Dagabi Cucina

Updated after 10÷27÷15 dinner.
Came with a group for a birthday dinner. Had come here as it was picked by the birthday girl. Being a Tuesday night, and knowing it was All Night Happy Hour day, I was a bit worried about how crowded it would be; so we had a fairly early reservation at 5:15 in the main dining room. We were seated immediately. Placed our orders quickly, but was very suprised that almost all our tapas plates arrived all at once. Those that ordered off the dinner menu had to wait longer.
Tapas portions are fairly large (except for the Caprese Salad which gives you 1 serving), so don’t go overboard on ordering if you have only a couple of people eating.
Since the new chef has taken over, we were hoping for some new items on the menus. We didn’t find new items, but some of the normal ones have been changed, and not all for the better. The linguini was served in a bowl swimming in a very watery sauce. Not much flavor to it either, so disappointing. I also had the mushroom soup, and it was just as good as the first time I had it. Since 5 people wanted the Caprese Salad, we ordered it off the dinner menu. This was better than the last time I had it as the slices of both the Roma tomoates and the fresh Mozarella cheese were nice and think. My only suggestion would be that the one leaf of fresh basil should be incresed to two as the flavor was lost due to the thinckness of the other ingredients. Our bread was a bit on the burnt side, but since only two of ate any of it, it wasn’t such an issue. The Black Tiger Shrimp wrapped in Serrano Ham was smothered in some sort of chopped tomato something or other. The two people who had it said it was strange, and not as good. The Polenta was pretty good, but smaller portioned than before.
One man had the mushroom raviloi dinner and pronounced it excellent. Another man ordered the salmon dinner and it too was wonderful.
Desserts: the Pumpkin Brulèe wasn’t all that great, not much pumpkin flavor to it, in our opinion. The Tiramisu was as it always is. The Almond Torte was only ok; I thought it was a bit on the dry side, despite that it was swimming in a fresh rasberry sauce. The suace was too thin and there was too much of it as well.
Drinks were all good. I had the special Malbec by the glass and it was excellent.
I’m not sure what eles was ordered anymore, but I didn’t hear whether anything else was good or not, so this is it for my food update.
Our server was very good. She knew a couple of us, so she did her best to keep on top of our needs, even though the dining room became very busy just 15 minutes after we arrived. We all left around 7, and there were 9 people waiting for tables.
I hope the kitchen works out some of the kinks in the coming months or they might loose a few regulars, and others might not want to even try it.
On the new décor, I had said in my earlier review that the owners have redone the bar room. Well, now that I’ve been in the main dining room too, I can say this has also been redone. On the whole, it feels more open and modern, this neither is good or bad, just different. I think it could use a bit more to look at on the walls though.
I’m interested in what others are saying about the food, now that there’s been this change in the kitchen staff.

Best happy hour in town.
Best gluten free crust wood fired pizzas I’ve ever had. Located in north boulder.

I so want to love this place because I live near by and the patio is so beautiful in the summer time. My usual companion thinks its food quality, it comes right off the Sysco truck (no kidding we see it in the lot all the time) I just keep asking why can’t they get a real chef? The menu is very old school like eating in middle America, instead of the gourmet Mecca boulder has become. If you do eat here the best bet is usually the special. Maybe they actually shop fresh for it, and attention to detail of preparation is much better. Also kids like it, both for menu and the surrounding plaza where they can play while waiting. And that’s the final thing, you will wait forever, for service, drinks, food and the bill.

We have been traveling for two weeks and are tired of restaurant food in general, but our meal here was wonderful. We ate outside on the patio and shared a salad and the seafood stew. Both were absolutely perfect. Delicious and plenty of food for sharing. We brought or 5 year old daughter and she was welcomed even though it was 8pm on a Friday, not a time we’d normally dine out with a child if we were home.

Their food is always good and consistent. It’s their service and attitude I’ve run into issues with. The last 3 times I’ve stopped in around the 8 – 8:30pm mark its as if I’ve stopped in when they’re closed. The hostess will quickly say «well our kitchen closes at 9 (it’s 8:30) so you can get drinks at the bar, I guess» while texting on her phone or our server will bring us the bill before our food is out. I’m treated as if I’m an inconvenience. If you’re going to be open, be open and hospitable. If you’re going to be closed, be closed. Your staff is in too much of a hurry to get out.

We had never eaten at this restaurant before but I picked it for my birthday dinner (Friday night no less!) Very glad we made a reservation since it does not seem to have many tables until the season gets a bit warmer and they can expand to their patio area.
We arrived at 6pm so were able to order a few items off the Happy Hour Menu:
Bruchetta: Good, very garlicky (which I like)
Olives: Husband loved
Mini Caprese: Too mini and didn’t have any balsamic added (so a bit plain)
For the main meal we ordered:
Pizza Margherita: Kids split adult version they really liked it
Tortilla de Patatas: This didn’t have enough flavor
Paella de Mariscos: Husband ordered… it was just ok
Garbanzos a la Zamorana: This was a pork tendorloin stew with Garbanzo’s I ordered and was EXCELLENT. Main reason I give a solid 3 here.
Table bread: Was really yummy and seemed to be homemade. It came with balsamic dipping sauce.
Ambiance: Nice but loud
Service: Prompt, helpful
Food: Likely ³⁄₅ overall although my stew was at least a 4+
I’d like to go back for a Girls Night Out — seems a fun place for a Happy Hour.

We visited this little place tucked back on N Broadway for Restaurant Week. First off, what a great initiative that showcases fantastic restaurants across the front range, and Dagabi is not to be left out.
Our full order included an assorted cheese plate, Mediterranean olives, grilled swordfish skewer, fruit and arugula salad, red trout, lamb shank, and dessert — yea, we went all out!
Across the board, the food was tasty, timely, and somewhat unique. My favorite dish had to be the grilled swordfish skewer. The pieces were tender with a lovely grilled flavor that was fantastic. The skewers were served with a Spanish influenced ratatouille which paired absolutely perfectly. 5 stars!
Close behind as my 2^nd recommendation would be the lamb shank. Tender, juicy, and doused in a sauce that brought upon new flavors with every bite.
The 4 star rating is because of the dessert. Granted, I was extremely full, but the desserts were average in my opinion. Coming from a guy who is fairly spoiled with desserts, an «average» dessert IS NOT a bad one. I just mean that in comparison to the rest of the meal the dessert needed a little help.
Overall, the folks over at the restaurant are attentive, happy, and ready to make your experience a special one. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND venturing up north on Broadway for this fusion restaurant. YUMMMMM

Love the way DaGabi has evolved over the years. I have been here with friends, colleagues, family, and solo many times and through both ownerships.
All of the food is excellent… there is nothing I wouldn’t recommend.
Happy Hour is every day of the week from 5 – 6:30pm, and Tuesday the Happy Hour goes on until closing, which is usually around 10pm. Great food and drink choices on one of this town’s most comprehensive and generous HH menus.
What’s also excellent is the way that customers are treated here. Like last night — it was snowy… a bit blizzardy in fact. Although they had decided to close early due to the weather and road conditions, they allowed me to come in, and I agreed to be quick.
I went to the back and owner Noah was there. I told him what I wanted to order, he checked to make sure they had it (it was just two side items, their delicious mashed potatoes and also their green beans… nothing too gourmet really but both are so good on a snowy night). Then he brought the items to me. For the two fellows who were still sitting at the bar and for me Noah stated that our items were on him.
Later when I asked if I could leave a tip with my Discover Card, Noah said «I’m the owner, you don’t need to tip me.»
When I was leaving after thanking him (of course), I could hear him offering to give one of his employees a ride home. He takes good care of his customers and his employees. Very generous and kind.
I am grateful to have DaGabi in my neighborhood.

FABULOUS FOOD FIND!
Traveling as often as I do and being a full blown fine foodaholic I am not timid when it comes to weather, neighborhoods, or cuisine. It was snowing pretty hard in a Monday night and I couldn’t find this joint based on address. There’s an oasis of business in the middle of a residential neighborhood with Lucky’s market as the centerpiece. I saw a little american bistro and an Asian restaurant surely my GPS was wrong… Or is it??? Packed well out of site (on a dark and snowy evening) Is Dagabi Cucina a must visit never give up looking joint of joint in North Boulder.
It’s quaint inside and has a nice atmosphere of fine dining and rustic relaxation. I waited at the hostess desk and for a short time thought I was the only patron. Soon enough a lovely lady brought me to the forts dining area however I chose to be around more people and she led me to the back bar area. This was a cool place for a lone biz traveler yet it was just a little too dark to read the menu. No worries, she has a tiny reading light. That’s creative. Keep it dark guys I liked it but it made the food photos tough. I don’t like using my flash on my phone cam
The food was fabulous and surprisingly affordable. The service was top shelf and food delivery to the table was nearly perfectly timed.
People reading this please note; this place is a gem and you have to come and see for yourself.
LOVED IT!!!
FoodDude!

My husband and I came to eat dinner for Valentine’s Day hoping to have a nice, laid back dinner. The tapas menu looked perfect for what we wanted. When we got there, it turned out that they didn’t offer the tapas menu bc they had a special (fairly pricey) Valentines menu. There was no mention of this on their website. We ordered some small dishes, which ended up being pretty bad. The Serrano wrapped shrimp was so over cooked that it was tough, the polenta was dry and had no flavor, then the croquetas tasted like they had been soaked in grease. Besides while we were taking our first bite, the waiter never again asked how the food was, even when we left most of the food uneaten. This was a very disappointing experience, especially on our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple.

There were two standouts on my most recent dining experience… the Paella and the balsamic mushrooms. You must try both.
Overall, I really enjoyed this restaurant! It will no doubt become a regular on my list because it is so reasonably priced, charming atmosphere, delicious food, easy parking… I cannot wait to go back for tapas!

Easily the best restaurant in Boulder. Good selection of vegetarian options. Even a few vegan options. Great selection of gluten-​free options. Knowledgable and friendly staff. I highly recommend going for happy hour.
The button mushrooms are off the charts. Best mushrooms I’ve ever had in my life. Rarely do I order JUST mushrooms. The polenta is excellent. The ratatouille is to die for!
The salmon dinner is very good. I had the pizza, but it was pretty standard. I probably wouldn’t order it again, though. The soup was very good but was outshined by the rest of the selections.
My friend had a traditional Spanish dish that I forgot the name of. It’s saffron rice with seafood. She said it was some of the best she’s had in years. I tried a bit, and it was delicious! We were pleased to learn that the head chef is actually from Spain, so it is quite authentic. We were also briefly served by a gentleman from Spain, possibly the owner.
They also carry an excellent hard cider. Great bar selection. Both visits I didn’t drink, but I sat close enough to the bar to see what spirits they had, including Sambuca and St. Germain. They also have an excellent selection of wines.
The chocolate torte is amazing. At first, it was just okay, then every bite got better and better. Best of all, most of their desserts are gluten-​free and made with almond flour, except for the tiramisu. The torte comes served in their custard, swirled with a bit of chocolate. Perfect. Just perfect. While their tiramisu is tempting, save it for an Italian restaurant and go with their specialty dessert.

Delicious food and fantastic drinks in an unassuming strip mall. Homemade sangria was a wonderful treat. We have been back again and plan on many more dinners here!

It was a Saturday night September 20^th, fairly busy. The host had to ask us if we had been helped after about 20 minutes of sitting there, in that time we had seen three different servers on the patio, none had helped us. We ordered a Caesar and the mushrooms for an appetizer, I asked the waiter to box the mushrooms but he never came back with them or said one thing about it so we left paying for half an appetizer. He also wasn’t attentive to detail such as asking if we wanted refills. I give this place 3 stars for the yummy food and atmosphere. I wish we had a different server. I would return but would hope things would be different.

We had a great dinner here on a Friday night. This place is busy but the service is still on point. I kicked off my meal with a Stevie Ray Vaughn martini (bourbon and whiskey woohoo!). It was deliciously strong and worth the $ 9 price tag. My husband ordered the mussels with chorizo. He loved them — I had to fight him for a bite! The Catalana pizza was tasty as well. Both dishes were big enough to share. I’ll definitely try to go back for the happy hour tapas next time! Oh a little tip: sit on the patio.

Great little place away from the hoopla of downtown Boulder.
Just visited for happy hour, the spanish tortilla is worth the visit alone.
I have been for dinner in the past too,
tasty!
Thank you

I like the outside dining option, but unfortunately the view is blocked by the grocery store the west. We ordered the pork wrapped shrimp, paella, the carmel pumpkin desert and crème brûlée.
Everything we had was very good and well prepared. The bread and sauce that comes with the meal was a pleasant surprise because it was really good. The pumpkin desert was okay, I wouldn’t get it again, but the crème brûlée was outstanding. Also, the wait staff we had was wonderful. I would definitely come here again.

Great dinner at Dagabi last night! Made reservations via open table, but when we were arrived we were told we had to wait… so we waited and waited… fortunately we weren’t in a hurry and the hostess staff were really great.
They brought us drinks… comp’d…and when we finally sat down service was spectacular. We ordered multiple apps including shrimp and an app size pasta. The bread and balsamic dipping sauce was also spectacular.
The Spanish style calamare was perfect and went quickly.
For dinner, I had the seafood stew which had plenty of salmon, octopus and shrimp. The linguine and clams was another table favorite. portion sizes were quite large and we over ordered so good to know for next time.

We were super excited to find this quote-​unquote «hidden gem» right around the corner from our house. We spent a month in Barcelona two summers ago, and always love making tapas at home as a fun reminder. My husband, 10 year old daughter and I arrived on a Sunday evening right before Happy Hour was to end and it was pretty quiet. There were plenty of tables available, but we were told we had only two options– a table right in the middle by the front door, or at the bar. We sat at the table and were served water in glasses fairly quickly. After that, the service went downhill pretty quickly.
Don’t get me wrong, the food was very good– obviously more Americanized than what we found in Barcelona, but that’s ok (because we weren’t crazy about the shrimp with their veins anyway!) We had the tortilla and a carafe of the Sangria. Both were yummy– might have to make my Sangria with a cinnamon stick after tasting theirs. My husband chose the paella and really enjoyed it. I had the dinner special, gnocchi with kale– and it was just ok. Our daughter was happy to find a kid’s menu as both our kids did struggle in Spain to find something they enjoyed, so she really loved the large meatball that came with the spaghetti.
We had to ask for the «famous» bread before it was brought to us, and we had to ask for a refill on our waters. Our appetizer plates sat on the table with us so long our server couldn’t find a place to put our main course. There appeared to be two servers for the front room alone, plus a bus-​person and the hostess who was helping out cleaning tables. Not sure why they were so inattentive– we overheard the table next to us asking where their appetizer was as their server delivered their main courses.
We will definitely be back, but won’t expect to be blown-​away. The prices for the item we ordered really added up, so Happy Hour Tuesday will probably our best bet.

Wow. It was the boyfriend’s birthday yesterday and we headed to Boulder for an afternoon. We wanted to try somewhere new, so after I read that DaGabi had tapas night on Tuesdays, we had to try it out.
Those tapas are amazing all around, and have about 35 different plates! And at $ 3 – 7 a plate, it was affordable to be able to try lots of things.
Bruschetta– sooo good and garlicky
Croquettas de pollo– wish there were more– they only came with two and I could have scarfed down 10 of them. The basil aioli they had on them was amazing
Cheese plate– good, but I’ve had more interesting cheeses. The brie went well with the strawberries. They also could have told you the different types of cheese, I would like to have known.
Medijol Dates filled with goat cheese– my favorite. Only came with 3, and again I could have eaten 20 they were so good
Calamari– the tomato sauce it came with was like nothing I’ve had before. So good and not your generic marinara sauce
$ 4 glasses of house wine, which was also really good for a table wine.
Service was so-​so. They must have a guy there solely for filling up water, because he came around every 5 minutes to see if we needed a refill. However, the waitress was pretty busy and didn’t check up on wine refills, etc, however I know it was slammed. Since we had a 10 – 20 minute wait for a patio table, we waited at the bar. It took a good 10 minutes before getting served (there was only one bartender and she was busy filling orders for tables.) I wouldn’t fault them completely, as I know the place was really busy for the good tapas deals, but it could have been a bit faster. Everyone was super friendly, however.
Will be back! Probably on a Tuesday to try all different tapas!