Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba!

“This restaurant came highly recommended by a conductor on the Metra. We went in with out a reservation, they were packed, and the two ladies at the front were very friendly and asked us to give them a moment to see what they could do. Less than 5 minutes we were seated at a table in Erin’s section and were treated wonderfully. She took time to explain the menu, made suggestions and helped me decide on a cocktail (lots of great choices) The five items that we ordered were over the top with flavor, presentation and down right delicious. Then Erin brought out a surprise birthday dessert that made our taste buds dance. We will definitely be back and we let our hotel staff know how wonderful the entire experience was. Kudos to the manager who helped me use my gift card that did not have a QR code on it❤️”

“My two friends and I had dinner here on Friday night, and it was absolutely fantastic! The energy on Clark Street was buzzing, and the atmosphere inside was perfect—plenty of lively background noise and high energy, yet still spacious enough that we could easily talk and enjoy our conversation.The service was excellent from start to finish, and the food and drinks were phenomenal all the way around. A few major highlights from our table:The Red Sangria: Beautifully made and incredibly refreshing. Baked Goat Cheese: Rich, flavorful, and a total crowd-pleaser. Beef Empanadas & Spanish Meatballs: Perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. We really enjoyed every single aspect of our night here. If you are looking for a great vibe, exceptional service, and delicious tapas in Chicago, this is the spot!”

“Celebrated my birthday here and the service was amazing. They even customized the menu for me, which made the experience very personal and memorable. We had a full course package for our party and they even gave a free dessert for my birthday. The food was phenomenal overall. However, the chicken skewer was a bit dry and lacking flavor, and the chocolate mousse was a bit too thick and rich for our taste. We all prefered the butterscotch custard more.”

“Beautiful restaurant. I was well accommodated with some of their house sangria to start. Our group was seated at the window table which was a perfect little spot. The food was to die for. We were first given the Spanish charcuterie board and the goat cheese tomato sauce with garlic bread which were excellent. Next we moved on to the seafood. We had shrimp and scallops which may have been the best of each I have ever had. The highlight of the night was the hanger steak. Paired with a layer of mushrooms, it seriously blew my expectations out of the water. The tortilla Española and croquettas were pretty tasty as well. We ended the night with some deserts and a delicious espresso martini. Wonderful restaurant. This is one of my new favorites. It’s a must stop for a special occasion.”

“Walked by and decided to stop by for happy hour (3:30–5:30pm). I’ve been to Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! before, so I was excited to give Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba! a try. Our server recommended the SALMON CRUDO — yellow watermelon gazpacho, red jalapeño, cilantro oil, and finger lime. I also got one of every pintxo on the happy hour menu: DEVILED EGG PINTXOS — crispy jamón ibérico & chives LA “GILDA” — gordal olive, piparra pepper, cantabrian anchovy CHORIZO-WRAPPED DATE — filled with manchego cheese (And yes, I got two of the wrapped dates because they’re my favorite.) I’m personally a huge fan of the deviled egg pintxo. My sister and boyfriend had it at the other location before and weren’t fans, but I really liked it. The yolk was creamy, the egg white had a nice firmness, and the little bits of jamón and chive on top added a satisfying savory bite. Nothing revolutionary, but it absolutely hit the spot. The La Gilda was probably my least favorite, though I’m still glad I tried it. I think it was well-made; the olive had a satisfying crunch, the anchovy was salty and fishy in that classic anchovy way, and the pepper added a slightly sour chew that balanced everything out. It was just personally a little too salty for my taste. The chorizo-wrapped date was easily my favorite bite of the night. The sweetness of the date with the salty, slightly crisp chorizo worked SO well together. Immaculate texture combination. I paired bites of the wrapped date with the salmon crudo, which unfortunately didn’t blow me away. It was good, but the flavors felt very mild. I enjoyed the sweetness from the watermelon gazpacho, but I could barely taste the finger lime or jalapeño. It was refreshing, just not especially memorable. There are definitely stronger dishes on the menu. Like the patatas bravas. After the crudo, I wanted something warmer and more comforting, and the patatas bravas absolutely delivered. I already love the ones at Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!, and Lil’ Reeba didn’t disappoint. The potatoes were warm and fluffy inside with a crisp exterior, the seasoning was savory and herbaceous, and the tomato aioli sauce tied everything together perfectly. Overall a decent experience. A bit on the pricier side, but the chorizo wrapped dates are to die for.”