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    Cafe El Tapatio

    4.0 (432 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Cafe El Tapatio Takeout or Delivery

    Cafe El Tapatio Photos

    CAFE EL TAPATIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe El Tapatio

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    Cubano torta
    Rod D.

    If you're looking for Mexican cuisine that is above par and more of a sit down restaurant, Cafe El Tapatio is your place. They take aunthentic cuisine and up their game by dressing it much better than their competition while tasting delicious at that. The service is comforting and the staff is really inviting! They give you suggestions on what to order.

    The place was very pretty, the food was good and the staff, Ruby & Manny were very nice. My boyfriend and I split the 3 taco dinner & the 2 churro dessert that came with chocolate & guava dipping sauces. Attached is a churro place called the Churro Parlor where there are more flavors / dipping sauces. Both the restaurant and Churro Parlor are owned by the same person. With our meal, they were accommodating, since I didn't want some stuff on my taco, so they put it on the side. It was a good amount of food, especially, since we wanted the churros for dessert. Thank you! Gracious!

    L.A. Califa Burrito
    Jason S.

    This was a solid California burrito. I was surprised to see how large the burrito was when it arrived to the table. The steak was cooked well and it had thick potatoes inside of it. Flavor overall was good but a tad different from the California burritos I've had on the west coast

    Pulled Chicken Chimichanga Carne Asada Tacos
    Shania B.

    Me and my family were exploring the small town and figured to try a new restaurant so we decided on coming here. Finding the place and parking was a breeze, the ambiance of the restaurant was very nice. I loved the decorations, and the seating next to the windows. The service was nice, and attentive. We didn't have any problems with the waiters and waitresses. But the downfall of this place was the food. Let's start with the chips & salsa. The chips were good, the salsa actually had a kick to it! I was pleasantly surprised. Though if you can't handle spice, I'd stay away from it. Now onto the guacamole, it was bland and had no taste to it. The presentation was pretty but that was about it. For one entree, we had the carne asada tacos. Though I'd mostly call them cilantro tacos. There was barely any meat on the tacos, and plus the tacos were very small. The price for the portion size definitely isn't worth it. You get a little bit of rice and some beans. The rice is rice, nothing special. The beans were pretty good, I enjoyed how smooth they were. Moving onto the other entree which was the chicken chimichanga. It was decent, it wasn't bad but if I did ever return I'd try to go for something else. Maybe I was expecting something more. Overall, I'd go somewhere else. Especially for the price range for the level of food and portion controls.

    Menu
    Tony U.

    This a very fun Mexican restaurant with excellent quality food and top notch service. If you're a Football Supporter, the staff here are pro America and Real Madrid. The complimentary chips and salsa are very good and they will keep filling your bowl until you've had enough. My buddy and I polished off 4 bowls easily. For appetizers, we had Nachos with carne with guacamole. Excellent! For the main, I tried the Caldo de Pollo. This is a chicken soup with lots of veggies in a very hearty broth. The piece of chicken was a large breast piece and it was awesome! The vibe in here is comfortable, informal and fun and on a hot day is the perfect shaded shelter from outside's roaring heat and humidity. Cannot wait to come here again as it is not too far from the Sun Casino, the best casino in Illinois in my book.

    Beatrice A.

    First time coming here! The chips and salsa I was told are free- for the first basket. If you ask for more they charge. I ordered the enchiladas verdes. They were pretty good. I loved the look of the restaurant, very nice inside. Going on a Friday they were PACKED. The margaritas were weak and tasted like barely any alcohol in them.

    Birthday sombrero!
    Morgan T.

    Food was amazing and the service was so attentive! Made my boyfriends birthday a very special one:)

    Caldo de Pollo

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    The food and service were excellent. Was easy to get a table at 6pm on a Friday. Would definitely go back.

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    10 months ago

    Great food. A bit expensive. Margaritas are reasonable during happy hour. Good for a casual date.

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    2 years ago

    Super delicious and interesting food, very friendly wait staff. Oh and the drinks were really cool and good.

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Cafe El Tapatio

    I haven't been here but I'm looking to throw my dad a 60th birthday party-do you have a room or a space where this is available?

    Hi Pattie! For questions revolving around parties please contact Joe @ drinkseats@gmail.com

    Do they have a kids menu?

    Yes, just ask.

    My wife is looking for some awesome, authentic tortilla soup? Do you have that at your restaurant?

    YES, WE DO!

    Do you have a catering menu?

    Yes We Do! Please email drinkseats@gmail.com for more information.

    Can I bring my small dog with me to the patio area?

    Yes of Course!

    View All 6 Questions

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    Social Inn

    Social Inn

    4.3(120 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    Social Inn has been on my to-try list for some time.  My husband and I finally had a chance to…read morecheck it out on a Monday evening recently.  I made a reservation via Tock that I already had an account for years, so that was simple. On a weekday evening, as expected, the restaurant was not busy.  We were promptly seated at a 4-top table (2 × 2-top) against the right wall, with some other 2-tops on both sides.  Like many reviewers had mentioned, the venue was beautiful, modern and chic. There were 7 tables occupied, including us.  The music that they had was not too loud, just that customers' conversations were amplified by the box shape open dining area.  If we focused enough, we could hear every conversation if we wanted to.  This was obvious when a table of about 6 women got seated at a table near the front door, some of them laughed and talked very loudly.  My husband and I just found it funny and didn't let that bother us.  However, when the restaurant is filled on busier days, it might be a different story. Our server, Patrick, was very nice and attentive.  Since they did not list drinks on their menu except those with alcohol, I asked him about non-alcoholic drinks.  After a brief "discussion", he asked me to leave it to him to make me a drink with mango.  He came up with a beautiful drink that was good and refreshing, with some mango flavor.  It was Virgin Paloma on our receipt for $8, which was reasonable.  He was very polite and checked in on us several times at appropriate times during our dinner.  The pace of the dinner was good, we spent a total of an hour and 15 minutes in the restaurant. Patrick might be the only waiter serving all the tables that evening, though. I also ordered Grilled Octopus ($22) which was very good, tender and flavorful, but was a little too salty to my taste.  The small pita bread wedges were warm and fluffy with some crispy edges, the beet hummus was creamy, and everything was delicious and tasted fresh.  I generously shared 2 little bites of octopus with my husband and I finished the entire plate, it was so good!  My husband really liked his Spiked White Fish ($29) and I shared a bite of that too.  He also had a House Salad for $6, that was a very good value.  He enjoyed a glass of Sauvignon Blanc Crossing ($12) too.  We also shared an order of Crème Brulee ($8), that was creamy and cooked perfectly.  We ordered a takeout order of Rigatoni with Sausage ($23), that was a good portion, and was still delicious and al dente the next day after being microwaved. I am so happy that we found Social Inn - a hidden gem in Plaza del Prado, it's not far from home, with comfortable and beautiful ambiance, excellent service (from Patrick), an attractive menu with enticing food (fresh ingredients and appealing plating), and reasonable prices, we will definitely be back!

    It's been a while since I went to Social Inn. They used to be open for lunch as well as dinner, and…read morethat was easier for me to get to. We were in the area late in the day and remembered Social Inn was open, so we went. We ordered a variety of items. I had the Social Burger (at least 1/2 pound), we also ordered their chicken dinner salad and the beet hummus. Everything was delicious. I did order my burger medium and it was delivered well done, but it was still good. They also have one of the best gluten-free buns I've ever had. I do wish they were open at lunch time still, but I understand they need to be open for their busiest hours. Social Inn is a great option when you are in the Glenview area.

    Photos
    Social Inn - Host counter

    Host counter

    Social Inn - Beet Mezze

    Beet Mezze

    Social Inn - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Jackman & Co - Devils on Horseback & Swedish Meatballs

    Jackman & Co

    4.0(61 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    It was surprisingly crowded on a weekday night so we sat at the bar. For my drink I got a spicy…read moremargarita and it was really good--very refreshing with a kick. For appetizers, we got the sesame rolls, and they were super soft and fresh. I also tried bacon wrapped dates for the first time (so I have nothing to compare these to), and they were alright but I thought the cheese was sort of overpowering. For food, I got the brick chicken and it came with a side of crispy cottage potatoes. The chicken with the garlic thyme jus went well together, and the potatoes were so crispy and delicious. The sticky date cake almost tasted like pumpkin bread because of the spices I was tasting. Overall the food was good, but I wasn't blown away by anything I ordered. Although our server was really friendly and helpful, I felt that the service was lacking and it took awhile to be checked on to order our drinks and food, but maybe they think it's best to just leave customers alone and allow them to take their time. He also gave us our check without asking if we wanted dessert or anything else. He apologized and made sure to ask if there was anything else we needed before we left which I appreciated.

    We visited for a birthday celebration and had a solid experience overall! We started with the…read moreartichoke dip; while it was very flavorful, the portion was quite small, a bit too salty, and didn't come with enough chips (though we easily ordered more). For mains, the salmon was cooked to absolute perfection--juicy and not overdone at all--and the smashed burger was wonderfully juicy and paired great with the waffle fries. Tip: Happy hour runs Monday-Friday from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, but it's strictly bar-seating only. If you are celebrating a birthday, your dessert is complimentary! Our waitress, Ann, was incredibly attentive and friendly, and the noise level was low enough that we could actually hold a conversation. There's valet parking!

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    Jackman & Co - Inside dining room

    Inside dining room

    Jackman & Co
    Jackman & Co

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    Tavern on The Glen - Menu

    Tavern on The Glen

    3.7(29 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    The server was inattentive and did not get anyones order correct…read more The food was acceptable but ordered a salad with chicken. No chicken. The other two got the wrong sandwich. Not recommending

    A few things have been in and out of this spot -- as is the case with many of the locations in the…read moreGlen --hoping this one stays. Really nice bar with a few TVs for sporting events -- but I wouldn't' call it a sports bar. Friendly local crowd and attentive bartenders. Menu is an interesting one, with some large and delicious apps. Along the way and through a couple of visits I've enjoyed literally everything I've had there. From the app menu, props for the eggplant stack (unique presentation), the hummus trio, and the octopus -- all of which were solid, all of which were enough to be an entree. The entrees are a range of sandwiches (predictable and good), pastas (loved the mushroom pappardelle), chicken (ok, haven't tried them yet -- can get chicken entrees anywhere!), steaks/chops (the pork chop is excellent as is the skirt steak), and seafood (bravo for the swordfish -- which I don't see around these parts much, and the seafood platter). Service was a little spotty at the tables, but that was at an early visit and perhaps it's been worked out; bar service truly outstanding. Glenview is becoming a more competitive restaurant market with several new entrants (although many of them in the old downtown); hoping this family-owned/operated place succeeds the way it deserves to!.

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    Tavern on The Glen - Hummus trio

    Hummus trio

    Tavern on The Glen - Eggplant Stack

    Eggplant Stack

    Tavern on The Glen - Greek Cobb

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    Greek Cobb

    Kahala Koa

    Kahala Koa

    4.4(33 reviews)
    7.2 mi

    This was a spur-of-the-moment choice but ended up being very fun for drinks and dinner!…read more I LOVE tiki bars and my husband noticed this one in the area near where we happened to be on Google maps, so off we went! We had about a 15 minute wait for a table but it gave us time to peruse the menu in the car. They offer many classic tiki cocktails, a page full of seasonal drinks, a page of "Designated Driver" mocktails (nice to have an option for something other than just a Shirley Temple!), Polynesian appetizers and entrees, and then Lola's Pizza. For drinks, I got the seasonal Gingerbread Painkiller and my husband got a Green Flash mocktail. (Pro tip on the seasonal drinks: check the regular cocktail menu to see how many skull and crossbones are listed under the regular version of your drink, if applicable, to see if it's a super strong one!) Mine was creamy and spicy but quite powerful. Props to our waitress, Makayla, who checked if anyone at the table was epileptic, because normally the "flash" part of my husband's drink is a strobing LED ice cube; I actually am photosensitive, so it came in the drink in non-strobe mode and just glowed an alien green. She said this was the first time it had actually paid off to ask, but I'm glad she did! The food was tasty: I ordered rumaki, an old-school appetizer of bacon-wrapped water chestnuts that you don't see very often these days, and he got loaded fries. We also got a small Lola's Pizza, which was very good, with a crisp but also chewy crust. The atmosphere here is pure tiki, with a fountain, swag lamps, bamboo, and Hawaiian-influenced Christmas music playing for the season. Lots of big groups here; everyone seemed to be having as good a time as we were! What a laid-back gem in Arlington Heights! We'll be back. Mahalo!

    Discovered this place 10 mins from me! The decor is a little too much in my opinion but great…read moredrinks and vibes. Parking is a little tight too but I parked across the street at Mugs pizza and walked over. The service and staff were great! Big menu as well, next time will try the food. The restrooms are a little small too.

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    Kahala Koa - Painkiller drink - 2 skulls

    Painkiller drink - 2 skulls

    Kahala Koa
    Kahala Koa - Shark Attack cocktail

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    Shark Attack cocktail

    Yana's Speakeasy - Paper plane

    Yana's Speakeasy

    4.8(27 reviews)
    8.0 mi

    Yana's has a really cool vibe. When you get there you'll ring a bell and a "special " door opens…read moreinto the restaurant. The ambiance, from the lighting, music and decor is very seductive! We had caviar and drinks that were served in fun glasses and were topped with pretty little flowers. The whole experience really blew us away! I could've stayed all night but it was a stretch on the pocketbook. I truly recommend Yana's especially if you want to impress your friends. Great experience all around!

    We recently made our way to Yana's for an after dinner cocktail on Valentine's…read more They take reservations which is nice for a cocktail spot! We had reservations for 9pm and were able to be seated straight away. We arrived to find the address brought us to a barber shop. Fortunately, my husband had done some research and knew the drill--we made our way to a organ against a brick looking wall. On top of the organ was a bell--we rang the bell and shortly after the brick wall swung open and a woman came out to greet us. She had us play a tune on the organ and then brought us back into the speakeasy. The vibes are pitch perfect. Dimly lit with candles on tables and artful films playing on screens. We loved it. We were greeted straight away and brought water. You can also get a full meal here which we did not know but noted for our next visit. They had a special Valentine's menu as well as their regular cocktail menu. For my first cocktail, I got the paper plane which was light, lemony, and lovely with the adorable touch of a small paper plane pinned to the cocktail with a clothespin. For my second, I got one of their Valentine's specials which was essentially a Boulevardier made with a small float of mezcal on top. What an amazing addition to this classic cocktail! Truly, gave it added dimension, depth, and smoky flavor. I loved it. We also enjoyed their Valentine's dessert special, which was princess cake. It was a lovely blend of tart raspberry and warm almond--we loved it! The service was lovely throughout our experience. Get to it!

    Photos
    Yana's Speakeasy - Valentine's special

    Valentine's special

    Yana's Speakeasy - Milada's Aura

    Milada's Aura

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    Entrance to the speakeasy

    Cafe El Tapatio - mexican - Updated May 2026

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