Bar Vacilando - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant has unfortunately changed. In the past two years, I visited quite often and it felt like returning to my old continent, offering a cozy place with ambiance and good food. However, that's no longer the case. The restaurant has become pricey for what is served, and the food is not tasty.

We hosted our small group work holiday dinner here and the staff was incredible. It is an excellent place to share a meal with a group. They have a QR menu that allows you to split up the tab immediately. Service was great, food came out very quickly and was absolutely delicious. The ambience of the back room is so cozy and romantic; they had space heaters and blankets, but we never felt cold, if anything we were feeling really warm and toasty by the end of the evening. Cocktails are incredible. We can’t wait to come back.

My experience at this restaurant was quite positive. The food was tasty, and I enjoyed both the appetizers and drinks. It's a good place to have a date night, offering a laid back but classy atmosphere.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed the sausage flatbread and the pork belly, both of which were absolutely delicious. The food menu offers a great variety, and the place boasts a beautiful ambience. The service was excellent, with no wait time, and the atmosphere was rated a perfect 5. The food itself also received a perfect 5 rating.

My experience at this restaurant was a tale of two halves. The space and ambience were beautiful, complemented by great mellow music, creating a lovely atmosphere. I ordered the cheeseburger, which was fantastic. However, for the price, I expected fries to be included, and ordering them separately resulted in them being just 'meh'. The BLT looked appealing with perfectly toasted bread, but the tomatoes were thin and the bacon was burnt to the point of being inedible. The espresso martini was delicious. Unfortunately, the service was non-existent. We felt unwelcome due to the lack of greeting or farewell, and the silent offering of water. This made the expectation of a tip feel unwarranted. There's significant room for improvement to match the potential of the space to feel warm and inviting.

My experience at this sister restaurant to Black Bottle on 15th Street felt like stepping into a Hemingway novel set in Havana during the 1950s. I absolutely loved it. The patio is where the real action is; I've been there many times when it's packed and the inside is empty. I am perfectly content to sit at the bar and chat with the bartender. I recommend checking with them about the possibility of using the patio space for a small private event.

Finding Bar Vacilando was the perfect gift for any couple hosting a wedding reception. I immediately fell in love with their atmosphere and decor, which felt like home. We did a taste test during a quiet evening, ordering appetizers and drinks, and it was one of the most romantic evenings we spent together that year. The food was amazing! We chose their all-inclusive party option for up to 80 people. The team supporting our event was so easy to work with and kind. We selected items like their Seafood and Chicken Gumbo, which was a risky choice for New Orleans Southerners but became the crowd favorite! The team also assisted with sourcing special items like Barq's root beer, our own playlist, sunflowers, and a speaker with a microphone for toasts. On the night of the wedding, I was blown away by the service of their team. Ben went above and beyond, pausing to assist my husband and me when needed. The atmosphere was wonderful, and our friends and family couldn't stop raving about the entire evening – from the staff to the food to the atmosphere. If you're looking to host a smaller reception, I encourage you to consider Bar Vacilando. I couldn’t have dreamed of a more perfect space. P. S. The bathrooms were large enough for me to use in my ball gown! Bonus!

I have mixed feelings about leaving a negative review for this local spot. The prices are really reasonable, and the interior is very polished and attractive. However, the menu is super schizophrenic, offering everything from burgers and deli sandwiches to falafel, tacos, and Indian food. There was only one dessert option, panna cotta, which felt like an odd choice. My experience with the food and service was also disappointing. I ordered a house cocktail that was poorly prepared, served unshaken and unstirred with insufficient ice. The bartender's comment, "You’re gonna need to stir that, " and the lack of a serviette or bar mat, along with a never-refilled water glass, detracted from the experience, especially as I was the only customer at the bar for most of my meal. For dinner, I ordered the "pulled pork" tacos. What I received was more like carnitas with no sauce, served on a steamed corn tortilla with only diced tomatoes, salt, pepper, and a thin slice of avocado. The lack of any accompanying sauce or toppings made it a dry and uninspired dish, and I only ate half of it. I decided to try the single dessert, a panna cotta infused with Earl Grey. I couldn't taste the infusion, and while the panna cotta itself wasn't entirely unpleasant, it was served in a disposable plastic cup, reminiscent of hospital food or a child's lunchbox. There's a significant disconnect between the restaurant's potential, evident in its gorgeous and breezy atmosphere and good prices, and the actual product served. The effort behind the product is absolutely not there. The food isn't necessarily bad, but the menu's execution is rudderless. The establishment needs to define its identity, choose a culinary direction, and hire staff capable of executing the vision.

My experience at this restaurant was a bit of a mixed bag. It's a more casual, informal setting where you order and pay through a QR code, which I found to be quite annoying. However, the food was pretty good, though nothing spectacular. The patio is a truly lovely space and definitely worth the visit. It was quite full by 3-4 pm on a Sunday, so I'd suggest going earlier if you want to secure an outdoor seat.

My new favorite place! I'm loving this spot on 15th. I think I'll be a regular when I'm in Seattle.