The Cozy Taberna

An actual hidden treasure in Salem. We were there at noon on a weekday, so it wasn't crowded. We were blown away by the cozy atmosphere, quality of service, and excellent food. It's a tapas restaurant, so the dishes are meant to be shared. It is not as expensive as it seems, because each dish serves at least 2 people. The salad we ordered was almost too big for 2 people, and the plate of expertly prepared grilled prawns was a half pound (we asked). For a minute we could have been on the oceanfront in San Francisco or Seattle. Oh, and split a creme brulee with your bestie! To say the bar is well stocked is an understatement! From wine to just about any spirit imaginable, it was on their bar "menu." We will be back!

Updated review: went back and the manager is so amazing! She made sure me and my friends had a great experience. I just graduated college. The food was delicious, looked stunning, and was quick. I had the black garlic chicken this time. The server, Maran (I’m so sorry if I spelled it wrong) was full of smiles and a gave the best experience! I hope I have her as a server again. She was fun, informative, and made sure we had drinks. It was great and I recommend. My husband surprised me on a date here on the 28th of January. I had a blast! We sat watching the chefs cook. The food was delicious! This was the best food I’ve ever had. The goat cheese dumplings were life changing! I have not stopped thinking about them since then. My husband got the lamb, while I had steak. Everything on the plate harmonized perfectly. It was truly a work of art. We got several appetizers, our entrees, and dessert. We got the Oregon Sunshine to drink and it was a great. The bartenders were having fun and engaged with customers. I miss cooking in a restaurant and I’m very picky about food handling safety. I was there for a few hours and none of the cooks made a single mistake when it came to food handling. Everything was extremely clean! The labels, the counters, and overall handling were impressive. They had great rhythm in the kitchen. Extremely fast service. I also had fun listening to their banter and limp bizkit solo. I don’t think he realized I was listening to him singing, but my millennial heart loved it. My husband and I had so much fun! The cooks were all very kind. They were also very patient. It’s not easy to cook while many people are watching and they excelled in every category. The head chef was very cool. It was fun watching him create art on a plate. I was at the far end, so I couldn’t see as well, but I could see passion on every plate. This was an amazing experience. If anyone has a chance to eat at the chefs table I do recommend it! They are a talented bunch! I am coming back on the 13th and have been counting down the days. You all are talented!

Fantastic place! Service was exceptional! Food was really, very good flavor wise. The steak was a bit tough considering how much you pay for it. You get a decent amount and the flavor is exceptional, but really was expecting it to be FAR more tender than it was. The chicken was also very flavorful, but somewhat dry. Drinks were delicious. Bacon wrapped dates were divine!

I love this restaurant so much! I’ve been here roughly 20 times over the past 3 years, and I’ve never had a bad experience. I’ve brought family and friends, and it’s always a hit. My previous favorite was the lamb chops (sadly off the menu now), but I’ve found a new favorite in the Cedar Plank Salmon. I also highly recommend the patatas bravas (always good) and the clams (delicious!). And don't even get me started on the molten cake—I have to get it every time, no questions asked. As for drinks, the Paloma is fantastic, but they also have several flavorful non-alcoholic options. This is hands down the best restaurant in town. Just a heads up: make sure to reserve ahead of time for Valentine’s or Mother’s Day, because they will be booked out guaranteed!

We stopped in last minute and was so thankful they got us in. One of the best meals I’ve ever had. The squid ink pasta was bursting with flavor. It was a dish I couldn’t stop eating but didn’t want to end. The bacon wrapped dates were good. 3/5 The salad with orange slices and nuts in it was amazing!! Highly recommend. The shrimp was delicious as well! 7/10 on the old fashion. 10/10 on the blueberry muffin beer Service 10/10 Atmosphere 10/10