Zambra Spanish Wine Tapas

You don't need to go to Spain to experience excellent tapas...just go to Zambra! We made anniversary reservations and were not only seated immediately but they also remembered it was our anniversary and found us a cozy nook and then brought us congratulatory glasses of champagne. The tapas is absolutely excellent. We are foodies and are particular about where we eat. Zambra fulfilled every expectation. The food is delicious, the flavors are excellent, every dish is complex but balanced. Our server explained that the chef is also particular and buys only organic produce and non-hormone local meats. We had olives, cheeses, pork rolls, mushrooms, mussels, scallops, lamb, beef and more! Our server was great - full of info, patient, friendly, attentive but not intrusive. We didn't have the paella but the couple at the table near us did and they raved about it. We shared the goat cheese brownie (thank you to whoever wrote the prior review!) and it was terrific....it was topped with hand-made cream cheese ice cream and home-made caramel sauce--yum! Zambra was a phenomenal gastronomic as well as a terrific anniversary experience and we HIGHLY recommend it! Pros: The food, the menu, the service, the atmosphere, the value more

A friend of mine and I were travelling to Asheville and were looking for a nice restaurant as we are both employed in the food service industry. I am a server, but she has worked as a server, pastry chef, line cook, sous chef and executive chef in multiple casual and fine dining locations. \r \r We walked into Zambra (it was suggested by a friend for a great place to get a glass of wine and an appetizer) and were greeted by a friendly host staff and seated immediately at a bar table. A very talented jazz group was playing in the corner and the trendy decore created a classy yet casual atmosphere. \r \r We were handed a menu, a specials menu and an alcohol menu. We were immediately dazzled by the martini list and decided to get a martini instead of a glass of wine. \r \r We had to send our server away twice because we couldn't decide on which of the interesting menu selections we would try. We did, however, quickly decided we would eat our entire meal at Zambra instead of just beginning our meal there. After our knowledgable server explained some of the menu items and gave suggestions, we narrowed our decision to six dishes between the two of us. \r \r She went behind the bar and made our drinks herself, and it was the absolute best flavored martini I have ever had. Each mixer was made in house, and the martinis were oversized and...effective. Throughout the course of the meal, we each ordered two more. \r \r Our six dishes were a cheese plate, spring rolls, lamb, tuna-stuffed pepper, a pork dish and a veal dish. Every dish played with an interesting balance. Whether it was savory/sweet, sweet/salty, spicy/creamy, etc., there was interest and complexity in flavor, texture and presentation. \r \r The server brought each dish out in the order we requested, and gave us plenty of time for cigarette breaks (as the restaurant is completely non-smoking). We finished the meal with a goat cheese brownie topped with ice cream. The check for both was less than ninety dollars. Pros: Food, martinis, service, entertainment, value more

My wife and I had Tapas for the first time. Everything was great \r We had the sqash soup, arugella salad, pork spring rolls, hanger steak, chicken, chirizo and shrimp paella, gulf shrimp and topped it off with flan and apple cobbler with walnut ice cream.\r Service was excellent. Good atmosphere\r Will go back if we are in Asheville again\r more

My wife and I walked right in on a Friday night @ 8pm w/o reservations. We sat at the bar w/ a good view of the jazz band. We had the one of the best dirty martinis we've had in this town. Local beer list is great too. Everything we ate was good. Rack of lamb, cheese, and the quail. Not much bread came w/ the cheese so we asked for a little more. He brought us a whole Itailian loaf w/ olive oil -No Charge-. Needless to say, well be back to this non-smoking place very soon. more

The service was just plain horrible. First of all, when we called to make a reservation, will were put on hold for 10 minutes, got hung up, and ended up having to call several times. Once we got there, we were made to wait 45 minutes after our reservation time to get seated. The hostesses were not that friendly or helpful. The food, for a tapas restaurant, was average. The mushrooms were good as well as the steak. The lamb was excellent tasty. Everything else was ok. Don't get the bread pudding. I've had school cafeteria bread pudding better than this place. At the end of the night, the only thing that was noteworthy was the lamb...and sangria. Pros: Nice ambience, Good drinks Cons: Slow service, Average food more

I've been to Zambra on each visit to Asheville and have always been very happy. The food items, Spanish Tapas (small dishes) ranging from bruchetta and salads to rack of lamb, paella, and hanger steak, ranges from good to superb. The extensive Spanish wine list has some real gems, and a few bottles for the small budget. From a live flamenco fusion band, to belly dancers, to a jazz trio on a Thursday night, the ambiance in this place is like none-other. Pillows, archways, murals and artwork, combined with natural and soft-lighting features and Morrocan style architectrual twists makes this place my absolute favourite in Asheville for a date or just to visit once. There seems to be a seat for everyone, from the voyeuristic to the private party. The waitstaff are friendly, accomidating, and very helpful. Overall, a must for any visit to A-ville. Pros: Unparalleled Ambience, Excellent food, Fabulous staff Cons: Some items seem pricy more