We’ve been to Valentina many times, and it continues to be one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. What they do particularly well is combine a very casual, relaxed atmosphere with food and service that are anything but casual in quality.
We celebrated my mom’s birthday here and ventured beyond some of our usual favorites. The Wienerschnitzel was a standout, and the 32-ounce bone-in chuletón ribeye was excellent and perfect for sharing.
There are also a few things we have a hard time visiting without ordering. The patatas bravas are perfectly crispy, the smashed artichoke with aioli and lemon is delicious, and even the olives are memorable. The pan tomaquet con Ibérico is another must—the combination of tomato toast and Ibérico ham is simple but so good.
We finished with the buñuelos, which are light and almost churro-like, and the crema catalana, their Spanish take on something similar to crème brûlée.
Valentina doesn’t try to be overly fancy or formal, and that’s part of its charm. It’s comfortable and welcoming, while still delivering excellent food and attentive service. Exactly the kind of restaurant you’re happy to have in the neighborhood.
