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Viva Madrid
Categories: Restaurants Spanish Restaurants Tapas Bars Restaurants Basque Spanish, Tapas Bars, Basque [Edit]
225 Yale AveSte B
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 624-5500
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
385 reviews for Viva Madrid
Review Highlights
"Especially the bacon wrapped dates."
(in 96 reviews)
"Their sangria makes me week in the knees, literally."
(in 208 reviews)
"Especially for the Chorizo stuffed mushrooms."
(in 13 reviews)
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385 reviews in English
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Review from Richard M.
Riverside, CA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came to Viva Madrid last night with Chris, thought we'd grab a bite together since we hadn't seen each other for a few days. So we decided the small plate approach would fit . We ordered the following:
Marinated extra large green olives, green olives, and garlic in a slightly spicy paprika sauce Vegetarian
Tapas Buena Frio
a selection of cold tapas which includes assorted chorizos
,Tortillas Española
Spanish omelet consisting of eggs, onions, potato, and parsley, Gazpacho
chilled spiced mixed vegetable
Vegetarian- Ensalada Madrid
carrots, beets, fennel, and cucumber in a pomegranate dressing Vegetarian- Empanada Jardinera
broccoli. cauliflower, tomato's, eggplant, onions, olives, zucchini, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, peas, roasted garlic, and cilantro.
We enjoyed almost everything but found the omelet a little bland. I love olives so I was a happy camper. -
Review from Nicholas B.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
1/27/2012
I have been here about 3 times and every time we have walked past it and got lost. It is hidden away in a corridor past a little jewelry shop. Expect a wait on a fri or sat night especially if you are with a big party. It is a good little date restaurant seeing that it is small and intimate while also allowing you to experience a wide variety of dishes together.
If you want something refreshing get the sangria but if you want to drink stick to wine.
The plates are tasty and they offer every thing from meat, seafood, to veggies in a tapas style food service. The only reason I'm not rating it higher is that nothing threw me out of my chair when I was eating. Everything was good but I didn't get that wow factor. -
Review from Lawrence L.
Covina, CA
If you're familiar with the Village in Claremont, then you will probably be well aware of this little tapas place inside of a somewhat depressed arcade hallway. We've been here a couple of times over the years and actually walked when the wait was a little too ridiculous for us, so expect it to be busy. But if you've never been here, then I can say that the quality of the dishes are worth it to visit at least once. Sometimes it's also easier to just sit at the bar, especially if there are only two in your party. Take in a sangria as they are pretty popular...
Don't be taken aback when they even charge you for the bread, http://www.yelp.com/bi... all is forgiven once you dive into a couple of dishes as everything is delectable, especially if you think of it as merely "bar" food. The menu is fairly diverse, full of delicious bite-sized morsels, it would be easy to share and pound down a dozen different plates without trying very hard...
I wanted to start with a couple of meat and cheese charcuterie appetizers. The Melón con Jamón http://www.yelp.com/bi... was a sweet cantaloupe section with salty, savory Serrano ham slices speared with more melon balls. I paired this with Manchego con Membrillo, http://www.yelp.com/bi... wedges of Manchego cheese topped with quince paste like fruit pie slices. The accompanying apple slices provided a nice offset...
Among the savories we selected were the Champiñones al Ajillo, http://www.yelp.com/bi...
mushrooms sauteed in olive oil, garlic, parsley and white wine; the Rabo de Toro, http://www.yelp.com/bi... an Oxtail stew with onions, carrots, beans, red wine, and herbs; the Chuletas de Cordero, http://www.yelp.com/bi... broiled marinated lamp chops; and Gamba al Ajillo, http://www.yelp.com/bi... shrimp cooked with garlic, white wine, parsley, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil. Like I said before, we could have easily kept going but we wanted to keep it real which is fine because although I wasn't stuffed, I was very satisfied...
The ambiance does seem to take you to another place, and you will be close enough to the people next to you such that you can eavesdrop pretty easily if you wanted to, or vice-versa, but all-in-all it usually a pretty friendly casual crowd...
Been here before, would come back again... -
Review from Matthew B.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
2/4/2012
First off, the food here is fantastic. I cannot get over how amazing the nachos are, and their vegan calabacines de rellenod (hopefully I got that right) is to die for.
The service, however, is a gamble. My boyfriend and I come here quite often, and it's really inconsistent. Sometimes the servers are awesome and accommodating, and other times they really don't give a damn whether you live or die.
If you're the type of person who freaks out over less than stellar service, this isn't the place for you. However, if you're willing to forget the crappy service and focus on the amazing food and decor, Viva Madrid is great. -
Review from Evan S.
Riverside, CA
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you're looking for close quarters, hideous decor, slow services & GREAT tapas, Viva Madrid is the place to be my friends. For starters order a drink as soon as you're seated at the bar or table & sip slow, you'll be waiting awhile for the next round. I ordered roughly ten to twelve quick bites off the tapas between three people). Everything came out fresh & promptly. The halibut was flaky & cooked to perfection. The Calamares Fritos (fried squid) was the best I've ever had. The Pollo Ajillo was juicy & the wine it was sauteed in was very good. No complaints with the food.
In closing everything was phenomenal; the food, the drinks, the people & the music. To enjoy great tapas with friends head to Claremont, Ca & Yelp Viva Madrid. -
Review from Olga Z.
Covina, CA
1/31/2012 2 photos
This place is a jewel in hiding... So quaint! It surprises you to find a line to get in... Bit once you do you totally get it...all tapas so good! Try the ox tail! Totally delicious.... I will be back for so sure!!!
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Review from Cynthia B.
San Pedro, CA
12/26/2011
You need to be in the mood for cramped quarters, long waits and loud conversation. To me it is worth it.
The Tapas are superb. I've never had a meal I didn't enjoy thoroughly.
Friends, Tapas and a nice bottle of wine. You can't go wrong.
One of my favorite restaurants in Southern California. -
Review from Candis G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/19/2012
This is my all time favorite restaurant. I am almost not wanting to post it because I don't want more people clogging up the joint! If you show up on a Thurs-Sat night, be prepared to wait for a WHILE!! That being said, the food is impeccable and even though I have yet to visit Madrid, Spain, I hear this is the place that gets as close to authentic Spanish Tapas as it gets. Try the Bacon Wrapped Dates and the Jamon y Queso. Also, if you are a Sangria drinker, its all about the White! Dessert?? Mexican Coffee is a Show to Be Seen !!
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Review from Ivonne C.
Walnut, CA
11/27/2011
Found this place while taking a stroll through downtown Claremont. It's kind of hidden, which made it interesting, and there were a number of people waiting outside, which made it even more intriguing!
Why I can't wait to go back: Loved the rustic, cozy ambience inside and the food was amazing! We ordered the beef, patatas bravas and a combo of Spanish cheeses and ham. The beef in it's brothy glory was savory, tender and intense. The potatoes were baked and the spicy red sauce over them blended nicely with the starchiness to even out the flavor. The food came out fast, the sangria was the right mix of sweet and tangy and refreshing! The portions were large considering its tapas and best of all, the price is great! We had 4 drinks total plus the food and the bill was around $40 bucks!
Why not 5 stars: The place is tiny and it can get pretty loud. We had to sit at the bar because we called to make reservations and couldn't get anyone to pick up. The bar is small so we unwillingly learned a lot from the couple next to us who was on a first date!
Overall, perfect place for a small group of friends or a date night, but not the first date because everyone will hear your lame conversation. -
Review from Nancy V.
Placentia, CA
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of my favorite places! Although the wait can be very long, especially on the weekends (and they do not accept reservations), this place is a delicious and unique experience. Their food is pretty authentic and their sangria is excellent. We always order a variety of tapas and skip out on the entrees. I think I have ordered almost all their tapas! Patatas bravas, champinones rellenos, empanada, tortilla, and so many many more favorites. There have only been a few items that I'm not too crazy about, but 90% of the tapas are amazing!
Worth the drive and the wait. -
Review from Jessica N.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
12/10/2011
the food is worth the wait!
Very flavorful and fresh food. -
Review from Tude L.
West Covina, CA
11/26/2011
Viva Madrid,......bring on the comida!
I had been wanting to try this place for quite sometime, so with a little convincing ($10.00 corkage fee), the hubby and I decided to check it out.
We met up with my cousin and her husband at 5:00 p.m., when the doors open. To my surprise, there were several other people waiting to get in as well.
We were seated abruptly and the savory, flavorful Spanish dishes were brought out.
The following was ordered:
Lamb Chops, we actually ordered this twice because they were so damn delicious!
Paella Valenciana, we did the veggie thing because we don't eat pork. It was pretty good but not "Great".
Empanada Jardinera, we both thought this was the worst tapa, it lacked luster, personality and it was tough to look at.
We also tried a carafe of their Sangria, which was very flavorful.
Overall, a great culinary experience, we will definitely go again. -
Review from Anthony Q.
Ontario, CA
1/19/2012
Great lil spot, like its small...quaint but sooo worth the cramped quarters. Get there when it opens to ensure you get a spot, or to avoid a wait. If you do have to wait, hit the bar. Lots of great drinks and wine choices. There is so much to choose from w/ the tapas menu. The decore is great and have heard that there is a flamingo guitarist so got to catch that for sure.
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Review from Catie E.
Claremont, CA
1/11/2012
I was mixed about this place. The food presented was delicious and did remind me of the tastes I had in Spain years ago. However, the acoustics in the building make it really unpleasantly loud even before the music starts. A live guitar was just too much in such a small space. The service was also pretty slow and we were not checked on by our waitress at all-we had to make requests of her when she came over to bring the food because she didn't even ask if she could get us anything.
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Review from Heath C.
Pomona, CA
1/30/2012
I love going to this place alone with my wife or with friends. There's usually a long wait for a table. I usually order a bunch of Tapas of which my favorites are: Chicken Empanada, Bacon Wrapped Dates, Calamari, BBQ Chicken. I like their side salad that comes with the carrots and beats. Oh, and the Creme Brulee is awesome!
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Review from Rena B.
Duarte, CA
Updated - 1/9/2012
Your review helps others learn about great local businesses.
Please don't review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you're connected in any way to the owner or employees.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/3/2012
I went there for my birthday and was very excited since I love tapas. At last I found a reasonably… Read more »
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Review from Joe D.
Covina, CA
10/22/2011
Viva Madrid is a classic date spot in the heart of Claremont. I brought my future wife here on our first date and have been here many times with other friends, below are my pros/cons:
Pros:
Bacon wrapped dates
Great service
Casual dining experience and isn't stuffy
Cons:
Wait times are long (1- 1-1/2 hours)
Dining Area is very tight
Best time to visit the restaurant without the long wait is Tuesday and Wednesday. -
Review from Sean L.
Arcadia, CA
10/14/2011
Came here as my Dad's choice for his birthday dinner, and jeez I wish his birthday hadn't been on a Saturday! This place was packed and was about an hour wait to get a table and probably 40 minutes to get our food. The place is really small for a full restaurant / bar, but the environment is nice with a lot of interesting pieces around the walls to look at.
As for the food, I was excited to try it and disappointed when it came out. I got the honey glazed lamb dish (can't remember the name), and tried my girlfriend's salmon dish, and some of my parents' paella (mixta). Out of the three dishes, I liked the lamb the least. The first bite was decent because of all the flavor, but there was just wayyy too much honey in it and it was ridiculously oversweet. I think the dish had potential if it was way toned down because the olives and cheese and peppers (that weren't too soaked in honey) complimented the lamb well.
The lamb was actually slightly overdone as well, as was my girlfriend's salmon - though it had a very nice flavor. The salad on her dish had a nice combination of flavors as well. As for the couple of bites I had of the paella, I liked it. Everything was very tender with nice flavors, though nothing spectacular.
This place is somewhat pricey, but that wouldn't have mattered if the quality of the food had lived up the expectations. Unfortunately it did not, and the bill came to about $95 or so for 5 1/2 people before tip. I wish I had tried the bacon wrapped dates that I've heard so much about, because I probably won't be coming back.
The 3 stars are for the variety, atmosphere, potential, and my opinions on the other dishes I tasted besides my own. Might have been 4 stars if not for my disappointment with my honeyed lamb, but I definitely think 3 is fair. -
Review from Michel G.
Covina, CA
1/5/2012
Showed up early with half of our party. Restaurant was empty. Waitress scolded me and told me to wait in hallway till all party arrived. Once we were cleared to sit at table, ordered carafe of Sangria (Hawaiian punch)??? Food was interesting husband enjoyed filet. Oxtail soup good. Too much honey in the lamb. If you are in mood for ok fare served with huge heaping amount of attitude, this is your place
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Review from Kim G.
Waialua, HI
12/26/2011
I had the most amazing tapas tonight. Red Sangria is excellent!
I should make a note that the restaurant was not expecting such a large rush and many of her staff members had to go on vacation or didn't show up. and the Blonde bartender had some sort of nasty bitch attitude. But the owner and everyone else was wonderful. So the food was slow but the waitresses and chefs were doing the best the could given the circumstances. So I am not going to doc any points for this reason.
So I highly recommend this place to anyone. LArGE variety of tapas, entres, dessert menu. There is something for everyone.
One this I would definitely recommend is the dates wrapped n bacon and the wine marinated pears on top of the cheese.
Wonderful atmosphere, owner is a gem and the rest of the restaurant also seemed to be enjoying themselves. no reservation and you must wait for your entire party to show up before they will seat you. But you can also eat at the bar.
Enjoy 100% enjoyable!!!
K -
Review from Carolyn D.
Fountain Valley, CA
9/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been here once before, but the wait was ridiculous so I ended up somewhere else. Not this time! Got seated at the bar within 5 minutes.
There's a man on the indoor balcony playing live music. Lights are dim and the decor resembles the streets of Madrid. It's nice, blah blah blah.. onto the important things - their food!
- A carafe of white sangria: served with fresh diced melon (honey dew & cantelope) and watermelon. Not too sweet, and refreshing considering it's wine! Watch out though, it'll creep on you!
- Carne de Vaca al Vino: beef, simmered in spices & wine (reminds me of Vietnamese bo kho) they both have a lot of the same ingredients. When I make it at home I let it simmer overnight and into the next day. I don't think they did this.. probably won't get this again. Also, it was chewy.
- Rabo de Toro: oxtail soup served with softened carrots and onions - delicious!! The oxtail is unbelievably tender!
- Chipirones en su Tinta: Squid cooked in its own ink - this tapa comes out in a shallow dish. It's surprisingly sweet and tastes of slow cooked onions and garlic. Unfortunately... I did get some sand in my bite :(
- Paella Canaria: meat meat and more meat! I would've tried the Paella Mariscos... but there's always next time :) this was AMAZING. It says this serves one and each additional serving is $15.00 ...that's insane. I ate this with a friend who's 6'5 and we couldn't finish it! Granted, there were the tapas to attend to, but seriously, this could easily feed 2 to 3 people.
Our check came out to about $60 (including a hefty tip). Pretty good, huh? Definitely coming back. -
Review from Gretchen R.
Claremont, CA
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I must have gone on an off day because the food was not good. The chicken tapa came out cold in the middle--not reheated long enough I guess. The paella was a disaster...rice was very undercooked--crunchy rice, yuck. The menu listed halibut in the paella which was not present at all. I think they substituted catfish which I dislike since I think it tastes like dirt.
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Review from Stephanie Y.
Los Angeles, CA
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Red and White Sangrias are phenomenal! The bacon wrapped dates are a must try. The Carne Con Vaca Al Vino (Beef with Wine) is superb. The Creme Brulee is so light and perfectly made on your table side.
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Review from jonathan g.
Montclair, CA
12/28/2011
Tapas and Wine, Tapas and Beer, Tapas and Sangria......Wonderful place to hang out at. I recommend coming with an empty stomach, many types of tapas to choose from. I've only been here once but will definitely return soon. Unique atmosphere, kinda of spooky area above the bar area, almost like a vampire was going to fly out from the shutters. Very tasty and unique.
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Review from Matthew T.
Los Angeles, CA
12/28/2011
Tapas style, pretty good. A long wait and expensive for what you get though. People often complain about the crammed seating arrangement, but along with the wood paneling and funky decor, it gives off a nice warm feeling. Would go again for surezzz...
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Review from Karen N.
Rowland Heights, CA
9/28/2011
Love the ambiance of this place! The setting is very dim, but the decorations and design of this place really make you feel like you're in "Madrid"...or some type of local Spanish pub.
The food here isn't "wow this is so good!". But I happen to love their bacon wrapped dates. They also have this mixed vegetable thing that looks like a lasagna...it was okay. (It had olives on top and I don't like olives). The croquettes and bread were both okay.
I wouldn't say they have the best food...but I'd come back cus the setting and ambiance of the place is fun. Plus I'd love to try out other tapa dishes. -
Review from Sue K.
Claremont, CA
10/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Had not had tapas in years!!! THis place is tucked away in Claremont villages. From the outside, it looks like just any other restaurant, but once you walk into the place, you feel like you are in spain. It was dimly lit, no music, unassuming but authentic...
FOOD.
Flavorful. Very flavorful.
Bacon wrapped dates
Deep Fried battered shrimp
spanish omelet
Chorizo stuffed squid in ink
ox tail stew
chicken croquette
I am not a fan of bacon - but the dates were amazing. bacon was so crispy that i did not really mind it. salty bacon + sweet/soft dates = slowly mesmerize your taste buds. Shrimp was crispy. spanish omelet was more like a fritatta - bu super oily with lots of potatoes. squid was interesting...i'd recommend it just to try it.
Ox tail stew - lots of vegetables and beans - the meat fell off the bones. chicken croquette was a bit on the salty side...not memorable. :)
Definitely will return to try other things.. -
Review from Van D.
Irvine, CA
9/25/2011 7 photos
I went here a while back with my friends for some Tapas!! It's quite a hidden location, but it's yummy!!
The first thing I noticed was that the chairs and tables were uneven =/ this buggs me a bit, but I guess it's forgivable...
We had no wait, so that was awesome. My friend told me that there's usually a wait.. .. We sat down and ordered some Tapas and some SAngrias :) I feel as though it's a bit pricey, only because it's not filling. but nevertheless, the food was delicious :) and the sangrias were amazing as well!!
The service was great. Our waitress even gave us extra fruit bits on the side to add into our sangria in case we wanted more. She came back and checked on us, just about the right amount of time without being neglectful or annoying. A+ for service
Overall i would happily come back for their Tapas and Sangria, but not when it's busy :) -
Review from Gina L.
Upland, CA
1/23/2012
We hit up this gem of a restaurant in the village of Claremont last night. The ambiance is amazing, the food exceptional, the service was weird, let's say, we'll get to that later. When I was in the military I spent some time in Spain. Here in the states I've never had such an authentic experience at a tapas joint. The place was difficult to find, but then you enter this dimly lit hallway and you actually feel like you're in Spain. Once inside, the music sets a mood and all of the decor is fascinating.
Our friends told us to show up early to insure a seat. This restaurant is tiny! We arrived shortly after they'd opened. We took a seat at the bar and waited..and waited. Finally a girl comes over and tells us that our server is detained and offers to get us drinks while we wait. When our server stumbles upon us we were shocked. Three sheets to the wind doesn't even begin to describe. She asked if we wanted drinks, did she not realize that we already had them??? She must have decided not to finish her shift because we never saw her again. If it wasn't for that incident, this restaurant would have easily gotten 5 stars from us.
On to the food. The flavors were amazing and for the price we were delighted at the portion sizes. I think some of what we had was actually better than food that I'd eaten while traveling in Spain.
I'll definitely go back and I suggest that you do too! Hopefully next time, we have more drinks than our server! -
Review from Christopher W.
Walnut, CA
9/25/2011
Awesome tapas place that's a"hole-in-the-wall" in Claremont Village. LONG wait in the beautifully decorated hallway that appears to be a street in Spain. Waited about an hour and 45 minutes but it was all with it. The ambiance inside is really nice As soon as we got seated at the bar made with mosaic, we ordered a half liter of sangria which was nicely oxygenated from those machines they have at the juice shops so it was fresh and it had honeydew cantaloupe, and blueberries. Then we ordered the:
Croquetas de Pescado - crab, shrimp, tuna, onions and breadcrumbs
- nice and crunchy with a lot of seafood.
Calamares con Chorizo - squid stuffed with chorizo in an onion, herb, tomato sauce.
- an explosion of chorizo flavor in the soft squid
Gambas de Ajillo - a favorite in Spain: shrimp cooked with garlic white wine parsley lemon juice & extra virgin olive oil.
- huge shrimp with a nice garlicy sauce that we had to order nice soft bread to dip
*especiales* Mojama - - dried, salt cured yellow fin tuna filet thinly sliced served with bread drizzles with extra virgin olive oil.
- it was nice and salty kind of like prosciutto or Serrano ham but really thinly sliced dry salted aged tuna on top of nice bread.
Datiles con bacon - dates wrapped with bacon and grilled.
- probably the best recommendation from Yelp with the nice sweet and salty flavor profiles that go perfectly with each other.
Paella mixta - saffron rice, shrimp, squid, mussels, scallops, swordfish, halibut, chorizo, chicken, red & green peppers & black olives. - nice filler but it was a large dish, but with all the flavors that went into the rice it was nice. I think next time we'll skip this and order more tapas!
To end the night we ordered:
Creme brûlée which was torched right in front of us. It was delicious and a good way to end the night -- with hyperglycemia ;)
All in all I would come back here, it's definitely worth the wait and the prices considering the other tapas places are in the OC, this is a nice restaurant one in a nice quaint college town. Thanks ¡Viva Madrid! -
Review from Ahmad E.
Los Angeles, CA
10/9/2011
Ok food - it's tapas
Kinda crowded
Would go again if I were filled with sangria -
Review from Christopher J.
Rowland Heights, CA
7/12/2011
Came here with a good friend of mine for dinner because it was their choice this time around. Of course, the Back Abbey is my #1 spot within the area but this place received lots of positive reviews, so why not?
For first timers, you may find some difficulty locating the entrance since its pretty hidden (no big signs or anything). Even for those who've been here before might have trouble finding it sometimes, *ahem*
Once you walk in, you'll notice how compact it is inside and how dim the lighting is. We grabbed seats at the bar with ease. After awhile I noticed there were no tv's or music. But the ambiance was sufficient enough to engage in conversation and the decorations were cool to look at.
We ordered the bacon dates and yes they really are tasty. We ordered two other appetizers and they were micro-sized, no large portions, very micro-sized I tell you.. For the entree, we split the Seafood Paella... And by surprise it was a good portion, tasted very good, and was packed with different kinds of seafood (clams, squid, shrimp, mussels, fish, etc.)
The only BAD thing is that there are no beers on tap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and they might have been short staffed that night as well.. -
Review from Glen C.
Claremont, CA
11/6/2011
A quirky place with really good tapas and sangria. I enjoyed my meal but to the wait to be seated.
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Review from Lauren A.
Claremont, CA
9/2/2011
Ok, if you go in the evening, you will be waiting for at least 15 minutes.
That tells you something!
I have only been to a few tapas bars, and this one is the one that serves the best Sangria and hamon/cheese slices. All the food is delicious. My favorite is the pears slices with the cheese on the crusty bread...and anything wrapped in the hamon. -
Review from Steven W.
San Gabriel, CA
10/26/2011
One of alltime favorite places to eat! Viva Madrid is a beautiful, hidden, cozy restaurant in the heart of Claremont, not far from the colleges. Its not a big place and its always packed so come early or expect to wait. My wife and I went to Viva Madrid for Valentine's Day one year and waited for almost 2 hours - but it was worth it! They're food is just that good!. We've had just about every item on their tapas menu and have never been disappointed. Our friends from Spain attest that their food is delicious and authentic. If you are going for the first time try the bacon wrapped dates, moor's chicken, chorizo mushrooms, and our absolute favorite, the oxtail stew! If you have room for desert try the Queso con Fresa al Vapor "a variety of Spanish cheeses blended together, topped with steamed strawberries, sprinkled with mint and drizzled with a 15 year old Spanish vinegar". when I read that on the menu for the first time I was both intrigued and repulsed - had to give it a try. the first bite was like a mouth orgasm - I almost had a pleasure seizure!
If you are new to Spanish food give Viva Madrid a try - and don't be afraid to try things that may sound a bit strange to you. it may be the best thing you ever put in your mouth -
Review from Catty B.
Diamond Bar, CA
6/19/2011
Came today on fathers day for the first time. Waited over an hour. I was hoping it'd be worth the wait. Absolutely not. As a chef in Los Angeles, i know much about food cost and portioning. Their food portions were outrageously small even for small plates. A dish that would cost them .50 cents to make, they charge $6! We spent over $200 for 4 adults and 2 small kids.
I truly believe their cooks need to go back to culinary school. The clams were literally caked with paprika, their squid cooked in own ink super over cooked, everything under seasoned and it were as if they never heard of a lemon or adding butter to the broth. I was super
disappointed with all our meals, especially since people have been telling me to come for years.
On top of it our server a boy with glasses was absolutely rude! As we were asking about dessert, he straight said, "we have rice pudding, and cakes. Do you want to hear about them or not?". Asshole! oh! And my husband had a huge crack on his glass for his sangria, and his replacement glass had candle wax all over it! Btw their dessert is obviously from Costco.
And they have a microwave they reheat your dishes with. That's whack! I will never return and do not recommend this place. Drive yourself to Los Angeles and I'll cook you a better meal for less than half the price with everything from the farmers market. Btw if the owner would stop talking to her friends and pay attention to her guests more, she would probably be more successful. There isnt anything i can positively say about this place. perhaps, great idea but failure to execute. -
Review from Miko C.
6/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Open Viva Madrid's bright red door, cross the threshold and transport yourself into another world. The warm glow from the chandelier invites you to explore an intimate space adorned with Spanish artwork and an eclectic assortment of curios hanging from the walls. This wonderful Spanish tapas bar and restaurant is dark, cozy, and romantic.
The food at Viva Madrid is absolutely phenomenal. The tapas menu is quite extensive, making it easy for you to find something fresh and exciting to experience. I have had the extreme pleasure of indulging in several of the small bites from the tapas menu including the Tosta Con Cabrales Y Peras, which is toast topped with Cabrales cheese and red wine poached pears; the Empanada de Pollo, which was a mixture of chicken, onions, red and green bell peppers and parsley; and the Manchego Con Membrillo, which are wedges of Manchego cheese topped with quince paste. All of these dishes were outstanding, but my ultimate favorite was the Datiles Con Bacon, which are dates lovingly wrapped with bacon and then grilled for the ultimate sweet and salty experience. These are so addictive that I find myself constantly craving them. This dish accompanied with the Red Sangria makes a perfect small meal.
Not to be missed off the regular menu is Viva Madrid's paella. The Paella Canaria is a delightful mixture of saffron rice, spicy sausage, pork, chicken, and chorizo. It takes around 30 minutes to prepare upon ordering, but the taste is well worth the wait. Another exquisite dish is the Queso Con Fresas Al Vapor, which is a variety of Spanish cheeses blended together and topped with steamed strawberries, sprinkled with mint, and drizzled with a 15 year old Spanish vinegar. The skillfully combined flavors of this dish come together in your mouth leaving you wanting more.
Viva Madrid offers an assortment of red and white wines, beer, and spirits. Do not miss ordering their Red Sangria or for something a little different, the Sangarita, which is a margarita on the rocks topped with a shot of the Red Sangria. The Sangria is one of the best that I have ever tried...smooth and sweet. Special mention goes to their Spanish Coffee which is artfully prepared tableside. It starts off with brandy and a splash of Bacardi 151 which is skillfully lit on fire. The server then sprinkles cinnamon into the glass which creates a flurry of scented sparks. Coffee, cream, and a shot of Kahlua are added, and lastly sweet whipped cream crowns this masterpiece. This drink is definitely out-of-this-world!
What about the service? Excellent! The servers, like Banou Rajid and Tommy Loria, are welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable. Also, on Thursday nights, guitarist Guillermo Villereal will enchant you with his playing.
Dining at Viva Madrid is an experience not to be missed. Along with the dazzling food and drinks, the wonderful staff, and the perfect ambiance, if you are lucky, you might be there on a night that the owner is present. Her big smile and genuine friendliness will make you feel right at home.
Article in June issue of BIN Magazine.
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Review from Rebecca W.
Covina, CA
8/22/2011
Viva Madrid was such a heavenly surprise. I visited for a late dinner with 5 other friends and got a table right away. The food came out quickly and the pitcher of red sangria was to die for. The bacon wrapped dates were wrapped little pieces of euphoria. The mussels were served piping hot and in this very flavorful red sauce that I couldn't stop spooning into my mouth. The melon served with Serrano ham had a very mild flavor and the melon came in handy to cleanse our palate between bites. I also would highly recommend trying the chorizo stuffed mushrooms, as well as the fried calamari.
All in all, it was a very tasteful and a pleasant experience. I definitely plan on going back to try more of the menu. -
Review from Jackie B.
11/9/2011
Huge portions for tapas and the price! Grand total after tax was only $65 for 4 tapas, 1 entree, 1 dessert, 3 beers and 1 very strong mixed drink! We couldn't finish all the food. Viva Madrid is an independent with a nice ambiance. Great place to bring a date so long as you don't mind waiting for a table on the weekend (they don't take reservations)
On to the food... we skipped the paellas (shame on us); but we tried the Talapia entree special with cheese sauce and it was absolutely MASSIVE. It was a very well prepared fish. We wanted tons of garlic so we ordered the Pan con Ajillo (garlic bread) and the Champiñones al Ajillo (garlic mushrooms), both smaller portions. Also the Croquetas de Pesaco (breaded seafood puffs) which wasn't my favorite as it was more breading than flavor or filling, which answered my question as to why it was so inexpensive for seafood. They ran out of the Carne de Vaca al Vino (marinated beef chunks) we wanted to try so we went with the Pollo Ajillo (garlic chicken) instead which was huge. A must try! For dessert we shared the creme brulee, which was torched at the table. Magnifico! All in all a great dining experience, and breath of fresh air, minus the garlic we'll be breathing for days to come of course, lol.
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Review from jason m.
San Dimas, CA
8/3/2011
service was sub-par, portions pretty small for the money. you'll probably have to get 4-5 small plates to even be close to filling up at $5-6 each. I got shrimp, chicken with white wine, oxtail stew and some potatoe with spicy sauce. Shrimp was over cooked, and the chicken was like a full chicken breast caught in half, had a ton of small bones (what was that?) and tasted almost identical to the shrimp. The oxtail stew was good, but salty. and the potatoes were the best thing, but needed a (un)healthy dose of salt.
I dont know why everyone goes crazy about the sangria?? it tasted like a concentrate box mix and it crazy expensive. It came from some juice thing so it wouldnt surprise me if it were some box or cheap wine.. the place is crazy old and run down. if its a busy as it is, i would love to see the owner take some pride in the location and spend some money on it. she doesnt need to take away the quirkyness (it works), but a paint job and cleaning could do some justice. I swear there are so many cobwebs its already decorated for halloween.
i sat at the bar and the service was pretty sub-par. i didnt really know who my server really was. i know who took my order was the same person that brought the check, but thats about it.
overall, kinda dirty, over-priced, bland, sub-par service and medocre drinks.
