Espana Tapas & Wine Bar

This is an excellent Spanish restaurant serving authentic food. The ambiance is friendly and the service is superb. Highly recommended for an evening during the week or a special occasion.

My husband and I went to España for his birthday, when we came in I told the owner, Julio, that we were celebrating, he said happy birthday and took us to a nice table in the main dining room. Everything was perfect, the service, authentic Spanish food and the ambiance. I can’t say one was better than the other. The best part was that after we ordered dessert, they also brought a delicious flan with a lit candle on top and sang happy birthday to my husband without even me knowing! They really pay attention to the details. We loved it, will definitely come back!

This place is awesome. The fried chorizo is a little chewy at times. And the flan was a letdown. But everything else was great. The service was excellent. Friendly staff. The sangria is one of the best sangrias. Fun place.

We dined here twice in less than a week, it’s so good and inviting. The host is very gracious and the staff is very friendly. Definitely coming back and making this a regular spot. It’s a bit loud over on the bar side, but not too distracting.

We have passed Espana many times and never thought about going in. I am glad that Tony Della (The entertainer) let me know that he was signing there.
We went, and everything was excellent!!!
I am not one for long reviews so I will justt say that between Julio, the staff, food and atmosphere this place was great.
Try it !!
You wont be disappointed

My best friend and I took our wifes here for Valentine’s Day in the afternoon for drinks and noshes/​tapas. They had a Latin jazz band and the music was pretty good, although there was not much room to dance. We ordered two beers, pitcher of sangria, and two drinks of a Spanish liquor called 43. Each of us had a soup and we ordered pinchos/​shish kebab, tortilla española, empanadas, croquettes, which we all shared. the check came out to about $ 150 for all four of us, which i think is a lot for not ordering dinner, and only apps. However the atmosphere was good, most of the staff friendly, and the owner frequently came by to check on us. I would definitely go back if I had extra cash to burn, but be advised it’s not for the working class folk like me.

Amazing. My husband was complaining before we got here because he never had Spanish food. If he could, I think he’d lick the plate.

I was looking for a place to meet someone for a glass of wine. Unilocal had some great reviews so it seemed like the perfect spot. Located next to a barber shop among the many Auto dealers on Middle Country Road, my companion said she had driven by the restaurant many times but never noticed it. Unilocal is great in that some of the hidden gems are discovered.
This place is a hidden gem for sure. I was just planning to get a glass of wine and some apps. But my companion was off meat so she ordered flounder fillet which was so fresh and light, a perfectly prepared fish. I ordered the grilled calamari and tripe soup. The Calamari was very good, quite subtle grill flavor, and not overcooked. The tripe soup for me was worth the trip in itself.
We split a chocolate mouse cake which was divine.
I will return, lots more on the menu I want to try, in particular, the paella.

I have been here so many times I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to write this review! This little hole in the wall has been a favorite place for my family’s dinner spot. The food here is excellent we always do tapas style. The chorizo and the mussels are probably my favorite. And on Tuesdays they have BOGO free sangria 4pm to close — hell yeah! The service here is always friendly and helpful. I highly recommend España to anyone. Will be back soon!

I have been coming here with my family for several years and the food and service is consistently excellent. We have tried almost all of the tapas on the menu and have yet to be disappointed. Some favorites are the Pulpo a la Gallega, the Tortilla Espanola and Gambas al Ajillo.
We usually order the paella (with seafood only) to share and it is one of our favorites.. The grilled skirt steak is flavorful and goes well with the Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes).
On weekends there is a variety of live music and entertainment. The owner, Julio, is a most gracious host. Highly recommended.

This is my second time eating at Espana. It is becoming my favorite restaurant in the area.
The owner is so welcoming, and truly loves his business. It’s something you can feel when you walk in the door.
We ordered a delicious pitcher of sangria, potato croquettes, mussels in a garlic sauce, chorizo, empanadas, meatballs in a peppercorn sauce and more. Every bite was delicious. I can’t wait to go back and order anything I haven’t had.
When we left, the owner ran out to the parking lot just to make sure he said goodbye and thank you. Definitely a great restaurant, I couldn’t say anything better about it!

I’ve gone to this restaurant for 5 years, at least several times a year. Just ate there again Saturday night. A consistently great restaurant that just keeps getting better.
The owner is very intense, & very intent that everything is 100%, & running smooth.
Food & service is great.
Tapas rule!

This was our second time to Espana but out first having dinner. We had the
Jambon y pan with tomato paste,
Meatballs in peppercorn sauce
Paella with house made hot sauce (make sure to ask for it)
House made Red Sangria
The Jambon y pan is a MUST! Crusty fresh bread with ultra thin sliced ham is melt in your mouth good.
The peppercorn meatballs were served with more fresh crispy bread in a thick sauce. I wanted to take a picture of it but it was gone in mere minutes. Smooth with a bit of spice with whole peppercorns. Then came the Paella for 2. It was overflowing with mussels, shrimp, clams, slices of crispy chorizo and chicken falling off the bone. This was the star. So fresh and filling. From a previous helper we knew to ask for the house made hot sauce. So glad we did.
It gave us that kick that we love.
The highlight of the whole experience was the service. We were greeted by the owner. We were never without water in our glasses or a fresh fork by our side. We haven’t felt this taken care of at a restaurant in awhile. There was even an extremely skilled magician walking around blowing everyone’s minds with card tricks. We had a terrific night and we can’t wait to return for more of everything!

St. James is a bit of a hike from where I live, but I met a good friend out there because we’d read that Espana has the «best paella» on Long Island. Now, I have not sampled all the paella on the island, but Espana’s was flavorful, plentiful, and packed with tasty seafood. We started with a few tapas items, including the ham croquettes and meatballs with peppercorn sauce… both good, but not amazing. My friend was disappointed with her dessert, a runny Spanish custard. I was happier with my coconut flan, as it was good enough to satisfy after-​dinner sweet tooth. But, the star of the show was definitely the paella. The place is on the small side, and got a bit crowded as the evening progressed. They had live music, but it got a bit loud so we didn’t linger.

Second time here and again I absolutely love it! Came on a Tuesday when Mondays and Tuesdays from 4pm til close they have a 2:1 drink special on house wines, beers and most importantly sangria. Best red sangria I have had so we took advantage of that for sure throughout the night.
Three of us in our party did a tapas feast because that’s what you do at Espana. Starting with the charcuterie board with unlimited fresh bread and olives. Ordered the grilled octopus which was a little spicy but not over done. The mussels in white wine was ok and ordered the chorizo again which is one of the reasons we come here. Had the berries with fresh cream, light and airy for dessert and the french toast dessert which was ok but nothing crazy. I will still with my salty spicy tapas and sangria. Again, great service at the bar (even though we were the only ones sitting at the bar)

What an unexpected little gem in St. James! I love Spain and Spanish cuisine, and this place is about as genuine as anything you will find in the City. The owner is a very kind gentleman who cared a lot about the food and my experience. The menu consists of very typical Spanish tapas options (pain con tomate, gambons in garlic oil, patatas bravas, etc.). I also enjoyed the glass of Spanish wine. The shrimp were especially tasty, and I loved the very generous salad as well.
The restaurant looks a bit suspect from outside, but inside you will find a clean, warm and friendly place with great food.

Went here for a dinner date with my boyfriend on Friday night. I had heard about this place’s «Worth it!» review in the New York Times, and I have to agree it’s definitely worth it!
Unfortunately, the owner/​manager/​hostess had given away my 8:30 reservation to another party. We weren’t even late, it was just extremely busy in there and there must have been some type of miscommunication. But the reviews are correct, the owner is extremely nice and was able to accommodate us at another table after a five minute wait, so the reservation giveaway really wasn’t a problem.
For drinks I had the white sangria and I loved it! Very fruity, but also very strong (but I wasn’t complaining). To start, we split three tapas.
1) Octopus– My boyfriend and I are obsessed with octopus, and since I introduced him to it we order it at every restaurant we go to, and this one was definitely a top contender! Very yummy octopus and not rubbery at all. It comes served over potatoes, which I thought was unnecessary but it was very good!
2) Meatballs– the Unilocal reviews are not wrong, the meatballs are delicious! They are warm and cooked perfectly. I really liked them, and the sauce served with them has a little spicy kick to it– I was very pleased!
3) Ham Croquettes– OH MY GOD. So good. It was a croquette of cheesy hammy goodness that was fried (so why wouldn’t it be good?) Not good if you’re trying to lose weight… but seriously the extra pound was worth those delicious ham croquettes!
For an entrée, we split the authentic Paella. It came chock full of muscles, clams, calamari, chicken and rice. It was VERY GOOD! This place totally nailed it. Don’t be turned off by this place’s appearance. Although it may look dumpy, you won’t be disappointed!

Such a great place! Authentic Spanish cuisine with a great staff! Paella is out of this world, along with their chorizo and fried calamari. Getting sangria here is a must. Sopa de ajo is so tasty and comforting. You will leave here satisfied.

Did you ever have a nice neighborhood place that takes you back to (X) after eating their food? (X being a nice vacation spot)
When I was in the military and stationed in Europe, its something I’ll never forget. We went to Spain for a few weeks and I remember walking into a Tapas bar. And there on the counter, as plain as day was a hoof. As a teenager from Long Island, I was like, I never saw this in the Smithaven mall food court…
The counterperson spoke English very well and said: This is Jamón Ibérico Ham. Its the best ham from Spain. Try it. (Would any of you be so daring?)
One bite and I was hooked. It was the best ham I ever had in my life!
After that, I became accustomed to the Spanish culture and was drinking sangria like a true Spaniard. (When I say Spaniard, I have to do a snap snap with my fingers)
Welcome to St. James Espana Tapas Bar!
It’s such a welcomed change to not have a chain restaurant but a real, authentic restaurant in the area.
Let me knock this out of the way, Both my wife and I LOVE the white sangria!
Its so nice to come here, have a pitcher of wine and tapas like:
Tabla de Quesos y Fiambres: which is a board of assorted cheeses and cured meats as well as Jamon Serrano, Dry-​Cured Spanish Ham. The prices aren’t too expensive for this appetizer.
I see a gentleman, he’s working the front of the house, he’s talking to guests and just working the room. I call him over and we start talking. I tell him about how I spent my time over in Spain and ask him if he can recommend a Rioja wine off the menu?
He came out with a kick ass bottle of Rioja wine!
They have live music here, authentic dishes and my favorite tapas like Pulpo a la Gallega (Octopus in Sweet and Spicy Paprika with Virgin Olive Oil and Sea Salt)
I’m a fan of this place!

I’ve been hoping to try Espana Tapas Bar for a long long time… every day I drove past the intriguing yellow sign and told myself that it WILL happen soon.
The restaurant is cute and a lot larger than you would expect from the outside. Parking available in front and back lots. Credit card minimum of $ 25 (on each card, if you decide to split the bill).
On a weekday night, it was quite empty. Definitely recommend ordering multiple tapas and sharing.
–To start: 2 teacup sizes of chicken noodle soup (cute, but too salty), white bread.
–Paella with «sausage, chicken, clams, mussels, shrimp and squid.» Yummy, esp LOVED the mussels. Wish this was spicy though.
–Patatas bravas — fried potatoes with remoulade sauce, which is supposed to be spicy, but was not. Would have wanted more remoulade sauce on the potatoes
— Croquets with ham — fried, doughy, absolutely loved the marinara sauce on the side.