Passionfish Bethesda

We had a delightful meal featuring a variety of appealing small plates in the vibrant dining room of Spanish Diner. It was surprisingly quiet on this weeknight, much less crowded than I remember it before the pandemic. Our dishes arrived promptly, and the servers were efficient, though they appeared somewhat serious—perhaps due to the slow pace of the night. Not a single staff member smiled during our visit, which created an interesting contrast with the restaurant's cheerful decor. Nonetheless, the food was excellent, and I look forward to returning the next time I’m in the area.

If I didn't know better, I’d think my friend Natito’s grandmother was in the kitchen. José Andrés spreads more goodwill than any other chef in the world while still managing to maintain restaurants of exceptional quality and impeccable service. On a typically busy Friday night, we were treated to an abundance of kindness, patience, and attentiveness from our charming server Orlando, who looks like he just stepped off a GQ cover. With so many dishes arriving, each requiring precise temperatures for the best experience, he expertly navigated the dining room, delivering each tapa and main course right on time. It wasn’t just us; every table around us was enjoying the same level of excellence. Every dish we tried was either good or truly memorable. The cannelloni, every egg dish, and the shrimp were all outstanding. However, I felt the salads were a bit overpriced, particularly the very basic garbanzo bean salad that lacked flavor and creativity—it felt like we were paying way too much for each bean. With each visit, I'm becoming more aware of the menu's nuances. It's essential to choose carefully; otherwise, you might feel overcharged and dissatisfied. Don’t hesitate to ask your server for advice. If you’re fortunate enough to have Orlando, he’ll provide guidance with genuine sincerity.

Delicious Spanish food, good price, good service. We love dining at the Spanish Diner

Good tapas-type dishes. There weren’t many people the night we were there so was quiet and lots of staff available. Space has a nice funky vibe. We will go back.

Fried food not so good High price for a diner as it is advertised and decorated