Manchego - Santa Monica (CA)

4 /5 Lazy Jump: Fine Spanish tapas are served in European portion, not mega sized American portion. Hence, every dish has been well prepared and will meet your expectation. The place is spacious with outdoor dining halls in the front and back of the restaurant. They do not serve kids menu, but the potion is agreeable.

5 /5 Ana Salt: Lovely place! Cute small place, attentive service - EVERYONE who works there. Delicious food! Deserves more than 4.5! We had devilled eggs, patatas bravas, avocado salad, octopus, short ribs, lamb meatballs, gazpacho (one of the best ones in my life). Red sangria and margarita!! Everything was great and we were super full!

4 /5 Sam Henning: For the price point and style of the restaurant, service is lacking. The bussers kept the table clean and our water glasses full, but it was hard to get a check, and in spite of us saying we wanted to order more dishes, all of our food had come to the table, we ate it all, then we had to wave the host down to order more. Our server was nice, but he just wasn’t around much. The food is good, but nothing really blew me away. The atmosphere is nice, but for a restaurant of this style and price point, I expect more attentive service and just overall attention to detail. If I’m in this part of the city, I’d consider coming back for happy hour again, which has some good deals. It’s worth checking out. I wanted to love this place because it has a lot of potential, but it just doesn’t quite deliver in my opinion.

5 /5 Ric Elhawi: I am not a big fan of Spanish cuisine. I know it’s delicious to others, however I don’t like seafood and don’t eat pork. Which is why I don’t choose Spanish cuisine as my top. For this occasion it was a friend of a friend’s birthday. Manchego was absolutely beyond delicious, the beef short ribs were unbelievable. Their Patatas Bravas with Aioli were delectable. Beets salad was one of the best I’ve ever tried, full of amazing flavors all in one dish. Something simple yet delicious was the olive, covered with smoked paprika. Little did I know I was going to find out about my new favorite wine. I’ve always love albariño. Although Eduardo Peña blow my mind. A must try! I highly recommend this restaurant. Not to mentioned the friendly attentive service.

5 /5 Aitana Blose: A petite-rustic-Spain restaurant. Manchego is a cozy gem in Santa Monica that blends Spanish charm with a welcoming, neighborhood vibe. From the moment you step in, the ambiance strikes a perfect balance between intimate and lively — ideal for a date night or a small gathering of friend. The tapas menu is the star here, featuring a rotating selection of classic and inventive small plates. The bacon-wrapped dates and patatas bravas are consistent favorites, while the imported manchego cheese (of course) adds a rich, authentic flavor to multiple dishes. The wine list leans heavily toward Spanish and Californian varieties, with helpful staff who are more than happy to recommend pairings. What sets Manchego apart is the attention to detail — not just in the food, but in the service. The staff are attentive without hovering, and genuinely seem to enjoy helping guests explore the menu. Pricing is reasonable given the quality and location, especially during happy hour from 5:00pm to 6:30pm. Highly recommended for lovers of tapas, wine, and relaxed sophistication. I am just not sure of the live music time, but it was offered here too.