Taberna Del Alabardero is a traditional Spanish restaurant, founded in 1974 in Madrid and bringing the flavors of Spain to Washington since 1989!. This piece of Spain, just steps from The White House, will transport you to an elegant and royal atmosphere surrounded by friendly faces, an engaging menu and world-renowned wines.
Taberna Del Alabardero opened its doors in 1989, becoming the first Spanish restaurant in DC, and celebrated its 30 Anniversary with the 2019 Honorary RAMMY award. Spanish Chef Carlos Gmez Segovia brings back the authentic Spanish Cuisine and introduces new dishes with traditional ingredients.
Taberna Del Alabardero opened its doors in 1989, becoming the first Spanish restaurant in DC, and celebrated its 30 Anniversary with the 2019 Honorary RAMMY award. Spanish Chef Carlos Gmez Segovia brings back the authentic Spanish Cuisine and introduces new dishes with traditional ingredients.
Services
La primera Taberna del Alabardero abri sus puertas en 1974 en Madrid, frente al Palacio de Oriente, tomando su nombre de la guardia real; los alabarderos. En 1989 abrimos nuestra sede en Washington, donde podr disfrutar de lo mejor de la gastronoma tradicional espaola, nuestros reconocidos vinos y el ambiente familiar de nuestra casa, que tambin es la suya.
Choose from our classic tapas, traditional paellas, fresh fish and premium meat. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options are also available. Don't forget to order some of our fresh homemade bread to enjoy with your meal, and Spanish wine or Sangria to make a toast! To schedule an order for 10 or more people please contact our catering team, they will be happy to advise you and customize a menu according to you needs.
Taberna del Alabardero offers three elegant private dining spaces, a bar, the main dining room and our patio, all well suited for a broad array of events. A selection of special banquet and cocktail menus are available for parties of 10 or more. Cozy and unforgettable, Amalur greets each guest with a warm introduction to private dining in a quaint and quiet library space perfect for business meetings or intimate gatherings.
Parties of 6 or more guests need to provide credit card details in order to make a reservation, a penalty fee of $30 will be charged in case of no-show or last minute cancellation. Gratuity of 20% will be automatically charged. Complimentary parking is offered at the self parking garage across the street (818, 18th Street) for a maximum of 4 hours, Monday to Friday after 4pm, Saturday 11am to 11pm and Sunday 11am to 7pm.
Reviews (24)
Jeffrey G.
Jan 22, 2022
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Wife and I visited here during DC restaurant week. They had parking in a garage right across the street, and when entering we did not have to wait long to be seated. The place had a nice Spanish vibe, and the live singing and dancing was really good. For a starter we had the fried potatoes with spicy sauce and the garlic shrimp. The potatoes nice and crispy with a really good kick in the sauce and my wife loved her garlic shrimp. We had the chicken and sausage paella for our entree, it was so good and very filling. Really loved the rice and the squeeze of Limon really set it off. For dessert
Rob A.
Jan 20, 2022
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We gave this place a try for Restaurant Week. Wonderful decor, complimentary parking in the garage right across the street (after 4PM weekdays and all day on weekends), the food was awesome and the staff was very friendly and attentive.
We had the seafood paella and it was excellent. The other dishes coming out of the kitchen looked just as good, and I'm sure they were!
Only negative for me is my wife and I had to order the same paella since they're made for two. Not quite sure I understand why. What does a single diner do?
We had the seafood paella and it was excellent. The other dishes coming out of the kitchen looked just as good, and I'm sure they were!
Only negative for me is my wife and I had to order the same paella since they're made for two. Not quite sure I understand why. What does a single diner do?
Gabriel Villegas
Jan 04, 2022
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Patricia Beltrambini
Jan 02, 2022
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The food was excellent. The waiters were polite and efficient. I had a pintxo with goat cheese, caramelised onions and figs. I love the mix of sweet and salty. I then had a salad with mi-cuit duck and Iberic ham and marinated strawberries. Again I loved the combination of the sweetness of the strawberries and the sharpness of the seasoning. The portions were generous.
Sean P.
Dec 23, 2021
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Worth it? YES!!
Repeat? Yes!
Wow. If I'd give this place 6 stars
I have never been to a restaurant that took care of a special occasion as well as this place did.
They HANDWROTE a card thanking us for spending my wife's BDay celebration and topped off the table with rose petals! Wow. Instant fan for life and above and beyond anything I've experienced.
Starting from the host stand to the servers, everyone was friendly and professional.
+ Shrimp was cooked perfectly. Save the juices for the warm bread they give you
+Jamon Iberico was so good, we ordered another TOGO. The crackers
Repeat? Yes!
Wow. If I'd give this place 6 stars
I have never been to a restaurant that took care of a special occasion as well as this place did.
They HANDWROTE a card thanking us for spending my wife's BDay celebration and topped off the table with rose petals! Wow. Instant fan for life and above and beyond anything I've experienced.
Starting from the host stand to the servers, everyone was friendly and professional.
+ Shrimp was cooked perfectly. Save the juices for the warm bread they give you
+Jamon Iberico was so good, we ordered another TOGO. The crackers
Ziv H.
Dec 05, 2021
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An all arounder winner -- assuming you are seeking:
- an upscale, well appointed and warm environment
- attendant, pleasant, happy, and attentive servers
- speed of service without rush of any sort
- detail
...and-- a delicious meal.
Some examples:
an anniversary meal, incidentally noted in the reservation box. how often does that matter?
Here, it does. A rose petalled corner table, glass of champagne, and decorated dish, good wishes from lead servers and more
... Simply unprecedented
We had the fried mascarpone and potatoes in aoli tapas, yes a standard fare but top notch, esp the cheese
- an upscale, well appointed and warm environment
- attendant, pleasant, happy, and attentive servers
- speed of service without rush of any sort
- detail
...and-- a delicious meal.
Some examples:
an anniversary meal, incidentally noted in the reservation box. how often does that matter?
Here, it does. A rose petalled corner table, glass of champagne, and decorated dish, good wishes from lead servers and more
... Simply unprecedented
We had the fried mascarpone and potatoes in aoli tapas, yes a standard fare but top notch, esp the cheese
Tony A.
Dec 02, 2021
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My new employer has offices in Atlanta and Washington D.C. so this has given new life to my yelp reviews. Taberna del Alabardero is a short walk from the office so naturally I had to try it. I took an office colleague with me and immediately upon entering I felt my business casual attire was just a hair out of place. This place is posh and a great place to take a date. Soon as homeboy walked up with tuxedo I knew the food was going to be fire.
Since this was my last meal in DC I wanted to go all out. We ordered the Croquetas de Jamón Serrano - Pulpo a la Gallega - Gambas al Ajillo - Calamares
Since this was my last meal in DC I wanted to go all out. We ordered the Croquetas de Jamón Serrano - Pulpo a la Gallega - Gambas al Ajillo - Calamares
Alexander T.
Nov 14, 2021
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Craving some seafood and paella one evening, we decided to grab some takeout from Taberna del Alabardero and we were not disappointed.
The PAELLA DE MARISCO tasted flavorful and freshly cooked, with a delicious mix of shrimp and oysters and other seafood.
The PATATAS BRAVAS were just the right amount of crispy, with a wonderful dipping sauce that was spicy and satisfying.
And the ASPARAGUS were gigantic and had a delicious hint of smokiness and char that you can't replicate over the stovetop at home.
For what it's worth, the service was also friendly and prompt too.
The PAELLA DE MARISCO tasted flavorful and freshly cooked, with a delicious mix of shrimp and oysters and other seafood.
The PATATAS BRAVAS were just the right amount of crispy, with a wonderful dipping sauce that was spicy and satisfying.
And the ASPARAGUS were gigantic and had a delicious hint of smokiness and char that you can't replicate over the stovetop at home.
For what it's worth, the service was also friendly and prompt too.
Kelly M.
Oct 24, 2021
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I love this place so much! I've been for restaurant week, dinner, and most recently brunch, and it's always excellent! The service is sometimes a little iffy but the food is great! Also it's beautiful inside and the outdoor patio is lovely. The red sangria is pretty good. My favorite food items include fried manchego, paella, pulpo a la gallega (octopus), and stuffed fish. The $35 brunch is a great deal.
Jamil Hamadneh
Oct 17, 2021
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Linnea H.
Sep 22, 2021
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Beautiful, family-owned restaurant in DC with a warm atmosphere and formal table service. We sat on the patio to enjoy a later Friday evening dinner and were treated to live music and flamenco! My partner and I shared the fried manchego and lobster + crab paella. The wine list was extensive, so we also ordered a Rioja tempranillo + cab blend. Everything was excellent! Would recommend for a leisurely dinner with people you want to catch up with over food!
Todd S.
Sep 22, 2021
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Probably the best Spanish place in the Tri-state area. The jamon is always excellent as is the paella. This was the first time I had the Salmorego - it was excellent - like a cold tomato olive oil smoothie. The service was also excellent and accommodating - they usually prefer that you only order paella with 2 or more guests but they didn't mind preparing it for me as a single. Higher price point but definitely worth it if you want excellent Spanish cuisine.
Rafael B.
Sep 04, 2021
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Mahathi T.
Aug 31, 2021
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One of the best deals for restaurant week in dc! Not only do you get to choose from a first round of delicious appetizers (w/ great vegetarian options!), the main dishes includes an amazing pallela for two. By the time you get to dessert, you tastes buds are partying away. The churros are perfectly sweet and cinnamony with a hint of salt to dip into decadent chocolate syrup.
The Oscar Puig Team
Aug 13, 2021
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Melissa G.
Aug 12, 2021
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I made a reservation for myself and 4 friends to attend for dinner during restaurant week. The reservation was made via Open table and did require a credit card for confirmation. Three of us arrived shortly before 8pm and were greeted by the hostess and seated immediately. The other 2 parties arrived within a 10 minute window after us.
It was all of our first times eating at this establishment and we were all thoroughly impressed with the decoration and ambience of the spot. It was great for a group dinner and sexy for a date night. The staff was pretty attentive and helpful but did move
It was all of our first times eating at this establishment and we were all thoroughly impressed with the decoration and ambience of the spot. It was great for a group dinner and sexy for a date night. The staff was pretty attentive and helpful but did move
Maria-Elena T.
Jun 28, 2021
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Three of us split several dishes. We ordered the Baby squid, Some ham & manchego, Black paella with squid ink, shrimp, and baby squid, Grilled octopus with mojo.
The ham and manchego contained 6 triangles of cheese and lots of yummy ham and some bread twists. I loved it and would order it again. But I would get more bread for that dish. The olive bread was delicious- the girl came around with a basket.
The mushroom and truffle croquettes were creamy on the inside, crunchy on the outside and had lots of mushroom flavor. The octopus was perfect! I loved the black ink paella and highly recommend
The ham and manchego contained 6 triangles of cheese and lots of yummy ham and some bread twists. I loved it and would order it again. But I would get more bread for that dish. The olive bread was delicious- the girl came around with a basket.
The mushroom and truffle croquettes were creamy on the inside, crunchy on the outside and had lots of mushroom flavor. The octopus was perfect! I loved the black ink paella and highly recommend
Lucy M.
Apr 15, 2021
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Based on the high reviews posted on Yelp, I was super excited to give this restaurant a try! I placed an order through Doordash - which was a big mistake.
The order took 2 hours to arrive. When the order arrived - I was pissed!
I ordered a Rubujito, which arrived with a straw in it. I couldn't tell you if the drink was good or not because I refused to drink it! Covid or not - you do not put a straw in anyone's drink- especially when it is being delivered!
The paella marisco ( seafood paella) was horrible! Which made me super annoyed because I waited over 2 hours for this. The rice
The order took 2 hours to arrive. When the order arrived - I was pissed!
I ordered a Rubujito, which arrived with a straw in it. I couldn't tell you if the drink was good or not because I refused to drink it! Covid or not - you do not put a straw in anyone's drink- especially when it is being delivered!
The paella marisco ( seafood paella) was horrible! Which made me super annoyed because I waited over 2 hours for this. The rice
Trendy D.
Feb 11, 2021
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I came here for restaurant week. The food was underwhelming. I got the Patatas Bravas (potatoes and cheese), the chicken Paella, and churros. next time I'll try something else and update the review.
The appetizer and main course had no flavor and was very bland. The desert tasted bomb! We all got the churros.
Ambiance: Most of my rating goes towards how gorgeous this place is! The service was great as well. Everything felt very luxe. The servers know what they're doing they literally serve you with elegance. The decor makes you feel like you're in another country!
Food 3/5
Ambiance
The appetizer and main course had no flavor and was very bland. The desert tasted bomb! We all got the churros.
Ambiance: Most of my rating goes towards how gorgeous this place is! The service was great as well. Everything felt very luxe. The servers know what they're doing they literally serve you with elegance. The decor makes you feel like you're in another country!
Food 3/5
Ambiance
Alexia B.
Dec 23, 2020
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Wide variety of dishes with top notch ingredients.
My sister has been wanting to order takeout Taberna del Alabarderno for forever! It was easy to order directly from the restaurant's website and ask for a specific pickup time. I parked nearby and called the restaurant to say I was outside and wasn't sure if I needed to go inside to pickup the order and they kindly offered to meet me outside with our order.
We ordered the paella valenciana, croquetas de jamon, patatas bravas, pan tumaca, mollete de costilla de cerdo asado con mojo picon, manchego frito con frambuesa and churros.
My sister has been wanting to order takeout Taberna del Alabarderno for forever! It was easy to order directly from the restaurant's website and ask for a specific pickup time. I parked nearby and called the restaurant to say I was outside and wasn't sure if I needed to go inside to pickup the order and they kindly offered to meet me outside with our order.
We ordered the paella valenciana, croquetas de jamon, patatas bravas, pan tumaca, mollete de costilla de cerdo asado con mojo picon, manchego frito con frambuesa and churros.
Kensey Young
Nov 16, 2019
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We only stoped her to use the washrooms, it decided to take a break on our walk to get a glass of wine as well. We ordered a glass of the house white, and one of the house red. Both were amazing! And they gave us a plate of delicious olives as well for free.
Place was clean, service was great. And the view from their patio was amazing!
Place was clean, service was great. And the view from their patio was amazing!
David Steininger
Jan 15, 2018
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Fantastic dinner experience! The food was incredibly flavorful and the staff were delightful. The head chef stopped by our table on several occasions throughout the night and made sure our meal was as educational as it was delicious. I'll be very interested in checking out the Washington DC location when he returns to the States.
Isabel Ou
Jan 11, 2018
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Guido Preti
Jun 08, 2017
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