Lil' Ba-Ba-Reeba! Review

Author: Kallie Hoffman

Photographer: Phoebe Fingold

Social media has trained us to always seek out the trendiest, most picture-perfect places, yet in reality, non-traditional forms of dining and restaurants that focus on every single step of the cooking process and the distinct flavor combinations of their dishes are often tastier. Tapas, which are small portions of dishes that are a staple in Spanish cuisine and culture, are not only delicious and reasonably priced, but are also always accompanied by a fun experience. It is hard to understand the magic of tapas without sampling its flavors firsthand, so I recommend you grab your closest friends and head down to Chicago’s beautiful River North to eat at Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba!, which stays true to its Spanish roots and serves a wide variety of iconic small plates.

Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba! is the sister restaurant of Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! in Lincoln Park and exclusively focuses on their amazing tapas dishes and famous homemade sangria (Insider Tip: Pitchers of sangria are half-price on Mondays). From the moment I walked into the restaurant, the music and environment perfectly set the mood, and I could smell the delicious scents of smoked and grilled meats, roasted vegetables, savory sauces, and I could hear upbeat music playing from inside the restaurant and trickling in from neighboring bars. My mouth immediately started to water, and all I wanted to do was sit down at a table and start ordering!

If you have never been to a tapas restaurant, it works in a specific way (which the waiter will explain). Tapas are meant to be shared, so you will need many for the table, and they are served as soon as they are finished in the kitchen. If I could give you any one piece of advice, it would be to avoid over-ordering. Their portions are much bigger than expected, and if you are still hungry, you can always order more. Also, make sure to save room for their adorable, bite-sized, delicious Butterscotch Custard and Chocolate Truffle Bite desserts!

The restaurant has over 20 tapas options, which might seem daunting to choose from, so luckily for you, I have taste-tested them all. Here are what I believe are the must-get options.

Category #1: Vegetables & Cheese

This is definitely the largest category, but there are some dishes that stand out amongst the rest. The Patatas Bravas are a small portion, but the potatoes are perfectly crispy and dressed in a spicy tomato aioli that left me wanting to lick the bowl clean. The Tortilla Española was a hit-or-miss among my party guests, but that is partly because many people were confused about what exactly the dish contained. The Tortilla Española resembles a small cake, but is filled with potatoes and onions. It is a great size for sharing and also comes with a spicy, tangy sauce. Finally, the crowd favorite: Goat Cheese Baked in Tomato Sauce. This dish was so good that we ended up getting four orders of it over the course of the night. The portion is HUGE, packed to the brim with perfectly toasted house garlic bread and accompanied by a huge dish of creamy and fluffy goat cheese to satisfy all your dipping needs.

Category #2: Seafood

After the vegetables, it was time to move on to more substantive food, but honestly, the seafood section was a bit of a disappointment. The Garlic Shrimp was overly drenched in olive oil, and it only came with SIX SMALL SHRIMP. Then, the Seared Halibut was light and tasty in a sweet brown butter sauce, but part of the allure of tapas is the cheap prices, and $18 for a tiny piece of fish is just not worth the cost.

Category #3: Beef

The beef category is definitely where I did some of my best work and ordered many items off the menu. If you ask your waiter or waitress for a recommendation, they will probably say the hanger steak, but do not be fooled. Although tasty, the portion is very small and on the pricier side. I do, however, highly recommend the Spanish Meatballs and the Handmade Beef Empanada. The meatballs are a cute dish to share, and the meat is tender and soaked in a delicious light tomato cream sauce, topped with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. The empanada is small, but the beef is rich and juicy.

Category #4: Chicken & Pork

The Chorizo-Wrapped Date Pintxos (pin-chose) were barely filled with any cheese and the flavor was bland with only subtle undertones of spice. The Roasted Dates Wrapped in Bacon were a better take on date dishes, yet I was still not the biggest fan of the combination between the sweet dates and the juicy, fattening bacon. (Maybe I am just not a date person!!) On the bright side, the Ibérico Ham Croquetas were one of the best tapas! The sherry aioli was a perfect complement to the lightly fried breading outside, and the ham was roasted in a delicious, fantastic way and tossed in a combination of extravagant spices.

Category #5: Drinks

Finally, you cannot come to this place without ordering their famous homemade sangria. The Classic Red is a solid option if you like strong wines and bold flavors, but I definitely preferred the White Peach Sangria. It was not overly sweet but definitely engaged my sweet tooth, and I found myself scavenging around at the bottom of the pitcher to eat any leftover peach pieces. Also, another insider tip: make sure to be on the lookout for their specialty sangrias of the day. Their prickly pear had a unique flavor but struck a good balance between sweetness and tartness. Also, nothing quenches a hot day’s thirst better than their fruity and sparkling watermelon sangria.

Category #6: Desserts

By the end of the meal, I was definitely stuffed from all of the tapas I had eaten, but as I like to say, there is always room for dessert. The Butterscotch Custard was light and fluffy, with a hard, crème-brûlée top and a sweet caramel pudding underneath. Combined with the small dollop of whipped cream, the custard was excellent. To my delight, the Chocolate Truffle Bite was not exactly bite-sized and was actually more of a small chocolate cake. It was very dense with a rich dark chocolate flavor, but the vanilla ice cream on the side was a nice complement and lifted the chocolate flavor while also preventing the taste from becoming too overpowering for my taste buds. Overall, the desserts here are a must-get!

I have not had the privilege of dining at very many tapas restaurants in downtown Chicago, but I can safely say that if you are looking for a picture-perfect restaurant with good eats, good vibes, and good prices, then Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba! is the place for you. Every time I have gone, it has always turned out to be an amazing evening where we can sample many wonderful dishes, sip on sweet, fruity sangria, dance to amazing live music, and walk away at the end of the night without breaking the bank. You will not know the magic of tapas until you experience it for yourself, so trust me, the trip to River North for this Spanish restaurant will both diversify your culinary palette and be a night to remember!