The food was quick to come to the table and tasted delicious! I would have given 5 stars but our server was slow and inattentive. Other wise absolutely amazing. read more

3 stars cause I've never actually eaten here. Their sangria, however, is amazing. If I only ever went back to drink sangria , I'd be ok with that read more

Tapalaluna - Tapas Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Perfect portion size!! We came in for a quick dinner before a show with a group of 7. The server was a little slow but the food came out quickly. I loved the "open" kitchen. Small sushi collection, but it was excellent. Ordered stuffed mushrooms that were large and generously stuffed!! The fried spring rolls were crunchy without being overly greasy. Definitely returning when we have more time for dinner. read more

Let me start by saying I love tappas. This really isn't, a tappas bar, but the food was good, and the sangria very good. Spilt four or five items from the menu, and nothing really stood out. I would try it again. The service was very good. Had a nice time, just not what I expected. read more

I have never ate here so I am writing a review based on the service and drinks.....The group of people I went with ordered the peach sangria. I tend to not be a huge fan of it but the description of the drink sold me. The drink was very yummy but unfortunately it tasted like juice with no trace of wine. The waitress was nice but had to leave soon after so she had our bill transferred to the bar. The best part of the whole experience was the bartender. He was interacting with all the tables in the restaurant which I think is important in a small place. This is how you turn customers into regular. I will probably go back but it won't be for the alcohol. read more

Came here for new years eve...... Loved the mussles amazing.. I'd reccomend this to anyone that visits or looking for fine dining .... Keep up the great work... Gorgeous staff and very very good atompshere . read more

Tapalaluna - To die for - Tapas Bars Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Food was fantastic, service was great, people were very friendly. Highly recommend and will definitely be back next time I am in town!

Upscale dining without pretense or stuffiness. Live music, ebullient owner, and excellent food and drink make Tapa a real standout. It's easy to lose track of time and have fun there. read more

Nice restaurants are a rarity in DeKalb. A great place to bring the parents/relatives if they are visiting. It's a super cozy restaurant with a jazzy atmosphere. it is a Tapas place, but they do have steak entrees. I had the bleu cheese sirloin ($14) and the creme brule ($6). Both were fantastic! The cuisine was artistic, served on those flat and square white dishes. Great place! read more

Best restaurant in Dekalb! Last Saturday night I had a great time seating at the kitchen bar with my daughter. We asked the chef to make a tasting dinner with some of the best restaurant dishes and it was awesome. Sushi, mussels, bacon wrapped shrimp, scallops, tamales, and tequila dessert were all amazing. The atmosphere is very relaxing, beautiful and the live music adds to the charm. This restaurant could be in New York City! read more

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Went there only one time for the boyfriend's birthday. Had been recommended to us by other friends. Good things: Atmosphere was nice.. Beautiful decor. The drink menu is on an electronic device (never seen that before). Wine selection is pretty large and the sweet red was delicious. The service from what I recall was good and had no complaints. Things I didn't care for: Good grief it was ridiculously overpriced for such little portions of food. Cant even remember what we had nor how good it was so that should tell you something right there. I just remember thinking that after spending $100 on an appetizer, 2 entres and 3 glasses of wine that we should have gone to Red Lobster in Geneva because at least we would have left full. I was disappointed and felt like I had wasted my money. I don't mind spending at all when the experience is worth the money and for us it just wasn't. End of the day, I'd go back for evening cocktails, but never spending $$$ on dinner again. Sorry Tapa. read more

Went here for dinner a while back and i am so happy we did! The food was top notch, and very filling. Good sized servings, friendly staff and alot of different options to choose from. The owner came by to ask if everything tasted alright and had a wonderful conversation with him. He is a truly lovely person! He gave us chocolate cake on the house because we were there celebrating being newlyweds. Will definitely be back in the next couple weeks! read more

We went here before a show at the Egyptian. Wonderful. The service was great. Even though it was busy our waitress was right on top of things. Even the owner took a moment to stop by and ask how things were. The food was delicious. We ordered four items off the tapas menu and the chicken parmesan sliders. Everything was great. I saw some reviews that said they were expensive? Not sure where that's coming from as my boyfriend and I had several drinks apiece plus all that food and we were very surprised at how reasonable the check was. Will definitely be back. read more

So sophisticated & elegant! Food, amazing! Staff was great, love the cooking is done right there Everyone was very attentive coming & going & Thanking us for coming in. It's good for date nights out! read more

I have been there several times now and am happy that they are back in business. Great tempura. great seasoning of meat, blue cheese sallad is to die for. Great wine selection and nice waiters. Only one thing, dont let the kitchen personnel use the backdoor to go smoking. read more

I cannot say enough good things about tapalaluna and the staff members. The environment is so pleasurable whether you are looking to have dinner with family or a night out with the girls the live music and lighting really sets this peaceful fun mood! The employees all seem so happy and like they are having fun too, going in there I always feel so welcome! It's My Friday night go to and I'm so glad I've been introduced to this amazing spot! It's just the kind of place dekalb needs :) read more

Great food nice cozy atmosphere, jazz on Wednesdays. Try the martinis "Houston Problem and Victoria Secret. They also have a killer dessert "Waffle with Bavarian Chocolate Curls" Yum!!!! read more

In town to visit family and this place is a gem. Great menu that will satisfy most of your family member. I had the lamb which was delicious. You won't be disappointed - service was excellent ! read more

So delicious! I had the Pad Thai which was incredible. Super friendly staff and great wine selection.

I visited today with a friend from St. Charles, a town which offers a lot of excellent dining. My friend was surprised DeKalb had such a top quality establishment and she loved the wide variety of reasonably priced items. Small plates in St. Charles are almost twice the cost and won't serve two. Every time I visit Tapa La Luna it's like a new experience with so many options. You must end with the Creme Brulee. read more

UPDATE: so i have been informed by two reviewers that when a drink is on the rocks there is an extra charge. I have been going to bars for over 15 years and have never been aware of that, but that still does not change the fact that i was never informed about the extra charge or how much it would be. If there is an extra charge for a drink on the rocks i ask that the patrons be made aware, because some of us, like myself, are not aware of this. read more

Very expensive for what you get - even for a tapas restaurant. The Sushi is the worst I have ever had - period - could not finish it. Some of the things I tried were okay - but none out of the park. Waited 10 minutes to be seated - finally ate at the bar. The bartender was more interested in getting a date from one of the patrons then in bartending. read more

This was the perfect finish to girls' shopping trip. First of all, I was impressed with the technology used to explore the wine list. Our group of three was able to pick out a lovely white wine bottle that we generously shared. Then, we started with the olive tapenade and then had the fig and apple bruschetta, the peanut chicken and a stuffed mushroom dish. I loved the unique choices on the menu. This is not your typical tapas restaurant and definitely the most unique bruschetta choices I have ever encountered. Everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. In fact, my one friend who has lived and traveled all over the world has ranked this at one her top five meals she's ever had. I am sure she will be back with more friends. Or be begging me to take her back there. ;0) We finished the meal with dessert, of course. We had a chocolate raspberry cake and tiramisu. Both desserts were amazing and hard to pick which one was the favorite. I cannot wait to go back and bring more people. read more

I want to like Tapalaluna but I just can't. The drinks are good the atmosphere is nice but the food is mediocre at best. Last time I went we had the lobster pizza the crust was soggy and overall not memorable. It closed and opened again with the same menu and staff, but a different owner. I hope the new owner does a bit of revamp in the kitchen because it's a nice place, I just wisht the food was better. read more

Had a fantastic first time meal. The owner was extremely friendly and accommodating ,the atmosphere was fantastic. The food and the menu choices were even better, it's a must place to go. read more

My favorite restaurant in the area! The food, the drink, and the service are fabulous. I take all of my out-of-town guests to Tapa la Luna!

We went in recently without a reservation on a night when there was a lot going on in DeKalb and the restaurant was booked ( we were from out of town and didn't realize how busy it would be). After being turned away at a restaurant down the street, we went into Tapalaluna and were welcomed warmly by Rob. While he didn't have a table for us, he seated us at the back bar and was very attentive during our meal. The food was excellent ( we ordered the shrimp, bruschetta, sliders, crab cakes, a couple of salads and paninis) and we were able to get to our event in plenty of time. Thanks to Rob and his staff for taking good care of us! We will definitely be back the next time we are in DeKalb! read more

Great place. They ran out of margarita mix and the waitress was so amazing she made us some from scratch. The food and ambience are fantastic! read more

As far as places in DeKalb, this is the cream of the corn crop. My partner and I go there whenever we decide that we want to go out for a nice dinner. The manager there is always very nice and makes it a personal experience. The food dipped in quality for a little while but is back to being as good as it was when we first went. There are a few things we find over priced (desserts, a few tapas) but we just stay away from those. Great place, don't miss it if you're in DeKalb. read more

Went to tapalaluna on a Saturday night and everything about it was great. There was live music that was wonderful. The atmosphere is great, wonderfully decorated. The server was knowledgeable and sweet. Food was great and the price was reasonable especially as far as tapas style dining goes. We ordered 4 beers (although it was just domestic) and 4 small plates to share and the total including tip came to $70. Definitely going back!!!! read more

We love this place! I think we have gone to Tapalaluna 4 times the past two weeks. Great food, great wine and beer selections, and we love the live entertainment on Friday and. Saturday nights. The mini burger's are delicious, as are the crab cakes. The creme brulee is one of the best I have ever had. Love the new owner, he always thanks everyone for coming in. Its just a great place to hang out. I only wish they would put up a barrier by the door to block the cold air....its just too cold in there, I always keep my coat on. That's why 4 not 5 stars.... read more

Walked in, and immediately noticed the relaxed, classy setting! Definitely loved the ambiance that this restaurant portrayed. Since it was my first time coming here the waiter was nice enough to go through any questions that we had. The menu has a variety of options from bite size gourmet burgers to full entrees so I decided to to try out the personal portion thai pizza. The portion size was great and tasted even better! For dessert I tried the creme brulee and it was on point. Although it was slightly on the pricier side, I would definitely come back. read more

Went there last night for dinner before a show. The decor is lovely and well done. They only had one table for 5 so they sat us at a four top and pulled up a chair at the end. We were crammed and uncomfortable, but ok. Our drinks took forever to get and then our food, first appetizers , came one plate at a time. Not as intended. For our main course one of our guests ordered sushi. Her plate was delivered and it was a full 30 minutes before two more plates got to the table. 10 minutes, one more plate. Mine was not there. I told the waitress to forget about it because we were out of time but she brought the plate another 10 minutes later. The food was good but the service was horrendous. I've worked in food service for 20 years, this was probably the worst ever. They were busy but obviously did not have enough help scheduled knowing there was an event that night. I don't know if it was the kitchen or lack of wait staff but it was terrible. The food was good. The dessert delicious. I will probably never go there again. I can get decent food and deserts a million places. read more

Had reservations for a special occasion on an event night at the Egyptian theater. I had high hopes, but we all left pretty disappointed with the experience. Good --Staff was pleasant --Presentation Bad --Staff seated people that walked in *after* we did *before* we were seated --Reserved a month in advance, but was escorted to a table immediately in front of the front door, which would not have been appreciated even by walk-ins. --Our table of 4 was only provided 2 plates --Scallops were overcooked --One of our dishes was never brought to the table, but we were charged anyway Overall Seemed like they had not planned for the event properly and did not have the staff to serve the reservations they took. All of the food looked good but was not really worth eating. I at least recommend steering clear on event nights! read more

Always an amazing time with Rob and the Tapalaluna family. Sushi is amazing. The liquor is perfectly poured. And usually there is a live performance. No complaints at all, ever. read more

I have not written a Yelp review in over two years but Tapa La Luna, though I would like to keep it more of a secret, I have to share because it's just too good not to share. We have dined here four or five times and our sixteen-year-old son even likes it. We had been here quite awhile ago when it was under different ownership and were not impressed but under the new ownership the food, service and atmosphere have gotten better ten-fold. If you have not been here for some time you need to try it again. Easily one of the best places to eat in the area. We typically go there on Tuesday or Wednesday nights and we get a table immediately. I would recommend making a reservation on the weekend. Check their website for nights they have live music and/or Tarot card readings. We have been there on a couple of occasions when there was a great quartet playing while we ate. We generally start our meal off with tapas but have actually ordered several things from the tapas menu and shared the items as our meal. I highly recommend: the crab cakes, the cheese board, the lobster spring rolls and the espinacha cheese dip. We have had several of their brucshettas as well (they have about eight or nine to choose from). They have many specialty pizzas and burgers (including mini-burgers). Then comes the sushi. All made fresh as ordered and there is quite a variety. I have tried almost every one of them and have liked each and every one! In addition to this way of ordering they also have quite a list of paninis and entrees. There is a full bar, even seats at the bar if you just want to stop in and watch the game..., and an extensive wine list. I have almost always been too full but they also have a great dessert menu. My wife and I did share the cre'me brulee one time and it was fabulous. I have reviewed myself into probably going here for dinner again tonight. Maybe I will take some photos to add. We have spoken about Tapa La Luna on our weekly podcast (http://dirtylaundry1.podomatic.com/) twice and probably will again tonight. I cannot recommend Tapa La Luna more highly. Maybe I'll see you there some time. Check out their website for more menu information - Tapalaluna.com. read more

I do agree that this place does have a pretty nice atmosphere. The staff was very friendly. We were walking past it only day and decided to give it a shot. We had a bbq chicken pizza, crab cakes, and spring rolls. They were all very good. However, the portions were not worth the money. I would say it would be a good deal if there were some sides included or the portions were larger. If i were to return I would get the pizza again. read more

Went there for the first time this evening, and was very disappointed by the service, with the exception of the bartender. Our server made us feel as though he would rather do anything but serve us. We had to ask if we could order another drink, and when he brought it to us, he asked if we were ready for our check. We had intended on staying awhile but apparently we weren't welcome to. read more

All around best place in Dekalb. The customer service is above and beyond and the food is five star rating itself. The owner is the type of person to bend over backwards to make your experience the best yet. Rob and his staff have true class and character. This was my first time here and I will definitely become a regular. I would highly recommend! read more

Just had dinner here today because I heard it opened, but didn't have the chance to check it out. This place is pretty great place considering it's located in DeKalb! The look is contemporary and is very nicely done. It almost seems like it doesn't belong in DeKalb with all their pizza joints and cheap dinner for drinkers after the usual bars. I thought the menu was a little odd since they had a little of all types of food (Italian, Thai, American, etc.) The food was good. we ordered the Thai spring rolls along with the fresh mozzarella with tomato basil bruschetta and the roasted peppers and goat cheese bruschetta. All of that was pretty amazing besides that I would have liked to have sweet and sour sauce with my Thai spring rolls and I thought the spring rolls were more like egg rolls to me. The spring rolls at Thai Pavilion are spring rolls now! After that we decided to go ahead and order the veggie bite sliders and that was pretty great. I wished it had mayo in it though, but it was still pretty good overall. They also had the special sangria of the day which was white sangria made with peach white wine and that was delicious! Our bill ended up being around $35 which is not that terrible, but that's pretty pricey for being located in DeKalb and plus, most of the residents are poor college students, and for the portion size, the prices should be lower. Overall: -food was pretty great for DeKalb -service was great, but then again it was Thursday at 5 and it was pretty dead -prices are a little too high for the location and portion size I would go back to this restaurant especially for a date since there are no nice restaurants in DeKalb that are this fancy. I would recommend going here. read more