BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY Mesón Sabika is a truly beloved restaurant with whom I have a complicated history. ______________________ ***REVIEW #1,300*** ______________________ As hundredth milestone reviews go, this one is deeply personal -- I was supposed to have my wedding & reception here in March 2020.  That never happened due to things far beyond my control (damn pandemic) and I've been not-so-secretly pining for that moment ever since. I wound up tying the knot with the love of my life at a nearby park but without any of the fanfare, guests, food, liquor, live band, florist, or photographer.  We had already placed a sizeable deposit on a food & bev package, so when Mesón management abruptly raised the prices on us by 20% due to "volatile market pricing", we accepted a buyout in the form of gift certificates. Between dine-in and carryout orders, over the next 18 months we ate here a LOT.....I'll admit it was fun treating family & friends to dinner with reckless abandon.  Each experience was great, from the service and ambiance to the small plates and sangria.  We did get pretty ill following one visit, although I suspect it came from another guest in the vicinity, rather than a bout of food poisoning. The picturesque mansion - built in 1847 - is elegant but cramped inside, so I recommend dining on the gorgeous patio if weather permits.  Prices for tapas are the same regardless of lunch or dinner, although they do have entree specials unique to both meals (and their delicious paella is exclusive to dinnertime). Without going into crazy detail about each cold dish (of which there are 15) or hot tapas (of which there are 23), I'll call out a few highlights: the bacon-wrapped dates ($14), the duck confit ($16), the cold garlic potato salad ($15), goat cheese w/poached pear ($15), cured salmon in dill cream cheese ($14) and grilled skirt steak ($19). Their paella is great and feeds 3-4 people; I recommend the 'campesina' ($25 with chicken & chorizo) unless you're big on seafood, in which case the 'mariscos' ($42 with shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops, and octopus) might be up your alley.  Desserts are splendid, especially the crème brûlée ($12) and the pear tart ($12). The servers are all male (it's a Catalan thing) and very attentive.  Order a pitcher of white or red house sangria and let all your troubles melt away until you're set adrift on memory bliss.  Or until they kick you out. * TL;DR * Just like the 'tarta de chocolate' on their dessert menu, Mesón stirs up feelings in me that are poignantly bittersweet. On one hand, I've been here 10 times and have nothing but praise for the kitchen + atmosphere.  On the other hand, whenever I see the staff prepping the adjacent event space for a wedding, I get wistful and cry a teeny bit inside.  Couldn't the COVID outbreak have waited one more month, until after my nuptials? The restaurant biz is tough with plenty of overhead, but Mesón is still chugging along and serving the same excellent tapas since 1990.  Anyone who's ever dined here can attest it's a gorgeous venue with spectacular food and professional service. I highly recommend Mesón Sabika for lunch or dinner, and if you're considering having a wedding here, do it.  Hopefully you'll have better luck than me. read more

Let me start with the setting because it genuinely earns its reputation. The grounds are stunning and you can immediately understand why people book weddings here. It's a beautifully converted old mansion with manicured outdoor spaces and an elegant interior. The white tablecloth atmosphere delivers on the promise of a special night out. That said, if you're coming expecting a transportive Spanish dining experience, temper those expectations. A few decorative plates on the walls aside, the space reads more traditional Southern manor than Iberian escape. Charming, yes. Spanish, not really. Now the food, because that's where things get interesting. The cream of rice soup was a genuine highlight. Buttery, brothy, deeply comforting. The kind of dish that makes you lean in after the first spoonful. The baguette served alongside it though? Stale. Sliced too far in advance and the butter arrived ice cold, straight from the fridge. At $100 plus per person, that is a detail that matters. The Queso con Pacanas had beautiful individual components but suffered from what became a recurring theme of the night: strong flavors competing rather than collaborating. The pungent cheese steamrolled everything else on the plate. The wine soaked pears showed up again later on the Chuleta de Cerdo, and while the idea is lovely, serving a pear half unsliced in a fine dining context means you're asking the guest to do compositional work that the kitchen should have already done. The Jamón Iberico is the most expensive item on the menu and the meat itself is worth every penny. Nutty, buttery, exceptional on its own. But the parmesan blanketing the flatbread crisps overpowered it completely, and a lone raw garlic clove sitting on the plate with no instruction is not fine dining. Our server was sweet enough to explain you're meant to rub it on the cracker yourself, and she handled it with grace, but that explanation should not have been necessary. The Patatas Bravas were well seasoned with a solid aioli but landed mushy rather than crispy. A miss. The Gambas a la Plancha was the clearest win of the evening and not by coincidence. It was the simplest dish. Well seasoned shrimp, bright lemon butter, nothing fighting for attention. Sometimes restraint is the whole answer. The Chuleta de Cerdo had a beautifully cooked, smoky and peppery pork chop and a mushroom sauce that genuinely complemented it. But then the cinnamon heavy root vegetable puree pulled the whole plate in a completely different direction. Our server was genuinely wonderful, funny and warm and attentive even while training a new hire. She was the clearest bright spot of the service experience and the one thing we left talking about fondly. We left the rest of the meal a little baffled. The head chef hails from Valencia, and we were told that influence shows in the food. Maybe it does and our palates just weren't reading it. But between the confused flavor profiles, the inconsistent execution, and a cuisine identity that felt more scattered than intentional, we walked out laughing and scratching our heads more than satisfied. Beautiful place. Lovely server. The food just never quite found itself. read more

Mesón Sabika has a sense of occasion built into it. Set inside a historic mansion, it brings a romantic, old-world charm that makes it feel tailor-made for date night. The setting alone is memorable. The tapas are very good, thoughtfully prepared and ideal for lingering over, while the drinks add a playful, polished touch. It's a place that balances atmosphere and food well -- and does both with style. read more

They used to have a location in Northfield Illinois decades ago, and this is where I used to go. Since they shut that down, I have never been to the one in Naperville. Came on a random Monday night and luckily I made reservations because even for a Monday night where there is no holiday there was actually quite a few people having dinner here. However, the outdoor space as well as a private event space were all empty. We had an early seating at 5 PM or 530 and ordered quite a few dishes as you can tell from the pictures there were three of us. We were smart to order the paella early because it does take up to 45 minutes for them to cook it. Something that was a relief for one of the people in my party was that they liked that they did not burn or overly toast the rice on the paella. The other benefit of the paella was that it was definitely full of filling. There was no hunting for the seafood or for the chicken, which was great. All the tapas that we ordered were absolutely fantastic and delicious!!! Everything came out very quickly and very fresh and hot. Even the desserts were so delicious. We had to order two different ones despite all the food we had very minimal leftovers of the paella and one tapas and Everything else got cleaned up. The only initial concerns frankly wore that when we arrived, despite being very empty service was quite slow. And then only to learn that our waitress actually had over six tables assigned to her, which frankly I think is too much. She was very hospitable, personable, and perky and friendly. So not her fault that service was slow. It was great that they have a huge parking lot right next-door although I am sure during summer it gets completely packed. I will definitely be coming back here and although it is further away than my usual spot, this was definitely worth the drive. read more

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We were guest at a hosted day of love by our husbands! This place is beautiful inside and out and a hidden gem ! There was a huge party of us but staff did a great job accommodating! The menu contains alot of tapas to share and enjoy ! I love the dessert! read more

Meson Sabika - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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Meson Sabika is in a beautiful old mansion. The charm of the property is breathtaking and an experience in itself. We were quickly seated upon arrival. The restaurant has multiple rooms where people can dine and we're in a smaller room which I enjoyed. The menu is extensive even for a tapas style restaurant. There were so many options to try and very hard to narrow down our choices. They also have several types of paella on the menu which for me was a must try. We did order one and it takes about 30-45 minutes for preparation so if it is something that you want you have to order it fairly quickly. Everything we tried had a great flavors. My favorite was the bacon wrapped dates and the vegetarian paella. This would be a great date night, girls outing, rehearsal dinner or dinner spot. I truly enjoyed the experience and look forward to going back. read more

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Our 20th anniversary was spent at our favorite restaurant, and as always everything was amazing from the atmosphere to the staff to the food they always outdo themselves. read more

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We probably will not be returning to this place but if we do it will NOT going to be on a Saturday evening. It was so so so loud my wife and I could hardly talk to each other. This place was really busy and some smaller rooms were more quiet. So I guess we weren't that lucky as others. The food was so so The sangria seemed like cheap wine with leftover booze stay away from it. The service was so so When you pay $180 for a dinner for two you expect something better. read more

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Insanely overrated. So the place is beautiful - it's a giant mansion from the 1800s (?!) repurposed as a restaurant. We arrived on a warm Tuesday night in September and chose to sit outside. Our server, Kayla, was really great. Very friendly and knowledgeable. But the food? Woof. You begin with complementary bread, but it's cold and didn't taste fresh. Datiles con Tocino (Bacon-wrapped dates) - Eh, these were okay. I would have preferred if the bacon were crispier and there were some caramelization. The dates were mushy. Solomillos a la Plancha (beef tenderloin) - Remarkably flavorless. How do you do tenderloin without aiming for the Maillard reaction? These were overcooked. The small scoop of mashed potatoes was cold. Champiñones Rellenos (mushroom caps filled with spinach and cheese) - Probably the best thing we ate. I wish the tomato basil sauce had more acidity. Col de Brusela (Sauteed shredded Brussels sprouts) - Truly revolting. It tasted like they just boiled Brussels sprouts and melted cheese on top. The Serrano ham was cut weirdly thick - In Spain this is basically shaved so it melts in your mouth. I think they just got ham from Jewel or whatever. I have been to Spain 10 times. I've eaten plenty of tapas. All of these are lost in translation. It all has the taste of mass-produced cafeteria food. Remarkably disappointing. They also served up the worst caipirinha I've ever had. It's a shame that a place so lovely with such wonderful servers misses the mark on the entire menu. read more

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How have a missed out on this amazing restaurant in my old stomping grounds?! What an absolutely beautiful place. Located in an old mansion, the landscaping alone is enough for a instagram photoshoot. As we were guided to our table, I couldn't help but to wonder what time has reveled to the surrounding old walls and curving staircase. It's hard to take it all in on your first visit. We were led to the garden oasis and seated right by a stone fountain. As I often say, the better the restaurant, the shorter the review - mostly because if it's highly recommended you don't need every detail. Go! Enjoy! To give you the highlights: my favorite drink offering was the sangria flight. I can't wait to return on a hot day to enjoy the various flavors. Favorite food we orders included the scallops (they were HUGE) and the empanada. I will return if not just for those dang empanadas! We had to end with an espresso martini and that was the cherry on top. Absolutely beautiful atmosphere, welcoming staff, wonderful and attentive server. Everything during our experience was on par. read more

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Champinones rellenos - this was a good veggie app Poncho de solomillo - this was good and flavorful Datiles con Ticino - this was amazing. Gambas a la plancha - this was okay Albondigas con almendras -this was okay Vieiras albarino - this was okay Overall I was disappointed in the seafood. Next time I think we will just stick to the meats read more

Meson Sabika - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

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We went for Mothers Day brunch which was $99/pp before tax and gratuity. All drinks were extra including soda and coffee. The amount was slightly higher than other restaurants in the area. While Meson food is usually very good and the old mansion where it sits is beautiful, the Mothers Day meal was on the lean side. Service was meh as we had to ask for water several times and there were big wait times between courses. We were there almost 3 hours and it wasnt because we ate slow. We had 7 ppl in our party and were seated in a small room in a corner after waiting for 25 minutes for our table - while other tables in the room had plenty of space. Wouldn't have minded the wait if they didnt send several texts telling us our reservation would be cancelled if we were more than 10 min late. Kind of disappointed Made our reservation almost two weeks ahead of time. While the food is good and we will likely be back- tbink I will look for another brunch. read more

I recently discovered Meson Sabika and already regret not finding this gem sooner. A few evenings ago my girlfriends and I enjoyed a delightful dinner on the patio. The weather was perfect--no bugs--and live music added to the magic. Our server was friendly and attentive throughout. We shared an array of tapas: Quesos Españoles, Champiñones Rellenos, Pincho de Pollo, Dátiles con Tocino, Pulpo con Salsa Verde, and Pincho de Solomillo. The stuffed dates and beef skewers were the standouts. For dessert we split the chocolate cake and fried banana, both of which were outstanding. I'm deducting one star only because my Aperol Spritz arrived flat, and the restaurant had no Prosecco to perk it up. Otherwise, Meson Sabika offers beautiful grounds, delicious food, and an enchanting atmosphere. I can't wait to return! read more

Meson Sabika - Outside area - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Today's birthday dinner for my mom's 88th birthday was disappointing. My rating is based solely on the service. I specifically put a note in the reservation that it is a for a special birthday party. 6 of us (2 were old people with disabilities) were squeezed at the table for 4, the table was so small that we barely had place for the plates and silverware. I mentioned to the server about the table being very small but he did not react. The service was very rushed , the guests were interrupted constantly while making toasts. The celebration was spoiled. We now have several great tapas restaurants where you can equally enjoy and the food and the service and the atmosphere. I don't recommend this restaurant for special occasions. read more

We had valentine's dinner at Meson and this was the first time they had a prix fixe menu - $129 pp for a 4 course meal. Cold tapas followed by hot tapas, followed by main course - lobster tail, filet, mushrooms and mashed potatoes, and a heart shaped mousse dessert. The lobster was delicious and my favorite part of the meal. For me, it was too beef heavy and I missed the garlic potato salad. Didn't care for the dessert much, the mousse was on top of a raspberry pound cake which tasted dried out to me. I think they tried the prix fixe approach to serve more people with more efficiency, but in my opinion, I didn't like it nearly as much as the regular menu and also though it wasn't a great value for the money. Still, love the place overall and hope they revert to the previous style. Not everything should be about making a few extra bucks - particularly when it means sacrificing the things long-standing customers enjoy. read more

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We went to celebrate a birthday. Even though we had reservations, we still had to wait about half an hour. It was super busy. We tried a few sangrias, splitting pitchers with the table, all were fantastic! The food and semi private room we were in were amazing! There a reason they're so busy! Everything was delicious, I can't wait to go back to celebrate something else, the staff was spectacular, and all the dishes were very well done. read more

Meson Sabika - Paella - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

one of our absolute favorites, great food, great environment.... The bacon wrapped dates and the skirt steak are must tries! read more

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I had the pleasure of dining here for Valentine's Day and I'm giving the same rating from before,5 stars. The menu was a three course dinner and it was delicious again! Crab croquettes, burrata on toast, and the entree lobster with beef medallions. I didn't know that my friend didn't like seafood, but they went out of their way to accommodate her. This is the 4th time I've eaten here and I will still patronize this restaurant. P.S. I forgot about the good wine flutes. read more

Meson Sabika - Valentine Day Special - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Saturday date night was at Meson Sabika, which is a tapas restaurant. It's a large restaurant on two floors in an old mansion. There's plenty of seating on their outdoor patios too. They also have an event space for weddings. We sat inside tonight. Juan was our server and made great suggestions and provided good service. The staff is always delivering food and clearing away dirty dishes . They're on top of everything. My husband and I shared lots of little plates. We ordered a pitcher of white sangria to enjoy with our meal. I have to say I like their red sangria much better. The white was just meh. The food, however, was fabulous. The plates we shared tonight were jamon serrano (Spanish ham and manchego cheese), datiles con tocino (bacon wrapped dates), pimientos del piquio (peppers stuffed with cheese and spinach), pulpo con salsa verde (grilled octopus), chuletas de cordero (grilled lamb chops), and trucha a la plancha (grilled rainbow trout). Yup, we ate it all! I'm partial to the Jamon, bacon wrapped dates and both the grilled octopus and lamb chops. If I had to pick one dish, I couldn't because they're also good. Highly recommend. read more

Meson Sabika - Grilled trout...fantastic!!! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

Went to MS last night with my wife.We ordered 2 drinks,which arrived promptly. We then ordered an appetizer and dinner at the same time(mistake). After 15 minutes, One of the entrees arrives by a food runner. 7 minutes later, our server saunters by,asking if everything is ok. -REALLY clueless one! I asked her if she was "going to bring the damn Mariscos". Yep,she ratted me out to her manager,whom informed me that swearing at the staff is not tolerated. Really, what about the server ruining our dinner. NEVER AGAIN-There is no defense for complete incompetence!!! Paid for two ice teas and went and ordered a pizza. read more

Food is always good. Fun experience with a group. Feels like you are being served in someone's mansion. Friendly and efficient service

This place will never disappoint. Great for celebrating, date night or just because. Would highly recommend making reservations. There are two floors so if someone in your party has mobility concerns be sure to mention that. Was there for a dinner with my in-laws and a holiday party. It's not cheap by any means but the quality in food and service is impeccable. This place has been a Naperville staple since 1990 and think it will be there for another 35 years! read more

Very charming setting inside and outside with gardens and efficient service. We enjoyed several things to share. Some of the highlights included the Albondigas, Vieras al Albarino, & Pincho de Solomilio. I do wish the server would have suggested for our party of 4 to up the sizes of some of the orders that only came in servings of 3. Some good selections of Spanish wines offered. They have a what appears to be a good happy hour menu at the bar. read more

I've been here twice, years apart and enjoyed both experiences. The menu, while mostly tapas is reasonably priced. The wine list is nice. The setting of course is wonderful with attentive staff. There wasn't anything that we ordered on our recent visit that I would not order again. Not some of the dishes are heavy on garlic, which I quite fancy... but a little quirky touch... there is mouth wash in the bathroom :) read more

Incredible food, even more incredible was our server Andres M, he gave us the best service I've ever had in my life. His smile lit up the room and his eyes twinkled like the stars, great guy. read more

Meson Sabika - Salmon Curado con Queso - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

I recently brought a party of 16 to Meson Sabika, and unfortunately, the experience fell far short of expectations. We were placed in a small room shared with other groups, and the noise level quickly became overwhelming. It was so loud that it was nearly impossible to communicate across our own table, which made hosting and socializing with my guests extremely difficult. While the food itself was marvelous, the service was only average. Our server did not seem to realize that I was the one who organized the gathering and was the point of contact. I was not met with kindness initially. Plates were repeatedly taken away far too quickly--even when we weren't finished. I had to stop the staff multiple times to say we were still eating, which became frustrating and disruptive. The head waiter also appeared noticeably irritated with me, likely because I frequently stood up to check in on guests seated down the long table. Given the noise level, it was the only way to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves, but I still felt like my presence was unwelcome. The most disappointing part, however, came at the end of the night. When it was time to pay, the server attempted to run my card by both tapping and inserting it several times. Each time he returned to tell me the card was declined and asked for another form of payment--in front of my guests--despite my polite requests to try again. His tone was rude and the situation was unnecessarily embarrassing. Only after I firmly insisted did he try manually entering the card number, and it went through immediately. It's understandable that banks may flag large charges during the holidays, but the way the staff handled the situation was unprofessional and made an already challenging evening even worse. I regularly host large gatherings at restaurants, and this was by far the worst experience I've had. While the food was excellent, the service and handling of our group were disappointing enough that I would not return with a large party in the future. read more

Meson Sabika - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

A great "date night" option. We dressed up, but plenty of people were in jeans so it seemed an anything goes kind of place. Food options were too numerous! We got six dishes (we each chose three) and they came out as they became available giving a nice leisurely chance to dine. The nonalcoholic sangria was lovely. read more

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All small plates we ordered were excellent. We had about 5 small plates between the 3 of us, and we were very satisfied. Service was good, food came out quickly, and the atmosphere was quite enjoyable. read more

Tried this place on Tuesday night (August 13, 2024) This place was great! Beautiful scenery and a huge patio (which is where we sat). The weather happened to be nice so sitting outside in summer was nice and refreshing. Service: Our server was ok this evening, he seemed a bit distracted, but for the most part got our food and drinks to us satisfactorily. Food: Super tasty! We tried the bacon wrapped dates, salmon, lamb chops, and a few other things. (Sorry, forgot to take pictures because we were so hungry). but, everything tasted fabulous! We ended up getting attacked by mosquitos so they let us move inside for dessert (nice way to keep us happy - appreciate you). Great place to have an intimate or large dinner. Go try them!! read more

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This was not my first time at Meson Sabika, but it was the first time I went for the New Year's Eve pre fixe menu. Unfortunately, I will not be participating in this special dinner event again. With this dinner, you receive four courses. Two cold tapas, two hot tapas a main course (surf & turf) and dessert. While the food was good, it didn't meet my expectations. Items that were supposed to be warm were served cold. The lobster tail was stringy & not tender. The dessert was just OK. I also expected at least one glass of champagne to be included in the $99 per person charge, and it was not. The atmosphere didn't enhance the experience. We were seated upstairs in a smallish, very noisy room at the top of the staircase, adjacent to the end of the hallway with the server's entrance. Lots of traffic behind me. And for entertainment there was a flamenco dancer and guitarist. They were lovely, but seemed very crowded trying to play & spin in such a small setting. The service was good, however. Very sweet & attentive wait staff. Meson Sabika is a local gem. The grounds are beautiful and I love that it's a part of the community. I hope they can improve this event moving forward. read more

Meson Sabika - Mar y Montaña with wild mushrooms & white truffle potato purée - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

So glad we made reservations, especially when going to a new restaurant. We were greeted, asked if we had reservations and seated right away. The dining room we were seated in had a few tables one (believe we wear just between service of brunch & dinner). Something we did notice was broken glass next to one of the tables. I found that rather interesting on carpet. Our server came fairly quickly to the table and asked if we were celebrating any special occasion (same as the host asked). I guess this is not your typical dining experience. I will say this is an elegant dining experience, especially since there are multiple dining spaces (for special events). We were just there because we wanted Spanish food...paella specifically. Our waitress did share their general/main specialities are Tapas. Generally people order several Tapas' for the table to get a sample of the foods they offer. We were more interested in the Paella offerings. Because of the expected cook time we did order a few of the Tapas and Adult beverages. The beverages were very refreshing and complementary to everything we ate. The atmosphere was excellent and elegant. There was not a long wait for anything (well a bit for the Paella, but that was noted in the menu). The experience was excellent, the service was as well. This restaurant is a great place for delicious Spanish food. read more

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We had lunch here with my husband's college friends. We were amazed at the entire property! Mostly because we didn't realize how spacious the place is. The courtyard is beautiful! When we were there, they were setting up for a wedding as well. I was a little overwhelmed by the menu for food. I also found out afterwards that online, there are picture of certain menu items. The sausage samples were okay, I mean nothing super special about it really. The sausage stuffed mushroom were soooo good though! The empanadas were flakey and filled with meat. We also enjoyed the pasta a lot too. The shrimp were big pieces and the fresh vegetables were a nice accompaniment with the pasta. Makes it feel lighter. I wasn't a fan of the flan. It was the white chocolate for the day. I thought it was a little too sweet and towards the bottom, it was like grainy. Not sure what happened there. I do want to back and try some of the cold tapas and the paella though. read more

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We had my daughter's bridal shower in the Pulpo room at Meson Sabika in March 2025. If there were 6 stars I would give that! Fantastic service, ambiance and food made for a special event. We served the Rosa Tapas style menu and guests raved about the food! The event coordinators and wait staff were exceptional. Highly recommend!! read more

Meson Sabika - Rosa Tapas Menu - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

We have been to Meson Sabika a few times and it never disappoints. Authentic Spanish food at its best. Our favorites include Quesos espanoles, Patatas Bravas (incredibly good but be warned, it's spicy), Col de Brusela, and of course, the paella. The service is also amazing. The ambiance is incredible - especially the room next to the bar area. read more

Meson Sabika - Veggie Paella, col de Brusella, Patatas Bravas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Naperville, Illinois

We had an amazing dinner here! I made a reservation for a party of 8 (6 adults and 2 kids) when we had some visitors over a weekend. This restaurant is located in a beautiful historical mansion, and we were seated indoors, upstairs. FYI I am not sure they have an elevator. I initially requested outdoor seating but when the temperature got sweltering hot, I switched to an indoor preference. I called their staff and they updated the notes without any issues. And everyone got the same memo too because no one was seated outside that day - it was one of those uncomfortably, dangerously hot summer days. Since we had a large group, we were able to try a bunch of different things. So if you have the chance to come with more companions, the more the merrier! They also have kids meals for little ones. Our server was so friendly and recommended a nice bottle of red to go with our meal. Here is what we ordered for 6 adults: Carne Asada Solomillos a la plancha Costilla a la riojana Remolacha Jamon Serrano Patatas con aliola Queso de cabra Pincho de pollo Campesina paella The menu is extensive and can be overwhelming, so we relied on our server's suggestions. The paella orders are taken at the beginning, and we were briefed that they can take up to 45 minutes to prepare. We decided to get the Campesina paella with chicken and chorizo (no shellfish) since there were allergies at the table. The food was SO delicious and I loved shareable tapas experience. My favorite was the queso de cabra, which is "oven-baked goat cheese in tomato basil sauce, served with garlic sauce." They are not joking about the garlic, it was heavy on the garlic which is perfection. The evening we dined here, there was a wedding banquet in the terrace space next to the mansion, with a big tent and guests wearing their finest regalia. The staff that night were working hard, but everything was executed perfectly. This place KNOWS how to handle large parties well, and the hospitality was top notch. The food was paced, the wine glasses placed, the wine poured, and each tapas was freshly prepared. I didn't get too many photos of the food since I was just enjoying the company and being in the moment. I now have really fond memories from our meal here. And it was a good choice for dinner (patting myself on the back) to reunite with friends who traveled near and far to visit. Meson Sabika will always have a special place in my heart! read more

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Exceptional service and allergy-safe! Everyone knows the food here is incredible, the ambiance is wonderful, but our experience was made special by our server, Bella. We were there for a birthday/anniversary combo, and Bella handled my shellfish allergy with impressive care. She didn't just "check" on my fish/shellfish allergy; she navigated the menu for me, cross-referenced my top choices with the chefs, and genuinely cared about my safety regarding cross-contamination. Beyond the safety, she was charming, gave great recommendations, and surprised us with Cava to toast our special night. Thank you, Bella for making our evening so special! read more

Beautiful mansion to dine in with good food and service. Reservations are recommended because they stay pretty busy. Very convenient to make reservation on OpenTable. Portions are small since they are tapas after all, making the prices lean on the higher side. The noise level in the room can get a little loud. Spice 'n Ice Martini $15 - It's green from the jalapeno and has a nice kick. Remolacha $13 - Gold and red beet with arugula salad. Queso de Cabra $15 - Goat cheese in tomato sauce served with garlic bread. It's good, but nothing special. Pulpo con Salsa Verde $19 - The grilled octopus was a little fatty, but well cooked and the green salsa was very complimentary in flavor. .|\---/| | @_@ | ..\_^_/..2024 read more

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Went to Mason Sabika recently for a little bit of a Friendsgiving, and we had a wonderful time!! It has an excellent ambience, with sparkling lights everywhere for the holidays and a sense of warmth in the mansion that the restaurant is situated in! From the host to the waitress to the bartender, every employee was warm, friendly, helpful, and clearly trying to deliver the best possible dining experience to us, and we were so appreciative!! I have been to Meson Sabika many times over the past 20 years, including on my first date with my husband. Over that time, their commitment to delicious food, unusual preparations, outstanding quality, and a wonderful experience has never changed, even as the restaurant itself has undergone renovations and expansions and upgrades. If you go, don't miss the goat cheese and tomato bisque dish , and get the beef skewers with horseradish sauce--you can thank me later!! Just delectable. The mushroom caps were buttery, crunchy and savory; my vegetarian friend enjoyed those and the beet salad, as well as the garlic potato salad with aioli. I tried a cocktail called the ice and spice martini ; it features a little kick of jalapeño, and even though I'm a spice wimp, I really liked it. We finished up with coffee and four desserts, and I will recommend the profiteroles and the orange flan,, which were outstanding.. if you can get to the Meson Sabika this holiday season or anytime, don't hesitate . Wonderful place!! read more

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Excellent from every perspective Thoughtfully curated menu with delicious hot and cold tapas. Gracious service and charming ambiance

I have been here in the summer months which is gorgeous sitting outside. This time we chose the Christmas season. It was for my birthday with a large group of friends. We were seated downstairs which I requested in the outside room that was center. They put up removable walls during cold months and it's lovely all seasons. The only thing to keep in mind. There is a large vent shooting the heat into the room. My eyes are sensitive and it was shooting right at me. If you can get placed in side tables or with your back to the door into the room you'll be fine. Have your least favorite person face the door ;) We ordered several dishes to share. They are small but it really is fun to try a little bit of everything. The prices are fair. It will still add up though so be aware when choosing. The octopus was surprisingly one of our favorites. We ordered the paella right away since it takes 45 minutes. Since we had 8 people and we were a little loud and having fun the waiter forget to put it in but because of all of the things we had ordered in the meantime we could not have eaten it anyways. I'd recommend asking for the downstairs. You feel like you are in a Victorian house. The upstairs is nice but you'll understand why I recommend when you are there. Overall a very pretty establishment a little off the downtown Naperville path. read more

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