Gaudi Cafe

I had Gaudi Café catered into my office today for lunch. They brough 4 different kinds of wraps as well as a salad. I tried the Big Red Wrap and the Flamenco Wrap. The Big Red Wrap was good, loved the cranberry flavoring but the Flamenco Wrap fell a little short for me. There was no avocado in mine at least and it was rather dry. Perhaps Gaudi is better for dining in and not catering. I’d give it another shot but probably would like to go there and try something else versus catering in again.

We went around 9:30am on a Saturday and were immediately and warmly greeted. The menu is extensive offering everything from pancakes to enchiladas and tapas in between. The «bottomless mimosas» caught my wife’s eye and there were about 6 flavors to choose from. The tapas are incredible! We went with the patatas bravas and goat cheese tomato spread to start. We settled on the flautas and enchiladas as entrees. Absolutely delicious!!! The homemade salsa is key and complimented both dishes perfectly. Bottom line: great place! Food and service were excellent and they even gave my wife a tulip for Mother’s Day!

Got a pretty good deal on Groupon that came with the picture of sangria, our waitress was very good and food was always on our table. The tapas there were great! Cute little spot and identity during lunch time so there weren’t a lot of people.

Bought a Groupon to Gaudi Café (5 tapas, 1 pitcher of sangria) and finally used it this past Friday. I looked on Open Table to see if there were any reservations available. There weren’t, so we called just to see if they could fit us in, and they were able to accommodate our party of 2 for a 7:00PM reservation. To my surprise when we got there, we were the only 2 people in the restaurant.
The décor is nice, the food was tasty, and the sangria was alright. The Croquetas de Queso was delicious. I also really liked the Camarones al Ajo, which were very spicy, but not burn your mouth hot if that makes any sense. We also got the guacamole, (a lot of chips, guac portion was on the small side), the Rib Eye en Tostada, and the Tinga, which were all just OK.
When we received our bill, the gratuity was already included, which seemed odd to me for a party of 2. I would have tipped them more if the gratuity wasn’t automatically added, but if that’s how much they want me to tip who am I to argue? Also of note, they’re cash only. Luckily I didn’t have to run out to an ATM and had some money on me.
All in, I enjoyed the meal. I’m curious to try some of their other menu items. If you’re on the fence about Gaudi Café, I’d recommend giving them a chance. They should really contact Open Table and either have their restaurant removed from their system or fix whatever issue there is, though. It seems Monday through Friday they only accept reservations until 4PM, although they’re open until 9:00PM Tuesday-​Friday, and only close early on Mondays. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is costing them customers.

I had a groupon here for 5 tapas and a pitcher of sangria which was about to expire in couple of days, so I ended up going with my mom. We made the required reservation for 6pm. When we arrived there, there was only one couple sitting at the bar. We were able to sit where ever we wanted, so I was wondering what’s with the mandatory reservations. Our hostess was pleasant and helpful, she gave our menus and how the groupon works.
We started off with the gaudi nachos and the empanadas. The nachos were good but I wasn’t impressed with the empanadas (small and hollow). While munching on those we were sipping on the sangria which could of used a little more alcohol… a little flask in the inner pocket wouldn’t be a bad idea… lol. My mother ordered the spicy shrimp and pita, I ordered the rib eye on tostadas. My mother said the shrimp entrée was good which I have to take her word due to the fact that I’m allergic to shellfish. The rib eye on tostadas was disappointing. I say that because they give you two little slithers of meat on crunchy bread with a tiny lettuce and apple salad on the side. Finally we had the queso con chorizo with flour tortillas which were good.
I like trying out new places and with the purchasing of this groupon it gave me the opportunity to try this place out. I don’t feel like I got the full experience from this place because it was empty. I would like to see what kind of crowd comes here. Upon looking at the menu I realized the food is kind of expensive here. As far as purchasing the 5 tapas and sangria groupon which I bought for $ 28 but normally $ 34 when you add the taxes and %18 tip on what it would cost for your order ($ 18.43=$ 10.61 tip+ $ 7.82 tax). I’m not sure if its worth a repeat. I forgot to mention finding parking is not great!

Update: the staff seems to have turned over, my subsequent visits have been good. Food and service are always great.

First time at Gaudi and the food was excellent authentic Mexican quisine. We ordered the breakfast burrito and divorced eggs. Burrito was better than some of the others in the area. Modestly appointed décor inside for a relaxed atmosphere. Plenty of vegetarian brunch options.

It’s not BYOB anymore. Too bad, that was an important factor for us. We thought of leaving the place, but the kind waitress made an exception.
The food is good but not excellent. Overpriced. Clearly overpriced for the quality. Place was empty, calm. Parking was hard. We won’t go back.

The owner of this place, a lady, does not apply good business rules to attract or retain customer the few customers that are still visiting the place — perhaps only due to the Groupons…
The Groupon we had was for 2 people, and included a set amount of food: 5 tapas and one pitcher of sangria. We went there on a Sunday and we have been a group of 3 people. We wanted to share the set amount of food and then order/​share some other items as well. But the owner said that if the 3^rd person will touch any of the set food, it would cost $ 25! This is ridiculous, mostly that the Groupon was not for unlimited food or buffet or so. It was the same amount of food and of course we would have order something else to be enough for 3 people. But it was pretty bad to have food in front of the 3^rd person and not be able to share — not even for a taste! That’s why perhaps the place is empty!!! And like one other person commented, they asked for cash! No wonder the place does not have customers…

This has delicious food as well as great sangria. I recommend the croquetas with goat cheese. It is a smaller restaurant with a romantic ambiance… great for date night. They frequently have Groupons which make for an even greater deal. This is one of my top favorite tapas places in all of Chicago, and I have tried many!

Used a Groupon here recently had pretty good service and the food was tasty. The downside is they automatically charge you gratuity and add taxes to your Groupon. If you don’t have a Groupon I would say the tapas are a bit more pricey than other places I’ve been. Overall a good place to have a couple appetizers and Sangria.

Went in for lunch and did not have a good experience due to very poor service. First, it took them forever to seat us and we were not greeted when we walked in — though the entire staff was standing at the bar and looked at us when we walked in. We waited 15 minutes and finally someone came over and asked us if we wanted to sit down or get take out. Then, it took forever for them to take our order. Once we ordered the waitress came back 10 minutes later and asked us if we were ready to order…
The space itself is small, but the art if pretty neat a lot of Chicago-​inspired prints. I cannot comment on the food, but the mimosa was pretty standard. I was pretty jaded by the terrible service.

The only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5 is that I’ve only been there once. Loved it. Super friendly and helpful service. Enchiladas with chicken mole was excellent, and the spanish rice was awesome.
It’s a nice venue — more on the casual hip side and fun place to hang out.
Parking in this area can be very bad during the day.
Looking forward to going back.

First time here and I will definitely be back. The food was really good, the Bloody’s were just right, and the Bears game was on. Perfect Sunday afternoon.

My hubby had to attend a conference in Chicago, and decided to purchase groupon for this café. It was not far from our hotel (streeterville). the tapas were real good and very tasty! the customer service was amazing. If i am in Chicago again, I will definitely stopy by again.
Kudos, you earned my return trip to your café.

As a visitor to the prior location, I am impressed with this closer and larger venue. The restaurant is even more trendy, but did I mention the proximity? The food is tasty and the menu offers plenty of vegetarian options (croquetas de queso, patatas bravas and quesadillas).
I’m a little disappointed that they are no longer BYOB, but I can deal.
Overall, it’s very exciting to see more local businesses like Gaudi taking advantage of all that Grand Ave. has to offer!

Came here with a Groupon. Overall it was really great, though I’d pass on the calamari or shrimp next time. A combination of being overly greasy/​spicy made them not as delicious as the other tapas we ordered. The sangrias are pretty good too and it’s a great value for the money.
We went on a weekend night, the place was pretty much dead. Not sure if it’s because of the location or that it’s cash only. Probably because it’s cash only. For two people that’s okay, but for larger parties it makes paying the bill tricky. Other restaurants nearby that take credit cards were at capacity. That said, there is an ATM in the restaurant and the service fee is $ 2.50.

the food was good. I had the hungover chilaquiles (with mole sauce) with chorizo and they were very taste. However I’m still trying to figure out how chilaquiles and a glass of water and i had to pay $ 30.00!!!

Wow! Gaudi Café is an amazing restaurant! Like some others I discovered it through Groupon, and I was not disappointed. From the moment we walked in the service was friendly and nice. The Sangrias were delicious, fruity, yet strong. Every Tapas dish tasted fresh and custom prepared. You can really tell the chef puts a lot of effort into the appearance and taste of the food. It was well seasoned and the different flavors and seasoning complimented each dish very well. I will definitely return and try some of their breakfast and brunch foods! I recommend this to anyone who wants to try some new non-​Americanized Mexican dishes. Thank you for such a pleasant evening Gaudi Café !
TIP: 1. Bring cash! (if not their is a convenient ATM with a low usage fee)

2. If you are using a Groupon deal don’t be cheap! The deal is meant for two people, and its more than enough food and drink for two people! And don’t forget about tax and tip.
3. Don’t be afraid to try something new, everything is delicious!

Had a groupon that was SO worth the deal. It probably wouldn’t be worth the price if I didn’t have one though. Nice atmosphere, some outdoor seating. Waitress was very kind and helpful. They didn’t seem to know what gluten free options are which was troubling. I didn’t get too sick though because I stuck with safe tapas. We had patatas (potatoes), shrimp, corn cakes, sangria, and something else I can’t recall. What we got added up to about $ 55 and the groupon price was $ 60, but they said we used it all. It was still a great deal though.

During my March trip in Chicago my girlfriend and I came here with a Groupon deal which entailed 6 small tapas and a pitcher of sangria… the sangria was awesome and had fresh fruit in there. it was even a bit strong!
The tapas we ordered were 2 shrimp tapas, goat cheese quesidias, spicy potatoes, a dip and vegetarian dish.
All the dishes were awesome! !! But the ones that stood out were the shrimp and spicy potatoes… the service was friendly and helpful when it came to finding the trains…
If you live in Chicago this is an awesome business to try!!!

The tapas here are delicious as well as the white wine sangria. The Queso croquettas w/​honey & datiles con tocino were by far my favorite!!!
Servers are very friendly, but the service was just a tad on the slower side. Do not come here if you are looking to be in and out quickly. The parking situation was awesome, it was free & nearby.
The groupon featured for this place is a very good deal, and you should utilize it! I’m glad I was able to try this establishment, very yummy!

Love this place.
I enjoy the small plates they offer. It’s a great place for a happy hour, working lunch, or girls night.
The tapas dishes are tasty but my favorite dish is their parthenon salad. This salad is large and has a tasty vinaigrette.

As my wife and I agreed on after leaving Gaudi and trying more than a dozen dishes, Gaudi is a solid but unspectacular performer when it comes to shared plates. If they were closer, we’d come often, and it’s a staff that seems very friendly. If you are farther away, you are happy with the experience but you aren’t telling your friends to run over to this joint right away. And you can get a ton of food for a fair price.
Came by for a friend’s birthday dinner this past Saturday night, a couple that ate at the old location regularly and has followed the staff to this location on Grand. Gaudi has good space but it’s a little dark and a little strange; the bar is huge, maybe too huge, and they have a bunch of drink specials all week… but it has a bit of a family/​homey joint vibe to it, and then there are two large TVs showing sports in the place; it’s not a mess, just a weird mix.
But from there, it was generally all good in the hood. We tried only tapas, and we had a number of items, many of which I have forgotten. But the goat cheese croquettes were great, the housemade tortilla chips were standout – one friend called them the best chips she has «ever had in Chicago», a bold statement to be sure – and the sangria was fantastic. All of the dipping sauces warrant special attention here – they always lifted even the average dishes up a level.
You can skip the potatoes tapas plate; the queso fundido was ordinary when compared to others I’ve had in Chicago (notably at Big Star or Buena Vista in Lakeview); the guacamole was also just OK. But the good outweighed the average plates here and I’m excited to come back and try breakfast… the birthday boy said that the pancakes here (which you can pair with the $ 12 bottomless mimosas they do on Saturdays) are some of the best he’s ever had. There is generally a Groupon available also so be sure to check on that before paying full price!

I was a little early for Friday Night Club with my friends. We were booked for a restaurant down the street at 7:30. I was going to hang out at another café until 7, when they closed, but low-​and-​behold there was a big, overstuffed red couch in the window here with my trasero’s (Spanish for derrière) name on it! And artsy books with Gaudi’s architecture (if you haven’t seen it live in Barcelona, books are the next best thing). And what a friendly place, Café Gaudi is, though really more of a restaurant café than a café café.
Nevertheless, they know how to make a proper cappuccino here. If you’ve read any of my café reviews, you know that it’s a pet peeve of mine that so many «quote baristas» (yes, that’s quote quote unquote; some people need two air quotes) that either don’t know the difference between a cappuccino and a latte or are trying to try my patienccino. I don’t want to insult their intelligenccino; so this must be mental karatte. In any case, they nailed it here, brought a full-​sized aguaccino and four type of sweette-​ners (even though I don’t need any sweetening).
My trasero is happy, my tongue is happy, I’m well-​hydrated, and Peeve, my pet, has stopped jumping lying, satisfied, at my feet. I’ll be back for food, whether it’s crunchy French toast for breakfast or tapas with artichokes, chicken & garlic for dinner. Yum.

This is a delightful little place and I’m glad I stopped in to use my groupon. For the deal, you receive a pitcher of sangria to share, and 5 tapas, which is a lot of food. The sangria was good, though not very strong– but if you like a lighter, fruitier version, you will enjoy it.
Our tapas selections were: the chicken flautas, which were a little dry and not that special; baked goat cheese in tomato sauce with toasted garlic bread slices, delicious, but had way more sauce than goat cheese; chorizo in cheese, though I think I actually ordered the sausage, not the queso fundido, which only comes with three tortillas and so a lot of the cheese is wasted; the rib eye, which was a little tough and included only two pieces on toasted bread with some salad, so it’s not worth it; and cilantro shrimp, which was the best thing we ordered as it was saucy and flavorful.
Best thing about this place is the ambiance, with nice music and décor with cushy mismatched colorful chairs, and cute and super clean bathroom. The service was nice and attentive as well. I’d like to come back and try more of their selections.

I’m pretty sure Gaudi Café’s chilaquiles are heaven sent. As in a cherubic little being carries this amazing plate of eggs, tortilla chips, salsa verde, cheese, and a side of refried beans and softly places it in the kitchen and then departs on a unicorn. Sound about right?
Beyond the heavenly chilaquiles, Gaudi hosts polite service, a cool interior with super high ceilings and cozy booths, and plenty of delicious, diverse options. Their breakfast menu is chock full of tasty looking items, so don’t be too distracted and miss their beverage menu. I sampled Candice G’s soy latte and it tasted like a frothy french toast in a cup.
Whenever Gaudi Café makes a plate of their chilaquiles, an angel surely gets its wings.

You want gaudy? Follow Dan Bilzerian on Instagram
You want Gaudi? Eat at this café off Grand Ave. Either way you’re going to get an eclectically awesome experience.
The massive Mexican American menu may not be naked porn star, 50,000 dollar cat, private jet good like Bilzerian’s pics are, but it definitely deserves 5 stars on Unilocal.There’s everything from hangover breakfast items to healthier wraps and salads. Try the chiliquiles or any of the seafood in a wrap and you’ll see why I’m stoked.
All can be paired with a great vanilla latte and brought out by some attentive mom and pop style service. Gaudi is an incredibly welcomed addition to the neighborhood!

It’s funny, well not haha funny, but right before I left for breakfast this morning I happened to run across an article that said when you go to a restaurant check the bathrooms. If they are clean, more than likely it’s a *safe* eating place, and they treat the kitchen the same way.
Well, I didn’t check out the bathroom until before I left, but I promise you it’s adorable and clean, and you could probably eat off the floor!
Okay, enough about bathrooms. My food experience here was fantastic! I met a small group of colleagues here for breakfast. I was full when I arrived, so I wasn’t sure what to order, but when I opened up that menu I was taken back by so many options that I had no problem finding something to satisfy my food uncertainty. I ordered up three delicious egg whites blended with chorizo sausage, a side of beans and three corn tortillas beautifully wrapped up together. I also ordered the raspberry iced tea. I’ve had raspberry iced tea before, but this blend was extremely vibrant and flavorful. The presentation of all the meals around the table was worth the experience alone. My beans were kind of cold by the time they got to me, but I didn’t mind.
The atmosphere and vibe of this restaurant is relaxing and cozy, though the temperature was a bit cold in there today. I think they were having an issue with their air conditioning.
One thing that caught my eye were the hooks under the bar near the stools for purses and umbrellas. This place has a little something to make everyone’s experience worthwhile.
I thoroughly enjoyed coming here. My eggs were light and filling, and I left satisfied and wanting to come back.