Café Ba-Ba-Reeba

4.8

9352 Reviews

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Make a booking

2 people

20 Jan 2025

19:00

Booked 205 times today

Good for groups
Lively
Good for special occasions

Cancellation policy:
For parties of 5+ you need to cancel by 9am on the day of your reservation, otherwise it is a $25 fee. For smaller parties, please give us one hour in advance, in the event of a last minute cancellation or no show it is a $25 fee.

Located in Lincoln Park, the All-Season Courtyard and Dining Rooms at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! are open with our new AIRPHX Air Filtration System. Your health is our top priority in all that we do. Steps we are taking: disposable and digital menus, continuous sanitation procedures & hand washing.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Tapas / Small Plates, Spanish, American
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sat 10:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
Phone number
(773) 935-5000
Website
http://www.cafebabareeba.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Eric Jorgensen
Catering
At Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! we can accommodate groups of 10 to 50 in our private and semi-private rooms. Lettuce create something extraordinary with you using our variety of tapas, paella and sangria! Cater a private party at the restaurant, in the comfort of your home or office, or even aboard Chicago's First Lady Cruises. We are happy to help you create a menu for your guests. To view all of the different options available to you visit cafebabareeba.com or to book your party, call our Special Events Department at (773) 935-5000.
Private party facilities
Contact us to learn about our indoor private party dining options. We also offer carryout and off-premise catering, including aboard Chicago’s First Lady Cruises during the summer months. Please visit cafebabareeba.com to fill out our inquiry form, or call our Special Events Team at (773) 935-5000.
Private party contact
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Parties Team: (773) 935-5000

Location
2024 North Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614
Area
Lincoln Park
Cross Street
Armitage
Parking details
Free and paid street parking is available on Halsted, and around the corner along Armitage. We also offer valet at $15, cash only.
Public transit
Brown Line - Armitage Halsted bus (route #8) - Armitage stop Armitage bus (route #73) - Halsted stop
Entertainment
Reservations for our Flamenco Dinner Shows, Paella Cooking Demos, Wine Tastings, and other special events can be made by contacting the restaurant directly at (773) 935-5000. For a full list of events, please visit cafebabareeba.com and click on "events."
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Featured in

15 restaurants that define Chicago

Popular dishes

+1. chorizo-wrapped dateUS$3.95
medjool date, cheese
2. caña de cabra cheeseUS$4.95
fig mostarda, maldon salt
3. la "gilda"US$4.95
the original pintxo bar snack from san sebastián - gordal olive, piparra pepper, cantabrian anchovy
4. stuffed piquillo peppersUS$4.95
roasted mushrooms, herbed goat cheese
+5. deviled eggUS$2.95
crispy jamón serrano

Tapas

Tapas are the famous small dishes of Spain. Create a meal with a variety of tapas, or choose a selection as an appetizer and enjoy one of our paellas as your main course

Cheese

+20. catalan-style crystal breadUS$11.95
tomato purée, garlic, olive oil & shaved manchego cheese
32. goat cheese baked in tomato sauceUS$10.95
baked in our old world, spanish oven; house garlic bread

Vegetables

+22. shaved brussels sprouts saladUS$10.95
marcona almonds, manchego cheese
26. house-marinated spanish olivesUS$6.95
rosemary & citrus
27. garlic potato saladUS$7.95
raw & roasted garlic, chives
28. moroccan chickpea stewUS$8.94
tomatoes, spinach, garlic, moroccan spices
29. tortilla españolaUS$10.95
warm potato & onion omelette
+30. patatas bravasUS$9.94
spicy potatoes with sun-dried tomato aioli
31. spinach & manchego-stuffed mushroomsUS$10.95
garlic breadcrumbs, manchego cheese
+33. fried shishito peppersUS$7.95
hawaiian black sea salt

Beef

+50. beef tenderloin & blue cheese*US$15.95
house-made chips
52. handmade beef empanadaUS$9.94
sun-dried tomato aioli
+53. grilled hanger steak*US$19.95
sherry-glazed mushrooms, mojo verde
+54. beef tenderloin toro*US$36.95
A house specialty! Large format skewer to be shared; roasted piquillo peppers, garlic-horseradish mojo

Seafood

40. "la brújula" yellowfin tuna ventresca conservaUS$22.95
the world-renowned tinned fish of spain; marinated in olive oil, served with crystal bread & spanish fixings
41. seared sea scallopsUS$21.95
kabocha squash purée, roasted apples, orange gastrique
43. pulpo a la planchaUS$23.95
olive oil-whipped potatoes, piparras, pimentón & espelette pepper
+44. garlic shrimpUS$11.95
olive oil, red pepper flakes
45. fried calamariUS$15.95
tomato crudo, jalapeño aioli

Pork & Chicken

58. spanish meatballs "al jerez"US$9.94
sherry tomato sauce
62. roasted chicken empanadaUS$7.95
sherry aioli
64. piri-piri fried chicken thighsUS$10.95
shaved vegetable salad, cilantro yogurt
65. chicken & chorizo skewerUS$10.95
grilled piquillo peppers, herb oil
+67. roasted dates wrapped in baconUS$12.95
apple cider vinaigrette

Ibérico Pork

Regarded as the wagyu of pork, the Ibérian pigs of Spain free-graze on acorns, giving the cured ham & pork cuts a rich & nutty flavor

+57. jamón ibérico de bellota "pata negra"US$33.95
renowned as perhaps the best ham in the world; served with manchego cheese
+59. grilled ibérico pork "presa"*US$22.95
presa cut of the famous ibérian pig, fabas asturianas, pickled shallots
60. pressed "bikini" sandwichesUS$18.95
ibérico chorizo, stracciatella, piquillo pepper, drizzled honey
63. ibérico ham croquetasUS$11.95
sherry aioli
66. ibérico ribsUS$16.95
honey-glazed, basque piperrada

Paella

Savor the flavors of Valencia, the province of Spain that gives us the classic rice dish paella

paella of chicken thighs & market vegetablesUS$32.95
all-natural chicken, seasonal vegetables
- Serves 2-3US$32.95
paella mixtaUS$34.95
pork shoulder confit, txistorra, chicken thighs
- Serves 2-3US$34.95
+paella de mariscosUS$40.95
shrimp, squid, bay scallops, roasted fennel
- Serves 2-3US$40.95
farmers market vegetable paellaUS$30.95
seasonal & local vegetables, roasted piquillo peppers
- Serves 2-3US$30.95

Surcharge

As a way to offset rising costs, we have added a 3.5% surcharge to all checks. You may request to have this taken off your check should you choose.

What 9,352 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Chicago / Illinois
Tapas / Small Plates
Chicago / Illinois
Most Booked
Chicago
Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Café Ba-Ba-Reeba delivers "amazing food and service" with a lively atmosphere perfect for both celebrations and casual dining. Their tapas and paellas are crowd-pleasers, especially the "bacon wrapped dates" and "seafood paella." While busy and sometimes noisy, experiences are typically "fantastic" with attentive staff, making it a top Chicago favorite.

9,352 Reviews

C
Carmen
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always have a great time. Delicious food and great service.
Is this helpful?
E
Eric
Chicago
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is my fav restaurant in Chicago. Been here many times and it’s just as amazing every time. 5 stars is too low for this place. Loves: croquetas, deviled eggs, Brussel sprout salad, bacon-wrapped dates
Is this helpful?
m
mary ann
Chicago
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
I have absolutely no complaints about Cafe BaBa Reeba. The table next to us overheard me talk about the Harmon and cheese I are in Spain and Portugal, so they shared some of theirs with us. So we shared our very tasty shaved Brussels sprout salad with them. My only complaint is with Open Table. It took three days of trying on your website to reserve our table online.
Is this helpful?
E
Eva
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
amazing brunch here! Perfect for a little date! 10/10 reccomend
Is this helpful?
G
Gileene
Chicago
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The food is such good quality and tastes amazing every time I’m there. The service is impeccable and the servers are so kind. Overall, an amazing experience and highly recommend for date night, events, or just a simple dinner.
Is this helpful?
J
Johanna
Chicago
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Adolfo is always the best! We can't wait to go back! Food was outstanding as usual.
Is this helpful?
B
BRITTANY
VIP
Chicago
5 reviews
1.0
5 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
Food quality has gone down hill but more on that later. The audacity of the restaurant to have a happy hour menu at the bar with an empty restaurant never ceases to amaze me. Based on the math, you save 65%ish sitting at the bar before 6. Meanwhile a reservation in an empty dining room is astronomical. Why the business has chosen this model for their customers and staff is dumbfounded. Secondly, I have ate here on a monthly basis since 2020. The food quality is so poor I only could conjure up three worhwhile items to order this visit. They were all poorly executed. Soggy croquettas, overcooked steak, and gamey yet bland (!!) mushrooms. This used to be a hot spot but it’s just sad now.
Café Ba-Ba-ReebaResponded 3 days ago
Dear Brittany, I'm so sorry to hear of your recent less than acceptable experience with us, especially in regards to some of our signature dishes you received. We always try to exceed our guests' expectations but unfortunately, sometimes fall short. Would you be willing to provide your contact information so I can have one of our managers get in touch? We truly appreciate your feedback; thank you. -Teresa M.
Is this helpful?
J
Jillian
VIP
Dallas
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Always have a great time here. Food and service always spot on!
Is this helpful?
T
TracyBill
VIP
Chicago
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Always great! Just a little loud and dark, but that means u have to listen carefully and maybe use your phone flashlight;). Worth it
Is this helpful?
A
Amy
VIP
Chicago
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Our server was super nice but the food was mediocre. Ambiance was chaotic and the floors really dirty. The server accidentally slipped even and spilled a full drink on another girl sitting next to us. The pan con tomato was awful - something strange about. I’ve lived in Spain and unfortunately it doesn’t live up to anything close to what I’ve eaten over there.
Café Ba-Ba-ReebaResponded 3 days ago
Dear Amy, I'm so sorry to hear of your recent less than acceptable experience with us, especially in regards to some of our signature dishes you received as well as the ambiance in the restaurant. We always try to exceed our guests' expectations but unfortunately, sometimes fall short. Would you be willing to provide your contact information so I can have one of our managers get in touch? We truly appreciate your feedback; thank you. -Teresa M.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Café Ba-Ba-Reeba offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (773) 935-5000.

Café Ba-Ba-Reeba is rated 4.8 stars by 9352 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

20 Jan 2025

19:00

Booked 205 times today

Order delivery or takeout

2024 North Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614

Additional information

Cross Street
Armitage
Area
Lincoln Park
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sat 10:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 10:00 am–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Tapas / Small Plates, Spanish, American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Free and paid street parking is available on Halsted, and around the corner along Armitage. We also offer valet at $15, cash only.
Public transit
Brown Line - Armitage Halsted bus (route #8) - Armitage stop Armitage bus (route #73) - Halsted stop
Payment Options
AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Eric Jorgensen
Entertainment
Reservations for our Flamenco Dinner Shows, Paella Cooking Demos, Wine Tastings, and other special events can be made by contacting the restaurant directly at (773) 935-5000. For a full list of events, please visit cafebabareeba.com and click on "events."
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Website
http://www.cafebabareeba.com/
Phone number
(773) 935-5000
Catering
At Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! we can accommodate groups of 10 to 50 in our private and semi-private rooms. Lettuce create something extraordinary with you using our variety of tapas, paella and sangria! Cater a private party at the restaurant, in the comfort of your home or office, or even aboard Chicago's First Lady Cruises. We are happy to help you create a menu for your guests. To view all of the different options available to you visit cafebabareeba.com or to book your party, call our Special Events Department at (773) 935-5000.
Private party facilities
Contact us to learn about our indoor private party dining options. We also offer carryout and off-premise catering, including aboard Chicago’s First Lady Cruises during the summer months. Please visit cafebabareeba.com to fill out our inquiry form, or call our Special Events Team at (773) 935-5000.
Private party contact
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Parties Team: (773) 935-5000

Featured in

15 restaurants that define Chicago

Café Ba-Ba-Reeba

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Additional information

15 restaurants that define Chicago

Paella

paella mixta

patatas bravas

Pintxos

+1. chorizo-wrapped dateUS$3.95

2. caña de cabra cheeseUS$4.95

3. la "gilda"US$4.95

4. stuffed piquillo peppersUS$4.95

+5. deviled eggUS$2.95

Tapas

Cheese

+20. catalan-style crystal breadUS$11.95

32. goat cheese baked in tomato sauceUS$10.95

Vegetables

+22. shaved brussels sprouts saladUS$10.95

26. house-marinated spanish olivesUS$6.95

27. garlic potato saladUS$7.95

28. moroccan chickpea stewUS$8.94

29. tortilla españolaUS$10.95

+30. patatas bravasUS$9.94

31. spinach & manchego-stuffed mushroomsUS$10.95

+33. fried shishito peppersUS$7.95

Beef

+50. beef tenderloin & blue cheese*US$15.95

52. handmade beef empanadaUS$9.94

+53. grilled hanger steak*US$19.95

+54. beef tenderloin toro*US$36.95

Seafood

40. "la brújula" yellowfin tuna ventresca conservaUS$22.95

41. seared sea scallopsUS$21.95

43. pulpo a la planchaUS$23.95

+44. garlic shrimpUS$11.95

45. fried calamariUS$15.95

Pork & Chicken

58. spanish meatballs "al jerez"US$9.94

62. roasted chicken empanadaUS$7.95

64. piri-piri fried chicken thighsUS$10.95

65. chicken & chorizo skewerUS$10.95

+67. roasted dates wrapped in baconUS$12.95

Ibérico Pork

+57. jamón ibérico de bellota "pata negra"US$33.95

+59. grilled ibérico pork "presa"*US$22.95

60. pressed "bikini" sandwichesUS$18.95

63. ibérico ham croquetasUS$11.95

66. ibérico ribsUS$16.95

Paella

paella of chicken thighs & market vegetablesUS$32.95

paella mixtaUS$34.95

+paella de mariscosUS$40.95

farmers market vegetable paellaUS$30.95

Surcharge

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

Does Café Ba-Ba-Reeba offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Café Ba-Ba-Reeba restaurant rated?

Is Café Ba-Ba-Reeba currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

15 restaurants that define Chicago