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Cafe Malaga
- Hours:
Tue 11 am - 9 pm
Wed-Sun 11 am - 3 pm
Wed-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
79 reviews for Cafe Malaga
Review Highlights
"I went with couscous, chorizo, and bacon-wrapped dates."
(in 8 reviews)
"I did try the Chicken Piri Piri which was quite nice."
(in 4 reviews)
"Don't miss the goat cheese stuffed Piquillo Peppers."
(in 3 reviews)
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79 reviews in English
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Review from Janine M.
McKinney, TX
1/31/2012
One of my favorite restaurants in McKinney! I first came here when they were at the older location and came in a few weeks ago at their new one.
They have a sign which tells you where to enter so idk why people are confused by that. My mom, sister, daughter and I dropped by for lunch one Saturday and were greeted and got to choose our seats. The waiter who served us was very attentive and not rude whatsoever so
There's not complaints there :). We ordered a bunch of tapas to split, a couple Malaga salads, chicken tenders for my sis and spaghetti for the little one. Our Malaga salads were sososo yummy! Just perfect. All our tapas were also brought out together in great time, as we're the kids meals. We had the rabas (calamari), camembert (cheese), seafood croquettes and lambchop lollipops. My fave of course was the lamb but everything was all so flavorful and delicious. My only beef was that the croquettes were a little softer on the inside than I anticipated but they were still good! I sampled my sister's strips and fries (which were awesome because they were HUGE fried potato pieces) and it was pretty darn good too! Best part was, the owner came in and greeted our table and even bought my little girl a piece of yummy chocolate cake! (which of course I helped her eat!)
They're a little pricey but that won't stop me from coming again and again and again! Great experience. -
Review from Deb G.
12/10/2011
I would love to give Cafe Malaga a higher rating, because they certain deserve it for the food and it's flavor, but a few things hold me back.
I think what bothers me most is the price. It is very expensive for the tiny portions you receive. I've been to tapas bars before but this one has taken the portion size down to the next level. Two very small lamb chops with a bite or two at the most for $12; two fried cheese and bacon crochettes the size of a quarter each for $4.50. I had a small greek salad which was absolutely fresh and lovely, but the olives were un-pitted (what a turn off). However, the cheesecake is unique and delicious. Served in a pudding or ice cream type dish, it is topped with a graham cracker type crumble with fresh strawberries, blueberries and cranberries and a drizzle of sweet raspberry sauce. The cheesecake itself is so yummy - an almost whipped texture with just the right amount of lemon folded in.
My next concern is there is no clearly marked "entrance" door. There seems to be four ways into the place and only someone there to greet you if you catch the waitress out in the dining room at that time. I really thought we had entered a back door. Just as we were about to leave, another couple came in and walked around the entire restaurant looking for someone to greet them as well and I finally spoke up and told them they were in the right area and that the waitress would return soon. OMG! I couldn't help myself, I felt sorry for them and I knew they were as confused as we were when we arrived.
My last concern would be the wait service. Our visit was at 2 pm in the afternoon, so we had missed the lunch crowd and it was too early for dinner, so there was no wait. But, I just don't like it when the wait staff won't leave you alone, want to know constantly "hows the food," want to remove your plates from you the moment they notice you may have put the last bite in your mouth, and rush to get you the check. You would have thought the place was on fire or filled to capacity - but, unfortunately, we were the only couple in the establishment. If there was ever an opportunity to make us feel relaxed and welcome, it would have been today. Part of the problem is there is so little food to eat, I guess you would be sitting there with nothing to do if the waitress was not frequently there to talk with you or clean up. So, with that said, I would return for the desert & coffee, but not for a meal. I do agree that the outdoor seating area is lovely, but it was a bit too chilly to enjoy that today. Can you believe i actually got to say that living in HOT Dallas??? :) -
Review from Mike R.
Frisco, TX
12/6/2011
Cafe Malaga was, for a long time, one of my favorite establishments in McKinney. When they were in the location off the square (on Virginia, where Gregory's Bistro is now) the food and service and well, everything, was so so good. And then they moved. And then they (I'm pretty sure) changed ownership.
And somewhere in there, the downfall began.
My first couple of trips to the new location (where the Tex-Mex joint - I can't recall the name - used to be) were mostly OK. The food was still very good, but the service had fallen off some. "Growing pains" I thought, mostly in an effort to assure myself that Cafe Malaga hadn't lost "it" by moving to a new location. Sadly, subsequent trips proved me wrong.
Now, I operate on a "three strikes and you're out" policy. I'll give most places at least three shots to make me happy (unless they completely blow the first time - then I'm done), so after the first mediocre experience at Cafe Malaga, I put them on "the plan". They had two more opportunities to make it right. And the first of those two times, they blew it. The second was even worse, and I wrote 'em off as an example of a once great restaurant that now ain't so good.
Not only was the service crap, as it had been on the two previous visits, the food was now maddeningly bland. If Luby's opened a Spanish restaurant in a nursing home this is what it'd taste like. Mind you, I'm comparing it to the KILLER food that was at the original location so if you've only been to the nuevo location and you're thinking to yourself "really? I didn't think it was that bad", you have no real frame of reference. That's ok, it's not your fault. Bless your heart.
If you're reading these reviews and having trouble reconciling the 1-2 star reviews with the 4+ star reviews, let me help you:
1-2 star reviews: folks that actually have functional taste buds and folks that visited Cafe Malaga back when it was actually good and have been disappointed by the state that it is in now.
4+ star reviews: either reviews from when it was truly a great place, or based on my experience with Cafe Malaga in its current incarnation - hmmm... sorry, I got nothin'.
Oh how the mighty have fallen. -
Review from Nikki P.
McKinney, TX
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really enjoyed myself. It has a nice intimate give inside. I was nervous about sitting outside in Nov.
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Review from Duke P.
McKinney, TX
Updated - 1/26/2012
I always enjoy my entire experience at cafe malaga. The food is always amazing, and is equally matched by the wide variety of cocktails and wine they have to offer. This past Saturday, (1/21/02) we did'nt have a reservation, and had to wait about 10 minutes at the bar for out table. The bartender seemed busy, but was still able to ask us for our drink order while we waited. Amazing martinis, served with a warm smile.
Later on, during our dinner service. There was a table in the corner of the restaurant that was clearly ruining everyone else's plesant evening....
THE BELLIGERENT DRUNK LADY WAS EXTREMELY ANNOYING, SHE HAD THE LOUDEST KACKLE I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.. I HAD NO IDEA THE HUMAN BODY COULD MAKE SUCH A HORRIBLE NOISE. HOW INCONSIDERANT TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO WAS DINING...!!
Eventually, the owner kindly approached the table to expidite their exit. Thank God.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/27/2011
Good times.....
We ate here last weekend with a group of friends and had a great time. Our service… Read more »
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Review from Kelly T.
10/2/2011
LOVE the outdoor seating area. It's like being in someone giant backyard. In the evenings (weekends mostly) they have a band playing and you can order drinks from a little shack and just sit and relax. It's nice they have a sitting area for those that aren't having dinner.
The tapas are pretty good- though we had to try it a few times before we found the selection that worked for us. We ordered some steak skewers once that was so salty it was inedible. Now we have our list of tapas selection down so we enjoy coming here every so often. -
Review from C H.
McKinney, TX
1/22/2012
Horrible service, FOR THE SECOND TIME, we will never be back! Wait staff and hostess were friendly but they were obviously understaffed. It took, on average, 30 min to get a drink. Some drinks never came. One of our tapas came as we were being handed our checks. I don't know what Is going on in this establishment, but it needs a serious makeover. The waitstaff were all flustered and could not keep up with their tables. There were no apologies for the lack of service. We ordered a glass of wine 5 times over the course of an hour and on the 5th request our waiter said, "oh, you STILL want that cabernet?" Well yes, we still do, that's why we had ordered it 5 times! Food was sub par. Nothing was bad, nothing was amazing. I realize this is a tapas restaurant, but the portion sizes were ridiculous for the price. Our bill was just under $100 for my husband and I and we left and got a hamburger bc we were both still starving. The outside patio is really nice but that is the only thing this place had going for it on both of our visits.
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Review from J K.
Frisco, TX
1/22/2012
We went there for the first time last night, and we will NEVER go back!! We had a 10-person dinner party (Sat night) there, and drunk patrons who were at the restaurant sitting behind us were complaining we were too loud and actually started a verbal argument with us in the middle of the restaurant. Then, the gentleman stood up wanting to "take this outside." We told him he was crazy, and we were just enjoying an evening dinner with friends. The owner then came out and ended up ushering US out of the restaurant because we were younger than the other people. It was appalling, and I will NEVER go back there or recommend this restaurant to anyone. The table behind us had been cut off from alcohol, and the owner had the nerve to usher US out of the restaurant?!?! He should have thrown them out. Ridiculous.
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Review from Elizabeth B.
Plano, TX
9/1/2011 3 Check-ins Here
OMG I really love this place. I want to go back again and again.
ALL of the food was good. ALL of it. I literally think I've tried everything, and it was all amazing. Anything "stuffed," with cheese, or fried is probably your best bet.
I honestly don't know why more people aren't absolutely raving about this place. This would be great for a bridal lunch/brunch, or just a place to take people from out of town.
Amazing wine list. Very good service. Quaint and interesting atmosphere. Really pretty patio. Good happy hour.
GO NOW. :D -
Review from Tracy T.
Plano, TX
7/31/2011
Food is 4/5 Stars
Price is 3 Stars
Service is 2 Stars
Alcohol is 2 Stars
Late night get together with friends.
I had just left the Arbor Preserve, cleaned up and was starving - excited about this place. Seated on the patio under the misters with the live band in the background ... nice!
Ready to order and waiting, still waiting ... still freak'n waiting.It's not that crowded for chrissake. I guess my party who had been lounging around for an hour or so prior to my debut was used to it. Finally!
Water with lemon, the key lime martini, tapas - hummus, Don Piquillo (ground beef stuffed peppers with Manchego and cream, Gambas al ajillo (shrimp in sherry, lemon butter sauce), chicken kebabs.
Martini arrived - yuck. 1st sip. 2nd sip. Done with that.Tapas arrived in a steady stream - amazing, though the Don Piquillo has the effect of Pizza Hut on you - that cream and cheese is yummy but heavy - only could eat one. Hummus, shrimp yum. Kebabs - I've had better - but protein and it was good.
Still waiting on water ... arrived ... yay. Service still sucked ass, aside from kitchen staff bringing out the tapas in a steady stream. Flagged down a bus boy - I'll take the jug of water at the table. Could you find our waitress for another round of drinks. Everyone has an off day but she was making us feel like shit. I guess she had referred Chris earlier to the pub down the street when he was asking something about the drinks menu.
We retired to some seating by the patio for the smokers. The band played a final send-off we finished unwinding and headed out. It was a fun night, with the exception of service.Listed in: The F Word, The Places I Go Out
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Review from Aaron H.
Garland, TX
6/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
WAY UNDERRATED. This place was really off the charts and is now in my top 5 restaurants in dallas. This compares with Bolsa, Fearings, nick and SAMs in food quality. Also the patio is awesome on weekends with live music and a packed and fun crowd with patio bar and full bar inside.
The chef is from spain apparently and it shows, the chorizo is the best I have had and hummus was great also the proscin wrapped asparagus was a surprise treat.
Get reservations if you go on the weekend but the lunch crowd isn't bad at all Amd you can typically walk in and eat -
Review from Phillip H.
McKinney, TX
11/7/2011
Found this place by doing a little online searching for restaurants near the square and I'm thrilled to add another great place to my list of favorites in McKinney. It's a wonderful casual setting, inside and out although we chose inside so we could engage in conversation without having to talk over the band which was quite good, by the way.
We did tapas - lost track of how many plates! - and it was all fantastic as was the Tempranillo recommended by our waiter, Jose. And speaking of Jose, what a great guy! So friendly, so helpful, and always had great suggestions when we got stuck on what to order next. In fact, a couple of times we just said, "surprise us" and he ran with it.
Jose is the man to ask for when you come here! -
Review from Barb N.
McKinney, TX
8/25/2011
I was here last month for a ladies brunch (13 of us). We liked it. It was the first time I have been to a tapas restaurant and did not know what to expect. We ordered a wide variety of items. I liked the sauteed mushrooms, the peppers with goat cheese were fanstastic, The peppers were so sweet almost like candy. The dessrt was terrible tho. My daughter ordered the berry cheesecake. I'd hardly call it cheesecake, more like stiff pudding in a glass with fruit punch flavored goo on top with a few berries.
I do like the homey atmosphere and the out door area seems like it would be great in the evening with all of the lights. Even though the dessert was aweful, my daughter suggested it for my rehearsal dinner later this year so it seems she wants to come back.
We will come back to check out the patio at night and try more tapas. We did enjoy all of the savory items. -
Review from K D.
McKinney, TX
10/23/2011
I want to like Cafe Malaga. The food is good and the location is excellent. Unfortunately, the three times I've been there the service has been terrible- borderline rude. The hostess always seems moody and uninterested, the service is slow and unaccomodating. My husband won't go back after two bad experiences and after my third bad experience with coworkers last May, I have not been back either. The waiter seemed annoyed when he had to clear a table for us outside and sighed loudly when we only ordered wine and one appetizer. It wasn't busy and 4pm on a Friday- we were disappointed by his attitude and decided to take our happy hour business to Rick's instead.
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Review from Amber L.
Allen, TX
4/15/2011
Quick breakdown: service 3.5, food 4, atmosphere 5+
The outdoor atmosphere is what sells this place. It's like eating at a neighbor's house with an amazing back yard and some friends playing good music as a backdrop for the evening. Our waitress was very sweet but I can see overall where the service may be lacking. I think they are all just a little young and under-experienced. I love tappas style food and while very good I have had better around town.
If you are looking for a nice place to sit on a patio (that doesn't overlook the expressway!!) then this place is an absolute must!! -
Review from Steve T.
McKinney, TX
8/14/2011
Very confused by the reviews here. Went to Cafe Malaga last night for the first time, and really gave the menu a workout. We found most everything to be lacking in flavor or just poorly prepared. Started with the Halloumi salad. The greens were fairly bitter, but the big problem was that the dressing was WAY too strong. Very tangy and sharp. Very strange salad overall. Next came the Malaga croquettes. They're supposed to have bacon, chicken, and chorizo inside, but we saw no evidence of any of those. They were just completely bland.
Next was the Solomillo, beef tenderloin cubes in sauce with fried potatoes. The beef was severely undercooked, almost raw. The spices weren't distributed evenly at all, so one cube was covered in spice, and the rest had almost none. The broth it came with was decent though. Next up was the fondue. With 5 cheeses combined (per the menu), we thought this would have some flavor, but no. Once again, just really bland.
Moved on to the Beef kabobs. For this dish, at least the seasoning was there, but we tasted no hint of the mango in the coulis, which could've helped cut some of the heat. The real problem here was the quality of beef. While this one was cooked to a nice medium-rare, the quality of the beef was just really poor. Chewy and fatty.
Next moved to the Red Piquillo peppers stuffed with bolognese and covered in manchego sauce. This was truly the only satisfying dish of the night. Great flavors, good combination, well prepared.
Finished with the chocolate mousse. This was another really strange preparation; it's supposed to come with a marscapone chantilly, but if that's what was on the top of my mousse, I never would've known it. It had a strange texture, appearance, and flavor, and gave the impression of having been made days ago. The chocolate itself tasted and looked like a very light milk chocolate, probably less than 50%, instead of the more typical semi-sweet or bittersweet you'd find in a good mousse.
The place was crowded, but we sure didn't see the appeal. -
Review from Debbie R.
Plano, TX
6/1/2011
What a great place. We had a girls lunch on a Sat, the weather was perfect so we sat outside (party of 8). The place was not busy so the waitress gave us so much attention, along with recommendations.
Most of our orders were appetizer size since we wanted to try a bit of everything.
Mushrooms, chicken, potato tortilla, fondue...it was all delicious!!
Definitely will return to Cafe Malaga! -
Review from Quincy L.
Allen, TX
5/29/2011
Built in what seems to be a home turned restaurant, it's ambiance is quaint yet sophisticated. The staff was attentive and friendly. The outdoor area was vast but we opted to stay inside. Our party of four ordered many many tapas size dishes and just had a taste of everything. My personal favorite was a stuff pepper dish. Although generally they were all good. The desserts were just ordinary nothing special.
A bit on the pricey side but if you come in with the knowledge to spend a little money, it's really good food. -
Review from Don F.
McKinney, TX
2/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
We ate here several times in the old location, and we've been 3 times to the new location. I've never been disappointed. I was really worried when they took over the larger location. So many places can't make the transition, but Cage Malaga has managed it very well.
We always get the hummus, or baba ganoush, and then pick a few new tapas plates to try, then always get the lamb.
Out last dinner there a couple weeks back was the most challenging for them. We started out at the bar and they ran out of the liquor my wife wanted, so the bartender mixed up something else she might like and comp'd it to us. He certainly didn't need to, but I won't forget that he did.
Then we moved to dinner and due to some type of mix up in the kitchen with out order we waited much longer than we should have. This is the type of place that you want to hang out and take your time with dinner so it wasn't a big deal to us. The waiter was very apologetic, good move on his part. When the food arrived it was fantastic as always.
If you've never had the Lollipop Lamb Chops - go right now and get some. The tapas plate will not be enough, get the full portion.
Then the chef brought us a comp'd plate that we've never tried before as a way to say "sorry" for the delay. We ate way too much again.
They didn't need to comp anything to keep us as return customers, but they did, which is why we would recommend this place to everyone.
The outside patio is a nice place to hang with friends and enjoy some wine or cocktails and tapas. And, bonus - I can enjoy a cigar at the farthest seating outside.
great place to take friends for a liesurely dinner. -
Review from krissy n.
McKinney, TX
7/30/2011
This place is wonderful. In fact, so wonderful that we got married there last year! The food is delicious, the staff is friendly, and the owner is very personable. You can tell that she really cares about her customers. The patio area is beautiful. I believe it was just named the #1 patio in DFW. Their white sangria is THE BEST!
They used to have a lunch buffet and I wish they would bring that back, but other than that--everything is great. -
Review from Philip B.
Frisco, TX
9/25/2010
Usually, the service is bad but the food is great. Tonight, the food finally sunk to the service's low. They claimed, after the Oktoberfest events on the McKinney square, that it was just a busy night. But the wife and I have always noticed that Malaga favors large parties by far over smaller tables.
At 8:30 at night, the restaurant inside was filled with small children. I have a toddler so the noise doesn't bother me, but I was shocked that kids were still running rampant at 11PM, while we were wrapping up.
After a half hour, the manager offered to get us some water. We never saw him again. After 45 minutes, our waitress brought us some olives to tide us over. They must have added extra salt to these olives. We started calling them Guantanamo olives, because that's the only conditions under which we'd eat them.
Dates wrapped in bacon were burnt. Chorizo was tough and hard to chew. Hangar steak, usually a standout, was chewy and too salty, with half the potatoes that usually come with the full size portion. We ordered more potatoes to accompany, but they came out 20 minutes later, and the steak was already cold. Cheese plate had the wrong cheese. When I pointed it out, they brought out a lump of Cabrales (the right cheese) on a saucer.
The entire meal took 2.5 hours for 6 plates of tapas and a cheese plate. Nothing was up to par, service was unapologetically slow and awful. I might go back to Malaga in a year or so, if they're still around, but it will be a long time before they see me again. -
Review from Christopher Y.
McKinney, TX
12/5/2010 2 Check-ins Here
This place has changed owners and names a few times over the years.
This iteration seems to be good. Very good tapas (for those you giving bad reviews for the portion size, shame on you--go read up on tapas). Service was good and the wine selection was awesome.
Everything was prepared well, samples of menu items were provided and chef's choices were passed around for everyone to try.
Not to be overlooked is the backyard--good ambiance in good weather.
Will definitely go back when looking for a place to take someone in downtown McKinney. -
Review from Joe S.
McKinney, TX
8/22/2010
Some people are complaining that there were no entrees and they paid a lot of money for appetizers. HELLO people, look up the definition of Tapas, this is what Cafe Malaga is about.
The last reviewer apparently didn't know where he was. Our family of 5 visited the same night and our experience was wonderful. Initially I was prepared for the worse since it didn't sound like my kind of place. I am a give me a big steak and potato guy.
The whole concept is about small portions, passing around and sampling and engaging with each other. We had, two chicken dishes, dates wrapped in bacon, great potatoes, steak, lamb lollipops, artichoke fritters, humus and flat bread, olives & 6 glasses of nice wine @ $7.50 each.
Our entire bill for five people with the wine was $159, the food was fantastic and the service superb. We did have reservations and the guy taking them was a little disturbed that we couldn't tell him if we would have 5 or 7 people but once we got there we were treated very well.
The owner greeted us after our meal and apologized for it being a little warm in the back west room and offered us free deserts which were also great.
Bottom line, great food and service if you know what the restaurant is about. For just two people it's probably expensive but for a group of 4 or more it's great fun sharing the different dishes and experiencing something different. We will go back ! -
Review from Yvonne S.
McKinney, TX
4/9/2011
A friend recommended Cafe Malaga because she had been there several times before (old & new location) and had never been disappointed. However on the evening I went, I was VERY disappointed and later learned it was under new ownership/management. Here was our experience.
* There were 5 of us present and had 2 possibly joining us later. The hostess seemed annoyed by this fact right off the bat
* We waited in the outdoor bar area where the first thing our waitress said was "if you want something a little more complex, you'll need to go inside and get it yourself."
* We were seated quickly and received waters right away (this was the only good experience of the night)
* Our waitress took our drink and tapas (appetizers) order and we literally didn't see her again for over 20 minutes (at least)
* Our tapas did not come at the same time
* We ordered additional pita bread for our hummus that didn't come until our main courses were complete
* When the waitress did come to take my order, she stood directly behind me which made it very difficult for me to speak with her (who does this???)
* My entree came with a salad which I ordered with the dressing on the side. It came much later in the evening with loaded dressing! When I mentioned I asked for it on the side, the waitress seemed completely put off and rude. I finally got my salad with the dressing on the side AFTER I was done with my meal
* Drinks never came in a timely manner
* We decided to speak to the manager to tell him of our "issues" and HE was not helpful at all!
* The manager said (among other things) "what can I tell you? It's the restaurant business and we have bad nights." "What do you want me to do about it?" "We had folks call in sick and it happens."
* He mentioned he "could" comp some things but that was really beside the point. He comped 1 appetizer ($4.50) and that was it.
* The waitress decided to charge us the 18% gratuity even though there was only 5 of us. When we asked her why that was, she said "Oh well when you got here there was going to be 7 of you." HELLO...when we've been there for 2 hours and at the end of the meal there is still only 5 of us...why would you decide to charge the 18% gratuity for 7??? Probably because she knew there would definitely not have been an 18% gratuity left!!!
BOTTOM LINE:
* The staff was not helpful and in fact rude - from the hostess to the manager.
* The service was horrible.
* The food is actually very good and the atmosphere great BUT it is not worth the service and attitude.
* I WILL NEVER GO BACK! -
Review from R H.
Garland, TX
6/23/2011
We almost decided not to come here after reading the reviews about the bad service. I'm so glad we decided to give it a shot anyway. The food was delicious (the hummus & malaga croquettes are a must try), the atmosphere was beautiful & the service couldn't have been better. We will definitely be back.
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Review from Muks R.
1/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
A nice tapas place up in McKinney. I have been to both locations and their current location is bigger and they have a large outdoor seating area which looks very nice.
We primarily tried the veggie Tapas
Fried shishito peppers : Quite good..some were spicy but most werent.
Patatas bravas : Fried potato wedges with a wasabi sauce and a sweet sauce
Sweet Red Peppers : stuffed with goat cheese
Roasted Baby potatoes
and their special of the day.. which was a different pepper with goat cheese..
now that I'm reading what I'm typing. . our whole meal was pepper, cheese and potatoes :)
I did try the Chicken Piri Piri which was quite nice. A little spicy.. and it came with.. wait for it... Potatoes.
We were quite happy with all the dishes we ordered.
I was really looking forward to the Creme Brulee and we ordered one. It came flaming to our table which looked really cool. Once the flame went out and we attacked it, we were disappointed. The sugar had not caramelized and we could feel the granules of sugar in my mouth. The worst part was that i could still taste whatever it was that caused the flame. I just hope it was some liquor and not gasoline :) -
Review from Julian O.
Garland, TX
10/24/2011
Oh Yelp!!!! Why do you make me give this place a star? This place is a joke when it comes to service and food. My chicken was still alive and it took them over 30 minutes to bring me raw chicken. The waitress was so rude that she said you can't complain today because my manager is off on Sundays. Since when is customer experience exempt on Sunday's.What kind of restaurant doesn't have manager on staff on Sundays. If you are in the mood for lousy service and food this is the place to go eat. Can the economy hurry up and bankrupt this establishment. It will be doing all of us a favor. I will never go back........................
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Review from Jamie E.
Plano, TX
6/8/2011
Looooove it! My boyfriend and I came here after I searched out a place in McKinney with a great patio! I was more than satisfied when I showed up and saw what Cafe Malaga was working with. The 3-tiered patio is awesome, and a Beatles Cover Band was playing! I could not have asked for more, and our seat was perfect. We sat on the top tier with a view of the entire yard. I am a sucker for old homes, and fell in love with the house the restaurant is run out of.
The food was great!! This was my second tappas experience and it was even better than the first! You have to try the dates and the lollipop lamb chops. I thought my boyfriend was going to eat the bone he loved them so much.
We enjoyed our meal so much, we brought some friends back the next weekend. They loved it too! It is a little pricey, so not something I can do once a week. But, for a special night out it is perfect!! -
Review from Susie C.
Allen, TX
10/20/2011
I really wanna like this place, I really do. The first time we went a few months ago (Saturday night), we were impressed by the outdoor seating which is wonderful and spacious! But after a 30 minute wait, we were seated and it kinda went downhill from there. The servers never seem to know which tables are theirs. The one we got was distracted, never made eye contact, and seemed generally rushed.
This time around, although we were seated much faster (Friday night this time), the poor service was unchanged. The server came by our table and when we asked for a wine recommendation between 2 choices, her reply was "eh, they're both good." ok, cheaper one it is! We also made the mistake of ordering everything we wanted at the same time. Instead of bringing it out in waves, as most tapas places do, we had every single thing we ordered on our table at the same time. It was a little crowded, to say the least. Once we were done eating, our plan was to stay and have another glass of wine or two and listen to the band (which was crappy, btw). But once she'd cleared our plates, our server came by every 5 minutes to ask us if we were ready for the check. Well, after the 5th time she came by, I was DEFINITELY ready to get outta there.
It's a cool place to sit and have a drink and listen to music, but don't go for the food or service. There's much better to be had in this area. -
Review from robert s.
Los Angeles, CA
7/7/2010
The old house that they have this restaurant is really cute and the large backyard terrace is a great venue for people to eat. The owner of this place had great vision in the layout.
Now let me get to the food. The food they serve here is not traditional Spanish tapas food. The food is so far off the mark I personally think it is a stretch to have it associated with the concept of Spanish tapas. I found the food to be eclectic Mediterranean food with a tinge of Spanish flair but not substance. We had the sangria, tortilla and assortment of other dishes.
I would go here for the atmosphere and drinks but not for food. -
Review from Joan H.
McKinney, TX
7/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place was fantastic. My husband and my in laws were just researching some different places to go for dinner and stumbled upon this on Urban spoon!
My mother in law isn't a big fan exotic (well let's just say "different') food, but to our surprise she actually enjoyed a few of the dishes from here!
I love the intimate feeling of the restaurant. The people were quite friendly and we were seated immediately. Outside seating was available but unfortunately it was pouring down rain when we had gone.
The food was great. We had the hummus, which came with freshly made pita bread. When the pita bread ran out, they came right back with more. We had a few other plates of food. We had a four cheese fondue, which came with fried pita bread, chicken skewers, potatoes with a yogurt sauce, dates wrapped with bacon, chorizo with potatoes, and asparagus wrapped with bacon. ( a few other things as well but I can't remember) EVERYTHING was delicious. There wasn't one dish I didn't like.
Now there were 4 of us and knowing that it was a tapas place with small portions, we definitely tried to order a lot of food. But it definitely was filling!! We could've gotten full with less food but we loved every bit of it so we tried to finish as much as we could.
If you've never had mediterranian food before, this is definitely a good place to go for you first time. The food was fantastic, the service was excellent, and the envrionment was very friendly. -
Review from Andrea G.
McKinney, TX
6/6/2011
I would have to say thank Goodness for the great chicken entree's we ordered, because our service on a slow Sunday afternoon was less than acceptable. Our waitress, Sam, had no personality, rarely kept our drinks of water full. When we ordered, she made terrible eye contact. She did however bring my husband's dish out before mine so I could sit and stare at him eating with an empty glass of water. Then when my entree came out, my husband got to watch me eat. I mean, really? This place was such a disappointment for a first time experience. Next time we go, if you do, I will be sure to steer clear of Sam. I would not recommend this place to my friends or family. What a dissappointment!
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Review from Mark C.
11/25/2009
Deep in the heart of Texas, the idea of family style eating goes over well with a large percentage of the population. Typically when a Texan thinks about sharing meals however, it is barbecue or some other type of meal that comes in large portions. Cafe Malaga introduces Tapas to Texans with a very distinct flavor, and in small tapas style dishes. The concept of sharing is definitely in place here as well, but the portion size is not exactly easy on the wallet. Each one of the plates we tried were very delicious, but after a $120 USD followed a table of four for nothing more than appetizers, my wallet felt the impact of this Texas sized pricing for a Rhode Island sized portion.
If you have an ample budget, and a taste for tapas, this is your place. If you are looking for a more modest way of making your dollars stretch further, give this one a pass.
Favorite Dish: The Manchego was excellent, as was the Pork Empanadas. The Beef Bourguignon (braised beef tenderloin & vegetables simmered in red wine) was delicious, but definitely too small to share. Also, the outrageously priced Proscuitto wrapped shrimp were excellent, but four shrimp for $16.00 was absolutely highway robbery. -
Review from Shannon H.
Plano, TX
12/4/2008
My wife met a friend here a couple weeks ago, and she liked it so much only two weeks later she's back, this time with me. It was amusing that after we ordered some sangria the waiter told her he didn't need to see her ID, he already saw it two weeks ago.
Anyways, I was quite impressed. Hands down the best tapas I've had. Most placed I've had tapas there will be a few dishes that I really like and a few that I'd probably never order again. Not the case here. Everything we got was amazing.
The spicy potatoes (I don't recall what they really call them) were not at all what we expected, but darn good. They were almost Indian in flavor, and very spicy, with a good dill sauce to cool them down. The Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus and Artichoke Teppinade were both tasty, and the cheese plate was a good addition.
The only item that could have been better was the spinach fondue, it was too thin to eat easily using the supplied pita chips, but the chips themselves were delicious enough to make it worth ordering. For the record, my wife said it was much thicker the previous time.
Of course, I don't know if I'd order any of those items the next time I go, as next time I might just feast on as many bacon wrapped dates as possible, as those were hands down the best thing I've eaten in recent memory.
The only complaint I have about this place isn't really about this specific place, but more with the area. Navigating around Downtown McKinney and finding parking is hard enough when the streets are open, but when they shut down half of them with no good detours it's next to impossible. -
Review from Barbara M.
Dallas, TX
9/6/2007
Terrific Tapas! This cozy little restaurant is tucked into old downtown McKinney. Visited twice - one sleepy Weds where we were treated to a wine and later, a port tasting to select our beverage of choice. On the recommendation of another table that first visit, we ordered both the red and white sangria the next trip. Both excellent - the white surprisingly good.
Yummy fried halloumi cheese , hummos and baba ghanoush paired with prosciutto wrapped asparagus, beef kabobs did the trick to stave our hunger. Don't miss the goat cheese stuffed Piquillo Peppers.
They also offer build your own cheese plates where you select 3-5 cheeses from their varied selections.
Desserts were rich creamy Spanish version of creme brulee called Creme Catalana and a rustic Apple Tart.
I was very surprised to discover Cafe Malaga is open til midnight on Fri & Sat, and Sun thru Thurs til 10pm - great for somewhere that seems prone to rolling up their sidewalks at 7pm. And they serve lunch as well. They were packed full between 7 and 8 on Saturday night, so plan to make reservations. And support those late night hours as well.
Well worth the trek and a good place to remember if you have business (or pleasure) plans brewing in the area. -
Review from Marc D.
Plano, TX
12/7/2009
I decided to head up to downtown McKinney for dinner. I looked into all the restaurants and decided on Cafe Malaga. They had just moved to a new location about a week before I visited. The restaurant is an old house and really cool inside. There is an awesome outside eating area in the back of the house. Very cool place to go with a group of people. Its a Tapas place and so we ordered a bunch of items.
We got some friend manchego cheese. I love manchego but I found the matter to be a bit much. The bacon wrapped asparagus was very good. Had a shrimp and beef kebab that was very good. The hanger steak was quite tasty as well. The clear highlight was the Chicken Piri Piri. It was quite possibly the best piece of chicken I had ever eaten. Its spicey and it was perfectly cooked and so moist.
The owner was very nice and the service was very good.
I look forward to going back and trying many other items on the menu. This is a great place for a date or a great place for groups. Excellent place if you are looking for a place to dine outside (but also a wonderful indoor dining room). Its worth the trip up to McKinney!!! -
Review from Ms S.
McKinney, TX
12/13/2009
We did a ladies night out here with my women's group. This is a great place to go with the ladies because you can order small plates of food, and sample a little bit of everything. They also have larger portions as well for larger appetities or those who want to share.
I had the lamb chops, and mushrooms with sherry. Delicious!
Cafe Malaga did move to the old Poppy's location, and I think it was a very smart move on their part. It is an old house set off the McKinney square with a beautiful patio area with a fountain. Granted, it was about 30 degrees outside when we went, so we did not get to enjoy the great outdoors, but the inside is dim and cozy.Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from Phil D.
San Diego, CA
3/28/2009
I haven't been to a tapas bar in a long time and I must say I was very impressed with Cafe Malaga.
The wine selection is decent and varied. I ordered a one of their cabernet's but I don't remember which one. It was good none the less. The tapas selection is very authentic. I ordered the hummus and it was made from scratch. The serving sizes aren't too big so if you wanted to order multiple items, you wouldn't be wasting your money.
I was really impressed with the staff. They are very warm and friendly. Drop in for a quick bite or a meet up after work from with friends. You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Will Y.
McKinney, TX
5/9/2011
New owners Al and Jennifer Segui have made some slight changes to the menu but it still tastes as good as it always has. The service has gotten much better since the new owners stepped in. Never have been disappointed. Food is FULL of flavors and such a wide variety and the atmosphere is great. Best time to go is when you can eat outside, in late summer-early fall or spring-early summer. My favorite is the mustard crusted lambchop lollipops...simply amazing and delectable. Also the grilled hallumi cheese salad with the caper-vinaigrette dressing is spectacular. Perfect for a date night!
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Review from Sarah L.
McKinney, TX
9/10/2011
Cafe Malaga used to be one of my favorite places to eat in McKinney. This was back when they were in the smaller space off of Virginia. I went with my boyfriend for New Years Eve 2010 and I have to say that the service was terrible. We made reservations a week ahead of time and we still had a long wait when we got there and were given literally the WORST seats in the whole restaurant, in the back of the restaurant in a corner while people who did not have reservations were given a place where they could hear the band and enjoy their dinner.
I had not been back until last night (9/9/11) and I hoped that this time it would be better. Unfortunately it was not. The service at Cafe Malaga is horrible. We were told there would be a wait for the outside seating, which was fine because it was a nice night and the band playing was good. After fifteen minutes, the hostess tells us that the wait will be longer than she originally estimated, would we like to eat inside. So we decided to go ahead and eat inside. There were maybe half of the tables taken inside, so the service should been great. There were a lot of servers in the bar looking like they were doing nothing and our server took forever to get to us. When he finally did get to us, he took our order and we got our food quickly. But then when we were done we had to with sat with our empty plates and no check for a while. And when he finally gave us our check and we were ready to pay, he didn't come get it for twenty minutes. It is disappointing because they used to have quick service and luckily for us we didn't want more tapas because he would never have asked for thirty minutes.
The food here used to be worth the wait, but it too has gone downhill since it was sold. I think they use frozen chicken now and the portions have gotten smaller. What we ordered ended up being enough, but I was seriously disappointed. Cafe Malaga used to be the best place to eat in downtown McKinney and now it is nothing to write home about.
