Walked in on a Sunday night to plenty of seating options at the bar and tables but the restaurant was not dead by any means. Ryan was prompt in delivering water and a menu at the bar, as well as explaining the tapas concept. I chatted with him a fair amount as I ate, which was nice for being out alone. The bar stools are also quite comfortable. 2-3 items is the recommendation to fill you up but I went with the large steak skewer for just myself. It came with 4 medallions and 4 shishito peppers along with mashed potatoes and a horseradish sauce that I loved. I'm a hungry guy and was satisfied but not stuffed so I went for the chocolate truffle bite. It seems small but is actually a great size for one person having dessert and feels good to get it for $5. Red sangria was also a great compliment to the steak. I would definitely try the white or special of the day on my next visit. There is a 3.5% charge to "offset rising costs" which can be removed by asking. I did so and wasn't met with any objection or derision. A flyer about the Lettuce Eats app was also included so I downloaded the app and was able to register and earn points immediately. You can get $10 for every $150 spent to effectively save 6.67%. Overall, a great experience solo and I think it would also be fun with a group to capitalize on the tapas style and share a bunch of small plates. read more

See all

Absolutely Outstanding Tapas Experience! I recently dined at Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba! on 441 N Clark St in Chicago's vibrant River North neighborhood, and it was nothing short of phenomenal. This cozy spot, the little sister to the iconic Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, perfectly captures the essence of Spanish tapas with its lively atmosphere, warm decor, and incredible food. From the moment we walked in, the energy was infectious - dim lighting, Spanish-inspired artwork, and a bustling open kitchen that made everything feel authentic and inviting. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and made great recommendations without rushing us. The highlight of the meal was hands-down the Spanish meatballs (beef & pork in that rich sherry tomato sauce) - they were fantastic! Tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, the sauce was perfectly balanced with a subtle sweetness from the sherry that had us mopping up every last bit with bread. We also loved the classic patatas bravas (crispy and spicy just right), bacon-wrapped dates (sweet-salty perfection), and the baked goat cheese in tomato sauce. No tapas night is complete without sangria, and theirs is legendary - we went with the red, pitcher-style, and it was refreshingly fruity and potent. Everything arrived hot and timed perfectly for sharing. Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba! is ideal for date nights, group gatherings, or just a fun evening out. The portions are generous for tapas, prices are reasonable for the quality, and the vibes transport you straight to Spain. I'll be back soon - this has quickly become one of my top spots in Chicago! Highly recommend! read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Spanish Meatballs - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely love this stop. It's got everything you want on a night out. Good food, great service. The place has bustling. They can accommodate large and small parties Definitely make a reservation. Papas bravas are a personal favorite! read more

See all

I think I'll be dreaming of this cheesecake and scallops for a very long time. I was in town for work and had asked a local for some recommendations, of the 4 I picked this one, and boy was it the right choice! I was fortunate enough to come with 2 other people so I got try a lot and they all were great. I would recommend everything we had and definitely don't sleep on the sangria! read more

See all

Great service and very dish is delicious here! Definitely recommend coming with a group to share multiple dishes. Some must try's are the patatas bravas and the bikini sandwich. read more

Lil -ba-ba-reeba was good. We ordered the bacon wrapped dates, the pulpo à la plancha, and croquets which were delicious. The papas bravas were overly seasoned. Biggest disappointment was that there wasn't paella on the menu like the other location. The service was a bit slow, more of a European style where you called the waiter over. The ambiance laid back and super Spanish cave ascetic. read more

See all

Always a hit. One of my favorite repeat restaurants! Such a cute and cozy ambiance whether you're inside under the various shaped lights or in the heated veranda. All the tapas here are excellent. The bacon wrapped dates are my all time favorite. They do really cool promotions and events. I go to their New Year's Pajama Brunch, and I always leave smiling with my gift cards I received for however much I spent that meal. Service is always fast and attentive. By far the best Lettuce Entertain You restaurant in my opinion! read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This review is long overdue, this place seriously is My Favorite!!!. We often take the train just to sit at the bar with Courtney, Leila, Slam, and Ryan, the service is impeccable!!!! Nobody makes a better old-fashioned or a bourbon espresso martini than these guys. It is not just the bar. It is the whole entire restaurant. Madeline is our favorite waitress who is just so sweet and bubbly and goes above and beyond. We love the management so much James is so wonderful and truly make this all possible! Olga so flipping amazing & delightful in EVERY WAY! Salvo is kind and always ready to make your experience, memorable and Lucas, is so hard-working and truly makes every visit so special. The chefs could not work harder to put together a brilliant and delicious menu that never fails. This place really does take teamwork seriously and this team is incredible. I know that I have missed so many people's names. read more

See all

One of the best happy hours in River North. The food is all incredibly fresh and full of flavor. We took advantage of their $6 glasses of wine but their sangria is on my must try list. read more

See all

It was a nice day out so my Husband and I came here for Happy Hour. We were fortunate to get an outdoor table on a Friday night. It was a nice change from the indoor tables and bar, which we also liked due to the cozy but somewhat dark vibe. Though we came for the happy hour specials, other than the drinks, we ordered from the main menu. There were only 3 food options on the happy hour menu, and potato chips for $5. The deal was really on the alcohol for happy hour, with $5 sangrias. But since this is a tapas restaurant, most of the appetizer portion items on the regular menu is the same pricing as other restaurants for happy hour. We ordered the chorizo wrap dates and sangrias from the happy hour menu. From the main menu, we ordered Empanadas, blue tuna special, chorizo and chicken skewers, as well as the grilled octopus. All the food was very good. For $5, the sangrias were a deal. The Sangria of the day was passion fruit and was fantastic. The Cava sangria was terrible. I couldn't drink it, so I sent it back. Since it was only $5, I wasn't too upset but DONT order. It tasted medicinal. For more than 20 years, I have gone to this restaurant and the original Cafe Baba Reeba on Halstead, and this was the first time I have ever sent sangria back. But All in all, was a very nice night. Will came back again. read more

See all

I admit it, I made a song up for the catchy name of this yummy restaurant. I'm tone deaf though so I won't leave an audio file to spare you all. Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba is a cute restaurant with outdoor, veranda and indoor seating. As a weather wimp, I enjoyed the AC indoors on a warm Chicago day. The portions are perfect for sharing and I love tapas style, we get to try more things. What was on the list last night: 1) shaved brussel sprout salad. Needed some greens and this crispy salad had a nice flavor. 2) bikini press iberico chorizo sandwiches. This was the heaviest of everything we ordered and was full of flavor. Chef's kiss to whoever decided to drizzle the honey on these bad boys. 3) bacon wrapped dates. Anytime we have tapas I need to order some type of date. The bacon wrapped version was sweet and savory. Delish. 4) chorizo and chicken skewer. This was my favorite of everything we ordered. The chorizo is some of the best I have had. 5) yummy cucumber beverage to help was it all down. If you like tapas, you will enjoy this joint. Fresh and yummy and some good beverage options! read more

See all

I have been to the Lincoln Park location (Café Ba-Ba-Reeba) many times, I'm so glad I finally made it to this spot! The service here was incredible, and the ambiance was elegant yet relaxed. When they say "Lil", they mean it. It's significantly smaller than their other location and not suitable for large groups but worth the visit nonetheless. Their food never misses! Get the Chorizo Wrapped Dates, and don't miss their dessert menu--key word(s): Butterscotch Custard. read more

See all

What a lovely spot to have lunch! Tapas was great and the company (my Chicago friends) was even better. We ordered the pitcher of cava sangria and it was perfect so light and refreshing. The roasted hen in the woods mushroom and the crystal bread were outstanding. I also sampled the garlic shrimp which were also tasty. Service was great on a busy gorgeous Friday lunch where everyone was enjoying the weather. read more

Stopped by this spot for a happy hour with a new friend and had a fantastic time! Our waiter was super patient (we took forever to decide what we wanted) and also fun to be around which elevated the experience Their happy hour deals are great too -- we got the chorizo wrapped dates (phenomenal) which were $1.50 each (a steal!), the brussel sprout salad and the patatas bravas. All the dishes were perfect for sharing. My friend got the white sangria too which she really liked. The inside is cozy and bustling, which made for a great dining experience. Will absolutely be back! read more

This place should be on your dining itinerary. First off, our waitress, Erin, was great. She really understood the menu, made excellent suggestions and was fun. Very good at her job. The Brussels sprouts salad was really tasty with a nice blend of flavors At some restaurants the patatas bravas are overly dry. Not here. They were moist and the tomato aioli paired well Scallops were nicely done. But the highlight was actually the wrapped dates. They were delicious! The flavor combination was perfect. Both white and red sangrias were yummy. read more

My first time here. A group of us stopped for dinner before the Lady Gaga show. I've been to their bigger location, Ba-Ba-Reeba, before. The food was amazing, just like how I remembered. Surprisingly, my fav dish was the tortilla. The outside had a slight crisp and was delicious. We ordered several different tapas and drinks. They have amazing cocktails and so many options. A cute tapas spot! read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Amazing! I love the original (Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba) but with living and working downtown this is an easier location to get to. They don't have the full menu of the original, so if it's paella you're craving you'll have to go to Lincoln Park. But they have an excellent selection of tapas and other items. The sangria is also amazing-we shared a pitcher of a cava sangria that was on special that day. Our server was super friendly and helped give us some recommendations as to how many tapas to get (our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, lol). She told us she'd pace the tapas so they didn't all come out at once (both for our stomachs and for room on the table). I still think they came out a little fast, as it got a bit hard to juggle so many plates, but it wasn't terrible. It's not a huge place, and they do pack the tables in, so we had a couple instance of being jostled from people in chairs at the table behind us. It can also get loud in there when it's busy, which it was when we got there. It's a good vibe, but a little tough if you're trying to carry on a conversation. I will definitely be back! read more

Absolutely delicious. Service was on point and highly recommend telling your wait staff everything you want and letting them course it out for you. It was like a constant stream of deliciousness. The chorizo wrapped dates were indescribable. I'm drooling just thinking about them. We got the beef tenderloin toro and it was soooo tender and delicious and perfect. Not a huge steak person but was glad my husband ordered it. Drinks were fast and good too! One recommendation - Jack Daniel's would be nice at the bar. read more

TLDR: Lil Ba-Ba, Big Love. Honestly, we had an excellent tapas experience here! We came here on a lovely breezy evening and sat outside as firetrucks from the nearby CFD 42 wee-ooo-ed by nonstop lol. We started with some Gazpacho to cool us down, then some Catalan-style "Crystal" Bread, which is literally just tomato puree with garlic and manchego on bread, but it's so damn tasty! The Roasted Hen of the Woods Mushroom has even more manchego in creamy sauce form and, I gotta say, that may be the best way to eat manchego! I had to try really hard not to order more bread for the leftover sauce, so I opted to just pour it into my purse for later. We, of course, got some Jamon, because you can't come to a tapas bar and not get Jamon! (Or that's what I said to my bf, and he totally bought it.) The Lamb Brocheta, their skewered lamb, was SO GOOD. It was unadulterated lamb. I did NOT want to share, but I shared because my therapist says I need to work on that in a relationship. He's lucky I like him. For dessert, we had the Jamon Croquetas, and they were so light and crispy that they almost didn't feel deep-fried! Throughout the meal, we were savoring our Sangria, which was so refreshing and not too sweet. It was definitely one of the more well-balanced Sangrias around town! We WILL be back without a doubt! read more

See all

A great spot for high quality tapas and an impressive variety! It's one of those places that can be good for a chill hangout, a celebration, or even a more casual business dinner! Excellent service, great recommendations, and banging food. Memorable dishes include the roasted hen of the woods, garlic shrimp, octopus, chicken and chorizo skewer. And a pitcher of delicious sangria is always a crowd pleaser. Unfortunately I thought the scallops were too salty and the epic beef tenderloin toro was slightly too tough :( read more

Service and classic red sangria were great. Food was just okay for me, my favorite is the Chorizo-wrapped dates pintxos. I've read a lot of good reviews about the seared sea scallops but it was underwhelming, the sauce was bland. Most disappointed with their house specialty, beef tenderloin toro, even with the horseradish mojo it was nothing special. Ordered the churos hoping that the dessert would help but it did not. The place is small but it didn't feel too cramp. read more

See all

The food here is the bomb. It tastes super authentic and it is in a really nice area of the city. The ambiance is also great, we sat in their patio but the indoor area was super nice. Our waitress was super nice and the service was super quick. I highly recommend to check out this and their main location! read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Goat Cheese Baked in Tomato Sauce - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

food: tapa style, really great flavors on some of the dishes but the price is a bit steep, my favorites were the potatoes & the croquets. service: friendly staff, food came out pretty fast ambiance: super nice vibe, great spot read more

See all

LOVE love love this place! It's a cute spot in River North. The sister restaurant of Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba up north. I would recommend making reservations as they get pretty busy at dinner time. It's a tapas place so generally a couple plates per person is a good amount. We had 5 plates including the dessert for 2 of us and were very full. Here's my ranking of all the plates we had: 1. Goat Cheese baked in tomato sauce 2. Patatas Bravas 3. Brussel Sprout Salad 4. Pan con chocolate 5. Tortilla Española I will be going there again for sure! read more

See all

Ugh, awful! If you're thinking you're going to go here and get anything like what you'd get a the regular cafe ba-ba-reeba, think again. Stale potatoes, dry bread and lack luster service. This spot misses the mark and it's unfortunate because we live around the corner and really wanted to like it. read more

I came here with a friend and we ordered a few different plates throughout the night. Overall everything was great quality and super yummy. Beef empanada: 4/5 the sauce was really good Jamon y melon: 4/5 really fresh tasting but the jamon was on the salty side Pressed bikini sandwiches: 3.5 a good portion size Seared scallops: 4/5 you can't go wrong with scallops The atmosphere and service were both great as well. Highly recommend coming here! read more

See all

Great food + sangria + fun = A great experience. The sangria (we had traditional red) is always good. The menu had something for everyone in our party. The Brussels sprouts salad, chicken meatballs, beef empanadas and mushroom dish were standouts. All of the dishes were tasty. The restaurant itself is much smaller than the original Ba Ba Reeba, but the service, food quality and ambiance are just as good, if not better. read more

See all

This place was fantastic - I would definitely come here again! The interior is so beautiful with dimmed candlelight lighting. The beef empanadas were flakey and delicious with such tender beef inside. The fried peppers were so good and not spicy at all. Highly recommend trying it out. The sandwich was really good and had soft runny eggs on top with avocado. It's a nice shareable and has a delicious sweet/spicy sauce that comes on the side. Highly recommend dining here if you're in the city! read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Handmade Beef Empanada - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Every dish was delicious. My favorites were the hanger steak and potatoes bravas. Gluten free dishes were done well for our coworker with Celiacs. Friendly and helpful service. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive, and knew how to pace our dishes. Ambience was dark and intimate but very lively with the buzz of conversation. They also were able to accommodate our large group of 10 on a week day evening. read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Inside - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent tapas place. Wide range of dishes and they accomodate all allergies and dietary preferences. They recommend around 3 plates per person but they will gauge every so often to see if you still want the rest of your meals because you fill up quite fast! I love that they also serve based on the number of people in your party, for example some meals come with only 6 of the item but if you are a group of 7 they will add one more so it's easier to share. Really great service, our server was very friendly and explained the menu really well. We ordered a plethora of dishes and every single one was better than the other. I especially loved the bikini sandwiches, the croquetas, and the meat on the skewer. I really recommend for large groups! It's a nice location and it fits large groups with a reservation. read more

See all

Such a fun place with great tapas. We visited the restaurant on a Sunday. Cute small place and the tables are pretty close together. Definitely gets busy so I recommend a reservation. Started off with a beer and the sangria del día. The sangria is a must try for sure! Definitely refreshing. For our plates (all shareable tapas) we got the ham croquetas, the goat cheese baked in tomato, the meatballs, deviled eggs, and Brussels sprout salad. The croquetas, deviled eggs, and Brussels sprout salad are a must try!!! All so delicious and I definitely recommend. The goat cheese was really good. However, the tomato sauce is more of a marinara so not what I expected. Definitely gave it an Italian feel rather than Spanish. The meatballs were tender and my husband's favorite. I personally did not like them. They have almost like a meatloaf texture and I was not a fan. They also have brunch but we opted for regular menu items. Service was good. The server was attentive and even made sure to check if we wanted any brunch items before brunch ended. Glad she gave us the heads up! read more

See all

Want a memorable business team dinner that has something for everyone in the group? Indulge in Spanish Tapas at Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba in Chicago's River North. Sangria & cocktails & mocktails, oh my! Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo & cheese is a must! Crystal bread with tomato spread Steak tower with whipped potatoes & shishito peppers Lemon cheesecake & caramel pudding bites Very fun atmosphere, especially since everyone gets to pick a dish! Fantastic, attentive servers who keep checking on drinks & dishes. read more

See all

I'm a fan of Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba and this did not disappoint! Our waitress was super helpful- when we asked which seafood item she recommends, she shared that the whole team loves the scallops. Glad we got them because the flavor combinations with the squash puree and apple were SO good! The papas bravas are the same as the Cafe. The dessert items were also super good and the small portions aren't an issue because they're so rich. If River North is more convenient and you don't have your heart set on Paella, check this location out. read more

#1 get the sangria The brussel sprouts salad wasn't my favorite thing. It's a very cute brunch space and perfect for small groups. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Service: 4/5 read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Brussels Sprouts Salad, Crystal Bread Tartine Sandwich, Goat Cheese Baked in Tomato Sauce - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

LIl Ba-ba-reeba is a fantastic place for a large dinner party! We sat outside in an enclosed area with access to fresh air, but also shielded from the cold wind. Service was attentive and quick. Food is consistent with the regular Ba-Ba-Reeba. Nothing is unique or Michelin star quality (go to Spain for that), but everything is delicious and well prepared. The traditional Spanish dishes we ordered appeases the general crowd. Shrimp in garlic and red chili pepper butter, roasted potatoes, Brussels sprouts salad, charcuterie board, Catalan bread service, meatballs, etc. (you can see the photos). Chocolate cake dessert was a bit too sweet and Rich for me but probably because I was already too full! It was also to late in the evening for me to have coffee to cut through the richness of the cake. This is a great spot to intro newbies to Spanish food. read more

See all

Cafe Ba-ba-Reeba and Lil' ba-ba-reeba have a New Year's Day special. So I went to try their brunch offering. Has Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba help with my search of a good tapas place? Let's find out: Ambiance Lil Baby-Ba-Reeba is a bar. We were seated in an outside heated enclosure.the speaker was pretty close, so the music was a bit loud but since the seats were in a small enclosure, the noise level is pretty loud. Service The waitress was friendly. The food came out in a pretty good pace. We did not wait too long between each dish. One issue I did have was the waiters would leave the sliding door open. I had some cold breeze blowing on my back while the heat lamp above was on my side. Food -Goat cheese baked in Tomato sauce This dish came with some garlic bread. The bread itself was crispy and the sauce when mixed has a lasagna taste to it. If you like lasagna, you will like this dish -pressed bikini sandwiches This sandwich was really tasty. It had the crispy texture of the bread with the softness of the filling. It also had sweetness from some honey that was drizzled over it. It was a fun and delicious sandwich to try. -brunch patatas bravas with bacon This version of the patatas bravas came with an egg and we added some bacon to the dish. The potatoes were crispy and the sauce had a hint of spiciness to it. The sunny side up egg did not really add to the dish and the yolk kind of got absorbed by the potatoes when we got the them. The bacon was crispy. -Chorizo-stuffed date The spiciness/saltiness of the chorizo works well with the sweetness of the date. It was a good dish. Overall Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba is a great place to get tapas. The food was really good and the service and staff were nice. There some other dish I would like to try on my next visit, but I would recommend trying Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba especially if you have a hankering for some Spanish tapas! read more

See all

Million times yes. Very good. Feels like Sebastian's table from Lincoln NE that I ate in college. Both white and classic sangria were delicious. The espresso martini was the best I've had in Chicago so far!!! read more

See all

The service was amazing very quick and made sure to get them in a great order. Everything was amazing, the empanada and the chorizo dates were our favorites. The shrimp was unbelievably tender you would think it's raw but it had great flavor, super great with the goat cheese and bread. So many different lamps for lighting I loved it!! read more

See all

This was the first stop for our Chicago weekend getaway, and what a great start! The ambiance is perfectly designed to match the menu and theme of the restaurant. The Spanish style tapas food was quickly delivered and very tasty! Our favorite dishes were the empanada and the chorizo dates! Pairs well with the yummy sangria! Staff was friendly and efficient too! Would recommend to anyone visiting! read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a great experience dining here with some friends on a Sunday night. We all shared several tapas dishes - most of them were great, but a few (like the deviled eggs and beef Toro skewer) were lacking in flavor. Each dish was small, and fairly easy to share between 2 or 3 people, as long as you ordered many. The scallops and chorizo-wrapped dates were my favorites of the evening. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the ambiance and summer weather. The service was fantastic, and we were never left wanting for refills or menu suggestions. I would definitely recommend Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba. read more