Andaluca

Having eaten at Andaluca a number of times now, I will never get tired of dining at this elegant restaurant. First, the food is creative both in substance and presentation. The small plates (Pintxos) are my favorites, especially the Crisp Duck Cake (the apricot chutney was a perfect complement), Seafood Risotto (perfect in creaminess and the variety of seafood), and Ratatouille Packet (roasted vegies and goat cheese wrapped in pastry). The cinnamon gelato served with the Melomakarona Fig Tart was an incredible dessert. The food is beautiful to look at, as well as to eat! The service is friendly and attentive. And the atmosphere- quietly lush with subdued lighting that creates an intimate atmosphere. It's not a large restaurant, yet the high upholstered seat backs create great private spaces. Definitely one of Seattle's jewel restaurants...

Pros: Relaxed yet lush ambiance. Valet parking. Great service, great food.

Cons: none.

Posted 01/08/09

Over the past year (including last night), I have had several private and business dinners at Andaluca, all of which have been a fabulous experience. Every aspect of Andaluca from the great service, wonderful cuisine, and romantic ambiance, contributes to an incredible dining experience. The unique menu offers a wide variety of excellent choices for both full entrees or smaller tapas perfect for sampling. The food and presentation is amazing.
My business clients insist on returning to Andaluca each time they visit Seattle.
If you're looking for great atmosphere, with world class service and cuisine, I would highly recommend Adaluca next time you're visiting downtown Seattle.

Pros: Atmosphere, cuisine, service.

Cons: None

Posted 01/08/09

i have been to andaluca on numerous occasions, including for full dinners, appetizers, breakfast, or just for a glass of wine...the pintxos (small plates) are outstanding, especially the mini crab tower, the seafood risotto, the spicy calamari, and my favorite, the broken egg papas frites (tough to beat) ... main courses that i enjoyed include the beef tenderloin and the paella (contrary to the below review, penned by an ignoramus who apparently is unaware of this classic spanish dish, and who opined that the ingredients simply do not go together!) ... there is an extensive, yet out of the ordinary, wine selection ... the atmosphere is perfect in its coziness and soft lighting ... the service never fails to surpass one's expectations, from the manager, who always warmly greets each party, to the entire dining room staff ... if one is fortunate enough, the long-time chef, wayne, may drop by your table and discuss the inspiration behind some of his unique and delicious menu items.

Posted 01/06/09

I've been to Andaluca three times in the past year with friends and all three visits, we experienced excellent service-- prompt, professional & very courteous. The general manager & server was very gracious and attentive to us. The steak and paella dishes were delicious and perfectly prepared; wine was divine!
The restaurant has a very cozy, intimate and romantic ambiance....reminds me of European dining.
Has a cute little bar too. We will be back & thank you so much to your staff for such wonderful service!

Posted 01/05/09

My husband and I went here for lunch, and were seated immediately. Then we waited for 20 minutes before they brought water to us, and after another 10 minutes we had to go find someone to ask for a menu. 20 minutes after that, we caught someone's eye and were able to place our order. Eventually we had to ask for our food to go since my husband's lunch hour was up. I wouldn't have minded so much if they had been really busy, or if the server had at least apologized or seemed to care about how awful our visit was, but she seemed totally oblivious to everything. I can't even remember how the food was. Probably eating it out of a paper box made a difference in my perception of it, but it seemed unremarkable. I'd try it once more just because I hate to pass judgment based on one visit, but they're on thin ice, in my book! I'll post an update if I visit again.

Pros: nice menu variety

Cons: slow service, impersonal staff

Posted 09/09/08

My friend took me here for my birthday dinner!
It was possible the worst food i have ever put in my mouth!I am not fussy when it comes to food but the oysters on half shell were served warm the pork chop was served with raw carrots and the paella had been sitting under a heat lamp and turned crusty
i called the manager but he basically blew me off
Please dont waste your good money in this restaurant there are far better restaurants in Seattle

Posted 08/02/08

Seldom do we eat in a restaurant this expensive, but I wanted to treat my husband once. I researched their menu online, and right away found something you cannot get everywhere. A seafood stew. i was so excited about this, and was willing to spend $$$$ and travel time on this meal. We called and made reservations. When we arrived, the vallet took and parked our car wich was wonderful because parking in seattle is a bit... Inside, we immedietly felt very comportable being there. The athmosphere was very nice. It's not a white table cloth kind of restaurant though, so you can go in jeans if you like. They had dimmed lights on the walls, and private seating with candles on every table. Our waiter had very good manners. We received our drinks promply, followed by the menue. I spend a bit time looking for the seafood stew they described online, and could not find it. When I asked the waiter about it he informed me that they took it off the munue. Needles to say, I was VERY dissapointed. I came all that way just to eat a fancy, good meal and it was a no go. We decided to stay anyway, and give it a try. My husband had filet mignon, and I had some sort of spanish dish with clams, shrimp, mussels, sausage, rice and and and. It took them a very long time to prepare it. When it finally all came to the table, It was a bit dessapointing. My husbands meal that cost $44.00 for the steak and mashed patatoes of 1/2 cup was not tasty at all. The stake was VERY bland. I make better steakes at home,that taste a mil. times better. My seafood dish had a great sauce, but the combination of all the meats did not go well together. Especially the cicken. Chicken, sausage and seafood is just does not mix well. Our bill for 1 glass of whine, 1 beer, 1 filet mignon, 1 garden salad and this crazy spanish seafood rice dish came to $124.00 with 15% tip incd. It was not worth the money we spend & the time we traveled. The wine was good however, and the restaurant nice.

Pros: vallet parking, ambience, fiendly staff

Cons: bad food, and too much money for the (no) taste.

Posted 06/19/08

There are many reasons to visit this lovely spot. I have a few. I found this place by accident... one of the best accidents I have ever had. The wine selection is very good, and the Rioja wines are deliciouos. My wife and I like to eat tapas style... this means that ordering four or five orf their delicious appetizers, shared by two... is a very nice way to go.
The wait staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Somedays have been less crowded than others. I have dined here four separate times. All have been an enjoyable experience. If you want a romantic spot, with mood pleasing colors and rich wood trimp... try this intimate place. The valet parking is handy, and if you want to retire to a cozy, high ceiling bar, Oliver's is at the other end of the building (a walk through the inside, posh lobby).
This is the kind of place that you may end up refering to as a special place to visit.

Posted 04/18/08

This is not a restaurant I would reccomend to anyone nor would I go back. The place is very small with about 20 tables, the decorations are a bit tacky, and the food has more oil than my car. The price of dinner wasn't too bad, the meals were fairly priced. I ordered the risotto, which pretty much was over cooked rice surrounded by a ring of cooking oil. The cherry streusal cake was more like a fancy granola bar. But I did enjoy the lemon gelato. I must say that was the best part of dinner!!! Don't go there unless you want to be disappointed!!!

Posted 03/10/08

We went to Andaluca for dinner on Valentines. The menu was very creative and the service was GREAT. The only thing better than the food was the service. We will be back!!!!!

Pros: Wonderful food and service

Cons: none

Posted 03/02/08

I was in town for the weekend of 10/27 & decided to try for the first time their late night happy hour from 9:00 pm until closing. I & another friend arrived just a little past 9:00 pm & walked in. We were greeted by a server & I mentioned to him that we were here for their happy hour. He told us he would have to go check.....my instincts told me this isn't going to be good....so we waited a few minutes. When he came back we were told that we were too early & that they were only serving dinner. We were speechless. I could even see from where I was standing there was room at the bar for seating. So I just don't know if they were having a bad day but I do believe first impressions are everything & this was absolutely, positively not a good one. Why even advertise you have a happy hour in the evening if you're not going to honor it.

Posted 10/29/07

Went there for a girls night out. I was expecting amazing tapas and felt it was just ok. Not anything spectacular. Service was great but the food just didn't live up to the expectations.

Posted 10/20/07

I went out to get breakfast here and I must say the food here is excellent. Service is top notch and couldn't of asked for a better service. Their portions are perfect and the atmosphere is great as well. Only thing is its little bit too cramped (could hear other people talking) but really its not even that bad - although I dont recommend this place for a larger group. I'll definately be coming to this place again!

Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere

Cons: little pricey for breakfast~$20 for continental breakfast + oj

Posted 07/10/07

Yummy food and great service makes my whole family enjoy this special place! Save some roomfor the dessert because they have some really interesting ones! Will come again!

Posted 06/10/07

As other reviewers stated, Andaluca is _the_ place to go for service, and of course the food. The menu selection is terrific, and the diversity of flavors creates an experience for those who love fine food. The dates stuffed with chorizo and pastaccio is terrific. The paella is a unique creation, and I found it spicy when I did not expect it. I went on a nice day, and enjoyed a leisurely walk around downtown seattle, followed by dinner at Andaluca. The ambience is great for an intimate dinner. I recommend dressing up for this restaurant, and enjoy a nice night out in downtown Seattle.

Pros: Service, Food, & Ambience

Cons: Paella; go for the tenderloin

Posted 04/09/07

Last night was our third visit to Andaluca. What a fantastic experience. The wait staff was so friendly and helpful. The dinners were prepared to perfection. From our salad to our desert everything was wonderful!!!

Posted 03/22/07

Andaluca makes the most of a tiny space. They have delicious food, professional friendly staff that isn't shmoozy, and great desserts. The booths are the best to sit in, if you can get one. Great for a date or a double date. Not big enough for a large party.

Pros: All good

Cons: None that come to mind

Posted 03/05/07

I'm a concierge, so it's my job to eat out ALOT. I've had plenty of absolutely bland, forgettable hotel restaurant meals in my time, but Andaluca is not your typical hotel restaurant. Chef Wayne has been there for a long time and that kind of loyalty is increasingly hard to find. He's still there because he still digs what he does, and I dig the results. The quality and consistency are impressive. The menu changes often because he sources seasonal ingredients, but the most popular dishes are there to stay. You've gotta have the gazpacho in the summer, or the crab tower anytime of year. The halibut is perfect. The seasonal risotto dishes are spot on. Breakfast is a little pricey, but worth it--there just aren't that many great places to go for breakfast, so take advantage of it. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, perfectly suitable for a quiet lunch or a romantic dinner. This place has hung in there for 10 years for a reason. Take my word for it, I've eaten almost everywhere!

Pros: Overall quality and value, free valet parking, great location

Cons: A little bit of hotel mark-up on the menu, but the food is worth it.

Posted 02/07/07

This is a warm, romantic restaurant with great food. We have gone many times for special occasions and it has consistently delivered excellent quality. The beef and fish dishes are equally strong.

Pros: Romantic, great food

Cons: none

Posted 11/25/06

I've been to Andaluca three times in the past couple months and I cannot get enough. I'll probably go back tomorrow night too! The food is amazing and the atmosphere is great. The seafood stew is wonderful. I lived in northern Spain for a year and my host mother would always make seafood stew for special occasions. Let me tell you, Andaluca's stew tastes EXACTLY like her's does, a full blooded Spanish housewife's. :) I've also had the steak and it was wonderful with a great sauce over it and creamy mashed potatoes. Do yourself a favor and make your reservation today, you won't regret it.

Pros: Food, Ambience, Service

Cons: None

Posted 03/09/06

We went for dinner the evening before V-Day...The steak was dry, the risotto over salted and boring. My husband actually compared it to hamburger helper. I had been looking forward to dining here for a long time and was very disappointed. The service was lacking in several areas. There was no greeting when we entered and no one acknowledged our departure. We had been given a gift certificate from our family and were told that they no longer honored them. After showing the waiter that the certificate was valid he went again to try. Upon his return he told us he would "make it work." I have never been more embarassed about using a gift certificate in my life. Do not go here unless you enjoy paying for overpriced hotel food.

Cons: Overrated food, unfriendly service

Posted 02/12/06

My husband and I just ate at Andaluca for the first time, and we are already plotting our return. There were at least twelve items on the menu we wanted to order, but with the help of our fantastic server, we narrowed it down and ended up enjoying one of the best dinners we've eaten in Seattle. Chef Wayne Johnson uses flavor to elevate quality ingredients, not mask or overpower them. This masterful balance showed consistently in every dish-- the mussels (wow!), to the scallops, to succulent lamb skewers with tatziki, to a perfectly perfumed and fluffy paella, to the cabrales-crusted organic beef tenderloin. Not to rest on fantastic food, wine and service, Andaluca's atmosphere is warm and comfortable. Infused with love, and the Spanish-style passion for good food, Andaluca is a special place, and this former chef can't wait to go back.

Pros: free valet, free hugs, romance

Posted 11/17/05

Certainly the best Spanish food that I have had, I dined here on a visit to Seattle a few weeks before I dined at a local California Spanish restaurant, and Andaluca was better by far. Service was highly efficient, and the food was excellent. Roasted Mussels with rosemary were among the best I have had; the traditional Paella was superior and flavorful. It was not too filling, so there was enough room for the excellent dessert of Molten Chocolate Cake. The Andaluca salad I had was very fresh and flavorful. Chef Wayne Johnson is one of the West's best chefs of superior Spanish cuisine.

Pros: Food, Service, Cost

Posted 10/26/05

I saw some good reviews and decided to try it out. We were hoping for fine dining and nice atmosphere - we got neither. The room was too bright, the waitress seemed rushed when there were only two other tables and the food was below what I would expect to get when paying $35/plate. I have been to many restaurants in Seattle and would never return here. There are way too many good places to go for better food and ambiance.

Pros: Quiet, Location

Cons: Food, Ambiance, Service

Posted 09/26/05

I found Andaluca a few years back and never have i been dissapointed. Service is always very good, never intrusive but always on the spot. They have recently added more shareables or "Tapas" to the menu. Try the roasted mussels or the crispy pussion. The Cabrales Tenderloin is one of the best steaks in town. Also try the shellfish stew and of course the paella. Very good wine list with alot of hidden and well priced gems by the bottle. Complimentary valet parking a plus!

Pros: service, food , wine

Cons: none

Posted 04/27/05

We went to the prie-fixe dinner, which was very good over all. The odd thing was that we were told that the salmon was wild, and then that it was "Atlantic Troll Caught". Altantic Troll Caught is not a wild salmon: there is no such thing. The fish was farmed, and it should not have been misreprented as wild.

Posted 03/17/03

Lots of rich flavors and a warm, intimate setting helps to make this spot ideal for a special night out. Complex flavors in their dishes help to make each course exciting and new. Everything we had from our starter to our dessert was absolutely perfect. I went there with my boyfriend for a holiday night out, and we enjoyed a wonderful meal that just enhanced the whole night we had together.

Pros: hearty food, intimate

Cons: can be pricey

Posted 12/04/02

When the door opens and you are at a table close by it's like cold. A major problem for a cafe with $30 entres. The meal was fair: the duck cakes good but soup only okay. The major failure was the Osso Bucco: the polenta was grilled too long and the lamb braised far too long. Ideas great but actual product weak.

Pros: Inventive, decor, Service

Cons: THE DOOR, the food preparation

Posted 11/24/02

I took my fiance here for his birthday just the other night....and took part of the $25 dinner meal! Neither of us had ever been. This was a PERFECT meal!! Our waiter Jon M, was awesome!! Very friendly and he was waiting on a lot of tables but was always there to make sure we were happy! The food was AMAZING......it's the following morning and I'm still thinking about the Petite Cabrales Crusted Beef Tenderloin! You must get it!

Pros: Valet Parking, Friendly Staff, Tasty food

Cons: Food came too quick!, Pricey

Posted 11/19/02

I have eaten here several times and am always pleased with the service and the food.

The pumpkin risotto was amazing and I always order the lemon marscapone because it is so delicous.

Posted 11/11/02

Our waiter Paul was fabulous! He gave us a great recommendation for a Spanish wine, which fit perfectly with the food we ordered. He also let us know that we had ordered too much food, which was very considerate.The roasted mussels were very tasty, meaty and fresh. They were probably the best mussels I've had and a bargain considering that you're paying for an appetizer price when it is a meal in itself. The Paella and the Lamb dolmas are also not to be missed. The only downside is that we were so full, we didn't have room for dessert!

Posted 07/10/02