El Raval

El Raval reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. B

   Billy

   Austin1 review

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   My wife and I had a wonderful date night at El Raval, and I have to say—it was an awesome experience from start to finish. We ordered a Red Sangria, Dr. Pepper, Croquetas de Jamon Iberico, Patatas Bravas, Coliflor, and finished off with the Basque Cheesecake. Every item was bursting with flavor—clearly made with care and cooked fresh, not like your average restaurant fare. The portions are on the smaller side, so don’t expect to leave overly full unless you’re ready to spend a little more. But let me tell you—it’s worth every dollar for the quality and taste. Ben C. was our server, and he did an excellent job—friendly, attentive, and made sure we felt taken care of throughout the meal. The environment was relaxing and intimate, making it perfect for a date night. The whole staff was welcoming and professional, adding to the overall great vibe of the place. We spent around $100 including tip, and I’d absolutely say it was money well spent. I’m already looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommend El Raval if you’re looking for a flavorful, elevated dining experience in Austin.
   

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2. R

   Rachel

   Austin1 review

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Had a lovely time at El Raval. We ordered 10 - 12 dishes (including dessert) and all but one (the brussel sprouts) were fabulous. (The sprouts weren't bad, they just seemed a bit overcooked, perhaps.) Everything else though was yummy. Service was terrific - attentive, but not over-bearing. Our water glasses stayed filled, always had fresh plates/utensils when needed. We were celebrating a birthday and they brought out an extra desert with a candle, which was so appreciated. We also were lucky enough to be there on a night with a live Flamenco performance: two dancers, a singer and two musicians (guitar and percussion). It was a lovely addition to a lovely evening.
   

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3. V

   Vicki

   Austin38 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Delicious food! Our server was good but hard to find at times.
   

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4. R

   Rick

   Dallas2 reviews

   2.0

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 1

   Good flavors but seafood not prepared correctly and restaurant feels more trendy than authentic. Service needs some work too.
   

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5. R

   Ryan

   Seattle3 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   We honestly just had one of our worst dining experiences here in many years. We booked for Mothers Day dinner, and showed up a 15 minutes before our reservation. Our table wasn’t quite ready, but we’re early so no big deal. We waited and now it is 10 mins past our reservation and our table wasn’t yet ready. Finally, we were sat at a table, but now had to wait another 10-15 minutes for our waiter to acknowledge us. At this point, we had been staring at the menu for quite some time, so we were ready to order. Ordered and our first dish, the Gambas, came out maybe 15-20 minutes later. A bit slow but not terrible. The dish itself was decent. And here’s where the real problems started. We had to wait another hour before we got another dish, and that was only after complaining to our waiter and the manager (?). They both claimed the kitchen was backed up, but looking around, they were busy but not packed, and multiple tables around us that came in later already had several dishes. So we waited, and then eventually all the other dishes came out at once. So, we had the short ribs (expensive for the portion size), cauliflower (undercooked), the stuffed squid (amazingly bland, and a bit rubbery), and two paellas. The duck confit paella was pretty good, and the best dish of the night. The duck confit was well done and flavorful. Worst thing, despite the terrible delay, when we got the check, not a single thing was comped. No sincere apology, just deflection. They even charged us for the extra bread our young daughter asked for while we waited so long. $3 for extra bread despite waiting 90 minutes for our food. Seriously, you can’t even comp some bread while we waited? I also heard the manager mention there was something special for Mother’s Day, and heard him mention to the waiter to make sure it was sent over, but we received nothing. A quite terrible meal, and one where, pretty much start to finish, you completely regret even going.
   

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6. M

   Maria E.

   Houston2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Un sitio para regresar una y otra vez! Excelente comida, excelente servicio y buena vibra 🙌
   

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7. C

   Claire

   Austin1 review

   5.0

   Dined on May 11, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   INCREDIBLE! We did sit on the patio which had a lot of flies, but that is not the restaurant’s fault at all!! Other than that, the food was amazing, service was so nice, and the overall vibe was so fun and inviting. Definitely will be returning
   

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8. K

   Kata VIP

   Austin52 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Food was superb! Wait staff so helpful to choose dishes & very nice ! 5 of us ate 12 different tapas dishes sharing most dishes and each was delicious!! My fav the gazpacho & Brussel sprouts , homemade ginger beer , & lemon crème brûlée
   

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9. K

   Katy VIP

   Austin1 review

   5.0

   Dined on May 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Wonderful staff and meal. Our party of six thoroughly enjoyed our night. The food was the best it’s ever been.
   

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10. D

    Debbie

    Austin4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Great place, wonderful food and atmosphere! We’ve eaten here many times and always had a great experience
    

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