Isabella's Taverna & Tapas Bar in Frederick - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

I wanted to write this a little higher because I really liked the service, but the food was subpar. The paella was flavorless, have had better. Their saving grace might be their cocktails and their vegetable plates (we liked the patatas, the brussel sprouts, cauliflower and the mushrooms) but that’s it. Maybe maybe go for the small plates and not the paella?

Love every detail of this place

Sooooo gooooood!!! I love bringing people here when I'm introducing them to Frederick. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Many vegetarian options, too!

Go there to eat!!! Yummy and service

Not a great Value. Weve been here couple times over the years, normally an excellent experience but post-covid was a miss for us. Fried asparagus was 50% inedible & hard. Pealla Valenciana, white sangria, and empanadas were excellent. Brownie dessert & 2 other average Tappas were nothing special. IF there wasnt SIGNIFICANT PRICE CREEP i'd say this place was 4.5 stars.... but for this price I expect more. Inside looks dark and dated, time for a refresh. We wont be back.

Really beautiful place in Historic Frederick! Did a day-trip there and popped in here for brunch. My friend had the Crab Benedict, and it was marvelous! He chose the fried potatoes with it, and they were so good, he didn't even want ketchup! I ordered the 3-mushroom and goat cheese omelet, which was very tasty. I got the fried potatoes on the side too, and they were extra crispy, just like I ordered. We will definitely be back! Great food, beautiful atmosphere, and fair prices.

Came here for their new Monday night special and everything we had on the prefix was GREAT. We had corn bisque(yumm), peach salad, steak, iberco pork chop(wow) and one of each of the desserts offered. Jared was our server and he's the man. Can't wait for next Monday.

Wonderful Sunday morning brunch for a party of 4 in June. We enjoyed the coffee, Bloody Mary, mimosa, Isabella’s Fried Chicken, Breakfast tacos with fresh fruit, seasonal soup and French toast. Great service and relaxing atmosphere

Great atmosphere and food. They have a good variety of beer, wine, and cocktails, too.

We loved going there last weekend!!! Amazing place for tapas with plenty of options for vegetarians and amazing service!!!!

The food is very good and there are a variety of small plates to choose from. We enjoyed salads that complemented the rock shrimp and potato fritas.

I really wanted to leave 5 stars but foods I had were very saucy and strong in other words, very salty. I drank lots of waters. Pallea was good but it looks like it was pre cooked and added some unseasoned but just simmered shrimps on the top, which wasn't really harmonized in taste. Meatball was just a rounded meatloaf and the sauce with it was super salty. Also some chicken with potato was also salty and saucy. I do not eat very salty foods but it was my birthday and didn't want to complain too much about it. So I had to eat everything :) probably I would not revisit but the server was nice and quick.

I’ve been going here for years. It’s been about 3 years since we were there before this year’s anniversary dinner and they maintain their quality and service no matter how much time passes. Our favorites are the asparagus fries in the champagne flutes, the artichoke hearts with crab, the seafood paella, the spinach with pine nuts and empanadas with that great sauce… they also do great sangrias. Tapas are so much fun too! The service is really great too.

Whenever we have something to celebrate we usually do it here. Isabella's consistently delivers impressive and delicious tapas you will want to try the entire menu.

This is my new favorite restaurant. Service by Rick at lunch on a Tuesday was perfect. Reservation not needed, but a good number of patrons. The food was spiced just enough, and a bit exotic in flavors. But still recognizable to the American taste buds! Every dish we tried was delicious. We'll return often.

Excellent service. Food was just on but the service made up for it 👌My family of four enjoyed our meal.

We ordered 3 tapas dishes each. All of them were outstanding and came out quickly. This was at lunch on Wednesday. I have food allergies and the kitchen was very attentive. No problem. Our waiter was excellent. We waited for nothing. Love this restaurant.

Stopped here for their Happy Hour. One of the best meals and deals we've had in a long time. Sat at the bar and were served by a friendly and professional bartender. Ordered 4 tapas that were delivered well-spaced. One was very good, the Mussels, Papas Bravas and Sizzling shrimp were outstanding. This is a place I wouldn't hesitate to recommend or return to.

everything we ate here was incredible!!! incredible wowowow!! the fried asparagus and the paella and the duck were amazing. staff was super sweet too! just go here!

Loved everything we ordered! Service was good, Reminded us of our time in Spain.

I was off to a rocky start when we first came in; no greeting, no menus; but the bartenders helped turn it around. Every single drink was on point! I only enjoyed one food item (the shrimp and onions) but that was delicious as well. I will definitely return.

The staff was PHENOMENAL! The hostess, servers and bartenders all helped us pull off the perfect 50th birthday celebration! We were able to be seated in the side room and the food choices were creative and everyone found something to enjoy. The parking garage just around the corner was a bonus.

They were able to seat our large group without a reservation! Great food as always!

The food was fantastic and our server Brent was great!

Go to the bar for a drink. Two bartenders and 7 customers and 10 mins later had to ask if we could get a drink. Made a lousy Cosmo used the wrong glass and what didn't fit was tossed in the drain. Second time in a year,still lousy wouldn't be back

Always great food, service and suggestions. Rick and Alex are fantastic and always fun. Can't wait to go back!

One of the top three meals we have had since we moved to Maryland 6 years ago. Gambas - perfectly cooked shrimp I no a spicy butter garlic sauce. Salmon - amazing flavor and cooked to perfection with crispy skin Filet - one of the best pieces of beef I’ve ever had Seriously excellent food where each dish is special and well thought out and prepared with attention and care.

When it comes to reviews, I can be pedantic and downright mean, what can I say my mother is named Karen,........ But this place... This place stands above the rest, the food, the atmosphere, the clientele, and the people that serve you. It's just well, let's say a home run. I love it and I'll never go anywhere else for a nice good brunch. Cheers and I hope I'll see you there

Thoroughly enjoyed my birthday celebration with my girlfriends. They raved about my restaurant selection as the food was outstanding and service top notch, as always. Creative dishes will tantalize your taste buds. This is my go-to place whenever I'm in Frederick. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular!

An overall decent experience, but not nearly worth the price. We went here for Mother's Day, and considering how busy it was I can at least say that service was pretty quick. However, our server was fairly deadpan and didn't give us a chance to specify much about our orders. I got a steak and apparently he just decided for me that it would be cooked Medium. It was alright when it came out, though it tasted burnt around some parts... came with some pretty mediocre fries. We also got the "special" cheesecake, which was the one thing he hyped up a lot. I'm honesty not convinced there was any real cheese in it... very bland, somewhat rubbery, and room temperature like it had come out of a package. It was also a very small slice for $12... At least the chocolate churros were good. After taxes and a middle of the road tip, the bill came out to almost $200 for 3 people. We all agreed it was decent, but barely worth even half that price.

Their homemade habanero hot sauce is literally the best hot sauce I have ever had in my entire life! It made the paella spot on. Please can I purchase the hot sauce from you?! It is to die for good!!😍 I just wish they had vegetarian empanadas (savory not dessert) which is why I have to give 4 stars for the food 😊

The place in Frederick for a night out. Weekly specials are always to die for. Service is never anything less than superb.

Tapas lunch special is tasty, quick, and a great deal.

This is a wonderful restaurant for a night out in downtown Frederick. Food is superb and delicious.

One of my favorite restaurants in Frederick Great service and food Try the bacon wrapped dates

Sausage and mash portion too small and average quality

We had a really good breakfast here. Everything was prepared perfectly. Visiting this restaurant and seeing the rest of Frederick made us want to come back and spend a whole weekend!

food was good, the waiters were social and nice.

For many years now this has been on our list of favorite places to grab a bite. It can be a little bit on the pricier side however the food is absolutely worth it.

Really good. Some of the best tapas I've had in the US. We had fried manchego, asparagus fries, patatas bravas, calamares a la romana, gambas pili pili and artichoke with crab. Splendid!

I love Spanish food and have been to Spain multiple times. This place is really good and would fit well in Seville. Unfortunately the bill can get pretty high if you order enough tapas for a full meal, so I like coming here an hour or so before dinner for a drink and a few tapas.

Great restraunt! Every time I have been here it was a great experience. The tapas are delicious, the paellas are great, and mixed drinks are well made. The waiters and waitress are friendly. Eat here!

Fantastic Spanish style tapas. Reminded me very much of my time in Barcelona. Staff was friendly and accomodating. Food was fantastic. Especially the Spanish tortilla that was on the specials menu. My only issue was the place is packed pretty tightly and is fairly loud. But it's understandable. As it seems to be a very popular spot.

I love paella and this place did a good job of it. They got that crunchy rice on the bottom and when combined with the chorizo it's amazing. Sprinkle some lime over everything and it's heaven. Great mix of seafood, great dish.

One of the best places in Frederick

1st time here. Tapas were on point. Definitely will be back 💯

The restaurant has a fantastic, fun vibe. The service was prompt, friendly, and knowledgeable. The drinks were creative and delicious. Most importantly, the food was incredibly flavorful and cooked perfectly. Can't wait to bring friends from out of town!

I had the pick 3 lunch combo and it was amazing. The fried asparagus is a must! The salmon main course was cooked perfectly. I recommend them both highly. Incredible food

A great casual place for a casual date night.

Excellent as usual. One of the best restaurants in Frederick.

The only reason I would not go five stars on atmosphere is I hate large screen TVs blaring when I'm trying to eat dinner and talk to people. I had beef shortrib sliders with goats cheese and caramelized onion, and it was outstanding.

All the food we tried, 5 different items, were mediocre at best. Bartender was ok, but not overly efficient. Would not go again.

We had lunch as a family at Isabella's today. They have a great lunch special. Everything was delicious, and the value was really good. I ordered tapas, and my husband ordered a panini. The drunk menu is creative, and they even have a kids menu. Most of all, we appreciated the attentive, friendly service from the moment we walked in the door until we left. The fireplace gave a cozy ambiance, as did the painted flower decor on the seats. Great experience!

I gave 3 start just for the host , she wasn't cero actitud ,so rude, Anything after 'her" tattoos girl " Was fine, we had a good time within my girls friends celebrating our valentine's day

Our first time here.we were celebrating friends Valentine’s Day with my besties.Food was great,our server Brent k was awesome always taking care of our table.he was on point. The only suggestion we have is tell your host (blonde hair,tattoos) her only job is have a good attitude with the costumer.

Great food, great service,Brent k was awesome the only thing I can said about this place is about the hostess she probably needs a boyfriend cuz she was mad and giving actitud to the costumer (blonde,tattoos)

Over the years I've been here about 10 times. I am never disappointed. The food is creative and delicious, and high quality. The atmosphere is like a friendly neighborhood bar. Completely non pretentious. The wait staff is amazing. The prices are a bit higher than a typical restaurant with typical offerings. But the food here is not typical at all. $167 for 3 happy people including a 20% tip. A true bargain for the quality of the food. Highly recommended.

Asparagus spears dipped in aioli are a must! Great steak and service. I will go again.

We stopped by for tapas and drinks and had a great experience. I intended to get more shots of the food, but we got hungry :D

BUSY SAT-Had a fun time watching green bay smash the cowboys!! Lolol football game at the bar was spectacular, while eating the small plates,interesting every plate was well prepared,Enjoyed every tapas and fresh coffee. We were starving, after a long drive. Asparagus was my fav and chicken could have been more fun in presentation taste !! mushrooms and salad plate good,had a wonderful server,barlady sophia who was working hard,serving everyone and enjoyed the busy experience, we from jersey,ny used to dinning at busy places without compromising,undermining the services,quality!!! We have eaten at many tapas spots in region,so we are knowledgeable. But it's still very important about service. We will return!!

Great food, service and atmosphere. One of our favorite restaurants.

Made it for happy hour so the prices for appetizers (tapas) were reasonable. The problem is the food is mediocre at best. Unfortunately I don't see a reason to return, despite this having been a destination when visiting Frederick.

It's such an amazing restaurant, and I'm honestly not sure where to begin! Our waiter was very nice and funny and brought out our drinks very quickly. The atmosphere was very nice and cozy and there's seating next to the window, in the middle of the restaurant, and next to a fireplace so wherever you sit, you are guaranteed a pleasant dining experience. And the food!! It was so delicious, it far exceeded my expectations. I definitely recommend getting the asparagus fries, pan con tomate, bacon wrapped dates, empanadas, and the papas bravas. I am not the most adventurous eater, and I normally would not have eaten these foods, but once I tried them, I was honestly sad I hadn't tried them sooner. In addition, the restaurant is in a great location where you can walk along the street and see all of the stores or walk a little longer to Carroll Creek Park! Overall, if you're craving some authentic Spanish tapas, Isabella's is the place to go!

We had been coming to Isabella’s for years before we moved away. We are back in town after over a year and Alex still remembers us, remembered where we moved and my favorite drink. Can’t say enough about how awesome a place it is.

My cousin and I had Isabella’s for the first time. I have celiac and there were so many options, but better yet the food was incredible. Every dish was delicious and the Brussel sprouts were the best I’ve ever had!

Great service, lunch special was delicious and great value too.

Took my family there. They were all impressed with the choice. Went back this week still great.

Enjoyed our first dinner at Isabella's last evening. We had a variety of amazing dishes to share. Everything was delicious and our server was great. Highly recommended.

Kinda bad food, great service and okay drinks. Really pricy for what you get.

We sat at the bar on a very busy Saturday. The service was amazing! You can tell they work well as a team. The bartenders were really attentive. My wife and I shared a bunch of dishes. The tempura sweet potato was delicious. We also had short rib that was super tender. The chicken skewers were moist and fell apart. They don’t oversauce their food. My wife had pomegranate sangria and she enjoyed the tartness.

Excellent food and service. One of our favorite restaurants in Frederick when visiting relatives in the area. The atmosphere is delightful. Pub like and comfy. Not fancy or extra special but very clean and comfortable.

The figs had mold but the dates and duck were excellent

The tapas are getting smaller and the paella is more tapa-sized than family-sized. This is probably typical for most Spanish restaurants in the area but, for me, the value continues to decline as well as the quality of the food. Last night, for example, the chorizo was half a hotdog sized and dry. Do they think we don't see the plates shrinking? I'm disappointed.

I recently went there for lunch with another family member and had an extremely enjoyable experience there. The food was so awesome, especially the Asparagus fries and the Beef Empanadas. It's always fun to share the Tapas plates and the food generally tends to come out pretty quickly. Although some of the portions are small, you can always ask for some bread on the side, to help fill yourself up. My father always loves to dip a side of bread in the amazingly delicious garlic butter sauce, when he orders Mussels. It's always a lively and busy place to be at.

Rude staff. Waited over an hour to be seated just for them to tell us they called our name and crossed us off the list. We were sitting around the corner in the indoor foyer area. In fact we were close enough to hear the hostess tell her friends she would seat them immediately but to act surprised when they do. We contacted the restaurant about the issue but received no response.

Food is good, not the best, a little pricey but good enough to make you come back. Server was ok, he seemed annoyed the whole night but hey, we all have bad days right? Might give this place a second chance and see if it can get to 5 ⭐

One of the best restaurants on Market St. It's got great cocktails and tapas. The pricing is quite high and the servings are small. The short rib is the best item on the menu followed by the bacon wrapped dates. Vegetarian options are mainly cheese related. The fried asparagus is a tasty appetizer, always start with one of those.

Delightful, delicious, and a pleasant place to dine.

Fantastic food and drinks with a cool atmosphere. Asparagus and the shrimp were our favorite dishes. Jared (spelling?), our waiter, was awesome - super nice and very helpful navigating the menu.

French toast needs butter and syrup

Best place in the world. Food was 100/10. I highly recommended. If you are in Frederick you definitely have to try it ;) !!!

Food is great always love going there

This place is our go-to for lunch in Frederick. The menu is creative, even exotic, and we treat ourselves to dishes that we cannot find in other places. The craft cocktails are so well-made, and the menu is versatile. All of the plates are delicious. The atmosphere is very nice. Service is quite good. We end up talking about our lunch here well after the event.

Our service was wonderful. I wish I got the name of the person who served our table. He was amazing!

Most tasty. It's better than any Tapas restaurant I've visited in Spain. Not for the budget conscious, it's best to seek Happy Hour.

Omg the food here is AMAZING! 🤩 worth every penny

Excellent tapas. Great service. Great drinks!

Food was great ! We ate outside, was fun.

Really good happy hour. The fried asparagus is delicious!

Great gluten free options on the menu and fantastic, no rush service. Delicious! Highly recommend!

Attended a rehearsal dinner and it was great.

What a great find. George, our waiter, provided exceptional service. The food was good and very fresh.

Had dinner with friends. At 6:30, there was little dining room seating (Saturday night is swinging in downtown Frederick), but the bar (many seats then) serves the full menu. The food is exquisite. Well prepared, and the plates are very pretty. Our favorite was dates stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon. Didn't have time to try a paella. Maybe next time. Not cheap but not super expensive. We spent about $35 each, including a drink each, plus tip.

We’ve visited Isabella’s many times over the years and I’m sad to say it has declined with time. We visited on a busy Friday night and were disappointed with the lack of nuance and quality in the dishes. The signature asparagus fries were over cooked and yet the vegetable unripe. The Manchego also over cooked and the fig jam was more sugar than flavor. A bright spot was the patatas bravas, for which the sauce had a piquant sweet and sour balance. The vegetable platter was okay. Our waiter was very friendly, but clearly overwhelmed. We probably won’t be back.

It was like being in Madrid all over again! Every tapas we tried was delicious and brought back so many memories traveling with our friends throughout Spain. Not on the menu were the stuffed dates which were a favorite we were looking forward to. Next time we are in Maryland we will be sure to reserve a table.

Never a bad experience at Isabella's! Even if the idea of tapas (small plates) doesn't sound appealing, check it out anyway. The food is the star but the staff seals the deal. If you go for lunch, Jared will make you feel like you've made the most important decision of the day. Perfect for trying something new or sticking with what you know.

This is where we go when we want to count on a really nice experience. The food is always thoughtfully prepared and imaginative, but I really appreciate the atmosphere. The staff goes out of their way to make sure that you have a great meal.

Our first and last time. Wait staff was not personable at all. Restaurant had strong fish odor. Should have left right then. Customers should never have to smell fish. Ordered tapas. Food arrived without plates for sharing. Flavorless and over salted. Over priced low quality ingredients reminiscent of cafeteria food.

I am one of the fortunate souls who doesn't have to drive far to enjoy all that Frederick has become. Covid though did change the amount of restaurant meals I enjoy regularly. Consequently it had been several years since dining here. The visit included my wife and our grand daughter for Breakfast. The experience was certainly what I remember from before. When the menu reads, "Authentic" Spanish Food they most certainly deliver that to the diners at Isabella's. The Huevos was perfect in every way. Appropriate portion, very tasty sauce with just the right level of heat. The French Toast was also well prepared made from thick sliced, fresh bread. The attentiveness of our waiter made this meal that much more enjoyable. His advice on portions for our grand daughter couldn't have been more helpful. All in all, this was as good as it gets dining out in a town that is loaded with great restaurants.

Good selection, reasonably priced and nice portions. Liked the pasta and shrimp particularly. Should have tried the fried asparagus. Next time.