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    Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

    4.3 (5.2k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Takeout or Delivery

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    CAFE BA-BA-REEBA! ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise

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    Sophia Z.

    House marinated olives - 3/5 too salty. Sangria flight 3/5 Fruity flavors were not very strong. Catalan style crystal bread 4/5 Yum! Fried shishito peppers 3.5/5 Could use more flavor Gazpacho 5/5 Delicious. Moroccan chickpea stew 3/5 Sweet and flavor was strong. Needs to go with rice to balance it out. Service was okay. Servers just plopped the plates on the table and left without saying anything.

    Salad
    Erin C.

    Chill place on a Saturday. Great for friends gathering. Some of the servings are priced adequately. Summer overpriced empanada was OK as well as the potatoes bacon wrapped dates and kale, broccoli salad, I believe. I had a pair of fashion that was pretty good. I don't know if I'll be back though the bathrooms were nice but downstairs. Parking was scarce. Our server was very prompt and nice. Very knowledgeable. Sorry the pictures aren't that great because the lighting was not the best.

    Patatas Bravas and Spanish Meatballs
    Khanh D.

    We came here for happy hour. We got the bacon wrapped dates, ham croquettes, and patatas bravas, which I all liked equally. I thought we would get more than just 2 ham croquettes so I was disappointed in that portion size. We also got the spanish meatballs which didn't stand out to me, I would recommend skipping them. The place was really cute and service was great. I would love to come back for their paellas and other dishes that sounded enticing. Also would love to sit in their outdoor patio next time too.

    Ibérico Ham Croquetas
    Alexis C.

    Vibe: so fun! The restaurant is also HUGE! Service: really great, no complaints. Value: of course a bit pricy as a tapas place, but if you're looking for a nice or celebratory spot it feels affordable for that purpose! Iberia jamón croquettes: these were my favorite. The sauce paired perfectly with them. A must-order! Burrata: Good, but we were a bit sad about 3 pieces of bread for 4 people. Not pictured items: Stuffed mushrooms: these were also incredible. I wasn't sure what to expect for stuffed mushrooms at a Spanish restaurant but I'd definitely order these again! Paella Mariscos: delicious! Basically fried rice without eggs but with seafood. All of the seafood was perfectly cooked; nothing was chewy. Fall Fashioned: There was something about it I just didn't love, but maybe I just prefer a plain old fashioned Overall, I enjoyed and would recommend, but I'm not rushing to come back right away.

    Jason N.

    Never got around to writing a review for this place after 5+ years of going here but just gotta say this is my favorite restaurant of all time. I no longer live in Chicago but when I did, I'd frequent here at least once every other week. And when I'm in town, I always make it a mission to come here at least once. Dined here this past Monday and had the best service thanks to our waiter Santiago! My favorites to try are: Patatas Pravas Brussel Sprouts Salad Hanger Steak Chicken/Beef empanadas Goat Cheese and Bread The paella is amazing as well, however it's quite filling so I'd recommend getting that if you're not going to get too many tapas plates. Can't wait till I'm back next! Also FYI they sell merch too and it's pretty fire!

    Jesse P.

    I was really excited to try this restaurant, but unfortunately, the experience fell short of expectations. We visited during restaurant week, and while we anticipated it would be busy, the atmosphere made it difficult to enjoy our meal. We were seated near the kitchen, which made our table uncomfortably warm, and the noise level was quite high, making conversation challenging. The service was decent overall, but there were a few issues. We mentioned that we were there for restaurant week, yet our group of five was only given one menu, which was inconvenient to share. After placing our order, the food arrived inconsistently and out of sequence. Dishes were brought out at different times and without explanation, so we weren't sure which plates belonged to whom. It would have been much better if the courses had been served together and in order. The food itself was just okay. The standout dish was the potatoes, especially the sauce, which was delicious. However, the seafood paella was disappointing, it was overly mushy and lacked a substantial amount of seafood. Additionally, the dessert portions were quite small. Considering the $45 price point, plus an additional $13 for the paella, I didn't feel this experience offered good value for restaurant week. Unfortunately, I don't think I would return.

    Bacon-Wrapped Date
    Isabel T.

    Food was good! Stuffed mushrooms and tomato & goat cheese were very yummy! I feel like our paella could use a bit more flavor? But the chicken was tender which was yum. We were seated in a weird spot hidden away in a little nook separated from everyone else. Literally couldn't see any other tables or enjoy the ambiance which was disappointing as both the outdoor (ish) space and indoor space were very pretty.

    Chorizo wrapped date and Caña de Cabra Cheese Crostini
    Becca K.

    Came here for Chicago Restaurant week! The restaurant week dinner special included two appetizers, first course, second course, and dessert for $45. We upgraded the second course to add +$13 for the seafood paella. This is my third time going to Cafe Babareeba and it hits home for Spanish cuisine. My favorite food to order is of course the Spanish paella. I was pleasantly surprised that our restaurant week menu included sangria. If you come here with 4 people and share all the courses, it's definitely worth it you wanna try a lot from the menu. My new favorite dishes that I tried were the Brussels sprouts salad and patatas bravas. Such a good start for the beginning of restaurant week!

    Bacon-Wrapped Dates
    Amber C.

    SOO YUMMY. Most authentic Spanish food I've had outside of Spain. We came for lunch on a beautiful Friday and sat in their indoor patio. So cute loved all the greenery and art. We ordered peach sangria, a bunch of tapas to share, and seafood paella. Everything was delicious. Favs were the Brussels sprouts salad, hanger steak, and paella. Our server was really funny and nice too.

    Hillary P.

    A Chicago legend, anyone who has even the slightest taste for Spanish tapas must make this a stop when in the area. We were fortunate enough to come in just as they opened on a Saturday morning without a reservation and had no problem grabbing a seat, but they did fill up. Metered Street parking is available and can be tight, some lot parking can be found in the area if you're lucky. Recommend an Uber if necessary so you can enjoy some of their full bar or additional sherry experiences with your meal. The restaurant consists of the original section which really has a lot of character. The newer edition appears to be what was a former exterior patio that is now fully enclosed, and has some marvelous artwork. There is a very small exterior patio area for anyone that wants to enjoy the weather. Our server was pleasant and attentive while we tried a variety of tapas specialties. The Spanish ham and manchego was one of our favorites, but by far was the chorizo wrapped dates that was spectacular with a sherry. Not advertised, but available after a request, you can purchase a bottle of Sherry, which turns out to be quite less expensive than by the Glass pricing, and if you don't finish, you can take it with you. For anyone that's familiar with the Chicago food scene you might know of Emilio's tapas restaurants which also offers fabulous selections. Emilio originally trained at this restaurant before branching out on his own. Weekend brunch and happy hour specials during the week are available. Check their website for details. This restaurant is awesome.

    Elaine L.

    Planned to stop by for the amazing happy hour specials, however, there was no seating at the bar. The restaurant was also fully booked and the next table was 3hrs from the time we arrived. However, the host was wonderful and was able to accommodate my group at a table while the reservation arrived. We had just enough time for a drink and apps, it was perfect! I ordered the fall fashioned which was a nice take on a traditional old fashioned with some fall spices. We also ordered the potato salad, calamari, mushrooms, and escargot. I was honestly not a fan of the potato salad as the potatoes were grainy and felt undercooked. The escargot was okay (not bad but also not great). My favorite dish was the mushroom. I will be coming back to try different dishes. My group of friends weren't feeling very adventurous with the food options this time around.

    Beef Tenderloin Benedict
    Ashlynn K.

    Was looking for a last-minute bite and we stopped by this cute and cozy spot. We were seated fairly quickly, but we only had 2 people in our party. Despite it being rather early, this spot was PACKED so I had high hopes! This place did not disappoint!! Our favorite was the Chorizo wrapped dates with manchego cheese. Everything in that bite was so perfectly balanced. The sweetness of the date with the savoriness of the chorizo and cheese was just top tier. We ended up ordering a few more rounds of just this dish. If you get anything at all - get the dates!! All other foods were delicious as well but the dates were my all time favorite!

    Sangria Flight
    Emily T.

    Honestly, this will forever remain one of my favorite restaurants in the city. It is always consistently good, the service is always quick. It's genuinely always crowded and the sangria is the best in the city. Like this sangria could change a person life and in fact it has changed my life??? I've been here countless times and I always love it. This time I tried the veggie paella For the first time. Also had the old standbys of the tortilla and pastas braves. Favorite sangrias of the night were the seasonal apple and the peach as always. Obviously, we got a half picture of the peach sangria as well. Overall, it's always such a lovely experience and I will continue to go a few times a year because I love it. The atmosphere is festive, fun and always crowded. In my opinions, it is one of the best lettuce entertain you restaurants and there is a reason why it has been around for so long.

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    Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

    Is their a kids menu?

    No, there is zero kids menu. My picky eaters love the beef skewers. I highly recommend those.

    What time do you start dinner menu? I'd like to make reservation at 4:30pm, but I also would like to do dinner menu at same time. Thank you

    They are open at 4pm during the weekdays and 11am during the weekend so you are good to go. Make that reservation!

    Can you get full size paella during brunch hours on the weekend?

    Yes you can. Full menu is also available during brunch hours

    Are you open for Lunch?

    Open for lunch only on Friday (11:30am-11pm) , Saturday (10am-11pm) & Sunday (10am-9pm). To note brunch is only offered on Sat/Sun.

    When are you featuring lobster paella again? It's worth a trip to Chicago!!!

    We typically have our Lobster Paella around New Year's Eve as that is a Spanish tradition!

    Can I get a table without a reservation?

    Usually, no! Unless you grab a seat at the bar, which is full service.

    Are there heat lamps in the patio seating area?

    Hi Christine, Thank you for reaching out. Starting tomorrow, we will have a high-output electric radiant heater on our tented front patio. We still advise guests to dress… 

    Is it open for take out/delivery as of lately?

    If it's open to go but it's 4 pm 8pm but you can look at the restaurant's website for more information or call them at the restaurant.

    Can you order tapas from their regular menu during brunch hours on Saturday/Sunday?

    We did!

    I love this place, but recently developed a very severe dairy sensitivity. Anyone know if there's…

    Hi Danielle, We have plenty of options for guests who have dairy allergies/sensitivities, including vegetable tapas and a variety of meat/seafood tapas. Many of our dishes… 

    Can you pay in cash here?

    Hi Katherine, We accept cash and credit. Thank you for reaching out!

    Are there rules / limitations on using LEYE reward dollars here?

    None that I'm aware of. Have successfully earned or used LEYE points on all days of the week here.

    Do they offer halal options?

    Hi Kausar, Thank you for reaching out. We unfortunately don't offer halal options.

    Do you have a happy hour menu?

    Hi Amanda, Yes! The happy hour is available daily from 4pm to 6pm in the bar area. Click here to view the menu: http://cafebabareeba.com/menu/happy-hour-menu/

    Is this place vegetarian friendly?

    They have a ton of veg options. Especially if you eat eggs and dairy. You'll clean up great here! I recommend to all my veg friends coming to visit.

    We have a reservation for a group of 8 next Friday. Does the restaurant require all members of the party to be present before seating?

    Yup, they won't seat you until everyone is there!

    Are their stews/soups vegan?

    Hey! We offer two soups/stews on the menu, the Butternut Squash & Sweet Potato Soup and Moroccan Chickpea Stew. The Chickpea stew is vegan while the Butternut is not as its cream base.

    What time is the kitchen open until on Friday?

    Hi Nikhil, The kitchen closes at 12:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. Thank you!

    Do they have vegan options?

    I am not 100% sure. Spanish menus tend to be meat-centric. But I had a delicious potato salad with my wine. And I am guessing they could provide some vegan options---maybe not a wide range but some. Give 'em a call! It's Lincoln Park. Very hip… 

    Do they have valet parking?

    Hi Melissa, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! offers valet daily!

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    (Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

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    Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! - spanish - Updated August 2026

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