Most of the time I am in Chicago I am making a day trip. This time due to a combination of things I will be staying for a few days. I have some business dinners and lunches set but was hoping for some recommendations for some interesting things that are less corporate. If not I am always happy to head to Pequods. How is Topolobampo? Never been but I always enjoyed Bayless’ show. Loved Purple Pig and Girl & the Goat in the old days but have not been in many years now. Will be staying at the Langham so anything close by for a quick bite would be appreciated. Thanks.
From a Chicagoan:
- Kasama
- Tortello
- Bar Sótano (upstairs from Topolambo, which is def worth it from what I gather)
- Parson’s Chicken & Fish
- Jaleo
- El Alebrije
- Frontera
That’s 3 Bayless ventures I guess, so pick your fave.
As a former (non-native) Chicagoan, I so wish I could help you. My data are seriously outdated but love that city madly and people are friendly, as you probably know.
I wasn’t wowed by Topolobampo the one time I went (I went with a group or on a date…passage of time messes with my memory) but I also lived in Pilsen, which had fantastic Mexican mom and pop enterprises (I was a cash-strapped research assistant at the University of Chicago).
Happy eating in the city of big shoulders!
It’s not a new restaurant but it’s a new Michelin 3* addition - SMYTH. My in-laws gave it a huge thumbs-up.
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Take Uber/Lyft and go to Thattu.
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Got in from the airport and needed to get a late dinner. Discovered that the hotel was only a few blocks from Frontera Grill. I have watched some of the old Rick Bayless shows so we headed off to check it out.
Ordered an agave margarita and some chips and guacamole. Not exactly the most inspired bit of ordering but the margarita was fabulous. Better than 99% of what I have had. Perfect balance of tart tang and a bit of sweetness. So good a second followed quickly.
The guacamole was chunky and at first seemed a bit mild then a sneaky bit of spice came in to bite you back. Chips were also on the chunky side. An unadventurous but satisfying starter.
I had pork collar in a smoky dark mole. A basket full of tortillas. White corn. The meat was a bit chewy but in a good way. Fatty and unctuous. The mole and raw onions contrasted nicely.
The lovely wife ordered shrimp in a yellow mole. She is not usually a fan of Mexican food but declared at the end of the meal that we could came back. A sure sign of success.
No room and too late for dessert. We cruised on back to the hotel through unseasonably pleasant weather for Chicagoland.
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After a day of being a tourist and with my lovely wife doing what she can to contribute to the local economy we decided to get some deep dish pizza. I have limited exposure to this form of pizza and within that experience have a preference for Pequod’s. However, it was deemed to be too far and with the ubiquity of Lou Malnati’s, we headed off to a nearby outpost.
House salad and a classic was our order.
The salad was the basic romaine and iceberg with a slightly sweet vinaigrette that fit perfectly within the canon of Italian american food. This was a single person serving. They eat big here.
The pizza.
Thick crust but not bready. Thick layer of cheese, even thicker layer of sausage and a very nice sauce topping it all. After a slice, the lovely wife expressed her preference for NY style. She said the crust was too pie like. I noted maybe that is appropriate as it’s called a pizza pie. I liked it. Nice flavor. The sauce was outstanding and tied everything together. But I think the clam pie at Zuppardi’s in West Haven is still the pinnacle of pizza perfection.
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Happy to hear Frontera was to your liking. I really only passed on what recent visitors recommended to me.
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What did you like at Thattu @ipsedixit?
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The fish fry, steamed white fish in banana leaves, and the masala biscuits.
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Sorry I missed this, but for anyone else who might be looking, here’s a semi-recent list from my brother (a chef/restaurant manager in Chicago). I think these recs were circa 2022.
Porto
Brindille
The Duck Inn
Esme
Elske
Rootstock
Roister
Lula Cafe
Oriole
The Loyalist
Nobu
Monteverde
S.K.Y.
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The Purple Pig is one of my favorite restaurants. I have not had the opportunity to come back in a long time so with my extended weekend trip, I grabbed the chance and went to the temple of porcine goodness and wine.
There is a warning on the menu that dishes may contain pork even if its not clear where it maybe hiding.
Started with a little dish of persimmons wrapped in prosciutto. Interesting with the cheese but mostly worth a shrug.
The sardines on the other hand were outstanding. Three (there’s that odd number again) fillets on top of a salad with fennel, avocado, cucumber, pickled onions and a bunch of other stuff. I could eat just this and be happy with my meal.
Then not realizing how large the mains had become or at least forgotten over the last 5 years, we each ordered one.
There was a paella special.
The pan was huge. Nearly covered the whole table. More than enough for two. My lovely wife diligently scrapped every last bit of the socarrat.
Then there was the half of a roasted very plump duck. I think this maybe the best duck I have ever had.
So good that after eating the paella and having consumed most of the duck we picked up the wing and leg to gnaw off every last bit.
Afterwards we waddled off down North Michigan to try and burn off some of the meal.
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Very interested in your trip here! I am hoping to do a return visit (last went in 2015). Lately, I’ve read good things about The Coach House (South Indian) and Mirra (Indian-Mexican), if you are still there.
Blown away by your eating capacities. Half of that paella would’ve come home with me.
The odd numbers are pretty common on restaurant plates. It’s for looks only, which is stupid bc it makes it difficult to share with another person — unless one is dining as a trio.
Was just in Chicago and mostly stuck to my go to Mexican places in Pilsen and Pulaski. I did try Mirra and was impressed. I thought they did a good job of taking Mexican concept and merging Indian flavors into the dishes. What I had:
- A hamachi aguachile with curd/buttermilk broth, curry leaves and fried ginger. A nice mixed of sour curry on the Indian side with Serrano-jalapeño Chiles in the broth. Excellent
- Singapore style laksa broiled oysters lacked the richness and coconut profile of a laksa but instead was a dry earthy thick curry. Very good but didn’t taste like laksa.
- Fried octopus chettinad style sopecitos. A great combo of South Indian spiced fry flavors with great handmade masa sopes.
- Lamb tacos arabe with spiced yogurt.
- Tres leches rasmulai style with saffron milk. Very rich but not sweet. Preferred it to standard tresnleches flavors.
Good atmosphere and services. Cocktails were also nice. I thought they suggested too much for me as a solo diner which I pushed back on and ordered essentially the four smaller plates above (totally full after the dessert). I’d go back.
Lighting was bad but here are some pics:
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Wow, that all looks and sounds fantastic! Thanks!
