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Categories: Tapas Bars, Lounges [Edit]
Neighborhood: Wicker ParkDamen (Blue)
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We went here to see a friend's art work (http://www.kristinbrun...) and were so happy to find we've got a new weeknight tapas place if we want to venture down to Wicker Park.
Had a great experience here. LOVED the skirt steak. Good service from all the waitstaff. Went on a weeknight, so there were no crowds. Monday evenings before 7:00 pm are $3 tapas, including ceviche, papas bravas, mediterrean salad, and a few more.
I had been meaning to try this place for a while. My disclaimer: I'd already had plenty sangria by the time I ate so my palate might've slanted this...but:
Short rib, queso de cabra (goat cheese), skirt steak, and tuna is what I recall having and they were all very good! Hence the 4 stars.
Price: I think it was pretty decent considering there were maybe 1 or 2 pitchers of red sangria (which was not bad but not great) and 5 tapas, and it was 4 of us that split the $160 bill.
Really liked the lively atmosphere. Loud but it's fun for a chill, hang out with friends type of Friday night.
Had the sangria been better it'd be 5 stars.
Remember: I have not been to Ba Ba Reeba or Iberico.
One of my best friends had planned her birthday party here recently and the planners here are the most unhelpful, money-making, dishonest and inflexible people ever!
The food portions are tiny and we were forced to have a pre-menu for 15 people, but the portions they brought out were definitely for 8! They, in fact, made us pay for 20 because one of us had at one time mentioned to them casually that we may have more than 15, and even though only 12 actually showed up, they used that slip-of-tongue-almost to charge us for 20!!!
The place itself is cramped - so I highly recommend against ever hosting a party here!!
I stopped in here with a friend on a weeknight and we had a very nice experience. We were seated immediately at one of the large tables by the front window. Our waiter came right over, introduced himself and told us a little bit about the restaurant and menu.
We tried all of the dishes he recommended: People's skirt steak, calamar frito, patatas bravas, and the queso de cabra. Each dish was excellent with its own unique touch. The steak (my favorite dish) was served with melted cheese and chopped tomatoes, and it went well with the potatoes which were topped with a spicy aioli. The calamari was perfectly cooked and was served with a green salsa and another aioli. Finally, the goat cheese came with a zingy red sauce and garlic toast. The 4 dishes were enough for 2 people.
This was my first time eating tapas, so I can't comment on the price/portion size ratio. Don't let the $3 tapas fool you because they just come in smaller portions; They tell you this before you order and recommend the full size if you're hungry. The waiter was very helpful, and the service was excellent. Overall, we had a great meal. People is a great option for dining in Wicker Park.
Last night my friend and I were STARVING. So, where did we decide to go? A tapas bar. Smart, no?
Now, I love tapas. I've been to Spain. I've had the real thing. I'm not just some crazy girl running my mouth. So, pay attention.
If I could pick any restaurant to commit suicide, it would be People Lounge. "Oh, so harsh!" one might say, but I'm honestly trying to help you folks out.
Now, I can't just simply say I hated everything about this place, which I did, but I will back that statement up with some valid points:
-Decor=cheap.
-Worst Sangria I've ever had. I could hardly taste the wine or brandy that should be in it.
-Our waiter chose to inspect traffic on Milwaukee, rather than thoughtfully answer the questions I was asking him.
-Ordered a lamb dish and literally spit it out the second it hit my mouth. Rubber flavored rubbish.
-Incredibly overpriced. You are NOT getting your money's worth. YES, tapas are small portions, but the food is NOT cooked properly. Any tapas priced higher than $5 a piece is more than a rip-off.
-Music....music, music, music. I had to choke down that horrid sangria to keep myself from laughing at the techno remixes they were playing. Although, they did play a Bjork song...re-re-remixed. What Bjork song can you think of that really needs to be fused with a techno back-beat? None would be the correct answer.
Want the truth? I bought three $1.50 tacos afterward. Need I say more?
Scene: Interior of Hub 51.
Dining companions: "Let's head to People Lounge."
MA: "I am not going to Wicker Park to hang with a bunch of skinny-jean wearing hipsters with ironic facial hair. No. I. Am. Not."
Scene: Interior People Lounge. Okay, not so bad. Actually pretty good. Really laid back vibe. DJ spinning some excellent tunes. Great beer selection. They have Matilda-my girl beer crush. Bartenders spot on.
We had already had dinner at Hub 51 but we did try the: Empanada de Cerdo-sweet chili pork empanadas with belgian beer aioli.
I would bathe in that aioli if was socially acceptable. Honestly I would.
So yes, there are still cool laid back lounges in Wicker Park.
That. Is. All.
Best tapas in the city! I can not get enough of this place. Every time I have a visitor from out town, I always take them to People. I wish I could visit more often, but since have moved to Lincoln Park. I've had pretty much everything on the menu and it is all delicious and tasty. The sangria is excellent as well. If you live far from Wicker Park, the trip over there is well worth it. You will not be disappointed.
People is a great tapas spot in a seemingly hip (and potentially up and coming-?- section of Chicago). We went to People because of a gift certificate on http://restaurant.com that we got free with booking our Chicago trip via Orbitz (a summer special, I think). I'm always a fan of tapas. The idea of small plates with so many tastes and unexpected combinations is so delightful to me and People got it right.
A sign highlighting the drink specials (some on beer and one for $10 pitchers-good sized pitchers--of sangria) sitting on the sidewalk between the outside seating and People's entrance greeted us.
We were then soon greeted by a bustling man who spoke fast, moved fast, and was incredibly helpful and pleasant. He made great recommendations, guessed that I was a pescatarian, and just treated us exactly the way you (well at least I) want to be treated in a restaurant. He even brought us out "tastes" (aka full glasses) of both white and red sangria to help us decide which pitcher to get--both great--we got the red. I wish I lived in Chicago so I could frequent People and become friends with the entire staff.
The food was up and to our table in an amazingly quick amount of time. It really couldn't have tasted better. The sauces that rimmed the dishes of some of the small plates were, rich, varied, pungent (in a good way), and savory--see both the aioli and avocado sauces. The cheese plate (the small one, plato de queso on the menu) was large and had a ton of cheese. Multiple servers and bussers (all male--in the entire restaurant -at least while we were there-which I thought was interesting) took care of our water cups and never let them get empty (a big plus for this Arizona native!).
We sat near the bar which was housing a gathering of a 20somethings group of friends. On the walls are large pictures of people from across the world--a man smiling while panhandling toward the camera, a street performer holding a rose, some small children hugging each other.
Across the street is an American Apparel, some dive-ish bars, liquor stores, a group of places to eat, some seemingly independent small clothing stores--basically a quasi hipster haven without being obnoxious. I will recommend People to everyone I know in and visiting Chicago.
I'd give it a 3.5. It's better than OK, but I'm not a huge fan. The service is good, but a bit flaky. The decor is fine, if uninspired. The music is...the lesser of two evils. I find that in tapas places, you're either listening to Flamenco guitar or dance. People has chosen dance. Their Sangria is good, but a bit weak (they have red or white, which is a plus). Their skirt steak is fantastic. Their other tapas are good, but don't rise (or fall) much from the pack. So overall, its a standard tapas experience.
Love! At People you can feel comfortable if you are in sloppy t-shirt, hoody, and jeans or if you're dressed to the nines for a night out on the town. The atmosphere of the place is laid back, with dimmed lights and ambient music. Add a pitcher of red wine sangria (it's best with some brandy added) and relaxation is not far off.
The menu changes with the season, with some standouts offered year-round (oh People skirtsteak, I don't know what I would do without you). My boyfriend and I just samples tapas off of the fall menu and it was our favorite offering so far. After the meal was over my boyfriend described the food as "last meal good," and that's not something he says lightly.
Even though the place looks packed to the gills most of the time, waits are short, if at all. When you sit down, waiters are quick to come to your table, and are wonderful about getting your first course out to you quickly so you don't sit at the table hungry. The fast serving time at People has saved my stomach more than once.
Fabio is a standout waiter here. He'll make you instantly feel welcome and make thoughtful recommendations without being pushy. Ask to sit in his section for a fantastic experience.
First.. I love that so many people gave a bad review based on "small portions"...its supposed to be small its Tapas!!!
I love the service here. The bar tenders are always friendly and I never have to wait long for drinks even on a busy Friday night.
The food is always great and the drink specials are good.
I will agree that the sangria is not the most amazing and they need to work on more Veggie options...with that said I still love the place.
Since I don't eat meat I can get full here for pretty cheap.
Try the squash cake...it is amazing.
I've eaten here a few times, and while the menu isn't out of the ordinary, the food is of excellent quality. They know the shit out of their wines, and really enjoy talking about them. And the desserts are awesome.
I started tonight with Gazpacho. I'm not sure why...but I did. It was, eh. But I think it was just a poor choice.
I then had the bacon wrapped dates. They were really big, and the sauce was dlish!
Entree...scallops. I could have done without the salad that comes with--since it tasted like weeds. But I didn't order scallops for the salad. Their scallops are consistently some of the best I've had in the city. Just really high quality, no grainy bits, and cooked perfectly. I would have eaten 40, but alas, they only gave me three.
Dessert--flan. They do some of the best flan I've had. Simple, yet fulfilling. Luckily they took my plate, or I might have licked it.
Service was attentive. My server was knowledgeable, and in a neighborhood where EVERYONE has an attitude, she was attitude free. Even though I was kinda a dick and talked on my phone half the meal.
kinda tight seating... the food is real good tho... at least it looks good.. and prices are good...
Came with a group of 6, which the long bench like tables seat perfectly! It was a great spot to try, and although I do feel like the portions were a little on the small side, everyone really enjoyed the food here. It was a wonderful alternative to Baba Reba, not as big, more intimate, don't feel rushed, etc.
The sangria is good, about 6 glasses per pitcher. As far as the food goes, some of the standouts in my opinion were: Ceviche (may have been seasonal/special) with tilapia and scallops, Potatoes, Calamari, and the Goat cheese stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon. The 6 of us left with a lower bill than we expected, so that's always a plus. However, I am not sure everyone was completely full... but we were satisfied. For example, with everything we ordered, there was barely enough or just enough for all of us... again with the portions...
I have been wanting to try this tapas restaurant for awhile, since, based on it's name, I felt I'd fit right in. Unfortunately, our waiter turned out to be a superhero - The Disappearing Man - and bread was scarcer than it had been in the Great Depression. Seriously! We asked 4 different people for bread and it took about 45 minutes to arrive at our table - after we were done with most of our food. Note to self: do not visit this restaurant the night before a race. Carb loading will be difficult.
Now, the food. I was dining with a lovely vegetarian so our options were somewhat limited, but overall, the food was yummy, although the portions were small. The ambiance left something to be desired as well. It was small and noisy and the temperature of an oven. Please finish reading this review before running out to eat at this place. On the upside, there was a drunk couple engaged in pre-coitus a the bar. Dinner and a show. Not every restaurant can boast this fact.
The verdict? Don't waste your time. No, really. Stay home and eat bread.
Pretty standard, as far as tapas go.
We started off with red sangria for two. It tasted really watered down, which bummed me out. It's definitely not the best sangria I've had.
I had the citrus salad (with oranges and a citrus vinaigrette dressing) and bread/goat cheese. We also split potatoes with a bleu cheese sauce. It was good, but nothing that knocked my socks off. There really weren't a lot of vegetarian options on the menu, which limited me a lot.
Our server was attentive and we got all our food pretty fast.
We had the tres leches cake for dessert, which was the highlight of the meal. It was a hard, spongy cake sitting in sweet milk with a cherry on top. Mmmmm.
I might go back again, but I wouldn't go out of the way to go here. It was ok, but not spectacular.
. Went on a spontaneous date here.
. Sat at the bar to wait for a table and the bartender was really chill.
. Got seated and had a kick out of the quirky artwork on the walls.
. Ordered food and our waitress was a sweetheart.
. Got fried calamari, mojito chicken, skirtsteak, and potatoes.
. Gulped it all in 2 bites--it was so good but so small in portion!
. Had a successful spontaneous date here.
Who'd have guessed that bad service and overpriced food was a good restaurant idea? Not only was the service terrible, but the music being played was almost as repulsive as the lamb dish I ordered. I really felt the urge to poke my ears with sticks due to their european techno underground stars, jewish mystic, remix music that they had playing. If I had been playing PacMan at the time, it wouldn't have been a problem, however, this isn't the type of jam I like to hear when I'm trying to drink and be merry.
I had a beautiful first date here. Probably because he told me to forget the coupon. Yeah, bad form on my part.
It looked kind of like a german brauhaus- long wooden tables, sparse architecture, not too much decor. But it felt like you were eating at a church. The lighting was this dim, romantic lighting and we picked a seat far away from everyone. On a thursday night, it was quiet, they opened the patio windows/doors and you can see everyone walking by on a lush summer night while hearing noises from the street as a faint background.
The food was wonderful. The waiter brought us 2 glasses of sangria to taste to see which one to pick. (I wonder if you're too cheap to buy a drink if you can just 'taste' the entire glass). The red sangria with the additional Champagne in a pitcher is DELICIOUS. though a little too non-alcoholic in my book.
The food was amazing. The beef and the scallops were all amazing and for a first date, the portions were perfect...u know where you don't want to seem like hungry and gobble down an entire steak so you pick up little portions when hes not looking.
This is hands down one of my favorite tapas places in the city. Definite recommend.
Oh, and did I mention we found parking outside? HUGE + for chicago.
I really like this place. Half price for Tapas If you get in before 7pm.
Food is excellent and affordable!
Any kind tapas is very tasty.
Service is good but we always going to this place at weekdays so it's not crowded.
People Lounge is one of the best Tapas at Chicago!
Ambience can be good or bad depending on the night. I really like the decor but I really don't care for the DJ. That being said, this is an excellent place for a first date, or a tenth date.
The patatas bravas and queso de cabra is like sex in your mouth. Or at least my mouth anyway.
We really enjoyed our meal here. Yes, it's a bit expensive, but a $25 certificate (which they accept) from http://restaurants.com helps. And they have a $3 tapas special on certain nights. `
The sangria may be too sweet for your taste, but this is just how it tastes in Spain, folks. I remember seeing half an inch of sugar at the bottom of a carafe in a cafe in Spain. Don't worry, there's no undisolved sugar in the carafes at People, but the sangria IS sweet in the Spanish tradition.
We really enjoyed all the food we ordered -- the pork empanadas (wow), skirt steak (wow), cheese plate, and tilapia. It was all VERY tasty, and we were full and happy when we walked out.
I've been here a couple times and I really enjoyed it my first time and every time since my I've liked it less. The food is pretty good but sometimes you get the sense it's sitting around for a couple hours and then microwaved and served. Cant miss tapas are the empanadas, skirt steak and the bacon wrapped dates. You can definitely work up a bill around $100 when you grab 5-6 tapas and a pitcher of sangria. You can do better for that kind of money in Chicago. The only time I'll be back anytime soon is during the week between 5-7 pm to take advantage of the $3 tapas menu
I came here last night with friends of mine for an 8pm dinner on a Saturday night. I was surprised at how not packed it was. It was bustling, large parties filling tables, people at the bar sipping sangria, but not people on top of each other like the last few times I was there.
There was plenty of really good quick service, our server hustled her butt around making sure our table of seven, (then grew to nine), had everything we needed. Cracking jokes, making us smile, keeping us happy. I can't remember her name, but she is the short statured, dark haired, girl who knows the menu.
I joined my friend's table about 8pm, just as they clinked glasses celebrating said friend's birthday. We ordered several dishes and a few rounds of food. We did, the spicy potatoes, (crispy and tasty but that neon orange sauce still freaks me out a little), the dates, (good, not great), the mussels, (meh), the chili pork empanadas, (really, really tasty). The tuna, (good, though the tuna could have had a little more seasoning), meatballs, (tasty, meaty and bally), the goat cheese, (standard and always great), the pork, (tender and tasty, loved the fingerling potatoes and kale) and probably a few other dishes that I didn't try. We like to eat. We all shared two orders of their molten chocolate cake, which was a sweet ending to the night.
It was still loud, plenty of tables with just gorgeous women, (note to guys, you might not want to bring a date here, you eyes might wander and sangria might get spilled, single guys, come here), and the service still is really quick and great. Above all else, my friend certainly had a great time for her birthday, and really that is what mattered the most.
I've been here a couple of times, but strangely I keep missing out on a proper meal here. I met a… Read more »
I think it's become clear that the only way to dine here is with the http://Restaurant.com gift certificate. That said, the gift certificate doesn't apply to the limited $3 tapas menu or to alcohol. So we filled our bellies with some $3 deals and some sangria, but the $25 discount only came off an additional $50 spent on regularly priced food and dessert. Also note that there's a minimum charge of $15 per credit card, for bill-splitting purposes.
The $3 menu is a good deal, featuring portions no smaller than other items we purchased from the normal menu. I swear I detected hints of imitation crabmeat in the ceviche shot, but for $3, that's a hit I'm willing to take. This place has smaller portions than Iberico or Ba ba reeba, and while less authentic than Iberico, everything was tasty in its own right.
Tastiest @ $3: Coca with its unexpectedly sweet pickled veggie blend, and the standard but yummy patatas bravas
Tastiest under $10: Salmon tostada (my favorite of the night), vegetales al people (small but delicious spaghetti squash cake), and the meat eaters raved about the bacon-wrapped-date-wrapped goat cheese skewers (datiles con bacon).
The tortilla here was so tasty but my heart kind of broke when I saw the size of it. I know, I know, small plates, but the thing about me and tortilla is that it needs to be the size of my face.
We greatly enjoyed the churros for dessert, licked up the cinnamon sugar and drank the leftover chocolate.
And I also lack evidence that the tasty red sangria contained any alcohol. Get a pitcher on Monday night for $10 and consider it a pleasant juice blend.
Kay, I'm going to look like a clumsy, fat, American, but hear me out.
I picked this place for a special night with my girls, and even made a reservation. Since our group was large, we had to commit to a food package, either $25pp or $35pp. We went with the $25, but that's not important.
All I'm going to say is, they knew in advance how many of us there were, and they gave us enough food for about 70% of us. I don't just mean portions, which were really too small even for tapas, but I mean like 8 shrimp for 12 people. I just hated hosting people, requiring them to cough up a certain amount of cash, then leaving feeling like we'd be hungry again in 20 minutes.
On the plus side, the owner introduced himself and our server had a charming accent. And maybe it was just a bad call on my part to have a group event there, but I'd read here that it was "good for groups." But what can you do. Live and learn.
Good selection, decent food, but lacking in ambiance. Service was decent but all in all, it was just kinda meh. Maybe this place is better on the weekend when it's a bit livelier...but I was a bit disappointed, especially for the price!
Oh! And weak sangria (-one star)
Celebrated a friend's birthday at People Lounge last night. Large group. Great service by Daniel. The sangria was good. Most of the tapas we enjoyed, except for the crabcakes and dessert. Noisy atmosphere - not a place for a quiet evening out.
I would definitely recommend this restaurant if you're with a large group looking for a fun night out.
This is my third visit to People Lounge and all three times the food has been very solid.
First, this place gets a big MUCHAS GRACIAS for letting our party of 10 be seated at 8pm and keep the table for the entire night.
Before I get to the food and serve, I took off -1 Star for WEAK SANGRIA! Last night for NYE 9 of us drank ELEVEN pitchers of sangria (tasty - red and white) and not a single buzz was to be found, even among the tiniest of girls. So, eleven pitchers in, we got smart and started ordering something else to drink. Our waitress recommended the "Punisher", which she said would be like a long island in strength. Indeed! It was super yummy and quite strong as it was made with 151 Rum, Malibu and Stoli Berry vodka (it was cut with pineapple juice and grenadine). At $10 a pop, you'll get your money's worth.
Service was great. Our waitress was exceptionally friendly and a lot of fun. She took many group shots, each with 4 camers. That's patience :)
Food was deeeeeeelicious. Some may have a beef with the price/value relationsihp as the portions are smaller than most tapas places and the prices are higher. Expect to spend more here than you would be Ba Ba Reeba. Food quality is higher and flavors are more sophisticated. Many of the meat tapas calientes come with really good garnishes/accoutrement. But note - no bread on the table. Very sad :(
It's a bit loud bcs of the DJ spinning - on the most AWESOME turntable ever - a PBR turntable. That's right.
Specifics:
Potatas Bravas: Awesome
Bacon Wrapped Dates: Delicious. 3 per order. Allegedly stuffed w/goat cheese - but what popped out did not look like goat cheese (or taste like it). Either way, they were good.
Skirt Steak: BEST thing on the menu and probably the best preparation of skirt steak I've ever had. Piece is not huge, so don't be disappointed by size.
Pollo Diablo: Really good. Be warned, the outside of the chicken is green bcs it's a "mojito chicken breast".
Pork tenderloin: great.
Calamari: great.
Shrimp: fine. just like ba ba reeba.
Croquetas: looked good, didn't try it.
Goat cheese w/marinara: Smaller than ba ba reeba, still pretty good.
Tortilla Espanola: the weakest link of the night. They've tried to make it fancier and lost the best parts of the dish.
We really enjoyed this spot, it's intimate, great ambiance, fab service and fun music. Our waiter was very laid back, which made the meal that much more enjoyable. When we were there every table in the restaurant was full and there was a decent size crowd at the bar. The noise level wasn't bad, as we were able to talk and hear one another throughout our dinner.
We started with the Ensalada de Arugula, which consisted of baby arugula, pomegranate vinaigrette, fennel, tetilla cheese - great combination. We also had the Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers - A M A Z I N G! The Seared Ahi Tuna was served with Plantain Chips and sweet relish, it was very flavorful and fresh. My husband also selected the Sweet Chili Pork Empanadas and devoured them. We also had two pitchers of Sangria. The red sangria was my favorite. The white sangria was a little too sweet for my liking.
The only real negative is one bathroom for the ladies. There was always a line the entire night.
We visited last night with a very large group. We made reservations for 10, but ended up having 15. They worked with us and got us a second table a little bit later while half of our party chilled at the bar. The waiter was very good. He gave us his recommendations for a large group and we just went with what he said! He even made sure there were plenty of vegetarian dishes for one of our people. He also brought our birthday boy some pretty good lava cake with a candle!
Now, the food. I really liked everything that came my way! The cheese platter was great! Grilled Tuna, wonderful! Tortillas were spicy and good. The Calamari was good, but not the best I've had. Spicy potatoes were great as well! The scallops on a bed of bacon were amazing! We had both the white and red sangria with champagne added. I enjoyed the white quite a bit and am not a wine person. Others loved the red as well. We had more, I can't quite remember the rest, but it was good too!
The atmosphere was VERY loud. You could only really have a conversation if you were sitting right next to the person, but that just means the place was hopping! The decor is nice. Dark walls and dark wood tables, lots of candles and subtle lighting. It was cozy!
I definitely recommend this place for a group. It isn't a cozy romantic place, but it's fun! They have a $3 tapas special on Sun-Thurs. I'll definitely go back and try that out sometime!
We visited people for a nightcap. We wanted to sit outside but had to start off waiting inside. The menu looked great but we were there to drink. They had a great wine list and pretty good specials ($3 coronas and $10 sangria pitchers) when we visited. Be aware, though... the pitchers are pretty small and are mostly ice! We enjoyed sitting outside and watching the cars go by, but the outside seating is VERY tight... they have 3 tables and you're practically on top of each other. If someone is drunk, you are definitely on top of each other. We originally thought that all of the tables (or at least more of them) were for People, but they weren't.
Overall a decent place to sit and have a drink.
spanish wine is so good for the price, a very tasty tempranillo, better than any I've had for about $48
mussels were a lil fishy, green beans (my picky eating companion said) were from frozen, I thought they were good though and I liked the kale. We also got some seabass, a caesar with anchovies, tenderloin was yummie, all kinds of goodies, we spent $200 (after tip) which seems a bit much, but we did have 3 cocktails, 1 bottle, and a ton of food.
I wish there weren't tvs on unless there was a special event or a screensaver thing or an old movie - muted, but I can say this about any place I go unless it's a sports bar, which I don't go to, because... they're sports bars.
I'd go again, for much less food and liquor. Maybe for a midday snack, or after movie or dinner snack and coctail.
to the people that complain about noise, it's a tapas place, it's on milwaukee, with tv screens and a long bar, what do you expect?!
Some of the best Tapas I have ever had! The spicy potatoes (a standard in my circle) were awesome! But the star of the night was the chicken skewer! we had to get 2 every one loved it (we named it orgasmic chicken)! It's a great atmosphere and tasty sangria! All the standard tapas where great!
This place is a little on the pricey side but you get what you pay for.
I haven't been in a while so i should probably go back!
Maybe I like the idea of tapas more than the reality. . .
The husband and I went back with two friends and even with a $25 off gift cert, managed to spend $200. Granted we had 4 pitchers of sangira, but that only accounted for $70 of the bill. I think the problem with tapas is that in a group it just doesn't work as well - how do you split 3 goat cheese stuffed dates (damn tasty) between 4 people? Plus we ordered way too much (yet I left only sated, not stuffed) and didn't keep track of how much we were spending. The bill was pretty shocking.
I'll probably come back, but only with one other person.
Monday - Thursday they have happy hour with $3 tapas (a select list of like 7 choices) from 5:30-7,… Read more »
This is scenester haven to bounce in and out of while hoping the Wicker Park hot spots.
Great music ie., DJs, and the food is scrumps.
Dátiles con bacon! (You can't be halil or kosher, but it's good!) I ate these the other night with a tulip glass of Glenfiddich, and watching Planet Earth on the flat screens. YEAH!
My friend celebrated her 30th bday here last night with 15 of her closest friends. And if you're looking for a lively atmosphere for a celebration with a big group of people this is it! Fabulous Fabio (the event coordinator at people) was in charge of our group and he's just so...well, fabulous... that I may need him for all my future party planning needs whether they are at People Lounge or not. Think Franc from Father of the Bride- that's pretty much what Fabio is like!
Since there was so many people in our party we had a pre-ordered group menu. The appetizers didn't start off so well. Umm, hello People? You can't share a few bowls of gazpacho among 16 people!
As the meal went on the food got surprisingly better (or perhaps it was that we just kept getting drunker and drunker as we downed glasses of sangria). Some favorites included croquetas, the gambas (marinated shrimp), and the skirt steak.
Dessert wasn't anything special, but that's probably cause someone had brought a cookie cake from Cookies by Design (so yum) that stole the show.
I probably wouldn't come back with just my hubby or a small group of people because I'd rate the food at about a 3, but such a good spot for any big group celebration (bday, bachelorette party, etc). Thanks Fabio and Happy Birthday Aubrey!
One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago.
I go on Monday nights, for the $10 Sangria pitchers.
Ive had almost everything on the menu, and NEVER been disappointed!!
My favorites are the Patatas Bravas, the Calamari- which come with green and white dipping sauces, and for dessert, the mini churros- which come with a warm chocolate dipping sauce.
All of the meats are fantastic, you just cant go wrong.
The server on Mondays, Fabio, is one of the most delightful people you will ever meet. He will also make suggestions for you after asking you a few questions about your taste.
Tapas is always fun because you get a few different plates of small portions of food to split with friends or a date.
Always a smile on my face when I leave. (could be the sangria)
=D
Fun Fun Fun!!!
Enjoy!!
I came here with a group of 8 girls on a Friday night. Definitely make sure to call earlier in the week for reservations. They were pretty cool with seating us even though not everyone in the party was there yet...in fact a couple of the girls were almost 30 minutes late.
I had a list of some appetizers that I knew I wanted to order after reading some of the reviews here...but when I got there, the waiter actually gave ME a list. He said that based on the number in our party, the chefs recommended the following appetizers/plates, including how many orders each! Wow, talk about being proactive. They obviously do well with groups. I went with most of his recommendations but did take some off the list...which he pretended to be a bit offended by.
So, the sangria, dates with bacon, pollo diablo, skirt steak, and patatas bravas are a definite must-order. The empanada and goat cheese were decent, but we didn't rave about them. I wanted to order the paella, but the waiter said it wasn't good at all and wouldn't let me get it.
Towards the end of our dinner, the dj started spinning and it got really loud. We couldn't have a conversation without yelling in each other's ears...so get there early if you don't like loud music. (*Note: We had 7:30pm reservations.)
Prices weren't too bad given the number of people and alcohol. I think we paid $35 per person including tax + tip. All in all, I would come back again. I definitely think the food and atmosphere are better than Cafe Ba Ba Reeba.
We scored a table during the fest on Sunday and were very pleased with the food and the service. The waiter and staff were very attentive and gave us ideas on what to order. The crab cakes were excellent and so were the scallops. We were already drinking beer so we continued with some great choices but I would love to return to try the sangria. Overall a very good experience.
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Neighborhood: Logan Square
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Neighborhood: West Loop
Neighborhood: Lakeview
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Neighborhood: Wicker Park
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Neighborhood: Wicker Park
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Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Tapas Bars
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
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