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We came for lunch and as usual service was exceptional. The restaurant could probably use a design refresh, but it's fine and our group enjoyed our seating. We had the prix fixe menu and it's a great value (plenty of leftovers), but certain dishes were tastier than others. Carnitas tacos, tortilla soup and the flan are standouts. We will be back and look forward to trying more items!
Lived up to the hype or how creative the Chef is. Very flavorful and just all around delicious. Drinks are strong, atmosphere is fun, food is great, and our bar tender was very helpful. Definitely recommend.
Overall a great experience. Service was attentive and we showed up a bit early for our reservation and they were able to get us in even though they were pretty busy. I wasn't sure if they would live up to the hype, but we were impressed. The ceviche flight was unique, with three distinct flavors and seafood. The salmon one had a slight asian fusion flavor that reminded me of sushi with a Mexican twist. Known for their Mole, they didn't disappoint. The short rib was tender and went well mashed potatoes. The enchiladas combined some fresh flavors with tender chicken, making them stand out over whats often dry meat requiring extra source. They balanced everything out well. The drinks were fantastic, with some unique twists on the margarita. Chicago has plenty of restaurants to chose from, but Frontera is worth a visit.
Food - pork tacos - excellent execution of tender pork belly. Every piece was so succulent and full of crisy pork goodness. Warm, homemade tortillas added to the perfect bite on top of flavor town green tomatillo salsa. The black beans was a good balance the rich pork flavors. Also, if the standard salsa was room tamed for.your liking; they have a good habanero salsa for the asking. Maybe too much foe most. Dessert- ice cream with fudge.. Great tasting of vanilla and chocolate, but wasnt quite over the top. The ice cream was nice and thick, but was a bit gritty for ice cream at an upscale place. Partly why I couldnt give it a perfect score. Service - attentive and intuitive. The waiter seems to know what we like and need without asking too much. Spicy pineapple Cocktail- good, strong, but not great. Couldn't really taste any pineapple. Cleanliness- clean and organized. Cost - affordable for special occasion. Restroom - fancy and clean. Ambiance - warm and relaxing, but a bit cheap with the vinyl or cheap wood veneer tables.
We'd heard that Frontera's was not to be missed while in Chicago, so we made our way over on one of our evenings there. We didn't have a reservation so it was a no-go, but we managed to reserve a table for the following morning. We showed up and the place was completely empty, but it did fill up by the time we were finished. I figured I'd get a brunch item, but the Enchiladas de Mole ("Handmade corn tortillas, Amish country chicken (caramelized onions), homemade mole poblano (27 ingredients), crunchy garnishes") sounded so impressive I figured I'd better get that instead. And indeed it's a phenomenal dish. The chicken had kind of a reheated, leftover taste, but that mole sauce more than made up for it. It's so rich and flavorful, and it seemed to get more and more tasty the longer I ate. It's incredible. I was super full at that point, but I did try a bite of my dining companions' two desserts: the Coconut Horchata Cuatro Leches Cake and the Frontera's Chocolate Pecan Pie. They were both way, way above average, and I think the pecan pie might've been one of the best I've ever had? I definitely regretted not getting my own slice. Frontera sure seems like a really cool place. Hopefully we'll come back to Chicago some day so I can try more of the dishes.
I don't think I've ever been to Chicago without eating here and since it's my birthday week I didn't want to start now. So even though we couldn't get a reservation we decided to see how long a wait would be. We talked to the welcoming host and she said the bar and tables we're all was full but to hang out by the bar (of course we e would order the most amazing margaritas) and hopefully it wouldn't be longer than 35 minutes. I had no problem with that! We got our margaritas after about 10 minutes and then before we even had time to drink much, she came back to tell us she had moved some things around to get us a table in the dining room! Yes! We started with the queso fundido and I know that sounds so typical but with the peppers and onions on top, it's just so well balanced and stringy good! They serve it with warm blue corn tortillas. Next came the coliflor dish which was perfectly cooked cauliflower with poblano sauce and cheese. It was a taste celebration in my mouth! Yum! Finally, we ended with a glass of wine and lamb. So savory and rich without being heavy! The service is always stellar at Frontera and I love the lively atmosphere and beautiful art that is the everywhere! Thanks for a wonderful birthday dinner!
One of the great classic iconic restaurants in Chicago, I have been wanting to dine here since they opened. Don't know why it's taken so long, I guess good things come to those who wait! Service was excellent and very engaging and helpful. Food lived up to all the hype and awards, and then add the cool authentic decor and welcoming vibe. Two of the three of us are vegetarians, so we were pleasantly surprised there's an entire separate menu with a wide selection. Salsa's I've made many times from Rick Bayliss cookbook are benchmark. Moles were great, both chicken and portobello, which I really appreciated a veggie version. Eggplant was light, delicate and crunchy. Our fantastic server Beto recommended many of our dishes and he was on the mark! Including the wine pairing with the mole and the dessert. Margarita they shake at the table was delicious. The daughter's blackberry limeade drink made in-house, was refreshing and at a reasonable price. The restaurant adds 20% gratuity to each check, which is fine to my eyes, no math necessary These days, it seems easy to get reservations here, so we will be returning!!
We went to Frontera for the first time mostly because of the Rick Bayless hype. I was curious. It's an upscale place but still feels family friendly, with Dim lights and a chill energy. You can see into the kitchen, which I always like. Staff was Super friendly, always refilling drinks, clearing plates right away. No awkward waiting around. I started with the ceviche and honestly... that set the tone. Fresh, bright, really clean flavors. The citrus hit just right, not overpowering. Fish was tender, not mushy. Good balance of acidity and salt. Every bite tasted incredible, I could've stopped there but no, I kept going back for "one more bite" and suddenly it was gone. Then the cochinita pibil arrived. Texture-wise, really good. Juicy, tender, nice portion. But flavor-wise, it felt like it was missing that deep smoky note I expect from cochinita. Still good, just didn't hit as hard as the ceviche did. I really enjoyed this place. Specifically the ceviche, that still lives in my head.
Frontera grill was hands down AMAZING. We were surprised by how good the service was too when we went. You MUST get "The Classic Frontera Experience". It is so worth it. Food is authentic, delicious, and you definitely get your moneys worth. At first we thought we had to pick one of the appetizers on the menu, but you actually get all 4!! Like a lil tasting menu but portions are good. I was stuffed to the brim by the end, and I'm a huge eater (can eat over a whole dominoes pizza). For appetizers, we had guac and chips, ceviche, sopecitos, quesadillas (not the kind you're thinking of). My favorite was the ceviche (they really do it well) and guac. I also loved the mini mole course served (enchilada de mole). This was my first time trying mole, and man, I'm definitely a mole lover already. I also really love how the onions complement the rich savory flavor of the mole. For entrees I had chamorro al albañil and my gf had carne asada brava. We shared though, ofc. The salsa the carne asada is served with is smoky and fragrant, so delicious. The portion of the chamorro al albañil was huge. I definitely should've taken some to-go since I was overly full after dessert. Everything comes with tortillas. For dessert we got flan and the ice cream, with cajeta (goat milk caramel). Both were superb. I really like the cajeta on the ice cream, really is special. Way better than hot fudge. Our servers were really nice and attentive. They also cleaned up our utensils and table after each dish, which I didn't expect since we weren't at fine dining. The service really surprised me. I really like the ambiance and the latin music playing. Honestly I'd definitely come back next time I return to Chicago. Next time though, I'd probably visit Rick's Topolobompo, since I've never been and it's on my bucket list.
Service was a tad shaky but the ceviche and house made chips were fantastic as was the birria enchiladas. Also the cocktail with mezcal and whiskey was my favorite cocktail ever
Guacamole was delicious! The main was pretty bad. We had a braised meat dish, Barbados. The "meat" was mushy and there was barely a few chunks of meat.
Rick Bayless still owns of Frontera Grill, a Chicago-based Mexican restaurant he opened in 1987 with his wife Deann, inspired by their travels in Mexico. He is the Michelin star chef and owner, his restaurant is known for contemporary Mexican cuisine. His daughter, Lanie is the cocktail impresario focusing on Mezcal. We made our dinner reservations before getting to Chicago. We were here 15 years ago, stopped at his fast food Mexican in O'hare. I have all of Frontera's cookbooks at home & use Rick Bayless' recipes! What I love about Frontera is they provide a list of the farms where their food comes from, it's truly farm to table. A 20% gratuity is added to every bill. The tables were very close together, when the wait staff came over, they either banged our table or hit the man with his back to us. We came early, hoping to get a seat at the bar and a drink first, but we were told that the bar was full and we were brought to our table. We were dressed for a special Friday night dinner but most were in shorts and sneakers. We finished our 3 course meal in less than an hour. Tonight we started with margaritas I had a mezcal margarita with Grand Marnie, limes & Peychaud while my husband had the Tupelo margarita with reposado tequila, and Torres, orange liquor. Our drinks were shaken, tableside and we shared guacamole, salsas and cold chips. Our main course was the cochinita pibil which was a slow cooked Gunthorpe Farm pork in banana leaves with beans, pickled onions and habanero salsa. We ended our meal with Frontera's chocolate pecan pie topped raspberry sorbet with Kahlúa whipped cream. Portion were small, tables were less than a foot apart and service was efficient. Happily the music was loud so we couldn't hear the conversation all around us. Dinner was good, but I remember being wowed years ago.
One of the best Mexican food we have had in Chicago. Rick Bayless is truly a Top Chef. First time visiting and we were blown away by the complex flavors and the attention to details in the dishes. We had the queso fundido with their house made tortilla. It was melt in your mouth good. The 2 salsas were on point, not too spicy. For our main we had the pollo en salsa de guajillo y arandanos. Grilled half chicken with honeynut squash mash. The sweetness of the squash was a nice contrast to the slight bitterness of the guajillo-cranberry sauce. We also had the corn masa quesadillas. When paired together with the black bean and their avocado-tomatillo salsa, it was the perfect bite. For desert we had their pastel de tres leche, sponge cake with coffee infused tres leche. It came with creamsicle ice cream and coffee flavored jelly pieces. It was a perfect balance of creaminess with some texture from the crumbles and coffee jelly. Service was good with very attentive servers coming by often for water refills and cleaning up of the tables. The restaurant is not that big so it does get crowded and a little loud. I would recommend making reservations especially on Friday and Saturday. Dress code is casual. Will be returning again on our next visit to Chicago.
2 years ago
Do not take a reservation in the last hour they are open or they will treat you badly. Yes it isnt what it used to be but i was getting off a plane at 8 pm and my hotel was a block away so i took their last 9:45 reservation for friday night. I was 2 minutes late and called to tell them and they tried to dissuade me from coming. I showed up and despite 90 per cent empty tables they said they could only seat us in a corner with a large group drunkenly taking all the space there was and crowding us. We asked to be moved and the hostess said no. She would only let us move two tables away to the second worst table shoved in a corner by the kitchen and uneven so i cant sit my drink down without spilling it. They really do not want to seat people in the hour before closing. They will try to give you a bad experience that is less because of this. They ahould just close at 9 if they are going to treat you badly if you have a late reservation. The message was clear that they did not want us there. Waiter was nice all the attitude came from the hostesses read more
2 years ago
Our food ran the gamut from great to average. We started with the Half Half which was half guacamole and half Yucatecan pumpkin seed dip. Both dips were excellent and spicy as was the salsa. Next we had the Ceviche Trio. Our two favorites were the Tropical Tuna ceviche with mango and the Classic Ceviche. They were very fresh tasting and as good as any ceviche that I have had in Mexico. My entree was the duck in mole which was very good. The other entree was the carne asada which was very ordinary. If we had stopped after the two appetizers, I would have given 5 stars. Service was friendly and fairly quick. And, this was not our most expensive meal of the weekend. read more
TL;DR: the service sucked, but the food was great, which was the saving grace. We made a reservation for 7:30 pm yesterday. Arrived like 5 minutes late, but still had to wait around 20 minutes. It happens. It took a good 10 minutes just for our server to come by. We ordered margs... one person asked what kind they have, they picked cucumber, he warned them it was spicy, so they said n/m, I'll have a regular. Apparently that meant they don't get a drink, because only 3 margs came. It took 5 minutes for us to get his attention and he said they didn't want the spicy one.... Huh? We also ordered apps.. chips and salsa, tortilla soup, and the quesadillas. All were delicious. It took a long time for us to get any attention after that. I had to flag the waiter every time I needed something. Like... our drinks are literally empty and the ice is almost melted, can you come by and offer us another drink? Finally, they come by to ask for our entree orders. We ordered skirt steak tacos, both enchiladas dishes, and carnitas tacos. All were delicious. Food was great. Then when it came to check time, the servers disappeared... we waited probably 20 minutes just to get someone to get us check. We were tired from a long day. We waited 5 minutes for the check and nearly 10 minutes for our cards back after. And for this great service, we were forced to pay 20%. As much as I wanted to love this place, I won't be back... I've had better service at Tacos El Norte. It's a shame, because the food is delicious. read more
Loved the adobo chicken I had here but wasn't impressed with the apps. I tried the chips with salsas and roasted shishito peppers neither of which wowed me. The salsas they serve taste exactly the same as the jarred ones they sell at the grocery store - I do wish they would create some more alternate options that they only sell in their restaurants to help make it a more unique appetizer. To be fair, their salsas are tasty - watch out the habanero mango one is SPICY. The entrees is where the highlight of the meal came in. I got the adobo chicken enchiladas which had the best adobo sauce I've ever had. I think this place does have fantastic food but just need to spend some time going through the menu a bit more to find the highlights. read more
I love Ricks shows and cookbooks so I had to visit while in Chicago! Wowza!!! The food was shockingly perfect. The queso fundido was perfect. It's made with a fresh house chorizo that doesn't overwhelm my cheese! The tortilla soup was creamy and perfectly delicious! The summer margaritas were a shocking surprise that lasted for a while carafe! The the roasted corn was the prettiest presentation. The corn was sweet and perfectly roasted. The mole was the best I've ever eaten. I really have tried it in many paces and this was so good! The the tres cranes had skirt steak, chicken and pork. Each were moist and flavorful. They also had black beans and fresh guacamole. The ribeye was so perfectly spiced and cooked! The servers are attentive and friendly! read more
3 years ago
I am a person in favor of good food and service, and not a big fan of paying the extra charge for the employer to pay their employees. This place charges 20% of the bill, if you can't pay an adequate pay for your employees why should you ask the customer to cover the charge. A big downer the food is OK. I would gladly tip 20% but when is forced onto your check a big no. read more
It's rare to find a restaurant where every dish blows you away, but our meal here did just that. We started with the grilled asparagus with garlic chive adobo, and more or less inhaled the dish. It had a beautifully grilled flavor that was accentuated by the garlic, and I wish I could recreate this dish at home. For our mains we got the Tacos Arabes (grilled spiced pork collar) and the shrimp tacos with coconut-poblano crema. The Tacos Arabes were very moist and perfectly seasoned, with the various spices blending well with the pork flavor, all without feeling too salty. The shrimp was also amazing, and almost tasted like a thai curry, but with a Mexican twist. The shrimp was cooked well and had a great crunch, and we could not get enough of the crema. Even though we were stuffed at the end of the meal, we had to try their dessert and were not disappointed. The classic flan was so creamy, but not too rich and not overly sweet either. It was definitely a fight for the last bite, and to make things even better, it was incredibly inexpensive at only $5! We thoroughly enjoyed our meal here, and will definitely be back to try some of the other dishes on the menu (though it will be hard not to order the same things again). read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Great food. Second time in a Chicago. We had brunch. Our server was quick with our order. Hope to be back next year. read more
I was so excited to be on vacation and finally eating at Rick Bayless' place. It did not disappoint. It took some time to get the cocktails and the appetizers, but everything was well worth the wait. The sopecitos were amazing and the dessert... OMG the dessert. The apricot gelato was one of the most divine things I have ever had. Then you get a bite of the sweet corn ice cream and it is just the freshest most surprising flavor in a dessert and it was delicious. I think we licked the bowl. The pictures dont do this food justice. Cant wait to get back to Chicago to try it again and again! read more
I've been wanting to try Frontera for a long time, as it's quite a Chicago institution. My bestie and I came here for our friendversary for a cute lunch. Traffic was awful so we had to move our reservation last minute and they were super accommodating. So much of the food was very good or exceptional. The sopecitos were my absolute favorite thing. The queso fundido was also excellent. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The strawberry lemonade which was a seasonal special was really, really nice. I was a little surprised at the fish tacos and found them disappointing. Not super flavorful, just fine. Not what I expected from here. We shared the vanilla rum ice cream with homemade fudge sauce for dessert and it was extremely good. I never would typically choose that at a restaurant for dessert but it was really special here. Service was very good as well. Our server was a really nice woman who was efficient and helpful. We were well attended to. The other thing that keeps this from a five star is the environment which was good not great in my opinion. For the price point and reputation of this place I would have expected a slightly nicer environment but it was kinda crammed and I felt a little overwhelmed by the tables around us. Might be worth asking for a quiet table if you want a little space Overall DEFINITELY worth a visit, which I can assure you will be a delicious experience. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Friday night reservations at 5:30 arrived at 5:15 seated us at 5:30 they were very busy yet prompt Service was great meals were outstanding Highly recommend read more
3 years ago
Delicious starters beet salad and tamales . Wonderful margaritas and yummy dinners! One of The best place in Chicago! read more
3 years ago
Everything from the general atmosphere to the service to the presentation to the food was all fantastic. Yes, it is quite expensive, but I think it's definitely worth it. I don't think there was a single thing on the menu that my very large group didn't like. read more
5 years ago
We had lunch here before our 2pm show at Cadillac Palace theater. The food was displayed appealingly. The individual sampler dish offered different items with its own tastes-very enjoyable experience. Wish we had more time to explore all the art pieces on the walls in the dining areas. That itself would be worth the visit! read more
Came in for dinner on a Saturday night the weekend of Memorial Day. While the restaurant was busy, we felt the service was still very attentive. I'd dined at Topolobampo before, which is the sister restaurant on the same building, and I will say that frontera has a more approachable menu and a much better bang for the buck. The platano relleno and tlacoyo were really memorable, and the chips and guac were a classic choice. Would definitely come back read more
3 years ago
The ambiance and decor of the place perfectly transport you from the bustling city outside to a stunning Mexican town. Artwork and sculptures make all corners of the place pop. The server was knowledgeable about how all menu items were prepared and able to navigate food allergies. The salsas were great flavor bombs and the texture of each dish made them shine. Lunch was a nice quite time to slow down and take in all the flavors read more
Hands down the best meal that I have had in the last year. Make every effort to try this place out. I sincerely hope that you have the same experience. We came right when they opened and got a table. They limit the reservations so I kind of like that you can find a table if you are early and willing to wait. The service was top notch. Plenty of help to the main waiter and he was exceptionally attentive and helpful. Started off with the Blue Agave Margarita and it swept me off to the beaches of Mexico. It was a heavenly mix. With it we began with the Frontera Famous Dips. Calling what we had chips and salsa/guacamole was like saying a Wagyu steak some some meat dish. Fundamentally the same but worlds apart in definition. Wonderful chips, insanely exotic salsas, superb guacamole and a unique pumpkinseed butter that everyone liked. Finally, I'm a sucker for real tamales. The Veracruz-style Fresh Corn Tamales were as good as I've ever had and I've spent a lot of time south of the border. For the main entree I ordered one of everything on the menu. After my credit card laughed at me I settled on the Florida Shrimp, Creamy Chileajo. I started off thinking there weren't enough shrimp but at the end I was muttering "no mas, no mas" as more and more of those tasty, spicy shrimp appeared. Halfway thru I started crying. Weeping that it would be a very long time before I get to return since I live in Texas. read more
2 years ago
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3 years ago
The steak we got was worth a repeat visit alone. I wish we would have planned for a larger meal here. The appetizer was good, the salsa was unique and tasty. But the steak was amazing! read more
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I'm just a girl on a solo trip weekend getaway and they were so sweet to give me a birthday surprised. The food was amazing. The waiter is attentive even when I'm sitting outside in the patio. Thank you Frontera! I will definitely be coming back read more
I've been a Rick Bayless fan for a long time. This was my first experience at one of his restaurants. We went with a Rick Bayless fanatic and one that has visited his three spots in Chicago. The Picante Mango cocktail was good--sweet and spicy. The Queso Fundido is amazing. Truly amazing. So good, you might want to order two rounds. We also tried the half guac-half sikil pak. I would get the full order of the sikil pak next time. Truly amazing. I'm glad I ordered the Chef's Choice enchiladas (Oaxacan-style "enchiladas" bathed in black bean sauce with pork carnitas). As our waiter pointed out,, the tortillas are just rolled (not filled). The sauce and carnitas made the dish. I would probably go with the Suadero Ahumado (20-hour-smoked beef brisket, Oaxacan black mole, queso añejo mashed potatoes, local-seasonal vegetables) on my next visit. It's a Friday special and looked delicious. You cannot leave without trying the chocolate-pecan pie! The art is amazing. We did get to see Deann Bayless wander through the restaurant. read more
4 years ago
Amazing treats abound .. herbs straight from Jalisco Mx Rick Baylis never disappoints One of our go to spots for sure read more
5 years ago
Love this place. The wait staff are always fun and don't pressure you to get out. The space is decorated in beautiful Mexican inspired art with bright colors. Check out the bar area. Rick Bayless is so impressive because of how he imparts the culture into the food. His creative take on local Mexican dishes is always sure to please. Love their cocktails and they always use fresh ingredients. The queso fundido is a must. The portobello tacos really were impressive for a vegetarian option. I could go on and on. You should give this place a shot as it won't disappoint. read more
2 years ago
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3 years ago
Everything was amazing! Authentic Mexican cuisine. Impecable service, servers and knowledgeable read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
My husband and I have wanted to try this place for so long. The food was delicious, ambiance was so beautiful, and the service was perfect. We loved everything we ordered. I highly recommend this place. read more
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Ask the Community - Frontera Grill
Has anyone ventured here with kids? I know it says it's not good for kids on the profile but I'm coming to Chicago with my family and really want to try it!!
We went with our 2-1/2 year old for lunch a few weeks ago. We also are from out-of-town and really wanted to try it. They had a high chair and it was a great experience. We had to keep the little guy entertained and fed him food we brought (didn't…
Do they have a bar where one can sit without a reservation and order from the full menu?
Yes. The bar and high top tables are first come, first serve; the full menu is available here, and there are seats at both the bar and high tops.
Is there a Happy hour?
think they had some 5 de Mayo thing ,starting 5pm . 5 beers 16.00 dollars.not certain,but overall sounded good.
I yelled food baskets in Chicago and this site turned up. Yet I see nothing here to suggest that. Ideas?
Umm, yeah they don't sell food baskets. But if they did, it would have chicken tortilla soup, carne asada tacos and margaritas. Not such a bad basket in my opinion.
Anyone know how much the valet parking costs?
Not sure about valet, but there is so much street parking available.
I have heard the place is overrated ? Any comments on alternatives in the same area?
Over rated how? It's always been authentic Mexican and they do an excellent job of representing the cuisine there. They are winning Michelin stars ( kitchen staff and food is comparable to Topolobampo and his other properties.). My husband is…
How flavorful is the Carne Asada?
I don't know if I can quantify it, but it is out of this world good. Everything there is.
Is this restaurant good for kids during lunch hours? & do they provide high-chairs?
Yes, they have high chairs booster seats and a kids menu that's a coloring sheet, they even give them crayola crayons.
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