El Mercat De Tapas - Rockville

What a brunch !It was just what I was craving for !Steak right on its point.Beer cold as it should.Personnel super friendly, fast service, everything really great.I'm totally coming back next time I'm on the area.

The service was pretty good, and the ambiente was also beautiful. we came here for a Sunday dinner and there were both inside and outside seats. some dishes were good: tortilla, churro, croquettes, meatballs and Shishito peppers, and some were okay: kartoffeln (probably too much mayo for me), ripen (not enough apple sauce they gave me more after I had asked) and speck wrapped termine (to burn). overall it is still a nice place to lunch. can be a bit pricy with drinks tho.

Where to start.... We were excited to come here for our anniversary. We had a reservation and were seated immediately. But it took another ten minutes for our waiter to even acknowledge us or bring over water and menu. Needless to say, the service continued to be subpar for the rest of our dining experience.Food wise, we ordered three Tapas and one paella. The lamb meatballs were super salty. The steak with olive chimichurri was good. The octopus with potatoes was a tad salty but done really well, delicate and not chewy with smoky Paprika. The Negra paella (black squid ink) was undercooked while the calamari was overcooked, chewy and rubbery. And the San Sabestian cheesecake, the main reason we came here, was overly burned. I understand it is supposed to be burnt, but this was a thick layer of char leaving a bitter, burnt flavor in the mouth.Needless to say, won't be returning or recommending this place unfortunately.

After a bumpy 1st visit, El Mercat Bar De Tapas (EMBDT has endeared itself into a small core of me and my dining companion 's favorite dining destinations in the DC area with the next 3 meals. Co Owners Chef George Rodrigues and Wanessa Alves have created a cozy gem of Spanish restaurant in Rockville Town Center, starring outstanding food utilizing quality ingredients and attentive service as well as a bright and inviting ambiance harkening to its namesake tapas bar. On our first visit, we very enjoyed the food but were stunned by a 14.27% tax charge. While Build Back Better is creating massive inflation, we knew that Maryland 's tax rate at restaurants is still 6% for food and 9% for booze. When we pointed this out to the manager on duty, he said that it was whatever rate that was in their system and there was nothing he could do about it. With a quality experience, we don 't mind tipping generously (25% , but we felt unfairly gouged considering it was specifically for tax rather than a standard service charge or lockdown relief funding. After I pointed this out on Facebook, Co Owner Wanessa contacted me, apologized (it was oversight of a glitch in their system for brunch , and resolved the matter. Fortunately, EMBDT impressed us with each successive visit. Here is what we enjoyed thus far: PAELLA MARISCOS with Shrimp, Squid, Clams, Mussels, and Garlic Aioli Lovers of seafood and rice, nearly every paella we ever tried were disappointments (including at Jaleo : the rice was undercooked, lacked much characteristic flavor of accompanying ingredients, or failed to develop the crunchy Socarrat bottom. In total contrast, EMBDT 's had a deeply shellfish imbued flavor that was just tender enough with a well charred bottom to match the appropriately minimalist touch for the seafood components! PAELLA NEGRA with Squid, Squid Ink, Peas, and Saffron Aioli Similar to the above but with a more delicately nutty savory note of the squid ink, this one was also terrific, but left us wanting some more of the delicious grilled squid! Buttermilk Fried CHICKEN BLT with Garlic Aioli and Side Salad Fried chicken is the perfect canvas to demonstrate a chef 's culinary talent and creativity, and Chef Rodrigues impressed us with a dazzlingly crunchy and garlicky version. It was like two identities in one (a crispy chicken sandwich and a BLT that formed a more exciting new whole! Since my entrée (Burger also came with Fries, my DC requested them to be substituted with a side salad, which was perfect as a refreshing, lightly tart, and virtuous complementing accent featuring fancy greens, baby radish, and cherry tomatoes! BARCELONA BURGER with Red Wine Caramelized Onions, Valdeón Blue Cheese, Shishito Peppers, and Fries Beefy, tender, savory, funky, naturally sweet, and utterly decadent (I considered the add on egg, but it was plenty indulgent without it but not too over the top. In video gamers terms, it 's S tier! The fries are also lovely, and even better with a request of their Garlic Aioli in place of ketchup. GAMBAS AL AJILLO with Bay Leaf, Dried Chili, and EVOO Outstanding rendition of the traditional garlic shrimp, which comes sizzling and with rustic bread (appreciated it being toasted with EVOO on one visit though next time it was plain and lightly tart hot oil for dipping, it 's fun eating. CALAMARES Fried with Lemon Aioli and Paprika Nicely fried, crisp, and naturally savory, they boost the Paella Negra or are a Happy Hour delight! TORTILLA ESPAÑOLA with Saffron Aioli Tender, moist, and delicately savory with potato and onion notes, the subtle saffron aioli adds another layer and stunning hue. Another dish worth enjoying for HH! ESCALIVADA of Roasted Eggplant and Peppers, Labne Yogurt, Fresh Herbs, and Pita Each layer contributes a delicious dimension to highlight how vegetables can shine inherently without having to imitate their meat counterparts! CHURROS TRADICIONALES with Chocolate Caramel Sauces Solid rendition, but completely outshined by the other d

I've been trying to snag a table for four at El Mercat for weeks was excited when the stars aligned! Located in Rockville Town Square next to BonChon, El Mercat is a quaint sized spot serving authentic Spanish tapas. We ordered lots of different tapas to try. I'm meat-free for the next month and was satisfied with the vegetarian offerings. The carnivores in my house were pleased with their dishes. 1. Zanahorias Rostizadas (roasted baby carrots with Marcano almonds and goat cheese) was hands down, my most FAVORITE dish. The carrots were perfectly cooked. The whipped goat cheese added a nice tang while the Marco a almonds gave it a nice rounded texture. 2. Pan Con Tomate (bread with tomatoes) was my second favorite. I'm so glad I didn't have to share with anyone because I ate the entire dish! They grate fresh tomatoes, toast and butter bread with garlic, add some sea salt. Simple but perfect! Small side of olives. 3. Albondigas (lamb meatballs) was the favorite amongst the meat eaters. My 5 y/o and 10 y/o couldn't get enough! I dipped some bread into the marinara sauce, which was tasty on its own merit! 4. Calamares (fried calamari) passed the husband's and 5 y/o's approval test. It looked and smelled good! 5. Gambas Al Ajillo (sizzling shrimp in garlic and parsley) was nice and piping hot. I love hearing the active sizzling lol. Again since I couldn't eat the shrimp, I dipped bread into the sauce. Very flavorful! Husband liked this one. 6. Datiles Con Beicon (bacon wrapped and blue cheese stuffed dates) were ordered by and for my 10 y/o. It didn't looks super appealing on the eyes, but it must've tasted good because she ate them all! 7. Montadito De Carne (steak and olive chimichurri on toasted bread) smelled amazing! However, when we ordered this, we were beyond our full point lol. So husband packed it to go. He ate it at some point for a midnight snack and said that he enjoyed it. Locally, we tend to go to Botanero, but this is a nice intimate place to go to as well. I would say that Botanero has an edge because they have more kid-friendly options (including mac and cheese). That said, if it was just husband and I, we'd probably pick here. Oh and park at Garage C (next to Dawsons Market). You get the first hour free at metered parking. Otherwise, if you go further down into the garage, you get two hours for free.