I've been meaning to check this place out since I work in the area and because of that have met a good chunk of the great staff here. Luckily, I had the time to get some dinner tonight and everything was completely fantastic.
It's not hard to find someone who hypes up the pineapple aguachile and for good reason. In terms of flavor and texture, it's one of the most flavor/texture intensive challenges I've seen in a long time. Definitely a light dish that you just wanna end up eating a bowl of.
I also had the sweet&sour duck leg and the pineapple sorbet which were both equally fantastic. The level of service on the floor and behind the bar is nearly unparalleled for Randolph Street and def makes me wanna come back.
Overall, Brava is 100% worth the hype. Incredible food, amazingly hospitable service, and everything else that makes for an incredibly fine meal. Could not recommend this place enough.
Start to finish, an exceptional dining experience. Friendly, knowledgeable and attentive staff paired with off an off the charts menu. I'd recommend the Scallops ceviche, which were complex in their flavoring. The beets which were hearty and the short ribs with the cauliflower. The short ribs literally fell off the bone and into homemade corn tortillas that were unbelievably light. Pair the meal up with their drink menu and you've got a little taste of heaven. Rick Bayless knocks it out of the park yet again.
I’ve been there twice, and loved it both times. I am pleased to see Chef Bayless honor my culture. The duck is an absolute must! The flavors of each and every dish are complex, and sophisticated! Loved seeing Chef Bayless at the “Chef BBQ” today! The best bite there too.��
Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants we have ever been to. Service by Christian was absolutely incredible - he was so helpful, and his timing and attention to detail was perfect. Leslie stopped by our table a couple of times to check on us, and she was incredible too. We honestly felt like VIP's. The food was amazing. I loved ALL the dishes. My favorite was the beef short rib. The Lena Cerveche was a close second, but honestly, the food flavors of every dish were stunning. We will be back often.
Great place. The Atmosphere the vibe, seeing the wood grill and ovens in the open kitchen all great. Then there is the food! The flavors of everything- including the cocktails, were amazing. Top it all off with Rick himself sitting at the next table.
I loved everything about this place, from the smell to the food and service everything exceeded my expectations. A must try in my opinion when in Chicago.
More than just an eatery....an experience that intrigues all your senses.
Elizabeth Valdez-Rebolledo
+5
First time here we Celebrated our wedding anniversary! Their mezcal flight was so good! It reminded us of when we were in Cabo’s on our honeymoon. Food came out as a course which was nice because we ordered the tomahawk steak and they advised us it was going to take long to cook. Omg it was worth the wait! The meat was so juicy and tender ! Customer was great! Very attentive, always asking if we needed anything, had the patience to answer all of our questions. We didn’t feel rushed like sometimes it’s the case in other restaurants. At the end we ordered dessert and they gave us a personalized card congratulating us on our anniversary! Overall an amazing experience!
Calling this a Mexican Restaurant is like calling the Lourve an art gallery. The food was the most amazing food I have ever had. The blend of spices, the use of absolutely fresh ingredients and an incredible wait staff blended into an eating experience in a class all its own. Oh, and the craft cocktails were out of this world.
Claudia Farfan Badillo
+5
Always amazing. Tip- if you arrive exactly as they open and wait in a short line you can sometimes get lucky and get a table or eat at the bar if you have a small party of 2.
Great experience! Baja inspired comfort food, with some fusion. Nice space in the West Loop
Superb food and excellent service from start to finish. Highly recommend. Get the prickly pear cocktail and scallops.
Cocktails were incredible. Ceviche was stellar and their service was great. Atmosphere was nice. Highly recommend
Great food my favorite is the Coctel Verde excelling mix of flavors..tastes so good. Octopus was unbelievable, Short Rib is a solid 9.5, chicken seasoning was amazing. Crab salad and oysters are great from the Ice side if the menu.
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Made reservations for a late dinner because we didn’t get into the city until 7:30. Hotel was very close. Time for a drink. We sat upstairs which I had no idea. There is a bar upstairs. The downstairs was packed full. We started out with two margaritas and Shrimp Coctel. The Coctel was very, very good. I could of drank that Coctel sauce right out of the jar if I wasn’t in a public place. Ordered the Lamb Neck Birria and my wife had the Enchiladas with the mole. Both were very delicious. Probably got about 4-5 tacos out of the Lamb. It’s a big piece with bones and all, but the meat was tender and juicy. The mole enchiladas are really rich and full of spices. We ordered flan for dessert but the server came back and said they were out of the flan, so we ordered the Stoner Bar (kinda bizarre I thought for this restaurant). It was a chocolate chip cookie with pretzels and coconut. It was tasty but we would of rather had the flan that we saw on the table next to us earlier. No biggie. The server was very attentive and served my Pinot Noir right before the Lamb came out. Overall, the food, the drinks and service was very good. Would go back.
This is probably my favorite of all of Rick Bayless’s restaurants. I love that the kitchen is 100% wood-fired. The menu and layout has evolved over the years but always in an interesting way. Meats are so good here but don’t sleep on the side dishes! Best black beans ever. Plantains are amazeballs. The Al pastor was delightful. Wagyu carne asada tacos were on point. Mezcal margaritas we’re going down easy. Pretty strong too! Overall 100% recommended. Prices by the way are pretty reasonable for the level of restaurant that this is and the very reasonable for the quality and care of the food. Service is always the best. Oh and of course the Cruz Blanca beer menu runs deep given the attachment. Reservations are a good idea. Also Oysters - omg.
Went during happy hour this past Monday. I was highly impressed by the presentation, the staff, and the flavors. The flavors were so mouthwatering. The food is so unique and the seafood is fresh. This is not like any place I’ve ever been. We were given the option to dine in or outside. We choose the patio. The sun was out the patio was nicely decorated. Lena brava is on my top for happy hour and just restaurants in general. I was very pleased with our service too. The food was presented well. We felt like royalty. If you want to have delicious food, friendly staff and fresh setting this is the place. Give them a try you won’t regret it. They also accommodate to any allergies or food restrictions.
100% would recommend. For two people sharing 1 app, 1 plate from the Leña menu, and 2 drinks total it was under $90 which honestly was very very worth it!
The atmosphere is also so good. It’s dark upstairs but I fairly enjoyed the views from our window seat and the light coming in was just right.
Our server was so awesome! He spoke English and Spanish. He was very attentive to our needs and we brought up the habanero salsa in conversation and he brought it out for us. Not sure if he overheard us lol but it was thoughtful of him.
My s/o ordered Tepache and she loved it! It’s authentic as you can get here in the states. We shared the empanadas which were tiny but good, and we shared the Carnitas! So so worth it. The carnitas aren’t to greasy and not dry at all. They had just enough crispy pieces as we needed.
Got there and apparently happy hour was going on great apps.
Stay around for dinner n cocktails the food was tasty and the drinks were savory.
The best about this place was the service Anthony (Antonio) was great he was knowledgeable of the meals and drinks. Definitely will return.
We enjoyed the food so much we even did some take out after dinner
I came here a year ago and loved it! I came back a year later and the food is still great.
The menu has changed substantially but still very good. I was initially a little disappointed I couldn’t have the grilled cheese with bread I had last time but everything else made me forget about it!
Had the smoked oysters....waiter suggested we order 2 orders cause they're that good....he wasn't lying...food delicious...good music and atmosphere....will definitely be back
Food was good, I expected more flavor of wood in the meat. The drinks were fantastic. Dessert was phenomenal. Angel was a great server. The only thing that did not meet my expectations were the tight tables and sitting. I had submitted a special request that was unfulfilled.
Exquisite Dining Experience at Leña Brava
Leña Brava exceeded all expectations during my recent visit for my girl date night. To start we had the most delicious corn on the cob ever. The braised short rib, mole mushrooms, butterflied bass, and leña ceviche were culinary masterpieces, but the Cochinita pibil empanadas stole the show for me. For dessert we had Buñuelos.
The service was impeccable, demonstrating attentiveness and genuine hospitality. With our reservations, the dining experience was seamless. valet parking options around the restaurant was so convenient.
Leña Brava has become a top recommendation for those seeking a delightful blend of exceptional cuisine and impeccable service.
I was able to get a reservation the within a couple of days which is unusual for the area. The service and atmosphere was great. We loved the entrees were amazing and big enough to share. The empanadas were delicious. Unfortunately the peppers were a let down.
I am still thinking about the guacamole here. It is absolutely outstanding! It’s kind of like a whip and has really good textures and flavors added. I also had the enchiladas which were good as well. The ambiance here was chill and upscale yet not snooty. Highly recommend!
Wow!!!!! Came early with my mom and the food and service were top notch. The appetizers: guacamole and carnitas were done just right. The braised cabbage in a white sauce was superb as was the shrimp in a bed of rice. Also ordered a side order of beans with bacon bits which was well done. The dessert of tres leches cake was moist and smooth. I had the mezcal chocolate martini paired well with the cake. An amazing dinner. Went home happy.
Food was delicious, and the service and ambiance were spectacular! Perfect for a date night, a meal with friends, or a meal with family! Very pleasant experience. Definitely going back!
Went for HH and was not disappointed. Got all their Apps(~$5), the white wine was immaculate. My friends got Margaritas and they were just as tasty. We also got some items from their large plate menu and we loved them all. Highly recommend. The ambience is 10/10 and feels so cozy in there!
Enjoyed my birthday dinner here last night (10/8) and it was exceptional. Our group of six started with their Queso/charred bread and guacamole/chips; both outstanding. Our cocktails and mock-tails were delicious; I enjoyed the Floridita…highly recommend. Dinner came and we enjoyed the chicken enchiladas, chicken tacos, el pastor, carne asada, tamal and carnitas….OUTSTANDING!!
Our server was top-notch; very knowledgeable and attentive. He had a great disposition, the food was timed well and arrived piping hot. We sat by the open fire kitchen which was fun to watch. Overall, another exceptional experience at a Rick Bayless restaurant.
The next level of flavors is cooking food over the woods fired. Sweet potatoes with goat cheese, classic ceviche, and whole Spanish branzino. Everything is so flavorful. Flan and mezcal espresso matini are must for the dessert. Perfect combination. Great cocktails as well. Excellent excellent services from beginning to end. We like the dining room on the second floor. It's more cozy, intimate, more private, and kind of quiet than first-floor.
We definitely come back.
We enjoyed several different mezcals that were recommended by the bar staff. For appetizers we tried the charred avocado and the charred queso fresco, both were excellent! The giant butterflied striped bass was very good. Really flavorful sauces but watch for the tiny bones. The plantains were lovely. We also tried the lobster roll and the pork shank. The lobster roll was wonderful. The pork shank was good but not as good as the rest of the things we tried. Overall everything was excellent and the service was really good. We arrived early and they let us wait at the bar for an outdoor table. Then they helped us move our drinks to the new table. We would highly recommend this place!
Chicken, scallops, empanadas, mole all delicious. Margherita was also top notch. High top tables are actually better in this setting so don't wait for dining room, they all in the same room anyways.
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