Cafe 28

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1800 W Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60613

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(773) 528-2883
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Reviews
( 12 )
( 11 )
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( 1 )

Best

My wife rarely orders seafood but got the halibut. It was amaaaaazing. I ordered the marinated skirt steak and was upset when I was done eating because there wasn't anymore left...

Worst

We had to wait 2 hours after my friend's party reservation because the restaurant didn't hold tables for us. They said our whole party had to be there to be seated, but they let a...

Fantastic Cuban cuisine 3/10/2010

My wife rarely orders seafood but got the halibut. It was amaaaaazing. I ordered the marinated skirt steak and was upset when I was done eating because there wasn't anymore left to eat. The food was wonderful, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was perfect. I would recommend this to everyone I know. Pros: Fun atmosphere more
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Great food, great outdoor patio. 8/27/2008

I really enjoyed Cafe 28. We went in the middle of the week so it was not busy at all. We sat outside, which was perfect for a summer night. The food was so good!!! Everything we ordered was good. The menu is small, but I couldn't decide what to get because everything looked so good. We shared a few different meals and they were delicious. The halibut was excellent. The spinach quesadillas were different, but possibly the best I have ever had. Our service was really good. I did not like one of the drinks I ordered and the server brought out another option without question. He was very attentive and we had such a good time. I would definitely recommend!!! Pros: Everything we ordered was tasty!!! Cons: Cocktails did not have enough alcohol. They were good, but too watered down. more
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Cafe 28 4/13/2007

My co worker went here and totally raved about this place and I knew I had to try it. I went to Cafe 28 on... more
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Cafe 28 4/13/2007

Moonbm27 Provided by Partner
My co worker went here and totally raved about this place and I knew I had to try it. I went to Cafe 28 on a double date last night. After readin... more
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Excellent Food, Inconsistent Service 2/16/2007

We've been to Cafe 28 twice now. Both times, the food was delicious). The first time we went, the service was great. The most recent time, though, we went on a busy Friday night and left less than impressed with the waitstaff. We were seated at the ""extra"" table that was placed in an area where there just happened to be room for one. This was fine by us, since we just wanted some dinner. However, the less-than-desirable table came with less-than desirable service. We didn't get the list of specials until our waiter came to take our order (and we sat there for about 15 minutes waiting to place our order). We were never offered more bread/butter either. And at one point, one of the servers came to take the extra chair from our table in the middle of our meal -- I was using its rungs to rest my foot on (I'll also mention that, shortly after being seated, one of the servers was leaning on the chair while talking to someone else -- while we were sitting there!). Pros: yummy mojitos!, delicious butter, well-seasoned dishes Cons: service on busy nights is terrible more
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Cuban and Mexican with a twist 2/15/2007

I've been to Cafe 28 several times and each time I go there, I'm very happy with my total experience. The... more
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Cuban and Mexican with a twist 2/15/2007

hk123j Provided by Partner
I've been to Cafe 28 several times and each time I go there, I'm very happy with my total experience. The atmosphere is lively and fun, the food is... more
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Cuban comfort 11/16/2006

Cafe 28 is an amazing place. Flavor is infused into every dish, even the butter (believe me, you'll be asking for the recipe)! The ambience is relaxing, the food is hearty and excellent. Definitely great for a romantic evening, a large dinner party or fun with the kids! Pros: service, food, ambience more
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Great food at a good price 8/17/2006

I love Cafe 28. I've only ever gone in for dinner, and the menu is small, but everything I've ever had there has been delicious- even the staple roast porc dish is slightly unusual and very delicious. The portions are on the large side, the atmosphere is friendly, and the atmosphere is nice. The outdoor seating area is nice and they have some nice wines. The main cons are that it can get kind of noisy when it gets crowded, the tables are very close together, and you may very well have to wait a while on their busy nights (they don't take reservations for groups with less than 5 people). Despite that, it's still worth it- the entrees are mostly in the $10-$25 range and the food is great. Have a mojito in the bar while you're waiting for a table! Pros: Excellent food, friendly staff, not overpriced Cons: Noisy, long wait, no reservations more
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Fabulous! 5/1/2006

I really enjoyed this restaurant. At first I opened the menu and thought ""thats it, just two pages?"" But, as I looked at every item on the menu, I got excited and could not choose what to order. The waitress suggested the Caipiroska for a drink, which we loved and got a little buzzed from just one. As we were waiting for the food, I could not get enough of their butter. It was like they whipped sugar and a tad of crushed red pepper in the butter. I ordered the Cuban Roast Pork, which was great. My friend ordered the Honey Jalapeno Pork Chops. We both tried each other's meals and loved them. I eventually found myself dipping my pork into her sauce. All and all, I was very pleased with my experience and would suggest it to anyone who loves all kinds of meat. Pros: Priced fairly, Wonderful food, great atmosphere more
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Good brunch, no wait. 4/10/2006

I went here for brunch recently and had a pretty good experience. There was no wait to sit; in fact it looked like they were at less than 1/2 capacity. Service was attentive and friendly. I had the honey-glazed porkchop with eggs and it was great. Actually the eggs were overcooked (I wanted over easy, got over hard), but the porkchop was well worth the price on it's own, being not unlike the porkchop they have on their dinner menu, though substantially smaller (thank God!) I will definitely go back. Pros: great food, no wait brunch, good service Cons: parking tough more
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My Birthday Restaurant 6/14/2005

I come here on my birthday every year for two reasons: my birthday is the 28th, and this is one of my very favorite places to eat in the city. Everything they serve is outstanding and beautifully presented. Some of my favorites are the coconut shrimp, the ropa vieja, the chicken or spinach floutas, and the specials are always great. Even the butter they serve with the table bread is memorable: a touch sweet and a kick of spicy. The only drawback is this restaurant is so popular, it can be mobbed to the point that you may not be seated for a long time. But go there on off-peak hours, and you'll be very pleased. Pros: outstanding food, pretty atmosphere, variety of specials Cons: crowded more
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Bad service 4/30/2005

We had to wait 2 hours after my friend's party reservation because the restaurant didn't hold tables for us. They said our whole party had to be there to be seated, but they let another party sit down in a special room with only some of their guests. The food was mediocre for the price. I wasn't impressed at all, and when a restaurant screws up someones reservation, I expect them to try and make up for it. They lost my business for good. more
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Breakfast is great! 6/4/2004

I loved there breakfast! Chirzo(mexican sausage)is really good. Good portions size, you can share some of the plates. It is a little expensive, so I only go some of the time. Well worth giving this place a try! Pros: Good Staff, Great Breakfast Cons: , expensive more
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IMPRESSED 5/11/2004

The food was very flavorful and authentic. Loved the butter! Couldn't get enough of the bread because of how great the butter tasted. Normally, if a restaurant that serves latin food has a trendy look to it, the food is not even close to authentic. That's just been my experience. But at this place, you get the best of both worlds. Great crowd. We arrived at 7:30 and it was crowded. We had to wait an hour but it was worth the wait and we managed to snag a tiny table to enjoy our drinks. I highly recommend the place. Great job! Pros: Authentic, Great Ambience, Nicely Priced more
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Authentic! 7/4/2003

The food & atmosphere are equally splendid. This can be a casual or more upscale dining experience depending on your mood. Sunday brunch is really good but be sure to get there before the crowd does! This place is ALWAYS crowded as the restaurant speaks for itself. They have recently expanded which was a nice surprise and the decor is warm and inviting. If you've never been to Cafe 28, I would hightly recommend going. more
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Top Drawer 5/17/2003

I had the good fortune to find myself at Cafe 28 on a weekend trip to Chi-town this past summer and was treated to one of the most enjoyable dining experiences of my life. The Mojitos, impeccably poured, could only be described as the feel good drink of the year. The exposed brick and intimate lighting served as the perfect backdrop to the sumptuous food that was placed in front of us by the very attentive staff. My only complaint is that I still have not found its equivalent in NYC. more
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Havana heaven 9/6/2002

One of my favorite restaurants in the city and I've been to a lot of them. The food is consistently outstanding and and excellent value. You won't be dissappointed with anything on the menu. Wash your meal down with a pitcher of sangria. more
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I love this place! 8/15/2002

I am never disappointed when I leave Cafe 28 and I usually have to be rolled out of there from eating so much. The atmosphere is very lively and it's always crowded. It's hard to choose between their many tasty appetizers. And let's not even start talking about the bread and butter that they give you with your meal. The bread comes with a spicy butter that's amazing! And their Tres Leches cake is so delicious it should be against the law! Pros: Moderate prices, Excellent food Cons: Bad parking, Long Wait/Crowded more
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Local Favorite 7/10/2002

What a wonderful way to spend an evening. After hearing raves about this place I had to try it myself and I am hooked. The flavors are exceptional, although the service is a little inconsistent. This hip place fills up fast but it's well worth the wait. I have yet to be disappointed by the cuisine. Definately on the top of my list of favorite places to eat. Rumor has it the brunch is great, too. Pros: Exotic Flavors, Family Owned, Fun Cons: Inconsistant Service, Crowded more
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Menu for Cafe 28


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    This neighborhood restaurant keeps growing, having added another room to its cozy front bar and spacious, sunny middle dining area. It's a comfortable, cheerful place, with...

  • 3/7/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Call for hours
  • Payments: Discover, American Express, Visa, Master Card, Diner's Club
  • Neighborhoods: North Side, North Center
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