Best Tapas Restaurants in Rockville

We were there as party of 6 to celebrate 2 birthdays - a soon-to-be 26 year old and a soon-to-be 74 year old. We had the same group at about this same time for the same celebration a few years ago so the repeat was great fun. Our waiter Eduardo was excellent - giving us good recommendations and hitting just the right tempo for checking in. The rest of the staff were great too. Quietly slipping in to whisk away dishes, fill water glasses, etc. The food, as always, was delicious and fun to experiment with a few dishes. Ending the meal with 2 fabulous desserts (with candles) for the birthday folks plus coffees and expresso shots was perfect.

We went for Valentine’s Day. We were seated upstairs. A comfy, sleek atmosphere combined with marble floors columns and walls. There’s something goth-esque about the surroundings. Bravo to the Sommelier who knew her Spanish wines. She spent a considerable amount of time helping us choose just the right bottle for the variety of tapas we planned to order. We chose one from almost each category. The raw seafood and seafood choices were our favorites. The octopus was divine! I loved the oxtail croquettas and my boyfriend loved the oysters that came in a can, a nod to smoked oysters in a can (lid and all!). They were truly delicious, delicate with a hint of citrus. The ceviche in the dragon fruit was mind blowing! So delicate and fragrant. It reminds me of the ocean. Dining at Bazaar is an experience for your palate. It is worth the culinary trip. I’ve dined on José Andres’ culinary creations since he arrived on the corner of 7th and E Street’s Jaleos and have followed him as he opens one culinary destination after another. Another diamond!

The ambience, food and service was excellent. It was a great place to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my hubby.

Palette 22 is now our go-to restaurant. Each dish is well-prepared, flavorful, and represents the country of origin. The service is always polite and responsive. Tip: you can order a few dishes at a time. You do not need to place your entire order at one time. This allows you to enjoy each dish more slowly. We like taking turns ordering 2 items at a time. From last night, my top picks were the Sesane Steak, Lebanese Tacos, and the Funghi Flat Bread.

First time at Oyamel. The food was excellent as was the service by Melvin. He carefully explained the menu and our many serving options. The Oyamel margarita was delicious as were the tocos and rice w mushrooms and Brussel sprout sides. The tres leches dessert was incredible! Overall, and excellent dining experience enhanced by the care of Melvin. We will return soon!