Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba delivered big. Walking in, you're greeted by eccentric light fixtures and the buzz of other patrons enjoying their night. Here are the results. The Order: Spanish Meatballs, Chicken-Chorizo Skewer, Patatas Bravas, and a Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad, followed by a Chocolate Truffle Bite and washed down with a shared pitcher of Classic Red Sangria. The Winners: Spanish Meatballs, Patatas Bravas, Shaved Sprout Salad, and of course, the Sangria. The Participation Trophies: Chicken-Chorizo Skewer was good, but didn't do anything special for me. Chocolate Truffle was tasty as well, but a bit too dense for me. read more

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We came for brunch and had a splendid time. They had a special mango sangria which was amazing. I would come back for just the brunch patavas bravas. read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Brunch Patatas Bravas with Sunny Side Up Egg Shrimp with Garlic, Olive Oil, & Red Pepper - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great for brunch, no complaints on service. Bottomless sangria was delicious, I think you had to drink 3 a person to be worth it

Good experience for dinner while visiting Chicago! Food/drinks: Good, and not too difficult to handle a gluten free and dairy free diet! Bacon wrapped dates were awesome. Octopus was pretty good, though looked very different than the menu picture (sliced and mixed in with potatoes). Heard good things about meatballs. Sangria and New Fashioned were interesting to try, though not sure I'd order them again. Ambiance: Place has a cool vibe. We made day of reservations for inside. Nice outdoor seating too. Service: Good. She let us take our time and was helpful. It's a solid spot. Not too memorable, but I'd come back for the bacon wrapped dates! read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Roasted Dates Wrapped In Bacon, Spanish Meatballs - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great ambience and an amazing place to share small plates with! Everything we tried was amazing and the white sangria was to die for!! Will definitely come again (and I hear they have a deal for the sangria pitchers on Mondays) read more

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Love their happy hour and when the weathers nice being able to sit outside. Sangrias are great and the staff is always friends and attentive. Tapas are very tasty. read more

Walked over here after work for a quick happy hour with my coworker. Got the dates, deviled eggs and mini bikini sandwiches. Everything was delicious and filling. We sat in the heated patio area which was cute and very warm. Our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Cute little place and you can't beat their happy hour prices! read more

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Very nice environment. Lovely and fun. Food is excellent. Great place to go with a medium sized group

While some may Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba is overrated, I will always love her. At the very least, they are consistent and it's a place I will take all of my out-of-town visitors because of that very fact. Here's the menu items that I always get that I believe will never lead you astray: 1. Goat Cheese Baked in Tomato Sauce. Immaculate. However, if they ask if you want extra bread say no. Don't fill up on bread -- there's too many other good things to eat here. 2. Fried Shishito Peppers (beware of the spicy pepper! IYKYK) 3. Garlic Shrimp 4. Patatas Bravas, a Spanish staple and so yummy 5. Spanish Meatballs. I am not typically a meatball fan, but these are good. 6. Chorizo OR bacon wrapped dates. Never knew I was a date fan! Personally, I think the bacon wrapped dates are slightly better and I am not even a fan of bacon. 7. Ham croquetas Any combination of these 7/8 items will be a good meal. The only thing I have tried that I did not like was the Catalan bread. It was soggy. Lastly, if you're between locations (cafe vs this one) choose this one! read more

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

I really enjoy this place! I've been twice , once for happy hour. The sangria is really good, this last time I tried the rose, cava, and white peach sangria. The white peach was my least favorite but still good. For happy hour we tried the dates, deviled eggs, and bruschetta. I remember really enjoying the meatballs the first time I came. The ambiance is dim lighting with outdoor and indoor space (not a huge place so reservations would be good). Overall a really solid place if you like sangria and tapas. read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Roasted Dates Wrapped in Bacon - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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You love Tapas & Sangria? This is the place! Whether red or white Sangria, both are good choices. It gets busy so get there early or plan on a wait! It, too, can get loud but it's a cute place & great for large parties. *Please don't ask for separate checks! It slows the servers down & affects other guest's experience! I highly recommend! *Get the Paella... order it early! Yum read more

Love this place! Love the pace of service. Love most of the food we have purchased. It is a hair crowded but honestly it kinda adds to the ambiance. I can't wait to come back. read more

It was my sister and I and first time in Chi and we got caught by the restaurant name. It sounds so fun! We love the overall vibe of the place and the food was amazing too! We didn't get drinks but we tried the patatas bravas, garlic shrimp, and the beef tenderloin Toro. The potatoes are perfectly prepared and it went well with the sauce. The garlic shrimp needed more saltiness but either way it's good! My sister who's so picky about beef, liked the beef toro with the shishito peppers! The server greeted us so nicely and he went to check in on us a couple of times which is good! read more

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

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We went with a big party over the weekend with a reservation, overall had an amazing time. The staff are friendly and walked us through their pretty extensive tapas menus. Every food item/plate we tried was delicious. Really can't say you can go wrong with most of the choices here! Definitely recommend the potato's and bacon wrapped dates. read more

Amazing food! Will definitely come back. Loved it. 5 We had meatballs, empanadas, goat cheese, and chorizo dates! All delicious! read more

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

Our party of 2 was able to get seated within 5 minutes, without a reservation! That being said, reservations are highly recommended. The hostess explained that there have been more cancellations as temps drop. Tapas style restaurant - we ordered the shaved brussels sprout salad, tortilla española, Spanish octopus a la plancha, and chocolate truffle bite. All were delicious, but my favorites were the tortilla española and octopus! read more

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

Excellent restaurant week menu. Grilled hen of the woods and crystal bread sandwich were our favorites. Will be back for the regular menu someday. The service was a little bland. read more

I prefer the larger/original location to this one. The menu here is cut in half and the quality isn't the same. Everything here was subpar. I got the meatballs, empanadas, roasted potatoes, octopus, and beef skewers. Roasted potatoes were probably the best entree. Paid a lot to not really be full or have our palettes satisfied. read more

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Very good date's prosciutto. Service is very good as well. Great sangria pitchers. It's a no brainer. read more

You know it's good if it was supposed to be a pop up event during COVID, and 3 years later they're busting at the seams! While staying in River North, we had dinner at this bustling establishment. Contrary to the size, there is ample seating inside as well as a covered patio. We enjoyed a pitcher of the white (peach) sangria, that was tasty and refreshing on the unseasonably warm May evening. We ordered a variety of tapas that were spaced out perfectly. The server mentioned that we could order more at any time. I would absolutely recommend this upbeat spot! read more

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I'm not gonna lie, this has been one of the most hyped up restaurants in the city from my friends and colleagues since I moved to Chicago a few months ago... and I was a little disappointed. It's possible the hype got to me and I was expecting the best dining experience of my life, so when I didn't get that, I was let down. Long story short, I came here with a group of 5 and got lots of shareables. The bill was $400+ and I left hungry. Also, the service was pretty slow and we were waiting around a lot to order. Since the wait staff wasted my time already, I don't really wanna waste my time again doing a full itemized review. Here are a few highlights/lowlights on the menu that we tried -- Passion fruit Sangria - 1/5 - tastes like a capri sun, did not taste any alcohol in this. It's like 45 bucks compared to the regular sangria which is 35, and it is much worse. Stick to the classic red sangria Hanger steak - 5/5 This was actually pretty delicious. Cooked to perfect medium rare, and super flavorful. Only problem? You go with a group of 5, you get 1 bite... You order this for yourself? You're out 60 bucks Chorizo Wrapped Dates - 5/5 I'm a big sucker for dates wrapped in any sort of cured meat. Actually, just any cured meat in general. This was no exception. Delicious. Patatas Bravas - 4/5 Was just in Spain a few months ago and this is as close to the real thing I've had in the US. Very solid. -- Overall, the food was pretty tasty. Again, my main problem was that we spent a ton of money, and I was not even close to full when we left. I got a burrito on the way home. The service was also a little bit below expectations, especially after all the glowing reviews I've heard about this place. I'm eager to try the larger location in Lincoln park to see if the experience is any better, but I will be saving that for when Pops is in town and he is footing the bill. read more

Came for happy hour sangrias!! White peach sangria was fresh and blackberry sangria was also great. Both were on the sweeter end but delicious. 1$ chorizo wrapped dates were amazing deal especially if you wanted to try this classic signature dish. Deviled egg had nice zing to it and crostini is well balanced with the cheese mellowing out the pepper. Must come for happy hour~ read more

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Ate here as my friend wanted to go to sunnyside but there was a long line there lol. Anyway this place is perfect for sharing with someone since it is tapas style. I would recommend the stuffed mushrooms for sure!! I'm indifferent about the garlic shrimp but of course one should get patatas bravas. I only wish I got the halibut as I heard others raving about it and how good it is. We were there around happy hour as well so for sure get their sangrias. Our waiter also recommended a rose for the day and that was so refreshing for the humidity. read more

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

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Came here for my friend's bachelorette party last weekend and it was so delicious. We didn't come here for dinner, but we came here for appetizers before we went somewhere else for dinner and it was perfect for the 7 of us. What we ordered: The goat cheese in tomato sauce and garlic bread was delicious! I didn't think I'd like it because I don't like goat cheese, but I think the tomato sauce made a delicious balance with the cheese. The garlic bread was SO crispy and full of garlic. The beef empanada was delicious and full of seasoning. Just know that an order just comes with a single empanada, but it is big enough to cut in half. The garlic shrimp was amazing and buttery. The octopus was so soft, and easy to eat, unlike some places who don't know how to cook octopus. Lastly, the stuffed mushrooms were juicy with a nice crispy topping. For our drink, we ordered white peach sangria, which was the sangria of the day when we went, and it was amazing. So fruity and strong, but not too strong where it tasted gross. Our waitress was very sweet and constantly checked up on us. She also gave us some ideas of what was popular to eat there since no one had ever been there before. I will definitely be back when it is convenient for me to do so since I don't live downtown! read more

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Stumbled upon Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba in River North while looking for a spot for an impromptu dinner with friends. I've been a big fan of Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba so I was very excited to give this spot a try. The ambience was beautiful. The dim lighting added to the intimate vibe. My group was walking in so we were pleasantly surprised that we were able to get immediate seating at the bar. We noticed that there are small differences between the items on the menu at Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba versus Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba. We were excited to try something new instead of our usual tapas orders. We got the Iberico Jamon Croquetas, Spanish Octopus a la Plancha, Patatas Bravas, Chicken and Chorizo Skewer, and a Prime Skirt Steak. The small plates were all perfect for sharing. Dinner was complete with the complement of a pitcher of refreshing White Peach Sangria. The Spanish Octopus a la Plancha and the Patatas Bravas were my favorites! The octopus was grilled to the perfect tender texture and was laid upon a delicious tangy vinaigrette. The Patatas Bravas we're flaky and crispy on the outside with a comforting buttery soft inside. It tasted even better when dipped into the creamy sun-dried tomato aioli. Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba makes up for its small size with bold, delicious menu items, a stunning intimate ambiance, and friendly prompt service. read more

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Had dinner here for the second time and what a treat . Great ambiance, intimate setting with a fun vibe. Had their take on an Old Fashion which was delicious. There portions are god for tapas we had seven fished for four of us and it was plenty. Our favs were the Bikini Sandwich and the Yenderloin Toro skewer but everything we had was awesome. Service was great as well. We will be back every time we come to Chicago. read more

Oh my gosh. We came for brunch and got the octopus, brussel sprout salad, and the meat! I don't even like octopus but this dish is so tender. It is one of the most tender octopus dishes I've ever tried. The flavors are all there too with the acid. The meat I would recommend skipping but definitely get the other two dishes you won't regret it read more

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

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My wife and I met-up with our kids for dinner here on January 3rd 2023, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Our son lives a short walk from here, and our daughter was shopping with friends nearby, so it was a perfect location. It is much smaller than the flagship Lincoln Park location, but has a similar warm-welcoming, feel. It was approximately 7:00 on a Tuesday night and there was a nice crowd, but luckily they still had a couple of tables available. For those who haven't been here, the menu consists of a variety of small shareable items. This is a fun way to sample lots of different offerings. We ordered a wide variety including: Beef Empanadas, Ham Croquettes, Cana de Cabra Crostinis, Spanish Meatballs, Catalan Style "Crystal" Bread, Bacon Wrapped Dates and a couple of desserts. Everything was very good, but I think the Ham Croquettes and Bacon-Wrapped Dates were the consensus favorites. Service was awesome and prices are very reasonable. If you haven't been here, I highly recommend you give it a try. read more

Great happy hour deals with $1 pinxtos too. Highly recommend grabbing a patio seat in the summer but you'll need to come early since they'll fill up read more

The flavor can be improved. The restaurant was busy with lots of local young people.

Ordered several dishes to share with family of four. Waitress perfectly timed food delivery so food was hot and never waiting. Everything was delicious! Especially loved the dates wrapped in bacon! Restaurant location was perfect for being in heart of downtown near the river and other cool restaurants read more

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Food was good but not amazing. Had heard a lot of good things about cafe ba ba reeba (their main, original location)so may be worth it to just go there if you are looking to trying it out. Sangria pitchers are good price but again, just good not amazing. read more

I previously had been to (what I presume is) the original location, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba in Lincoln Park. I really loved the tapas there so I thought I would bring my friends to this sister restaurant since its much closer. Lets just say I was not disappointed! A lot of the dishes are similar if not the same as at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba. We started off with two pitchers of sangria. We got the White Peach Sangria and the Sangria Del Dia- which happened to be passionfruit. Both sangrias were sooooo good! They were perfectly sweet and not too strong (at least that we could taste!). The flavors were so good, tasted just like peach and passionfruit. Probably the best sangria I have had. We got a mixture of different dishes: fried shishito peppers, patatas bravas, Catalan style "crystal" bread, goat cheese baked in tomato sauce, roasted hen of the woods mushrooms, butternut squash pintxos, garlic shrimp, spanish octopus a la plancha, roasted dates wrapped in bacon. We loved all of them except the mushrooms, which were just a tad bland. Everything else was very flavorful and would definitely get again! Love the atmosphere here, look forward to coming again! read more

Great location in the heart of river north. Loved that they could nail a hearty dish like patatas bravas but also create something as delicate and intricate as the scallops. The skewers also came with pan con tomate, almost like a 2 for one, both delicious. The pitcher of sangria is great bang for your buck too. read more

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Wow! I was super impressed by this place! I've been to the original in Lincoln Park, but never this location (I know it's new). We've also never had brunch at Ba Ba Reeba. I would argue that THIS is even better than the original location. This is a newer addition to the stretch of Clark that has quite a few Lettuce Entertain You concepts. However, they are smart to bring back a favorite with a little bit of a facelift. This is truly a tapas bar in the liberal sense. It's a pretty small restaurant, but they have some outdoor seating that looks outstanding. The brunch tapas menu was amazing including the breakfast potatoes bravas and the big surprise in the Spanish French toast. That French toast might be the best thing I ate (and everything else was outstanding). As for the regular tapas, the garlic shrimp and goat cheese in tomato spread were the highlights. The croquettes are always a winner too! Combine this with one of the best Bloody Mary's and impeccable service, this has quickly become our go to place in River North. If you want something a little different, but full of flavor and generally something on the menu for everybody, check this place out! Stunningly outstanding! read more

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Awesome place for happy hours and drinks! Outside area is great and service was excellent. Definitely a must stop in Chicago! read more

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Came here after knowing how good Cafe Babareeba is. Lil ba ba has some work to do though. We were seated outside on a semi cold day. We somehow had the only table without a heat lamp (luckily we were able to move although still outside). The food was great, but make sure to sit inside unless the weather is nice or consider going elsewhere. read more

What a delightful surprise! All the tapas were delicious and the perfect amount to share with friends. Highly recommend getting a pitcher of sangria - we had a pleasant surprise to find out they have a deal on Mondays for $20 pitchers! (Which is basically half off certain flavors). Highly recommend if you're down for sharing and trying lots of different dishes. read more

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Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba was so great 2 weeks ago that we had to come back! To start, we had to get the Goat Cheese baked in tomato sauce again! We also got some extra bread to go along with it for only $1.50! Next, we got the Meat & Cheese plate. Then the Iberico Ham Croquetas, these were delicious! Next, we got the Beef Empanada; it was great! But auction, it is pretty small. So proceed with caution. The last dish we got before dessert was the Bacon Wrapped Dates, and they were..... ya, really really good. Everything is good here. I don't know what else to say. Finally, we got both the Butterscotch Custard and the Chocolate Truffle Cake. They were REALLY small, but also very very good. read more

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It's a right of passage in Chicago to go on a first date at Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba. The staff is always friendly and helpful. I saw their Hibiscus Sour cocktail in an Instagram post, and it was perfection. I'm a sucker for anything hibiscus, but it had full flavor. The Deviled Eggs were enjoyable, but I wouldn't repeat them on a future visit considering how many great dishes are on the menu. (I could order the Hibiscus Sour weekly and not get sick of it...) read more

Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Deviled Egg with Hibiscus Sour cocktail - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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