This place has been on my must visit list for a long time, and I'm so happy I got to go recently! Loves: + Food is good, with standouts being: rossejat ($38) which is like paella, croquetas ($10), and cochinillo ($38). + Very accommodating with reservations! If you don't see something available, they encourage you to call them and they really mean it. + Nice service and clean space This place is very nice and has received a Michelin star in the past. I do find some of the dishes to be standouts and some less so, but overall I had a positive experience here. Thank you, La Vara!

Walked in on a Friday night right when they opened and we got seated immediately. The server was helpful in recommending dishes. The octopus was very delicate. The mussels were definitely the favorite of the bunch. I think all the food was pretty standard. There was a particular dish that I felt was worth going back for.

This place is an absolute gem! Elevated Spanish tapas in an elegant setting with excellent service. This place had been on my bookmark list forever ever since they had a Michelin star from years ago. I finally made my way over here, and I was not disappointed. Even though they've since lost their Michelin star, I can say this place is still worth a visit. First the setting and the vibes are absolutely amazing. Felt like a lot of locals from the Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill neighborhood frequent this place. And although I am about $5-6 million short on owning a brownstone in the neighborhood, I can dine here every once in a while and pretend I'm one of the cool kids. Service is impeccable. Friendly, attentive, and extremely helpful - you definitely feel like VIP here. They are helpful in giving wine recommendations and have an extensive list for any occasion and price point. I really loved all the dishes we had - perfect for ordering a ton and sharing as a couple or group. Menu overall had a seafood bent. Price point is definitely on the higher side, but I felt like the overall experience as a whole made it worth it. Overall A+, and worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood.

We went with a large group and we're able to order almost everything from the menu. We enjoyed all the dishes. Standouts were the croquettes, the octopus, the fried artichokes and the beef cheek. Drinks were interesting and quite good.

Discovered this place by accident and I can't wait to come back and try more items from their menu . Literally everything I had this night was amazing . The atmosphere was quiet enough to have an intimate conversation which was great and the staff was all very pleasant and attentive. If you're going here run don't walk !

Short review: Pricey tapas. One worth it (Hamachi special.) One wasn't (Morros Prensados.) Excellent dessert (Torrijas.) Excellent cocktail (Yacht Rock.) I went to this popular little Spanish tapas spot a little while back. The prices were quite high especially for one not good dish in particular but the flavors were solid. As they were crowded and I didn't have a reservation, I sat at the bar and the bartender was friendly. To drink I had the Yacht Rock for $15 which had Bourbon, Amaro Sfumato (by Hausal Penz likely,) Amontillado Sherry, and Bitters. The drink was comparably to the rest of the menu on the cheaper end. Nice mix of sweet and bitter definitely leaning towards bitter and I would likely go back and sample more of their cocktails which are mostly $15 or $16. They recommended I order two dishes for a lighter meal or three if I want to be full. The first dish that arrived was the specialty of the night, a Hamachi Crudo with Peppers, Almonds, Scallions, and Celery Oil I believe (there might have also been a sweet component like sliced grapes or something) and it was $23. This was very nicely presented with thin strips of fish with said mélange of ingredients on top. The fish was of very high quality and it wasn't overpowered by any of the ingredients. I believe the pepper was a mix of Piquillo and something else (maybe Padron or Shishito.) This was tasty and mostly worth it for the price. I ordered the Morros Prensados which had a Seared Beef Jowl (aka beef cheeks) Terrine, Mustard-Grape Española, and Mustard Greens Pistachio Salad and it was $21. By comparison to the other dish, this wasn't as worth it or as well balanced. There was a very thin piece of terrine on the bottom and while it was tasty with a good texture, it wasn't really worth it. The salad on top had too much mustard and sourness with the pistachios and grape not balancing it out and it was so comparatively big to the meat, it felt like a salad more than a beef appetizer. In terms of price comparisons to other fancier Spanish spots, there is a $15 version at Txikito which is mostly beef based which is so much of a better deal. I would have gotten the much praised Rossejat but I can't eat squid so I probably should have gone with the Cochinillo instead. I wouldn't recommend this. I went with the Torrijas for dessert. This consisted of Burnt Sugar Kouign-Amann, Sour Cream Ice Cream, and Huckleberry and it was $14 (with the other desserts on the menu being $12.) This was a very well-made dessert. The Kouign-Amann had a nice caramelized texture as expected being quite sweet with a couple more burnt pieces which I actually liked as they had a pleasant texture. The ice cream didn't taste of sour cream which I kind of don't mind and it had a pleasant sweetness. My only complaint perhaps is that there could have probably been more huckleberries. I have had torrijas from other spots with most of them having dulce de leche and berries but this was a nice take on the usual. It is rather hard to rate this spot. The special of the day, the dessert, and the cocktail were all very good and pretty worth it for the price. However the other dish was competitively really bad and on the main menu. If I had just gotten a cocktail, the morros, and the torrijas, I probably would give them a low 3 and wonder where are the good reviews are coming from. Mid 3 for now rounded up. I'll probably be back to try the cochinillo and to get a different dessert but I will wait a while because the prices are quite high.

Excellent Spanish restaurant in Cobble Hill. Definitely make a reservation if you can. I tried: + Madame meuze cocktail + Wild in the streets cocktail + Paved paradise cocktail + Yacht rock cocktail + Croquetas of the day + Escalivada (fire roasted eggplant) + Salchichon (iberico de bellota sausage) + Pulpo de roca (octopus) + Arroz meloso (buttery bomba rice) + Sweet almond cake + Catalan style cheesecake My favorite cocktail was the madame meuze, and the standout dishes were the salchichon and arroz meloso. The sweet almond cake was the best dessert, though they were both really good. 4.5 stars.

Once again, I'm late to the party since La Vara has been a fixture in my neighborhood for about 10 years and this was my first time visit.. It held the coveted 1 Michelin star for several years and I can see why. La Vara is close to perfection with their food, service and ambience. Read on why it continues to be a favorite for many patrons. Their story and food is unique--La Vara celebrates the Jewish and Moorish legacies in regional Spanish cuisine which is reflected in the ingredients, spices and flavors of the dishes. Since it has been on my bookmark list forever, we decided to end 2021 on a note that translated to experiencing fine cuisine; I knew La Vara would not disappoint. We were lucky to snag a 7 PM reservation (and note, this restaurant is always crowded) on a milder night for curbside dining (yes, you do miss out on the ambience of a restaurant, but I go with my comfort level. Thank you Covid). The entire staff was welcoming as I perused their menu. Keep in mind, La Vara is more tapas style (for sharing) and so ordering a bunch of plates (small and larger sized) is always exciting/appealing to me. We started off with a delicious cocktail---Paved Paradise which included Green Chartreuse. A new discovery for me. This is a herbal liquor that was added to fig vodka, lime and maraschino cherry. That's it! But so delicious and pretty since it had a green tint--it reminded me of a Prohibition style cocktail. The food: *Croquetas: 4 mini truffle, leek and egg croquettes. Delicious, flavorful and not oily. Recommend! *Pulpo de Roca: Octopus, citrus and olive oil. The Octopus was sliced so thin similar to ceviche/carpaccio style. I was wishing for more after devouring this appetizer. *Pipirrana Con Grano: an appetizer/smaller plate that included Persian cucumber, green pepper, local grains,  herbs, tahini yogurt. This was superb and executed very well bursting with flavor. One of the main dishes ordered was the Rossejat which included toasted fideos (noodles), shrimp, lobster stock, fisherman's garnish, black pearl alioli, sofrito. Although it was good, I felt the noodles were a bit too oily yet dry for my liking. The other main was a special Fluke presented solo (no sides). It was pan fried and then broiled, prepared with garlic, mint and vinegar and very delicious. It reminded me of something my Sicilian grandmother would have made. Excellent but be forewarned--loaded with fish bones. Throughout dinner, our server, Jake was very attentive and would introduce us to different wine or tastings which can be ordered in a full size portion. I thought that was pretty cool. We ended the meal with their double chocolate Flan topped with fresh brandied cream. This was decadent and too good to describe. Overall, the meal was fit for a Queen/King. Not a single complaint. There are so many items on the menu I want to try the next time I return. A few things to keep in mind: Typical of most tapas like restaurants, the portions are not very big/filling. The prices reflect that but it is so well worth it. It seems their menu is updated to include new dishes and eliminate some others. Speaking for myself, I am eager to return. I cannot brag enough about La Vara--a unique experience for me on so many levels. Highly recommend!