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Topolobampo Frontera Grill
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- Neighborhoods:
- Central, Near North Side
- Categories:
- Restaurants, Certified Green Restaurant(R)
- Cuisine:
- New American, Mexican
- Price:
- $$$
- Restaurant Special Features:
- Payment Methods:
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At a Glance
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95% ambiance
“The service was quite good and the menu selection matches what you would expect based on the decor.”
75% dessert
“the decor of the place and the mango dessert”
78% drinks
“We had lime drinks which were fabulous and guacamole.”
78% food quality
“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.”
100% menu variety
“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?”
80% overall
“great Mexican restaurant in Chicago”
100% return potential
“would definitely go back and always highly recommend both establishments to anyone who travels to Chicago.”
77% service
“Oh and the food was just as good as the service.”
67% value
“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”
57% wait time
“Making a reservation is a must and having a good attitude with the wait staff goes a long way.”
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Topolobampo Frontera Grill…
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What Our Expert Scouts Say
January 11, 2013
Droolingly delicious, this restaurant was made famous by Rick Bayless' passion for fine Mexican cuisine. Committed to the environment as well as their customers, this restaurant is truly focused on bringing fresh healthy foods forward in a sustainable fashion and is a member of Chicago's Guaranteed Green Restaurant Coalition.
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Heart
December 30, 2012
All Mexican food is not created equal, and I think Rick Bayless has proven that across the globe.
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October 31, 2012
Chicago's quintessential upscale Mex spot. Make your reservation weeks in advance (really!), sip a Topolo margarita, and order extra guac.
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Tips for Topolobampo Frontera Grill
October 01, 2002
dont be fooled!. We wanted something light for an appetizer and ordered the chips and salsa. The salsa came in dish that allowed you to dip about 5 chips before running out. Since the service was so bad, I never did end up getting another salsa. The highly recommended pork with mole polina sauce fell very short of my expectations. It came on a plate with four tiny pieces of flavorless lukewarm pork with chile sauce a side of mashed yams.(20$)The chicken tacos also left us high and dry. Honestly, you could do better on the flavor scale. The flavors were too sutle to make any impressions.nothing special.(15$)
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Heart
August 22, 2002
Not a Taco Joint. This place is fabulous. Eat in the bar where you can order from either menu. The margarita's will kick your butt before you know it.
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August 08, 2002
mmm, mmm good!. My husband and I had a company function down in the basement room, although it was quite strange to walk through the kitchen to get downstairs, we very much enjoyed ourselves. The food was excellent and the service was unbelievable, they catered to our every need and whim! We can't wait to go back, just the two of us!
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Heart
July 29, 2002
It's the Best. The only problem is in choosing what to order. You can't make a mistake -- only, perhaps, miss what you might have loved best out of a field of excellence. What a good conundrum!
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July 23, 2002
Pushy Server/Small Portions. Let's take a look at this over-priced, walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom, best in Chicago?? restaurant, Topolobampo. Come on JP Anderson, get it together. "Can I take your order?" 6 times she asked. We were there to enjoy our evening not eat like plowmen and race out. When I am spending $300+ on a meal for 2, I expect some time, and I expect my server to be able to speak over the clatter from the kitchen and I am sure you do too. In this case I got niether. On to the food, prodigiously small portions. As a matter of fact, I learned what it felt like to have my wallet gouged and my stomach deprived of food at a highly touted restaurant. The signature coffee is out of this world, but don't waste your time with Topolobampo, wait at the bar at Frontera Grill.
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Heart
July 03, 2002
Excellent- I love Rick Bayless. I went to Frontera Grill with 1 other person for lunch on a Sat. Only had to wait about 15 minutes! (This was in April so I don't remember everything exactly.) We had lime drinks which were fabulous and guacamole. I had chicken in mole sauce for the first time and loved it! Not only was our waiter nice but we also saw Rick. We didn't take pictures of him like some other people. He comes around to a lot of the tables and we got to speak to him. It was expensive because everything is a la carte. No free chips and salsa. I highly recommend it because all of the food is so authentic and flavorful. I have his cookbook and try to duplicate recipes but you have to go there yourself! (P.S. The bathrooms are nice too.)
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Heart
June 21, 2002
Some of the best Mexican Food around. Having been raised on LA's Mexican food (from home-cooked to hole-in-the-wall to high-end), I was skeptical of Chicago having a Mexican restaurant that could compete with all the great ones in LA--but a friend told me Frontera Grill was one of his best Mexican food experiences. So when I was in Chicago for business, I checked this place out. I have to say it was better than all the high-end Mexican Restaurants in LA. The ingredients were fresh and the flavors robust. Although their salsas were not very hot, they were bursting with flavor. I got the chile relleno and thought the flavors were subtle but complimented each other nicely. If you're a sangria snob, skip it and stick to the margaritas.
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June 13, 2002
Awful. Our dinner was one huge disappointment after another. Long wait, absolutely terrible service, disgusting (and over priced) appetizer, out of plantains, cold beans and rice, wated forever for our check. I strongly recommend spending your money elsewhere!
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Heart
June 07, 2002
Frontera for lunch. I like Frontera Grill for lunch -- the prices are a bit lower than dinner, but the same great food. Get there early (right when the open) and you won't have to wait -- but don't be surprised if there's a line of fellow early-eaters. This is real Mexican food -- not Americanized or Tex-Mex, so try something new and different. The choice of tequilas here is amazing, too.
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Heart
May 14, 2002
Wonderful dining experience. With savory-sweet moles, steaming homemade tamales and delicious soups, these restaurants highlight the very best flavors of Mexican cuisine. The atmosphere in Topolobampo is upscale, but far from stodgy. It's a great place to enjoy a celebratory dinner.
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Won for:
Restaurant
(2009)Mexican Food (2008)
Celebrity Chef Restaurant (2007)
Margarita (2006)
Nominated for:
Celebrity Chef Restaurant
(2013)
Mexican Food (2011)
Breakfast (2010)
Mexican Food (2010)
Celebrity Chef Restaurant (2009)
Latin Food (2009)
Mexican Food (2009)
Margarita (2007)
Mexican Food (2007)
Mexican Food (2006)
Margarita (2005)
Mexican Food (2005)
Mexican Food (2011)
Breakfast (2010)
Mexican Food (2010)
Celebrity Chef Restaurant (2009)
Latin Food (2009)
Mexican Food (2009)
Margarita (2007)
Mexican Food (2007)
Mexican Food (2006)
Margarita (2005)
Mexican Food (2005)