Iberia Restaurant

8/30/2015

having lived in europe and travelled to spain numerous time for food, i had been looking for a spanish restaurant i can frequent to satisfy my tapas cravings. so when two of my chef/foodie friends offered to introduce me to iberia, i jumped at the chance. the 5 of us sat at the bar and ordered tapas after tapas, followed by a paella. YUM! the food was so good that i immediately took my family and friends the next weekend.

my favs are the jamon (of course!) and the cod fritters. paella is also the best i've had in the area, though it was a bit tough trying to eat it after already stuffing ourselves silly with tapas. oh, and keep the sangrias flowing by the pitchers, please! i'm just gonna walk across the street and take the train home :)

7/30/2015

• 1 check-in

I came here on a Sunday night with my parents and their family friends. There were a few tables of patrons when we arrived, but it was virtually just us and a few at the bar when we left. A very quiet, relaxed night.

We ordered a bunch of things but I remember we got several orders of bruschetta, the quail, bacon wrapped dates, croquettes, pork shoulder and the paella. To my surprise, I really enjoyed the dates! Everything else was pretty fantastic too. I don't eat seafood so I only tried a bit of the paella. I took just the rice part of it and it was very moist and flavorful. It still had that seafood taste/smell to it so I had to pass on seconds. Another highlight of my meal were the potatoes that came with the pork shoulder... mmm... I like the simple things in life.

The place overall is very cute and tucked away in a somewhat residential area of Menlo Park - it's also right next to the Caltrain tracks. There's an outdoor patio with more seating and even cuter decor. The interior already seems to seat many.

If I ever come back, I will definitely have to check out the vegetarian menu (I wish I knew that it existed when we visited! It would have been helpful.).

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  Interior.

  Interior.
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  Looking out into patio.

  Looking out into patio.
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  Interior.

  Interior.
• See all photos from Shanise M. for Iberia Restaurant

8/13/2015 Updated review

• 3 check-ins

Haven't been here for a while and I was a little bit sad to hear (from an online article) that they are moving by the end of the year, although, it looks like the new location is not ridiculously too far away (moving to Belmont?).

Took my girlfriend here for a "girls night." and it was her first time here at IBeria. Iberia never disappoint, she loved the food and I did too. As usual, the greedy fat girl in me decided to order a lot of food. We had 7 different tapas, the stars were definitely the stuffed squid cooked with the ink. The dish didn't look very appetizing because of the black color! but it surely tasted very yummy! The squid was cooked perfectly, very tender, just delicious! My gf's favorite was the chicken wings (that was a steal deal, 5 pieces for $4.85!!) and the sardines wrapped in grape leaves. The sardines were a bit fishy but certainly was flavorful. The trotter stew was basically tripes and potatoes and some sausages. Very tender and delicious too!

The cheese puffs tasted a bit crispier than what I remember and not as chewy and gooey but they were still very delicious. Food came out pretty quickly and the sangria was as delicious, refreshing and strong as I remembered during my previous visits!

We spent close to $80 including tax and tips for the two of us (each ordered a sangria and shared 7 tapas), not cheap but certainly worth the splurge for delicious spanish food :).

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  Lamb stew

  Lamb stew
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  Salted cod fritters

  Salted cod fritters
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  Crab cakes

  Crab cakes
• See all photos from Yun C. for Iberia Restaurant

6/11/2015

• 1 check-in

Food was good. We tried tapas and the paella.The restaurant was really stuffy and hot, not sure why they didn't have the AC on. The location is also ok...but right across from the train station in Menlo Park, so the trains come ripping by and blowing their horns so it's quite noisy.

The tapas we ordered were good, but small portions and very expensive for what it was. Over-priced if you ask me, though the flavor and food was good. Not sure i'll go back all things added up.

11/22/2015

Great food, horrible service. We had a large party and were in a very awkward booth by the bar, very uncomfortable. Wait staff was rarely around and had to hunt them down, waiter was screwing around in the kitchen avoiding working when we found him.

Last time going there since they have to move, not a big loss. Really sucks to have that automatic 20% tip as the staff really don't give a crap about good service.

12/13/2015

Rustic, romantic ambience. The Sangria had the right blend of alcohol and fruit. Both the gazpachos we had were excellent!  

I loved the Paella for the most part. The seafood portions for the Paella were generous and I was really full at the end of the meal. However, I was looking forward to the the crispy bits of rice that forms at the bottom but didn't find any.

Service could be better. I found the servers were cold and could have more rapport with the diners.

6/3/2015

• 2 check-ins

Authentic Spanish cuisine, with a great tapas menu if you sit at the bar.

Location is a bit hidden East of the Menlo Park Caltrain station on Alma.

Feels European inside, and a dimly lit atmosphere with deep colored wood and old-school decor.

Totally worth it, but it is a bit pricey. Tip is automatically included, like it is in Spain.

A hidden Menlo Park gem!

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  Gambas al ajillo (pan seared prawns)

  Gambas al ajillo (pan seared prawns)
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  Fritas de bacalhau (Portuguese salt cod fritters)

  Fritas de bacalhau (Portuguese salt cod fritters)
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  Tortilla de patatas

  Tortilla de patatas
• See all photos from Eric B. for Iberia Restaurant

9/22/2015

Went for happy hour on a week night, when I first walked in, the restaurant showed promise. The ambience seemed comfortable and potentially upscale, and the menu had a decent amount of variety.

Food: average, not terrible but also nothing amazing. I am aware there are not many good tapas restaurants in the Peninsula area. So if you are looking for a place where you'll be legitimately satisfied with the food, you already know to be prepared to drive up to the city and brave the wait at any other reputable restaurant.

Drinks: mixed reviews, my drink was terrible

Service: hands down the worst thing about this place. Wait staff and bartender was rude and argumentative, did not hesitate to call the customer wrong, roll their eyes, and turn their back. Probably the worst customer service I've had in any service industry. My guess is that the "service charge" aka 19% mandatory tip is not incentive enough for them to treat the customers like human beings when there is a disagreement.

You go to a restaurant for the food, and you return for the service. In this case, the food is not worth the trouble, and as far as the service, stay as far away as you can from this place.

7/27/2015

Don't get the white bean casserole,  I got more than I bargained for. I think that was a moth.

4/17/2015

Seville-style food with Catalan dishes as well by a new chef. Slightly expensive but the food is exquisite and they provide service with a flourish.  I particularly liked the dates, the squid, and the pork shoulder. The pastel de tres leches (dessert) was amazing too. The restaurant is a bit loud being next to Caltrain, but it somehow added to the overall charm.

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  Pastel de Tres Leches, or the Three Milk Cake. It's not too sweet and smells great if you love the taste of milk.

  Pastel de Tres Leches, or the Three Milk Cake. It's not too sweet and smells great if you love the taste of milk.

11/8/2014

• 1 check-in

I love this place at night...

The food has always been good.  The wine has always been spot on.  Service has always been friendly and attentive.  

One thing to note when you go.  If you sit in the formal sitting area you will be charged for the tip regardless of the size of your party.  There is pros and cons to this.  Pro is that it makes things easy and you don't have to do the math or sweat if you left too much or too little.  Con is really for those who like to decide on the tip even if it's the same amount as they charge.

If you want the real Spanish experience, I recommend bar and lounge area.  It's casual and nice but no reservations.  

I definitely recommend this place.  It's a little hidden in Menlo Park but worth the visit.

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  Closed the place down...

  Closed the place down...
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• See all photos from Zin M. for Iberia Restaurant

10/28/2014

Our team went to Iberia's to celebrate a successful software implementation.  I had been to Iberia's before for happy hour with a consulting firm and was very impressed.  

Great tapas, wine, outdoor seating, and staff.  

We had a great time and the food and wine was again really good.  

Will definitely be going again!

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  Team event at Iberia's.

  Team event at Iberia's.
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  Hanging out at Iberia's

  Hanging out at Iberia's

9/2/2014

We went there on a special occasion for dinner.
The ambience is nice and easy but the outdoor seating is only for the mornings and evenings.
We ordered four tapas and a dessert
I may not be able to give the exact names of the dishes.
The bondas. They were ok.
The cod fritters- good.
The Regalo de Cordoniz- This was stuffed quail breast in a puff pastry. I loved this.
The slow cooked wild boar- Loved this for its flavour and tenderness.
For dessert we ordered the chocolate cake with mocha icing. Delicious and not very heavy.
PS : some of the items only seem to be for the bar  menu and are served only at the bar.
The gave a complementary cheese balls which were tasty but the service was a little slow.

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  Bondas, slow cooked wild boar dish, cod fritters and my favorite quail breast puff pastry.

  Bondas, slow cooked wild boar dish, cod fritters and my favorite quail breast puff pastry.
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  Dessert. Chocolate cake with mocha.

  Dessert. Chocolate cake with mocha.

7/2/2015

Had tapas and paella in the bar section on a Thursday (July 2, 2015) late in the evening with my wife.  Ambiance was romantic with dim lighting, dark woods, and large leather chairs arranged around small tables.  The seating was not crowded and conversation was easy with the low noise.  The doors were open to the patio and we enjoyed the cool air after a warm day.  

The bar and indoor/outdoor patio areas serve tapas and drinks while the rest of the restaurant serves a different menu.  We sat in the indoor patio and there were two alternating servers who were friendly, attentive, and happy to provide suggestions.  

We started off with a refreshing sangria along with bacon wrapped dates and shrimp cooked in a spicy garlic sauce.  The three small bacon wrapped dates made up for their small portion with great flavor and the bacon was crispy, although it is hard to screw up a bacon wrapped date.  The shrimp were overcooked, but the sauce was worth mopping up with some excellent warm crusty bread.  

For our entree one of the waiters suggested paella for two ($60) that we tried along with a couple glasses of Spanish and Chilean wine.  The paella rice was fine, but the toppings--clams, chicken, mussels, scallops, baby shrimp, large shrimp in their shells, and squid--were terribly overcooked.  The shrimp were mealy and dry, the chicken was stringy and grainy, and the rest of the seafood was rubbery and chewy.  The mussels were especially bad; along with being overcooked they smelled and tasted off.  To be fair, we did not mention the quality of the paella to the waiter since it was late in the evening, but the errors were basic.  It was an unfortunate finish to the evening and a disservice to paella.  

Overall, I would go back for a sangria, but the food missed.  It is hard to find paella made from scratch so I had my hopes up.  What a shame.

7/8/2015

A friend recommended this place and it is my new FAVORITE. Definitely a hidden gem in Menlo Park that only locals know about. Great service too. Fun place for drinks than your typical downtown PA bars. Thank you Juan!!!!  

Apparently Mark Zuckerberg has been here a few times before.

11/10/2014

My first time having spanish foid was here. So many tapas that I couldn't name them, but all comes with good taste. And the small yard is quite special

11/10/2015 Updated review

Returned for a dinner before they move to Belmont (close in Menlo Dec. 29). Food was delicious as always, and service though polite was unbelievably sloooooooow. Would have had my beet/Goat Cheese salad served at the same time as my husband's Gazpacho, but that didn't happen. Note:  both were delicious though. Paella is excellent. The bacon-wrapped dates are still my fave.  Sorry to see them leave their charming building and courtyard. Wish them well.

11/22/2015

The tapas are fine--some are even very good--but the service is terrible. The hostess, Vanessa, would not allow my wife and me to sit in an area of the bar that was designated as "Reserved for Party of 4" even though (1) we told her we were waiting for two more people such that we would, in a matter of moments, become a party of 4 (which is precisely what occurred), and (2) the restaurant and bar were, at that point, empty. The bartender was also a donkey (he insulted me on the way out because I had the temerity to ask for the name of the hostess). As it turns out, the service is poor because the tip is built-in: 19% whether the service is great or terrible. With that lack of incentive, I guess I should not be surprised. The restaurant is moving up to Belmont at the end of the year. I will not be sorry to see it go.

P.S.The owner has now responded, to which I have two comments: (1) he was not there, so he cannot credibly characterize the manner in which his employees dealt with my wife and me; and more importantly (2) I now see where his employees get their lousy attitude.

Good luck, Belmont patrons (and watch out for that built-in tip).

12/28/2014

I am a Spaniard from Madrid - Spain, living in San Francisco with my American Wife, and I do not recommend this restaurant because of the bad food and service.

Explanation in Spanish...(our slang of Spaniard feeling) Enjoy it, be aware, and please stay way from there..

Vaya tela marinera!!!!!!!. Como Español que soy (casado con una americana), nacido en Madrid (Madrileño gato) tengo que decir que;

Los precios muy altos, RIDICULOS!!!!!!
Las tapas nada que ver con el espíritu de cocina de Española.
El aceite de oliva brillaba por su ausencia...eso era aceite de motor!!
El jamón de pata negra era jamón de puerco rabioso, vamos que mejor me como un lancha de jamón york.
Las croquetas de jamón eran lo peor que me he llevado a la boca. Joder!!!! vaya mierda!!
La paella rancia, vamos... incomible... no me jodas!!!
La cerveza.. (botellines de San Miguel) la más barata y normalita en España... CARISIMA!!!!!!!! $8 PAVOS POR UN BOTELLIN... de 25cl..

A cualquier persona que no conoce la cocina de España le podrá gustar, pero vamos... mi mujer después de ir al restaurante. Me dijo de irnos a comer a Mcdonnalds del hambre que pasamos.

El servicio muy malo, me hicieron esperar una hora entre pedir la comida y que la sirvieran, y los camareros unos bordes de cojones. Además yo no busco sitios fancies , busco sitios donde me den bien de comer y no basura congelada.

No recomiendo comer allí. Y si sois listos os iréis antes a un in and out... que comer mierda.. os sale más barato iros a España en un vuelo el viernes y volver el domingo, pero ya sabiendo lo que es buen producto Español y no la basura que me dieron a comer en este restaurante de la mala muerte.

La propina que me hicieron pagar en bill fue obligatoria )19.5% del total que consumes... vamos un robo a mano armada y una vergüenza. Ya que, en mi país de nacimiento (España) NO se deja propina si no se quiere... yo les deje propina por mi mujer y no discutir, pero vamos... les hubiese dejado un puto peni... vergüenza les tenia que dar llevar el nombre de España, productos o etc.. Claro... yo creo que son hasta Catalanes (con mis respetos a los Catalanes de buen corazón y amigos que telgo allí) de los de la pela...pela ... peseteros...CAREROS, mal servicio, mala comida, y los peores precios que he visto en mi vida... para algo tan tormentoso como es este Restaurante.


Vayanse a la porra!!!! que allí ya no me huelen el pelo. Vamos que no me vuelven a timar ni engañar en este sitio.

Atentamente,

El gato Madrileño...

12/15/2014

first of all the waitress (she was on her 30s maybe) was very rude.
I needed to access to the WiFi very badly, for an emergency issue, but she told me that the WiFi  is only for the owner's use and they were not supposed to tell the PW to the customers.
then we ordered the Paella (Spanish rice with seafood) asked her if the price per order would be for how many persons ($29.00) she then told us it is for 2 persons.   but  they charged the double of that amount. she told us the price is per one person and the min, order is for 2 persons. but we asked her very clearly, is this price($29.00) for 2 persons, and she said yes.
hen without telling us the bill included 19% of their service charge.
She showed the very very small letter at the bottom of the menu, but
the way they put is "the menu price does not include 19% service  charge", not saying, we will charge you 19%.

It was my important day to celebrate and I had the worst day.
It was my favorite restaurant when they were in Portola Valley, but the last experience made me stop going there again, and I would never recommend the restaurant to anyone.