CHIReview
Emilio's Tapas
This spot is Permanently Closed.
So I’m standing there, waiting to use the pay phone, and this man turns around and tips his hat, like this. And who do you think that guy was? Emilio Estevez. The Mighty Ducks man himself. And I was like, EMILIOOOOOO.
There are a couple things I distinctly remember about my childhood, some of which are A Night at the Roxbury, The Mighty Ducks, and going to Emilio’s Tapas for dinner on visits to Chicago with my parents. Combine all of these things together, and here we are at today’s review. Whether you gained an appreciation for tapas because you had an A-Mazing semester abroad in Barcelona with your besties, or you just like Spanish food because you know it’s d*mn good, you need to check this place out. The best way to do it is order a little bit of everything, and if you come across something you don’t love, that’s ok. Don’t let it ruin the whole experience and simply try something else. One thing we will say is that the paella is only decent. If you’re in the mood, go for it. But don’t expect the greatest paella you’ve ever had.
Another major draw at Emilio’s is the patio, but not in the Big Star let’s post up all day while it’s nice out and see how many margaritas we can drink while saying hi to everyone we know kind of a way. It’s more of a, wow, this is a really relaxing patio in Streeterville where we are going to lounge, order tapas at a lenient pace, and enjoy some quality food. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with taking the Big Star approach and ordering an abundance of beer, wine, or sangria - just don’t expect a similarly raucous crowd.