Spanish River Grill & Wine Bar

Karin Tyree

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

We’re beachside Locals…and it was our first visit! Friendly staff, and everything from the music to the atmosphere is simply perfect. Casual dining with intensely flavorful tapas & large plates—a wide variety that knocked my socks off. We ate:[(special) chargrilled Oysters, house Olives, Bacon wrapped Dates, Swordfish Picadillo, Gambas al Ajillo Shrimp, Shared large plate Crispy Chicken a la Plancha]; It satisfied my desire for something different and it screams “welcome to flavor town!” Our compliments to the chef and the staff for such an amazing and notable dining experience—Thank You!

SARA DOWNER

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

I’ve been to Spanish River Grille twice now…and somehow my second visit was even better than my first. The first time I went, I shared a few tapas and ended the night with what instantly became one of the best desserts I’ve *ever* tasted — their olive oil cake. I’ve had plenty of olive oil cakes before, but nothing compares to this one. I’ve honestly been dreaming about it ever since. Last night I decided to take myself on a little solo date and went back just for that experience again. There’s something so peaceful about sitting alone with your thoughts, enjoying a good meal, and letting the world quiet down for a moment. I sat at the bar and the bartender was incredibly friendly — the kind of warm, effortless hospitality that makes you feel like you’ve been coming there for years. I ordered the Brussels sprouts and the chorizo butternut squash (both fantastic, even though I didn’t get good pictures). But the olive oil cake… that was the real reason I returned. And it did not disappoint. It hits every note perfectly — the texture, the flavor, the aroma — it’s truly an experience. I don’t know what they put in this cake, but it has me absolutely addicted. Soft, fragrant, salty-sweet perfection. Truly one of the best bites in New Smyrna. Spanish River Grille has officially become one of those rare places that feels special every time you walk in. I’ll keep coming back — if not for the great food and great service, then definitely for that cake.

A W

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

We had a lovely first visit to Spanish River Grill and were genuinely impressed by the quality of the food and relaxed atmosphere. The sangria was a perfect start—beautifully blended, not overly sweet, and packed with fresh, flavorful fruit. We ventured out of our comfort zone and tried the bottle neck clams and tuna, both prepared in ways we hadn’t experienced before—and we ended up loving them. The calamari was also delicious and perfectly cooked; just a touch of lemon would’ve taken it over the top. But the real standout was the Gambas a la Plancha—I could’ve easily ordered two more. Absolutely divine. The decor is charming and inviting, though the restaurant could benefit from a bit of detailed cleaning as we did notice cobwebs over a few tables. Our server was kind and welcoming, though it would’ve been helpful to have a little more guidance as first-time guests—especially regarding the menu concept and happy hour offerings. That said, we’re experienced diners and still had a great time navigating the menu on our own. Overall, Spanish River Grill is a gem, and we’re already planning to return for another round of those incredible gambas and a pitcher of sangria.

Mari Kossman

3 out of 5 stars★★★☆☆

We showed up and had a reservation through Resy, even showed it to them through the app, but they couldn't find it on their system. They ended up giving us a tiny high-top table in the corner because they said they had no tables available without a reservation. However, the entire time we were there more than half of the tables were empty. The hostess who couldn't find our reservation had a little bit of attitude when my husband showed his displeasure at having both of us sit at this tiny table, but said that she would speak to the manager and she would be right back. We never heard from the manager. PS: I don't recommend the high-tops if you can avoid them. They are super small for a tapas restaurant (all the plates!) and also, if you have back problems like myself, you'll be hurting. At no point did any employees attempt to apologize for our lost reservation. The food was good, but I expected it to be better considering the prices. The swordfish was tender inside but the exterior was dry. The tuna belly came with delicious crostini bread, but everything else that accompanied the dish was mediocre including the tuna belly--was that dressed up mayonnaise I was tasting? The grilled hanger steak was chewy, but the accompanying truffle vinaigrette was good. So you see, everything was just good, but not great. Our waitress was great, attentive, informative, but the rest of it was not great for our little date night.

Kathy Hanes

5 out of 5 stars★★★★★

This was our first time dining at Spanish River Grill & Wine Bar and it was a delightful experience. Between the warm and cozy ambiance, and a knowledgable and friendly server who took care of our every need, we were impressed before our first bite. Then each of our tapas plates was as delicious as the next. All were bursting with flavor and with so many to choose from, we wish we could have eaten more. We paired the tapas with a robust Spanish Rioja. Absolutely delicious! We will definitely be back!