Brian
4th June 2006, 09:09 PM
As requested for those Americans within driving distance of Chicago, I'm here to report that our Spanish culinary experiences in that town were quite good.
In Chicago there are a handful of tapas bars and restaurants, but it seems that three rise to the top:
On Thursday evening, we visited Café Iberico at 739 LaSalle in downtown Chicago. Parking was a bit difficult, but we were able to find a free spot a few blocks away on a side street. Otherwise, parking would have been $15 in a local lot.
Café Iberico was very reasonably priced, although not so inspiring in decor. Our waitress was a very charming young lady from Bosnia, and the service in all was very good.
Instead of trying a main course, we stuck to their tapas, which were very reasonably priced. Their red sangria was absolutely delicious- not too sweet or sour, but extremely refreshing.
We started with some aceitunas alińadas (Marinated olives). This was a wonderful medley of green and dark olives, as well as pearl onions, garlic cloves, and little pepinillos. It was a very hearty serving that lasted the entire meal- so much that we could not finish it all.
We also enjoyed a plate of patatas alioli. If you've never had them, then think Potato salad with lots of garlic flavour. Again, it was a very generous serving, and the pungency of the garlic in them was quite delightful.
Then came the requisite plate of manchego, pantumaca, and jamón iberico, which was pure, unadulterated heaven!
Their fried chorizo and morcilla plate was OK, not great.
Lastly, we ordered pieces of lamb sauteed in onion, green pepper, and potatoes. It had a very original taste, quite unlike anything that I can ever recall having eaten.
The total bill was very reasonable, just under $40 American. It's definitely worth a visit.
On Friday night, we went to the most well-known Spanish restaurant in Chicago, Café Ba Ba Reeba. I still don't know where the name came from, but I found the atmosphere very authentic, and the service was impeccable. It was located in a very fashionable, renovated part of town called Lincoln Park.
Again, we ordered a half-pitcher of red sangria, which was quite fuerte.
We also had calamares a la plancha. My wife ordered these, and reported that they were quite delicious. I can't stand the rubbery stuff, personally.
Their cold meat and cheese plate was quite a treat: chorizo, salchichón, jamon serrano, and manchego cheese. It was all top-shelf stuff.
I really enjoyed a small serving of patatas bravas. They used the requisite pimentón liberally to give it a bit of bite. The alioli provided was pinkish in color, most likely due to the addition of pimentón.
We had a serving of fried morcilla and chorizo. The morcilla, which I normally am quite picky about, was excellent.
Their marinated olive plate paled in comparison to that of Café Iberico.
Because it was our first visit, they offered complimentary dessert- a flan and a chocolate truffle dessert.
Café Ba Ba Reeba was a bit more pricey, but I felt that it was quite worth the extra expense. They had an extensive Spanish wine list, and they proclaim themselves to be the "premier Spanish wine importer in Chicago."
In addition, Ba Ba Reeba also has Sunday night Flamenco, monthly wine tastings, paella cooking classes, and a host of other activities.
There is also a very upscale tapas bar in the downtown area, just off Michigan on the Magnificent Mile, named Emilio's Tapas. We didn't have the opportunity to sample their fare, but they have a very nice terraza that overlooks the street.
If you want to check the websites of either restaurant, here's the links:
Cafe Ibérico (http://www.cafeiberico.com/)
Café Ba Ba Reeba (http://www.cafebabareeba.com/)
In Chicago there are a handful of tapas bars and restaurants, but it seems that three rise to the top:
On Thursday evening, we visited Café Iberico at 739 LaSalle in downtown Chicago. Parking was a bit difficult, but we were able to find a free spot a few blocks away on a side street. Otherwise, parking would have been $15 in a local lot.
Café Iberico was very reasonably priced, although not so inspiring in decor. Our waitress was a very charming young lady from Bosnia, and the service in all was very good.
Instead of trying a main course, we stuck to their tapas, which were very reasonably priced. Their red sangria was absolutely delicious- not too sweet or sour, but extremely refreshing.
We started with some aceitunas alińadas (Marinated olives). This was a wonderful medley of green and dark olives, as well as pearl onions, garlic cloves, and little pepinillos. It was a very hearty serving that lasted the entire meal- so much that we could not finish it all.
We also enjoyed a plate of patatas alioli. If you've never had them, then think Potato salad with lots of garlic flavour. Again, it was a very generous serving, and the pungency of the garlic in them was quite delightful.
Then came the requisite plate of manchego, pantumaca, and jamón iberico, which was pure, unadulterated heaven!
Their fried chorizo and morcilla plate was OK, not great.
Lastly, we ordered pieces of lamb sauteed in onion, green pepper, and potatoes. It had a very original taste, quite unlike anything that I can ever recall having eaten.
The total bill was very reasonable, just under $40 American. It's definitely worth a visit.
On Friday night, we went to the most well-known Spanish restaurant in Chicago, Café Ba Ba Reeba. I still don't know where the name came from, but I found the atmosphere very authentic, and the service was impeccable. It was located in a very fashionable, renovated part of town called Lincoln Park.
Again, we ordered a half-pitcher of red sangria, which was quite fuerte.
We also had calamares a la plancha. My wife ordered these, and reported that they were quite delicious. I can't stand the rubbery stuff, personally.
Their cold meat and cheese plate was quite a treat: chorizo, salchichón, jamon serrano, and manchego cheese. It was all top-shelf stuff.
I really enjoyed a small serving of patatas bravas. They used the requisite pimentón liberally to give it a bit of bite. The alioli provided was pinkish in color, most likely due to the addition of pimentón.
We had a serving of fried morcilla and chorizo. The morcilla, which I normally am quite picky about, was excellent.
Their marinated olive plate paled in comparison to that of Café Iberico.
Because it was our first visit, they offered complimentary dessert- a flan and a chocolate truffle dessert.
Café Ba Ba Reeba was a bit more pricey, but I felt that it was quite worth the extra expense. They had an extensive Spanish wine list, and they proclaim themselves to be the "premier Spanish wine importer in Chicago."
In addition, Ba Ba Reeba also has Sunday night Flamenco, monthly wine tastings, paella cooking classes, and a host of other activities.
There is also a very upscale tapas bar in the downtown area, just off Michigan on the Magnificent Mile, named Emilio's Tapas. We didn't have the opportunity to sample their fare, but they have a very nice terraza that overlooks the street.
If you want to check the websites of either restaurant, here's the links:
Cafe Ibérico (http://www.cafeiberico.com/)
Café Ba Ba Reeba (http://www.cafebabareeba.com/)