Welcome to Costa Brava
Located in San Diego, Costa Brava is a Basque tapas bar offering a variety of Spanish dishes. With a welcoming atmosphere, the restaurant provides vegan and vegetarian options, along with a range of amenities such as outdoor seating, happy hour specials, and gender-neutral restrooms. Customers rave about the sangria, Manchego, bacon-wrapped dates, and Patatas Bravas. The braised ox tail and rabbit dishes receive high praise, creating a fulfilling dining experience. Costa Brava's traditional ambiance and authentic Spanish selections make it a must-visit for those looking for a taste of Spain in California.
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1653 Garnet Ave San Diego, CA 921091653 Garnet Ave San Diego, CA 92109 Hotline: (858) 273-1218
Welcome to Costa Brava, a delightful bastion of Basque and Spanish culinary traditions nestled in the heart of San Diego. Located at 1653 Garnet Ave, this tapas bar invites diners to immerse themselves in a vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of a rustic Spanish taverna. Whether you’re enjoying the lively ambiance with friends or opting for a cozy meal with a loved one, Costa Brava promises an unforgettable experience.
The menu is a treasure trove for tapas enthusiasts. Start with Pan Tomaca con Jamón, where toasted bread marries the vibrant flavors of tomatoes, garlic, and savory ham for just $12.95. If you're feeling adventurous, the Pulpo a la Vinagreta offers marinated octopus at $9.50, a dish that couples freshness with a tangy kick. For cheese lovers, selections like Queso Idiazabal and Queso Manchego are available at $8.95 each, showcasing the rich dairy heritage of Spain.
Each bite at Costa Brava has a story to tell. The Tablas de Embutidos Ibéricos, a platter of assorted cold cuts and cheese priced at $24.50, evokes the communal spirit of sharing, ideal for any gathering. The star of the show is undoubtedly the Paella, with options like Arroz Negro con Sepia – a rich, squid ink-infused rice dish priced at $27.50 – that stirs up nostalgia for coastal sunsets over Spain.
Desserts here are no mere afterthought. Indulge in a slice of Tarta de Queso Idiazabal for $10.50, a unique cheese tart that beautifully balances sweetness and richness. Or, experience the textural delight of Crema Catalana, a Spanish-style crème brûlée priced at $10.50, perfect for a sweet finish to your meal.
Atmosphere plays a large role at Costa Brava. Enjoying the buzz of fellow diners, you’ll appreciate how the space invites festive conversations and laughter. Diners like John E. praise not only the food but also the warm service. As he puts it, sipping red sangria while sharing diverse tapas, “you won’t regret it.”
Indeed, with highlights like the braised oxtail and patatas bravas, Costa Brava strikes a balance of flavors and refined techniques that evoke the essence of Spanish cuisine. As Clara L. noted, the vibrant decor and live music enhance the dining experience, creating a welcoming atmosphere that encourages camaraderie.
While there may be occasional misses, overall the combination of authentic flavors, vibrant ambiance, and friendly service makes Costa Brava a noteworthy destination. When planning your next meal, consider this Spanish gem for quality small plates that elevate any occasion into a joyful celebration of life. Grab your friends, order a pitcher of sangria, and dive into the world of tapas that awaits you at Costa Brava!
Sunday afternoon lunch with a friend who isn't big on brunch. Had a glass of red sangria which was very good and not too sweet. We tried: Manchengo, Chicken Croquettes, Bacon Wrapped Dates, Patatas Bravas (never had them with cheese sauce before, yum). filet skewers, and warm mushroom (vs cold one). Everything paired well, arrived hot, tasted great. Service was excellent. The only possible negative is limited street parking. Take a Lyft and drink a pitcher of Sangria with your tapas, you won't regret it.
Super cute vibes! The place was huge. Our favorite was the braised ox tail. Good sangria, fried calamari, octopus, papas bravas, and dates. Overall food was 4/5, atmosphere and service 5/5. They gave us some orders that we never ordered, told us not to worry about it, but still charged one of the plates we never ordered. Gave us a complimentary dessert which was good!
4.5 Stars . . . sat at the bar one recent weekday. Cold draft coming in from outside and advised we could not shut door, a thorough fare for servers. In site of that, bartender was very friendly and helpful when it came to to picking out the wine (he gave us 3 samples). We ordered our bottle and had the rabbit and clams with pasta. Both dishes were fulfilling and delightful. Strong recommendations!
This restaurant has expanded a lot since the last time I've been here years prior. We were seated in the back patio where there was live music and heaters on. Dinner was a bit pricey because you're not getting much food since it's about $9-15 per tapas. We ordered a variety of cold and hot tapas. I think that their food is hit or miss. We like the croquetas, bacon wrapped dates, and mushrooms dishes. The $20 oxtail was fatty and the octopus was disappointingly chewy. The calamari was limp. The red sangria was pretty good and we ordered a pitcher of it. The creme brulee dessert was delicious. Service was good. Our waiter did a great job with our group and made suggestions on the orders.
Traditional, family oriented atmosphere with solid Spanish selections and friendly service make Costa Brava a worthy dining choice. The interior is woody, rustic and adorned with weathered art such that you do feel transported to a Spanish taverna. You can talk and laugh as loud as you want without worry, as the Friday night ambiance was charmingly lively. Many guests were Spanish-speaking, and the extensive menu of mostly small plates lends itself well to large groups. My friend and I got a pitcher of sangria, the gambas al ajillo and the patatas bravas to start. The sangria was a generous portion served in a rustic clay vessel, and contained a sufficient amount of orange and apple pieces. The gambas were good, nothing too surprising, and while the patatas could have been crispier the aioli topping was delectable. However, aside from the unique ambiance, my favorite part of the meal was the paella mixta. Ojo, it does take 30-45 min to prepare, so order at the start of your meal, but it was well worth the wait. The rice had the perfect golden tone and toothsome texture, the bell pepper notes shone through and the portion of surf & turf was both generous and perfectly chopped to size. A well executed, rib sticking meal for two!
Birthday celebration lunch and came for the #Oxtail Ordered four entrees of #RaboDeToro and they were delicious. Very tender and they just fall apart with a touch of your fork. It was a tad on the sweet side which works for me We had the #Potatoes #PatatasALaBrava which was another excellent choice. The #Sangria was perfect and I can be picky Had a taste of the birthday #Flan and it was also perfect and I am a fan of flan. The service was friendly, attentive and helpful. Of course we will be back as this wasn't my first time and I love the tapas and ambience and Sangrias!
This place has always been on my bucket list and I finally made it out last week for a gathering. Their pitcher of sangria is delicious and very good. Reminds me of the sangrias I had in Sevilla. Their tapas selection is also very good the only thing I would say is missing is the albóndigas. Other than that everything was great especially the filet mignon skewers.
Orlando was wonderful. Ruben was not working but is our absolute favorite server. Great experience. Have been coming here nearly 20 years. Many a birthday, retirement, and anniversary have been celebrated at this restaurant. They truly make you feel like family. Great venue to catch soccer ( Barcelona!) and enjoy great food w great people. Their sangria is not to be missed.
Great sangria! Awesome Spanish tapas restaurant. Definitely sit on the back patio, figured that out from all the yelp reviews, thank you Yelpers!! Live music, cool ambiance. We ordered a combination of cold and hot tapas and they were all amazing! We got the potatoes, ham and cheese croquettes, rabbit, bread, olives, cold cuts, stuffed peppers, bacon wrapped dates. They were all amazing! Great for sharing! Service was quick and the plates came out at a good pace. Service is very well coordinated and it seems like all the servers work together! Parking is mostly street parking so can be challenged. We parked in the back and walked over. Will definitely be back when I return to San Diego! Worth checking out for sure!