Fan of Rick Bayless on PBS. Food is authentic Mexican, locally sourced ingredients, seasoned well but more warm, smoky flavors than water-chugging heat. Order the guacamole. The chips are sturdy and not overly salted. Out table ordered the steak tacos, mole chicken enchiladas, and tortilla soup. Everything was presented incredibly - especially the soup. That broth alone will make you weak in the knees. That good! Decor is delightful. Dia de muerta even more so. How did I miss the multiple Michelin plaques?! Don't be put off by the prices or gratuity added for service. Must try!
LYNN H
I stopped in for a light bite and the tamal verde was delicious - the second one. I was surprised that the first tamal I was served was still hard and partially cold. Guess it came from the freezer. I sent it back and waited for a warm and soft one. It was wonderful, but I was surprised that there was no compensation or something small offered while I waited for one properly heated.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
mmaier58
Frontera is a must for every trip I take to Chicago, and living there would require intervention from my daily reservations. Love the quality of the dishes. Ingredients are sourced with great care, and presentations feast the senses. Even the approach to enter the building is alluring and presages the fun, playful vibe once inside. And the staff are engaging and super helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Richard Wieler
You can't really go wrong with Rick Bayless's restaurants. Service and atmosphere are absolutely terrific. The food is very good. It's hard to complain against some of the super excellent hole-in-the-wall Mexican places I've been to, but this is the upscale version of that. Everything was very well prepared. The drinks were spectacular and we really enjoyed the atmosphere. Staff were very welcoming even though we got there at the end of a busy lunch rush.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Garnett Livingston
This review is not really about the food. The food is delicious and flavorful. We found a long hair in our entree and immediately informed our waiter. At first he looked at us like we were crazy and said it is probably a thread from the banana leafs or whatever leaf they use to garnish the plate….trust me, it was no fiber thread from a leaf. I tried to be discrete about it around the other customers, but he picked up our plate and began examining it and touching things on the plate which seemed like an attempt to question what we found?
Finally, he took the plate away, and about 10 minutes later a new entree was brought to the table. Nobody said anything, nobody came to the table to apologize, not another word was said the entire night. We were presented with our bill and they did take that particular entrée off, but again no mention of anything from anybody.
I am a professional chef/owner and have been in the fine dining industry for years, and would never allow myself or someone on my staff to show this type of disregard to any guest much less question their intent. When you find a 7 inch long hair and your entrée you tend to lose your appetite.
Sara M
Amazing food and service! Our server Arturo was brilliant - so knowledgable and attentive. An absolutely incredible evening. Definitely get the tabelside shaken margaritas and the tasting experience. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
hawksoccer33
Fantastic mexican food, fantastic service and a really nice mexican-inspired atmosphere.
The servers are very good and attentive. The food was fresh, hot and authentic. Mildly expensive but absolutely worth it!
I highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marco
Probably the best chilaquiles I've ever had. Wow!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Varsha Sanghvi
Not good for vegetarian food. Though it shows they have separate menu for vegetarian food, but it's tasteless food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Ali P
Updated review: I came here again and brought a friend. We came for happy hour and would give a 3/5instead of the original 5/5. The service was ok, not as attentive as the first time. It also seems the quality of the food went down. You can see the difference between the taquitos from my original post and what they look like now. The sopes also were cold and the masa was hard. The drinks were strong so I’d come back again for drinks and maybe try food to see if it’s better
Original Review:
LOVED THIS PLACE!
We went on a Friday evening (DEFINITELY recommend reserving a table in advance!) we ordered the seasonal hibiscus old fashioned, smoked chicken taquitos, sopecitos rancheros, and the steak carnes al carbon para tacos.
Usually I’d do a pros and cons list but I have nothing to list as a con! Our server was attentive and gave great recommendations for what we should try, and the food was AMAZING! Wished we saved room for dessert but we didn’t, I would definitely go back.
Haven't been here in years (I'm no longer in Chicago) and still never disappointed. Cochinita Pibil & Milpa Alta (braised pork shank) are amazing as are the Oysters with Chipotle & Tomatillo Habañero sauces. But, and why is this always the case with chefs and their soups, the Tortilla Soup is mind blowing. You know how you always narrow it down to 2-3 dishes before deciding? Good luck with that. Skip the table, sit at the bar and have the Tropical Highball---everyone back there knows their stuff and are great to talk to. (And I'm sure it's the same in the dining room) There's a 200 Mezcal speakeasy we didn't get to. Next time, soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adam Huenecke
You won't find another Michelin-starred resturant with this kind of comfortable setting and accessible pricing while maintaining the incredible quality of the food. A chicago staple for a reason.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I_WAS_BEACHGRRRRRL
For my husband's 50th birthday, all he wanted was to eat at Rick Bayless's Frontera Grill in Chicago. He has watched and admired Mr. Bayless for years and so we made it happen, first time to Chicago. The host was warm and welcoming, and we were sat promptly. Our server was informative and helpful, and got us the vegetarian menu that they have, which was amazing. We got apps and drinks and they all came out on time and tasted fantastic. We ordered the green enchiladas and the mole enchiladas as well as the chocolate pecan pie. The food was all exceptional. Truly one of the best meals of our lives. The only slight disapointment was that before traveling to Chicago for the big birthday, I reached out to Frontera Grill and let them know we'd be coming in to celebrate my husband's 50th birthday. I let them know we were traveling 7 hrs to be there and was just hoping there might be a tiny nod to such a special occasion. It's fine that there wasn't (husband knew nothing of my email to the restaurant) but it just would have been awesome if that had happened. We would certainly go back if we are ever in Chicago again.
Chelsee W
Excellent food. Fun atmosphere. The plates are small, so order up if you are hungry. As a Michelin-star restaurant, this easily lives up to the hype.
Beth Wallace
Fabulous, of course! I almost didn't write a review because this is such a well known restaurant but it deserves all of the accolades. One issue we had was with parking (we have a truck with kayaks on top); however, the valet had a spot for us right in front of the restaurant on the street - lucky! Now for the food - my husband had the Enchiladas Mole; the chicken was so tender and the mole perfect. I had the Pollo en Manchamanteles - it was spectacular. I had waited a long time to come here and will definitely be back!
Fan of Rick Bayless on PBS. Food is authentic Mexican, locally sourced ingredients, seasoned well but more warm, smoky flavors than water-chugging heat. Order the guacamole. The chips are sturdy and not overly salted. Out table ordered the steak tacos, mole chicken enchiladas, and tortilla soup. Everything was presented incredibly - especially the soup. That broth alone will make you weak in the knees. That good! Decor is delightful. Dia de muerta even more so. How did I miss the multiple Michelin plaques?! Don't be put off by the prices or gratuity added for service. Must try!
I stopped in for a light bite and the tamal verde was delicious - the second one. I was surprised that the first tamal I was served was still hard and partially cold. Guess it came from the freezer. I sent it back and waited for a warm and soft one. It was wonderful, but I was surprised that there was no compensation or something small offered while I waited for one properly heated.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Frontera is a must for every trip I take to Chicago, and living there would require intervention from my daily reservations. Love the quality of the dishes. Ingredients are sourced with great care, and presentations feast the senses. Even the approach to enter the building is alluring and presages the fun, playful vibe once inside. And the staff are engaging and super helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
You can't really go wrong with Rick Bayless's restaurants. Service and atmosphere are absolutely terrific. The food is very good. It's hard to complain against some of the super excellent hole-in-the-wall Mexican places I've been to, but this is the upscale version of that. Everything was very well prepared. The drinks were spectacular and we really enjoyed the atmosphere. Staff were very welcoming even though we got there at the end of a busy lunch rush.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
This review is not really about the food. The food is delicious and flavorful. We found a long hair in our entree and immediately informed our waiter. At first he looked at us like we were crazy and said it is probably a thread from the banana leafs or whatever leaf they use to garnish the plate….trust me, it was no fiber thread from a leaf. I tried to be discrete about it around the other customers, but he picked up our plate and began examining it and touching things on the plate which seemed like an attempt to question what we found?
Finally, he took the plate away, and about 10 minutes later a new entree was brought to the table. Nobody said anything, nobody came to the table to apologize, not another word was said the entire night. We were presented with our bill and they did take that particular entrée off, but again no mention of anything from anybody.
I am a professional chef/owner and have been in the fine dining industry for years, and would never allow myself or someone on my staff to show this type of disregard to any guest much less question their intent. When you find a 7 inch long hair and your entrée you tend to lose your appetite.
Amazing food and service! Our server Arturo was brilliant - so knowledgable and attentive. An absolutely incredible evening. Definitely get the tabelside shaken margaritas and the tasting experience. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic mexican food, fantastic service and a really nice mexican-inspired atmosphere.
The servers are very good and attentive. The food was fresh, hot and authentic. Mildly expensive but absolutely worth it!
I highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Probably the best chilaquiles I've ever had. Wow!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Not good for vegetarian food. Though it shows they have separate menu for vegetarian food, but it's tasteless food.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Updated review:
I came here again and brought a friend. We came for happy hour and would give a 3/5instead of the original 5/5. The service was ok, not as attentive as the first time. It also seems the quality of the food went down. You can see the difference between the taquitos from my original post and what they look like now. The sopes also were cold and the masa was hard. The drinks were strong so I’d come back again for drinks and maybe try food to see if it’s better
Original Review:
LOVED THIS PLACE!
We went on a Friday evening (DEFINITELY recommend reserving a table in advance!) we ordered the seasonal hibiscus old fashioned, smoked chicken taquitos, sopecitos rancheros, and the steak carnes al carbon para tacos.
Usually I’d do a pros and cons list but I have nothing to list as a con! Our server was attentive and gave great recommendations for what we should try, and the food was AMAZING! Wished we saved room for dessert but we didn’t, I would definitely go back.
Restaurantji Recommends
Haven't been here in years (I'm no longer in Chicago) and still never disappointed. Cochinita Pibil & Milpa Alta (braised pork shank) are amazing as are the Oysters with Chipotle & Tomatillo Habañero sauces. But, and why is this always the case with chefs and their soups, the Tortilla Soup is mind blowing. You know how you always narrow it down to 2-3 dishes before deciding? Good luck with that. Skip the table, sit at the bar and have the Tropical Highball---everyone back there knows their stuff and are great to talk to.
(And I'm sure it's the same in the dining room)
There's a 200 Mezcal speakeasy we didn't get to. Next time, soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
You won't find another Michelin-starred resturant with this kind of comfortable setting and accessible pricing while maintaining the incredible quality of the food. A chicago staple for a reason.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
For my husband's 50th birthday, all he wanted was to eat at Rick Bayless's Frontera Grill in Chicago. He has watched and admired Mr. Bayless for years and so we made it happen, first time to Chicago. The host was warm and welcoming, and we were sat promptly. Our server was informative and helpful, and got us the vegetarian menu that they have, which was amazing. We got apps and drinks and they all came out on time and tasted fantastic. We ordered the green enchiladas and the mole enchiladas as well as the chocolate pecan pie. The food was all exceptional. Truly one of the best meals of our lives. The only slight disapointment was that before traveling to Chicago for the big birthday, I reached out to Frontera Grill and let them know we'd be coming in to celebrate my husband's 50th birthday. I let them know we were traveling 7 hrs to be there and was just hoping there might be a tiny nod to such a special occasion. It's fine that there wasn't (husband knew nothing of my email to the restaurant) but it just would have been awesome if that had happened. We would certainly go back if we are ever in Chicago again.
Excellent food. Fun atmosphere. The plates are small, so order up if you are hungry. As a Michelin-star restaurant, this easily lives up to the hype.
Fabulous, of course! I almost didn't write a review because this is such a well known restaurant but it deserves all of the accolades. One issue we had was with parking (we have a truck with kayaks on top); however, the valet had a spot for us right in front of the restaurant on the street - lucky! Now for the food - my husband had the Enchiladas Mole; the chicken was so tender and the mole perfect. I had the Pollo en Manchamanteles - it was spectacular. I had waited a long time to come here and will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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