Super cute place and they have high tops next to the bar which you don't need a reservation for which was super nice! This place is super cute as most places are in Lincoln Park but the paella was to die for! We got the chicken and vegetable paella and there were absolutely not regrets! It does take a bit of a wait, 25-30 minute wait, but it's worth it. The service was great as well, just a little slow but the place looked very busy.

Tl;dr: been coming here for years and the food is consistent and delicious. It’s getting more popular so reservation is almost a must now. I’d highly recommend making reservations regarding how busy it gets. Also, if you can go around happy hour, do so! A lot of their famous dishes are 1/2 off! The food is always consistent throughout the years I’ve been coming here. All of it is meant to be shareable. Most of the dishes have vegetarian options. I’d highly recommend coming here. Our waiter gave us 2 free dessert as this was the first date me and my wife went on when we first met.

This is easily one of the best Spanish themed restaurants in all the Chicago. The staff is always helpful but we went with the clear favorites of the meatballs, the potatoes, the chicken, ham croquettes, the meat and cheese board, olives and the like. The peach sangria was to die for. We went for a happy hour special and was very pleased of all the food we got for a cheap price.

By far our favorite place!! The food is absolutely delicious every single time. We have been here for brunch and dinner, It’s worth every second. Always really busy but the service is quick and all the staff is very friendly. The best patatas bravas of all times.

It was my first time here, I usually don't write reviews on the first visit but everything was outstanding. Sammy our bartender was AMAZING! We honestly felt like we came over some friends house. Enjoyed good company, delicious food and drinks! I recommend to EVERYONE that enjoys good company. We loooove it! Thank you for the experience! The teamwork was so obvious and personally enjoyed watching.

What a great buzzing atmosphere. The place is deceiving up front, the restaurant is huge. The service and attentiveness of the staff is first rate. The Sangria is excellent and has many flavor choices. The Tapas is well served and fresh. The food is fun and tasty. Did not try to Paella but it is a popular dish. Reservations are a must, the place was packed even with an late afternoon reservation.

One of the best tapas places I’ve ever tried. The service was fantastic. the food was excellent. I couldn’t take pictures of all our plates since every time a new plate came we devoured it. The food was so so good. Highly recommend the bacon wrapped dates and Spanish octopus! come hungry.

The Tapas menu was super cool. Definitely definitely try the Omelette, the Beef Empanada and the Butterscotch Custard - amazing! The Passion Fruit Sangria didn’t feel worth $20 for half a pitcher. The Margarita was super strong!

Our dining experience at Cafe Ba Ba Reeba was quite enjoyable. Reservations are recommended as the restaurant generally gets very busy. Several tapas stood out, especially the classic bacon-wrapped dates (a burst of flavor!), the Patatas Bravas (perfectly crispy potatoes with rich aioli), Spanish Octopus (tender and flavorful), and the Piri Piri Chicken (deliciously crispy and well-seasoned). However, the Beef Tenderloin Toro was a bit of a letdown - despite the meat rack being presented early in the meal, the meal itself arrived late and also tasted a bit dry. The quantity and flavor didn't justify the price, and it seemed more like a gimmick for Instagram rather than a satisfying dish. Overall, the dining experience was pleasant, and the service was generally efficient.

amazing!! definitely met my high expectations from reading other reviews. the food was absolutely delicious, and the portions were perfect (not too small but definitely still tapas) so we got to try several of the many options on the menu and left perfectly full. a top recommendation for chicagoan friends!

The perfect spot to bring a large group and/or to celebrate any special occasion! I came here with a group of 8 to celebrate my friend’s birthday, and honestly, everything— the food, the service, the ambience and vibes— exceeded my expectations. The service was excellent, friendly, and attentive, and our server brought out a complimentary birthday brownie for my friend at the end. The interior was large and lively, and the ambience felt casual and friendly, yet sophisticated. The food was aromatic, diverse, and flavorful. For 8 people, we ordered the following items, and were quite full and satisfied by the end (especially after the paella) (** = especially recommend): - Spanish Meatballs “Al-Jerez”** - Shaved Brussel Sprouts Salad** - Iberico Ham Croquetas - Spinach and Manchebo-Stuffed Mushrooms** - Patatas Bravas - Piri-piri fried chicken thighs - Goat cheese baked in tomato sauce - Farmers market vegetable paella** The food was fairly priced, though we did go mainly vegetarian, so the total including tip came out to just ~$16 per person, split amongst 8. I can definitely see myself coming back with a large group of friends to try out some more of the tapas dishes on the menu! — Price (relative to peers): 4.5/5 Food: 4.5/5 Ambience: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Overall Value: 4.5/5

Food was awesome. Definitely recommend the octopus, spicy potatoes, bacon dates, and the baked goat cheese. The rest was good too. We got a flight of sangria where you can try 4 flavors, the black raspberry was our favorite so we got a pitcher of that. You have to get the butterscotch flan! It was amazing. You have to show your vaccine card and ID when checking in.

Super lively atmosphere. Fun and buzzing. We tried damn near one of everything. Nothing disappointed. Must haves: goat cheese baked in tomato sauce, paella de mariscos, beef tenderloin and blue cheese. Everyone that works there has been there for decades. Just order by item number. Will definitely be back.

Tapas! Consistently good. Came here for brunch on a Saturday, busy & crowded. Make a reservation. Nice brunch offerings & you can order off the regular menu too. The paella was flavorful w/ eggs, rice & sausage. Paella’s take 30 min. so order it at the start of your meal. The avocado and egg toast & The bacon wrapped dates were favorites. Extensive menu, good flavor, something for everyone.

I came here to dine with some family on a Friday afternoon, around 3PM. When we got there, they told us there was a short wait. There was quite a bit of empty tables but I believe they were only staffed for a small section. They offered bar seating as an alternative. However, when we asked if we could wait at the bar and then go to our table when it was ready, we were told no because the tabs do not transfer. We waited approximately 10 minutes until we were seated. We started off ordering a few plates - the goat cheese baked in tomato sauce, shaved brussels sprouts salad, house-marinated spanish olives, and spinach & manchego-stuffed mushrooms. I really appreciate the consideration of our allergies when we ordered, and the food even had little wooden sticks in them that said “allergen” in them. The first round of food was quick - we got the baked goat cheese and salad. The goat cheese was creamy and rich and came with some garlic bread. We asked for more bread since it doesn’t come with much. While we received more bread, the staff did not inform us that there was an additional charge. It was just $3 so we did not mind, but I felt it would have been courteous to let us know. The Brussels sprout salad was brilliant - the chopped marcona almonds added such a nice texture and flavor. Then we got the stuffed mushrooms. This was a bit uninspiring as it was cooked well but lacked flavor in the sauce and stuffing. We then received a chickpea dish as a mistake instead of our olives. We got the olives quick after and they were a nice variety. Later, we ordered bacon wrapped dates, hanger steak and the pressed "bikini" sandwiches. The bacon wrapped dates came first and I was very impressed. I usually am not a big dried fruit person but the roasted dates melted in your mouth and the combination of sweet and savory made a great combo. The pressed “bikini” sandwiches were so good. The ibérico chorizo was outstanding, and the sandwich was great overall. Lastly, we were waiting on our hanger steak quite a bit, I believe over an hour. It may have been forgotten but once we got it, the wait was so worth it. The chile adobe sauce was fabulous! The meat was tender and the whipped potatoes added a nice layer of texture and flavor to it. Overall, the food is delicious, and the prices are pretty typical for a place of its type. The service was okay, as it was a bit slow and we felt forgotten at times. I would definitely come back here to try more though!

Our dinner experience at Café Ba Ba Reeba was delightful! With a total spend of $120, my wife and I indulged in a wonderful variety: 8 delicious tapas, 3 refreshing drinks, and 2 delightful desserts. I wholeheartedly endorse this place—the ambiance strikes a perfect balance of calm and cozy, despite its bustling atmosphere. The swift and warm service enhanced our dining pleasure. Highly recommended are the octopus, chorizo, and chistorra pinchos, along with the scrumptious empanadas and the delightful carajillo. To ensure a seamless dining experience, I strongly advise making a reservation to secure a lovely table without any waiting time.

Super cute spot with amazing flavors. Conveniently located in Lincoln Park, the place offers a wide variety of options for a brunch. Our sangria was delicious. I got the brussel sprouts salad and it was out of the world. The butterscotch custard dessert was finger-licking good. Service was impeccable - our wait staff was friendly, welcoming and warm. Looking forward to come back soon.

Freakin awesome tapas place. Our waitress was so great, absolutely knowledgeable about the menu so we chose some dishes and asked her to choose the rest until we were full. The bacon wrapped dates were my favorite and a true tapas classic. We didn’t get the paella because we didn’t want to wait 45 minutes but they looked good. We had about 20 dish’s between my table and everything was good! I also had the sangria flight and I was happy about that.

What a fantastic place! Tapas style so get a little of everything to share, especially the French toast that was delicious! Staff are quick and kind. Lots of comfy seating. Pretty easy to access! Bathroom could be cleaner and brighter though.

The atmosphere is always welcoming. It's a great place for a birthday meal with friends, brunch, or taking your mom out for lunch. The food can add up quickly, but it's worth it. We weren't disappointed with any of the dishes we got. Highly recommend the empanadas with sundried tomato aioli😋

The tomahawk steak there was AMAZING!!!!! Very juicy and flavorful. I think there’s no word that can describe how delicious that dish is and it’s a MUST TRY if you go to this restaurant. Also, the seafood paella was incredible and the aftertaste made me want to eat more. The drink menus were nice too. Highly recommend raspberry sangria and espresso martini. The ambience is very relaxing and cozy. It reminds me of Spain. Our waitress was so lovely and we all enjoyed the service. Overall, my friend and I had a wonderful time there. Can’t wait to be back again.

This place ain’t shabby. But it’s not like “amazing” ya know? Definitely a beautiful setting with a charming ambiance. I highly recommend, if it’s a “friends not food” focused event. But don’t get me wrong - the food isn’t bad! It’s just not the kind of cooking I write home about. I attached a picture of some interesting sea creature in my rice!

I lived in Spain, and in my experience, this is as close at it comes to experiencing the best of Spain in the US. Delicious tapas. Lively, cozy, bohemian decor. Very good service. Fair prices. Also, there are many different locations within this restorant, and they all seem great, but review that in advance of making your reservation.

We visited Cafe Babareeba to try their Paella. Tried both seafood and chicken paella. Flavor in Seafood Paella is unbeatable. Sangria was awesome. Loved the tapas items. It’s a busy place, but the restaurant has decent capacity making the wait time less. This Spanish themed restaurant is a hit.

I've been here many times over several years and always have a great experience. My Mom and I went today, on NYE, it was very busy, but decorated really pretty and staff was great. Our server, JB, was so cool and down to Earth, and Manuel the bus person was incredibly attentive! Fun, pretty environment, flavorful and delicious food, kind and efficient staff, highly recommended!

Sat outside with some girlfriends this past weekend, it was fairly cold but our waiter, Joe made our night. He was so funny and helpful with food and drink recommendations. The sangria mix was tasty, black raspberry and passion fruit together. We ordered a bunch of small plates and I loved them all. Very delicious and almost every small plate had their own sauce to compliment that dish. was my personal favorite!

The bacon-wrapped dates are a must try. Get a flight of sangria. Don't be shy. Their cocktails are fantastic. I always order the goat cheese, dates, pork, beef and Bleu cheese. The service is excellent. The atmosphere is divine. If you're in the mood for MANY small plates and sangria, make a reservation as soon as possible. They have happy hour as well.

My favorite Spanish tapas place in Chicago. The food is always top notch and we always have good service. Blue cheese steak is the best, along with the spicy potatoes with Tomato aioli and Goat cheese baked in tomato sauce.

One of my favorite spots in the city! An extensive tapas menu that will appeal to anyone with numerous vegetarian options as well as meat or seafood. The patatas bravas is always a must! As is the baked goat cheese and the peri peri chicken (one of my favorite dishes in the whole city). Splitting a pitcher of sangria is always a good choice as well. Service is always excellent with the fine blend of attentive but not overbearing.

This place is five stars all around. Food, ambience, and service. Waiter we had was friendly and nice but not disruptive to our time. Very accommodating and super friendly and approachable vibe. We loved all the food we ordered. Will go back with family next time.

Always a great experience. Potatas Bravas, Peach Sangria, and paella are always staples but we always go with at least a few people so we can get a lot of different dishes. Most recently with 6 of us, we ordered 10 plates and 2 pitchers. Never disappoints

tried this place for the first time on a Monday night for dinner, it was super busy and we did not have a reservation but we were able to get a spot at a high top in the bar area. highlights were the beef empanada and garlic potato salad. the garlic potato salad was almost just like the ones at meson sabika, one of my other favorite tapas place. lowlights we’re the beef tenderloin with blue cheese and chips and the goat cheese dip was not as good as i imagined. overall great food and we will be back.

Service was impeccable and friendly, the food was amazing and the atmosphere was alive and vibrant! Plenty of dairy free options too!

Not sure if it’s the most authentic Spanish tapas place in Chicago, but the overall food quality is pretty good. We ordered the white sangria, paella and some small plates (e.g., beefy, chorizo-wrapped date, green pepper), and they were all pretty good. The service was great. A bit pricey in my opinion…

Literally order one of everything. Sangria is top tier. Deviled egg is insane. Happy hour is a very good deal. Paella Mixta was exceptional.

One of my favorite places in Chicago! Their paella and sangria are to die for. The service is always great, and the atmosphere is unlike any other restaurant. I recommend this place to everyone.

Had a blast here!! The sangria is fantastic and our lovely waitress let us know we could take the rest of our pitcher to go. We especially loved the croquetas, the brussel sprout salad, and the dates. Will definitely be returning ASAP.

LOVED this Tapas restaurant!! I lived in Barcelona for a few months so one might say my expectations are high…this restaurant did NOT disappoint! The food was incredible and sangria was delicious. Out of everything we ordered, I would highly recommend the seafood paella - can’t go wrong with this classic dish. There were also larger groups enjoying dinner. Seems like a great place for a larger party!

It’s a great place for family, friends, co worker n date night. it’s tapas spanish food. Served in small portion that perfect for trying many dishes. we tried many dishes. they all are good. There is variety choices of sangria drinks, check with the server for sangria of the day. it’s busy on the weekends so recommended to try.

The best Spanish tapas in the Chicago area hands down because this is the only place which stays true to its roots, especially the Paella. Saffron people, saffron is what makes the Paella, not that shrimp only, over salted stuff from Jaleo and the agreeable saffron free no rice plate from Boqueria. Everything else is just gravy, nothing fancy, just like the real thing in Spain. The place is always packed, like back to back tightly packed, what is the 3% COVID surcharge for?

This is one of our favorite Tapas Bar restaurants in Chicago! We are never disappointed in the consistency of the food and Wait Staff. This visit we tried the Catalan Style Bread which is a tomato puree with olive oil and garlic. Honestly, we could've done with a little less of the tomato puree as the bread was very "squishy and messy" to eat. We are lovers of Gazpacho soup which is served cold. The soup was only okay as it is 100% pureed. We like adding ingredients to the Gazpacho: onion, tomatoes, green pepper and croutons, this is not an option at Cafe Baba Reeba. But it's still worth ordering. Our favorite items we always order are the beef skewers, blue cheese beef tenderloin, garlic shrimp and spicy potatoes. I was celebrating my Birthday so, I had to order the creamy Flan. Yummo! I usually order a 1/2 carafe of the white wine Sangria but, I saw a group of diners who had a FLIGHT of Sangria. Oh YEAH, this is a great way to sample a variety Sangria flavors. I Highly recommend making reservations, they get super busy. Street or valet parking available. But watch where you park....many streets are permit only.

Great place for tapas. My favorites are the stuffed mushrooms and croquettes. I also liked the shrimp and the deviled eggs are good. This plave has been around for a long time but it's consistent and still good.

Great Dining Experience and RSVP times worked out great to ensure plenty of social distancing. Dimly lit romantic dining experience. Flavors are spot on, smells were delicious aromatic and smelled of spices and fresh Paella The food is cooked perfectly no matter what was ordered, it came out timely and cooked perfectly.

Absolutely amazing! I can't wait to come back again and try even more food. We went with a large group so we ordered a decent amount of food to pass around and share. Got a pitcher of their famous Sangria, and let me tell you... Phenomenal! It is a little bit pricey, but worth even penny spent. Their atmosphere is also just so beautiful and looks like a lot of thought went into it. Staff is amazing and their service is great. Must stop by!

Popular tapas place. Menu is varied and will satisfy carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores alike. Tapas come out at good pace and dishes are tasty. Beer selection is limited, wine selection is thin but sangria choices are plentiful. Our wait staff was attentive. Place is fairly large inside and you may not get an intimate setting for your table.

One of the top notch tapas place in town. We ordered all recommended dishes by the server, about 10 different tapas. Portion is actually large considering it’s just tapas. Flavor is really nice. Not everything is good though, for example their French Toast tastes really bad... but overall 80% of food really rocks it. On average around $40 per person (plus drinks). I’d say it’s really cheap.