Solun Bar and Tapas

I went for a friends birthday and I also had a groupon. We sat outside which was pleasant. Ordered the passion fruit mojito from my friends suggestion… YUM. We had a group of 5 so we decided to order 2 tapas each. The waiter staggered out the food so not everything came at once which I liked. Everything was fantastic. So fresh and full of flavor. The staff was super attentive and friendly… I would definitely go back.

Went with a large group of people to eat and it was wonderful. All the styles of tapas plates we got were delicious. The coconut mojito and sangria brought me back to being on vacation — they were that good! Such a treat to find in CT!

two words – REHEATED CHICKEN. I’m not kidding. This is exactly what the waiter said when he took our order. At first we thought it was a language thing/​miscommunication, but when the grilled meat platter came out with chicken cutlets that 1) looked like plastic fried eggs and 2) tasted like plastic fried eggs, we finally understood that the waiter had not misspoken. I’m not a food snob or critic or even that good of a cook, but I know enough to know that one does not reheat chicken!!! Sadly, the chicken was on par with the rest of the meat on the entire platter. Luckily, we were able to keep down a few bites only after smothering everything in hot sauce. We took the rest home and gave it to our dog (who also had trouble chewing it). All in all a bargain for $ 80 dinner, really, considering the dog also got a meal out of it.

Don’t go on a Monday. I did yesterday and regretted it.
When I walked in the bar was closed, with all the stools up on the bar. Then they started cleaning the carpet in there, which I could easily smell in the main restaurant where I was seated (and I don’t have a very good sense of smell). So It was like going to a closed restaurant where they let you in anyway.
The bathroom (men’s) needs repair… the wall paper is peeling off and has graffiti written in a section, and the pipes coming out of the wall under the toilet are rusty and gross.
The food was good. I had the chickpea tapas and the guacamole tapas. I could have easily had just one, as I prefer a smaller lunch.
Overall, the food was good, but the ambiance was awful. Who shampoos the carpets in a restaurant while it’s open? Really bad judgement. Maybe the moral of the story is don’t go on Mondays, but regardless, things like the bathroom décor need attention. Where’s management in all this?

We’ve been going to Solun for a couple of years now and have found it consistently to be one of the great sources of culinary joy on the Greater New Haven dining scene. The staff — including waiter Hugo on our last couple of visits — is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, as is owner Carlos. The awesome mango mojitos, our drink of choice at Solun, are a mood changer that will help pick you up if you’re down and put you over the top if you’re already feeling good!
The food? Oh, my God! Love the mushroom risotto, the stuffed long-​stem artichokes, the garlic shrimp, the tuna mango ceviche, the stuffed piquillo peppers. On our most recent visit, we had two heavenly tapas specials, including house-​made gnocchi & shrimp in a pesto cream sauce. Yum! Seriously, everything we’ve had here is good. All this and occasional great live music! Plus, they usually have a Groupon or Living Social deal going.
I’ve read some of the negative reviews and have to say I’m stupefied. Did those people really go to the same place we’ve been going to?

Always loved going here. But tonight was my last night. My friend and I bought a groupon. The groupon said it was good for 4 people with food and drink. Cost was 60.00 for 100.00 worth of food. We would have gladly done our best to reach the 100 and then some. I can surely eat! I asked the waiter how much more should we order to at least get to 100.00. He told me they would not let us use the groupon because there had to be 4 people. I said «it doesn’t state in the small print we HAVE to have 4 people strictly. I said «money is money and we bought a groupon». What difference does it make? I’ve used that same value groupon in past for other friends. I asked for the manager to come to the table and he explained that if 4 people ordered, it would average 180.00 so that’s where a groupon for 4 people pays off. I told the guy, I’ve been a faithful customer since it opened and he should honor the groupon. He wouldn’t give in. So the only reason I’m giving 2 stars… the food was tasty and I loved my sangria. But I will no longer visit this place since they couldn’t honor the Groupon. Not happy!!!

Who would have guessed that my all time favorite corned beef and cabbage dinner on St. Patrick’s Day would have been had at SOLUN… a Spanish restuarant! Absolutely the best & I’m already looking to next year 2017 St. Pats to celebrate again or better yet, can you serve it again soon?
Additionally, the tapas were delicious & generous!
Had a wonderful evening with friends & great music.
Only complaint is the manager who is impossible to deal. Rude & not very accommodating to the guests. What happened to trying to please & make good for return customers? Don’t like it leave! Would be 5 star if it wasn’t for the manager!

Went for the first time a few weeks ago with friends who had been there several times before and LOVED it. My boyfriend and I arrived about 1 hour earlier and sat at the bar. The bar tender was great and recommended some very good tequila for a $ 14 Margarita. Ok was awesome, didn’t mind paying the price for something good.
Then our friends showed up and we joined them at the table. The service was AWEFUL. Waiter took forever to take our order, while people who came in after us, had started receiving their food., ate and actually left! They eventually took our drink orders which took forever and then brought our tapas out in 30 min increments and had no regard or sense of urgency over it. I will not bore you with the details.
Here’s the icing on the cake: One of my friends complained politely to our server — and that’s when all service to us seemed to stop. Another friend called the manager over and complained to him — did not seem to care. Another friend went over and spoke to the manager — at this point got even worse, maybe he didn’t understand English. Then I went to the rest room and caught him on my way back to the table. I explained how the service was awful and would never come back again. He proceeded to speak to me in Spanish (which unbeknownst to him) I understood every nasty word he said to me! He then starts speaking (yelling) in English telling me that we were arriving in shifts and a bunch of untrue BS. The final straw was when he told me «well you get what you deserve.» What amazing customer service… not.
At this point, we were served only one of the tapas that we had ordered (which was disgusting and disappointing). My boyfriend and I left after the owner had spoken some choice words to my boyfriend who confronted him and told him how disrespectful he was to me.
I would not waste my money on this place at all. What little I had to eat was disgusting. Drive a few short miles and go to Barcelona — a class act place, amazing food, amazing service and have never had a bad experience at the New Haven or Fairfield Barcelona’s. By far the best Tapas restaurant in Southern CT. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Do not waste your time going here.

I have been here many nights. One could not have a better staff! Carlos the owner, interacts with his patrons often. I have been to many tapas restaurants and this one is the best. The portions here are better than any other tapas restaurant I have been too. Great atmosphere as the music (gypsy King like) and the lighting make it romantic and hip. Looking to save some money… happy hour tapas very inexpensive and wine/​beer half price before 630.

I went here once before my recent visit and had a great experience. The first time was with a groupon and it was totally worth it. We liked what we got (though can’t remember what we got that night) and got attentive service while sitting in the bar.
This last time I went on Valentine’s Day and was kind of disappointed. Service was slow (we sat in dining room off to the right) and the food was not as impressive as last time. We didn’t really like most of what we ordered and Serving sizes are very small for some of the tapas and larger for others– while prices are all like$ 10 or more for each. We ordered the tuna ceviche and it was bland. The stuffed peppers were fishy and small, the shrimp flatbread was the best thing we got and was delicious. We also got the clams and the bacon was just too overpowering to enjoy the broth. Lastly, we got the empanadas which were good, the sauce they come with definitely made the dish.
With so many similar type of restaurants popping up Solun needs to step up their game, whether it’s make portions bigger or decrease some of the prices. After spending $ 70 (with no drinks) we went home and ate dessert not wanting to spend another $ 8 – 9 on a small piece of tres leches. (Table next to us got it and it was veryyyy tiny).

Solun is in an easy-​to-​get-​to but not such an easy-​to-​find location. There is plenty of parking. The interior is spacious with dining rooms on both sides of the building, and at least one large bar area. The place was busy and vibrant, though lowly-​lit. The décor is adequate. The staff is friendly, from hostess to manager to waitstaff to busboys. The food was tasty and portions, well, tapas-​sized. They didn’t seem to have a drink menu, so I opted for a house-​made margarita which was so-​so but a generous size. It appears you can call your drink, though, and they do have a wide wine selection. I would not return here if I didn’t have a Groupon, simply because my money goes further at other places.

Solun was gorgeous inside. We picked up a groupon and decided to check it out ($ 32 for $ 50). This gave us the opportunity to try a few different tapas. We really enjoyed the beef rib risotto and filet mignon; however we found the scallops to be over-​cooked and very fishy. Overall, a very good experience.

Nice little place to have an after work cocktail or to bring your girl on date night. The food is good but portions are small. The drinks are excellent but can be a little pricey for sure. The crowd is a little on the older side but that’s Woodbridge for ya’!. If you are looking for a lively happy hour I would suggest you maybe look somewhere else (Woodbridge social maybe?) but if you want something a little quieter, this place is perfect! The owner is a nice and he interacts with the customers very often. He isn’t afraid to let the customers sample some food or a new cocktail. This place is certainly worth a try.

Was great! We went there with a group of 8 and had a great time. I’m normally eh on tapas because I feel like I don’t get enough for a meal, but these were well portioned. I was pleased.

So bizarre. From the service to the inconsistent meal quality. Went here with two girlfriends and our waiter spent more time telling us his life story than providing us service. Food was pricey and not very good. I don’t know if the food descriptions were misleading on the menu but several dishes came out nothing at all like you would have imagined. For the cost it’s not a place I would return to.

Great Atmosphere, clean, cool décor! I would go back and recommend to a friend.
Food could be a little better, but if you’re looking for an all age type of hang out spot check out the bar area on a weekend night :)

What a fabulous change for dinner. I have been to several Tapas restaurants, but this one by far is the best.
The friendly staff was able to seat us immediately. We placed our order and literally within minutes Tapas started being delivered to the table. We were greeted by the Owner/​Chef whom we had met at an event the previous weekend.
Finally the desserts were as good the meal. This restaurant has it all from start to finish!

Had a great time as always here and it was my dear friend birthday, so I surprised her and they sang to her she was shocked and the patrons all joined in as well. Great food had the «Burrata» great sauce, we had the «Shrimp» and «Chicken» Flatbread. Yummy. Great Staff on Wednesday November 11, 2015. Kudos Solan Bar. I will always recommend this location.

Solid spot for Happy Hour, date night, or a nice family meal. It’s located in an easily accessible area just off Rt. 15, with ample parking. The interior is bright and fun, with lots of color. The food was excellent — we particularly enjoyed the roasted artichoke tapas, and the tuna ceviche (I’m a sucker for a good ceviche, and this did not disappoint!). My rack of lamb entrée was also cooked to perfection and accompanied by a very nice goat-​cheese risotto.
Wine selection was decent, and priced at very reasonable levels. We had dinner on a Thursday evening, and the place was busy, but the service was excellent — everyone is very attentive, from the hostess right through the chef himself.
Solun Bar and Tapas is a great addition to the area, and one I will absolutely be visiting again!

So I will make this quick.
Service — very slow, saw a waiter twice, took our order and gave us our bill. No option to reorder drinks. Was told at end of meal that service was slow because of a lack of staff. I would think you would tell your guests this in advance and let them have the choice of staying or not.
Food — was just ok. Very expensive for the quality and quantity. Yes I know this is a tapas restaurant, but tapas should not be a small portion at the price of an entrée. It cost $ 80 for two people, for poor service and so-​so food.
Atmosphere — it was nice and here is the shamefull part, its very nice, a place I would love to come back to, but considering the porr service and expense, I will go elsewhere.