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    Pequeno Mercat

    3.8 (1.6k reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Pequeno Mercat Photos

    PEQUENO MERCAT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Pequeno Mercat

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    Gigantism bean salad
    Monica A.

    I had the fig and cheese crostini's, gigantas bean salad and trout with a nice glass of sangria . The fig was a nice appetizer to get me started. Since this is a tapas restaurant, they were just the right size . Helpful and swift service. Would recommend

    Charisma H.

    Quick service and the bar is pretty. If you see a show at the auditorium theater, a glass of cava is on the house. The bartender was very nice and made sure the service was speedy so I could make it to my show on time.

    Iberico Pork
    Anne F.

    I was in Chicago for a conference. My husband came to keep me company during the trip, not the conference. I was in the mood for Spanish because I hadn't eaten a paella for a while. I found this place that really close to the hotel we were staying at. I initially made a reservation but we had discussed possibly not going so I cancelled the reservation. We ended up going anyways, haha. No reservation. The restaurant is inside the Blackstone Hotel, which was a very fancy looking, high end hotel. The restaurant was not full so we were seated quickly. We got the chicken pinxto (pronounced pin-cho), which is like a skewer and we got the tuna tartare. Both were excellent - especially the sauce on the chicken. For entree, my husband got the Iberico Pork and I got the mixed paella. He really liked his pork - it was tender, flavorful, and a second, I thought it was a beef. The paella was really excellent. I love seafood and I love the rice on the bottom. Despite it being a small, they're quite large so I recommend sharing with someone. Unfortunately, since my husband doesn't like seafood, he wouldn't try any of it. While we don't live in Chicago, I would definitely recommend to the out-of-towners in search of good Spanish cuisine.

    Ocean Trout
    Mollie W.

    I came across this tapas restaurant on Yelp when looking for a place to meet family for dinner while visiting Chicago. Luckily it was in the same building as my hotel so that saved me another Lyft ride. It was easy to make a reservation, and our table was ready upon arrival for four of us. We began with cocktails. This place is not inexpensive, but you pay for a shared experience and some really tasty cuisine. We started with olives - pretty basic and only $5. The papas bravas were very good, as were the brussels sprouts. The ham & fig salad was heavy on the ham, light on the fig for $21. Tasty empanadas and enough for four of us to get a big bite. The charcuterie board was full of yummy items to share, and the cocktails were tasty. We rounded out the dinner with the Ocean Trout. Delicious! Excellent service by Carlos Z. At close to $400, we finally got our fill of tapas and drinks. So glad I discovered this place to enjoy.

    albóndigas (Meatballs)
    Reese S.

    We were staying inside The Blackstone Hotel and thought we'd try the restaurant. We did not have a reservation; however, they had space for us and sat us at a table. Staff was very helpful and kind when guiding us through the menu. We ordered 5 tapas total (2 people) and were full by the end of the meal. The best dishes in my opinion were the fresh ham: they sliced it right there near our table, the croquettes with a delicious sauce, and last but not least the Gambas Al Ajillo (Shrimp Scampi). These were delicious, great texture, and we prob would have ordered more of them. These only negative thing was the croquettes weren't hot (temp wise) but great flavor. The meatballs I was not a fan of because they had like a bbq smoky flavor but had I think Cotija cheese and chives on top, the combination did not taste well. The Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes) the cream on them was too heavy and lacked flavor to balance the spicy sauce. Overall a great meal to have in our hotel and the service was wonderful.

    Croquetes de Jamon
    Nicki C.

    Popped in for a quick bite and drink before heading to solider field for a show. The tuna tartare was a hefty serving for two! It was fresh and tasty, kinda had a mild kick in it. The croquettes were tasty and crispy. The short rib empanadas were soooo good! Filled with a lot of meat and cheese and the chimichurri was fresh and a bit tangy, which I love. The red sangria was really good, not overly sweet or dry, it was perfect to wash everything down! The only downside was this tomato flatbread special, I didn't take a pic as we returned it after two bites. Something was off on it, idk if the tomato's weren't ripe or maybe too ripe but it wasnt good enough to keep eating. We told our server and asked for potatas bravas instead (those were good) and our server seemed kind of offended. He was friendly at first but after we asked to swap out the flatbread for potatoes his attitude changed. It's not like we chewed him out for it or were nasty about it we just didn't care for it and wanted to try something else instead. It was a bit weird at the end lol

    Food menu
    Nelson T.

    The plates are shareable. The service is likable. The food is TASTY. I think the focus is on the portions and quality of the food. 3 adult men shared each order. We had about 7 plates including the paella and other seafood oriented dishes. Being inside the Blackstone hotel, we get safe to walk over and enjoy dinner. The wine list is in Spanish, so be prepared to know your drinks. Enjoy!

    German R.

    Stayed at the Blackstone and found myself hungry without reservations anywhere. Decided to eat at the restaurant in the hotel lobby, and I'm glad I did. The food and service were great! The tapas hit the spot, and the wine washed it all down smoothly. I'll say the bar tender is not a people person, and he made the experience kinda weird. Once we were seated, the service was much better. Love the hotel, so I'm sure we'll eat and drink here again. Just won't sit at the bar, didn't like the bartender.

    Matthew M.

    An amazing 3 course meal with plenty of delicious vegetarian options / service was amazing and so was the atmosphere

    Charcuteria Del Mercat
    Josie W.

    Mercat always has delicious food! Great place for tapas. They recommend 3-4 plates per person; however, we definitely over ordered!! My favorites I recommend is the charcuterie board, the bread, the shrimp, patatas bravas and the ribeye (although you can't go wrong with the other choices either). The ambiance is a cool vibe and the drinks are delicious. Overall, good wine choices at a fair price. I am not a fan of the white sangria (but I think it is because of the mango liquor they use). Service is great and the waiters are knowledgeable regarding the menu. Overall I would recommend this restaurant for some great tapas!

    croquettes
    Jenny T.

    My friend and I came here for a Saturday brunch. We had a reservation for 11am and were seated upon arrival. The restaurant is located within a hotel, but the signage to get to the restaurant were clear. Food: We both had a mimosa to start, and they were tasty! I ordered the eggs & potatoes for breakfast along with the croquettes. I asked if I could upgrade my potatoes to the patatas bravas, but that was unavailable. The eggs and potatoes were still good. The croquettes were small, but really good. I would order them again. My friend ordered the eggs benedict and a side of bacon. She enjoyed her food. Service: Service was friendly and quick. We were given the mimosas on the house because we were celebrating a birthday. That was nice of them! When our food came out, the kitchen put my friend's bacon on my plate for some reason. Since I am vegetarian, I had to send it back. They were happy to remake my breakfast. They remade my friend's bacon as well, but they asked if she still wanted the bacon from the plate, so double bacon! TL;DR - Good food with some miscommunication for food, but overall good service

    NaywriChi W.

    This is part of Mercat a la Planxa and it's on the first floor. Pequeño means "small" in Spanish. This has a few table tops and several seating. I had a Chai Tea. The staff and service is pequeñoriffic.

    Paella de Verduras
    Kamakshi K.

    Loved this cute little tapas spot in south loop! I enjoyed the ambience even though it's inside a hotel, and the drinks were very strong and good. I especially loved the vegetarian paella. The server was super helpful in choosing drinks and tapas, and I look forward to stopping by here again!

    Shrimp

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    8 years ago

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    Page 3 of 41

    Pequeno Mercat Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pequeno Mercat

    How long does it take to finish one of the tasting menus?

    It took us about 1.5 hours to get all of the food!

    Is the restaurant kid friendly? For lunch? I understand dinner is prob more of date night

    Agree with previous poster. Bar on one side of dining room, folks dressed up for fine dining, higher prices, no high chairs in sight. This is for couples or groups of business people visiting town, not kids, imo.… 

    How are the vegan options at this place?

    They have some really good options including tomato bread, this mushroom dish and the veggie paella which I think is vegan as well.

    View All 4 Questions

    Ema - Salmon bab.

    Ema

    4.3(2k reviews)
    1.3 miNear North Side
    $$

    I LOVED my meal here! Ēma (Ay-mah) brings some glamour and glitz to the Mediterranean dining scene,…read morewith an airy, elevated hotel-lobby feel that still doesn't demand a dress code. Dresscode: Smart Casual / Casual Noise Level: Medium (it gets buzzy after 5:30pm) Thursday night Happy Hour was lively, so it took about 10-15 minutes for someone to come around, but service was attentive once we got going. The food is where Ēma really shines. From the Happy Hour menu, the Charred Eggplant Hummus and Crispy Potatoes were generously portioned and great for sharing. On the main menu, the Indian-Mediterranean fusion Bhel Hummus was a party for my taste buds, while the Hot Honey Halloumi and Chicken Kefta rounded out the table nicely. The halloumi is more of a side than a main, but that sweet-and-salty hot honey combo was chef's kiss. For our finisher, the Chocolate Torte knocked us out. Decadent, delicious and chocolate with lots of depth. Overall, Ēma is an excellent spot to order a bunch of dishes for the table and get an elevated meal without feeling stuffy, and delicious without taking itself too seriously. DO's: - Make a reservation ahead, especially for happy hour 4-6pm - Treat apps like small plates, order 2-3 to sample - Entertain their wine list, they have a lot! - Bring vegetarians here, there are plenty of options DON'Ts: - Dismiss the desert menu. It's fantastic and shareable! - Forget to ask for extra pita with the hummus! - Miss out on the LettuceEats loyalty points (check-in with your server before paying your check)

    Ema has a great atmosphere and a lot of really good bites. I have celiac disease and appreciated…read morethat most of the menu is gluten free (they have a dedicated GF fryer and knowledgeable staff). The lamb and beef kefta was tasty but very dry. The tune and watermelon salad and hummus were awesome. We were disappointed with the level of service. We were seated 30 minutes after our reservation time and waited even longer to be greeted by a waitress. Our wine took a while to come out and we had to request our check twice.

    Photos
    Ema - Ema tables and bar

    Ema tables and bar

    Ema - Tuna & Watermelon*  june 2026.

    Tuna & Watermelon* june 2026.

    Ema - Inside

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    Inside

    Arbella - Whipped feta was sooooo good!

    Arbella

    4.4(704 reviews)
    1.3 miRiver North, Near North Side
    $$

    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.

    (Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

    Photos
    Arbella - DJ Adam Pecho bringing down the house

    DJ Adam Pecho bringing down the house

    Arbella - Crab rangoon

    Crab rangoon

    Arbella - Special menu espresso martini

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    Special menu espresso martini

    La Bodega - Seafood Paella

    La Bodega

    5.0(15 reviews)
    0.2 miSouth Loop

    When I visited Southern France, I dipped my toe in San Sebastian Spain. Unfortunately, I didn't…read morehave time to do the true Spanish tapas experience. I was very happy to learn that I could achieve a similar experience without having to travel to Spain. I found out that a Maestro Jamonero Cortador (Master Gourmet Ham Carver from Spain) was doing a pop-up in Larchmont Village. The overall experience was amazing. The rooftop venue was classy and Pedro Liebana's team quickly set the food stations. Spanish music and wine quickly set the tone for the evening. Pedro Liebana was in full Spanish Maestro Jamonero Cortador attire. His staff quickly placed the additional tapas in serving plates and uncorked delightful Spanish wines. The evening was filled with great conversation and delicious food. While Spanish music filled the background, Pedro professionally carved ham to ensure that each person could experience this delicious Spanish ham. While I didn't stay until the end, I found out that he had a flamingo dancer perform that evening. I regret that I didn't stay because I really enjoy watching good flamenco. I highly recommend any event that Pedro Liebana organizes. He ensures that he creates a menu that will satisfy the most discriminating tastes. You will experience an event that exploits all of your senses.

    What a treat to have Pedro cater a baby shower for me, what a great gift my friends surprised me…read morewith! I was immediately taken back to San Sebastian, he is professional, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and educational. Everyone in attendance loved this special addition to the party! The bread, crackers, tomato sauce, and many other sides were absolutely delicious as well. I want to have a party just to have him cater again, it was that good!

    Photos
    La Bodega - Black Paella

    Black Paella

    La Bodega - Paella

    Paella

    La Bodega - Vegetarian Paella for 25 guests

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    Vegetarian Paella for 25 guests

    Tapas del Lago

    Tapas del Lago

    4.4(78 reviews)
    24.5 mi

    Wow, this place was absolutely delicious! We were seated outside and were helped right away, which…read moremade for a great start to the experience. I ordered the Tinto de Verano, and it was really good. It was a bit strong and reminded me of a sangria. For tapas, we got the #21 shrimp dish, which was packed with flavor. The combination of sauces and spices paired perfectly with the shrimp. We also ordered the #35 calamari, which was equally delicious. The calamari was light and airy, and the accompanying sauces added even more flavor. We also shared the patatas bravas, which were crispy and had a nice little kick to them. Overall, the food was excellent, the service was attentive, and the atmosphere was really enjoyable. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes!

    First of all, I could not make reservations because apparently they don't take it for less parties…read moreof four people. So we came here on a random Friday night to test our luck to get a table at 7 o'clock for two people. We got lucky and got to sit inside because that's where we wanted to sit although they do have sidewalk or outdoor seating as well. I thought sitting inside would be cooler, but I was wrong as all the doors and windows were open and I don't believe the AC was on at all. Well, the menu is pretty extensive. I will say that a vegetarian could definitely eat here as well as anyone else. This is our first visit here and as you can tell from the photos ordered quite a bit of food. And typical top of style the portions are pretty small, but they are meant to be shared. It was actually too much food for two people who were already hungry. Some of the standouts were definitely the meatballs and the salad salads. The jamon iberico was absolutely incredible. Not pictured was the picture of sangria we ordered. We got the rosé and to be quite honest with all of the heat. It actually watered down way too quickly. And it also came in a plastic picture, which was a bit of a turn off. The shrimp with garlic was good, but the garlic was hard to taste because it was also covered or doused in a lot of tomato base or tomato sauce. I was really looking forward to a very clear buttery or olive oil sauce that was saturated with garlic. The mushrooms were OK as well, but again too much tomato in this dish that I'm not used to. The potatoes were also very tasty and well seasoned, and the sauce on it was just right. I think this is a good option for people who want top us in the suburbs however, I will say that I hope they do some tweaking to the recipes as well so that they have something that truly makes them stand out and unique.

    Photos
    Tapas del Lago - Blanco reserve

    Blanco reserve

    Tapas del Lago - Meatballs

    Meatballs

    Tapas del Lago - 1906

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    1906

    Pequeno Mercat - tapas - Updated September 2026

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