it is worth the drive for the garlic potato salad alone. On our last visit we had sandwiches - One ham, one beef - and they were delicious. We tried not to fill up on the bread but with little success. We shared the olives and loved the complimentary bruchetta. I wish the Chicago location had not moved to such an inconvienient location because we would go there much more often. The patio is lovely. I am really going to make an effort to get to Emillio's more often because the food is wonderful. read more

This place is incredible! Every single time I eat here I am transported. As a celiac disease sufferer, Emilio's Tapas is one of the very few restaurants I trust. Chef Emilio and his kitchen staff are well-versed on the ins and outs of proper preparation. Not to mention the fact that chef Emilio has always used premium ingredients for all his INCREDIBLE recipes! Recommended dishes include the bacon wrapped dates with heavenly red pepper sauce, patata con aioli (how do they do it?!) the charcuterie board (that Serrano ham! The olives! The Manchego cheese!) and oh yes, the beef croquettes. Not to mention whatever specials the chef recommends AND the sangria. OH, also, they have the best tawny port I've had in my life there. I can't recommend Emilio's Tapas enough! read more

Fantastic variety of tapas for everyone. Baked oysters and bacon dates were the two winners at our table. Our group of four ordered about 10 dishes total and was more than enough. Definitely something for everyone! Skip the sangria, taste like it came out of a Hawaiian Punch jug. Order cocktails or your preferred wine instead; you'll be much happier! Highly Recommend for a date night or friends/family gathering with a fun group! read more

Great paella and tapas west of Chicago Excellent lunch and dinner option if you're west of Chicago, just inside I-294 in Hillside. The paella is a highlight but takes time to prepare, and the portion is generous so go with friends so you can share some tapas. Other highlights from past visits include the croquetas and tostadas de mariscos (bread, avocado, seafood) Lots of seating, parking lot, effective and friendly service. read more

Perfect perfect perfect! Everything from the service to the ambiance and of course the food was flawless. What an amazing meal! And really reasonably priced as well. I'm not sure exactly what we ate but there was definitely something like a caprese salad that was probably the best I've ever had. But everything was so, so delicious. And like I said the service was good, but like better than good? The server was there the second it occurred to us to need something and the bus boys took plates away when they needed to be taken and neither were ever obtrusive. We'll definitely, definitely be going back. read more

A bit of a hidden treasure if you are not actually searching for the place. A warm welcome, lovely decor, very friendly staff and tapas that make your mouth water before you begin eating. Garlic potato salad a must try! They have a bit of that garlic burn(garlic lovers know what I mean) but oh so worth the burn. Don't forget to leave room for dessert... Chocolate sauce that is divine on dishes that will make you ask for more. read more

Emilio's Hillside (Illinois) location celebrates their 25th anniversary this week, and, in the restaurant business, that is a most significant and well-deserved of milestones. I don't get to dine there as often as I would like, since I now spend half of each year in Florida, but going back is always a special pleasure. There are many reasons for this, but the foremost is Emilio, himself. On my most recent visit, I was joined by three friends who are all wine aficionados. Our last gathering there was probably more than a year ago, but Emilio greeted us in a way that indicated he remembered us well. If fact, after just a brief conversation, he returned to our table with an open bottle of wine, and poured each of us a generous glass to enjoy. (We had already finished a bottle, ordered from their extremely will priced wine list). His cordiality and recollection of previous conversations is phenomenal! The wine list is not huge, but it is unique, comprehensive, and extremely well priced. By working closely with local distributors, the restaurant is able to develop a variety of promotional programs, that result in significant discounts which are passed on directly to the patrons. Consequently, ordering wine by the bottle yields noticeable savings over wines by the glass. They also have one of the broadest selections of wines appropriate with or for dessert, including a variety of ports, sherries and Spanish brandies by the glass. Their superb flan, paired with a 20 year old Tawny Port or glass of Pedro Ximenez sherry, is memorable. Food quality and presentation are essentially flawless. We shared two tapas while waiting for the main course; an extraordinary Spanish Serrano ham and perfectly cooked squid with oil and lemon. While there were four of us, we ordered paella for three - it takes 30 minutes to prepare. This course is brought to the table in the pan in which it was cooked, and is beautiful to behold, with the saffron aromas filling the air. The server then fills each plate, insuring that everyone gets some of the mussels, clams, shrimp, pork and chicken (seafoods are cooked in their shells). Even with generously filled plates, there was enough to feed another two people! When you go there, I suggest first taking a seat at their small bar, and order a Spanish beer or a glass of their homemade Sangria - served with a complimentary ensalada rusa tapas (Spanish style potato and tuna salad, with small bread rounds). Then, proceed to enjoy the ambiance, food and outstanding service. read more

Another fine meal last night at our favorite suburban tapas restaurant. Been here many times over the 25 years they've been open. We and have usually just gotten a tapas assortment, the aioli potato salad, beef brochette and escargot Emilio being Repeat favorites. Tried the paella Valencia last night. It was quite good featuring chicken, shrimp and some very large mussels. We sat in their outdoor patio and there was live music, something we didn't recall evr seeing before. Two musicians who go by the name Montage played a great assortment of Spanish flamenco and other styles. We'll try to get back soon on a Friday just to hear those guys. read more

Emilio's Tapas - Lido Beach Sunset - Spanish Near Me - Hillside, Illinois

Always an excellent experience - nice variety of standards plus an everchanging set of specials

Dude....You're the best. Happy Anniversary! ****xoxoxo**** Let the sangria flow~~ read more

Excelllent good and service! Food was perfect and the ambiance felt like you truly were in Spain. Stop in and ask about the live flamenco performances! read more

Our go to tapas spot. Inviting, warm spot with friendly service. Hard to not over order here. We always have to have the garlic potato salad...it also saves nicely, if you can't finish it. Paella is wonderful and abundant. A single order can easily feed one or two people, if you are ordering other tapas. Black bean soup is standout as well. Really wonderful wine list at gentle prices. We've found many gems below $40/bottle. read more

My friend and I had an 8pm reservation and I arrived promptly at 8. I got there before my friend, who's always fashionably late, and was seated. It wasn't long before I was given some water, bread, and butter. My server, Victor, politely asked if I was waiting for someone, and I told him, "yep, but she's running late as always (I love her anyway)! Anywho, went on to order a beer and it was as good as I expected. Now my friend finally gets there and we get down to business! Now we ordered quite a few things, and I can't remember what the items were, but what I do remember is how damn delicious it was!!!! Everything I ate was heaven in my mouth! We also ordered the peach Sangria and is was some of the best sangria I've tasted in a very long time! Service was great, food was amazing, oh! And they had live music there!!! What more can you ask for?! Great place!!! Will definitely visit again!! read more

Emilio's Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Hillside, Illinois

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Let me preface this update by saying that I don't personally know these people, but I've been eating at this restaurant for years and it has always been at the top of my list. This morning, as I write this review, Ann Marie and Emilio are on their way to the restaurant to meet my husband and me, so that we can get my husband's phone (that he left on the table lastnight, when we were there having paella). My husband has to catch a flight today and needs that phone. I called the restaurant and left a message, asking them to please call me (even though they open at 4:30 today). Ann Marie called me back right away and said that if the phone is there, we can get it at 10am. These people are THE BEST. Hands-down, our favorite restaurant in the area, for its delicious food and great service!! read more

I loved Emilio's Tapas. Service was great and food was amazing. Every single plate we ordered was really good. I dont even know what to write. Just go here and check it out. It isnt super expensiveness and the portions are normal Tapas sizes. Patio area is super cool and made eating there even better. Only funny thing is the bathrooms are marked in Spanish. But they are big Spanish words I didnt know. I have no clue what bathroom is guys or girls. read more

The food was great. The manager was also amazing . We had sangria and a couple of the second dishes on the patio read more

Emilio's Tapas - Spanish Near Me - Hillside, Illinois

Emilio's tapas is great for large groups with a beautiful casual ambiance. I come here with my family all the time. I don't have a favorite dish because everything is outstanding. I live nearby so that's a huge plus!! I definitely recommend this restaurant to all my friends in the area. Last note- check out the out door patio. read more

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Between a car repair shop and Wendy's is the last place I expected to find tasty, authentic Spanish food. But that's exactly where I found it. Emilio's Tapas exceeded all of my expectations. One thing that stood out to me was the service. In a small restaurant on a Wednesday night, I was very surprised at how quickly our waitress served us, and how I never had to ask for a refill. Of course, the food was nothing but fantastic. While the bread was a little underwhelming, perhaps a little too hard, the actual dishes were excellent. The waitress was quick to recommend the garlic potato salad (their specialty), which turned out to be a big hit. But my favorite was definitely the "queso de cabra al horno," which was garlic bread topped with fresh, creamy tomato sauce and melted goat cheese. I had one of the specials, "Bacalao de sancho panza," a baked cod served with all kinds of vegetables and loaded with a variety of flavors. The cod was pretty dry, but the different sauces and such made it worthwhile. Finally, for desert, I ordered the Plantain with rich caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream, topped with pistachios. The flavors complemented each other beautifully, and the caramel was so good I almost literally licked the plate clean. I think Emilio's succeeds at creating a personal, friendly atmosphere. The room was filled with all the things you would expect in a Mexican restaurant, minus the annoying beer advertisements. Murals, paintings, even a mosaic lined the walls of the restaurant. I definitely felt the atmosphere struck the right note. The music playing was also pretty decent. In such a small place, it got noisy, but that's to be expected. Emilio's Tapas does tapas right. It doesn't take a star food critic to find the greatness in this little, family-owned restaurant. This is the first tapas restaurant I have been to, but if every Spanish restaurant is this good, I might consider relocating to Spain. So what if the prices aren't perfect, if the portion sizes are little lopsided? Emilio's overcomes that with excellent cooking and great personality. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

The restaurant was very good. The food was served fresh as it was made and every plate was delightful. There are many choices to pick from and such a variety that it would be easy for people with dietary restrictions to eat from. The price was great and well worth it. It was Friday night and there was a band playing, it wasn't too loud for the restaurant and the noise wasn't overpowering. The ambience was great, although there was a band, there weren't people dancing or going nuts. It was very chill. The service wasn't too bad. It was a tad slow, but it was busy. She was kind and very helpful to answer any question we had. I went with some friends and I will go back and bring my significant other there. read more

I just love tapas and sangria! I was a bit skeptical about going to Emilio's in Hillside because I did not have a good experience with their restaurant on Ohio street. Service was good. The menu a good variety. We ordered a pitcher of mango sangria which was strong and yummy. A bit overpriced for the size of the pitcher but that is average for sangria. As insignificant as this sounds their bread and butter was delicious. Seriously I wished I knew what butter they used (haha). What we ordered: Patatas Bravas : A classic Tapas dish....but I was disappointed. Their potatoes are a bit soggy and not crispy. Bacon Dates: Probably the best dish we ordered. The sauce it came with was sweet and tasty! Lomo De Cerdo al Ajollo (Pork Medallion): not an impressive dish...something you can probably make at home Stuffed eggplant with goat cheese: Usually I don't like goat cheese but the taste was very subtle. I really liked this dish. Airline chicken breast with chorizo & peppers: Very good! Champinones rellenos (stuffed mushrooms): I loved the stuffed mushrooms but the sauce they came with was too watery. We definitely like this restaurant better than the Ohio street one and we would probably go back to try out some other dishes... read more

Took my family out to lunch the other weekend; they like tapas a lot, partly because it reminds them of dim sum. Lots of small and different bites. We used to go to the Lincoln Park location a lot before they closed. I had not gone to this one yet. Initially I was put off by the lack of people; we were the second table at 12:30p on a Saturday. Also, it's right across from a large cemetery. But I guess the people who lunch here lunch late since it got pretty full by the time we left, round 2:30p. Decor is nice, cluttered and kind of old feeling. Service is ok; at first they're attentive but by the time you ask for the check I was getting hot under the collar looking for our waitress. The menu is pretty much the same as I remembered from the LP location. For seven people we ordered quite a few dishes yet the bill was pretty reasonable, under $200 with tip included. They gave us several complimentary dishes, which was nice. The ensalda rusa on toast and some of the chicken croquettes. I had ordered the tuna already, but it's good; kind of garlicky and potato-y. The croquettes are okay, kind of unmemorable, so I'm glad we didn't order them for real. We ordered the beef brochette (pincho de solomillo a la pimienta) from the Entrees section, which was pretty good. The horseradish sauce was unusual but it paired well with the tender beef. From the Tapas, there was more tuna salad, octopus (cazuela de pulpo), squid, escargot (caracoles emilio), baked goat cheese, patatas bravas, jamon serrano, shrimp (gambas a la plancha) , and bacon-wrapped dates. It was a lot of food. Some items we got two dishes of since one tapas dish feeds about 2-3 people. What I would order again: beef brochette, octopus, ham, and squid. These were really delicious. Octopus and squid were very tender and not too chewy. What needs improvement: The escargot were nicely flavored but too cheesy. Dates in the bacon were amazingly soft and sweet but too big. Bacon-date ratio needs to be reworked. Shrimp was too puny; in a paella ok, but alone they looked a little sad even though the flavor was good. Overall, a great tapas place. Just wish it wasn't so far away from my parents'. read more

I really like Emilio's food, but I think it's too expensive for the area it's in. I lived in Westchester (about 2 miles away) for a long time, and only went to Emilio's twice - shame on me. I was missing out! The garlic mashed potatoes are awesome, I love the goat cheese in the tomato sauce, and while I'm usually not a sangria drinker, theirs is pretty darn good. I'm a "when in rome..."-kinda person, so I always want to have the whole experience when I eat ethnic. AND, while "43" (Cuarenta Y Tres) is getting more popular and at more establishments, I love that they have it here, it's a great after-dinner drink. Mmmmmm..... read more

Great place for tapas in the burbs. Seating was plentiful and the tapas are so tasty. The ones that stood out for me include the PATATAS CON ALIOLI (love the garlic taste throughout), TOMATE CON QUESO Y ALBAHACA (loved the fresh mozzarella pieces), CHAMPIÑONES RELLENOS (big mushroom lover here), and GAMBAS A LA PLANCHA (tasty grilled shrimp with lemon sauce). The sangria was okay but I've had better. Look forward to going back again. read more

What a find hidden in Hillside. Everything is delicious. The artichokes were so tasty and different. Grilled octopus was outstanding. Puffed pastry lamb. Prawns. All so delicious. We will be back Service was excellent. Lively atmosphere. Loved it read more

We're big fans of Emilio's and it's become our go-to tapas place. It's a big place, great for gatherings, with knowledgeable and attentive wait staff. Our regular favorites include: Ensalada Rusa, Patatas Con Alioli, Canelone Frio De Atun, Tostadas De Mariscos. However, we always grab a few specials as well and are rarely disappointed. They have one of the better restaurant waiting areas around, with several high tables and a bar. You can get tapas at the tables while you wait. I guarantee you'll enjoy the food. read more

Emilio's Tapas was a pleasant surprise we found out on a recent shopping trip. The vibe is great and the cuisine was delicious. Reasonably priced and the music was on point. " Gypsy King-ish" The montadillos de cerdo and the pasta con pollo were fantastic. Also, had the flan for dessert and was the best we've ever tasted. Highly recommend to all Spanish cuisine lovers. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable of the menu and helpful to out of towners looking to find a deal while shopping. read more

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I haven't been here in over 20 years. We went for dinner last night and it's an oasis of tapas in Hillside. My wife thought the croquettas de pollo were good, I thought great. She said the sauce didn't add anything to the dish. We loved the bacon wrapped dates. The cazuela de pollo salteado was my favorite with chicken chunks with garlic, mushrooms, chorizo, in a sherry sauce. We had other dishes and they were all good. The place was busy by 7:30 on a Saturday night so make reservations! There are a lot of selections both hot and cold so any palate can be satisfied. Know that it's a tapas place. They serve entrees but sharing the small plates and taking your time is part of the fun. The food comes pretty fast so you won't be hungry long. Also, it can be noisy. It is not a place for a quiet romantic dinner. But, again, if you know what you're getting into, you will have a good night out. read more

Emilio tapas is overpriced RiceAnd Peas for over 30.00 and small portions if u order paella with shrimp they only put 3 or 4 and if u order mushrooms 3 for 10.00 it is gross overpriced dont recommend this place to anybody dont believe the good reviews they posted that dont patronize this place the owner is nasty dont go to this place paella rice and peas ship food overpriced emilios tapas sucks the food is poor taste is bad dont go there the food is nasty do not go there the owner responded yesterday please stop please stop please stop how about a customer satisfaction none none none read more

I had my group's annual ladies dinner at Emilio's. There were about 8 of us for many of us it was our first time at a tapas restaurant. What a great experience who would have thought that so many small plates will fill you up to the extreme. The Spanish paella was fantastic that alone could be a meal by itself. The selection of wines was very good and our server and the rest of the staff were awesome highly recommended. read more

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I was crushed to see the Emilio's at Fullerton and Clark had closed awhile back. It was our go-to tapas place. So I was pleased to find out the near-suburban Hillside location seems to have the same menu and food quality. The restaurant has a decent sized private parking lot, but the building looks pretty small from the outside. It is in fact pretty small. I'm sure the patio outside helps out in the summer. The place was packed on a Saturday night. Thought for sure we'd wait an hour with no reservation, but they seated us right away. Only problem was that it was the small 2-top directly in front of the kitchen entrance. I definitely DO NOT recommend accepting that table unless the constant stream of servers and bussers whizzing by, many with loaded trays over your head doesn't bother you in the least. Way too distracting for me while trying to have a relaxing meal and cocktails. Didn't appreciate that table at all, but it did make me appreciate how hard the folks there work, since my view was the kitchen. Controlled chaos. The food was just as fabulous as I remember. We always start with the Garlic Potato Salad which is as potent as ever. Then the other usual suspects: The grilled eggplant stuffed with goat cheese, grilled beef brochette rolled in cracked pepper, with caramelized onions and horseradish sauce, the goat cheese baked in tomato sauce, and the escargot, which I won't touch. The most outstanding dish of the evening- sauteed sea scallops with tomato saffron sauce and pine nuts. I was hesitant to try this one because I imagined tomato sauce to be too heavy for scallops. Not at all. It was a buttery, saffron tinged delicious sauce. If there was tomato, it was very discreet. The scallops were sliced and nicely seasoned and browned. Absolutely perfect and possibly the best prepared scallops I've ever eaten. I wished I had just ordered the entree portion of that! Next time. Desserts are all good! I always do the Profiteroles at the very least. Decent beer and cocktail selection. I especially like the Mojitos. I don't do Sangria, so I can't review that. I definitely recommend Emilio's to anybody who has never been. I find the food, service, and atmosphere to be WAY more enjoyable than the better-known tapas empires that are Ba Ba Reeba and Cafe Iberico. read more

I went here for the first time last night for a birthday. Upon arrival, they gave us a complimentary plate of tapas for the birthday. Great foot to start off on! We ordered almost 20 tapas, and I'd say I enjoyed almost all of them. The ones I didn't like were just because I didn't like the meat/vegetables in it, not because they weren't prepared well. We had great service from our server and the bussers. Waiter glasses were always full and bread baskets were always replenished. I highly recommend this place! read more

This is probably my second favorite tapas place in the Chicagoland area, behind only Cafe Iberico. I used to go here when I lived in Oak Park and returned last Saturday for my birthday dinner with a group of friends. Atmosphere is great. They had live music that Saturday night. The server was pretty helpful in making sure we ordered the right amount of tapas for our group of 11 (basically bringing 2-3 of each, depending on size, and placing on each end of our table). There was a bit of confusion on how many paellas we wanted, as I guess the prices listed are for what they consider 1 serving. We ended up just getting 2, and in addition to all the tapas we had, it was plenty. Some favorites were the calamari and the baked goat cheese. They also brought out special desserts because it was my birthday. read more

This has been my family's favorite tapas restaurant for many, many years now. Things we always order include the escargot, basked goat cheese, bacon-wrapped dates, and profiteroles for dessert. The bacon-wrapped dates will always be my absolute favorite dish no matter what! They are just incredible. My last visit, we went with a large group and ordered many, many tapas. New standouts included the grilled octopus, suckling pig, and salt and pepper beef tenderloin. We always order paella and the last time, it was a little soggy and the shrimp was slightly overdone, but tasty nonetheless. Emilio's is timeless to my family and I know we'll be back for years to come. read more

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I love Emilio's atmosphere. The food is always great. They have been in business for such a long time because their staff pamper patrons. I love this place because mom is from Spain and everyone in my family loves olives and chopitos. No matter what you order, you will never be disappointed. God bless this business! read more

Good Food. Friendly Service. Nice atmosphere. Gotta try the Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Dates wrapped in Bacon. read more

One of my favorite places in the world. I've been coming here since high school. Food and atmosphere are outstanding! Some of my favorite tapas here: PATATAS CON ALIOLI, POLLO AL CURRI, CARACOLES EMILIO, and QUESO DE CABRA AL HORNO read more

AMAZING! This is my family's go to special occasion restaurant. We love the authenticity and the variety of flavorful dishes. We often get the garlic potato salad, lamb croquets, baked goat cheese, and dates in bacon. They are our staples, but we also like to try something new every time we go in (which is easy on their extensive menu). It's a very fun atmosphere. They always bring us a new dish to sample. Sometimes Emilio himself with make the rounds and come chat at your table. I love the involvement. It makes me feel like he really truly cares about your experience. Emilio's is always a fun time! Definitely come check it out!! read more

This place never disappoints. Had an amazing meal tonight. The timing of the food was perfect, everything was great, everyone was friendly and pleasant. Will definitely be going back soon. Keep up the great work, Tapas Kings!! read more

This place is wonderful. I was a long time fan of the Fullerton and Clark location that is no more. I had driven past this location a number of times and thought it was simply a fluke that it had the same name. The place is Emilio's and the first location at that. Emilio has been here every time that I've dined in. They do a great job with their Tapas, they always run a few specials and they've been expanding their attractions by adding Spanish Wine Tasting nights. If you like Tapas and don't want a chain style Tapas... go here. read more

I'm from out of town so I didn't know what to expect. The bacon wrapped dates were unbelievable... the escargot was great too.... Definitely coming back next time I'm in town! read more