Viva Madrid

I've been to this place too many times and the food, service and overall experience has always been the same:Fantastic!. The halibut tapas is one of my favorites the fish is so flakey and moist. Sangria is authentic, I mean to be honest not one tapas or entree have I had that was anything less than perfect. Awesome! more

I have been to Spain many times. I love tapas. As a result I have eaten at almost every tapas bar from Santa Barbara to San DIego. Unquestionably Viva Madrid is the best and the most authentic. Many choices of tapas and terrific paella to go with it. The sangria is among the best I have had. The place is crowed and no reservations but it is worth the hassle. Everyone I have ever taken here has loved it. It is easly in our top 5 restaurants and clearly #1 for tapas....getting a great dinner is a GUARANTEE! more

My trip to Viva Madrid was terribly disappointing! I thought that I was going to an authentic Spanish restaurant, but I found that it is a crowded, gaudy, dive restaurant. The restaurant is extremely small (think of the size of a living room), and patrons must sit at long tables right alongside strangers. Reservations are not available, nor can one sit at the bar while waiting. I have been to Spain, and this restaurant simply does not represent Spanish culture. The decorations are a mish mash of unsightly junk, and the wait is obscene. When I arrived, there was no one to be found to take my name, and I had to search for someone to help me. When I finally tracked down a server, I was told that the wait was forty-five minutes, but after two hours of waiting to no avail I decided to take my patronage elsewhere. Not even in Spain, where gratuity is not expected, is service so poor. I cannot comment on the food, since I did not have the patience to stomach the horrible service any longer. I did look over the menu during my two hour wait, and the prices were high, with not much to choose from. I will certainly not return, and do not recommend this over-rated restaurant. Cons: Long Wait, Poor Service, Expensive, Ugly Decor, Limited Parking . . .the list could go on more

I love this place! Great ambiance, friendly service, and delicious food! Because this place is so good it usually takes a LONG time to be seated but it's worth the wait (or just don't go on a weekend). You have to try the Gazpacho, it's AMAZING, and out of all the Spanish restaurants/tapas bars I've been too this place has the BEST sangria!!!!! Pros: Food & ambiance Cons: Parking & waiting to be seated more

I haven't had food this good since I lived in Spain. The large number of items on the menu is great, but I couldn't decide. We asked the waitress to serve us. She brought lamb chops, shrimp, chicken skewers, tomato bread, bread with cheese and cooked pears, shrimp in wine and an empanada. Everything was fantastic. Although we were in pain from eating so much we had to have dessert. We took a flan and the custard that they finish cooking at the table. Wow-Fantastic. The sangria was even better than the food. The only complaint, we were in physical pain when we left from eating so much. Can't wait to do it again. Pros: fantastic food, great sangria, great atmosphere Cons: too many choices more

I was walking around and decided to check out the cool looking hallway. I just happened upon this place and had to go in to check it out. This place is a real find. The food was better then the food was just like the stuff I ate when I lived in Spain. The Spanish tortilla was the best I have ever had. The Jamon was the real deal, I loved it. The sangria was smooth and sweet-we couldn't stop. This place is just like the places I ate at in Spain only better because there were so many things to choose from. If you love Spanish food and want the real deal-this is it. more

This place is a great find. It is a ways from LA, but I think that contributes to its charm. My husband and I have lived in Spain and must say that the food here is the closest to authentic we could find in LA. Can't really go wrong with any tapas choice. Though we have not had the chance to try ALL of it yet. Our favorites are the ham and cheese tapas, sangria, olives in sauce, sangria, and all else in the menu. Since we have to drive home we limit our sangria intake, but the great ambiance in the place really makes that difficult. On certain nights they have a person playing guitar and singing. That is a good night to go. It does get crowded and the wait can be quite long. Go early, order sangria while you wait and enjoy your company. Pros: Food, ambiance, music, sangria Cons: Wait for tables more

The place as other reviews say, its very nice, the true Spanish feeling its there, the fact that it?s small, and of hidden add a lot character. But the food it?s just mediocre at best, Pros: Sangria, Cheese, Decor, Location Cons: Food!!! more

Tucked away in a small little aclove in Old Town Claremont sits one of my favorite spots. The decor is so fantastic, you feel like you were in a tapa bar in Madrid. Though I have never been to Spain, this place is what I imagine it would be like. The food is very delicous. I especially love the chicken sauteed in garlic as well as their clam dishes. In addition to the huge assortment of tapas, you can order full meals like rib eye steak. Offered as well is a great seafood paella that's to die for. There is street parking, but it is tough to find a close spot. It is always crowded, and 1 hour waits are not uncommon so come early! Pros: great food, great ambiance Cons: parking, busy more

You will not regret your visit to this restaurant! I have been several times and always enjoyed myself. Whether going for dinner or just for drinks and tapas with friends, this is the perfect place to enjoy good food, wonderful sangria, and all for great prices. Cheapest tapas I have ever had, and a wonderful ambience -- a tall room with lots of eclectic spanish decor, rustic wooden tables, soft lighting and candles. What's unique is that everything in the restaurant is for sale -- that's right, if you see a napkin holder you like or a picture on the wall, you can buy it. Even the bull head above the door. Definitely a place to visit, and also popular. Show up early to get a seat, as they don't accept reservations. Pros: SANGRIA, cheap tapas, ambience Cons: , no reservations more