631541 Thu Jun 25 05:37:17 -0700 2009 15 7 Chicago Area 0 4804526 We're staying at the Millennium Knickerbocker for 4 nights and are interested in having tapas one evening. (Don't mind a cab ride to get the best food). Any suggestions? Thanks. Thu Jun 25 05:37:17 -0700 2009 227060 mardisk 1 4804703 this gets asked every few months: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/118299 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/118993 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/592296 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/394246 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/489211 My vote is for Cafe Baba Reeba, but I haven't been since moving in 2004 (the Las Vegas version was good, but the original in Chicago better) Thu Jun 25 06:42:07 -0700 2009 4804526 224238 Caralien 1 4804734 Mercat a la Planxa is rather new in the recently referbished Blackstone Hotel on South Michigan Avenue. The food is superb, the drinks excellent, good service and fun atmosphere. Highly recommended. Head and shoulders above the rest. Cafe Iberico is an old favorite; inexpensive, less creative, as is Baba Reeba mentioned here.and Emilios. There's also Barcelona in Evanston. check out the other links listed above. Thu Jun 25 06:49:00 -0700 2009 4804526 24468 chicgail 2 4805580 mercat a la planxa has smarter service and decor than other tapas restaurants in chicago. the presentation is also more refined. the cava we got was also quite good. but i still think that it's overpriced. although armed with all the good things i mentioned, the cooking and the actual food, while good, do not rise to level of "fine dining" and do not adequately justify the inflated price, which kind of defeats the purpose of eating tapas anyway. Thu Jun 25 10:51:48 -0700 2009 4804734 1081890 mountsac 3 4806597 I agree, except for the "smarter service". Perhaps it has to do with the fact that we dined on a Tuesday night (last July, not busy) vs. a more popular night but our server was unable to enlighten us as to what was special about the Jamon Iberico vs. the Jamon Serrano. I knew enough that it had been illegal to import until recently, but not much more. Our server said he'll find out but never did. That's all the excuse DH needed to whip out it his then new iphone to give me a little culinary lesson :) Thu Jun 25 15:35:32 -0700 2009 4805580 108661 ceekskat 2 4806155 i'm curious ... how much does a tapas meal run for two people (on average) @ mercat? Thu Jun 25 13:26:32 -0700 2009 4804734 79997 lilaki 3 4806347 I can't say on average, but the last time i was there with DH, our bill was about $120 with alcohol and tip. It really depends on what you get. Their more traditional tapas are between $5-$15. The flatbreads (which i always get) are between $11-$15. The larger plates are between mid-high teens. The a la planxa menu is a whole different ballgame. If i remember right, the full order of Colorado lamb chop is $40+. That's 4 perfectly charred, tender juicy chops. Thu Jun 25 14:06:38 -0700 2009 4806155 276975 ms. chow 3 4808486 it was around $100 dollar for the two of us, including tax and service. but we only had one glass of cava each, and we didn't have enough food to eat. the paella was especially tiny. i don't remember all the details from that meal, but the unusually small portions did make an impression. i think cafe iberico is good. but i personally like "people" in wicker park better. the place looks humble, but the food and sangrila are quite solid there. i especially like the blue-cheese potato dish. i also think that avec could be a tapas restaurant, depending on the way you order. they have the best bacon-wrapped dates in town. Fri Jun 26 09:49:24 -0700 2009 4806155 1081890 mountsac 3 4812193 tks for the info re: prices ... i think we'll save that $$ for when we're actually in spain this fall! :) Sat Jun 27 23:04:58 -0700 2009 4806155 79997 lilaki 1 4804815 I second chicgail on Mercat. It is my top choice for tapas these days. For old standbys, Cafe Iberico is best. If you want more peace and quiet, 1492 is my alternative to Iberico. There is a new crop of tapas places. Tapas Valencia is good (they are owned by Meson Sabika in Naperville). Eivissa and Pintxos i haven't been, but have read mixed writeups. Thu Jun 25 07:11:52 -0700 2009 4804526 276975 ms. chow 2 4812560 Cafe Valencia in the South Loop is great. Pricing is similar to Cafe Iberico, but the decor & menus are much more updated and the service is great. I didn't think Mercat was all that wonderful--too expensive for tapas.... Sun Jun 28 07:37:08 -0700 2009 4804815 1089216 foodiechicago 1 4813005 FYI Mercat is closed until at least mid-July. Something about slippery floors. Sun Jun 28 11:32:33 -0700 2009 4804526 27553 gleam 1 4819213 Cafe Baba Reeba is definitely good. Mercat a la Planxa is about the same. Both are expensive for Tapas... Cafe Iberico is dirt cheap. But surprisingly good food if you don't care much about the dining atmosphere. Tue Jun 30 15:00:55 -0700 2009 4804526 1089847 viafaenza37 1 4821289 Yeah, Cafe Ba Ba Reeba is always my first choice. Wed Jul 01 09:39:56 -0700 2009 4804526 1089347 bourj 1 4822484 A third vote for Mercat. By far the best tapas in Chicago although priced at a premium. They also do the whole-roasted suckling pig (look at the website) which has to be pre-ordered. Loved it. Wed Jul 01 15:26:22 -0700 2009 4804526 251382 gls_junk 1 5177901 It depends on what you want to spend. I love Cafe Iberico, because I'm not rich and I get insulted at high prices for small plates. I always guess the price before I look at the check and it is always lower than I expect. And their sangria is exceptional. Sangria, on Weed St. and North Ave., is pretty good but way overpriced. They have a happy hour, but their sangria is terrible and way expensive. Still, half-price tapas is a deal. Thu Nov 12 23:15:23 -0800 2009 4804526 104864 Pete Oldtown