Chicago, IL: Restaurant Choices for Fondue, Pizza, Mexican - 2

Mexican Faves

You can’t live in Chicago and not fall in love with Mexican food. At least I couldn’t. While some people rave about Frontera Grill for fine Mexican dining, as does our contributor Cindy Richards in our Chicago family-friendly dining article, I’m partial to these more casual, affordable Mexican dining experiences.

• Arturo’s Tacos on Western Ave. in Bucktown, open 24/7, was a frequent stop when I lived in the neighborhood 20 years ago—before gentrification made it a haven for young families buying their first homes. I still return for a satisfying quick and cheap meal every time I visit Chicago. The place is now twice the size, but the bright lights and colors and loud Mexican music remain the same. Especially great for messy kids and those traveling with big appetites, you can’t go wrong with the $3 tacos or $5 jumbo burritos, stuffed with your choice of tasty marinated carne asada, chicken or pork. Wash it down with the cinnamon-flavored rice drink, horchata. For adults, there’s a full bar with plenty of cerveza, but don’t expect top-shelf liquor choices.

2001 N. Western Ave. (at Armitage Ave.), tel. 773-772-4944 

• Tecalitlan is a couple steps up from Arturo’s, having wooden tables and chairs as opposed to plastic, and linen tablecloths and napkins, but offers nearly the same tremendous value as Arturo’s. CitySearch Chicago recently named it Editorial Winner as Best Burrito 2007, and I whole-heartedly say, “Olé!” The burritos are indeed delicious, but the chicken in mole sauce ($10.50) and enchiladas suizas ($9.50) are my favorites. My first visit was for a quinceañera (a coming-of-age celebration for Hispanic girls when they turn 15) for an Ecuadorian friend’s sister. On Sundays, the place fills up with families and hipsters alike from the surrounding West Chicago/Ukrainian Village neighborhood.

1814 W. Chicago Ave. (at Wood St.), tel. 773-384-4285

• Burritos like this are a common sight in Chicago's Mexican restaurants and taquerias.
• Christopher Vasquez

New Favorites

Looking for something to suit a more refined adult palette for those vacation "date nights" when the hotel provides baby-sitting services for the little ones? 

• A few restaurants I’ve become quite fond of in recent years include Custom House at 500 S. Dearborn Street in the Printer’s Row neighborhood south of the Loop. Chef Shawn McClain favors artisanal, sustainable and locally sources ingredients for his consistently tasty New American menu. I'm partial to his braised meats that melt in your mouth. McClain also heads up the kitchen at vegetarian Green Zebra in West Town, not far from Tecalitlan. 

• For very special occasions, however, I strongly recommend Rick Tramonto’s Tru, where I celebrated a milestone birthday a couple years ago. Aside from loving the minimalist décor in the dining room—soaring ceiling, long white curtains, rich blue-velvet banquets, Frette table linens and a smattering of contemporary artwork—each of the seven or so dishes I tasted were phenomenal.

The menu changes regularly, however, and none of the dishes I had are currently available, save for the caviar sampler, which is now a $250 item on the Luxury menu. (A smaller version had been an appetizer option on the prix fixe menu, which is $95 and comes with more than its advertised three courses.) No matter—any current combinations of the fresh flavors, ingredients and artistic presentation are sure to impress, served by an excellent waitstaff whom you don’t even realize are there.

A nice finishing touch: a rich, chocolate brownie handed to you in a little while gift bag on your way out. “For breakfast,” said the hostess. Or a surprise gift for your little one waiting for you at the hotel room.