Wish I could give service 10 stars. This is my favorite place in chicago for tapas. The waitstaff are always so welcoming and helpful, and celebrate special occasions with us well. Food is incredible and the experience exceeds expectations every time
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angela
I wanted to celebrate my birthday with food from my hometown. Little Madrid did not let me down. Everything was delicious and at the right temperature. Fernando was our server and he was very well informed on food and wines. His recommendations where right on point. This was our second time at this establishment. Since our first visit the restaurant has had a few updates. The dinning area looks much better and the feel of coziness was great! We will be back!
Alejandro Álvarez
As a Spaniard, I never been more ashamed of the use of my own culture that what I felt coming to try this “restaurant”. And I have a handful of reasons to prove it:
1. The decoration. That text on the wall that says “Little Madrid” in BIG Times New Roman it’s just comedy. This is not a tapas bar (the first lie) this is a darkly lights tryhard “fancy” looking restaurant with not even a real piece of decoration from my country, not even any vibe of Spain with these awful money heist masks hanging on the wall and the repetitive “minimalistic” cheap decorations around that doesn’t remind to anything I’ve seen in my own country. The guitar sitting on a chair with a dime light in the back add more sense of absurdism to the yet no sense of decoration of the scene. The bathrooms are clean and nice, at least.
2. The food. Cheap ingredients sell like they are cuisine from my country made by people that doesn’t know anything about my country. This is a mantra that every Spanish restaurant in USA repeats: the frozen croquetas, the frozen shrimp al “pil pil” that is not even spicy, crusted patatas bravas that doesn’t melt in your mouth as they should… Im glad I don’t even try the paella. This is just a moniker of what Spanish food really is, and repeats all the cliches without any sense of what the food of my country is: putting entire rosemary in every plate doesn’t make it “spanish”.
3. The staff: As most of the many fake Mediterranean restaurants that are on this country this place is ruled by… nobody. I went out feeling real pity for an inexpert staff without a leadership or direction, they don’t have the fault of not having any authority or commanding voice in this place. They just can do what they do; being nice and trying to get by another day in this boat that obviously is in the process of sinking.
4. The prices. Well at this point any of this food is obviously worth the price. We had lucky to enter in a happy hour of “pintxos” (basque for tapas that they use without knowing of the real word) that put the tapas to 5$ dollar each, the only good about the experience it was a bit cheap… with a reason.
5. Why you sell this is a bar? It’s obviously a gentrified restaurant version of a bar with dark lights, not use of the bar at all. Never feel like in a real restaurant either: just a bunch of obviously amateur people trying to sell the food of my country when they have no idea of what it really is.
A message to the owner: Please, go on another trip to Spain, but get out of the touristic fake places of downtown Madrid and find a real Spanish bar in the city and learn from it how to reform this restaurant ambience and decoration completely from the ground. Get a real Spanish chef if you want to do some honor to the culture you re trying to sell and stop trying to be as cheap as possible. Or another cheaper way to solve it: close this place and make us a bigger favor.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Maureen
A surprise that happy hour was happening on our visit. I reviewed and interpreted the menu prior. Each tapas were made to order it seemed. The stuffed figs, meatballs, eggs with potatoes and onions, were our favorites. The shrimp in garlic sauce was lacking shrimp. The sangria was so good too!
Evelyn
Excellent! Delicious and creative menu. Wednesday they have live music and half price bottles of wine! Great service! Highly recommend it and we are planning another date with friends!
JOAQUIN DC (JOAKING)
I learned to speak Spanish after trying Spanish tortilla!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rotinda
The ambiance was amazing service from Fernando and Camilo was so attentive The food was delicious Wine Wednesday is great content especially with live music can't wait for next Wednesday we will definitely come back
Ricardo
Sorry but everything was bad.. The food was not well cooked, salty and they lie about their Sangria it is made with the Mexican Sangria Señorial they just add ice and fruit. I Will not recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Esther
Every small plate we had was outstanding! Service was excellent and dining room was comfortable which allowed for easy conversation. Will definitely be coming back again. You must have the Albonigas (Spanish meatballs), the Castellana sauce is sooo good. We asked for extra on the side. You will not be disappointed!!
One of the best meals I've ever had! The vibe in this place was amazing, the service was great, and the food was INCREDIBLE
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Braeden
One of the best meals I've ever had. The vibe in here was great, the service was awesome, and most importantly the food was INCREDIBLE!
Scott Dankert
Great happy hour with several food and drink options. Friendly and efficient service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
MIRIAM ZULEMA MORALES DUBLAN
The food is very delicious, I loved the croquettes and potatoes, the place is beautiful and the service is excellent, Rodri is a great host, he’s very kind
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tapas, Meatballs
Abdullah Yılmaz
Great ambiance amazing food. Service was so friendly and helpful thank you for the recommendations
Everything is just perfect!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tapas, Meatballs
Wish I could give service 10 stars. This is my favorite place in chicago for tapas. The waitstaff are always so welcoming and helpful, and celebrate special occasions with us well. Food is incredible and the experience exceeds expectations every time
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I wanted to celebrate my birthday with food from my hometown. Little Madrid did not let me down. Everything was delicious and at the right temperature. Fernando was our server and he was very well informed on food and wines. His recommendations where right on point. This was our second time at this establishment. Since our first visit the restaurant has had a few updates. The dinning area looks much better and the feel of coziness was great! We will be back!
As a Spaniard, I never been more ashamed of the use of my own culture that what I felt coming to try this “restaurant”. And I have a handful of reasons to prove it:
1. The decoration. That text on the wall that says “Little Madrid” in BIG Times New Roman it’s just comedy. This is not a tapas bar (the first lie) this is a darkly lights tryhard “fancy” looking restaurant with not even a real piece of decoration from my country, not even any vibe of Spain with these awful money heist masks hanging on the wall and the repetitive “minimalistic” cheap decorations around that doesn’t remind to anything I’ve seen in my own country. The guitar sitting on a chair with a dime light in the back add more sense of absurdism to the yet no sense of decoration of the scene. The bathrooms are clean and nice, at least.
2. The food. Cheap ingredients sell like they are cuisine from my country made by people that doesn’t know anything about my country. This is a mantra that every Spanish restaurant in USA repeats: the frozen croquetas, the frozen shrimp al “pil pil” that is not even spicy, crusted patatas bravas that doesn’t melt in your mouth as they should… Im glad I don’t even try the paella. This is just a moniker of what Spanish food really is, and repeats all the cliches without any sense of what the food of my country is: putting entire rosemary in every plate doesn’t make it “spanish”.
3. The staff: As most of the many fake Mediterranean restaurants that are on this country this place is ruled by… nobody. I went out feeling real pity for an inexpert staff without a leadership or direction, they don’t have the fault of not having any authority or commanding voice in this place. They just can do what they do; being nice and trying to get by another day in this boat that obviously is in the process of sinking.
4. The prices. Well at this point any of this food is obviously worth the price. We had lucky to enter in a happy hour of “pintxos” (basque for tapas that they use without knowing of the real word) that put the tapas to 5$ dollar each, the only good about the experience it was a bit cheap… with a reason.
5. Why you sell this is a bar? It’s obviously a gentrified restaurant version of a bar with dark lights, not use of the bar at all. Never feel like in a real restaurant either: just a bunch of obviously amateur people trying to sell the food of my country when they have no idea of what it really is.
A message to the owner: Please, go on another trip to Spain, but get out of the touristic fake places of downtown Madrid and find a real Spanish bar in the city and learn from it how to reform this restaurant ambience and decoration completely from the ground. Get a real Spanish chef if you want to do some honor to the culture you re trying to sell and stop trying to be as cheap as possible. Or another cheaper way to solve it: close this place and make us a bigger favor.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
A surprise that happy hour was happening on our visit. I reviewed and interpreted the menu prior. Each tapas were made to order it seemed. The stuffed figs, meatballs, eggs with potatoes and onions, were our favorites. The shrimp in garlic sauce was lacking shrimp. The sangria was so good too!
Excellent! Delicious and creative menu. Wednesday they have live music and half price bottles of wine! Great service! Highly recommend it and we are planning another date with friends!
I learned to speak Spanish after trying Spanish tortilla!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The ambiance was amazing service from Fernando and Camilo was so attentive The food was delicious Wine Wednesday is great content especially with live music can't wait for next Wednesday we will definitely come back
Sorry but everything was bad.. The food was not well cooked, salty and they lie about their Sangria it is made with the Mexican Sangria Señorial they just add ice and fruit. I Will not recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Every small plate we had was outstanding! Service was excellent and dining room was comfortable which allowed for easy conversation. Will definitely be coming back again. You must have the Albonigas (Spanish meatballs), the Castellana sauce is sooo good. We asked for extra on the side. You will not be disappointed!!
Restaurantji Recommends
One of the best meals I've ever had! The vibe in this place was amazing, the service was great, and the food was INCREDIBLE
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the best meals I've ever had. The vibe in here was great, the service was awesome, and most importantly the food was INCREDIBLE!
Great happy hour with several food and drink options. Friendly and efficient service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is very delicious, I loved the croquettes and potatoes, the place is beautiful and the service is excellent, Rodri is a great host, he’s very kind
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tapas, Meatballs
Great ambiance amazing food. Service was so friendly and helpful thank you for the recommendations
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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