I just got off the phone with chef Dudley Nieto, and he said something that I never thought I’d hear him say:
"I’m not going to move. No, this is it. This is the place I want to stay, to retire, to be there, to enjoy my life."
He was talking about his new restaurant Eivissa. And if the fact that Nieto plans to stay at this restaurant for the rest of his life isn’t surprising enough (after all, this is the man that has been at the helm of almost every upscale Mexican place in the city, including Zapatista, Adobo Grill, Zocalo and the abruptly-shuttered Xel-Ha), here’s another surprise: Here, he’ll be cooking Spanish food.
"My father was from Spain, and my mother was from Mexico," he says. "[Growing up], I actually ate more Spanish food than anything else."
Is your world rocked yet?? Well calm down, because from here things get a little more Nietoish. At Eivissa, he plans to organize his menu much like how he organized the menu at Zocalo—that is, regionally. His focus will be on pintxos from Catalonia (which are also attributed to the Basque region), but he’ll also serve dishes from areas like Rioja and even foods specific to Barcelona (a.k.a. more contemporary cuisine). In short, Nieto says that he simply wants to "show [the city] what we can do when it comes to regional Spanish cuisine."
Eivissa will be located at 1531 N Wells St, and will seat between 175-200 people. The plan is for it to open in early June…and close when Nieto is old and gray.
I can’t wait for this place to open. I am looking forward to Chicago getting a new infusion of Spanish Tapas. I have been to Iberco and Cafe Babareba and have found that the taste of the food has changed (not for the better). I hope Eivissa will have some authentic Spanish dishes.
Old town is a diners paradise, but has been missing a place like this.
Can’t wait to sample the SANGRIA!!!!!
Good luck on this place ever opening! Poor Chef Nieto is in league with some of slipperiest characters in all of Chicago. I wonder if he knows. Only 7 or 8 or 9 months late and counting…(depending on who told you). Perhaps the chef should inquire a little more into the characters of the people he’s working with before putting his name behind them. Hope he realizes this before it’s too late.
YEAH SAME HERE A LOT OF MONEY SPENT NOT ENOUGH EXPERIENCE IN THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE RUNNING THE PLACE ,JUST LIKE CC SAID (CHARACTERS) I THINK THIS PLACE WILL CLOSE FASTER THEN WHAT IT TOOK TO OPEN IT .
Boy, there sure are some jealous ex-restaurateurs posting here. Plus you should be a little suspect of someone who can’t spell “too” properly in their own screen name (maybe too (or is it “two”?) much time in mom’s basement surfing the net and not enough time studying). Not to mention the poor boy’s caps lock key is stuck. Someone float the poor unemployed sap a few bucks for a new keyboard.
Eivissa will shoot to the top of Chicago’s tapas scene.
Adios, muchachos!
i really don’t think this place will make it a yr maybe less … …………
Hopefully, SAY WHAT, the same holds true for you.
Was there for dinner tonight. The place was packed after no advertising. Food was good. Servers very sweet and attentive. Loved that the hostess and bar tenders had flowers in hair. Great way to spend a date night.
I think it’s so funny how people have so much negative stuff to say about a restaurant that hadn’t even opened yet at the time. Well GUESS WHAT it has now and it’s the BEST Tapas Restaurant in Chicago! PERIOD!!! After having had the chance to speak personally with the owner I think it’s amazing that a young man of his age took his dream and turned it into a reality. How many of you haters can say that for yourselves? You probably have nothing and never will so you have to bash other people’s success. And FYI IT WAS DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE to get a reservation last night 5/29/09 because they were booked. It’s gotten some great reviews also so know what you’re talking about before you open your mouth!
This place was absolutely horrible! The food was bland and the portions were the smallest I’ve ever seen! Anyone who is writing postivie coments on here or any other place is obviously the staff of Eivissa. Read some more realistic views on yelp at http://www.yelp.com/biz/eivissa-chicago.