Ñ Café Is Still Finding Its Footing. The Empanadas Are Already There.
The corner spot formerly known as Barra Ñ reopened under new ownership with a new format. Give it time. The beef empanada and chimichurri are worth the visit right now.
The signage on the building still says Barra Ñ in places, which is understandable given the history. This was part of the Di Sapio family's Argentine restaurant network, the same family behind Tango Sur on Southport, Folklore in Wicker Park, and El Mercado, the Argentine butcher and market beside Tango Sur. The original ownership split, one partner took over completely, and the concept shifted into what it is now: an all-day café serving espresso, yerba mate, Argentinian pastries, sandwiches, and empanadas, with a separate evening identity on weekends.
We were there opening week and have been back several times. It is still getting used to itself.
The empanadas are the reason to come and the clearest signal of what this place is capable of when it is operating well. You can get them fried or baked. The beef is the best of the bunch, savory and well-seasoned, and everything gets better when it hits the homemade chimichurri, which is rich and herby and does real flavor work. The chicken and ham and cheese are both solid. The spinach and cheese version is the one for vegetarians but not the one I would prioritize.
The espresso feels like an afterthought. This is not the place to come for a coffee program worth talking about. The yerba mate is more in the spirit of what the café is trying to do. The brunch and lunch dishes and Argentinian sandwiches are worth exploring alongside the empanadas if you are sitting down for a full visit.
Thursday through Saturday the space transforms into Ñ at Night. Enter through a side door and you find cocktails, DJs, bar food, and a different energy entirely. It is a fun concept for a small corner building to pull off and it works as a neighborhood option for a low-key evening out.
Growing pains are real and visible right now. New management and a new format take time to settle. As it shakes out, this has the bones to become a genuinely solid casual lunch spot on a cute corner. It is not there yet, but it is worth watching.
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