Cafe Ba Ba Reeba

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2024 N. Halsted (at At Armitage Ave, Lincoln Park)
Chicago, IL 60614

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(773) 935-5000
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Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba - Chicago, IL
Reviews
( 11 )
( 16 )
( 6 )
( 5 )
( 2 )

Best

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! The key is to always make reservations through Open Table. The atmosphere is fun & loud and perfect for big groups, such as bi...

Worst

Wait staff was friendly and very helpful. Food not worth it, luke warm, beef tough, just not very edible. Dishes served in a rush even when asked to serve us slow. They seem to wa...

Editorial review from Citysearch 2/13/2014

The meals that they have in here is as authentic Italian as it can get. I love the sauces that they have in here, not that very oily and enough to make you day. more
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Editorial review from Citysearch 9/14/2013

I used to really like this place but the last few times I went the food quality was down. I love the atmosphere and it is still more affordable as small plate places go. I hope they can turn it around more
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Good tapas...nice atmosphere 9/14/2010

I have been craving tapas for many years since I studied abroad in Spain. I never knew where to go until I did a search on Urbanspoon. more
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Perfect place for big groups! 5/11/2009

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! The key is to always make reservations through Open Table. The atmosphere is fun & loud and perfect for big groups, such as birthday parties or girls night out. The blue cheese steak and spicy potatoes are a must! Pros: outdoor seating, great sangria, yummy specials Cons: always make reservations! more
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great place! 9/6/2008

this place is soo cute and has great food. try the sangria, its to die for!! great tapas and service was excellent... just another quality restaurant in great lincoln park! :) Pros: great crowds more
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The seafood and mixed paellas are delicious... 9/4/2008

The seafood and mixed paellas are delicious here! Sangria (red, white and other flavors) is flowing and... more
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PARTY IN YOUR MOUTH 6/6/2008

SERIOUSLY the best tapas! Get the dates wrapped with bacon and the cheesey potatoes and the meatballs and the goat cheese with tomato sauce. oh my gosh. its soooooo damn good. Pros: THE FOOD IS THE BEST Cons: weekends are busy so it may take awhile getting seated, during the week there is no wait :-) more
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Terrible service-Caution w/Open Table reservations 5/26/2008

I made a reservation through Open Table for 7:30 pm on May 25. I received 2 emails confirming this reservation for 7:30 pm. When I showed up to the restaurant at 7:25 to check in, the hostess informed me that I did not have a 7:30 reservation and that I was a no show for my 6:30 reservation. I showed her my confirmation email for 7:30 on my blackberry, but she rudely told me to contact Open Table because the restaurant had me in their system for 6:30. I have used Open Table successfully close to 50 times in various cities and I have never had an Open Table reservation disregarded in this manner. I am extremely dissatisfied with how the hostess treated me. With thousands of other restaurants in Chicago, I do not recommend this restaurant to anyone. more
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A nice surprise. 5/4/2008

I've been dying to find a great spanish tapas bar in town. And although Babareeba is not your ""authentic"" spanish tapas, it takes what is great about spanish flavors and gives it a nice twist. Tried the ""toro brochetas"" which are basically a skewer to great tender meat with a plate of potatoes, caramelized onions and a stewed tomato - had the pork and it was very flavorful. Had the scallops, pine nuts, couscous and that was very delicious - strong garlic flavor, well seasoned. The mushroom empanada was small, but worth every bite, esp the porcini alioli on the side. Lastly the mini desserts were perfect sized, nothing profound, but was a nice sweet end to a great tasty meal. I'd rather have a tasty twist to classic tapas than have not so great authentic tapas. Make reservations! Pros: Great food, fun loud ambiance, $3 tapas during happy hour Cons: Loud if you don't want that ambience, long wait w/o reservations more
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Worst paella I ever had. 4/27/2008

I went for the Paella. Traditional paella has a crispy, caramelized, toasted bottom (called socarrat in Valencian) that is considered a delicacy. To achieve a socarrat, one either needs to time the evaporation of the water properly with the completion of the rice being cooked or turn up the heat to high and listen to the bottom of the rice toast. Once the aroma of toasted rice comes from the pan, but before the rice burns, the heat is removed once again. The paella is ready to be served after having cooled for several minutes. more
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Good Stuff 4/7/2008

by temp at Menuism Provided by Menuism
Had a great meal there. There server was pretty good and the food was great. It is amazing how many people... more
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Great tapas 3/2/2008

The food here is great,service is good too. A litle crowded on the weekends so make sure you have reservations. Paella, brochetas and tapas tasted great and they have a wide selection of them.fun atmosphere and cheap. Pros: Brochetas,tapas Cons: long wait more
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My favorite Tapas 1/15/2008

I cannot give enough praise to this place. They have some of the best tapas I've ever had and I love the ambiance of the place. Every waiter/waitress I've had has been nice, polite, and fun. I've never sat waiting for a refill (unless I was sitting in the bar area) and I've never had to send back a plate. Pros: Great for an evening out, Ambience, Delicious food Cons: Music too loud more
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Good, not great 8/26/2007

Finally made it here, after hearing a lot about it. Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! is a fun place, but I have to say I was a little disappointed. The scallop tapas with couscous, pine nuts, and raisins were quite good, with very tender scallops, but the other three tapas we got were nothing exciting -- pretty standard, safe tapas fare. My paella mixta was very salty and too thick, but the fish and shrimp in the paella were tasty. And Ba-Ba-Reeba's sangria, supposedly what they are known for according to our server, was nothing out of the ordinary -- not much to differentiate it from sangria elsewhere. Pros: Some of the tapas are good; outdoor seating; great neighborhood; good service Cons: Overall not very exciting; overrated food and sangria more
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Of all the tapas places in the city, this isn't the one t... 8/22/2007

Of all the tapas places in the city, this isn't the one to visit. The prices are very expensive for really... more
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always packed 8/4/2007

My second time here… and each time I come, this place is packed (even on a Thursday night!). I was... more
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A family favorite 5/7/2007

I have been eating at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba for many years when in town on business. Four years ago I took my wife when we in town to watch our son play football. It is now a family favorite where we eat on our frequent trips to Chicago. The only downside is that they drop some of our favorite dishes during menu updates. We have NEVER been disappointed with an dish or any Sangria. Our favorite Sangria is the traditonal Red but the Black berry is good too. All of the Tapas are great. Always fun. Pros: Good food, good service Cons: Parking is at a premium, take a cab more
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come with a big group 4/10/2007

This is my second time coming to Ba-Ba-Reeba for dinner. The first time I came w/ a group of 10 and this... more
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Fun atmosphere and good food 3/27/2007

Went here for my birthday 'coz I've heard good things from other people and I definitely recommend this place. I'm always excited to try new tapas place because I loved tapas when I was in Granada, Spain (birthplace of tapas). I thought this place was fun-- the decor and the atmosphere. We had the steak with bleu cheese and though I don't normally like bleu cheese I enjoyed this dish. The dates wrapped in bacon was okay, I could have made it at home (try it at Tapas Barcelona, they serve it with some kind of bell pepper sauce). The paella was no good-- I make a much better paella! The potato croquettes were good. Pros: food, ambience, ideal for group dining Cons: parking, paella is salty more
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NOT Like it Used to Be -- Dissappointing. 1/20/2007

VERY Dissappointed. This place is not what it used to be 10 years ago. Menu has been shortened. Tapas not as special. Most were too salty. Mussels were not fresh -- even served us a couple of closed ones (where is quality control?). Sangria is overpriced, and overiced; tastes like coolaid. If you're going to have to wait long anyway, then you might as well go to Cafe Iberico for Tapas -- better value, better choices, better taste. Pros: Nice atmosphere, but loud. Good choice of Sherries. Cons: Tapas Too Salty; Sangria Overpriced, Over-iced & tastes like coolaid. more
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Menu for Cafe Ba Ba Reeba


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Tapas, Pintxos & Sangria

Owner Message

  • Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, Chicago's first Spanish restaurant, serves fresh, authentic Spanish cuisine in a lively, vibrant atmosphere. The menu features Spanish tapas, hot and cold appetizers meant for sharing, as well as paella, a typical Valencian rice dish made with vegetables and meat or seafood. You'll be tempted by the Pintxos ("peen-chos"), one or two bite snacks popular in Northern Spain, which are the perfect way to sample your way through the vast Mediterranean menu. Everything goes well with Sangria, a famous wine "fiesta" drink made from fresh fruit, wine and liquor. Don't miss the large outdoor patio decorated with the sights and colors of Spain.

Editorial

  • The Scene
    Loud, colorful and usually packed to the rafters, Ba-Ba-Reeba's several rooms and outdoor patio brim with flowers and vivid artwork. Sausages hang above an open kitchen, two...

  • 6/30/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 4pm-10pm Fri 4pm-12am Sat 11am-12am
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express, Diner's Club
  • Neighborhoods: North Side, DePaul
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