Chicago Restaurants

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I went to Francesca's Amici in downtown Elmhurst the other day. It's part of a local chain.
It was gooooood. I had ricotta filled ravioli, but I wished I got my sister's dish: ham and salmon smoked rigatoni...dee-licious.
Desert was even better--white chocolate cheese cake w/a cookie dough layer and chocolate-chip banana pudding w/carmel sauce and banana fudge gelatto.
The prices were reasonable (11-15/entree) and the service was excellent. (plus, they were playing some decent music at an unobtrusive level)

p.s. I went to the Naperville location and, while the food was tasty, it was WAY to noisy and cramped.

― oops (Oops), Monday, 17 March 2003 21:08 (twenty-three years ago)

The Francesca's in Edgewater is really good, too.

― Kerry (dymaxia), Monday, 17 March 2003 21:14 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought of another great one I forgot to mention: Nueva Leon in Pilsen, at 18th and Ashland. Really great, affordable Mexican fare. Not just a "burrito joint". BYOB. Open til 4 am on weekends for when yr drunk.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 17 March 2003 21:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Whoops, its Nuevo Leon.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Monday, 17 March 2003 21:19 (twenty-three years ago)

good, don't wanna emasculate that lion now, do we?

― oops (Oops), Monday, 17 March 2003 21:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh yeah, that place is pretty great!

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 17 March 2003 23:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh Yum! I forgot about Tiffin - my favorite Mexican place on Devon. They have an unbeatable lunch buffet for like $7 that includes naan and tandoori-chicken fresh out the oven. the buffet is delicious too... and its very nice/elegant surroundings.

And I have a crush on one of the waiters at Francescas in Edgewater

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 04:10 (twenty-three years ago)

Whoops. Indian, not Mexican.

― phil-two (phil-two), Tuesday, 18 March 2003 04:10 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

Ok, what's the best Mexican restaurant in Chicago that is vegetarian friendly? I'm talking rather traditional fare - black bean and cheese quesadillas, cheese enchiladas, great margaritas & chips...

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 20 May 2004 19:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Jaymc on SF taquerias - "I know everyone in San Francisco is proud of their Mexican food, but we in Chicago have our own Hispanic communities, you know".

;)

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 May 2004 19:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't think of a Mexican restaurant that isn't vegetarian friendly, unless you want to get picky about lard in beans. (And I would, except I hate asking about such things, and so I choose to remain blissfully ignorant.)

If you are picky about that, I know Mamacita's (two locations: one is 2439 N. Clark, the other is 3324 N. Broadway) makes a point of being lard-free. But I've never been there, so I can't vouch for it otherwise.

As for my own recommendations ... I'm quickly realizing that I haven't been to that many sit-down-and-toss-back-a-couple-drinks Mexican places (as opposed to quick-burritos-while-you're-drunk taquerias). But I know that Fernando's (3450 N. Lincoln) has great margaritas, and from what I remember, the food was pretty good, too. I've also enjoyed El Mariachi (two locations, four blocks apart!: 3420 N. Broadway and 3829 N. Broadway). Also search: El Tapatio (3400 N. Ashland), which has a mostly traditional menu but also some interesting vegetarian fare (I had an enchilada with zucchini, carrots and spinach!).

(Destroy: The Executives on Randolph St., which advertises itself as "vegetarian friendly" but wasn't any more uniquely vegetarian than anywhere else. A little overpriced, too.)

Of course, Chicago has its fair share of somewhat pricey, fancy "authentic Mexican" places: Topolobampo and Frontera Grill (owned by celebrity chef Rick Bayless) and Ixcapuzalco would fit into this category. I haven't been to any of them but I routinely hear good things.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:14 (twenty-two years ago)

TECALITLAN BITCHES

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

it has declined in quality since I left, tho.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

@d@m -- when did I say that?!

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Respond to my goading, damn you!

(x-post)

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, you did. I don't know. In conversation. You may have had a point.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I keep wanting to try Tecalitlan.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Your search - TECALITLAN BITCHES - did not match any documents.

Suggestions:
- Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
- Try different keywords.
- Try more general keywords.
- Try fewer keywords.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

The place next door to the Green Mill (Lawrence & Broadway, I think?) is awesome. It's nice, and cheap.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

@d@m -- Was it because you were talking about taquerias in SF as if they were unique to Cali or something?

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

ALSO< IRAZU MOTHERFUCKERZ!!!

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:17 (twenty-two years ago)

(That's really all I know about though, because I am a Chicago p0s3r.)

(x-post)

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

go to Las P@lm@s and see me friend spin dee rekkids.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I was going to mention Irazu, too, but Sarah seemed to want a more traditional Mexican menu (Irazu = Costa Rican) and margaritas (Irazu = BYOB, I think).

Irazu does have fantastic veggie burritos, though (esp. if you like your burritos with rice) (and mushrooms). And those fruit smoothie things (I forget what they're called -- licuados, maybe?)

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

@d@m -- Was it because you were talking about taquerias in SF as if they were unique to Cali or something?

Not unless you were reading all this into what I was saying. I am no expert on these matters and wouldn't dare put forward such a hypothesis without some serious evidence.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

jaymc, I just mentioned the vegetarian bit because the last Mexican restaurant I visited here was knee deep in lard. I guess I basically want somewhere with black beans, not just refried tasteless meaty stuff. (Man, I really hated that place didn't I??) ha ha

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

TRADITIONAL SHMADITIONAL. AUTHENTICITY IS FOR ROCKISTS.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I might as well also mention Rique's Regional Mexican Cuisine in Uptown -- which is worth it for the mouth-watering pico de gallo (fresh mango, jicama, and cucumber, drizzled in lime and chili powder), even if the rest of the menu is so-so.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

(Haha, I'm just remembering now that I went to Rique's on the strength of ILX's "own" Ann Sterzinger's Reader review.)

What restaurant did you hate, Sarah?

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:24 (twenty-two years ago)

What is up with all this BYOB business and why would someone prefer that?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Because the Illinois ABC tells them so.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmm... don't remember the name. It's across the street from Margi3's candies.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, Arturo's?

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Or, I mean, Lazo's Tacos? I get them confused; they're right next door to each other. One's more sit-down, though.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

arturos? NO WONDER.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

It's much cheaper to BYOB and you get to bring your favorite drink which the restaurant may not serve.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, that place ain't that great. Phil-Two and I went there after going to the Empty Bottle a couple months ago. My nachos were kinda gross.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe. I mean, the ambience wasn't too bad. It's a family restaurant. There was a male/female duet singing to a backing track in the corner of the room. My food just made me sick.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

There are two places there, at Western and I think Ashland. It was super el-cheepo crappy Mexican. I don't give a shit about traditional, I just want black beans and cheeze and booze.
xpost

― NA (Nick A.), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

What's that Flash Taco place again?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Hstencil, I have to say I foolishly enjoy this new all-caps persona of yours.

― QUOTATIONS FROM SENOR GUACAMOLE (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Flash Taco is derided by many for being the go-to taqueria for drunk Wicker Park hipsters -- but I have to say, they do a pretty decent veggie burrito. The grilled green and red peppers are what puts them a cut above most.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess that's true about the byob, oops, but I like me some fruity drinks.

Traditional = whatever it is that I'm used to that I seemed to get at Mexican restaurants in Virginia and Texas but can't find here

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

at Western and I think Ashland

It's Western and Armitage.

― jaymc (jaymc), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Nick's a dumbass.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:31 (twenty-two years ago)

the best places allow you to BYOB but serve drinks as well.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:31 (twenty-two years ago)

What about BYOD?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

jaymc I'm just a poor man's jon williams.

there are 3 burrito stands with the same name on Ashland south of Division.

― QUOTATIONS FROM ROFFLE (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

BOYD was my roommate, we walked from where we lived near the Fireside Bowl to eat at Arturo's AND NEVER DID IT AGAIN.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I like the place where you have to put in an order for a pizza about three days ahead. That place is good.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 20 May 2004 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

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