Bar Casa Vale Reviews

Really slow service. Waited a very long time for our food. We asked 2 servers to take our order and then had to walk over to the hostess to get service. The plating was poor. For food that is below average. They added 20% gratuity for a table of 4 and an additional health charge. They did add a dish that we did not want to compensate for the delay. But one of us is allergic to what was in it.

A group of 7 friends tried this place on a Monday evening. Several of us either are from Spain or have travelled in Spain and this place has very very little connection with Spain. We also found the place to be ridiculously expensive for the food they serve and everything is just drowning in heavy sauces. We ordered a variety of items that we will rate: -Croquetas de bacalao. This item is supposed to be about 2 inches long and a long and crispy in the outside and soft/creamy in the inside and to have a fairly delicate flavor. Well they were small and round and served drowning in a strong sauce, which made the croquetas soggy and tasteless by comparison -patatas bravas. These are supposed to be potato wedges crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and *spicy* but not too much. The served potato’s were covered in some crunchy stuff, almost like breading. Have to say taste was ok, but these were definitely not patatas bravas -fried calamari: normally , the spanish fried calamari are lightly breaded and fried while keeping the flesh soft . They are served with a separate sauce that can be alioli. This item was almost ok, had lemon slices also fried with it that added an interesting flavor. My main complaint here is expensive for the portion -fried peppers: usually in Spain these are shishito or Padrón peppers that are fried in olive oil until blistering and are served with sprinkled big grain salt, nothing else. These were some other sort of peppers (fine) but served on a bed of mixed creamy sauces and no salt grains. -gambas a la plancha: normally these are prawns that are quickly grilled in olive oil and sprinkled with salt. Tasty and simple. The ones we got were too oily , not salty enough, but they were good prawns -chorizo: normally this is spanish chorizo that is fried and served with a small bread, very simple. This was definitely not spanish chorizo, that said it was a decent flavor except one side was burned and there was only one chorizo for a lot of money -grilled sardine: this was good, but again, covered in green sauce and only a small piece for quite a. It of money

We decided to try this place as it was recommended by a chef we know. The menu is a bit of a challenge for us older people. We decided to share the cheese platter with cocktails and the paella with wine. All very delicious. And the creme brûlée was yummy.

We stopped by for happy hour/dinner and had a great time. Great deals. We basically ordered the entire food menu and I liked everything we had. Cider and sherry were great too.

Please be kind to your solo diners. I understand the table of four or six results the larger sales, but solo diners come back with friends. We also tend to be really good tippers. As I waited for a table to become available The particular night I was there, I observed groups that come in long after me being seated well I eat standing up at a barrel. The food was quite tasty the portions small so I was able to taste several things on the menu. The bread wasn’t my favorite part of each meal. The octopus was well cooked But overall rather salty. I thoroughly enjoyed the wine selections. Eating is outside and they are using little hot houses as intimate dining areas and it’s a great concept.

The thing to remember here is they give you fair warning in the name...it is a BAR, not a restaurant. A good interior designer would love to get the chance to improve the place. And then it might justify the prices a bit more readily than it does now. The contrast between the place and the menu leaves a sense of being expensive. But once you get over the rather shoddy tables and the general feeling of being in an industrial, almost temporary space, things improve. The food is actually a nice blend of authentic and imaginative. And very tasty. We had the flatbread with hummus, the grilled sardines, Imberico pork collar, calamari skewer and the porcini mushroom salad. Only the very chewy calamari disappointed. The wine list is centered on Spain and unless you are an aficionado of that country will probably contain some names that are unfamiliar. The staff is knowledgeable and ever-ready to help. Also in true Spanish style there is a good selection of sherry. The flight is a good way to either enjoy a range of tastes or to investigate what you like the most if you are new to the pleasures of Jerez (a British mispronunciation of which gave Sherry its name). Being neither a cocktail nor beer drinker, I'll leave it to other reviewers to comment on those. I still wish they'd pay some attention to the space and decide if they are truly a bar or a restaurant but there are things on the menu I still want to try, so I'll be back.

Came here without reservations, but when we showed up more than half the place was still empty and we were about to be seated right next to the kitchen when clearly there was plenty of patio seating open (as well as bar, etc). Anyhow, we were moved to the patio thank goodness (it was really hot inside). Took some time to get service. But everyone was nice. Folks are a bit stiff thought. We ordered pate thing (with orange marmalade), lamb, and one more dish. I got a mojito (forgot what significant other got). All in all nice flavors. But it’s a bit spendy for what’s offered. (I need to remember it's not Barcelona where I can get ten times more options for much less money). Giving a generous 4. Glad we checked this place out, but don’t think we’d be rushing back any time soon. Other fun places to visit in Portland.

If you like paying top dollar for tiny portions, this is the place for you. Although, to their credit, the food tasted so bad I wouldn't have wanted any more than what was served. The real kicker was what they are charging for drinks. $10 for a single shot JD & coke. Would not recommend this place to anyone.

We spent a weekend in Portland and decided to try Bar Casa Vale for dinner. It was a great decision. Our table was in a small greenhouse which was a first and we really enjoyed the ambiance. We started with a pitcher of sangria which was nice. For dinner, my husband and I had the grilled chicken and our daughter had the cauliflower. The chicken was moist and the harissa sauce was smoky and spicy. Our daughter enjoyed the cauliflower and also ate it with the harissa sauce.

The happy hour prices are very reasonable, in fact the entire menu was reasonable. I really liked the flights of sherry. Service was cheerful and efficient.

In what’s a bland, nondescript brick, glass and concrete box of a building in inner Southeast Portland, Bar Casa Vale somehow generates a warm, inviting and buzzing interior -- a primo setting in which to nosh on excellent small Spanish-style plates. We grabbed a seat at one of the small front tables near the big floor-to-ceiling windows, which, unfortunately, gets you sweeping views of a…pretty large and unscenic parking lot. The bar has a better ambiance, with interesting green/blue Spanish-style tilework on the back wall, while the outdoor patio area seemed cozy enough, with a firepit and all, but otherwise just an unassuming concrete space. Good energy out there though. We settled in and plowed into the true tapas/pinxtos menu, complete with seafood options. Looks like BCV also has a pretty robust selection of Spanish sherries and wines, both red and white. Of course we started with a cocktail; in our case the Bourbon Reign, a nice blend of bourbon, fig syrup, lemon and red wine, and only $6 on happy hour. A real deal. But we came here to eat, and our first order was the Skewer of the Day, which happened to be steak, a couple of excellently charred (but smallish) pieces of tender meat. The grilled flatbread, too, was divine, and an Asparagus with Manchego cheese tasted fresh and grassy, though not in a mind-blowing way. The Grilled Sardines and sea beans were a revelation – a bit fishy upfront, but perfectly cooked and tender and flaky inside. The Charred Octopus - chorizo style- with hearth potato was also excellent, with great texture and interesting spice flavors. Our desert came down to the Abuelita, a heavenly chocolate concoction that’s a mix between custard and pudding, with a liberal dose of Jacobsen’s sea salt and a dollop of chevre on top. Mmmm...a supreme way to end the tasting session. The service was upbeat, businesslike and generally on point, though our people were not always informative unless prompted. But, hey they were busy, and I thought they did a damn good job (my wife was a little more critical). Portions are fairly small (because, um, they’re tapas), and generally reasonably priced, with nice presentation -- though food and drink did take quite a while to come out during the happy hour when we first got there (which is understandable). All in all, an eventful, fun, flavorful evening with good energy, smart service and great food. Bravo, for sure.

We were there for a birthday celebration because we were expecting what we have had in the past. First the positive, the vibe is great and the staff were very good. A 7:30 reservation was met with “we are already out of the... and this wine, and that wine..” Not a great start. Most of the food was fine. Not “very good”, ‘the reason why we chose this place’. We were apologizing to our guests for the lack of quality, throughout the evening. Not sure we will return in a hurry. It’s such a shame.

They have a long inside area that's tightly seated, and then a more spread out patio with heat lamps/fire pit for the colder months. Service was friendly, but a little too attentive. (We were trying to have a conversation and were interrupted routinely every couple minutes.) Everything (drinks and food) tasted quite good, and although it wasn't cheap, we came for happy hour which helped keep the bill down to 50 dollars for two of us. They dealt well with our egg allergy and vegetarian needs. Although we won't come rushing back, we were glad to check out this place. By 5:00 pm they were jammed pack on a Friday night.

I started visiting Bar Casa Vale because I had a taste for octopus and somebody told me they made it here. Yes, indeed, they make some very delicious octopus at this spot. I often visited during happy hour to take advantage of the menu, until a few months ago when they changed the menu. It was such a bad change, I eventually stopped going. Then on New Year's Eve, I wandered in and found a whole new and wonderous menu. The pork belly with lentils...my mouth is still in awe. The octopus skewer, though small, retained all the tender deliciousness I have come to expect from their octopus offerings. The server told me they have a new chef, previously from Woodsman's Tavern, which as you might know, closed down about a year ago, with Tasty n Son's taking that space. FYI, Tasty seems to be struggling a bit in that location. They definitely have not yet recaptured the Williams street magic. Back to Bar Casa Vale. The new chef has some delightful options, including a monthly specialty. The December special looked so ridiculously good, full of different types of pork, I was kicking myself that I had come in too late to order it. Do yourself a big favor and check out this restaurant while this chef is there. He has a beautiful menu in place and the food is extremely well prepared and flavorful.

Had an extended tapas evening on a bustling Saturday night. Service was exemplary and friendly. Drinks fabulous: excellent, well-chosen wine list, good selection of craft beer, and fabulous cocktails — best Negroni ever. The tapas were very good. Try the olives stuffed with anchovies! The place has a smallish parking lot; but there is ample street parking.

Visited on a busy Saturday, early evening, but the host agreed to seat us if we would be out by 7:30 for reservation (this was said in a joking, friendly manner) and we agreed, that would be just fine. Enjoyed wine with several tapas: pork belly skewers (delicious), grilled octopus (I didn't really care much for this), artisan bread, grilled squash and gambas a la plancha (prawns). Service was good, food and wine tasty and nice addition to the Portland restaurant scene.

As Anthony Bourdain reminds us, "We will never have tapas culture in America." But at least we have a place where one can get a decent smattering of tasty nibbles, which would be a pain to all concoct at home. I can't speak to their regular menu or their "Paella Sunday," but three of us had a lovely evening working our way through the happy hour menu. The Patatas Bravas were excellent, and I highly recommend their PX Old Fashioned, oh, and the octopus skewers. Get at least two. Our server was friendly and helpful, and let us know the incoming reservation was running late, so as not to feel rushed. Not a tapas experience, but still perfectly agreeable.

This small taps eatery in an out of the way area was full of charm and surprises. The food was outstanding in flavor and preparation. The service was attentive without intrusion. Highly recommend

We went during happy hour and loved the grilled sardines, cod croquettes were light, airy and crispy. We also had a chickory cesar salad that was crisp and full of acidic tang that was a perfect compliment. 6 kumomoto oysters for ten dollars was a lovely deal. Plus a tasting of super old sherries that made my evening. The bartender, Max, was super personable and knowlegable. He reccomended the gambas ala plancha as a 'do not miss' and it was our favorite dish. We will be back.

I’ve been here many times but I won’t be going back until I’m positive the ownership is treating staff well. I went her for my 26th birthday, I’ve been here on dates, I usually love a Spanish restaurant. I’ve been when the chef has given us complimentary dishes and even when the food lacks luster the service so amazing. It’s the chef, the cooks, and the servers that make this restaurant what it is. Treat your staff with respect or I’ll go to Urdaneta.

Visited bcv w friends for dinner. Wonderful service, intimate dining area, lots of dark wood but still felt open. Amazing Spanish ham and all dishes were great. As were the cocktails and dessert. Expect a wait as the place is small and doesn’t take reservations. Highly recommend!

Really surprised with the fantastic happy hour menu. $6 cocktails - my favorite being the Bourbon Reign (bourbon, fig and lemon). May sound strange, but vegetable plate of the day was awesome. Clams were good. Had to get the braised rabbit off the main menu. We almost ordered it again. Good vibe. Romantic spot. Easy reach to other local bars to hit afterwards. Also has their own little parking lot, fyi.

First time our family has eaten Spanish food - excellent memories! My teen who hates Brussels Sprouts said these were the best he’s ever eaten! We demolished the garlic prawns, the pork ribs, the patatas bravas, the flank steak - all were amazing. The rose and grapefruit sorbet was delicious. We sat outside in their covered patio near the fire pit and were perfectly toasty. This is now on our list of places in PDX where we will come for dinner once a year.

Small place with amazing tapas. The grilled octopus was my favorite. And the cauliflower and squid ink rice dishes were amazing. And of course there's traditional Spanish ham. Had a creme brûlée type dessert that we shared and loved, as well as the ice cream with espresso and sherry. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention my perfectly balanced negroni. Thx ambiance and service were great too. Only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is no reservations and no ac - which made us all super sweaty on the hot 100+ night we were there. For future I wouldn't go of over 80 outside. Otherwise, wonderful!

We were visiting from out of town and wanted to go somewhere to order small plates and have drinks. This spot was excellent. We arrived at 9:15PM and were promptly seated. I enjoyed several different wines and at least a half-dozen small plates to share. Everything was very good, although I would hesitate to call it "Spanish" at times. It's not Harvest Vine, but it's also not nearly as expensive. Overall, I thought it was an excellent evening with wonderful food and terrific service. Great location as well.

I had dinner at this tapas bar on a month-long trip, and while I had some very good meals over those weeks, this was the best. It's a lovely space with two shady outdoor patios (and an indoor room, of course), with quiet Spanish music and a faint smell of delicious cooking smoke. I had a Golden Bee cocktail - gin, lemon, honey, two kinds of Amaro - very good. Later, had a rioja blanco wine - I don't know Spanish wines, but my smart and helpful server helped me choose, and this was great. (Yes, I know that means "red white" - I have no explanation!) The tapas: I had pan con tomate, which was a thick piece of rustic bread, toasted, with a thick, delicious spread of roasted tomatoes. I had gambas al ajillo - eight big prawns, light on the garlic. Avocado and pickled cucumber salad, OMG so good! Coarsely chopped avocado, little marinated cuke bits, almonds, herbs all mooshed together in a ball. And I had grilled corn, with cotija cheese, kind of reminiscent of Mexican street corn. Also delicious, but maybe not quite as amazing as the other three. Of course this was too much food for me, but I'm glad I tried all four dishes.

Creative menu that is well prepared, attentive service, good beverage menu. Some onsite parking with plenty in the surrounding neighborhood. We were there for Portland Dining Month and their 3 course offering was excellent. We also selected items off of the regular menu. There were sugar ants on the table, we had to request the PDM menu and it was incredibly loud. So loud that it was difficult to talk. So loud we probably won’t go back. All in all an enjoyable evening but the noise was too much.

We just flew into Portland and I had a reservation here for 7:15. Glad we made it. It's a smallish space with a nice sized bar. Mostly all tapas, but they do such a great job with them. I started with a beautiful glass of Priorat. We split the Croquetas..the red Chile crema was amazing. Shared the pork ribs, pork belly and pulpo, every tapa being flavorful and delicious. And we were very full. So much more we wanted to try, but couldn't. Loved this place. Oh, shared a Tarta de Santiagio....wow!

The wood-fired, Spanish influenced food and wine is fantastic. The food is very high-end in quality but the presentation is very approachable. The atmosphere is sophisticated but casual. I highly recommend.

I previously favorably reviewed this restaurant. For more details, please see my earlier review. After a very bad experience with rubbery Octopus at a Vancouver spot, I had to come back here for the delicious grilled octopus at Bar Casa Vale. They do not disappoint. If you find the dish too salty, avoid the olives.

When inquiring about the white wine, the women server said, well it crisp but it won't make you sick. They gave out different information about happy hour, but the food is good. Get the chorizo baquette, salad, chicken thigh. Burger is also great. Nice bourbon drink for $7. They make great gin cocktails but none are on happy hour.