I've come here with my boyfriend a handful of times and we love it. We like to try different…read morecocktails every time. The mimosa on a nice summer day on the patio is my happy place. The entrees are amazing too. The rice with the chicken skewer is my favorite so far and my boyfriend loves the beef and lamb skewer. The service has always been great as well. We've had the same server a couple times now and she's friendly and gets the job done. (Wish I could remember her name!) The ambience is great. With natural light coming in and the soft lamps, it's calming. Truly a beautiful restaurant.

So disappointed. I…read morecame about 5 years ago and loved my meal, especially the sticky date cake, which lingered in my memory as my favorite all time dessert. This year I was so excited to bring my family and Ema was the only restaurant in Chicago I couldn't wait for them to try. I booked it as our final meal in Chicago and lay awake at 4am being so disappointed in my choice. Our server's greeting was monotone and emotionless, which I realize now, would be foreshadowing the meal to come. Ordered the following 1) Smoky eggplant- arrived appearing as an unappetizing curdled purple grey mush. This was the worst tasting baba ghanouj I have ever eaten. It was acidic and had the texture of cottage cheese. The only redeeming thing about this appetizer was the warm naan. 2) house made stratciatella with side of green falafels- The stratciatella was bland and stringy. I would not order this dish expecting the creamy interior of typical burrata. However, if you like string cheese mixed with heavy cream- you may enjoy this dish. The tomatoes and basil were good. 3) chicken kefta- kefta was bland, rice even blander . 4) short rib with polenta- bland and the meat and polenta had the same texture, which seems impossible but somehow the plating was over complicated by the addition of mushy dates and grapes. 5) buttered noodles- my 8 year old ordered this. It was decent with a good amount of Parmesan and cooked perfectly al dente. By the end of the meal, I was so shocked by how terrible the food was I didn't even want to order the sticky date cake that was my main purpose for returning to this restaurant. Ema, what happened to you?!

Just an amazing experience all around!! The tuna tartare was exceptional as well as the sorbet with…read moreBailey's. A little tight on seating but no complaints!!

A 4.5 stars with 9000 reviews! This place has to kick ass and take names specially in town with a…read morelot of competition. Brought my coworker Eric after a long day at a workshop, decided to start with an espresso martini for a good wake up. Eric and I ordered three "snack" to share; mushrooms 3 ways, Crispy Pig Ear, and Roasted Piquillo Peppers. The mushrooms had a unique taste and the pickled onions were a nice contrast to the savory taste of the mushrooms and truffled sauce. The crispy pig ear had an egg on top of breaded onions and crispy spinach. We were advised to cut up the egg and mix it up with the other ingredients. Compared to the first course of mushrooms this course was at the other end of the pallet and taste spectrum. I'm not sure why it's called pig ear but it was tasty. The Stuffed Piquillo Pepper was my favorite course. It was hearty and came with crispy baguettes. The red sauce and the Italian sausage that was stuffed inside was very tasty. I'm a fan of the Purple Pig and recommend it to anyone looking for a place to eat tapas and choose from an exclusive wine collection along Michigan Avenue. Cheers!

We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

Months after visiting, Arbella still ranks among the best cocktail bars in the city for me!…read more One thing that really makes Arbella unique is their globally inspired old fashioned menu- whether you're an old-fashioned fan or not, these are a must! They've upped their happy hour game by including a rotating global cocktail with previous menu drinks and a daily kitchen special. This time, I ordered the oldest old fashioned and the Oaxaca old fashioned to drink. I thought the first was the best old fashioned I had ever had, but the second was even better! I loved the subtle yet not overpowering smokiness of the mezcal in the Oaxaca. Neither were too sweet and you could really taste the high quality bourbon. We ordered the Korean fried chicken and coconut shrimp to eat from the happy hour menu. The shrimp was super crispy with a delicious ginger-orange compote and rice vinegar pickled onions. Highly recommend! I did think the chicken was a bit tough, but the flavor was good. Another great experience of many to come! If you haven't stopped by Arbella yet, add this to your bucket list asap!

Food was amazing. LA native and celebrating the weekend in Chicago…read more Restaurant was beautiful and our server Dulce was amazing!!

This has gone from one of my favorite restaurants, that I'd recommend to all my friends visiting,…read moreto one of the most disappointing dining experiences in the city. The last two visits have been lackluster, but today was horrible. Service set the tone as our server disregarded us most of the evening. Never checked in to see how things were. Our appetizer passed our table multiple times. They couldn't seem to find what table it was for, and they took it back to the kitchen, for it to appear a few mins later, cold. Everything we ate just seemed off today. Lacked flavor. And almost everything was drenched in oil. The salmon kebab and rice was not bad, but like everything else arrived at the table barely warm, borderline cold. Really sad as this was our go-to spot for a few years.

Fantastic food and atmosphere. Got the cheese board, pub grub, schnitzel, mushroom pie, and…read moremussels. Schnitzel is very good. Wide selection of in house made beers that were very good. Service was very fast as well for the most part.

If you like beer, you should be able to find one you like here. There are plenty to choose from…read moreand the descriptions are accurate. My beverage/beer order was the Night Moth Oak-Conditioned Hazy IPA | 7.2% | 12oz/8 - 5oz/4. I recommend this if you are a fan of Hazy IPA's. My food order was the Beer braised, short rib with roasted root vegetables, polenta, swiss chard, and sweety drops. Tender and tasty short ribs. I will be craving the sweety drops for sure. Bar seating, regular tables and high top tables available here.

Walked in on a Sunday night to plenty of seating options at the bar and tables but the restaurant…read morewas 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.

Absolutely Outstanding Tapas Experience!…read more 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!

First time coming to Chicago and all my friends told me I had to check this place out! Located in…read moreLincoln Park, it is away from the hub-bub of downtown Chicago. The menu features a variety of Spanish tapas, pintxos, small plates, and Paella. You are meant to order plates to share with table. Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba really prides themselves in serving authentic Spanish food and providing guests with a unique experience. The restaurant itself is very cute and has a fun vibe about it. There are plenty of seating options and a gorgeous bar as well. Service was wonderful! Our server did an excellent job checking in on us, refilling waters, and just making sure we were satisfied with everything. We did get a reservation via OpenTable, this is always necessary, but I would recommend doing this, especially on the weekends. We ordered a couple plates to start and the ended up ordering more throughout our meal. I really love that you can do this, it paces the food and allows you to enjoy the experience more. We put in orders for 2 of the goat cheese baked in tomato sauce, a patatas bravas, Spanish olives, and Spanish meatballs (Al Jerez). The food came out in a timely manner and was served made to order. We dove right in! The goat cheese was luscious and perfect on that cold afternoon. It's baked in their old world Spanish oven and served with house garlic bread. This dish was super creamy, with a nice tang from the tomatoes, and just phenomenal. The patatas bravas were just divine! The spicy potato's were cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and yet soft on the inside. They paired perfectly with sun-dried tomato aioli they were served with as well. The Spanish Meatball were decent as well. They had great texture and I really enjoyed the sherry tomato sauce they were served in. For our next round, we had to order more patatas bravas because they were just that good! We also got some calamari and extra bread for the remaining baked goat cheese. The fried calamari comes with tomato crudo and a jalapeño aioli. It was nice and crispy, nothing too special but still hit the spot nonetheless. Overall, I was so happy my friends and I came here! The food was amazing all around, no complaints at all. The service was great as well. They are very accommodating and do a great job taking care of guests. Loved the interior of the restaurant, it was super cozy! I will definitely have to return next time I'm in the area to try more tapas. Highly recommend!

V wanted to come here, so of course, here we are. We've dined here before, once together, and each…read morewith our respective work-groups in the distant past. Parking is sort of a pain, you have to find street parking, might have to pay, or you can use their $20 vallet parking. V made me drive, and I misjudged how far we'd have to walk. Not a good start. We arrived at 8:20pm on a Sunday, while they close at 9pm, they serve until 9pm, and the place doesn't clear out until 10pm, so we were good. We were greeted and seated quickly in a fairly crowded dining room. My aging eyes found the menu difficult to read with small print on yellowish paper, so I used the light on my phone. It's not pretty, but neither is ordering food when you can't see what it is LOL. Our waiter greeted us promptly, and took our drink order, and offered up a specials menu. As I'm driving, I just got iced tea, V ordered a pitcher of passion fruit Sangria. He said the Sangria wasn't great, I tried some, and I thought is was drinkable. It definitely has a kick as V got a bit giddy as the night progressed. V ordered the Seafood Paella (takes 45 minutes), so as a starter, we ordered the Fried Calamari, which was sadly overcooked. It was half crumbs, though the sauce was tasty. With time to kill, we followed that with Lamb Brouccetta (no seasoning, just lamb), on a bed of French Fries (star of the night), grilled potatoes (yummy dipping sauce), and grilled peppers, which were quite tasty and unique. The Seafood Paella arrived, and it was massive. Food for two and then some. We didn't need all the appetizers except for killing time, so we ended up with a lot of Paella to go. I don't like Paella; it always tastes fishy, although this Paella was at least edible, unlike what I had in Barcelona. The waiter was attentive and had a spark of personality. Vigilio thought the bar area where we were seated was loud, but I didn't have any issues talking.

Girl and the goat was a menu of delicious after delicious dish…read more The goat empanadas were the crowd favorite and truly the best on the menu. Skirt steak and the dessert were the other 2 faves to round out my top 3 dishes. Service was kind but on the slower side for a Tuesday night Inside is a well designed restaurant that you would expect in west loop

Background on me- I've worked in the food industry at low and high levels, eaten in many countries…read more Started from the bottom type of person- anyway I don't leave reviews. My experience went exactly like this. Imagine going to a movie, one of the better movies you've ever seen. You paid a premium to see this film ahead of time. 30 min in they begin to fast forward, skip scenes, turn the lights on and begin clean up. What I mean is on my engagement night, after a long long day I took my foodie wife to be out for a $300 "experience" which is really just sitting in front of the dessert station next to the expo area. So the food was ok- for all the knowledge ZERO cuts of quality meat. A little goat on a stick and a little tuna poke- the rest veggies which whatever is fine I'm just saying. I spent another $75 on drinks. OpenTable allowed me to book this at 1030pm the restaurant closes at 11pm I was upset and management would not come over and say hi or comp a drink. What restaurant would you be able to call and book a 6 course dinner experience 30min before close? Because it's an app you can hide behind the fact I should be looking at when you close to not book it? Managers profited $300 off me can't comp a drink on our engagement? I had a lovely time, the food wasn't bad, some interesting, service was ok, chefs stoners waiting to get off work. I get it. It's probably worth it but do not hit the last time or they act like you are keeping them late- which we did. I'd never book an experience 30min before close if I put it together. A cheap way for an app and restaurant to squeeze hard earned money out of peoples pockets is what I saw. Cheers

Was excited to come here for the flamenco night and our anniversary dinner! Unfortunately the…read moreexperience left a bit to be desired. The decorations and music were nice inside, but the service was spotty. We got seated and forgotten about until we had to flag someone down to ask for menus and water. The staff were nice and apologetic, but the service continued to be slow throughout the meal. The food was tasty, but definitely overpriced for the size and each dish that we ordered seemed to consist of mostly potatoes. The best part of our meal was the flamenco dancer and she did a great job of interacting with patrons and getting kids involved. We didn't try the drinks although they did have a large enticing drink menu so may be a better spot for drinks and hanging with friends than a full meal.

First of all, there was an automatic 20% tip on the bill. That being said, the service was lousy…read more Most of the food arrived cold and they tried to charge us for octopus that never arrived. The food is decent, but there are better places. Barcelona in Evanston is excellent. Even Cafe Baba Reeba and Halstead comes second.

This was so much fun! It's been on my list forever, and I'm glad we got a group to go. I did my…read moreresearch and wanted to check out the performance bar beforehand - PSA you do not need a ticket for this and can go enjoy drinks and tricks any time! This was so cool but intimate and small so not much space and fills up quickly. The speakeasy door is also so cool though a line will likely form outside right before shows so be prepared for that. The show itself was so impressive, as were the magicians that came up to your table to do tricks beforehand. Drinks were also great. The vip performance after the show was also nice and intimate. Everything was great and so much fun!

My husband and I bought Magic show tickets to celebrate a recent college grad in the family…read more We bought the front row tickets, which also gets you access to the VIP after show (30 minutes)! I thought the tickets were worth that perk alone in addition to being front and center. The talents were superb! I truly enjoyed every act. I loved the pre-show magic tricks at each table. It made the experience very intimate and engaging. I loved that the MC called out each and every celebration that night! There were food and drinks available for order, but kind of pricey (for example, ~$20+ for a shrimp cocktail). I ordered the earl grey non alcoholic drink, which was good!