El Raval

Checked out El Raval for some tapas. The atmosphere was a little loud for me but I liked the Spanish aesthetic. The service was good but a little reactive at times. The food was great! Pan con tomate was super crispy, well-seasoned, and packed with delicious tomato flavor. Was an awesome way to kick off the meal. For a beverage, I tried the House Gin Tonic, which I enjoyed. The calamari and meatball dishes were both solid. The calamari was perfectly cooked and the breading was delicious. I ended w.the cheesecake and coffee, which both hit the spot. This was a really enjoyable first visit and I look forward to trying their other dishes.

I’d give this 6 stars if I could! This restaurant is a true gem within the Austin landscape. The atmosphere is fabulous, with a genuine family feel and upscale flare. The food is unrivaled, creative, and delicious. The octopus and paella were two of my absolute favorites. With a phenomenal wine list perfectly complimenting the dishes, El Raval is ideal for family outings, romantic date nights, and company dinners. I’ll be bringing my family and friends here again!

I adore Spanish cuisine, making El Raval a natural choice for us. The menu boasts a variety of Paella and tapas options. We sampled the Croquetas de Pollo y Jamon Iberico and Paella De Marisco. The croquettes were well-cooked with a nice flavor. While the Paella looked impressive with a generous amount of seafood, we didn't find it particularly remarkable in taste.

Was excited to try this place. I’ve stayed near the El Raval neighborhood in Barcelona a couple summers ago and miss the food! Monday is happy hour all day! They have Patatas bravas and many other selections on happy hour menu. We got A specialty item - Bluefin Toro with coconut lemongrass cream, nectarine (which tasted and looked more like a white peach)and caviar. It had rich flavor, the crunch of the fruit was a great pair but I feel like maybe a more tart fruit would be better since i was told it was supposed to be similar to a ceviche. The wagyu meatballs were perfect with bread. Our favorite was the Ssam de Costillas which is 24 hr slow cooked short rib with strawberry gochujang, pickles, and lettuce for wrapping. It was cooked to perfection!

Let’s say 3.5/5 stars, not bad but not in a rush to go again! House mule: not good, it was flat and had no flavor Pandan Biko: very unique but I don’t know if we’ll order again Truffle martini: not good Ceviche: it is good but it left a fishy aftertaste in my mouth Bravas: excellent, crispy and flavorful Gazpacho de Remolacha: very good, the sauce was great Jurel a la Brasa: hamachi collar, it was good but nothing too exciting Paella de Marisco: it definitely doesn’t feed two people without additional tapas. It was just ok, I don’t understand the rave about it in the other reviews

Let me just start by saying, I never leave reviews about restaurants…BUT, El Raval, is hands-down, the hottest new restaurant in Austin. Point. Blank. Period..… I walked in not knowing what to expect, but I was blown away by the carefully designed menu items, food and cocktail presentation, along with the unique and incredible atmosphere/vibe throughout the restaurant. I felt like I had walked through the door and been transported straight to Barcelona. Next, let me just say that the service was absolutely unmatched. Our server natalie was incredible. She had us laughing while also giving us a great understanding of the history of the restaurant and helped guide us through the menu. I’ll be honest, most of the menu items I had never seen before, and it was a little unnerving to put all my trust into my servers suggestions but she absolutely nailed it. Every. Single. Dish. She catered to me by asking me about my likes and dislikes, and put together a five course masterpiece personalized to my liking. Absolutely everything she recommended was fabulous..It almost seemed like an Omakase style experience where our waitress took us on a food journey with each dish being better than the last. If I’m being totally transparent, it seemed as though Natalie put more effort into my dining experience than any other server has ever done for me. Thank you so much El Raval! I will definitely be back again and I will be telling all of my friends about the experience I had. I recommend this restaurant to people of all ages and for a next level experience, DEFINITELY request Natalie as your server, she will not let you down.