Great place for groups. Cheap wine, small plates (try the veal meatball sliders), tasty pizzas, and great atmosphere (opt for eating in the bar over the dining room, unless you've got a big group).
Mercat a la Planxa, the Catalan restaurant from Jose Garces, offers exciting tapas dishes and delicious Jamon Serrano.
Here you'll find 44 hot and cold tapas, several paellas and a selection of hot and cold entrees, salads and soups. Read more.
New favorite Mexican joint in Chicago. Tiny, cash only, no reservations - cool vibe. Mostly small plates, so I'll list my three fave - pork short ribs, grilled shrimp, and empanadas.
Enchiladas potosinas and Pan seared scallops from the December menu are two of the best small plates I've ever eaten. Great food and atmosphere.
In keeping with the trend of designer tapas in subterranean restaurants, Lakeview's Chilam Balam is a basement-level dive with an upscale pedigree. The shiitake mushroom empanadas are a must-try! Read more.
Step through a former freight elevator shaft to find one of the hottest bar and restaurants in Chicago. Try the Winter G&T along with one of the many sensational small plates for a truly perfect meal. Read more.
Laid-back hangout with interesting wine and beer list. The food menu focuses on some well-made small plates, and as a bonus, the kitchen is open until 1 a.m.
This quiet escape might be known for cocktails, but the small plates menu is worth a trip for dinner. Finish it off with an indulgent Baked Alaska, with luxardo cherries and dark chocolate. Read more.
One of my favorite tapas restaurants in the city! Love it!!! 1/2 off bottles of wine on Mondays and Tuesdays!
The 5,000-square-foot "Wine Garden" hosts live music to go along with small plates like green-tomato gazpacho and grilled Merguez sausage. http://tmout.us/lKTEo Read more.
Old World wine list and Mediterranean small plates: Scott Harris has nailed the formula at Purple Pig and Davanti Enoteca, so why mess with a good thing? Read more.
Italians eat a little lighter in the evening, and Disotto follows suit with small plates like anchovy-ricotta-tomato bruschetta and squares of egg-enclosed toast, rich with truffle oil. Read more.
Small plates better than the large plates. Phyllo w/ goat cheese, pork belly and chickpea dishes were all great. Duck gyro is touted as signature dish and was good. Lamb shoulder was also good.
Share small plates of lamb-encrusted shrimp or wood-grilled octopus, or opt for main entrees such as whole Aegean sea bass and pork-stuffed cabbage. Read more.