Was there on a Sunday evening, so the atmosphere could be better on other days. Service was ok, but I had to wave to get attention several times, although not that busy.Lamb chops were excellent and good rjoca wine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Nurlan Valiyev
My recent dining experience at Pamplona in Arlington, VA, presented a mixed bag of impressions, leaving me with both positive and negative takeaways. The standout feature of my visit was undoubtedly the quality of the food. Pamplona managed to deliver on flavor, with a menu that showcased culinary expertise and a commendable commitment to taste.The variety of burgers on offer particularly caught my attention, and they proved to be a highlight of the meal. Each bite was a delightful combination of well-cooked meat and carefully chosen toppings, showcasing a thoughtful approach to burger crafting. It's evident that the chefs at Pamplona take pride in their culinary creations, and this commitment to excellence shines through in the flavors they deliver.However, the culinary success was somewhat tempered by the pricing. While the quality of the food was undeniable, the menu's price points seemed on the higher side. While I understand that establishments often price their offerings based on factors such as ingredients and preparation, there's a delicate balance between perceived value and cost that Pamplona could reassess to enhance the overall dining experience.On a less appetizing note, the state of the toilets was a notable drawback. A clean and well-maintained restroom is an integral part of the dining experience, and unfortunately, Pamplona fell short in this regard. The subpar condition of the facilities was a stark contrast to the attention to detail evident in the culinary offerings, creating a somewhat inconsistent impression.In conclusion, Pamplona in Arlington, VA, offers a commendable culinary journey with standout dishes, particularly the burgers. However, the higher-than-expected prices and the disappointing state of the restroom facilities serve as areas for improvement. It's my hope that these aspects are addressed, as the establishment has the potential to elevate its overall appeal and provide a more balanced dining experience for its patrons.
We came here for their bottomless brunch, but apparently, they stopped bottomless brunch two weeks ago. That was disappointing. I had ordered avocado toast, again it was disappointing. My plate came with one small avocado toast with potatoes for 14$. My friend ordered a side of bacon, never came, but we had charged $5 for it. All their beer on tap was out. Service was so slow, but they still charged us 20% service charge. I won't even start with their bathroom.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
John Gygax
Our group got 5 different items. All flavorless and needed at the very least a little salt. Atmosphere was decent and our server was nice.
Betsy S.
Maybe it was because they are in their final weeks but this was not a great experience. We came here for a birthday dinner and the dining area had no available table according to the host. We were temporarily seated in the bar area where a group of highly inebriated gentleman were. 1 came over and was hitting on our group. Despite rejecting advances and asking for space, the bartenders laughed instead of helping. They continued to serve them. When we requested again to be moved, they gave our group of 3 a table for 8. We accepted to get away from the uncomfortable situation. The server wasn't too familiar with the menu. We requested 1 each of the small plates. Service was rough as it seemed that the wait staff was just hanging out with friends. The table wasn't even cleaned off when we sat down. Food was average but the environment was not ideal.
Nyla S.
This is my second time here for brunch. The first time was 20/10 stars!! It was unlimited brunch and mimosas, I had a great time trying all the different foods on the menu. THIS TIME however, there's no longer bottomless food. This place is really really cute on the inside, kind of small though. There are flower backdrops and overall a great ambiance. The service was good! Our waiter was very friendly and accommodating as well. Back to the food.... like I said, no more bottomless food which is a bummer. Even more of a bummer is the plates are still so small. Food is seasoned very well.
We had a 2:30 reservation. We called twice, ahead of our reservation. One asking when brunch ended (we were told 3:00 PM). Second, asking if we came at 2:30, would we be able to order paella or wait til brunch was over. we were told "you can order paella at 2:30). when we ordered, we were told brunch didnt end til 5:00 and we couldn't order paella. we also made a reservation for a standard table due to physical needs and apparently our reservation was "lost" and we couldnt have the standard table (mind you i had to put a $10 hold down for this table as well)
Abla1
We had gone a few times over the years and most recently in October this year and the tapas menu has always been excellent — we invited friends to go with us end of November and had cancelled prior reservations at Barcelona Wine Bar because of our great experience at Pamplona. We were so embarrassed and disappointed as the tapas menu was different than what we had had previously and different from what was posted on line. I had checked it that very day and when we arrived there was a much altered shorter version. Only meat option was the meatballs. No grilled calamari, no chicken croquettes, only one dessert item churros on the desert list. The first wines we asked for were not in stock. The server was very friendly, not his fault the menu had been slashed. Very few servers so we waited a long time for our drinks once we ordered. We ended up just ordering burgers and steak as the tapas menu was so limited. The burgers were bland but the fries freshly cooked and hot on arrival. The steaks were undercooked. More rare than the medium which was requested. So in the end we did not get tapas and ate mediocre generic food. Pamplona needs to update their current menu on line so customers have appropriate expectations when they show up. Overpriced for poor quality food. Unfortunately not a good experience this time.
Sara P.
The waitress was willing to answer all of our questions and was very attentive to our needs. The decor was aesthetically pleasing and there were a few art pieces that I loved. The Brussels sprouts were delicious and the churros were light and airy and didn't make you feel too full afterwards. The meatballs were also yummy. Sad to see this place leaving Arlington, check it out before it closes!
The worst experience I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Advertising bottomless brunch and then providing terrible service, food, and ridiculous wait times. On top of that the manager on duty was extremely rude when we tried to explain that we ordered food, it took forever, and the quality was horrible. An absolute waste of $45.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Leanne Was-Englehart
Thoroughly underwhelming. The food, service, and atmosphere were all just ok. Nothing special. Limited selection of small plates. I was a little disappointed after reading so many good reviews.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Yosselin Hernandez
I celebrated my birthday at Pamplonas! With my girlfriends! It was a wonderful experience , the service, we loved the food and the atmosphere was 10/10Definitely, returning back to this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari, Tapas
Jessica B.
RIP to Pamplona. This place was the best for unlimited brunch. Not anymore! As of this weekend, Nov 18th, 2023 they no longer have unlimited brunch. Now they have overpriced tapas that you can only only a la carte. You came here for the experience, sharing amazing food with your friends without the restrictions of a single item from the menu. Well, it was a fun 3 years.
JenG
I was there for my sisters birthday. Our waiter Stephen was great. He kept the drinks coming and always checked up on us. Our only complaint was the food. Portion size was very small. Sausage was under cooked while the bacon was burnt. Waffle was dry. Aside of from the food, everything was good. Bathrooms were clean.
Update your website! I was there and it's closed.
Was there on a Sunday evening, so the atmosphere could be better on other days. Service was ok, but I had to wave to get attention several times, although not that busy.Lamb chops were excellent and good rjoca wine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
My recent dining experience at Pamplona in Arlington, VA, presented a mixed bag of impressions, leaving me with both positive and negative takeaways. The standout feature of my visit was undoubtedly the quality of the food. Pamplona managed to deliver on flavor, with a menu that showcased culinary expertise and a commendable commitment to taste.The variety of burgers on offer particularly caught my attention, and they proved to be a highlight of the meal. Each bite was a delightful combination of well-cooked meat and carefully chosen toppings, showcasing a thoughtful approach to burger crafting. It's evident that the chefs at Pamplona take pride in their culinary creations, and this commitment to excellence shines through in the flavors they deliver.However, the culinary success was somewhat tempered by the pricing. While the quality of the food was undeniable, the menu's price points seemed on the higher side. While I understand that establishments often price their offerings based on factors such as ingredients and preparation, there's a delicate balance between perceived value and cost that Pamplona could reassess to enhance the overall dining experience.On a less appetizing note, the state of the toilets was a notable drawback. A clean and well-maintained restroom is an integral part of the dining experience, and unfortunately, Pamplona fell short in this regard. The subpar condition of the facilities was a stark contrast to the attention to detail evident in the culinary offerings, creating a somewhat inconsistent impression.In conclusion, Pamplona in Arlington, VA, offers a commendable culinary journey with standout dishes, particularly the burgers. However, the higher-than-expected prices and the disappointing state of the restroom facilities serve as areas for improvement. It's my hope that these aspects are addressed, as the establishment has the potential to elevate its overall appeal and provide a more balanced dining experience for its patrons.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Seafood Paella Bowl, Octopus Pulpo, Patatas Bravas, Spanish Grilled Cheese, Calamari, Chorizo Hash, Tapas
We came here for their bottomless brunch, but apparently, they stopped bottomless brunch two weeks ago. That was disappointing. I had ordered avocado toast, again it was disappointing. My plate came with one small avocado toast with potatoes for 14$. My friend ordered a side of bacon, never came, but we had charged $5 for it. All their beer on tap was out. Service was so slow, but they still charged us 20% service charge. I won't even start with their bathroom.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Our group got 5 different items. All flavorless and needed at the very least a little salt. Atmosphere was decent and our server was nice.
Maybe it was because they are in their final weeks but this was not a great experience. We came here for a birthday dinner and the dining area had no available table according to the host. We were temporarily seated in the bar area where a group of highly inebriated gentleman were. 1 came over and was hitting on our group. Despite rejecting advances and asking for space, the bartenders laughed instead of helping. They continued to serve them. When we requested again to be moved, they gave our group of 3 a table for 8. We accepted to get away from the uncomfortable situation. The server wasn't too familiar with the menu. We requested 1 each of the small plates. Service was rough as it seemed that the wait staff was just hanging out with friends. The table wasn't even cleaned off when we sat down. Food was average but the environment was not ideal.
This is my second time here for brunch. The first time was 20/10 stars!! It was unlimited brunch and mimosas, I had a great time trying all the different foods on the menu. THIS TIME however, there's no longer bottomless food. This place is really really cute on the inside, kind of small though. There are flower backdrops and overall a great ambiance. The service was good! Our waiter was very friendly and accommodating as well. Back to the food.... like I said, no more bottomless food which is a bummer. Even more of a bummer is the plates are still so small. Food is seasoned very well.
We had a 2:30 reservation. We called twice, ahead of our reservation. One asking when brunch ended (we were told 3:00 PM). Second, asking if we came at 2:30, would we be able to order paella or wait til brunch was over. we were told "you can order paella at 2:30). when we ordered, we were told brunch didnt end til 5:00 and we couldn't order paella. we also made a reservation for a standard table due to physical needs and apparently our reservation was "lost" and we couldnt have the standard table (mind you i had to put a $10 hold down for this table as well)
We had gone a few times over the years and most recently in October this year and the tapas menu has always been excellent — we invited friends to go with us end of November and had cancelled prior reservations at Barcelona Wine Bar because of our great experience at Pamplona. We were so embarrassed and disappointed as the tapas menu was different than what we had had previously and different from what was posted on line. I had checked it that very day and when we arrived there was a much altered shorter version. Only meat option was the meatballs. No grilled calamari, no chicken croquettes, only one dessert item churros on the desert list. The first wines we asked for were not in stock. The server was very friendly, not his fault the menu had been slashed. Very few servers so we waited a long time for our drinks once we ordered. We ended up just ordering burgers and steak as the tapas menu was so limited. The burgers were bland but the fries freshly cooked and hot on arrival. The steaks were undercooked. More rare than the medium which was requested. So in the end we did not get tapas and ate mediocre generic food. Pamplona needs to update their current menu on line so customers have appropriate expectations when they show up. Overpriced for poor quality food. Unfortunately not a good experience this time.
The waitress was willing to answer all of our questions and was very attentive to our needs. The decor was aesthetically pleasing and there were a few art pieces that I loved. The Brussels sprouts were delicious and the churros were light and airy and didn't make you feel too full afterwards. The meatballs were also yummy. Sad to see this place leaving Arlington, check it out before it closes!
Restaurantji Recommends
The worst experience I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Advertising bottomless brunch and then providing terrible service, food, and ridiculous wait times. On top of that the manager on duty was extremely rude when we tried to explain that we ordered food, it took forever, and the quality was horrible. An absolute waste of $45.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Thoroughly underwhelming. The food, service, and atmosphere were all just ok. Nothing special. Limited selection of small plates. I was a little disappointed after reading so many good reviews.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
I celebrated my birthday at Pamplonas! With my girlfriends! It was a wonderful experience , the service, we loved the food and the atmosphere was 10/10Definitely, returning back to this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Calamari, Tapas
RIP to Pamplona. This place was the best for unlimited brunch. Not anymore! As of this weekend, Nov 18th, 2023 they no longer have unlimited brunch. Now they have overpriced tapas that you can only only a la carte. You came here for the experience, sharing amazing food with your friends without the restrictions of a single item from the menu. Well, it was a fun 3 years.
I was there for my sisters birthday. Our waiter Stephen was great. He kept the drinks coming and always checked up on us. Our only complaint was the food. Portion size was very small. Sausage was under cooked while the bacon was burnt. Waffle was dry. Aside of from the food, everything was good. Bathrooms were clean.