Restaurant Review: With Fourth of July and NASCAR days ahead, River North’s Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba delivers big taste on small plates!
Over the next few days, Chicago’s downtown area will ignite with Fourth of July celebrations and NASCAR’S Second Annual 2024 Chicago Street Race, with events scheduled through Sunday, July 7, culminating with the big ‘Grant Park 165’ race getting underway at 3:30pm.
New this year to the race is Lettuce Entertain You’s collaboration with locally-owned restaurants Lexington Betty Smokehouse, Josephine’s Southern Cooking and Bronzeville Winery. Ticket holders get a memorable taste of Chicago from the Pullman, Chatham, and historic Bronzeville neighborhoods.
Another Lettuce Entertain You restaurant celebrating both special events is River North’s Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba, the baby sister of Lincoln Park’s Café-Ba-Ba-Reeba! This Fourth of July, they’re cooking up a Spanish-style tapas celebration from 3:30pm–8pm on Thursday, July 4, and are open for Weekend Brunch during the NASCAR race
DID YOU KNOW…that these small plates were originally made to rest on top of your wine glass? (I sure didn’t) That’s what Lil’ Ba-Ba-Reeba’s knowledgeable website tells us, even before the small plate selections.
Start with Gazpacho Andaluz the traditional chilled tomato soup from the south of Spain. Fried Shishito Peppers are seasoned with black coarse salt. Patatas Bravas are spicy potatoes with tomato aioli. One of their specialties is the Catalan-Style “Crystal” Bread, with tomato purée, garlic and manchego cheese. Goat Cheese Baked in Tomato Sauce comes with house garlic bread. Roasted Hen of the Woods Mushroom is highlighted with manchego cream and chive oil.
Seafood offerings include “Matrimonio” Pintxos a. traditional Basque pintxo “marrying” white boquerón and Cantabria anchovies, crystal bread, tomato crudo, and chives. Garlic Shrimp has olive oil and red pepper flakes. Pulpo a la Sobrasada has Spanish octopus, sobrasada sauce, confit potatoes, and espelette.
Chicken and pork tapas selections include their Jamón Ibérico de Bellota “Pata Negra” served with manchego cheese. Other reviewers raved about the Chorizo-Wrapped Date Pintxos filled with manchego cheese.
No Fourth of July celebration is complete without Deviled Egg Pintxos, with crispy jamón serrano & chives.
For lighter appetites, Jamón y Melón is a carpaccio of summer melon and jamón serrano, picual olive oil, Fresno chili. Roasted Dates Wrapped in Bacon are enhanced by the use of apple cider vinaigrette.
Beef options include Spanish Meatballs combining beef and pork, bathed in a sherry tomato sauce. Hanger Steak is served with grilled spring onions and chili butter.
And of course, no celebration would be complete without their classic Sangria. ¡Salud!
Weekend brunch features specialties such as BRUNCH TAPAS include a Crystal Bread Tartine Sandwich with tomato crudo, soft-scrambled eggs, avocado and spicy pepper marmalade. Tortilla Española is Made-to-Order, and is a warm potato & onion omelette. Churros con Chocolate are three churros, with chocolate and strawberry-membrillo sauces.
Several Google reviewers were happy:
“We absolutely adore this place!” said one. “We celebrated our special occasion during happy hour and indulged in Shishito peppers, chorizo-wrapped dates, ‘la brújula’ yellowfin tuna ventresca conserva, shaved Brussels sprouts salad, steak from the special menu, and $5 sangria. Everything was fantastic, but we particularly enjoyed the Brussels sprout salad and steak – a delightful combination! If you’re seeking a fantastic happy hour spot on weekdays, this place is a must-visit for great drinks and reasonable prices in the area!”
Another Google reviewer wrote:
“Nicholas was our server and made sure we had a great time! Us as a group of three split 7 tapas plates and it was great! Our favorites were the chorizo wrapped dates and the patatas bravas” 💕
Lil Ba-Ba-Reeba is located at 441 N. Clark Street. They are open Monday–Thursday, 3:30pm–9pm, Friday, 11:30am–10pm, Saturday 11am–10pm, and Sunday, 11am–9pm. Reservations are highly recommended. For information and reservations, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
