Expensive restaurant with nice ambiance, great service but average food Went to Cadena for the first time because of the positive reviews on Google. However we were a little bit underwhelmed with the quality of food and the variety offered, particularly for the prices. The tapas were freshly prepared, flavourful and nicely presented. The seafood paella took a really long time to come out, and when it was out, the rice was lukewarm and seafood dry, not much meat in the snow crabs, no clams, just some mussels and 2 small lobster tails. The rice was a bit mushy to my taste but that’s a personal preference only. The staff was very friendly and professional! Upon knowing that it was a birthday celebration, the server offered a free shooter to the birthday boy, a very nice gesture. We also really like the decor, warm and lively, with accents of regions of Spain, it was quite charming. All that being said, the final bill really surprised me: we ordered 4 tapas to share, 2 soft drinks, 1 pitcher of sangria and 1 large seafood paella, and 2 desserts and a tea, with taxes and gratuities, the bill was $490. This price tag rivals extravagant meals that we had in NYC. Would cautiously recommend this restaurant for special occasions only, and be prepared for a large bill.

It’s rare to find a Spanish restaurant in Ottawa, so we wanted to give it a go! I was impressed with the portion sizes: the traditional Paella was MASSIVE (it says feeds 2-3, but it can feed 4-5 with a side dish or two), and the tapas generally had good portions. The only point I have is that the paella tasted a bit like minute rice and the grains were a bit too hard for my liking - maybe it was rushed when we went. The mixed drinks were delicious, and the staff was friendly and responsive. We had a great time and will be back to try new dishes!

Quite disappointed with our meals ( quality of food) as it’s a recently opened (since 2021) restaurant and it’s opening had received great reviews. Here is our experience. Table of 4. Ambience : it’s a cozy, a bit rustic chic, simple and family style dining space. Not fancy but comfortable to sit in and lay back. Live music: there was a musician with his guitar played the whole night. Soft and nicely calibrated sound sets a nice background for a relaxing dinner. Food: they keep on calling it tapas bar but I see the menu has combination of “ tapas” and Italian dishes. Honestly, tapas is their way of calling for smaller plates charged at full price. Mussels were sandy ….. not cleaned properly before cooking. Odds bucco was too salty, dry on the surface and burned….. how is that possible given it is cooked in red wine???? Potatoes tapas was simple and basic in taste…… Personally I would not go back there to eat again giving low quality food presentation and taste. But maybe that was an apprentice day we had!??? There are many other ways I know how to burn my money 🤨. This concludes my overall rating of 3. 2 for the food and 4 for the ambiance.

The food here is really good. Everything tastes freshly made - even the supporting role items like corn chips. Our tapas selection ranged from "ahmaaazing" (ceviche, empanadas) to "meh - ok" (fried zucchini, calamari). Overall, a little on the greasy side for my tastes, but that could have more to do with our particular selections, rather than an overall trend. The tapas experience makes dining with a small group instantly more fun and social. The ambiance is great. It strikes the perfect balance between relaxed coziness, and classy sophistication. Service was attentive and fast. I waffled between a 4 and 5 star rating. In the end, I'm giving 4 stars because it seems a touch too pricey given that the food quality was a bit uneven. At this price point, you expect everything to be amazing. I would return again, particularly with a group, to try out more of their offerings.

I went to La Cadena restaurant last Saturday with my husband and another couple. We ordered seafood paella …. I have to say that It was the best paella that I ever had since I live in Canada ( almost 20 years) !! The staff is super nice and friendly and the restaurant is owned by a Spanish family! Fresh seafood, Great food! I definitely recommend it !!

Fantastic meal. Started with Tapas and then had a wonderful European style seafood Paella. Our waiter took real pride in helping us select our meal, and wines. Atmosphere was totally relaxed.

Very cozy and relaxing vibe with chill live music. Our server was very warm-hearted and knowledgeable about the menu. The paella deserves being called the signature dish of this restaurant- very fresh seafoods and well seasoned chicken and sausage. The portion size is way more than enough for a group of two. Our meatballs were served with wrong sauce. But the owner was very kind and provided us another order free of charge.

I went here for dinner with my wife and the quality of their paella and empanadas were fantastic. Their beef and bacon & mushroom empanadas were our favourite. Their personal Paella was flavourful and was cooked properly. Overall, it was a really great place and atmosphere. We would be coming here again!

Went for a girls night with my friends and everything was delicious! The service was amazing, the food was impeccable and the sangria just right. The paella you need to order in advance so that they can prepare it ahead of time. It’s so worth it!

We were so impressed by both the friendly service and the amazing food at this delicious tapas place in Westboro. Four of us shared possibly too many plates, but in our defence they were so good we just couldn’t stop. The red sangria was a perfect accompaniment, although they do have a great selection of cocktails, wine and beer. It was fun to watch the locals come in and hang out chatting with the owners/staff as the evening progressed. This place has a rare groove - highly recommended by two generations (some of whom have experienced tapas in Granada and Seville)!

My wife and I went to this Spanish style restaurant for the first time. The atmosphere was good and food delicious. The only issue we had was the Paella needed a bit more time to cook. Surprising how good it was in only 30 min. Prices were a bit high however the issue was we wanted to try a bunch of things. We will go back in the future.

I came to the restaurant with high expectations of their paella (everyone talked about it here), but it was disappointing. It was dry. The seafood was not blended into the rice. I felt they put rice on the plate then just added seafood on top. There’s a huge sausage and a chicken thigh on paella. It seems out of the place….. Other appetizers were ok. The waitress was attentive tough.

I came in randomly in this restaurant, I told Tony (the cook) that I needed a good meal, something with enough protein, veggies, and some rice or potatoes, that I didn't want to see the menu. He came back with what is for me the definition of a perfect meal. Wow. He said it used to be on the menu, he called it the chicken platter. Try it out, it was one of the best meals I've ever had. So tasty and authentic, wow. Thanks Tony!

The owner/manager made us feel like family. It wasn't too busy, which is a bonus for me. The food was AMAZING!!! The paella is massive! Traditional paella says 2-3. It's easily good for 4-5.

When you realize the cost of chips and dips is a whopping 16 CAD, it's high time to consider making a swift exit from this eatery. I mean, seriously, what kind of magical chips and dips are they serving up that demand such a hefty price tag? The pan tumaca is essentially a tomato mush with an overpowering kick of pepper. The bread is so petite that it struggles to contain the unruly tomato concoction. And don't even get me started on the meat offerings—all served with identical side dishes, drowning in sauces that, let's face it, taste eerily similar. Even the supposedly unique lapin sauce is nothing more than a pool of heavy oil, rendering the lean rabbit meat virtually indistinguishable from the rest. The lamb chop? Far from fresh. The seafood paella? Not exactly a beacon of freshness either. The chicken reeks of an overnight stay, and the mussels? Well, they seem to have been frozen in a time capsule for countless years. I can practically discern the brand of the refrigerator they've been stored in. In the paella, the only salvation comes in the form of sausages. At least they managed to escape the culinary mediocrity that plagues the rest of the menu.

An Spanish place in Ottawa, all in this place is amazing! Nino and Sandra prepared this place to make you feel in Spain, the food is delicious, we listen Flamenco and they are adding new recipes to the menu constantly! Definitely I'll back soon. 100% recommended!

Delicious, delicious, delicious! Went for lunch and ordered tapas. Waiter was friendly and helpful; restaurant was cozy and comfy; did I mention the food was good? 😃 . I like the beef empanadas the most of what we tried. Ceviche was brimming with shrimp and delightfully tangy. Patatas Bravas was crunchy on the outside and pillowy on the inside. Prices on the $$-$$$ range. I would love to try the dinner menu sometime, on a special occasion.

Very underwhelming. Perhaps they changed chefs because the empanadas were nothing like the pictures in previous reviews. The dough was overly crispy and not flaky. The filling was very bland. Definitely needed the spicy sauce on the side to add some flavour. We also ordered the large seafood paella. For $200, the portion was fine but the seafood were all very overcooked. Especially the crab legs. I will admit I have never had authentic paella but I expected more flavour than salt and pepper. You do get quite a bit of seafood so I guess the price is justified. However, I was underwhelmed in the taste department. Service was nice and attentive. Hoping today was just a fluke.