4. Restaurants

Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse

2942 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60657
  • (773) 871-2414
  • Store is closed

Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse Menu

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  • Daniella A.

    The meat is amazing!!! So are the drinks! the empanadas and arepas not so much. But definitely recommend this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Tiffany B.

    Two words: Food Poisoning. The food was really good until a few hours later when symptoms kicked in. We only had meat, rice and beans. Obviously bad meat or possibly contaminated water. All bad. My entire party is severely ill. Don't do it.

    (1)

  • Dennis H.

    I ate here with a large group of people, all I remember was the Sangria was excellent and the dish I ordered was the carne asada. I thought it was decent overall but nothing amazing. It was a slab of grilled meat similar to Peruvian food. Served with a side of yuca, plantains, and a really yummy green chili sauce.

    (3)

  • Jesi R.

    The service was excellent, and the ambiance is really cute for date night! We both ordered the bandeja paisa, and although it was incredible, it was pricey. We've gotten the same quality dish for way less, but still delicious nonetheless.

    (4)

  • Eric S.

    Just a great place with great food and reasonable prices

    (5)

  • Karis W.

    We came here for my best friend's Bachelorette party dinner and had a fantastic time. We had about 12 girls and they were great - the service was quick and the restaurant has a fun atmosphere. Order the Aborrajado - you don't know what it is and I didn't either but I promise you it'll be your new favorite dish. It's sweet, salty, and absolutely delicious. We ordered 6 appetizers (Arepas are good too) and shared entree's between two girls - the servings here are pretty generous, and none of us were disappointed by our meals. I also really loved their Chimichurri, the perfect fresh accompaniment to steak. One of the girls in our group said that this place was her and her husband's fave Columbian steakhouse in Chicago and it's easy to see why. Whether with a group or on a date, check this place out and make sure to order up some mojitos!

    (4)

  • Steve H.

    Eh... It'll serve you sustenance. But is very mediocre on various fronts. I wouldn't return again myself. The grilled calamari appetizer was rubbery. Our grilled steaks and fish entrees were grilled but bland with no flavor. Adding chimichurri to it was no help, as their "hot" chimichurri was simply cilantro onions and oil. Ethnic Colombian couples making out at individual tables provided quite the visual ambiance for myself and my parents though for our Sunday dinner.

    (2)

  • Libby R.

    Need I say more? Terrible service, marginal food, unclear menu selections. Maybe I didn't know what to expect at a Columbian Steakhouse but this didn't cut it. No bread, explanation of how food is served. Very disappointed. Will not return for a second chance.

    (1)

  • Alan P.

    It just wasn't possible to get the food into my mouth fast enough. What an amazing experience and wonderful food tucked away in Chicago. Near enough Clybourne station (N. Lincoln location) that the wife and I can take a train into the city just for this place. I secretly fell in love with the Columbian coffee and my wife did the same with their version of the Mimosa. Bit pricey so more "date night" stuff for us than casual dining. JUST GO!

    (5)

  • Shaun H.

    I ordered delivery tonight nearly 2 hours ago. No call, no show, and they won't answer the phone. Service is important and apparently they just don't care.

    (1)

  • Mike P.

    ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION!!! The item listed as Ajiaco on the menu at Las Tablas is in fact NOT ACTUALLY AJIACO!! Do not be duped!! Anyone that has been to Bogota will quickly be able to tell you that this ain't ajiaco. The broth was incredibly thin and did not resemble any of the ajiaco that I've eaten in Colombia. It shouldn't be ordered and honestly it shouldn't be served. Now that I got that out of the way, the rest of the food was alright. The Bandeja Paisa was decent. Not excellent, but I liked it enough. It's rather odd that a Colombian restaurant doesn't serve any Colombian beer: no Pilsen, no Aguila, no Club Colombia. It's even more odd that a Colombian restaurant doesn't serve aguardiente. I ordered 2 shots of Antioqueno sin azucar and they looked at me like I was crazy. I realize that we're in Chicago and we're a long way from Colombia, but Colombian cuisine is known for being very very simple. It shouldn't be that hard to put together of a menu of legit Paisa and Rolo dishes.

    (2)

  • LaVerne A.

    Yum yum Yummies! Steak seasoned to perfection! Great atmosphere! Sides....ehh but who needs Sides! Columbian steak at it's best!

    (4)

  • Jennifer H.

    SPECIAL EVENT I came here not for dinner but for a special event. So my review is more reflective if you wanted to rent out the place. For the event, the restaurant cleared out the tables and chairs and opened up the main seating area. It's a decent sized restaurant. The bar area / waiting area is a moderate size. They have some outdoor seating which will be lovely in the summer. The bar was crowded as expected and the bartenders were slow. One of them seemed particularly green. But the blackberry mojitos were awesome!!! All is forgiven. They were serving numerous appetizers --- all which had some great kick to it. Absolutely nothing bland here. Even the crab cakes were spicy. They served servings of their steak on a stick, but the pieces were too big to even try to eat gracefully as an hors d'oeuvres, especially around people I was just meeting. The steak was delicious but the kitchen needs to think about how to serve the food that works for this type of function. I did meet someone who said they adore this restaurant and even had their birthday party dinner here. Which reflects how well people like the restaurant. But for special functions, the restaurant is getting a 3-star from me.

    (3)

  • Joe Y.

    You don't want to miss las tablas. This place does it right. Located near the El and street parking is plenty, that's always a plus in my books. We had a party of 14 and the staff was on point. I would definitely start off with the empanadas, absolutely amazing. I'm not the biggest empanadas guy by any means, but these are the best I have ever had. To wash it all down we had pitchers of sangria and some mojitos! Both were great options. When dinner was served, they brought all of the hot plates out at once. The worst thing about going to dinner with such a large group is the delay in service. We did not experience that at las tablas, service was great. For dinner, I got the skirt steak and shrimp combo. Skirt steak was a 10!!!! Got it medium, it was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Shrimp was good as well but nothing to go crazy about. Only major downside of the dinner was it was a really hot night and for some reason, the AC was not working in the back of the restaurant where we were seated. This made the experience pretty uncomfortable but those refreshing drinks made up for it. Overall - a MUST try in the Chicagoland area.

    (4)

  • Nick R.

    Really enjoyed my food here. Nice vibe and atmosphere with a bar. Great place to take a date. I believe it's BYOB as well. We started off with a couple of empanadas which were great. We went with the combination so we could try a couple different flavors. We also got the arepa rellena which is a delicious cheese cornbread with chicken and mushrooms. I got the arachara steak which goes so well with white rice plantains and the chimichurri sauce on top is awesome!! My friend got the skirt steak which I tried and it was great as well. Only a couple of drawbacks. The service was really slow and we wanted more of the chimichurri sauce and they ran out. We hardly had enough for the table. Find it surprising that they would run out but we made the best of it.

    (4)

  • Thomas C.

    I know I will just be echoing what others have said, but the entrada was incredible. The whole seasoning of the skirt steak left me wanting more, and it was a great portion. The pulpitos on the combination platter was above average, and cooked perfectly. The shrimp in the combination was plentiful. The main dish of calamari was soo tasty and cooked perfectly. The only dish that was not up to the great standards was the chicken dish, which was too salty. There was a group of 10, and the service was perfect as we were not rushed. Plenty of great empanadas, a mouthwatering Chorizo o Chicharron con Arepa, and very good guacamole. Anthony (Tony) the bartender was terrific and took care of our group. We had all of the drinks, the Caipirinha, Mojito, Manzana drink, etc and they were all very good and more importantly fresh. And Tony was able to match any type of drink you want from sweet, strong, etc. The flan was delicous, and the table next to us seemed to be in love with their oreo cake. The place is casual and not expensive, but you get a great meal and time at Las Tablas.

    (5)

  • Ro M.

    Usually visit this restaurant about 3-5 times a year as I am Colombian and I have to admit that the quality of the food and authenticity of the plates is a hit or complete miss. Typical Colombian dishes like empanadas, bandeja paisa, and fruit juices are usually ok (4/5). Then there are some big disappointments like the ajiaco and the brevas con arequipe. (0/5). Interior of the restaurant is inviting and well done and the neighborhood is nice as well. As a summary I think it's a restaurant that is worth the visit but be aware that some dishes may not be the best or authentic at all.

    (3)

  • Delilah M.

    One of my favorite places to eat. My boyfriend and I ordered the meal for two $40..worth EVERY EVERY PENNY. The best part was the steak. I'm drooling right now thinking about it. The plantains and Yuka were perfect touch too. I been there twice in the past month. First time was the day I got a root canal which was sooooo painful but the steak was worth the pain. Lol

    (5)

  • Christopher B.

    I can't believe my last review was over seven years ago! I heard for a while that they moved BUT I didn't get the memo on the BYOB (it's not like brought anything with me!). I don't remember the empanadas before but absolutely some of the best I've ever had. And when you put some of their sauce on them it's off the charts delicious! I ordered the entrana and my steak was perfect, how I remember it, and all the sides were money. It's nice to see a place that is consistent over so many years even if they did move into a nicer location!

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    Skirt. Steak. GET IT! It comes out sizzling on a platter. So juicy and delicious. Try it with the green sauce. I forgot that it's BYOB, so if/when I come here again, I'll be bringing some delicious red wine to go with my juicy skirt steak. An affordable alternative to other steak places in the city and a must-try.

    (5)

  • Jere M.

    After watching "Chicago's Best Bites", my boyfriend and I decided to try out one the featured restaurants- Las Tablas. On the show it was mentioned that the most popular dish was the skirt steak. They showed how they made it and I was sold! So we decided to go last night (12/11/11). I was worried that arriving 10 minutes before closing time, that they may have not let us in, or that they may have a slight attitude. Fortunately, I WAS WRONG! The host was super friendly, and didn't seem to care about our late arrival. Once seated, we were greeted immediately. Our waiter POLITELY told us to chose a dish soon since the kitchen would be closing shortly. Because it was our first time, we ordered strictly from the recommendations of our waiter. We started with FRESH FRUIT Mojitos. I had kiwi and my boyfriend had strawberry. The kiwi was delicious! Very light and refreshing. For an appetizer, we had the combo plate of empandadas that included chicken, beef, and cheese. Ummm.....they were O-KAY. Nothing really spectacular to me. But when the waiter brought our skirt steak dinners.....OMG. They were served on a skillet, still cooking! I couldn't wait to cut into mine. My first bite was very juicy and flavorful. That was a GREAT skirt steak cooked to perfection. It was served with sweet plantain, yuka, and baked potato. Great combo! And their spicy salsa paired great with EVERYTHING. I had to try one more mojito- Mango. Sooooo good. Chunks of rum soaked sweet mango waited for me at the bottom once I finished my drink. #Winning. We will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Jessica P.

    I came here on a weekday (Wednesday to be specific) around 6PM..It wasn't packed at all so my friend and I were seated immediately.. Food Steak & Shrimp Combination ($21) - comes with your choice of 2 meats/seafood and sweet plaintain, yuca and potato. The meat was cooked to my liking (medium rare) and flavored perfectly as well! Overall I was happy with what I ordered. *my friend ordered the baby octopus and it looked delicious as well. Portions: big for a small eater or perfect for a big eater..nom nom... Customer Service: the waiter was very helpful and friendly; however, it took awhile before we got our check....a good place to dine if you would like to take your time eating and chatting the night away.. :) Costs: not bad for the amount of food you get... Parking: there is street parking in the area Atmosphere: spacious and ok...I was seated next to a window ..and our view looked like someone's backyard...hm.. I would come here again if I was craving meat or if I was in the area.. :)

    (4)

  • Irene L.

    I was pretty pumped to eat here but was very disappointed. The skirt steak which is the house speciality was not over cooked but had too much seasoning. I'd like to say too much cumin. The drinks had way too much lime I ordered a cucumber/basil vodka and a pineapple mojito.

    (3)

  • Janet E.

    The staff and quality of the food has significantly dropped. The service used to be impeccable but are full of rude and slow people who chat while you wait to be seated in an empty restaurant.

    (2)

  • Natalia K.

    Unreal. The amount of food you get is just unreal. And it's so good, that you're happy the portions are huge. Makes for a full and satisfied belly and potentially lunch the next day. I bought a groupon for 4 for $65. That's a $16 per person. And we got two apps to share, 4 entrees, and 4 desserts. For $16 a person. What an amazing deal! Our appetizers were the arepas with beef and guacamole. Both were delicious and we were excited for our entrees. I had the entrana and shrimp combo. I definitely recommend the combos, because why only get one thing when you can try two different things? And the portions of each are large enough that you're not feeling like you didn't get enough of one! One of my friends ordered the baby octopi. Prepare yourself because they are full baby octopi. You're not just getting some arms here- you're getting the full baby. A full family of babies. Pretty cute- pretty morbid as well. They offered us choices of four different desserts and as there were four of us, we thought we should try all of them: tres leches cake, chocolate mousse, coconut flan, and oreo cake. As un-colombian as it was, I liked the oreo cake the best, although all four desserts were exceptional and you couldn't go wrong. The chocolate mousse is extremely dense and rich though, so make sure you share that one! The restaurant is very warm and welcoming on the inside, with really nice and attentive service. My only complaint was the paper napkins. For a nice steakhouse, they should invest in cloth napkins. But that's a minor thing and doesn't take away from the overall quality of this establishment. This wasn't my first time at Las Tablas, and it certainly won't be my last.

    (5)

  • Katie F.

    I've been to Las Tablas for everything from a large rehearsal dinner, to small family dinners, and it never disappoints. The calamari, shrimp and beef are not to be missed, and have always pleased the pickiest and/or least adventurous of eaters in my group. I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    Came here on Valentine's day, and it wasn't too crowded! We ordered a pile of meat. I don't remember what it was called, but there is something on the menu that alludes to a pile of meat, for around $60, and it's intended to be shared with another person. It was great. The variety of animals piled on the platter was interesting, and I really enjoyed the seasoning. We used this as a way to taste various things, being the first visit. Would definitely recommend this plate to someone else, and also the skirt steak listed as their house specialty; the skirt steak was my favorite part of the whole thing. Will return, someday when it's not freezing because the walk from the Brown Line in 9 degree weather was hard. Get an Uber if it's bad weather.

    (5)

  • Jeff D.

    Steaks come out hot and perfectly prepared. I love me some plantains, and it seems like every dish here comes with a healthy serving! We got the roasted plantain with guava preserves and goat cheese appetizer, and it was like nothing I have ever tasted. Really exceptional.

    (5)

  • Cesar M.

    Friend's B-day party, Quik search, latin + BYOB + neighborhood = some options and after checking them out decided to go with Las Tablas, Called them and asked if they were BYOB, yes we are, but only wine, nice lady on the phone responded. Put the word out, make reservation for 12, 2 of whom were in charge of the wine. Sunday at 7 pm was decided. We get there and get to the table, sit down and check the menu. Waiter comes by and informs us that they are BYOB only M-Th, What??? - 1 * for that. Had to order a couple of pitchers of sangria, decent just decent. I ordered the entraña, and also got to try the stuffed chicken and octupus. The entraña was great, perfectly cooked, the chicken was very good as well, the octupus?? no so much it was a little chewy. The restaurant is super nice, beatuful simple wooden chairs and tables. celiling painted beatufully as pointed out by a friend. Ambiance was lacking a little, many tables were empy. LTCS, good food, nice service ok prices

    (4)

  • Bernard L.

    I was there to have dinner for a friend of mine who is getting married. OK, you twisted my arm. It was the beginning part of a bachelor party. It was my first time there, but the place had me at Steakhouse so i any worried. The restaurant was spacious and inviting. There was a group of 14 with us, so i had to wait a while before everyone arrived. The menu was filled with things I wanted to have right then and there. It took me a while to decide. I was stuck on just the skirt steak, but the combination dish of rice, pork, steak, chorizo, sweet plantain, and a fried egg ended up being my final choice. Everything on the plate was delicious. My only snag was that my steak was a little dry when I ate it, but nonetheless it was great. I will definitely return here in the future.

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    Amazing food!!! The skirt steak and grilled octopus was delicious. Service was superb and very attentive. Recommend the fruit mojitos as well. Highly recommended

    (5)

  • Lauren K.

    It was good. The chimichurri wasn't the most flavorful. The meat was yummy. I would go back for drinks.

    (3)

  • Adam A.

    The difference between 4vs 5, was 2 things. Lets start with why 4. this place is amazing. Get empanadas, guac, entrana and Malbec reserve, . amazing experience. why not 5- 1) they lost my reservation somehow, 3rd time it has happened. 2). Empanadas were a little to crispy, quality control please.

    (4)

  • David V.

    This restaurant was well worth it. The food was great and service was exceptional and very knowledgeable of the menu and helping with suggestions. I would recommend this place to anybody looking for a nice place to relax and good atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    Love this place! It's currently my favorite to-go restaurant for special moments (birthdays, graduations, etc). Customer service is amazing, food is amazing and overall atmosphere is amazing Highly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Anthony B.

    Las Tablas became our stop for fuel between a Wrigley day game and a Soldier Field night cap. If protein is what you are after then this is the place for you. We decided to compromise and get the Picada Mar y Tierra which is basically every meat they offer with a few plantains, yucca, and arepas thrown in for good measure. The meats were all cooked well but had one dimensional flavor due to their cooking method. They provide two sauces, one a Chimichurri and the other a spicier herbal sauce. Both were very good and provide a ton of punch to the meat. The service here was really slow, especially since we were literally the only people in the restaurant. It took a while to get our drinks and even longer to get our food order in. I'd really hate to see what it's like during the evening rush.

    (4)

  • Hiba A.

    So yum! I got their famous skirt steak, passion fruit juice (I'm pretty sure it's fresh, or the fact that they serve it in a fancy glass makes it all the better), and the chicken mushroom arepa as our server recommended the chicken over the beef. The skirt steak was delicious! It comes out sizzling, so lovely. It's a very nice size too. It comes with yuka, half a potato, and fried plantain. The plantain was my favorite, since it complemented the steak well (I'm a huge fan of savory and sweet together). The potato and yuka were too dry for me, but maybe that's how they're supposed to be? The two green sauces that come with the steak were standard, nothing special. I was hoping for something better to complement the steak. As a fan of all things juice, I really liked the passion fruit juice. They have other flavors, which I would definitely like to try. The arepa was pretty good comfort food, and easily shared between two people. I oils like to try the empanadas next time. Go eat steak!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth L.

    Not impressed. We started with the empanadas combo plate which mostly tasted fried. The cheese empanada was basically a fried cheese stick. My husband had the skirt steak and I had the combo skirt steak and chicken dish. The only thing that would get me back here are the skirt steak and the mojitos. In addition to the food, service was very bad. We saw our server only when we ordered and when we were done. I received my first water refill only after I had finished our appetizer and meal. If you are looking for good empanadas and skirt steak, I'd stick to Tango Sur.

    (2)

  • Dawn S.

    This place was phenomenal!!! My boyfriend and I came to Chicago for a few days and found this place on yelp, and I'm glad we did, the service here was great and the food was amazing!! We shared the combo chicken and beef platter and got the arepa rellena, to die for.. If we lived here this would be my go to place:-)

    (5)

  • Roman R.

    Very good steak. Wish i had know about this place when it was BYOB(no longer) but still solid.

    (4)

  • Shelby R.

    I took my boyfriend here because they have a great vegetarian option for me while they also have a great option for him! The appetizers were great! I love that they were BYOB! They treated us great, we did not wait long, and the food was delicious!

    (5)

  • Datis M.

    I rated it 3 stars but would give it 3.5 if that was an option. I really enjoyed the place but there was one factor that knocked it down from a 4 or 5 star rating which I will get into later in the post. My girlfriend and I shared a couple empanadas and ordered the meat platter. We went on a weekday which meant we were allowed to bring a bottle of wine for a $10 corking fee, which was awesome. We shared beef empenada's which were delicious, especially when soaked in their incredible chimichuri sauce. The platter was delicious, but, next time I'd rather just order the skirt steak and chicken which were the two stars of the platter alongside some yucca. One thing that rubbed me the wrong way was that the chorizo was missing off the plate. We didn't even notice, but the server pointed it out and said he'd get us more but never did. Also, my girlfriend and I had pretty bad stomach aches after the fact, but that may have been because we ate so much. One thing I really liked was that they had an incredibly friendly host who seemed to have special needs. He did a great job and it was great to see the restaurant supporting him with a job. Word to the wise: avoid this place if you plan on going out after. You will wreak of meat and your breath will stink of onion. Personally, I'd say it's a sacrifice worth taking.

    (3)

  • Jacob K.

    I have been to Las Tablas twice now and have had a good experience each time. One of my visits was with just one other person, and the staff was very attentive and informative about both the menu and wine selections available for our specific meal. The second time, I went with an 8 person group and the meals took awhile to come out to the table even for a large group. However, the wait staff was very friendly and informative, just a bit less attentive than the first time I visited the restaurant. The food here is excellent. Large portion sizes and not very expensive. Everyone at my table was able to find something they liked and was happy with the experience.

    (4)

  • Taylor M.

    Everything we ate here was simply amazing. The drinks were fantastic. I don't remember what I had (maybe a margarita or two) but I remember there being a huge selection of fruit flavors to choose from. They are no longer BYOB, but people kept making the mistake of bringing stuff in. On to the food, everything I retried was savory and delicious. We started with empanadas and grilled calamari. Both of which were fantastic. For my meal I ordered the chicken with spinach and cheese. My boyfriend ordered the recommended steak specialty. While both were good, I would say go with the steak. I kept stealing bites off his throughout dinner. Writing this is really making me crave that steak! Yummmmy! The service was fantastic, friendly and speedy. My only compliant was the bathrooms are downstairs which was kind of far.

    (5)

  • Arni F.

    This place set a new bar on the salads in Latin restaurants department. Ever notice how whenever a new Mexican or some other Latin-inspired restaurant that isn't owned by a white guy with a goatee (love you, Rick!) the salads consist of a chopped tomato, a sliced onion, and nasty iceberg lettuce sprinkled with some lime juice? I mean WTF?! Not this place! Giant platters of food containing all kinds of meats: pork, chicken, beef and a smattering of roots and veggies. Done deal. The servers are quite attentive, johnny on the spot with the drinks and water pitcher. A fork in one hand and a Seven & 7 in the other. We. Went. To. Town. Lively conversation and good company. The chicken was a little dry, let's be honest, but the rest was absolutely welcome in my digestive tract! Order the house salad, dump some avocados on it, get the BYOB, and some lively chatter going, instant party at this North Side joint without the pretension and parking woes of the River North scene. Then you can show up to your colonoscopy 72 hours later after a gallon of Go-Lytely and you'll be golden (Las Tablas is not meant to treat any condition, always ask your proctologist before blowing out your colon what is right for you)! Now good sirs of Las Tablas, how about we amend that no BYOB Fri-Sun thing?

    (4)

  • Eddie B.

    Las Tablas was their for me for my Colombian food needs the Skirt steak was juicy and cooked to perfection, the rice and bean were made with love as well. On my next trip to Chicago i will be returning.

    (4)

  • Travis L.

    A great place for a celebration! Las Tablas is one of my fiance's favorite places for a special night out and I understand why. Recently, we celebrated her Birthday/Valentine's Day dinner at Las Tablas. Reservations were made for 7:30 and our table was prepared for us immediately upon arrival. The place has a great ambiance for date night, which made the night more fun. The service and food were delightful. We split the Colombian Sampler and realized why everyone raves about their skirt steak. It was the most tender, juicy steak I have had in recent memory. To accompany the sampler, we had delicious mojito's that are a must! To end the night, we received a complimentary dessert surprise since it was her Birthday. A very nice offering! Las Tablas took great care of us for her birthday and we will definitely be returning for more delicious food and great service!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey T.

    Omg. The people yelling and screaming just to talk like if your outside. It's awful and ruins the experience. I mean children are crying its so loud. Come on people have your loud party catered. The food is delicious but I would never come on Thursday thru Saturday. Plus they are so rude I love the waiters they know us by name.

    (3)

  • Jackie M.

    There seem to be a great improvement compared to 3 years ago. I usually order the house special skirt steak combo with octopus. The skirt steak and octopus are usually cooked to perfection/ medium cooked. The seasoning and the flavor is a bit heavy, but i like it! There is a secret menu and i usually order a side order of pork belly was is fried and crunchy! Must order the fresh made Limenada. For dessert, go for the chocolate one and forget about the dessert with fig.

    (4)

  • Asma M.

    Went on a Wednesday night -- not crowded at all but not empty. We ordered the grilled calamari and grilled octopus as appetizers. The calamari was outstanding and the octopus was good too, but hard to eat since it's baby octopus which means you eat the whole body. Personally, I'm straight with brains. Got the Entrana for dinner. Ordered it medium rare, which is def the way to go since they bring it out on a hot plate and it continues to cook. The meat was cooked just right and the seasoning was perfect. The server was super nice but could have been a bit more attentive. He brought the bill and didn't come back -- we had to flag him down. Not a big deal, I still enjoyed my dinner. I will def be back!

    (4)

  • Max T.

    This place is fantastic. Been here a handful of times now and with each cruise of the menu it only gets better. Flavor, check. Quality, check. Meat lovers will love this place. Everything is just cooked perfectly. I recommend the combination plates for first timers to taste a bit of everything. Always always always always get the steak. You do yourself an injustice by not doing so. I'm a surf and turfer so I usually combo up with shrimp but I did myself proud and had calamari which I always want now. The churri sauces are damn good as well... I'm known to put them on everything but everyone already knows I'm saucy. As for the bar, good job on having it up front. I'm not a cocktail person but the margaritas, long islands, and blueberry mojito cocktails were quality. The atmosphere has always been inviting. Good for family get togethers or even a romantic dinner with there being a dim vibrancy to take advantage of. The food should seal the deal for you though and if not go dutch and run. I could eat this everyday.

    (5)

  • Bernice D.

    The food was delicious. We got the mango drinks with milk, empanadas and steak entrees. The enterada was wonderful and juicy. Gave one less star because of service. They might have been a little understaffed and one waiter kept grabbing our plates without asking if we were finished yet. It was a little jarring.

    (4)

  • Marc A.

    One star for horrible service and fraud committed at this location: - CHECK YOUR CC STATEMENTS FOR OVERCHARGED AMOUNTS!!! I went with a large group and gratuity was already included. A couple days later someone in my party told me to check my statement because they had been overcharged $20. Sure enough when I reviewed my CC statement, they overcharged me $20. Another member of our party was also overcharged $15. What a hassle and waste of time it was to call our CC companies and explain the situation. - Food came out uneven for the party. Some members received their food 15 min later, some 30 min later than the first person. Group member who received food last also received the wrong order and so that person had to wait another 10 minutes. The server also looked at that person as if he told him the wrong order to begin with - not true as rest of the party were witnesses! Completely unacceptable. - Pregnant lady in our party asked for steak to be well done. Sure enough it came out medium to medium rare. This establishment just lost a returning customer forever.

    (1)

  • Alecia G.

    OMG...where do I begin... So our reservation was for 8:15pm Saturday night. We were going out for my friend's birthday and had a party of 7. The manager assured us when we walked in that the bill was on the table and we would be seated shortly. We ordered drinks at the bar at 8:45pm because we were still waiting for our table. Ordering drinks was a joke! The bartenders never looked up and there were only 2 to support the bar area AND make drinks for all of the tables. A girl next to us yelled out to the bartender to get his attention. One guy made our drinks and then asked us to wait for the bill. The next guy asked me what he was ringing on my card. It was total chaos!! It took them 10 minutes to run my card which was handed to them when they finished making our drinks. It is now 9:15pm and we are still waiting for our table. I walk over to the hostess who has no idea that we are waiting and tells me that there is no reservation for us. The manager walks up again and asks what is going on. He doesn't even remember talking to us when we walked in and gave him our name originally. As the hostess scrolls through the reservations, I point out our name on the list. It shows that we were seated. She says she doesn't know why it would say that. The manager then says well that's ok because all of the bills are on the tables and we would be seated shortly. Clearly that is what he says to everyone since it was now said twice. We get seated at 9:50pm on some make shift bench with tables pushed together. They clearly messed up but didn't want to let us know. We ordered our drinks, apps, and food at the same time. We had taken a look at the menu at the bar earlier, but the menu we had was different. Some of the items aren't on both menus. The empanadas were overdone and we ordered only chicken and beef and got cheese that was burnt. The server never came back to check on us and we were so hungry at this point that we ate them anyway. Our food finally came at 10:30pm. When I say that you would get a better steak at Golden Nugget, I am being 100% honest!!! The plantains were overdone. The steak was bland. The crab cakes for $26 were burnt on top. It was terrible. The server never checked on us. Still the manager was buzzing around the dining area but not really doing anything. He never checked on us either. We were so ready to leave and it was so terrible that I will never go back. I am saddened by this because the first time I dined here it was great. Great service, great food, great ambiance! Don't bother making a reservation at this place. It's definitely not worth your time!!

    (1)

  • Anays A.

    Tablas is always a great idea! Food, drinks, everything is amazing. Both locations!

    (5)

  • Miguel R.

    We decided to celebrate our friend birthday at Las Tablas and the experience was mixed. The service is a little slow even when the restaurant was almost empty but the food was delicious. We ordered 3 Entranas, 2 Mojitos, 1 Lemonade, Arepas and for desert 3 Flans of Coco. The Extranas were excellent. The Mojitos were ok and the lemonade was good but nothing special. The Arepas and flans of coco were delicious. At the end of the meal we felt the waiter was trying to rush us out before we ask him if we could eat dessert.The restaurant was about 40 % full at the time but our waiter kept bringing us our bill twice and only he check on us once during the whole meal. So good food, nothing spectacular and the service needs improvement.

    (3)

  • Ryan C.

    Food is good. Serving sizes is great. Service was poor. Specifically, I noticed when I received my bill that I was overcharged. The waiter charged me for 2 of the premium margaritas even though I ordered the cheaper version. I told the waiter this and asked him to run my card with the change. He came back and said he couldn't do it (he did run my card) and that in order to repay me, let him know when we come back and he'll get me a free order of guacamole. It was only a difference of $4-5 so it wasn't a huge deal but I've never had a waiter refuse to fix his mistake even though he admitted he did it. Also, my wife ordered a virgin mojito which was the same price of a non-virgin mojito which I found odd. So basically, had we stuck with water, it would have been a great meal.

    (2)

  • Ada H.

    The Entraña is the best skirt steak you'll ever have! Las Tablas has been one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago for some time. I was always just to lazy to write a review but they deserve it!!! The food and drinks have been consistently good here year after year. That's more than I can say about many places! I ALWAYS order the combination (combinaciones) with the entraña and something else. Usually I'll order it with baby octopus, but sometimes with calamari. But definitely get the entraña! The combination comes with sweet plantain, yuca, and potato. I always substitute the yuca and potato for rice since I don't like those starches.. I love mixing the chimichurri sauce with the rice and then eat it with the meat. My mouth is salivating just thinking about this! I've had the empanadas and the arepa appetizers. I prefer the chorizo con arepa versus the arepa rellena because I didn't care for the mushroom sauce. Also must get the flavored margaritas here! So good and strong.

    (5)

  • Kate U.

    I've been to this place a couple of times and it's amazing! This restaurant is great in both a group setting or for a date. It's BYOB monday through thursday, and you can select from different meats that come on a hot plate served right in front of you so the meat stays warm. For the appetizers I would highly suggest the empanadas. For the main dish you can get a combination of meat if you choose (chicken & steak, steak & shrimp, etc) and your entree comes with a plaintain and a potato. Very tasty! Great price for what you get and you can't beat the atmosphere. They have some interesting artwork in the restaurant.

    (5)

  • Angelica P.

    This place was really good! Every empanada was tasty and full of the meat/cheese. I had the grilled shrimp which was a good sized portion and very tasty.

    (5)

  • Tiia N.

    I've been waiting to find a great Colombian restaurant in the city (I'm Colombian!) and finally found my favorite restaurant of ANY one in the city, hands down. I was so excited to discover that there's one in our neighborhood too. The steak was unbelievable, with the sauces making the dish. The service was a little slow, but it was a very busy night and it didn't bother us at all. Plus I don't expect super fast service in a south american restaurant!

    (5)

  • Pete C.

    Absolutely a great dining experience! The staff was wonderful with exceptional service! Our waiter explained everything, was patient and very attentive! I had a Mojito and it was well made, very minty with the right amount of sugar without being sickening sweet. Enough about the great service and the Mojito, let's move on to why we are all here! The food!!! The grilled octopus was phenomenal! It was grilled perfectly, not a bite of it was rubbery, the flavor was amazing, I could have eaten 3 plates of it! The empanada's were filled with the meat and cheese, had a great crunch to it without being over cooked! We had the combo of chicken, beef & cheese! My entree was the steak and chicken combination that arrives with yucca, plantains and a Colombian potato. the sides were very tasty. The chicken was probably the best I have had in awhile, it was moist and tender, very flavorful. The steak was melt in your your awesomeness! Outstanding flavors, cooked perfectly to my medium rare request. A friend had the steak and pork and the pork which was just as good... Another friend had the combo with the chicharrón and a Colombian sausage my God was it all good! We all were so full from the food there was no room for dessert, but we will definitely make sure we leave a small space in out bellies for that next time.

    (5)

  • Radha K.

    I came to Las Tablas this week as a party of 6. Upon being seated and throughout the evening, the service was very friendly and attentive. It's BYOB, but they won't uncork/allow more than 3 bottles of wine. Apparently one party a while ago ended up suing this place after they BYOB'ed, drank too much and someone hurt themselves in the restaurant. Yeah, the stairs to the bathroom are a little steep (watch your step!), but who BYOBs so much and then tries to sue a restaurant?! Don't be a jerk! In any case, the food was pretty damn good. I ordered off of the restaurant week menu...LOTS of food for the price and I would definitely come back. The emenadas (chicken and beef) were booth good but I loved the chicken/mushroom cornbread even better. I also ordered the Entrana dinner (skirt steak, medium rare) which pretty much melted in my mouth. Others ordered the Picada Colombiana, a combo plate of MEAT. I didn't try any because mine was so good, but theirs must have been just as good since nobody even offered to share. I don't like chocolate so I ordered the flan for dessert...it was delicious. I hear the mousse was good as well! We went on a Wednesday night at 830pm so the crowd was mostly dying down, but I'll be back for more!

    (4)

  • Erica I.

    I finally went to a colombian steakhouse! All my years in Chicago, and walking past Tango Sur, and I never went there. So I bought the Groupon for Las Tablas and went on a Sunday night. It wasn't crowded at all! I got the popular marinated steak with yucca, potato, and plantain. The steak was very juicy and flavorful, and the plantain was SO yummy and kind of melted in your mouth. I didn't care for the yucca, which was disappointing because I had yucca fries in Florida once and loved them! Maybe the fried part helped them taste good :) Another person at the table also had a plantain that was really hard and not sweet at all, but I'm glad mine was good! We also got the empanadas, and I've heard how delicious they are, but to me they were so deep fried and pretty blah tasting. We got a cheese, chicken, and beef, so it was wasn't just one specific flavor that we didn't like. I'm glad I came here at least once during my time living in Chicago!

    (4)

  • Chrissy W.

    We came here for a friend's birthday and the staff at Las Tablas was incredibly accommodating. Our server brought me a pitcher of water upon my request, and made sure that it was full at all times, which is good because these days I'm like a freakin' camel. He kept our birthday cake in the back room and was quick for such a large party (like 10 ladies). The decor was really cool. With warm lighting and authentic Columbian art upon our entrance, I knew that we were in for a lovely evening. The bathroom lobby downstairs was also super nice; the only problem was the setup of the actual ladies' room. Don't try to pee with 4 other girls. The doors all knock into each other and block the sinks...talk about a cluster-f. The menu had a lot of delicious looking options, and it was difficult to decide what I wanted to eat! I ordered the porkchops with yuca, plantain and potato. OH MAN. Everytime I thought I was going to stop and take some home, I kept eating. The food is served on wooden blocks (las tablas maybe?) and fresh from the grill. The tables were set with plenty of chimichurri and another sauce for extra seasoning and flavor. Really tasty. The yuca was a bit dry, but with the chimichurri, all was better. Well done, Las Tablas.

    (4)

  • Rhett B.

    The meats at Las Tablas are fantastic! I went with 3 friends, and we tried a variety of dishes. The entrana (skirt steak) was incredible! Rich in flavor, cooked perfectly -- really couldn't imagine a more flavorful steak. The pork loin was very good too. The grilled octopus was excellent -- chewy but not rubbery, and it could easily have been bland but wasn't because of the smoky grill flavor. Their grilled shrimp was wonderful too, but not much different than you can get elsewhere. We enjoyed their version of the guacamole, and the plantain chips made the dish more interesting. I was looking forward to trying the sides of yucca, plantain and potatoes, but they were pretty bland. The empanada appetizers were a slight disappointment too -- not much flavor, though the sauces helped a bit. I'll definitely be going back next time I'm in Chicago!

    (4)

  • Annie B.

    Went here last Thursday for a friend's birthday dinner. May have been the bottle of wine I drank (thanks BYOB) but it was a great time. Good service, good food, good for big groups. I ordered the combinaciones with the skirt steak and shrimp. Shrimp was tasty, but no matter what you do, get the skirt steak and make sure everyone else you are with orders the skirt steak so you don't have to share yours.. :) We also shared the empanada sampling as an appetizer.... Really can't go wrong with stuffed pastries filled with cheese, beef, and chicken.

    (4)

  • Shin K.

    Everything we ordered was salty... Also lots of gnats flying around. We spent half the time waving our hands to keep the gnats away.

    (1)

  • lesley r.

    Delicious. No other words to explain. I got the combinación with skirt steak and shrimp. The shrimp were dry so not a fan and I won't get again but the steak was everything. I got it medium (usually I get medium rare) and it was juicy and not chewy. Delicious. I also ordered the pulpitos appetizer. Delicious, must try

    (5)

  • Valerie W.

    Las Tablas es BUENO! I came to Las Tablas last Saturday night for a girlfriend's surprise 30th birthday. There were t-shirts and table confetti. For which Las Tablas was extremely accommodating. We were a bit anxious to be seated a few minutes past our reservation time, but that was only because we were afraid the birthday girl would walk in while we were all standing in the lobby. Luckily, we were able to stall her driver, and any other time, waiting a few minutes past the reservation would not have been a problem, especially for a group of 10 semi-rowdy ladies. We were seated near the window at a long table, which was the one downside for me, but that's always the way with large groups, one side of the table can't have a conversation with the other. Our server was generous with the water, menu explanations, and his patience, as ten indecisive ladies tried to make up their mind with the fantastic menu selections. I loved that the "specialties" section of the menu reads "Our most enthusiastic recommendations and top-rated items." Well, yes, I definitely had to order something from there. I would not recommend a vegetarian attempt to come in for a meal at Las Tablas, because the menu is very meat-centric (many steaks, pork, chicken, some seafood.) I ordered a Combinacion - from their specialties menu, of Entrana skirt steak (a house specialty) and grilled baby octopus. All dishes come with yuca, plantain, and potato. For $21, the amount of food on my plate was very impressive. I could've made more than one meal out of it, if I wasn't such a boom boom. There was a HUGE portion of steak (a full portion for sure, no half portion because this was a combo) and no less than six baby octopus. I was at first a little weirded out that there were WHOLE baby octopii on my plate, but got over it after tasting one bite. Between the chimmichuri and spicy chimmichuri (I can't remember what the spicy sauce was called...) everything was perfect. The steak and octopus were perfectly cooked and seasoned, tender and juicy. The price was definitely right! For 10 ladies, all having entrees, two bottles of wine for the table, I think we got out of there for $37-$40 per person (this also included covering the birthday girl's dinner.) Las Tablas is definitely a place I'd go back to for a date night, girls night, any night!

    (5)

  • Lili C.

    The food was good but disappointed with the service. Hostess signal from far away which one was our table. Did not bother to be polite and come and say follow me, sit us down and say enjoy. My 76 year old mother-in-law asked the waitress what comes with the Bandeja Paisa? And the waiter answer was unbelievable! She answer that it came with what it said in the menu. Very rude! Did not bother to begin to explain to her, how does she know if the customer needs her glasses that she forgot? Or cant read under their dark light? She notice our reaction and then began to be nicer. I order a side dish with my soup (yuca) and she never brought it. We will definitely will not come back even if the food was good. I hope owners read this and train staff to be polite and have better manners with their customers.

    (2)

  • Kristal T.

    The food was great which is the only reason why they get 4 stars. The service here could use a great deal of work. None of the staff was very attentive and my drink came after I was done with dinner. Seems like a short-staffed issue to me. But it was clean and the food was very very good.

    (4)

  • Kyle D.

    Bottle of wine and a giant metal plate of goodness make for a great dining experience at Las Tablas. Our party of 5 was seated within 5 minutes during a busy night. The service was great, fast and friendly, and the atmosphere was good. They have a bar at the front of the restaurant, but overall the mood is low-lit and comforting with low music. Although it was busy so the place wasn't quiet at all. The food is what steals the show however. After ordering wine, we got our meals, all of which were paired with yucca, potato, and plantain. You can choose a meat (or 2, or more), I went with the carne asada and grilled calamari. Fantastic to say the least. Everyone enjoyed their meals and we went home happy. No complaints, other than it was pricier than I expected it to be. However, for what we got, I think it was totally worth it. Great find! Atmosphere: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 9.5/10

    (5)

  • Katie C.

    Steak was cooked perfectly. Chicken was succulent and glorious. Empanadas combo for the appetizer was a nice treat. The sides of plantain, yuca and potato were all delicious. Ample seating. Romantic ambiance. Attentive and friendly service. All the makings of a five-star review. EXCEPT. We brought a bottle of wine because we heard this place was BYOB. Turns out, they are in fact BYOB (we went on a Monday evening). But the fine gentleman who waited on us said the corkage fee for one bottle of wine (ONE BOTTLE) was $15. FIFTEEN DOLLARS! I PAID FIVE DOLLARS FOR THAT BOTTLE HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY EXPECT ME TO PAY A FIFTEEN DOLLAR CORKAGE FEE!! THAT'S THE COST OF AN ENTIRE MEAL RIGHT THERE!!! ahem. So, all and all, decent experience. Without the corkage fee fiasco, it would have been a five-star review. Hands down.

    (3)

  • Andy S.

    MEAT PLATE!!!! I should stop the review right there. What I am referring to is the dinner for two in which they bring out basically a sampler of the various meats as well as fried plantains, potato, and yucca. It is basically a giant meat plate (chicken, skirt steak, chorizo, ribs) and also has an arepa! The plate is a little on the pricey side at roughly $40 but muy muy delicioso. The skirt steak is by far the best meat there. Others were very good too but the steak was numero uno. Empanadas are also good though I much preferred the beef to the chicken. Didn't try the cheese empanada which was probably also a winner. Service was pretty good. Nice ambiance. A little on the pricey side but probably typical for Lakeview - $8 cocktails, $7 sangria glasses, per person entrees are between $15-$25 I believe. I would come back for the skirt steak but would have to mentally prepare myself to spend probably at least $50 for two people.

    (4)

  • Jamal A.

    Today was a great day, eating at at this restaurant made me feel like I was eleven years old. It felt like I was floating on the clouds on one every bite. The steak was delicious and tender. My brother Bassam can also agree with me. Bassam, you are my brother, we are so so much alike and so much much different. Back to the steak, I will be back again here in the future. Also, sitting outside made me me feel like I was back in kirkuk, village where my family still still lives. Great food, great atmosphere, great customer service. A++++

    (5)

  • Hello K.

    The hype over this place is so not worth it. Let me get into what happened when I arrived there with my family on 6/10/14 We had a party of 8. Let me point out that we were the first people there. Okay. We were seated, and the place was empty. I thought we should be eating in no time. WRONG! it took our waiter about 10-15 minutes to ask us what we wanted to drink. Other guests had started to arrive and there were about 20 people in total in Las tablas. They received there beverages before us! And may I repeat that we came first! So then we just brushed off our anger and gave the guy some slack since he was working by himself, but thought that he should be used to this amount of people in the resturant. So we then order some empinadas we get the chicken and cheese. They weren't that great, your better off making them yourself. Now let me tell you the most disgusting part!! As we're eating I noticed by the door where the food comes out from (note: it was my first time at las tablas) I saw plastic bags up. Indicating to me that they're doing some type of construction. Interesting I thought. I told myself there is no way in hell that my food is going to come out of there. Then we see a man dressed in construction clothes covered in dirt walks in carrying these water holes. And I thought they better not. And yes my friends they do! THEY START SAND BLASTING THE DANG FLOORS!! While customers are waiting on there food. How disgusting! Me and my uncle were flipping out when we saw white dirt dust flying up in the air! (Note: sand blasting is water pressure used to clean the floor whether there be grease, dirt, etc. that dirt is the water FYI and turns into vapor) and the food comes out of there. Im dying at this point and want to slap someone! An hour has now passed by and we still haven't received our food. At this point were grossed out and no longer want to eat there. We call the waiter over. My uncle tells him that what they are doing is so unprofessional and gross! And that what they are doing can get there restaurant closed! My uncle is an INSPECTOR! BTW The waiter calls his manager and my uncle talks to him complaining. The manager doesn't care what the problem was about. And says sorry there's nothing he can do.They still made us pay for our drinks which cost $2.00 for a can of pop! And the empinadas. This place was absolutely horrible, horrid, rude, unprofessional, and absolutely disgusting. I highly recommend that you don't eat there. Not just for incident, but for that fact that the manager doesn't give a crap about the customers, and that my friends says enough about Las Tablas. Note: we were there for a total of 2 hours!!!! Hope this helped!

    (1)

  • Sarah Y.

    If I'm ever in the mood for a big and juicy steak, I know where I'm coming...HERE! The skirt steak, which is aggressively featured in like 5 places on the menu, was well worth it. Very juicy, tender, red, and flavorful. I also liked all the carby sides like the potatoes, plantains and yucca. It's just a solid hearty meal for the sturdy man (or woman). The drinks were meh. My caipirinha was VERY strong, like the waiter cautioned it would be. However, the sangria was like juice, and I question whether the wine to juice ratio is anything more than 1:5.

    (4)

  • Shannon S.

    My husband and I really enjoyed our meal here. Food was authentic and most was shipped in from Colombia (according to our server). Portions were large and the juices were delicious. We had the empanadas sampler with one chicken, beef and cheese empanada. The beef was the winner although the chicken was good. But, the cheese empanada? Neither of us had ever seen a cheese empanada. We also tried the arepa with cheese. My husband was like a kid again with this! And we shared the plantain with guava paste and cheese. He said the cheese tasted authentic but I did not and while we liked the flavor of both of these, I was disappointed that they had been microwaved and not baked. We both got the bandeja paiso and loved them. The chicharrones were delish as was the steak. Everything on the platter was awesome and we could not come close to finishing with the apps too. Can't wait to go back and get some aguardiente :)

    (4)

  • Steve P.

    The mixed drinks are excellent and whether you're into veggie, chicken, or steak, their dishes are a savory, salty, kapow-punch in the tastebuds that's kept me coming back since they were across the street in the 90's

    (5)

  • Martin P.

    This is a good steak and seafood joint. Their drinks are also good. The pricing is not bad I believe they have a plate called tierra y mar. That plate alone will be enough for 2 people.

    (4)

  • Domingo R.

    Great authentic Colombian food ! And I've had alot of Colombian food... Would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Sameer R.

    Food is decent. Service is truly horrible and slow. I wouldn't recommend. I don't think it's worth the wait, for something you can get an outback.

    (3)

  • Andrew N.

    For only $40 you can get nearly all the best stuff this place offers and it's more than enough for 2 people. The margaritas are really good as well, albeit a little pricey, but right in line with most Chicago drinks. We have been here twice. Service was awesome indoors, but a little on the slow side when we sat outside last Fall.

    (4)

  • Vy N.

    We were very excited to come here (had a large party) but the whole ordeal was so difficult. It took about 2 hours for our food to come out and then they refused to split the check. Service with slow and as a result many of our dishes came out lukewarm. It was hard to pay and the time it took to get our check/run the cards tool as long as ordering/getting our meals. It is not liky that we'll be back.

    (1)

  • David A.

    I would have given a 3.5 if available. My family and I were visiting Chicago and hapoened to run into this place and decided to give it a try: I'll start from the bottom and work my way up. When we arrived, they walked us through and sat us next to quite a significant spill. We took it upon ourselves to move to a diferent table; which turned out yo be very wobbly. Once the spill was cleaned, we moved back to our original table. The waiter always seemed to be in a hurry, giving the sense that he had 'other things to do'; which was reflected on his tip. Last, but definitely not least, the food was fantastic. If the rating was solely based on the food, then it would be 5 star rating. However, this rating reflects the whole 'dinning' experience.

    (3)

  • George J.

    Very cool place with great food! A few friends and I wanted a nice place with good food so I found Las Tablas on Yelp with some great reviews so we decided to try it, and it lived up to it's rating. I had the skirt steak and my friend had what I believe was steak and chicken fajitas and everything was so tender tasty, everyone was happy. The only somewhat bad thing was the groups there were very loud and it got annoying but as far as the ambiance and the food it was awesome!

    (4)

  • Fabiola I.

    I was here for my boyfriend's birthday on 12/05 this place is AMAZING!! They have a great selection and the ambience is perfect! It's the perfect for a date night! We ordered a pitcher of their sangria, it was perfect, it wasn't super sweet which was what I loved about it. As an appetizer we had the empanada combination plate which gives you a little sample of each empanada they carry, my favorite was the beef empanada. As an entrée we ordered the picada Colombiana, it was a HUGE portion! You have to definitely order this if you can, you get to try a little bit of everything, the skirt steak just melts in your mouth! Everything was delicious and our waiter was very attentive.

    (5)

  • Jeanne F.

    We just had lunch here and all I can say is I am in a food coma. The special skirt steak cooked and seasoned to perfection, the combination empanada's to die for and oh the coconut flan......drooooool. Great food topped of with a warm, inviting space and excellent service, what more could you ask for?

    (5)

  • Katy R.

    Visited again 10/14 with brother-in-law visiting from AZ. He's still raving! Even called to confirm the name as he was going to refer a colleague! Fantastic experiences.

    (5)

  • Emma C.

    This place is amazing. Dinner and lunch menu offer so many traditional dishes with a great atmosphere and musica Colombiana! Empanadas, arepas, Colombiana soda..... Do it!!! To boot they have a Sunday brunch for only $12.95, muy delecioso. Oh wait, did say they have the BEST coconut flan?!?!?!!

    (5)

  • Jennifer P.

    For a Zagat-rated restaurant, I'm wondering who is employed at Zagat and how they rate food. Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoyed my food at Las Talbas, while I was eating it. I was fortunate to dine here on a wednesday evening. Thank goodness there was no wait time and we pretty much had our free reign over where we sat. They tried to seat my friend and I next to drafty windows, and we weren't having it! The restaurant was authentic enough; meaning whoever designed the interior made a strong effort to make everything look rustic yet sterile. The floors were tile, which probably makes for easy clean up. Think Casron Pirie Scott's representation of Columbian decor. For dinner, I had the Plato Combinado, featuring your choice of two different meats, served with sweet plantain, yuca, and potato. For my meats, I chose my two favorites: skirt steak and baby octopus. I've never experienced such food bliss. The octopus was crisp on the edges without being too stiff or gelatinous in the middle. The grilled flavor beaconed spring and brighter days to follow. Pink on the inside, without being too rare, the skirt steak was surrounded with same level of crispiness found on the octopus. Both meats were salted, buttered, and enhanced with just enough garlic as to not overpower their true flavors. On the side, the waiter brought two different kinds of salsas, one mild and one spicy. I ended up mixing them together because separately their core flavors did not do well. Then I slathered my sides with them. Once I realized how tasty they were, I also put it all over the rest of my skirt steak. The baby octopus was gone in two seconds. I wouldn't have disrespected such a delicacy in the first place! One thing that always unnerves me about any Hispanic, Spanish, or South American restaurant: the mojito/margarita fail. Las Talbas does not make a mojito fit for any of these cultures. It wasn't sweet enough. Certainly strong enough, but I wasn't exactly looking to paint the town red on a wednesday night. I had two anyway. The best mojito I've ever had was at the top of the W Hotel location right on Lake Michigan. I'm beginning to think that fresh ginger is the key to making this cocktail "pop." I allow my inner girlie girl to step out when it comes to mojitos. I expect a mint ginger sugar salad with lots of rum, gosh darn it! It took everything I had not to regress into a tantrum. Just kidding. Overall I would have had nothing truly negative to say about Las Talbas. My issue with the restaurant happened after I left, and my experience the next morning. Everything that exited all of my orifices reeked of garlic for almost two days! It was disgusting! I try to eat healthy and confess that I had nothing but healthy meals for two weeks. Perhaps going straight into such a heavy meal, and eating like a pig, did not agree with my body. Kind of like people who go through rehab, and then experience severe consequences when they relapse. Perhaps this was nature's way of telling me to do away with my inner foodie. You know what? You only live once, and I am not about to give up on my love for all kinds of food! I just think I'll consider this experience should the opportunity to visit this place presents itself once more. I'm single now, and if I come here again, I better be single; or my boyfriend better be out of town!

    (3)

  • Brenda H.

    I enjoyed Las Tablas for over 9 years (I feel old now...). I've always been a big fan of their empanadas and steaks. This place has glowing reviews, it's no secret it's delicious.. but I'm writing to say that I've avoided it because the empanadas aren't as good as they used to be. And though I am still a fan of their steaks, I've found a new Colombian place that has equally delicious steaks.. for much, much less. This other place also has better, bigger empandas--for only a $1 each. You've given me so many delicious meals, Las Tablas, but I've moved on. Maybe it's the economy forcing me to stick to a smaller budget but I'll still come back if someone celebrates a birthday here. I wish I could say I'll miss you but, let's be honest, I won't. The other place isn't as crowded or as expensive as you. They have a great steak deal every day, which practically guarantees I will choose them over you.

    (3)

  • Ashour R.

    Our waiter forgot about us for about an hour... We spoke to another waiter who said he would fix it and nothing. When our waiter came back about an hour later he asked how thing have been, when we told him he never brought us our food he chuckled and moved on. Very poor service!!! Will never come back!! We went to pay the bill and out of the four of us, two had cash and the other two credit cards. We told the waiter to apply the $60 in cash to the bill and split the difference between the two cards. After he charged the cards we noticed, he split the whole bill between the two cards. So we called him back and asked him what happen to the $60 in cash? He said, I THOUGHT YOU LEFT THAT FOR ME AS TIP. What!!????? Why would we give someone who was busy waiting on a table of 20 and forgot all about us a 50% tip. This guys must have been smoking something... Last, we never got the desert that was included in our meal, but at that point we just wanted to get out of there. Finally, We asked for the manager and was referred to a bus boy who spoke very little English and wasn't able to help us with our issue. Actually, he didn't say a word, just looked around clueless. What an experience.

    (1)

  • mark w.

    It used to be a nice place to eat but now it's going straight into the toilet. I am one of those people that lives in the neighborhood near this restaurant so I both dine in and take delivery from Las Tablas. More and more often I have had problems with delivery orders and been unimpressed while dining in. I cannot understand how a written order can be ignored, and ignored on multiple occasions. Tonight was the last straw; the straw that broke the camel's back. The straws have been building up for sometime. I placed my dinner order through Grub Hub and when I determined that not everything that I had ordered was included I contacted Grub Hub customer service, via their web form. Not hearing from them for approximately 10 minutes, I telephoned Grub Hub customer service. They then contacted the restaurant and the Las Tablas flatly refused to correct the problem. Grub Hub 'generously' gave me $5 credit for a ruined dinner, (gotta love those guys, but don't have to do so much business with them anymore). When I called the restaurant and explained what had gone wrong, again they refusal to correct the problem. They offered just a vague suggestion that maybe next time I order I remind them to put everything in the bag... What is really galling is the idea that I should have known, based on passed experience, and just pulled out my Cuisinart and whipped up a batch of the missing sauce. Mine is fresher and better balanced...

    (2)

  • Nora F.

    FYI: byob is only mon-thurs Came for dinner with a group of 8. Would definitely recommend reservations. But it seems that this place was accommodating for groups, as we were surrounded by large tables of fellow patrons. VERY reasonably priced for groups. The benefits of coming in large numbers: the ability to sample & share a larger variety of dishes! Our group recommends: -appetizers: empanadas & arepa rellenas -main dish (great for splitting in 2): Entrana (house skirt steak that comes with a side of plaintain, yuca and potato) or the Matrimonio (steak & chicken combo that also comes with the aforementioned sides) This place is definitely better suited for carnivores, as the vegetarian options were limited.

    (4)

  • Lisa H.

    Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse has been on my bookmarks to try for a while. To my surprise, my friends brought me here for dinner for my birthday. They are just way too sweet. When you step through the front doors of Las Tablas, it feels like you have stepped into a whole different world. It's like something out of a book: dim lights, amazing paintings on the walls, and rustic wooden tables and chairs. They even serve food on wooden boards. For food, I decided to share the Picada Mar y Tierra with a friend. It came with skirt steak, ribs, chicken, pork, rib-eye steak, shrimp, baby octopus, calamari, chorizo, green plantain, sweet plantain, yuca, arepa (flatbread), and potato. Oh my goodness, was this a lot of food. I thought the cook on the meats and the seafood was perfect. Not too chewy. The only thing was that everything was really salty and over seasoned. I probably went through 5-7 glasses of water and couldn't bear to eat anymore. The service here was impeccable: food came out quickly, water was always full, and there was never a rush to leave. But after all the great reviews, I was truly disappointed with the taste of the food. All the salt and seasonings overwhelmed the true taste of the meat and seafood. You know steak and seafood tastes well on its own. Maybe they were trying to mask the quality of their meat or we just had a large group and they were rushing? Either way, hold off the salt!!

    (2)

  • Britt C.

    KIWI MOJITOS & CHIMICHURRI First time for both. And I want more! Kiwi is an amazing fruit, and I'm pretty sure no one has ever even thought to put it in a mojito. I have had several different fruit flavored mojitos, but never a kiwi, until Las Tablas. It was SO good. For an appetizer I decided to get adventurous and ordered the char-grilled baby octopus. I have only had octopus like once before, and it was in a seafood mix....so I really didn't know how it was gonna be. The grilled flavor was amazing. I would definitely order this again. I also got the Churrasquito, small strip steak which came with sweet plantain, fried yuca, and a potato. All of the sides were interesting and fun to try. But the best part was having two chimichurri sauces, one spicy - one not? I don't know if the other one is like the standard chimi flavor, but they were both good. I really liked having a bite of something with the spicy, and then going for the regular...and then I just kept repeating. The portions are large, especially if you have appetizers with your meal. You might wanna split if you're into that kinda thing, or you'll have a snack for later for sure!

    (4)

  • Anne S.

    I came here for lunch on Friday at about 1pm with coworkers. The place was empty. There was one other table of people in the restaurant. You would have thought that this would have made service really quick, but it was not. There are several items on the lunch menu, but they were out of everything but their standard lunch option. This was fine with me, since it was what I planned to order, but it did disappoint one of the girls in our group. The lunch deal is $9 for chicken or steak with rice, beans, a bit of salad, and sweet plantain. The food was delicious and plentiful. Both the steak eaters and those of us with chicken were very pleased with our food.

    (4)

  • Natalie N.

    I must say, I have tried plenty of steak houses, and this place has one of the top steaks I have ever had. I have been there a few times and all times the food has been consistently delish. My personal favorite is the entraña steak (medium) paired with the grilled octopus. It comes with a potato and a piece of fried yuca. The chimichurri sauce is super delish...can't seem to copy it at home :-( I'm not a big drinker but I hear the mojitos are good. I personally like the sangria. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. My favorite server is Pablo, he is always in a good mood and makes sure you are satisfied with your experience. Drinkers beware: it's a bit of a hike getting to the bathroom since it's in the basement... proceed with caution ( or use the elevator, no biggie) Must try at least once...but surely you will be back.

    (4)

  • Diane S.

    I was not sure what to expect. I had no idea what Columbian meant in regards to the types of food. I was pleasantly surprised. The empanadas were awesome and the combination plate of skirt steak and shrimp was so tasty. I was not a fan of the yucca Our waiter was very nice but kept disappearing. Had we had better service, I would have rated 5 stars

    (4)

  • Cate B.

    AMAZING. Have been a couple times since I was referred here from a friend. The Steak Entranas is by far my favorite thing I have eaten there so far. First time we went on a Friday and it wasn't a long wait at all, maybe 5 minutes but we did think it was BYOB, come to find out it isn't. Great food, great prices, and great service, they will take the time to explain each and every dish to you!

    (5)

  • Barbara B.

    Very, very good Colombian restaurant with hearty portions and a lively atmosphere. A little on the pricier side but still a great place and a go-to restaurant for steak.

    (5)

  • Katie K.

    After a recent trip to Colombia, my husband were anxious to check this local neighborhood restaurant (Lincoln Ave location) out to see if it compared to the amazing cuisine we experienced in Bogota and Armenia...We absolutely love this place! We always bring visitors here and the byob option on Mon-Thurs is a huge plus too. Some of our favorite menu items are the Arepas, Empanadas, Entrana skirt steak. The Picada Colombiana is a great one to share and try all the different kinds of meat. We've also always had very friendly service. Highly recommend Las Tablas!

    (5)

  • Rui L.

    I wish I can give this place negative stars. Was very impressed by my first visit, so decided to stop by with my friend for a second visit with a groupon in hand. Everything was going well until I received my main entree, wish was supposed to have steak in there, but I did not see any, so there goes our nightmare. We quickly got waiters attention and told him we didn't get any steak in the order, he apologized and told us to hold while he speaks to the kitchen. 15 mins went by, no sign of our waiter, he would stop by other tables but not ours. I finally was fed up ask other waiter to go get him, then he finally stopped by and told us that the order came with steak, and basically accused us of eating it and then accuse them of not having it in the steak. After going back and forth with the waiter, the manager which is like 15 min wait each time we spoke to them, an hr went by, still not resolved, at that point I was really not in the mood for food anymore, so I told my friend lets just forget it I don't want my steak and let's just leave. The manager told us we can just give him the groupon and leave. Which I was glad to do because I can never see myself step a foot in the restaurant. Horrible customer service!

    (1)

  • M K.

    I came here for someone's birthday on a weekend evening and ordered the steak & shrimp combo. Definitely enjoyed my meal.....from the perfectly cooked and seasoned meat to the yuca and potatoes.....the plantains could have been more crispy, but still decent. I also really liked the ambiance of the restaurant....it felt authentic and one could even imagine they were in a restaurant in south america. Service was OK, it took a while for me to get my ice water....but otherwise they were pretty good about filling it up again. Portions were decent, not leftover large....but not small either. I would come back again.

    (4)

  • T J.

    Consistency is key and we had the best dining experience that we've had in a long time. The food and drinks were as good as we'd remembered. But the star of the show was the general manager Joseph who actually cares about the customer experience. We were placed at a tiny table for two and as soon as a 4-top opened up he moved us so we'd be more comfortable. I saw him do the same for another set of customers. Everyone was attentive, from the bar tender who was swamped (but found time to apologize for the wait on drinks) to the bus boys. Good service makes people come back. Thanks a lot for a great evening.

    (5)

  • Kristin M.

    Las Tablas was alright and would be willing to try it again. Food was a good value (pretty large portions and very tasty for reasonable prices), and I noticed a $12.95 brunch advertised that looked appetizing. Also, our server told us BYOW (no beer) is M-R, and FYI there isn't a corkage fee option if you bring your own bottle on a Fri.-Sun. (Went on a Fri. so couldn't use the bottle we brought.) The large soup was enough to feed the whole table it seemed, and everyone who ordered steaks were happy. The side of fried plantain was also solid. Nice ambiance, too; though service wasn't the best the night we were there. Especially if you live in the neighborhood, I would recommend trying it. Seemed like it would be a good spot for groups, as there were a couple of large parties there that evening.

    (3)

  • Ericka A.

    This place is great for a birthday celebration, but make sure you have reservations. We arrived a little before 5pm because we were told we couldn't save a spot around 6pm; however, we left close to 7pm and it wasn't anywhere near full yet. A number of people were in the front waiting to be seated, but I think letting us have a later reservation wouldn't have been a big deal. It's hard to tell. They boast "Best Mojito in Chicago." It wasn't my favorite as I prefer a little more sugar and a lot more mint. But I will say it definitely made my top 5. If it were less than $8, I'd have ordered a second, even a third to try the fresh fruit version. The strawberry one looked tasty. Megan G. and I both ordered the Combinaciones with Entrana Skirt Steak & Grilled Shrimp. We agreed that the Shrimp was cooked to perfection. I feared it would flavorless because it looked dry, but it was nicely grilled on the outside and incredibly juicy on the inside. Whatever seasoning they use complements it. The Entrana was the show stopper, though. Mine was ordered medium-rare and delivered that way. It was incredibly juicy and flavorful. You could have sliced it with a spoon, and the complimentary Chimichurri (the fresher, greener one was a group favorite) only enhanced it; however, you won't be disappointed if you eat it plain. I liked the side of Yuca Frita and Baked Potato, but it was almost too much of a good starchy thing. They were a little too similar to be served together. I could have eaten an entire platter of the Plantains. We were disappointed to find that their dessert menu was limited. It's possible it was only that evening, but they had two options on a Saturday night - Flan or Figs & Tres Leches Caramel. Most of us went with Flan and loved it. It's one of the better ones in the city. It sounded like the Figs were good too, but the Flan was best. They are BYOB Monday-Thursday, but you can only bring wine and it's an $8 corkage fee.

    (4)

  • Patty L.

    The combo is AHHHHHHMAZING! I had steak & chicken, my friend had the combo too but did shrimp. Platter was cooked to perfection! I wish I can give it 5 stars but the service wasn't up to par until Pablo asked if we were taken care of. We had to wait for a table & the bar wasn't even busy and didn't get asked for drinks for almost 7min, they stared and looked our way but didn't even walk towards us to ask. Then when asked if we wanted to sit outside/inside we opted for outside since it was perfect out. Idk if inside would've been better but we had to wait almost 10min for a waiter while every other table was being waited on. I would've understood if they were busy for a Saturday night at 8pm, BUT IT WASNT. Food wise, 5 star.

    (3)

  • Kristina C.

    This place is AMAZING! By far one of the best steaks I've ever had. The steaks are big, juicy and FULL of flavor. I ordered the steak and shrimp combo and was extremely pleased. We ordered a pitcher of sangria which also was very good. We will definitely be back soon!

    (5)

  • Cody W.

    Group of eight of us went there for an anniversary on a Friday. Reservations were made for 7pm and were honored and on time for seating. We were waiting for one other couple so we ordered a pitcher of sangria and some appetizers. The empanadas were good and the sangria was as well. However that was where it all ended. We were curious about the chorizo corn bread and asked our waiter. He explained , in limited ability, that the were circular and smaller. We also assumed that from his explanation that it was your typical corn bread with chorizo. Not so. First the chorizo is a link and not part of the corn bread at all. Second the corn bread was not bread at all but more like a flat cake and not what you would expect. Yes you expect a different type of food but this is why we asked the waiter. Finally our next couple arrived and we were waiting to order another round of drinks. And we waited. The time to order and the time to get to our table was fifteen minutes. Most of the meal our drinks were empty. Two drinks was all most of us had. On top of poor service with the drinks at one point our dishes were stacked for our table to be cleared. The waiter came to the end of the table dropping off a drink and left all the dishes just sitting there. Whether you have different staff/roles a waiter is ultimately responsible and should not have just ignored the dishes. The food, it was okay. The steak that everyone raved about was okay. It wasn't anything special that you couldn't do yourself. Which is what our overall impression was of this restaurant. Especially when the check took 20 minutes after they took our payment. Lets just say the elevator ride up to the roof and back down was more exciting and the check was still MIA after that. Had this not been a special occasion I probably would have mentioned this to the manager. I even thought about writing a letter but ultimately this is not a place where you can't get similar food (if not cook it at home) with better service. So while it was nice to try some place new it would not be a place I would go back to.

    (1)

  • Emmitt H.

    I'm in a Chicago for business and needed a good dinner. This is the Place!!! I like my steak medium rare & the Skirt steak that came was the BEST I've had so far. I thought I had Good Octopus until I tasted the Octopus on my wife's plate. I Highly recommend eating here when in Chicago!!!

    (5)

  • Belle L.

    Value for $. A family favorite ever since they were at the itsy bitsy location. New venue has great space and romantic ambiance. Everything on the menu is delicious and perfectly well-seasoned. Limonada (plain) -- frothy and addictive. Beef and Chicken Empanada -- both are equally delicious. Crunchy but not over cooked. Entrana -- serves 2 that is accompanied by 2 rice side dishes. A big chunk of potato. Nicely grilled banana. Coconut Flan -- firm and yummy. Special Occasion? Group of servers will gladly sing "Happy Birthday" with a candle on dessert. May all wishes come true!

    (5)

  • Ta T.

    FYI for all BYOB fans. My friends and I were there this past Tuesday and was told their new policy on BYOB is $15 per bottle cork fee. I'd have preferred that they say no BYOB. I get that they have a full bar. Being a former restaurant owner/operator myself I get that we're in business to make a profit and everyone needs to eat. $15 per bottle cork fee is amusing to me. Are they in the business of making a profit from food or $15 per bottle cork fee? I'm not going to bother reviewing service nor food. Wising managers/owners of Las Tablas a prosperous year end especially for their servers with there new $15 per bottle cork fee policy. Thank you for reading.

    (3)

  • Robert D.

    We used a Groupon to eat there tonight. We had been before and liked it. Tonight the food was good, especially the appetizers, but the service was poor. I asked that my dessert be placed in a to go container (after it was mistakenly brought on a plate) and the waiter threw it into the to go box, upside down! They charged me tax on a bill of $150 even though the Groupon cost 65.00 and we got 20.00 in drinks. They refused to allow us to order one of the specials (priced the same as regular menu items) saying it was excluded by Groupon. Nowhere did the Groupon certificate mention excluding specials! We wont be back and it makes us less interested in Groupon too!

    (2)

  • Lisa B.

    The sangria here is soooooo good (we consumed several pitchers!) & great ambiance with darker lighting. Haven't had dinner here yet, just apps for girls' night. I'd go back!

    (4)

  • LeeAnne Q.

    I've never been to a Colombian steakhouse so I wasn't sure what to expect. But my date for the night assured me it would be good so I was game. He was right; it was delicious!!! I ordered the stuffed chicken with cheese and spinach and it came with rice, a half a baked potato, plantain and a salad. It was delightful!!! I ate everything on my plate, minus the plantain because I'm just not a huge fan in general. My date had the entrana skirt steak and I had a piece of his steak and it was cooked perfectly!! Just the right amount of seasoning and grilled to perfection!! His plate was clean by the end of the night as well!!!! I also had the fresh fruit mango martini and it was very good..my date had the blackberry mojito and enjoyed his drink as well! Our server was very sweet and kept checking on us throughout the night!! The atmosphere is very nice for a date night; dimly lighted and romantic. If you're looking for a good meal and a nice atmosphere I highly recommend Las Tablas!!

    (5)

  • Burt F.

    Had lunch here with some clients and we all had a phenomenal meal. A large portion (platter). I ordered the baby grilled squid...it was sooo delicious I didn't think I could eat it all (I think there were 8 of them) but I ate it all! Fried plantains were delicious (I'm not a fan in general but these tasted delicious). The potato was dry -- I didn't like that. But everything else was phenomental. I'd go back again but with my family.

    (5)

  • Laura K.

    Went here for NYE with a group of 8, and had an excellent time. Great atmosphere, great service, and good food. If you are a meat and potato kinda person, this is your place. The menu has all kinds of different meats, they are served with potato and plantains. The plantains were not the best in my opinion (pretty dry), but the meat was excellent. Portions are huge, so if your appetite is normal, you can easily split an entree. The empanadas are also a must - lot of different kinds and all were pretty good. Since we were there on a holiday, we did not get to take advantage of the BYOB, however they offered a lot of drink options including pitchers of sangria - yes please! I will definitely make my way back here.

    (4)

  • Raluca C.

    The food is not fresh!!! The costumer service is so bad. I ordered some grilled octopus as an appetizer and It didn t taste fresh so I returned it. The manager came and he said I have to pay for it, when I said it s not fair and that I m not going to pay for something I didn t even touch he said he s gonna call the police. This never happened to me in another restaurant. if somebody doesn t like the food just offer something else in exchange at least, but no they decided to act like they were the cheapest people in the world and get a bad review for a few dollars...,poor people even 1 cent counts for your poor bussines, right? Plus when you come to a table to talk to youR costumers you just assume everybody is Hispanic? The manager started to talk Spanish and when my boyfriend told him he couldn't understand he barely could explain us in English. I didnt care for $10 or $12( I don t remember exactly how much were the octopus) but what bothered me was their attitude. We just payed and left with the worst impression. Needless to say I won't be back and tell The same thing to all my friends who use to go there. Just get your money elsewhere, there are plenty of restaurants who know how to treat clients and plus this is not even cheap, if it was I would understand but u want to sell people shitty quality for this price? If the manager reads this review I hope he's gonna have somebody translate it to him!

    (1)

  • Omar R.

    We picked this place for my brothers birthday and it did not let us down. The beef empanadas were amazing! I ordered the skirt steak and grilled shrimp platter and was impressed with the seasoning and how good the steak was. Our server Miguel was great on point with drinks and attentive. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone!

    (5)

  • Scott M.

    The worst experience...awful service...awful salty food...website says no corkage fee during the week but the awful waiter said he knows nothing about that and will only charge 15.00 per bottle..what a joke they took 20 mins to come back to open the bottle..do not waste your money on this place...everything was over cooked and seasoned with tons of salt...not to mention the waiter never checked on us..they only had 2 waiters on a busy night...plain awful experience..

    (1)

  • Anony B.

    I really miss this place in Chicago...I'm Korean and this is somewhat similar to Galbi but more meaty. Try their Octopus too

    (5)

  • Steve H.

    Went here for an Anniversary dinner recently and it was fantastic. I would definitely make reservations. We went on a Friday and it was super busy. As busy as it was, the staff was on top of it. The Sangria was great as was the food. Keep in mind that the portions are HUGE when ordering. We ordered several items and had enough food left over to eat again that night and again in the morning. I suggest ordering one of the meat platters. It was really enough to feed two, maybe three and I can put away the food. I will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • J C.

    My food was bland and not especially enjoyable... But I'm a vegetarian so I don't expect too much when eating at a steakhouse. I appreciate that they had a vegetarian section on their menu, but the food was just missing even the vaguest trace of flavor. The only reason I rated this place so high is because of CESAR. He may very well be the best bartender in the city.

    (4)

  • Veronica T.

    First of all the food and drinks are excellent but the hostess and staff must be under the impression that this is THE only Steak house around with quality food. The drinks are good but over priced and at these prices I could go downtown to have a fabulous evening for dinner and drinks. The waiting for a table blows, try standing for an hour with no quality seating near the bar area and The fact that every time someone opens the door near the entrance cold air smacks you in the face. When you leave after eating the meal you will absolutely reek of garlic and meat. I had to dry clean my and my girlfriends clothes afterwards, which was an added expense. Definitely do not go here on a date because you will both smell so bad after you won't be able to stand one another and absolutely do not go to a bar or after spot like we did because your belches will intimidate and offend people. Just a real heads up!

    (2)

  • Diana D.

    I'm originally from NYC and was hoping to try some delicious authentic Colombian food while visiting with family in Chicago, so we decided to try out this place based on the Yelp reviews. I guess for the most part all the reviews rave about their skirt steak but I wasn't looking to eat that when I went let alone pay $20+ for it so we tried other foods on their menu and their brunch special. We started with the empanadas and they SUCKED!! They were double fried, extra greasy and not authentic at all! They weren't even made out of the yellow corn that Colombian empanadas are supposed to be made of?! We went on a Sunday and they had a "Colombian food" brunch going on for $13 yet what was on the serving pans was more like Mexican food (grilled chicken in a spicy red sauce, green rice, bourbon looking chicken and zero flavor steak fajitas with a beef soup that felt like water with pieces of meat-yuck). My husband ordered their steak and chicken and there was NO flavor whatsoever, no seasonings, only pure minced garlic spread all over and they charge $21 for that. The only authentic Colombian experience I felt at this restaurant was the Manzana soda I ordered because you could tell even the arepas were the reheated frozen ones. The waitress was nice, but this place is overpriced for what they offer and NOT authentic Colombian in the food they serve! Save your money and try somewhere else!!

    (1)

  • Elayna W.

    Las Tablas is always fantastic! Entraña skirt steak is mouth-wateringly delicious! Their Colombian spices are on sale too, so you can bring it home and marinade for yourself! Pork belly and arepa are great too! Definitely would recommend!

    (5)

  • Marlene K.

    Excellent skirt steak and shrimp combination plater entre. Loved the plantain appetizers as well as the empanadas. We love this place.

    (4)

  • Carolyn L.

    I checked out this place with a big group of people for a friend's birthday party. The staff was so nice and attentive, even though we were a bit rowdy! The empanadas were pretty yummy and the cheese on the patacon pisao was great! For a main dish, I had the Bandeja Paisa (one of the most well-known Colombian dishes. Char-broiled, Colombian-style cut rib-eye steak served with fried pork belly, rice, beans, fried egg, sweet plantain and avocado). It was way too much food for one person but I took some home for later! The pork belly I could have done without. It was a little tough. But I loved the steak!

    (4)

  • Vero G.

    Never coming back here again. I visited the one on Irving Park several times but didn't come back for years because the last experience was bad. They gave us cold food and the waiter never came back after he gave us our food. I thought i would give them another chance since its been years. I went to this location with my husband for my birthday. We ordered empanadas and they were rock hard. My husband steak was tiny and this is supposed to be a steakhouse. I could believe the size of the portion for what they are charging. He got a tiny thin steak. I wanted to complain but my husband suggested we just don't come back. The food was not fresh. The waiter admitted the empanadas were from the day before. Waste of money. I could have gone to a steakhouse downtown and only pay a few bucks more.

    (1)

  • Albert B.

    Las Tablas is a pretty good place to enjoy a South American Style Steak. This restaurant is located right in the midst of Lakeview district of Chicago. Most of the steak menu comes with fried banana and baked potatoes with it, which gives a more South American taste. I would also recommend ordering some of the Appetizers as well, like Empanadas. Their fruit juices and Mojitos aren't so bad either. Spaces are quite plentiful and It's a good place if you crave A South American Style Steak.

    (3)

  • Jenn C.

    I came here for lunch during a digital photography class I took. I had skirt steak with calamari, chicken empanadas and a large margarita. Mind you I didn't realize how much food I ordered and had left over. Anyhow, the meat was very flavorful and tender and the squid was grilled to perfection and melted in my mouth. I actually enjoyed the chicken empanadas even though I had expected something smaller. The margarita was huge (the way I like it) and with that, I went back to class very satisfied!

    (4)

  • Damian P.

    Well I will start off with the embarrassing part first. So of course, I am a GROUPON aholic, (you know coupons for various functions), so I told the partner, lets go eat Colombian food, I have a GROUPON! So we headed north on a merry way to partake in some scrumptious Colombian meals and such. I guess I shouldn't rush right? So we get to the restaurant and sit down, waiter is bringing us water.... The partner decided to let the waiter know we are using a GROUPON, well here it goes..... "WE WERE IN THE WRONG RESTAURANT"! I nearly died right there on the spot! I mean, I was the one saying, "No, you don't have to let them know about using GROUPON, we do that after wards". Good thing my partner is the calm one and likes to read due in part to my shenanigans gone wrong! So now, we headed towards our RIGHT destination. Were seated (we chose to sit in a more private area), and they obliged. It was nice, I had the Plato Paisa (typical Colombian dish) with: white rice, beans, egg fried on rice, a strip of steak, and a chicaron (pork crackling) and of course an arepa which is similar (not quite) to a tortilla but fat and filled with the taste of cheese. Not bad for a nice night, I mean the place is really trendy and nice. Reminds you of Columbia or some Spanish eating ground. It was really nice and quaint, you know candle lit and all. The place was bustling with business and to be honest I didn't mind at all. It was really nice to see this place busy. I rather enjoyed it and would go again, but of course, the prices are a tad higher then the other Colombian restaurants I have been to, but that's okay for the ambiance, its upscalish in a way. Not rich, but comfortable. Check it out, and don't forget Yelp is the way to go. Meanwhile, moral of the story: READ AND CHECK YOUR DIRECTIONS. I seriously thought I would die of embarrassment when I sat in the other place. Imagine, had my partner not read the address? I would be washing dishes right now and YELP would have a rather crazy review.

    (4)

  • Alex D.

    Not a huge fan of this place. It is one of the very few BYO steakhouses in the city, but enough that I don't like Appetizers are pretty good, especially the empanadas. However they tend to really over-season and overcook their meat. Not sure if this is how meat is cooked in Colombia, or is this masking an underlying meat quality issue, but in either case, I am not a fan. Also the decor is too rustic for my taste, and the service more often than not is spotty. If you are looking for a BYO steakhouse, then Tango Sur is much better on meat quality, service, ambiance, overall experience.

    (2)

  • Juliana P.

    love their skirt steak

    (5)

  • Bradford M.

    I must preface this review by saying the food and drinks were really great. The service was horrible. We were a larger party, but that seems to be typical at Las Tablas where at least half the tables were of parties of 6 or more. Waters were not topped off for our table after our dinners arrived and we weren't asked if we wanted additional drinks. Portion sizes were inconsistent. The worst of it all is that we waited for 45 minutes to an hour for the bill to be finalized. Everyone had finished their meals about 8:45 and we were walking out the door at 9:40. It might be the longest I have ever waited for the bill. Highly disappointing service means I will not be going back to this restaurant despite their delicious food.

    (1)

  • Keith R.

    I've been here multiple times, multiple dinners, I've had the Sunday buffet, I can't even tell you how many times I've eaten here. But I hosted a dinner here for the first time, last week. A month prior to the event date, I called to confirm a party of 20 for 8pm. I was told they could accomodate me, and they took the reservation. Fast forward to the day before the event. I get a phone call from Las Tablas. When I answer, I'm told that the person on the phone just wanted to confirm the reservation and make sure nothings changed as far as number of guests, time, etc. I reply no, and this person begins to ask me for a credit card number. I'm sorry, what's that for? "If any of your guests are more than 15 minutes late, we're going to charge you $10 per person that is late." You're kidding right? Got kind of upset with this ridiculous demand and nearly cancelled dinner altogether. I told her I refuse to give her my credit card number this late in the game, because had this been something I was asked about when I made the reservation, I would have said okay, heres my CC #, and then I would have changed the time of the event to 6 pm. Is it really worth it to a restaurant to try to stick it to a customer for $10 per how ever many heads are late, versus the $650 dinner tab you might possibly miss out on ? Guess who was late to dinner folks. Yes, it is I, guilty as charged. I fought traffic for 2 hours to get there, got sucked into a Ribfest traffic mess...tollway jam....just a peachy commute. My portion of the party showed up, and immediately upon entering, our server offered to take the birthday cake from me and put it in the fridge. Started the night off with a regular Mojito, good as usual, my wife, Britt C. and I split a couple things for apps - the grilled octopus and the empanada combo. I only ate the Cheese empanada of the combo, and I don't know what kind of cheese is in there, but it's gooey and it's good. The shell of the empanada is always crusty. That's a good thing. The grilled octopus tastes fresh and had good charring. The salad it came with was lightly dressed. I ended up ordering the Skirt Steak and Shrimp combination. Pretty much all dinners come with 3 starches and the meats, along with 2 kinds of chimichurri, regular and spicy. The 3 starches are a half potato, fried yucca, and a caramelized sweet plantain, just like my Dad used to make. I ordered the skirt medium rare, and it was cooked to perfection. The grilled shrimp have a slight garlic flavor, and were properly seasoned to my taste. After dinner, they brought the cake out and sang Happy Birthday to my wife. Popular birthday dinner spot, as there were 3 other birthday parties gathering at Las Tablas as well. All in all, everyone always seems to enjoy themseves here, I know I have, and there's always something I haven't eaten on the menu. But the experience of booking the dinner did leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. That's not to say I won't return, because I will. But if I am having a dinner for as many guests as I had that day, I might look elsewhere for a different venue that really sees the value in my patronage.

    (4)

  • Jack P.

    Not much to add here as the consensus is quite clear: Great steakhouse. I came here with three friends on a celebratory occasion, and none of them had ever been. I warned them about the large portions and good cocktails. We decided then to have a couple of those cocktails each, and to skip the appetizers, and focus our Friday evening hunger on those generous sizzling plates of grilled shrimp, steak and chicken. Accompanied by two different salsas verdes. One spicy, one not. both very woodsy and refreshing as accompaniments to the grilled meats. The margaritas and the mojitos were extraordinarily refreshing, too. Yucca, potato, and plantains, too. We shared a flan and figs with caramel. Creamiest flan ever! All of the grilled items were flavorful, cooked to perfection and the steaks were like "butta." We all agreed on that. Service was a little "meh," from the standpoint of our having to summon our server on a number of occasions, for various reasons. But the dinners did come out quickly enough. The service just lacked that usual ubiquitous Latin warmth and "Mi casa es su casa" approach. But I know we will all be back again in heartbeat. Authentic, delicious and a great value for a steakhouse.

    (4)

  • Julian F.

    I went to Las Tablas last night with friends, we have been there several times before and have always had excellent service to go along with the wonderful food. Last night was different, although the restaurant was not very busy at all, the service we received was terrible - and that is being generous. The food was up to the usual excellent standards and one ofvmyb friends declared the coconut flan to be the best flan in the city!

    (3)

  • Noe A.

    Service hit or miss, same with the food. Skirt steak my fav tho.

    (1)

  • Stephanie J.

    Being that my parents are Colombian, my expectations for a Colombian restaurant are quite high. These guys have two locations and I have been to both. I first went to the one off of Irving Park and my friend and I were seated by the round window in the front. Live music was about to start when we were ordering. The food was yummy. I am unfortunately lactose intolerant, so some of the items on the Colombian menu don't work well in my stomach anymore which saddens me. I ordered Patacon Pisao and when I received it to my dismay it was covered in cheese. I told the waiter and at first he seemed reluctant to help me out but he spoke to the manager and they gave me a new dish. The second time I went to the Lincoln Ave location. Different setup, but still very nice. I brought my parents with me who immediately started criticizing the place because there were no actual Colombian people on the weight staff. I can remember my dad even saying "none of these Mexicans know how to cook Colombian food." They ordered and we got the food pretty promptly. Boy, did their reactions change! My dad even ordered arepas to take home haha. I have recommended this restaurant to people asking about Colombian food as the most near to authentic place you can get in Chicago. This is my go to Colombian food place!

    (5)

  • Dominic G.

    Pros: Awesome steaks BYOB (check the schedule) If you forgot to bring a bottle, sangria is the best. Great service! Cons: Nothing really Street parking Washroom is in the lower level of the restaurant so becareful going down if you are tipsy!

    (5)

  • Matt C.

    Las Tablas is AWESOME! I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed this place. The wait at the bar: Mojitos anyone!? Delicious Mojitos, and the friendly, huge bartender was a really nice dude and was really excited about making bomb-ass mojitos and explaining to us how he was creating the boozy fresh-fruit concoctions. Also they we're STRONG, like last call at a wedding strong. The food: We started with the Calamari - grilled, smoky, buttery, (insert delicious-sounding adjective here). Just really delicious. The Empanadas are in my top 5 fried things with a mysteriously delicious inside that I've digested. The Skirt steak was unbelievable good. Coated in a very unique tasting, delicious blend of Colombian spices, oozing with some sort of juicy marinade, and they give you a ton of it. No skimpy portions here. I had the combo Steak/Chicken, and the Chicken was also spectacular: pounded thin, extremely juicy with a nice smoky char on it. If you like charred red meat and delicious boozy Mojito/Capirina/Margarita-type drinks you gotta check out Las Tablas.

    (5)

  • Lulu R.

    Who has two thumbs and love Las Tablas? (Pointing at self with both thumbs) THIS GAL!!!! Let me set the stage: Valentine's Day 2012. We made reservations and the only time that they could fit us in is at 6PM. My boyfriend decided to meet me there. As I was driving in traffic on LSD, I was thinking that i really hope that I will like this place or else it will set the whole night off wrong. Located in the Lakeview area, it was a breeze to get to. I arrived a touch early and checked in for my reservation. I went to go use my washroom and it was a bit of a journey to get to. I was seated early and waited for my man to meet me. The place was dimly lit, candles on the table, light music playing in the background. There is plenty of seating available and a dance floor installed but there was no dancing on the night that I went. It would be cool to see some dancing one day. (note to self: go back to Las Tablas when they have dancing) We ordered the empandas to start and I got a Mojito. The mojitos was made fresh and made me feel REfreshed. The Empanadas came out and we had the chicken, cheese, and beef ones. All of them were spectacular! The salad in the middle of the empanada was "eh". I could have gone without it or they could have replaced it with a dipping sauce, something other than that salad. We ordered our entrees and had our cocktails in the meantime. The food came out on wooden planks with a metal plate on them, how cool! I ordered the steak and pork combo. My BF had the Churrasco. Wows. The steak was seasoned just right and my pork was cooked perfectly. Pork can be over cooked and they did it just right. My BF loved his entree just as much as I did. The service was great and it was an amazing start to our very first Valentine's Day.

    (4)

  • Amr A.

    Damn good columbian steakhouse, very reasonably priced. Super flavorful marinades and good service.

    (5)

  • Erick N.

    Las Tablas has been around since 1991; I had previously enjoyed a couple of meals a few years back in their old location but this was my first time there since they moved. I really like the current venue a lot better; larger space, much better acoustics and a bit more elegant vibe. Las Tablas is a versatile restaurant where you can go with a small group for a celebration, have a dinner out with the family, or a nice date night with a significant other. It features authentic Colombian cuisine with skirt steak being the house specialty. There is plenty of food to choose from as well as a nice drink menu: Wines by the glass start at $7, sangria ($7 a glass, $25 a pitcher), several fun cocktails (about $8 a pop), and some beers (including Colombian). During weeknights you can also BYO (wine only). There is also a nice selection of non alcoholic Colombian beverages. Tonight I ordered sangria; while it was not the best I have had it was enjoyable. My wife and I had Maria tonight as our server; she was somewhat quiet, but friendly and efficient. Her assistant kept our water glasses full and the table was cleaned and silverware replaced between courses. The pace of the meal is relaxed (as is typical in South America), so do not expect fast service. Just sit back and enjoy! Portion sizes are quite generous and the price point is reasonable factoring in the quality, portions and ambiance. Las Tablas is what I would call dressy casual; it is not quite an upscale venue but is a step up from your typical everyday restaurant. We had the empanada combination plate for appetizers (consisting of six empanadas: two chicken, two beef and two cheese served with two sauces and accompanied by a small salad). For my entree I went with the Bandeja Paisa; a typical Colombian dish consisting of a hodge podge of different foods. Definitely a lot going on with this dish! There was a nice sized strip of well seasoned and prepared skirt steak, a fried egg laying atop a mound of rice, red beans, avocado, sweet plantains, an arepa (corn dough) and a large strip of pork belly. Aside from the pork belly (which was bland and a tad overcooked) this dish was excellent (with the steak and plantains being my favorite components). I have added a photo of this dish. A nearby table ordered the Picada para Dos (a combination platter for two) consisting of a giant mound of various meats. It looked amazing and I definitely recommend this to any carnivores! It was enough meat to put Fogo de Chao and Brazzaz to shame! I really wanted to order the arequipe (a Colombian type of milky caramel) for dessert (love that stuff), but was way too full. The total bill (before tip) came to just over $70 (including the appetizer platter, two entrees and two adult beverages). We had a very nice dinner and I definitely recommend Las Tablas to anybody interested in trying good, authentic Colombian cuisine in a nice but fairly casual environment.

    (4)

  • McStrokin J.

    The food has fallen off a tad IMO. It's not bad but it's definitely not as good as it once was. Las Tablas is still a decent Steakhouse though.

    (4)

  • Jen W.

    Oh Las Tablas, how long I have loved you! I remember when you were just a tiny little place with no space for customers waiting for a table, and your service was slow, but lovable at the same time. I fell a little out of love with Las Tablas when they moved into a larger new space across the street because I felt like they lost some of the charm that made them feel like a special find. And, while the "original" Las Tablas used to allow for BYOB, the new location started charging a corking fee. Those changes were disappointing, but luckily the food never wavered. Literally every time I dined at Las Tablas (honestly, at least 30 times during the nine years I lived in Chicago) we started with Arepa Chorriada, which is a wonderful corn-type bread with melted cheese and criolla. It's made even more lovely with a little chimichurri on the side. I then almost always ordered the Matrimonio (a mix of entrana skirt steak and pollo al ajillo)...it's served on the cutest wood board (hence, las tablas) and accompanied with the sweetest plantain and yummiest yuca and potato. Again, chimichurri here just enhances every bite. All in all Las Tablas is very tasty and reasonably priced. Actually, I wish I could have it for dinner tonight!

    (4)

  • John H.

    Not a frequent yelped but this visit calls for a shout out. Las Tablas is amazing from the drinks to the food to the service. All top notch. Mojitos were perfect and very good. We had some wonderful empanadas for apps which were very tasty. Entrana, specialty steak of the house, was my entree and was seriously one of the best steaks I have ever had. It is different than Gibson's and Keiffer's but this place definitely holds its own with the quality steak and taste. Get it medium rare as the chef recommends. We had two little kids and the wait staff and our waiter (Miguel) were wonderful. Seriously this place is amazing. If you like steak or know someone who does, make a reservation! You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Nicole P.

    Food here so unbelievably good. It's my 3rd time & I still haven't had anything I wouldn't/didn't finish!!! Staff is amazing. Bartenders, wait-staff. Everybody is amazing. Love this place. The mojitos are amazing.

    (5)

  • Jennifer E.

    OMG! Can you say carnes? The meats are sooooo good! My husband and I came here for our weekly date nights. He picked this place looking on yelp for Latin American food. There was adequate meter parking on the street. There's seating outdoor and inside but we chose inside. We started with the empanada combo and I had a sangria and he had a Modelo. We ended up sharing the Picada Colombiana which is basically a plate for two of all their meats. My husband and I couldn't finish it and we ended up having to take some home and cook the rest of the meats for some great steak and eggs the next morning. Definitely recommended :)

    (5)

  • Maria J.

    Hands down THE best place in the city for steak. The atmosphere is fantastic and the staff is super friendly and nice!

    (5)

  • Paola C.

    Definitely loved this place. Meat is sooo good, chic service and atmosphere. Grilled banana served with meat was just amazing. Not too expensive for the service and quality you get. Definitely worth it!

    (4)

  • Mary D.

    Golly this place is fantastic. We went because a friend of mine had a groupon for a meal for two (an appetizer, two entrees and two desserts). That plus an additional appetizer fed 2 hungry people and 2 not quite hungry people with a bit left over. That should give you an idea of how large the portion sizes are. For appetizers we had the empanadas and the grilled mariscos. The empanadas are slightly smaller than regular empanadas, but still pretty sizable and come with six. The grilled mariscos are FABULOUS. Seriously, the grilled octopus was the best thing I ate that night and the best octopus I've had ever. Smoky, slightly briny, but not fishy, and not at all chewy. And everything else was smoky and tasty and perfectly cooked. For the entree we had the combination 1 with the steak and more mariscos. Again, yes yes yes to that octopus. They do not skimp on the seafood either. And the steak was well seasoned and juicy. It came with yucca, which is kind of like yam or a slightly sweeter and less starchy potato, and plantain. We also had the Bandeja Paisa, which came with a rib-eye, fried pork belly, rice, beans, and this tasty piece of bread. The bread was a little bit like pancake, but not as sweet. I rather liked the steak but I think I preferred the skirt steak that came with the Combination plate (though I prefer juicier cuts of steak in general). And the beans were delicious. The fried pork belly was almost overcooked and hard to eat. But otherwise a great meal. For dessert, we had the coconut creme brulee and the tres leches cake. Creme brulee was great. Not heavy on the coconut flavor, but the coconut definitely made the dish richer and more indulgent. But OH. DEAR. GOD. That tres leches cake...we ate it on Saturday and it's Tuesday and I am still craving it. The art on the walls can get a bit odd, and the waiter kept forgetting an extra place setting; but otherwise great ambiance and delicious food. An overall wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • LeeAnn K.

    I can't believe it took us 1 year in the new neighborhood to try this place! I had the steak/shrimp and the hubs had steak/calamari and it was one of the best steaks I've ever tasted!!! Oh, and the Sangria..yum! The service was fantastic and it was even family friendly, however we can't wait to go back for Date Night!

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    This is the best steak you will have in Chicago! I love a good steak and am making this comparison based on many meals around Chicago steakhouses (Mastro's, Ruth's Chris, etc.). My favorite cut of meat is the entraña. It is delicious, never overly seasoned, and always cooked perfectly. My boyfriend likes the entraña butterflied and well done and they were able to do that in the kitchen and it came out amazing. The fresh fruit martinis and sangria are also very tasty. If BYOB is more your thing they allow it M-Th with no corking fee. I would highly recommend your next meal here!

    (5)

  • Kate O.

    Went on a Friday night without reservations got in rather quickly. Cute ambience! Empanadas straight forward and tasty, I liked the chicken The meat plate for two had a TON of food, more than enough. Upgrading to get the fish for an extra 12 dollars wasn't worth it. Sangria very tasty - refreshing Margaritas yummy Service was a challenge when they got busy. Overall I'd go back.

    (3)

  • Chuck K.

    Ate here last week for dinner. It was everything you want in a steak and more!!! They don't take reservations, but are BYOB (wine only) Monday through Thursday. At 7:30PM on Saturday we didn't have to wait for a table and were seated right away. They have a bunch of interesting drinks on their drink menu along with a good selection of wines. The empenadas were good (chicken was our favorite) but not necessarily the best I've ever had. Where this place really delivers is their beef. Skirt steak combos are the way to go. The skirt steak was prepared perfectly to how we ordered it. Flavorful and juicy with seasoning that is quite hard to describe. We wanted to lick our plates when we finished it was so good. For dessert we had a cocoa flan that was AMAZING! I strongly recommend you check out this place if you're looking for a different sort of steak experience.

    (4)

  • Nikki C.

    My boyfriend first took me here, claiming it was his favorite steakhouse. It's got a great romantic feel inside, dimmed lights, soft music, not to close to other tables. We both got steak and it was amazing! At first I was like this small thing? I can eat this in just a few bites, but honestly it's a mouthful. I thought this place had great service and was super friendly. I just found out they have one in my neighborhood! Just down the street from me. Not as pretty looking as the one in Lakeview but still delicious!

    (4)

  • Charri V.

    Food is Awesome and service was great! I am a long time customer and I recommend this place to everyone who loves Colombian food or just loves food in general! Their Sangrias and empanadas are a MUST TRY!

    (5)

  • Christian R.

    Upscale Colombian restaurant, don't expect cafeteria look or prices. Very nicely decorated, nice atmosphere, tasty food and mojitos.

    (4)

  • Gina M.

    I LOVE this place! I have been here multiple times. Such great food and drinks!!!

    (5)

  • Shelley C.

    Oh my gosh! Awesome food. Great atmosphere I highly recommend this place to ALL! :-)

    (5)

  • Christine K.

    Jesus was a wonderful server. The service was amazing, which is why I am giving Las Tablas 4 stars despite the extremely salty food. The grilled shrimp salad was fine, but for some reason, the calamari and baby octopus were drenched in salt. My friends, who ordered steaks in medium, said that they were impressed with the execution since most places either grill the meat too much or not enough. It's a fun place to visit, especially if you enjoy Brazilian BBQ.

    (4)

  • Maya C.

    yeah, I cannot complain about this place either. It seems like every restaurant I go to I rave about them as if they are the "best thing ever" but god damn they really are! this place had such a great feel to it. the restaurant was clean, the staff were friendly, and the bathrooms were like a walk to the dungeons. Seriously.. it's a maze to get to the bathrooms.. that was definitely a highlight. I returned from the ladies room to tell my friend of the bathroom maze, and he laughed and didn't believe me. Well, when he went, sure enough he came back and had to say. yup.. you were right. didn't try any alcohol at this place, but I can talk about the food. The appetizers we ordered were really delicious. We got the empanadas, which came with two cheese, two chicken, and two beef. Definitely go beef or cheese. The chicken was not my favorite. Still good, but the others were way better. they have quite an extensive menu, flavor wise. There are lots of different things to choose from. we also got the seafood appetizer or tapas.. whatever it was called.. and it came with calamari, baby squid, shrimp, and something else. beware - this is very fishy, so if you don't like very fishy fish, stay away. This isn't like your fried shrimp stuff.. this is like the real deal seafood.. in the sense that if you are not the biggest fan, avoid it. I love seafood, but they had the baby octopus so crunchy and they were a little too big for my taste because I couldn't eat the heads. That was just my own dining insecurity though... an ex-vegetarian, so I felt bad and it kept staring at me. Everything here was just wonderful though. I really didn't have any complaints. I'm going to have to go back and try some other stuff for sure.. like plantains because platanos are seriously the gold coins of the earth.

    (4)

  • Cindy G.

    Delicious!!! Food was unbelievable...I ordered the chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese, and it came with a potato, rice, salad, and fried banana. Everything on my plate was delish!!!! We also ordered empanadas and the corn bread with chorizo as appetizers and they were also really good!!! Hubby had the entraña, which I did not taste, but it looked sooooo good! And he loved it! The restaurant itself is nice, and the decor is unique and reflects its Latin menu. The bar is awesome, in particular its fresh-fruit mojitos. I had the mango mojito and it was really good, and not everyone could make a great mojito!!! I gave it four stars only because the restaurant does not allow for reservations for parties of less than 6, the wait will usually be between 45-1hr 30 min and it would be nice if we could reserve without having to invite 4 others to join us!!!

    (4)

  • Becca L.

    Went there with the bf for date night since he loves his meat. The Entrana was awesome, but the portions are big so he had a tough time finishing it with his starchy sides. I had the Bendeja...with a variety of meats (steak, pork belly, sausage, egg, and one more). We also had the mojito which was stronger than expected. It was good, but I think just not for us. And reservations are probably not needed for a Saturday late lunch. When we were there only one other table was occupied.

    (3)

  • Zach W.

    Fantastic food, some of the best in Chicago. I'm a self proclaimed steak connoisseur, and there are VERY few places that I feel can cook up a steak tastier than what I can do on my own grill. However, this is definitely one of those places. The Entrana is simply spectacular. And it is always cooked perfectly, regardless of how you like it. I've also had the carne asada, but even carne asada fans will probably like the Entrana better. If you like more variety, get the Matrimonio, which is the steak and chicken. Serving sizes are HUGE and very well priced. Drinks are also delicious. I highly recommend the caipirinha, and the mojitos are incredible as well. The only minor drawback was the service. It wasn't all that crowded, but our waiter consistently only came by every 20 minutes, even after we asked for our bill it took 20 minutes to get back to us. Food only, this is an easy 5 star, but I'd hate to get the same service next time.

    (4)

  • Stephanie L.

    What a cute little steak house. Went here late on a Sat night after we worked up an appetite bowling at 7-10 lounge. Atmosphere....cute-y little servers that are super nice. Drinks...HELL yes I want a fresh fruit martini...like every flavor imaginable...I guess they are know for mojitos...I just am not a fan of them so they suggested doing a fruit martini instead. As I slurped down a couple of blackberry martinis, I was feeling happy and festive in this steak house. Food...pretty darn good steak, chicken, seafood, etc. The empanadas were great. We did the combo plate. Cheese, chicken and steak. Chicken was my favorite. Plus, they give you this house salsa stuff...one spicy, one not. Yummy and fresh. We also did the combo dinner plate. Everything was good. It was seasoned well and if you dont like salt/seasoning...this probably isnt the place for you. It was boarding a little much, however, I thought it was really good. The plantains could have used being cooked a little bit more for a crispy outside crust. The potatoes and I am not sure what the other thing on my plate was....I think it was fried yuca...it was really amazing. The portions were HUGE~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yikes, talk about contributing to obesity epidemic. Wowsers. However, I guess you get what you pay for here. Overall, its a decent steak house for a chillax vibe that isnt going to break the bank. The drinks are fantastic with the fresh fruit...not overwhelmingly sweet...which is right up my alley.

    (4)

  • Alice L.

    We went here on a Friday night for dinner. It was a busy night and the hostess told us there would be a half hour wait but we got seated in 20 min! Aside from the constant cold draft that ran through the restaurant, everything else was great. We both had skirt steak which was cooked exactly the way we asked. Absolutely have to try it with the green sauce! They had only one salad on the menu so we ordered it (that was just ok, it was just vegetables with a vinegar dressing). We also had empanadas which were very tasty. Overall, the food & service was great and our waiter was very helpful.

    (4)

  • Allison S.

    Food, Ambience, and Service are all amazing. Came here for the first time on a friday night. I started with a fresh kiwi martini to drink which was made with fresh kiwi, and had fresh kiwi pulp in it. My boyfriend had the mojito, which was one of the best I have had in the city. Later I had a blackberry martini, which was also great- made with fresh blackberries and vodka. Both of those drinks were very strong as well. We had the empanada plate to begin with beef, chicken, and cheese empanadas. The cheese and chicken were my favorite- both perfectly fried. For my meal I had the strip steak/octopus combo. They give you a huge piece of steak (mine was perfectly cooked, nice and juicy, but still charred) and 3 little octopus, all with great seasoning. The meat is accompanied by yucca, potato, and plaintain, which goes great with it. My boyfriend had only the strip steak, which was a hugee portion. Come here ready to eat! For dessert we had the coconut flan, which was a bit rich for flan, but still delicious! Service was great, and beautiful ambience. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Neil C.

    I've been to this place several times, the food and atmosphere is great. My girlfriend is Colombian and this is her favorite place in the city....that should say something about this place. We have taken our son here during the week and its definitely a place you sit down and have a quiet family dinner.

    (4)

  • Ismael M.

    Great service, atmosphere, and a great piece of meat for the money. Go for the combinationes where you can pick two types of protein for $20. They give you this hot sauce to go on top that is spicy but does not take away from the flavor of the meat. The owner seems to have a thing for some pretty girl who has a giant mural dedicated to her on the wall. Its kind of random, my guess is its a relative?

    (5)

  • Steven N.

    Just catching up on my Yelp reviews, and unfortunately I can't recall the exact dishes we had here as our visit was about 2 months ago. However, I do remember the food at this place was OUTSTANDING though and the people are nice. Worth noting is the awesome flavors of their meat, they did a great job marinating them, especially the steak. We came on a week night, so it wasn't too busy and were seated right away. You may want to make a reservation during the weekend.

    (4)

  • Aleksandra S.

    I REALLY enjoy this place! Everything from their fresh fruit margaritas to their seafood plates is delicious. The service is very friendly and has consistently been so every time we've gone. I am a huge seafood fan so that is usually what I order every time time. I've tried the skirt steak and it is also scrumptious!The plates come with a side of plantane (so good!), potato, and yucca potato (OH SO GOOD). As far as desserts go, they have some sort of "secret" off-the-menu item that only the natives know to order, lol. It is some guava dish and it beats the other listed desserts by a long shot.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    I came here for dinner with a large group on a Saturday night. They only had 9PM reservations left when we made the reservation, so we took it. They ended up seating us 45+ minutes late, which by then I was ready to pass out from hunger. I purposely didn't eat a lot during the day to prepare myself for a delicious steak dinner. If you are going to make people wait, at least prepare them for that when they make the reservation. I order the "Combonaciones" of pork and skirt steak (the highly recommended meat) on the menu. It came with a plain small half of a baked potato, half of a plantain and 2 small peices of fried yucca. Nothing was seasoned and you were supposed to put this cilantro garlic mixture on the table on your food. Therefore those items were mainly tasteless. The yucca tasted like the oil it was fried in. So there were 2 mixtures one with oil and one without. The non-oil mixture didn't add a lot of flavor to your food. The oil mixture was delish, but I just added 10,000 calories to my food to make it taste good. My gripe is that if I am going out to eat, at least season the food. The steak was pretty good and so was the pork. But if I'm going out for steak, Mastro's, Capital Grille, Fullton's, etc. have better cuts of meat. I personally don't think this place is worth the price ESPECIALLY since it's not even BYOB on the weekends (only M-Th). They have reasonably priced bottles of wine at $30 (think $7.5 per glass). Anyway, I'd rather not come back.

    (3)

  • Jme D.

    My Colombian boyfriend and I came here because we were in the mood for some good Colombian food. Our wonderful waiter suggested a Brazilian rum drink with brown sugar and lime juiced--stiff and pretty good. I ordered a mojito. The drinks were great, and the combination empanadas plate was a great starter, complete with a fresh salad tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. Bathroom break: THE BATHROOMS ARE PHENOMENAL. Ryan and I shared a recommended Colombian skirt steak and chicken dish that came on a sizzling skillet with fried yuca and a sweet plantain on the side. DELICIOUS. The chicken was so tender, juicy and well seasoned, and the steak blew me away. I'm not a huge steak kind of girl, but I couldn't get enough. Grab the meat off the skillet right away to get the temperature right, leaving it on the skillet will allow it to continue cooking. Our server was very helpful but never too pushy. Definitely a relaxed atmosphere--ideal for our intimate date. If you're in a rush, don't trouble the wait staff with your impatience. This is place just sit down and savor every bite. Try Heritage across the street for a bold macchiato or a yummy later after dinner coffee spot. I can't stop raving about what a great meal we shared at these spots. I would recommend it to anyone over and over again. :D

    (5)

  • Bridget D.

    Great margaritas and drinks. We started with the empanadas which were delicious. Order the skirt steak - it is amazing.

    (5)

  • CatwomanRoar M.

    Category: Indulgent - 3 stars Food: B 1) Empanada Combination Plate: B- Maybe it was an average night, they were a bit bland & the meat was mushy. Texture was like overblended spicy tuna roll insides 2) Entrana (Skirt Steak) & Calamari Combo: A- Calamari had great flavor & cooked perfectly. Skirt Steak was good but wasn't marinated like your typical SAmer SS. Kinda like American steak meets South America blend. Requested Med Rare, got med rare, so that's a plus. The chicken is pretty good too. Grilled shrimp was the best out of the 4. The yucca & potato were hard, dry & awful. Sweet plantain, awesome. Drinkypoos: B 1) BYOB M-Th: A!!! 2) Didn't go on a weekday. Booo. Got the 1st Malbec on their bottle list. It was better than average. $30 Atmosphere/Service: A- Cool place, weird life size poster on wall. Service was decent Price/Verdict: It's not over-the-top pricey & I was def. full. But for $45 bucks, I'd like to be "satisfied". Beyond the 2 main "meats", I was left wanting. Wouldn't be opposed to going back - Next time, I'd do the calarmari/shrimp combo, only not sure if that'd be enough food. : ( Tip: For Great (traditional flavored) Skirt Steak try 90 Mile

    (3)

  • Audre L.

    Came here for a big birthday dinner, about 20 people. Service was pretty decent - no complaints, given the size of our group. Had the combo - steak shrimp platter. The meats were AMAZING! Grilled perfectly. Although my friends who ordered the entree steaks said that their medium rare was a little overdone. The empanadas are great here too. This is a nice family-run, not too formal, steakhouse with a South-American flare. Cozy and nice.

    (4)

  • Elise K.

    I wasn't impressed given the hype. First of all, we made a reservation. They didn't write down the reservation, therefore they didn't honor it and we had to wait. While waiting we were told the place was BYOB, so off went my boyfriend to the bottle store. Once we were seated we found out that it was only BYOB on certain nights and we couldn't use the bottle we had just bought! The food was raved about, but honestly just okay. The Yucca was dry, potatoes were dry and medium rare steak was well over-cooked. We had ordered the platter for two, but there was so much food it should have been a platter for four. Unfortunately the food didn't reheat well. The empanadas were okay as well - just okay though. They brought a slue of sauces but didn't bother to explain any. We will keep searching for Colombian food in Chicago. There has to be better!

    (2)

  • Chris C.

    Came here to redeem a Groupon and had a great experience. We'll definitely be back. We went fairly early in the night and were seated with no problem. Our waitress was superb. When she knew we were newbies, she did a great job explaining the menu and making some recommendations. I opted for their steak and chicken dish which was awesome. The portions here are huge, but everything was delicious. Apparently, they have byob (wine only) on the weekdays. They also have a full bar with strong drinks.

    (4)

  • Gina F.

    All of the carnivores enjoyed the food thoroughly. If you go, get appetizers! They're great. The empanadas are well-know, and very tasty. The cheese were the favorite for our party of 8. We also had the arepa chorriada, which is outstanding! I would go back just for that. For mains, the carnivores had the calamari, the polla relleno, & the entrana (skirt steak). The person who had the polla relleno enoyed it, but found it a little too cheesy. The big winner of the night was the entrana, which everyone found to be amazing. I had the vegetarian paella, which was okay. I actually got 3 meals out of it, though! I think it tasted better after it sat a while. The one fault was service. It was friendly & food came timely, but the beverage service was sub par. Within 10 minutes, we had one empty water glass at the table. Within maybe 10 more, there were 3. During dinner he came to check on whether we needed more drinks (now that 4 people had empty cocktail glasses), & I asked him for water. No one came for several minutes. Water glasses should never be empty in my book--I think it's a cardinal sin in a restaurant.

    (4)

  • Kris R.

    dude. i totes got a free lunch, aka, my friend treated me since i had rid his computer of digital herpes. i would gladly work 2hrs to get this lunch for free again. we both ordered the exact same lunch special: 6oz cut of skirt steak with salad, rice, beans and sweet plantain, medium rare. they have a patio! we sat on it! whoa. it. was. so. good. like. really. good. and. this. is. just. lunch. on. hump. day. the steak was cooked perfectly. the rice had a bit of tang/vinegary flavor to it, which complimented really everything nicely. the "banana," as my friend called it, was also tasty and cooked well. he devoured everything - i was a lady and saved 1/4 of the steak, rice + "banana." then at 330p i scarfed it. will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Melanie V.

    I have never been a "steak" kinda person. I mean, ordering it "rare" or "medium"...what is up with that? Just give me pork or chicken or seafood and I'll be happy. But, lemme tell you...after my meal at Las Tablas, I'm considering converting to be a steak lover! It was THAT amazing. Their Entrana (or skirt steak) was super juicy, packed with flavor and just sooo gooood. It's also served with yuca, potato and plantains for $19! Whew. Their trio of empandas (chicken, beef and cheese) weren't that exciting, though. The cheese was the best, by far...and that's a little disappointing. The doughy crust was a little too greasy for my liking. My mojito ($8) was pretty good, but I think the BYOB option is a bigger draw here. Every group I saw walk in were clutching multiple bottles of their favorite wine. But, be warned - there's an $8 corkage fee Thursday - Sunday! (More than my favorite bottle of Barefoot Moscato. Sad, I know!) The atmosphere is great for either a big group or intimate dinner. I was a fan of the dim lighting. Service was pretty solid,too - the waiter even brought out candles for the birthday cake we brought, without charging us extra! Niice!

    (4)

  • Jessica H.

    I have to start this off by saying that I'm Colombian so my opinion of this place is based on comparing it to other Colombian food places and Colombian food in general. First off, they have really updated (and moved) the restaurant and the decor is very nice. I like it because it shows a lot about Colombian culture. The Botero paintings hanging up around the restaurant are nice too. The food? Meh. I've been to cheaper Colombian restaurants (admittedly with less ambiance and decor) that have tastier steak. I have tried a LOT of things on the menu throughout the years and some are good. The bandeja paisa is pretty spot on. I like the grilled sea food platters too because they just taste so good. But this place is supposed to be a steakhouse and the steak just falls flat. The seasoning is bland and there is nothing about the steak that just stands out. For what they charge, I would expect a tastier peice of meat. Other offerings on the menu: Empanadas are pretty good but not very traditional (feel more like fusion empanadas). The drinks are good but not very strong. The buenelos there were stale the two times I ordered them (though they tasted pretty good). Also, service is slow. I know this is more of a culture thing but then don't charge me $25 for a plate if you can't provide decent service. I guess where this place falls flat for me is the price vs the food. With the decor and what they charge, I'm thinking that the meat will be solid. But its not. Other dishes are good but trust me, a lot of the food there is considered "cheap" food in Colombia, something you wouldn't pay a lot for. Patacon, arepa, yuca frita, frijoles, bandeja paisa.... these are things you can get for pretty cheap other places so while they are good here, the fact that they charge you more here turns me off. Again, its a pretty place but if I want a great Colombian meal, I can save my money and go to Sabor a Cafe and still get just as good of a meal.

    (3)

  • Catalina B.

    I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. Great food but god awful service. The servers are slow, food is slow even though they are not packed, didn't have any Colombian beers and the arepas were hard and not very good.

    (3)

  • Tlafi K.

    The meat plate is great with a lot of flavor. I also love the empanadas. The sangria is especially my favorite. The service is a bit on the slow side. May go back.

    (3)

  • Nick D.

    The food was good at this place. It was my first time eating Columbian. The meat was cooked good and the caipirinha drinks were very good and strong. The only downside was that I thought it was a bit overpriced. Our bill came in at over $100 for three people for lunch, which I thought was exorbanant.

    (3)

  • Johnny F.

    Seriously, don't go to Las Tablas unless you've packed an appetite. Great atmosphere (though the giant mural of what I can only assume is some Colombian pop star in the main dining room is a little odd), great service, and the food is amazing. If you're hungry, I suggest my go-to: The Bandeja Paisa. Will be coming back soon.

    (5)

  • Daniela A.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city so I'm not sure why I haven't thought about yelping it before. My husband and I went there last night with some friends, and as always, the food was delicious. The four of us shared the empanada sampler and then we all got the combination skirt steak with each a different kind of seafood. Two of us got the shrimp, one the calamari, and the fourth octopus. My steak was cooked to perfection and I can't get enough of the chimichurri sauce. Although the place can get very loud on Saturday nights, I find the ambiance cozy yet festive. I would highly recommend it for date night or a place to meet up with friends.

    (4)

  • Jack M.

    Everything here was fantastic! Even the creepy 8x12 foot glamour shot of Nicole Suarez (who turns out to be the owner's daughter or niece or something) really started to grow on me. The meal I had was perfect in every way, from the charred and well seasoned steak, the perfectly grilled shrimp, and the awesome side of plantains. Our server Jesus was knowledgeable, friendly, and welcoming. Ok, the glamour shots of Nicole Suarez in the bathroom were a little much, but this place made up for it by being one of the best meals I've had in 2013.

    (5)

  • Dave L.

    Excellent serving sizes and fantastic taste. BYOB except weekends tops it off!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth V.

    So, I can't speak to the ambiance because we GrubHub'ed it, but wow, the veggie paella absolutely rocks. A tad pricey, but worth it for good, solid vegetarian food. Gracias, Colombianos.

    (4)

  • Jaime Patricio M.

    Yikes... tough crowd for this restaurant. I looked at the reviews and saw some nice words but only three stars. I had friends who had been here before and loved it. So I felt confident about the visit. We went for Saturday lunch so we had the place to ourselves. We ordered family style and ordered for lunch accordingly. I shared a platter and had a starter plate between two people. I saw several tables where everyone order a platter. I thought for dinner that might be the better thing to do. We started with the empanadas get the combination - beef, chicken and cheese--perfect size and delightful-- I added a bit of housemade Chimichurri sauce. We shared the Langostinos al Carbon and ordered the Entraña platter; this is beef skirt steak--which the waiter recommended. The Entraña came out perfectly as ordered and smelled delightful. The platter also included plantain, potato and Yuca. When I used the Chimichurri with the skirt steak I was fully contented and felt like I ordered the right items. One of the best Caipirinha's I have had in North America... The drink was adorned with the right amount of limes--both for adornment but also for flavor. So good that I could not just have one! Great service and good environment. Next time I will return in the evening.

    (4)

  • Rima M.

    One of the best meals I have ever had. Came here for my brother's birthday with a group of 6 and we all loved it! We tried the shrimp, chicken, and steak and we all could not stop talking about how amazing the food was. I will def. be coming back to this place.

    (5)

  • Scott O.

    Went here 2 weeks ago with a friend and had a great experience. I had been here back in 2005 when they were at their old location so this was my first time at the new place. Still terrific food. You can't go wrong with the churrasco and the sangria was terrific. Really friendly service and great decor. This would be a great place to bring a group of people.

    (4)

  • Henry D.

    OK I've eaten here three times now and I'm ready to review. It's good. Atmosphere is dark, so it's great for dates but also a great social place if you want to bring like 6 friends and share wine. I think they have a BYOB policy but I'm not totally sure. As for the food, the steak plates are around $18 or $20 depending what combination of skirt steak you want, be it with pork loin, chicken breast, calamari, octopus, etc. Most of the dishes come with yucca, plantain and sometimes roasted potato. People who I've been there have complained "the sides are so dry!"...well duh, you are supposed to smother the sides with the copious amounts of green chile they bring you, This is how Columbian food is eaten. I've tried some of the appetizers as well and they are very good, running like $3 to $8. The empanada sampler plate was a good deal. A single empanada order will run $2.50, but on this plate you get 6 of them for $7.50. Tonight was the first night I've been there in about 6 months, and I was saddened to learn that they got rid of having live latin music on Saturday nights because hoity toity clientele complained that it was noisy. If a Colombian lady singing traditional music in the corner of the bar with an acoustic and percussion backup is considered noisy to you, then you should probably gtfo and go elsewhere.

    (4)

  • Karen C.

    Alright. It's time Las Tablas gained a star. Went with a huge group over the weekend, and the service was top notch! Our meals were delicious, I still have mad love for the Aborrajado (seriously, going to start making this at home), and whatever drink I had (something tasty with dark rum & blackberries) was sooo good. I just wish it were BYOB on the weekends.

    (4)

  • Steven H.

    I loved it. They call themselves "Chicago's premier Columbian steakhouse" and they back that up. I had the Bandeja Paisa, the dish I judge Columbian steakhouses by, and it was fantastico! Try it. In fact, stopping reading this and go now. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Wendy C.

    After my most recent visit (a couple weeks ago), I felt the need to adjust my rating for Las Tablas (from 5 to 4 stars). I went with a friend on Friday night and the place was almost empty. It was nice because it wasn't as noisy as usual and we could actually hear each other most of the time. The service was fine and the food was excellent. The portions seem smaller even though the prices were the same. I still recommend this place - mostly for the food.

    (4)

  • David Z.

    We had a nice Groupon, so we were excited to try another place that we haven't been to. Unfortunately we were ultimately disappointed by the whole experience. Atmosphere: Kind of drab if you ask me. I like that they have some very large tables for groups. Otherwise, I'm not a fan. It's also annoying that you have to go on a 5 mile hike through an underground maze to get to the restrooms. Service: Fine, no issues here. Appetizer: We had one beef empanada and one chicken empanada. I thought that for $2.50 each, they could have been a little bigger. Seriously, I could have eaten each in one bite if I wanted to. They tasted ok, but were nothing to write home about. Main course: We shared the $38 Picada Colombiana, which is basically a big heaping plate of meats for two. Skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, chicken breast, chorizo, potatoes, yuca, and plantains. Honestly, we were both very disappointed in the meats. The skirt steak was by far the best, but honestly I've had much much better skirt steak elsewhere.The chorizo was also ok, but everything else was very bland and not tasty at all. I normally like yuca, but here the yuca and potatoes were so dry and they were barely edible. I guess we have been spoiled by places like Nacional 27 and Carnivale, where the skirt steak is simply a-maz-ing. One thing I will say is, it's a LOT of meat. Unfortunately it's not a lot of AWESOME meat. Would we go back? Probably not any time soon. The Groupon made it okay price wise, but if we had paid full price I would have been even more disappointed. I really wanted to love Las Tablas, but I just can't.

    (2)

  • Dawn H.

    My tiny food-concocted world has been officially shattered. I never thought the day would ever come that I'd say this, but the skirt steak (medium rare) rivals the bone-in filet at Joe's Stone Crab. The steak is simply mind blowing. Why? Well, put it this way, I usually hate steak (yes, HATE), and I was practically mauling for it on my fiance's plate. Moving on, the strawberry mojito was decent (not as good as Carnivale, but still good) and the Empanada Combination Plate was very good with the accompanying chimichurri sauce. The Patacon Pisao was the biggest disappointment. It was so bland that even drowning it in chimichurri sauce couldn't save it. We wished they filled our waters more, and that's our only complaint. The prices (especially for that quality of steak) are extremely reasonable. If you're a steak lover, this place is definately worth trying out!

    (4)

  • Darren F.

    good service.. very dim and cozy inside.. ordered the Empanada Combination Plate and Picada Colombiana.. the empanada plate consist of beef, chicken, and cheese... which all tasted really good and delicious.. the Picada Colombiana has skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, chicken breast, chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, sweet plantain, yuca and potato.. i thought some of the meat was a little chewy.. and some was lacking in flavor.. if i come back.. it would be for the empanadas! i can do without their meat..

    (3)

  • Mark T.

    Let's be clear; throw a rock from anyplace in the city, and you're sure to hit a steakhouse. There's not a lot of ways to differentiate all of them from each other. After dining at Las Tablas this past Saturday, this place was somehow special. The restaurant's specialty dish is the Entrana: a juicy cut of skirt steak served with sweet plantain, fried yuca and Colombian style potato. I saw it being made via a clip on their website and decided to give it a try. It didn't disappoint. My sisters dined on the churrasquito (NY strip steak with the same sides as mine) and the Bandeja Paisa (rib-eye steak served with fried pork belly, rice, beans, fried egg, sweet plantain and avocado). I think I found my next dish to try for my next visit!. Waiting for our order, you also can't help noticing the artwork along the walls in the restaurant. There were various portraits of people in different corners-I didn't know who they were, but they were interesting to look at. Another interesting tidbit: on the back of the menu, you can read of the story of how the restaurant was built: how the owners struggled making a living when they first set foot in the city, the fire that destroyed their first restaurant, and how they rebuilt in the restaurant's current location. The chairs and tables were handmade in Columbia and brought into the restaurant. The three of us declared our waiter as a guy who truly loved his job. He took time to tell us about the menu; served our food with a minimal wait time, and checked in with us throughout the night. He noted that the rub that is used in the Entrana dish is made with ingredients that only the owner and the son know. Interesting. A truly enjoyable experience; there's no doubt that this is once place I would go back to.

    (4)

  • Christina M.

    I had the grilled shrimp they were really good. I just think the prices sky rocketed since the move it's almost shocking.

    (3)

  • Rafael H.

    I've come here for my birthday for the last few years. The matrimonio platter with chicken and skirt steak is amazing. Their meats and seafood are never dry, full of flavor and served in large portions. Get the patacon pisao. It's one of their best appetizers if you ask me. Their flan is unbelievable. They're BYOB (wine only) weekdays except Friday through Sunday. I wish they did beer but... I understand what they're trying to do. While people are eating at Gibson's or some other overrated steakhouse, I bring my friends and family for a guaranteed awesome food and time.

    (5)

  • Samantha L.

    The Entrana was very good, and the Carne Asada was OK. The Mojitos were stupid expensive, so drink elsewhere after. Everything on the menu was pretty pricey. The steaks came with half a potato, yuca, and plaintain. As much as I love potatoes, the potato was disappointing because it was dry and I had nothing to put on it to make it have more flavor. The Empanadas were fairly good. They boast of their coffee, so maybe I'll come back sometime for just coffee and empanadas.

    (3)

  • Liliana R.

    Carimanolas were bad. Too greasy. If you want great carimanolas go to Mekatos bakery. The patacon was good. Steaks were good. The bad rating was sealed by a horrible service. In the middle of eating dinner with our friends, the hostess came over asking if we want to stay for the band and pay $15 per person. For 6 people that totals to $90. We declined and continued our dinner. As we were eating, the crappy valenato band started playing, and the hostess came again. Again she asked if we wanted to stay and pay the $90. We declined again because we just wanted to finish our food and go. We finished the food and waiter asked if we wanted drinks, so we ordered a round of drinks. As we were drinking, the band was playing, and the hostess sent some girl over to hussle us again. She told us that if we wanted to stay we had to pay. We explained to her that we were offered drinks by the waiter, and we still have to pay. That's the last we heard of the stupid band fee, but not the last of our problems. Our checks were wrong. The waiter added one extra drink on our receipt, and charged my friend $10 instead of $5 for one of the drinks. Wow, so tacky.

    (1)

  • Kara K.

    Las Tablas might be my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Get the entrana skirt steak - it's the best steak I have ever had. Perfectly seasoned and so so tender. The chicken and pork are also great, but the skirt steak is perfection. For an appetizer, I always go with the aborrajado - a nice combination of sweet, salty and cheesy. Just thinking about it makes me miss living in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Joe H.

    I really this place but my last experience wasn't great. Food was great as always but the service wasn't very good. We never got very much attention. The server was by seldom. Normally, I like to be left alone when having dinner but within reason. I don't want to be abandoned. My last visit, this was case. Also, many mistakes. We ordered a salad and it never came out. Completely forgotten. This was disappointing. The steaks are fantastic and I recommend the entraña to everyone. Really a fantastic meal. Mojitos are very, very good as well. I love to have one from this place with the meal. The restaurant ambiance is also great, very fun. It is a little loud though. I will go back to this place chalking up this service experience to a bad night, that's all.

    (4)

  • Piya P.

    This place was recommended by a friend so I had high expectations. Food was good, but not great.

    (4)

  • Jane M.

    The hubby and I had dinner here this evening and it was absolutely delicious! Our steaks were perfectly cooked, juicy and delicious. The empanada sample platter oh so good! The flan with coconut, different but in a good way, also very good. Yes, we will be back. Atmosphere was pleasant, staff was courteous, good at their job without hovering or being pesky.

    (5)

  • Ashley C.

    We went here for lunch on Saturday and had a wonderful experience. I like that the menu tells you about the history of the restaurant - I like local spots. We were sat immediately and our server was friendly and helpful. Our only complaint was after the meal service was slow- we might have ordered another drink and it took a bit to get the check. We ordered the lemonade (with vodka) and it was nice and refreshing. Having heard all the wonderful things about the empanadas, we ordered the sample and were blown away. They were tasty and we both loved the salsa/sauce that came with it. For the main course, I did the entrana skirt steak and the shrimp. No wonder why everyone raves about the skirt steak - VERY tast - it was very tender and flavorful. I also quite enjoyed the yuca (it is a potato-like side). The shrimp were good but were outshadowed by the skirt steak. My boyfriend got the steak and grilled calamari and said it was some of the best he ever had! We will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Christina G.

    I have been to this restaurant a few times now, and I've always left completely stuffed, with leftovers, and a little buzzed. It's always a great night! The service is outstanding. My water is never less than 3/4 full. Every server is extremely familiar with the menu and can offer suggestions or answer any questions you could have. For drinks, we go back and forth between the refajo and the sangria. Both are tasty. As appetizers, I've tried the empanadas, the aborrajado, and the arepa rellena. All were delicious. For the main meal, for which I am usually already quite full but decide to forge ahead and keep eating anyways, my husband and I always split the picada colombiana. It allows you to taste many different meats at once. The skirt steak, chicken, and fried sweet plantain are my favorite and are all absolutely wonderful. The menu says this dish serves 2. If you get an appetizer, as we always do, this will not only be your dinner, but you will have enough leftover for 2 people to eat again. We used the groupon and had absolutely no problems with it. We'll happily be back without a groupon next time.

    (5)

  • Kennen M.

    It is true, the mojitos and the Entrana are fantastic. Also, our server, Ricardo, was on top of it all, informative and not intrusive. I got the Entrana and calamari combo and was blown away at the portion size and great flavor. The boy got another steak which was good but not as wonderful as mine. We got there after 8pm on a Friday night and the wait was maybe 10 minutes. The bill for 2 mojitos, 2 glasses wine, appetizer, 2 entrees was about $80 and very much worth it.

    (5)

  • Myrian V.

    Mmmmm, the best mojitos and margaritas ever! Thanks to bartender Tony.

    (5)

  • Katie B.

    Eh. My boyfriend and I saw Las Tablas featured on an episode of "Chicago's Best," and so we decided we'd have to give it a try. We love steak, and we like trying new places. If this is one of the best steakhouses in Chicago, then we figured we had to go. We called a week in advance and made their version of a reservation for 6:45 on a Saturday night. (Basically, your name, party number and time is put down a list, then you are bumped to the top of the list when you actually arrive at the restaurant.) We were nervous they wouldn't seat us in a timely fashion because we showed up 10 minutes late, but we were seated by 7pm. It took fifteen minutes before a waiter came to take our drink order, and I had to flag a staff member down in order to track down our waiter! When our waiter finally showed up he was apologetic and explained it was busy. Ya think? It's Saturday night! Our table went with a pitcher of their Colombian beer/champagne mix. That didn't arrive for another 15 minutes, and we saw our waiter mixing it himself at the bar (kudos to him, plus some points) because the bartender was engaged elsewhere. Maybe the pitcher of beer/champagne isn't supposed to taste like alcohol, but we were hoping to feel it a little. We didn't feel a thing. So, we went with a bottle of wine next...which took about 10 minutes to get. The food itself was fine. I ended up going with shrimp instead of steak and it was flavorful, but not the best food I'd ever had. I sampled my boyfriend's steak/chicken combination, and it was very tasty...but again, not the best ever. Our appetizers (their empanada sampler and chorizo) were also fine. The chorizo was my favorite dish by far. I'm biased toward chorizo...but really, it was very spicy and juicy! Nom nom nom. I should have had it as an entree. Given the slooooooooow service and weak drinks, I won't go back. My heart belongs to Tango Sur on Southport Ave. It's a Brazilian steakhouse instead of Colombian, but it's better food AND better service...and it is BYOB 7 days a week!

    (3)

  • Jeff B.

    I don't believe I've been this wonderfully packed with meat in a long time. I'll keep this review brief, because all the major points have been touched on by previous reviews: -The Combination plates are marvelous - I ordered the skirt steak and baby octopus. The steak was incredible, and the octopus was chewy without being rubbery, which is always a fear. It was delicious. Having tried some of the chicken from my date's similar combination plate, their chicken was also very tasty. Not a fan of yucca. No matter though, as I didn't have much room left for it anyway. -I want to put their chimichurri on everything. -The empanada combination plate was great, but we were both in agreement that the potato and beef were the best of the three. -Prices were very fair for the quality and quantity of food. -Service was super quick and very attentive. -Come hungry. Sitting by the kitchen gave me a constant view of mammoth piles of steaming meats of various types. I will have to try this someday - preferably with several other people. I barely made it out of the combination plate with no leftovers. The place was pretty busy on a Sunday night, but without reservations, my date and I didn't have trouble getting a seat at all. Best to call ahead, especially for groups.

    (5)

  • Jeff S.

    We trotted over here one pleasant afternoon following a rare Cubs home win this past summer. It was a little bit of a hike but as we rarely make it up to the north side Las Tablas was on the to-do list after having some of their empanandas previously at Taste of Chicago. There were only about 3 'patio' tables along the front sidewalk and our early dinner arrival let us score one of them. I don't eat red meat very often but as usual when sampling authentic cuisines at a new establishment I go for the customary staples. Started out with a refajo which is a beer and soda mixture falling somewhere between a German Cola Weizen and Mexican Chelada. It was slightly refreshing, but nothing exciting. Next were some empanandas which were a bit dry and not as good as memory served. Our favorites were still found at Cuatro (now out of business). Also tried a few arepas which are like a cheesy bread (think of the rolls that Texas-De-Brazil puts on the table). These were excellent. For an entrée the house special was the obvious first choice: the Entrana. This is char-broiled skirt steak with fried plantains, yuca, and potato wedges. the meat was a bit more chewy then I would have expected, but the seasoning was excellent. The plantains and yuca was really good too. Definitely will go back when in the area again to try some of the other items.

    (4)

  • Kymberly J.

    Wow, we were able to get a table without reservation on a Friday night! It was after a 45 minute wait but still... and worth the wait it was. Delicious sangria; fruity and perfect and sin carbonation as they state all over the place. Funny how I dont remember seeing sangria anywhere in Colombia. maybe I wasnt in the right town. We got the mixed meat platter for two. A small child could have joined us to finish what we didnt devour. It is served on a hot platter with yuca and potato and the best arepa I have ever tasted; there might have been cheese in there... The atmosphere was sort of generic but tasteful and the music wasn't all that audible. I like a little latin beat when I am dining on Latin American food.

    (4)

  • E S.

    I really love it here. The steak, seafood, sangria, plantains, yuca, empanadas, everything is so good here. I went recently again and it was so flavorful and the meats are cooked perfectly. SO SO YUMMY HERE!

    (5)

  • Gustavo A. L.

    This is the place where I get my fix when I'm in Chicago. They have it down, totally authentic Colombian fare - never disappoint. Some reviewers here might not be familiar with Colombian food, thus the poor review - We like it , we enjoy it and we're glad it's there - because its good !

    (4)

  • Tom R.

    Would certainly be 5 stars if they stepped up their game in terms of beer and drinks - it's a wine only BYOB and their cocktails leave something to be desired. That being said, the skirt steak is astonishingly good and my sides of yuca, potato, and plantain were all spot on. They serve the steak with some chimichurri-ish sauce but it's so darn good by itself that I barely touched the sauce.

    (4)

  • Jason S.

    Please note that my review is for both locations: Had I done this review 10 years ago when they were just a whole in the wall I may have rated it a 5. However, consistency is a big thing for me and Las Tablas is maddeningly inconsistent. When the food is on it's on and there isn't a dish I'd rather have. I usually order the Bandeja Paisa (Columbian Mountain Platter) which is basically a steak dish with beans, rice, avocado, plantains, corn bread, fried egg and some sort of fried pork. Well, I should mention that's what the menu advertises. There has been numerous times where they've ran out of avocado. You don't realize that until you get your plate. The servers act like nothing's wrong until you ask. I've also ordered the grilled baby octopus (terrible) as it was chewy and burnt. I know this comes off as harsh but I go back in hopes of capturing that deliciousness that I remember and they still offer from time to time. If I knew I could go in there and it would be the same every time I'd probably go a lot more. If you are gonna give it a try, which I recommend you do at least twice, I highly recommend going to the one on Lincoln. The location on Irving is bigger but on Saturday nights it's obnoxiously loud and the dining experience isn't pleasant as you'll probably leave with a headache due to the live music.

    (3)

  • Gerald E.

    I came here with a group of three on a Friday night for dinner. I never had Colombian food prior to the visit but the detailed menu helped me picked the perfect meal. We began with the Frutos del Mar (grilled shrimp, octupus, and calamari in white wine sauce) and washed it down with their signature sangrias which was served by the pitcher. The seafood was cooked to perfection and their homemade salsa added a nice heated tang to the taste. For the main course, I had Bandaja Paisa (char broiled Colombia style ribeye with fried pork belly, rice topped with a fried egg, beans, sweet plantain, and avocado. The flavors were orgasmic. I can't describe in words on how good the food tasted. As for the service, our waiter was really friendly and courteous. He explained the menu very well to us and had a really outgoing attitude. The only Con that have with the service is at the staff that worked up front. I would figure that it would be customary to greet every guest that came through the door or acknowledge them when they leave. Maybe they couldn't speak English but they should of at least waived and smile. The front staff whether they like it or not, has the power to set the tone for incoming and outgoing guests which affects how much spend there or their chances of returning.

    (4)

  • Joshua C.

    The food here is very good and with Groupon it's even better. This is my 3x here and every visit I'm left satisfied and ready to return.

    (4)

  • Inna B.

    Absolutely delicous! Highly recommended for a date night or a fun group outing. My usual starter is an order of the mixed empanadas. I also like splitting the Combinaciones platter with a friend (definitely enough food for two.) The two sauces that come out in the beginning pair so well with the steak and other meats. Also, don't forget to top it all off with a delicious mojito.

    (4)

  • GingerWine 0.

    Can't get enough of the green onion oil sauce!! Ordered the same reliable steak entree with plantains, yucca, and potato. BYO wine, too! Just thinking about it has my mouth watering yet again. I've now brought two friends to Las Tablas and they're always pleasantly surprised (we usually frequent Chicago Q, Cafe Ba Ba Reba, Zocalo, and other classy joints). Not to mention the atmosphere is always more chill and the street parking less difficult up here on Lincoln Ave, with no wait line yet in my experience and always a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. It's a hidden gem, I tell you. Whoever else is in love with the green onion oil sauce, contact me because I need a partner in crime to obtain that recipe!

    (5)

  • Dennis L.

    Delicious food and awesome mojitos! I visited Las Tablas with my wife and another couple for dinner on St. Patrick's day. At the recommendation of our friends and the waiter, I started out with a mojito. You could tell that the ingredients were fresh, and it was certainly one of the best I have ever had. For an appetizer, we enjoyed the Empanada Combination Plate. The beef, chicken, and cheese empanadas were excellent! For my main course, I ordered the skirt steak and pork loin combination. The skirt was ridiculously tender and perfectly cooked to mid-rare (hard to do on a piece of meat that thin). The pork loin also did not disappoint. The dish was served with sweet plantain (oh, how I love thee), yuca (uniquely outstanding), and potato. It is not a matter of will I be back...it's when!

    (5)

  • Kristin R.

    I'm not a steak girl, so when my running group chose this restaurant for our monthly soire, I immediately visited their website to ensure they had some kind of seafood option. And they did. Phew. Crisis averted. I ended up ordering the combination with calamari and shrimp, with yuca, potato and fried plantain. It was absolutely delicious, all of it. I preferred the calamari, so I think if I come back here, I'd stick with that. OR, I just might order the skirt steak... Because, although I have an aversion to red meat, I can't help but try it whenever my friends order it. I'm always curious to see if I might like it someday. So I tried the skirt steak (their specialty), and it was actually really good! Nice and tender, medium rare, yummy yummy. It's also a bit thinner than a big ol' slab of meat, which may be another reason why it appealed to me. Anyway, it was delish, and I would recommend anyone who especially loves steak, try this. It is BYOB for wine only, so that really helps save some money in the end. It is a reasonably priced restaurant though. I paid $20 for my combination, as did everyone else, and I left sufficiently full and satisfied. I would definitely come back. The service was very friendly, they take reservations, not too far from my house, and also a great place for groups.

    (4)

  • marc k.

    Great food and service. Very nice restaurant with a great interior. Not inexpensive but still a great quality and attitude.

    (4)

  • Santiago A.

    I kept wanting to try this place and for one reason or another my plans kept getting pushed back. Finally I came here, and it was worth the wait. I don't think I ate a single thing here that I didn't enjoy. Call me El Hombre de las Combinaciones, or Combination Man for those Yelpers who don't use the SAP button. To start, we had the combination plate of empanadas: 2 beef, 2 chicken, 2 cheese. Each kind was very good. I think I liked the cheese one the best. Next up, we each had a combination platter. I had the skirt steak and baby octopus. She had the pollo al ajillo and grilled shimp. We shared and everything was really, really good. I would recommend this route to anyone. Finally, we shared a coconut flan. It was good, but I might try something else if you don't like really sweet desserts. Luckily, I do... and I inhaled it. Overall, I really liked this place. I would like to see the prices be a notch lower, but you do get a lot of really good food or the price. The decor is really cool and they have Fernando Botero paintings decorating several walls. If you have a fetish for rotund people, then you'll love his work. I really liked the sitting area in the lower level leading to the restrooms. It's like having a small slice of Columbia while you're in the queue to the lou. One thing I didn't know before coming here: it's BYOB. So, now you know... and knowing is half the battle. Go prepared and enjoy.

    (4)

  • Dieter B.

    Fantastic place! Their signature flank steak is amazing. The decor is unique and the waitstaff is friendly. What's not to like?

    (4)

  • Corey G.

    I went here for an early lunch last Saturday for the first time and I am officially a fan! I'm gonna start out a little nit-picky, so bear with me. The restaurant is huge and when my friend and I arrived, we were told we could sit wherever we wanted and that was great for us, but not so much for the ONE server that was working! There were five tables with customers and we were all seated pretty far apart from one another which made the service...messy. Now the good parts and there were many of them. Our server, Adnan was friendly and very personable. Since it was out first time there, he made several (excellent) recommendations and we were very pleased with his picks. We ordered the sampler of empanadas and they were crispy and delicious. We were told most people liked the beef, but we liked the beef and cheese and LOVED the chicken.The empanadas came with a bowl of chimichurri and another yummy side that I never caught the name of that was fantastic. We also ordered the combination skirt steak (medium,natch) and shrimp skewer which also came with potato, yuka (is that spelled right?),and plantain. My stomach is growling just thinking about it! For dessert we had the cocoa flan.Let me just say this,it was beyond sinful, it was beyond yum it was fan-**cking-tastic! We will definitely go again and try some of the other selections. They do offer BYO wine Monday-Thursday, so maybe we will be back during the week.

    (4)

  • Pascal M.

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YEAH!!!! My kinda place! Meat fest. Go ahead and eat so much meat you get those meat sweats. I love places where you can just order a heaping meal with a few friends, and pick away with your hands while you enjoy eachothers company and some good drink. Get the grand mixed platter. That;'s not the name of it, but you'll see it on the menu. it basically comes with everything. We orddered some empenadas and a queso type dip as well. All very good.The only items not raving about were the yuca and chicken. Yuca was a little dry and the chicken was the breast. I'd like to see them throw some small drums or thighs on there instead. Those baby octopus are the best I've ever had. Beautifully charred and cooked to perfection. The steak wil undoubtebly make you happy. Bet a nice bottle of red wine and enjoy yourself with a small-large group. Las Tablas is a meat lovers must.

    (5)

  • Abby F.

    This is a great Columbian steak house. The combination plates are our favorite. The only reason that I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars is that the service can be a bit on the slow side at times.

    (4)

  • Rosie S.

    After having this place recommended to me by a co-worker ages ago, I finally had the pleasure of actually going. And low and behold, who was there dining on Saturday night but my co-worker who had recommended the place!!! All I have to say is that this place does not disappoint and I can't wait to go back again!! The highlight of the meal was the skirt steak, but if this is your first time going you must get the combination plate. I had the skirt steak and the baby octopus and both were amazing, but I realize octopus is an acquired taste. The star of the show the skirt steak, the marinade and the seasoning that use are indescribable!! I am usually one of those people that takes home leftovers...not this time. It was so delicious that I was sticking my fingers in the pan to get more of the sauce when my steak was finished (I am classy like that). If you are going to have dessert you must try the flan...it was awesome!!

    (4)

  • Dirk S.

    Recommended by a Colombian colleague we went to this place. Friendly waiters and great food.

    (4)

  • Bruce B.

    This place is solid. Great service; the bus boy literally sat next to me and refileld my cup every minute. I had ice cold water the whole time. Anyway, to the most important part - food. The steak and squid combo was great. Nice flavor and it goes will with the salsa on the table. Order this meal and 3 empanada's and you will leave full.

    (4)

  • courtney s.

    This is my beau and I go to casual dinner spot. The steak is sooooo delicious. I like my food heavily seasoned and flavorful. Usually do empanadas, the shrimp with lil salad appetizer, and the ribeye. They have cocktails AND offer byob service certain days. the capirinha is awesome! Service is always friendly and efficient. It can be noisy with large groups, but it just adds to the ambiance.

    (5)

  • Yara M.

    I've had dinner here a couple of times and both times, I was extremely impressed with their famous "entrana" steak. It was perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked and the bland sides strangely worked perfectly with it. The servings were extremely generous and the food came out promptly, given how insanely crowded the place was. There was a bit of a wait for a table (it was a Friday night at 8:30), but ordering a pitcher of their delicious, expertly-mixed sangria definitely alleviated the wait! The next time I come here, I will definitely skip out on the appetizer, which is why I am giving Las Tablas a 4 instead of a 5. We had the empanada combination platter, and all three (chicken, beef and cheese) were relatively unappetizing. They all tasted like fried greasy mush, and unnecessarily filled us up before our delicious entree's. Overall, this is a great place for delicious but affordable night out!

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    I came here in December for my birthday after painting down the street @ bottle and bottega, my night was awesome. The food was sooo good. I've been craving it thus far. the only reason why I say its somewhat pricey is because we enjoyed drinks. The mojitos were awesome! yum. a must try. we ordered a plate that was a combo of baby octopus and steak meat w/ fried platanos (bananas) on the side which were nice and sweet just like I like them. The plate was enough for a table of three. If your ready to eat good food with laid back , relaxed scene, come here.

    (4)

  • Lily P.

    We had a great time here celebrating one of my friends birthdays. At first they had us seated and wanted us to move over and for our slight inconvience they gave us pitches of sangria. The place was beautifully decorated and had a wonderful cultural feel to it. When you go downstairs to the bathroom you can see more art and decorations in their private seating area. It's also BYOB if you want but I think there is a cork fee, not sure what it is. The space is warm and inviting and so you have a great time at dinner with the variety of drinks (all good) and the great sangrias. The steak skirt was great and no matter what version everyone at our table ordered, we were stuffed full and enjoyed the food coming out on the cast iron. I'm not really a steak person but the meat had a great texture and wasn't over cooked. If you are a fan of empanadas or calamari those are also appeitizers worth checking out.

    (3)

  • Danny V.

    I was not impressed. we actually came here by accident since another restaurant was not available. The main thing for me was the service. The service was very slow. The waiter maybe came over once or twice. The food was eh, ok. I should not have ordered Skirt steak, since I am not much of a steak eater anyway. The ambience was very loud, especially one guy at a group table talking from the top of his lungs. That was very obnoxious. I also don't remember hearing any music either. I would say, I would not come here again.

    (2)

  • Joel M.

    After briefly glancing at a few Yelp reviews for this place, I remember thinking it was BYOB so I naturally grabbed a few beers before heading here on a Friday night. Turns out its BYOB only Mon-Thurs and it only applies to wine. Derp. We we're going out afterwards and didn't want to carry a plastic bag of loose beers around with us the whole night so I told the waitress to give them to the kitchen (I hope they like Imperial IPAs). This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because they had some excellent cocktails that went really well with our meal. I got a Brazilian Caipirinha (made with cachaça sugar cane rum) and the wife had a mojito - both were strong and very refreshing. We followed these up with a muddled blackberry mojito and some sort of pineapple martini - also very good. The menu here is pretty straightforward, you can tell that they highly recommend the steak or combination meat platters because on the menu it says "Most highly recommended" in huge letters over the items... We took their word for it and were not disappointed - the skirt steak was cooked perfectly (medium well worked very well for this type of cut) and the sides - potatoe, plaintaines, and yuca - were delicious. Everything was very simple and not smothered with sauces or spices, but this was my favorite part about it. I'm ranking this up there with Tengo Sur since they're both South American steakhouses, but they are different enough that you will not feel like you're comparing apples to apples between the two.

    (5)

  • Ashley S.

    Great food great service! If you don't like your steak hot, sizzling, juicy, and delicious then don't come here. The empanadas are heavenly. I'm not a colombian food expert but I had a great dining experience here. I'm new to chicago and this will be on my list of restaurants to take family and friends when they come to visit me.

    (4)

  • Lori L.

    Sure, they serve you boat loads of meat. Meat so tasty, tender, and grilled to perfection it might make a grown man cry. All that aside, save room for their flan. Hands down, the best flan I've ever tasted. It is coconut flavored but not so much where it overwhelms the natural flavor of the custard. That is all.

    (4)

  • Tracy L.

    Must have sangria. empanadas platter that includes 2 of each:beef, chicken, cheese and the Picada platter that includes all of their meats: homemade chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, sweet plantain, yuca and potato for just $38, it was totally worth it.

    (4)

  • Danielle P.

    The first time I heard about this restaurant was when I was in a cab from the airport and had a Colombian driver, so I asked for a good authentic Colombian restaurant and he recommended this. By the time I heard someone else mention this restaurant again I felt that I needed to go. I have to say this restaurant exceeded my expectations. I read a previous review to put the chimichurri sauce on EVERYTHING, and I highly recommend doing the same. We even started eating spoonfuls of it (no lie....) Dishes tried and HIGHLY recommend all of them! Patacon Pisao with shredded beef Arepa Rellena with chicken in mushroom sauce Entrana (speciality of the house steak)***** SO GOOOOOOOOOD Paella Vegetariana Flan de Coco.. DELICIOUS Brevas con Arequipe I will def. be coming back here

    (5)

  • David G.

    This review is a little late as I dined here with my girlfriend on Valentines day. We had made reservations and were seated promptly. The setting was very comfortable, an intimate feel to it. We started off with an appetizer and went with the Empanada platter as it was suggested by a friend prior to us going. They arrived quickly and were very flavorful. I think the cheese ones were my favorite. I ordered the churrasco (butterfly cut, N.Y strip steak) because I've had this at other latin restaurants. I have to say I really enjoyed it. Not the best I've ever had, but it was really enjoyable and very juicy. It was served with fried sweet plantain, yuca, and potato, and all were on point. The only negative really was the salad I got which just wasn't good. However the salad was the last thing that I went there for anyways. This place is also a bit pricey, but that was to be expected. It was also a voyage to get to the bathroom which included going downstairs, and down halls and around corners.. felt like a six mile hike. I went with 4 stars which seems to be the average. It isn't the best place ever.... but you surely wouldn't go wrong trying this place out... especially for a date.

    (4)

  • Mr H.

    Excellent skirt steak, excellent empanadas, excellent service, good drinks. I don't know why it took me forever to try Las Tablas, but I'm glad I did. Food was great, service was great. The house "Entrana" skirt steak topped with Chimichurri is one of my favorites ever. 4 stars instead of 5 due to the lingering odor on my clothing after dinner. This place is good, give it a try.

    (4)

  • Rod D.

    If you are looking for a great Latin feel yet a modern twist, head over to Las Tablas. They have real great food, a friendly wait staff and a great Latin representation. Great place to bring a date to considering the candle light. I've been frequenting this place ever since it was located next to the Golden Apple. I've loved it ever since. Several times, I've been treated to live Latin music there. There used to be a huge wait when it was located on the east side of Lincoln but ever since they moved to the new location, wait hasn't been a huge issue. The chorizzo and chorascos there are SO delicious! Make sure you call in reservations if you are visiting on a Friday or Saturday night.

    (5)

  • Regular G.

    I actually came here a few years ago with a very large group and was just reminded of the place. The experience was enough to drive me to search for it and write a review. This place did a fantastic job of handling the large group. The selection was very generous considering that we had 40-50 people in our group (we practically rented out the place). The meal was fantastic - so flavorful. If you are on the north side, it's worth your time to check this place out.

    (5)

  • Lala S.

    Delicious! Huge portions and tasty food. This is my first Colombian steak experience but it was absolutely yummy! We tried their mixed seafood grill which was amazing. I would eat this as a main next time if I wasn't in a steak mood. I tried a combination plate that had steak, chicharron, beans and rice. It was a great deal and more than enough for 2 meals. My boyfriend had the Steak and Chicken combo. The meat was really tasty but there was an overwhelming amount of starchy side dishes that came with his plate. He looked like he was a little parched afterwards. We got a pitcher of their soda-beer beverage which was really tasty. It didn't quite get us tipsy because I have a feeling there was more soda than libations in the drink. The soda part of it tasted like Guarana soda that you can get at Brazilian and Argentine places.

    (4)

  • Miss Bonnie B.

    Okay... I have to confess, I actually wanted to go to Tango Sur. However, when I called a week prior, they said that their large tables were all booked and we weren't likely to get seated till after 10pm. THAT was not going to work. Luckily, a transplant Chicagoian told us about Las Tablas. We were able to get seated after about a 10 minute wait for 14 people. Score! They said that while that they would accommodate us , we had to quickly clear out of there because of later reservations. A bit strange for them to hint that to us but be a bit slow on the take. The bill and etc were a bit slow... but that was all the better for us. As for the food, it was solid. I wish the accompanying sauces had more of a kick to them but they did the job. The BYOB is for wine only, and only on the weekdays so we missed out. Ps. Does anyone know what's up with the model pictures on their website menu and wall? Awkward, much?

    (4)

  • Daniela R.

    Amazing food! Bandeja Paisa was made to perfection, great service. Thanks for the great experience.

    (4)

  • Drew S.

    They took great care of 20 of us on a Saturday night. Very friendly service. Most of us ordered the house specialty (entrana - skirt steak). Skirt steak is definitely thought of as lower-quality cut generally, but we all loved it. Despite being a steakhouse, given my personal preference for chicken, my favorite food was the chicken though. It was amazing. We also all loved the empanadas, the calamari, the shrimp, and the fried plantains. The cocktails were really good too. I had 'la cantadora' and really liked it. Certainly not a 'gourmet' restaurant, nor does it try to be. But very good food and very lively/fun atmosphere. I definitely recommend it.

    (4)

  • Alex B.

    I love it ! the Matrimonium is to die for

    (5)

  • Aurore L.

    You know one of the best thing about being on a gluten free diet?!? (because there IS a silver lining but like everything else that sucks in life you have to *look* for it and not be a lazy-ass sucker) MEAT!!!!!!!!!!!! I can eat my protein without feeling overtly guilty, and man do I take advantage of it!!! Craving a big, juicy piece of cow AND having a Groupon in my wallet I took my freshly showered and worked out body, el coche and el hombre to Las Tablas to gorge sinlessly on steak. A big chunk of skirt steak, marinated, grilled and smothered in chimichurri sauce, sin potato, plantain and yucca but con rice (which I barely touched) and beans. A glass of Malbec. A super creamy and decadent coconut flan. That's the life. As a reminder that all this deliciousness is material indulgence only - there are Boteró reproductions everywhere. So if you don't want to be in that situation in your bathroom before taking your showerthe following morning: bit.ly/fF4hiu avoid coming every single week. Or do. Big is beautiful, they say.

    (5)

  • Super L.

    We walked seven blocks on a Friday night to use a Groupon here. Once we arrived I noticed the sign on the host stand that said "GROUPON USERS MUST HAVE A RESERVATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I don't know if there were really that many !!!'s but that is how I remember it. We of course did not have a reservation. And it smelled GOOD. We were salivating. It was busy. The hostess came to the host stand, and I meekly asked if we could make a reservation, for now. She just smiled, and even though it was 10pm on a busy Friday night, we were seated. It smelled SO GOOD. The reviews I read before coming said that the food isn't that great and neither is service, so I bought the Groupon thinking I might just use them for some delicious Colombian cocktails. The smell and smoke in the air did not allow that. We ordered the Picada Mar y Tierra, which is basically a platter of everything, for 2. Since we were so ravenous, we even started with a basic salad, and the soup. We also had three of the muddled fruit Colombian cocktails, all delicious. When the platter of food came, OMG! OMG! It was meat heaven for us. The chorizo and steak were my boyfriends favorites by far, and he even ordered a glass of malbec to truly enjoy the meats, even though he had a new, full glass of cocktail in front of him. We pigged out. We also devoured calamari, octopus, shrimp, chicken, plaintains, DELICIOUS potatoes, yuka, and more. The only pieces of meat that were not awesome were the ribs... which is disappointing as I love some ribs but theirs were dried out and unappetizing. We ate maybe half of the platter, and took the rest home for meat snacks. Service was very good. All in all, we will be back. This was commanded by my boyfriend, who isn't the biggest restaurant fan, and does not enjoy spending over $100 at them. This one is definitely on his "LET'S GO BACK NOW" list.

    (4)

  • Dan Z.

    Wow, wow, this place is incredible! We ordered empanada combo, mariscos al carbon and arepa rellana for appetizers. The grilled calamari, baby octopus and shrimps were so good, empanadas were just okay, but the dipping sauce was very good! The steak was just beyond description, so tender, juicy and my mouth is actually watering again! As a side, the sweet plantains are definitely my favorite, I wish they replace the potatos with all plantains. Next time when I visit las tablas, I'll try to come in the evening for its live music performance. FYI, go downstairs and check out their bathroom.

    (4)

  • Jessica M.

    We used to go to their old location across the street, usually with a bigger group of friends and it was always a great time. Cramped, but that added to the atmosphere. BYOB is always awesome. Now that they moved it seems like they've changed a lot, now it's more of an upscale, big roomy restaurant. It's nice to not have to wait so long for a table, but I feel like the integrity of the food isn't the same as it was before. I was just here this past weekend and overall had a good experience. They changed their BYOB to exclude weekends which kinda sucks, but they have a pretty good sangria. I got the carne asada which was really good, along with the chimichurri that comes with it, very tasty. I knew I didn't care to much for yuca, (basically a dry hard tasteless potato) so I substituted it for rice and received plain white rice. I didn't touch it. The grilled plantain was delicious though. Overall it was a good experience, and our waiter was very attentive. Not as good as it used to be but I'm still a fan.

    (3)

  • Maria C.

    So they moved the location. I think it's now 2946, can't remember...It's now across the street. It's so much bigger and classier. I wish they had entertainment. I went w/ a group of friends who thought the place was too dim. The bathrooms are in a maze. You have do go down a group of stairs, turn around the corner and voila. Definitely didn't like that. They did have a nice seating area to wait for who ever is in the stall. Well I opened up the menu and it's pretty expensive. Bout $15 - $35. The food got there pretty fast and it comes out steaming. The waiter was very attentive and everything we needed he pretty much brought out. I didn't think the food was that great compared to El llano. The food is inexpensive there as well... I think I will come here but only if I'm on a date or something.

    (3)

  • Jane T.

    The decor is fantastic and very romantic here. We started with the empanada sampler, which was good but not great. Their chimichurri sauces were merely "ok" for me - I've had better. I ordered the Bandeja Paisa, which I thought was absolutely wonderful. The fried pork belly was what really piqued my curiosity and surprisingly, I loved it. Shared the pork belly with the rest of my table and they fell in love as well. We asked the waiter if it were possible to order the pork belly alone but sadly, the kitchen said no. The steak itself was tasty too but the cut of the steak, which was more like a thin strip, would call for a well done or charred cooking; I ordered it medium rare. The rice and beans were fantastic - I've never had plain white rice with beans and it just completely changed my ideal for "rice & beans." My boyfriend's grilled octopus would've been tastier to me if they were cooked a bit longer - it felt a little underdone. The desserts were a mere "ok" for me as well - we had some sort of flan and a passion fruit mousse. Their mojito was good but I felt it needed a little more sweetness to it. Overall, my experience was alright. I think that for the price and the amount of food that you get, it's worth it. Will I go back? Probably not - I have my own favorite place for steak and chimichurri.

    (3)

  • Leang E.

    This place would have 5 stars except for one kind of big thing that happened. We were here for a birthday party and a group of 17. So, expect the food to take a little longer to make and get here early. Getting to the bathroom can be scary if you are drunk. I saw a guy hold on to the railings coming back up as I was going down. I was worried that he may fall over. There's no heat down here and it's like a maize getting to the the bathroom. I don't want it to take away from the fabulous food here. The empanadas are very good and there are two types of chimmichurri sauce one spicy and one not spicy that is perfect with it. I had the combination plate that included the Entrana steak and the shrimp with plantains, yucca and potato. The seasoning on the shrimp and steak was so juicy and flavorful. The starchy stuff was kind of dry, but with chimmichurri sauce it's quite good. The place was BYOB but with an $8 corking fee except on certain days it's free as the special of the day. They do have alcoholic beverages here, but since they were located across the street before as a BYOB place they kept it and now charge a corking fee. Plate sharing is an extra $5. We joked that everything on the menu is described as highly recommended to the point that one of my friends asked the waiter what was highly recommended just to hear what he'd say. We all laughed about it. Now as great as everything was, we got our bill. The prices on the menu wasn't the problem it was the price on the receipt. I uploaded the picture so you can see the difference in the two bills we got. Obviously, we saw the error in the first one, can you see what they did wrong? Yeah, we told our waiter that the service was good but not that good. He may have took it in jest, but it makes me question if this computer error was going on in everyone else's bill as well. It's a good thing we caught it too. It's lucky for them that we didn't cause a bigger commotion in the entire restaurant. Come on a 50% tip? I don't know if this was intentional or not and have trouble with whether or not they were being honest. It just goes to show that you need to check your receipt.

    (4)

  • Thamara D.

    Love this place for all my carnivorous cravings !!!!! The steaks are perfectly marinated and cooked to perfection, drinks are strong and just right, ( One carnberry Margarita and I was past tipsy) servers are knowledgeable and attentive, the room is beautiful, ( love the little room down stairs) & Live music Friday and Saturday. Best Colombian food in Chicago. I could eat here everyday !!!!!

    (5)

  • B. S.

    Great price for lunch special and very delicious!

    (4)

  • David H.

    Las tablas is a great columbian eatery. My server was very friendly and suggestive. I think that a table of three should definitely get more than one app. if everyone is hungry. The entree portions are good. The flavor comes out big time especially , with the skirt steak and pork loin. Corkage fee waived on Mondays. I will be back with a nice bottle of Malbec.

    (4)

  • Sylvia I.

    Came here on a Monday night and there were only a few tables occupied which was REALLY NICE given all the reviews I've read here about how crowded this place gets on the weekends. What an AMAZING mix of flavors. Everything was delicious. We took advantage of the half off pitcher of sangria on Mondays for $12 which started off the evening well. Then they brought us bread with two bowls of green dipping sauce -- spicy vs. non-spicy. Very very tasty. We ordered the empanana sampler for appetizers. The BEST empananas that I've ever had -- freshly fried. We got cheese, chicken, and beef. The beef was my favorite with the cheese a close second. For our main course, we couldn't decide because everything looked so good so went with the Picada Colombiana (serves 2) for $38 that included a little bit of everything -- Entraña skirt steak (house specialty), rib-eye steak, pork loin, chicken breast, homemade chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, fried sweet plantain, yuca and potato. My favorites were the skirt steak and chicken....great spices and very tender. The chorizo and pork ribs were a bit dry though. The potato and plantain was pretty tasty too. Then to end the meal, we got the fig dessert with caramel on the side. I've never had fig before so it was interesting. Definitely tasty and would try to get it again when figs are in season. To sum it up -- an amazing dinner with GREAT service. (*Note: Our waiter told us to only come there on the weekends if we liked loud music and bad service....so take the advice to heart if you really want to have great food with a good experience.)

    (5)

  • Kyle P.

    Love this place when it was across the street and love it now. Get two hungry people and get the (can't remember the name) but it is all the meat they have in the best marinade with a green chimichurri sauce.... Chicken is great for the lunch special and they have live music on the third Thursday of every month. Give it a try

    (5)

  • Sarah Z.

    They took away the fish soup!! My heart is broken. But I definitely dig the new space across the street. Spacious and beautiful wood chairs and tables. I guess you can't have it all...

    (4)

  • Rebekka L.

    You want a juiciy and delicious steak? Las Tables is the place to go. The plate came out sizzling and the sides dishes were spot on; tasty, warm, and crunchy. Also had the chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese, yumm! The atmosphere was great, the restuarant was intimate but fun. I would definitely recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Katie C.

    Went on a Monday night after Pilates class with the girls. BYOB on week nights, split a couple apps, couple bottles of wine, and the combo meat patter. We couldn't even finish it! Have been back a couple other times, same great food. Service could be a little better, but the food makes up for it! Highly recommend for groups wanting something a little different.

    (5)

  • selena i.

    Went there on a Tuesday night part of a group of 13ppl. First time there and I will be sure to return. I liked the ambiance of the place. The bathroom was downstairs, at first I did not know what to expect, as you open up the door you see a set of stairs and I was like o.k. where am I going. But as you go down, there is a little loungy area with a few chairs and then you find the bathroom which was clean and surprisingly pretty. So, we went thru about 5 pitchers of sangria. It was pre-mixed, but still hit the spot. I really enjoyed the empanada's. We got the sampler one where you got a couple of each. Another thing I was excited about was that almost everything on the menu is gluten free all except for 4 menu items. WOW...impressive. I no longer eat beef, but our table ordered 6 orders of the skirt steak because it was phenomenal. I ordered the chicken and even that was pretty good. Didnt get a chance to order any desert...but I will definitely come back again! o yeah, the server even comp'd one of our sangria pitchers....NICE!!!!!

    (4)

  • Jin K.

    Just park the car and follow the aroma into this establishment. The empanada platter and the seafood platter made for solid appetizer selections. The special sauces - one spicy with jalpenos, ciliantro and vingar and the other that was of the non spicy variety (So, I don't remember what was in it) were solid. The skirt steak was highly recommended by our waiter, who did an awesome job helping us pick out our entrees. Any time someone brings out a big steak on a hot cast iron plate embedded in a wooded plate...is ok in my book. And this plate contained a plantain, yuca (my first time and it was my favorite of the 3) and potato. Simply put, it was DAMN good.

    (5)

  • Nari H.

    For a BYOB, this restaurant is pretty upscale. The interior is really nice. Cozy, rustic, simple, and elegant in that way. Servers & runners were really nice. Our server afterwards helped recommend some places we could go to salsa dance, he seemed to be able to handle ourt able well and there were 15 of us. Food: Really nice. Ordered the Combinaciones with the Skirt Steak (after reading all these reviews) and the grilled shrimp. The skirt steak was juicy, tasty and not too tough. Shrimp was fine. We got free sangrias bc a friend got some coupon on Yelp. Sweet. Hear that the free sangrias come in bigger cups during the weekdays. :) I'd recommend this place and would come back.

    (4)

  • Nicole B.

    Went here on a double date, for my first visit, and the food was great. We had an empanada sampler and a seafood appetizer that included jumbo shrimp, grilled calamari, and octopus--both delicious. For dinner, I had the combination plate that included skirt steak and chicken, both perfectly cooked and seasoned. For drinks we had mojitos and sangrias, very tasty!! Every table has a small lit candle or two in the center, and the lighting is pretty dim, but the setting has nice ambience to it.

    (5)

  • Jes C.

    First of all I should have posted a LONG time ago... I can honestly say I have dinner here at least 2 times a week. Everything on the menu is DELICIOUS... EVERYTHING!!! The Mojitos are to DIE for! This will always be my favorite Colombian restaurant.

    (5)

  • Laila C.

    OMG! I've found my most favorite dish to eat EVER! Their Bandeja Paisa-rib-eye steak served with fried pork belly, rice, beans, fried egg, sweet plantain and avocado-is the most amazing dish I've had in a VERY long time!!!! The pork belly is huge and fried to crisp perfection. The rib eye comes in 2 giant pieces, the beans are a little salty but so flavorful and delicious with the rice, avocado and egg. And it also comes with a piece of arepa (their delicious savory corn bread). OMG....I thought I was going to explode from all the food, and I only ate HALF my plate!!!! This dish is a very traditional Columbian dish and I can definitely understand why it's so popular! There were 6 people in our party and 4 of us ordered this and all of us were in food heaven! I also tried the Langostinos al Carbon-their grilled shrimp on a small bed of salad. The shrimps are the same that come with the entrees, grilled perfectly and super succulent! There's about 6 for each appetizer and goes great with their jalapeno sauce. The coconut flan is good if you like coconut and REALLY sweet desserts cuz it's REALLY sweet! The figs are pretty tasty but there's only 2 or 3 with a big scoop of caramel..not really sure what you're supposed to do with all that caramel, it's also way to sweet to eat by itself. I'd say Las Tablas is not really the place to go to for dessert, but OH MAN! Their meats are out of this world!!!!

    (5)

  • Camilo R.

    I'm 100% Colombian, so this review is biased. Will Las Tablas be the best meal of your life? No. The menu is heavy on meats, sausages, fried items like arepas and empanadas. But, the food is VERY good and it serves it's purpose. It's a great introduction to the food from the interior area of Colombia. I'm proud of this place and I encourage all my friends try it. Order a "picada" which is a plate of food for two that has a little bit of everything. Get the arepa and chorizo and eat it while it's hot. Order extra chimichurri sauce and put it on everything. Take some home and put it on your lover. FYI, this place is no longer BYOB on the weekends. Not a deal breaker but keep that in mind so you dont show up with bottles you can't drink. For the record, Tango Sur is where you go when you are just out of college wet behind the ears. Las Tablas is where you go when you know what's up.

    (4)

  • Matthew D.

    I don't know how anyone who's actually going here with the expectations that "I'm gonna nom on some meat" isn't happy and full when they leave. Skirt Steak is the way to go, although we really enjoyed the grilled baby octopus. Outstanding stuff. Recommendation is to try one of the combination platters to share with you and your co-pilot, an app, and some crazy good coconut flan to seal the deal.

    (4)

  • M. N.

    You can survive here if you don't eat meat, but for the love of god I hope you eat meat cause this is one of the best dinner experiences you will ever have. Get yer tastiness on! Only reason I won't give 5 stars is because I used to eat at their previous location across the street and I really preferred the more intimate atmosphere there. That said, this is a great place, no question. I just wiped some drool off of my keyboard ;)

    (4)

  • Dejan B.

    The food here was awesome that is true...The meat was flavorful without being overly salty or otherwise extreme and they had the tropical drinks (made well) that Colombians (and others) know and love... What they do NOT have is service. Sure, the waiters were ok, pretty nice and attentive and everything but what absolutely KILLED it for me and a few others of our group was the absolutely un-helpful lead hostess behind the podium. I asked her (before we had been served any food) if she could move us to another table (most of the restaurant was completely empty) and she gave me some mealy mouthed denial saying something like "Well if only you had asked me Before you had ordered then I could have done it." WTF??!! I have asked this before and never had any problem. We were seated in one of the worst possible tables right in front of the entrance where my entire family was in a freezing draft and everyone of the servers and other patrons had to go around us to get to the restroom, the bar, or just to go in or out of the tables area. The LEAST that she could have done is move us to another table but barring that if she had some kind of sincere and good excuse my concerns might have been allayed but she did not even try...Even worse, she was obviously more interested in talking with the other servers and staff than she was in devoting the least bit of attention to her CUSTOMERS...And no you cannot excuse this by saying something like "Well that is Colombians for ya great food but horrible service" I have heard this about other nationalities and it is never any more true...The service industry especially lives or dies by their customer service and with this lack of the most banal and trivial service Las Tablas has guaranteed I will no longer patronize them and highly recommend others do not as well...

    (1)

  • Katarina X.

    Wow, those were some incredible Mojitos. I will update my review in copious detail when the hangover dissipates. Live music... go on Thursday. I'm thinking some of the negative reviews are because the yelpster went on a Friday or a Saturday (busiest nights at any restaurant) with preposterously high expectations. Go on a weeknight- it'll be a favor for you, your date, the musicians, the server, the cooks all thank you for the gracious consideration with utter attention to detail. I mean really, on a quiet night have you ever encountered a burned entree? Thought not. Yum. The service was sublime, the Entraa (Highly recommended by the hostess, server, chef...) Steak was transcendant, I kept stealing the avacado from my date's vegetarian plate and he in turn tried to swipe steak from mine. Ahem. Notice I say "tried" because 1. I didn't leave much 2. I hope his hand doesn't hurt too badly where the fork got him. I think it says something when a man is willing to be stabbed repeatedly with a fork in a vain attempt to obtain a scrap of buttery, juicy, succulent, perfectly medium rare meat from a girl who's cute but not too willing to share the yumminess. We enjoyed the Mojitos- lots of crushed mint, lime and sugar. I can't imagine what something so scrumptious wouldn't go with. Though I was told the Mango Mojitos were the most delicious- I couldn't say, they were all out (they use fresh Mango, not the artificial stuff from a bottle or a powder packet). Next time, and there will be a next time... if PETA doesn't go after me for corrupting another vegetarian then stabbing him with a fork. (I paid for dinner. Does that make up for for my bad behavior?)

    (5)

  • Kelly B.

    Favorite Chicagoland Restaurant! I have been going to Las Tablas for over 10 years and I absolutely love this place! This is a must see, must taste restaurant. My favorite dish is the "Matrimonio" ($20) which is a chicken and steak combo and quite possibly the best grilled chicken and steak I have ever tasted! The dish comes with a baked potato, yucca, and plantains. We also love the green "salsa-like" concoction that they put on the table. It's super spicy and addicting! I have been here before in groups or just my SO and me. We've made reservations before and also walked in off the street. The longest wait we have had on a walk-in was 15min on a weekend night. When Las Tablas was across the street in a much smaller space I remember waiting close to an hour- it's that good! The wait staff is friendly and attentive and you will not be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Leticia L.

    My husband and I went here to celebrate our anniversary. I had heard many good things about Las Tablas from a co-worker who is Colombian and we thought it might be worth checking out. We made reservations for Saturday night. I highly recommend making reservations as this place gets extremely busy. We had 8:00 reservations and it was pretty packed, and people were waiting to be seated. I was really impressed with the menu options. We started off with a pitcher of Sangria which really was the best I have EVER had. I usually prefer the white Sangria but this one was so good we practically finished the pitcher. And at $24 a pitcher it was a sweet deal. Next we ordered the empanadas. The appetizer comes with 6 empanadas (2 cheese, 2 beef, and 2 chicken). The cheese were my favorite. For dinner I ordered the shrimp and steak combination and my husband ordered the steak and chicken combination. Each dish was served with a plantain, yucca and a half of potato. My only complaint was the my steak was over cooked and my husband's steak was undercooked. I would definitely go here again but probably not get the steak. Believe it or not I thought the chicken and shrimp were much better. I did give it 4 stars though not as a steak house but as an overall restaurant. Plus the coconut flan is excellent and I probably would stop in just for dessert!!

    (4)

  • Matt L.

    Still a great deal for the money. Kind of like my affection, which is on sale right now for three easy payments of $29.99, but you have to call in the next ten minutes. They sell sangria and wine here now. Not sure if it's still BYOB or que es el dealio. Oh, and lessons learned over various visits: stick to the beef. I haven't waited in that sucker's line at Tango Sur since 2002. Las Tablas is almost as good meatwise, and has great yucca and decent plantains.

    (4)

  • lela h.

    Do you like steak? Can you say you've had the most blood-quenching, saliva inducing, unfathomably delicious steak yet? Please do you and yours a favor: experience the incredible cuisine of Las Tablas. The house skirt steak is to die for. It is marinated in heavenly juices. Really, I can't describe this anymore before I start drooling in reminiscence. El matrimonio is a quality choice: fine/sizable cut of the house's skirt steak and the house chicken. Buenisimo! Not to mention the sides of plaintains, yucca, potatoes that accompany the meal. The mojitos are the best I've had in the city -- sipping rocks of cane sugar, delicioso! Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Diana T.

    OMG have I died and went to skirt steak heaven?? I came here this past Friday with my girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We had a party of 11 and called ahead for reservations. Good thing I did because the place was packed! All of the entrees are huge and start at around 19-20 bucks. You get so much meat and side dishes (I love the plantains). When you order medium, expect medium rare. I think it depends on the cut of meat you get too. Because I ordered the rib eye and asked for medium rare, but it turned out well. Unfortunately, you'll get charged a 5 dollar sharing fee if you do decide that it's way too much food for you. I say go for the gluttony. We also downloaded an online coupon for free sangria, which was surprisingly yummy. The cheese empanada was so good too. Probably because I love cheese. At the end of our meal, we all got free colombian coffee which was a delight. The service was great, but it was a little slow. Probably because it was so packed! Honestly, I just want to go back for a piece of the skirt steak.

    (5)

  • foodie t.

    I bought a groupon for this place and that's what prompts me to try it out. Service is good. Everyone is friendly. I had the combination of skirt steak and shrimp. It is delicious!! Skirt steak is perfectly grilled with the right amount of spices and tender juicy. Shrimp is shrimp.... it's good... nothing too special about it.

    (4)

  • Kris A.

    I love this place! I went here on a Saturday night for a 9pm reservation. The place was crowded, but the service was quick. I had the chicken and steak combination, and most entrees are $20. The plantains and rice/beans were to die for!! !! So well flavored!! The service was great, and we brought our own red wine. The only thing I don't like is the $8 corkage fee you have to pay on weekends if BYOB. I highly recommend, but make a reservation. Parking on Lincoln was easy.

    (5)

  • Simma Down Na H.

    THE EMPANADAS ARE NOT GREASY! that's awesome! I have to plan my graduation party pronto. It's real hard to find a restaurant with excellent reviews, good food, and a beautiful atmosphere in the Southside. My dad had his heart on another brazilian steakhouse but yeah right we're going to spend $45 per person. I found this place as a potential and we had to "test try." OMG the staff were friendly, steak was good, empanadas weren't greasy, and the setting is romantic. my kind of style...you must check this place out. won't regret the price either!

    (4)

  • Moe f.

    I sit and write this in a meat coma and we even have tons of leftovers for tomorrow. Go on a weekday with wine to take advantage of the BYO(wine only). Started with the empanada combo appetizer that was pretty good. But considering the size of the entree's, was a foolish choice. The wife went with the Matrimono which is a combo of steak and chicken and it rocked. But the real winner was the Bandeja Paisa which was ribeye and pork belly and a ton of sides. Fantastic steak with great flavors while the pork belly was more for show but nice to nibble on.

    (4)

  • Teddy C.

    This restaurant makes me wish I were Latin! Seriously... I'll admit that I was a tad bit skeptical about eating Colombian food. I mean, let's be honest, Colombia is a country known for Drug Trade (specifically Cocaine) , Guerrillas (not Gorillas), Dirty Politics, Human Trafficking and now... Skirt Steak! For you non-Spanish-speakers, "Las Tablas" is Spanish for "The Tablas" The ambiance of Las Tablas is very laid back with Latin music playing in the background. The lights are so dimmed that you almost need the candles to read your menu... It's a great place to come with a date! Pretty much everyone will look better with the lights this dark... so if you're not bringing your "A" game, or if you're trying to hide a zit, check it out! But seriously, eating in the dark is pretty cool... We started with a couple Arepas and a couple Empanadas... the Empanadas were so flavorful with the perfect blend of spices, so as not to overpower the dish. The Arepas were very traditional, unlike the sweet Arepas I have grown to enjoy. We also tossed back a few Colombian beers which were pretty tasty! I highly recommend the skirt steak entree, which I recall to be named "Entraña" which was recommended to us by our server. I know he is Colombian, but his accent bore a striking resemblance to that of the legendary Ricky Ricardo, "Lucy, you got some 'splainin to do! AH AH AHHHH!!!" But who knew Skirt Steak could be so doggone tasty! Pretty much all entrees are served with a side of Yuca (Not Yucca, like you put on your sunburns), Plantains (who doesn't love bananas?!?) and Potatoes. Whoever said that there is always room for dessert is a frickin' liar! Honestly, I wish I had saved room for dessert! Seeing as how I couldn't feel my toes, because all the food in my belly cut off blood circulation to my lower extremities. As far as drinks go, they have a BYOB that applies to Wine only, and they charge $8.00 on Thursday through Sunday... but Monday through Wednesdays corking is complimentary... I am eager to try their Sangria, per their website, it's "Famous" and who doesn't love Famous?!? At the end of the day I would recommend Las Tablas to anyone with an appetite for exotic and spicy foods! If you have a bland palette, this is not the place for you. Las Tablas is great at accommodating large groups! There was a huge group (20+) of Emo/Hipster kids sitting next to us and each and everyone one of them had a smile on their faces! If more than 20 depressed Emo kids can have fun at Las Tablas, pretty much everyone will enjoy it!

    (5)

  • Shan b.

    Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Needless to say shame on me! I visited this place once about 7 months ago and got sick from the food. I thought maybe it was just a bug. I revisited the restaurant last night and got deathly sick again! I will never go here again. Also, the food was good the first time not so good last night. It lacked any real flavor. The prices are high but you do get a lot of food but no one needs that much food. Save yourself a trip to the bathroom and do not visit this place.

    (1)

  • Vickie L.

    Food is delicious, wonderfully seasoned. I want some right now. BUT I will never go back (to this location) due to their management. I bought a gift certificate on restaurant.com after having such a wonderful first experience. We walk in and ask the host if they will take the gift certif, just to make sure. He's not sure, so he calls the manager over. The manager looks at the paper, honestly looks us up and down, then says "no, we won't take this." WTF!!! Seriously?? We are a young, pretty good looking couple if I do say so myself. We have good jobs. "I have money to spend in here!" Totally NOT cool. We were dressed in jeans and nice tops. The restaurant was less than half empty, oh well, we spent our money elsewhere. And I spread the word about our awful experience there whenever I can.

    (2)

  • Georgetta E.

    Thank you, Las Tablas, for installing hand dryers in the bathroom!

    (4)

  • David B.

    skirt steak skirt steak skirt steak!! best ive had. usually it is dry and thin and only good if somthered in cream on a torta, but here it is seasoned perfected and is cooked to thick, juicy perfection. great service, got to-go cups for our sangria so awesome!!

    (5)

  • Leanne A.

    I always knew I was a carnivore, but after this comida fantastica, I see I'm more of a T-rex; the ultimate carnivore. Okay...first. Upon walking in, I thought the place had a very warm ambiance. It was like a cabin-in-the-woods, but in South America, not Minnesota. The art was cool, the layout was cool, I even liked the floor. My friends and I immediately were saying how cute it was. I started with sangria. Great price, very yummy, and a large glass. My friends got mojitos. I really really liked how they were tart and sour rather than totally leafy minty. They bring you the steak sauce before you even get any food. So I just sat there staring at it wanting something to put it on so badly I almost considered my hand. Instead I started nibbling it with my fork. YUM. It was perfectly spicy, and very fresh. Then my friend and I ordered the meat platter (the menu had a more flattering name) and our friends were laughing at how much meat it was when it arrived. I told them we would finish it but they did not believe it. "oh come on, that could be for all four of us." .....little did they know, my friend and I were in meat heaven, and weren't stopping until we could see plate. The meal went something like this: "mmmmmm, Oh, My, God, (silence..) this is so good, I think this is the best meal I've had in a really long time, OMG, the plantains with the salty meat is incredible, I LOVE THIS SAUCE, Can we have more sauce?" In the midst of our food frenzy, our friend interrupted to say we looked like dinosaurs. That didn't stop us. Then she went on to say we looked like the Geico men. Still didn't stop us. My boyfriend became annoyed at how many times my friend complimented the sauce, but we didn't care. The night was ours. On to dessert. The choices were very unique. I get so sick of the same old desserts. I ordered the blackberries in sauce with caramel. They got the passion fruit mousse. Okay, my caramel was a little too rich for me, but all in all, very delectable desserts. After spending more than we planned on, it was still well worth it. At 34 dollars, I got a great meal, drinks, and desserts. That is not common!! After leaving, we continued to laugh at our food intake ability.

    (5)

  • Tiffany K.

    i came here for a birthday dinner on either a friday or saturday night. anyway, it was super busy. service sucked but food was SO GOOD. my bf and i shared picada colombiana (skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, grilled chicken breast, chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, fried sweet plantain, yuca and potatoes). there was SO MUCH FOOD on that plate! this entree is definitely enough for two people to share. i fell in love with the green sauce they give you with your entree. i must've asked for 3 cups of it. the restaurant itself is super dim which gives it a romantic feel. plenty of street parking. there's also a colombian coffee shop across the street. i forgot what this place is called but their colombian coffee is super bold. just how i like it! oh and the guy gave me a free cup of coffee in exchange of a shot of jameson. how nice of him. :)

    (4)

  • Vanna T.

    Las Tablas Lakeview was recommended to me by a friend who had just gone for his birthday and loved it. I decided to take my group of 4 there, as I had 2 guests in town who I thought would love it too. The food itself in combination with BYOB Monday-Thursday was 5 stars, however, the SERVICE, oh the service... tsk tsk tsk Las Tablas. Didn't you see all the guests waiting for a table sneak out due to your inability to write names down on a piece of paper? Couldn't you at least PRETEND you were familiar with a wait list? We literally had to go up there 3 different times to make sure our party of 4's name was on the list. The first two somehow didn't end up on there.... After myself and a few other hungry patrons bonded over how ridiculously horrible the service and lack of organization was while we waited for the 'host' to slowly meander back to the host stand, I asked the question many of us were wondering- how do we know when it is our turn? (they didn't take our phone#'s or use a buzzing system). In her Columbian, accent, 'Oh, i know face'. okay okay lady. Lady did know my mean hungry mug by that time and sat us within 10 minutes of that point. Was this MTV's Boiling Point?! Don't mess with hungry girls.... Anyway, why this restaurant even deserves 2 stars- food was excellent, i definitely recommend the combo empanada appetizer and the skirt steak. The Yukon potatoes were amazing too and I believe I consumed a leftover one at 2am after the bars. Would I go back? Yes, on a weeknight only.

    (2)

  • Sand H.

    Can't say enough about the fare here.. Awesome.. :) I have been back a quite a few times since my first visit here and am definitely going back when i can.. Suggestions: Empanadas - Must try. They are delicious and perfectly cooked. Entrana - Juicy and tender steak. Yummy !! For first time visitors or groups, you can try the combination platter as well which has a little bit of everything including steaks, sausages, ribs and seafood. All dishes are accompanied with tapioca and the most delicious mouth-watering plantains. And to back these up the chimichurri is in a class of it's own.

    (5)

  • Chester L.

    Las Tablas Ruined Father's Day. We will NEVER be coming back. So me and my girlfriend ate at Las Tablas a few weeks ago and thought it would be a good place to take her father for Father's Day. We heard they had a great brunch buffet and decided to definitely go with Las Tablas. The Friday before Father's Day I decided to call Las Tablas and ask them about their Brunch Buffett. They were kind enough to tell me all the incredible things that were included in the brunch buffet. I told them I was sold and asked them if we could make reservations SPECIFICALLY for the brunch buffet. They said yes and gave me a reservation for 1:00pm on Sunday. The Saturday prior to our reservation I thought to ask if we could still order off the menu ON TOP of the brunch buffet and they said yes. Please make note that I phrased my question as "Hi, I made a reservation for the brunch buffet tomorrow (Sunday). Can I still order off the regular menu with the brunch buffet?" This will be important to remember in my next paragraph. So Father's Day arrives and my girlfriend's parents meet us at the restaurant. It's an hour away from where they live. As we walk into the door we see a handwritten sign that there will be "No Buffet" today and are immediately confused. We walk up to the host who is on the phone. The host doesn't even acknowledge our presence and continues to talk to the person on the phone. Even if he was on the phone with a customer he should have taken a second to say "I apologize, I'll be with you in a second." Another host arrives for her shift and finally asks if we can be helped. I tell her about our reservations and immediately ask for clarity on the brunch buffet due to the sign on the door. I tell her I asked SPECIFICALLY about the buffet and that I only made reservations BECAUSE of the buffet. She goes to ask someone and comes back to tell me "sorry, we don't have the buffet today. There must have been some confusion or miscommunication." This was insulting. What confusion could there have been? I called TWICE about the brunch buffet! So they did not offer us anything for "miscommunicating" to me that there was going to be a brunch buffet and all they could offer us was the table I reserved, which really wouldn't have mattered since there was no one in the restaurant at 1:00pm on a weekend. Hmmm, I wonder why it's so empty. We told her that this was very upsetting and that we don't even know if we want to come back. Obviously our business doesn't mean much to them because even while we threatened to leave they did not do ANYTHING to make it right. Because it must be US who got it wrong. We told them we were leaving and we left to eat somewhere else. I don't appreciate being called "confused" because I know these things happen and that's why I asked for clarity TWICE. The only people who are confused are the staff at Las Tablas. Horrible customer service. We are never coming back and will make sure to warn all our friends about them.

    (1)

  • Tina W.

    I haven't been to LT since about 2003 and have been craving it for about a year now. My husband and I went there to celebrate our six month wedding anniversary on Friday and were a little disappointed. I definitely miss the atmosphere of the old place. It looks like a Pepes now. My matrimonio didn't disappoint, but my husband was very overwhelmed by his meal. I was hoping that friends' reviews of this place were wrong, but things do seem to have gone downhill since the big move. The people are still very nice. And the mojito wasn't too bad either.

    (3)

  • jenny m.

    Don't let the steakhouse part of the name scare you....this place will be enjoyed by all - carnivores, seafood lovers, vegetarians, there's something for everyone on the menu. Just make sure you bring your appetite, because you will be getting allllllottt of food! My three lovely dining companions and I met up here on a cold winter Wednesday. Upon walking in I immediately loved the ambience. Low lighting, dark wood, muted colors, there was a very warm & inviting feel to the place. I had called ahead to make a reservation and was told it wasn't needed for parties of less then 6. And sure enough, true to their word, we were seated without a wait. I'm guessing on a Friday or Saturday when it's really busy you may have a small wait, but there's a decent size area in the front with a bar. And some of the drinks I saw coming out looked quite good, so a pre-dinner drink in the bar area wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen! We started with the empanada combo plate and they were good, but when is cheese and/or meat in a fried dough shell not good? For my entree I went with the Langostinos al Carbon, which is grilled shrimp in a garlic white wine marinade. Uhm - YUM! The shrimp were grilled perfectly, I could have eaten a pound of those puppies. Two of my friends went with the house recommended combo platters, one with skirt steak & calamari, the other with skirt steak & shrimp. I didn't hear a complaint out of either of them. In fact, one of them, who shall remain nameless, ended up in the clean plate club. And with the amount of food you get, that is saying something. The 4th member of our party went with one of the chicken plates and seriously, I think they serve you a whole chicken. She's pregnant so she's even eating for two, and yet when she was done eating there was enough chicken leftover for at least a couple more meals. Not that we were complaining, just giving fair warning that you get a ton. All of the dinners come with potato, yuca, and plantain. Now this is where the food slipped a little bit for me. The yuca & potato were both a little dry and just kind of blah. And I LOVE yuca. But I've always had it mashed down in a patty and deep fried, here it was served a little different and it just didn't have alot of flavor. And the potato was just half a baked potato but with no sauce or anything on it. I don't even think it had a pat of butter or salt & pepper on it. So it was just boring. The plantain was the saving grace, it was sweet & delicious. Service was great. Our server was attentive but not over bearing. Water was refilled often which always earns a star in my book. And since you can BYOB wine Mon - Thurs with no corkage fee, when the bill arrived, we all happily clinked our wine glasses (and one virgin cocktail glass for the preggo lady) and happily said a cheers to the delicious (and plentiful!) food we'd had without breaking the bank. I can't wait for my next visit since I've already planned out the other dishes I need to try. And hopefully the yuca will be improved or I may have to give them the name of a woman in the Dominican Republic who made the best yuca on the planet....she can share her recipe!

    (4)

  • Annie M.

    My boyfriend took me here last night for my birthday. It was sooo delicious. We had the Picada Mar y Tierra, which serves two for $57. It was an expensive meal for us, but it was so much food that tasted awesome. We both went away stuffed, which is saying a lot because he's on Atkins and can eat a ton of food. Here's a run-down of each thing that was included: Etrana skirt steak: great flavor Rib-eye steak: very tender and cooked to order Chicken: ok, but not the best of the bunch Calamari: pretty good (but I am not a big calamari fan anyway) Baby octopus: wow! Whatever they cook that in is amazing. Shrimp: fantastic Pork loin: BEST EVER! I want the recipe so bad. Tender and charred to perfection. Arepa: quite good Plantains: LOVED them, but I'm a huge fan anyway Yuca: great Potatoes: great and they didn't even have spices on them I also had the Sangria and that was great, not too sweet, but didn't taste too much like just wine with fruit thrown in. I really want to go back and try the desserts and go back again, and again, and again... but, alas, we're poor.

    (5)

  • Agnes F.

    we ate way too much at Las Tablas.... between the grilled mariscos combination for 2 and then the picada colombiana, its really enough food for 4 ppl food tasted good, with the grilled calamari, shrimp, chorizo and arepa being our fav glad we went on one of the byo nights so we were able to save some money and had a great malbec that we brought service was friendly and we had a great time

    (4)

  • Amy T.

    Best skirt steak (Entrana) I've ever had (so far.) Try the appetizer for 2 of the grilled calamari/shrimp on a bed of salad...it's so perfectly grilled and delicious! The portion is very good so we did not even order 2 entrees. We order a full entree of the skirt steak, 1 order of empanada (2pcs), appetizer for 2 of the grilled calamari/shrimp, 1 glass sangria and coffee. For 2 of us, it was perfect, because we get to try a little bit of everything in 1 visit. Everything we ordered were superb down to the coffee. Each cup was brewed to order. Great service and value for the price you pay! PS: If you have a GROUPON, make sure you make a reservation before you go, they will not take you if you don't make one..it says it on a sign on the front door!

    (5)

  • Phil H.

    Since their move across the street, Las Tablas's food has remained delicious. However, despite an obvious upgrade in furniture, decor and liquor license (and bathroom, it's like an art gallery!), I feel that there's something off. Maybe it's the echo from their new location - first floor of a new construction. Or maybe I just miss the good 'ol pre-liquor license days when my group of ten would stumble out of the restaurant leaving 20 empty bottles behind. They still allow personal wine but it just doesn't feel the same. Like I said, the food itself has remained excellent. Different from a top steakhouse but delicious nonetheless. I recommend the matrimonial, which is a big piece of chicken and a big piece of steak. The steak and calimari is also very good. Empanandas are just ok. They also have a (sparsely attended) but very delicious brunch on the weekend. It's an all you can eat for I think $12.

    (4)

  • Amanda M.

    Definitely not for the herbivore in your life. I got the steak and it was so yummy. Probably one of the best steaks I have ever had which really surprised me. It was so juicy, and perfectly cooked. The portions are also huge and a really good price! If you are a drinker definitely try the sangria. It was really tasty as well and strong! I do have one tiny complaint. Our reservation was for 7pm, which is pretty early. We got there and the restaurant was probably a quarter full. When the hostess seated us at a table that didn't have backs to the chairs I asked if we could move to a table that did (I know, so picky, but I have a bad back). She told me the tables were already taken. Huh? They were all empty. I understood that some were for a large party, but 5 minutes after we sat down I saw another party of 2 get seated at a table that had backs! What the heck?

    (4)

  • O O.

    I don't know why this place isn't more crowded for their brunch buffet. It's $10 and it's really good. It's really meat heavy...a low carb lover's dream come true. I'm not a flan girl, but I really liked it. I've never come for dinner, only the bruch buffet, but it's a really good option and never a wait. It's open till 3 for the buffet on Sat. and Sun. I came one time and only had sangria and it was good. IMO, one of the bests in the city. I think they have half price pitchers one night.

    (4)

  • Hans B.

    Great family-run restaurant. Be sure to order a Caiparinha while you wait for your table - if you come on a Friday or Saturday. If you're with a group order the Picada Colombiana per every two people, you'll have more than enough protein and your bill won;t be too bad either. All in all a good place to have good drinks and great food. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Mimi M.

    This is the best Colombian steakhouse I've ever been to. Great food, great service, and great ambiance. The steak was so tender and flavorful, I still haven't forgotten it. OMG!!! OMG!!! Delicious!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Erin M.

    They have the best falt iron steaks! I love their sides and they have really yummy empanadas. My favorite is the chicken. Great service everytime I have been there. I actually stumbled upon this resturant via reviews on Yelp and I couldn't agree more with the positive reviews.

    (5)

  • Bess R.

    Went for dinner last Saturday night with no reservation, and got a table easily. Not a bad restaurant...kind of strip mall-y though. It's in the first floor of a new condo building. Service was slow as hell, and they apparently lost our order ticket in the kitchen so it took over an hour to get our food. Of course the server did not tell us this because he didn't speak to us or get my second glass of sangria for over 30 minutes. The food was pretty good when it finally came out, I should say, the meat was good. The sides were eh. Sangria was good and not a bad deal ($4/glass), but I probably won't be back after that service.

    (2)

  • Meagan M.

    As someone who has worked in restaurants, I am very understanding of bad nights, but this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. When I got to the restaurant, my friend was already there and had put his name on the list. He told me that the wait was going to be about 30-45, which is not a big deal (to me). During that time we saw tons of empty tables that were not being sat, but I figured that it was for a reason- like private parties and reservations. After waiting an hour (and those tables were still un-sat), I checked in with a male waiter who was helping at the hostess stand. Just as he tells me they were no longer seating, the woman who had been there most of the night returned to say it would only be a little longer. Fortunately, another set of customers over heard my conversation with the hostess and told me that they were wondering what the deal was because they were about to be seated and had noticed us waiting when they got there. I am so grateful for the kindness of these customers, who not only told the hostess in Spanish about the problem but also gave us their table. Once my friend and I are seated, we quickly (and happily) order beverages, the empanada combination plate, and our entrees. Again, we wait... and wait. You know the couple who gave us their table? Well, they were seated near us and had another round of bevs and appetizers before we even saw our waitress or was able to get the attention of any other restaurant staff member. Finally, I was able to catch the hostess and asked her to make sure that the empanadas are out first. The waitress comes back with our drinks and tells us that the paper in the kitchen ran out and she didn't know, but would have them out very soon. The empanadas arrive and instead of being 2 chicken, 2 cheese, and two beef, we get 4 cheese and 2 chicken. We tell the waitress who gave us an excuse for why it couldn't be fixed. We move on to the entree, which was good, not spectacular, and would have been better with the chimichurri sauce that was supposed to be with the steak (they ran out). We were there almost 3 hours and the only thing that happened in a timely manner was the waitress bringing our check (nice, huh?). The restaurant staff knew there had been multiple issues and did nothing to remedy the situation. It's not like we came in near closing time or had impossible requests. I'm so disappointed.

    (1)

  • Adam M.

    I celebrated my first birthday in Chicago at Las Tablas after a friend recommended this byob and I had the best time! I still remember the evening very fondly. Their dishes are just delicious (it was my birthday so I made sure I tried every item that came to our table). We had 6 or 7 people and felt a little crowded, but the restaurant was more than accommodating for our large group. I dream of the day when I return to Las Tablas....

    (4)

  • Alba R.

    I Recently visited this cozy little place and I fell in love with it! The food is delicious and they have a decent sized booze menu. Highly recommended!

    (3)

  • Nick S.

    Just tried to go there and were closed for a violation. Anyone know why?

    (4)

  • Elizabeth H.

    I went with 5 stars because although the service can sometimes be slow the food has NEVER disappointed. I do admit that I miss the location across the street, I loved the small feeling and of course the BYOB. However, their new location is nice too with high ceilings and from what my husband tells me, amazing bathrooms. I also love the big wood tables. The food is so amazing. The empanadas are perfect (I suggest chicken over beef). I always get the churrasquito which comes with a yummy plantain, yuca and a baked potato. I am a little confused as to why they would serve both yuca and potato since they are both very similar to one another. Subbing out for rice is a good option. Last but not least I must say how DELICIOUS the aji sauce is that is always on the table. I think it is commonly confused for chimchurri but I got to the bottom of that when I was there last as well. One of my favorite places in Chicago and I will be back often!

    (5)

  • Tasha H.

    I hadn't been here in a while - in fact, not since they moved to this new location across the street from the old one! Then I saw the groupon offer, and remembered how good it always was - so I took a friend who hadn't been there before, on a Monday night. First, the drinks - excellent. We had some special fruity drinks, then I had a mojito - both were awesome. Then the food - the empanadas plate and then we both had combinaciones. All amazingly wonderful, perfectly cooked and spiced, just as good as I've had in the past. And last but not least, the service. I sometimes hesitate to buy groupons because I figure the restaurants probably get annoyed with the grouponites swarming in. Certainly not the case here. Our server was probably the best server I've had in a restaurant in a Chicago. Seriously. Super nice, genuine, explained everything, attentive - he was just awesome. And of course this was all before he saw how well we tipped him! :-) Really, can't say enough good things about Las Tablas - definitely worth it, groupon or no.

    (5)

  • Wendy Y.

    I thought this place was great. After going to several Brazilian steakhouses recently and stuffing myself silly(while I spent way too much money), I wonder why we didn't just go here. Sure, the other place is all you can eat, but this place gave me more then I would even want to eat. Basically, any place that can save me money and (a few....)calories without feeling deprived, I am happy with. So, yes, I understand that Columbian food and Brazilian food is different, but I think this is a great alternative. It is fun and different and nice for a big group of people. I would love to go again soon! If you go you have to have the chicken empanadas and I highly recommend the matrimonio.

    (4)

  • Isa B.

    It's a Colombian place, not South American because it doesn't include any other countries' food. The price is outrageous, we went for dinner, I ordered rice, avocado, yuca, plantains and mini salad; my husband ordered meat, rice, plantain and we both had one juice and the check was $45. This food in our countries is $5 tops. The service was slow. The people where nice, the quality ok. In conclusion: OK if you crave Empanadas which were good, and natural juice, but very overpriced.

    (3)

  • Farrin A.

    My new favorite place to eat in ALL of CHICAGO! I took my entire family here for my 30th birthday celebration. They do in fact take reservations and we sat at a terrific long table with bench seating and thrones at the end. My whole family thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was such a festive atmosphere. A. The BEST Mojitos in town-- I didn't even LIKE mojitos before having theirs...and try? Boy did I! I had a regular, a pineapple, and a mango. All delicious. B. Their food was TERRIFIC-- spicy chicken and beef that tasted like it has been marinated since I was born. And the vegetarian platters (both of them) were INCREDIBLE. The two veg-heads in my family were very VERY pleased. It almost makes me look forward to the next milestone birthday....almost.

    (5)

  • Christine M.

    I promised myself I would review again when I returned with a smaller party, and I finally did last Saturday night. The food was all cooked properly and was excellent! The skirt steak was a huge hit. The father-in-law couldn't stop raving about the steak, placing it in his top 3 ever (this says A LOT), the vegetarian had plenty of menu items to keep him busy, I heart the plantains, sangria, and Entrana, and I will definitely be back again very soon!

    (5)

  • Julia C.

    This place is very good. Ordered empandas and the entrana dish and both were great. Dipping sauces they offer are also good. The sides by themselves are okay but the sauces make them a lot better. Our waiter Pablo was the best and would request him next time we come.

    (4)

  • Aiga J.

    their meats are amazing, marinated and grilled to perfection. my very favorite part of the food is the green salsa served with the dishes. it goes so good with the meat!!! Even with yukka and potatoes. from the starters I have only had the guava and cheese filled plantain. it is very sweet but very tasty!!! their sangria will get you buzzed really fast and it is very, very good!!!

    (5)

  • Pamela P.

    The empanadas are delicious. The Combination Meat platter is enough to feed 4. Overall, the food is tasty but nothing spectacular. If you're a carnivore, you'll love this place. The vegetarian options are limited. The service could be better. We were informed that sparkling wine is not permitted for the BYOB, which isn't that big of a deal because we live next door and could easily run home and get a different bottle -- but if that's all we brought, I might have been peeved. The service is polite but slow. Prices are decent because the portions are huge -- definitely shareable.

    (3)

  • C S.

    Combo meats were excellent (had the skirt steak/ chicken combo). The sides were a letdown as expected from other yelp reviews (loaded them with sauce like some advised and still were too dry to save). The empanada was nothing special and the sangria was bland and missing a decent/ridiculous amount of alcohol. Would return for the meat combo - a good garnish for it is their sliced habenaros.

    (3)

  • Robyn T.

    Steak. Drinks. Men. No this isn't your typical Chicago steak house this is delicious meat-focused Colombian decadence! It seems that Las Tablas is the place to go for bachelor parties and birthday festivities, be forewarned this is not a romantic date night outing. With that in mind have a pitcher of red sangria, some empanadas and one of the fabulous steak combination dinners. Bring your appetite (or take a doggie bag) because there is no such thing as portion control. For $20 you can get a large steak, grilled shrimp, potato, plantain and yucca pieces. I can't imagine after all that you'd still be hungry. You'll leave Las Tablas sated and oh so happy.

    (4)

  • Lindsay B.

    Delicious! I could make a meal out of the appetizers, but then I wouldn't have any room for the wonderful steak. The empanadas were great. We also order a seafood appetizer which I would highly recommend. The steak was cooked to perfection. I can't wait to go back. We didn't get dessert but would certainly consider it next time.

    (5)

  • Granger L.

    My wife and I went to celebrate her birthday. We heard a lot of positives, but had no idea what Las Tablas was about. Simply, it was terrific. The service was great (never late with a beer) and the meals were delicious. Not Colombian we asked for the most popular native dishes. We were not let down. So many flavors and combinations to go with our steaks!! We look forward to going back and bringing friends!

    (5)

  • Jason C.

    Tried to go the other night to use a Groupon and the restaurant was closed for a health code violation. I have no idea when it will open again and not sure I will want to go if they have health code violations. I have been in the past and it is good. I contacted groupon and they provided a refund no questions ask.

    (1)

  • Claire M.

    Tonight was the first time I had been to Las Tablas since they moved accross the street and got rid of the BYOB that helped to make them so fabulous! When we inquired about the corkage fee, the hostess was extremely rude and more than happy to inform us that they no longer were a BYOB restaurant. When we informed her that there was still a BYOB sign in their window advertising the BYOB special Monday-Thursday, she merely sneered at us. In addition, there must have been some sort of kitchen fire since the smoke was quite thick in the restaurant, so am not sore what was going on in the kitchen! This sadly is not the same lovely Las Tablas that once existed across the street. Don't waste your time or money. Go elsewhere!

    (1)

  • christina h.

    I have been to this place a few times and absolutely love the food.I recommend the skirt steak (which is their signature dish) and the stuffed chicken with cheese.They also have great mojitos and sangrias.

    (5)

  • Kyung P.

    I liked Las Tablas better when it was across the street, as a whole in the wall, BYOB joint. Now they're trying to be all uppity with their fresh fruit this and fresh mint that. The service was slow as molasses. It took a looong time for everything. Good thing we weren't in a hurry, because it was "let's-go-somewhere-else-slow". So it took forever to get our drinks and even longer to get our empenadas. After waiting 30 minutes, 1 empenada ended up being cold in the middle. We notified the waiter, and he brought us another (very quickly - that was the only quick thing during the night), and it was frozen in the middle!!! Then our entrees came, and we told him we didn't want another. The rest of the food was mediocre. The yucca was icky, very stringy. And I would have preferred the plantains to be cut up in smaller pieces for caramelization. I had a couple of fresh fruit martinis, and I was drinking the fruit in chunks. My strawberry martini was full of seeds, and my mango martini was like eating cut-up mango. They were pretty strong though, but definitely not worth the price, and I would pass for next time. Then our bill. Our server made the biggest deal about not charging us for the second empenada. OBVIOUSLY! He made it seem like he was doing us the favor of a lifetime. You gave me cold empenadas on 2 separate tries and you want me to thank you for not charging me (and by the way, we got charged for the one we ate)?! Next!

    (2)

  • Diana S.

    This is the less hyped cheaper version of Tango Sur. We got the grill platter entree. I can't remember what it was called. I came with a variety of meats, yuca, and plantains. It's actually quite a good deal and it feeds two people. I love empanadas and the ones here were really good. The place just felt really authentic to me, and festive too! In theory, coming here for a group gathering is a good idea, but they don't take reservations :(

    (4)

  • Amanda W.

    I really enjoyed my experience here. I ordered the steak and it was delicious! My fiance ordered steak and chicken. He also loved the steak, but said the chicken was a little bland. The price and portions were reasonable and we liked the atmosphere. We will definitely be back for the steak!

    (5)

  • Laura H.

    If you want a good steak without the frills this is the place to go. Their skirt steak is cooked to perfection! In fact, everything on their menu is. I have not had anything from hear I did not like.

    (5)

  • Amy R.

    I went on a Friday with a reservation for a friend's birthday. Even with a reservation, we had to wait at least 20 minutes. As a hostess for four years (high school/college job), this always pisses me off. Once we were seated, it took forever to get our wine opened, forever to get menus, forever to order appetizers, and forever to order food. It would have been all well and good if we simply had the wine right away. I understand Fridays are busy, and I can wait for a very long time if slightly sedated. The steak was disappointing. I was sharing with a friend and we ordered medium rare at her request. Medium rare is the most well done I like my steak, and it came out medium well. Gross. Chewy, a little dry, poorly seasoned... nothing special. Then, when we finally wanted to leave, it took forever to get the bill. Three hours of dining for a bland steak.

    (2)

  • Jim W.

    This review is probably not fair, b/c we had wanted to go to Tango Sur but settled for Las Tablas instead, AND I was going to a Brazilian place a few days later so skipped on the churrasco. Instead I ordered the carne asada, and while it was good and a hearty portion, I found my medium-rare steak not so rare and a bit dry. I'd be interested in trying the matrimonio, but I did have some of my friend's bandeja paisa - in English, the menu describes both as charbroiled Columbian ribeye, but the bandeja was eons tastier - it had some special sauce that the carne asada lacked. The appetizers were not extraordinary...outside the Chorizo - that was awesome! But the Arepa left something to be desired, I can honestly say that Boston Market's cornbread tastes better. The BYOB policy - I'm conflicted. I mean, $8/bottle is not ridiculous, but compared to "free" at Tango Sur....you catch my drift. As far as atmosphere goes, it's definitely very loud, very rowdy, making it difficult to hear past the person next to you, but it's fun. I'd come here again in a big group.

    (3)

  • Ann J.

    Great service and a fun atmosphere. I will definitely be back. Irma and Miguel are awesome!

    (5)

  • John S.

    Went here on Saturday night on a date. Ended up going with the BYOB wine option. When I read the menu I was surprised to see that they charged a cork fee of $7 for each bottle of wine. We ended up bringing 2 bottles and didn't care for the first one so we asked if they could open the second bottle. We ordered the Empanada Combination Plate as an appetizer. The Empanada's were all nice sized and stuffed with beef and chicken. The cheese Empanada's were amazing also. For dinner I ordered the Entraña. First off let me say for $19 this steak was huge. The flavor was also very good and it came with very generous portions for the sides. Our Waiter was excellent also. He was nice enough to wave the cork fee and gave us free dessert because we let them have our first bottle of wine. He also gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and didn't rush us at all during dinner. Over all Las Tablas is a great deal for the money you will not be let down.

    (5)

  • erin k.

    Being a vegetarian I was surprised to like a Colombian steakhouse as much as I do - but the great service and beautiful room go a long way to make up for the limited vegetarian menu. I had some great appetizers (empanadas and plantains are both delicious with the sauces meant for steak, by the way) and the vegetarian paella which was a little lackluster for my taste. A third of the plate was mushrooms, which would not have been a bad thing if they weren't all white mushrooms, cut thick and undercooked. My date seemed to enjoy his skirt steak a lot. I told him it was dangerous to lick a skillet, but he's a daredevil he is. Luckily a delicious mojito was close at hand to soothe his third degree tongue-burns.

    (4)

  • Arlene A.

    I haven't been here for dinner, only take out, but my experience was outstanding. We ordered the "empenada combo" and the mixed seafood salad. The flavors and textures of both dishes were exceptional. While I've had plenty of Columbian style empenadas, the grilled seafood salad was a knockout! The calamari was left almost whole, ensuring moist tender yummy meat. The salads that came with both were tasty and fresh. My honey and I can't wait to go back for dinner, this spot is BYO!

    (4)

  • Curt S.

    First of all, I love the atmosphere of this place- very laid back and dark with low lighting. Which to me is a perfect place to relax and have a nice dinner with close friends or loved ones. But I was GREATLY disappointed that where was absolutely NO wine/alcohol/beer menu. In fact, when I asked the waiter what was available for wines because they don't even offer beer! He vaguely went through types of wines not even listing prices or brands... which is extremely odd for a nicer restaurant. In fact, I think altogether one of the reasons why this place doesn't score 4 stars with me is the lack of Beer at all, and also their beverages like soda pop are NOT free refill. However the food is good but not excellent. We firstly had the cheesy cornbread which was by far the best thing I ate there. Then I ordered the New-York Steak with Calamari and it was all seasoned very well. But the sides were only mediocre and I felt like overall something was missing from the $20 entree. The service was just okay as well- our waiter seemed very aloof and didn't come by often enough- especially near the end when I was ready for the check and it seemed to just take forever. Overall the place had a nice atmosphere and offered some uniqueness that other places don't have. But to me, this food goes hand in hand with drinking a beer- so it really failed on that part.

    (3)

  • Christina P.

    I recently went to celebrate a cousin's birthday. It was about 10 of my relatives including my boyfriend. There was live music which was nice and I enjoyed the ambiance very much. I ordered a big piece of steak with yuca and potatoes and I had a coke. I am not a picky eater so I enjoyed my meal very much. However, some of my family members were not too happy. My cousin and the birthday boy did not like their piece meat. One was undercooked so he had it redone but he wasn't happy and didn't really eat. The birthday boy acted like he liked it to be polite, but later told me that the piece was tough. My boyfriend wasn't a big fan either. For dessert I ordered the coconut flan which I always order. Some of our previous visits have been better, but from my own personal experience, I did enjoy it. However my boyfriend and I do prefer Sabor a Cafe Colombian restaurant.

    (4)

  • Christine M.

    I was not one of those people who went to the "old" Las Tablas. I went after it had moved for a birthday party and then back again for another birthday party. It's really an excellent choice for large groups given the large and tasty pitchers of sangria, plates large enough to split and friendly service that doesn't skip out on attentiveness. Why the three stars you ask? Well, the food is okay. Not exceptional, not outstanding, but good. If you get anything I recommend the Shrimp and Chicken platter - but not the sampler platter unless you enjoy four different kind of pureed potato-ish foods on your plate. Again, the Sangria. Yum.

    (3)

  • Keirstin L.

    Grab that bottle of wine and make your way to Las Tablas. The Combinaciones is highly recommended on the menu for a reason. Delicious skirt steak plus a potato, yuca and a plantain for twenty bucks?! Oh hell yes. You'll leave here with a full belly and a big smile on your face.

    (5)

  • Danny S.

    Go early, take a bottle of good red wine and pray that you don't get seated near the door. I always get a beef dish, but wifey likes the chicken quite a bit. Skip dessert. It's a letdown after the unbelievable flavors of their entrees.

    (4)

  • Zach M.

    Really wanted to like this place...but the really poor service overtook the really good food. I'd do take out, but I'd really resist eating in there again. Annoyingly slow pace from the get go. Never saw the server after they dropped the food off, and had to get up and find him when we wanted to cash out. So womp womp...disappointing.

    (2)

  • Douglas A.

    I went to the Las Tablas on Irving Park and used my Groupon to order dinner for one. I had been there before, and the second visit was at least as good as the first, if not better. I started out with a cheese empanada, the order actually coming with two empanadas. I've had empanadas that have used flour tortillas and have been baked, but I have to say that Las Tablas' corn flour tortillas that have been deep fried are simply scrumptious! There are two dipping sauces placed on the table; I liked the milder one that had a stronger cilantro flavor over the spicier one that had a stronger hint of jalapenos; but, to each his or her own in terms of flavor. Each was good. I also had the limonade, which is made with just the right amount of lime flavoring added to the lemon. Delicious! One can order it to be made with vodka, but I had it without. I took the combinacion that included the house special skirt steak and grilled shrimp with sides. The shrimp were sizeable and nicely grilled, but the skirt steak was simply wonderful! When the menu claimed that the skirt steak was the best they had to offer, and yet they also serve a rib eye, I wondered how that could be true; but it is! I asked for it medium rare, and it was grilled perfectly to order, and every bite was perfection! I ended the meal with a flan that was rich, creamy and flavored like mima used to make it (my adopted Cuban mother from years ago), and "Juan Valdez's Columbian coffee," which was okay, but I prefer an Ethiopian to a Columbian. I told the waiter, though, that the only thing that disappointed me was the individual-serving Coffeemate creamer with the coffee, and he mentioned that the half & half I preferred would take up too much refrigerator space. I suggested he invite the management to look into ultra-pasteurized individual serve half & half, which would be much better. Investigating online, I judge it would cost about 10 cents per serving as opposed to around 5 cents per serving for the Coffeemate, but with $2 per cup coffee, a bit more for the creamer shouldn't break the bank. All in all, this is a place I'd enjoy eating regularly and taking people to for special occasions.

    (5)

  • J I.

    This place really is terrific and if you want the best items on the menu you need to get the skirt steak, empanadas, and a pitcher of sangria. Believe me after that you'll be set for the makings of a fabulous dinner. Try it out and let me know what you think. I forgot to mention that this place is also BYOB, we love this place!

    (4)

  • Caroline M.

    Wow, this place is good. I came on a recommendation of a friend, and it did not disappoint. I went on a Friday night with my bf and another couple. We got there right at 7pm and were told it was a 20 minute wait. That was pretty accurate. We started off with an order of the empanada sampler. It was 6 empanadas and that was a good start for the four of us. Most of us also got a mojito and it was very good. Not too much rum to take away the flavor of the mint, but enough that you could taste it there. For dinner, the two guys got the skirt steak. Now, my bf is a really picky eater, and he is hard to impress. But he LOVED his meal and couldn't stop talking about it. The portion is huge and he finished every bite of the steak. My friend got one of the combination plates with the steak and the pork, and she was very pleased as well. I got a combination plate with calamari and shrimp. Both were very good. The shrimp was excellent and full of flavor, and the calamari was cooked perfectly and not chewy at all. If you are going to go, I think the combination plate is the right choice because then you get to try two things, and it doesn't seem like the skimp down on the portions of what they give you. Afterwards, we were stuffed. We were debating trying the flan, but decided we were too full. Our waiter had heard us trying to figure that out, and he brought us an order of flan on the house. What a perfect way to end the evening! A note on service: I was a bit hesitant after reading other people's reviews on here, but I was VERY pleased with the service. Our waiter was awesome and even gave us each recommendations on how to enjoy our leftovers at home. I don't have a negative thing to say about this place and will for sure be going back... especially on a weekday to take advantage of the BYOB.

    (5)

  • Peter K.

    If you love meat and plantains, then you'll love this place! The skirt steak is very good and tender. The empanadas are extremely flavorful. I just wish there was one in LA... Service was great too!

    (5)

  • Adisak P.

    I just went there for lunch with a big group of guys and it was quite good. They had a $9.50 special that was delicious and inexpensive.

    (5)

  • Amy S.

    Hmmmm, meat. The Picada Columbiana is a great combination plate of steak, chicken, pork and sausage along with lots of sides. It feeds 2 with plenty of leftovers. I loved the cornbread- consistency is more like chilled polenta. Sangria was good but not very strong. It took a little while for our waiter to first approach us but the service was good after that. I'm definitely going to go back and bring my own wine.

    (4)

  • Rebecca B.

    Oh I really wish I had a better experience to report. Long story short: service and kitchen were both really slow and weirdly-paced, resulting in a drawn-out experience that left some of us thirsty, some of us hungry and all of us a little bummed out. We went with a group of 6, after making a reservation for a recent Saturday night. The reservation-taker on the phone was adamant that we were all there by 7:15. Fair enough. We did this, but still weren't seated until 7:30, despite passing by other empty, set tables. It's a weird combination of byo-wine-only and full bar. We ordered a round of mojitos before dinner, since only one of us remembered their bottle --to share among 5 drinkers. I had the strawberry, and thought it was really good. I might even have ordered another if the waiter hadn't disappeared for such long stretches. Food-wise, the apps (empanadas, chorizo, and yucca) were really good, and came out really fast. Dinner-wise, our good luck ended. Two of us ordered the fish soup (Saturday special) but were served the catfish entree instead. We managed to glad down our waiter after several efforts, and corrected the order, urging the rest of the group to go-ahead and start. Well, but the time they were finished (15-20 minutes or so) our fish soup was nowhere in site. We decided to cancel it all together, since everyone was nice enough to share what they had--since they give you more than enough food, we were sated, just sort of bummed that we never received what we ordered. Other service quibbles: slow to remove dirty plates, bring new silverware, refill water and it took the chimichurri sauce 3 requests to arrive. Oh well, at least it came out at all. The food was overall ok, but hard to enjoy given the service issues. I'd head to Tango Sur next time I need my tons of meat South American steakhouse fix...

    (2)

  • J. V.

    HUGE PORTIONS! definately splitable! BYOB so a great place for groups....5 dollar cork fee for wine, but if you bring screwtop (which many nice wines are now...don't laugh) it's free....weird, but I'll take it. I had the shrimp and pork tenderloin combo and split it and still had leftover....great salad comes with it. Service was not the best but they were as friendly as could be.....that is more important to me than getting all hung up on a salad coming out at the same time as your dinner....this isn't 5 star fancy dining people. Take it for what it is. Great food and a great place for groups....I reccomend highly.....

    (5)

  • Heather L.

    Best Carne Asada in town! Love the grilled plantains too. Great prices. And you can't beat BYOB.

    (5)

  • Joseph B.

    Go for the combo platter of the Skirt steak and Shrimp. Seriously. best marinade on a steak ever.

    (4)

  • steve c.

    Thanks to Groupon I was able to try this place that normally I would not have and I am glad I did. Parking was ample for a Sunday and the place is very cozy. The Entraña was awesome and definitely recommend! The empanadas were great with the delicious dipping sauce. I personally wasn't a fan at all of the Limonada for having way too much ice and not enough flavor. I wish I read before i went that it was BYOB or I would have picked up a bottle. Kind of weird to me the place didn't have linen napkins with it being "upscale". Our busboys were great and it seemed like we heard the other waiters were great but not ours and for this it looses a star. Our waiter was not busy but was slow and rude. He came up to our table, leaned over, and just looked at us to order. Very weird.

    (4)

  • Yvette L.

    One of my favorite restaurants. Loved the steak and chimichuri sauce! Also the best flan and coffee I've had. They tried to charge us a $5 sharing fee so we said fine thinking we each get our own side and all they did was give us two cheap plates like you get at Ikea. So I joked and said we will take the plates home since we paid for them. They waived the fee:)

    (5)

  • Elizabeth H.

    I tried Las Tablas last night for the first time and was quite impressed. I came in with a friend of mine who has been coming here for years and we had a great dinner. The place is fairly large and seems to accommodate big parties quite easily. Of course that didn't do wonders for the noise level, as it was a little high with the restaurant so busy. Regardless, we only waited a few moments before we were seated and the waiter took our drink orders right away. Unfortunately, that is where my rave review of the service stops. As I said, it was busy, but even so, our waiter was very inattentive. Those drinks I mentioned that were ordered when we first sat down, we received them half way through our meal... about 40 minutes later. Now I am not a skilled professional in the art of mojito making... but I don't know that it should take the better part of an hour. Although, in the end I basically chalked it up to him being super busy because as soon as the tables started to clear, he stopped by to check on us quite a bit... even so, the drinks should have been comp-ed. As far as the steak, VERY yummy! It was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. I wouldn't venture as far as saying the best I've had, but worth the higher price tag. Also, they offer smaller versions of their house specialty... which was not small at all and a pretty good bargain. I do agree with some of the other reviews about the sides leaving a bit to be desired. I wouldn't object to giving it another go... maybe try a seafood dish next time!

    (3)

  • Mary M.

    Some of the best food I've had in quite some time. Also, great wine and very fun atmosphere. Be prepared to ward off over eager wait staff but overall, this is a great spot.

    (4)

  • T Mir S.

    My second time there, and many more visits to come. The food is fantastic and the portions very healthy. Had the chicken and shrimp combo meal and it was enough for lunch and dinner... the space is comfy and delightful.

    (4)

  • Kristin G.

    this was, up until now of course, what i had considered one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in chicago....and that's saying a lot because i lived there for a decade and i live for food! i recently returned to chicago for a weekend trip, and made it a priority of mine to squeeze in a visit to las tablas in the small time frame that i had. it has been about 3 years since i've moved from chicago, so i hadn't yet had the chance to visit the newly remodeled and relocated las tablas. i was excited... i could go on for pages about my experience, because when i left there smoke was literally coming out of my ears! but....i'm gonna spare you the frustration of having to read the details and touch on the important aspects of my subpar experience, hoping that after having read this you will seriously reconsider visiting this location. i'm going to preface everything with a disclaimer that the food is unique and exceptional...however, i would highly recommend calling on the phone and placing a to-go order! the waitstaff and management at las tablas is beyond a joke. not only did i wait 30 minutes for my food to arrive on a less than busy day, but in those 30 minutes i was forced to watch my friends eat their entire plates as they were served waaaaaaay before me! now, you'd think a restaurant that is cocky enough to charge $20+ a plate for inexpensive ingredients would have it together enough to execute a dining experience that surpasses that of a 24-hour diner. but no...i found myself wishing i had gone to golden nugget! now, i'm not one of those people that complains about poor service...in fact, my friends and i talked about it for a good 20 minutes before deciding that something needed to be said...mind you, we could afford to contemplate over our dilemma for 20 minutes because our waiter had not returned to our table since he threw our plates on the table. anyway...moving right along, i think they hired the "manager" for show, because upon speaking with him it was clear that he served no functional purpose for the customers. not only did our waiter blatantly lie to our faces in front of the manager about having told us that our food would be brought out at separate times( i mean...why would we have still ordered then?!), but the manager believed the waiter over us and argued with us in the middle of the restaurant! how unprofessional...it was truly embarrassing. finally, after an extra 30 minutes of our time was wasted trying to get some justice from the so-called manager, he decided to give us $10 off of our bill. wow. gee, thanks...that just about covered the tip that the waiter would have gotten had he been present at our table to so much as refill a single water glass. i am truly embarrassed that i recommended for my friends to accompany me here....and what's even worse, i am depressed that i will never feel comfortable setting foot in one of my favorite restaurants again. save yourself the frustration and about an hour and a half of your time...

    (1)

  • Ivonne Marie C.

    The food at this place is horrible. True, to the non-hispanic palatte it is great, but I'm sorry you don't serve a NY steak and call it a Churrasco. The place may be nice for group gatherings and birthdays (I counted over seven songs last night) but the only thing Hispanic about the food is probably the Yuca Frita and the Fried Plantains. I will not return to this restaurant for anythign in the world.

    (1)

  • Jeremiah Z.

    I am a huge fan of finding a neighborhood gem that makes you feel so good when you walk out, you almost feel like you didn't pay enough money. I'd heard of this place for years, but for one reason or another had never visited while I had been to Tango Sur (everyone's favorite restaurant in Chicago apparently and closest comparison to this place) probably a dozen times. First of all, its BYOB Mon thru Thurs which automatically gives this place some bonus points by default. The decor is nothing flashy, but its very warm and inviting and gives the restaurant an authentic feel. A girl I work with explained to me the following day that all of the tables and chairs are hand carved and i definitely remember thinking how unique they were during dinner without knowing that. I'm not sure how busy this place gets on the weekends, but it was decently full when we were there on a Thursday night in December. Now lets get down to business....the steak. It is absolutely everything you can want it to be and more. Hearty, well-marinated steak that just makes my mouth water even as I'm typing this review. We started with some empandas which were served with a salsa verde and they were really good. Our entrees came with some grilled shrimp and chicken which were also good, but definitely on the B squad of this roster. I wish I could say any of us had room for dessert... I think this is a perfect place to go with some friends you haven't seen in a while to hang out, drink a bottle or two, and enjoy a comfortable delicious meal. Our server was really nice and did everything she was expected to do. I just think the fact that you can go here without a 2 hour wait gives it an edge over you know where. 3 of us all ordered steak dinners with appetizers (we brought a couple bottles) and got out of there for somewhere around $30-35/person after tip. I will definitely be going back asap and I'm also angry with myself for not going here sooner!

    (5)

  • Summer C.

    Great place to try! For the money, I'm not sure there is better meat in Chicago. Its a small, quirky place, complete with a long wait and jazz keyboard player. We ordered the house specialty, steak with calamari and octopus. Perfectly grilled, huge portion size, and delicious.

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    Really good food. Went here on a groupon. You have to like meat to eat here. Everything was cooked to perfection. They serve plantains and yucca with all meals and I found that to be a little too much starch on a plate. Was very good, we will be back. The service was kind of slow though. I'll give it another chance on that.

    (4)

  • Jacqueline Z.

    First of all (and pardon my french), DAMN the steak is delicious, and I want buckets of the salsa verde to put on all my food. Like some other reviews have noted, they are great at accommodating large groups as well. Go Monday through Wednesday when there is no corkage fee!

    (4)

  • Michelle N.

    Food is dreadful. Everything is fried, and it all tastes like it came out of the same hot oil. My "grilled" chicken was deep fat fried and tasted like fish. "Plantains" were really bananas. Indifferent service.

    (1)

  • Nancy K.

    When another reviewer wrote: "OMG have I died and went to skirt steak heaven" they were right on! Mind you I'm not a "meat" eater but that all changed when I stepped foot into this place. Everything was delicious! I highly recommend the Patacón Pisao (a plantain appetizer) and the Picada Colombiana plate, which serves 2. It has a combination of the most popular Colombian food: Entraña skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, and chicken breast all grilled, homemade chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, fried sweet plantain, yuca and potato. Yummy! I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Marcos L.

    This is a fine place with tasty food - fun for groups, especially. We went in one night after a show at the Atheneum with about 10 of us, no reservation (fortunately it wasn't a weekend), and they got us set up and there were some nice low-key musicians. The drinks rocked and the food was solid Colombian fare. A great time was had by all. One note: I hope whoever wrote that "note from the owner" learns how to spell. It's hard (impossible) to believe a Colombian could use the ubiquitous gringoized error "Columbian" - unless after seeing it so many times he/she just gave up, or thought that's the right way to spell it. But then they got "churrasco" wrong also, so I think it's just a case of bad spelling. Tsk-tsk. UPDATE: I see they fixed the spelling. Very attentive. The service there is like that too.

    (4)

  • Michaela N.

    This place is amazing! Great service and an excellent dining experience. I discovered Las Tablas through a groupon that a friend shared with me. We went on a week night and were seated immediately. The staff was incredibly friendly and very helpful at making suggestions and explaining the menu. We both had the Combinaciones with their Entrana skirt steak and grilled shrimp. It was delicious! The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauces were very flavorful. I also had a Refajo which was a new and tasty experience for me. I can't wait to bring my husband here. He will love it!

    (5)

  • Maryann M.

    My boyfriend and I were looking for some Columbian cuisine. He had thrown out a few restaurant names, but nothing really caught my eye. Eventually, however, I stumbled upon the Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse. We went around 4 pm on a Saturday, so it was pretty quiet, but the service was excellent! Our waiter was very polite and very helpful in helping us navigate the menu. And in which way did he direct us? Why only the best way - towards the Skirt Steak. I don't think I have ever tasted a more delicious steak in my entire life. Ordered medium rare, it was tender, juicy, and delicious. Perfectly marinated and perfectly cooked, served with fried plantains, yuca and potato. The price wasn't anymore than you'd pay for a good steak, but this was definitely a high quality meal. I'll definitely go back

    (5)

  • Patrick C.

    Very happy with this place, had a great dinner and very good sangria here a few nights ago. Service was good, prices were reasonable. As a latino I can say that this place scratches the itch ive had since moving to chicago. very happy all around. I had steak and my lady had a seafood combo.

    (5)

  • Scott M.

    The best value restaurant in the city not to mention incredible food. Only knock is very limited knowledge bar staff.

    (5)

  • Rima K.

    Loved it loved the food had a great night that night. The Lincoln location is better than the Irving location.

    (4)

  • Anna P.

    One of Chicago's best places to eat! We love the atmosphere, the food, the sangria...everything! My husband and I take his clients, our friends and family to this restaurant all of the time because they are always spot on! Their service is great too. If you need a date night place, a place to take friends, family, strangers, clients, etc...bring them to Las Tablas! You will love it!

    (5)

  • Oscar A.

    I am colombian and I like eating here, but I loved it when it was a BYOB. There are other Colombian restaurants that may give this place a run for their money. Try the empanadas and the bandeja paisa.

    (3)

  • Rebecca H.

    I smelled this place from down the street, so I had somewhat of an idea what we were getting in to - lots of meat. We were seated promptly on a Friday night (looks like we were just lucky, though, because the place was packed and a line formed shortly after our arrival). It took the wait staff a while to get around to water and taking our order - we started with an arepa (cornbread sandwich) and it was fantastic. My partner ordered the Combinaciones - steak and shrimp. I ordered the same - steak and calamari. While the shrimp was good, the calamari was chewy and overcooked. The steak was mind blowing! I suggest you skip the combinations all together and go for the steak only. Yucca, plantain, potato - just filler in my opinion. Nothing special about them and I never got around to eating them. The chimichurri sauces were quite good - although I'm not sure you even need them. We were stuffed and didn't order dessert although it looked awesome. I would definitely come back here!

    (4)

  • JP P.

    This was my first time to try Columbian food, and I enjoyed everything about it. As an Art History student, I especially enjoyed the Botero paintings of delightfully plump people that were hanging all over the restaurant. Got the empanadas for the appetizers and they were perfect. Flaky crust and savory stuffing. Then for entree, my dining companion and I split one of the combination plates which was recommended for serving two. It came with a little bit of everything - steak, ribs, sausage, chicken, plantains, potatoes, and yuca. This was great for the first visit because I got to figure out what I liked, and I especially enjoyed the chicken and the plaintains. The other meats were good, but the potatoes and the yuca were super dry. I would suggest though that you split the two person combo platter between three or even four people. We had a bunch of leftovers, and there was just way too much food for a platter suggested for two. Our meal came out to about $80 (for food, wine, tax, and tip) for two people. A bit pricey, so I'll try out other South American steakhouses which might be cheaper. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed dinner here.

    (4)

  • Katie V.

    this is another one of my Favorite places, it's close by me the steak is amazing, the service is good and the always have beer specials everytime I go. I also enjoy the live music. it's a cute romantic place u can have a good meal, drink and get up and dance if you like

    (4)

  • Daisy C.

    The service, food, and decor at Las Tablas were very good. I tried the lengua (beef tongue) with a Spanish caper sauce. The tongue was cooked to the right consistency. The plantains and yuca were also good. I like that the corkage fee is only $5. The main drawback to the restaurant is the noise level. I don't mind if a busy restaurant is loud, but at Las Tablas, I felt like I was in a club. I had to yell to be heard by the people sitting next to me. (I'm sure I accidentally got saliva on both of them, trying to communicate). I had to yell and pantomime to converse with the friend sitting across from me. (Sorry for any saliva I sprayed on your food). The music may have been good in another setting. But this place was so noisy to begin with, it just detracted from the ambience.

    (3)

  • Sophie D.

    Before Las Tablas moved, I would have given it 5 stars, but I'm heavy into ambiance, and theirs kinda went down the shoot when they moved. I was so excited to introduce this place to my boyfriend for (one of his) 30th b-day dinners. This one was on me b/c I can afford BYOB and $20 steak & shrimp. I looked up the address online to refresh my memory, and we headed out. Imagine my confusion when we arrived to find it there, yet looking completely different. I knew I was in the same area as previous visits, but from the outside it now resembled a dentist's office. It took a walk inside and an awkward conversation w/ the manager (who probably thought I was a few marbles short) before I accepted that this was, indeed, the new (and improved?) Las Tablas. In other words, they've moved across the street. With its cozy vibrant authentic feel and picnic tables (picnic tables!), I loved the old spot. That's been traded in for what reminds me more of a strip mall joint, losing most of its visual character in the process. Once I got over it (ok, i'm still not quite over it), I was relieved to see my favorite combo still on the menu (steak & shrimp). I'm not a big steak eater, but I like how thin the meat is and the way it's cooked. Even though there's some fat on there, it's so big you can easily avoid it and still fill up. The grilled shrimp is great. Love me some scrimps. Plus you get a plantain and yuca with it. It's loads of food and -for only $20 (up $2 from the last location)- it's a steal! I was also relieved to find I could still bring in my bottle of wine. I think they "forgot" to charge us the corkage fee, but I noticed it would have been pretty high at around $8. In the end, the food was just as good as before, and my boyfriend didn't know what he was missing from the location of yore. I'll definitely go back for the food, I just won't talk up the overall feel of the place like I once did. To end on a positive note, it seems possible that with the roomier location, the weekend wait won't be as bad as before, which would be a good thing. I hate waits.

    (4)

  • Char Y.

    We had the combination platters and the smoothies. The abundance of meat was simply amazing, but I thought they were just ok. The presentation is grand, but the taste fell short of impressive. Everything was meaty and fried, which is great, except it was excessively so.

    (2)

  • Pat W.

    This place was great. Very cool crowd and atmosphere. The food was outstanding. I had the house specialty, the steak, with shrimp. The service was also very good. For what you get, it's reasonably priced. FYI.... it's BYOB on the weekdays, but not on the weekends.

    (5)

  • Bryan R.

    Went here on a Saturday evening and loved every minute of it. We started with empanada combo and I have to say they were the best I've ever had. Finished off the night with the Entrana skirt steak and it was also amazing. I'd of given 5 stars but to be honest the sides left a little to be desired. The yuca and the potato were both a little dry, and the plantain was, well, it was plantain. I'd go back for the empanadas alone.

    (4)

  • Bill M.

    This popular Colombian restaurant on Lincoln Avenue has the same menu as the one on Irving Park. The Lincoln location is a bit cozier, with some tables having bench seating while others have chairs. Many of the meals are combo platters with numerous items on large plates that hold a wide sampling of foods. My enormous dish included steak, rib tips, beans, rice, avocado, sweet plantain, and a few other things too. You really don't need appetizers with such generous portions, but they are good, notably the plantain topped with melted cheese. The lemonade was more like refreshing limeade, and desserts like coconut flan do not remain on the plate too long.

    (4)

  • Stuart W.

    I have been this place on many occasions. It's very good. Not quite as good as your Brazilian steak houses, but then again, you're not paying an arm and a leg either. It's good value for your money.

    (3)

  • Adriana K.

    I am writing this review after my second visit to Las Tablas. I am not a big steak person, but the skirt steak here is TASTY, perfectly seasoned. Both times, my husband and I have ordered the same thing--an empanada sampler and the Combinaciones entree with skirt steak and grilled calamari. While the empanadas and calamari are good, the most delicious part of the meal is hands down the skirt steak. I highly recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Kimberly H.

    This review is really a 3.5. I went here on a weeknight because it's BYOB Monday to Thursday. We had the empanadas sampler, I thought they were a little over-fried and hard to cut into. We also had the grilled marisco salad. I thought it was nicely seasoned, and I loved the lime vinaigrette dressing on the house salad. We ordered the entraña steak that came with a sweet plantain, yucca, and baked potato. The plantain was tasty, and the steak was amazing! Like the empanadas, the other sides seemed really dry or over-cooked. For dessert we had the flan de coco, which was nice and creamy and very yummy. Obviously this place is known for steak, and that part was great. Some of the other parts of the meal didn't come together like I would have wanted, but I would go back and try some other things! Lastly I was a little disappointed with the service. It was the kind where they took a while to come open the wine and refill water, but they were hovering as you finished your last bites to take away plates. The server was friendly, but could have been more attentive when it counted.

    (4)

  • Jordan I.

    I've been here twice, and have eaten their skirt steak three times. The empanadas and the cornbread are winners as well. Eventhough I feel when I come here I should be different and order something that not everyone orders. But if it's good, obviously everyone is going to order it. Thus my predicament. And I have not been steered wrong. They marinate the steak in some multispice concoction which just gives the steak unbelievable flavor. SOooooooo good. And it's not marinated to the point where it's mushy either. The last time I was there I also had the ocotopus with the steak. The portions that they give are almost embarassing. I know that if I manage to eat my whole platter, I will definitely be adding a stretch mark somewhere on my body. But well worth the scarring. All of the furniture is made by a specific furniture maker somewhere in or from colombia. You can get the whole story if you go to the website. 0066843.netsolhost.com/h… Also, you need to definitely save room for the coffee at the end of your meal. The first time I ever went here, I had an epic hangover. I'm talking about waking up with the shakes, and walking around town as though you have narcolepsy. So, manage to put my gameface on and delightfully struggle through the whole delicious meal in a delighted silent dignity. But the whole meat and yuca thing almost instantaneously put me to sleep. That was almost, and then came time for desert and I ordered two cups of coffee. HOLY SHIT!!! This stuff is Juan Valdez on PCP and Steroids. I felt like going to a club and tearing up the dance floor. My leg started moving without me controling it, and I started to talk so fast I started laughing. And then other people started laughing at me. As soon as the bill was paid I was marathon ready. Before I knew it, I was outside smoking a cigarette before anyone from my party had even gotten up from the table. I walked so fast I completely forgot my leftovers. But I digress. The service is wonderful, the food is great, they have live entertainment some nights, the atmosphere can be a little much with the noise, and the coffee is awesome. So I recommend this place for an all around good time. And if you live around this area and hungover, grab some coffee here and give your brain a nice lil bitch slap.

    (4)

  • Alonso R.

    ATTENTION!!! DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT EVER AGAIN!!! I have witnessed really bad service, but Las Tablas is by far the worst. I made a reservation to go there on a Wednesday at 8pm. The restaurant called me at 4pm to confirm the reservation, which I did. I was getting ready to go with my relatives and friends (8 people) and then I received a called from the restaurant saying that they were closed for the night. I asked them why and they said that it was very slow for them and they will be better off just closing the kitchen,cancelling reservations and sending everybody home. I asked to talk to the manager and they said that he was gone as well. They did not offer an apology or anything else to compensate this outrageous attitude. I think we should give them a lesson and never visit this place again. Who do they thing they are? The best place in Chicago? Visit El Llano, it is the same food or better, half the price, and you can bring your own bottle anyday, not only Monday to Wednesday.

    (1)

  • Skazoo M.

    I can't believe only one other reviewer (Cassie B) mentioned the outstanding lunch special - soup, entree and 3 sides for $7! I wish I worked in the area so I could take advantage of it more often. Atmosphere: The interior is simple with simple wooden tables and bench seating. They keep the heat blasting during the winter so don't worry about tables near the front. Dress is casual. Service: Far exceeded my expectations - attentive, sincerely friendly, and helpful. Also didn't rush us at all. Food: As the other reviews have indicated, simply wonderful. I now prefer corn over flour empanadas. But I wouldn't recommend it for vegetarians - meat is the star attraction here. Value: The lunch special I mentioned is an amazing value. In general, entrees range from $13 - $20. Portions are very large.

    (5)

  • vivian h.

    One of the best. Even better that it's a BYOB! The portions are huge! Would suggest the Matrimonio. It's a huge plate of strip steak, chicken breast, plantain, yucca and a small baked potato. More than enough to fill you up. My favorite though has to be the Lengua en salsa de alcaparras (aka beef tongue in spanish capers sauce). Amazing! There's always a wait on weekend evenings, so service can be a bit lacking on a busy night. Weeknights are better. Looks like though management has opened up a satellite location a couple doors down in a larger space. It includes 2 bars and a HUGE waiting area, probably to make up for the lack of space in the original spot. So now you don't have an excuse not to try it out!

    (5)

  • Melissa G.

    This place has a special place in my heart :) For two reasons one being their steak is absolutely delicious, from the tenderness to the amount of spices. Every bite gives a little tingle in your mouth. Secondly, this was the place for my first date with my boyfriend. It was a frustrating night because the strap of my shoe broke, and I was super nervous. The staff was attentive, and helped the night go smoothly. Steaks and empanadas are the way to go ! The menu is extensive, and the tables are good for groups as well. They have vegetarian options too. You can scope out the menu online before you head over there :) It can get crowded on the weekend though, with being BYOB and the quality of their food. **Las Tablas moved across the street ! ** It now holds a special place in my heart as my boyfriend proposed to me here in November 2008 :)

    (4)

  • Rachel F.

    The skirt steak was amazing. Seriously amazing. We also ordered the sangria- also, amazing. And the empanada sampler platter. These were fantastic as well. But that skirt steak.... whoa.

    (5)

  • Cherie E.

    Don't let the somewhat sketchy exterior deceive you...this place is good! A great place for a group dinner - we came for dinner Saturday night just in the nick of time...sat down around 7:00. The crowds came shortly after - quite a lively atmosphere. I typically don't like to eat much meat, but my fiance & shared a chicken & steak dish & it was TASTY! Plenty large for both us to share. The service was quick & friendly. And BYOB is of course always a plus!

    (4)

  • L L.

    The food was great- unfortunately the service left MUCh to be desired. We got there and it was fairly empty(half full) it took about 20 minutes for 1 of the guys to get his beer. The waiter was friendly but had no idea what Restaurant week was; 1- He told us that 1 of the appetizers had to be for 2 people - although that was not the case on their advertised RW menu. - this was not a big deal at all. 2- Turns out the RW deal was not a saver and pretty much the same as ordering a la carte. - not their fault either 3 - The waiter left us alone for 30 minutes after we had finished our entrees - we could not for the life of us find him or anyone to help us - it was full by that point. 4- Upon arriving to the table we asked if we could pay a la carte since not all of us wanted desserts - he told us no stating that the bill was already rung up. When we mentioned that we had been isolated for 30 minutes he got defensive and told us that he had made sure that the bus boys filled out waters and took care of us - this was a flat out lie - no one ever came to fill our water and we didnt need much water as we were all drinking. He then proceeded to tell us we didnt have to tip him and that we could just leave it at that. That is when I spoke up and said I would never leave a restaurant without a tip. So he left saying he was going to speak to the manager and then he came back with the bill. VERDICT: Cocky young waiter didn't want to be gracious and admit fault - instead he was defensive a made up a lie about sending bussers over which was untrue. He had a strained look on his face as if he was getting into a verbal fight and he should have known better. I tipped him 25% because at that point the only way to make him feel like a bigger ass is to tip him generously - he didn't deserve it but that's how I roll. UNFORTUNATE TRUTH: Will never go back, and I thought the food was great, it took too long to get drinks and there was no reason to be so flaky as we were guaranteeing a higher bill than those not participating in RW. MAJOR FAIL LAS TABLAS! I WANTED TO LIKE YOU SO BAD AND I DO BUT YOUR WAITER MESSED UP!

    (2)

  • Mike S.

    I had pretty high expectations for Las Tablas, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to them. First off, Giovanna B. was dead on when she said the place smelled like paint. Five months after her review, I swear I smelled paint when I walked in. There was only one other table there when we were, for an earlyish Saturday dinner. Still surprising to see so few other customers, though. The service, though friendly, was rather inattentive. The food, however, was the main disappointment for me. The grilled meats all seemed to be rubbed with the same spices and tossed on the same grill. Normally, that wouldn't be much of a problem, but the spices they used didn't seem to mesh well with either the steak or the chicken. There was also a weirdness to the char flavor; I've had plenty of meat prepared in the same way but in these the char seemed to be fighting the flavor of the meat, rather than complementing it. The flank steak was incredibly tough (even for flank steak). The sides, at least, were good. Unfortunately, I can't make a meal out of one plantain, some yuca, and a potato. I hope I just came on an off night, but I'm not sure if/when I'll be coming back.

    (2)

  • Pilsen C.

    Okay, first their food. Decent Colombian fare, with the meat dishes and seafood and all. We dont have much choice when it comes to Colombian food in Chicago, so this has to do. I'm Mexican, so Im used to eating with tortillas, which throws me off here. No tortillas to be found anywhere. They instead offer starchy stuff to be eaten with the dishes. The service is relatively bad here. Waiters never returning to see how your party is, and making poor accommodations for groups. We stoppped coming here for group gatherings because of the consistently bad service we got from these people. Not only that, they tended to try to rush us out of the place. Place gets too crowded on weekends, and if youre seated in the front room, you can count on people hovering above your table while they wait for theirs. They have enough business where they stopped caring about good customer service. Waiters tend to congegrate around the back area, talking as if they have no people to wait on.

    (2)

  • Diablo L.

    This place is really ,really good , they have a nice bar as soon as you walk in , the food is excellent. Ordered the combination skirt steak with pork and it was prepared perfect, short wait to get a table but had a fun time at the bar, perfect place to go with a group of people ....

    (4)

  • Jasmine J.

    Las Tablas, you are my guilty pleasure. When I am with you I am so bad, because you are so good. No matter who accompanies me to your table, we always have a fantastic time, filled with laughter and delicious food. When we part, I am drunk from your sweet sangria, fat from your succulent meats, and my breath reeks to high heaven from your mouth-watering chimichurri. I swear- only you, Las Tablas, can make a girl feel good about being drunk, fat and stinky.

    (5)

  • Rose G.

    A friend of mine had a Groupon and took me to the Lincoln Avenue location. A sign was posted at the hostess desk that read Groupon holders were required to have a reservation. Given that the restaurant was virtually empty, we asked if we could have a table anyway. She restated what was on the sign. We asked if we could make a reservation for ten minutes away. She checked with the owner who said we could not. We asked for the phone number to call to make a reservation. She refused to give it to us. We left to go outside to view the Groupon on my friend's device. We called the phone number listed on the Groupon repeatedly and got only busy signals. In Las Tablas' defense, the Groupon did read a reservation was necessary. In my opinion, however, that does not excuse the denial of making a reservation and the discourteous behaviour on the part of Las Tablas on Lincoln Avenue. We went to a different Colombian restaurant called Pueblito Viejo and felt especially grateful for the warm reception, service and fantastic authentic meal. Although we didn't mention it, my friend is Colombian AND works at Groupon. Fortunately, he will get a refund for the purchase of the certificate. Though I have been to both Las Tablas locations in the past, I do not plan to return.

    (2)

  • Scott J.

    I went to Las Tablas last weekend as a replacement for Tango Sur. We made a reservation a week ahead of time, and when we go there they had no record of it. Good thing we got there 20min before the reservation due to the fact groups of 6, and 15 were behind us and also had reservations that were not recorded anywhere. Once we were seated everything was allright. I don't think the food was the best I have ever had, but it definitely wasn't bad either. I felt the chicken was better than the steak, and having come for the steak that was a little disappointing. It is a BYOB, which is great, just so you know the corkage fee per bottle is either $3 or $3.50, and the same for a 6-pack of beer. Definitely look at possibly splitting dishes if you don't want to take leftovers you get a lot of food for the price. Also expect it to be loud in there. A lot of people go with groups of people, so it gets loud very easily."

    (3)

  • Yesenia S.

    Talk about a deal. They know how to really make a great steak. One of the best values for steakhouses in Chicago. The chimichurri sauces is to die for. The staff is friendly and they love making suggestions. This is by far one of my favorite places. I would rate it a five star, but the only thing holding me back is the steep corkage fee for BYOB.

    (4)

  • Mo L.

    I ate here with nine of my friends just recently. Among their appetizers, the beef empanada was really good. The Aborrajado, hot plantains with guava and melted cheese, was also pretty yummy. The fresh fruit drinks and mojitos were excellent. Meanwhile, the Colombiana soda was way too sweet. I had high expectations for their Churrasco, which my friend raved about. It was cooked to the requested medium doneness and had pretty good flavor. However, it was a bit salty for my taste. The quality of the beef was ok for the price, but certainly not prime grade. I wish there were more fried yuca on the side, one of my favorite foods. The good thing for us is that we were there on a non-busy Wednesday night and, probably because of the size of our party, the wait staff was very accommodating of our outside beverages and dessert. This allowed us to 1) enjoy pretty attentive service, 2) not-so-surreptitiously bust out various Belgian ales and other alcohol (my friend brought in a freakin' mini-cooler into which we rotated our next alcoholic beverage periodically), and 3) enjoy Sweet Mandy B's chocolate cake for which the wait staff kindly provided us plates. We tipped them well for our shenanigans. All in all, a very enjoyable birthday dinner!

    (4)

  • Katie J.

    Love it! At first there was some confusion about the dining deal that we wanted to use but it seemed to be just a miscommunication on their part, which was made up for with great service once we got there. We each got the combination plate which was great--tons of food and you get to try like five different things (2 meats and 3 sides). They aren't lying about the Sangria either--it is some of the best I've had! We were a little skeptical because there were some bad reviews on here from a few years ago--whatever the glitch was, it seems like they've fixed it.

    (4)

  • Emily M.

    I LOVE this place. I first came here several years ago, and hadn't been back in quite some time. I was so excited when I found out I'd be returning for my friend's birthday party. I started with the cheese empanadas. Yummm.... Then I went for the steak/octopus combination. First of all, if you don't get the steak, you are simply insane. It is so flavorful and delicious. I tried a bit with the chimuchurri sauce, which was excellent, but the meat itself was so flavorful I decided I preferred it plain. The octopus is so delicious as well. It has a yummy charred flavor and is really delicious. And if you like yucca (which some people don't), this is one of the few places I've found it since my trip to Peru. And you can't go wrong with some plaintains as well. I also like the atmosphere here. It's got a great ambience, and they really seem to have thought of everything. The menu FAQ section is really cute. I especially enjoyed Q: "Where are the chips and salsa?" A: "At the Mexican restaurant down the street." They did forget my friend's entree, who, unfortunately, happened to be the birthday girl. Minus a star for that. But the manager offered us a concession off the bill and a free drink for my friend, so at least they handled it fairly well. He also said it was the kitchen's fault, not the waitress's, and I believe it, since our waitress was nothing but super nice and helpful the whole evening. From this and from reading the other reviews, I'm guessing this place just doesn't QUITE have everything in a row for a busy evening, but oh well. Few places are perfect, and the here food is worth what I'm sure is just an occassional slip.

    (4)

  • Kristen L.

    Best Columbian Steakhouse I've been too. We first went to Las Tablas because they were participating in Restuarant Week. I'm glad we did becuase we've been back three times in the past two months. You can taste every bite of your food, and its all good. The servers are prompt, but not annoying. The mood is romantic, but great for large parties as well. Portions are large, and worth every penny. Bonus, they have half price pitchers of Sangria (so good) M-W. That's just $12.

    (5)

  • Justin S.

    Went out here for the roommate's birthday. I was starving and more so than usual. Waited on his friend to arrive. The free sangria that is available through the online coupon was pretty good. I downed that in no time plus his friend gave me hers. We tried the combination empanadas and they were decent. Nothing really that great, I'd had better. For entree I went with the combination skirt steak and shrimp. They cooked it rare just how I like it and it was well marinated. The shrimp were great especially with some of the marinade and juices from the steak. The sides weren't my thing. Some plantain, yuca and slice of a potato, rustic yes delicious no. Not a bad place for a quick meal and decently priced too.

    (4)

  • Melissa B.

    Love it! I have only been twice, but I want to take everyone I know here. It is soooo yummy. The steaks are awesome, so moist and delicious. I had the shrimp last time....mmmm. I'm dreaming of going back. There is soo much food, you will have leftovers. Save some room for the coconut flan, sooo good! Oh, I almost forgot. There is this amazing appetizer of plantain covered in guava and cheese. yum!

    (5)

  • Debbie H.

    I don't usually like to go back to the same restaurant more than once or twice in a year - there's so much to explore and taste! My husband and I moved to Lakeview in January 2006, and I think we've probably gone to Las Tablas about 8 or 9 times already....it's that good. Good value, good food, good atmosphere (think authentic, not touristy). If you're coming here for a Morton's or Smith and Wollensky kind of steak house, don't. Prepare for a boisterous atmosphere, painted benches, and Botticelli-esque paintings. Highly recommend the yuca app - deliciously smeared with cheese. The steak and octopus combo, house special, and catfish are all mouth-watering. Tender, yet flavorful. The empanadas are the best in the city! Wash it all down with the beverage of your choice (it's BYOB) and enjoy some flan for dessert. A wonderful night out for a date (if you're really fun-loving, it's great for your first!) or out with a group.

    (5)

  • Cassie B.

    Oh my god i loved this place. We went here for my group's work lunch and it was so good. First of all, BYOB - automatic 3 stars in my book. The food was great. we got empanadas and some other stuff for appetizers. I got the lunch special which was $6.95 (!!) and included a soup, a HUGE portion of meat (I had the chicken), potatoes, rice, and a bit of salad. I had my first oxtail soup ever and i liked it a lot. The chicken was just as I like it, pounded thin and seasoned perfectly. their salsa is very good too, it's not like Mexican salsa, not as spicy, but it's good. four of my co-workers got the entree for two, which at $34 included a ton of multiple meats - chicken, beef, sausage, another beef, more meat i can't remember, plus sides. would get 5 stars but the decor and the dining area are only ok, esthetically. however i adore this place and can't wait to go back for dinner!!

    (4)

  • Amy R.

    Went here for a girls' night (you would think we'd go somewhere that serves salads, wouldn't you?) and we all left pleasantly satiated. We called ahead to put our names in, which was a good thing, as it was an hour wait. When we arrived, we got to skip ahead of the line, which was super cool. Although the place is loud (especially if you are seated by a speaker), and the windows don't seem to have much insulation (important point if you visit in the winter), the place had great ambiance, and the air smelled so delicious that it made my mouth water. We all ordered some form of steak combo platter, which included a baked potato, yucca, and plantain. Switching between the sweetness of the plantain and the crunchiness of the yucca between bites of seasoned meat completed the meal. A friend warned that the meat will get overcooked, so I ordered mine medium, and it came out medium well (just what I wanted). The steak was perfectly seasoned, though a little chewy at times, but I'd skip the chicken - it didn't bowl me over. My friend ordered coconut flan and insisted I try it, though I'm not a fan of coconut. Or flan, for that matter. But it was pretty damn good! I'm not a convert, but if I did like coconut and/or flan, I'd order it next time. The great thing was that we didn't feel rushed to get up from our table once we were done eating. Instead, we stuck around a half hour longer to finish our wine and chat. It was a great way to stay out of the cold. Summary: BYOB + steak. Can't really go wrong.

    (4)

  • Kathleen C.

    What is better than a BYOB restaurant? A BYOB restaurant with GOOD FOOD! This place has got it! I always get this chicken and shrimp dish that comes with a salad and rice for about $15. It is a large amount of food and just really, really good. Last time I was there, we went during the week and everyone brought at least 1 bottle of wine. It was nice because we didn't feel rushed to leave (no crowd) and just were able to have a nice long dinner. Everyone else that I was with ordered appetizers but they are a little too bizarre for me. **And I just noticed they are moving across the street to a new condo building. I wonder if that will change the ambiance.

    (4)

  • Miller T.

    This place is a joke. Over priced, cheap cuts of meat, without any flavor. Served with bland potato and yucca, that was so unimaginative, it was simply over done in the oven. If you are looking for any sort of flavor in your steak, other than the salt licks they serve here, go elsewhere. If you enjoy cheap cuts of over priced meat, soaked in oil, make your reservation now. Sometimes I wonder how some places as bad as this, last so long in Chicago. Then I remember that most of you come into this place, see how the skirt steak is the house specialty on the menu, then the waiter reiterates this, and you sheep lap this up.

    (1)

  • Yoyita F.

    This is by far my ALL TIME FAVORITE restaurant. My husband took me where when we first started dating... back when I did NOT enjoy trying different foods and usually ate the same 'ol thing. Now, I have to say that Colombian food is my second favorite food to eat (after my mom's home cooking). Our typical order starts with the empanadas, than we share the Picada Colombian which is a huge dinner enough for 2 - 3 people and comes with steak, chicken, ribs, sausage, arepa (corn bread), plantains, and potatoes. Than we usually end our dinner with the to-die-for flan. Best of all we always have food left over to take home and eat the next day. Oh and I can't forget to mention that its BYOB. BEWARE: This place gets packed and noisey on the weekends so make sure to arrive early.

    (5)

  • Andrew S.

    Friendly service and probably among the best food places in Chicago. Every time I have guests into town, this is the one place I make sure to take them!

    (5)

  • Lauren S.

    I've been here several times and loved my dinner each time! The colombian platter is yummy (I love the grilled plantains!), but beware of the portion sizes. They are huge! You can easily split the platters between two people or plan on taking home a good sized leftover bag. I have been able to get a table quickly on the weekdays, but it may take longer on the weekends. Also, there isn't really a 'waiting' area, so you end up crammed up next to the patrons seated right by the door. Bonus points for BYOB!

    (5)

  • Vicky C.

    Can we say "delicioso"!?! My boyfriend and I wanted to try this restaurant ever since a couple of people recommended it. It definitely met my expectations. We started off with free sangria (printed out a coupon on their website), and ordered a couple of appetizers; chicken empanadas and arepas con chorizo. Both were very good. The empanadas were made with masa, and came out hot and crisp. The chorizo was yummy! The main dish we ordered was the flank steak, ordered medium rare, and made with perfection. It was definitely big enough to split. The chimichurri sauce, plantains, and yucca nicely complements the dish. The service and food was great! I'm definitely coming back for more!

    (4)

  • Dianne G.

    This is without a doubt the best BYOB in Chicago. The prices are reasonable the meat is excellent, the seasoning was just right. Everything I've had there has always been prepared perfectly. I tend to lean towards the Matrimonio. Also =the convenience store a few doors down has a great selection of wine.

    (5)

  • Yujin A.

    Hmm.. I have mixed opinions on this restaurant. Their empanadas are great.-the pastry part is corn-based not flour-based. Having yams and plantains with your meat is great. BYOB is also great. But this restaurant is way too hectic, and the service is rather poor on weekends. I didn't personally care for their ox-tail soup although I am a huge fan of soups. Their food is good, but I prefer Tango Sur to Las Tablas for when it comes to the taste of meat. You can definitely share their "plate for two" among three people. It comes with fried yam/ plantain, corn pancake, beef, sausages, and chicken. Fortunately we didn't wait for too long although we went there around 6 45 on a Friday night (we were really worried that we would have to wait forever). The restaurant was surprisingly empty, but 30 mins later people were waiting in line. So if you go there on weekends, go there before 7pm (6:30 to be safe) as they don't take reservations on weekends.

    (4)

  • Amy M.

    I was here last night, and my experience pushed me to sign up on Yelp, since I use the reviews to navigate towards great experiences. Ambiance is nice, waitstaff is friendly & atttentive, but the food... I had a combination platter with my boyfriend-forget the name of the platter, but the pork ribs were horrible. I can't believe they actually serve that to people-I wouldn't feed that to a wild animal. The chicken was just ok, but I figured, well, I didnt come here for chicken. The plantane was really good, and the potatoes were just ok too. Chorizo was pretty good-I could have had a plate of that by itself. Overall the food-was "meh, ok". My favorite part of my meal was the sangria. It was really good-$24.00 for a pitcher, not too shabby. I brought wine, but couldnt stomach the $8.00 corkage fee-that was the price of the wine itself. Would I go back? Maybe to try their skirt steak, and give them another chance. I gave them the extra star for the sangria

    (3)

  • Liz W.

    I've been wanting to try a colombian steakhouse for quite a while now and when a groupon appeared to this place I decided it was that time. Tip: If you have a groupon you HAVE to make a reservation. We didn't order any appetizers since I saw how generous the portions were, but I did order the Caipirinha. It was very strong, if I had another one I probably would have gotten a buzz. For dinner we had the Picada Colombiana for 2. The chicken was my favorite part. It was very flavorful and not dry at all. The steak had a good flavor, but it was kind of chewy. The chorizo was good, i mean its sausage come on. The ribs were nasty. Very dry and flavorless. Now on to the carbs. The potato was nothing special, the yuca was awesome though, and the tostones were good as well. Our waiter was really good as well so no complaints there. The food came out in about 10 minutes or so. I would come back to las tablas, but I wouldn't get the combination plate again.

    (4)

  • Jeffrey H.

    I've never had Colombian food before so I don't really have anything else to compare it to, but I'm probably hooked to come back to this place if I ever want a ridiculous meat-fest again. We got the Picada Colombiana, which is a little bit of everything (steak, beef ribs, chicken, pork sausage, plantains, yucca). Absolutely no need for an appetizer if you are getting this, I believe my belly was pretty destroyed and we had lots of leftovers. It seems other Yelpers are in agreement as well. I loved the chimichurri and the churasca sauces, but again was my first time having it. We later went home and made it ourselves, LOL. Good stuff. Our waiter was Carlos, and he will tell you everything is the "best of the best", which was hilarious. Very attentive dude, and I recommend him if you ever get a chance to go.

    (4)

  • Robyn K.

    Wow, they let us use our Groupon on a Sat.night! This is our second time at this restaurant and each time we have been extremely happy with our selections. We had a party of 6 last night with some of us arriving earlier than the others. We were seated on time and ordered drinks and appetizers for the table. The appetizers came about the time that the rest of our group did. (Empanada combination plate and Chorizo con Arepa)They were able to nibble while looking at the menu. This is not a place to go if you are a vegetarian. This is a place for meat eaters. Each of us had something different...Entrana (skirt steak), Pollo al Ajillo(chicken).Langostios al Carbon (shrimp), Churrasco ( NY strip), and Lomo de Cerdo Estofado (pork). The steaks arrived as ordered (med rare)The plates are sizzling hot. We barely had enough room to share one dessert...coconut flan. Each of us had leftovers to take home. Expect to pay about $45 each, but I think it was well worth it.

    (5)

  • Erica F.

    Las Tablas is amazing. I don't know of many places where you can get an large, amazingly cooked and seasoned steak as well as grilled shrimp and fried plantain for 20 bucks! They were able to accommodate my party of 13 last minute as well, which was totally awesome! Everyone at the table was very satisfied, and everything came out well prepared and in a timely fashion. The coconut flan was also so delicious! DEFINITELY DEFINITELY GO!

    (5)

  • S S.

    I've been to Las Tablas twice in the past month - once on a Wednesday, and again on a Saturday. Wednesday night - dead. For a newbie the waiter recommended the skirt steak, and it did not disappoint. Our Saturday visit had a few glitches, but overall, we were pleased. I had forgotten to make reservations, but called about an hour ahead, and the hostess put my name on the list (phew!). When we arrived, we were seated at one of the tables for four along the outside wall - good, but when the temp is in the low teens, they probably need a shade or something. We didn't have a "waiter" per se - as much as a guy who looked like a host who kept visiting. We ordered some plantains, then empanadas and one other app, all of which were good, but everything was pretty oily. When our dinners arrived (we all had the skirt steak) everyone was thrilled - mine was the only meat to be a bit underdone. I ordered medium, and got rare - but that's my only complaint. I could have sent it back, it wasn't worth the trouble. At the end of our meal, the server kindly came by, after giving us about 10 minutes to sit, and asked if we would mind taking our check, as there were many people waiting. Given that they fit us in, I didn't much mind - we retired to Witt's across the street for a drink - but I'd probably think twice about coming back on a weekend if I wanted to linger....

    (3)

  • Eddie H.

    besides the hour wait, the food was awesome! =)

    (4)

  • Fareeda S.

    Love Love Love this place!!!

    (5)

  • Ricky N.

    Good reasonably priced colombian food .Havent been in over a year but last time I was here they had a really nice lunch special .Think it was Arrachera meat ,rice ,salad and soup for $5-6 .Great deal !!

    (3)

  • Mel F.

    So, I'm gonna be a hater because I do not like this place. I have never had a good experience here. The first time we were ignored for 1/2 an hour! We seriously sat around with a glass of water and menus for HALF A FRICKEN HOUR...so we left. The second time the service was erratic...again. And the last and final time I went, they didn't have anything. No cheese, no avocado, no diet pop, are you kidding? I was so over it by then. My date liked his food but said it wasn't anything to write home about. I'd rather go to some of the hole in the wall Columbian restaurants down Lincoln. They are cheaper and so much better. I say skip it altogether.

    (2)

  • Scott H.

    This is some good eating! Worth a drive into the City on a Friday or Saturday night! Sometimes there can be a bit of a wait despite reservations, but again the food I've tasted here has made the wait worthwhile!

    (4)

  • David S.

    We went to Las Tablas to celebrate a birthday and had a pretty good time. The food was absolutely amazing (we had the empanadas sampler and the chicken/beef dinner), however the service was not very good. From the looks of it, we just happened to get a bad waiter as the rest of the restaurant seemed to be getting good service. A matter of fact, the other members of the wait staff were very accommodating to us when I had to ask them for help. Our waiter was slow to greet us, slow to refill our drinks, and did not explain to us their menu when asked. I would definitely go back and try them again, because the food was very good even if the service was not so good.

    (3)

  • Paul C.

    When I first moved to the city, I lived right next to Las Tablas, and this was the first resteraunt I went to. I love this place. The empanadas are some of the tastiest in the city. The steaks are great, and cooked to juicy perfection. And the prices are incredibly reasonable and the portions are great. This place is a can't miss in my book. It gets crowded weekend evenings so plan ahead.

    (4)

  • Ivonne F.

    Went here on Sunday night for a birthday dinner. I loved the atmosphere and the artwork. There was a Spanish guitarist and singer to add to the ambience. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive. Now, about the food... delicious. I had the grilled skirt steak, and it was easily one of the best cooked, best seasoned steaks I've eaten in my life. I opted for rice and beans instead of yuca and potato, both of which were quite good. Our table shared empanadas and chorizo, which were all terrific. Also, all of the food was made even more delicious when I smothered the fantastic chimichurri sauce all over it. I think I could have drank that sauce by the gallon. For dessert, they brought my mom a free order of coconut flan and the singer did a special redition of happy birthday for her. It was very sweet and the flan was quite good. Overall, it's a bit pricey but I would go back.

    (5)

  • Stefanie L.

    I love this place. LOVE this place. Their food and service is excellent. Furthermore, they cater to vegetarians and gluten free folk! I personally love their Entrana Skirt Steak. Yum.

    (5)

  • Allison K.

    If you like meat on a wooden slab, this place is right up your alley. A big group of friends and I went here last weekend after failing to get reservations at Tango Sur (we called two weeks in advance. That place is crazy). We loved our experience here, though! BYOB fee is fairly cheap, $8, and very good service. Ole.

    (5)

  • Meghan S.

    It was an all you can eat buffet brunch. Sounded good and actually tasted very good. There was only one waitress for 3 tables- didn't seem that difficult. But apparently it was. She tried, though. Service, water and stuff, was slow because she didn't have to serve us food since it was a buffet. I'll give it another chance. I hear it is better for dinner.

    (3)

  • liz d.

    Still an awesome place for Colubian food. However, the corkage fee is a little steep at $8 a bottle. Great service.

    (5)

  • Mike A.

    great food, great atmosphere, great place the look inside. brown/beige without much clutter and very clean. full bar in the front by the entrance and a service bar in the back. lighting is poor but there are candles at every table. maybe it was the size of the room or the fact that the furniture seems larger than usual, but in both my visits i felt physically small, a first for me. the food. small menu with lots of overlap between entrees but everything we tried was excellent. the grilled mariscos combination is 3 shrimp, 2 grilled calamari squid, and 3 baby octopus. believe the menu when it says its char-grilled so be ready for a heavier flavor. the calamari was perfectly grilled and very tender (no rubber here). the matrimonio entree is definitely a two person meal. big, grilled chicken breast and a big hunk of entrana beef. the beef was not chard and very very juicy. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE YOUR MEAT RARE MAKE SURE YOU ORDER MEDIUM WELL/WELL AND YOU WILL GET MEDIUM -- EVERY OTHER BEEF TEMPERATURE COMES OUT RARE -- THIS HAPPENED TWICE. the pollo releno was simply outstanding and was our favorite dish. very large chicken breast (maybe two?) rolled and filled with cheese and spinach and perfectly grilled. very very good. the crowd. lots of families and large groups. of course due to the location and good value for the price, lots of de paul students in their early 20s. overall. very good south american restaurant in a very good location. link to menu 0066843.netsolhost.com/m…

    (4)

  • andy b.

    This place is good and always crowded. The milk shakes are good also. I would not say it is excellent. I used to be blown away by this place, but that was before i started going to other south american restaurants. However the food is just a bit too greasy for me.

    (3)

  • Dean D.

    Arrived around 7pm, restaurant was pretty empty, sat down quickly and our server was super extremely friendly. Service was great until the restaurant filled up and it seemed that our server had too many tables. The food was great and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, just don't go when it's busy. :( It took about 20 minutes to get the bill after we were done with dinner.

    (4)

  • J H.

    Great food at reasonable prices. Check this place out. The seating area feels like you are in another country with huge block tables and oversized chairs.

    (4)

  • Rachel N.

    Yum yum yum! The steak (not sure what kind) was perfectly cooked and juicy. We tried an array of apps, sides and a couple entrees, and everything was spectacular! I can't wait till it warms up to sit on the patio out front again!

    (4)

  • Ji K.

    I haven't been back here in awhile, but I have been coming to Las Tablas for years. It's just a down-to-earth place with some consistently delicious food. I always get the entree with a variety of different meats and various starches, and it never fails to please. Las Tablas makes my tastebuds very happy.

    (4)

  • Peter B.

    What a fantastic restaurant! As a fan of Latin American Cuisine, i had my eye on Las Tablas since the summer and finally had a reason to go a few weeks ago. 7PM on a friday night, there was a 1hr 45 minute wait for a table of 5 at Tango Sur, and NO wait at all at Las Tablas. Service: The waiter was exceptionally kind- took the time to explain the different entrees and cuts of meat that they prepare. He said " if the skirt steak does not make you smile when you eat it, i will personally bring you a pitcher of sangria for free". He never had to bring the pitcher. Food: We began with the empanadas- delicious! I preferred the beef over the chicken, even though the chicken empanadas were recommended by the waiter. the Aji is delightful flavoring that I dunked the empanadas in (and also spread around the meat as well). I had the bandeja Paisa, which is more delicious food than i can eat in two meals. My friends had the combination skirt steak/chicken plate. Everyone was extremely happy with the taste and quality and portion of food. Cost: Not cheap, but worth it. Entrees are about $20+ .Expect to have a $35 per person meal if you bring your own wine. (don't forget $8 corkage fee) Bathrooms: Were SPOTLESS. top notch. Well maintained and comfortable. They even had a nicely decorated lounge in the basement as a waiting room. Environment: Wooden benches with no back, ahhh uncomfortable. But apparently quite authentic, as the waiter described this is how many Colombian "fondas" look. I'll buy it. Dark overhead lighting, candles on the table. Live brazilian samba music in the background, not too loud. Will be my default "date place". Didn't get crowded until 9PM for some reason...do colombians eat that late? 5 Stars!

    (5)

  • Marcus Z.

    I love this place...the skirt steak, the grilled squid, the plantain, flan.....etc....i think you get the idea.

    (5)

  • Brett N.

    Well prepared food with great flavor, however their service has been slow both times I've been there.

    (4)

  • D G.

    Went to Las Tablas last weekend with a group of 6. Overall rating was a one star: Service - no stars: The beer I ordered when the waiter first came to our table never came. I then had to ask three times for a soda, which finally came 10 minutes after I was done eating. And out of curiosity--In Columbia, does the salad usually come after the main course, or was our waiter that bad??? Food - two stars: The shrimp and steak both had really great flavor--which helped make up for the horrible cut of beef they use. They use a very thin, rubbery cut which takes a bit longer to chew than would be expected. Probably won't be going back anytime soon.

    (1)

  • John M.

    Empanadas, chicken and beef.....that's what these guys are good at. Fun atmosphere, much better than their old location across the street. Bring your own wine and have a good ol' time. Great for large groups, as they have ample sized tables. I would agree with others on the service. This past time we were there on a farily busy Friday night and our server disapeared and we finally had to flag him for the check. But when we have gone during the week, when it is slower, the service has been very attentive and friendly.

    (4)

  • Klar Z.

    Every year my husband and I come here for dinner before we go look at Christmas lights. Don't ask me how this became the tradition but every year we order the matrimonio and the chorizo con arepo and we leave overfed and extremely happy. Take it with a grain of salt that we only visit once a year and always get the same thing, but at the same time, it certainly delivers.

    (4)

  • K W.

    Tango Sur is my restaurant crush, so I was excited to try out what seemed likely to be a similar experience. Sadly, I was somewhat disappointed. Decent steak, but flavorful due mostly to oversalting as opposed to actual seasonings. No wait to be seated, but then a 50 minute wait to get our food. The explanation by the waiter was "it is taking a long time to get your food because we have a large party seated; but you don't mind? Really? I don't? Ok food at ok prices, but if you want a great night, and can handle a wait, go to Tango Sur.

    (3)

  • Fiyaz K.

    Great food - The Entrana is without a doubt one of the best S. American Steaks I've had in Chicago. Slightly overpriced but the service makes up for it! I'll be back even without a Groupon.

    (5)

  • J M.

    Entrana and Bandejo Paisa and Pollo - Oh My! Nothing to be afraid of here, Dorothy! Just great grilled steaks, pork, chicken and seafood! We tried a number of menu items, but can say we highly recommend the tender and juicy Entrana (skirt steak) or Bandejo Paisa (ribeye). Also, try the Pollo (chicken): pounded, marinated and grilled to perfection! As you enjoy the food, you'll appreciate their friendly and efficient service, as well as the comfortable, spacious seating and surroundings! "There's no place like home," I mean, like Las Tablas!

    (4)

  • Araceli R.

    in my first visit in this place.......:(the bowl of the chimichurri was cheap........then a human hair inside the chimichurri......bla bla no seasoning in the matrimonio plate.......the papa asada soooo dry i dont like it no way ........ the wait staff very friendly but thats it......

    (2)

  • Trinidad T.

    the only thing that was good from this place was the fried plantains... when we arrived they said the wait for our large group would be half an hour... and it turned more into 1 hr 45 minutes... we were so freaking starving we started ordering our appetizers at the bar... so finally we get seated... and personally i think that if ppl are waiting that long for a table, the waitstaff should be ready to go and take orders to make up for lost time... this was not done... we finally ordered our food and were almost beyong the point of hunger when it came out... we ordered a variety of dishes which were good at best, along with our sangria, the bill came out to be 35 bucks a person... i do have to add though that the place is beautifully decorated, the bathrooms downstairs were also very nice... personally for that price and that wait, it would've been a far better experience to go to a mom and pop's place for columbian steak and chicken for some reason, i remember that the chorizo was SO dry, it was like trying to cut a rock :(

    (2)

  • Vanessa M.

    GREAT FOOD and it wasn't terribly expensive, however, the service was a little weird. We felt kind of rushed and it took forever to place just a drink order. I give it three stars though because the food was amazing. You have to have the skirt steak and shrimp combo.

    (3)

  • Kristin M.

    Las Tablas was very good, I would definitely go back. I'm only giving it three stars (I would actually give it 3.5 if I could) because it was incredibly loud in there, and while the meats were very good (the chicken is excellent) they all seemed to be rubbed with the same spices. This is fine, but I guess I was hoping for a little more variety. The side dishes I had also left a little to be desired. The major plus though, was the fact that its a BYOB, and the empanadas were fantastic!

    (3)

  • N P.

    Delicious, always! The chicken and octopus or shrimp are my favorite. Love that it's BYOB during the week.

    (5)

  • Rodrigo M.

    I'm Colombian and this is as close to home as you can get! The food is amazing...... Highly recommend it, specially the arepa and chorizo and the bandeja paiza...

    (5)

  • Danny P.

    I came here because a friend of mine is a head chef at Disney World, and Las Tablas was one of the places he recommended in Chicago. He was absolutely right. I've lived in Chicago for about 4 years and I've been here at least 15 times. It's the some of the best food I have found in Chicago. I read the negative reviews and they all say the same thing. First they say that the service was slow. Well what do you expect from a place that is packed at both of their locations every single weekend? People are going for a reason. The second thing they say is that the food was not that good. Most of those people who wrote that are confusing a Columbian restaurant for some other Hispanic food. One reviewer thought it was Argentinian, and another was actually upset because she is Mexican and Las Tablas didn't have any tortillas for her. Wow. Go here, get some empanadas, an aborrahado, El Matrimonio, and get yourself a fruit juice with milk. You won't be disappointed, as long as you're not an idiot who thinks you're at an Argentinian restaurant.

    (5)

  • Philippe F.

    We started off with a few mojitos and sangria, and then warmed up to some yummy appetizers: Grilled Calamari, Plantain w/ Guava Paste and Arepa Rellena.....mmmmmmmmmmm! The calamari was by far some of the best grilled calamari I have laid my tongue on. Iberico has some competition when it comes to squid!!! When my Bandeja Paisa was put in front of me my eyes started to water. I love marinated rib eye, the fried pork reminded me of lechon, the rice, beans and fried egg were the icing on the cake. Man oh man, it was quiet at our table for quite some time, except for a few "mmmmm"s, "oh my God"s and "You want to try this?"s. I couldn't save room for dessert because I couldn't stop eating. Our leftovers made some killer steak and eggs the next morning. Service was attentive, I love the tiny menus, and the FAQs were entertaining as well. Next time, it's more fried pork and perhaps the seafood route. Sorry Tango Sur, but you just got bumped down......

    (4)

  • Jerry E.

    My wife and daughters, ages 11 and 14, enjoyed the food and the waitress was helpful explaining the menu. Dined late Sunday afternoon, and the restaurant was quite. The restaurant moved across the street and you see other reviews for the former location.

    (4)

  • Giovanna B.

    Las Tablas has a great look to it: Simple yet tasteful decorations adorn the walls, low mood lighting gives the place a comfortable feel to it (and makes me look dang good!), and the little bar at the entrance is spacious enough to hold those waiting for a table. As soon as we walked in, I had a good vibe out of the place. And then my friend pointed out that there was a "funky" smell to it. I thought it smelled like pescado frito (fried fish), but she said it smelled like paint, which would make sense (I guess) given that it is a new location. But it didn't bother me much. The food itself was good, but not amazing - definitely 3.5 to 4 stars worth (I will explain why I gave the place 3 in a little bit). I shared the big plate Para Dos (for two) with one of my friends. The red meat selection was very good, but as one reviewer pointed out, not as good as Tango Sur. If I were to return to this establishment, I would definitely go all-beef next time. The chicken that came on the platter was okay, but my other friend's order of Pollo al Ajillo (garlic chicken) was excellent, though as someone pointed it out to me, there is no smooching after eating that! What really caught my attention were the papas amarillas (the little yellow potatoes) that just melt in your mouth, along with the chimichurri-like sauce, yu-um! The yuca was good, but somewhat dry, and the sweet plantain.... oh God... that was simply divine (I could eat that for breakfast, lunch AND dinner), though you can get sweet plantains of equal (and sometimes better) value in other restaurants as well. Finally, what blew me away was the corn-bread (though it tasted like cheese to me) that they served with the meals. I can't even begin to describe it - you just have to try it for yourself. Now, though the consumption part of the evening was very, very good, the service part pretty much sucked. Yes, the portions were big, and yes, it was delivered faster than I expected, but there were a number of things that bugged me and contributed to the lower score: Point 1: Though the flan was really, really good, the arroz con leche (rice pudding) was served in its original container - i.e. the one that it gets packaged in when it is delivered from the store!! Do what other restaurants do: Put it in a bowl and make me think that you made it! Come on people, LIE to me! Point 2: On the big platter two of us shared, they served us with HALF a piece of the corn-bread thing! Come on people! There are TWO of us eating over here! At least give us a whole piece so we can each have at least half, not a meager quarter! They probably run out of the bread, bringing me to.... Point 3: It seems that they run out of *everything* I wanted! First, the passion fruit drink, then corn-bread, then every single dessert in the house except for the flan and arroz con leche. I understand that restaurants (especially popular ones) can run out of things, and that's okay, but the server didn't even seem to care! Bringing me to.... Point 4: The service itself was horrible. The story goes like this: Two of my friends showed up late and our server brought them menus, saying he would be back in a second, but taking a second times 720 instead (okay, that was a dorky math joke to point out that he came back 20min later...sheesh). Now, I know the restaurant is busy, and I know that servers have more than just one table to take care of, and normally I don't really care it taking so long, except this time I did. Why? Because not only wasn't our water glasses filled up once, but he came back to tell us that the grill had already closed and that my buddies couldn't order. The thing is, he never told us the grill was closing! AND, to further fuel the fire, he started blaming THEM for being late, and US for not calling ahead of time and letting them know that people would be coming late!! A friend of mine told him in Spanish that it was okay, that it wasn't a problem, but this individual kept going on and on about being their fault for being late. I found it offensive that he would be saying this in Spanish about my friends who didn't speak a lick of Spanish, and that he didn't even apologize for not letting us know that the grill was closing after he brought the menus for them to order. And so, I respectfully just turned to him and said that there is no problem, but he should keep in mind that he could have mentioned all of this earlier. I was on my best behaviour that night =) Would I return to this location? Nope. But I was recently informed that the location on Irving Park Rd is not only much better, but has their liquor license and serves a killer Sangria. I think I will go to that Las Tablas next time instead. And I hope the service is much, much better, if anything for my own piece of mind.

    (3)

  • Ed C.

    I'm a big fan of columbian food and this is one of the best in the area. Skirt steak and empanadas just makes for a great meal.

    (5)

  • Seosamh D.

    The Entrana is AWESOME!! One of the best steaks I've ever had! Perfectly cooked and extremely tasty. Plus, it's a BIG piece of meat. The veggies are a bit dry otherwise I'd give it 5 stars. Guess that's the style for Columbian veggies. The Flan is awesome too. Nice looking place

    (4)

  • Jenny C.

    Entrana is the best here, no complaints at all, environment is truly latin american, It's a little piece of Colombia in the windy city

    (5)

  • Jessica P.

    This restaurant is AMAZING!!! I absolutely love it and definitely recommend it to everyone! Atmosphere is nice and relaxing. I usually order the Entraña (well done) and its perfection. I'm not a picky eater but my boyfriend is and he loves it here as well. He orders the Matrimonio (medium well) and enjoys it. The Yuca is delicious and so is the plantain that comes with the dish. Their pricing is very reasonable because they do give you a lot of food. Also, if you have a sweet tooth like I do, you MUST order the Flan de Coci, it's heaven on earth! Rich and creamy :) Bon appetite!

    (5)

  • Pierre A.

    I had my birthday dinner here and the food was excellent along with the drinks. A bit pricey but the food portions are large.

    (4)

  • C D.

    These guys are taking the Groupon and making up their own rules. They will except it by reservation only, want an advanced (at least 24-hour) reservation notice, and only taking 20 a day. I found this out yesterday after a long drive there. I've been to the restaurant without reservation which is why I didn't think to make one. When I arrived, I saw a sign posted that states their "Groupon Reservation" policy but not the limit. I called the restaurant outside it's doors to make a reservation and they (I say they because you can hear someone telling the person on the phone what to say) stated "we cannot make reservations". ???? Mind you, at this point I did not tell them I had a Groupon and the place was empty. From that point they proceeded to tell me their policy on the Groupon and said Groupon has their rules and we have ours. I'm trying to find the small print on this deal that suggests this restaurant can do this. -So disappointed

    (1)

  • Brad R.

    My friend took me here a year ago and I've been back multiple times. Perfect for big gatherings or a one on one romantic date. I love the artwork of all the chubbies. The food and service is where this place shines and really what else matters. Every time I'm here the servers are incredibly calm, nice, and knowledgable. No restaurant is perfect and if you've had a bad time here I'm sure that womt be the case the second time around. The food is DIVINE! Iave tried most of the food and have not been let dowm by any of them. The pollo relleno es increíble. Its a delicious breast filled with spinach and cheese with a side of rice and a surprisingly good yet simple side salad. The empanadas are sooo good. Check it out

    (5)

  • Sarah A.

    I LOVE this place. I've been here several times over the past few years and every time the food is always excellent! The grilled calamari is amazing and the steak and shrimp combo is equally fantastic. With their great atmosphere and friendly staff - this has kept me coming back year after year.

    (5)

  • Lauren S.

    Came here with my family. Everyone ordered the skirt steak, and everyone was very happy!

    (4)

  • Janice L.

    I like that this place can accomodate big groups so it's one of the default venues for birthday get togethers. It is a bit loud but I can't complain when my group tends to be the loud one too. I prefer ribeye but quickly learned their skirt steak is their best cut. And that cuban onion/cilantro they serve! Every time I wish I could take a bucket home with me. Grilled octopus or squid! They make it just right - enough crunch and...grill. They serve sangria. Once upon a time, I remember they served free sangria to their customers. Maybe it's just for certain nights... Parking is not difficult. People are constantly going in and out of Lincoln Ave. Service is alright. Some times you can't blame the waitors when you have a huge group. They didn't have change for our cash though, which was extremely strange. Heard their cuban coffee is excellent but I don't do coffee after dinner. Seeing I've been back 4+ times, las tablas is a yes-go.

    (4)

  • Tori B.

    Las Tablas is great. The wait staff is so nice, and their food is amazing. It's also a great place for vegetarians too, surprisingly. They have a massive vegetarian plate for only $11. The skirt steak is also tender and delicious.

    (5)

  • Zoey N.

    Went here back in August with my boyfriend and used a Groupon which included an appetizer, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts for $32. Pretty good deal and we both enjoyed our steak and plantains. The desserts we had were Flan, which was too sweet, but the chocolate cake was pretty good. Appetizer was grilled calamari with a salsa dip which we liked.

    (4)

  • Chad V.

    Pretty delicious! Plantains are maduro, yucca is fried to perfection and the meat/seafood is savory and moist. Not to mention the green onion oil sauce could be eaten alone. I will be coming back. The service is fast and the atmosphere comfortable. GREAT FOR A DATE!

    (5)

  • Alexandra B.

    As someone coming from a Colombian background, i'm offended by the lack of authentic-ness of this restaurant. If you're looking for authentic Colombian food this is not the place! I truly hope this isn't what people think the food my parents homeland has. Yes they try, but fail miserably in the little things. For example, the arepa (sort of a cornbread type flat bread). I, myself dont know how to cook at all but I even know how to make an arepa. Las Tablas arepas are store bought which are offensive to any Colombian considering it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare the real version. ESPECIALLY, when the texture and taste of a store bought arepa are COMPLETELY different. (think, elementary school cafeteria burger compared to a Kuma's burger, that big of a difference... ) Yes, I feel this strongly about it and the only other Colombian i've met in Chicago, agrees. I ordered the Bandeja Paisa which is probably the most popular dish in Colombia. and whoa! what a disappointment. Again, the lack of authentic-ness. This isn't one of those 'oh my mom makes it a certain way and this restaurant does it differently'... it's very hard to screw up the bandeja paisa and well las tablas did just that. First off, if you dont have the right ingredients, you're setting yourself up for failure. There's a specific type of bean thats used in this meal and las tablas resorted to some mexican beans.. wtf. might as well rename the dish to Mexican Bandeja. The peasants in Colombia would legit be up in arms about this. Enough about the beans and fake arepa, everything tasted dry, even the egg was a poor excuse for an egg. As you may have guessed it, I will not be returning to Las Tablas. The service was good and considering all the interesting artistic things Colombia has to offer, the decor also receives 1 star. In all honesty, if they weren't preaching their Colombian side and people weren't telling me this is the best Colombian food in Chicago, I would say, yea, go ahead and try it. But sadly, my hunt for real authentic Colombian food continues.

    (1)

  • Sid S.

    Ate here last night. Byob but not on the weekend. Ordered the Empanadas appetizer, was okay. Used to empanadas not deep fried & much flavor. Ordered the skirt steak and chicken dinner. Chicken was pretty good and steak was okay, not blown away. Overall not impressed with this place.q

    (2)

  • Sarah E.

    Did that just happen? It's not very often that I walk out of somewhere with that OMG feeling. But, this was an outstanding dining experience across the board. We started with grilled calamari that was paired with a simple salad. Perfect. Calamari didn't feel like rubber. We shared the combination plate (although huge, probably the best way to go for an entree) with the skirt steak (their specialty) and baby octopus. The combo plate came with potatoes, yucca, and a fried plantain. It was perfect to share, and we left stuffed and fully satisfied for $30. If I wasn't with my mother I probably would have participated in the BYOB (wine only, and I don't even care). Flawless and friendly service. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Cynthia M.

    We went here on a Saturday night before a movie, with a Groupon. They only take reservations for groups that are larger than 6, and the hostess said that it might be kind of crowded at 8pm, so we went in at 7:30 to be safe and leave ourselves enough time to make the movie. Plenty of seating at that time. I ordered a sangria (fine), and my fiance ordered a mojito which he declared one of the best he's had in Chicago. We also split the grilled baby octopus which was also delicious - had a great smoky flavor from the grill. Everything on the menu looked awesome and we were having a hard time deciding how to divvy up all the meats between our two orders (these are important dining issues). Enter, the Picada Colombiana, which pretty much had all the meats and sides we wanted, for two. It did not disappoint. Every piece of meat on the cast iron plate they bring it out on was cooked to perfection. Super tender and juicy, even the chicken. The only thing that was less than satisfactory was one of the sides - we're still not sure if it was the crunchy green plantain or the yuca. It was pretty dry. Everything else was so delicious. We couldn't finish all of it so after numerous That's What She Said jokes about the meat, we packed up the leftovers. The car smelled amazing when we got out of the movie. Everything was still delicious the next day. If this place was BYOB on the weekends too, we'd probably be there every weekend. We're already recruiting our friends for the next visit...with a reservation.

    (5)

  • Justine L.

    I came here for a friend's birthday dinner, so it was a larger group on a Saturday... very packed! Our party shrunk in size so our table was rearranged to accommodate other tables, and we probably waited 15 minutes between sitting down to ordering drinks to appetizers to entrees. The staff was always friendly about the delays and threw in a free round of sangrias. We ordered the seafood sampler platter for the appetizer, and the baby octopus was wonderful! It had this great charred, smokiness about the flavor. The baby octopus out-shined the squid and shrimp, which were not charred but plainly grilled. Since the appetizer was so good, I ordered the octopus and skirt steak combo. Again, octopus was delicious. The skirt steak on the other hand, had great flavor and marinades, but was surprisingly not of good quality. It was very chewy and filled with ligaments more than meat itself. I couldn't tell you if it was or was not tender because I quite frankly did not have very much chewable meat. Luckily the plantains and yuca were delicious- one of my favs and very well done here- to bring the plate to an overall level of tasty. I would give Las Tablas another try but not on a weekend. I think this place has a lot to offer but would imagine it is much more enjoyable, in terms of both food quality and ambiance, when not as crowded.

    (3)

  • Adam C.

    unreal meal. great atmosphere and I about licked the plate after i was done with my meal. got the steak and shrimp. will def be back.

    (5)

  • Trisha A.

    Great food, great service. The churrasco's are superb along with the empanadas. BYOB is also a good aspect. Only downside is that it can be quite loud and the wait can be long depending upon when you arrive.

    (4)

  • Richie D.

    I am erasing all those lovely, fine moments that I had experienced at Las Tablas prior to the new location... Una GRAN Decepción! (A Great Disappointment!) I had been to this newer location before, and the prices were a bit higher than the old, hold-in-the-wall location. Well now, the prices are even higher! I hope it's because they moved to this larger, nicer location and had to pay off their debt. Regrettably, I recommended that my friends and I go to Las Tablas versus waiting in line at Tango Sur. We simply wanted steak so I figured, "why not!" I also kept in mind that Tablas is larger in size. We arrived and had waited an hour versus the 30 that we were told. Recommendation 1: MAKE A RESERVATION! Once we arrived to the table, we noticed that there were 3 birthday parties. Perhaps this is why it took our waitress 20 minutes to attend to us. Once the waitress arrived, she apologized and was super sweet. They were understaffed on waiters, yet not water fillers/busboys. We ordered different empanadas ($2 each--not bad) which were pretty delicious...Or perhaps this was because we were already starving and I had partially lost my appetite. We received our food about 45 minutes later (making our visit 2+ hours long). Their chimichurri is really what gave their items the flavor. I don't know why rice and beans doesn't come with every entree, but they don't (only the vegetarian or the "authentic" Colombian Bandeja Paisa platter). It didn't matter to me after I tasted the beans and rice and they seemed aged and sour?!?! How do these two get that way, no idea? The potatoes were undercooked, while the yuca was tasty. Recommendation 2: Don't BYOB unless you're aware of their BYOB policy: Only Wine and a corkage fee of $8 applies when it's not Monday thru Wednesday. Hell, I ain't going to pay for what I already paid for! Their sangria was lame, yet their mojitos were pretty tasty. Recommendation 3: There is a live band hidden in the corner. We weren't sure where the music and voice on the speakers came from until we left haha. But they played what sounded like Brazilian samba or Gilberto Gil. Not too Colombian if you ask me... On an end note, I will not return but would visit the other Colombian restaurant a few blocks north on Lincoln. Ay ay ay, It's was a sad, sad day for authentic Colombian food in Chicago.

    (2)

  • Carlos L.

    This is my GO TO restaurant in the entire city of Chicago. Love it.

    (5)

  • Franco S.

    Food was very good. Large portions, meat dish for two could have easily fed four. Service was okay, hence -1 star but would recommend to go for anyone that is interested.

    (4)

  • Viki P.

    I was intimidated at first by the variety and kinds of meat, so I just ordered the churrasquilla (I think that's how you spell it) plate - it's a respectably-sized skirt steak cooked how you want - I had medium - with plantains and potato. The steak was delicious, and so were the sides. I had to say, the accident-prone part of me was nervous about the steaming, hot metal plate placed in front of me, but I'm glad to say I didn't burn myself! The waiter was super attentive and courteous - I felt like I was in a swanky restaurant; that's how welcome they make you feel. I'd definitely go again and try something else now that I know what to expect.

    (4)

  • Patricia R.

    Las Tablas has the potential to be a great place. I bought the Groupon and was excited to try out a new ethnic restaurant. I took a friend for her birthday on a Friday. I didn't think to make a reservation since we had gone before the dinner rush, but that didn't matter, we still had to wait 2 hours for a table. We ordered mojitos, which were fantastic and enjoyed ourselves. The only thing about the front bar area is the lack of bar stools or any sort of seating area. Not everyone needs to sit, but it looked awkward and empty without any stools against the bar. When we were finally seated, we ordered empanadas to hold us over until our entrees-the Entrana. We both substituted the yucca, her for a salad and me for beans. The side orders were very large and more than plentiful. The skirt steak was great as was the plantain. The service was slow. We had to wait a bit to order. I didn't order another drink with dinner and when I finally did, I waited about 15 minutes for it and another 5 or so after reminding the waiter. I understand that it was a busy night, but service doesn't have to lack because of that. All in all, I'd say Las Tablas is tastey, just not exactly efficient.

    (3)

  • Jessica F.

    My BF and I have been here at least a dozen times over the past few years. I've read other reviews, and yes - the comments about slow service can be accurate on the weekends. We only tend to go on weeknights - Saturdays are VERY busy, with lots of parties. On nights where it's less busy, let's talk about the FOOD. We must have tried just about everything on the menu. Now we just go for the best stuff - the appetizers are almost all really great. For entrees, the BF gets the Bandeja Paisa (and eats the whole thing). I get the Entrana, or the combinacion, with baby octopus and the steak (same steak as the Entrana), which comes with potato, yuca and fried sweet plaintain. Oh, add a margarita to that - their bartender shakes the HELL out of them and it somehow makes it even more tasty. Delicious! We keep wondering to ourselves how the place stays open with so much food at such cheap prices. Whatever it is they need to keep doing it - we haven't been in a couple of months so it's time to go back again!

    (4)

  • Boon K.

    This is one of my favorite steak and empanadas places. The dough they use for the empanadas is corn so it has a nice crunch. But what I really love here is their house chimichurri that just goes with everything. It's garlicky and has a hint of lemon. This was my old co-worker favorite place to go after work and some of us still meet up here for a good steak.

    (4)

  • Ultramike W.

    This was my favorite Colombian Steakhouse. I have been coming her for some time, before the move across the street. I took some out of town guest for what turned out to be a so so dinner and very poor service. I could not believe this was happening. Waiter was very slow and out of tune with our party. Once we finally ordered we watched our food sit in staging area getting cold till a porter went and got him. Just about everyone complained of very salty steaks. Took forever to get our plates cleared away and we were never asked if we wanted dessert. That did not matter because we just wanted to get out of there by that point. Very sad because this was a really good place. Not even sure I will ever go back at this point.

    (2)

  • Liz A.

    I took my parents here as a thank you for bringing me some furniture from out of state. I have to admit I expected more based on what I have heard about this place. I know this is the new location..the ambiance honestly reminded me of like an Olive Garden. I would no longer describe it as 'cozy' or a 'hole in the wall' as it used to be referred to. We ordered the variety empanadas and my dad had never had any before so I was excited for him to try it out. They were very average. I wish it was still BYOB...I know it is during the week but not on the weekends - that is annoying for sure. Minus one point on that alone. We ordered a bottle of wine, which took 20 minutes to get to our table and the waiter seemed to have difficulty with English (he tried really hard and I give him credit for that). He brought the wrong bottle of wine to us - luckily I caught it before he opened it. Then he dropped my credit card in his apron and I thought I was crazy because I kept looking for it everywhere. These things happen... it's not a big deal but it's certainly not the service at Trump Tower. We split this one dish that was basically 1 of everything on the menu (ribeye, skirt steak, chorizo sausage, all of the plaintain varieties, grilled shrimp, ocotupus, calamari, etc). It was HUGE HUGE HUGE amount of food. The meet was definitely the best. I think the ribeye and shrimp were pretty good. Nothing overly memorable though. I think it was like $60 for the dish which is a lot but there was so much food and variety we were ok with it. I didn't have one but the drinks they were making at the bar looked amazing. My parents seemed to think it was good. Maybe I am becoming jaded with all of the options in Chicago. The food wasn't bad..it just wasn't..awesome. I wish I had taken them to Coobah.

    (3)

  • Jul N.

    Went here for a somewhat special occasion Saturday night meal. The two people with me were craving steak, and both ordered one of the combination dishes that comes with yucca, potatoes, and sweet plantains. They loved their food! I had the vegetarian paella. It wasn't the star of the table but it wasn't bad. I found it a little heavy on beans and potatoes, and I wasn't sold on the broccoli in it, but I would still recommend it if you're up for a jazzed-up version of the dish. Empanadas appetizers were very good, as was the grilled shrimp and calimari. Our server Carlos was very charming and friendly, and the atmosphere of the place was happy, warm, and lively. Yay Las Tablas!

    (4)

  • william r.

    Our favorite Colombian restaurant. In fact so good we went here Friday and Saturday night back to back! The combinaciones with choice of pollo (chicken), calamari (squid), bistec (steak) is outstanding and is garnished with plantain, potato and yucca is outstanding! We have not had a bad meal there in any of the 10-15 visits so far! They have delicious deserts to top off a great evening with a lively and very authentic atmosphere. Highly recommend this place for a different, romantic night with wife and/or group as well.

    (5)

  • Dee A.

    Very delicious food with a great environment. Also , every now and then they have great groupons!

    (5)

  • Helena G.

    We bought a coupon for this restaurant because we wanted to try Colombian food. The portions are crazy huge! We started with Pulpitos al carbon, baby octopus marinated in a garlic. It was delicious! For main dish we had the Entraña and the Churrasco. The meat was tender and juicy and was kept warm on a flat top in the plate. The fried yuca and plantain were yummy! The waiter told us that Las tablas was the place to be for Sunday brunch!

    (3)

  • Amanda F.

    Wonderful! I took my boyfriend here on a Tuesday for his birthday. It was only about 1/4 full so we were seated quickly. We got the empanda sampler, the chicken and beef were great, but I wasn't impressed with the cheese. My boyfriend still can't stop talking about how perfect the steak was, and the chimichurri sauce was excellent.

    (5)

  • John S.

    Better Sangria than BaBaReeba! Awesome Skirt steak and fun family atmosphere. I wish I had found this years ago. Too bad they don't do more marketing so that I could have known about them earlier.

    (5)

  • N C.

    Bottom line: NOT RECOMMENDED. The amount of salt used in this place kills any positive feeling you want to have for this restaurant. Came here expecting to use a groupon. Found out that you have to make reservations ahead of time in order to use groupon. Irksome... but would not have minded if the food was even half decent... We orded the Entrana and Bandeja Paisa: - Entrana (get in medium): although the better of the two, it was very salty (saved by the fact that service was good and water was refilled frequently) - Bandeja Paisa (stay away from this one): No difference between this and a $5.99 rib-eye dinner at a vegas diner; actually this is worse because it is too salty Pros: - Good service - Great ambiance Cons: - Steak is nothing special (at best) - All the sides are over fried; leaves your throat feeling like it has been coated in reused oil - All the meats are way too salty; aggravated by (1) the sides are so fried you have nothing to pare down the saltiness of the meat and (2) the salsa are even saltier than the meat

    (1)

  • Sandra G.

    Thank you Groupon. Back to Las Tablas, a hop, skip, and jump away from home, called ahead and with no wait, we trekked on down. Arrived, seated and pleasantly greeted by the same lady who was our server the previous time in December. It was a delight that she was our server, but the maraschino on the sundae was that a few thousand customers later, she recognized us! One mojito, two glasses of pinot noir, and a combination platter for each of us and we were fully satisfied. Lighting was perfect and actually more lit than before, but still sultry, dim, and sexy, though (hee, hee) not as much as my latin lover.

    (4)

  • Kevin R.

    A large group of us had a reservation at Las Tablas for this past Saturday evening and I can honestly say it was the WORST dining experience I have ever had. I nearly went Real Housewives of New Jersey at the lack of attention to anything that was happening at the restaurant - except my freak-out was directed at the restaurant and not a "prosti&*ion who&*%" Seriously, it was ridiculous. Not only did our reservation end up having us wait an additional hour for a table, they had 1 bartender for the whole restaurant and the bar - which meant it took an hour to get a drink. Staffing simply didn't have it together here... Then there was the table-service. It took 20 minutes to get water and another 40 to take our order. Of course, a half hour later, we were still waiting for anything resembling food to appear and while the quality of the appetizers was good, it certainly took a long time to fry a couple of empanadas for our table. Meanwhile, waitstaff would often gather in small groups to chat - then the restaurant would be empty with nobody present to talk to if you needed anything... Dinner then took another 40 minutes - I got the recommended Combination platter (chicken and beef) - which should have been called Salt-Lick Meat. Like inadvertently swallowing ocean water, I nearly gagged from the severity of salt on my meat. Of course, then the danger here is that IT TAKES 40 MINUTES FOR DINNER, but I sent it back anyway. In return, I did get a beef-dish with less salt, but at this point, I was over it. If there was one thing I liked at the restaurant it was the coffee - that was good. Otherwise, you'll never see me at this place again. It was awful.

    (1)

  • Todger ..

    Very solid four stars. The skirt steak / chicken combo was just terrific - perfectly done, spiced up well, with great sides. I ate everything in front of me. If I could have licked the plate, I would have. They do have a vegetarian section on the menu as well which was a surprise for a meat centric place. Ohhhhh and the caipirinhas, perfectly made nicely boozy and tart. I was talked into having two. Maybe it was three. Very nice room, comfortable for a casual meal or a dressed up event. It can get a bit loud. A few notes. There is some strange cellphone deadzone here. No signal at all, even out on the sidewalk. And no wifi either. Think of it... you will actually have to engage in real, uninterrupted conversation with your dinner partner. And there is this issue of Las Tablas being listed as a BYOB restaurant. This is only honored during the week, and NOT ON THE WEEKEND. There were three others including my party that had shown up with wine in tow, only to go home with it. They were nice enough to keep it behind the bar for us while we ate. The upside... well... those caipirinhas.....

    (4)

  • Mihir P.

    Like fresh fruit? Like cocktails? Then you'll LOVE their fresh fruit cocktails. Kiwis, strawberries, blackberries, and mangoes OH MY! Strong and vitamin rich cocktails they have. Knowledgeable and professional our waiter was. Get the empanada combo and dip generously into the chimichurri and their jalapeno chimichurri. YUM! Excellent grilled shrimp and tasty skirt steak. But like at most Latino restaurants, the meats have too much sugar on them that I just can't eat it all. I wish Las Tablas had a closer location to me. Or that I lived closer to Las Tablas.

    (4)

  • erica j.

    I came here at the recommendation of my friend. I was only allowed to order the house special beef as she said everything else on the menu did not compare. I obliged her request. The empanadas to start were good, cheese being my favorite. The wooden tables gives the location a nice homey feeling and accomodating large parties is no problem. The service was a little slow on Sunday. It took 15 minutes to get our sangria. The sangria was good but not great or out of this world..it was missing the extra dimension to give it a full body of flavors. My meat came out almost rare vs medium rare. My friend said they tend to undercook because her medium order was also more like medium rare. It was still good after they brought it back out. Very juicy and tender. The sauce they give you pairs well. The sides of yucca and potatoes are nothing to write home about but the plaintains are cooked well. Worth going back to, I think 20 for the entree is worth it.

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    Worst restaurant experience in Chicago We ended up with a last minute reservation on a Friday night for 8 pm. We had a show to see nearby at 10, and figured it wouldn't be a problem. We arrived on time and were seated promptly. The waitress immediately came over to our table and took a drink order. She quickly returned and took our dinner order, to the point that everyone felt rushed in looking at the menu. It was the last thing that happened quickly. Then we sat. And sat. And sat. And sat. And finally our appetizers came. We had a group of 6 and had ordered the empanada combo. Mine had no filling. It was just a deep fried shell. At this point I was so hungry, it didn't matter. Then we waited and waited and waited (well, you get the idea). The peculiar thing was that the waitress was nowhere to be found. After almost an hour since the delivery of the empanadas, we still hadn't received our entree. There was very little service to speak of, so to say that it was awful isn't really fair. Flat out the service was NON EXISTENT. No coming to the table to apologize for the wait. No coming to tell us it would just be a minute. No manager to come by and make sure everything was alright. Our table wasn't the only one grumbling. At one point one of our party got up and walked the entire fully packed restaurant, counting the table with food: four. Four tables in the whole restaurant had food. Finally at 9:45 our food came. It was nowhere good enough to make people wait that long. I had the skirt steak/pork combo. The pork was overcooked and tough; the skirt steak (ordered med. rare) was seared on the outside and raw in the middle. After waiting this long for the food I wasn't about to send it back for fear that they would actually fly it to Colombia to have it viewed by some government minister before verifying that it was poorly prepared. Not that I could have sent it back because after it was brought to our table, the waitress never came back. We more or less needed a flare gun to get her attention to get the check. Getting the check was the shortest process of the night. It only took her 20 minutes to calculate 6 entrees and an appetizer. The best part is that on our way out, I asked a guy who was sitting at the bar, deep in conversation with the bartender, if he was the manager. He replied that he was. I told him that it was a shame the service was so bad because they would definitely lose business, if not only from our table, but from everyone who dined there. He didn't seem bothered by it at all. His answer: Yeah, well the Chef is really, really sick. I can only hope that the Chef was at home and not in the kitchen. Kinda makes you want to call the city health department. I will never EVER eat at this restaurant again.

    (1)

  • Lisa C.

    I saw a special in which this place was called "the best skirt steak in the city". Well, with a title like that, I had to go. We started with the empanadas combination plate which came with a delicious salad and cheese, chicken, and beef empanadas. I had a glass of sangria, which was good, but could have used more fruit, because booze-infused fruit reigns supreme. Nonetheless, it cured the all-day headache I had this past Friday night, and for that I am incredibly thankful. Now for the main event! For $20, you can get skirt steak (which was amazing), a potato, plantain, and yukka root (which I learned is a starchy aphrodisiac in Africa). For a dollar more, you can make it a combination plate. My boyfriend and I both got calamari, which was delicious. I didn't make the clean plate club; they give you so much food. I would definitely come back for the main course and the amazing service. You will never have to ask for anything!

    (4)

  • Franscesca L.

    LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I have been here a couple of times and the food was excellent! Great staff and the hostess is so beautiful I caught myself checking her out with my boyfriend.

    (5)

  • Khadijah L.

    Its like a fairytale story of an establishment rising to 4 stars from 1 star. The food is really good. I had the steak and baby octopus platter. It is all carne, baby. With a side of yuca, potato and plantains. I wish I could have just had a side of all plantains instead. Anyway its a nice restaurant. Good flavors. The empanadas were okay. I had forgotten about my review of this place last year (reservation mishap). This time, my friend made the reservations and it was all okay. So, I hope to check out their new spot, Macondo soon.

    (4)

  • George K.

    If you like meat and seafood on a hot wooden slab, then this is the place for you! My girlfriend and I went on a Friday night and it was packed, but we only had to wait five minutes to be seated, which was nice because we were starving. We had ordered the empanada combination plate which was fantastic. The sauce was hot, but tolerable and the empanadas were great. However, the main course was my favorite. We both ordered the $20 skirt steak combination and the calamari. I loved the fact that the calamari was not cut, so you actually got to see the squid head! and it was extra tentacley which is my favorite. It was grilled to perfection. The steak was phenomenal, it was juicy, savory, and cooked to perfection, We were both too full to see what the dessert menu was, but I would definitely come back here again. The total bill ended up being about sixty bucks which included appetizer, two skirt steak dinners with calamari and a sangria...not bad at all.

    (4)

  • Wayne N.

    Had a great time here. The skirt steak was definitely better than the ribeye. Fun atmosphere and the drinks were excellent. Mojitos were preferable over the sangria. Sangria was cheap and you could definitely tell. Portions were huge and prices were extremely reasonable. Would definitely come back here with friends. Could be a great birthday spot as well.

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    We were going to another restaurant that does not take reservations and had an outrageous wait, I had been to Las Tablas once before so my boyfriend and I decided to go there last Friday night around 8. There was no wait, and several groups leaving, we were seated quickly and because we were so hungry I thought we had lucked out and would get to eat soon. Wow was I wrong. Approximately 20-25 min after being seated and making eye contact with about five waiters, as well as the hostess, one stopped at our table (which was the closest to the bar, by a door that allowed us to be ice cold the entire time, but that's a whole other issue) and asked if anyone had helped us, when I said no he shrugged, then got us a drink menu, disappeared for another ten. Finally put our drink order in, another ten we got them and quick ordered apps before he left again and... Got them 30 min later, when we decided that with the lack of attention already, we should order our food. Good thinking. An hour later, with little concern of our drinks, etc, we finally got our pork loin and rare skirt steak (ordered medium, but I guess it took so long to get it to rare, they didn't want to delay an extra few minutes). Others who came in after us has entrees etc, we had to stare down our waiter to get more drinks while waiting, and once it was all said and done, had to wait more to get our check. I will say that the food was delicious, and i would understand if it were a packed house, it was not however and I'm positive we will not dine there again due to the service.

    (1)

  • Tammy H.

    Joe and I came here with a Groupon, which was perfect because I was craving some skirt steak. We ordered the empanada combo for two (2 beef, 2 chicken, 2 cheese). They were all super delicious!! They were cooked perfectly with a crispy dough and moist fillings. With the salsas they were even better. I could've eaten this plate by myself as my meal... Then I ordered the combination plate with squid and skirt steak. One of my squid still had its bone in it, but other than that they were delicious. Grilled to perfection and served whole. The skirt steak was also delicious. Cooked perfectly and nice and moist. So, the proteins were tasty... But the sides: the potato and the yuca... Don't know what happened with these. The yuca was so dried out and tough that it was inedible. The potato was just ok... It could only really be eaten with the salsas; otherwise it wasn't good because it was so dry it would dry out your mouth. And, the plaintain wasn't anything special. Joe got the combination plate with shrimp and skirt steak... His was good and about the same as mine except his yuca was edible. In addition to the food... The bathrooms are downstairs and it was pretty creepy. I mean, downstairs bathrooms are creepy in general, but theirs was creepier than most. It's hard to describe, but it just was. Our waitress was also pretty annoying. She kept asking us if we wanted anything else. She asked us if we wanted to order drinks about five times - and we just kept telling her we were ok with water. I felt like she was constantly trying to upsell us.

    (4)

  • Allison O.

    My last meal on earth would be a steak... from here. I'm a repeat offender when it comes to this restaurant. I prefer to start off with the chicken and beef empanadas. They also have cheese ones which I've heard are good, but my stomach won't allow me to have those. The empanada plate comes with a nice, simple salad that I find quite tasty. If I'm feeling like a fat kid, I might add the grilled shrimp appetizer to the group. Always amazing. The reason why I come here - the skirt steak. Second time you come here, try whatever you want. But if this is your first visit, be sure there is mind-blowing slab of cow on your plate. You can get one big piece or a combination of two different proteins. I wish I could give this place maybe half a star less because they put these plain, boring, dry potatoes on every one of my plates, insulting my skirt steak. Also, every drink I've tried there has been very lack luster. Overly sweet and pulpy. Oh well. Go on a week day and bring your own bottle of wine. Red wine. To compliment your steak.

    (5)

  • M. C.

    I'm a huge fan of Las Tablas. My favorite dish is one of the Combinaciones...the one with the chicken breast and shrimp. I love drizzling the homemade chimichurri sauce all over my plate. Top my meal off with some sangria, and I'm a happy girl! Whether you need a table for two or are out celebrating with a big group, Las Tablas is a great option.

    (5)

  • Jessica D.

    My friend would rave about this place forever and ever, so finally I decided to join a group of friends for a birthday celebration dinner here. Started with the cheese empanadas and it was good, not great. Ordered a specialty fresh fruit pineapple mojito and the bartender made it perfectly! Now we are talking!!! Let's get this party started! So I then order the char-grilled shrimp and chicken. I'm not a fan of yuca or sweet plantain so that was my only drawback. This place definitely knows all about flavor profile so it gets high marks in my foodie book!

    (4)

  • jay c.

    How does one describe this experience? Its like having very great sex with someone that annoys the shit out of you. Listen, there is no question that their food is good. Its hearty colombian fare with large portions and great flavor. The Entrana is low cost flank steak that they craft in something that tastes like a $45 filet. The empanadas are to die for and it's BYOB. The service is probably the worst I've ever seen in Chicago. We had to go up to the hostess four different times to make sure they wrote our name down on the list. Finally she did and we got seated an hour later. Once seated, we didn't see a server for 45 minutes. It's BYOB, so of course we are drinking and enjoying ourselves, but we had to go find someone to take our order. Again, once we did get our food it was hot and tasty, but were angry when were eating it. May as well try it out, but at 5pm on a Monday.

    (2)

  • Aimee R.

    $12.95 weekend brunch is a deal. I just wish the service had been better, they had one waiter for the entire place and I thought he was doing a great job once I realized that, but still... The food is awesome. Great value and generous portions.

    (4)

  • Glenn H.

    Came here at the behest of some friends. It was a Wednesday night, and we had an 8 pm res. Our party of 8 was seated promptly and the service was very good. Not overbearing, but not absent, either. One individual pointed out that the water glasses had gone empty without a refill, but it wasn't long until the waitstaff resolved that issue. I had a couple mojitos, which were delicious. I'm hardly an expert, but it tasted as good as any other mojito I've ever had. The skirt steak, however, was remarkable. I was amazed that they could take that cut of beef and cook it a perfect midrare, and whatever brine/marinade they used was incredible. The steak was served with a fried half of a yucca, fried half of a potato, and a fried half of a plantain. Don't waste your precious belly room on the potato, but the yucca and plantain were great. I especially liked the plantain run through the leftover meat juice/brine. Perfect combo of salty and sweet. The price tag wasn't awful, but it wasn't cheap, either. Overall, I would definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • Tim R.

    Awesome skirt steak, the Entrana, and the chimichurri sauce is so good I could drink it.

    (4)

  • Elisabeth C.

    The steak was really, really good. The baby octopus were excellent, too, really well seasoned and I just generally enjoy eating things that will gross out most Americans. I'd never had yucca before, but it's totally tasty, and plantains are a favorite of mine already. We shared the empanadas as an appetizer, and it was fantastic. I'd go back just to eat those. The mojitos were good, but heavy on the mint- I was worried about the mint sticking in my teeth and scaring my date. Service was good, and not overbearing, and the crowd was mixed- from Trixies and Chads to older Lakeview residents (and then tattooed hipster me). I'd definitely come back to try some of the other dishes they offered.

    (4)

  • Christina H.

    MEAT! I love meat and add seafood to it, yes please! I always order the combinaciones (steak with grilled calamari). Good portions. The meat is always a great cut and super juicy. The calamari is grilled just right. I usually reserve eating this type of seafood for the coastal areas (since it is fresh) but I make the exception here. Try the cheese empanadas. Also yummy! Sangria is delicious here as well, although a bit pricey ($9). If you order a drink, app and entree, expect to pay between $40-50 per person.

    (5)

  • Raquel D.

    My yum-o-meter has hit the roof! This place is soooo damn good - as soon as you walk in, the aroma hits you and I always find myself molesting other people's food with my eyes...even though I've been here multiple times...mmm. I can't get enough. I usually get the combo - steak and chicken, but the seafood is amazing too!!! I love this place and can't get enough!

    (5)

  • Alma M.

    Can you say "POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE"?? How poor was it? So poor that I, for one, will NEVER return. Had reservations there last night with a group of 11. I arrived late for the res, as did others, no fault of the restaurant. What was their fault was how poorly they handled the customers they had in front of them. The waiter took my drink order and 15-20 minutes went by before he came over to say they needed to split our table for other guests. We assured him the others were coming, in fact we were waiting for two who texted they were parking their car. He went away and came back with the manager who also said they needed to split our table. Mind you, there was NO ONE waiting at the host station at this time. Mind you, I still had not gotten my drink yet either. How long does it take to pour a glass of wine? Having bartended previously, I can assure you a matter of seconds. We felt pressured to acquiesce since they kept insisting and our other group members were pretty late. We crammed 7 people uncomfortably into the larger part of the table which immediately began to annoy us. Withing 5 minutes of splitting our table, two tables cleared out in our section (and were still empty when we walked out 10 minutes later). We agreed that we were uncomfortable and the service was unreasonably slow so we decided to leave. A couple of the ladies at the table began to tell the waiter we wanted our check over the whole table splitting issue, but I piped in and said the service was simply too slow. The waiter replied, "I don't speak English" and walked away. Really now? In addition to taking forever to get one lousy drink, the waiter failed to ask if I wanted any appetizer or anything during the 45 minutes I was there. Come on Las Tablas, you have customers in front of you RIGHT NOW, you take care of those customers before worrying about ones who haven't yet to materialize in your establishment requiring a table. Additionally, there was a nail or something sharp protruding from the front left corner of my chair. As we left, there was no one at the host station, nor that manager who needs training in customer service as well, around to tell. Hopefully no one else gets hurt on it, because they might be told by their waiter that he doesn't speak English! And for such poor quality customer serve, they sure are pricey. We went down the road to La Parilla where our full party of 11 was accommodated quickly and professionally. I would strongly recommend them before bothering with this ridiculous place.

    (1)

  • Chan K.

    I came here to redeem a Groupon and thank goodness for it because I would have been a bit upset to have paid full price for this food. My friend and I shared the seafood combination and skirt steak dishes. We got an enormous piece of steak but unfortunately needed a chainsaw to cut through it. Everything suffered from being too chewy except for the baby octopus. In fact, even the plantain and cassava were tough to masticate. The seafood and meat did not taste seasoned or marinated, and the chimichurri didn't help much to add flavor. The highlight of the evening was our empanada appetizer. The crispy, fried little pies came with various fillings, my favorite being cheese and chicken.

    (2)

  • Deborah E.

    Full disclosure - ever since I read Carolynne R's fine review of Las Tablas, I had it bookmarked. So when my fellow Yelpian Space Cupcake T said he too had it bookmarked due to her review, we were off..... and skirt steak nirvana began. What a juicy, flavorful, addicting piece of meat! Both of us ordered the "very highly recommended Combinaciones" of the Entraña Skirt Steak (house specialty) and grilled pork loin, served with fried sweet plantain, yuca, and potato. As I love pork the best of any meats, I am hear to proclaim loud and clear "just get the skirt steak!" The pork loin was fine but that steak was just oozing with flavor and juiciness - one of the best I have ever had. As an appetizer, we ordered the Empanada Combination Plate - two of each type of empanada (beef, chicken, cheese). They were good, not the best I have ever had and I could take them or leave them. One of the highlights of the evening was the Chimichurri sauces - both of which were divine. Our chatty and highly attentive server told us one was very hot but both the Cupcake and I thought the "hot" one (which was seriously not that hot) was the best, so don't be afraid to try it. Another highlight was the dessert we split - the Flan de Coco - Las Tablas' very own special, original recipe of the traditional Latin custard with a light hint of coconut and much denser than the flans I have had elsewhere. Acccompanied with fresh organic Colombian coffee, it was a perfect ending to a superb meal. Note to Las Tablas: thanks for all the Boteros! I can't remember the last time I walked around a restaurant with loads of chubby people paintings. I felt very much at home.

    (4)

  • Tom W.

    Lively atmosphere and great drinks. The empanadas were pretty good... they are $2.50 each or 6 for $7.50... so get the 6 that are cheese, chicken and beef. The combination platter was more than enough food for two with big appetites or 4 that want to sample. It came with different types of plantains, skirt steak, chicken, beef ribs, chorizo and a potato. The ribs were a little dry, but the chicken and skirt steak were phenomenal! I found the prices to be very reasonable and enjoyed the friendly staff. I heard it was BYOB but showed up on a Friday w/ wine in my hand but was told that it is only BYOB Mon-Thursday. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Mandy A.

    I'm not sure I can say anything that hasn't already been said about this place. Randomly my brother picked this place by searching "best skirt steak in Chicago" and found all of these reviews. I happened to have the Groupon so we came for a birthday dinner with the family. All of us got some sort of combination with the skirt steak, my never adventurous brother got the octopus, my mom and I got chicken and dad and husband got shrimp. Everything was awesome, the chicken and steak came out so thin and perfectly cooked, well seasoned and perfectly hot. There was so much I gave my brother over half of the chicken to take home with him. We got the empanadas to start with and they were a little too fried for my liking, they were pretty crunchy. A little softer and creamier center is better IMHO. The grilled calamari appetizer was awesome too, not rubbery at all and great flavor. Mojitos are perfect, they might as well be the best in Chicago. Stay away from the drink with the tequila and grapefruit soda, that one was weird. And save room for dessert...flan and coffee were AMAZE-balls.

    (5)

  • Luan N.

    My friends took me out for arepas in Caracas few years back. My arepa was stuffed with a different sort of cheese and topped with butter. I know there are 100s of ways to making arepas, but I didn't particularly enjoy Las Tablas' version which had the arepas covered in cheese and criollo sauce. I had the churrasco and I have to say the steak was juicy and had some marinade locked in the seared sides. There was a good amount of gristle and fat, but I guess I can't complain too much for steak under $20. However, when I do go to a South American steak house, I am all about the Chimichurri! The chimichurri didn't taste fresh that day and tasted like just chopped green onions in oil. I was hoping for more of a bite with the parsley and garlic. One thing that I did really like was the pork belly in the bandeja paisa. I thought the bathroom was interesting. I saw the men/women sign on the door, so I was thinking it was gonna be a small single stall. I had a minor panic attack because the door opened up to a long flight of steep stairs. At the bottom of the stairs was a nice waiting area for a separate men's and women's room. Overall, I thought the place was okay for the price. I was a bit let down by the chimichurri and arepa. I'm gonna try a few more places for comparison before I come back here.

    (3)

  • Alicia G.

    I am only giving this place 4 stars because of the drinks and service otherwise it would probably be a 2. Having grown up on yuca(we call it cassava), and plantains...the food was a little less to be desired. It was dry and basic so I wasn't a fan especially after it took super long to prepare. I would not come here and spend my money on the food. However! The drinks are phenom....specifically the el tamborero....just go and have drinks.

    (4)

  • Marcy F.

    Excellent Colombian food.

    (5)

  • Karen G.

    Excellent sangria. Excellent empanadas. Excellent steak. Excellent shrimp. Excellent flan. BYOB during the week- Excellent.

    (5)

  • Emma R.

    I should have known to not order the vegetarian dish at at steakhouse...whoops. But it was not very good. The arepas were alright though.

    (3)

  • Eric L.

    I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Las Tablas. The wait staff was really friendly and helpful. He gave us a good suggestion on wine and the best part was that he wasn't overbearing on us, yet he was very attentive to our needs. We both had some combination of the skirt steak but my date thought the steak was a little chewy. (maybe it was suppose to be?) Some of the previous comments mentioned that this was Tango Sur without the wait, and I think that's a fairly accurate statement. I give this 4 stars because I think Tango Sur was a little better, but I would definitely come back here for round 2.

    (4)

  • Abhishek M.

    I consider this by far, hands down, my favourite restaurant in Chicago!! You get the drift...:) Ambience I have been going to 'Las Tablas' for a little over 4 years now. It recently located across the street to a larger space with swanky interiors, and authentic Colombian artifacts all over. They even created this quaint sitting area downstairs outside the restrooms. On my last visit, on 03/05/08, they even had this guy singing Colombian music. The Food In 3 words...'to die for'!! Forget those pricy Brazilian steakhouses. If you want good Chicken/Steak/Shrimp dishes , Las Tablas is the place to go. For those of you who are familiar with Latin food and have been to and love Tango Sur, I still recommend Las Tablas. The menu is authentic and fairly elaborate and they offer combos...can't beat that! The Alcohol Till very recently, Las Tablas was BYOB!! Don't worry it still is to an extent. Although they have a full bar with ample beer & wine selection, you can bring your own wine but beware of the corkage fees. During the week, its an affordable and reasonalbe $4 but during the weekend its a whopping $8. Also if you love Mojitos, which I totally do, you have to have to get one here. The Price As I mentioned earlier, save your $$ from those Brazlian steakhouses. Las Tablas is NOT cheap but yet very affordable and a great place for friends/family to meet, eat awesome food and have a great time. The Service Has always been incredible. The waitstaff is knowledgeable, friendly and great with recommendations. OVERALL: Take my word and try this Chicago gem. You will not regret it!!!

    (5)

  • Anna L.

    Saw this place on Chicago's Best. Four of us went last night to celebrate a birthday. The idea of this place is great.. I really really wanted to like it. THE PROBLEM.. There is a weird smell. Not sure if its the food.. some sort of spice.. but I couldnt get over it. All of my food seemed to taste like it because the smell was soo powerful. I ordered the empanadas. They were really good.. make sure to get those and try them with the sauces. I also got the combination platter with the skirt steak and the pork loin. When I got my food, instead of pork there was baby octopus on my plate. I freaked out and almost fell out of my chair. Wow.. those things are gross looking. Once everything was fixed I couldnt get the picture of those gross things out of my head and it was hard to enjoy my food. But maybe it was because not only did everything seem to taste like the weird smell in the place, but the steak and pork were rubbery and just weird. O.. and the sangria is a waste of time. Im pretty sure there isnt a drop of alcohol in it and they put chopped apples on top.. its not the greatest. I gave 2 stars because of the empanadas and they came out with a piece of flan with a candle in it for my fiancee's bday and the whole restaurant sang to him. (The flan was good). I dont know.. maybe Ill go back... maybe I wont. Just a weird experience.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth M.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants...great food, service, and ambiance. Last night I was there with my husband and it was interesting to see how some things have changed over the years. We started off our meal with the empanadas. I agree with other reviews that these are not as good as they used to be, but they're still pretty tasty, especially with their chimichurri sauces. The matrimonio (grilled skirt steak and chicken) entree has gotten even better (I didn't know that was possible). The meats are perfectly seasoned with lots of flavor; the skirt steak is no longer pounded out, but instead grilled till tender and juicy. I liked it before, but it's even better now. Service did a great job of refilling sauces, water, taking new drink orders, and just making sure everything was going smoothly. I'm already planning my next visit and my mouth is watering.

    (5)

  • Kelsey N.

    Came here a week ago to celebrate my birthday with a pretty large group (20 people). From the minute we walked in the door, we had a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was lively, and our waiter was friendly and attentive throughout the whole 3 hours we were seated. And the food -- did I mention the food?? All of my friends raved about their meals, which is a tall order when you have 20 hungry diners to please! I had the pork and skirt steak, and both were perfectly cooked. Toss in those excellent plantains, potatoes and yucca (and some sangria, natch), and I was one happy lady. They even threw in some of their delicious flan for a birthday treat. Thanks to Las Tablas for a memorable night out! I'll be back soon.

    (5)

  • Diana R.

    The food is delicious! I ordered the 'matrimonio', a plate with fried plantains, delicious yuca, and roasted potatoes with a big hunk of steak and perfectly flavored chicken breast. The plate was humongous and I couldnt finish my meal. Prices were reasonable and its BYOB. Also our server was hilarious, I'm not sure of his name. A must try!

    (5)

  • B h.

    I have now been here twice and certainly enjoyed the experience. Question: is it socially acceptable to like the plate? If so I need a re-do. I am a creature of habit and have ordered the same thing twice - their signature steak entree. Delish. Love the plaintains, margaritas are the best and friendly service that does not push.

    (5)

  • Rahul I.

    This is mis-classified as Mexican. It is in fact a Colombian restaurant.

    (3)

  • Nadia K.

    Great food !!! Going back soon

    (4)

  • Christine O.

    For every awful, overpriced place I go to in Chicago, it is met with a delicious, reasonable, incredible one! Las Tablas Lakeview is one of those incredible few! I have only been here on weeknights. With groups of 2-10 I never have a problem getting seated immediately. This weeknight habit is mostly to take advantage of the fabulous drink specials. Such as- No corking fee. Love. Pitcher of Sangria for half price Monday!- Yes, please! I always order the same thing, because it is SO good. The *skirt steak, Entrana, medium served with yucca, plantain and potato. Get one of these people! It's good enough that you'll want your own, but I'm pretty sure it's meant to serve two! It's always strange to me watching people here order one per person like they're at Friday's. This *skirt steak is by far the best thing on the menu. The marinade and seasonings it is treated with are good enough that it is a stand alone, no need for the sauces. They are good if you would like though. I have tried the *paella as well and it was pretty good. It's nice to have this option for vegetarian friends while you're gnawing on a steak. As sides I get the *salad, *rice, and *beans. They are standard fare. Some places can even mess up a salad though and Las Tables doesn't. Don't skip dessert! The *coffee here is absolutely to die for. Our waiter told us that Macondo across the street sells it in bean form and we WILL be buying it. What's best though, is drinking the coffee while eating the *tres leches cake. Absolutely sweet, creamy, balanced. I couldn't ask for more. Few things complement each other this well in the world. What did this all cost? Under $40. Take that, my favorite ever, Chophouse! Steak dinner with dessert... and I happened to have my $35 Groupon. Fantastic. The service could afford to be a little more attentive. Regardless though, this will remain a favorite for the flavor to value factor alone! I'm rounding up to 5 stars! Delicious!

    (5)

  • Amy J.

    Okay... This place is Tango Sur minus the wait, and minus the service issues. We walked in and our waiter, from the beginning, was awesome. He explained everything, offered suggestions, and we had an awesome meal. My boyfriend, not a steak eater at all, was talked into ordering the skirt steak. And......he loved it. I had the chicken, and it was also really great. We'd love to go back. Environment: comfortable Food: Very good Service: Excellent Hey, I still think Tango Sur has better food, but I'd definitely come back here to avoid the wait. Very good.

    (4)

  • Dana M.

    I've been to the Portage Park location once so this would make it my second time at Las Tablas. I was here with a large group of 14-15 people and with our reservations, we got seated with no problems. Dinner was good and most of us ordered the entrana-- charbroiled skirt steak since it was highly recommended and I love a good steak! I ordered it medium and it was cooked just right... in fact I didn't have much of an appetite that night so I had 2/3 of my steak leftover... if it still tastes fantastic 4 days later, it certainly says something! I even thought it tasted better... wow- that just proves I really was not in the mood to eat that night. I'm not a fan of the sides though... plantains, pan-fried potatoes, and yuca. The potatoes and yuca were too dry. We shared a few pitchers of Sangria. It was average-- too sweet for my taste so I liked the mojitos better. I will definitely go back for the entrana! I choose this location over Portage Park because of the better ambiance. Wish they had BYOB everyday and not just weekdays... that would be nice!

    (4)

  • Kathy L.

    Delicious Steak: Check BYOB: Check Reasonably priced: Check Great service: Check This place has everything to make for a great restaurant! The skirt steak was absolutely amazing and the empanadas were pretty great too. I've tried to cook skirt steak at home...and it never ends up tasting like this. LAS TABLAS GIVE ME YOUR SECRETS!! However, until they give up their secrets I will just have to keep coming back...good thing its so reasonable. The only thing is that I think BYOB is only Sunday -Thursday and you can only bring wine. This is only thing that makes me not completely love this place, but just don't go on a Friday or Saturday and problem solved! Last thing, the bathrooms here are sorta strange. You have to go down a flight of stairs and you think you make it to the bathroom but nope you go into this random living room and then you have to make a couple more turns before you get to the bathroom. The random living room has some fun decorations though!

    (4)

  • January C.

    I had the steak and maduros at the Taste two years in a row so the last time I was in the neighborhood I decided to give the restaurant a try. I ordered the empanda appetizer and the steak entree with maduros. I also wanted rice and beans but if I remember correctly, I had to order those seperately. This was a disappointment to me because the entree was already quite pricey. When the food came, the portions were large so this did offset some of the sticker shock in my mind, but I was still hung up on having to pay extra for the rice and beans. The food was delicious and the ambiance is dark and romantic in a rustic South American sort of way. I would definitely return but next time ready to spend $40 on my meal (without drinks). Summary: The food is great but I think there are other Colombian places in this city with good food for half the price, albeit with less time and money spent on ambiance.

    (3)

  • h c.

    I came here as a date, willing to try something new, and the skirt steak was the house special and highly recommended... ok, i'll try it.... can i say WOW! ... that skirt steak blew me away!!! for real. i think everyone had the skirt steak and no one had anything bad to say about it. The steak was a good price and was HUGE, it came with some yuca and potatoes and plantains. the yuca and potatoes were ok, the plantains was a nice sweet dessert, more or less. but the steak was cooked perfectly and was soo damn good that it's got me thinking about it ever since.. one of my top 5 steaks of all time! i'm going back for sure... and going back soon!

    (5)

  • Nishant G.

    4.5 stars...and it only loses 0.5 stars because they need to work on getting better ventilation in the restaurant. Cool ambience, and downright amazing food. I can't comment on much, but the sangria is delicious, and the el matrimonio combo (half skirt steak, half chicken) is an amazing deal---HUGE portion. The skirt steak is the best I've had outside of Argentina, and the chicken is marinated in garlic/white wine and is actually good enough to merit ordering the combo instead of a full skirt steak. The meats come with a sweet plantain, potato and yucca as well.Tried the chorizo as an appetizer which was quite flavorful and worth trying as well. Awesome place, will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Carolynne M.

    Wow. Another amazing find in the Chicago dining scene. Las Tablas is a Colombian steakhouse with a beautiful interior, great service and kick ass food. We were seated immediately and ordered a couple of appetizers, the empanada combination plate (a sampling of beef, chicken and cheese...the chicken was the best I thought) and the Arepa Chorriada, which was melted cheese over arepa (basically a cornbread) sautéed in criolla sauce. We then decided to go with the Picada Colombiana, which according to the menu serves two. Two what? Two Chicago Bear linebackers? Two starving Japanese sumo wrestlers? Oh my god people, seriously this is a TON of food. Believe me when I say you are NOT going to want to order appetizers, dessert, or any other extraneous foodie items if you get this entree. A heaping helping combination of Entraña skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, and chicken breast all grilled and sliced into small pieces. Also comes with homemade chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, fried sweet plantain, yuca and potato. Delicious yes...stomach busting...Oh.My.God. Yes. We had more than half wrapped up to take with us...it was just too much. But I have to say I found the chicken, the crunchy plantain and the skirt steak to be the stars of the show. Especially if you add the Chimichurri sauce. The flavours just explode in your mouth...yum! My one gripe is that they are not BYOB but they will let you bring in a bottle of wine for an $8 corkage fee. OK that's just stupid and please do away with that option, Las Tablas. It is completely unnecessary and kind of makes you look like jerks when you really aren't! Thanks for a great experience, we will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Great skirt steak. Everything else is just slightly above average. I went on a weekend and there was a long wait. Once our table was ready, we were brought back through the very crowded restaurant to our table. There were just too many tables for the restaurant. This meant that you were basically sitting on top of everyone else. It also meant that the poor employees had very little room to move around. The restaurant allows you to bring your own bottles of wine which is a good thing. As for food, I ordered the skirt steak, which was the best I'd ever tried. The skirt steak meal itself is reasonable in price, but for just $1 more, you can add another type of meat. I tried chicken and felt that the chicken was dry and paled in comparison to the steak. Each meal was served with a few veggies and bananas. They were good, not great. They also provide two types of sauces to use. They were fairly good. The food is good and I would recommend you try it if you are looking for excellent skirt steak. You have to put up with some less than desirable things, but you will be thankful you did once you try the skirt steak.

    (4)

  • Magen M.

    i've never had columbian food before so i didn't know what you expect but this food was really delicious. fried plantains are amazing. i enjoyed the empandas too. the skirt steak and shrimp were fantasic!

    (4)

  • Andy M.

    Las Tablas might be the best dining experience that I have had since starting writing reviews for Yelp. This place just blew my mind. This place offers great food and great service with a great attitude. What I mean by that is, the people who work at Las Tablas really seem to enjoy their job. The food and beverage business can be daunting to say the least. I was a bartender many moons ago, and I can attest that if you work for a place that promotes a fun atmosphere, it really comes across in a positive way to the customers. Las Tablas does a wonderful job in making it's customers feel that positive vibe. The food is incredible. We started out with two appetizers. We did the Empanada's and the Corn Bread. Both were quite different than anything that I have ever eaten. The empanada's were filled with Colombian goodies that tasted wonderful. And the cornbread was covered with Cheese, Mole sauce. Both dishes were wonderful. For our entree, C.R. and I did the combination platter for two. The entree included Skirt Steak, Ribs, Chicken and Chorizo. I can't believe I was actually worried that the portions were going to be dainty. When I saw this platter of delight being carried by our server, my eyes almost bulged out of my head. Diner for two, my ass. This could feed five people. Heck, It could have fed the Baltimore Ravens offensive line. As of Monday, I still have leftovers in my fridge. The entree was awesome. The steak was tender and moist. The ribs were crunchy and flavorful and the Chorizo was out of this world. Even the Chicken was wonderful, and as I have stated before, I don't like Chicken. After about 45 minutes of this Orson Wells Style Gorge fest, I finally had enough. I had to throw in the white napkin. Everything on the plate from the Steak to the Plantains sated me perfectly. I can't recommend this place enough. The food was insanely good, and the service was wonderful. If I learned one lesson from my first visit to Las Tablas, it's to lay off the appetizers. The entree was enough to feed us for a week.

    (5)

  • Matt B.

    Definitely a good little restaurant up in Lakeview. Really cool atmosphere and drink menus. My wife and I ordered the meat platter for two, which was a ton of food for the price. The skirt steak was definitely the best piece of that. Chicken and ribs were also very good. Could have used a little bit more sauce but that is a small complaint. Not the easiest place to get to if you are relying on the L. Definietly look into the Lincoln bus or use the meter spaces.

    (4)

  • Kristine S.

    I've never had Columbian food before this and I would have to say.. I'm in love.. with the chimichurri sauce. The waiter was kind enough to write down the recipe for us, and we made it at home. The Picada Colombiana for two was more than enough to make our bellys explode.. with leftovers. This place is definitely generous with its portions. Great romantic atmosphere and great service. High recommended, but make sure you're starving before you come.

    (5)

  • Laura B.

    This place is great. My boyfriend and I were starving and really craved a good steak. I remembered I had bookmarked this place and were outrageously happy I had. At first we were seated relatively close to the door which offered a small draft, but asked to move and found a cozy little seat. The lighting was just right and had had the same waitress that seated us, took our drinks, and served us. She was sweet, Columbian, and honest with her recommended. We ordered the seafood platter for an appetizer and it was really fresh and delicious. It was served with a mild and a hot salad/sauce called Chimichurri. It was AMAZING!!! Next came the steak. We got the Entrana, which was highly recommended. It was served on a hot plate and sizzled when it came out. It also came with a plantain, yucca, and a potato. I can honestly say that the steak they served was the single most delicious hunk of meat I have ever had. SO amazing. I tried to eat the whole thing but just couldn't handle so much food. I wish I hadn't gotten the appetizer. I will be back as soon as possible. They're BYOB, also, so I will bring my own wine! With two glasses of wine, 2 full dinners, and an appetizer for two, the bill was only $70 bucks. Worth every penny!!!

    (5)

  • Miguel H.

    The sangria is awesome and they have a great deal if u have a groupon!

    (5)

  • Charla W.

    I have been here a couple of times for dinner. Both times we had reservations which I believed helped us get in right away. The food is pretty good. We had the empanadas and octopus for appetizers which were good. I think all of us had some type of steak combo dish which also was very good. I would definitely go back to this restaurant. They also have good sangria.

    (4)

  • Jen D.

    Excellent, friendly service. Amazing vegetarian plate. Steak was Ok. Seasoning was nice but it was a bit too grissly and fatty for me, although for the price I shouldn't complain. Personally, I prefer Tango Sur - however if you are not interested in the Tango Sur marathon wait for a table, Las Tablas is a great alternative.

    (3)

  • Zaneta W.

    First I need to give a shout out to the bartender... Mojitos = AMAZING!!!! I'm usually skeptical about ordering them at random bars/restaurants because they can either be really great or pretty much undrinkable. Here, they're the best! The bartender puts in the extra effort to make them orgasmic!!! And, the Sangria is bombin as well! Second... the foood is de-licious. Their empanadas are sooo good!! Get the sampler plate to try all three types. For dinner my friend and I both had the chicken and steak combo and it was really good! So many great flavors and really juicy! And last but certainly not least I have to say how wonderful all the staff is at las tablas!! The first time my friend and I went to dinner there we made friends with 2 of our waiters and they gave us a coupon for our next meal. When we came back like 1 1/2 later they both remembered us. It's just such a pleasant and fun environment!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you're in the mood for some bomb food (don't come here if you're in the salad mood).

    (5)

  • kate c.

    Visited in a group of 14. We made reservations 2 weeks ahead of time and were seated promptly. Service was slow. We were seated at 8:30, but our entree orders were not taken until 9:36, and we had to flag a waiter to get those orders in. Food was excellent. we started with arepa rellena, which was wonderful. I had one of the combo platters for 2, and it was MORE than enough food for 2 people, and only $38, which was reasonable. Skirt steak was delicious. I also had a mojito, which was very good, and I tried someone else's Colombian drink with strawberries which was great. Main issue was service. No one was rude, but it was VERY slow. Also, if you go in a group, be aware if you pay with more than 3 credit cards, everyone's card has a $5 charge added. Gratuity was included with our big group. Recommend, but probably not in a large group.

    (4)

  • James W.

    Excellent. Ordered the skirt steak with plantains, yuka, and potato. The skirt steak was deliciously seasoned, tender and perfectly medium rare. Wait staff was very friendly, food came quickly, relaxed atmosphere. Great restaurant, definitely will be back..

    (4)

  • Erika C.

    I've been going to Las Tablas for years. I first went to their location on Irving park and recently switched to this location due to geographical reasons. I've always been a fan of Las Tablas. Their steak is excellent! It is flavorful and tender. I introduced my French partner to Las Tablas about a year ago and he is their number one fan. He's eaten steak at high-end and low-end places around the world and he says that Las Tablas' steak is definitely one of the best he's had. Las Tablas gives you bang for your buck. Order a combination (pick two) and make one of your picks the steak. I usually have the shrimp as my second pick which is also great. My partner either has the calamari or octopus. He of course loves them both. They are BYOB from Monday to Thursday. If you are not a big eater, skip the appetizers - their portions are huge!

    (4)

  • Adriana Z.

    Love it. El matrimonio will always be my fav..empanadas delicioius..sangria hits the spot every time.

    (5)

  • Jessica F.

    What a gem! I love this restaurant. So boyfriend and I were in the mood for Tango Sur but we didn't feel like waiting for one to two hours for dinner so we decided to try Las Tablas and it was love at first bite! :) The Entrada steak is great! With chimmychuri sauce on the side, it is a little taste of heaven and it was only $19. The steak came with plantains, yuca, and potatoes. The portions are huge and we had a lot to feast on the next day! (Not the best meal if you are on a low carb diet... and they don't have any subsitutions for the sides... but oh well!) We ordered the Empanadas as an appetizer. I normally don't eat fried food, but I would have to say they were quite delicious. My boyfriend was not thrilled, too greasy for his liking. I would totally go back to this place. Great service, great food, great ambiance! What's not to love!? Also, the fruity alcohol drinks are so fresh and yummy and suprisingly strong. I had the sangria (SOOOOOO GOOD!), the mango motio, and a strawberry martini. Great urban oasis! I felt like I was a resort for a few hours... not in Chicago. I want to go back .... now.... so good! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Deepti P.

    I guess this is what happens when you have high expectations. After reading some of the reviews on here, I thought my group and I would be in for a treat. 2.5 hours of poor service later, a treat was nowhere to be found. Oh, and did I mention everyone's dish came out cold? I booked this place for my brother's birthday and was excited because they seemed more than willing to accommodate our group of 11. Reservations were for 8pm and when we all arrived i went to tell the hosts that we were all here. After a lot of "Let me just check on the table for you", one of the hosts proceeds to tell me that "they didn't know I was coming today". That's funny...I received a phone call from Las Tablas that afternoon confirming my reservation for 8pm and when I saw my name very clearly written on the reservation sheet when I walked in. How did you not know we were coming? He then went on to explain they'd "try really hard" to get us a table....that I reserved...5 days prior. Anyway... FInally, about 30 minutes after our reserved time, we are seated. Everyone's excited to eat and partake in sangria. We all order and end up waiting until after 9:30pm to get our food. Now I know there was a lot ordered and lots of different meats to cook, but an hour after we sat down? I don't know think I have ever waited that long at any restaurant or with any size party. Thankfully the sangria was good, since we ended up ordering 3 extra pitchers to bide our time till the food arrived. So, we're all starving (and a little tipsy from all the sangria on empty stomachs) as the food is finally brought over to the table. My plate was missing the pork belly. Another plate was missing the plantain. And the best part, every single plate had cold food. What the heck? One person had his plate taken back to get reheated (which also turned his steak from medium rare to medium well). A couple of us also mentioned to the waiter that all the food was cold. He just shrugged his shoulders and stared at us. I think at that point, we were all too hungry to argue about it any further. The food didn't necessarily taste bad, but meat really isn't meant to be eaten cold. Regardless, we just ate because we were all so hungry at this point. Not only was the service awful but the food (which I figured would its saving grace) was cold and nothing was done about it. The waitstaff missed out on getting a great tip from a table of 11 and instead got a mediocre tip from a very disappointed group. Maybe this place is better in smaller groups. but I am wary of going back now with the experience that I had.

    (2)

  • Molly G.

    I went here Saturday night with a large group of friends and wow - this place is popular! Street parking was a breeze and we took advantage of the BYOB ($8 corkage). If you have reservations, this place is great for group dinners - birthday, etc. Due to the size and volume of people, I wouldn't say this people would be quiet enough for a date but it was very fun for a get together with friends. The food is really the highlight though - like most, I had the combination plate with chimchurri skirt steak, grilled shrimp, yuca, potatoes and fried plaintain. We skipped appetizers and I still had leftovers. YUM! Will be back!

    (4)

  • Lisa B.

    Had walked by Las Tablas during the summer, smelled the wonderful scents coming from the place and decided we had to try it. Finally went last night w/ the hubby and daughter to celebrate my birthday. It was a Monday evening so we were seated right away and service was exceptional the whole evening, very attentive and informative. We started with the pitcher of sangria (no longer half priced on Mondays) but still very good - not at all watered down. Then ordered the empanada combination plate - 2 cheese, 2 chicken and 2 beef, and they were very, very good. The two sauces were very tasty, not 100% sure what all was in both but one had jalapeño and cilantro, the other was more parsley based. The entrana (grilled skirt steak) was really, really tender, juicy, flavorful and cooked exactly to our specifications - medium rare. The sides were all (as discussed in many of the other reviews) really, really dry. Our daughter is a vegetarian and had the paella - rice with lots of good veggies and good flavor which she enjoyed. Flan was coconut based (not my favorite) and drizzled with cherry sauce (love cherries but not on flan). So the only reason I didn't go 5 stars are three very slight negatives 1) the dry sides, 2) the flan not being in keeping with my expectation of good caramely flan and 3) the bathrooms being way out of the way - which as someone else mentioned in their review would be fine if you haven't had a pitcher of sangria! Not sure how'd they'd manage to rearrange them though and the 'living room' arrangement on the way to the loo was quite nice. Overall it was a good night - would we go from the southwest suburbs to the north side just to visit Las Tablas, not likely. But when in the area, we'd absolutely go again.

    (4)

  • Kristina C.

    I like meat. And sangria. I also like them together. When you walk into this place, you feel like you've stepped foot in a warm, meat filled cave. Its dark, with dark tables and walls, but not so dark that you cant see what you are eating or who you are stepping over. We ordered one appetizer for our table of 3, the Chorizo con Arepa. It wouldnt have been my choice, but it was delish - the pork sausage was amaz-o. It was a small appetizer, but probably just enough because the entrees are huge. I had the pork loin (OH. MY. GOD.) and it came with yucca, plantain and potato. My bf's steak was even better. Monday is 1/2 price sangria. Yippee for me! Today's Groupon is for this place. Go buy a few!

    (4)

  • Jenni Q.

    I absolutely love this place! I went here for my 25th birthday dinner with a group of friends and had an AMAZING dinner. Started out with some cheese empanadas which were crispy and oozing with cheese. Ordered a limonada (like a lemonade but made to order with fresh squeezed limes highly recommended!). Then had the combination platter with the skirt steak and grill octopus. Now I usually expect octopus to be pretty bland so I order it more for the texture than the taste. But the grill octopus was so juicy and flavorful that my friends kept grabbing them off my plate! The steak was also equally if not better than the octopus. I ordered mine medium and it came out perfectly pink and oh so tender. It was SO GOOD I immediately think about it every time I hear "steak." lol Service was a bit slow but expected since we had such a huge group and the place was super packed and crowded. But the waiter totally made up for it with the FREE columbian coffee. Overall a great experience and I would love love love to go back again!

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    mmmhmmm. i took my sister here when she visited this summer. she wanted to try something new, and i couldn't for the life of me find parking on the southport corridor for tango sur or bull-eh-dias. so we ended up here on recommendation, and parked right in front. it was about 8:30pm on a thursday night and she had been traveling all day, and we both become crankypants when we haven't eaten, so we walked in with a scowl. however we were seated right away, service was fast and friendly. the drinks were pretty good, but the food that was quickly presented was amazing. definitely one of the best steak dinners i've ever had. and the price seemed reasonable for what we ordered for two people. we rolled out of there, scowls replaced by slightly glazed eyes and happy smiles, and went about our way. can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    I've been to Las Tablas many times and regularly recommend it to all my family and friends. The skirt steak is the best that I've had in Chicago, great atmosphere, and friendly bartenders / waitstaff.

    (5)

  • Amy M.

    This is my second visit to this restaurant and didn't feel compelled to leave a review the last time. What we ate? Empanadas-Cicken and Beef -Good Skirt Steak and Calamari Combo-Awesome! Had this both times-$20 Columbian Entree- Can't remember name, but it had pork belly and ribeye steak basically heart attack waiting to happen..lol- Not bad, but still liked the Skirt and Calamari. Service-First time very informative and very pleasant waitress. Service- Second time super slow and food didn't come out for at least 30 to 40 minutes after the appetizer. It made me question whether I would return to this place, but I love the skirt and calamari so I might just ignore how bad the service was. Maybe something was going on this night because it seemed every wait staff was peeping into the kitchen through a little window on the door wondering where? Why? Food was taking so long.

    (3)

  • Nikki C.

    this place is all about the timing. off days are better days as weekends turn the place into another street fest circus with loud music, loud , loud conversations, high cockage fees, and diminished elbow room as people try to squeeze in to taste the marinated meats. its good, chimichurri is okays, not spectacular or heavily spiced, but doesn't get in the way of the meat which is key. come hungry, bring friends and get your meat on. plenty of paybox street parking, lots of cab activity and a short walk to the sopo cta and bars.

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    Yum! Yum! Yum! I've heard so many things about this place and never was able to come check this place out until last week. So for drinks we ordered a pitcher of sangria and it was decent enough to get me tipsy. So while we sipped on our glasses of Sangria we decided to order beef empanadas for an aperitivos and for dinner my gal pal and I decided to share the Picada Colombiana. WOW this was a very huge portion for two people but it was well worth it. Every bit of this dish was great. Decor is very nice. Staff is very friendly and I plan to go back very soon.

    (4)

  • Ivana S.

    I came here Monday night for dinner with four others. We discovered the place searching online for a new restaurant to try. Parking was easy and the restaurant was easy to find. Our server Maria came over as soon as we were settled in to take our drink order. Drinks arrived at the table fairly quickly. Their lemonade is homemade and delicious. The empanadas (we got chicken and cheese) were delicious. For entrees, we got chicken, the house speciality steak, grilled calamari, and the stuffed chicken called Pollo Relleno. The steak had a wonderful marinade; but even though it was ordered (and came out) medium rare, it was a little on the chewy side. The calamari had a very good flavor, as did the chicken. The stuffed chicken was mouth-watering. One of my table-mates tasted it and rightfully described it as astounding. Dishes are served with potato, yuca and fried plantain, and the Relleno was also served with a salad. The potato, even with its seasonings, is underwhelming but not bad. The plantain is cooked perfectly. A couple of us split the coconut flan for dessert. This too, was fantastic. The bussers were there to immediately clear garbage and plates from the table without being intrusive. Waters were refilled long before they were empty. Server was attentive but never hovering. She was great. Prices were right for the quality of the food. The entrees take a while, even on a slow night, but quality takes time. I would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    Me want ENTRANA, Give me ENTRANA........ Opphs, sorry I was still in my Las Tablas Entrana Zombie Mode. I would think after going to this restaurant, I wouldn't want steak for awhile. But my oh my, the sauce and the ENTRANA was skirt steak heaven. After reading all the reviews on Yelp, I already knew what I wanted. So I skipped merrily to the restaurant with coupons in one hand and boyfriend on the other. The place look relatively nice, with dim lighting and a medieval feel to it. I felt like I was in an episode of Xena warrior princess. And who doesn't love Xena? Am I right here! But anyways, I got the Entrana of course and the boyfriend copied me. When it came out, it was a long piece of skirt steak about 12 inches. It came with yuca potatoes, potatoes and plantains. Mmmmh, delicious. But the sauce was the icing on top. The chimicurri sauce is where's the money's at. At first, I was a fool, I only wanted to use a little so it doesn't overwhelm my meat. But sadly, I was put in my place when i realized this was the barbecue sauce to my barbecue chicken. Except this was chimicurri sauce on steak. Man, I loaded this baby up. Every bite was perfect. So dear Yelp reader, please use the sauce or I will haunt your dreams. Now I just wished I bought more coupons... Whomp Whomp!

    (5)

  • Milena M.

    If you come here you need to have the steak. We tried the empanadas and they weren't anything to write home about. I had an array of seafood which was quite fresh. The sides appear bland but the plantains are perfect and the yuca is well seasoned. The reason I gave a four star review is because our food took almost 40 minutes, we actually asked the waitress if our food was coming soon. Afterwards our check took awhile and after we gave her our cards it was another 15 minutes before we left. The entire meal was 2 hours. So go for the steak and stay awhile...because you might not have a choice.

    (4)

  • Megan G.

    Everyone needs to stop going to Tango Sur and start going to La Tablas. (I may have just kicked myself in the pants for saying this because it's a hidden gem, but I like to share things that are great.) First of all, it's BYOB (wine only). There is no corkage fee Mon-Wed and if you go online to their website, there is a coupon for free sangria. Use it...it's fantastic! Everytime I have been to Las Tablas I have always been seated right away. It never gets too crowded to where we have to wait. We started with the chicken empanadas and the pisao. Both were done perfectly. The fried plaintain chip in the pisao was unbelievable. I could sit down and eat an entire bag of those plain, without being topped with tender shredded beef and melted cheese! I usually get a combination plate when I go there. I've tried the skirt steak and shrimp and the skirt steak and chicken. The steak is phenomenal. Juicy and done perfectly, pink in the center, slathered in a chimichurri sauce that is thick and flavorful, not too spicy, perfect. It came with a baked potato and fried sweet plantains. The potato was dry and overcooked, but the plantains were again, delicious. I wasn't impressed with the shrimp. I found them underseasoned and overcooked. The chicken was well done...tender and light, with a garlic and white wine sauce that wasn't overpowering. I'm going back tonight and I'm going to try the grilled octopus and the carne asada. I will get back to you with my reviews on those! For my money, Las Tablas is so much better than Tango Sur. It's more intimate, you get better service and the food is just as good, if not better. Did I mention the free sangria? *UPDATE*: So last night I went with the Picada Columbiana and split it with my boyfriend. Let me give you a word of warning: this is a heaping plate of meat. You will not finish it, but you will savor ever moment trying to. Here's what's on the plate: Entrana steak, rib-eye steak, chicken, pork loin, chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantains, sweet, creamy fried plantains, yuca and baked potato. Here's what I loved: the skirt steak. It was so tender, you could cut it with a fork. Perfectly cooked, delicious. The chicken was also in my top two. Moist and seasoned, flavorful. The homemade chorizo would be a close third, with the pork coming in last (too dry). The sweet plantains were fantastic as usual. A soft banan-ey, gooey, sweet end to the meal. Order the pisao for sure when you go. Its always been wonderful and perfectly crispy and melty. We had the chicken pisao this time. Mmmmm. Once again, Las Tablas delivered!

    (4)

  • Milly P.

    Oh Las Tablas! How I love your Entrana and margaritas!!!! If you are in the mood for some awesome steak, heavenly cocktails, and a fun environment, Las Tablas is your place! First of all, margaritas are my favorite drink, and Las Tablas knows how to make a deliciously perfect margarita. They use top-knotch tequila, they don't make it too sweet, and it is perfectly balanced. The last time I went, my friend Gina seemed to be enjoying her mojitos,and the rest of us had countless different other drinks! We shared a platter of empanadas which were all so delicious. They weren't too oily, and the filling was delicious. For our main dishes, we all had either the Entrana or Churrasco. With our delicious steaks came the chimichurri sauce and a jalapeno-based sauce (Colombian Aji). These sauces are divine and take the already so flavorful and juicy delicious steaks to a whole different level. We ended with a free flan from our delightfully sweet server. I love this place.

    (5)

  • Onur U.

    Seems this a popular style of restaurant these days. You get a ton of grillled meats with roasted starchy veggies on the side. Get enough on your plate to feed you for 2-3 days and drop about 30 bucks a head. I can see the appeal, but it just doesn't excite me. Fun for a group, but just not a unique enough dining experience to merit the crowds. BYO is a big part of the "Tango Sur" model, and Tablas offers that mid-week but charges a whopping 8$ corkage on the weekend. I've never understood why someone would bring a 15 dollar bottle of wine to a restaurant with an 8 dollar corkage. Sure it's still cheaper than buying wine off their menu, but that's a pretty stiff upcharge. I'll probably stick to sangria or beer at a place like this, so at least I'm not paying 20 bucks for the right to drink cheap wine from the corner shop. The other ingredient of the model is a huge sizzling platter of grilled meats. Of course they serve you pretty cheap cuts of meat, brined into oblivion then covered in oil so they come out moist and shiny. Sure it tastes good, but it's something of a mirage. Everything ends up cooked medium well and it begs the question why you don't just go to Jewel, pick up a couple pounds of skirt steak, slam it with a mallet to flatten it out, soak it in salt water for a couple hours, then grill it up (or sear it and sautee it). That 100 dollar meal (with 20 dollars in corkage) quickly become a 15 dollar meal with no corkage BYO in the comfort of your own home. My point is that they're just repackaging cheap meats and vegetables (roasting potatoes is even easier than grilling skirt steak) as ethnic cuisine, when really it's just a ploy to serve steak for cheap. All that said, the food was all right. No one leaves hungry and the ambiance is pretty lively. There's a reason places like this are so popular.

    (3)

  • JA Y.

    Las Tablas I so wanted to love you. Maybe you were having an off night? Maybe I just needed to drink more? The Good: Atmosphere: Very cozy, could see this as a good date place. Drinks: Some of the best I've had in the area (maybe this is why all of the great reviews? The Not So Pretty: Food: Sum it up in 1 word. DRY. We tried both the empanada and dinner for 2 combination plates so we basically tried a good portion of the menu. They brought out some oil based sauces for the empanadas which made them a lot more tolerable but by the end of the meal my date and i decided maybe we were suppose to be putting it on everything. The Yucca, potato, fried plantains, bread, etc all were very dry and pretty much tasted the same (meaning like nothing). Except maybe the skirt steak which was ok (not the best i every had) even the meats were kind of blah. The chorizo was probably some of the mildest I've ever had. Service: Not sure where to start but it wasnt good. Walked in a on a weekend night to an almost empty restaurant. Wanted to sit outside, 3 empty tables but all needed some sort of clearing. Was told it would be ten minutes to clear the two glasses off. Huh? Ok waited and then was sat outside. 20 minutes goes by, no one stops by. The one waiter who was outside just kept looking over and then avoiding eye contact (not sure who else he was expecting to help us). After 25 minutes and watching the waiter stand around idle I go in for help. Waiter comes over asks if anyone has helped us to which we answer no. He says ok will be back in a minute and disappears for another 5 minutes before taking our drink order. This is how the whole night went. Unless I was in the mood just to drink and had plenty of time don't think I would be back.

    (2)

  • Philip B.

    Swung by last night with the gf as I was in the mood for some steak. We had the groupon as well, and I was looking forward to trying this place out for the first time. We were quoted about a 20 minute wait just before 8pm on Thursday, which to me is acceptable and we sat down at the bar. About 5 minutes later we were acknowledged and asked what we wanted. Well a peak through the drink menu first would help, so we asked for that. The menu showed Thursday's special - $5 mojito's (full price $8). I had one of those. The gf had a glass of sangria for $6. After 15 minutes or so we were told our table was ready. I wanted to pay off the tab at the bar first, which is were the night got a bit awkward. The tab had the mojito at $8. I mentioned the menu said $5 and figured it was a slight oversight and they'd correct it. At this time, one of the employees grabbed the drink menu and switched it. Hmm interesting - look, in the new menu there's no more special! Ha. There was quite some confusion with not just us but another couple as to what happened. The employees initially said now we had to pay the full price of $8. Well, the reason I got the mojito was bc it was on special. For $8 I'd rather get a Caipirinha! A few minutes passed and our bartender said he'd take care of it. He seemed nice and it just looked like he would of happily changed it had it not been for another employee. We sat down at our table and ordered the combination and the skirt steak. The food was really good, extremely flavorful and really tender. The plantain was amazing too. 4 stars for the food. The waiter/bartender took care of the situation when the bill was presented and actually only charged us $10 for the drinks at the bar ($1 less than I would have paid). So that was nice to see. I deduct one star just for the weirdness and initial reaction to the mixup. I just don't think you can switch menus with different prices. That's all. I have a feeling they may get overwhelmed with Groupon, but it is a good deal - I'd just wait a few weeks while the initial Groupon rush is over and they get their kinks worked out.

    (3)

  • Tim H.

    First time to a Colombian steak house and the food was amazing. I could see why the place was packed the entire time we were there. The average $20 entrees are totally worth it.

    (4)

  • Erin T.

    I came here for dinner with my husband on a Saturday night. As there were only two of us, we only had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated. The meal was phenomenal! There are so many unique flavors and menu options. It definitely isn't the typical steakhouse experience. I ordered the steak with pork belly, fried egg, rice, beans, sweet plantains and an avocado. My husband ordered a steak. Both were delicious. We had amazing mojitos to compliment the dish. The service was prompt and efficient. They also kept the water coming, which is very important to me! I highly recommend this spot for a different kind of steak dinner.

    (4)

  • Laura B.

    I came here on a Tuesday night with a kiwi friend who had never tried Latin American food beyond the offerings of Taco Bell. First question - Where are the chips and guac? Answer: Down the street at the Mexican restaurant! I thought I knew what to expect, as I had tried my fair share of pollo al ajillo while traveling. This isn't your snack shack kind of food, though. Sure, there's a pollo al ajillo (its one of the specials) but you've never really tried Pollo al Ajillo (chicken with a light garlic wine marinade) until you've had it at Las Tablas. In fact, I'm going to make a lofty claim and that I never knew the delicious details of chicken until I tasted the perfectly prepared, tender, and delicate chicken at Las Tablas. The only downfall is that the chicken didn't heat up for lunch very well the next day. In retrospect, however, I think my initial standards were too high for that small leftover piece to fulfill its grandiose memory of the night before. As for the ambiance, I could not have asked for a better spot to a bring a friend for feasting on a Tuesday (PS- BYOB on weekdays!). I imagine that Las Tablas would be fabulous for groups. It's definitely not a "date" place in the standard of Geja's Cafe, but it the restaurant is still quiet enough that two people can have easily have a conversation.

    (5)

  • Ramona A.

    The combo with the skirt steak and chicken is a keeper. The meat just melts in your mouth, so tender and juicy I don't know how they do it! Service is a little slow but who cares when the food is this good? The place is super cute and romantic but perfect for a girls night out as well. Did I mention how cheap it is? The entire meal was under $25! I would expect something of this caliber to be around $40 at least.

    (5)

  • Jackie P.

    Las Tablas, you are delicious. Went there on a Wed. night and there was no crowd, therefore immediately seated. Soft lighting, and the decor (Fernando Botero - fat people and animals reign) and furniture is beauitful (the brothers of the owners made all of the tables, chairs, woodwork in both restaurants!). We had the empanada sampler (chicken, cheese, and beef) - terrific. Even though I would consider empandas a simple dish, these were really frickin' good. The sangria was good and I had a Refajo (soda and beer combo) which was suprisingly tasty and easy to drink with dinner. One thing to note is that the BYOB option is only Monday - Thursday for the Lincoln Park/Lakeview location only. It's wine only, no beer or liquor. Come hungry as the portions are ginormous. Two chicks can easily split a combo platter. If you're a dude that likes to mow down, this is the place for you. Very nice experience. Would go again. Also, if you're driving and it's relatively early (before 9pm weekdays), you'll be surprised with metered street parking availability.

    (4)

  • Hector C.

    The server was extremely helpful and pleasant. This place has the best skirt steak, hands down. Ask for your steak to be done medium. The salsa that is served with the meal smells so rich and taste great with the steak. Dont worry it is not very hot. The empanadas are great too. They are a bit small but taste amazing. This is a nice place to either take someone on a casual date or a group of friends. Oh and you must have the flan. Perfectly made and served warm

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    I am giving Las Tablas 1 star for its BAD service, not it's food. I just came from this place where I went with a few friends. We were waited on pretty fast, and before we ordered, we asked if we could split the check 2 ways (there were 4 of us). The waiter seemed confused, but didn't say that they didn't split checks. Two of us ordered vegetarian plates, two of us ordered steaks. The 2 vegetarian plates came out very fast, and I was excited to get my steak...... but I kept waiting... and waiting.... we literally waited 20 MINUTES until our 2 stake plates came out. We literally sat there watching our friends eat, and when ours came, they sat there and watched us eat. Keep in mind, in the middle of waiting, the server came up and told us that it was because we had asked for 2 separate checks, with attitude. Sorry, but I don't think its that hard to go into the kitchen, and tell the cooks that the 2 tickets were on the same table. Maybe if I was at IHOP I wouldn't have cared, but this is a damn steakhouse, they should know how to serve everyone together. THEN, once we finally got our meals, the waiter did not come back ONCE. We sat there for half an hour, just waiting to get some freaking water, when finally another waiter basically took over, got us water, wrapped stuff up, and even got our checks. It was like our first waiter was scared to even look us in the eye because he knew we were upset about the waiting. So we decided to tell the manager what had happened... he apologized and went to talk to the waiter, and then they both came back together and argued with us that it was our fault for asking for 2 checks. It then turned out that the waiter had lied to the manager, telling him that he had told us that if we asked for 2 checks this would happen, before we ordered. IF HE TOLD US BEFORE THEN WE WOULDNT HAVE DONE IT! WHO ORDERS FOOD KNOWING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH THEIR FRIENDS EAT?? We were so pissed at this point. We told the manager that the waiter never told us this, that he only told us AFTER the vegetarian plates came out that "they only take 5 minutes to cook while your plates take about 20". So the manager pulled the waiter back again, and then finally gave us 20 dollars off our bill. Gee, thanks. An expensive, nice steakhouse that can't even time a four-top properly, and a manager who doesn't know how to fix a bad situation? WHAT A JOKE! He told us to please come back... YEAH RIGHT!! NEVER GOING BACK! They get 1 star because the food was good... but not good enough to deal with that service.

    (1)

  • Sara D.

    What a great night! Great ambiance, great service, great food...a lot of greats. We came here after a book signing and art fair at Flourish Studios, and we were hungry. Came to the right place - we shared the empanadas, entrana steak, octopus, and calamari. The sides here are plantain, yucca, and potatoes. I loved everything except for the yucca; I'm just not a yucca kind of gal, it's a texture thing. I will definitely be back, I actually like Las Tablas better than Tango Sur.

    (4)

  • Ayako M.

    Okay! Two times the charm! The house specialty skirt steak is to d.i.e. for! Slather it up with that delicious, stank mouth inducing chimichuri sauce and you are set to spend the night alone, burping onion noxiousness and rubbing your food baby.

    (4)

  • Jessica K.

    Can't decide if this place is better than Tango Sur. I guess you can't really compare the two because one is Argentinian and the other Colombian. It would be like comparing a Chinese Restaurant with a Korean one. My bad, I apologize for that moment of ignorance.. Whoever created the aborrajado is a genius. Melted cheese drenched on top of a fried plantain, this my fellow food loving friends is proof that God does exist. Don't freak out when you notice that most of the dishes are over 20 bucks. It's a steakhouse. If you were expecting to eat steak for under 20 then....... .... .... ... But don't worry, if you get a combination plate it's well worth it. Sides included are plantains (again!), potatoes and assorted vegetables. I can't decide if this would be a great date place. We went on a weeknight and it was pretty loud. The ambiance is festive and the wait staff funny and friendly.

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    Okay so NOW I know why this place is so popular.... Maybe just maybe...Las Tablas has some of the best food in Chicago, coupled with fast efficient service, and BYOB to boot? Yeah, definitely a 5 star review! This is a true Columbian establishment, complete with hand carved tables and chairs (carved by the owners family!), fresh ingredients (the plantains were amazing), and coffee that tasted like....well, better than the "Columbian" Starbucks coffee, that's for sure. This is an Atkins-lovers paradise...lots of grilled meats and vegetables. For appetizers there are empanadas with different fillings and sauces. These empanadas are fantastic b/c they aren't deep fried! Rather, time and attention is taken to make all of the food at Las Tablas, and I just can't put into words how yummy it is. Perhaps the BYOB brings folks in the door the first time, but the food itself keeps us coming back. Come here with a big group; all entrees are around the same price so it is easy to split the bill. Or come here on a date...the restaurant gives off that romantic vibe.

    (5)

  • Joshua B.

    Umm...YES PLEASE! I continue to reflect on how happy I am with the advent of Groupon. Myself and a friend went here on a Bro-mantic Groupon date and walked away full, happy and plenty of meat for lunch the following day. We shared a pitcher of sangria, which is GREAT! So much flavor and not in the sense of, "Wow is this full of sprite, juice, etc?". We also shared the Picada Colombiana. If you are in the mood for some perfectly cooked/grilled meats and tasty starches, then this is your dish! We got our steak cooked to a perfect medium temperature. That coupled with the chorizo, ribs, pork chicken, etc. a vegetarian would be in hell, but it was my heaven. Regarding the starches, most were tasty; however, the potato was a bit much in size and the crunchy green plantain was a bit dry and not really my speed. The arepa, fried sweet plantain and yucca were Perfect! My only regret is that this was a bro-mantic date. This place is cozy. The bathroom is downstairs which seems like negative - especially after a pitcher of sangria - but when you get down there you won't want to leave. This is the perfect date spot and will definitely take my partner soon.

    (4)

  • Orack B.

    So I am sitting around a gay bar in Boy's Town with my wife, my buddy and his girlfriend. We had just witnessed our other buddy's little boy get his shmeckel snipped! Naturally, the conversation turned to food. I started showing my buddy pictures from my recent trip to Colombia when it hit me; "I need a motherfucking Bandeja Paisa!" I actually Yelped the closest Colombian fare and Las Tablas was the victor. Upon entrance I noticed a lot of empty tables, yet a lot of people waiting. When we finally did get seated - which didn't take too long, we were there @ 7:30 on a Friday - I realized we were surrounded by big parties. Well, it took quite some time for anyone to stop at our table, 20 minutes, and when they did, they were harried and short (no not physically ya dunce). Ten minutes later another guy came up and said, " I see you ordered some appetizers, my name is so-and-so and I will be your server tonight." They need to cut that phrase out of the restaurant lexicon! Anyhow, we ended up ordering our entrees sensing the serious delay we were about to experience. Rant portion: When you have multiple big parties, as a server you still need to pay attention to your two-tops and four-tops (fuck a three-top). Furthermore, as a restaurateur, you need to think about this: Who is more likely to remember your food, service and décor, the 20-top chatting away and pounding liquor, catching up on old times and not paying attention to their surroundings? Or the two-top couple who have time to notice the pace of service and the quality of food more because they don't have 18 other people to defer to? I choose the latter. And there seems to be a lot of big parties here. Reminds me of Ron of Japan in that way... On to the true test of a restaurant, the food! The empanada was good and the other app that we ordered, patacones pisado, was most excellent and most cheesy. The aji - the more liquidy green sauce on the tabla - was great too. As I stated earlier, my thoughts ran and always do, to to Bandeja Paisa. So that is what I ordered with my meat medium rare. My wife ordered the Matrimonio with her steak medium, which the inexperienced waiter said would be cooked through due to the thinness of the meat... The two dishes came and mine was well done, due to the thinness of the cut, and my wife's was bloody, due to the thickness of the cut. Now a Bandeja Paisa is a pretty, pretty, pretty hearty! So there is a lot to delve into. Immediately I noticed that the steak was so salty it pruned my tongue... I sent it back only by practically tripping the waiter to get his attention. Yea it was that bad; the drinks we ordered never came despite the fact that the waiter told us he was going to get them two different times. The funny thing was that it looked like they were amply staffed, but there were too many inexperienced jackasses, too timid to do their jobs properly! So I sent the steak back, something I never do. Everything else on the plate was more than fine though: arroz, huevo, frijoles, yucca, arepa, etc... My wife's dish was great and tasty. I really like the charbroiled taste to the meat with a little aji for the heat factor... I got my new steak back, no salt, but the waiter just threw it down and offered no apology just a, "Here it is, it's worth the wait!" He said that multiple times. Dude just say you are really busy and you are sorry about the (lack of) service. It is completely understandable to make an admission of that sort. So I know I will go back because I have a three- strikes policy - unless we are talking about a restaurant like Gio's or Jimmy's Charhouse - but it is fairly obvious that Las Tablas has some tasty food! In the meantime, for an alternative, check out my review for El Llano.

    (2)

  • Kelly R.

    My family and I (it was four of us) came here for my father's birthday using the Groupon coupon. I am overall happy with the food, customer service, atmosphere, etc. The only things that I would complain about is that it opens at 5pm and that it does not have its own parking lot. These are the food that we ordered there: - Sangrias (Happy that it is half priced on Monday) - Mango Fruit Juice - Picada Colombiana - Estrana I would highly recommend one to get these food there. The picada colombiana was overall great. The yuca was good; the chicken was good; the arepa was good, (all were just good!!). We fell in love with the steak so we asked for the extrana dish. We ended up only getting two entrees since the entrees were huge! (The picada columbiana is said serve for 2 people, but really it can be for 3.) The customer service was very good. We told our server that this was the first time that we were going to try Colombian food. She was very generous and was very helpful throughout our process of trying Colombian food. She provided us recommendations and provided a detailed, useful description of what the food are. The atmosphere is very nice. Our family differs in ages so it is difficult for us to find a restaurant that provide a nice atmosphere for all of us. Nevertheless, it was good as the adults, teenagers and children enjoyed it. It was peaceful , pretty, and warm. I would then highly recommend others to try out this restaurant. It really does not matter what type of people they are. I do think that everyone will enjoy it.

    (5)

  • Kim A.

    This place is far more charming than I expected. The food is delicious, the space is intimate and warm, and the staff super friendly. Why three stars? We were with a group of 10 for a friend's birthday. My friend had a bit of a hassle getting a reservation, and they made her put down a deposit for a reservation? What... knock of a star... Why knock off the other star? An $8 corkage fee. Really? With 10 people, and 8 bottles of wine, it's a little over the top. I know that's how these places pay for their license etc. But $8 per bottle. Nope. Those two points being made. Everyone at the table absolutely loved the food. The empanadas were absolutely delicious, rare steak cooked beautiful pink, calamari and octopus grilled delicate (NOT TOUGH). The appetizers... delicious! I really really do want to give this place more than 3 stars, but there are just a few initial quirks that bothered me off the bat, and some of the appetizers seemed a touch on the pricier side. I'd definitely go back, but maybe with a smaller group, and hopefully be more objective.

    (3)

  • Hannah G.

    Steak = AMAZING. Sangria = Delicious and just-right. The staff were so very friendly and accommodating, gave us great recommendations for our first meal ever at this place. Definitely adding this to my list of places to take out-of-town friends when they come to Chicago. We had the cheese empanadas (YUM) and the combo platters with steak and shrimp. The steak was perfect - hot, juicy, not under- or overcooked. I liked the sides that came with the steak as well.

    (5)

  • Sean F.

    This would be the third stop on our madcap dining run through Restaurant Week. And really it was a total asspull. I had never really looked at this place, didn't Yelp it, just chose the first place I saw on the list that was both north of Division and not an Italian joint. And I figured, it has steak in the name, what could possibly go wrong? The answer was "not very much". Let me get the few quibbles out of the way quickly. At points the service was a bit slow. I don't blame that on the server, as he was seemingly always in motion with two large groups and some small tables to deal with. I thought it a bit odd that you couldn't get two different empanadas for the Rest. Week appetizer (you could choose from three different ones, but only choose two of the same apparently) but oh well. Mostly this was a very positive experience. Our server was very friendly, explained the menu quite well, gave some good suggestions on what to get, and generally kept things going well. For first courses we tried the empanadas w/chicken, rice, peas, and carrots. These were quite tasty, and the chimmichurri sauce, esp. the spicy version, had quite a kick. I had the Aborrajado, which I am relatively sure is Spanish for "freaking awesome" but I could be wrong. Plantain = guava paste = melted cheese = NOM NOM NOM! The main courses were meaty affairs. The mrs. went with the Matrimonio, a combination platter of the Entrana skirt steak and the chicken breast. We both thought the chicken was nice, with the hint of garlic and white wine from the sauce being a nice subtle note. I, being a meat loving sort of man, went for the Entrana on its own. Both platters came with fried plantain, yuca, and potato by the way. The Entrana was excellent. Usually with this sort of cut you end up thinking "wow, this was salty" or "wow, this was tough". Here though I just thought "wow, this was excellent!" The meat was very flavorful, but with the meat flavor being paramount. The cut was juicy and tender. And the portions were substantial. Dessert was a bit of a disappointment. They were out of a few of their desserts, including the passion fruit mousse that sounded really good. I had the flan which was passable, but nothing to sway things one way or the other. We had some poached figs as well, though by that point only a tremendous dessert would have been worth further gorging. The figs were easy enough to take a few bites of and then push away. I debated long and hard where this ranks, due to Yelp's damnable whole-star rating system. I guess since I would have gone 3.5 on this, and I really did enjoy that steak a hell of a lot, I can go with four stars. After all, they don't send out a bill on how many stars you give out in a month, right? I could see this getting a bit hairy on a weekend, as just a couple large groups did slow things a bit here on a weeknight. But again, a small quibble. Go here. Eat steak.

    (4)

  • Noelle W.

    WOW, what a great surprise! We were not expecting this restaurant to be as great as it was! The decor is super cute and tastefully done. Dimmed lighting. Perfect for a group of people or a date night. Crowded, but not so loud that I couldn't hear my date talk. Our Server was PHENOMENAL!! He recommended our drinks (a mixed drink and red wine) and both were excellent. He also recommended our entrees too...We got the combination entrees and it was absolutely delicious! The steak and chicken was perfectly cooked and the seafood was tasty. We gave our server a 40% tip because he was that good! Overall, a wonderful experience! HIGHLY recommend it!!!!

    (5)

  • PJ T.

    stakehouse + BYOB - ahem!! The food is just delicious, the sangria awesome and their suaces mama mia !! But the wait sucks!

    (4)

  • Lauren S.

    Love this restaurant! I've been here numerous times, once for my birthday, for a friends birthday and for a nice romantic dinner. The restaurant is great for both groups and couples. I'm not sure if they still have live music but they did one night when I was there (maybe a Friday?) and it really brought the place alive. The food is excellent, especially for the quantity and price. I usually get the Churassco or the combination with skirt steak and calamari. The steak is always perfectly cooked and flavorful and the sauces on the side add a little hint of freshness and more flavor, amzaing. The grilled calamari is some of the best I've had, full of flavor. And the yucca...hard to describe the amazingness! They used to be BYO all the time and now are only BYO on the weekdays, which probably helps their piggy bank more than mine, but it is still worth it. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Kathleen L.

    Came here twice for a friend's bday and each time I had their specialty steak. Do get their empanada(sp?) for appetizer! The food was delicious and their atmosphere was great. I'm giving them 4 stars only bc its not BYOB anymore.

    (4)

  • Brenda V.

    Excellent food, ambiance and service. The menu is Latin American with an emphasis on Colombian/South American flavor - it was my first time trying Colombian food and I loved every bit of it! Mood lighting, high ceilings, airy atmosphere and heavy wood tables and chairs make you feel like you're in an old hacienda.. service was prompt and efficient. Huge portions.

    (5)

  • Jme B.

    I've eaten here a few times, most recently this past weekend. The quality of food of service is consistent - which is nice. The food is somewhat bland, in my opinion (perhaps that's just the cuisine?). Bottom line: I'd stop by if you are in the neighborhood, but don't make a special trip to visit this place.

    (3)

  • Rocky B.

    Mmm, very good food. I like the plato matrimonio...at least I think that is what it is called. The steak is yummy and I love the corn cakes.

    (4)

  • Megan G.

    Mmm... It's like a delicious meat salad that plays my taste buds like a fiddle. I definitely recommend the empanadas. Go for the steak or the steak and chicken combo. There are plenty of doggy bags! Prices are LOW and I have been there 6 times at least and have never been charged a corking fee. !

    (5)

  • Johanna L.

    We went for an early dinner last Sunday and the restaurant was almost full. We had great service - didn't feel rushed at all and got to enjoy our bottle of wine (it's BYOB for wine only with an $8 corkage fee). We split the grilled seafood salad as an app and it was huge. The calamari and shrimp were really good. I also enjoyed the skirt steak but my boyfriend's chicken was awesome. The portions are huge so it's well worth the price. I love the handmade chairs and tables. I really recommend this restaurant for a date.

    (4)

  • Bruce N.

    I just returned from lunch here today. I had an appointment down the street and tried Las Tablas based on the reviews posted here. I HEART YELP! I had the steak lunch special and my buddy had the chicken. Both were served with a bowl of wonderful lentil soup (which I normally don't like) and came with beans, rice, salad and fried plantain on the side. FABULOUS! All for $6.95. All I can say is "check it out"! A wonderful value and great food!

    (5)

  • Rob L.

    MMMMMM Meaty goodness. Love that this place is a BYOB,the chimichurri sauce is fresh not oily, staff is friendly, food is quick and lord did I leave full. You do get a lot food and it is great, I am still debating if the empanadas are really good or great and the plantains are sweet. I will say this, its simple, not dressed up and its damn good, though if you do have apps, (and they are good!), split meals!Perhaps you won't be as stuffed as I was. If you go on the weekends you might want to call ahead, I hear it can get swamped. Great if you want to bring a group of friends or with just one person.

    (5)

  • Albert C.

    This being the first Colombian restaurant I ever went to, I had no real reference... but it turns out I didn't need one. The food is good. The meat is the true standout but the yuca and plantains were also delectable.

    (4)

  • Beebe G.

    the experience our group had at las tablas was pretty amazing! we dined on a saturday night around 8pm and it was crowded! were told we had an hour wait so we had bevvies at the bar. about 35 mins later we were seated. our wonderful repast consisted of two orders of the combination empanadas, the combination order of their delictable entrana steak and pollo but also added the langostinos in that marvelous garlic-white wine marinade. i really almost hurt myself with this dinner! had i, it would have been worth the hurt! we''ll be back soon!

    (5)

  • Blah B.

    This is the Latin melting pot...literally! You can find from Argentinean, to Venezuelan, Mexican, Caribbean to Colombian food here. Their portions are huge and it's so cheap. It's good stuff really it is!!

    (4)

  • Mark P.

    Wasn't impressed with the churrasco. Heard from a native Columbian that Sabor A Cafe is mejor.

    (3)

  • Sara S.

    I will never go back. For years we've been going there for birthdays, but as far as I'm concerned last night was the last time. We got there at 7, ordered drinks and appetizers, ordered our food around 8, and asked for the bill at about 10. As we're actively figuring out everyone's share of the bill, the waiter came over and told us the manager wanted us to leave because we'd "been there too long". The service was slow, and there were 11 of us. Dinner usually is going to take about that amount of time. We were either eating or ordering more drinks the whole time. We asked him to send the manager over so he could tell us himself. (That's the way a table of lawyers is going to handle the situation.) Of course, the manager never came over. I don't know if the waiter made it up or what, but it was insanely rude. The restaurant was still mostly full, but no one was waiting for a table. I worked in restaurants for years before going to law school, and never would a manager have told a table to leave unless they were disturbing other diners. Even at Cafe Iberico were I worked during college, which gets far busier than Las Tablas was, we would never treat customers that way. And then they overcharged my credit card by $40. I think they realized they didn't add gratuity and then put it on the people who paid with cards. I've never been treated like that at a restaurant and I will not go back. Not to mention that when I sat down I ordered a mojito and the waiter told me to "chill out". I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was supposed to ask him how his day was first. Whatever. Last time there.

    (1)

  • Kat W.

    An excellent ColOmbian steakhouse. Friendly and efficient staff, good atmosphere (pretty crowded), great food, including the sides! and.. BYOB!!

    (5)

  • Chris K.

    It's ok. Staff's great. Food's a little average. Tango Sur is sooooooo much better.

    (3)

  • Jason G.

    best Skirt steak in the pueblo period. and if you like to put chimichurri sauce on your steaks welcome to heaven. They have two kinds of chimichurri they bring to your table to use on everything. I drowned my empanadas in this stuff, one is a little more spicy than the other and they are both fantastic. If $20 is too much for you to spend on a skirt steak, then share it. The steak is friggin huge. If you order the empanada combination plate and the skirt steak entre, your bill will be $28 for two people and you will be full.

    (5)

  • Courtney B.

    My absolute favorite place to go out to eat in Chicago is a quaint, little South American steak house called Las Tablas. Tucked away near the Southport/Lincoln intersection, it is definitely a hidden treasure. I was taken to Las Tablas on a date years ago and although the relationship didn't last, my love for the restaurant did! The menu offers authentic South American cuisine like steak, seafood, paella and some vegetarian dishes prepared in the traditional Colombian/Argentinean way. My go-to dish is the Churrasco steak, which is huge, so bring your appetite. Dishes are served on wooden slabs and include potatoes, yucca, and my favorite, the "magic green sauce" with which I drown everything on my plate. There is occasionally live music to listen to during dinner and on my last visit I even joined in on a salsa lesson! There are different sized tables for romantic dates or for larger groups like birthday parties. Everyone that has come to Chicago to visit me gets to check out Las Tablas. I love taking new people there and introducing them to the flavorful, traditional tastes of South America & showing them just how magic the green sauce really is. Don't forget to BYOB and get there early on weekend nights, the place gets packed!

    (5)

  • J P.

    Overall great experience.. waitress was very helpful, and attentive. She offered great suggestions and could not have been more friendly. The food was amazing.. appetizers were great, steak was fantastic.. and that chimcurri (sp?) sauce, I have been craving it ever since!!

    (5)

  • Nancy H.

    Oh my, this place gets crowded and noisy! It is too small for all the patrons who want to eat there. The people waiting for a table on the weekends easily flood the first half of the main room, standing around people who are actually eating. The seats (some tables had wooden benches, others had hard wooden chairs) were rather uncomfortable; perhaps the owners were going for a rustic, outdoors-y feel? The decor was very cute. There were paintings of very round people enjoying everything from food to dancing. The service here was great - our waiter was attentive, helpful, and humorous. And last, but not least, the food! I've tried the combination platter ($30 for 2) that consisted of rib eye, pork, chicken, sausage, yuca, fried potato, and plantains. It was altogether, as a dish, too dry, in my opinion. The plantains, however, were very tasty. I also tried the steak & eggs dish, and THAT was great! The egg is made over easy on top of your steak, and I was impressed by how tasty egg could be! Lastly, it's a BYOB establishment, so it guarantees fun times in this casual restaurant.

    (4)

  • Alisa L.

    Came here for a friend's big 30th bday dinner on a Saturday night. She had a approximately 20-25 in the group and we all were seated once half of the group arrived. The waiter was very helpful in assisting us with the menu and recommending some appetizers and entrees. The empanadas are good...we ordered the trio to share between the 4 of us that were sitting close together and after we each had a half of one we decided to just order our own since they were that good! It is BYOB with a $8 corkage fee. We ordered a platter that consisted of grilled steak, pork, shrimp, chicken, octopus...(basically all the meats and seafood) and yuca and plantains. The skirt steak is by far the best out of the different meats...juicy and well seasoned. They were very accommodating as far as how we divided up the bill (a combined cash and straggling credit cards) since there are always those annoying ppl that decide to not bring cash to a big group dinner. Anyway, it's a great place for group dinners or even a dinner for two as long as you come hungry! On a side note....check out the bathroom. It's downstairs and you feel like you're going through a small maze and as you turn the corner you might be surprised by a scary painting of a lady's face. ha! Can't wait to come back to try this again.

    (4)

  • David R.

    This place is amazing! First of all, its BYOB so the drinks are cheap. I ordered the House Specialty and it was the biggest steak I have ever seen, but I had no trouble finishing it. The guava and plantains covered in cheese is a surprisingly good appetizer. Always a fun place to go.

    (4)

  • Anne L.

    To be fair I have only been to this restaurant once. On my usual travels to the Windy City, I met up with my boyfriend and some of his family members. They wanted to treat us to their favorite restaurant, ie. Las Tablas. My first experience with chimichurri was good... even with all that fresh garlic and coriander I did not get heartburn (wheew!) I ordered grilled baby octopus and was not impressed. The seafood was rubbery and hard to break up in my mouth- Indicative of either poor quality products or an inexperienced grilled master. The rest of the crew ordered steak.. though heavy it was very flavorful. The highlight of my meal was the yucca side dish that came with my platter. The unique flavor and texture was perfected! However, a couple of stars were docked because of service and ambience. The service was poor. Even on a night with few covers, the waiter came by the table once after ordering and my water glass and dropped utensil suffered. In my opinion, if owners are going to remodel and expand, then please spend some money to train or rather retrain the waitstaff. Secondly, the ambience was very drafty and austere for a Latin restaurant. I was hoping for live music or at least some music to add to the experience. However I just heard the rumbling murmur of other conversations... how boring for a culture that embraces a colorful livelihood.

    (3)

  • Mariella C.

    went on a saturday night and it was louder than a club. the people in here are just too rowdy, not exactly the type of people you would expect in this place as it seems to be a bit uppidty. and their yuca is like a year old, it tastes so old and crummy. otherwise the food was just alright, as were the drinks.

    (2)

  • Rachelle M.

    My husband and I were in Chicago tonight (we drove in from Lake Geneva, WI) and thought it would be a great evening to use our Groupon for Las Tablas. The restaurant was pretty empty at around 6 pm on a Thursday night. When we got to the hostess stand, we noticed a sign that said that all Groupon customers must have a reservation. I asked the hostess if we could make a reservation for later in the evening and her response was "well, I can make it for another day." The restaurant was empty!!! I can sort of understand that if it were a Friday or Saturday evening, but absolutely not during a weekday. I triple checked my printed Groupon as well as the actual Groupon website where the coupon was posted and nothing was mentioned about this ridiculous requirement. If they are going to make their own rules, then they should at least have the decency to have it written on their coupon. Bad business. Period.

    (1)

  • ali a.

    Great Columbian steak house. The atmosphere is great and so is the food. Its BYOB which is an added plus. Although I haven't been back in a long time, I have been wanting to return. The staff was also very friendly.

    (5)

  • Karen L.

    I went here for dinner on a Friday night and I was pleasantly surprised that we did not have to wait for a table. The place was open and casual, with big wooden tables. The service was pretty good and the atmosphere was quite loud. However, it wasn't so loud that you couldn't carry on a conversation. I ordered a steak entree. The entrees are huge... my slab 'o beef was quite large, although it was the smaller portion. It also came with a baked potato, yuca, and a plantain. Everything came out very simple, nothing fancy at all. (Nothing was cut up, it was just sitting on the platter in a big chunk.) Maybe that is how it is in Colombia? The steak was pretty tender, but a little on the salty side. Overall, the food was decent. The prices were fair--entrees were around $15-20. And they do have a full bar on hand but you also have the option of bringing your own bottle for an $8 corking fee. I would go back if someone else wanted to go, but I probably would try other restaurants first if it was my choice.

    (3)

  • Matt H.

    In general side by side with any average restaurant this is probably 4 stars, but side by side South American restaurants that I have been to it is more like 2 stars. Food was good as was service. The atmosphere was pretty cool and unique. But I'd rather go to Tango Sur or Carnivale. For that reason I won't be back unless a group of my friends are already going. Good food but nothing special.

    (3)

  • penny h.

    Awesome colombian restaurant... their best dish (on my opinion) is the meat combination. Yummy... The food was great, the service was good but the restaurant needs to be cleaned out in detail.. Overall it is very well worth it.

    (4)

  • j h.

    we really REALLY wanted to write a positive review for this place. regardless of recent postings, this doesn't have anything to do with their liquor license. we have loved this place in the past, but after three tries, it continues to disappoint. service: our order was screwed up as one of us ordered a half size; it came to the table as full. when we told the waiter, he told us to keep it anyway since they'd have to throw away the other half anyway. the person who ordered it only ate half, but then they charged us for the full order! also, one of us had to send the shrimp back because it was not edible (only one bite was taken), and yes, THEY CHARGED US ANYWAYS! food: (in addition to the inedible shrimp) the salsa was tasteless (compared to other columbian restaurants, like llano's, which is awesome) and the other food was just barely mediocre. we are very sad to say that we won't ever go back. we had 10 that night, and the opinion was unanimous.

    (2)

  • Linda S.

    Definitely an exciting place to bring a large group of friends. Arrive early in the evening because this place gets packed and the wait can be excruciatingly long. The Columbian food here is pretty authentic, with each entree you get a nicely seasoned steak or seafood (shrimp or baby octopus) along with some exotic sides such as yuca or plantains. Excellent BYOB.

    (5)

  • Sara S.

    The meat was fabulous. The empanadas, the beans and the rice were fabulous. But the buck stopped at the rest of the starches. Bad arepas, bad platanos, and bad potatoes. I'd recommend it if you're a meat enthusiast, order accordingly.

    (3)

  • P N.

    I was looking forward to coming to Las Tables all day because of the rave reviews it was getting on Yelp. I was sorely disappointed. I'm going to chalk it up to them having a bad night. I called to make a reservation at 630 on a Wednesday night and was told that they would be busy but they would try to fit our table for two in. We got there and the place was a ghost town. The service was horrible, we waited forever for our waiter to take our order and to fill our empty glasses. We ordered the Picada Colombiana since it seemed like a taste of everything this restaurant had to offer. Big mistake. The food came out and everything from the plantain to the chorizo was cold and bone dry. We try to never send food back but this was inedible. The second try was much warmer but the food was bland and I needed to drown everything in the 'salsa/ sauce' that came with it (and even that was oily and sub par). We'll try this place one more time but it's only worth it because we have a groupon. The only saving grace was the marinated skirt steak, I'll get only that next time but even that is nothing that would tempt me to come back and pay full price. I'd rather have my boyfriend grill me up one of his steaks at home.

    (2)

  • Amanda A.

    How anyone is giving this place five stars amazes me! My fiance has had this one on his list for over a year now for places to go and we decided to give it a shot. They just got a new spot across the street and while it was a nice looking little place, it was incredibly loud and amazingly had almost no one in it. We sat down at the table and were promptly served water and our bottle of wine was opened. They were out of the plantain appetizer we ordered because supposedly they weren't good enough to serve (although they were on our entrees??) and so he recommended the empanadas which you buy one at a time and were hardly worth the money seeing as they were basically only a fried rice ball. We seemed to wait forever for our appetizer, while we had to sit and stare at what looked like salsas (which I actually believe were steak accompaniments) without anything to eat it with. Neither of us were thrilled with our entrees either - which for a paella quoted at 40 min. came out in about 10 and because it was hot and I was hungry I ate it - Blake had strong feelings about it otherwise. All in all - if you want Argentinian style dining do Tango Sur - far far far superior to this disappointment.

    (2)

  • Mandee M.

    My husband is Colombian so we have tried just about every Colombian restaurant in the city. This one is one of the best if you want red meat. They have more than one location and depending on when/where you go, you might even get blessed with a little something special (music and dancing) which is great for a group/party. The Yucca and the Plantains have always been good, but the secret with the Yucca, and the Arepas is to either eat it while it is really hot (careful starches hold heat) or to make sure you have enough of the juices from your meat to eat it with or it will not be as good. I find that most of my firends/family that don't like Las Tablas either don't like meat, or they don't know the difference between Colombian and other South American cuts of meat. My favorite of all times here is the Plater for 2 with a side of Empenadas and Arepas. We can share it and have plenty for a 3rd or 4th.

    (5)

  • J H.

    The best BYOB in town. I went with a big party of 14 and the wait was more than an hour but as friends came late, it worked out. The wait with reservation was simply too long. However, the atmosphere is crowded, boisterous, but somehow evokes that cozy feeling. The music was great and the noise was high but low enough to carry a conversation with person next to you. I ordered the combination meat plate and I was blown away by sheer size and taste. It was more on the salty side but went down damn well with the bottles of my wine. Try to visit during the week as getting a table on weekends is impossible. Its one of the few restaurants in Chicago that you gotta try out.

    (5)

  • Brian F.

    The food was very good, but the atmosphere was chaotic for my taste. My wife and I went on a Friday night and the place was packed. We didn't have to wait for very long, but the volume of our fellow diners was almost unbearable. There were quite a few large groups with people yelling across the table to each other. I definitely walked out with a headache! That being said, I'd reccomend the shrimp and steak combo, which was cooked excellently and with interesting spices. The service was friendly, although not that attentive. Maybe try it on a weekday, when the crowds are probably a little more tame.

    (3)

  • Mike B.

    Who knew there could be such an authentic taste of Columbia on Chicago's North Lincoln Avenue? Las Tablas offers an array of tasty entrees highlighted by the signature dish "Matrimonio," which celebrates the marital bliss of tender steak and seasoned chicken. Several seafood options can also be found on the menu. Many feature South American style shrimp. Each entree is easily sufficient for one person with tasty Columbian favorites yuca and plantains alongside. But for a group of four, sharing three of the main courses should leave everyone satisfied. The tables outside the restaurant make for an enjoyable evening during the summer, yet they aren't necessarily large enough to hold everyone's small plates along with the entrees. Service appears to be acceptable. Although in our group there was a forgotten salad which finally arrived after the entrees. Also when it was time to pay, the waiter suspiciously disappeared. But overall Las Tablas is certainly a nice find in South Lakeview. It's BYOB and the meal is reasonably priced. Ole!

    (4)

  • Ta T.

    FYI for all BYOB fans. My friends and I were there this past Tuesday and was told their new policy on BYOB is $15 per bottle cork fee. I'd have preferred that they say no BYOB. I get that they have a full bar. Being a former restaurant owner/operator myself I get that we're in business to make a profit and everyone needs to eat. $15 per bottle cork fee is amusing to me. Are they in the business of making a profit from food or $15 per bottle cork fee? I'm not going to bother reviewing service nor food. Wising managers/owners of Las Tablas a prosperous year end especially for their servers with there new $15 per bottle cork fee policy. Thank you for reading.

    (3)

  • Robert D.

    We used a Groupon to eat there tonight. We had been before and liked it. Tonight the food was good, especially the appetizers, but the service was poor. I asked that my dessert be placed in a to go container (after it was mistakenly brought on a plate) and the waiter threw it into the to go box, upside down! They charged me tax on a bill of $150 even though the Groupon cost 65.00 and we got 20.00 in drinks. They refused to allow us to order one of the specials (priced the same as regular menu items) saying it was excluded by Groupon. Nowhere did the Groupon certificate mention excluding specials! We wont be back and it makes us less interested in Groupon too!

    (2)

  • Lisa B.

    The sangria here is soooooo good (we consumed several pitchers!) & great ambiance with darker lighting. Haven't had dinner here yet, just apps for girls' night. I'd go back!

    (4)

  • LeeAnne Q.

    I've never been to a Colombian steakhouse so I wasn't sure what to expect. But my date for the night assured me it would be good so I was game. He was right; it was delicious!!! I ordered the stuffed chicken with cheese and spinach and it came with rice, a half a baked potato, plantain and a salad. It was delightful!!! I ate everything on my plate, minus the plantain because I'm just not a huge fan in general. My date had the entrana skirt steak and I had a piece of his steak and it was cooked perfectly!! Just the right amount of seasoning and grilled to perfection!! His plate was clean by the end of the night as well!!!! I also had the fresh fruit mango martini and it was very good..my date had the blackberry mojito and enjoyed his drink as well! Our server was very sweet and kept checking on us throughout the night!! The atmosphere is very nice for a date night; dimly lighted and romantic. If you're looking for a good meal and a nice atmosphere I highly recommend Las Tablas!!

    (5)

  • Burt F.

    Had lunch here with some clients and we all had a phenomenal meal. A large portion (platter). I ordered the baby grilled squid...it was sooo delicious I didn't think I could eat it all (I think there were 8 of them) but I ate it all! Fried plantains were delicious (I'm not a fan in general but these tasted delicious). The potato was dry -- I didn't like that. But everything else was phenomental. I'd go back again but with my family.

    (5)

  • Laura K.

    Went here for NYE with a group of 8, and had an excellent time. Great atmosphere, great service, and good food. If you are a meat and potato kinda person, this is your place. The menu has all kinds of different meats, they are served with potato and plantains. The plantains were not the best in my opinion (pretty dry), but the meat was excellent. Portions are huge, so if your appetite is normal, you can easily split an entree. The empanadas are also a must - lot of different kinds and all were pretty good. Since we were there on a holiday, we did not get to take advantage of the BYOB, however they offered a lot of drink options including pitchers of sangria - yes please! I will definitely make my way back here.

    (4)

  • Raluca C.

    The food is not fresh!!! The costumer service is so bad. I ordered some grilled octopus as an appetizer and It didn t taste fresh so I returned it. The manager came and he said I have to pay for it, when I said it s not fair and that I m not going to pay for something I didn t even touch he said he s gonna call the police. This never happened to me in another restaurant. if somebody doesn t like the food just offer something else in exchange at least, but no they decided to act like they were the cheapest people in the world and get a bad review for a few dollars...,poor people even 1 cent counts for your poor bussines, right? Plus when you come to a table to talk to youR costumers you just assume everybody is Hispanic? The manager started to talk Spanish and when my boyfriend told him he couldn't understand he barely could explain us in English. I didnt care for $10 or $12( I don t remember exactly how much were the octopus) but what bothered me was their attitude. We just payed and left with the worst impression. Needless to say I won't be back and tell The same thing to all my friends who use to go there. Just get your money elsewhere, there are plenty of restaurants who know how to treat clients and plus this is not even cheap, if it was I would understand but u want to sell people shitty quality for this price? If the manager reads this review I hope he's gonna have somebody translate it to him!

    (1)

  • Omar R.

    We picked this place for my brothers birthday and it did not let us down. The beef empanadas were amazing! I ordered the skirt steak and grilled shrimp platter and was impressed with the seasoning and how good the steak was. Our server Miguel was great on point with drinks and attentive. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone!

    (5)

  • Scott M.

    The worst experience...awful service...awful salty food...website says no corkage fee during the week but the awful waiter said he knows nothing about that and will only charge 15.00 per bottle..what a joke they took 20 mins to come back to open the bottle..do not waste your money on this place...everything was over cooked and seasoned with tons of salt...not to mention the waiter never checked on us..they only had 2 waiters on a busy night...plain awful experience..

    (1)

  • Anony B.

    I really miss this place in Chicago...I'm Korean and this is somewhat similar to Galbi but more meaty. Try their Octopus too

    (5)

  • Daniella A.

    The meat is amazing!!! So are the drinks! the empanadas and arepas not so much. But definitely recommend this restaurant!

    (5)

  • Tiffany B.

    Two words: Food Poisoning. The food was really good until a few hours later when symptoms kicked in. We only had meat, rice and beans. Obviously bad meat or possibly contaminated water. All bad. My entire party is severely ill. Don't do it.

    (1)

  • Dennis H.

    I ate here with a large group of people, all I remember was the Sangria was excellent and the dish I ordered was the carne asada. I thought it was decent overall but nothing amazing. It was a slab of grilled meat similar to Peruvian food. Served with a side of yuca, plantains, and a really yummy green chili sauce.

    (3)

  • Jesi R.

    The service was excellent, and the ambiance is really cute for date night! We both ordered the bandeja paisa, and although it was incredible, it was pricey. We've gotten the same quality dish for way less, but still delicious nonetheless.

    (4)

  • Dawn S.

    This place was phenomenal!!! My boyfriend and I came to Chicago for a few days and found this place on yelp, and I'm glad we did, the service here was great and the food was amazing!! We shared the combo chicken and beef platter and got the arepa rellena, to die for.. If we lived here this would be my go to place:-)

    (5)

  • Roman R.

    Very good steak. Wish i had know about this place when it was BYOB(no longer) but still solid.

    (4)

  • Shelby R.

    I took my boyfriend here because they have a great vegetarian option for me while they also have a great option for him! The appetizers were great! I love that they were BYOB! They treated us great, we did not wait long, and the food was delicious!

    (5)

  • Jeff D.

    Steaks come out hot and perfectly prepared. I love me some plantains, and it seems like every dish here comes with a healthy serving! We got the roasted plantain with guava preserves and goat cheese appetizer, and it was like nothing I have ever tasted. Really exceptional.

    (5)

  • Steve H.

    Went here for an Anniversary dinner recently and it was fantastic. I would definitely make reservations. We went on a Friday and it was super busy. As busy as it was, the staff was on top of it. The Sangria was great as was the food. Keep in mind that the portions are HUGE when ordering. We ordered several items and had enough food left over to eat again that night and again in the morning. I suggest ordering one of the meat platters. It was really enough to feed two, maybe three and I can put away the food. I will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • J C.

    My food was bland and not especially enjoyable... But I'm a vegetarian so I don't expect too much when eating at a steakhouse. I appreciate that they had a vegetarian section on their menu, but the food was just missing even the vaguest trace of flavor. The only reason I rated this place so high is because of CESAR. He may very well be the best bartender in the city.

    (4)

  • Veronica T.

    First of all the food and drinks are excellent but the hostess and staff must be under the impression that this is THE only Steak house around with quality food. The drinks are good but over priced and at these prices I could go downtown to have a fabulous evening for dinner and drinks. The waiting for a table blows, try standing for an hour with no quality seating near the bar area and The fact that every time someone opens the door near the entrance cold air smacks you in the face. When you leave after eating the meal you will absolutely reek of garlic and meat. I had to dry clean my and my girlfriends clothes afterwards, which was an added expense. Definitely do not go here on a date because you will both smell so bad after you won't be able to stand one another and absolutely do not go to a bar or after spot like we did because your belches will intimidate and offend people. Just a real heads up!

    (2)

  • Diana D.

    I'm originally from NYC and was hoping to try some delicious authentic Colombian food while visiting with family in Chicago, so we decided to try out this place based on the Yelp reviews. I guess for the most part all the reviews rave about their skirt steak but I wasn't looking to eat that when I went let alone pay $20+ for it so we tried other foods on their menu and their brunch special. We started with the empanadas and they SUCKED!! They were double fried, extra greasy and not authentic at all! They weren't even made out of the yellow corn that Colombian empanadas are supposed to be made of?! We went on a Sunday and they had a "Colombian food" brunch going on for $13 yet what was on the serving pans was more like Mexican food (grilled chicken in a spicy red sauce, green rice, bourbon looking chicken and zero flavor steak fajitas with a beef soup that felt like water with pieces of meat-yuck). My husband ordered their steak and chicken and there was NO flavor whatsoever, no seasonings, only pure minced garlic spread all over and they charge $21 for that. The only authentic Colombian experience I felt at this restaurant was the Manzana soda I ordered because you could tell even the arepas were the reheated frozen ones. The waitress was nice, but this place is overpriced for what they offer and NOT authentic Colombian in the food they serve! Save your money and try somewhere else!!

    (1)

  • Elayna W.

    Las Tablas is always fantastic! Entraña skirt steak is mouth-wateringly delicious! Their Colombian spices are on sale too, so you can bring it home and marinade for yourself! Pork belly and arepa are great too! Definitely would recommend!

    (5)

  • Marlene K.

    Excellent skirt steak and shrimp combination plater entre. Loved the plantain appetizers as well as the empanadas. We love this place.

    (4)

  • Carolyn L.

    I checked out this place with a big group of people for a friend's birthday party. The staff was so nice and attentive, even though we were a bit rowdy! The empanadas were pretty yummy and the cheese on the patacon pisao was great! For a main dish, I had the Bandeja Paisa (one of the most well-known Colombian dishes. Char-broiled, Colombian-style cut rib-eye steak served with fried pork belly, rice, beans, fried egg, sweet plantain and avocado). It was way too much food for one person but I took some home for later! The pork belly I could have done without. It was a little tough. But I loved the steak!

    (4)

  • Vero G.

    Never coming back here again. I visited the one on Irving Park several times but didn't come back for years because the last experience was bad. They gave us cold food and the waiter never came back after he gave us our food. I thought i would give them another chance since its been years. I went to this location with my husband for my birthday. We ordered empanadas and they were rock hard. My husband steak was tiny and this is supposed to be a steakhouse. I could believe the size of the portion for what they are charging. He got a tiny thin steak. I wanted to complain but my husband suggested we just don't come back. The food was not fresh. The waiter admitted the empanadas were from the day before. Waste of money. I could have gone to a steakhouse downtown and only pay a few bucks more.

    (1)

  • Damian P.

    Well I will start off with the embarrassing part first. So of course, I am a GROUPON aholic, (you know coupons for various functions), so I told the partner, lets go eat Colombian food, I have a GROUPON! So we headed north on a merry way to partake in some scrumptious Colombian meals and such. I guess I shouldn't rush right? So we get to the restaurant and sit down, waiter is bringing us water.... The partner decided to let the waiter know we are using a GROUPON, well here it goes..... "WE WERE IN THE WRONG RESTAURANT"! I nearly died right there on the spot! I mean, I was the one saying, "No, you don't have to let them know about using GROUPON, we do that after wards". Good thing my partner is the calm one and likes to read due in part to my shenanigans gone wrong! So now, we headed towards our RIGHT destination. Were seated (we chose to sit in a more private area), and they obliged. It was nice, I had the Plato Paisa (typical Colombian dish) with: white rice, beans, egg fried on rice, a strip of steak, and a chicaron (pork crackling) and of course an arepa which is similar (not quite) to a tortilla but fat and filled with the taste of cheese. Not bad for a nice night, I mean the place is really trendy and nice. Reminds you of Columbia or some Spanish eating ground. It was really nice and quaint, you know candle lit and all. The place was bustling with business and to be honest I didn't mind at all. It was really nice to see this place busy. I rather enjoyed it and would go again, but of course, the prices are a tad higher then the other Colombian restaurants I have been to, but that's okay for the ambiance, its upscalish in a way. Not rich, but comfortable. Check it out, and don't forget Yelp is the way to go. Meanwhile, moral of the story: READ AND CHECK YOUR DIRECTIONS. I seriously thought I would die of embarrassment when I sat in the other place. Imagine, had my partner not read the address? I would be washing dishes right now and YELP would have a rather crazy review.

    (4)

  • Keith R.

    I've been here multiple times, multiple dinners, I've had the Sunday buffet, I can't even tell you how many times I've eaten here. But I hosted a dinner here for the first time, last week. A month prior to the event date, I called to confirm a party of 20 for 8pm. I was told they could accomodate me, and they took the reservation. Fast forward to the day before the event. I get a phone call from Las Tablas. When I answer, I'm told that the person on the phone just wanted to confirm the reservation and make sure nothings changed as far as number of guests, time, etc. I reply no, and this person begins to ask me for a credit card number. I'm sorry, what's that for? "If any of your guests are more than 15 minutes late, we're going to charge you $10 per person that is late." You're kidding right? Got kind of upset with this ridiculous demand and nearly cancelled dinner altogether. I told her I refuse to give her my credit card number this late in the game, because had this been something I was asked about when I made the reservation, I would have said okay, heres my CC #, and then I would have changed the time of the event to 6 pm. Is it really worth it to a restaurant to try to stick it to a customer for $10 per how ever many heads are late, versus the $650 dinner tab you might possibly miss out on ? Guess who was late to dinner folks. Yes, it is I, guilty as charged. I fought traffic for 2 hours to get there, got sucked into a Ribfest traffic mess...tollway jam....just a peachy commute. My portion of the party showed up, and immediately upon entering, our server offered to take the birthday cake from me and put it in the fridge. Started the night off with a regular Mojito, good as usual, my wife, Britt C. and I split a couple things for apps - the grilled octopus and the empanada combo. I only ate the Cheese empanada of the combo, and I don't know what kind of cheese is in there, but it's gooey and it's good. The shell of the empanada is always crusty. That's a good thing. The grilled octopus tastes fresh and had good charring. The salad it came with was lightly dressed. I ended up ordering the Skirt Steak and Shrimp combination. Pretty much all dinners come with 3 starches and the meats, along with 2 kinds of chimichurri, regular and spicy. The 3 starches are a half potato, fried yucca, and a caramelized sweet plantain, just like my Dad used to make. I ordered the skirt medium rare, and it was cooked to perfection. The grilled shrimp have a slight garlic flavor, and were properly seasoned to my taste. After dinner, they brought the cake out and sang Happy Birthday to my wife. Popular birthday dinner spot, as there were 3 other birthday parties gathering at Las Tablas as well. All in all, everyone always seems to enjoy themseves here, I know I have, and there's always something I haven't eaten on the menu. But the experience of booking the dinner did leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. That's not to say I won't return, because I will. But if I am having a dinner for as many guests as I had that day, I might look elsewhere for a different venue that really sees the value in my patronage.

    (4)

  • Jack P.

    Not much to add here as the consensus is quite clear: Great steakhouse. I came here with three friends on a celebratory occasion, and none of them had ever been. I warned them about the large portions and good cocktails. We decided then to have a couple of those cocktails each, and to skip the appetizers, and focus our Friday evening hunger on those generous sizzling plates of grilled shrimp, steak and chicken. Accompanied by two different salsas verdes. One spicy, one not. both very woodsy and refreshing as accompaniments to the grilled meats. The margaritas and the mojitos were extraordinarily refreshing, too. Yucca, potato, and plantains, too. We shared a flan and figs with caramel. Creamiest flan ever! All of the grilled items were flavorful, cooked to perfection and the steaks were like "butta." We all agreed on that. Service was a little "meh," from the standpoint of our having to summon our server on a number of occasions, for various reasons. But the dinners did come out quickly enough. The service just lacked that usual ubiquitous Latin warmth and "Mi casa es su casa" approach. But I know we will all be back again in heartbeat. Authentic, delicious and a great value for a steakhouse.

    (4)

  • Julian F.

    I went to Las Tablas last night with friends, we have been there several times before and have always had excellent service to go along with the wonderful food. Last night was different, although the restaurant was not very busy at all, the service we received was terrible - and that is being generous. The food was up to the usual excellent standards and one ofvmyb friends declared the coconut flan to be the best flan in the city!

    (3)

  • Noe A.

    Service hit or miss, same with the food. Skirt steak my fav tho.

    (1)

  • Stephanie J.

    Being that my parents are Colombian, my expectations for a Colombian restaurant are quite high. These guys have two locations and I have been to both. I first went to the one off of Irving Park and my friend and I were seated by the round window in the front. Live music was about to start when we were ordering. The food was yummy. I am unfortunately lactose intolerant, so some of the items on the Colombian menu don't work well in my stomach anymore which saddens me. I ordered Patacon Pisao and when I received it to my dismay it was covered in cheese. I told the waiter and at first he seemed reluctant to help me out but he spoke to the manager and they gave me a new dish. The second time I went to the Lincoln Ave location. Different setup, but still very nice. I brought my parents with me who immediately started criticizing the place because there were no actual Colombian people on the weight staff. I can remember my dad even saying "none of these Mexicans know how to cook Colombian food." They ordered and we got the food pretty promptly. Boy, did their reactions change! My dad even ordered arepas to take home haha. I have recommended this restaurant to people asking about Colombian food as the most near to authentic place you can get in Chicago. This is my go to Colombian food place!

    (5)

  • Dominic G.

    Pros: Awesome steaks BYOB (check the schedule) If you forgot to bring a bottle, sangria is the best. Great service! Cons: Nothing really Street parking Washroom is in the lower level of the restaurant so becareful going down if you are tipsy!

    (5)

  • Matt C.

    Las Tablas is AWESOME! I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed this place. The wait at the bar: Mojitos anyone!? Delicious Mojitos, and the friendly, huge bartender was a really nice dude and was really excited about making bomb-ass mojitos and explaining to us how he was creating the boozy fresh-fruit concoctions. Also they we're STRONG, like last call at a wedding strong. The food: We started with the Calamari - grilled, smoky, buttery, (insert delicious-sounding adjective here). Just really delicious. The Empanadas are in my top 5 fried things with a mysteriously delicious inside that I've digested. The Skirt steak was unbelievable good. Coated in a very unique tasting, delicious blend of Colombian spices, oozing with some sort of juicy marinade, and they give you a ton of it. No skimpy portions here. I had the combo Steak/Chicken, and the Chicken was also spectacular: pounded thin, extremely juicy with a nice smoky char on it. If you like charred red meat and delicious boozy Mojito/Capirina/Margarita-type drinks you gotta check out Las Tablas.

    (5)

  • Lulu R.

    Who has two thumbs and love Las Tablas? (Pointing at self with both thumbs) THIS GAL!!!! Let me set the stage: Valentine's Day 2012. We made reservations and the only time that they could fit us in is at 6PM. My boyfriend decided to meet me there. As I was driving in traffic on LSD, I was thinking that i really hope that I will like this place or else it will set the whole night off wrong. Located in the Lakeview area, it was a breeze to get to. I arrived a touch early and checked in for my reservation. I went to go use my washroom and it was a bit of a journey to get to. I was seated early and waited for my man to meet me. The place was dimly lit, candles on the table, light music playing in the background. There is plenty of seating available and a dance floor installed but there was no dancing on the night that I went. It would be cool to see some dancing one day. (note to self: go back to Las Tablas when they have dancing) We ordered the empandas to start and I got a Mojito. The mojitos was made fresh and made me feel REfreshed. The Empanadas came out and we had the chicken, cheese, and beef ones. All of them were spectacular! The salad in the middle of the empanada was "eh". I could have gone without it or they could have replaced it with a dipping sauce, something other than that salad. We ordered our entrees and had our cocktails in the meantime. The food came out on wooden planks with a metal plate on them, how cool! I ordered the steak and pork combo. My BF had the Churrasco. Wows. The steak was seasoned just right and my pork was cooked perfectly. Pork can be over cooked and they did it just right. My BF loved his entree just as much as I did. The service was great and it was an amazing start to our very first Valentine's Day.

    (4)

  • Amr A.

    Damn good columbian steakhouse, very reasonably priced. Super flavorful marinades and good service.

    (5)

  • Erick N.

    Las Tablas has been around since 1991; I had previously enjoyed a couple of meals a few years back in their old location but this was my first time there since they moved. I really like the current venue a lot better; larger space, much better acoustics and a bit more elegant vibe. Las Tablas is a versatile restaurant where you can go with a small group for a celebration, have a dinner out with the family, or a nice date night with a significant other. It features authentic Colombian cuisine with skirt steak being the house specialty. There is plenty of food to choose from as well as a nice drink menu: Wines by the glass start at $7, sangria ($7 a glass, $25 a pitcher), several fun cocktails (about $8 a pop), and some beers (including Colombian). During weeknights you can also BYO (wine only). There is also a nice selection of non alcoholic Colombian beverages. Tonight I ordered sangria; while it was not the best I have had it was enjoyable. My wife and I had Maria tonight as our server; she was somewhat quiet, but friendly and efficient. Her assistant kept our water glasses full and the table was cleaned and silverware replaced between courses. The pace of the meal is relaxed (as is typical in South America), so do not expect fast service. Just sit back and enjoy! Portion sizes are quite generous and the price point is reasonable factoring in the quality, portions and ambiance. Las Tablas is what I would call dressy casual; it is not quite an upscale venue but is a step up from your typical everyday restaurant. We had the empanada combination plate for appetizers (consisting of six empanadas: two chicken, two beef and two cheese served with two sauces and accompanied by a small salad). For my entree I went with the Bandeja Paisa; a typical Colombian dish consisting of a hodge podge of different foods. Definitely a lot going on with this dish! There was a nice sized strip of well seasoned and prepared skirt steak, a fried egg laying atop a mound of rice, red beans, avocado, sweet plantains, an arepa (corn dough) and a large strip of pork belly. Aside from the pork belly (which was bland and a tad overcooked) this dish was excellent (with the steak and plantains being my favorite components). I have added a photo of this dish. A nearby table ordered the Picada para Dos (a combination platter for two) consisting of a giant mound of various meats. It looked amazing and I definitely recommend this to any carnivores! It was enough meat to put Fogo de Chao and Brazzaz to shame! I really wanted to order the arequipe (a Colombian type of milky caramel) for dessert (love that stuff), but was way too full. The total bill (before tip) came to just over $70 (including the appetizer platter, two entrees and two adult beverages). We had a very nice dinner and I definitely recommend Las Tablas to anybody interested in trying good, authentic Colombian cuisine in a nice but fairly casual environment.

    (4)

  • McStrokin J.

    The food has fallen off a tad IMO. It's not bad but it's definitely not as good as it once was. Las Tablas is still a decent Steakhouse though.

    (4)

  • Jen W.

    Oh Las Tablas, how long I have loved you! I remember when you were just a tiny little place with no space for customers waiting for a table, and your service was slow, but lovable at the same time. I fell a little out of love with Las Tablas when they moved into a larger new space across the street because I felt like they lost some of the charm that made them feel like a special find. And, while the "original" Las Tablas used to allow for BYOB, the new location started charging a corking fee. Those changes were disappointing, but luckily the food never wavered. Literally every time I dined at Las Tablas (honestly, at least 30 times during the nine years I lived in Chicago) we started with Arepa Chorriada, which is a wonderful corn-type bread with melted cheese and criolla. It's made even more lovely with a little chimichurri on the side. I then almost always ordered the Matrimonio (a mix of entrana skirt steak and pollo al ajillo)...it's served on the cutest wood board (hence, las tablas) and accompanied with the sweetest plantain and yummiest yuca and potato. Again, chimichurri here just enhances every bite. All in all Las Tablas is very tasty and reasonably priced. Actually, I wish I could have it for dinner tonight!

    (4)

  • John H.

    Not a frequent yelped but this visit calls for a shout out. Las Tablas is amazing from the drinks to the food to the service. All top notch. Mojitos were perfect and very good. We had some wonderful empanadas for apps which were very tasty. Entrana, specialty steak of the house, was my entree and was seriously one of the best steaks I have ever had. It is different than Gibson's and Keiffer's but this place definitely holds its own with the quality steak and taste. Get it medium rare as the chef recommends. We had two little kids and the wait staff and our waiter (Miguel) were wonderful. Seriously this place is amazing. If you like steak or know someone who does, make a reservation! You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Nicole P.

    Food here so unbelievably good. It's my 3rd time & I still haven't had anything I wouldn't/didn't finish!!! Staff is amazing. Bartenders, wait-staff. Everybody is amazing. Love this place. The mojitos are amazing.

    (5)

  • Albert B.

    Las Tablas is a pretty good place to enjoy a South American Style Steak. This restaurant is located right in the midst of Lakeview district of Chicago. Most of the steak menu comes with fried banana and baked potatoes with it, which gives a more South American taste. I would also recommend ordering some of the Appetizers as well, like Empanadas. Their fruit juices and Mojitos aren't so bad either. Spaces are quite plentiful and It's a good place if you crave A South American Style Steak.

    (3)

  • Mary D.

    Golly this place is fantastic. We went because a friend of mine had a groupon for a meal for two (an appetizer, two entrees and two desserts). That plus an additional appetizer fed 2 hungry people and 2 not quite hungry people with a bit left over. That should give you an idea of how large the portion sizes are. For appetizers we had the empanadas and the grilled mariscos. The empanadas are slightly smaller than regular empanadas, but still pretty sizable and come with six. The grilled mariscos are FABULOUS. Seriously, the grilled octopus was the best thing I ate that night and the best octopus I've had ever. Smoky, slightly briny, but not fishy, and not at all chewy. And everything else was smoky and tasty and perfectly cooked. For the entree we had the combination 1 with the steak and more mariscos. Again, yes yes yes to that octopus. They do not skimp on the seafood either. And the steak was well seasoned and juicy. It came with yucca, which is kind of like yam or a slightly sweeter and less starchy potato, and plantain. We also had the Bandeja Paisa, which came with a rib-eye, fried pork belly, rice, beans, and this tasty piece of bread. The bread was a little bit like pancake, but not as sweet. I rather liked the steak but I think I preferred the skirt steak that came with the Combination plate (though I prefer juicier cuts of steak in general). And the beans were delicious. The fried pork belly was almost overcooked and hard to eat. But otherwise a great meal. For dessert, we had the coconut creme brulee and the tres leches cake. Creme brulee was great. Not heavy on the coconut flavor, but the coconut definitely made the dish richer and more indulgent. But OH. DEAR. GOD. That tres leches cake...we ate it on Saturday and it's Tuesday and I am still craving it. The art on the walls can get a bit odd, and the waiter kept forgetting an extra place setting; but otherwise great ambiance and delicious food. An overall wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • LeeAnn K.

    I can't believe it took us 1 year in the new neighborhood to try this place! I had the steak/shrimp and the hubs had steak/calamari and it was one of the best steaks I've ever tasted!!! Oh, and the Sangria..yum! The service was fantastic and it was even family friendly, however we can't wait to go back for Date Night!

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    This is the best steak you will have in Chicago! I love a good steak and am making this comparison based on many meals around Chicago steakhouses (Mastro's, Ruth's Chris, etc.). My favorite cut of meat is the entraña. It is delicious, never overly seasoned, and always cooked perfectly. My boyfriend likes the entraña butterflied and well done and they were able to do that in the kitchen and it came out amazing. The fresh fruit martinis and sangria are also very tasty. If BYOB is more your thing they allow it M-Th with no corking fee. I would highly recommend your next meal here!

    (5)

  • Kate O.

    Went on a Friday night without reservations got in rather quickly. Cute ambience! Empanadas straight forward and tasty, I liked the chicken The meat plate for two had a TON of food, more than enough. Upgrading to get the fish for an extra 12 dollars wasn't worth it. Sangria very tasty - refreshing Margaritas yummy Service was a challenge when they got busy. Overall I'd go back.

    (3)

  • Chuck K.

    Ate here last week for dinner. It was everything you want in a steak and more!!! They don't take reservations, but are BYOB (wine only) Monday through Thursday. At 7:30PM on Saturday we didn't have to wait for a table and were seated right away. They have a bunch of interesting drinks on their drink menu along with a good selection of wines. The empenadas were good (chicken was our favorite) but not necessarily the best I've ever had. Where this place really delivers is their beef. Skirt steak combos are the way to go. The skirt steak was prepared perfectly to how we ordered it. Flavorful and juicy with seasoning that is quite hard to describe. We wanted to lick our plates when we finished it was so good. For dessert we had a cocoa flan that was AMAZING! I strongly recommend you check out this place if you're looking for a different sort of steak experience.

    (4)

  • Nikki C.

    My boyfriend first took me here, claiming it was his favorite steakhouse. It's got a great romantic feel inside, dimmed lights, soft music, not to close to other tables. We both got steak and it was amazing! At first I was like this small thing? I can eat this in just a few bites, but honestly it's a mouthful. I thought this place had great service and was super friendly. I just found out they have one in my neighborhood! Just down the street from me. Not as pretty looking as the one in Lakeview but still delicious!

    (4)

  • Charri V.

    Food is Awesome and service was great! I am a long time customer and I recommend this place to everyone who loves Colombian food or just loves food in general! Their Sangrias and empanadas are a MUST TRY!

    (5)

  • Christian R.

    Upscale Colombian restaurant, don't expect cafeteria look or prices. Very nicely decorated, nice atmosphere, tasty food and mojitos.

    (4)

  • Gina M.

    I LOVE this place! I have been here multiple times. Such great food and drinks!!!

    (5)

  • Shelley C.

    Oh my gosh! Awesome food. Great atmosphere I highly recommend this place to ALL! :-)

    (5)

  • Christine K.

    Jesus was a wonderful server. The service was amazing, which is why I am giving Las Tablas 4 stars despite the extremely salty food. The grilled shrimp salad was fine, but for some reason, the calamari and baby octopus were drenched in salt. My friends, who ordered steaks in medium, said that they were impressed with the execution since most places either grill the meat too much or not enough. It's a fun place to visit, especially if you enjoy Brazilian BBQ.

    (4)

  • Maya C.

    yeah, I cannot complain about this place either. It seems like every restaurant I go to I rave about them as if they are the "best thing ever" but god damn they really are! this place had such a great feel to it. the restaurant was clean, the staff were friendly, and the bathrooms were like a walk to the dungeons. Seriously.. it's a maze to get to the bathrooms.. that was definitely a highlight. I returned from the ladies room to tell my friend of the bathroom maze, and he laughed and didn't believe me. Well, when he went, sure enough he came back and had to say. yup.. you were right. didn't try any alcohol at this place, but I can talk about the food. The appetizers we ordered were really delicious. We got the empanadas, which came with two cheese, two chicken, and two beef. Definitely go beef or cheese. The chicken was not my favorite. Still good, but the others were way better. they have quite an extensive menu, flavor wise. There are lots of different things to choose from. we also got the seafood appetizer or tapas.. whatever it was called.. and it came with calamari, baby squid, shrimp, and something else. beware - this is very fishy, so if you don't like very fishy fish, stay away. This isn't like your fried shrimp stuff.. this is like the real deal seafood.. in the sense that if you are not the biggest fan, avoid it. I love seafood, but they had the baby octopus so crunchy and they were a little too big for my taste because I couldn't eat the heads. That was just my own dining insecurity though... an ex-vegetarian, so I felt bad and it kept staring at me. Everything here was just wonderful though. I really didn't have any complaints. I'm going to have to go back and try some other stuff for sure.. like plantains because platanos are seriously the gold coins of the earth.

    (4)

  • Cindy G.

    Delicious!!! Food was unbelievable...I ordered the chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese, and it came with a potato, rice, salad, and fried banana. Everything on my plate was delish!!!! We also ordered empanadas and the corn bread with chorizo as appetizers and they were also really good!!! Hubby had the entraña, which I did not taste, but it looked sooooo good! And he loved it! The restaurant itself is nice, and the decor is unique and reflects its Latin menu. The bar is awesome, in particular its fresh-fruit mojitos. I had the mango mojito and it was really good, and not everyone could make a great mojito!!! I gave it four stars only because the restaurant does not allow for reservations for parties of less than 6, the wait will usually be between 45-1hr 30 min and it would be nice if we could reserve without having to invite 4 others to join us!!!

    (4)

  • Becca L.

    Went there with the bf for date night since he loves his meat. The Entrana was awesome, but the portions are big so he had a tough time finishing it with his starchy sides. I had the Bendeja...with a variety of meats (steak, pork belly, sausage, egg, and one more). We also had the mojito which was stronger than expected. It was good, but I think just not for us. And reservations are probably not needed for a Saturday late lunch. When we were there only one other table was occupied.

    (3)

  • Jenn C.

    I came here for lunch during a digital photography class I took. I had skirt steak with calamari, chicken empanadas and a large margarita. Mind you I didn't realize how much food I ordered and had left over. Anyhow, the meat was very flavorful and tender and the squid was grilled to perfection and melted in my mouth. I actually enjoyed the chicken empanadas even though I had expected something smaller. The margarita was huge (the way I like it) and with that, I went back to class very satisfied!

    (4)

  • Zach W.

    Fantastic food, some of the best in Chicago. I'm a self proclaimed steak connoisseur, and there are VERY few places that I feel can cook up a steak tastier than what I can do on my own grill. However, this is definitely one of those places. The Entrana is simply spectacular. And it is always cooked perfectly, regardless of how you like it. I've also had the carne asada, but even carne asada fans will probably like the Entrana better. If you like more variety, get the Matrimonio, which is the steak and chicken. Serving sizes are HUGE and very well priced. Drinks are also delicious. I highly recommend the caipirinha, and the mojitos are incredible as well. The only minor drawback was the service. It wasn't all that crowded, but our waiter consistently only came by every 20 minutes, even after we asked for our bill it took 20 minutes to get back to us. Food only, this is an easy 5 star, but I'd hate to get the same service next time.

    (4)

  • Stephanie L.

    What a cute little steak house. Went here late on a Sat night after we worked up an appetite bowling at 7-10 lounge. Atmosphere....cute-y little servers that are super nice. Drinks...HELL yes I want a fresh fruit martini...like every flavor imaginable...I guess they are know for mojitos...I just am not a fan of them so they suggested doing a fruit martini instead. As I slurped down a couple of blackberry martinis, I was feeling happy and festive in this steak house. Food...pretty darn good steak, chicken, seafood, etc. The empanadas were great. We did the combo plate. Cheese, chicken and steak. Chicken was my favorite. Plus, they give you this house salsa stuff...one spicy, one not. Yummy and fresh. We also did the combo dinner plate. Everything was good. It was seasoned well and if you dont like salt/seasoning...this probably isnt the place for you. It was boarding a little much, however, I thought it was really good. The plantains could have used being cooked a little bit more for a crispy outside crust. The potatoes and I am not sure what the other thing on my plate was....I think it was fried yuca...it was really amazing. The portions were HUGE~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yikes, talk about contributing to obesity epidemic. Wowsers. However, I guess you get what you pay for here. Overall, its a decent steak house for a chillax vibe that isnt going to break the bank. The drinks are fantastic with the fresh fruit...not overwhelmingly sweet...which is right up my alley.

    (4)

  • Alice L.

    We went here on a Friday night for dinner. It was a busy night and the hostess told us there would be a half hour wait but we got seated in 20 min! Aside from the constant cold draft that ran through the restaurant, everything else was great. We both had skirt steak which was cooked exactly the way we asked. Absolutely have to try it with the green sauce! They had only one salad on the menu so we ordered it (that was just ok, it was just vegetables with a vinegar dressing). We also had empanadas which were very tasty. Overall, the food & service was great and our waiter was very helpful.

    (4)

  • Allison S.

    Food, Ambience, and Service are all amazing. Came here for the first time on a friday night. I started with a fresh kiwi martini to drink which was made with fresh kiwi, and had fresh kiwi pulp in it. My boyfriend had the mojito, which was one of the best I have had in the city. Later I had a blackberry martini, which was also great- made with fresh blackberries and vodka. Both of those drinks were very strong as well. We had the empanada plate to begin with beef, chicken, and cheese empanadas. The cheese and chicken were my favorite- both perfectly fried. For my meal I had the strip steak/octopus combo. They give you a huge piece of steak (mine was perfectly cooked, nice and juicy, but still charred) and 3 little octopus, all with great seasoning. The meat is accompanied by yucca, potato, and plaintain, which goes great with it. My boyfriend had only the strip steak, which was a hugee portion. Come here ready to eat! For dessert we had the coconut flan, which was a bit rich for flan, but still delicious! Service was great, and beautiful ambience. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Neil C.

    I've been to this place several times, the food and atmosphere is great. My girlfriend is Colombian and this is her favorite place in the city....that should say something about this place. We have taken our son here during the week and its definitely a place you sit down and have a quiet family dinner.

    (4)

  • Ismael M.

    Great service, atmosphere, and a great piece of meat for the money. Go for the combinationes where you can pick two types of protein for $20. They give you this hot sauce to go on top that is spicy but does not take away from the flavor of the meat. The owner seems to have a thing for some pretty girl who has a giant mural dedicated to her on the wall. Its kind of random, my guess is its a relative?

    (5)

  • Steven N.

    Just catching up on my Yelp reviews, and unfortunately I can't recall the exact dishes we had here as our visit was about 2 months ago. However, I do remember the food at this place was OUTSTANDING though and the people are nice. Worth noting is the awesome flavors of their meat, they did a great job marinating them, especially the steak. We came on a week night, so it wasn't too busy and were seated right away. You may want to make a reservation during the weekend.

    (4)

  • Sarah S.

    I came here for dinner with a large group on a Saturday night. They only had 9PM reservations left when we made the reservation, so we took it. They ended up seating us 45+ minutes late, which by then I was ready to pass out from hunger. I purposely didn't eat a lot during the day to prepare myself for a delicious steak dinner. If you are going to make people wait, at least prepare them for that when they make the reservation. I order the "Combonaciones" of pork and skirt steak (the highly recommended meat) on the menu. It came with a plain small half of a baked potato, half of a plantain and 2 small peices of fried yucca. Nothing was seasoned and you were supposed to put this cilantro garlic mixture on the table on your food. Therefore those items were mainly tasteless. The yucca tasted like the oil it was fried in. So there were 2 mixtures one with oil and one without. The non-oil mixture didn't add a lot of flavor to your food. The oil mixture was delish, but I just added 10,000 calories to my food to make it taste good. My gripe is that if I am going out to eat, at least season the food. The steak was pretty good and so was the pork. But if I'm going out for steak, Mastro's, Capital Grille, Fullton's, etc. have better cuts of meat. I personally don't think this place is worth the price ESPECIALLY since it's not even BYOB on the weekends (only M-Th). They have reasonably priced bottles of wine at $30 (think $7.5 per glass). Anyway, I'd rather not come back.

    (3)

  • Jme D.

    My Colombian boyfriend and I came here because we were in the mood for some good Colombian food. Our wonderful waiter suggested a Brazilian rum drink with brown sugar and lime juiced--stiff and pretty good. I ordered a mojito. The drinks were great, and the combination empanadas plate was a great starter, complete with a fresh salad tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. Bathroom break: THE BATHROOMS ARE PHENOMENAL. Ryan and I shared a recommended Colombian skirt steak and chicken dish that came on a sizzling skillet with fried yuca and a sweet plantain on the side. DELICIOUS. The chicken was so tender, juicy and well seasoned, and the steak blew me away. I'm not a huge steak kind of girl, but I couldn't get enough. Grab the meat off the skillet right away to get the temperature right, leaving it on the skillet will allow it to continue cooking. Our server was very helpful but never too pushy. Definitely a relaxed atmosphere--ideal for our intimate date. If you're in a rush, don't trouble the wait staff with your impatience. This is place just sit down and savor every bite. Try Heritage across the street for a bold macchiato or a yummy later after dinner coffee spot. I can't stop raving about what a great meal we shared at these spots. I would recommend it to anyone over and over again. :D

    (5)

  • Bridget D.

    Great margaritas and drinks. We started with the empanadas which were delicious. Order the skirt steak - it is amazing.

    (5)

  • CatwomanRoar M.

    Category: Indulgent - 3 stars Food: B 1) Empanada Combination Plate: B- Maybe it was an average night, they were a bit bland & the meat was mushy. Texture was like overblended spicy tuna roll insides 2) Entrana (Skirt Steak) & Calamari Combo: A- Calamari had great flavor & cooked perfectly. Skirt Steak was good but wasn't marinated like your typical SAmer SS. Kinda like American steak meets South America blend. Requested Med Rare, got med rare, so that's a plus. The chicken is pretty good too. Grilled shrimp was the best out of the 4. The yucca & potato were hard, dry & awful. Sweet plantain, awesome. Drinkypoos: B 1) BYOB M-Th: A!!! 2) Didn't go on a weekday. Booo. Got the 1st Malbec on their bottle list. It was better than average. $30 Atmosphere/Service: A- Cool place, weird life size poster on wall. Service was decent Price/Verdict: It's not over-the-top pricey & I was def. full. But for $45 bucks, I'd like to be "satisfied". Beyond the 2 main "meats", I was left wanting. Wouldn't be opposed to going back - Next time, I'd do the calarmari/shrimp combo, only not sure if that'd be enough food. : ( Tip: For Great (traditional flavored) Skirt Steak try 90 Mile

    (3)

  • Audre L.

    Came here for a big birthday dinner, about 20 people. Service was pretty decent - no complaints, given the size of our group. Had the combo - steak shrimp platter. The meats were AMAZING! Grilled perfectly. Although my friends who ordered the entree steaks said that their medium rare was a little overdone. The empanadas are great here too. This is a nice family-run, not too formal, steakhouse with a South-American flare. Cozy and nice.

    (4)

  • Elise K.

    I wasn't impressed given the hype. First of all, we made a reservation. They didn't write down the reservation, therefore they didn't honor it and we had to wait. While waiting we were told the place was BYOB, so off went my boyfriend to the bottle store. Once we were seated we found out that it was only BYOB on certain nights and we couldn't use the bottle we had just bought! The food was raved about, but honestly just okay. The Yucca was dry, potatoes were dry and medium rare steak was well over-cooked. We had ordered the platter for two, but there was so much food it should have been a platter for four. Unfortunately the food didn't reheat well. The empanadas were okay as well - just okay though. They brought a slue of sauces but didn't bother to explain any. We will keep searching for Colombian food in Chicago. There has to be better!

    (2)

  • Aleksandra S.

    I REALLY enjoy this place! Everything from their fresh fruit margaritas to their seafood plates is delicious. The service is very friendly and has consistently been so every time we've gone. I am a huge seafood fan so that is usually what I order every time time. I've tried the skirt steak and it is also scrumptious!The plates come with a side of plantane (so good!), potato, and yucca potato (OH SO GOOD). As far as desserts go, they have some sort of "secret" off-the-menu item that only the natives know to order, lol. It is some guava dish and it beats the other listed desserts by a long shot.

    (5)

  • Gina F.

    All of the carnivores enjoyed the food thoroughly. If you go, get appetizers! They're great. The empanadas are well-know, and very tasty. The cheese were the favorite for our party of 8. We also had the arepa chorriada, which is outstanding! I would go back just for that. For mains, the carnivores had the calamari, the polla relleno, & the entrana (skirt steak). The person who had the polla relleno enoyed it, but found it a little too cheesy. The big winner of the night was the entrana, which everyone found to be amazing. I had the vegetarian paella, which was okay. I actually got 3 meals out of it, though! I think it tasted better after it sat a while. The one fault was service. It was friendly & food came timely, but the beverage service was sub par. Within 10 minutes, we had one empty water glass at the table. Within maybe 10 more, there were 3. During dinner he came to check on whether we needed more drinks (now that 4 people had empty cocktail glasses), & I asked him for water. No one came for several minutes. Water glasses should never be empty in my book--I think it's a cardinal sin in a restaurant.

    (4)

  • Kris R.

    dude. i totes got a free lunch, aka, my friend treated me since i had rid his computer of digital herpes. i would gladly work 2hrs to get this lunch for free again. we both ordered the exact same lunch special: 6oz cut of skirt steak with salad, rice, beans and sweet plantain, medium rare. they have a patio! we sat on it! whoa. it. was. so. good. like. really. good. and. this. is. just. lunch. on. hump. day. the steak was cooked perfectly. the rice had a bit of tang/vinegary flavor to it, which complimented really everything nicely. the "banana," as my friend called it, was also tasty and cooked well. he devoured everything - i was a lady and saved 1/4 of the steak, rice + "banana." then at 330p i scarfed it. will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Melanie V.

    I have never been a "steak" kinda person. I mean, ordering it "rare" or "medium"...what is up with that? Just give me pork or chicken or seafood and I'll be happy. But, lemme tell you...after my meal at Las Tablas, I'm considering converting to be a steak lover! It was THAT amazing. Their Entrana (or skirt steak) was super juicy, packed with flavor and just sooo gooood. It's also served with yuca, potato and plantains for $19! Whew. Their trio of empandas (chicken, beef and cheese) weren't that exciting, though. The cheese was the best, by far...and that's a little disappointing. The doughy crust was a little too greasy for my liking. My mojito ($8) was pretty good, but I think the BYOB option is a bigger draw here. Every group I saw walk in were clutching multiple bottles of their favorite wine. But, be warned - there's an $8 corkage fee Thursday - Sunday! (More than my favorite bottle of Barefoot Moscato. Sad, I know!) The atmosphere is great for either a big group or intimate dinner. I was a fan of the dim lighting. Service was pretty solid,too - the waiter even brought out candles for the birthday cake we brought, without charging us extra! Niice!

    (4)

  • Alex D.

    Not a huge fan of this place. It is one of the very few BYO steakhouses in the city, but enough that I don't like Appetizers are pretty good, especially the empanadas. However they tend to really over-season and overcook their meat. Not sure if this is how meat is cooked in Colombia, or is this masking an underlying meat quality issue, but in either case, I am not a fan. Also the decor is too rustic for my taste, and the service more often than not is spotty. If you are looking for a BYO steakhouse, then Tango Sur is much better on meat quality, service, ambiance, overall experience.

    (2)

  • Juliana P.

    love their skirt steak

    (5)

  • Bradford M.

    I must preface this review by saying the food and drinks were really great. The service was horrible. We were a larger party, but that seems to be typical at Las Tablas where at least half the tables were of parties of 6 or more. Waters were not topped off for our table after our dinners arrived and we weren't asked if we wanted additional drinks. Portion sizes were inconsistent. The worst of it all is that we waited for 45 minutes to an hour for the bill to be finalized. Everyone had finished their meals about 8:45 and we were walking out the door at 9:40. It might be the longest I have ever waited for the bill. Highly disappointing service means I will not be going back to this restaurant despite their delicious food.

    (1)

  • Jessica H.

    I have to start this off by saying that I'm Colombian so my opinion of this place is based on comparing it to other Colombian food places and Colombian food in general. First off, they have really updated (and moved) the restaurant and the decor is very nice. I like it because it shows a lot about Colombian culture. The Botero paintings hanging up around the restaurant are nice too. The food? Meh. I've been to cheaper Colombian restaurants (admittedly with less ambiance and decor) that have tastier steak. I have tried a LOT of things on the menu throughout the years and some are good. The bandeja paisa is pretty spot on. I like the grilled sea food platters too because they just taste so good. But this place is supposed to be a steakhouse and the steak just falls flat. The seasoning is bland and there is nothing about the steak that just stands out. For what they charge, I would expect a tastier peice of meat. Other offerings on the menu: Empanadas are pretty good but not very traditional (feel more like fusion empanadas). The drinks are good but not very strong. The buenelos there were stale the two times I ordered them (though they tasted pretty good). Also, service is slow. I know this is more of a culture thing but then don't charge me $25 for a plate if you can't provide decent service. I guess where this place falls flat for me is the price vs the food. With the decor and what they charge, I'm thinking that the meat will be solid. But its not. Other dishes are good but trust me, a lot of the food there is considered "cheap" food in Colombia, something you wouldn't pay a lot for. Patacon, arepa, yuca frita, frijoles, bandeja paisa.... these are things you can get for pretty cheap other places so while they are good here, the fact that they charge you more here turns me off. Again, its a pretty place but if I want a great Colombian meal, I can save my money and go to Sabor a Cafe and still get just as good of a meal.

    (3)

  • Catalina B.

    I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. Great food but god awful service. The servers are slow, food is slow even though they are not packed, didn't have any Colombian beers and the arepas were hard and not very good.

    (3)

  • Tlafi K.

    The meat plate is great with a lot of flavor. I also love the empanadas. The sangria is especially my favorite. The service is a bit on the slow side. May go back.

    (3)

  • Nick D.

    The food was good at this place. It was my first time eating Columbian. The meat was cooked good and the caipirinha drinks were very good and strong. The only downside was that I thought it was a bit overpriced. Our bill came in at over $100 for three people for lunch, which I thought was exorbanant.

    (3)

  • Johnny F.

    Seriously, don't go to Las Tablas unless you've packed an appetite. Great atmosphere (though the giant mural of what I can only assume is some Colombian pop star in the main dining room is a little odd), great service, and the food is amazing. If you're hungry, I suggest my go-to: The Bandeja Paisa. Will be coming back soon.

    (5)

  • Jennifer E.

    OMG! Can you say carnes? The meats are sooooo good! My husband and I came here for our weekly date nights. He picked this place looking on yelp for Latin American food. There was adequate meter parking on the street. There's seating outdoor and inside but we chose inside. We started with the empanada combo and I had a sangria and he had a Modelo. We ended up sharing the Picada Colombiana which is basically a plate for two of all their meats. My husband and I couldn't finish it and we ended up having to take some home and cook the rest of the meats for some great steak and eggs the next morning. Definitely recommended :)

    (5)

  • Maria J.

    Hands down THE best place in the city for steak. The atmosphere is fantastic and the staff is super friendly and nice!

    (5)

  • Paola C.

    Definitely loved this place. Meat is sooo good, chic service and atmosphere. Grilled banana served with meat was just amazing. Not too expensive for the service and quality you get. Definitely worth it!

    (4)

  • Daniela A.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city so I'm not sure why I haven't thought about yelping it before. My husband and I went there last night with some friends, and as always, the food was delicious. The four of us shared the empanada sampler and then we all got the combination skirt steak with each a different kind of seafood. Two of us got the shrimp, one the calamari, and the fourth octopus. My steak was cooked to perfection and I can't get enough of the chimichurri sauce. Although the place can get very loud on Saturday nights, I find the ambiance cozy yet festive. I would highly recommend it for date night or a place to meet up with friends.

    (4)

  • Jack M.

    Everything here was fantastic! Even the creepy 8x12 foot glamour shot of Nicole Suarez (who turns out to be the owner's daughter or niece or something) really started to grow on me. The meal I had was perfect in every way, from the charred and well seasoned steak, the perfectly grilled shrimp, and the awesome side of plantains. Our server Jesus was knowledgeable, friendly, and welcoming. Ok, the glamour shots of Nicole Suarez in the bathroom were a little much, but this place made up for it by being one of the best meals I've had in 2013.

    (5)

  • Dave L.

    Excellent serving sizes and fantastic taste. BYOB except weekends tops it off!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth V.

    So, I can't speak to the ambiance because we GrubHub'ed it, but wow, the veggie paella absolutely rocks. A tad pricey, but worth it for good, solid vegetarian food. Gracias, Colombianos.

    (4)

  • Jaime Patricio M.

    Yikes... tough crowd for this restaurant. I looked at the reviews and saw some nice words but only three stars. I had friends who had been here before and loved it. So I felt confident about the visit. We went for Saturday lunch so we had the place to ourselves. We ordered family style and ordered for lunch accordingly. I shared a platter and had a starter plate between two people. I saw several tables where everyone order a platter. I thought for dinner that might be the better thing to do. We started with the empanadas get the combination - beef, chicken and cheese--perfect size and delightful-- I added a bit of housemade Chimichurri sauce. We shared the Langostinos al Carbon and ordered the Entraña platter; this is beef skirt steak--which the waiter recommended. The Entraña came out perfectly as ordered and smelled delightful. The platter also included plantain, potato and Yuca. When I used the Chimichurri with the skirt steak I was fully contented and felt like I ordered the right items. One of the best Caipirinha's I have had in North America... The drink was adorned with the right amount of limes--both for adornment but also for flavor. So good that I could not just have one! Great service and good environment. Next time I will return in the evening.

    (4)

  • Rima M.

    One of the best meals I have ever had. Came here for my brother's birthday with a group of 6 and we all loved it! We tried the shrimp, chicken, and steak and we all could not stop talking about how amazing the food was. I will def. be coming back to this place.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    Came here to redeem a Groupon and had a great experience. We'll definitely be back. We went fairly early in the night and were seated with no problem. Our waitress was superb. When she knew we were newbies, she did a great job explaining the menu and making some recommendations. I opted for their steak and chicken dish which was awesome. The portions here are huge, but everything was delicious. Apparently, they have byob (wine only) on the weekdays. They also have a full bar with strong drinks.

    (4)

  • Scott O.

    Went here 2 weeks ago with a friend and had a great experience. I had been here back in 2005 when they were at their old location so this was my first time at the new place. Still terrific food. You can't go wrong with the churrasco and the sangria was terrific. Really friendly service and great decor. This would be a great place to bring a group of people.

    (4)

  • Henry D.

    OK I've eaten here three times now and I'm ready to review. It's good. Atmosphere is dark, so it's great for dates but also a great social place if you want to bring like 6 friends and share wine. I think they have a BYOB policy but I'm not totally sure. As for the food, the steak plates are around $18 or $20 depending what combination of skirt steak you want, be it with pork loin, chicken breast, calamari, octopus, etc. Most of the dishes come with yucca, plantain and sometimes roasted potato. People who I've been there have complained "the sides are so dry!"...well duh, you are supposed to smother the sides with the copious amounts of green chile they bring you, This is how Columbian food is eaten. I've tried some of the appetizers as well and they are very good, running like $3 to $8. The empanada sampler plate was a good deal. A single empanada order will run $2.50, but on this plate you get 6 of them for $7.50. Tonight was the first night I've been there in about 6 months, and I was saddened to learn that they got rid of having live latin music on Saturday nights because hoity toity clientele complained that it was noisy. If a Colombian lady singing traditional music in the corner of the bar with an acoustic and percussion backup is considered noisy to you, then you should probably gtfo and go elsewhere.

    (4)

  • Karen C.

    Alright. It's time Las Tablas gained a star. Went with a huge group over the weekend, and the service was top notch! Our meals were delicious, I still have mad love for the Aborrajado (seriously, going to start making this at home), and whatever drink I had (something tasty with dark rum & blackberries) was sooo good. I just wish it were BYOB on the weekends.

    (4)

  • Darren F.

    good service.. very dim and cozy inside.. ordered the Empanada Combination Plate and Picada Colombiana.. the empanada plate consist of beef, chicken, and cheese... which all tasted really good and delicious.. the Picada Colombiana has skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, chicken breast, chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, sweet plantain, yuca and potato.. i thought some of the meat was a little chewy.. and some was lacking in flavor.. if i come back.. it would be for the empanadas! i can do without their meat..

    (3)

  • Gustavo A. L.

    This is the place where I get my fix when I'm in Chicago. They have it down, totally authentic Colombian fare - never disappoint. Some reviewers here might not be familiar with Colombian food, thus the poor review - We like it , we enjoy it and we're glad it's there - because its good !

    (4)

  • David Z.

    We had a nice Groupon, so we were excited to try another place that we haven't been to. Unfortunately we were ultimately disappointed by the whole experience. Atmosphere: Kind of drab if you ask me. I like that they have some very large tables for groups. Otherwise, I'm not a fan. It's also annoying that you have to go on a 5 mile hike through an underground maze to get to the restrooms. Service: Fine, no issues here. Appetizer: We had one beef empanada and one chicken empanada. I thought that for $2.50 each, they could have been a little bigger. Seriously, I could have eaten each in one bite if I wanted to. They tasted ok, but were nothing to write home about. Main course: We shared the $38 Picada Colombiana, which is basically a big heaping plate of meats for two. Skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, chicken breast, chorizo, potatoes, yuca, and plantains. Honestly, we were both very disappointed in the meats. The skirt steak was by far the best, but honestly I've had much much better skirt steak elsewhere.The chorizo was also ok, but everything else was very bland and not tasty at all. I normally like yuca, but here the yuca and potatoes were so dry and they were barely edible. I guess we have been spoiled by places like Nacional 27 and Carnivale, where the skirt steak is simply a-maz-ing. One thing I will say is, it's a LOT of meat. Unfortunately it's not a lot of AWESOME meat. Would we go back? Probably not any time soon. The Groupon made it okay price wise, but if we had paid full price I would have been even more disappointed. I really wanted to love Las Tablas, but I just can't.

    (2)

  • Dawn H.

    My tiny food-concocted world has been officially shattered. I never thought the day would ever come that I'd say this, but the skirt steak (medium rare) rivals the bone-in filet at Joe's Stone Crab. The steak is simply mind blowing. Why? Well, put it this way, I usually hate steak (yes, HATE), and I was practically mauling for it on my fiance's plate. Moving on, the strawberry mojito was decent (not as good as Carnivale, but still good) and the Empanada Combination Plate was very good with the accompanying chimichurri sauce. The Patacon Pisao was the biggest disappointment. It was so bland that even drowning it in chimichurri sauce couldn't save it. We wished they filled our waters more, and that's our only complaint. The prices (especially for that quality of steak) are extremely reasonable. If you're a steak lover, this place is definately worth trying out!

    (4)

  • Tom R.

    Would certainly be 5 stars if they stepped up their game in terms of beer and drinks - it's a wine only BYOB and their cocktails leave something to be desired. That being said, the skirt steak is astonishingly good and my sides of yuca, potato, and plantain were all spot on. They serve the steak with some chimichurri-ish sauce but it's so darn good by itself that I barely touched the sauce.

    (4)

  • Steven H.

    I loved it. They call themselves "Chicago's premier Columbian steakhouse" and they back that up. I had the Bandeja Paisa, the dish I judge Columbian steakhouses by, and it was fantastico! Try it. In fact, stopping reading this and go now. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Mark T.

    Let's be clear; throw a rock from anyplace in the city, and you're sure to hit a steakhouse. There's not a lot of ways to differentiate all of them from each other. After dining at Las Tablas this past Saturday, this place was somehow special. The restaurant's specialty dish is the Entrana: a juicy cut of skirt steak served with sweet plantain, fried yuca and Colombian style potato. I saw it being made via a clip on their website and decided to give it a try. It didn't disappoint. My sisters dined on the churrasquito (NY strip steak with the same sides as mine) and the Bandeja Paisa (rib-eye steak served with fried pork belly, rice, beans, fried egg, sweet plantain and avocado). I think I found my next dish to try for my next visit!. Waiting for our order, you also can't help noticing the artwork along the walls in the restaurant. There were various portraits of people in different corners-I didn't know who they were, but they were interesting to look at. Another interesting tidbit: on the back of the menu, you can read of the story of how the restaurant was built: how the owners struggled making a living when they first set foot in the city, the fire that destroyed their first restaurant, and how they rebuilt in the restaurant's current location. The chairs and tables were handmade in Columbia and brought into the restaurant. The three of us declared our waiter as a guy who truly loved his job. He took time to tell us about the menu; served our food with a minimal wait time, and checked in with us throughout the night. He noted that the rub that is used in the Entrana dish is made with ingredients that only the owner and the son know. Interesting. A truly enjoyable experience; there's no doubt that this is once place I would go back to.

    (4)

  • Christina M.

    I had the grilled shrimp they were really good. I just think the prices sky rocketed since the move it's almost shocking.

    (3)

  • Rafael H.

    I've come here for my birthday for the last few years. The matrimonio platter with chicken and skirt steak is amazing. Their meats and seafood are never dry, full of flavor and served in large portions. Get the patacon pisao. It's one of their best appetizers if you ask me. Their flan is unbelievable. They're BYOB (wine only) weekdays except Friday through Sunday. I wish they did beer but... I understand what they're trying to do. While people are eating at Gibson's or some other overrated steakhouse, I bring my friends and family for a guaranteed awesome food and time.

    (5)

  • Jane M.

    The hubby and I had dinner here this evening and it was absolutely delicious! Our steaks were perfectly cooked, juicy and delicious. The empanada sample platter oh so good! The flan with coconut, different but in a good way, also very good. Yes, we will be back. Atmosphere was pleasant, staff was courteous, good at their job without hovering or being pesky.

    (5)

  • Liliana R.

    Carimanolas were bad. Too greasy. If you want great carimanolas go to Mekatos bakery. The patacon was good. Steaks were good. The bad rating was sealed by a horrible service. In the middle of eating dinner with our friends, the hostess came over asking if we want to stay for the band and pay $15 per person. For 6 people that totals to $90. We declined and continued our dinner. As we were eating, the crappy valenato band started playing, and the hostess came again. Again she asked if we wanted to stay and pay the $90. We declined again because we just wanted to finish our food and go. We finished the food and waiter asked if we wanted drinks, so we ordered a round of drinks. As we were drinking, the band was playing, and the hostess sent some girl over to hussle us again. She told us that if we wanted to stay we had to pay. We explained to her that we were offered drinks by the waiter, and we still have to pay. That's the last we heard of the stupid band fee, but not the last of our problems. Our checks were wrong. The waiter added one extra drink on our receipt, and charged my friend $10 instead of $5 for one of the drinks. Wow, so tacky.

    (1)

  • Kara K.

    Las Tablas might be my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Get the entrana skirt steak - it's the best steak I have ever had. Perfectly seasoned and so so tender. The chicken and pork are also great, but the skirt steak is perfection. For an appetizer, I always go with the aborrajado - a nice combination of sweet, salty and cheesy. Just thinking about it makes me miss living in Chicago!

    (5)

  • Joe H.

    I really this place but my last experience wasn't great. Food was great as always but the service wasn't very good. We never got very much attention. The server was by seldom. Normally, I like to be left alone when having dinner but within reason. I don't want to be abandoned. My last visit, this was case. Also, many mistakes. We ordered a salad and it never came out. Completely forgotten. This was disappointing. The steaks are fantastic and I recommend the entraña to everyone. Really a fantastic meal. Mojitos are very, very good as well. I love to have one from this place with the meal. The restaurant ambiance is also great, very fun. It is a little loud though. I will go back to this place chalking up this service experience to a bad night, that's all.

    (4)

  • Piya P.

    This place was recommended by a friend so I had high expectations. Food was good, but not great.

    (4)

  • Nicole B.

    Went here on a double date, for my first visit, and the food was great. We had an empanada sampler and a seafood appetizer that included jumbo shrimp, grilled calamari, and octopus--both delicious. For dinner, I had the combination plate that included skirt steak and chicken, both perfectly cooked and seasoned. For drinks we had mojitos and sangrias, very tasty!! Every table has a small lit candle or two in the center, and the lighting is pretty dim, but the setting has nice ambience to it.

    (5)

  • Ashley C.

    We went here for lunch on Saturday and had a wonderful experience. I like that the menu tells you about the history of the restaurant - I like local spots. We were sat immediately and our server was friendly and helpful. Our only complaint was after the meal service was slow- we might have ordered another drink and it took a bit to get the check. We ordered the lemonade (with vodka) and it was nice and refreshing. Having heard all the wonderful things about the empanadas, we ordered the sample and were blown away. They were tasty and we both loved the salsa/sauce that came with it. For the main course, I did the entrana skirt steak and the shrimp. No wonder why everyone raves about the skirt steak - VERY tast - it was very tender and flavorful. I also quite enjoyed the yuca (it is a potato-like side). The shrimp were good but were outshadowed by the skirt steak. My boyfriend got the steak and grilled calamari and said it was some of the best he ever had! We will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Christina G.

    I have been to this restaurant a few times now, and I've always left completely stuffed, with leftovers, and a little buzzed. It's always a great night! The service is outstanding. My water is never less than 3/4 full. Every server is extremely familiar with the menu and can offer suggestions or answer any questions you could have. For drinks, we go back and forth between the refajo and the sangria. Both are tasty. As appetizers, I've tried the empanadas, the aborrajado, and the arepa rellena. All were delicious. For the main meal, for which I am usually already quite full but decide to forge ahead and keep eating anyways, my husband and I always split the picada colombiana. It allows you to taste many different meats at once. The skirt steak, chicken, and fried sweet plantain are my favorite and are all absolutely wonderful. The menu says this dish serves 2. If you get an appetizer, as we always do, this will not only be your dinner, but you will have enough leftover for 2 people to eat again. We used the groupon and had absolutely no problems with it. We'll happily be back without a groupon next time.

    (5)

  • Kennen M.

    It is true, the mojitos and the Entrana are fantastic. Also, our server, Ricardo, was on top of it all, informative and not intrusive. I got the Entrana and calamari combo and was blown away at the portion size and great flavor. The boy got another steak which was good but not as wonderful as mine. We got there after 8pm on a Friday night and the wait was maybe 10 minutes. The bill for 2 mojitos, 2 glasses wine, appetizer, 2 entrees was about $80 and very much worth it.

    (5)

  • Myrian V.

    Mmmmm, the best mojitos and margaritas ever! Thanks to bartender Tony.

    (5)

  • Katie B.

    Eh. My boyfriend and I saw Las Tablas featured on an episode of "Chicago's Best," and so we decided we'd have to give it a try. We love steak, and we like trying new places. If this is one of the best steakhouses in Chicago, then we figured we had to go. We called a week in advance and made their version of a reservation for 6:45 on a Saturday night. (Basically, your name, party number and time is put down a list, then you are bumped to the top of the list when you actually arrive at the restaurant.) We were nervous they wouldn't seat us in a timely fashion because we showed up 10 minutes late, but we were seated by 7pm. It took fifteen minutes before a waiter came to take our drink order, and I had to flag a staff member down in order to track down our waiter! When our waiter finally showed up he was apologetic and explained it was busy. Ya think? It's Saturday night! Our table went with a pitcher of their Colombian beer/champagne mix. That didn't arrive for another 15 minutes, and we saw our waiter mixing it himself at the bar (kudos to him, plus some points) because the bartender was engaged elsewhere. Maybe the pitcher of beer/champagne isn't supposed to taste like alcohol, but we were hoping to feel it a little. We didn't feel a thing. So, we went with a bottle of wine next...which took about 10 minutes to get. The food itself was fine. I ended up going with shrimp instead of steak and it was flavorful, but not the best food I'd ever had. I sampled my boyfriend's steak/chicken combination, and it was very tasty...but again, not the best ever. Our appetizers (their empanada sampler and chorizo) were also fine. The chorizo was my favorite dish by far. I'm biased toward chorizo...but really, it was very spicy and juicy! Nom nom nom. I should have had it as an entree. Given the slooooooooow service and weak drinks, I won't go back. My heart belongs to Tango Sur on Southport Ave. It's a Brazilian steakhouse instead of Colombian, but it's better food AND better service...and it is BYOB 7 days a week!

    (3)

  • Jeff B.

    I don't believe I've been this wonderfully packed with meat in a long time. I'll keep this review brief, because all the major points have been touched on by previous reviews: -The Combination plates are marvelous - I ordered the skirt steak and baby octopus. The steak was incredible, and the octopus was chewy without being rubbery, which is always a fear. It was delicious. Having tried some of the chicken from my date's similar combination plate, their chicken was also very tasty. Not a fan of yucca. No matter though, as I didn't have much room left for it anyway. -I want to put their chimichurri on everything. -The empanada combination plate was great, but we were both in agreement that the potato and beef were the best of the three. -Prices were very fair for the quality and quantity of food. -Service was super quick and very attentive. -Come hungry. Sitting by the kitchen gave me a constant view of mammoth piles of steaming meats of various types. I will have to try this someday - preferably with several other people. I barely made it out of the combination plate with no leftovers. The place was pretty busy on a Sunday night, but without reservations, my date and I didn't have trouble getting a seat at all. Best to call ahead, especially for groups.

    (5)

  • Jeff S.

    We trotted over here one pleasant afternoon following a rare Cubs home win this past summer. It was a little bit of a hike but as we rarely make it up to the north side Las Tablas was on the to-do list after having some of their empanandas previously at Taste of Chicago. There were only about 3 'patio' tables along the front sidewalk and our early dinner arrival let us score one of them. I don't eat red meat very often but as usual when sampling authentic cuisines at a new establishment I go for the customary staples. Started out with a refajo which is a beer and soda mixture falling somewhere between a German Cola Weizen and Mexican Chelada. It was slightly refreshing, but nothing exciting. Next were some empanandas which were a bit dry and not as good as memory served. Our favorites were still found at Cuatro (now out of business). Also tried a few arepas which are like a cheesy bread (think of the rolls that Texas-De-Brazil puts on the table). These were excellent. For an entrée the house special was the obvious first choice: the Entrana. This is char-broiled skirt steak with fried plantains, yuca, and potato wedges. the meat was a bit more chewy then I would have expected, but the seasoning was excellent. The plantains and yuca was really good too. Definitely will go back when in the area again to try some of the other items.

    (4)

  • Kymberly J.

    Wow, we were able to get a table without reservation on a Friday night! It was after a 45 minute wait but still... and worth the wait it was. Delicious sangria; fruity and perfect and sin carbonation as they state all over the place. Funny how I dont remember seeing sangria anywhere in Colombia. maybe I wasnt in the right town. We got the mixed meat platter for two. A small child could have joined us to finish what we didnt devour. It is served on a hot platter with yuca and potato and the best arepa I have ever tasted; there might have been cheese in there... The atmosphere was sort of generic but tasteful and the music wasn't all that audible. I like a little latin beat when I am dining on Latin American food.

    (4)

  • E S.

    I really love it here. The steak, seafood, sangria, plantains, yuca, empanadas, everything is so good here. I went recently again and it was so flavorful and the meats are cooked perfectly. SO SO YUMMY HERE!

    (5)

  • Jes C.

    First of all I should have posted a LONG time ago... I can honestly say I have dinner here at least 2 times a week. Everything on the menu is DELICIOUS... EVERYTHING!!! The Mojitos are to DIE for! This will always be my favorite Colombian restaurant.

    (5)

  • Wendy C.

    After my most recent visit (a couple weeks ago), I felt the need to adjust my rating for Las Tablas (from 5 to 4 stars). I went with a friend on Friday night and the place was almost empty. It was nice because it wasn't as noisy as usual and we could actually hear each other most of the time. The service was fine and the food was excellent. The portions seem smaller even though the prices were the same. I still recommend this place - mostly for the food.

    (4)

  • Jason S.

    Please note that my review is for both locations: Had I done this review 10 years ago when they were just a whole in the wall I may have rated it a 5. However, consistency is a big thing for me and Las Tablas is maddeningly inconsistent. When the food is on it's on and there isn't a dish I'd rather have. I usually order the Bandeja Paisa (Columbian Mountain Platter) which is basically a steak dish with beans, rice, avocado, plantains, corn bread, fried egg and some sort of fried pork. Well, I should mention that's what the menu advertises. There has been numerous times where they've ran out of avocado. You don't realize that until you get your plate. The servers act like nothing's wrong until you ask. I've also ordered the grilled baby octopus (terrible) as it was chewy and burnt. I know this comes off as harsh but I go back in hopes of capturing that deliciousness that I remember and they still offer from time to time. If I knew I could go in there and it would be the same every time I'd probably go a lot more. If you are gonna give it a try, which I recommend you do at least twice, I highly recommend going to the one on Lincoln. The location on Irving is bigger but on Saturday nights it's obnoxiously loud and the dining experience isn't pleasant as you'll probably leave with a headache due to the live music.

    (3)

  • Gerald E.

    I came here with a group of three on a Friday night for dinner. I never had Colombian food prior to the visit but the detailed menu helped me picked the perfect meal. We began with the Frutos del Mar (grilled shrimp, octupus, and calamari in white wine sauce) and washed it down with their signature sangrias which was served by the pitcher. The seafood was cooked to perfection and their homemade salsa added a nice heated tang to the taste. For the main course, I had Bandaja Paisa (char broiled Colombia style ribeye with fried pork belly, rice topped with a fried egg, beans, sweet plantain, and avocado. The flavors were orgasmic. I can't describe in words on how good the food tasted. As for the service, our waiter was really friendly and courteous. He explained the menu very well to us and had a really outgoing attitude. The only Con that have with the service is at the staff that worked up front. I would figure that it would be customary to greet every guest that came through the door or acknowledge them when they leave. Maybe they couldn't speak English but they should of at least waived and smile. The front staff whether they like it or not, has the power to set the tone for incoming and outgoing guests which affects how much spend there or their chances of returning.

    (4)

  • Joshua C.

    The food here is very good and with Groupon it's even better. This is my 3x here and every visit I'm left satisfied and ready to return.

    (4)

  • Inna B.

    Absolutely delicous! Highly recommended for a date night or a fun group outing. My usual starter is an order of the mixed empanadas. I also like splitting the Combinaciones platter with a friend (definitely enough food for two.) The two sauces that come out in the beginning pair so well with the steak and other meats. Also, don't forget to top it all off with a delicious mojito.

    (4)

  • GingerWine 0.

    Can't get enough of the green onion oil sauce!! Ordered the same reliable steak entree with plantains, yucca, and potato. BYO wine, too! Just thinking about it has my mouth watering yet again. I've now brought two friends to Las Tablas and they're always pleasantly surprised (we usually frequent Chicago Q, Cafe Ba Ba Reba, Zocalo, and other classy joints). Not to mention the atmosphere is always more chill and the street parking less difficult up here on Lincoln Ave, with no wait line yet in my experience and always a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. It's a hidden gem, I tell you. Whoever else is in love with the green onion oil sauce, contact me because I need a partner in crime to obtain that recipe!

    (5)

  • Dennis L.

    Delicious food and awesome mojitos! I visited Las Tablas with my wife and another couple for dinner on St. Patrick's day. At the recommendation of our friends and the waiter, I started out with a mojito. You could tell that the ingredients were fresh, and it was certainly one of the best I have ever had. For an appetizer, we enjoyed the Empanada Combination Plate. The beef, chicken, and cheese empanadas were excellent! For my main course, I ordered the skirt steak and pork loin combination. The skirt was ridiculously tender and perfectly cooked to mid-rare (hard to do on a piece of meat that thin). The pork loin also did not disappoint. The dish was served with sweet plantain (oh, how I love thee), yuca (uniquely outstanding), and potato. It is not a matter of will I be back...it's when!

    (5)

  • Kristin R.

    I'm not a steak girl, so when my running group chose this restaurant for our monthly soire, I immediately visited their website to ensure they had some kind of seafood option. And they did. Phew. Crisis averted. I ended up ordering the combination with calamari and shrimp, with yuca, potato and fried plantain. It was absolutely delicious, all of it. I preferred the calamari, so I think if I come back here, I'd stick with that. OR, I just might order the skirt steak... Because, although I have an aversion to red meat, I can't help but try it whenever my friends order it. I'm always curious to see if I might like it someday. So I tried the skirt steak (their specialty), and it was actually really good! Nice and tender, medium rare, yummy yummy. It's also a bit thinner than a big ol' slab of meat, which may be another reason why it appealed to me. Anyway, it was delish, and I would recommend anyone who especially loves steak, try this. It is BYOB for wine only, so that really helps save some money in the end. It is a reasonably priced restaurant though. I paid $20 for my combination, as did everyone else, and I left sufficiently full and satisfied. I would definitely come back. The service was very friendly, they take reservations, not too far from my house, and also a great place for groups.

    (4)

  • marc k.

    Great food and service. Very nice restaurant with a great interior. Not inexpensive but still a great quality and attitude.

    (4)

  • Santiago A.

    I kept wanting to try this place and for one reason or another my plans kept getting pushed back. Finally I came here, and it was worth the wait. I don't think I ate a single thing here that I didn't enjoy. Call me El Hombre de las Combinaciones, or Combination Man for those Yelpers who don't use the SAP button. To start, we had the combination plate of empanadas: 2 beef, 2 chicken, 2 cheese. Each kind was very good. I think I liked the cheese one the best. Next up, we each had a combination platter. I had the skirt steak and baby octopus. She had the pollo al ajillo and grilled shimp. We shared and everything was really, really good. I would recommend this route to anyone. Finally, we shared a coconut flan. It was good, but I might try something else if you don't like really sweet desserts. Luckily, I do... and I inhaled it. Overall, I really liked this place. I would like to see the prices be a notch lower, but you do get a lot of really good food or the price. The decor is really cool and they have Fernando Botero paintings decorating several walls. If you have a fetish for rotund people, then you'll love his work. I really liked the sitting area in the lower level leading to the restrooms. It's like having a small slice of Columbia while you're in the queue to the lou. One thing I didn't know before coming here: it's BYOB. So, now you know... and knowing is half the battle. Go prepared and enjoy.

    (4)

  • Dieter B.

    Fantastic place! Their signature flank steak is amazing. The decor is unique and the waitstaff is friendly. What's not to like?

    (4)

  • Corey G.

    I went here for an early lunch last Saturday for the first time and I am officially a fan! I'm gonna start out a little nit-picky, so bear with me. The restaurant is huge and when my friend and I arrived, we were told we could sit wherever we wanted and that was great for us, but not so much for the ONE server that was working! There were five tables with customers and we were all seated pretty far apart from one another which made the service...messy. Now the good parts and there were many of them. Our server, Adnan was friendly and very personable. Since it was out first time there, he made several (excellent) recommendations and we were very pleased with his picks. We ordered the sampler of empanadas and they were crispy and delicious. We were told most people liked the beef, but we liked the beef and cheese and LOVED the chicken.The empanadas came with a bowl of chimichurri and another yummy side that I never caught the name of that was fantastic. We also ordered the combination skirt steak (medium,natch) and shrimp skewer which also came with potato, yuka (is that spelled right?),and plantain. My stomach is growling just thinking about it! For dessert we had the cocoa flan.Let me just say this,it was beyond sinful, it was beyond yum it was fan-**cking-tastic! We will definitely go again and try some of the other selections. They do offer BYO wine Monday-Thursday, so maybe we will be back during the week.

    (4)

  • Pascal M.

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YEAH!!!! My kinda place! Meat fest. Go ahead and eat so much meat you get those meat sweats. I love places where you can just order a heaping meal with a few friends, and pick away with your hands while you enjoy eachothers company and some good drink. Get the grand mixed platter. That;'s not the name of it, but you'll see it on the menu. it basically comes with everything. We orddered some empenadas and a queso type dip as well. All very good.The only items not raving about were the yuca and chicken. Yuca was a little dry and the chicken was the breast. I'd like to see them throw some small drums or thighs on there instead. Those baby octopus are the best I've ever had. Beautifully charred and cooked to perfection. The steak wil undoubtebly make you happy. Bet a nice bottle of red wine and enjoy yourself with a small-large group. Las Tablas is a meat lovers must.

    (5)

  • Abby F.

    This is a great Columbian steak house. The combination plates are our favorite. The only reason that I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 stars is that the service can be a bit on the slow side at times.

    (4)

  • Rosie S.

    After having this place recommended to me by a co-worker ages ago, I finally had the pleasure of actually going. And low and behold, who was there dining on Saturday night but my co-worker who had recommended the place!!! All I have to say is that this place does not disappoint and I can't wait to go back again!! The highlight of the meal was the skirt steak, but if this is your first time going you must get the combination plate. I had the skirt steak and the baby octopus and both were amazing, but I realize octopus is an acquired taste. The star of the show the skirt steak, the marinade and the seasoning that use are indescribable!! I am usually one of those people that takes home leftovers...not this time. It was so delicious that I was sticking my fingers in the pan to get more of the sauce when my steak was finished (I am classy like that). If you are going to have dessert you must try the flan...it was awesome!!

    (4)

  • Dirk S.

    Recommended by a Colombian colleague we went to this place. Friendly waiters and great food.

    (4)

  • Bruce B.

    This place is solid. Great service; the bus boy literally sat next to me and refileld my cup every minute. I had ice cold water the whole time. Anyway, to the most important part - food. The steak and squid combo was great. Nice flavor and it goes will with the salsa on the table. Order this meal and 3 empanada's and you will leave full.

    (4)

  • courtney s.

    This is my beau and I go to casual dinner spot. The steak is sooooo delicious. I like my food heavily seasoned and flavorful. Usually do empanadas, the shrimp with lil salad appetizer, and the ribeye. They have cocktails AND offer byob service certain days. the capirinha is awesome! Service is always friendly and efficient. It can be noisy with large groups, but it just adds to the ambiance.

    (5)

  • Yara M.

    I've had dinner here a couple of times and both times, I was extremely impressed with their famous "entrana" steak. It was perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked and the bland sides strangely worked perfectly with it. The servings were extremely generous and the food came out promptly, given how insanely crowded the place was. There was a bit of a wait for a table (it was a Friday night at 8:30), but ordering a pitcher of their delicious, expertly-mixed sangria definitely alleviated the wait! The next time I come here, I will definitely skip out on the appetizer, which is why I am giving Las Tablas a 4 instead of a 5. We had the empanada combination platter, and all three (chicken, beef and cheese) were relatively unappetizing. They all tasted like fried greasy mush, and unnecessarily filled us up before our delicious entree's. Overall, this is a great place for delicious but affordable night out!

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    I came here in December for my birthday after painting down the street @ bottle and bottega, my night was awesome. The food was sooo good. I've been craving it thus far. the only reason why I say its somewhat pricey is because we enjoyed drinks. The mojitos were awesome! yum. a must try. we ordered a plate that was a combo of baby octopus and steak meat w/ fried platanos (bananas) on the side which were nice and sweet just like I like them. The plate was enough for a table of three. If your ready to eat good food with laid back , relaxed scene, come here.

    (4)

  • Lily P.

    We had a great time here celebrating one of my friends birthdays. At first they had us seated and wanted us to move over and for our slight inconvience they gave us pitches of sangria. The place was beautifully decorated and had a wonderful cultural feel to it. When you go downstairs to the bathroom you can see more art and decorations in their private seating area. It's also BYOB if you want but I think there is a cork fee, not sure what it is. The space is warm and inviting and so you have a great time at dinner with the variety of drinks (all good) and the great sangrias. The steak skirt was great and no matter what version everyone at our table ordered, we were stuffed full and enjoyed the food coming out on the cast iron. I'm not really a steak person but the meat had a great texture and wasn't over cooked. If you are a fan of empanadas or calamari those are also appeitizers worth checking out.

    (3)

  • Danny V.

    I was not impressed. we actually came here by accident since another restaurant was not available. The main thing for me was the service. The service was very slow. The waiter maybe came over once or twice. The food was eh, ok. I should not have ordered Skirt steak, since I am not much of a steak eater anyway. The ambience was very loud, especially one guy at a group table talking from the top of his lungs. That was very obnoxious. I also don't remember hearing any music either. I would say, I would not come here again.

    (2)

  • Joel M.

    After briefly glancing at a few Yelp reviews for this place, I remember thinking it was BYOB so I naturally grabbed a few beers before heading here on a Friday night. Turns out its BYOB only Mon-Thurs and it only applies to wine. Derp. We we're going out afterwards and didn't want to carry a plastic bag of loose beers around with us the whole night so I told the waitress to give them to the kitchen (I hope they like Imperial IPAs). This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because they had some excellent cocktails that went really well with our meal. I got a Brazilian Caipirinha (made with cachaça sugar cane rum) and the wife had a mojito - both were strong and very refreshing. We followed these up with a muddled blackberry mojito and some sort of pineapple martini - also very good. The menu here is pretty straightforward, you can tell that they highly recommend the steak or combination meat platters because on the menu it says "Most highly recommended" in huge letters over the items... We took their word for it and were not disappointed - the skirt steak was cooked perfectly (medium well worked very well for this type of cut) and the sides - potatoe, plaintaines, and yuca - were delicious. Everything was very simple and not smothered with sauces or spices, but this was my favorite part about it. I'm ranking this up there with Tengo Sur since they're both South American steakhouses, but they are different enough that you will not feel like you're comparing apples to apples between the two.

    (5)

  • Ashley S.

    Great food great service! If you don't like your steak hot, sizzling, juicy, and delicious then don't come here. The empanadas are heavenly. I'm not a colombian food expert but I had a great dining experience here. I'm new to chicago and this will be on my list of restaurants to take family and friends when they come to visit me.

    (4)

  • Lori L.

    Sure, they serve you boat loads of meat. Meat so tasty, tender, and grilled to perfection it might make a grown man cry. All that aside, save room for their flan. Hands down, the best flan I've ever tasted. It is coconut flavored but not so much where it overwhelms the natural flavor of the custard. That is all.

    (4)

  • Tracy L.

    Must have sangria. empanadas platter that includes 2 of each:beef, chicken, cheese and the Picada platter that includes all of their meats: homemade chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, sweet plantain, yuca and potato for just $38, it was totally worth it.

    (4)

  • Danielle P.

    The first time I heard about this restaurant was when I was in a cab from the airport and had a Colombian driver, so I asked for a good authentic Colombian restaurant and he recommended this. By the time I heard someone else mention this restaurant again I felt that I needed to go. I have to say this restaurant exceeded my expectations. I read a previous review to put the chimichurri sauce on EVERYTHING, and I highly recommend doing the same. We even started eating spoonfuls of it (no lie....) Dishes tried and HIGHLY recommend all of them! Patacon Pisao with shredded beef Arepa Rellena with chicken in mushroom sauce Entrana (speciality of the house steak)***** SO GOOOOOOOOOD Paella Vegetariana Flan de Coco.. DELICIOUS Brevas con Arequipe I will def. be coming back here

    (5)

  • David G.

    This review is a little late as I dined here with my girlfriend on Valentines day. We had made reservations and were seated promptly. The setting was very comfortable, an intimate feel to it. We started off with an appetizer and went with the Empanada platter as it was suggested by a friend prior to us going. They arrived quickly and were very flavorful. I think the cheese ones were my favorite. I ordered the churrasco (butterfly cut, N.Y strip steak) because I've had this at other latin restaurants. I have to say I really enjoyed it. Not the best I've ever had, but it was really enjoyable and very juicy. It was served with fried sweet plantain, yuca, and potato, and all were on point. The only negative really was the salad I got which just wasn't good. However the salad was the last thing that I went there for anyways. This place is also a bit pricey, but that was to be expected. It was also a voyage to get to the bathroom which included going downstairs, and down halls and around corners.. felt like a six mile hike. I went with 4 stars which seems to be the average. It isn't the best place ever.... but you surely wouldn't go wrong trying this place out... especially for a date.

    (4)

  • Mr H.

    Excellent skirt steak, excellent empanadas, excellent service, good drinks. I don't know why it took me forever to try Las Tablas, but I'm glad I did. Food was great, service was great. The house "Entrana" skirt steak topped with Chimichurri is one of my favorites ever. 4 stars instead of 5 due to the lingering odor on my clothing after dinner. This place is good, give it a try.

    (4)

  • Rod D.

    If you are looking for a great Latin feel yet a modern twist, head over to Las Tablas. They have real great food, a friendly wait staff and a great Latin representation. Great place to bring a date to considering the candle light. I've been frequenting this place ever since it was located next to the Golden Apple. I've loved it ever since. Several times, I've been treated to live Latin music there. There used to be a huge wait when it was located on the east side of Lincoln but ever since they moved to the new location, wait hasn't been a huge issue. The chorizzo and chorascos there are SO delicious! Make sure you call in reservations if you are visiting on a Friday or Saturday night.

    (5)

  • Regular G.

    I actually came here a few years ago with a very large group and was just reminded of the place. The experience was enough to drive me to search for it and write a review. This place did a fantastic job of handling the large group. The selection was very generous considering that we had 40-50 people in our group (we practically rented out the place). The meal was fantastic - so flavorful. If you are on the north side, it's worth your time to check this place out.

    (5)

  • Lala S.

    Delicious! Huge portions and tasty food. This is my first Colombian steak experience but it was absolutely yummy! We tried their mixed seafood grill which was amazing. I would eat this as a main next time if I wasn't in a steak mood. I tried a combination plate that had steak, chicharron, beans and rice. It was a great deal and more than enough for 2 meals. My boyfriend had the Steak and Chicken combo. The meat was really tasty but there was an overwhelming amount of starchy side dishes that came with his plate. He looked like he was a little parched afterwards. We got a pitcher of their soda-beer beverage which was really tasty. It didn't quite get us tipsy because I have a feeling there was more soda than libations in the drink. The soda part of it tasted like Guarana soda that you can get at Brazilian and Argentine places.

    (4)

  • Miss Bonnie B.

    Okay... I have to confess, I actually wanted to go to Tango Sur. However, when I called a week prior, they said that their large tables were all booked and we weren't likely to get seated till after 10pm. THAT was not going to work. Luckily, a transplant Chicagoian told us about Las Tablas. We were able to get seated after about a 10 minute wait for 14 people. Score! They said that while that they would accommodate us , we had to quickly clear out of there because of later reservations. A bit strange for them to hint that to us but be a bit slow on the take. The bill and etc were a bit slow... but that was all the better for us. As for the food, it was solid. I wish the accompanying sauces had more of a kick to them but they did the job. The BYOB is for wine only, and only on the weekdays so we missed out. Ps. Does anyone know what's up with the model pictures on their website menu and wall? Awkward, much?

    (4)

  • Daniela R.

    Amazing food! Bandeja Paisa was made to perfection, great service. Thanks for the great experience.

    (4)

  • Drew S.

    They took great care of 20 of us on a Saturday night. Very friendly service. Most of us ordered the house specialty (entrana - skirt steak). Skirt steak is definitely thought of as lower-quality cut generally, but we all loved it. Despite being a steakhouse, given my personal preference for chicken, my favorite food was the chicken though. It was amazing. We also all loved the empanadas, the calamari, the shrimp, and the fried plantains. The cocktails were really good too. I had 'la cantadora' and really liked it. Certainly not a 'gourmet' restaurant, nor does it try to be. But very good food and very lively/fun atmosphere. I definitely recommend it.

    (4)

  • Alex B.

    I love it ! the Matrimonium is to die for

    (5)

  • Aurore L.

    You know one of the best thing about being on a gluten free diet?!? (because there IS a silver lining but like everything else that sucks in life you have to *look* for it and not be a lazy-ass sucker) MEAT!!!!!!!!!!!! I can eat my protein without feeling overtly guilty, and man do I take advantage of it!!! Craving a big, juicy piece of cow AND having a Groupon in my wallet I took my freshly showered and worked out body, el coche and el hombre to Las Tablas to gorge sinlessly on steak. A big chunk of skirt steak, marinated, grilled and smothered in chimichurri sauce, sin potato, plantain and yucca but con rice (which I barely touched) and beans. A glass of Malbec. A super creamy and decadent coconut flan. That's the life. As a reminder that all this deliciousness is material indulgence only - there are Boteró reproductions everywhere. So if you don't want to be in that situation in your bathroom before taking your showerthe following morning: bit.ly/fF4hiu avoid coming every single week. Or do. Big is beautiful, they say.

    (5)

  • Super L.

    We walked seven blocks on a Friday night to use a Groupon here. Once we arrived I noticed the sign on the host stand that said "GROUPON USERS MUST HAVE A RESERVATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I don't know if there were really that many !!!'s but that is how I remember it. We of course did not have a reservation. And it smelled GOOD. We were salivating. It was busy. The hostess came to the host stand, and I meekly asked if we could make a reservation, for now. She just smiled, and even though it was 10pm on a busy Friday night, we were seated. It smelled SO GOOD. The reviews I read before coming said that the food isn't that great and neither is service, so I bought the Groupon thinking I might just use them for some delicious Colombian cocktails. The smell and smoke in the air did not allow that. We ordered the Picada Mar y Tierra, which is basically a platter of everything, for 2. Since we were so ravenous, we even started with a basic salad, and the soup. We also had three of the muddled fruit Colombian cocktails, all delicious. When the platter of food came, OMG! OMG! It was meat heaven for us. The chorizo and steak were my boyfriends favorites by far, and he even ordered a glass of malbec to truly enjoy the meats, even though he had a new, full glass of cocktail in front of him. We pigged out. We also devoured calamari, octopus, shrimp, chicken, plaintains, DELICIOUS potatoes, yuka, and more. The only pieces of meat that were not awesome were the ribs... which is disappointing as I love some ribs but theirs were dried out and unappetizing. We ate maybe half of the platter, and took the rest home for meat snacks. Service was very good. All in all, we will be back. This was commanded by my boyfriend, who isn't the biggest restaurant fan, and does not enjoy spending over $100 at them. This one is definitely on his "LET'S GO BACK NOW" list.

    (4)

  • Dan Z.

    Wow, wow, this place is incredible! We ordered empanada combo, mariscos al carbon and arepa rellana for appetizers. The grilled calamari, baby octopus and shrimps were so good, empanadas were just okay, but the dipping sauce was very good! The steak was just beyond description, so tender, juicy and my mouth is actually watering again! As a side, the sweet plantains are definitely my favorite, I wish they replace the potatos with all plantains. Next time when I visit las tablas, I'll try to come in the evening for its live music performance. FYI, go downstairs and check out their bathroom.

    (4)

  • Jessica M.

    We used to go to their old location across the street, usually with a bigger group of friends and it was always a great time. Cramped, but that added to the atmosphere. BYOB is always awesome. Now that they moved it seems like they've changed a lot, now it's more of an upscale, big roomy restaurant. It's nice to not have to wait so long for a table, but I feel like the integrity of the food isn't the same as it was before. I was just here this past weekend and overall had a good experience. They changed their BYOB to exclude weekends which kinda sucks, but they have a pretty good sangria. I got the carne asada which was really good, along with the chimichurri that comes with it, very tasty. I knew I didn't care to much for yuca, (basically a dry hard tasteless potato) so I substituted it for rice and received plain white rice. I didn't touch it. The grilled plantain was delicious though. Overall it was a good experience, and our waiter was very attentive. Not as good as it used to be but I'm still a fan.

    (3)

  • Maria C.

    So they moved the location. I think it's now 2946, can't remember...It's now across the street. It's so much bigger and classier. I wish they had entertainment. I went w/ a group of friends who thought the place was too dim. The bathrooms are in a maze. You have do go down a group of stairs, turn around the corner and voila. Definitely didn't like that. They did have a nice seating area to wait for who ever is in the stall. Well I opened up the menu and it's pretty expensive. Bout $15 - $35. The food got there pretty fast and it comes out steaming. The waiter was very attentive and everything we needed he pretty much brought out. I didn't think the food was that great compared to El llano. The food is inexpensive there as well... I think I will come here but only if I'm on a date or something.

    (3)

  • Jane T.

    The decor is fantastic and very romantic here. We started with the empanada sampler, which was good but not great. Their chimichurri sauces were merely "ok" for me - I've had better. I ordered the Bandeja Paisa, which I thought was absolutely wonderful. The fried pork belly was what really piqued my curiosity and surprisingly, I loved it. Shared the pork belly with the rest of my table and they fell in love as well. We asked the waiter if it were possible to order the pork belly alone but sadly, the kitchen said no. The steak itself was tasty too but the cut of the steak, which was more like a thin strip, would call for a well done or charred cooking; I ordered it medium rare. The rice and beans were fantastic - I've never had plain white rice with beans and it just completely changed my ideal for "rice & beans." My boyfriend's grilled octopus would've been tastier to me if they were cooked a bit longer - it felt a little underdone. The desserts were a mere "ok" for me as well - we had some sort of flan and a passion fruit mousse. Their mojito was good but I felt it needed a little more sweetness to it. Overall, my experience was alright. I think that for the price and the amount of food that you get, it's worth it. Will I go back? Probably not - I have my own favorite place for steak and chimichurri.

    (3)

  • Leang E.

    This place would have 5 stars except for one kind of big thing that happened. We were here for a birthday party and a group of 17. So, expect the food to take a little longer to make and get here early. Getting to the bathroom can be scary if you are drunk. I saw a guy hold on to the railings coming back up as I was going down. I was worried that he may fall over. There's no heat down here and it's like a maize getting to the the bathroom. I don't want it to take away from the fabulous food here. The empanadas are very good and there are two types of chimmichurri sauce one spicy and one not spicy that is perfect with it. I had the combination plate that included the Entrana steak and the shrimp with plantains, yucca and potato. The seasoning on the shrimp and steak was so juicy and flavorful. The starchy stuff was kind of dry, but with chimmichurri sauce it's quite good. The place was BYOB but with an $8 corking fee except on certain days it's free as the special of the day. They do have alcoholic beverages here, but since they were located across the street before as a BYOB place they kept it and now charge a corking fee. Plate sharing is an extra $5. We joked that everything on the menu is described as highly recommended to the point that one of my friends asked the waiter what was highly recommended just to hear what he'd say. We all laughed about it. Now as great as everything was, we got our bill. The prices on the menu wasn't the problem it was the price on the receipt. I uploaded the picture so you can see the difference in the two bills we got. Obviously, we saw the error in the first one, can you see what they did wrong? Yeah, we told our waiter that the service was good but not that good. He may have took it in jest, but it makes me question if this computer error was going on in everyone else's bill as well. It's a good thing we caught it too. It's lucky for them that we didn't cause a bigger commotion in the entire restaurant. Come on a 50% tip? I don't know if this was intentional or not and have trouble with whether or not they were being honest. It just goes to show that you need to check your receipt.

    (4)

  • Thamara D.

    Love this place for all my carnivorous cravings !!!!! The steaks are perfectly marinated and cooked to perfection, drinks are strong and just right, ( One carnberry Margarita and I was past tipsy) servers are knowledgeable and attentive, the room is beautiful, ( love the little room down stairs) & Live music Friday and Saturday. Best Colombian food in Chicago. I could eat here everyday !!!!!

    (5)

  • B. S.

    Great price for lunch special and very delicious!

    (4)

  • Katie C.

    Went on a Monday night after Pilates class with the girls. BYOB on week nights, split a couple apps, couple bottles of wine, and the combo meat patter. We couldn't even finish it! Have been back a couple other times, same great food. Service could be a little better, but the food makes up for it! Highly recommend for groups wanting something a little different.

    (5)

  • Sylvia I.

    Came here on a Monday night and there were only a few tables occupied which was REALLY NICE given all the reviews I've read here about how crowded this place gets on the weekends. What an AMAZING mix of flavors. Everything was delicious. We took advantage of the half off pitcher of sangria on Mondays for $12 which started off the evening well. Then they brought us bread with two bowls of green dipping sauce -- spicy vs. non-spicy. Very very tasty. We ordered the empanana sampler for appetizers. The BEST empananas that I've ever had -- freshly fried. We got cheese, chicken, and beef. The beef was my favorite with the cheese a close second. For our main course, we couldn't decide because everything looked so good so went with the Picada Colombiana (serves 2) for $38 that included a little bit of everything -- Entraña skirt steak (house specialty), rib-eye steak, pork loin, chicken breast, homemade chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, fried sweet plantain, yuca and potato. My favorites were the skirt steak and chicken....great spices and very tender. The chorizo and pork ribs were a bit dry though. The potato and plantain was pretty tasty too. Then to end the meal, we got the fig dessert with caramel on the side. I've never had fig before so it was interesting. Definitely tasty and would try to get it again when figs are in season. To sum it up -- an amazing dinner with GREAT service. (*Note: Our waiter told us to only come there on the weekends if we liked loud music and bad service....so take the advice to heart if you really want to have great food with a good experience.)

    (5)

  • Kyle P.

    Love this place when it was across the street and love it now. Get two hungry people and get the (can't remember the name) but it is all the meat they have in the best marinade with a green chimichurri sauce.... Chicken is great for the lunch special and they have live music on the third Thursday of every month. Give it a try

    (5)

  • Sarah Z.

    They took away the fish soup!! My heart is broken. But I definitely dig the new space across the street. Spacious and beautiful wood chairs and tables. I guess you can't have it all...

    (4)

  • Rebekka L.

    You want a juiciy and delicious steak? Las Tables is the place to go. The plate came out sizzling and the sides dishes were spot on; tasty, warm, and crunchy. Also had the chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese, yumm! The atmosphere was great, the restuarant was intimate but fun. I would definitely recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Simma Down Na H.

    THE EMPANADAS ARE NOT GREASY! that's awesome! I have to plan my graduation party pronto. It's real hard to find a restaurant with excellent reviews, good food, and a beautiful atmosphere in the Southside. My dad had his heart on another brazilian steakhouse but yeah right we're going to spend $45 per person. I found this place as a potential and we had to "test try." OMG the staff were friendly, steak was good, empanadas weren't greasy, and the setting is romantic. my kind of style...you must check this place out. won't regret the price either!

    (4)

  • selena i.

    Went there on a Tuesday night part of a group of 13ppl. First time there and I will be sure to return. I liked the ambiance of the place. The bathroom was downstairs, at first I did not know what to expect, as you open up the door you see a set of stairs and I was like o.k. where am I going. But as you go down, there is a little loungy area with a few chairs and then you find the bathroom which was clean and surprisingly pretty. So, we went thru about 5 pitchers of sangria. It was pre-mixed, but still hit the spot. I really enjoyed the empanada's. We got the sampler one where you got a couple of each. Another thing I was excited about was that almost everything on the menu is gluten free all except for 4 menu items. WOW...impressive. I no longer eat beef, but our table ordered 6 orders of the skirt steak because it was phenomenal. I ordered the chicken and even that was pretty good. Didnt get a chance to order any desert...but I will definitely come back again! o yeah, the server even comp'd one of our sangria pitchers....NICE!!!!!

    (4)

  • Jin K.

    Just park the car and follow the aroma into this establishment. The empanada platter and the seafood platter made for solid appetizer selections. The special sauces - one spicy with jalpenos, ciliantro and vingar and the other that was of the non spicy variety (So, I don't remember what was in it) were solid. The skirt steak was highly recommended by our waiter, who did an awesome job helping us pick out our entrees. Any time someone brings out a big steak on a hot cast iron plate embedded in a wooded plate...is ok in my book. And this plate contained a plantain, yuca (my first time and it was my favorite of the 3) and potato. Simply put, it was DAMN good.

    (5)

  • Amanda W.

    I really enjoyed my experience here. I ordered the steak and it was delicious! My fiance ordered steak and chicken. He also loved the steak, but said the chicken was a little bland. The price and portions were reasonable and we liked the atmosphere. We will definitely be back for the steak!

    (5)

  • Laura H.

    If you want a good steak without the frills this is the place to go. Their skirt steak is cooked to perfection! In fact, everything on their menu is. I have not had anything from hear I did not like.

    (5)

  • Amy R.

    I went on a Friday with a reservation for a friend's birthday. Even with a reservation, we had to wait at least 20 minutes. As a hostess for four years (high school/college job), this always pisses me off. Once we were seated, it took forever to get our wine opened, forever to get menus, forever to order appetizers, and forever to order food. It would have been all well and good if we simply had the wine right away. I understand Fridays are busy, and I can wait for a very long time if slightly sedated. The steak was disappointing. I was sharing with a friend and we ordered medium rare at her request. Medium rare is the most well done I like my steak, and it came out medium well. Gross. Chewy, a little dry, poorly seasoned... nothing special. Then, when we finally wanted to leave, it took forever to get the bill. Three hours of dining for a bland steak.

    (2)

  • Jim W.

    This review is probably not fair, b/c we had wanted to go to Tango Sur but settled for Las Tablas instead, AND I was going to a Brazilian place a few days later so skipped on the churrasco. Instead I ordered the carne asada, and while it was good and a hearty portion, I found my medium-rare steak not so rare and a bit dry. I'd be interested in trying the matrimonio, but I did have some of my friend's bandeja paisa - in English, the menu describes both as charbroiled Columbian ribeye, but the bandeja was eons tastier - it had some special sauce that the carne asada lacked. The appetizers were not extraordinary...outside the Chorizo - that was awesome! But the Arepa left something to be desired, I can honestly say that Boston Market's cornbread tastes better. The BYOB policy - I'm conflicted. I mean, $8/bottle is not ridiculous, but compared to "free" at Tango Sur....you catch my drift. As far as atmosphere goes, it's definitely very loud, very rowdy, making it difficult to hear past the person next to you, but it's fun. I'd come here again in a big group.

    (3)

  • Ann J.

    Great service and a fun atmosphere. I will definitely be back. Irma and Miguel are awesome!

    (5)

  • John S.

    Went here on Saturday night on a date. Ended up going with the BYOB wine option. When I read the menu I was surprised to see that they charged a cork fee of $7 for each bottle of wine. We ended up bringing 2 bottles and didn't care for the first one so we asked if they could open the second bottle. We ordered the Empanada Combination Plate as an appetizer. The Empanada's were all nice sized and stuffed with beef and chicken. The cheese Empanada's were amazing also. For dinner I ordered the Entraña. First off let me say for $19 this steak was huge. The flavor was also very good and it came with very generous portions for the sides. Our Waiter was excellent also. He was nice enough to wave the cork fee and gave us free dessert because we let them have our first bottle of wine. He also gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and didn't rush us at all during dinner. Over all Las Tablas is a great deal for the money you will not be let down.

    (5)

  • erin k.

    Being a vegetarian I was surprised to like a Colombian steakhouse as much as I do - but the great service and beautiful room go a long way to make up for the limited vegetarian menu. I had some great appetizers (empanadas and plantains are both delicious with the sauces meant for steak, by the way) and the vegetarian paella which was a little lackluster for my taste. A third of the plate was mushrooms, which would not have been a bad thing if they weren't all white mushrooms, cut thick and undercooked. My date seemed to enjoy his skirt steak a lot. I told him it was dangerous to lick a skillet, but he's a daredevil he is. Luckily a delicious mojito was close at hand to soothe his third degree tongue-burns.

    (4)

  • Isa B.

    It's a Colombian place, not South American because it doesn't include any other countries' food. The price is outrageous, we went for dinner, I ordered rice, avocado, yuca, plantains and mini salad; my husband ordered meat, rice, plantain and we both had one juice and the check was $45. This food in our countries is $5 tops. The service was slow. The people where nice, the quality ok. In conclusion: OK if you crave Empanadas which were good, and natural juice, but very overpriced.

    (3)

  • David H.

    Las tablas is a great columbian eatery. My server was very friendly and suggestive. I think that a table of three should definitely get more than one app. if everyone is hungry. The entree portions are good. The flavor comes out big time especially , with the skirt steak and pork loin. Corkage fee waived on Mondays. I will be back with a nice bottle of Malbec.

    (4)

  • Arlene A.

    I haven't been here for dinner, only take out, but my experience was outstanding. We ordered the "empenada combo" and the mixed seafood salad. The flavors and textures of both dishes were exceptional. While I've had plenty of Columbian style empenadas, the grilled seafood salad was a knockout! The calamari was left almost whole, ensuring moist tender yummy meat. The salads that came with both were tasty and fresh. My honey and I can't wait to go back for dinner, this spot is BYO!

    (4)

  • Curt S.

    First of all, I love the atmosphere of this place- very laid back and dark with low lighting. Which to me is a perfect place to relax and have a nice dinner with close friends or loved ones. But I was GREATLY disappointed that where was absolutely NO wine/alcohol/beer menu. In fact, when I asked the waiter what was available for wines because they don't even offer beer! He vaguely went through types of wines not even listing prices or brands... which is extremely odd for a nicer restaurant. In fact, I think altogether one of the reasons why this place doesn't score 4 stars with me is the lack of Beer at all, and also their beverages like soda pop are NOT free refill. However the food is good but not excellent. We firstly had the cheesy cornbread which was by far the best thing I ate there. Then I ordered the New-York Steak with Calamari and it was all seasoned very well. But the sides were only mediocre and I felt like overall something was missing from the $20 entree. The service was just okay as well- our waiter seemed very aloof and didn't come by often enough- especially near the end when I was ready for the check and it seemed to just take forever. Overall the place had a nice atmosphere and offered some uniqueness that other places don't have. But to me, this food goes hand in hand with drinking a beer- so it really failed on that part.

    (3)

  • Christina P.

    I recently went to celebrate a cousin's birthday. It was about 10 of my relatives including my boyfriend. There was live music which was nice and I enjoyed the ambiance very much. I ordered a big piece of steak with yuca and potatoes and I had a coke. I am not a picky eater so I enjoyed my meal very much. However, some of my family members were not too happy. My cousin and the birthday boy did not like their piece meat. One was undercooked so he had it redone but he wasn't happy and didn't really eat. The birthday boy acted like he liked it to be polite, but later told me that the piece was tough. My boyfriend wasn't a big fan either. For dessert I ordered the coconut flan which I always order. Some of our previous visits have been better, but from my own personal experience, I did enjoy it. However my boyfriend and I do prefer Sabor a Cafe Colombian restaurant.

    (4)

  • Christine M.

    I was not one of those people who went to the "old" Las Tablas. I went after it had moved for a birthday party and then back again for another birthday party. It's really an excellent choice for large groups given the large and tasty pitchers of sangria, plates large enough to split and friendly service that doesn't skip out on attentiveness. Why the three stars you ask? Well, the food is okay. Not exceptional, not outstanding, but good. If you get anything I recommend the Shrimp and Chicken platter - but not the sampler platter unless you enjoy four different kind of pureed potato-ish foods on your plate. Again, the Sangria. Yum.

    (3)

  • Keirstin L.

    Grab that bottle of wine and make your way to Las Tablas. The Combinaciones is highly recommended on the menu for a reason. Delicious skirt steak plus a potato, yuca and a plantain for twenty bucks?! Oh hell yes. You'll leave here with a full belly and a big smile on your face.

    (5)

  • Danny S.

    Go early, take a bottle of good red wine and pray that you don't get seated near the door. I always get a beef dish, but wifey likes the chicken quite a bit. Skip dessert. It's a letdown after the unbelievable flavors of their entrees.

    (4)

  • Zach M.

    Really wanted to like this place...but the really poor service overtook the really good food. I'd do take out, but I'd really resist eating in there again. Annoyingly slow pace from the get go. Never saw the server after they dropped the food off, and had to get up and find him when we wanted to cash out. So womp womp...disappointing.

    (2)

  • Douglas A.

    I went to the Las Tablas on Irving Park and used my Groupon to order dinner for one. I had been there before, and the second visit was at least as good as the first, if not better. I started out with a cheese empanada, the order actually coming with two empanadas. I've had empanadas that have used flour tortillas and have been baked, but I have to say that Las Tablas' corn flour tortillas that have been deep fried are simply scrumptious! There are two dipping sauces placed on the table; I liked the milder one that had a stronger cilantro flavor over the spicier one that had a stronger hint of jalapenos; but, to each his or her own in terms of flavor. Each was good. I also had the limonade, which is made with just the right amount of lime flavoring added to the lemon. Delicious! One can order it to be made with vodka, but I had it without. I took the combinacion that included the house special skirt steak and grilled shrimp with sides. The shrimp were sizeable and nicely grilled, but the skirt steak was simply wonderful! When the menu claimed that the skirt steak was the best they had to offer, and yet they also serve a rib eye, I wondered how that could be true; but it is! I asked for it medium rare, and it was grilled perfectly to order, and every bite was perfection! I ended the meal with a flan that was rich, creamy and flavored like mima used to make it (my adopted Cuban mother from years ago), and "Juan Valdez's Columbian coffee," which was okay, but I prefer an Ethiopian to a Columbian. I told the waiter, though, that the only thing that disappointed me was the individual-serving Coffeemate creamer with the coffee, and he mentioned that the half & half I preferred would take up too much refrigerator space. I suggested he invite the management to look into ultra-pasteurized individual serve half & half, which would be much better. Investigating online, I judge it would cost about 10 cents per serving as opposed to around 5 cents per serving for the Coffeemate, but with $2 per cup coffee, a bit more for the creamer shouldn't break the bank. All in all, this is a place I'd enjoy eating regularly and taking people to for special occasions.

    (5)

  • J I.

    This place really is terrific and if you want the best items on the menu you need to get the skirt steak, empanadas, and a pitcher of sangria. Believe me after that you'll be set for the makings of a fabulous dinner. Try it out and let me know what you think. I forgot to mention that this place is also BYOB, we love this place!

    (4)

  • Caroline M.

    Wow, this place is good. I came on a recommendation of a friend, and it did not disappoint. I went on a Friday night with my bf and another couple. We got there right at 7pm and were told it was a 20 minute wait. That was pretty accurate. We started off with an order of the empanada sampler. It was 6 empanadas and that was a good start for the four of us. Most of us also got a mojito and it was very good. Not too much rum to take away the flavor of the mint, but enough that you could taste it there. For dinner, the two guys got the skirt steak. Now, my bf is a really picky eater, and he is hard to impress. But he LOVED his meal and couldn't stop talking about it. The portion is huge and he finished every bite of the steak. My friend got one of the combination plates with the steak and the pork, and she was very pleased as well. I got a combination plate with calamari and shrimp. Both were very good. The shrimp was excellent and full of flavor, and the calamari was cooked perfectly and not chewy at all. If you are going to go, I think the combination plate is the right choice because then you get to try two things, and it doesn't seem like the skimp down on the portions of what they give you. Afterwards, we were stuffed. We were debating trying the flan, but decided we were too full. Our waiter had heard us trying to figure that out, and he brought us an order of flan on the house. What a perfect way to end the evening! A note on service: I was a bit hesitant after reading other people's reviews on here, but I was VERY pleased with the service. Our waiter was awesome and even gave us each recommendations on how to enjoy our leftovers at home. I don't have a negative thing to say about this place and will for sure be going back... especially on a weekday to take advantage of the BYOB.

    (5)

  • Peter K.

    If you love meat and plantains, then you'll love this place! The skirt steak is very good and tender. The empanadas are extremely flavorful. I just wish there was one in LA... Service was great too!

    (5)

  • Adisak P.

    I just went there for lunch with a big group of guys and it was quite good. They had a $9.50 special that was delicious and inexpensive.

    (5)

  • Mary M.

    Some of the best food I've had in quite some time. Also, great wine and very fun atmosphere. Be prepared to ward off over eager wait staff but overall, this is a great spot.

    (4)

  • T Mir S.

    My second time there, and many more visits to come. The food is fantastic and the portions very healthy. Had the chicken and shrimp combo meal and it was enough for lunch and dinner... the space is comfy and delightful.

    (4)

  • Rebecca B.

    Oh I really wish I had a better experience to report. Long story short: service and kitchen were both really slow and weirdly-paced, resulting in a drawn-out experience that left some of us thirsty, some of us hungry and all of us a little bummed out. We went with a group of 6, after making a reservation for a recent Saturday night. The reservation-taker on the phone was adamant that we were all there by 7:15. Fair enough. We did this, but still weren't seated until 7:30, despite passing by other empty, set tables. It's a weird combination of byo-wine-only and full bar. We ordered a round of mojitos before dinner, since only one of us remembered their bottle --to share among 5 drinkers. I had the strawberry, and thought it was really good. I might even have ordered another if the waiter hadn't disappeared for such long stretches. Food-wise, the apps (empanadas, chorizo, and yucca) were really good, and came out really fast. Dinner-wise, our good luck ended. Two of us ordered the fish soup (Saturday special) but were served the catfish entree instead. We managed to glad down our waiter after several efforts, and corrected the order, urging the rest of the group to go-ahead and start. Well, but the time they were finished (15-20 minutes or so) our fish soup was nowhere in site. We decided to cancel it all together, since everyone was nice enough to share what they had--since they give you more than enough food, we were sated, just sort of bummed that we never received what we ordered. Other service quibbles: slow to remove dirty plates, bring new silverware, refill water and it took the chimichurri sauce 3 requests to arrive. Oh well, at least it came out at all. The food was overall ok, but hard to enjoy given the service issues. I'd head to Tango Sur next time I need my tons of meat South American steakhouse fix...

    (2)

  • J. V.

    HUGE PORTIONS! definately splitable! BYOB so a great place for groups....5 dollar cork fee for wine, but if you bring screwtop (which many nice wines are now...don't laugh) it's free....weird, but I'll take it. I had the shrimp and pork tenderloin combo and split it and still had leftover....great salad comes with it. Service was not the best but they were as friendly as could be.....that is more important to me than getting all hung up on a salad coming out at the same time as your dinner....this isn't 5 star fancy dining people. Take it for what it is. Great food and a great place for groups....I reccomend highly.....

    (5)

  • Heather L.

    Best Carne Asada in town! Love the grilled plantains too. Great prices. And you can't beat BYOB.

    (5)

  • Joseph B.

    Go for the combo platter of the Skirt steak and Shrimp. Seriously. best marinade on a steak ever.

    (4)

  • steve c.

    Thanks to Groupon I was able to try this place that normally I would not have and I am glad I did. Parking was ample for a Sunday and the place is very cozy. The Entraña was awesome and definitely recommend! The empanadas were great with the delicious dipping sauce. I personally wasn't a fan at all of the Limonada for having way too much ice and not enough flavor. I wish I read before i went that it was BYOB or I would have picked up a bottle. Kind of weird to me the place didn't have linen napkins with it being "upscale". Our busboys were great and it seemed like we heard the other waiters were great but not ours and for this it looses a star. Our waiter was not busy but was slow and rude. He came up to our table, leaned over, and just looked at us to order. Very weird.

    (4)

  • Yvette L.

    One of my favorite restaurants. Loved the steak and chimichuri sauce! Also the best flan and coffee I've had. They tried to charge us a $5 sharing fee so we said fine thinking we each get our own side and all they did was give us two cheap plates like you get at Ikea. So I joked and said we will take the plates home since we paid for them. They waived the fee:)

    (5)

  • Amy S.

    Hmmmm, meat. The Picada Columbiana is a great combination plate of steak, chicken, pork and sausage along with lots of sides. It feeds 2 with plenty of leftovers. I loved the cornbread- consistency is more like chilled polenta. Sangria was good but not very strong. It took a little while for our waiter to first approach us but the service was good after that. I'm definitely going to go back and bring my own wine.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth H.

    I tried Las Tablas last night for the first time and was quite impressed. I came in with a friend of mine who has been coming here for years and we had a great dinner. The place is fairly large and seems to accommodate big parties quite easily. Of course that didn't do wonders for the noise level, as it was a little high with the restaurant so busy. Regardless, we only waited a few moments before we were seated and the waiter took our drink orders right away. Unfortunately, that is where my rave review of the service stops. As I said, it was busy, but even so, our waiter was very inattentive. Those drinks I mentioned that were ordered when we first sat down, we received them half way through our meal... about 40 minutes later. Now I am not a skilled professional in the art of mojito making... but I don't know that it should take the better part of an hour. Although, in the end I basically chalked it up to him being super busy because as soon as the tables started to clear, he stopped by to check on us quite a bit... even so, the drinks should have been comp-ed. As far as the steak, VERY yummy! It was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. I wouldn't venture as far as saying the best I've had, but worth the higher price tag. Also, they offer smaller versions of their house specialty... which was not small at all and a pretty good bargain. I do agree with some of the other reviews about the sides leaving a bit to be desired. I wouldn't object to giving it another go... maybe try a seafood dish next time!

    (3)

  • Kristin G.

    this was, up until now of course, what i had considered one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in chicago....and that's saying a lot because i lived there for a decade and i live for food! i recently returned to chicago for a weekend trip, and made it a priority of mine to squeeze in a visit to las tablas in the small time frame that i had. it has been about 3 years since i've moved from chicago, so i hadn't yet had the chance to visit the newly remodeled and relocated las tablas. i was excited... i could go on for pages about my experience, because when i left there smoke was literally coming out of my ears! but....i'm gonna spare you the frustration of having to read the details and touch on the important aspects of my subpar experience, hoping that after having read this you will seriously reconsider visiting this location. i'm going to preface everything with a disclaimer that the food is unique and exceptional...however, i would highly recommend calling on the phone and placing a to-go order! the waitstaff and management at las tablas is beyond a joke. not only did i wait 30 minutes for my food to arrive on a less than busy day, but in those 30 minutes i was forced to watch my friends eat their entire plates as they were served waaaaaaay before me! now, you'd think a restaurant that is cocky enough to charge $20+ a plate for inexpensive ingredients would have it together enough to execute a dining experience that surpasses that of a 24-hour diner. but no...i found myself wishing i had gone to golden nugget! now, i'm not one of those people that complains about poor service...in fact, my friends and i talked about it for a good 20 minutes before deciding that something needed to be said...mind you, we could afford to contemplate over our dilemma for 20 minutes because our waiter had not returned to our table since he threw our plates on the table. anyway...moving right along, i think they hired the "manager" for show, because upon speaking with him it was clear that he served no functional purpose for the customers. not only did our waiter blatantly lie to our faces in front of the manager about having told us that our food would be brought out at separate times( i mean...why would we have still ordered then?!), but the manager believed the waiter over us and argued with us in the middle of the restaurant! how unprofessional...it was truly embarrassing. finally, after an extra 30 minutes of our time was wasted trying to get some justice from the so-called manager, he decided to give us $10 off of our bill. wow. gee, thanks...that just about covered the tip that the waiter would have gotten had he been present at our table to so much as refill a single water glass. i am truly embarrassed that i recommended for my friends to accompany me here....and what's even worse, i am depressed that i will never feel comfortable setting foot in one of my favorite restaurants again. save yourself the frustration and about an hour and a half of your time...

    (1)

  • Ivonne Marie C.

    The food at this place is horrible. True, to the non-hispanic palatte it is great, but I'm sorry you don't serve a NY steak and call it a Churrasco. The place may be nice for group gatherings and birthdays (I counted over seven songs last night) but the only thing Hispanic about the food is probably the Yuca Frita and the Fried Plantains. I will not return to this restaurant for anythign in the world.

    (1)

  • Jeremiah Z.

    I am a huge fan of finding a neighborhood gem that makes you feel so good when you walk out, you almost feel like you didn't pay enough money. I'd heard of this place for years, but for one reason or another had never visited while I had been to Tango Sur (everyone's favorite restaurant in Chicago apparently and closest comparison to this place) probably a dozen times. First of all, its BYOB Mon thru Thurs which automatically gives this place some bonus points by default. The decor is nothing flashy, but its very warm and inviting and gives the restaurant an authentic feel. A girl I work with explained to me the following day that all of the tables and chairs are hand carved and i definitely remember thinking how unique they were during dinner without knowing that. I'm not sure how busy this place gets on the weekends, but it was decently full when we were there on a Thursday night in December. Now lets get down to business....the steak. It is absolutely everything you can want it to be and more. Hearty, well-marinated steak that just makes my mouth water even as I'm typing this review. We started with some empandas which were served with a salsa verde and they were really good. Our entrees came with some grilled shrimp and chicken which were also good, but definitely on the B squad of this roster. I wish I could say any of us had room for dessert... I think this is a perfect place to go with some friends you haven't seen in a while to hang out, drink a bottle or two, and enjoy a comfortable delicious meal. Our server was really nice and did everything she was expected to do. I just think the fact that you can go here without a 2 hour wait gives it an edge over you know where. 3 of us all ordered steak dinners with appetizers (we brought a couple bottles) and got out of there for somewhere around $30-35/person after tip. I will definitely be going back asap and I'm also angry with myself for not going here sooner!

    (5)

  • Summer C.

    Great place to try! For the money, I'm not sure there is better meat in Chicago. Its a small, quirky place, complete with a long wait and jazz keyboard player. We ordered the house specialty, steak with calamari and octopus. Perfectly grilled, huge portion size, and delicious.

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    Really good food. Went here on a groupon. You have to like meat to eat here. Everything was cooked to perfection. They serve plantains and yucca with all meals and I found that to be a little too much starch on a plate. Was very good, we will be back. The service was kind of slow though. I'll give it another chance on that.

    (4)

  • Jacqueline Z.

    First of all (and pardon my french), DAMN the steak is delicious, and I want buckets of the salsa verde to put on all my food. Like some other reviews have noted, they are great at accommodating large groups as well. Go Monday through Wednesday when there is no corkage fee!

    (4)

  • Michelle N.

    Food is dreadful. Everything is fried, and it all tastes like it came out of the same hot oil. My "grilled" chicken was deep fat fried and tasted like fish. "Plantains" were really bananas. Indifferent service.

    (1)

  • Nancy K.

    When another reviewer wrote: "OMG have I died and went to skirt steak heaven" they were right on! Mind you I'm not a "meat" eater but that all changed when I stepped foot into this place. Everything was delicious! I highly recommend the Patacón Pisao (a plantain appetizer) and the Picada Colombiana plate, which serves 2. It has a combination of the most popular Colombian food: Entraña skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, and chicken breast all grilled, homemade chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, fried sweet plantain, yuca and potato. Yummy! I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Marcos L.

    This is a fine place with tasty food - fun for groups, especially. We went in one night after a show at the Atheneum with about 10 of us, no reservation (fortunately it wasn't a weekend), and they got us set up and there were some nice low-key musicians. The drinks rocked and the food was solid Colombian fare. A great time was had by all. One note: I hope whoever wrote that "note from the owner" learns how to spell. It's hard (impossible) to believe a Colombian could use the ubiquitous gringoized error "Columbian" - unless after seeing it so many times he/she just gave up, or thought that's the right way to spell it. But then they got "churrasco" wrong also, so I think it's just a case of bad spelling. Tsk-tsk. UPDATE: I see they fixed the spelling. Very attentive. The service there is like that too.

    (4)

  • Michaela N.

    This place is amazing! Great service and an excellent dining experience. I discovered Las Tablas through a groupon that a friend shared with me. We went on a week night and were seated immediately. The staff was incredibly friendly and very helpful at making suggestions and explaining the menu. We both had the Combinaciones with their Entrana skirt steak and grilled shrimp. It was delicious! The steak was cooked perfectly and the sauces were very flavorful. I also had a Refajo which was a new and tasty experience for me. I can't wait to bring my husband here. He will love it!

    (5)

  • Maryann M.

    My boyfriend and I were looking for some Columbian cuisine. He had thrown out a few restaurant names, but nothing really caught my eye. Eventually, however, I stumbled upon the Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse. We went around 4 pm on a Saturday, so it was pretty quiet, but the service was excellent! Our waiter was very polite and very helpful in helping us navigate the menu. And in which way did he direct us? Why only the best way - towards the Skirt Steak. I don't think I have ever tasted a more delicious steak in my entire life. Ordered medium rare, it was tender, juicy, and delicious. Perfectly marinated and perfectly cooked, served with fried plantains, yuca and potato. The price wasn't anymore than you'd pay for a good steak, but this was definitely a high quality meal. I'll definitely go back

    (5)

  • Patrick C.

    Very happy with this place, had a great dinner and very good sangria here a few nights ago. Service was good, prices were reasonable. As a latino I can say that this place scratches the itch ive had since moving to chicago. very happy all around. I had steak and my lady had a seafood combo.

    (5)

  • Scott M.

    The best value restaurant in the city not to mention incredible food. Only knock is very limited knowledge bar staff.

    (5)

  • Rima K.

    Loved it loved the food had a great night that night. The Lincoln location is better than the Irving location.

    (4)

  • Anna P.

    One of Chicago's best places to eat! We love the atmosphere, the food, the sangria...everything! My husband and I take his clients, our friends and family to this restaurant all of the time because they are always spot on! Their service is great too. If you need a date night place, a place to take friends, family, strangers, clients, etc...bring them to Las Tablas! You will love it!

    (5)

  • Oscar A.

    I am colombian and I like eating here, but I loved it when it was a BYOB. There are other Colombian restaurants that may give this place a run for their money. Try the empanadas and the bandeja paisa.

    (3)

  • Rebecca H.

    I smelled this place from down the street, so I had somewhat of an idea what we were getting in to - lots of meat. We were seated promptly on a Friday night (looks like we were just lucky, though, because the place was packed and a line formed shortly after our arrival). It took the wait staff a while to get around to water and taking our order - we started with an arepa (cornbread sandwich) and it was fantastic. My partner ordered the Combinaciones - steak and shrimp. I ordered the same - steak and calamari. While the shrimp was good, the calamari was chewy and overcooked. The steak was mind blowing! I suggest you skip the combinations all together and go for the steak only. Yucca, plantain, potato - just filler in my opinion. Nothing special about them and I never got around to eating them. The chimichurri sauces were quite good - although I'm not sure you even need them. We were stuffed and didn't order dessert although it looked awesome. I would definitely come back here!

    (4)

  • JP P.

    This was my first time to try Columbian food, and I enjoyed everything about it. As an Art History student, I especially enjoyed the Botero paintings of delightfully plump people that were hanging all over the restaurant. Got the empanadas for the appetizers and they were perfect. Flaky crust and savory stuffing. Then for entree, my dining companion and I split one of the combination plates which was recommended for serving two. It came with a little bit of everything - steak, ribs, sausage, chicken, plantains, potatoes, and yuca. This was great for the first visit because I got to figure out what I liked, and I especially enjoyed the chicken and the plaintains. The other meats were good, but the potatoes and the yuca were super dry. I would suggest though that you split the two person combo platter between three or even four people. We had a bunch of leftovers, and there was just way too much food for a platter suggested for two. Our meal came out to about $80 (for food, wine, tax, and tip) for two people. A bit pricey, so I'll try out other South American steakhouses which might be cheaper. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed dinner here.

    (4)

  • Katie V.

    this is another one of my Favorite places, it's close by me the steak is amazing, the service is good and the always have beer specials everytime I go. I also enjoy the live music. it's a cute romantic place u can have a good meal, drink and get up and dance if you like

    (4)

  • Daisy C.

    The service, food, and decor at Las Tablas were very good. I tried the lengua (beef tongue) with a Spanish caper sauce. The tongue was cooked to the right consistency. The plantains and yuca were also good. I like that the corkage fee is only $5. The main drawback to the restaurant is the noise level. I don't mind if a busy restaurant is loud, but at Las Tablas, I felt like I was in a club. I had to yell to be heard by the people sitting next to me. (I'm sure I accidentally got saliva on both of them, trying to communicate). I had to yell and pantomime to converse with the friend sitting across from me. (Sorry for any saliva I sprayed on your food). The music may have been good in another setting. But this place was so noisy to begin with, it just detracted from the ambience.

    (3)

  • Sophie D.

    Before Las Tablas moved, I would have given it 5 stars, but I'm heavy into ambiance, and theirs kinda went down the shoot when they moved. I was so excited to introduce this place to my boyfriend for (one of his) 30th b-day dinners. This one was on me b/c I can afford BYOB and $20 steak & shrimp. I looked up the address online to refresh my memory, and we headed out. Imagine my confusion when we arrived to find it there, yet looking completely different. I knew I was in the same area as previous visits, but from the outside it now resembled a dentist's office. It took a walk inside and an awkward conversation w/ the manager (who probably thought I was a few marbles short) before I accepted that this was, indeed, the new (and improved?) Las Tablas. In other words, they've moved across the street. With its cozy vibrant authentic feel and picnic tables (picnic tables!), I loved the old spot. That's been traded in for what reminds me more of a strip mall joint, losing most of its visual character in the process. Once I got over it (ok, i'm still not quite over it), I was relieved to see my favorite combo still on the menu (steak & shrimp). I'm not a big steak eater, but I like how thin the meat is and the way it's cooked. Even though there's some fat on there, it's so big you can easily avoid it and still fill up. The grilled shrimp is great. Love me some scrimps. Plus you get a plantain and yuca with it. It's loads of food and -for only $20 (up $2 from the last location)- it's a steal! I was also relieved to find I could still bring in my bottle of wine. I think they "forgot" to charge us the corkage fee, but I noticed it would have been pretty high at around $8. In the end, the food was just as good as before, and my boyfriend didn't know what he was missing from the location of yore. I'll definitely go back for the food, I just won't talk up the overall feel of the place like I once did. To end on a positive note, it seems possible that with the roomier location, the weekend wait won't be as bad as before, which would be a good thing. I hate waits.

    (4)

  • Char Y.

    We had the combination platters and the smoothies. The abundance of meat was simply amazing, but I thought they were just ok. The presentation is grand, but the taste fell short of impressive. Everything was meaty and fried, which is great, except it was excessively so.

    (2)

  • Pat W.

    This place was great. Very cool crowd and atmosphere. The food was outstanding. I had the house specialty, the steak, with shrimp. The service was also very good. For what you get, it's reasonably priced. FYI.... it's BYOB on the weekdays, but not on the weekends.

    (5)

  • Bryan R.

    Went here on a Saturday evening and loved every minute of it. We started with empanada combo and I have to say they were the best I've ever had. Finished off the night with the Entrana skirt steak and it was also amazing. I'd of given 5 stars but to be honest the sides left a little to be desired. The yuca and the potato were both a little dry, and the plantain was, well, it was plantain. I'd go back for the empanadas alone.

    (4)

  • Bill M.

    This popular Colombian restaurant on Lincoln Avenue has the same menu as the one on Irving Park. The Lincoln location is a bit cozier, with some tables having bench seating while others have chairs. Many of the meals are combo platters with numerous items on large plates that hold a wide sampling of foods. My enormous dish included steak, rib tips, beans, rice, avocado, sweet plantain, and a few other things too. You really don't need appetizers with such generous portions, but they are good, notably the plantain topped with melted cheese. The lemonade was more like refreshing limeade, and desserts like coconut flan do not remain on the plate too long.

    (4)

  • Stuart W.

    I have been this place on many occasions. It's very good. Not quite as good as your Brazilian steak houses, but then again, you're not paying an arm and a leg either. It's good value for your money.

    (3)

  • Cherie E.

    Don't let the somewhat sketchy exterior deceive you...this place is good! A great place for a group dinner - we came for dinner Saturday night just in the nick of time...sat down around 7:00. The crowds came shortly after - quite a lively atmosphere. I typically don't like to eat much meat, but my fiance & shared a chicken & steak dish & it was TASTY! Plenty large for both us to share. The service was quick & friendly. And BYOB is of course always a plus!

    (4)

  • Vicky C.

    Can we say "delicioso"!?! My boyfriend and I wanted to try this restaurant ever since a couple of people recommended it. It definitely met my expectations. We started off with free sangria (printed out a coupon on their website), and ordered a couple of appetizers; chicken empanadas and arepas con chorizo. Both were very good. The empanadas were made with masa, and came out hot and crisp. The chorizo was yummy! The main dish we ordered was the flank steak, ordered medium rare, and made with perfection. It was definitely big enough to split. The chimichurri sauce, plantains, and yucca nicely complements the dish. The service and food was great! I'm definitely coming back for more!

    (4)

  • Jordan I.

    I've been here twice, and have eaten their skirt steak three times. The empanadas and the cornbread are winners as well. Eventhough I feel when I come here I should be different and order something that not everyone orders. But if it's good, obviously everyone is going to order it. Thus my predicament. And I have not been steered wrong. They marinate the steak in some multispice concoction which just gives the steak unbelievable flavor. SOooooooo good. And it's not marinated to the point where it's mushy either. The last time I was there I also had the ocotopus with the steak. The portions that they give are almost embarassing. I know that if I manage to eat my whole platter, I will definitely be adding a stretch mark somewhere on my body. But well worth the scarring. All of the furniture is made by a specific furniture maker somewhere in or from colombia. You can get the whole story if you go to the website. 0066843.netsolhost.com/h… Also, you need to definitely save room for the coffee at the end of your meal. The first time I ever went here, I had an epic hangover. I'm talking about waking up with the shakes, and walking around town as though you have narcolepsy. So, manage to put my gameface on and delightfully struggle through the whole delicious meal in a delighted silent dignity. But the whole meat and yuca thing almost instantaneously put me to sleep. That was almost, and then came time for desert and I ordered two cups of coffee. HOLY SHIT!!! This stuff is Juan Valdez on PCP and Steroids. I felt like going to a club and tearing up the dance floor. My leg started moving without me controling it, and I started to talk so fast I started laughing. And then other people started laughing at me. As soon as the bill was paid I was marathon ready. Before I knew it, I was outside smoking a cigarette before anyone from my party had even gotten up from the table. I walked so fast I completely forgot my leftovers. But I digress. The service is wonderful, the food is great, they have live entertainment some nights, the atmosphere can be a little much with the noise, and the coffee is awesome. So I recommend this place for an all around good time. And if you live around this area and hungover, grab some coffee here and give your brain a nice lil bitch slap.

    (4)

  • Alonso R.

    ATTENTION!!! DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT EVER AGAIN!!! I have witnessed really bad service, but Las Tablas is by far the worst. I made a reservation to go there on a Wednesday at 8pm. The restaurant called me at 4pm to confirm the reservation, which I did. I was getting ready to go with my relatives and friends (8 people) and then I received a called from the restaurant saying that they were closed for the night. I asked them why and they said that it was very slow for them and they will be better off just closing the kitchen,cancelling reservations and sending everybody home. I asked to talk to the manager and they said that he was gone as well. They did not offer an apology or anything else to compensate this outrageous attitude. I think we should give them a lesson and never visit this place again. Who do they thing they are? The best place in Chicago? Visit El Llano, it is the same food or better, half the price, and you can bring your own bottle anyday, not only Monday to Wednesday.

    (1)

  • Skazoo M.

    I can't believe only one other reviewer (Cassie B) mentioned the outstanding lunch special - soup, entree and 3 sides for $7! I wish I worked in the area so I could take advantage of it more often. Atmosphere: The interior is simple with simple wooden tables and bench seating. They keep the heat blasting during the winter so don't worry about tables near the front. Dress is casual. Service: Far exceeded my expectations - attentive, sincerely friendly, and helpful. Also didn't rush us at all. Food: As the other reviews have indicated, simply wonderful. I now prefer corn over flour empanadas. But I wouldn't recommend it for vegetarians - meat is the star attraction here. Value: The lunch special I mentioned is an amazing value. In general, entrees range from $13 - $20. Portions are very large.

    (5)

  • vivian h.

    One of the best. Even better that it's a BYOB! The portions are huge! Would suggest the Matrimonio. It's a huge plate of strip steak, chicken breast, plantain, yucca and a small baked potato. More than enough to fill you up. My favorite though has to be the Lengua en salsa de alcaparras (aka beef tongue in spanish capers sauce). Amazing! There's always a wait on weekend evenings, so service can be a bit lacking on a busy night. Weeknights are better. Looks like though management has opened up a satellite location a couple doors down in a larger space. It includes 2 bars and a HUGE waiting area, probably to make up for the lack of space in the original spot. So now you don't have an excuse not to try it out!

    (5)

  • Melissa G.

    This place has a special place in my heart :) For two reasons one being their steak is absolutely delicious, from the tenderness to the amount of spices. Every bite gives a little tingle in your mouth. Secondly, this was the place for my first date with my boyfriend. It was a frustrating night because the strap of my shoe broke, and I was super nervous. The staff was attentive, and helped the night go smoothly. Steaks and empanadas are the way to go ! The menu is extensive, and the tables are good for groups as well. They have vegetarian options too. You can scope out the menu online before you head over there :) It can get crowded on the weekend though, with being BYOB and the quality of their food. **Las Tablas moved across the street ! ** It now holds a special place in my heart as my boyfriend proposed to me here in November 2008 :)

    (4)

  • Rachel F.

    The skirt steak was amazing. Seriously amazing. We also ordered the sangria- also, amazing. And the empanada sampler platter. These were fantastic as well. But that skirt steak.... whoa.

    (5)

  • Adriana K.

    I am writing this review after my second visit to Las Tablas. I am not a big steak person, but the skirt steak here is TASTY, perfectly seasoned. Both times, my husband and I have ordered the same thing--an empanada sampler and the Combinaciones entree with skirt steak and grilled calamari. While the empanadas and calamari are good, the most delicious part of the meal is hands down the skirt steak. I highly recommend this place!

    (4)

  • L L.

    The food was great- unfortunately the service left MUCh to be desired. We got there and it was fairly empty(half full) it took about 20 minutes for 1 of the guys to get his beer. The waiter was friendly but had no idea what Restaurant week was; 1- He told us that 1 of the appetizers had to be for 2 people - although that was not the case on their advertised RW menu. - this was not a big deal at all. 2- Turns out the RW deal was not a saver and pretty much the same as ordering a la carte. - not their fault either 3 - The waiter left us alone for 30 minutes after we had finished our entrees - we could not for the life of us find him or anyone to help us - it was full by that point. 4- Upon arriving to the table we asked if we could pay a la carte since not all of us wanted desserts - he told us no stating that the bill was already rung up. When we mentioned that we had been isolated for 30 minutes he got defensive and told us that he had made sure that the bus boys filled out waters and took care of us - this was a flat out lie - no one ever came to fill our water and we didnt need much water as we were all drinking. He then proceeded to tell us we didnt have to tip him and that we could just leave it at that. That is when I spoke up and said I would never leave a restaurant without a tip. So he left saying he was going to speak to the manager and then he came back with the bill. VERDICT: Cocky young waiter didn't want to be gracious and admit fault - instead he was defensive a made up a lie about sending bussers over which was untrue. He had a strained look on his face as if he was getting into a verbal fight and he should have known better. I tipped him 25% because at that point the only way to make him feel like a bigger ass is to tip him generously - he didn't deserve it but that's how I roll. UNFORTUNATE TRUTH: Will never go back, and I thought the food was great, it took too long to get drinks and there was no reason to be so flaky as we were guaranteeing a higher bill than those not participating in RW. MAJOR FAIL LAS TABLAS! I WANTED TO LIKE YOU SO BAD AND I DO BUT YOUR WAITER MESSED UP!

    (2)

  • Mike S.

    I had pretty high expectations for Las Tablas, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to them. First off, Giovanna B. was dead on when she said the place smelled like paint. Five months after her review, I swear I smelled paint when I walked in. There was only one other table there when we were, for an earlyish Saturday dinner. Still surprising to see so few other customers, though. The service, though friendly, was rather inattentive. The food, however, was the main disappointment for me. The grilled meats all seemed to be rubbed with the same spices and tossed on the same grill. Normally, that wouldn't be much of a problem, but the spices they used didn't seem to mesh well with either the steak or the chicken. There was also a weirdness to the char flavor; I've had plenty of meat prepared in the same way but in these the char seemed to be fighting the flavor of the meat, rather than complementing it. The flank steak was incredibly tough (even for flank steak). The sides, at least, were good. Unfortunately, I can't make a meal out of one plantain, some yuca, and a potato. I hope I just came on an off night, but I'm not sure if/when I'll be coming back.

    (2)

  • Pilsen C.

    Okay, first their food. Decent Colombian fare, with the meat dishes and seafood and all. We dont have much choice when it comes to Colombian food in Chicago, so this has to do. I'm Mexican, so Im used to eating with tortillas, which throws me off here. No tortillas to be found anywhere. They instead offer starchy stuff to be eaten with the dishes. The service is relatively bad here. Waiters never returning to see how your party is, and making poor accommodations for groups. We stoppped coming here for group gatherings because of the consistently bad service we got from these people. Not only that, they tended to try to rush us out of the place. Place gets too crowded on weekends, and if youre seated in the front room, you can count on people hovering above your table while they wait for theirs. They have enough business where they stopped caring about good customer service. Waiters tend to congegrate around the back area, talking as if they have no people to wait on.

    (2)

  • Diablo L.

    This place is really ,really good , they have a nice bar as soon as you walk in , the food is excellent. Ordered the combination skirt steak with pork and it was prepared perfect, short wait to get a table but had a fun time at the bar, perfect place to go with a group of people ....

    (4)

  • Jasmine J.

    Las Tablas, you are my guilty pleasure. When I am with you I am so bad, because you are so good. No matter who accompanies me to your table, we always have a fantastic time, filled with laughter and delicious food. When we part, I am drunk from your sweet sangria, fat from your succulent meats, and my breath reeks to high heaven from your mouth-watering chimichurri. I swear- only you, Las Tablas, can make a girl feel good about being drunk, fat and stinky.

    (5)

  • Rose G.

    A friend of mine had a Groupon and took me to the Lincoln Avenue location. A sign was posted at the hostess desk that read Groupon holders were required to have a reservation. Given that the restaurant was virtually empty, we asked if we could have a table anyway. She restated what was on the sign. We asked if we could make a reservation for ten minutes away. She checked with the owner who said we could not. We asked for the phone number to call to make a reservation. She refused to give it to us. We left to go outside to view the Groupon on my friend's device. We called the phone number listed on the Groupon repeatedly and got only busy signals. In Las Tablas' defense, the Groupon did read a reservation was necessary. In my opinion, however, that does not excuse the denial of making a reservation and the discourteous behaviour on the part of Las Tablas on Lincoln Avenue. We went to a different Colombian restaurant called Pueblito Viejo and felt especially grateful for the warm reception, service and fantastic authentic meal. Although we didn't mention it, my friend is Colombian AND works at Groupon. Fortunately, he will get a refund for the purchase of the certificate. Though I have been to both Las Tablas locations in the past, I do not plan to return.

    (2)

  • Scott J.

    I went to Las Tablas last weekend as a replacement for Tango Sur. We made a reservation a week ahead of time, and when we go there they had no record of it. Good thing we got there 20min before the reservation due to the fact groups of 6, and 15 were behind us and also had reservations that were not recorded anywhere. Once we were seated everything was allright. I don't think the food was the best I have ever had, but it definitely wasn't bad either. I felt the chicken was better than the steak, and having come for the steak that was a little disappointing. It is a BYOB, which is great, just so you know the corkage fee per bottle is either $3 or $3.50, and the same for a 6-pack of beer. Definitely look at possibly splitting dishes if you don't want to take leftovers you get a lot of food for the price. Also expect it to be loud in there. A lot of people go with groups of people, so it gets loud very easily."

    (3)

  • Yesenia S.

    Talk about a deal. They know how to really make a great steak. One of the best values for steakhouses in Chicago. The chimichurri sauces is to die for. The staff is friendly and they love making suggestions. This is by far one of my favorite places. I would rate it a five star, but the only thing holding me back is the steep corkage fee for BYOB.

    (4)

  • Mo L.

    I ate here with nine of my friends just recently. Among their appetizers, the beef empanada was really good. The Aborrajado, hot plantains with guava and melted cheese, was also pretty yummy. The fresh fruit drinks and mojitos were excellent. Meanwhile, the Colombiana soda was way too sweet. I had high expectations for their Churrasco, which my friend raved about. It was cooked to the requested medium doneness and had pretty good flavor. However, it was a bit salty for my taste. The quality of the beef was ok for the price, but certainly not prime grade. I wish there were more fried yuca on the side, one of my favorite foods. The good thing for us is that we were there on a non-busy Wednesday night and, probably because of the size of our party, the wait staff was very accommodating of our outside beverages and dessert. This allowed us to 1) enjoy pretty attentive service, 2) not-so-surreptitiously bust out various Belgian ales and other alcohol (my friend brought in a freakin' mini-cooler into which we rotated our next alcoholic beverage periodically), and 3) enjoy Sweet Mandy B's chocolate cake for which the wait staff kindly provided us plates. We tipped them well for our shenanigans. All in all, a very enjoyable birthday dinner!

    (4)

  • Andrew S.

    Friendly service and probably among the best food places in Chicago. Every time I have guests into town, this is the one place I make sure to take them!

    (5)

  • Lauren S.

    I've been here several times and loved my dinner each time! The colombian platter is yummy (I love the grilled plantains!), but beware of the portion sizes. They are huge! You can easily split the platters between two people or plan on taking home a good sized leftover bag. I have been able to get a table quickly on the weekdays, but it may take longer on the weekends. Also, there isn't really a 'waiting' area, so you end up crammed up next to the patrons seated right by the door. Bonus points for BYOB!

    (5)

  • Emily M.

    I LOVE this place. I first came here several years ago, and hadn't been back in quite some time. I was so excited when I found out I'd be returning for my friend's birthday party. I started with the cheese empanadas. Yummm.... Then I went for the steak/octopus combination. First of all, if you don't get the steak, you are simply insane. It is so flavorful and delicious. I tried a bit with the chimuchurri sauce, which was excellent, but the meat itself was so flavorful I decided I preferred it plain. The octopus is so delicious as well. It has a yummy charred flavor and is really delicious. And if you like yucca (which some people don't), this is one of the few places I've found it since my trip to Peru. And you can't go wrong with some plaintains as well. I also like the atmosphere here. It's got a great ambience, and they really seem to have thought of everything. The menu FAQ section is really cute. I especially enjoyed Q: "Where are the chips and salsa?" A: "At the Mexican restaurant down the street." They did forget my friend's entree, who, unfortunately, happened to be the birthday girl. Minus a star for that. But the manager offered us a concession off the bill and a free drink for my friend, so at least they handled it fairly well. He also said it was the kitchen's fault, not the waitress's, and I believe it, since our waitress was nothing but super nice and helpful the whole evening. From this and from reading the other reviews, I'm guessing this place just doesn't QUITE have everything in a row for a busy evening, but oh well. Few places are perfect, and the here food is worth what I'm sure is just an occassional slip.

    (4)

  • Kristen L.

    Best Columbian Steakhouse I've been too. We first went to Las Tablas because they were participating in Restuarant Week. I'm glad we did becuase we've been back three times in the past two months. You can taste every bite of your food, and its all good. The servers are prompt, but not annoying. The mood is romantic, but great for large parties as well. Portions are large, and worth every penny. Bonus, they have half price pitchers of Sangria (so good) M-W. That's just $12.

    (5)

  • Justin S.

    Went out here for the roommate's birthday. I was starving and more so than usual. Waited on his friend to arrive. The free sangria that is available through the online coupon was pretty good. I downed that in no time plus his friend gave me hers. We tried the combination empanadas and they were decent. Nothing really that great, I'd had better. For entree I went with the combination skirt steak and shrimp. They cooked it rare just how I like it and it was well marinated. The shrimp were great especially with some of the marinade and juices from the steak. The sides weren't my thing. Some plantain, yuca and slice of a potato, rustic yes delicious no. Not a bad place for a quick meal and decently priced too.

    (4)

  • Melissa B.

    Love it! I have only been twice, but I want to take everyone I know here. It is soooo yummy. The steaks are awesome, so moist and delicious. I had the shrimp last time....mmmm. I'm dreaming of going back. There is soo much food, you will have leftovers. Save some room for the coconut flan, sooo good! Oh, I almost forgot. There is this amazing appetizer of plantain covered in guava and cheese. yum!

    (5)

  • Debbie H.

    I don't usually like to go back to the same restaurant more than once or twice in a year - there's so much to explore and taste! My husband and I moved to Lakeview in January 2006, and I think we've probably gone to Las Tablas about 8 or 9 times already....it's that good. Good value, good food, good atmosphere (think authentic, not touristy). If you're coming here for a Morton's or Smith and Wollensky kind of steak house, don't. Prepare for a boisterous atmosphere, painted benches, and Botticelli-esque paintings. Highly recommend the yuca app - deliciously smeared with cheese. The steak and octopus combo, house special, and catfish are all mouth-watering. Tender, yet flavorful. The empanadas are the best in the city! Wash it all down with the beverage of your choice (it's BYOB) and enjoy some flan for dessert. A wonderful night out for a date (if you're really fun-loving, it's great for your first!) or out with a group.

    (5)

  • Cassie B.

    Oh my god i loved this place. We went here for my group's work lunch and it was so good. First of all, BYOB - automatic 3 stars in my book. The food was great. we got empanadas and some other stuff for appetizers. I got the lunch special which was $6.95 (!!) and included a soup, a HUGE portion of meat (I had the chicken), potatoes, rice, and a bit of salad. I had my first oxtail soup ever and i liked it a lot. The chicken was just as I like it, pounded thin and seasoned perfectly. their salsa is very good too, it's not like Mexican salsa, not as spicy, but it's good. four of my co-workers got the entree for two, which at $34 included a ton of multiple meats - chicken, beef, sausage, another beef, more meat i can't remember, plus sides. would get 5 stars but the decor and the dining area are only ok, esthetically. however i adore this place and can't wait to go back for dinner!!

    (4)

  • Amy R.

    Went here for a girls' night (you would think we'd go somewhere that serves salads, wouldn't you?) and we all left pleasantly satiated. We called ahead to put our names in, which was a good thing, as it was an hour wait. When we arrived, we got to skip ahead of the line, which was super cool. Although the place is loud (especially if you are seated by a speaker), and the windows don't seem to have much insulation (important point if you visit in the winter), the place had great ambiance, and the air smelled so delicious that it made my mouth water. We all ordered some form of steak combo platter, which included a baked potato, yucca, and plantain. Switching between the sweetness of the plantain and the crunchiness of the yucca between bites of seasoned meat completed the meal. A friend warned that the meat will get overcooked, so I ordered mine medium, and it came out medium well (just what I wanted). The steak was perfectly seasoned, though a little chewy at times, but I'd skip the chicken - it didn't bowl me over. My friend ordered coconut flan and insisted I try it, though I'm not a fan of coconut. Or flan, for that matter. But it was pretty damn good! I'm not a convert, but if I did like coconut and/or flan, I'd order it next time. The great thing was that we didn't feel rushed to get up from our table once we were done eating. Instead, we stuck around a half hour longer to finish our wine and chat. It was a great way to stay out of the cold. Summary: BYOB + steak. Can't really go wrong.

    (4)

  • Kimberly H.

    This review is really a 3.5. I went here on a weeknight because it's BYOB Monday to Thursday. We had the empanadas sampler, I thought they were a little over-fried and hard to cut into. We also had the grilled marisco salad. I thought it was nicely seasoned, and I loved the lime vinaigrette dressing on the house salad. We ordered the entraña steak that came with a sweet plantain, yucca, and baked potato. The plantain was tasty, and the steak was amazing! Like the empanadas, the other sides seemed really dry or over-cooked. For dessert we had the flan de coco, which was nice and creamy and very yummy. Obviously this place is known for steak, and that part was great. Some of the other parts of the meal didn't come together like I would have wanted, but I would go back and try some other things! Lastly I was a little disappointed with the service. It was the kind where they took a while to come open the wine and refill water, but they were hovering as you finished your last bites to take away plates. The server was friendly, but could have been more attentive when it counted.

    (4)

  • Kathleen C.

    What is better than a BYOB restaurant? A BYOB restaurant with GOOD FOOD! This place has got it! I always get this chicken and shrimp dish that comes with a salad and rice for about $15. It is a large amount of food and just really, really good. Last time I was there, we went during the week and everyone brought at least 1 bottle of wine. It was nice because we didn't feel rushed to leave (no crowd) and just were able to have a nice long dinner. Everyone else that I was with ordered appetizers but they are a little too bizarre for me. **And I just noticed they are moving across the street to a new condo building. I wonder if that will change the ambiance.

    (4)

  • Miller T.

    This place is a joke. Over priced, cheap cuts of meat, without any flavor. Served with bland potato and yucca, that was so unimaginative, it was simply over done in the oven. If you are looking for any sort of flavor in your steak, other than the salt licks they serve here, go elsewhere. If you enjoy cheap cuts of over priced meat, soaked in oil, make your reservation now. Sometimes I wonder how some places as bad as this, last so long in Chicago. Then I remember that most of you come into this place, see how the skirt steak is the house specialty on the menu, then the waiter reiterates this, and you sheep lap this up.

    (1)

  • Yoyita F.

    This is by far my ALL TIME FAVORITE restaurant. My husband took me where when we first started dating... back when I did NOT enjoy trying different foods and usually ate the same 'ol thing. Now, I have to say that Colombian food is my second favorite food to eat (after my mom's home cooking). Our typical order starts with the empanadas, than we share the Picada Colombian which is a huge dinner enough for 2 - 3 people and comes with steak, chicken, ribs, sausage, arepa (corn bread), plantains, and potatoes. Than we usually end our dinner with the to-die-for flan. Best of all we always have food left over to take home and eat the next day. Oh and I can't forget to mention that its BYOB. BEWARE: This place gets packed and noisey on the weekends so make sure to arrive early.

    (5)

  • Dianne G.

    This is without a doubt the best BYOB in Chicago. The prices are reasonable the meat is excellent, the seasoning was just right. Everything I've had there has always been prepared perfectly. I tend to lean towards the Matrimonio. Also =the convenience store a few doors down has a great selection of wine.

    (5)

  • Yujin A.

    Hmm.. I have mixed opinions on this restaurant. Their empanadas are great.-the pastry part is corn-based not flour-based. Having yams and plantains with your meat is great. BYOB is also great. But this restaurant is way too hectic, and the service is rather poor on weekends. I didn't personally care for their ox-tail soup although I am a huge fan of soups. Their food is good, but I prefer Tango Sur to Las Tablas for when it comes to the taste of meat. You can definitely share their "plate for two" among three people. It comes with fried yam/ plantain, corn pancake, beef, sausages, and chicken. Fortunately we didn't wait for too long although we went there around 6 45 on a Friday night (we were really worried that we would have to wait forever). The restaurant was surprisingly empty, but 30 mins later people were waiting in line. So if you go there on weekends, go there before 7pm (6:30 to be safe) as they don't take reservations on weekends.

    (4)

  • Amy M.

    I was here last night, and my experience pushed me to sign up on Yelp, since I use the reviews to navigate towards great experiences. Ambiance is nice, waitstaff is friendly & atttentive, but the food... I had a combination platter with my boyfriend-forget the name of the platter, but the pork ribs were horrible. I can't believe they actually serve that to people-I wouldn't feed that to a wild animal. The chicken was just ok, but I figured, well, I didnt come here for chicken. The plantane was really good, and the potatoes were just ok too. Chorizo was pretty good-I could have had a plate of that by itself. Overall the food-was "meh, ok". My favorite part of my meal was the sangria. It was really good-$24.00 for a pitcher, not too shabby. I brought wine, but couldnt stomach the $8.00 corkage fee-that was the price of the wine itself. Would I go back? Maybe to try their skirt steak, and give them another chance. I gave them the extra star for the sangria

    (3)

  • Liz W.

    I've been wanting to try a colombian steakhouse for quite a while now and when a groupon appeared to this place I decided it was that time. Tip: If you have a groupon you HAVE to make a reservation. We didn't order any appetizers since I saw how generous the portions were, but I did order the Caipirinha. It was very strong, if I had another one I probably would have gotten a buzz. For dinner we had the Picada Colombiana for 2. The chicken was my favorite part. It was very flavorful and not dry at all. The steak had a good flavor, but it was kind of chewy. The chorizo was good, i mean its sausage come on. The ribs were nasty. Very dry and flavorless. Now on to the carbs. The potato was nothing special, the yuca was awesome though, and the tostones were good as well. Our waiter was really good as well so no complaints there. The food came out in about 10 minutes or so. I would come back to las tablas, but I wouldn't get the combination plate again.

    (4)

  • Jeffrey H.

    I've never had Colombian food before so I don't really have anything else to compare it to, but I'm probably hooked to come back to this place if I ever want a ridiculous meat-fest again. We got the Picada Colombiana, which is a little bit of everything (steak, beef ribs, chicken, pork sausage, plantains, yucca). Absolutely no need for an appetizer if you are getting this, I believe my belly was pretty destroyed and we had lots of leftovers. It seems other Yelpers are in agreement as well. I loved the chimichurri and the churasca sauces, but again was my first time having it. We later went home and made it ourselves, LOL. Good stuff. Our waiter was Carlos, and he will tell you everything is the "best of the best", which was hilarious. Very attentive dude, and I recommend him if you ever get a chance to go.

    (4)

  • Robyn K.

    Wow, they let us use our Groupon on a Sat.night! This is our second time at this restaurant and each time we have been extremely happy with our selections. We had a party of 6 last night with some of us arriving earlier than the others. We were seated on time and ordered drinks and appetizers for the table. The appetizers came about the time that the rest of our group did. (Empanada combination plate and Chorizo con Arepa)They were able to nibble while looking at the menu. This is not a place to go if you are a vegetarian. This is a place for meat eaters. Each of us had something different...Entrana (skirt steak), Pollo al Ajillo(chicken).Langostios al Carbon (shrimp), Churrasco ( NY strip), and Lomo de Cerdo Estofado (pork). The steaks arrived as ordered (med rare)The plates are sizzling hot. We barely had enough room to share one dessert...coconut flan. Each of us had leftovers to take home. Expect to pay about $45 each, but I think it was well worth it.

    (5)

  • Erica F.

    Las Tablas is amazing. I don't know of many places where you can get an large, amazingly cooked and seasoned steak as well as grilled shrimp and fried plantain for 20 bucks! They were able to accommodate my party of 13 last minute as well, which was totally awesome! Everyone at the table was very satisfied, and everything came out well prepared and in a timely fashion. The coconut flan was also so delicious! DEFINITELY DEFINITELY GO!

    (5)

  • Katie J.

    Love it! At first there was some confusion about the dining deal that we wanted to use but it seemed to be just a miscommunication on their part, which was made up for with great service once we got there. We each got the combination plate which was great--tons of food and you get to try like five different things (2 meats and 3 sides). They aren't lying about the Sangria either--it is some of the best I've had! We were a little skeptical because there were some bad reviews on here from a few years ago--whatever the glitch was, it seems like they've fixed it.

    (4)

  • S S.

    I've been to Las Tablas twice in the past month - once on a Wednesday, and again on a Saturday. Wednesday night - dead. For a newbie the waiter recommended the skirt steak, and it did not disappoint. Our Saturday visit had a few glitches, but overall, we were pleased. I had forgotten to make reservations, but called about an hour ahead, and the hostess put my name on the list (phew!). When we arrived, we were seated at one of the tables for four along the outside wall - good, but when the temp is in the low teens, they probably need a shade or something. We didn't have a "waiter" per se - as much as a guy who looked like a host who kept visiting. We ordered some plantains, then empanadas and one other app, all of which were good, but everything was pretty oily. When our dinners arrived (we all had the skirt steak) everyone was thrilled - mine was the only meat to be a bit underdone. I ordered medium, and got rare - but that's my only complaint. I could have sent it back, it wasn't worth the trouble. At the end of our meal, the server kindly came by, after giving us about 10 minutes to sit, and asked if we would mind taking our check, as there were many people waiting. Given that they fit us in, I didn't much mind - we retired to Witt's across the street for a drink - but I'd probably think twice about coming back on a weekend if I wanted to linger....

    (3)

  • Eddie H.

    besides the hour wait, the food was awesome! =)

    (4)

  • Fareeda S.

    Love Love Love this place!!!

    (5)

  • Ricky N.

    Good reasonably priced colombian food .Havent been in over a year but last time I was here they had a really nice lunch special .Think it was Arrachera meat ,rice ,salad and soup for $5-6 .Great deal !!

    (3)

  • Mel F.

    So, I'm gonna be a hater because I do not like this place. I have never had a good experience here. The first time we were ignored for 1/2 an hour! We seriously sat around with a glass of water and menus for HALF A FRICKEN HOUR...so we left. The second time the service was erratic...again. And the last and final time I went, they didn't have anything. No cheese, no avocado, no diet pop, are you kidding? I was so over it by then. My date liked his food but said it wasn't anything to write home about. I'd rather go to some of the hole in the wall Columbian restaurants down Lincoln. They are cheaper and so much better. I say skip it altogether.

    (2)

  • Scott H.

    This is some good eating! Worth a drive into the City on a Friday or Saturday night! Sometimes there can be a bit of a wait despite reservations, but again the food I've tasted here has made the wait worthwhile!

    (4)

  • David S.

    We went to Las Tablas to celebrate a birthday and had a pretty good time. The food was absolutely amazing (we had the empanadas sampler and the chicken/beef dinner), however the service was not very good. From the looks of it, we just happened to get a bad waiter as the rest of the restaurant seemed to be getting good service. A matter of fact, the other members of the wait staff were very accommodating to us when I had to ask them for help. Our waiter was slow to greet us, slow to refill our drinks, and did not explain to us their menu when asked. I would definitely go back and try them again, because the food was very good even if the service was not so good.

    (3)

  • Paul C.

    When I first moved to the city, I lived right next to Las Tablas, and this was the first resteraunt I went to. I love this place. The empanadas are some of the tastiest in the city. The steaks are great, and cooked to juicy perfection. And the prices are incredibly reasonable and the portions are great. This place is a can't miss in my book. It gets crowded weekend evenings so plan ahead.

    (4)

  • Ivonne F.

    Went here on Sunday night for a birthday dinner. I loved the atmosphere and the artwork. There was a Spanish guitarist and singer to add to the ambience. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive. Now, about the food... delicious. I had the grilled skirt steak, and it was easily one of the best cooked, best seasoned steaks I've eaten in my life. I opted for rice and beans instead of yuca and potato, both of which were quite good. Our table shared empanadas and chorizo, which were all terrific. Also, all of the food was made even more delicious when I smothered the fantastic chimichurri sauce all over it. I think I could have drank that sauce by the gallon. For dessert, they brought my mom a free order of coconut flan and the singer did a special redition of happy birthday for her. It was very sweet and the flan was quite good. Overall, it's a bit pricey but I would go back.

    (5)

  • Stefanie L.

    I love this place. LOVE this place. Their food and service is excellent. Furthermore, they cater to vegetarians and gluten free folk! I personally love their Entrana Skirt Steak. Yum.

    (5)

  • Allison K.

    If you like meat on a wooden slab, this place is right up your alley. A big group of friends and I went here last weekend after failing to get reservations at Tango Sur (we called two weeks in advance. That place is crazy). We loved our experience here, though! BYOB fee is fairly cheap, $8, and very good service. Ole.

    (5)

  • Meghan S.

    It was an all you can eat buffet brunch. Sounded good and actually tasted very good. There was only one waitress for 3 tables- didn't seem that difficult. But apparently it was. She tried, though. Service, water and stuff, was slow because she didn't have to serve us food since it was a buffet. I'll give it another chance. I hear it is better for dinner.

    (3)

  • liz d.

    Still an awesome place for Colubian food. However, the corkage fee is a little steep at $8 a bottle. Great service.

    (5)

  • Mike A.

    great food, great atmosphere, great place the look inside. brown/beige without much clutter and very clean. full bar in the front by the entrance and a service bar in the back. lighting is poor but there are candles at every table. maybe it was the size of the room or the fact that the furniture seems larger than usual, but in both my visits i felt physically small, a first for me. the food. small menu with lots of overlap between entrees but everything we tried was excellent. the grilled mariscos combination is 3 shrimp, 2 grilled calamari squid, and 3 baby octopus. believe the menu when it says its char-grilled so be ready for a heavier flavor. the calamari was perfectly grilled and very tender (no rubber here). the matrimonio entree is definitely a two person meal. big, grilled chicken breast and a big hunk of entrana beef. the beef was not chard and very very juicy. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE YOUR MEAT RARE MAKE SURE YOU ORDER MEDIUM WELL/WELL AND YOU WILL GET MEDIUM -- EVERY OTHER BEEF TEMPERATURE COMES OUT RARE -- THIS HAPPENED TWICE. the pollo releno was simply outstanding and was our favorite dish. very large chicken breast (maybe two?) rolled and filled with cheese and spinach and perfectly grilled. very very good. the crowd. lots of families and large groups. of course due to the location and good value for the price, lots of de paul students in their early 20s. overall. very good south american restaurant in a very good location. link to menu 0066843.netsolhost.com/m…

    (4)

  • andy b.

    This place is good and always crowded. The milk shakes are good also. I would not say it is excellent. I used to be blown away by this place, but that was before i started going to other south american restaurants. However the food is just a bit too greasy for me.

    (3)

  • Dean D.

    Arrived around 7pm, restaurant was pretty empty, sat down quickly and our server was super extremely friendly. Service was great until the restaurant filled up and it seemed that our server had too many tables. The food was great and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, just don't go when it's busy. :( It took about 20 minutes to get the bill after we were done with dinner.

    (4)

  • J H.

    Great food at reasonable prices. Check this place out. The seating area feels like you are in another country with huge block tables and oversized chairs.

    (4)

  • Rachel N.

    Yum yum yum! The steak (not sure what kind) was perfectly cooked and juicy. We tried an array of apps, sides and a couple entrees, and everything was spectacular! I can't wait till it warms up to sit on the patio out front again!

    (4)

  • Ji K.

    I haven't been back here in awhile, but I have been coming to Las Tablas for years. It's just a down-to-earth place with some consistently delicious food. I always get the entree with a variety of different meats and various starches, and it never fails to please. Las Tablas makes my tastebuds very happy.

    (4)

  • Peter B.

    What a fantastic restaurant! As a fan of Latin American Cuisine, i had my eye on Las Tablas since the summer and finally had a reason to go a few weeks ago. 7PM on a friday night, there was a 1hr 45 minute wait for a table of 5 at Tango Sur, and NO wait at all at Las Tablas. Service: The waiter was exceptionally kind- took the time to explain the different entrees and cuts of meat that they prepare. He said " if the skirt steak does not make you smile when you eat it, i will personally bring you a pitcher of sangria for free". He never had to bring the pitcher. Food: We began with the empanadas- delicious! I preferred the beef over the chicken, even though the chicken empanadas were recommended by the waiter. the Aji is delightful flavoring that I dunked the empanadas in (and also spread around the meat as well). I had the bandeja Paisa, which is more delicious food than i can eat in two meals. My friends had the combination skirt steak/chicken plate. Everyone was extremely happy with the taste and quality and portion of food. Cost: Not cheap, but worth it. Entrees are about $20+ .Expect to have a $35 per person meal if you bring your own wine. (don't forget $8 corkage fee) Bathrooms: Were SPOTLESS. top notch. Well maintained and comfortable. They even had a nicely decorated lounge in the basement as a waiting room. Environment: Wooden benches with no back, ahhh uncomfortable. But apparently quite authentic, as the waiter described this is how many Colombian "fondas" look. I'll buy it. Dark overhead lighting, candles on the table. Live brazilian samba music in the background, not too loud. Will be my default "date place". Didn't get crowded until 9PM for some reason...do colombians eat that late? 5 Stars!

    (5)

  • Marcus Z.

    I love this place...the skirt steak, the grilled squid, the plantain, flan.....etc....i think you get the idea.

    (5)

  • Brett N.

    Well prepared food with great flavor, however their service has been slow both times I've been there.

    (4)

  • D G.

    Went to Las Tablas last weekend with a group of 6. Overall rating was a one star: Service - no stars: The beer I ordered when the waiter first came to our table never came. I then had to ask three times for a soda, which finally came 10 minutes after I was done eating. And out of curiosity--In Columbia, does the salad usually come after the main course, or was our waiter that bad??? Food - two stars: The shrimp and steak both had really great flavor--which helped make up for the horrible cut of beef they use. They use a very thin, rubbery cut which takes a bit longer to chew than would be expected. Probably won't be going back anytime soon.

    (1)

  • John M.

    Empanadas, chicken and beef.....that's what these guys are good at. Fun atmosphere, much better than their old location across the street. Bring your own wine and have a good ol' time. Great for large groups, as they have ample sized tables. I would agree with others on the service. This past time we were there on a farily busy Friday night and our server disapeared and we finally had to flag him for the check. But when we have gone during the week, when it is slower, the service has been very attentive and friendly.

    (4)

  • Klar Z.

    Every year my husband and I come here for dinner before we go look at Christmas lights. Don't ask me how this became the tradition but every year we order the matrimonio and the chorizo con arepo and we leave overfed and extremely happy. Take it with a grain of salt that we only visit once a year and always get the same thing, but at the same time, it certainly delivers.

    (4)

  • K W.

    Tango Sur is my restaurant crush, so I was excited to try out what seemed likely to be a similar experience. Sadly, I was somewhat disappointed. Decent steak, but flavorful due mostly to oversalting as opposed to actual seasonings. No wait to be seated, but then a 50 minute wait to get our food. The explanation by the waiter was "it is taking a long time to get your food because we have a large party seated; but you don't mind? Really? I don't? Ok food at ok prices, but if you want a great night, and can handle a wait, go to Tango Sur.

    (3)

  • Fiyaz K.

    Great food - The Entrana is without a doubt one of the best S. American Steaks I've had in Chicago. Slightly overpriced but the service makes up for it! I'll be back even without a Groupon.

    (5)

  • J M.

    Entrana and Bandejo Paisa and Pollo - Oh My! Nothing to be afraid of here, Dorothy! Just great grilled steaks, pork, chicken and seafood! We tried a number of menu items, but can say we highly recommend the tender and juicy Entrana (skirt steak) or Bandejo Paisa (ribeye). Also, try the Pollo (chicken): pounded, marinated and grilled to perfection! As you enjoy the food, you'll appreciate their friendly and efficient service, as well as the comfortable, spacious seating and surroundings! "There's no place like home," I mean, like Las Tablas!

    (4)

  • Araceli R.

    in my first visit in this place.......:(the bowl of the chimichurri was cheap........then a human hair inside the chimichurri......bla bla no seasoning in the matrimonio plate.......the papa asada soooo dry i dont like it no way ........ the wait staff very friendly but thats it......

    (2)

  • Trinidad T.

    the only thing that was good from this place was the fried plantains... when we arrived they said the wait for our large group would be half an hour... and it turned more into 1 hr 45 minutes... we were so freaking starving we started ordering our appetizers at the bar... so finally we get seated... and personally i think that if ppl are waiting that long for a table, the waitstaff should be ready to go and take orders to make up for lost time... this was not done... we finally ordered our food and were almost beyong the point of hunger when it came out... we ordered a variety of dishes which were good at best, along with our sangria, the bill came out to be 35 bucks a person... i do have to add though that the place is beautifully decorated, the bathrooms downstairs were also very nice... personally for that price and that wait, it would've been a far better experience to go to a mom and pop's place for columbian steak and chicken for some reason, i remember that the chorizo was SO dry, it was like trying to cut a rock :(

    (2)

  • Vanessa M.

    GREAT FOOD and it wasn't terribly expensive, however, the service was a little weird. We felt kind of rushed and it took forever to place just a drink order. I give it three stars though because the food was amazing. You have to have the skirt steak and shrimp combo.

    (3)

  • Kristin M.

    Las Tablas was very good, I would definitely go back. I'm only giving it three stars (I would actually give it 3.5 if I could) because it was incredibly loud in there, and while the meats were very good (the chicken is excellent) they all seemed to be rubbed with the same spices. This is fine, but I guess I was hoping for a little more variety. The side dishes I had also left a little to be desired. The major plus though, was the fact that its a BYOB, and the empanadas were fantastic!

    (3)

  • N P.

    Delicious, always! The chicken and octopus or shrimp are my favorite. Love that it's BYOB during the week.

    (5)

  • Rodrigo M.

    I'm Colombian and this is as close to home as you can get! The food is amazing...... Highly recommend it, specially the arepa and chorizo and the bandeja paiza...

    (5)

  • Danny P.

    I came here because a friend of mine is a head chef at Disney World, and Las Tablas was one of the places he recommended in Chicago. He was absolutely right. I've lived in Chicago for about 4 years and I've been here at least 15 times. It's the some of the best food I have found in Chicago. I read the negative reviews and they all say the same thing. First they say that the service was slow. Well what do you expect from a place that is packed at both of their locations every single weekend? People are going for a reason. The second thing they say is that the food was not that good. Most of those people who wrote that are confusing a Columbian restaurant for some other Hispanic food. One reviewer thought it was Argentinian, and another was actually upset because she is Mexican and Las Tablas didn't have any tortillas for her. Wow. Go here, get some empanadas, an aborrahado, El Matrimonio, and get yourself a fruit juice with milk. You won't be disappointed, as long as you're not an idiot who thinks you're at an Argentinian restaurant.

    (5)

  • Philippe F.

    We started off with a few mojitos and sangria, and then warmed up to some yummy appetizers: Grilled Calamari, Plantain w/ Guava Paste and Arepa Rellena.....mmmmmmmmmmm! The calamari was by far some of the best grilled calamari I have laid my tongue on. Iberico has some competition when it comes to squid!!! When my Bandeja Paisa was put in front of me my eyes started to water. I love marinated rib eye, the fried pork reminded me of lechon, the rice, beans and fried egg were the icing on the cake. Man oh man, it was quiet at our table for quite some time, except for a few "mmmmm"s, "oh my God"s and "You want to try this?"s. I couldn't save room for dessert because I couldn't stop eating. Our leftovers made some killer steak and eggs the next morning. Service was attentive, I love the tiny menus, and the FAQs were entertaining as well. Next time, it's more fried pork and perhaps the seafood route. Sorry Tango Sur, but you just got bumped down......

    (4)

  • Jerry E.

    My wife and daughters, ages 11 and 14, enjoyed the food and the waitress was helpful explaining the menu. Dined late Sunday afternoon, and the restaurant was quite. The restaurant moved across the street and you see other reviews for the former location.

    (4)

  • Giovanna B.

    Las Tablas has a great look to it: Simple yet tasteful decorations adorn the walls, low mood lighting gives the place a comfortable feel to it (and makes me look dang good!), and the little bar at the entrance is spacious enough to hold those waiting for a table. As soon as we walked in, I had a good vibe out of the place. And then my friend pointed out that there was a "funky" smell to it. I thought it smelled like pescado frito (fried fish), but she said it smelled like paint, which would make sense (I guess) given that it is a new location. But it didn't bother me much. The food itself was good, but not amazing - definitely 3.5 to 4 stars worth (I will explain why I gave the place 3 in a little bit). I shared the big plate Para Dos (for two) with one of my friends. The red meat selection was very good, but as one reviewer pointed out, not as good as Tango Sur. If I were to return to this establishment, I would definitely go all-beef next time. The chicken that came on the platter was okay, but my other friend's order of Pollo al Ajillo (garlic chicken) was excellent, though as someone pointed it out to me, there is no smooching after eating that! What really caught my attention were the papas amarillas (the little yellow potatoes) that just melt in your mouth, along with the chimichurri-like sauce, yu-um! The yuca was good, but somewhat dry, and the sweet plantain.... oh God... that was simply divine (I could eat that for breakfast, lunch AND dinner), though you can get sweet plantains of equal (and sometimes better) value in other restaurants as well. Finally, what blew me away was the corn-bread (though it tasted like cheese to me) that they served with the meals. I can't even begin to describe it - you just have to try it for yourself. Now, though the consumption part of the evening was very, very good, the service part pretty much sucked. Yes, the portions were big, and yes, it was delivered faster than I expected, but there were a number of things that bugged me and contributed to the lower score: Point 1: Though the flan was really, really good, the arroz con leche (rice pudding) was served in its original container - i.e. the one that it gets packaged in when it is delivered from the store!! Do what other restaurants do: Put it in a bowl and make me think that you made it! Come on people, LIE to me! Point 2: On the big platter two of us shared, they served us with HALF a piece of the corn-bread thing! Come on people! There are TWO of us eating over here! At least give us a whole piece so we can each have at least half, not a meager quarter! They probably run out of the bread, bringing me to.... Point 3: It seems that they run out of *everything* I wanted! First, the passion fruit drink, then corn-bread, then every single dessert in the house except for the flan and arroz con leche. I understand that restaurants (especially popular ones) can run out of things, and that's okay, but the server didn't even seem to care! Bringing me to.... Point 4: The service itself was horrible. The story goes like this: Two of my friends showed up late and our server brought them menus, saying he would be back in a second, but taking a second times 720 instead (okay, that was a dorky math joke to point out that he came back 20min later...sheesh). Now, I know the restaurant is busy, and I know that servers have more than just one table to take care of, and normally I don't really care it taking so long, except this time I did. Why? Because not only wasn't our water glasses filled up once, but he came back to tell us that the grill had already closed and that my buddies couldn't order. The thing is, he never told us the grill was closing! AND, to further fuel the fire, he started blaming THEM for being late, and US for not calling ahead of time and letting them know that people would be coming late!! A friend of mine told him in Spanish that it was okay, that it wasn't a problem, but this individual kept going on and on about being their fault for being late. I found it offensive that he would be saying this in Spanish about my friends who didn't speak a lick of Spanish, and that he didn't even apologize for not letting us know that the grill was closing after he brought the menus for them to order. And so, I respectfully just turned to him and said that there is no problem, but he should keep in mind that he could have mentioned all of this earlier. I was on my best behaviour that night =) Would I return to this location? Nope. But I was recently informed that the location on Irving Park Rd is not only much better, but has their liquor license and serves a killer Sangria. I think I will go to that Las Tablas next time instead. And I hope the service is much, much better, if anything for my own piece of mind.

    (3)

  • Ed C.

    I'm a big fan of columbian food and this is one of the best in the area. Skirt steak and empanadas just makes for a great meal.

    (5)

  • Seosamh D.

    The Entrana is AWESOME!! One of the best steaks I've ever had! Perfectly cooked and extremely tasty. Plus, it's a BIG piece of meat. The veggies are a bit dry otherwise I'd give it 5 stars. Guess that's the style for Columbian veggies. The Flan is awesome too. Nice looking place

    (4)

  • Jenny C.

    Entrana is the best here, no complaints at all, environment is truly latin american, It's a little piece of Colombia in the windy city

    (5)

  • Jessica P.

    This restaurant is AMAZING!!! I absolutely love it and definitely recommend it to everyone! Atmosphere is nice and relaxing. I usually order the Entraña (well done) and its perfection. I'm not a picky eater but my boyfriend is and he loves it here as well. He orders the Matrimonio (medium well) and enjoys it. The Yuca is delicious and so is the plantain that comes with the dish. Their pricing is very reasonable because they do give you a lot of food. Also, if you have a sweet tooth like I do, you MUST order the Flan de Coci, it's heaven on earth! Rich and creamy :) Bon appetite!

    (5)

  • Pierre A.

    I had my birthday dinner here and the food was excellent along with the drinks. A bit pricey but the food portions are large.

    (4)

  • C D.

    These guys are taking the Groupon and making up their own rules. They will except it by reservation only, want an advanced (at least 24-hour) reservation notice, and only taking 20 a day. I found this out yesterday after a long drive there. I've been to the restaurant without reservation which is why I didn't think to make one. When I arrived, I saw a sign posted that states their "Groupon Reservation" policy but not the limit. I called the restaurant outside it's doors to make a reservation and they (I say they because you can hear someone telling the person on the phone what to say) stated "we cannot make reservations". ???? Mind you, at this point I did not tell them I had a Groupon and the place was empty. From that point they proceeded to tell me their policy on the Groupon and said Groupon has their rules and we have ours. I'm trying to find the small print on this deal that suggests this restaurant can do this. -So disappointed

    (1)

  • Brad R.

    My friend took me here a year ago and I've been back multiple times. Perfect for big gatherings or a one on one romantic date. I love the artwork of all the chubbies. The food and service is where this place shines and really what else matters. Every time I'm here the servers are incredibly calm, nice, and knowledgable. No restaurant is perfect and if you've had a bad time here I'm sure that womt be the case the second time around. The food is DIVINE! Iave tried most of the food and have not been let dowm by any of them. The pollo relleno es increíble. Its a delicious breast filled with spinach and cheese with a side of rice and a surprisingly good yet simple side salad. The empanadas are sooo good. Check it out

    (5)

  • Sarah A.

    I LOVE this place. I've been here several times over the past few years and every time the food is always excellent! The grilled calamari is amazing and the steak and shrimp combo is equally fantastic. With their great atmosphere and friendly staff - this has kept me coming back year after year.

    (5)

  • Lauren S.

    Came here with my family. Everyone ordered the skirt steak, and everyone was very happy!

    (4)

  • Janice L.

    I like that this place can accomodate big groups so it's one of the default venues for birthday get togethers. It is a bit loud but I can't complain when my group tends to be the loud one too. I prefer ribeye but quickly learned their skirt steak is their best cut. And that cuban onion/cilantro they serve! Every time I wish I could take a bucket home with me. Grilled octopus or squid! They make it just right - enough crunch and...grill. They serve sangria. Once upon a time, I remember they served free sangria to their customers. Maybe it's just for certain nights... Parking is not difficult. People are constantly going in and out of Lincoln Ave. Service is alright. Some times you can't blame the waitors when you have a huge group. They didn't have change for our cash though, which was extremely strange. Heard their cuban coffee is excellent but I don't do coffee after dinner. Seeing I've been back 4+ times, las tablas is a yes-go.

    (4)

  • Tori B.

    Las Tablas is great. The wait staff is so nice, and their food is amazing. It's also a great place for vegetarians too, surprisingly. They have a massive vegetarian plate for only $11. The skirt steak is also tender and delicious.

    (5)

  • Zoey N.

    Went here back in August with my boyfriend and used a Groupon which included an appetizer, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts for $32. Pretty good deal and we both enjoyed our steak and plantains. The desserts we had were Flan, which was too sweet, but the chocolate cake was pretty good. Appetizer was grilled calamari with a salsa dip which we liked.

    (4)

  • Chad V.

    Pretty delicious! Plantains are maduro, yucca is fried to perfection and the meat/seafood is savory and moist. Not to mention the green onion oil sauce could be eaten alone. I will be coming back. The service is fast and the atmosphere comfortable. GREAT FOR A DATE!

    (5)

  • Alexandra B.

    As someone coming from a Colombian background, i'm offended by the lack of authentic-ness of this restaurant. If you're looking for authentic Colombian food this is not the place! I truly hope this isn't what people think the food my parents homeland has. Yes they try, but fail miserably in the little things. For example, the arepa (sort of a cornbread type flat bread). I, myself dont know how to cook at all but I even know how to make an arepa. Las Tablas arepas are store bought which are offensive to any Colombian considering it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare the real version. ESPECIALLY, when the texture and taste of a store bought arepa are COMPLETELY different. (think, elementary school cafeteria burger compared to a Kuma's burger, that big of a difference... ) Yes, I feel this strongly about it and the only other Colombian i've met in Chicago, agrees. I ordered the Bandeja Paisa which is probably the most popular dish in Colombia. and whoa! what a disappointment. Again, the lack of authentic-ness. This isn't one of those 'oh my mom makes it a certain way and this restaurant does it differently'... it's very hard to screw up the bandeja paisa and well las tablas did just that. First off, if you dont have the right ingredients, you're setting yourself up for failure. There's a specific type of bean thats used in this meal and las tablas resorted to some mexican beans.. wtf. might as well rename the dish to Mexican Bandeja. The peasants in Colombia would legit be up in arms about this. Enough about the beans and fake arepa, everything tasted dry, even the egg was a poor excuse for an egg. As you may have guessed it, I will not be returning to Las Tablas. The service was good and considering all the interesting artistic things Colombia has to offer, the decor also receives 1 star. In all honesty, if they weren't preaching their Colombian side and people weren't telling me this is the best Colombian food in Chicago, I would say, yea, go ahead and try it. But sadly, my hunt for real authentic Colombian food continues.

    (1)

  • Sid S.

    Ate here last night. Byob but not on the weekend. Ordered the Empanadas appetizer, was okay. Used to empanadas not deep fried & much flavor. Ordered the skirt steak and chicken dinner. Chicken was pretty good and steak was okay, not blown away. Overall not impressed with this place.q

    (2)

  • Sarah E.

    Did that just happen? It's not very often that I walk out of somewhere with that OMG feeling. But, this was an outstanding dining experience across the board. We started with grilled calamari that was paired with a simple salad. Perfect. Calamari didn't feel like rubber. We shared the combination plate (although huge, probably the best way to go for an entree) with the skirt steak (their specialty) and baby octopus. The combo plate came with potatoes, yucca, and a fried plantain. It was perfect to share, and we left stuffed and fully satisfied for $30. If I wasn't with my mother I probably would have participated in the BYOB (wine only, and I don't even care). Flawless and friendly service. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Cynthia M.

    We went here on a Saturday night before a movie, with a Groupon. They only take reservations for groups that are larger than 6, and the hostess said that it might be kind of crowded at 8pm, so we went in at 7:30 to be safe and leave ourselves enough time to make the movie. Plenty of seating at that time. I ordered a sangria (fine), and my fiance ordered a mojito which he declared one of the best he's had in Chicago. We also split the grilled baby octopus which was also delicious - had a great smoky flavor from the grill. Everything on the menu looked awesome and we were having a hard time deciding how to divvy up all the meats between our two orders (these are important dining issues). Enter, the Picada Colombiana, which pretty much had all the meats and sides we wanted, for two. It did not disappoint. Every piece of meat on the cast iron plate they bring it out on was cooked to perfection. Super tender and juicy, even the chicken. The only thing that was less than satisfactory was one of the sides - we're still not sure if it was the crunchy green plantain or the yuca. It was pretty dry. Everything else was so delicious. We couldn't finish all of it so after numerous That's What She Said jokes about the meat, we packed up the leftovers. The car smelled amazing when we got out of the movie. Everything was still delicious the next day. If this place was BYOB on the weekends too, we'd probably be there every weekend. We're already recruiting our friends for the next visit...with a reservation.

    (5)

  • Justine L.

    I came here for a friend's birthday dinner, so it was a larger group on a Saturday... very packed! Our party shrunk in size so our table was rearranged to accommodate other tables, and we probably waited 15 minutes between sitting down to ordering drinks to appetizers to entrees. The staff was always friendly about the delays and threw in a free round of sangrias. We ordered the seafood sampler platter for the appetizer, and the baby octopus was wonderful! It had this great charred, smokiness about the flavor. The baby octopus out-shined the squid and shrimp, which were not charred but plainly grilled. Since the appetizer was so good, I ordered the octopus and skirt steak combo. Again, octopus was delicious. The skirt steak on the other hand, had great flavor and marinades, but was surprisingly not of good quality. It was very chewy and filled with ligaments more than meat itself. I couldn't tell you if it was or was not tender because I quite frankly did not have very much chewable meat. Luckily the plantains and yuca were delicious- one of my favs and very well done here- to bring the plate to an overall level of tasty. I would give Las Tablas another try but not on a weekend. I think this place has a lot to offer but would imagine it is much more enjoyable, in terms of both food quality and ambiance, when not as crowded.

    (3)

  • Adam C.

    unreal meal. great atmosphere and I about licked the plate after i was done with my meal. got the steak and shrimp. will def be back.

    (5)

  • Trisha A.

    Great food, great service. The churrasco's are superb along with the empanadas. BYOB is also a good aspect. Only downside is that it can be quite loud and the wait can be long depending upon when you arrive.

    (4)

  • Richie D.

    I am erasing all those lovely, fine moments that I had experienced at Las Tablas prior to the new location... Una GRAN Decepción! (A Great Disappointment!) I had been to this newer location before, and the prices were a bit higher than the old, hold-in-the-wall location. Well now, the prices are even higher! I hope it's because they moved to this larger, nicer location and had to pay off their debt. Regrettably, I recommended that my friends and I go to Las Tablas versus waiting in line at Tango Sur. We simply wanted steak so I figured, "why not!" I also kept in mind that Tablas is larger in size. We arrived and had waited an hour versus the 30 that we were told. Recommendation 1: MAKE A RESERVATION! Once we arrived to the table, we noticed that there were 3 birthday parties. Perhaps this is why it took our waitress 20 minutes to attend to us. Once the waitress arrived, she apologized and was super sweet. They were understaffed on waiters, yet not water fillers/busboys. We ordered different empanadas ($2 each--not bad) which were pretty delicious...Or perhaps this was because we were already starving and I had partially lost my appetite. We received our food about 45 minutes later (making our visit 2+ hours long). Their chimichurri is really what gave their items the flavor. I don't know why rice and beans doesn't come with every entree, but they don't (only the vegetarian or the "authentic" Colombian Bandeja Paisa platter). It didn't matter to me after I tasted the beans and rice and they seemed aged and sour?!?! How do these two get that way, no idea? The potatoes were undercooked, while the yuca was tasty. Recommendation 2: Don't BYOB unless you're aware of their BYOB policy: Only Wine and a corkage fee of $8 applies when it's not Monday thru Wednesday. Hell, I ain't going to pay for what I already paid for! Their sangria was lame, yet their mojitos were pretty tasty. Recommendation 3: There is a live band hidden in the corner. We weren't sure where the music and voice on the speakers came from until we left haha. But they played what sounded like Brazilian samba or Gilberto Gil. Not too Colombian if you ask me... On an end note, I will not return but would visit the other Colombian restaurant a few blocks north on Lincoln. Ay ay ay, It's was a sad, sad day for authentic Colombian food in Chicago.

    (2)

  • Carlos L.

    This is my GO TO restaurant in the entire city of Chicago. Love it.

    (5)

  • Franco S.

    Food was very good. Large portions, meat dish for two could have easily fed four. Service was okay, hence -1 star but would recommend to go for anyone that is interested.

    (4)

  • Viki P.

    I was intimidated at first by the variety and kinds of meat, so I just ordered the churrasquilla (I think that's how you spell it) plate - it's a respectably-sized skirt steak cooked how you want - I had medium - with plantains and potato. The steak was delicious, and so were the sides. I had to say, the accident-prone part of me was nervous about the steaming, hot metal plate placed in front of me, but I'm glad to say I didn't burn myself! The waiter was super attentive and courteous - I felt like I was in a swanky restaurant; that's how welcome they make you feel. I'd definitely go again and try something else now that I know what to expect.

    (4)

  • Patricia R.

    Las Tablas has the potential to be a great place. I bought the Groupon and was excited to try out a new ethnic restaurant. I took a friend for her birthday on a Friday. I didn't think to make a reservation since we had gone before the dinner rush, but that didn't matter, we still had to wait 2 hours for a table. We ordered mojitos, which were fantastic and enjoyed ourselves. The only thing about the front bar area is the lack of bar stools or any sort of seating area. Not everyone needs to sit, but it looked awkward and empty without any stools against the bar. When we were finally seated, we ordered empanadas to hold us over until our entrees-the Entrana. We both substituted the yucca, her for a salad and me for beans. The side orders were very large and more than plentiful. The skirt steak was great as was the plantain. The service was slow. We had to wait a bit to order. I didn't order another drink with dinner and when I finally did, I waited about 15 minutes for it and another 5 or so after reminding the waiter. I understand that it was a busy night, but service doesn't have to lack because of that. All in all, I'd say Las Tablas is tastey, just not exactly efficient.

    (3)

  • Jessica F.

    My BF and I have been here at least a dozen times over the past few years. I've read other reviews, and yes - the comments about slow service can be accurate on the weekends. We only tend to go on weeknights - Saturdays are VERY busy, with lots of parties. On nights where it's less busy, let's talk about the FOOD. We must have tried just about everything on the menu. Now we just go for the best stuff - the appetizers are almost all really great. For entrees, the BF gets the Bandeja Paisa (and eats the whole thing). I get the Entrana, or the combinacion, with baby octopus and the steak (same steak as the Entrana), which comes with potato, yuca and fried sweet plaintain. Oh, add a margarita to that - their bartender shakes the HELL out of them and it somehow makes it even more tasty. Delicious! We keep wondering to ourselves how the place stays open with so much food at such cheap prices. Whatever it is they need to keep doing it - we haven't been in a couple of months so it's time to go back again!

    (4)

  • Boon K.

    This is one of my favorite steak and empanadas places. The dough they use for the empanadas is corn so it has a nice crunch. But what I really love here is their house chimichurri that just goes with everything. It's garlicky and has a hint of lemon. This was my old co-worker favorite place to go after work and some of us still meet up here for a good steak.

    (4)

  • Ultramike W.

    This was my favorite Colombian Steakhouse. I have been coming her for some time, before the move across the street. I took some out of town guest for what turned out to be a so so dinner and very poor service. I could not believe this was happening. Waiter was very slow and out of tune with our party. Once we finally ordered we watched our food sit in staging area getting cold till a porter went and got him. Just about everyone complained of very salty steaks. Took forever to get our plates cleared away and we were never asked if we wanted dessert. That did not matter because we just wanted to get out of there by that point. Very sad because this was a really good place. Not even sure I will ever go back at this point.

    (2)

  • Liz A.

    I took my parents here as a thank you for bringing me some furniture from out of state. I have to admit I expected more based on what I have heard about this place. I know this is the new location..the ambiance honestly reminded me of like an Olive Garden. I would no longer describe it as 'cozy' or a 'hole in the wall' as it used to be referred to. We ordered the variety empanadas and my dad had never had any before so I was excited for him to try it out. They were very average. I wish it was still BYOB...I know it is during the week but not on the weekends - that is annoying for sure. Minus one point on that alone. We ordered a bottle of wine, which took 20 minutes to get to our table and the waiter seemed to have difficulty with English (he tried really hard and I give him credit for that). He brought the wrong bottle of wine to us - luckily I caught it before he opened it. Then he dropped my credit card in his apron and I thought I was crazy because I kept looking for it everywhere. These things happen... it's not a big deal but it's certainly not the service at Trump Tower. We split this one dish that was basically 1 of everything on the menu (ribeye, skirt steak, chorizo sausage, all of the plaintain varieties, grilled shrimp, ocotupus, calamari, etc). It was HUGE HUGE HUGE amount of food. The meet was definitely the best. I think the ribeye and shrimp were pretty good. Nothing overly memorable though. I think it was like $60 for the dish which is a lot but there was so much food and variety we were ok with it. I didn't have one but the drinks they were making at the bar looked amazing. My parents seemed to think it was good. Maybe I am becoming jaded with all of the options in Chicago. The food wasn't bad..it just wasn't..awesome. I wish I had taken them to Coobah.

    (3)

  • Jul N.

    Went here for a somewhat special occasion Saturday night meal. The two people with me were craving steak, and both ordered one of the combination dishes that comes with yucca, potatoes, and sweet plantains. They loved their food! I had the vegetarian paella. It wasn't the star of the table but it wasn't bad. I found it a little heavy on beans and potatoes, and I wasn't sold on the broccoli in it, but I would still recommend it if you're up for a jazzed-up version of the dish. Empanadas appetizers were very good, as was the grilled shrimp and calimari. Our server Carlos was very charming and friendly, and the atmosphere of the place was happy, warm, and lively. Yay Las Tablas!

    (4)

  • william r.

    Our favorite Colombian restaurant. In fact so good we went here Friday and Saturday night back to back! The combinaciones with choice of pollo (chicken), calamari (squid), bistec (steak) is outstanding and is garnished with plantain, potato and yucca is outstanding! We have not had a bad meal there in any of the 10-15 visits so far! They have delicious deserts to top off a great evening with a lively and very authentic atmosphere. Highly recommend this place for a different, romantic night with wife and/or group as well.

    (5)

  • Dee A.

    Very delicious food with a great environment. Also , every now and then they have great groupons!

    (5)

  • Helena G.

    We bought a coupon for this restaurant because we wanted to try Colombian food. The portions are crazy huge! We started with Pulpitos al carbon, baby octopus marinated in a garlic. It was delicious! For main dish we had the Entraña and the Churrasco. The meat was tender and juicy and was kept warm on a flat top in the plate. The fried yuca and plantain were yummy! The waiter told us that Las tablas was the place to be for Sunday brunch!

    (3)

  • Amanda F.

    Wonderful! I took my boyfriend here on a Tuesday for his birthday. It was only about 1/4 full so we were seated quickly. We got the empanda sampler, the chicken and beef were great, but I wasn't impressed with the cheese. My boyfriend still can't stop talking about how perfect the steak was, and the chimichurri sauce was excellent.

    (5)

  • John S.

    Better Sangria than BaBaReeba! Awesome Skirt steak and fun family atmosphere. I wish I had found this years ago. Too bad they don't do more marketing so that I could have known about them earlier.

    (5)

  • N C.

    Bottom line: NOT RECOMMENDED. The amount of salt used in this place kills any positive feeling you want to have for this restaurant. Came here expecting to use a groupon. Found out that you have to make reservations ahead of time in order to use groupon. Irksome... but would not have minded if the food was even half decent... We orded the Entrana and Bandeja Paisa: - Entrana (get in medium): although the better of the two, it was very salty (saved by the fact that service was good and water was refilled frequently) - Bandeja Paisa (stay away from this one): No difference between this and a $5.99 rib-eye dinner at a vegas diner; actually this is worse because it is too salty Pros: - Good service - Great ambiance Cons: - Steak is nothing special (at best) - All the sides are over fried; leaves your throat feeling like it has been coated in reused oil - All the meats are way too salty; aggravated by (1) the sides are so fried you have nothing to pare down the saltiness of the meat and (2) the salsa are even saltier than the meat

    (1)

  • Sandra G.

    Thank you Groupon. Back to Las Tablas, a hop, skip, and jump away from home, called ahead and with no wait, we trekked on down. Arrived, seated and pleasantly greeted by the same lady who was our server the previous time in December. It was a delight that she was our server, but the maraschino on the sundae was that a few thousand customers later, she recognized us! One mojito, two glasses of pinot noir, and a combination platter for each of us and we were fully satisfied. Lighting was perfect and actually more lit than before, but still sultry, dim, and sexy, though (hee, hee) not as much as my latin lover.

    (4)

  • Kevin R.

    A large group of us had a reservation at Las Tablas for this past Saturday evening and I can honestly say it was the WORST dining experience I have ever had. I nearly went Real Housewives of New Jersey at the lack of attention to anything that was happening at the restaurant - except my freak-out was directed at the restaurant and not a "prosti&*ion who&*%" Seriously, it was ridiculous. Not only did our reservation end up having us wait an additional hour for a table, they had 1 bartender for the whole restaurant and the bar - which meant it took an hour to get a drink. Staffing simply didn't have it together here... Then there was the table-service. It took 20 minutes to get water and another 40 to take our order. Of course, a half hour later, we were still waiting for anything resembling food to appear and while the quality of the appetizers was good, it certainly took a long time to fry a couple of empanadas for our table. Meanwhile, waitstaff would often gather in small groups to chat - then the restaurant would be empty with nobody present to talk to if you needed anything... Dinner then took another 40 minutes - I got the recommended Combination platter (chicken and beef) - which should have been called Salt-Lick Meat. Like inadvertently swallowing ocean water, I nearly gagged from the severity of salt on my meat. Of course, then the danger here is that IT TAKES 40 MINUTES FOR DINNER, but I sent it back anyway. In return, I did get a beef-dish with less salt, but at this point, I was over it. If there was one thing I liked at the restaurant it was the coffee - that was good. Otherwise, you'll never see me at this place again. It was awful.

    (1)

  • Todger ..

    Very solid four stars. The skirt steak / chicken combo was just terrific - perfectly done, spiced up well, with great sides. I ate everything in front of me. If I could have licked the plate, I would have. They do have a vegetarian section on the menu as well which was a surprise for a meat centric place. Ohhhhh and the caipirinhas, perfectly made nicely boozy and tart. I was talked into having two. Maybe it was three. Very nice room, comfortable for a casual meal or a dressed up event. It can get a bit loud. A few notes. There is some strange cellphone deadzone here. No signal at all, even out on the sidewalk. And no wifi either. Think of it... you will actually have to engage in real, uninterrupted conversation with your dinner partner. And there is this issue of Las Tablas being listed as a BYOB restaurant. This is only honored during the week, and NOT ON THE WEEKEND. There were three others including my party that had shown up with wine in tow, only to go home with it. They were nice enough to keep it behind the bar for us while we ate. The upside... well... those caipirinhas.....

    (4)

  • Mihir P.

    Like fresh fruit? Like cocktails? Then you'll LOVE their fresh fruit cocktails. Kiwis, strawberries, blackberries, and mangoes OH MY! Strong and vitamin rich cocktails they have. Knowledgeable and professional our waiter was. Get the empanada combo and dip generously into the chimichurri and their jalapeno chimichurri. YUM! Excellent grilled shrimp and tasty skirt steak. But like at most Latino restaurants, the meats have too much sugar on them that I just can't eat it all. I wish Las Tablas had a closer location to me. Or that I lived closer to Las Tablas.

    (4)

  • erica j.

    I came here at the recommendation of my friend. I was only allowed to order the house special beef as she said everything else on the menu did not compare. I obliged her request. The empanadas to start were good, cheese being my favorite. The wooden tables gives the location a nice homey feeling and accomodating large parties is no problem. The service was a little slow on Sunday. It took 15 minutes to get our sangria. The sangria was good but not great or out of this world..it was missing the extra dimension to give it a full body of flavors. My meat came out almost rare vs medium rare. My friend said they tend to undercook because her medium order was also more like medium rare. It was still good after they brought it back out. Very juicy and tender. The sauce they give you pairs well. The sides of yucca and potatoes are nothing to write home about but the plaintains are cooked well. Worth going back to, I think 20 for the entree is worth it.

    (4)

  • Scott H.

    Worst restaurant experience in Chicago We ended up with a last minute reservation on a Friday night for 8 pm. We had a show to see nearby at 10, and figured it wouldn't be a problem. We arrived on time and were seated promptly. The waitress immediately came over to our table and took a drink order. She quickly returned and took our dinner order, to the point that everyone felt rushed in looking at the menu. It was the last thing that happened quickly. Then we sat. And sat. And sat. And sat. And finally our appetizers came. We had a group of 6 and had ordered the empanada combo. Mine had no filling. It was just a deep fried shell. At this point I was so hungry, it didn't matter. Then we waited and waited and waited (well, you get the idea). The peculiar thing was that the waitress was nowhere to be found. After almost an hour since the delivery of the empanadas, we still hadn't received our entree. There was very little service to speak of, so to say that it was awful isn't really fair. Flat out the service was NON EXISTENT. No coming to the table to apologize for the wait. No coming to tell us it would just be a minute. No manager to come by and make sure everything was alright. Our table wasn't the only one grumbling. At one point one of our party got up and walked the entire fully packed restaurant, counting the table with food: four. Four tables in the whole restaurant had food. Finally at 9:45 our food came. It was nowhere good enough to make people wait that long. I had the skirt steak/pork combo. The pork was overcooked and tough; the skirt steak (ordered med. rare) was seared on the outside and raw in the middle. After waiting this long for the food I wasn't about to send it back for fear that they would actually fly it to Colombia to have it viewed by some government minister before verifying that it was poorly prepared. Not that I could have sent it back because after it was brought to our table, the waitress never came back. We more or less needed a flare gun to get her attention to get the check. Getting the check was the shortest process of the night. It only took her 20 minutes to calculate 6 entrees and an appetizer. The best part is that on our way out, I asked a guy who was sitting at the bar, deep in conversation with the bartender, if he was the manager. He replied that he was. I told him that it was a shame the service was so bad because they would definitely lose business, if not only from our table, but from everyone who dined there. He didn't seem bothered by it at all. His answer: Yeah, well the Chef is really, really sick. I can only hope that the Chef was at home and not in the kitchen. Kinda makes you want to call the city health department. I will never EVER eat at this restaurant again.

    (1)

  • Lisa C.

    I saw a special in which this place was called "the best skirt steak in the city". Well, with a title like that, I had to go. We started with the empanadas combination plate which came with a delicious salad and cheese, chicken, and beef empanadas. I had a glass of sangria, which was good, but could have used more fruit, because booze-infused fruit reigns supreme. Nonetheless, it cured the all-day headache I had this past Friday night, and for that I am incredibly thankful. Now for the main event! For $20, you can get skirt steak (which was amazing), a potato, plantain, and yukka root (which I learned is a starchy aphrodisiac in Africa). For a dollar more, you can make it a combination plate. My boyfriend and I both got calamari, which was delicious. I didn't make the clean plate club; they give you so much food. I would definitely come back for the main course and the amazing service. You will never have to ask for anything!

    (4)

  • Franscesca L.

    LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I have been here a couple of times and the food was excellent! Great staff and the hostess is so beautiful I caught myself checking her out with my boyfriend.

    (5)

  • Khadijah L.

    Its like a fairytale story of an establishment rising to 4 stars from 1 star. The food is really good. I had the steak and baby octopus platter. It is all carne, baby. With a side of yuca, potato and plantains. I wish I could have just had a side of all plantains instead. Anyway its a nice restaurant. Good flavors. The empanadas were okay. I had forgotten about my review of this place last year (reservation mishap). This time, my friend made the reservations and it was all okay. So, I hope to check out their new spot, Macondo soon.

    (4)

  • George K.

    If you like meat and seafood on a hot wooden slab, then this is the place for you! My girlfriend and I went on a Friday night and it was packed, but we only had to wait five minutes to be seated, which was nice because we were starving. We had ordered the empanada combination plate which was fantastic. The sauce was hot, but tolerable and the empanadas were great. However, the main course was my favorite. We both ordered the $20 skirt steak combination and the calamari. I loved the fact that the calamari was not cut, so you actually got to see the squid head! and it was extra tentacley which is my favorite. It was grilled to perfection. The steak was phenomenal, it was juicy, savory, and cooked to perfection, We were both too full to see what the dessert menu was, but I would definitely come back here again. The total bill ended up being about sixty bucks which included appetizer, two skirt steak dinners with calamari and a sangria...not bad at all.

    (4)

  • Wayne N.

    Had a great time here. The skirt steak was definitely better than the ribeye. Fun atmosphere and the drinks were excellent. Mojitos were preferable over the sangria. Sangria was cheap and you could definitely tell. Portions were huge and prices were extremely reasonable. Would definitely come back here with friends. Could be a great birthday spot as well.

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    We were going to another restaurant that does not take reservations and had an outrageous wait, I had been to Las Tablas once before so my boyfriend and I decided to go there last Friday night around 8. There was no wait, and several groups leaving, we were seated quickly and because we were so hungry I thought we had lucked out and would get to eat soon. Wow was I wrong. Approximately 20-25 min after being seated and making eye contact with about five waiters, as well as the hostess, one stopped at our table (which was the closest to the bar, by a door that allowed us to be ice cold the entire time, but that's a whole other issue) and asked if anyone had helped us, when I said no he shrugged, then got us a drink menu, disappeared for another ten. Finally put our drink order in, another ten we got them and quick ordered apps before he left again and... Got them 30 min later, when we decided that with the lack of attention already, we should order our food. Good thinking. An hour later, with little concern of our drinks, etc, we finally got our pork loin and rare skirt steak (ordered medium, but I guess it took so long to get it to rare, they didn't want to delay an extra few minutes). Others who came in after us has entrees etc, we had to stare down our waiter to get more drinks while waiting, and once it was all said and done, had to wait more to get our check. I will say that the food was delicious, and i would understand if it were a packed house, it was not however and I'm positive we will not dine there again due to the service.

    (1)

  • Tammy H.

    Joe and I came here with a Groupon, which was perfect because I was craving some skirt steak. We ordered the empanada combo for two (2 beef, 2 chicken, 2 cheese). They were all super delicious!! They were cooked perfectly with a crispy dough and moist fillings. With the salsas they were even better. I could've eaten this plate by myself as my meal... Then I ordered the combination plate with squid and skirt steak. One of my squid still had its bone in it, but other than that they were delicious. Grilled to perfection and served whole. The skirt steak was also delicious. Cooked perfectly and nice and moist. So, the proteins were tasty... But the sides: the potato and the yuca... Don't know what happened with these. The yuca was so dried out and tough that it was inedible. The potato was just ok... It could only really be eaten with the salsas; otherwise it wasn't good because it was so dry it would dry out your mouth. And, the plaintain wasn't anything special. Joe got the combination plate with shrimp and skirt steak... His was good and about the same as mine except his yuca was edible. In addition to the food... The bathrooms are downstairs and it was pretty creepy. I mean, downstairs bathrooms are creepy in general, but theirs was creepier than most. It's hard to describe, but it just was. Our waitress was also pretty annoying. She kept asking us if we wanted anything else. She asked us if we wanted to order drinks about five times - and we just kept telling her we were ok with water. I felt like she was constantly trying to upsell us.

    (4)

  • Allison O.

    My last meal on earth would be a steak... from here. I'm a repeat offender when it comes to this restaurant. I prefer to start off with the chicken and beef empanadas. They also have cheese ones which I've heard are good, but my stomach won't allow me to have those. The empanada plate comes with a nice, simple salad that I find quite tasty. If I'm feeling like a fat kid, I might add the grilled shrimp appetizer to the group. Always amazing. The reason why I come here - the skirt steak. Second time you come here, try whatever you want. But if this is your first visit, be sure there is mind-blowing slab of cow on your plate. You can get one big piece or a combination of two different proteins. I wish I could give this place maybe half a star less because they put these plain, boring, dry potatoes on every one of my plates, insulting my skirt steak. Also, every drink I've tried there has been very lack luster. Overly sweet and pulpy. Oh well. Go on a week day and bring your own bottle of wine. Red wine. To compliment your steak.

    (5)

  • M. C.

    I'm a huge fan of Las Tablas. My favorite dish is one of the Combinaciones...the one with the chicken breast and shrimp. I love drizzling the homemade chimichurri sauce all over my plate. Top my meal off with some sangria, and I'm a happy girl! Whether you need a table for two or are out celebrating with a big group, Las Tablas is a great option.

    (5)

  • Jessica D.

    My friend would rave about this place forever and ever, so finally I decided to join a group of friends for a birthday celebration dinner here. Started with the cheese empanadas and it was good, not great. Ordered a specialty fresh fruit pineapple mojito and the bartender made it perfectly! Now we are talking!!! Let's get this party started! So I then order the char-grilled shrimp and chicken. I'm not a fan of yuca or sweet plantain so that was my only drawback. This place definitely knows all about flavor profile so it gets high marks in my foodie book!

    (4)

  • jay c.

    How does one describe this experience? Its like having very great sex with someone that annoys the shit out of you. Listen, there is no question that their food is good. Its hearty colombian fare with large portions and great flavor. The Entrana is low cost flank steak that they craft in something that tastes like a $45 filet. The empanadas are to die for and it's BYOB. The service is probably the worst I've ever seen in Chicago. We had to go up to the hostess four different times to make sure they wrote our name down on the list. Finally she did and we got seated an hour later. Once seated, we didn't see a server for 45 minutes. It's BYOB, so of course we are drinking and enjoying ourselves, but we had to go find someone to take our order. Again, once we did get our food it was hot and tasty, but were angry when were eating it. May as well try it out, but at 5pm on a Monday.

    (2)

  • Aimee R.

    $12.95 weekend brunch is a deal. I just wish the service had been better, they had one waiter for the entire place and I thought he was doing a great job once I realized that, but still... The food is awesome. Great value and generous portions.

    (4)

  • Glenn H.

    Came here at the behest of some friends. It was a Wednesday night, and we had an 8 pm res. Our party of 8 was seated promptly and the service was very good. Not overbearing, but not absent, either. One individual pointed out that the water glasses had gone empty without a refill, but it wasn't long until the waitstaff resolved that issue. I had a couple mojitos, which were delicious. I'm hardly an expert, but it tasted as good as any other mojito I've ever had. The skirt steak, however, was remarkable. I was amazed that they could take that cut of beef and cook it a perfect midrare, and whatever brine/marinade they used was incredible. The steak was served with a fried half of a yucca, fried half of a potato, and a fried half of a plantain. Don't waste your precious belly room on the potato, but the yucca and plantain were great. I especially liked the plantain run through the leftover meat juice/brine. Perfect combo of salty and sweet. The price tag wasn't awful, but it wasn't cheap, either. Overall, I would definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • Tim R.

    Awesome skirt steak, the Entrana, and the chimichurri sauce is so good I could drink it.

    (4)

  • Elisabeth C.

    The steak was really, really good. The baby octopus were excellent, too, really well seasoned and I just generally enjoy eating things that will gross out most Americans. I'd never had yucca before, but it's totally tasty, and plantains are a favorite of mine already. We shared the empanadas as an appetizer, and it was fantastic. I'd go back just to eat those. The mojitos were good, but heavy on the mint- I was worried about the mint sticking in my teeth and scaring my date. Service was good, and not overbearing, and the crowd was mixed- from Trixies and Chads to older Lakeview residents (and then tattooed hipster me). I'd definitely come back to try some of the other dishes they offered.

    (4)

  • Christina H.

    MEAT! I love meat and add seafood to it, yes please! I always order the combinaciones (steak with grilled calamari). Good portions. The meat is always a great cut and super juicy. The calamari is grilled just right. I usually reserve eating this type of seafood for the coastal areas (since it is fresh) but I make the exception here. Try the cheese empanadas. Also yummy! Sangria is delicious here as well, although a bit pricey ($9). If you order a drink, app and entree, expect to pay between $40-50 per person.

    (5)

  • B h.

    I have now been here twice and certainly enjoyed the experience. Question: is it socially acceptable to like the plate? If so I need a re-do. I am a creature of habit and have ordered the same thing twice - their signature steak entree. Delish. Love the plaintains, margaritas are the best and friendly service that does not push.

    (5)

  • Rahul I.

    This is mis-classified as Mexican. It is in fact a Colombian restaurant.

    (3)

  • Nadia K.

    Great food !!! Going back soon

    (4)

  • Alma M.

    Can you say "POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE"?? How poor was it? So poor that I, for one, will NEVER return. Had reservations there last night with a group of 11. I arrived late for the res, as did others, no fault of the restaurant. What was their fault was how poorly they handled the customers they had in front of them. The waiter took my drink order and 15-20 minutes went by before he came over to say they needed to split our table for other guests. We assured him the others were coming, in fact we were waiting for two who texted they were parking their car. He went away and came back with the manager who also said they needed to split our table. Mind you, there was NO ONE waiting at the host station at this time. Mind you, I still had not gotten my drink yet either. How long does it take to pour a glass of wine? Having bartended previously, I can assure you a matter of seconds. We felt pressured to acquiesce since they kept insisting and our other group members were pretty late. We crammed 7 people uncomfortably into the larger part of the table which immediately began to annoy us. Withing 5 minutes of splitting our table, two tables cleared out in our section (and were still empty when we walked out 10 minutes later). We agreed that we were uncomfortable and the service was unreasonably slow so we decided to leave. A couple of the ladies at the table began to tell the waiter we wanted our check over the whole table splitting issue, but I piped in and said the service was simply too slow. The waiter replied, "I don't speak English" and walked away. Really now? In addition to taking forever to get one lousy drink, the waiter failed to ask if I wanted any appetizer or anything during the 45 minutes I was there. Come on Las Tablas, you have customers in front of you RIGHT NOW, you take care of those customers before worrying about ones who haven't yet to materialize in your establishment requiring a table. Additionally, there was a nail or something sharp protruding from the front left corner of my chair. As we left, there was no one at the host station, nor that manager who needs training in customer service as well, around to tell. Hopefully no one else gets hurt on it, because they might be told by their waiter that he doesn't speak English! And for such poor quality customer serve, they sure are pricey. We went down the road to La Parilla where our full party of 11 was accommodated quickly and professionally. I would strongly recommend them before bothering with this ridiculous place.

    (1)

  • Chan K.

    I came here to redeem a Groupon and thank goodness for it because I would have been a bit upset to have paid full price for this food. My friend and I shared the seafood combination and skirt steak dishes. We got an enormous piece of steak but unfortunately needed a chainsaw to cut through it. Everything suffered from being too chewy except for the baby octopus. In fact, even the plantain and cassava were tough to masticate. The seafood and meat did not taste seasoned or marinated, and the chimichurri didn't help much to add flavor. The highlight of the evening was our empanada appetizer. The crispy, fried little pies came with various fillings, my favorite being cheese and chicken.

    (2)

  • Deborah E.

    Full disclosure - ever since I read Carolynne R's fine review of Las Tablas, I had it bookmarked. So when my fellow Yelpian Space Cupcake T said he too had it bookmarked due to her review, we were off..... and skirt steak nirvana began. What a juicy, flavorful, addicting piece of meat! Both of us ordered the "very highly recommended Combinaciones" of the Entraña Skirt Steak (house specialty) and grilled pork loin, served with fried sweet plantain, yuca, and potato. As I love pork the best of any meats, I am hear to proclaim loud and clear "just get the skirt steak!" The pork loin was fine but that steak was just oozing with flavor and juiciness - one of the best I have ever had. As an appetizer, we ordered the Empanada Combination Plate - two of each type of empanada (beef, chicken, cheese). They were good, not the best I have ever had and I could take them or leave them. One of the highlights of the evening was the Chimichurri sauces - both of which were divine. Our chatty and highly attentive server told us one was very hot but both the Cupcake and I thought the "hot" one (which was seriously not that hot) was the best, so don't be afraid to try it. Another highlight was the dessert we split - the Flan de Coco - Las Tablas' very own special, original recipe of the traditional Latin custard with a light hint of coconut and much denser than the flans I have had elsewhere. Acccompanied with fresh organic Colombian coffee, it was a perfect ending to a superb meal. Note to Las Tablas: thanks for all the Boteros! I can't remember the last time I walked around a restaurant with loads of chubby people paintings. I felt very much at home.

    (4)

  • Tom W.

    Lively atmosphere and great drinks. The empanadas were pretty good... they are $2.50 each or 6 for $7.50... so get the 6 that are cheese, chicken and beef. The combination platter was more than enough food for two with big appetites or 4 that want to sample. It came with different types of plantains, skirt steak, chicken, beef ribs, chorizo and a potato. The ribs were a little dry, but the chicken and skirt steak were phenomenal! I found the prices to be very reasonable and enjoyed the friendly staff. I heard it was BYOB but showed up on a Friday w/ wine in my hand but was told that it is only BYOB Mon-Thursday. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Mandy A.

    I'm not sure I can say anything that hasn't already been said about this place. Randomly my brother picked this place by searching "best skirt steak in Chicago" and found all of these reviews. I happened to have the Groupon so we came for a birthday dinner with the family. All of us got some sort of combination with the skirt steak, my never adventurous brother got the octopus, my mom and I got chicken and dad and husband got shrimp. Everything was awesome, the chicken and steak came out so thin and perfectly cooked, well seasoned and perfectly hot. There was so much I gave my brother over half of the chicken to take home with him. We got the empanadas to start with and they were a little too fried for my liking, they were pretty crunchy. A little softer and creamier center is better IMHO. The grilled calamari appetizer was awesome too, not rubbery at all and great flavor. Mojitos are perfect, they might as well be the best in Chicago. Stay away from the drink with the tequila and grapefruit soda, that one was weird. And save room for dessert...flan and coffee were AMAZE-balls.

    (5)

  • Luan N.

    My friends took me out for arepas in Caracas few years back. My arepa was stuffed with a different sort of cheese and topped with butter. I know there are 100s of ways to making arepas, but I didn't particularly enjoy Las Tablas' version which had the arepas covered in cheese and criollo sauce. I had the churrasco and I have to say the steak was juicy and had some marinade locked in the seared sides. There was a good amount of gristle and fat, but I guess I can't complain too much for steak under $20. However, when I do go to a South American steak house, I am all about the Chimichurri! The chimichurri didn't taste fresh that day and tasted like just chopped green onions in oil. I was hoping for more of a bite with the parsley and garlic. One thing that I did really like was the pork belly in the bandeja paisa. I thought the bathroom was interesting. I saw the men/women sign on the door, so I was thinking it was gonna be a small single stall. I had a minor panic attack because the door opened up to a long flight of steep stairs. At the bottom of the stairs was a nice waiting area for a separate men's and women's room. Overall, I thought the place was okay for the price. I was a bit let down by the chimichurri and arepa. I'm gonna try a few more places for comparison before I come back here.

    (3)

  • Alicia G.

    I am only giving this place 4 stars because of the drinks and service otherwise it would probably be a 2. Having grown up on yuca(we call it cassava), and plantains...the food was a little less to be desired. It was dry and basic so I wasn't a fan especially after it took super long to prepare. I would not come here and spend my money on the food. However! The drinks are phenom....specifically the el tamborero....just go and have drinks.

    (4)

  • Marcy F.

    Excellent Colombian food.

    (5)

  • Karen G.

    Excellent sangria. Excellent empanadas. Excellent steak. Excellent shrimp. Excellent flan. BYOB during the week- Excellent.

    (5)

  • Emma R.

    I should have known to not order the vegetarian dish at at steakhouse...whoops. But it was not very good. The arepas were alright though.

    (3)

  • Raquel D.

    My yum-o-meter has hit the roof! This place is soooo damn good - as soon as you walk in, the aroma hits you and I always find myself molesting other people's food with my eyes...even though I've been here multiple times...mmm. I can't get enough. I usually get the combo - steak and chicken, but the seafood is amazing too!!! I love this place and can't get enough!

    (5)

  • Abhishek M.

    I consider this by far, hands down, my favourite restaurant in Chicago!! You get the drift...:) Ambience I have been going to 'Las Tablas' for a little over 4 years now. It recently located across the street to a larger space with swanky interiors, and authentic Colombian artifacts all over. They even created this quaint sitting area downstairs outside the restrooms. On my last visit, on 03/05/08, they even had this guy singing Colombian music. The Food In 3 words...'to die for'!! Forget those pricy Brazilian steakhouses. If you want good Chicken/Steak/Shrimp dishes , Las Tablas is the place to go. For those of you who are familiar with Latin food and have been to and love Tango Sur, I still recommend Las Tablas. The menu is authentic and fairly elaborate and they offer combos...can't beat that! The Alcohol Till very recently, Las Tablas was BYOB!! Don't worry it still is to an extent. Although they have a full bar with ample beer & wine selection, you can bring your own wine but beware of the corkage fees. During the week, its an affordable and reasonalbe $4 but during the weekend its a whopping $8. Also if you love Mojitos, which I totally do, you have to have to get one here. The Price As I mentioned earlier, save your $$ from those Brazlian steakhouses. Las Tablas is NOT cheap but yet very affordable and a great place for friends/family to meet, eat awesome food and have a great time. The Service Has always been incredible. The waitstaff is knowledgeable, friendly and great with recommendations. OVERALL: Take my word and try this Chicago gem. You will not regret it!!!

    (5)

  • Anna L.

    Saw this place on Chicago's Best. Four of us went last night to celebrate a birthday. The idea of this place is great.. I really really wanted to like it. THE PROBLEM.. There is a weird smell. Not sure if its the food.. some sort of spice.. but I couldnt get over it. All of my food seemed to taste like it because the smell was soo powerful. I ordered the empanadas. They were really good.. make sure to get those and try them with the sauces. I also got the combination platter with the skirt steak and the pork loin. When I got my food, instead of pork there was baby octopus on my plate. I freaked out and almost fell out of my chair. Wow.. those things are gross looking. Once everything was fixed I couldnt get the picture of those gross things out of my head and it was hard to enjoy my food. But maybe it was because not only did everything seem to taste like the weird smell in the place, but the steak and pork were rubbery and just weird. O.. and the sangria is a waste of time. Im pretty sure there isnt a drop of alcohol in it and they put chopped apples on top.. its not the greatest. I gave 2 stars because of the empanadas and they came out with a piece of flan with a candle in it for my fiancee's bday and the whole restaurant sang to him. (The flan was good). I dont know.. maybe Ill go back... maybe I wont. Just a weird experience.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth M.

    This is one of my favorite restaurants...great food, service, and ambiance. Last night I was there with my husband and it was interesting to see how some things have changed over the years. We started off our meal with the empanadas. I agree with other reviews that these are not as good as they used to be, but they're still pretty tasty, especially with their chimichurri sauces. The matrimonio (grilled skirt steak and chicken) entree has gotten even better (I didn't know that was possible). The meats are perfectly seasoned with lots of flavor; the skirt steak is no longer pounded out, but instead grilled till tender and juicy. I liked it before, but it's even better now. Service did a great job of refilling sauces, water, taking new drink orders, and just making sure everything was going smoothly. I'm already planning my next visit and my mouth is watering.

    (5)

  • Kelsey N.

    Came here a week ago to celebrate my birthday with a pretty large group (20 people). From the minute we walked in the door, we had a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was lively, and our waiter was friendly and attentive throughout the whole 3 hours we were seated. And the food -- did I mention the food?? All of my friends raved about their meals, which is a tall order when you have 20 hungry diners to please! I had the pork and skirt steak, and both were perfectly cooked. Toss in those excellent plantains, potatoes and yucca (and some sangria, natch), and I was one happy lady. They even threw in some of their delicious flan for a birthday treat. Thanks to Las Tablas for a memorable night out! I'll be back soon.

    (5)

  • Diana R.

    The food is delicious! I ordered the 'matrimonio', a plate with fried plantains, delicious yuca, and roasted potatoes with a big hunk of steak and perfectly flavored chicken breast. The plate was humongous and I couldnt finish my meal. Prices were reasonable and its BYOB. Also our server was hilarious, I'm not sure of his name. A must try!

    (5)

  • Christine O.

    For every awful, overpriced place I go to in Chicago, it is met with a delicious, reasonable, incredible one! Las Tablas Lakeview is one of those incredible few! I have only been here on weeknights. With groups of 2-10 I never have a problem getting seated immediately. This weeknight habit is mostly to take advantage of the fabulous drink specials. Such as- No corking fee. Love. Pitcher of Sangria for half price Monday!- Yes, please! I always order the same thing, because it is SO good. The *skirt steak, Entrana, medium served with yucca, plantain and potato. Get one of these people! It's good enough that you'll want your own, but I'm pretty sure it's meant to serve two! It's always strange to me watching people here order one per person like they're at Friday's. This *skirt steak is by far the best thing on the menu. The marinade and seasonings it is treated with are good enough that it is a stand alone, no need for the sauces. They are good if you would like though. I have tried the *paella as well and it was pretty good. It's nice to have this option for vegetarian friends while you're gnawing on a steak. As sides I get the *salad, *rice, and *beans. They are standard fare. Some places can even mess up a salad though and Las Tables doesn't. Don't skip dessert! The *coffee here is absolutely to die for. Our waiter told us that Macondo across the street sells it in bean form and we WILL be buying it. What's best though, is drinking the coffee while eating the *tres leches cake. Absolutely sweet, creamy, balanced. I couldn't ask for more. Few things complement each other this well in the world. What did this all cost? Under $40. Take that, my favorite ever, Chophouse! Steak dinner with dessert... and I happened to have my $35 Groupon. Fantastic. The service could afford to be a little more attentive. Regardless though, this will remain a favorite for the flavor to value factor alone! I'm rounding up to 5 stars! Delicious!

    (5)

  • Amy J.

    Okay... This place is Tango Sur minus the wait, and minus the service issues. We walked in and our waiter, from the beginning, was awesome. He explained everything, offered suggestions, and we had an awesome meal. My boyfriend, not a steak eater at all, was talked into ordering the skirt steak. And......he loved it. I had the chicken, and it was also really great. We'd love to go back. Environment: comfortable Food: Very good Service: Excellent Hey, I still think Tango Sur has better food, but I'd definitely come back here to avoid the wait. Very good.

    (4)

  • Dana M.

    I've been to the Portage Park location once so this would make it my second time at Las Tablas. I was here with a large group of 14-15 people and with our reservations, we got seated with no problems. Dinner was good and most of us ordered the entrana-- charbroiled skirt steak since it was highly recommended and I love a good steak! I ordered it medium and it was cooked just right... in fact I didn't have much of an appetite that night so I had 2/3 of my steak leftover... if it still tastes fantastic 4 days later, it certainly says something! I even thought it tasted better... wow- that just proves I really was not in the mood to eat that night. I'm not a fan of the sides though... plantains, pan-fried potatoes, and yuca. The potatoes and yuca were too dry. We shared a few pitchers of Sangria. It was average-- too sweet for my taste so I liked the mojitos better. I will definitely go back for the entrana! I choose this location over Portage Park because of the better ambiance. Wish they had BYOB everyday and not just weekdays... that would be nice!

    (4)

  • Kathy L.

    Delicious Steak: Check BYOB: Check Reasonably priced: Check Great service: Check This place has everything to make for a great restaurant! The skirt steak was absolutely amazing and the empanadas were pretty great too. I've tried to cook skirt steak at home...and it never ends up tasting like this. LAS TABLAS GIVE ME YOUR SECRETS!! However, until they give up their secrets I will just have to keep coming back...good thing its so reasonable. The only thing is that I think BYOB is only Sunday -Thursday and you can only bring wine. This is only thing that makes me not completely love this place, but just don't go on a Friday or Saturday and problem solved! Last thing, the bathrooms here are sorta strange. You have to go down a flight of stairs and you think you make it to the bathroom but nope you go into this random living room and then you have to make a couple more turns before you get to the bathroom. The random living room has some fun decorations though!

    (4)

  • January C.

    I had the steak and maduros at the Taste two years in a row so the last time I was in the neighborhood I decided to give the restaurant a try. I ordered the empanda appetizer and the steak entree with maduros. I also wanted rice and beans but if I remember correctly, I had to order those seperately. This was a disappointment to me because the entree was already quite pricey. When the food came, the portions were large so this did offset some of the sticker shock in my mind, but I was still hung up on having to pay extra for the rice and beans. The food was delicious and the ambiance is dark and romantic in a rustic South American sort of way. I would definitely return but next time ready to spend $40 on my meal (without drinks). Summary: The food is great but I think there are other Colombian places in this city with good food for half the price, albeit with less time and money spent on ambiance.

    (3)

  • h c.

    I came here as a date, willing to try something new, and the skirt steak was the house special and highly recommended... ok, i'll try it.... can i say WOW! ... that skirt steak blew me away!!! for real. i think everyone had the skirt steak and no one had anything bad to say about it. The steak was a good price and was HUGE, it came with some yuca and potatoes and plantains. the yuca and potatoes were ok, the plantains was a nice sweet dessert, more or less. but the steak was cooked perfectly and was soo damn good that it's got me thinking about it ever since.. one of my top 5 steaks of all time! i'm going back for sure... and going back soon!

    (5)

  • Nishant G.

    4.5 stars...and it only loses 0.5 stars because they need to work on getting better ventilation in the restaurant. Cool ambience, and downright amazing food. I can't comment on much, but the sangria is delicious, and the el matrimonio combo (half skirt steak, half chicken) is an amazing deal---HUGE portion. The skirt steak is the best I've had outside of Argentina, and the chicken is marinated in garlic/white wine and is actually good enough to merit ordering the combo instead of a full skirt steak. The meats come with a sweet plantain, potato and yucca as well.Tried the chorizo as an appetizer which was quite flavorful and worth trying as well. Awesome place, will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Carolynne M.

    Wow. Another amazing find in the Chicago dining scene. Las Tablas is a Colombian steakhouse with a beautiful interior, great service and kick ass food. We were seated immediately and ordered a couple of appetizers, the empanada combination plate (a sampling of beef, chicken and cheese...the chicken was the best I thought) and the Arepa Chorriada, which was melted cheese over arepa (basically a cornbread) sautéed in criolla sauce. We then decided to go with the Picada Colombiana, which according to the menu serves two. Two what? Two Chicago Bear linebackers? Two starving Japanese sumo wrestlers? Oh my god people, seriously this is a TON of food. Believe me when I say you are NOT going to want to order appetizers, dessert, or any other extraneous foodie items if you get this entree. A heaping helping combination of Entraña skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, and chicken breast all grilled and sliced into small pieces. Also comes with homemade chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, fried sweet plantain, yuca and potato. Delicious yes...stomach busting...Oh.My.God. Yes. We had more than half wrapped up to take with us...it was just too much. But I have to say I found the chicken, the crunchy plantain and the skirt steak to be the stars of the show. Especially if you add the Chimichurri sauce. The flavours just explode in your mouth...yum! My one gripe is that they are not BYOB but they will let you bring in a bottle of wine for an $8 corkage fee. OK that's just stupid and please do away with that option, Las Tablas. It is completely unnecessary and kind of makes you look like jerks when you really aren't! Thanks for a great experience, we will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Chris W.

    Great skirt steak. Everything else is just slightly above average. I went on a weekend and there was a long wait. Once our table was ready, we were brought back through the very crowded restaurant to our table. There were just too many tables for the restaurant. This meant that you were basically sitting on top of everyone else. It also meant that the poor employees had very little room to move around. The restaurant allows you to bring your own bottles of wine which is a good thing. As for food, I ordered the skirt steak, which was the best I'd ever tried. The skirt steak meal itself is reasonable in price, but for just $1 more, you can add another type of meat. I tried chicken and felt that the chicken was dry and paled in comparison to the steak. Each meal was served with a few veggies and bananas. They were good, not great. They also provide two types of sauces to use. They were fairly good. The food is good and I would recommend you try it if you are looking for excellent skirt steak. You have to put up with some less than desirable things, but you will be thankful you did once you try the skirt steak.

    (4)

  • Magen M.

    i've never had columbian food before so i didn't know what you expect but this food was really delicious. fried plantains are amazing. i enjoyed the empandas too. the skirt steak and shrimp were fantasic!

    (4)

  • Andy M.

    Las Tablas might be the best dining experience that I have had since starting writing reviews for Yelp. This place just blew my mind. This place offers great food and great service with a great attitude. What I mean by that is, the people who work at Las Tablas really seem to enjoy their job. The food and beverage business can be daunting to say the least. I was a bartender many moons ago, and I can attest that if you work for a place that promotes a fun atmosphere, it really comes across in a positive way to the customers. Las Tablas does a wonderful job in making it's customers feel that positive vibe. The food is incredible. We started out with two appetizers. We did the Empanada's and the Corn Bread. Both were quite different than anything that I have ever eaten. The empanada's were filled with Colombian goodies that tasted wonderful. And the cornbread was covered with Cheese, Mole sauce. Both dishes were wonderful. For our entree, C.R. and I did the combination platter for two. The entree included Skirt Steak, Ribs, Chicken and Chorizo. I can't believe I was actually worried that the portions were going to be dainty. When I saw this platter of delight being carried by our server, my eyes almost bulged out of my head. Diner for two, my ass. This could feed five people. Heck, It could have fed the Baltimore Ravens offensive line. As of Monday, I still have leftovers in my fridge. The entree was awesome. The steak was tender and moist. The ribs were crunchy and flavorful and the Chorizo was out of this world. Even the Chicken was wonderful, and as I have stated before, I don't like Chicken. After about 45 minutes of this Orson Wells Style Gorge fest, I finally had enough. I had to throw in the white napkin. Everything on the plate from the Steak to the Plantains sated me perfectly. I can't recommend this place enough. The food was insanely good, and the service was wonderful. If I learned one lesson from my first visit to Las Tablas, it's to lay off the appetizers. The entree was enough to feed us for a week.

    (5)

  • Matt B.

    Definitely a good little restaurant up in Lakeview. Really cool atmosphere and drink menus. My wife and I ordered the meat platter for two, which was a ton of food for the price. The skirt steak was definitely the best piece of that. Chicken and ribs were also very good. Could have used a little bit more sauce but that is a small complaint. Not the easiest place to get to if you are relying on the L. Definietly look into the Lincoln bus or use the meter spaces.

    (4)

  • Laura B.

    This place is great. My boyfriend and I were starving and really craved a good steak. I remembered I had bookmarked this place and were outrageously happy I had. At first we were seated relatively close to the door which offered a small draft, but asked to move and found a cozy little seat. The lighting was just right and had had the same waitress that seated us, took our drinks, and served us. She was sweet, Columbian, and honest with her recommended. We ordered the seafood platter for an appetizer and it was really fresh and delicious. It was served with a mild and a hot salad/sauce called Chimichurri. It was AMAZING!!! Next came the steak. We got the Entrana, which was highly recommended. It was served on a hot plate and sizzled when it came out. It also came with a plantain, yucca, and a potato. I can honestly say that the steak they served was the single most delicious hunk of meat I have ever had. SO amazing. I tried to eat the whole thing but just couldn't handle so much food. I wish I hadn't gotten the appetizer. I will be back as soon as possible. They're BYOB, also, so I will bring my own wine! With two glasses of wine, 2 full dinners, and an appetizer for two, the bill was only $70 bucks. Worth every penny!!!

    (5)

  • Miguel H.

    The sangria is awesome and they have a great deal if u have a groupon!

    (5)

  • Charla W.

    I have been here a couple of times for dinner. Both times we had reservations which I believed helped us get in right away. The food is pretty good. We had the empanadas and octopus for appetizers which were good. I think all of us had some type of steak combo dish which also was very good. I would definitely go back to this restaurant. They also have good sangria.

    (4)

  • Jen D.

    Excellent, friendly service. Amazing vegetarian plate. Steak was Ok. Seasoning was nice but it was a bit too grissly and fatty for me, although for the price I shouldn't complain. Personally, I prefer Tango Sur - however if you are not interested in the Tango Sur marathon wait for a table, Las Tablas is a great alternative.

    (3)

  • Zaneta W.

    First I need to give a shout out to the bartender... Mojitos = AMAZING!!!! I'm usually skeptical about ordering them at random bars/restaurants because they can either be really great or pretty much undrinkable. Here, they're the best! The bartender puts in the extra effort to make them orgasmic!!! And, the Sangria is bombin as well! Second... the foood is de-licious. Their empanadas are sooo good!! Get the sampler plate to try all three types. For dinner my friend and I both had the chicken and steak combo and it was really good! So many great flavors and really juicy! And last but certainly not least I have to say how wonderful all the staff is at las tablas!! The first time my friend and I went to dinner there we made friends with 2 of our waiters and they gave us a coupon for our next meal. When we came back like 1 1/2 later they both remembered us. It's just such a pleasant and fun environment!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you're in the mood for some bomb food (don't come here if you're in the salad mood).

    (5)

  • kate c.

    Visited in a group of 14. We made reservations 2 weeks ahead of time and were seated promptly. Service was slow. We were seated at 8:30, but our entree orders were not taken until 9:36, and we had to flag a waiter to get those orders in. Food was excellent. we started with arepa rellena, which was wonderful. I had one of the combo platters for 2, and it was MORE than enough food for 2 people, and only $38, which was reasonable. Skirt steak was delicious. I also had a mojito, which was very good, and I tried someone else's Colombian drink with strawberries which was great. Main issue was service. No one was rude, but it was VERY slow. Also, if you go in a group, be aware if you pay with more than 3 credit cards, everyone's card has a $5 charge added. Gratuity was included with our big group. Recommend, but probably not in a large group.

    (4)

  • James W.

    Excellent. Ordered the skirt steak with plantains, yuka, and potato. The skirt steak was deliciously seasoned, tender and perfectly medium rare. Wait staff was very friendly, food came quickly, relaxed atmosphere. Great restaurant, definitely will be back..

    (4)

  • Erika C.

    I've been going to Las Tablas for years. I first went to their location on Irving park and recently switched to this location due to geographical reasons. I've always been a fan of Las Tablas. Their steak is excellent! It is flavorful and tender. I introduced my French partner to Las Tablas about a year ago and he is their number one fan. He's eaten steak at high-end and low-end places around the world and he says that Las Tablas' steak is definitely one of the best he's had. Las Tablas gives you bang for your buck. Order a combination (pick two) and make one of your picks the steak. I usually have the shrimp as my second pick which is also great. My partner either has the calamari or octopus. He of course loves them both. They are BYOB from Monday to Thursday. If you are not a big eater, skip the appetizers - their portions are huge!

    (4)

  • Kristine S.

    I've never had Columbian food before this and I would have to say.. I'm in love.. with the chimichurri sauce. The waiter was kind enough to write down the recipe for us, and we made it at home. The Picada Colombiana for two was more than enough to make our bellys explode.. with leftovers. This place is definitely generous with its portions. Great romantic atmosphere and great service. High recommended, but make sure you're starving before you come.

    (5)

  • Eric L.

    I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Las Tablas. The wait staff was really friendly and helpful. He gave us a good suggestion on wine and the best part was that he wasn't overbearing on us, yet he was very attentive to our needs. We both had some combination of the skirt steak but my date thought the steak was a little chewy. (maybe it was suppose to be?) Some of the previous comments mentioned that this was Tango Sur without the wait, and I think that's a fairly accurate statement. I give this 4 stars because I think Tango Sur was a little better, but I would definitely come back here for round 2.

    (4)

  • Deepti P.

    I guess this is what happens when you have high expectations. After reading some of the reviews on here, I thought my group and I would be in for a treat. 2.5 hours of poor service later, a treat was nowhere to be found. Oh, and did I mention everyone's dish came out cold? I booked this place for my brother's birthday and was excited because they seemed more than willing to accommodate our group of 11. Reservations were for 8pm and when we all arrived i went to tell the hosts that we were all here. After a lot of "Let me just check on the table for you", one of the hosts proceeds to tell me that "they didn't know I was coming today". That's funny...I received a phone call from Las Tablas that afternoon confirming my reservation for 8pm and when I saw my name very clearly written on the reservation sheet when I walked in. How did you not know we were coming? He then went on to explain they'd "try really hard" to get us a table....that I reserved...5 days prior. Anyway... FInally, about 30 minutes after our reserved time, we are seated. Everyone's excited to eat and partake in sangria. We all order and end up waiting until after 9:30pm to get our food. Now I know there was a lot ordered and lots of different meats to cook, but an hour after we sat down? I don't know think I have ever waited that long at any restaurant or with any size party. Thankfully the sangria was good, since we ended up ordering 3 extra pitchers to bide our time till the food arrived. So, we're all starving (and a little tipsy from all the sangria on empty stomachs) as the food is finally brought over to the table. My plate was missing the pork belly. Another plate was missing the plantain. And the best part, every single plate had cold food. What the heck? One person had his plate taken back to get reheated (which also turned his steak from medium rare to medium well). A couple of us also mentioned to the waiter that all the food was cold. He just shrugged his shoulders and stared at us. I think at that point, we were all too hungry to argue about it any further. The food didn't necessarily taste bad, but meat really isn't meant to be eaten cold. Regardless, we just ate because we were all so hungry at this point. Not only was the service awful but the food (which I figured would its saving grace) was cold and nothing was done about it. The waitstaff missed out on getting a great tip from a table of 11 and instead got a mediocre tip from a very disappointed group. Maybe this place is better in smaller groups. but I am wary of going back now with the experience that I had.

    (2)

  • Molly G.

    I went here Saturday night with a large group of friends and wow - this place is popular! Street parking was a breeze and we took advantage of the BYOB ($8 corkage). If you have reservations, this place is great for group dinners - birthday, etc. Due to the size and volume of people, I wouldn't say this people would be quiet enough for a date but it was very fun for a get together with friends. The food is really the highlight though - like most, I had the combination plate with chimchurri skirt steak, grilled shrimp, yuca, potatoes and fried plaintain. We skipped appetizers and I still had leftovers. YUM! Will be back!

    (4)

  • Lisa B.

    Had walked by Las Tablas during the summer, smelled the wonderful scents coming from the place and decided we had to try it. Finally went last night w/ the hubby and daughter to celebrate my birthday. It was a Monday evening so we were seated right away and service was exceptional the whole evening, very attentive and informative. We started with the pitcher of sangria (no longer half priced on Mondays) but still very good - not at all watered down. Then ordered the empanada combination plate - 2 cheese, 2 chicken and 2 beef, and they were very, very good. The two sauces were very tasty, not 100% sure what all was in both but one had jalapeño and cilantro, the other was more parsley based. The entrana (grilled skirt steak) was really, really tender, juicy, flavorful and cooked exactly to our specifications - medium rare. The sides were all (as discussed in many of the other reviews) really, really dry. Our daughter is a vegetarian and had the paella - rice with lots of good veggies and good flavor which she enjoyed. Flan was coconut based (not my favorite) and drizzled with cherry sauce (love cherries but not on flan). So the only reason I didn't go 5 stars are three very slight negatives 1) the dry sides, 2) the flan not being in keeping with my expectation of good caramely flan and 3) the bathrooms being way out of the way - which as someone else mentioned in their review would be fine if you haven't had a pitcher of sangria! Not sure how'd they'd manage to rearrange them though and the 'living room' arrangement on the way to the loo was quite nice. Overall it was a good night - would we go from the southwest suburbs to the north side just to visit Las Tablas, not likely. But when in the area, we'd absolutely go again.

    (4)

  • Kristina C.

    I like meat. And sangria. I also like them together. When you walk into this place, you feel like you've stepped foot in a warm, meat filled cave. Its dark, with dark tables and walls, but not so dark that you cant see what you are eating or who you are stepping over. We ordered one appetizer for our table of 3, the Chorizo con Arepa. It wouldnt have been my choice, but it was delish - the pork sausage was amaz-o. It was a small appetizer, but probably just enough because the entrees are huge. I had the pork loin (OH. MY. GOD.) and it came with yucca, plantain and potato. My bf's steak was even better. Monday is 1/2 price sangria. Yippee for me! Today's Groupon is for this place. Go buy a few!

    (4)

  • Jenni Q.

    I absolutely love this place! I went here for my 25th birthday dinner with a group of friends and had an AMAZING dinner. Started out with some cheese empanadas which were crispy and oozing with cheese. Ordered a limonada (like a lemonade but made to order with fresh squeezed limes highly recommended!). Then had the combination platter with the skirt steak and grill octopus. Now I usually expect octopus to be pretty bland so I order it more for the texture than the taste. But the grill octopus was so juicy and flavorful that my friends kept grabbing them off my plate! The steak was also equally if not better than the octopus. I ordered mine medium and it came out perfectly pink and oh so tender. It was SO GOOD I immediately think about it every time I hear "steak." lol Service was a bit slow but expected since we had such a huge group and the place was super packed and crowded. But the waiter totally made up for it with the FREE columbian coffee. Overall a great experience and I would love love love to go back again!

    (5)

  • Steve H.

    Eh... It'll serve you sustenance. But is very mediocre on various fronts. I wouldn't return again myself. The grilled calamari appetizer was rubbery. Our grilled steaks and fish entrees were grilled but bland with no flavor. Adding chimichurri to it was no help, as their "hot" chimichurri was simply cilantro onions and oil. Ethnic Colombian couples making out at individual tables provided quite the visual ambiance for myself and my parents though for our Sunday dinner.

    (2)

  • Emma C.

    This place is amazing. Dinner and lunch menu offer so many traditional dishes with a great atmosphere and musica Colombiana! Empanadas, arepas, Colombiana soda..... Do it!!! To boot they have a Sunday brunch for only $12.95, muy delecioso. Oh wait, did say they have the BEST coconut flan?!?!?!!

    (5)

  • Alan P.

    It just wasn't possible to get the food into my mouth fast enough. What an amazing experience and wonderful food tucked away in Chicago. Near enough Clybourne station (N. Lincoln location) that the wife and I can take a train into the city just for this place. I secretly fell in love with the Columbian coffee and my wife did the same with their version of the Mimosa. Bit pricey so more "date night" stuff for us than casual dining. JUST GO!

    (5)

  • Shaun H.

    I ordered delivery tonight nearly 2 hours ago. No call, no show, and they won't answer the phone. Service is important and apparently they just don't care.

    (1)

  • Mike P.

    ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION!!! The item listed as Ajiaco on the menu at Las Tablas is in fact NOT ACTUALLY AJIACO!! Do not be duped!! Anyone that has been to Bogota will quickly be able to tell you that this ain't ajiaco. The broth was incredibly thin and did not resemble any of the ajiaco that I've eaten in Colombia. It shouldn't be ordered and honestly it shouldn't be served. Now that I got that out of the way, the rest of the food was alright. The Bandeja Paisa was decent. Not excellent, but I liked it enough. It's rather odd that a Colombian restaurant doesn't serve any Colombian beer: no Pilsen, no Aguila, no Club Colombia. It's even more odd that a Colombian restaurant doesn't serve aguardiente. I ordered 2 shots of Antioqueno sin azucar and they looked at me like I was crazy. I realize that we're in Chicago and we're a long way from Colombia, but Colombian cuisine is known for being very very simple. It shouldn't be that hard to put together of a menu of legit Paisa and Rolo dishes.

    (2)

  • LaVerne A.

    Yum yum Yummies! Steak seasoned to perfection! Great atmosphere! Sides....ehh but who needs Sides! Columbian steak at it's best!

    (4)

  • Jennifer H.

    SPECIAL EVENT I came here not for dinner but for a special event. So my review is more reflective if you wanted to rent out the place. For the event, the restaurant cleared out the tables and chairs and opened up the main seating area. It's a decent sized restaurant. The bar area / waiting area is a moderate size. They have some outdoor seating which will be lovely in the summer. The bar was crowded as expected and the bartenders were slow. One of them seemed particularly green. But the blackberry mojitos were awesome!!! All is forgiven. They were serving numerous appetizers --- all which had some great kick to it. Absolutely nothing bland here. Even the crab cakes were spicy. They served servings of their steak on a stick, but the pieces were too big to even try to eat gracefully as an hors d'oeuvres, especially around people I was just meeting. The steak was delicious but the kitchen needs to think about how to serve the food that works for this type of function. I did meet someone who said they adore this restaurant and even had their birthday party dinner here. Which reflects how well people like the restaurant. But for special functions, the restaurant is getting a 3-star from me.

    (3)

  • Joe Y.

    You don't want to miss las tablas. This place does it right. Located near the El and street parking is plenty, that's always a plus in my books. We had a party of 14 and the staff was on point. I would definitely start off with the empanadas, absolutely amazing. I'm not the biggest empanadas guy by any means, but these are the best I have ever had. To wash it all down we had pitchers of sangria and some mojitos! Both were great options. When dinner was served, they brought all of the hot plates out at once. The worst thing about going to dinner with such a large group is the delay in service. We did not experience that at las tablas, service was great. For dinner, I got the skirt steak and shrimp combo. Skirt steak was a 10!!!! Got it medium, it was tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Shrimp was good as well but nothing to go crazy about. Only major downside of the dinner was it was a really hot night and for some reason, the AC was not working in the back of the restaurant where we were seated. This made the experience pretty uncomfortable but those refreshing drinks made up for it. Overall - a MUST try in the Chicagoland area.

    (4)

  • Nick R.

    Really enjoyed my food here. Nice vibe and atmosphere with a bar. Great place to take a date. I believe it's BYOB as well. We started off with a couple of empanadas which were great. We went with the combination so we could try a couple different flavors. We also got the arepa rellena which is a delicious cheese cornbread with chicken and mushrooms. I got the arachara steak which goes so well with white rice plantains and the chimichurri sauce on top is awesome!! My friend got the skirt steak which I tried and it was great as well. Only a couple of drawbacks. The service was really slow and we wanted more of the chimichurri sauce and they ran out. We hardly had enough for the table. Find it surprising that they would run out but we made the best of it.

    (4)

  • Thomas C.

    I know I will just be echoing what others have said, but the entrada was incredible. The whole seasoning of the skirt steak left me wanting more, and it was a great portion. The pulpitos on the combination platter was above average, and cooked perfectly. The shrimp in the combination was plentiful. The main dish of calamari was soo tasty and cooked perfectly. The only dish that was not up to the great standards was the chicken dish, which was too salty. There was a group of 10, and the service was perfect as we were not rushed. Plenty of great empanadas, a mouthwatering Chorizo o Chicharron con Arepa, and very good guacamole. Anthony (Tony) the bartender was terrific and took care of our group. We had all of the drinks, the Caipirinha, Mojito, Manzana drink, etc and they were all very good and more importantly fresh. And Tony was able to match any type of drink you want from sweet, strong, etc. The flan was delicous, and the table next to us seemed to be in love with their oreo cake. The place is casual and not expensive, but you get a great meal and time at Las Tablas.

    (5)

  • Ro M.

    Usually visit this restaurant about 3-5 times a year as I am Colombian and I have to admit that the quality of the food and authenticity of the plates is a hit or complete miss. Typical Colombian dishes like empanadas, bandeja paisa, and fruit juices are usually ok (4/5). Then there are some big disappointments like the ajiaco and the brevas con arequipe. (0/5). Interior of the restaurant is inviting and well done and the neighborhood is nice as well. As a summary I think it's a restaurant that is worth the visit but be aware that some dishes may not be the best or authentic at all.

    (3)

  • Delilah M.

    One of my favorite places to eat. My boyfriend and I ordered the meal for two $40..worth EVERY EVERY PENNY. The best part was the steak. I'm drooling right now thinking about it. The plantains and Yuka were perfect touch too. I been there twice in the past month. First time was the day I got a root canal which was sooooo painful but the steak was worth the pain. Lol

    (5)

  • Christopher B.

    I can't believe my last review was over seven years ago! I heard for a while that they moved BUT I didn't get the memo on the BYOB (it's not like brought anything with me!). I don't remember the empanadas before but absolutely some of the best I've ever had. And when you put some of their sauce on them it's off the charts delicious! I ordered the entrana and my steak was perfect, how I remember it, and all the sides were money. It's nice to see a place that is consistent over so many years even if they did move into a nicer location!

    (5)

  • Tina L.

    Skirt. Steak. GET IT! It comes out sizzling on a platter. So juicy and delicious. Try it with the green sauce. I forgot that it's BYOB, so if/when I come here again, I'll be bringing some delicious red wine to go with my juicy skirt steak. An affordable alternative to other steak places in the city and a must-try.

    (5)

  • Jere M.

    After watching "Chicago's Best Bites", my boyfriend and I decided to try out one the featured restaurants- Las Tablas. On the show it was mentioned that the most popular dish was the skirt steak. They showed how they made it and I was sold! So we decided to go last night (12/11/11). I was worried that arriving 10 minutes before closing time, that they may have not let us in, or that they may have a slight attitude. Fortunately, I WAS WRONG! The host was super friendly, and didn't seem to care about our late arrival. Once seated, we were greeted immediately. Our waiter POLITELY told us to chose a dish soon since the kitchen would be closing shortly. Because it was our first time, we ordered strictly from the recommendations of our waiter. We started with FRESH FRUIT Mojitos. I had kiwi and my boyfriend had strawberry. The kiwi was delicious! Very light and refreshing. For an appetizer, we had the combo plate of empandadas that included chicken, beef, and cheese. Ummm.....they were O-KAY. Nothing really spectacular to me. But when the waiter brought our skirt steak dinners.....OMG. They were served on a skillet, still cooking! I couldn't wait to cut into mine. My first bite was very juicy and flavorful. That was a GREAT skirt steak cooked to perfection. It was served with sweet plantain, yuka, and baked potato. Great combo! And their spicy salsa paired great with EVERYTHING. I had to try one more mojito- Mango. Sooooo good. Chunks of rum soaked sweet mango waited for me at the bottom once I finished my drink. #Winning. We will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Jessica P.

    I came here on a weekday (Wednesday to be specific) around 6PM..It wasn't packed at all so my friend and I were seated immediately.. Food Steak & Shrimp Combination ($21) - comes with your choice of 2 meats/seafood and sweet plaintain, yuca and potato. The meat was cooked to my liking (medium rare) and flavored perfectly as well! Overall I was happy with what I ordered. *my friend ordered the baby octopus and it looked delicious as well. Portions: big for a small eater or perfect for a big eater..nom nom... Customer Service: the waiter was very helpful and friendly; however, it took awhile before we got our check....a good place to dine if you would like to take your time eating and chatting the night away.. :) Costs: not bad for the amount of food you get... Parking: there is street parking in the area Atmosphere: spacious and ok...I was seated next to a window ..and our view looked like someone's backyard...hm.. I would come here again if I was craving meat or if I was in the area.. :)

    (4)

  • Irene L.

    I was pretty pumped to eat here but was very disappointed. The skirt steak which is the house speciality was not over cooked but had too much seasoning. I'd like to say too much cumin. The drinks had way too much lime I ordered a cucumber/basil vodka and a pineapple mojito.

    (3)

  • Janet E.

    The staff and quality of the food has significantly dropped. The service used to be impeccable but are full of rude and slow people who chat while you wait to be seated in an empty restaurant.

    (2)

  • Natalia K.

    Unreal. The amount of food you get is just unreal. And it's so good, that you're happy the portions are huge. Makes for a full and satisfied belly and potentially lunch the next day. I bought a groupon for 4 for $65. That's a $16 per person. And we got two apps to share, 4 entrees, and 4 desserts. For $16 a person. What an amazing deal! Our appetizers were the arepas with beef and guacamole. Both were delicious and we were excited for our entrees. I had the entrana and shrimp combo. I definitely recommend the combos, because why only get one thing when you can try two different things? And the portions of each are large enough that you're not feeling like you didn't get enough of one! One of my friends ordered the baby octopi. Prepare yourself because they are full baby octopi. You're not just getting some arms here- you're getting the full baby. A full family of babies. Pretty cute- pretty morbid as well. They offered us choices of four different desserts and as there were four of us, we thought we should try all of them: tres leches cake, chocolate mousse, coconut flan, and oreo cake. As un-colombian as it was, I liked the oreo cake the best, although all four desserts were exceptional and you couldn't go wrong. The chocolate mousse is extremely dense and rich though, so make sure you share that one! The restaurant is very warm and welcoming on the inside, with really nice and attentive service. My only complaint was the paper napkins. For a nice steakhouse, they should invest in cloth napkins. But that's a minor thing and doesn't take away from the overall quality of this establishment. This wasn't my first time at Las Tablas, and it certainly won't be my last.

    (5)

  • Katie F.

    I've been to Las Tablas for everything from a large rehearsal dinner, to small family dinners, and it never disappoints. The calamari, shrimp and beef are not to be missed, and have always pleased the pickiest and/or least adventurous of eaters in my group. I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    Came here on Valentine's day, and it wasn't too crowded! We ordered a pile of meat. I don't remember what it was called, but there is something on the menu that alludes to a pile of meat, for around $60, and it's intended to be shared with another person. It was great. The variety of animals piled on the platter was interesting, and I really enjoyed the seasoning. We used this as a way to taste various things, being the first visit. Would definitely recommend this plate to someone else, and also the skirt steak listed as their house specialty; the skirt steak was my favorite part of the whole thing. Will return, someday when it's not freezing because the walk from the Brown Line in 9 degree weather was hard. Get an Uber if it's bad weather.

    (5)

  • Libby R.

    Need I say more? Terrible service, marginal food, unclear menu selections. Maybe I didn't know what to expect at a Columbian Steakhouse but this didn't cut it. No bread, explanation of how food is served. Very disappointed. Will not return for a second chance.

    (1)

  • Cesar M.

    Friend's B-day party, Quik search, latin + BYOB + neighborhood = some options and after checking them out decided to go with Las Tablas, Called them and asked if they were BYOB, yes we are, but only wine, nice lady on the phone responded. Put the word out, make reservation for 12, 2 of whom were in charge of the wine. Sunday at 7 pm was decided. We get there and get to the table, sit down and check the menu. Waiter comes by and informs us that they are BYOB only M-Th, What??? - 1 * for that. Had to order a couple of pitchers of sangria, decent just decent. I ordered the entraña, and also got to try the stuffed chicken and octupus. The entraña was great, perfectly cooked, the chicken was very good as well, the octupus?? no so much it was a little chewy. The restaurant is super nice, beatuful simple wooden chairs and tables. celiling painted beatufully as pointed out by a friend. Ambiance was lacking a little, many tables were empy. LTCS, good food, nice service ok prices

    (4)

  • Bernard L.

    I was there to have dinner for a friend of mine who is getting married. OK, you twisted my arm. It was the beginning part of a bachelor party. It was my first time there, but the place had me at Steakhouse so i any worried. The restaurant was spacious and inviting. There was a group of 14 with us, so i had to wait a while before everyone arrived. The menu was filled with things I wanted to have right then and there. It took me a while to decide. I was stuck on just the skirt steak, but the combination dish of rice, pork, steak, chorizo, sweet plantain, and a fried egg ended up being my final choice. Everything on the plate was delicious. My only snag was that my steak was a little dry when I ate it, but nonetheless it was great. I will definitely return here in the future.

    (5)

  • Matt M.

    Amazing food!!! The skirt steak and grilled octopus was delicious. Service was superb and very attentive. Recommend the fruit mojitos as well. Highly recommended

    (5)

  • Lauren K.

    It was good. The chimichurri wasn't the most flavorful. The meat was yummy. I would go back for drinks.

    (3)

  • Adam A.

    The difference between 4vs 5, was 2 things. Lets start with why 4. this place is amazing. Get empanadas, guac, entrana and Malbec reserve, . amazing experience. why not 5- 1) they lost my reservation somehow, 3rd time it has happened. 2). Empanadas were a little to crispy, quality control please.

    (4)

  • David V.

    This restaurant was well worth it. The food was great and service was exceptional and very knowledgeable of the menu and helping with suggestions. I would recommend this place to anybody looking for a nice place to relax and good atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    Love this place! It's currently my favorite to-go restaurant for special moments (birthdays, graduations, etc). Customer service is amazing, food is amazing and overall atmosphere is amazing Highly recommend it!

    (5)

  • Anthony B.

    Las Tablas became our stop for fuel between a Wrigley day game and a Soldier Field night cap. If protein is what you are after then this is the place for you. We decided to compromise and get the Picada Mar y Tierra which is basically every meat they offer with a few plantains, yucca, and arepas thrown in for good measure. The meats were all cooked well but had one dimensional flavor due to their cooking method. They provide two sauces, one a Chimichurri and the other a spicier herbal sauce. Both were very good and provide a ton of punch to the meat. The service here was really slow, especially since we were literally the only people in the restaurant. It took a while to get our drinks and even longer to get our food order in. I'd really hate to see what it's like during the evening rush.

    (4)

  • Hiba A.

    So yum! I got their famous skirt steak, passion fruit juice (I'm pretty sure it's fresh, or the fact that they serve it in a fancy glass makes it all the better), and the chicken mushroom arepa as our server recommended the chicken over the beef. The skirt steak was delicious! It comes out sizzling, so lovely. It's a very nice size too. It comes with yuka, half a potato, and fried plantain. The plantain was my favorite, since it complemented the steak well (I'm a huge fan of savory and sweet together). The potato and yuka were too dry for me, but maybe that's how they're supposed to be? The two green sauces that come with the steak were standard, nothing special. I was hoping for something better to complement the steak. As a fan of all things juice, I really liked the passion fruit juice. They have other flavors, which I would definitely like to try. The arepa was pretty good comfort food, and easily shared between two people. I oils like to try the empanadas next time. Go eat steak!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth L.

    Not impressed. We started with the empanadas combo plate which mostly tasted fried. The cheese empanada was basically a fried cheese stick. My husband had the skirt steak and I had the combo skirt steak and chicken dish. The only thing that would get me back here are the skirt steak and the mojitos. In addition to the food, service was very bad. We saw our server only when we ordered and when we were done. I received my first water refill only after I had finished our appetizer and meal. If you are looking for good empanadas and skirt steak, I'd stick to Tango Sur.

    (2)

  • Shin K.

    Everything we ordered was salty... Also lots of gnats flying around. We spent half the time waving our hands to keep the gnats away.

    (1)

  • lesley r.

    Delicious. No other words to explain. I got the combinación with skirt steak and shrimp. The shrimp were dry so not a fan and I won't get again but the steak was everything. I got it medium (usually I get medium rare) and it was juicy and not chewy. Delicious. I also ordered the pulpitos appetizer. Delicious, must try

    (5)

  • Datis M.

    I rated it 3 stars but would give it 3.5 if that was an option. I really enjoyed the place but there was one factor that knocked it down from a 4 or 5 star rating which I will get into later in the post. My girlfriend and I shared a couple empanadas and ordered the meat platter. We went on a weekday which meant we were allowed to bring a bottle of wine for a $10 corking fee, which was awesome. We shared beef empenada's which were delicious, especially when soaked in their incredible chimichuri sauce. The platter was delicious, but, next time I'd rather just order the skirt steak and chicken which were the two stars of the platter alongside some yucca. One thing that rubbed me the wrong way was that the chorizo was missing off the plate. We didn't even notice, but the server pointed it out and said he'd get us more but never did. Also, my girlfriend and I had pretty bad stomach aches after the fact, but that may have been because we ate so much. One thing I really liked was that they had an incredibly friendly host who seemed to have special needs. He did a great job and it was great to see the restaurant supporting him with a job. Word to the wise: avoid this place if you plan on going out after. You will wreak of meat and your breath will stink of onion. Personally, I'd say it's a sacrifice worth taking.

    (3)

  • Jacob K.

    I have been to Las Tablas twice now and have had a good experience each time. One of my visits was with just one other person, and the staff was very attentive and informative about both the menu and wine selections available for our specific meal. The second time, I went with an 8 person group and the meals took awhile to come out to the table even for a large group. However, the wait staff was very friendly and informative, just a bit less attentive than the first time I visited the restaurant. The food here is excellent. Large portion sizes and not very expensive. Everyone at my table was able to find something they liked and was happy with the experience.

    (4)

  • Taylor M.

    Everything we ate here was simply amazing. The drinks were fantastic. I don't remember what I had (maybe a margarita or two) but I remember there being a huge selection of fruit flavors to choose from. They are no longer BYOB, but people kept making the mistake of bringing stuff in. On to the food, everything I retried was savory and delicious. We started with empanadas and grilled calamari. Both of which were fantastic. For my meal I ordered the chicken with spinach and cheese. My boyfriend ordered the recommended steak specialty. While both were good, I would say go with the steak. I kept stealing bites off his throughout dinner. Writing this is really making me crave that steak! Yummmmy! The service was fantastic, friendly and speedy. My only compliant was the bathrooms are downstairs which was kind of far.

    (5)

  • Arni F.

    This place set a new bar on the salads in Latin restaurants department. Ever notice how whenever a new Mexican or some other Latin-inspired restaurant that isn't owned by a white guy with a goatee (love you, Rick!) the salads consist of a chopped tomato, a sliced onion, and nasty iceberg lettuce sprinkled with some lime juice? I mean WTF?! Not this place! Giant platters of food containing all kinds of meats: pork, chicken, beef and a smattering of roots and veggies. Done deal. The servers are quite attentive, johnny on the spot with the drinks and water pitcher. A fork in one hand and a Seven & 7 in the other. We. Went. To. Town. Lively conversation and good company. The chicken was a little dry, let's be honest, but the rest was absolutely welcome in my digestive tract! Order the house salad, dump some avocados on it, get the BYOB, and some lively chatter going, instant party at this North Side joint without the pretension and parking woes of the River North scene. Then you can show up to your colonoscopy 72 hours later after a gallon of Go-Lytely and you'll be golden (Las Tablas is not meant to treat any condition, always ask your proctologist before blowing out your colon what is right for you)! Now good sirs of Las Tablas, how about we amend that no BYOB Fri-Sun thing?

    (4)

  • Eddie B.

    Las Tablas was their for me for my Colombian food needs the Skirt steak was juicy and cooked to perfection, the rice and bean were made with love as well. On my next trip to Chicago i will be returning.

    (4)

  • Travis L.

    A great place for a celebration! Las Tablas is one of my fiance's favorite places for a special night out and I understand why. Recently, we celebrated her Birthday/Valentine's Day dinner at Las Tablas. Reservations were made for 7:30 and our table was prepared for us immediately upon arrival. The place has a great ambiance for date night, which made the night more fun. The service and food were delightful. We split the Colombian Sampler and realized why everyone raves about their skirt steak. It was the most tender, juicy steak I have had in recent memory. To accompany the sampler, we had delicious mojito's that are a must! To end the night, we received a complimentary dessert surprise since it was her Birthday. A very nice offering! Las Tablas took great care of us for her birthday and we will definitely be returning for more delicious food and great service!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey T.

    Omg. The people yelling and screaming just to talk like if your outside. It's awful and ruins the experience. I mean children are crying its so loud. Come on people have your loud party catered. The food is delicious but I would never come on Thursday thru Saturday. Plus they are so rude I love the waiters they know us by name.

    (3)

  • Jackie M.

    There seem to be a great improvement compared to 3 years ago. I usually order the house special skirt steak combo with octopus. The skirt steak and octopus are usually cooked to perfection/ medium cooked. The seasoning and the flavor is a bit heavy, but i like it! There is a secret menu and i usually order a side order of pork belly was is fried and crunchy! Must order the fresh made Limenada. For dessert, go for the chocolate one and forget about the dessert with fig.

    (4)

  • Asma M.

    Went on a Wednesday night -- not crowded at all but not empty. We ordered the grilled calamari and grilled octopus as appetizers. The calamari was outstanding and the octopus was good too, but hard to eat since it's baby octopus which means you eat the whole body. Personally, I'm straight with brains. Got the Entrana for dinner. Ordered it medium rare, which is def the way to go since they bring it out on a hot plate and it continues to cook. The meat was cooked just right and the seasoning was perfect. The server was super nice but could have been a bit more attentive. He brought the bill and didn't come back -- we had to flag him down. Not a big deal, I still enjoyed my dinner. I will def be back!

    (4)

  • Max T.

    This place is fantastic. Been here a handful of times now and with each cruise of the menu it only gets better. Flavor, check. Quality, check. Meat lovers will love this place. Everything is just cooked perfectly. I recommend the combination plates for first timers to taste a bit of everything. Always always always always get the steak. You do yourself an injustice by not doing so. I'm a surf and turfer so I usually combo up with shrimp but I did myself proud and had calamari which I always want now. The churri sauces are damn good as well... I'm known to put them on everything but everyone already knows I'm saucy. As for the bar, good job on having it up front. I'm not a cocktail person but the margaritas, long islands, and blueberry mojito cocktails were quality. The atmosphere has always been inviting. Good for family get togethers or even a romantic dinner with there being a dim vibrancy to take advantage of. The food should seal the deal for you though and if not go dutch and run. I could eat this everyday.

    (5)

  • Bernice D.

    The food was delicious. We got the mango drinks with milk, empanadas and steak entrees. The enterada was wonderful and juicy. Gave one less star because of service. They might have been a little understaffed and one waiter kept grabbing our plates without asking if we were finished yet. It was a little jarring.

    (4)

  • Marc A.

    One star for horrible service and fraud committed at this location: - CHECK YOUR CC STATEMENTS FOR OVERCHARGED AMOUNTS!!! I went with a large group and gratuity was already included. A couple days later someone in my party told me to check my statement because they had been overcharged $20. Sure enough when I reviewed my CC statement, they overcharged me $20. Another member of our party was also overcharged $15. What a hassle and waste of time it was to call our CC companies and explain the situation. - Food came out uneven for the party. Some members received their food 15 min later, some 30 min later than the first person. Group member who received food last also received the wrong order and so that person had to wait another 10 minutes. The server also looked at that person as if he told him the wrong order to begin with - not true as rest of the party were witnesses! Completely unacceptable. - Pregnant lady in our party asked for steak to be well done. Sure enough it came out medium to medium rare. This establishment just lost a returning customer forever.

    (1)

  • Alecia G.

    OMG...where do I begin... So our reservation was for 8:15pm Saturday night. We were going out for my friend's birthday and had a party of 7. The manager assured us when we walked in that the bill was on the table and we would be seated shortly. We ordered drinks at the bar at 8:45pm because we were still waiting for our table. Ordering drinks was a joke! The bartenders never looked up and there were only 2 to support the bar area AND make drinks for all of the tables. A girl next to us yelled out to the bartender to get his attention. One guy made our drinks and then asked us to wait for the bill. The next guy asked me what he was ringing on my card. It was total chaos!! It took them 10 minutes to run my card which was handed to them when they finished making our drinks. It is now 9:15pm and we are still waiting for our table. I walk over to the hostess who has no idea that we are waiting and tells me that there is no reservation for us. The manager walks up again and asks what is going on. He doesn't even remember talking to us when we walked in and gave him our name originally. As the hostess scrolls through the reservations, I point out our name on the list. It shows that we were seated. She says she doesn't know why it would say that. The manager then says well that's ok because all of the bills are on the tables and we would be seated shortly. Clearly that is what he says to everyone since it was now said twice. We get seated at 9:50pm on some make shift bench with tables pushed together. They clearly messed up but didn't want to let us know. We ordered our drinks, apps, and food at the same time. We had taken a look at the menu at the bar earlier, but the menu we had was different. Some of the items aren't on both menus. The empanadas were overdone and we ordered only chicken and beef and got cheese that was burnt. The server never came back to check on us and we were so hungry at this point that we ate them anyway. Our food finally came at 10:30pm. When I say that you would get a better steak at Golden Nugget, I am being 100% honest!!! The plantains were overdone. The steak was bland. The crab cakes for $26 were burnt on top. It was terrible. The server never checked on us. Still the manager was buzzing around the dining area but not really doing anything. He never checked on us either. We were so ready to leave and it was so terrible that I will never go back. I am saddened by this because the first time I dined here it was great. Great service, great food, great ambiance! Don't bother making a reservation at this place. It's definitely not worth your time!!

    (1)

  • Anays A.

    Tablas is always a great idea! Food, drinks, everything is amazing. Both locations!

    (5)

  • Miguel R.

    We decided to celebrate our friend birthday at Las Tablas and the experience was mixed. The service is a little slow even when the restaurant was almost empty but the food was delicious. We ordered 3 Entranas, 2 Mojitos, 1 Lemonade, Arepas and for desert 3 Flans of Coco. The Extranas were excellent. The Mojitos were ok and the lemonade was good but nothing special. The Arepas and flans of coco were delicious. At the end of the meal we felt the waiter was trying to rush us out before we ask him if we could eat dessert.The restaurant was about 40 % full at the time but our waiter kept bringing us our bill twice and only he check on us once during the whole meal. So good food, nothing spectacular and the service needs improvement.

    (3)

  • Ryan C.

    Food is good. Serving sizes is great. Service was poor. Specifically, I noticed when I received my bill that I was overcharged. The waiter charged me for 2 of the premium margaritas even though I ordered the cheaper version. I told the waiter this and asked him to run my card with the change. He came back and said he couldn't do it (he did run my card) and that in order to repay me, let him know when we come back and he'll get me a free order of guacamole. It was only a difference of $4-5 so it wasn't a huge deal but I've never had a waiter refuse to fix his mistake even though he admitted he did it. Also, my wife ordered a virgin mojito which was the same price of a non-virgin mojito which I found odd. So basically, had we stuck with water, it would have been a great meal.

    (2)

  • Ada H.

    The Entraña is the best skirt steak you'll ever have! Las Tablas has been one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago for some time. I was always just to lazy to write a review but they deserve it!!! The food and drinks have been consistently good here year after year. That's more than I can say about many places! I ALWAYS order the combination (combinaciones) with the entraña and something else. Usually I'll order it with baby octopus, but sometimes with calamari. But definitely get the entraña! The combination comes with sweet plantain, yuca, and potato. I always substitute the yuca and potato for rice since I don't like those starches.. I love mixing the chimichurri sauce with the rice and then eat it with the meat. My mouth is salivating just thinking about this! I've had the empanadas and the arepa appetizers. I prefer the chorizo con arepa versus the arepa rellena because I didn't care for the mushroom sauce. Also must get the flavored margaritas here! So good and strong.

    (5)

  • Kate U.

    I've been to this place a couple of times and it's amazing! This restaurant is great in both a group setting or for a date. It's BYOB monday through thursday, and you can select from different meats that come on a hot plate served right in front of you so the meat stays warm. For the appetizers I would highly suggest the empanadas. For the main dish you can get a combination of meat if you choose (chicken & steak, steak & shrimp, etc) and your entree comes with a plaintain and a potato. Very tasty! Great price for what you get and you can't beat the atmosphere. They have some interesting artwork in the restaurant.

    (5)

  • Angelica P.

    This place was really good! Every empanada was tasty and full of the meat/cheese. I had the grilled shrimp which was a good sized portion and very tasty.

    (5)

  • Tiia N.

    I've been waiting to find a great Colombian restaurant in the city (I'm Colombian!) and finally found my favorite restaurant of ANY one in the city, hands down. I was so excited to discover that there's one in our neighborhood too. The steak was unbelievable, with the sauces making the dish. The service was a little slow, but it was a very busy night and it didn't bother us at all. Plus I don't expect super fast service in a south american restaurant!

    (5)

  • Pete C.

    Absolutely a great dining experience! The staff was wonderful with exceptional service! Our waiter explained everything, was patient and very attentive! I had a Mojito and it was well made, very minty with the right amount of sugar without being sickening sweet. Enough about the great service and the Mojito, let's move on to why we are all here! The food!!! The grilled octopus was phenomenal! It was grilled perfectly, not a bite of it was rubbery, the flavor was amazing, I could have eaten 3 plates of it! The empanada's were filled with the meat and cheese, had a great crunch to it without being over cooked! We had the combo of chicken, beef & cheese! My entree was the steak and chicken combination that arrives with yucca, plantains and a Colombian potato. the sides were very tasty. The chicken was probably the best I have had in awhile, it was moist and tender, very flavorful. The steak was melt in your your awesomeness! Outstanding flavors, cooked perfectly to my medium rare request. A friend had the steak and pork and the pork which was just as good... Another friend had the combo with the chicharrón and a Colombian sausage my God was it all good! We all were so full from the food there was no room for dessert, but we will definitely make sure we leave a small space in out bellies for that next time.

    (5)

  • Radha K.

    I came to Las Tablas this week as a party of 6. Upon being seated and throughout the evening, the service was very friendly and attentive. It's BYOB, but they won't uncork/allow more than 3 bottles of wine. Apparently one party a while ago ended up suing this place after they BYOB'ed, drank too much and someone hurt themselves in the restaurant. Yeah, the stairs to the bathroom are a little steep (watch your step!), but who BYOBs so much and then tries to sue a restaurant?! Don't be a jerk! In any case, the food was pretty damn good. I ordered off of the restaurant week menu...LOTS of food for the price and I would definitely come back. The emenadas (chicken and beef) were booth good but I loved the chicken/mushroom cornbread even better. I also ordered the Entrana dinner (skirt steak, medium rare) which pretty much melted in my mouth. Others ordered the Picada Colombiana, a combo plate of MEAT. I didn't try any because mine was so good, but theirs must have been just as good since nobody even offered to share. I don't like chocolate so I ordered the flan for dessert...it was delicious. I hear the mousse was good as well! We went on a Wednesday night at 830pm so the crowd was mostly dying down, but I'll be back for more!

    (4)

  • Erica I.

    I finally went to a colombian steakhouse! All my years in Chicago, and walking past Tango Sur, and I never went there. So I bought the Groupon for Las Tablas and went on a Sunday night. It wasn't crowded at all! I got the popular marinated steak with yucca, potato, and plantain. The steak was very juicy and flavorful, and the plantain was SO yummy and kind of melted in your mouth. I didn't care for the yucca, which was disappointing because I had yucca fries in Florida once and loved them! Maybe the fried part helped them taste good :) Another person at the table also had a plantain that was really hard and not sweet at all, but I'm glad mine was good! We also got the empanadas, and I've heard how delicious they are, but to me they were so deep fried and pretty blah tasting. We got a cheese, chicken, and beef, so it was wasn't just one specific flavor that we didn't like. I'm glad I came here at least once during my time living in Chicago!

    (4)

  • Chrissy W.

    We came here for a friend's birthday and the staff at Las Tablas was incredibly accommodating. Our server brought me a pitcher of water upon my request, and made sure that it was full at all times, which is good because these days I'm like a freakin' camel. He kept our birthday cake in the back room and was quick for such a large party (like 10 ladies). The decor was really cool. With warm lighting and authentic Columbian art upon our entrance, I knew that we were in for a lovely evening. The bathroom lobby downstairs was also super nice; the only problem was the setup of the actual ladies' room. Don't try to pee with 4 other girls. The doors all knock into each other and block the sinks...talk about a cluster-f. The menu had a lot of delicious looking options, and it was difficult to decide what I wanted to eat! I ordered the porkchops with yuca, plantain and potato. OH MAN. Everytime I thought I was going to stop and take some home, I kept eating. The food is served on wooden blocks (las tablas maybe?) and fresh from the grill. The tables were set with plenty of chimichurri and another sauce for extra seasoning and flavor. Really tasty. The yuca was a bit dry, but with the chimichurri, all was better. Well done, Las Tablas.

    (4)

  • Rhett B.

    The meats at Las Tablas are fantastic! I went with 3 friends, and we tried a variety of dishes. The entrana (skirt steak) was incredible! Rich in flavor, cooked perfectly -- really couldn't imagine a more flavorful steak. The pork loin was very good too. The grilled octopus was excellent -- chewy but not rubbery, and it could easily have been bland but wasn't because of the smoky grill flavor. Their grilled shrimp was wonderful too, but not much different than you can get elsewhere. We enjoyed their version of the guacamole, and the plantain chips made the dish more interesting. I was looking forward to trying the sides of yucca, plantain and potatoes, but they were pretty bland. The empanada appetizers were a slight disappointment too -- not much flavor, though the sauces helped a bit. I'll definitely be going back next time I'm in Chicago!

    (4)

  • Jamal A.

    Today was a great day, eating at at this restaurant made me feel like I was eleven years old. It felt like I was floating on the clouds on one every bite. The steak was delicious and tender. My brother Bassam can also agree with me. Bassam, you are my brother, we are so so much alike and so much much different. Back to the steak, I will be back again here in the future. Also, sitting outside made me me feel like I was back in kirkuk, village where my family still still lives. Great food, great atmosphere, great customer service. A++++

    (5)

  • Anne S.

    I came here for lunch on Friday at about 1pm with coworkers. The place was empty. There was one other table of people in the restaurant. You would have thought that this would have made service really quick, but it was not. There are several items on the lunch menu, but they were out of everything but their standard lunch option. This was fine with me, since it was what I planned to order, but it did disappoint one of the girls in our group. The lunch deal is $9 for chicken or steak with rice, beans, a bit of salad, and sweet plantain. The food was delicious and plentiful. Both the steak eaters and those of us with chicken were very pleased with our food.

    (4)

  • Valerie W.

    Las Tablas es BUENO! I came to Las Tablas last Saturday night for a girlfriend's surprise 30th birthday. There were t-shirts and table confetti. For which Las Tablas was extremely accommodating. We were a bit anxious to be seated a few minutes past our reservation time, but that was only because we were afraid the birthday girl would walk in while we were all standing in the lobby. Luckily, we were able to stall her driver, and any other time, waiting a few minutes past the reservation would not have been a problem, especially for a group of 10 semi-rowdy ladies. We were seated near the window at a long table, which was the one downside for me, but that's always the way with large groups, one side of the table can't have a conversation with the other. Our server was generous with the water, menu explanations, and his patience, as ten indecisive ladies tried to make up their mind with the fantastic menu selections. I loved that the "specialties" section of the menu reads "Our most enthusiastic recommendations and top-rated items." Well, yes, I definitely had to order something from there. I would not recommend a vegetarian attempt to come in for a meal at Las Tablas, because the menu is very meat-centric (many steaks, pork, chicken, some seafood.) I ordered a Combinacion - from their specialties menu, of Entrana skirt steak (a house specialty) and grilled baby octopus. All dishes come with yuca, plantain, and potato. For $21, the amount of food on my plate was very impressive. I could've made more than one meal out of it, if I wasn't such a boom boom. There was a HUGE portion of steak (a full portion for sure, no half portion because this was a combo) and no less than six baby octopus. I was at first a little weirded out that there were WHOLE baby octopii on my plate, but got over it after tasting one bite. Between the chimmichuri and spicy chimmichuri (I can't remember what the spicy sauce was called...) everything was perfect. The steak and octopus were perfectly cooked and seasoned, tender and juicy. The price was definitely right! For 10 ladies, all having entrees, two bottles of wine for the table, I think we got out of there for $37-$40 per person (this also included covering the birthday girl's dinner.) Las Tablas is definitely a place I'd go back to for a date night, girls night, any night!

    (5)

  • Lili C.

    The food was good but disappointed with the service. Hostess signal from far away which one was our table. Did not bother to be polite and come and say follow me, sit us down and say enjoy. My 76 year old mother-in-law asked the waitress what comes with the Bandeja Paisa? And the waiter answer was unbelievable! She answer that it came with what it said in the menu. Very rude! Did not bother to begin to explain to her, how does she know if the customer needs her glasses that she forgot? Or cant read under their dark light? She notice our reaction and then began to be nicer. I order a side dish with my soup (yuca) and she never brought it. We will definitely will not come back even if the food was good. I hope owners read this and train staff to be polite and have better manners with their customers.

    (2)

  • Kristal T.

    The food was great which is the only reason why they get 4 stars. The service here could use a great deal of work. None of the staff was very attentive and my drink came after I was done with dinner. Seems like a short-staffed issue to me. But it was clean and the food was very very good.

    (4)

  • Kyle D.

    Bottle of wine and a giant metal plate of goodness make for a great dining experience at Las Tablas. Our party of 5 was seated within 5 minutes during a busy night. The service was great, fast and friendly, and the atmosphere was good. They have a bar at the front of the restaurant, but overall the mood is low-lit and comforting with low music. Although it was busy so the place wasn't quiet at all. The food is what steals the show however. After ordering wine, we got our meals, all of which were paired with yucca, potato, and plantain. You can choose a meat (or 2, or more), I went with the carne asada and grilled calamari. Fantastic to say the least. Everyone enjoyed their meals and we went home happy. No complaints, other than it was pricier than I expected it to be. However, for what we got, I think it was totally worth it. Great find! Atmosphere: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 9.5/10

    (5)

  • Katie C.

    Steak was cooked perfectly. Chicken was succulent and glorious. Empanadas combo for the appetizer was a nice treat. The sides of plantain, yuca and potato were all delicious. Ample seating. Romantic ambiance. Attentive and friendly service. All the makings of a five-star review. EXCEPT. We brought a bottle of wine because we heard this place was BYOB. Turns out, they are in fact BYOB (we went on a Monday evening). But the fine gentleman who waited on us said the corkage fee for one bottle of wine (ONE BOTTLE) was $15. FIFTEEN DOLLARS! I PAID FIVE DOLLARS FOR THAT BOTTLE HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY EXPECT ME TO PAY A FIFTEEN DOLLAR CORKAGE FEE!! THAT'S THE COST OF AN ENTIRE MEAL RIGHT THERE!!! ahem. So, all and all, decent experience. Without the corkage fee fiasco, it would have been a five-star review. Hands down.

    (3)

  • Andy S.

    MEAT PLATE!!!! I should stop the review right there. What I am referring to is the dinner for two in which they bring out basically a sampler of the various meats as well as fried plantains, potato, and yucca. It is basically a giant meat plate (chicken, skirt steak, chorizo, ribs) and also has an arepa! The plate is a little on the pricey side at roughly $40 but muy muy delicioso. The skirt steak is by far the best meat there. Others were very good too but the steak was numero uno. Empanadas are also good though I much preferred the beef to the chicken. Didn't try the cheese empanada which was probably also a winner. Service was pretty good. Nice ambiance. A little on the pricey side but probably typical for Lakeview - $8 cocktails, $7 sangria glasses, per person entrees are between $15-$25 I believe. I would come back for the skirt steak but would have to mentally prepare myself to spend probably at least $50 for two people.

    (4)

  • Annie B.

    Went here last Thursday for a friend's birthday dinner. May have been the bottle of wine I drank (thanks BYOB) but it was a great time. Good service, good food, good for big groups. I ordered the combinaciones with the skirt steak and shrimp. Shrimp was tasty, but no matter what you do, get the skirt steak and make sure everyone else you are with orders the skirt steak so you don't have to share yours.. :) We also shared the empanada sampling as an appetizer.... Really can't go wrong with stuffed pastries filled with cheese, beef, and chicken.

    (4)

  • Hello K.

    The hype over this place is so not worth it. Let me get into what happened when I arrived there with my family on 6/10/14 We had a party of 8. Let me point out that we were the first people there. Okay. We were seated, and the place was empty. I thought we should be eating in no time. WRONG! it took our waiter about 10-15 minutes to ask us what we wanted to drink. Other guests had started to arrive and there were about 20 people in total in Las tablas. They received there beverages before us! And may I repeat that we came first! So then we just brushed off our anger and gave the guy some slack since he was working by himself, but thought that he should be used to this amount of people in the resturant. So we then order some empinadas we get the chicken and cheese. They weren't that great, your better off making them yourself. Now let me tell you the most disgusting part!! As we're eating I noticed by the door where the food comes out from (note: it was my first time at las tablas) I saw plastic bags up. Indicating to me that they're doing some type of construction. Interesting I thought. I told myself there is no way in hell that my food is going to come out of there. Then we see a man dressed in construction clothes covered in dirt walks in carrying these water holes. And I thought they better not. And yes my friends they do! THEY START SAND BLASTING THE DANG FLOORS!! While customers are waiting on there food. How disgusting! Me and my uncle were flipping out when we saw white dirt dust flying up in the air! (Note: sand blasting is water pressure used to clean the floor whether there be grease, dirt, etc. that dirt is the water FYI and turns into vapor) and the food comes out of there. Im dying at this point and want to slap someone! An hour has now passed by and we still haven't received our food. At this point were grossed out and no longer want to eat there. We call the waiter over. My uncle tells him that what they are doing is so unprofessional and gross! And that what they are doing can get there restaurant closed! My uncle is an INSPECTOR! BTW The waiter calls his manager and my uncle talks to him complaining. The manager doesn't care what the problem was about. And says sorry there's nothing he can do.They still made us pay for our drinks which cost $2.00 for a can of pop! And the empinadas. This place was absolutely horrible, horrid, rude, unprofessional, and absolutely disgusting. I highly recommend that you don't eat there. Not just for incident, but for that fact that the manager doesn't give a crap about the customers, and that my friends says enough about Las Tablas. Note: we were there for a total of 2 hours!!!! Hope this helped!

    (1)

  • Sarah Y.

    If I'm ever in the mood for a big and juicy steak, I know where I'm coming...HERE! The skirt steak, which is aggressively featured in like 5 places on the menu, was well worth it. Very juicy, tender, red, and flavorful. I also liked all the carby sides like the potatoes, plantains and yucca. It's just a solid hearty meal for the sturdy man (or woman). The drinks were meh. My caipirinha was VERY strong, like the waiter cautioned it would be. However, the sangria was like juice, and I question whether the wine to juice ratio is anything more than 1:5.

    (4)

  • Shannon S.

    My husband and I really enjoyed our meal here. Food was authentic and most was shipped in from Colombia (according to our server). Portions were large and the juices were delicious. We had the empanadas sampler with one chicken, beef and cheese empanada. The beef was the winner although the chicken was good. But, the cheese empanada? Neither of us had ever seen a cheese empanada. We also tried the arepa with cheese. My husband was like a kid again with this! And we shared the plantain with guava paste and cheese. He said the cheese tasted authentic but I did not and while we liked the flavor of both of these, I was disappointed that they had been microwaved and not baked. We both got the bandeja paiso and loved them. The chicharrones were delish as was the steak. Everything on the platter was awesome and we could not come close to finishing with the apps too. Can't wait to go back and get some aguardiente :)

    (4)

  • Steve P.

    The mixed drinks are excellent and whether you're into veggie, chicken, or steak, their dishes are a savory, salty, kapow-punch in the tastebuds that's kept me coming back since they were across the street in the 90's

    (5)

  • Martin P.

    This is a good steak and seafood joint. Their drinks are also good. The pricing is not bad I believe they have a plate called tierra y mar. That plate alone will be enough for 2 people.

    (4)

  • Domingo R.

    Great authentic Colombian food ! And I've had alot of Colombian food... Would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Sameer R.

    Food is decent. Service is truly horrible and slow. I wouldn't recommend. I don't think it's worth the wait, for something you can get an outback.

    (3)

  • Andrew N.

    For only $40 you can get nearly all the best stuff this place offers and it's more than enough for 2 people. The margaritas are really good as well, albeit a little pricey, but right in line with most Chicago drinks. We have been here twice. Service was awesome indoors, but a little on the slow side when we sat outside last Fall.

    (4)

  • Vy N.

    We were very excited to come here (had a large party) but the whole ordeal was so difficult. It took about 2 hours for our food to come out and then they refused to split the check. Service with slow and as a result many of our dishes came out lukewarm. It was hard to pay and the time it took to get our check/run the cards tool as long as ordering/getting our meals. It is not liky that we'll be back.

    (1)

  • David A.

    I would have given a 3.5 if available. My family and I were visiting Chicago and hapoened to run into this place and decided to give it a try: I'll start from the bottom and work my way up. When we arrived, they walked us through and sat us next to quite a significant spill. We took it upon ourselves to move to a diferent table; which turned out yo be very wobbly. Once the spill was cleaned, we moved back to our original table. The waiter always seemed to be in a hurry, giving the sense that he had 'other things to do'; which was reflected on his tip. Last, but definitely not least, the food was fantastic. If the rating was solely based on the food, then it would be 5 star rating. However, this rating reflects the whole 'dinning' experience.

    (3)

  • George J.

    Very cool place with great food! A few friends and I wanted a nice place with good food so I found Las Tablas on Yelp with some great reviews so we decided to try it, and it lived up to it's rating. I had the skirt steak and my friend had what I believe was steak and chicken fajitas and everything was so tender tasty, everyone was happy. The only somewhat bad thing was the groups there were very loud and it got annoying but as far as the ambiance and the food it was awesome!

    (4)

  • Fabiola I.

    I was here for my boyfriend's birthday on 12/05 this place is AMAZING!! They have a great selection and the ambience is perfect! It's the perfect for a date night! We ordered a pitcher of their sangria, it was perfect, it wasn't super sweet which was what I loved about it. As an appetizer we had the empanada combination plate which gives you a little sample of each empanada they carry, my favorite was the beef empanada. As an entrée we ordered the picada Colombiana, it was a HUGE portion! You have to definitely order this if you can, you get to try a little bit of everything, the skirt steak just melts in your mouth! Everything was delicious and our waiter was very attentive.

    (5)

  • Jeanne F.

    We just had lunch here and all I can say is I am in a food coma. The special skirt steak cooked and seasoned to perfection, the combination empanada's to die for and oh the coconut flan......drooooool. Great food topped of with a warm, inviting space and excellent service, what more could you ask for?

    (5)

  • Katy R.

    Visited again 10/14 with brother-in-law visiting from AZ. He's still raving! Even called to confirm the name as he was going to refer a colleague! Fantastic experiences.

    (5)

  • M K.

    I came here for someone's birthday on a weekend evening and ordered the steak & shrimp combo. Definitely enjoyed my meal.....from the perfectly cooked and seasoned meat to the yuca and potatoes.....the plantains could have been more crispy, but still decent. I also really liked the ambiance of the restaurant....it felt authentic and one could even imagine they were in a restaurant in south america. Service was OK, it took a while for me to get my ice water....but otherwise they were pretty good about filling it up again. Portions were decent, not leftover large....but not small either. I would come back again.

    (4)

  • Jennifer P.

    For a Zagat-rated restaurant, I'm wondering who is employed at Zagat and how they rate food. Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoyed my food at Las Talbas, while I was eating it. I was fortunate to dine here on a wednesday evening. Thank goodness there was no wait time and we pretty much had our free reign over where we sat. They tried to seat my friend and I next to drafty windows, and we weren't having it! The restaurant was authentic enough; meaning whoever designed the interior made a strong effort to make everything look rustic yet sterile. The floors were tile, which probably makes for easy clean up. Think Casron Pirie Scott's representation of Columbian decor. For dinner, I had the Plato Combinado, featuring your choice of two different meats, served with sweet plantain, yuca, and potato. For my meats, I chose my two favorites: skirt steak and baby octopus. I've never experienced such food bliss. The octopus was crisp on the edges without being too stiff or gelatinous in the middle. The grilled flavor beaconed spring and brighter days to follow. Pink on the inside, without being too rare, the skirt steak was surrounded with same level of crispiness found on the octopus. Both meats were salted, buttered, and enhanced with just enough garlic as to not overpower their true flavors. On the side, the waiter brought two different kinds of salsas, one mild and one spicy. I ended up mixing them together because separately their core flavors did not do well. Then I slathered my sides with them. Once I realized how tasty they were, I also put it all over the rest of my skirt steak. The baby octopus was gone in two seconds. I wouldn't have disrespected such a delicacy in the first place! One thing that always unnerves me about any Hispanic, Spanish, or South American restaurant: the mojito/margarita fail. Las Talbas does not make a mojito fit for any of these cultures. It wasn't sweet enough. Certainly strong enough, but I wasn't exactly looking to paint the town red on a wednesday night. I had two anyway. The best mojito I've ever had was at the top of the W Hotel location right on Lake Michigan. I'm beginning to think that fresh ginger is the key to making this cocktail "pop." I allow my inner girlie girl to step out when it comes to mojitos. I expect a mint ginger sugar salad with lots of rum, gosh darn it! It took everything I had not to regress into a tantrum. Just kidding. Overall I would have had nothing truly negative to say about Las Talbas. My issue with the restaurant happened after I left, and my experience the next morning. Everything that exited all of my orifices reeked of garlic for almost two days! It was disgusting! I try to eat healthy and confess that I had nothing but healthy meals for two weeks. Perhaps going straight into such a heavy meal, and eating like a pig, did not agree with my body. Kind of like people who go through rehab, and then experience severe consequences when they relapse. Perhaps this was nature's way of telling me to do away with my inner foodie. You know what? You only live once, and I am not about to give up on my love for all kinds of food! I just think I'll consider this experience should the opportunity to visit this place presents itself once more. I'm single now, and if I come here again, I better be single; or my boyfriend better be out of town!

    (3)

  • Brenda H.

    I enjoyed Las Tablas for over 9 years (I feel old now...). I've always been a big fan of their empanadas and steaks. This place has glowing reviews, it's no secret it's delicious.. but I'm writing to say that I've avoided it because the empanadas aren't as good as they used to be. And though I am still a fan of their steaks, I've found a new Colombian place that has equally delicious steaks.. for much, much less. This other place also has better, bigger empandas--for only a $1 each. You've given me so many delicious meals, Las Tablas, but I've moved on. Maybe it's the economy forcing me to stick to a smaller budget but I'll still come back if someone celebrates a birthday here. I wish I could say I'll miss you but, let's be honest, I won't. The other place isn't as crowded or as expensive as you. They have a great steak deal every day, which practically guarantees I will choose them over you.

    (3)

  • Ashour R.

    Our waiter forgot about us for about an hour... We spoke to another waiter who said he would fix it and nothing. When our waiter came back about an hour later he asked how thing have been, when we told him he never brought us our food he chuckled and moved on. Very poor service!!! Will never come back!! We went to pay the bill and out of the four of us, two had cash and the other two credit cards. We told the waiter to apply the $60 in cash to the bill and split the difference between the two cards. After he charged the cards we noticed, he split the whole bill between the two cards. So we called him back and asked him what happen to the $60 in cash? He said, I THOUGHT YOU LEFT THAT FOR ME AS TIP. What!!????? Why would we give someone who was busy waiting on a table of 20 and forgot all about us a 50% tip. This guys must have been smoking something... Last, we never got the desert that was included in our meal, but at that point we just wanted to get out of there. Finally, We asked for the manager and was referred to a bus boy who spoke very little English and wasn't able to help us with our issue. Actually, he didn't say a word, just looked around clueless. What an experience.

    (1)

  • mark w.

    It used to be a nice place to eat but now it's going straight into the toilet. I am one of those people that lives in the neighborhood near this restaurant so I both dine in and take delivery from Las Tablas. More and more often I have had problems with delivery orders and been unimpressed while dining in. I cannot understand how a written order can be ignored, and ignored on multiple occasions. Tonight was the last straw; the straw that broke the camel's back. The straws have been building up for sometime. I placed my dinner order through Grub Hub and when I determined that not everything that I had ordered was included I contacted Grub Hub customer service, via their web form. Not hearing from them for approximately 10 minutes, I telephoned Grub Hub customer service. They then contacted the restaurant and the Las Tablas flatly refused to correct the problem. Grub Hub 'generously' gave me $5 credit for a ruined dinner, (gotta love those guys, but don't have to do so much business with them anymore). When I called the restaurant and explained what had gone wrong, again they refusal to correct the problem. They offered just a vague suggestion that maybe next time I order I remind them to put everything in the bag... What is really galling is the idea that I should have known, based on passed experience, and just pulled out my Cuisinart and whipped up a batch of the missing sauce. Mine is fresher and better balanced...

    (2)

  • Nora F.

    FYI: byob is only mon-thurs Came for dinner with a group of 8. Would definitely recommend reservations. But it seems that this place was accommodating for groups, as we were surrounded by large tables of fellow patrons. VERY reasonably priced for groups. The benefits of coming in large numbers: the ability to sample & share a larger variety of dishes! Our group recommends: -appetizers: empanadas & arepa rellenas -main dish (great for splitting in 2): Entrana (house skirt steak that comes with a side of plaintain, yuca and potato) or the Matrimonio (steak & chicken combo that also comes with the aforementioned sides) This place is definitely better suited for carnivores, as the vegetarian options were limited.

    (4)

  • Lisa H.

    Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse has been on my bookmarks to try for a while. To my surprise, my friends brought me here for dinner for my birthday. They are just way too sweet. When you step through the front doors of Las Tablas, it feels like you have stepped into a whole different world. It's like something out of a book: dim lights, amazing paintings on the walls, and rustic wooden tables and chairs. They even serve food on wooden boards. For food, I decided to share the Picada Mar y Tierra with a friend. It came with skirt steak, ribs, chicken, pork, rib-eye steak, shrimp, baby octopus, calamari, chorizo, green plantain, sweet plantain, yuca, arepa (flatbread), and potato. Oh my goodness, was this a lot of food. I thought the cook on the meats and the seafood was perfect. Not too chewy. The only thing was that everything was really salty and over seasoned. I probably went through 5-7 glasses of water and couldn't bear to eat anymore. The service here was impeccable: food came out quickly, water was always full, and there was never a rush to leave. But after all the great reviews, I was truly disappointed with the taste of the food. All the salt and seasonings overwhelmed the true taste of the meat and seafood. You know steak and seafood tastes well on its own. Maybe they were trying to mask the quality of their meat or we just had a large group and they were rushing? Either way, hold off the salt!!

    (2)

  • Britt C.

    KIWI MOJITOS & CHIMICHURRI First time for both. And I want more! Kiwi is an amazing fruit, and I'm pretty sure no one has ever even thought to put it in a mojito. I have had several different fruit flavored mojitos, but never a kiwi, until Las Tablas. It was SO good. For an appetizer I decided to get adventurous and ordered the char-grilled baby octopus. I have only had octopus like once before, and it was in a seafood mix....so I really didn't know how it was gonna be. The grilled flavor was amazing. I would definitely order this again. I also got the Churrasquito, small strip steak which came with sweet plantain, fried yuca, and a potato. All of the sides were interesting and fun to try. But the best part was having two chimichurri sauces, one spicy - one not? I don't know if the other one is like the standard chimi flavor, but they were both good. I really liked having a bite of something with the spicy, and then going for the regular...and then I just kept repeating. The portions are large, especially if you have appetizers with your meal. You might wanna split if you're into that kinda thing, or you'll have a snack for later for sure!

    (4)

  • Natalie N.

    I must say, I have tried plenty of steak houses, and this place has one of the top steaks I have ever had. I have been there a few times and all times the food has been consistently delish. My personal favorite is the entraña steak (medium) paired with the grilled octopus. It comes with a potato and a piece of fried yuca. The chimichurri sauce is super delish...can't seem to copy it at home :-( I'm not a big drinker but I hear the mojitos are good. I personally like the sangria. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. My favorite server is Pablo, he is always in a good mood and makes sure you are satisfied with your experience. Drinkers beware: it's a bit of a hike getting to the bathroom since it's in the basement... proceed with caution ( or use the elevator, no biggie) Must try at least once...but surely you will be back.

    (4)

  • Diane S.

    I was not sure what to expect. I had no idea what Columbian meant in regards to the types of food. I was pleasantly surprised. The empanadas were awesome and the combination plate of skirt steak and shrimp was so tasty. I was not a fan of the yucca Our waiter was very nice but kept disappearing. Had we had better service, I would have rated 5 stars

    (4)

  • Cate B.

    AMAZING. Have been a couple times since I was referred here from a friend. The Steak Entranas is by far my favorite thing I have eaten there so far. First time we went on a Friday and it wasn't a long wait at all, maybe 5 minutes but we did think it was BYOB, come to find out it isn't. Great food, great prices, and great service, they will take the time to explain each and every dish to you!

    (5)

  • Rui L.

    I wish I can give this place negative stars. Was very impressed by my first visit, so decided to stop by with my friend for a second visit with a groupon in hand. Everything was going well until I received my main entree, wish was supposed to have steak in there, but I did not see any, so there goes our nightmare. We quickly got waiters attention and told him we didn't get any steak in the order, he apologized and told us to hold while he speaks to the kitchen. 15 mins went by, no sign of our waiter, he would stop by other tables but not ours. I finally was fed up ask other waiter to go get him, then he finally stopped by and told us that the order came with steak, and basically accused us of eating it and then accuse them of not having it in the steak. After going back and forth with the waiter, the manager which is like 15 min wait each time we spoke to them, an hr went by, still not resolved, at that point I was really not in the mood for food anymore, so I told my friend lets just forget it I don't want my steak and let's just leave. The manager told us we can just give him the groupon and leave. Which I was glad to do because I can never see myself step a foot in the restaurant. Horrible customer service!

    (1)

  • Ericka A.

    This place is great for a birthday celebration, but make sure you have reservations. We arrived a little before 5pm because we were told we couldn't save a spot around 6pm; however, we left close to 7pm and it wasn't anywhere near full yet. A number of people were in the front waiting to be seated, but I think letting us have a later reservation wouldn't have been a big deal. It's hard to tell. They boast "Best Mojito in Chicago." It wasn't my favorite as I prefer a little more sugar and a lot more mint. But I will say it definitely made my top 5. If it were less than $8, I'd have ordered a second, even a third to try the fresh fruit version. The strawberry one looked tasty. Megan G. and I both ordered the Combinaciones with Entrana Skirt Steak & Grilled Shrimp. We agreed that the Shrimp was cooked to perfection. I feared it would flavorless because it looked dry, but it was nicely grilled on the outside and incredibly juicy on the inside. Whatever seasoning they use complements it. The Entrana was the show stopper, though. Mine was ordered medium-rare and delivered that way. It was incredibly juicy and flavorful. You could have sliced it with a spoon, and the complimentary Chimichurri (the fresher, greener one was a group favorite) only enhanced it; however, you won't be disappointed if you eat it plain. I liked the side of Yuca Frita and Baked Potato, but it was almost too much of a good starchy thing. They were a little too similar to be served together. I could have eaten an entire platter of the Plantains. We were disappointed to find that their dessert menu was limited. It's possible it was only that evening, but they had two options on a Saturday night - Flan or Figs & Tres Leches Caramel. Most of us went with Flan and loved it. It's one of the better ones in the city. It sounded like the Figs were good too, but the Flan was best. They are BYOB Monday-Thursday, but you can only bring wine and it's an $8 corkage fee.

    (4)

  • Patty L.

    The combo is AHHHHHHMAZING! I had steak & chicken, my friend had the combo too but did shrimp. Platter was cooked to perfection! I wish I can give it 5 stars but the service wasn't up to par until Pablo asked if we were taken care of. We had to wait for a table & the bar wasn't even busy and didn't get asked for drinks for almost 7min, they stared and looked our way but didn't even walk towards us to ask. Then when asked if we wanted to sit outside/inside we opted for outside since it was perfect out. Idk if inside would've been better but we had to wait almost 10min for a waiter while every other table was being waited on. I would've understood if they were busy for a Saturday night at 8pm, BUT IT WASNT. Food wise, 5 star.

    (3)

  • Kristina C.

    This place is AMAZING! By far one of the best steaks I've ever had. The steaks are big, juicy and FULL of flavor. I ordered the steak and shrimp combo and was extremely pleased. We ordered a pitcher of sangria which also was very good. We will definitely be back soon!

    (5)

  • T J.

    Consistency is key and we had the best dining experience that we've had in a long time. The food and drinks were as good as we'd remembered. But the star of the show was the general manager Joseph who actually cares about the customer experience. We were placed at a tiny table for two and as soon as a 4-top opened up he moved us so we'd be more comfortable. I saw him do the same for another set of customers. Everyone was attentive, from the bar tender who was swamped (but found time to apologize for the wait on drinks) to the bus boys. Good service makes people come back. Thanks a lot for a great evening.

    (5)

  • Kristin M.

    Las Tablas was alright and would be willing to try it again. Food was a good value (pretty large portions and very tasty for reasonable prices), and I noticed a $12.95 brunch advertised that looked appetizing. Also, our server told us BYOW (no beer) is M-R, and FYI there isn't a corkage fee option if you bring your own bottle on a Fri.-Sun. (Went on a Fri. so couldn't use the bottle we brought.) The large soup was enough to feed the whole table it seemed, and everyone who ordered steaks were happy. The side of fried plantain was also solid. Nice ambiance, too; though service wasn't the best the night we were there. Especially if you live in the neighborhood, I would recommend trying it. Seemed like it would be a good spot for groups, as there were a couple of large parties there that evening.

    (3)

  • Barbara B.

    Very, very good Colombian restaurant with hearty portions and a lively atmosphere. A little on the pricier side but still a great place and a go-to restaurant for steak.

    (5)

  • Katie K.

    After a recent trip to Colombia, my husband were anxious to check this local neighborhood restaurant (Lincoln Ave location) out to see if it compared to the amazing cuisine we experienced in Bogota and Armenia...We absolutely love this place! We always bring visitors here and the byob option on Mon-Thurs is a huge plus too. Some of our favorite menu items are the Arepas, Empanadas, Entrana skirt steak. The Picada Colombiana is a great one to share and try all the different kinds of meat. We've also always had very friendly service. Highly recommend Las Tablas!

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    Just a great place with great food and reasonable prices

    (5)

  • Karis W.

    We came here for my best friend's Bachelorette party dinner and had a fantastic time. We had about 12 girls and they were great - the service was quick and the restaurant has a fun atmosphere. Order the Aborrajado - you don't know what it is and I didn't either but I promise you it'll be your new favorite dish. It's sweet, salty, and absolutely delicious. We ordered 6 appetizers (Arepas are good too) and shared entree's between two girls - the servings here are pretty generous, and none of us were disappointed by our meals. I also really loved their Chimichurri, the perfect fresh accompaniment to steak. One of the girls in our group said that this place was her and her husband's fave Columbian steakhouse in Chicago and it's easy to see why. Whether with a group or on a date, check this place out and make sure to order up some mojitos!

    (4)

  • Cody W.

    Group of eight of us went there for an anniversary on a Friday. Reservations were made for 7pm and were honored and on time for seating. We were waiting for one other couple so we ordered a pitcher of sangria and some appetizers. The empanadas were good and the sangria was as well. However that was where it all ended. We were curious about the chorizo corn bread and asked our waiter. He explained , in limited ability, that the were circular and smaller. We also assumed that from his explanation that it was your typical corn bread with chorizo. Not so. First the chorizo is a link and not part of the corn bread at all. Second the corn bread was not bread at all but more like a flat cake and not what you would expect. Yes you expect a different type of food but this is why we asked the waiter. Finally our next couple arrived and we were waiting to order another round of drinks. And we waited. The time to order and the time to get to our table was fifteen minutes. Most of the meal our drinks were empty. Two drinks was all most of us had. On top of poor service with the drinks at one point our dishes were stacked for our table to be cleared. The waiter came to the end of the table dropping off a drink and left all the dishes just sitting there. Whether you have different staff/roles a waiter is ultimately responsible and should not have just ignored the dishes. The food, it was okay. The steak that everyone raved about was okay. It wasn't anything special that you couldn't do yourself. Which is what our overall impression was of this restaurant. Especially when the check took 20 minutes after they took our payment. Lets just say the elevator ride up to the roof and back down was more exciting and the check was still MIA after that. Had this not been a special occasion I probably would have mentioned this to the manager. I even thought about writing a letter but ultimately this is not a place where you can't get similar food (if not cook it at home) with better service. So while it was nice to try some place new it would not be a place I would go back to.

    (1)

  • Emmitt H.

    I'm in a Chicago for business and needed a good dinner. This is the Place!!! I like my steak medium rare & the Skirt steak that came was the BEST I've had so far. I thought I had Good Octopus until I tasted the Octopus on my wife's plate. I Highly recommend eating here when in Chicago!!!

    (5)

  • Belle L.

    Value for $. A family favorite ever since they were at the itsy bitsy location. New venue has great space and romantic ambiance. Everything on the menu is delicious and perfectly well-seasoned. Limonada (plain) -- frothy and addictive. Beef and Chicken Empanada -- both are equally delicious. Crunchy but not over cooked. Entrana -- serves 2 that is accompanied by 2 rice side dishes. A big chunk of potato. Nicely grilled banana. Coconut Flan -- firm and yummy. Special Occasion? Group of servers will gladly sing "Happy Birthday" with a candle on dessert. May all wishes come true!

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    mmmhmmm. i took my sister here when she visited this summer. she wanted to try something new, and i couldn't for the life of me find parking on the southport corridor for tango sur or bull-eh-dias. so we ended up here on recommendation, and parked right in front. it was about 8:30pm on a thursday night and she had been traveling all day, and we both become crankypants when we haven't eaten, so we walked in with a scowl. however we were seated right away, service was fast and friendly. the drinks were pretty good, but the food that was quickly presented was amazing. definitely one of the best steak dinners i've ever had. and the price seemed reasonable for what we ordered for two people. we rolled out of there, scowls replaced by slightly glazed eyes and happy smiles, and went about our way. can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    I've been to Las Tablas many times and regularly recommend it to all my family and friends. The skirt steak is the best that I've had in Chicago, great atmosphere, and friendly bartenders / waitstaff.

    (5)

  • Amy M.

    This is my second visit to this restaurant and didn't feel compelled to leave a review the last time. What we ate? Empanadas-Cicken and Beef -Good Skirt Steak and Calamari Combo-Awesome! Had this both times-$20 Columbian Entree- Can't remember name, but it had pork belly and ribeye steak basically heart attack waiting to happen..lol- Not bad, but still liked the Skirt and Calamari. Service-First time very informative and very pleasant waitress. Service- Second time super slow and food didn't come out for at least 30 to 40 minutes after the appetizer. It made me question whether I would return to this place, but I love the skirt and calamari so I might just ignore how bad the service was. Maybe something was going on this night because it seemed every wait staff was peeping into the kitchen through a little window on the door wondering where? Why? Food was taking so long.

    (3)

  • Nikki C.

    this place is all about the timing. off days are better days as weekends turn the place into another street fest circus with loud music, loud , loud conversations, high cockage fees, and diminished elbow room as people try to squeeze in to taste the marinated meats. its good, chimichurri is okays, not spectacular or heavily spiced, but doesn't get in the way of the meat which is key. come hungry, bring friends and get your meat on. plenty of paybox street parking, lots of cab activity and a short walk to the sopo cta and bars.

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    Yum! Yum! Yum! I've heard so many things about this place and never was able to come check this place out until last week. So for drinks we ordered a pitcher of sangria and it was decent enough to get me tipsy. So while we sipped on our glasses of Sangria we decided to order beef empanadas for an aperitivos and for dinner my gal pal and I decided to share the Picada Colombiana. WOW this was a very huge portion for two people but it was well worth it. Every bit of this dish was great. Decor is very nice. Staff is very friendly and I plan to go back very soon.

    (4)

  • Ivana S.

    I came here Monday night for dinner with four others. We discovered the place searching online for a new restaurant to try. Parking was easy and the restaurant was easy to find. Our server Maria came over as soon as we were settled in to take our drink order. Drinks arrived at the table fairly quickly. Their lemonade is homemade and delicious. The empanadas (we got chicken and cheese) were delicious. For entrees, we got chicken, the house speciality steak, grilled calamari, and the stuffed chicken called Pollo Relleno. The steak had a wonderful marinade; but even though it was ordered (and came out) medium rare, it was a little on the chewy side. The calamari had a very good flavor, as did the chicken. The stuffed chicken was mouth-watering. One of my table-mates tasted it and rightfully described it as astounding. Dishes are served with potato, yuca and fried plantain, and the Relleno was also served with a salad. The potato, even with its seasonings, is underwhelming but not bad. The plantain is cooked perfectly. A couple of us split the coconut flan for dessert. This too, was fantastic. The bussers were there to immediately clear garbage and plates from the table without being intrusive. Waters were refilled long before they were empty. Server was attentive but never hovering. She was great. Prices were right for the quality of the food. The entrees take a while, even on a slow night, but quality takes time. I would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    Me want ENTRANA, Give me ENTRANA........ Opphs, sorry I was still in my Las Tablas Entrana Zombie Mode. I would think after going to this restaurant, I wouldn't want steak for awhile. But my oh my, the sauce and the ENTRANA was skirt steak heaven. After reading all the reviews on Yelp, I already knew what I wanted. So I skipped merrily to the restaurant with coupons in one hand and boyfriend on the other. The place look relatively nice, with dim lighting and a medieval feel to it. I felt like I was in an episode of Xena warrior princess. And who doesn't love Xena? Am I right here! But anyways, I got the Entrana of course and the boyfriend copied me. When it came out, it was a long piece of skirt steak about 12 inches. It came with yuca potatoes, potatoes and plantains. Mmmmh, delicious. But the sauce was the icing on top. The chimicurri sauce is where's the money's at. At first, I was a fool, I only wanted to use a little so it doesn't overwhelm my meat. But sadly, I was put in my place when i realized this was the barbecue sauce to my barbecue chicken. Except this was chimicurri sauce on steak. Man, I loaded this baby up. Every bite was perfect. So dear Yelp reader, please use the sauce or I will haunt your dreams. Now I just wished I bought more coupons... Whomp Whomp!

    (5)

  • Milena M.

    If you come here you need to have the steak. We tried the empanadas and they weren't anything to write home about. I had an array of seafood which was quite fresh. The sides appear bland but the plantains are perfect and the yuca is well seasoned. The reason I gave a four star review is because our food took almost 40 minutes, we actually asked the waitress if our food was coming soon. Afterwards our check took awhile and after we gave her our cards it was another 15 minutes before we left. The entire meal was 2 hours. So go for the steak and stay awhile...because you might not have a choice.

    (4)

  • Megan G.

    Everyone needs to stop going to Tango Sur and start going to La Tablas. (I may have just kicked myself in the pants for saying this because it's a hidden gem, but I like to share things that are great.) First of all, it's BYOB (wine only). There is no corkage fee Mon-Wed and if you go online to their website, there is a coupon for free sangria. Use it...it's fantastic! Everytime I have been to Las Tablas I have always been seated right away. It never gets too crowded to where we have to wait. We started with the chicken empanadas and the pisao. Both were done perfectly. The fried plaintain chip in the pisao was unbelievable. I could sit down and eat an entire bag of those plain, without being topped with tender shredded beef and melted cheese! I usually get a combination plate when I go there. I've tried the skirt steak and shrimp and the skirt steak and chicken. The steak is phenomenal. Juicy and done perfectly, pink in the center, slathered in a chimichurri sauce that is thick and flavorful, not too spicy, perfect. It came with a baked potato and fried sweet plantains. The potato was dry and overcooked, but the plantains were again, delicious. I wasn't impressed with the shrimp. I found them underseasoned and overcooked. The chicken was well done...tender and light, with a garlic and white wine sauce that wasn't overpowering. I'm going back tonight and I'm going to try the grilled octopus and the carne asada. I will get back to you with my reviews on those! For my money, Las Tablas is so much better than Tango Sur. It's more intimate, you get better service and the food is just as good, if not better. Did I mention the free sangria? *UPDATE*: So last night I went with the Picada Columbiana and split it with my boyfriend. Let me give you a word of warning: this is a heaping plate of meat. You will not finish it, but you will savor ever moment trying to. Here's what's on the plate: Entrana steak, rib-eye steak, chicken, pork loin, chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantains, sweet, creamy fried plantains, yuca and baked potato. Here's what I loved: the skirt steak. It was so tender, you could cut it with a fork. Perfectly cooked, delicious. The chicken was also in my top two. Moist and seasoned, flavorful. The homemade chorizo would be a close third, with the pork coming in last (too dry). The sweet plantains were fantastic as usual. A soft banan-ey, gooey, sweet end to the meal. Order the pisao for sure when you go. Its always been wonderful and perfectly crispy and melty. We had the chicken pisao this time. Mmmmm. Once again, Las Tablas delivered!

    (4)

  • Milly P.

    Oh Las Tablas! How I love your Entrana and margaritas!!!! If you are in the mood for some awesome steak, heavenly cocktails, and a fun environment, Las Tablas is your place! First of all, margaritas are my favorite drink, and Las Tablas knows how to make a deliciously perfect margarita. They use top-knotch tequila, they don't make it too sweet, and it is perfectly balanced. The last time I went, my friend Gina seemed to be enjoying her mojitos,and the rest of us had countless different other drinks! We shared a platter of empanadas which were all so delicious. They weren't too oily, and the filling was delicious. For our main dishes, we all had either the Entrana or Churrasco. With our delicious steaks came the chimichurri sauce and a jalapeno-based sauce (Colombian Aji). These sauces are divine and take the already so flavorful and juicy delicious steaks to a whole different level. We ended with a free flan from our delightfully sweet server. I love this place.

    (5)

  • Onur U.

    Seems this a popular style of restaurant these days. You get a ton of grillled meats with roasted starchy veggies on the side. Get enough on your plate to feed you for 2-3 days and drop about 30 bucks a head. I can see the appeal, but it just doesn't excite me. Fun for a group, but just not a unique enough dining experience to merit the crowds. BYO is a big part of the "Tango Sur" model, and Tablas offers that mid-week but charges a whopping 8$ corkage on the weekend. I've never understood why someone would bring a 15 dollar bottle of wine to a restaurant with an 8 dollar corkage. Sure it's still cheaper than buying wine off their menu, but that's a pretty stiff upcharge. I'll probably stick to sangria or beer at a place like this, so at least I'm not paying 20 bucks for the right to drink cheap wine from the corner shop. The other ingredient of the model is a huge sizzling platter of grilled meats. Of course they serve you pretty cheap cuts of meat, brined into oblivion then covered in oil so they come out moist and shiny. Sure it tastes good, but it's something of a mirage. Everything ends up cooked medium well and it begs the question why you don't just go to Jewel, pick up a couple pounds of skirt steak, slam it with a mallet to flatten it out, soak it in salt water for a couple hours, then grill it up (or sear it and sautee it). That 100 dollar meal (with 20 dollars in corkage) quickly become a 15 dollar meal with no corkage BYO in the comfort of your own home. My point is that they're just repackaging cheap meats and vegetables (roasting potatoes is even easier than grilling skirt steak) as ethnic cuisine, when really it's just a ploy to serve steak for cheap. All that said, the food was all right. No one leaves hungry and the ambiance is pretty lively. There's a reason places like this are so popular.

    (3)

  • JA Y.

    Las Tablas I so wanted to love you. Maybe you were having an off night? Maybe I just needed to drink more? The Good: Atmosphere: Very cozy, could see this as a good date place. Drinks: Some of the best I've had in the area (maybe this is why all of the great reviews? The Not So Pretty: Food: Sum it up in 1 word. DRY. We tried both the empanada and dinner for 2 combination plates so we basically tried a good portion of the menu. They brought out some oil based sauces for the empanadas which made them a lot more tolerable but by the end of the meal my date and i decided maybe we were suppose to be putting it on everything. The Yucca, potato, fried plantains, bread, etc all were very dry and pretty much tasted the same (meaning like nothing). Except maybe the skirt steak which was ok (not the best i every had) even the meats were kind of blah. The chorizo was probably some of the mildest I've ever had. Service: Not sure where to start but it wasnt good. Walked in a on a weekend night to an almost empty restaurant. Wanted to sit outside, 3 empty tables but all needed some sort of clearing. Was told it would be ten minutes to clear the two glasses off. Huh? Ok waited and then was sat outside. 20 minutes goes by, no one stops by. The one waiter who was outside just kept looking over and then avoiding eye contact (not sure who else he was expecting to help us). After 25 minutes and watching the waiter stand around idle I go in for help. Waiter comes over asks if anyone has helped us to which we answer no. He says ok will be back in a minute and disappears for another 5 minutes before taking our drink order. This is how the whole night went. Unless I was in the mood just to drink and had plenty of time don't think I would be back.

    (2)

  • Philip B.

    Swung by last night with the gf as I was in the mood for some steak. We had the groupon as well, and I was looking forward to trying this place out for the first time. We were quoted about a 20 minute wait just before 8pm on Thursday, which to me is acceptable and we sat down at the bar. About 5 minutes later we were acknowledged and asked what we wanted. Well a peak through the drink menu first would help, so we asked for that. The menu showed Thursday's special - $5 mojito's (full price $8). I had one of those. The gf had a glass of sangria for $6. After 15 minutes or so we were told our table was ready. I wanted to pay off the tab at the bar first, which is were the night got a bit awkward. The tab had the mojito at $8. I mentioned the menu said $5 and figured it was a slight oversight and they'd correct it. At this time, one of the employees grabbed the drink menu and switched it. Hmm interesting - look, in the new menu there's no more special! Ha. There was quite some confusion with not just us but another couple as to what happened. The employees initially said now we had to pay the full price of $8. Well, the reason I got the mojito was bc it was on special. For $8 I'd rather get a Caipirinha! A few minutes passed and our bartender said he'd take care of it. He seemed nice and it just looked like he would of happily changed it had it not been for another employee. We sat down at our table and ordered the combination and the skirt steak. The food was really good, extremely flavorful and really tender. The plantain was amazing too. 4 stars for the food. The waiter/bartender took care of the situation when the bill was presented and actually only charged us $10 for the drinks at the bar ($1 less than I would have paid). So that was nice to see. I deduct one star just for the weirdness and initial reaction to the mixup. I just don't think you can switch menus with different prices. That's all. I have a feeling they may get overwhelmed with Groupon, but it is a good deal - I'd just wait a few weeks while the initial Groupon rush is over and they get their kinks worked out.

    (3)

  • Tim H.

    First time to a Colombian steak house and the food was amazing. I could see why the place was packed the entire time we were there. The average $20 entrees are totally worth it.

    (4)

  • Ramona A.

    The combo with the skirt steak and chicken is a keeper. The meat just melts in your mouth, so tender and juicy I don't know how they do it! Service is a little slow but who cares when the food is this good? The place is super cute and romantic but perfect for a girls night out as well. Did I mention how cheap it is? The entire meal was under $25! I would expect something of this caliber to be around $40 at least.

    (5)

  • PJ T.

    stakehouse + BYOB - ahem!! The food is just delicious, the sangria awesome and their suaces mama mia !! But the wait sucks!

    (4)

  • Laura B.

    I came here on a Tuesday night with a kiwi friend who had never tried Latin American food beyond the offerings of Taco Bell. First question - Where are the chips and guac? Answer: Down the street at the Mexican restaurant! I thought I knew what to expect, as I had tried my fair share of pollo al ajillo while traveling. This isn't your snack shack kind of food, though. Sure, there's a pollo al ajillo (its one of the specials) but you've never really tried Pollo al Ajillo (chicken with a light garlic wine marinade) until you've had it at Las Tablas. In fact, I'm going to make a lofty claim and that I never knew the delicious details of chicken until I tasted the perfectly prepared, tender, and delicate chicken at Las Tablas. The only downfall is that the chicken didn't heat up for lunch very well the next day. In retrospect, however, I think my initial standards were too high for that small leftover piece to fulfill its grandiose memory of the night before. As for the ambiance, I could not have asked for a better spot to a bring a friend for feasting on a Tuesday (PS- BYOB on weekdays!). I imagine that Las Tablas would be fabulous for groups. It's definitely not a "date" place in the standard of Geja's Cafe, but it the restaurant is still quiet enough that two people can have easily have a conversation.

    (5)

  • Jackie P.

    Las Tablas, you are delicious. Went there on a Wed. night and there was no crowd, therefore immediately seated. Soft lighting, and the decor (Fernando Botero - fat people and animals reign) and furniture is beauitful (the brothers of the owners made all of the tables, chairs, woodwork in both restaurants!). We had the empanada sampler (chicken, cheese, and beef) - terrific. Even though I would consider empandas a simple dish, these were really frickin' good. The sangria was good and I had a Refajo (soda and beer combo) which was suprisingly tasty and easy to drink with dinner. One thing to note is that the BYOB option is only Monday - Thursday for the Lincoln Park/Lakeview location only. It's wine only, no beer or liquor. Come hungry as the portions are ginormous. Two chicks can easily split a combo platter. If you're a dude that likes to mow down, this is the place for you. Very nice experience. Would go again. Also, if you're driving and it's relatively early (before 9pm weekdays), you'll be surprised with metered street parking availability.

    (4)

  • Hector C.

    The server was extremely helpful and pleasant. This place has the best skirt steak, hands down. Ask for your steak to be done medium. The salsa that is served with the meal smells so rich and taste great with the steak. Dont worry it is not very hot. The empanadas are great too. They are a bit small but taste amazing. This is a nice place to either take someone on a casual date or a group of friends. Oh and you must have the flan. Perfectly made and served warm

    (5)

  • Adriana Z.

    Love it. El matrimonio will always be my fav..empanadas delicioius..sangria hits the spot every time.

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    I am giving Las Tablas 1 star for its BAD service, not it's food. I just came from this place where I went with a few friends. We were waited on pretty fast, and before we ordered, we asked if we could split the check 2 ways (there were 4 of us). The waiter seemed confused, but didn't say that they didn't split checks. Two of us ordered vegetarian plates, two of us ordered steaks. The 2 vegetarian plates came out very fast, and I was excited to get my steak...... but I kept waiting... and waiting.... we literally waited 20 MINUTES until our 2 stake plates came out. We literally sat there watching our friends eat, and when ours came, they sat there and watched us eat. Keep in mind, in the middle of waiting, the server came up and told us that it was because we had asked for 2 separate checks, with attitude. Sorry, but I don't think its that hard to go into the kitchen, and tell the cooks that the 2 tickets were on the same table. Maybe if I was at IHOP I wouldn't have cared, but this is a damn steakhouse, they should know how to serve everyone together. THEN, once we finally got our meals, the waiter did not come back ONCE. We sat there for half an hour, just waiting to get some freaking water, when finally another waiter basically took over, got us water, wrapped stuff up, and even got our checks. It was like our first waiter was scared to even look us in the eye because he knew we were upset about the waiting. So we decided to tell the manager what had happened... he apologized and went to talk to the waiter, and then they both came back together and argued with us that it was our fault for asking for 2 checks. It then turned out that the waiter had lied to the manager, telling him that he had told us that if we asked for 2 checks this would happen, before we ordered. IF HE TOLD US BEFORE THEN WE WOULDNT HAVE DONE IT! WHO ORDERS FOOD KNOWING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH THEIR FRIENDS EAT?? We were so pissed at this point. We told the manager that the waiter never told us this, that he only told us AFTER the vegetarian plates came out that "they only take 5 minutes to cook while your plates take about 20". So the manager pulled the waiter back again, and then finally gave us 20 dollars off our bill. Gee, thanks. An expensive, nice steakhouse that can't even time a four-top properly, and a manager who doesn't know how to fix a bad situation? WHAT A JOKE! He told us to please come back... YEAH RIGHT!! NEVER GOING BACK! They get 1 star because the food was good... but not good enough to deal with that service.

    (1)

  • Sara D.

    What a great night! Great ambiance, great service, great food...a lot of greats. We came here after a book signing and art fair at Flourish Studios, and we were hungry. Came to the right place - we shared the empanadas, entrana steak, octopus, and calamari. The sides here are plantain, yucca, and potatoes. I loved everything except for the yucca; I'm just not a yucca kind of gal, it's a texture thing. I will definitely be back, I actually like Las Tablas better than Tango Sur.

    (4)

  • Ayako M.

    Okay! Two times the charm! The house specialty skirt steak is to d.i.e. for! Slather it up with that delicious, stank mouth inducing chimichuri sauce and you are set to spend the night alone, burping onion noxiousness and rubbing your food baby.

    (4)

  • Jessica F.

    What a gem! I love this restaurant. So boyfriend and I were in the mood for Tango Sur but we didn't feel like waiting for one to two hours for dinner so we decided to try Las Tablas and it was love at first bite! :) The Entrada steak is great! With chimmychuri sauce on the side, it is a little taste of heaven and it was only $19. The steak came with plantains, yuca, and potatoes. The portions are huge and we had a lot to feast on the next day! (Not the best meal if you are on a low carb diet... and they don't have any subsitutions for the sides... but oh well!) We ordered the Empanadas as an appetizer. I normally don't eat fried food, but I would have to say they were quite delicious. My boyfriend was not thrilled, too greasy for his liking. I would totally go back to this place. Great service, great food, great ambiance! What's not to love!? Also, the fruity alcohol drinks are so fresh and yummy and suprisingly strong. I had the sangria (SOOOOOO GOOD!), the mango motio, and a strawberry martini. Great urban oasis! I felt like I was a resort for a few hours... not in Chicago. I want to go back .... now.... so good! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Jessica K.

    Can't decide if this place is better than Tango Sur. I guess you can't really compare the two because one is Argentinian and the other Colombian. It would be like comparing a Chinese Restaurant with a Korean one. My bad, I apologize for that moment of ignorance.. Whoever created the aborrajado is a genius. Melted cheese drenched on top of a fried plantain, this my fellow food loving friends is proof that God does exist. Don't freak out when you notice that most of the dishes are over 20 bucks. It's a steakhouse. If you were expecting to eat steak for under 20 then....... .... .... ... But don't worry, if you get a combination plate it's well worth it. Sides included are plantains (again!), potatoes and assorted vegetables. I can't decide if this would be a great date place. We went on a weeknight and it was pretty loud. The ambiance is festive and the wait staff funny and friendly.

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    Okay so NOW I know why this place is so popular.... Maybe just maybe...Las Tablas has some of the best food in Chicago, coupled with fast efficient service, and BYOB to boot? Yeah, definitely a 5 star review! This is a true Columbian establishment, complete with hand carved tables and chairs (carved by the owners family!), fresh ingredients (the plantains were amazing), and coffee that tasted like....well, better than the "Columbian" Starbucks coffee, that's for sure. This is an Atkins-lovers paradise...lots of grilled meats and vegetables. For appetizers there are empanadas with different fillings and sauces. These empanadas are fantastic b/c they aren't deep fried! Rather, time and attention is taken to make all of the food at Las Tablas, and I just can't put into words how yummy it is. Perhaps the BYOB brings folks in the door the first time, but the food itself keeps us coming back. Come here with a big group; all entrees are around the same price so it is easy to split the bill. Or come here on a date...the restaurant gives off that romantic vibe.

    (5)

  • Joshua B.

    Umm...YES PLEASE! I continue to reflect on how happy I am with the advent of Groupon. Myself and a friend went here on a Bro-mantic Groupon date and walked away full, happy and plenty of meat for lunch the following day. We shared a pitcher of sangria, which is GREAT! So much flavor and not in the sense of, "Wow is this full of sprite, juice, etc?". We also shared the Picada Colombiana. If you are in the mood for some perfectly cooked/grilled meats and tasty starches, then this is your dish! We got our steak cooked to a perfect medium temperature. That coupled with the chorizo, ribs, pork chicken, etc. a vegetarian would be in hell, but it was my heaven. Regarding the starches, most were tasty; however, the potato was a bit much in size and the crunchy green plantain was a bit dry and not really my speed. The arepa, fried sweet plantain and yucca were Perfect! My only regret is that this was a bro-mantic date. This place is cozy. The bathroom is downstairs which seems like negative - especially after a pitcher of sangria - but when you get down there you won't want to leave. This is the perfect date spot and will definitely take my partner soon.

    (4)

  • Kelly R.

    My family and I (it was four of us) came here for my father's birthday using the Groupon coupon. I am overall happy with the food, customer service, atmosphere, etc. The only things that I would complain about is that it opens at 5pm and that it does not have its own parking lot. These are the food that we ordered there: - Sangrias (Happy that it is half priced on Monday) - Mango Fruit Juice - Picada Colombiana - Estrana I would highly recommend one to get these food there. The picada colombiana was overall great. The yuca was good; the chicken was good; the arepa was good, (all were just good!!). We fell in love with the steak so we asked for the extrana dish. We ended up only getting two entrees since the entrees were huge! (The picada columbiana is said serve for 2 people, but really it can be for 3.) The customer service was very good. We told our server that this was the first time that we were going to try Colombian food. She was very generous and was very helpful throughout our process of trying Colombian food. She provided us recommendations and provided a detailed, useful description of what the food are. The atmosphere is very nice. Our family differs in ages so it is difficult for us to find a restaurant that provide a nice atmosphere for all of us. Nevertheless, it was good as the adults, teenagers and children enjoyed it. It was peaceful , pretty, and warm. I would then highly recommend others to try out this restaurant. It really does not matter what type of people they are. I do think that everyone will enjoy it.

    (5)

  • Bruce N.

    I just returned from lunch here today. I had an appointment down the street and tried Las Tablas based on the reviews posted here. I HEART YELP! I had the steak lunch special and my buddy had the chicken. Both were served with a bowl of wonderful lentil soup (which I normally don't like) and came with beans, rice, salad and fried plantain on the side. FABULOUS! All for $6.95. All I can say is "check it out"! A wonderful value and great food!

    (5)

  • Orack B.

    So I am sitting around a gay bar in Boy's Town with my wife, my buddy and his girlfriend. We had just witnessed our other buddy's little boy get his shmeckel snipped! Naturally, the conversation turned to food. I started showing my buddy pictures from my recent trip to Colombia when it hit me; "I need a motherfucking Bandeja Paisa!" I actually Yelped the closest Colombian fare and Las Tablas was the victor. Upon entrance I noticed a lot of empty tables, yet a lot of people waiting. When we finally did get seated - which didn't take too long, we were there @ 7:30 on a Friday - I realized we were surrounded by big parties. Well, it took quite some time for anyone to stop at our table, 20 minutes, and when they did, they were harried and short (no not physically ya dunce). Ten minutes later another guy came up and said, " I see you ordered some appetizers, my name is so-and-so and I will be your server tonight." They need to cut that phrase out of the restaurant lexicon! Anyhow, we ended up ordering our entrees sensing the serious delay we were about to experience. Rant portion: When you have multiple big parties, as a server you still need to pay attention to your two-tops and four-tops (fuck a three-top). Furthermore, as a restaurateur, you need to think about this: Who is more likely to remember your food, service and décor, the 20-top chatting away and pounding liquor, catching up on old times and not paying attention to their surroundings? Or the two-top couple who have time to notice the pace of service and the quality of food more because they don't have 18 other people to defer to? I choose the latter. And there seems to be a lot of big parties here. Reminds me of Ron of Japan in that way... On to the true test of a restaurant, the food! The empanada was good and the other app that we ordered, patacones pisado, was most excellent and most cheesy. The aji - the more liquidy green sauce on the tabla - was great too. As I stated earlier, my thoughts ran and always do, to to Bandeja Paisa. So that is what I ordered with my meat medium rare. My wife ordered the Matrimonio with her steak medium, which the inexperienced waiter said would be cooked through due to the thinness of the meat... The two dishes came and mine was well done, due to the thinness of the cut, and my wife's was bloody, due to the thickness of the cut. Now a Bandeja Paisa is a pretty, pretty, pretty hearty! So there is a lot to delve into. Immediately I noticed that the steak was so salty it pruned my tongue... I sent it back only by practically tripping the waiter to get his attention. Yea it was that bad; the drinks we ordered never came despite the fact that the waiter told us he was going to get them two different times. The funny thing was that it looked like they were amply staffed, but there were too many inexperienced jackasses, too timid to do their jobs properly! So I sent the steak back, something I never do. Everything else on the plate was more than fine though: arroz, huevo, frijoles, yucca, arepa, etc... My wife's dish was great and tasty. I really like the charbroiled taste to the meat with a little aji for the heat factor... I got my new steak back, no salt, but the waiter just threw it down and offered no apology just a, "Here it is, it's worth the wait!" He said that multiple times. Dude just say you are really busy and you are sorry about the (lack of) service. It is completely understandable to make an admission of that sort. So I know I will go back because I have a three- strikes policy - unless we are talking about a restaurant like Gio's or Jimmy's Charhouse - but it is fairly obvious that Las Tablas has some tasty food! In the meantime, for an alternative, check out my review for El Llano.

    (2)

  • Kim A.

    This place is far more charming than I expected. The food is delicious, the space is intimate and warm, and the staff super friendly. Why three stars? We were with a group of 10 for a friend's birthday. My friend had a bit of a hassle getting a reservation, and they made her put down a deposit for a reservation? What... knock of a star... Why knock off the other star? An $8 corkage fee. Really? With 10 people, and 8 bottles of wine, it's a little over the top. I know that's how these places pay for their license etc. But $8 per bottle. Nope. Those two points being made. Everyone at the table absolutely loved the food. The empanadas were absolutely delicious, rare steak cooked beautiful pink, calamari and octopus grilled delicate (NOT TOUGH). The appetizers... delicious! I really really do want to give this place more than 3 stars, but there are just a few initial quirks that bothered me off the bat, and some of the appetizers seemed a touch on the pricier side. I'd definitely go back, but maybe with a smaller group, and hopefully be more objective.

    (3)

  • Hannah G.

    Steak = AMAZING. Sangria = Delicious and just-right. The staff were so very friendly and accommodating, gave us great recommendations for our first meal ever at this place. Definitely adding this to my list of places to take out-of-town friends when they come to Chicago. We had the cheese empanadas (YUM) and the combo platters with steak and shrimp. The steak was perfect - hot, juicy, not under- or overcooked. I liked the sides that came with the steak as well.

    (5)

  • Erin T.

    I came here for dinner with my husband on a Saturday night. As there were only two of us, we only had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated. The meal was phenomenal! There are so many unique flavors and menu options. It definitely isn't the typical steakhouse experience. I ordered the steak with pork belly, fried egg, rice, beans, sweet plantains and an avocado. My husband ordered a steak. Both were delicious. We had amazing mojitos to compliment the dish. The service was prompt and efficient. They also kept the water coming, which is very important to me! I highly recommend this spot for a different kind of steak dinner.

    (4)

  • Rob L.

    MMMMMM Meaty goodness. Love that this place is a BYOB,the chimichurri sauce is fresh not oily, staff is friendly, food is quick and lord did I leave full. You do get a lot food and it is great, I am still debating if the empanadas are really good or great and the plantains are sweet. I will say this, its simple, not dressed up and its damn good, though if you do have apps, (and they are good!), split meals!Perhaps you won't be as stuffed as I was. If you go on the weekends you might want to call ahead, I hear it can get swamped. Great if you want to bring a group of friends or with just one person.

    (5)

  • Albert C.

    This being the first Colombian restaurant I ever went to, I had no real reference... but it turns out I didn't need one. The food is good. The meat is the true standout but the yuca and plantains were also delectable.

    (4)

  • Sean F.

    This would be the third stop on our madcap dining run through Restaurant Week. And really it was a total asspull. I had never really looked at this place, didn't Yelp it, just chose the first place I saw on the list that was both north of Division and not an Italian joint. And I figured, it has steak in the name, what could possibly go wrong? The answer was "not very much". Let me get the few quibbles out of the way quickly. At points the service was a bit slow. I don't blame that on the server, as he was seemingly always in motion with two large groups and some small tables to deal with. I thought it a bit odd that you couldn't get two different empanadas for the Rest. Week appetizer (you could choose from three different ones, but only choose two of the same apparently) but oh well. Mostly this was a very positive experience. Our server was very friendly, explained the menu quite well, gave some good suggestions on what to get, and generally kept things going well. For first courses we tried the empanadas w/chicken, rice, peas, and carrots. These were quite tasty, and the chimmichurri sauce, esp. the spicy version, had quite a kick. I had the Aborrajado, which I am relatively sure is Spanish for "freaking awesome" but I could be wrong. Plantain = guava paste = melted cheese = NOM NOM NOM! The main courses were meaty affairs. The mrs. went with the Matrimonio, a combination platter of the Entrana skirt steak and the chicken breast. We both thought the chicken was nice, with the hint of garlic and white wine from the sauce being a nice subtle note. I, being a meat loving sort of man, went for the Entrana on its own. Both platters came with fried plantain, yuca, and potato by the way. The Entrana was excellent. Usually with this sort of cut you end up thinking "wow, this was salty" or "wow, this was tough". Here though I just thought "wow, this was excellent!" The meat was very flavorful, but with the meat flavor being paramount. The cut was juicy and tender. And the portions were substantial. Dessert was a bit of a disappointment. They were out of a few of their desserts, including the passion fruit mousse that sounded really good. I had the flan which was passable, but nothing to sway things one way or the other. We had some poached figs as well, though by that point only a tremendous dessert would have been worth further gorging. The figs were easy enough to take a few bites of and then push away. I debated long and hard where this ranks, due to Yelp's damnable whole-star rating system. I guess since I would have gone 3.5 on this, and I really did enjoy that steak a hell of a lot, I can go with four stars. After all, they don't send out a bill on how many stars you give out in a month, right? I could see this getting a bit hairy on a weekend, as just a couple large groups did slow things a bit here on a weeknight. But again, a small quibble. Go here. Eat steak.

    (4)

  • Noelle W.

    WOW, what a great surprise! We were not expecting this restaurant to be as great as it was! The decor is super cute and tastefully done. Dimmed lighting. Perfect for a group of people or a date night. Crowded, but not so loud that I couldn't hear my date talk. Our Server was PHENOMENAL!! He recommended our drinks (a mixed drink and red wine) and both were excellent. He also recommended our entrees too...We got the combination entrees and it was absolutely delicious! The steak and chicken was perfectly cooked and the seafood was tasty. We gave our server a 40% tip because he was that good! Overall, a wonderful experience! HIGHLY recommend it!!!!

    (5)

  • Lauren S.

    Love this restaurant! I've been here numerous times, once for my birthday, for a friends birthday and for a nice romantic dinner. The restaurant is great for both groups and couples. I'm not sure if they still have live music but they did one night when I was there (maybe a Friday?) and it really brought the place alive. The food is excellent, especially for the quantity and price. I usually get the Churassco or the combination with skirt steak and calamari. The steak is always perfectly cooked and flavorful and the sauces on the side add a little hint of freshness and more flavor, amzaing. The grilled calamari is some of the best I've had, full of flavor. And the yucca...hard to describe the amazingness! They used to be BYO all the time and now are only BYO on the weekdays, which probably helps their piggy bank more than mine, but it is still worth it. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Kathleen L.

    Came here twice for a friend's bday and each time I had their specialty steak. Do get their empanada(sp?) for appetizer! The food was delicious and their atmosphere was great. I'm giving them 4 stars only bc its not BYOB anymore.

    (4)

  • Brenda V.

    Excellent food, ambiance and service. The menu is Latin American with an emphasis on Colombian/South American flavor - it was my first time trying Colombian food and I loved every bit of it! Mood lighting, high ceilings, airy atmosphere and heavy wood tables and chairs make you feel like you're in an old hacienda.. service was prompt and efficient. Huge portions.

    (5)

  • Jme B.

    I've eaten here a few times, most recently this past weekend. The quality of food of service is consistent - which is nice. The food is somewhat bland, in my opinion (perhaps that's just the cuisine?). Bottom line: I'd stop by if you are in the neighborhood, but don't make a special trip to visit this place.

    (3)

  • Rocky B.

    Mmm, very good food. I like the plato matrimonio...at least I think that is what it is called. The steak is yummy and I love the corn cakes.

    (4)

  • Megan G.

    Mmm... It's like a delicious meat salad that plays my taste buds like a fiddle. I definitely recommend the empanadas. Go for the steak or the steak and chicken combo. There are plenty of doggy bags! Prices are LOW and I have been there 6 times at least and have never been charged a corking fee. !

    (5)

  • Johanna L.

    We went for an early dinner last Sunday and the restaurant was almost full. We had great service - didn't feel rushed at all and got to enjoy our bottle of wine (it's BYOB for wine only with an $8 corkage fee). We split the grilled seafood salad as an app and it was huge. The calamari and shrimp were really good. I also enjoyed the skirt steak but my boyfriend's chicken was awesome. The portions are huge so it's well worth the price. I love the handmade chairs and tables. I really recommend this restaurant for a date.

    (4)

  • Sara S.

    I will never go back. For years we've been going there for birthdays, but as far as I'm concerned last night was the last time. We got there at 7, ordered drinks and appetizers, ordered our food around 8, and asked for the bill at about 10. As we're actively figuring out everyone's share of the bill, the waiter came over and told us the manager wanted us to leave because we'd "been there too long". The service was slow, and there were 11 of us. Dinner usually is going to take about that amount of time. We were either eating or ordering more drinks the whole time. We asked him to send the manager over so he could tell us himself. (That's the way a table of lawyers is going to handle the situation.) Of course, the manager never came over. I don't know if the waiter made it up or what, but it was insanely rude. The restaurant was still mostly full, but no one was waiting for a table. I worked in restaurants for years before going to law school, and never would a manager have told a table to leave unless they were disturbing other diners. Even at Cafe Iberico were I worked during college, which gets far busier than Las Tablas was, we would never treat customers that way. And then they overcharged my credit card by $40. I think they realized they didn't add gratuity and then put it on the people who paid with cards. I've never been treated like that at a restaurant and I will not go back. Not to mention that when I sat down I ordered a mojito and the waiter told me to "chill out". I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was supposed to ask him how his day was first. Whatever. Last time there.

    (1)

  • Kat W.

    An excellent ColOmbian steakhouse. Friendly and efficient staff, good atmosphere (pretty crowded), great food, including the sides! and.. BYOB!!

    (5)

  • Chris K.

    It's ok. Staff's great. Food's a little average. Tango Sur is sooooooo much better.

    (3)

  • Jason G.

    best Skirt steak in the pueblo period. and if you like to put chimichurri sauce on your steaks welcome to heaven. They have two kinds of chimichurri they bring to your table to use on everything. I drowned my empanadas in this stuff, one is a little more spicy than the other and they are both fantastic. If $20 is too much for you to spend on a skirt steak, then share it. The steak is friggin huge. If you order the empanada combination plate and the skirt steak entre, your bill will be $28 for two people and you will be full.

    (5)

  • Beebe G.

    the experience our group had at las tablas was pretty amazing! we dined on a saturday night around 8pm and it was crowded! were told we had an hour wait so we had bevvies at the bar. about 35 mins later we were seated. our wonderful repast consisted of two orders of the combination empanadas, the combination order of their delictable entrana steak and pollo but also added the langostinos in that marvelous garlic-white wine marinade. i really almost hurt myself with this dinner! had i, it would have been worth the hurt! we''ll be back soon!

    (5)

  • Courtney B.

    My absolute favorite place to go out to eat in Chicago is a quaint, little South American steak house called Las Tablas. Tucked away near the Southport/Lincoln intersection, it is definitely a hidden treasure. I was taken to Las Tablas on a date years ago and although the relationship didn't last, my love for the restaurant did! The menu offers authentic South American cuisine like steak, seafood, paella and some vegetarian dishes prepared in the traditional Colombian/Argentinean way. My go-to dish is the Churrasco steak, which is huge, so bring your appetite. Dishes are served on wooden slabs and include potatoes, yucca, and my favorite, the "magic green sauce" with which I drown everything on my plate. There is occasionally live music to listen to during dinner and on my last visit I even joined in on a salsa lesson! There are different sized tables for romantic dates or for larger groups like birthday parties. Everyone that has come to Chicago to visit me gets to check out Las Tablas. I love taking new people there and introducing them to the flavorful, traditional tastes of South America & showing them just how magic the green sauce really is. Don't forget to BYOB and get there early on weekend nights, the place gets packed!

    (5)

  • J P.

    Overall great experience.. waitress was very helpful, and attentive. She offered great suggestions and could not have been more friendly. The food was amazing.. appetizers were great, steak was fantastic.. and that chimcurri (sp?) sauce, I have been craving it ever since!!

    (5)

  • Nancy H.

    Oh my, this place gets crowded and noisy! It is too small for all the patrons who want to eat there. The people waiting for a table on the weekends easily flood the first half of the main room, standing around people who are actually eating. The seats (some tables had wooden benches, others had hard wooden chairs) were rather uncomfortable; perhaps the owners were going for a rustic, outdoors-y feel? The decor was very cute. There were paintings of very round people enjoying everything from food to dancing. The service here was great - our waiter was attentive, helpful, and humorous. And last, but not least, the food! I've tried the combination platter ($30 for 2) that consisted of rib eye, pork, chicken, sausage, yuca, fried potato, and plantains. It was altogether, as a dish, too dry, in my opinion. The plantains, however, were very tasty. I also tried the steak & eggs dish, and THAT was great! The egg is made over easy on top of your steak, and I was impressed by how tasty egg could be! Lastly, it's a BYOB establishment, so it guarantees fun times in this casual restaurant.

    (4)

  • Blah B.

    This is the Latin melting pot...literally! You can find from Argentinean, to Venezuelan, Mexican, Caribbean to Colombian food here. Their portions are huge and it's so cheap. It's good stuff really it is!!

    (4)

  • Mark P.

    Wasn't impressed with the churrasco. Heard from a native Columbian that Sabor A Cafe is mejor.

    (3)

  • Alisa L.

    Came here for a friend's big 30th bday dinner on a Saturday night. She had a approximately 20-25 in the group and we all were seated once half of the group arrived. The waiter was very helpful in assisting us with the menu and recommending some appetizers and entrees. The empanadas are good...we ordered the trio to share between the 4 of us that were sitting close together and after we each had a half of one we decided to just order our own since they were that good! It is BYOB with a $8 corkage fee. We ordered a platter that consisted of grilled steak, pork, shrimp, chicken, octopus...(basically all the meats and seafood) and yuca and plantains. The skirt steak is by far the best out of the different meats...juicy and well seasoned. They were very accommodating as far as how we divided up the bill (a combined cash and straggling credit cards) since there are always those annoying ppl that decide to not bring cash to a big group dinner. Anyway, it's a great place for group dinners or even a dinner for two as long as you come hungry! On a side note....check out the bathroom. It's downstairs and you feel like you're going through a small maze and as you turn the corner you might be surprised by a scary painting of a lady's face. ha! Can't wait to come back to try this again.

    (4)

  • David R.

    This place is amazing! First of all, its BYOB so the drinks are cheap. I ordered the House Specialty and it was the biggest steak I have ever seen, but I had no trouble finishing it. The guava and plantains covered in cheese is a surprisingly good appetizer. Always a fun place to go.

    (4)

  • Anne L.

    To be fair I have only been to this restaurant once. On my usual travels to the Windy City, I met up with my boyfriend and some of his family members. They wanted to treat us to their favorite restaurant, ie. Las Tablas. My first experience with chimichurri was good... even with all that fresh garlic and coriander I did not get heartburn (wheew!) I ordered grilled baby octopus and was not impressed. The seafood was rubbery and hard to break up in my mouth- Indicative of either poor quality products or an inexperienced grilled master. The rest of the crew ordered steak.. though heavy it was very flavorful. The highlight of my meal was the yucca side dish that came with my platter. The unique flavor and texture was perfected! However, a couple of stars were docked because of service and ambience. The service was poor. Even on a night with few covers, the waiter came by the table once after ordering and my water glass and dropped utensil suffered. In my opinion, if owners are going to remodel and expand, then please spend some money to train or rather retrain the waitstaff. Secondly, the ambience was very drafty and austere for a Latin restaurant. I was hoping for live music or at least some music to add to the experience. However I just heard the rumbling murmur of other conversations... how boring for a culture that embraces a colorful livelihood.

    (3)

  • Mariella C.

    went on a saturday night and it was louder than a club. the people in here are just too rowdy, not exactly the type of people you would expect in this place as it seems to be a bit uppidty. and their yuca is like a year old, it tastes so old and crummy. otherwise the food was just alright, as were the drinks.

    (2)

  • Rachelle M.

    My husband and I were in Chicago tonight (we drove in from Lake Geneva, WI) and thought it would be a great evening to use our Groupon for Las Tablas. The restaurant was pretty empty at around 6 pm on a Thursday night. When we got to the hostess stand, we noticed a sign that said that all Groupon customers must have a reservation. I asked the hostess if we could make a reservation for later in the evening and her response was "well, I can make it for another day." The restaurant was empty!!! I can sort of understand that if it were a Friday or Saturday evening, but absolutely not during a weekday. I triple checked my printed Groupon as well as the actual Groupon website where the coupon was posted and nothing was mentioned about this ridiculous requirement. If they are going to make their own rules, then they should at least have the decency to have it written on their coupon. Bad business. Period.

    (1)

  • ali a.

    Great Columbian steak house. The atmosphere is great and so is the food. Its BYOB which is an added plus. Although I haven't been back in a long time, I have been wanting to return. The staff was also very friendly.

    (5)

  • Karen L.

    I went here for dinner on a Friday night and I was pleasantly surprised that we did not have to wait for a table. The place was open and casual, with big wooden tables. The service was pretty good and the atmosphere was quite loud. However, it wasn't so loud that you couldn't carry on a conversation. I ordered a steak entree. The entrees are huge... my slab 'o beef was quite large, although it was the smaller portion. It also came with a baked potato, yuca, and a plantain. Everything came out very simple, nothing fancy at all. (Nothing was cut up, it was just sitting on the platter in a big chunk.) Maybe that is how it is in Colombia? The steak was pretty tender, but a little on the salty side. Overall, the food was decent. The prices were fair--entrees were around $15-20. And they do have a full bar on hand but you also have the option of bringing your own bottle for an $8 corking fee. I would go back if someone else wanted to go, but I probably would try other restaurants first if it was my choice.

    (3)

  • Matt H.

    In general side by side with any average restaurant this is probably 4 stars, but side by side South American restaurants that I have been to it is more like 2 stars. Food was good as was service. The atmosphere was pretty cool and unique. But I'd rather go to Tango Sur or Carnivale. For that reason I won't be back unless a group of my friends are already going. Good food but nothing special.

    (3)

  • penny h.

    Awesome colombian restaurant... their best dish (on my opinion) is the meat combination. Yummy... The food was great, the service was good but the restaurant needs to be cleaned out in detail.. Overall it is very well worth it.

    (4)

  • j h.

    we really REALLY wanted to write a positive review for this place. regardless of recent postings, this doesn't have anything to do with their liquor license. we have loved this place in the past, but after three tries, it continues to disappoint. service: our order was screwed up as one of us ordered a half size; it came to the table as full. when we told the waiter, he told us to keep it anyway since they'd have to throw away the other half anyway. the person who ordered it only ate half, but then they charged us for the full order! also, one of us had to send the shrimp back because it was not edible (only one bite was taken), and yes, THEY CHARGED US ANYWAYS! food: (in addition to the inedible shrimp) the salsa was tasteless (compared to other columbian restaurants, like llano's, which is awesome) and the other food was just barely mediocre. we are very sad to say that we won't ever go back. we had 10 that night, and the opinion was unanimous.

    (2)

  • Linda S.

    Definitely an exciting place to bring a large group of friends. Arrive early in the evening because this place gets packed and the wait can be excruciatingly long. The Columbian food here is pretty authentic, with each entree you get a nicely seasoned steak or seafood (shrimp or baby octopus) along with some exotic sides such as yuca or plantains. Excellent BYOB.

    (5)

  • Sara S.

    The meat was fabulous. The empanadas, the beans and the rice were fabulous. But the buck stopped at the rest of the starches. Bad arepas, bad platanos, and bad potatoes. I'd recommend it if you're a meat enthusiast, order accordingly.

    (3)

  • P N.

    I was looking forward to coming to Las Tables all day because of the rave reviews it was getting on Yelp. I was sorely disappointed. I'm going to chalk it up to them having a bad night. I called to make a reservation at 630 on a Wednesday night and was told that they would be busy but they would try to fit our table for two in. We got there and the place was a ghost town. The service was horrible, we waited forever for our waiter to take our order and to fill our empty glasses. We ordered the Picada Colombiana since it seemed like a taste of everything this restaurant had to offer. Big mistake. The food came out and everything from the plantain to the chorizo was cold and bone dry. We try to never send food back but this was inedible. The second try was much warmer but the food was bland and I needed to drown everything in the 'salsa/ sauce' that came with it (and even that was oily and sub par). We'll try this place one more time but it's only worth it because we have a groupon. The only saving grace was the marinated skirt steak, I'll get only that next time but even that is nothing that would tempt me to come back and pay full price. I'd rather have my boyfriend grill me up one of his steaks at home.

    (2)

  • Amanda A.

    How anyone is giving this place five stars amazes me! My fiance has had this one on his list for over a year now for places to go and we decided to give it a shot. They just got a new spot across the street and while it was a nice looking little place, it was incredibly loud and amazingly had almost no one in it. We sat down at the table and were promptly served water and our bottle of wine was opened. They were out of the plantain appetizer we ordered because supposedly they weren't good enough to serve (although they were on our entrees??) and so he recommended the empanadas which you buy one at a time and were hardly worth the money seeing as they were basically only a fried rice ball. We seemed to wait forever for our appetizer, while we had to sit and stare at what looked like salsas (which I actually believe were steak accompaniments) without anything to eat it with. Neither of us were thrilled with our entrees either - which for a paella quoted at 40 min. came out in about 10 and because it was hot and I was hungry I ate it - Blake had strong feelings about it otherwise. All in all - if you want Argentinian style dining do Tango Sur - far far far superior to this disappointment.

    (2)

  • Mandee M.

    My husband is Colombian so we have tried just about every Colombian restaurant in the city. This one is one of the best if you want red meat. They have more than one location and depending on when/where you go, you might even get blessed with a little something special (music and dancing) which is great for a group/party. The Yucca and the Plantains have always been good, but the secret with the Yucca, and the Arepas is to either eat it while it is really hot (careful starches hold heat) or to make sure you have enough of the juices from your meat to eat it with or it will not be as good. I find that most of my firends/family that don't like Las Tablas either don't like meat, or they don't know the difference between Colombian and other South American cuts of meat. My favorite of all times here is the Plater for 2 with a side of Empenadas and Arepas. We can share it and have plenty for a 3rd or 4th.

    (5)

  • J H.

    The best BYOB in town. I went with a big party of 14 and the wait was more than an hour but as friends came late, it worked out. The wait with reservation was simply too long. However, the atmosphere is crowded, boisterous, but somehow evokes that cozy feeling. The music was great and the noise was high but low enough to carry a conversation with person next to you. I ordered the combination meat plate and I was blown away by sheer size and taste. It was more on the salty side but went down damn well with the bottles of my wine. Try to visit during the week as getting a table on weekends is impossible. Its one of the few restaurants in Chicago that you gotta try out.

    (5)

  • Brian F.

    The food was very good, but the atmosphere was chaotic for my taste. My wife and I went on a Friday night and the place was packed. We didn't have to wait for very long, but the volume of our fellow diners was almost unbearable. There were quite a few large groups with people yelling across the table to each other. I definitely walked out with a headache! That being said, I'd reccomend the shrimp and steak combo, which was cooked excellently and with interesting spices. The service was friendly, although not that attentive. Maybe try it on a weekday, when the crowds are probably a little more tame.

    (3)

  • Mike B.

    Who knew there could be such an authentic taste of Columbia on Chicago's North Lincoln Avenue? Las Tablas offers an array of tasty entrees highlighted by the signature dish "Matrimonio," which celebrates the marital bliss of tender steak and seasoned chicken. Several seafood options can also be found on the menu. Many feature South American style shrimp. Each entree is easily sufficient for one person with tasty Columbian favorites yuca and plantains alongside. But for a group of four, sharing three of the main courses should leave everyone satisfied. The tables outside the restaurant make for an enjoyable evening during the summer, yet they aren't necessarily large enough to hold everyone's small plates along with the entrees. Service appears to be acceptable. Although in our group there was a forgotten salad which finally arrived after the entrees. Also when it was time to pay, the waiter suspiciously disappeared. But overall Las Tablas is certainly a nice find in South Lakeview. It's BYOB and the meal is reasonably priced. Ole!

    (4)

  • Nari H.

    For a BYOB, this restaurant is pretty upscale. The interior is really nice. Cozy, rustic, simple, and elegant in that way. Servers & runners were really nice. Our server afterwards helped recommend some places we could go to salsa dance, he seemed to be able to handle ourt able well and there were 15 of us. Food: Really nice. Ordered the Combinaciones with the Skirt Steak (after reading all these reviews) and the grilled shrimp. The skirt steak was juicy, tasty and not too tough. Shrimp was fine. We got free sangrias bc a friend got some coupon on Yelp. Sweet. Hear that the free sangrias come in bigger cups during the weekdays. :) I'd recommend this place and would come back.

    (4)

  • Moe f.

    I sit and write this in a meat coma and we even have tons of leftovers for tomorrow. Go on a weekday with wine to take advantage of the BYO(wine only). Started with the empanada combo appetizer that was pretty good. But considering the size of the entree's, was a foolish choice. The wife went with the Matrimono which is a combo of steak and chicken and it rocked. But the real winner was the Bandeja Paisa which was ribeye and pork belly and a ton of sides. Fantastic steak with great flavors while the pork belly was more for show but nice to nibble on.

    (4)

  • Laila C.

    OMG! I've found my most favorite dish to eat EVER! Their Bandeja Paisa-rib-eye steak served with fried pork belly, rice, beans, fried egg, sweet plantain and avocado-is the most amazing dish I've had in a VERY long time!!!! The pork belly is huge and fried to crisp perfection. The rib eye comes in 2 giant pieces, the beans are a little salty but so flavorful and delicious with the rice, avocado and egg. And it also comes with a piece of arepa (their delicious savory corn bread). OMG....I thought I was going to explode from all the food, and I only ate HALF my plate!!!! This dish is a very traditional Columbian dish and I can definitely understand why it's so popular! There were 6 people in our party and 4 of us ordered this and all of us were in food heaven! I also tried the Langostinos al Carbon-their grilled shrimp on a small bed of salad. The shrimps are the same that come with the entrees, grilled perfectly and super succulent! There's about 6 for each appetizer and goes great with their jalapeno sauce. The coconut flan is good if you like coconut and REALLY sweet desserts cuz it's REALLY sweet! The figs are pretty tasty but there's only 2 or 3 with a big scoop of caramel..not really sure what you're supposed to do with all that caramel, it's also way to sweet to eat by itself. I'd say Las Tablas is not really the place to go to for dessert, but OH MAN! Their meats are out of this world!!!!

    (5)

  • Camilo R.

    I'm 100% Colombian, so this review is biased. Will Las Tablas be the best meal of your life? No. The menu is heavy on meats, sausages, fried items like arepas and empanadas. But, the food is VERY good and it serves it's purpose. It's a great introduction to the food from the interior area of Colombia. I'm proud of this place and I encourage all my friends try it. Order a "picada" which is a plate of food for two that has a little bit of everything. Get the arepa and chorizo and eat it while it's hot. Order extra chimichurri sauce and put it on everything. Take some home and put it on your lover. FYI, this place is no longer BYOB on the weekends. Not a deal breaker but keep that in mind so you dont show up with bottles you can't drink. For the record, Tango Sur is where you go when you are just out of college wet behind the ears. Las Tablas is where you go when you know what's up.

    (4)

  • Matthew D.

    I don't know how anyone who's actually going here with the expectations that "I'm gonna nom on some meat" isn't happy and full when they leave. Skirt Steak is the way to go, although we really enjoyed the grilled baby octopus. Outstanding stuff. Recommendation is to try one of the combination platters to share with you and your co-pilot, an app, and some crazy good coconut flan to seal the deal.

    (4)

  • M. N.

    You can survive here if you don't eat meat, but for the love of god I hope you eat meat cause this is one of the best dinner experiences you will ever have. Get yer tastiness on! Only reason I won't give 5 stars is because I used to eat at their previous location across the street and I really preferred the more intimate atmosphere there. That said, this is a great place, no question. I just wiped some drool off of my keyboard ;)

    (4)

  • Dejan B.

    The food here was awesome that is true...The meat was flavorful without being overly salty or otherwise extreme and they had the tropical drinks (made well) that Colombians (and others) know and love... What they do NOT have is service. Sure, the waiters were ok, pretty nice and attentive and everything but what absolutely KILLED it for me and a few others of our group was the absolutely un-helpful lead hostess behind the podium. I asked her (before we had been served any food) if she could move us to another table (most of the restaurant was completely empty) and she gave me some mealy mouthed denial saying something like "Well if only you had asked me Before you had ordered then I could have done it." WTF??!! I have asked this before and never had any problem. We were seated in one of the worst possible tables right in front of the entrance where my entire family was in a freezing draft and everyone of the servers and other patrons had to go around us to get to the restroom, the bar, or just to go in or out of the tables area. The LEAST that she could have done is move us to another table but barring that if she had some kind of sincere and good excuse my concerns might have been allayed but she did not even try...Even worse, she was obviously more interested in talking with the other servers and staff than she was in devoting the least bit of attention to her CUSTOMERS...And no you cannot excuse this by saying something like "Well that is Colombians for ya great food but horrible service" I have heard this about other nationalities and it is never any more true...The service industry especially lives or dies by their customer service and with this lack of the most banal and trivial service Las Tablas has guaranteed I will no longer patronize them and highly recommend others do not as well...

    (1)

  • Katarina X.

    Wow, those were some incredible Mojitos. I will update my review in copious detail when the hangover dissipates. Live music... go on Thursday. I'm thinking some of the negative reviews are because the yelpster went on a Friday or a Saturday (busiest nights at any restaurant) with preposterously high expectations. Go on a weeknight- it'll be a favor for you, your date, the musicians, the server, the cooks all thank you for the gracious consideration with utter attention to detail. I mean really, on a quiet night have you ever encountered a burned entree? Thought not. Yum. The service was sublime, the Entraa (Highly recommended by the hostess, server, chef...) Steak was transcendant, I kept stealing the avacado from my date's vegetarian plate and he in turn tried to swipe steak from mine. Ahem. Notice I say "tried" because 1. I didn't leave much 2. I hope his hand doesn't hurt too badly where the fork got him. I think it says something when a man is willing to be stabbed repeatedly with a fork in a vain attempt to obtain a scrap of buttery, juicy, succulent, perfectly medium rare meat from a girl who's cute but not too willing to share the yumminess. We enjoyed the Mojitos- lots of crushed mint, lime and sugar. I can't imagine what something so scrumptious wouldn't go with. Though I was told the Mango Mojitos were the most delicious- I couldn't say, they were all out (they use fresh Mango, not the artificial stuff from a bottle or a powder packet). Next time, and there will be a next time... if PETA doesn't go after me for corrupting another vegetarian then stabbing him with a fork. (I paid for dinner. Does that make up for for my bad behavior?)

    (5)

  • Kelly B.

    Favorite Chicagoland Restaurant! I have been going to Las Tablas for over 10 years and I absolutely love this place! This is a must see, must taste restaurant. My favorite dish is the "Matrimonio" ($20) which is a chicken and steak combo and quite possibly the best grilled chicken and steak I have ever tasted! The dish comes with a baked potato, yucca, and plantains. We also love the green "salsa-like" concoction that they put on the table. It's super spicy and addicting! I have been here before in groups or just my SO and me. We've made reservations before and also walked in off the street. The longest wait we have had on a walk-in was 15min on a weekend night. When Las Tablas was across the street in a much smaller space I remember waiting close to an hour- it's that good! The wait staff is friendly and attentive and you will not be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Leticia L.

    My husband and I went here to celebrate our anniversary. I had heard many good things about Las Tablas from a co-worker who is Colombian and we thought it might be worth checking out. We made reservations for Saturday night. I highly recommend making reservations as this place gets extremely busy. We had 8:00 reservations and it was pretty packed, and people were waiting to be seated. I was really impressed with the menu options. We started off with a pitcher of Sangria which really was the best I have EVER had. I usually prefer the white Sangria but this one was so good we practically finished the pitcher. And at $24 a pitcher it was a sweet deal. Next we ordered the empanadas. The appetizer comes with 6 empanadas (2 cheese, 2 beef, and 2 chicken). The cheese were my favorite. For dinner I ordered the shrimp and steak combination and my husband ordered the steak and chicken combination. Each dish was served with a plantain, yucca and a half of potato. My only complaint was the my steak was over cooked and my husband's steak was undercooked. I would definitely go here again but probably not get the steak. Believe it or not I thought the chicken and shrimp were much better. I did give it 4 stars though not as a steak house but as an overall restaurant. Plus the coconut flan is excellent and I probably would stop in just for dessert!!

    (4)

  • Matt L.

    Still a great deal for the money. Kind of like my affection, which is on sale right now for three easy payments of $29.99, but you have to call in the next ten minutes. They sell sangria and wine here now. Not sure if it's still BYOB or que es el dealio. Oh, and lessons learned over various visits: stick to the beef. I haven't waited in that sucker's line at Tango Sur since 2002. Las Tablas is almost as good meatwise, and has great yucca and decent plantains.

    (4)

  • lela h.

    Do you like steak? Can you say you've had the most blood-quenching, saliva inducing, unfathomably delicious steak yet? Please do you and yours a favor: experience the incredible cuisine of Las Tablas. The house skirt steak is to die for. It is marinated in heavenly juices. Really, I can't describe this anymore before I start drooling in reminiscence. El matrimonio is a quality choice: fine/sizable cut of the house's skirt steak and the house chicken. Buenisimo! Not to mention the sides of plaintains, yucca, potatoes that accompany the meal. The mojitos are the best I've had in the city -- sipping rocks of cane sugar, delicioso! Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Diana T.

    OMG have I died and went to skirt steak heaven?? I came here this past Friday with my girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. We had a party of 11 and called ahead for reservations. Good thing I did because the place was packed! All of the entrees are huge and start at around 19-20 bucks. You get so much meat and side dishes (I love the plantains). When you order medium, expect medium rare. I think it depends on the cut of meat you get too. Because I ordered the rib eye and asked for medium rare, but it turned out well. Unfortunately, you'll get charged a 5 dollar sharing fee if you do decide that it's way too much food for you. I say go for the gluttony. We also downloaded an online coupon for free sangria, which was surprisingly yummy. The cheese empanada was so good too. Probably because I love cheese. At the end of our meal, we all got free colombian coffee which was a delight. The service was great, but it was a little slow. Probably because it was so packed! Honestly, I just want to go back for a piece of the skirt steak.

    (5)

  • foodie t.

    I bought a groupon for this place and that's what prompts me to try it out. Service is good. Everyone is friendly. I had the combination of skirt steak and shrimp. It is delicious!! Skirt steak is perfectly grilled with the right amount of spices and tender juicy. Shrimp is shrimp.... it's good... nothing too special about it.

    (4)

  • Kris A.

    I love this place! I went here on a Saturday night for a 9pm reservation. The place was crowded, but the service was quick. I had the chicken and steak combination, and most entrees are $20. The plantains and rice/beans were to die for!! !! So well flavored!! The service was great, and we brought our own red wine. The only thing I don't like is the $8 corkage fee you have to pay on weekends if BYOB. I highly recommend, but make a reservation. Parking on Lincoln was easy.

    (5)

  • Samantha L.

    The Entrana was very good, and the Carne Asada was OK. The Mojitos were stupid expensive, so drink elsewhere after. Everything on the menu was pretty pricey. The steaks came with half a potato, yuca, and plaintain. As much as I love potatoes, the potato was disappointing because it was dry and I had nothing to put on it to make it have more flavor. The Empanadas were fairly good. They boast of their coffee, so maybe I'll come back sometime for just coffee and empanadas.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth H.

    I went with 5 stars because although the service can sometimes be slow the food has NEVER disappointed. I do admit that I miss the location across the street, I loved the small feeling and of course the BYOB. However, their new location is nice too with high ceilings and from what my husband tells me, amazing bathrooms. I also love the big wood tables. The food is so amazing. The empanadas are perfect (I suggest chicken over beef). I always get the churrasquito which comes with a yummy plantain, yuca and a baked potato. I am a little confused as to why they would serve both yuca and potato since they are both very similar to one another. Subbing out for rice is a good option. Last but not least I must say how DELICIOUS the aji sauce is that is always on the table. I think it is commonly confused for chimchurri but I got to the bottom of that when I was there last as well. One of my favorite places in Chicago and I will be back often!

    (5)

  • Teddy C.

    This restaurant makes me wish I were Latin! Seriously... I'll admit that I was a tad bit skeptical about eating Colombian food. I mean, let's be honest, Colombia is a country known for Drug Trade (specifically Cocaine) , Guerrillas (not Gorillas), Dirty Politics, Human Trafficking and now... Skirt Steak! For you non-Spanish-speakers, "Las Tablas" is Spanish for "The Tablas" The ambiance of Las Tablas is very laid back with Latin music playing in the background. The lights are so dimmed that you almost need the candles to read your menu... It's a great place to come with a date! Pretty much everyone will look better with the lights this dark... so if you're not bringing your "A" game, or if you're trying to hide a zit, check it out! But seriously, eating in the dark is pretty cool... We started with a couple Arepas and a couple Empanadas... the Empanadas were so flavorful with the perfect blend of spices, so as not to overpower the dish. The Arepas were very traditional, unlike the sweet Arepas I have grown to enjoy. We also tossed back a few Colombian beers which were pretty tasty! I highly recommend the skirt steak entree, which I recall to be named "Entraña" which was recommended to us by our server. I know he is Colombian, but his accent bore a striking resemblance to that of the legendary Ricky Ricardo, "Lucy, you got some 'splainin to do! AH AH AHHHH!!!" But who knew Skirt Steak could be so doggone tasty! Pretty much all entrees are served with a side of Yuca (Not Yucca, like you put on your sunburns), Plantains (who doesn't love bananas?!?) and Potatoes. Whoever said that there is always room for dessert is a frickin' liar! Honestly, I wish I had saved room for dessert! Seeing as how I couldn't feel my toes, because all the food in my belly cut off blood circulation to my lower extremities. As far as drinks go, they have a BYOB that applies to Wine only, and they charge $8.00 on Thursday through Sunday... but Monday through Wednesdays corking is complimentary... I am eager to try their Sangria, per their website, it's "Famous" and who doesn't love Famous?!? At the end of the day I would recommend Las Tablas to anyone with an appetite for exotic and spicy foods! If you have a bland palette, this is not the place for you. Las Tablas is great at accommodating large groups! There was a huge group (20+) of Emo/Hipster kids sitting next to us and each and everyone one of them had a smile on their faces! If more than 20 depressed Emo kids can have fun at Las Tablas, pretty much everyone will enjoy it!

    (5)

  • Shan b.

    Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Needless to say shame on me! I visited this place once about 7 months ago and got sick from the food. I thought maybe it was just a bug. I revisited the restaurant last night and got deathly sick again! I will never go here again. Also, the food was good the first time not so good last night. It lacked any real flavor. The prices are high but you do get a lot of food but no one needs that much food. Save yourself a trip to the bathroom and do not visit this place.

    (1)

  • Vickie L.

    Food is delicious, wonderfully seasoned. I want some right now. BUT I will never go back (to this location) due to their management. I bought a gift certificate on restaurant.com after having such a wonderful first experience. We walk in and ask the host if they will take the gift certif, just to make sure. He's not sure, so he calls the manager over. The manager looks at the paper, honestly looks us up and down, then says "no, we won't take this." WTF!!! Seriously?? We are a young, pretty good looking couple if I do say so myself. We have good jobs. "I have money to spend in here!" Totally NOT cool. We were dressed in jeans and nice tops. The restaurant was less than half empty, oh well, we spent our money elsewhere. And I spread the word about our awful experience there whenever I can.

    (2)

  • Georgetta E.

    Thank you, Las Tablas, for installing hand dryers in the bathroom!

    (4)

  • David B.

    skirt steak skirt steak skirt steak!! best ive had. usually it is dry and thin and only good if somthered in cream on a torta, but here it is seasoned perfected and is cooked to thick, juicy perfection. great service, got to-go cups for our sangria so awesome!!

    (5)

  • Leanne A.

    I always knew I was a carnivore, but after this comida fantastica, I see I'm more of a T-rex; the ultimate carnivore. Okay...first. Upon walking in, I thought the place had a very warm ambiance. It was like a cabin-in-the-woods, but in South America, not Minnesota. The art was cool, the layout was cool, I even liked the floor. My friends and I immediately were saying how cute it was. I started with sangria. Great price, very yummy, and a large glass. My friends got mojitos. I really really liked how they were tart and sour rather than totally leafy minty. They bring you the steak sauce before you even get any food. So I just sat there staring at it wanting something to put it on so badly I almost considered my hand. Instead I started nibbling it with my fork. YUM. It was perfectly spicy, and very fresh. Then my friend and I ordered the meat platter (the menu had a more flattering name) and our friends were laughing at how much meat it was when it arrived. I told them we would finish it but they did not believe it. "oh come on, that could be for all four of us." .....little did they know, my friend and I were in meat heaven, and weren't stopping until we could see plate. The meal went something like this: "mmmmmm, Oh, My, God, (silence..) this is so good, I think this is the best meal I've had in a really long time, OMG, the plantains with the salty meat is incredible, I LOVE THIS SAUCE, Can we have more sauce?" In the midst of our food frenzy, our friend interrupted to say we looked like dinosaurs. That didn't stop us. Then she went on to say we looked like the Geico men. Still didn't stop us. My boyfriend became annoyed at how many times my friend complimented the sauce, but we didn't care. The night was ours. On to dessert. The choices were very unique. I get so sick of the same old desserts. I ordered the blackberries in sauce with caramel. They got the passion fruit mousse. Okay, my caramel was a little too rich for me, but all in all, very delectable desserts. After spending more than we planned on, it was still well worth it. At 34 dollars, I got a great meal, drinks, and desserts. That is not common!! After leaving, we continued to laugh at our food intake ability.

    (5)

  • Tiffany K.

    i came here for a birthday dinner on either a friday or saturday night. anyway, it was super busy. service sucked but food was SO GOOD. my bf and i shared picada colombiana (skirt steak, rib-eye steak, pork loin, grilled chicken breast, chorizo, pork ribs, arepa, crunchy green plantain, fried sweet plantain, yuca and potatoes). there was SO MUCH FOOD on that plate! this entree is definitely enough for two people to share. i fell in love with the green sauce they give you with your entree. i must've asked for 3 cups of it. the restaurant itself is super dim which gives it a romantic feel. plenty of street parking. there's also a colombian coffee shop across the street. i forgot what this place is called but their colombian coffee is super bold. just how i like it! oh and the guy gave me a free cup of coffee in exchange of a shot of jameson. how nice of him. :)

    (4)

  • Vanna T.

    Las Tablas Lakeview was recommended to me by a friend who had just gone for his birthday and loved it. I decided to take my group of 4 there, as I had 2 guests in town who I thought would love it too. The food itself in combination with BYOB Monday-Thursday was 5 stars, however, the SERVICE, oh the service... tsk tsk tsk Las Tablas. Didn't you see all the guests waiting for a table sneak out due to your inability to write names down on a piece of paper? Couldn't you at least PRETEND you were familiar with a wait list? We literally had to go up there 3 different times to make sure our party of 4's name was on the list. The first two somehow didn't end up on there.... After myself and a few other hungry patrons bonded over how ridiculously horrible the service and lack of organization was while we waited for the 'host' to slowly meander back to the host stand, I asked the question many of us were wondering- how do we know when it is our turn? (they didn't take our phone#'s or use a buzzing system). In her Columbian, accent, 'Oh, i know face'. okay okay lady. Lady did know my mean hungry mug by that time and sat us within 10 minutes of that point. Was this MTV's Boiling Point?! Don't mess with hungry girls.... Anyway, why this restaurant even deserves 2 stars- food was excellent, i definitely recommend the combo empanada appetizer and the skirt steak. The Yukon potatoes were amazing too and I believe I consumed a leftover one at 2am after the bars. Would I go back? Yes, on a weeknight only.

    (2)

  • Sand H.

    Can't say enough about the fare here.. Awesome.. :) I have been back a quite a few times since my first visit here and am definitely going back when i can.. Suggestions: Empanadas - Must try. They are delicious and perfectly cooked. Entrana - Juicy and tender steak. Yummy !! For first time visitors or groups, you can try the combination platter as well which has a little bit of everything including steaks, sausages, ribs and seafood. All dishes are accompanied with tapioca and the most delicious mouth-watering plantains. And to back these up the chimichurri is in a class of it's own.

    (5)

  • Chester L.

    Las Tablas Ruined Father's Day. We will NEVER be coming back. So me and my girlfriend ate at Las Tablas a few weeks ago and thought it would be a good place to take her father for Father's Day. We heard they had a great brunch buffet and decided to definitely go with Las Tablas. The Friday before Father's Day I decided to call Las Tablas and ask them about their Brunch Buffett. They were kind enough to tell me all the incredible things that were included in the brunch buffet. I told them I was sold and asked them if we could make reservations SPECIFICALLY for the brunch buffet. They said yes and gave me a reservation for 1:00pm on Sunday. The Saturday prior to our reservation I thought to ask if we could still order off the menu ON TOP of the brunch buffet and they said yes. Please make note that I phrased my question as "Hi, I made a reservation for the brunch buffet tomorrow (Sunday). Can I still order off the regular menu with the brunch buffet?" This will be important to remember in my next paragraph. So Father's Day arrives and my girlfriend's parents meet us at the restaurant. It's an hour away from where they live. As we walk into the door we see a handwritten sign that there will be "No Buffet" today and are immediately confused. We walk up to the host who is on the phone. The host doesn't even acknowledge our presence and continues to talk to the person on the phone. Even if he was on the phone with a customer he should have taken a second to say "I apologize, I'll be with you in a second." Another host arrives for her shift and finally asks if we can be helped. I tell her about our reservations and immediately ask for clarity on the brunch buffet due to the sign on the door. I tell her I asked SPECIFICALLY about the buffet and that I only made reservations BECAUSE of the buffet. She goes to ask someone and comes back to tell me "sorry, we don't have the buffet today. There must have been some confusion or miscommunication." This was insulting. What confusion could there have been? I called TWICE about the brunch buffet! So they did not offer us anything for "miscommunicating" to me that there was going to be a brunch buffet and all they could offer us was the table I reserved, which really wouldn't have mattered since there was no one in the restaurant at 1:00pm on a weekend. Hmmm, I wonder why it's so empty. We told her that this was very upsetting and that we don't even know if we want to come back. Obviously our business doesn't mean much to them because even while we threatened to leave they did not do ANYTHING to make it right. Because it must be US who got it wrong. We told them we were leaving and we left to eat somewhere else. I don't appreciate being called "confused" because I know these things happen and that's why I asked for clarity TWICE. The only people who are confused are the staff at Las Tablas. Horrible customer service. We are never coming back and will make sure to warn all our friends about them.

    (1)

  • Tina W.

    I haven't been to LT since about 2003 and have been craving it for about a year now. My husband and I went there to celebrate our six month wedding anniversary on Friday and were a little disappointed. I definitely miss the atmosphere of the old place. It looks like a Pepes now. My matrimonio didn't disappoint, but my husband was very overwhelmed by his meal. I was hoping that friends' reviews of this place were wrong, but things do seem to have gone downhill since the big move. The people are still very nice. And the mojito wasn't too bad either.

    (3)

  • jenny m.

    Don't let the steakhouse part of the name scare you....this place will be enjoyed by all - carnivores, seafood lovers, vegetarians, there's something for everyone on the menu. Just make sure you bring your appetite, because you will be getting allllllottt of food! My three lovely dining companions and I met up here on a cold winter Wednesday. Upon walking in I immediately loved the ambience. Low lighting, dark wood, muted colors, there was a very warm & inviting feel to the place. I had called ahead to make a reservation and was told it wasn't needed for parties of less then 6. And sure enough, true to their word, we were seated without a wait. I'm guessing on a Friday or Saturday when it's really busy you may have a small wait, but there's a decent size area in the front with a bar. And some of the drinks I saw coming out looked quite good, so a pre-dinner drink in the bar area wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen! We started with the empanada combo plate and they were good, but when is cheese and/or meat in a fried dough shell not good? For my entree I went with the Langostinos al Carbon, which is grilled shrimp in a garlic white wine marinade. Uhm - YUM! The shrimp were grilled perfectly, I could have eaten a pound of those puppies. Two of my friends went with the house recommended combo platters, one with skirt steak & calamari, the other with skirt steak & shrimp. I didn't hear a complaint out of either of them. In fact, one of them, who shall remain nameless, ended up in the clean plate club. And with the amount of food you get, that is saying something. The 4th member of our party went with one of the chicken plates and seriously, I think they serve you a whole chicken. She's pregnant so she's even eating for two, and yet when she was done eating there was enough chicken leftover for at least a couple more meals. Not that we were complaining, just giving fair warning that you get a ton. All of the dinners come with potato, yuca, and plantain. Now this is where the food slipped a little bit for me. The yuca & potato were both a little dry and just kind of blah. And I LOVE yuca. But I've always had it mashed down in a patty and deep fried, here it was served a little different and it just didn't have alot of flavor. And the potato was just half a baked potato but with no sauce or anything on it. I don't even think it had a pat of butter or salt & pepper on it. So it was just boring. The plantain was the saving grace, it was sweet & delicious. Service was great. Our server was attentive but not over bearing. Water was refilled often which always earns a star in my book. And since you can BYOB wine Mon - Thurs with no corkage fee, when the bill arrived, we all happily clinked our wine glasses (and one virgin cocktail glass for the preggo lady) and happily said a cheers to the delicious (and plentiful!) food we'd had without breaking the bank. I can't wait for my next visit since I've already planned out the other dishes I need to try. And hopefully the yuca will be improved or I may have to give them the name of a woman in the Dominican Republic who made the best yuca on the planet....she can share her recipe!

    (4)

  • Annie M.

    My boyfriend took me here last night for my birthday. It was sooo delicious. We had the Picada Mar y Tierra, which serves two for $57. It was an expensive meal for us, but it was so much food that tasted awesome. We both went away stuffed, which is saying a lot because he's on Atkins and can eat a ton of food. Here's a run-down of each thing that was included: Etrana skirt steak: great flavor Rib-eye steak: very tender and cooked to order Chicken: ok, but not the best of the bunch Calamari: pretty good (but I am not a big calamari fan anyway) Baby octopus: wow! Whatever they cook that in is amazing. Shrimp: fantastic Pork loin: BEST EVER! I want the recipe so bad. Tender and charred to perfection. Arepa: quite good Plantains: LOVED them, but I'm a huge fan anyway Yuca: great Potatoes: great and they didn't even have spices on them I also had the Sangria and that was great, not too sweet, but didn't taste too much like just wine with fruit thrown in. I really want to go back and try the desserts and go back again, and again, and again... but, alas, we're poor.

    (5)

  • Agnes F.

    we ate way too much at Las Tablas.... between the grilled mariscos combination for 2 and then the picada colombiana, its really enough food for 4 ppl food tasted good, with the grilled calamari, shrimp, chorizo and arepa being our fav glad we went on one of the byo nights so we were able to save some money and had a great malbec that we brought service was friendly and we had a great time

    (4)

  • Amy T.

    Best skirt steak (Entrana) I've ever had (so far.) Try the appetizer for 2 of the grilled calamari/shrimp on a bed of salad...it's so perfectly grilled and delicious! The portion is very good so we did not even order 2 entrees. We order a full entree of the skirt steak, 1 order of empanada (2pcs), appetizer for 2 of the grilled calamari/shrimp, 1 glass sangria and coffee. For 2 of us, it was perfect, because we get to try a little bit of everything in 1 visit. Everything we ordered were superb down to the coffee. Each cup was brewed to order. Great service and value for the price you pay! PS: If you have a GROUPON, make sure you make a reservation before you go, they will not take you if you don't make one..it says it on a sign on the front door!

    (5)

  • Phil H.

    Since their move across the street, Las Tablas's food has remained delicious. However, despite an obvious upgrade in furniture, decor and liquor license (and bathroom, it's like an art gallery!), I feel that there's something off. Maybe it's the echo from their new location - first floor of a new construction. Or maybe I just miss the good 'ol pre-liquor license days when my group of ten would stumble out of the restaurant leaving 20 empty bottles behind. They still allow personal wine but it just doesn't feel the same. Like I said, the food itself has remained excellent. Different from a top steakhouse but delicious nonetheless. I recommend the matrimonial, which is a big piece of chicken and a big piece of steak. The steak and calimari is also very good. Empanandas are just ok. They also have a (sparsely attended) but very delicious brunch on the weekend. It's an all you can eat for I think $12.

    (4)

  • Amanda M.

    Definitely not for the herbivore in your life. I got the steak and it was so yummy. Probably one of the best steaks I have ever had which really surprised me. It was so juicy, and perfectly cooked. The portions are also huge and a really good price! If you are a drinker definitely try the sangria. It was really tasty as well and strong! I do have one tiny complaint. Our reservation was for 7pm, which is pretty early. We got there and the restaurant was probably a quarter full. When the hostess seated us at a table that didn't have backs to the chairs I asked if we could move to a table that did (I know, so picky, but I have a bad back). She told me the tables were already taken. Huh? They were all empty. I understood that some were for a large party, but 5 minutes after we sat down I saw another party of 2 get seated at a table that had backs! What the heck?

    (4)

  • O O.

    I don't know why this place isn't more crowded for their brunch buffet. It's $10 and it's really good. It's really meat heavy...a low carb lover's dream come true. I'm not a flan girl, but I really liked it. I've never come for dinner, only the bruch buffet, but it's a really good option and never a wait. It's open till 3 for the buffet on Sat. and Sun. I came one time and only had sangria and it was good. IMO, one of the bests in the city. I think they have half price pitchers one night.

    (4)

  • Hans B.

    Great family-run restaurant. Be sure to order a Caiparinha while you wait for your table - if you come on a Friday or Saturday. If you're with a group order the Picada Colombiana per every two people, you'll have more than enough protein and your bill won;t be too bad either. All in all a good place to have good drinks and great food. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Mimi M.

    This is the best Colombian steakhouse I've ever been to. Great food, great service, and great ambiance. The steak was so tender and flavorful, I still haven't forgotten it. OMG!!! OMG!!! Delicious!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Erin M.

    They have the best falt iron steaks! I love their sides and they have really yummy empanadas. My favorite is the chicken. Great service everytime I have been there. I actually stumbled upon this resturant via reviews on Yelp and I couldn't agree more with the positive reviews.

    (5)

  • Bess R.

    Went for dinner last Saturday night with no reservation, and got a table easily. Not a bad restaurant...kind of strip mall-y though. It's in the first floor of a new condo building. Service was slow as hell, and they apparently lost our order ticket in the kitchen so it took over an hour to get our food. Of course the server did not tell us this because he didn't speak to us or get my second glass of sangria for over 30 minutes. The food was pretty good when it finally came out, I should say, the meat was good. The sides were eh. Sangria was good and not a bad deal ($4/glass), but I probably won't be back after that service.

    (2)

  • Meagan M.

    As someone who has worked in restaurants, I am very understanding of bad nights, but this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. When I got to the restaurant, my friend was already there and had put his name on the list. He told me that the wait was going to be about 30-45, which is not a big deal (to me). During that time we saw tons of empty tables that were not being sat, but I figured that it was for a reason- like private parties and reservations. After waiting an hour (and those tables were still un-sat), I checked in with a male waiter who was helping at the hostess stand. Just as he tells me they were no longer seating, the woman who had been there most of the night returned to say it would only be a little longer. Fortunately, another set of customers over heard my conversation with the hostess and told me that they were wondering what the deal was because they were about to be seated and had noticed us waiting when they got there. I am so grateful for the kindness of these customers, who not only told the hostess in Spanish about the problem but also gave us their table. Once my friend and I are seated, we quickly (and happily) order beverages, the empanada combination plate, and our entrees. Again, we wait... and wait. You know the couple who gave us their table? Well, they were seated near us and had another round of bevs and appetizers before we even saw our waitress or was able to get the attention of any other restaurant staff member. Finally, I was able to catch the hostess and asked her to make sure that the empanadas are out first. The waitress comes back with our drinks and tells us that the paper in the kitchen ran out and she didn't know, but would have them out very soon. The empanadas arrive and instead of being 2 chicken, 2 cheese, and two beef, we get 4 cheese and 2 chicken. We tell the waitress who gave us an excuse for why it couldn't be fixed. We move on to the entree, which was good, not spectacular, and would have been better with the chimichurri sauce that was supposed to be with the steak (they ran out). We were there almost 3 hours and the only thing that happened in a timely manner was the waitress bringing our check (nice, huh?). The restaurant staff knew there had been multiple issues and did nothing to remedy the situation. It's not like we came in near closing time or had impossible requests. I'm so disappointed.

    (1)

  • Adam M.

    I celebrated my first birthday in Chicago at Las Tablas after a friend recommended this byob and I had the best time! I still remember the evening very fondly. Their dishes are just delicious (it was my birthday so I made sure I tried every item that came to our table). We had 6 or 7 people and felt a little crowded, but the restaurant was more than accommodating for our large group. I dream of the day when I return to Las Tablas....

    (4)

  • Alba R.

    I Recently visited this cozy little place and I fell in love with it! The food is delicious and they have a decent sized booze menu. Highly recommended!

    (3)

  • Nick S.

    Just tried to go there and were closed for a violation. Anyone know why?

    (4)

  • Tasha H.

    I hadn't been here in a while - in fact, not since they moved to this new location across the street from the old one! Then I saw the groupon offer, and remembered how good it always was - so I took a friend who hadn't been there before, on a Monday night. First, the drinks - excellent. We had some special fruity drinks, then I had a mojito - both were awesome. Then the food - the empanadas plate and then we both had combinaciones. All amazingly wonderful, perfectly cooked and spiced, just as good as I've had in the past. And last but not least, the service. I sometimes hesitate to buy groupons because I figure the restaurants probably get annoyed with the grouponites swarming in. Certainly not the case here. Our server was probably the best server I've had in a restaurant in a Chicago. Seriously. Super nice, genuine, explained everything, attentive - he was just awesome. And of course this was all before he saw how well we tipped him! :-) Really, can't say enough good things about Las Tablas - definitely worth it, groupon or no.

    (5)

  • Wendy Y.

    I thought this place was great. After going to several Brazilian steakhouses recently and stuffing myself silly(while I spent way too much money), I wonder why we didn't just go here. Sure, the other place is all you can eat, but this place gave me more then I would even want to eat. Basically, any place that can save me money and (a few....)calories without feeling deprived, I am happy with. So, yes, I understand that Columbian food and Brazilian food is different, but I think this is a great alternative. It is fun and different and nice for a big group of people. I would love to go again soon! If you go you have to have the chicken empanadas and I highly recommend the matrimonio.

    (4)

  • Farrin A.

    My new favorite place to eat in ALL of CHICAGO! I took my entire family here for my 30th birthday celebration. They do in fact take reservations and we sat at a terrific long table with bench seating and thrones at the end. My whole family thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was such a festive atmosphere. A. The BEST Mojitos in town-- I didn't even LIKE mojitos before having theirs...and try? Boy did I! I had a regular, a pineapple, and a mango. All delicious. B. Their food was TERRIFIC-- spicy chicken and beef that tasted like it has been marinated since I was born. And the vegetarian platters (both of them) were INCREDIBLE. The two veg-heads in my family were very VERY pleased. It almost makes me look forward to the next milestone birthday....almost.

    (5)

  • Christine M.

    I promised myself I would review again when I returned with a smaller party, and I finally did last Saturday night. The food was all cooked properly and was excellent! The skirt steak was a huge hit. The father-in-law couldn't stop raving about the steak, placing it in his top 3 ever (this says A LOT), the vegetarian had plenty of menu items to keep him busy, I heart the plantains, sangria, and Entrana, and I will definitely be back again very soon!

    (5)

  • Julia C.

    This place is very good. Ordered empandas and the entrana dish and both were great. Dipping sauces they offer are also good. The sides by themselves are okay but the sauces make them a lot better. Our waiter Pablo was the best and would request him next time we come.

    (4)

  • Aiga J.

    their meats are amazing, marinated and grilled to perfection. my very favorite part of the food is the green salsa served with the dishes. it goes so good with the meat!!! Even with yukka and potatoes. from the starters I have only had the guava and cheese filled plantain. it is very sweet but very tasty!!! their sangria will get you buzzed really fast and it is very, very good!!!

    (5)

  • Pamela P.

    The empanadas are delicious. The Combination Meat platter is enough to feed 4. Overall, the food is tasty but nothing spectacular. If you're a carnivore, you'll love this place. The vegetarian options are limited. The service could be better. We were informed that sparkling wine is not permitted for the BYOB, which isn't that big of a deal because we live next door and could easily run home and get a different bottle -- but if that's all we brought, I might have been peeved. The service is polite but slow. Prices are decent because the portions are huge -- definitely shareable.

    (3)

  • C S.

    Combo meats were excellent (had the skirt steak/ chicken combo). The sides were a letdown as expected from other yelp reviews (loaded them with sauce like some advised and still were too dry to save). The empanada was nothing special and the sangria was bland and missing a decent/ridiculous amount of alcohol. Would return for the meat combo - a good garnish for it is their sliced habenaros.

    (3)

  • Robyn T.

    Steak. Drinks. Men. No this isn't your typical Chicago steak house this is delicious meat-focused Colombian decadence! It seems that Las Tablas is the place to go for bachelor parties and birthday festivities, be forewarned this is not a romantic date night outing. With that in mind have a pitcher of red sangria, some empanadas and one of the fabulous steak combination dinners. Bring your appetite (or take a doggie bag) because there is no such thing as portion control. For $20 you can get a large steak, grilled shrimp, potato, plantain and yucca pieces. I can't imagine after all that you'd still be hungry. You'll leave Las Tablas sated and oh so happy.

    (4)

  • Lindsay B.

    Delicious! I could make a meal out of the appetizers, but then I wouldn't have any room for the wonderful steak. The empanadas were great. We also order a seafood appetizer which I would highly recommend. The steak was cooked to perfection. I can't wait to go back. We didn't get dessert but would certainly consider it next time.

    (5)

  • Granger L.

    My wife and I went to celebrate her birthday. We heard a lot of positives, but had no idea what Las Tablas was about. Simply, it was terrific. The service was great (never late with a beer) and the meals were delicious. Not Colombian we asked for the most popular native dishes. We were not let down. So many flavors and combinations to go with our steaks!! We look forward to going back and bringing friends!

    (5)

  • Jason C.

    Tried to go the other night to use a Groupon and the restaurant was closed for a health code violation. I have no idea when it will open again and not sure I will want to go if they have health code violations. I have been in the past and it is good. I contacted groupon and they provided a refund no questions ask.

    (1)

  • Claire M.

    Tonight was the first time I had been to Las Tablas since they moved accross the street and got rid of the BYOB that helped to make them so fabulous! When we inquired about the corkage fee, the hostess was extremely rude and more than happy to inform us that they no longer were a BYOB restaurant. When we informed her that there was still a BYOB sign in their window advertising the BYOB special Monday-Thursday, she merely sneered at us. In addition, there must have been some sort of kitchen fire since the smoke was quite thick in the restaurant, so am not sore what was going on in the kitchen! This sadly is not the same lovely Las Tablas that once existed across the street. Don't waste your time or money. Go elsewhere!

    (1)

  • christina h.

    I have been to this place a few times and absolutely love the food.I recommend the skirt steak (which is their signature dish) and the stuffed chicken with cheese.They also have great mojitos and sangrias.

    (5)

  • Kyung P.

    I liked Las Tablas better when it was across the street, as a whole in the wall, BYOB joint. Now they're trying to be all uppity with their fresh fruit this and fresh mint that. The service was slow as molasses. It took a looong time for everything. Good thing we weren't in a hurry, because it was "let's-go-somewhere-else-slow". So it took forever to get our drinks and even longer to get our empenadas. After waiting 30 minutes, 1 empenada ended up being cold in the middle. We notified the waiter, and he brought us another (very quickly - that was the only quick thing during the night), and it was frozen in the middle!!! Then our entrees came, and we told him we didn't want another. The rest of the food was mediocre. The yucca was icky, very stringy. And I would have preferred the plantains to be cut up in smaller pieces for caramelization. I had a couple of fresh fruit martinis, and I was drinking the fruit in chunks. My strawberry martini was full of seeds, and my mango martini was like eating cut-up mango. They were pretty strong though, but definitely not worth the price, and I would pass for next time. Then our bill. Our server made the biggest deal about not charging us for the second empenada. OBVIOUSLY! He made it seem like he was doing us the favor of a lifetime. You gave me cold empenadas on 2 separate tries and you want me to thank you for not charging me (and by the way, we got charged for the one we ate)?! Next!

    (2)

  • Diana S.

    This is the less hyped cheaper version of Tango Sur. We got the grill platter entree. I can't remember what it was called. I came with a variety of meats, yuca, and plantains. It's actually quite a good deal and it feeds two people. I love empanadas and the ones here were really good. The place just felt really authentic to me, and festive too! In theory, coming here for a group gathering is a good idea, but they don't take reservations :(

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse

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