Espana Restaurant of Amelia IslandEspana on Amelia IslandThis is the best restaurant on Amelia Island. The scallops were cooked perfectly, and the lamb chop special was outstanding, Can't wait to go back.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMEspanaGet the Scallops! Everything on the menu is outstanding. We have been there several times over the years and it always terrific.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMA Little Out of the WayA little out of the way, but worth it.
After 20 years i the navy and 12 trips to Spain (and more trips to the Caribbean and South America than I can count) I have have become a Latin Food and paella snob. Espana's paella is among the best. They actually have 3 types on the menu, this time I had the Valencia, (I plan to return for the other 2 very soon).5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMoutstanding foodI am still raving about the spicy snapper and my husband loved the paella rustica. Good service and friendly waitstaff.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMA Wonderful MealMy husband and I ordered the 2 "spicy" fish entrees on the menu and were blown away by them. Each had a uniquely different taste, but both were equally as good. They were actually spicy! You definitely could tell time and attention was put into their preparation. We would highly recommend this restaurant.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite on Amelia IslandA group of us attending a conference on Amelia Island tried a half dozen restaurants during our four days on the island and Espana was my favorite. Reviews from all six people in our group were very positive. The tapas offerings were terrific; two of us made a dinner out of tapas and salad. Others had paella and a soup like bouillabaise and, having had the same dishes in Spain and France, proclaimed them excellent. It is a small space, which is nice, but we couldn't get reservations the first time we tried because it was solidly booked. Well worth the second try. We will return.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding, relaxing, originalThis place is a rare find. Outstanding, authentic Spanish food, outstanding service (Joel), and a good value. If at Amelia island or Fernadina Beach, don't miss it. Note no liquor, but great selection of beers and wine.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Solomillo con cabralesThe Solomillo con cabrales is absolutely amazing. One of the best tasting tenderloins I've ever eaten.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMYou must experience Espana!Espana is AMAZING! The Flavor and Service are world class! The paellas are wonderful!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, great serviceThe Tapas are worth making your entire meal. We shared every dish and a great pitcher of Sangria and had more than enough. The mussels and snails were outstanding. We will definitely be back for more small plates.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent menu and food.Great evening. I had the seafood paella, and my wife had tapas ... food was wonderful5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Tapas and Paella. OneGreat Tapas and Paella. One of the best restaurants on Amelia Island.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAmelia islands bestWe have eaten at Espana numbers times and each time it gets
Better - just a great fun restaurant4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMMy husband and I shared severalMy husband and I shared several tapas. The portobello mushroom tapas was by far my favorite! We also shared the tiramisu for dessert, which was the best tiramisu I have ever had. My husband is not a big dessert guy and he loved it. The service was excellent and the outdoor patio makes for a great dining experience.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I loved our dinnerMy wife and I loved our dinner at Espana. We were seated in the outdoor Garden. Our waiter was with us immediately taking our beverage order and informing us of the evening specials. Our appetizer of choice, the avocado special had been sold out. We selected the seared calamari which was delicious. For our entre, we selected the Fisherman's Stew for two. This was absolutely the best I have ever eaten. It had lots of fresh fish, mussels, shrimp, scallops, and calamari. The sauce had a nice touch of spice. It was all served in a boiling hot clay pot which retained the heat throughout the meal. A bowl of spanish rice and a basket of fresh bread was served with the dish. We absolutely loved it. I highly recommend this restaurant.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThe can't miss Amelia Island gemMy wife and I have eaten at Espana for years. It is our favorite Amelia Island eatery. From the street, you enter through an enchanting side walkway lined with sweet blooming jasmine. You'll likely be warmly greeted by owner Roberto (if he's not busy cooking) or his equallly friendly wife, Marina. Roberto is actually Portuguese, but no matter. The food is delicioso and the intimate restaurant is a perfect place to decompress or entertain. There is a tiny bar if you have to wait, but no hard liquor. The seafood is fresh out of the Atlantic, and you just can't miss with Roberto's classic snapper or grouper dishes and Spanish delights. The only downside is that the menu hasn't changed in years, but there are always tempting specials.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat menuSuper fresh food and flawless service. The resturant is a little noisy but that won't stop us from going back soon.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe found Espana after havingWe found Espana after having been turned away by a resort restaurant, that allowed us to make a reservation, but did not allow us to keep it because we were not resort guests. No disclaimer. Espana made our day. Spanish and Portugese cuisine. Fresh seafood. Wonderfully intimate.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Fisherman's Stew was absolutelyThe Fisherman's Stew was absolutely divine and the calamari tapas also lovely. It is a bit pricey but quality very high and service attentive.
I would take out-of-town visitors here and we will be back to try the paella.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was great and theThe food was great and the service was fast. We had the sangria, gambas mozambique, a salad, and the paella rustica which were all delicious. The tres leches dessert was yummy too. There were a couple roudy parties near us so it was pretty loud but once they cleared it out it was nice.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMsomewhat expensive, but, incrediblesomewhat expensive, but, incredible food and service make this a valued experience.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful and friendly service,Wonderful and friendly service, clean and elegantly decorated. The food was fresh and flavorful.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMMy brother and I went andMy brother and I went and had anticipated a very good meal, based on what we had heard. Well, it more than lived up to expectations. We ordered the Fisherman's Stew (for two) and it was fantastic! Fresh, bubbling hot, exquisitely prepared adn presented. it was a fabulous meal. I would recommend it to anyone!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderful tapa menu with awonderful tapa menu with a variety of options. Everything we had was delicious -shrimp, pork, special tapas that evening was a stacked eggplant . Paella and fish entrees also sound wonderful.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMSo many great choices on theSo many great choices on the menu. We stopped at Fernandina Beach on our annual migration north and chose Espana for dinner on the advice of a friend. We will be looking for a repeat visit on our way south next December. We ordered the seafood Paella for two. Great, great interesting food, excellent service.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't miss out on EspanaEspana is a great restaurant. The menu was very diverse and making selections, whether tapas or entree was very difficult. The tastes were vibrant; the chef is not afraid to be creative and balanced in his or her flavors. We had shrimp in a garlic sauce and drunken clams as tapas and had the Valencia Paella and the special, an amazing tuna steak as entrees.
My wife and I have been married thirty seven years and would both put this restaurant in the top ten as far as menu and tastes!
Service was excellent, as well and the courtyard is charming.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinitely recommendWe decided to try a new restaurant each night during our week on Amelia Island. We tried Lulu's, Merge, Le Clos, 29 South, Salt, and España, then decided to choose our favorite for our last dinner -- and we chose España. Great atmosphere, service, and food. The seafood paella is terrific, as is the sangria. They have a lovely outdoor courtyard, and room for groups (I think there was a wedding party there the night we went). Definitely recommend this restaurant.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat paella with just theGreat paella with just the right mix of meat to seafood. The flan was the best I've had in years; creamy without a hint of graininess.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMA restaurant you must eatA restaurant you must eat at when you visit Amelia Island . But make sure you have a reservation. I used open table online before my trip there. I"am so glad I did, it is a very busy restaurant. Just eat there once and you will know why. Delicious !3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMI had an appetizer, an entreeI had an appetizer, an entree and dessert. Each course was superb. The snapper entree was incredibly fresh. The flan I had for dessert was the best flan I have ever had. The appetizer was flash fried eggplant with manchego cheese and a delicious sauce. It was to die for.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love going to Espana asWe love going to Espana as we love the tapas experience and the food is always good. After finally deciding on our selections, we were not disappointed. We had a vegan in the group and she got a personal dish that was really good. They seemed happy to accommodate her as there was nothing on the menu specifically for vegans.This will always be one of our stops when we visit Amelia Island.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMVery authentic Spanish cuisine.Very authentic Spanish cuisine. Absolutely delicious. I definitely enjoyed my meal, and so did the other guests at my table. One negative was how frequently restaurant staff passed by us on their way to other tables. It made the room a bit drafty, but the service was incredible. All in all, a great dinner.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe entree was extremely slowThe entree was extremely slow in arriving. Admittedly the restaurant was busy, but....3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMOur table for 2 had a niceOur table for 2 had a nice view of the patio and backyard. We had a relaxing tasty meal and a great waiter.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary DinnerMy husband and I celebrated our anniversary here, they gave us a great table right by the window. We had the seafood paella, which was fantastic!! Our server presented us with a half split of sparkling wine to take home in honor of our anniversary, was such a sweet gesture. This restaurant is one of our favorites and we will most certainly be back!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMEspana more than met our expectatioEspana more than met our expectations. Fish dishes were very fresh, and while somewhat spicy were very tasty and representative of Spanish cuisine. Service was very attentive.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMThe good is consistently fabulous.The good is consistently fabulous. One of our absolute favorites3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWe loved Espana last year.We loved Espana last year. Made a reservation long ago to be sure we could eat there again. Hostess and wait staff fabulous. Paella delicious. Sangria yummy. Snapper with spinach was a disappointment. Fish cooked well. I think it was the sauce that was flat.3/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful!Wonderful diverse menu with lovely tastes throughout! Seafood very fresh. Tres leches dessert out of this world!1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM