The execution of every dish is well thought out and amazing. The way that they have the have kitchen set up let's the diner see how fresh the process is. I tried cod al pastor and the octopus dish. Each could be included in my favorite dishes of 2018. Chef Baylee's did it again! read more

See all

Dinner was amazing!!! The server was friendly and offered suggestions that were perfect! There were five of us so we ordered a variety of plates and shared them. We ordered a second polenta because it was so delicious. The braised short rib was so tender it didn't need to be cut. We also were a bit pressed for time and they were extremely accommodating. We did t feel rushed or stressed out. read more

Leña Brava - This dinner was amazing! We enjoyed all of the dishes! - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Ceviche and margaritas are incredible. Staff is very safe with COVID but in a really nice way. Highly recommend!

I dined here last week with some girlfriends for a holiday get together. My one friend has been here before and loved it so I was anxious to check it out. To summarize, the food was meh and the service was atrocious. I will not be back, which pains me as I generally love Rick Bayless establishments. To start off, the first time our server came by she acted like she couldn't get away from our table fast enough. She was super short with us, as if she hated our table from the start. When I asked her what some of her favorite dishes are (I always like to do that) she simply stated what the 2 most frequently ordered dishes were. That's not what I asked and is an entirely different question. She was very short with her explanations to our questions about the dishes and was not at all helpful. When we told her we were ready to order dessert she just walked away from the table without taking our dessert order. Totally ruined the vibe and honestly the whole experience. I will say that the food runners and the guys that filled our water were so friendly and were chatty and funny, which did help make up for our server's rudeness. I wasn't much more pleased with the food either. The yellowtail belly ceviche & the Coctel Verde literally tasted identical. We couldn't tell the difference between them other than that the latter had shrimp in it. We also tried the Michoacan Avocado and the flavor profiles were too similar to the other 2 cold dishes we tried. All in all, they were indistinguishable and disappointing. For hot plates, we got the Duck, Short Ribs & Spaghetti Squash. The duck was so spicy none of us could eat it. The short rib was good and tender but a bit bland and underwhelming. The squash was probably the best thing on the table. For dessert we tried the coconut and chocolate, which was the highlight of the meal. For all of the above plus 3 glasses of wine (total for the table) our bill was over $250 for 4 people. Totally not worth it and overall was just a huge disappointment. My friend that had been before was sorry she recommended it to us because she felt our experience was not what she has had in previous trips! Maybe it was an off night but I won't be back to test that theory. read more

My partner and I sat at the bar. A slim male strawberry blonde bartender could care less about our drink order and after ordering an appetizer, two entrees, a dessert with the second drink order f****d up. Tells us after dessert we're cut off because of the manager saying we slurred our words which in fact we weren't. We've been coming to this restaurant for years. We've had great servers in the past yet the bar service was shit. After this experience I never want to come back which is ironic when my partner and I first spoke inside about bringing friends next time. Fuck you and your service. read more

Another great hit from Rick Bayless and of no surprise to me at all!! For starters we came here a week into opening and pretty surprised the only flaw I found was initial delay in service. But after a while things began to move pretty smoothly. We started with sipping on LEÑA FIRE - Leña Wahaka mezcal, Ocho Cientos sotol, Ancho Reyes, yellow Chartreuse, Torres Orange, fresh lime and LEÑA ICE - Leña Wahaka mezcal, yellow Chartreuse, lime, cucumber, serrano. I would say I enjoyed the Fire more than the Ice but definitely a stronger drink than what I would normally drink. For starters to wet our pallet we had the Aguachiles - CLÁSICO Sashimi-grade Hudson Canyon diver scallops, spicy muddled cucumber+cilantro+lime "broth," fresh serrano chile, avocado, red onion. This dish was light and refreshing. Just what we needed to cleanse the pallet before diving into the next few flavorful dishes. The most impressive dish was the OCTOPUS "CARNITAS" Slow-cooked octopus "carnitas" char-seared on the grill, lime-pickled onions, frisée, warm bacon dressing. The octopus was smokey with just the right balance of bacon flavor. The char added a great texture with the octopus still moist and tender. Next we had the HIRAMASA WITH MUSHROOMS AND HOJA SANTA Baja Seas hiramasa baked with five mushrooms and herby hoja santa, three herb-roasted tomatillo salsa. This was a earthy dish and full of flavor. We also tried the BLACK COD "AL PASTOR" Wood oven-roasted Baja black cod with "pastor" marinated (red chile, achiote, pineapple), sweet and sour pineapple-shiso salsa, spicy Napa "salad". This had a little heat and the tart pineapple added a variety to the dish. Cooked perfectly and presented eligantly this was a wonderful choice. The most surprising and not to be missed side dish was the BUTTER-ROASTED PLANTAINS Ripe plantains wood-oven roasted with butter, thick cream, homemade fresh cheese. Just typing this makes my mouth water. The crisp exterior with caramelized sugars and the creamy roasted plantain were phenomenal. This was the by far the best side dish I have had. It definitely reminded me of Miami and the great Cuban food you can find there. We enjoyed all this amazing food with a few addtional beverages.... the SARONG SONG - CH rum, guajillo chile, fresh lime, sparkling water was a great second choice. Overall, I can't wait to be back and also to try the new addition to West Loop next door. read more

See all

Solid four stars for Rick Bayless - and would have bumped to 5 stars if their elevator hasn't been broken that night (I am a temporary gimp w a broken foot and their bathrooms are on the basement and second floors, and I only had my scooter, no crutches that night.) However everything we ate was very well done, flavorful and delicious. The striped bass is a must-try. They said it comes deboned but we ran into a few extra bones so just watch out for that. The ceviche maki was very good, atmosphere is nice and we saw Rick Bayless himself while there. The food was memorable and would definitely come back! read more

See all

Wow it was delicious! We ordered Salmon aguachile, short rib and the chicken and for dessert we had the caramel tart. Service was amazing our waiter was very attentive and his recommendations were great because we loved the food. Will definitely come back!!!! read more

Leña Brava - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Seafood extravaganza! Celebrating Christmas, Anniversary and New Year with our daughter Erin Lynn. We were in foodie heaven at Lena Brava. Thx to all for your over the top service. Especially Cesar Aguilar, the general manager and long time friend of Erin's. Perfectly prepared dishes and upbeat atmosphere made for this perfect dinning experience.. Cha-Cha-Cha! From the: PINEAPPLE, GOAT CHEESE, SALSA MACHA AGUACHILE Grill-roasted pineapple, orange lime broth, Prairie Fruits Farm goat cheese,spicy hazelnut salsa macha, knob onion tops- unbelievable flavors ~to the: LEÑA CEVICHE Hawaiian albacore, fresh lime, ginger, ripe Mighty Vine tomatoes, picholine olives, Baja olive oil, spicy green chile, cilantro~ Refreshing in every way. The Over-sized baked chips were the perfect vessel to carry the many delectable ingredients~ Another unforgettable dish - THE MICHOACÁN AVOCADO Creamy sikil pak (smooth pumpkin seed dip), slow roasted sun gold tomatoes, citrus segments, herbs, toasted tlayudas bits Next the HIRAMASA, PEPITAS, KOSHO LAMINADO- Baja Seas hiramasa yellowtail, güero chile-lime kosho, Baja Precious olive oil, toasted pumpkin seeds - a culinary experience like no other. OYSTERS -Shucked to order, served with citrus and chile shaved ice, smoky-spicy salsa negra, herby green-chile adobo - chile All the dishes matched perfectly with the Mexican red wine blend - Vena Cava - unexpected visit to wine heaven - who knew Cesar was a Sommelier as well. Your wine selection to pair all our dishes was perfect- Another amazing dish: SCALLOPS, SUNCHOKE, PEANUT Fire-seared Hudson Canyon sea scallops, peanut mole (ancho & guajillo chiles, toasted peanuts, sunflower seeds), creamy sunchoke, bonito flakes, peashoot- Smooth, incredible flavors that danced on the palate. The BLACK COD "AL PASTOR" Wood oven-roasted West coast black cod with "pastor" marinade (red chile, achiote, pineapple), sweet and sour pineapple-shiso salsa, spicy Napa salad- never experienced such a delectable dish. Accompaning the Cod was a non-seafood dish for Erin Lynn~ BRAISED SHORT RIB, OAXACAN PASILLA SALSA Braised Creekstone short rib, cauliflower mash, smoky-spicy Oaxacan pasilla salsa - tender and amazing. Also in accompaniment with the above the roasted root vegetables (baby carrots, turnips, fingerling potatoes), pasilla chile-black garlic sauce, winter black truffles, creamy emulsion of homemade fresco cheese & black pepper, crispy maitake mushrooms- You'd have to visit to experience these one of kind Mexican dishes. In honor of my husband and I ~ a candle lit puff tart filled with blueberries, apples, and pineapples and topped with Mexican vanilla bean ice cream and sprinkled with cheese. - Anniversary dinners will never be the same. WOWZIE Extending much appreciation for the love you put into every delicacy we were served last evening. We will be back. read more

See all

The food is still decent given Rick Bayless doesn't own it anymore but beware if you order any drinks off the menu, it will cost triple the amount of the drinks ON the menu. My server did not tell me that if I ordered a spicy margarita off menu and it was gonna be $35. I would save your money and just go to one of the actual Bayless restaurants instead. read more

Went to try their restaurant week menu, as on paper it looked like a nice sampling of their offerings. When we arrived, we were told our table was not ready, and the hostess pointed toward a door behind her, and said we could have a drink and a seat in the lounge and wait for a table. So we headed back through the door she pointed at, but it was even louder and more crowded than the space we were just in. Confused, we went back to the hostess who again said we could wait back in the lounge. So we want back to the lounge and spoke to that hostess, who was much nicer, and told us we could wait upstairs, that there was space up there. We opted to wait outside, because it was a lot quieter. Just when we were getting too cold to wait outside anymore, we came back inside and were told our table was finally ready (at least 15 minutes - we lost track of time). A few minutes later a manager introduces us to the menu. She was very polite (although no apology for the wait) and did a great job explaining the menu. We were on the fence about ordering the RW menu, because there were some things on the regular menu that looked really appealing. But it seemed they were really trying to sell the RW menu as a great sampling of favorites, so we went with it. The ceviches we tried were very tasty but very tiny. The crackers that accompanied the ceviche were completely flavorless. The crackers almost ruined the ceviche they were so awful. The second course was the fideos, and it was also extremely tiny. The pasta is served in a maybe 1/2 cup ball jar, and it is maybe 1/3 full. So you do the math on that one. Tiny. After this second course we realized we are going to have to get some tacos after this "dinner". We are also waiting 10-20 minutes between each course. The kitchen is clearly behind, but so is our server, who only stops by after our courses are served. The longest wait is for our main entree, which takes easily 25 minutes, for which she stops by to tell us the entrees should arrive any moment, and they do, seconds after she apologizes for the delay. The entrees - the black cod and the shortrib - boring and also quite small. Maybe 3 oz of protein total (that may be generous) and just not very exciting or flavorful. The dessert was also a huge letdown. The free form tart was burnt. Every time I went in for bite, all I tasted was burnt flavor. The ice cream and the brittle or whatever that crumble was were the best parts. The float was okay, but extremely sweet and just not that exciting. I would have preferred something with chocolate. Overall I found the entire experience lacking and the food very meh. Sadly, this has been my experience with other Rick Bayless restaurants. I really want to love them, but they are so disappointing. My favorite is still Frontera at the O'Hare. That's a pretty sad sentiment. read more

5 solid stars!! This review is specifically for their restaurant week menu which we tried this week. A lot of restaurants don't show up for restaurant week because of the lower cost of the meal but Lena Brava did it so well!! Would definitely recommend if you've been wanting to try and want to go for a cheaper experience. We started with 1/2 dozen oysters, super fresh and came with amazing 2 flavor packed sauces with a delicious granita!! we saved the sauces for our next course :) Me and husband shared most of the restaurant week menu so we got to sample most of the dishes. Both options for ceviche were really top notch. The lime sauce coating the ceviche was definitely drinkable, I ate every last bite! The verde was mostly shellfish and the other one was all fish, both delicious, do it! The fideos were a nice intermediary dish. Essentially a small serving of pasta with a rich spicy sauce. Presentation was great in a small jar with participation involved (shake to mix components). The main course was really spot ON! My husband got the short rib which was presented on the bone, melt in your mouth tender!! I had the vegetarian option which was maitake and cauliflower. The sauce was really impressive, served with corn tortillas to mop it all up! One downside was the small piece of maitake. Desserts were again really great. The Cava sorbet pomegranate dessert was a great alternative to a heavy sweet dessert, good if you like champagne. The apple torte was great with a crispy puff pastry and loved the crumble on the side. Service was unobtrusive and attentive. Would def come back for the regular menu although most of what we had were also on the regular menu. Upstairs was more intimate, downstairs more lively b/c its next to the open kitchen. The cocktail lounge upstairs overlooks Randolph and is a fun place to have a drink! read more

So I live in Chicago and we have some of the best Mexican food anywhere, why I gotta pay how much for this? I was wrong, the flavor profiles are incredible. The cured Salmon was delicious and I have had enough salmon to feed a black bear. The spices used added a wonderful flair to it. The big fish was fantastic. A lot of nice textures and tastes. The Plantains were supper yummy and cheesy gooey. Brussels sprouts - I am sorry we had a bad relationship before. This place is wonderful! read more

In our opinion, one of the better restaurants we visited in the city. We went on a Tuesday night and although very busy, the host was able to find us a spot at the bar to eat there. The bartender was super attentive and very helpful. Cocktails were very delicious. We went during restaurant week so took advantage of tasting quite a few dishes. The Leña was AMAZING!! The fideos were super yummy and the entrees...oh my, super delicious. The short rib was tender and we'll flavored and the black cod "al pastor" was outstanding (my favorite part of the meal). The dessert tart was perfect in taste and size. My husband and I walked out but not before adding our names on their waiting list to return in a couple of weeks. I can't wait to take family so they can experience what we did tonight. Great job!! read more

Staff was very attentive! Didn't have my first beer choice on rotation anymore so did a great job recommending and sampling others. Had the scallops ceviche as an app, delicious! Had the short ribs, so tender and flavorful falling off the bone. Friend had the cod, also delicious. Came with flour tortillas so we made tacos with them. Food was great, would def go back! read more

We have a wonderful family dinner here. The Diver Scallop Agauachiles , Pineapple Aguachiles and Lena Fire cocktail were the most memorable selections of the 15 or so dishes we consumed. The Cauliflower Steak as a vegetarian option however was embarrassingly bad. Still and all a great addition to the Chicago dining scene. read more

Leña Brava - Pineapple Aguachiles - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I love this place! They have a very innovative menu and the space is beautiful and large. The service is always great here and the staff really know their stuff. For the cocktails: the laid back was delicious and refreshing. My husband had the sarong song, a rum based cocktail, which was even better. Ice: We started off with the avocado and verde. The verde was pretty good but I'm not sure I would order it again. The avocado dish was extremely fresh and the habanero gave it a great kick. Fire: I ordered the swordfish for dinner and it was outstanding! The rice that comes with the swordfish might actually be the star of the dish. It's extremely creamy and has a tangy kick to it. The swordfish, just like all the seafood here is very fresh and flavorful. I also tried the scallops which were delicious! All the different flavors mix so well together. The black cod "al pastor" has a sweet yet spicy kick to it. Everything was phenomenal and I will definitely be back to try some of the other items. read more

Amazing food!!! Great service! Went there last week, i had no idea Bout this restaurant, they took care of me super fast and the food was unique. I wish that the portions were a little bigger, but the taste is amazing read more

Lena Brava is a restaurant inspired by the food of Baja California - fusion of Mexican and seafood. We're big fans of Rick Bayless and have already tried both Topolobampo and Frontera Grill. We decided try Lena Brava this time since we wanted seafood for our anniversary dinner. Lena Brava didn't really have that intimate vibe. The restaurant is right next to Cruz Blanca just like how Topolobampo and Frontera Grill are right next to each other. The place was so loud and chaotic, and we had a hard time hearing each other. The staffs did a well job making our dinner a memorable night. Our server was so helpful describing the dishes and knew what to recommend. She even offered to take photos for us. My favorite was the lobster, but a half size was definitely not enough. They give you tortillas for each entree. I prefer without the tortillas because I really wanted to get the flavor of each food itself. For dessert, we had a wood-oven tart which I thought was decent. It's just a fancier version of a pie. Overall, the food was just decent for the price and definitely doesn't beat his other restaurants. I would give 3 stars for the food, but I gotta give another star for the service. read more

See all

Honest review: this is the second time i came n i loved it foods amaizthe second time i came i didnt have a recommendation so i sat at the bar n it was the greatest u could watch the ceviche being made the bussers the runners n the manager are the nicest people ever the bartender on the other hand sucked but i would request christian the mexican server hes amaizin i would recommend that u order the more unique dishes instead of more ordinary ones like the duck is a million times better then the short rib best things: uni pancake/ pinapple aquachile/ opah watermellon/duck/ scallop macha/ black cod al pastor/ striped bass nayarit style/ sweet corn sundae/ devils food expresso/ cherry and chocolate/ peach tart/ chocolate and coconur Cured salmon $18 didnt like this. The aioli wasnt flavorful or decadent n none of the components did anything to enhance the dish the actual salmon wasnt anything special the dish was extremely salty i watched the people put like a huge handful of sea salt so all the reviews about this dish being salty ate true Salmon smokey peanut salsa $28 worst dish of the nite. The salmon was over cooked n didn't have any skin on it which is the best part. The sauce was so bland I was expecting like a really decadent peanut sauce but didn't taste any peanuts at all the other components didn't do anything to enhance the dish Uni scallion pancake $27: this was the best uni dish/ raw seafood preparation I ever had. If u don't like uni or never had it this will turn u into a uni fan. The scallion adds a great sweet flavor to the dish the crema adds richness the pickled peaches adds acidity n the uni adds saltiness this is best example of complexity the only issue wish they put more uni Pineapple 15$ like all the other reviews say this will be the best thing u ever eat. I would best describe it as a Mexican cheese plate. The goat cheese adds a tangy creamy component that goes perfectly with the sweet grilled pinapple just add more cheese plz the best part is the hazelnut crunch if i ha done critique is to make it more spicier Scallop ceviche $18 this was good but not great. It was really flavorful but the chorizo and al pastor flavors overwhelmed the scallop. I loved the addition of the pineapple cause it added sweetness the pickled onions added acidity cut through the smokiness jus add more if they would have removed the chorizo it would be a better dish Opah watermelon $15 amaizin the grilled watermelon adds an amaizin sweet flavor the pickled watermelon rind added acidity only thing jus add more heat to the dish Black cod alpastor $27 amaizn the cod was cooked perfectly and the sauce was so flavorful. The pinapple added sweetness to combat the smokey flavors n the salad cut through the richness Stripped bass 48$ loved this it was alot better then the lobster u could get two flavors got the nayarit style n the yucatecan flavor. I liked both flavors just the yucatecan flavor had way to much spices in it so it overwhelmed the dish. The nayrit style was so flavorful without overwhelming the dish the salad on top cut through the richness. Be warned there are bones in this fish so i would recommend eating it with ur hand n it was a little burnt i wish the skin was crispier n was skin side up so the skin wouldnt get soggy Blueberry tart $15 liked the pare tart flavor better. The icecream was the best part it was really acidic n cut through the richness the problem was there wasnt enough filling n it wasnt sweet enough Sweet corn sundae $10 amaizin the icecream was sweet with a perfect corn flavor the blueberry sauce was really acidic n it cut through the sweetness the best part was the ginger that added a spicy note the plums were so sweet loved this dessert Peach tart $12 amaizin picture a fancy peach cobbler with more flavor. The tart was nice n crisp n the peaches were nice n sweet the mustard seeds are the best part they add acidity n crunch loved the cream for creaminess n sweetness Devils food and expresso 12$ one of the best desserts i ever had its so unique the black garlic icecream is amaizin n cuts through the sweetness of the dish plz put more though the crema was soo good it added sweetness the chocolate cake was amaizing supper moist would order this again read more

See all

Thoroughly enjoyed first evening at food. We went with the tasting menu. The lime ceviche was one of the appetizers, and the highlight of the meal. At a two top along wall, with very dim lighting. That's why I am dinging a star. The eye eats too. Team based service, and very attentive. Again, food great, but our wall seating was too dark. PS. I'm not a margarita fan, but I sampled my wife's hibiscus flavored margarita. Very nice flavor, not too sweet, and good strong tequila flavor. read more

Really tasty & interesting menu. We went for the Arroz & mejellones and they were amazing, we shared the plate & it was definitely big enough with the addition of a couple of sides. We sat at the bar, great to see the food prep & enjoy the hustle & bustle. Will go again. read more

See all

Lena Brava is a great spot. A bit like a slightly less Mexican Topolobompo with a dash more energy. We had the Scallops and Octopus and they were spectacular. Cocktails were delicious. We sat at the bar and couldnt have had a better time. Bravo, Rick! read more

Quite expensive for just about OK food. Menu items are well thought but they are missing the flavor. read more

Wasn't planning on going to Lena as the reservations seem to be full for at least two weeks out since it just opened but by accident saw an open reservation and took it. You can smell the fire as soon as you walk in which really makes for a nice atmosphere, The tables somehow seem to feel cramped but an observation not a criticism but kept feeling very close to the other tables. the staff was very extremely friendly. Now let me preface that I am not a Rick Bayless fan boy, I think frontera is way over hyped. Now this was different , I am a ceviche connoisseur (if there was such a thing) having had it in almost every South American country. I can quite honestly say that the Lena ceviche was fantastic! I could have had that for my full meal, the chips that come with it are not a good complement, they taste like burnt paper but oh the ceviche soooo made up for it, I might have to go back just to have ceviche as a meal. I also had the black cod "Al Pastor" which really stood out for the flavor added by the wood burning stove, the portion size seemed almost like a tapa but as far as the dish I loved it. So definitely check this place out, am definitely planning to take guests and go back often. read more

Leña Brava - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I don't remember such a great meal. We started with the oyster appetizer. Then we shared the sea bass specialty and had the grilled carrots as a side. This was plenty of food. The server was outstanding too. read more

Leña Brava - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We came in with fairly high expectations being that it's a Rick Bayless restaurant. The food, drinks and service all exceeded our expectations. Truly an amazing dining experience with authentic and unique flavors. The ceviches were top notch; the black cod, scallops, quail, braised short rib, avocado App, and all the desserts were just beyond words. You can't put into words... go try it all!! I like be that dishes are designed to be shared. Enjoy the Lena Fire and Ice cocktails that perfectly compliment dinner read more

Leña Brava - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had the yellowtail ceviche, avacado laminado, black cod al pastor, duck, cauliflower, octopus pibil, braised shortribs, cured salmon laminado, half chicken, fingerling potatos, wood oven tart. Standouts were the duck, shortribs, tart while the octopus was slightly overcooked read more

Leña Brava - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great place to share food. They'v got small plates, medium plates and large plates with a variety of food. I love the mixed drink menu which has some really creative drinks. Overall the experience was good and our waitress was fabulous. However we were told by an unfriendly hostess that we could not carry our bar tab to our table. The ceviche is a must try as well as the scallops, halibut, and short ribs... read more

Leña Brava - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely wonderful. The food and service was excellent! They also have valet parking which made things so much easier. I'll definitely be returning. read more

For starters I had the Lena (which was albacore with several toppings) and the oysters. I enjoyed the oysters, but thought the albacore was bland...so let's just skip over that. The drink was the sombra sour (their take on a pisco sour....soooo good.) The main course is what took the cake. I ordered the Striped Bass from the Tablas section. If you do not have two people, and are not a fan of leftovers...do not order this dish and it's huge. This fish was so big, that it can be sliced in half, and each side can have different flavors. So I had one side with the Lena flavors (herbal green chile flavors) and the other was Nayarit styled (roasted garlic, soy, other tasty stuff.) Both were awesome, but the Nayarit style was insanely good. They even bring you tortillas so you can turn the dish into fish tacos. Let me tell you - best fish tacos I ever had. To go with it I had a side of fingerling potatoes. In.heaven And the answer is yes....yes I would go back without hesitation. read more

I went here for a team dinner with 5 co-workers, and we shared several small plates. Ceviche, chicken, sea bass, duck, brussel sprouts, potatoes, short rib, crab salad, and too many cocktails (though I had craft beers brewed by their sister restaurant next door). Every dish ranged from good to amazing. Service was friendly, patient and competent. Price was actually less than I was expecting. I'll be back! read more

Leña Brava - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Another one of the places I tried out during restaurant week and it did not disappoint, infact it lived up to and exceeded my expectations. Of course, this was based on the limited/selected restaurant week menu (4 courses for $44). I went with a friend so I did get to try more than just what I ordered. Appetizer: Lena ceviche was very good. It almost seemed like a sushi with the rice roll part. Hmm, I wonder how good it would taste in a sushi roll. The pineapple was very good. It may have seemed from the menu how in the world they would present/combine all the items listed but in the end you could taste everything, it was amazing. Delicious! 2nd course: The fideos didn't seem to be available in the main menu but was one of the best parts of the restaurant week menu. It seemed odd presented in a glass jar but I guess that was required for the mixing. The creamy Chipotle sauce was to die for, I would buy a few bottles right away if they did sell it. I asked! Main course: Cod ... Melt in your mouth. How did they cook it so perfect?? Awesome pineapple salsa. The napa salad was a ok but complimented the meal well. Tacos were provided for main meal and they did go good with the cod meal blending everything together into biteable portions. The pie dessert was ok, maybe because I am always used to having chocolate although the sorbet was excellent. Seemed fresh, not too tart and the cava combination worked out just perfect. I went in for restaurant week but I think I will be going back to try some of their regular menu items. read more

See all

I am a foodie, but eating crickets was never the plan, UNTIL I CAME HERE! Our waiter knew the menu inside and out and helped us choose several choices. Aside from suggesting that we try the crickets because they taste like corn nuts, he also suggested drinks that paired perfectly. I can't wait to go back. CREATIVE !!! read more

Leña Brava - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Another stand out Rick Bayless restaurant. Prices are expensive, but not unreasonable. Wonderful tequila drinks like at all his restaurants. There is a seafood focus here. Being from Boston, I was skeptical, but I had a fish dish that felt like eating a steak. I can't describe it, but it was like a bone-in filet. It was fantastic. Homemade tortillas to make your own tacos. So order two different entree if you're with another person, and you can make two kinds of tacos, and go back and forth. I liked the decor; it works for a date, with friends, or for work. read more

Been here twice. Both times it was outstanding. Just pretty flawless execution and great ingredients in every dish we got. Cocktails and beer options are also great. Don't miss out on the tasty side dishes. read more

Such greatness here. I am not a huge seafood person at ALL. So I came here very skeptical I would like anything on the menu. This place made me change my tune about how seafood can be prepared to be enjoyed by all. We had a little of everything. Ceviches and a great little salad to start, then the Chicken a La Pena and another meat dish (some kind of beef?), followed by sides of plantains and potatoes. And then we had the world's best dessert, the espresso cream with brittle and garlic ice cream. Sounds disgusting, but the garlic was a very slight hint, if any at all, and the combination of the three was a match made in heaven. I'm still dreaming of that ice cream! Also, the cocktails that we had throughout the dinner were superb. The entire 5 course meal was amazing. The presentation was great, our server was very knowledgeable and no detail was spared. You are truly getting an experience here like no other. Rick Bayless knows what he's doing. Can't wait to come back here. read more

Rick Bayless continues to prove to Americans what they are missing when they see Mexican food as Taco Bell and 7-11 microwaved burritos. This place - in the hip heart of the West Loop - is Baja-centric. We had a whole grilled fish with handmade tortillas and smoky mezcal cocktails. You'd probably have to go to Mexico to get better. What a persuasive ambassador - and what a great place. read more

I had no idea what to expect from Lena Brava. It does have a great spot restaurant row and it does come from wonderchef Rick Bayless, that's all I knew and that's all I needed to know. Because when your friend (self-proclaimed RB fangirl Renita M) suggests dinner at LB and makes the reservation....you just go. I loved the digs. Sophisticated and casual, upscale beachy. We were seated on the 2nd floor--which was very nice...although window seating might be the best seats there. But speaking of seats, as we left, I noticed counter seating where you could watch some of the ceviche-making action--maybe those seats would be cool too. Now I'm getting ahead of myself. The menu--wow the menu. The food is meant for sharing. Our server mentioned that even the main dishes are big servings and can be shared between two. We opted for two from the cold side--Hiramasa Ceviche and Bloody Maria Coctel, and two from the hot side--the scallops and the octopus "carnitas". The colds were served first and when I took my first bite, I knew I was coming back here. The flavors were so fresh and every ingredient came together so well. They were accompanied by chips--hand made crispy chips and not ashamed to say we finished both dishes. The scallops and the octopus dishes were served with house made white corn tortillas. The scallops were huge and cooked perfectly. The octopus was tender, not at all rubbery. And the salsa macha on the scallops and the slow roasting of the octopus just lent itself to enhancing the flavors of both. So well executed. Again, not ashamed that we finished both dishes. We shared a dessert. And because I was enamored of the pic I saw on IG, we got the coconut rice pudding with mango. I am not a huge rice pudding fan, but cooked with coconut, served with fresh mango--total winner. There drink list has nice list of cocktails, non alcoholic beverages, wines and craft beer from their in house brewery next door. The verde vacation (non alcoholic) was refreshing. Service was fun and friendly, but not overbearing. Cant wait to come back to try more. read more

Man what an overpriced and overwhelming disappointment!! I don not leave bad reviews very often, but this place really pissed us off! Do not order the ribeye tomahawk!! 90 bucks for tough shity cold steak. I guarantee that this was medium grade choice at best! Only thing good about it had a nice char and was cooked med rare, as ordered. Nothing had any smoke flavor to it! Which was another disappointment. Also the Maki scallop was a colossal failure! I've had better sushi at jewel or marianos. Short rib was ok, but it's almost impossible to fuck that up. Oh the grilled pineapple with goat cheese! What the fuck was that! A few pieces of grilled pineapple, oh and a dollop of goat cheese in the middle. That's it!?!?! 18 bucks I think. So pissed off when I left! I don't think i,'ll ever eat at one of Ricks restaurant's again. read more