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An upscale Spanish restaurant is coming to the former Bird Dog space.
Macarena, a traditional Spanish restaurant serving tapas and paella, is scheduled to open in downtown Palo Alto in February. Created by husband-and-wife David Linares and Elizabeth Reviriego and chef partners Toni Santanach and Sergio Box, Macarena will focus “on the essence of Spain without any reinterpretation – just traditional Spanish comfort food at its finest,” according to a press release.
“The name Macarena is not only the song that everybody knows,” Reviriego said. “We wanted to look for a name that would transmit and convey the message of heritage, of culture, of something old and traditional.”
The four owners of Macarena all hail from Spain – Linares and Reviriego from Barcelona, Santanach from Vic (a city in Catalonia) and Box from Alicante. While Linares previously owned a Mexican restaurant in Madrid, Santanach a tapas restaurant in Barcelona (Els Pinxus) and Box a paella restaurant in Javea (La Perla de Javea), this is the Macarena Group’s first restaurant together.
“We are focusing on a timeless restaurant,” Linares said. “What that means are dishes that have always been on the plate for a Spanish family. We want to cook those recipes that have been there forever.”
Santanach, who was part of the team that earned Hofmann in Barcelona a Michelin star, will be spearheading the tapas and dessert menus. Expect small, sharable plates like oxtail and croquettes, as well as desserts like burnt Basque cheesecake – described as “the best cheesecake to ever exist on the planet Earth” by Reviriego.
Santanach’s skills are complemented by Box’s, whose specialty is paella – described as “the best paella you ever tried,” by Linares. The drinks menu will feature Spanish-influenced craft cocktails, as well as Spanish and Californian wines. Expect to spend $40-$80 per person, depending on how many dishes and the type of wine selected.
“We just want you to experience what we love about our country, which is gathering and eating and sharing and … being able to celebrate life and positive things,” Reviriego said.
The interior design mimics that of European bistros, Reviriego said, emphasizing a classic and vintage feel and a quality of warmth. Macarena will feature a bar area, main dining room and private dining room.
Linares and Reviriego, who both previously worked at Teleferic Barcelona, said opening Macarena in the former Bird Dog space was a no-brainer because of the downtown’s vibrancy and strong Spanish community. Santanach and Box, who moved from Spain for the project, are still getting adjusted to living in the Bay Area, saying it’s more peaceful and quiet than the narrow and bustling streets of Spain.
Macarena, 420 Ramona St, Palo Alto; 415-427-7429, Instagram: @macarena.group. Beginning February, open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
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