“ We always frequent this establishment when we're in the mood for tapas and paella (arroz mix on the menu). Service was great minus us having to remind them about the birthday celebration on our reservation notes but all good. Food was 7/10 since the rice wasn't as crispy as usual & potatoes were a bit hard. We've had it better prepared in the past but still fairly tasty. Ambiance is great. Drinks could be improved by adding a garnish. It's always a bit sad to pay $15+ and not get the extra touch (personal preference). Last improvement regarding the 20% auto gratuity - not a fan when restaurants do this + 3% health charge. For party of 2, doesn't make sense to tack on these charges and ask for additional tip. ”

“ First of all, I would call this an "upscale" restaurant, this coming from a notorious food cart junkie. The ambiance is what I would call luxurious, but I think it was a bit too dark. The service was impeccable. The servers knew every inch of the menu, were pleasant and very helpful with giving advice. The food was good. I always look for the "surprise" dish and this time, it was the croquettes and the frisée salad. The octopus was very good and the potato chips was a nice touch. If you are looking for an elegant date night, this a great place to try. ”

“ We ended up here by happenstance and decided to give it a try. Tucked away in a parking lot, dark from outside but my husband always says the display of lights draw me in. We'll, there is some truth to that, but it was also a Cold night and I saw a fire pit sparking through as we walked by. Quaint bar and restaurant. They have both indoor and covered (warm) outdoor seating that expands the space. Tables were filled with both friends gathered, laughing and having cocktails as well as couples enjoying a lovely dinner together. The staff - when we walked in originally, we were created by a gentleman who was welcoming and shared more about the restaurant with us. We hesitated a bit and stepped outside as we already had our name on a waiting list for another restaurant around the corner. After talking a bit more we decided to cancel that wait and walked back in. We only had about a 5 min wait for a table and were seated. The menu is Spanish tapas. We ordered drinks (they were so so), the chorizo with hot honey, but it was the grilled octopus that won the evenings dinner praise. We enjoyed trying the restaurant, however (not just here, but all tapas restaurants) tend to be on the pricier side for food. Great atmosphere, good staff and enjoyable food. ”

“ This is from September so it's an old review but better late than never This was a wonderful restaurant to try and would love to come back sometime! My partner and I stopped in while walking around Portland. The staff was kind and informative of the menu and the outside area was nice! We really enjoyed the octopus! It was a different dish from anything we've ever had! Lots of flavor and the octopus was cooked perfectly. Deviled eggs were amazing but it's hard to share with 3 of them. The crudo was good but honestly had too much going on for such a small amount of fish. $17 for that was really disappointing. I wish it said in the description that it's a pretty small dish. ”

“ Spanish diners may serve tapas, which are small plates of food meant for sharing, or other traditional Spanish dishes. This place is a a take on the tapas style treats from overseas. We stopped in to check this out and decided to stay for some treats. Teh srvice staff os pretty on spot. When were waiting I thought they were under staffed however everyone seemed to work together and make sure no one is left unattended. ONe thing to consider, 20% is added to every order plua health care coverage tax. The place is loud. Expect to have to speak up just to hold a conversation. ”

“ It's a bit too hip for a tapas joint in Spain, but hey, we are in PDX, and the ambiance is quite enjoyable, with a bar area, seating area, and an outdoor, heated, tented-space. Something for everyone. Four of us worked our way through a good part of the menu. Boquerones, Spanish cheese board, pan con tomate, patatas bravas, ensalada de espinacas, calabaza guisada, atun crudo, roasted romanesco cauliflower, and the wagyu steak a la plancha for the carnivore of the group. Presentation of the food was mixed, as was portion size, but generally appropriate for the dish. Bread with tomato--well, it's a slab of thick cut, large grilled bread slathered with a bright, acidic tomato conserve. I wonder if summer tomatoes would smooth out that excess bite, but the dish worked well. I mean bread and tomatoes is a peasant dish, and the portion size matched that. The cheese board was quite the opposite, aiming for visual minimalism that matched the 2 ounces of cheese, a small mounding of macerated raisins, and a scant grouping of thinly shaved fennel that was so marvelously seasoned that I really wish the kitchen hadn't been so stingy. The cheese selection was ok, not exceptional, which made it feel that the $16 price tag for this was exorbitant. Switching aesthetic approach again, the spinach salad used a variety of thick-leafed over-sized spinach, and kept the leaves whole, which required some dexterity on the diner's part. I prefer the texture of spinach like this over the more easily managed baby spinach or even bunched spinach you find in the market. The pears and pumpkin seeds added excellent texture and variety, and while the salad was perfectly dressed (ie, not over-dressed), the quince vinaigrette seemed more like a conceit--being overly-interested in including the name quince in the description than adding any particular identity of its own. Despite that one quibble, the dish was a success. Moving on to the boquerones, we return to a very small portion size, unless you include the generous offering of crackers. But that's as it should be as anchovies are about intensity not quantity. These were a good example of white anchovies, having that fresh, bright, saline flavor which distinguishes them from the muddled, all-bass notes of your average canned variety. A win. The butternut squash was one of the great successes of the kitchen on the night we dined in. Squash, when handled well, has an intense, meaty depth to it, and this was on point. Add to that the judicious layering of flavors, from the harissa, which didn't punish with heat, but added a tickle of interest, and the slightly sour richness of the fromage blanc produced a fully-conceived winner. Regarding portion size and presentation, this hit a mid-spot between rustic food and urban sophistication, coming out in a glazed earthenware cocotte which was as autumnal as the squash. And then the patatas bravas. If there is one stereotypical tapas, this is it, and as a consequence, there is tremendous variety in how kitchens approach the classic. BCV decided to hew a country-path with a nod to American sensibilities, by which I mean that the potatoes were coated in far more 'salsa brava' than many places in Spain. The potatoes themselves were served in oversized chunks that added to their bucolic identity as did their abundance. Some of the potatoes had a crisp exterior that crackled beneath their creamy interior, while others may have softened or never crisped up in the first place. In the dim light, it was hard to ascertain, but it felt like the potatoes had not been peeled. Again, the peasant approach, which stood out as I can't think of a time when patatas bravas were not peeled. These also were slathered with what the menu calls an aioli, but which was less assertive on the garlic flavor than many, which I noted as a benefit. With the atun crudo, we are once again presented with minimalist plate decor to accompany the small portion size. The raw 'tuna' had a slight "bite" to it. I should first note that here the menu seems to be confused, because yellowtail is a jack, not a tuna. Having eaten and fished a great deal of yellow tail, I am still confused by the texture of this yellow tail. It makes me think that it may have undergone a very short pickling or curing--it didn't taste it but the texture was confusing. The parsley oil was lovely, purveying all the complexity that good parsley possesses. The large lipped plate was dotted with the harissa in the contemporary style, like small red molehills of mild flavor. I still haven't decided how successful this dish was, which may itself be the answer. While I didn't have the steak, I was told it was extremely tender, which credit must be split both by the cut of meat--flat iron is second only to tenderloin for a yielding texture. However, the pumpkin puree didn't meet with my pal's approval. Service was solid, providing descriptions of dishes and keeping us appraised of kitchen timing. Bravo! ”

“ Checked this place out before a show and it did not disappoint! I went at 6pm on a Saturday and was lucky enough to snag a solo seat at the bar. The atmosphere is really dark and cozy. The bartender was really attentive and the food came out in a timely manner. The croquettes were crispy and delicious, the sauce that came with it was so tasty. The bartender recommended I try the chorizo and calamari and it was mind blowing. Soaking up the crispy bread with the delicious broth hot the spot. The gin and tonic I had was fantastic as well. I would definitely recommend this place for a date night. ”

“ Bar Casa Vale is an amazing restaurant in the Buckman neighborhood that is worth a visit for any occasion. The restaurant has a beautiful brick interior and lovely ambience with great outdoor and indoor seating. The menu is split into small snacks, medium sized tapas, and larger plates. I went with one other person and ordered the olives, gilda, patatas bravas, salt cod fritters, biltas de manchego, and octopus. The patatas bravas were outstanding, the roasted potatoes were addicting. The biltas de manchego reminded me of gnocchi with a lovely twist of using manchego. I thought all the food was fantastic. In addition to great ambience and food, Bar Casa Vale has a great drink menu with cocktails, spanish wines, and an extensive vermouth list. We tried the vermouth flight and enjoyed it. ”

“ Worthy of a top 40 recognition! Space & lighting perfect for a cozy & romantic vibe inside. The simple outdoor patio is just as energetic (on the weekends). Order the paella as soon as the staff greets you for drinks. We must have been lucky cause the grilled octopus was one of the largest legs we ever had! So tender & flavorful. Service excellent ~ poised and friendly with smiles each time. Very attentive. Limited private parking lot, street parking for most. Reservations recommended. ”