Frontera Grill & Topolobampo
(312) 661-1434
445 N Clark St
Chicago,
IL
60610
41.8903
-87.6309
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central
Reviews & Ratings for Frontera Grill & Topolobampo
80 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 80 reviews
Getting in for lunch...
by pbehle
October 26, 2007
While Frontera Grill can get packed quickly, you can often wander in and get seated (and eat) at either the bar or right alongside the kitchen where there are maybe six bar-stools -- not only do you not have to wait, but you get to see the busy kitchen in action.
- Pros: Amazing food
- Cons: So crowded
Maso o Maenos (OK food more or less)
by golito
November 05, 2008
The food just seemed OK. The ceviche was mushy and pretty nasty (our fault for ordering ceviche in Chicago). The rest of the food was just OK if overpriced. I would eat there again, if the prices were cheaper. The place is popular because of the celebrity owner, who was there, and was nice enough. Bottom line, save a trip downtown, unless you need to impress someone with a trendy place. We found 2 other Mexican places in town we will be sure to return to.
Disappointing Topolo
by StreeterJean
August 15, 2008
The worst service we've had in a long time, and we dine out a lot. We made reservations for us and our out-of-town guests weeks in advance, at their request. We arrived on time, had to wait 10-15 minutes in the very noisy entry area, and were given the worst table, right by the door and all the noise ("only available"). After no attention for 20 minutes, asked someone to find our server to take a drink order. When she eventually arrived (another 5 minutes or so), she wanted to immediately take our food order. Ah, no, we'll order our drinks now. The rest of the service was desultory, at best. The whole experience took 2 hours for drinks, entrees and dessert. Too bad it's not a place where management comes by from time to time to ask if everything is satisfactory. Food was interesting and good, but very small portions. We would never go back, nor recommend it. Our meal at a neighborhood place the previous evening provided much better service and the food ultimately was more satisfying--for half the price.
Who honestly thinks this is 5 stars?
by Southernfoody
June 16, 2008
I'm rather stunned that this restaurant gets all the hype it's getting. I agree with many reviews of the food being over-spiced--be it too much lime or simply too salty. And after you wait for this reservation and the experience--like you'll really send it back? I couldn't imagine eating at the Frontera side (even though my husband said the food looked better on that side), it was so loud you may as well eat under a plane for the same sound effect. Who really enjoys this?
Expensive mexican food in my book.
Pro: the decor of the place and the mango dessert
con: That we spent over 300 dollars and didn't enjoy it. Won't be back
- Pros: We received our food quickly
- Cons: it wasn't that good (too salty), the noise level, nothing wow'd us
Save your money
by kdanica
May 22, 2008
First, we tried to change our reservation from 2 people to 4. I called an hour ahead of time and the maitre d told me that this was not possible. Wrong answer. Fine-dining restaurants should do everything possible to accomadate their customers and, by looking around when we got there, they could have accomadated us--there were several empty tables! 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. Wrong. We both ordered from the five course tasting menu--70-85 dollars each--save your money! Everything we ate was overseasoned, heavy, and downright disgusting. Even when my entree came out--pork tendorloin--it was over-cooked and brittle. 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. The waiter then came out hurridly and apologized saying "I know it took too long between the first and second course" thus admitting mistakes when we hadn't even complained. You would think he'd have comped part of the bill--no way. I was so unfullfilled with dinner that I went back to the hotel and scarfed down a bag of M&Ms.
Service was extemely poor and so was the food.
by linda1011
May 20, 2008
I have been to almost all of the fine dining restaurants in this city and I cannot believe that this deserves a four star rating. I 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. Our server then made recommendations for our appetizer and entree. The appetizer was fair. Our entree was so spicy we could not even eat it. He brought us a sauce to calm it down, but it did nothing. He did not even offer to replace it. To pay $36.00 for a steak you can't even eat is ridiculous. It was the worse dining experience I have had in a long time and a ruined evening. An expensive tab, where we left still hungry. I would never go back.
worth a trip by Natalie F. at InsiderPages
Contributor
April 07, 2008
As a lover of Mexican food, going to Frontera was a big deal for me. Everything was perfect- the guac, the entree, the dessert, the service, the atmosphere. It was well worth the trip from Philly to Chicago!!
Love the Hot Sauce!
by sasachic
February 01, 2008
My husband and I have been dying to go here since we watched his show on T.V. Lunch hours where almost over so we were only able to eat in the bar area. There wasn't too much on the lunch menu, but I did like the idea how they change the menu often so it makes you want to come back for more. We love there hot sauce, that we actually bought one for our home. My husband grew up in Mexico all his life and he loved it, he said the sauce was just like his Grandma's homemade sauce.The food was delicious and the appearance of it was tasteful. We can't wait to go back and try out the new items on the menu.
- Pros: Great food
- Cons: none
Fantastic!
by sarah6306
January 02, 2008
We were a little nervous about Mexican food in Chicago since we were coming from Texas, but made a reservation at Topolobampo at the recommendation of a friend. We were amazed! The food was incredible and the members of the waitstaff were very attentive. Highly recommended.
- Pros: Great food, friendly staff, ambience
- Cons: Hard to get a reservation
Very Disappointing!
by michaelgchicago
December 09, 2007
We went for a birthday celebration. We knew on a Saturday night it would be crowded and we would have to wait. We understood. At 8:30pm we thought a 2 hour wait to be a bit long but OK. Did that mean that since they close at 10:30 we wouldn't be able to eat?
We got drinks. What a disappointment! I get better house margaritas at my casual Mexican restaurant in Lincoln Park.
Within 10 minutes we had not one but two tables secured in the bar area. Why such the long wait then? Service was slow. Maybe that is the reason for the 2 hour wait.
I would not recommend the guacamole. It had no taste. The second round of drinks weren't any better. A shame since even with a bad first drink, the second usually tastes a little better.
When it came to the food it was just not right. I 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 meat was so OVER seasoned all I could taste was the seasonings. OK, maybe the chef's style but for what we were paying for the "organic" beef I would have hoped that we could cut it with a steak knife but unfortunately we couldn't. I don't know why since it wasn't tough but it wouldn't cut.
All 3 of us were very disappointed in our dinners, drinks and service. With SO many great places to eat in Chicago why does this place get all the raves?
I never need to go back.
- Pros: Can't think of one
- Cons: Such a high price for so little with so many better options available
