La Paella Spanish Restaurant

2 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  1     

This restaurant is the biggest regret I had. We had a dinner set for $40 bucks per person which is extremely overpriced for the lousy quality of food, stingy portions and dirty conditions. We will never go there again. The senior staff mislead us to say there was a buffet for $20.00 when there wasn't a buffet spread, it was a dinner set for $20.00 offering very limited selection of foods, probably worth an appetizer in a real restaurant.

The actual dinner set cost $40 bucks per head and there is a catch. You have to order a minimum of 2. All in all, we felt cheated by the restaurant and will never go there again. If you want Spanish food, go elsewhere not La Paella.

Sep 07, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

Have been twice to this place and love the food. Can recommend the beef raif (beef in flatbread), meatballs in tomato sauce, beef tagine with prunes and chicken ifran. Everything I have had here was nice except for some very hard beans in a side dish. Service is casual and friendly. There is a tent at the back which is fun to sit in. Mains are about $18-20 and overall great value.

Mar 06, 2010 

5.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  8      Service  2      Value  5     

The food was ok but the service was terrible. Our order was taken quickly and the entree arrived quickly. Unfortunately, it was downhill after that. We won't be going back. On a positive note my soup was very nice and the Moroccan coffee was delicious.

Feb 28, 2010 

6.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  2      Value  8     

Dined in 07/02/2009. Interior was very authentic, perhaps, too authentic. It really looked like some run down Moroccan tea house or bicycle repair shop. But don't let that put you off! The entrees were delicious. The Chicken Ifran cooked with spices and banana (can you believe it) was simply too wicked. The Beef Tagine, divine, those prunes, almonds. yum.

The Paella is for a min of 2 @$18/24 per person. It takes 45 minutes but it is worth the wait. It was superb. The ambience though was spoilt by the very religious Islamic chanting being played in the background. I think they could do better by playing Moroccan Folk-Pop music. And no alcohol on the premises. Halal. They run their business the way they run their business, I suppose.

The service though was definitely poor. The 1st waiter was inaudible and the 2nd was grim and unhelpful, unless of course you happen to be an acquaintance, then he could be oh so charming, even sitting himself down to take the orders! No complaints abt the food and we paid gladly. The waiters didn't deserve and certainly got no tip.

Feb 08, 2009 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

A great little place in Brunswick which not many people know about (or too scared to try) but should definitely give it a go. The menu is diverse but I would recommend one of the banquets (starting at around $25 a head). They serve traditional dishes full of flavour and decent servings too. Service is prompt and friendly and the ambience is comfortable with soft middle eastern music played in the back ground.

If you live nearby, give it a go, you will be impressed! Overall, 7.5/10.

Jan 17, 2009 

5.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  5     

We sat in the tent out the back. Very atmospheric but poorly lit (only an issue when trying to read the menu) and quite loud. Had the chicken and seafood paella, it takes 45 minutes so call up beforehand to order unless you're ordering lots of entrees, which wouldn't be a bad idea because although the paella is delicious, the portions are very small.

The service is what lets this place down. What service we did get was friendly, but overall it was very amateurish. Waiters were few and far between, which meant that it took over 10 minutes for our dirty dishes to be cleared, and when we managed to get hold of someone to ask to see the menu again he never returned to our table.

Also beware that there is a 3% surcharge for credit card payments.

Sep 15, 2008 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  8     

Pleasant surroundings and tasty food.

Apr 04, 2008 

4.3 Below Average

Food  9      Ambience  4      Service  1      Value  3     

Went for a birthday dinner, in the tent out the back. I have never had dinner in such a freezing place with such horrible customer service, very disappointing. The food was good though but couldn't make me forget the horrible experience.

Jul 08, 2007 

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  5     

Decor was pleasant, comfortable seating

We decided on the Banquet No 2...bit of a mistake right there! The Dips and entrees were beautiful..but we were a little stuffed by the time the main arrived and couldn't really do it justice...should have opted for the smaller Banquet No 1.

Mixed dips - Eggplant & tomato blended with Moroccan spices and Peas blended with more spices and olive oil...served with toasted bread (alla..french stick style)...a lovely appetiser!

Entrees -

Chicken shasliks (Pinchatos de pollo) Tender marinated chicken.

Beef Shasliks (Pinchatos el toro) Tender marinated beef.

Garlic mushrooms (Champiniones majillo) Mushrooms stuffed with garlic and herbs.

Fried cheese (Quese fritto) - Golden pieces of fried pecorino cheese.

Omelette (Tortilla) Thick omelette of potatoes & onions.

Salad - Tomato, cucumber, olives and onions in an olive oil dressing.

All the entrees were excellent, except maybe the cheese...i'm not sure you should put cheese in a fry pan?

Main -

Chicken & seafood paella

Unfortunately we were a bit overindulged by this stage and couldn't do the paella justice...although what we tried was nice except for the calamari which was rubbery. The prawns, chicken, shrimp and rice were beautiful.

Dessert -

Chocolate Mousse with strawberries, cream & sugar frosted mint. We managed to squeeze this in along with an excellent short black to finish off!

Quite well done although a little on the expensive side.

Mar 13, 2007 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

The food at La Paella is fantastic. It's basically home-style Moroccan cooking - most dishes cooked for many hours so they're very very tender. Highly recommend the Lamb Shanks, Chef's platter for two (or more) and the Ifran Chicken. Lots of nice Moroccan pottery and cooking pottery too.

Oct 14, 2006