Tavernita

Came here for a late night dinner mid-​week. The bar was busy, but the dining room was quiet and largely empty only 4 tables that night. Great atmosphere, very attentive and knowledgeable server. We had some small bites and some Cava. A great experience

My family and I, spent the evening here for a nice dinner. We were cheering to a great weekend and looking forward to one of our first tapas experiences.
The only bad part of our experience, was our waitress took a bit to come. Which isn’t that bad. As the waitress arrived, she pointed out all of her favorites. Within minutes, they became our favorites as well.
The decorations at the restaurant were very interesting but also very fun! May I also add, almost every table had a booth!

The food was very good, but I didn’t love this place. My biggest issue is the way the menu works — everyone had to order the same thing to share. When I think of small plates and tapas style food, I think of ordering a bunch of different dishes, sharing, and trying things I might not have ordered otherwise. I came for a work dinner, and it was a group of 9 of us. All 9 of us had to agree on what to order. It wasn’t too difficult, but it meant that were a lot of menu items I would have liked to try that we didn’t get to order.
As I mentioned already, the food was very good. The gnocchi was out of this world. The scallops were near perfect, and the butternut squash purée that was served with it was heaven. The sides — spiced fries and balsamic mushrooms — were okay. The fries were nothing special at all. The desserts were amazing — especially the brownie.
The service was okay. It was a little slow, and looking back, I’m not sure we received all of our dishes.
The atmosphere was good. It was trendy but didn’t feel overly pretentious. The place was pretty empty when we arrived for our 6:45 reservation, but by the time we left it had filled up. I liked the décor and overall look of the place.
So all in all, would I come back to Tavernita? Yeah, probably, but it wouldn’t be my first choice.

Yummy! This place is beautiful and has a great vibe to it. The service was quick and very attentive. I tried the white sangria, croquettes and the gnocchi… they all were flavorful and quite tasty. I could only eat ½ of the gnocchi as it was so rich, but worth the splurge. Great recommendations by the server!

I’ve mainly been to Tavernita for drinks, but on my last visit my friends and I decided to add some dinner to the mix.
I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. Greg’s Meatballs were delicious as was the Serrano Ham Flatbread. I recommend trying both of these dishes. The Burrata Cheese Spread definitely hit the spot. The tomato marmalade went perfectly with the cheese when spread across the bread. This dish was so good we ordered a second serving. Two thumbs up for this dish. Lastly, the corn pudding was just OK. I wouldn’t get it again nor recommend it to.
The service was suspect on this visit and here’s why.
1) When I checked in with the hostess she seemed confused when I told her I had a reservation. I mean I know my name isn’t what you’d expect when looking at me, but it shouldn’t have thrown her for a loop.
2) We didn’t receive our free tapas that you are suppose to get when you order a cocktail, wine or beer between 5pm –7pm; until I read out loud (in front of the waitress) the huge sign above the bar that stated you get a free tapas when you order a drink.
3) Our waitress was very abrupt and lacking in personality.
All and all I enjoyed the food and hanging with my friends on a nice evening, but the service wouldn’t have gotten a stamp of approval from Judith Martin (Miss Manners).

We came in as a recommendation from the bridal shop we were visiting. The food was phenomenal. We had 4 in our party and split 4 items and a dessert. Hamachi was good. Gnocchi amazing. Pillows of deliciousness. Pear flatbread was my favorite. Fantastic flavors. The charred fennel salad was also a table favorite.
Had a trio of sorbets. Loved the coconut. Was happy it didn’t have a fake coconut taste. We were there early on a Friday night and the place was pretty empty. Oh and our water glasses never went below half empty!

Went for a drink and late bite with a buddy from out of town. Got there about 9:30 pm on a cold Wed night and the place was quiet. Nice space, a few hours earlier or weekends I’m sure it’s hopping. Pretty tasty food and strong drinks. I had the eggplant and roasted pepper caponata with blue cheese and a cheese, carmelized onion and arugula flatbread. A little small, but very tasty.
The highlight of our evening was Amanda the bartender. She is intelligent, beautiful, an athlete, musician, easy to talk to and very sweet.

My friend and I stumbled across this place when looking at the list of restaurants who participated in Chicago Restaurant Week. We were both unable to make it during the initial rollout, but were given a second chance just recently. Tavernita extended their CRW offerings throughout the month of February.
The place is beautiful and it has plenty of windows which I found to be a very nice touch. It also helps that it sits on the corner of LaSalle and Erie which is a pretty busy intersection. It is located across the street from Fogo de Chao and down the street from Wildfire.
Service: 3.5 stars * includes the hostess and valet.
Location: 5 stars
Menu offerings: 3.5 stars
Paella of the day: 4 stars
Gnocchi: 3.5 stars
Crispy Potatoes: 5 stars (served with chorizo and fried egg)
Greg’s Meatballs: 4 stars
Scallops: 4 stars
Serrano Ham Croquettes: 3 stars
Pork belly sliders: 4 stars
Spiked Brownie: 5 stars (served with coffee ice cream and raspberries)
As it relates to parking, there are several lots nearby and the restaurant offers valet parking. On a cold day, you will find the valet person hiding inside the restaurant. If you decide to park with them, flag him over or just hop out, walk in and toss him the keys. (Just make sure you are giving your keys to the valet guy. After all, this is Chicago).

In what used to be the old martini park or cougar park as we called it, the inside is gorgeous, really trendy and pretty big. Our group of 5 got seated in a pretty narrow booth but no worries as the atmosphere made me quickly forget. Drinks, I saw alot of people talk about the booty Collins, though it was tasty I thought it was a overrated screwdriver with pineapple juice. My fav was the tav gin n tonic and red sangria! For food we tried everything! Skip the lamb sausage it tasted like plastic. But the mini burgers gnocchi, hamachi and flanger steak were great! Heard its owned by mercadito, I feel this place has better food and atmosphere especially for groups, only thing its a little pricier. Mercadito is a little more of a romantic feel. Overall both of these places are great for a night out!

How did I not write a review about Tavernita yet??? I love this restaurant! I was first introduced to this little gem when a friend had her 30^th birthday party here. We were a very large group of all girls (maybe 20?). I think Tavernita was still fairly new and hopping at the time, so despite reservations, we did have to wait a bit for our table. But once we were seated, the atomsphere was fun and the food was plentiful and delicious. So when it came time for us to choose a bachelor/​bachelorette pre-​party dinner, I knew we had to go back.
I worked with Sharon to plan the event and it went off without any problems. We did have to wait maybe 10 – 15 minutes, but it was a Saturday night, so it was not bad at all. We were seated in the back room, which was not as «exciting» as the main dining area, but it was still very nice. The décor is very trendy. There were a lot of groups as well as couples. Here are the items we ordered from our sharing package:
pork belly sliders, fruit jam, picked red onion, brioche bun
half mushroom and half ham flatbreads
corn pudding, shrimp, poblano peppers, herb salad
halibut, avocado, grapefruit salsa, crispy plantains
ny strip (medium rare) with 2 sauces: red wine sauce, chimichuri sauce
spiced fries, garlic aioli
balsamic glazed mushrooms
dessert tasting
Everything was amazing. Good sized portions, and NO ONE, not even the bigger guys in our group, left hungry. It was great that they didn’t skimp because that’s always a concern with a tapas/​sharing menu. My favorite items were the pork belly sliders and the halibut. Everything was served fresh, done just right, tasted great, and the presentation was spot on. I would not hesitate to return.

This place is great — and so close to my work! I actually came here twice within two days, not on purpose, just worked out that way. The first night I met up with some friends for dinner. We shared quite a few tasty small plates including the burrata cheese and tomato marmalade, the parmesan gnocchi (!), wagyu meatballs, and the pappardelle pasta with mushroom ragout. All were amazing!
There was one dish that I would skip though — the crispy fish and calamari dish. It was just off, especially when you compare it to the other dishes we had.
Our waiter was extremely helpful and helped us select some great cocktails. I would recommend the Turista — very tasty!
The next night I grabbed a few drinks with co-​workers at the bar. I ordered the turista again :) and shared beef carpaccio and tuna. Both hit the spot!

So I came here on a Saturday night for restaurant week of a party of 4:
I would give 4 stars for our server, we didn’t feel rushed and she gave pretty good recommendations (in comparison to our fellow Unilocalers) of dishes to share.
The place was a bit crazy and the tables were set up pretty close to each other. It was loud with people chatting and the music playing. A good place for be yourself and if you have a loud group like us.
I’m giving 3 stars for everything else…
When our friend bought a drink at the bar it was $ 2.00 more than what they paid at our table. Your tab will sure add up here… from the drinks to the dishes…
kegged sangria red was mostly iced
the booty Collins were good
The dishes that we order were good but nothing that I would go out of my way to come back for.
Tapas/​finger food dishes but it felt like full prices of a meal meal. Overall, it’s an OK place, it’s a happening place «to be seen» but make sure you have money to drop before you know it you got a big fat bill and you’re still hungry…

This is a great place for dinner, especially for groups. Awesome group menu with lots of options, plenty of food, and great service! It’s a huge space and has a great vibe to grab a bite before a party.
Some of my personal must-​trys:
Pork Belly sliders (some of the best pork belly I’ve had)
Corn (seems silly but this is really amazing corn!)
Fish w. grapefruit and avocado (the white fish will change based on what’s avail but the dish is solid)
Papardelle (really well done sauce and pasta is perfectly al dente)
If you’re planning a bachelorette party or big birthday group dinner this is definitely the place to go!

We came here on a Sunday night and the place was nearly all ours. The décor is really incredible with a lot of interesting items and design touches making for a really intimate and calm environment. Our waiter’s name was Raphael and he is without a doubt the most kindhearted and friendly server you will probably ever encounter in all of Chicago, or even the Midwest for that matter.
We ordered a few cocktails, but settle don’t the crowd favorite of the «Booty Collins» which is a super-​intense, refreshing citrus explosion in your mouth.
We got the ricotta spread, the meatballs and the croquettes. All were quite delicious and fun to share. We also ordered the corn, which came with lots of onions in it, even though these were not mentioned on the menu (my biggest dining pet peeve). I wish we had been hungrier, as there were a lot of larger entrees on the menu I wanted to try.
Overall, we had a lovely experience at Tavernita. Raphael took great care of us and we really enjoyed our visit.

I came here for brunch on Cinco. It’s a bit confusing when you first walk in, it took me a while to find the hostess table, but that was cos I came in from LaSalle, if you walk in from Huron you will be fine.
They were happy to seat us even though our whole party didnt come at the same time. The way the food is served is family style– ie if you order a skillet, you get three little skillets of the same dish that can be shared across the table.
I had the brandy punch, which I liked a lot– they dont stint on the alcohol here. I take all the ice out of the drink and so I could taste it better. This one is sweeter, a better dessert option. I also had the margarita, and it is a fair one, would give it 3 stars.
We had the breakfast skillet, the chicken and waffles, the eggs benedict and the pork sliders. Definitely get the skillet– it comes with pork belly and is delish and the chicken and waffles are well made.
Atmosphere was fun and cinco-​ish without being over the top, they had a couple of spots for cinco, like specials for drinks but nothing over the top.

I’ve been dying to try Tavernita and finally made it for lunch with my co-​workers yesterday, and it lived up to the hype.
I was immediately impressed with the ambiance of Tavernita. It is warm and welcoming with an upscale feel. It also has a totally different feel than many other tapas places in Chicago and I appreciated that. Additionally, we were immediately seated and excellent service throughout our meal. I also appreciated the chips and dip that our server gave us to start our meal!
I had the grilled cheese and my co-​workers had the burger and the meatball sandwich. Everyone loved their meals and I can only imagine how great their tapas are if they did staples like these so well.
I am hoping to make it back here for dinner soon so I can update this review!

Mediterrean! Yes! Tapas! LIKE!
Tavernita is spacious but it quickly fills up when the clock strikes 6:30pm. To be on the safe side, I would advise for you to arrive around 5:30pm on a Friday evening.
To start off, the kegged cocktails are a must. The names are unique and flavors are ever bursting. I had not one, but two of the emperor’s clothes! It was very cucumberish with a splash of sugar and alcohol. Very refreshing, indeed!
As for tapas, two of us shared the flatbread with roasted corn and poblano, lime, parmesan cheese, and crema fresca, crispy potatoes, and crispy fish and calamari. The items are slightly pricier than most tapa places but given the location, it was reasonable. Our favorite was the flatbread. If you like pizza, you will enjoy the this. It was evenly roasted, very hearty, and perfect sharing.
Service was excellent. The environment is rather dim. Perfect for girls’ night out and/​or date night.

I had my bachelorette party dinner here with 16 girls. We were seated at a long high table in the back room. The back room never got too full with other patrons so that was nice for us. The service was also great! We were seated when a majority of us arrived, and all our waiters were very friendly and professional.
One of my bridesmaids had been working with Sharon for our event. Sharon was very responsive and helpful! We picked the Erie tasting menu ($ 30/​pp), which consists of 1 small dish, 2 appetizers, 2 mains, 2 sides, and 1 dessert. We also ordered 6 bottles of wine for everyone to share throughout dinner.
— pork belly sliders (my least fave dish because my pork was dry, but others loved theirs)
— corn pudding with shrimp & arugula sprinkled on top (popular item per Unilocal and very good, except the arugula didn’t really pair well with it)
— crispy potatoes (I don’t remember this? Did we even get it?)
— Korean short ribs (too salty!)
— Greg’s wagyu beef & pork meatballs (another popular item per Unilocal; surprisingly spicy but really moist and flavorful)
— mushrooms (different kinds of mushrooms — I love mushrooms, so yum!)
— spinach (average, but what do you expect?)
— whiskey brownie with coffee ice cream (so fudgy and good!)

We came here for a friend’s birthday and I got to try even more dishes! We got some favorites from last time like the foie gras conserva, which was delicious as usual! We also got the escalivada and both the mushroom flatbread and serrano ham flatbread. The mushroom flatbread was delicious and I actually prefer it over the ham one. The goat cheese and arugula mixes so well and the caramelized onions is almost like a spread.
New dishes include:
Pork Belly Bocadillos: This was def. one of my favorites! The thick piece of pork belly was so delicious and the fruit jam added a great sweetness to the savory slice of meat.
House-​Made linguini: This was so good! At this point, I was really full but the linguini had an amazing buttery taste, and I loved all of the herbs they mixed in with it!
Brussels Sprouts: This was another surprise on the menu! I am not a fan of brussels sprouts, but the fontina cheese was delicious and the pieces were crispy!
Paella: To be honest, I was not a fan of this dish. It was one of the specials that night and it had serrano ham, octopus, and shrimp in it with saffron and other spices. It was a bit strange because it was made with pasta and not rice and I don’t think it was worth the $ 20 that we paid for it.
Ceviche: Made with celery, tomatoes, cilantro, orange and jalapenos. It was served on thin crackers and the the jalapeño contrasted really well with the orange!
Foie gras conserva: Foie gras mousse with a cherry compote on a grilled baguette. It was absolutely delicious and the first time I had foie gras. I think we all had 3 pieces each!
Coca de jamon: It was a flat bread with serrano ham, mahon cheese and tomato sofriot. The nice addition to this was a pepper they used so it was an unexpected flavor.
Escalivada: This was a crostini covered in eggplant, red peppers and goat cheese. The goat cheese was SO delicious and it was a generous piece. the eggplant was cut so thinly and absorbed the flavor of the hazelnut.
Artichoke salad: They gave us so much ARUGULA and the artichoke chips were super delicious!
Croquetas: It was filled with serrano ham and saffron aioli. I described them as the pillow of flavor.
Patatas: The best potatoes I have had for a while. They were cooked with chorizo, topped with a fried duck egg and then covered in brava sauce. Like the salad, we all ate generous helpings of this and we still had leftovers.
House made ravioli: They were stuffed with ricotta, and cooked in saffron butter. Included arugula, artichoke and olives as well.
Scallops: cooked with olive oil croutons, almonds and celery. They were huge portions and super flavorful.
3 kinds of mousse: OMG, perfect way to end the dinner. There were 3 kinds: One was a passion fruit covered with pistachios, another was almonds covered with an oreo cookie crumble. and the center one was a chocolate mousse covered with strawberries and blueberries.
Overall, another great experience here and if you want drinks, the Booty Collins and the Comandante Big Nose were great!

I’d been to Barcito & Tavernita for a number of media functions but didn’t think it fair to review it because the experiences were so over the top as to not be accurate. So, when I had the chance to have a sit-​down dinner at Tavernita, I jumped at the chance to experience the restaurant like a real, live boy. And, you know what? It was just as good.
I want to begin with the service. I felt very well taken care of. My server was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, gracious, non-​hovering, and extremely attentive. He added to the experience. Tavernita is all about tapas/​small plates, so order a bunch, see what you like and don’t forget to keep the booze flowing. In previous visits, I’d sampled much of the cocktail menu (the Booty Collins is truth) so I wanted to spend some quality time with the sangria on this go-​round. Good choice. Packed with fruit and a nice, sweet flavor, the red sangria is a party in a glass. Be careful. It could easily go from fun to trouble in no time flat. Fun trouble, but trouble nevertheless.
The plates are constructed to share, so you really can’t go wrong with any. A few of the standouts are: 1.) the eggplant. I *know*. Eggplant? Yes. I was surprised as well. Eggplant, peppers, romesco, and goat cheese on bread = delicious and addicting. It’s heavier than it looks, so don’t plan on eating a great amount of it. 2.) The meatballs. I don’t eat beef, but that romesco sauce is just too good. The combo of the beef and pork provide a delightful bite. 3.) Scallops. Not a huge portion but buttery delicious and bathed in ajo blanco. 4.) The citrus notes popped in my mouth and nose to make what could have been ho-​hum into something that was fantastic. Because man can’t live off savory alone, save some room for dessert. When I was there, mousse was the order of the day and whether it was fruity, chocolatey or nutty, it was all devoured. In seconds. You know me.
The atmosphere is loud, brash and sexy. There’s nothing subtle about Tavernita. So, know before you go. Is it a deal breaker? For some on some nights, I’m sure. For me, during all my visits, not at all.