered for myself if I had the fat stack of cash and room in my guts for all of it. It was amazing. We were very well taken care of by our server, a person seemingly designated to filling waters, and another server or possibly manager that kept checking in with us. But they weren't overwhelming, you guys! Somehow we had all this attention, but it was a light enough touch that we didn't feel like every bite was interrupted.

    (5)

  • Joe P.

    Descriptive phrase: fairly-authentic upscale Spanish restaurant. I'm pumped Spanish food is making waves in Milwaukee lately, and MOVIDA offers a great example why. Pinchos (finger food) to start: decadent Pork Cheek, salty and sweet Jamon Serrano with Cantaloupe, mini Chicken Empanada, Mushroom Croqueta (any croqueta is best croqueta), and Garlic Shrimp. Their Seafood Paella was very good but needed a bit more saffron added. Be prepared to crunch the burnt parts, it's normal. And for desserts, you can't go wrong with Flourless Chocolate Cake, Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding, or Sangria Sorbet. Added points for the bartender making a MEAN Agua de Valencia (cava, orange juice, vodka, gin) even though he'd never made one before and it wasn't on the menu. MOVIDA is doing Spanish food for Americans right. Make a reservation, folks.

    (4)

  • Jake B.

    First I'll start off by saying my wife and I were very very excited to try this place. After reading the reviews on here and the buzz around town about it we were floored that we didn't like it. That said, let's start with the positives. The location is great, right off of second in the up-and-coming foodie area. That atmosphere is great, exposed brick and wood make for a really warm inviting spot. The service was really great as well. Now on to what earned this place a low ranking. For a Spanish restaurant we were surprised to find no Rioja wine available by the glass. I had the Alto's de la Hoya and it was so-so. Then we ordered four items. The short rib tosta, the tomato starter, the chicken paella, and octopus tapa. Not one of them had us excited for more. In fact, we said that the items lacked spice so they took the paella off of our bill.

    (2)

  • Dylani H.

    love love love this place!! where do I start the ambiance is awesome. I love the cream brick industrial look with tastefully decorated walls. the layout was pretty good and the dim lighting really made a difference to the whole setting The wine. is really good. you cant go wrong with the wine here. i tried about 4 glasses of whites to reds which were all great I am so glad we went here with a bunch of friends as we were able to The food where do I start. Everything we tried was awesome. the Bruschetta was average but everything else was just awesome - the garlic shrimp was the crow favorite - the anchovies which came on a thinly sliced fried plantains or maybe some sort of potato ??!!was just fabulous (but may be too salty for some of the America foodies). this was my favorite ! - The pork cheek was really tender and melted in your mouth Empanadas were great (not the best in town. but I would say it's up there) - Octopus was surprisingly good and flavorful Service was great the girl who served us was really helpful, patient and answered all our questions. I wish I remembered her name to pas on the complement. but thanks for the great service !! I will definitely return, recommend going with a group so you can share and try out many options

    (5)

  • Lesley W.

    I've been to MOVIDA twice -- once for a happy hour and more recently for dinner with a large group. The happy hour was great! I enjoyed the oysters and cava and shared some tostas, and everyone I was with has gone back at least once. Our dinner really could have been a disaster. I picked it for our group because my sister had been wanting to go there and it was her bachelorette party. However, it was a true adventure for about half the people who came, who had never had tapas and usually stick with chicken-and-a-starch type meals. There was a moment when we were looking at the menus where I was inwardly freaking out about whether or not people would eat (there is no basic chicken dish on the menu). Our waitress came to my rescue and helped everyone feel comfortable ordering and ensure that we had a variety of dishes everyone would enjoy. By the end of the evening we had a few people saying "Wow! I can't believe I tried that, but it was really good." And it wasn't just our tapas newbies who were happy -- everyone else really loved the food. (The salmon tostas and seafood paella were my personal favorites.) With the exception of the paellas, the food came it a nice, steady stream and every item was a great size for sharing. The paellas were awesome (and the presentation is beautiful), but we over-ordered (the waitress said they were individually portioned, but with the amount of tapas we ordered, we definitely should have shared, which was our original plan), and it took almost an hour for them to arrive (menu says a half hour). In addition to the slow paella, we had a little misunderstanding about one dish (which I didn't think was the restaurant's fault -- I though it was probably ours), and not only did they not charge us for the dish, but the manager came in person to apologize and presented us with a complementary dessert board. I thought it was really classy that they went so far to try to make things right (further than they needed to), especially since we were kind of a difficult group. I felt like they were really trying to make sure that our night was great and recognized that it was a special occasion for my sister. So, despite a few wobbles, I'm giving Movida four stars because the food was outstanding and they really care about making their customers happy.

    (4)

  • J S.

    I've been here so many times since, I'm amazed I've never written a review! I'm not from Milwaukee, but I make sure to visit every time I'm in town. I brought my boss with me this time around and she absolutely loved it! We loved almost all of the dishes that we had: the boquerones was sublime (the acidity was a perfect balance to the saltiness of the anchovy), the Huevos Rotos was amazing (the richness of the egg yolk was a perfect complement to the Serrano ham), the tartare was absolutely delicious (then guindilla pepper and duck egg were a great add). We had a few more dishes that night, but those aforementioned were the standouts. Above all, the service is fantastic every time! Aaron (co-owner) was a gracious host, and came by to check up on us often, and even gave us a taste of wine with the porron! I must say, this place was such a find, and I look forward to coming back every time I am in town!

    (5)

  • Amara H.

    Because I was craving paella, and this spot had a vegetarian option, describing the vegetables as the "kitchen's daily selection of fresh produce", I decided to try this restaurant out with my food buddy. While the place was packed and full of life on a Thursday night, we were seated quickly (as we had made a reservation via Yelp). The service was quick and efficient. Upon being seated, the ambiance and decor caught my eye. The decor could be described as a getaway to the Iberian peninsula with a modern touch. In addition to the paella, I chose: eggplant + honey + salmorejo along with the papas with alioli. Impressively, even though I am not a fan of tapas purely because my appetite is never satiated, the portion sizes were more than adequate. Unfortunately, the paella had the opposite problem. The paella size was that of a tapas dish with the cost of an entree. Apparently, you have to specify if you want a larger portion size. Also, while the ingredients in all the dishes were very fresh, the vegetable selection for the paella did not compliment the dish. It was an odd combination for my taste buds. For dessert, we tried the churros con chocolate, expecting to be transported to mid-day Spain. While the consistency, texture, and shape of the churro was similar to those found in Spain, there was cinnamon on the churro, which reminded me of a churro from Mexico. Although the chocolate had the right consistency, the taste was not pleasant. Overall, this was an enjoyable tapas experience. The prices, aside from the paella, was very reasonable, given the larger tapas portion sizes. An added bonus is the 10% off your visit, available on Yelp.

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    We've been a few times now and sadly its become less-than each time. I just feel their menu needs more variety, and higher-quality ingredients. Spanish food is so hard to find, period in Milwaukee, but this place needs a little work in service and inspiration.

    (3)

  • Stephanie R.

    We headed to MOVIDA for a weeknight dinner, and I was even able to use Yelp to make a reservation so we didn't have to worry about getting a table. We were walked to a small table right next to another small table where a couple was already eating, even though there were other tables open. At first I felt like it would be awkward sitting so close to them, but the sound didn't really carry and we were able to enjoy our own conversation. The tables and chairs themselves seemed vintage/antique-y, and had nice charm. Our table had a bit of a rock to it, but our server was right on it and adjusted it forthwith. To start, we had the Pa amb tomàquet, bread with tomatoes and roasted garlic. It was OK, but not the star of the meal. Next we had the Croquetas which were better. I felt like the serrano and the filling were all emulsified together, which gave them a richness. Then came the mushroom tosta which was fine, but again, not the winner for me. Next came the two stars of the whole meal. The lomo tenderloin tosta pork was deliciously seasoned and paired well with the apricot and Brie. I didn't notice the pickled aspect of the apricot (which is how it was described on the menu), but the whole dish was great. And to finish, on a bit of a whim we ordered the Manchego cheesecake with apricot. Wonderful and slightly nutty, and the apricot puree was a great accompaniment. Our server was friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu, and the arrival of our small plates was nicely timed. I would come back for the lomo and the cheesecake and to try some other items, and the brunch menu looks promising as well.

    (4)

  • Batilly H.

    I actually really liked the food. It was a slightly different spin on the tapas I usually order. We ordered short rib on toast, shrimp in a garlic butter sauce and seafood paella. I would definitely recommend all of the above. Paellas take about 45 minutes to cook, so order it first! We went on a Wednesday - first glass of wine should be on the house for ladies. However, it totally slipped our minds and it was not mentioned by the server. Odd, because I even asked for drink recommendations. This is where I have the issue, I pointed at another customer's drink and said I wanted to try it. She said it was "Something Borrowed." My friend ordered the white sangria. When the drink arrived, (1) it wasn't even the same drink as the one I pointed out and (2) it smelled too fragrancy and tasted like a flower. I swapped it for another white sangria. Definitely a much much better choice. I also didn't appreciate the fact that you could tell she was talking about me with the bartender (he made eye contact with me). ANYWAY - I would definitely come back again for the food. The service was a kinda slow but honestly, it wasn't the server's fault. It was one server, one backwaiter, one bartender and one hostess for the entire floor. I still gave her a really good tip because being understaffed isn't her fault, however, recommending the right drink is since I pointed it out. Hopefully my second experience would fare better.

    (3)

  • Rachel F.

    I super dig MOVIDA, you guys. Excited to return! This industrial-upscale yet super comfy spot right on Second is all about Spanish eats and drinks. Boom. Think paella, cheese plates, tapas, Spanish wines, great cocktails, warm woods, low lights and communal seating. LISTEN UP, all you after work good-timers: They rock daily happy hour specials which kind of rule. MOVIDA also boasts a Wednesday "ladies night" special - first glass of wine is on the house for ladies - and a Thursday $6 cava + oysters special. They also rock a Sunday brunch. I've been exactly once and thoroughly enjoyed my visit. The soon-to-be hubs and I split a bottle of wine, a short rib tosta, the MOVIDA paella, and a cheese plate. 80-ish or so dollars (and that was mostly due to the wine). Excited to return to try out a special or brunch. Great job MOVIDA!

    (4)

  • Sarda P.

    The food was okay...I have had better tapas both in Spain and within USA. I had the veg paella, shrimp in garlic sauce, potato dish and the mushroom croquets....the mushroom croquets were the only good thing...the paella was okay...not worth the price. The service though was great and the ambiance was beautiful

    (3)

  • Sean B.

    Biked by on a crisp February Tuesday to get a couple small plates. Ended up getting a couple more plates and just biking a little faster:) First two thumbs up to Evan Christian. Easy to stay longer with his background music.Since I was facing him, pictures of our plates were handled, as normal, by Katie, as very dark, mine were unusable, didn't want to flash him. I've been to Spain, and I was quite happy with Movida's version of Tapas. Flavor pairing of items were spot on, and didn't clash with other plates. Canary potatoes could have used a hair more time in the pan, and the octopus a hair less. Still immensely edible and other items were great. The namesake Movida Paella is worth the wait. If only it could be priced size accordingly, but their time = our money. Make your money go farther by getting the Olive & Pepper, a few times. The oily sweet bit o spice bites will occupy your now happy tongue. Rice Brulee dessert stood out to me also in the amount of happiness it provided.

    (4)

  • Erin M.

    This place really delivers in giving an authentic experience while also incorporating modern Milwaukee flare. Above all, this place has a great atmosphere. The tables were small, but led to great conversation. The cocktails were amazing. I got the drink with rosemary (can't remember the name) and it was a hit. I had a few friends order it after trying mine. This place does spanish tapas right. I felt transported back to my days in espana. Harmon iberico, spanish manchego. Croquetas, Patatas con huevos. Everything was authentically delicious. I would highly recommend the Jamon iberico and the croquetas. Paella was amazing. It's a small portion, but after a few tapas, it's perfect to split. I got the movida, with scallop and goat cheese. Overall, great service, great experience. There's no other restaurant like this in Milwaukee. I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Mary Jo C.

    Ugh... My second attempt at Movida. And, my last. The menu has changed from the same things I had at our last dinner, to not so great. But, the thing I , and my dinner companions were confused about, was the server telling us in no uncertain terms that separate checks were basically " out of the question" " There are just certain things we can't put on Separate bill". WTH?!?!?! We a were so confused as to why. She basically made us feel like idiots for not grasping the concept. She said " I will try my best, but...." . And when we questioned the way they split the Bill, she was pretty dismissive . So, my dinner companions ended up paying for my $10. 00 drink!!!! What restaurant cannot split a drink bill?!? Wow! I have never had that happen. We were so feed up with her. And the whole unable to do separate checks, we just paid it, and left. Too bad. This place seemed to have promise, but after tonight, I will not recommend , nor , will I go back. Our dinner party has never been treated like idiots at any other restaurant. I still don't understand the problem. Ugh... What a horrible experience for spending almost $200.00 . At our last dinner with 10 people, our server had noooooo problem doing five separate bills. Really a disappointment. Unfortunately I have a reservation next week, because my friend wants to go back. I'm going to tell her to lower her expectations. And, maybe we all need to sit at different tables to make it easy for our server to figure out the checks. I hope we get a different wait person.

    (2)

  • Jessica L.

    The food was delicious and service was great. We were a bit disappointed that the price point for each tapa/item was a little high (typically 3 items on a plate).

    (4)

  • Laura T.

    Great staff and I love the specials!

    (4)

  • Cosmo K.

    Staff is fantastic menu is fantastic food is fantastic. It did not get five stars because it's simply too many tables too close to each other. The noise level is on the high side. My parents missed half the table conversation and won't go back. They love the food it was all about the noise for them. Maybe if you go earlier it's not so bad. We must go back because there's too many good things on the menu we did not get to try on our first visit!

    (4)

  • Mike C.

    Olé, Olé, Olé! Normally "Olé, Olé, Olé (The Name of the Game)" is sung or chanted at the end of Spanish football games, but after dining at Movida, I was the one singing it all the way back to my house. Movida rocks Spanish cooking in Milwaukee like Lionel Messi kicks a round ball. Precisely. Intensely. Powerfully. Movida's stellar reputation preceded it before I finally had a chance to visit. High hype often sets expectations unrealistically, but in Movida's case, they not only met them, they exceeded them. First, the cocktails. There's a bunch of good ones, but I selected the Spanish Gin & Tonic with house-made tonic. The Rehorst-brand cocktail is bottled and opened at the table. I'm not sure what effect bottling has on the cocktail, but it was the best gin & tonic I've ever had. It must be the tonic. We also tried the house-made white sangria. This, too, is also bottled a day or two earlier and is superb. Perhaps a little too good--it goes down like lemonade on a hot Summer day. It's a good thing it's not too strong as it's pretty easy to drink a lot of this stuff very quickly! Being Spanish, the food is tapas oriented. That is, you order a few things and share them at the table. From the Algo Para Picar section we ordered the Olive & Pepper; from the Tablas, Manchego and Jamon Serrano; Sopas, Cocido; and from the Tapas selections Beet, Pulpo a la Gallega (octopus), and Pork Cheek. We also were treated to an amuse bouche of Croquetas served by one of Movida's partners who thanked us for our visit. I'll tell you, that really sets a good tone for the rest of the evening when you are welcomed like that. My favorites were the Manchego (sheep, sharp, hard, 12-month) cheese, Jamon Serrano, Cocido soup, and Pulpo a la Gallega. Don't be nervous to try the octopus. If there's one thing I've learned after a couple of trips to Spain and dining at Movida: the Spaniards know how to cook cephalopod molluscs. One of the things I love about Spain is inexpensive wine. While it may not be as cheap as water (by volume), you can get a 750ml bottle of Rioja for near the same price as 1.75 liters of water. We fell in love with this Tempranillo-based wine on a trip to Barcelona in 2011. And even in the States, Rioja wines offer exceptional value. We find many solid bottles for $10 or less. So entering Movida, we both had a bottle of Rioja on our minds. However I was taken aback at the prices of Movida's Spanish wine collection. Most are north of the $40/bottle mark--pretty normal prices for a bottle of wine at a fine restaurant, however, to me, for a Spanish Tempranillo, $40+ seems a bit steep. No matter, with cocktails as good as their gin & tonic or sangria, I can skip the wine. Movida definitely put one in the net. This place is great. Olé, Olé, Olé!

    (5)

  • Ming H.

    I went with a large group and it was excellent. The food, atmosphere and service were all 5 stars. Paella was awesome too! We were so grateful of the owner who was generous enough to donate a portion of sales to my friend who was raising money for the MS Society. My only issue was the square table was too big for conversations, I wish the table is rectangular instead it would have fit the same amount of people, and maybe even more room on the side for more seating. While it was a very nice atmosphere, the dim lighting was a little too dim as we couldn't see our food and we saw other diners using their phones to see their dish. Will definitely be back again for ladies night and oysters!

    (5)

  • Michael R.

    Nice decor,friendly servers and fun menu. The shrimp dish was our favorite. We got to meet the owner. He's done a nice job converting the space with very cool photos of Spain from the 40's and 50's displayed. We will be back!

    (4)

  • Pamela M.

    Very excited to write this review for Movida! I've dropped in a couple times now for drinks and for a Newaukee event, but wanted to wait on a write-up until after eating a real dinner. The interior of Movida is really cool. They have this awesome, traditional wallpaper that coordinates really well with the windows which are styled like the inside of a home. Then there is a contrast with the industrial look that shows exposed, naked wood and brick. It's pretty hot. The staff at Movida has been impressive every time I've come. Good job people! As I mentioned in the "Tips" section - Tuesdays they feature music by Evan Christian, Wednesdays ladies get their first wine free and Thursdays there is a $6 special which gets you 3 raw oysters and a glass of cava brut champagne. I was sold on the Thursday special. My friend and I arrived super excited to try it before going to a show at the Marcus Center. We immediately order the oysters and cava (lucky me my friend wasn't drinking (Yay for DOUBLIN' UP ON THE CAVA!). The oysters arrive in three "flavors" one is citrus, the other has a tomato and I think a bacon flake? and the last is a cucumber/onion topping. They are all quite similar but a little different. I wouldn't mind, actually, if they had more of a difference between the three. They were blue point oysters and some were a little bit small but I really can't complain for $6 plus the drink! And I LOVE that there was no limit on the oysters and cava :) We also tried four of the tapas to share after two orders of oysters/cava. Boquerones!!! Get them. Don't be a wuss 'cause it says anchovies!!! Really good - my favorite of the tapas we tried that night. Mushroom Tosta - so I thought this would be pretty basic and maybe boring, but it was actually better than expected! Delicious flavor and lots of mushrooms on a chewy, toasted bread. Meatball - meh. I didn't like the texture of the meatball so much just because I kept getting some hard bits. The romesco wasn't exciting. So I had the boring anticipation switched because this one sounded more exciting. I wouldn't go for this item again so much. Chorizo - I had a couple issues with this one. Again with the hard bits in the meat that I had to take out of my mouth. I don't like having to do that. Maybe it's just how some chorizos are and I've experienced this before, but I will never like this "hard unchewable bits" situation. There was a large pile of chorizo slices (it's cured) but a small amount of the accompanying jam of pear/honey/ginger (I didn't get much of the honey/ginger). When I left the restaurant I really enjoyed the "tingle" that remained from the chorizo, however. I'm excited to get back and try their Sunday Brunch! We were told there were some of the main menu items for brunch but also several items that a especially for brunch, and yes there are eggs. I look forward to going back and definitely on another Thursday!

    (4)

  • Ellie B.

    Everything at Movida is delicious. On this cold night, I started with a hot drink, The Early Hunt, which has brandy, chocolate chai black tea, citrus, cinnamon honey syrup and Bittercube Blackstrap bitters. It was wonderful. There were a bunch of things I wanted to try on the menu but I decided on a special flatbread, cauliflower soup, mushroom croquetas, and a paella to split with Dan. He also got the beef tartare. Everything was fantastic and I never wanted to stop eating. The plates were perfectly spaced out and the service was friendly. For dessert I couldn't resist the apricot toffee buttermilk cake and it did not disappoint. I will be back FOR SURE.

    (5)

  • Daniela C.

    Last weekend the boy and I did some restaurant hopping in the fifth ward and Movida was our second stop. It's a Saturday night, so of course the place was busy and full of reservations, but lucky managed to grab two seats at the bar. Our bartender, Dan, was awesome. Turns out he is consulting for Movida on their bar menu, and based on our experience, is doing a great job. Mike got the Rioja 75, a delicious drink with cava in it- and I got the red sangria. It was definitely unlike any sangria I had ever drank before - I believe it had a peach brown sugar in it, which just made it so wonderful and unique. Since we were venturing to different restaurants, we only got two plates: the croquettas and the lomo tosta. The plates might have been small, but were packed with flavor and rich in texture. This is especially true for the great mix of jamon Serrano in the croquettes, and the blend of the Brie and apricot jam with the loin on the tosta. The place has such a great atmosphere, very lively music and a nice romantic lighting to it. I'd definitely have a nicer celebration here, though it is casual enough to venture into on a random week night for tapas. Thanks Movida!

    (5)

  • Lindsey A.

    Torn. I am very, very torn. We had dinner reservations for Bacchus the night we ditched the white-linen dining scene for something more "us." We spent a few weeks in Barcelona last Summer and the thought of tapas and gin and tonics were hook, line and sinker for us. We arrived without a reservation but were promptly seated at a large communal table at the back of the restaurant. No one sat next to the us the entire meal, so, that was fine. But, that spot needs to be separated from the weird little kitchen-like area they have going on back there. I gave my wife the "better" seat (facing the tables and windows) while I stared at a strange refrigerator and the hustle and bustle of coffee prep and order-input. Why not partition this off from the restaurant? Hang a long, lovely, dark-red curtain or put up a small room divider? Doesn't need to be fancy - just needs to be done. Our wait staff, though friendly as F, was ... slow. And non-attentive. We ran out of our first drink, drank the entire bottle of water on the table, and the had to flag them down before we could ask for another drink. We were never asked, after that, if we wanted another bev .... even after our tapas were served and our cervezas squeezed dry, we were left to our own devices. Not ok in my book. Lastly, the food. It was good - but different. Which - yes - the menu states it is their take on Spanish tapas. But..... come on! No pan con tomate? That is a STAPLE. Why are you serving a Spanish omelet on toast? The omelet should be served on its own... and that toast should be slathered in delicious, garlic-y tomato spread. The paella was good, but we were told there was a 'crispy bottom' version and they highly recommended that - ours had no crisp. But my wife loved it, so that's that. The manchego cheese - wow, what a portion! - needs to come with more bread and more membrillo quince (or whatever that was). It ended up being too dry of a cheese to eat alone (PAN CON TOMATE!!!!) Overall, the pricing is fantastic for what you get - I highly disagree with one reviewer's point about it being too expensive. But, the service needs a tick up and some of the dishes could be perfected a bit more.

    (3)

  • Lisa J.

    MOVIDA MOVIDA MOVIDA! I love you! The ambience is charming, the staff is so incredibly nice and accommodating, and the food is just as fantastic as everyone else has mentioned. Movida is my new brunch spot! Haven't had to wait for a table yet (hopefully that doesn't change) and the food is fantastic! I really enjoy the Pepito sandwich- perfectly cooked egg, toasted bread with melted manchego, every thing about the sandwich is amazing. The potatoes it comes with are also perfect-perfect amount of salt, perfect amount of crisp on the outside, perfectly cooked inside. Did I mention they are absolutely perfect? Pork Belly waffle is a new favorite-I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the brunch menu. As for dinner-go for the scallops-they are a light/ citrusy delight. OH and back to the accommodating staff-so genuinely nice! My husband ordered an ice tea-it took awhile to come out. Turns out they don't serve ice tea but the bartender brewed him a cup anyways. The owner-so kind and welcoming. This place is all around fantastic. Make a reservation already!

    (5)

  • Carrie G.

    A Happy Hour worthy of your time. Both great food and drink specials can be found at this newish Walker's Point spot (see photo below). The decor has not changed much since the last establishment to occupy the space. The dark wood abounds and in there is still a faint smell of fuel in the air as the building was originally home to a Milwaukee Tool Factory. The addition of a full sized kitchen cooler in one corner of the dining room is a bit distracting, gives a weird lighting vibe to half the tables and give the appearance of overflow storage in the eating area. The rest of the new aesthetic is calming and welcoming. The classic house made Sangria is a good way to start ($5 HH special). The white is made with sparkling Cava instead of the usual white wine, which gives a great pop to each taste. Spanish Brandy, Creme Sherry and Strawberry Kiwi Syrup round out the recipe for this tasty, fresh and not too sweet cocktail. If red wine is more your thing, the class red is more your thing it made with dark red wine, Peach Brown Sugar Syrup, Combier, and Bittercube Cherry Vanilla Bark Bitters. The overall taste is deeper tones with a richness coming from orange peel and cinnamon stick. When choosing our apps we thought it best to certainly choose the one item that's not on the dinner menu, the Madrid Chips ($5). One bite reinforced what an excellent decision this was. Large crisp homemade potato chips were topped with a mojo picon sauce and cheese. The pepper based sauce had great depth without searing heat. Layer on the sauce was a Spanish cheese similar to mozzarella but with a bit more nutty flavor. All layers tasted created an excellent flavor profile. We also opted for the Brussels Sprout Chips ($5 HH, $6 dinner). Leaves of the sprouts are quickly fried and salted and served in a bowl. While these had good flavor, the chips were so thin that they were a bit of a challenge to eat. They were served with fresh lemon to squeeze over and a very small portion of garlic aioli that was divine. On a previous visit I really (and unexpectedly) enjoyed the Canary Potatoes ($5 HH, $6 dinner. On that first visit light yellow fingerling potatoes were cut lengthwise and roasted, then served cut side down on a bed of mojo picon sauce. The sauce was incredible then and remains to be, but this time the potatoes really distracted from the dish. Instead of the delicate fingerlings, round purple skin potatoes were used. This itself would not have been an issue if they had been prepared and presented similarly as they were in my first visit. But the purple potatoes were boiled, not roasted, and served whole with very little contact in the picon sauce. So a dish that was a 5+ on my first visit quickly became a generous 2 on this one. Should I decide to order this dish in the future I would certainly inquire about the kind of potato and the preparation. We rounded out our small plates with the Jamon Croquettes ($5 HH,$8 dinner). Six ample sized bites were served with a fabulous saffron aioli. They really know the sauce game in this kitchen. And the ham and cheese stuffed bite is breaded and deep fried and pretty darn tasty. Given the value of the Happy Hour plates we were easily tempted into ordering dessert of the regular menu. And the Vanilla Bean Flan ($6) was another easy choice. The flan was firm and packed with flavor. The caramel sauce glaze was perfect in taste and consistency and the accent cracker provide a welcome crunchy balance to the creamy dessert. You simply cannot go wrong with this one. Our server was very attentive (plates came out as they were ready and empty ones were immediately cleared). She also has a passion about the dishes and drinks that she was more than happy to share. I personally enjoyed learning a little bit more about the preparation and history of the dishes and may even request the same server in the future. The Happy Hour here is a great way to sample a few menu items and some great cocktails and will most likely entice you into coming back for a full meal!

    (4)

  • Anna C.

    Everything was wonderful from the food to the service. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu!

    (5)

  • Mimi S.

    Great food across the board , wine list is well put together a struggle for all restaurants is glassware vs ounces of wine first glass seemed pretty short on the pour , second a little better. Paella is great, good portions on the cheese board selections ,overall nice meal and good service.

    (4)

  • Marissa M.

    I want this review to be the written equivalent of dressing up in one of those insanely fancy matador costumes and waving around a red cape enticing people to come to Movida. Movida is just that good and just that Spanish. The environment of the restaurant is casual, classy, and intimate without being overly romantic. It's just as cool as the handlebar mustaches of men in some of the pictures around the place. The food was all great. In fact, some of the food might be better than actual food I ate in Spain. All the types paella was delicious (with the vegetable being my personal favorite). The drinks were delicious. Our favorite tapa had to be oyster tapa plate, which was spectacular. Added bonus was a 10% off check-in courtesy of Yelp and Movida. I don't need much encouragement to come back. This place is perfect from anything from a date to a girls' night to a fancy restaurant for your parents or co-workers. In short, ven aquí.

    (5)

  • MariCarmen R.

    Drinks are great... totally worth it !!! I ordered a paella and it was made with tuna. (That's not Spanish style) Portion was really small and pricey for size of that portion. I wouldn't care to pay more and get a regular size... I walked out hungry ;(

    (3)

  • Denise W.

    Beautiful restaurant. Fun food. We went with a group of 9 people and the service was very good. They have a nice wine list. We ordered 3 paellas, the seafood being my favorite. The mushroom croquettes were to die for. Definitely have a Gazpacho shot...loved it! The sliders were the only thing no one liked...they had an unusual taste to them. Other than that, I can't wait to come back and try some more dishes.

    (4)

  • Kelsey S.

    I typically try not to review a place after just one visit so I can try more of the menu first, but the joy of tapas is that you can sample a great deal all at once. And I'd love to call your attention to this lovely new place, so here we go. I recently dined here with some pals for a bachelorette party dinner. I recommended it because a couple of them had studied abroad in Madrid and others had traveled in Spain, so a Madrid-influenced restaurant made sense. That could have been risky had it not met expectations-- but everyone loved it. We sampled a variety of items - probably about 1/3 of the menu. Every item tasted fresh and flavorful, and our server was awesome at introducing and explaining the dishes. Personal favorites included the vegetable paella, croquettas, and the olive and pepper plate. But seriously, you can't go wrong here. The drink menu also features a good variety of house cocktails, wine, and beer. I think it's important to note when you have good service, and Movida's service was nothing short of excellent. Our server was attentive, friendly, and checked in with our group frequently enough for ordering plates in waves but without being imposing. One of the owners was also in that night and stopped by to introduce himself and ask about our experience, which we thought was nice. All in all, good stuff happening here at Movida - hoping to see them succeed in the Walker's Point neighborhood!

    (4)

  • Tony F.

    Ya know how you know when a tapas experience was five star? When you don't remember a damn thing about it, but you remember loving basically everything. I can't recommend one, single dish, but I'm dead positive that every single bite was really good. We were there with a big group of friends, and we ordered damn near half the menu. It was great, we all drank too much, and the bill was exorbitant. I remember that it was packed that night, and there was a bit of a lag in the service, but that's to be expected, so no biggie. Maybe the best tapas in the area, I dunno.

    (5)

  • Isaac S.

    I came here about a month ago and was thoroughly pleased. I shared several plates with my companion and we had the two types of sangrias. The waitress was very helpful and guided us to some highlight dishes. All of them were very good. Four stars for value. It was a little expensive, just a little, for what we received.

    (4)

  • Yuliya M.

    What a wonderful place!! I love the design of the restaurant and their very simple/layed back atmosphere. If you ever been to Spain, Movido definitly brings back the feeling of being there again, but now in Milwaukee. We ordered a bunch of tapas and were not disappointed with a single one. Everything was delicious and very flavorful!! We also got Spanish margarita and an old fashion. Both had some kick to them. If you love spicy, it's a must! So now that you are done reading this, go check it out for yourself :)

    (5)

  • Jason G.

    Outstanding! Spectacular! Love the food, the ambiance, the people! Must try! Well done, and thank you!

    (5)

  • Tanya M.

    I was so excited to see a Spanish tapas and cocktail bar would be coming to Milwaukee in Walkers Point this summer while walking down 2nd Street. And even more excited to attend a soft opening and try out the food and drinks in the redesigned space. Favorites of the night go to the Spanish Margarita and the Lomo Tosta. The Spanish Margarita is worth a visit to the bar with or without the food to accompany it. It has a slight kick with the ancho chile liqueur and is balanced out nicely with the rhubarb and lime mix. The Lomo Tosta also plays with balance by bringing together pork tenderloin, brie and apricot in a traditional Spanish tosta. We started with the Gazpacho, which is made with yellow tomato instead of the traditional red. I love gazpacho and liked this variation with a slightly sweeter and mild flavor to it. We tried several different tapas: the Croquettas and Meatballs - both were good, exactly what I would expect; and the Canari potatoes - a slightly different spin on patatas bravas with a much lighter sauce that still brought in the typical flavors. The Vegetable Paella packed in many flavors and was topped with several different veggies. The asparagus and potatoes were especially good with the saffron rice. Do make sure to allow extra time for the paellas, as they take a while to prepare. The arroz con leche dessert was just the right amount of sweet rice and cinnamon filled nostalgia of Spanish childhood, with a crisp brulee top layer, to conclude our meal. We enjoyed all of the plates we tried, but would probably opt out of the Stuffed Picquillo and maybe go for another cheese plate next time to try some that we missed this time. And pass on the white sangria, since it wasn't anything too special.

    (5)

  • Jessica O.

    Pro tip: Get the Wisco Old Fashioned. It is maybe my favorite cocktail EVER. The pairing of brandy and chili oil is brilliant. If you're not a big fan of sweet beverages, go with this one. Our super smart friend Ryan did all of the ordering, so I don't remember everything we got, but the bites were perfectly portioned and delicious. My only complaint is that the paella proportions are a little strange. You can either get a teeeeeeeeeeny tiny bowl for one, or a MASSIVE bowl for, like, 8 people. I would like a medium size. Because the paella is lovely, and I found that I wanted more...but it felt weird to order six tiny portions for our group. I'm not a big fan of charcuterie, but the manchego cheese and serrano ham made for very succulent bites. AND, if you like things on the spicy side, the shrimp has a great kick to it. Our server, Erin, was awesome - and when she saw how obsessed I was with the sauce on the shrimp, brought extra bread so that I could get every last little bit. Great place for a relaxed evening of delicious bites and wonderfully crafted cocktails. Looking forward to returning.

    (5)

  • Lisa F.

    The food was fabulous and our server was knowledgable. My favorite was the shrimp with garlic. The guitarist was extremely talented and brought a very Spanish flavor to our evening.

    (5)

  • Edward D.

    Went there this past weekend. Was worried that my three year old son wouldn't find something he would like. The server did a great job of helping pick plates that my son would enjoy as well. Very good service, even better food!

    (5)

  • Josh B.

    The vibe and decor is trendy and hip, with soft natural lighting that makes this an ideal intimate dining spot in the third ward for either dates, or small groups of friends. They emphasize tapas (small dish) style dining, and the menu is modest, but has enough variation where most people will be able to find something they'd be willing to try. Prices were reasonable, if a touch high, and between the two of us, we had ordered 4 shared plates and a desert, and were just at the right spot of satisfied without feeling full. Foodwise, it seems to be hit or miss... They did have a special where you can have a glass of wine, and three different styles of oysters for $6, which was too good to pass up, however some of the oysters were a bit rough on the shucking... a few crunchy ones... While each flavor was very different, the cucumber one was just bizarre, while the ginger one was SO GOOD! The cheese and cured meat plates were phenomenal, I would go back just for their chorizo, however the duck egg/potato dish was almost too inconvenient to eat without making a mess. The staff was very knowledgable, helpful, and friendly, however there were multiple times where items we had ordered had not come out, and when we asked the waitress, her response was "No one brought it out? I'll go check" It's not a huge place, but when we had ordered two of the wine/oyster appetizers, and you brought out two glasses and serving of said oysters... it's pretty easy to tell that we never got the rest when there's nothing else on the table and you've already come back twice. I understand simple mistakes happen, I've been there when I was a server, but over the course of dinner, it happened two more times, and we were almost served gazpacho that we didn't order. The food runner just set it down and walked away right after announcing what it was... I had to wait for him to walk by again to let him know we didn't actually order it (might have been his first day, he also dropped a few dishes when bumping into the bar near the kitchen) All in all, I'd be interested in coming back, now that I have an idea of where their strengths are. There's a good foundation for a great restaurant, once a few kinks are ironed out. The atmosphere and the dishes they do right are well worth taking a second shot.

    (3)

  • Joan W.

    We've been to Movida three times and they get more impressive every time we visit. We happened to arrive during Happy Hour the other day and couldn't resist the offerings. First of all, their sangria is the best I've ever had. My fellow diners stuck to the Spanish beer and they were equally pleased. We made our way through the selection of small sandwiches with chips, and they were all so good it was impossible to pick a favorite. The patatas bravas are not to be missed - so flavorful and satisfying. Croquetas? - delectable! Gazpacho shots? - heaven in a glass. The friendly staff were happy to help describe any of the dishes or ingredients that we weren't familiar with, and we can see why Dan, the bartender, is top-rated. Our only regret was that we were too full for dessert. Oh, well...next time!

    (5)

  • Danielle W.

    I came here for brunch with 3 friends that I studied with in Spain a few years back. The croquetas were described by my friend as "the croquetas I remember and love from Spain." The movida breakfast sandwich was an amazing mix of flavors and the side of potatoes were fantastic! It will definitely be on my radar for a dinner stop some time.

    (5)

  • Vueve D.

    I have visited Movida three times within the past two months, and each time has been better than the last. The atmosphere is excellent as well as the food and drinks. The service has always been of the highest quality as well. The first time I visited Movida was on a Thursday. My friend and I were pleasantly surprised to find they have a fantastic deal running alongside of their happy hour. $6 for three oysters and a glass of cava. The oysters were fresh and matched perfectly with the cava. We both tried the red sangria and various vegetarian appetizers which were all good. I was surprised with the amount of vegetarian appetizers they had. The red sangria has a hint of cinnamon which rounds off the drink quite well. My most recent visit to Movida was last night. We barely made happy hour, so we asked the server to bring us two appetizers from the menu of her choice. She brought us shrimp and chicken tapas with a side of homemade fries. Both were to die for! My cousin had the beer and pepper shot, which he said was excellent. Our friends ran a bit late for dinner, so the owner stopped by to introduce himself and give us a complementary tapa of mushroom croquettes. They were impeccable. One of the highlights of my dinner was the pork cheek. I have never had softer pork in my life. Definitely a must try when you visit. My family and I plan to round off our culinary tour of Movida tomorrow with brunch. I am excited to try the bloody mary they have 'only on Sundays' as it is made fresh in the morning. I hear it's a fusion between spanish gazpacho and a traditional bloody mary. Exciting!

    (5)

  • Jennifer R.

    For a great dining experience, there's just something about...MOVIDA! I have been twice, and both times were equally awesome. The first time was with a group of six seasoned foodies and Yelpers who tackled the menu with finesse. We all ordered one or two dishes each, and true to small plate form, passed them around to share and savor. As one Yelper said about the evening, I think we sampled 75 percent of the menu. The plates just kept coming, and we kept enjoying! My favorites from that evening included the paella (it takes a little bit longer to prepare, so if it's what you want, order it immediately). We also had meatballs, salt cod croquettes and shrimp. What was not immediately memorable to me about that evening was every dish we sampled. All were good. What I remember is the service...as again and again the server came out from the kitchen with MORE plates to enjoy. And as I didn't know the people in the group very well, comparing notes over the food we were sharing was a great way to bond! I returned more recently with a friend to try MOVIDA's happy hour menu, offered in the bar from 4-6 Monday-Thursday. There are 5-6 small plate offerings and sandwiches for $5, beer, wine, sangria and martini specials. We split four plates to make a meal: the brussel sprout chips with lemon aioli, yummy canary potatoes, and ham croquettes. The standout plate both of us raved over, however, were the Madrid chips. Thin crisps with an olive and Spanish-seasoned spread, topped with cheese and broiled until crisp. We devoured those things! Served with a side of bread, we drank, we ate, we laughed, and had a great meal!

    (4)

  • Cathy D.

    We ate here again on July 4th. Had a fantastic server. Always more than 1/2 the battle. The menu is always changing so you never get board. While I have had the eggplant before it had a new twist. The gazpacho was served in a shot glass and all our number one choices. The others very very delicious. The vegetable paella is always good but different all the time. Just hope when their new restaurant is open they don't lose their focus here.

    (5)

  • Tania E.

    I went to MOVIDA a couple weeks ago, but I had to sit down and write a review! We walked in and were immediately greeted and told we could pick any table we wanted. We chose this great table right by the window. The music was great and the decor was lovely. Our server was very welcoming. She was happy to offer suggestions, give us time to peruse, whatever we wanted. She took the time to speak to us about the restaurant, the owners; she had no problem giving us a little history. We were welcomed with a free yellow tomato gazpacho shooter. I loved it and could've had a whole bowl. We started our order with the Thursday special of 3 oysters and a glass of cava. I'm a HUGE oyster fan, so I was a happy camper. Add a glass of bubbly and how can you go wrong! I also had a glass of their white sangria, which I absolutely loved. Next we ordered the shrimp tapa, which was great. The sauce was wonderful to dip bread in, so good. Then we ordered another round of oysters...cause why not. Next up was jamon, which was this wonderful stack of ham and crispy bread. After that we had the MOVIDA paella (no we're not done yet!). Be forewarned, the portion is quite a bit smaller than expected but the flavor is huge. We also tried the pork belly, which again was wonderful. We followed that up with calamari, which we really weren't a fan of and barely touched. When the server returned we let her know we didn't care for the calamari and just wanted to order dessert (glutinous much? I know, I know). We ordered a rice pudding brûlée with blackberries. Ugh, so much yum!! Probably the best part is that before our dessert even made it to our table one of the owners dropped by. He wanted our honest feedback about the calamari. He was very receptive to hearing our opinions and told us that it was taken off our bill and the dessert was on the house. Talk about great customer service!! We paid our bill and were chatting with our wonderful server. We asked her about a shot we had seen a few people at the bar taking. It was a spiced Spanish whiskey. She asked if we wanted to try it and we all gave a resounding yes! Next thing we know we're taking a shot with our server and two of the owners. We even took a group pic! All in all it was a great experience. Ambiance, great service, wonderful food, MOVIDA has it all!

    (5)

  • Christina C.

    This is a Milwaukee gem. Industrial style interior is rustic, just like the layers of flavor in the tapas here. The grilled octopus was fantastically tender. The suckling pig empanadillas were also flavorful and savory. Can't wait to go back and would recommend to anyone who enjoys good Spanish cuisine.

    (5)

  • Jamie P.

    Went here for brunch so I'll have to come for dinner and rate again. The food was so amazingly flavorful. The portion sizes were fairly large for the prices. They had at least 5 menu items that were listed as gluten free and they also had vegetarian options. Super awesome atmosphere and great drink options. Don't be afraid to try something new because everything we had was superb. Will sure be here again for brunch and can't wait to come here for dinner! Side note: anodyne coffee was super cheap for unlimited refills!

    (5)

  • Megan C.

    Not one for tapas , this will be the place to change your mind ! The decor is beautiful and the music makes you feel like you are on vacation in Spain . The staff was super friendly and attentive . They have a menu for each month . They also do a seasonal drink menu . If you like gin, you'll love this place . I ordered a cocktail called something borrowed something blue . It smelled like a candle and tasted even better , it mixed gin with blueberry lavender syrup and other heavenly flavors . All the speciality cocktails are reasonable ranging from $9 and up . It is all tapas and depending on how hungry you are 3-5 should be more then enough for two . They have plenty of options for both meat and veggie lovers . My favorite thing we ordered was the mushroom croquets ! They were so flavorful and seasoned just the rite amount . All the food came out fast and the only thing you have to wait for is their paella, which takes about 40 min to make . I also suggest anything with the pickled arugula , which literally tastes like they injected it and infused it with bursting flavors . I could eat a whole bowl of it !

    (5)

  • Paress H.

    LADIES- Wednesday night you get a FREE glass of wine with your meal. LOVE that. I mean, I was going to order a glass anyway, but that free wine just sounds and tastes so much nicer. We ordered the mushroom croquette which was the perfect amount of richness, the pork loin with brie cheese and pickled apricot was probably my least favorite of our 3 dishes, but it was still tasty. I guess I didn't read close enough that the dish was going to be served on crostinis. My favorite by far was the paella. We got the paella with chorizo, scallops, goat cheese and peppers. I could eat that dish multiple times a week and am going to work very, very hard at attempting to recreate it at home. So good! Our server Jennifer was adorable, efficient and so sweet. I didn't realize that Movida was the old Industry until we walked in. The atmosphere looks very similar. There are black and white photos of different artists like Dali which is cool. The atmosphere is a bit bland, but the tableware is nice and cozy and I like their stunted wine glasses, almost like little glass bowls. Oh, and the wine was tasty! There was a small issue with a mis-ring in our bill, but Jennifer took care of it right away and a manager came out to make sure everything was okay as well. When we checked in on Yelp, we were offered a 10% off our check coupon which our server did not know about, and I don't believe the full 10% was taken off. My only advice would be to educate the staff about this awesome incentive to check in on Yelp and to adhere to it. Other than that, everything was awesome. I will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • James M.

    Met with a group of 6 for a birthday celebration. We made reservations online, and received a call the day of to confirm. When we arrived, we were seated in the private area above the bar, perfect for a small gathering. The service was excellent, and we followed our server's recommendations. The house-made sangria's were excellent, I would definitely recommend them to anyone. We shared a wide array of tapas as well as the signature paella for the main course. The only complaint would be that it did get very warm in the private dining area, which I am assuming is because it is above the bar and much closer to the ceiling. Overall, a great experience. We will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Jen W.

    Love the space. The wood, the big window, the witty quotes above the bar. Super cozy. But for me the food failed to live up to the hype. The cauliflower soup was delicious; creamy without being overly heavy, but yet a little flat and in need of some kind of spice. Oddly though, my soup came out at a normal temperature while my nephew's was so hot he couldn't eat it for quite some time. The eggplant was soggy, as if it needed more time with salt to draw the water out and the honey was completely lost with the fried coating. I also had some other toast that was so unremarkable I cannot remember it now, though I recall thinking it was soggy and just okay. Service was friendly but scattered with some of us getting 3 dishes at once and others sitting with nothing. I understand that the dishes come out as they are ready, but it seems like they should consider the table when deciding the order of which to prepare things. On the plus side, the servings were more than generous and with 3 plates I left fully stuffed. I can't wait to go back for the flamenco on Tuesday nights.

    (3)

  • Doreen E.

    Such a gem of a restaurant, tucked in between a few older buildings. You'd never know it was here, unless you were looking for it. But you should seek it out. The food is fabulous. Do not miss the vegetable soup; it's $7 and worth every drop. I also loved the pork cheek. Small, but rich. Every bite was delicious. The six of us shared a seafood paella. I thought it was well-flavored and perfectly seasoned. The seafood was cooked just right. There is lots of opportunity for bar-type seating both down and upstairs. Make a reservation if you can. They'll take good care of you.

    (5)

  • Suzy W.

    Lovely, lovely restaurant. The décor, the staff, the food, the wine, all excellent. An interesting and tasty selection of tapas, all of a size to more than easily share. I especially loved the tender octopus with fingerlings and this spice sauce called mojo picon and the gazpacho shots. yumm.

    (5)

  • Anya K.

    Fantastic little Spanish Tapas place with a great drink selection. Nice variety of tapas all packed with great flavor. Meatballs and croquetas were some of your favorites. They have great twists of traditional drinks too. The old fashioned and margarita had a nice spicy kick to them, both are something ladies and gentleman could enjoy. The seasonal mojito stood out as the sweet and deliciously fruity drink. The service was absolutely fantastic. The place has a nice atmosphere that made us feel like we're in Madrid again. Strongly suggest checking this place out. You could meet the most interesting man's son while you're here too.

    (5)

  • Elijah J.

    Movida has a wonderful environment & our server, Jennifer, was very knowledgable about the menu & made terrific suggestions. We began with one of the best cheese plates in Milwaukee followed by the frog legs with escargot, the chalimari sandwich, the broken egg, & the gaspacho. Our old fashion, Madrid mule, & mojito were all very refreshing. We will most certainly be back.

    (5)

  • Elissa B.

    Movida, you are so damn lovely. We had a rather large group for brunch on Sunday, and they were really sweetly accommodating. The big table on the upper level was perfect! It's a little balcony within the restaurant with a giant table to comfortably seat about 14, but you could cram a couple more people in there if you had to. A note: There is also a bar with seating around the perimeter of the upper level, but every seat filled would leave very little room for moving and visiting with each other. It's a pretty space, and is quite private. The staff introduced themselves, letting us know that they would be happy to help anyway we needed. It was just so nice to be welcomed in like that. Our server (Crystal? I think. She's super pretty) was attentive and patient and helpful and just the best. I always feel guilty when I inconvenience someone or cause a ruckus, but the Movida staff made us feel right at home. But let's discuss my favorite part of every day: the food. I had a mimosa to start, which had that extra something to make it more than your average champagne with OJ tossed on top. My one little tiny complaint is that the drinks were quite small, while the prices were quite large. But that's fancy brunch prices, you know. I ordered the Movida Tortilla Espanola, the Spanish omelette with chorizo, potatoes, fun cheese, and garlic aioli. It's served as a little round cake-let with fruit and spinach. I ate it too fast out of excitement, then was seized by disappointment at its disappearance (story of my life though). The fruit side was just as happy, without the bullshit melon filler that most places use. From what I could tell, the rest of the party was thoroughly pleased with their choices. I look forward to getting Boyfriend to come here with me, and I won't even care if he also adores Crystal (gosh, I hope that's right) because she really is the prettiest thing.

    (5)

  • Mauricio M.

    I regret not having left this review last year when we were there and the place had just opened. They have some of the best tapas I've ever had, and delicious, creative drinks. The vibe of the place was fantastic, from the music through the decor to the presentation. My only complaint is that it's not in Madison!

    (5)

  • Stephen D.

    Good food Good service Small plates Still a little hungry But I'm fat So that's probably good Would come back

    (4)

  • Kristina K.

    Absolutely delicious food, intimate dining environment, lovely service, and outstanding cocktails. I cannot get enough of Movida and the amazing small plates offered. Thus far the favorites are jamon, manchego, croquettas, huevos rotos, and short rib tosta. Que Delicioso! Trust me, this is a fabulous addition to the Milwaukee dining scene.

    (5)

  • Peter G.

    The value is just not there, the cost per dish is way too high for the type of product you are getting served. The paella had no crunch on the bottom (which is the whole point of paella and the only reason this place is declaring its self as "Spanish"), dishes were simple and overall lacking flavor. The topper to the debacle has to be the fact that this group does not know how to pour a proper drink, they serve sniffs!!! You are much better off going to a Tapas joint like La Merenda (which is close by) or Wolf Peach or Odd Duck to name a few......

    (2)

  • Margaret R.

    My new favorite restaurant in Milwaukee! Stellar service, delicious drinks and food to die for! 10% off for Yelpers? Yes, please. Made a reservation for 4 of us, were seated right away. Ambiance and decor is trendy and warm and cozy. The staff and our server were attentive and just effing fantastic. They didn't hover but they were at the table regularly and made some great recommendations. They even made me a new drink since I didn't like it. Drinks - we tried some of the craft cocktails and they were all great. I mentioned that I didn't like mine, but that's because I didn't personally care for the chili syrup in the Old Fashioned. It gave it a wonderful, complex dimension but I'm not one for heat. Our favorite was the Hidden Charm. I also liked the red sangria with its lovely cinnamon stick. Food - we were sent to heaven. The Lomo (pork tenderloin) set the bar as our favorite. We raved about it the rest of our meal. Our next favorite were the mushroom crostatas. We ordered a second plate of them with their luscious creamy interior set with a crunchy panko exterior. More, please. We en joyed the Mahon cheese plate with its yummy preserves, the chorizo plate which surprised everyone with its non-greasiness, the delectable and rich cauliflower soup, the shredded pork belly, the canari potatoes (I personally wasn't impressed with these, I mean, they're potatoes, but the rest of the table were), the Broken Yolk (ok, these potatoes were impressive) and almost all of the desserts. The vanilla bean flan was deemed the table's favorite and we liked the rice pudding creme brûlée although I have to admit the texture was hard to get used to. The spice cake was moist and flavorful but I have a sweet tooth so this didn't fit the bill. It was drizzled with Greek yogurt so this would better suit someone looking for a modest dessert that isn't so sweet. Verdict? We. Will. Be. Back.

    (5)

  • Theresa F.

    Unbelievably good food! We are from Chicago and have tried just about every local tapas joint we've come across. We have YET to experience tapas like this. The ham croquettes - OMG!! The seafood paella - WHOA!! Cocktails also very very good. You can tell everything here was made with good ol fashion TLC - something of which we're not used to in Chicago.... Our server was Dulce and she was great! This will definitely be our go-to anytime we visit MKE.

    (5)

  • Brent V.

    I walked into this place knowing spainards cook up some mean food I mean, what the heck is paella? I'm still not sure what was in it but daaaaamn. Go and get your self a red wine and lots of meats

    (5)

  • Gregory S.

    Service was good. Food was very good except for the empanadillas which were quite doughy rather than a nice pastry crust. The paella was extremely good. The only reason I did not give a 5 to this was the doughiness noted and the very poor wine glasses. They were bowls and not stemmed and very difficult to poor into and drink from. Otherwise, this was a 5.

    (4)

  • Melissa C.

    My husband and I recently spent our honeymoon vacation in Spain and the food at Movida took us right back! The selection is perfect, even down to the Pan con Tomate! Lots of restaurants claim to serve tapas but Movida serves the most authentic tapas in the city. Love the sangria, ambience, and service too. Movida is a great addition to the Milwaukee restaurant scene!

    (5)

  • Tyan S.

    Love this place!! Great welcoming decor and vibe. I Jane been twice and had a great experience both times. The first time I was in a group of 4 and sat at a table. We had the seafood paella - seafood cooked PERFECTLY!!, jamon croquetas, yellow tomato tosta, assortment of cheeses and meats, padron peppers (personal favorite and just like in Spain), & calamares. Everything was perfectly cooked and the wine and cocktails were fantastic. Our server was knowledgeable and the owner/chef came to check on us which was a nice personal touch. Last night, we sat at the bar - party of 3. I love sitting at the bar. The bar was very tall so I felt very short and that the bar was practically at my chin - perhaps even taller chairs? but no big deal. Our bartender was fantastic! I don't remember his name (sorry!) but in culinary and hospitality school. Very charming, attentive and knowledgeable. Entertaining but not overwhelming. He read us well that we liked some interaction, but not too much. We had the croquetas again..yum..., oysters with cava! 3 oysters each uniquely garnished with a glass of cava for $6? Awesome! canary potatoes, Spanish version of nachos & several different cocktails and Spanish brandies & vermouths. Loved the attention to detail and authenticity of this place! I'll be back!!

    (5)

  • Joanna T.

    I hit up Movida with 5 other ladies which meant we were able to try about 75% of their menu. Does Milwaukee FINALLY have a good, traditional Spanish tapas place? Read on... Tried: *Arugula salad - I mean, it was a salad. Good. *Manchego cheese slate. For $5 they give you a TON of cheese, unlike most places. *Mahon cheese slate. Again, a lot of cheese (not complaining) and it was served with a delicious black tea jam. *Sobrasada, aka chorizo spread. It was served with the cutest little breadsticks & wasn't greasy at all. Loved. *Jamon Serrano - again a very generous serving and the tomato bread it was served with was great. You can tell they used really good, fresh tomatoes. *Lomo Tosta - basically pork loin, brie and jam on bread. Absolutely delicious - great flavors and the meat was tender. *Pork Belly Pepito - another "meat on toast" choice. I really liked that the pork belly here was shredded and wasn't overly fatty. *Movida paella - pretty good, but maybe a little overcooked. Neither of the paellas we tried had the "crust" on the pan but both were tasty. *Seafood paella - the better of the two with lots of seafood stock flavor *Canari potatoes - I didn't think fingerling potatoes could taste this good! A spicy, flavorful sauce surprised us all and it ended up being one of the favorite dishes *Shrimp - sautéed in a garlicky oil sauce, the shrimp were tender and not overcooked *Salt cod fritters - I don't personally "love" cod but I actually really liked these. Kind of like a compact fish fry. *Meatballs - served with romesco sauce. I'm used to them being in a crock of sorts but these were tasty all the same, not rubbery at all. *Broken Egg - basically homemade potato chips with a fried egg & chorizo on top. Again, something that was simple but surprisingly good. Loved. *Mushroom croquetas (special) - have to confess that I didn't try them but others raved about the flavors *Tartare (special) - beef tartare on a parmesan crisp with a little quail egg. I'm not afraid to go raw & really liked this bite. Now I know you're like daaaaammmmmnnn girls, ya'll ate a ton of food! They're SMALL plates, ok? Don't be judging us - because of course we got dessert too! (In the interest of writing a comprehensive review, of course. It's all about you, Dear Readers) *Spice cake with sour cream - again a surprise! A fairly standard spice cake turns into a totally different flavor when you drizzle some sour cream on it. Who knew? *Flan - caramely & delicious! *Bruleed rice pudding - I love rice pudding and I love crème brulee so imagine my delight at a dish that combines two of my favorite things. Overall, of all of the dishes I samples (and it was a lot of things, not even going to lie) I truly did at least "like" everything and there were several things I absolutely loved including the potatoes, broken egg, lomo tosta and the tartare. I was quite impressed with the overall flavors and textures - the tapas are traditional for the most part but Movida has definitely added their own stamp on them. Since they are new, I can only imagine the food will continue to get even better which is really exciting (because it's pretty great now). Also because they are new, there's a few rough edges but nothing that's a deal breaker. I'm not a big fan of the "kitchen-ish" area in the dining room. It looks a little tacky. Service started out a little rough (there were 1-2 things that we ordered that never made it to the table including brussel sprout chips. Not that we needed them) but ended up being just fine. Our server was really nice, on top of filling drinks and checking in with us. I was also really impressed at how well the kitchen timed our plates. We never had a shortage of things to try but we weren't overwhelmed with plates all at once. Prices for tapas are fairly reasonable - you might get a little more bang for your buck at La Merenda but Movida is definitely going in a different direction from them food wise. My share of the LONG list of food above... $40 (plus a few extra bux 'cause I had a glass of wine) which included tax/tip/ Quite reasonable in my book. Anyway, super impressed at the food Movida's putting out! Sorry for the long review but...now you know...and knowing's half the battle.

    (5)

  • Cory P.

    Garlic soup was perfect. Octopus was the best I've had--tender, smokey, yum. Pork cheek was also amazing. Desserts were solid.

    (5)

  • Owen W.

    Everything was delicious, and when we left we were crafting a mental list of dishes we had to get next time.

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    Beautiful little restaurant, warm and cozy. Modern Spanish flair w/ unique sangrias. Party of four and we enjoyed every dish we tried especially the octopus and scallops. We had 8 small plates and 2 paella dishes to share. The small plates were portions of 3 so for that reason I am only giving them 4 stars otherwise I would give them 5. Service was good and we did not have to ask for anything.

    (4)

  • Corey C.

    We came in on the spur of the moment, and were amazed to find such authentic tapas. Their riff on a hot toddy, The Early Hunt, hit the spot after being out in the cold. We loved the Brussels Sprout chips. The portion size on the stellar manchego cheese was huge. The ham croquettes were delicious and smooth. Like most Tapas restaurants, expect to pay $8-12 for each small plate, and each is a taste treat not a meal. The tapas and drinks here are more focused on authentic Spanish cuisine. All in all, every dish we picked was excellent. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Trish P.

    I love the slightly quirky, but classy vibe of Movida. The service was fantastic & very attentive. We ordered several tapas. The jamon iberico was amazing! I haven't had this level of quality jamon since spending time in Spain!! The tortilla & cheeses were tasty as well. Looking forward to my next visit & trying more menu items!

    (4)

  • Luke T.

    Amazing Spot. Has been open almost a year now and they are killing it!! Great food, music, and Vibe. One of the owners was there and came to our table and was very nice. It's always refreshing to see that. I don't live in the area but when I'm back in Milwaukee I'm comin back!

    (5)

  • Yan H.

    Haha I've tried to come here on 3 separate occasions for dinner before I succeeded. Closed on monday, private event, and just too long of a wait... but I finally made it happen! I don't think I've ever disliked any spanish tapas, so instead being pointless and saying everything=good, I'll highlight what I really really liked. The gazpacho was very distinct and surprising. It had a great bright fresh flavor, enough to change my view of gazpacho as a dish overall. The pork belly tosta was excellent... I know not everyone loves the richness of pig belly... but the char cooked onto it, and the balance of sweetness from the fig and cider braise makes it something very special. Finally the paella... they are in smaller portions, which is a great idea. In case if I ever accidentally dine with someone that hates it (gasp), I can just happily eat it by myself.

    (4)

  • Erin U.

    Movida just didn't deliver for me. For what we paid I wasn't impressed. The atmosphere was the best part of the experience. It is spacious with exposed brick and sexy lighting. They have good craft cocktails - I recommend their Wisco Old Fashioned or their red sangria. As for food, our large group ordered one of everything on the menu which is my favorite thing to do at a new restaurant. The tablas were good - definitely the lomo and manchego. Don't waste your money on the $45 Jamon Iberico de Bellota. It was unbelievably underwhelming and overpriced. The tostas were great, especially the pork belly. The paella was meh. The tapas were good but not that memorable. We enjoyed the croquetas and the patatas. The service was OK. It took an uncomfortable amount of time to get our drinks made. I thought they did a poor job telling us what food they were bringing out and an even worse job timing the food. There were times where they brought so much food to the table we didn't have room, and other times where we were waiting and waiting for the next course to come. I think I would have liked Movida more if I was able to take the time to enjoy the food. Instead we all felt rushed to make room. I'll try to make it back in a few months with hopes that they have things ironed out by then.

    (3)

  • Kristen D.

    Great evening at Movida tonight! Went in with a group of 6 for some bonding time. Lucky for the 3 ladies it was Women Wine Wednesday- first glass of wine is free! They only offer it for 1 varietal of red and 1 white, but I was pleasantly surprised at how great the red was!! More importantly the food: So we shared a couple orders of the Lomo tosta- its a must! After all of the dishes we had, we said we'd for sure have at least 2 more of them! We also had the Short rib tosta- came with a nice touch of pomegranate seeds for crunch and acidity- beautiful job! We had the octopus, which was good yet measly for the $11. It was more potato than octopus- I'd like to see more meat next time! We also shared some manchego and serrano- both delicious and came with great crusty breads and accoutrements. The paella movida was a nice bite, but I don't think I'd order it again- the tostas were definitely where its at!! The ambience and décor were warm, welcoming, and very European- loved it! The service was great and timely as well! Highly recommend! Would like to see a bit more value for the $, but definitely not a wallet buster compared to some other places around!

    (4)

  • Ravi N.

    awesome paella...amazing flavor of saffaron!!

    (4)

  • A C.

    The decor is great. But you know when a review starts with "great decor" that it's not a great sign. We ordered the movida paella (squid, shrimp, goat cheese, spinach) as it does take 35 minutes. Then we ordered the sheep cheese, tartar, braised short ribs, coquette and the canary potatoes. In addition I ordered a martini dry 2 olives, and my dining companion the red sangria. The first thing we got was the potato canary - which was a little underdone for my taste. It had snap to it but too much snap as if you had a college room mate who 1/2 boiled water in a microwave and left potatoes in the salted water for 30 minutes without getting the water boiling. The sauce was nice but the overall plate was underwhelming. A lot underwhelming like a Russian winter and this was the only food the Gulag provided. Nothing about it screamed new age Spanish cuisine. Next was the tartar which was great. Loved it. No complaints just all around very nice. Then the paella which was good, but I ordered it with the crusted rice and got none. It was very small, like a small plate but for $15. It was good but not the best I've ever had, I would call it average, I think I can make better at home. Then the coquette good crispy and deep fried, the filing was boring, not bad just not special as it was said to be. The braised short ribs had a dollop of blue cheese and caramelized onions with the beef shredded on top. The blue cheese overwhelmed the dish and I wanted the toasted point to be toasted but it was soft and had gotten sort of soggy. The beef which was the star of the show called in an understudy that was posing as rib meat. It was stringy and sort of bland. Great presentation with arugula and pomegranate but these added nothing to contribute to the dish. I kept waiting for it to pull the whole dish together and it didn't. After asking about 4 times for the cheese. Mind you the cheese was the first thing ordered as in before beverages first thing. We got it last which defeated the purpose of having it paired with our other choices. It was delicious cheese but took the sheep less time to be milked than to get it to our table. There are other Tapas places in Milwaukee like La Meranda which I find more interesting and varietal. I would recomend La Meranda before I would Movida.

    (3)

  • Amanda N.

    The food was amazing and our waitress was great. We were looking for things to do around Milwaukee and she wrote us a whole list! Great food, atmosphere, and staff!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth A.

    We stopped in last night without a reservation, just wanting a drink and something light to eat. The downstairs dining area and bar were jam-packed, but we were seated right away upstairs. Only one other couple was up there, so it was a nice little area away from the crowd. I had their seasonal gin & tonic, and my husband ordered the tequila mockingbird on our server's recommendation. Both drinks were excellent! I don't normally drink gin & tonics because to me they're meh, but if they were all like Movida's version, that's all I'd drink! My husband ordered the scallops, I ordered the ensalada, and then we shared the mini burgers. The scallops and ensalada were good, but the burgers were our favorite. Not sure what spices they used...thought we tasted cinnamon maybe? However they flavored them, it worked, because they were delicious! We'll definitely be back to try more.

    (4)

  • Chris M.

    Had a great Mother's day brunch. Staff were very friendly and the food was great . We will return!

    (4)

  • Lisa S.

    Our first time at this restaurant:) We have been to Spain and thought let's try Movida. It brought us back to our summer in Espana. Superior food and service. Our wait staff was knowledgeable and guided us through the tapas menu so that we could get a wide sampling of items and still have room for the Paella! Which was top knotch and as authentic as you are going to get in the states. They will make it to your specifics if there are dietary concerns or allergies to shell fish etc. Make sure you have the sangria. Excellent on the wine list as well. If you haven't been to Movida, check out their web site as we will be back on Tuesdays for Flamenco and Thursdays for their Cava and oyster special (6 bucks).

    (5)

  • Petey G.

    We stopped for drinks and tapas tonight and it was a perfect way to start our evening. The sangria is my favorite in the city, absolutely delicious. We had a cheese platter, grilled shrimp, and a delicious anchovy appetizer that was so good! The bartender Mike, took great care of us, and to tell you the truth, we were sad to leave when it came time to move on.

    (5)

  • Seeks G.

    Three friends and I enjoyed our first visit to Movida. What a great experience. Our server, Molly, was fantastic - she offered great suggestions about the menu, kept the dishes flowing at a steady pace - - yet not rushed - - and truly made us feel welcome. In fact, everyone staff person helped - various folks delivered the food, another server even answered a couple questions when Molly was busy and more. The food was first rate. Everything we ordered was attractively presented, freshly made and delicious. The smaller portions allowed us to sample a greater variety of dishes. And the desserts were a perfect culmination to a taste ymeal. My only (and small) criticism was that it was very dark in the restaurant. Yes, one wants to set a mood but it was impossible to read the menu without the cell phone assist light. And i noted that more than one other diner had to do the same thing. Clearly one does not want it noon time bright but a bit more illumination would be helpful. We wil definitely return.

    (5)

  • Marie D.

    We enjoyed our dinner at this new restaurant in Walker's Point. We had wine instead of cocktails, so I can't comment there. The menu is fairly diverse. The cheese & meat selections we ordered were really tasty. The seafood paella was good (although not out-of-this-world). They are definitely new & still working out some of their kinks, but I was impressed how smooth they were on a busy Saturday night. The space has a good feeling to it, as well - cream city brick, dark but lots of candle light. A few areas I'd love to see them improve: our service could have been more attentive (we had to ask for more water for the table twice). Also, I clearly stated I needed to eat gluten free - they offered 3 items on the menu that I could order gluten free, which was a bit of a disappointment (especially for a big tapas menu). I think this is because a lot of the items did come served on a slice of bread. I hope they will think outside of the box a bit on that side of things --- in many cases, I would bet that separating the bread would lead to a 100% gluten free dish. Then, my dining partner could load his own bread with the tasty toppings and I could enjoy them with a fork. I know Movida doesn't claim to specialize in gluten free so this is definitely not a knock against them, just a suggestion.

    (3)

  • Betsy R.

    As my husband said numerous times at dinner, "I could eat myself to death on this!" It's true- everything we had here was amazing, but that wasn't all. The atmosphere on a Thursday night was great- busy, foodie, good looking and fun. To start with the drinks, the sangria was absolutely amazing. We ordered our paella right away (it takes about 30 minutes to prepare). I recommend the garlic shrimp tapa, the tartare and my ultimate favorite was the short rib tosta- wow! The movida paella was to die for- a must-try for all, you may want to get extra it's so good. To finish we had the chocolate covered figs which completed a wonderful meal so perfectly. The whole staff was so friendly and accommodating- I wish I could eat here daily!!

    (5)

  • Scott F.

    Had a wonderful dinner last night. Started off with a great Mojito for my wife and Center Waters Hop Rise for myself. Quality drinks at reasonably prices. Our cheese plate selection of two Spanish cheeses (Manchego & Mahon) hit the spot. Very generous serving size which is great to see after a few experiences elsewhere of micro slices! We then shares the garlic shrimp small plate and Huevos Rotos. Both were served when ready, very fresh and the right portion size. Would have them again. Best of all, the service was flawless. Water was always filled, plates timely cleared and especially exciting for us, our waitress, Ashley, has served us at several other great restaurants, so we knew we would professionally taken care of. She has always done a great job of explaining the food & prep. We will be back, likely with a large group.

    (4)

  • Angela S.

    We had the fried olives, potato brava, lomo, and manchego sandwiches. The chips that came with the sandwiches were really good, also liked the potatoes minus the red sauce. Nothing else overly wowed us.

    (3)

  • Jim S.

    Must Have Ordered the Wrong Things - Very, very Dinky Portions I was really looking forward to trying Movida after reading all the great reviews here. I have been to many so-called small plates and tapas restaurants and I get the concept, but I really think they need to re-look at the model -- these tiny, tiny portions for the price is not sustainable, in my view. Here were the headlines: great Sangria, but with a cup full of ice, there were about 3 sips -- not worth it. Their version of pizza was three very small slices of french bread with blah toppings. And then came the paella -- I get that this is a small plates restaurant, but for $15, I expected more -- the very tiny serving left me wanting more, but the bill did not reflect this. There were about three shreds of chicken is all. I suspect their food cost is under a dollar on this dish. Sorry, gang, I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Mary L.

    The food has such wonderful flavors, the service is excellent, the atmosphere fun, and it is a great place to spend time with friends.

    (5)

  • Neven Z.

    I can't get enough of this place the food the drinks are amazing and I feel like I'm home and the people that work there they do an amazing job. When you walk inside I feel like I'm somewhere else and the music is fantastic keep up the good work movida!!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Mary D.

    We were excited to try Movida and its tapas menu, so we were disappointed that there was a fixed menu for Valentines Day. Either way, we were game for some exciting food. The star of the menu was the scallop with a lemon beurre blanc sauce and a Serrano ham chip. It was a perfect balance of textures and flavors. Sadly, things went downhill from there. Our server was constantly around, trying to pour wine or take dishes when we weren't finished. The pork cheeks were cold, the tomato confit needed salt, the quail was overdone, and I couldn't find the paella that was supposed to be stuffed inside. Another small detail that was a little annoying was our wine glasses....stemless (not a big deal), but only about 3"tall. Bizarre. Sadly, I don't think we will be back to try their Spanish tapas menu, if that's what they really have. There was no Spanish flavor in food or decor at all here. Movida needs to define their brand.

    (2)

  • TJ S.

    Had a great dinner experience last night. It took a while to get ball rolling after we were seated. But as soon as our order was in they kept the Tapas coming one after another without making us feel rushed. The staff was friendly and helpful and the food delicious.

    (5)

  • Chelsea G.

    Get the red sangria! With orange slices and cinnamon sticks, it is delicious. As far as the food goes, it's good-especially the mushroom coquettes.

    (4)

  • M D.

    High hopes but drinks were ok, self absorbed bartender. Will give this place another shot and get table service and update my review. For now, 3 stars is adequate based on the one experience.

    (3)

  • Adam G.

    Arguably the top date-night destination in Milwaukee. A departure from a lot of the food scene in Milwaukee which seems to value portions over quality. Atmosphere is a mix of romantic and fun. Excellent wine list--rare and underrated Spanish wines (including a couple great RIojas) that you can get into without busting your wallet. Food reqs: boquerones (when they have them)... olive oil marinated anchovies, that I almost don't want to call 'anchovies' because this is so far above the standard of what that usually means to us. Melt in your mouth. Not too salty at all. shrimp tapa... wonderfully cooked shrimp, hits perfectly with the sauce, bread, and spanish peppers. subtle heat, creaminess. mushroom croquetta... could eat myself to death on them. Get yourself a seat at the bar when Aaron or Tomack are bartending... pretty much guarantees you a fun night.

    (5)

  • Ronnie E.

    Having enjoyed our trip to Spain, we were super excited to try Movida. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful - very hip and modern. But the food was overall very disappointing. The cauliflower soup was over-salted and not consumable. The eggplants were over-fried and drowning in oil, reminiscent of something you would buy in the frozen section of a grocery store. The sliders had meat that was chewy and lacked any seasoning. On the bright side, the sangria drinks were delicious; however, very expensive for the tiny cup it came in. In the end, I won't be going back and instead trying La Meranda, which has consistently gotten fantastic reviews.

    (2)

  • Danielle R.

    Overall I was pretty impressed with this place. I loved the atmosphere and how welcoming it was. We ordered a variety of small plates and they ranged from very good, I would order a second if I had more room, to decent try but missed the mark. I found that the simpler plates were the better ones. The service was top notch and she explained everything in detail and was attentive. There were only couple of negative parts. That inluded being placed on a shared table next to a door that was often open letting in cold air when there were other open tables elsewhere in the restaurant. And the busser often set dishes and other items on our table very close to us as if we were not there. This wasn't so awful as it was awkward. All in all though, a solid place that deserves a second visit.

    (4)

  • Matt M.

    By far the closest thing to actually being in Spain here in Milwaukee. Excellent food, check. Excellent service, check. Going back? Absolutely. You however should not go so that there are more openings for reservations for me.

    (5)

  • Emiliano J.

    Un poco de España en Mke. Muy buena comida y tragos. El lugar es moderno y las fotos en las paredes son interesantes. Mucha Suerte!

    (4)

  • M S.

    This place is phenomenal! Everything we tried was delicious. The mushroom croquettes were melt-in-your-mouth-amazing, and the paella was great. We also really enjoyed the manchego and the chorizo (real spanish chorizo!! hard to find anywhere in milwaukee) - and really good sized portions for the price. The ambiance was warm and inviting and we came on a Tuesday when Evan Christian was playing live flamenco - VERY COOL! We will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Mark S.

    Had a WONDERFUL dinner for four on 11/15. Atmosphere was cozy & perfect for conversation. Sangria was very good but be sure to try the Spanish Gin & Tonic! Dinner was well-paced and our server was very helpful with information on the menu and recommendations. We ordered and then ordered twice more. Food was very good and value was excellent. Even though we were full, we had the flan for dessert (on recommendation) and it was EXCEPTIONAL. Aaron & Andre (proprietors) stopped by our table to check on us. Great drinks, food & service. I look forward to our next visit.

    (5)

  • Maya G.

    I am always disappointed by overhyped new restaurants. Made a reservation for 8:30, we got there at 8:00 and had drinks at the bar. I can tell the drinks were good but not our taste. The pisco sour was the only drink that I knew I would like on the drink menu but it came out too frothy. We could see that there were open tables while we were at the bar. Around 8:40 my husband got up and asked the hostess why we weren't seated yet- she had forgotten about us.. Finally we were seated and our chairs were backless. I get that they are going for a quirky authentic vibe but come on, it's the weekend we wanna sit on comfortable chairs when we go out to eat. The food was good, but we've definitely had better tapas for cheaper. The paella was excellent, but too small. We would not go back because there are better tapas places in the area for cheaper.

    (3)

  • Norman B.

    Great breakfast. Cheese and fruit tray was amazing. Benedict with pork was great too

    (5)

  • Crystal F.

    Last night, a group of friends and I had a wonderful experience at this new tapas restaurant in Walker's Point. After only being open to the public for two days, everything was impressively put together. The interior is softly lit with cream city brick walls and a woody feel. I loved the way the bartenders were dressed and the deep colors of the wood finish. This is the perfect atmosphere for any date or get together with friends. Upstairs they have a large table to sit with strangers and socialize, which is perfect for me because I go out to eat alone all the time. The drink list was well crafted and interesting, I had the spanish margarita and it was a bit spicy, how I like it. To eat we ordered numerous things. The croquetta, which were deep fried balls of soft cheesy-goodness, and Lomo Tosta, pork tenderloin well seasoned on bread with apricot sauce...these two were my favorite. The Broken Egg is something I would get again. My friends tried the salt cod and said it was the best. The desserts were a awesome way to end the dinner. We tried all three and they were everything I would want them to be. Will definetly be returning soon!

    (5)

  • Heather N.

    I was at Movida on 11/6. Although the staff was "good," the wine was "great," this is definitely NOT a Spanish restaurant. They tout real spanish safron and spices in their paella but it did not taste like the real deal. Worth a try but with so many other good restaurants in the Walker's Point and Fifth Ward area, I'd probably skip this place.

    (2)

  • Bobby G.

    This place always has great atmosphere. They have an amazing nice staff. The food is OK. Not bad by any means, but lacks flare & soul. Nothing mind blowing anywhere on the menu. Service is great, just wish they offered to course out or stagger dishes. In stead they dropped 8 plates at once to share as they got cold. I'll be back in 6 months as I hope they will work out the kinks.

    (3)

  • Sally M.

    We went here last night after the play. We didn't have reservations but full menu available at the bar. Very helpful staff navigated us through the drink and food menu making some excellent recommendations. The Lomo tostada was fantastic! Everything we ordered was great. Highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Kathie H.

    Service, food, ambiance... 5 STARS. They remember customers, appreciate business, and strive to please. I've been to most the nice dinner venues in Milwaukee and nothing comes close to the flavor, quality, and presentation of Movida! Great job Movida, you hit it out of the park!

    (5)

  • Adam H.

    Great restaurant addition to Milwaukee. Service and food were both fantastic. Croquettes were a huge hit!

    (5)

  • C S.

    I love this place. Tuesday's are the best with live music. All the food is delicious and there are plenty of Gluten Free options.

    (5)

  • Axel A.

    Great new tapas restaurant in Walkers Point. A nice addition to the growing choices in an interesting part of Milwaukee. Had a wide sampling of the tapes, including the cheese plates, meat plates, and several vegetarian plates. All were excellent. I can still taste the blue cheese three days later. Great service and nice interior.

    (4)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :Closed
  • Mon : Closed
    Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner, Late Night
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes

MOVIDA

Share with your social network

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.