Frontera Grill
Robert Howe · 108 Google reviewsFrontera Grill — dependable mexican in River North. Order the Guacamole. Come for the food, stay for the energy. [$$]
What 3,422 diners keep saying
What 3,422 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Frontera Grill is the place Rick Bayless opened in River North back in 1987 after years of traveling through Mexico researching regional cooking, and it's been going strong ever since with a James Beard Award and a Michelin Bib Gourmand to its name. The room is full of colorful Mexican folk art, the music is warm and lively, and the whole atmosphere has that particular energy of somewhere that's been deeply loved by its neighborhood for a long time without needing to reinvent itself to stay relevant. The table-shaken margarita is the ritual that starts most evenings here and it's the right call, made fresh with good tequila and house-squeezed citrus, shaken at your table in a way that makes the whole thing feel like a small ceremony. The ceviche is the dish Frontera built its reputation on first, Pacific albacore with lime, tomato, olive, and cilantro that arrives bright and clean and is the best version of the dish that most people in Chicago have ever had. The enchiladas with mole are the other cornerstone order, and the mole sauce here is genuinely complex in a way that's different from what you'd find at a typical Mexican restaurant, dark and layered with chiles and chocolate and spice that's been developed over decades of cooking. We also had the roasted cauliflower with poblano crema and melted cheese as a side, which turned out to be one of the better vegetable dishes of the meal, charred and rich and properly seasoned. The chocolate pecan pie at the end is the dessert everyone recommends and it earns the recommendation, not too sweet and with a short, buttery crust. The menu changes seasonally and leans into whatever regional Mexican cooking tradition Bayless is exploring at a given moment, which means repeat visits always offer something new alongside the classics.”
“This place is always on point. Have been here multiple times and visit every time in Chicago. We made reservations as it was a Friday night and didn’t want to miss out. We were seated in the bar area. It was a very busy night. Of all the times I’ve been here have never seen Chef Rick. But he happened to be in the bar speaking with a guest that was dining at the bar. It was really cool to see Chef Rick after all the years of dining here. As for the food, it was great as usual. For starters we ordered the chips and salsa. The entrees were tortilla soup. It sounds simple was is very flavorful, they pour the broth tableside. The other entree was the grilled chicken tacos that came with beans and guacamole and fresh tortillas. It was really good. Had to save room for dessert. Got a carajillo and the pecan pie.”
“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.”
“Had a nice time. We loved the ambiance. And the food tasted fresh. Will be back for sure when back in town!”
“You can’t lose with Frontera grill. The food is absolutely drool worthy and the service is impeccable. Rick Bayless is a genius. I go here almost every time I’m in Chicago!”
“The food is absolutely delicious. There is a full vegetarian menu available if you have vegetarians in your party. Order the chips and salsa as an appetizer. You will not regret it. I ordered the Barbacoa which is a seasonal dish made with lamb. It is topped with onion and cilantro. It comes with black beans a chick pea dip for your tacos, and a tamarind sauce. The options to build your taco are overwhelming in the best way possible. I ended up tearing my tortillas in pieces and pinching the barbacoa and varying the topping options with every bite. My wife who is vegetarian ordered the Puebla vegetarian enchilada it had mushrooms as the filling and topped with onions and cilantro. She offered me a few bites and I may just order that when we return! It was so full of flavor in every bite. We topped them meal off with Mexican vanilla and Mexican ice cream. It tasted exactly how I remember the last time we visited Oaxaca. The staff in the restaurant are all friendly and attentive. I highly recommend you stop into Frontera Grill.”
“My favorite restaurant in the city. I love Mexican food and this place always delivers the BEST. My husband & I recently went her for lunch on a weekday. They had an incredible 3 course deal. No pictures of the first 2 courses because they were SO good and we gobbled them up before thinking to take a photo. The tortilla soup was out of this world! I'm not really a dessert person, but these were perfection. We will be back and I will eat everything. Can't wait to try more!”
“I hadn't been here in many years, since we lived in Chicago, but I was excited to return and was very happy that it is still excellent. I had the wonderful enchiladas with mole sauce. Our tabled shared the ceviche and plantains plus some mezcal margaritas. The atmosphere is very busy and a bit loud but there is an upscale and intimate feeling. Can't wait to go again.”
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