What an exceptional and unexpectedly fabulous meal! Every dish was inventive, beautifully presented, and uniformly delicious. Highlights at our table included the mushroom yakitori, an indulgently cheesy shrimp Asiago, an imaginative re-interpretation of steak frites, and a savory chicken crêpe. Even though we were full, we couldn't resist the passion fruit cloud--and it was an absolute home run. Service, led by Destiny, was impeccable. I also appreciate that a 20% gratuity is automatically included on the bill; we were more than happy to add a bit extra in cash on top. read more

I went here for a business dinner. The first thing I noticed upon arrival was the live music. Really great musicians, but also made it not ideal for conversation I tried the following: - Goat Cheese Spring Rolls: Good. They actually sounded terrible, but I didn't order them. I had one bite and admittedly liked them more than I had thought I would. - Duck Nachos: Good. These are served as very large chips with toppings - so more like eating a street taco. They were good. - Ravioli Daily Feature: Good - Mushroom Yakitori: Ok. Use of the word yakitori seemed unnecessary. Not bad, but least important dish of the night. - Chicken Crepe: Good - NY Strip: Very good. Nice sauce. Service was good and attentive. As a business dinner, I wasn't quite as discerning about the food as I normally am, but I generally had a good impression of everything. If I was back in town, I would definitely consider coming back. read more

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Amazing food and good service! Gluten free items are marked on the menu and the kitchen will make accommodations which is really nice! Cute restaurant! read more

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They've changed back to tapas! I was excited and a little sad until I found out that the hot chicken can still be found at Social right next door. Overall it was a win, the service was excellent. Our server was amicable and very helpful, had great recommendations and very knowledgeable about the new menu. I miss the fresh bread and the salty herb butter. It's pretty much the only place I'll eat bread. The food was all good but some dishes seemed unfinished/unrefined. It was probably growing pains with reverting back to the old tapas style but many dishes could have used a few tweaks. The carrots while tasty were a little overwhelmed by the texture of the thick hummus. The goat cheese spring rolls were a little too cheesy with not enough chili crisp, which made them a tad soggy. The squash was a little greasy and needed acid. The pasta needed salt. All of them were quite good, don't get me wrong, but just needed a LITTLE more oversight. The duck nachos were, as always, very good and the scallop dish was perfection. I know that they'll get there and be back to as good of a standard as I expect with time. Will be back to check. read more

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Really tasty small plates and unique cocktails. We came up from Chicago a few weeks ago to check out the city - they probably don't like being compared to Chicago but the rating isn't "relative to Rockford" but everywhere we've gone. The only negative I recall is one of the many dishes we tried was a little on the salty side, but that was more than outweighed by the rest of the food, the great service we received, and the nice ambiance. read more

From the moment we walked in the service was exceptional, from the hostess to our server. The atmosphere was well done, not overly appointed but a warm cozy feel. I being from out of town didn't realize this was a small plate restaurant, I'm not a small plate guy so I was a little worried. Luckily it was burger night and Andres knocked it out of the park! The only thing I wish is there were more fresh hand cut fries on my plate, not that I need them, I wanted them because they were so good. I can't forget the "Hickory Stick" Old Fashion which was done to perfection. If you like Old Fashions you've got to try the Hickory Stick... read more

Have had plenty of good food, but this place stands out. Crazy good food, friendly waiters and waitresses, and a great atmosphere. Sadly, 5 is the highest my rating can go. Would absolutely recommend coming here! read more

4 stars based on the food 5 stars when paired with the ambiance Down to 4 stars because our dinner took 2.5 hours Down to 3 stars because, when we asked you to speed things up, our waiter disappeared for the next hour Down to 2 stars because, while we appreciated that you replaced plates and silverware between courses, our last dinner course was served on the table when none of our party had any plates or silverware (and after that, we were asked to eat dessert with our dirty dinnerware) Down to 1 star because, read the room. We made a 5pm reservation on a Wednesday with two toddlers. In no universe are we the type that wants a 2.5 hour dinner. Listen, I love the new menu and as someone that's been to hundreds of restaurants with similar "small plates" menus across the county, I am so grateful that this place thrives in Rockford. But it went from our top destination to somewhere we won't be back to for years. read more

YIN | YANG We were blown away by a perfectly balanced meal at this fine dining restaurant in Rockford. Prior to staying in the area, I researched the best places for a romantic dinner. After one look at the menu, I knew I'd found the perfect spot in Abreo, a small plates restaurant in the downtown district. There were a few other customers when my wife and I arrived on a Friday at 7pm. Though there's a lot next door, it's tiny, so street parking is your best bet. Once seated, I started with a Wiki-Wiki ($18) that was strong and boozy, with rum, mezcal, chartreuse, lime, orgeat and bitters. Nichole S didn't really care for the L.V. ($13), a cocktail made with vodka, passionfruit, aperol, lemon and basil, so I drank hers while she switched to the Wiki-Wiki. The cheese curds ($9) were amazing enough to eat on their own, but I would've liked to see a homemade aioli or buttermilk ranch to dip them in. The apple salad ($10) was a nice palate-cleanser with julienned apples, arugula, goat cheese, pine nuts, parmesan, and fried brussel sprouts. We almost passed on the Hamachi ponzu ($23) with daikon radish, grapefruit, basil, and jalapeno. I'm glad we didn't, because it balanced out the heaviness of the short rib tortelloni ($32). The tortelloni were a weekly special, so I'm light on details for that one. My favorite dish of the evening was the 'fancy AF potato' ($18), a wonderful reinterpretation of a classic. A crispy layered potato in shallot cream was topped with crème fraiche, rainbow trout roe and chives. The plating was magnificent, the taste divine--the "Moira Rose edition" of a baked potato. Bread = 5+ Circuses = 5 Abreo's desserts were otherworldly. The Mango Cloud ($11) is their signature item: a poached meringue on top a bed of mango-lime custard, with aerated coconut milk, coconut candy, lemongrass and mint. Visually stunning, light as a feather and absolutely delicious, this was one of the most impressive desserts we've had in years. If the mango cloud were a motorbike, then the molten chocolate lava cake ($12) was an 18-wheel semi. It was decadent, surrounded by a moat of salted caramel and a toasted marshmallow flourish. Awesome stuff, even if my wife found it a bit too rich. More for me, then! Our server Josh was great and the ambiance set the mood for a very intimate dinner. They automatically add 20% service charge, which was fine given the great service we had. Between the 5 savory dishes + 2 desserts + 3 drinks we shared, the tab came to roughly $200; not too bad. We've spent way more on way less. * TL;DR * Abreo's chef de cuisine put together a menu brimming with opposite-yet-interconnected textures, flavors, and temperatures. For every heavy item (fancy potato, short rib tortelloni), there was lighter fare (the delicate Hamachi crudo). The refreshing apple salad provided a counterpoint to the gooey cheese curds, just as the dream-like cloud of poached meringue helped offset the boldness of the molten chocolate cake. Paul Sletten and his team opened Abreo in 2005 and did a commendable job staying in business through the pandemic. If it weren't for them, Rockford would have effectively zero options for a "nice" dinner that isn't an Italian restaurant. Their overall 4.5* rating on Tripadvisor and Yelp is well-earned. I can't remember what I ate for lunch today, but years from now, I'll randomly think about the mango cloud and how f@&#^$ cool it was. When a dish lives rent-free in your head like that, you know you've found a winner. Abreo is truly exceptional. Onto my "Best of Illinois" list you go! read more

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Excellent service. Cuisine is a bit questionable. There was a shrimp cheese dip that was weird with minimal shrimp. Also the game tortellini is legit 2 of them and they are medium size. We also had the goat cheese egg rolls which are too rich. It's basically a deep fried cheese stick using egg roll wrapping and a large chunk of cheese, dipped in sauce. They do have an excellent bourbon list, probably the best in Rockford. I went to their sister restaurant and enjoyed it more. Also, our bill was about $100/person and not sure I saw the value. read more

An incredible experience with a beautiful venue! The staff (Vera) was so kind and helpful. The meal was the best we have had in Rockford and honestly Chicago. We cannot recommend Abreo highly enough!! A must visit spot in Rockford! If you want farm to table and the freshest most delicious meal you will experience in the area Abreo is your spot! read more

The food at Abreo is always delicious. We went for the Rockford restaurant week menu. We did the throwback 3 courses for $50 a person. The menu was perfect for a nice date night for my wife and I. The server was great. She was welcoming and very nice. She made sure we had everything we needed from new silverware to making sure our drinks were filled. She made our dining experience very memorable. The ambiance is usually more upscale and romantic but some people do come in dressed somewhat casual. Overall, Abreo is always a favorite on my list for Rockford cuisine. Every time I come here I have a great experience. They are an iconic place in the Rockford food scene. This place has great food, service, and an amazing atmosphere which is always bringing me back for more. read more

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Always a wonderful experience, food is good, cocktails are good, I love their old fashions

What an exceptional experience! The vibe was warm and welcoming on a freezing winter night and the host and server were very friendly and welcoming. The menu was not the typical tapas fare and our server Dania was very knowledgeable about the menu and she and the chef were graciously able to accommodate a couple of special requests we made. The food was delicious and my girlfriend and I were full after sharing four small plates and the delectable creme brûlée. She is a foodie and has been to numerous tapas restaurants around the world and declared Abreo her new favorite! We will be back soon. Highly recommended. read more

What a lovely dining experience! Looking for an exceptional dining experience - and we found it!! What gorgeous food, incredible service and beautiful cocktails. The incredible sauces on each plate were out of this world! read more

Abreo Restaurant - What a gorgeous entree! Black cod in a fantastic ginger sauce! Wowsa! Amazing! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

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The butternut squash tortellini was so good. I was between that, the lobster ravioli (special) and a truffle pasta. I have never liked butternut squash, but the rest of the dish sounded so good I couldn't pass it up and went with it. Absolutely no regrets, truly one of the better meals I've ever had. I should have waited 24 hours to write this review because I am still freaking out about how much I enjoyed it. My husband got the steak Romesco and said it was some of his favorite steak he's ever had. And he's a steak snob. Cheese curds solid as always. Shishito peppers great. Service was nice and timely. Restaurant itself is super cute Oh and the bread and butter rivals Francesco's bread starter for best in Rockford read more

Abreo Restaurant - Butternut squash tortellini - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

I've died and gone to the highest fat butter heaven. Seriously though, the bread service rocks here! Atmosphere- this spot has a very eclectic vibe.... Think Downtown warehouse with devil themed bathrooms... and I dig it. Make sure to sit outside if the weather is good. It's absolutely gorgeous Service- top notch folks here! Great service Food- you can't go wrong. We had the goat cheese egg rolls which were soooo good as well as the fried mushrooms. All the pasta is amazing! Next time you hear that little devil on your shoulder to go out to dinner.... Take his advice read more

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We really enjoyed our food and drinks here! Our server was very helpful when ordering. We enjoyed sotting out on their patio! read more

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Just finished a great dinner sitting at the bar. James the bartender was terrific. Great suggestions on food and he know how to mix the adult beverages. Enjoyed he empanada and the soft shell crab with a delicious cucumber salad. Will be back on o sit outside on the back patio. read more

The service is great but you can't eat the food here anymore. The Salmon ($43) was dry as a bone - and the other dishes on the table didn't appear to be freshly prepared. Strawberry shortcake was also not edible - dry and tasted like cardboard. Maybe just a bad Monday? We're not going back. read more

Abreo is officially my new favorite place for drinks and small bites. Everything was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend sitting at the bar and enjoying a few appetizers, deviled eggs & spring rolls are delicious. The bartender Jake was awesome, he was serving a full bar, restaurant and large party downstairs all at once and didn't break a sweat. I'll be back soon. read more

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Delicious dinner at Abreo! Each dish was created with lots of attention to detail and care, and it showed. Great service and the atmosphere was cool and comparable to any Downtown Chicago restaurant. We made sure to save room for the molten chocolate cake and I am sooo glad we did- fabulous! Not too rich and so chocolatey and delicious. Highly recommend! read more

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Every dish was amazing! We had 3 small plates: tomato and beet salad was the best, empanadas were delicious and goat cheese spring rolls were also delicious. Then we had the Milanese pork chop! Oh my goodness! So well done and the flavors are deep and interesting. Dessert was cherry sorbet with peach garnish. Our waitress was so nice and brought everything we needed right away despite also waiting on large groups. We highly recommend Abreo for all occasions! read more

This was the worst restaurant experience I've ever had. I ordered duck nachos and the chicken. The nachos arrived around 5:45 pm, but then things went downhill. By 7 pm, I still hadn't received my chicken. To make matters worse, a server accidentally dropped a full plate that splattered all over my white shirt. At 7:30, I finally got the attention of my server, who claimed she didn't realize I ordered the chicken. I asked for the check, and she still charged me for the nachos. I understand accidents happen, but here's where they dropped the ball: My shirt was ruined, and they didn't offer to cover dry cleaning, a replacement, or even comp the $9 nachos. The chicken never arrived, yet no offer was made to expense the meal, pack it to go, or provide any compensation. Great food is important, but if the service doesn't match, it's not worth it. To top it off, no one was at the front to greet or seat me when I arrived. Extremely disappointing. read more

Abreo Restaurant - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

The food, service, and ambiance were great! The drinks were really good as well. Would love to return sometime!

Excellent food, drinks and service. Ate at the bar and had the hamachi and yellowfin crudo plus the soft cell crab. Both were excellent with unique and exciting flavors. Old fashioned and black manhattan drinks were great with exceptional service from the bartender. read more

Food was flavorful & beautifully presented, service excellent & the environment is welcoming. Highly recommend!

Abreo is a real restaurant and did not disappoint! From our Hickory Stick and Nola cocktails, the just perfect fennel pollen salt crystal butter and great bread, we knew were in good hands. We had the seasonal ramp fritters, an apple salad, the egg rolls, a stunning halibut preparation with a ramp sauce, and the dry aged steak with bordelaise, and sauteed morels on the side. We moved to the garden for a crème brulee and a smoked port to finish. Only sad thing was they did not acknowledge our 25th anniversary though we indicated it on the reservation; almost knocked off a star for that. read more

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I have wanted to eat at Abreo for a while so when I was taken there as a surprise for my birthday I was so excited! We went early to have a cocktail at the bar - amazing drinks and friendly bartender. We moved to our table and had a fabulous waitress - very helpful with the menu and recommendations. The food was nothing less than exquisite - we were lucky to meet the chef on our way out which was super cool. I love the intimate setting (small and not noisy) - I love that the menu changes - and I love that it's local. This is by far my new favorite restaurant and will definitely be back! read more

Abreo Restaurant - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

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AMAZING GROUP DINING! There is a private room downstairs perfect for a large group dining. Walls are rough stone (think castle) with candles throughout set on rock edges. It's really a magical atmosphere!!! FLANK STEAK - I enjoyed this! The steak was tender and served on top a bed of creamed corned. The creamed corn really made the dish and was a fantastic pairing with the steak!!! read more

Hot chicken was superb as was the fresh bread that accompanied the meal. I don't know what they added to the butter (salt, rosemary) but it was to die for! read more

Abreo Restaurant - Hot chicken, hoe cake and collard greens - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

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Went here for a birthday dinner and everything we had was so delicious! The steak and elotes dish really stood out to my date and I. It was the perfect balance of umami flavors. We still think about this dish every so often. Cocktails were also delicious! read more

Abreo Restaurant - Steak and Elotes - Tapas Bars Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

Outstanding! What an absolutely incredible find in Rockford. Creative, delicious food, and great ambiance. Service was wonderful. A few more wine by the glass options would be welcome, but that won't stop me from going back. read more

I've been away from Rockford for a number of years. Previously they were a favorite and now that I'm back in Rockford I will be going there again. read more

Always guaranteed delicious food, perfect drink and outstanding service!! The warm chocolate cake is outstanding!

Finest Restaurant in Rockford! New York Steak, ginger-garlic noodles, cheese curds & shrimp Asiago! read more

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The smokey old fashioned is amazing. The bar team knowledgable. The food flavorful. You can tell that they put thought and heart in to each recipe. The ambience made me homesick for Chicago (in a pleasant kind of way) and I will haunt this joint forever probably. If they posted a little jazz band in the corner one night a week I'd move in. Highly recommend. read more

Amazing, unique food! Extremely accommodating and knowledgeable about food allergies too. Such a cool experience and the atmosphere was great for a night out! read more

Everything here is great. I highly recommend doing one of their prix fixe dinners. The Elizabeth Spencer dinner last night was incredible. What an event. read more

Abreo is a true gem in Rockford. Wonderful atmosphere, excellent service, and fantastic food. The chef's creations are very surprising with unusual pairings of ingredients that absolutely delight the taste buds. And now that I corrected Abreo's location on Google Maps, it should make it easier for people to find it. Trust me, it is well worth it!! read more