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Bacon wrapped dates, Steak, Lamb, spicy potato's, sangria are a few of my favorite items on the menu. This place is awesome inside. Watch out or you'll pass it up buried behind those trees. But once in the parking lot, WOW, what a place.
I went there with a group of friends. There were 5 total. We were seated pretty fast and was seated in a room upstairs. It reminded me of someone's bedroom. Interesting, but very cool. The wait staff was very good. Helpful, and recommended a few things to us.
The sangria was delicious. I am an ice chewer and I even loved the ice they used. We has about 3 rounds of orders until we were pretty full. I think in total, we had about 11-13 tapas served. There was not one tapas I didn't like. The ones mentioned about really stuck out in my head as the winners though.
Price was lower than I expected. There were two couples and a friend. The bill was split 3/2 and I paid $60 for My fiance and I including tip.
Caveat: I only dined here once, and that was 12 years ago. This review is, therefore, dated.
Emilio's Meson Sabika is a charming, quaint tapas restaurant set in an old Naperville mansion. The setting can be very romantic - I had a wonderful date here and she absolutely loved the experience. The flavors of the various tapas were anywhere from good to sublime - I was stunned at how good a *Naperville* restaurant could be! (Note that this was back when Naperville was still a combination commuter suburb and farm community.)
The selections weren't lofty experiments in nouveaux tapas - more fundamental, traditional tapas - but done with an excellent touch and great flavor profiles. The sangria was very refreshing as well.
Since at the time I lived in Naperville, finding this place was akin to a coup. Even now with the entrance of Hugo's Frog Bar and other great restaurants, I wouldn't hesitate to try it again.
Well, I could change my review after each visit. Meson is a hit or a miss. Food is always good. Service ranges from great to you better fuckin help yourself. Not sure what's up with that.
Wine is pricey. Tapas are tasteee and priced fair. Sit on the patio during the summer and sip some sangria with friends, or people who you thought were your friends.
Getting married soon? They have added a pavilion for events - which takes away from the Historic Mansion. Try talking your bride who dreamed of having her day in the mansion - to now having it some modern pavillion that overlooks the, um, parking lot.
See you in divorce court within two years buddy!
I'm one who enjoys quality and quantity so when my wife suggested going to a tapas restaurant, my first thought was that I better eat before we go! To my surprise, the food was reasonably priced, very tasty and if you order right you will be very satisfied and not have to spend a lot of money.
We sat outside on a cool Saturday night in early October and it was very pleasant. The wait staff was good, not great but overall we had a nice experience and we'll be back.
Delicious! Came here two weeks with ex (then boyfriend) & family for his brother's birthday :] It was absolutely DELICIOUS!!! i swear we had, like, half the menu!!!! :] MUST. TRY. EVERYTHING!!!!! The meats are tender and delicious.. and I even LOVED the lamb :] The place is gorgeous and the staff is really really nice...
An absolute gem in Naperville. Sangria is wonderful and plentiful but they also have an incredible wine selection and the staff is very knowledgeable. Tapas tapas tapas. So many to say such good
things about. A great place to take a group and be adventurous. Definitely one of the top restaurants in town. For a special treat try the Sunday brunch!! Yum!
I have eaten at many tapas restaurants in the Chicagoland area but none have come close to the quality of Meson Sabika. First of all, the place is very beautiful and has outdoor seating in what feels like a large garden or country club.
The food is amazing. I had the flank steak with blue cheese, and it was very tender and delicious. The mahi-mahi with asparagus was cooked better then I have ever had it. The marinated shrimp came with three delectable dipping sauces. The lobster with citrus tasted great.
The wine selection here is impressive. For under $20, you can get a wine flight of four tastings that are all delicious.
The staff was very friendly, courteous and knowledgeable.
Meson Sabika is a wonderful place for a romantic dinner, a family outing, a banquet, party or other special occasion.
My only complaint: There were too many little bugs flying around outside! One ended up in my wine. At least he died happy.
I look forward to going back to Meson Sabika, hopefully soon.
It's hard to go wrong with a Zagat rated restaurant. I didn't know this restaurant was Zagat rated until I saw the sign on the way out.
I had the:
Jamón Serrano - Shaved imported Serrano Ham served atop thinly sliced tomatoes and toasted garlic bread. I should point out that the ham was actually served underneath the bread and tomatoes and not "atop" as the menu describes.
Alcachofas Marinadas - Marinated fresh artichoke hearts topped with baked fennel, garlic and imported Cabrales blue cheese, drizzled with balsamic sherry vinaigrette.
Crepe Rellena - Crepe filled with goat cheese, pine nuts, spinach and golden delicious apples, accompanied by a pimiento sauce.
All the dishes were excellent. I think I might try to return on Sun to try the Sopa de Alubias - Spicy black bean soup with chorizo.
For the first time I ever had tapas it was a really good experience, plenty of tapas choices, and seasonal menu.
However, being so use to fresh sea food I ordered the squid and of course not being near an ocean the squid was frozen. When cooked texturally it was like chewing on a rubber ball but the flavor was there. Still they shouldn't have it on the menu.
I also ordered the duck confit; cooked well but it had a cinnamon sugar sauce which I thought was really a bad choice. Savory please?
Pass?
I got to pick dinner and I had a craving for Tapas. What better place to go than here???
I was a newbie here, and we had a great time. Overall, the grounds are lovely and enchanting (perfect for all those weddings they have) and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
While wines by the bottle can get pricey-- in the $$$ price range, I ordered the pomegranate sangria at $6.50. It was just okay. It didn't wow me. So, I had a mojito next at $8.95, which was pretty tasty. However, 2 drinks each for us came to $40 alone. Yikes. I need to drink at home more.
i can't remember any of the fancy names... But here's the low down on what we ordered... and my star system to boot...
~Black bean soup with chorizo (4)
~White bean soup with serrano ham and bacon (4)
(They forgot to bring these out originally, so we got the Gazpacho soup also to try for free) (Maybe that soup is good normally, but I'm not a fan of melon flavoring so it really wasn't my cup of tea)
~COLD TAPAS
~King crab with avocado (5)
~salmon with dill sauce something or other (4)
~Garlic potato salad (5)
~HOT TAPAS
~Grilled Squid with lemon sauce (1)
~Red peppers stuffed with cheese and black beans (5)
~Crab meat fritters with aioli (3)
~DESSERT
~Rice Pudding with citrus zest (4)
~Creme Brulee sorta dish with chocolate chunks (4)
So, overall... Food was great and it was fun to try different things. My absolute favorite was the potato salad, it was so garlicky good. I also loved the stuffed red peppers, very Spanish inspired. My favorite favorite dessert in the whole wide world is creme brulee and I think this was called crema de chocolada?? Or something similar. Huge portion. Very good. Just wish the vanilla custard portion had been warm? It was cold and normally creme brulee is never like that. It at least is usually lukewarm.
But ah well. Our server recommended the squid to us, asking if we liked calamari. Well, we love calamari--and agreed with his recommendation, but it was too rubbery and I couldn't eat it. I've had squid before that was more tender. And I about gagged at the mini squid and something that looked wormy/snail-like. When the pieces are breaded, I at least pretend. I was waiting to throw one of them at the fridge and watch it flip back and forth all sticky downward. Even my fiance about gagged and he eats anything. But the server graciously took it off our bill, even though it wasn't his fault and we never complained about it. We just wanted it off the table. lol.
Which is why we ordered the dessert. :)
Check it out. We ordered too much food. Expect to spend $$$, and now that I've been there once, I'll order less next time. I think 3 tapas each are more than enough to fill a person up. I think on avg. a couple would spend anywhere from $60-$120 on a dinner here, depending on what's ordered. And that's without tip. Or the expensive wine.
Oh, Meson Sabika, mi amor. Jhou are so, how jhou say - DEELEEEEEECIOUS.
When I walk een, I am feeling overwhelmed by all the beauteeful decorations that surround me. Jhou are a restaurant, sí, but jhou are also a CASA. A gorgeous, gorgeous CASA. Never forgeht that, mi amor.
Jhour servers (los defensores de su honor!) have always treated me weeth deference and kindness. For thees, they weell not be forgotten in Heaven. They know jhou better than any customer ever could, and they have honored me weeth sweet, refreshing sangría, and tapas suggestions that always heet the mark. Fantástico.
And jhour tapas, mi cariño - THEY ARE TRULY SOMETHEENG TO BEHOLD. Mis favoritos son el queso de cabra (goat cheese een a reech red pepper sauce), patatas con aioli (a robust garleec potato salad), dátiles con tocino (sweet dates wrapped een bacon) and pipirrana de buey (steak, potatoes, y onions een a bleu cheese sauce).
A true caballero does not teepically deescuss the sordeed matter of the beell, pero I fear I must, for Yelp's sake. Do not take offense, my darleeng, but jhou are kind of...expensive. Do not sulk, mi amor! Jhou are seemply a higher class of restaurant! Readers, I assure you she ees worth EVERY PENNY!
Por favor, come to Meson Sabika and explore her many succulent tapas. She needs company while I am away. Jhou weell undoubtedly find jhourself swept away by her deeleecious charms. "Ees thees España?" jhou'll wonder. No, señor. Eet ees...SABIKA.
Vaya con Dios.
This is my favorite restaurant in terms of quality of food. Do not miss the Patatas con Aioli (garlicky potato salad). Tilapia is also a dish that I order every time. I also love the Champinones Rellenos (stuffed mushrooms). I have never been to another tapas retaurant that has equaled Meson Sabika.
Very Impressive entrance mansion building with a banquet and a restaurant. A nicely decorated trail leads you to the entrance. I made a reservation for 7:00 on Sunday.
When we arrived we were asked to wait at the bar until our table was ready. We waited ten minutes to get a table with a reservation. We were finally seated as we witnessed a couple groups just walk in and be seated right away. We waited about ten more minutes at the table before our server came by the table. He took our drink order and started walking away I had to keep him there and place our full order soup and 4 tapas knowing he might not come back for a while.
The soup was very good I had the cream of broccoli arrived in a good portion and quite flavorful. Then 2 of our Tapas were brought out the steak strips in blue cheese and grilled shrimp in butter sauce. At this time we still did not have our coffee drink order I had to remind him to bring the drinks. After this point the service was Ok however I was still unpleased with how the service was from the hostess to the server below standard.
The plates started building up quickly the table is small and they did not have anyone coming by to clear the table. Our server was not attentive enough. The remaining Tapas were mushroom caps and Chicken in garlic tomato sauce. The mushroom caps were just ok and the chicken was alright. Not too impressive with the presentation the taste was good. Overall I liked the food the atmosphere is great old school dining. The quality of the service was poor and they were understaffed there is no excuse for that no matter what economy we are in. They can make many improvements mainly providing an exceptional dining experience relative the image they present when you arrive at the restaurant.
I have been here a number of times and leave just as hungry as when I arrive. This is not a place for a meal or to go hungry. Sorry, there are way too many better places to eat in Naperville. I avoid any affair held here.
Excellent service ,excellent food, excellent location, very romantic . Great sangrias, great mushroom and oyster tapas. Incredible place, will definitely come back.
This is this first place I've ever had tapas. Definitely delicious, and the restaurant itself was beautiful (looked as if it used to be a mansion). The server was pretty quick and willing to offer suggestions for the tapas-newbie. I very much enjoyed everything we tried - however, to get a really good variety and get full, it can become a bit pricey.
That said - I'd definitely want to come back, but perhaps for a special occasion!
Meson Sabika gets 4 stars from me.
-great food that's unique to the area.
-beautiful landscaping! Really takes one out of their element. I once went and we sat outside on the beautiful patio and they had spanish guitarists playing!
-unique atmosphere - feels like i'm in someones house (it use to be just that)
there are a few downsides, and the reason it didn't get 5 stars...
-since it is a tapas restaurant - you have to order a lot to get full - and if you're like me and like to eat a lot (typical American) than you'll be paying for it
-During the summer there are fruit flies that were bugging me (and we were sitting inside)
-It can get kind of loud - because of how the tables our situated. Plus it seems like a place where every 40 something year old ladies have their girls night out - they have one to many martini's and tend to talk a bit loud..
overall, a great place - if you live near the area - you almost have to check it out. i would make reservations, however - b/c the place can fill up rather quickly .
My wife and I stopped for a week day lunch at Meson Sabika in Naperville. It is a beautiful old mansion. The building and grounds are well kept. The staff is very friendly. It was very clean, that is important in a restaurant and the decor was really nice. The food was very good. I would definitely go back for the food. Kuddos to the Chef! I just think the price tag was really high though. Especially in today's tight economic times, do they offer a stimulus menu (just kidding). I think we may go back for a special occasion but without our kids, too expensive.
I have been here several times with large groups and for intimate dinners and have really enjoyed myself with both.
Last night my husband and I went in for a nice dinner. The place is beautiful! We sat next to a fire place and the details of the room are amazing.
We had several tapas which were all good. Our favorites are the goat cheese and tomato sauce, the bacon wrapped dates, and we tried a cheese and meat tray with toast points that was fantastic. My husband and I are normally chocolate lovers, but have found the dessert menu lacking a bit. But I ventured out and tried the tart of the day which was a rum/caramel flavored tart with an almond crust that was very good.
I only have one complaint about the restaurant. I have found that the tables are very close, and the waiters are still using trays. At one point last night the waiter for the table behind me was inches from my head with his tray. He did not say anything and if I would have moved it would have been a mess. The waiter behind my husband was the same way.
The food was still fantastic but the service was not the 5 stars it has ALWAYS been in the past.
We went at about 7:30 on Friday night and wanted to sit on their patio outside. The hostesses told us that a table outside wouldn't be opening up until 8:30 but when walking past, we saw at least 25 open tables outside (they have a very large outside patio). I understand that they may not have had enough staff for the Al Fresco dining, but certainly not enough tables. We decided to wait at the bar and get some sangria but were notified less then 10 minutes later that a table was ready... along with several other couples who did not have reservations. I think they were trying to get more people to dine inside than out- I think the outside staff may be temporary employees and understandably they want to fill the inside restaurant for their own employees but I don't think giving an outrageous wait time is the right way to do it. Then, when we were brought out on the patio, the hostess had us doing a back and forth dance- up, down, across, and around the many open patio tables when deciding where to sit us. It was awkward, I had heels on, have bright orange hair, and really it was quite a funny scene for the rest of the patio diners to see us being walked backwards and forwards for several minutes. Not their most professional moment.
Beyond that, the service was not very attentive and definitely not personable. We're used to 5 star, impeccable service and knowledge from the folks at Meson Sabika and this not simply did not meet our expectations.
Also, they need to update their outside tables. They're all pretty rusted over and our table had a really old, smashed piece of gum stuck to it. We didn't complain or ask to be moved to one of the other 25 open outdoor tables but we did feel like it should have been obvious when the table was set up with place settings.
We will be back and will most likely be upping the star rating but for the most recent experience, I can sadly only give a 3.
Spanish Tapas in an old mansion rumored to be haunted??? Yes, Please!
This place is delicious. The…
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Came here for a 60th birthday party for a sunday brunch. The brunch buffet was my own worst enemy--I have no self control when it comes to buffets. I especially wore my tightest jeans to hope that they would restrict some of my eating, but, surprise surprise, they didnt.
Some faves: Tomatoes with white anchovies(one of my friends works as a cook at the Penninsula and told me that white anchovies are AMAZING, as I was expecting the cheap kind that come on pizzas), Seafood Paella, and of course the desserts! Next time i'm around this area, I will see if I can stir others to come here with me!
!Ay, que fantástico!
Translation: This place is fantastic! This was one of my first tapas experiences (after Emilio's)...and I became hooked! I used to go to college nearby, and this was the place I used to go for special occasions. And thus where my love affair with sangria began...
The food is wonderful and the ambiance is even better. The property is gorgeous. Indoor seating in an old-fashioned white mansion, private rooms for parties, patio...something for everyone here. The service is friendly and helpful without being intrusive. On weekends, they have flamenco dancers, which just adds to the experience.
I recommend the Jamon Serrano, Quesos Espanoles, Patatas Con Alioli, Datiles Con Tocino, Pincho De Solomillo ...I could go on for days!
I also had the opportunity to attend a dear friend's wedding here in February. The banquet area is a new addition (wasn't there when I first discovered this place ten years ago). What a gorgeous wedding! She had both the ceremony and the reception here...the passed hors d'oeurves were fantastic (but I learned my lesson as to eating anything veggie that you have to bite into...yikes! Watch out for the Tostado de Pisto Manchengo), the entrees were spectacular (marinated tilapia...mi versión del cielo!), and, as I experienced in the restaurant, the service was wonderful.
I recommend a trip to the 'burbs for dinner here...!es una experiencia, no justo la cena!
LOVE Sunday brunch. All you can eat and they have a variety of items!!
Brunch menu includes seafood, meat, veggie, fruit, eggs... and the dessert is very good, too. They have kids items for brunch.
The place is totally beautiful. I need to come back for dinner soon! This will be a great date spot.
I have dined at several Tapas restaurants in the area. Do they have a decent product? I would have to say "Yes" if it is served properly by an attentive staff. The bread basket consisted of 7 small pieces of bread not much to work with for two adults who ordered 5 tapas from the onset. Drinks took way too long and quite frankly I grew tired of begging for bread. We told the server that we had just recived our meal and had no bread. He told us that he would take care of it. He then proceeded to the next table and took a large order from 5 adults. i had to beg another server for bread. It took 15 minutes for the first glass of wine to arrive and the second glass took 20 minutes.
I chose this as the place to go for my family birthday dinner; my parents aren't the most adventurous eaters, but after I explained the tapas concept and they looked at the menu, they agreed, and I'm happy to say that we all enjoyed a very nice meal.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, in a mansion just west of downtown Naperville. Our initial concern was getting to the front door, because it was snowing and my grandmother was with us, and it wasn't evident that you could drive up to the front door, so she ended up having to arduously walk from the parking lot at the side to the front. (After dinner we learned that we could drive up, which made it easier).
When we got inside, there was a lot of water (melted snow) on the wood floor inside the door -- again, a hazard for Grandma. This is inevitable in the winter, but needs to be kept on top of anywhere for everyone's safety.
Once we got settled into one of the small, dimly lit dining rooms, things began to smooth out. We had already looked at the menu online and had an idea of what we wanted to order, and with the help of our smooth, Antonio Banderas-esque server, we got the dishes rolling.
Everyone started with white sangria (light and fruity, with apples and citrus), then the Sopa Aromatica, onion soup; served in a shallow trencher, it had a strange funk to it and did not come with the advertised cheese and croutons. Certainly not the best onion soup I ever had.
After that, the plates of tapas started arriving. The flow was good; we ordered 7 items for the table, and they came in two "flights" (3 and 4), so we weren't overloaded or lacking dishes at any given time.
The surprise favorite of the night were the bacon-wrapped dates (which I only ordered because everyone on Yelp recommended them, so thanks!). The gorgeous smoky bacon married beautifully to the sweet dates, which had a lusciously soft texture, yielding voluptuously to the bite.
Another favorite was the Pipirrana de Buey -- skirt steak is often chewy or charred beyond recognition; this was not, and the salty Cabarales blue cheese sauce offset the grilled beef superbly.
We also liked the Pincho de Solomillo -- the beef tenderlion was tender and flavorful, though the horseradish threatened to overpower the beef's flavor.
The rest of the dishes were fine (nothing was bad) but not outstanding: Gambas al Ajillo (the lemon-garlic-butter shrimp were tasty and not tough or overcooked, but just not thrilling); Patatas Bravas (despite spices and cheese topping, these potatoes seemed to be lacking some element. Salt? One would think cheese would provide that, but something still seemed to be missing); Crepa Rellena (the crepe was light and crisp, but its filling of goat cheese, spinach, pine nuts and apple seemed homogenous; one could not discern the separate elements); and Pechuga de Pollo (the least exciting dish. Just grilled chicken. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing special. Did not detect the advertised herbed white wine sauce).
Desserts did not wow me; we split two from the specials menu. The ginger-spiced cheesecake tasted like pumpkin (maybe because we're more accustomed to these spices as part of pumpkin pie?). The hazelnut sponge cake supposedly soaked in Frangelico was dry and the layers instantly fell apart, and the fruit coulis on the plate didn't seem to go with the flavors of the cake (the menu said there would be a caramel cream, but I didn't detect that anywhere).
Our server stayed on top of our needs, and extra kudos to the bussers, who worked efficiently to remove emptied plates as the rounds progressed.
Overall, a nice special occasion destination.
5 stars for the history
5 stars for the food
5 stars for the atmosphere.
History
When I was a kid my mom and dad used to go here on special occasions together. They always talked about how beautiful it was and they would stay out for long nights filled with sangria, paella and bacon- wrapped dates. They told me that tapas was very adult and I had to wait until my 13th birthday to experience this place.
On my 13th birthday I got all gussied up and put on my best adult behavior for one of the most memorable meals. Thanks to Meson Sabika (formerly Emilio's back in the day) tapas is now my favorite type of food.
Food
I went back a few weeks ago for my dad's 50th b-day dinner and it is still absolutely amazing. The food was outstanding and the service was great. My recommendations for the classics we can't go there and not order.
Goat cheese marinara (duh)
Bacon Wrapped Dates (duh)
Portobello Relleno
Ternera Asada (cold thinly sliced veal MMMMM)
Patatas Con Alioli (garlic potato salad ---will stay with you for a week)
Cordero Al Pastor (grilled lamb in a rich flavorful sauce)
I also recommend a pitcher (or two) of their red sangria. They look deceptively small but they seem never ending with the pours.
Overall this is a must try for a special night out, a nice date or a great place to catch up with a group of friend or family.
Bring your appetite, taste buds and try something different. You will not regret trying this place.
I'm not such a fan of bridal showers, but if all the showers I attended took place at a gorgeous restaurant like Meson Sabika I'd be happy to go to one every weekend. Oh wait, I pretty much do go to one every weekend...but this was a good one!
The mansion this restaurant is located within is absolutely gorgeous! We were in one of the private rooms, which was the perfect size for the 20 or so people I was lunching with. It was a little cramped while we mingled and sipped some very tasty sangria, but as soon as we sat down it really was the perfect size.
There was a set menu: salad, choice of salmon or filet, and some sort of banana dessert. The salad wasn't anything special, but the rest of the meal was delicious! The salmon had a huge chunk of goat cheese on top of it, which makes any dish tasty! And as for dessert they topped a banana with lots of caramel sauce and ice cream...making this healthy fruit oh so fattening and delicious!
I'll admit I don't make it out to the burbs too often, but knowing there are places like Meson Sabika out there almost makes me want to broaden my horizons.
Besides entering into the parking lot, while walking up you feel as though you're having dinner at a friends house, a rich friend at that =P. As you enter, you truly feel as though there's a dinner party going on. We checked in with the hostess, and were directed towards the bar to enjoy cocktails as we wait for our table. The bar area was beautiful, it felt as though you were in Napa Valley, very old world.
We were seated not too long after, and were shortly greeted by our waitress. She was knowledgeable, and didn't mind when we asked what tapas she would suggest.
After our food arrived, we were didn't realize how much we ordered, I guess when you 're dealing with tapas you tend to think to order more because of the small quantity, I suggest ordering maybe two at a time. Everything was absolutely, amazingly delicious!! I totally recommend this place, especially if you plan to eat with several friends.
Overall-
Ambiance: A
Cleanliness: A
Food: A
Prices: B
Service: A
----------------------
Grade: A
P.S.
A wedding was going on while we enjoyed dinner in the outside tent, from the looks of it, it was very beautiful!
I've been to Meson Sabika three times now. Once for dinner and twice for brunch (one of these times was for a private party in the dining room). I love the goat cheese! Don't much care for the potato salad and I must say that I just don't get the bacon-wrapped dates.
Service is good, food is good, drinks are good, atmosphere is good. I absolutely love the outdoor seating and view. Something that's helpful to note is that the stairs leading to the second floor are STEEP and can be hard to navigate when juggling brunch plates (or after a few too many glasses of sangria). If you're making reservations, ask to be seated on the first floor if the stairs are a concern for anyone in your party. The staff is very accomodating.
I'll definitely be back for tapas!
Met Kasey G. and fam here a couple weeks ago. We enjoyed the patio, which is expansive and relaxing. The tapas are pretty good...can't say much more than that, because there's nothing exceptional about it. But the environs will bring us back.
They added a building since I was last there, apparently for special events - it looked like a beautiful space to hold an occasion. There was a nice wedding ceremony going on nearby while we dined (lesbian wedding in Naperville - woo!) that was very touching.
There are so many must-tries on this Tapas menu that you simply must go and try it once. The garlic… Read more »
Before diving into my food critique, I want to mention that the mansion and grounds are quite beautiful. It's perfect for weddings and receptions. In fact during our visit there was a reception being held in the pavilion.
I had heard good things the sangrias here. I ordered the red and my friend ordered the white and both were pretty strong. I think sangria at Olive garden is better.
For the tapas the three of us shared the following:
Crepe Rellena - I'd give it 3 stars
Pipirrana De Buey (strips of skirt steak) - 3 star
Pasta Con Hortalizas - 4 star
Buuelos De Cangrejo (crabmeat fritters) - 3 star
Berenjena con Queso (eggplant topped with goat cheese) - 2 star
For dessert:
Platano Con Helado (banana with pistachios & ice cream) - 3 star
Crema De Chocolate (creme brulee with chocolate) - 4 star
Pera De La Abuela (poached pear with cinnamon) - 2 star
Overall, I just didn't think the food was particular tasty. The tapas portions were very small too. I've been to other tapas places that served more.
I went here a couple weeks ago on a date. We both enjoyed it. We had the assorted spanish cheeses & apples - cannot go wrong with that. Bacon wrapped dates with a smokey red pepper sauce - very tasty. We had a shrimp dish with a cream sauce with mushrooms which we both enjoyed. We also had a beef empanada - it was good but not my fav. We wanted to get the duck breast but they were out of it. We had red sangria and I have to say that was the one thing I was disappointed with. It was too dry or something (my date agreed). Next time I'd probably try the peach sangria. All in all a good place. Nice atmosphere and I thought the service was good....oh and a good date place too :)
Nothing anyone can place before you on a plate inside can top this tapas lush layout with towering trees and verdant views. Yet the food is worthy of taking a break from the natural beauty of this wonder of suburbia. Meson Sabika never fails to attract couples and good friends who love little bites of heaven and embrace the Sangria. Oh Lord, let the fruity blood wash over me.
Over years I've been to Meson with a variety of people always leaving full and happy and sometimes falling back drunk from the drink of the gods. This is probably a great second date spot. The food is decent but on the pricey side. Is that a surprise given your dining on a plantation flying the colors of Spain in Wonder bread Naperville? Speaking of wonderment, just when did the Spanish conquer the Western suburbs? And why did they build so many strip malls?
Who would have guessed that such a restaurant would exist in Naperville?!?! Four of us celebrated Valentine's Day here last night and had an amazing time, even though I was very skeptical at first. Why skeptical?? Allow me to step on my soap box...
1) I've been to Spain several times and have experienced "tapas verdaderas."
2) Tapas are meant to be eaten in a more communal and laid back ambiance such as bars and pubs...not a ritzy restaurant (unless it's touristy, of course). Often they even come free in its homeland with a beer or glass of wine/champagne and aren't the price of an average American entree.
3) It's in the Chicago suburbs, not city.
4) Walking in made me want to walk right back out the door. You enter the gorgeous mansion's doors and your eyes focus on the painted ceilings and...You've entered the Playboy Mansion! The hostesses all looks like over-tanned whores with super short, bright pink skirts and revealing shirts. Arg! For such a fancy restaurant, I don't think it's necessary even if they all plan to spend their tip shares going out after work.
Now on the other hands, I'll admit that I was BLOWN AWAY after being served (and not by those hostesses)! Here's a list of a few of our favorites...
Recommended Tapas:
*Well these are to be accompanied with red Sangria, of course...
~Pato Confitado (everyone's favorite dish that had a citrus kickin' gravy and caused the marinated duck to melt in your mouth)
~Patatas con Alioli (super garlic-y to perfection)
~Pincho de Solomillo (grilled steak kabobs with a delicious goat cheese/horseradish yogurt and marinated onions)
~Queso de Cabra (this was definitely a winner due to the garlic toast with a sweet tomato, goat cheese paste)
~Datiles con Tocino (the thought always turned my stomach upside down, but I sampled it and enjoyed the sweet flavor and crunchy texture)
~Vieiras al Albariño (the BEST scallops I've ever had and if I say that it means A LOT. Not my cup of tea usually, but they were perfectly buttery [lemon tomato butter sauce] with a good portion of thick cous cous balls)
~Tortilla Española (I'm usually not a fan due to its blandness, but I liked it more than in Spain itself due to its sherry vinaigrette and balanced mix between onions and potatoes)
If you're still hungries:
~Jamon Serrano (not my favorite dish anywhere, but fairly good)
~Gambas al Ajillo (nice sized shrimp with a buttery lemon garlic sauce but nothing unique or out-of-this-world)
I'd like to go back for Brunch (perhaps Easter?). This next time I'd definitely try out the Sangritini (Sangria Martini) due to its uniqueness and the fusion between two yummy yet dangerous things.
Three Recommendations For Your Visit:
~Reservations practically required!!
~Dress is semi-business casual and up. Jeans are probably not acceptable (even though my entire party had jeans on yet we were only kept from being out of place by wealthy people's kids).
~Do NOT miss out on the desserts. All were amazing. Really there's no point in recommending any specific one because it would depend on your taste buds and you can't go wrong no matter what.
Meson is a perfect place for a unique, cultural wedding that gets away from food that all tastes the same.
Now, go, Go, GO see for yourself!
Such a beautiful, elegant mansion-turned-restaurant. I went here with the family and boyfriend yesterday for Sunday brunch. It was a buffet brunch serving hot and cold tapas....there was also a cute little table, about 2 feet high, with more kid-friendly options. The tapas selection is quite extensive and is a great way to sample the many different kinds of tapas for only $26.95 a person!! Also included in the buffet is your choice of omelette and dessert, both of which you order. The food was delicious. The hot tapas follow the cold tapas, so be careful not to get that much food in the beginning, otherwise, you'd be stuffed and realize that you've only tried half of the tapas...like me!
The service was great. The servers are friendly and attentive....never was there a moment when my glass of water was half full.
Definitely make reservations!! I think they have a mother's day special coming up. If you want to spoil and amaze your mother, this place would definitely be it!!
This place kicks ass and if you ever have to trek out to the Naperville area to meet people for dinner or drinks you should definitely make a reservation here. I'm a city guy but I made several trips there and had my 21st birthday dinner in a private room with 12 people and the service and food were delicious. Their sangria is a great balance and doesn't taste too sweet or sappy. Most people find morcilla (blood sausage) pretty gross but if you've ever wanted to try it their version is delicious and not too greasy. I always get the salmon on toasts points too.
I recommend you stick to tapas on your first visit. The paella is good but pretty loaded.
My wife and I were just married here! We got married in the rose garden in front of the mansion, which is beautifully landscaped with eye-popping greenery, elegant fountains and nice little coy pond that we took pictures by. We were going to head to downtown Naperville for pictures, but we couldn't bear to leave this abundance of beauty. There couldn't have been a better place to capture our wedding day.
The newly constructed pavilion, where are reception was couldn't have turned out any better. The window covered perimeter made our reception feel open, and allowed the art of the outside landscape to seep in.
We had a vegetarian/Vegan wedding, and the staff was more than happy to accommodate both. I've never heard people rave about food at a wedding, but we received so many compliments about the paella, stuffed mushrooms, epanads, ok really everything. The staff even went out of their way at the reception to make something custom for me to eat, which I didn't ask them to do. I had a delectable marinated portobello mushroom dish with an almond sauce with roasted peppers and water chestnuts. Totally unexpected, much appreciated.
I expect nothing less of the restaurant itself. The staff and food are worth making the trip out to no matter where in the Chicago area you are from. Highly recommended!
Do not drive out to Naperville for this place. If you already live in or near Naperthrill, well, I am sorry. And it is not inexpensive. Why no love for Sabika--bc of the blandness.
Definitely one of my favorite (if not overall) restaurants not only in Naperville but in the entire Chicago area. I developed a love of tapas while studying abroad in Spain in college and can definitely recommend Meson Sabika as having pretty authentic tapas fare.
The red sangria is great (not overly sweet, which is a fault I usually find elsewhere), and I've yet to try anything that I didn't think was at least great. My favorite dishes are always well prepared, and the tortilla and patatas alioli taste just as they did in Spain! I also love the queso de cabra.
Meson being my favorite place, I've been there numerous times with various people and have yet to hear anything negative from anyone in my group about the food. Another great thing I love about Meson is that in keeping with Spanish tradition, I've never felt rushed - we've stayed there many times for much longer than we would have felt comfortable in a more typical restaurant, leisurely ordering tapa after tapa as we felt like trying something else.
It is a rather elegant atmosphere (with prices to match), but I ranked its attire as "casual" only because I typically go after work or even in jeans and have never felt out of place. When the weather's warm, I recommend eating out on the patio for an even more enjoyable experience. And if I remember correctly, on Friday (and Saturday?) evenings, they have a flamenco guitarrist and dancer.
After talking so much about Meson, now I want to go!
Great value, excellent food quality, great wine list.
Best service I have received in the western suburbs.... by far.
Make a reservation! The restaurant can be very, very busy- even on weekdays!
Naperville, IL
Category: Spanish
Naperville, IL
Category: Italian
Naperville, IL
Category: Italian
Naperville, IL
Category: Steakhouses
Naperville, IL
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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