1492 Tapas Bar in Chicago: Worth a Try (Chicago Area Restaurant Review No. 63)

It was an uncharacteristically nice night for May (this year) in Chicago, so we wanted to dine outside. After walking almost two miles, we discovered our first choice, Room 21, was closed, so we wandered in search of a cab, finally found one, and took it to 1492 Tapas Bar on Superior and Wabash. We had walked past this restaurant before and looked at the menu, finding it interesting. (All the prices of the items end in ".92", plus the food looked good.) The seating is pretty much right on the sidewalk, with no dividing railings or planters. We sat under a tree but we didn't have too much of a problem with our little buggy friends, at least in the beginning, which is reason enough to try 1492 again.

We started with a bottle of Ramon Bilbao Rioja, which tasted just as advertised, with hints of caramel and berries. We both really liked it, though it was a little dry. Our first courses were cold tapas. We had the patatas alioli (garlic mayonaise potatoes). While Steve thought these were not quite as good as the garlic potatoes at La Tasca, Lisa really loved them, and we both agreed we will order them again on our next visit. The cold salmon disappointed. It was not that cold, was slightly fishy, and did not come with enough creme fraiche. The Spanish cheeses were good, but not great, particulary the very strong bleu cheese.

Next, we ordered two hot tapas dishes. The goat cheese croquettes with honey were too sweet for LIsa, but Steve, who is like Winnie the Pooh with honey, loved them. Neither of us were particularly enthralled with the beef tenderloin over garlic toast, as the tenderloin was a bit tough, although Steve did like the charcoal flavor (and Lisa did not). We were going to order additional hot tapas but, by this time, the bug sentinels had told their friends dinner was served, so we decided to shorten the festivities. We did very much like dessert, however. Steve's flan was described as coming covered with caramel and, for a change, that was not an understatement. Lisa's chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream was excellent, with the chocolate almost like an Oreo cookie flavor. (A small bug that came along later also enjoyed it and entertained us with its antics.)

The bathrooms were both small and very clean albeit nothing spectacular. The women's smelled a little of bleach, not a bad smell to find in a bathroom.

Dinner for two, with a bottle of wine, was $120 and would have been more like $110 (the wine was inexpensive) with wine by the glass. This was a pleasant way to eat tapas and enjoy outdoor dining, and we plan to return and try a few different dishes. Service was friendly and not rushed.

Our ratings for 1492 Tapas Bar, 42 E. Superior, Chicago, Illinois:

6.5 of 10 Steak Knives; 2 of 3 Bathroom Brushes, 2 of 5 Bug Zappers (with 0 meaning the fewest bugs and 5 the most)