- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Jamonera
Categories: Restaurants Latin American Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Latin American, Wine Bars
105 S 13th StPhiladelphia, PA 19107
Neighbourhood: Market East
(215) 922-6061
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
50 reviews for Jamonera
50 reviews in English
-
Review from George R.
Philadelphia, PA
5/19/2012
Another superb addition to 13th Street. What I liked is that we decided to go nuts and nearly order everything and we left spending less than 100 bucks.
Well -- we didn't really order everything but we got a crapload of food and two desserts and some of the fine vermouth they offer.
All the plates were great - there was some chorizo and egg something-or-other that was unbelievable. But what truly stood out the most was the dessert. Despite my lactose intolerance I indulged to my satisfaction in a couple of ice cream-based delights. It was worth the hassle.
As noted by others reviewing this joint, it really opened my eyes to the wonders of vermouth.
Took my fiancee here for her B-Day. Good spot for that kind of thing. -
Review from Sarah F.
5/23/2012
I had received a giftcard for my birthday, good at Jamonera, Barbuzzo, or Lolita. After some thought, I picked Jamonera since it is not somewhere I would usually choose.
We made reservations on Open Table for 5:30, arrived at 5:15 and were promptly sat. (I was feeling early birdish that day.)
Upon seeing the sherry menu I asked our server about it, as I had never tried sherry. She was super knowledgeable, almost too much so, explaining for upwards of three minutes about sherry. I ordered a sangria, my boyfriend a beer.
We ordered six things, Olives, Pig Tail, Grilled Octopus, Squid Ink Calamari, Foie, and Skate Wing.
I consider myself an Olive hater, but I tried every one and some were actually okay in my opinion. I loved the Pig Tail, which was like a crispy roast pork sandwich. The Grilled Octopus was fine, but I've had better at Resurection Ale House. The Calamari was pretty basic, with the addition of a subtle smokey flavor. The foie left much to be desired, but the caramelized grapes which accompanied it were great.
As for the Skate Wing, we never received it. The server hadn't put it into the order, and since we were pretty satisfied, we didn't make a stink about it. I was disappointed though, as that was the dish I had most been looking forward to.
For dessert we shared Olive Oil Ice Cream with the flakiest shortbread cookies ever.
We left content, but not thrilled.
Two days later my boyfriend received a notification from Open Table saying his account would be suspended due to the fact that we never showed up for our Jamonera reservation. -
Review from Leah G.
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
I went into Jamonera expecting a good meal, maybe not excellent, but definitely good. Apparently, these expectations were way too low. My dinner there was outstanding. Every dish we ordered was excellent, and I wished we had more dining companions so we could keep ordering more. I definitely recommend heading here with a party of at least four so your ordering options aren't limited! The menu is quite large, and it was so hard to limit our ordering for just two people.
This will definitely be one I recommend to people seeking a fantastic dining experience.
LOVE this spot. -
Review from Jeffrey H.
New York, NY
5/13/2012
While client assignments take me to Philadelphia from time to time, a side benefit is the discovery of gastronomic gems this city has to offer. Short of a trip to Spain, last evening's visit to the only 3 month new Jamonera was an epicurean excursion that proved to be a most delightful dining experience. As proof of its popularity, my girl friend Donna and I called early in evening to make table reservations, only to discover nothing was available till 10:15 pm. Determined, we walked in at 8 and were fortunate to find seats at the bar, which turned out to be the optimum place, as we met Brian, a superb bartender/mixologist and expert tour guide. The detailed recall of the menu below is precise as I requested a menu to keep. Every item was delicious and a few were more stellar standouts. Overall, if you love tapas, Jamonera is a culinary gem in Philly not to be missed.
Beverages:
The Bizet cocktail($9) made with Tito's handmade vodka, passion fruit, clementine and fresh tyme. A refreshing balance of tart & sweet.
Sangria ($8). Roja Spanish red wine, brandy, tree fruits, pomegrante & orange. Deep flavors and as good as any we have tasted.
Jamonera offers a variety of fine Sherry and Vermouth. Not being a Sherry fan, I was eager to be introduced. Brian offered a sampling flight of 3. I was appreciative, but still not an enthusiast of the sherry world. It just a personal taste and no reflection on the offerings. I am sure Sherry fans would be in heaven.
However, he did make me a enthusiastic fan of Vermouth. My limited novice experience consisted of thinking Noilly Prat as the only palatable brand to be used in a martini. Dare say, I was amazed and now an appreciative fan of the Bodegas Montana Perucchi vermouth. Over the course of the evening, I had a glass of both the dry and the sweet. I enjoyed both but the Blanco Especial won my favor.
Food:
Wild Fire Oysters from NY with Seville Orange Ice and Cucumber (2/$6). This was a special menu addition that evening. I am a fan of both east and west coast, but never have I sampled a more crisp, clean and succulent oyster as these. Where have they been all my life? I will definitely seek them out in the future.
Albondigas ($9). 4 house ground pork meatballs with Ibores cheese, 4 hr tomatoe-jamon sauce served with grilled garlic bread. The cheese with the ground pork makes for a scrumptious, velvet texture. Yummy.
Wedding of Anchoas ($7). When you mention anchovies, most will cringe. These will make you a fan. Cantabrian anchovy with boquerone, ramps, peppers served with griddled bread and arbequina olive oil. One of my favorite highlights of the evening.
Iberico Ham Croquetas ($7). 4 Ibores cheese filled croquetas with horseradish crema, picked mustard seeds and guindilla peppers. These will not disappoint you.
Tuna Conserva ($8) Spanish tuna with cucumber, celery, roasted peppers, grated egg, hand torn olive oil croutons accented with a sherry vinaigrette. I love tuna as sushi, tartar, or quickly seared. Never sampled Spanish tuna, it is now a favorite. A must have and another highlight of the evening.
Calamares en su Tinta ($8). Crispy calamari fried in its own black ink with preserved lemon aioli, pimenton de la vera and garlic chips. One of my standard dishes by which I judge a chef and their kitchen is by their calamari. Their dish is the most unique and best I have ever had. Cooked perfectly. The crunch of the black ink was one of a kind. It may not look appealing at first...burnt crusty black. But get past the visual and dive into calamari that is to die for!
Quesos Artesanos ($14). A tasting platter of monte enebro/ semi-soft goat with ash rind/ fig jam valdeon/ aromatic racy blue/ quince butter aragones/ cow's milk, fruity/meyer lemon-gooseberry marmalade served with baquette & sweet olive oil-fennel cracker. A great way to sample some of the best artisan cheeses.
Charcuteria ($15). A tasting platter of country pork liver pistachio pate, salchichon de vic, fermin lomo embruchado, cantimpalo chorizo with house made black currant mustand, olivada, pickles, picas & baguette. All were tasty but the pate and the black currant mustard were the stand outs.
Dessert:
We were so full by the end of evening, all of dessert offerings were tempting. We went with the Spanish donuts served with espresso dipping sauce & chocolate granache. So good! Their pastry chef is truely an artist and my apologies for not remembering her name. (I forgot to grab a dessert menu.)
Upon leaving Jamonera, we had the unexpected fortune of meeting the owners, Chef Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran relaxing at an outside table. We expressed out profound pleasure of having discovered their growing 13th Street mecca of 6 restaurants and shops. I mentioned to Marcie that Portuguese Sardines would be a nice menu addition. She informed me that they are served at Barbuzzo, their Mediterranean restaurant across the street. OK, on our next visit. Steven Starr look out! -
Review from Michelle C.
Philadelphia, PA
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
My friend and I intended to come here for a "happy hour" of sorts and ended up with a $90 tab because we could. Not. Stop.
It was all fantastic, the Spanish breakfast (quail egg, duck chorizo) being so delicious I may or may not have pretended to forget to share. Yyyeah, sorry about that, Diane. I also particularly enjoyed the oysters with vermouth ice.
Speaking of vermouth. Did you know vermouth can be amazing on its own because I (the dry martini fiend) totally didn't and now I want to keep a bottle of whatever the hell I tasted in my refrigerator at all times. Seriously. Try a glass of the blanco, it's wonderful.
The papas fritas were good but didn't blow me away, and while I look forward to trying their late night menu I do wish they had some sort of traditional happy hour offering. I am also horribly confused as to why they only have one single stall bathroom for the entire establishment. I waited in line for five minutes and gave up.
Less cramped than Barbuzzo and with an amazing bartending staff. Will definitely return. -
Review from Tina N.
4/23/2012 1 photo
Overall, this is a good spot. Everything we had was delicious, but some dishes definitely stood out. For me, the pigtails on toast (tostada?) was a favorite. I also really like the calamari fried in "its own ink", even if more for the concept.
Maybe it's just me, but I can't tell one charcuterie plate from the next, less there's a blatant disparity, (ie, baloney or turkey meat on the board). That said, our chef's selection board of meet and cheese was very nice. Also, we had the ham croquettes, crispy veggie rice, and the Spanish donuts for dessert. All very good.
And of course, the drink selection is pretty stellar.
Being the wine connoisseur that I am, I ordered the vermouth accidentally because all I saw was Rojo. The nice man let me switch it to an actual red wine when my reaction to a sifter with an ice cube was "oh nooo...nooo...I can't drink that...nooo". My point is, the service is also good.
In my opinion, I'd put this a slight notch below Barbuzzo. -
Review from Daniel L.
Philadelphia, PA
4/22/2012
It was alright.
In general, dishes tended to fall on the salty side. Octopus was tender yet a weird chewy aftertaste lingered. Calamari was good but hard to make bad calamari. Foie grad was good, very buttery.
I asked my wife after dinner, "Did you like it?" "Yes," she said. I asked, "Would you go back?" "No." My sentiments exactly. -
Review from Daniel H.
3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not blown away. Got a bit of a snooty vibe. Roasted red peppers were overpowering in the oyster slider. The rest of the food was really just okay, and I think I learned that I don't like croquettes...
This will do for now, and I'll need to come back to provide more insight, but I don't think I'll be rushing to do so. That alone says volumes. -
Review from Eileen H.
Philadelphia, PA
4/6/2012
Solid restaurant! As other reviewers have mentioned, this cannot hold a candle to Amada, but it has its own merits.
For one, it's more casual. Going to dinner at Amada feels more celebratory in nature. Secondly, they have some great Spanish vermouth drinks here. The waitress told us Jamonera is the only restaurant in the country that serves it. Definitely worth a try.
As for the food, very typical of Marcie Turney. There were a couple dishes, like the fideua, that are similar to dishes available at Barbuzzo. The two most outstanding dishes were the mussels and octopus. The mussels were prepared ceviche style with edible mussel shells. Very interesting preparation, very fresh. The octopus was the most pillowy textured octopus I have ever had. It was charred on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. The waitress told us the chef pressure cooks the octopus, then grills them to get the texture.
Definitely give this place a try. I love 13th Street and am happy to see that there are more (good) restaurants opening up. -
Review from Kemi A.
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really like the Sherry selection here. I had the sampler for $20..man I could have ordered another round.
The food was half good and half meh. The meh part were mostly because of the salt content.
We enjoyed the crispy pigtails, and the fava bean salad.
The calamari was too salty as was the rice dish.
The shrimp was good and hot/spicy.
Rabbit sausage needed some help.
Oh the dessert, we got the sundae, was really good actually.
If I am to return I would just come for drinks (and the sundae).
Waitstaff was really nice and into the menu. -
Review from Winnie T.
South Street District, Philadelphia, PA
5/12/2012
Tried the sherry flight and had a few of the small plates (dates, sardines, cheese plate, pork tails(?)) everything was top notch, if not slightly expensive. Would definitely come here again!
-
Review from Shannon P.
Philadelphia, PA
3/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ate here last night and we were pleasantly surprised to be able to grab bar seats as soon as we walked in. Boo started with the El Bourne martini; a man martini made with Spanish vermouth. He enjoyed it, my stomach was hating alcohol at the time. We ordered some small plates to start: papas fritas, pumpkin croquettes, and pig tail sliders. The papas fritas come with a sherry vinegar hot sauce that is too good. The fritas kept the crispy skin and had bacon and aioli drizzled on top. Yum. Croquettes were mini meatball sized joys served over a pumpkin seed puree with a veggie conglomerate in the middle. Brussel leaves helped sop up the puree. Pig tail sliders were more like a bruschetta topped with pig tail which you wouldn't know was tail. Tasted amazing, tail is good. I thought I'd get some curly Q of a tail but not the case.
We said to each other, "want more?" I confirmed yes I do, so we put in an order of grilled Spanish octopus and the lobster salad that was on special. In the words of Sophia Grace, the octopus was "SO GOOD". Served on a layer of creamy what I think was aioli, chick peas, and a red bit of hot sauce, it had the bit of tang from the sea and we smothered it in the accompanied creamy goodness. The lobster salad wasn't my favorite. It tasted like potato salad, had a heavy mayo taste, and not much lobster. We were really happy with the prices and the experience.
To top off the night, we pondered over the dessert menu. Do we order the recommended sundae? The cheesecake in a jar the couple to our left had? Or the Olive Oil Ice Cream....? We had to try the weird flavor of ice cream served with rosemary and a shortbread cookie. I was so curious how the consistency would be since the makings of ice cream are eggs, cream, sugar...how could oil go in there? The texture was a cross between a sorbet and ice cream...like an ice-y ice cream. The taste was light, if you looked for the olive oil flavor it was there. But when you made "perfect bites" on your spoon it was damn good (perfect bite = ice cream, piece of shortbread cookie, leaf of rosemary).
Only caveat was that the woman to my right was having a loud convo with the couple on my boo's left. So there was constant loud conversation about every high school, teacher, and Jewish person in South Jersey. -
Review from Liz F.
3/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Jamonera is no Tinto or Amada etc. but it holds its own on 13th Street. I dropped by with a friend last night for a drink and to check out their new 10-11:30 happy hour menu. All those delicious tapas and drinks you wanted to try but could never afford. The sangria was great. They also had decent beer and cocktails on special for the non sangria sipping ladies. Their menu had a variety of items from olives and manchego to jamon and waffles? Looked interesting.
We got some sangria (excellent) and tried some crazy fries with jamon serrano and truffle oil. It was excellent, albeit a heart attack on a plate. My friend got the eggs and meat and said they were delicious.
Our total bill came to $15. Perfect. Lots of candlelight and good music. Take your ladies here. The bartender was very personable and funny and we enjoyed our conversation with him.
I'll be back, Jamonera. -
Review from Denny S.
Philadelphia, PA
3/26/2012
Do yourself a favor, just don't waste your time and money going here.mi have to give credit that the drinks were pretty decent. As far as for the food, it was a total disappointment. The bartenders were not friendly, one of them was somewhat weird, she was staring at us while we were eating. Never smile!
This is nothing in comparison to tinto!
The most important thing that there was no sense of authenticity of typical tapas in spain. I think that they should revamp the menu. -
Review from Emily W.
Philadelphia, PA
3/4/2012
We came here hoping to have an intimate date night. Little did we know that we were practically going to be sharing a table with another couple. They really pack the tables in here which really detracts from what could be a cool dining scene.
Our waitress seemed really informed about all of the dishes on the menu and didn't hesitate to list off her favorites when we seemed overwhelmed. I always appreciate when the service staff has opinions about the food, so I thought we were off to a good start. But overall, the dishes were underwhelming. We paid $100 for two drinks and 6 dishes and still walked out hungry. Here's a little bit about the dishes we ordered.
Huevos Sucios: probably one of the better dishes we ordered- smoky, meaty, and satisfying. A larger portion would make a yummy brunch dish. Our only complaints were that the shortrib hat some chewy fatty pieces that they should've removed while plating and their sherry vinegar hot sauce was so one dimensional and boring. It tasted like sherry vinegar with a sprinkling of chipotle powder.
Gambas al ajillo: good brandade served alongside 4 shrimp and two measly bread pieces. The shrimp was cooked nicely, but the portion was tiny.
Brussels sprouts: inconsistently cooked- some raw, some greasy, some raw and greasy, and some just right. If they had all just been just right, this could've been a winner.
Foie and setas: I like how the foie portion isn't so big and dominating, but there should've been more mushrooms and more bread to make the dish heftier. I really don't understand why they are so stingy with their bread for all the dishes. Have they been to a tapas bar in Spain?
Mushroom Tosta: a little messy to eat, but one of our favorites, probably because there was enough bread for the topping
Fideos: I was looking forward to this one the most because I love this dish in Spain. Despite a fair portion of clams and calamari, the noodles were underseasoned, and they completely lacked the traditional crispy bottom and crunchy topping that makes it so delicious and craveable.
Afraid of being disappointed, we didn't order dessert.
Bindi was our favorite of the 13th Street restaurants so we were really hoping that this would fill our Bindi void. I love Spanish flavors and food, but unfortunately, it was all a little lackluster here and I can't say that we'll be returning here anytime soon- especially given the price to portion ratio. -
Review from Brian B.
Philadelphia, PA
2/20/2012
Went on Saturday night with my girlfriend. Jamonera was delicious. The food was great, the decor is deep, dark reds and woods that set a great atmosphere. The menu reminds me of time spent abroad in Barcelona.
There are traditional tapas such as a the papa frita, but the addition of the house hot sauce take them to a new level. The cheese plate reminds me of Barbuzzo and the Crispy Calasparra rice was one of the best items I've eaten in a long while.
The spanish donuts are not as good as Barbuzzo's budino, but what is. It's hard trying to compare this restaurant to Barbuzzo because that is one of the best restaurants I've been to, and when writing a review you keep wanting to compare the two. On it's own Jamonera is an excellent restaurant worthy of five stars, when comparing it to Barbuzzo you want to knock it down a star, but it wouldn't be fair to what Jamonera is. You will enjoy this place and I recommend going. -
Review from Brad T.
Havertown, PA
2/18/2012
At this point there are enough detailed reviews of Jamonera that I don't need to describe every moment of our evening there. It was an enjoyable dining experience, certainly not a miss, but neither was it a hit. Every aspect of the evening was a bit off; every upscale gesture didn't quite work as the owners planned -- and not just the food or the service, but the space itself, from the strange restroom area to the humorous "phone booth" entrance to the restaurant.
I'll point out one area of our dinner that sums up my feelings: the dessert. We ordered miel y mató, four shortbread wafers with a honey-sheep's milk cheese spread. Aside from the fact that it was as much savory as sweet -- better presented as an appetizer than as a selection for the end of the meal -- its execution was flawed. The wafers were delicate, the cheese heavy and thick. No matter how carefully I held the wafers, they shattered into pieces when I tried to get the cheese onto them (which caused my dining partner a few giggles -- as well as extra pieces to nibble on).
Don't misunderstand: Jamonera is very good, but its sibling Barbuzzo has set amazingly high standards for this block. -
Review from Noah G.
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Aye yi yi, where to start...
I don't like tapas.
They are too small, too delicate, and tease my appetite like the popular girl in HS that is nice to you only so she can cheat off your biology exam (I'm looking at you Kelly). So when I found myself sitting at the bar at Jamonera waiting for a table I was less than thrilled.
My buddy and I ordered two Osborne Bulls which was a Makers Mark and 4 exotic ingredients. It tasted like a $12 whiskey and cola... not impressed. I knew it, I was another victim of the trendy tapas joint.
Upon sitting our waitress reviewed the menu with us. This chick knew what she was doing, she had a personal take on every dish we pointed at, recommended several others, and gave us some updates on a few dishes that had just been updated. Hmmm, what's going on here, was she thawing my icy curmudgeon brain grapes??
We started with Pig's tail a la Plancha, Calamari la Plancha, and the Gambas al Ajillo. I took one bite of the pigs tail and almost started break dancing. It was smokey, sweet, and a bit crispy. Who cares if it take two bites to finish, I can get more, I can get more. The garlic shrimp sat on top of what I assume was ambrosia, it was amazing as well (but I don't exactly know what it was). The Calamari la Plancha was a tough pick because there are several options of squid but I can't imagine any of them better than this. It was baked to perfection, no chewiness just an incredible flavor that melted in your mouth.
As to not get too wordy the other dishes we got were:
HUEVOS SUCIOS DE LUCIO
HOUSE GROUND MERGUEZ SAUSAGE
FOIE Y SETAS
Each dish was just as good as the first three. I seriously couldn't believe how good everything was. I can't imagine anything on the menu not being primo. We finished our meals off with some double milk stouts and when I left believe it or not I was full. -
Review from Tyler L.
Philadelphia, PA
2/14/2012
I was able to try Jamonera out this past Sunday with my dad.
I liked the vibe, nice wooden door, solid wooden tables. Dark, but not obnoxiously dark. A little tight in there, but nothing that would ruin the meal.
The wine list was decent and they have some craft beers on there as well. We tried five things, four of them I can describe:
Jamon Iberica - almond fed ham for $22. You are convinced it is a delicacy and worth it, but it tasted like cured meat to me...good, but I wouldn't order it again at $22.
Shrimp - Pretty awesome, would definitely recommend.
Rice topped with Jamon Iberica - If you want to try the special ham, try it on this delicious rice.
Potatoes - Pretty awesome, but Mcdonalds does it awesome, so not really a surprise that it was good.
Overall I liked this place and would go back...I thought it was better than Barbuzzo to be honest. -
Review from Steve S.
Philadelphia, PA
1/27/2012
The girls have done it again! Wow. What an amazing meal. And the prices are very reasonable too! The design is very cool - reminds me of a Moorish kind of atmosphere. There's 2 reasons I'm only giving 4 stars though - I will get to it in a minute, but first the food and drink:
The Sangria was great, although it didn't seem to have much alcohol.
We started with the Spanish Olives w/ Manchego. The olives were exceptional and plenty of them!
Also had the 3 cheese plate w/ baguette and it was great. The soft goat cheese w/ pickled fig - awesome!
Next was the Papa Frita - whoa, make sure you get this crispy potato dish!!
The PigTail Tosta was incredible! Followed by the great crispy eggplant that looked like long, thick french fries.
The grilled octopus salad was perfect!
The above was plenty for a meal for 2, but when we ordered, our server Lauren said all the plates were small and we should think about ordering more food. We're not new to menus like this and felt we had ordered appropriately. Turns out the portions were decent and we were full with what we had eaten - but because we allowed her to up-sell us, we had ordered an additional plate of the garlic shrimp. I should have gone with my gut - but I thought we could trust our server's guidance. Strike one!
The other problem: Our server took my first cocktail from the table before I was finished without even asking. Then later in the meal she reached in and took my 2nd unfinished cocktail, but this time I stopped her and got a little terse, saying I wasn't done with it, so she reluctantly put it back. This is unacceptable!! Any well-trained server knows to always ask if the patron is finished with a drink or plate before reaching in and removing it. Strike two!
We always leave a 20% gratuity wherever we go. However, I have no problem leaving 15% when I feel it's justified - and tonight was one of those rare occasions. A little more training is probably in order. -
Review from Lindsay H.
Philadelphia, PA
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Bravo ladies!
I feel like I've had an internal count down in my head till the day Jamonera would finally open so needless to say, when my boyfriend got reservations for their third night open, I was thrilled!
First, the atmosphere is relaxing, cool and intimate. The copper bar was absolutely stunning and i started with a fabulous martini while waiting for friends. The bizet. It was a perfect combo of tart, sweet but with a mild savory finish. Great start.
Once seated, we proceeded to have a wonderful dining experience. Our server was knowledgeable, on top of everything but didn't rush us in any way...which can be tough with tapas.
Some highlights included:
1. Jamon- how could we not order this. Salty, delicious, didn't disappoint
2. The crispy pig's tail tosta- This was heaven on a toast. I think I could have eaten 10 of these. The flavors were bright and the pig's tail was as tender as could be.
3. cripsy rice- WOW- this might have been the winner. We knew the second the waiter told us it was the chefs favorite, we had to get it. It was heaven and a perfect comfort food for a cool night.
4. the donuts- I also could have eaten 10 of these. They were light tossed in sugar, coffee and salt with a coffee, chocolate Dulce de leche dipping sauce. My mouth is watering just thinking about these!
5. The sherry- Who drinks sherry? Apparently, this place is known for their sherry list so we all went for it and wow, they were all tasty. I guess I'm a sherry drinker from here on out!
To sum it up, Jamonera was fantastic. I can not wait to go back and get the many other dishes i had my eye on. To all other midtown village restaurants, watch out...this one has already flown to the top of my chart! -
Review from Clifford Q.
Philadelphia, PA
1/23/2012
The ladies of 13th Street have done it once again. It is no surprise that their newest venture is FABULOUS.
We went last night for the first night open to the public and had a wonderful meal.
The menu is incredible. Each dish tells a story and the wait staff is happy to answer any questions. I was very impressed with all the explanations of the menu and the wine / sherry list. Our waitress was very well versed in all.
We shared 4 smaller dishes and 2 larger ones and walked away very satisfied. The pig tail bbq, warm dates, crispy rice and pate's were more than yummy. We ended with the Seafood soup. We were blown away with the mix of seafood and how each was cooked to perfection. The mixed flavors were heaven.
Our only regret is that we had no room for dessert, but there is next time.
Great location / Great food / Great prices !!!! -
Review from Catherine L.
Philadelphia, PA
2/6/2012
The newest addition to the 13th street corridor of eateries which replaced the much maligned Bindi (was I the only that liked that place?).
Indoors, the narrow floor plan has been re-conceived to include a sexy copper topped bar with a red back lit bar with comfy leather stools and a smaller more intimate dining area. Service is friendly and accommodating. Lighting dark, sparse and romantic (much like its predecessor).
Menu - all with shared plates both small and large in mind - but not entirely tapas-esque -- even a salad and toast could definitely be enough to sate one person.
Unlike Amada and Bar Ferdinand, there are not as many menu options, but what they lack in diversity, they make up for it, for the most part in quantity. All the smaller plates and salads are generous in size. Lovely bar menu, with a strong focus, evidently, on sherry.
As is always the norm with any Marcie Tunney and Valerie Safran vehicle, focus is on fresh ingredients. Vegetables always deftly prepared, proteins always cooked on point, the only few weak points were that a lot of the dishes were a bit (as other reviewers have noted) on the salty side. Also, I was hoping for a bit more variety on the menu, maybe a few unexpected options (with other Spanish restaurants in the city, Jamonera should try and differentiate itself!). Also, I was most impressed with the salads of all things - which is unusual for me - so if you go be sure to try all three, and/or at least one of the salad options on the menu. None of the larger plates shone brighter than those salads, although that may change with time. Also, order the pumpkin croquettes (biggest standout in my opinion- yummers!) Otherwise, keep you posted.
More or less on par with Bar Ferdinand. Maybe a notch below Amada, but not by much. Prices better than both, so be sure to check it out. Definitely worth a re-visit. -
Review from Harry S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/22/2012
Some snacks and a bottle of wine. Tuna Conserva, Excellent Mushroom on Crouton (forget the menu name), and something else that was yum. Very good service, sat curbside.
-
Review from Steve M.
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Well *that* was awesome. I'd expect nothing less from the queens of 13th Street, but they really nailed it with this place.
First of all, the decor is perfect. Cozy, red-tinged, a beautiful metal bar and just the right amount of tables (though I will say, if the bar had one less stool, getting in and out of them would be easier!)
The drinks were delicious, our foursome tried two of the new cocktails and loved them both (the passion-fruit "Bizet" and a Maker's Mark bev with soda and fig), plus the sangria was very tasty (though it still can't beat the dry red at Bar Ferdinand).
The menu is large, to the point I'll have to go back to try everything that caught my eye (though I have a feeling reservations will not be easy to come by). But most importantly, the food is amazing.
The jamon plate was heaven for charcuterie fans (though the cheese plate I could have done without). The pig's tail tostas were fantastic, and I can't wait to go back to try the oyster and sardine versions. The calamari was very tasty in squid ink with capers and garlic chips, lit up by a lemon aioli.
I'm not a pumpkin fan, but I have to recommend the heirloom pumpkin and cheese croquetas. Heavenly crispy little balls of not-in-your-face pumpkin flavor with a gooey cheese oozing from the center. We also tried the crispy rice dish and it was every bit as good as advertised: homey, comforting and delicious.
Our server was an absolute delight: knowledgeable, friendly and there at exactly the right times over the course of our rather-long stay.
Oh, and try the donuts, coated in sugar with some salt, and the side of espresso dulce de leche. You won't be disappointed.
Well done, Jamonera. Well done. -
Review from Elise T.
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
I too have been counting down the days for the opening of Jamonera. I was especially anxious to see, smell, and try everything they had to offer when the ladies of 13th street didn't post the menu pre-opening. My experience did not disappoint.
The restaurant is a dark, sexy, modern piece of Madrid plopped down in Midtown Village. The decor is eye-catching yet tasteful.
The beverages are plentiful... It was hard to resist the blood orange sangria, but we opted to try some Spanish varietals that were new to our repertoire. Bolba was recommended by the bar tender and it was perfect. Soft tannins, bold flavor, but somehow light. He also suggested that our next choice be Garnataxa-Carinena, also fantastic.
The food was to die for. We started with what ended up being my favorite bite of the night... The Spanish Breakfast with fried quail eggs, soft sobrassada sausage, manchengo. It was perfection. This measly yelp review doesn't do this well balanced and wonderful bite justice, so please do yourself a favor and order it. From then on it was one successful dish after the next, the papas fritas, the fried eggplant, the squid ink calamari, and the dynamite flank steak. All perfect in their own way.
Dessert is not to be forgotten. The bunuelos are better than any churro or beginets you have ever eaten and the chocolate mousse is the perfect ending to this meal.
Well done. -
Review from Jose A.
2/13/2012
Delicious. Had the fried oyster, the pig tail toast, the avocado salad, the grilled octopus, and the fried potatoes. Desert was the donut and the sorbet. Also had the flight of sherry.
Highlights: the pig tail, the avocado salad, the donut, and the pedro ximenez sherry. Everything else was really good but those stood out. The pig tail was so savory, the avocado salad was fresh, lightly salted with the cod, and the sweetness of the citrus made me want more. The donuts reminded me of the fried tortillas with butter and cinammon and sugar that my family made... except these were way better, the espresson/chocolate sauce was really good too. And that sherry... not sickeningly sweet, but a nice heavy blend of figs and dates that paired really well with the heavier dishes we ordered.
Great night! -
Review from Andrew M.
Philadelphia, PA
2/15/2012
I tried Jamonera this past weekend with my fiance. We first walked in to notice how small the place was. There's maybe 10-15 tables in the whole place. We were there 20 minutes early, so we decided to take a seat at the bar. I started off with a Lagunitas IPA, which is always a good thing. My fiance had the bizet. It was a vodka drink with passion fruit and thyme. It was delicious. It tasted almost like a Rita's passion fruit water ice, but the addition of the thyme really elevated the drink. You didnt so much taste the thyme as you did smell it with each sip. This drink was fantastic. It was one of the best cocktails that I've had in a long time. Its not the clover club at stateside, but its still very, very good.
We then got our table. My fiance continued to drink bizets. I switched to Allagash White. We started off with a few really small plates. We started with the dates. They were good. Not great. I thought they'd be saltier, but i was disappointed. We moved on to the oysters. Yawn. They werent bad, but they werent noteworthy. The last batch of oysters that I'd had was from Stateside. The oysters at Jamonera didnt even compete with Stateside's.
We then got the jamon tasting. For 22 dollars, it is a pricey appetizer. I'd venture to say its not really worth it unless you are a big Jamon fan. This tasting actually had a domestic Jamon, which is to say, it wasnt Jamon. It was a artisanal berkshire pig leg cured. It was actually very good, but if you arent having a full plate of imported from Spain Jamon, the price needs to get lowered some. Just sayin. Both options were very tasty, but I dont know if it was worth 22 bucks.
We then had the papa frita. Wow. I dont know exactly what they did to these spuds, but they were the best potato dish that I've ever had. They come with a sherry vinegar hot sauce which should be bottled and sold wholesale. It took every ounce of my being to NOT steal it from the table. These are a must have. These are indispensible.
We also had the Judias Verdes. Nothing super special, but a very solid salad that I wouldnt certainly get again.
The Setas a la plancha was next. Seared wild mushrooms with foie gras. This was delicious.
The crispy rice was very good, but not as crispy as the name would suggest. The Huevo en estilo de lucio was probably my favorite thing aside from the papa fritas.
All in all, a very good restaurant. -
Review from bun-alicious k.
Plymouth Meeting, PA
1/31/2012
I was so excited for this place to open. We went in tonight hoping to relive Barcelona. Ok, maybe that was too much... Regardless, in the end, we were a bit disappointed.
Our determination to find an awesome Spanish restaurant in the area continues...
First, the service was great. We even had a chance to speak to one of the owners for a bit. The decor was modern and simple...we couldn't remember what Bindi used to look like inside.
Food - we looooved the medjool dates, pumpkin croquettes and warm honey cake.
The rest were pretty good but we were overwhelmed by salt overall. That took away from the experience a lot.
We also got the Pig's tail a la plancha (you won't know it's Pig's tail!)
avocado/orange/fennel/salt cod salad (very refreshing!!!)
Hericot verts/snap pea salad (different...)
crispy rice (yummy but soooo salty)
Manila clams with short pasta (similar to the shrt pasta paella)
papa frita (their version of patatas bravas but we missed the traditional spicy aioli)
Shishito peppers (I know it wasn't pepper from Spain but these were waxy and thick - no good).
Oh, and Shortbread with honey/almonds/cheese. Pretty good also.
So...yes, we love tapas and Spanish food, but no this wasn't our favorite tapas meal.
However, they did just open :) -
Review from Karol S.
Philadelphia, PA
3/2/2012
Dark, sexy, and minimalist-rustic decor.
went on a Thursday at 9PM, so nice and chill
Recommend:
the calamari en su tinto ---crispy and smoky flavor. nice to share.
sea scallops---good, but nothing too interesting. it is accompanied with a few pieces of pork belly and topped with uni butter. we liked the mashed fava beans.
pig tail--surprisingly meaty! but also fatty. but nice, crispy fat--the kind most don't mind eating. it is served atop a grilled slice of bread....and there are 2 people so perfect for 2 people!
Spanish Doughnuts for dessert--fried dough rarely fails. yumm. comes with dulce de leche dipping sauce (garnished with sea salt). Goes great with a cappuccino.
and sangria sorbet---quite interesting, but nothing out of this world. yet still enjoyable. it is very sweet. and moderately alcoholic.
the table next to us had an order of the garlic shrimp and skirt steak---both these dishes were bigger and looked delicious.
I am definitely going back for more. -
Review from Jessica S.
Philadelphia, PA
2/25/2012
My fellow Yelpers rarely lead me astray---the previous reviews are pretty thorough and I agree with almost all that's been said, so I won't take up too much space here.
We ordered based off of Yelp favorites--papa frita, pig's tail tosta, foie y seta, calamari a la plancha, and crispy rice. The only one I wouldn't order again was the crispy rice. It wasn't crispy or particularly flavorful. As has been mentioned, the Bizet cocktail was great! I really liked the remodel from Bindi and the service was fine (if unspectacular). It's not my favorite place in the city (although I do like it better than Barbuzzo), but I would certainly come back. -
Review from Fernando Q.
Philadelphia, PA
4/5/2012
Not too impressed. Dissapointed with the bar service and the Sangrias which were watered down. If I am paying $9 for a drink it better be a good one!
-
Review from Jessica H.
Dresher, PA
2/5/2012
I was teetering between a three or four star, but I decided to give it a four star because of our waitress. I don't remember her name, but she was blond. She worked on a Saturday night. She was super passionate about the food and I loved the service and so I give a four star.
My friend and I ordered the:
Pigs Tail Toast - You can't tell it's pig's tail. It's a burst of flavors! I loved it. It was fantastic. It was my favorite dish of the night
Jamon Iberico - $22 dish - it's only spanish ham - if you love ham, get it. i lived in spain for a summer and I loved their ham. brought me back to madrid. It would have been nice if they paired it with some olives. Olives were free in spain.
Setas La Plancha - mushrooms with foie gras over toast. The mushrooms on their own were a bit salty. BUT when you pair a piece of the maple or honey flavored toast with some foie gras and mushrooms - it's an explosion in your mouth. I had to close my eyes. I loveeeeeed the foie gras.
Pulpa y Ensilada Rusa - I got the octopus b/c i love the octopus dish at barbuzzo and i know the restaurants are connected. The octopus were cooked very tender which I love, however, the whole dish was so salty. The octopus was a bit salty which is fine but the garnish around it was even more salty. I know Spanish food is salty, but that was a bit much.
We also got a special dish not on the regular menu - it was cheese and pair. The cheese was cooked too lumpy, and the pear flavor was drowned out.
DESSERT:
Spanish donuts - four donuts - plain but good. came hot and fresh. true to european styled donuts. i wish it paired with vanilla ice cream. wasn't a fan of the sauce that came with it, but my friend enjoyed it.
we got a honey cake with vanilla ice cream and fig. it was okay. but again, my friend really enjoyed the dessert. i think i'm too simple to enjoy the flavorings of this dessert. she has a better palette. -
Review from Angie K.
2/9/2012
More like 3.5 stars.
I am such a fan of the ladies of 13th Street, so I had to give this a try.
The waitress was super informative: she gave some recommendations, but pretty much explained the whole menu. This was good because it has only been 2 weeks since the place opened (thus not enough Yelp reviews for suggestions).
The decor is awesome, kind-of a Gothic appearance with a cool wall mural, black chandeliers, and wooden tables.
I tried the Warm Medjool Dates, Pig's Tail A La Plancha, Calamares Negras, and Setas A La Plancha. The winner was definitely the pig's tail, followed by the dates. I would say the calamares were my least favorite, partly because I felt like a good 1/3 of the plate was just fried bits of ink without the calamari in it (unless my friends ate them while I wasn't looking..highly likely). I also thought it was a little salty. The mushrooms in the Setas were very flavorful, and the foie gras wasn't bad either, but I'm not a big fan of foie gras in general. For dessert, we tried the Bunuelos, and they were money, like more money then FedNuts.
Definitely can't wait to go back and try the other stuff on the menu. -
Review from Teri R.
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm a huge fan of Marcie and Valerie, and barbuzzo is one of my favorite places in the city, so I have been chomping at the bit to get to jamonera since I saw the menu go online a few weeks ago. But I'm sad to admit ... I am disappointed.
I had in mind a few things that I wanted to try, and I asked our server what she recommended to round out the meal. She was ... unhelpful. Her answer was along the lines of "anything you want to try will be really good with what you have picked." not exactly what I was going for. But the oddest thing was ... AFTER we ate, she came back to the table and went in great detail about some of the dishes we had missed and how we need to come back and try them ... her descriptions were detailed and flowery, and I sure wish she had chosen to share them when I asked her AS WE WERE ORDERING. but ... there are so many other issues.
The food was ok. Really, just ok. There were a few items that could be great, but most are held back by over seasoning (mostly just way too salty.)
The Medjool Dates ($7) are very good. Simplest dish of the night and the only one I would likely reorder.
The Fried Oysters (8?, not on the online menu) would have been brilliant, but at least one element of the dish (possibly the dressing) was far too salty. But this dish has great potential.
Spanish Breakfast (8) also great potential, also far too salty. I sucked down a glass and a half of water after these two dishes and still, this morning, I have that salty residue in my mouth. wow.
Crispy Rice (12) excellent dish overall with some very complex flavors going on. I enjoyed this one very much.
The Skirt Steak (20, not on the online menu) was also very nice but should have been twice the size for the price. 4 or 5 tiny bites of steak on some grilled veggies. a total of THREE papa frita on the side.
I was so looking forward to the donuts (I think I actually dreamed about them the night before we went) but they were having trouble with the fryer so no donuts. This was compounded by the fact that the suggested replacement, Miel y Mato (sweetened whipped sheep's cheese and shortbread cookies) was just ... meh. Not really sweet enough for dessert, it felt more like a lackluster bagel spread.
The decor is fine, but there are at least two too many tables shoved in this tiny space -- it is just way too tight as it is. There is not even any space to stand when you enter the restaurant, so they have built a chintzy vestibule outside on the street ... tacky! and we actually got stuck in here as we left when another couple could not open its door. And the washroom is behind a creepy black curtain that is almost touching one of the tables (ours) with a small, very dark waiting area behind the curtain. It's just a very odd, uncomfortable setup. And while I know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I think the girls have borrowed a little too heavily from one of our city's very well regarded chefs ... walking into the place felt like walking into a JG establishment, the food and drinks menus have a decidedly JG bent (along with the prices, unfortunately) and there were JG details sprinkled about, like the cut up menu pieces used as garnish under some of the dishes.
Total bill was well over $100, and we left wanting ... more. Something to justify the bill, but really, jamonera is not unique or good enough to carry the prices.Listed in: Tapas and small plates
-
Review from MC E.
Cherry Hill, NJ
3/26/2012
While this is a new restaurant, I was there recently and could not have been happier with everything about this place. The space is gorgeous, the service is impeccable and the food is just amazing. Very authentic Spanish tapas. The Pig's Tail was so tender and flavorful. We tried a number of small plates and finished all of them. The waiter was very knowledgeable and walked us through the menu and helped us make decisions and his recommendations were perfect.
-
Review from Kelly T.
Philadelphia, PA
1/27/2012
Hooo Boy.
I dined at Jamonera two nights ago, and the entire experience was pretty outstanding.
Our server was fantastic: knowledgeable about the menu, and spot on with her recommendations.
We started with a sherry flight. I'm not typically a sherry drinker (who is?), but figured "when in Rome". The flight included a dry, medium, and sweet sherry tasting and I was really surprised at how interesting and diverse the 3 samples were.
I'll take the same approach as Lindsay H. and list some menu favorites:
1. Their crispy rice is the stuff of dreams. I seriously cannot recommend this dish enough.
2. The warm medjool dates nearly blew MY date's mind. He is a bit of a bacon/ham-wrapped-date connoisseur, and said that these easily beat out a similar beloved offering from Tria.
3. The fried oysters. My GOD, people. Being a reformed picky eater, I had eaten a grand total of one oyster in my life (served raw/shooter style). This little tapas dish quickly made me a believer. Served on toast with an egg slice, and some other creamy delights... cheese, maybe? (this isn't on the online menu), it made for an amazing combination with just the right amount of acid from the greens that topped it off.
4. The papa frita was perfectly prepared and better than any patatas bravas I had in Spain. The sherry vinegar hot sauce that accompanied it was like a party in my mouth.
I've lurked around yelp for a while, but Jamonera was good enough to make that first-review plunge. -
Review from Jerry H.
San Francisco, CA
3/19/2012
Great food, great experience.
Waiter was helpful, and recommended some excellent choices.
Will definitely be back. -
Review from Krista P.
I stopped by here for a drink with Michael G. a few days after opening and I was excited to see that it had a decent crowd for a Tuesday night. Inside Jamonera there is a great feel - they did a fantastic job with the lighting and the decor. I ordered the Sangria and Michael had a glass of Spanish red. We perused the menu and planned our next meal while chatting with the friendly bar staff. Will definitely be back to try the food!
-
Review from C K.
Philadelphia, PA
3/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Al traduced y aceitunas for appetizer - very good
Warm manjool dates - interesting but tasty flavor combinations
Bandarillas - good
Papafrita - the best potatoes I've ever had!!!
Pigs tail a la plancha - also very delicious
Ensalada de aguacate - good
Judas verdes - very tasty veggies perfectly done
Berberechos y sepia - tasty
Crispy calaspara rice - heavy but tasty
Mile y mato - meh
Pastel de miel - meh
Tempranilli, Valdehermoso red wine 2009, Rivera del duro - best red wine I've had i a logn time
Passion fruit cocktail - very tasty mixed drink
Rotalian hermoso - tasty
Overall, very very good. Also, really nice ambiance, and great sevice. I'll definitely be back.
