Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba! — Restaurant in Chicago

I went here to celebrate my friend’s birthday and a reservation for five people was made weeks prior. We arrive on time and are told that our table isn’t ready. Which is fine, but they then tell us to wait outside. It’s winter in Chicago. We waited for about 10 minutes before they seated us. When they brought us to our table it was clear that they must’ve given away our table because there were tables that would’ve seated five comfortably, instead we were shoved in a corner at a table that sat four, and a fifth chair was pushed in to the middle of the small walkway that nearly everyone has to go through to get to their seat and waiters have to go through to serve. I sat in that chair and the entire night I was getting bumped into, a waiter dropped my purse on the floor as he pushed through and it fell into…a liquid… of course this was an accident but it’s not fun. And just as I feared, as our waitress was clearing plates, used olive pits from a plate fell on me. And on my dress. Not my olive pits. And what made me even angrier is that another party of five came in, and when they were waiting to be seated they were allowed to wait indoors. Actually directly over my head considering where my seat was. Breath and spit particles just raining over me. And this seat I was in didn’t even exist when we first arrived, so why did we have to wait outside. And lastly, this is a tapas place. There are going to be plates being emptied quickly once the food is passed out. Our table was cleared twice the entire night. Once being after we were done eating. The plates were coming out one at a time with two to five minutes in between the next plate and no one would clear our table. Even as they were moving our stacked plates to the side to set down the new plate of food. I had to ask if they could clear it because we were already squeezed into a corner and now we couldn’t even get to the food because of all the plates on the table. All in all the food was fine, but how can you enjoy yourself when the service is so poor and you have old food...

We are big fans of the Lettice us Entertain You restaurants. Lil' Ba-ba-Reeba is the 6th we visited.

Friday night was extremely busy, and we had a table outside on the patio. The two ladies at the adjacent table were extremely loud, and after they left, we actually could hear each other talk.

Service was also a bit spotty, which is not the norm. Forgotten drinks and missing items ocurred throughout the night.

However, we came for the food, and it lived up to the hype. Reeba promotes its Tapas, Pintxos and Sangria. So we tried all three.

We began with the house marinated Spanish Olives and Shaved Brussle Sprouts Salad. We added some garlic toast after seeing a neighboring table get some.

The salad comes with shaved manchego cheese and candied walnuts. Perfect for two people.

We chose the Chorizo-Wrapped Date Pintxos and the "La Brújula" Yellowfin Tuna Ventresca Conserva for course two.

Having dates on a date is one of our favorite appetizers. Reeba's version had manchego cheese inside. Sweet and savory, the dish was perfectly prepared.

The tuna dish was all about presentation. Served on a board the tuna comes as advertised in tin with olive oil. There are onions, capers and crostinis to accompany the fish, but we were glad we had more garlic bread to fully use all the ingredients. I highly recommend this choice. I can see why the menu promotes it as "world renowned."

With dinner we tried a passion fruit Sangria which was the drink special. I would recommend getting a pitcher of them, particularly if you're going to eat more than we did.

In the restaurant business, sometimes the server saves issues in the kitchen, and sometimes, the cooks bail out the front of house. That is why their good team makes a place like Reebas great. Chicagoland is so lucky to have the Lettuce group based...

At its core, this Spanish tapas restaurant distinguishes itself through its innovative dishes that deftly blend traditional flavors with contemporary techniques. The roasted mushrooms, for instance, presented an intriguing culinary experience. An entire cluster of mushrooms was roasted to perfection, accompanied by a delicate, light cream that enhanced the inherent earthy flavors with a subtle smoked nuance. This dish exemplified the restaurant’s ability to transform simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

The beef toro, served on a skewer, evoked a South American flair, further showcasing the restaurant’s eclectic approach. Accompanied by some of the finest whipped potatoes I’ve ever had, this dish stood out. The potatoes, whipped with olive oil instead of cream, achieved a remarkable creaminess that highlighted the purity of the ingredients.

While the culinary experience was commendable, the service left much to be desired. Despite having a reservation for outdoor seating, we were placed at a table by the street without any form of divider. This placement, amidst a bustling street, posed the risk of frequent disruptions and was clearly the least desirable in the entire section. Furthermore, the waitstaff’s attention was inconsistent; it took over 20 minutes to receive the dessert menu, yet we were hastily asked to vacate the table shortly after finishing our dessert. This rushed conclusion to our meal marred what was otherwise a delightful dining experience.

In summary, while the food at this restaurant is exceptional, the service does not meet the same high standard. The innovative dishes are worth experiencing, but be prepared for a potentially disappointing...