Frontera Grill - Chicago
 

Going to Chicago this coming week-end and would love to have dinner at Frontera Grill Saturday night. Does any one know aproximately how long we will have to wait? There will be 4 of us arriving around 8:30 PM. <BR><BR>Thanks for any information!

Susie:<BR><BR>People are already lined up outside when the place opens at 5, and a seat in the bar can be hard to come by after 5:30.<BR><BR>You might want to call ahead to see what the wait is. It may be up to 2 hours. Another option would be Chilipachango (sp?) that is run by Rick Bayless' former sous chef and is also in River North (although further north and west).<BR><BR>If you have more than 2 margaritas while waiting, you may want to skip the meal, because you'll hardly remember it. The margaritas are fabulous, but potent!<BR><BR>HTH,<BR>Racy

Susie: Does it have to be Frontera Grill? Why not give Adobo a try - it's right next door to Second City and they take reservations. It is excellent! Order straight up margaritas and guacamole prepared at your table.

Susie,<BR>It will be at least an hour if you're lucky. There are two other restaurants that we've discovered that are actually better than Frontera but the wait is just as long.<BR>We love Adobo Grill on Wells Street in Old Town. It's next to Second City and the food and atmosphere are fabulous.<BR>Also there is a place called Salpicon which is also on Wells Street. I thought it was a little better than Frontera and evidently it gets rave reviews from food critics.<BR>I have been to Frontera at least 20 times and I would recommend Adobo or Salpicon for food quality, service and atmosphere over Frontera Grill. Good luck.

I was also going to suggest Salpicon. I think it is slightly more expensive than Frontera but it is excellent.

Salpicon and Frontera are both great. Another option is to try to get a reservation at Topolobompo (Frontera's dressier half). I doubt there is availability this late, but you could try. Salpicon is more of a local favorite so you could probably get a reservation there as most people reserve it a day or two in advance.<BR><BR>Regarding Topolobompo, I prefer the menu served at Frontera (and it's less expensive). We tend to hit Frontera for lunch and be there when it opens.

Ladies-<BR><BR>Let's not turn this TRAVEL board into the chatty Cathy food critics column.

When eating out of town I would consider that a travel question. In case you haven't noticed, about half the questions on this board are for restaurant recommendations when on vacation.<BR><BR>what's next, no hotel recommendations either. let's narrow the questions down to specific travel between point A and B.

Hey Huggy<BR><BR>Take a chill pill. For most of us TRAVELING includes dining out.<BR><BR>Or are you just trying to stir up trouble?

I never eat when I'm on vacation. Too busy saving pennies and finding the next Rick Steves "must do" sight ;-)

Huggy,<BR>For me, good restaurant recommendations are as important as where I go and where I stay when I TRAVEL! I appreciate all the great restaurant suggestions from everyone else!<BR><BR>Susie

The wait will be at least 2 hrs on a Sat nite for Frontera Grill, but it is worth it! The other restaurants suggested might be worth it, but then you can't say you dined at Frontera Grill.

Susan - <BR><BR>PLEASE tell me you're being facetious about "telling everyone".

Susan,<BR>The name recognition is overblown on Frontera Grill especially when it doesn't live up to it.<BR>I agree with Chris and Alex about Adobo and Salpicon. I live in the city and would go to Adobo or Salpicon over Frontera Grill anyday. <BR>Rick Bayless needs to concentrate on his establishments instead of his cooking show.

ttt

have to agree - the food is definitely NOT worth the wait. And their sangria - what is that? Not sangira as I know it.

sangria alert - Cafe Ba Ba Reeba has great sangria. The tapas they serve are somewhat Americanized as compared to Cafe Iberico which is more authentic (personally, I prefer the more Americanized tapas).