All around 10/10. Great vibes and aesthetics inside. We sat in one of the far back rooms and it gave the feeling of going out to eat late at night while abroad. Service was great! Food was amazing. I LOVE that they just bring the dishes out as they are prepared and ready. It's a great place for a big group of people because you can try so much food. Our favorites were the shaved Brussel sprouts, goat cheese sun dried tomatoes dip, garlic shrimp, the paella and the empanada. The potatoes were also delicious. The dates were really good but we expected them to be stuffed and they weren't. The only thing none of us were a fan of were the stuffed peppers. We also got a pitcher of the berry sangria and the pear sangria and both were amazing. read more

See all

Party of 9 with a reservation! Can't find one thing wrong! Two women ordered a peach sangria and it was too sweet. They took it off the hill without us asking! This place is too notch and can't wait to go back! Fabulous food and vibe! read more

See all

All the food was so good!!!!! Mouth watering! This was such a fun environment and so delicious. Will 100% come back when visiting Chicago and will always recommend ! read more

Love this place for tapas! My favorites are the bacon-wrapped dates, shaved brussel sprouts salad, stuffed mushrooms, and the patatas bravas. You absolutely cannot miss the paella! Highly recommend this spot if you like tapas! read more

My boyfriend and I came in for happy hour last night and had a deeply troubling experience that I feel compelled to share. My boyfriend went to the bathroom while I noticed a group of 3 people about to leave their seats. Two other white women asked to take their seats, and I asked if I could grab one chair for myself while waiting for another to open up for my boyfriend. When the waiter came over, all three of us -- the two women and I -- ordered happy hour sangria pitchers. No ID was requested from any of us. My boyfriend was still in the bathroom at this point. When he came back, he suggested we change our order to the white peach sangria instead. I went directly to the waiter at the register to update the order -- a second interaction with him, face to face -- and again, no ID was asked of me. He was completely fine and said he'd update it right away. The moment my boyfriend came and stood with me, the waiter came over and suddenly asked for both of our IDs. My boyfriend had accidentally left his wallet at home and showed a photo of his ID on his phone, which the waiter refused to accept, saying we could not be served without a physical ID. To be clear: he never asked me for ID when I first ordered. He never asked me when I corrected the order moments later. He never asked the two white women next to us, who already had their drinks. He only asked once he saw my Black boyfriend standing next to his white girlfriend, and for the record, the waiter was white. We were not even seated at an actual bar -- and the manager later acknowledged that ID is not required. I spoke to the manager, who initially downplayed the situation but ultimately admitted the treatment was unacceptable and said it would be handled. He comped our drinks. I appreciate the manager taking responsibility, but the damage was done. My boyfriend, a kind, hardworking man with two degrees and a successful career, was visibly uncomfortable, and what we witnessed felt like blatant racial discrimination. He deserved to walk into a restaurant and be treated like any other customer. He was not. I would not recommend this establishment. read more

We swung by here for a friends bday brunch and had a great time. The ambience is very chic and edgy. We were a large party and the server did really well with her fast service and suggestions. This is a tapas forward restaurant so we ordered a long list of tapas items. We also tried their mimosas and sangrias and both were really good. For the tapas, we ordered the patatas bravas, shaved Brussels sprout salad, buffalo chicken bites, chickpea stew, baked goat cheese and bread , stuffed mushrooms and bikini sandwiches. All were really good sans the chickpea stew which didn't stick out to me. Special shoutout to the baked goat cheese and the shaved Brussels sprouts salad, both were my favorite. We also ordered some paella (meat, seafood and the vegetarian version) but it didn't deliver. It was rather flavorless and disappointing. Our main disappointment was that this restaurant doesn't have the mushroom croquettes which lil baba-reeba has. Regardless, we had a great time and the food was promising so I will definitely be back. read more

See all

Quirky Spanish restaurant with delicious tapas, perfect to share in a large group. We ordered almost one of everything and it was all delicious. They have an insanely fast ordering system where our dishes were coming out as our group was still ordering! Our top dishes include: - Brussel Sprouts Salad (crispy, fresh sprouts and creamy dressing) - Torrijas with blueberry-lemon compote (sweet, fruity syrup on cheesecake-like french toast) - Catalan-style crystal bread (fluffy, pull-apart bread) - Patatas bravas (get two orders of this!! spice-covered crispy and soft potatoes) read more

See all

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! was exceptional! I was by myself and got a seat at the bar. The bartenders were always coming around and checking up on everyone. On the outside, it isn't much, but the inside reminds me of sitting in a European gastrobar. It was a lively atmosphere. I ordered the ibérico ribs, the piri-piri fried chicken thighs, and the beso durazno. The beso durazno is a non-alcoholic cocktail with a refreshing taste that is light on the tongue. The peach puree isn't too sweet and the added minty-ness in the drink kept it well balanced. The chicken was tender and moist. It had the perfect amount of heat without being too overpowering. The cilantro yougurt sauce was a pleasing balance to counteract some of the heat. My favorite dish had to be the ibérico ribs! They fell off the bone seamlessly, had a wonderful char on the surface of the ribs, a not-too-sweet honey glaze, and melted in my mouth! The salad it was sitting on top had some acidity to counteract some of the fat in the pork. The addition of grapefruit in the salad was thoughtful, but a char on the grapefruit would've helped it be more cohesive with the dish. Overall, I loved my experience here! read more

See all

Mezcal mule: love this drink, very Mexico, great add up with the smoked pepper powder, quite large volume Deviled egg: love the crispy bacon on top that gives a bit of crispy texture Chorizo wrapped date: sweet date does match with chorizo. But I was expecting more. Piripiri chicken skewer: soooo tender! A bit spicy with the piripiri! Could be elevated a bit more with more combinations of spicy flavors Spinach and manchego stuffed mushroom: really deep and sophisticated flavor! Actually I like it more without the lemon juice. The lemon light up too much. Paella mixta: pretty big portion. Flavors are decent. Just wish there's more pork shoulder and skin. Love the bean in it. Chocolate truffle cake: tiny portion but really dense and smooth texture. Only 4$ Really big area. Lots of tables. Nice half outdoorish sitting area. Staff's Spanish and knows the menu really well A bit pricy but worth it read more

See all

I love cafe ba ba reeba! Every time I go I get aix of favorites - like the deviled eggs and bacon wrapped dates - and try some new items and it never disappoints! I've loved everything I've tried and it's one of the restaurants in Chicago I'm happy to go back to read more

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Sangria flight - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The experience was cool and we had an awesome server. Everything was bite size and we weren't too hungry anyways. But we liked it alot ! Such a great weekend vibe ! I would be back. read more

See all

Had a chance to try this awesome place, and I'm so so happy we did! If you are looking for a fun tapas place with lots of variety and beautiful vibes, this is the place for you. Service here is nice and your taste buds will be happy leaving this joint! Once we were seated, we ended up ordering: * patatas bravas - crispy potatoes so well seasoned with the yummiest sauce. I could not stop eating this!! * date wrapped in chorizo - this was surprisingly delicious and a yummy bite. An explosion of flavor that you should try! * goat cheese in tomato sauce with garlic bread - this was crispy and crunchy - and was super flavorful with the goat cheese dip. The tomato sauce mixed with the cheese is really yummy * piri piri chicken thighs - these were super yummy and crispy. The saucey coating was delicious and tangy *garlic shrimp - this was my least favorite but this was shrimp in an olive oil sauce. The shrimp was a little chewy but not bad *mushrooms - this was absolutely delicious and a must order. Definitely try this!! Overall amazing experience and definitely worth giving this spot a shot! read more

See all

This was my first time at Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba as I've only tried the RN location for dinner once. I wasn't too sure what the hype was after the dinner but my friend said brunch/lunch is better so thought I'd give it another go and I'm so glad I did! Loved sitting outside in the covered patio area was definitely a vibe for a Sunday brunch. Service was on point and incredibly attentive. We shared a half pitcher of the pomegranate hibiscus sangria, chorizo mac & cheese, crystal tomato bread, ham croquettes, and spicy patatas bravas. I'm not sure if it's just my experience but the first time I tried the white peach sangria, I thought it was very watered down and didn't have much flavor.. and it was the same with the pomegranate hibiscus sangria. I guess I'm a little bit used to a more flavorful sangria so I don't know if this is just the style here. Anyways, a half pitcher shared between two is about 2 cups each which is pretty reasonably priced. I've tried the spicy potatoes before and I thought they were good but after all, they are just potatoes. The sauce that came with the ham croquettes were so good so I just dipped the spicy potatoes in that sauce because it complemented the potatoes more than the spicy aïoli the potatoes came with. The ham croquettes were really creamy and not too salty. Out of all that we ordered, I probably wouldn't the spicy potatoes or crystal bread again. Don't get me wrong, the tomato on the bread tastes so fresh but it's just the texture of the bread is a bit too hard. I enjoy more of a fluffy texture but obviously that's a me thing given it's called crystal bread. To our surprise, the most loved dish between the both of us was the chorizo mac & cheese. Wow.. literally explosion of flavor and the noodles were cooked so well.. it was al dente but with a nice soft bounce and the chorizo didn't ruin the dish with the saltiness.. it was perfect. I defintiely understand why people love brunch/lunch here at Ba ba reeba now!! It's such a vibe. read more

See all

As a regular traveler to Chicago, I've walked by Café Ba-Ba-Reeba a thousand times without going in. I've only seen the small outdoor dining area. Well, I was surprised by the multiple dining rooms when you get inside. Loved the décor and artwork throughout. I put a lot of weight on service, so we were exceptionally pleased to have Grace as our server. She did a great job of guiding us thru the menu and keeping the food and drink coming during Sunday Brunch. Gotta say those Cucumber Tequila Spritz drinks were awesome. So refreshing and easy to drink. I had a second, and almost ordered a third! With two of us dining, we started with the Patatas Bravas and Roasted Dates Wrapped with Bacon. Our second course consisted of the Baked Goat Cheese and Grilled Iberico Pork Presa. Everything was so authentic and delish. I loved the dates and Iberico ham. Wow! My daughter could have eaten the entire Baked Goat Cheese. I can't wait to return for a dinner with more diners, in order to check out more of the menu. Maybe try some Paella, that takes 45-minutes to prepare. read more

See all

Excellent ambiance, tasty food, responsive and friendly service. The seafood paella is worth the wait and note it is a heavy rice dish. The spinach stuffed mushrooms are a must. The kale salad is finely chopped although not my favorite. Try the beef tenderloin brunch tapa on an english muffin with egg. A plethora of sangria choices...the most variety I've ever seen with plenty of fresh fruit in every glass. read more

I love this restaurant!! A place that I keep coming back to. Great for intimate dinners, large groups, birthday parties, I've dined here for it all! Love their shishito peppers and patatas bravas. Service is always great too! read more

See all

Incredible restaurant week dinner here! My favorites were the chorizo wrapped date, pastas bravas, and pork steak. Beautiful restaurant, low lit, great ambiance. Service was fantastic! read more

See all

The place has a great semi outside seating area. The bar area is great for happy hour. The staff is friendly. Service is very fast. Went here just for happy hour but have been here years ago for Sunday brunch. It was amazing so here I am again. The croquette is very good, the bacon wrapped dates are amazing, the spicy potatoes are good, the shishito peppers were great not too hot with a great flavor. The fig and goat cheese was okay. The meatballs were juicy but need to have a little more flavor-spicy. I highly recommend this place read more

See all

I can't believe I waited so long to try Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! My best friend celebrated her 28th birthday there this past Sunday, and I was truly blown away. The restaurant was incredibly accommodating for our group of 15, and the service was absolutely flawless. This is a Spanish-style tapas and paella restaurant and here is how I recommend ordering: if you're planning to get paella (which comes in chicken, veggie, pork, or even combination options), be aware that the portions are HUGE! One dish easily feeds 2-4 people. Pair it with a variety of tapas, and you've got yourself one of the best Spanish-inspired meals in the city. Our group went all out ordering every single tapas item on the menu alongside 4 different paellas (one of each flavor). Not only did we have plenty to enjoy, but we also had lots of leftovers to take home. The Shaved Brussels Sprouts salad is an absolute must, and the patatas bravas are the true standouts. The potatoes are perfectly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and are served with a mouthwatering spicy dipping sauce (possibly hummus, but I'm honestly not entirely sure). The paella is mixed table-side and they provide small plates so you can mix, match and sample everything. It's such a fun experience!!! The paella was cooked to perfection and seasoned so well. I couldn't try the pork paella, but my friends said it was a tad too oily. The chicken and veggie were perfect though. The drinks are phenomenal, and the desserts are even better. I swear the cheesecake might be the best I've ever had. It's so creamy and melts in your mouth. With a great atmosphere and beautiful decor, this restaurant should be on the top of your must try list if you're ever in the Chicago area. I can't wait to go back! ~ Till next time! read more

See all

I came here with a friend for a Saturday brunch reservation. The indoor seating has a gorgeous sunroof over top, so plenty of natural lighting. Service was quick and friendly. The food was filling and tasty but nothing extraordinary. Definitely a vibey place for brunch and to try new Spanish cuisine. read more

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! - Chorizo Mac n' Cheese, Piri-Piri Fried Chicken Thighs, Garlic Shrimp - Spanish Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

apparently the country of Spain handed this place a stamp of approval! - absolutely love this $12 sangria flight sampler, either im misjudging the cup size or this is a way better deal than half a pitcher for $30 (we did that too, some wallet regrets) - the fried chicken thighs were actually jsut nuggets of crunch soaked in sauce. how are they so crunchy yet saucy?! it was paired with a calm almost nutty tasting cooking sauce too. loved these. - I loved the goat cheese in marinara sauce. the garlic bread it came with was delicious on its own, the dish was easy to share and one of their larger tapas. it may not be the most Spanish thing but gobbled her down - patatas bravas were...potatoes. very tasty but wish the sauce was served on the side as maybe 1/6 of the potatoes got any sauce as it was painted on one side of the bowl - absolutely huge beautiful eclectic restaurant with multiple rooms all slightly up and down from eachother a few steps. the service was attentive even with the 62839 tables! I will say the price range is a little high for what it is served, most dishes are carbs in various forms and will still cost you a check for 2-3 bites of carb. a classic risk with tapas read more

See all

One of my favorite places in Chicago... it literally never gets old. Classic Spanish tapas, a festive atmosphere, and wonderful service. There are NO bad dishes. Celebrate your birthday here. Take you family. Absolutely take your friends. Definitely take a date. Cheers! read more

See all

Our family was in St. Louis for a wedding. We had a relatively large group (~13) which is alway a challenge. My sister-in-law who lives in the city found this restaurant for us. I'm not a huge fan of tapas, but I have to say overall we had a great experience. Once you walk in the door the restaurant has a fantastic vibe. There were pork legs hanging above the bar, bright colored tiles, and aromatic smells in the area. The bar and restaurant were packed, so this is not a spot to just stop in on for a whim. For a large group we had to do a prix fixe menu. It was actually printed out and laid at each table setting. It was a really nice touch. The service was prompt and attentive. The portion sizes were good. All of the dishes were good with one or two that trended towards great. My wife got a sangria flight which was a great compliment to the dishes. The food itself was probably 4/5 stars, but the overall experience with the atmosphere, service, and attention to detail was 5/5. read more

Tapas was great, paella was terrible all rice, no seafood fun place with family and friends

This place was extremely popping and popular. Filled up completely on a monday night. Good prices. We ordered jamon iberico de bellota "pata negra." This was really price for a little but, but that's the going price for the ham. This ham was really nice and nutty. It went well with the cheese. The texture was really buttery and smooth. I loved this. The garlic bread dish was really good. The tomato puree was the best part. I loved the bold and fresh flavors, and the garlic bread was not dry at all. It worked well with the goat cheese. Calamari was also very well liked. It was very light breading but tender. It's not a crusty thing it's the nice breading that's like a light dusting. We also got the steak. It was really tender, but I would have liked more crust. Portions were medium and they hung the stake on a rod thing. At the bottom, the red roasted peppers were really soft and packed with flavor. Super tender Some of the other dishes were only OK. For example, the bacon wrapped dates were good but the dates felt a little dry. They weren't as mushy as I would have thought. The meatballs were ok, without any normally unusual flavor. We also thought the paella was ok. The texture was a bit too mushy, like there was too much water. But it still tasted pretty good. One big negative was the floors in the bathroom were sticky... that should be fixed. Overall this place was good and I would come back. read more

Food was outstanding. Everything came out quickly and hot. My real qualm is with the "waitlist". We arrived at 5pm thinking we could get on the list for a table and get a drink at the bar, there was not a single seat at the bar and after checking back with the hostess after 20 or so minutes of waiting she told us it would be about 20 mins. We told her we're going to a place next door that has open bar seats and she said she'd let us know when our table was ready. One glass of wine in down the street and 30 mins later we go back to open table to check if we've moved on the waitlist and nothing... but while checking we see there's an open reservation spot for 6:15?? So we quickly take that spot under a different name and head back. Just purely curious to see if we'd ever get called from the waitlist. We arrive give her my name and are sat immediately. It was very strange and my friend never heard back about the waitlist spot.... The staff were relatively nice, although we did feel rushed at times and the food and atmosphere were great. I'd definitely go back but would definitely going the reservation route. read more

Tried takeout from here, so can't comment on the service or ambiance, but the food was top-notch. I had the brussels sprouts salad and the patatas bravas, both of which were delicious. The kitchen was generous with the salad dressing, which is a pet peeve of mine at some other restaurants, and with the sun dried tomato aioli. Among the best tapas I've tried. The only thing that left me a bit taken aback when perusing the menu were the pintxos. A single chorizo-wrapped date or deviled egg? That seems a little stingy (and pricey, when you add up what it would cost to get three, which is roughly the serving size I've seen at other tapas restaurants). But that's a minor thing. Would totally return and spend money on their food again. read more

This place has been a favorite since I first moved to the city 15 years ago. Now a suburbanite, I make a point to go back anytime I'm in Chicago. The ambience is exactly what I look for in a restaurant. Bustling and lively, yet cozy and moody. The service has been consistently warm and attentive. During my most recent trip, we ordered a pitcher of the White Peach Sangria. It turned out to be about 6 glasses total. It's so fresh and crisp, not overly sweet or artificial tasting... it's impossible to be sipping on it and be in a bad mood. It's like drinking sunshine! We ordered our fave dishes: Stuffed Mushrooms, Deviled Eggs, Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad, Chicken Empanada, Bacon Wrapped Dates, Baked Goat Cheese, and the Meatballs. The Shaved Brussel Sprout salad is not only delicious, the portion is rather large compared to everything else. Same goes for the Stuffed Mushrooms. If we could only eat two of these dishes, we both agree it would be the Bacon Wrapped Dates and Bakes Goat Cheese. So if it's your first time and you're here for sone recommendations, I would definitely start with those! But really you cannot go wrong here! read more

See all

Great happy hour service, got to try everything , lively and friendly. Food was tasty and good for what it is and the price. 3.5.

service was absolute crap. the restaurant had our server spread too thin. we sat adjacent to the server station, that's left of the bar. meanwhile our server spend most of her time running to the front patio area where most of her tables were. because of that we hardly saw her. everything took three times to ask for the same thing. there were at any given time 2-3 servers hovering around the server station. no other server wanted to help us because we weren't their table. i ordered a post meal cappuccino. after waiting for 20 minutes i canceled it but it still showed on my bill. the correction took another 15 minutes. absolute crap show of management. The food was OK nothing extraordinary, but everything was tasty. read more

See all

Delicious Spanish food!! I would definitely recommend coming here and getting your fix of Spanish food. There were three of us and we shared a handful of plates and it was absolutely delicious. Every plate was packed full of flavor and left me wanting more! Our waiter was really helpful and patient with us. With so many options it was a tad difficult for us to pick exactly what we wanted so we appreciated him being patient. The place is also huge! There are many seating options but be aware it was packed when we went so I would recommend a reservation. read more

See all

Strong Latin atmosphere with authentic Tapas and Pintxos dishes. Food arrived when ready and was shareable with the whole table. I appreciated this aspect of the dining experience as it allowed each diner to try multiple flavors. Stuffed mushrooms, scallops, sweet potato's and sangrias all contributed to a great meal. read more

Always an amazing time here. Matt was great attentative caring and sweet! We could not have asked for a better experience and in a happy hour regular . They do happy hour everyday 4-6! read more

We had been here years ago for a wedding rehearsal dinner. I decided to take my husband back and it did not disappoint. We went for happy hour and were lucky enough to get a table at 5pm. We had a reservation and the hostess let us know if we found a spot and were happy with having dinner there that was fine and would change our reservation. We forgot to tell her and she found us and asked if we were all good before changing the reservation which was great. The servers were all kind in serving us and trying to find us a spot to sit. The food was so good! We did the happy hour tapas and ordered 2 of most everything on the menu. Our favorites were the roasted peppers and the Crystal bread. It was decorated perfectly inside. With murals on the walls and intimate lighting. Would recommend. read more

See all

First time here and I am sold. Will come here again. Tried seafood paella, garlic shrimp , Brussel sprout salad , iberico ribs, bacon wrapped dates , Patatas , peach sangria, ordered too much food . Nothing is disappointed. Definitely will come again read more

See all

Amazing happy hour! We got seated at the bar area and basically ordered everything off the happy hour menu. Personally really liked the peri peri chicken and the bacon covered dates(and I don't like dates usually). We also got a wine pitcher, which was only $22! Great stop to go to before venturing out to the cold again, because that alcohol will warm you up, lol. Super cozy interior as well, and the bar tender was great! Would come back here again for more read more

See all

Our family came her to celebrate my birthday, only 2 of the 5 of us, had been here before. We had a reservation for 9 pm, got there early, and found seats at the bar. The bartender was very kind and gave us each a taste of the sangria special flavor, which was pineapple. 2 of us ordered the sangria flight, which included 4 types of sangria. 2 of us ordered a Spanish wine flight, 3 glasses of red wine (or white). There was also an old fashioned, which was strong and very good. We were sat at a large table. It was my first time trying tapas, which are small plates of various foods. We tried a bunch of items, including -Chorizo wrapped dates -Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce, plus extra garlic bread -Bikini sandwiches -Chicken empanadas -Beef empanadas -Hanger steak -Scallop special -Iberica Presa special -Large mixture paella (5 large portions) -Chocolate truffle dessert All of the items we tried were delicious, I can't decide which was my favorite, but many thought the date wrapped in Chorizo( you can eat just 1 and be satisfied) was their favorite, another favorite was the Scallop special and the bikini sandwich. The Hanger steak and Iberico pork were cooked perfectly. The empanadas were delicious and fresh. The goat cheese in tomato sauce w/ garlic bread was delicious. We also ordered the large mixed paella, with Chorizo and chicken. It was delicious and plentiful, it was served from the pan tableside. For dessert, we had 2 chocolate truffle "cakes" and our server, Vincente, brought a flan for my birthday. Vincente was very nice and attentive. I would definitely come back again when I'm in town! read more

See all

We had an engagement party in one of the private rooms. So there was a pre fixe menu and bar package that was very easy to pick and book. The service really gets a shout out, everyone was so great, it was a surprise and everyone played along. The food and drinks came at a good pace, you never had an empty glass. The food was amazing, everything course after course was great.I stuck to Red Sangria which was really good, nicely balanced. Some of the most memorable items were the Chorizo wrapped dates, the pop of manchego in the middle was perfect. I love the charcuterie boards, they have incredible olives. The croquetas were perfectly crisp and creamy inside. The Tortilla was perfect! As good as any we had in spain. The beef skewers with horseradish were tender and flavorful. The garlic shrimp had a nice touch of heat from the red pepper flakes. For dessert the chocolate truffle cake was so fuggy, creamy and delicious. Could not have been a better night, everything from the service to the food was wonderful. read more

Such a great spot for dinner & drinks! The vibe is moody and perfect for a date night (; highly recommend the sangria!! Our server Chloe was so helpful in explaining the menu and giving recommendations read more

See all

This place is amazing and huge! We came in here impromptu, and were able to get seats at the bar, even though the entire restaurant was packed. We ordered a whole bunch of different foods, and they came out in a steady progression. Everything was delicious, and the cocktails were amazing, including the sangria flight. read more