La Taberna in Maidstone

The venue is gorgeous, the staff are amazing. Sadly the food lacked flavour and was over priced. We had the tapas. The chorizo skewers were tiny! The Patatas Bravas tasted as if it had been cooked the day before and just heated up. The Mushrooms in garlic were bland. The cod bites in batter aren’t cod bites in batter at all, they are fish cakes. The bread given with Alioli is just sliced bread not crusty rolls. The Alioli was however very good. The meatballs were very mushy and flavourless, couldn’t even tell what meat they were. The coffee was honestly dreadful. We ordered 2 cortados which arrived as 2 espressos with added water. We changed them for cafe con Lèche and these were weak. We had 6 tapas dishes, 2 glasses of wine, 1 beer, 1 coke and 2 coffees - £85 We are very familiar with Spanish cuisine having spent a lot of time in Spain so we were excited. Unfortunately we won’t be back. But the staff are exceptional.

Delicious authentic Spanish food, helpful professional staff. The restaurant is in an old church which is quirky but also very echoing which unfortunately spoilt our enjoyment. We went on a Friday night so it was full with several parties going on and I ended the evening with a headache.

Ate here 7-8 times in a three month period. Every dish was perfect. Loved the paella. Loved the black pudding. Loved everything about this place, from the excellent staff to the quirky setting. It isn't cheap but it is top quality.

We started coming to la taberna in 2021 and found that any tapas we had (including in seville and madrid) just did not compare to the food here. We booked for 7pm on a saturday and preordered the chicken and chorizo paella. We have wanted to try the paella for a while but were never organised enough in sorting this out. I usually go for the strawberry cider, which is excellent but opted for the rose which was also great. Words cannot describe how excellent the paella was, literally the nicest rice i think i have ever eaten. So much flavour and it was so delicious we nearly devoured the whole (large) pan of it. We also ordered the patatas bravas and gambas pil pil. The prawns are our absolute favourite and any we have tried just don’t taste like these ones. I am gluten free and the menu is so clearly labelled and it is a treat to be able to have so many options. The atmosphere is lovely, with the restaurant being inside an old church. The customer service is always excellent and everything just feels so authentic. If you have never been before try the chorizo in red wine and the creamy mushrooms. We just love it here so much and we come to maidstone to visit this place. Cannot rate it highly enough, one of our top 3 restaurants ever.

Came here with my family and the experience was great. I’m vegan and I contacted them in advance and they were happy to adapt things such as the pan and patatas. The aubergine dish was out of this world. The food was delicious and myself and family (non- vegan) were all able to find somethingthey enjoyed. Service was great too. My only gripe is I’d have liked more tomato on my pan adaptation - but everything else was so good I couldn’t really complain. We don’t live in Maidstone, my mum does, but I’d definitely persuade her to come here again!

Tucked away from many of the other standard eating places in Maidstone, this is a real gem. Excellent quality, real authentic tapas served by excellent staff. The location is close to a council run car park, so parking is easy but not cheap. The food is top quality and good portions. Not cheap, but really good value. If you like real Spanish Tapas then make the effort to give them a visit. I doubt if you will be disappointed.

Impromptu date night and was lucky enough to get a table. Never heard of the restaurant before, but what a find. Not only was the food out of this world, but the service was amazing. Especially Clara who looked after us and was so helpful an knowledgeable about everything. Totally passionate about the food they provided and was jus exceptional. Will definitely be going back very soon!

Brilliant service. Lovely clean toilets. Fresh food that was delicious. Went with my mum who is very fussy with food. I knew she would love it.

We all went here for the first time after reading reviews on TripAdvisor. We were not disappointed! Everything was fantastic, the food, service, it just worked! If you're after authentic Spanish food, this is the place.

Best place I’ve eaten in town! This is a lovely family run Spanish restaurant serving tapas and paella. The unique setting and great service make for an all round god experience. There are at least four vegan friendly hot tapas on the menu, plus a paella (pre order only), and nibbles. We didn’t ask if anything more could be veganised but the service was so friendly and helpful I’m sure they’d go out of their way! We ordered nuts and olives plus six tapas between two people and the portions were generous-we struggled to finish everything. This plus three glasses of wine came to £75 plus service. Will be back for sure :)

Didn’t know this was here . A hidden gem . The atmosphere was great and the tapas was fresh and tasty . Complimentary bread and olives was a lovely touch

We dropped into here for lunch unplanned. To be honest we didn’t know about this place until an on the spot google search for somewhere to eat. We didn’t want a ‘different town, same restaurant’ type place. This place didn’t disappoint. What a fascinating building tucked away and almost hidden. Once inside there was no noise of the nearby roads. You’re welcomed be lovely smiling staff, a lovely welcoming interior, very tasty and filling food and great service. It had a real family restaurant feel! Highly recommend this place - we will be back!

Very disappointing. If you think Patatas bravas is cubed potatoes covered in half a can of Heinz tomato soup, you have no right to call yourself a Tapas restaurant.

What a fabulous restaurant lovely friendly staff food amazing beautifully decorated just can’t fault it and would definitely return

Booked for lunch 3 of us my sons first time. Surprisingly quiet but a lovely welcome Great range of Spanish beers on tap and great range of wines The small plates are very tasty , imaginative and well priced , all set in what appears to be an old church This is the best Tapas we have had outside of Spain including Seville . Jerez , conil , Chiclana Plates are about £7 Friendly service Would happily recommend

Second visit. Food is delicious, setting elegant. Unfortunately the evening was curtailed as we were too cold to enjoy our food. It`s a large open space and must be difficult to heat, but we were having to drape ourselves in our coats

Went on 17th December with my family; for my birthday; had a wonderful time; food and service was excellent thanks

Fantastic restaurant and simply the best you will find in the centre of Maidstone. Authentic Andalusian food. Try the paella but be sure to order it a day in advance. We tried a variety of hot and cold tapas. Generous plates, beautifully presented. The service was efficient, warm and friendly from start to finish. We will definitely return. Be warned it’s not that easy to get a table.

The place is so nice! Medieval style, staff extremely efficient, friendly and professional. Food is really good, service very quick

Amazing family run authentic Spanish restaurant with friendly staff. From myself being from a Spanish family, I can say this is definitely the best Spanish/Tapas restaurant I have visited in London/Kent. Could not recommend enough!

We booked at the last minute on a Saturday to try it out so could only get a 5pm place. We both love tapas but had never got around to trying this place out. It is a bit quirky inside with painted wooden tables inside with a sort of clear cling film over the top so you can see the decoration beneath but very comfortable seats. We ordered some wine which came with some complimentary olives with pips in and a wonderful taste. We ordered a selection of dishes from salad, chicken in a stick, anchovies deep fried, slow roasted veg patas bravas. All were very nice and freshly prepared. This is not haute cuisine this is food cooked by your host as if for his family and was delicious, the wine selection was varied with something for all budgets. The service was good the price about £45 a head with drinks was very reasonable for the excellent family evening we had. The newish outside area also looks good if the sun's out. To sum up a great little honest family run Spanish restaurant and bar. Enjoy we certainly did

Excellent food. Excellent staff. Lovely medieval building. Quality authentic Spanish food in a Spanish restaurant where you can truly eat the taste of Espana.

Great find. Good food, excellent service and staff very friendly. Will definitely be back. Had six dishes and between the two of us we left very stuffed. Can't wait to return.

I’m so sorry La Taberna but you will not like this review. We’ve heard such great things and visited many years ago but we were so underwhelmed with today’s food. £50 for mediocre food that was bland and lacked any sort of flavour. Sticky tables, no continuity in waiting staff and a thoroughly average (at best) lunch. Expected so much more from a Spanish run establishment. We won’t be back and cannot recommend!

This is an absolutely awesome spot that I would love to take to Canterbury. The setting is amazing, the staff helpful and friendly and the food was authentic as Spanish gets. We were six one more than we originally booked but they accommodated us. A very pleasant end to our weekend in around Maidstone.

After hearing and reading such good things about this restaurant we finally got round to booking a table and we was not disappointed! Food was fresh and tasty. Was also such great value for money. The reviews speak for themselves and we will definitely be back! Thank you La Taberna for a wonderful meal.

Great choice of tapas, and every dish was excellent. We particularly enjoyed the calamares, meatballs, black pudding, and ailioli. Great service and a friendly atmosphere. We will definitely be visiting again.

My wife had already been so knew it was good. Sangria to await everyone's arrival. Couple of breads to await the excellent tapas. We brought our own cake (reasonable slicing charge of a quid per customer) washed down by speciality coffees. Will be back to try other tapas not sampled yet

First time at the restaurant after living in Maidstone for 7 years and I don’t know why it took me so long. The food is amazing, staff super friendly, portions are so generous and the building is stunning. Great atmosphere, would 100% recommend and will definitely be back soon!

Recommend by a Spanish friend, which to me is always good if a restaurant is recommended by nationals from the area their food is from. Food was delicious, reasonably priced and well presented. Decent wine list and plenty of other drink options. Lovely friendly attentive...

This was our first visit here last night and I was looking forward to it after hearing good things. Well, we had an absolutely stunning evening celebrating my Mum’s 82nd Birthday. The building itself is an old monastery, furnished in a charming Spanish style and...

Mouthwatering tapas presented in an historic building makes for a birthday meal to remember. The staff were so welcoming. We will be back. A brilliant place.

This was my first visit here, but it won’t be my last. The food is delicious, freshly cooked, and nicely presented. The portion sizes are generous, with a good range of dishes. The decor is lovely, with comfortable seats, and lots of individual touches (like...

We have visited Spain frequently and eaten in some lovely restaurants in Barcelona but this was by far the best tapas we have ever tasted, and our friends who also are frequent travellers to Spain, agreed. Some tapas, especially the chorizo, can come out very...

This was our first time having read reviews and we were not disappointed! Fabulous place - fantastic food - lovely people - they will talk you through everything they have on the menu and wine list and it makes everything so much more enjoyable -...

Amazing!! Eater here a few times and the food is exquisite! The paella is the best I’ve ever eaten in my life, it’s a must if you are eating here! Love the building too, such a great use of a lovely old church. I’ll definitely...

From the warm welcome, the gorgeous building and the amazing food, this place is superb. This is a real treasure. All the good we had was utterly delicious m. Definitely going back again!

Having tried to book here for ages and been unlucky I was surprised to get a fairly last-minute booking here on a Saturday evening. We bought friends with us to experience what we hoped was going to be a real treat, particularly given all of...

LOCATION and AMBIANCE: 5/5 Situated in a quiet street, a couple of minutes walk from the NCP carpark. Housed in a charming historic building. Ample seating both inside and outside. Decor reminiscent of Southern Spain. Spanish music in the background. Cosy, clean and conducive to...

Owned and run (very well) by by a family from Southern Spain. We could not believe our luck in find a superb Tappas restaurant. They have been in the building for 5 years and many centuries ago it was a monestry. Our waitress Heidie was...

Possibly a Maidstone secret. This is where to go when you're dreaming of your holidays either past or future. The food is authentic Spanish with a great choice. Run by a Spanish family who certainly know their food. The historical setting adds to the whole...

Perfect atmosphere in a refectory that dates back to the 1400s. Superb service, excellent tapas, with parking just 50 metres away.

Arrived on spec. Inside was fully booked, but is was a warm evening so sat outside. Tapas selection good and tasty. Wine good too. Friendly staff. Based in an old monastery.

My boyfriend and I popped in for lunch once day, and were both blown away by the food's standard of authenticity and exceptional service. I straight away booked it for my brithday, and since then, none of my friends have stopped talking about how delicious...

Have visited La Taberna twice and both times have been excellent. The tapas is absolutely delicious and the staff are attentive and friendly. Can’t wait to visit again!

This is a fanrastic new family-run spanish restaurant. Service and food is exceptional! We ordered about 3 tapas plates each for sharing and the meal came with complimentary bread and olives. The food was so fresh and delicious I felt like I was in a...

It’s certainly an extraordinarily atmospheric location for a Spanish tapas bar to be in what looks like a former Anglican chapel. It’s a large wooden barn of a place with neo-Gothic windows in stone walls. It was completely empty this Thursday lunchtime apart from me...

I love tapas and this tastes just like Spain to me! Clara and the team are always so helpful with booking queries, when serving you etc. Everything I have ever had here on all my visits has been outstanding but the berenjenas con miel are...

Run by a Spanish family (from the south of Spain, I think) this has quickly become my favourite restaurant. The food is just incredible - one mouthful of the spicy chorizo dish and I was back by the harbour in Barcelona. From the stunning location...

Proper Spanish Food. The paella was amazing. Staff all friendly. Really nice atmosphere, feels like you are sitting in a Spanish house. Lovely menu. Been to many tapas places in the uk and never really enjoyed them but this little hidden gem in Maidstone is...

Never knew this existed but fabulous inside and out ... tapas all delicious and good pricing. Highlight was the standard of friendly efficient service - the whole team were charming. Sense this will become a regular favourite.

Such a fab place! I went with some friends and the food was great, and the service was friendly and quick. Very impressed and will be coming back.

What an amazing find. We were a group of friends staying in Maidstone and happened to chance upon here for lunch one Saturday. The building is beautiful and the restaurant is family run. The girls serving us were lovely and the food was delicious. Would...

Just as good as any tapas we’ve had is Spain. Fantastic setting with great staff. We will DEFINITELY be going back

Nice atmosphere, very friendly staff, delicious food Very nice Outside space. Gracias Clara Definitely we will be back

Superb authentic food, excellent service, great environment. Run by a Spanish family rather than a chain. Highly recommended

Visited last night. The tapas was lovely and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. Good service and highlights were the croquetas and the cod fritters and garlic prawns. Will definitely be back.

Wow, fantastic food and service here , totally blew us away. Reasonable priced authentic tapas and attentive service from the team. I would rate this place among the best places to eat in Maidstone . Can’t wait to go back soon you guys are the...

We have been a few times, service is always excellent. However, on this particular visit we both commented how salty everything tasted. The paella is a must, we have had this on previous visits, you have to call up in advance to order this.

What a lovely venue.Visited with family for grandsons 18th.Food,choices and drinks all 1st class as was the service.It was easy to order too many dishes resulting in perhaps not being able to finish them all, sadly not leaving room for deserts,be warned! Would thoroughly recommend...

Lovely tucked away restaurant, quiet but good selection of food and good value. Would recommend if you want something a little bit different.

What a quaint little place. Amazing food with plenty of choices for everyone including specials. We shared some breads to start with. Then chose three dishes each. Portion sizes were ample enough for a group of four to share. Could just about manage churros for...

Me and my husband visited last night We really enjoyed the whole experience It had a flamenco group who was very good , it was £10 on the door which got you a complementary drink The food was great we had four tapas dishes and...

We enjoyed a lovely family lunch here. Tapas menu is extensive, with special options too. Portion were larger than expected. 3 dishes per person was a great amount for a main, 4 maybe for a starter & main equivalent. Our dishes all came out at...

Lovely restaurant food was awesome served promptly, my only criticism was the restaurant felt quite cold and the drinks Little pricey.

The wife and I popped in on a Sunday lunchtime and enjoyed some tasty tapas. Excellent venue and food and service was great. We ordered 5 dishes which was more than enough for the two of us. Prices very reasonable. Thoroughly recommended.

Been wanting to come here for a while, it gets booked up very quickly. Building is lovely and inside is decorated very relaxed, really nice. Service was exceptional, polite, friendly. Food was lovely and not badly priced. Would definitely recommend and we will come again.

Our party of ten went on a Sunday and the food was awesome - plenty of it and very tasty, plenty tapas choice for vegetarians as well as fish/meat dishes. They even accomodated our two grandsons (age 9) who currently have a more english taste!...

Had an amazing evening at la Taberna. Food was great and service amazing!. When you arrive inside the building you get transported into holiday mode, you feel like your in Spain. Clara was amazing very attentive and helped us loads. Made our evening more special...

Mostly superb. The food was well presented and rapidly delivered. Soda and lime was totally flat but otherwise my only other complaint was the occasional difficulty in getting a waitress in this not busy venue to actually serve us. All courses were delicious and well...

The food was lovely and it exceeded all expectations. The cocktails also were lovely, all together it was a great dinner out and would highly recommend for family and for friends.

This Restaurant is perfect in every way. Friendly Staff,very attentive. Family run,so excellent home cooked food served to perfection. We preordered a Seafood Paella,made by the manageress,Father. We were told it was resting for 10 minutes,Wow best ever,beats any We have had on the Costa...

What can l say, la comida estubo excelente. Muy bien servida y deliciosa... Good service and excellent food in very atmospheric surroundings, prior booking is essential as it gets busy, it is not hard to see why, authentic Spanish food cooked perfectly.

Went with family for a birthday celebration meal. Will most certainly be back Ambience - calm yet a nice buzz. Lots of space between tables Food - Excllent choice of tapas. all were great, both hot and clod Service - friendly and helpful Value -...

Fantastic place, lovely food and service. I felt like home! 👍 🙏🥳🍹 Paella was excellent ! A traditional tapas restaurant worth visiting at least once! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of my favourite restaurants in Maidstone. Wonderful food and great staff and atmosphere. My Spanish friend loves it too which I think speaks volumes.

Our friends took us to this lovely Tapas restaurant in Maidstone. The tapas was lovely and the staff very friendly and knowlegable about the tapas dishes.

This place is amazing. It is tucked away in Maidstone and not well known despite being there for years and years. I think those who discover it, do not want to share their secret! The food is fab, the venue is fab and the staff are fab (too many "fabs")! Clara was especially helpful in organising my daughter's 21st birthday surprise.

service was very good , and the staff were very welcoming to the restaurant . The food was lovely and full of flavour the best potatas bravas since we were in Lanzarote . we will definitelybe going back . lovely bright and open atmosphere

First time to this lovely friendly tapas restaurant with a group of friends. Had a table in the rear courtyard. Menu was extensive. We ordered a variety of dishes and shared them . Portions were big enough to share with complimentary bread and olives a nice touch.Waitress was helpful and friendly . A lovely place to enjoy great food. Will definitely be back. This is a hidden gem in Maidstone in a wonderful old building.

Visited with a friend and were lucky to sit outside as the weather was pleasant. The courtyard is a really tranquil spot in the middle of town and we had a lovely evening. Food is delicious, the staff are friendly and helpful and I would definitely recommend this little known gem of a restaurant!

I’ve been here twice now and I can firmly say it is my all time favourite place! The staff are so friendly and helpful, and the building is absolutely gorgeous in a old church. The food is honestly exceptional- the tapas are so authentic, generous portions and so so flavoured they get inhaled as soon as they are put down! They provide complimentary bread and garlic aioli which I could drink from the pot it’s so good. The paella is a fair portion and very tasty- you can tell it’s been authentically cooked and left alone as it should be! We no longer live in Maidstone but we travel from orpington to visit here and will continue to do so. Thank you to the staff for going out of your way to make sure we had a lovely night celebrating my graduation. I can’t wait to come back soon

The food here is fabulous. Authentic Spanish cuisine. The paella is the best, and the churros are amazing.The atmosphere in the restaurant is lovely, you will feel like you are in Spain. Not commercialised at all like many restaurants are. The staff are lovely, and the building is beautiful. I cannot fault it here. Spotlessly clean. Good location. 5 stars all round.

Visited as family , staff very professional , food well cooked. We will visit again! Good price quality raport

Really pleasantly surprised by this tapas restaurant. Simple fresh food cooked amazingly well. Staff were informative and chatty. Will definately be heading back to this restaurant

Have wanted to eat here for years, finally got to do so. Authentic food, friendly service and value for money. The recently created outside area was great, suntrap to say the least. Paella well worth the pre-booking plus attended to my wife's dietary needs perfectly.

Love this restaurant but this is the first time we’ve eaten outside & the weather was amazing.Ordered tomato bread to start followed by calamari, prawn pil pil, egg dish & peppers.Service amazing as always had a Estrella & a jug of sangria.Will definitely return & highly recommended.

We came for our Anniversary dinner to staff that were so welcoming. The atmosphere was relaxed with lots of space between each table yet still felt intimate. The food was outstanding. I couldn't stop eating even though I was full. I would add a picture but the food didn't stay on our plate for very long. Cannot fault the service, quick and friendly. Will definitely come back and totally recommend. Grathias La Taberna.

Husband and I went for lunch as our first outing since lockdown lifted, we was both absolutely delighted with La Taberna, we sat outside on one of their high tables which was very comfortable. We had the hot tapas, excellent portion sizes cooked very well and served hot, however what really made this place stand out was the service we received, all the staff are very friendly and polite. Can’t wait to go back.

Very pleasant meal in the new court yard alfresco dining. Delight Staff very attentive and friendly. Nice relaxing continental feel. Tasty well cooked food authentically served. Thank you for a lovely meal and making us feel welcome.

We visited on a Tuesday night, it was our second visit. Absolutely amazing. The food was to die for and the service even better. I wish I could mention the team members by names as they were really nice and helpful. The lovely lady who took my booking was always smiling, advised me about the lights and the booking time and remembered I was the one who called when we showed up. We were offered blankets when we sat down, ladies took good care of us, we've seen some familiar faces from the previous visit, really enjoyable evening. Working in the same industry, so actually it was our only evening off. Thank you guys for making it great

Delighted to be back at our favourite maidstone restaurant. They now have a beautiful outdoor area with good spacing. Food and service as brilliant as ever. Thank you Clara and Team.

We visited just before lockdown and was so impressed! The food was cooked beautifully, tasted amazing and the service was fab!! Cannot wait to return as soon as lockdown lifts! Definitely recommend if you haven’t visited already!

Disappointed, very average tapas for the price. Went here with my husband for a long awaited birthday meal and after reading all the reviewed expected amazing food but it was not anything special. I thought I ordered potato croquettes which I expected to be hot but were like cold potato salad, the calamari and the dipping desert donuts were the only thing that were actually nice, the setting was unique but a little chilly with the door open to the Main Street entrance.The bill was over £100 for just two of us and a couple of drinks.. could have been better spent elsewhere.

Excellent, authentic food with excellent wine and service. We had a range of dishes with the patatas bravas, iberico shoulder and croquettes abuelo particular highlights. The Ribera del duero was excellent and well priced.

Highly recommend if you like Spanish food. Definitely feeling at home! Good food, good quality, good prize, good quantity! Lovely host! The place is amazing. A vuestra salud!!!

Excellent service but the food was average! As a huge lover of tapas I expected it to be better.. I have been to quite a lot of Taoas bars and restaurants and can say I won’t be returning to this one?

We have visited this restaurant several times. The family are very friendly as are the staff. Lovely

As we are not local to Maidstone, this was our first visit to La Taberna - and what a great experience it was.A warm welcome was followed by some tasty, authentic Spanish food. This was our first outing to a restaurant since lockdown, so I was a little nervous about going. However, I was totally at ease with all staff wearing masks, large spaces between us and neighbouring tables, sanitiser on entrance and a scannable QR code to look at the menu.A selection of Tapas between six was washed down with sangria, followed by some very pleasant wine and a very, very tasty paella (ordered in advance). Churros for dessert rounded of a perfect meal. Couldn't fault it.I will definitely be going back.

Visited to take advantage of eat out to help out, food was outstanding and am sure we will be revisiting in the near future. Staff are a credit to the owners, polite, knowledgeable and very covid aware, constantly cleaning. Thank you for a wonderful lunch.