Tapas Gitana

I did a search, and I only found this place mentioned in general discussions about places near the Botanic Garden or in the northern suburbs in general -- but no thread for the restaurant. (And while Tapas Gitana has a city location, that isn't mentioned at all -- only the Northfield location.) Hence, this post.

I just had lunch today at Tapas Gitana in Northfield. I've been there a couple of times before, and have eaten once at the city location, and I love this place. The tapas are great, the place is attractive -- but, at least for lunch, the restaurant was empty. Hard to imagine why.

I can't really compare the Northfield location to the city location for people traffic, as I was at the (completely packed) city location on a Saturday evening, vs. lunch in Northfield today, a Wednesday -- but I can compare the food and service. The food may actually be a bit better in the suburban location -- though that could be a function of what I ordered. The clear advantages to the suburban location are free parking and, because rent is probably lower, the dish of olives is free and the sangria servings are more generous. Also, the Northfield location has more space and a large outdoor area (with those outdoor heaters that let you dine al fresco after the temperature starts to drop).

Today's meal included ensalada marinades (artichoke hearts, roasted eggplant, green and red peppers, fresh garlic, and sherry/balsamic vinaigrette); dátiles con tocino -- bacon wrapped dates in a red pepper cream sauce (hard to have this not be good); and nido de cordero (confit of lamb hand pulled with fresh herb aioli atop a crispy potato nest and a bed of caramelized red onions. Yum. And really rich. The bread served with this was fresh and soft with a chewy crust, and sliced very thin. The aforementioned dish of olives is also a highlight, as they marinate their own blend of olives, and they are outstanding -- almost worth the trip.

Last visit, friends and I shared pipirrana de buey, which is grilled strips of marinated skirt steak on a bed of potato and onion, drizzled with Spanish blue cheese sauce; champiñones rellenos, mushroom caps stuffed with mushroom, spinach, garlic, and cheese; corazon de alcachofas, stuffed artichoke bottoms; queso de cabra al horno, oven-baked goat cheese in tomato basil sauce with garlic bread; gambas al ajillo, tiger shrimp sautéed in olive oil, garlic, and chili peppers; and endibias con naranja, queso, y almendras -- endive topped with goat cheese, orange, and almonds, with balsamic vinaigrette.

No sangria today, but I've had it on previous visits, and it is very good.

These are all meals at the Northfield location (just about a block south of Willow Rd., not far from the off ramp from I94). Downtown was a lot of fun, but all I really remember is tortilla española that wasn't quite as good as mine, less sangria (though good), really good flan, and a couple of hours of conversation -- that, and the fact that olives cost extra.

I'd be interested to know other folks' opinions -- and if we might consider this for a North Suburban lunch. I'd hate to think the paucity of people today is the norm. (Literally, no one else there when I walked in at noon. Only four other people there when I left at one.)

Tapas Gitana
310 Happ Road # 123, Northfield, IL
(847) 784-9300

But if you live in the city and their Chicago location is more to your liking -- the food is good there, too.
3445 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL
(773) 296-6046

http://www.tapasgitana.com/

That area is cursed as far as restaurants go. It's just not a natural draw for people outside the immediate area.

Fwiw, it used to be called Meson Sabika. For 5 years my office was directly above it and we ate there a few times a year. The guys in the kitchen were great but when the chef left (about the same time the name changed), the food suffered for it. I used to love the piquillo peppers, stuffed with goat cheese, in a black bean sauce but even that dish got less satisfying for me as the place went through its changes.

=R=

I've been to the Chicago location twice in the past few months. Interestingly, this location was most recently known as Arco De Cuchilleros. As of my last trip less than a month ago, if you pay by credit card the charge shows up as Arco, so I'm not sure if it's just a name change or what.

In any event, they have a nice little back patio sheltered from all the noise. But food-wise, I simply found the tapas to be acceptable . . . everything was okay, but nothing stood out. The biggest problem to me though was the paella - the flavor was decent, but it was cooked in a non-stick pan so there was no bottom crust. Also, I personally don't like to see a microwave sitting in the middle of a restaurant kitchen - if you must use it, hide it!

BR wrote:I've been to the Chicago location twice in the past few months. Interestingly, this location was most recently known as Arco De Cuchilleros. As of my last trip less than a month ago, if you pay by credit card the charge shows up as Arco, so I'm not sure if it's just a name change or what.

In any event, they have a nice little back patio sheltered from all the noise. But food-wise, I simply found the tapas to be acceptable . . . everything was okay, but nothing stood out. The biggest problem to me though was the paella - the flavor was decent, but it was cooked in a non-stick pan so there was no bottom crust. Also, I personally don't like to see a microwave sitting in the middle of a restaurant kitchen - if you must use it, hide it!

Well, the microwave might explain why I didn't like the food in the Chicago location as well -- though I didn't see the microwave when I was there.

I also don't order paella often -- just tapas. I haven't really found anywhere with paella as good as what I had in Spain.

I agree with the comment that the suburban location isn't well positioned for people from far away, but it's great if you are in -- or driving through (because of the proximity ti 94) the northern suburbs.

As for its switch from Meson Sabika, the last time I had the datiles con tocino was when the place was still Meson Sabika, and I could detect no discernible difference -- but I didn't have much else then, so not much to compare.

So maybe I've just gotten lucky and hit it only on good days/nights, but so far, I've enjoyed myself, and those dining with me have all agreed that the food was good -- memorable, even. Not necessarily the best thing you'll ever eat on the planet, but if you're in the area, a pleasant place to dine.

spinynorman99 wrote:That area is cursed as far as restaurants go. It's just not a natural draw for people outside the immediate area.

Yeah -- but there are a lot of people in the immediate area, and the suburbs seem to be growing, at least based on traffic. So perhaps the curse will be broken. Carlos's place, across the street (Happ Inn), hasn't closed yet, so maybe the area is perking up.

Cynthia wrote:...dátiles con tocino -- bacon wrapped dates in a red pepper cream sauce (hard to have this not be good); and nido de cordero (confit of lamb hand pulled with fresh herb aioli atop a crispy potato nest and a bed of caramelized red onions. Yum...

By sheer coincidence, we had plans to meet friends at the Northfield location last night when this thread appeared for the first time yesterday afternoon. Your post, Cynthia, served as a partial guide to our ordering.

I agree that the above two items are really outstanding.

And everything else was quite good. Liked the vibe of the place, too. Once inside, there's no sense that you're in a suburban strip mall. A guitarist playing Spanish music helped further create the illusion that we weren't in Northfield anymore. (I'm not being condescending to the suburbs. I like Northfield fine. I'm just saying, the place transports you to a different world.)

While they may not be busy at lunch, they were quite busy last night for dinner. At 7:30, when we arrived for our reservation, only two tables were vacant, of which we took one. That was nice to see.

It's good to hear that this place may have turned a corner. Northfield needs restaurants. My experience there last summer represented an against-my-better-judgment call, but the location was the main selection criterion, and we wanted to sit outside. Over a few visits at lunch, I've had disappointing food that evoked dried-out leftovers tasting of the refrigerator. Also, I recall remarkably slow service, and I am patient to a fault. Once, there were even dirty plates mixed in with the clean stack on the table. My impression was that no one was really running the show during those lunch meals-I guess that echoes what ronnie said upthread. Based on Cynthia's recent experience, I'd give it a try again, but maybe for dinner.

I've been to the Chicago location twice, and I'd go back. The first time the food was really, really good. But the waitress was a bit overbearing my SO thought. The second time the food was acceptable, OK, a few things good, but the server just kind of forgot us after our food was dropped and they weren't busy. And we were seated in the back in an otherwise empty restaurant, because we hadn't made a reservation ahead of time, which kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I would say for the neighborhood in this price point, the food is above average.

I was a huge fan of Arcos de Cuchilleros.. I'd go as far as to say it was in its heyday it was my favorite tapas in chicago, though in the past few years had dropped in quality. It was the kind of place I went over the course of 10 years and the same friendly waiters, cooks, etc were there, then all of sudden a few years ago they seemed to have a whole different staff (with 1 or 2 familiar faces remaining) and I felt it wasn't quite the same after. The change was a change in ownership and was intended to have no relationship to the former restaurant. The suburban owners of Gitana bought the restaurant and redecorated it slightly and changed the menu entirely. (It kind of annoys me that on Yelp, instead of starting a new entry for Gitana, someone just renamed the Arcos de cuchilleros entry.)

I haven't been on their patio, but assuming they didn't grossly change anything from the Arcos days, it's one of the better secluded patios there around. It's in back in the back yard, not a sidewalk cafe that has restrictions.

riddlemay -- glad to hear that you had a good experience -- both food and vibe. I'm also glad to hear that they were busy at night.

Josephine -- I must have just missed the bad period, as I didn't dine there at all for a few years, then just went back about three months ago and then again yesterday. While people's tastes vary based on experience (for example, my mom's beef Stroganoff is the version by which all others are judged), I can say that every dish was fresh, vivid, and if it was supposed to be hot, hot and cooked to order. Even the bread seemed to have just arrived from the bakery. So nothing dried out or with taste of refrigerator.

Based on your comments, I'll hope that your experience represents something from which they have now recovered, rather than that I just lucked out and caught them on a good day. As you say, it's nice to have good restaurants in the area. And these two visits were so nice, I'd like to think they were reproducible.

For anyone interested in trying out Tapas Gitana at a discount, there is a Groupon for the place today (Sept. 27) -- $10 gets you $20.

Took a friend to lunch today at Tapas Gitana (Northfield location). Great meal. Again, splendid olives and good bread as starters. Then we had two cold and three hots dishes.

The cold dishes were Aguacate relleno: half an avocado stuffed with avocado and tiger shirmp; and Pisto manchego: sautéed eggplant with zucchini, yellow squash, red and green peppers, garlic, and tomato. Both were excellent, but the Pisto manchego was outstanding (though my companion liked the avocado better).

The hot dishes were Patatas bravas: fried new potatoes with spice red pepper sauce (so much better than I would have imagined - potatoes crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, pepper sauce zippy and flavorful); Crepa rellena: a crepe filled with apples, goat cheese, spinach, and pine nuts (really wonderful); and one of the specials of the day, Pastel de espinacas con salsa: baked spinach custard over a bed of pimiento butter sauce (yum). My companion thought the spinach custard was the best of these three, but I'd probably have voted for the potatoes and the crepe. Fortunately, we got all three.

Anyway, this place continues to impress me with fresh, interesting, flavorful food. I'm going to try to get back more often!

This place just seems to keep getting better. I've been there a few times in recent weeks (Northfield location), with enough friends along to order more than the usual three or four dishes, and I keep being impressed with this place -- and, I'm happy to say, the folks I've introduced have also been impressed.

Menu is thoughtfully tagged GF for gluten free and V for vegetarian

I find that the daily specials are pretty much inevitably great, but I haven't really found anything I don't like on the regular menu. (I will say, however, that while everyone seems to want the bacon-wrapped dates -- and theirs are lovely at TG -- I find them to be one of the less interesting dishes -- perhaps because it's a dish that is so easy to make. But if that's your passion, they have them -- in a nice pepper cream sauce.)

The garlic and chile saturated black and green olives are ridiculously good. The red sangria is excellent. The black bean soup is fabulous.

Cold dishes: Their Pulpo a la Venagreta (poached octopus with tomato, red onion, cilantro, and sherry vinaigrette) is possibly the best octopus dish I've ever had. I love the avocado stuffed with tiger shrimp. Also great: Pisto Manchego (sautéed eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, red and green peppers garlic and tomato) and Ensalada Marinadas (baby artichokes, roasted red and green peppers, roasted eggplant, fresh garlic in a sherry/ balsamic vinaigrette).

I almost always get more hot dishes (including those both identified as hot tapas and house specialties) than cold, as there are even more things I fancy on this side of the menu.

Among the hot tapas that have delighted me: Crepe Rellena (crepe filled with apples, goat cheese, spinach and pine nuts, with pimento butter), Queso de Cabra al Horno (oven baked goat cheese in a tomato basil sauce, served with garlic bread), Champiñones Rellenos (mushroom caps stuffed with a blend of mushroom, spinach, garlic and Spanish cheeses), Patatas Bravas (crispy fried little cubes of new potatoes served with a delicious, spicy red pepper sauce), Pimientos Del Piquillo (imported piquillo sweet peppers stuffed with three cheeses and spinach, served over black bean sauce--gooey and yummy), Pipirrana De Buey (grilled strips of marinated skirt steak on a bed of potatoes and onion, drizzled with Spanish blue cheese sauce).

"Specialties of the house" that we indulged in: Vieiras Con Espinacas (grilled jumbo sea scallops served over sautéed spinach with tomato lemon garlic sauce), Tilapia Al Caparas (grilled tilapia served over sautéed vegetables with a white wine, artichoke and caper sauce), Pincho de Pollo Y Chorizo (brochette of chicken tenderloin and chorizo with cumin mayonnaise and saffron rice), Chuletas De Cordero (three grilled lamb chops served over sautéed vegetables and a rich lamb reduction sauce), Nido De Cordero (confit of lamb hand pulled with fresh herb aioli sitting on a crispy potato nest with caramelized red onions), Pincho Solomillo (beef tenderloin brochette served over crispy potato sticks accompanied by caramelized red onions and creamy horseradish sauce).

Don't remember all the specials, but there was a lovely lobster ravioli a few weeks ago, a tender, flavorful pork loin a week ago, and last night, we had a wonderful beef tenderloin dish served with sweet potato strings. Very nice.

I'm not a dessert person, really, but they have some offerings that tempt even me -- though by the time we've gotten to dessert, we're pretty much limited to sharing, to keep from bursting. I enjoyed the taste of a friend's banana mousse, which was surprisingly good, but that was a special, so I'm not sure you'll see it again. Among the things on the menu, the desserts I've tried (and been dazzled by) include Tarta De Nueces con Caramelo Y Chocolate (freshly baked pecan and honey caramel tart topped with chocolate ganache--as rich as it sounds), Delicia De Chocolate (essentially a slab of ganache, though described as a chocolate terrine, with honey roasted pecans and fresh raspberry sauce), and Crema Catalana De Chocolate (creamy vanilla custard with bittersweet chocolate and caramelized sugar topping -- had this last night for the first time; essentially a Spanish creme brulée -- but so good, I can imagine going back just for that).

This has become a real favorite among a fairly diverse group of friends spread across the northern and northwestern suburbs (though, being a short skip off 94, it's pretty accessible to anyone with a car), and no one has been disappointed so far -- at least not when I was there.

Oh -- and we've still got a few weeks to enjoy their splendid, shaded patio -- should you be a fan of dining al fresco.

I went to the Happ Road location in Northfield a few days ago to use a $20 Groupon. I have mixed feelings about whether or not I would go back.

On the plus side, the mussels in a white wine cream sauce were great; all the mussels were good, and I used buttered bread to mop up every drop of the thick, delicious sauce. I also really liked the grilled squid; in fact, it was so rich in olive oil and spices that I had to take some of it home to finish another time.

On the minus side, the lobster in a tomato-based sauce was disappointing for the price. (I can't remember for sure, but other than some paellas and possible a beef tenderloin dish, this may be the most expensive thing on the menu.) There were three or four pieces of lobster meat, all but one of which were were nicely cooked; one was overcooked and rubbery. I only ate the lobster meat. The plate was loaded with what seemed like a cup or more of the tomato sauce, which was not tasty enough to motivate me to eat it on its own with bread. According to the menu, this is served on top of a potato pancake. In fact, it is served atop a coaster of overcooked shoestring potatoes that are too dry and hard and tasteless to be worth trying to eat (unless, in fairness, you are eating for survival rather than pleasure).

Also on the minus side, no prices are shown on the menu for regular red and white wines, just for sangria and sparkling wines. The bill surprised me; turns out they charged $10.25 for a sauvignon blanc and $9.50 for a merlot; both prices way too high, in my opinion, for the size of the pour and for the customer to not even be able see the wines by name on the menu. Furthermore, for both reds and whites, it would be nice if a Spanish tapas restaurant had Spanish wines to serve; I asked, but they did not.

Finally, the server's body language conveyed an obvious lack of enthusiam for the tasks of seating me and serving me from the moment I walked in the door. He gradually warmed up to some degree as I spoke to him in Spanish at every opportunity, but overall his demeanor toward me was notably different from that, say, with which he greeted and served the four Spanish-speaking ladies at the table across from me. I realize I don't look as though I could speak Spanish. And, well, maybe they're regulars.

Overall, I really enjoyed about half of the lunch but felt substantially overcharged for the other half (thank goodness for the $20 Groupon, but still...), and not really warmly welcomed to the place, which is why I say I don't know when or if I'll be going back.