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November is Pinot Noir Month at Cafe 28, so come on in and get 20% off all Pinot Noir bottles!
Irving 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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Parking was readily available on the street, across from this great corner, Cuban cafe.
It was my opinion, and that of my brunch guest to start with the traditional Cuban Sandwhich, or, the "Media Noche," which it was not labeled as such on the menu.
Based on the "media-noche" sandwhich, which was served on French-bread, and not the regular egg-bread that "media-noches" are served on, I can say that this restaurant provides a lighter version of traditional Cuban food.
Media noches are typically consumed as a "midnight" (hench medianoche) meal. The sandwhiches are typically buttery and brimming with pork juice.
The medianoches at Cafe 28 were still excellent, though a bit drier than I would have expected.
Paired with a cafecito, or "cuban-style" coffee - a doppio of espresso doused in sugar, this sandwhich alone will keep me coming back to Cafe 28.
My brunch partner also had the traditional cuban sandwhich and also thoroughly enjoyed it!
Been here a few times and loved the food , so I decided this would be the spot I would go to for my birthday dinner.
I had the ropa vieja and it was delicious. It came with black beans, white rice, and plantains. The portion was a little small for my taste, but by the end of the meal, including bread and appetizers, I was deliciously full.
I had the raspberry mojito and it wasn't my very mojito I've ever had. I'm one of those Americans that prefer sweet mojitos. I know.. makes no sense. But I liked it. I also had a strawberry margarita... yum.
Overall this place is excellent. Can't wait to go back.
I came here for brunch with a girlfriend... the atmosphere was definitely lively, they actually had a guitar player while we were there. There were a lot of families, so a couple toddlers hurled toys our way, but otherwise the ambiance was nice.
My brunch was pretty ordinary. I had a spinach and mushroom fritatta, which wasn't amazing (but totally good still), but it did give me good feelings about coming here for dinner some time.
Unfortunately I believed all the hype and great reviews of this place so my husband and I decided to give it a whirl. I wish we hadn't.
The night started out on a positive note - the mojitos are to die for (which they better be as you are guaranteed to wait at the bar for a table). Super crisp, and perfect proportions of everything.
Finally we were seated. The atmosphere is cozy, but the tables are super close to one another - hearing my table neighbor smacking his lips on pork chops sure wasn't the highlight of my night...I digress. We ordered an appetizer, the Taste of Cuba, which was good, but not great. I was hoping this was only a momentary glimpse of mediocrity - not so. I ordered the Cuban Roast Pork because there seemed to be a lot of hubbub surrounding this particular entree. Lots of friends had recommended it and I saw tons of people eating it. When mine came it smelled delightful - a trick I tell you, a trick! The pork was completely overcooked and under seasoned. It was bland - blasphemy at a Cuban restaurant in my opinion. And the rice and beans were boring.
This place is too expensive and the wait is too long to get a sub-par pork roast, when I can make a better one at home. I won't be going back.
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.
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!
I have been here twice now and am hooked. The first time was the Cuban Style Chicken, very very tasty and the mojitos are perfection. The second time I came I had the Pistachio Crusted Chicken which is my absolute favorite. It was very tender and flavorful. Top off your meal with the Guava cheesecake - absolutely divine!
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?
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.
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.
I had high expectations for Cafe 28 after hearing great things about it from friends, but I was… Read more »
We went here for some dinner and drinks for my g/f birthday and it was great. We started off the with the Taste of Cuba, which was delicious, then I had the Roasted Cuban Pork with Jalapeño Mash Potatoes and it was amazing. The potatoes were mouth watering because I love spicy food and this was awesome. I really enjoyed this place and will gladly be returning.
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.
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!
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.
Almond crusted halibut with jalapeno mashed potatoes? Yes please! Not a fish eater but I crave this dish all the time.
I've never had a bad meal here. Service has always been fantastic and I've been here with parties ranging from 2-20 people. I don't live in the area so I don't get up here as often as I'd like and really want to try their brunch. But their mojotios are delicious and that says it all.
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!
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!
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 »
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!
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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!
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.
I was excited to try Cafe 28 and really hoped to like it, but ultimately it fell far flat of meeting… Read more »
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.
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?
-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! ;)
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.
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.
Excellent food. Friendly staff. Back patio is pretty cool. I had pecan crusted chicken. It was really yummy.
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!
I can sum up the best things about this place in five words and an acronym:
Pistachio-crusted chicken, chocolate pudding, BYOB.
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.
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
Come Eat and Enjoy Music
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Once upon a time, I worked in Chicago, in a…
These are my top restaurants some are local to me…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
I'm ashamed for my fellow human beings that these…
Table for Two? Here are my favorite places to go…
