Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!

“Yum! First visit, and we were not disappointed. Starting with the Chorizo wrapped date, which was scrumptious, and the La Gilda, olive, pepper & anchovy, the perfect salty bite. We shared the breakfast paella, which we took half home, so definitely got our money's worth. Tried the red sangria, one of the best I've had, even comparing to our time in Spain. So many choices, we will be back!”

“e went at Christmas time and it was beautifully decorated. The vibe is warm and energetic. The service was friendly and attentive. OK let's talk about the food…amazing. Who doesn't love small plates where you can taste a bit of everything. It was perfect because all of us had varying tastes. I would highly recommend coming here and I would go back in a heartbeat.”

“Another great find through OpenTable! Spanish food is my absolute favorite, and this restaurant is amazing! From the atmosphere to the impeccable service and a menu that makes you want to order everything. The brunch paella is perfect and the patatas bravas are spectacular! I wanted it all! We loved it!”

“We got the chicken paella which takes 40 minutes but it was decent. Rice could be crispier. The spicy potatoes and fried calamari were both super good and definitely worth ordering again. Chicken empanadas had nothing special and not really worth the price. The service was attentive and quick but there was a 3.5% service charge. Not informed of that.”

“I had been looking all over Chicago for a good Spanish tapas spot and ended up finding this absolute gem. Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba has been around since 1985 and is pretty much the place that put Spanish tapas on the map in Chicago. After visiting, I can definitely see why. From the moment you walk in, the place has a really fun energy. The bar feels like something you’d find in Spain, the restaurant is huge, and even without a reservation we were seated right away. The music was at the perfect volume, making it great for a dinner with friends or family without having to yell across the table. We started with a passion fruit sangria, which was delicious, and they had plenty of other sangria flavors and cocktails to choose from if you’re going out for drinks. For food, we ordered the pulpo a la gallega, patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo, and these little sandwiches topped with honey and salami that were honestly one of my favorite bites of the night. The patatas bravas were exactly what I always hope for when I go to a Spanish restaurant. They’re usually my go-to order and these did not disappoint. The only thing I probably wouldn’t order again was the Jamón Ibérico de Bellota. I completely understand it’s imported and considered a premium product, but the portion felt extremely small for the price. It was close to $40 and came with just a few very thin slices. Not bad at all, just not something I’d personally order again. For dessert, we ordered the Basque cheesecake. If you’ve never had one before, it’s the cheesecake that’s slightly burnt on top and usually has a softer, creamier center. This one wasn’t quite as creamy in the middle as some of the others I’ve had, but I think that’s because it was still pretty cold when it came out. Either way, the flavor was fantastic and it was a great way to end the meal. Service was excellent. Jessica and Manuel took great care of us all night and were both incredibly friendly. We actually forgot our phones there and the staff kept them safe until we came back, which I really appreciated. The hostess seemed a little distracted when we first arrived, but honestly we’ve all had those long workdays where your brain is somewhere else, so no big deal. Overall, I had a great experience. If you’re looking for classic Spanish tapas in Chicago and want to visit a place with history that has become part of the city’s dining scene, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba is definitely worth checking out.”