| ambiance |
95.0% positive |
- “
i've always been fascinated by the way rick takes you on location deep in the heart of the source, the markets, the little food stands in mexico places where even people like myself would freak out to see an american walking around. ”
- “
the decor of the place and the mango dessert ”
- “
We were seated 15 minutes late from our reservation time, but once we sat down, the ambiance was great, so we thought we were in for a wonderful experience. ”
- “
Good food, colorful decor ”
- “
would plan to spend a little more time and money than at your normal mexican resturant, because you will want have a second margarita and savor the great food and atmosphere that Frontera Grill has to offer. ”
- “
The service was quite good and the menu selection matches what you would expect based on the decor. ”
- “
Awesome food, fun atmosphere, a little expensive, but a super time has by all! ”
- “
The food is always wonderful, service professional, and we love the cozy ambience of Frontera. ”
- “
Frontera was awesome with it's decor and wait staff, everyone we met (including Chef Rick Bayless) basically bent over backwards to make our dining experience simply wonderful. ”
- “
The food, the drinks, the ambience, and the service are all of excellent quality. ”
|
| dessert |
75.0% positive |
- “
Desserts included a great pecan chocolate pie and an outstainding tasty berry cobbler. ”
- “
For a desert, we shared a hazel nut cake, and had some wonderful Oaxacan coffee. ”
- “
the decor of the place and the mango dessert ”
- “
The waiter told us that the "dining experience" would take 2 hours, which was fine, but in hour 3 after we'd had horrible food, we asked the busboy to tell our waiter that we'd like the final course (dessert) to go. ”
|
| drinks |
78.5699987411499% positive |
- “
That along with outstanding food and an ever changing wine list it makes this place hard to beat. ”
- “
For a desert, we shared a hazel nut cake, and had some wonderful Oaxacan coffee. ”
- “
1/2 hour wait for Frontera but there was good bar service with great first course. ”
- “
so we headed to the bar for a drink and the place was just alive, the music was at a perfect volume the staff was on top of things their recommendations were right on the button. ”
- “
shame since even with a bad first drink, the second usually tastes a little better. ”
- “
You are shuffled to the bar area to order extremely overpriced (and small) margaritas or what have you. ”
- “
Plus, and I was pretty shocked about this, our drinks were terrible. ”
- “
The service was great and sitting at the bar, we got a glimpse of Rick Bayless, but I just wish the food matched the hype. ”
- “
went there last Tuesday for a friends birthday and we waited at least 10-15 minutes before a server came to our table to order a drink. ”
- “
The margaritas in the bar were good, which is why my rating is two stars instead of one. ”
- “
The food, the drinks, the ambience, and the service are all of excellent quality. ”
- “
Excellent food and wine pairing. ”
- “
We had lime drinks which were fabulous and guacamole. ”
- “
Ah, no, we'll order our drinks now. ”
|
| food quality |
78.85000228881836% positive |
- “
Their variety of Mexican dishes was excellent! ”
- “
If you like great food or are even marginally a foodie you will be very happy with your Topolobampo experience. ”
- “
This was possibly the best meal of my life! ”
- “
Service was extemely poor and so was the food. ”
- “
eat at a variety of Mexican restaurants on a fairly regular basis including a very upscale restaurant in Lakeview (Agava - always a great meal for about the same price as Frontera). ”
- “
The service was great and sitting at the bar, we got a glimpse of Rick Bayless, but I just wish the food matched the hype. ”
- “
The food was excellent and the service was unbelievable, they catered to our every need and whim! ”
- “
Terrific wait staff; subpar food ”
- “
We love there hot sauce, that we actually bought one for our home. ”
- “
Once we got seated the waiter was a jert, who would only recommend the most expensive dishes. ”
- “
My son-in-law said his steak,(I forget the correct name of the 'Carne' dish), was superb, but -I'm- a vegetarian, and, for me, Rick Bayless's "fast food" place on Macy's 7th floor has similar fare, just as good, less expensive, with a friendly counter sta ”
- “
would plan to spend a little more time and money than at your normal mexican resturant, because you will want have a second margarita and savor the great food and atmosphere that Frontera Grill has to offer. ”
- “
However, since just about every other Mexican restaurant in Chicago has nearly the same menu and all the food nearly tastes the same, this is a breath of fresh air. ”
- “
We all loved the food, thought portions were perfect (didn't feel like we needed to be rolled out the door). ”
- “
That along with outstanding food and an ever changing wine list it makes this place hard to beat. ”
- “
Desserts included a great pecan chocolate pie and an outstainding tasty berry cobbler. ”
- “
The ingredients were fresh and the flavors robust. ”
- “
Entrees include good tacos al carbon and fish tacos served with the best guacamole and refried beans known to man, and a fabulous grilled day-boat catch with potato-kohlrabi mash and watercress salad. ”
- “
just moved here from the east coast, where i had a great selection of good food. ”
- “
We shared a turkey salad appetizer that was terrible. ”
- “
My wife ordered a Halibut meal that was awful, (she had to order something different and that was just OK) She is a huge fan of fish, and to her her dish was inedible, tasted like the fish had gone bad. ”
- “
Wonderful food, great service. ”
- “
Top quality food, excellent flavor combinations, and good service make Topo live up to the hype - if you're looking for Tex-Mex over fine dining go somewhere else because you will likely think it is overpriced and won't be able to appreciate the effort th ”
- “
like Frontera Grill for lunch -- the prices are a bit lower than dinner, but the same great food. ”
- “
Over all the food was very good. ”
- “
Memorable dishes were the huetlcoches appetizer (a fungus well-known to this farm girl, but never in a tamale!) ”
- “
Excellent food and wine pairing. ”
- “
live in Texas, have travelled in Mexico and extensively in Europe, and I have to say that Frontera & Topolobampo are 2 of my favorite restaurants of ANY cuisine, ANY where! ”
- “
With savory-sweet moles, steaming homemade tamales and delicious soups, these restaurants highlight the very best flavors of Mexican cuisine. ”
- “
Frontera Grill is as authentic as it comes. ”
- “
... I mean that the food would have been subpar at ANY price. ”
- “
The waiter told us that the "dining experience" would take 2 hours, which was fine, but in hour 3 after we'd had horrible food, we asked the busboy to tell our waiter that we'd like the final course (dessert) to go. ”
- “
Long wait, absolutely terrible service, disgusting (and over priced) appetizer, out of plantains, cold beans and rice, wated forever for our check. ”
- “
The food is fabulous. ”
- “
The food was fantastic, local high quality produce and meat which allowed a more reasonable priced menu at the more "low scale" Frontera Grill. ”
- “
Good food, colorful decor ”
- “
great food, terrible service at frontera ”
- “
Since the service was so bad, I never did end up getting another salsa. ”
- “
Outstanding food and dining experience. ”
- “
For dinner I had the Puerco en Tinga Poblana: grill-roasted pork loin served with classic Pueblan pork tinga (roasted tomatoes, smoky chipotle chiles, chorizo sausage and red-skin potatoes); creamy avocado and homemade fresh cheese add final touches. ”
- “
Perhaps Rick Bayless should spend less time spinning his take on organic food prep and authentic recipes and take the time to discover the fundamentals of running a restaurant where service is a key element of good business. ”
- “
love mexican food and tex mex (after living in austin for a few years), but nothing I tried here really tasted THAT great. ”
- “
The food was delicious and the appearance of it was tasteful. ”
- “
i've always been fascinated by the way rick takes you on location deep in the heart of the source, the markets, the little food stands in mexico places where even people like myself would freak out to see an american walking around. ”
- “
This place is gourmet mexican with wonderful fresh dishes and the best ceviche on earth. ”
- “
My fiance, her "salad" was bad, her entree was much worse. ”
- “
If you like "mexican" food - rice, beans, tacos, and big as your head burritos etc., Topolobampo WON'T be on your favorites list. ”
- “
The food was absolutely delicious. ”
- “
Yet the other seafood dish my company tried, Mahi Mahi with greenish sauce was very good. ”
- “
read the reviews on here and elsewhere so I was expecting some unique but good food. ”
- “
Whoever gave this place awards has never had good mexican food. ”
- “
Oh and the food was just as good as the service. ”
- “
We ordered two appetizers - guacamole and chips, along with Sopes de Chilorio: crispy corn masa boats filled with Sinaloa-style shredded pork chilorio, ancho-orange sauce and queso a? ”
- “
First off, the ceviches were tasty but nothing exciting and sparse on the seafood. ”
- “
Our meal at a neighborhood place the previous evening provided much better service and the food ultimately was more satisfying--for half the price. ”
- “
honestly do find it mind-boggling that so many people enjoy the food at the Frontera Grill. ”
- “
born in chicago raised in the mountains of jalisco mexico and let me tell you it is really hard for me to become a fan of a mexican resturants because i eat mexican food all of the time my beautiful wife cooks a variety of food and is a very good cook, i' ”
- “
In August I was served what I consider to be the very best Bloody Mary ever, they use tequila, which when duplicated at home with heavier anejos makes for a less spicy version with an edge of sweetness. ”
- “
The food is always wonderful, service professional, and we love the cozy ambience of Frontera. ”
- “
Great waits lead to great food. ”
- “
We ordered two Blue Agave Margaritas, made with El Tesoro Platinum tequila, Cointreau, and fresh lime juice. ”
- “
The food was great, but the service was terrible. ”
- “
The food, the drinks, the ambience, and the service are all of excellent quality. ”
- “
Awesome food, fun atmosphere, a little expensive, but a super time has by all! ”
- “
But, if you like exquisitely prepared dishes with authentic Mexican flavors at manageable portions, this place is fantastic. ”
- “
The food is good, but only ok when taking price into account. ”
- “
The best food around. ”
- “
the WORST mexican food ”
- “
The food is authentic Mexicana. ”
- “
Once you are finally seated, and assuming you aren't disilliusioned by the inefficient herding and waiting process, you're in for a great meal. ”
- “
The food, on the other hand, was subpar. ”
- “
But when you order more substantial items from the menu you'll realize (like all four of us in our party) that the food is not just bad, it's an insult to anyone who really enjoys great food. ”
- “
The icecream is also homemade, and the food is just great! ”
- “
The food was incredible and the members of the waitstaff were very attentive. ”
- “
the food was disgusting. ”
- “
Expensive mexican food in my book. ”
- “
cannot comment on the food, but my experience at Topolobampo was unacceptable. ”
- “
The food is excellent, very unique flavors. ”
|
| menu variety |
100.0% positive |
- “
But when you order more substantial items from the menu you'll realize (like all four of us in our party) that the food is not just bad, it's an insult to anyone who really enjoys great food. ”
- “
The food was fantastic, local high quality produce and meat which allowed a more reasonable priced menu at the more "low scale" Frontera Grill. ”
- “
born in chicago raised in the mountains of jalisco mexico and let me tell you it is really hard for me to become a fan of a mexican resturants because i eat mexican food all of the time my beautiful wife cooks a variety of food and is a very good cook, i' ”
- “
However, since just about every other Mexican restaurant in Chicago has nearly the same menu and all the food nearly tastes the same, this is a breath of fresh air. ”
- “
just moved here from the east coast, where i had a great selection of good food. ”
- “
The service was quite good and the menu selection matches what you would expect based on the decor. ”
- “
eat at a variety of Mexican restaurants on a fairly regular basis including a very upscale restaurant in Lakeview (Agava - always a great meal for about the same price as Frontera). ”
- “
Their variety of Mexican dishes was excellent! ”
- “
So the problem here is, should you try something new, a creative menu that can either be amazing or bland, or just stick to the classics? ”
|
| overall |
80.0% positive |
- “
We ordered an assortment of starters and entrees including ceviche and everything flat out sucked-- sorry, but that is the best way to express our absolute dislike with this place. ”
- “
Rick Bayless could make this a great restaurant with better hostesses. ”
- “
This is more than just a great Mexican restaurant, it is one of the best restaurants in Chicago! ”
- “
It's a great place to enjoy a celebratory dinner. ”
- “
great Mexican restaurant in Chicago ”
|
| return potential |
100.0% positive |
- “
would definitely go back and always highly recommend both establishments to anyone who travels to Chicago. ”
|
| service |
77.64999866485596% positive |
- “
Long wait, absolutely terrible service, disgusting (and over priced) appetizer, out of plantains, cold beans and rice, wated forever for our check. ”
- “
The worst service we've had in a long time, and we dine out a lot. ”
- “
The wait staff here is wonderful with a great memory if you frequent here about one every 3-4months. ”
- “
The food, the drinks, the ambience, and the service are all of excellent quality. ”
- “
The service is great, after your seated. ”
- “
Once we got seated the waiter was a jert, who would only recommend the most expensive dishes. ”
- “
very rude host told us that they were still waiting for a table and that the other host pretty much lied. ”
- “
The decorum was casual trendy and the service was excellent! ”
- “
The service was appalling, possibly the worst I have experienced in a long while from an inattentive wait staff that, quite frankly, could have cared less. ”
- “
The staff was very helpful with good suggestions. ”
- “
i've always been fascinated by the way rick takes you on location deep in the heart of the source, the markets, the little food stands in mexico places where even people like myself would freak out to see an american walking around. ”
- “
Everything is great except the host staff. ”
- “
Our meal at a neighborhood place the previous evening provided much better service and the food ultimately was more satisfying--for half the price. ”
- “
Our waiter was helpful and prompt and we even saw Rick there that night. ”
- “
The food is always wonderful, service professional, and we love the cozy ambience of Frontera. ”
- “
honestly do find it mind-boggling that so many people enjoy the food at the Frontera Grill. ”
- “
so we headed to the bar for a drink and the place was just alive, the music was at a perfect volume the staff was on top of things their recommendations were right on the button. ”
- “
great food, terrible service at frontera ”
- “
The food was excellent and the service was unbelievable, they catered to our every need and whim! ”
- “
Not only was our waiter nice but we also saw Rick. ”
- “
The food was great, but the service was terrible. ”
- “
Top quality food, excellent flavor combinations, and good service make Topo live up to the hype - if you're looking for Tex-Mex over fine dining go somewhere else because you will likely think it is overpriced and won't be able to appreciate the effort th ”
- “
The service is friendly and efficient, and the environment is loud and frenetic. ”
- “
The service was great and sitting at the bar, we got a glimpse of Rick Bayless, but I just wish the food matched the hype. ”
- “
Making a reservation is a must and having a good attitude with the wait staff goes a long way. ”
- “
Since the service was so bad, I never did end up getting another salsa. ”
- “
The waiter told us that the "dining experience" would take 2 hours, which was fine, but in hour 3 after we'd had horrible food, we asked the busboy to tell our waiter that we'd like the final course (dessert) to go. ”
- “
Our bartender was attentive and made great margaritas. ”
- “
Frontera was awesome with it's decor and wait staff, everyone we met (including Chef Rick Bayless) basically bent over backwards to make our dining experience simply wonderful. ”
- “
the bartender poured it out of a huge jug and didnt even shake it, but suprisingly it tasted ok. ”
- “
went there last Tuesday for a friends birthday and we waited at least 10-15 minutes before a server came to our table to order a drink. ”
- “
Oh and the food was just as good as the service. ”
- “
The food was incredible and the members of the waitstaff were very attentive. ”
- “
Host staff rude. ”
- “
The service was excellent. ”
- “
We were seated in a timely manner and the wait staff were superb. ”
- “
1/2 hour wait for Frontera but there was good bar service with great first course. ”
- “
Terrific wait staff; subpar food ”
- “
Wonderful food, great service. ”
- “
The wait staff at Frontera is superb. ”
- “
Perhaps Rick Bayless should spend less time spinning his take on organic food prep and authentic recipes and take the time to discover the fundamentals of running a restaurant where service is a key element of good business. ”
- “
The service was quite good and the menu selection matches what you would expect based on the decor. ”
- “
What we didn't know is that the host staff would be so nasty. ”
- “
My son-in-law said his steak,(I forget the correct name of the 'Carne' dish), was superb, but -I'm- a vegetarian, and, for me, Rick Bayless's "fast food" place on Macy's 7th floor has similar fare, just as good, less expensive, with a friendly counter sta ”
|
| value |
67.95000076293945% positive |
- “
The portions were ridiculously small and the entrees sucked. ”
- “
We all loved the food, thought portions were perfect (didn't feel like we needed to be rolled out the door). ”
- “
Again, we were big fans of Rick, so we would like to believe this was just an off night, but we will not risk spending the amount of money we paid just to go and find out we were mistaken. ”
- “
eat at a variety of Mexican restaurants on a fairly regular basis including a very upscale restaurant in Lakeview (Agava - always a great meal for about the same price as Frontera). ”
- “
like Frontera Grill for lunch -- the prices are a bit lower than dinner, but the same great food. ”
- “
Food was interesting and good, but very small portions. ”
- “
An expensive tab, where we left still hungry. ”
- “
Awesome food, fun atmosphere, a little expensive, but a super time has by all! ”
- “
The meals were very flavorful with good portions. ”
- “
Long wait, absolutely terrible service, disgusting (and over priced) appetizer, out of plantains, cold beans and rice, wated forever for our check. ”
- “
But, if you like exquisitely prepared dishes with authentic Mexican flavors at manageable portions, this place is fantastic. ”
- “
Yet I enjoy Frontera Grill and it is definitely a place worth trying. ”
- “
You are shuffled to the bar area to order extremely overpriced (and small) margaritas or what have you. ”
- “
Top quality food, excellent flavor combinations, and good service make Topo live up to the hype - if you're looking for Tex-Mex over fine dining go somewhere else because you will likely think it is overpriced and won't be able to appreciate the effort th ”
- “
Margaritas were excellent, but a bit pricey. ”
- “
My wife ordered a Halibut meal that was awful, (she had to order something different and that was just OK) She is a huge fan of fish, and to her her dish was inedible, tasted like the fish had gone bad. ”
- “
The appetizers were excellent, get the trio, worth it. ”
- “
Once we got seated the waiter was a jert, who would only recommend the most expensive dishes. ”
- “
would plan to spend a little more time and money than at your normal mexican resturant, because you will want have a second margarita and savor the great food and atmosphere that Frontera Grill has to offer. ”
- “
the bartender poured it out of a huge jug and didnt even shake it, but suprisingly it tasted ok. ”
- “
My son-in-law said his steak,(I forget the correct name of the 'Carne' dish), was superb, but -I'm- a vegetarian, and, for me, Rick Bayless's "fast food" place on Macy's 7th floor has similar fare, just as good, less expensive, with a friendly counter sta ”
- “
Our meal at a neighborhood place the previous evening provided much better service and the food ultimately was more satisfying--for half the price. ”
- “
The only thing is, once you eat at Frontera, you'll really want to find out what the more-expensive Topolobampo is like. ”
- “
The food is good, but only ok when taking price into account. ”
- “
... I mean that the food would have been subpar at ANY price. ”
- “
My boyfriend and I who have been in and around the restaurant business for more more than twenty years between the two of us are huge fans of Rick Bayless's TV series and cookbooks. ”
|
| wait time |
57.14000225067139% positive |
- “
within five minutes rick bayles was at our table i dont know if i was more excited to him or my favorite baseball player. ”
- “
The worst service we've had in a long time, and we dine out a lot. ”
- “
We were seated 15 minutes late from our reservation time, but once we sat down, the ambiance was great, so we thought we were in for a wonderful experience. ”
- “
went there last Tuesday for a friends birthday and we waited at least 10-15 minutes before a server came to our table to order a drink. ”
- “
Service was slow. ”
- “
The service was appalling, possibly the worst I have experienced in a long while from an inattentive wait staff that, quite frankly, could have cared less. ”
- “
Making a reservation is a must and having a good attitude with the wait staff goes a long way. ”
|
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