Sopes Rancheros
Crispy corn masa boats with savory shredded beef, roasted tomatoes, avocado and homemade fresh cheese
I took my mom to Frontera Grill (finally) so we could have an amazing dinner. They don’t take reservations (unless you have a party of 8 or more and you make them 6 months in advance) so there was a 3 HOUR wait. I promised my mom it was worth the wait… and at the end of the dinner she agreed that it was!
My whole family shares a love for greasy Mexican food - but Rick Bayless proves that gourmet Mexican cuisine will win you over. The fresh, spicy and smoky Mexican flavors are enhanced by the use of organic and “home grown” ingredients from their rooftop garden. Not to mention, they are known for their selection of premium tequilas and hand-shaken margaritas.
Mom and I made friends with a woman from San Fransisco (Julie) who was in town for a convention. She came in a day early so she could eat at Frontera and send photos to her husband via text message. They are both BIG fans of Rick Bayless. After almost two hours of waiting we were able to snag 3 seats at the bar. This was my first time sitting at the bar, and in my opinion it was more fun!
The bartenders, despite the fact they were crazy busy, made time to interact with their customer dining at the bar. We included the couple sitting next to us in on our fun and by the end of dinner it was almost like we all were long-time friends! Our bartender, Jonathan, made us feel right at home, bought us a round of drinks that we didn’t need and talked Julie, my mom and me into sharing a dessert… even though we were so full we were about to burst.
This was by far my most fun and most delicious experience at Frontera Grill. If you live in Chicago or just in town visiting and have never been here before - put it at the top of your priority list. You won’t be disappointed… even if there is a 3 hour wait! :)
