Everything was very tasty and excellent. From the food to the service, it was a very enjoyable evening. The appetizers and main entrees that were ordered tasted fantastic. I didn't have enough room to eat more. Even the cocktails were very tasty. Definitely a great recommendation for folks to visit. Hoping more folks will plan time to visit and enjoy the wonderful menu items. Also want to note that everything is very reasonably priced for the quality and amount that you receive.
Very good food and service but the restaurant was virtually empty on a Friday night. So few customers definitely detracted from the ambience-I would encourage other diners to check out this spot!
Michael Hogg
Wonderful Cuban food! Great cocktails, prompt and personal service. Our waiter gave us great suggestions on dishes and wine. A fun night out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Margaret P.
Food is so good, and so are the drink selections. I love plantains and they had plenty of options that included plantains. Highly recommend the Los Tres appetizer. Amazing. Fresh and real food here. Will be back!
Shana O.
Food was delicious! Such good flavors! We tried bacalao, mofongo, pernil, salmón and pastelon. Everything was amazing and so was the service!
M. Joe Schwab Jr.
Just visited for the first time, fairly busy Saturday evening. Staff was friendly and attentive. Mofongo was excellent, sancocho was also a standout.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mofongo, Rice and Coconut Dessert, Pescado Escabeche, Sancocho
punkybrewmama
I was very excited to see Estacion open as a huge fan of this area of Howard street and devotee to Zentli. A note about the menu, it is small but they do everything on that menu very well. Don't be deterred by the limited options, having a small menu is indicative of a good restaurant in my experience. I've been there twice, once with my partner, and then again with a friend. Both times the service was outstanding. Staff is incredibly accommodating, very laid back, friendly, and attentive. The food is very good, portions are well-sized, and presentation is lovely. I also love their cocktails, particularly the guava mojito. If you like guava and don't like an overly sweet cocktail, you will love it too! The atmosphere is pleasant with beautiful art pieces adorning the walls. It can get a little hard to hear your tablemate(s) due to the acoustics of the space, but the overall noise level is moderate. My primary feedback is that it is difficult to tell if the restaurant is open when driving by at night due to a dark tinting of the front windows. A prominent "open" sign in the door may help bring in more passersby.
Karen Kalmek
Returning for a second time with friends. Food was excellent. Great flavors and good portions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Avocado & Crab
Christie Miller
We had a wonderful dinner on NYE. Great service and delicious food and drink.
This place was amazing. Such friendly staff when you enter. The atmosphere is very authentic, beautiful and sexy. I had the Mezcalita Espinosa cocktail to start, delicious and well balanced. I followed that with l their Chuletón entree with a Caipirinha cocktail. The pork was juicy with a nice spice from the salsa. The cocktail was very refreshing and so easy to drink. I highly recommend this new spot!
Great food and cocktails! Interesting menu and great service also. A bit pricey, but aren't all restaurants these days.
Jessica P.
Fabulous food the three times I have went there. Have tried different things each time and loved them all. Particularly loved the short ribs! Great drinks, friendly and hard working staff, and a great environment. Highly recommend!
Karen K.
The food was outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant. Make sure to look for address on north side of Howard. South is Chicago and numbered very differently. GO and support this new, high food quality restaurant
MidwestMark
It was a first time visit for me, my wife and two friends. We have followed Chef Mendez's cooking for years and Estación doesn't disappoint! His cuisine is delicious, soulful and authentic. Cocktails, beers and wine are solid. Our server and support staff were very warm and friendly, the ambiance is cozy and definitely more welcoming than the minimal exterior suggests. We sat at the front table and I saw several people peeking in while they walked by on this busy stretch of Howard at Damen. This is definitely a place locals need to patronize, and if we didn't live 30-45 minutes away by car we would be regulars by now!
Sarah I.
This is a great new addition to the neighborhood. Love their cocktails and food! Nice to have some Caribbean offerings. Huge fan of the avocado and crab and ceviche appetizers. We've been back several times and this place always delivers.
Everything was very tasty and excellent. From the food to the service, it was a very enjoyable evening. The appetizers and main entrees that were ordered tasted fantastic. I didn't have enough room to eat more. Even the cocktails were very tasty. Definitely a great recommendation for folks to visit. Hoping more folks will plan time to visit and enjoy the wonderful menu items. Also want to note that everything is very reasonably priced for the quality and amount that you receive.
Very good food and service but the restaurant was virtually empty on a Friday night. So few customers definitely detracted from the ambience-I would encourage other diners to check out this spot!
Wonderful Cuban food! Great cocktails, prompt and personal service. Our waiter gave us great suggestions on dishes and wine. A fun night out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is so good, and so are the drink selections. I love plantains and they had plenty of options that included plantains. Highly recommend the Los Tres appetizer. Amazing. Fresh and real food here. Will be back!
Food was delicious! Such good flavors! We tried bacalao, mofongo, pernil, salmón and pastelon. Everything was amazing and so was the service!
Just visited for the first time, fairly busy Saturday evening. Staff was friendly and attentive. Mofongo was excellent, sancocho was also a standout.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mofongo, Rice and Coconut Dessert, Pescado Escabeche, Sancocho
I was very excited to see Estacion open as a huge fan of this area of Howard street and devotee to Zentli. A note about the menu, it is small but they do everything on that menu very well. Don't be deterred by the limited options, having a small menu is indicative of a good restaurant in my experience. I've been there twice, once with my partner, and then again with a friend. Both times the service was outstanding. Staff is incredibly accommodating, very laid back, friendly, and attentive. The food is very good, portions are well-sized, and presentation is lovely. I also love their cocktails, particularly the guava mojito. If you like guava and don't like an overly sweet cocktail, you will love it too! The atmosphere is pleasant with beautiful art pieces adorning the walls. It can get a little hard to hear your tablemate(s) due to the acoustics of the space, but the overall noise level is moderate. My primary feedback is that it is difficult to tell if the restaurant is open when driving by at night due to a dark tinting of the front windows. A prominent "open" sign in the door may help bring in more passersby.
Returning for a second time with friends. Food was excellent. Great flavors and good portions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Avocado & Crab
We had a wonderful dinner on NYE. Great service and delicious food and drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tostones, Red Pork Beans & Rice, Flan, Chicken & Rice, Avocado & Crab
This place was amazing. Such friendly staff when you enter. The atmosphere is very authentic, beautiful and sexy. I had the Mezcalita Espinosa cocktail to start, delicious and well balanced. I followed that with l their Chuletón entree with a Caipirinha cocktail. The pork was juicy with a nice spice from the salsa. The cocktail was very refreshing and so easy to drink. I highly recommend this new spot!
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and cocktails! Interesting menu and great service also. A bit pricey, but aren't all restaurants these days.
Fabulous food the three times I have went there. Have tried different things each time and loved them all. Particularly loved the short ribs! Great drinks, friendly and hard working staff, and a great environment. Highly recommend!
The food was outstanding. I highly recommend this restaurant. Make sure to look for address on north side of Howard. South is Chicago and numbered very differently. GO and support this new, high food quality restaurant
It was a first time visit for me, my wife and two friends. We have followed Chef Mendez's cooking for years and Estación doesn't disappoint! His cuisine is delicious, soulful and authentic. Cocktails, beers and wine are solid. Our server and support staff were very warm and friendly, the ambiance is cozy and definitely more welcoming than the minimal exterior suggests. We sat at the front table and I saw several people peeking in while they walked by on this busy stretch of Howard at Damen. This is definitely a place locals need to patronize, and if we didn't live 30-45 minutes away by car we would be regulars by now!
This is a great new addition to the neighborhood. Love their cocktails and food! Nice to have some Caribbean offerings. Huge fan of the avocado and crab and ceviche appetizers. We've been back several times and this place always delivers.