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Name: Tapas Barcelona
Address: 1615 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL, 60201
Telephone: (847) 866-9900
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.71

Tapas Barcelona

1615 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL, 60201

(847) 866-9900
Store is closed

Tapas Barcelona Menu

Sopas Y Ensaladas

Gazpacho

Potaje De Chicharos

Todays Soup

Ensalada De La Casa

Ensalada De Pollo

Ensalada De Espinacas

Ensalada Caprese

Ensalada De Remolachas
Tapas Frias

Quesos Con Membrillo

Patatas Alioli

Tortilla

Pisto Manchego

Aceitunas Alinadas

Jamon Con Pan Y Tomate

Charcuteria

Pollo Relleno

Canelon De Atun

Salmon Ahumado

Salpicon De Mariscos

Alcachofas A La Vinagreta

Esparragos Con Tres Salsas

Avocado Con Cangrejo
Tapas Calientes

Aceitunas Rellenas

Queso De Cabra Con Tomate

Datiles Con Tocino

Parrillada De Vegetales

Champinones Al Jerez

Berenjenas Con Queso Y Avellanas

Cabrillas Barcelona

Patatas Bravas

Pincho De Pollo

Alas De Pollo Picantes

Pechuga De Pollo Plancha

Pasta Con Pollo

Lomo De Cerdo Plancha

Empanada De Cordero

Chuletitas De Cordero

Salchicha De Pato

Pincho De Solomillo

Filete Con Patatas

Pincho De Gambas

Fritura De Calamares Y Gambas

Gambas Al Ajillo

Vieriras Con Salsa De Azafran

Mejillones Plancha

Salmon A La Parrilla

Filete De Pescado Mediterraneo

Calamares A La Plancha

Croquetas De Cangrejos

Fideos Con Mariscos
Paellas

Vegetariana

Valenciana

Catalana
Bocadillos (sandwiches)

Serranito

De Pollo

De Carne
Pizzas

Barcelona

Dali

Gaudi

Miro
Postres

Pitisu Con Helado

Flan

Tarrina De Chocolate

Platano Con Helado

Pan Perdido

Arroz Con Leche

Bizcocho Borracho

Pera Rellena

Crema Catalana

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tapas Barcelona

Sopas Y Ensaladas

Gazpacho [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potaje De Chicharos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Todays Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ensalada De La Casa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ensalada De Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ensalada De Espinacas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ensalada Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ensalada De Remolachas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tapas Frias

Quesos Con Membrillo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Patatas Alioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pisto Manchego [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Aceitunas Alinadas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jamon Con Pan Y Tomate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Charcuteria [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Relleno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Canelon De Atun [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon Ahumado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salpicon De Mariscos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Alcachofas A La Vinagreta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Esparragos Con Tres Salsas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Avocado Con Cangrejo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tapas Calientes

Aceitunas Rellenas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Queso De Cabra Con Tomate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Datiles Con Tocino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Parrillada De Vegetales [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Champinones Al Jerez [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Berenjenas Con Queso Y Avellanas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cabrillas Barcelona [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Patatas Bravas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pincho De Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Alas De Pollo Picantes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pechuga De Pollo Plancha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Con Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lomo De Cerdo Plancha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Empanada De Cordero [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chuletitas De Cordero [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salchicha De Pato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pincho De Solomillo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filete Con Patatas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pincho De Gambas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fritura De Calamares Y Gambas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gambas Al Ajillo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vieriras Con Salsa De Azafran [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mejillones Plancha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Salmon A La Parrilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Filete De Pescado Mediterraneo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamares A La Plancha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Croquetas De Cangrejos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fideos Con Mariscos [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Paellas

Vegetariana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Valenciana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Catalana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Bocadillos (sandwiches)

Serranito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

De Pollo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

De Carne [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pizzas

Barcelona [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dali [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gaudi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Postres

Pitisu Con Helado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Flan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tarrina De Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Platano Con Helado [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pan Perdido [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arroz Con Leche [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bizcocho Borracho [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pera Rellena [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crema Catalana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Jiannan W.

fabulous goat cheese in tomato sauce!!!!
(4)
Liza P.

Mmmmm tapas! Sometimes you just have a craving for delicious bite sized portions of perfectly seasoned Spanish food, and this place delivers! The atmosphere is relaxed, but still classy (if you coming here in the summer, I recommend the outdoor seating). It's best to come here with a large group, so you can order lots of different dishes for everyone to try. I recommend about two plates per person. My favorite dishes are the Queso De Cabra Con Tomate (baked goat cheese in tomato sauce, nicoise olives, garlic bread), Datiles a la Sevillana (fresh dates wrapped in bacon with bell pepper sauce), and Fritura del Mar (fried calamari and shrimp). Coming here for a group lunch runs about $10-15 per person (not counting alcohol), which I think is a pretty good deal for the high quality of food they serve.
(5)
phil m.

This is for the times we've been, which was a few years back 2007-2009. Great place and the best Serrano ham outside EspaÃ±a. Cafe Iberico can't top it. Go there if you are near. Have had several dishes including the seafood. And happy with most.
(5)
Danni A.

SO Yummy! Some of the best food in the area but its a little disorganized. I had a reservation at 7 and we weren't seated until 7:30... this wan't the first time that happened. BUT the food was totally worth the wait!
(4)
Kim P.

Great tapas options and bigger portions than cafe-ba-ba-Reeba in Chicago. Always impressed with unique flavor pairings! Sangria is wonderful! Outdoor patio is cute, but backs up to an abandoned building.
(4)
april w.

This is such a nice spanish restaurant! I go here for special occasions and always make it family style with my friends so we can try a little of everything. They serve tapas (which is like little appetizers). My fav is the bacon wrapped dates which are AMAZING!!!!
(5)
Meredith B.

They do some pretty darn lovely tapas in this joint! Got seated right away (inside) on a Friday at 9 pm, though I think there was a wait for inside. It was sooooo cold in there! But we managed to shiver through it. The bacon-wrapped dates, a tapas restaurant staple, were freaking amazeballs. I've had these at several establishments, but these were the best version I've tried. So sweet and salty at the same time, such a remarkably decadent texture - I could eat these all night. And the sauce underneath them was DIVINE and we used the whole bread basket to mop it up. The scallops with spinach and saffron sauce were lovely as well - scallops were perfectly cooked, I just wish there were more of them! Lovely with the silky spinach. The rigatoni with sausage was a substitute for the albondigas, which they had run out of. It was tasty but average in terms of creativity - seemed like something you could get in any restaurant and I wouldn't bother with it here. The Salmon Ahumado is basically tapas' answer to a bagel! Smoked salmon on crostini with egg, capers, and horseradish! It was very tasty but I'd skip it because it just reminded me of a nice Jewish deli brunch dish. For all I know, maybe it's a super authentic Spanish tapa but I'd probably leave it out in the future. Stick to the authentic-sounding, more traditional tapas here and I think you will have a fantastic meal. Everything was wonderful, but the dates and scallops were the real standouts. The other dishes I can't flaw for flavor, but they weren't inspired or special enough to stand out. But in terms of sheer taste, you won't be disappointed by anything!
(4)
Jackie M.

I've been here over 10 times now, and would go any day. It is my favorite tapas place, as I am now on a mission to see if it can be beat. So far, I've tried 5 other places and Barcelona is still tops. I always have the bacon wrapped dates. It's a must have! Nearly everything else I've tried (hot tapas only), and I've tried most things on the menu, are good to great. Haven't tried the paella, but that's next on my list. I'm not usually a dessert person but always seem to get it here, usually the roasted (poached I think) pear or sautÃ©ed banana in caramel. Yuuuum. It will always be one of my favorites in terms of food quality. The service is usually slow, so be prepared.
(5)
Kristina W.

As an Evanston resident, I've eaten here 6-7 times in the past 2 years and loved it each and every time. I love that the restaurant can be great for dates, for larger birthday parties, and even for a casual meal with friends. I've probably tried around 10-15 items on the menu, and haven't found a single dish disappointing, though some are clear standouts and others are more average. While I do try to be adventurous and order a few new dishes each time, I find myself always ordering the same few, favorite dishes: Bacon-Wrapped Dates ( yelp.com/biz_photos/tapaâ€¦ ) - having tried this dish at 5-6 other restaurants in the Chicago area (i'm crazy, i know), Tapas Barcelona's continues to be my ABSOLUTE favorite. that sauce... OMG. keep the leftover sauce & dip the bread into it. Baked Goat Cheese ( yelp.com/biz_photos/tapaâ€¦ ) - another dish i've tried at other tapas places, but it just can't be beat. again, ask for extra bread, because it only comes with 4 garlic breads and there will be a lot of leftover marinara & cheese. Dali Pizza - with bacon & caramelized onions ( yelp.com/biz_photos/tapaâ€¦ ) - this may not be for everyone, because while some of my friends love it, some complain that the onions are too sweet. if you're someone who likes mixing sweet & salty, you'll LOVE this! and best of all... the SANGRIA. OVERALL: 4 things. Bacon Wrapped Dates, Baked Goat Cheese, Dali Pizza, Sangria. TRY THEM. You won't be disappointed. I'll definitely be back... many more times.
(4)
Nicole D.

I enjoyed this place, but it was a little pricey, in my opinion, and it wasn't very authentic in terms of Spanish tapas. First of all, the patatas bravas were steeped in sauce - a little too much for my friend and me. Second, where was ANYTHING with chorizo? Seriously? No chorizo on a Spanish menu? I'm also used to a plentiful array of tapas with huevos, but they were lacking here as well. That said, the salmon ahumado was delicious - definitely my favorite dish of the night. The croquettes, which change daily, were also good, and were one of the few dishes that included jamon, another typical staple for Spanish tapas, in my experience. Finally, we got the crema Catalana for dessert (a Catalan style creme brÃ»lÃ©e). I'm not sure exactly what made it Catalan-style. I could detect something "different" in the taste, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. Some sort of spice? Flavor was good, though, but the temperature was inconsistent throughout, and the crust was definitely more burnt in some places than others and difficult to pierce through with a spoon. Overall, the place was tasty, but I think you could probably find better, more authentic tapas elsewhere. If I'm wrong, though, I wouldn't write this place off. It wasn't bad; it just wasn't everything I was hoping for and more.
(3)
Yanyao N.

I used to eat here quite a bit when I lived in Evanston. It's one of the nicer-by-student-standard restaurants, not but too expensive -and a place where you'd go to have a special meal. The dates, goat cheese, and scallops are good, and I like to get the roasted pear and white chocolate dessert. The one dish that will haunt me forever is the garlicky potato salad though - it's so creamy and rich and garlicky. It makes me want to make out with my nemesis after eating it. Best dish there - plus, it's named after someone! Patti, can we be friends?
(4)
Hannah H.

This place is cute when you walk in, and the servers are very friendly and knowledgeable about the different tapas they offer. The food itself is good, but it can get pricey after you order whatever you're interested from the menu. They may say that just sampling a few dishes can get you pretty full, but I need at least like 9-12 dishes :D I had the Queso de Cabra con Tomato, which is baked goat cheese in tomato sauce and olives, and comes with garlic bread. It was piping hot, and had a creamy texture. It was pretty good. There was also Empanada de Cordero, which was a puffed pastry with lamb with rioja sauce. I was not a fan as it was stuffed with ground lamb that was not seasoned well. The Salchicha de Pato was grilled duck sausage with mushroom ragu and rosemary sauce - they seemed to cook the duck meat overly done, since it produced an intense game-y flavor. The sauce itself was overpowering, especially with the rosemary. The Pincho de Gambas was a skewer of shrimp in garlic butter sauce - not overpowering, and just your typical shrimp. My favorite of all time was the Mejillones Plancha, which were grilled mussels served on an iron skillet. This skillet was about 6 inches up from the table, and they were sizzling when they came out. They were juicy, greatly seasoned, and lovely. +tapas +Queso de Cabra con Tomato +Mejillones Plancha
(4)
Brett M.

We've been here a half dozen times or so. Firstly, they service bread and a a simply excellent Rosemary olive oil. As for main course(s), the Tapas philosophy is always great for getting a dynamic mix of serving types in one sitting. The Salmon Ahumado is a personal favorite! If you come here then I also would highly encourage you to try the Red Sangria as it is in my opinion, the best thing about Tapas Barcelona. When so often Sangrias are overly sugary and watered down, this Sangria feels almost authentic in that you can actually taste the wine(s).
(4)
Kat A.

The restaurant decor is a bit tacky, but after 13 years of eating here I've come to love it. The food is always pretty solid--my favorite things are: Queso De Cabra Con Tomate, Cabrillas Barcelona,and Datiles Con Tocino (which I usually order without the sauce as a meal closer). In the summer they have outdoor seating in their courtyard, which makes the experience feel a bit more authentic. Also, if you're planning to dine at prime time or have a large party, they take reservations.
(5)
Dimple D.

It was my first time there last night. I love tapas so was excited to try this place out. Food and service were both sub par. We had to keep asking the waiter/busboy to refill our water glasses. The only thing that made this place receive an extra star was the fact that the waiter didn't charge us a cutting fee of $1.50pp (we had bought a cake from outside for a friend's birthday). I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone who is serious about tapas. There are some really good restaurants in the city which are delicious.
(2)
Chicago E.

First time eating at a tapas place in the burbs. I usually eat out in the city and thought this place was really good! The land empanadas were excellent. people were friendly and we had a wonderful dinner. I would recommend coming here!
(5)
Kent W.

Arrived with a group of 5, and met 4 others. Didn't have enough set-ups, so I had to mug a couple sets from the next (empty) table when they started bringing plates. Had to ask for water 3 times to get the first glass, and twice more to get a refill half way through the meal. The food was ok. But just ok. They asked if they could clear our table when we were mostly done with our meal, and we said okay, but they promptly cleared everything as well as wiping the table down, shooting crumbs onto our laps. I asked for the check twice, and when they took my card, they kept it for 7-8 minutes. It got crowded, and they seemed to want to push us out with the table scrub, but keeping the card for so long with no plates or cups/glasses on the table made me think they were making a rub of my card. Okay food can be ok, but piss-poor service is intolerable.
(1)
Mike A.

Tapas Barcelona is a great place to bring a date. The ingredients are fresh and the sangria is boozy. There is a large patio perfect for summer nights and the inside has a vibrant and lively atmosphere. Order the tiramisu - you won't forget it.
(5)
Ramnath S.

Walked out of a restaurant without tipping, probably after many many years! That and my rating should summarize where I am going with this... Pros: Barcelona Sangria Cons: Everything else Food: Terrible to say the least. Tapas are supposed to be small plates with unique taste. What I got was a carb and sauce overload in everything I ordered. The Patatas Bravas (a Spanish staple and typically my litmus test) was basically fired potatoes in what seemed like a tomato sauce from a can. The baked snails were basically hidden inside a big scoop of cheese and more tomato sauce on a piece of bread. All I could taste was the sauce, the snail being the least thought out part of the dish. And the grand finale, was a grilled pork tenderloin with a fancy name and a fancier description. It was literally stir fried pork, peppers and onions served with french fries (although the menu gives a totally different picture). I literally checked with my waitress if the right dish was served to me and she expertly advised me that, "of course, see it says served with potatoes in the menu". I wanted to scream you just served me french fries! The Barcelona Sangria was the saving grace and I should have just had a pitcher of that Ambience: Kinda alright...borderline overdoing it and the entrance was pretty confusing with the sign on the door saying enter from the courtyard...and the courtyard gate was locked... Service: Good...the waitress did offer to replace my pork dish but I didnt have the heart or stomach to try anything else out Big thumbs down!!! Give it a miss...
(1)
Rowena M.

My absolute favorite spot for tapas. Classic, unpretentious and as authentic as you can get. You know how they have swanky sushi places but you wonder why you keep on going to that one who doesn't try to charge you $20 for a fancy roll because after all, what you want is fresh sushi? Ok I'm babbling but my point is this place takes me back to EspaÃ±a because it's simple yet romantic. Classic dishes to try include tortilla espaÃ±ola, queso de cabra, datiles con tocino, fritura de mariscos, and for dessert- plÃ¡tano con helado! Try their specials and if you're an avocado fan, the avocados con cangrejo will teach you that avocados have more to offer than just being smashed for guacamole!
(4)
Iva K.

Casual spot, but reservations are recommended-this place always seems to be packed!
(3)
Jeff P.

Great selection of awesome tapas. Sat outside - nice but the Mosquitos attached just as we were starting to wind down. Two of us sampled 6 dishes - all awesome. Also enjoyed a cool and tasty gazpacho.
(5)
ak p.

Uh oh? What happened? New chef? New owner? Whatever it is it's not good. Menu seemed smaller. Who's heard of a Tapas restaurant without a cheese assortment? Food was much blander than our many past visits. The paella was very rice a roni and more rice than anything. Disappointing visit used to be one of our favorite Tapas restaurants. It was not very busy so I have to think I am not alone in my opinions. Bummer.
(2)
Neil M.

Ambiance is ok. But how cans tapas place have TERRIBLE sangria? That's inexcusable. All of the food used the cheapest ingredients. It was all incredibly average. And I'm being generous. If this place was in Chicago it wouldn't last 6 months.
(2)
Ro L.

We ate here last night and 'had a great time. 'Started off on the patio but the rain soon forced us inside where we met our new wait person, Eddie, who was perfectly charming and so helpful. Thanks, Eddie!! We hadn't been to Cafe Barcelona in years and 'thought the food was good then but now its even better. Delicious! We ate and drank way more than we anticipated but 'were having such a good time we didn't want to leave. Only flaws in the evening were a few screaming babies. Next time we will go later but we will definitely be back!
(5)
Monica S.

I had dinner here with a few friends on the patio; this was a great choice, since it was a mild autumn Friday. I have yet to sit indoors to compare the ambience. As always, my favorite tapas were the queso de cabra con tomate and patatas bravas. The -1 star is for our group having to ask our forgetful server about one dish more than 2 times. It may be because they were busy that night, but it's convenient to get decent tapas without having to travel to Chicago. I'll come back again.
(4)
Andy S.

Been to this tapas restaurant a few times now and I still have never really been overwhelmed. The pitchers of Sangria are great but the tapas outside of that is just good. There are always some good specials and they can never bring you bread fast enough to eat with your tapas. I would recommend making a reservation as this place can get pretty busy.
(3)
Diane S.

My sweetheart and I went to Tapas Barcelona on Valentine's Day and had a really wonderful experience. The foods was SO good--as others have said, be sure to get the bacon wrapped dates! Service was fast and on the ball, the wine selection was wonderful, and I loved the mix of clientele (families, young couples, groups of friends--the whole spectrum!). I'm used to spending way more for tapas at Cafe Babareeba and this was SO much more enjoyable. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is that we've only been once. If everything is consistently this great, I'll bump my rating! Can't wait to try again!
(4)
Joseph L.

I've had tapas only one other time. But this was far more memorable. Our waiter was a little too on top of things but maybe I'm just particular. He was very nice and explained things well. We had a great time and didn't leave disappointed or hungry. We will definitely come back again.
(4)
Amy M.

Went here for a friend's birthday. The tapas were good, flavorful and at the appropriate temperature. Standouts for me were the garlicky potato salad (I swear I ate one entire plate of the two we ordered), and the salmon with capers on toast points. I also became a big fan of the Spanish Margarita, with brandy, orange liqueur and lime. It had just the right mixture of sweet and sour to balance out the spices in the food. When we went early on a Sunday evening, there was no wait and there were empty tables. Decor was what you'd expect for a tapas place -- tile floor, terra cotta,etc. The different ironwork chandeliers and sconces gave the place a unique touch, tho. Service was kind of spotty; I think the waitress may have been alone on the floor. The price was excellent. Five of us ate for about $30 each, which included two drinks each.
(4)
Andrew B.

Tapas are fun and despite Tapas Barcelona's best efforts, its still a good place to go with friends. However, if you have had good tapas, you'll recognize the mediocrity of this Tapas. The food is not memorable but our server's rudeness was.
(3)
April L.

I remember getting drunk off of some sangrias here on a Sunday morning. The tapas here are delicious. We ate in the outdoor patio which I thought was charming. I got really full because we ordered several items from the menu, which ended up being so filling!
(4)
Tom F.

Very nice traditional Spanish tapas with an American flair. The waiters are friendly and helpful, especially if you've never had tapas before. For see creature lovers many options like Fritura De Calamares y Gambas - Fried calamari and shrimp in spicy tomato sauce. Great bacon wrapped dates to get different exposure. Add Sangria wine and you almost feel like in Barcelona. Great outdoor garden for eating outside.
(5)
Coco P.

Yes, I'm a big fan of this spot. Love the atmosphere, cozy and inviting. And the summer patio is a real plus, especially in Evanston where there are few. And the food...num, num, num. My favorite is the bacon-wrapped dates. Sweet, smokey, crispy, chewy. Delish. And the mussels plancha...I love mussels but never had them cooked in an iron skillet...no sauce, just smoky, grilled mussels. Wow. My husband always orders the garlic potato salad...it's the best. Almost everything else is delicious, haven't really had a bad item yet. The tenderloin, although it's a tapas-sized portion, always comes out as we order, medium-rare. The summer grilled veggies are great too. Lamb chops were huge and plentiful (and only $9.95). Some items were good but not great, like the baked goat cheese (was perfectly fine, but it's not a very interesting dish to me), the chorizo-stuffed olives (sounded great, but it just didn't work for me). Oh, and the scallops are nice and fat and always cooked perfectly. And since i always take bites of my friends' food, tapas is the perfect solution...I get to try everything!
(5)
Adam S.

I think a lot of the other reviews nail Tapas Barcelona. It's a classic 4-star'r. Very good food, pretty good service, pretty good drink. We also didn't feel like we were breaking the bank. We had two pitchers of sangria and 8 tapas, mostly vegetarian, which was about a c-note. Sometimes I hate tapas because you order one for $8.99 and it's a couple pieces of mesclun with a dab of sauce and some exotic vegetable or endangered seafood and I guess you're supposed to savor the flavor in that one bite. I just don't have that sophisticated of a palette so I'll keep going to TB and burp my way home in pleasure and fullness.
(4)
Sarah M.

I wanted to come home from Tapas Barcelona and give this place 5 stars and swoon over my food. I will semi-swoon over the food. There were a decent amount of vegetarian options on the menu, which is always a plus. I did feel that they skewed more towards the cold tapas... only a couple hot tapas were veg friendly. Hot plate with baked goat cheese was my favorite. However, nothing felt like it really stood out as something that would make me come back Another plus was the drink menu! Mixed speciality drinks were reasonably priced and still delivered a nice kick. What knocked TB down stars was the service. We made a reservation for a party of 5. They acknowledged our reservation and were getting a table ready. One hostess pointed to us, said, "Seat them please" and she looked at us, confused, and then asked who was the party of 5. We raised our hand, and then she looked at another person next to us who also said he was a party of 5. She was about to seat him first, even though the other hostess pointed to us. Then, when we were seated, we were given 2 menus and told that they were out of menus. How does that happen? Given the fact that ordering tapas requires a lot more looking at your menu, ordering multiple items doesn't make menu sharing easy. We also never received menus for everyone, despite asking multiple times. Our server was really nice... but also really absent. We had wanted to order more drinks and another tapas or two and it took at least 15 minutes for her to come check on us after we had decided we wanted more. I understand it's busy on a Saturday night.. but 15 minutes? Especially when she came to other tables by us multiple times during our 15 minute wait? Overall... I enjoyed the meal. I would perhaps give TB another try given the high ratings everyone else gave. Maybe it was an off night? The service did not win me over. It just seemed very unorganized... and please, make more menus.
(3)
Jesster A.

Though I have had 4 Star experiences here - I tend to agree with Kate P.'s review - though I thought her overall assessment of the Evanston dining scene was unfairly harsh. Although every restaurant I can think of in Evanston seems to have just enough "flaws" to knock it out of the truly GREAT category - and certainly none qualify if "snob appeal" is a pre-requisite (and BTW - I don't think Kate P. was in ANY WAY suggesting that!) Still I think Evanston has a very respectable selection of very good places to dine (and/or "eat!") Back to :"Tapas" - it is a fun place with usually pretty good food and service -it's just that in the larger international scheme of "Tapa's" Bars - "Barcelona" in Evanston serves good but basically "the usual" fare. By the standard of tapa's bars in the Evanston area, it is indeed EXCEPTIONAL if not great. (Just playin' with you now...)
(3)
Tracy K.

This is a really cute place to have dinner, especially if the weather is nice and you can take advantage of their lovely patio. Their tapas were good, 'though I have a feeling I would have enjoyed them even more if I ate meat, and they also offer larger plates of some dishes for those that don't want to mix it up. I thought the goat cheese and the olive plate were especially tasty. The service was efficient and they've got nice (even pretty!) bathrooms.
(4)
Joshua D.

Best Tapas in the North Shore! Everything on the menu is delicious, service is always very good and Sangria is fantastic. They have really cool decor and have made up a really nice atmosphere. Only problem is that the bill could be brutal. Be careful with how much you order.
(5)
Ryan M.

Has been a favorite for a few years, but the service has been lacking recently. Goat cheese and bacon-wrapped dates make a trip worthwhile.
(4)
Juanita G.

I LOVE this place! The atmosphere is very festive and the decor is beautiful. Yeah I didn't expect this considering the fact that next door is a retirement community. They don't seem to venture into this restaurant. I love going here with groups but it's also great on a date. They have some great festive music playing but it's not so loud that you can't have a conversation. They have a solid full menu of tapas. The service is always good no matter how busy they get. I've always made a reservation. On busy nights people stay for a while.
(5)
Swapna P.

Always a great standby for a big group of friends. The sangria is awesome, but stay away from the margaritas. Favorites among almost everyone I've eaten with there include the baked goat cheese in tomato sauce, the bacon wrapped dates, and the eggplant wrapped goat cheese. There is a fairly large selection of plates to choose from and if you still have room for dessert, the poached pear is amazing.
(4)
Food S.

This is a great place overall for Tapas- they have a great selection of hot and cold tapas, great ambience, easy parking nearby, and good Sangria. It's just big enough to have some life but not huge and bursting with crowds like some other places in Chicago.
(4)
David S.

Been here every year on New Year's Eve for the last four or five years. Wonderful tapas at affordable prices. Everything tastes great, vegetarian friendly, good service, laid back feel inside, unpretentious and good in every way. A real winner! Went to Cafe Iberico in Chicago, expecting to be wowed. It just made me realize how good Tapas Barcelona actually is.
(5)
Bella D.

Great food, small restaurant compared to Cafe Iberico. Fun time here meeting up with old friends from college, highschool, and grammar school. Closes early though and their sangrias aren't as strong as other places. But a good time nonetheless!! (calamari, crab cake, pork and potatoes, caprese salad, mussels, shrimp, omg, so much to eat!) Don't forget their deserts: flan, rice pudding and banana topped with icecream and chocolate fudge! mmm we spend under $20 buck each in a group of 10! Pretty good for a big group!
(4)
Brian W.

My family and I just went here for my sister's birthday. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience here. The interior is very warm and does give me a feel of "hey... this could possibly be in Barcelona." My wild imagination makes me an easy sell though. The lights are dim but not so much that you can't navigate or see your friends. The walls are covered in places with posters from old Spanish movies and theatre. Like many tapas places, the amount of choices can be intimidating for first time diners. We ordered a ton of dishes with a few standouts. They had a special tasting of three chorizos which was amazing, not too salty and and each was very distinct form the other. The Datiles con Tocino (dates wrapped in bacon is always a favorite, so much so that we ordered it THREE times. It's a great way to find a good balance of sweet and savory. The Ensalada de Remolachas (Roasted Beet and baby lettuce salad) was also a hit even among the normally non salad eating types with us. Finally the Salchicha De Pato (Duck sausage with a mushroom ragu) was a great taste to end on. The sausage was very tender and the duck fat kind of melts in your mouth. We didn't try the paella so I'll have to return to report on it. For dessert I had the roasted pear with with white chocolate and mint. It wasn't a mind blowing dessert but an adequate end to the meal. Our server was great and didn't mind that we kept ordering our dishes about three at a time. The only real complaint I have is the seating seems packed a bit close together. I had patrons bumping into my seat and my mom did as well, for the whole night. It's one of the better tapas places in the city. The prices were very reasonable , and about half price compared to a certain over-hyped place in Lincoln Park. We ordered a decent amount of food between six of us; without drinks and including gratuity the bill was about $140. I'd come back here again in the future as I found the food to be great and the ambiance vibrant and young.
(4)
Isabel Y.

Three words; bacon wrapped dates. I've never forgotten! Good for groups, make a reservation. A fun atmosphere for a Friday night with friends.
(4)
Nicole M.

ooo this place is delicious! we ordered mounds of food and I was not disappointed with one single dish. I think my favorite was the baked eggplant, that sauce was so tasty! The only downside was that we ordered way more than we could eat and the wait staff kept taking away the plates before we could even finish. I'd like to go back on a warm night, as their outdoor seating looked very nice, but the inside is welcoming as well, homey and fairly private. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Gfiddy F.

Good for groups.
(5)
MartÃn G.

The quality of the food does not matter if you come specially to the place half hour before the closing time and they have already close the kitchen and refuse to seat you. Why post a schedule if I can not depend on it. I loved their food, but I found another excellent tapas restaurant.
(1)
Megan W.

Tapas Barcelona is just okay. My boyfriend and I walked in on a Thursday evening and it wasn't very crowded. When we arrived the hostess was on the phone, but she didn't even acknowledge our presence with a smile or wave. It took her about five minutes to get off the phone and seat us. It took forever to get our drinks and food even though there was barely anybody in the restaurant. In fact most of the waiters appeared to just stand around in a corner talking to each other. The food was okay. Our favorite was the empanada. Overall I think that next time I'm in Evanston I will be trying one of the other restaurants in the area.
(3)
Paul C.

Very tasty tapas in Evanston. I think this place cab go head-to-head with Iberico and Ba ba ba Re ba any day. They have a chocolate flan which is easily the best flan I've had. So good! You'll find all the classics, bacon with dates, queso de cabra, octopus, and they're all quite good. Service was great and ends up being a little cheaper than some of its Chicago counterparts. If you're up north, you can't go wrong grabbing tapas in Evanston.
(4)
R K.

Probably the best tapas in the Chicago area for the price. Nice atmosphere, good sangria, excellent desserts. I recommend the cabrillas barcelona (snails!), and the goat cheese dip.
(5)
Julia u.

I really enjoyed visiting the place. We had my birthday there, then my Mom's birthday there. It has become our family place. I like the food, the place itself. And in summer you can take a table outside and enjoy the warm evenings eating tapas:)
(5)
David B.

Love it. Food is top notch. They have a lovely patio area for summer time dining. One one my favorite places to go relax and drink some wine and sample delicious food.
(5)
Pamela K.

The food was delicious but pricey. They offered variety of food. The atmosphere was fun and interesting. The service was unattentive. Our waiter did not care so much about us. We tried many times to get his attention. He kept talking to other waiters.
(3)
Sam T.

Variety is the name of the game here.... This place has some very nice tapas dishes. The grilled calamari is fantastic and the chorizo and goat cheese dish was awesome. I was a bit disappointed in their selection of cured hams as I had fond memories of my trips to Spain and the amazing ham shops. One nice this about this place is that they have small paellas perfect for two.
(4)
Bob A.

I love tapas. Pinco de Solomillo, Patatas Bravas, the list goes on and on of my favorites...which is why I was excited to try Tapas Barcelona, since I had never been. However...I have to say I was a little disappointed overall. The atmosphere is great, the waitstaff very attentive and friendly, however the food was just average. My friend and I split 5 dishes...all were good...none were exceptional. Overall, a decent place...but there are def better Tapas places in the Chicagoland area. Try Tapas Valencia in the South Loop.
(3)
Craig T.

Great food. I've had in total around 10 of the tapas dishes, both hot and cold, as well as a couple of the soups. All tapas dishes have been served as advertised and were absolutely delicious. I have yet to have a single dish that was not top notch. Prices are also reasonable, until you get into alcohol. Wine and beer are both a tad on the expensive side, so think hard before ordering that fourth glass. The 4 stars is for service. It can get a little busy (not their fault), but I found you can often get a spot at the bar without wait. Regardless of how busy they are, the waitstaff is forgetful and often delay on bringing out the bread or water. In the end you are getting excellent food for a good price. I stand by my rating. Note: $11-30 per person includes drinks. Without drinks you can get out for under $10.
(4)
Irene J.

tapas barcelona is a good alternative to tapas restaurants in the city. their food is delicious and reasonably priced. it's a great place to go in all sorts of numbers--they are very accommodating. i've sat both inside and outside and do enjoy the patio during the warmer weather. i recommend the goat cheese and dates. the potatoes weren't very impressive. as for sangria, it's a bit on the weaker side, but an ok compliment to the meal. it's hard not to have a glass when you're having tapas! check them out if you're craving tapas and don't feel like trekking into the city!
(4)
julie c.

The food here is decent but I've definitely had better tapas. I've been here 3 times so I'm pretty convinced it wasn't a hit-or-miss thing. That said, it's a good option if you're craving tapas and you're in the Evanston area. Today was my first time dining in the outdoor seating area - I like that it's spacious and not limited to a few tables as most restaurants in Chicago tend to be. There is a garage not too far north from the restaurant where you can park for free (I think up to 2h) - not sure if this is still the case as this was a couple years ago.
(3)
Lindley E.

how can anyone top the truth about a dirty, unsanitary kitchen? Not I, not I. All I can add is that I lived around the corner from this place for 2 years and only went once....before you accuse me of not eating out, compare that to three times at Trio when Grant Achatz was there and once a week at the greasy Joy Yee. I'm crazy for Tapas, but this place? Feh.
(2)
Jaclyn C.

My mom is literally obsessed with this restaurant. Addicted may be a better term - whenever my family comes down to Chicago it's Rollin' to Go for lunch and Tapas B for dinner. A fun atmosphere with friendly waiters. A range of Spanish tapas - the garlic shrimp, date-wrapped bacon, mussles, and goatcheese in tomato sauce are our favorites (after 4 years of parental visits - trust me, we've had a lot) and 2 types of Sangria (the red is best) along with an extensive drink list. Although it can get loud, a great date place and good for groups.
(4)
katie d.

We came to Tapas Barcelona for a Thursday night dinner. The weather was great (June!) and we wanted to sit outside. Although the hostess indicated that the wait would be only 15 min, we waited for over 1/2 hr. Not her fault, clearly, because patrons wanted to linger (understandable, yet annoying for us). We finally were seated about 30 min later. The waiter came promptly and was very courteous. I asked him which wine to order and it was very apparent that he had no idea. I ended up ordering a Temperanillo, which was described as "old wine" (from 2002). My husband ordered another glass of Temperanillo (each wine was about $6-$7/glass). Both wines were forgettable and fell flat. Even if I tried really hard, I could not have enjoyed them at all. We also ordered bacon wrapped dates (horrible presentation, ok taste), mushrooms in amontillado sauce (canned mushrooms in a runny sauce), grilled calamari, (ok, how can you screw them up) potatoes sauteed in spicy sauce, (frozen pre-cut and re-sauteed, pretending to be fresh) 1 skewer of steak (good), 1 skewer with 5 shrimp (ok taste). And horrible horrible deep fried crabcakes- gluey, stick to the roof of your mouth. The preparation of these went something like this: take out of the freezer pre-breaded frozen crabcakes, do not thaw, stick in deep fryer, take out, throw on the plate, douse with nondescript white sauce. Really unremarkable and so below par. After the crabcakes desert was out of question. The bill came to about $69 + tip = $84 for a totally forgettable dinner.
(3)
Carolina L.

This place is great I love how they make the angel pasta, I did not order the snails but everything else taste great. although portions are small so order two ration per person
(5)
Nels W.

The tapas were not overly impressive, and the sangria was downright disappointing. I guess it's pretty good for Evanston, but I'm not going to go out of my way to get back here. There are plenty of other Tapas places that know how to do it right.
(3)
Julia M.

Always a memorable experience at Tapas. I feel like I've stepped into a bar in Spain when there and the selection of tapas is authentic and utterly delicioso! A through and through enjoyable place to taste Spanish food and culture.
(5)
Kate P.

This place is hit or miss for me. The atmosphere is fun, and it's a good place to go with a group of friends. The service isn't always great, though. Once when I was here they forgot to bring a glass of wine we ordered, and brought out one dish of food after we had already completely finished everything else. Compared to other places downtown, I'd rate the tapas as about average. That being said, I continue to come back, because Evanston doesn't have much to offer in the way of great restaurants.
(3)
Kristi C.

I love, love, love tapas. I've noticed that some places have pricey tapas, mediocre taste and ridiculously small portions (like I would have to order 4 things to be full). This place has great food, prices and portions. I try to look for recession friendly restaurants as I like to go out but don't want to be broke doing so. I had a large group so we had an all seafood paella with a 50/50 seafood to rice ratio-scallops, mussels, shrimp, fish, calamari=DELICIOUS! The server and bussers were very attentive to making sure plates were cleared and replaced, sangria was forever flowing, and the desert and after dinner drinks were offered. I hate having that feeling of being rushed when out and I swear we were there for over two hours and felt completely comfortable and satisfied. The server was also very knowledgeable about the menu, she was able to explain certain items I was unfamiliar with. Having worked at tapas restaurant, I must say that I was more than a little impressed with the food and the staff. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Ann R.

Love this place. Huge thumps up- great for the family. My 7-year-old said 50 gold stars.
(5)
Melinda C.

Tapas are tasty - the baked goat cheese and bacon-wrapped dates were particular standouts. The scallops, duck sausage, grilled calamari, and anything with shrimp are good. Everything else was good but not particularly noteworthy (chicken wings, salmon, baked sea bass, grilled chicken, pizza). Sangria is weak, but the red wine is not. Fun ambiance, though - good for large groups as well as smaller parties. Wait staff was polite and speedy and it wasn't a problem making a reservation for a large group.
(3)
Kimmie V.

I thought this place was great, but I go here when I can't make the trip to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, which is just as great, in my opinion. This place is pretty tasty and the ambience is nice. I really liked their goat cheese with marinara and beef skewers. However, I can't say the same for their dates wrapped in bacon. The waitress told us that it's a popular favorite, but I couldn't agree with that. The dates were WAY too sweet, and bacon was fatty... not a nice combo, if you ask me. But other than that, the food was very good. I recommend this place if you're in Evanston.
(4)
YR Z.

Haven't been disappointed thus far.Come with a group so you can try the various plates. The potatas bravas and the filete con patatas are excellent. The sangria's quite tasty too.
(4)
Shawn B.

Absolutely fine. There's nothing spectacular about Tapas Barcelona, but it delivers on the basics quite competently.
(4)
Jared N.

Service was good but the food was only fair. The olives stuffed with chorizo were good but the dates wrapped with bacon were disappointing. The marinated artichokes were ok, but not particularly special. The same was true for the sauteed shrimp in garlic sauce.
(2)
Carter G.

Consistently good, but not great or exciting tapas. Nothing special, but always at least pleasant. It'd be 4-stars, except I think it's slightly over-priced and they never experiment, not even in their specials, with anything to change things up a bit.
(3)
Anna H.

Probably more like 3.5 stars, but I'm feeling generous, especially since this restaurant is in Evanston and there aren't a ton of great restaurants. My favorite dishes are the basics: tomato break with spanish ham, spanish-style mushrooms, garlic potatos, grilled mussels. The valencia paella is pretty tasty, although nothing to write home about.
(4)
penny h.

This is a very nice tapas restaurant in downtown Evanston. The restaurant was clean and very welll put together. The hostess was not very aware of how to effectively seat people and my server was ok. the food was good. I really enjoyed their sangria and their seafood paella.
(3)
Nick B.

Good tapas, good sangria, and a cool atmosphere.
(4)
Sarah C.

This is my favorite tapas place in the US. Anything with goat cheese is amazing, especially the eggplant goat cheese dish. So good! Now that I live in Chicago, I don't get to go as much but it is very reasonable for the quality of food you get. And I love the tapas style in general because you can have a little of a lot of things.
(5)
MaryLou G.

Nibble into Nirvana with a selection of yummy hot and cold tapas, and make your meal even better with a carafe of delicious sangria. Sit in the beautiful outdoor patio on a warm summer evening, and you can almost believe you're in Barcelona.
(5)
Stephanie M.

I like the feel of this place. Dining outdoors here is great when the weather permits. The drinks at the bar were the right strength and the food was good and in just the right portions. 4 dishes for 2 people is about right. I liked the presentation of the ...I forgot the name.....the serrano ham and manchego cheese with tomato soaked bread. They serve it like bruschetta which was unique to me. Bacon wrapped dates and calamari were good too. Nice ambiance.
(4)
Mel G.

Finally! A Spanish restaurant that has staff that actually can speak Spanish! The sangria is the best item I've had at this place. I would definitely recommend getting a pitcher! The size of the plates vary. Generally, the fish plates tend to be smaller in portion. Another cool thing is they always have daily specials. A bit expensive, but definitely worth going here in the summer when you can sit outside on their deck!
(4)
Jennifer W.

The food here is very average. The restaurant itself can be loud, cramped, and the service can be rushed at times. The hostesses are not overly friendly. You definitely need a reservation for weekend nights. I can recommend the wild mushrooms, baked goat cheese, and grilled vegetables. They have outdoor seating in the summer which is very pleasant.
(3)
Chris W.

The food is the meat of this review, so let me put the salad out first. My folks have never had tapas and suddenly we were going on a family outing this evening, no reservation but we had gone around 5 so I suppose they didn't expect that we needed one. There were at least five unoccupied tables when they said it would be a 35 minute wait without reservations, or, we could sit at the bar. So we sat at the bar and an hour later the place was packed, in fact when we were just standing up this chick slammed her purse on my bar chair and her coat on the back of it which I thought was a little intense but I get it...if you're reading this purse slammer, chill out. There was a handsome soft spoken Spanish man who I assumed ran the whole place behind the bar (who was assisting the bartender but also doing other things) and explained to my family how tapas worked and what they are (because my family doesn't listen to me when I try to explain to them things) and he recommended we order perhaps 2 dishes each and share. In the end we got 7 dishes, no dessert, but didn't need it because between four of us we were ready to explode leaving. It was a nice place for my sister too, whose a vegetarian and usually there isn't a huge menu for such a strange creature as they are. There was street parking around 5pm, and the food came out as it was ready, even though we ordered most of it at once. The last two dishes came out very quickly. It's an experience, eating tapas, more so than just a meal, so the time lapsing between dishes wasn't an issue with us. And now...Tapas. Portion sizes *small (2 people) **medium (three people) ***large (four people) Patatas Alioli $3.95* (My mom's favorite dish, very garlicy, creamy and well balanced.) Rich garlic potato salad (Patti's Favorite) Tortilla EspaÃ±ola $3.95*** (Interesting dish, favorite of my dads, the cold egg was new to my palette.) Classic Spanish potato and onion omelette Queso De Cabra Con Tomate $6.50* (My dad and I loved this, too creamy for my mom. The cheese and sauce together were a perfect compliment, and sopping up extra sauce with the garlic bread and a little cheese was wonderful) Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce, nicoise olives, and garlic bread Empanada de Borrego $6.75*** (one of my favorite dishes, my folks weren't too thrilled about it, and 'couldn't tell it was lamb' said my mom, but it's ground with lots of tasty spices, and mixed with the juices of the tomato basil and sherry sauce it was PERFECTIONAY!) Puffed pastry filled with lamb, spinach, tomato basil, sherry sauce Farfalle con Pollo, Setas, y Tomates Secos $6.50*** (probably the least liked dish at the table, the chicken was tough and there was just something about the sauce) Bowtie pasta with chicken, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, light tomato cream sauce Barcelona $7.95**** (a pizza, one of my favorite dishes, loved by all four members of my family) Spinach, portobello, tomato, goat cheese GaudÃ $7.50**** (a pizza, not as flavorful as most of the other tapas, kind of a letdown but still tasty) Artichokes, garlic, mushrooms, olives, provolone
(5)
Annie C.

ME GUSTA! The bacon wrapped dates are caramelized drops from heaven. The salmon and chicken dishes were also very appetizing. There were so many selections from the menu, I definitely need to go again and try more! I did try the sangria, I'm not a big red wine fan, so I didn't really enjoy it, but I'm sure for you red lovers, it's good!
(4)
Christopher R.

I want to think that we caught them on an off night, but I suspect our experience was aligned with the norm. I'll keep this short and sweet: Reservation: They "lost" our reservation. As a result, we got to wait another half hour for a table. They also lost the reservations of several others who were being seated at the same time we were. (7PM on a Saturday evening.) Service: Brutal. I don't know what else to say. We understand small plates. They sort of come when they come, but 20 minutes between plates for a party of two? Please. Food: Honestly? I thought that this would be the saving grace for the establishment. It was not. The "spicy potatoes" were something akin to Ore-Ida flash frozen potato quarters in leftover Chef Boyardee sauce. (Actually--I think I've uncovered their secret.) The pork tenderloin was swimming in grease. The bacon-wrapped dates? Pleasant. That said, they were bacon-wrapped dates. I'm not really sure how you screw that up. (Even this place couldn't manage that.) Ambiance: Everybody around us was progressively taking off layers of clothing. It was around 80 degrees where we were seated. The table next to us asked them to turn on the A/C or turn down the heat. They replied with a "sure" and turned up the ceiling fans instead. That didn't cut the mustard. Drinks: Watered down and generally unpleasant. I get now why this place seems to always have a wait...the suspect service makes it difficult to turn tables over in a timely fashion, and their inability to reserve tables with any degree of efficiency only compounds the problem. That said, it's pretty much the only option people from Evanston or the surrounding communities have if they don't want to venture into the City. This place is an unfortunate disaster. The plastic garlic hanging on the wall should have been our first clue. Avoid like the plague.
(1)
Ehow C.

Not a bad tapas place at all! It's reasonably affordable for the quality. The pizza, duck sausage, smoked salmon, and bread were some of my most recently highlights. What killed my experience last time was our server: he looked really upset every time he came to our table and he (and other people) didn't fill our water for most of our meals. He seemed much more cheery with other tables, which made me feel very alienated. What gives?
(3)
Patty T.

Not a fan. The foods were all overly greasy and I was not impressed with the Sangria. Nothing memorable about the service either.
(2)
Natsuki K.

I've been coming here the past 2 years with my family for my mom's birthday. absolutely amazing place. every single plate we've ordered has always been delicious, and this year i was able to order drinks :) the blue curaÃ§ao was kinda mehhhh, but the sangria was great and the coffee spiked with jameson whiskey was amazing with the exquisite desserts. definitely would recommend this place for anyone!!!
(5)
Helen S.

I've been here three times - once using a groupon with my roommates, once with a birthday group of about 12 people, and once on a date. Because of this and since everyone likes to share, I've tried practically everything on their menu. A few favorites: bacon wrapped dates, ham/bread/cheese (I know this sounds super average, but it's delicious), avocado with crabmeat, chicken salad, caprese salad, chicken skewer with cumin mayo, and chicken wings, and I pretty much like everything else that they make as well (although their mussels are only average). I also had one of their pizzas once and I don't see it on their menu, but I think it was arugula/ham and I loved it. They have lights on the trees, so try to sit outdoors on summer evenings because it's super pretty. It's a good date spot, although it's not as romantic on a weeknight (on weekends, they bust out the fancy menus and dim the lighting more).
(5)
Laura S.

This place is fantastic! The service is generally good. I recommend making a reservation on the weekends for dinner, as it can get pretty busy. The grilled calamari and egg tortilla thing are my two favorite dishes. I would kill for that calamari. Everything they make is delicious, and the prices are really decent. You can get a full meal for under $20 here - the small plates are great to share, and give lots of variety. I've had two birthday parties here - it's great for dinner with just a few friends, or for a large group. It's also a great date place.
(4)
Mona M.

We have gone there twice in the past month. Although we had reservations, the hostess flippant attitude was off putting. Her approach was dismissive and condescending. She should not be in this kind of job. She is the face of the restaurant and set a negative tone for our entire dining experience. The waiter on the other hand was very helpful navigating the menu.
(2)
Horace L.

Unexceptional service and food. I've had excellent authentic Spanish food, and this wasn't it.
(2)
Stephanie H.

great casual place to grab lunch with friends. fun atmosphere. convenient parking too. good service. i loved the smaller portions as it enabled us to try various plates. and, its surprisingly filling! Food: + Berenjenas Rellenas con Queso. Baked stuffed eggplant with goat cheese, hazelnuts, and roasted pepper sauce. an absolute must. it was delicious and everyone loved it. + Cabrillas Barcelona. Snails baked with tomato and alioli. scrumptious! dont be put off by the snails. ive never tasted snails before but this was delicious, there was no funky taste, and even my friend who was adamant against this dish loved it. the sauce is what did it for us. + Salmon con Esparragos. grilled atlantic salmon with asparagus, tomato basil, alioli. pretty good. hit my salmon craving. - Sangria. its okay, definitely not strong. and gets a bit watered down at the end. - Miro Pizza. cheese pizza with tomato and basil. skip it. its mediocre, too doughy, and just whatevs. the other foods definitely taste better. Note: They close at 2:30pm and reopen at 5:00pm!
(4)
Lydia S.

While I have nothing to complain about here, Tapas Barcelona is good, adequate, not great. I was surprised when they poured the sangria that the empty wine glasses came out with fruit on top of the ice. Little is more delicious in an alcoholic beverage than long-soaked, boozy fruit. And the sangria is not the fortified ambrosia you'd expect. My guess is its the bottled wine you buy at he store called sangria, rather than a red mixed with a harder spirit like brandy, peach brandy, triple sec or port. Big bummer. And a tapas can't get more creative than apples and oranges for fruit in the sangria? I make more interesting sangria a at home, with plums and strawberries in my red sangria and apricots and peaches in my white. I'd rather stay home! A note with the paella. Paella is supposed to be a slow-cooked dish, cooked all day over an open flame, I believe. I'm happy to give that up for more conventional means. But in the finished product, the rice, much like in risotto, is supposed to melt together, the starches releasing in an unctuous goodness. The paella that came to our table had perfectly defined grains and lacked that awesome, cooked-all-day taste. This is still possible in restaurants today, to receive a dish that has cooked all day. Think cassoulet at a French restaurant. I argue Paella is Spain's answer to Cassoulet. That said, service was kind and polite. I would come back again, if invited. And some of the tapas are really nice. The bacon-wrapped dates, always a hit. The tenderloin with a horseradish cream sauce was very nice. The octopus was surprisingly delicious.
(3)
Lizz M.

I absolutely love this place. You know the places you base your threshold of satisfaction on for subsequent places? The "I like it, but it's not as good as..." places? This is mine. Sure, it's in Evanston, and no I don't live in Rogers Park anymore. But it's worth the bus and two trains to get to, trust. Favorites include the garlic potatoes, chorizo plates, goat cheese and tomato sauce...okay, really anything you eat will be great. Service has always been attentive and friendly. Servers go out of their way to keep a full bread basket at the table, and will not hesitate to give the best recommendations. I also purchased a Groupon when there was a deal out and had no problems redeeming it after calling in a reservation. A tried and true favorite.
(5)
Erin Y.

On a Thursday night at 6 pm, this place was pretty empty with only a few tables occupied. But, this was good, because I came with a party of 12 with no reservations! We were looking for a light dinner. Most of the people in our group had never had tapas before, so unfortunately we didn't get to try a lot of the more authentic dishes. However, the things we did order were pretty good. Bacon-wrapped dates are my favorite no matter where I go for tapas, and they were good here. Of course, they're good everywhere, so I'd say nothing special about the dates here. Although, I did eat three of them so they couldn't have been that bad! We had also had two pizzas, the gaudi and the miro. The miro was decent; I didn't try the gaudi but I think that was ok too. The other things we ordered were beef pincho, fried calamari, pasta con pollo. Three stars for the food I actually did eat, as it was delicious but nothing extraordinary for tapas. I wish I would have gotten to try more things like paella or the goat cheese. I would say my experience was definitely worth coming back. Food is your typical tapas (but in a good way), service is great, location convenient. I hope to be back!
(3)
Plenty F.

4 stars. Lost a star for irregular temperature in the restaurant (it was HOT) and for not having one of the tapas I schlepped back over there to eat! Boo! All that aside, this is a delicious restaurant. It is very rare that I eat somewhere and find EACH AND EVERY SINGLE BITE amazing. They take the time to infuse flavor into everything. Even the potato that comes with the salmon is absolutely delightful. The garlic shrimp on the skewer was fantastic and plentiful. I think it was like 8 shirmp on that thing. Great deal. The rice is wonderfully tomatoed and garlic-ed. I wish I could order just a bowl of it - the little scoop on the tapas just isn't enough. It's so good. Bacon-wrapped dates are good. The bread is fresh and delicious - I can eat the entire basket! I do wish that they offered a flavored olive oil, though. But, that's just me being picky! They have a great selection of hot teas, too. I love a place that goes beyond Lipton. If you want paella, call ahead. It takes almost an hour to prepare. Service is good, not great. They sometimes forget to bring some stuff your order. If I want to be blown away by the service - I'll go to Capitol Grille. If you want to be blown away by the flavor, go to Tapas Barcelona! Yum.
(4)
Pete D.

Came here for a wedding reception, food was super tasty, as well as the Sangria. I would definitely return to Tapas Barcelona. The baked goat cheese was amazing.
(4)
Lauren D.

El sabor de las tapas aqui son fantastico! They have a few tapas that you would find at other tapas restaurants, like the bacon wrapped dates, but they also have other items that are unique. Their home made Sangria is probably one of the best I've had (compared to other places), so order a pitcher of it and enjoy with your cuisine along with friends and family. We ordered a combination of cold and hot tapas. The cold tapas were: (1) Jamon Con Pan Y Tomate (Spanish ham with tomato bread and manchego cheese) (2) Charcuteria (similar to what Italians would serve up) assorted imported Spanish meats; (3) Pollo Relleno stuffed chicken breast with spinach and cheese; (4) Canelon De Atun which is tuna cannelloni, spinach, white wine vinaigrette (5) Salmon Ahumado which is smoked salmon served with eggs, onions, capers and horseradish. We also ordered warm tapas which included: (1) Salmon A La Parrilla which is grilled salmon, asparagus, tomato, basil and alioli (2) Filete De Pescado Mediterraneo which is grilled tilapia with spinach, potatoes, lemon butter sauce and (3) Calamares A La Plancha which is grilled squid with lemon and olive oil and (4) Berenjenas Con Queso Y Avellanas (baked stuffed eggplant with goat cheese, hazelnuts, pepper sauce). We ordered the following which are great Tapas for Vegetarians: (1) Parrillada De Vegetales (grilled seasonal vegetables with balsamic vinaigrette) (2) Champinones Al Jerez (sauteed wild mushrooms with amontillado sauce) and (3) Berenjenas Con Queso Y Avellanas (baked stuffed eggplant with goat cheese, hazelnuts, pepper sauce. We have eaten here at least six times over the years. This is a great place for a date night and fun for a group of friends or even for a special occasion. It can get (and does) loud at times. The service is worth four stars. Some of the cold and hot tapas are worthy of five stars. My favorite cold tapas are numbers 1 and 5 above. My favorite warm tapas are numbers 1, 2 and 4. If you don't try any other tapas, and you are unsure about what to order start with some of 'my favorites.' I rate 'my favorites' with five stars. The others are worthy of four stars.
(4)
Ali Z.

Been frequenting this place for years and it's always been a dependable tapas experience. Great ambiance and good, if unspectacular food at reasonable prices. They have a large menu with several vegetarian and pescetarian options, something which many tapas restaurants lack. Some of the dishes I enjoyed are: - Patatas Bravas (a little too mild sometimes tho) - Grilled tilapia w/ lemon butter sauce - Baked goat cheese - Sauteed shrimp - Spanish flan - Profiteroles (puff pastry ice cream sandwich w/ chocolate sauce) The cold tapas weren't as good as the hot ones and a few of the desserts like the chocolate mousse and creme brulee were rather forgettable. Sometimes the tapas I want are not available (happens frequently with dessert). Wait times can be long If you're going on a weekend or evenings so it's a good idea to make reservations.
(4)
Marie M.

After traveling to Barcelona and falling in love with the food and atmosphere, this is the only restaurant that can give me my tapas fix. The food here is phenomenal and it's my go-to place when I have hip friends in town. The decor is lovely and captures the Barcelona spirit. Staff is always on point. I can't believe how affordable this place is!! My faves: baked goat cheese in tomato sauce, olive medley, Spanish tortilla, sangria, salad with candied nuts- YUM
(5)
Meagan H.

Sometimes grading 3 stars is bad. But I mean it in the best way possible. This place has a great feeling to it. It's very trendy and fast-paced. The service was very quick and friendly. I wish the table was a bit bigger for two considering it is a tapas place. The food was just average. That's why it got the three stars. The tapas that we wanted were sold-out. Always a disappointment. If it's popular, buy more! Our alternative decisions were a bit bland. The meat was chewy. Just not very impressive. I'd hate to leave on this view of the place so I may need to go back and try different plates. Plus when we first entered the host saw that I was on a date but wanted to seat us at the bar when there were 4-5 open tables for dining. Kind of odd? Anyways. The place was busy but not overly impressive. The service was just average, the food average, even the drinks were average. The chefs need to spend more time creating something more flavorful and this place would be a serious hit. Not terrible, but not great.
(3)
Adi S.

I've been here several times and always had positive experiences. Recently went for dinner with friends. We had the patatas bravas (which were delicious as usual), cabrillas barcelona, the barcelona pizza, de espinacas, and the shrimp and scallop skewers that were a special. No complaints about any of the tapas, although some things were a bit too salty. Really great service as usual. This is a solid tapas place, but I do feel as though there are some other places in the Chicago area that are slightly more worth visiting .
(4)
Vanessa R.

We recently dined here and got there shortly after opening (5PM). The minute we walked in I was overcome by a wet, moldy rag smell. I don't know if it was because they had just mopped the floor or something but it was gross. And the smell kept wafting through throughout our meal. Sangria I eventually got over the smell and ordered a glass of white sangria. Nothing special - just white wine with a couple of pieces of fruit. But for $4, can't really complain. Tapas To start off, I ordered a few of the hot tapas: (1) patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), (2) pincho de solomillo (beef tenderloin skewer), and (3) filete con patatas (grilled sirloin w/ roasted potatoes and red wine sauce). All in all, very disappointed in all 3 although the best of the group was probably the pincho de solomillo. The beef was well seasoned and juicy. The "spicy" potatoes were not spicy at all; it tasted like the sauce was plain tomato spaghetti sauce and they were drenched in it. Also, the tender grilled sirloin while plentiful and covered in a decent-tasting red wine sauce had significant fat in the middle of it and the "roasted potatoes" were actually french fries (which sadly next to the beef skewer was the only other decent-tasting item). After that disappointment, even though I was still hungry, I did not order anything else. At least after asking for a basket of bread (which every other table had except us) a couple of times, I just stuffed myself with that. The only saving grace of this dining trip was that we used a Groupon so had to pay next to nothing for our meal (and used it without any problems). Pretty sure I won't return here. Maybe I just picked some bad dishes? I don't know, but based on what I tried this place gives tapas a bad name. I will definitely continue to brave the crowds over at either CafÃ© Iberico or CafÃ© Babareeba for some great tapas and drinks. Sorry Tapas Barcelona.
(1)
Mike H.

Food was okay. Lots of variations of the same theme for vegetarians. Terrible service! Went there for my wife's birthday. Made reservations AND special arrangements for celebration desert but our server forgot all about it! Which doesnt surprise me because she was forgetting about us all night! After such a crappy night service wise we decided to give up and go home. Yes, I could have asked for the pre arranged dessert but that would have meant spoiling the surprise. Thanks for nothing Tapas Barcelona. I won't be back. Oh, and the person next to us had a laugh that was ear piercing!!
(1)
Moni K.

I loved everything about Tapas Barcelona. Food was heavenly delicious, romantic, service was excellent, my waiter kept an eye on everything, plates appered and disappered at the right time. And the food was sooo good. I ordered: Patatas Alioli $3.95- Garlic potato salad Salmon Ahumado $7.50 -Smoked salmon, toast points, eggs, onions, capers, horseradish Datiles Con Tocino $5.50-Baked fresh dates wrapped with bacon, bell pepper sauce Cabernet Sauvignon, Concha y Toro Frontera, Chile $4.95 Delicious, authentic tapas The modern art with the flare of Picasso and Gaudi. that is displayed around the restaurant really makes an impression like you're back in Barcelona. The reason why this place is always packed and reservations are you strongly recommended is that this place is fantastic and in my top 5!
(5)
Andrew T.

I decided to write a review of Tapas Barcelona after a recent trip to the restaurant when my wife and I were in Evanston one Friday afternoon. In my review, I will explain why I rated this place only 2-stars (though I could have given it only 1-star) after weighing the pros and cons of our experience. In short, this rating is based on the experience with the wait staff that was, well, lacking in several ways. This visit was our second trip to the establishment. I had previously taken my Mom and Sister there after they went to see Northwestern University. My Mom had gone to school there several years ago and was excited to see how the city and university had changed over time. In our first visit, we experienced the full meal and service, which even at that time, I remember was not up to par. We are not the "in a hurry" or "pushy" types when it comes to restaurant service, but we do expect some level of professionalism and in general, expect that, even if the waiters do not enjoy their jobs, this should not be easily recognized by the customers. We just let it go, after a not so spectacular meal, just because we wanted to enjoy our day. That was the first visit. In this recent visit, we decided to stop-in because we were so hungry. When we arrived, we asked to be seated outside to enjoy the gorgeous, sunny day. The seating was ample outside and we thought that was great. Always nice to have good outdoor space. When we sat down, my wife asked one of the waiters at the table if she could have a coke. After a long pause and obviously annoyed look in his face, he said we should wait to ask the waiter. Sorry, but you all look the same and we thought you were the waiter. Not long after, another waiter came to the table, dressed exactly the same, dropped some bread down and didn't even introduce himself. As he started to walk away, not even asking if we would like something to drink, my wife asked "May I have a coke please." With an even more annoyed look on his face, the waiter said absolutely nothing as he continued to turn and walk away. Excuse me?? With this type of attitude a restaurant should not be allowed to exist. I couldn't believe it. We immediately got up and said we were leaving and that they needed to change their bad attitude. The waiter didn't say a thing, went to the table, grabbed the bread. We left and we would never come back. We will never send anyone to this restaurant and quite frankly, we have Mercat A La Planxa in the city, a restaurant that knows tapas and well, provides a high level of customer-focused service with the food to match. Be careful coming here. I am sure the attitudes change from day to day, but we just must have come on the wrong two days. Not even sure why we stayed for our meal the first time we visited this establishment.
(2)
Anna S.

Small Plates can be deceiving..about two to three is more than enough. The Marques de Caceres at 33 a bottle was nicely priced. Fantastic Rioja that was complimentary to their signature items. The goat cheese with tomato sauce and the bacon wrapped dates were outstanding. The service kept it from being five stars..the bus boys spilled water on the floor and the server with more than five tables was mildly attentive. Overall a fantastic experience including local Chicago celebrities to be seen. How many times will you walk or drive by Tapas Barcelona? Don't..just stop in.
(4)
Cassie S.

After walking by this place for years, I finally went for dinner with a group of old friends. We were a party of 7 and they were easy to accomodate us. We could have been seated immediately if we'd wanted to sit near the door, but it was a cold night, so we chose to wait and sit in the back, where it was much cozier. The food was really good and, in my opinion, for the amount of food you get the prices are pretty reasonable. My boyfriend and I shared three dishes (and had a few tastes of other people's food) and we were satisfied. Everything I tasted was yummy. My only gripe is that it would have been really difficult for us to have ordered as a table (instead we ordered by couple, with one person ordering by himself). There wasn't a lot of room on the table for additional plates and no easy way to pass things. Service was great. They warned us before the kitchen closed (it was a Sunday, so they close pretty early) but then let us sit and enjoy our food, drink, and company for a long time after that. I'd certainly come back.
(4)
J W.

Farfalle con Pollo, the DalÃ pizza, and Queso De Cabra Con Tomate are always great options! And this tapas bar by far has the best Sangrias! However, it's a popular spot so it is usually is very crowded, noisy, and takes a while to get seated.
(4)
Rachel S.

The food here was decent, and the service passable, but we had an incident that requires noting. We ordered the mussels a la planxa, which came sizzling on a cast iron skillet. It was obviously hot, but the handle was left sticking right in my sister's head space, so 30 minutes later, when the heat was assumed to have dissipated, my sister absently reached out to move the handle away, and he ended up with a nasty burn on her hand. Considering she was injured due to the clumsiness of the waiter's dish placement, the management ought to have been more attentive to this issue. One waiter did come out and slather my sister's finger with oil and mustard (some kind of fish-wife's remedy I guess) which was nice, but they were reluctant to comp anything on our bill.
(3)
Praveen M.

One of the nice restaurants in Evanston and a good Tapas place. I have been to this restaurant at least 10 times and every time I had been there, food was exceptional. Try their Patata Bravas, Grilled Calamari, Bread with Tomato Goat Cheese. Cannot miss their Sangria and Flan is a must.
(4)
Rowena L.

The place is average - the tapas are sort of hit or miss but the drinks are good. Unfortunately I hesitate to go there because the service is terribly slow, esp. out on the patio during summer nights.
(3)
d a.

refreshingly different kind of restaurant and easy to park/get a table. I just wasn't blown away. Had 4-5 of the dishes and they were a lot like the bread served before the meal just underwhelming. The dishes don't have the meet they say they do, or at least enough of it to taste it. One chicken dish was described as 'stuffed". The chicken tasted like chicken that had been in your fridge for about 10 days and was incredibly dry. it had also reminded me of a pretzel from a vending machine there was so little meat. The cheese that was on it was hard to find. The prices can sneak up on you-not shocking given how unfilling some of the dishes are. Just wasn't great or even good. I think if you've got a big group or kiddos it's a good bet because they have a lot of space. The food just misses terribly on the fundamentals.
(2)
Shradha A.

Another one of those places you overlook writing a review for when it's second nature but when you move to Chicago and start craving good tapas, the only place that comes to mind reliably is Tapas Barcelona! That's what happened to me just a few days ago and after trying several tapas places in the city including LP, nothing comes close to this place! Their sangria isn't amazing, but their patatas bravas, asparagus/avocado salad and queso de cabra are all outstandingly delicious! We felt adventurous and tried their spinach-goat cheese pizza, but decided to stick to our usuals next time around!
(5)
Rachel P.

I really love this place. The atmosphere is very fun and casual--perfect for a date or night out with friends. It's usually not so busy that you have to wait forever for a table and even if you do wait, it's not for that long. The menu is diverse and very flavorful and not too pricey in my opinion. During warm weather season there is outdoor seating which is great. The service is pretty good, the waiters are friendly and helpful.
(4)
Holly R.

I have been enjoying this place for years. Usually with a bigger group of people because it's more fun to have the opportunity to taste more delights. However, you can easily go with one other person and have a couple of dishes with some Sangria and it's very reasonable. Only two of you? I suggest eating at the bar. The bartenders are very friendly and it's much more fun to eat there! Pros: Friendly wait staff, amazing bacon wrapped dates. meat balls, and Sangria! Cons: Some of the meat dishes were not that good but I am not a big meat fan. However, again, the Sangria and ambiance tend to overpower the weakness of a few dishes. Definitely get a reservation if you can because the place fills up. Oh, ordering the Sangria is not a requirement to get you in the door; the water will keep you hydrated and the food will keep you satiated!
(4)
Sahar A.

So I never write reviews on yelp, I'm the one that reads reviews since I tend to never be picky about restaurants, but going to tapas Barcelona was such a horrible experience I just had to. I reserved a spot here for my friends bachelorette party we were planning on having some good tapas and hitting the town after, but none of that ever happened! Since me and my friends came maybe 18 mins past our reservation they gave our table away, note that they had called me earlier and i told them we were 5 mins away ( some of the girls had a tough time finding parking) and they said alright and hung up SO i have no idea that there was a time limit nor did they call us when we weren't there when we said we would be. I however let that pass, because it was a Friday night and it was busy. So we sat at the bar being told it would be 20-25 mins. 30 mins pass we go up the the clueless waitress and ask how much more longer they said oh just 20-25 mins and I look at her and say so 40 mins, I am suppose to wait for 40 mins? So the hosts tells us next table available you guys will be seated at. Hearing that made me feel okay thinking okay just couple more mins and I started scouting out for any tables being cleaned. I see one being cleared out and I get up with my friends and low and behold that waitress seats another larger group of people there!!! AHH me and my friends had it. We complained to the manager and they felt terrible while the hostess felt embarrassed and basically avoided eye contact with us the entire time. The manager said to wait 5 mins and customers had paid but weren't leaving and I told him then tell them to leave that you have other customers waiting and he said that would be rude and I looked at him and said well allowing your customers to wait for 2 HOURS is just as RUDE! We just walked out, he was kind enough not charge us for our drinks and the one appetizer we ordered. Overall! if you are going don't except amazing service and don't go with a big crowd its a tiny cramped over heated restaurant.The one appetizer we ordered was really good so were the drinks. It's a shame, good food but horrible service. I had seen mixed reviews on yelp before but I felt it was 50/50 and in the past have never gotten bad service from places, but jeez! I guess I was the bad batch here!
(1)
Rick R.

This place is just ok. I've had better tapas but its convenient to where I live. The tapas is very average. However I do like the outdoor patio they have but again it faces a pool for the retirement home next door. Can you picture 70+year olds in their swimsuits while eating tapas in the patio---um waiter, check please!
(2)
Vance S.

Really enjoyed this place because not only is the food great but the outside area was so peaceful! I love Tapas restaurants and this one ranks towards the top. I look forward to going back a lot as it has turned into one of my favorite places to go on the weekends!
(4)
Michelle P.

I've eaten here several times - good food and friendly service, one of the few places in Evanston that doesn't feel suburban and has the energy level of a restaurant in the city. The prices are reasonable but the portions are small, even for tapas, so those $4-$6 dishes can start adding up pretty quickly. We started with 4 tapas for the 2 of us - patatas alioli (potato salad), wild mushrooms, marinated artichokes, and Berenjenas Rellenas (eggplant stuffed with goat cheese and hazelnuts, . We would have gotten the asparagus, which we've had before, but the waiter said they didn't have it (anymore? that night? ever again? I don't know). And we should have gotten the goat cheese in tomato sauce - I've had it before, and it's really tasty, but one goat cheese dish was enough for me. The mushrooms and the stuffed eggplant were both outstanding, especially eaten together - spicy mushrooms and sweet goat cheese... mmmm. The artichokes were the only disappointing dish - really tiny - 2 artichoke hearts each cut in half, with a drizzle of marinade and a couple of pieces of field greens. We thought about ordering a couple more tapas, but decided to just go for dessert - our first pick, creme catalana, wasn't available, so we got the flan, which was good. Hopefully next time we come they'll have more of our first picks available.
(4)
Ju L.

Despite being prepared to be all, "Spanish tapas in the Midwest, yeah right," I actually like this place! The best tapas we tried was the patatas alioli. GET THIS DISH. It's just heavily garlicked potato salad, so simple... but the flavors were at perfect intensities and worked together beautifully. It was also a big plate and only $4. Sangria was decent, and a $17 pitcher was enough for 6-7 glasses. I really wish they'd come and refilled the ice, because the last dregs were lukewarm. What NOT to get: - tortilla (a slice of potato torte served alongside a small salad, also about $4): disappointing, way too salty. And that in itself is disappointing, since it is THE ubiquitous tapa. - paella: what a disaster!! It was just unpleasant and texturally off and coldish and flavorless and nothing seemed to work right. Not worth the extra wait time, at ALL. Looking past the hit-or-miss food, the nicest part of Tapas Barcelona is actually the atmosphere: dim, busy and loud at dinnertime. And CROWDED. We made a reservation earlier in the day for 8:30pm and were brought to our table immediately upon arriving, but the place was still pretty full despite its being a Tuesday. The decor is bold, two or three touches shy of being tacky. Once people began clearing out around 9:30pm, the management cleverly turned up the music a bit. Even with only 3 or 4 tables filled at that point, the end-of-day feel was relaxing and never awkward. The first time I was here, 4 tapas + sangria + tax + tip came out to just under $50. The tapas format of dining (with requisite wine) is obviously pricier than my usual "$9 entree each, the end" ideology of eating out, but I am looking forward to another fun night here in the future!
(4)
Reema S.

This is a nice tapas place my boyfriend and I found one day while wandering downtown Evanston. It has a romantic, quiet atmosphere to it but I'm sure that's more emphasized at night. We were there around 1pm so of course there was a lot of light. I can't remember our server's name but he was helpful and nice. There were a lot of wines on the menu that I had never heard of and he recommended a really good Tempranillo. The food was pretty good, I would definitely recommend the shrimp skewers and the crab croquettes. The prices were not too expensive but I would hope for a little bigger of a portion on some items such as the fried calamari and shrimp but depending on the plate, some portions were bigger. This is definitely a place I would like to go to again to try their other items.
(4)
Paul D.

The food was delicious. You must have the bacon wrapped dates, the skewered of steak, meatballs. Loved the red wines we tasted too. My only criticism was with Carmel drizzled banana w/ ice cream. Did not wow me. Garlic shrimp were tiny and not great. We had seven dishes we loved. The prices are good.
(4)
Simmone S.

For Tapas this place is cheap and has a beautiful outdoor patio. A lovely place to go on a nice summer evening if you really want to sit and enjoy a meal and the people you are with without breaking the bank. The food is all scrumptious and presented well (and in a little bigger portions than your average Tapas restaurant in Chicago). I can't think of any other place outside of the restaurant in the movie theater building that out rivals their outdoor seating in Evanston.
(4)
Alex R.

Tapas are all amazing, and sangria pitchers make this a perfect place for events.
(5)
Cassidy P.

I really like this place. Servers are friendly and it's a great place to go with groups. My two favorite dishes are the goat cheese with tomato sauce and the grilled salmon (both about $7). Sooo tasty!!
(4)
Jim R.

Big broad menu with super slow service. Our group of 7 tried about 15 different small plates and still left there hungry. My teenage son wanted to follow up lunch with a trip to Noodles.
(3)
Keith A.

boy, it's easy to get filled up here fast. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach and I just started ordering left and right since it all looked real good. I ended up ordering a whole bunch of dishes since my sister-in-law was in town and she hasn't had tapas before. We went family style on all of the dishes and it was only a couple of us, so it was easy to keep track of our orders. We had gotten some gazpacho, tomato bread with ham, and some tortillas to start things off. I didn't have any of the gazpacho, but the tomato bread and ham was damn tasty and the tortillas were nice as well. For my main entree I got the grilled sirloin with roasted potatoes. This was really good and the portion was perfect to do a bit of sharing but also have a good amount for myself without overdoing it What got me most about here was the price for it all. I was treating my sister-in-law since it was her birthday, but the bill ended up coming out to about $25 a head and that was after ordering a whole lot of food+wine
(4)
David Z.

Hmmmm, I'm not 100% sure where I fall with Tapas Barcelona. Two stars or three? I think in the end I'm going to have to go with two. We went with a large group of about ten people for a work "going away" party. I liked the ambiance, and it's cool that they have some outdoor seating available. That's about the best thing I can say about Tapas Barcelona. We didn't try any of the alcoholic drinks, so I cannot comment about those. Since we had a large group, we had a LOT of food sharing going on. I got to try a little bit of everything. Aside from the croquetas, I thought the majority of the tapas were pretty bland. I didn't particularly think any were TERRIBLE, but when you've got places like Chicago's Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba and Cafe Iberico as competition, you need to step up your game. I just didn't get that feeling here. Other notes: It was confusing trying to figure out where to go to the bathroom. The doors actually just look like painted walls, and there is nothing telling you where the bathroom is. Maybe I'm just dumber than I thought. Also, it took quite a while for us to get the check after we were done with our meal, even after we were clearly finished eating. In Barcelona, things might move a little more slowly around lunch time, but people eating lunch here in the US sometimes do in fact need to go back to work. And here's what pushed me down to the two-star rating. When we got back to work. A few people in our party felt sick. One actually threw up. I cannot say with 100% certainty that it was because of the tapas, because I personally didn't feel sick in any way. But some of the ladies in our group did end up feeling sick. And since it was more than one person, I'm going to say there had to be SOME connection. Was it the worst place in the world? No. But would I go back? Probably not.
(2)
Kyle H.

3.5 Stars if I could... Tapas Barcelona was empty at 6pm when we arrived. I don't mind quieter places, but tapas places are usually livelier. I liked Barcelona's warm colors and feel, but the temperature in there was way too warm on a winter's night, and our party was all getting flush with hot flashes! Food: -Bacon Wrapped Dates (Order)- a MUST at any Tapas place, they hit it out of the park at Barcelona, with a bell pepper sauce that had a hint of caramel and dark mustard that was heavenly. We dipped our free bread in that sauce! -Patatas Bravas (Skip)- another one of my faves when ordering tapas, but here they were unimpressive -Empanada de Cordero (Order)- two ample puff pastries with savory lamb, very good -Fried Octopus w/pommes frites (Maybe)- the seasoned french fries were amazing! But I'm not a fan of the tentacles. -Special of Goat Cheese with Candied Walnuts, served with crostini, greens and grapes (Order!)- Rave reviews for this Special of the night We got several pitchers of Red Sangria, which was okay. But we had to order a side of ice cubes because perhaps the hot hot restaurant was melting the ice. I mean, it was really warm in the restaurant! Good spot for a date or a group. I'm sure I'll bump this review up once I eat on their beautiful patio next summer!
(3)
Mark H.

What an AMAZING experience. It was my first time here, and I loved everything about it. The sangria was flavorful, and the food could not have been any better. I highly recommend the grilled salmon, the bacon wrapped figs, and the grilled short ribs. Lip smacking good! This place will definitely become a regular haunt of mine. :-)
(5)
Mike A.

The food here is pretty good, but service is spotty. The waiter that takes your order, has no idea what food is being brought out and what has yet to come. When you come with a group (we had 6) and plenty of dishes are ordered, its up to YOU to keep track. We had 2 same dishes come out, when we ordered one. Sent it back, but was still on the bill. About 12 dishes in, we asked what else is on the way (we had already polished off 3 pitchers of sangria at this point) and the waiter had no clue. Basically told us to remember what we ordered and what we ate, the difference would be what else is still coming (Genius! Why didn't I think of that). Sangria @ $17/pitcher is not too bad. The best dish is the goat cheese and any tilapia entree. I like the Evanston location and prefer coming here over heading into the city for tapas. I am giving a generous 4 star here, but in reality about a 3.5.
(4)
Nick M.

I heard that this was THE place to go for Tapas! I heard that my battle for finding a solid Tapas place was over! I heard that not only was the food amazing but the staff was beyond excellent! I heard this place was constantly packed and it was hard to get a seat! I heard wrong!!! Maybe back in the "day", but which "day" is unknown to me. I won't go into too many details but the service was bad from the very beginning before we even sat at our table. Our actual waitress was just ok, I've had worse but she did forget about us a lot. Then one of the servers lied to me. I asked if something had beef stock in it (because my date is allergic and can get very sick), he said no but I could tell that he was lying. So I asked again explaining that it's ok if he didn't know but if he said no and she ate it, she could die. He was clearly panicking and looked around nervously but then still gave me another unconvincing "no". My frustration went sky high, why couldn't he just say I don't know. We finally got our server who asked the kitchen after she said she didn't know. As for the food, I don't even know where to begin. More misses then hits that's for sure. I would describe it all but I'm telling you there is so much better out there so don't bother. Pisto Manchego, Esparragos Con Tres Salsas, Vieriras Con Salsa De Azafran, Patatas Bravas (worst I ever eaten), ChampiÃ±ones al Jerez, and some sort of stuffed chicken. Disappointing!! Can't say I'll be back.
(2)
Svitlana P.

Great experience every time I go. The food and the service are always excellent. I can't say enough about the black bean soup. The baked goat cheese and sauteed wild mushrooms are among my favorites. Salmon, tilapia and shrimp tapas are also pretty good. During the warmer months, it's great to enjoy tapas and sangria on the patio. The prices are also among the lowest in Chi area without lacking quality. Plus, it's located in downtown Evanston, which has plenty of little shops to check out. One thing to note, they get pretty busy on weekends, especially around holidays so it's good to make reservations.
(5)
Dmitri G.

Food - not bad, very similar to other tapas places in chicago land area. Nothing spectacular, but I was satisfied. Small portions, rich dishes, lots of flavor. Impressive paella (it looked impressive, I didn't try it) Service - I found myself often without a fork and with an empty glass of water. Otherwise, the waiters are polite and attentive. I was thirsty throughout the meal. The plates that they bring the food in is large - it looks nice but the table got crowded awful quickly. I wish they would clear the table more often and leave a pitcher of water. Corking fee - corkage fee? idk, but its $15/bottle here! Parking - plenty a few blocks away free of charge Pretty average place, but in Evanston, there isn't much to choose from.
(3)
Cyndi T.

I am in love with this place! The service, the atmosphere, the drinks, and the food are always great! My favorites are the potato salad, the dates wrapped in bacon, and the rigatoni with sausage. Every time I come, I always have to get those three items and then branch out with something new. For drinks, I'm not a fan of red wine but they also have a white sangria that is fantastic! Pay this place a visit and you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Kenny O.

Pretty nice and affordable tapas restaurant located in the heart of Evanston. I came here last night with a group of friends celebrating their PhD candidacy, and I must say it was a good choice. There were 11 of us, so we ordered two pitchers of sangria to start. All of us pretty much ordered 2-4 things mainly for ourselves and then picked at each others' choices throughout the night. I ordered the Bacon Wrapped Dates, the Pork Sandwich, the Breaded Stuffed Olives, and the Roasted Mussels. I've had Bacon-Wrapped Dates at many other tapas restaurants, and these were some of the best I've had. There's a reason why everyone on Yelp seems to recommend them. The sandwich was okay -- nothing to write home about, and the potato salad was a little too garlicy for my tastes. The olives were yummy and completely new to me; breaded hot olives are genius, however. The mussels didn't really impress me. All in all, drinks and food cost each person $25 after tax and tip, which was amazing for a very fulfilling meal. I'll definitely be coming again and again.
(4)
April P.

To compare with Chicago's infamous Iberico's, here's the pros and cons of Tapas Barcelona PROS 1) better tasting mussels. This came out on an elevated plate server. Most of the waiters will squeeze fresh lemon on it, causing these steamed puppies a vapor effect. Pretty effect, greatly seasoned mussels 2) Their fried calamari were excellent here. No grease factor and, their order actually came with 2 pieces of shrimp. Mistake? I think NOT! 3) Bacon wrapped dates are PHEEEEEE-NOMENAL. I don't know if Iberico's has one, but if not, their (LARGE) loss. I love the sauce that accompanies these dates that everytime a waiter tried to take away the empty plate, I practically snapped their wrist just to keep it at our table. 4) Outdoor dining is gorgeous and very Miami-ish. Although we were there when we thought I may rain, there was plenty of seating, and we figured we'd dine and dash to avoid having our food soaked. CONS 1) Beef skewers- very chewy tasting meat. 2) Garlic shrimp- these were doused with a sort of red sauce. It didn't have enough OOMPH or garlic as Iberico's does 3) Tortilla Espanola- kinda soggy and wasn't well seasoned. I'd pass on these as they were lackluster 4) They served the tapas on plates instead of the tapas bowls, which in my opinion, didn't keep the tapas warm, and didn't have the same traditional effect when you go for tapas. I'd go back to this place as a closer alternative to Iberico's, but will stick with the PRO list and try out other items. However, for the bottom ones, which are honestly my favorite tapas, Iberico's is still my #1 choice for those. Parking is DIFFICULT in this area, but cheaper than Chicago. Bring quarters, their meters are the old school ones you put change in.
(4)
Arika S.

Great tapas at a reasonable price! Service was a tad slow, but overall we really enjoyed the sangria and tapas. Things to try: bacon wrapped dates mushroom stew mussels (best thing on the menu) calamari (grilled not fried..yum!) rice pudding! This place is definitely worth a try!
(4)
Frido F.

So good and so relaxed. Great prices and really tasty sangria.
(4)
Danielle C.

Websters needs to update their picture dictionary. It is filled with outdated pictures that make no real connection to the words. Glutton could easily be redefined with a nice photo of my two friends and I sitting at Tapas Barcelona last night, and eating our way through 4 courses. Stacks of plates surrounded us. Empty Sangria glasses littered our table. It was obvious to any observer that we were enjoying, and defining the word glutton to a "T". More than 16 hours later, I am still not hungry, in fact, still exceptionally full! Eat... food, what did we have? Here is the low down... Mm mm.. Duck Sausage was amazing Cannelloni De Atun- ok- would not order it again, but alright! Es-cargo (something, something) was pretty good (even though I would not admit it at the time!) SCALLOPS were the best thing on the menu! Empandas - exceptionally savory Muscles- hot, sizzling and pretty darn flavorful Artichoke was a nice break from all the meat The crab was not worth it- and I LOVE crab normally Service was friendly- and awesome. The labeling on the bathrooms caused havoc with us (or maybe it was the sangria- who knows) ... but- as you can see- we certainly ate a TON of food. The pricing was exceptionally well done. All of this, plus a few gallons of beverages, for less than 130. To us, this seemed to be quite a deal. Now I realize why it came recommended by my guys!
(4)
Judy B.

Ate here my first night visiting my best friend. It was nice because it was literally on the same block that she lived in and the wait wasn't too bad. We shared a tilapia dish and the paella. the tilapia was really good, and a lot of the stuff here looked pretty small portioned until we got the paella. The paella was huge. The fatties we are, we finished the entire thing, but literally left feeling disgusting because we had eaten so much. The paella was good, except it was kind of bland for a paella. The chicken in the paella was kind of dry also, so i would just say it's mediocre. The prices are decent though, and I would come here on a casual night that I didn't feel like cooking if I lived around here, but as a tourist, I wouldn't come back here again, just 'cause there are so many other places to try around Chicago.
(3)
Adrian D.

Back to Tapas Barcelona after a year away, and I found the food and service to be consistent with prior visits. This is what really makes me enjoy a restaurant and share with others. The atmosphere was great, drinks are plentiful, and if you bring good people to enjoy, then you are all set. ENJOY!
(4)
Kim N.

Before catching a late showing at the theater, my boyfriend and I ventured in here on a whim after quickly looking up a good restaurant in Evanston to try. We were seated in the outdoor patio area, which was fairly nice. We decided to order 4 kinds of tapas to share, as well as their sangria. The sangria was decent and we got some bread to munch on while we waited. I didn't find any of the tapas to be crazy expensive, but I had no idea we were going to get such a great deal! After only having had Chicago tapas at Ba-Ba-Reeba before, let me say that we were pleasantly shocked at the big plates and huge portions we got for each one of the orders. The delicious grilled tilapia was like the size of the plate and it alone easily would've been $15+ at another restaurant that probably would've given you a smaller portion anyway! Their pasta con pollo was also tasty - dip the bread in the sauce for extra goodness! We were a healthy kind of full at the end of the meal. So while the food and portions were great, the service could use some working; it seemed like they were understaffed. Our server didn't really come by our table too much and we sat for a while after we were done, waiting to catch him to ask for the check. Overall, though, we'd come here again.
(4)
Andy S.

The only thing that I ate here was the Bacon Wrapped Dates, which were pretty good, but not worth the horrid service that I encountered with my girlfriend. Let's see if this sums up how bad the service was - I went with a $30 Groupon, only ordered one thing (they didn't have the other thing we ordered), and left 15 minutes after we arrived. So basically, I cut my losses and decided to just leave because the service was that bad. I showed up with my girlfriend on two separate occasions at around 5:15. The first time, the restaurant was half full and the server spent 5 minutes looking for a table for us. Unfortunately I didn't have my ghost goggles on at the time so I couldn't see that the restaurant was "actually" full, and she said it would be a 30 minute wait. We left without using the Groupon, completely flustered. The next time we made a reservation in advance. Showed up at the same time to a half empty restaurant with plenty of two-tops open, and the hostess STILL made us wait 5 minutes because she was looking for a table. When we were finally seated, in a half empty restaurant mind you, we were put uncomfortably close to two adjoining tables and I couldn't even hear my girlfriend talk. The waiter brought us some bread - sans olive oil or butter, just plain bread. I ordered a Coke, which was the most syrupy Coke I've ever had. We ordered two things - Chicken & Bacon Wrapped Dates. He came back after 5 min and said they were out of Chicken, but "you could have Bacon Wrapped Dates if you'd like", forgetting that we already ordered that. 5 min later, baffled by the terrible service, I said we had an emergency and needed the check ASAP. Yeah, the little amount of food we received was pretty good, but you couldn't pay me to go back to this place.
(1)
Ann H.

I have enjoyed eating here a number of times. The servers are always friendly and helpful. There is a good variety without being overwhelming and there are always some great specials to check out. Favorites are the short rib, scallops (although on our last visit the were a bit salty - this was a "one off ", though) and goat cheese. A couple of times they have been out of some things. But, we've always managed to find good substitutes. They are generous with the bread for dipping in olive oil and if you enjoy desert, the banana, ice cream and caramel sauce is good - the caramel sauce is decedent and has such a good flavor.
(4)
Eszter H.

It's been over two years since my last review so I thought I'd write an update. I cannot fathom why this restaurant has a 3.5 average rating. They serve delicious food and the staff is friendly. I have eaten here for lunch and dinner on weekdays and weekends. The quality of the food is consistently high. The place offers a fun atmosphere. Try it if you haven't yet!
(5)
Akta D.

I'v been here twice. I like the food, particularly the goat cheese and the spinach and pear salad. The goat cheese pizza was also delicious. The spicy potatoes were not very spicy. I think its a nice place to go to fora small bite but def. could not eat dinner there. On the decor, the place is very crowded and the tables are too small. For two people you need a typical 4 person table to fit all the dishes. We had a small table for the two of us and couldn't fit the four dishes we ordered without fearing that we'd spill. The waiter service was less than good. We rarely saw them and it took forever just to order dessert. A positive was the dessert.We got the lady fingers and they were delicious. I'd go back just for that! Overall: I've had beter tapas with better service, but I've also had worse tapas with worse service.
(3)
Melanie V.

True story: My friends and I were hangin' out here before the Illinois/Northwestern game last night. We all drove separately, so we decided to carpool to the stadium. Therefore, we all needed to feed our respective meters. But, being us, we had no change. I asked the waiter if he could break four dollars and give us quarters. He gladly obliged. However, when he came back to the table, he explained that no one went to the bank that morning and they had no change. So, he gives me back the four dollars. BUT, get this, he handed me (probably his own) two quarters! How genuinely nice of him! Shout-out to the waiter! ;) As for the food, we were pretty pressed for time, so we only ordered a dish apiece. The lamb empanada ($7) and the sangria ($4) were pretty solid, albiet a little pricey. I'd be willing to stop by again if I was in the area!
(4)
Kevin L.

Me gustan mucho las tapas. Pero... Â¿Donde estÃ¡ el sabor picante?* I may be mistaken, but I was always under the assumption that patatas bravas were served with a -spicy- tomato sauce, and that gambas al ajillo came in a dish of sizzling oil with -spicy- red pepper flakes. If there was any capsaicin in either dish at Tapas Barcelona, it completely evaded my taste buds. On the other hand, you get your money's worth for the Valenciana paella served with chicken, chorizo, and shellfish (read: mussels and clams). It's readily enough to satisfy four hungry people if you supplement with a handful of tapas.** At ~$16, it'll provide a hearty serving or two per person. The extremely varied menu offers a little something for everyone, whether you're going for hot food, cold food, sandwiches, or entrÃ©es. And all at reasonable price points. And to think I once thought this was high class dining.*** Oh, how times have changed. --- * Apologies if I completely bastardized that translation. I haven't taken Spanish since high school in Arkansas. ** Okay, let's be real. If you can finish off the paella between four people -and- polish off a whole handful (read: five) tapas, you win my Clean Plate Club stamp of approval. Respect. *** Yeah. I was a poor Northwestern student once. That seems like -so- long ago now!
(3)
Kit G.

I went with a group of 14 people, the day after the Groupon they offered expired. The waitress started by giving us a list of all of the things they had run out of. They had run out of potatoes and about 12 menu items. They are across the street from Whole Foods!!!! Go buy some. Seriously. The waitress then took drink orders from a handful of people in the group, and never asked anyone else if they would like anything to drink. We decided to order salads, sandwiches, and pizza since they were out of the tapas. I ordered a pizza. 10 people were served at the same time. Then the waitress disappeared - which was weird since the restaurant wasn't busy at all. We asked a waiter about our food - we had all ordered pizzas. It was clear they were forgotten about in the oven. They were well done, almost inedible. To top off this experience, my friend asked to take her leftovers home. The waitress, who reappeared, got the food wrapped, and then placed it on the FLOOR behind my friend. She did not even try to hand it to her, or place it on the table. She just said nothing and put it on the ground.
(1)
Natasha L.

One of my favorite spots for tapas. Lots of variety on the menu and even though the place is typically packed, your food comes out fast. I highly recommend the seafood paella and the white sangria.
(4)
Jen L.

I love this place. I won't lie to you. This place won't top a list of the best Tapas joints in Chicago, and I've had spotty service here (some days great other days very slow). However, the atmosphere is always welcoming and celebratory, even if you're the perpetually early friend who shows up to an empty restaurant and waits for not-so-punctual friends to trickle in. ;) I actually don't mind waiting for people at Tapas Barcelona. It's a great neighborhood spot. The food is solid. Please don't miss the bacon wrapped dates or the goat cheese. I order them every single time I go and I'm never disappointed. Go now, no seriously, and get yourself some bacon dates.
(4)
kim c.

This place is cozy (though sometimes hot or cold) and food is YUM! Gets busy on weekends so make reservations or go early. Spicy mushrooms are awesome! Salad w/raspberries/blueberries (special) is fantastic. Love the tilapia in cream sauce. Definitely will be going back here.
(5)
Matt R.

For a place right next to a retirement home, one might think that the place will be of some aspect catering to the retirement home,but it is not. What this place really is, is quite an excellent tapas location. The cold plate with the asparagus, the hot plate with the goat cheese, and of course the paellas are excellent. Deserts are a little gimmicky but overall the food is very good and service was as well. It can get a little costly though, you'd probably look at around $15-20 if you planned on anything other than sangria with some tapas. Oh, and if you go late, this place is packed, but don't be afraid to eat at the bar!
(5)
Liz S.

Probably my favorite restaurant in Evanston. It's sometimes really cold inside and smells like mothballs when you walk in, but otherwise it's perfect. For the authentic Spanish feel, they have some of the menu item names painted on the wall tiles and there's garlic, jamon serrano, etc hanging over the bar when you walk in. Not sure why it's called 'barcelona' though, since there aren't any typically barcelonian tapas (such as pa amb tomaquet), but oh well, this is Evanston. Their patio is nice, albeit slightly weird because of the fact that the restaurant is on the first floor of a building that's a retirement home whose pool surrounds the restaurant dining patio, lol. However, I usually find that service is much slower at restaurants when eating outside, and this has never been the case for me at tapas barcelona. My favorite dishes are Pisto Manchego (good as or better than what I've had in Spain), alcachofas a la vinagreta (grilled artichokes), baked stuffed eggplant, pincho de solomillo (a skewer of beef accompanied by caramelized red onions and a creamy horseradish sauce), and scallops with saffron sauce. YUM! They have the menu broken down into hot tapas and cold tapas, with selection of salad, a few types of paella, and a couple other entree-sized items, along with a separate sheet listing several special tapas. They suggest you keep the menu after you order, in case you want to add to the order later. Their sangria is good and they have several good Spanish wines by the glass and a small but decent beer selection. Their stuffed pears is one of my all-time favorite desserts. I like fruity desserts to begin with, and love pears, so this is heaven. It comes with a creamy chunk of white chocolate inside, a raspberry sauce on top, and on the side a ball of vanilla ice cream with delicious melty chocolate sauce. One time when we ordered the stuffed pears for dessert, they'd forgotten to put the white chocolate inside, so even though they'd already given us that dessert and WE were stuffed (haha), they gave us another dessert for free! Love it!
(5)
Katie F.

I have a soft spot for this place since it's where my boyfriend and I went on our first date, but to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the food. The baked goat cheese, bacon-wrapped dates, etc are very good, but I've had much, MUCH better tapas in Chicago. I would say this is still a nice place to go for dates or nice dinners out with friends -- it's a step up from a lot of the typical Asian-fusion thoroughfare in downtown Evanston, without being too, too pricey. Definitely better to go when the weather's nice and sit outside, though -- the inside of the restaurant sometimes smells weirdly fishy to me.
(3)
Bleu W.

This place is a wonderful place to have delicious food. It is a dimly lit romantic restaurant with outdoor seating available in the warmer months. It is a favorite place of mine that has good memories with loved ones. We ordered so many different dishes and all of them were fantastic. The food is fresh, high quality and delicious.
(5)
Bob L.

Been meaning to go to Tapas Barcelona forever. Finally got there last night. Beautiful evening to sit on the patio. Ordered three hot dishes, one cold one and a dessert. I had ice tea and my date h ad a glass of sangria. I took a sip and it was fine for my tastes. More than enough food and attentive service. Total bill came to less than $50 including a generous tip. Quite a bargain. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Elina S.

I went here for Father's day and had an overall pretty good time. The weather was perfect so we got to sit outside on their patio which was very cute and serene. The sangria was surprisingly delicious (got the red one) and we drank the entire pitcher. The food was pretty good, I didn't love it, but I didn't not like anything either, everything was just yummy, from the bacon covered dates, the squid, calamari, mushrooms, beef, pork dish, lamb empanadas, goat cheese, grilled shrimp and between the 7 of us I think we tried the entire menu. Everything was good and everyone left full, but would I come here again when I'm in Evanston, eh, I don't know. It didn't wow me like some other tapas restaurants, but we were still pleased with the overall experience.
(4)
Eric M.

Friendly but slow service. Relatively limited number of tapas items. So-so sangria. Mediocre food. I love tapas, try to eat at as many of the tapas places in Chicago as possible, have been to Barcelona (and Madrid, in two separate trips), and cook tapas at home sometimes. This place has a nice outdoor patio for summer dining. The servers are friendly but somehow both slow and rushed at the same time. I don't live close, but even if I did, I doubt I'd be a regular. That said, nothing was actually bad, so if I were in the area with someone who wanted to go there, it'd be okay with me.
(3)
Karen C.

As far as tapas go, this place is pretty delicious. I'm a pretty picky eater, and tapas is a great way for me to expand my tastes with only having to try a bite of something... so I'm a big fan of this type of restaurant. There are a few other places in Chicago I'd prefer, but since I work in Evanston, this is a great joint to spend a Friday lunch hour with a pitcher of Sangria. They lose a star because the Sangria sometimes seems a bit watered down, and, at lunch, they were out of Patatas Bravas. How do you run out of Patatas Bravas? At lunch? On a Friday? Weird.
(4)
Vina A.

Bacon wrapped dates, talapia, manchego and ham with a simple rioja made for a reliable and leisurely outdoor lunch spot.
(3)
Tracy L.

Nothing amazing. They forgot the one thing I really wanted to try which was the dates wrapped in bacon. White wine sangria is ok, but so so watery with fruits that are cut up so small they're the size of my pinky nail. Service was inattentive, seemed like I was trying really hard to find a waiter when I needed one because everyone seems so busy. Hardly ever saw my actual waiter and was left to find other peoples waiters. Bread came out cold with olive oil, but there was a lot of bread maybe to hold us over because our waiter took 10 years to get to us. Then he gave us another basket of bread. -__- I want tapas, not bread. Tapas themselves were decent. Large portions. I like the goat cheese with tomato sauce on the bread. grilled calamari was good. but all I really wanted was the dates, and they forgot. To top it off, they screwed up the check. They don't show you what you pay for (which I think it the best way they can rip you off, because I wanted to make sure I got what I paid for.) Then when I said, half&half between two cards, they charged more on one card than the other, and I -again-had to find someone---who was not my waiter, and get it fixed. actually, I went to the bar to get it fixed because lord knows when ANYONE was going to come by the table. boo.
(2)
Anthony Z.

I had mixed feelings about returning, since recent reviews have been meh to pretty bad. But it seemed if I took out the complaints related to Groupon issues, the reviews were pretty good. I am glad we went last night. In fact, had the best food and service here ever. Now this is by no means the best tapas in the world. But everything was tasty and well prepared. As mentioned elsewhere, the dates are excellent. Other things we very much enjoyed included the pork with peppers, the curry chicken salad, the warm goat cheese in tomato sauce, the crema catalana, and the chocolate terrine. Patatas alioli was just okay. Sangria was good, but a little skimpy on the fruit. Servers regularly offered ice refills, which was appreciated. Look forward to returning.
(4)
Daphne L.

We are big tapas fans and have driven past Tapas Barcelona many times, but never stopped in. We are picky about our tapas; Cafe Ba Ba Reba is overrated, in my opinion. Last night we decided to give Barcelona a try and we're glad we did. The hostess was very friendly and attentive, which is a good way to start. The patio was crowded, which was nice to see on a Tuesday night, but not so much so that it was stifling, and inside was virtually empty. There was a party of 6 seated in our section, so we didn't get service immediately, but, our waitress was very nice, very apologetic, and made up for it later. We ordered a 1/2 pitcher of sangria, and, based on reviews I read here the bacon wrapped dates..hello! So good, so very very good. The spanish fried olives stuffed w/chorizo was next, and, I think I may have passed out. Spanish olives are good enough, but when you add "fried" and "chorizo", you are guaranteed perfection on a plate. We wanted to order a few other items (empanadas, puff pastry special, cold olives) but they were out, which to me indicates they are favorites and sell quickly. The overall experience was very good, and we'll definitely add Tapas Barcelona to our regular rotation.
(4)
Fi Fi R.

I had lunch here with my sis about 2 weeks ago. We have not been there for at least 6-7 years and I remembered why. There was only one server for the entire restaurant. They were not too busy for lunch, but 7 tables for one guy who came in relatively during the same time, are a bit much for one server. He was nice, but there is nothing special about this place. The food was just OK. The items that the server recommended were nothing special. The mussels we ordered had too much butter on them and were served with a side of clarified butter (I've never seen that before). I'm used to having mussels prepared in a tomato or garlic sauce. They do have pretty good white sangria and the size of a pitcher is not too bad either. Will I be back? Maybe if I'm right there in the area. Otherwise, I will not go out of my way to dine there again. Also, the prices for such tiny tapas plates are pricy. I have had better tapas food for less money at other places before.
(2)
Bee S.

What can I say, good things do come in small packages... We order several dishes ranging from muscles seared on a hot plate, grilled salmon, olives stuffed with chorizo, and beef on a skewer accompanied with sangria. Overall it was a great dining experience. The restaurant had a good ambiance and the waitress was friendly would love to come back again...
(4)
Matthew S.

This is one of the best Tapas restaurants outside of Chicago. They have a great wine selection and I really enjoyed everything we ate. My favorite things we had were the goat cheese and marinera dip, the chicken skewer, and the salmon. I want to come back and try the mussels and paella.
(4)
Jeremy N.

A great selection of traditional tapas dishes, though I wish the menu changed more frequently. Service was friendly and capable. Prices are reasonable for tapas. Can't wait to try their paellas, but you'd need to recruit some people to help you. :)
(3)
Allison S.

I am so sad that I have to give this place a bad review only because of the issue we had with the groupon. It was my birthday back in July and my friend had a groupon here that was expiring in a week. He asked if I wanted to go as his birthday gift to me. I love tapas, I even studied abroad in Barcelona so I was very excited. He had called several times and even left a message about making a reservation. No one was calling him back. So we took a chance and walked in. It was a Tuesday and the place had maybe 5 other parties there and this place is pretty big. He spoke with the hostess about how he tried to call and left a message... then she gave him some lie about calling him back and leaving a message saying they were booked... but she could seat us right away... but we couldnt use the groupon because he didnt make a reservation first. Very twisted logic here. None of it made any sense to me, that they were booked yet could seat us right away in a non-crowded place yet we still couldnt use the groupon cause we couldnt make a reservation... what? Being the great friend that he is, he didnt want to make a big deal about it especially for my birthday dinner, so he said he would just come back within the week to use the groupon with someone else and we would still eat there that day. He never was able to go back and use the groupon. We ate some pretty good food and drank some good wine, the portions werent that big, so we had to order a lot of different tapas to get full. Even though the food was good it was all soured by the lack of customer service, the whole time I felt horrible that he not only lost the $20 he spent on the groupon, but he also had to spend an additional $100 on our meal. I doubt I'll be recommending this place or going back.. which is an absolute shame, cause this place and its food has great potential, just need to be more attentative to their patron's needs.
(2)
David R.

Ah, to return to an old favorite. I hadn't been here for a few years, but tonight was probably my sixth or so visit. I actually ate here with my then-girlfriend the night that I graduated from college. It's good for two, four, six, ten...any combination, really. The food was just as good as I remembered. I've been to other tapas joints in the city (namely Emilio's and Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba) but this place just feels more right. Elsewhere it seems that you're paying inflated prices for artifice; here, there is value and substance in each dish. Assuming that they haven't radically changed the menu in the last few years, I've probably tried almost every dish. Tonight we had grilled calamari, shrimp skewer, marinated artichokes...and bacon-wrapped dates. My friend dragged me here in the hopes that these dates would shake the conviction of my "no fruit and meat" rule (don't ask; neither you nor I have all night to devote to the explanation). She was wrong: while I'm sure that they are well-made and enjoyed by many others, I remain entrenched--fruit and meat should be separated like church and state. We also ordered the Gaudi pizza, thinking that it was tapas-sized. Oh no--this is a whole 12" pizza of medium thickness, and a quite tasty one, too. I had hoped that it would have some sort of Iberian slant. In any case, at $6.95 it seems underpriced. This and two glasses of sangria would be a great cheap lunch for a pair of Evanston business-types.
(4)
Erica S.

Oh Tapas. I like them. I try not to base tapas in america off of tapas in Spain, because then I'd never be happy. But Tapas Barcelona was good. Well priced with HUGE portions (kind of negating the "tapas" portion, but I'll take it), we gladly ordered a lot of things that we enjoyed. I have to say that we ate a lot of goat cheese, which is always a plus in my book and the bacon wrapped dates were, of course, delicious. The beef tenderloin skewers were quite delicious and cooked perfectly. The sangria was strong, I thought, though I drank more than my share (whoops.) For dessert, I was excited that Crema Catalana was on the menu, so I got it. And then....I was disappointed. I know that Crema Catalana is essentially creme brulee (but better) and this was so very disappointing. Sorry I'm not sorry. Also, service was excruciatingly slow. Granted, I was eating with friends I hadn't seen in a year and a half, but I really didn't want to sit there for 3 plus hours when my lovely scenery is...Evanston. I could be back, especially if I'm in Evanston, but I won't go hardcore out of my way.
(3)
PJ J.

I have been a regular here for over 10 years. Perhaps I am no Burt Wolf or Roger Ebert of food critics, but I have to say, this place has solid food, and to all the low star review reviewers...Come on! It is what it is. Sit at the bar, catch a buzz, and have a few snacks. The food has great flavor and is cooked and seasoned properly. I have never had a bad meal, but I never really go here to sit in the garden. This is a GREAT restaurant on a pretty interesting block in Evanston. This 5 star review is well deserved , and balanced...I don't so much mind the few low stars that I just read -makes it easier for me to catch a stool at the bar. Snarf.
(4)
Anne W.

I see this place has gotten some bad - mediocre reviews, but I always have a good time when I go there. I tried it (and tapas in general) for the first time in April when I was visiting Evanston and fell in love with the scallops and the goat cheese/marinara sauce/garlic bread dish. When I was visiting Chicago recently I went all the way to Evanston just to eat there. They have a nice outdoor patio, the bread is delicious and service for me has always been good. A little pricey, but eh. Next time I'll try their sangria for sure, everyone else seems to love it.
(4)
Chitown D.

I love this place. If it wasn't for the service, which is a solid 3-stars, it would be getting a five. I've been here about 10-12 times and it's always the same: awesome food, mediocre service. Here are my favorites: - Canelon De Atun (tuna cannelloni) - Queso De Cabra Con Tomate (goat cheese in tomato sauce) - Pincho De Solomillo (beef, caramelized onions, horseradish) - Filete De Pescado Mediterraneo (grilled tilapia) I've had almost everything and I've never disliked anything. The sangrias are a bit watery, the desserts are just ok, the tables are a bit close to each other, and again, the service is spotty. But, overall, it's a great place to go, especially with a group, when you guy get one of everything and share! Enjoy!
(4)
Chuck H.

Visited this restaurant with a group of 12 for sisters 40th on a Saturday night. We knew it would be busy so made a prior reservation. It is extrememly loud in the restaurant so bring your ear plugs if you still plan on going after reading this. They crammed us into 3 makeshift tables all different sizes while 15 people waited to be seated staring at us. Since we are all pretty easy going we decided to go with the flow. Server was not terribly bright. He too had a hard time hearing our orders becasue of the noise. And, nobody in our group knew what the other sides of the tables were ordering so chaos ensued. Similar to many other posts, they started dumping down plates of food all on one end of the table. They had no idea who had ordered what. I understand it is tapas but please. Many of us ordered duplicates and triplicates of calamari and other dishes. But, for some reason only one order of everything came out. Literally half the table was eating and half wasn't. It was extremely awkward and ruined the whole experience. We took issue with server who claimed everything had come out.. Manager came over and only contributed to our frustration. Never once was there a review of our order or a reconciliation of what was brought out becasue they clear the plates so fast. I have seen this in other posts and this place is a scam if your in a big group. They know that you will lose track of all orders and they exploit this to their benefit. I couldn't even comment on the food becasue of the distraction of constantly checking order and asking for more dishes. Avoid this place at all costs.
(1)
Erika M.

I really enjoyed this place! I am a tapas fan and felt that the prices were very good for tapas. Each tapa was around $5-8 which is less than most other tapas places I've been too. The sangria was also very good and very strong! I really liked the stuffed eggplant with goat cheese! Check it out!
(4)
Cynthia E.

I agree with the others that the food here is fine, but nothing to write home about. But, the service is good, the prices are fair, the menu offers a good selection, and this is one of the best patios around- beautiful!
(3)
Matthew C.

Good place. Always a favorite hangout of mine when I was in college. The main dishes are good. I'm a big fan of Goat Cheese and Marinera dip, but that's just me. Not too much of a fan of the dark Sangria though. Great service and a great place to walk to in the summertime when its warm.
(3)
Jennifer B.

Pros: - Variety - Every dish was tasty and distinctive - Friendly service Cons: - Small space + good food = long wait - Located in Evanston - Crowded Recommend: - Salvador Dali Pizza - Mussels - Croquettes
(5)
Jenna C.

I am all for drinking outside in Evanston. No better way to stick it to the WCTU. The food at Tapas Barcelona is delicious and the sangria is tasty. Yes, it's a little pricey and the plates are small. It's tapas- the portions are supposed to be small. Service was friendly and helpful. Minus one star for our otherwise adorable waiter who put the bill and receipt down in front of my male coworker even though I had ordered for the table and my name was on the credit card. As mentioned, not as good as Cafe Iberico, but a solid Evanston choice.
(4)
Dana M.

I really wanted to like this place too since it's a convenient location but it's not my favorite. I've been here twice already within 3 years and recently visited in honor of my mom's birthday. She loves tapas so I decided I wanted her to try a new place other than our usual. On a humid Sunday night, the place was not busy, so reservations were probably not needed but glad we made them anyway because you never know! When you do make reservations however, they like to put you in the far back corner even though all the tables by the window are open. For four people, we ordered an assortment of cold and hot tapas and a paella. Some were better than others while the most consistent thing I noticed was the slices of bread were hard as a rock. They were not sliceable with a knife nor chewable with your teeth. I remember wondering why my teeth hurt the next morning. Many dishes came with a piece or two of that stale, hard, oil soaked bread. I did enjoy the Avocado con Congrejo (half avocado with fresh crabmeat salad) minus the bread, Fritura De Calamares y Gambas (fried calamari & shrimp), and this special duck dish that I forgot the name of. I usually don't eat duck but this one was pretty good and it was served with couscous. We also ordered the Valenciana paella with seafood, chicken, and chorizo. However, the chorizo was not chorizo, it was just Hillshire Farm sausage to me unless Spanish chorizo is different from Mexican chorizo and I just didn't know. Somebody please educate me! A pitcher of sangria will give you almost 6 glasses. It's a much better deal than a single glass if there are people to drink it but I've had better. I guess it does its job of making you tipsy. Overall experience was nothing spectacular...
(3)
Aiga J.

I really like tapas barcelona and the food is really good, my favorite is the mediteranian style tilapia with lemon butter sauce on a bed of sauteed spinach and side of potatoe slices. for only $6.95!!! you cant beat that! the portions here are very generous in size. the staff is really nice and friendly.
(5)
Ben H.

I ended up here because I was meeting someone coming up from the city. The location is great for meeting city-folk. I found the food to be tasty, but almost excessively simple. For example, the chorizo special I ordered was basically a handful of pan-fried sausage on a plate. Nothing else. Literally. (It didn't help that this dish took literally 45 minutes to arrive after I ordered it.) Other food was good, but very simple. Not a lot of complex or interesting flavors, which was diaappointing. The service was fine but not great. For tapas meals, I expect to see the server pretty frequenty, but this was not the case. Had to flag her down several times. Also, the busboy were, well, overzealous about clearing the table. They took serving plates as we were finish still finishing the food. And they literally cleared everything from our table while we were waiting for more tapas. We had to flag the server down to ask for new silverware, napkins, etc. Bottom line: Good but not at all great. Relatively inexpensive. There are better (but a bit pricier) tapas places in the north suburbs.
(2)
Megan B.

This is currently my favorite Tapas place in Chicago - too bad it's not actually IN Chicago. Wish I lived closer. Every time my husband an I are in Evanston, we have a hard time going to any other restaurant - this one is so good and so reasonable. First, the food: I've loved every plate I've had, with the exception of the croquets - too much mayo. The potatos bravos are not the best I've had, but still good with a kick. The queso de cabra is solid, although they could provide more bread (this is common at most tapas places). The spinach salad with walnuts is a must, as is the gazpacho if it is in season. Overall, you can get a lot of good plates without breaking the bank. Second, the atmosphere: I actually like the decor, even if it reminiscent of how a chain restaurant might decorate. The tables are spaced far enough that you can easily converse with the persons at your table without shouting (unlike most other tapas places I've been to). And the service has always been acceptable. It is beyond easy to get a table for lunch or an early weekend dinner.
(4)
Jason P.

I tried this place for take out once about a year ago when I was desperate and wasn't all that impressed, but since take out isn't really in the spirit of tapas, I decided to give it another shot with a large group. My first visit included a lot of patatas bravas and the Barcelona pizza. I have this issue that pretty much makes me order pizza where ever they have it on the menu, even if the restaurant has no business making pizzas. This was the case here as even though the goat cheese, spinach, tomato and portabella combination sounded divine, their execution wasn't not up to par. The patatas were not as brava as I expected either as they were pretty much mild. The second experience allowed me to try more of their dishes. The patatas alioli were pretty good if you like garlic. I actually enjoyed the garlic infused potato salad. The baked goat cheese was nothing special. I had this goat cheese, eggplant, sweet pecan dish that was ok, but the portion size was equivalent to about a third of a banana. The atmosphere was also rather loud too which didn't help matters. It was a Tuesday as well.
(2)
Erin L.

This is more like a 2.5 star review. We came here for dinner one evening a few weeks ago on a Friday evening around 6pm. The restaurant was near full, but we were seated immediately. That was the good. The service was not good. We had to ask for water twice; I waited 25 minutes for my (overly-weak, flavorless) sangria; we were brought an incorrect dish which was followed by perhaps a 15 minute wait for our next one. Guh. And then the food was just so-so. I know some people might tear me a new one for commending a Lettuce restaurant, but Ba Ba Reeba ran flavor circles around the dishes we ordered. Now, perhaps we ordered wrong. Perhaps we didn't select the star dishes from the menu. But if you order six, reasonably common tapas, one would think you'd get at least one standout. Nope. We'll probably be back since it's in our neighborhood, but I'm certainly not dying to go.
(3)
George M.

I have to say that my dining experience here was quite disappointing. I came here with two friends, hearing through the grapevine that tapas Barcelona was one of Evanston's culinary crown jewels. At least in the group of affordable restaurants. The only dishes I remember eating were a pizza, tortilla, and a terrible pastry. The fact that I dont remember the other two speaks to their mediocrity. The pizza was sort of tasty, but made without concern, and the people who made the pizza had no idea in terms of using an appropriate ratio of caramelized onions to bacon. The tortilla was flavorless and I bit on a large piece of eggshell. Nuff' said. The pastry was obviously frozen, as it came chilled and still tough, not the fluffiness I was hoping for. The presentation on this dish got my hopes up. Not a horrific experience, but I could think of several places I'd go before here, including shelling out more $ for the stained glass or quince.
(1)
Monica O.

Good tapas but little expensive
(4)
Troy B.

Great spot in downtown Evanston, especially in summer when you can sit on the patio. Bartenders make a wicked margarita. Love the lamb empanada and the shrimp and avocado salad. Service is always friendly and efficient. Only downside, last time we went in February, the kitchen was having an off night. Dishes lacked flavor and one beef dish was sent back. We weren't charged for it, which seemed fair.
(4)
Rachel S.

I have been to most, if not all the tapas places in Chicago and suburbs. None of them are nearly as tasty or as reasonable as Tapas Barcelona. I just LOVE this place. Everything (and I've gotten almost everything on the menu at this point) is delicious. Don't miss the Queso de Cabra con Tomate, the asparagus, the Patatas Ailioli, and for dessert, I highly recommend the Pan Perdido...it's delish. Also, in the summer, they have an adorable outdoor patio for dining.
(5)
Yvonne Y.

This is NOT tapas. The gambas al ajillo vaguely tasted like sweet and sour chicken. It's like a soup almost. The mushroom dish was soupy as well. Charcuterie was a stingy portion (5 or 6 tiny slices?) Overall, nothing Spanish about this place. service was wonderful but if I eat there blindfolded, I'd thought I was at a Mexican Chinese restaurant.
(2)
Carla L.

Tapas have to be the most fun way to go out and eat with friends. You get a chance to try so many different dishes and when you like one a lot you just order more! We had Patatas Bravas, Tortilla Espanola, Gambas al Ajillo, Champinones al Jerez, Datiles con Tocino, and a pitcher of Sangria. The food was delicious, and I do agree with a previous yelper.. those dates are to DIE for. The Sangria was fantastic. The hostess was sweet and accomodating and made us feel right at home, she helped our young daughter out with a few questions she had and soon both were giggling together. Our server was sweet and everyone there definitely made us feel welcome.
(4)
Patrick C.

Nom non nom nom. Los tapas son excellent! The portions are a tad small though
(4)
Jeanie P.

Ah I wanted to love this place because this is one of the first places I had ever tried tapas with my friend in college, and I had fond memories. But upon my return several years later, I was rather disappointed with the poor service and average food. None of the dishes were particularly good! The baked stuffed eggplant with hazelnuts was way too creamy and difficult to finish. The spicy chicken wings with mayo and grapes was heavy and also hard to finish. The beef tenderloin skewer with caramelized onions was not bad. The decor is great here! But best to head downtown to some of the better tapas places.
(2)
Alice Y.

Came here with a friend based on her rave review, and I have to agree it's pretty good. And I'm sure it's even better when it's on someone else's dime ;-). We had a Groupon, and made a reservation for Friday night, which was a good thing because the place was pretty full. We got the bacon-wrapped dates, which were great. I love the combination of sweet and savory, and was sopping up the leftover bell pepper sauce with my bread. Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce was not my favorite, but they did it well. Scallops were excellent, came with about 4 pieces. I would definitely get that again. And the beef skewer with caramelized onion was good, too. The horseradish sauce it came with tasted more like sour cream - it would have been nice with a little more kick, but I still liked the combination of ingredients. For dessert, we had the pear with white chocolate, raspberry sauce and ice cream. A nice combo, although we both agreed that having both the white chocolate and the ice cream ended up taking away flavor from each. And we did end up getting a glass of sangria each. They put lots of fruit in it, so it was a tad bit smaller than I expected, but it was enough for me given the small portion sizes of the food. (They do sell half-pitchers on request). I guess I would say the prices are reasonable for tapas, But they'd have to be fantastic to merit 5 stars from me, hence the 1 docked star.
(4)
Claudia G.

I love this place. It is just always the perfect place to go no matter who I am with - everyone ends up well-sated and had a great time. The atmosphere is lively and it is always jumping there but it is never too loud so you can enjoy a nice conversation. The wine list is extensive. I tend to order two glasses of wine and mix it up for fun. As with any tapas place you can order as you go. Who doesn't love the patatas alioli?! As a vegetarian I always have a variety to choose from - my favorite being the eggplant (berenjena) stuffed with hazelnuts in a pepper sauce. Unbelievably delish! Street parking is hit or miss being in Evanston. There is an inexpensive lot within walking distance.
(4)
Ellen D.

This was definitely one of my favorite spots during my time at Northwestern. Although it can be a bit pricey for college students, it's well worth it. My favorite dish is definitely the baked goat cheese, but you really can't go wrong with any dish on the menu. The paella rocks, and there are even some choices on the menu that accommodate persons with the blandest of taste buds. If you're up for dessert, get the banana - it's absolutely divine. Despite the fact that I may be a bit biased seeing as my sister previously worked here, it's definitely a must for any tapas lover in the Evanston area.
(5)
Noah A.

I was visiting Wisconsin and came down to Chicago with family to see a Cubs game; we stayed at the Best Western across the street and found this place on Yelp. Should have made a reservation, because it was packed inside and raining outside. We waited about 45 minutes; the food was worth a wait twice that long. The bacon-wrapped dates might be my favorite appetizer of all time. The service was good, too. I didn't much care for the sangria, but maybe that's just me.
(4)
Vera J.

Oh boy do I love this place. I work in Evanston, and love to meet my suburb friends for lunch here, at which time it's always easy to get a table. Dinner time, a little harder, but still haven't had to wait long. Anyway, I am a vegetarian so my opinion is limited to veggie dishes, but MAN are the vegetarian tapas good. Eggplant with goat cheese and hazelnut, Manchego cheese on bread with grilled veggies, and some really delicious little salads! I would skip the patatas bravas... not as good as most tapas places, but the creative dishes are fabulous. Very few cost more than $8 a plate, and most are closer to $5-6, which is cheaper than anywhere I've found in the city. Also, the sangria is great and only about $4 a glass, so you can totally get away with drinking 3 of them and not feeling like you spent too much. (Whether you feel like you drank too much is a different story.) Also, the patio is really awesome in the summer.
(5)
Janet B.

White sangria saves the day. A pitcher of that thing is what kept me coming back to this place. It's a very cute spot for a girls' night out or a fun date and all, but a lot of the tapas taste bland and the desserts are not that spectacular. The seafood paella is pretty dry but was my friend and my go-to menu item. We could share it and there'd be still some left over that neither of us would want to take home. As I said, white sangria makes everything better, and I would've probably been a happier person in Evanston if the pitcher didn't cost $17.
(3)
Rebecca Huicha K.

I dont get why this place has so many good reviews.... honestly i was REALLY disappointed by their food. the bacon wrapped dates were pretty good as well as the beef tenderloin but the paella was pretty bad. it just didn't have enough flavor. if anything it tasted really seafoody and not in a good way but in a just grabbed it out of the ocean without washing it way... prices here are fairly cheap for a tapas restaurant. but it shows in the quality of the food. i dont think i'd visit again... adios tapas barcelona!
(2)
Aimee R.

Flavor: Lacking, Out of 6 Tapas that we ordered, we thought only 3 of them had flavor. We would not reorder the other ones. We even sent one back to the kitchen without eating much of it...we still paid for it and didn't complain about it... but it was just blah. I would not order the desserts because they were small and not that great. I would stick to the stuffed chicken and all their beef dishes. Service: Very friendly and attentive. Cost: A bit too expensive if you add up a few tapas for each person. After a few hours, I was a bit hungry. The drinks were very reasonably priced, so this would be a great place to go if you want to snack and drink. Decor: Very nice and they play fun Mexican/Spanish music!
(3)
Kristi P.

I haven't been to many tapas restaurants where I genuinely enjoyed every dish! There were amazing plates and great plates, nothing bad on the menu. The waiter was charming and my Spanish is horrible so the fact that we got only one wrong dish was beyond acceptable service! They do not rush you, so take your time and enjoy the ambiance! I would recommend this restaurant to anyone dining in Evanston.
(5)
Dan C.

We had some friends that were visiting from out of town, so we decided to give this place a try. It was on a Saturday so the place was pretty packed, but we had called ahead to make reservations so the seating process was pretty quick. The atmosphere is pretty nice, ambient lighting and cozy. It is around the Northwestern campus neighborhood so there is a mix of college students and regular cliental. The food is supposed to be as close to real Spanish tapas as a midwestern place can get, and from all the tapas places I tried in the Chicago area this was probably my favorite. We tried 5 tapas. The Esparragos Con Tres Salsas which is a pretty light salad type dish to complement the other ones. The Pollo Relleno or stuffed chicken which was pretty good although it is served cold and i don't really like cooked meat served cold. The Vieriras Con Salsa De Azafran or grilled sea scallops in saffron sauce. I never had sea scallops prepared that way and I thought the mix worked really well. The Fritura De Calamares y Gambas or fried calamari was a bit salty. The best dish by far was the Crab croquettes with sherry mayonnaise I could have eaten those all night long. Overall it was a good dining experience. We ate until we were full and all for only $30 dollars for 2 people. This will definitely be a return visit for when I feel like having some tapas.
(4)
Jiyoun B.

I enjoyed their red sangria, although the wine was very weak~ We ordered the shrimp in garlic sauce (Gambas Al Ajillo), snails (Cabrillas Barcelona) and asparagus salad (Esparragos Con Tres Salsas). They were all very good but none too spectacular. Their outside seating was very cozy and romantic, very fitting for a date. Muy bien~
(4)
Alex R.

This place is right next to downtown Evanston. They've a very romantic outdoor patio area, and it's perfect for summer nights. I was really looking forward to an excellent tapas meal, but the food here can best be descbried as "meh." The dishes were not bad, but they were also not great. The food was simply ok. The waitress was just...robotic. Not bad service, not good service. I left here feeling like something was really lacking. Perhaps it was an off night, but I was just too dissapointed with the food to really give this place 3 stars or recommend to friends. Below is what I sampled and my findings: Patatas Alioli - $3.95 This potato salad was creamy and plentiful. It was nothing special. Pincho de Solomillo - $7.50 There was one small stick with meat on it. It was accompanied by onion and another type of cream sauce. The meat itself was pretty flavorless on its own. It really did not stand alone as a dish, and you had to make sure you ate it along with plenty of the caramelized onion and sauce to add flavor. It was dissapointing. Mejillones Plancha - $6.50 The mussels were plentiful for tapas. They came with a butter sauce and lemon on a scalding hot plate. They were ok, but nothing spectacular. Also make sure you put them on your plate right away, the hot plate will make them stick once they cool, then you'll be left to poke at the mussle or pry it off the plate with a fork. Gambas al Ajillo - $7.25 There were only 5 garlic shrimp served. They were a bit tough and I couldn't really taste the garlic. This is a hot tapa, but it was cold when it arrived at our table. Champinones - They had a special of two portabello mushrooms with goat cheese, tomato, and sauce. It was pretty flavorful and what a tapa should be. It was the only dish at this restaurant that stood out and had a great flavor, but this is not enough to keep me going back.
(2)
Sarah P.

Tapas Barcelona is my favorite tapas place around! I lived in Spain so I can say that most tapas restaurants in the area are not exactly authentic. Sure, they always have the main Spanish staples, but then also have many other items that are much harder to find in Spain. I have come to judge these restaurants on their food alone without comparing too much to the "real thing". Every time I have gone to Tapas Barcelona, I try at least one different dish than the last time, and am never disappointed! Their sangria is not my favorite but is cheaper than at many other restaurants. Here are just a few dishes that I have tried and love: -Avocado con Cangrejo (avocado with shrimp) ($6.95) - DELICIOUS, fresh, light, YUM -Aceitunas Rellenas (stuffed olives) ($3.50) - lightly fried, very tasty -Datiles Con Tocino (dates wrapped in bacon) ($5.50) - the sauce is sweeter, almost like caramel, than is served with this dish at other restaurants, but so good! -Berenjenas Con Queso y Avellanas (eggplant with goat cheese) ($5.95) - never seen this on other menus & the goat cheese goes great with the eggplant -Vieriras Con Salsa De Azafran (Grilled sea scallops, spinach, saffron sauce) ($7.25) - big serving size of scallops compared to most, comes with 4 big scallops, spinach, saffron sauce, pine nuts, and a potato Their patatas bravas are different than some others - they are not fried and are served IN the sauce, rather than having the sauce on the side. Not my favorite. They also carry my favorite Spanish dessert - Arroz con Leche. QuÃ© rico! All in all, go! Try for yourself! And if the weather is nice, their outdoor seating area is very nice!
(5)
Tina R.

I really love love love their lamb empanadas! Get them if you ever go to this restaurant!!
(4)
Jenn S.

This place has me officially hooked on Evanston. I showed up hungry and left stuffed beyond capacity. The restaurant itself is comfortable. The outside patio area is really nice and definitely a change from the tightly packed patios in Chicago. We ordered 6 plates: Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce w/ garlic bread, baked dates wrapped with bacon, Spanish style potatoes, skewer of beef tenderloin, crab croquettes, and a special for the evening-chorizo and shredded chicken croquettes. The baked goat cheese was the best. I could have had three of those. The only dish that I really didn't like was the chorizo and that's only because it has a very distinct smell to it. The crab croquettes were ok but I kind of felt like it was stuffed with imitation crab meat. Still ok though. I just prefer real crab. Obviously, we had sangria...which was delicious! This place is packed on the weekend so I highly suggest making a reservation or going in for an early dinner. Two people can definitely get away with 6 or less dishes...and that's coming in with a big appetite.
(4)
Anatoly D.

This place is a regular stop for my wife and me. It feels upscale without being pretentious, and a little romantic without cheesiness. Our favorites are the goat cheese (queso de cabra), Spanish potatoes (patatas bravas), potatoes alioli, and the calamari & shrimp ("...con gambas"). But really, you can't go wrong. On a warm summer night, eating in their courtyard is a relaxing and enjoyable way to spend the evening. On-street parking can be a bit difficult on a weekend night (free after 9 pm!), but there's a cheap garage up the block at Orrington and Church. It's free for 1 hour, and something like $1 for each hour thereafter, so no need to spend 20 minutes circling the block.
(5)
Jacob Y.

Good food, great ambiance, and amazing company...what else can a guy as for, right? I was recently in Chicago for a personal trip with two great friends, who were there to meet up with some of their own friends while in town. Yup, I tagged along. And very glad I did. Not only did this provide me a chance to meet more awesome people, but Tapas Barcelona was definitely the right place for us to mingle and socialize. Let's start with the ambiance. Despite pending inclement weather, we thankfully got a table outside under the awning away from the rain. Yes, even in the rain, it was great to be seating in their patio, as it is a very well maintained area that is a great setting for getting together with friends. Foodwise, the tapas were good. Grilled calamari...outstanding (I know I was looking for grilled octopus, which I have had at other tapas establishments, but this dish did it justice). Another tapas dish that really stood out were the scallops...which were perfectly cooked. And so were the lamb chops. Main entree...we shared a paella. Although I have never had it with peas, this dish was quite tasty. For drinks...we were going back and forth on cava and sangrias. You can never go wrong with cava...but the sangrias were very good. Even after, we went inside, as the weather was deteriorating. Yup, we ordered another bottle of cava. And I must say that we loved on how accomodating the staff was! Overall, an amazing experience. And yes, I would recommend this place either to go on a date or to get together with a good group of friends. Trust me...you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Mark F.

The food is good, but the service is a little flaky. I have to agree with the other reviewers who said they were irritated by the busboys' eagerness to clear the table. I personally think it's rude to reach across diners just to clear one plate. We barely put a plate down and a busboy was clearing it. In fact, it still had some food on it. With that being said, I wouldn't let it deter me from visiting this place. Their outdoor patio is very nice and relatively shielded from the blazing sun.
(4)
daniel b.

Stale bread, watery beer. Some tapas were quite tasty...but the bill really adds up due to the small portions. You'll be approaching $50 per person if you want the equivalent of a full meal.
(2)
Jackie G.

Love this place! I frequent this restaurant when my mom comes in for visits to the college town but also go with friends on occasion. I came here for a nice birthday dinner on my 21st so I could try the Sangria. It's pretty good. Not as strong as brandy infused kinds friends have made. You must get the bacon wrapped dates when you come here. I know they may sound strange, but I've converted many a skeptic. The daily specials are often good too. Sometimes we get so many entrees that we don't leave enough room for dessert, but if you do, I recommend the flan. Firm with caramel deliciousness on top. Aside from all the food, the decor makes for a cool ambiance. There are large colorful paintings on the wall and the light fixtures enhance the Spanish design. Note their hours. They close between lunch and dinner to prepare. Once I went early at 4:30 and the place wasn't open yet. Luckily, the restaurant is near Whole Foods, Peet's Coffee, Kaffeine - basically other establishments fine for hanging out until the best restaurant in town is ready for you. It's worth the wait. mmm. After writing this, I'm going here tonight.
(5)
Erini S.

My roommates and I would frequent this restaurant a lot when I was living in Evanston. Even my boss loved to bring the office down here or treat visiting researchers. If you haven't experienced tapas before, you seriously should. My roommates an I would have everyone pick at least one dish to start with, and then pass and share in the true tapas nature. But don't scarf it down or get protective about it -- eat it slow and talk! My friends and I had the talking part down, but we devoured that food like crazy. Don't feel bad spending a couple hours having dinner! I personally think that's the best way to do it. If you're not in a sharing mood, do what I'd do every now and then... order two for yourself and tell your friends to back off! ;) Of course, you have to order at least two rounds of bacon wrapped dates! They are so amazing. Just forget about the seemingly weird combination, these things are like a taste explosion of awesomeness. I also recommend the fried olives, the duck pastry, baked goat cheese, and the black bean soup! All amazing. My friends never saved room for dessert (because they woofed everything down so quickly!), but you really should! I've tried them all and they're all amazing! Also, don't let them take those plates away so quickly! The sauces are really great -- since you keep getting bread, just soak it all up and don't let any of that amazing flavor go to waste!
(4)
Allison S.

Average tapas, but the only spanish food option in evanston. I've lived in Spain twice, so I am very biased, but the only thing that really blows me away here is the bacon wrapped dates and crema catalana (which they were out of when I went today, and is always one of my favorite desserts). Today I had the spinach salad, artichokes, and scallops with my friend, all were pretty decent, but pretty basic foods. More traditional tapas such as tortilla, patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo, calamari, and mussels are all ok, and good compared to other places in Evanston and the area, but just did not blow me away. The seafood paella is pretty good, they do put a good amount of seafood in it which I really like. Would love them to add padron peppers to the menu, one of my faves.
(3)
Suzanne P.

This is one of my favorite restaurants ever. I LOVE this place. I started coming here three years ago, and I still make the trip up as much as I can. I think that the ambiance is great. It's always going but never overwhelming or cramped. The service is great and the food is to die for. My favorite things to order (and that I make sure to each time) are the Bacon Wrapped Dates and the Goat Cheese and Tomato dip. I also love the Pisto Manchego and Olives stuffed with Chorizo. They always have great specials, and I've never gone wrong ordering any of the seafood dishes (the Calamari is excellent). I'm constantly amazed at the value of this place too, because you are more than full and get to try many dishes for probably around $20. The Sangria is delicious, and for dessert, the Pear with White Chocolate and Raspberry Sauce is awesome. The flan is great too. I highly recommend this place to anyone, because of the extensive menu and great value!
(5)
Stephanie L.

Delicioso! This is the best restaurant in Evanston hands down! When the weather's nice it's definitely worth it to sit outside. But if you don't get a chance, the inside decor is really pretty. It's a cozy little restaurant right by Kaffein and it has the best tapas in Chicago. Yes, better than Cafe Iberico. The best tapa on the menu is, well, ok there isn't just one. But the tapas I would recommend are definitely the goat cheese and tomato dish -- it's like a dip and it's yummy -- the pincho de pollo and the pincho de solomillo -- mostly because they come with really amazing dipping sauches -- and the crab croquettes. But those are just a few... you should try everything on the menu once because everything has it's own flavor for every different mood. The deserts are phenomenal but my favorite BY FAR is banana with ice cream. They cover the banana with pistachios and caramel and although it's really simple, it's certainly the best. I'm a huge fan of tapas for the food, the service and the great ambience. And if you do find yourself at this wonderful place, ask for Gerardo as your server :o) And PS -- If you are going on a Friday or Saturday night you must make reservations -- otherwise your wait will be 30-60 min, easy, and it's almost impossible to find a seat at the bar. So you will have to wander Evanston until your table is ready and if it's ready before you get back, you'll lose your place.So it's definitely worth it to MAKE RESERVATIONS!
(5)
Erin K.

Definitely a good tapas place. I personally prefer Cafe Iberico, but Tapas Barcelona is much less crowded and serves similar food. Service is good, nothing remarkable. It's a great backup for Cafe Iberico.
(4)
arpan s.

love this place..prices are right...parking is relatively easy...staff is well educated, professional, and courteous...food is amazing. many choices...fresh ingredients...delicious...go with a group and try all kinds of things. one of my fav places to eat...hands down...foods better than iberico.
(5)
Erik M.

I have to admit that upon arrival I was a little put off by the fact that this restaurant is on the ground floor of a "retirement hotel." However, putting my faith in the Yelp community, I gave it a shot and was very pleased. It's a proper tapas joint, offering decent-sized plates of moderately priced Spanish nibbles in a comfortably lit, cozy space. The bacon wrapped dates themselves weren't particularly noteworthy, but the red pepper sauce that accompanied them was outstanding. I enjoyed the sausage stuffed olives, although the sauce for them was a little bland. The service was prompt, friendly and non-intrusive, and my seat at the bar was comfortable and relatively private on a Wednesday evening, although there were several larger tables filled with animated and enthusiastic patrons in the spacious main dining area. All told, it is a good but not particularly outstanding dining experience. However, the thing that requires me to give Tapas Barcelona four stars was the Pizza Dali: The caramelized red onions were ever-so-slightly underdone, leaving them tender and pliable but still a bit crunchy, which nicely complimented the generous pieces of bacon and thick, soft crust. At under $8, the Pizza Dali is delicious and substantial; big enough to be the main course for two people when coupled one or two smaller dishes. This being my first and possibly last ever dinner in Evanston, I have to say that I'm quite pleased with Tapas Barcelona and will certainly consider it again should my travels bring me back to the North Shore.
(4)
Edwin Q.

If there is something I hate is to go to a tapas place and pay a lot of $$$ for a dish the size of my pinkie finger nail! I tried a lot of their tapas and they all were awesome. Very tasty and generous on size. Their variety is also great. Their sangria is no exceptional but still pretty good. The service is a little slow but still decent and friendly. Highly recommended! Ole!
(4)
Son D.

My friend and I went here for dinner on New Year's Eve and really enjoyed it. The decorations and lighting create a relaxing mood without being so dark that you can't see your food. We ordered the crab croquettes, spinach pizza, and sauteed shrimp. The pizza and shrimp were tasty, but I really enjoyed the crab croquettes. They come with a delicious sherry mayonnaise sauce that complements them well. We also ordered sangria, which wasn't as strong as I'd like, but still quite good. (FYI, all you lower-classmen at NU, they didn't card us even though we're both only 21 :) The service was friendly and prompt. Overall, a great restaurant!
(5)
Jade T.

I went to Tapas Barcelona at the spur of the moment on a Friday night. Without reservations, the wait was an hour. This restaurant must be a favorite dining spot among large groups, and it shows. "Two-top" tables were almost non-existent. I strongly recommend that anyone, regardless of couple or an entire office staff, - make reservations -. (I did not have much luck finding seats at the bar, and it was also difficult flag down the bartenders to order drinks.) Finally, I got a table and immediately ordered three tapas and the vegetarian paella. Patatas Brava: This simple, lightly spicy potato dish was surprisingly delicious. Shiitake Mushrooms with Rioja Sauce (Special): A cold tapas dish with meaty shiitake mushroom caps topped with light tomato "salsa". It falls short on flavor, but overall a decent dish. Berenjenas Con Queso y Avellanas: The combination of goat cheese and pepper cream sauce made this dish too rich for my tastes. The hazelnuts add a delightful texture. Vegetarian Paella: While it consists of numerous vegetables (bell peppers, carrots, zucchini, squash, onions, peas, et cetera) and made with vegetable stock, it was bland and poorly seasoned. The server was almost non-existent, but I didn't experience poor service overall. I must nitpick though. After eating the eggplant tapas, my utensils and napkin needed to be replaced. Sometimes I prefer having new utensils for an upcoming course. Overall, Tapas Barcelona is an average tapas restaurant. It is a good choice for vegetarians and those on a budget. I shared the paella with my boyfriend, bringing the total to less than $35. This restaurant would be a unique destination for casual dates as well.
(3)
Ryan G.

Excellent, authentic, and has a great environment. Great wine selection as well
(5)
Dan O.

This was our first crack at tapas in Chicago.. Surprisingly I drove by this place all the time without knowing it existed. The retirement home casts a big shadow over this place, but somehow they fit this restaurant between the retirement home, courtyard and outdoor swimming pool. Their bacon wrapped dates and jambalaya is fantastic. So good I brought my sister and brother in law here when they visited and they approved.
(4)
Danny C.

WOW! This place is amazing. We met up with some new friends and one of our new friends we met that night Carmine wanted to cover the whole tab so obviously, it was a nice gesture and made the night even sweeter to have a new friend extend his offering that way. We ordered around 10 different plates, 4 pitchers of Sangria, Dessert and followed with after dinner drinks. Every single plate we had offered something incredible that blew your taste buds wide open. My favorite was the Tenderloin Pork, The Pesto Cream Cheese Bruschetta & The Salmon Mozzarella & Capers. Their dessert was phenominal, the best creme brulee i have ever had. I cant say enough good things about the place. Great staff, met the owner who offered for us to come back and have some drinks with him next time were in. Just over all great food, great place, great vibe and I have nothing negative to say.
(5)
Theresa K.

Tapas Barcelona is definitely 3 start worthy; it's just ok. I have dined here a handful of times and have yet to be impressed. The service is somewhat lacking and the food is bland even though this place is always crowded. I would recommend Cafe Ba Ba Reeba in Lincoln Park or Cafe Iberico in the loop. I frequent those places often but am eager to discover another great tapas spot. Tapas Barcelona doesn't even hold a torch to those places.
(3)
Joel M.

One of my favorite restaurants in Evanston. Introduced my buddy to this place over the weekend and had a nice wine from their selection and enjoyed great conversation. The food is tasty, fast, and a good value. Ambiance is nice and replicates an authentic Spanish tapas bar. Too many choices from the menu to list my favorites, but definitely try the croquettas.
(4)
Eric M.

Incredibly slow and poor service. Went there with a group of 8 on a Sunday night and it took us over 2 hours to get through the meal. Food and drinks took an inordinate amount of time to reach the table. The food was okay, but the service was unbelievably slow on a non-busy night. I'll never return.
(1)
K J.

The good... Went to this restaurant a few nights ago with a big group for my birthday. Very nice environment in the restaurant. We ordered a ton of stuff. Standouts were.... bacon wrapped dates, garlic potatoe salad, eggplant dish, this steak dish. Mussels have been raved on here but we found them mediocre, not a lot of flavor. Sangria was also good. The bad....the kitchen was out of the stuffed chicken we ordered and then the waiter still charged us for it on the bill. also, the kitchen did not bring us 3 of our dishes. we waited and waited and waited... over an hour. finally we asked for them and the waiter said that they brought it out... I'm like "uh no they didnt" and he is like "are you sure?" Of course I'm sure. I know what we ate. The manager appoligized... but after all that time, you would think they would comp at least one of the tapas. Or throw in an extra one for the table for free. but nothing. it's bad business in my opinion.
(4)
Cara B.

By far the BEST tapas restaurant I have ever been to. Whenever I have visitors I take them here. I first found this place when a friend dragged me here a few years ago only because they have a Pedro AlmodÃ³var poster hanging on the wall. I loved the atmosphere and the food was amazing. Our group ended up splitting the artichokes, asparagus, eggplant with goat cheese, and the vegetable paellas. We couldn't move afterwards but it was so worth it. Check out the bathrooms too. I feel like I'm on a bad acid trip when I'm in there. I love it.
(5)
Lawrence H.

First things first; Tapas Barcelona is indeed open for lunch, so some dedicated Yelper needs to update that. It'd be a shame if a prospective lunch crowd overlooked this wonderful restaurant, thinking it only opens for dinner. One enters Tapas Barcelona through a side entrance, and walks into a colorful and cozy venue, with artwork (for sale) and hanging decorations all around; subtly festive to say the least. I was seated immediately by the window, with water and a menu quickly delivered. My companion and I sorted through a diverse amount of tapas choices (and I can't remember the Spanish names of our selections, please forgive), settling on 6 choices, including mussels and crab croquettes, and the universally recommended bacon-wrapped dates. The essence of the tapas experience is sharing, so we each picked a diverse group of items that looked and sounded exotic, decently far outside standard lunch fare. She had the sangria, while I ordered 'El Matador', a liquor-infused coffee topped with whipped cream. Everything was tasty and excellent; I don't know why I thought it would all come out together, but dishes were delivered as each's preparation was done, which worked out perfectly. Our only issue was that we ordered too much; next visit we'll have to cut down on the taptas, and leave some room for dessert. Sitting by the window, attended appropriately by the staff (meaning not cloyingly), a wonderful afternoon's meal drifted by most pleasantly. I highly recommend Tapas Barcelona for an excellent and different lunch experience.
(5)
Chris M.

Overall, our family had a really good time at Tapas Bacelona. The margaritas were sweet and delicious, and most of the dishes we had were excellent. Our top favorites included: The dates wrapped in bacon (you have GOT to get them!), the olives stuffed w/ chorizo, the special pizza they offered with carmelized onions and bacon, the beef skewers, the goat cheese, and the mussels. Not so favorites: The calamari (a joke, they gave us like 8 little pieces), one of the specials with chicken and mexican sausage skewers on top of cous cous (pretty bland, underseasoned), and one of the grilled shrimp skewers. I would go back if I was in the area.
(4)
Chris N.

My wife has been telling me about this place for two years and I finally went this past Thursday for lunch. What could I say.....the food was phenomenal. The service was exceptional. Nice, quiet afternoon on the patio. We ordered the queso de cabra, spinach salad, mushroom soup, and the pincho de gambas. All outstanding. For dessert.....the raspberry covered peach with ice cream and the flan. Wow. We'll be coming back again and again, no question.
(5)
Allison S.

Loved this place! Great house sangria, grilled squid, and baked goat cheese. It's a loud restaurant, but fun. Food was DELICIOUS.
(5)
Brandie T.

Tapas is a recent discovery of mine. I must say it's a perfect way to have a meal out on a warm summer evening! Tonight I tried: Calamares A La Plancha (calamari) -- very good, and the tiny whole squids are the perfect thing to munch on to weird out your friends who can't believe you're *actually* eating '_THAT_' !! Datiles Con Tocino (bacon wrapped dates) -- As many others have said, VERY yummy!! I can see why my son loves the bacon wrapped dates, his fiance joked he'd eat bacon wrapped bacon if they sold it. Quesos con Membrillo (cheese plate) -- I'm kind of conflicted about this ... on one hand, I liked it, on the other, I was underwhelmed with the serving size & it's presentation. it was like "gosh, this is all we have left , how can we arrange it on the plate to make them look like they're getting 'something' ?" (one star removed) Overall, the food was tasty, not too heavy. I'm sure I'll be back, it's close enough to the theatre & train stop, that if I wanted to hit them up after a show, I could do that, besides, there's more to their menu that I want to try!!
(4)
David K.

Wow, I didn't think I'd ever have to write a 2-star review, but I think it's well deserved. Originally, my boyfriend and I went to Evanston to eat at The Cellar (still on our list; wait for the review :o) ); it was closed to the public due to a private party so I suggested Tapas Barcelona. I've walked past countless summer nights and their outdoor patio has always been buzzing. Monday night. Quiet and empty as expected. Our server was very friendly, the staff is unusually silent -- seriously, not a word from them, and the food was mediocre at best. We ordered: 1. fried calamari & shrimp: A tad overcooked, but meaty. The "spicy" tomato sauce is not spicy. 2. spanish ham with tomato bread: I was looking forward to this one the most and was so disappointed. I love the spanish ham and cheese combo, but this was not it. The ham was greasy and the cheese tasted like rind. Dont get me wrong, I love me some stinky cheese, but there was something off-putting about it. 3. baked snails: My favorite dish. Scrape off 90% of the alioli and it's delish! Yum Yum Yum! 4. skewer of beef with horseradish: Really nothing memorable. Kind of dry, not rubbery though. 5. mussels on iron skillet: Cooked well, tiny, not favorful. Looks cool.... Presentation reminds me of those Chili's fajita platter commercials. 6. Crab Croquettes: This was our last dish, and at the first bite I thought, "finally! Something I like!... but as I took bites 2, 3, 4 I realized it was just my imagination" 7. two glasses of Pinot Grigio The 3 things I enjoyed about this place: Cheapest wine list I've seen around! Cute, jolly, little server. Outdoor patio available. Overall, for tapas, the prices arent bad at all. However, Tapas Barcelona made me wanting Cafe Baba to do it right.... Sorry! :(
(2)
Paul V.

I love this place. The food is consistently delicious, and the atmosphere is very diverse (families, couples, groups). Great selection of traditional tapas dishes and very reasonably priced. Definitely recommended.
(5)
A S.

Love the food, love the ambiance. The outside patio in the summer is awesome! Been here many times and still love it!
(5)
K C.

K walked into this place and immediately fell at home. She said it reminder her of our recent honeymoon on Barcelona. It's true. One would never expect a place like this in Evanston. However, it fits just fine. We can write a whole blog entry about the tapas at this place, but we won't. We will just tell you to try the mushroom and eggplant dishes along with the usual Spanish tapas. The vibe of this place makes this establishment stand out. You would not expect the eclectic mix of young, old, upper-class, middle-class, and family parties all under one roof. Perhaps there are limited options in Evanston, but it should not discount this place. If we were to so lucky to have one of these in the Bay Area, we'd be regulars. If we end up in Evanston, that may just happen.
(4)
Diablo L.

Great place,had the fried spanish olives stuffed with chorizo,the pork tenderloin which was my favorite,calamari,and grilled tilapia,all were very good,nice atmosphere,great wait staff...
(4)
eStephanie M.

It's not as good as Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, but better than Emilio's Tapas. It does the job if you're craving tapas and don't aren't in the mood to drive into the city.
(3)
Pavithra M.

I love Tapas Barcelona! Such delicious food, happy servers, bustling environment that somehow manages to stop short of being overcrowded even when all the tables are occupied. On our latest trip there, we ordered the grilled tilapia, the sirloin, the empanadas and the grilled calamari. All fantastic, except for the calamari, which was a little fishy. One of the dishes came with spinach and a lemon-butter sauce that was to die for. I ate a ton of spinach that night, and anyone who knows me, will recognize the miracle for what it is. I am usually strictly carnivorous. We also ventured to try a pizza, which was much larger than we expected, but delicious. We actually had leftovers for lunch. Our server was also very nice to our 2-year-old, which made for a less stressful meal for me. I hate going for Tapas with a big group, because I always feel like I did not get enough to eat - with two adults and a kid - perfect! I did not have to share too much of my favorite food.
(5)
Annie S.

My friends and I came over Memorial Day weekend and even though I've been to the area about 1000x's (i.e. many times spent at Kaffein in high school), I never realized this tapas restaurant existed. The food was pretty good but nothing spectacular. We ordered 6 tapas and I liked the grilled squid but the grilled sea scallops was bland. My friends ordered food like the bacon w/dates (thought it was gross but I don't like bacon so don't listen to me on this) and grilled sirloin. What I like about the place is that there is a nice outdoor seating area while the inside is pretty dark. The service was good but our server was really horrible at the end of the meal. He forgot a dish and was very slow too. Overall I don't think I would make another trip out here but it is nice to have a tapas restaurant in Evanston.
(3)
James S.

We have been meaning to expand our list of Tapas places in Chicago as my wife and I are practically regulars at CafÃ© BaBaReeba. We went to Tapas Barcelona this past weekend and really enjoyed it. Had the bacon wrapped dates, which as everyone says were outstanding, along with some other plates. Portions were fairly large for a Tapas place so in the end we may have overeaten a bit and were forced to skip dessert. Overall the food was good although we still prefer CafÃ© BaBaReeba. However the atmosphere was fun and relaxed and we still enjoyed this place more than CafÃ© Iberico which we found to be unwelcoming and stiff. Would definitely go back while in Evanston.
(3)
Sara H.

Great food, and easy to share. Love the patio, and the interior is nice too. Definitely try something with goat cheese. Equally good for dates and for big groups of people. This place is usually pretty busy though, so be prepared to wait on weekends.
(4)
Taylor M.

Best tapas! I have been to Spain numerous times, and I just want the tapas from Tapas Barcelona. You must get the goat cheese, sangria, and the bacon wrapped dates (or if you are vegetarian, just ask for the sauce from the bacon wrapped dates; trust me, you won't go wrong).
(5)
Virginia T.

Every time I've been to Tapas Barcelona the food and service have been good and I've walked out with a smile...and I've been going there for nearly 6 years. I can't say that their tapas and sangria is the best I've had or absolutely to die for....but it is definitely a decent go-to spot with excellent outdoor seating.
(4)
K. N.

Food: Pretty good. Very standard tapas--nothing real out of the ordinary here. I had: -goat cheese with tomato sauce and garlic bread. Love this, but I love this everywhere. It's the tapas version of fast food--you can order this dish anywhere and know what you're getting. -bacon wrapped dates, that had a really really tasty red pepper sauce alongside. -duck sausage with peppers. This was alright. -beef skewers with horseradish sauce for dipping, I only ate a bit of this. the bread served alongside the meal was nothing special whatsoever. Drinks: sangria was pricey and weak. Service: just fine Atmosphere: We ate outdoors, there is nice music on the patio, it is on the street yet still feels secluded. The tables are spaced far enough that you aren't overhearing everyone else's conversation, I hate that! Pricing: not too bad, only thing "overpriced" was the pitcher of sangria. The pricing for the tapas runs from 4-10 bucks each with most around 5-7. Bathrooms: used 'em, they were clean.
(4)
Mei Z.

Food: Tapas is never very filling to me, maybe because I like to have a big hunk of food for myself instead of little nibbles here and there. I had the same sort of feeling here. Nothing on the menu stood out in particular. Drink: Little bits of apple in the Sangria was nice. Ambiance: Family style.
(3)
GurtBurt Y.

The atmosphere is perfect for a tapas restaurant--vibrant but not overdone. The sangria was yummy. Our plates (bacon-wrapped dates, baked stuffed eggplant, and mussels) were very tasty, and satisfying for two people. One complaint: they used the same bell pepper sauce in the date dish and the eggplant dish. The sauce was delicious, and we thought made the date dish unique, so we were disappointed that it was re-used for another dish. Maybe we are being picky, but it stood out enough so that we remember.
(4)
Marina M.

Nice atmosphere and menu. Great place for a date or to go with a group. Queso De Cabra Con Tomate, Datiles Con Tocino, and sangria are a must! (getting hungry just thinking about it...mmmmm)
(4)
Jose T.

Let me start out by saying that I loved the Sangria!! I ordered everything salmon as well as everything crab. All excellent! The prices are right & the service was good. I will definitely be back - a great Spanish experience!
(4)
Dave S.

The paella was good, but there was no crispiness at all. The wine selection is great, and very reasonably priced. I had a bottle of white rioja for $20, and it was very good wine. I love the ambiance, and the service was very polite and prompt. All said, I like the place. If only the paella had a crispy crust. sigh.
(3)
Laura S.

Went to Tapas last night with five others for my birthday, and truly enjoyed everything. My recommendations: baked goat cheese, bacon-wrapped dates, Spanish-style potatoes, grilled mussels, and the special of sausage, grapes and melted cheese in apple cider. The white sangria, $17 for a pitcher that probably contained seven or eight glasses' worth, was also a treat. Can't comment on the desserts, as we brought cake - random $1.50 charge for that, but it's clearly not breaking the bank. I think the bill totaled $120 for six of us including drinks and gratuity, which I consider pretty reasonable. And the service was outstanding from start to finish, our server very attentive without being an annoyance. I'll definitely be back in a few weeks when family visits.
(5)
Jenny C.

You know, I've been to tapas places a-plenty, but this place really stands out in my mind because their sangria pitcher ($16) is really a pitcher... I was comfortably able to share it with two friends, and their bacon wrapped dates are spectacular. I keep jonesing for it and no matter how hard I try to find a tapas place in the city that can create the same dish for me, nothing comes close. I've had other chicken and seafood dishes there that were awesome, but it's the dates that I'll make a special trip up to Evanston for. And it's definitely the most affordable. I treated a party of six and the bill only came out to 50 bux.
(4)
Bill M.

I had been to a Tapas Barcelona that was located in River North years ago, but I do not believe this Evanston location is related to that long-gone restaurant. I was here on a weekday evening earlier this summer and there was a very good crowd here. There were only two of us so we did not order a mess of food. I ate a lamb empanada and beef skewer with caramelized onions - good but still not as good as Cafe Iberico in my opinion. My friend really likes the salmon dish. The service to me was a bit off (took quite awhile for the lamb empanada to appear), so more of a 3.5 rather than 4 stars.
(4)
Cindy S.

Great food not crazy with servings just plenty for a great dinner. Dessert flan is excellent
(3)
Ngoc H.

The tapas here are just ok, but I'll g here because it's the only one that's close by to me. I've had a lot better. What's a must were the snails. They come on top of a delicious crusty bread and a creamy tomato sauce. The pallela was bland. Nice atmosphere but food wasn't too great.
(3)
Alyx R.

This place is great for their patio! I would rate the food as ok. Nothing wowed me or disappointed me. The sangria was CHEAP so that always helps.
(3)
Julia W.

Great selection of tapas, warm ambience, and delicious sangrias all for a very reasonable price. Best of all, never overcrowded (gotta love Evanston) Overall, a great place for a night out.
(5)
Rachel L.

Yum! The tapas here were great! There was one I wasn't fond of, but someone else loved it. My only gripe is that I wish they would turn up the lights just a bit. It was hard to order multiple tapas when you could hardly read the menu!
(4)
Leslie R.

Mediocre. They have the typical tapas, and the service wasn't too hot. It has a great atmosphere, but I was disappointed. Being so close to Chicago, if it's an option, I would suggest getting tapas elsewhere in the city. I found it far below places such as Babareeba.
(3)
Martha M.

Tapas Barcelona is one of my all time favorite restaurants. Their food is consistently delicious. I LOVE the baked goat cheese, bacon wrapped dates, mussels, snails, heck . . . I love it all. Special mention to the poached pear filled with white chocolate mousse for dessert. Best dessert EVER. The food is well seasoned, cooked right, and the portions are big enough to share. The service is always excellent as well. I've never waited long for a waiter, the food always comes out quickly and someone is always there to ask what you would like next . Their drinks are good as well. Nothing special, but good. They have a red and white sangria and the pitcher is no joke. It's pricey - $17, but there are easily 8 glasses of sangria in there. They have a good, affordable and not pretentious wine list as well. I think this place is perfect for dates. There's a lot going on with the decor, abstract art and posters, plus the idea is to share plates of food, so there is no running out of stuff to talk about! If you don't like loud and busy this might not be the place for you. It tends to be packed, so make a reservation! Prices for tapas range from about $3 - $7 and mixed drinks are all about $5 - $6.
(4)
Jolie R.

I love tapas. I'll try it anywhere, so we went to this one for my birthday. I was seriously disappointed in the following: - They didn't have the 2 top picks I wanted. It was 6:00pm and they said they had run out. What??? - Service was very slow. We waited more than 10 minutes for someone to come to our table when we sat down. There was plenty of waitstaff and the place wasn't crowded. - It was next to the old folk's home - lucky for us there was no one at the pool that nite. - Tables and flatware were kind of dirty. Even outside, the tables should be clean. Is this place supposed to be upscale? We decided never to return.
(2)
Donna P.

My friend and I dined here, just trying to find a place to get good food and catch up. We've enjoyed tapas before and this seemed like a good place to go. Finding parking was a little difficult but not impossible. Our server was nice, reassuring us we didn't have to rush to oder (we spent a lot of time just talking instead of looking at the menu). We started with 4 tapas (the salmon, scallops, eggplant, and duck rissoto). I didn't try the duck, but all the others were great! We decided to order the eggplant and scallops after we completed the first round-still delicious. Dessert was pretty good too-we had the ice cream pastry and the rice pudding. I will definitely go back to Tapas Barcelona whenever I'm up in the Chicago area, again.
(4)
M R.

Delicious food. Great atmosphere, definitely a good place for a celebration or a special occasion.
(4)
Sophie W.

mussel too dry, not recommend. Flies are buzzing! All the tapas are okay, nice size. We paid around 40$ for 4 persons.
(3)
Gabby D.

Yum, yum, yum! Best tapas in the North Shore, definitely worth the trip to Evanston! A great place to try new foods and share with friends. The baked goat cheese is a must, the tortilla espaÃ±ola is authentic and the beef tenderloin with caramelized onions and horseradish is my favorite. Load up on appetizers and skip dessert! Also, the sangria is weak, but good.
(5)
Lauren D.

After being a loyal client of Cafe Ba Ba Reeba for a number of years now, I finally tried Tapas Barcelona simply because we did not feel like driving into the city from the suburbs. And, no offense Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, but I think I am switching my loyalty over to Barcelona. We arrived at 8pm on a Saturday night and had an hour wait. The downside to a long wait is that there are no bar tables, meaning no good place to stand around and wait unless you have a seat at the bar. However, the bartenders went out of their way to accommodate us and also saved two chairs for us when they became available at the bar. Both their white and red sangrias were delicious; I also had a margarita which was quite strong and satisfying. My favorite item at Ba Ba Reeba has always been the goat cheese/tomato dip with garlic bread, but Barcelona's version is far superior. The tomato sauce is creamier, the garlic bread garlic-ier; let's just say I had to order a second. My only complaint would be that their menu seems a bit limited for a tapas restaurant. Other than that, it was quite an enjoyable dining experience!
(4)
Lauren P.

this place is so cozy .... the restaurant gives off an intimate ambiance ... if u live in the northside of Chicago this is an awesome place to go to if u don't feel like going too far for good quality tapas and they have the most dainty outdoor patio.... price is moderate and their tapas r not too small
(4)
D. T.

This place is nice. Good food with good flavor and good sangria. Relatively cheap too. Mussells are good. Try to get a table in the garden during summer time for a nice evening.
(3)
Natasha M.

I have been to this place for over 3 times. It's quite decent, but the bill somehow adds up to like $25 when you just order a tiny plate, a glasses of sangria and a small dessert. At the end, I didn't feel that I actually ate. The menu is truly only appetizer-like tapas. There is no entree here. They taste pretty good and the price for a single items is pretty good, too. A glass of Sangria is about 4. The dessert is about 4, too. For some reason, the bill just adds up pretty quick since the single prices are pretty low. But at the end I didn't get full most of the time. It's a good place to chat with friends. Convenient location on the elegant Chicago Ave. If you are not too hungry, this place is recommended. In the summer, there is a POOL, yup, an outdoor swimming pool.
(3)
Kathryn M.

Great patio! There's tons of space both on the patio and in the restaurant. We stopped by after a disappointing dinner somewhere else to grab some desert and sangria. We had the red sangria, and it was great. Perfect for a warm(ish) Saturday night. Each couple decided to split the ice cream with puff pastry thingie (it has a name, but the sangria washed away all ability to remember menu names). It was delicous! Beware of the bathrooms...it is all too easy to walk into the wrong one! I can't wait to come back for dinner sometime!
(5)
Timothy K.

One of my favorite tapas restaurants in Chicagoland. The food is consistently good, fast, and relatively close to what I've enjoyed at "real" tapas bars in Spain. Ambiance is nice and attempts to replicate an authentic Spanish tapas bar. Too many choices from the menu to list my favorites, but definitely try the croquettas.
(4)
Sarah F.

So the honey has moved to Evanston and we had our first big date night this weekend. We went to Tapas Barcelona. My honey is a picky eater and my honey loved it (which made me very happy!). I thought the food was good. Best of all, they had bacon wrapped dates in a red bell pepper sauce. I could've eaten 20 plates of those--they are so delicious! We also had lamb and a pork roast, both of which were tasty. For dessert, the waitress recommended a carmel banana thing. She said it was her favorite. I think we should've gone with chocolate thing, but whatever. I had the Spanish Margarita. It didn't work for me. It's my fault--I didn't read the ingredients, but there was no tequilla! Just brandy and some orange liquor. I was really wanting a good margarita, so that was the disappointment of the night for me. The best thing is that I love Sangria and although I didn't try theirs, all the reviews have it as delicious. And they got an wine delivery while I was there--they use the really cheap jugs of Gallo or Rossi (I can't remember the name, but I recognize the jug), which tells me what kind to buy next time I make sangria at home! Overall, I'd go back and thought it was pretty good. An extra star because my honey loved it.
(4)
M D.

The BEST food (Om nom nom Patatas Bravas, Tilapia, Queso de Cabra and Harina de Chocolate), great music, and the most gorgeous decor. My hubby and I had our first date here AND got engaged here. Plus, the staff is always super sweet to us.
(5)
Olga C.

Very mediocre tapas. The flavors were just not there for most of the dishes (although I did see a lot of people enjoying a number of deep fried entrees that looked good). For instance, the duck sausage tasted freezer burned. The only decent dish was the dates wrapped in bacon. I will also add that the service was excellent. There are much better options in the city and even 'burbs.
(2)
Allyson D.

I spent last Monday eating on the patio here. The service was excellent - and the food was pretty good (especially the queso de cabra). The sangria was just okay. I wouldn't say this place is as good as BaBaReeba, but I would go back for sure. I don't know if I'd sit on the patio again, because I ended up absolutely COVERED in mosquito bites and saw a lot of other diners swatting them away as well. I think citronella candles are definitely in need at this place.
(4)
Bill G.

We loved it. We sat out in the patio area; actually the second time in the last week or so for me. I ate at lunchtime the time before. Every one of our Tapas portions were just perfect. Great taste and just enough of everything. The service was very good (Marianna) and quite friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience both times and the quality of food was excellent.
(5)
Imilya M.

Nice place to eat. I love Evanston and I go there a lot but I recently went to Tapas Barcelona. It gets busy so you should reserve but when I went there, it wasn't crowded. But, near the end of our lunch, it did seem to get busy. Good food, nice decor.
(4)
Kristin B.

So, nothing quite compares to 'real' tapas that I've consumed in Barcelona and Madrid, but I will have to find something in the area to suffice. I went here today for lunch w/the bf, his bro and our real estate agent Bob....as usual, we were starving like crazy after condo hunting, so we ordered the patatas bravas, queso de cabra con tomate, some chicken skewer dish w/chipotle sauce, lambchops, and jamon y queso cold plate....and since one of our guests is a veggie-tarian, the asparagus and marinated veggie cold plates. So...patatas bravas were unlike any others I have had before because they are not fried and do not come with a spicy creamy mayo-like sauce. ....they were boiled w/a spicy tomato sauce...different, but tasty nonetheless. The chicken skewer dish (I forgot the name) was VERY tasty...the bf was loving his lambchop, so he was greedy and didn't share his tasty morsels. The ham dish was pretty good as well, and the queso de cabra was pretty standard.....always a safe choice at any tapas place. So, overall I liked it, but only gave 3 stars instead of more because after eating, I got a killer stomach ache! I have NO idea why either and my stomach just didn't agree with me all day after eating here. I will definitely eat here again though and try some different dishes...everything sounded very good on the menu descriptions
(3)
Andy T.

Good food, great value. I really like the atmosphere and have come back many times. This hot plate of mussels are really excellent.
(4)
Joyee L.

Well something must be said for this place since it is the first restaurant that I thought of to review. Most of my college friends rave about it, and my first experience there wasn't too bad, because somebody payed for my meal. However, the second time around wasn't as good. At the price they charge you, you'd expect better tasting food across the board, but my friend ordered a mushroom dish which tasted horrible (this coming from the person who eats almost anything). Their popular dishes are obviously good, but I'd stay away from the more exotic sounding dishes.
(3)
Sally B.

The tapas were delightfully fresh. The mussels were scrumptious as was the half-avocado stuffed with crabmeat.I don't know if the food was authentic Spanish but it was delicious for a restaurant not on the coasts.
(4)
Michelle S.

Hostess was very nice, at end & beginning. Couldv'e been manager, not sure. Food was good. Nothing amazing. I've had better. Service wasn't good! Parking was very hard (not their fault) No valet or anything. TOO LOUD!!!!!
(2)
Robyn F.

I came here with a group of people for a birthday party. And, even though I'm not a huge fan of tapas and my boyfriend hates tapas, we both agreed that this place was decent. The reason is that the food here is OK, but the value is great! And tapas usually doesn't equate to value. A sampling of what we tried: -Goat cheese dip -- very rich and tasty with bread -Spinach and eggplant pizza -- standard, nothing to write home about -Shrimp skewer -- really tasty, def worth getting -Chicken linguini -- standard -Paella -- way too salty
(3)
Jon J.

Great atmosphere and great food! My friend had a birthday party here a few weeks ago and we had a really good time. Every dish we had was totally "ON" - well executed despite the enormous menu and tremendous volume they must be doing. Props for that. Tapas in general is a bit of a hit & miss experience for large groups, but we managed to navigate the menu and feed everyone the proper amount, although our server didn't really provide much guidance there. They were on-point with the drink refills, though! A great location for tapas in Evanston!
(4)
Jean C.

YUMMY MUSSELS. This place is so good and worthwhile the trip to Evanston. This is definitely good eats. I normally get the baked goat cheese with garlic bread, baked snails and the grilled tilapia. The tilapia tasted a little dirty but was still good. Their bacon wrapped dates are heavenly as well. I know the concept of tapas is to share but I don't really follow that idea. I order for me and me alone. I don't touch their food and they don't touch mine. That's the way I prefer it. :-)
(4)
Amanda Y.

I discovered Tapas Barcelona on Yelp when I was looking for a place to meetup with a friend. I've always been a fan of tapas and often wished I lived closer to the city so that I have a few choices in tapas restaurant. Well, not anymore! Tapas Barcelona has exquisite dishes, great atmosphere, and decent pricing for a night out with friends. I enjoyed the place so much that I brought my husband and mom back that week! Some of the dishes I liked are: Fideos Con Mariscos, Pincho De Pollo, and Gambas Al Ajillo. I was not a fan of their Empanada De Cordero but that's only the only dish I didn't like out of about ten different tapas I tried from my trips.
(4)
Mike T.

We've been here a few times, not too many other tapas places to try in Evanston. We've taken a few friends here to have their tapas and each time, the food has been solid, good enough portion sizes for the prices. We always order the garlic shrimp and tilapia. The last time we went, we tried the paella after a couple of tapas, and it was pretty good. Unfortunately, they took forever to get it out to us and I was no longer hungry! We had to take the rest of it to go. I would definitely go back over and over to have some good tapas and sangria.
(4)
Chris M.

A great destination if you like or want to try tapas. You are also walking distance from some nice shopping and a movie theater. Great date location!
(4)
Sandy N.

I've been here twice with groups. The tapas are good but the portions are really small for the price, which is a definite con for groups. I would give this 3 and a half stars if I could. I like that it's in Evanston so that Northwestern residents/students don't have to go very far for exotic food, but if Chicago is an option I would recommend Cafe Iberico over Tapas Barcelona.
(3)
Kate R.

this place is seriously hit or miss. when it's on, it is ON. when it's off, i would rather burn my money than eat here. because it is more on than off, i sometimes visit here when i want a fun, relaxed atmosphere and some sangria. i usually stick to the potatas bravas (potatoes cooked in a spicy marinara), the goat cheese and marinara, and then either a salad or a soup depending how i feel. a great place to go with a group of 4 or 10 where you can pass the sangria and tapas and have a good time as long as the service is on point. otherwise, it could lead to an awful experience....
(3)
Sarah A.

I have been to this place twice--once on a date and once as part of a large group for lunch. Both visits were great. The service is always superb and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed. And the food.....oh the food! Its wonderful! My faves: goat cheese and tomato sauce with garlic bread, bacon-wrapped dates, gaudi pizza, and the tuna canneloni. Personally I liked the experience with the large group better because I had a chance to try many more dishes! But the prices are reasonable enough (~$5-8) to be able to go with a friend and try a number of plates. I highly recommend Tapas Barcelona!
(4)
Victoria h.

I've been to Tapas Barcelona more than a handful of times. I definitely recommend going there on a weeknight or when the first open. If the weather's super nice, it can be hard finding a place to sit (especially outside). I always order their Ensalada de la Casa (the house salad) and am never disappointed. I've taken friends there, as well as my husband. No one has ever been disappointed. The service can be a little slow. But, hey, it just gives you more time to talk with your friends and nibble on their free bread.
(4)
Margo M.

Pretty decent tapas! I've tried quite a few of the tapas here, and all have been quite good. If you're an olive fan, you should definitely check out the olive plate...there's something unique about them...I keep going back to figure out what it is, but I can't quite put my finger on it. In contrast to the food, I haven't been overly impressed with the drinks here. They serve sangria, but it's not great. I'd rather just have a beer if that's what the sangria is like, but their beer selection isn't very good, either. And finally, sitting at the bar is somewhat hit or miss...sometimes I've had very good service and other times it's been quite poor. Apparently the bartenders would rather watch soccer than earn that additional tip.
(4)
kiley w.

Came here for a earlier dinner today with a lady friend. The place was pretty empty with only 2 other tables occupied, prolly because it was still early (5:15pm. The decoration was very nice in here. Our waitress was very attentive. We didnt know what to order and we asked for some suggestions, which turned out really good.We had the beef and chicken skewers which came in their own yummy dips., fried shrimp and calamari, and goatcheese. The beef was nice and tender, chicken was good too. The shrimp and calamari was some of the freshest i ever had, and with just the right ammount of batter. My favorite was the goat cheese, which came with a delicious dipping sauce also with a few pieces of bread to eat it with,tasted like garlic bread, had some green stuff on it; but tasted wonderful combined with the sauce and goatcheese. The bill came out to about $30 which is not bad for 2 people.
(5)
Ryan O.

This place could be fantastic. The food is really good, but the last time I went there the service was terrible. We waited 20 minutes before anyone came to take our drink order, and another 15 before he came back to take or food order. We werent given a specials menu, which I discovered they had that night when the neighboring patron's waiter presented them with one. You cant judge a restaurant off of one bad server, but the last time we were there, they were out of 3 dishes. And we were there for an early dinner. And one of them was a potato dish, nothing fancy or time consuming. This place has potential, but every time I go there, it fails to live up to it. The food is good, especially the tapas. The paella was less than memorable. I really wish this place would be better.
(3)
Carmen C.

I LOVE THS PLACE! Reasonable prices and the best sangria. The Bacon Wrapped Dates are to DIE for, and I love the garlic potato salad. Though I gotta admit, I could make a meal on the dates alone, they are worth driving up to Evanston. Fresh bread with olive oil on the table, and the baked goat cheese has delicious garlic toast - just wish they would offer up a little more, there's a lot of cheese to be had!
(5)
Kathryn R.

A fun place to go with a larger group of people, especially if you can sit outside. I have been to this place several times. The food is all OK. I really have never tasted anything there that I didn't like. Some interesting desserts. Everything is average. Nothing has ever been bad, nothing ever outstanding. The wait staff is ......average. Not rude, not friendly, not attentive, not unattentive.
(3)
matthew g.

Was seated near the door to the kitchen which is a busy spot and you could hear the exaust fan or what ever it was in the kitchen was kinda loud. I was really disspointed with the food. The goat cheese in this red sauce that tasted like spegettios sauce was a letdown. The skewerd stake was supposed to be encrusted with horse radish which wasn't encrusted and the horse radish was weak. Still think Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba or Nacional 27 are better even though they are LetusEntertainYou establishments.
(2)
rebecca l.

Tapas is an absolute hit or miss, some nights its fantastic and others its just okay. But one thing can always be assured - its slow. Although its great location and adorable outdoor patio make it a great place to go on a date or out with the family it is nothing to write home about. If you get anything you must go for the bacon wrapped dates and anything with goat cheese. They are both an absolute must, and while you're at it try the sangria but skip the margaritas.
(2)
Shaun T.

This place is so good, our office food-snob considers it delicious. The prices are pretty reasonable for Spanish Tapas, but I've eaten here so often, I almost fell into the trap of knocking off a star because it seems so common now! I'm not kidding when I say our company reserves at least three tables any time we take on a new hire, and everyone orders two tapas plates to pass around the tables. And everything is very tasty. Crab Croquettes? Check. Beef skewers? Check. Goat cheese? Check. Crab stuffed avacados? Double check. Bacon wrapped dates? This is the company favorite, and we often joke of building a machine to somehow generate them, and it's all thanks to Barcelona!
(5)
Courtney C.

Im going to make this simple. Food: Excellent!!!! Service: Phenomenal! (They are very attentive) You're crazy if you don't go here at least once and try it out. I highly recommend the Tilapia. I've been here twice, and I WILL go back. Mark my words.......
(4)
Harsh X.

If this is the only tapas option in Evanston, it's probably worth a try once in a while. Otherwise, it wouldn't even rank in the Top 10 when compared to Chicago tapas establishments like Iberico, Emilio's or Babareeba. I tried this place out with a few co-workers and was mildly disappointed. We sampled a wide array of tapas standards - such as the croquetas, paella, shrimp, goat cheese, etc. It almost seemed like the chef was mailing 'em in. The flavors were mild and the food was warm - no strong accents or the style that usually defines tapas. The sangria was passable, although somewhat dilute. The ambiance was relatively good and the place is large enough to accommodate a decent number of people. If you're desperate for tapas in Evanston because you can't make it down to the city for some reason, this is a passable choice; but I wouldn't recommend it otherwise.
(3)
Elizabeth F.

Even my (very) picky 94-year-old grandfather loves this place. Their pitchers of sangria are so good and they have a decent wine selection. They have enough variety in all their tapas dishes that it's always possible to find something that everyone can eat. My favorites are the goat cheese, the garlic shrimp, the pork tenderloin and the bacon-wrapped dates. They also have a salmon dish that's always cooked perfectly. Plenty of round tables, which makes it a great place to catch up with friends and family. They take reservations, which is also helpful. And a parking garage around the corner makes it easily accessible for people both in Evanston and from nearby. My family and I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Anna R.

I have been going to this place for about five years and it seems as if the quality of the food has really gone down. The portions have gotten smaller and the prices have gone up. This place used to be one of my favorite restaurants in the area, but recently I find it lacking. The food isn't quite as flavorful as it used to be. I think there are much better tapas places in the Chicagoland area. I will however say that our service, aside from the hostesses, has always been amazing. Our server is always incredibly attentive, and always remembers us. The food comes out quick which is nice, and they always make sure to let you know when the kitchen is closing and take any last orders. The hostesses are terrible and are honestly part of the reason I stopped coming so frequently.
(3)
Hayley H.

Dates are so delicious! PLEASE FINISH them when they are HOT. I dipped the bread with extra sauce for the dates because it is so good. Goat cheese with ketchup has a strong flavor. The color is also really appealing. Not a big fan of avocado crab salad. My friend also ordered two slices of lamb with Cous Cous. One is full of the red wine sauce and tastes awesome but the other is not as good as the first one. Inconsistent lamb lol. Will definitely go there again for other yummy food!
(5)
Taylor M.

A reasonably priced tapas place with cheap sangria, so I thought I would give it a try. First of all, the Sangria (both white and red) were sorely disappointing. They tasted like watered down wine with ice. This is a tapas place...how can you mess up sangria?! The service was quick and attentive. We were able to dine Al fresco on the patio which was nice on a beautiful day. We ordered a cold chicken stuffed with red peppers and spinach dish (meh), tuna cannelloni (good) and shrimp in buttery garlic sauce (yummy especially using the bread to soak up the butter). This place could be so much better if they worked on their sangria!
(3)
Dan P.

I would have rated this restaurant 4 stars except for the fact that at 5:30 on a Saturday there was no ceviche and no chocolate. This is a fairly serious problem for a business that claims to be a restaurant. It may be time to hire what other restaurants have called a prep cook and perhaps do a better job at ordering. Other than that, it was good. The mussels were a little tough, but not bad. Probably the best tapa was the jicama salad. The goat cheese was bland. The eggplant was delicious. We had to salt the caprese salad, which probably means it needs some more flavor. The flan that we had instead of the chocolate mousse this place can't manage to keep in stock was good. Next time I might call in advance to see what items the restaurant actually has in stock.
(3)
Claudia A.

Ok place. I neither liked or disliked it. The food was fair. Plates are small tapas sized and come out fast.
(3)
Adam C.

We have been going here at least once a month for the past couple of years. It's a great little place with lots of Spanish atmosphere. The wait staff is always very friendly and attentive. Over the years, we've sort of figured out our "go to" items on the menu that we order every time we're there. Once in a while, we'll try something new. So far, our favorites are: Black Bean Soup. You cannot go wrong with this one. We actually started ordering two bowls of this because people didn't want to share. The salad with pears, goat cheese, pecans and vinaigrette. Wow, this is a very tasty and sweet salad. Even the kids dig into this one. The goat cheese with tomato sauce and toasted bread appetizer. This is outstanding. We usually have to ask for more bread because it runs out faster than the dip. Other notables: Chicken Whisky Steak Skewers Chicken Skewers Bacon-Wrapped Dates
(5)
Sara K.

Blergh. Let's pour some tomato sauce on a variety of carb-heavy foods, serve it in small portions, and call it tapas! Even better, let's forget the last part of your small tapas order and have you wait 20 minutes for it--a small wedge of melted feta floating in more tomato sauce! When they lost that nice patio, they lost me. I left hungry--everything was unappealing, save the sangria and mussels. I won't be back.
(2)
Deborah H.

Service very good but food up and down. Great squid but just ok chicken. Good asparagus and cheese plates. Very nice to share plates w others and sangria flows. Could take it to another level but good local place for a group meal. Price is also good.
(3)
Eugene W.

I love this tapas place! The bacon wrapped dates (BURSTING with flavor!) and goat cheese are must-haves. Getting the goat cheese is great value because you can dip all of your free bread in it and eat up every last bit of it. The snails are also very delicious, tender, and buttery. You might also try their Dali pizza, which is baked to a crisp and is full of bacon bits. They have a variety of pastry puffs filled with different kinds of meats, and those are hit or miss, some have adequate portion sizes while others could hardly fill you. The service is great, and the food is prepared quite quickly. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere. I can't resist good bacon, and this place definitely serves it, along with all their other dishes. Bacon yeehaw!
(4)
Michaela K.

Tapas Barcelona is one of my favorite restaurants in Evanston. It is a great place to go with a group of friends because then you are able to order many different dishes to share. My favorite dishes are, patatas bravas which have a great spice to them. Their black bean soup is also to die for. My absolute favorite dish is rigatoni con salchicha. It is a pasta in a vodka sauce with sausage. I order it every time that I go. Their sangria is out of this world along with their other specialty drinks that change regularly. The best part of the restaurant is the service. Every server there treats you in the best manner and take care of their guests as if they were royalty. If you have one meal to enjoy in Evanston I would definitely stop in and enjoy a very satisfying meal.
(5)
Louise M.

Tapas are awesome. Barcelona is one of my fave cities filled with great food, gorgeous men, and breathtaking masterpieces from Gaudi, Goya, and Miro. Tapas Barcelona, eh... It's just ok. This place is always busy so we came early to get a table and beat the crowd. They wanted to place us at a table in front of the door in this freezing weather. We declined and they put us at the same exact spot behind the partition by the bar. We looked at each other baffled when we realized that it was no better. It turned out fine but just going back on the train of thought of how we ended up at the same spot was kinda crazy. We ordered the house sangria and it tasted nice and sweet. It was pretty weak but it was only $3.95 for a glass. I thought it was dirt cheap for Evanston. I love this town! It's pretty and filled with cool variety of fun local eateries. I remember dining at Trio right here in Evanston some years back when Grant Achatz was working there and hasn't even opened Alinea. I remember jogging by the lake front by the Northwestern campus. I also used to go to dimsum here at Lulu's, my namesake. Too bad, it is closed for good now. However Evanston is a cool town indeed! We ordered garlic potato salad that was just ok and it wasn't garlicky enough. The patatas bravas also just okay. The grilled calamari was done nicely with a lot of planxa taste to it. The lentil soup also hit the spot. It was rich with bacon flavor you can't go wrong. The ceviche was just okay. It wasn't cold enough or acidic enough. The puff pastry with beef tenderloin and mushroom was my fave. It was fun to eat with rich taste of braised beef. The croquettas were fantastic we ordered another plate. The fried calamari and shrimps were meh. The squids were rubbery and the tentacles were overcooked. After we left, my friend who paid for our meal realized she didn't have her credit card. The funny thing was, we were waiting at the table for our car to pull up in front when the server took the check. He would have seen the card was there and I wasn't sure why it wasn't returned to us then. We waited there awhile. Plus, when I called to ask if they had the card, they put me on hold for so long. I tried to look into the big picture and the small elements to figure out if they deserve better than just okay, but I really couldn't change my mind. I think this place is successful because of its location and the people that would eat here would spend the money for mediocre food for a cool popular atmosphere. That's my thought but though it wasn't bad, I am not in any hurry to come back. In fact, I may just travel a bit more east to Cafe Iberico if I want tapas while in Illinois in the future.
(3)
Scott H.

Once upon a time, some friends and I decided to 'get out of Chicago' (their idea not mine), so we trekked up to Evanston for dinner and a movie. Because we're the worst planners imaginable, we made it to Tapas Barcelona only to be told there was over an hour wait. We all thought we would starve to death, but then a kind waiter told us that the full menu could be served at the bar. There were three of us there, so we thought it would be difficult to chat, however, with bar seats immediately available, we took our chances. It didn't turn out to be an issue at all. Some of our favorites were: Queso De Cabra Con Tomate, Pincho De Pollo and Datiles Con Tocino, Patatas Bravas. One of our least favorites, was the beer on tap because it was flat as a wallet after Alinea. This was probably just an old keg though. I think you should definitely make a reservation if you come. It's just not worth waiting all that time.
(3)
Cristina P.

I really like this place. The dishes are all very good. The sangria is good and the food comes out quick. Mussels, rib eye, and bacon dates are some of my favs. I love the variety. Prices are decent and the atmosphere is fun and romantic.
(4)
Courtney P.

Good experience, good food. I enjoyed the food, and the staff was attentive. I thought the menu had a good variety of choices, not the most I've ever seen for tapas, but good variety just the same. The prices were great! I"m used to spending anywhere from $6-$15 on one tapas plate. I think the priciest item we saw was around $10. Very fair priced for the quality of food. We didn't have to wait long between dishes and in fact most of them came out within a 10 minute period. We did wait on one, but our waiter did tell us it was coming; I appreciated the heads up. We went early, around 5:30 on a Saturday and did not have to wait. I think it's important to note, I looked at all the negative reviews for this restaurant and most of them relate to people's personal opinions. Some people love the sangria, other's hated it here. I admit I didn't try it, but i thought it was important to note those negative reviews are either based on one bad time or one person's personal preference.
(4)
Shelby R.

Stumbled on this place after a day at Evanston beach. LOVE their food and always friendly service. They have this garlic bread smeared with avocados that U dip in tomato bisque with goat cheese in the middle - to die for!
(5)
Monica M.

Love this place. I highly recommend the filete con patatas (rib eye) and queso de cabra (goat cheese). The dates, mussels, and farfalle pasta are also good. The tapas are nice sized portions and reasonably priced.
(4)
Jose B.

This place has bar none some of the best tapas i have eaten in a long time and located near by in Evanston only makes me want to go back over and over. Not to mention the prices are very competitive with other tapas bars. Loved the Mojitos as well!!!!
(5)
Blythe B.

I stopped in there for the first time on Sunday for a really quick bite to eat - had the usual pancetta wrapped dates (awesome - better than La Tasca in Arlington Heights) with a really wonderfully fluffy tomato-ey sauce (just like La Tasca, but BETTER)), had meat skewered atop a bed of caramelized onions (Really tender and the onions were fab . . I really should caramelize a big batch of onions ever week and keep them in a container in the fridge so I can use them whenever I want). We also had little shrimp in garlic butter (and they WERE TINY shrimp in VERY GARLICKY butter - yumm!), and oh, the last thing .. . . Little fluffy pillowy goat cheese pillows from heaven wrapped in beautifully thin and even slices of eggplant. I don't remember if there was a sauce . . don't remember and don't care. It was like I was sneaking dessert treats into my mouth! Damn, those are good!
(4)
Jammir G.

Mmm... Experience started ok... Tapas were a 50/50 hit or miss... I was rolling solo n they brought me this HUGE basket of bread that was just eh. I thought that was weird... Anyhoo, I had the ceviche, meatballs, croquetas, jamon y tomate pan and the flan. The ceviche was a little hammered, they prepoached it a little too hard. The jamon was a little deceiving the description said it was tomato bread when in reality it was toasted pieces of that eh bread I mentioned before with chopped up tomatoes on top. The meatballs were the stunner and made the okay meal into a way better one. So much so that I only ate 1 of the 3 so I could eat it later. This is where it gets sad... :( apparently instead of packing up my food the busser threw it away! D: They said they would make me one to replace it! :D But when I got home I discovered they only gave me one little meatball with zero sauce or the potatoes or peas it had come with. Wtf am I going to do with that?! And a huge container of that God awful bread!!!! Seriously stop it with the bread. I would have come back after the hit or miss meal just for the meatballs but after that final #@! you with messing up my food I doubt it... I left him a nice tip too! Bleh whatever...
(2)
Ritu W.

My Spanish teacher highly recommended this place for authentic Spanish food. The best thing is they do have a lot of options for veggies for tapas. "Esparragos Con Tres Salsas";"patatas bravas"; are some of the many great options. Chicken and salmon dishes are all delicious. A great place for college kids, family and after-office hangout.
(4)
Gary R.

I like this place!! The tapas selection is awesome and the food tastes remarkable! We sampled quite a few items and all were worthy of ordering again. The ceviche was really tasty as was the patatas bravas. But the true winners to me were the Datiles Con Tocino (dates wrapped with bacon and a great bell pepper sauce), the avocado con cangrejo (stuffed with crabmeat salad!), and the queso de cabra con tomato - an amazing baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with olives and garlic bread.. Total yum!! Worth a visit!
(4)
Daura A.

Their tapas are ok. I have had in Chicago worst. Spanish tortilla decent, croquetas ok, ad other tapas such as dates with bacon very good ( I don't like that dish but the companion said the were very good.) I would like to know how their paella is, maybe next time. Their tapas are small and pricey but that's the usual thing with spanish restaurants in the US.
(3)
Jerry S.

Stopped here for lunch after biking from Chicago figuring small plates would be ideal. Problem: the food was so good on their sunny terrace that the ride back is gonna be tough. Grilled chicken, squid, octopus,and cold vegetable plates with AlbariÃ±o. Everything was great.
(5)
FARUKH H.

Place is great and the service is nice. However, every time I go they are out of the lamb pastry.
(3)
Maria M.

Loved the tapas! It was crowded but we were seated quickly and we had excellent service. Decent wine list with reasonable options for once. The interior could use a little sprucing up based on the excellent quality of all their tasty dishes. We cant wait to go back. Loved it!
(5)
Lucas W.

I've been to Tapas Barcelona a number of times now and while I can't bring myself to give it 5 stars for some reason, it deserves more than 4. Really wish I could give it the 4.5 stars it deserves. The food is always delicious. I honestly don't think I've had a bad dish at Tapas Barcelona. Some of my favorites Dates & Bacon - very good, not really any better or worse or different from anywhere else, but that's fine by me. Goat cheese & Tomato sauce - wonderful. absolutely wonderful, a fairly common dish but one executed very well. Pincho de pollo - excellently cooked chicken with a deliciously unique cumin mayo. Great way to counter some of the heavier/tomatoey dishes. Rigatoni con salchicha - Almost always get this one and it's a great value - surprisingly large portion for a tapas dish. Tuna cannoli - interesting take on a cannoli, somewhat subdued but intricate flavors Puffed Pastry with lamb - fairly small but a lot of interesting flavors Octopus - one of the few I probably wouldn't get again. octopus is good but not much flavor and rather oily. I always really like the Spanish margarita they have there - brandy, orange liqueor, and lemon. Haven't seen this many other places but I quite like it. Service can be great or quite terrible, there's simply no middle ground. The most recent time it was superb, the waiter knew details about everything on the menu and food came out quickly exactly as we requested it. Other times, I've had to wait and wait only to then ask again for the same dish and have the waiter realize he didn't put the order in or the kitchen lost it. Really hit or miss service.
(4)
Kyle W.

Fun place with a classic tapas menu and reasonable prices for food and drinks. They pack lots of tables into a relatively small space, but the service was friendly and fast. Several vegetarian tapas available and they have a vegetarian paella too, although I haven't tried it yet. Try the baked goat cheese appetizer and crema catalana desert, excellent! My favorite small plate was the asparagus with a trio of sipping sauces. It's not as fancy or delicious as Cafe Babareeba in Chicago, but it's a little cheaper and just as fun.
(3)
Ahmad E.

Hmmm, wish my gesture was mmm! I tease myself that I will find a Spanish tapas restaurant that has freshly cooked entrees versus precooked and heated at your request slightly above par TV delights. The food was not bad, but it reminded me of a great dinner you cooked a week ago and happened to find the left overs still in your refrigerator, you were a bit suspicious to eat but was left with no other options. Hence you decided to over heat in the microwave hoping your nuking would kill off any possible specimen not welcoming to your digestive system.
(3)
Bethany A.

I stopped by for the first time with a friend for dinner after wanting to come here since I came to Northwestern. We ordered 3 tapas plates and found that to be more than enough for us - I think we were both only mildly hungry though, so keep that in mind. We tried: bacon wrapped dates, the sweet caramelized onion pizza (forgot what the actual name of the dish is), and a chicken and potatoes dish. Bacon wrapped dates were great. Especially the red pepper sauce - mm, dipping bread in that gloriousness was probably the highlight. The pizza was a bit too sweet for my taste and the chicken was just... okay. Not a standout. I'd come back for the dates though, and I also want to try the goat cheese next time!
(3)
Mike B.

If you love microwaved, dry, aged food, this is your kind of place. What a disappointment! If you like a dirty restaurant, then this could also be your kind of place. I don't know where all the good reviews come from, but it is not credible that anyone could've had a good experience here. Enter at your own risk.
(1)
Courtney K.

Love this place! Both the red and white sangria are amazing, as are all of the tapas. I highly recommend the bacon wrapped dates and any of the fish tapas. We always ask our waiter for recommendations as their menu changes, and I have never been disappointed in what they suggested. If you're willing to wait, the Paella is great as well- a huge portion so I'd recommend sharing with friends and getting some yummy tapas too! The only downside is that its a little too loud, so I wouldn't want to come here for a date.
(4)
louis S.

First time, great food very friendly staff really loved this place. We arrived at 5:30 and by the time we left it was full, on a Sunday night. We had four pÃ¢tÃ©s and each was wonderful. Very unique and interesting. The Sangria was a lot of ice and fruit needs a larger glass and more wine. Fruit was stale tasting but looked fresh. We want bot go face with a larger group so we can all share plates. It feels close to being in Europe on vacation but here in Evanston.
(5)
Amy H.

Mediocre tapas plates but relatively affordable. Fun atmosphere. Had the house marg and it was too sweet for my liking.
(3)
Tiffany And Brian L.

We used to visit Tapas Barcelona all the time. Its service, however, has been declining the past couple years. The problem is not the wait staff or host or any individual, but Tapas Barcelona seems to suffer from organizational issues. During busy hours, they often seem to overbook reservations. At many restaurants, customers with reservations often a) don't show up on time or b) don't show up at all, leaving empty tables while many guests are kept waiting. This is to be expected at a busy restaurant at peak hours, but when there are a dozen or two waiting customers staring at empty tables for an hour, it can be frustrating. Second, every so often food items are simply not available. Given new great small-plate restaurants in the Evanston area, Tapas Barcelona really needs to step it up. I still go to this restaurant at lunch, but I no longer go out of my way to eat here for dinner.
(3)
Steph H.

This restaurant can be fun with friends and the ambiance is alright but don't go if you're looking for a great meal. The sangria is pretty good but the food is nothing special. A lot of the items are hit or miss. The salmon with asparagus was my favorite out of everything I ordered. The farfalle was mediocre. The MirÃ³ pizza was disappointing. Stuffed eggplant was underwhelming. Several of the dishes had the same garlic cream sauce that was too thick and resembled mayonnaise. I would have liked a greater variety of flavors. There was nothing exciting about these dishes. They were bland in general and could use more seasoning and creativity.
(2)
Valerie W.

I'm a bit torn on how I feel about Tapas Barcelona. We came in earlier this week for a family birthday, had no trouble making a reservation or being seated on-time. The table they seated us at was a bit cramped for 8 - I think we would've done better putting two square tables together than one round that was originally set for 5, when there are that many plates flying around the table, it's difficult to manage in a small space. Prices on drinks were reasonable - I had two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc - I think they were about $5 a piece. Not bad. There was definitely a bit of a language barrier with the wait staff - we asked if a single order of each dish would be enough to feed our party of 8 (i.e. - should we get one patatas bravas, or two, for the table?) and the answer was "two dishes per person." Well, that's great, but doesn't really answer the question. We made it work with ordering one of each dish - but I think a few things didn't make it all the way around the table. Meh. Seeing as we had 8 people, we did order a lot of food: Patatas Alioli - garlic potato salad with black olive mayo Canelon de Atun - cannelloni of tuna, spinach, peppers, white wine vinaigrette Salpicon de Mariscos - southern Spanish style ceviche Ensalada de Remolachas - roasted beets, baby greens, ginger sage and mustard dressing Datiles a la Sevillana - fresh dates wrapped in bacon with bell pepper sauce Berenjenas Rellenas con Queso - baked stuffed eggplant with goat cheese, hazelnuts, roasted pepper sauce Pincho de Solomillo - grilled beef tenderloin skewer with caramelized onions, horseradish Filete con Patatas - grilled ribeye with potatoes and onions, red wine sauce Fritura del Mar - fried calamari and shrimp Albondigas con Tomate - beef meatballs in tomato sauce with potatoes and vegetables Mejillones Plancha - grilled mussels served in an iron skillet Farfalle con Pollo, Setas y Tomates - bowtie pasta with chicken, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato cream sauce Pizza Barcelona - spinach, Portobello, tomato, goat cheese Hits: Patatas Alioli - if you like garlic. The texture and flavor was great. Datiles a la Sevillana - the flavor on the bacon wrapped dates was great, they were very small, its obvious they're trying to stretch here, they probably cut each date in thirds. Ensalada de Remolachas - the dressing was fantastic. Misses: Albondigas con Tomate - someone at the table commented that this tasted just like spaghettios. I was inclined to agree. The meatballs were very dense, and the sauce just did not have a great flavor. Filete con Patatas - too salty. Berenjenas Rellenas con Queso - I was sadly disappointed by this. It was very sweet, and not what I was expecting. Also, a plate includes 4 rellenas. We had 8 people. Again going back to our original question to the server. Everything else was just pretty much okay. The mussels had great flavor but were very small (out of season, maybe?) The pizza was a great concept, but the execution lacked, there was WAY too much sauce, the toppings were literally sliding off. I know I have a girlfriend who loves Tapas Barcelona, so perhaps I'll have to plan a girls night out to give it another try. All in all, including tip, drinks, coffees and dessert, I think we ended up around $35 per person - which is not terrible.
(3)
Steve A.

This is very authentic tapas. In fact, except that the plates are larger, it is extremely similar to Tapa Tapa in Barcelona. I tried the ceviche, the asparagus, the grilled squid and the grilled mussels. The ceviche was my favorite. It's a fully cooked version, and the shrimp and squid were tender, and the diced peppers and onions nicely marinated. The grilled mussels, served like fajitas, were also good. The wine pours are a bit small for the price, but the dessert coffees at $3.95 make up for it. Try the Matador, which has Spanish vanilla liqueur in it. Service is a bit uneven, but if you're not in a hurry that's okay. The place is very busy; it was packed on the Tuesday night I went, so that could account for it. The outside dining area is very nice on a warm evening.
(4)
Carmen Maria N.

Had dinner for the first time last night with my husband and it was nice for the two of us. Sat at the bar since it was a bit crowded. Drinks were excellent. Wine selection was good and recommendation based on my preferences was right on. Same as the beer on tap. Food was OK to good . There were some dishes that were outstanding such as the stew of shrimp and sausage but others were just Ok like the octopus a la plancha. The octopus was perfectly cooked but the sauce was too sweet. Service was good. Quick and good recommendations. I would go again
(4)
Elaine L.

My favorite place. Just about everything is good. Try the bacon wrapped dates and definitely have a glass of sangria.
(5)
Stephanie C.

Came here with a friend and took a seat at the bar because the tables were a 30 minute wait. Had the baked goat cheese, bacon wrapped dates, mussels, and strawberry salad (special menu item). The food came out quickly and was great; the baked goat cheese was the perfect combination of cheese and tomato sauce, and the garlic bread that came with it was superb! I wish we had ordered dessert but I guess that just means I'll have to come back again!
(4)
Don M.

My third time here. Great service, great atmosphere, and great tapas. What's not to like? Five of us got a pitcher of sangria, five tapas, plus a small pizza. The bill, with 20% tip was under $75. The bacon-wrapped dates are my favorite. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Sharon C.

I went here with a large group of friends for a birthday party on a weeknight. We overestimated how many people were going to be attending pretty generously, since we were worried that it was going to be packed and we didn't want to have to struggle to add chairs. I had to leave a little earlier, so I decided to order one thing just for myself - the calamari - which was slow to come out, but really delicious, flavorful and perfectly crispy. We also had the sangria but, although everyone raves about it, I honestly found it to be nothing special. The thing that really made the night awesome for me, though, was that we received fantastic service. Seriously fantastic. We kept asking them to add or remove chairs, and they weren't put off at all by it, and our waiter even gave me a separate check because I didn't realize that he wasn't allowed to when I ordered! Bottom line: I would definitely go back.
(4)
Jennie K.

Good service and good food with average price. seafood paella is the most delicious paella I have ever had.
(4)
Laura K.

Sorry, I don't get why this place is busy. Restaurant smelled fishy, literally. Ordered a special described as manchego cheese, roasted vegetables, and toast points. It was basically a large pile of salsa with a few thin slices of manchego wedged in it. Not a fan. Chicken liver pate - never again. I was expecting something remotely similar to the pate at Jilly's Cafe or the chopped liver my mom always bought at the kosher butcher growing up. No. Nothing like that. I don't know what flavor was overpowering it, but I couldn't eat a second bite. The one redeeming item - De Espinacas salad - was good, but overly sweet. Couldn't eat more than a few bites (which was fine, since the dishes are small plates). Not going back.
(2)
Caitlin B.

I've been here a number of times over the past 8 years. I first came here as an undergrad at Lake Forest College (used to take the train to Evanston all the time on weekends to go to dinner), and now that I live and work in Evanston, I come here occasionally. We had a friend in town for Valentine's day, and booked a reservation a few weeks in advance for 5 people. It was very easy to get the reservation, and it was surprisingly uncrowded for a holiday. They weren't doing anything special for Valentine's day, but I prefer it that way. With 5 people, we basically each ordered 2-3 tapas and everyone ate whatever they liked that was delivered to the table. The real highlight of the night was a special-- mushroom risotto with duck. Creamy, decadent, and flavorful-- this was devoured immediately. Everyone enjoyed all the food. The service is spotty. Our waiter was pretty absent/non-helpful (even when I dropped 2 forks, he was nowhere to be found). Definitely order all the food you want at the beginning, and just enjoy whoever you're there with. Would return, especially with a group, but the service and dated decor prevents me from giving a higher rating. A-OK is just right for Tapas Barcelona.
(3)
Shi A.

Recently went with a group of friends and we all enjoyed it. Considering that we had all traveled to Barcelona together it says a lot that we enjoyed these tapas. We sat outside and had a few pitchers of sangria, which we loved. Most of the dishes were fairly good except for the Pollo Relleno, which wasn't too pleasant since it's cold (cold tapas section). Otherwise, for sure I do recommend this place, if you're in the mood for some sangria and some tapas (aka:small dishes of food)!
(4)
M M.

I was unimpressed! Pros: great sangria, friendly staff, awesome lamb empanadas. Cons: everything else we ate. The tenderloin skewer was tough, chicken with whiskey was over cooked, veggies blah, puff pastry with ice cream horrible. Not going back.
(2)
Lauren K.

Really great food, always an Evanston favorite. The potatoes alioli and pincho de solomillo (beef skewers with sweet caramelized onion and horseradish) are my favorites. Good pork with potatoes and peppers, lamb, tuna, and salmon. Frozen chocolate dessert with raspberry and the flan are tasty. The mojito and Barcelona cocktails were good, but the mojito needed more sugar and mint (was too club soda-y) and the Barcelona needed to be strained of its cucumber seeds. Overall, cute place and good tapas.
(4)
Davin L.

Evanston is known for a few hidden gems, and this is definitely one of them. As a big fan of Spanish tapas, I can say the food is solid. I'm a big fan of the Albondigas con Tomate, which was done very well here. The Croquetas del Dia was crab, which was delicious and almost beat Jamon y Queso as my favorite croquettes. The Pincho de Solomillo was a wonderful selection, tender and cooked perfectly, and the Valencia paella was perfect, with the rice and meat cooked perfectly and not dried out. It's a bit of cramped area, so it does get pretty noisy, but if you don't mind the noise, you'll be treated to wonderful food with excellent service. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu.
(4)
Jane W.

After taking Spanish for 5 years and learning about culture/food/etc, I've always wanted to visit Spain and go on a food adventure. Now, given that I'm a poor college student, this isn't feasible quite yet, so I was really excited to see a Spanish restaurant close to campus. I don't have a frame of reference, so can't tell how authentic the food is, but I enjoyed it for the most part. One complaint was the bread they served at the beginning - hardest, most tasteless bread I've ever been served. Only enjoyed it by dousing it with balsamic vinegar. Another disappointment was the paella. This is something I've been really wanting to try, and after a 30 minute wait and becoming $20 poorer, I was disappointed... the chicken was really dry and overall the paella didn't have much flavor. It was salty and oily, but the flavor wasn't too enjoyable. I'll go back because I enjoy tapas-style dining, but not lovin' it.
(3)
Jennifer J.

There wer so many great-sounding items on the menu that it was hard for me to decide. This place would work best with a group so you could try lots of different things. I had the scallops with spinach and the prosciutto with tomato bread. The scallops weren't that great, but the spinach was very tasty. The prosciutto with tomato bread was excellent. There is a lot interesting art and the wait staff was very attentive even though I was alone and there was a huge party of about 30 people nearby.
(4)
Susan M.

nice location, ok atmosphere however the food is just ok i find they are very wasteful as well. every table is brought a large basket of pre cut bread that is not so good and almost tastes stale since it was cut so long before it was brought to the table and all is thrown in the garbage if not eaten. seems like a huge waste to me, why not bring a smaller amount of the bread and then refill it as the customer so desires? i have a hard time with waste that can be easily adjusted. given the atmosphere and location and summer time outdoor seating,that is what keeps this place going. the food is just not so great and they cram you in to get as many patrons as possible. i am sure i will go again for the ease of it, but not for a long time, the shrimp items are the size of a nickel, sometimes the service is good and other times you wait.. if i can find another fun place that is lively i will abandon tapas barcelona
(2)
Stephen M.

We were headed back from the City--independent book publishers (interesting). Anyways--we've been here often, our daughter recommended it for the introduction. The menu is smaller than before. When the server came, I asked for a plate with sliced meats and cheese--standard tapas fare--not on the menu. Everything we had was adequate. But the little extra pizzaz to each small plate one might expect seemed to be absent. I had the black bean soup (in a very generous portion). Not exciting but acceptable. Also, the goat cheese with tomato--okay. Maybe it was an off-night. Oh. One better than adequate--the server was energetic and accommodating.
(3)
Jessica L.

Tapas Barcelona is the best "tapas" style restaurant you'll find in evanston. And the price is not too bad either. I went with 3 other people, ordered 7 plates, and we were all very satisfied. Queso De Cabra Con Tomate Datiles a la Sevillana Filete con Patatas Chipirones Plancha Pollo al Whisky Albondigas con Tomate Mejillones Plancha Queso De Cabra Con Tomate: Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce, nicoise olives, garlic bread. You can't go wrong with baked goat cheese in tomato sauce and garlic bread in ANY restaurant. But I really love how the garlic bread is cut into bite size pieces so I don't have to stretch my mouth to eat it (trust me, this happens a lot with this dish in other places). Datiles a la Sevillana: I came here for this, and it has never disappointed me. It's quite small, and doesn't even LOOK that appetizing in its messy plating and toothpicks. But put one in your mouth, and the bittersweetness of the dates with the salty, crunchiness of the bacon really compliment each other, and is one of their best plates. Must have. go. now. Filete con Patatas: Grilled ribeye! I wasn't expecting much from this dish, but it became one of my favorites. Wow. The ribeye was very very tender and perfectly cooked to medium (even though i like medium-rare), and the sauce was not overwhelming so you could really taste the MEAT instead of the SAUCE. I hate it when restaurants drench their meat in sauces, and Tapas Barcelona did a great job with the balance in this dish. Chapirones Plancha: Grilled squid. Very very tender and a good balance of saltiness and acidic vinegar(?) seasoning. Great bite to have in between the more "heavier" dishes. Pollo al Whisky: Okay. DONT GET THIS. The waiter told us that the kitchen was closing so we asked him for a recommendation for one more dish. He IMMEDIATELY said pollo al whisky, so we went with it. Total disappointment. I'm now thinking maybe he wanted to get rid of it in the kitchen or something ahah. The chicken was very salty and looked terrible. It looked like it came straight out of a freezer and someone BOILED the chicken? Anyways. The potatoes that came with it were good. Not the chicken. Albondigas con Tomate: Beef meatballs. So good! I was a little sad that only 3 meatballs came out when we were a group of 4, but the sauce and the meatballs were very good, and the sauce went really well with the bread that came in the beginning, so if you're not planning on ordering a lot, get this plate, and ask for extra bread and dip dip dip away! Mejillones Plancha: Grilled mussels. I have no idea if its related to the season, but the mussels were the size of my pinky nail. The nail part, not the finger. It was TINY. I had like two mussels, so that equals the size of my thumbnail, right? Ehh, it was alright...I guess, I can't tell because I ate so little ahha ALL IN ALL, the food is good, but the one complaint is have is the presentation of the food. Seriously, if they just put in a LITTLE more effort into the plating, this place has so much potential! I don't understand why they have to use the most unflattering plates, and just throw the stuff on there. I understand that its tapas, but you eat your food with your EYES first!!
(4)
Stan K.

Very warm and comfortable environment. The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable. All the food that we ate was very very good. Olives, dates, and steak top flight. The ceviche was very good too. Wife and I will definatly go back.
(4)
Mel A.

3 stars for the food we liked!!!! Well... we are willing to give it another try for the service, lack there of and bill mistake. We sat at the bar tonight. The bartender seemed to be preoccupied with making time with the lady at the other end of the bar then us. $9 one oz. pours of Don Julio Resposado. We had NO idea a one oz. pour cost that much or we would not have bothered! Far more expensive then Carnivale near Fulton Market and they have cloth napkins! Favorite dishes: Mejillones Plancha $6.95 Grilled mussels served in an iron skillet, Chipirones Plancha $6.95 Grilled squid with garlic, lemon and olive oil, Croquetas del Dia $5.75 Todays fried croquettes with curry mayo, Potaje de Alubias Negras $3.95 Black bean soup with sour cream. Least favorite dish: Patatas Bravas $3.95 Catalan style potatoes with spicy tomato sauce. This was just basic & boring. I wouldn't waste my money on it again. We eventually had to wave the bartender from his lady friend to get the check. Overall he was inattentive and the bar wasn't even busy. On the way home we think the bill was still a bit expensive even with the overpriced tequila shots....yep we were overcharged $5 for an additional plate. I wanted to go back but the boyfriend just said screw it... we won't return or at least not in the evening anyway. We will see... I really liked the grilled mussels.
(3)
Christopher H.

The basics: Great food, great atmosphere, great price, service was OK. Street parking.
(4)
Doug H.

This used to be a favorite, but it's slipping. Our table wasn't clean...it was sticky. Our waiter was well below average, starting with asking for our drink order, but then failing to hear/remember/bring my beer, and then spending our whole meal chatting with the other waitstaff, so that we had to flag him for attention for water, bread etc. The food was generally good, however I ordered the tenderloin skewer with caramelized onion and horseradish, the caramelized onion was refrigerator cold, made in advance and not even reheated! When it came time for dessert, I ordered a sautÃ©ed banana with caramel and ice cream. Again, refrigerator cold. I hailed the waiter and was told it was made "pre-shift" and all the desserts were cold. I asked if I could have one freshly sautÃ©ed with hot caramel, and he said no, really?!? We probably won't be back.
(2)
Jen B.

Great food! Absolutely MUST try the bacon wrapped dates. Cute location and restaurant. Kinda small and they pack you in but the food is worth it.
(5)
Ben K.

My favorites here are the more traditional dishes, like patatas aioli. I also love the pear dessert! Quite amazing. The paella is very subpar though.
(3)
Alex K.

I absolutely love this restaurant. I have been to a lot of the other tapas restaurants but this is the best. The food is amazing and always fresh and the waiters are always friendly. I would recommend this to anyone
(5)
Rob C.

I think it's an ok place for evanston, especailly if you're not contemplating traveling downtown for tapas. has an outdoor patio, casual feel, best to go with a bunch of people to share. i usually go for the hot tapas.
(3)
Jelly C.

I love the idea of a tapas restaurant. You're not stuck with one dish all to yourself. At Tapas Barcelona , the restaurant is surrounded by rich colors and paintings from a local artist that are up for sale. I went with another friend so we ordered 4 tapas to share. The waiter gave some great suggestions. We had chicken and beef skewers, goat cheese dip with garlic bread, fried shrimp and calamari. Everything was yummy but the place was a little quiet. i can't wait to visit this place on a more lively night.
(4)
Meredith F.

I like Tapas...both the food and this restaurant. Tapas is slightly more young and vibrant than most of the places in Evanston. They have a great menu, as well as great wines. While it isn't 100% Spanish, the additions to their menu (regular and dessert dishes) only make me like it even more. People come here 'til late in the evening, and the staff are polite and knowledgable. Reservations recommended...as are any of their specials.
(4)

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Address : 1615 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL, 60201
Phone (847) 866-9900
Website https://www.tapasbarcelona.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Tapas Barcelona

1615 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL, 60201

Tapas Barcelona Menu

Sopas Y Ensaladas

Tapas Frias

Tapas Calientes

Paellas

Bocadillos (sandwiches)

Pizzas

Postres

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tapas Barcelona

Sopas Y Ensaladas

Tapas Frias

Tapas Calientes

Paellas

Bocadillos (sandwiches)

Pizzas

Postres

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