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Categories: Spanish, Tapas Bars
3252 Mission Inn AvenueEnjoy a 3-course meal while experiencing our live Flamenco dinner show every Friday & Saturday night @ 7pm. Dinner shows begin @ $39.50/per
Mon-Thu. 4:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 4:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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This is a lovely, visually appealing place, indeed. It's really so pretty - the pictures do not do it justice, and usually it's the opposite - the pictures make a place appear better than it is. No so, not so.
Equal to the ambiance is the service. Really good service the time I was there. Megan, who is also the "phone girl" as she put it, was just wonderful. What a wonderful server and host for my brunch with my mother. James, upstairs in the bar, where we wound up after eating brunch, for the Happy Hour that they have upstairs only, was fun, kind and personable.
So, Karen, you may be wondering - what about the food?
I liked it, I liked it! Wonderful tapas mushrooms, ceviche - both we had upstairs. I had a Build Your Own Omelette, which they graciously made with just egg whites for me. That option provided a nice array of veggies and fillers, by the way. Choice of 4, of about 7, 8, I think? Delicious. The potatoes they have there - ones less spicy than I feel they let on, were wonderful. My mother had the Lobster Eggs Benedict, and I admit to snatching a taste of the hollandaise and it was delectable, as a hollandaise should be.
This is a fun, beautiful, romantic, date friendly, friend perfect place. they have a club next door, it's the same but not, they have Flamenco shows, great drinks, delicious food - I can't find a problem. Not perfect, no - I save those 5 Stars for the few and far between, but really good, really enjoyable and worth it, totally. I hope you go, it was just nice, all the way 'round.
PS - they needed a bit more help in keeping the restroom stocked, but it *was* clean and decent, lol!
3.5stars compared to su hermanas: Long Beach & San Diego. As sibling rivalries go...
1 - LB's mi favorito b/c closer to home.
2 - SD's next only b/c it's far but they hosted a crazy-fun Yacht Party (see mi review if need to...)
All food, service, ambiance almost equal among the 3.
Standout feature of Riverside: DeRhumba Latin band played here the one eve I dragged pal & 1st time met our illustrious SoCal Flamenco http://Meetup.com organizer: S.Z.--she's simply amazing! ...as is the super caliente band she exposed us to.
Plus, not a hoochie-club as we almost mistaken from next door. Rather, more sophisticated yet casual cool w/wood-beam ceilings, dancing fun upstairs.
Food is good. They have a club attached to it where they also give salsa lessons on certain nights.
Went here for tapas a few times. Their paeya was not the best I have had. I also had this wine-flavored chicken dish, and not to wine about it(har-har), it had the strong bitter wine taste to it, which turned me off.
The other dishes were just ok, but I think this is the only tapas bar in this area. It can be a bit hard to find because their sign is not so big, but they are near the freeway bridge.
Supposedly they have a nice buffet on Saturdays, with a cool chocolate fountain, but I have yet to try it.
I step into this joint. It's a fancy joint. Perhaps too fancy for a putz like me, but that's how I like it... I don't know why I just said that.
The decor is pretty awesome. Very nice, lots of detail. You find yourself looking around a lot, at least I do. I have ADHD, so shut up about it, Mr. Potato Head!
My friends and I had Tapas, which is what they serve her. Everything was yummy, my fave being the chorizo with brie. Mmmm. Death.
Desert was also awesome, too. Good stuff. This place is a good joint to bring a date, or a group of friends. Definitely don't bring your escort here. If you do, dress em up a little.
Okay if you're a local here, cafe sevilla and club sevilla is the same thing. i went here with my roommate on a weekday night. The place was really empty, and i mean... EMPTY! we sat upstairs. The one thing you notice about this place is the interior decoration is very detailed and it fits perfectly to the ambiance. apparently they are a chain restraunt.
so first off, we started off with the sangria royale which was my first time. it tasted really strong for some reason. I didn't really enjoy it too much to be honest, felt like I was drinking alot of alcohol. so apparently their menu is based on something called tapas which is pretty much appetizers of different sizes. We tried the lamb chops tapas which was really tender and delicious. I got the seafood paella tapas which was kinda blahhh. It was chewy in a bad way and it didn't have much flavor, i didn't even finish most of it. My friend got the pasta mallorca and it looked pretty good, i was jealous haha.
anyways everyone is saying how great this place is because they have alot of events including free salsa lessons and other entertainments during certain nights. This place is really authentic tapas but I just really don't like tapas haha. So I don't think i'll be coming back, it is REALLY expensive lolz. I spent about $45 bucks.
I would give 1/2 star more if I could.
The good: they have a deal where you get to share quite a few things from the menu. 4 stars for the deal.
The service was excellant!
The medium: decor was nice.
The bad: Their "signature" pasta seafood dish!!
Sorry to discover the calamari chewed like rubber to match my new car tires, but I gasped with horror to see they threw in, not only 'everything' from the kitchen but baby tentacle parts from the squid.......no one could have cut them with a chain saw. AND the artichoke parts were all there including: the CHOKE.
gag..........be warned about this dish.......
I LOVE tapas and I can never find too many places with good tapas. Now these are authentic, not some trendy restaurant's attempt to pass off their "appetizers" as tapas. They changed their happy hour now to EVERYDAY from 4:30-7:30pm.
I went to UCR for my undergrad and grad school, but I didn't try Sevilla until I went with my grad school friends. To think all the time I WASTED in undergrad not eating here. Such a shame.
I've gotta say, it is more fun to go with a big crowd because then you can try a variety of different dishes in the first round and then select your absolute favorites in subsequent rounds. Tapas are pretty small dishes so if you're a big burly man I'm not sure if you'd get full without doing a lot of damage. But I go with my grad girls so we always have a lot of fun choosing a bunch of dishes. The last time I was there with my two other friends, we ate eight dishes+drinks+dessert and it was only about $20 bucks each. The waitress was really surprised we could put down that much food.
The service is pretty good. The staff is always walking around filling waters, asking if you need anything, and sometimes even the manager comes around.
The only reason why I gave Sevilla four stars and not five is because of it's drinks. For some reason I always get shafted in my alcoholic beverage. Every time I've had a cocktail there, it's been a little off. It's either too sweet, too strong, too something-or-other. Maybe I just have bad luck because my friend's drinks turn out fine...even if we order the same thing. Oh well! I'm there for the food anyway!
Recommendations: calamari (absolute favorite!!), dates wrapped in bacon (how could anything wrapped in bacon not taste good??), potatoes in tomato garlic sauce, caramel ice cream
My first visit was because of my 2 friends who go to UCR recommended it when I came to visit today.
When I first got there, I was underwhelmed, but the minute I entered the restaurant, my eyes went up... to the 25 feet high ceilings.
The building is very old and has an upstairs bar area that looks like the size of a normal restaurant. From there, there is a staircase to an upstairs patio where they have a nightclub.
We ordered during happy hour and had an amazing experience.
We got $4 cocktails, $5 martinis, and $3 tapas items:
-pomegranate mojitos
-grey goose pear and pama martinis
-beer
-marinated chicken skewers
-marinated meatballs
-kalamata olive bread with garlic/tomato spread
For 4 people, it came out to $50... not bad for drinks and food.
*TIP* Sign up for their rewards club because you get $20 FOR FREE when you do!
Good food, good service. We came here once before years ago and it was packed. Last night was a different story. Although I made a reservation on OpenTable, it didn't really seem like I had to. We arrived at 7p in a party of four and there were only three othe tabled occupied. Strange.
Anyway, the food was very good. I liked the beef empanadas as well as the four item tapas combo. We also had the bocadillo which was very nice: pork, pork, pork, fish, and cheese!!! The paella was good, standard fare - nothing too special.
The dessert tray looked very tempting but by the end we were way too stuffed to partake in any desserts.
I recommend bringing plenty of friends so you can expand the breadth of the menu you cover.
I went to Café Sevilla 3 weeks ago after going to the Glen Ivy Day Spa. With the sound of Salsa playing in the background, 5 college roommates traveled to Spain for the evening. The smooth, stucco, orange and red walls were covered from floor to the high beamed wood ceilings like an over the top Vegas themed hotel. Flowers hanging off Spanish inspired arched windows, tiles surrounding half fountains attached to the walls, and painted streets and ornate craved wooden doors to no where decorated the restaurant. Every little detail made me one step closer to busting out my Flamingo dress.
The Salsa music, blended with loud laughter, created the perfect location for celebrating 25 years of life.
I've been attempting to finish this review for 2 hours now, but my new discovery of free premium channels and the functionality of Video On Demand have caused me to stay up till the god-forsaken hour of 3 am! I will be paying for my ADD with oversleeping, running around my apartment like a mad woman, and praying that my boss didn't get the license to his AK-47 and shot me! I wanted to utilize my fluke of free HBO subscription to the fullest potential!!! When I turn off my TV, HBO may never come back. Although, free movies might easily distract me from sleep, a fun ambiance, great tasting pitchers of Sangria did not distract me from the mediocre tasting food at Cafe Sevilla.
For dinner, we picked a few Tapas to share. The Seafood Crepe was unique, but tasted very fishy. I should have known that the ocean was nowhere to be seen in Riverside. The rice for the Grilled Vegetables Paelle was nicely flavored, but it didn't deter me from the lack of salt and pepper on the vegetables. The Manchego Cheese Mashed Potatoes was too heavy, and did not have the fluffiness that all good mashed potatoes have. The Combination Brochetas was served hanging on a cool unique vertical stand. The meats were nicely season, but were a little tough and gave me a jaw workout. The Pisto La Mancha with Imported Manchego Cheese was a delicious cheesy goodness.
The food was not too memorable, but if I'm ever in Riverside (hopefully never) I have to come back in a Flamingo dress and pretend that i'm in Spain.
Love their happy hour, in the Tapas Area upstairs. Drinks are sophisticated, but not as stuffy as Mario's (Which I alse enjoy, but need to feel like a stuffed shirt to attend). They used to have half price Bourbon/Whisky/Gin also, but now only discount the Vodka in the martinis and the well stuff. Still good beers and sangria for cheap and great prices on appetizers during happy hour will bring us back for more!
Queso Fundido rocks!
I took my little family of four here about a month ago. It's a great looking place! They have a live band and a bar at the second floor. But I took my wife here to experience some Spanish tapas and paella, so we ate at the first floor dining hall.
The tapas are great. We ordered the dates wrapped in bacon with blue cheese stuffing - the dates was a little too sweet for me, but Lynn loved it. We also got the combination of Spanish sausages - my son loved it, I loved the blood sausage (which I never had before). And we also had the seafood crepe- which is the best dish I ever had. I think they used a combination of crack and MSG coz the flavors is just unbelievable. I wanted more but we ordered the paella...
The paella was a different story. I don't know, maybe I was expecting too much. Well for 49 bucks, and the country in it's deepest recession since the 1930s, I should be expecting something right? I would just have to say that's it's okay. Although they boasts that's it's their specialty.
The desert wasn't any better. The flourless chocolate cake is pretty bitter... Sugarless too I presume...
But despite the paella being ok and chocolate cake being flat, I give them four stars because of the seafood crepe which I'll order till I puke next time...
My parents went to Sevilla the night it opened and had a mediocre experience with the paella, so they have never been back. I don't know what my parents expect from a restaurant on the night it opens, but whatever...they are Judgy McJudgersons who are set in their ways.
We finally went back last night and they were SHOCKED at how much the place had changed since the first night. Well, gasp, I certainly hope they have made some changes since then!
We started upstairs with tapas and drinks. I have to applaud Sevilla for having Happy Hour every single day. Getting happy hour prices on weekends makes me a happy girl, and the $4 pint glasses of sangria and $5 martinis were tasty. We all picked a tapa and shared with each other, and everything was tasty and a perfect way to keep us sated before our meal.
My parents and I LOVED the atmosphere in the tapas bar area upstairs. The bullfighting posters on the wall, the exposed beam ceiling, and the wine bottles everywhere made for a cool place to hang out. We are also huge Gipsy Kings fans, and we loved that they were playing them the entire time we were there, but in the bar area the music was SO loud that we couldn't really have a conversation like we wanted to. I told my dad, "If it's too loud, you're too old!", but then I realized it was too loud for me, too, so I shut up. It's not like he heard me anyway.
Downstairs, the ambiance is way less cool and a lot more cheesy. Dad and I compared it to a low-budget community theater set, which was a shame because the upstairs was so cool.
Our server was good and attentive, but gave us the hard sell on their lobster special, which irritated my parents. We all enjoyed our meals a great deal (mom got the salmon, dad and I got the filet medallions...all delicious), and we really liked the portion sizes of the entrees, although the prices of the meals didn't really reflect the smaller portion sizes.
We were all pleased with our meals and experience, and my parents are now kicking themselves for shunning Sevilla for so long. It took a good experience like this one to get that bad paella taste out of their mouths.
Great Atmosphere & happy hour is a STEAL! 4 to 6:30pm daily.
I stopped here on my way back from Palm Springs. What a nice treat! I loved the vibrant decor, interesting chandeliers, and excellent service.
$6 shrimp and fish ceviche w Mango
$4 grilled Spanish sausages - salty and tasty!
$4 sauteed meatballs al Jerez - in a sherry sauce
$4 Sauteed Mushrooms al Ajillo - a garlic lovers delight!
$5 Sevilla Fried Calamari
$5 Cheese Fundido.
And plenty others... it's simply a difficult decision... yummy or yummy?
AND - 1/2 price sangria, goose pear martini, and plenty of others... hmm.
Nightly live music (Mondays Reggae)
Needless to say, my brief stop turned into a LONG and LIVELY night. I will definitely check out the Long Beach and San Diego locations whenever I get a chance.
I came here with a group of nine friends for their Sunday Brunch for Memorial weekend. Brunch is $18.95/person that is AYCE and one glass of mimosa, champagne or beer. For an additional $5, you can upgrade to bottomless mimosa. As I age, I realize that I can no longer wolf down an endless supply of food and am going for quality over quantity. So for those of you out there who are turned off by AYCE, they do offer a la carte pricing where you could order an entree and add on the buffet for an additional $7.95. The versatility of their menu was a definite attraction.
AYCE offered your standard breakfast fare or eggs, bacon and sausage. Their offerings included some wonderful paella mixed with sausage, a sort of antipasto plate with olives, mushrooms and artichokes that were marinaded in different oils, ceviche, beef and asparagus salads, sun dried tomato with tortellini and different tapas etc.
I liked that they didn't offer an array of food that was too large because it felt like they were able to concentrate on the quality of food. On that note, the grilled beef and asparagus salad was tender and I was impressed that their mango ceviche had good size chunks of tiger shrimp-- great combo with the mango.
They had eat and peel shrimp and oysters on the half shell as well. I wasn't happy with the oysters-- didn't taste fresh and left an unpleasant aftertaste.
Had chocolate-espresso creme brulee, chocolate dipped wafers, raspberry mousse for dessert. The creme brulee would have been a winner if the sugar shell had remained hard. The mousse was light and had a hint of lemon to it.
The ambiance itself deserves 5 stars. Sevilla is in downtown Riverside and the building is quaint and quite beautiful. It was definitely a great place to enjoy our lazy Sunday brunch. For the price of the buffet, I would say that I was satisfied with our experience-- it was right on the mark for the quality of our food. Our waitstaff was attentive to our needs and cordial as well.
What a waste of money! We went to Sevilla for Restaurant Week on a quiet week night when only two other tables had guests. We ordered a chicken tapa which arrived 45 minutes later. The waiter ignored us and the kitchen forgot us. Three badly burnt chicken chunks on a skewer finally arrived. The lamb skewer was sweet, but ok. We were so frustrated and hungry that after service continued to be poor and the rest of the food did not arrive, we cancelled our order and left. We will NEVER go back.
Thank you, Yelp LA talk, for introducing me to the awesomeness that is http://www.restaurant.com
Dining here was calculated move: Use a $25 gift certificate acquired for $2 from http://restaurant.com, AND nab 1,000 dining points at http://www.opentable.com for a 9pm reservation on a Friday night. Score! Although I'm not quite sure what the dining points do, I love to accumulate stuff and virtual points definitely qualify.
I hate it when servers ask: "Evian, Pellegrino, or TAP". Sheesh, a simple "Iced" would suffice! It sounds so ugly, I'm sure the mortification of asking for tap water (especially if it's a first date or business meeting!) is reason enough to order the bottled stuff. And even after I asked for TAP, we didn't get our water until our first tapas arrived! It's slightly annoying when your martini comes out before the water does.
The Paella Valenciana was the highlight of the meal, as was the Bocadillo sampler. Next time, I'd request that the Jamon Serrano be excluded from the platter, I didn't particularly enjoy the flavor and consistency. It's a strip of cured, dried pork that's a little tough to chew. What can I say, I have weak teeth. Pass on the Chicken Croquetas: too salty and entirely unmemorable. The Cheese Fundido is freaking heavy and oily, I took two bites and needed to unbutton my pants.
It was a 2nd Spanish tapas experienced, so I'll absolutely return to try everything else on the menu. Especially so since my friend Laurie, after her stint in Spain, insists that Cafe Sevilla is the most authentic local joint she has found yet. Not to mention, I've still got a whole cache of gift certificates left for this place!
This review is for the Sunday brunch only.
3.5 stars: 1 star for the quaint decor, half star for the food, and 2 stars for the stellar service. There was nothing that really stood out in the buffet offerings. Sure, its all quite edible, but you're not coming for the food. Its an okay way to spend part of a Sunday chatting with friends in a cute place and sipping on mimosa/sangria.
Service is very friendly and attentive. We stayed for a while after paying the check to polish off a few more glasses of champagne. The waitresses didn't rush us and frequently dropped by to pour us some more.
TIP: $18.95 for buffet only or you can add the buffet option to any a la carte item for $7.95. Astute customers will notice that its sometimes cheaper to add the buffet to some of the a la carte items. (Example: $8 for two eggs + $7.95 buffet option = $15.95)
I'd rather have Hometown buffet (all you can eat).
For the sunday champagne brunch price, if you're looking for a good eggs/bacon hot breakfast AYCE, this is NOT the place. BUT if you like tapas then this place is still not the greatest, but at least its all you can eat tapas.
one dish only: tiger shrimp, mango and grapefruit marinated salad. That was the best!
Tips:
Please see David C's recommendation on how to save $ on the buffet price.
Sunday @ 11am was not crowded at all.
I probably wouldn't go again. I'd rather pay for my tapas individually.
Before saying anything else I need to note that the two stars I am giving is solely for the club part of Sevillas *NOT* the restaurant!!! The nightclub is a lot of fun and worth checking out...the restaurant is another story...
I ate here on the eve of a very hard math final back when I was in college, and let me tell you that was the worst case of bubbly guts I've ever had!! First and foremost, I must note that the tapas menu is not only grossly overpriced, it also tastes disgusting!
Do not order a lemonade either, because it cost about $4 and tasted like seltzer water with cheap lemony flavor added to it...Our total meal was about $112 and I'd say hands down without a doubt it you couldn't pay me to eat it again.
Ok so my review might be bias because I worked here for two years. But I also hella know the menu and whats good to have. First off, i'm gonna break it the fk down for yall cuz this place is so diverse and has so much to offer its outta control!
SUNDAY: Brunch $20.95 w/ all u can drink mimosas or sangria
Tapas Bar: $10 brochettas ALL DAY(meat on a skewer, their shrimp one is the buziness!!) 9:00pm - Tapas bar converts into Jazz Bar and they have an amazing LIVE jazz band, they do covers but it gets cracc'n
MONDAY: Restaurant: Paella Madness Monday $15 (serves 1)
Club - More Fire Mondays (reggae night w/ hookahs on the patio and underground and 90s hiphop down in the club)
TUESDAY: Restaurant: 50% off all bottles of wine
WEDNESDAY: Restaurant : 50% of all Platters
THURSDAY: Club - Salsa night!! Free salsa lessons b4 club opens!
FRIDAY & SATURDAY: Live band (Sombra Quieta) plays in crowded Tapas Bar but it's a great and fun atmosphere!! Also they have these AMAZING dinner shows (one is Tango and the other is Flamenco) only on these two days complete w/ either flamenco or tango dancers and a 3-course meal!
Food i LOVE: (mind you, i don't consume land meat often and while I worked here i ONLY ate seafood)
TAPITAS/TAPAS
-shrimp ajillo (cooked in white wine n garlic)
- shrimp croquettas
-empanada barcelona (stuffed w/ salmon mousse, shimp, pinenuts and served w/ a cranberry port sauce, ask for sauce on side)
-mushrooms ajillo (cooked in white wine n garlic)
-tortilla especial (almost like a potato keesh w/ marinated mushrooms)
-pisto manchego (stewed veggies w/ manchego cheese baked on top)
-patatas (potatoes cooked in spicy tomato sauce)
-fried calamari
- cheese fundido (cheese fondue OMG kill me!!)
-tuna tartare
-ceviche (fish, mangos, red onions, bell peppers, NO TOMATOES- frkn amazing!!)
PLATTERS:
-bocadillos (i only got salmon & manchego cheese)
-cold marinated veggies
-4 tapas (chkn skewers, patatas, fried calamari, & shrimp ajillo)
-olives (stuffed w/ anchovies are my fave!!)
SALADS/SOUPS:
-grilled chkn salad (honey balsamic vinegrette & bleu cheese crumbles)
-gazpacho (cold veggie soup, don't knocc it til u try it)
-lobster bisque (topped w/ sherry)
ENTREES:
-Any fish or seafood entree!!
-I remembered people LOVING the swine tenderloin
-porterhouse steak (very popular!)
DESSERTS:
-chocolate decadence cake (flourless cake w/ warm ganouche center served w/ caramel gelatto... mMmmm!!)
-sevilla sundae (caramel gelatto w/ fresh fruit. caramel and sangria sauce)
-chocolate espresso creme brulee (with choc chips at the bottom!)
NOTE: 4:00 - 6:30pm HAPPY HOUR here is the shhhhhhit!! the sangria and mojitos are 50% off (try the mojitos, they're soOoo refreshing- they ground up fresh mint and lime, its a big difference when the ingredients are fresh!) and they have selected tapas at a discounted price. You can't go wrong! MAKE SURE U TIP UR BARTENDERS AND SERVERS!! log onto http://cafesevilla.com to view their prices on menu
Food: 3 Stars
Ambiance: 4 Stars
Great place to hang out with friends for tapas and sangria, and catch one of their shows (live jazz or flamenco depending on the night). But be warned: this is not for the discriminating foodie who yearns, say, for an authentic Paella Valenciana. Stick with the usual favorites---like the jamon iberico, some bilbao or chistorra sausage, steamed mussells, and the chicken croqueta.
The ambiance is what primarily attracts the crowd here--right at the historic riverside district within reach of the Mission Inn, and right across the Coffee Depot. We went on a weeknight, and the service was great, the vibe relaxed. If you and your friends are on the lookout for a place where you can chat, have a few drinks and appetizers in the Riverside/Corona area, this place can't be beat.
Wow... We took my parents last night and what a surprise! As some may note I was never going back to Sevilla after my experience in San Diego (check my other review for information on San Diego). Well my opinion has changed. We will go back.
When we arrived we were seated and the staff evidently thought about a good placement for us as we were seated in a quiet spot out of the way. We had a baby with us, and yes they had a high chair. This way no one had to bump into the baby.
The waiter explained the menu to us, a bit to much detail but he was enthusiastic. He recommended beers for my husband and father, I had the baby so it was diet coke for me. Yikes! They loved the recommended beers.
We enjoyed the food. I wont list it all but I don't think there is a bad thing on the menu. The service was excellent they were aware of us and checked in with out hovering. That is a fine balance.
We will be going back! Well at least we will be going back to the Riverside Sevilla. Excellent food, service, and atmosphere we can't ask for more.
Note: This review is for the club (during my college career, so maybe a bit outdated).
I remember coming here during college, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for Salsa. Cover was about $10 if you didn't get on the list. To get on the list, you can be a part of UCR's salsa team, or just know someone on the team and ask them to put you on the list.
They start off with an hour long Salsa class @ 7pm, so if you don't know how to dance, don't worry, they'll teach you the basics, and most people can learn the basic pretty quickly; it's the fancy stuff that gets 'em.
The club is not very large; everything you see when you walk into the door is pretty much all there is to it. Upstairs you'll find house, hip-hop, and R&B, if you're not diggin the salsa scene. Smoking is permitted upstairs, too, since it's basically and open-air room (tent). There are heating lamps so you don't get cold, and a bar, also.
Parking: in the lot, street parking, or go across the street to Mi Tortilla, which allows you to park after they've closed (9ish).
Dress Code:
Men - Don't look like a thug.
Ladies - Jeans and heels are fine. (Shoes can totally change your outfit, so dress it up.)
Note for the Ladies: there are always plenty of men who know how to salsa, so don't fret if you can't find a partner; they'll find you. They may be a little older, though. If you happen to be lucky enough to find the old white guy teacher, congratulations - he's a great dancer, and I hope you like twirling.
Twirling towards freedom!
First off, I feel hesitant to give three stars here. I usually try and shoot higher whenever I can, but anything higher than three would be dishonest..."and I can't go for that! oh oh...I..I No can do!"
Pros:
- Awesome ambiance. Old industrial building, turned Spanish colonial, turned new wave.
- Unique food. I'm not saying it's fantastic, but it's good in that it isn't the same ol standard affair.
Cons:
- Weak drinks...Nothing urks me more than paying $8 for sweet and sour mix! No Buzz...No Star!
- Slow service. Only had my "tap water" refilled twice during in almost three hours.
- Pricey. For the money, just not that great. I'm talking overcooked pork and almost cold mashed potatoes. Honestly, at least Denny's uses heat lamps.
Overall, this would be a decent stop off for happy hour to have a few cocktails and some tapas. Besides that, I think I'd pass.
Last time I went, I sat at the bar with an old friend, celebrating a major accomplishment on her part. We had mojitos and I had the lobster and seafood bisque. It was absolutely incredible. The mojitos are nice, too. I'd definitely go back for drinks at the bar upstairs.
The first time I went, we ate downstairs and I had the red wine sangria, which I don't recommend, and my husband got sick from whatever he ate. I'd give the more recent trip four of five stars, but the first visit brings down its rating.
Regardless, I'd go back.
I don't know what people were bitching about. the food was fabulous. the olive bread was awesome -- freshly baked ! our host was new so maybe they fired the bad ones that the previous people were bitching about.
anyway, service was great and the food was awesome. we ordered a bunch of tapas and the rabbit dish to share (see photos). everything was delicious. the drinks were strong too!
Cafe Sevilla in Riverside is part of a trio of restaurants of the same name--the original is in San Diego, and their newest, opened a couple of years ago in Long Beach.
I'll give their dinner service a four; for their Sunday buffet, I'll give them a three.
The service is always attentive and polite. The trompe l'oeil murals of Spanish village scenes is a bit kitschy but it gives the restaurant a unique charm.
Come here for their paella in one of several permutations--traditional Valenciana, Marinera (all seafood), or their assorted meat paella--with blood sausage!
All are good, but please do yourself a favor and add the optional lobster to whatever paella you choose.
Their tapas selection is also good. The chorizo and the albondigas al Jerez are favorites of mine, however, I view their tapas menu as being strictly appetizer fare. For a tapas-only meal, I'd recommend Viva Madrid in Claremont.
As far as their Sunday buffet goes, I can take it or leave it. It's not bad at all, but they have a rotation, and the only time I really liked their buffet was when they had the sherry-braised spareribs. And only for that reason. If you're the breakfast sort, though, give it a whirl. I'd rate it higher than the Mission Inn's underwhelming buffet, so that's a big point in their favor!
So, I'm torn between giving this place a 3 or a 4... Ventured to this brunch place on a Sunday morning at 11am and was pleased to find that there was a guitarist playing on the second floor. The atmosphere was really nice and it definitely has decor reminding you of Spain (at least that's what I was told). I opted for the unlimited Sangria brunch for $24.95. They have many different stations to choose from... from a fresh seafood station (which has raw oysters, salmon, and ceviche) to the breakfast station (eggs benedict, sausage/bacon, fresh waffles, made to order omelets, and the PAELLA and carving station) to the lunch section (more seafood, ravioli, etc) and of course the dessert section (cakes, pastries, fruit, etc).
Here's what I had...
* Ceviche - good, but would have loved to have chips or something with it
* Tri-Tip (carving station) - really good
* Eggs benedict - eggs were overcooked (I like my eggs a little runny with my eggs benedict)
* Waffles - perfect (its a MUST to add strawberries and whipped cream)
* Paella - SO GOOD I had it TWICE (saffron rice and I added chicken, shrimp, and oyster)
* Cheesecake - SO SO GOOD
* Fresh fruit dipped in chocolate from the fountain - BEST combo is the pineapple with chocolate
If I lived in the area, I'd definitely go again... but it's not really good enough for me to drive all the way to Riverside (without a purpose)...
I've been here a number of times and I have mixed feelings (so apropos for me). I feel the portions are either too big or too small, never just right. Granted they are keeping with the whole authentic tapas feel, however I find it quite limiting because the bigger entrees aren't as appetizing in my opinion i.e the rabbit... As for the service, it really just depends on who you get. We twice had a waiter that kept upselling us, so I charged him back (in his tip!).
As for the taste of the food, it is good but not great (especially for the price). I really liked the ceviche but again I wish it was a bit bigger. The paella and the pasta mallorca were ok - the saffron shrimp was really rich. The meat is good (I'm drawing a blank on what its called) but I don't like how they hang it at your table - it's just not necessary because there isn't that much meat. Oh well.
Oh and the white sangria is better than the red.
Cafe Sevilla is a good place for a full dinner or for tapas. The spanish tortilla is a must! I've been here with family for an intimate dinner and with a group of friends for drinks and tapas. It doesn't matter what you are here for...the food is delicious and the service is great. Stick around and enjoy your self. Have a couple of drinks and shake your booty.
Certainly something different in Riverside and for that I am happy to have the place.
I can't speak for the nightlife as I have only been here for dinner and a few drinks on a couple different occasions.
Cocktails are decent, I would recommend the basic Mojito, but the raspberry version isn't very tasty.
I stick to the Tapas and it's good to know they have a solid happy hour where you can get good cocktail deals and half off Tapas. Four to five tapas should be good for a party of two.
The bread they serve tastes good specially with the white garlic spread.
As for tapas, they are good, but not great. They tend to be overly greasy. But I HIGHLY recommend the mashed potatoes and cheese fondido.
The place has a ton of space, a cool patio with an outdoor fountain, and a bar with decent ambience and good service.
Worth a visit!
Sevilla cracks me up. I came here on a thursday night with some of my friends...upstairs was DEAD & i meann DEAD! but downstairs was a whole other story. It was like SALSA fever! People were salsaing like their life depended on it. If i knew how to salsa, i would probably rate this place higher but since I dont have a clue how to. Theres nothing for me to do here. I saw around and watch my drunk friends dance to hip hop.. I watched my friends.. haha just them because there was no one else on the dancefloor, well there was no one else there really! haha Except for a few weirdos that stand there awkardly in a suit on a thursday night by themselves... idk what those guys were thinking.. haha I didnt like it but my friends did.
Cafe Sevilla is located in The Marketplace area of downtown Riverside, a short walk from the Mission Inn District and all of Riverside's nightlife.
This place is what i would call a "Destination Restaurant". The atmosphere is friendly and bustling and the decor reminds one of cafe restaurants along winding European streets. The food is inspired from Spain and the Basque Regions - and their signature Paella Valenciana (a kind of rice/seafood caserole) is wonderful (it's my wife's favorite dish). Their menu is extensive, covering different areas of Spain - and their Tapas Bar (Tapas are Spanish Appetizer dishes) is a great way to introduce yourself to the different tastes that are offered.
Cafe Sevilla is also a happening night spot. They have a nightclub attached to the restaurant that's quite the place to be in the evenings. This is also where they have their famous shows during the weekend nights. The wife and I enjoyed their Flamenco Dinner Show a few years back for our 4th wedding anniversary and loved it. You get wonderful music and dancing entertainment as well as a delicious 3 course meal. They also have a Tango and a Gypsy Fusion dinner show; and when its over you can stay and party at the nightclub with no cover charge.
The prices are moderate. It's not cheap I must say but it's not overly expensive either. Certainly worth spending an evening at.
We knew we were going to be in Riverside so I consulted YELP (once again) as to where we could eat dinner. Sevilla popped up but the reviews were wide ranged, however, we love Spanish food so thought we'd just chance it. There are 2 parts to this place, a club where flamenco dancers perform and a dinner section next to it. We were with the lil guy so we opted for the other side. We wanted to have tapas so I requested the tapas bar which was upstairs. Now, I thought you could only have the tapas in the tapas bar, but I was wrong. Lil guy wanted to sit downstairs and we found out we could do just that -- so off we went downstairs. Mind you, the tapas bar was really nice, music was a bit too loud, but had a great atmosphere.
The entire restaurant was rather dark (hence you can see my photos didn't turn out too well), nice for dates I guess, but there weren't many of those there as we noticed, but rather, lots of families.
We perused the menu and there were loads of things we like (and hoped that it tasted just like the way we like them). Lil guy asked if they had lobster bisque, which they did, so we ordered him one of those.
The tapas arrived quickly. The olives stuffed with anchovies were boring. Couldn't even taste the anchovies. The ceviche was rather good, perfectly marinated and served with pieces of endive.
Lil guy's lobster bisque had WAY too much cream in it which meant you couldn't taste the lobster or seafood at all. He took one spoonful and told me he didn't want it. The calamari arrived and while hot, it was really tasty, flavorful but a bit on the chewy side. But when this dish got cold, the coating became soggy and the entire dish became pretty gross. I did like the paprika flavors though.
Shrimp ajillo also had excellent flavor but the shrimp alas wasn't as fresh as they could've been and thus, was lost in texture and natural flavor. Shaved lamb (which we didn't order) was a stew-like dish. Not bad, but was nothing when compared to the lamb chops which were fabulous! We had to have another order of those!
Now, I'm a HUGE paella fan, but have never found the perfect paella anywhere. Berta's in San Diego came close. The paella valenciana here was okay. Once again, it was the quality of the seafood which caused its downfall. As hubby pointed out Riverside isn't anywhere close to the coastline where there is an abundance of fresh seafood so I shouldn't compare it to say oh San Francisco or Spain itself. Still, I'd expected better. The paella wasn't bad, it just wasn't great.
Chocolate flourless cake was quite delicious. I took one bite as I was pretty stuffed.
It's very difficult giving this place a star rating because food-wise it only garnered a 3 star but the atmosphere and the entire experience was 4 stars. Our server was great even though she put in a wrong order, but on the whole she was really attentive and helpful throughout our meal. On top of what we ate, we also had 2 glasses of wine (which our server recommended and it was awesome), a glass of sangria, one iced tea and a bottle of Pellegrino.
Our total including tip was $150, what we'd expect to spend at a Spanish restaurant in America. Only wished the seafood was fresher than it was. Still we had a good evening. Since I can't give half stars, I'm listing it as a 4-star, but food was definitely 3.
I've been here for two reasons, none of which was the dance club. SO thankfully, I have missed the oversexed, under dressed youth frequently pictured in Skinnie Magazine.
Drinks in the bar, are nice, kinda pricey but good atmosphere and layout.
Dinner, while I don't remember it much past it being good, was pricey, but hey, me Pa paid. Speaking of me Pa, nothing says good time like watching your 50 something father up on stage trying to get frisky with a flamenco dancer. I'm sure that will make her think twice on picking someone from the audience. But hot damn, did my face hurt from laughing, and my nose sting from booze shooting out of it.
Ahhhhh, good times by all
A fun place for dinner and drinks.
I've gone there on many occasions in a variety of manners (for drinks, for dancing, for dinner) and I've never been disappointed.
I love having drinks and tapas up in the upper level bar. They always have awesome live music.
I've gone there for a birthday dinner and on another occassion a going away party where we were able to rent out the side room as well.
I've always had a good time there. Overall, it's a fun and flirtatious type of place.
A good place to go to to console yourself for being under 21 and too lazy to drive to a descent night club in L.A.
Admittedly, I have only visited Sevilla for the purpose of dancing - and have gone there mostly on Fridays and Saturdays. Yet every time I go, I end up having the same experience.
The atmosphere is what one would expect from a night club: loud music, neon lights, smoke machine... Add a large crowd of dancers, place it all in a rather small dance room, and voila! I often found the interior dance room to be a bit too small - and much too easily crowded. You will most likely end up being pushed and showed throughout the evening, just by virtue of everyone trying to dance in such a confined space.
The crowding mixed with the humidity of the smoke machines is not a particularly good combination. Prepare to sweat off a pants size or two. It is very hard to find a spot where you might feel a breeze from the air conditioner, and even if you do - you will most likely be pushed out of that spot in a matter of seconds.
Of course you can always escape to the second level of the establishment - an open air dance floor - but the music selection of that level rarely fits the interests of a young-girl-ready-to-party. They more often than not end up playing remixes of oldies or foreign music selections. Eclectic...
And speaking of music - I would not be fooled by their advertised "hip hop" nights. While Fridays are supposed to be targeted towards the hip hop audience and Saturdays more towards the Latino public, both nights seem to play relatively similar music selections. Thus, if you arrive of Friday night, hoping to boogie to Beyonce or 50 Cent, don't be surprised of ending up with plenty of opportunities to show off your latest salsa moves.
Side note: The bouncers are really sweet, if you get to chat with them for a bit. Quite a few of them have a very nice sense of humor. :)
Well, I USED to be fan until they changed their brunch menu. Now, instead of a buffet brunch, they have a brunch menu with single items on it. You can then add a small, unpleasant buffet option for an additional $8, or get the buffet alone for $15. Although some items in the new brunch buffet looked the same as my last visit, my stomach pains after eating told me they either cheapened their ingredients or added a lot of cream as a filler. I think the ahi may have been stale, as well.
However, I wouldn't rule it out completely as a Sunday brunch option. In fact, if someone's never been before, s/he won't know what it used to be like, and will probably be OK. If you've been to the brunch before, beware of the negative changes.
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I've been 3 times for brunch, and it's totally worth the $20 just in fresh fish alone. I can't answer for the regular dinner menu or club, but brunch is worth the $.
Saw a show on the Travel Channel about the south of Spain, so I immediately looked for the nearest tapas bar and found Cafe Sevilla in Riverside. Went there last night with my wife, and oh, my, GOD! We had a couple of different tapas platters, and everything was fantastic. I don't want to sound like one of those food-wonks, but every bite was a symphonic explosion of flavors. The servers were all friendly and happy to explain the menu and dishes, and the acoustic Latin-jazz duo was outstanding. Casual attire is okay for upstairs, but everybody downstairs was more like business casual to dressy. Great, great place!
Riverside, CA
Category: Pubs
Riverside, CA
Category: American (New)
Riverside, CA
Category: British
Riverside, CA
Category: Martial Arts
Riverside, CA
Category: Restaurants
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