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November is Pinot Noir Month at Cafe 28, so come on in…
Announced 1 week agoIrving Park (Brown)
Mon. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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Food was great! Hosts we're pleasant! Waiters we're nice! Ambiance was perfect for friends, family, but mostly a first date!
I will be back and will recommend all my friends & family!
Every time when one of my friends comes back to Chicago (usually 2-3 times a year), she throws a shindig at Cafe 28, one of her old haunts from when she lived here. It's always a great time - good people, good fun, and Cafe 28 lives up to their end. The decor and lighting is wonderful for setting ambiance and the owner gets us anything we need. A bevy of food and spirits are ordered by all; my companion and I decided to get:
* Green Tamales
* Coconut Shrimp
* Trio of Lemon Sorbet, Chocolate Chip Gelato, and Burnt Caramel Gelato
* Virgin Mojito (2)
The tamales are usually amazing; this time, they were disappointingly dry in places and flavorless. The coconut shrimp were up to form: not the breaded in coconut batter and fried kind, but glazed with a sweet coconut glaze and served with a little sweet salsa over curried rice. Delish!
My two mojitos were awesome. The second, unfortunately, came full-strength; after two sips, I grabbed the owner and told her "let's try this one again." She said "Oh, I'm positive it's virgin." I started to frown and say, "No, trust me, it's boozed." but she grabbed the drink and said "I'll have them remake it just to be safe." Uncomfortable scene averted!
We were there for four hours (not sure how I lasted) and nobody objected, it was just pure fun, and Cafe 28 is to thank for supporting that and making it possible.
Dear Cafe 28,
Do you remember me? When I first moved to Chicago, I used to come to you several times every week. Despite my little paycheck, I would come here for a few things:
1) Mojitos made by the adorable bartender (best in the city I've had so far)
2) Dirty Martinis made by the adorable bartender
3) Scotch on the rocks, 3 cubes of ice made by the adorable bartender and helping him out with his cig breaks
Heehee. ;)
Seriously tho...I really do miss you and your food:
1) Coconut shrimp -- omg, even after eating all the shrimp, the rice it sat on was phenomenal.
2) Plantains...you got me hooked on those things
3) Crabcake Benedict -- my weekend wouldn't be the same without this for brunch at least once every Saturday or Sunday
4) Honey Jalapeno Porkchops...delicious...delicious...haven't found anything around me that remotely compares
5) Tres Leches cake...a masterpiece...but I don't know if Mama Maria who used to make this is still there.....
6) Last but not least....best ceviche I've had in the city...seriously. Unique, flavorful, and sooooooo good.....I haven't found anything else like it
I miss you, Cafe 28. I do....thought you were delightful....now, you are a little too far for me to go....maybe one day if the Blue and Brown Line ever connect...or if I find a friend with a car that's willing to take me.
Much luv,
The Asian Girl
PS. Is that adorable bartender still there?
People thought this was:
Cafe 28 is a Mexican/Cuban joint with lightning fast service, but incredibly overpriced food.
I rolled in with a group of friends, surveyed the menu and settled on the ropa vieja (choice flank steak slowly simmered in a garlic tomato and bell peppers sauce until it falls apart). It came with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains.
I ate it, it was good, but I was still hungry. With tax, that dish alone ran over $17.
Seventeen dollars is not a crazy amount to throw down if I'm going to have a good, filling meal. But if I'm going to eat what was essentially a disassembled Chipotle barbacoa burrito (minus the tortilla), $17 seems a bit extreme. In fact, I could have bought two of the aforementioned burritos and still had $3 leftover... and I would have been way more full.
On a side note, doesn't "ropa vieja" mean "old clothes"? Nice name for your dish, Cafe 28.
Bottom line: The food is good, but not great. The service was awesome. But the value just isn't there.
People thought this was:
I LOVE Cafe 28. The honey jalapeno pork chops are maybe the tastiest pork chops I've ever eaten. (And seriously enough for 2 people to split and still be stuffed.) Also I'm not a huge mojito fan, but I tried their pama mojito and it's fantastic.
Attended one of their Rioja restaurant week events - $12 for wine tasting and tapas. It was a lot of fun and the wines were great.
People thought this was:
I had high expectations for Cafe 28 after hearing great things about it from friends, but I was… Read more »
I arrived with a fairly large party so many dishes were offered up. And each dish I tried failed on every level known to mankind. The seafood dishes, the pork dishes, the appetizers, even the bread, and somehow the water was even frustrating me. The service was extremely slow -- I was not sure if he was stoned or just absolutely mentally slow. He would disappear for 30 minutes only to show up and ask one question and disappear again. All the dishes were completely or borderline "mush" and blandness.
When I cannot even enjoy my own glass of water, that tells me a lot about a restaurant -- well, not really .. but Cafe 28 is just that bad.
People thought this was:
This would be for the brunch only, however I would be remiss in not sharing this divine little place.
Really delicious mimosas made with my favorite Spanish cava with the perfect balance of sparkles and juice for $6.50? Take that you $12.00 each over priced brunch places!
The brunch menu is pretty extensive with quite a few staples (french toast, omelets, pancakes, etc.) and tons of sides. Crispy bacon, delicious sausage and chorizo, tasty home fries and absolutely decadent Lemon Ricotta pancakes served in a friendly, no frills environment.
And who doesn't love Cuban music first thing in the morning? It will make your hips shake just a little, even if the coffee hasn't kicked in yet!
People thought this was:
LUV.
Truly wonderful experience. From the spicy butter for your bread to my DELICIOUS F-ing marg to the mouth watering tamale appetizer to the savory halibut I had. It was pleasantries all the way through. Service was probably slower, because of the busy-ness but they truly make some seriously delicious food and the experience is completely different than your traditional mexican fair... its very upscale, but not in your face. The cuban aspects allow for new flavors and I just loved it... I can't wait to go back and try something else!
People thought this was:
I hate you all! Why wouldn't you tell me about this place sooner in my life, were you trying to hide it from me!?!? You should be ashamed!
Dam right I'm upset. I'm upset that I've only now just found Café 28. Especially since I lived only a couple blocks away, I could have been enjoying these Cuban flavors weekly. Café 28 is the whole package. You're spoiled by the staff, the food, and the great ambiance. Get a table for a romantic dinner or a seat at the bar with friends, there is even a patio in the back. The staff is great, always smiling, always helpful and never bothersome.
Everything about Café 28 sets you up for a great meal and then comes the best part... the food! Each bite is better then the last. Café 28 is a blend of classic Cuban and Mexican dishes with a modern twist of Latin. Basically means I'm in heaven. I could go on and on but I won't, here is what we had.
Ceviche -Shrimp and Halibut, lemon, lime, tomatoes and cilantro. Unbelievable!! A special that night but a must have if it's on the menu.
Almond Crusted Halibut -Baked with saffron cream, over jalapeno mashed potatoes and sauteed seasonal vegetables. Mouth watering!
Pistachio Crusted Chicken - Sauteed & baked pistachio crusted, served with garlic white potato puree and sauteed Swiss chard, topped with goat cheese porto wine sauce. I switched out the potatoes for some red beans and rice which were perfect with my meal. I can't even begin to describe how perfect this meal was.
Café 28 you will not be forgotten now that I know you're here. I will have you again.
People thought this was:
Went to Cafe 28 on Wednesday night for my husband's bday dinner with a group of friends. What a yummy meal! Everyone left stuffed and happy. We all drank the pomegranate mojitos which were very tasty and a little too easy to suck down. We ordered the bacon wrapped dates- who can resist a bacon wrapped date? Not me. Also started with the baked goat cheese, ceviche and coconut shrimp. All really delicious. Although the bread and butter and baked goat cheese seemed odd for a cuban/mexican restaurant but whatever. They were yummy.
I had the pistachio crusted chicken and ordered it with tostones instead of whatever it comes with. The chicken was delish! Really juicy with a delicious pistachio crust- perfect! And it was a massive amount of food- I do not ever take home leftovers. I am a proud member of the clean plate club, however I had one last piece of the chicken for lunch today. Now that says something! ha. Other dishes people ordered were the salmon, ropa viejo, the honey jalepeno pork chops, the pork, all were very happy.
Cute atmoshpere, pretty dead on a Wed night- would be fun to go on a weekend when it was more lively, good service, excellent food. I'll be back!
I had brunch at Cafe 28 this weekend and it was outstanding. I had the southwest eggs Benedict with chorizo hash. It was amazing, the eggs were done perfectly. I asked for a side of salsa verde to go on top of my eggs. It was a nice complement to the dish. My husband had the salmon, cream cheese and English muffin special. His was a great price of $6. He really liked his meal.
Great brunch option when you are craving Cuban/Mexican. They also have mimosas and mojitos at brunch time!
People thought this was:
I have been to Cafe 28 a few times a couple of years ago. I wanted to go here for my birthday dinner… Read more »
It's been a while since dining here, but I can confidently say that things have changed. Stopped in to for a quick lunch last week with a friend that wanted to check out the place. While the shirt steak tacos were tasty, the overall menu was not inspiring like I remember it was. Maybe because the focus is no longer on the lunch crowd (given the sectioning off of the restaurant & reduced lunch hours), but its still worth mentioning. Still an enjoyable place to dine with a tasty selection, it just went from top of my list to somewhere in the middle.
People thought this was:
Don't be fooled...this place *used* to be good. Not anymore.
I went with a friend for an early seating on a Saturday night. We ordered 4 appetizers, soup, salad and the Cuban chicken, plus 1 falcoholic drink.
The soup and Cuban chicken were oversalted to the point of nearly being inedible. The salad was .. meh. The tostones were burnt. Overall, very disappointing.
Our waiter was attentive and helpful, although we had to ask a couple of times for water and they cleared our table like there was a fire.
Worse of all, we had JUST paid our bill and were text messaging our friends about where to meet after dinner and the manager asked us to leave our table because they had people waiting who had reservations. This despite an empty 4 top right next to us. The manager must've realized he was out of line because he offered us free drinks at the bar and apologized. But I have to say this is a new low for this place. Used to be a lively, friendly place to eat. My friend and I decided there are too many good restaurants in Chicago to bother coming back here again.
WOW...the mojitos!
Double WOW...the pork chops the size of China!
And last time, I had the ropa vieja (shredded beef stew!)...drool
but best of all...fried yuca...
I LOVE ME SOME CAFE 28 right now!
Oh...get there early on Fridays and Saturdays...
I had been looking forward to going to this place for a long time and wasn't impressed. This is a neighborhood place and they wouldn't seat 4 out of 5 of us until we were all there. Maybe I would have understood if they were packed, but there were empty tables everywhere. This is a neighborhood restaurant people. The fresh tomato bloody mary was fantastic, except for the fact that it came in a tiny rocks glass and was $8.50. I ordered the ribeye steak sandwich and it was flank steak. Lame. Service was good though.
To put it simply, the food was great. But the service and the drinks sucked. Period.
I felt I should expand on my review to explain the comment upstairs.
So we waited for a good 20 minutes between check-ins from our server. The drinks were off. All of our drinks tasted wierd. Too bitter, too strong, not enough liquor, etc. It wasn't even a busy night. Parking was also an issue because I didn't find a lot.I don't know if there was supposed to BE one but I sure didn't find one. So I ended up driving around til I found a parking spot on the street. The food was great though. Compliments to the chef. But the other issues, especially the wait service overshadowed the quality of the food.
People thought this was:
4 stars for Cafe 28, technically it should have been 5, but I got elbowed in the back by a dude in a Cubs jersey at the table next to us, sitting so close by that I almost got the wind knocked out of me. I was about to turn around and say something but my tropical martini with crushed coconut chunks arrived just in time to save me from a brawl and getting arrested at Cafe 28.
Doris's Recommendation: Green tamales for appetizers, pistachio crusted chicken with potato puree garnished with spinach, and the tres leches cake for dessert. Oh and ask for bread which comes with a garlicky-butter spread. Awesome.
The only downfall of this place is the tables are close to each other that dudes can elbow you unexpectantly during your meal. No worries, you just elbow back.
People thought this was:
This place has such great reviews. I must've really gotten unlucky when I went.
I was here for a birthday brunch in a group of ~20. So maybe they're just not good for groups.
Here's what I thought about the food....
I got the crabcake benedict. The crabcake was good. The hollondaise sauce was excellent. The eggs where hard! Isn't the runny yolk like the best part of the whole benedict experience?? Big huge disappointment! I also had the strawberry capirinha which was strong and tasty once I was able to mix in the huge pile of sugar that was sitting at the bottom of the glass when I got the drink.
Now for the service...
Shortly after I got there I ordered a bellini and a bunch of people around me ordered drinks and coffee. 15 minutes later some people got their drinks. I was told they're out of peach juice, so no bellini for me. The coffee was forgotten about. I ordered something else and people reminded the server of the coffee orders. Another 15-20 min later one out of 3 coffees arrived. No drink for me. Another 5-10 mins later we got the other 2 coffees. Still no drink for me. At this point I asked if I was ever getting a drink. It arrived promptly after that.
I don't think I'll be back.
People thought this was:
Yum. Hello delicious. We arrived here without a reservation (since they don't take them except for big parties), and waited about 35 minutes for a table. We sat in the bar area, which had plenty of space for us, and ordered a round of extremely tasty and strong drinks. My passion fruit margarita was lovely, and certainly got my pre-dinner buzz going.
After we were seated, we were given bread with some kind of delicious, herb-y spicy butter. I love when restaurants do something to make bread and butter a little more special. We ordered the baked goat cheese appetizer. It was very tasty - have to say it felt more like an Italian dish than a Latin one, but it was still very satisfying and full of tomato goodness.
My entree was the ropa vieja. It looked simple on the plate, but the flavors were deep and rich. The steak had been deliciously marinated resulting in great flavor and tender texture. I also enjoyed the sweet plantains on the side, along with the rice and black beans. How fun to get whole black beans instead of the refried beans you get anywhere else!
All in all it was a great meal, satisfying and tasty all around. All my friends' entrees looked creative. Since this place is so close to my apartment, I hope to make a return visit soon!
This place is yummy. It's colorful and nicely lit if you're looking for a date place. We were there on a weeknight (Wednesday, maybe?), and there was no wait. I ordered the pistachio crusted chicken, and I am so glad I did. It was really amazing. The staff was also very courteous and polite. I'll definitely be back!
People thought this was:
The two best things about Cafe 28-It's proximity to the Irving Park Brown Line stop and they have great Mojitos. I guess I'll have to try their brunch.
I went to Cafe 28 for dinner recently and was not very impressed. We had the green tamale appetizer, I had the Cuban style chicken and my date had the Cuban roasted pork. One word to describe the meal: bland. I actually had to salt some of it (I hate to have to do that in restaurants) and once you took off the only-partially crispy chicken skin, the breast was DRY and had NO Cuban flavors whatsoever. It was served with a garlic sauce that was very mild and thin. The beans and rice were gummy too. Bright spots of the dinner was the complimentary bread and (spiced) butter and the plantains.
The service was...ok. It was a little slow. I ordered a refill on my drink and was finished with the rest of my meal before it came. :-/
I might come back to try their brunch but otherwise...I'll go elsewhere.
People thought this was:
Despite not intending to ever return, we did try brunch at Cafe 28 over the summer and it was a much better experience than dinner had been - more reasonably priced, with some interesting and unique offerings. I'd go back again for brunch but still wouldn't return for dinner.
People thought this was:
I was excited to try Cafe 28 and really hoped to like it, but ultimately it fell far flat of meeting… Read more »
What a gem! Cafe 28 is such a great neighborhood spot.
We found ourselves here on a Friday night before going to Martyr's for a show. While there was no wait, we got a drink at the bar (try the frozen mojito ... seriously wonderful).
Service was quick and friendly. The menu is quite expansive and diverse. For apps we did papas rellanas (ridiculous!) for entree I had the the pistachio chicken was perfection (and I'm not always a fan of getting "just" chicken) and split the guava cheesecake for dessert.
It was a perfect meal and I cannot wait to come back and try more!
People thought this was:
How can it be that I'm just getting around to reviewing one of my favorite restaurants?!
I've dined at Cafe 28 about 20 times by now, and I think I've tried everything on the menu that doesn't swim (not how I roll, thankyouverymuch). Truly, I've never once been disappointed. Well, there was that one time that they pretty much told my friend and I we had to leave, but to be fair, we were still there an hour after closing and on our third bottle of wine. I think my own husband would be telling me to get out at that point.
Menu highlights-
Apps: Papas Rellena (they are redonkulously delish), Green Tamales (incredible fresh flavor)
Entrees: Honey Jalapeno Pork Chops (these bad boys are Flintstone sized, grilled to perfection, and served with the best sweet potatoes this side of the Mason Dixon line) and Ropa Vieja (tender, juicy, and a good standby)
Drinks: fabby mojitos, solid sangria, and a decent wine list
I love the atmosphere in the restaurant, and if you're there in the summer months, you have to check out the patio in back.
I know, I know...I should probably give Cafe 28 five stars. The patio is just flipping dreamy in the summer (if and when it decides to come). It's in a very odd, yet interesting and inviting location. They have the best duck I have ever eaten in my entire life. The coconut shrimp is sweet, crunchy and never stringy. And, while it has gotten a bit more popular over the years, it still can maintain its hidden gem status.
But I must say something about the mojitos. I had been there a few times and the mojitos have always been delicious. But I went there a little while ago with the family, I had a mojito with dinner and ended up getting one of the worst headaches of my life. Now, it could have been that it was a particularly hot day and I was dehydrated, or that I just drank it too quickly, or a bit of a combo deal. Okay, I won't toally fault the restaurant for that. So I went there again, and I did not get a headache, but the mojito just wasn't as good as I remembered it. I can't really place my finger on what it was, but I have always told people that Cafe 28 has the best mojitos in town and, well, that just wasn't the case the last time I was there. Maybe the economy forced them to downgrade the rum or the mint? I just don't know...
But I am so not giving up on this place. You'd have to be so stupid to abandon the place with the best duck evs! Plus, I still haven't been there for brunch...
Stay tuned for the thrilling second part of this adventure!
And one quick question: does anyone know why their website is a .org?
People thought this was:
Brunch is most definitely my favorite meal. I think it's because I'm rebellious (err, at least in my own mind) and I'm obviously telling the world to piss off by drinking champagne at 10am and chowing down on eggs at 2 in the afternoon. Breakin' the rules, breakin' the rules, ohhh yeah. I'm no earth-shaker, I admit, but everyone's gotta have their own form of rebellion, right?
So in our quest to find something else besides a Belgian waffle, we decided on Cafe 28, a place that's been on my radar for god-knows-how-long-and-am-ridiculous-for-not-tryin g-sooner. As many of you know, the place is pretty large with a bar area, three good-sized seating rooms, and a mostly covered outdoor space. Choosing to feel the breeze, we found a spot in the shade, and thus began our date with 28.
I requested a mimosa, and it was perfect--heavy on the champagne, easy on the OJ. My brunch partner ordered the chilaquiles with steak which came out with diced tomatoes, chopped lettuce, and sour cream. He took a bite of steak and said he could eat way more of it than they gave him--success! And I went for the Cuban steak sandwich--a garlicky delight with lettuce and tomato on a French roll, served up with black beans and white rice. Filling, flavorful, and a steal for $10.95, especially because I could have taken the second half of my sandwich home with me...uhh, but I ate it all. Silly? Smart? It was the best decision at the time...
We made it outta there for less than $30 bucks, which is fantastico to me for a delicious brunch with fab service and one strong mimosa. And considering my steak-hungry dining partner, I think we'll have to come back for dinner and check out the dinner-sized portions. Yum! Can't wait.
People thought this was:
-Don't bother to go there searching for Cuban food.
-Go there to eat their Spinach Benedict. It's a little pricy but it's worth it.
-Outdoor area is nice and breezy for the summer, wonder how cute it is in the evening.
-After reading a review that raved about it, I went to go try this amazing dish last Saturday for brunch. I was NOT disappointed by any means.
Cute guy behind the bar when you first walk in, too! ;)
People thought this was:
OH MY YUCA!!
---Wait...Did I just say yuca instead of GOODNESS?!---
Shoot, I still can't seem to get those crispy Frituras de Yuca off my mind! For the owners, it should be its own starter/appetizer but for the Yelpers, it's not so don't skip out on the side dishes.
I came here on a third visit and couldn't believe I hadn't already Yelped the heck out of Cafe 28. Lounge environment, professional service, delectable food dishes and a nice outdoor patio.
On this visit, it was time for drinks with the coworkers and unfortunately they don't have a Happy Hour here. But we had an appetite for a few quick bites and Mojitos. I recommended Cafe 28 because they've always have delicious Mojitos $8 and Mixjitos $9 (or their own take on Mojitos like their Pama Pomegranate Mojito which is similar to a raspberry lemonade according to my taste buds). This time around, the original Mojitos were a little bland and I had to add my own sugar.
While sipping away, we tried the Taste of Cuba ($7.25 Empanadas de picadillo, chicken & ham croquetas, and mariquitas served with a saffron sauce.), Platanos Maduros, Papas Rellenas ($7.25 Jalapeño mashed potatoes filled with chicken stuffing and served with saffron cream.) and the Frituras de Yuca as previously mentioned. All created a Fried Heaven with flavors on full blast. Cafe 28 is definitely worth checking out if you love Cuban food with a upper-class twist.
People thought this was:
I finally went to Cafe 28 last night after hearing about it for so long. I used the Yelp reviews to gauge whether I wanted to try it out and I was really glad I did!
I had the shrimp app and it was so good! That was followed by the Ropa Vieja which was this juicy beef cut into super thin strips served with rice, black beans, and plantains. Delicious!
Finally I had the pistachio cake and that was the only thing that wasn't super great. Perhaps the other desserts were better but if you want something sweet....just have the MOJITO! It's great!
Great place...thanks for the helpful reviews, everyone!
People thought this was:
I can sum up the best things about this place in five words and an acronym:
Pistachio-crusted chicken, chocolate pudding, BYOB.
People thought this was:
Cafe 28 is a colorful, cute date spot. We went for Sunday brunch and there wasn't a wait. We ordered the Southwest eggs benedict, cubano, and a blueberry pancake. I love the fact that they'll let you order any single pancake! I'm more into the savory stuff, but the pancake was my favorite. It was fluffy & chewy. The cubano was pretty tasty, but my eggs benedict were just ok. It looked better than it tasted. There wasn't enough hollandaise sauce on top and the potatoes were mushy. I probably should have ordered the breakfast burrito. This place is a breath of fresh air to typical brunch dining. As for dinner- I've tried the pork chops and they are not to be missed!
Cafe 28 was a real "mixed-bag" experience. The restaurant itself is a great space, good atmosphere, has fantastic outdoor seating on the patio, and had very friendly staff (especially the bartender), for the most part. I say for the most part because a woman at the front of the house (who had the persona of 'the mother' of the family business), was surprisingly rude and off-putting. Despite that, it was an enjoyable experience overall.
In terms of food, inconsistent definitely describes it well. The drinks were GREAT. I had a classic Mojito, which was fantastic and crisp, while my g/f had a Sangria, which she was also very happy with and described as very "fresh-tasting". On to the actual meal: the "Taste of Cuba" appetizer sampler was fantastic, featuring the croquetas and empanadas. However, the Ropa Vieja (which I'd read rave reviews about) was quite disappointing and dull. Also, the Tamal Cubano, which is composed of ingredients that I love independently was poorly executed as a dish and was overwhelmed by an unpleasant after-taste.
In review, go for the drinks, chats with the barkeep, and the "Taste of Cuba", but move-on to greener pastures for dinner.
People thought this was:
LOVE LOVE LOVE Cafe 28! I happened to live nearby when they opened, and some friends and I tried them out the first month they were open. O.M.G. I was immediately enchanted with their breakfast burrito and the honey jalapeno porkchop was fantastic! I love their Mojito's, and I go on record saying this is a MUST VISIT for everyone in the city who takes their food seriously and like something more exotic than Mexican Velveeta!
OH yeah, try their stuffed french toast, too!
People thought this was:
So having lived in Miami for a few years before making it up to Chicago, I like to think I know Cuban food fairly well for an anglo.....so ...
The service was superb. From the gentleman at the front desk to the waiter and busboy. Absolutely no complaints at all... other restaurants could take lessons from this service.. 5 stars for that all the way...and the atmosphere is great...
.. the Food, however, was disappointing.... WAY overpriced, the portions - aside from the pork chops - were just a bit larger than the hors d'oeurves we ordered, and the flavors were muddled.... so there you go.. a 5 for the service and 1 for the food... I just wasnt impressed at all
People thought this was:
I've been here a few times for brunch and was always impressed but with so many brunch options in Chi Town, I somehow never made it back there! I went the other night for dinner and it was really really good. I had the Ropa Viejo which was perfectly cooked, very flavorful and filling. It came with a side of rice, beans and sweet plantains. For dessert we had a chocolate mousse that was rich and smooth. The wine was also very good and fairly priced. I like the overall ambience of this place and the wait staff are prompt and polite.
People thought this was:
I went here wondering what Cuban food would be like! I must say my first impression of this place was very impressive! The interiors are nice and cosy and well done up. Nice and warm welcoming service. We realised this place is Cuban-Mexican. We were served bread and some delicous buttery spread right away. Whilst the bread seemed a little chewy we were starving so we finished it all off. We ordered several portions of all the appetizers on the menu:
Spinach quesedillas - Good
Tamale- Yummy!
Polenta - Good
Garlic potatoes - Good again
We ordered the Comal as an entree, again tasty, For dessert we ordered the tres leches cake and the hazelnut profetiroles , both of which stole the show. Would I be back soon? Not soon enough, just because this place is far from where I live but otherwise yes! I would recommend that peopole try this place atleast once
People thought this was:
Cafe 28 was delicious. On a Saturday night there was a 2 piece jazz band playing very cool music at the bar and when we were seated the backgroud music was at a very appropriate level. The food was great. I ate the pastachio chicken and we had empanadas and tamales as an app. Sorbet for dessert. Strongly recommend this place.
MEATY! If you like meat, you'll probably like this place.
SERVICE: We were greeted the minute we walked in and were given a nice little table by the window (we beat the rush by going at 6pm on a Thursday night). The waiter was great by giving us time to think about our order and coming back when we needed him. He gave us a basket of bread with seasoned butter. The butter was pretty good, I tasted honey and something spicy.
MOJITO: $8 for a large glass (see photos). I was buzzed within 5 minutes (yes, I am a light weight, but it was strong!) It was too bitter for my taste, but that didn't stop me from having every last drop.
DINNER:
1. Ropa Vieja - Flank steak slowly simmered in a garlic tomato sauce until it falls apart. Served with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains. This dish reminded me of pulled pork. It was pretty tasty and the sauce was good with the rice and black beans. My favorite part was the plantains, mmmm...sweet and delicious.
2. Honey Jalapeño Pork Chops - Marinated, grilled then baked to perfection. Served with sweet potatoes. This dish was too sweet for me (I like my main course on the salty side). They were the largest pork chops I've ever seen.
DESSERT: They do have a dessert menu, which I didn't see on the website so I'm not sure if they change it often. I took a picture of it in case you are curious. I only finished half my meal but was too stuffed to order dessert.
AMBIANCE: Very nicely decorated and soothing Cuban music softly playing through the speakers. The bar area by the entrance looked cozy and inviting.
BATHROOM: For those of you that like to read about the bathroom, this place has a one toilet room for each gender. The Ladies happened to be out of order while I was there, so I had to use the caballeros. Nothing to write home about.
WHAT'S NEARBY? The Whole Tooth is right across the street and I could see the Irving Park Brown Line stop from my seat.
PARKING: We parked on Ravenswood where there were tons of parking. The sign says Permit 57, but that's only from 8a - 10a.
People thought this was:
Bumpin to 5 stars cause it's pretty darn fabulous.
My party of 7 came here to celebrate a bday last night. They told us they would only hold our 7:45pm reservations for 15 minutes so we rushed to get there. Unfortunately, they didn't hold up their side of the 7:45pm bargain so there was a bit of a wait, but the manager made up for it with free appetizers. And I'm always happy to wait for free food...
Appetizers:
Coconut shrimp
Green Tamales
Papas Rellenes
All SO tasty so I'd recommend them all, but if you had to pick just 1 go with the coconut shrimp. And eat up all the extra sauce with their delicious bread...yum.
Sides:
Fried plantains (i'm sure they have a fancier name)
Garlic polenta- whoa garlic, don't order those on a date!
Entree:
Almond crusted halibut
My friends suggested we share a few dishes, but I just wanted the halibut. May just be the best fish I've had and this is coming from someone who's pretty much a pescatarian. My friends ended up splitting halibut and an entree of pork chops big enough for 18 people. I had a bite of the pork chops and thought it was pretty good as well, but the halibut is still my #1.
Skipped their delicious tres leches dessert for a cookie cake I'd brought with me...and I"m still wondering how i made room for so much cookie and frosting after all those apps and the halibut.
Chloe was our lovely waitress for the evening and did her best to make our table of 7 happy. And happy we were....how could we not be after a meal that good?
People thought this was:
Been reading the yelps about Cafe 28 for a long time now and finally made it over there with some… Read more »
Well this place was just delightful.
I came here tonight for dinner with Satan Trainer Rob (you all may know him as Rob L). When he suggested this place I have to be honest - I was a little wary, but he knows how picky I am so I trusted his judgment.
And hot damn, I'm glad I did.
I arrived a couple minutes before Rob, long enough to place a drink order at the bar. The bartender was really friendly, and when he discovered they were out of Skyy vodka to make the cosmo I had ordered he gave me some other options. I went with the Grey Goose, and he poured my glass so full I might have spilled it. Oops. I took a sip and damn, that was strong. Nice. He then told me he would bring my tab to our table so we could go ahead and get seated. Cool.
Rob and I took our seats, and perused the menu. I left the appetizers up to him, and he selected the Taste of Cuba. While we waited, we chatted and noshed on the bread with the super yummy butter - don't pass this up. When the apps arrived, I was all, "what's that?" and Rob encouraged me to try everything - so I sampled one of each and it was all good, but I'm glad it was an appetizer because none of it was something I would make a meal out of.
Our food came out just as we finished the apps - I ordered the Carne a la Parilla (skirt steak) and... well, I have no idea what Rob had. And before I could even pay attention to what he had, his plate was clean. But my skirt steak was absolutely delicious! It had a really nice flavor to it, and my mouth had a nice heat happening but it was never overwhelming. Rob ordered a side of plantains, which I had never had before (yes, I live in a cave), and they were pretty awesome.
Stuffed, we both passed on dessert but they have a pretty decent menu if you're in the mood for it. The service was fantastic all night, and the water refills were plentiful. Color me happy.
Seriously, why does North Center have all the good restaurants?
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Drink Specials Mon - Thurs!
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Come Eat and Enjoy Music
Neighborhood: North Park
Neighborhood: North Center
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Center
Category: Irish
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Cuban
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